Chapter 5
Tidus walked toward the center of Square Park where he was to meet Yuna. He had enough time after practice to freshen up and change clothes. He wore a collared shirt that was dark blue, a pair of blue jeans and some very clean white sneakers. He was casual and comfortable.
"I guess I'm dressed right for this. I mean we are just hanging out. No need to get all dressed up" thought Tidus.
It was dark out but Square Park was not empty. Throughout the well lit walkways couples could be seen holding hands while walking and some were cuddling on park benches. Tidus got to the center of the park and saw Yuna standing near a large statue. The statue was of a young man on a Chocobo. In his right hand he held a sword. A plaque on the front of the statue read "Ramza Beoulve branded a heretic, remembered as a hero". Yuna smiled as Tidus walked up. She wore a pink shirt and a pair of low cut jeans that Rikku and Paine helped her pick out. Rikku told her that she had a nice stomach area and needed to show it off a little.
"Hey, I'm not late am I?" asked Tidus.
"No you're right on time." smiled Yuna.
"You look excellent" said Tidus.
"Thanks you're looking pretty good yourself" said Yuna.
"Wow, that's one big statue of Ramza. I had my fill of learning about this guy back in grade school" said Tidus as he looked up at the statue.
"Yeah, I remember having to learn so much about the Lion War when I was younger. His story is kind of sad though. I mean he saved his kingdom and he didn't even get a thank you for it. Instead he was hunted down like a criminal" said Yuna.
"Yeah now that you mention it that is kind of sad" said Tidus.
After about a moment of awkard silence Tidus spoke again.
"So umm I was thinking maybe we could go to this diner that's not too far away from here. I've been there a few times since I moved here"
"The Junon Diner?" asked Yuna.
"Yeah that's the place" said Tidus.
"Oh I'm friends with one of the waitresses there. Do you know Tifa?" asked Yuna.
"Nope"
"The food there is really good. Let's head on over there" said Yuna.
Yuna and Tidus began walking out of the park. Yuna looked up at the stars.
"It's such a beautiful night. I remember when Wakka, Lulu, and I were growing up in Besaid we would lie down on the beach and look up at the stars"
"That sounds fun and relaxing. In Zanarkand the sky is all sorts of colors at night" said Tidus.
"Really?"
"Yeah. The pyreflies are all around Zanarkand and when they come out at night it's like having your own light show every night" said Tidus.
"I'd love to see Zanarkand someday" said Yuna.
"It's a great place but I've been there for so long I just had to get out. Besides I had to get away from my pops he was driving me crazy"
"You said your father is a blitzball player too right?" asked Yuna.
"Yeah, I didn't want to start my blitzball career in Zanarkand because I would forever be known as Jecht's son and not for my own achievements you know?" said Tidus.
By then Tidus and Yuna had finally made it out of the park and began walking down the street.
"I actually know exactly what you mean. My father…he's the high summoner and despite my hard work at the academy some people still only see me as Braska's daughter. There's this one girl named Donna. She always gives me a hard time and says things like I wouldn't have made it this far without my fathers help" said Yuna.
"Geez that's not nice. So your father is THE high summoner? Wow he must be a really busy man" said Tidus.
"That's an understatement. My mother died when I was very young and my father was too busy to raise me. So I was raised in Besaid at a foster home. Lulu and Wakka were there too"
"My mom died when I was young too. I'm sorry I hope talking about your father isn't painful" said Tidus.
"Oh no I'm fine. I've lived a good life with no regrets. It doesn't make me sad" said Yuna.
"Oh ok" said Tidus.
"My dad can be a pain sometimes but at least I had him in my life" thought Tidus.
"Well we're here" said Yuna.
The two of them approached the Junon diner. Tidus held the door open for Yuna.
"Thank you"
"Hey Yuna! Long time no see" said Tifa.
"Hey Tifa how have you been?" asked Yuna.
"I'm ok but I'm just getting tired of some of the customers in this place. If you'd come around more often to eat that would help a good bit. Oh who is your friend?" asked Tifa.
"This is my friend Tidus. He's going to be the new star Blitzball player in town so look out for him" answered Yuna.
"Is that so?" asked Tifa.
"Hey it's nice to meet you" said Tidus.
"Likewise. Have a seat you two and I'll be with you in a bit"
Tidus and Yuna sat down at a booth.
"Yuna is here Mog and it looks like she has a male friend" said Tifa.
"Oh great 'po! She's nice she deserves a great guy! Kupo!" said Mog.
"The Carob Nut casserole is really good. That's what I usually get" said Yuna.
"Really? Hmm I think I may try that. I usually just get a burger" said Tidus.
Tifa came back and took their order.
"Two Carob Nut casseroles? I'll tell Mog to make them special" said Tifa as she walked back to the pickup window with the order.
"So how was practice with the Aurochs today?" asked Yuna.
"It was a good workout today. Wakka works us pretty hard" said Tidus.
"Yeah I've watched one of his practices before and he likes to push the team really hard" said Yuna.
"Yeah I can't wait until the season starts. I'm ready to take on the Beasts" said Tidus.
"They won't stand a chance against your Jecht shot! Ha ha!" laughed Yuna.
"Yeah. So you going to the first game of the season?" asked Tidus.
"Of course. My roomate's and I always go to the first game of the season. Our schedules sometimes keep us from going to all the games but we usually make it to the first game.
"How many roommates do you have?"
"Two. I live with my cousin Rikku and my friend Paine. Rikku is Al bhed remember I told you about her swirling green eyes? Paine is cool she keeps a tough exterior but deep down she's a sweetheart" said Yuna.
"That's cool"
Tifa came back with the food.
"Two hot helpings of Carob Nut Casserole! Mog told me to tell you Kupo! Yuna" said Tifa as she set the food on the table.
"Ha Ha. Tell him I said thanks" said Yuna.
Yuna and Tidus continued to talk during dinner. They found they had a lot in common and their attraction toward each other began to grow.
(Next Scene)
The SeeD ball committee had finished working on the decorations for the night. Quistis left the Garden and was on her way back to her apartment.
"I wonder if he'll show up" thought Quistis.
Quistis had thought about Vincent all day. He didn't promise that he would show up tonight but Quistis hoped that he would. There was something about him that intrigued Quistis and she wanted to know more.
"Quistis, a few of us are going to go out to eat in a bit you want to come?" said Selphie.
"Umm no I think I'm going to head home I'm a little tired" said Quistis.
"Ok talk to you later" said Selphie.
"Later" said Quistis.
Quistis had not told anyone about Vincent and how he saved her the other night. She noticed a few articles in the paper that day about the "Mystery Man" which is what they call the mysterious hero of the night. Quistis hailed a cab and went to her apartment building. Upon entering her apartment Quistis checked her watch.
"8:45, he has 15 minutes"
Quistis went into her room and sat on her bed for a few minutes.
"8:51" said Quistis checking her watch again.
She looked out her window to the fire escape.
"I bet he won't come" thought Quistis.
Quistis lied down on her bed and shut her eyes for a few minutes. All of a sudden she heard movement on the fire escape. Quistis got up quickly and opened her window. Vincent stood there motionless on the fire escape.
"You came" said Quistis as she smiled.
"Yes. How are you?" said Vincent.
"I'm good. You're going to have to come in quickly before someone sees you" said Quistis.
Quistis backed away from the window and Vincent climbed through and walked into her bedroom. Quistis shut the window behind him and closed the curtain.
"I didn't think you would come tonight Vincent. I'm glad you did"
Vincent didn't reply and the two stood in silence for a few seconds.
"Let's go and talk in the living room" said Quistis.
Quistis and Vincent walked out of the bedroom and into the living room
"Would you like something to drink?" asked Quistis.
"No thank you" said Vincent.
Quistis sat down on a white sofa and Vincent still stood up.
"Vincent I don't bite, have a seat" laughed Quistis.
Vincent sat down next to Quistis on the couch.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" asked Vincent.
"I want to hear your story. I know there's more to you I can feel it" said Quistis.
"I came here against my better judgment. I don't want to involve you but…"
"…but you're feeling the same things I do? Don't you?" asked Quistis
Vincent did not reply.
"I know this might seem like a silly crush but I can't stop thinking about you. It's something I feel when I look in your eyes" said Quistis.
"I know.." said Vincent slowly.
"Is that why you followed me home?" asked Quistis.
"…yes. I'm sorry but I'm having a hard time expressing emotion. I've been slowly regaining my mind. I regained my sense of compassion which enabled me to help you and the others. My memory has recovered almost fully over the past few weeks" said Vincent.
"The Shinra….did they do this to you?" asked Quistis.
"Yes…here is my story…" Vincent held his head slightly as if he had to think hard.
"My full name is Vincent Valentine. I was an employee of Shinra Inc. and a member of the Turks Division. The Turks are a group of Shinra spys. They handle much of the companies…other activities…the activities that are not publicly known."
"I never trusted the Shinra Company" said Quistis.
"They have their hands in many things that would completely horrify the public. Particularly experiments. The head of Shinra Inc Scientific Research Department, Hojo, conducted several unethical experiments. The Shinra are developing bio soldiers. They wanted soldiers with enhanced fighting abilities that they could control
"Oh my…" said Quistis.
"The Turks were sent to assist Hojo in his experiments. I had done my share of illegal jobs for the company but never anything like this. They kidnapped homeless people off the street and began doing tests on them. The tests killed many people because they were not strong enough to survive. I objected to the tests and when I tried to free the test subjects I was captured, beaten, and made a subject myself. I survived the test and this is the result" said Vincent.
"That's awful"said Quistis.
(The rest of Vincent's story will be told in flashback form)
Inside the large Shinra laboratory Vincent floated inside a large cylindrical stasis chamber located in the middle of the circular laboratory. A strange blue liquid filled the chamber Vincent was in as he floated there naked and motionless. Several tubes protruded out of Vincent's arms and legs. They connected him to machines and monitors that were operated by Shinra's top scientists. On Vincent's mouth was an oxygen mask.
Moments later a short strange looking scientist approached the chamber. He had dark hair and a receding hair line and a pair of circular framed glasses. As he walked he had a slight hunch in his back that could be seen through his white lab coat. He smiled a sinister smile as he looked at Vincent. This was Hojo the head of Shinra's Science Department.
"How is my new subject fairing?" asked Hojo to one of the lab assistants.
"He is actually reacting to the treatment better than any of our past test subjects" said the assistant.
"Excellent. I'm happy that we finally found someone strong enough to survive this grueling experience. We have Reno and Rude of the Turks to thank for subduing this subject" said Hojo.
"Sir the subject is reacting strangely to the new tests!" yelled an assistant.
Hojo and a few other assistants began looking at the monitors around the room.
"These power readings are off the charts! This is magnificent! This will be my masterpiece! Gast you have nothing on me hahahhaa" laughed Hojo.
"Professor Hojo I think the subject is regaining consciousness!" said an assistant.
Suddenly Vincent's eyes opened. His eyes were burning red and filled with hate. He began violently tearing at the tubes connected to him and also began punching the glass on the chamber.
"Quickly get security in here now!" yelled an assistant.
"No, I don't want them to harm my precious specimen!" yelled Hojo.
"Hojo you're out of your mind! He is going to kill us!" the assistant pressed a red button on a panel and called a Shinra security team to the laboratory.
"Arrrrggh!" yelled Vincent as he burst through the glass.
The blue liquid that filled the stasis chamber now poured out all over the floor. Soon a Shinra security squad entered the lab and trained their automatic rifles on Vincent.
"No don't harm my creation!" yelled Hojo.
"AAAARRRGGGGH!" yelled Vincent.
It was as if he was not a man but a beast. Inside he felt something ripping almost clawing at him to get out. This thing inside him literally felt like it was going to tear through his skin. Vincent could feel his skin changing and transforming as if he was becoming something different….
"This is where I lost consciousness" said Vincent to Quistis.
"You can't remember what happened next?" asked Quistis.
"No. I can't remember what happened when I blanked out. I can only remember what happened after that" said Vincent as he continued the story.
Vincent awoke in the middle of the laboratory. Everyone around him was dead. Hojo, the assistants, the security team were all dead. Their wounds looked as though they were savagely clawed and some were even burned. Vincent got up and began looking frantically around the room.
He was somewhat scared but the feeling soon passed. Vincent ran to the other side of the laboratory to what looked like a small weapons closet. Inside was a strange outfit. It was a long red cloak like jacket and some body armor. Also there was a weird looking claw gauntlet, some armored boots, a pistol with a few rounds of ammo, and several different types of materia.
Vincent put on the contents of the weapons closet as fast as he could. It wasn't long before another Shinra security team rushed into the lab. Around ten of them surrounded Vincent and trained their weapons on him.
"Don't move! Drop the weapon!" yelled one of them.
Vincent stood there for a moment and looked at each one of them. His senses were so sharp. He could hear their hearts beating rapidly and it was as if he could smell their fear. The security team began shooting at Vincent. With surprising speed Vincent leapt high into the air and dodged the spray of ammo. From the air Vincent shot two of them in the head. They slumped down dead and Vincent landed near another guard. The guard tried to shoot at Vincent but Vincent quickly knocked the gun out of his hand and shot him through the chest.
The other guards continued to shoot at Vincent. Vincent evaded each bullet as they shot at him. He could actually see each bullet coming toward him slowly.
"Oh my god!" yelled a guard.
It was the last thing he said as Vincent shot him through the chest. Vincent grabbed his rifle and began shooting the other guard with both his pistol and the fallen guard's rifle. Two more guards fell dead as they were hit with a barrage of ammo. There were four guards left and they were terrified at the sight of their fallen comrades.
"Let's get the hell out of here!" yelled one of them as they began to run away.
Vincent chased after them. He leapt in the air and landed on the slowest guards head. Doing a front flip off his head Vincent shot him from upside down in mid air. As Vincent landed on his feet he gunned down the next two guards in their backs. The fastest guard was a good distance away.
"Fire 3"
Vincent casts a Fire 3 spell and incinerated the final guard.
Soon the whole building was going on alert. Alarms were going off everywhere. Soon the place would be flooded with Shinra troops and probably Shinra SOLDIERS. Vincent had to make his escape. In a tube there was a strange green materia. Vincent didn't recognize this materia. A sign in front of it read. "Experimental materia- Exit" Vincent smashed the tube and equipped the materia.
As he began to use it Shinra SOLDIERS and troops began to rush into the lab. Leading them was a SOLDIER with long white hair carrying an incredibly long sword. Vincent used the materia and was surrounded by a dark circle of strange energy. He then vanished into thin air.
"Search the entire building! Lock all personnel down and search everywhere!" yelled the man with long white hair.
(End Flashback)
"That experimental materia helped me escape. I doubt I could have escaped the SOLDIERS and their leader without it.
Quistis was nearly in tears after listening to Vincent's story.
"It's awful. I hate the Shinra for what they've done" said Quistis.
"As I killed the guards trying to prevent me from escaping I felt absolutely nothing. No remorse at all. It was as if it was second nature. I escaped and made it to Square City where I hid. I noticed that I no longer needed to eat or sleep. Over time I felt the return of my feelings. I suddenly felt the compassion that I once possessed before and after I saw you I felt the return of another emotion…"
Quistis smiled a bit.
"So your emotions are returning slightly? Why do you think that is?" asked Quistis.
"I believe the experiments on me were not completed. I escaped before they could fully control my mind and erase my emotions. Being without their treatment for so long has made me slowly return to normal…"
"Maybe you can return to normal! Who knows you might get your appetite back and be able to sleep again" said Quistis.
"Maybe…my abilites have slowly depreciated over the last few months. I'm not as powerful as I was when I escaped the lab"
"Vincent maybe with time you could live a normal life again" said Quistis.
"….. I don't know if the Shinra will let me"
"They are still hunting you?" asked Quistis.
"I believe so" answered Vincent.
(Next Scene)
Ding Dong
Clouds doorbell rang. He got up from the couch and opened the door. Aeris stood their looking up at him smiling.
"Hey there" laughed Aeris.
"Hey what's up" said Cloud as he let Aeris in his apartment.
"I just got done helping Selphie with the SeeD ball decorations. It's going to be so beautiful"
"I know it will be. They have you working with them don't they?" said Cloud.
Aeris giggled and gave Cloud a quick kiss on the lips.
"So how was your day?" asked Aeris as she walked to the couch.
"Same ol'. I worked at Cid's and trained at Auron's" said Cloud as he sat down beside her.
"How's the SOLDIER training going?" asked Aeris.
"I think I'm going to try out for it later on this month. I'm feeling pretty confident with my skills lately" said Cloud.
"That's great. Oh I finally picked out my dress. It's red and sexy and you won't be able to keep your eyes off me" laughed Aeris.
"I can barely do that now" said Cloud as he got closer to Aeris.
He put his arms around her and began kissing her neck slowly.
"Is that so?" said Aeris.
"Yep" said Cloud as he moved his kisses to her cheek.
Aeris and Cloud then began kissing passionately.
"Cloud can I spend the night with you?" whispered Aeris softly
(Next Scene)
Tidus walked Yuna back to her apartment building. Their first date had gone wonderful. They talked and laughed the whole time and they found that they had a lot in common. Tidus and Yuna came to the front door of Yuna's apartment.
"This was so much fun" said Yuna.
"I know it was a blast" said Tidus.
"Tomorrow is Saturday. Do you want to come by? I don't have class." asked Yuna.
"Yeah I don't have practice. I'd love to come by and hang out" said Tidus.
"You can meet my roommates. They are really nice" said Yuna.
"Cool, what time should I come by?"
"How about around lunch time?" asked Yuna.
"That's cool" said Tidus.
Tidus and Yuna had reached that awkard moment in many dates the decision to give a goodbye kiss, hug, handshake etc. Tidus leaned toward Yuna and she leaned toward him as well. They had a nice sweet kiss. Yuna and Tidus smiled at each other.
"Bye" said Yuna as she opened the door.
"See you tomorrow" said Tidus.
Yuna walked into her apartment and she could hear her roommates' footsteps as they rushed back to their rooms.
"You can't hide. You were looking through the peep hole weren't you?" asked Yuna.
Rikku and Paine walked back into the living room.
"It was Rikku's idea" said Paine.
"Well, you didn't object to it Paine. You were just as eager to look as I was" said Rikku.
Yuna simply laughed at her roommates.
(End Chapter 5)
There was a lot of loving going around in this chapter. The statue in the park was of the main character of Final Fantasy Tactics, Ramza Beouvle. That's a game I really wish Square would make a sequel to by the way. I edited the Vincent story and made it a flashback so hopefully it's more interesting. Any way I hope that you will check out the next chapter.