CHAPTER 9

NIGHTMARE

"I cannot just stand by and watch anymore," Vincent said, glaring at Hojo from where he stood at the basement lab doorway. "I'm taking Lucrecia and getting out of here. You had no right to do that to her."

Hojo glared back. "Do you really think I'm going to let you even try it?" he demanded.

"This has nothing to do with you letting me do anything," Vincent growled. "I do not work for you. Hence' I don't have to listen to you."

Hojo smirked. "You won't get far!"

"That's what you think. I don't know what you did to me but I know I still have a free will. I can go where I want and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh, yeah?"

Vincent wasn't in the mood to play the 'yeah' game. He turned toward the door. "Good bye, Professor."

He didn't get far. Suddenly there was an arm around his neck and a strangling pressure. "Let me go!" he choked, trying to break the hold.

"Did you think I'd actually let you get away with interfering with my research?" Hojo hissed in his ear. "If you did; you're more stupid than I thought."

"What are you going to do?"

Hojo didn't answer.

A second later Vincent felt something sharp go into his neck. His body in reaction jerked away and broke the scientist's hold. He started to stare at Hojo, holding his sore neck (Vincent not Hojo).

"What did you do!?" he demanded.

Hojo leered at him. "I just thought you should get some rest before you go," he smirked. "Good night, Mr. Valantine."

Vincent fell on his hands and knees. All of a sudden he felt extreamly tired. "You will pay for this," he seethed, glaring hatefully at the other man. "No matter what it takes, you will pay for what you've done!"

Yuffie was awakened by the sound of thrashing. She opened her eyes and looked up from her pillow. She saw Vincent moving around uneasily on his own bed.

"Vincent?" she said pushing herself up. "Vincent?"

He moved onto his back and started panting heavily. The ninja noticed he'd thrown off his shirt and was sweating.

"Vincent?" she said again.

He turned on his side so he now faced her. She saw a pained expression on his face.

What is wrong? Is he having another nightmare?

Yuffie climbed out of bed and went over to him. She knelt down beside him and rested her hand on his face. "It's okay," she said, moving her hand up and down across his cheek. "It's over. There's nothing to worry about anymore."

As she spoke to him he seemed to calm down but that pained look never left his face. It made him look so vunerable... so weak...

Nightmares. But why now? Why is this happening to him again? Surely he still can't be trying to fix things from the past! It's a lost cause, Vinnie. Just give up before you die...

"Vincent," she whispered in his ear. "Please calm down. Those things are over and done with now. There's nothing left to do there. Just go to sleep and sleep peacefully..."

"Yuffie...," a monetone voice broke the stillness. "Yuffie..."

She was startled. Is he talking to me in his sleep?!

He turned on his back. He didn't say anything more. His breathing slowed to normal. His face became calm as if he was no longer having a nightmare.

Yuffie sighed in relief. At least he's having happy dreams now. "That's right," she told him, grinning. "You just sleep peacefully."

She reached over and pulled his blanket back over his chest. Though I'm not sure I want to... She slapped herself. "Don't think like that, you perve!"

The ninja turned away from him and started to head back to her own bed. She felt a tug on her left hand. She looked down at it.

Vincent held her hand in a tight grip.

"Uh...," she gulped. "Vinnie...?"

The gunman said nothing. He sighed in his sleep and let her hand go. She looked at his face. What! Is he smiling?!

Yuffie backed away from him and sat on her own bed. She stared at him a moment. Is he dreaming about me? Is that why he calmed down? But why would he dream about me? Why would he say my name? He doesn't even like me!

She lay down and kept staring at him. Or does he...?

The next morning Vincent woke up feeling energized. He faintly remembered a nightmare he'd had. That brought back the rememberance of a voice calling to him. After that; his dreams no longer tore a chunk out of his energy.

At least that's a good thing, he thought. But why did I dream about Yuffie?

He sat up and looked over at the girl's bed. She seemed to be sleeping.

He got out of bed and walked toward hers. I should wake her now. He didn't notice one of the ninja's sneakers lay in his path on the floor. It was too late when he did. He stumbled forward... and fell right on top of her!

The instant he landed on her body she woke up and yelled. "RAPE!"

"Nobody's raping you," he said.

She calmed down and looked at him. "Vincent, what are you doing?" she demanded.

"I was going to wake you up but I tripped over your sneakers," he explained, getting off of her. "When will you learn to put your shoes under your bed instead of leaving them out in the open waiting for unexpected feet to fall over them?"

"Sorry," she apologized.

"That's okay," he said, turning away from her and putting on his shirt.

Yuffie got out of bed and began to put on her sneakers. "So, is today the day we infiltrate the Shinra headquarters?" she asked pulling her left sneaker onto her foot.

Vincent was putting on his cape. "Yes," he replied, fixing the last clasp. "Today is the day."

"I still don't undertstand something..."

"What?"

"What is so important about finding out what happened? What's the point? It won't change anything you know."

"Maybe not," he agreed, clipping his gun onto his belt. "But it will give me something new. Maybe it will even tell me how to reverse what Hojo did to me."

Is he being selfish or what? Why does he want that so badly? It had to be more than what he told me. But what can it be? I'm totally clueless... Beside's he's not bad looking this way... Wait! What am I thinking! Why am I thinking?

By then Vincent was done getting ready. He turned to the ninja. "Let's go."

"Coming," she said standing up.

On the way out she tightened her arm guard, making sure it wouldn't fall off. She didn't know what to expect in that place so she wasn't taking any chances.

Somehow Vincent was able to find a train that went to the Shinra headquarters. He and Yuffie boarded and sat near the door, their seats facing each other.

Yuffie started out the window and Vincent stared into space, his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face. Eventually the ninja got bored and looked at him. "Hey," she said.

He didn't seem to hear her.

"Vincent."

Still nothing.

Fine then! "Oh, Vinnie," she said, grinning.

That got his attention. He stared at her. "I told you not to call me that," he scolded her.

"Well it was the only thing that got your attention," she retorted.

"What do you want?"

"How are you planning on getting in there? I'm sure they have security cameras that would spot us if we just walked right in."

"Cloud told me about some stairs that he and Barret and Tifa climbed to get into that place when they went to rescue Aerith. We could use them."

"And climb like ninty floors without stopping?! No way! Count me out!"

"We could stop to rest every few floors if you want," he suggested. "I already figured you wouldn't have the stamina to climb all those stairs in one run."

"Ya got that right."

Vincent leaned over and put a hand on her knee. "Don't worry, Yuffie, I won't overexort you. I'm in no super hurry to get those files anyway."

Then he felt guilty for lying.

Yuffie didn't notice. Her face showed relief. "I'm glad you understand me," she said, grinning that grin of hers that always won people over.

The train came to a stop and a computer voice announced they had just arrived at the Shinra headquarters, Vincent stood. "This is our stop." he took Yuffie's hand. "Let's go."

She grinned. "After you, sir."

They got off the train.

Once outside they walked a little ways then came to a stop in front of a huge building. "Is this it?" Yuffie asked, looking up at it.

Vincent was silent for a moment as he stared up at the impressive building. He'd only been there once before but he could still remember it. "Yes," he said finally, nodding slowly. "This is Shinra headquarters."

"So?" she said casually. "How are we going to get in? Through the door or up the stairs."

Vincent's face was thoughful. Maybe we could go in through the front and pretend we have an appoinment. But then again they might check and see that we don't. No, that would cause too much trouble.

"We're taking the stairs," he replied, jerking on her hand. "Come with me."

He practically drug her around back.