A/N: Hey all! Yeah, I know this chapter isn't all that long either but I'll try to make the chapters a little bit longer.

I'm still tryin' to decide what Tifa should trade for legs. I've gotten a few really good replies but if any of you has a idea (silly or no) I'd appreciate is a lot if you would send me an idea with your review. I hope I'm not asking too much though. Because this is the third time I've requested help from you faithful readers and I think I'm pushing the limit.

So, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I know it's short but I'm gonna be tryin' to make 'em a little bit longer, so stay tuned!

Chapter 3:

Saving A Human

I began swimming towards where Yuffie was waiting when an ear-splitting screech filled the night air. I looked at Yuffie in puzzlement then dove beneath the surface. I stared in horror as the bottom of the ship was torn apart by a coral reef. I surfaced again and watched as the ship's occupants ran about trying to find the cause of the sound. I swam back around behind the ship to get a better look.

A man stumbled out of a door and ran towards Tseng and Vincent; he was sopping wet.

"Your Highness!" He said, kneeling down in front of him. "We're sinking, sir! We ran aground and there's a hole in the hull as big as a boulder. We have to abandon ship!"

Vincent looked around the deck before averting his eyes back towards the man in front of him. "Continue."

The man nodded and began ushering people into lifeboats. Tseng went to climb in one but, sensing Vincent wasn't with him, stopped and looked back.

"Vincent? Aren't you coming?"

"You go, Tseng," he said, pushing him towards a boat. "There may be people trapped inside. I'm going to go look for them."

"That's suicide! Let me go with you!" Tseng pleaded.

"No, cousin. Go with them," Vincent said, nodding in the direction of all the boats already a safe distance away.

Tseng looked like he would protest but nodded. Vincent turned to his faithful fiery red companion. He picked him up and set him inside the boat, said one last good-bye to Tseng then fled inside the ship.

I jumped off the back of the ship and went under it. I swam towards the large hole and looked through it. The room was some sort of cargo or storage department. The water level had risen enough that I could freely swim through the entirety of the room. I spotted a door on the far wall and swam towards it. I pulled it open and found a large metal ladder leading up. I swam up the shaft and came to another door. I pulled it open and there was a hallway leading off to the right and another going to the left. I looked nervously both ways before going to the left.

I heard a crash behind me and quickly ducked into an empty room. A black figure dashed past the door. I looked out and found Vincent frantically searching about. I frowned as he began clutching his throat and that's when it occurred to me. He wasn't looking for survivors; he was drowning. His body began to convulse then after many moments he lay limp suspended in the water.

I quickly swam towards him, hooked my arms around his shoulders and began to swim out the way I came. Once I was out of the ship I began to look for Yuffie. I almost gave up but then I spotted her off in the distance waving. I swam towards her as fast as I could.

"Come on, Yuffie. We have to help him!"

"Okay," she said, nervously, taking one of his arms and putting it around her shoulders.

We swam to shore to the shore and by the time we pulled Vincent up onto the golden sand the sun had already begun to raise. Cait saw us and rushed to where we were.

"Tifa! Yuffie! What happened?" He asked, kneeling down in front of him. "Is this the Prince?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"What happened?" He asked again.

"His ship sank. He almost drowned. Is he alive?" I asked, leaning over him.

Cait kneeled next to him and pressed his ear against his chest. "He has a heartbeat. It's really faint though."

I nodded and looked back at him. Cait left and Yuffie retreated back into the surf to wait for me. I picked up a long strand of his hair and twirled it around my fingers. His eyelids fluttered and his eyebrows knitted together. My breath caught in my throat as he slowly opened his eyes and looked around confused. His eyes slowly met mine and a puzzled look drifted into his dark crimson orbs as he lifted his hand to touch my face. He gently caressed my cheek and I gently placed my hand on his. My head snapped up as I heard someone calling his name. I saw his cousin Tseng and Red running towards us. I looked down at Vincent one last time then fled back into the water.

Yuffie and I watched Tseng help Vincent up from the protection of a large boulder. Tseng pulled Vincent up but he broke away from him and began walking along the shore.

"A girl.....saved me," he said, looking around. "She was.....so beautiful."

Tseng grabbed his arm and slung it around his broad shoulders. "You're just seein' things. Come on, let's get you home."

"Come on, Tifa," Yuffie said, laying her hand on my shoulder. "Let's go. If your father finds out you rescued a human and came back to the surface, well, you'll probably never hear the end of it."

I looked back in the direction that Tseng and Vincent went and sighed.

I wish I could be where you are right now.