Disclaimer: Hey there folks, Sorry for the late posting I have had a bit of a writers block writing this chapter but its here and awaiting your reading eyes. As always please read and review I enjoy hearing what you have to say.
Chapter five.
Tifa woke again at nine o'clock, the sun shining through the balcony and onto her, its rays giving her skin a healthy looking glow. Stretching lazily she sat upright for a few moments taking in the chores that had to be done. Climbing resentfully out of bed she puffed up her cream pillows and smoothened the matching cream duvet over. Proceeding to her closet she looked around and saw some three quarter navy jeans and a white strap top, placing them on she looked in the mirror and felt satisfied with herself. Putting on her sandals she proceeded downstairs to find that Vincent was already up settled behind the dining table wearing his bandana and cloak again. She found herself smiling at this as she entered the kitchen.
"Good morning," She said grabbing a mug and placing a tea bag into it, "Would you care for a beverage of Tifa's Tea?"
"No thank you," His voice was the same melancholy tone unaware of the humour in her voice.
The young woman set to the task of making breakfast for herselffollowed by proceedingto sit by the table. Her wine coloured eyes looked at Vincent, his face wearing that same stern look, very different from that peaceful gaze she recalled seeing last night. She suddenly remembered what he said but said nothing of it.
"What are your plans for today?" Tifa asked trying to engage in some sort of conversation with her "housemate".
"I had a message from the reeve this morning, said there havebeen some sighting of some dangerous fiends roaming on the edges of Midgar killing farm stock as they move along. I will depart shortly and dispose of them."
"That sounds dangerous, the ones from Midgar are not your usual types of monsters. Do you need any assistance?"
"Thank you for your offers of assistance but I don't think I'll be needing them today," Vincent took out his Cerberus from its holster and inspected it, he opened the interior to see it was fully loaded, "Besides….I don't want to risk anyone's lives."
"I can take care of myself Vincent," Tifa was quick to say raising her cup for another sip of her tea.
"I never said your abilities weren't…invaluable," Vincent said trying to pick his words carefully, "From my experience it's best if the attacks were from long distances. You are more of a one to one combat and like you said the type from Midgar are a lot trickier than normal."
Tifa accepted Vincent's statement, it would be more suitable for his long range abilities, "But nevertheless you can always call upon me if the time ever came for it."
Vincent placed his gun back in its holster, "I know I can."
Tifa smiled at this remark taking a sip of her tea she was silent then spoke, "I'm going for a walk later in the afternoon, its such a lovely day. If you like to you can join me."
Vincent contemplated on what she said, "Okay," he bid her good day and departed. Tifa finished the remainder of her breakfast and proceeded with opening the bar.
Vincent looked over the canyon, the city of Midgar laying in the distance in a state of decay, the canon lurking amongst the ruins. He looked around and saw the dust clouds being rustled in the awakenings of gushing winds.
He upholstered his Cerberus from its casing and looked around, he could see no signs of the fiends that been sighted here. Soundlessly he leaped from the top of the canyon and to the dark abyss beneath him and surveyed his surroundings, there were many crevices where his prey was lurking, awaiting for the right moment to attack.
The overpowering smell of a metallic source stung his nostrils as he inhaled air, arousing chaos within. He could feel the everlasting presence of the beast lurking in the back of his consciousness, ever beckoning to him to the smell of blood. Vincent brought the demon's excitation under control, forcing the presence back into the shadows of his mind. Carefully, with the guide of his acute senses he followed the sent back to its source, making sure to stay well hidden in the darkness that the canyon offered. Turning the corner his crimson eyes came upon the source of which the pungent smell of blood came from.
Lying a mere ten feet away from Vincent's current location stood what was left of the dead animal. Blood splattered the surrounding rocks and pooled around the carcass, the aroma of blood fused with decay wafting into Vincent's nostrils, intoxicating chaos once more. Scarlet red eyes fluttered as the mischievous spirit arouse, rising again in Vincent's mind imploring stronger this time for release. The hunter's golden digits flexed as he once again drove the beast into submission, brining it under the control with a force an iron will. He sighed out a few deep breaths as the feeling if inhibition passed through him. With the feeling now completely gone he resumed back to the task of looking around making observations as he left the protection of the shadows and into the exposure of the light. His Cerberus upholstered slowly into his right hand as he approached the carcass ever more closely for a more thorough inspection.
The kill was still relatively fresh, his experience from chaos told him this. He searched what remained of the carcass for any significant laceration wounds or teeth marks, anything that could signature what had ended this creatures life. He found the wounds confusing, he had never seen anything like this, the way the creature was killed didn't fit the logical order in which a predator would kill its pray. Every animal by nature had a efficient means of killing. For example a lion would hunt in packs, encircling the pray and kill it by puncturing the throat rendering the animal dead within minutes from oxygen starvation, plus efficiency meant minimal energy was used. However the wounds that stood before the hunter baffled him slightly, all his years of hunting various species of animal from continent to continent meant vast amounts of knowledge was at is disposal. The animal had gash wounds all over the body, a clumsy killing by any standard. Teeth marks weren't any kind he recognise which could only mean one thing.
Lurking in the shadows the beast had a perfect observation on the man that stood before its last mutilated kill. Saliva poured unnoticed down its jaw line, collecting in a pool where it then detached off in droplets which splashed onto the rock below. Its eyes dilated as its stared hungrily at Vincent, the last meal only further invigorating its desire to consume and feed. Soundlessly it padded amongst the shadows sticking to the walls of the canyon. It encircled Vincent and was upon the ledge ten feet above him. Muscles poised and ready for attack the beast launched howling in its wake into the light.
Waiting long as he could Vincent pivoted on the spot his cape flowing effortlessly behind him as he raised his right arm into the air directly on the creatures underbelly. Vincent pulled the trigger of his Cerberus sending a shockwave after shockwave through the canyons crevices as the bullets left the chamber and through the flesh of his prey.
It landed with a thud a couple of metres away from Vincent, blood pulsating from the entry wounds that the bullets of his Cerberus left behind. His right hand never left the creature as he cautiously approached it. He could see the thing writhing on the floor in its own pool of blood, not crimson but black and viscous in appearance. He pulled the trigger of his Cerberus several more times into the creatures body sending bits of blood and flesh flaying all over the ground. With a last breath the creatures spasms ceased, its body inhibited of life no more.
At a closer look Vincent could see that this creature wasn't a result of natures creation, it was artificial, its original form unnaturally altered on a cellular level by intense prolonged exposure to Mako. His amber red eyes flashed slightly as he saw that what remained of its original form was human, bits of pectoral and thigh were still there, sending spine chilling shivers through him. Nausea was now replaced by anger as Vincent was reminded once again of Shinra's dirty past, this person was most likely once a solider who died with honour. But instead of being returned to loved ones to be buried and rested he/she was redeemed lost in action and their bodies secretly placed in pods inside Mako reactors. Vincent laughed bitterly at the irony of it all, the Mako reactors the very thing which supported people in their everyday lives was also a haven for mutilating their dead. His blood seethed when his thoughts came once again on Hojo, the man who did everything, the man who he was too weak to kill. Vincent remained with his thoughts, unaware of the presence ever closing the gap between them.
The thing came fast. Vincent managed to roll out of the way, his gun rising to aim once more only this time it was too little too late. He felt the blow from one of the creatures extended claws, sending his Cerberus flying from his right hand. There was another strike which hit Vincent with precision and accuracy. He could feel the stinging sensation as claws slashed through his flesh. The taste of blood seeped into his mouth as it escaped from the deep wounds on his face, sending his mind into complete blankness as Chaos came forth once again only this time stronger than ever.
His teeth grinded hard together as he tried to control the beast, fighting for dominance. He could feel the wounds closing as the cells and veins rejoined together once more. He searched keenly for his Cerberus only to realise that the creature was upon him again, cornering Vincent like a trapped animal. Blood still lingering in his mouth the beast finally broke out unleashing a new energy which rippled through his veins like wild fire.
Tifa turned the lock and placed the key in her pocket. Pulling the huge oak doors of seventh heaven she had confirmation that they were locked and proceeded lazily down the path that exited the town of Kalm stopping in the nearby Chocobo hiring stall. Paying the owner the required fees she mounted the giant bird and set off to a beach laying just on the outskirts of town.
The day was beautiful, that she couldn't deny as her eyes saw the breeze rippling through the long grass in the nearby fields. The sun shone clearly over the land of Midgar without any clouds to cast shadows over the land. She inhaled a breath which smelled of various flowers which had come bloom. After 40 minutes or so Tifa dismounted the Chocobo who squawked as it was rewarded to some greens. She placed a backpack on her shoulders and proceeded towards the stretch of beach that stood in front of her, the faint fragrance of salt mingling in the air. The Chocobo wandered off a few feet and plonked itself on a patch of grass in the rays of the sun.
Tifa slipped out of her sandals feeling the granules of sand between her toes, the warmth was pleasant on the soles of her feet, aching as they were from the mornings work. Walking a few more paces she placed the backpack beside her, as grungy as it was it still served its purpose. She unzipped the main compartment and prized out a small sheet of chequered blue and white. Spreading it out over the floor she shook the sand off her feet and treaded on the material and then sat down in silence, admiring the view. The distinct pigmentation of the sand bed could be seen clearly through the sea which was turquoise in colour. The waves crashed gently, almost lazily onto the embankment.
She sat there lost in thought her mind wondering onto Vincent. His voice had been so stern, so chocked up with anguish and pain last night, she never heard him speak with such sorrow. During the time the group were together she knew he loved a woman named Lucrecia, the woman who bore life to Sephiroth, who joined with Hojo in an awful experimentation that would have an impact on the world today. There was a lot of things she didn't know about her friend. A thing she was determined to change soon.
"Am I late?" Tifa was disengaged from her trance and turned to smile at Vincent who stood on the embankment, his face still the still bearing that stern look though looking more paler than usual.
"No not at all." She watched as he walked down the embankment and sat on the sand beside her blanket even though there was considerate space for about five to seven people. She guessed he meant no offence by this as he hitched one knee up propping his gauntlet on it as his red eyes cast off into the horizon.
"How was your hunting trip?" Tifa asked guessing she was the one who had to make conversation as usual, "Okay I hope?"
She could see Vincent's eyes drop slightly, the digits of his gauntlet flexing as he did so, "It went smoothly….though….the fiends I did encounter were…out of place."
Tifa contemplated on this for a moment, "what do you mean by that?"
"The fiends that I disposed of werespecimens that escaped from the nearby Mako reactors. Their pods made deficient by the aftermath of the meteor crisis. They were once human, they bodies mutilated and deformed as the result of exposure to Mako."
Tifa was silent, shock as well as grief settled heavy on her heart. She remembered seeing them with her own eyes back in Nibelheim at the age of just fifteen. Another reminder of the dirty works of Shinra's scientific experiments, "Well least they have been put out of their misery now."
"……Maybe." Vincent said no more, as expected his eyes still remained on the horizon.
Tifa thoguht it was best to change the subject, "I wanted to thank you for what you did last night Vincent, If it weren't for your help I would have been at a right loss."
"It was nothing Miss Lockhart." Vincent merely said though Tifa was sure his eyes shone at that compliment.
"So…..here." she said handing over to him a little parcel of brown papering. Vincent looked at it, perplexed at this gesture.
"Go on open it, its not a bomb," She smiled as he searched around looking for the seal on the packaging. After being agonisingly delicate with opening the seal Vincent emptied the parcels contents into his gauntlet hand. The metal jingled in his hands.
"What are they for?" Vincent asked looking at the set of keys in his hand.
"Their the keys to the house of course, since you've been staying here for a while I guess its only fair if I give you a set."
She saw a smirk creep to the side of his mouth, "Thank you."
"No problem," she watched the smile subside back into its rigorous form, she felt a pang of sadness on Vincent's behalf, he looked so much more nicer when he did allow the rare smirk surface here and there, "You know you make a good bar man, I could use someone like you around to help me and all." and to look at you in that uniform. Tifa felt heat on her cheecks at what she was nearlyjust about to say. She scolded herself, what the hell was wrong with her.
She looked down from Vincent and caught a glimpse of his Cerberus and how the sun caught the smoothness of the guns craftsmanship, "That Cerberus is something, may I have a look at it?"
Vincent upholstered the Cerberus and handed to Tifa. She was amazed as the gun weighed considerably more than she anticipated. She nearly lost her balance as the guns weight made her body topple to the right.
Sitting up again she placed the gun on her lap and looked at it. The gun was beautifully decorated and minutely detailed. The deep and rich mahogany colour of the handle resonated and at the end of the three barrels stood the heads of each of the Cerberus. With both hands Tifa aimed it in front of her into the ocean and looked down into the aiming piece, its precision was that of perfection.
She was unaware of Vincent's observations of her, the way her armature hands grasped the handle of the Cerberus reminded him of when he first learned how to use a gun. In the back of an old dirty alleyway that was littered with bits of trash. He'd been only twelve at the time in a gang far too old for him. A cigarette hanging loosely in his mouth he aimed the weapon of death at a can on top of a emptied bin. The lingering smell of decomposing organic matter wafted up through his nostrils, distracting him from the target at hand.
"Concentrate now, Valentine, keep your hands steady, don't slouch!……can you see the can?"
Vincent's red eyes were locked onto the can, "Yeah."
"When you ready just squeeze the trigger."
Vincent remained icily cool as he took a calming breath and squeezed the trigger. The can flew off the bin as the bullet hit it.
"hmmmmmmm," Tifa looked around, "Man I'd love to learn how to use this." This wasn't directed at Vincent but he contemplated what she said mindlessly to herself.
"I can tutor you if you wish for it?" Vincent implied there and then.
"What…. for real?" She said eagerly her eyes dilating with excitation
"Of course, It would a valuable skill to add to the ones you have already."
Tifa looked at him, "thank you" Tifa watched his expression wavered and a smile found their way back to the corners of his mouth.
"Your welcome" Vincent replied quietly unsure on how to react on Tifa's sudden ecstasy, "…. would you care for a tutorial now?"
He saw her head flash in his direction eyes gleaming, "REALLY! YEAH!"
Vincent stood up as did Tifa only a lot slower than her. He saw her twitching on the spot like a child who was about to get the best present of his entire life, Kinda like Yuffie being presented with master materia.
"Right teach me great master of gun," Tifa teased as the Cerberus hanged loosely in both of her hands.
"Ummmm... are you aware of the basic mechanics of this device?" Vincent questioned, he already knew by her posture and handling of his Cerberus that she had no field experience nor had any concept of the fact the weapon swinging in her hands was strong enough to blow her head clear off her body.
"Well I have some sort of idea, just aim and pull the -"
A loud bang echoed into the air as the Cerberus released a bullet, taking Tifa by surprise. The force emanated from the Cerberus sent her clean off her feet, sending her flying backwards where she landed in a heap on her chequered blanket. Dazed and baffled Tifa fought in the blanket like a fish flopping out of the water. Throwing the blanket off herthe fighterlooked a bit worse for wear, hair dishevelled and covered in sand she could hear Vincent laughing quietly to himself. Tifa shot him an expression of mild surprise. Vincent Valentine laughing? She looked again at him and saw indeed the grin etched into his face as he laughed bemusedly at her. She found herself joining him as she got up again, "Right tell me how to handle this big boy then."