Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Strife ❯ Wutai Visit ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Wutai Visit

Up above the citizens' heads, stood Sephiroth with a glare that could kill as he watched Cloud walked into the hotel in a hurry. The villain stood, holding onto his wounds, as he breathed with a slight raspy sounds coming from within his throat. He was injured, but not out of the game; soon he would heal and fully regenerated. Only then could he take on Cloud's gang of goody good fighters all at once again. His eyes moved across the small town, and over at the mansion's two large front doors. Once they rested upon that sight, they did not move...they just stared, waiting for something.

Inside the mansion, shouting and arguing could be heard loud and clear. All too clear for one young woman. "SHUT UP!!" Jassi stood up from her sitting spot on the stairs in an outrage. "I know already! Fucking screaming won't change it now...now will it?!?!" The redhead didn't give any time for anyone to reply to her outburst. Instead she got up and stormed out of the mansion, pushing Vincent to the side as she bolted through the doors. Once she was outside, she looked straight up into the air and took in a giant gulp of fresh air. Then she let it out in a minute's period of time. All the while she had her eyes closed, just using her other senses to take in the smell and breeze around her. She smiled as the air moved her hair away from her face, feeling at peace in the nature around her. The serenity of her mood was broken when she heard her brother's voice erupt through the air's movements.

"Jassi! Stop acting like a retard, and get the others...we're leaving to get Yuffie, NOW!" Cloud grabbed his sister's arm, to make her open her eyes, but her reaction was a bit different from what he wanted.

She said no words in warning, she just simply grabbed his arm with her free hand, and with a spin of her wrist she flipped her brother off of her arm, and onto his back. After hearing the satisfying `thud', she opened her eyes to see Cloud holding his chest. Jassi shook her head and smirked as she looked up at his companion, Tifa. "You want a turn too?"

Tifa didn't speak, just glared as Jassi went back into the mansion. The brunette slowly bent down by Cloud's side and shook her head in disapproval. "Are you okay Cloud?"

He didn't speak at first, instead he made quick noises as he tried to gasp in air. Once he finally got back to normal he sighed a bit. "Yeah...I'm okay. She just caught me off guard quite a bit there. She has never had to use her talent, but I really believe she could out fight me...but more importantly, Sephiroth." He stood up, back on his own two feet again with the slight help of Tifa's hand.

All the while, the dark figure still casted down his shadow among the scene and smirked at Cloud as he had to be assisted to get up. As he watched the fiery woman walk off, he spoke in a low whispered voice. "Yes my sweet fighter...keep that spirit going. Yours is a spirit that can not be broken. With determination you could excel everyone's expectations...even your own. Though you could never out do my hopes for you, because I know what you are capable of, just from the energy that radiates from your spirit. Yes, now I am convinced you are worth my troubles. You will be the key to my victory, little sweet warrior of mine."

Soon Jassi walked back into her stalker's view, being followed by everyone who was in the mansion. "Ok Cloud we can go now. Although I don't know what the big rush is about."

"Shut up, Jassi. I've had enough of your mouth for today already, and it's only a little past one." Cloud straightened his shirt a bit then began to speak to everyone else. "We'll spend the night in Wutai. It'll give Yuffie some time to get ready, and give us some rest. Well lets go guys. Is the airship ready to go, Cid?"

Cid's reply was a simple nod as he puffed out a small billow of smoke into the air between them.

"Good, then lets hurry up. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can maybe relax a bit."

Everyone calmly walked out of town, towards the large airship that Jassi knew as `Lady Luck'. No one was speaking, and even though Jassi's eyes were looking down, she knew all eyes were staring upon her. Maybe in disgust or hatred, but whatever look they were, it left an icy feeling on her spine that soon made her shiver. She didn't know it, but Sephiroth still watched her from a far with not a look of disappointment, but a look of satisfaction.

"I will see you soon, Jassi." With those whispered words, he flew off to the northwest at a mild speed so he would not waste his energy. Even at that pave, he would have no problem reaching the village before the group.

Once the airship took to the skies, Cloud, Tifa, Barrett, and Vincent went into the meeting room to have a discussion while Red and Cid watched Jassi.

"She's already proven that she can not be trusted with anything." Barrett was the first to speak out against the young Strife. "She's a moron! She has no idea what kind of monster he is!"

"Jassi has always taken care of herself and no body else. Why should we have to go through so much trouble for her?" Tifa spoke as she looked over at Cloud.

"Yes, I know. She's more trouble than she's worth, especially now. The problem is what do we do about it?" Cloud's eyes looked at each of the three in the room and stopped on Vincent. "What do you have to say Vince?"

The dark man unfolded his arms and stood up straight from leaning on the wall. "Well, she has some balls...even though she should be shot. I say we keep her around. If we have to fight anything other than Sephiroth, I believe she will definitely help kick some ass because she enjoys battle."

"No, lets give her to Shinra. Scarlet and Palmer would be happy to take care of her for us."

"No, Barrett! Vincent is right...Jassi will be a great advantage in any fights we may find ourselves in." Cloud was now looking down at the glossy table top. "If she brings any unnecessary danger to any of us, we will have to do something else with her. Until then...she will remain with us, under watch."

It took a few minutes, but all in the room nodded slowly. "Okay, lets get in the cockpit with the others. We should be at Wutai soon."

Jassi was leaning against the railing as she watched the sea go by below. "Red...do you think I'm stupid, now?"

The large feline lifted its head off of his front paws to look at her. "No, Jassi...you're a very smart human, and you're also very talented. You simply saw a different path to take than most people. You were destined to go that way. I will always be your friend, Jassi. I just hope your path doesn't bring you in harm's way."

A small smile spread across her face as she switched her gaze onto her furry friend. "Thanks Red, I knew if anyone would still be there for me...it would be you."

Before the two could continue there conversation any further, the four others walked into the cockpit area, which made Jassi immediately go back to gazing at the water. She didn't want to look or speak to them. They didn't understand or care to understand her.

"We should be coming up on Wutai in just a few minutes, I can see it in the horizon," Cid smiled as he bit down on the cigarette in the corner of his mouth.

"Great...thanks Cid." Vincent leaned back against the ship's wall as the speed began to slow down.

Everyone was silent during the rest of the flight. As soon as 'Lady Luck' landed outside of Wutai, the passengers left to exit the plane. "Alright everyone, lets go find Yuffie." Cloud began to lead the way, but stopped as Jassi began to talk.

"I'm going to go walking on my own. There's a few people I want to see before dark."

Cloud gave her a suspicious look as he began to talk, "no...you might go running off."

"For god's sake Cloud! I just want to visit some friends, chill out already!" She walked right past her brother, bumping into his shoulder on her way by. She didn't stop until she got into the village and turned around a building's corner, out of sight. She was about to walk off when she began to hear the sound of talking...children. Jassi walked forward until she could see behind another corner, and there she saw three rather plump boys...picking upon one skinny, smaller boy. Her eyes glared at those fat little bullies as they pushed the boy to the ground and began laughing. Without a second thought she walked up behind the boys, her eyes a blaze of lightning as she spoke. "What do you think you brats are doing?!"

The three boys turned around and their eyes went wide at the sight of her eyes. "Oh...oh, we were um..."

"Just as I thought..." Jassi bent down to look each of them at eye level. "Get out of here!" Her eyes flashed more violently as she spoke the last words.

The three bullies didn't take anytime to think about her order, instead they fled all around the corner screaming out for their mommies or just for help. Jassi smiled and giggled a bit, and at the same time her eyes faded. After a moment she turned to look back at the boy, who was still crumbled up on the ground. "Hey...are you okay little guy?" She bent down and placed her hand on his shoulder.

He flinched a bit, but looked up at her slowly. "Who...who are you lady?"

Jassi smiled brightly at the boy. "My name's Jassi Strife...what's your name?"

The boy sat up and then smiled back as well. "Wow...are you related to Cloud Strife? He's my hero...oh I'm sorry. My name's Radian Motley."

"Oh...well yes, Cloud is my older brother. Radian...why were those boys picking on you?" Jassi's smile was no longer as big, annoyed by Cloud's hero position.

"They always pick on me...I'm smaller than they are, and I can't fight."

"Well...hey you want a lesson so you can learn a very easy move that will keep them off your back for ever?"

"Can you really teach me something like that?!" The little boy was jumping with excitement.

Jassi let out a small laugh as she nodded. "You bet, now just watch carefully. First I need you to go and punch at me in slow motion. I promise I won't hurt you."

Radian calmed down a bit and balled up his tiny hand into a fist. Then he slowly moved it toward Jassi. She placed her hand over his fist, grabbing it firmly. "Now watch how I turn my wrist." The instructor slowly turned her wrist to the right, making the boys arm turn as well.

"Wow! Can I try?!" The enthusiastic boy watched his arm being gently twisted the wrong way.

"Sure, go right ahead...here I go." Jassi slowly threw a punch to the boy, trying to make the smallest fist possible so he could grab it. When he did; he slowly but firmly turned Jassi's arm to his right.

"Whoa calm down killer. You don't want to break you teacher's arm." Jassi laughed a bit as he let go. "You definitely got it down...good job."

Radian smiled from ear to ear. "Thank you very much Miss Jassi. I'm going to go home and show my dad!"

With that said, Radian dashed off home, ready to make his dad proud. Jassi just watched him go with a small, satisfied smile.

"That was very sweet...I didn't know you liked children."

Jassi spun around to see Sephiroth standing there. She let out a sigh before speaking. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be recovering."

"No, I'm here for you. Come, let's go."

Jassi shook her head. "No, not now...I will leave with you as soon as they all fall asleep. That way we will have some time before they notice I'm gone, and come after us."

"I can't wait...I have another...associate waiting, and I can't keep him waiting."

Jassi shrugged, "Well then go...I will meet you there once they're asleep. Where will you be at?"

"Shinra headquarters, or what's left of it. How will you get there?"

"Oh I have my ways." Jassi smirked at him. "You better leave before anyone sees you, cause then I'll never get away."

"Very well...I will expect to see you there before dawn. If you're not there...we will continue on our way. We can't wait for our plans, not even for you. I'm sorry Jassi...but we have a tight schedule for tomorrow." Sephiroth took her hand in his, then slowly moved it to his mouth, kissing the back of her hand softly. "See you tonight." With that, he jumped into the air and flew off, out of sight.

Jassi blinked in disbelieve as she stared at her hand. Did that just happen? Her mind kept replaying the moment until she was positive it DID happen.

Sephiroth smirked with satisfaction at himself as he flew at high speeds to the east. "She's within my grasp now...all I have to do is wrap my fingers around her." He chuckled with an evil smirk in his eyes.

Upon Jassi's face was a smile as well, but hers was a purer smile. It was true to her feelings...her feeling of love for that man. After a few moments of thought and looking at her hand with that same sweet smile, she came back to reality. "Well...I guess I better see what's going on with Cloud and the gang."

"I can't believe he's back already. I just arrived home, and now you want me to leave again...and risk my life all over again. I'm sorry Cloud but I can't leave my home so soon. I have duties here now, and I won't abandon them." Yuffie stood there in her living room of her home, standing in front of everyone.

"Yuffie...we need you." Tifa walked up beside her and gave her a grave look. "How can you say no to saving the world?"

"Easy...I think of everyone else in this village besides me. I have a place again...I'm sorry but I'm not going. Nothing you'll say will ever change my mind." Yuffie's face had a grim look as she spoke. "I'm sorry everyone. You're all welcomed to stay, but I won't be leaving with you."

"Okay Yuffie...you don't have to...we understand. It's not a situation that any of us would like to be in either. Thank you for letting us stay here. But I will have to leave for a moment. I have to make sure Ja..."

As he was speaking, he was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and there stood Jassi. "Well hey there everyone...Yuffie you mind if I come in?"

"Not at all Jassi." The young thief smiled at her. "Always glad to see you, Jassi. How have you been?"

"Oh I can't complain...I just ran into a little boy named Radian. Do you know him?" Jassi walked into the room and sat down on a large pillow that was sitting on the floor.

Yuffie nodded. "Oh yeah, I know him. The poor little guy gets picked on all the time."

"Well he shouldn't anymore. I just taught him a self defense move that should scare those three chunky boys enough to leave him alone for awhile...if not forever." Jassi smiled, feeling good about helping the little boy.

"Really? That's really awesome. That poor kid deserved something better then being harassed everyday." Yuffie smiled a bit at the thought. "I'd like to see him out do those bullies, but anyways. I want you to know Jassi that I won't be joining you on this adventure. I'm busy here right now."

"I totally understand. I don't want to be here either right now, but hey we all can't choose where we get to be." Jassi spoke in a normal tone like her words met nothing just then. "Well I am going to say hello to your father Yuffie. I would like to see him again, very much." Jassi stood up, but before leaving she bowed to Yuffie. Then she bowed back to Jassi, letting her leave without another word.

"What was that about?" Yuffie gave a puzzled look towards Cloud. "Is your sister okay?"

Cloud sighed and the entire group pitched in on the story on what Jassi had been up to, and what Sephiroth had in mind for her.

Jassi walked off towards the tower that overlooked all of Wutai. She knew her martial arts master would be waiting for her arrival, at the top of that tower. Jassi didn't mind the climb up the stairs, in fact she found it soothing. It gave her time to think of what to talk about to her teacher during this visit, and how to word the events that had happened. Before she knew it, she was at the top floor and standing before her master. He was sitting on a giant pillow that rested on the wooden floor.

"Hello again Jassi...it has been quite some time since you have come here. What has kept you away..., and what's troubling you? Your mind is wandering." He motioned his one hand for Jassi to sit down as well.

"Yes...I have had many things to think about lately. A decision I have to make...it could change my life, no everyone's life." As she spoke, she slowly let herself sit down on the maroon pillow.

"So you've come for my advice? Then you must open up to me Jassi." He grew silent for a bit, until he began speaking again. "Lets mediate Jassi, free up our minds, and mind link. I can answer your questions best after that."

She breathed in deeply, and nodded to her master. "Very well...lets meditate." She closed her eyes and interlocked her hands in her lap so her arms could relax. After a view moments her mind traveled at a radical speed, everything around was a blur as she traveled by. When she came to a stop, she was at the crater, standing over the blood stain she had left. The view moved from the stain to a few feet to her right, where Sephiroth had laid in his mako incasing. Jassi knew, everything her mind was showing to her...her master was also viewing. In another instant she was off again, with everything a blur. This trip took longer that made Jassi feel disoriented, and nauseated. When she felt like she couldn't take anymore, the trip suddenly stopped again. There, she was back at the crater, but this time it was collapsed again, and she was standing deep down in it's core. She looked down to see a bloody dagger, her own, in her hand. She had such a tight grip on the weapon, her knuckles were white. Then she noticed, on the ground, beside her, was Sephiroth. He had been stabbed in the heart, and Cloud and his company were all staring at her in a look of shock. Jassi was so shocked by this sight, she lost all concentration, and her meditation had ended.

"Oh my god..." She spoke at a quiet, whispered voice, as her eyes looked at the floor with shock. "That couldn't of been real."

"It was Jassi...it was your future, but is it the future for you if you choose to go with Cloud or Sephiroth? This is still the decision you will have to make. The only advice I can give you in this matter is...follow your heart Jassi. It's what all martial arts experts must learn to listen to at all times." The old man bowed his head slowly, a sign that she was dismissed.

Jassi slowly bowed back, and got up to her feet. "Thank you master...I will see you again, before this is all over." Jassi turned away from the man, and she walked down the stairs. As she descended, her mind began wondering just as much as when she was going up the stairs. How could of that been her in that vision? She would never kill Sephiroth...or at least she didn't think so. The vision made the decision for her; if she would loose him in any way in the future, then she would spend as much time with him now as possible. Jassi nodded with a small smile at her decision. She would leave as soon as everyone was asleep, and soundly asleep at that.

She continued to wander around the village for a few more hours, until the sky started to turn into an array of oranges and yellows. By the time she reached Yuffie's house, the group had already laid down in the living room and the two spare bedrooms. Red was curled up on one of the pillows, while Vincent was on the couch. Tifa and Cloud were together in a spare room, while Barrett and Cid were in single beds in another room. As Jassi walked a little further, she noticed Red was looking up at her, and he whispered to her.

"You can sleep on those pillows over there if you want Jassi..." Red laid his head back down on his paws and closed his eyes.

Jassi laid down on two pillows that were side by side. Her chances were riskier now that the two most observant members of the group were right beside the door. Now she had to creep to a back door, if there even was one. The biggest problem she soon realized, was that she was tired. The comfortable pillows made her realize just how much sleep she had been missing with her most recent antics. After an hour she was to the point of holding her eyes open with her fingers. Finally she had to risk getting up and leaving or she would never leave before one of the others woke up. She edged around the walls, knowing the boards there were less likely to squeak. She made her way out of the living room with little problem, but she saw no door leading outside from the hall...it was in one of the rooms. Jassi had to determine it was one of the two back ones. She knew Yuffie would awake to the sound of her own bedroom door open, so she had to choose carefully. Jassi reached the end of the hallway, and stood in-between the doors, looking back and forth. After a few moments, Jassi's ears picked up on a door knob turning behind her. She had to move NOW or get caught by Cid...Barrett...Tifa...or Cloud. It didn't matter who it was, the outcome would all end up the same. Frantically Jassi grabbed the handle on her left, and walked through as quietly as possible, knowing the sound of the door behind her would cover the noise to them. She stood behind the door, listening to see if they noticed she was not in the living room, but all she ended hearing was the sound of a toilet being flushed and another door being shut. Jassi's face was all smiles with relief, Jassi slowly turned around to see Yuffie looking at her with an odd expression.

"What are you doing Jassi?" Yuffie had one eyebrow raised at her friend's odd behavior.

Jassi's face went blank, her face was probably as white as a ghost as she stared at Yuffie, dumb founded. "Well...I...um..." Then she had to just breath in deep and look Yuffie in the eyes. "I have to get out of here Yuffie. I'm sure they told you what I've done, and I just have to go..."

Yuffie stayed quiet for a moment, keeping Jassi in suspense as she looked right back into Jassi's eyes. After about two minutes of staring down each other, and Jassi not breathing the whole time; Yuffie finally spoke up. "Go...get out of here before someone else hears you."

Jassi blinked a bit, then finally sucked in some air into her lungs. "Are you serious?"

Yuffie nodded as she began talking again. "Yes, now go on and get out of here, but just to let you know...the next time we see each other, Jassi; I won't get to treat you like a friend. You'll be my enemy then, and you should think of me as the same."

Jassi nodded, then bowed slowly to Yuffie in thanks just before she went out of the room and into the next. There was the back, sliding, door that she had been anticipating for a while. She dashed out the door with hardly a sound, and then she ran through the night. She was one with the shadows, using them to her advantage. Soon she was out of town , and the moonlight shone on her like a spotlight, but she didn't care. No one was around to see her, or hear her. She ran, letting the wind blow her hair away from her face, until she reached the shore line that faced southeast. As she stood there, watching the small waves crash around her ankles the air grew very still so the waves soon turned into nothing. After a moment of pure silence and motionlessness, Jassi suddenly leaped into the air, and landed into the water, but the moment her feet touched the top of that water; she was off like a lightning bolt. The water sprayed into the air at least five feet on each side of her as she bolted on top of the water. At that moment, Jassi felt as free as the birds soaring above her. The night sky, the cool water spraying in her face, and the knowledge that she would be by Sephiroth's side once again soothed her into a moment of pure relaxation; even as she was moving at speeds up to 900 miles an hour.