He Tells All

by: Bishojo Beauty

Chapter 19

His heart had told him to not leave Tifa, while his mind told him to do so. For her safety. He had repeated to himself over and over again. But not once did it convince his heart. In the end, however, his mind won over his heart.

Though he turned Tifa away, he had however, accepted the help of Kael, and together, the two brothers set out to set Chester right. They had gotten enough answers from the man they interrogated. It wasn't the most pleasant nor was it the most brutal interrogation of a captive, but the man had refused to talk. Eventually, they were able to crack him, and from his confessions, they should be making their way to Junon, where Chester's men gathered. Apparently, there was an underground tunnel in Junon that supposedly led to some lab. Who Chester worked for, the man did not know, what his purpose was, the man was clueless on as well. Vincent figured that whoever other man was, he was definitely somehow connected to Hojo. Otherwise, there would be no way that such a serum that was found in the tranquilizers was able to be obtained. Hojo was the only one that knew the details of what was conducted on Vincent.

Vincent was sure of this. Only because he remembered.

The bruises.

They were one in the same with the bruises he remembered obtaining every time Hojo injected him with that substance.

Vincent silently wondered if Kael had gone through similar experiments as he did. It was evident though, that if he did, he did not experience anything to the extent that Vincent did. Kael's eyes were still it's normal honey brown as opposed to Vincent's blood red ones. The older of the two still seemed to have retained most of his old self, while Vincent became infested by beasts that seemed to feed on his very soul. Also Vincent took on a more 'vampiric', as everyone liked to call it, complexion, while Kael kept his Wutaiin paleness. There were many questions Vincent wanted to ask his older brother, but equally as many he would never ask.

There was one question though, that he just had to ask. He had to know in order to atone for his sins. He had to know whether he had also wronged his own brother.

"Kael," Vincent called out. His older brother turned to him the way he always did when Vincent called his name. Vincent knew he had his brother's full attention now. At realizations such as this one, Vincent came to appreciation that his brother had ever taken upon himself to look after his brother so. Never once did Kael not put Vincent first. Kael had explained once when they were younger that it was his wish that it be this way.

They stood there silently for a while. It felt like old times again, and both of them relished in nostalgia. Vincent's rarely hesitating voice however broke that silence.

"Do you ever regret coming with me...that night?" Vincent asked, averting his eyes to the horizon as he took a couple of steps off the path in the forest. He felt awkward asking.

Kael let out a long sigh before answering with a simple, "No."

"Why?" Vincent had to know.

Yet another sigh, and a pause followed. But Kael answered. "Choices that I've made in the past are over and done with. I don't see the point in dwelling on them and regretting them,"

"But you do regret it,"

"I didn't say that,"

"You're implying it,"

"This is getting no where,"

"No, I got my answer,"

"Vincent,"

"..."

Kael let out a loud sigh of frustration. But smiled. Though he knew his brother was misunderstanding him, he couldn't help but feel glad to know that someone underneath what Hojo had done to him, a part of Vincent was still alive. His cursed stubbornness and his tendency to jump to conclusions. Kael seethed a little longer before he decided to change the subject.

"So, where exactly are we headed?"

Basically, the Valentine brothers had two choices. 1. To go to Costa del Sol and catch a boat over to Junon, or 2. To head for Rocket Town and ask Cid to borrow the Highwind. The choice was obvious for Vincent. He did not want to involve more people that he needed. Luckily, he had been able to buy Chocobos off of other travelers with more money than Vincent preferred.

It would take them an estimated day and a half to reach Costa del Sol if they stopped only to eat and sleep. It was now nearing the end of the first day, and nothing had happened since they had left. The sun was bright, and the winds were calm. Not many monsters decided to approach the two. Perhaps, even they were afraid of the monsters that lurked within Vincent.

The two were looking for a place to rest for the night, when they both spotted something move out of the corner of their eyes. In an instant, they had their guns drawn and ready to fight. Whatever it was that they saw noticed that it had been spotted as it froze.

"Show yourself!" Kael called out. At first, the shadow in the forest did not move, and for a split second, the two brothers doubted their instincts. But they knew they were right. They watched as the figure slowly revealed itself.

Tifa.

She was covered in dirt, and was breathing heavily as if she had run a mile. It was a possibility that the two brothers were not about to rule out.

"Tifa, you should not be here," Vincent stated, his eyes never leaving hers. She couldn't help but feel it unnerving to be receiving his gaze like so. Something about it, Tifa knew was not good.

"I couldn't let you go alone, Vincent. Let me come with you," She pleaded. And for the longest time, Vincent remained quiet.

"I cannot do that,"

"Vincent, please," the brunette tried again. She crossed her fingers behind her back as Vincent began to approach her in slow, but deliberate steps. When he reached her, he stopped so that he was standing practically right above her. Tifa felt increasingly uncomfortable now. It was a different kind of uncomfortable from what she used to feel when she first met him.

"I will not sin again,"

Tifa realized now what was different about him. He was angry. Tifa had never once seen him angry before. In pain, in anguish, in anything, but anger.

But there was no way she was going to turn back now. And Vincent was just going to have to see that.

"I will not die on you, Vincent," Tifa said with a wink, "I promise." With that, she walked around his stunned form and towards Kael. But before she could make it any further than two steps, she was stopped by cold digits encircling around her wrist. She turned around to face him.

"No need from promises, I will not let you die," It was Vincent's turn now to walk around a stunned Tifa.

Yay! Chapter complete!

But I must apologize for how long it's taken me to right this. I was stuck for a while. But suddenly I was struck with this idea, and here it is!

Thanks to all of those who've read, and if you're still enjoying this, thanks for sticking by. Really, thanks.

Bishojo Beauty