Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Divine and Atonement ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Behold my first Final Fantasy story! Yeah! For some reason this just popped up in my head and I had to get it out. Fellow authors out there can understand what that is like. True I have other stories out there that are screaming for my attention, but I could not give them the effort they deserved with my head wrapped around this. So now that I have this part out, I can focus better on everything else. And don't worry, I won't just write this part and forget about it. I have major plans for this. But this first chapter was a purging if you will. I hope you all will like it. Oh, following chapters will not be as short. TRUST ME. So, on with the story.

Isa.

Disclaimer- I don't own Final Fantasy or its characters. So there!

Words like this represent thoughts.

Chapter One

What is in a name?

She used to call me `Vinnie'.

But somewhere along the line in these past three years the ninja decided to grow up. Gone was the somewhat clumsy, chatty, loud, obnoxious little girl, and in her place was a graceful, sarcastic, deadly and vivacious young woman. And although she still maintained that mischievous gleam in her metallic eyes which kept everyone around her on their toes, she didn't call him `Vinnie' anymore. She called him Valentine.

Certainly this was a more acceptable name; it was just that an infinitesimal part of him missed the old endearment. In some small way it had made him feel more human. A feeling he craved more desperately than he would care to admit. This less personal designation of his person left him feeling somewhat cold and perhaps a little wary of this new person before him. Claret eyes narrowed once more on the leader of the ragtag group he found himself traveling in. Deep brown hair that had once been cut boyishly short now gently brushed creamy shoulders that were sprinkled with a few freckles due to exposure to the sun. She still wore her trade mark white bandana yet it now carried a symbol of the Leviathan in its center. Her frog collared sleeveless top was a deep blue and ended just about mid-thigh with slits going up the sides to her waist showing tight black shorts that ended where her tunic did. The delicate clinging of the material did little to hide the attributes that the young ninja appeared to have developed along with her mental maturity.

Vincent though decided to ignore this and focus on something else. Instead he watched as his former battling partner got into a heated conversation with one of her underlings; a scout by the looks of his attire. His eyes were drawn though to her hands which moved animatedly as she spoke. In fact her whole body seemed to move when she talked. It was very rarely still. Apparently the ninja still maintained the energy that had so annoyed everyone else in the past.

At least not everything has changed.

Vincent thought back to three days ago when he had met up with his young friend. He had been traveling through the mountains of the Western Continent for several days. His black chocobo Ruth making slow but steady progress through the rough terrain. He had not realized he was in Wutai territory until four ninja stars landed on the ground before him and a strangely familiar voice called out to him in the clear morning air.

“You have strayed into Wutai territory, traveler. State your purpose before you are allowed to pass.”

”I am just as you had said a traveler. I seek no trouble, only a safe passing.”

“You say you do not seek trouble but I know for a fact it follows you, Vincent Valentine.”

Leather creaked as Vincent tightened his grip in Ruth's reins. “You have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, yet I do not know you.”

The scent of ginger and vanilla invaded his senses before a young ninja woman dropped down from a ledge above him. With her fists on her hips and her chin lifted in that arrogant manner, add to it the laughter brimming in those steel grey eyes Vincent was left with little doubt as to whom he was dealing with.

“You break my heart, Valentine. Have you really forgotten me after just a year?”

“Yuffie, it has been…a while.” Vincent couldn't help the pause at the lack of his former nickname. Something he was still not accustomed to three days later. “You look…different.” He said taking in her appearance.

“I must say, Valentine. When you use such charming words it's a wonder you don't have women flocking all around you.”

Vincent though refused to comment on this as he took note of the group of ninjas that had gathered around their little reunion.

Yuffie on the other hand never took her eyes off her former team mate as she issued orders to her men. “Judoki, I thought I had told you to keep the others back until I had talked to my friend here. Please leave until I have finished.” She then waited until the others had left just as silently as they came before walking over to where Vincent was still seated atop his chocobo. “I wish to apologize for my comrades. They mean well but sometimes have a hard time following orders when they are worried about my wellbeing.”

“You were expecting me.” Vincent said as he swung his leg over Ruth and proceeded to get down. It was a statement, not a question.

“You could say that. I've had my scouts keeping an eye out for you for a couple of weeks now. When word reached me about where you were heading, I decided to wait here for you to come to me. It certainly took you long enough.” Yuffie said with a cheeky grin.

Vincent raised an eyebrow as he stared at the ninja before him. “My apologies, Yuffie. Had I known you were waiting for me I would have moved faster.”

“Don't worry about me. It is yourself you should be worried about. Strange things have been happening lately and for some reason it involves you.”

“Explain.”

“What do you know about the Purists.?”

Vincent gave Ruth a bundle of greens then followed Yuffie to a large boulder to lean against in the shade. “Not much. From what I have heard they are a small cult that places a high value on life.”

Yuffie squatted down before the boulder and leaned back on her heals as she looked up at Vincent. An act she had done many times in the past. Her deep sigh though alerted Vincent to the fact that the former prankster was now very serious. “They aren't so small anymore. They are growing in number and power daily. They walk around in black cloaks that cover their faces and I suspect they are the ones behind a recent string of kidnappings and murders.”

“And why does this pertain to me?”

“To think I once considered you the patient one. Alright then, here's the deal. About a month ago a couple men in black cloaks came to the temple asking for you. They said they had seen you in the area but lost your trail. These men claimed to be bounty hunters searching for a mass murderer and that you were the main suspect. Apparently you are a danger to society.”

Anger swept through Vincent's being swiftly, but only his eyes gave his feelings away. “I have not done what these men accuse me of.”

“Calm down, Valentine. I know this. That's why I threatened to kick their sorry asses if they ever came back to Wutai again. They left in a hurry after that. But you my friend are in serious danger. So is Cloud by the looks of things. It seems the Purists are targeting those with shall we say, unique attributes. Yes they put a high value on life, human life. Their leader has come out and blamed everything that is wrong in the world on those whose genetic makeup is altered. Those with Mako or Jenova implanted in them are a threat to society and the safety of the whole world. What started out as a small cult has grown in massive proportions. Many people are starting to listen to what this guy is saying. Tifa has already started receiving death threats to her and the children just for befriending Cloud. Nanaki has noticed cloaked figures moving about Cosmo Canyon at night. And you my friend are being watched.”

Vincent closed his eyes as he took in the information. He should have known something like this would happen. The fear of that which is different is a very common human trait. Vincent figured it wouldn't take long for someone to capitalize on that fear. Three years had done a lot to the people on this planet. A man by the name of Sephiroth hated the world so much for what had happened to him that he set about to destroy it. He very nearly succeeded if not for a mismatched group of heroes. Then, two years later, an infection spread that was brought about by Sephiroth clones. It ravaged the already desolate lands and seemed to target the planet's most precious commodity, children. Again these genetically altered humans tried to destroy the world. But they too were stopped by the same group of heroes. And for a time people were able to look past the fact that one of these heroes had been a Mako/Jenova infused swordsman, a gunslinger possessed by demons, and an ancient animal guardian who could speak.

But as times continued to remain hard and progress moved at a slow pace, people were beginning to lose hope. And apparently they needed someone to blame. They seemed to have forgotten that Shinra was the real culprit behind all the atrocities the world had to deal with. The fact that it all went back to them was a moot point.

“I thank you for the warning, but if I'm being watched I must leave.” Vincent pushed himself off the boulder and started to walk back to Ruth. A small warm hand on his arm stopped him though. He tuned his head to look down into stormy grey eyes that held some very strong emotion in them; fear. This new emotion in the eyes of one whom he had never seen it before was enough to make him stop to listen to what she had to say.

“Don't go. Because if you leave who knows when I may see you again and then all I will do is worry about you. These people are dangerous and while they may not be incredible fighters, what they lack in strength they more than make up for in numbers now. Come with me back to Wutai. You can stay there until Cloud and the others figure out what our next step will be. Please, you will be safe there.”

“This Vincent will not go into hiding.” The force of his words and the slight growl added to his voice caused Yuffie to momentarily break contact with him before gently placing her hand back on his shoulder and smiling up at him.

“Was that you or Chaos talking?”

Vincent shrugged off her touch and continued walking back to Ruth. “It doesn't matter. I still will not hide from these…terrorists.”

The ninja though was very persistent and not a little stubborn. She quickly dashed over to stand before Ruth with her arms held out wide on either side of her. “Don't make me do this, Valentine. Remember I was the one who bred and raised that chocobo you are sitting on. I trained him and know commands to make him sit on you until you agree to come with me. Besides, don't think of it as hiding. You are just going to be staying at a place that is somewhat difficult to get to and you won't be so easy to find for a while. It will be like a vacation.”

Vincent sighed and looked over at Ruth, only to see the chocobo staring longingly at the ninja woman before it. Traitor.

“Very well then. I will accompany you to your refuge and remain there with you until we get word from Cloud.”

Yuffie slowly put her arms back down and walked over to where he was standing. After gently running her hand down Ruth's beak, she looked back up at him. “Promise? Do I have your word?”

Claret eyes looked down into the metallic grey eyes of the young woman before him and knew things were about to change. How exactly he didn't know, but he could feel it was going to be drastic. “You have my word.”

That had been three days ago. They had been traveling at a steady pace deeper into the mountains. The going was tough but Ruth was an excellent chocobo and Yuffie was apparently used to trekking through this terrain. The ninjas that followed her were quite skilled as well as Vincent had a hard time following their movements himself while they traveled. Most of the time he didn't even know they were there unless he listened hard for them or they came together for a meal at nighttime.

Yuffie Kisaragi it turned out had finally stepped up to the responsibilities her title called for. She accepted her duty as princess and set about returning the honor and respect that her people had lost during the end of her father's rule. From what Vincent could gather from the few ninja that would talk to him, mainly Judoki her second in command, the people of Wutai dearly loved their princess for all the effort she was putting in to making Wutai what it once was. They were especially proud that one of their own had been a part of the group that helped to save the world.

Vincent swiftly brought himself out of his thoughts as the sound of Yuffie's black boots approaching reminded him of where he was.

“Bad news, the men that were following us have found our trail again. We need to move out. You and I though will be going alone from now on.”

“Won't they still be able to follow us?”

A devilish smile spread across the ninja's face and Vincent felt somewhat strange watching her. He knew that look and knew he probably wouldn't like whatever was going to follow it. But part of his mind was else where wondering where her childlike features had disappeared to.

“Because they will be following someone else. All I need is your Ruth and we should be all set.”

“Why do you need Ruth?”

“Bekliv, come here.”

Claret eyes widened as a man almost as tall as he stepped forward wearing his clothes. Or at least replicas. He even had a wig made to look like Vincent's hair. It wasn't an exact match but for someone following at a distance, the resemblance would be uncanny.

“This is why we need Ruth. And don't worry, Bekliv is an excellent rider. I wouldn't trust Ruth with him if he wasn't. The plan is that you and I hide out here till night fall after everyone else has left. There is no moon out tonight so we will have even better chances of going unseen. The rest of the group will continue going north and east while we head west.”

Vincent couldn't help but agree that this was a good plan. A much better plan then the Yuffie three years ago would have come up with. The only one who didn't like the idea was Judoki who sulked all day till it came time for the groups to separate. While Yuffie was giving Bekliv instructions on how to take care of Ruth while introducing him to the bird, Judoki pulled Vincent aside to talk with him.

”She is special you know. She is our princess and her safety is very important. I trust you to keep an eye out for her. I hear you were once a Turk so that shouldn't be a problem, plus you look like you can take care of yourself. Don't let me down.”

“She will be safe.”

Judoki nodded once before walking back towards his princess. Vincent watched as he said something to her which caused her to laugh and Judoki to scowl. She lighted patted the disgruntled man on the shoulder before rubbing the adoring Ruth's beak one last time. Vincent could read her lips as she told Ruth to be a good chocobo and turned away to walk back towards him.

“Well, everything is all set. All we have to do is camp out here till sunset and everyone leaves. And then my friend it will be just you and I.”

“Indeed.” Came his reply as Vincent got comfortable in the alcove he and Yuffie would be hiding in for the next few hours. He leaned up against one side with his arms folded and his right leg propped up beneath him. Occasionally he would open his eyes to watch his companion as she sat on the ground lotus style and meditated.

Very different from the younger Yuffie.

Yet even this new mature Yuffie couldn't stand to sit so still for very long and eventually gave it up and got started organizing her materia. After doing this for what had to be perhaps an hour, Yuffie stared up a Vincent with pleading eyes before he handed her his own materia to organize. He watched as she carefully laid them out before she set about her task. She was very efficient and had organized them in a way that would be easier even for him to use as she tailored them to Vincent's style of fighting.

I didn't think she knew me so well, or that she would have remember after all this time. Hmm.

“Here you go, Valentine. All organized.” Yuffie said as she set his materia down at his feet.

“Thank you.”

“I'm surprised you had not done so yourself.”

Vincent raised an eyebrow as he looked down at his young companion. “I am not in the habit of using them.”

“Honestly I'm not either. But since leaving them with Cloud isn't as safe as we once thought it would be, I prefer to keep mine on me at all times. I'll never forget seeing Bahamut attacking Midgar.”

“Nor shall I.”

“I'm glad I found you, Valentine.”

“Hmm.”

Both of them were silent after that as they watched the sun fade into the horizon and Yuffie's group of ninja's disappeared with it.

AN: Well, you likes? You no likes? Let me know. Either way I plan on continuing on. And on and on and on and on...MUWAHAHAHAHA!

Isa