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The Reason	By : butabara Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 729 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
*I do not own the song used in this chapter. It is the property of Hoobastank.*

Chapter 23

{6 Months later}

The strange woman had been following Vincent for days. It amused him slightly that she seemed to think he hadn’t noticed. Of course he had noticed. She seemed to be trying to figure out his routine, tailing him from place to place until he went back to the bar. She would disappear then, returning in the morning to follow him to work. He couldn’t really question her himself, he was far too busy with his own mission. For the last six months, he had been searching for Jexebel. So far, they hadn’t been able to catch up with her. All they had found was a doctor in Mideel that stated he had examined Jexebel when she came in with stomach pain, and had concluded that she would never bear children, due to the effects of a very strange mineral in her blood. ‘The potion.’ Vincent thought.

The other Turks helped him in any way he needed, having left ShinRa’s employ to work for Vincent instead. ShinRa couldn’t be trusted anymore. It was clear to them all that he desired nothing more, and nothing less than absolute power.

Of the group, Vincent had the experience, the skill, and the passion that made him the most qualified to lead the rag-tag group of ex-assassins, so the others followed him. It was Elena’s mission to follow this dark woman and find out who she was.

Which was why Elena now stood hidden behind a cluttered shelf in the filthy weapons shop, watching the mysterious woman slide a note across the counter to the confused shop-keeper. She flipped her cinnamon hair over her shoulder and motioned for the man to read the note, gesturing that she could not speak. That hair was so familiar to Elena. The color, the length. The way it seemed to have a mind of its own. The woman was painfully familiar anyway. There was something about the way she walked and held herself with a cat-like grace, her dark skin…her deep eyes – hidden by a black half-mask - seemed to be the very color of pain…it was maddening that Elena couldn’t place the woman in her memory.

The shopkeeper returned with the woman’s order: knives. Throwing knives. The sharp curve, thick blades, and deadly spines on the back pushed her brain into overdrive. She dug deeper as the woman went through a simple yet graceful martial arts routine, spinning the mean-looking blades over her hands before dropping them into their sheaths with a familiarity that made her graceful dance look easy.

Then it hit her. Hit her with enough force that she almost fell to the floor and dragged the shelf with her.

The only person Elena knew that used knives like those…with skills like that…was…but it wasn’t possible. She was gone…disappeared after the final battle with Weiss…

Suddenly the half mask the woman wore slipped from her face. She scrambled to replace it, but it was too late.

‘Oh my god…’ Elena thought, ‘Oh god oh god oh god…it can’t be…Oh god its…’

“Jexebel…” she whispered out loud.

The woman at the counter suddenly spun around, searching frantically for the person whom had called her name. After a moment, she scowled to herself and turned back to the counter. She handed the shopkeeper a handful of gil, and then left the shop.

Elena scrambled to follow her. Jexebel had apparently decided against continuing her pursuit of Vincent that day, as she wound through the city, making her way to the outskirts of Midgar. Elena kept up with her silently, still unable to believe that she was looking at her long-lost friend. She long to embrace her…but no…she couldn’t do that…she might scare her off…

She just needed one more peek beneath the mask…just to be sure…

She got it. When the dark woman reached her campsite she reached up to remove the mask, glancing around her once before completing the task.

Elena threw her hand over her mouth to muffle the sob that threatened to escape. She pulled out her phone and logged her location into the GPS tracker, sending a silent message for Vincent to come to her. Then, she waited and watched.

{Jexebel}

‘I can’t believe I’m risking running into him for those knives.’ Jexebel thought to herself, poking at her campfire with a stick.

‘Come now, host. Those knives belonged to your dear mother…the least you can do is get them back. Especially after NOT attending her funeral.’ Quietus purred.

Jexebel stiffened, scowling at the fire. “I know that. I’ll have them by tomorrow. I can get them tomorrow night. Vincent will still be out, and Tifa will be too busy with patrons to hear me upstairs.” She said aloud.

‘So you hope.’

“RRG JUST SHUT UP!” Jexebel growled loudly, putting her hands to her ears.

Quietus’ chuckle reverberated through her skull.

“I wish I could kill you.” Jexebel snarled. “I hate you!”

‘Oh but host, you need me…how else will you know if Vincent is sneaking up on you in the darkness of that cursed bar. I know you fear seeing him. Why? Afraid that you won’t be strong enough to walk away?’ Quietus let out her hissing laugh.

“Go away.” Jexebel whispered. “Please Quietus…just go away.”

{Vincent}

Vincent quietly stalked through the dark, making his way to Elena’s location. She was crouched behind a large rock.

“What is it?” He whispered. “Did you find out who she is and what she wants?”

Elena just nodded shakily and pointed to the rock. “Have a look.” She struggled to whisper.

Vincent narrowed his eyes and looked at her like she was crazy, but did as she said.

His heart stopped beating and his breath caught sharp in his throat at the sight he found.

There she was. His love. His life. His obsession. Sitting there like nothing had happened. Like she had never even known him. Jexebel.

“It was her the whole time?” He whispered, not taking his eyes off of Jexebel.

“Yes.” Elena answered. “She was muttering to herself earlier, saying things like ‘I wish I could kill you’ and ‘I hate you’. What do you think she was talking about?”

Vincent sighed. “She was probably talking to Quietus. I should have known that the demon would still be a part of her after Chaos refused to leave me.”

“Oh dear…” Elena said, carefully peaking over the rock.

“Did you find out why she’s here?” Vincent asked.

“She was saying something about getting some knives back. Sir.”

“Knives? Knives…her mother’s knives. Of course. And don’t call me that. Do you know what this means? I don’t have to try to follow her: she’ll come to me!” He said.

“She was saying that she could do it tomorrow night. You’ll have to keep up with your routine if you plan on catching her at home.”

“I know, I know.” He said sharply. He glanced over the rock again to see Jexebel looking in their direction, still as a stone and reaching back for one of her knives.

“Come on, let’s go. She’ll come to us.”

“You’re positive that it’s her, Boss-man?” Reno asked, lifting ginger eyebrows hopefully. Vincent stopped pacing in his office to stare incredulously at the redhead.

“Reno, of all the people in the world, don’t you think I would know Jexebel when I see her?”

“Good point. So what do we do?”

“Okay.” Vincent said. “Reno and Rude are going to leave town in the morning and go to her campsite. Wait til she leaves. Gather her things and bring them back here. Tseng, I want you to notify Tifa and her band about the situation and tell her get ‘it’ ready. She’ll know what you’re talking about. Elena, I want you to continue tailing her and tell me the moment she stops watching me. I mean it. The very second she turns away I want to know about it. Make sure she can’t get out of the bar without being spotted. Got it?”

“Yes, Sir!” Came the deafening chorus.

Vincent smiled. “I told you not to call me that.”

This was perfect. Finally. Finally he would have the chance to see Jexebel again. To talk to her. To touch her. Maybe he was finally finished with his punishment.

‘I’m telling you host there is someone following us! When are you going to learn to trust me?!’ Quietus snarled inside Jexebel’s head.

‘Trust you. Riiiiight.’ Jexebel drawled internally. She left Vincent at his office moments before to make her way to Tifa’s bar. It should be simple enough. Get in. Get the knives. Get out. Get over him.

‘You’re going to get caught, idiot.’

‘Shut-up. You’re just trying to rattle me.’

To Jexebel’s surprise, the monster had no reply, leading her to believe she had been right. Quietus was only trying to throw her off.

The bar was finally in view. Jexebel’s heart began to beat rapidly as the memory of her first meeting with Vincent echoed in her mind.

Get in, get the knives, get out, get over him. She straightened her half-mask and started toward the back alley with as much strength as she could muster. She climbed the fire escape to Vincent’s room, thankful that the window was open and she wouldn’t have to break it. She slipped inside silently and made her way to his closet, searching the room thoroughly for her mother’s throwing knives. They weren’t there. The world stopped.

He probably had them with him. She would have to see him to get them back. Angry with herself for not thinking of this, she stormed back to the window, the heavy footsteps unnoticed by the patrons downstairs due to the furious beat of loud music. Just as she was about to throw herself out of the window and go back to her camp, she noticed a flash of red hair on the sidewalk below the fire escape.

Reno and Rude. Shit. Now she would have to go downstairs and risk being recognized to get out, and Vincent would be home in a few minutes!

While she was fretting, she failed to notice the music stopping downstairs…until a painfully familiar and once-loved voice sounded through the microphone. She couldn’t quite make out the words…it sounded like Vincent addressing the crowd.

Then, as if the clouds had opened up and the gods themselves had called to her, a faint whisper echoed throughout the room, settling in her chest and burying itself in her heart.

“Jexebel.”

Hearing her name from him…even if he didn’t know she was there…it hurt. She collapsed to her knees as music started again and a beautiful baritone began its serenade.

“I’m not a perfect person

There’s many things I wish I didn’t do

But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you…”

Jexebel’s breath caught, trying to stave off the tears that begged to fall. She dragged herself to her feet and crept to the door and down the stairs. If he was going to sing to her, by the gods, she was going to be there, even if he would never know. Luckily, no one noticed her creep down the stairs and make her way to a lonely table in a dark corner of the bar.

Or so she thought. From the stage Vincent smiled. His nervousness faded and he began again, trying his best to avoid eye contact, lest he give himself away.

“I’m sorry that I hurt you

That’s something I must live with every day

And all the pain I put you through

I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears.

That’s why I need you to hear

I found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you…”

Jexebel stared at him up there on the stage, singing his heart out. She had never known that he could sing like this…it made her want to forget everything and beg him to take her back. Her black half-mask hid the silver tears that welled up in her sea-green eyes as he continued.

“I’m not a perfect person

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you

I found a reason to show

The side of me you didn’t know

The reason for all that I do

And the reason is you…”

The song ended and Vincent bowed his head, listening to the surprised cheers of his comrades and the other patrons in the bar. He glanced at Jexebel from the corner of his eye as he made his way to the bar. She watched his lips move as he spoke to Tifa and had to look away.

She missed those lips. She missed those eyes. She missed his hands…his hair…the way his nose would twitch when he laughed…the gentle sound of his breath when he slept next to her…

She missed him.

She was yanked from her reverie when a waiter set a glass on the table in front of her. She looked at him with questioning eyes.

“From the gentleman at the bar.” He clarified, nodding toward Vincent. Jexebel was livid all over again. Was she that easy to forget? That insignificant that he could go on buying drinks for any hussy in th-

Then she noticed the drink. It was a White Russian. Her favorite, and the only thing she ever drank. The first drink she shared with Vincent…

She jerked her head up and stared at him in shock. He knew! He knew it was her!

{Vincent}

Vincent watched as Jexebel stared at him, obviously terrified. It was obvious that she had figured out that he knew who she was. She probably thought he would try to make her stay. Admittedly, he wanted nothing more than to do just that, but he could never do that to her.

So he simply raised his hand and tilted his bottle to her, and then turned away and continued to drink. If she wanted to talk, she would come to him.

{Jexebel}

He knew! He knew! Oh gods, what should she do…?

‘Ask him why, host. Why he betrayed you.’ Quietus suggested.

Good idea. She grabbed the drink from the table and downed half of it without even stopping to breathe, and then stood and walked very slowly to the bar. Her skin tingled with every step closer to Vincent. Her vision blurred and she could feel the hot tears soaking her mask. She sat down next to him. Her mouth opened and closed, but she couldn’t seem to make any sound come out as he stiffened, and then shuddered minutely when he realized that she had come to him.

“Hello.” She whispered lamely.

Vincent’s breathe caught and he slowly turned on the barstool to face her.

“Hello.” He answered back.

“H-how…how are you, Vincent?” she asked, trying to avoid outright asking him the question burning in her mind.

“I’ve been better, Jexebel.” He said. His crimson eyes burned her skin as he drank her in.

The pain and the love in his eyes snapped her self-control and she whipped around to face him.

“Why did you do it?” she snapped, “Why did you agree to leave me?”

“I knew you’d think that.” Vincent whispered. He was quiet for a long while, not even glancing at the suddenly angry woman at his side.

“You’re not going to answer me? What, don’t you HAVE an answer for me? Never mind. I’m leaving now. I just want my mother’s knives back.”

Vincent sighed. “Very well. Come with me.” He stood from the bar and motioned for her to follow him upstairs. Instead of going into his room like she expected, he turned sharp and lead her into what was her room. It took her breath away. Everything was the exact way that it was the day they left for the inn. Her mother’s knives were laid out on the bed, clean and polished. She rushed to the bed and grabbed them, pulling them close before strapping them to her waist.

She stood motionless in the dark for a long while.

“Jexebel,” Vincent whispered. “I…I’ve searched for you…for so long…I thought that maybe you had died…I…I couldn’t…” He stopped to take a shaky breath. “The night you left…you just…you left too soon. I had planned to leave the meeting, gather my things, and then come for you. I wanted to leave togeth-”

“Stop it!” Jexebel cried. “I can’t…I can’t believe you. Just…leave me alone.” She slipped past him and made for the door.

‘You’re losing her!’ his heart cried.

‘Good riddance. Women are trouble, and she’s the ringleader of them all.’ His brain jumped in.

‘No! No! You can’t let her get away! You love her, remember?!’ His heart overrode his brain and forced powerful memories into his head.

The fire in her eyes the night they first kissed. The way her eyes squinched almost completely closed when she smiled. Standing in their room at the inn, holding her close after she told him she loved him. Her magical voice.

Jexebel…

“Jexebel, stop!” he said desperately.

“No!” she said. He could hear that she was crying.

“Dammit I will not lose you again!” Vincent reached out with quick hands and pulled Jexebel back against him.

“Get off! Vincent! Please, just…stop!”

He whirled her around and shoved her against the wall by the door.

“No.” He purred against her neck. “I’ll never stop. I’ll never leave you, because I’ll never stop loving you.”

Jexebel sobbed, letting her head fall back against the wall for a split second before snarling and grabbing a handful of his ebony hair. Vincent suddenly found one of her mother’s blades pressed to his throat.

“Liar!” Jexebel growled. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why?” Vincent asked. “After all we’ve been through …I’ve proven to you time and time again that I love you and accept you…all of you. What do I have to DO?!” He attempted to move the knife away from his throat.

“Don’t!” Jexebel warned, pressing harder. Tears still splashed down her face and her breathing was uneven as her mask fell to the floor, revealing her flawless features.

“Or what?” Vincent asked softly. “You’ll kill me? Do it then. Kill me. If you’re going to leave again, then I’m as good as dead anyway. I have nothing else. You. Are. MY. Reason.” He stared into her eyes, willing her to see the truth of his words.

“Reason for what?” Jexebel snarled.

“…Everything…”

Time seemed to stop as Jexebel processed his words.

Then she screeched and shoved him backwards until she had him straddled on the bed, her blade still pressed to his skin.

Then she dropped it. Her head fell to her chest and her body shook with sobs. Vincent carefully reached up and wrapped his arms around her, nearly melting into the mattress when she fought him for a moment, and then fell against him.

‘I missed this.’ He thought.

Slowly, her sobs faded and she was able to form coherent sentences once again.

“You really were going to come for me? You would have left it all just to be with me?” she asked timidly, her voice muffled by his shoulder.

“I would, and I did.” Vincent answered. Jexebel raised her head and looked at him, confused.

“The other Turks and I left Rufus. We work for the people now. I lead them. He didn’t want me to find you. I wasn’t willing to let him stop me.”

“I’m…” Jexebel trailed off and then burst into tears all over again. “I’m so sorry! I-I-I hurt you s-s-s-so much! I can’t ever…”

“Stop it. Just promise me that you won’t ever do this again. Give me the chance to talk to you.” Vincent stated with meaning.

“You mean… I can stay?” Jexebel asked, shocked.

Vincent laughed. Really laughed. Laughed like he hadn’t sinse he was a child.

“Silly girl. I’ll never let you go.” With that, he yanked her head to his and forced their lips together in a kiss that put the very meaning of the word ‘passion’ to shame.

Then Jexebel yanked herself away from him. She smiled at the dazed look on his face.

“Now.” She purred, “I have a lot of pent up stress that needs releasing. Do you think we could just…pick up where we left off?”

Vincent smiled a crooked smile and dragged her to him again. “Of course…now…where were we…?”

Jexebel laughed and kissed him again, allowing their two worlds to merge into one.

And all was right with the universe.

~Fin~
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The Reason