Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Now a Monster ❯ Hunting Ghosts ( Chapter 5 )

AN: Sometimes when I'm writing, I find a song that really fits the mood of what I'm writing about and inspires me. While I hate songfics with a fiery passion and stories that rely too heavily on musical inspiration, I do like to know if something inspired the author. In this case, I was inspired by Matchbox 20's The Mad Season. At first, I only thought of Hojo when I listened to the song then realized that it fit Vincent too, and maybe that little fact was important to their relationship. I keep tumbling it around in my head finding different facets to look at while contemplating what's going to happen. While it doesn't influence the storyline, it does have echoes in the Vincent and Hojo's interactions with each other in some small way.

Now a Monster

Chapter 5: Hunting Ghosts

Hojo

I woke up a couple of times, hearing the murmur of the Planet change. It seemed cranky about something and was bitching to itself. Vincent didn't even twitch. He'd snuggled against me, wrapping his arms around my waist, laying on my right side like a heavy blanket, and burying his face against my neck. His breath ghosted over my collar bone in soft, deep whispers. I was relieved to know that he wasn't crying still or having nightmares. Instead, he was relaxed and at peace, even the beloved cape had been discarded to the side.

I knew sleeping here would be good for him.

I looked sleepily around our cave, enjoying the feel of being so close to him, before nuzzling his hair and trying to get back to sleep. It seemed like the old days, before Lucrecia, Gast, and Jenova, one of those lazy, mornings when I'd wake up far too early and tried to not to wake him. Vincent would be sleeping soundly while I peered around the darkness wondering if I would ever get back to sleep or if I should give up and just get out of bed. Vincent and I would be tangled together in a knot of blankets, limbs, and sheets, making me wonder if I could get out without inflicting my insomnia on him.

I closed my eyes and in a few moments was back to sleep. I dreamed of rain and sunshine, summer sun and winter snow, the dry heat of the desert and the lush softness of Mideel. In short, my mind wandered with the Planet. Occasionally, I would accidentally bump into something else, an old memory, a wisp of trailing emotion, but mostly all I was aware of was the wash of seasons and Vincent's slight movements as he slept.

I woke again to hear soft sounds coming from someplace. It sounded like voices and I was startled at first. Who was there? Lucrecia? Gast? No, no, Gast was dead. I killed him myself, so who was it? I quivered, straining to hear, wondering what I would do if we were found. I hadn't brought many weapons, only a few grenades for sealing the cave and an old shovel. What would I do if they found us? How would I protect Vincent? At the rate my body rejected Jenova, all traces of her were probably gone from my system, so I didn't even have her extremely doubtful aid if someone broke in to harm him.

My mind helpfully started supplying all sorts of horrors: Vincent being tortured, Vincent being dragged back by Lucrecia to be forced into being a demon, Vincent being shot as a traitor when he was found with me, Vincent crying, Vincent in pain, Vincent locked in a cage, frightened… Oh Planet, what if they did to him what they did to Sephiroth and butchered him with a sword?

I cursed myself for not thinking of this beforehand. We were vulnerable. Vincent was in danger because I was, once again, a fool. Maybe I should dig my way out and lure them off. Maybe if I could hide and if he was found he wouldn't be damned by association. Maybe I could sneak up behind the intruders and hit them with the shovel. I couldn't let them harm Vincent.

He was now spooned behind me, holding me in his arms, with his face in my hair. I must have woken him slightly with my panicked whimpers. His body shifted against mine, and I could feel him lift his head.

“Go back to sleep, love.” His voice was a bit slurred and husky, his arms tightening around me, drawing me back to fit more snuggly against his body. “Too early.”

I was surprised when I felt a kiss brush against my neck. I wanted to twist around to face him to see if he knew it was me or if he thought it was Lucrecia, but he was already asleep. Whatever the sound was, it went away. I listened for a bit, and when it didn't return, I followed his advice and settled down to go back to sleep.

I wasn't asleep long. I doubt more than an hour or so when I heard voices from just outside. I strained to hear what they said, but they were too far off. After awhile, I settled back down, telling myself not to worry. I'd hidden there for years and nothing had found me. It had been months, possibly a year or two since I returned here with Vincent. There was nothing to worry about.

Maybe if I said that enough times I would believe it.

“You followin' me? I tol' you don' follow me.” A rough voice yelled close to our hiding place.

“We were here first!” Another, female voice called from the distance. “And you're not supposed to be here. I'm telling Reeve!”

“What the fuck you doin' with them Shinra!” The first voice bellowed. “You turnin' against your friends.”

“I'm finding Vinnie.” The female voice sounded young.

“You leave that crazy vamp alone.” There was the sound of rocks sliding as the first voice came closer. I could recognize the voice now, Avalanche's former leader, Barret Wallace. “He'd kill you sure.”

“You leave Vinnie alone.” Young, Wutaian, and she called Vincent, Vinnie. It had to be the ninja brat.

Still, at least there was someone who was willing to stand up for Vincent. Maybe it wasn't all that bad. Maybe I could dig out and lure the ninja brat into finding… finding Vincent and have him hauled out of here to get executed by WRO and Avalanche as the brat whined in the background that they were treating her Vinnie bad? To have Barret shove her aside and use that gun arm of his to riddle Vincent with bullets?

“Stay out of the way Wallace.”

I cringed back into Vincent. Tseng. Tseng was outside. Tseng would kill Vincent. I had no doubts about it. Tseng would pull Vincent out of the cave, make him kneel on the dirt of the Ancient's cavern, and put two quick bullets into Vincent's head. I'd seen Tseng kill other people like that, and then he'd turn away before Vincent's body hit the ground without even a flicker of remorse.

“Don' fuckin' tell me what ta do, Shinra.” Barret growled, his Corel accent deepening. “I ain't no Shinra, an' I ain't afraid a ya.”

Fool. He should be afraid. The only reason he lived was because some of Avalanche might protest his sudden death. If he pushed Tseng too far, he'd find himself dead, in a shallow grave in the middle of nowhere, and little Marlene would only know that daddy disappeared one day on his way home. Any questions asked would lead to a group of harried, desk bound Turks who hadn't been out of the office for months, and multitudes of dead ends. I wondered just how far Reeve would take the investigation if that did happen. Reeve probably still remembered the hundreds of people who Barret killed when he blew up those mako reactors, dousing the inhabitants around the reactors with boiling mako.

Save the Planet, Kill the Populace… Gast and Fuhito would have loved him.

The voices drifted off into incomprehensibility and I lay blinking in the darkness. Tseng… If it had been Barret, or the rest of Avalanche, I would have snuggled back down and continued my snooze, but they had sent Tseng. He wouldn't just glance around and head home. He'd search, carefully, and sooner or later, he'd find evidence of an explosion in a place no explosion should have taken place. He wouldn't be happy until he could report back to Rufus that every avenue of inquiry had been thoroughly searched. No stone unturned. Leaves and twigs all neatly numbered and accounted for. All enemies erased.

I had to do something. I had failed Vincent miserably in the past. I was not going to fail him now. I glanced around the cave. I had a shovel, but that would be useless against Tseng. I could probably take out the ninja brat with it, but Tseng? No. I had a blanket that was presently wrapped around Vincent's legs. Not exactly helpful. I had a few grenades. Better, at least they were weaponry, but anyone who had ever seen a Turk work knew they were relatively ineffective. Turks just had too many enhancements, not to mention body armor. I also had a mattress which was useless, a couple of pillows which were equally useless, and joy of joys, I had Vincent's cape. While the cape was the epitome of poor fashion choices, it was hardly handy in a situation like this.

Wait… the cape…

I wiggled away from Vincent and picked up the cape. It was torn, dirty, and far too bulky for me, but… I fingered the high collar. My hair was long and just as black as Vincent's. All I would need… I carefully reached over and delicately unwrapped Vincent's headband. It had come slightly loose as he'd slept and it was easy enough to slip off and quickly wrap around my own head. I slipped the cape on and fluffed my hair out, letting it straggle in a thick mat down my back. I was a bit shorter than Vincent, I still had the limp I had acquired so many years ago, and anyone up close would instantly see that I was definitely not Vincent, but from a distance it would work. I could lure them off, make them think that Vincent was racing out of the city and into the canyons. Tseng, with proof that Vincent was not in the city, would abandon the search here and head out, probably towards Icicle. Barret would follow suit. It would work. It had to work. I couldn't fail him again.

I silently crept towards the entrance, glancing back to make sure Vincent was still asleep. He'd done as he'd done on many mornings back in our apartment when I had had to get up before him, and had flopped over to the still warm area I'd been sleeping in, pigging the mattress and soaking up the heat my body had left behind. He looked, except for the long hair, just as he had so long ago. I wanted to crawl back and playfully fight for my spot. Back then, those small tussles had usually resulted in an early morning romp. I doubted it would end that way now.

I listened carefully, waiting. I heard nothing, but I wanted to be sure. The area had to be clear for me to dig out. Sounds of digging would alert Tseng instantly that something was off kilter and he'd be waiting for me with a drawn gun. I sat, ear pressed to a crack in the rocks waiting and waiting. After what I guessed to be a few hours of silence, I started digging, careful to make sure the dirt landed in soft hushes to the side of the cavern. I occasionally would hit a rock, which caused a clang, but every time I checked Vincent was still sleeping, hopefully dreaming along with the Planet.

It was night when I finally emerged with just a hint of dawn lightening the air outside the entrance to this section of the caverns. I wiggled free of the last of the debris and slipped the shovel back into the cavern for the day Vincent chose to come back out. While I planned to lure them off and come right back, I'd learned painfully to that the worst was usually the norm, so he might need that shovel. I then carefully started to shift rocks and dirt till I had recovered the hole and disguise my emergence as much as I possibly could. If the worst did happen, it might buy Vincent precious time to defend himself from them.

I trotted through the caverns that made up this section of the city and wound my way towards the path that led down from the forest. I could wait there till I spotted them then let them catch a glimpse of me. With any luck they'd follow me back into the shell house that led up to the cliffs and I could lead them away.

The sun was just appearing over the edge of the hillside when they came down the path. Tseng, as usual for him, was up early and had dragged Elena along with him. The brat ninja was trailing behind them, her whines about her lack of sleep echoing down into the city. They had almost reached the bottom when I noticed Barret Wallace's lumbering form behind them on the path.

Good. I had a full house for my little performance.

I waited a few more minutes then darted out with a dramatic swirl of cape and raced between the buildings.

“Vinnie! Vinnie!” The brat ninja yelled. I could hear her running ahead of the others.

“Wait!” Tseng yelled and I could hear Elena gasp.

I had their attention and I had a commanding lead. I needed to stay ahead of them to keep my illusion intact. I ran up a few streets and dove through a shattered shell house to another street, feeling grateful that I had tagged along with Vincent years ago and knew this city.

“Vinnie! Wait. We're here to help.”

Her voice was a bit too distant, so I reappeared and fluttered the cape a bit more before darting through the streets toward the shell that led to the cliff face. The brat ninja was in the lead with Elena and Tseng a few paces behind her.

“Don't get too far ahead.” Elena sounded winded.

Really, Tseng should train his Turks better. Vincent used to drag his reluctant Turks out to a track once a month for an evaluation. If they couldn't run a mile under certain time, jump, climb walls, and weave through an obstacle course, they got yanked out of the field and “sent on leave without pay” till they managed the course. Of course “sent on leave without pay” meant they were shoved into a boot camp that made the worst hazing rumors about Soldier that were whispered in hushed frightened voices in Shinra's back halls sound like a pleasant vacation in the tropics. I remember one incentive boosting exercise that Veld had instituted that involved something closely resembling a cattle prod, an obstacle course from hell, and a row of shallow graves at the side to inspire the happy participants to find their higher power.

Have I mentioned that Veld was a nasty bastard? No? How remiss of me.

I quickly climbed my way up through the shell's interior, pausing now and again to make sure that they could see my cape. The brat ninja always shrieked for her Vinnie to stop, Tseng growled a few warnings to the brat, and Elena continued to pant for breath.

I was glad for my lead when I came to the cliff. I have never been a huge fan of rock climbing, and with my limp, I was less than coordinated. Since I was pretending to be Vincent, I didn't need them watching me clumsily faltering my way up. It would have instantly destroyed my act to have them see “Vincent” scrambling about like a klutz.

I was kind enough to wait for them to enter the cavern once I got to the top. I wanted them to see me exit the city and head off towards Icicle. They took their time too. I was just starting to wonder if I'd lost them when I heard their voices coming closer.

“Fuck you Shinra, I don' gotta do wha' ya say.”

Ah, Barret had caught up and by the sound of his voice, he was well and truly irritated.

“Stay out of the way Wallace.” Tseng's voice was icy.

“You aren't supposed to be here.” The brat ninja yelled. “You were supposed to stay go to Corel and see if anyone wanted to evacuate.”

“Dey ain't goin' ta leave.” Barret growled, “An' don' tell me what I gotta do, traitor.”

“Did you even ask them? Did you? Huh?” The brat ninja sounded angry.

“An' wha' if I didn't? Whatcha goin' ta do?”

There was a startled yelp and Tseng snarled. “Leave her alone Wallace.”

“Fuckin' Shinra.”

Lovely. Just lovely. I should have just stayed in the cave and let them kill each other. I crouched at the top of the cliff listening to their argument. After a few moments I decided that Wallace was doomed. Tseng's voice had gotten the calm, indifferent tone that he used when he'd decided that someone was a walking dead man and anything he said was just unimportant noise. I could tell that Elena, by her sudden silence had also realized this and was probably hanging back behind Tseng looking blankly distant. The ninja brat and Barret snarled a few more curses at each other for awhile. Bored of waiting, I started slipping across the top of the cliff towards the exit when they appeared.

“Vinnie!”

Brat.

I slithered past the worst part and tried to leap as gracefully as possible out the cavern's exit. Outside was a slender path that wove down the steep side of the mountain into the valley leading to Icicle. I could easily get down ahead of them then head out into the canyons. A few cape flutters heading towards Icicle and I'd be able to circle back to Vincent.

I managed to get out the exit and even got in a small dramatic cape flourish when I heard a commotion behind me. Feet scuffled, something electronic sparked, and something heavy thudded.

“No! Don't!”

“Wallace!”

“Watch out!”

I was turning to see what the commotion was when heard a sharp snapping sound and I felt something hit me hard. It took a second to feel sharp darts of pain and recognize the sound as gun fire. The path beneath my feet tipped crazily.

“Vinnie!”

“Damn you, Wallace!”

I stumbled a second then fell, tumbling off the path, down into the white abyss bellow rocks and snow swirling up in a blur to meet me.

Vincent

The large rock landing on my foot woke me. I looked around puzzled. A cave? What was I doing here? How did I end up in a cave? And where was my chick? I could have sworn that he'd been with me. I sat rubbing my sore foot and looking around. I was in a small cave sitting on a mattress with a shabby pillow and an old blanket. A shovel was laying on the floor and lurking in the corner was a large pile of dirt. But no gangling chocobo chick.

Hadn't I just been in Midgar? Why wasn't I home? What was going on? Hadn't I just been in… wait…

…wait…

Nibelheim.

Hojo and I had gone to Nibelheim and…

…and…

I bowed my head.

My chick. My poor, silly, innocent chick… What had they done? What had I done? Had I really…

…stood on the scaffolding of the Sister Ray cannon and shot my chick?

I cringed remembering the look in his eyes as I shot him, the surprise, the hurt, the terrible loss. I had done that, I had believed…

…believed that Lucrecia…

My stomach lurched as my memory snapped back fully into place.

I had believed.

After all those months trapped in that mako tube watching her and Gast perform their tests as the pain in my chest clawed through me making me mentally scream to be allowed to die. After the horror of being dragged begging and pleading out of the lifestream and back to my broken, defiled body as Chaos snickered in my mind. Even after I had become her slave, tearing through innocent people, listening to them scream as their life poured over my hands in a red wave. I had believed that she was my love, my courageous, suffering darling. When Hojo had come to get me out of Junon's caves, I had still believed that he was the evil one and she had been the wronged innocent. I had believed that he'd come to take me back to a cage to torture me.

What had I done?

I heard rocks rattling and I looked up. I'd wallow in self pity later. I had to find where Hojo was and what Lucrecia was doing. She had already come after me; it would only be a matter of time before she went after him. My chick knew too much. The knowledge he'd gained from working with me, Sephiroth, and mako would be a threat to her. I couldn't guess exactly what she wanted, but I knew the broad outlines of it. She wanted control and she had an army of demons to give her that control. Having my chick run around with all his knowledge, no matter how broken his mind was, was one thing she could not tolerate.

I picked up the shovel and dug my way out to find myself in the back caverns of the City of the Ancients. I looked around the small cave a moment before I left, looking for anything that might be useful, but only found a few old grenades which were probably more of a hazard to the user that to anyone the user wanted to blow up. They were what Veld used to call Wutaian Poppers. They had a short life before their explosive charge became unstable resulting in a rather disturbing tendency to explode unexpectedly. I was lucky that one hadn't discharged while I'd been sleeping in the cave.

I slipped out of the opening and decided to get to Bone Village. With any luck, Davies would still be around and he'd catch me up on any recent events. He might even be able to give me an idea where my chick had scampered off to.

I jogged down the paths towards the trail up towards the forest when I spotted Yuffie racing through the streets.

“Vinnie! Vinnie! Wait up!”

I was standing in a small passage between two wrecked shell houses and she zipped by without even noticing me. I was just about the call after her when Tseng and Elena flashed by.

“Yuffie, wait up.” Elena panted.

Disgraceful. If this was the level that Turks had sunken to, no wonder Sephiroth had been able to rampage about in Shinra Tower unscathed. What happened to discipline? What happened to Turks being the best of the best? What happened to pride? Dedication? Basic fitness? Veld was probably spinning in his grave, if he had one.

Shaking my head, I started to step out and hastily slipped back when Barret came thundering down the street.

“Fuckin' Shinra. Fuckin' vamp.” He wheezed as he went by. “I can take `im out. Show that punk that I can do it.”

Vamp. That would be me. And Barret was going to take me out? Hardly, even unarmed I could easily defeat him. He was slow, clumsy, relied too heavily on a shoddy piece of outdated hardware for all his offensive abilities, and being the not too bright man's man, he scoffed at defense.

I trailed after them wondering why they believed that they were chasing me when they had passed me in the alley. It wasn't until we got to the conch shell that had the staircase up to one of the main back exits of the city did I understand. Someone had my cape and was running ahead of them.

I hadn't even noticed that I wasn't wearing it. I followed after, curious about who was pretending to be me. Whoever it was, was keeping ahead of everyone and only occasionally appearing. I wondered if Tseng had noticed that he was being led. Whoever was doing this was deliberately luring them onwards. I hung back as Barret caught up with Yuffie, Tseng, and Elena, listening to the conversation.

While I admit that I have never been a great Barret supporter, I have to say he was acting particularly stupid as he stood there snarling empty threats and insults. Yuffie was in tears of anger and frustration. Tseng had obviously decided to dispose of Barret into the next sewer he located. Elena stood at Tseng's shoulder looking edgy and nervous, picking up on her partner's murderous mood.

After a few more minutes of me wondering why I ever got involved with these people, they continued after their quarry, who was probably waiting impatiently for them to stop bickering and get back to being led about.

He was waiting for them at the top of the cliff that led out towards the ice canyons. When he leapt out of the cavern I saw the curve of high cheekbone and one deep set eye. It was my chick. But what was he doing running around in my cape and headband? I started slipping back into the shell behind us. I knew a passage that would lead to the bottom of the path that Hojo was going down. I could head him off and get a few answers.

Yuffie's startled gasp and the sound of Barret powering up his gun arm made me turn back around. Barret had raised his mechanical arm and slammed it into Tseng sending the Turk sprawling. Elena jumped to his side dithering between helping her partner and stopping Barret.

Yuffie sprang in front of Barret as he raised his gun arm and aimed at Hojo. “No! Don't!”

“Wallace!” Tseng struggled to his feet, lurching slightly as Elena tried to help him up and only got in the way. He saw the direction that Barret was aiming and yelled a warning, “Watch out!”

Hojo was nearly out of the cavern but Barret's shot still hit. I saw him stumble then disappear into the snow. I'd kill Barret for that. No one touched what was mine and any loyalty I felt towards Barret had ended the instant he'd aimed his gun arm at Hojo. That he'd had the nerve to shoot… I'd make sure he suffered.

It didn't matter that he thought it had been me. I wished it had been. The bullets would have been little more than annoyances. If it had been me, I would have leapt down and disemboweled the fool. If it had been me, I would have only made a small mental note to myself to get the bullets removed the next time I found a doctor. If it had been me, I might have even forgiven him for his stupidity. But it hadn't been me.

“Vinnie!” Yuffie was scrambling away, up the cracked cliff wall.

Barret snorted and preened. “See, I could handle it. I told Strife that I could.”

“Fool.” I could barely talk I was so angry. “I should kill you now for that.”

Barret, Tseng, and Elena whipped around to stare at me. They did a fine job of gaping a few seconds and I once again had a few doubts about the state of the modern day Turks. Still, I had better things to do than express my disappointment or kill the muscle bound moron. My chick was hurt and I needed to get to him fast. Still, I didn't need Barret on my trail.

Barret only aided my decision to get a quick bit of revenge. He tried to swing the gun arm towards me, but he forgot something. Most people do since I have always been thin and since…since Lucrecia I've added the adjective delicate to my description as well. But with or without the gauntlet, I still possessed more strength than any normal man could claim. The same strength that let Soldiers leap gracefully for hundreds of feet in the air and hack apart large buildings had flowed through my body longer than Soldier had even existed. As he brought his arm around, I reached forward and grasped it by its barrel. It only took a sharp, strong twist and the snapping of artificial connections and the arm came free in my hand. Barret screamed and fell to the ground clutching the stump of his arm.

“Run, Barret.” I tossed the now useless arm at Tseng's feet and raced back down the shell's twisting stairs. “I'll be after you, and maybe if you entertain me enough, I'll make your death quick.”

“Valentine, wait!” Tseng called after me.

I kept running. I shot down a side passage and instantly turned again into a smaller tunnel. The dirt had piled up into fine drifts along the walls of the passages and puffed beneath my feet in powder soft clouds. If Tseng really wanted to track me, I was sure he'd find it easy.

I found the passage I wanted, a long straight one that angled down sharply. There was more dirt here, but it was heavier and coarser, having come in directly from the outside, probably carried in spring melts and heavy storms. At the end of the passage, I could see the soft glow of natural light signaling the exit. I ran towards it, half listening for pursuit, but nothing seemed to be following me.

Perhaps Barret was still causing problems. I should have grabbed Elena's gun and killed him. I was sure that with a small explanation I could have convinced the other members of Avalanche of the necessity of his death. Tifa might get upset, and Cloud would overanalyze it, but I doubted Reeve would mind too much and Yuffie after witnessing him shooting what appeared to be me, would probably cheer. That only left Cid and Nanaki, who would probably listen to Yuffie's tale and my explanation and come to a thoughtful conclusion.

When I got to the exit, I checked around me then took off to the left. It was only a short distance between this point and the foot of the path Hojo had been on. Having seen him stagger and fall, I doubted that he was still on the path, so I started paralleling the path as I jogged along the base of the mountain's cliff-like face. With any luck, Hojo had fallen and slipped downward on the steep incline to rest at the foot of the mountain.

“Valentine!” I looked up to see Tseng standing at the cavern mouth pointing downwards with a bouncing Yuffie at his side.

I waved back and made my way quickly towards the spot. I could see the red of my cloak against the snow. He'd landed a few feet from the foot of the mountain, caught on a snow drift with a long streak of startling red leading downward to his resting place. The snow beneath him was already showing the same staining.

“Hojo?” I brushed the snow away from his face. My poor hatchling. I'll kill him for this. I swear it.

He looked pale, but his eyes fluttered open. “ `idn' werk.”

I pulled him gently off the drift and into my arms to check for injuries. He'd changed a bit since the last time I saw him. The grey hair, the gaunt, tired features had been replaced with a wild tangle of black, silky tresses and a smooth, youthful glow. He looked like he had so long ago when we first walked into the mansion at Nibelheim… except for the wounds. The bullets had hit his shoulder, side, and hip. He'd probably been shielded from the majority of the bullets by the rock of the entrance. Only his left side had been clipped.

“Valentine, meet us up front.” Tseng called down.

“Be careful, Vinnie.” Yuffie yelled. “And don't worry. I'll take care of Barret for you.”

I rather liked Yuffie. She really did mean well and her enthusiasm was often charming… annoying, undoubtedly, but charming. I knew one day she'd be a great woman, but today was just not that day.

I looked up, considered a moment, then waved back an affirmative. It would keep them from interfering while I got my chick out of the area if they were all tamely waiting for me to arrive at a nonexistent meeting. After Barret's little sojourn into ridding the world of evil (me apparently), I wasn't feeling trusting. Hojo had a reputation, one that I'd inadvertently helped create, and I doubted that he'd be greeted with cries of sympathy and concern.

Tseng disappeared back into the cavern pulling along a waving Yuffie, and I lifted my chick up. “We're going.”

“ “ey're afta ya.” Hojo's voice was slurry. He was losing blood.

“That's okay. I'll deal with it.”

I cradled him against me and went back towards the caverns. Instead of going back in the tunnel I'd emerged from, I hurried over a small rise and down into a narrow ravine. It gave me enough shelter and cover to stride rapidly around a small, snow decked hill without leaving any tracks. I then leapt up to the far side and ran lightly across a small expanse to climb up a boulder strewn hillside to reach another tunnel that lead down into the heart of a series of corridors that would take me to the rooms that Banning had once used. His former layer had little appeal but the small corridor that cut down into the bedrock and out to the path would be perfect. I could then get up the path and into the forest before Tseng and the others caught up.

“ `incen'?”

“We're almost there.”

“ `eng. `ach ou' `or `eng.” His voice was fading and he was looking more pale.

“I'll watch out for Tseng.” I found the corridor going down and raced for it. Hang on, love. I'll get you someplace safe.

“ `eeve `ent d' b'at.” He was only barely conscious.

I didn't try to translate that. As much practice as I had had translating his incoherent and most often drunken ramblings, I couldn't make that one out. I just nodded and held him closer wishing I knew what modifications they'd made to him. “Don't worry about it. We'll be in the village soon.”

The corridor that led to the path was difficult to traverse even in the best of circumstances and carrying a mumbling, half aware Hojo didn't make it any easier. By the time we reached the brush covered exit, I was scraped and feeling achy from crouching down and running for so long through a narrow passage, but most importantly, he hadn't been harmed further. I kept low and slipped up to the edge of the path, looking for Tseng and the others. I didn't see them, so I quickly sprinted up the path and past the startled stair monster. The malldancers were swirling about anxiously and when I appeared they lined up for a fight.

“I don't have time for this.” I slipped behind a rock.

A wave of sharp brown leaves slashed overhead. I snarled softly. If I was by myself, I could count on my stamina and healing ability to get me through to the forest. As it was, I had few choices. I had to stay ahead of Tseng, who would only wait a short time before deciding to come find me. I also had to get Hojo to medical care.

I glanced over the rock and saw a few more malldancers had joined the attackers. They spotted me peering at them and I had to duck another attack. I could feel the rock shudder at the impact. Maybe if I prodded them to attack as a group then, when they were reenergizing, run for the forest. At worst, I would take a hit, but I could still get Hojo to safety.

I set his feet down and scooped up a rock. Malldancers weren't the most brilliant of monsters, and I could easily guess that even a relatively harmless attack would still be considered an attack to be met with force. I looked over the rock then when they were all paying attention, lobbed the stone at the ones in the back. As predicted, they all attacked. I ducked again, scooped Hojo back up and as soon as the rock stopped shuddering, ran.

The malldancers swirled in agitation as I raced past them, leaping shattered tree stumps and slithering down ledges till I was nearly at the forest. I heard their attack hissing across the sand towards me and jumped forward curling myself around Hojo.

I felt the leaves cut through me as I landed a few paces away from the safety of the greenery. Another hiss of another attack raced towards me and I stumbled quickly inside falling onto the soft grass. The trees growled softly rustling their branches as I lay at Hojo's side trying to breathe.

“You're a mess.” Someone's feet appeared in front of my face.

I had expected the outraged growl of the trees, but not a snippy comment. I looked up half wondering if the trees had learned a new, not so welcome skill. Instead I found myself looking into a well known face.

“Veld?”

“Hey, not everyone gets to be eternally young.” He grinned kneeling down next to me.

“I thought you were dead.” I forced myself to sit up feeling what seemed to be hundreds of razor like cuts down my back.

Veld shrugged. He looked older with graying hair and tired lines around his mouth and eyes, but he had remained lithe, strong, and rock steady. I remembered him from before, when I'd awoken during the whole half-baked Avalanche crisis. He'd looked older, more worn, and unhappier back then. Now as he leaned over me with a well known smirk, I smirked back.

Planet, I had missed him.

“Contacts. They got me clear.” He offered me a hand and pulled me to my feet.

I nodded. “Help me get Hojo out. Barret shot him.”

Veld hesitated. “You sure? He's changed, Vincent. He's not the man he was.”

I staggered a second before catching my balance. The malldancer's attack must have done some damage to the muscles in my back. I was having trouble not wobbling. “I'll deal with that later. He needs medical attention now.”

“Okay. He's your problem.” Veld steadied me and then picked up Hojo. “Let's move before we get company. Unlike you, I don't feel the need to be resurrected.”

I nodded and stumbled after him. It took me a moment to realize something odd. “Why aren't the trees attacking you?”

“Hm?” Veld stepped over some roots. “Well, I've had some time, so we got to talking.”

“You talk to trees…” I let the statement hang.

“You did it, so why can't I?” He got to the tunnel heading for the village. “We worked out a deal. I tell them about what you are up to, and I get to come in here whenever I want.” He walked to the other end and turned, waiting for me. “After talking to Heidegger for years, talking to a bunch of trees is a step up.”

I nodded, unwilling to argue that point. The very brief introduction I'd had to Heidegger hadn't filled me with grand expectations about his mental agility, much less his conversational abilities. On the other hand, I'd seen Veld politic and network his way into even the most remote, paranoid factions that lurked in the backwaters of the planet. When he used it, Veld did have charm, deadly, deceptive charm. The poor trees probably never had a chance.

“You found them.” Davies was waiting for us and quickly stepped forward to lend me a shoulder.

“The rest will be back soon.” Veld nodded and continued walking. “We need to get them hid.”

It only took a few moments and we were tucked safely in the back of an old skull that had a gift store in the front selling small figurines crafted from fossilized bone. The nearly overpowering scent of cinnamon and apples wafted back along with soft chiming music. The clerk, a smiling young woman in a quaint apron, only nodded, closed the door and went off to extol the virtues of a wind chime made of teeth.

Hojo lay on one small cot and I sprawled on the floor watching as a doctor fussed at my chick's wounds. While Hojo was still drifting in the grey limbo of semi-consciousness, the doctor removed the bullets and began stitching up the wounds. Bettina hovered nearby arranging materia and a hot meal while Davies shrugged out of his shirt, which was a bit blood stained, and got into another.

“I'll deal with Tseng and his group.” Davies gave himself a quick inspection. “What do you think, a bit of guarded helpfulness?”

Veld nodded from where he was sitting in a chair drinking coffee. “Yeah, maybe something about seeing Vincent heading out of town. You could also mutter something about him buying a chocobo lure.”

“We could mention him looking for a boat. A few fishermen left for Junon about an hour ago.” Bettina bustled over with a washcloth and a basin of water for me. “That might keep them busy.”

“Good.” Veld settled back in his chair with a small smirk. “Why not give him both? Tseng loves to poke. Let's give him a lot to poke at. Get some of the boys to mention Vincent being down at the dock looking for a boat.” He nodded to Davies. “You could stonewall them again and let Cooper chirp the information about the chocobo lure. I'll even make Tseng's life more interesting and get a few people in Icicle to swear that they saw someone remarkably like Vincent come through town, while a few people in Junon will declare they saw him get off an old boat down at the harbor. That'll keep him entertained for weeks.” His grin got wider as he looked at my now bloody, dirty cloak and picked up my headband that had been tossed aside by the doctor. “We can even give him some solid proof that Vincent can be two places at once.” He turned the grin to me. “I don't suppose we could have some of that long, pretty hair of yours, hmmm?”

Trust Veld to know how to drive Tseng crazy.