A/N: Thank you thank you thank you to every single one of you that reviewed! I'm starting school now, and since I'm now in High, the homework here is unbearable and fucking insane! Anyhow, I won't find as much time to write between Cross Country and homework, but I will update whenever I can. Aiming for every other week or so, I don't know, maybe sooner.

7 reviews since last update! Recognitions and comments peoplez!

The Tiramisu Of Impending Doom: I'll let you find out if those two make up in this chapter, but I had to include some jealousy stuff in there, its so fun to get dramatic! And yes, I love Ticent alot more than Yuffietine too! Tifa and Vincent foreva!
BabyGurl278: I'm sorry, its about time I had something about Lartsa, right? More fighting scences than information in this one, but thanks for reviewing all the time, it means alot!
Tirnam'Bas: Thanks for reminding me about the Immortality point, I kind of patched that up, but its a bit choppy. You'll find out more about Ryo the chapter after this, but you do see some of his abilities in this one though!
xCR1MS0N-T3ARSx: Thanks for reviewing! A new reviewer! When was the last time you read this story, cuz I updated this alot over the summer (Yup, I get bored easily)
CloudLov3r: YAY you actually liked (somewhat) my story! Whoo hoo! Ok, I'm sorry about the conversational parts, I'll try to fix that up better from now on, and I'll see if I can go back and fix up the last chapter so its easier to understand. Yes, I had to include dramatics and jealousy, its just sooo fun (I like how I did Cloud's feelings, too. Quite good, if I do say so myself.)
shikaku zetsumei: New reviewer too, eh? Thanks for taking the time to review, its does mean alot to know more people are reading this fucked up interpretation of a story (heehee). I know, I was really into doing a Ticent that I rushed the beginning, but I hope I'm keeping it more on-beat now, its difficult not putting up some fluff in here cuz its so damn cute!
Thanks to swiftstar85 for adding this story to your alerts!

Now, onwards to the story!

Chapter 15

Barret knew he could be dense at times, but even he could feel the tension between his two female companions. He wanted no more to be in the middle than to have spiky's sword shoved up his black ass.

So, he stayed as far away as possible.

They had explored their region, but decided it was much too early to head back to the Highwind. They all knew Cloud would be harsh if they didn't stay out as long as humanly possible, and they didn't feel like arguing with him right now, not even the troublesome Yuffie.

They stayed in a small cave, one of the many littering their section. They gathered around a large fire Barret produced with his materia he obtained from Red. Damn cat always seems to 'ave the good fire materia, he thought, observing the small, green orb resting in his large palm. He was completely oblivious to the death stare Yuffie shot Tifa.

Now that she was over her guilt at having verbally attacking Tifa, Yuffie still felt the same. She knew about how I felt, she thought to herself, glancing over at Tifa. I told her and then she steals him away! That's what I'm supposed to do! Stealing is my specialty! With this, she reached into her khaki shorts and pulled out two materia, twirling them between her fingers. She had been especially proud that Cloud never noticed them missing.

Excellent. Flawless. Yuffie kept congratulating herself on her latest theft when she suddenly remembered she was supposed to be angry at Tifa. Fine, if she wants to play that game, then I'll show her who's the master. A huge grin washed over her face. It wasn't a very moral or kind thing to do, but this was her; besides, drastic means call for drastic measures.

The grin only widened.

xxxxXxxxx

Tifa could identify Yuffie's mischievous grin from across the world. She knew something was running through the young shinobi's head, and considering their last conversation, probably nothing good for Tifa.

She didn't mind the energetic ninja; she actually enjoyed her inexhaustible attitude and carefree spirit. She didn't have anything to weigh her down out in the open. Her only dread would be returning to Wutai and not stealing every last materia she could lay her hands on.

Still, she's jealous because I love Vincent and he returned my feelings. Why can't she just accept it? Then Tifa remembered how she felt when she heard Cloud and Aeris whispering in the Shinra prison, talking about dating each other. It made every fiber in her being want to kill the Cetra.

Maybe she did understand Yuffie's position.

But Cloud was my childhood friend. He saved me when Sephiroth destroyed Nebilheim, we stayed together in Midgar together when he joined Avalanche. He ever saved me from falling into the Lifestream after the battle. Yuffie doesn't have that connection with Vincent.

'Well, neither do you.'

There it was. The nagging voice in the back of her mind. How she hated it; it always told the truths she didn't want to face.

So if neither of us have that connection, then Vincent is fair game, right?

'You make it sound like some competition on who can win his heart the fastest. Is he really your lover or is he just someone you need to fall back on after Cloud?'

I love him.

'Those three little words.' Her subconscious rested again, leaving her to her own thoughts. She knew Yuffie thought she was swiping her man from right under her nose, but she couldn't see it that way; she was surprised Vincent even had admitted any feelings for her whatsoever. Still, she wouldn't complain.

She gathered her knees up in her arms and pulled them to her chest, slowly resting her eyes.

xxxxXxxxx

Vincent could feel the power of the spear and sword clash from where he flew. He had narrowly avoided Lartsa's swift attack by leaping up, firing round after round at Lartsa. However, he merely slid the bullets off his blade, protecting him from harm.

"You are going to have to do better than that, Vincent," he called, looking up at him. "You can't expect to defeat an immortal such as myself so easily."

Vincent gracefully landed on his feet, his Death Penalty in his hand and ready for use. "Exactly how do you intend on killing me? We are both immortals. Didn't you already try before in the past when I turned into Galian for the first time?"

Lartsa cocked his head, and the ground shook slightly again as Golem swung his spear around to be parried by the Ultima Weapon. "You mean that thing has a name? Hm, figures. Naming your demons sounds about your speed, Valentine." He smiled slightly. "As for your immortality question: Of course I couldn't kill you before. Only an immortal can vanquish an immortal. It's like infinity minus infinity; you still end up with nothing." Lartsa continued his relentless assault, slashing and swiping at Vincent with his legendary speed.

Though both Vincent and Cloud were in the midst of battle, they noticed Ryo was lazily admiring the clouds above them, paying no heed to the battle.

Cloud suddenly gained an idea. He took out a materia clasped in his armband and extended his arm. In a second, a huge bolt of electricity surged from it. Golem merely sidestepped it, but in a second comprehension dawned on his face. He spun about and watched the attack head straight into an unsuspecting Ryo. Even Lartsa and Vincent froze, and it seemed as if time had stopped itself.

The lightning was seconds from striking Ryo when he spun about, taking his hand from his pocket and holding it out. Bolt collided with his hand, but Cloud and Vincent watched in horror as he withstood it, the thunderbolt merely weaving around him as it came in contact with his hand.

When the attack cleared, Ryo remained standing, his hand smoking slightly where his black biker glove had been incinerated.

Vincent saw the smirk on Lartsa's face and a small smile creep onto Ryo's, and Vincent turned to see Cloud mouth, "Holy shit."

xxxxXxxxx

Silence.

That was her name.

Darkness.

That was her ally.

Yuffie crept silently across the cave, careful not to wake her snoozing companions. They had all decided a couple hours of sleep would do them good, seeing as how they were all exhausted and it was still too early to head back. Yuffie was privately glad a sudden, chilly gust had smothered most of the fire, and thought it was freezing, offered her excellent cover.

She arrived at Tifa's sleeping figure, her coat over her face as she laid on her supply bag. Yuffie almost could not restrain her giggling as she slipped a small silver and black object into her bag.

Vincent's most prized possession, she thought. He'll be upset when he discovers he lost it. He'll go mad! Yuffie knew Vincent would most likely keep his mouth shut and sulk in a corner, but she had seen him studying it so intently during some nights he had a room to himself. Of course, she had stealthily peeked to see if his materia were available, but he hardly ever slept, giving her little, if no chance.

Now's not the time to think about materia, she cried to herself, shaking her head. I just have to worry about her finding it before-hand. She crept silently back to her corner and pretended to slumber, until she finally she accepted her fatigued as it washed over her excitement and anxiety.

xxxxXxxxx

Vincent and Cloud barely registered what they had just witnessed before the Turks continued their assault. While Cloud easily countered Golem's powerful yet blunt attacks, Vincent had much more difficulty, receiving cuts and incisions throughout his clothing and skin.

From the corner of his eye, Vincent could see a flash of light. Omni-slash, he thought, and, sure enough, heard Golem's unconscious body crash into the snow. Vincent turned back to his battle; he could not rely on Cloud's help right after performing his signature attack.

"Give in!" cried Lartsa suddenly, feinting a slash while driving his other katana into a straight stab. Vincent sidestepped it and instinctively slashed out with his metal claw, slicing the side of Lartsa's face open.

Blood stained the ground as Lartsa tried to cover the wounded cheek with one hand. A mad glint in his eye, he raised his arm, his single materia glowing brilliantly.

"Vincent Valentine, now you die! Astral Blade!" Lartsa's entire arm resonated, a Mako color running from his armband to his shoulder and the tips of his fingers. Then he gritted his teeth and the energy flowed downwards even farther, until it ran down into the blade. Vincent seemed unable to move as he watched Lartsa's ultimate attack unfold before him. He watched in awe as the Mako coloring moved to the tip and ultimately broke from the blade as a small, green sphere.

"Now!"

Lartsa' slashed open the sphere, and Vincent could feel all hell break loose. The snow shot upwards, a torrent of wind surrounded and encased them all. Vincent looked around in surprise, then turned back to Lartsa and gasped.

Both his blades were glowing a brilliant and blinding blue. They also seemed much larger, yet the way he held them told Vincent they were lighter than his originals. The power coming from them made Vincent's legs shake slightly, but his body quickly recovered from the wave of energy.

Lartsa's chuckle become hysterical, demented. He threw his head back and laughed insanely, his eyes wide. "Now kiddies, its time to die."

Cloud stepped forward, bracing himself besides Vincent. Lartsa merely smiled at the pair, then vanished into thin air, leaving only a smirking Ryo in the background. Cloud could of swore he saw Ryo saw something, but was drowned out as Lartsa cried from above them, his blades pointing straight down in a dive-bomb.

"Shit!" shrieked Cloud as Lartsa collided with the ground, showering dirt, debris and remaining snow into the air, obscuring the new battlefield.

However, the sudden and deafening crash served as a good alarm clock for the others.

A/N: Can be a very confusing chapter, I stopped like seventeen times because I had to do this or that and so my mood and writing style kind of go way off. It's odd. I hope you all don't mind too much, its very stressful keeping up school as it is, specially since I'm now a freshman in this huge ass school (not really huge, but compared to my Middle School...yup, its big). Alright, no more personal problems or excuses, lastest time of next update shall be September 15, but am aiming for the 8th. Check both days if you wanna know what happens next. Review please!