Sorry for the wait again! I had serious writer's block for this chapter. And it's short. Pleaaaaaase forgive me for it. This chapter was one of those ones that you just want to get out of the way so you can get back to the good stuff.
I got a lot less reviews on chapter 21. Is it because my updates have gotten really far apart that people are losing interest? If that's so, then I apologize again! I just haven't been as motivated to update lately. It's really upsetting. Maybe I need to play KH2 again. It's been a while.
Anyway, my thanks to those who reviewed: Clarissa Avila, Mirai M. Mieux, Island-style-girl, phantombullets240, pandabearmusic, celtic-roses, TheKeeperofKingdomHearts1, NinjaSheik, Hidden Fairy Tale, Vanisha Tigerseye Stride, Amara Natsumi, animechick247 and Catalyna Cullen.
Keep reviewing please! Maybe it'll motivate me to write more. I haven't even started 23 yet :S
Vilixa couldn't stand to stay cooped up in Ansem's study for long. After fifteen minutes of standing by the computer waiting for something to happen, she grew restless. She left the building and went in search of someone--anyone--that she knew.
It didn't take long for her to come face to face with an old friend.
"Cloud!" she greeted, walking up to the blond who was leaning casually against a wall of gibraltar. "Have you found Sephiroth yet?"
He shook his head. "Not yet."
Vilixa nodded with a frown. "Do you want me to help you find him?"
Cloud's jaw tightened. "No," he finally decided. "It isn't safe for you. Even with your powers...he could kill you. And I can't let that happen."
Vilixa's frown grew deeper, but she decided to let it go. "I'll be seeing you, Cloud."
"Yeah," he nodded, folding his arms over his chest. "Be seeing you."
Vilixa, however, was too nosy for her own good. She knew where she could find Sephiroth...she just wasn't sure if she wanted to go look for him on her own.
Deciding that she would be fine, she made her way towards the Great Maw. She passed the restoration site on her way there, coming to a dead stop at the place where Demyx and Sora had battled and where she lost one of her best friends.
The water had completely evaporated in her absence. He really was gone forever.
Vilixa bit her lip and kept on walking. She was a Nobody, a being without a heart. No heart, no emotions. But somehow, she knew that Demyx's death had affected her somehow. It was the closest thing that she knew to human pain.
She arrived at the Great Maw. The large, open space mocked her, especially since the last time she was there, it was swarmed with Heartless. Vilixa climbed up to one of the ledges that led towards the Crystal Caverns. Just ahead, at the opening of the cave, she could see a man with long silver hair and a sleek, black feathered wing protruding from his shoulder.
Trying to be careful, she summoned her Keyblade and approached him silently.
"Sephiroth?" she called.
He turned his head just slightly, barely acknowledging her. "What is Cloud up to?" he asked, his voice calm.
"He's got a score to settle with you," Vilixa answered simply. "Stop running from him like a coward."
This seemed to irk him. He turned swiftly, holding up his long, silver sword dangerously close to her neck, even though they stood about eight feet apart.
"Do not undermine me."
"You're not giving me a good enough reason not to," she shot back, using her Keyblade to push his sword to the side. "Give Cloud his light back."
"Try and take it back," he smirked, gripping his sword with both hands. "It'll be a pleasure sending you back to oblivion where you belong."
Without another sound, he lunged at her with his sword. Vilixa was shocked by the amount of speed he possessed. She did her best to keep up with him, but after a few minutes, she was on her knees as Sephiroth stood by, a smug grin on his face.
"Prepare to say goodbye to this world."
"I don't think so," she growled, closing her eyes. A wave of light washed over her and her eyes reopened, a surge of energy flowing through her veins. She charged at Sephiroth, engaging the battle once again. This time though, she had the upper hand.
Her powers made her faster, stronger, and more relentless. Some of Sephiroth's black feathers danced gracefully in the wind as he leapt back after a while, his breathing just slightly staggered. Vilixa made her Keyblade disappear, returning to her normal state with ease.
"Hm," he grumbled. "Impressive. But it seems as if only Cloud can eliminate me." He turned to face Hollow Bastion again, just as he was when she showed up at first. "Bring him to me."
Vilixa glowered. "I'm not a messenger."
"You will send him that message," he threatened, "or your little Keybearer friend will be next."
Her facial expression darkened, but she reluctantly turned around and headed back to the marketplace where she knew Cloud would be.
She spotted him examining certain kinds of materia from one of the shops when she approached him.
"Cloud," she panted, having ran from the Great Maw all the way back into town. "I have a message for you."
"What is it?" he asked disinterestedly.
"It's Sephiroth," she answered. His eyes widened as he looked over at her. "I found him."
"Where?" he demanded. "Why were you off by yourself? I told you that it wasn't safe."
"I'm still here, right?" she retorted. "He says he's looking for you. Past the Crystal Caverns, on the ledge that overlooks Hollow Bastion."
Cloud sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "Looks like I have unfinished business to attend to."
Vilixa followed Cloud as he trudged towards the Crystal Caverns. His expression was grim. He kept glancing at her to see if she was still trailing behind him, and would shake his head when he realized that she wasn't about to leave.
They finally made it to the ledge that overlooked Hollow Bastion and saw Sephiroth standing there with one wing gracefully extended, his back facing the duo. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Sephiroth," Cloud shouted in his direction.
Sephiroth turned and smirked when he saw Cloud. "Cloud," he taunted. "You'll never let go of the darkness."
Cloud gripped his Buster sword and took a fighting stance. "Shut up."
Sephiroth approached him, drawing out his own sword and speaking up again. "You'll never let go of your past."
Cloud grew infuriated. "Shut up!"
He lunged at Sephiroth with his sword and slashed at him, but Sephiroth blocked him easily. Vilixa tried to keep track of who was winning the battle, but they were moving so quickly that she could barely spot them.
"Get him, Cloud!" she heard herself say.
Sparks flew everywhere from the collision of the two swords, and she could hear Cloud letting out cries of pain. Vilixa's eyes widened as she saw Sephiroth's sword making contact with Cloud's body. He quickly regained his composure and counterattacked, sending them both flying in the air before landing on the ground and colliding their swords once more.
"Absurd," Sephiroth grunted. "Defeating me is meaningless. You know that better than anyone, Cloud. No matter how many times I fall, your darkness keeps calling me back."
"Wrong!" a female voice called from behind Vilixa. She turned and saw the tall woman with the long brown hair that had been in Ansem's study the first time she'd been there.
"Tifa, stay back!" Cloud shouted.
"How can I? I want to help you!" she protested.
"You can't," Sephiroth grinned. "He'll never let go of his darkness."
"You're wrong, Sephiroth!" Vilixa growled. "Cloud may still have darkness in his heart, but underneath it all, there's an inner light that's just waiting to push forward!"
Sephiroth turned to her and sneered. "Words about a heart coming from a Nobody."
"The darkness will be there, Sephiroth," Tifa countered. "But it'll be somewhere you can't reach."
"Is that so?" he questioned. "Let's see what this light of yours can do."
Tifa took that as her cue to attack. She jumped at Sephiroth, using only her fists. He dodged her attack and sent her skidding against the gravel. She maneuvered around his sword and tried attacking once more, but missing every time.
"No!" Cloud shouted before leaping in the way and blocking Sephiroth's sword from stabbing his friend.
"Cloud," Tifa said. "You can have my light."
Sephiroth shook his head. "The light doesn't suit you."
Cloud loosened his grip on his sword momentarily. "I just...don't know."
"Don't give up, Cloud," Vilixa called. "Don't be afraid anymore!"
Cloud gave a nod and was surrounded by light. "Stop!" Sephiroth growled before they both leapt high up in the air, charging at each other. There was a huge explosion of light over the city and Vilixa had to shield her eyes. When she opened them again, both Cloud and Sephiroth were gone.
She looked over at Tifa. "Where did they go?"
She just shook her head and sighed. "Gone again."
Vilixa asked, "What will you do now?"
Tifa shrugged. "I guess I'll keep looking."
"Got any leads?"
"Don't worry," she smiled. "Light is easy to find." She gave Vilixa a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry about what Sephiroth said. I know that you're a Nobody and that you don't have a heart...but your light shines brighter than almost anyone I've ever met."
Vilixa smiled. "Thank you, Tifa."
She shrugged again. "Don't worry about it. Just promise me that you won't lose sight of it, alright?"
Vilixa nodded. "I promise."
I know that it sucked, but review anyway? :)