Title: Watching Eyes
Part 4
Author: Aura-chan
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Disclaimers: Yuffie, Vincent and any other FFVII character are property of Squaresoft. Shitsubou Kouu and other original characters are mine, if anyone wanted to use them (?) plz ask me first. This chapter takes place 23 years after the 3rd chapter of this fic.
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Author Notes: Thanks for all the feedback ppl.
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Vincent stood there, he watched his friends from afar, yes, unlike what other people thought and the fact that he didn't visit them in 23 years; he did considered them his friends. They were there when he woke up after 30 years of restless sleep and they were there when he helped them kill Lucrecia's son. He couldn't come back to them, not after Yuffie' death. It was still a controversial thought in his mind. His mind told him that he wouldn't see her again, but he still had hope. And that was the part that tore him up, everyday waking up with hope that he would see her again and going back to sleep without her. His thoughts turned from his past and he addressed the present. Here he was, saying his final goodbye to one of his friends. He watched as Shera cried on Tifa's shoulder, and Cloud by was her side.
Cloud and Tifa had married soon after Meteor was destroyed, and soon after that they had two kids. Barret had married Elmyra and together they had a boy, they raised the boy and Marlene in the rebuilt New North Corel. Nanaki had dedicated himself to the late Bugenhagen's unfinished research, but like his grandfather asked him to, he also traveled the world and protected it. Cait Sith was put in storage after Meteor was destroyed, but Reeve, once in a while, took it out and used it to entertain the kids in the many Avalanche birthday parties. Reeve was now the president of Shinra, Inc. and he used his status to help the planet and to try to help those who suffered under Shinra oppression. The Turks were still used by Shinra and Reeve, but they were used more as bodyguards than anything else. He was happy for them, Cid had a great life, he had a loving wife, kids, the Highwind, and he even had the Tiny Bronco; but his smoking habit cost him everything, at the age of 55 he died of Lung Cancer. After the ceremony, held near Rocket Town, they slowly parted ways. When everyone had left, Vincent stood there, his mind filled with memories, going back to the good and the bad times. No point in staying here anymore… He was about to leave when he noticed a cloaked figure standing by the grave. The cloaked figure crouched by the grave and passed his/her fingers into the engraving in the marker. The figure got up and took off the cloak.
Vincent couldn't believe what he just saw… Yuffie…
Yuffie turned and looked at him, she gasped and disappeared. His knees hit the floor. "Could it be?" he asked to himself. It had to be! He started running toward his gold chocobo. He had to find her!
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Yuffie was practicing, she didn't know why. At this point it was useless, but it made her feel better. She continued with her kata, the one her mother taught her. If anything, it would keep her mind from things to come.
Vincent watched her from afar, all those years he had thought of things to say when he would finally meet her, but now that she was there, he couldn't think of any. Giving up, Vincent walked toward her.
Yuffie finished her kata and stretched. She turned, her eyes falling to the lone figure. It can't be… Tears threatened to fall; she didn't know what to do. She slowly walked up to him, scared that he would just disappear into thin air. She touched his cheek, like she expected to go right through him. A single tear touched her finger.
Vincent Valentine was a man that didn't cry. If he had cried three times in his life, it was once too many. This was one of those times. He looked into Yuffie's eyes, also filled with tears. She let out a sob and threw herself at him. Vincent hugged her and picked her up. Their lips touched each other lightly.
"How?" he asked, his lips brushing hers.
"Does it matter?" she asked back.
Vincent smiled. No… not really, not now.
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Vincent held a sleeping, naked, Yuffie in his arms. He remembered the last time that had happened, so long ago, but so fresh in his mind. Suddenly Yuffie started to stir violently.
"no…"she mumbled, still sleep. "…never…" Her voice was low, but urgent. "Why?" this time it was sorrowful. She screamed and sat up, abruptly. She took her hands to her face, sweeping away any sweat. She sat there, not saying anything for a while. Vincent didn't dare say anything either, he just hugged her. She started shaking and then a sob escaped her lips. Vincent hugged her closer and let her cry.
"I never wanted you to find me." She whispered. "Now I'll have to loose you all over again."
Vincent didn't say anything for a while, but then took her chin and kissed her. "Yes, you did want me to find you. You left a trail to follow, it was hard to follow it, but it was there. You would never make such a mistake, unless at least some part of you wanted me to find you."
Yuffie let his words sink in, "But now I'll loose you."
"I'm not going anywhere?" He said with a smile.
"Vincent, I didn't win the battle in the Lifestream" She said, her voice so low that it was like she didn't want him to hear her.
"What happened?" Vincent asked her.
"I was battling him, I was tired. Staying in control in the Lifestream is hard, it's like the Sleeping Forest, but the powers in control are much stronger. Shitsubou was accustomed to such powers. I was not. Not only was I not used to the Lifestream, but I was having problems with my own powers. Having just acquired them, I didn't have full control and knowledge of them. I was losing my control; Shitsubou noticed that and used it against me. He went in my mind and tried to control me. He couldn't, he tried and tried. Tortured me for what seemed forever… For people with powers like Shitsubou and I, being inside the Lifestream changes our perspective of time. I don't know how long I battled with him, seconds, minutes, hours, months, years… it was all the same. Finally, I just gave up. He was just about to take control over me when something or someone separated us. A strange power surrounded me and it took me out of the Lifestream. It's strange, when I was surrounded by the power I heard some voices. I didn't understand what they were saying, but I wasn't afraid of them, I actually felt safe… Anyway, that was a few weeks ago. I traveled the world, trying to catch up with time, then I heard about Cid and I just had to come."
"Then you escaped, what's the problem?" asked Vincent.
"He still has some control over my mind, when I'm awake I can fight him, but when I'm sleep he can control my dreams. He knows everything about me and he knows how to use it against me. He's just waiting for me to snap. He can control my dreams and he has hundreds of years of experience with his powers, it just a matter of time before he comes and takes me."
"I'm not going to let him do that, together we can beat him." Vincent said caressing her face, trying to soothe her. "How well are you with your powers? Are his stronger than yours?"
"We have the same amount of powers, I can use them properly, but he has the control only years and years of experience can give."
"So you train, you have to at least try to fight him!" Vincent said. I don't know what that guy did to her, but he's going to pay dearly for it.
"I know I should try, but unless there's a miracle… I don't see how I can win. Is it worth even getting our hopes up?" She looked down.
She doesn't even want to fight anymore!
"Yuffie, you have to fight! I love you and I'll fight along side with you to protect our love. Will you do the same?"Yuffie quickly looked up into his eyes, "Of course I will, but we still need a miracle to beat him!"
"You just train and let the miracles to me, ok? We've come to this point, why turn back now?" Vincent said.
Yuffie smiled at him and hugged him. If I can't hope, I let him hope for both of us and maybe it will all be all right.
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Vincent woke up early in the morning; Yuffie wasn't beside him. He got up and looked for her. He found her not far away, training. "I see you've decided to start now."
"Yes, although I'd like some help…" she said between katas.
"I have to go to take care of my part of the bargain. I'll be back soon." He clasped on his cape.
"And how do you suppose you'll do that?" Yuffie asked incredulously.
"I'll go visit the closest thing to a divine contact that we have. Come on, I'll take you to Kalm." He kissed her and mounted his golden chocobo. (Black's descendant, mind you ^^).
"Ok," Yuffie said getting on the chocobo. Divine contact?
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The couple arrived at Kalm and Vincent took Yuffie to the hotel and paid for a suite. "I'll be back as soon as I can, please stay here." Yuffie nodded and watched him leave. I hope he doesn't get in too much trouble.
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She materialized when he entered the cave. "Vincent," she greeted him.
"I know I don't deserve it and I know I shouldn't ask you… but I'm desperate." Said Vincent looking down, not being able to confront her gaze.
"You do deserve it. Vincent, all that has happened to me is no one else's fault but my own. I brought it up upon myself. I knew what was happening and I did nothing…." She couldn't continue, was cut off by Vincent.
"I should have done something to prevent it! I failed you, Lucrecia!" Vincent yelled.
"No you shouldn't; it wasn't your responsibility!" Lucrecia yelled at him, "I let him put my life and my child's life in danger. You and my son were the only victims here. You deserve to be happy, I thought she made you realize that. In any case, I know what you're here for. I'll help you two; bring her here, and take the objects she gave you for safe keeping with you. I promised someone that I'd help her, please bring her here as fast as you can. Now go, please!" Lucrecia disappeared, leaving Vincent to sort out the new information.
"Promised someone…" he whispered, repeating her words. What did she mean by that? Whom? He decided to ponder those thoughts on his way to Kalm. I better tell Yuffie about this.
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Yuffie sat down in the plaza, she ha gotten bored of staying in the suite. Not even cable could make me stay in that room for that long. The PHS (that Vincent had given her before leaving) beeped, she took the call. "Yes…I see…You're going where?…No way!…What did she say?… So, I have to go there… Ok… If anything happens, we'll meet at the cave…Ok… bye, love you!" With that she closed her PHS and put it in her pocket. "This is one bizarre twist of events…"
"Yes it is…" said a very familiar male voice from behind her.
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Author Notes- See, I told you that wasn't the end! Anyway, I needed to find a way for Yuffie to come out from hiding and that was the moment I knew I had to kill someone from Avalanche. Why Cid? He was one of the older playable characters in the game and he smoked 24/7. Don't get me wrong, Cid is one of my favorite FVII characters, but you know how it is. Cancer is just the obvious answer and it is also in my personal life (my grandpa and grandma have cancer). Anyway, as always, tell me what you think. R+R