The Reason

Chapter 9

Vincent awoke to the sound of a woman’s pained moans. He sighed and reached for Jexebel, only then realizing that she was not there. He sat up quickly, nearly knocking his head on the bunk above him. He got out of bed and began getting dressed, noticing that his white dress shirt was missing. He sighed again and pulled his uniform pants over his hips, and then donned the jacket, leaving it unzipped. He left the room and the sight he found in the main room just about knocked the breath out of him.

He couldn’t decide if he was turned on or abhorred. Jexebel and Elena were at the metal table in the kitchen area. Elena was wearing only her dress shirt, and Jexebel was wearing only his dress shirt. Jexebel stood behind Elena, using her delicate fingers to rub circles over Elena’s temple.

“I’m going to kill him, you know.” Elena moaned. Vincent assumed she was talking about Tseng.

“Come now, Elena. They didn’t know who we were, and we were dressed like the enemy. We would have done the same thing!” Jexebel said, laughing.

“Shut up.” Elena snapped. “Its not funny.”

“Actually, it is slightly amusing.” Vincent said, drawing their attention.

Elena gasped and covered herself, jumping up and racing back into the room she shared with Tseng. Her face was bright red. Vincent chuckled.

Jexebel walked to him and planted a light kiss on his bare chest. “That wasn’t very nice you know,” She started. Vincent raised an eyebrow, unrepentant. “Where can I find some clothes?” Jexebel asked.

“There should be a few of Elena’s spare uniforms in that cupboard.” Vincent pointed her in the right direction, and then took over the coffee pot, pouring a cup of the hot liquid that Elena had prepared. He heard Reno and Rude’s door open, and didn’t think anything of it until he head Reno’s crude wolf whistle when he saw Jexebel searching cabinets in nothing but Vincent’s shirt.

“Can it, Montonati.” She growled.

“Will you stop calling me that?!” Reno yelled. Big. Mistake.

“Reno!” Tseng roared.

“Sorry, boss!” Reno said quickly.

“Not yet you’re not!” he threatened, stepping out of his room, Elena – now clothed – following closely behind.

“Coffee.” He stated, leaving no room for confusion or argument.

Jexebel poured him a cup, and then pulled Elena aside, whispering in her ear.

After a few words, Elena pulled away and smiled brightly. “Go ahead.” She said, “I don’t mind.”

The men just shook their heads in confusion as Jexebel grabbed one of her knives and picked up Elena’s spare suit that she had located, heading into her room and closing the door behind her.

She emerged twenty minutes later fully clothed. If you can call THAT fully clothed.

She had cut the sleeves off the jacket, making it a vest of sorts. The pants were no longer pants, just very short shorts. She left the sleeves of the dress shirt long, but cut the cuffs off. She had modified the waist of the pants so they hugged her hips, and cut the jacket and shirt high so her well toned abs were shown.

She looked good.

Jexebel walked to the counter between the gaping men and began equipping her knives and sword.

“What are we doing today?” Jexebel asked, finally pouring herself a cup of coffee and taking a much-needed sip.

“Aside from ruining ShinRa property?” Tseng asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“You don’t scare me, Kambashii.” Jexebel sassed, rolling her eyes.

Tseng ignored her. “We’re going back to the base to inform the President and Mr. Tuesti. As soon as we’re ready we’ll leave. We’re staying underground, we’ll all be safer that way..”

Jexebel let her confusion show. Elena came to her rescue.

“All of the bunkers are connected by tunnels deep under the surface. That hallway-“ she pointed to the dark hallway behind them, “-leads to the bunker in Corel.”

“Oh?” Jexebel said, honestly interested. Elena continued telling her about Turk hideouts and safe houses as she and the others equipped themselves for the journey ahead.



“And then what happened?!” Jexebel asked, wide-eyed as Tseng told her of his encounter with Sephiroth, when the madman nearly took his life.

“Then Elena found me . . . “ Tseng’s voice sounded airy as he looked ahead of him to watch Elena’s form float through the dim tunnel. Hearing her name, she looked back and smiled at her lover. She slowed down to walk alongside Jexebel. The women were flanked by their men.

“So, Jexebel.” Elena said. “Reno tells me that you’re a singer in Tifa’s bar.”

“Yes.” Jexebel answered, not sure where Elena was going with this.

“Will you sing something for us? Something . . .appropriate to the situation, maybe?”

“You mean, about war?”

“Yes, I suppose that would be the best way to put it.”

Jexebel thought for a minute. “I only know one song like that – not really about war, I suppose - but it’s a song my mother used to sing to me as a child. I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

“Oh, come now, I’m sure it’s very good.” Elena pushed.

“Oh . . .alright.” Jexebel gave in. She glanced at Vincent and smiled when he gave her an encouraging look. So she began to sing softly, her voice echoing through the dark corridor.


“Listen children to a story that was written long ago
‘Bout a kingdom on a mountain and the valley folk below
On the mountain was a treasure buried deep beneath the stone
And the valley people swore they’d have it for their very own

Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of heaven
You can justify it in the end
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away

So the people of the valley sent a message up the hill
Asking for the buried treasure; tons of gold for which they’d kill
Came an answer from the kingdom “With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain; all the riches buried there.”

Now the valley cried with anger “Mount your horses, draw your swords!”
And they killed the mountain people so they won their just reward
Now they stood beside the treasure on the mountain dark and red
Turn the stone and looked beneath it; “Peace on Earth” was all it said

Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of heaven
You can justify it in the end
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away”

When she finished, all was silent until Tseng spoke, patting her on the arm.

“Well said, Ms. Strange.”


“LIGHT! I SEE LIIIIIGHT!” Jexebel said when they finally reached the exit at Icicle Inn.

“A little excited, maybe?” Elena said, smiling warmly. Over the past few days, Jexebel and Elena had become very close. Jexebel thought of Elena as the sister she never had, and Elena thought the same of Jexebel.

“ACK! And SNOW!” Jexebel continued, stepping out into the sunlight.

“Jex!” Came a voice from her right. She whirled around.

“Cloud!” The others joined her, closing the ramp to the bunker as Cloud made his way to the group.

“Everyone’s okay, then?” Cloud said, looking everyone over, head to toe.

“Yeah, we’re all fine.” Jexebel said.

“Sorry to cut this short, but we need to talk to Tuesti and President ShinRa immediately.” Tseng said. The group nodded turned away. Jexebel made to follow them.

“Not you, Ms. Strange. You are going to the lab so that they can figure out what’s up with your head. Valentine, you go with her.”

“Sir.” Vincent said. “Come on, Jexebel. You heard the man.”

Jexebel smiled and nodded. She was not put off by the order. She wanted to know what was going on just as badly as the rest of them did.

But dear Gaia was she afraid of what they might find.