1The Bloodstained Diary

A/N: Whoa, been awhile since I updated this one. And I got a lot of reviews on it too. Well, time to give the people what they want. I'll be making some illustrations for some of these stories later on my art site. It's in my profile. Check it out. Like my work? Leave a comment on my page.

Diary Entry 4

Vincent sat upon the roof of Tifa's home. He was silently reading the page of the diary that was sent to him yesterday. He didn't want to be interrupted, so he scaled the side of the house up to the roof top. Actually, he's been reading most of it through the night. Something inclined him to continue reading this. The more he read the more he felt pity for this poor soul that seemed to be tortured by the hands of this madman she spoke of.

Dear Diary,

I haven't been feeling the need to eat as of late or the will to eat. Not that it matters, they quit feeding me for trying to escape again I'm guessing. I'm...not sure what that freak did to me. It feels like my energy has been zapped or something. His so called 'check ups' with me were more than minor. It makes my skin crawl every time he touches me. His touch is cold and it feels like his hands are covered in blood. My body feels tainted when he touches me. I can see why Vinny wanted to kill him for revenge or maybe he hated him cause he hurt other people.

"W...what...?"

Vincent murmured out as he looked at the name 'Vinny' written out on the page and the name 'Hojo'. If possible he face would go paler than it already was. His eyes widened with a look of horror etched over his face. Fingers gripping the small book, his muscles tensed as he managed to exhale a heavy breath.

"That's...not possible. Hojo's dead...but..."

Many thoughts cycled through his head as this had to be a mistake. He had killed Hojo with his own hands he couldn't have survived, unless it wasn't him he had killed. Though, what had disturbed him was the name 'Vinny.' Only one person ever called him that and annoyed him with the short nickname made for him.

"Yuffie..."

Her named was a whisper from his lips. This couldn't be true, Yuffie was safely in her hometown Wutai wasn't she? She had to be. The thought was eerie of Yuffie being in the hands of that cold hearted bastard Hojo that had forsaken his own child and Lucrecia for the sake of science. He was sick in the head and not only that, just a pscyho. No one could know the far extent to what Hojo would do to someone, just look what he had did to him. He had to know for himself. Vincent quickly got himself up from the roof before he jumped down to the ground nimbly. He sprinted past the startled towns people to the entrance of Nimbelheim. He didn't want to involve Cloud and Tifa this was his own problem. After Fifteen minutes of running, he made it to the shoreline where the docks were. A old man stood near the ferry as he approached him. He didn't seem bothered by Vincent's appearance as he removed his pipe from his mouth.

"I need a ride." Vincent said.

"Just your luck mister, the ferry is still running and it's not going anywhere particular right now." He nodded his head, putting his hands behind his back. "So where to?"

"Wutai."

—

Yuffie was pulled down the hallway from the elevator by her arm by one of the guards. She didn't put up a fight as it's been days since she last ate. She was tired and hungry. She wasn't even entirely sure what day it was since she hasn't seen the day of light in the longest time. Her eyes closed for a moment wanting to go back to sleep before the guard shook her waking her back up.

"I'm not dragging you all the way there so wake up." He said sternly.

"Bastard..." Yuffie mumbled, as she groggily kept her eyes open before they reached a door. It sliding back before he pushed her inside. She stumbled inside unable to keep her balance as she fell forward, though she fell into a pair of strong arms that held her.

"Must you be so rough with her?" He asked.

"I brough her to you didn't I?" The soldier said.

Rumiko's eyes narrowed as he looked at him. "I'd be carefulwhen handling her. I wouldn't have to tell Professor Hojo you injured her in any way. You might end up being her replacement..."

The soldier face turned white from the words as sweat ran down his face. He saluted as he began to stutter in a nervous voice, "N-n-no! That won't be..n-n-necessary sir. Very sorry. I'll be more careful." He said, quickly leaving as the door shut behind him leaving him and Yuffie alone. He looked her over as she looked very exhausted.

"You look terrible." He said.

"No, shit sherlock." Yuffie said, as her head hung down. "Like you care anyway. You're the ones that don't want to feed anyone."

"You haven't been eating?" He asked, raising a brow. His hand moved around to her stomach fingers pushing along it. There wasn't as much flesh as when he had first met her, he could feel the underside of her ribs easily. Haven't they been feeding her? She knew Hojo wouldn't starve patients. Though that's probably be considered nice on his part considering the things he did to others. He pulled her over to a desk putting her in the chair. There were some paperwork and books on the desk along with a tray that consisted of a glass of juice, carrots, and a sandwich.

"Eat my lunch. I won't be needing it." He said

Yuffie looked up at him for a moment then back at the tray as she didn't wait for him to offer it again. She devouring the sandwich as she quickly chewed, well more like swallowed the chunks. It wasn't long before it was gone along with the carrots and Yuffie hated carrots , but she ate them anyway. She coughed violently, as she hit her chest a few times.

"Hey slow down, you're going to choke that way." Rumiko warned watching the girl chug down the glass of juice. A satisfied sigh came of her mouth followed by a burp. Her arm rubbed against her lips, as she looked at him.

"That was terrible."

"It's cafeteria food. It's always bad." He said. "How long have you not been eating?"

"About a week or so. I can't really remember." Yuffie shrugged, licking her fingers and then the tray.

Rumiko was a little shocked from her answer, but soon recovered. "Really? A week? Most here would have starved to death by now."

"Oh, how 'lucky' I am then." She said sarcastically. Yuffie looked around the room observing her surroundings. It looked to be a lab she was in. A few long tubes that could fit a human inside were up against the walls. Wiring running from the bottom of them up along and into the wall as they intersected one another. She noticed one of them were occupied it looked like a human, but then again it looked like it wasn't. It was disfigured and had flesh missing off it's body. She couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. It had a blank stare on it's face as it stared at Yuffie. Yuffie held her arms shivering turning her gaze away from it. Bile began to rise up to her throat as she felt nauseous from the gruesome sight.

"Gross...gross. That's horrible." She mumbled, as she couldn't imagine how they had got like that. Yuffie only hoped that she didn't end up like that herself. She got a really bad vibe off this place.

Rumiko noticed her sudden change of mood as she seemed very terrified now. He opened his mouth to say something, but the door slid open as a feminine voice cut him short.

"Well, well I see that our little patient is awake and still alive. Such a trooper isn't she Rumiko?" Nessa said, as she tossed her hair back behind her shoulder. Yuffie turned her head over her shoulder as their eyes met. She sneered at her as she really, really didn't like Nessa. Well, that was putting it lightly. She wanted to strangle the woman.

"Yes, she is Nessa. Do you know anything about her not being served a meal a day? It seems she's been starving for over a week." He looked at her.

Nessa put a finger to her chin rubbing it slowly as she looked up at the ceiling in thought, "Hm...hmm...oh. I know. It's the silliest thing really. I accidently put that down for her which was meant for another patient. Silly me." She chuckled, passing it off like it was nothing.

"You...you...bitch!" Yuffied bursted out as she got up from her seat. Looking at the red headed woman with an intent to kill as she pointed at her accusingly. "You did that on purpose!"

"Really, Ms. Kisaragi it was a harmless mistake." She said, walking over to them with her arms behind her back. "You're really overreacting."

"Harmless? HARMLESS? I could have died!" She snapped.

"Well, it seems you didn't. So, no damage done." Nessa said with a smile on her lips. Yuffie balled up her hand into a fist as it shook in frustration. This woman was obviously out to get her for what reason she didn't know. Rumiko had to hold Yuffie back as she thrashed around. She abusing the english language swearing any word that was known to the woman.

"You just wait until I get my hands you, you conniving whore!" She spat out angrily.

"My, my I see you're just as lively as ever Ms. Kisaragi."

They all turned towards the door seeing that Hojo had arrived. Yuffie had took the opportunity while they were distracted throw a leg up as she kicked Nessa up in the nose quite hard with the ball of her foot. She stumbled back with both hands covering her nose. Blood running from between the cracks of her hands as she was stunned.

"Why...why...you little insect! How dare you touch me!" She said holding her bleeding nose, beginning to lunge at her before Hojo put an arm in front of her stopping her.

"There's no room for violence in my lab Nessa. Why don't you go clean yourself up?" He said calmly.

"But...er, yes Professor. Thank you." She said, looking at Yuffie hard before she left the room. Yuffie seem to have a smile of victory on her lips. Though she seemed to notice how she obeyed all of his orders and what not like a trained dog. Not to mention she'd change into two face when she was around her, but when Hojo came she was like the perfect little angel.

I know she can't be jealous of me because of that creep taking a interest in me. She can have the psycho for all I care. Yech.

"Always causing trouble, Ms. Kisaragi?" He said approaching her, though at a safe distance seeing as she nearly kicked Nessa's nose into her skull.

"No, I'm just begging for your attention." She said sarcastically being restrained. Yuffie would notice Rumiko wasn't holding her roughly, though he was holding her where she couldn't slip away or attack him. Why was he being nice to her anyway? Well, treating her like a human being anyway? No one else down here seem to do that at all. Maybe it was a trick to get on her good side perhaps? Why would he go out of his way to be kind for?

"Charmed you feel that way Ms. Kisaragi. Now, if you'd remove your clothes and step into the empty tank here we can get started." He said going over to a large computer in the room that obviously controlled the tanks in the room. He typed in a random command as the tube slid down. Rumiko then let go of her as she looked at them. Stripping down to her bare flesh was nothing new to her. She still felt very shy about doing so, but has been getting to use to it. It was better than someone taking her clothes off like last time. Her gown fell down from her body pooling around her feet. Her hands rubbed her arms as it was cold in the room. A shiver ran up her spine as she could feel his gaze on her as usual.

"What is this for? I'm not getting in that thing if I'm going to end up like...like...that." She pointed over to a tube that was 4 over from hers. Hojo merely chuckled.

"My dear that is just a body we put in there so the body wouldn't rot anymore than it already did. They'll be getting rid of that soon enough. When you get in there the tank your body will be cleansed with a solution that's in the water. Also, it helps us run a better analysis on your body."

Yuffie somewhat believed that, though she was no scientist. She stepped onto the platform of the tube and the glass quickly slide back up incasing her inside of it. It startled her as she jumped up with her arms wrapped around her chest. Her feet suddenly felt wet, as she noticed the water filling up the tank from the bottom. Yuffie didn't begin to panic before she noticed marks on the inside of the glass tube, they looked like scratches; deep ones. There was even a fingernail left in one of the imprints. That's when she started to panic. The water was already around her waist as it filled the tube. It wasn't long before her air pocket inside the tube was gone as she was surrounded by the green liquid. Yuffie held her breath as she had almost forgotten that she couldn't very well breathe in here because of all the water anymore. How the hell did they expect her to survive in here? After the first 5 minutes, she couldn't hold her breath anymore as her hands went to her mouth. Hojo turned his head away from the computer as he noticed her heart pattern on the computer was slowly down from her not breathing.

"Ms. Kisaragi you can breathe in that water. Take your hands off your mouth." He said.

Oh, like I'd trust you...

She looked at him quietly with her hands over her mouth still. Her vision focused on Rumiko who walked in front of the tank.

"It's all right Yuffie. Do as he says." He brushed a few strands of hair back behind his ear.

She was hesitant, but it look liked she'd drown either way if she couldn't breathe. So, her hands slowly left her mouth. Bubbles forming as her lips opened to suck in water that came into her mouth. Though for some reason she didn't choke to death or feel it fill her lungs up for her to kill over. She looked around, as she waded in the middle of the water her hair gently swaying up above her head.

I didn't drown...what is this stuff...this is weird...

The green water felt warm around her body as her muscles tingled. The sensors in the glass tube scanned her body sending feedback to the computer.

"Her wound has healed up a little, but not as much as I hoped for." Hojo rubbed his chin as Rumiko came up behind him. "Though with a few more tweaking she can heal faster..."

"Sir, you aren't actually going to try 'that' again are you? We've had so many failures from that." He said.

"Well, I've only had two successful specimens in the past as you know." He grinned. "Though one died and the other, well I guess you can consider him dead or more like a ghost from the past. That one was a fool."

Rumiko kept silent listening to the eerie chuckle Hojo made as he looked at the computer screen. Yuffie floated there in the middle of the warm liquid. It felt pretty...soothing. Yuffie pulled her knees up to her chest letting her arms wrap around legs. Her muscles suddenly felt very relaxed and she suddenly felt drowsy. Eyelids feeling heavy, she closed her eyes as she slowly dozed off and into her thoughts.

Daddy...

—

The city of Wutai was always as beautiful and majestic as any other city. It didn't compare to others due to it's natural beauty. Also, there wasn't any pollution either like the other towns. The air was cleaner and there was a lot of vegetation here. Though this really wasn't a time for sight seeing for Vincent. There were other important matters to attend to. He could feel the stares upon him as his attire made him stand out quite a lot. He didn't care. Though it was nothing he wasn't accustom to from other towns. People were scared of him and he couldn't blame them at all. Vincent scaled the steps up to the small house that stood out from most of the others. The piece of tattered paper on the door written 'Keep Out'. He assumed this to be Yuffie's house from which he recalled being here when Cloud and him had to chase her down for their materia. He knocked firmly on the door three times and waited.

Nothing. He knocked again.

Still no answer.

He sighed as she didn't seem to be home or maybe she was hiding? No, what reason would she be hiding for. She hasn't did anything wrong that would make her hide from him. Well, nothing recently anyway. His head turned as his vision caught eye of the pagoda. Perhaps, he should ask Godo. Though, he'd barely know where his daughter was most of the time, still it wouldn't hurt to ask. He left the small hut as he descended the stairs and made his way across the bridge. He remembered coming here once before sometime back with his father. It had to be one of his favorite places to visit. He could see why. It was very peaceful and there wasn't any violence. So very peaceful.

Vincent walked towards the pagoda with his cape swaying behind him. He was stopped shortly by two guards near the entrance. Their spears in hand as they kept a grip on them. Obviously they were startled by Vincent's apperance.

"Halt! Outsiders are not permitted inside the Pagoda." He said eyeing Vincent.

"I must see Lord Godo." He said calmly.

"L-lord godo is busy at the moment." The other man said, he seeming more nervous than the other. Vincent stared at them unimpressed with the hem of his cloak covering his mouth.

"I'll see for myself." He said, as he walked passed them.

"I said you can't go in there!" He yelled, before his hand grabbed Vincent's shoulder. Almost like lightning, Vincent turned around quickly drawing his gun. The man was staring down the barrel of the gun as it was no more than six inches in front of him.

"Don't." Vincent warned him in a low voice. It was obvious he didn't want or liked to be touched. The man gripped his spear though it loosened as the gun clicked, "I said don't." If the man was smart he wouldn't touch him again. His spear dropped to the ground as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

"What's going on here?

Vincent looked from the corner of his eye to a rather large old man in kimono.

"O-o-oh, thank Levithan it's you Gorky." The other guard said giving a sigh of relief. "This man here is trying to go inside the pagoda."

"Oh? I'm sorry traveler, but the Padgoda isn't for outsiders."

"I know that, but it is urgent. It's about Yuffie." Vincent said.

"Miss Yuffie? Well, why didn't you say so. Come come!" He said waving his hand in before walking back inside. Vincent holstered his gun back to his hip before following Gorky back inside leaving the startled man there as he fell onto the ground on his rear shaking a little. His partner loomed over him seeing if he was all right.

Vincent followed the old man up the five levels of Pagoda. The man seemed eager to lead him to Godo for some reason. Though he didn't ask why, he figured Godo would be able to answer all of his questions. The other guardians were shocked to see Vincent breezing past them without as much as a word. What was Gorky thinking bringing an outsider into the Pagoda like this? They soon reached the top. Vincent noticed Godo sitting in the middle of the room Indian style. His eyes were closed as he seemed to be in deep thought.

"What is it?" He said without opening his eyes.

"Lord Godo, you have a visitor. Mr. Vincent Valentine." Gorky said.

"Show them out. I'm not in the mood to see anyone." He said lowly.

"But Lord Godo it's about–"

Vincent raised his hand up as Gorky stayed silent. He approached the ruler of Wutai as he sat in front of him. Godo raised his head slowly opening his eyes looking at the man across from him. His hands on his knees as a look of annoyance was painted over his face.

"What do you want? Outsiders are forbidden within in the pagoda. It is a very serious offense." He said in a stern voice.

"Forgive me, but..."

"Leave me pagoda and town right now, before I decide to execute you for trespassing in a sacred monument." Godo said coldly turning his head. He never acted like this before. It seemed he was upset over something and was in a foul mood. Though Vincent held his ground still. He slid a hand underneath his cloak. "Are you a fool? Did you not here me? I said..."

Godo gasped out as he suddenly lost his voice as Vincent pulled out the small tattered diary. He noticing the worn out design on the book. A shaky hand reaching forward as his finger tips pressed against the cover. He drew in a deep breath before exhaling.

"Where...did you get this?" He whispered.

"It was sent to me. I thought you might know something about it or Yuffie might. So, I came here, but I haven't found her anywhere." Vincent said, watching Godo take the book and open it.

"This is written in Wutainese...you can read this Mr. Valentine?" He questioned.

"Only a little, some of it is a little hazy." He said.

Godo wanted to question how he could read Wutainese, but this wasn't the time to ask that right now. "I am in your debt for bringing this to me Mr. Valentine and as for Yuffie..." He gave a heavy sigh as his voice was a little raspy, "Yuffie has been gone for over a year now."

"She's...what?" Vincent asked a little stunned.

"My daughter is always going off by herself for long period of times, but it isn't like her to do this. I didn't think she was so angry from what I said that it hurt her deeply..." Godo said, feeling shame from what he had said to Yuffie a year ago that night.

"So, it was Yuffie that sent it to me..." Vincent mumbled, "But why...?"

"Well, let's not question that now. I can translate these pages that don't make sense." Godo said, opening the book. Vincent began to get up to leave, but he was stopped. "Stay. You went out of your trouble to bring me my daughter's belongings. I want you to hear this. You seem concerned about her yourself. You are a good friend."

"All right.."

Vincent sat back down looking back at Godo. Vincent wasn't sure if he was doing this for Yuffie's sake or just curious to know if Hojo was really alive or not. Well, him and Yuffie didn't really have a close bond though out of anyone in AVALACHE she'd always talk to him and bug him. He was annoyed by her constant chattering, though he'd listen. Though what bothered him the most was when she called him 'Vinny'. Her so called nickname for him that he hadn't liked at all. Godo cleared his throat as he began reading the pages that were filled with his daughter's thoughts and turmoil. Unbeknownst to Godo and Vincent that this book held more torture and pain than they could have ever imagined.

TBC

Sorry, it's been so long since I updated this. Hope there are still some fans out there of this story and haven't given up on it yet. Well, there I updated an old story. Will put up another chapter for this within a few days or so. I'll be making some illustrations for it soon, so you guys have something to look forward to. Nyah, make sure you review please! Until next time.