Chapter 28

She caught him just as he was getting ready to jump over the guardrail and into the air.

"I thought you'd always be here for me!"

"I was wrong. I would stand at the gates of hell and fight the armies of the demon gods barehanded to keep you and Vincent together. But if I stay, I will only tear us all apart." Chaos looked over the side of the ship, refusing to meet the tearful gaze of the girl.

"I thought you loved me." Tears trickled down Yuffie's face as she spoke.

Her words strike him like a hammer's blow, and whatever was left of his heart shatters into pieces. "I do. I love you so much it hurts."

"But you're gonna go anyway. Just up and leave us all."

"I have to do this, Yuffie. Its better this way; I'm not some fairy tale beast for you to save."

"Vincent told me what you said to him."

Chaos whipped his head around to look her in the eyes. "Then you have to understand why it's so wrong for me to stay!"

Yuffie clenched her fists and glared at him. "How can it be wrong, when its never been done before? What if it's what I want?"

He had forgotten what it was like to cry—he hadn't done it since Ilrya died. Chaos closed his eyes against the tears welling up in his own eyes. The little ninja who could have been his wife was so close to breaking his resolve, to convincing him that it was a stupid idea and dragging him back inside.

He had to go now, or he wouldn't at all. Or at least, not until it was far too late to repair the damage. "I'm sorry, beloved. I have to go."

Yuffie watched, sobbing as the demon she had somehow grown to love dived off the Highwind and out of her life.


Before I start getting hate mail about Chaos leaving, let me say that I cried like a baby while I was writing this. I've always known that he was going to leave, but I didn't expect the impact that it had on me. I hope it had the same on you.

By the way, sorry to Ezri-Candy and Sorceress Fujin. I know you guys were both wanting them to all live happily ever after. But some people just don't ever get their happy ending, and Chaos seems like one of those kind of guys.

An incredibly short chapter, I know, but it kept me up for an extra two hours writing. It popped into my head just the way I wanted it and wouldn't let go for anything. I'll be a zombie tomorrow at work, but its worth it.