Wandering Spirits: Memories Run Deep

This will eventually turn into a YAOI (MxM) story between Cloud and Sephiroth taking place just after the movie. Cloud thinks he is free from Sephiroth's grasp, that someone close to him becomes infected with Sephiroth's soul. Driving them to madness, and death… WHO dare you ask is going to be the unlucky victim of Sephiroth's wrath? And what happens when Sephy gets amnesia? 0o; Read and Find out! In the second chapter of Wandering Spirits!

Warning: full Yaoi in later chapters!

Disclaimer: I STILL don't own anything! I'm destitute and poor! I have nothing to my wretched name! oh weep oh sob ;;

A/N: This is the Chapter with lots of Tifa Vincent fluffy stuff! XD giggles don't you just wanna scream and giggle at the thought of Vincent being Fluffy XD! dies

PS: You prolly noticed that this story is Romance/Humor...ne? Well it's more like... Drama/Romance/Drama/Humor/Romance/Drama/Adventure/Humor/ etc... Ahehe ;; it varies from chapter to chapter, this chapter is a little dramatic... okay! It's smothered and slathered with gooey angst DRAMA... but... it will very soon be humorous, so bare with me a little longer! sobs I fail as a writer! runs away screaming AHH! I'm just going everywhere with this one! Nyehehehehe! Buahahahha!

Oh yeah! Another ffing! I want to put out a special thanks and warm fond feelings and hugs and lots of good love stuff to Liliath, who gave me my first review! Omfkg Thank you so much, your review made me want to continue this story! (PS sorry for the lateness of the updateness ;; School's a biatch) THANK YOU AGAIN LILIATH! screams

Enjoi!

Tension.

Pure.

Unwavering.

Tension…

Cloud Strife was like this all the time now, despite the fact that Sephiroth was supposedly no more, he was always tense. The slightest movement would startle the normally cool-headed blonde man. It wasn't just the fact that earlier today Denzel was nearly killed, or that Vincent had failed to destroy that one place where evil could possibly rise again. No. It was none of these things in particular. It was Tifa…

He glanced up at the young woman he had grown to cherish so much. Her long dark hair flowed over her shoulders. She was dutifully cleaning glasses from behind the bar, whilst Vincent tended to the injured Denzel. She looked up from what she was doing to find Cloud staring at her, again.

"Thank you, Cloud." She smiled softly and returned to washing the counter. She sighed a little though; his head tilting quickly to glance anywhere but her face. He shook his head and stood.

"It was…mn… never mind." He said ruefully and then turned to her. He couldn't take it any longer. She was so close to him. He could smell her fragrance from where he stood and it sent his heart fluttering. He had to tell her, if he didn't, well, he might loose her to him forever. He gripped the bar a little and cleared his throat.

"Tifa..." She turned to look at him, smiling softly. "Yes Cloud-kun?" Her soft brown eyes tortured him, as they seemed to gaze into the pit of his very being. Making his fingers tremble slightly. He could do this! He would do this! "Tifa I… I-" He took a deep breath. Her face pouted softly in confusion. "Yes?" He closed his eyes, trying to focus on his words right now. "Tifa I L-!" Just then a Dark figure moved from around the corner, wiping his hands off from the blood that had gotten on them. He discarded his cloak on the counter next to Tifa. His sigh was soft and long, his human fingers running through his hair. "Sorry to have kept you my love…" He spoke softly, turning to Tifa, his smile was small, but it held much warmth and love for the woman in front of him. She looked up at him and giggled softly, brushing some bangs away from his face; she leaned up and kissed his lips ever so gently, melting as he returned the favor. All but a little too generously.

Cloud stared in horror. He always looked this way when they were together. His heart sunk to his knees. He felt so ill, he couldn't breathe. The stinging pain of the held back tears was making his vision foggy, unclear. He was thankful for that much. He didn't have to suffer as much if he couldn't see them like this. He lost his one true love to his best friend. How could this have happened? Though, somewhere deep inside of him, or perhaps it was not so deep as he thought. He knew it was his own damn fault.

"Denzel should be alright. He might have a few scars, I did for him what I could." His arms curled around Tifa's supple waist. His fingertips run up and down her spine, causing her to shiver softly with delight. She leans against his firm frame lightly, her head resting against his shoulder. "You've done more than what we could have asked of you. Thank you, Vincent. You're so good to us." He closes his eyes and pulls away slightly to help her clean up the bar area. Saying not another word he dons a white apron, with a tiny depiction of a chocobo at the top. He picks up the broom and bussing bucket and went to work on cleaning up the mess from the afternoon crowd.

Tifa gazed on at the hard working Vincent, not noticing that Cloud had said good-bye, or that he was even gone. She smiled softly and turned to say something to Cloud, frowning a little as he was no where in sight. "Oh Cloud…"


Within a matter of days Denzel was back on his feet, but there was a depressive air about him. He smiled and laughed, but only around Marlene. He didn't want her to worry about him. But everyone else noticed right away. Cid even went too far as to remark "Damn kid's turning out to be another fucking Strife. Like the world needs more angsty bastards." He chuckled light heartedly along with Tifa, Vincent and Barret. The three were lounging aimlessly in the bar. Cid had taken over the conversation, ranting on about how his plans for the Bronco II were coming along great! Rufus even decided to sponsor his research and his production plans! Barret had gone off on his own way (which was most likely to be a protective monster over his precious Marlene) when Cid started ranting about the problems that were constantly occurring with the new Highwind designs. Tifa and Vincent were polite enough to stay and simply laugh and nod when necessary.

Tifa turned from Cid after three long hours had passed, and he had finally settled down to a cigarette and some peppermint tea. Giving her a break to actually get a few words in. "It seems weird, don't you think?" She said softly to herself. "What seems weird?" Vincent speaks softly, as he prepares another pot of tea for Cid.

"It's just that, he's never around anymore. He's becoming secluded again. I just don't understand, ever since that incident with Denzel. He's been, well, absent. He was so attentive for a while…but something must be up for him to acting this way…" She sighed and sat down next to Cid, who was enjoying his tea very much, as well as resting his vocal chords to prepare for another ranting session. Vincent nodded softly and poured out some tea for his beloved Tifa. He couldn't help but admire the way the lights would make her entire form glow. He shook his head a little, and he spoke, a pang of guilt coursing through his vampiric heart.

"I believe that would be my fault." He looks away and tries to busy himself with sweeping the floor around the bar. "What do you mean?" Tifa and Cid both perked up at this comment, intrigued as to what Vincent could possibly have done to make Cloud so upset.

"Though, it doesn't surprise me. He's royal angstness is easily upset. Wish he'd just grow the fuck up and stop worrying about things, just live goddammit! He puts Mr. I'm-A-Dark-Mysterious-Vampire here to shame…that's saying something too!" Cid took a quick sip of his tea and a long drag off his cig as he tried to calm down before his blood pressure went through the roof. Vincent ignored this remark quietly and kept sweeping. Tifa giggled slightly, but grew serious.

"Vincent, what happened?" She looked up into his glowing, mako-red eyes. His face softened as he started to lose himself to her gaze. He sighed softly in defeat.

"Very well, I will tell you." Cid hopped from one chair to the next getting super close to hear the usually mute man talk, excited to hear him talk more than a sentence or two. "Oh boy, Mr. Mute is going to talk!" He grinned as Tifa elbowed him in the side. "Shh! God Cid..." She rolled her eyes and nodded for Vincent to continue.

"After we discovered the untainted life stream pool in the church, Cloud and I went down to eliminate the wolves that had gathered down in the abandoned tunnels. It was odd. The wolves were stronger, faster, and more violent than normal. Usually they are docile creatures, but they started attacking the people. We went to investigate, when…" He looked up at the ceiling and then turned around, so that they could not see the expression of confusion, and worry that creeped upon his usually emotionless features. "We stumbled upon a secret room; we'd never seen it before. It seemed like a small computer enhanced observatory. It was flooded with the tainted life stream… I concluded that the wolves must have been drinking from the tainted waters, and were infested with Sephiroth's genetic information."

Tifa and Cid sat there dumbfounded. Cid's cigarette was hanging out of his mouth, just smoldering. Tifa's eyes were wide with confusion. She gripped the counter top slightly. "But how? Sephiroth is dead!" She shook her head. Cid just continued to stare. "Yeah, wait didn't Angsty destroy him?" Cid managed to finally grumble out.

"Yes, it would have appeared that way. Cloud and I were not sure how exactly he survived, but the tainted life stream was not all we found down there. In the middle of the room, apparently the source of the generated galaxy above us was a collected mass of the tainted life stream. The pure essence of Sephiroth, Cloud believes it was his soul. And I believe he felt what I did… the life of Sephiroth was beating within that Materia… everything that was Sephiroth is now in that Materia, the orb that Marlene described to be as being the present they wanted to get for Cloud. So he… would be … happy…" He looked down and away. "I was supposed to destroy that place, but I couldn't bring myself to destroy its beauty, something urged my not to… and now I regret my hesitation… I will go down there tonight and make sure that it is eliminated…" He finished very quietly. Tifa and Cid were leaning over the bar, straining to hear him speak.

The brunette sat back as he spoke his last words for most likely the next month or so and tried to take all of this in. "So … Sephiroth isn't… dead… not really, right? But then, you… you must go down there as soon as possible! He's tormented us all long enough! We can't let him have the chance of being resurrected!" Her thoughts wandered to Cloud, the day he had killed Kadaj, and almost died himself. The look of pain and sorrow on his face, she couldn't bare to see her childhood friend suffer like that… No they couldn't. Cloud shouldn't have to suffer anymore… "So we'll finish Sephiroth for him…" She smiles softly, Vincent searching her eyes carefully. He nods softly and smiles a little. "Yes…"


Little did the trio know Denzel had been listening in on the whole conversation; he sat against the wall outside of the 7th heaven. He bit his lip hard, if he had known that the orb he saw was something that would hurt Cloud, he never would have gone down there, especially not with Marlene. He stood slowly his fingers twitching a little. He looked back at the bar and then down the street. They were going to destroy it. He should be happy right? But then, what was this feeling. This hurt? His mind wandering back to the glow, the warmth, the unlimited power he felt quivering beneath his fingertips. He was so close to touching it. If he could just touch it, just once, he could be satisfied.

He looked back once more, and then decided. He knew it was bad, but he just wanted one last look at it. He needed it. It was calling to him, pulling ever so sweetly on his heart strings.

Before he knew it he was racing his way back to the tunnels, his heart pounding heavily in his chest, he knew there would be no one to stop him from touching that Materia now. He could hold it and admire it, and then leave it there once he was satisfied. Yes, there couldn't be any harm in just holding it right?

His feet carried him swiftly all the way down into the dark abyss. He crept quietly along the path he had now practically memorized. His weight shifted against a loose scrap of metal and he fell hard against the ground, the crash seemed to ring loud in his ears as it echoed, breaking the eerie silence of the tunnels.

The noise startled him so much he practically sprinted his way into the large clearing. As he had expected, but still was completely overwhelmed by, the galaxy shimmered and shone down on him. The heavens above bathed him in the soft light, his skin warming to the sensation. Though he was unable to enjoy it as much as he had wanted to, his mind suddenly being plucked at by that same haunting voice he had heard before.

Denzel…Denzel…Set me free…I will give you everything you desire…everything your heart wants…Come to me Denzel…bathe yourself in my power…

His bright blue eyes glazed over as he turned to face that orb. His heart clenched, as if seeing someone he loved so much, as if that voice was the voice of Marlene, making his heart race with excitement. He moved towards it at a quick pace, remembering there was no one in his way now, losing himself to it. Surrendering…

So close…Yes… Denzel… I can give her to you, she will be yours Forever… with me you can have everything… not even Cloud can stop you…

Denzel's reaching fingers stopped at this comment. Cloud. How could he forget Cloud? Wasn't this thing, the source of his sadness, of his loneliness, of his absence? No he couldn't do this to Cloud. His fingers tried to pull away from this evil object, but he found himself unable to move. What had he done? He couldn't stop himself now! His mind fought against the hold the Materia had over him, but his struggles were in vain. He had sold himself; mind, body, and soul – to the darkness.

His fingers wrapped around the orb. A burst of light surrounded him, his body lost in it. He cried out, tears rolling out from his shut eyes. "NO! This isn't what I want! I'm sorry! Please don't hurt Cloud!" He gasps softly as he finds himself trying to shove the Materia into his body. "Stop! No! Somebody Help me!" He cries out as pain fills his body, the Materia sinking ever so slowly into his small crumpled form.

At that moment the light is cut in two. A loud crash fills the air, electricity burst all around the two figures now. One the dying form of Denzel, the other was the blonde haired warrior.

Cloud slammed his Buster sword down upon the Materia, cracking it straight down the middle. The light pulsated rapidly. Cloud gritted his teeth heavily as he was suspended in the air, pressing down hard on the dark Matter that was trying to desperately to assimilate itself with the young boy. He wouldn't allow Sephiroth to be reborn, never! He wouldn't lose Denzel to the darkness as well! He closed his eyes and raised his sword again, bringing it down and then up under the Materia, slicing it in two. He then slashes at it sideways slicing it now into fourths.

The light around them grew suddenly erratic. His body covering Denzel's lifeless form, holding him close as the entire place blew all to hell. He hoped upon hoped that at least Denzel would survive. If he could just keep him alive, he would be truly happy. For once he would have done something right for Tifa… Tifa... I'm so sorry Tifa… Forgive me… I'm so sorry Sephiroth… If only I had tried harder… Sephiroth… "I love you…Sephiroth…" He didn't realize his thoughts had drifted to Sephiroth as he fell into unconsciousness.


End of Chapter 2!

Shii-Chan (Me): Oh ho ho I think I will end that where it is because, well, I'm gonna leave you hanging again D! Plus I need to develop the next chapter (which will prolly contain more humor in it!) Hope you guys are disappointed UU I would have to jump off a bridge if you were OH SOB XD jk!

Sephy-kun: Wish you would TT

Shii: SEPHY YOU'RE SO MEAN TO ME! cries and ten glomps him I LOVE YOU!

Sephy: slices her up with his BIG SWORD (eheheh D Shii is pervy) TT+
Any way... in this next chapter of Wandering spirits Shii is dead. I am alive D. But I have

Amnesia? What the hell? TT why do I have to have amnesia?
Read and serve me and bow to me and allow me to destroy your pitiful existence!

Please no flaming… because I will eat your heart on a silver platter if you do… TT;

Wandering Spirits Chapter 3: Amnesia?