Chapter 10: Interview with a Vampire
The next day Yuna's room was locked shut, but there was a small crowd in front of her door. "What's going on?" Cloud asked as he walked by also.
"Poor, poor Tidus," Rinoa replied and pointed. Yuna had packed up all his stuff and left it in front of the door.
"Ah, poor kid. He's still asleep," Cloud said.
"Vincent, why don't you try and talk to her? You guys are friends after all...you seem to talk to her more than she talks to anyone else," Tifa said turning to Vincent.
"I...um, ok," Vincent muttered turning mildly red for a few seconds.
"I'll talk to Tidus...uh...anyone have a sturdy box of heavy duty tissues?" Cloud asked, but everyone just snapped at him to hurry up. Everyone else walked away solemnly to go to breakfast, and only Vincent remained. He knocked lightly on the door but there was no answer.
"It's uh, it's Vincent," He called. He pushed Tidus's stuff a few feet away from the door so he could come in as Yuna unlocked the door and opened it.
"Oh...hi there Vincent. So sweet of you to come by," Yuna said with a faltering smile.
"Are you alright? Is there anything I can do? I'm so terribly sorry for all of it," Vincent started hastily. Yuna laughed and Vincent looked puzzled.
"It wasn't your fault, why the fuck are you apologizing? Besides...I don't want to think about it," Yuna said looking down.
"That's alright. You don't have too," Vincent replied smiling at her. Yuna sighed.
"I probably look a mess. You wouldn't mind if I maybe stopped by later?" Yuna suggested grabbing hold of her hair. Though it wasn't just her bed hair. Vincent noticed her eyes were quite red, and the circles from lack of sleep under them darkened slightly.
"I'll be at the fire place...uh, Tidus is staying in mine and Cloud's room," Vincent told her.
"Wasn't Sephiroth sharing with you guys as well?" Yuna asked.
"He moved to Auron's old room...we've had enough of him anyway, and he of us," Vincent replied and Yuna laughed. After Yuna closed the door, Vincent picked up all of Tidus's stuff and took it to Cloud's room.
"Have you even told him yet?" Vincent asked as Cloud opened the door holding a candy bar.
"I just...kinda told him to give Yuna the rest she wants, you know? The space she wants etc. I didn't really tell him she packed up all his stuff...," Cloud replied and Vincent groaned. Vincent walked in and Tidus was laying on the bed, his pillow on top of his face.
"Tidus buddy...um, something happened...," Cloud started.
"Good or bad? I could use some good news right about now...," Tidus mumbled. But when he got up and noticed all his stuff on the floor, he just kinda stared with his jaw open.
"Yeah, um...Yuna set it out...outside her door...," Cloud scratched the back of his head, not knowing what to say. Vincent stared at Tidus. He looked...exactly how Yuna looked when she thought he had died, back at the woods. Suddenly Vincent got angry at Yuna. How could she be so brutal?
"Tidus...you'll be alright, I mean just because she kicked you out it doesn't mean a thing. She's just once again saying she wants her space, it's not like it's officially over or anything-," Cloud was saying as quickly as he could but he and Vincent could both see the water works coming.
First it started off slow, but under two minutes Tidus had full on streams of water going down his face. "Wah!" He sobbed. Tidus jumped on the bed and covered himself with the blanket.
"Oh come on Tidus! Be a man! Don't cry! Seriously, you're getting the room and blankets all wet...," Cloud said.
Tidus just sobbed in reply. Cloud looked at Vincent and shrugged. "Did you even talk to her yet, see if you can put some sense into her?" Cloud whispered to Vincent.
"Look, I'm not her therapist or advice giver, I'm just her friend. But...," Vincent added when he saw Cloud's expression of pleading, "I'll try to help out a bit. I can't meddle into her affairs like that you know!" Vincent hissed.
"Meddle? You'll be helping! Look at the poor kid!" Cloud cried pointing at the mound of blankets that was weeping. Vincent sighed.
"What do you want me to say, what do you want me to do?" Vincent asked shrilly as he and Cloud got out of the room.
"Ask her to dinner and talk about it," Cloud suggested.
"No!" Vincent replied almost immediately. Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"Are you really that date shy?" Cloud asked.
"It's not a date!" Vincent cried.
"Right, right. But you will be trying to emphasize a comfortable atmosphere, in which she can talk freely about Tidus. You have to find out what he has to do and maybe talk some sense into her!" Cloud ordered.
"I'll try...you know, I'm not really the one that does the talking, I just listen...," Vincent muttered to himself.
"Change that tonight! I mean, Yuna tells you about everything, right? She feels more comfortable talking to you more than anybody else, so use that to your advantage!" Cloud replied.
"I don't like taking advantage of people, especially not Yuna. Is it even possible to take advantage of someone as powerful as her?" Vincent asked wringing his hands nervously.
"Please," Cloud scoffed, " I've seen her around you. She'll confess a murder for Jenova's sake!"
"Really?" Vincent wondered thoughtfully. Cloud wheeled around and Vincent stopped walking.
"Look, that's not the point. Talk to Yuna, help Tidus out. This whole fight is making everyone feel down...and we both don't want a depressed Tidus to look after in our room," Cloud said and Vincent nodded rapidly.
"What will you be doing to help out?" Vincent asked.
"I'll keep an eye on the kid. I'm his best friend after all, and I've had more experience with women then you and him put together. You just focus on talking sense into Yuna," Cloud replied proudly and walked back into his room. Vincent grumbled and went to the dining hall to get a cup of coffee.
"I'm Cloud, I'm so experienced," Vincent mocked under his breath.
--
Yuna walked in awhile later wearing a Juicy sweatshirt, and matching Summoner's Secret sweat pants, so as Vincent watched her walk by him he wondered if she really was ready or not. He had been thinking the whole thing over, and he decided that to take Yuna out to dinner was doing too much. Why not talk to her here? I mean, did it really have to include dinner, and all that?
"Vincent, you wanted to talk to me?" Yuna asked yawning as she took a seat. Vincent nodded. He had called Yuna on her cell phone, using the one Cloud had bought him. It took him awhile to figure out how to use it, but he managed. He also had the luck of finding Yuna's cell phone number scratched onto the back of the men's bathroom stall in the restroom. Vincent thought how he should approach Yuna with the talking he was supposed to do. He tried to smile a big wide smile, but all he got was a scared look from Yuna.
"Vincent...are you ok?" Yuna asked in alarm. Vincent immediately clamped his lips shut and turned red.
"Uh, yeah, I was just, uh...I don't know what I was doing actually," Vincent confessed. To his luck Yuna laughed warmly and he felt relieved. But he still hadn't gotten to his point yet.
"Look...I don't know why you called me, I mean, you had kinda just left my room when you called," Yuna said when Vincent was about to say something.
"Oh?" He asked instead.
"Yeah, so I was just wondering if maybe we could...I don't know. Maybe eat out later. Last time I was in town, I found this pretty restaurant, and maybe some time out of the hotel can do me some good and distract me from the whole mess that's going on here," Yuna said while rubbing her forehead.
"I do agree you should get out, have a distraction. But uh...do we have to go to dinner...?" Vincent asked, and he tried his best not to whine.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Yuna asked sadly. Vincent was going to decline again, but then Yuna said something that made him think it over. "There'll be banana cake. I saw it with my own eyes through the display window. It's probably very good, and I remember you told me you loved banana cake...," Yuna said.
Vincent raised his eye brows a tad. It's been a long while since he had a decent slice of heavenly banana cake. So long, at this stage he'd do anything for banana cake. But he still thought it over. "Well...," Vincent started and he darted his eyes away from her. But when he came back he saw how sad and helpless she looked. "...Ok. Maybe it's good for me to get out too. And have some banana cake," Vincent gave in, and when Yuna smiled and squealed happily he couldn't help giving her a small smile back.
"Ok, well I'll go back to my nap so we can stay out long enough," Yuna replied getting up.
"Wait!" Vincent said before she walked away and he got up too.
"Yeah?"
"I know another place that has good banana cake...and it's my favorite place," Vincent said.
"Oh...well, I'd love to see a place that's your favorite," Yuna replied politely and smiled.
"Yeah, don't worry, you'll like it. Well, hopefully," Vincent added and Yuna laughed.
"No worries, I'll go, like totally," Yuna re-assured him. She then walked off and Vincent got annoyed at the fact that he would have to eat dinner with Yuna after all. But then again, what was the big deal? It was just dinner. Plus she had agreed to go to his favorite place, and he'll be more comfortable there anyway so he can finally talk to her about Tidus. He just hopes word doesn't get out so that others might think it's a–
"-Date! Oh Yunie, what were you thinking?" Rinoa squealed, trying to sound angry but she was overall excited. They were in Yuna's room and Yuna groaned as she was getting ready. She turned around and glared at Rinoa.
"It's not a date," Yuna replied for the tenth time.
"Then why would Vincent want to take you to his favorite place?" Tifa asked absent mindedly as she flipped through a magazine on Yuna's bed.
"Who knows, and I don't care. I was the one that suggested we go out to eat, and he sweetly accepted. It's only for me to get out a bit, it's too depressing around here," Yuna grumbled as she brushed her hair.
"So you're saying you asked him out, but you guys decided together to go to a favorite restaurant of his instead?" Rinoa questioned.
"Rinoa! It's not a date! I didn't ask him out!" Yuna cried and walked over to her closet to get shoes. Rinoa tagged along and continued to press the subject.
"What if Tidus finds out? Are you guys even officially over? Would you go out on a date anyway even if you guys weren't?" Rinoa questioned. Yuna turned around and glared at Rinoa again. Tifa threw a pillow at Rinoa.
"Hey!" Rinoa yelped.
"Leave Yuna alone! If she wants to mess around then let her," Tifa said. Yuna growled at Tifa.
"I'm not messing around and I'm not going on a date. Will you guys at least try to process that?" Yuna snapped.
"You're getting awfully dressed up, though!" Rinoa pointed out.
"I always get dressed up when I go out, you know that!" Yuna replied.
"Yeah, when you go out with a vampire," Tifa noted turning a page on the magazine casually.
"Vampire? Please. Vincent doesn't even deserve to be called that, why doesn't anybody call Sephiroth a vampire for example?" Yuna complained.
"Hey! Sephiroth is actually pretty nice," Aeris spoke up from her spot against the bed.
"Wow, imagine this. Yuna going out with Vincent, and Aeris claiming Sephiroth is nice all in the same day," Tifa spoke into the silence.
"Awkward!" Rinoa sing-songed.
"You know what, you guys are just a pain the neck. I don't even know why you're all in my room anyway!" Yuna cried.
"Yunie, are you gonna let him bite you?" Rinoa asked excitedly.
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Yuna replied sarcastically.
"That means you're going to live forever, huh? You're going to be nineteen all your life," Rinoa pointed out.
"Woo-hoo," Yuna said in a bored voice and started to strap her heels on.
"Yuna, I'm actually not kidding. Vincent really is a vampire, so you should be careful when you go out with him tonight," Tifa said in a serious voice.
"I'm not going out with him!" Yuna snapped.
"Right, whatever. But be careful anyway, you don't want to roam around being nineteen all your life and drinking blood do you?" Tifa asked.
"If it will get you guys to shut up-," Yuna muttered menacingly.
"When's Vincent's birthday?" Rinoa interrupted.
"I dunno, why?" Tifa replied.
"Hmm...I don't remember ever going to a birthday party of his," Rinoa said in a spooked out voice.
"He's anti social," Yuna piped in but Tifa shook her head.
"It's because he doesn't get any older!" Tifa cried.
"You guys are insane," Yuna pointed out and got her purse from behind the door.
"Maybe, but you're still telling us every single detail of your date!" Rinoa called out as Yuna walked out.
"It's not a date!" Yuna replied for the twelfth time.
--
Yuna turned off her phone as she walked to the lobby. Tonight would be a night of distraction from Tidus, and total peace, without Rinoa calling her every minute of the night.
Vincent was rocking back and forth on his heels at the front desk, staring anxiously at the bowl of mints. Finally he couldn't help it and stuffed ten or so in his mouth.
"Vincent...what are you doing?" Yuna asked laughing. Vincent stopped and looked at her, shocked and embarrassed.
"I like...mints?" He replied with his mouth full and swallowed all of them whole.
"Ok...well, you like them better than banana cake?" Yuna asked.
"No! Banana cake good!" Vincent cried. Yuna laughed.
"I've never seen you act this way! We should go out for dinner more often, huh?" Yuna said and smiled.
"Y-Yeah...sure," Vincent replied nervously and followed Yuna outside. They got inside Vincent's Bat Mobile (Na-na-na-na-na Batman!)
"Wow...this is nice!" Yuna said and looked around.
"Yes, I only drive it in special occasions," Vincent replied smiling. Yuna giggled. Vincent! What is this? You're getting soft with the enemy! Ok, well...not really the "enemy" but even though Yuna is your friend, it does not mean you should side track from your mission. Yes, you should act "comfortable" but not, well...don't end up flirting with her! Vincent thought angrily to himself.
Vincent got a little distracted by Yuna playing around with the radio and admiring the black leather-ness of the car. "Vincent, are you sure you're going the right way? We're heading back to the hotel!" Yuna suddenly spoke up.
"Huh...? Oh!" Vincent cried and realized he was going around in circles. He focused on the road and finally parked in a remote parking lot, in front of a closed down library.
"Um...are we like, here?" Yuna asked nervously.
"Oh yeah, see, it's a secret under ground place and we park here...it's the secret parking area," Vincent explained.
"Weird, but interesting!" Yuna replied. She re-settled her shawl and tried to keep up to Vincent's fast pace as he almost disappeared behind a dark alley way. "Vincent! Slow down, would ya? There's an actual rule against running in heels!" Yuna pleaded.
"Oh, sorry. I made a reservation you know," Vincent replied. For some reason this seemed to flatter Yuna.
"Ooh," She merely replied. Actually, Vincent lied, but the fact that he reserved a table in a restaurant probably meant the restaurant was famous or something and he kinda wanted Yuna to think that. But why? All he needs to do is talk to her, why is he doing all these extra efforts...?
They had to walk through a long dirt road to get to the place. Yuna was a bit tired after they finally got there. "I'm so sorry! I should have told you we had to walk, I'm so bad at this, I'm sorry really-," Vincent started.
"Vincent, it's ok! These were an old pair of heels anyway," Yuna said, and looked rather sadly down at her shoes. Vincent was still doubtful, but in any case they got there and Yuna climbed down the underground steps before him. "This is so sinister. I love it!" Yuna said in an excited hushed whisper.
Vincent laughed. "Wait 'till you see the inside," He replied mysteriously.
"Ooh, the suspense is killing me," Yuna joked sarcastically. The stairs led to a dark hall way made of stone, alighted by torches. "Are we going in a crypt?" Yuna asked a little scared.
"I can only wish," Vincent replied. Yuna gave him a scared look and he laughed. They came to a big wooden door, like Viking pub big, and a wooden sign clumsily nailed onto the front read in blood red letters, "The Cavern Club."
"Is that real blood?" Yuna asked. Vincent didn't answer and just shifted his eyes.
"My lady," He said modestly and let Yuna go first. She eagerly pushed open the door and looked inside. The place looked like something out of the Flintstones, the whole room was make of rock. But it had choppy wooden tables like tree trunks, and tall wooden chairs with animal furs on the back. A warm fire place took residence in each side of the room, and in the far back there was a mini stage, and right now the only guy on the stage was some dude wearing all black, sitting cross legged with drums on his lap.
He took the time to slowly and cooly tip down his sunglasses to get a better view of what seemed like Yuna, the only one in the room who didn't have black hair nor was she wearing any black clothes. Everyone in the club raised their depressed positions for about a few seconds to take a look at the newcomer with bright happy eyes, a normal and healthy looking complexion, and who was smiling as if the world wasn't filled with evil and actual people who don't like coffee.
"Wow, this is so totally retro!" Yuna squealed. A guy actually turned around and glared at her.
"Yuna, uh...can I talk to you for a minute? Over there, in that small dark corner where no one can see us?" Vincent asked.
"Like totally," Yuna replied happily. Vincent pushed her along. "Hi!" Yuna said cheerfully to the guy who was glaring at her, and smiled at him. Vincent pushed her a bit harder and she protested. "Hey, what's the big deal?" Yuna asked.
"You can't come in to a club like this and be all...uh...cheery like!" Vincent cried.
"But...that's just who I am! I don't really have anything to be depressed about, but I don't mean anything by it. At least I'm not treating everyone like zoo animals-," Yuna replied but then she looked over Vincent's shoulder and said, "Hey look! That one is wearing sunglasses indoors!" as if it was the crime of the century. Vincent slapped his forehead.
"Actually...you do have something to be depressed about. Tidus, remember?" Vincent replied.
"Oh, yeah. Forgot about him for a few minutes...or ten," Yuna confessed casually.
"Huh," Vincent replied in thought. He wondered if he really had to talk to Yuna about the whole thing...can't he just lie to Cloud and say she wants to break up or something? But Vincent would have to make sure that's what Yuna wants...but then again she should do it herself...damn, Vincent didn't know.
Yuna had wandered off again and had gone to a table to stare at some Goths. She even poked one's spider necklace to see if it was real or something. "Yuna!" Vincent hissed.
"What?" Yuna replied.
"They don't like it when you touch them! Leave them alone," Vincent said and laughed nervously at the people at the table. The girl with the necklace just turned her red eyes up to look evilly at Yuna, then she lowered her head again to stare at the table top.
"Her eyes! That was way cool!" Yuna was saying as Vincent dragged her to a table of their own. Yuna sat down and at once took out a mirror to check her make up and stuff. Vincent anime sweat dropped.
"Yuna, as I was saying before, I know you don't wanna do what others say and stuff, but can you at least try to, well...how do I say this?...not act like yourself?" Vincent asked. Yuna put her mirror away in her pink Coach bag, which some people were staring at, in hopes that it will burst into flames.
"How do you want me to act like? You should have told me we were going to a retro dark club or something. And here I am in pink!" Yuna replied shrilly.
"Yes, but...what's the difference? Do you even have black clothes?" Vincent asked.
"Of course!-wait...no, Ye-no...," Yuna replied sheepishly.
"I'm not asking for much. Just lay low, and well, act cool," Vincent explained.
"Cool?" Yuna asked.
"Yes, cool," Vincent replied.
"Cool...," Yuna repeated nodding.
"No, not cool, cool," Vincent said.
"Cool," Yuna repeated and Vincent nodded. "Oh ok, I get it, no worries! I can act cool," Yuna re-assured him and Vincent sighed. At this time, a Goth girl with ear length sleek black hair was making her way over to their table. She was wearing a black apron that was almost invisible against her black clothes, so she worked there.
She came from the rock built bar in the corner and had seen Vincent come in. "How very unfortunate for you to be here. What would you like to order?" She asked in a dull voice.
"Usual for me please," Vincent asked quietly.
"Can I have a Cappuccino?" Yuna asked.
The waitress took a long look at Yuna. "Regular, or black coffee?" She asked again in that dull slow voice.
"Regular then...," Yuna replied nervously.
"First time here?" The waitress asked taking a cigarette from her pocket.
"Yes, Elvira, Yuna here has come for the first time. Now, those coffees won't take long will they...?" Vincent asked trying to hurry it up.
Yuna watched this Elvira light her cigarette and nod. "Smoking kills," Yuna peeped up, and both Vincent and Elvira looked at her. And to Yuna and possibly even Vincent's surprise, Elvira started to laugh. Slow at first, then really laughing. "I'm sorry...but it does you know," Yuna said looking at Vincent.
"Believe me Honey, I won't be dying soon," Elvira told her.
"Why? You immortal or something?" Yuna couldn't help asking, and Rinoa's words came back to her...Yunie, are you going to let him bite you? You wouldn't want to be nineteen forever would you, Yunie? You're going on a date with a vampire...?
Vampires! I'm going crazy, Yuna thought to herself. "I'll be right back...uh, bathroom?" Yuna asked Elvira who pointed lazily to a back door. "Uh, thanks," Yuna replied and remembered not to smile as she got up and walked that way.
Elvira waited a bit then she took Yuna's seat to face Vincent. "Where'd you pick up this one, eh Valentine?" Elvira asked with a smirk. Vincent glared at her. "I didn't know you started dating again," Elvira continued, putting out her cigarette.
"I'm not dating!" Vincent protested.
"...Yeah? Whose she?" Elvira asked. "This...Yuna."
"No one...well, ok, she's a good friend of mine...look, this isn't a date," Vincent repeated firmly.
"She's not all together, but...I quite like her. She has spunk. I can tell things you know, before I even officially meet people," Elvira started.
"What are you implying anyway?" Vincent asked.
"Wouldn't she make a great...you know...one of us?" Elvira asked, passing her tongue over her canine teeth.
"You must be mad. Not only will I won't even consider that, you still don't seem to accept the fact that I'm not dating her. We're just friends!" Vincent cried.
"Oh c'mon, Vincent! I could tell, you could tell, she could tell, the entire nation can tell that you like her," Elvira replied chuckling.
"Do not!" Vincent cried again shrilly.
"Do too. I mean, so she's not one of us, big deal? I say go for it. She's cute. Besides, none of us here have seen you on a date in ages," Elvira said taking out another cigarette.
"Try centuries," Vincent muttered.
"See? There you go. Move on Vincent, would ya?" Elvira said as she got up, for Yuna was making her way over.
"I think I'll be the one to decide if I will move on or not!" Vincent hissed at her.
"Move on," Elvira mouthed to Vincent as Yuna came to the table and sat down. Vincent glared at Elvira as she smirked and walked back to the bar.
"Hey, what happened?" Yuna asked.
"Nothing, Elvira's just a friend of mine. She owns the club you know, so of course she's friends with everybody that goes here," Vincent explained. There was a small silence until Elvira came back with the coffee then went away again. Vincent fingered his miserably. Yuna sipped her coffee and listened to the soft jazz music that started up, and looked up distractedly. Then she gave off a little yelp.
"Yuna, what's wrong?" Vincent asked and looked up alarmed. Yuna shuddered.
"There...Th-There are bats in the ceiling!" Yuna whispered wincing, and covered her head with a whimper. Vincent looked up, then back at her, and couldn't help it. He started laughing and Yuna looked up at him, narrowing her eyes. "I'm scared of bats, ok? Sorry I'm not like the rest of these people, maybe bats only refuse to land in black hair..."
"Oh no, see Yuna, it's not only black hair, it's any hair. Bats are just as afraid of you as you are of them, and these particular bats have been trained to stay in the ceiling during open hours," Vincent explained and as he looked up dreamily he continued, "Bats are magnificent creatures. Don't you think so?"
Yuna was checking her hair on her compact mirror and then looked up at him with a flustered look. "Oh, uh...sure," She replied, then muttered, "Takes one to know one."
"What was that?" Vincent asked taking another sip of coffee.
"Oh...nothing, just I lost my favorite lipstick, I think on the way back to the table...Don't worry, I'll find it, it'll probably be the only thing around here that isn't black," Yuna replied ducking under the table. Vincent laughed again. "Yes, well, it's the truth isn't it?" Yuna asked with a smile and laughing too. She decided to look for her lipstick later. As Vincent turned around to look back at the stage, Yuna couldn't take it anymore. Stupid Rinoa and Tifa! They got it in her brain that maybe Vincent is a vampire...but it's such nonsense...even though a lot things would make sense if that were so. While Vincent was turned around, Yuna slowly took her mirror out again. Closing her eyes, she aimed the mirror at him. After two seconds she peeked an eye open, and gasped, putting her mirror away hurriedly. Vincent didn't have a reflection!
"Something wrong? You look awfully flustered...," Vincent said as he rose back up from tying his shoe.
Yuna was looking around nervously, and just muttered, "Uh huh, I'm fine," Even though she wasn't quite sure. Vincent thought that this should be it. I mean, they got to the restaurant and they already had their coffee...pretty soon it would be time to go and he still didn't convince Yuna to make up with Tidus. Vincent drummed his fingers on the table, looking around while thinking of a good way to start. He and Elvira locked eyes when he darted them to the bar, and she smirked at him again. He frowned and looked somewhere else. Why couldn't he just mention something to start off...why does it seem so awkward? They're not on a date after all. Why is it so hard...?
"So...," Vincent started but he couldn't finish. Yuna said so herself...she didn't want to talk about, much less think about Tidus. There was nothing Vincent could do...and she had also said those words to him personally, so he'd be a jerk to suddenly start talking about it. If she had wanted to talk about it, or was thinking about it, Vincent would be able to tell, and she would even be talking about it now. But she seemed distracted, maybe even bored. Tidus wasn't even at least, in the back of her mind.
"Sorry I'm not talking much. I guess this place just gives off this barrier or something, and I just can't think of much to say," Yuna chuckled lightly. Vincent nodded.
"I should not have brought you here in the first place...it's a laid back kinda place where you just sip some coffee and think mostly to yourself. Not a great place for talking," Vincent apologized.
"It's ok. I have nothing to talk about," Yuna replied smiling. Vincent raised an eyebrow for a second, for it seemed Yuna was secretly implying that she knew what Vincent was up too and was telling him once and for all she didn't want to talk about things. Vincent took this as a sign.
"Then...wanna go?" He asked.
"Um, sure!" Yuna replied and they got up to leave.
"Bye Vincent," Elvira called and waved. Vincent waved back, though he knew she was mocking him. They appeared again in the brisk cold night air, whereas when they were departing to go to the restaurant there was sun still. Now the starlet night shone above them.
"Ah, it's cold...let's start walking now," Yuna said and started to walk. Vincent followed behind her, staring at the trees. Suddenly, out of nowhere (Yes, nowhere) a fiend came! Ah, no! Yes, weird how it's in civilization but ok whatever don't bug me. The fiend came and roared at them, and Yuna stopped short giving off a little yelp of surprise.
"Lady Yuna!" Vincent cried and put an arm in front of her, pushing her back. Vincent had his gun ready but Yuna impatiently pushed his arm down.
"Hey! Don't go pushing me like that, I can take care of it myself!" Yuna cried and pulled her pistol from her purse.
"No way, it's too dangerous!" Vincent protested.
"Please! Don't make me laugh," Yuna retorted and aimed her gun at it, but Vincent blocked her.
"Let me do it, Yuna!" He ordered.
"No way! Now move out of my way," Yuna replied and tried to push him aside.
"The faster you let me kill it myself, the faster it'll take for us to get back home. I can take it out with one shot," Vincent bragged.
"Watch and learn!" Yuna replied haughtily.
"No, I rather aim and shoot. Lady Yuna this is only for your safety-," Vincent started.
"Yeah, sure, whatever. I don't need to be protected by ego maniacs anymore thank you! You're just trying to act all macho," Yuna replied crossing her arms.
"What?" Vincent yelped. The fiend was still standing there, watching them back and forth. It finally shrugged and walked away.
"Hey, Joe, you get those two?" Another fiend by the name of Jeff asked.
"Nah, they're better off killing each other if you ask me. They were all arguing over who gets to shoot me or not!" Joe rolled his eyes.
"Ha, well, what can you do? Humans I guess. You steal anything?" Jeff asked.
"Nada, man. By the looks of the guy though I don't think he had anything valuable on him...probably a bum or something," Joe replied.
"Eh, figures. So, poker night at Fred's?" Jeff asked Joe as they made their way into the woods.
"Yeah, sure man...I need a beer."
--
"Look what you've done! The fiend even got bored over us," Yuna snapped and frustrated, she shoved her gun back in her purse and started to walk away steadily.
"Oh Yuna, come on, wait up!" Vincent called and ran to catch up to her.
"The dinner wasn't the best, but you didn't have to end it by acting like a total jerk," Yuna muttered to him.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that, but...how can I be sorry for losing that fiend?" Vincent replied and stepped in front of her so she could stop walking. Yuna glared at him. Vincent put on a smile and Yuna looked confused. "How can I...when you look so cute when you're in danger?" Vincent continued and found at once that it worked.
Yuna seemed to forgive him faster than you can shoot a bullet and she tried her best not to smile but you could tell it was there. "Yeah, well...I'm not a little girl anymore. Next time a fiend comes, I'm the one to blow it's head off," Yuna declared and Vincent nodded reluctantly.
"Fine, fine...but you're still not better than me," Vincent smirked walking ahead.
"Hey!" Yuna cried and caught up him, punching him on the arm. Vincent laughed and Yuna just crossed her arms, pretending to be mad. Their happiness ended for a sec when they came across a huge pile of logs blocking the path. "What the hell?" Yuna cried out bewildered.
"This is very unusual," Vincent muttered scratching his chin.
"Hmph...everything so we don't get back home, right? This is all Cloud's doing. He got Squall or someone to get those logs there, and that was probably Wakka in a fiend costume by the way it didn't even attack us," Yuna confirmed.
"Maybe, but we still can't get over these logs. I wonder what we're going to do," Vincent asked and looked up at Yuna.
"There are woods here...can't we go through them?" Yuna asked.
Vincent laughed. "I wouldn't want to go through that again," Vincent said, but Yuna raised an eyebrow and he shifted his eyes telling her to never mind. Yuna stayed quiet for awhile then she walked over to some bushes. "Lady Yuna?" Vincent questioned.
"Aha! I heard water. There's a river right here!" Yuna exclaimed. Vincent chuckled and walked over to her.
"Very good, Lady Yuna. I didn't know you to be the explorer," Vincent said and Yuna rolled her eyes, laughing sarcastically. Vincent looked out over the river and pointed. "Look! Just our luck. Somebody left a small boat there," He said.
"Ooh! Let's take it and get out of here!" Yuna cried turning to him.
"That may be crazy enough to work, Lady Yuna. You are truly a mastermind," Vincent replied sarcastically and Yuna laughed.
"What if I am?" She asked slyly and started walking down the small hill to the boat. Vincent followed. He then heard a little "ew" of protest from Yuna, who got to the boat first. "What? Did you find a dead body or something?" Vincent asked.
Yuna turned to him and gave him a weird look, shaking her head. "No! It's just wet, that's all," Yuna complained hugging herself from the cold.
"Oh, well aren't we the picky one? Here, if you must," Vincent replied and reluctantly took his cloak off and handed it to her.
"Oh, why thank you. But uh, maybe for your birthday I'll buy you a more stylish jacket, huh?" Yuna joked and Vincent rolled his eyes. She set it on the seat and sat on it, but it was long enough for her to wrap it around herself from the cold. Vincent took a seat across from her and looked around.
"Don't tell me the guy didn't leave an oar," Vincent said nervously and looked under the seat and everywhere. Yuna laughed and Vincent looked up at her. She was waving the oar around giggling. "Oh...give me that!" Vincent laughed and took it from her. He pushed the boat and they floated down the midnight blue river.
"Wow...this is great!" Yuna said in a hushed whisper, and she looked around in awe.
"Yeah," Vincent replied and sat back against the boat, looking sideways at the night, not at the other end of the boat where Yuna was. Suddenly he heard a little sound...and he shifted his eyes bewildered.
There you see her...
...Sitting there across the way...she don't got a lot to say...
But there's something about her...
"What was that?" Vincent wondered, now looking left and right hastily.
"Huh?" Yuna asked and coughed lightly.
"I just...never mind...," Vincent replied turning red and let it go.
And you don't know why... But you're dying to try...
You wanna...kiss the girl...
"What?" Vincent yelped as the song had come back and he heard what it said.
"What? What happened?" Yuna asked alarmed.
"I...didn't you...? Oh...never mind," Vincent muttered frustrated.
"You sure?" Yuna asked quietly, and Vincent nodded. "Ok," Yuna smiled at him then she gazed her eyes upward again to look at the sky. Vincent noticed how peaceful she was and how this really was a good day for her not to think about the troubles with she had with Tidus, and here he was ruining it by acting totally paranoid. But that song...
Yes, you want her...
Look at her, you know you do! Possible she wants you too...There's one way to ask her!
It don't take a word, not a single word! Go on and...kiss the girl...
"No way, who-whose singing that? Come out already!" Vincent cried angrily without thinking. He then looked at Yuna who was giving him a scared look.
"Vincent...," Yuna started but Vincent shook his head.
"I'm sorry, It's just that I hear...well...I hear-," Vincent started but it came back again!
Sha la la la la la, My oh my! Look like the boy too shy, ain't gonna kiss the girl...
Sha la la la la la, ain't that sad? Ain't it a shame? Too bad, he gonna miss the girl...
"Hey, wait a minute!" Vincent cried out again and stood up. Yuna whimpered in fright, and Vincent lowered his fist slowly as he looked down at her. "Yuna! I, it's nothing, I'm sorry...I lost my temper," Vincent admitted and lowered himself again.
"Over what? Is there something out there...?" Yuna asked looking around and gripping the cloak around her.
"No, no...," Vincent replied nervously. He decided to let it go completely, and ignore it. Yuna was probably thinking he was going mental or something. The boat had rocked when he stood up, so it reminded Vincent to check where they were heading.
"Here," Yuna said gently and took the oar from him lightly. Vincent blushed and watched Yuna steer the boat ahead and stay in the middle of the river, but she did it lightly so as the boat continued to go slow.
"Won't you push it a little harder, so we could get home faster?" Vincent asked. Yuna handed the oar back to him laughing.
"Can't you handle the cold, Mr. Gunsman?" Yuna asked playfully.
"Well, you're the one with my cloak...of course I'm cold!" Vincent replied and Yuna laughed. Vincent gave off a small smile but at once, when he thought he had finally forgotten...
Now's your moment...
Floating in a blue lagoon, Boy you better do it soon! No time will be better...
She don't say a word, and she won't say a word, until you...kiss the girl...
Vincent growled but just waved it off his ear with his hand as if keeping a fly away, and as if that would stop the song. He watched Yuna then lean out the boat and giggling, let her finger streak the water. "No, but actually I like it slow. I mean, look at that sky, and that moon! I haven't had a peaceful state of mind in a long time...and it just feels so nice, and comforting. Don't you feel it too?" Yuna asked smiling, referring to Vincent's original question of why she wanted the boat to go slowly.
"Um...," Vincent started but never finished, because Yuna got carried away again by the moon and as she looked up Vincent sighed.
"Listen to what she said...she's having a nice time, why can't you relax?" Vincent muttered to himself. Yuna suddenly giggled and Vincent looked up.
"I, uh...kinda heard you," Yuna replied and giggled again.
"Oh," Vincent replied and he was instantly glad it was dark, because he was sure he was as red as a tomato, and he pinched himself for muttering loud enough for Yuna to hear anything. Yuna gave a little laugh and stood up. "Lady Yuna?" Vincent questioned puzzled.
"Calm down silly," Yuna replied and sat down again, but on the middle seat right in front of Vincent. Vincent backed away the little he could but there wasn't room to go any farther.
"The stars and the moon are wonderful but...that doesn't take the cold away. Let's say we go faster huh?" Yuna asked and Vincent nodded, kind of absentmindedly taking the oar and starting to row it faster. Then...
Sha la la la la la, don't be scared! You got the mood prepared, go on and kiss the girl...
Sha la la la la la, don't stop now! Don't try to hide it how, you want to kiss the girl...
"No...," Vincent muttered angrily and Yuna just kind of shifted her eyes and let it go. Her hand went against Vincent's leg and with the song going...
Sha la la la la la, float along! And listen to the song, the song say kiss the girl...
Sha la la la la, let the music play! Do what the music say, you got to kiss the girl...
"I...no...!" Vincent hissed a little louder and Yuna truly looked worried now. She didn't want to ask, Vincent would probably not answer. What was going on with him...?
You've got to kiss the girl! You wanna kiss the girl! You've gotta kiss the girl! Go on and... kiss the girl...
"That's it!" Vincent cried out and Yuna yelped as he stood up again, but since Yuna was sitting closer the boat had totally lost control, and Yuna screamed as it tipped over. The river wasn't that deep, so Yuna immediately got up, soaked.
"Lady Yuna, oh...Geez...," Vincent started and he scratched his head. Yuna merely turned around slowly and looked at him, with her face wet and her mascara dripping down her face. The sound of the river water rushing past just below their knees could be heard in the silence.
"Well," Yuna said, and she took Vincent's soaked cloak off of her. "I guess you can have this back now." Vincent took it and Yuna laughed, watching him hold it out in front of him as it dripped.
Ooh...Vincent's busted! Haha. Well, I guess we'll have to wait to see what happens when those two youngsters walk right in to the hotel soaked to their skin. And what about that singing, that drove Vincent mad? Who did it? Did Cloud really did secretly set all this up, and was it Wakka maybe singing? Is Tidus still moping around and stuff, and when will Sephiroth be brave enough to confront Aeris in another therapy session? Stay tuned!
Music Credit: "Kiss the Girl" - Little Mermaid (Come on, I know you all loved that song, haha)