Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Revival of the Departed ❯ Chapter 8

Title: Revival of the Departed

Author: J'dee

Series: Final Fantasy VII - this part based after Dirge of Cerberus

Rating: Mature - NC-17

Pairs: None this chapter… OMG Fight scene!

Story: Alive and well, Zack has returned… but he's not alone. Hojo's experiments on him have caused some schizophrenic side effects that even Zack doesn't realise. Sephiroth and Jenova are alive and well… inside him, plotting their return and destruction of the planet. Will Cloud be able to kill Sephiroth again when he's housed inside the body of his best friend and mentor who doesn't even know what's going on?

(Het/Yaoi/Non-Con)

Disclaimer: Make no money yadda yadda yadda, not my characters ect ect

 

 

Chapter Eight

 

 

Cloud arrived back in the Church late that night to find Reno tied to a chair Zack holding the Turk's phone. Cloud blushed seeing Zack was topless in just a pair of jeans. The muscles rippled in his back in agitation.

“Where is it?!” Zack was shouting at the Turk who tilted his head to the side his ever normal cocky grin on his face.

“Where is what?” Reno feigned innocence.

Cloud sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. Obviously he'd walked in on something Reno had done to piss Zack off.

“The photo Reno! Where the hell is the photo?!” Zack shouted.

“Oh I forwarded it on.” Reno replied. “I'm not stupid yo.” He chuckled.

Zack's hand slapped Reno over the back of the head. “To who?!”

“Your mom.” Reno replied.

“WHAT?!” Zack exploded.

Reno cracked up laughing.

“Reno what did you do now?” Cloud asked walking up to the two.

Zack turned round and stopped seeing Cloud. He was sure he saw Zack blush and clear his throat. The former 1st Class walked over to the water holding the phone over the water glaring at Reno. “That better be a joke for your sake Reno.”

“Oiy yo no don't do that Tseng will kill me! Or worse dock my pay again!” Reno exclaimed.

“Where is the photo Reno?” Zack shot the Turk a look.

Cloud stopped when he saw what looked like a woman's underwear hanging over a pew. “Um Zack…” He motioned.

Zack looked over and Cloud saw Zack run over and stand in front of it flashing a grin. “You didn't see that Cloudy okay?” He continued to smile like it was nothing.

Reno laughed. “Zack got laid…”

“Shut up!” Zack threw the phone hitting Reno in the side of the head.

Cloud swallowed. “Um… might I ask… who?”

“Cissnei.” Reno replied rubbing his head on his shoulder where a bump was starting to form. “I walked in on it.”

Cloud blushed. “He seems to have that timing.”

 

Zack blinked and looked at Cloud. “Is that normal?”

“It seems to becoming that way yo.” Reno replied.

Zack looked at Cloud who was still blushing. “So let me guess you and Tifa?”

Cloud nodded his head before clearing his throat.

“Did he get a photo of the two of you?”

“No.” Cloud replied.

“Lucky.” Zack ran a hand through his silver hair with a sigh. “I swear I'm getting to old for this.”

 

Cloud walked up to Reno crouching low in front of the Turk blue eyes locking with the turquoise eyes.

“You thought it was Jenova with Cissnei didn't you?” Cloud whispered.

Reno nodded. “Till he looked at me then I knew… I just had to get a photo.”

Cloud stood up with a sigh before hitting Reno over the back of the head.

Reno flinched. “Hey OW!”

“What did you do with the photo?” Cloud demanded.

Reno smirked. “I forwarded it on.”

“To who?” Cloud asked.

“Tseng.” Reno replied.

“WHAT?!” Zack raced up to Reno grabbing him by the collar. “Why the hell would you do that?!”

Reno looked to the side. “Hey if you can get laid maybe he might take the hint.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tseng blinked looking at the image on his phone and rubbed his forehead with a sigh. “Damn Reno… I'm docking his pay for this one.” He turned round flipping the cellphone shut and he looked at Rude and Elena standing by the doorway outside.

“You can come in Vincent.” Tseng stated putting the cellphone in his pocket.

The tall figure walked in to the room his red cloak flapping behind him. His metallic boots clunked with each step on the wooden floor of Tseng's office.

“I suppose you're wondering why we called you here?” Tseng motioned at Rude.

Rude just nodded his head and shut the door, trapping the two dark haired men in the silent office.

Vincent looked from the closed door to Tseng. “Chaos told me… Sephiroth has returned.” The ex-Turk stated matter of factly.

Tseng nodded. “He's housed inside of Zack Fair's body.”

Vincent looked at Tseng with a look that read. `And I would know who that is how?'

“Cloud's deceased mentor.” Tseng added. “Who isn't as dead as we thought.”

Vincent nodded. “Then why tell me this?”

“Because we can't tell Cloud or Zack…” Tseng replied. “We believe Sephiroth is going to come after you next he's already gotten to Reno, myself and Cloud.”

Vincent raised a brow. “He's gotten to Cloud and yet you can't tell him?”

“Lets just say he was pretending to be Zack.” Tseng turned round looking out the window over the city that stretched below.

 

Vincent kept his eyes on Tseng's eyes in the reflection of the window. If Sephiroth had indeed got to Cloud, then the major question on his mind was `why is he after me?'

Tseng cleared his throat. “Sephiroth we believe still wants complete Genocide of this planet.” He explained. “He's gathering energy from those who seem to have a lot of energy. The only energy Reno has left is in his legs when he runs away or in his mouth when he can't shut up. Apart from that we have had to remove him from Turk duty till his strength returns. Cloud spent most of the day in bed according to Elena who was watching the house. Tifa let him sleep from nine-thirty am till about…” He paused to look at his watch which read 11:56pm. “Half an hour ago. Myself lets just say I've spent the past few days living on caffeine capsules and several cups of coffee… an hour.” He added.

Vincent looked to Tseng's rubbish and he was greeted with several spent take-away coffee cups to confirm Tseng's story. He had wondered why the office smelt strongly of coffee when he entered.

“That's not good for you in the long run.” Vincent kept his expression straight while making the comment.

“Coming from a man who spent thirty years sleeping in a coffin.” Tseng turned round.

Vincent saw the challenge. “You want me to stay away from Zack don't you?”

“Until we can figure out how to eject Sephiroth and Jenova from Zack's body that would probably be for the best.” Tseng replied.

Vincent kept his eyes locked with Tseng's. “I got Cloud's message. He thinks Chaos might know how to remove Jenova from his friend.”

“And what do you think?” Tseng asked.

“I think I won't know till I go look for myself.” Vincent replied simply.

 

Tseng frowned. “Then take-” He began he was about to say Rude but Vincent cut him off pretty much instantly.

“No.” Vincent shook his head.

Tseng looked unimpressed. “What are you going to do I doubt Cloud will stand by and let you shoot Zack.”

Vincent shook his head. “I want to talk to Sephiroth myself… I need to talk to him.”

“About what? Lucrecia?” Tseng challenged.

Vincent's red eyes narrowed at the Turk. “That is none of your business.”

“Reeve works with us… your involvement in the WRO any everything regarding the events in the past year… well I've made it our business.” Tseng stated.

Vincent continued to glare at Tseng. “If I want to see this Zack then I will. If I want to talk to Sephiroth then I doubt any of you have the ability to stop me.”

Tseng raised an eyebrow. “Don't make this a challenge.”

“Cloud does not need to loose this man again…” Vincent stated.

“And he won't… if you stay away!” Tseng's hands slammed on the desk.

 

Vincent blinked looking at Tseng. “The question isn't what is Zack to Cloud… but what is he to you?”

He saw Tseng straighten up and glare. He knew instantly the man did mean more than Tseng would let on to anyone. “He may be ex 1st Class, but he is a good man. Someone I'd rather no see die again.”

Vincent looked at Tseng. “Someone you care for…?” He challenged the head Turk who glared in response. “Sheltering someone will not prevent their death but make it inevitable. They need to know.”

“No… If you must Cloud at the most but do NOT tell Zack!” Tseng shouted.

Vincent looked at Tseng. “Why not?”

Tseng's fists clenched. “And what would you do if Chaos was hurting the people you care about?”

Vincent stopped. True he had thought about it like that. But he would rather know what in truth he had inside of him than remain ignorant to what it was doing to those he cared about.

“I would remove myself from their vicinity.” He replied matter of factly.

“Exactly and remember as Turks how we do that? SOLDIER mind sets work exactly the same.” Tseng shot Vincent a glare.

“He's not SOLDIER, not anymore…” Vincent stated and walked out the door.

“VINCENT!” Tseng shouted.

 

Elena watched as Vincent walked casually to the elevator. Tseng and Vincent were both men of very few words. But it was the first time she'd heard Tseng yell so much, granted she couldn't hear the conversation but she had definitely heard the tone. It was a lot of yelling well the most she'd heard Tseng yell since Clover and Reno's pranks involving the photocopier and a certain body parts faxed around the office.

They'd both been suspended a week without pay. She admitted it had been far too quiet round the office since Reno had been given his “recovery leave” with little to nothing explanation wise to herself or Rude on why Reno got granted this time off. Even Clover and Walker were out on a mission involving the protection of Rufus while he was away with Reeve on a WRO ShinRA conference.

She admitted she was worried about the red head, he was still himself but there was something that seemed to haunt eyes that didn't seem to have slept well the night before.

Turning her head she looked at Tseng as he seemed to be muttering curses in Wutian.

 

The ex-Turk moved to the elevator not looking back and he stepped inside and it binged, making him look over his shoulder seeing Tseng standing in his office doorway with a pissed off expression on his face.

The elevator doors closed before a female electrical voice remarked.

“Please state your floor.”

“Ground.” Was all Vincent said.

The lift jerked for a moment before going down the fifty plus odd levels of floors to the ground.

 

Rude looked at Elena as she cringe when Tseng slammed his office door. He was in a  mood and with no Reno around for him to take it out on that left them.

Rude watched Elena as she glanced at him worriedly.

“Did you get Reno's sms?” She asked.

“Yes.” Rude stated.

“Seriously what was he thinking?” Elena sighed. “That could ruin Cissnei's chance of promotion.”

“It's Reno.” Was Rude's only statement, as if that justified the image that he'd sent them earlier that day.

“Do you think he sent it to anyone else?” Elena asked.

“Probably Clover and Tseng.” Rude replied. “We're apparently marked as family on his phone.”

Elena sighed. “Flattering that he thinks we're that close… but not pictures you should be sending your family.”

Rude had to agree. But it was Reno they were dealing with. He found amusement in the simplest of things.

Though that was a bit much for even Reno especially when if could jeopardize a fellow Turk's career. Why a group sms message. Rude glanced at Tseng's door. There was definitely something Reno and Tseng were keeping from the rest of them and it involved Reno's latest bout of apparently bad health.

 

Tseng sat at his desk his cellphone open on the desk in front of him. The image Reno had sent through a group sms on the screen. Tseng hit the button on his cellphone the image flipped round and Tseng saw the hidden note and he shook his head. Typical Reno to hide a message for him in a picture that looked like it belonged in a busted porn shoot.

Tseng's eyes skimmed the note scribbled in Reno's bad hand.

“Interesting so Sephiroth isn't the only one who gains strength through… those means… a side effect of Jenova perhaps.” Tseng mused.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack smirked and looked at Reno. “Now where were we?”

Reno shrugged. “Up to the part where you untie me?” He offered.

“Not happening.” Zack stated.

Reno looked at Cloud who just held up his hands. “Not saving you.”

“Awwww c'mon yo.” Reno complained.

“You deserve this.” Zack cracked his knuckles and smirked looking at Reno. “Now tell me where's the original photo?”

“The one on my phone?” Reno asked.

“Yeah.”

“I deleted it.” Reno stated.

Zack raised a brow. “Why?”

“I sent it to my hard drive instead yo.” Reno remarked. “It'd make a good wallpaper.” He flashed a grin.

Zack slapped him over the back of the head. “Why would you do that?”

Reno lent back in the chair rocking on the back legs and he shrugged. “I was bored yo.”

“Do I need to send you to Tseng in a box?” Zack growled shooting Reno a look.

“So long as I'm in one piece yo.” Reno flashed another grin.

“Zack are you just gunna leave him tied to the chair?” Cloud asked.

“Just for the night.” Zack stated.

“And if Jenova wakes up again?” Cloud caught his mentor's eyes.

Zack sighed. “C'mon he deserves something done to him in return.”

“You can't think of one yet can you?” Reno grinned. “So you've tied me up, nice to know you dig the kink.” Zack slapped Reno over the back of the head again.

Cloud pulled out his phone and blinked as it started to ring seeing Vincent's number. “Vincent's calling us back.” He flipped the phone open. “Vincent.”

Zack watched the younger man walk away from them to take the call. “Alone at last.”

“Ohhhhh good.” Reno teased his voice reverberating with sexual innuendo.

Zack hit him again. “Stop that!”

Reno laughed.

 

Cloud shook his head walking away from the two. “I take it you got my message.”

“Yes.” Came Vincent's reply. “I will see what I can do to help your friend.”

Cloud smiled. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

“I know.” Vincent replied as Cloud looked over his shoulder to see Zack hitting Reno over the head.

“Hey ow cut it out yo!” Reno protested.

Cloud sighed.

“I take it everything is alright there?” Vincent asked.

“As normal as it gets given it's Zack.” Cloud let out another sigh.

“You sound disappointed. Are you not glad to have him back?”

“I'm not disappointed I just forgot the little things. That could get irritating.”

“It happens to all of us. I will be by later on tonight. Make sure he's eaten before I get there.” Vincent added.

Cloud blinked. “Um sure I guess we can order out.”

“PIZZA!” Reno shouted.

Cloud watched as Zack slapped him over the back of the head. “What do you have selective hearing or something?” Zack remarked.

“It's food yo. I'm starved.” Reno flashed a grin.

Zack sighed and looked at Cloud who shrugged. “I'll make sure he eats something.”

“Good… give me about two hours at the most there's something I want to look in to first.” Vincent replied.

“Sure.”

Cloud heard Vincent end the call and he snapped his cellphone shut.

“Zack are you hungry?”

“What about me yo?” Reno looked at them.

Zack slapped him over the back of the head. “I'm torturing you, you don't get to eat.”

Cloud let out another sigh. It was going to be a long two hours.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tseng left the office looking to Rude and Elena standing in the doorway. “You're both free to go.”

“Same time tomorrow sir?” Elena asked.

“Yes. We'll be meeting with Clover and Walker at the heliport for when the president returns.” Tseng stated. “Meet there instead of here. They're getting in early.”

Elena nodded. “Have a good night sir.” She left to grab her bag from her desk leaving Rude and Tseng standing alone.

“Sir… will Reno be okay?” Rude asked walking with Tseng to the elevator.

Tseng sighed. “You saw his message. I say he's well on the way to recovery.”

“Yet you sent him to guard Zack knowing full well Jenova is inside him.” Rude stated.

Tseng hit the down button and nodded. “Is this going somewhere?” He asked.

“Only concern sir, for Reno's sake.” Rude remarked.

“Cloud is with them and Vincent despite my warnings will be heading there I'm sure for the night they will be fine.” Tseng replied.

Rude just nodded with his usual grunt of a reply.

 

Tseng watched as the elevator binged open and the two stepped inside. Rude swiping his card hitting the basement button where their cars where parked.

 

Elena watched the elevator doors as they closed and she pulled on her overcoat heading towards the elevator passing by the usual cubicles. The sixteen hour shifts were nothing that she wasn't used to since Rufus stepped back in to office. The new building was large enough to accommodate several office branches. She was surprised that security was no more as tight now as it had been back when she first joined.

She flipped her phone open and looked at the picture Reno sent via sms and she frowned snapping it shut. He may have appeared to act like an idiot but that didn't mean there wasn't a message hidden within the photo. She decided to analyze on her laptop when she got home.

She stopped by the door flicking off the light switches for the office, before making her way to the elevator and hitting the down button. There was definitely something Rufus, Tseng and Reno were not sharing with the rest of them. They were being blatantly obvious that there was more that they weren't sharing and it was silently driving her up the wall.

“Damnit Reno making me worry about you. Stupid jerk.” She grumbled to herself stepping inside the elevator as it binged to life.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Vincent landed on the balcony of the ShinRA mansion that overlooked the Nibelhiem trail leading up to the abandoned Mako reactor.

Returning to the point where it had all started he slipped in through French doors and made his way through the unused mansion that had been his place of burial for thirty odd years.

Walking through the halls heading to the hidden passage ways in one of the west rooms and he slipped in to the basement walking to the ladder leading down to the study.

 

Vincent flicked the light switch and he looked at the numerous amounts of books. This was the place where Sephiroth had discovered the truth of his creation. If he was to confront the man with the physical truth about his real mother in order to lesson Jenova's hold on the man. Then he would need the evidence that she well and truly existed. If Vincent was to find something… anything that Sephiroth missed regarding Lucrecia it would be in this library.

 

He moved through the shelves studying the dates marked in the years, thankful that they had in all this time remained relatively undisturbed. Book after book he flipped through them hurriedly for Cloud or the Turk Reno could be targeted if he did not show at the Church in the slums where Zack was taking refuge. Zack's solitude would probably drive the former SOLDIER crazy, all because Sephiroth and Jenova would not harm the people of Edge.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Lost in his own thoughts Cloud had missed most of Zack and Reno's background banter, as he sipped on the hot drink in the flask Tifa had brought round for them earlier. Flipping out his cellphone he looked at the time. Vincent was late. Granted the man had all eternity to live he was very rarely late. Which meant that there was something Vincent was searching to bring with him, the question was what?

Cloud turned in time to see Zack yawning. That was never a good sign. They had to be on edge when Zack slept.

“So how much longer yo?… these ropes are chaffing.” Reno asked.

“Hopefully not much longer I'd like to get some sleep.” Zack rolled his shoulders.

Cloud was impressed. Zack was normally tired according to Reno after Jenova took over. But for some reason he had lasted most of the day. It was just past two am and the former SOLDIER was still awake.

Cloud just shrugged. “I'm not sure-” He stopped looking up seeing the flash of red in the rafters before the immortal descended landing in front of Cloud.

“Sorry about the wait.” Vincent stated. He held under his arm a single book.

“It's fine. What did you find out?” Cloud asked.

Vincent's face was serious. “There is more than Jenova housed inside of Zack.” His voice was quiet so only Cloud could hear.

Cloud looked in to Vincent's red eyes. “Meaning?”

“Sephiroth.” Vincent stated turning round walking up the church isle towards Zack.

Cloud froze staring at the back of Vincent's cape as he walked. Several thoughts flashed through his head. Mako green had been looking at him last night and his face flushed he let his grip slip on flask of hot drink and it clattered to the ground.

 

Zack heard the clatter of the flask and he saw Reno's face. The goofy expression gone as his eyes narrowed at the man Zack sensed approaching behind them.

“So you finally got here huh? You're late.” He turned round fully expecting an older man in his fifties with graying hair and froze at the man standing there instead he looked no older than twenty-eight. The face though. He couldn't forget that face and he jumped back pointing at him.

“Oh crap… you're that… that… coffin guy!”

 

Vincent merely blinked at the man the silver hair slicked back in to spikes. “My name is Vincent…. Vincent Valentine.”

“You told Cloud didn't you?” Vincent caught Reno's glare. “Tseng won't like that at all.”

Vincent looked over at Reno. “And I'm about to tell him the truth that which you've been hiding from him.”

“Tell me the truth of what?” Zack looked between the two obviously confused.

“Vincent wait!” Cloud raced up to grabbing the man on the arm spinning him round. “Are you sure he's inside of Zack?”

“I heard from Tseng's mouth he advised me not to come here for that very reason.” Vincent replied.

“He…” Zack repeated his eyes flicking to Reno then the Vincent, his fist clenching to the side. “It hasn't been Jenova at all controlling me has it?”

“Apparently not.” Vincent replied.

“Yo it was… to start with.” Reno cut in. “You were just too strong for her. One mention of Cloud's name and she went dormant.” He explained.

 

Zack looked at Reno then at Cloud. “Who was it? And what did he make me do?”

“I'll show you…” Vincent's metal fist clenched and slammed in to Zack's stomach making him double over.

“Zack!” Cloud went to race past and Vincent's right hand shot out stopping Cloud.

Zack landed on his knees in front of Vincent looking up at the man decked out in black leather with the red cape.

“What… By beating it out of me?” Zack croaked.

“You're aware of another entity inside of you now… you will be fully aware of what they're capable of and in future with training you might be able to keep him dormant.” Vincent explained.

“Him…” Zack felt his body slip to the ground as the darkness started to sink around him. He became aware of silver hair. Mako green eyes looked directly at him a smirk forming on that ever arrogant face.

“Sephiroth…” Vincent's voice seemed to echo as he closed his eyes for the moment.

 

Reno pulled at the binds. “Are you absolutely crazy yo? Do you know what's going to happen now?!”

Vincent let Cloud past him as the blonde raced to his fallen friend and he looked up at Vincent. “Are you sure he's inside of Za- him?” Cloud asked.

“Positive. Now untie Reno. I'll worry about the former General when he wakes up.” Vincent stated.

Cloud slipped from Zack's side reluctantly and walked up behind Reno and began to untie him.

Reno shrugged out of the ropes pulling them off. “You know I'm not going to stick around for this yo.”

“I'd rather you didn't.” Vincent stated. “So take Cloud with you.”

Cloud shook his head. “Vincent if you think I'm leaving-” Cloud began.

Reno flicked his EMR on and tapped Cloud on the back of the neck the electrical shock sending the blonde unconscious. Catching Cloud with one arm Reno looked at Vincent.

“You have a death wish you know that?” Reno stated.

“I cannot die.” Vincent replied. “To rouse him what do I say?”

“You say his name.” Reno motioned at Zack. “No one else's. But to get him to leave though who knows.” He slung Cloud over his shoulder and walked past Vincent heading down the isle of the church.

“When he's back to normal… call Tifa… I'll be there with Cloud.” Reno stated walking out the door.

 

Vincent watched as Zack began to stand up slowly. “That was low.”

Pulling out Death Penalty he pointed it at the spiky silver haired man. “It was the only way. You are aware of him now which means to stay in control… you have to get stronger… or die.”

Zack shook his head. “I'm not ready to drop dead again so soon… I promised someone I was going to live.”

“Then learn to fight him… Zack.” With that he fired a round off form Death Penalty.

Vincent watched as Zack's hand shot up and the bullet his the hand causing a gust of wind to blow and the silver hair shot out flowing to his knees at the same time a black jacket flapped behind with the impact. Yet the body of Zack didn't move.

Vincent caught the green eyed mako look cast in his direction.

 

“Bold move.” Sephiroth smirked.

“He can now see your actions. Your thoughts, he will know when you are coming.” Vincent stated.

“And he'll see when you are too.” Sephiroth drew the Masumune out of thin air before charging at Vincent.

 

Spinning round Vincent dodged the blow, his clawed hand shooting over his right shoulder behind him catching the blade before it hit his back.

Looking over his shoulder at Sephiroth, he saw the smug smirk crossing the silver haired man's face.

Vincent's right hand crossed his midriff Death Penalty under his left arm before he fired off three shots, causing Sephiroth to jump back and dodge the bullets.

Vincent jumped up landing several feet back facing Sephiroth. Sephiroth smirked at him.

Quickly Vincent fired three more shots before flipping out of the way of the blade as it swished through the air several times deflecting the bullets and chopping the wood of a few of the beams.

Landing on a fallen pillar above the former general he flipped Death Penalty open reloading before running along the pillar towards the ceiling he leapt from the wood landing on the edge of a pew and firing off a couple of rounds before quickly flipping out of the way as the blade sliced through the wood.

Jumping up in the air he landed behind Sephiroth the barrel touching base with the back of Sephiroth's head.

“You're getting slow Sephiroth.”

 

Sephiroth merely smirked as he heard the gun click over and he dropped his head back to the side, dodging the bullet spinning round bringing the Masumune round and through the floorboards. Vincent held out his hand the claw blocking the full impact of the blow. He was still knocked back a couple of meters, before he jumped up letting the full power shatter a window. Sephiroth smirked, his eyes looking behind him at Vincent back in the rafters of the church.

Three more bullets came his way, Sephiroth spun the Masumune round behind him knocking them off target and in to the wall he was facing.

Listening to the whistle of the cape as Vincent was on the move again, the ex-Turk was still as fast as he was three years ago. The sound of Vincent reloading caught his attention as he spun round, his hair swished behind him. The Masumune striking directly up above him to the broken rafters above and the flash of red moved from the rafter to another pew. The cape drifting to the ground as gravity caught up with the former Turk's movement.

He turned round taking Vincent's stand still motion Death Penalty pointed at him before three more shots were fired. Spinning the Masumune round he deflected the bullets on the blade back in the direction of the ex-Turk.

 

 

Vincent jumped up startled if only for a moment as Sephiroth followed the movement leaping after him Vincent dodged the slash of the sword spinning round and flipping to the other side of the church landing on the wall reloading before propelling himself at Sephiroth firing three more shots.

Sephiroth jumped up the Masumune striking through Vincent's cape. Red curled round the blade Vincent moved upwards pulling the sword with him as shredded book pages flittered to the ground.

Glancing quickly at the pages Vincent moved again to the roof as he realized Sephiroth didn't release his hold on the Masumune and was making the move to strike up.

Sephiroth followed catching a page of the book on the way on the tip of the blade. The two stood on the roof top staring each other down. Green eyes catching red with a smirk crossing his face as Vincent reloaded.

 

Sephiroth charged at Vincent ready to end it Masumune met the metal of Death Penalty as the two shared a glance over metal. Death Penalty went off. A loud reverberating bang echoed the air around them. Sephiroth jumped back at the same time Vincent vanished through the hole in the roof of the church. Sephiroth sliced the Masumune down causing the hole to grow in size. He jumped down landing with the grace of a trained 1st Class. He looked at Vincent perched in the rafters.

 

Realizing this battle was going nowhere and fast Vincent reached in to his cape throwing the book at Sephiroth who sliced through it with out a blink of an eye.

Several pages flittered about. Vincent had picked the book that Lucrecia featured most in image wise, where Jenova was showed an image of Lucrecia followed. He hoped at least one image would catch the former general's eye.

 

Sephiroth's eyes indeed caught the image of Jenova on a page and he grinned. “You've been researching mother I see…” His hand shot out and grabbed the page. Looking at the image of mother he saw a photo on the page of a woman.

“Yes, both of them.” Vincent stated.

Sephiroth grinned. “Trying to bargain me with images of the woman who bore me? I thought you were above such low tactics.”

“You deserve to know the truth.” Vincent stated.

“The truth…” Sephiroth scoffed before his eyes narrowed. “The truth is the humans harvested this planet before mother could. They destroyed this world.”

“Lucrecia would disagree.” Vincent shot him a look.

Sephiroth scoffed. “I never knew the human woman who bore me. She never spoke to me like mother does. I am merely finishing their work before my true mother and I continue her proper goal.”

Sephiroth tossed the page to the side charging at Vincent again striking forward causing the ex-Turk to slam in to a wall. In a flash of red the Turk shot upwards again to the height of the rafters, two more shots whirling out. Sephiroth jumped up avoiding the bullets bringing the sword down knocking Vincent back to the ground.

Sephiroth landed down hard on the ground causing the wood to creak under him. His legs on either side of Vincent's waist pinning the former Turk down, his sword by the side of Vincent's head.

“Using the body of Zack as a host?” Vincent glared.

“Why not?” Sephiroth smirked, the blade touching skin lightly.

 

Vincent grabbed the blade with his claw before spinning round on the ground and flipping upwards landing on the rafter just below the roof Death Penalty pointed at Sephiroth.

“This could have been over with quickly…” Sephiroth grinned. “But this proves it. You have the energy mother needs.”

“For Cloud's sake I'm not letting you use the body of his friend for such means.” Vincent fired three more shots, before jumping to the pews quick to reload.

Vincent dodged Sephiroth's charge vanishing amongst the rafters and shadows of the remainders of the ceiling that was slowly starting to crumble with the impact of this battle. Cloud or Zack obviously wouldn't be happy. Vincent realized they needed to take this somewhere else before the building that held Aerith's memory was completely destroyed.

“You're delaying the inevitable…” Sephiroth spoke calmly. “Perhaps I should just go after Cloud and the Turk again… will that draw you out of hiding?” He smirked.

Even in the shadows Vincent could see Sephiroth was goading him. There was no bargaining with him… unless he got close, but to get close meant to admit defeat. Death Penalty and the Masumune were useless in close hand combat, well almost.

 

Risking it Vincent had no choice racing along the rafters he watched as Sephiroth jumped up and Vincent leaped up firing two more shots and blocking the blow of the Masumune with Death Penalty as it came down from above.

Vincent spun round his foot sweeping out. Sephiroth jumped back to avoided the pointed metal shoe.

Vincent shot across the rafters reloading as he moved before the Masumune struck again, sending Vincent to the ground.

Vincent flashed across the floor, red flicking about him as he moved with speed, before he felt the impact of the Masumune shoot through his left shoulder and pinning him to a wall with a thud, the wood and concrete pillar stabilizing what was left of the church creaked with the impact cracking behind him.

His expression flinched in pain as Sephiroth twisted the blade round standing there smirking at him.

 

“Hold still and this won't hurt a bit.” Sephiroth taunted the former Turk in red

Grinning Sephiroth saw Death Penalty pointed at his head. A new round in the gun, even at that close a normal person couldn't miss unless they were going up against Sephiroth. But this person wasn't normal either… it was Vincent Valentine.

Reminding him of the fact of why he was after this man in the first place. Now he had him it was only a matter of time before he could awaken from within Zack any time he wished…

 

 

To Be Continued…