Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ DiArY of NiGhTmaReS ❯ OpTiCaL DrEaMs ( Chapter 3 )

So yeah well, I've been slackin so I decided to put up a couple chaps. Nice huh….yeah I know….anyway. so shit well I still ain't got no internet, but I do got two cats now. Ha yeah fuckin priorities.

C: you ain't got no fuckin priorities, otherwise you'd have more than one story finished.

HD: yeah well I'm working on it.

R: Ain't even one whole story done, only the first part of an ongoing story. Shit and ya can't even get the continuation out.

HD: I'm fuckin working on it.

C: yeah in two years you'll still be sayin that.

HD: yeah and you'll be dead fucker.

V: You will all be dead if you don't get done with this.

S: I agree with V. This is just tedious.

HD: yeah you agree with him cause you wanna fuck him

C: ooo no you didn't. ahahaha

R: Bwahaha tha's some funny shit.

V: Shut up all of you (pulling out death penalty.) Now on with the story

HD: Why the fuck ain't shit being italasized(whoa don't know how to spell that word) now I gotta tell every damn one that the shit between ++++ those marks is SUPPOSED TO BE italisized (I don't think that's right either) but it's not so YARRRR!!!

What the fuck just checked and above posts italesized (if I change one letter maybe at some point I'll get it right…psh) but the rest doesn't….OOOOOHHHRRR! (shaking fist of rage RAGE)

CH4 OpTiCaL DrEaMs:

My hands hit the floor and the red liquid poured from me. I could feel it dripping down my sides from my back. My shirt was already saturated in the liquid. It was never meant to be stopped when the change was that far along. I had thought it couldn't be controlled when I reached my limit. I looked up at Sephiroth, crimson warmth still spilling over my bottom lip.

"What have you done to me?" My voice was a slurring gurgle. His figure wavered as he stepped back towards the wall.

"I have told you already dear Vincent. You are apart of me and I will have you back." He sneered before he moved into the wall.

The door was kicked open and I heard the trio of gasps as I leaned back on my knees spitting out a mouthful of blood. I felt a spinning nausea come over me. It was a mix of blood loss, liquor, and what Sephiroth had done. I rolled my head to the side so the liquid ran from the corner of my lips as I looked over at Reno, Rude, and Cloud. I watched Reno move towards me. I held up my shaking hand and he stopped.

"I don't need your help." I gurgled as I reached out my clawed hand to grab the rim of my coffin and pull myself up. I leaned heavily against it as I coughed, gagged, and let loose more of the life from my lips to coat the floor. I heard the splatter from the blood filled cape hitting my coffin as I turned to the others.

"Jesus Christ Vincent." Reno said moving towards me again.

"I said leave me!" I snapped in a spray of red.

"Fuck this shit. If this is how you want to die, that's fuckin fine by me you selfish bastard." Reno words were full of venom as he walked to the door. He stopped not turning back to me. "I don't understand why you're letting him do this to you. You've suffered too much for something that wasn't even your fault. Lucrecia's gone Vincent. When are you going see that you don't need to punish yourself anymore?" I heard him sighed as he disappeared around the corner.

Rude bowed his head to me and gave me a nod. He was saying he understood where Reno was coming from and that he did have a point, but Reno wasn't whom I was so he couldn't understand my circumstances. Rude was quite intellectual in his silence, I thought as he left.

I heard the cough and turned to Cloud who had his mouth open as if he were going to say something. I watched the pupil dissolve in his Mako colored eyes. His mouth curved in a sinister looking grin as he walked towards me.

"You may be controlling him, but he is still too weak to fight me." I groaned and fell to a knee. I felt the beings inside me stirring, frustrated by their forced restraint. Blood erupted from my lips as my eyes watered from my back hitting the rock slab my coffin laid on.

"That may have been true any other day Vincent, but your wounded and I'm still here." Sephiroth said as his body solidified behind Cloud. I could only see the shadowed form of him behind the smaller man like a looming blood sucking creature.

The shot rang in my ear. Cloud fell to the right holding his shoulder. I heard Sephiroth hiss his rage as he fell into the floor. I saw the blurry form of Rude in the doorway. I smiled up at him shaking my fist as thanks as he let down his guns aim. Cloud was staring confused between the two of us. His face turned to horror as he actually got a good look at my blood coated figure slumped against the rock. Rude grabbed him and pulled him from the room before he could react.

I made myself move. I crawled into my coffin barley able to get the lid on. My feeble body gave out leaving my mind to try to find any sense in what had occurred. Though it was on the verge of destruction itself.

I was in a mix of half thoughts and forgetful realizations, constantly distracted by Chaos's screams. The beast was sealed, but far from silent in my recuperating mind. It finally began to settle and a voice like the sound of every nightmare filled my head.

`He is stronger than last time.' I was lost in confusion for a moment.

"You have a voice. Why have you never spoken before?" I asked to what I assumed was the voice of the most powerful creature inside me.

`I have always had a voice. I have never had the power to speak to you. I have always used it when I was unleashed, though it seems this night I have been bound.' The last was low enough to make any humans ears bleed.

"How is such a thing possible?" There was desperation in my mental voice. I needed to understand how Sephiroth could do such a thing.

`It is not. It should not be. Not even Satan himself could do such a thing.' Chaos's voice was full of loss.

"There has to be some explanation." Exhaustion was filling my mental voice.

`I have none for you Vincent. You must get away from him.' Chaos's voice was getting weak. `I may never get another chance to speak with you. It is quite draining. If I cannot protect you the other's will not be able.'

"Protect me?"

`Despite what you may think, you are our only link to the human world. Though after spending so many years with you we have seen many things that none of us will soon forget. We do not want you're death. We only wish to protect you.'

"What do you mean?"

`Listen to me Vincent. You must flea. You cannot stay near that man any longer. You-'

"I will not run from that ghost. I do not fear clones. I will-"

`No! You will do nothing to him! He is merely toying with you. Do you not sense that? Did you not feel the power he is hiding? This man is no clone. He is not like the others you have seen. He is the true man. Vincent.... listen to me.... no one can protect you...you must...flea....' The last was barley audible.

"Where am I supposed to go?" I whispered aloud as my eyes opened. I laid there lost in the darkness of the small coffin questioning every moment of my life. There were so many emotions rushing through me I wasn't sure which one I wanted to feel. Sephiroth, Chaos, and Reno's words swirling in my head. I didn't know who to believe. I didn't know what to believe. I didn't even know where to start. Maybe Chaos was right. I needed to leave. I needed solitude.

I left the coffin walking out of the crypt. I smirked seeing Reno on one side of my door and Rude on the other, both trying to guard me. I snuck pass them making my way out of the mansion. I was shocked Sephiroth hadn't stopped me. I assumed that even he needed to sleep at some point.

I made it outside and saw the sun was just hitting the horizon. I hated sunlight, but even I could make an exception. I walked to the edge of town not really sure where I was heading as long as it was away from that cursed mansion I called home. I stared at the ground as I watched the distance pass. I looked up to see tall grass swaying in the soft breeze.

I gazed towards the sunset feeling an awkward calmness take me in the serenity it conveyed. I fell back into the soft grass and realized all my wounds were healed. I guess Chaos used the rest of his energy for my healing. I sighed up at the darkening sky thinking of our conversation. I knew he was sincere in the fact he wanted me to run, but it was only to save himself.

I believed the creatures inside me did have a small amount of care they extended to me, but most was to themselves. They were demons; it's in their nature to be tenacious. I didn't believe that Chaos didn't know how Sephiroth had bound him back into me after he was so close to escaping. Of course he wouldn't give me that knowledge. He knew I would never let them out again.

I did believe Chaos's view of Sephiroth. He had changed. He was unfathomably strong. It was nothing like the man we had fought. Chaos was very right about another thing. I did sense it, the power Sephiroth was hiding. When he did the spell to restrain Chaos, just for a moment, I felt like I was standing in the shadow of a God. I knew that is what Chaos felt. If that was true, I didn't have anywhere I could run unless I ran forever and for me that would be an eternity.

"My own private hell on Earth." I had to laugh at the irony. My laughter waned as Sephiroth filled my thoughts. I couldn't understand what he meant by I was apart of him. He wanted something from me I just had to figure out what it was. I thought it was the creatures inside me, but the way he bound Chaos and the way Chaos spoke led me to believe I was wrong.

I tried to figure out why Sephiroth brought Cloud with him. Unless Cloud was just suppose to distract me from the real problem of Sephiroth. It dawned on me that Sephiroth hadn't so much as touched anyone else that was staying at the mansion. We had all tried to kill him, or perhaps it was just another clone we had fought.

I smiled as the answer suddenly came to me. There was no real reason to kill the others, not when it was like fighting an underdeveloped county. He had all the power and strategy; while we were throwing rocks at him still thinking they could break through anything. I was the strongest of us and he was playing with me like a kitten batting around a cat toy.

I had to wonder how long Sephiroth's indifference towards the others would last, which lead my thoughts to the others reaction to him. It was a shock at first for me, though it shouldn't have been. He had been thought dead once before, yet he returned and the last fight we had against him was easier than I had expected. I would think a foe such as the Great Sephiroth would have proven more of a challenge. A clone of him I would believe to be so weak. Yet if what was at the mansion was indeed the real Sephiroth why hadn't the others tried to attack him, unless they were aware of their insignificance. Perhaps they could all feel his strength as well

I laughed. It was a harsh angry sound. Everything had been going so smoothly. I was living so comfortable alone and all it took a fraction of a second for it to change. I could no longer find solace in the gentile arms of sleep. I no longer believed it existed for me. So many things had left me; family, faith, love, and worst of all my humanity. I had nothing left to give. I had nothing for Sephiroth to take except for my misery, sorrow, pain, and betrayal.

I felt my head rise and a hand slide onto my chest. I turned my head to the right to see Sephiroth propping his head up with a hand. He didn't seem pleased with my solo journey from town. His lips rose in an intelligent smirk. I went to move and felt power slam into my chest hard enough to knock the wind from me. I caught my breath and realized my body was immobilized. Panic took me in a whirlwind. There was the fact I couldn't move and I was with Sephiroth, but that scared me half as much as the knowledge that he didn't need any potions, spells, or summons to do it. It was like he thought it and it happened.

"I'm disappointed you would leave me dear Vincent." I didn't like the sound of his voice. It sounded as though he had already known the reasons I had left.

"Why would it disappoint you?" I asked trying to be careful with my words, wishing I had a drink or at least was a little drunk.

My head fell from his stomach as he crawled on top of me. He slid between my legs. He pressed his lips against mine and pushed himself up so he could stare into my eyes. It was quite unnerving having those cat eyes study me as I thought of how true the analogy of me being a cat toy fit.

"I worry when you leave with no explanation." He said smugly.

"I am well enough to be on my own. I don't need anyone to watch over me." My voice was filled with annoyance.

"Perhaps not." Sephiroth sighed as his body and mouth came against mine. I tried to turn away from his lips, but couldn't. I couldn't fight against his onslaught, but I wasn't going to comply with it either. He pulled away, his eyes full of irritation.

"Why do you do this?" I asked trying to keep him form me.

"I want to." He said with a straight face as it came towards mine.

"Why not Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie, or Reno?" He stopped narrowing his eyes at me.

"They aren't you, dear Vincent." He said coming for me again.

"I have nothing to give you Sephiroth." I said before his lips could touch mine. He retreated back to let me speak. "I don't know what it is you want from me, but I have nothing left. I have nothing to give."

"That's not true Vincent." He said sliding his hand in my hair to gently lift my head. "I've watched you since the day I woke you." My eyes widened at his words. "Oh yes, I didn't tell you. Perhaps I should then. Cloud was going to leave you in that crypt, but I've always been able to see through him as he can through me when I decide to let him. I had nothing to do in that library since all thought I was dead, but I was able to crawl from that pool of Mako and returned to the library here. I found I could see and act through my clones. When I saw you sleeping I knew I couldn't let you rest and with you in Cloud's party I could constantly keep an eye on you. I could learn what I needed. Of course, the clone of myself you destroyed provided valuable information also." His arrogant features twisted in a grin as he looked down at me. I tried to think of words, tried to comprehend what he was saying. His tongue licked across my lips.

"That doesn't explain anything." I said frustrated with him.

"It means I have seen every emotion you have held since then. I know the things you hold inside of you. When I found you had been in the mansion with me all that time and I never sensed you I had to find out why. I've been through all of your things. I have slept in your coffin. I have done everything in my power to understand you, but there is something missing. I want the emotions I haven't seen. I want all of you Vincent." His eyes conveyed his seriousness. "I want you to give yourself to me and if you won't I will take it all from you." He growled the last forcing himself on me.

I felt the beasts moving inside of me from their distress and my own as he held my head up pushing his lips against mine. His tongue searching my mouth, while his body was pressing against mine. I couldn't get him off of me. I couldn't move as his hand crept down to the fastenings of my pants. I didn't want him. I wasn't going to let him do with me as he wished. I tried to speak against his mouth, but the words were lost in his and his tongue kept moving. I took in a deep breath.

"Stop." The word and the power behind it forced Sephiroth back. He tried hard to school the rage that took his face.

"That demon thinks he can fight me." Though his face may have been clear of rage, his words were brimming with it. I glared at Sephiroth feeling the beasts fighting against the seal that was holding them inside me. Sephiroth's face filled with a laughter he withheld.

"I presume that was Chaos for I know the underlings have not the power to break free." I groaned as I felt my stomach twist in pain and the scars burn on my back from the demons feeble attempts at freedom. It was an agonizing pain having them bound in me, their sick thoughts of destruction pulling at pieces of my mind. The twisting and convulsing they did in my gut.

"Give me back my movement." The pain the creatures inside caused me filled my voice as my eyes narrowed and my teeth were clenched.

"Why Vincent, so you can fight me?" Sephiroth's hand moved under my shirt. I locked eyes with him ignoring the pain and the feel of his hand rubbing down my chest.

"I will fight you for eternity. You may be able to steal my body, but the only thing I shall give you is my silence." I hissed the last word at him in contempt. Sephiroth leaned back from me closing his eyes and sighing out a deep breath. He pulled his hand from my shirt and brought it to my face to brush along my cheek as he looked down upon me.

"Must it always be this way between us?" His voice was soft and almost depressive. I let the defiance fill my eyes, but said nothing. Sephiroth gently laid my head back on the soft grass.

"If this is the game you choose to play, I will break you of it." He gave me a light kiss before he stood from me smirking down at my helplessness. "You will stay here until you call out for me by name, only then will I take off the spell I have cast upon you. I am a very patient man Vincent." Sephiroth finished and walked away from me. I was able to see his black figure swallowed in the night through my peripheral vision.

It was a disconcerting feeling watching him go. It was a mix of relief and disbelief. I glanced around my surroundings. At least there were no houses in sight around the area I was in. Actually there was nothing around me except for grass. There wasn't even a tree or bush to keep me company. I was pleased that the night was cool and calm.

I found it odd Sephiroth would leave me over something as trivial as me speaking to him. I smiled as I stared into the dark sky. He maybe patient, but I can go months living on barely anything. I didn't need food or drink. I only partook in such actions to save that small bit of humanity that barley existed within me.

I watched the sky begin to lighten and a frown took my lips. The sun would be my problem. It wouldn't hurt me physically. It wouldn't burn or discolor my skin, though it would make me uncomfortable with its heat. Metaphysically was where I would suffer. I slept during the day because I was weaker. Night seemed to strengthen me. I assumed it was from the creatures inside of me. Darkness was apart of their nature, which was mine as well since their introduction into me. I hadn't spent a day in full sunlight since I woke. I wasn't sure how it would affect me.

As the day came to an end I understood why I avoid the searing round orb. I wasn't sure if I could tolerate another day. It was so hard to describe. It wasn't pain as much as a general frailty that engulfed my mind. The first few hours weren't difficult. Once the noon hour approached I understood how those locked in an asylum felt. It was a neurosis that ate at my mental state. Even when the night came my thoughts were still disjointed, but beginning to hold sense.

I was surprised a whole day had passed and I hadn't seen any signs of life, not even an animal or bug. I knew Reno and Rude would be out looking for me. I didn't like admitting that I needed help, but even I knew when I was out matched. I wouldn't call for him. Reno and Rude would find me. I only hoped it was sooner rather than later.

Three more days passed and I started to think I would lay there forever. I wasn't sure how much longer I could last. It was impossible for me to sleep during the day with the sun shining it's cleansing light on me and sleep was one of the few things I needed. I could not sleep during the night unless I was subdued with drugs or alcohol. I figured Hojo wanted me to spend my existence in darkness.

It was a terrible feeling that consumed me. My mind separated in a billion tangents. It was getting harder and harder to focus it during the night. I couldn't call for him. Reno and Rude would come. I watched in fear as the sky lightened for the fifth day. I had just gotten my thoughts under control and I knew I would lose them again. I closed my eyes.

"You don't look well dear Vincent. I had no idea the sun would have such an effect on you." I heard Sephiroth sigh. "And it looks to be another clear warm day. The sun will be shining bright again for you." I cracked my eyes open to glare at the man who was crouched next to me. His hand brushed along my cheek.

"You still wish to defy me." Sephiroth shook his head at me. "You mumble to yourself all through the day and it's slowly entering the night." He leaned his head over mine giving me shade. "Would you rather lose your mind than speak my name dear Vincent?" I closed my eyes ignoring him, though his words were true. This could be my last moment of sanity.

"So be it. You will stay this way until you call out for me." I could hear the irritation in Sephiroth's words as he left.

I felt the heat of the sun cover my body and the spinning started. Flashes of moments. I glimpsed Lucrecia with a soft smile on her face. Hojo cackling darkly. Cloud looking to me for an answer. Cid holding a cigarette for me to take. Tifa winking at me. Aries with blood flowing from her mouth as Sephiroth sword went through her. Barret looking at me like I was one of the monsters he fought. Yuffie crumbled on the floor knocked out. Rude holding a bottle to me. Reno chuckling drunkenly at me. Sephiroth reaching for me.

The moments passed in random order. Their voices mixing in a swirl of laughter, screams, and cries. Past and present flowing into one. Personalities becoming inseparable to the point I didn't even know who I was let alone the images I saw.

The night came and went. It never stopped. 9,855 days I had been awake, a part of some world, reformed through the minutes that passed. I heard a voice. I wasn't sure if it was my own, in my head, or someone near me. It asked me to call a name, a name I didn't know.

Time passed in a mix of consciousness and unconsciousness. Sometimes it was daylight other times night. I often wondered if I was meant to lie in this spot. If I had been here all my life. I thought that I once had movement, but I wasn't sure if it was only a dream or if this was the dream.

I heard the rumble above me. I opened my eyes to see a streak of light pass across the blackened sky. I felt a cold drop fall upon my forehead. I closed my eyes smiling as more of the drops covered me. I opened my mouth to take in the liquid as it poured from the sky. I coughed and choked on the liquid as it fell faster and harder. It was impossible to breath around.

I caught a passing thought as I choked on the water. It was a self-loathing I had felt, knowledge that I never truly wanted the life I had. I didn't understand what it was that I hated so much, but I knew it was something I couldn't change. Something within myself. A weakness or a punishment. Something that gave me a reason to breathe in the water.

I opened my eyes letting the rainfall into them as I breathed in the mouthful of water I held. My lungs filled with it. I felt them fight as more entered. My chest convulsed, my diaphragm unable to push the heavy liquid from the lungs. Sound faded to silence in my ears as a ring of darkness formed in my vision. I watched the darkness spread bringing my view to pinpoint. I didn't feel any pain or panic. I welcomed the slowing beat in my chest, the distance of my thoughts.

I felt lips pressed against mine trying to force air into my over filled lungs and a pushing on my chest as the darkness swallowed me into it's delicate embrace. It was a comforting cold, one I never wanted to leave. Nothing could touch me there, no feeling, no memory, no one to find me.

My lungs burned as they pulled in air. I coughed and heaved as my head pounded. I could feel the rain on my cheek and a body holding me in tight against it as I coughed over their shoulder. I could feel the other shaking against me. I blinked my eyes open. Even the night sky covered in a passing storm was too bright to bear.

"What the hell where you thinking Vincent? Shit." The voice quivered as it spoke and the arms held me tighter.

"We got to get him in Reno." The deep gravel voice spoke behind me.

"I know man. I know." Reno whispered against my hair and I could hear such sadness in his words. He lifted me on his back so my chin rested against his shoulder.

"You got him?" The deep voice grumbled.

"He's a lot lighter than he used to be." Reno let out a disappointed laugh. If there was anything else said I missed it as I lost consciousness again.

I came to on a couch. I heard voices whispering around me. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming again or I was really out of the meadow. Mako blue filled my vision the face was a blur of movement as he leaned away from me.

"He's awake!" I heard a rush of steps and saw a crimson haired man looking worriedly at me.

"Vincent. How you feeling man? What's wrong with you? Can you move?" I stared into the black eyes not sure what to say. "Did Sephiroth do this to you?" The man pushed away from me.

"I knew that motherfucker would do some shit like this. If he even comes near you again I swear I'm going to kill him. You hear me you crazy fuck? I know you're fuckin here somewhere. If you go near him again one of us is going to die."

"Reno calm down."

"Fuck off Cloud." I heard a ruckus next to me, but couldn't turn my head to look. "I should fuckin kill you since you share some of that fuck's making."

"Reno knock it off. It's not helping." The girls voice held a false self-confidence as she spoke, but the others listened. Her brown eyes peered at me as her brunette colored hair spilled over her shoulder to pool on my stomach.

"Are you feeling okay Vincent?" I looked away from the false worry in her eyes. "Can you speak?" She asked moving herself into my vision.

"What do you want of me?" My voice was hoarse and tiered. I watched the girl being pulled away and Reno took her place.

"Nothing Vincent. I just want to know if you're okay man." Reno grabbed me in his arms. "Just tell me you're alright." He murmured against my shoulder.

"I need sleep." I barley spoke before my eyes fell closed. All the names of the people sounded familiar I just couldn't place them, though I felt at ease with the man holding me. Comfortable enough to rest in his arms.

It was a dreamless sleep used for recuperation. I needed to regain my strength and my mind. It took a long time to set all the days and people back in place. To untangle the truth of my past.

I felt the tongue in my mouth. My eyes went wide unable to see the too close face. I growled against the other so he'd know I was awake. The other groaned pulling away from my mouth to pant his breath against my neck.

"What is the meaning of this?" My voice was more solid and filled with anger.

"I had to know what it felt like. He shows me things. I can't fight him. I can't fight the feelings inside me." The other sighed into my skin.

"You are lucky Sephiroth stole my movement Cloud." I hissed as the other rubbed his head on my chest. He stopped and his body tensed.

"My puppet would dare covet that which is mine." Sephiroth's voice was low and dangerous. Cloud rolled to his back practically laying on me in his fear of Sephiroth.

"No. I just-" Sephiroth's hand gripped Cloud around the throat and he lifted the smaller man from me. I watched Cloud's feet searching for ground as his face turned to a choking reddish purple.

"I don't care to hear your excuses. You are fortunate I am in a forgiving mood." Sephiroth said as he placed the man on the ground. "Return to your room and if any of the others have awaken, deter them from this room. You will know when I am finished. If one should happen upon here their death is in your hands." Sephiroth said darkly to Cloud as he left the room silently. Sephiroth turned to me with an arrogant smile on his face.

"Ten days you laid out there and you've slept another away, yet to my puppet you speak my name." My face twisted in anger. How could I be so stupid and let all that I suffered be for nothing. I felt the hand on my chest and my muscles contracted. I was left gasping for air when my body relaxed. Sephiroth stepped back from me as I rolled off the couch. It took me a few minutes to get my muscles to work properly, but once they started to move it was like they were never forced still.

I was on my feet in seconds, blind rage filling me. The demons inside screaming against their entrapment. I went still at the feel of the silver point resting against my Adams apple. I hated that Masamune sword. It's length made it impossible for me to reach him. Even worse was I knew how fast he could move with it. Unlike Cloud, Sephiroth was the true master of his sword.

"Did you think I would allow you to strike at me dear Vincent?" He waited for an answer from me he would never get. "You still refuse to speak to me?" I held my head high glaring at him.

"I grow tiresome of your defiance." Sephiroth said matching looks with me, though his face held arrogance. I wanted so bad to speak against him, but I wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

I felt the beasts twisting in my guts. My eye twitched with the slight pain. It wasn't as intense as it used to be, which was most likely from me growing accustomed to it. It weakened me to have them sealed, but my hatred was enough to keep me fighting Sephiroth. Even if he knew how to destroy me I would fight him.

"Does it hurt you? I can see it in your eyes. You don't have to speak. I know having the demons sealed inside is torturing you. Speak to me Vincent. Give yourself to me and you will never suffer again." I had to bite my lip to hold back the words I wanted to spite him with.

It was a flash of movement so quick even my inhuman eyes could barley keep pace with Sephiroth as he laid the sword on his arm pressing the blade against my neck brining us face to face. I fought the urge to back away from him. I had no chance for victory, but I wouldn't give in to him.

"What is holding you back? Could it be Lucrecia?" My face contorted in anger as my breathing grew louder. "Do you miss her dear Vincent? A year has past since you last saw her. Oh, don't concern yourself. I can assure you she suffered." A fine shake spread through me from the meaning Sephiroth conveyed with the last. I felt the sharp blade make a small slice in my neck as I grabbed Sephiroth pulling his face close to mine.

"What have you done to her?!" I half growled half yelled, unable to control myself.

"I did what you could never do. I freed her from this world and returned to her the pain you have endured." His words were full of triumph. My eyes searched his face then moved to my hands holding him and back to his face. My lips twitched in unspoken words. I was torn between venomous rage and breaking down.

I had thought I no longer cared what befell her. I thought the love I had for her was gone. The words we'd spoken, promises we made, the short time we had together, all of it filled my mind. I knew I was never what she wanted, but as long as she was alive, as long as she could still hope and dream, I would have some amount peace.

I focused on the deep green in front of me. My clawed fist going for the arrogant face. Sephiroth turned himself and his sword transparent. The fist passed through his face as his sword passed through my neck. I fell to my hands and knees on the floor.

"Lucrecia." I half sighed her name as my body shook barely able to keep myself off the ground.

"She did nothing but bring you pain. She received the punishment she deserved. How could you care for one such as her?" Sephiroth said behind me. I stared at the blurring ground. I had chosen to burden the pain for us. I shouldered the blame for all that happened to us. I never wanted her to suffer. I never wanted her to hurt again.

"That's what forever means." I said on the verge of losing it completely to sorrow, yet feeling a blinding rage building inside.

"She wouldn't have lasted forever, only you will." Sephiroth said harshly.

I through myself back on my knees screaming in contempt to the faithless icon above at my loss. I heard Chaos join in my scream. I felt his wings tear from my back lost in my hatred and despair. I bowed my head finally ending the terrible sound that left my mouth. My hands held my shoulders as I felt the wings embracing me. I slowly turned my head over my shoulder looking at Sephiroth.

"Impossible." He mouthed. His eyes narrowed as I stood to my feet and the black wings stretched behind me. I took a step towards him. He held the sword to my throat. I grabbed it with the clawed hand pushing my thumb over and breaking off the tip. I pulled the rest of the weapon from his hand and threw it across the room where it stuck into the wall. I backed Sephiroth out of the sitting room and into the kitchen. He was finally stopped as his back hit the counter.

"How is this possible? He is bound within you. There is no way such a lowly demon could break free from me." Sephiroth said as he searched my face.

"I called for him." I said in response as my claw wrapped around Sephiroth's throat. He smirked at me as my grip tightened.

"So, the demon gave you all he could." Sephiroth seemed unaffected from the squeezing of my clawed hand on his throat. "Even if all your demons gave you all their power at once, it would be a minuscule fraction of mine. Now stop this nonsense." Sephiroth half laughed the last. My hand released his throat as I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. I looked down with a strand of drool falling from my lip as I saw the red dripping metal sticking through my stomach. It had entered through my back. I felt another jab between my shoulder blades and saw the point I had broken from Sephiroth's sword sticking through my chest.

I smiled up at him coughing a spray of red on his chest. He was shaking his head at me as if I were an overreacting child. I brought my hand to my chest touching the bloody point and looking at it not actually understanding what had happened. I reached the crimson-coated hand to Sephiroth. It rested on his shoulder, while my clawed hand went into his hair. Before he could grasp my intent I pulled him against me.

I cackled as I heard him groan his pain squeezing him tight against me. "Isn't this what you wanted, to be close to me?" I snarled into his ear.

"No Vincent. I want you to give yourself to me." He whispered into my neck. A bright light filled my eyes and I was launched away from Sephiroth. Chaos used his wings to stop me from hitting the wall in the sitting room and set me gently to my feet. I fell to a knee coughing up a mouth full of blood from the impact of Sephiroth's power. Chaos's voice gurgled up to my mind.

`I can't lend you much more time. His seal is going stronger by the second. I cannot fight him and lend you my power at the same time. He is too strong Vincent. You must retreat.' I slowly looked to the kitchen where Sephiroth stood. The blinding white light faded to a soft glow. Huge white wings spread from Sephiroth's back. Chaos was right. I knew I didn't have the power to beat him. I couldn't even change. I was stuck in this half form, which was no match for Sephiroth. I was still able to hold my own thoughts and I knew I should run, but it wasn't about me any longer. I had nothing left to lose.

I pulled the broken piece of his sword from my chest. I glared up at the white winged man. I had nothing to lose, I thought as I forced myself up and ran at him holding the sword piece in my clawed hand. I heard Chaos cry out his rage in my head as the wings receded into my back. It didn't stop me as I watched Sephiroth slowly turn his head up to me.

I hit a shield and kept pushing against it. I had nothing to lose. I reminded myself as I put all the energy I had left in getting through it. Sweat dripped from my face and blood from my chest and stomach. I could taste the metallic liquid filling my mouth.

My legs finally gave out on me and I fell to my knees dropping the useless blade leaning on the shield. Sephiroth crouched down and I looked at him through the wavering blockade he had set up. He smiled at me as it disappeared.

"Show me," my words faltered as my body swayed in front of him, "like you did last time. Let me see her." Sephiroth smiled as his eyes met mine and I was taken back to the cave. I saw Lucrecia. Her soft brown hair cascading down her face as she lay on the small rock rise in the back of the cave. Her blue eyes slowly cracked open at the sound of Sephiroth approaching her. My view was from the side and I could see Sephiroth's slowly closing the distance between them. The large Masume sword already drawn in his hand.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Who's there?" Her voice was soft and labored.

"I am shocked you wouldn't recognize me." Sephiroth's words where full of his normal darkness. I watched her tense and move fast to a sitting position. She stood from the slab and moved close to the tall man.

"Is it truly you? My son." I watched her raise a shaking hand to touch his face. He stepped away from her touch. "Did Vincent send you?" I closed my eyes to the sound of that familiar voice saying my name as she always did, so empty and emotionless.

"You could say such a thing." I looked at Sephiroth who had a vile look in his eyes as the seemed to stair right at me.

"I never new what happened to you. I've missed you more than anything." Lucrecia words were full of tears. She moved to embrace Sephiroth and he stepped away from her. She stared at him with water filled eyes. "Why are you so evasive of my touch."

"You are mother to me only in word nothing more. I have no want for you affections. I've only come to see what it is that he holds to so desperately. I want to understand why he can't let you go after all you've done to betray him. I care nothing for you." I watched Lucrecia's knees cave under her at Sephiroth's words.

"I never betrayed your father. Hojo-"

"You think this is about Hojo. You ignorant woman. I cared less for him than I do for you. No this is about Vincent." Sephiroth growled cutting off her words.

"Vincent?" She gasped my name and covered her mouth as her eyes widened in shock, like my name was a curse never to be spoken aloud. She looked up at the man in black. His silver hair glistening in the soft light like the sword he held at his side. His hand was tense on the hilt.

"Yes Vincent."

"That was so long ago. I never knew what happened to him. I told him of the experiment Hojo and I were doing with Jenova cells and that was the last I saw of him until he came to this cave. He didn't even seem human when I last saw him." Lucrecia was staring at the floor. I watched Sephiroth's eyes narrow as he moved the sword out on his right making for an easy strike when he felt the urge.

"As I thought. You are a worthless vessel." Lucrecia looked up to Sephiroth's unforgiving face. "You expect me to believe your devious words."

"I don't know what you mean Sephiroth. Please don't do this. I just want to hold you." Lucrecia pleaded as she stood up.

"It was your writing in the journal I found in the library at the mansion. In that same room Vincent was changed. You wrote a whole book of what had been done to him." Sephiroth's words were coated in rage. I could see the small shake spreading to the sword he gripped so tightly. "Perhaps that is what makes you my mother. Your unfeeling coldness."

"No Sephiroth. I cared for Vincent. It's just that we needed the data. I didn't like what Hojo was doing, but how could I stop him. How could I…" Her eyes went impossibly wide as her words trailed off and I saw the spray of red cross in front of her face. I wanted to scream her name for warning I wanted to run to her, but I could do nothing except watch. Watch as the half of an arm spun through the air to land in front of me. Hear the ear-piercing scream of Lucrecia as she realized what had happened.

"I've wasted my time coming here. You are as worthless as you'll always be. He has taken the burden of your pain and you have disregarded him as nothing more than an experiment. That is just one thing he suffered for you." Sephiroth said referring to the arm he had just cut from her. He pushed her down hard to the ground in her shock. She looked at his madness horrified, as any would be under Sephiroth's anger. She moved to her hand and knees attempting to crawl away from him. He slashed a long deep line down her back matching one of the scars Chaos had given me.

"I will never be able to make you understand what he endured for you, but you will get a taste of his pain and you will die this night. Die for the atrocities you committed against him and against me."

"Sephiroth I've never done anything to hurt you. I only wanted the best for you. I only wanted-" Sephiroth cut off her pain racked voice.

"By hurting Vincent you've hurt me." He finished adding another cut down her back. I could no longer hear his words as I watched Lucrecia scream as he stepped an the stub of an arm to keep her from moving as he finished adding all the matching cuts on her back to the scars on mine. Her crying eyes and crimson tinted mouth filling my vision. Sephiroth smiling down at his work.

"He still holds you to a light no other can touch. He's done everything in this life for you, but give you his own breath. He's given you everything and you've condemned his existents. I can hear it in the way you speak his name. I can hear how you loathe him. I could sense it in your documentation on him." Sephiroth pulled up the sword. I wanted to look away from her glistening eyes. I repeated the words in my mind as if they would reach her, forgetting this had already happened and there was no way to change it.

`Don't believe. Please Lucrecia, don't believe him. Don't believe.' I willed her to hear me.

"Any last words mother?" Sephiroth asked darkly.

"I never asked him to do anything for me." She said as Sephiroth snarled. I screamed endlessly in my mind as I watched the sword come down with blinding speed and slide through her neck like a freshly sharpened knife through a finger.

Her head rolled over and over. I couldn't take my eyes off the tumble of hair like a brown silken wave. It came to a rocking halt in dip by my translucent feet. I stared down at the now dilating shining blue. I was frozen in time as I watched the blood coated lips move and the tears feel from the now dead eyes. She mouthed my name as she died like it was the last thing she would take from the world of the living. It was something to hold onto in where ever she would traverse. Something she could forever curse for her death.

My eyes slowly rolled up to Sephiroth as he wiped her blood from his sword on her now cooling body. He turned from the mess as if he'd already forgotten what he'd done. As if her life were some meaningless inconsequential matter.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

HD: Well thas it for a minute. I'm tryin to do the best I can, but with all these damn holidays and havin a roommate.

R: I thought you lived by yourself.

HD: Well, now that I'm in the city A decided to move in with me kind of.

C: A's still there.

HD: Shut up hippie you'd be here if you lived closer.

C:…..Yeah so.

HD: So, you're stupid.

C: no you're stupid.

HD: no you are.

V: (wacks HD upside the head with DP) shut up.

HD: he you didn't hit C fucker.

V: you bother me not him.

HD: go fuckin figure….