Rain Clouds

By Avalon

Chapter 1: Out of Hiding

Rain Strife opened now crimson eyes. They were sapphire once with emerald flames dancing around the bright pupils. Sighing, she crawled out of her den; her majestic white wolf followed. Rain's blonde hair had darkened and her skin was paler. She wore black glooves that reachedher shoulders, black boot that reached her knees, a black dress that reached midthigh, and a short sleeved over jacket. Rain looked around. All seemed well and safe; seven years ago, Rain would not leave the den for anything. Now, at long last, she was.

Marleen worked in her dairy as Cloud entered Seventh Heaven. Zack, Cloud and Tifa's son cried from the play pin. Aeries and Storm, Cloud and Tifa's twin five year old daughter. It was five years since the geostigma was anillated and Cloud seemed to feel better. Yuffie sat at a table with her new boyfriend, Red Xlll slept gaurding Zack, Vincent sat at the bar drinking, Cid and Barret were out looking for some tomb, and Cait was singing a horrid lalluby. Denzel covered his ears after he walked into the bar.
"It's been like this for three hours straight," Marleen moaned.
"Make him stop him before start crying too," Yuffie snapped.
"I'm going to shot that conceited idiot in the head before too long," Vincent muttered.
"I agree," Marleen snapped with a nod.
"CAIT, SHUT UP ALREADY!!!" Tifa cried.
Cait sileneced himself.
"Finally," Storm gasped.
"Here's a thought," Vincent muttered. He took out his gun.
"Don't you dare," Tifa snapped.
Vincent hit Cait on the head, making the the strange cat that talked far too much for his own dazed. Zack laughed.
When Cait shook away the stars, he shouted, "What did you do that for?"
Vincent hit Cait again. Zack laughed and clapped his small hands. Tifa smiled. Everyone did. Everytime Cait shook the stars from his head, Vincent just hit him again until Cait fainted.
Everyone sighed.
It had been raining outside.
The door flew open as two figures stood in the doorway.

Chapter 2: Her Search

Cloud eyed the strange new comer. A woman as tall as he was with a wolf. The woman, because she was dress in black with blonde hair and crimson eyes taking a seat in a shadowy coner with her white wolf companion that was half in the shadows and half in the light looked dramatic and suspiscious.
"You do it Cloud," Tifa hissed. She was scared. Cloud walked over to the table, only to have the wolf growl at him. Cloud threw the wolf a stern glare.
"Heel," the woman barked. The crimson eyes of the woman shinned gold then turned a pale yellow. The eyes shiifted blood-red and a flower lifted itself into the air. Everyone was in awe and astonishment. The woman's eyes turn a bright green and the flower fell.
"Who are you?" Cloud asked. The woman's eyes turned sapphire with green flames dancing around small pupils.
Rain looked at Cloud. Over the seven years since she was given a strange gift, she had learned to change the color of her eyes.
"I'm looking for someone," Rain replied.
Her voice is dark, cold, and harsh like Vincent's, Cloud thought.
"And who are you looking for?" Cloud asked.
Rain's eyes turned an icy blue-gray. "You," was her dark reply.
Oh shit, what did I do now? Cloud asked himself. More importantly, what did I do to deserve such a fucked up life.
The white wolf stood and growled. Red ran over and growled at the white wolf. Red and the white wolf growled and were ready to attack each other. Rain stood. Cloud took a step back.
Tifa did what any bar owner would do: she grabbed her gun from its hiding spot and aimed it at Rain. Reno had jumped to his with his gun out and aimed at Rain. The date was also one of Reno's partners; she had her gun, a small pistol, out. Vincent still had his Cerberus gun out and ready to fire if nesscery. The white wolf fought with Red. The two wolves bit each other. Tifa fired her gun as Marleen, Aeris, Storm, and Zack went up the stairs with Cait in Storm's arms and Zack in Marleen's. Denzel, who was nowhere near the stairs, hid behind the counter. Marleen stopped.
"Denzel," she cried.
Denzel waved his hand.
Marleen continued up the stairs while Denzel stayed with Tifa. Cloud backed away some more as the wolves fought. Rain's eyes turned a pale violet, then gray, then blue, turqoise, crystal, green, yellow, orange, and finally crimson. But soon, her round pupils became slits and flared like dragon fire.
Ruby-wild-strawberry-pink, ember, scales soon replaced Rain's pale skin. Rain slid out of her jacket as her silver nails turned to silver claws.
"Oh no," Vincent exclaimed. "She's like me."
Blood-red wings spouted and strecthed from Rain's back while an ember tail drop to the floor, the bones reformed, the rubber outfit turned into black armor, and the golden hair wound back to forn golden horns. A muzzle grew on Rains face and her teeth become sharp and something to be afraid of. Rain roared and Vincent threw his gun to the floor and he too, changed his shape. Seeing the two immortals, Red, Cloud, Reno, and everyone else ran from the bar.
Vincent held a blood-red gaze with Rain's dragon crimson eyes. They fought.

Chapter 3: Fight Between Immortals

Vincent stayed quiet and stood his ground. Whoever this girl was, was not doing anything at all. The two eyed each other for one hour, two, three, four; both immortals were patient and didn't even notice the children leave. Another hour went by following the sixth and seventh hours. The two immortals were still waiting for an attack, but none came. Finally, Rain gave. Seven hours was her limit before she was finally fed up with waiting.
Rain charged Vincent, baring her teeth, she struck out with her sharp silver claws. Vincent was more experianced with his gift and brought his metal arm up but Rain was fast turning herself and swinging tail. Vincent had not expected the tail as it hit him. Rain turned again, this time, she struck out with siver claws. Vincent was surprised that he had not seen that attack coming.
This one is young with her gift, but she is wise and swift,Vincent thought.
Rain jumped back, landing on all fours against the wall, snarling. Vincent stood his qiuetly and waited in a defensive position for another attack that might catch his surprise. The two immortals were patient. Another hour went by and Vincent and Rain started to circle one another. They watched each other for a weakness.

"Okay, this is going on forever," Tifa cried. "They have been in there for eight hours and I think that's long enough."
"Relax," Reno said.
"I am going in there and I'm going to shoot that dragon girl in the head," Tifa yelled.
"I agree," Marleen snapped. "This is taking too long and the sun is setting!"
Cloud sighed. "If you want to do something stupid, don't do it without--"
There was the sound of glass and wood breaking as a pair of blood-red wings poped out where a window used to be.
"Hey, I paid a lot of money to have those windows fixed!" Tifa screamed.
Cloud groaned.

Vincent had Rain by the neck. Their claws were dug into each other's flesh. They started clawing, bringing gold and silver claws down each other's necks. Still holding her in his mouth, Vincent punched Rain and sent her flying into a wall.
Rain changed back into a human, groaning as her wounds healed themselves. Her eyes were human expcept for that crimson-gold they were. Rain opened her eyes and got to her feet as Vincent also returned tohis human form. Vincent walked to Rain, grabbing her leftshoulder with his metal arm and digging golden claws into Rain's flesh. Vincent slammed Rain into the wall she was against. Rain was groaning.
"Who are you?" Vincent growled.
Rain looked down at him. Her eyes turned gold, yellow, bright green, jade, emerald, and finally sapphire. Tears had built up in her now icy-violet eyes. The salt-water tears fell onto Vincent's face. He was shocked to see the girk crying.
Has she ever done this before? Vincent asked himself. He gently setled Rain on the ground.
"Where is Cloud?" Rain asked sobbing.
"What is your connection to him?"
"He's . . . he's my . . . brother." Rain passed out.

Chapter 4: Lost Sibilings

Rain jolted upward in a strange bed. Where was she?
Tifa entered the room minutes later with a tray of food. She placed it on a side table.
As if she had read Rain's mind, she said, "You're in Shinra Manor."
"Shinra . . ." Rain muttered hatefully. She growled. "I heard what they did. I can't believe they dare come back as a company."
"Do you want to see your twin brother . . . or what?" Tifa asked. Rain got to her feet and left the room. Once down the stairs, she felt a metal claw grasp her wrist.
With a yelp, Rain lashed out. Her silver nails were haulted by a normal human hand grabbing her wrist. Rain fell to the floor with Vincent still grasping her wrists. On the ground, Rain dug her knee into Vincent's stomach. She threw him off of her, snapping her leg straight forward into the air. Rain was free of Vincent's grasped, but Vincent had left claw marks on Rain's arm. Swiftly, Rain got to her feet. She had qiuck reflexes and her body had been strecthed so many times that Rain was very flexible.
I may have had over ten years of experiance as an immortal, but this young immortal is Cloud's twin sister and she's younger in years as immortal and mortal, Vincent thought. I'll have to watch this young carefully. And by the look on her face when she turned back into a human, she was terrified. She has to be helped.
Cloud walked in and saw Vincent on the floor. For the first time, Cloud saw alarm in the dark immortal's face. Cloud helped Vincent to his feet, then he looked at Rain and smiled.
"Hi Rain, it's been a long time," Cloud said. "What have you been doing since Mother died and I joined Soilder?"
"I joined the Black Raiders and did some thief work for a living," Rain explained. "After the meteor, I was kidnapped and . . . I don't want to talk about it. After I escaped, Snow Violet, my wolf, took me to her den where I rested and prcticed martial arts. I just came back to the world with the hope I would find my only brother. And . . . I think I found him."
"It's okay Rain, you're home and safe," Cloud reported.
"I thought, even after what happened after my kidnepping, that I was a-okay and normal," Rain muttered. "But at the bar . . . I just found out how wrong I was. Who did this to me?"
Cloud looked at Vincent. Vincent just shook his head.
"Well, we may never know," Cloud said.
And I have a good idea of who did this to her, Vincent thought.

Rain watched Vincent fire his gun during his target practice. Rain was impressed. He had just as much skill with a gun as she did with the arts. Rain felt a strange interest, admiration, and respect for the older immortal. Vincent lowered his gun and stared at Rain who looked away immediatly.
She is very awkard, Vincent thought.

Cloud cluckled at what he saw. He and Tifa stood on the balcony. They were watching Rain look at Vincent who kept turning his head to see Rain qiuckly turning away.
"Do you think Rain likes Vincent?" Tifa asked.
"Vincent won't approve," Cloud replied. Tifa looked at him. "Alright, I'll talk to him. But you talk to Rain."
"Deal," Tifa agreed.
"But I'm telling you, Vincent hasn't cared for anyone since . . . oh forget it."
"But I have a feeling it's going to work out."
"For both of their sakes, I hope so."

Chapter 5: Student of Darkness

Cloud saw Rain walking silently behind Vincent. Cloud wanted to laugh but was glad when Tifa grabbed Rain. Cloud went to talk to Vincent.
"Vincent, I think my sister likes you," Cloud started without thinking.
Vincent was silent except for a low growl.
"I know, you never had feelings like that since . . ." Cloud shouldn't say it. Vincent would punch him in the jaw and break it with the gold, metal claw.
"Lucreacia died," Vincent muttered.
"You haven't mentioned it since the Deep Ground assult four years ago," Cloud exclaimed. "By the way, are you okay?"
"She didn't know what she was doing when she took her immortal shape," Vincent said.
"What do you mean she didn't know what she was doing?" Cloud asked.
"When she returned to her human form, she was shocked and scared and was lying on on her side instead of smiling," Vincent replied. "She may not know how to use her immortal shape, but she knows how to use her mortal shape. She is swift, fexible, and her reflexes very keen. I think she could be be a student for me. Teaching her will not be the easest thing in the world. My work with her will reqiure desipline, fighting, and . . . I wonder how bad her touge is."
"Probably worse then yours," Cloud laughed. "She joined a gang for crying out tloud."

"Okay?" Tifa asked.
Rain nodded.
"You should--."
Vincent and Cloud entered the room.
"Vincent will take her as a student," Cloud explained.
"Student?" Tifa and Rain asked.

Chapter 6: Raindrops

Vincent knew, for sure, that Rain never used a gun before. He groaned with the knowledge that teaching Rain would be difficult because of her age. Cloud, Tifa, Denzel, and Marleen watched. Vincent ajusted Rain's arms so she would aim better. He groaned when she fired and hit a statue instead of the target. Rain wanted to laugh but Vincent looked furious, so she kept her mouth shut.
"Vincent sure looks annoyed," Denzel laughed.
Marleen nodded.

Rain shivered at the sight of the coffins. They spooked her and she could not believe Vincent was sleeping in one. She sat down and stared into the coffin the Vincent was sleeping in. Her eyes were just focused on Vincent himself. The celler was cold, so Rain had brought a blanket. She was woundering if Vincent was cold. Vincent sensede her and awoke.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I wanted to ask you where you got that metal arm," Rain replied.
"I don't want to talk about it," Vincent said.
"Who made you immortal?" Rain asked. "I don't remember who turned me into this dragon."
"I said, i don't want to talk about it," Vincent replied.
"Sorry," Rain apoligzed. She left. It was raining outside. Rain stood in it, thinking. Something bad happened to him. Maybe the same thing as me. I think I like Vincent. Wait, Tifa said that his ex-girlfriend was murdered. Maybe he really loved her. "I guess I'll keep my distance."
"What did you really want?" Vincent asked.
"I . . . I wanted to know more abput your past," Rain replied.
"I was abused as a child," Vincent explained.
"Just be lucky you know who your family was," Rain sighed. "I have no memory of them: my family. All I can remmeber is pain and darkness. Other than that, I only remembered Cloud and Snow Violet. After Cloud joined Soilder, joined the gang, got kidnapped, rescued, and now . . . here I am. Now . . . I think I have something I need to do. Oh look at me, I'm soaked!" Rain laughed. "I look so pathetic!"
And now, Vincent smiled. He would enjoy having Rain around after all.