Disclaimer: Again...I don't own, or want to for that matter, the game Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy X. :) I will say...that I do claim to be the creator of the ...subplot...? ...to this particular story. Please don't use my orginal char.s unless you ask and I say you can.

Chapter 6

Lulu attacked with her strongest magic, fira, while Vincent unloaded bullets into the creature's left arm and Harper bit at the same arm with the katana Sir Auron had given her. All three fighters were at their wits end: the arms of the sinspawn had regenerated thrice and, they all had the feeling, not long after they were destroyed a fourth time they would come back.

The machina in the field had slowed Sin's attack, and even kept him from running dry on the shore of the beach they were all now on, but what had drawn Sin in the first place had broken free. Everything had gone totally wrong in only a few moments. The amassed beasts now roamed everywhere. The few others who were left were taking care of those while the summoner's party took care of the new arrival: the sinspawn. It had come up on shore, sent by Sin.

Vincent's gun clicked and he checked it instantly. Harper noticed his halt and called for Wakka, who could hit the troublesome head. Vincent was out of ammunition, and hadn't acquired a sword of his own yet; his magic would not be able to lend a great hand in the spawn's defeat. As Wakka came up he gave Vincent a shoulder pat and the dark man retreated. Being out of bullets, he was out of the fight for good, unless he decided Chaos was a good option...or any of the other beasts he held inside him.

Lulu was the next to leave the party, for she was low on "strength" and needed to rest. The party had forgotten to stock up on items and whatnot before they headed into this mess. Of course, Harper was next. She left, totally exhausted, and collapsed onto the ground beside a calm Vincent. He wasn't a bit tired. Cloud had kept him in shape with all the missions they went on together. She made a mental note, just before she somehow fell asleep, to stay in better condition. Truthfully, even though he strove to not show it, Vincent was as tired as the woman on the ground next to him. He lay down also, and not long after that, was as asleep as he would allow himself to be.

Vincent woke to see Wakka standing over him, arms crossed. He looked as though he were trying to solve a puzzle. "How can you two sleep through all that?" he asked.

Rolling over, Vincent found Harper. He hadn't actually planned to fall asleep, let alone let himself sleep next to her. Tidus was already paying enough attention to them. Inwardly groaning, he pushed himself up. "It wasn't the plan."

"What does it matter? He was out of shot anyway," a sleepy sounding Harper commented. She rose, zombie-like, and massaged her neck.

Wakka just shrugged and sort of changed the topic. "Sleep well anyway?"

Harper stopped rubbing, giving him a blank look. "No."

He started to say something, but Vincent cut him off with a question of his own. "What's happened?"

Wide eyed, Wakka stared for a minute before answering. "Well, we beat the spawn," he broke off to rub the back of his head, "but then we had to do it again."

"Again," Harper repeated.

"Sephiroth," Vincent muttered to himself.

"...Sure," Wakka said slowly, unsure of what else to say. "Good thin Maester Seymour helped out."

"You think we'll have to do it again?" Harper asked.

"Nah," Wakka flashed what both guessed would have been his winning smile...if the Aurochs would ever win... and re-crossed his arms. "He's gone for good this time." With that he turned and headed away.

Once Harper figured there was no one else around she looked up at Vincent, who had stood. "Why'd you say that?" She received a blank look before quoting, "'Sephiroth.'"

A pained look flared in Vincent's eyes. Something was wrong, but Harper didn't know what it was. "I meant to say that Sephiroth regenerated also, during that last battle." He looked to her eyes and admitted, "I wasn't thinking."

Not thinking? Harper thought, suspicion confirmed. "Vincent?"

"I'm sorry," he looked away, to the distant horizon where Sin had appeared. "I have a lot on my mind," he amended and walked off, leaving Harper very confused and even more worried.

After a while everyone met on a rise overlooking the ocean. Vincent was there when Harper arrived, dragged along by Wakka. He had set himself apart, but within range of hearing the others. Yuna wasn't there. Tidus pointed to a dancing speck on a clear strip of sand and said, "People die, and Yuna dances." What he meant, neither Harper nor Vincent knew exactly. Soon they were on the Djose Highroad, and would be at the Djose Temple the following day.

The trip down the Djose Highroad was rougher than the Mi'ihen Highroad. The party actually encountered more creatures, the most annoying of which were the flying bugs, flying things in general, and (as Harper said) the mutant mushrooms. The ground animals were easily taken down when three swordsmen were on the field. Vincent's weapon, which he had purchased from O'aka before the tragedy at Mushroom Rock, worked especially well on the many bunyip crossed.

Harper sighed in relief when finally they made it to the temple and saw the inn. "Finally, a real bed and bath. I hope there's hot breakfast."

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