Disclaimer: Don't yeah… and yeah.
Hey, this'll probably be my last chapter until mid-August unless I can find time to write in China. Which I doubt I will because my mom is… weird and will scream and yell at me if she finds me on a computer in China instead of helping her find a bunch of crap we don't need. WeEEeeeell! I'll be updating as fast as I can! Later.
Conflicts of the Heart.
The daystar shined down on them as they walked to their Inn. Cid was playing a game of peek-a-boo with his new daughter, Ashley, whom lay in Shera's arms. Nanaki, like always, was speaking animatedly with Vincent. Tifa stilled seemed slightly peeved but was satisfied after catching Yuffie, who was disheveled and was slouching beside Tifa.
"Finally! We're here!" Sweat oozed from Shera's forehead; the Inn stood in front of them. Once entering their rooms, they stripped off any unnecessary clothing, like jackets and cloaks. The Highwinds' rented one room and the Wallaces' took another room, leaving the usual quartet to take the last room.
"Hey, Tifa! Let's go out to the beach!" Yuffie jumped out of the bathroom, clad in a saucy red two-piece. Vincent surveyed her form; she'd developed slightly over the time they'd been apart.
"Sure. But don't forget to wear a T-shirt or something else you get burned." The female fighter slipped into the washroom. Nanaki and Yuffie began to whisper back and forth, only looking up to see where Vincent was in the room.
The calm exterior of Vincent was holding up but his stomach was double knotting itself, he knew Yuffie was genius at mischief and Nanaki had obviously been taken to the scheming idea. Now they were together, clearly concocting some master plan that included him. But all things come to an end; therefore, the couple broke apart however, they continued to eye the ex-Turk.
Tension began to build as the hush prolonged. Only a moment before the thick atmosphere would have crushed them, the lavatory door being swung open shattered it. Tifa stepped out in an oversized T-shirt; her bare legs stuck out from underneath it. A gentle smile graced her lips. "Vince, come to the beach with us."
"I-…" The words got caught in his throat, he simply gave a sigh and nodded in agreement. He grabbed some clothing and went inside the bathroom.
After gathering everyone else, they headed down to the beach. Cid wore swim trunks and so did Barrett, but Vincent being Vincent, refused to go topless. He could only compromise to a white tank and black-swim shorts. Shera wore a navy one-piece with Ashley in a pink one-piece, though neither one were planning to do any swimming.
Yuffie pulled her shirt over her head, and headed to the water. Once shin-high in the ocean, she waved for Tifa. The luscious woman only yanked the T-shirt up to her midriff when she could feel the beaches male's population eyes crawling to her, waiting for her to finish. She didn't see Vincent gawking like the rest.
Throwing the white garment to Shera, her frosty halter bathing suit caused every straight man, married or single, to ogle at her as she tried to make her way to the water. A troubled look overtook her expression, Vincent seeing this, grabbed a towel and ran to her. After he draped it over her shoulders, shielding most of her skin, a united groan escaped the men's mouths.
"Thanks." Tifa wrapped her fingers around the edge of the fabric but Vincent kept his hands on her shoulders, causing a blush to emit from Tifa's cheeks. Vincent began to walk back to where the others were with the towel after Tifa had reached the safety of the water with Yuffie when a blue-eyed vixen with orange streaks coursing down her chocolate strands walked up to him.
"That was a really sweet thing you did for your girlfriend." Vincent couldn't help but remark that this woman's smile was nothing in comparison to Tifa's.
"She… isn't my girlfriend." A slight pang hit his insides; it even hurt to say it…
"Oh. Do you… have a lover?" Her black swimsuit flaunted much of her skin but she seemed sincere at heart.
"Loving someone but no lover." Sympathy drenched her irises as she stared upon his face.
"She must be crazy. You've got to be one of the finest boys I've seen in all of Costa Del Sol, not to mention a gentleman for looking at my face, not my chest." Her pink tinted sunglasses slid down to the end of her nose; she gave him a gentle smile. "Can I buy you something? A soda or ice cream?"
Turning his head back towards Tifa, he saw her chatting happily to a blonde man. I bet she'll always like blondes more than… guy's with black hair. Veering his attention back at the mystery woman, he couldn't help but think. If I can just forget about Tifa. I'll be fine. "I believe I should be asking you the same thing."
"So… do you think I can have your number?" Shane, a vibrant blonde man that had 'accidentally' hit Yuffie with a beach ball, gave her a to-die-for grin. But. It had minimal affect on Tifa because somewhere in the midst of her mind, Vincent was there. Ripping a large amount of attention from reality.
"I… don't think so."
"Why not…?"
"I'm…not looking for this kind of thing right now." So what am I looking for? A small voice spoke out. Maybe a dark-haired hottie going by the name of Vincent Valentine.
"Oh…" One last desperately dispirited look before he walked away. Tifa watched as he walked away. Boy… he looks a lot like Cloud. Afterwards, the martial artist searched for Yuffie, whom was staring off towards the shore while rubbing the side of her head, the place where the ball had hit.
Tifa walked beside her and looked to where Yuffie was gaping. A drop-dead gorgeous woman was talking up a storm with an equally sizzling man, more specifically, Vincent. Something lurched inside of Tifa; something cringed.
"Well, fine! How about poetry? Did you try reciting poetry?" Rachel, Ms. Orange-streaks-and-blue-eyes, gave Vincent suggestions to win his crush over.
"Poetry…?"
"Yeah, us women love that stuff." The watery depths had already swallowed the day when Cid called for the girls and Vincent.
"I've… got to go." Rachel looked disappointed but heard Cid yell. She also saw the longing look Vincent wore as Tifa walked passed him.
"So, she's the one. She's stunning, don't let her slip away." She gave him one last goodbye kiss on the cheek before letting him follow the rest of AVALANCHE. Tifa had seen. "I'll be seeing you."
The group went back to their rooms with high spirits, having just spent a day on the sunny beach. Tifa went back to talk to Vincent after Yuffie and Nanaki disappeared to some place and the families went back to their designated rooms.
"Did you have fun today, Vince?" Taking a seat beside the shooter, still in her swim suit.
"I… guess." Throughout the day, even while speaking to Rachel, he felt as if every person on the beach was staring with disgust at his claw. But Vince was quite used to it; it didn't really trouble him. So in a way… yes, he did have fun.
"I… saw you talking to a girl. She was really pretty." I must have taken half of the beach back with me… Frustrated, not sure at her dirty hair or something else, Tifa tugged at her hair with a towel, trying to strain all of the sand. "I… didn't think you'd go and talk to someone else."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" A tinge of annoyance entered his tone, if he showed compassion now, he'd be sucked in too far. He would never be able to get over Tifa.
"I-I guess… you just never seemed to make an effort to talk to other people…" Dropping her eyes, dark locks cascaded Tifa's face. "I thought you only talked to us. I'm not saying you can't talk to other people, I-"
"Then what are you saying?" She wouldn't look at him, something must have happened. However, he had to be cruel and cold to just get her out of his mind. Even Chaos had been nagging him non-stop about his newfound feelings. He couldn't find any tenderness at the moment, he was supposed to be loyal, to love Lucretia forever, now, Tifa was interfering.
"N-nothing! ... Just forget I said anything…" Standing, Tifa walked into the washroom but before she mumbled something that not even Vincent could make out. As the woman slugged away, he felt the smallest poke at his heart but it wasn't enough for him to be compelled to apologize… or even say anything.
The darkness pulled over them, Vincent went to bed with no one else in the room, Yuffie had yet to return with Nanaki and Tifa was still in the bathroom when he decided to turn in.
The fist fighter exited the bathroom in a simple white mini dress; it reached just above her knees and was made a loose fabric that allowed easy movement. Instead of heading to bed, she headed to the door. Do I love him? As her hand touched the surface of the door, Tifa looked back at a slumbering Vincent. I couldn't have gotten over Cloud so fast… I couldn't have… Can I fall in love so quickly after such a shocking pain? Can I? Or does my heart contain Vincent? …Which one do I love?
Too many questions immersed her mind; she would never be able to sleep. The starry sky possessed her, causing her to leave the room. Maybe a little walk… Only moments after Tifa left, the door creaked open. A small face peeked in, Yuffie Kisaragi.
In a whisper, she spoke to herself with a sneaky smile. "Commence operation 'Match the Stars'."
Sorry about the cliffhanger... I'll try my best to write some in China and update before I come back. Please review =) it really does help.