Spente le Stelle

When Tifa said to the drinking Turks ‘see you later’, she didn’t actually mean that she would see them later. Nor did she want to see them later.

But she did.

It seemed that their blonde was just as dumb as she was talkative. And Yuffie, well, Don Corneo had grabbed her just for fun. Sick fucking bastard, he wasn’t even all that great in bed and he had a tiny dick. Yes, she’d slept with him. It happened when he’d first picked her up from sector 7. And given the choice between spreading her legs or getting shot for being a spy…

Would Vincent think less of her if he knew? She knew Barret would, and Cloud would. Defiantly Aeris and Cid. But what about Vincent…he had of course admitted to being a player and sleeping with women he was sent to kill or gain information from. Wasn’t this the same thing?

It still made her feel incredibly dirty. Not on the same level as it had been with Sepheroth, because that was a different siutuation, this was the kind of dirty that made you disgusted with every fat man, blonde person, smoker and yourself. But when he fell from the top of Da Chao, she felt sorry for him. Until she saw him hit the ground, then she took a sick pleasure in it.

Then, Yuffie had asked her and Cloud to come into the Pagoda with her. They went along, Tifa making sure her phone was with Vincent, fully charged, and on. Cloud…he didn’t really want to go, but Aeris talked him into it. Yuffie fought one on one with multiple guardians until finally she fought with her father.

“Tifa!” Yuffie shouted, hugging the woman. “I did it! I did it!”

“I can see that,” Tifa smiled.

“I went through the Pagoda and I beat it! I Beat my dad and now I’m a ninja! And Wutai is going to change…I can feel it.”

“I know,” Tifa laughed. “Good job. Now lets go tell everyone about it ne?”

“Yeah!”

Tifa smiled at the young ninja, now holding her materia cherishingly. Tifa wasn’t surprised either, it was a family heirloom, it was all Yuffie’s too. But it was so much more than something to summon. It was a new beginning for Wutai, for Yuffie and her family. Vincent was beside her once again, not holding her like before, but he was still close enough to dissuade any Wutainese.

It was nice, even if he was just being a good friend. Cloud was talking about going to the Golden Saucer to get the Keystone and both Yuffie and Cait Sith were excited about going to the place full of noise and lights and color. Well, Yuffie was in it for the possible materia and gil she could nab.

But first they were going to stay in Wutai for the night. Tifa, Aeris and even Yuffie were beginning to feel a bit under the weather. They were going to stay for one night unless their illness was incredibly bad. But Tifa knew she wasn’t ill, she was never ill. No, this was more of a monthly thing. But she wasn’t about to say anything, they needed new tents and more supplies. With the sudden influx of friends, the were out of food, drinks, and medical supplies.

Also, there were some very nice gloves in the weapons shop, and she wanted them very much. However, there wasn’t quite enough money in the group funds to buy everyone new weapons. Yuffie did however give the shopkeeper instructions to give them all discounts, that would be nice when they were coming back through later. Maybe then she could get those gloves.

If Yuffie was right about anything, it was Wutai’s camping supplies. They were awesome, nice thick walls and lightwight poles. And best of all, they had floors! And air mattresses!

“We tested them in the snow,” Yuffie said as she ate her rice. “Believe it or not, Wutai gets really cold in the winter, especially up on Da Chao and in the mountains.”

“They must be good then,” Aeris smiled. The woman in pink was glad Tifa was finally able to be friends with her. And all because of Vincent. She got an idea in her head then, an idea about a game. “Yuffie, do you ever think about getting married?”

“What!” The ninja squeaked. “No way!” Cid and Barret started laughing outright while Cloud just smiled a bit.

“Now why not?” Tifa asked, playing along. “I think you’d look adorable in a dress!”

“Now listen here,” Yuffie shouted. “I may hate custom but there’s no way in hell I’m not getting married in my mother’s Uchikake!”

Aeris laughed lightly. “I see, I’m sure she’d be very happy about that. What about you Tifa?”

She was sorry she asked that question when Tifa broke her chopsticks and three people around the table froze in their movements. Particularly when Barret stopped. But Tifa recovered quickly and smiled before setting down the useless utensils.

“Well, I think first I’d have to find someone to give me away. Assuming they met with the approval of the boys.” Laughs went through the table, everyone knowing that would in fact be true. “I think even Yuffie’s chosen would have to go through that gauntlet, with a few additions of course.

“Although, I think I’d most likely go with the family traditions as well,” Tifa admitted.

“So a Neibelhelm wedding?” Aeris asked.

“She’s from Costa,” Cloud answered for Tifa. “She moved into Neibelhelm when she was little.”

“My Mom was a reactor specialist,” Tifa smiled. “That’s how I know my way around them so well. We were on the ShinRa payroll and eventually dad was just elected mayor.”

“How come you dinit tell me bout this Teef,” Barret asked. “Woulda been damn useful earlier on, less risky research!”

“Sorry,” Tifa said. “I didn’t think it was very important.”

Aeris was getting annoyed by now. “But what kind of wedding is traditional for Costa?”

“Believe it or not, black silk wedding gowns.” Tifa gave out a groan. “I remember seeing my mother’s when I was little. It’s not a slinky thing.”

Aeris gasped. “You mean?”

“Exactly,” Tifa confirmed as she thanked the waiter for new chopsticks.

“I don’t get it,” Yuffie pouted.

Aeris gave a grim expression. “Yuffie, Tifa is supposed to wear a full length gown.”

“And?” Yuffie still didn’t get it, gut by now the boys were most defiantly getting the picture.

“Okay Yuffie,” Tifa smiled. “You’ve seen western wedding gowns right?” Yuffie nodded. “Imagine it’s black, with five times as many layers and a train that’s about twice as long. And you’re standing in the sun.”

“Holy shit!”

Everyone laughed as comprehension dawned on the girl. Aeris was still quite intrigued though.

“But why are you wearing black?” She asked. “Isn’t that dangerous? What about heat stroke?”

Tifa just shrugged. “It’s a status symbol. Black silk is expensive, wedding gowns doubly so.”

“Can we talk about some other #$%$# thing?” Cid groaned. “This stuffs givin’ me the heebie jeebies!”

“Would you rather we talk about power tools?” Yuffie asked.

“Bah!” Cid brushed her off. “Women’s talk should be ‘round women and men that outta be women!”

“Sexist!” Yuffie shouted. “Sexist!”

“Now I happen to ‘gree with ol’ chimney!” Barret said. “That’s why once Marlene does her…thing, I’m sending her to Tifa.”

Tifa raised her eyebrows before replying. “You really have no idea how to deal with this sort of thing to you?”

“Course not!” Cid said, lighting his cigarette. “We’re men.”

“That’s just sad,” Aeris giggled.

“Indeed,” Nanaki agreed. “As far as I know, the female menstruates and is signaling her readiness to mate and produce offspri-“

“No! No! NO!’ Barret shouted, covering his ears. “Not my Marlene!”

“I believe you have struck upon Barret’s weakness,” Vincent spoke for the first time.

This was apparently very shockin to everyone. But after a few seconds of dumbfounded silence, everyone began talking again, this time about Vincent and asking him little questions. Most of which Tifa already knew the answer to.

“He likes chocolate,” Tifa answered when he rufused to answer his favorite flavor ice cream. “He stole half of my candy bar last time we were on the Tiny Bronco.”

“It had almonds in it,” He said. “had there not been you would have not had any.”

“Ah!” Tifa gasped. “You sneak, you’re worse than Yuffie!”

“Hey!”

The night was spent learning a bit more about each other, drinking a few beers and heading over to the Turtles paradise later on. Cloud wasn’t very happy about the delay of their mission, but more than just Aeris argued the boost in morale this would give everyone.

“C’mon Cloud,” Yuffie begged. “I finally made it to ninja! And my dad…please Cloud!”

“…fine. Go be with your father for the night,” Cloud said. He gave a small smile before Cid and Barret started loading him with whiskey. Tifa was almost sorry when Cloud was again dressed as a woman, but the snapshot she took proved she didn’t feel too badly about it. And the fact that she pulled out the other picture from the Honeybee Inn, the inspiration for Cloud in a kimono. As Barret and Cid leaned on each other on their way out and to the inn, Aeris smiled at Tifa while guiding Cloud.

“Time to put baby bro-sister, to bed,” Aeris laughed. “Good night Tifa, Good night Vincent.”

“Goodnight Aeris, big sister Cloud,” Tifa giggled. For the greater part of the night she’d been drinking Julia Heartily’s and virgin daiquiri’s. Vincent beside her had been drinking Drambuie and soda slowly, she doubted he’d had more than two all night, his second sitting right in front of him.

“Ya ever notice things end up being just the two of us?” Tifa asked him.

“Does it bother you?” If there was any greater power in the world, he hoped she didn’t mind it at all.

“No,” Tifa smiled. “It really doesn’t.”

They were silent for a moment, simply sitting there and watching the TV. The Turks were over in the corner, Elena passed out on the table as her partners (or were they trainers?) laughed and hollered and hooted.

“My mother, she wore light blue,” Vincent said finally.

“…Her wedding gown?”

Vincent nodded. “She was pregnant at the time, my older brother.”

“I never knew…”

“He was not born alive,” Vincent answered. “Her family said it was punishment for marrying a scientist and not waiting until marriage.” He took a drink before continuing. “She was disowned long before I was born.”

Vincent remembered going with his parents to see his little brother’s grave. His name, Vincent had so much trouble reading it when he was younger, but he knew what it said. Edgar Allen Valentine, son of Morticia and Grimore.

HE felt Tifa’s hand on his cheek, wiping something away, it took him a moment to realize just what she was wiping away. She gave him a soft, sad smile before wiping at his other cheek.

“I miss my family too.”

They ended up going back to the room, all jovial thoughts gone. The inn itself was very clean and warm in it’s color. And the innkeeper had winked at them when he handed over the room key. It was no wonder they been winked at either. The room had only one bed and the closet was bare of blankets and extra pillows.

“Why do I get the feeling Aeris planned this,” Tifa groaned. “Left side or right?” Tifa asked.

“I do not sleep,” Vincent answered.

“You don’t have to sleep,” Tifa said. Just pick a side until I fall asleep.”

~Come on you pansy! Pick the top and ravish that sexy piece of ass!~

‘IT would be most inappropriate.’

~I swear to Lifestrem if you don’t get your ass in that bed your life will be even more of a hell! Eternal blue balls!~

Vincent sat in Tifa’s bed, the brunette woman using his lap as a pillow. He did not plan for this, but when she fell asleep he couldn’t make himself move. Something about her had changed, something he couldn’t place, something that was making him terribly hard.

~She’s in heat! Heat, Heat Heat! She is in heat! H-E-T…H-E-A-T!~

Vincent’s eyes widened tremendously, both from the demons statement and the hand clutching his thigh. Tifa was dreaming again, a most vibrant and involved dream. Chaos began biting at his mind to go inside the dream and discover what was happening this time.

~Last time she was writhing in your lap in complete pleasure, mewling like a newborn kitten.~

‘Last time was wrong!’ Vincent argued.

~Well do you know what? I’m going to send you there anyway~

This dream was worse than the first one, twisted in every aspect and covered in fire and Mako. Blades were flying through the air and piercing shadowy bodies of unnamed people. People she surely knew. Vincent glanced around the horrific scene to see ShinRa Mansion in the background, crumbling and decrepit with a silver haired general walking out.

“Vincent,” Chaos spoke from beside them. “We must kill that man for her.”

“Agreed.”

Sepheroth continued on his way towards the two, a smirk growing on his face as he sheathed his sword. Imagine their surprise when he spoke.

“So you’re the one.” His tone was amused. “She won’t ever be yours you realize.”

“Why?” Chaos laughed. “Because you’re destined to be a god? HA! Don’t make me laugh boy!”

Sephiroth was obviously not amused. “She will be mine in the end. Because even now, I have acess to her mind every night as she dreams.”

Vincent’s attention was torn away by Tifa exiting the mansin looking utterly broken and so full of hatred. They looked back to see if they could find Sephiroth, but he was gone. And Tifa’s form was climbing the mountain of Mt. Neibel.

Bum bum buuuummmmmmm!