Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Predetermined ❯ Day 4 ( Chapter 4 )

I was deployed to Wutai. I don't remember how long it has been since I have written, but it can't have been more than a week at most. With Hojo lurking on my mind to get this stupid journal done, I can't easily just `forget' to write. I was asked to meet the man we will employ here. The rumor was true after all and I'm rather peeved at the thought but it's an order—not a request. Reno was going to come with me, but for a simple pick up, get acquainted, and evaluate whether or not the man can be trusted, only a solitary person was needed: someone who wouldn't screw the objective over and have the employee running for the hills within the first five minutes. So Reno stayed behind and here I am drinking a scotch in Wutai's bar and wondering when this new guy will get here.

 

I was dressed casually enough, although not in my normal working uniform. Casual enough to look like a customer but spiffy enough to do business. With my dark, navy blue over-jacket draped across the back of my chair, my pressed white shirts and black pants were nothing out of the ordinary for either a more formally dressed citizen or else a resident stopping in on his break from work for a drink. My barely shoulder length hair was pulled back and tied up, but my bangs some managed to free themselves. I sipped my alcohol, the small fountain in the corner of the elaborately decorated room serenely trickling over the murmurs of the other guests. I had an eye on the door, looking for my man, but situated in a corner away from the other people yet not so obscure as to look suspicious.

 

People came and gone, drinks were ordered and served. A man dressed in black, with red eyes—his most prominent feature. Short black hair. There were several men in black, two of them with short black hair, but none with red eyes that I could see. Somehow I didn't think this man would associate himself with other guests or partners while on a trip to be picked up and secretly observed by a former Turk. I tended to my drink again, observing the room once more to pass the time. I watched as a couple battled with chopsticks over the last piece of sushi. It looked almost serious until the guy won and the girl burst into fits of giggles. Too much wasabi.

 

“Here you are sir,” the bartender said. I was about to open my mouth and tell him I hadn't ordered anything, but a voice next to me thanked him quietly. The bartender had addressed the man sitting next to me: the one I hadn't even noticed was there. How could I miss him?

 

I stiffened as he sipped his drink. Dark clothing. Short, raven hair. It had to be him, but why sit by me? There were other barstools and other tables—even though nearly all the unoccupied table's chairs had been stolen and used at other tables. I didn't look at him; waited until he'd say something, but he didn't speak. I finished my scotch and wanted to chase my paranoia away with another, but didn't want to end up too buzzed. I looked at him from the corner of my eye but I couldn't catch his full face. To be sure of my actions and myself, I stood, draping my jacket over my arm as I paid for my drink. At the door I caught the shadow of a look from the man who had been sitting next to me and I nodded very slightly to him. Outside the sun was crawling sluggishly towards the backside of the surrounding mountains. The cherry tree's leaves swayed and danced in the cool breeze, floating and swirling in intricate patterns and scattering across the scenery of the oriental city, Wutai.

 

Wandering over to the busy little river that flowed through the city, I situated myself under a sakura tree, its pale pink blossoms hailing me from above. Laying back as the petals rained down and the zephyr caressed my cheek, I closed my eyes, hands behind my head and enjoyed the serenity. I was close to dozing when I felt the faintest brush of something on my face. It wasn't the delicate landing of a fragile petal, but the softest trace of fingers brushing the petals off me. I couldn't determine whose they may have been other than a woman's. My eyes flickered open in annoyance at whichever female had followed me and was now disrupting my peace.

 

Greeted by heaven's pink pearls, I looked around and spotted deep ruby eyes watching me placidly. I was startled, I must say, by his soft features and even by the thought of him brushing a blemish off my face the way a loving spouse might fondly mother a companion. Blinking, my steadfast composure unfaltering, I gave him a half smile which probably came off looking more like a smirk. So much for watching him in secret. We remained in silence for a few long minutes before anything was said.

 

“The angel's wings are whiter here,” he said softly, his voice like a murmured sigh. I said nothing, just tried to find my voice. He watched the sakura petals falling, a somewhat thoughtful look gracing his pale face. I sighed and sat up, brushing stray blossoms off of me.

 

“Well then…shall we?” I asked as I stood, pocketing my hands as I shrugged on my jacket.

 

The young man nodded and accompanied me as we skirted the river.

 

“I will be your representative from ShinRa. My name will be unnecessary for now.” The dark fellow nodded. Procedure.

 

“Vincent Valentine,” he said with a nod of acknowledgement, his voice stronger; a darker more masculine voice than his whisper earlier, but still low and soft.

 

“A pleasure,” I said simply, with no conviction. I thought I had run the procedure and questions over and over in my head enough times on the trip here, but it seems I wasn't sure how to present them now. I had already asked myself this question plenty of times, but: why this guy? He didn't work for ShinRa. It was rare to employ anyone for the Turks if they didn't at least work for ShinRa Inc.

 

As far as I knew, only two others, in all the history of ShinRa, had been inducted that way and both had been killed awhile back.

 

“What was your last position of work?” I asked, trying to speak blandly despite the intrigue that entered my voice. I should see this man not as something interesting, but as a rival. He was quiet at first.

 

“A handy man of sorts,” he said, deciding to settle on his answer.

 

“A handy man? Could you be less vague?” I tried to sound assertive to intimate that I wouldn't accept foolhardiness or games, but my tone came out as stiff. I cleared my throat and looked at Vincent for a reply, eyes veiled and hardened, guarding my emotions.

 

“Well,” he began slowly, his pace slow and purposeful, his gaze straying from the grass to the sky as he stopped. “A repairman, a secretary, a nurse, an assassin, a librarian….” He shrugged and offered a faint smile. “Whatever got me by really. I didn't associate myself too well with other companies. I've remained neutral, if that means anything. But I must beg you consider,” his voice had dropped to a dangerously cool, almost warning tone, “that although I may pledge allegiance, I will only do my job, if you can understand my avoidance of ties.” I considered him a moment, the river merrily trucking along at a swift pace, stumbling over smoothed stones and worn logs that had embedded themselves in cracks and crevices and mud.

 

“You hold no ties yet you do not wish to wear ShinRa's banner proudly?” I asked as we walked on again towards the other side of the city.

 

His gait slowed as he thought. I considered him thinking up an excuse but if he was, he convincingly looked as if he was unsure how to answer.

 

“Well,” he cleared his throat as we picked our pace back up again, “because of experiences I'd rather not bring up at the moment, I will not remain loyal to any company. This has to do with the alliances of other companies, of course.” With narrowed eyes I allowed the information to sink in a bit.

 

“That story won't go over well,” I said flatly. Vincent stopped beneath the shade of a large sakura tree, the shadows falling over him like a thin blanket. His expression had darkened.

 

“Once, in order to infiltrate another company and try to bring them down from within, I had to become employed with the opposing company. I had pledged my allegiance to one company and was working faithfully under them. It turned out the company I was infiltrating wanted me to do the same thing for the very company I was really working for.

 

“I refused and wanted to back out, but, because of the second company's contract, they withheld me, and then, under suspicions, found I was working for their opposing company—against them. The very thought never settled out well. You can see where this is going.” He laughed dryly, hands in his pockets as he accompanied me once more in walking, the towers of the pagoda and the hotel now in sight. He paused, perhaps allowing me to ask him to go on, or infer any other questions but I said nothing. He continued with a shrug.

 

“The second company held me to their contract and harassed me until I sold my first company out. This was several years ago, so you can imagine I was scared of losing my life, which the second company so nicely threatened.” Vincent shook his head. “But when they fired me and turned me over to the first company, my original boss found out and it didn't turn out so well either. For weeks I couldn't sleep for fear of gunmen taking me out, and I always looked over my shoulder down the street.”

 

Vincent laughed.

 

“That won't look any better,” I said, an eyebrow raised. “And even if you pledge allegiance to ShinRa and are asked to do a job like that, then what?” Vincent's eyes glinted mischievously, a small bitter smile on his lips.

 

“How many companies are in the long run with ShinRa?” he asked in a low voice, eyebrow cocked.

 

“Point taken. Nonetheless….”

 

“I was wondering myself why the President of ShinRa would want me working for the Turks. Knowing your status and reputation I wouldn't exactly make the best impression of a Turk.” I smiled smugly to myself, wanting to agree with him out of my pride, but I didn't.

 

“Didn't you come asking?”

 

“Well yes, but I was also asked specifically to take on the job,” he said, giving me a slightly questioning look.

 

I must have searched him incredulously for this time I stopped, but I quickly recovered.

 

“Why am I even here?” I muttered.

 

“Maybe I was sent as a double to hold you hostage,” Vincent shrugged. I merely shook my head. Another drink would be good. We made it to the hotel as the sun was swooping even lower into the horizon and casting tremendous shadows from the mountains. Entering the red and gilded house, we were shown to a room as we situated ourselves on pillows on the tatami mat floor. Futons were on either side of the room, and as Vincent has volunteered to fetch strong tea, I have been writing here. It has been much longer than I thought it would take, but I doubt if something were wrong.

 

Ah well. He's an interesting fellow, and amazingly neither of us two know why he was hired even. I wonder if this has anything to do with Heidegger, Scarlet, and Hojo's plans. A farfetched notion, I know, but what other motivation is there?

 

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See that was longer, ne? Awww Tseng hasn't entirely gotten over puberty yet….. heehee I haven't entirely defined their ages but Tseng's about 20 years old, Rufus is 16 and Vincent's about 25, probably a little younger but there about, to give him the time lapse leading up to his entrapment. I don't know much about Vincent's experience in the Turks prior, or even how long he was in there, but all of the journal's event happens over the course of less than a year…. Just in case you needed explaining ^ ^;

 

Review for me and I work up a good chapter 6 since I've finished chapter 5 but it's short…… heh