Part Four

Thunder rumbled overhead as Yuffie went about her daily routine. She growled slightly and glared at the overcast sky; for two days she'd been trying to reach Tifa by phone, but the weather had prevented any signals from getting through.

"Damn storm. I wish the stupid thing would just blow over already!" Yuffie sulkily thought, as large raindrops began to fall again, prompting her to return indoors. Once inside, however, worry immediately replaced her irritation at the lingering inclement weather.

"I have the feeling that something is wrong...and I can't shake it! I wish I could get through to Tifa and put my own mind at ease!" Yuffie mused, as she returned to her room, took out her box of Materia, and gazed at the crystallized energy with concern in her eyes.

"Please be all right, Tifa!" Yuffie silently pleaded, as she gazed in the direction of Midgar with uncharacteristic silence and foreboding settling within her.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv(divider)

Midnight had come and gone by the time Tifa finished changing the bandages on Vincent's chest. It had already been two days since the hurried departure of Barret and Cid for Wutai, and yet, the ex-Turk was still managing to hang on.

"He hasn't gotten any better...But, thankfully enough, he hasn't gotten any worse." Tifa mused, as she replaced the compress that was on Vincent's brow with a colder one.

"And yet...he could still die from this. Whatever this illness is, we could still lose him to it." Tifa mentally added, remembering that Vincent's lungs were still bleeding, as well. Every so often, it would remind her that it was still there; thin trickles of blood would slide from the corners of his mouth, and a gurgling cough would come not too long after. Without even realizing it, Tifa found, on a number of those occasions, tears forming in her eyes. She hated seeing the normally strong, aloof gunman like this; and this time, she didn't stop the tears from sliding down her cheeks.

"Am I not strong enough to save him? Or does he even want to be saved?" Tifa tearfully wondered, as she gripped his golden-clawed left hand in hers', not caring that the metal was digging into her palms. So deep was she sinking into her depression, that she didn't notice when the left hand twitched slightly...and when the other hand reached up and shakily brushed the tears from her face. Startled, Tifa jumped slightly and looked down; finding, to her utter disbelief, that Vincent appeared to be conscious. His eyes were dull with pain, but he appeared aware of her presence, and vaguely concerned about her.

"Vincent?" Tifa asked, too stunned to really say or think much else as the gunman slowly took his left hand from hers'; careful not to hurt her while doing so.

"Why...were you crying...?" Vincent quietly asked, wincing when the effort of talking sent burning pain through him.

"There's nothing more I can do for you, Vincent...I'm not strong enough to heal you. You continue to suffer from this, when you could have been...!" Tifa trailed off when Vincent reached up and again put a hand to her face.

"Don't...blame yourself...or your supposed...lack of strength. Blaming yourself...will get you nowhere...I should know. I spent thirty years...punishing myself in a coffin..." Vincent said, sternly; braving the intense pain in his lungs to say that much.

"But Vincent, I..." Tifa murmured, once again surprised when the former Turk interrupted her.

"Don't make me...repeat myself. You're not the one...causing this...Nor are you to blame...for not being able to heal me...Remember that." Vincent quietly said, before stifling a cough with his left hand, then relaxing back onto the bed.

"I'll try. But it's hard to see you like this." Tifa admitted, as she gazed worriedly at his far-too-pale features. Vincent only nodded, and gave her a ghost of what seemed to be a sad smile.

"I know...But it's good to know...that there is at least...one person who can still cry...for a monster like me." Vincent murmured, as he gave himself over to fevered sleep, once again. For a long while afterwards, Tifa continued to sit by his side; her thoughts arguing against the 'monster' comment.

"You are not a monster, Vincent Valentine. Not to anyone else, and especially not to me...And I'll remain by your side to prove it." Tifa silently declared, as she stubbornly picked up his left hand again, and held it; her determination rekindled.

Author's Note!

I know, very short chapter. But I am in desperate need of some new ideas! This fic is going to stall out if I don't get some soon! Any ideas are welcome! Arigato!

Gemini14