The Reason

Chapter 20

“What the hell were you two thinking?!” Tseng roared. “You risked the life of the entire planet and every living creature on it…for a booty-call?”

“Its not like we planned it, Tseng.” Jexebel sassed, rolling her eyes.

“You will address me properly, Miss Strange.” Tseng warned.

Jexebel stood and took a step forward. “Forgive me, Sir. It won’t happen again.” Her voice held a stinging venom.

“Sir,” Vincent started, also hating the title, “She speaks the truth. We didn’t plan this. It just…happened. And we had a stronger potion than normal. Shelke has assured us that all is well.” Vincent reached forward and grabbed the back of Jexebel’s shirt, pulling her back to him and forcing her to sit down.

Tseng’s eyes softened a little bit at the hurt and anger in Jexebel’s eyes. “We can’t let this happen again. It’s too dangerous.” He said softly.

“Are you saying that I can’t be with my lover?” Jexebel asked.

“Unfortunately…Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Jexebel stared at Tseng with a look crossed between rage, embarrassment, and disbelief.

“There has to be another way.” Vincent stated with a calm that infuriated Jexebel almost as much as Tseng’s statement had. “You cannot deny two adults the right to be together.”

“He’s not.” Came a voice from the doorway. The three turned and saw Rufus standing in the doorway, cane in hand and looking very pissed. “I am. As your employer, I am ordering you two to stop seeing eachother. It has become a hindrance and it affects both your work. I cannot allow that to happen. Until Weiss the Immaculate and Genesis have been dealt with, the two of you will be separated.”

“No!” Jexebel snarled. “You can’t do that! We are adults and we know what we’re doing! Shelke-”

“Miss Rui has given her approval.” Rufus interrupted.

“Very well.” Vincent stated. Jexebel stared at him in utter disbelief. “I will gather my belongings and move to another room.”

Rufus solemnly nodded his agreement. Vincent stood without another word and left the office, not once looking back at his distressed lover.

“Now, Miss Strange. You will tell us everything you know about our enemy.” Rufus ordered.

For the next hour Jexebel re-accounted everything that she remembered about her old employer. By the time she was finished ShinRa knew everything about the evil they faced; hideouts, numbers, desires, capabilities, names…everything.

After the meeting Rufus finally allowed Jexebel to go back to her room.

She walked inside and instantly felt the cold emptiness sweep over her. Vincent’s weapon rack had been un-bolted from the wall. The bed sheets had been removed from the bed, and a new set now covered the object in an all-to-professional way. His cloak was no longer hanging from the coat rack, and no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find a single stray bullet hiding anywhere. She broke down and cried. After all that she’d been through – all she overcame…for them – they took away the only thing that really made her feel like her life had been worth living. And he was willing to leave her! She should have known when they tricked her into transforming that he wasn’t lying to her then…when he told her that he didn’t mean what he did… that was the lie.

Jexebel made up her mind. If Vincent could leave her so easily, then she had no reason to stay at the inn. No reason to continue her work as a Turk. She would leave. She walked to her closet and grabbed her belts, strapping them to her as she made her way to her sword rack. She slipped the deadly blade into the sheath and went about strapping as many daggers and throwing knives as she could to her person. In minutes she was finished and ready to go. She stood in the center of the room looking at the immaculate mess that Vincent had left behind him.

Then she opened the window and disappeared into the night.


{Vincent}

Vincent quickly left the office not stopping to look at Jexebel, as he knew his resolve would break. If he saw her anger, he would be tempted to stay and fight a battle he already knew they wouldn’t win.

He made his way to his room, recruited a few straggling WRO members to help him, and began removing his presence from the space. It took just about an hour to get all of his belongings from the small room and as he turned to leave, he couldn’t help but feel a stab of regret at the empty feeling that radiated behind him.

But he had a plan. ShinRa could no longer be trusted.

Tonight, he would come for Jexebel, help her gather the necessities, and the two of them would leave Icicle Inn.

They could face Weiss and Genesis together, just the two of them. He’d faced more than that on his own.


{Jexebel}

Morning washed over the majestic mountains of Cosmo Canyon. After Jexebel left, she allowed her anger and pain to take over and transformed into Quietus, flying as far as she could for as long as she could.

The campsite was quiet. No birds or even crickets to give it any life at all, just the lone figure sitting prone by the flame-less fire pit.

She had to plan this out. She could take Weiss and Genesis alone; she knew she could. She knew where they were hiding, and where their next move would be made. She knew how many soldiers were with them. She knew their fighting style.

She could make her move tonight at the ShinRa mansion and kill them both. She knew that Manor better than anyone in the world, other than perhaps Vincent. Thinking of him brought about a new round of silent tears. She had to do this quickly.

Then she could go on with her life. Forget about Vincent and his lies. Forget about ShinRa. Forget about that whole disappointing chunk of her life.


{Vincent}

Vincent waited for another hour before sneaking to Jexebel’s room. He knocked quietly, expecting her to yank the door open, still angry about the earlier meeting. There was nothing. He knocked again. Nothing. Finally, he pressed the button and stepped inside. He stopped dead in his tracks. Jexebel was gone. Her swords and knives were gone as well, as well as the fighting clothes she wore the night he first met her. The window was open, blowing icy air into the abandoned room. Instantly he was overtaken with emotion. He couldn’t decide if he was terrified or irate. He stormed to Rufus’ personal quarters and burst through the door, causing Tseng to put a bullet in the wall right next to Vincent’s head, and Rufus to start awake and reach for his gun.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Valentine?!” Tseng roared. The three were soon joined by the rest of the Turks. “If you’re here to argue about our decision, save it. It’s done.”

“There’s nothing to argue about, Tseng! Jexebel is gone! I went to her room to speak with her,” Vincent lied, “and her swords, her knives, everything is gone! The window was open, too! She left!” His last two words were almost roared.

“You’re kidding…” Elena pleaded.

“I wish this was just a joke.” Vincent whispered, finally broken. “She probably thinks that I betrayed her again.” He said, crouching down and running his hands over his face.

“Tseng, please send five men to scour the mountains. She can’t have gotten far-” Rufus started.

“No.” Tseng said, surprising everyone. “I did this. I’ll fix it.”

Rufus appeared to think for a moment. “Alright.” He said.

“I want to go too.” Elena said.

“Me too.”

“Me too.” Said Reno and Rude.

“Right.” Vincent said. “I’ll get my things. I’m going to transform and fly around a bit. It’s a good possibility that she was angry enough to transform and fly. If that happened, we probably won’t find her. Where did she say Weiss was headed?”

“ShinRa Manor…You don’t think she’d try to face him alone…” Elena trailed off.

“I think that’s exactly what she’s doing. And even if she defeats him, she can’t take Genesis. And she wouldn’t come back here. Like I said before: I think she thinks I’ve betrayed her again. I told you that nasty set up was a bad idea!” He snapped at Rufus. “When this is over, I’m through. I am not a Turk anymore. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not a Turk right now. Neither is Jexebel. I. Quit.”

“Valentine, Turks are for life. You know that.” Rufus stated quietly, “And we still need your assistance. After this is over, I will sign the papers and release you from the oath you took.”

“No. I’m done now.”

“I can’t let you do that, Mr. Valentine.”

“Stop me.” The sound of Vincent’s voice as he uttered those two words sent a shiver of fear through everyone in the room.

Vincent stared at them, waiting for them to give him a reason to act on the hatred he was feeling. When no one stood against him, he turned and left the room, rushing to his own and ripping the Turk uniform from his body. He joined the others in the kitchens in his normal attire. The red cloak seemed more tattered than usual, and the deadly points of that wicked gauntlet gleamed sharper. His hair sprung from its bonds and waved madly. Volcanic fury erupted from his flame colored eyes as he focused his glare on Tseng.

He was a demon again. He nodded to the others and handed the Cerberus to Tseng, instructing the others to meet him in Bone Village a few hours from then. They watched in awe as Vincent turned his back to them and doubled over allowing the darkness to consume him, and the wings of Chaos unfolded, blocking their view of his terrifying form.

“If you find her, call for me. Don’t approach her: she might not have complete control of Quietus right now. If she hurt you she might regret it. I don’t want her to feel guilty for hurting anyone, especially you.”

Tseng had never seen Vincent so bitter.

He was truly worried at that point. Co-workers or not, Vincent was his friend. Or at least he used to be…

Vincent dearly hoped that they wouldn’t be too late. He wouldn’t survive if anything happened to his Jexebel.