Chapter 33: Interrogation

(Same tags apply as in Chapter 1)

Vincent moved quickly through the corridors, not knowing exactly where he wanted to go, but right now, he just needed a moment. He had heard the young ninja calling to him, but he just couldn't bring himself to stop.

"Sir, that's not the exit," He heard the blonde receptionist for the area say as he made his way towards a door.

The gunman pushed the door open and looked down to the street below from the fire escape before climbing to the roof. Vincent walked across the flat section of the roof, then easily up the slope and with cat-like balance, walked across the three-inch wide flat surface at the roof's peak. Once he reached the edge, the raven haired man sat and looked out over the harbor.

Waves of anger, sympathy and fear washed over him. He feared for the auburn haired woman who had been snatched from them. He could only pray to the planet and any gods that may have been listening, that Onika was more stable than Hojo was. Though it had only been twenty-four hours that she had been taken hostage, he knew from personal experience that a lot could happen in that period of time.

Injuries could be sustained…

Lives could be torn apart…

He felt sympathy for the gun-armed man. There was no doubt in his mind of what the man was feeling. Vincent knew the pain of being powerless to help someone that you care for. He knew the feelings of inadequacy, anger and guilt for he had lived with those emotions for thirty years…they plagued them both in his dreams as well as during his waking hours.

He could remember simply staring at the blood-red silk lining of his coffin, contemplating what he could have done to save Lucrecia's life…or what he could have done to save the little silver haired child from a life with the mad scientist had he the chance.

Hopefully Barret would not share what had been all he knew in what had seemed like a lifetime confined to the 'what ifs' that had taunted him.

He tried to shut off his mind and meditate to calm himself, but the anger in his body continued to build as his mind refused to stop. His mind finally settled on the skills that he had perfected while he was a member of the Turks. The cloaked man knew that he would do anything to get Elmyra back safely, even if it meant using the techniques once again.

Thinking about his past served to drive home the fact that he had been one of the most efficient and deadliest Turks in Shinra's history. He had tortured people for information, framed, maimed and murdered simply because he was told to do so.

Though these circumstances were different and the cause was nothing but noble, it still disturbed him. Ruby eyes closed and his head tilted towards the sun as the crisp breeze caressed his face. "I don't think that I shall ever be able repent for the sins I've committed…and the ones I may have to commit today…"

In his mind, he heard the words that Lucrecia had spoken to him when she left this world and took a deep breath. "…But I shall try, for that is all I can do…" He said to himself as his sensitive ears picked up the sound of cautious footsteps closing in on his perch. The breeze carried the sweet scent of lilac to his nose; it could only be one person.

A sad smile graced his lips as he continued to look out over the blue waters as he waited for her to move closer.

.::-o-::.

"Vincent!" Yuffie called as she moved through the hallway, but got no response. The ninja reached a juncture in the hallway.

'Left or right?" She asked herself and stood for a moment before running down the hallway to the right.

As she rounded another corner, she slowed her approach and moved to the blonde woman sitting at a reception desk.

"Excuse me, did you see a man with long black hair wearing a red cloak come past here?"

"Yes Miss. He went out onto the fire escape." The blonde said, pointing to the door at the end of corridor.

The Wutain girl thanked the secretary before heading outside. Gray eyes widened a bit as she looked down to streets below from three stories up. Her grip tightened on the metal before she turned and climbed the ladder up two more levels to the top of the building.

Once she reached the top rung, Yuffie carefully pulled herself up on the roof, looking up to the sloped area. She saw the gunman sitting on the flat narrow peak of the roof, looking out over the harbor. Slow and small steps carried her quietly across the roof to her friend. She jumped slightly when she heard the sound of his voice.

"Yuffie…" His deep tenor called out to her, causing her steps to stop.

The ninja carefully moved to sit next to him, though it was a bit uncomfortable with the slant of the roof, she didn't mind, though she did wrap her arm around his just in case. Slate colored eyes looked up and studied his handsome face intently. He turned slightly and gray met crimson giving her a clear view of the emotion that she could always see, even when he was trying to hide it.

Yuffie took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze before resting her head against his arm. She couldn't help but notice the scent of faded cologne mixed with his own unique scent as she did so. "Vincent, are you okay?" She whispered.

He looked down to their entwined hands before allowing a sight to escape his lips as he nodded. "I apologize for leaving so abruptly. I just needed a moment…" He trailed off, before absently running his gloved thumb over the back of her tiny hand.

The ninja smiled sincerely at him, calming the guilt and anger that was flowing through his being. "You don't have to apologize Vinnie. I know that this isn't easy for you." The ninja said, snuggling closer to him.

"Vinnie…you're strong enough to do this. You've come so far already that something like this won't change you or overwhelm you. We won't let it." She said firmly.

"I know that you've learned and have done things that you're not proud of…we all have, but it those very same skills that are going to help us save the life of someone that is special to all of us, but to Barret especially."

Vincent nodded, not missing her implication. He too knew that Barret's had feelings for the auburn haired woman. Having been through it twice, he knew what it was like to have someone taken from you.

The gunman sat for a few more moments, watching as Yuffie played with his gloved fingers. His heart swelled with the emotions he had been hiding for his young ninja, but he still couldn't tell her those three special words. He knew in his heart that she was the one for him, but either the time never seemed right to tell her, or he just couldn't do it.

A sigh escaped the raven-haired man's lips as he gave her hand another squeeze before standing and pulling her carefully to her feet.

"Thank you Yuffie…" He said to her quietly with a respectful bow of his head.

"No problem Vinnie." She said softly before wrapping her small arms around him. "I'll always be here for you, my friend."

The dark gunman felt his heart stop when she hugged him. His arms slowly wrapped around her, pulling her tiny form against his. Claret eyes looked past her short dark hair as the wind caused it to dance against her cheek, only to find her stormy eyes closed. Gloved fingers came up and pushed the soft strands from her face, the corners of his lips upturned slightly as he gazed down at her.

Strong fingers cupped her chin, as he looked to her soft lips. He wanted nothing more to lean down and capture those soft lips, feel them pressed against his own gently as he wrapped his arm around her. His thumb ran across her chin once more causing her to shiver against him, breaking him from his trance. Much to the protest of Chaos and his heart, Vincent pulled away but still held her hand.

Yuffie's eyes opened, tinted with a bit of sadness. She was reveling in the tenderness of his touch and longed to feel his lips against hers. If she had been more brave, if she had been more confident in herself, she would have bridged the gaps between their lips to kiss him gently, but she just couldn't…and that made her feel like a coward.

A sigh escaped her lips and she smiled up at him. She looked into his beautiful, intense eyes and knew that beneath the high collar of his cloak, he was smiling softly at her.

Without further words, Vincent carefully led her down the slope of the roof and back down the fire escape. Reluctantly, they released hands upon entering the building, but walked closely while they moved through the building. They took the elevator to the fifth floor and turned down a brightly lit white hallway with no windows until they reached a mythril enforced glass wall. Two guards sat behind the wall in a semi-enclosed booth.

Down the hallway behind the hall there were four doors. Each door had two armed guards protecting them. 'The interrogation rooms.' Yuffie thought quietly.

The ninja sent her support to him through soft gray eyes as they stood before the soundproof and bulletproof glass. Vincent nodded in thanks before pressing the call button for the guards in the interrogation wing.

One of the guards turned slightly in his char. "Name and identification number please."

"Vincent Valentine. Identification number; zeta, 19375435a, green."

The guard typed in the information and a panel in the hall slid open. "Please remove your glove and place your hand on the sensor pad, sir."

She watched as her gunman complied. A green light began to glow on the pad as it scanned the intricate ridges and valleys of his palm. The detection pad flared white and Vincent removed his hand.

"Identity confirmed." A synthetic voice emanated from a hidden speaker. "Non-authorized personnel not permitted past this point."

"Good luck, Vincent…" Yuffie said quietly with an encouraging smile.

Vincent dipped his head in a slight bow. "Thank you. I will see you later." He said in a soft tone for her ears only before turning to the glass door.

The gunman listened to the ninja's nearly soundless footsteps as she left the interrogation wing.

"Mr. Valentine, I'm Private Sullivan." The guard said with a salute to the higher-ranking Turk. "Reno instructed to prepare a suspect for you." One of the guards said, pulling out a folder with a printout attached to the top. "This is a dossier for the man you are to question."

He came around the desk and gave the gunman the folder before leading the former Turk down the hallway. Once they reached the door of the interrogation room, Private Sullivan gestured to a door behind him. "Anything you may need the use of is in the storage room."

The raven-haired man nodded his head slightly. "I will keep that in mind." He said, knowing what 'anything' included. During his time as a Turk, he rarely used the instruments that some did during information extraction, but he was well versed in all of the methods.

Vincent watched as the guard returned to his station before reading the dossier's face sheet.

The man was wanted for the murders of three female bank tellers and two Shinra guards, five counts of rape and sodomy, Assault, drug possession…the list simply went on and on. Anger rose in his mind.

'Zade Fraser has chosen men like this to receive Jenova and Mako enhancements…' He thought. 'I can not allow that…'

'Hey Vinnie?' Chaos echoed in his mind, causing Vincent to roll his eyes.

'Yes Chaos?'

'Can I help? I haven't had a chance to have any fun in a while and quite frankly, I'm bored!!! You guys need information quickly and if that report you just read is right, he aint gonna give up information easily.'

'Agreed. If he turns out to be a bit 'too' reluctant to give me the information I want, the you can have your fun.'

The gunman shook his head when he heard the demon let out a hoot. "Men like this with the power that Jenova would bring… simply cannot be allowed." He mumbled in irritation before closing the folder and reaching for the door. As if on key, his sensitive ears picked up a cry of pain followed quickly by the sound of a roaring voice through the thick walls of the rooms.

"Barret." He said in recognition of the voice and entered the room.

Vincent entered the darkened room behind the suspect and tossed the folder onto the table with a slight thud.

"You shits think you can scare me into giving you information." The man said and filled the room with deep rumbling laughter that echoed off the walls of the small room. "How wrong you all are…" His laughter grew, making the man sound as if he were on the brink of insanity.

"Weston Martin." Vincent started in his quiet but commanding accented tone as he leaned against the wall near the door. "I shall keep this simple and try to save the time required for extraction. You have information that I want and I will get it by any means necessary."

Martin's laughter died down as he tried to swivel in the chair he was strapped in to face his captor "Get it through your thick fuckin' skull! I'm not gonna tell you nothin'!"

Vincent slowly walked to stand before the man, his eyes closed as he did so, allowing his sense to guide him. As he stood within the shadows, the former Turk turned off all of his emotions. In his mind, he knew no personal details about the woman whom had been kidnapped. He had no ties to anyone and told himself that he would feel no remorse for whatever he was about to do.

He could feel the restrained man's eyes on him, waiting to see what his next move would be. Without sound or warning, Vincent rushed forward and grabbed the man by the throat with his claw, nearly cutting off the man's air supply.

The restrained man struggled against the bindings that held him to the metal chair. "Now," He started, his voice completely flat as he came into the light, with eyes still closed. "I do not care why you are aligned with Zade Fraser or any of his low life cronies. You will tell me what you know about Terrell Onika, his Jenova and Mako along with the location of your base." Vincent's crimson eyes opened, glowing ominously at Martin, watching as his lips began to turn slightly blue.

"Sh…it…" The man croaked as the darkness began to encroach on his field of vision.

Seeing that the man was losing consciousness and the fear in his brown eyes, the Turk decided that Martin was ready to being answering questions. There was still a bit of defiance in his eyes, but Vincent knew that Chaos would rid him of that quickly.

The man's neck was released roughly, bouncing slightly off the metal headrest. Claret eyes watched as the man began gasping, trying to rid his burning lungs of the carbon dioxide tainted air within them. Once his vision began to clear, nondescript brown eyes came up to the eerily emotionless face of his interrogator.

"Now, we shall start from the beginning…"

o-o-Author's Notes-o-o

hehehehe…told you all that I had to break this all up into a few chapters… -climbs onto Vincent's lap and drinks her apple juice-

Originally this was suppose to be up yesterday, but since I had to pay to get meh car fixed, they shut off my dsl… :(

I'm glad I had one of those free trial disks from aol, though I hate aol…

I'll try to be prompt with the update but no guarantees…I'm gonna try hard though! I felt so horrible for not updating in so long…I also gotta work on My Light too…

Anyway, -grabs Reno- This sexy redhead is going to do my thank yous…Me and Vinnie are gonna go watch some Inuyasha and Fruits Basket.

OH! Sorelliena, thank you so much for all of the reviews!! I was happy to see your feedback for each chapter, I really appreciate it. I think the most reviews I've done in one sitting is 30. -gives cakes, cookies and balloons to Sorelliena-

Reno: Ezzy was gonna list all the people that have reviewed the last few chapters, but didn't get a chance to, so everyone who reviewed 29-30, she thanks each and every one of you and gave me permission to come give lap dances to all the ladies out there…

Ezzy: -Smacks Reno upside the head- Liar!! You're only suppose to give lap dances for Me, Angel, Destiny and Torahiko!!

Yuffie: Me too!!

Ezzy: Yeah! Yuffs too! –Yuffie grins and goes back to playing intelligent cube-

Reno: Alright…geez, can't let a guy have fun…

Ezzy: Fine! Sephy can dance for us! –snaps and sephy appears in a black g-string and a smile-

Reno: -rolls eyes- Anyway…NeonRain, Ezzy is happy that you liked the chapter, she's been second guessing herself a lot lately…I tried to talk some sense into her, but she doesn't listen to me…. -pouts-

Ezzy: Aww Reno, -blows a kiss to him- You know I love you…

Reno: -grins widely- thanks! Ahh Tora, my love! -runs over to Tora and lifts her into his arms and gropes her- Ezzy says thanks for the well wishes with the apps, and wants me to let you know that Yuffs will be over later on to spend a few days with ya. She had fun last time and has been missing you.

Yuffie: Yep! –turns back to the playstation-

-Reno looks to Ezzy- Can I go too??

Ezzy: Yup! -Goes back to looking at sexy Shigure and Hatori but shakes her head when -Reno grins widely and pulls out the chocolate syurp- See ya later Tora!

Reno: Schizo, ya see, ezzy bought her comp in 1999, so its ancient. Shes too cheap to buy a new one! -gets hit upside the head with a shoe-

Ezzy: Reno my dear, there's a difference between being cheap and being dirt poor. Which proves that I'm not making any money from my stories…though I have been thinking about writing a book…

Reno: -rubs head- Dr…Hmmm…Barret's interrogation. I'm quite skilled in the art of interrogation, but I don't think he'll need any help –pulls out his electromag rod and grins as the electricity dances across the top- god I love this thing! I don't know if I'll let Barret use it though…he might hurt my baby with that massive paw of his. –cuddles it and forgets its on….is now unconscious on the floor-

Ezzy: -looks to the floor and shakes head before sending Aeris to work on him- He'll be fine, I'll take over from here.

Lone gunmen: -huggles- Its good to be back!! I missed seeing your reviews dude! I'm hoping that nothing else goes wrong with my comp…I'm gonna burn all my stuff tomorrow just incase I have another 'mishap.' Hell, I have almost all of Fruits Basket, Chobits, Full metal alchemist, my Gravitation and Gackt music, along with epis 11-19 (and the first movie) of Inuyasha that I will cry over if I loose.

Angel (shadowbeaw): Noooo, don't take the bishis!! -pulls them all onto the couch with her and Vinnie while holding her nummy basket and gackt securely- Thankies ange, you know I love yer crazy babbling! Thank you for all of your support over the past couple months hun. You know how stressed out I've been and ya always manage to make me laugh and take my mind off things. LOVE YA HUN!!!

Miroslavishot11: -cackles insanely- Why yes! Yes there will be, but I can't tell you when. Its already written out but we just gotta get to that point…hopefully soon :) I'm glad you love the story though, its my baby!!

Well peoples, I gotta get back to my posting and then either to AS or ML, haven't decided yet… -looks over to Reno as Aeris helps him sit up- I guess he and Yuffie will still be over to see you Tora.

Love ya all!!!

Ezzy

Edited 1/19/07

10/04/07

Edited because of change in formatting. Also re-numbering chapters. Minor content edits.