I saw Rocky close his cloak again. "Interesting." I said.
"Hojo wanted to make another you.", he said. "Only obedient."
"You poor soul.", I said with sympathy.
Rocky laughed. "Better than most. I saw some literally rip themselves in half the pain was so bad."
"And I thought I was a monster.", I said looking at my clawed hand.
"So do you think this 'Demon Assaulter' is one of our 'brothers' Hojo made?", Rocky asked.
"I'm not sure.", I said leaving the room going back out into the street. Then I heard his voice. 'You're surer than you think Vincent….' I paused. "Rocky would you mind leaving me alone for a minute?", I asked.
"Uh sure thing Vincent.", he said leaving the room.
Once I was sure he was out of earshot I confront the voice. "What do you want this time?"
'I just want to help you Vincent.'
I spun around to a mirror on the wall. Sure enough my personal demon was staring back this time like all the times before when I heard the voice of Chaos. "Like I need the help of a monster Hojo made me into. I'm not letting go of what little humanity I have left."
The demon's face turned to a mocking frown. Again it spoke without moving it's lips. 'Vincent I'm hurt. I thought we were partners.'
"Not by choice." I growled back.
The demon gave me a sneer. 'I overheard your talk with your 'brother' as he put it. You honestly don't believe his theory on the others do you? You're pointing the finger of blame at me again aren't you Vincent?' I stood there silently the taunting apparition already knew my answer. 'Was because of those times I forced you to blackout so I could get some fresh air?', it asked with mock innocence. 'You know this could all be avoided if just accepted and embraced us Vincent. Think about the power at your disposal.'
"At the risk of killing everyone around me? No I will do no such thing.", I said firmly.
'Are you sure that's what will happen or are you afraid Vincent?' he taunted.
"What would I be afraid of?", I asked.
'You already have the answer my 'friend'.'
"You leave Lucrecia out of this demon", I said feeling my anger rising.
'Temper temper Vincent remember what happened last time you lost it?', the demon said as I heard the growl of the Galian Beast rumble in the back of my mind. 'As for Lucrecia. What good did she do for you? She got your father killed and never returned your affection. Also, because of her you and I are stuck for eternity.', I clenched my fist in anger. This monster was right but still…..
'But still nothing!', for a second Chaos' demeanor was shattered by anger. He managed to collect himself. 'That's all the time I have for today friend. See you around.', he said and was gone like that.
"Gawd! I hope the surfboard isn't busted.", a young woman said. She was shorter than me looked to be in her very late teens to early twenty. Wore a white two-piece bikini and a headband with what looked like a metal plate on the front. "If it's busted I'm gonna have to bust your…… SPIKY!", she squealed jumping up and down. "I'd never have thought I'd run into you here. How the hell are ya?", she asked smiling a toothy grin.
Before I could answer a loud male voice broke out. "WHERE THE HELL IS MY SURFBOARD?"
"Uh-oh gotta run.", the girl said grabbing me by the wrist and dragged me to shore. "Gotta hide." she said letting go of me and jumping into a near-by palm tree.
"That was…..weird.", I said thinking out loud.
"What was?", I heard Tifa asked behind me.
I turned around and said. "I was swimming when some girl hit me on the back of the head while surfboarding. She seemed to know me and called me 'Spiky'. Sound familiar?"
"There's no mistaking it. That's our Yuffie.", Tifa said with a chuckle.
"Teef? That you?", I heard Yuffie's voice behind me. I turned around to see the young woman hanging upside-down in the palm tree with half a coconut on her head.
"Why are you wearing that coconut on your head?", I asked confused.
"Shhh.", she said putting her finger to her lips. "It's camouflage.", Yuffie said. I stifled a laugh.
"Yuffie why are you hiding?", Tifa asked.
Yuffie, still upside-down in the tree, began poking her index fingers together avoiding Tifa's gaze, "Well I kinda borrowed a surfboard from this one guy….." she trailed off.
Tifa raised an eyebrow at Yuffie putting her hands on her hips, "You 'borrowed' it Yuffie?", Tifa asked accusingly.
"Do you honestly thing I stole it?", Yuffie said looking hurt. Tifa crossed her arms and began to tap her foot. Yuffie grumbled and dropped from the tree landing on her feet tossing the coconut helmet away. "Ok so I yanked it while his back was turned. He got it back."
"After it had close encounter with my head.", I said.
"Yuffie what's wrong with you?", Tifa said.
"I don't know Teef! My hands just steal things! I can't help it!", Yuffie said as I saw my father walk up behind her.
"What seems to be the problem?", he asked. Yuffie yelped and jumped into the air.
"Who the heck are you?", Yuffie exclaimed.
"My father.", I said.
Yuffie looked at me with a dumbstruck look. "So you're the kunoichi Vincent told me about.", Rocky said. "Speaking of which he's probably waiting on us.", my father finished walking away.
"C'mon Yuffie.", Tifa said dragging the younger woman by the wrist. I just smirked and followed this strange group I was a part of. We walked past a gift shop and out of the corner of my eye I saw a postcard with a woman tanning on the beach laying on her stomach, bikini top undone. In big, white, cursive letters it said: "Wish you were here". Immediately I felt myself experience a flashback.
86 …… 87 …… 88 …… 89 …… C'mon Cloud just one more! 90! I fell to my stomach and rolled over onto my back my arms numb from soreness. Ever since I failed the SOLDIER exam for being kind-hearted enough to 'save' Rex's life I've trained like there was no tomorrow. It was paying off too. I grew stronger and my physical appearance changed into a scrawny 13-year old to toned 14 ½ teenager. Medium sized muscles rippled over my body to the point of constant stare by the local girls whenever I went into public. I wearily and limped my sore body over to my bed. I heard the door open to the barrack room. I looked over to see Chad and Tom smiling.
"What's going on?", I asked.
"We just find out everyone in this barrack is getting a four day pass.", Tom said.
"So we're going to Costa Del Sol.", Chad said.
"Have fun then.", I said trying to sleep.
"You don't get it Cloudy-boy." ,Tom said sitting on my bed. "We as in Chad, me, and you are going to Costa Del Sol."
I chuckled. "I'd like to see you try.", I said out of impulse. Chad and Tom always fucked around like this so I just played along, but those smile on their faces told me I made a mistake.
"Ok", Chad said with an evil grin. I tried to move but I was too tired. My buddies moved in closer with what seemed to be long white socks.
"We're going to find you a nice girlfriend there man you're going to thank us.", Tom said tying my wrist together with the socks as Chad got my feet. "Just in case you get any ideas of trying to run buddy.", he finished patting me on my back as Chad lifted me over his shoulder. We, as in Chad and Tom walking with me being chugged around like a corpse, walked into the hallway. I could see Zack.
"ZACK! HELP!", I yelled getting his attention. He caught up with Chad and Tom looking confused.
"What the hell are you two doing to this guy?", he asked not hiding the fact he found my current problem humorous.
"We're going to Costa Del Sol to party! Cloud was objecting.", Tom said.
"Damn it! I was trying to----", my words were cut off by a cloth being stuffed in my mouth. Zack! Traitor!
"Cloud put a sock in it. You need this vacation.", he said laughing as Chad and Tom dragged me away.
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