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It's Just Trash	By : KSipesh Category: Final Fantasy VII > Het - Male/Female Views: 1079 -:- 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.

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It�s Just Trash

Chapter 9

I�d put back on my shirt and draped my cloak around my shoulders. As I did so, I heard something crinkle within my pocket. This caught my attention and I remembered that I had saved something for Tifa. I pulled out my empty candy wrapper. "I believe this is yours."

Her eyes fixated upon the offered wrapper, absolutely gleaming. Tifa�s lips pulled up into that perfect smile as she claimed it from my hand. "I do believe it is."

I then felt a pang of regret for having refused her offering of another when we had first arrived in her quarters. I turned my gaze downward. "I�ll take another, if you don�t mind."

Tifa did a quick pirouette and picked up the bar that she�d attempted to give to me upon our arrival in her room. "Are you going to have it now?"

I took it from her and stared at it for a moment. Although the idea of having it then was appealing, I flashed with an idea. I knew that up until that point I�d led her to believe that I had no faith in surviving the final fight, and that I had to show her that I did plan on a future. "Perhaps�I shall save it for victory."

Tifa looked pained by something and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Vincent?"

I gazed down at her.

"Twice now�you�ve sort of sounded like, well, like you don�t think you�re going to make it through this." She looked unsettled, perhaps even afraid.

My intention in my previous statement had been to curb such a feeling within her. I had failed, apparently. "I apologize if I�ve given you any such notion."

Tifa broke into tears, despite my efforts to allay her concerns. "I�I don�t want to do this�"

My instinct to protect Tifa reared up and I immediately placed my arms around her. I allowed my normal hand to smooth back her hair, and we swayed slowly back and forth. "Tifa, if we do nothing, we all die. If we do this, there is at least a chance. A small chance perhaps, but a chance. Our path is set, it does no good to�"

I stopped speaking. There was an uncomfortable and unfamiliar tightness in my throat. I fought the feeling that was overcoming me, but to no avail. A tear found it�s way down my cheek. I wasn�t feeling this due to any regard for myself, but rather, the fear of Tifa not surviving cut through me and a chill went down my spine.

She looked up at me, not accustomed, I supposed, to seeing me crack like I nearly had. Tifa wiped the moisture from my face, her expression turning to one of determination. "Let�s make it, then."

I gave her a nod and a faint smile, before trying to tell her how much she impressed me. "When I--"

The intercom blared on, and I was cut off, disallowing me to express my respect and gratitude for her. Cid�s voice broke the mood that had settled over us. I braced for another barrage of his eloquent tongue. "Wherever in the hell everyone ran of to, get your asses back up on deck. We�re there."

She looked disappointed and shrugged. "I guess we better go."

"Yes," I said quietly, before giving into my urge to kiss her. I pressed my body to hers, and Tifa let me past her lips.

Eventually, Tifa stepped back from me and smiled. "Vincent, I love you."

That was all the motivation that I needed to survive the coming fight. "I love you, too. We better go."

Tifa snagged another candy bar from her bed and then took my right hand before we departed the room. I held onto her proudly, and once we reached the deck, I think she was surprised to find that I didn�t let go.

Cid glanced at us momentarily and nodded, before claiming his cigarette with his fingers. "All right, let�s get this over with."

All of the AVALANCHE members departed the ship and we stood on the brink of the crater. I relinquished my grip upon Tifa and went to the edge to look within. There was a ghostly green mist down in the depths, and the chasm itself seemed to breathe, expunging its noxious breath, engulfing me with a clinging humidity. Out of the mist, I began to see movement. Clamoring up the walls of the void, came a multitude of ungodly creatures. They knew that there were trespassers present, and they seemed to wish to defend their territory.

From one of the beasts came a growling roar. It ended the conversation that had been going on amongst the others, and soon everyone was standing close to me, following my stare downward.

The others once more began to talk about the situation, but I had them tuned out for the moment. I was preoccupied with counting the creatures and assessing the threat. I considered how many monsters I could see, and quickly compared it to the number of loaded clips I had with me. The odds of at least surviving this initial onslaught seemed�reasonable to me.

Tifa moved closer to me, seeking some sort of reassurance, but my mind was elsewhere. Some of the creatures seemed to have armored bodies, but they all possessed exploitable weaknesses, or so I hoped. I finally brought me gaze to bear upon Tifa. "It might be fun to pass the time."

Yet another lupine cry emanated from the crater, indicating that we needed to act soon.

Cloud motioned at Tifa and I. The fact that he would choose to put me on his team seemed�odd, but I knew he was doing it as some sort of gesture. Then again, as we headed down, my gun proved to be the best weapon at hand for dealing with the beasts that assaulted us. Cloud rarely got the opportunity to draw his blade, as the second I spotted a target, I aimed and pulled the trigger, preventing most of our combatants from ever getting more than several yards from us. I had no intention of letting any of those foul abominations get near Tifa.

Then, the attacks abruptly ended and the creatures that had been determined to stop us suddenly seemed more concerned with running from something coming toward us. I strained my eyes into the darkness, seeing what that was long before Cloud and Tifa were able to visualize it. I drew Tifa�s attention and motioned ahead of us. "Jenova�"

Cloud heard this and stepped before me. "Jenova? It�s coming!"

I�d had the displeasure of seeing images of Jenova�s true and whole form back in Hojo�s lab ages ago and I recognized her, or rather, it at once. The massive, quasi-amorphic form Jenova possessed was nightmarish.

I didn�t spend too long trying to appreciate Jenova�s appearance, as I quickly got to the task of trying to fight. I set my weapon on full auto and sent a rain of bullets forth, not knowing what good those relatively small projectiles could do to something as considerable as the entity before us.

Cloud didn�t hesitate and ran forward, lashing out with his blade and gashing deeply into the creature�s body. He displayed absolutely no fear as he fought in close quarters with the thing, and I will admit that for a rare instance, the boy actually impressed me.

As I would reload, Jenova would attempt to strike out at me with one of her various appendages, but Tifa defended against these blows. As much as I didn�t enjoy her being in harm�s way, I did appreciate the fact that she was determined to spare me injury.

Finally, it fell to the ground in a heap, spent from the fight and writhing in its death throes. I reloaded my gun and walked up to the creature, finding the unnaturally human face of the entity looking back at me with utter contempt. I raised my gun and placed the muzzle of it between her eyes, before pulling the trigger. The glow that emanated from one of her eyes slowly faded out, confirming to me that I had, indeed, managed a kill shot.

Just as I reholstered my weapon, the ground broke away beneath us. I heard Tifa scream but I was helpless to do anything as I began to plummet downward. Although I knew I would ultimately be able to survive any such fall, I was aware that for Tifa, it was a different matter. Just as I resolved to give in to Chaos and hopefully therein have a chance to perhaps catch her, our descent was halted and we found ourselves hanging in space. I was a little bit above the other two and behind them. I stared down, hearing Tifa groan.

Cloud was close to her and he said something, but I was unable to hear it from my position.

Tifa began to look around, and I wondered if she was looking for me. I wanted to call out to her and let her know that I was there, but my voice failed me. There was an oppressing power in the air, and it kept me silent.

Then, from the depths emerged another creature. It was Sephiroth, and he had used the Jenova within him to take on some monstrous form. My regret for not having acted in the past and preventing this tore through me, but this was not the time to let my past distract me.

Cloud cried something out, I think it was Sephiroth�s name, but I never quite knew. The sound of my own heart beat and rushing blood was drowning out most of what I may have otherwise been able to hear. Chaos was just below the surface, waiting for the need to emerge.

I noticed movement off to the side and saw that all of the others had somehow been pulled down to where we were. Even now, they began to talk to one another. I would have preferred for them all to have just shut up and focused on what was about to happen to us, but that was not to be. Here I was, unable to say a single word to reassure Tifa, and yet the incessant banter between Cid and the others carried on.

I found myself annoyed.

I wasn�t given the chance to dwell on this long, however, as the force that had been suspending us suddenly gave out, causing us to fall to some of the various stone ledges within the crater.

Tifa landed flat on her stomach, and I dropped down just a short distance behind her, able to control my descent better than the others. I heard her gasp in pain as she tried to get up. I rushed over to her and reached downward, pulling her up and taking her into my arms. I needed to know that she was all right.

Her eyes went wide as she looked at me. "Oh my God! I couldn�t see you, and I thought�"

Yes, even my beloved Tifa had the urge to talk while we were under threat. I placed one of the fingers of my left hand against her lips, as my right hand was already pulling my gun forth. "No time, we have to fight."

Tifa smiled and nodded, before spinning and facing our opponent. There seemed to be a determined aura about her, and I knew that she was ready to fight.

Cloud said something else then out to our opponent, but I was looking at Tifa as she stood ready, causing me to miss what had been called out.

However, I was brought back to reality shortly thereafter as Sephiroth began his attack. I began to fire at once, having to be careful in my aim as to not hit my allies as they fought at closer range. Cloud and Cid were both physically upon the creature. I�ve never quite understood the compulsion to fight with the types of weapons they used. I prefer to keep my distance, if it�s all the same to everyone else.

Once more, Tifa appointed herself as my guardian, blocking any attacks that came at me while I was preoccupied with reloading. While I appreciated the gesture, it was making me a nervous wreck. I intrinsically knew that if there was anyone on the Planet capable of taking care of themselves that it was Tifa, but still, my sentiments toward her made me worry.

As such, I kept a watchful eye upon her as we fought and after some time, her exhaustion began to get the better of her. I saw Tifa hang her head for just a moment, but it was long enough for Sephiroth to notice and he struck out with something that resembled a tentacle.

It was coming at Tifa with such force that it actually whistled as it sliced through the air, heading toward her. Knowing that I had a far better chance at surviving such a strike, I raced forward, throwing my body between Tifa and her attacker.

I didn�t have a chance to turn and brace for the blow, as my main goal was simply to get in harm�s way and spare Tifa. I was struck forcefully in the right side, hard enough to lift me from the ground and send me sailing back until I collided with the rock face.

I was stunned at first, and incapable of moving. I knew from the tension in my chest that at the very least, several of my ribs had been broken and judging from the pain emanating from other parts of my body, that I was injured elsewhere, too.

I heard Tifa cry out my name, but I was unable, for the moment, to respond. I then heard her shout out some expletive that she�d become familiar with courtesy of Cid, and she came to my side.

I had come to rest upon my side, and I felt her hands upon me as she placed me onto my back. That simple movement shot an exquisite pain through me, but the fact that I was looking up at her allowed me to push that aside for the moment, although I still remained temporarily paralyzed.

Tifa framed my face with her hands and leaned close to me. "Vincent? Come on! Please! Vince�"

Chaos was triggered as my body failed to negotiate my wounds. I regained the ability to move, my agony causing me to produce some animalistic sound before I managed to speak. "Tifa�step back�"

Her eyes brimmed with tears. I couldn�t believe that she was actually crying for me. "No, you�re hurt."

I looked deep into her eyes, needing her to understand. My body would soon no longer be my own. "I know, hence the problem. Get back."

Tifa seemed to realize what was going on, and she reluctantly moved away. I saw her look back repeatedly, as she reassured herself that for the time being, Sephiroth wasn�t concerned with us.

Now with her an acceptable distance away, I blocked out my physical pain and forced myself to my knees. I began to shed my clothing, since once Chaos came forth, my outfit would otherwise be destroyed. Inwardly, I was agonizing over the fact that Tifa was about to see me change completely. I had transformed before while in battle, but only when I had been off with Cloud and Cid. I had never wished for Tifa to witness it. I had never wanted her to see what I truly was, but that was no longer my choice. I pulled open my shirt and gazed over at her. "I�m sorry�I didn�t want you to ever have to see this�"

She didn�t waver in her look back at me. "It�s okay, Vincent�"

I was freed of my clothing soon, and I looked away from her, as a new pain began within my body. My bones and muscles began to feel as though they were on fire as they do when I change, and I failed to suppress the cry that welled up in my throat. I was forced to all fours as the sensation strengthened. Then I felt my back rip open as my wings made their appearance, causing me to produce another sound, although my human voice had now gone by the way side. I let my wings come down and enshroud me as the rest of my transformation played itself out. At least, I could shield Tifa from seeing the whole event that way.

The pain then quickly abated, and I knew that I had completed my change into my horrific, demonic form. I saw Tifa staring at me, her mouth slightly agape as I straightened up. I took a few steps toward her, wanting, somehow, to demonstrate to her that even though I looked as though I then did, that I was still the same within. In that moment, I was far more afraid of Tifa�s reaction to me than Sephiroth. It�s strange how the mind works.

I bent down, as to be eye to eye with her, awaiting her verdict.

Slowly, and with her hand visibly shaking, Tifa reached out and dared to touch the side of my face. She locked into my gaze and did something that no one had ever done while I was in this form. Tifa gave me a smile. "I told you, I accept it all, Vincent. Everything."

Even as I was, I suppose that my relief was obvious. Somehow, her acceptance empowered me and my resolve to rejoin the fight and give it everything that I had was renewed.

I moved to the edge of the ledge and stretched my wings, giving a roar for good measure, before diving off and taking to the air. Now only equipped with talons and fangs, I attacked our opponent. In the form Sephiroth possessed, I quickly came to appreciate the noxious taste and scent of his blood, but I didn�t allow it to deter me. I fought there as Chaos, with Cloud and Cid both also upon the beast. All of our ferocity combined eventually won out and Sephiroth began to fall back down within the crater. Cid and Cloud made a hasty dismount and I, too, took my leave, gliding back over to Tifa�s side.

Although I kept looking into the chasm, awaiting further confrontation, Tifa had her attention turned to me. I heard her voice, and it sounded�concerned. "Vincent? Are you all right?"

I looked over at her, and nodded slightly. As best I could with the voice I possessed, I replied. "Fine. You?"

She came a little closer. "I�m okay."

I couldn�t help but consider her for a moment. She seemed so small in that moment, and the breeze within the cavern toyed with a tendril of her hair that had worked its way loose from her ponytail. I brought up one of my hands and caught that bit of hair as it wavered with one of my talons and placed it back behind her ear.

Tifa again smiled and brought her hand up to touch mine as I failed to remove it from beside her face after arranging her hair. "So far, so good, right?"

I nodded in response, but looked elsewhere quickly, as I sensed a coming threat. Something was flying up from the depths, and from the sound of the wing beats, I knew that it was huge.

There was a flash of brilliant light, and then appeared Sephiroth in his true form. His multiple wings swept through the air, producing an intense down wash of air. How Lucrecia could have possibly given birth to someone that had become this was beyond my comprehension. Within me, there was a pang of regret as I was about to set out to kill what was honestly the only living link back to her.

But, Lucrecia was dead and was no longer my concern.

That was bestowed upon Tifa, now.

I leapt from the ledge and got to doing what had to be done. At least it seemed that Tifa was out of immediate danger during this fight, since Sephiroth was far from her, and so I was able to focus all of my attention upon the task at hand.

Cloud was the first to suffer retaliation as Sephiroth knocked him away and back down to the ledge he had jumped from. As that was happening, I was beginning a dive at Sephiroth, hoping to hit him hard and do some damage, however, it seemed that Sephiroth anticipated what I was up to and he looked over at me.

Since I had gained up a considerable speed in my descent, there was no way that I could change course or stop as I saw him raise his hand.

Exactly what happened immediately afterward I�ve still never quite remembered. There was a flash and I felt as thought I�d hit a brick wall and been engulfed in a scorching heat. Following that, all I recall is being thrown backward and falling.

I struck something, halting my backward flight, and then I simply fell. I don�t have any recollection of hitting the ledge that I ultimately came to rest upon. I was still in Chaos� body when I came around. My wings were beneath my back, and as I attempted to move, I could feel that several of the supporting bones within them had been snapped. It was obvious to me that I needed to regain my human form before I would be able to effect some manner of escape from where I was. I stared upward as I tried to calm myself to the point where I would change back. While looking up, I saw something falling toward me-- directly toward me.

Chaos let go and I felt my body begin to transform quickly. Myself once more, I was able to move and I got up and moved to safety as Sephiroth�s bloodied and broken body hit the stone.

I knew that there was nothing about him that was dangerous anymore. His wings had been shattered from the impact, not unlike mine had been a short time before. His still human upper body moved slightly as he attempted to prop himself up with his arms, but he failed and fell flat. His eyes opened one last time and fixed upon me. They narrowed in his consideration of me, and I wondered what he was thinking.

I wondered what he knew about me, if anything.

Then again, he may have been looking at me as he was since I was completely naked. I had no idea.

"It�s not over, you know," he said quietly, blood pouring from the corners of his mouth as he produced a wicked smile.

I wasn�t certain what he meant by that. He looked to me as though he was about to die. "Is it not?"

"This is just a body." His eyes closed. "I need no body�I can still fight him�"

I just watched silently as his destroyed wings twitched a few times and then his breaths ceased. I didn�t attempt to read any meaning into his words. They hadn�t been meant for me, anyway.

It may have just been a body, but it was dead.

The ground began to shake beneath me and bits of rock started to cascade down. I examined the rock wall that jutted up before me and knew what I had to do. Simply put, I got to making an ascent.

After a considerable effort, I managed to reach the remnants of the ledge that I had originally occupied with Tifa, but she was not there. My clothes were present, although damaged. I hastily put on my pants and boots, knowing that if anything else, I would at least be covered in a respectable manner. As I reached for my shirt, however, the ledge I was on began to crumble and I heard the voices of the others above me. I managed to grasp my cloak and I somehow attained a handhold upon the wall of the crater. I got my cloak around my shoulders and climbed once more, trying to get to where I could hear the voices of the other AVALANCHE members. Above all else, I tried to listen for Tifa�s voice as I went, wishing for nothing more than to have some sign that she had survived.

Yet, I heard nothing.

Then, came a crescendo from above and I craned my neck up, seeing that Cid�s airship had fallen into the crater and was heading downward. I wondered if it was going to fall freely downward and knock me from the wall and to my death, but far above, near where the others were amassed, it came to a halt.

"Anyone who wants to fuckin� live better get inside now!" came Cid�s voice, uncharacteristically panicked.

I began to climb faster, knowing that I needed to reach the airship as well. When I arrived at the level that it was upon, I found no one around. Apparently, they had all found a way inside. I climbed the hull, hoping that the door up on the open deck of the ship was unlocked. Just as I hoisted my body over the top rail, there was a resonant rumbling within the chasm below and I understood without looking that I needed to find something to hold onto quickly. The only thing resembling cover was an outcropping of ventilation ducts and I headed for them as fast as I could in my exhausted state.
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It's Just Trash