Return To Me

Return To Me

{Yuffie}

“We did it!” I said, jumping up and down next to Vincent after he had killed Weiss.

He gave a hesitant smile that grew in sincerity and nodded his head. I threw myself into his arms, intending to kiss him senseless, when suddenly the reactor behind us started roaring and the floor shook violently. We whirled around and watched in horror as raw mako erupted from the abyss below and shot straight toward us.

“No!” Vincent roared. He shoved me away from him and out of the path of raging mako just as it collided with his body. The impact forced the substance into his body and he grunted in pain.

“Vincent!” I cried. I leapt to the rafters with one last look behind me as the mako began to spread out and fill the room.


{Vincent}

Yuffie’s joy as Weiss’s body disappeared was contagious. I gave her one of my rare sincere smiles and nodded my head, but my happiness was cut short as the mako beneath the reactor erupted and shot toward us. Desperate to protect her from any danger, I gripped her shoulders and threw her away from me just in time. The green substance surged into my body and I grit my teeth and grunted at the searing pain, dearly hoping that Yuffie had managed to get out.

In a flash the room I was in disappeared, literally vaporized by the life-liquid of the planet. I felt the tearing pain inside of me as Chaos struggled
to free himself from the prison of my mind. I fought for control of the beast, but without the protomateria, there was no way that I could keep Chaos under control. I could very well kill Yuffie if she crossed my path, then. The mako surging through my system gave Chaos the added power he needed to overpower my senses and rip himself from my mind. I screamed my denial as my consciousness was tossed to the dark corners of my mind and I was forced to watch helplessly as my body shifted and molded to become the beast.

Chaos himself is mindless. A lot of people around me think that I have the ability to converse with him inside my head; this is not really the case. I can feel him there, yes, I can hear his anger and rage, yes, but the beast is not capable if intelligent thought. He lives only to kill, and now that I have discovered his true purpose, I understand why. I understand what I became. But I also understand why it was done.

For the time, Chaos was not focused on anything but Omega, seeming to sense that his own death would find him as well if the giant weapon was allowed to complete his task. I grit my teeth in pain as Chaos rammed himself into Omega’s invisible barrier again and again. Finally he stopped, backing away from the giant creature and hovering above it. I actually found myself sympathizing with him. There had to be some way to get to the blasted monster!

Out of nowhere I saw a white light streaming down from the heavens only to collide with the giant weapon’s head, and shortly after that the same white light - now tainted with green - burst from the ominous ring on Omega’s head and raced toward me. I felt Chaos brace himself for a fight, but was not expecting the face I saw.

Lucrecia…


{Yuffie}

I raced through the vast tunnels that were the Deepground sanctuary, trying desperately to get above ground to the others. The rusty color of the walls was a tear-streaked blur as I ran on, heedless of my aching joints and muscles. I finally breeched the surface with a gasp, reaching for the sky desperately where I could see the silhouette of Vincent as Chaos against the mako tinted moon. I had always admired that part of Vincent; Chaos was beautiful in a tragic way. He hovered there roaring and growling and I could tell that Vincent had no control over the beast. That thought frightened me. What if, even after Omega was defeated - because I KNEW Vincent could kill it - Chaos wouldn’t allow Vincent to come back? What if he stayed like that forever, nothing but a mindless killing machine?

I watched in confused and terrified awe as a white stream crashed and buried itself inside Omega’s head, and then burst from the ring on its face, racing toward Vincent. Only when the light collided with him did I recognize it for what it was. It was Shelke, but outlining her body was the figure of a woman. I’d never seen photos of Lucrecia before, and Vincent had never really spoken of her to me, but I knew that it was her. As she reached Chaos, she thrust her hand out and shoved something into the beast’s chest. At that moment, Chaos’ demeanor changed. His body was no longer rigid and poised for an animalistic attack, he held himself with grace, solid and elegant at the same time, and I knew that whatever Shelke had done had given Vincent control of Chaos once more. For once, I could thank her and mean it.

Vincent turned from Omega and those magnificent wings shuddered as he flew at top speed toward our little group standing atop the rubble of Midgar.

{Vincent}

I flew towards Yuffie’s figure with the vision of Lucrecia still fresh in my mind. Even though I had accepted my guilt and moved ahead with Yuffie, it brought new hope and light into my heart knowing how my first love had truly felt about me, and why she did what she did. I had lowered Shelke to the ground not far from the rest of the team, knowing she would be able to make it to them safely. My full focus was on Yuffie, and making sure she survived the night. As I neared the group, I was ambushed by strange creatures shooting energy blasts in every direction. Looking back in Yuffie’s direction, I knew that I could not risk leading Omega’s monsters to my comrades. Shaking my head, I changed direction and flew away, leading the monsters back toward Omega, knowing that I was in for a long and lonely fight.

{Yuffie}

I watched Vincent fly high above the giant Omega. His fight with the beast was over, and I waited anxiously for his to return to me…just to see for myself that he was okay.

Then, without warning, the weapon burst into life, pulling the pure mako straight from the ground rather than from the reactors. We watched in awe as it sprouted four magnificent wings, bringing them down and sending a wave of dust and debris through the ruins of Midgar.

“Omega’s…ascending! But…that would mean…!” I barely heard Reeve say beside me.

But I didn’t respond. I was more concerned with the terrible feeling that overcame me as I watched Vincent fly high above the monster, wondering why the thought crossed my mind that he was about to do something very, very stupid.


It’s because he was.


{Vincent}

I watched Omega lift its wings wondering how many times I was going to have to kill the damned creature. I knew exactly what would happen if Omega were allowed to complete his ascent. I could never let that happen. Not when everything I loved was below me, standing there defiant and ready to fight to the death.

I wouldn’t give her the chance. I flew above Omega, ready to do whatever it took to defeat the creature and save my friends…my family. The problem was, I had no idea how to stop Omega from leaving the planet.

Then it hit me. Hit me so hard I nearly plummeted to the earth.

Without the power of Chaos, Omega couldn’t go anywhere. I abruptly changed direction, flying at top speed back toward the giant WEAPON, charging all of Chaos‘ power as I did so. I let out a roar of rage and determination as I neared the creature.

I was afraid, yes. Who wouldn’t be at least a little afraid when they knowingly faced their demise? Still…Yuffie’s life was more important than my own. I acknowledged long ago that I would do anything to keep her safe…I meant to do it now.

The light overtook me, so bright that I was blinded. Still, I did not look away. The last thing I saw was Yuffie’s bright face smiling at me and I could almost feel her kiss on my lips.

I smiled-a real smile-and in that instant, Omega collided with the dark energy ball that my body created. I heard the world go quiet, and then I knew no more.


{Yuffie}

It had been a week. A whole week since Omega’s defeat and Vincent’s disappearance. I knew in my head that I should prepare myself for a future without him, but my heart told me that I needed to keep looking, keep hoping. And I did.

The day after I watched him soaring through the sky toward Omega to save us all, I found the Cerberus charm hanging on a piece of metal sticking out from the wreckage in what was left of Midgar.

The others gave up hope then, thinking that my Vincent HAD to be dead.

I wouldn’t stop looking though. I finally talked Cloud and Cid into going out to look for him, and I kept up my search in Midgar.

That day, I rushed back into Tifa’s bar after a long day of searching.

“Have you heard from Cloud?!” I asked before I said anything else.

Tifa nodded. “Mm-hm. He hasn’t found anything.”

I let out an aggravated sigh. “Not gonna make this easy for us, is he?”

Tifa smiled sympathetically, and I found myself unreasonably wanting to slap her. Why couldn’t they just have a little bit of faith?!

I slid into the booth across from Shelke and she offered me a sad smile.

“He will be okay, Yuffie Kisaragi. You’ll see.” With that she slid out of the booth and went outside.

For once, I hoped that Shelke was right.


{Vincent}

I left the cave that had been my sanctuary for the past week feeling like I had been given a new life.

Not a cursed one, as before, but a new, light, free life filled with love and justice and family. As the sunlight washed over me, I saw Shelke standing on the edge of the cliffside. We spoke briefly, and I let her lead me to the familiar sight of the Shera, waiting at the base of the mountain. As soon as I was through the threshold, I heard a loud shriek of …well… what sounded like anger, sadness, and joy all jumbled into one ear-shattering sound.

With a blur of blue and yellow, Yuffie tackled me to the floor. My head bounced off of the metal and I groaned in irritation. It didn’t last long, though, as in the next second, all the oxygen in my body was being squeezed out of me by my ninja. I wrapped my arms around her and returned her tight embrace. It surprised me when I was shoved away and I felt the sting of a full-strength slap across my cheek.

“How could you do that to me?” Yuffie raged. “I thought you were dead! For a whole week I thought you were dead! You just…you could have…you can’t imagine…How could you?!” she said as she slapped me again.

“I’m sorry, Yuffie.” I said, reaching up to cradle her to me again. “I just needed to…to let go…and I needed to be alone to do it.”

She reached out to slap me again, but her palm stopped in the action. Suddenly, as though there was no one else in the airship, no audience to our reunion, she threw herself down and kissed me full on the lips, sucking the oxygen from my body once more. Almost as quickly as it began, it stopped and she was pushing against me, curled up on top of me and sobbing.

“Yuffie,” I whispered, “Yuffie, the others will wonder.” I said, trying to get that White Rose of Wutai attitude back into her.

“Get me out of here, Vince; I don’t want them to see me like this.” She sniffled.

I decided not to point out the fact that the others had already seen it, and I carefully lifted her off of me and stood. I held out my hand and motioned for her to come to me. She did and I pulled the side of my cloak over her and led her away, heading for the room that I had always used when traveling with Cid.

{Yuffie}

I hated him. Hated him so much for leaving me the way he did. Hated him so much that I couldn’t wait to see him. To kiss him. To hold him and just know, for sure, that he was okay.

When I slapped him, he did not fight back. He did not try to stop me. He just took it. His whisper of my name accompanied with the warning that the others may witness my breakdown brought me back to my senses enough to ask him to get me away from there. I followed silently as he took me to his room, not saying a single word until the metal doors hissed behind me and I heard Vincent typing in the code to lock them.

“Why, Vincent?” I asked quietly, “I thought that…that you were done running away…”

He looked at me with a stunned expression. “You thought… I was running away from you?”

I have never seen Vincent Valentine look as dazed as he did at that moment, even when he kissed me for the first time and thought I had rejected him just more than a week ago.

“I would never…ever…I thought that you knew that…Yuffie…” He trailed off, “I could never leave you. I had to tell her, Yuffie. I had to thank her and forgive her for what she did. You HAVE to understand that…”

“But why couldn’t you let someone know that you were alive?! I thought you were DEAD Vincent…do you have any idea…how much that…hurt?” I shook my head at my foolishness. “What am I saying; of COURSE you know…which is why you should have called someone!”

{Vincent}

She was right, in a way. I supposed I should have at least let SOMEONE know…but would they have left me alone? I really didn’t think so. Still, I completely understood what Yuffie was saying, and so I did not offer my excuse, simply relented and gave her what she needed.

“I’m sorry. I have no excuse. I should have come back first.” I said. She turned away from me again and I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around her and buried my face in the soft hair that fell just at the nape of her neck.

“I’m sorry.” I said again. She took a sharp breath and I suddenly found myself against the hard metal wall next to the door.

“Don’t ever…EVER…EVER EVER EVER …do that. To. Me. Again!” She said between frantic kisses.

“Never again…” I promised, trying to keep up with her almost panicked movements. I lightly pushed against her, reeling in my joy that she allowed it, and backed her up toward the large and remarkably comfortable bed.

“I missed you, Vincent…even more than before when you would go away because I didn’t know if we would ever find you…or how we would find you…” Yuffie whimpered against my cheek after I fell on top of her.

“Don’t think about it…I’m back. I’m back and I will not leave you alone ever again.” I said, solid in my oath.

“I love you.” Yuffie said.

My breath caught. Although I’d heard her say it before, my heart still threatened to explode when I heard it again.

“And I love you…Yuffie…You will never know how much you mean to me. How much you’ve taught me about life and love and happiness…” I rambled, running my hands over her face, the anxiety and realization of how much I missed touching her finally kicking in.

“Vincent?” She asked.

“Yes?” I said.

“Shut-up and kiss me.”

I surprised myself as a small bubble of laughter threatened to spill from my lips. Instead I gave her a small smile and complied with her wishes.


{Yuffie}

I let Vincent kiss me as I had asked him to, but as quickly as he complied, I changed my mind. I pushed him away from me and sat up, dragging my shirt up over my head and then struggling with the buckles of my shoes. His hands swatted mine away and he made quick work of my boots before turning to his own clothing. I watched him remove the cloak, the gauntlet, the boots, and the gloves before getting up off of the bed and standing between his knees, ripping at his shirt. As soon as I had it off of him he pulled me against him, attacking my breasts almost violently. I gasped and dropped his shirt to the floor, grasping his head between my hands and arching into his hot mouth. Again, I pushed him away from me. I gripped the buckles of his pants and tried in vain to get them to let loose. Vincent growled through clenched teeth and took over, unclasping the buckles like they were nothing. I moved away from him as he did this, sliding my own shorts and panties down my legs just as he tossed his pants across the small room.

I jumped onto him, tackling him back against the bed and forcing my mouth to his once again. The feel of his body beneath me was almost enough to send me into orgasm right then and there. I pushed myself against the hardening length that I could feel between my thighs and was rewarded with a low groan.

“Yuffie…”

Gods I love it when he says my name.

{Vincent}


Her soft skin was heavenly silk against me as she rubbed her body to mine. My hands crawled to her breasts again, pinching and tweaking the nipples until they were hard little nubs between my fingers before I lifted her slightly and let my mouth take over.

“Vincent!” she gasped, throwing her head back and pushing against me again. She let her hand tease its way down my belly to grasp my rapidly hardening length, running her hand from tip to base in one tight stroke that nearly had me undone. I bucked into her hand, groaning against her flesh and suckling just a bit harder. She settled into a rhythm, stroking me almost frantically. I had to stop her or this would be over very soon. I released her breast and my hand forced hers away from my aching flesh. I then gripped her thighs and lifted her, sliding her already-wet center up my body until I had her poised over my mouth. I could smell her arousal and it made me growl before I allowed her to drop and attacked her heat viciously. My hands grasped her wrists and held them to her sides as I slid my tongue into that tight opening that had me at her mercy days ago.

She tasted divine, but nothing was as amazing as the moan she gave me, throwing her head back and all but chanting my name. I let my tongue flick against the little bud above her opening and delighted at the mouthful of sweet juices that I received as she reached her climax almost immediately.

Before I knew what was happening, I was pressed into the mattress and her tongue was in my mouth, desperately searching for a taste of the liquid that I had pulled from her. I moaned and let my tongue meet hers as I felt her position herself to take my throbbing shaft into her body.


{Yuffie}

As the tremors faded from the most explosive orgasm I had ever had, I let my emotions take over and I slid from his grasp and down to straddle his hips. I kissed him desperately, strangely aroused by the taste of my own climax in his mouth. I slid just a little further down and lifted my body instinctively, shuddering as I felt the tip of his erection slide into my opening slightly. I followed my instinct and lowered my body completely, nearly crying out as I was instantly filled with thick, hot iron. I pulled away and slid down again, watching as Vincent threw his head back, pressing his shoulder blades into the mattress and arching against me, moaning in the most beautiful display I’d ever seen.

“Oh gods, Yuffie…” he groaned, bucking up into me, and suddenly I could feel him everywhere, so far inside me that it actually hurt. He grasped my hips and guided my movement, showing me how to move. I leaned back and braced my hands on his thighs as he pulled me against him rhythmically. I watched his face change rapidly from animalistic enjoyment to pure ecstatic disorientation.

From the position we were in, he was able to hit so deeply within me, rub just the right spot…even though I had just found my release only moments before, I was quickly approaching completion again.


{Vincent}

Again. Beautiful, liquid, silky heat again. I think I died when she impaled herself on me, and she revived me again when she rose and slammed down upon me again. I grit my teeth and showed her how to move upon me, lifting my hips and rocking her back and forth. I was so deep inside her, I knew that it had to hurt her in some way, and knowing that and still seeing her unquestionable pleasure made my arousal throb violently.

I let her ride me for a few moments, watching the sheer determination on her face as she forced my pleasure upon me, then I sat up, forcing her legs up over my shoulders, and slid smoothly back into her.

She screamed.

I lightly placed my hand over her mouth. “Shhh, you don’t want Cid breaking through the door, do you?” I purred. Inside, I was dancing with smug joy at my ability to make such a strong woman make a sound like that. I slammed my hips forward again, throwing my head back at the incredible feeling of her insides convulsing around me. I was barely holding out, again, not willing to finish until she had.

I swear I heard angels singing and felt the heat of every star in the sky when she pressed her legs to my back, effectively folding herself in half to plant a sloppy kiss on my lips and whimper in my ear.

“Vincent…I’m so close…please…just a little harder…”

I did lose my control then, thrusting against her so hard that I was sure my hip bones would leave bruises on her otherwise flawless skin.

“Vincent!” She cried again, her whole body jerking beneath me, her legs squeezing me so tight she could have broken my shoulders.

I was glad she let go when she did, because I could not hold back any longer. I thrust forward once more and felt the tension in my body release at last. I let her legs fall from my shoulders as I shuddered and jerked atop her, burying my face in her hair and almost sobbing in my pleasure.


{Yuffie}

My climax crashed over me again, leaving me breathless and in complete wonder. I new sort of thrill worked through me when Vincent let my legs fall from his shoulders and jerked out of rhythm inside me, and I felt white-hot liquid erupt inside me.

We were bound then. I was his and he was mine.

His breathing slowed and he slowly lowered himself down on me, pulling out of my body and rolling to his side. He dragged me into his arms and planted a kiss on my forehead.

“I love you.” He breathed into my hair.

“I love you, too.” I answered.

Then he shocked me right out of my skin.

“Marry me.” he said.

I sat up, whirling toward him and letting out a gasp. “What?!”

“Marry me.”

“Are you serious, Vincent? I mean, we only just started-” He interrupted me.

“We’ve known each other for years, Yuffie. We slept bare feet from each other, worked on missions together, just the two of us for months at a time…I want to be with you. I won’t make the same mistakes that I made in the past. Marry me, Yuffie, please?”

I felt my jaw moving, trying to find the words to say. I almost said yes, then a thought struck me.

“But…when I get married, I have to take over the rule of Wutai…I…I’m not ready for that…” I looked at my hands, then glanced at his face. He had his eyes closed and I hoped that he wasn’t as hurt as he looked. Then, just as I was about to explain myself better and try to comfort him, he shocked me again.

“Then run away with me, Yuffie. No one needs to know until YOU want them to. Say yes, Yuffie. Run away with me.”

I looked at him again. Stared into those crimson eyes that I loved so much. Was this what I wanted? So soon? Would my friends be angry? Would I care?

His eyes stared through me and I knew how serious he was about not letting me go. Holding onto me and not reliving his misplaced guilt. I made my decision.


{Vincent}

Two day had passed since then. We rode my motorbike through the lush green trees on our way to Healin Lodge. I parked the bike once we reached the lodge and began carrying in the few bags of food and extra clothing and weapons we had acquired.

I entered the house and Yuffie helped me put the items in their proper places, the occasional sneeze disturbing the silence when she would raise dust from an empty shelf.

“Well,” she said, “This place isn’t bad. I think I may like it here, dust and all. Good choice, Mr. Valentine.”

I smiled, happy that she was returning to her rambunctious, slightly irritating, wonderfully endearing personality.

“Why thank you, Mrs. Valentine. Anything for you.”

Anything.


(A.N. - A little fluffy there at the end, but I couldn’t think of any other way to end it that I was happy with. Enjoy the part two of Heal Me and please review!!)