Welcome back! (Assuming anyone reads this fiction). This is chapter five, and still not the conclusion of this story. I think chapter six will be, but I can't say for sure. At any rate, as I have said I am making this a series. Two more tales to go through, but for now we're going to stick with this one. This chapter is also a bit darker than the others, and should be taken as seriously as possible. However, I too enjoy humor and fun, so from time to time I will place in some fun stuff too for your enjoyment, because no one likes to read gloomy stuff that makes you sad.
Also, one last note, I do use real swearing in this chapter however, it is only just a bit and ask that if you are sensitive to swearing, do not read some parts of this chapter. Okay, that's all, please enjoy!
Am I talking to anyone? Hello?
Journal Entry 5
Who will go down to the shady groves, and summon the shadows there?
The last that ever she saw him was carried away by a moonlight shadow…
The sun was setting quickly behind Destiny, and as the darkness settled around her, she became uncomfortable with being alone. Sure, it was great that no one had to take care of her, but how was she going to survive in a place like Midgar, the home to Shin-ra?
Destiny put her hands deep into her pockets, fishing out a small satin red bag Vincent had given her after they left the airship. Had he really intended to leave her like this? She couldn't help but feel abandoned, regardless that she had only known Vincent for almost a week. She still felt left behind, and more importantly she was scared.
She was going to have to get herself straight. If she was going to have to fend for herself, she would have to be brave. At least Vincent had taught her how to fight a bit, so maybe if someone tried to hurt her she could fight them off. Destiny sighed; she didn't know what she was going to do. She had 1000 Gil in her little satin back, and maybe that would buy her a room for a while. She wasn't good at math, or reading… or really anything. Shin-ra had taught her nothing but how to harness the dark powers that she could never seem to grip. This was why she was a failed experiment.
Destiny paused; she hadn't realized her last thought until she had to think about it. Where had that thought come from? She hadn't remembered anything since she was 19. Why was it that now all of the sudden, she was remembering things like that? Did she have some dark abilities like Sephiroth and Jenova? Did she have any talents? Now that she thought about it, the only thing she could ever remember from her child hood was a small stuffed rabbit and a man with long black hair. Why nothing else? Seven years later she still remembered nothing from her past.
However, the real question wasn't her past. The real question was where was she going to live?
Or, if she would live at all, the chances of dying of geostigma were slim, but the chances of dying by Shin-ra weren't so favorable. That aside, she was still lost, and now it was dark, and very cold.
"How many times have I walked past this building?" Destiny wondered, now giving up on finding her way out of broken, old Midgar. She slumped down near a pile of metal rails and put her chin on her knees.
"I've only been here an hour or two and I already hate Midgar." Destiny growled, her green eyes scanning for another pathway to walk down or narrow place to explore. She had gotten here; she could get out, but how? Her thoughts soared, and each time she tried to break free from them she always went back to thoughts about Sephiroth, and who she really was.
What was it that she could remember? What was it that she needed to know? Why wouldn't she stop thinking about this?
A brief flashback
All she could remember was that Shin-ra mansion was the place where she was born, and most likely the place where she was experimented on. She could see it now, the old bricks, and a man who seemed to have trustworthy eyes. She was very young, she could hardly remember how old she was, but she knew she was old enough to speak, and she was old enough to know when something was wrong.
"One more thing," A man said, poking Destiny in the arm with a needle.
"Ouch!" Destiny cried, trying to pull away. "I'm tired... I want to go to bed" Destiny whined
"Now, now my dear, you must not upset Dr. Gast," The man with the pony tail next to him chided.
"Now, now Hojo, she's fine. I'm sure after a day like this you would be just as tired as she is." Gast answered, rubbing Destiny's head in the process.
"If you keep putting Jenova cells into her, she'll become too powerful for us to handle!" Hojo whispered. "She's already made up of my son; she is almost a perfect clone. Why risk losing our perfect experiment?" Sephiroth had not even been born yet, but just incase the baby would die; Hojo had a back up plan, this little girl which he valued so much.
Gast just shook his head. Even though they both thought Destiny had heard nothing, she certainly had, but she didn't understand a word they were talking about. Gast took the needle from Destiny's arm and wrapped it in a small bandage. Her entire arm was covered in small red dots and bruises from all the continuous work and studies Gast and Hojo had done on her. Destiny was tired and felt sick, all she wanted was to go to sleep.
"Dr. Hojo is going to take you to your room. You may go to sleep after Lucrecia has dressed you for bed." Gast explained, being in no mood to be friendly after the fight he and Hojo had earlier. His real plans were to leave Shin-ra Mansion before dawn with out notice.
"Yes, and she is such a nice lady too, isn't she?" Hojo asked with a grim smile.
Destiny responded with nothing, but a grim nod, she did not like Lucrecia at all, but not for the way she was. She disliked her because she smelt so sweet it made her choke. She also disliked her because she was always so quiet, why did she never talk to her? That was fine though, because as long as she had her white rabbit to cuddle with, that was the only friend she needed.
Reality zooms in once more….
Her memory started to fuzz after that last thought. Why couldn't she remember anything? With her head still on her knees, she contemplated all possible ways that she could have lost her memory, but nothing was helping her regain more pictures in her head. Giving up on her thoughts, she turned her head towards the deep sky that winked at her with stars. Destiny stood back up and attempted to walk again, but not before something jumped out to try to fight with her.
How did she always seem to get herself into these situations? Why was danger so drawn to her?
"Give me what Gil you have, lady!" A man shouted angrily, waving a knife at her face.
"No! If you want this Gil, you'll have to fight…" Destiny was cut off by the growling of a dog behind her. She didn't turn, now too paralyzed with fear to do anything. The dog advanced past her, and wagged its long grey tail as it growled at the man confronting Destiny. The dog was a beautiful grey color, and looked like a wolf of some breed. It was no doubt that it had a large frame, and was much bigger than the average dog. Its eyes glared intensely at the man with the knife, and it showed its teeth to him while letting out another deep throated growl.
The man was no fool, and was too frightened to fight a wolf of that size, and before he even got the chance to do any harm to Destiny, he fled the area.
Destiny could hardly believe her luck, how was it that something came in such timing to save her? She gave a sigh of relief, and bent down to the dog, stretching out her arm to pet its head.
"Thanks so much." She whispered to the dog as she scratched it behind its ears.
The dog responded with a slight nod of the head, and panted happily as Destiny scratched it.
"Something feels familiar about you…" Destiny murmured softly, but before the dog let her have a good look at it, it too ran away with a happy bark before it disappeared.
"I really need to get out of here…" she groaned, now continuing her journey to get out of Midgar. Her best bet was to follow where the dog left; maybe it was a sign to follow it? Why not, though, right? I mean if it had just saved her, maybe it would lead her out of Midgar too. So trusting her best guess, she followed the dog's tracks.
A brief interlude
Snow settled in and swayed against Destiny's window pane, Christmas season was about to start bustling in the streets of Nibelheim. From inside the cold mansion she could hear children singing merry songs of joy and bells ringing from corners. She had fallen in love with Christmas last year when she had her first real one with Vincent, Cid, Yuffie, and Red XIII. This year it was only she and Vincent, but she welcomed loneliness, especially now that her Geostigma had spread further, and was now more apparent on her neck and arms.
She looked down to her journal, which was running low on paper. Vincent was happy about it, at least now she would stop spending so much time writing in something no one would care about. However, Destiny felt like it was useful; someone might need it one day, and why not try to salvage what memories they had?
Her thoughts were interrupted as always when Vincent walked into the door with bags in his hands, and Cid giving her a smile behind him. Cid's presence made her leap to her feet, what happened to everyone being busy?
"Cid, I thought you were busy this year!" Destiny said excitedly, walking to the door to welcome him.
"Awe hell, what makes you think that I would have missed Christmas with my favorite girl, huh?" Cid asked slyly.
Vincent had a strange look on his face, as he cleared the doorway, revealing bags in Cid's hands too.
"I'm glad you could make it. Let me have those bags…" Destiny said, reaching for Cid's hands.
"No thanks there, Vincent told me the whole story, little lady. You're not allowed to lift anything." Cid answered, which caused Destiny to send a frown towards Vincent, who had only shot her a little half smirk half smile.
"Hey, what about me I'm a lady too!" A high pitched voice piped in, and suddenly there Yuffie's head was, as it attempted to look past Cid's back.
"Why do you have to insist on being difficult?" A male voice asked behind Yuffie.
"Why are you rude, you dumb Cat?" Yuffie shouted back behind her.
Destiny didn't need to see who that was, she could tell just by the voice: Reeve had come over too.
"I'm a man under this cat you know!" Reeve shout back.
"Okay you two, that's enough. I don't want to hear yawl yammering on the whole week now." Cid growled
"Indeed. It would be far too unpleasant for me as well." Red XIII added, giving Destiny a smile afterwards to signal a warm hello.
"What happened to everyone being busy?" Destiny asked, looking at the four of them, with a questionable look on her face.
"We really weren't busy at all. It was all a ploy to surprise you, and by the looks of it, we did!" Yuffie cheered happily, and gave Destiny a pat on her shoulders.
"Besides, do you really think we'd waist a chance to make Vincent miserable with other people's presences?" Cid asked, giving a grin
"What, do you really think that?" Vincent asked, giving a frown.
"You weren't exactly a social butterfly when we fought two years ago, now were you Vinnie boy? In fact, we thought you were gay!" Yuffie said happily with a wide grin.
"So Cid tells me…" Vincent responded lowly, with a small frown.
"…What! Cid, you promised you wouldn't tell him!" Yuffie exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips and glaring a Cid angrily. "Well I know never to trust old men…" she added.
"Why you disrespectful…. I'm not $& old!" Cid yelled.
There was a nice laugh from everyone, except Destiny who just smiled at the group. Even though she had known them for awhile, she still didn't feel apart of their team, but she loved them just as much as she would a real family. To her, they were her real family, and nothing was going to stop her from feeling that way, not even geostigma.
"Oh what's this?" Yuffie asked while pulling Destiny's leather journal from the chair she had tossed it on.
"Oh, that's…nothing. Just my diary, that's all." Destiny responded
Yuffie gave Destiny a wide grin, and her eyes sparkled with glee. "Let's read it!" Yuffie said quickly.
"Oh, oh no, it isn't finished yet. You can all read it when it's done." Destiny stammered quickly.
"Oh, you're writing a book! What are ya writing Desty?" Yuffie asked merrily.
"I too would like to know." Red XIII added, which caught him looks from the others. "What, am I not allowed to be curious?"
"No, none of ya are! What makes yawl think that you can just read someone's stuff, huh?" Cid asked, looking down at all of them.
"Cid, it's alright." Destiny said nervously. "It's just memories of when I met you all." Destiny responded.
"Oh, well tell me when it's finished, I want to read it!" Yuffie exclaimed.
Destiny smiled and looked around at her makeshift family; this was going to be a great Christmas.
Entry resumed
This was getting old; she was lost, hungry, cold, and now tired. The dog had led her far enough for one night, and now she was resting. Though the dog did not like this, and insisted that Destiny continue her journey, Destiny simply could not. She leaned her back against a cold piece of metal that was leaning against other pieces of fallen scraps. The dog was quite unhappy about this, and it whined and pouted looking up to Destiny with a stern look.
"Oh come on, I'm tired…" Destiny whined, seriously doubting she could walk anymore. It was 12 midnight, and she had been walking for near 7 hours straight. Plus, her Geostigma was acting up again and she could feel the pain arousing in her arm and neck. The dog seemed to persist further and it tugged at Destiny's pants gently.
Destiny groaned and complied with the dog, again in her mind there had to be a reason for all this madness. She stood, brushed her pants off, and followed the dog once more around the empty streets of Midgar. Walking was really getting her tired, very tired. She continued to rub her eyes and her geostigma spots for an hour or so, before her body decided it was time to give up. Destiny found herself crashing to the ground before she could do anything about it.
Her eyes closed and she prepared herself to blackout. She could feel her body sinking and her eyes heavy. Soon she felt, heard, and saw nothing.
"Time to get up now," a girl said sweetly.
"What?" Destiny asked, trying to move.
"Who else is going to cheer him up? Come on…" The girl continued.
"But I am so tired," Destiny explained.
"That means nothing; you must hurry and wake up before you lose your opportunity!" The girl said again, this time bending down to look at her, but Destiny could see nothing, for her eyes refused to open.
"Who are you?" Destiny asked lightly, still not able to open her eyes.
"All you need to know is that I am someone who cares about you, now get up, Destiny." The girl persisted.
Destiny could not wake up, she couldn't move, and barely breathe. She tried so hard to fight her condition, but it seemed she would miss her opportunity.
A medium Interlude
How ironic that she wrote about sleep, but could not find it. How funny it was that when she refused to sleep, her body had begged her to. Another chance for Vincent to scold her when he came walking into the main entrance.
However, he wasn't there to scold her.
"Don't yell at me, I'll go to bed." Destiny said quickly when she saw a figure in the doorway.
"On the contrary, I don't want you to go to bed; I want you to come with me." The male spoke, the male that wasn't Vincent.
"Who are you?" Destiny asked, looking away from the fire to give the intruder a good glance.
"I'm sad you know nothing of me, I am your brother." The man answered sadly, and made a pout like noise.
"I have no family." Destiny answered shortly, now irritated that someone had barged in without permission, and now threw wild ideas at her.
"We are all Mother's children." The man responded coolly
"I am not one of them." Destiny answered, still giving him no look.
"Then you are a traitor, and must be killed. Nothing will stop me from bringing mother back to the place she so rightfully deserves." The man said angrily.
"Change your mind, and I will spare you. Mother still loves you, but I do not." The man added
"Fuck off." Destiny hissed coldly. She was so angry, how dare this person come from nowhere and tell her lies. If only the man could see how angry she was, then perhaps he would have fled and this whole episode won't happen. Destiny did not hurt people, and did not swear, unless she was very threatened or very angry.
She felt both, and as she turned to meet her guest's gaze he made an attack on her. Luckily she had gotten much better than what she used to be, and she could hold her own. However, geostigma slowed her down, and she was also very, very tired.
"Love mother!" The man shouted, firing a bullet at her, and skimming her shoulder.
Destiny let out a cry, and tried to find anything she could to fight back, because she didn't exactly carry her staff everywhere she went, especially in her own residence. She threw what she could at the silver haired man in front of her; chairs, books, even pieces of wood. The problem here though, was that nothing seemed to be slowing him down, and his advances were quick, and she was running out of floor space to crawl backwards on. Her back soon met the wall behind her, and now the man's face was so close to hers, his breath hit her lips.
The man shot her before Vincent could do anything about it, but thanks to Vincent's quick actions the man had a poor shot at her, and hit her in the shoulder instead of her heart where he had intended to pierce her.
"Get away from her!" Vincent screamed in anger, quick to pull his trigger at the young man, but not being able to hit him thanks to his incredible speed.
"This is family business!" The man shouted to business with an awkward evil grin on his face.
"We're the only family she's got, boy! You'd best be running away before I get a nice piece out of your pretty face!" Cid warned, rushing in behind Vincent.
"Or before I slice through you with my blade!" Yuffie added behind Cid.
"I too shall fight should the occasion call for it." Red XIII growled, making his way from the shadows, Cait sith holding onto his mane.
"I can still move…" Destiny thought, as the surroundings becoming dark. She pulled herself up, if anyone was going to do anything to that man; it was going to be her. She was so weak, and her blood was decorating the floor in bright dots that trickled from her wound to its pale face, but regardless of how she was feeling, she was going to do something to this boy. That was how angry, Destiny truly was.
Vincent shouted something to her, but in her insane rage and weakened state, she couldn't understand it. Even if she could, she probably wouldn't have listened to him anyways. This rage beating inside her was a result of pent up anger against the Shin-Ra, against Sephiroth, and against all those who tried to hurt her. She had come too far now to be destroyed by one person claiming to be her brother, and the true descendant of Jenova.
"Are you going to play with me?" The boy teased, looking to her direction, pointing his weapon at her gracefully.
His actions had been enough to send Vincent into a rage. No one was taking that girl away from him, not after all he had done for her, and how hard not only he, but the others and Destiny had fought to keep her from Shin-Ra, or anyone who came to claim her. In a matter of seconds he turned from man to beast, and using his massive paws, he dove into the Boy's body catching him off guard.
His attack allowed her to fall to the floor, her knees catching her, but her back weighing her down to the hard wood below her, where her blood could paint it red.
Vincent allowed himself to go crazy, and his massive jaws threw themselves against the boy's flesh. He wasn't going to kill him if he could help it, but he was going to make the boy wish he had never been born, and that he certainly hadn't messed with her in his house.
"Vincent!" Red XIII shouted from his side, and pounced on his body, forcing him off the boy who he had nearly killed.
"Destiny needs help, don't let your rage distract you, he's just a boy!" Red XIII continued.
The eyes of the beast that Vincent had become softened, and in his beastly form he rushed at her side, while the others took care of the mess the boy had made of himself.
"Damn it boy! You come back here again and next time my buddy here won't stop Vincent from killing you!" Cid shouted, throwing the boy out of the house.
"Yeah, you big, dumb jerk!" Yuffie exclaimed angrily, tossing her tongue out of her mouth to administer a raspberry.
But the boy only smiled in response, and gave them both evil looks in his eyes. "Mother will get her, and Mother will claim back her children. My brothers and sisters will come for her. My family…." The by trailed off as he faded into a black fog that misted itself away. He had failed, and the price he paid was death.
Destiny had been hurt very badly. How did she always get herself into these situations?
Vincent couldn't turn himself back into a man, he was far too angry to do so. The best he could do was give a growl towards Cid and the others, as he lay next to Destiny like a pet dog would.
Cid walked towards the girl on the ground, and the beast next to her, whose fur was collecting her blood.
"I'll help her, but damn it boy, you'd better turn back into a man or I'll be pissed as hell when I get back." Cid growled, taking Destiny into his arms. "You need to take better care of this little lady, ya know?" He added.
Vincent growled as a response, standing up from the ground.
"I don't want to hear it, now calm down and get yer ass back in gear before I kick it back there." Cid said one final time before he left the room.
Yes, indeed. How did Destiny always find herself in these situations? What was it that made her so vulnerable? What was it that always seemed to attract danger to her? All she could do was think back.
Entry resumed
Once she had finally woken up, she had been covered in a red fabric that felt like heavy cloth. What had happened during the course of the night?
"Hey, are you alright?" An old man asked, seeing that she had opened her eyes.
"Where am I?" She asked groggily, rubbing her eyes in the process of trying to wake up.
"The slums of sector 6, but I have a question of my own. What is a girl like you doing in a place like this?" The man seemed very friendly, and before he could get an answer out of her, a woman spoke behind him.
"Now honey, leave that poor girl alone." The woman said, putting a cup of green liquid at the bed-side table next to her.
Once her eyes focused, she was able to tell each feature of the couple. The man was tall and thin with a balding head and deep grey hair. He had very kind brown eyes, and seemed to do what his wife had said, and walked away from Destiny.
The woman on the other hand was shorter than the man, and was also a bit on the chubby side. She too was quite old, but younger than the man. Her hair had faded to a light grey, but her green eyes were still warm and full of life.
"My name is Eirelav, and my husband's name is Trebor. We saw you just outside our sector, and you were asleep, and this large dog was with you!" Eirelav told her, also setting down a bowl filled with what looked like pudding.
"The dog ran off when we came for you, so we assumed it wasn't your pet." Trebor said from the kitchen just in front of her. Their house was very small, it seemed that everything was in one location, and there was barely any room for the three of them. The kitchen and the living room weren't too far apart, and there were about five feet between the couch she was on, and the bed behind a large white curtain.
"Thank you for taking me in, but I really don't understand why you would do something like that." Destiny responded quietly.
"Well, you were about to get hurt by some local thugs, but before they could have taken advantage of you, Trebor here saved your life." The woman explained with a smile, she seemed very proud of her husband.
"I used to be in the military back in the day!" Trebor said proudly, as he signaled to his old uniform that was displayed on the wall. "The kids around here know that, and even though I am 58, they still respect and fear me!" Trebor added.
"You're very lucky, dear." Eirelav said, and gave her a smile. "What are you doing in a place like this, though?" She asked
"You just told me not to ask that!" Trebor exclaimed suddenly, which made Destiny smile. The couple was obviously very used to teasing one another.
"I was looking for somewhere to go. I was separated from my group and I got lost." Destiny answered
"Well you're welcome to stay here for a few nights. We don't have much, but we're open to take care of you." Eirelav offered, handing her a spoon.
"You're very kind, but I really must go, there are people looking for me." Destiny answered, standing up from the couch she was lying on, and playing with a hole she found in her shirt, which caused her to sigh. How old was this thing any ways?
Eirelav, catching Destiny's look gave her a wide smile before speaking. "Well at least change into something more suitable for a young lady than that before you leave." Eirelav said, opening a nearby closet.
"Oh no, please I'm perfectly happy with what I am wearing." Destiny stammered.
"No, really you should take her clothes, she has far too many!" Trebor commented.
"He's right, and most of these I wore when I was your age. I used to be a performer when I was in my mid twenties, and I had all these nice dresses for when I had to meet someone important. You can have them all; I don't fit into them anymore." Eirelav explained, folding clothes and setting them into a bag. "You can't possibly be happy with that old men's shirt, now can you? Besides, it's dirty and has holes in it. What have you been doing in that thing, fighting?"
Destiny gave Eirelav a nervous smile, and attempted to cover up the holes that were easily identifiable.
"Well, if you don't want them you can always give them away to another girl." Eirelav suggested.
"This is very nice, and I appreciate it, but really it isn't necessary." Destiny persisted.
"Oh it is! Our son has a wife who already has everything she could want. I would rather my special things go to a girl who needs them rather than simply wants them. You remind me of myself, and so I feel as though you deserve nice things." Eirelav said, and put the garments into a bag that she handed to Destiny. "You don't have to change now, but I ask that you please take them."
"Thank you, so much. I really do need to be going. I have to see if I can catch up to my group before they leave me behind. As a token of my gratitude, please allow me to pay you." Destiny answered, taking what Gil she could spare out of her satin bag.
"Nonsense, we took you in, and you don't owe us a cent." Trebor exclaimed
"Please, I don't need this much. I have enough to get me by." Destiny answered
"No, dear, you go ahead and keep that; you'd better run off to find your friends before they leave you." Eirelav said.
"Thank you so much for what you have done for me, but I am going to leave the Gil here, as you have had me take these dresses. I will not forget the kindness you have given to me." Destiny explained, and put the Gil on the bedside table. She then gathered what was hers and the new bag filled with clothes and she left their humble home, hoping that she would find more people like them in the world.
"Take care of yourself there!" Trebor shouted, and tossed her a green vile.
"Yes, and do come back should you run into trouble!" Eirelav added, waving good bye to Destiny.
She waved good bye to the couple walking out of the small neighborhood they had taken her to. Even though she was filled with renewed strength and energy, it didn't stop Midgar from being a troublesome task to get through. She didn't know how she was going to get out of the slums, or how she got there, but she had to, and the best way for her to get out, was to start walking wherever her feet would take her.
She reached for her weapon and her bag of Gil that was now up to 2000 until she had given the old couple 500 for their trouble. Those random encounters were starting to pay off as far as her collection of money was concerned. Secretly she hoped to get into more just for the sake of money, but really she just found the things a large trouble that she hated getting into. She took in a great yawn and forced herself to move onwards to wherever she could walk to.
Without a sound for a warning, she suddenly found the same dog that had previously helped her in front of her, with a stick in its mouth.
"Hey there girl, you want to play with the stick?" Destiny asked, walking towards the dog with a smile.
The dog panted happily, and took off hoping Destiny would follow her.
"Hey!" She shouted suddenly, racing after the dog, whose plan had worked after all. From what she could remember, she must have ran for five minutes or so, because it didn't take long for her to come up to the remains of a church, and the dog was no where to be found.
"….What is this?" Destiny thought, as she walked up to the old, heavy wooden doors. She didn't know what had come over her; before she knew it her hand was reaching the handle to pull it open. She felt hypnotized, like someone had taken over her body and forced her to pull the church doors open.
She was glad that she had though, because once she walked inside the haven of heaven, she felt all her troubles melt away. The flower garden in the center of the room had made her smile, and the rays of light coming from mysterious places had also made her sorrows melt away. However, she noted that she was not alone. There in the center were three men, two she liked and one she despised.
"Vincent!" Destiny shouted in surprise, running towards him faster than she had ever run in her life.
Vincent's response was much less enthusiastic, but he was still relieved to see her. He did not open his arms to meet her, but he did not stop her from hugging him as tight as she could.
"You're here! You and Cid, you're both here!" Destiny mumbled into his cape as she nuzzled her head against him, but the moment did not last long, as she felt a sudden twinge of pain, and she let go immediately.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… I was just so glad to see you." Destiny responded when she saw his cold look on his face that he always wore.
"You have nothing to apologize about. I was looking for you as well." Vincent explained, seeming as though he was in a very angry mood. He put a hand on her shoulder. "I did not mean to abandon you." He then turned to Cloud and gave him a nod. "I still see you're as stubborn as ever, Cloud Strife. Very well then, your actions do not stop me from being your friend, but they do cause me to leave you in peace. When you need me, I will be there as all friends are, however you should remember all the things I have done for you." Vincent said, and then walked past Cloud.
Cloud didn't even return a look, he simply responded in the best way that Cloud could: by walking away.
"Now you just wait a damn minute!" Cid shouted in anger.
"Forget it…" Vincent called to Cid just before Destiny walked past Cid and himself.
"Where are you going?" Vincent asked, before she could make it to the door.
Destiny turned around to answer him "I don't know… wherever I can go to live."
"…..You're not coming back with us?" Vincent asked a bit perplexed by her response.
"…I thought this was where we were parting ways…" Destiny confessed.
"It was, but plans changed." Vincent said. "…You are more than welcome to go off by yourself, but you are also welcome to travel back to my home as well." Vincent offered.
His response made her eyes light up. "Do you mean that?" Destiny asked.
"I do, but before we leave, we will spend one more night in Midgar. We won't be going directly home. I know others who I think might have more information about your disease." Vincent answered.
"Where are they?" Destiny asked
"Scattered across the world, but we can travel and find them. Worry not, Cid has committed to joining our cause." Vincent answered
"Yup, that's right girlie. I'll be yer captain from now on. Just leave it to me." Cid said proudly "Besides, I haven't seen Vincent in a long time, and any fight again Shin-Ra is a good one, those mother $." Cid said angrily
"Thank you, both of you. I really appreciate all of this." Destiny said, bowing her head.
"No need to thank that which is given freely." Vincent responded, walking forwards.
She still wished she could have told him so much more than she was able to at that moment. Obviously they were both men of their word, because they still protected her to this day, and for that she couldn't give anything in the world for. Their dedication had made her feel more comfortable with being free than anything else had. Sure she wasn't exactly 100 percent free, but she was free enough to where she could do what she wanted when she wanted.
A not so quick interlude
That was the last piece of paper she could use, and before Vincent would walk back in, she stuck it under her pillow just as he heard his foot steps outside the door.
"Hey, are you dressed?" Vincent asked after he knocked on the door with his metal claw.
"Yes." She answered softly.
Vincent walked into the room; for once he wasn't wearing his red cape, or his metal shoes. Nope, today Vincent Valentine was dressed in his black shirt and pants, walking around in dark grey socks. Destiny liked it when he showed his face, because he was quite the handsome man, and had nothing to be ashamed of. However, Destiny did not comment, she didn't have a word to say, for she was far too upset and tired to do anything but appreciate the way he was dressed.
Her eyes were looking less and less energetic each day, mostly because Vincent did not permit her to get out of bed, especially with her wound taking longer than normal to heal.
"Cid says you should be healed in time for Christmas." Vincent said as he took a seat at her bed side, and glanced at her pale face. He already knew something was wrong, and by the look in his eyes, he was in a great deal of trouble.
"Great." Destiny commented flatly.
"Please, don't start this again, Dest." Vincent said patiently
"Actually Vincent, I'm fine with your decision. I'm just not feeling well. I feel warm, my stomach is sick, and I'm dizzy. I need sleep and can't find it. I need comfort yet it is something no one is able to give. I'm feeling just a little more lost than normal. For once I feel very…discouraged." Destiny confided to him softly.
Vincent had no answers or words to say, but his hand found hers, and he placed a yellow piece of materia in her palm.
"What is this?" Destiny asked, holding the orb up to the light that spilt into the room.
"It's a rare materia. I promise it will help you sleep." Vincent answered "As for being dizzy and your stomach being sick, I brought you this…" Vincent added, handing her a light blue bottle. "And for comfort, I can only tell you that we're all going to be here should something happen." Vincent finished.
"I want you to know I can get up, I can walk, and I'm not as weak as you think." Destiny argued
"Don't change the subject; you know I don't feel like chancing it. What happens if your body gives out on you?" Vincent rebutted.
"Well it hasn't yet! Give me a chance… let me act normal. Sitting around just makes me feel weak. I promise I won't strain unless you're around, so please… give me a damn chance!" Destiny argued.
Vincent was silent for a few moments before he had actually made up his mind. He knew very well what it was like being able to get up from a long nap. He also knew how it felt to be referred to as a weak link in the chain.
"Very well, but you can only exert yourself when either myself or Cid is around." Vincent permitted.
"Thank you." Destiny answered shortly, still irritated, now knowing how Cloud felt when it came to being unable to do anything.
"I can see you're not up to talking…" Vincent started.
"No, Vincent it's not that. I just hate feeling useless and hopeless. I know I can fight, I know I can move. I'm only frustrated because you don't let me do any of those things." Destiny argued
"I understand." Vincent responded, then sighing as he stretched himself against the chair.
"Oh… about last night…What was that thing you turned into?" Destiny asked
"A galian beast, it only happens when I become more upset than normal." Vincent answered, obviously feeling uncomfortable with the way he was dressed, but with his cape out of commission, and he being unable to wash it without her help, he was stuck wearing his black outfit.
"I guess that came from the experimentation?" Destiny asked trying to make him talk more. They had known each other for a year now, why was he being shy all of the sudden?
"Yes, and it will never go away. I'm sorry if I frightened you, there was a reason I never revealed it before now." Vincent explained
"It didn't frighten me at all; I had a feeling you were still Vincent underneath that large coat of fur." Destiny said.
"Nothing about me frightens you in the slightest?" Vincent asked, now resting on his elbows that sat against his thighs.
"Why are you still asking me this?" Destiny asked, giving him a perplexed look. "Why are you acting so off today?" She added
"I apologize, last night scared me a little more than I had hoped in would." Vincent answered.
"…You always act like this when others are around, are you ashamed to show your feelings to them?" Destiny asked, crossing her arms in the process.
"…I'm not very used to…showing my affection towards others. I trust you and Cid enough to do so, but not Yuffie…or Reeve, or really Red XIII at that matter." Vincent answered truthfully, lowering his head, and leaning back against the chair.
Destiny had no response to his words, and she dropped the conversation, to start a new one.
"Cid said it took a long time for you to turn back into a human last night, and that you stayed with me in your galian beast form." Destiny revealed, and looked out the window nearby, hoping he wouldn't see the blushing in her cheeks.
"Yes, I wanted to make sure you made it through the night. I didn't want all that time we spent protecting you to be lost." Vincent answered, with his stone look he always used when he was hiding feelings.
"Is that the only reason why?" Destiny asked, now twirling the yellow materia in her palm.
"You're my friend Destiny, why would I want harm to come to you?" Vincent asked, now reaching out for her arm. "Let me check your geostigma…" he added quickly afterwards.
"…Is that the only thing we are, Vincent… just friends?" Destiny wondered out loud, and took her arm from his hand.
"Yes, Destiny…" Vincent answered, standing up from the chair. "If you want something more, I am incapable of giving anything more than friendship. I apologize." Vincent lied
"What happened to loving me as equally and more as I did you?" Destiny asked, referring to their conversation three months ago.
"I didn't think you were in love with me, and I misjudged. I apologize for the confusion." Vincent answered calmly. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings…"
"You didn't hurt my feelings," She lied and continued speaking "I understand. I didn't mean for this to be awkward." Destiny sighed, and put the yellow orb of materia on the nightstand nearby.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Vincent asked, still standing.
"No, I have something else I need to do." Destiny answered, now sounding a little less hopeful than before.
"You should sleep…"Vincent advised.
"I don't want to sleep!" Destiny grunted angrily, and then drew herself back when she realized she had yelled at him.
"Very well…" Vincent retorted before walking away.
"Vincent, wait!" Destiny called, but she couldn't make him turn around, he wouldn't even face her, not after the way he knew he had made her feel. His own guilt stopped him from facing the truth that regardless how many times he tried; he could not force himself from caring for her.
Destiny slumped down, and forced herself to lie against the soft white pillow below her. She slid her hand under her comfort tool in order to cuddle with it, but her hand met the journal she had been writing in.
Almost immediately she threw the old journal against the wall and heard her pages splatter against the hard floor along with the leather binding.
She was only upset because she had read him wrong. On the other hand she was also angry with him for treating her like a child. She would beat him at his own game; she would win this battle if it literally killed her to do so. She had to know if she was capable of what she thought she was.
Pushing herself up from the old bed, she forced herself into a winter dress that Eirelav had given her a year ago, and preceded to exit the room. The long pale pink knitting covered her thin arms and body while hugging her curves and shape. She pulled on her boots afterwards and prepared herself for something she had wanted to for a while now; she was leaving the house.