A/N: Here it is! The 17 chapter of Hidden Memories, complete with a cliffhanging twist, a damn near lemon and some damn good fluff! Warning, sexual content ahead. Oh, and if you like sex, evil ninjas and unsuspecting twists, this will be your favorite chapter. Enjoy!
Recognitions...
8 new reviews! Whoo hoo, thanks to all you people that added me to faves and alerts, it's hard to keep track now so I don't wanna leave anyone out or repeat another one and sound stupid so I thank all of you!
xCR1MS0N-T3ARSx: Well, I guess I'm not stupid, but I'm not the brightest either, heehee. Anyhow, don't worry bout not reviewing. I think white would be a smooth contrast to Vincent's normal wardrobe, its fun to picture him in white for me. But then again, I'm weird.
The Tiramisu Of Impending Doom: I'm not sure if this chapter is so crazy, but you can be the judge of that. Let me know!
Asuka-Kazama-Mishima-Doo san: Saying sayonara reminds me of Jr. in Xenosagas...Hmm, anyhow, I knew some people were going to think Aeris was back (no, she's not yet, I don't know if I'll bring her back. She sucked in the game...at least in my file) and some people were going to think that was too obvious. Heehee, just read this next chapter and you'll find out who! Thanks for reviewing!
mimi: Yes, I liked Vincent's description as well. Anyhow, Ticent forever! You won't have to worry about them being seperated for now...
unknown: Like I said, don't need to worry about seperation for now...(evil laugh) Thanks to both you and mimi for reviewing!
Tirnam'Bas: Thank you. Oh, and thanks again for bringing up that little complication. I forgot about the immortality :)
mystic-Hoshi: If you read this far, I'm pretty sure I fucked up your idea of what happens pretty good.
CloudLov3r: One of my few regulars. And the one I look forward to the most. I'm very excited that you like my story (somewhat) and I'm glad you understood it easier, I admit it could get confusing in some parts. Not much to worry about in here, though, mostly the 'other' type of action you wanted. Sorry to keep you waiting, the plot is overwhelming me! Lol, let me know how you like this chapter.
Onward, to the story of champions and people with nothing better to read!
Chapter 17
"So what the hell happened?" Cid piped up, looking from Cloud to Vincent and back again. They had all retreated into the Highwind cabin from the cold after they had regained their composure. Cloud looked to Vincent for an answer, who merely was as solemn as ever as he leaned against the wall, arms across his chest.
"Well," Cloud started, not sure where to begin. "We were attacked by those guys…and…um…" Cloud just scratched the back of his head and gave a half shrug. "I think I need to think through what just happened before I really start explaining it to everyone else. Hell, I don't even know what happened." Red gave an amused look before turning away, slowly followed by a disgruntled group. Cloud turned to Vincent, the only one left in the room.
"What really did happen?"
Vincent pondered his answer silently in his mind before speaking softly. "I…do not quite understand it myself."
"Well, do you have any idea?" Cloud continued, trying fruitlessly to read Vincent's apathetic expression.
Vincent ran the question through his head as he shook it lightly. I heard her voice…why did she speak to me, after all these years?
Maybe she came back from the dead, too, along with those scum, kidded Chaos. However, Vincent could not help but feel a glimmer of hope. Quit dreaming, mortal. Even if she returned, she loved science more than you. Besides, this other woman looks much more delectable than her.
Vincent's train of thought shifted to Tifa, her radiant smile filling his mind. He loved everything about her: Her hair, her eyes, how she sighed into his neck when he kissed hers…but most of all, he admired the way she smiled.
Her wine-colored eyes shone brilliantly and her hair seemed to glow. Her entire face would lift and her lips would be almost irresistible to even the impassive sharpshooter.
Cloud shook his head in bewilderment and turned to leave, grunting hello to Tifa as he passed her in the corridor. As he left, Tifa stood quietly at the door, waiting for Vincent to acknowledge her.
Vincent didn't move at all, but Tifa could sense his approval. She walked cautiously toward him and stood in front of him, feeling awkward. Here she was, staring at a man almost a foot taller than her with his gaze staring almost timidly at the ground.
"Vincent…" It was then Tifa knew the effect her voice had on him; she could see the shiver that started from the tip of his spine that he had suppressed quickly, but not quick enough. She reached up hesitantly and brushed aside his cloak, caressing his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned his head into her hand as she lovingly stroked him, feeling a wave of peace and content wash over her.
"Vincent, what happened out there?" she whispered, removing her hand. Vincent opened his eyes slightly, adverting his gaze.
He doesn't want to talk about it now…he's…
'Scared.'
Tifa had never before seen the look of dread fill Vincent's dead crimson eyes, nor much of any emotion, for that matter. But this was a foreign expression; the way his brow furrowed wasn't in thought.
With uncertainty, Tifa brought herself forward, pressing her body lightly into Vincent. This seemed to bring him out of his revere, and he brought his eyes up to meet hers in question. She returned it with a smile and snaked her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. She buried the side of her face into his warm chest and sighed in delight, enjoying the bashful way Vincent returned her embrace.
She turned up to him and just smiled at him. She knew she wasn't supposed to talk; silence was to be their language now. She ran her hands along his back, bringing her lips to his.
The reaction was uncertain at first, as always with Vincent, but as she opened her mouth to massage his tongue, she could feel him relax. His hands, both artificial and natural, ran under her shirt and rubbed her bare back. Just the feeling of his hand on her bare skin made her shiver in excitement, and she pressed herself more into him.
As their kiss deepened, Tifa hardly noticed what was happening, barely aware that her body was moving. She was subconsciously leading down the deserted corridor toward her and Yuffie's room. She merely hoped the little ninja was elsewhere. She was blissfully ignorant of the small shadow following the entangled couple.
As Tifa threw the door shut, she allowed her body to fall onto the bed, Vincent on top of her. She moaned in ecstasy as he kissed her on her chin, then her neck, then the exposed skin above her chest. She willed him to keep going, to take her right then and there, but as she started sliding her hands into the back of his pants, he froze.
Tifa's immediate thought was, Oh my god, I was rushing him! Please, don't stop, please! But then she noticed that as he had come back up to her face, his eyes had shifted past her head for a second and seen a gleam from her bag.
Vincent slowly pulled himself up from her, her hands sliding lifelessly from his waist. As if in a trance, he walked to her bag and brought out the small black and silver box packed clumsily into the opening. He turned it in his hand as if admiring it, then his face contorted into horror.
Tifa was bewildered as he patted his chest, apparently checking for something in his breast pocket, but she could tell he had not found it. At the very edge of her hearing, she thought she heard someone whisper, "Yes!" but as she looked around she decided that it was her mind playing tricks on her.
"What's that Vincent?" she asked curiously, flopping on her stomach and seductively positioning herself to show off her bodily curves. However, Vincent seemed to be immune to anything.
"Where did you get this?" he inquired forcefully, holding the box in his claw. Tifa examined the object for a second then shrugged.
"I've never seen that before. What is it?"
Vincent shook his head. "Perhaps a sign; an omen. Maybe it was stolen. Whatever the case, this is the wedding ring I had offered Lucrecia the night before she lost her life. My last day as a human."
xxxxXxxxx
Yuffie had almost blown her cover when she whispered aloud, but had quickly covered her mouth. Tifa had turned her way for a second, but she hid behind a corner and held her breath. She heard Tifa start talking with Vincent again and she breathed.
That was too close. But he found it! Yuffie could have done skips at Vincent's monotone voice, clearing enraged and confused. Then she heard him.
"…this is the wedding ring I had offered Lucrecia…" Yuffie's insides turned to ice.
Omigod! she mentally screamed at herself. No wonder why he's always keeping such a close eye on it! Oh no, oh no, oh no, what if he finds out I stole his engagement ring? Then something hit her. What did he mean by an omen? Stolen? A sign? Yuffie merely grew confused. She pressed herself to the wall and strained to listen.
"Vincent! What's it doing in my bag then?" Tifa's voice was just as confused as anyone else's, but Yuffie could tell she had a pretty good idea at what happened.
"I may have mistakenly misplaced it, when someone found it and merely placed it into the bag closest to them, thinking it fell out. Yours simply was at the right place at the right time." His voice was dead again, revealing nothing to Yuffie, as she could not lean around the corner to study his movie-star face.
"Well, I guess that's a good thing…?" Tifa asked uncertainly. Yuffie assumed he had nodded, shrugged, shook his head, whatever, because the next moment Yuffie could hear the box being set down on a table.
"Vincent!" cried out the martial artist in surprise and delight.
Damn, Yuffie thought. I guess I'll just have to come up with something else. Suddenly an idea concocted in Yuffie's mind, and she silently crept back into the hall, closing the door behind her. She had seen the looks on his face; confusion, hatred, jealousy…they could both win if they worked together, and Yuffie had a feeling Cloud would agree.
xxxxXxxxx
Tifa moaned in pure pleasure. Vincent seemed to allow the thought of the ring to pass his mind and had landed on the bedside next to her, embracing her and plastering her with kisses. Now after a few moments, he had his human hands cautiously exploring underneath her shirt, first almost fearfully touching her breast, then moving onward to feeling and massaging. Tifa could almost feel her head come straight off as Vincent became more aggressive.
Though she knew he was hesitant, Tifa wanted this more than ever, and would try at all costs to get him. So far, she was off to a good start.
As Vincent's explorations became experimentation, Tifa found her shirt was in the way. Throwing it over her head, she slowly kissed Vincent's neck as he nibbled her ear. Though he was rusty in some areas, he was not new, and quickly regained the skills he thought he had long forgotten. He stroked his thumb over her nipple and she moaned in his mouth, their lips having gone back to each others.
Tifa could not stand it anymore. She roughly shoved her hands into his pants, feeling in certain areas that she knew aroused both of them. She felt him shift slightly and shiver in delight and fear; he was uncertain where this was going, but willing to take the risk all the same.
As she started to unbutton his black pants, Tifa heard the door swing open. In a flash, Vincent was off her, his claw bared and ready to attack as she suddenly realized her thin bra was exposed.
As Tifa wrapped the blanket around her, Red walked through the door. When he saw what was before him, a half naked Vincent with unbuttoned pants and Tifa with the blanket held up to her chest, he raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"I'm hoping I did not interrupt…anything," he said, closing his eyes. "As you know, I cannot exactly knock on a door, but I thought it was best to inform everyone." Vincent could suddenly feel Red's body tense as he whispered, "We have a visitor."
Vincent stood there for a moment, deciding what to make of this vague information before moving on. Tifa sat quietly on the bed, waiting for Vincent's reaction.
He decided to be straightforward. "Who is it?" he asked, his voice returning to its invariable tone.
Red shook his head. "I think you should perhaps come to the loading dock and see for yourselves."
Tifa and Vincent exchanged a glance before Red left, allowing Tifa to hastily retrieve her shirt.
"Who do you think it is?" she asked, turning to Vincent. He kept his eyes on the open door Red had left through and knew that Red had known immediately that he and Tifa were here.
Vincent knew Red well, and knew he had looked in his room for him first, then seeing he was gone, knew he was occupied with Tifa. If he had the nerve and courage to interrupt that, then Vincent knew it must have been important.
"We shall find out," he said, and exited the room. Tifa hurriedly followed him, his metal boots clanging unusually loud on the cold, stern floor.
He must be deep in thought, Tifa reasoned, noticing his change in behavior. They walked quickly in silence and soon they reached the ramp, stopping at the top. Below them both was the entire Avalanche group gathered at the base, facing a heavily cloaked man. His voice was smooth and familiar; all business.
"…and he shall destroy you all. Trust me, Avalanche, you must yield; his power is devastating. I alone have seen his power in work, the others merely fear him after he granted them life."
Cloud stepped forward, his hand on the sword hilt protruding from his back. "And how exactly can we trust you if we don't know who you are?"
The creature under the dark cloak growled. "Whom I am nor what I am is important. All that is vital to you is that I have witnessed the Great One's power; the one who christens himself God."
"We don't have to listen to someone who thinks they know everything!" Cloud unsheathed his sword in a flash and swung it down, causing the others to gasp in surprise. Of course Cloud was tactless and blunt, but he was never this hasty or aggressive.
However, to the group's surprise, the man merely leapt from the attack and landed gracefully on his feet a few feet away.
"Cloud, I only give you this message as the Cetra's dying request from the Lifestream: She asked me to be your eyes on the inside and help guide you to try and even the odds, but after His witness of power, I can only hope that you take my message seriously. Aeris does not wish to see you before your due time."
The effect of her name was astonishing. A wave of shock and awe washed over them as they stared dumbstruck at the new warrior. The cloaked figure turned to leave them, content, but gasped in surprise as a bullet sailed through his back and out his chest. The entire Avalanche turned to Vincent, his gun smoking in his hand.
"Vincent!" Tifa cried. "Why did you kill him?"
"He is an immortal, and a powerful one at that. He is not dead." As he said this, the supposedly slain man rose up hesitantly, the cloak falling from his shoulders to reveal his identity.
His sleek, proper black hair was tied back, reaching the length of his back. His dark blue suit seemed to compliment his deep sapphire eyes. They could even see a brief scar starting from the top of his chest and stretching down.
Vincent was the only one who remained capable of speech, the others too shocked and Cid and Barret just mouthing silent profanities. "Hello again, Tseng."
A/N: Oh zing! (Weird expression meaning surprise) It's Tseng! That kinda rhymed...maybe not. Anyhow, added the fluff and partial lemon, almost got there but I had to have some dead person come back because that moves the plot along smoother. If you're wondering, they left the bodies of the Turks (the immortal ones) in the snow, they were too lazy to drag them anywhere and they didn't really care to dig a grave in -100 degrees so they left them there. Review please! Oh, and the rating on this story just went up because of this chapter, sorry people if that affects you in any way (most likely not)