A/N: Holy shit I gained about 7 reviews from my last chapter! WOW! Thank you everyone, here's your recognitions!

Tirnam'Bas & Sakura-Valentine: Two new reviewers! Thanks for reviewing and adding me to your favorites!
BabyGurl278: It's my regular! Thanksfor reviewing, of course.Your fave chapter out of them all? Yay, I'm happy! I'm glad you liked my portrayal of Cid, I always view him as the comical relief for some reason, someone to break the tension suddenly and bluntly, and bout Cloud, I'm not a real big CloTif fan, but I needed to throw in some more romance factors. Not everything can be a fairytale, right?
The Tiramisu Of Impending Doom: Haha mood eyes. I never worded it like that hahaha. I'm glad I did something original. I just noticed he showed very little emotion throughout the entire game (which makes Vincent pimp) so I played on 'what if he showed his feelings?' Glad you liked it! Thanks!
Cloudlov3r: Now, the person who I looked most forward to reviewing. So you don't like Lartsa and Tifa's fainting? I'll remember that. Don't worry, you won't have to see too much of him, and about the fainting, Tifa's still an emotional woman, rushing so much information at someone like her might be a little much (Yes, Yuffie is a woman too, but she is kinda dense, don't ya think?). And I actually made you somewhat interested in the next chapter! I'm proud of myself!

Ok, long recognitions, I know, but you can skip over that if you're not one of them, but just a person who can't take a minute out of their time to review (hint hint lol). This one has some serious drama in it, mainly between Yuffie and Tifa. Yuffie is slightly out of character, but I think I balance that out with Vincent's and Cloud's characterization. Let me know, k? Just more suspense crap and soft hinting to leave you wondering (Don't you hate me? Heehee)

Chapter 13

It's searing…the pain is cutting through my body. No, not again…I cannot take this again! He struggled to keep his balance, but inevitably he fell into blissful darkness, engulfed by death's sweet embrace. Or so he thought.

Sephiroth slowly opened his eyes, knowing Hojo watched him attentively from the other side of the accursed cave, the resting ground of his biological mother. He was waiting for a sign of weakness from him, so he could prove Sephiroth was only human, a fallen god of hatred and revenge.

However, he gave him no such opportunity.

Sephiroth was leaning against a wall, his knees propped in front of him where his arm rested. In front of him lay his fabled Masamune, the ultimate weapon of man. He smirked to himself at the thought of the blood that stained his razor-like blade.

So many lives, so much carnage…and I caused it all. With one swing, I can annihilate anyone…With these peaceful thoughts, Sephiroth fell back into a slumber, a nightmare plagued one of his final battles.

"Strife…" The name escaped his lips in his sleep and Hojo's conceited and quiet chuckle echoed through the cave. He had found the weak point of the invincible God of man.

xxxxXxxxx

The wind was cold and harsh, the snow slick and treacherous. Gaea Cliff continued its torment over the three Avalanche members as they quickly ducked into a cave, shaking the snow off of them and shivering madly.

All except Vincent, of course.

Though no one could tell, Vincent could actually feel the snow on his face. He had been shocked at first, stopping in his tracks that caused the others around him to look at him questioningly. He merely shook his head and they continued about their business. Even Tifa had not bothered to inquire, but Vincent knew she must have other things on her mind.

Cloud quickly lit a fire in the small shelter with his materia, keeping as close to it without catching himself on fire. He failed the first time, excitedly moving forward too quickly which resulted in his coat going ablaze. After he swore profusely and dived into the snow outside, they all safely huddled around it.

Tifa was absently brushing her hair while Cloud continued to rub his hands together to restore some feeling in them. Vincent merely closed his eyes as he sat in his normal, smooth position.

Why can I feel the cold now? I am under the impression that if I can feel cold, then I can freeze to death. Vincent continued his train of thought that he had started at the beginning of their exploration, but had been quickly forgotten in his attempt not to remain an ice sculpture.

Is that a trace of hope I hear in your thought, human? growled Chaos quietly. He had been quiet since their last conversation, apparently unnerved and uncertain of what to make of Vincent's new attitude. However, he could not resist to comment at this.

Ah, Chaos, I thought you had gone back to sleep. I do not remember you ever being so hushed and still. Vincent enjoyed Chaos's growling response before continuing. Of course I am…aroused by the prospect of death. I do not wish to remain an immortal demon for the rest of eternity. Nor do I wish to stay forever youthful while I watch my friends and loved ones waste away around me.

You are acting strange, Vincent. This is not you.

Vincent was surprised at this; it had been the first time ever that any of his demons acknowledged that he was an equal being. They referred to him as human, scum; those sorts of titles, but Chaos had now called him by his given name.

What do you mean, Chaos?

Loved ones? Aroused? You are feeling emotions, something you gave up long ago when you accepted that you shared a vessel with demons. You thought yourself unworthy of humane feelings when you yourself are not one. Now you talk freely amongst us, you care for a human more than yourself. You've talked more this month than in the last fifty years. Don't you even wonder why all this is happening? And how convenient is Lartsa and the Turks' reappearance are?

Vincent could not deny Chaos had hit something. How had an old ally, long dead by thirty years, been resurrected then manipulated to believe he is a servant of God? Why were the Turks hired to destroy them? And who was this 'associate' of theirs? Too many unanswered questions…

Unbeknown to Vincent, Tifa was occasionally glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, thoughts of her 'conversation' with Yuffie still running through her mind…

xxxxXxxxx

She was wondering where Yuffie was dragging her when she suddenly threw them both into the Chocobo stall where Cirrus, Cloud's prized Golden Chocobo, squawked in surprise. Yuffie spun about and closed the door, turning around again to face a very confused Tifa.

She instantly knew this was not going to be a happy chat as Yuffie's face grew redder and angrier. "Tifa!" she cried. "How could you! You've known about Vincent and me…" Tifa scoffed slightly and Yuffie stopped.

"You and Vincent? Yuffie!" She threw her hands up in frustration. "You never had anything with Vincent! You never did anything to show how you felt about him!" Tifa knew she was being tactless and rude, but she was enraged by Yuffie's attack.

"But!" she cried, pointing her finger at Tifa menacingly. "You did! I told only you about how I felt about him after he helped me get over my claustrophobia in the submarine!" Tifa remembered Vincent's curt but helpful advice to Yuffie during their underwater battle that helped her considerably throughout the entire underwater voyage.

"You told me he was a cutie!" she retorted indignantly. "You just said he was the hottest guy you knew! You never said anything about starting anything with him!"

Yuffie's face swelled up in rage. "It should have been obvious! I mean, I always tried my hardest to be in the same group with him! I even let you go on that date with Cloud so I could stay at the hotel with Vinnie!"

Tifa tried to keep a straight face at the thought of Vincent's reaction to his 'Yuffie' nickname, but she was immediately sobered by the memory of her date with Cloud at the Gold Saucer.

She shook her head to get the thoughts out of her mind. "You could have just not liked Cloud! You knew how much I cared about him back then, and you knew how we argued and he said that he didn't love me! Do you know how hard that was to take?" Yuffie had grown quiet as Tifa's pent up feelings came bursting out.

"I was so miserable!" she cried, not even attempting to stop the tears from running down her cheeks. "The only man I loved, rejecting me just like that! I kept away from the other men who looked at me just because I loved him! And he knew that! But what did he do? He starts an argument with me about my jealousy about Aeris and him together! How is that supposed to make me feel?

"I cried almost everyday for a month after that," she whispered, her voice dropping as she bowed her head. "I was so heart-broken that I ran the thought of suicide over and over in my head." She gained a gasp from Yuffie. "Then I remembered Vincent." She looked up at the fearful ninja, who's hands were still over her mouth in shock.

"He had always been there, not only for me, but for everyone! He helped us throughout our journey when he didn't need to. He could have found Hojo by himself, but he went with us and protected us! Even after Hojo, he kept with us!" No more tears, only anger and determination in her voice. "He was kind to everyone, even when they shunned him when he revealed his power! He refused to hate us for it, and waited until we were comfortable with it. We didn't even think of the pain he went through before us, about his past. We just saw him as an ex-Turk who could turn into a demon; only there for power."

Tifa suddenly feel to her knees and cried in her hands, where Yuffie hesitantly started toward. "Tifa…?" she asked quietly.

"You were no different!" she shouted suddenly, looking up. Yuffie drew back, scared. "He gave us all our chances, and we gave him none. Then only Nanaki and me would talk to him, even if he didn't talk back. You just sat back with your crush, I actually did something about it! And he accepted me like Cloud didn't!"

Yuffie bowed her head in shame as she turned toward the door, leaving Tifa to cry quietly into Cirrus's soft feathers, thoughts of Vincent's pain and her own running through her mind.

"I love him…please, don't let it happen again…"

xxxxXxxxx

It had been painful for Tifa to shout at Yuffie like that, but she knew she had done the right thing. If not, Yuffie would have continued her attack, and Tifa would have been miserable about something not her fault for the rest of her life.

She kept her gaze on the fire, unaware of Cloud's fierce gaze. He kept his eyes on both Tifa and Vincent, looking for any signs of how far their relationship was. He did not know why, but he felt furious when he saw them. Vincent's head leaning down to press on Tifa's soft, pink lips…

He shook his head roughly. What am I thinking? he thought to himself. Maybe it was just his protective nature, looking out for her. He did not think of Vincent as someone capable of holding a relationship. But who else then? Maybe…me? Cloud was appalled by his thought. He knew he didn't love Tifa…didn't he?

No, I don't, he thought suddenly. I'm just not used to seeing her after anyone else but…Cloud couldn't finish the thought in his mind: Even to him that seemed selfish and cocky. He did not own Tifa, and he knew that.

Then why am I feeling so jealous of Vincent's and Tifa's relationship?

xxxxXxxxx

Ifalna…you left me…I failed you once, I cannot fail you again.

Human, forget the Cetra! You are now a mere vessel for my being!

I will not forget Ifalna…my beloved…

Pitiful human emotions!

You are only a damned demon! An inhumane creature! You do not, and never will, understand anything about love and compassion!

A fact I am very well proud and thankful of. Look at you, you are in this position because you died for your woman. How pitiful! Is this the thanks you receive for being true to your 'loved one'? Ha!

He knew it was over, there was nothing he could do. All he had left was thoughts; memories. His wife…his daughter…

Now there were these…creatures in front of him. He looked in horror upon Hojo, his executioner, staring unmoving at the silver-haired swordsman they called Sephiroth. Across the dark room was a man in a silver suit, his vermilion hair swaying slightly in the breeze. He could smell the strong scent of ocean salt water. Where were they?

He could only catch glimpses of the outside world as he faded in and out of reality. He could remember a dark demon over him, surrounded by a torrent of green waves he thought was called the Lifestream, though he knew it was impossible. He saw the swordsman break through the boulder blocking this cave with a single slash of his great sword. Then thoughts of a silver-haired man called Lartsa bowing before him came into his mind.

Why was he bowing?

Because, human…you are now God.

A/N: o0o0o0o who is God? Shouldn't be hard to figure out if you played the game. Answers to come next couple chapters, along with some action between Turks and some jealous rivaly between the two lover boys. Review!