Alrighty
Alrighty! So I am currently at work and have nothing to do so I brought my laptop to write my new chapter! Mwahaha! Sorry about the wait once again... at least it wasn't a two week wait this time. Not as many reviews on the last chapter. Hmmm, must've not been as good as the one before. That's alright! It only means I gotta work harder on this one to keep all of you interested and wanting more! Okay new inspiration! Lets get this chapter rollin shall we?
Disclaimer: I do not own final fantasy VII, Squaresoft does.
Chapter 18
The Highwind's engine whirred slowly as the aircraft descended towards Mideel. Tifa and Aeris waited impatiently for the door to glide open so they could make their way to the hospital and retrieve Cloud.
"We're gonna smother him!" Tifa giggled.
"Yeah lotsa hugs and kisses!" Aeris included.
"Totally embarrass him!" Tifa was the first off the Highwind, leading the way. She tugged on Aeris' arm to help her gain speed. They both giggled and squealed with delight as they neared the tiny clinic. Aeris felt her heart pumping, not sure if it was from the running or the excitement of seeing Cloud once again. The girl's boots thumped loudly on the wooden floor as the ran into the entrance of the hospital and into Cloud's room. The golden haired boy looked a lot more like himself. His cheeks had color and he was sitting up, eating a bowl of hot soup.
"CLOUD!!" the two girls screamed and hopped onto the cushy mattress. Four arms wrapped around he boy and squeezed him tightly. This sent Cloud sputtering and shouting in surprise.
"What the-?" He smiled slightly. "Hey girls! Nice to see you too and glad you're both alright." He said as they planted quick kisses on his forehead and cheeks. They giggled when they saw his face turn a shade of red. He had never received this kind of attention before.
"Uh...okay, okay!" Cloud laughed out loud.
"Are we embarrassing you?" Aeris asked mischievously.
"...maybe...a little." He looked at the ceiling, cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.
"I knew it!" Tifa jumped from the bed and stood straight in front of Cloud. "Mission accomplished!" She saluted her face a little too serious for the situation. Aeris followed her in action and saluted as well, but she couldn't keep a straight face.
"Sir! You are awaited in the Highwind!" Aeris said in a deep, tough voice.
'What's with these two?' Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, we await you next orders of action, Sir!" Tifa remained in her position.
"...What have they done to you while I was gone?" The girls giggled once again and reached for Cloud's arms. They pulled him from the bed and towards the door.
"We're takin' him now, doc!" Tifa announced.
"I...I suppose." The doctor stared at Cloud. "If you think you're well enough."
"Yeah. I think I'll be okay." Cloud nodded.
"Well then, let's go!" Aeris chimed. Cloud was drug outside and across the street.
"I hope that boy will be alright." The doctor bit on his pen.
"Oh, the boy will be fine! Just look at those two girls! They'll keep him safe from now on." The nurse patted her boss on the shoulder.
The three made their way towards the Highwind.
"I can't wait to get out of this place." Cloud muttered. He looked to his sides, making eye contact with the beautiful young women next to him. "You have no idea how-." He was interrupted as the ground beneath his feet began to shake.
"Wha-? On no!" Aeris and Tifa screamed as the planet shook beneath them all.
"It's an- OW!" Aeris yelped as she toppled over. Tifa soon landed next to her
The deafening sound of the land cracking and separating sounded. Underneath Aeris' hands a giant crack formed and the ground opened up between her and Tifa. The violent shaking sent the two girls over the ledge. Tifa reached to grab a hold of a protruding rock. She felt herself sigh with relief. Aeris' scream startled Tifa. The brown-eyed girl reached out to her friend.
"Hold on!" Tifa yelled as she wrapped a hand around Aeris' wrist causing her friend's golden bracelets to clang together. A cry of surprise from Cloud scared the two girls. Tifa could barely hold on any longer and felt the pang of defeat when she saw Cloud slide over the edge and claw at the side of the broken ground. He fell down, leaving the girls and diving into the green sludge of the Lifestream beneath the thin crust.
"CLOUD!!" Tifa cried out. Aeris stared at the glowing sludge beneath her. Her green eye's matched the flow.
'No...not again.' she thought.
"Hey! Grab on!" A voice of a savior sounded above the two girls. Tifa slowly lifted her head to see Zack leaning over the edge. He grabbed onto Tifa's arm and pulled her up. He brought his other arm down next to Tifa's waist. "Aeris! Reach for my hand!" He shouted. Aeris brought a delicate hand to his. Zack hoisted the two girls. The shaking was causing him to loose balance and he began to lean forward. The girls screeched.
"Hold on." A calm, cool voice sounded from behind Zack. Vincent's metallic claw snatched Zack's shoulder and his hand on the other. He pulled back, giving Zack the balance he needed to pull the girls to safety.
"Almost..." Zack growled as he tugged the girls quickly from the hole. They all fell backwards, stumbling over each other and crashing to the ground. Tifa quickly got on all fours and scrambled to the edge.
"Cloud! Cloud!!" She called out for him. Her eyes reflected the shining ooze. She felt tears sting her eyes.
'I...I let him down again. Why can't I save him whenever he's in a pinch?' Tifa lowered her head, keeping the tears back.
"What? Where did he go?" Aeris began to crawl next to her friend when she was pulled up by the dark haired warrior. The ground started shaking again. She leaned forward, hitting Zack's chest. He looked down at her, relieved she was okay.
'I failed. I failed him.' Tifa sniffled. A hand snatched Tifa from the ground and pulled her away from the hole.
"Come on, we got to get out of here." Vincent's whisper tickled the back of her neck. Tifa, with her head still low, turned away from the hole and followed the group to the Highwind. Barret was approaching them rather quickly pointing upwards. A loud roar thundered in the air.
"What the hell is that!?" The large man approached his friends. Everyone turned their heads to see a rather large beast coming towards the small town.
"Oh...shit." Cid muttered. "The #&'s a WEAPON!" He turned on his heel and jumped into the plane.
"Oh hell no! Ya gotta be kiddin' me!" Barret pushed the group towards the Highwind.
"Looks like we got another fight." Red XIII growled under his breath. AVALANCHE leaped onto the plane as Cid made preparations for take off.
"Hold on to yer britches!" Cid spat. The craft spun upwards, spiraling into the air. Everyone scurried and stumbled to gain their balance.
"Ugh...I'm gonna be...sick." Yuffie fell to the floor.
"Where are we going!?" Tifa ran to the window, staring at the gaping hole in the planet. "What about Cloud!?" She turned her head back, looking at Cid.
"Don't worry, we'll come back for him!" Cid said rather quickly. He turned the Highwind to the side, facing the nearing monster.
"But we got more important matters to handle first!" Cait Sith pointed out the window.
"It's WEAPON!" Aeris stammered. "But...I thought it was all a myth." She stared in disbelief at the giant monster. Zack's footsteps clanged against the grated metal.
"We gotta stop it before it attacks Mideel!" He snagged his sword and opened the side door to the walkway outside.
"I'm coming with you!" Barret clipped in a magazine into his gun-arm.
"I suppose I could provide some help." Vincent followed.
"Damn right you can help! Get your ass out here!" Barret held the door open for the red cloaked man. Vincent quickly grabbed his gun and headed for the door. He turned to the others.
"The rest can stay in here. If we need help, we'll call." Vincent said coolly.
"Fine by me!" Yuffie folded her arms.
"You'll be the first one we call to help out." Vincent turned away from her.
"Whaaaaat!?" Yuffie almost fell over. "You are tryin' to kill me aren't you!" She hit Vincent in the arm and glared at him. He smiled slightly and continued on his way to the battle.
'She's fun to pick on...' Vincent had really opened up since he left the mansion. He felt like his old self once again.
"You are also a long range fighter so it would be more logical for you to be out there. You'd be more useful." He waved a hand in the air and exited the room.
"You hear that?" Yuffie lifted her head and put her hands on her hips. "He said that I was more useful than you guys."
"Whatever..." Red padded towards Cid and put his paws on the panel. Tifa and Aeris smiled.
Zack stared in wonder as the beast flew in close to Mideel and sent a blast of energy in its direction. WEAPON's mouth glowed brightly like Bahamut, as it sent another blast towards Mideel. The town was blown to smithereens.
"Damn...it's too late!" Zack held onto his sword tightly.
"Never too late to blast its ass!" Barret snarled and opened fire on the enormous creature.
"I hope everyone got to safety." Vincent loaded his revolver and aimed carefully at the beast.
WEAPON quickly turned towards the three men, screeching in anger. Its flexible wings propelled in the air, carrying itself towards the Highwind. Zack turned his attention to Barret's belt. He slipped a grenade from his holder and pulled on the ring.
"I'm borrowing this!" Zack smiled deviously.
"Fine..." Barret grumbled, his attention never faltering.
Zack launched the grenade at the creature, hitting it in its ugly, crooked, face. It was a direct hit, exploding between its eyes.
"Nice arm!" Barret cheered. The celebration ended quickly as the smoke cleared away, revealing the monster's face. It was perfectly unblemished. The only thing the bomb did was make the creature angry.
"Well...that was a waste." Zack groaned. He lifted his sword, preparing for the beast's attack.
'Come on, get closer...' Zack thought. As if it understood Zack's thoughts WEAPON charged at the group, opening its grotesque mouth. The energy built up within the monster's chamber, preparing to attack.
"I think he wants to blast us like he did to Mideel." Vincent mumbled as he looked down at his gun. He frowned.
'Out of bullets...' Vincent cursed himself for not being prepared. 'Damn...way to go, Vincent. Maybe Yuffie can find me some more.' Vincent turned quickly, his cape flailing behind him. He made his way to the door.
"Hey...what's it doin'?" Barret asked. He glanced at Zack. The beast had stopped charging and was staring past the two men. Zack turned his head to look behind him.
"Looking at...VINCENT!" Zack yelled out. He turned around quickly to warn his friend.
"Hey Yuffie- !" Vincent stopped and spun around in surprise from Zack's call. A bright blue blast shot out from WEAPON and headed straight for the Highwind, no, towards Vincent. The light soared at an immense speed. Vincent felt his heart stop. He quickly pulled up his metallic arm to his face and prepared himself for the impact. The light engulfed his entire body, exploding over the bridge. In a second, the section of the deck Vincent was on, and the man himself, was gone. Zack and Barret watched in terror.
"That...was Vincent!" Yuffie sprinted towards the door. She turned her head around the corner staring at the hole that was now in the grated metal of the deck. There was no sign of Vincent. It seemed he was vaporized.
"V...Vincent?" Yuffie gasped. She stood up straight and pointed at the beast in the sky. "Oh...YOU!!" She hollered. Yuffie ran to the edge of the deck and brought her feet onto the railing. With as much effort she could muster she leapt from the rail and onto the beast in front of her. She stabbed WEAPON multiple times in the shoulder and kicked it in the side of the head. The monster's head was bigger than Yuffie's entire body. Her ninja stars were flung into its eyes, sending it rearing and screaming.
'He...was vaporized.' Yuffie never felt so angry in her entire life.
"You bastard!!" Yuffie wailed and sliced the demon left and right, not caring where or what she cut.
"Yuffie! Get your ass over here!" Barret lowered his gun, afraid he'd hit the girl. Aeris and Tifa ran outside to see what all the commotion was about. Tifa fell to her knees when she noticed the hole and the tiny piece of red cloth that clung to the sharp edge of the torn metal.
"He's gone..." Tifa stood up and stumbled against the side of the plane.
"Oh, Vincent." Aeris took in a deep breath. She looked through the hole, staring at the waves of the ocean below.
"Yuffie! Come back!" Zack waved at her. It was too late, however, as the beast had flung Yuffie into the air and butted her body towards the Highwind. She spiraled at lightening speed and hit against the hard metal side of the aircraft, there was no walkway to stop her fall. Yuffie bounced off the surface and fell down to the water below.
"YUFFIE!!" Aeris screamed in horror. Red ran out onto the deck, alarmed. Cait Sith was close behind.
"She went down?" Red asked quickly, looking down at the blue abyss below.
"Yeah..." Aeris nodded. Tifa rolled her head to the side, fatigued.
"The impact...you think she survived?" Tifa questioned hopefully.
"Cid! We gotta lower the plane! Get outta here!" Cait Sith scurried over to the captain.
"What the hell happened, now!?" Cid barked. Piloting had kept him from any news about the battle.
"Vincent...is...gone. Yuffie fell into the ocean." Cait Sith tried to catch his breath. Everything happened so fast.
"... Can't we leave her there?" Cid asked finally.
"CID!!" Aeris and Tifa lectured him.
"Oh awright! I was jes' kiddin' anyways!" Cid grumbled. "Damn, brat." He said under his breath.
The ship rocked to and fro as WEAPON ran into the side of the deck, trying to swipe Zack and Barret off.
'Okay...I've had enough.' Zack grit his teeth and leapt into the air. He brought his sword out above his head and fell onto the creature's skull, impaling through its brain. The monster roared viciously and shook under the strength. It flailed its arms trying to get a hold of Zack and terminate him. Barret took the opportunity to open fire once again, aiming at the beast's chest. Zack removed his weapon and made his way back to the bridge next to Barret. The monster screeched and turned its tail, flying as far away as possible from the dreadful battle.
"Man, he's fast!" Barret cursed.
"He's gone...for now." Zack sighed and made his way back to the cabin.
"He'll hide elsewhere until he is healed." Red XIII trailed behind. Barret followed, staring at the hole in the deck.
"Hey Cid. Let's go look for Yuffie." Zack took a seat and moaned. He leaned forward, rubbing the side of his head. 'What a mess…'
"Yeah, yeah...gettin' to it." Cid had been very grumpy, more than usual. "Does anyone have a piece of gum, dammit!?"
Reno stared at the elevator, waiting for the doors to open. Everything was silent, eerie in a sense.
"Okay Tseng...they're here." Reno tightened his grip on his prod, a bead of sweat dripped down his forehead.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'd be much help." Tseng apologized and tried to straighten up. The elevator bell dinged, sounding the entrance of the new intruder. The two men awaited the battle ahead as the doors slid open slowly. Soft footsteps sounded and were then followed by a curious voice. Reno took a few quick steps forward and stopped dead in his tracks.
"My goodness! I never knew there was a lower floor to this building!" A blonde haired woman glided into the room, spinning around as she took a gander at the new room. Her smile was dumb and peculiar.
"Eh, Elena!?" Reno was dumbfounded.
"Huh... oh yeah! At your service, Reno!" She smiled innocently and continued venturing through the room.
"Has she gotten any better?" Tseng glanced at Reno.
"Yeah I suppose. I dunno, I think some of Rude's bad habits have rubbed off on her though." Reno smirked to himself. He turned to the elevator and noticed the doors sliding closed. "Oh! Wait!" He tried to catch them before they closed in hopes of catching the code number.
"Hm? What's wrong Reno?" Elena turned towards him and froze. Her face paled and she immediately turned red in the face. "What the hell is going on here!?" She pointed at Tseng.
"Elena...oh, shit." Reno knew what was coming.
"Oh, Tseng! You...you're dead! Why are you down here!?" She was frantically pointing her finger at him. He cleared his throat and readjusted his weight again.
"Ohhhh...but you're alive! How...what? Why! I don't get it!" Elena ran up to the man and slid on her knees across the floor. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and began to sigh.
"Elena..." Tseng turned a shade of pink. "I...can explain. It was all Hojo's doing." Tseng was interrupted by the blonde haired woman.
"Hojo!? I found him on the floor, sleeping. Crazy guy must've overworked himself!" She stretched out her arms. "I tried to wake him up but he seemed very grumpy and rushed out of the room screaming about something being in the lowest level. I noticed the elevator was open and decided to do my duty as a Turk and check things out!" She said very bubbly, obviously proud of herself.
"You...the code! How did you figure out the code to get down here!?" Reno ran to the girl and shook her.
"The code? Oh, the code! Hojo's code to have clearance to this basement! Well...it was simple really. Every letter in the alphabet has a corresponding number right? Well you take the numbers of the first four letters of the officer's first name, but in reverse order of course, and then you multiply that by their rank and square that number..." She continued her instruction while Reno and Tseng stared in disbelief. "And after that you take the multiples of that number, the first four even, and those are the numbers to the code!" She giggled slightly.
"How the hell did you figure that out?" Reno gawked.
"Sheesh, Reno...it's all elementary!" Elena rolled her eyes. "And besides, it's just a method you use in case you forget the code. It was in the meeting this morning, you wouldn't know 'cause you weren't there!" She pressed a finger against his chest. Reno looked down at Tseng.
"Reno..." Tseng sighed. "Still slacking off I see."
"Oh no, sir! Reno has been very responsible since you died...er, were at absence." Elena cleared her throat. "He taught me very well. I can also now hold twice the amount of liquor than when I first started working here!" She added.
"Don't...tell him that." Reno smacked his forehead.
"Anyways..." Tseng leaned against the wall. "We still have important matters at hand. Hojo apparently is trying to get someone to find us, and I don't want to remain here to find out what he sends down here."
"What are you talking about?" Elena scratched her head.
"Elena, to keep this short and for you to understand, Hojo got a hold of Tseng's dead body and is trying to turn him into a superhuman, alien, freak soldier to use for his deadly army of monsters!" Reno stared at Elena while she tried to sort out the information in her head.
"...My goodness, that's awful!" She shouted. "Why would Mr. Hojo do sucha thing?"
"You are so clueless..." Reno hit his head against the wall. The elevator hummed, sending an emergency signal throughout the room. "Looks like we got company!" Reno took a stance, preparing his prod.
"Elena, gun! Use it. Even if it is SOLDIER or a bunch of pink bunny rabbits, just shoot it." Tseng ordered.
"Y-yes, sir!" Elena pulled out her 50 caliber Desert Eagle from her holster and aimed at the elevator. The bells sounded and then the doors slid open slowly. Elena took a deep breath.
'So...tired.' Yuffie thought. 'Hmmm...I feel weightless.' A serene smile crossed her face.
'And...wet. Why?' Yuffie opened one eye slowly.
"Ugh..." She sat up. "My head hurts...real bad." She whined. Suddenly, she felt herself sinking. She looked around her and for the first time noticed the water around her.
"AH! I'm gonna drown!" Yuffie waved her arms in the air and kicked her feet. She felt her feet scoop up the sand as she tried to tread in the water. She slowly sat up and felt the soft ground beneath her.
"Oh..." She laughed, embarrassed. "Must've floated towards the shore. Gawd!" She rolled her eyes and looked up at the sky. She noticed that WEAPON and the Highwind were gone.
"It's gone! And...so are my friends!" She looked towards the shore and stomped through the water. "I hope they killed it...and they better come back for me!" She kicked her feet when she reached the shore, splattering water everywhere. A sound came from the other side of a pile of boulders. The huge rocks were sitting barely off shore, the waves smacking against the side. She shied her way to the boulders and looked over the top. A flood of crimson floated in the salty water.
"Vincent!" Yuffie leapt over the rock, water splashing as she ran around him. "You didn't get vaporized!" She exclaimed as she drug the heavy, limp body up shore and onto the beach. Sand stuck to his wet clothes as she made a trial with his body. His hair was a mess stamped to his forehead and cheeks. He appeared pale, dead. Yuffie held her breath as she stared at him. He moaned slightly, but Yuffie did not hear. She was too busy looking at his destroyed claw. Wiring and chunks of metal were spread out in the sand. She turned her head over to the boulders Vincent was previously at and saw more scraps floating in the blue liquid.
"Oh noooo..." She dragged her words in disappointment. She stood up quickly and ran to the water, picking up the tiny pieces of metal. She raced back to Vincent, her hands full of the golden material.
"Hey, are you okay?" She kneeled down next to the man. "Vincent...are you dead?" Yuffie squeaked. She brushed a hair from his face.
"Vincent?" Yuffie felt panic. "Vincent!?" She cried out. The man did not respond. Nor did he move at all. She began pushing on Vincent's shoulder, trying to get him to wake up. Still there was no response.
'Oh man! What if he's dead?' Yuffie stared at the man's chest. It was not moving. She leaned her head down and tried to listen for a heartbeat.
"Oohhh I knew I shoulda paid more attention in those survival courses daddy made me take!" Yuffie felt tears sting her eyes. "Now...how do you do CPR?" She whined and looked around the island. She felt herself shaking.
"Vincent! Please...wake up!!" She began to cry uncontrollably. "HELP! HELP!" She lifted her head crying out for help from someone, if anyone even lived on the island at all. She sobbed and lifted the man's head and placed it in her lap. She cradled him.
"Way to go Yuffie! He coulda had a chance to live..." She took gasps in between words. "But 'cause of your dumb ass, he's gonna be dead forever!" She sniffled, wailed and then hugged Vincent against her.
"Do you see them!?" Tifa called out from the deck.
"No! They could be anywhere!" Cid answered. "Damn it..."
Red glanced out the window, his padded paws pressed against the glass. He looked with his good eye to the waters below, scanning the beach as well. He squint his eye trying to register what he just saw. A flash of red and black lay in the sand.
"There! I think I saw them!" Red turned and ran out onto the deck to get a better view. Cid stared at the animal. "Cid! Go to that small island on the left! You see them!?" Red almost slid from underneath the rail. Tifa grabbed a hold of him, supporting his gliding weight. Red jumped onto his hind legs and placed his front paws on the rail. His fiery mane shuffled in the wind.
"Oh, I see them!" Tifa joined in. Aeris ran outside, she wanted a look too. "It's Yuffie...and Vincent! They're both alright!"
"Oh thank goodness! I was so worried!" Aeris held a hand against her chest.
"Okay we're goin' down!" The pilot, Cid, shouted over the intercom. "We're gonna hafta land quite a ways away from them cause of all the trees, but we can get to them if we hurry!" The Highwind took a sharp turn and lowered itself towards the far side of the island.
Elena fired her gun as soon as the doors to the elevator slid open. The Dessert Eagle's blasts were thundering and resonated within the chamber. She flinched with each shot, but nonetheless knew what she was doing. She fired at the many troops that hopped from the small cabin. The men fell to their knees very quickly, she had diminished them all. Tseng and Reno stared in disbelief at the marksmen. She brushed a hair from her face, breathing heavily. She never got to shoot in battle before. Reno and Rude always made her stand aside.
"That...wasn't so bad!" She scolded Reno for never allowing her to have a piece of a fight.
"Great job, Elena." Tseng nodded at her. This made her blush. All conversation was over as the hinged door on top of the elevator swung open. Many of Hojo's experiments came flooding through the tiny escape hatch and into the room. They were quick and very agile.
'Uh oh...forgot to reload.' Elena looked down at her gun and reached into her coat pocket for a magazine. A ninja like warrior butted into her, kicking against her side. This sent the young woman sprawling across the floor.
"Elena!" Tseng and Reno shouted.
"All right...time to get serious!" Reno swung his electrical prod out hitting one of the experiments in the face. The electrical current seared through the monster's body sending it down in an instant. Reno grimaced as a fist collided with his face. He was surrounded.
'Damn! I can't keep up with them.' He gritted his teeth and swung again. A Death Ninja caught his arm and kicked Reno in the stomach. The electrical prod slid from Reno's fingers and rolled across the floor.
"Not...good." Tseng reached for the prod and lifted it quickly. He swung once hitting a nearby intruder in the shin. The current sent it crawling across the floor. Tseng managed to get on all fours and crawl towards Elena.
"Elena...get up. You have to get up." Tseng brushed against her. She opened her chocolate brown eyes and stared at Tseng.
"Ouch..." She muttered and leaned forward. Tseng picked up her gun and loaded it quickly for her and placed it gently in her hands. The heavy metal swung her hand down slightly. She stared at it and then looked at Tseng. "You owe me a dinner." She said quickly and hopped up from the floor.
"Hey! You leave Reno alone!" She cocked the hammer and fired at the leaping acrobats. The blunt, heavy slugs dug into their flesh. There was no sound except for the thudding of their bodies. Reno ducked for cover as to not get hit by the frenzy of bullets.
"Where's my prod!?" Reno asked. He heard a metal pang and the cylinder roll across the cement. Reno rushed and dove for the prod. He rolled to his feet and brought the prod to the side of another enemy. The body jolted and plopped to the ground. Tseng slowly made his way across the floor to the elevator.
"We...must hurry. Before more appear." He said. Elena and Reno nodded and sprinted for the doors. "Elena...code." Tseng pointed at the panel.
"Um...let's see. H-O-J-O...those numbers are eighteen..." Elena continued doing the math in her head as the monsters slowly turned towards the elevator. Reno hopped up and down impatiently.
"Eleeeeenaaaa..." Reno grumbled.
"Hey! Hold it mister! I almost got it..." She punched in the numbers very quickly and pressed the 'close door' button followed by the first floor. They could hear the scraping of the ninja's blades against the metallic doors. "Elementary..." Elena poked Reno in the chest.
"You're gonna hafta get me that code for future reference." Reno whined.
'...What happened?'
'What's that noise?' Vincent heard a strange noise from above him. It sounded like a whirring engine mixed with the sound of a weeping child.
"Ugh..." Vincent groaned. He slowly blinked his eyes open. A silhouette hid in front of the bright sunlight. She appeared to be an angel, beautiful and young. She held onto the man, sobbing and shaking. Her dark hair was a mess.
'Lucrecia...?' Vincent brought a hand to the angel's face. A soft smile crossed his lips.
'I am finally at peace.' Vincent felt himself relax.
Yuffie held onto Vincent tightly, afraid to let go. His body was so cold and lifeless.
"I'm a failure...a complete failure!" She sobbed.
Vincent shifted above her arms. Yuffie's eyes flew open in incredulity. Vincent was staring at her; his eyes were soft and glowing. He brought a hand to her face and wiped a tear away. He caressed her gently. Yuffie felt her face get hot.
'He's smiling. Vincent Valentine is smiling at me! And...now he's touching my face!' She felt as if she were going to die. Her heart beat quickly within her chest.
"Lucrecia..." Vincent whispered the sound not knowledgeable to Yuffie.
"What?" She asked. Her voice sent his eyes open wide. He stared at Yuffie for a moment and then frowned.
"What are you doing?" Vincent asked her.
"Gah!" Yuffie dropped the man into the sand. "What the hell were you doing!?" She stood up and brushed the sand from her legs.
"I...thought I was dead." Vincent sat up and rubbed his head. He turned away from her, blushing.
"Yeah, well... I thought so too. Wait!" She walked around him mischievously. "You thought I was an angel didn't you? You thought I was your savior coming to take you to the heavens!" Yuffie cackled to herself. It was now her time to poke fun at Vincent.
"Leave me alone." He grumped. Vincent stood to his feet and walked to the boulders in the ocean.
"But, you're not dead! You're alive and perfectly fine...almost." She looked down at his claw. Vincent followed her gaze and groaned.
'I can't believe it...' He noticed the small pile of scraps on the ground.
"Isn't that great!?" Yuffie jumped in front of him and hugged him tightly. She felt so relieved that the man was still alive and that she would not be blamed for his death. "I thought you were gonna die 'cause I didn't know CPR!" She laughed nervously.
"CPR? You didn't try did you?" Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!?" Yuffie appeared very angry. Vincent noticed there were tears forming in her eyes again.
"You were crying earlier...why?" Vincent asked. This question surprised the girl.
"Why!? I thought you were dead, that's why!" Yuffie stared at the man in disbelief.
"You were crying over me?" Vincent thought about the situation and then began to chuckle.
'Now he's laughing. This is so weird. He's gone crazy!' Yuffie backed away from him. "Why are you laughing!?"
"Ha...why not? Ha! Ha!" He laughed harder. "I...thought I was dead… and thought that I was in paradise. I wake up..." He turned to the young girl. "And I'm stranded on an island with you!" He stopped laughing and immediately frowned.
"...You...are sucha jerk." Yuffie said barely audible, her words choked her. She turned quickly and ran into the woods.
"..." Vincent was taken back. He was surprised at Yuffie's response.
'I...didn't mean to hurt her feelings.' Vincent lowered his head. "It was a joke..." He whispered. Vincent gathered up the many pieces of what was left of his metallic claw and brought them to the boulders. He sat atop one and began piecing them together, trying to fix his arm as best as he could for the time being. He was left to his thoughts.
'When I first woke up I thought I heard the Highwind. Must've passed over us, not seeing Yuffie and I.' Vincent shrugged. He knew they'd find him and Yuffie sooner or later. When he was finished fiddling with his arm he hopped onto the beach and made his way to the woods. The sun was setting and the sky was a bright orange.
"May as well look for her." He mumbled as he ventured through the foliage.
"Yuffie! Yuffie!" He called out to her.
'These girls are too much. I think I'm going soft.' Vincent sighed.
"Yuffie!" He felt annoyed. "Where are you? Come on...let's go back to the shore. I'm sure Cid and the others are looking for us." Vincent frowned.
'She better not of ran into any monsters in here. I don't really feel like fighting.' A pebble thudded against his chest and plopped to the ground. Vincent stared at it.
"..." He waited.
"I'm surprised you even cared to look for me." Yuffie's voice called out.
"Where are you?" Vincent sighed. Another pebble hit him. He turned his head upwards towards the tree a few feet away.
"Right here..." Yuffie said quietly.
"Come down here. We need to leave." Vincent pointed to the ground as if she were a child.
"Fine..." She hopped from her perch and landed next to Vincent. She crossed her arms. "I still hate you..." She walked past him.
"Well...I suppose that's alright, if you feel that way, but I don't hate you." Vincent told her. Yuffie stopped dead in her tracks, shocked at what she just heard. All the light was now gone and the moon was shining through the trees.
"Wha-? Hey! That's not fair! Everyone hates me!" Yuffie pouted. She stomped up to him. "You are just as bad as everyone else...okay Cid's the worst, but you come in second!" She put her hands on her hips.
"I don't mean to be mean...It's just who I am I guess." Vincent thought long and hard. This conversation was a little awkward.
"Yeah well, I'm sick of everyone being mean to me!" She started to cry again. "I can be responsible! At least, I want to be! And when I saw you in the water...I thought you were dead and I hated myself for not being able to help." She wailed loudly and leaned forward, covering her face. She stayed there for a few seconds weeping. She then felt two hands on her shoulders, one warm and the other cool.
'I don't care what he thinks; I don't care if he hates me. I'm going home!' Yuffie thought to herself. She sobbed harder and was pulled against Vincent's chest.
'Ah! He's hugging me!' She immediately stopped her noise and looked up at him.
"I'm not as cold and heartless as you all think I am. I once loved and felt pain...just like you." Vincent looked up at the trees, avoiding eye contact. "This might not fix everything, but maybe a hug...would help..." Vincent did not know whether it was a good idea or not to hug her, but he did anyways. He just wanted all the tears to stop. His eyes darted around, he was deeply embarrassed.
"A hug? ...okay." Yuffie nodded her head and then squeezed the dark man tightly. It lasted for a minute and seemed to last an hour. She then grabbed his hand and pulled him through the trees towards the beach. "Let's go!"
'At least she topped crying...' Vincent took in a deep breath.
'Holy crap! He hugged me!' Yuffie smiled.
"Vincent, Yuffie!" Tifa and the others called out for their friends. Tifa trotted through the sand. It was already dark out and she wanted to get back to Mideel to check on Cloud. She slowed her pace when she noticed Yuffie holding onto Vincent's hand, pulling him out of the woods. She saw Yuffie point and let go of Vincent, darting towards her friends.
"Tifa! Tifa!" She called out. "We're okay. Vincent's alive, and perfectly fine!" She caught up with Tifa and rubbed her arms. It was chilly out.
"I'm glad you're okay." Tifa hugged her. "What were you two doing?" She asked. Yuffie turned a bright shade of red.
"We were jes' talkin'." She giggled. "Can we go somewhere to rest now?" Yuffie asked.
"Yeah...we'll all go to an inn...after we get Cloud." Tifa turned away and pulled out a PHS.
"Cait Sith? Yeah...We found them. Tell Cid to get the Highwind ready. We're coming in." Tifa closed the flip phone and turned towards Yuffie again. Vincent was next to her. Shouting from Aeris alerted Yuffie. Her call sent Yuffie running towards the others.
"I'm glad you are alright." Tifa smiled lightly.
"Just a scratch..." Vincent muttered and held up his mangled claw. "I bet Cid has got some tools I can use."
"That looks awful." Tifa gasped and pulled Vincent's arm close to her. "Maybe I can help?"
"No." He said quickly and pulled it away from her. The action surprised her. "No...It's alright." He rubbed over the torn surface.
"A, alright. I just...wanted to help." Tifa turned from him. "We should head out." She said quickly and led the group back to the Highwind.
'Vincent...you are a moron...' Vincent scolded himself.
Cloud dug his hands into the dirt around him. The feeling was all too familiar.
'Not again...' He choked on the green substance.
Cloud lifted his weight up and slowly climbed the thick, wet rocks to the top of the hole in the planet. The green sludge dripped from his clothing. His boots slipped on the surface.
"I will not give up. I will get out of this mess. I have to stop relying on others and learn to care for myself." Cloud clenched his teeth, moaning as he pulled over the ledge. He kicked his feet gaining his balance and strength and fell onto the solid ground. He rolled his body over and out of the street and onto the soft grass. He took deep breaths, relieved that he was finally out of the nasty ooze.
"...Tifa?" Cloud asked and looked around him. He felt exhausted. His sight blurred and he felt dizzy, unsure as to where he was. The moonlight was bright to his eyes.
"...Ti...fa..." Cloud mumbled. He looked up once more to see a running figure heading in his direction. He lost consciousness just as the footsteps neared his body and he felt a soft gentle touch on his forehead.
Alright. Didn't get as much as I wanted into this chapter but I decided this one was long enough. I'm hoping to post more soon. Keep reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter, sorry not much aerisXzack in this one. Expect more in the next chapter! Thanks for reading! And please review! Love hearing from ya!
-Annubis