"What the fuck happened to you?" Barrett croaked hoarsely , as he walked slowly around the floating apparition that stood before them. Cloud opened his mouth and spoke, but no words could be heard.
As Barrett looked helplessly at the others, Sephiroth laughed, "He said he's pleased to see you too!" he sneered, mockingly. Cloud cast him a glance of pure hatred, his blue eyes narrowing threateningly .
Tifa's eyes opened wide at the sight of Cloud, fascinated at the strange appearance of her lover, yet frightened at the same time. She leaned in closely to Vincent, and whispered, "Does that mean, we're no longer…………."
"Safe?" interjected Sephiroth, smiling down at her. "You were never safe!" he spat.
"What has happened to him?" Vincent asked, his eyes also fixed on Cloud.
"Eva happened ! " Sephiroth retorted, bluntly.
"Is she…………." Vincent began, turning his eyes to the silver haired man.
Sephiroth huffed. "Dead? Unfortunately, no…….else you would be also, don't you think?" he answered. Vincent turned glazed red eyes away. "But, she is injured! Did I not tell you that I would best magic…..every time?" Sephiroth boasted.
"You, hurt her?" Vincent asked, quietly.
"I will do more than just hurt her, when I catch her," Sephiroth answered.
"You mean, she has evaded you? " Vincent asked, unable to contain the note of pride in his voice. The smile vanished from Sephiroths face.
Any reply that he might have made in return to Vincent's comment was forgotten, as the group were joined at that moment by an irate Cid, walking towards them puffing hard on yet another cigarette, and cussing and swearing.
"Christ! What's the fuck's the matter with that girl? She threw me out. ME! Wouldn't even let me hold her. She's never been like that before…..What the hell's gotten into her? Well, screw her I say. If she wants to be alone……fine with me!" He threw the cigarette away in temper, extinguishing the burning ember with a hard stomp from the heel of his boot.
Sephiroth turned and faced the buildings once again, his hard green eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in thought. Then, with a self-satisfied laugh, he turned to Cloud. "You'd better come with me," he said, as he began marching back to the room that contained Yuffie. Puzzlement settled over the group, as they watched Cloud follow Sephiroth obediently.
"Hey, hey. You leave my wife alone!" Cid finally yelled, when he realized the direction they were heading for.
"It's not your wife I'm after," Sephiroth replied, without stopping. "Because, if I'm correct………then it is not your wife in that room!"
Exchanging the briefest of glances, the group ran after the two retreating figures, hurrying to try and catch up with them.
Eva has left the chamber? Vincent thought in disbelief, as he pushed himself to run that little bit faster, fearful of what the repercussions of her escape would mean for them all.
Sephiroth reached the room where Yuffie was, and he pulled the masamune blade from its sheath in readiness. He kicked hard at the closed door, letting it swing open violently, revealing an empty room. He walked inside slowly, ready to swing his blade at the slightest provocation, keeping a close watch on Cloud, as he too entered the room and looked around. Disappointment filled him, as Cloud shook his head. The girl was not here.
Sephiroth cautiously approached the closed wardrobe, and held his sword ready as he swung open the door wide, stepping back instinctively as the body of Yuffie fell from within it. Sword poised ready to strike, he was surprised at the sudden shock he received, as Cloud rushed into him, sending his effervescent body tearing through his.
No, that's not her……That's Yuffie! Cloud screamed at him, standing protectively in front of his friend.
"And that stops me killing her……because?" Sephiroth scowled.
"Because she is not the one you are after!" Vincent answered, entering the room and taking in at a glance what was happening. He hastened over to Yuffie, grateful to find a pulse, abet a weak one. Gathering her up into his arms, he placed her on the bed, just as the others poured into the room. At the sight of the stricken girl, an uproar began, and Cid pulled Vincent's gun from his holster, aiming it at Sephiroths head. Cloud ran and stood directly in front of him, silently pleading with Cid to stop.
"Get the fuck outta the way, or so help me, I'll shoot you too Cloud" Cid warned. Cloud stood his ground, his stance becoming more firm, his fixedstarebecoming colder.
"You're protecting him?" gasped Tifa. Cloud turned to face her, his eyes begging for understanding. "Why?" she demanded.
Once again Vincent interceded as peace-maker. "Because Sephiroth did not do this to Yuffie," he told the others. "Eva did. I suspect it was her here earlier, masquerading….."
"So……she is also a 'shift-changer'," mused Sephiroth, arching a silver eyebrow.
"I told you she uses magic, in all its forms!" Vincent said, gently retrieving the gun from Cid and putting it safely back under his cloak.
Sephiroth turned to look at Cloud. "But you seem to see through her magic….No wonder she panicked when she saw you approaching. She knew that instead of seeing Yuffie, you would have seen her. Ha! What a pity……it would have been all over now, if you'd only been a little quicker!" He began to push past the group of people blocking the doorway.
"And where do you think you're going now?" Cid hissed, grabbing at his arm.
"To finish what you obviously can't," Sephiroth answered, pulling himself free. He turned and looked at Cloud. "You coming?" Cloud reluctantly followed him, leaving the others to tend to Yuffie.
"Be careful Sephiroth," Vincent called. "Eva picked on Yuffie for a reason. And the only reason I can see is that you hurt her and she had no knowledge of healing magic……..well, she does now!"
Sephiroth snorted. "For all the good it may do her!" he flippantly replied.