Hello all. Haven't written in a while…but I wanted to do this chapter right. You'll have to tell me if I did or not. Be warned, I have upped the rating of this story due to the disturbing imagery in this chapter. I hope that this is everything you have been waiting for, dear readers.

Written while listening to Prayer for the Innocent (Psalm 23) by Robert J. Kral.

The Passing

By: Illusion of the Mirror

Crickets chirped, leaves rustled and late summer stars twinkled overhead as Marlene Wallace sat cross-legged outside the entrance flap to Tifa's vacant tent. It had felt like forever since Tifa left the girl to her important mission, and not a single soul had attempted to storm the gate, as it were. Long since tired of standing centurion-like at the ready, Marlene had seated herself in the cool grass and taken to gouging holes in the forest turf with the toes of her soiled tennis shoes.

Then, an unexpected sound cut through the relative silence of the trees and Marlene's head whipped up instantaneously. There is was again! Something between a whisper and a…

"Psst! Hey! Marley!"

A harsh hiss flew from the tangle of elderberry bushes to her left and Marlene scrambled to her feet, taking up a fallen branch for defense. "Who's there?" She demanded in hushed tones.

Two glinting orbs peered out through the brush and Marlene heard the intruder shift toward her. "A friend. Please don't hit me with your stick."

The girl glanced at her makeshift weapon and then lowered but did not drop it. "Who are you," she queried skeptically.

The hidden figure slowly extricated themselves from the scraggly branches of the shrubs and stepped into the moonlight. It was a girl…not much older than Marlene herself, with wild blonde hair that was still snagged in the bush. Band-Aids scattered her freckled skin and though she held her hands up, Marlene did not drop the stick.

"It's okay, Marley…my name's Luna and I'm a friend of Cloud Strife." The girl took a step forward, a ridiculously grave look darkening her face. Marlene shifted her weight awkwardly as the girl called Luna looked her up and down, and, seemingly pleased with what she saw, placed her hands on her hips, a toothy grin splitting her features. "You're just like Mr. Serious said you would be."

Marlene was about to ask what the girl was on about when the crunch of gravel heralded the approach of some new intruder. Canting her gaze so that she could keep Luna in sight as well, the brunette glanced toward the sound of the footsteps and almost squealed with joy. "Denzel!"

"Hey, Marlene…oof!" The girl flung herself at Denzel, not even noticing the two boys behind him. "Wait 'til you hear what happened to me! Oh, you'll be so proud!"

Denzel smiled as she pulled back and her glimmering brown eyes met his. "I'll bet I would…but first, where's Tifa?"

It was then that Marlene became aware of the newcomers and she eyed them suspiciously as the succinctly stated, "Tifa's asleep." She stepped away from her adopted brother and crossed her arms over her chest. "Who are these guys?"

The boy nodded over his shoulder, his expression mirthless. "The tall one's Mason and the other's Benji. The girl with leaves in her hair is Luna Bordeaux." He paused and then leaned forward, his voice low. "Tifa's not here, is she?" Marlene wouldn't meet his eyes and didn't answer. She was never very good at lying to Denzel. He could always tell.

Luna approached the two, notably plucking the leaves from her tangled locks. "Look, Marley, we're not your enemies here, so you don't hafta be so skeptical." At this, the girl's hand shot out and the toothy smile was back in full force. "Actually, I've decided you're going to be my new best friend!"

Marlene hesitantly reached out to return the handshake, which ended up being just as vigorous as she feared it would be, and cast a questioning glance to Denzel. The boy merely shrugged.

"So!" Luna grinned, still gripping Marlene's fingers, "How's about the five of us go roast some marshmallows or something?"

"Um…actually I'm supposed to stay here and make sure no one wakes up Tifa…"

Luna looked down at the brunette, her features melting into a look of something akin to respect. "Okay, then. We'll stay with you then. And you can tell us all about your adventure, okay?" Here she turned to her posse of two. "We'd like that, right boys?"

"Sure!" exclaimed Mason. Benji merely nodded sheepishly as the children sat down in a circle.

Thrilled with the notion of relating her tale to listeners her own age, Marlene didn't even notice as Luna reached over and squeezed Denzel's hand, her inconspicuous wink letting him know that she wasn't going to tell any grownups that Tifa had flown the coop. Denzel turned away, hiding a blush. He could really like this girl…you know, if she bathed a little more and talked a little less.

- O -

"Hey…Cid?"

The pilot responded without lifting his eyes from the assault rifle he was cleaning. "Yeah, Squirt?"

Yuffie crinkled her nose at the nickname, but let it pass. She glanced down at the shirriken she had set out on her lap and began stuffing them back into her side pouch as the large black van the group was traveling in took a wide turn. "Do you…do you think it's fair that they made Tifa stay behind? I mean, it's her fight too."

"I doubt the Resistance could make Tifa stay behind?" Red XIII replied from the seat in behind her and Yuffie turned as far as her seat-belt would allow, a question in her eyes. The large cat gestured over his shoulder with his muzzle. "Doubtless you've noted Valentine is not with us."

The young ninja huffed and sat back in her seat. "Yeah, well, I'm sure he's off having a hell of a time being creepy but that wasn't what I was asking."

Red shook his head, his great mane jingling as the adornments clinked together. "It's improbable that the Resistance has the same notion of fair as you, Yuffie."

Ignoring the mild amusement in his voice, Yuffie continued to simmer. "Still! It just feels wrong…I mean, even Cloud gets to go!"

Red merely shrugged in response.

Moments later, the vehicle slowed to a stop and the driver pulled the key from the ignition, motioning for the passengers to get out. Barret, who due to his size had been riding in the first row of seat by himself, struggled to maneuver, his great girth wedged in the doorway.

"C'mon, Big Guy!" Yuffie called impatiently from behind the gunner. "It's hot back here and Cid smells!"

Cid snorted as he pointedly lit a cigarette, taking a long drag and puffing the smoke out with a smirk. "Deal with it, Princess."

Claustrophobia beginning to set in, the ninja placed a booted foot in the small of Barret's back and ungraciously offered the extra force needed to dislodge the man. He popped from the doorway with a grunt and turned back to glare as the other passengers as they exited. "Ya'll are lucky I'm savin' my energy for them Darknation nimrods."

Yuffie pushed past the big black man and stalked toward the edge of the woods where the task force was amassing for the final debriefing. She cast her gaze over her shoulder to watch as the long line of vehicles that had brought the Resistance to this place, continued to the rendezvous point. "Guess we're on our own now," she murmured, and jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Aidan smiling wanly at her and returned the gesture with little more jollity before the young man pushed his way to the center of the crowd.

"Alright," the red-haired youth began. "I'm just going to go over the plan one last time. We can't have any hiccups." There were nods all around as Aidan pulled a knife from his boot and stooped to the sandy soil below. As he spoke, he crudely began to trace a map of the plan into the dirt. "The mission is composed of three parts. Group A will be the distraction. This unit will be lead by Altmann and Stratford and will be a more obvious frontal attack and draw the attention of the guards."

"Group B will be the rescue." Here, he paused and nodded to Cid. "You and your friends will break off from the initial attack and look for the holding cells so you can bring the prisoners to the rendezvous point." Cid took a long drag off his cigarette and nodded tersely in response.

"And Group C will be the demolition team." Aiden straightened up with a chuckle which was echoed by several other members of the group. "This Group will sneak in through the back entrance that was detailed to us by the young girl who escaped and will place these," he lifted a satchel full of powerful explosives, "in strategic places inside the building." The young man met Yuffie's gaze and pulled a stack of C4 explosives from the satchel. He placed them in her outstretched hand and she immediately tucked them into her side pack.

"Now, there will only be four of us setting the explosives, so it's vital that we not be seen or heard. The whole plan hinges on the detonation of these." As he continued, Aidan passed one stack to a young man dressed in black and another to Cloud, who was standing next to him. He left the remainder in the satchel. "If we play this right, we can blow Darknation from this earth. Any questions?"

There was a pregnant pause filled only with the benign sounds of night but the tension, fear, excitement, and hatred hung in the air, making it almost difficult for Yuffie to breathe. She laid a hand on Red's shoulder to steady herself, apologizing quietly. He merely sniffed and nuzzled her leg in encouragement.

"Okay," Aiden grunted as he hefted his satchel over his shoulder, "Let's get to our places. The attack starts when I give the signal." At this, Stratford, hardly recognizable in her black jumpsuit and mask, pulled a radio from her belt and saluted an affirmative before heading off in the direction of the front gate, the twin katanas crossed over her back glinting in the moonlight.

"Well, I guess this is where we part," Cid mumbled as the main group broke away.

"Yeah," Yuffie stated in what she hoped was a flippant tone. "Don't get yourself killed, old man."

The pilot smirked at the jab and Barret chuckled. "You take care too, Yuf." He reached out and shook the Wutai warrior's hand.

And that was it. After a farewell nod from Nanaki, Yuffie turned from the others and followed Aiden and the two others to the storm drain, desperately trying to convince herself that the prickles behind her eyes were not tears.

- O -

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Barret asked as he watched Yuffie disappear into the night-saturated woods.

Cid dropped his cigarette stub into the dust and crushed the ashes beneath his boot heel. "Sure," he replied, throwing his rifle his shoulder and turning to leave. "If there's one thing that kid's good at, it's sneakin' around."

Nanaki smirked. "That, and cheating at cards."

Cid grinned crookedly. "Yeah…I might have taught her that one."

- O -

Tifa sat on her front porch, rocking back and forth in the porch swing and staring out into the darkness that stretched before her. The moon wasn't as bright as it had been these past few days, and clouds were beginning to pepper the night sky, blotting out the stars and throwing the world into shadow. A cool gust of wind swirled past and Tifa closed her eyes, almost daring herself to believe that none of this had happened. It's so strange, she thought to herself. In spite of all the wars we humans fight…in spite of all the cruelty and carnage…the planet will always be here, will continue on even if we destroy each other and nobody is left. The sun will rise, the rain will fall, and the wind will continue to blow through the trees.

Footsteps on the wooden steps caused Tifa to open her eyes and she suppressed a smile as Vincent Valentine sat next to her on the swing.

"Did you finish your phone call?" she asked, hoping he caught her annoyance that he hadn't let her listen in.

"Obviously."

"Well," Tifa huffed, "Don't be cryptic. What's the plan?"

Vincent leaned his head back and chuckled. Chuckled! "You will see soon enough." Tifa grimaced in annoyance.

"And what's wrong with telling me now? Don't you trust me?"

At these words, Vincent turned his gaze on her and Tifa felt all annoyance wash out of her. "Yes. I do."

A traitorous blush started to creep over her skin, so, clearing her throat, Tifa stood and started toward the stairs. "Okay…good. Shall we get going?"

A hand captured her wrist, effectively halting her steps. She hadn't even heard him get up, but this was Vincent. It was easy to forget sometimes how unearthly stealthy he could be.

"Tifa."

She turned and met his eyes, intending to say something but for the life of her couldn't remember what. She settled for leaving her expression open. Lord, but he was close…

With his eyes slightly lidded as they were, Tifa couldn't read his expression but as she felt his fingers ghost along the edge of her jaw, she found it didn't really matter. Letting her eyes slip closed, she nearly shuddered as his soft lips brushed hers, only to become more fervent as she skimmed her hands up his chest to his shoulders.

Again and again his lips caressed hers, and she was heady with the sensation of it, but as a soft breeze skirted by, bringing with it the scent of rain and pine needles, she realized suddenly that there was far too much space between them and pulled herself flush against him, hands wresting in his ebony locks. Her proximity seemed to embolden him, and when Tifa felt his teeth rake along her bottom lip, she nearly forgot all about Darknation and Cloud and that annoying need she had for breath.

He pulled away slightly, and though she was grateful for air, Tifa instantly regretted the distance. That is, until his hand slid up to cradle the back of her head and his thumb began to deftly massage circles into that tender flesh behind her ear. Warm breath spilled over her cheek as he dropped tender kisses from her jaw to her shoulder and back before once again capturing her lips in his.

I love this man, Tifa thought as returned the kiss with every ounce of fervor with which it was given. I love this vexing, stubborn, complicated, mysterious, and altogether bewitching man. And oh! Is that his tongue?

As her lips eagerly parted to allow him to enter, Tifa tried desperately to block out the WUP WUP WUP of a nearing aircraft. But the sound grew deafening as the helicopter landed on the front lawn and Tifa almost growled as Vincent slowly pulled away from her.

He placed one last chaste kiss on her lips before she opened her eyes completely and smirked at her irked expression. "I believe that's our ride."

"Right, well, they can wait one more minute." And with that, she claimed his mouth once more.

- O -

"Boy, when you call in a favor, you really call in a favor!" Tifa shouted to be heard over the noise of the aircraft as she adjusted the buckles on her parachute.

Vincent smirked and batted her hands away and finished the alterations himself before leaning in to address her. "I should think that obvious by now." He gave the pack a shake to emphasize his point.

Tifa grinned broadly. "So what do we do after we land?"

Vincent quirked an eyebrow at her. "Did you not have a plan when you decided to join the attack?"

Tifa paused, and thought a moment. "I have a bad feeling about this, Vince. I just feel like I need to be there for some reason. Like there's some sort of unfinished business I have. I can't…I can't really describe it." She gazed out the open door of the helicopter at the treetops rushing past. "I know it sounds like a lame reason. I just really want to punch Malcolm's teeth out, you know?"

At this, Vincent smiled and shook his head as he rose, steadying himself on the railing by the door to the craft. "I do," he shouted. "Come, we're almost there!"

Butterflies erupted in Tifa's stomach as she braced herself for the leap out of the aircraft. It wasn't as though she'd never done it before, but still. Freefalling for those first few seconds was quite unnerving. She reached over and gave Vincent's hand a squeeze. To her surprise, he reciprocated. Smiling, she returned her attention to the passing scenery feeling like there was nothing she couldn't do as long as this man was by her side.

- O -

Yuffie sat on her haunches, every muscle in her body pulsing with anticipation. She looked up at Cloud, who was leaning on the fortress wall next to her and gave him what she hoped was a companionable smile. It must have worked, because he almost smiled back and uncrossed his arms before kneeling down. "You ready, Spikey?" Cloud merely nodded and scratched the back of his head.

Aiden reached over and gestured for the two to be quiet. "Okay," he spoke into his handheld radio. "Time to go."

There were a few moments of silence, and then an earthshaking explosion thundered through the woods as Groups A and B blew the heavy gate off its hinges. An alarm immediately began to sound in the distance and Aiden nodded to the three members of his team. "Now remember. Don't be seen; don't be heard. Just lay all of your explosives and get the hell out of there."

Cloud and the other young man murmured in agreement and Yuffie swallowed hard.

"Strife," Aiden nodded to Cloud, who reached into his pack and pulled out a blow torch.

"Alright," he stated grimly as he turned toward the drain. "Let's mosey."

- O -

It was only a few seconds, but it felt like a millennia as the air tore past Tifa on every side and the treetops rushed up towards her. Reaching out a trembling hand, she gripped tight the ripcord and with one swift yank, deployed the chute. She was suddenly jerked upward and had she not been ready for it, would have had on hell of a case of whiplash. Recovering quickly, Tifa grabbed the handles of the bridle and began to steer her chute toward the large stone structure ahead. Straining to hear over the roar of the wind rushing past her, she could barely hear the flap of Vincent's own parachute behind her. Strengthened by the knowledge that he was close at hand, Tifa swallowed the lump of bitter anxiety in her throat and watched as Darknation's fortress loomed closer and closer. It surprised her how something so difficult to find could be so visible in the night, the way the light stone stood out against the dark woods.

Then a blinding flash accompanied by a deafening boom disturbed the air and left Tifa blinded momentarily. As her vision returned, she righted her course and smiled to herself as she watched the ground charge toward her. That would be the Resistance right now, a perfect distraction for their landing.

Bracing herself for impact, Tifa bent her knees and took a deep breath. As the courtyard steadily grew closer, she steered past tall oaks and touched down in a break in the trees, running forward a few paces to slow her speed before unhitching herself from the chute. Vincent landed moments after and as Tifa pulled off her pack, he stowed the chutes in some nearby yews.

Tifa glanced around them. They had alit in the courtyard on the opposite side of the building that the Resistance was currently storming. She and Vincent were counting on the fact that the alarm had been raised and that their entrance would go unhindered.

As the two darted from shadow to shadow, which were much more ample now that thunderheads had begun to rally, Tifa started to feel a renewed sense of wrongness. It began behind her breastbone, a sickly pressure that threatened to collapse her lungs. But now it began to spread to every limb on her body. It was a palpable fear mixed with repressed hopes and dreams, like nothing she'd ever experienced. She hadn't realized she'd stopped moving until she felt Vincent's steady hand on her shoulder.

She looked up into his shining scarlet eyes, trying her best to smile and failing miserably. "I'm alright," she murmured before he could ask her what was wrong. "Let's just keep moving."

- O -

No sooner had the debris from the explosion settled then had the agents of Darknation rushed out to meet the Resistance army. Barret glowered as he watched a mass of flowing black robes rush toward them down the entry road. He looked to Cid, who had somehow in the last few seconds managed to light and half-smoke yet another cigarette. He heaved a great sigh and braced his gun-arm in his left hand. "Ya'll ready?"

Cid gave a crooked grin. "Yeehaw."

Without another moment, the pilot leveled his auto rifle and rushed forward, spraying bullets in the direction of their attackers. Smiling at his friend's antics, Barret followed, letting loose a battle cry that would frighten a charging tiger.

As if in answer, the rest of the Resistance army hurtled forward, shouting and firing their weapons. Nanaki was the first to meet the enemy soldiers, roaring as he leapt onto the man, his jaws closing around the enemy's throat before pinning him to the ground to finish him off.

Whipping out his side arm, Cid fired into the face of a hooded figure rushing at him from the right and then pushed forward, determined to get inside and rescue his wife at any cost. He was so intent on reaching the open doorway, that he didn't see the cloaked figure with an auto shotgun leveled at him until it was too late to aim and fire. Surprised when buckshot didn't rip through his favorite organs, Cid whirled around to see a tall man with long hair and a brown duster standing over the enemy gunner. Nodding his thanks, the pilot trudged forward, Barret hot on his heels, firing at any Darknation soldiers who might've taken it into their mind to follow them.

- O -

Alex Altmann reached down and pulled his throwing knife from the recently attacking soldier and watched as the pilot and his large friend pushed into Darknation's stronghold. "Best of luck, my friends," he tilted his wide-brimmed hat to their retreating forms and promptly spun to sink his blade into an enemy who had intended to catch him from behind.

"Watch yourself!" called a voice to his left, and Altmann leapt behind a tree trunk just in time to avoid a spray of bullets from a man with a sub-machine gun. But the shots didn't last long before the soldier found himself impaled on a glinting blade and was left bleeding in the grass as Catherine Stratford kicked his weapon away.

Altmann stepped out from behind the oak, smirking at the carnage before him. "Thanks, Catie."

- O -

CLANK!

Cloud switched off the blowtorch as he pushed aside the drain cap with his free hand. "We're good to go."

Exceedingly grateful to be out of the tiny, dark tunnel, Yuffie wasted no time hoisting herself from the hole and stretching her limbs. "Next time," she whispered harshly to Cloud. "I'm in front!"

"Alright team," Aiden directed them. "This way." The four hastily made their way toward the emergency exit and though it took a few minutes to find the door, after the discovery, Cloud made swift work of the lock using his blowtorch.

Once inside, Aiden addressed his team one last time. "This is it. Now, you all know what you're supposed to do. Get to it! And don't forget to come back alive!" With that, he climbed the concrete steps to the entrance to the room and cracked open the door. Hearing and seeing no one, he opened the door wider and ushered each member of his team out, pausing longer with Yuffie and gripping her arm tightly. "Be safe," he whispered, his serious gaze burning into hers.

She swallowed and nodded her ascent. "You too." Not a moment later, she was off down the hallway, searching for the boiler room. Time to start some fires!

- O -

After kicking in what she had assumed was a basement window, Tifa and Vincent had lowered themselves into a dark and empty office. Tifa wondered in passing why a bloodthirsty group of evil soldiers would need offices with staplers and sticky notes, but immediately dropped the thought when Vincent motioned her toward the door. Straining her ears to listen, she could hear the pound of bootsteps down the hallway outside. Once they had faded, Vincent opened the door and peered out before allowing Tifa to exit the office. The hallway was dimly lit with bare overhead bulbs and walled on all side by unpainted concrete. Tifa looked to Vincent with an expression that read, which way?

Pausing a moment, he considered their route. Tifa could hear the echo of gunfire from outside somewhere and the shouts and pounding footsteps from inside. But another sound was beginning to drown them all out…a steady BA-BUMP BA-BUMP. It was muted, as if the sound was filtering across a great expanse of ocean, but at the same time, the noise was unbearably loud. Tifa's hand flew up to her ears in an effort to block out the piercing thuds.

She could feel, rather than see or hear Vincent at her side. She could feel the enemy soldiers upstairs; feel their fear and their anger. The pressure in her chest increased tenfold until she felt as though she was choking and she could feel arms wrapping around her and she could FEEL everything and everyone! Just one great living mass moving and grinding against her. Squeezing her eyes shut to stop the pressure, she tried to focus, tried to breathe…and then, a pinpoint of light seared through the darkness and Tifa's eyes shot open, all pain and fear forgotten. "This way!"

- O -

Behind this door. Tifa knew that whatever the light was, it was behind this door. And it was fading. She glanced at Vincent who merely returned her gaze with his usual emotionless stare. Taking a deep breath, or as deep as the pressure in her chest would allow, Tifa turned the handle and pushed the heavy wooden door open.

Immediately, she was bowled over by the awful stench of decay and human waste. The room was so utterly dark…the kind of dark that bears down on one's soul…the kind of dark that squelches all hope of future happiness. Beside her, Tifa heard Vincent take in a hissing breath.

"What is it?"

"Tifa…this is…" He wouldn't say anything further. Or couldn't.

Tifa reached into her pack and pulled out a small, but strong flashlight. But before she could turn it on, Vincent laid a cautioning hand on hers, his eyes full of…was that sadness? Or was it anger?

The beam sliced through the room as Tifa switched on her flashlight and immediately, she saw what Vincent had been so disgusted by. Stepping over the threshold slowly, she approached the hanging figure in the center of the dungeon, for that's the only word that could be used to describe the room.

Bile rose in Tifa's throat as she neared. The body limply dangling by its wrists was barely recognizable as human, let alone by name…or at least it would've been had it not been for the blood spattered gold angel hanging from a gold chain around the figure's neck.

"Emily," Tifa choked. "Oh, God, no!"

Closing the distance quickly, Tifa lifted trembling hands, not sure how to use them, not sure what to do. Vincent was at her side then, a knife in his hand. He reached up and carefully began to saw through the accursed ropes that had bit so hard into the girl's wrists that tendons showed.

Hot tears stabbed behind Tifa's eyes as she leaned forward to catch the girl's body. It was at that moment that she felt a heart-breakingly shallow breath gust out against her cheek. Emily was still alive?

As if sensing Tifa's thoughts, Vincent promptly began to drag the only table in the room over to the women and helped Tifa lift the injured girl and lay her down.

During this process, tears had begun to flow unbidden down Tifa's nose, dripping on Emily's face as she leaned over her, her hand on her cousin's raw and bloodied forehead.

"Tifa…"

It was terribly weak, but even Tifa had heard the girl say her name. "I'm here, Emily. I'm right here."

Paper thin lashes fluttered open and Emily's once fiery green eyes, now a milky dull color, found Tifa's face. Her fingers twitched as Vincent cut the ropes still binding them together and as soon as they were free, Tifa took the young woman's hands into her own. She tried in vain not to let her eyes wander down the bruised and lacerated body of her dear cousin.

Strips of flesh hung from muscle where a cruel whip had cut repeatedly into her. The rope burns on both wrists and ankles cut so deep, bone was visible. Emily's hair, once beautiful auburn, was now hacked short and caked with blood, several chunks having been torn out of her scalp. Her bare chest rose and fell alarmingly slow.

"Tifa…I'm…I…"

Tifa choked, bringing her cousin's limp hands up to her lips. "It's okay, Emily. I'm here. You're safe now." She knew it was hopeless. She knew Emily couldn't be saved. She had lost far too much blood…

But somehow, she couldn't bring herself to admit it.

A gurgling cough shook the young woman's broken body and Tifa tried her best not to break down and sob. "Tifa, I didn't…I didn't…"

"You didn't what?" She reached out and stroked Emily's hair. Trying to smile. Trying to appear hopeful.

"I didn't tell." Emily bared her teeth in what Tifa could only assume was supposed to be a smile. "Didn't tell about you…didn't tell…about anyone…"

Torture…Emily had been brutally tortured for information about Tifa…it was a realization that was like a knife through the heart. Tifa's strained smile faltered. "Oh, Emily. You…you're very brave."

Releasing a shuddering breath, Emily used her last vestige of energy to lightly squeeze Tifa's hand. "Didn't…didn't tell…" Another cough, but this one left her frighteningly pale as blood bubbled at the corner of her mouth. "Tell…tell…"

Tifa leaned in, barely able to hear the dry rattling words passing over Emily's lips. "Yes, honey?"

"Tell Cloud…tell him to smile…tell him to…carve…carve my grave…tell him…"

Tifa nodded, not understanding the woman's words, but immediately burning them into her memory. "I will, Emily. He loves you…we all do…" Once again, tears slid past her eyes, soaking her face.

"…love…yes…love…all…"

And with a smile still on her face, Emily Bordeaux died.

Tifa wept, her fingers still entwined with her dead friend's. Collapsing to her knees, her heart breaking, she wept until her sobs held no tears, only pain, sadness, and anger. She wept even as Vincent knelt beside her and drew her to him and she wept even harder at the tender words he whispered to her. And then, when she could weep no more, Tifa released Emily's hand and got to her feet, Vincent rising beside her.

Reaching into her pack, she drew out a pair of leather gloves and slowly tugged them onto each hand. Then standing straight as a rod, she unclasped the angel pendant from Emily's neck and hooked it round her own.

She then turned to Vincent, steel in her gaze. "Let's go."

And they did.

- O -

And so, dear readers, thanks once again for reading this ongoing story. Your feed back is greatly appreciated, so please review.

Heartfelt thanks to Wolf of Infinity, Darial Kuznetsova, Forevermare, LovelessxHarlequin, Alamrin, and B12 for reviewing on my last chapter. You're what helped spur me to write this one.

A special thanks, as always to Kimmit the Ferg and P. Batman Owen. You know what you guys do.

And another special shout-out to new reader JessicaJ. She's a fellow Vincent/Tifa writer and if you like my fanfiction, I heartily believe that you should give her page a visit. [Link]

And that about sums it up. I'll be back to finish this as soon as possible, I promise. Only two chapters left…can you believe it? It's been quite the journey. Anyway, I'll see you all soon!

- Illusion of the Mirror -

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