Chapter 20: It Ends In Fire
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Reno and Rude sat on either side of the room. It seemed like it had been forever since Yuffie left with Kyou. Reno fell onto his bed, letting his head hang over the side, closing his eyes. From the other side of the door, he could hear noises coming from down the passageway. He opened his eyes and began to amuse himself by peering at the odd contents under the bed. Then, that's when he saw it. In the midst of all the balls of dust…there was a slip of paper. It was one of the paper bombs Yuffie carried in her backpack!
"Hey Rude, you know what?"
"Yeah, partner?"
"Are you ready to blow this joint?"
Reno carefully grabbed the paper bomb and held it up for Rude to see. Great…now what the heck am I supposed to do now? Reno smiled a cheesy smile at Rude and handed the explosive to Rude.
"Yo! Have fun with that…"
He walked over to a chair in the corner and plopped down, watching Rude turn the piece of paper over. Rude smirked and pulled a small string from the corner of the bomb. He stuck the slip of paper onto the metal door, and then turned to Reno.
"You got a match?"
Reno felt around for his matches.
Where did I put 'em? Are they in my pockets? Nope. Hmm…oh yeah! Reno took his shoe off and shook out the contents. Voila. He put his shoe back on and picked up the matches.
"Hey man, you know this ain't no time for a smoke…"
Rude took the matches.
"It's for the bomb and that was a double negative, Reno."
Reno scratched his head.
"Uh…double what?"
"Forget it. Stand back."
Reno and Rude moved to the back of the room after the wick was lit. Seconds later, the door had been blown off its hinges and the Turks were running down the hallway toward the elevator…but not before they retrieved their weapons.
"Hey Rude…I thought Yuffie said you were supposed to tear those bombs to trigger them?"
"As long as it works."
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"Strife! Highwind! Go get the airship ready! I'll be there soon!"
"Are you sure?"
"Just go!"
Vincent lurched forward at Talbot as Yuffie fell to the floor. He clutched his enemy's neck, tumbling to the ground. Talbot rolled onto his back and thrust his feet into Vincent's stomach, whose teeth were growing sharper, his eyes beginning to glow a bright yellow…his cloak tearing where two dark purple wings.
"In need of assistance, Valentine?"
"Why do you offer so readily, demon?"
"Why do you hesitate?"
"Must you always answer a question with a question?"
"I simply want to…stretch my wings."
Meanwhile, Kyou knelt beside the incapacitated ninja, propping her up against the wall. I'll see you in the next life, Yuffie. He took a handful of paper bombs from Yuffie's backpack and stuck them to his chest, carefully pulling out the strings on each one. I can't rip the bombs like I'm supposed to…by the time I get the first one ripped, we'll be blown to pieces. No matter. Talbot has made everyone suffer for far too long. He has made Yuffie suffer. I know it. Yuffie…I swear…I'll finish this. He latched his arms under Ashton Talbot's.
"Mr. Valentine! Please take care of Yuffie."
Vincent put his gun into his holster.
"Who are you?"
Kyou shook his head.
"That doesn't matter. Take Yuffie and get out of here!"
Vincent didn't have to be told again. He moved swiftly across the room and lifted Yuffie into his arms. As he ran to the door, Talbot shouted out in anger.
"You'll never get out of here, Valentine! Not with the stunt he's about to pull!"
Vincent's now yellow eyes flashed.
"We'll see about that."
He ran out of the room into the wide hallway, and then stopped; deliberating the path he should take. Left? Right? Forward?
The elevator is to your left, host.
Turning left, he spread his demon-like wings. With a running start, he glided over the concrete floor. In his mind, he silently thanked whoever made the building for the wideness of the hallways. After several turns and dead-ends, the elevator was in sight.
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Reno kicked the elevator fiercely. Rude continuously tried Materia after Materia in attempt to open the door, but to no avail. The red-headed Turk took out his nightstick and attempted to ply it open, resulting in the breaking of his weapon. He shook his head.
"It sure picked a fine time to break, 'eh?"
Rude put his hand up.
"Shut up for a minute."
"Yo partner, the heck are you 'doin telling me to--!"
Reno stood still. He heard it too. It sounded like…wings? It was getting closer. What the --! Vincent had turned the corner, coming up close on the surprised Turks.
"Yo, Valentine! Sure as heck took 'ya long enough!"
Vincent folded his demonic wings against his back and examined the elevator. He reached his prosthetic hand into the crevice of the door and pushed, barring his teeth. Rude and Reno watched in awe at the unfathomable strength of Chaos.
Reno scratched his head. And we were about to summon Knights of the Round to open this sucker, and Vincent opens it easy with his darn claw…but just our luck. The elevator's broke too. And it was true. Rude tried to press every button, but to no avail.Vincent turned around, shifting Yuffie from his right arm to the crook of his left.
"We need to leave, now."
Reno looked confused.
"Wait a sec- you killed 'em already?"
Vincent shook his head.
"It's being taken care of."
"Well in case you didn't notice, the elevator's broke--!"
From somewhere down the hall, someone had screamed a Fire Spell, igniting an explosion which was filling the hallways…one after another, rapidly approaching them. Before Reno had a chance to spew out a number of curse words, Rude pulled him into the elevator.
Vincent shot the trap door open on the roof of the broken contraption. He jumped through the hole, and then proceeded to pull the Turks up. With his human hand, he gently clutched Yuffie, and then held his prosthetic arm out.
"Grab on."
Reno and Rude nodded and held on. Vincent spread his wings and jumped up into the shaft. His eyes flashed with the pain flying though the human portion of his left arm. Both of the men weighed a good 250 pounds, causing a massive strain on his arm, despite the fact that he had transformed…if only half-way.
Within seconds, the exit was in sight, as was the explosion. Vincent clenched his teeth as he felt the heat of the fire; the Turks had tightened their hold on Vincent's arm, causing him to slow down. To make things worse, the explosion was about nine stories below them and speeding up ever so rapidly.
No…I can not fail. Not this time!
He exerted the rest of his energy pushing himself to get out of the shaft that was quickly becoming a fiery inferno. As soon as Vincent shot out of the elevator duct door, he resumed his normal form. Reno and Rude had landed a few meters apart, both slightly burnt by the flames; the former rendered unconscious.
Vincent attempted to sit up, but his strength failed him. Yuffie's eyes fluttered under her eyelids, yet remained closed. The dark gunman's own eyes began to close against his will. The world around him began to swim as he held Yuffie close. He could have sworn he heard footsteps…he was being lifted up onto something soft. He heard voices. Talbot? Cloud, Cid and Barret were there. Before everything faded to black, he felt someone plant a small kiss on his cheek.
Yuffie…
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Author's Note: OMG! ;; I finally got my butt in gear. Well, this isn't the last chapter...next one will be. I'm soooo sorry for getting off track. GAH! Forgive me by…reviewing!