CHAPTER 16

ENDING THE PROBLEM

Vincent chased Hojo up to the seventy-ith floor and onto the balconey where he cornered him. "End of the line, Professor," the gunman said walking up to the scientist with his gun raised.

"Now, Mr. Valentine, can't we talk this out?" Hojo said raising his hands. "I'm sure we can-"

"I don't care what you're going to say!" Vincent shouted interupting the scientist. "You will pay for what you did to Yuffie."

"I didn't-"

"I don't care!"

Suddenly Cloud, Barret, and Cid burst onto the balconey. "Vincent, stop" Cloud yelled flying into a tackle.

Him and the other two guys knocked Vincent to the floor. "Get off of me!" Vincent shouted struggling to get back up.

Hojo laughed. "Well it looks like the failure actually did something useful for a change!"

Cloud glared at the scienstist. "I'm not your failure, Hojo!" he shot back.

"Do I look like I care?" Hojo demanded pulling out his own gun. "Now that you're both here I can get rid of two of the worst projects I have ever had!"

"What's your damn problem?" Barret roared. "Cloud just saved your worthless hide and you want to blow his brains out?"

"I'll be blowing your brains out as well!" the scientist said.

Cid started cursing. "You got issues, you son of a-"

"Shut the hell up!" Hojo roared. "You're all going to die starting with the man in the red cape!"

Yuffie made it out on the balconey just in time to see Hojo taking aim at Vincent who was practically buried under the other three man.

I have to do something! she thought. If I don't Hojo's going to kill Vincent!

She pulled out her huge shurikan. Taking aim she threw it with deadly accuracy. The giant star flew through the air and smashed into Hojo causing him to lose his gun as well as his balance. He staggered backwards then went right over the edge with a terrified scream.

When this happened Vincent was finally able to get out from under all those bodies. He ran to the railing and looked over the side. He couldn't see the scientist. He could only hope that the man had hit the bottom, dashing his brains out on the pavement below. Good riddens...

He heard Cloud gasp and turned around. He saw Yuffie, who was covered in blood, standing by the door that led to the president's office. He instantly realized that she had saved his life.

"Yuffie..." he said taking a step forward. She staggered and fell to the floor. He ran up to her and caught her in his arms. "Yuffie?" he said again.

She opened her eyes halfway and smiled. "I've got some aim haven't I, Vinnie?" she asked.

He smiled slightly. "You sure do," he said quietly.

Yuffie reached up and touched his cheek. "I'd do anything to make sure nobody hurts you, Vinnie," she said. "That's what friends are for right?"

"Right."

Her eyes closed. Her hand dropped.

"Yuffie?"

She didn't respond but he could still see she was breathing.

"Vincent, is Yuffie all right?" Cloud asked walking up to them.

"No," Vincent replied looking up at him. "She lost too much blood. She's unconcious. We have to get her to a hospital immediatly!"

Vincent and the other three man ran back into the building and ran down the stairs. On the way down they met Tifa, Cait Sith, and Nanaki who had gone after Yuffie.

"Cloud, what's going on?" Tifa asked.

"We don't have time to talk," Cloud informed her. "We have to get out of here and get Yuffie to a hospital."

That got everyone going. As it turned out everyone except Cloud, Vincent and Yuffie had to squeeze in one elevator. The other three took another. On the way down Cloud decided to find out a few things.

"Vincent, I don't mean to pry but why did you come here? You always said you had nothing to do with Shinra anymore," the swordsman said facing Vincent.

The gunman looked away saying nothing.

"Vincent, c'mon, this was dangerous," Cloud presisted folding his arms. "Look what happened to Yuffie."

"I know!" Vincent growled. He looked down at the ninja girl. He sighed. "All right. I'll tell you. I came here to find a book."

"A book?" Cloud asked looking confused. "What kind of book?"

"A research book."

"Research book?"

"Uh huh."

"About what?"

Vincent hesitated. Cloud gave him a look. "What kind of research book, Vincent?"

"A book written by Hojo about all of us."

"Why would you read a book written by him?"

Vincent sighed and looked out the glass elevator. "I wanted to find out some stuff," he said closing his eyes.

"Did you?"

"Yes. And when I found out what they were I decided to destroy the book."

"Did you?"

"No, Hojo took it and I have no idea where it is."

"Oh."

Vincent looked down at Yuffie again. "I shouldn't have let her come."

"Then why did you?"

"She blackmailed me!" the gunman defended himself. "She said if I didn't let her come along she'd tell everyone what I planned to do."

"How did she know?"

"She weasled it out of me. You know she can do that."

"But look what happened," Cloud pointed out casting a worried look at Yuffie.. "Why didn't you just tell us?"

"I was afraid if I did you'd all try to stop me."

"We could have helped you."

"This was something I had to do on my own," Vincent said closing his eyes once more. "You wouldn't have understood."

"And Yuffie did?"

"No, I tried to tell her not to come but she insisted. I should have been more firm with my descition."

The bell wrung letting them know they had reached the first floor. Cloud stepped out followed by Vincent who still held Yuffie. They found Tifa waiting for them.

"Tife, what are you doing here?" Cloud asked in surprised. "Where is everyone else?"

"They went to Sector One," she replied.

"Sector One? Why?"

"There's a hospital there," she replied. "We can take the train there and get Yuffie to the hospital."

"All right," Cloud said nodding.

"Let's go then," Vincent said stepping out of the building.

Vincent was the first to get on the train. He refused to sit and just stood there staring out the window. "You're going to be all

right," he whispered to Yuffie. "I promise."

Cloud put a hand on his shoulder as he got into his seat. The wounded shoulder. The gunman tried not to flinch but wasn't able to stop himself. He let out a small gasp of pain as well.

Cloud looked at him. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Vincent managed through clenched teeth.

Cloud didn't believe him but said nothing.

A few minutes later they got off the train and headed into the Sector One hospital. The doctor, who'd been informed about this by the others, quickly took Yuffie away on a stretcher. Vincent watched them suspiciosly. He didn't trust doctors.

Once they were gone a nurse walked up to him and said. "Excuse me sir, but are you related to the girl you just brought in?"

Vincent thought that was a stupid question. "No," he said shaking his head. "I'm a friend of hers, though."

"Okay," she said looking down at a clipboard. "Would you be willing to file some paperwork-?"

"Why?" Vincent growled. "Yuffie was stabbed by a maniac! There's not need for paperwork!"

The nurse took a step back and stared at him. Others in the waiting room did the same. Vincent glared at them all.

"If you're planning on examining people why don't you examine him?" Cloud spoke up before something unwanted happened.

Vincent looked at the blond sharply. "What did you just say?" he demanded.

"Vincent, don't lie. You were injured while you were there and by the way you acted on the train it proves that it's pretty bad." he pointed at Vincent's cape. "Look, it's bleeding again."

Vincent looked at the wound. It was bleeding. He growled. "I don't need to be examined!"

"Just do it!" Barret shouted. "We don't need you keeling over on us!"

The nurse saw the wound and gasped. "Oh dear!" she looked at someone behind her. "DOCTOR!"

A man in a white coat came running. "What?"

She pointed at Vincent. "That."

He saw the wound too. "That looks pretty bad, sir," he addressed Vincent. "I think I need to take a look at it."

The nurse and doctor tried to drag him away. "Leav me alone!" Vicnent shouted. "I don't need to be examined!"

Tifa, seeing there was going to be trouble if someone didn't do something, walked up to Vincent. He glared at her. "This is all you're fault!" he shouted. "You and everyone elses!"

"I'm sorry," she said.

He looked at her confused. "For what?"

"For this." She raised her fist and punched him hard in the face.

He fell to the floor unconcious.

"Sorry about that," she said again. She looked at the doctor and nurse that were gaping at her. "He's all yours now," she said smiling sweetly.

A/N

I had to change the end of this chapter from my first idea. The first idea kinda made no sense. I fixed it by putting this here instead. I hope it was okay. I have no idea how hospitals work.