Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Guns and Roses ❯ Endings ( Chapter 19 )

A/N: Sorry for such a long time between updates! I'm on break right now, so I'm gonna try and update a lot, and hopefully finish this story. It's got one more chapter left, and then, depending on the feedback I get, maybe another. But for now, enjoy!

 

Disclaimer: FF VII and all the characters herein belong to Square Enix, except Liana (I made her ^_^).

 

*******************************

Vincent couldn't move. He'd been lying in bed all day, and as he glanced at the clock, he could see that it was getting late. But he couldn't bring himself to get up. It was as if his body was disconnected from his mind, and no matter how hard he tried to will himself into moving, his body just wouldn't listen. He groaned softly as pain coursed through his body. He couldn't understand it at all.

 

There was something going on, and it had to do with the way the mako was making his body deteriorate. He knew it had something to do with that. He grimaced as he turned on his side to reach for the phone. He didn't make it on the first shot, and he scowled lightly to himself as he tried to ignore the pain. His whole body hurt, as if he'd been hit by a bus, and it took all the strength he had to sit up enough to grab the cell phone sitting on the nightstand beside his bed. He wondered who it was he should call. He supposed he could call Hojo, but in his condition he'd be no match for the man if he decided to take advantage of him, and so he settled for someone who posed less of a threat. He didn't even have to look at the keys as he dialed the number.

 

*****************************

The sound of a happy little jingle echoed through the kitchen of Tifa's house. Her cell phone lay on the floor untouched near the contents of her purse, which had been unceremoniously dumped there. A draft blew into the house, chilling the atmosphere, making the singing of her cell phone very out of place. Obvious signs of a struggle littered the room, ranging from the broken window to papers scattered on the floor, to scratch marks on the door and drops of blood on the floor. A soft chuckle filled the kitchen as the jingle faded, and a gloved hand curled around the phone.

 

“Come and get her, Valentine.” Emerald eyes were glowing with hatred and amusement as they shifted from the device in his hand to the unconscious woman on the floor.

 

*****************************

Vincent forced himself to sit up. He knew something was wrong. He wasn't sure how he did, but he just knew. It wasn't like her not to answer her phone, especially after he'd been calling all afternoon. They hadn't been back together long, only a few days, but they had talked nonstop, and he didn't think he'd done anything to make her angry. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When he told her he was sick, she had promptly insisted on coming over to take care of him, which she did. He didn't think he'd ever get her to leave again, not that he wanted her to, but she had to return to her home sometime to change her clothing, and of course she had to go to band practice. That's where he assumed she'd been all day, but it was well into the afternoon now, and he knew she should be done. He was starting to feel a knot twisting in his gut. Something was wrong.

 

He fought back a pained whimper as he forced his breaking body to move, mentally cursing his weakness. He needed to get up and go look for her. Please, just give me the strength to find her, he thought desperately, fighting through the pain as he made it to his feet. He wasn't sure how, but he managed to get dressed and down the stairs, shutting out the agonizing pain that coursed through him with every breath. It wasn't until he got into his car that he finally registered the pain, and it was enough that he couldn't move for a moment. He sat there for a long time, fighting to stay conscious, before jamming the key into the ignition and starting his car, doing his best to forget the pain and the way his body protested every motion. He tried to remain disconnected as he drove to Tifa's house, blocking out any feeling he might have from his body. He did a pretty good job, but it didn't compare to the sudden burst of energy and fear he felt when he pulled up to the curb outside Tifa's small house.

 

The door was hanging wide open and little unsteadily off its hinges, and Vincent already knew Tifa wouldn't be there. Forgetting any pain he had, he forced himself from his car and practically ran to her door. For a moment he felt faint, whether from fear or other things, he couldn't tell, but he caught himself in the doorway, leaning heavily against the threshold. He felt his heart drop to his feet, making his stomach flip, as he saw the mess trailing across the hall floor and into the house. He knew instantly what had gone on, and he felt tears well in his eyes. She had fought back. He took a shaky step inside, seeing the blood on the floor, as well as slash marks in various places. Sephiroth had been here, and Tifa had fought back. He wondered what had crossed her mind as he made it into the kitchen. He felt weak with despair as he noticed her things lying on the floor, and he knelt slowly to pick up her cell phone. He looked at the screen and saw that there were several missed calls. He knew one would be from him.

 

He stared dumbly at the floor, wondering what he should do. He knew exactly what Sephiroth's game was, and he knew exactly where he could find Tifa. The only thing was, he didn't know what he would do when he got there. How was he supposed to rescue Tifa? He was too weak, and he knew Sephiroth would kick his ass before he had a chance to help her. And then there was the chance that Tifa was dead and Sephiroth was just pulling him in.

 

Vincent felt his breath catch at the thought, and he winced. He couldn't say that he wouldn't mind letting Sephiroth finish him off if he'd already killed Tifa. He didn't see the point in living any more if he didn't have her. He could feel his fears slowly taking hold of his good sense. He was so lost in his thoughts that he jumped when the phone in his hand suddenly began to ring, and he nearly dropped it. Once he realized what it was, he looked at the screen. Suddenly an idea began to form in his head, and he felt his despair melting away as he answered the phone.

 

“Cloud. Tifa's been kidnapped. I need you to listen carefully. There is only one way to save her, and I need your help.”

 

*************************

The first thing she noticed was the darkness. She could feel her body trembling, and she opened her eyes slowly, feeling a sharp pain in her left temple. The last thing she remembered was coming home from the store, and then….. She gasped as a fiendish face flashed before her eyes, and she cringed, trying to force the image from her mind. That was when she realized that she had been gagged. She tried to lift her hand to remove it, only to find that her hands were tied behind her. She felt tears gather in her eyes as she realized that she'd been abducted. She glanced frantically around the darkness around her, realizing she was in a lab. Her trembling increased when ghastly noises suddenly filled the darkness, as well as a soft chuckle.

 

“Finally awake, I see,” a dark voice said, echoing around her.

 

Tifa winced at the sound of it, willing her heart to calm down. She wished she could see her attacker. She already knew his face, and she felt fear consume her as she realized that she already knew his intentions as well. She was bait. She felt a tear streak down her cheek as she heard footsteps, and Sephiroth's form faded into her view. She tried to pin him with a glare, but the effect was dimmed by her tears.

 

“Oh, don't worry,” Sephiroth crooned mockingly, smirking. “Your knight will come for you.”

 

Tifa bowed her head, shaking her head, feeling her chest aching. She didn't want Vincent to come for her. She didn't want to see him try to take on Sephiroth. He'd been so sick lately, and she knew there was no way he could possibly hope to help her in his condition. She didn't know much about why he was sick, but from what he'd tried to explain, it was bad. She felt her tears falling faster. She knew he'd come anyway, even if he knew what waited here for him. It was so unfair.

 

Sephiroth grinned at the sight of her pain. “She cried too, you know,” he said, his grin widening when Tifa looked up, her hazel eyes wide and frightened. He leaned forward slightly. “Lucrecia. She cried for him too.”

 

Tifa closed her eyes tightly and turned away, feeling a choked sob escape her. She didn't want to be another Lucrecia, and she didn't want to see Vincent die. She felt hopelessness sweep her as Sephiroth chuckled cruelly, before turning. It took a moment for her to realize that he'd stopped laughing, and she looked up, seeing that he was looking up at a monitor, watching the world outside. A strangled cry escaped her when she realized he was watching Vincent. She shook her head quickly, fighting against her restraints. She watched as Vincent pulled himself from his car, grimacing at the effort it took. Tears blurred her vision, but she couldn't bear to look away as he made it to the laboratory doors and reached for them. She wanted to scream as she watched him come in, and she knew this was it. Without help, they both would die tonight.

 

**************************

Vincent didn't know what he was doing anymore. He was cautious as he entered Hojo's lab, drawing the gun at his side. His eyes adjusted to the darkness easily, and he felt adrenaline override his system, making it easy for him to forget about his pain for a while. His footsteps were silent as he made his way into the lab, searching the darkness for any sign of Tifa or Sephiroth. He noticed that the eerie light of the mako glittered faintly in the background as he moved deeper into the warehouse building. After several moments, he paused in the center of the building, looking around. That was when he noticed how quiet it was. He felt his heart rate increase suddenly, and he inhaled sharply, turning quickly to survey his surroundings. That was when he saw her.

 

She was sitting in a chair, her hands bound and a gag in her mouth, with her head bowed. A single light filtered down onto her, making the darkness around her more ominous. Slowly, Vincent stepped toward her, shuffling his feet intentionally to draw her attention. He watched as her head lifted slowly, and he realized she was crying. As he neared, he watched her hazel eyes focus on him, before widening in terror. Without thought, he crossed the room quickly, holstering his gun as he reached her.

 

“Tifa,” he said softly, reaching for the gag in her mouth. He noticed that her eyes were frantic.

 

“Vincent, you have to get out of here,” she gasped quickly, her voice shaking. Her hazel eyes were frightened and filled with tears. “Sephiroth, he—“

“I'm not leaving without you,” Vincent said calmly, untying her hands. He watched as she leapt from the chair as soon as she was free, throwing her arms around him.

 

“I don't want you to die,” she whispered, her voice choked. Vincent could feel her trembling as he held her against his chest. She looked up at him. “You have to go now. Before he comes back.”

 

Vincent nodded. “We must go,” he said, taking her hand in his and drawing a weapon with his other. He took two steps forward, when suddenly movement caught his eye, and he froze. Time seemed to slow as he watched Sephiroth leap at him, swinging his Masamune, and Tifa's scream filled the lab. Instinctively, he released Tifa's hand, whipped out his other gun, and then he blinked. He heard the clash of steel, and when he opened his eyes again, he realized that he'd used his guns to block Sephiroth's blade, catching it between them.

 

“Glad you could join us,” Sephiroth purred, grinning like a cat.

 

Vincent grimaced in return. “What have you done with Hojo?” he asked, straining against Sephiroth's incredible strength.

 

Sephiroth shrugged. “I simply asked him to ready his equipment,” he said, his grin widening. “We've been waiting for you.”

 

Vincent felt a chill race down his spine, and he knew that something bad was about to happen. His crimson gaze shifted briefly to the side, and that was when Sephiroth broke away, before slashing at Vincent. Vincent barely managed to dodge the hideously long blade, and in the effort, he felt Sephiroth manage to inflict a cut to his chest. He pressed his hand over the wound as he glared at Sephiroth, gasping for air.

 

“You can't afford to lose focus,” Sephiroth taunted, raising his sword. “You might just lose your head.”

 

Vincent could feel his blood dripping across his fingers, and he grimaced. “Alright, so what's your game?” he asked, his voice breathless. He realized that he'd lost track of Tifa, but he couldn't afford to look for her. He could only hope she had the sense to get out while she could. He knew Sephiroth wouldn't bother with her once he was done with him. He only needed her to lure him here.

 

“Well, my original plan was to subdue you and use you as a lab rat,” Sephiroth said, leaping at him again. Vincent used his guns to block the blade again, but, upon contact, he felt the force of the hit rattle all the way into his joints, making pain course through him. He knew he couldn't hold the swordsman off very long in this condition. He needed to think of a plan. He managed to escape the blade once more, before he turned and fled into the darkness.

 

“Come now, Vincent,” Sephiroth laughed. Vincent cringed at the sound as he hid behind a book case. “Enough running. Come out and fight me.”

 

Vincent glanced around, hearing the swordsman nearing. His crimson gaze was frantic as he looked around, hoping for a miracle. He shifted his gaze to the ceiling, an idea dawning on him as he caught sight of the railing above them that led to the operating table for the crane Hojo used to access the mako. He spent several more seconds contemplating his decision, before he realized Sephiroth was closing in, and he leapt to his feet, running toward the stairs that led to the wrought-iron landing. He could hear Sephiroth as he trashed the book case, and he hoped that his plan worked. He was almost to the stairs, when a noise suddenly caught his attention.

 

“Vincent,” Tifa's voice was a soft whisper.

 

Vincent froze, ducking out of sight behind the server Tifa was hiding behind. “What are you doing?” he whispered vehemently. “You need to get out while you can.”

 

“I want to help you,” she whispered, searching his glowing gaze.

 

Vincent scowled slightly, checking the rounds in his pistol, running options through his head. Finally, he sighed, looking at her. “You can help me by getting out of here,” he said quietly. He watched as she looked away, biting her lip, and he could tell she was frightened. He reached out and touched her cheek, watching as she leaned into his touch. He felt his heart wrench suddenly in his chest, and he knew she wouldn't like what he was about to tell her.

 

“I can't leave without you,” she whispered, her eyes tearing up.

 

Vincent sighed, before he leaned in and kissed her gently. He could feel his throat constricting at his thoughts, and he knew he needed to tell her, but he didn't get the chance as Sephiroth's Masamune suddenly tore through the server. Quickly, Vincent grabbed Tifa and managed to maneuver them out of the way, once they were safe, he rolled to his feet, grabbing her hands and pulling her up after him.

 

“What's the plan?” Tifa asked as she ran after him.

 

Vincent's gaze was trained on the stairs that taunted him from across the maze-like lab. He glanced behind him, watching as Sephiroth ran after them, and he knew he needed to get Tifa to leave. He paused as he wracked his brain for ideas, turning to fire several rounds at Sephiroth. He watched as the swordsman ducked out of the way behind one of Hojo's oversized monitors, and he knew he'd bought them some time. Quickly, he turned to Tifa. “I need you to go call Cloud,” he said. “He was supposed to be on the way with some backup, but I don't know what's holding him up.” He watched as Tifa frowned, and he cut her off before she could protest. “Please, Tifa. I just need you to do this one thing.”

 

Tifa paused, hearing the pleading in his voice. She felt her heart twist, and she nodded, leaning in and kissing him. “Okay,” she whispered, before she slipped into the darkness.

 

Vincent watched her go, before he returned his attention back to Sephiroth, watching as the swordsman stepped back into sight, grinning.

 

“So, you prefer to die alone?” he asked, advancing slowly.

 

Vincent swallowed thickly. “I do,” he said stonily, before loosing several shots at Sephiroth. They missed, but it was enough to catch him off-guard, and give Vincent time to dash to the stairs. By the time he reached them, he was out of breath, and he could feel the pain and sickness from earlier catching up to him. He knew he didn't have a lot of time, so he turned and forced his tired and broken body up the stairs, hoping that his last desperate move would end things for good.