Disclaimer: I don't own anything... anymore. VV my friends all stole everything.

Can't... concentrate... -sigh- stupid headache. Don't attack me because this chapter sucks.

I'm The Same As You When We're In The Dark.

"Alright. We'll be waiting here. Take care and don't get hurt!" With one arm cradling Ashley and the other waving goodbye to her husband and friends, Shera stood at the doorstep of the residence of Tammy.

AVALANCHE had decided that Shera and Ashley should stay where they were after their navigator and escort had warned them of extremely dangerous obstacles they might encounter. The car ride was quiet except for the occasional giggle or whisper from Chris and Yuffie.

As they closed in on the water's edge, a large submarine came into view. Tifa stepped out almost last if it wasn't for Vincent behind her; gusts of salty sea winds whipped her hair about. Once inside the metal beast's bowel, Tammy let out a screech of enthusiasms to them as they sunk lower and lower.

Kind amber eyes looked around at her fellow teammates. Nanaki was chatting with Cid, who was obviously missing Shera with his constant fidgets or shifts. Yuffie and Chris were huddled in a corner, flirting and joking. Rich girl and rich boy, they'd make a cute couple. But in the darkest crook of the room, Vincent stood, sulking.

She'd offered him everything she had and still she was not good enough. He expected her to forget him? Damn it! That's harder than it sounds! However... the scenario was uncannily familiar. Tifa had offered Cloud everything and still, death was better than a life with her. That blonde bastard was so selfish; so greedy. He'd created the illusion of happiness so he could get everything from her before ditching. The ex-bar hostess felt tears of sadness burning her eyes yet anger was boiling her blood. Vincent had fabricated a hallucination for her as well, his gentle care and a passionate kiss. Then, he also decides that a dead girl was better. Her fists were trembling at her sides. The droplets hadn't dripped from her lashes yet though.

How could two men she love-d be so... so... harsh? Because they were pigs, that's why. No one ever cared for her, but at least no one had ever led her on a string. Pretending. Deceiving. Before anything else could note itself in her mind, Tifa's senses told her of the spotlight that she was standing in the middle of. Every pair of eyes were upon her.

"Tif...?" Yuffie's voice called to her.

Striding over to Vincent, who seemed shock to see Tifa coming, cause the ninja to stop talking. Gazing upward into the gunman's eyes, he could see the tears teetering, ready to fall. Oh Vinnie, look at that, you made her cr- A united gasp around the room sounded after an abrupt cry of skin against flesh. Originally tightly crossed arms were now much more slack; Vincent was bowing slightly to the left with his face staring the same direction. His eyes were wide with shock. Tifa had disappeared almost a second after the assault.

All had gone silent. The tall shooter slowly straightened, tenderly touching the red print on his right cheek, where she had slapped him.

Touching the glass pane that shielded her from the murky depths. A teardrop rolled down her face, followed by another one. God, what had she done?

Why can't I stop hurting the people I love?

First Lucretia and now Tifa, was it some kind of disease he had?

I shouldn't be feeling these emotions for you...

I mean I came on this journey to bring back Vincent's lover. Not to become it...

Still though, I can't stop thinking of that kiss.

I've never kissed Lucretia and had the same rush of emotions.

I feel like I hate you for getting me to love you. Did I just say love?

Do I love you, Vincent Valentine? ... What's the point? You obviously don't feel the same.

I just want to... forget. Forget it all. Just to become ignorant, in the dark. (a/n some people were confused with this part -points up at the 'thoughts'-, the idea was that Vincent and Tifa shared the same thoughts and I alternated between them to show that. If you didn't understand that before... you can go back and read it again if you want =) if you already understood that, then I'm sorry for interrupting your happy reading . )

"Hey, wait!" Chris chased down Yuffie. "Maybe you should give her some time to herself."

"..." Unusually, the Wutainese girl stayed quiet, lost of all words. Did... Tifa hate Vincent? What the hell was happening? "... I guess so... I just feel like I'm missing something. You know, like something important."

"Don't worry, you're not alone." Slinging his arm over her shoulders, they made a slow saunter back to the main room. "Don't' worry so much, she'll be fine. They just need to figure it out on their own."

"You always know what to say, don't you?"

Meanwhile, Nanaki and Cid watched as Vincent spoke inside his head. After a couple of moments, he seemed to have come to a halt. I just want to... forget. Forget it all. That was when he felt their eyes, curious of him. "Yes?"

"Er." Suddenly, both seemed dumbfounded. Cid managed to stutter out. "Uh, n-nothing."

The handsome figure of Vince strolled towards the direction Tifa had run off to. See how she was doing. He'd seen the tears and he was not heartless. Figuring she'd go to the meeting room, it was the room with the windows. But halfway there, he felt his cheek flare up with stinging pain. Did she really want to see him though?

Damn, Vinnie, I don't remember you doing anything stupid enough to make her hit you like that. Not even I saw that coming. You just can't stop making the women you love hate you.

Suddenly, girlish giggles and a man's chuckles were close. Yuffie and Chris were walking back; as the rounded off another corner, they saw Vincent. The ex-killer's right cheek was still blazing red; it'd take awhile before the true blue would start to show.

"Hi, Vinnie." Her dusky irises showed nothing but pure enjoyment as her arm was looped around Chris' waist and his over her shoulders.

"Have you encountered Tifa?"

"... No. Sorry." Leaving the couple behind, he ventured into the meeting room. Tifa was there, gazing out into the waters as if they were stars.

Her hair stood on end. A chill was running down her back and she could smell the rain and roses. He was near. "Hello, Vincent."

She seemed to be surprising him a lot today. "Greetings."

The unease strained between them as he made his way closer to her. Finding a nice distance beside her, he gazed out the small window beside hers. A crackle requested the attention to be with the intercom. "AVALANCHE members. This is Tammy, your captain, speaking. There is a magical bubble over the temple so you can breathe within it... I think. I have never been inside of it but I will follow you this time because, well, none of you have SCUBA gear and I only have one. Please hold onto something as we breach the wall."

Handles were molded to the wall for such occasion so both Vincent and Tifa grabbed hold of it. But they had not anticipated such a drop or shake. A powerful jolt sent them off the handle and onto the floor. As the turbulence ceased, Vincent was gripping Tifa; frightened she might have fallen away if he'd let go.

Both looked up at each other and locked in a staring contest. More and more their eyes were becoming more alike. Vincent, becoming more alive and open, while Tifa, becoming more desolate and dead.

Quickly, they broke away from gawking and stood up to look outside. They were within the Ares Temple now. The group, not including Tammy nor Chris or any of the crewmembers, left the submarine and began to look for something. There was supposed be something at the center of the temple, where someone would draw a little blood to open the lock. Then they had to place the Aiya dagger into it so it would receive 'blood of a thousand wars'. Sounded fairly simple. Except for the obscuring darkness. Not shadowy dark, but so black, you couldn't make out your own hand inches from your face.

Tifa felt someone take her hand. It was cold... it was Vincent's claw. Then another warm hand clutched her left hand. Soft and supple, it was Yuffie's. Taking out their flashlights, they began to search for the center. They moved in-groups of three, every group having two flashlights.

Vincent stopped though, in mid-step, he heard something. A cry, a cry you have before a battle. Metal clanking. Horses, and hoofs against the rock beneath everyone's feet. The entire group had paused, and listened.

"Hey," Tifa gave Vincent's hand a squeeze, asking for attention. "What's that?"

Pulling his arm one way so he'd know where she was gesturing, an eerie blue glowing cluster was forming in front of them.