Advent Children

Chapter 2

The next morning, Vincent moved Tseng and Elena to a healing lodge outside of Bone Village. Saddling Zen'Nathas, he got on the chocobo and went after the three. But only half an hour, he saw Yazoo driving a truck full of children back to the Forgotten City. Stopping on a Gil, he turned and went after him.

Yuffie had just turned reached the outskirts of Midgar when someone on a bike stopped in front of her. "You, who are you?"

"Kiseragi, Yuffie Kiseragi. And you are?"

"So you know big brother…" He pulled out a double bladed Katana. Obviously, this person wanted a fight. She drew the Rising Sun shuriken from her back and got off Sel'tur Z'har. Patting the chocobo hard on the rump, Sel'tur Z'har ran from her.

"Do I want to know why you are attacking me?"

"I want Mother. And I'm sure big brother knows where she is. So if I have to hurt his friends, I will." He ran and slashed at her.

Yuffie jumped back and threw the shuriken. He blocked it and used the sword to throw it aside. Jumping to the side, she grabbed the shuriken as it was about to fly by. She was about to throw again but couldn't because he had moved to close. Using it as a fencing tool, she blocked the attack and tried to slice him with it. But close range was his territory and she knew this wasn't going to end too well for her.

After only five minutes, he had her on the ground and defenseless. He was about to bring the blades down into her chest when his phone rang. "I'm sure you won't mind," he said as he answered it. "Yes? …Alright, has Loz completed his mission? Alright, I'm coming." He hung up the phone and sheathed the sword. "Sorry, we'll have to finish this later. I need to go." Getting on the bike, he said, "Tell brother I'll be waiting for him," before driving away.

Yuffie couldn't believe this. She was dead to rights and he left, having something more important to do. She didn't even wonder who he meant by 'brother'. Her mind was still on what had happened.

Vincent followed at a good distance; only keeping track of him thanks to his superior eyesight. But he wasn't going to get close enough for him to see the bright colored chocobo.

It was dark went he stopped and went on by foot. When he got to the lake, he saw Kadaj had stepped into it and it became tainted. The children then drank the water and they changed. And for once, Vincent cursed not having a cell phone. Would Tseng or Elena have one?

Why not, they didn't distance themselves from everything they knew.

Heading back to them, he searched the two and found what he was looking for. But then he had another problem, he didn't know anyone's phone number. Pressing the Library key, he called Rude.

"…Rude, it's Vincent. I need you to tell Cloud and the others that a man named Kadaj is at the Forgotten City with a bunch of children. He is doing something to them, taking control of their minds, I think."

Hanging up the cell, Vincent went back to keep an eye on them. He saw them waiting. But for what?

Cloud was the reason. When he got there, Vincent first impulse was to join him. But his Turks training reminded him that surprise was the most powerful weapon in his arsenal. Once he revealed himself, that advantage would be gone. And if him and Cloud needed to fall back, they would have a hard time doing so. Better to wait and see.

Cloud drove his bike right up to them but the children got in the way. He rolled the bike and missed them, though they jumped out of way. "Kadaj, I'm here for the kids."

"You see this man, he's our big brother. But in our happy flock, he's what you call a black sheep." Kadaj leveled his double bladed katana with Cloud's neck. Vincent upholstered the Cerberus and pulled back the hammer.

Cloud knocked the sword away with his and jumped back. Loz hit the ground and use Earthquake. Cloud canceled it using blade beam. The fight went back and forth for only moment thought by moves it would take normal men minutes. But it ended with Cloud on the ground and about to die. Vincent jumped out and landed above him. Shooting the Cerberus, he got them to back off. Picking him up, he jumped back.

Dropping Cloud on the ground, he stepped back and waited for him to come to. "Cloud, are you unharmed?"

Cloud shook his head to remove the confusion as he stood up and answered, "Yes…Vincent, how've you been?"

He didn't answer. "Fine, what do you know about what is happening?"

"I come here often, trying to find peace. This time I found them here, torturing Tseng and Elena. They had it coming though; they had the head of Jenova."

"So when they say Mother…" Cloud started.

"Yes, they mean to finish what she started."

"What about Geostigma?"

Vincent turned his head, "It is the presence of alien matter inside the body. The body overcompensates for it and causes the symptoms. They are using it to gain power."

"…Tseng and Elena, are they dead?"

Vincent turned back to Cloud, his face revealing as much as a stone could. "No, they are alive. But I don't know for how long. They could very likely already be dead. But they were still alive when I left them so…"

Something stepped on a twig and the two turned around to face them. Marlene ran through the underbrush and up to Cloud and hugged him. "Cloud!"

"Thank the planet you are safe," Cloud said placing an arm around her. Vincent holstered the Cerberus while they were busy.

"Cloud, can I talk to Tifa?" He reached for it but found it lost. She then turned to Vincent. "May I?" He lifted his cloak, revealing he didn't have one. "How can you not have one?! With the way aunt Yuffie is always trying to reach you!" Vincent's face tensed for a moment but it was so slight, neither saw it. She then turned back to Cloud.

"Cloud, are you coming back?" Marlene asked, looking up with hope filled eyes.

"Marlene, please I need a little more time…" Marlene stepped back, turned and ran. Vincent lifted his cape for her to hide under.

"No, Cloud! Why don't you ever want to spend time with us?!"

"Marlene, please understand…"

"No I don't! Why don't you want to be with us?!"

Cloud spent a moment to reflect why. "Because I let her die," he said it so softly that Vincent barely heard it.

"Vincent, are sins ever forgiven?"

"I don't know, I've never tired." He answered it as stoic as always.

"Well, I'm going to try."

Marlene came out excitedly, "You mean…?"

"Let's go," Cloud said before turning, leading her to his bike.

Vincent was alone again, considering whether or not he should try. One side of his mind told him to help his friends, the other told him to stay away from Yuffie, that he could only hurt her. To fight or to stay?

To fight.

He whistled for Zen'Nathas and jumped on the bird. He has let enough people be hurt by his inactions.

Author's notes: Oh, a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows… Wha? Chaos, what are you doing at the computer? ARE YOU TYPING WHAT I'M SAYING!? Get away from it!

(Whack, plow, slam)… …

I'm sorry, the human known only as 1sniperwolf will not be joining you this day. In his stead, I will be taking his place. (pokes a body with a stick) He is severely incapacitated. But by now he would be saying how he doesn't own Final Fantasy 7, the first game or the movie, as that at this time; those are all he has used.

But being a humble, more likely forgetful, person, he wouldn't say that this story has had over than 3000 hits. (1sniperwolf starts to get up; a chair is broken on his head.) That isn't going to help him.

Now, he would ask you to review. No, not a chance. REVIEW THIS STORY, YOU PATHETIC HUMANS! Fill his e-mail with a thousand letters! And I'll sit here and make him read each and everyone!

You evil, evil bastard…

What? You have no idea how boring it is trying to torture Vinnie. But you are new! The fun has just started!

(A priest burst in and starts chanting, holding a cross. Chaos shrinks away for a moment then laughs, hitting him into the next universe.) I feel better, maybe I won't torture you.

That's good, now can you stop sitting on me?!

Hmm, no. Do whatever you want, humans.