Circles
Chapter Three
"No wonder I'm dizzy, the world keeps spinning in circles"
Fleeing and Falling
When it rains, it pours
Baby Doll's eyes narrowed, her mouth curling into a frown. "Tate," she hissed, "Let me go."
"Why?" this 'Tate' asked quietly. However, his eyes shone brightly – almost as though he was telling a funny joke. Yet Baby Doll looked as though she'd rather never see him again, green-blue eyes transforming into storms. He leaned closer to her as she leaned backwards, though he was hardly close.
"Well you see, Tate-r, I've already had my daily 'wrist grabbing;' you see, I'm afraid he," she jerked her head towards Reno, "beat you to that one." At her mention, his head turned to the side and he apparently caught glimpse of the Turk for the first time, seemingly surprised he was there.
Looking at Reno up and down, his eyes filled with an expression that was a mixture between glee and horror; between confusion and understanding. His lips were turned up in a smirk that, however handsome it made him look, it made you want to claw his face off at the same time. He snorted and looked at Reno disdainfully. "Another pawn?"
Her eyes widened and she glared passionately. Anger flared in her eyes, and he barely saw her arm move when she was holding something that the moonlight glinted off of. In surprise, Tate let go of her wrist. Instantly, she spun away, flinging one of the objects in her hand. It whistled through the air, and Tate rolled on the ground the avoid it, jumping up as if he was a cat. However, another one of these objects spun through the air, and even as Tate gracefully performed a back-handspring to avoid it another was spinning at him. By now, Reno had gathered they were throwing stars, and one lodged itself into Tate's shoulder as he landed. He hissed, his body tensing up in pain. Then he reached to his shoulder and wrenched it out with a sickening sound, inspecting the bloody metal.
"…poison?" he chuckled, pain seeping into his words. Another flew at him, but he used the one in his hand to deflect it. He snorted ungracefully. "This isn't meant to kill." Procuring something from one of his pockets, he raised a glass tube of liquid to his mouth and tilted it in.
"Must you be so dramatic about everything?" Baby Doll sighed, ruining the 'encounter.'
"Yes."
Baby Doll rolled her eyes then glared as she stuck two fingers in her mouth. A sharp whistle stung Reno's ears, and the sound of pounding against dirt rose. The sound changed to clicking over stones, and around the corner came a black chocobo.
Tate had downed the liquid, and stood up. He grunted as the sickening shifting was heard as he reached into his shoulder, and emerged with a bloody throwing star.
Baby Doll jumped on the moving chocobo, cloak ripping in the wind behind her. As if the cloak had clung to her instead of her putting it on, she glared at it in annoyance. The chocobo stampeded forward – straight towards Reno.
From his back, Tate drew an odd weapon; a sword? No, there was a trigger. A gunblade? Raising it up, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He wouldn't hit her…just the chocobo. His vision flickered, though, to the Turk. The Turk had unconsciously gathered his weapon in his hand. Ah…perfect. He moved the gun blade's target.
The chocobo moved faster than any chocobo Reno had ever seen. Baby Doll looked over at Tate, and she seemed to groan. Reno looked as well, to find the business end of the gunblade pointed straight at him.
Looking resentfully at him, she seemed to sigh sighed, then shouted: "Fine. Get on."
Reno's body did without brain, jumping on the black blur as it moved. Nearly falling off the side of the chocobo, he wrapped his arms around Doll's stomach, hanging on before he slipped off. However, one hand decided to do the Turkly thing, and snaked to his gun.
Shots rang out into the air, towards where the chocobo would be moving. Three shots, following each other in rapid procession.
Though they were being shot at, and riding straight towards the fence, Baby Doll didn't look upset or shocked or fearful – just annoyed. She clung to the neck of the chocobo, and one of Reno's hands clung to her. Yet the other pointed the gun straight at Tate, and began shooting out bullets rapidly.
With an almighty jerk of the reins the chocobo made a sharp right, nearly throwing the two off. The chocobo, barely missing the bullets, charged at the low gate that was the entrance to the mansion. But Tate's attention was already diverted as the Turk pulled the gun. Muscles tensed but instinct took over, as he dropped to the ground and rolled, finding safety behind the well. But by the time he raised his gunblade to shoot, the blur had headed up the mountain. Sighing, Tate held his throbbing shoulder. Looking wistfully at the mountain, he scowled. "This isn't over." He said to no one, and headed over to the mansion, to go back into the secret entrance he came from. Lights were going on in town, and soon frantic ladies in gowns and men in nightcaps would rush out to see why the sound of bullets had ripped through their sleep. Slipping through the hidden door on the side of the mansion (the small hidden door, he might add as he got on hands and knees), Tate held his bleeding shoulder. He wasn't giving up.
He never gave up.
--
The fast black chocobo raced up the mountain, the change in terrain nothing to the chocobo. Holstering his gun, he put his other arm around Baby Doll's stomach, because he was NOT about to fall off. The chocobo slowed a bit, but still went rather quickly down the winding path of Mt. Nibel.
"…What the hell." Reno burst out, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Welcome to my world." She looked back at him, the light of the moon giving more light to him then before. Apparently she didn't like what she saw for she flicked her head back around, nearly giving Reno a mouthful of hair. "And surely someone like you would know all about what was going on back there."
"The hell that's supposed to mean?"
"Surely you aren't dumb," she glanced back at him with a disdainful eye. "…Then again."
"I resent that."
By now the sun had risen, a testament to how long the entire ordeal had taken. The horizon filled with brilliant shades of red and orange, outlining the mountain peak. Baby Doll looked behind her, trying to see around Reno, in case Tate was following them. However, in this look, the sunlight allowed Reno to get a proper look of her face and he saw bags under her eyes, her eyelids unconsciously drooping. So as she turned around, allowing the chocobo to settle to a trot, he didn't say anything. They weren't supposed to get acquainted, if they were to depart from each other as soon as possible.
Reno soon got lost in his thoughts, wondering where the hell Rude and Elena had gone off to. However, it was more than likely that Rude and Elena had heard the bullets, but they had been nowhere in sight. One option had been they were hiding in the shadows, but when Reno had been threatened, they would have helped him. He knew they would.
That meant they were no longer in town; but without him? They wouldn't just leave him, growing bored with waiting.. Something had happened; and he was determined to find out what. Maybe someone had gotten to them? They wouldn't let it…but…
Something struck Reno's sleepy brain. Where had Baby Doll and Crazy Gunblade Guy come from? …they must have been from the mansion – well. Baby Doll had talked of escape, not just getting out. If she was merely lost in the mansion, then why be so mysterious about it? Possible she wasn't supposed to go in the mansion, but for some reason he doubted it. But if Tate and Baby Doll came from inside the mansion, who was to say that others weren't there? And these others…what if they got Rude and Elena?
"Yo. Baby Doll." Reno broke the silence again, but this time he got no response. That didn't bother him though. "What did you mean before? What happened back there? Who are you?"
However, his inquiries were met with silence, and he noticed that the girl was slumped, leaning against the neck of the chocobo. Looking down at the shorter girl, he found that eyelids had fallen over eyeballs, and she had succumbed to sleep. She was also slumping so much she was going to fall off the chocobo. Pulling her up, Reno reached around her and took the reins, though the chocobo navigated expertly. "Get us off this damned mountain," Reno mumbled, and indeed it did.
--
Yuffie awoke the next morning, grey eyes only half showing. She crawled over to the pool, splashing cold water onto her face. Eyes snapped fully open, and she shook her face as a dog would. Looking at her reflection, she saw a tired girl who'd been away from civilization far to long. A princess who'd made the jungle her castle. A ninja who, however untrustworthy or bratty she may be or seem, would do anything to keep the ones she loved from getting hurt. Much less profound, she saw some girl who looked like shit.
That was Yuffie; take it or leave it.
Her absence had been noted, as Vincent Valentine came around the corner. Now, when Yuffie looked at Vincent she saw a stoic man who worried far too much about what sins he may or may not be committing. A man who lived so much in the past, he forgot he had a future. A man who was so caught up in the love of years ago, he forgot he had friends in the present. A strong fighter who fought for no one. That was Vinnie; take it or leave it.
"See," she said in a 'know-it-all' tone of voice, "I didn't run away at the first possible opportunity."
He eyed her distrustfully. "You're waiting for the second."
"Is there even going to be one?"
"Doubtful."
Yuffie closed her eyes and shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. Forcing herself to stand up, she groaned. As most other mornings, every inch of her body ached. No matter how often she stretched, or what she did, she would be aching. Then again, it had been going on since…this started, so she had grown used to it.
Yuffie stared into the sky as Vincent packed up 'camp' (aka: sleeping bag). Storm clouds had rolled over the jungle; the kind of storms that poured then passed, not bothering to linger. While Yuffie had been observing the weather, Vincent had started to walk, leading Azrael. Trotting to catch up with the man (he took very long strides), Yuffie allowed Vincent to relish the small amount of silence she would grant him for the day.
Time's up.
"So where we goin' Vin-Vin?"
"Gongaga."
"Why?"
"…don't you know?" Vincent asked, a bit surprised. He'd assumed she'd at least heard of the meeting.
"Well Vinnie, if I knew, I wouldn't be asking you, now would I?" Yuffie stated in a very matter-of-fact tone.
"…Everyone's meeting."
Yuffie stopped dead in her tracks. Pearl-grey eyes grew as wide as saucers, as things began to click in her mind.
Of course AVALANCE was meeting. Did she really believe it was a mere coincidence that Red XIII had just happened to be passing through the jungle mere day or two before Vincent? She'd managed to lure him out; she'd even made a damn path for the cat; sorta. However, being the highly intellectual being he is, he left the jungle in the quickest route possible, due to the Greatest Female Ninja ever. Not that he knew that.
It had been luck that the cat hadn't sniffed her out. Part-luck, anyway. Part totally-amazing ninja skill. She'd covered herself completely in mud and leaves – grossness, mind you – to cover up her scent, and followed Red at a distance. There were a few close calls, like when she'd barely finished tying a 'trail marker' when the big cat came up the path. Being the super-sneaky, stealthy ninja she was, she'd climbed up the tree. Red had paused for a moment when a dumb bird had flown away as she'd approached. He'd moved on though.
Red would be the most likely to pass through the jungle; after all, the Canyon's right next door. Shouldn't Yuffie Kisaragi: Ninja Extraordinaire be able to put two and two together?
"Yuffie?" Vincent asked, stopping after the girl had fallen far behind him.
"Vinnie…" she started, putting on her most dazzling smile.
"Yuffie." Crimson eyes narrowed.
"It's been fabulous, Vin, but I hafta run." Yuffie hadn't even finished her sentence when she started sprinting.
She tore through the jungles, leaves falling onto her hair and thorns scraping her as she ran through branches. The trees actually seemed to thin a bit, but she barely noticed this as she tore past her surroundings. The trees thinned and less ferns and bushes grew on the floor.
Then she saw why.
Screeching to a stop, Yuffie found herself staring down a large cliff, and at the bottom of the cliff was the river. The cliff wasn't vertical; it sloped down towards the river. That still didn't mean Yuffie wanted to take a tumble down it. The waterfall wasn't far off; the cliffs were only near the waterfall. They lowered to normal ground further down the river.
"Don't move." Vincent ordered, as if she had somewhere to move. He had drawn his gun, and was pointing it straight at Yuffie. Her eyes widened. "You're not leaving."
"…you wouldn't shoot me?" Yuffie said, her statement turning into a question.
Crimson eyes were level with grey ones.
Yuffie seemed to think, her expression becoming grave, exposing things he hadn't noticed. A glimpse of a different Yuffie; not the Yuffie that Vincent knew. Her skin was much paler, noticeable even though she was covered in dirt. There were bags under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept for a year. Her silky hair hung limp, tangles making home and leaves intertwining with her locks. There was no life in grey eyes; they didn't shine and dance as they used to. They were just…empty. No smile played at the corner of her lips. And even with this serious expression, no impression of Vincent came, usually the only time she donned such a blank look. But even then, she hid a smile and her eyes sparked.
Not now.
"Go ahead." Yuffie broke Vincent from his observations. "Go ahead, I said. Go ahead and shoot me."
Vincent was filled with surprise. She was asking him to shoot her? Surely, some ninja trick she was pulling. Yet something said she wasn't. Perhaps it was the fact her eyes were unnaturally watery.
"I…I said shoot me!" Yuffie ordered, "Shoot me! Right here." She pointed to her heart, though she knew had Vincent shot her, it would be only to disable her. And they both knew he probably wouldn't have. "…Death has got to be better than life right now." The gun lowered. The happy, peppy Yuffie Kisaragi was asking him to kill her. She wanted to die. What was going on?
"Shit Vincent, hurry up!" her voice cracked.
"Yuffie…"
"You said you would do it!" she accused, voice cracking.
"I said no such thing."
"But you implied it. You meant it. You said it in your own Vincenty way."
Vincenty. Something only Yuffie would say. Yet she didn't say it with jest; she just said it flatly. In the monotone that Vincent used. What was going on with her…?
"Yuffie…"
"Don't 'Yuffie' me! As far as I'm concerned, Yuffie died! Yuffie was the one who traveled around the world… Yuffie wasn't…Yuffie wasn't…"
But he didn't get to find out what Yuffie wasn't.
A few tears had escaped from the ninja's eyes, but that wasn't why she stopped. She stopped because she had started to cough, hacking coughs that shook her whole body. Dots of blood covered her hand, and sweat was beading on her face. Her coughs grew more violent, and by now Vincent had rushed over, unsure of what to do.
Yuffie gasped, as if she was running out of air. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and her body went limp. Yuffie Kisaragi had fainted; right over the side of the cliff.
Springing into action without thinking, Vincent caught Yuffie's limp body. But he couldn't stop from falling; he was thrown off balance, on the edge of the cliff. Even he couldn't do anything with that situation.
Knocked off the edge of the cliff, Vincent instinctively curled into a ball, bracing himself. They tumbled down the slope, and Vincent gasped as his head hit a hard object. His vision went black around the edges, spots in his vision. Blinking rapidly, the blackness receded. This fall could kill them, if you didn't approach it in the right way. They rolled down the side, hitting bushes and trees that had grown out of the rock.
"…huh…?" Yuffie had apparently regained consciousness at the perfect time. Mid-fall.
Realizing this, Yuffie's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Yet she didn't move; not that she could, in Vincent's tight grasp. She could only pray to Leviathan and promise various acts of good if they survived ("Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, Leviathan I promise that I'll never make fun of Great Aunt again! Even though she does have that giant mole and yellow teeth and-"). When it seemed they would roll down forever, Yuffie caught a glimpse of something that made her heart drop into her stomach.
The river.
"Deep breath!" Yuffie called out, her voice a bit muffled.
She'd said it just in time, as the Tumbling Two were plunged into the cold river. Yuffie opened her eyes, whacking at Vincent's fingers so he'd let go of her stomach. He complied, and she turned around underwater.
Vincent's red eyes were open, but only half-way, as though he had to fight to keep them open. They were closer to the waterfall, so they were pushed downstream quicker. Vincent wasn't trying to swim to the top…rather, he was sinking.
Her eyes widened; Vincent was holding one foot, trying to yank off his boot. Of course; they would weigh him down…maybe make him drown. Damn metal-toed thingies. As he tried to deal with his left foot, Yuffie swam down and grabbed his right foot. Surprised, he looked at her with wide eyes, before realizing what she was doing.
As Yuffie glanced at Vincent, she thanked the fact her hair wasn't as long as his. His hair was spreading out in the water, floating around his face and getting in his eyes, distracting him from his task. Finally he yanked off his one boot and he dropped it. Yuffie tugged on his boot; it was hard to try to get off a boot when you were rapidly sinking. Finally his shoe slipped off and Yuffie began to swim upwards.
She could barely swim. Her arms protested, legs didn't want to move. She was tired; she'd just gotten over a fainting spell. Yet she swam upwards, cursing the fact that their two-man cannonball had taken then down further than she'd like. Her breath was running out, and the surface seemed so far away. Still she swam upwards. Yuffie's lungs were searing, screaming for air. Her arms grew weaker with lack of oxygen; it took more and more effort to move them through the water. The surface was so far away…yet she swam.
Finally her face broke through the surface, and she took hungry gasps for air. Raven hair stuck to her face, plastered against her head. With tired arms she swam over to the opposite shore, a flat 'beach' of sorts before the river. Heaving herself onto shore, she lay there, breathing heavily. She coughed a bit, watching with a bored expression as a few rocks were decorated with red. She was so tired…she wanted to just shut her eyes – but no. She wouldn't be weak. Not again. Not in front of Vincent. Not in front of anybody.
On her side as she was, she could just lay down and go to sleep. In fact, she started to, eyes closing as she sneezed and spit out some swallowed water. But her realization that Vincent hadn't even moved made her eyes snap open. Turning over, she found Vincent on the shore also, eyes shut. Things like this rarely tired Vincent, and Yuffie's brows knit in confusion.
"Vincent?" she asked weakly.
She got no response.
"Vinnie?" she crawled over.
Silence. Shaking the man a bit, she found he did not wake. Yuffie bit her lip; he was unconscious. Fumbling around for something, she at last procured a watch. The watch was broken. The hour hand no longer worked, but the minute and second hands still turned. Yuffie could see how long Vincent was unconscious.
One minute. Yuffie had medical training; it was necessary. Ninjas had to know almost everything. Yuffie had asked what Wutain history had to do with being a ninja. To that, her father said that leaders had to know everything. That was apparently wrong. Look at former President Shinra.
Two minutes. Therefore, Yuffie had basic medical training. She was no doctor, but she was trained – after all, she'd been around the world various times on her own. 'If you're in agonizing pain, do you think you're going to stop and inspect if the cause of your agonizing pain is a break or fracture?' she had asked. No one had answered her.
Three minutes. Though, she was thankful now. Yuffie hadn't thought she'd travel in a group until AVALANCHE came along. Then and now it came in handy. Perhaps her father knew something. Yuffie snorted.
Her attention was drawn when Vincent opened his eyes once more, regaining consciousness. With a groan, he rolled onto his other side and vomited. Yuffie winced; she had to endure vomiting every boat, plane, train and automobile ride.
"Jeez Vince, always have to outdo me, don't you?" Yuffie teased.
Vincent looked up wearily with half-open eyes, before groaning and rolling over onto his side. Yuffie sighed as he once again vomited. He rolled back over to face her, eyelids drooping. They began to shut more, when Yuffie lightly slapped his face.
"No." Yuffie told him, as if he was a disobedient dog. "You can't sleep."
"…"
He looked up at her and she crossed her arms over her chest. "What happened?"
"I…I don't know." Vincent answered, after a period of silence.
Yuffie's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"…I was chasing you through the jungle." Crimson eyes stared blankly at her. "Then nothing."
He didn't remember. He didn't remember her coughing; Vincent didn't remember Yuffie asking him to shoot her. Her eyes widened. Of course, she had meant why was he all vomity-blacky-outy, but she'd gotten something that would make her forget the former object. "…nothing?"
"Nothing. …but I have a headache."
"A headache?"
Vincent nodded. Yuffie could but two and two together; vomiting, headache, delayed unconsciousness (he was awake under water, but went unconscious on land), extreme drowsiness and temporary (most likely) memory loss.
"Vinnie, I think you have a concussion."
Vincent mumbled something in response. He was trying to fall asleep again.
"That means you can't fall asleep. I have to get you to a doctor." Yuffie said, before her words really dawned on her.
She had to get him to a doctor; that means she'd have to go to the doctor. Not to mention that they were in the middle of a jungle, miles and miles away from the nearest civilization. Gongaga was probably closer, but there was no way in hell she was going there, and it wasn't like she could drag Vincent up the Canyons.
"Why don't you just use Cure?" Vincent mumbled.
Yuffie kicked herself. Duh. Cure materia; but did that work on head injuries? She doubted it, but it would help until she could get Vincent somewhere. Fumbling in her pouch, Yuffie pulled out a small green orb. She reached to her back to grab her Conformer, before she realized it was back up the cliff. With a frustrated growl, she shook her head.
"Cure 3." She said clearly.
A warm green light surrounded Vincent, before it vanished. He sat up, his arms holding him up. He rubbed a temple; it had done a little, but not much. Where could she get him? She couldn't go into town…
You can, a little voice chided her, but you won't. And because of your selfishness, Vincent will suffer.
Shuddup, Yuffie mentally groaned at the voice. She had never listened to it – well, not fully. It wasn't like she was going to start now. …Right?
Pah. Damn conscience.
Even if Yuffie wanted to go into town, there was no way in hell she was going to Gongaga, and not only would she run the risk of people recognizing her at the Canyon (and most everywhere else), but she would have to get up an entire Canyon with concussion-fied Vincent. There was no where to go…
Except…except the weapon seller's house. Didn't he live on the point near here, in that little house? They wouldn't have to go through jungle nor canyon…just plains. While that would make it easier, it was also easier for people to see her. Not to mention she wasn't sure Vincent could make it, with a concussion.
Azrael. Vincent's chocobo was in the jungle…Yuffie internally groaned. With her Conformer.
"Vincent?" Yuffie turned to him. "Can you call Azrael?"
Vincent nodded, and raised his index finger and thumb to his mouth and whistled two loud, sharp whistles, piercing the air. Yuffie was sure that the whole jungle had heard it. Apparently, not the whole jungle, but at least Azrael did. For at the top of the cliff they had tumbled down, the black chocobo stood, looking very regal and handsome. The chocobo peered down at the dot that was his master, and he began to trot down the cliff. As a black chocobo, he could go over rivers and mountains/cliffs, and it was a good thing, because both were in his way.
The chocobo reached the bottom of the cliff, and got in the water. The water reached the bird's neck, and it made his way across the river, puffing up its feathers once on shore.
Yuffie steered the large bird over to Vincent, and with Yuffie's help, Vincent got on the chocobo. Jumping on in front of him, Yuffie took the chocobo's reins. "Hold on tight, okay?" she told Vincent, who nodded and wrapped his arms around her stomach. "Back to camp," she told the bird. "I need my Conformer."
Azrael gave her an annoyed look before allowing himself to be steered back into the river. With the weight of two humans on his back, it was a bit harder for the chocobo to go across, yet he made it. Yuffie clung to his neck when he began to climb the cliff, which she looked up gravely. She thought of getting Vincent to the weapon guy's house, of dealing with it, and avoiding traveling AVALANCHE members and certain Neo-Shinra employees who might recognize her (Reeve, Turks, etc). With a pained look up the slope, Yuffie sighed.
"…Life cannot get any worse.…" she groaned.
It started to rain.
A/N: Update! I want to give some feedback to my reviewers, so this is from Chp. 1 reviewers as well. As you may have realized, Doll is not Yuffie...though I'm worried she may act far too much like Yuffie. Eek. As I may have said, this is still largely a WIP, and things may change - especially Doll's character.
Chp 1 Reviewers:
Mnm: Well the figure isn't Yuffie, though I think the whole description of Doll threw everyone off. Eek. Need to change that then. ; Thanks for reviewing.
Poet of Life: Thanks! I'm trying ot stay farr ahead in chapters so they can be regular without catching up on me.
Lyndi: Thanks! Hope I don't disappoint
Chibified kitsunes: A former reader:D. Actually, it's funny you should say that because I keep trying to do that in the story, make the other two 'main' characters mini-main characters, as opposed to Yuffie. Hope I don't disappoint you. :
Kawaii Eyes: Thank you very much! Hope I do as well with the rest of the chapters/story.
Chp. 2-ers
Lord Maruka: Ha, who would trust her? Such a sneaky lil' ninja.
Kawaii Eyes: Ahh! Sorry that you thought it was Yuffie, since it kinda...wasn't. I love Reffie's too - I'm working on a Reffie fic right now - not up obviously - but I'm working on it. Hope you read anyway. :
Fireheart stormcall: I've been working on this way to long not to follow it to the end! Trust me, this will be a long, long, long, long story. Hope you enjoy.