Whee! Inspiration has strucketh me!
Vincent: What the…
Me: curls up into a ball and giggles WHEEEEEE
Cloud: What the fuck is wrong with him?
Yuffie: I don't know.
Chapter 6: How the Hojo Stole Christmas
Vincent woke up the next morning refreshed, despite the fact that he couldn't fall asleep until around 4 AM because of the night's excitement. He allowed himself a smile as he showered, trying to be quiet so he wouldn't wake his friends. It was six in the morning after all; he just preferred to rise early.
Unfortunately, another early riser was Yuffie and Barret, who were both moving about when Vincent got out of the shower. He stopped cold when he heard their voices, his good mood almost disappearing. He quickly finished drying and brushed his teeth, then shut the light off in the bathroom and opened the door. The hall light was on, but nobody was around, Vincent couldn't hear Yuffie and Barret was downstairs. Taking one last quick glance around, Vincent dashed out of the bathroom, holding a towel around his waist, he was almost there too when he ran straight into something soft and warm.
Yuffie's chest.
Yuffie went crashing down, and Vincent landed right on top of her.
"Vincent," Yuffie whispered, her eyes wide with shock. Vincent's face was bright red and his eyes were wide as well.
MORNIN!
Augh! Go away!
Vincent hurriedly got off of Yuffie and ran to his room, his breathing heavy.
Vincent hurriedly started dressing, when a tentative knock came at the door. Vincent had opened his mouth to stop Yuffie from coming in, but she entered anyway.
She gasped, Vincent wasn't naked, but he wasn't wearing a shirt either, and his entire body was covered with a mass of scars, the most prominent were the puffy red lines on his back, both parallel and by his shoulder blades.
"Vinnie," she said quietly, sinking to the floor. Vincent hurried over to her and picked her up, placing her gently on the bed. She sat up, and couldn't help but stare at his chest.
"My god…" She breathed, Vincent hung his head a little.
"I was hoping… I could have kept this sight away from you."
"Why?" She asked, her throat catching this time.
"This is something a woman shouldn't have to bear seeing." Vincent made to get up to put a shirt on, but Yuffie put a hand on his arm, and pulled him back down.
"These lines…" she murmered, tracing her hand down the two red puffy ones on his back, "Are they where…" she trailed off, leaving the question open.
"Yes, that is where Chaos' wings come out."
"Oh Vinnie," Tears welled up in Yuffie's eyes, and she hugged Vincent tightly, burying her head in his chest. Vincent wasn't sure exactly why she was crying, but he hugged her back, gently rubbing her back until her breathing slowed and shallowed out. He looked down at her and found that she was asleep.
"I'm sorry Yuffie." Was all that Vincent could say. With that, he finished dressing.
---
Yuffie woke with a start, she looked over at her clock, only to find it not there. Then found out that she wasn't even in her room. She was in Vincent's room, only Vincent wasn't there, there wasn't a single sign of Vincent, his bags, his clothes, nothing.
"Vinnie?" Yuffie called out, though she knew there wasn't going to be an answer. Vincent left. Yuffie hurriedly jumped out of Vincent's bed and rushed downstairs.
"Vinnie?" She called out again, looking around the bar.
"He left," Tifa said, sitting at the bar, Barret, Cloud, Cid, and Shera next to her, all with drinks in their hands.
"He… left?"
The five all nodded once, then Cloud took a drink.
Yuffie couldn't breathe, she felt everything start to spin, and a million things raced across her mind.
"Vincent…" Was the last thing she said before she passed out.
"&#!" Cid yelled, then jumped up and caught Yuffie before she hit the floor, "She needs to sleep."
"I'll help you," Cloud got up, and grabbed Yuffie's feet, while Cid got her shoulders, together, they carried her up to her room and laid her on her bed.
"Damn that Vincent," Barrett said from the doorway, "Why does he always have to screw shit up?"
"Don't know," Cid said, turning around and walking out, a burning cigarette in his mouth, "But damn him to hell for screwing up this Christmas."
"Poor Yuffie," Tifa said, still downstairs with Shera.
"Yeah, I wonder why Vincent would have just left like that, unless he realized Yuffie has feelings for him and he doesn't."
"No," Tifa said, sitting up a little straighter, "He does, we all know it."
"What are we going to do?"
Tifa shook her head, "I don't know, part of me wants to let Vincent be, but another part wants to see those two happy."
Meanwhile…Vincent was walking back to his car back at the ferry station. His heart ached, a feeling that he hadn't truly felt since the day he found out about Lucrecia's death. Chaos had yelled at him until his ears rang, but he ignored him, only stopping to say once 'She does not deserve to look upon someone as hideous and scarred as I'
Opening the door and stepping in, he started his car and drove to his house as fast as he could.
His car screeched to a halt in front of the mansion he called home. Stepping out, he walked up to the door, unlocked it and entered. By this time, his emotions were killing him, he was surprised to feel tears running down his face.
I've failed again. I failed Lucrecia and now I've failed Yuffie. I can't stand this anymore.
Vincent walked up to the secret door and kicked it open. He then walked down the spiral staircase, his face grim.
Now, all I've got is myself, and more sins to repent for.
Going straight to the first door, he unlocked it and opened it. When he looked in, his mind was rocked with old memories. Specifically the one where he first laid eyes on Yuffie.
He had been sleeping, trying to get away from the world to repent for his sins, when somebody kicked the door open.
"&#$ door! Won't open right!"
Vincent was annoyed by this, but had hoped they'd leave as soon as they found nothing but coffins.
"Calm down Barrett, maybe there's something in here."
A female as well? Vincent thought to himself, he was about to continue musing but a blonde spiky haired guy opened the lid to the coffin. Sitting up, Vincent looked around.
"Who is it!? …Never seen you before. You must leave."
"You were having a nightmare," Cloud stated simply.
A large muscled man with a gun for an arm opened his mouth, "I woke ya up, You outta be thankin' me."
"Hmph… a nightmare…? My long sleep has given me time to atone."
Vincent looked around some more and found Yuffie standing in a corner, looking curiously at him. He tried to ignore her, but something about her continually drew his eyes to her.
"What are you saying?" The blonde kid's voice brought Vincent's attention back to the present.
"I have nothing to say to strangers," Vincent said coldly, "Get out. This mansion is the beginning of your nightmare."
Cloud sighed, "…you can say that again."
"Hmm?" Vincent got curious, "What do you know?"
"Talk about Sephiroth. Like you said, this mansion is the beginning of a nightmare. No, it's not a dream, it's for real. Sephiroth has lost his mind. He found the secrets hidden in this mansion…"
Vincent shook his head, trying to forget Yuffie. Just more sin to repent. With a sigh, Vincent walked over to the coffin he normally had resided in, pulled the lid over the time, and awaited his judgment day.
Back in the 7th Heaven…
Tifa awoke early Christmas Eve and got everyone else up, minus Yuffie. She wanted her to rest some more as she hadn't woken up since her panic attack the day before.
"Vincent… Where are you?" She asked no one in particular as she set about with decorations.
"Mornin' Cloud," she said cheerfully as a sleepy-eyed Cloud walked downstairs, "Did you sleep well?"
Cloud couldn't help but grin, "Next to you, who wouldn't?"
Tifa rolled her eyes and continued to hang tinsel over the fireplace. "Get cleaned up and start decorating, we've got a lot to do."
Cloud nodded, "How's Yuffie?"
Tifa sighed, "Still asleep."
Just then they heard a scream come from upstairs.
"PERVERT!"
"Maybe not."
Shrugging, Cloud went upstairs to investigate.
"What's going on-" Cloud was cut off as an alarm clocked smashed him in the face.
Cloud fell backwards clutching his face.
"THIS PERVERT WAS PEEKING AT ME WHILE I WAS ASLEEP!" Yuffie pointed an accusing finger at Cid, who's customary cigarette fell out of his mouth in surprise.
"BULL&$#!" He yelled back, "I WAS ONLY TRYING CHECK ON YOU!"
Just then, Tifa came upstairs, stepped over Cloud, and pulled Cid out. "I'll talk to her," she said before Cid could open his mouth to argue. "You," Tifa said, pointing to Cloud, "Talk with him."
Cloud nodded, rubbing his face and dragged Cid downstairs. Tifa closed the door behind her and sat next to Yuffie, who had tears running down her face.
"Vinnie…" Yuffie whispered, trying to choke back her sobs. Tifa pulled Yuffie into her lap and let her cry, stroking her hair. "What did I do Tifa?" Yuffie asked, "What did I do to drive him away? Was I not pretty enough? Did I say something wrong? What did I do?"
"Nothing," Tifa said quietly, "I don't know why Vincent left, but it's not your fault. Why don't you get cleaned up and come downstairs, we're decorating the bar for tomorrow, and I'll make everyone some hot chocolate. How does that sound?"
Yuffie smiled and nodded, though with her bloodshot eyes and her tearstained face the smile looked more like a grimace.
A few hours later, Yuffie came downstairs in her normal clothes, looking much better than the haggard look she had had that morning.
"Yuffie," Cid said, scratching the back of his head, "I'm um…" Shera poked him in the side, and he gave her a glare, "I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to look at you… yeah…"
Yuffie smiled, "It's alright Cid. Thanks for apologizing."
Cid nodded, his face a bright red, obviously he wasn't used to apologizing for things.
The rest of the day passed without incident. Yuffie even managed to forget about her pain for a while and truly enjoyed herself. That is until she went to bed, and realized that she was spending another night alone.
---
Weee! How was that one? I know Cid seemed OOC while Yuffie was yelling… but oh well shrug it was funny.