"So, it's really quite simple," Cid explained to the little group that was gathered around. "You just pop these thingy-bobs in your ears, and plug in this little gizmo like this, and Bobs-Your-Uncle, no more of that damn noise shutting down your brain". He puffed hard on the cigarette that was hanging precariously out of the corner of his mouth.
Tifa turned the little device over in her hands. "Are you sure that it will block out the noise…..and the pain?" she asked, a little nervously.
Cait Sith bounced forward. "Oh yes, it's been tested," he assured her. "It will distort the high wave frequency that this Eva uses, moderating it into something we can easily tolerate".
"Like a dog whistle, in reverse!" mused Vincent.
"Yes, I suppose you could say that," Cait Sith admitted.
Barrett fumbled about with the device he had been given, wedging it tightly into his ear. "Hey, this one's not working," he said, frowning. "I can still hear a high pitched scre………Hey, hey, where you all going?" he roared, turning to stare as the group suddenly began running back to the buildings. Yanking the ear-piece out, Barrett now realised that the scream had not come from the new gadget he was holding, but from the building that housed Yuffie. Cussing, he raced after the others.
Yuffie was sat upon the bed, her eyes wide with fright, as Sephiroth stood before her, his masamune sword held aloft in his hand. She screamed again when her friends entered the room.
"Touch her, and you die!" Cid hissed.
Sephiroth turned round slowly to face the ensemble. "I have no intention of 'touching' her. At least, not yet anyway," he sneered. "My only purpose for being in this room is because this is where the trail ends," he explained.
"Trail?" Vincent queried. Sephiroth used the tip of the sword to point out the blood spots that were splattered on the floor, the small drops leading up to a small congealing pool by the side of Yuffies bed.
"I thought that Eva was attacking whoever was in this room. That is why I kicked the door in, because I thought my quarry to be here" Sephiroth said, his eyes searching the small, sparse room. "I guess I was, mistaken".
Tifa ran to Yuffies side, putting her arms protectively around her shoulders. "Well, you should have waited for us, before barging in here," she scolded.
"I didn't deem that necessary. I have a job to do, and the sooner it's done……….." Sephiroth ended on a low chuckle.
Cid pushed past the tall, silver haired man, and took the now weeping Yuffie into his arms. "It's okay Honey," he consoled her. "You just tell us what happened here, eh?"
"Noth……nothing," she stammered. "I….I don't know!" She buried her head into his shoulder.
"Then, what made you scream?" asked Tifa.
"I had a bad dream," Yuffie replied, her face still buried within the protective folds of Cids arms.
"I don't mean to break up the little party," Red XIII interrupted, "But, I really think you guys might want to see this!" He stood to one side of the door, and the others gasped as they saw whatwas approaching.
"Cloud?" gasped Tifa, staring at the apparition that was heading towards the room.
"What the hell's wrong with him?" Barrett asked, staring at Clouds body as it almost floated across towards them.
Yuffie's eyes opened wide at the approaching form of the blonde, and she gave a terrified scream. "GET OUT! GET OUT ! All of you, get out. Leave me alone!" All eyes were turned upon her.
"Yuffie?"
Yuffie sobbed. "Please, just go away…….I want to be alone." Slowly, the crowd vacated the little room, heeding their friends request and turning their attention instead towards Cloud. Sephiroth, taking one last glance around the room, let his narrowed eyes linger on the crying girl for a while, before he turned and followed the others outside.
Finally, just Cid remained with Yuffie. He bent his head to kiss her, but she turned from him, pulling her body away from his embrace. "You too!" she said, coldly.
Hurt, Cid stood by the open door, his face creased in a worried frown. "If you need anything………"
"Yeah, you can close the door as you go," Yuffie snapped.
Cid slammed the door behind him a little harder than he meant to, making the wardrobe beside it rock. The wardrobe door swung slowly open, and a small white arm fell limply out.