Ok, this is my first attempt at a FFVII fanfic and the first fic I've written in about a year. Kinda trying to get back on that fanfic horse, so we'll see how it goes. : P
Read, and enjoy, reveiw if you feel like it.
Warning: Dirge of Cerberus and Advent Children spoilers are highly likely to occur.
Disclaimer: None of the final fantasy characters in this fic belong to me (obviously).
The moon hung low near the horizon illuminating Yuffie's way through the forest. She tread quietly through the night as she tracked her quarry. Eventually she came upon a clearing, a crimson figure was curled up next to the smoldering embers of a camp fire. She could hear the soft sounds of his breathing, he was asleep. She stepped into the clearing carefully. Vincent, giving no hint that he was aware of her presence, slept on. Yuffie could hardly control her excitement; she pondered over how best to rub her victory in Vincent's face.
'Cerberus', Yuffie thought suppressing a chuckle.
She crept closer, eyes trained on Vincent's thigh where his holster would surely house his precious gun. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she dangled his favorite weapon just out of his reach. She was at his side now, body trembling with anticipation. She swept his cloak out of the way and cautiously reached for her prize. So close...
The silence of the night was shattered by the scream of a motorcycle engine. Vincent awoke with a start and with surprising speed rolled away from Yuffie, sprang to his feet, leapt backwards and landed gracefully on the low branch of a tree Cerberus in hand. Cloud tore into the clearing on Fenir spraying the loose earth all over. Vincent was still crouched on the tree branch, muscles tensed, gun flickering back and forth between Cloud and Yuffie. Cloud laughed.
"You gunna use that on us, Vincent?" He called up to his startled friend.
Vincent seemed to finally recognize them, he holstered his gun and leapt down from the tree.
"I was sleeping." He growled, crimson eyes glittering dangerously in the moonlight.
"Cloud, you jerk!" Yuffie cried picking clumps of dirt out of her hair, "Do you have any idea how close I was to..."
"You know how I love to make an entrance." Cloud cut her off with a smug grin on his face.
"I was sleeping." Vincent growled again glaring at the both of them.
Cloud hung his head apologetically but that smug smile still clung to his lips.
"Awww, did we wake you up?" Yuffie crooned, voice dripping with sarcasm, "Serves you right! You disappear without a trace, no one knows where you went, and you don't answer your cell phone. You know people worry."
"I'm sorry." Vincent said briskly, not sounding very sorry at all.
He turned away from them and sat down next to his dying camp fire. Cloud moved to sit across from him.
"You're going to go see her again, aren't you?" Cloud said.
Vincent didn't answer, he didn't need to, the answer was clear.
"Vincent, when are you gonna just let her go?" Yuffie said sitting down next to him, "This isn't healthy."
Vincent looked up at her sharply but still said nothing.
"Leave him alone, Yuffie." Cloud said settling back casually, but his face betrayed thinly veiled sorrow. He gave Vincent a knowing look.
"Fine," Yuffie grumbled, "but we're coming with you."
Vincent opened his mouth in protest but Yuffie fixed him with a level stare and shut him up. He shrugged, curled up, pulled his cape around him and went back to sleep.
Tifa worked her way through the hustle and bustle of the crowd. The marketplace was always crowded on Saturdays. She shifted her basket of produce from one arm to the other and hummed a happy tune to herself. It was Denzel's birthday today and she nearly had all the things she needed for his party. She moved into the alleyway away from the crowd. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone and dialed Cloud's number. The phone rang and rang. She knew Cloud wouldn't answer, he never answered. His voice mail picked up.
BEEP
"Cloud, I know you didn't forget that Denzel's birthday party is tonight," She said into the phone, "He's going to be real disappointed if you're not there."
She paused, hesitating to say the words she wanted to say.
"I ..."
She inhaled sharply as an excruciating pain erupted in the small of her back. Her phone clattered to the ground; it seemed as if the whole world shifted underneath her feet. She lurched forward; she felt the crushing grip of a hand around her arm. A sharp crack, like the sound of breaking bones. Panic flooded her brain. Broken bones, but not her bones. The crushing grip subsided and soon she found herself on the ground. She turned her head, brain racing to make sense of what was happening. There was a man laying on the ground not far from her, his neck was bent at a weird angle, broken. A bloody dagger lay in his limp hand. Her attacker? Had someone rescued her? Agony throbbed in her back, making it hard to focus. Some part of her was vaguely aware that she was losing blood and would soon die if she did not get help. Her vision began to blur. Someone flipped her over onto her back; suddenly she was staring straight up at the cold sky... No, not the sky, someone's eyes. Cool blue eyes gazed down at her dispassionately.
"Reeve Tuesti," A woman's voice said, "You know him, don't you?"
"I need help," Tifa groaned, "I'm bleeding"
"I can see that," The woman said, "Answer my question."
"Yes, I know him. Please..."
"Do you know where he can be found?" The woman cut her off.
"Please," Tifa begged, everything began to fade, "If I don't get help soon I'm going to die."
Amusement flickered in the sky blue eyes.
"Die? I don't think so. I'm not finished with you yet..."
Everything went black.
