Disclaimer : I do not own Final Fantasy 7.
Lost and Found
Vincent Valentine was asleep. Was, he noted flatly, as he sat up sharply, the cold of the wind finally getting to him. I've been asleep on the ground? he thought silently. But that can't be right, I remember shutting myself up in that damned coffin of mine ... He stood up, and observed the surroundings. It is snowing, he mused. Am I on the North Continent? Maybe I should head to Icicle Village. He began to walk, not too sure of where to go, but definitely out of this forest. Somehow the place felt wrong to him. There was no way he could have just flown all the way from Nibelheim to the North Continent. Sleepflying?
'Chaos, did you possess me and bring me here?'
Fuck off. You're not even angry, how could I?
Right. So Chaos did not possess him then. The monster didn't even like the cold. So ... how?
The doorbell rang. Ellie Canterwell was in the middle of a lecture, her mother nagging her like there was no tomorrow, as if she hadn't grown since the day she turned five, as if she didn't know how to take care of herself. Well, of course she didn't, as she was only sixteen, according to her mother.
"Mom, the doorbell ..."
" ... Dad and I will be gone for 6 months, how on earth are you going to manage all by yourself? You NEED a housekeeper, to cook your meals and clean the house, I don't want you to starve to death and I know you'll never clean up the house ..."
"Mom ... "
" ... It's just not right to leave you alone but your father insists that I go anyway, but ..."
"Darling, she'll be fine. Come on, we're going to be late!" said Mr Canterwell, coming into the room. Ellie beamed at him, silently thanking him for the interruption of her mother's long winded lectures.
"Oh, alright then. Take care of yourself, you hear? We'll call you when we reach there. Goodbye, dear," said Ellie's mother, planting a kiss on her cheek before grabbing her luggage and walking out of Ellie's big room.
"Bye dear, don't bully the housekeeper," said her father, winking and pulling her into a hug.
"Don't worry, I believe I've got better things to do ..." she said, smiling. They both walked out of her room to the front door.
"Ellie dear, did you order something? Something's arrived for you ... what is it?" said her mom, pointing to the postman.
"It's a game I can play on the playstation ... It's called Final Fantasy 7," she said, eagerly paying the postman and collecting her order.
"Oh ... very well dear, have fun. Bye now!"
Ellie waved bye bye to her parents and went back inside the house. They were going overseas for some business thing her father had to attend, and she would be alone for six months. With the exception of the housekeeper. As long as she didn't get in her way, things would be fine. She hadn't gotten round to hiring one yet. The housekeeper would be busy anyway, seeing as her house was so big. She wished they didn't stay so far away from town. They were at the outskirts, so close to the forest. She looked at the game in her hands. Online reviews said it was good, even though the graphics were bad. It looks cool too, in a way. I'll try it out after dinner. The doorbell rang again.
Vincent arrived at the mansion, standing before the magnificent house before him. It reminded him of ShinRa Mansion. I wonder if it has a basement and a coffin for me to sleep in, he thought wryly. I'll just have to shelter here for the night, and return to Nibelheim in the morning. A bit hesitantly, he rang the doorbell. A little dog behind the gate came up to him and barked. Vincent simply ignored it.
"Down, girl!" shouted a female voice, and the front door of the mansion creaked open. Vincent hid his Death Penalty and his claw, hoping not to frighten the occupants of this mansion. The dog abandoned the scary looking man and ran off to its owner, barking madly. A girl came down to the gates and stopped when she saw Vincent. Seemimgly at a loss of words, she just stood there in the snow, ignoring her poor dog vying for attention from its master.
"Can I stay here for the night?" Vincent asked, tired of the silence which was supposed to be his trademark thing. "I'll leave tomorrow."
"Um ... sure, I guess," said the girl, although Vincent noted the nervousness in her voice.
"Do not worry, I mean you no harm," he said softly, wondering why everyone found him scary. He wasn't, for goodness sake. The only thing scary around here was Sephiroth and Chaos. One of which was dead. The other soon to be, if Vincent ever found a way. The girl unlocked the gate and led him into the house. He stood for awhile, admiring the house and its furniture, mostly wood and sleek mahogany. This girl must be very rich, he thought. Luckily I'm not Yuffie, or this girl here will become very poor indeed ... He walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa, resting his tired limbs. The girl followed him, with a weary look in her eyes.
"What's your name?" she finally asked, sitting on the carpeted floor. Vincent frowned at her.
"Vincent Valentine."
"I'm Ellie Canterwell," she chirped, smiling at him. They sat in silence, Ellie gazing at him with a weird look, and he avoiding her weird gaze.
"Where are your parents?" he asked, and again hating himself. I should be the one keeping quiet, dammit!
"They're out," she replied simply. Somehow Vincent knew she was lying. And then he had to go break the silence again.
"I didn't know there was a mansion near Icicle Village," he said thoughtfully. Somehow this thought didn't bother him until now.
"Icicle Village? This isn't Icicle Village."
"What?"
"Further south from here is Peach Town."
"Peach Town ...?" Something clicked in Vincent's brain. This isn't right, there's no such thing as Peach Town.
"You're in Canada, you know," said Ellie. Maybe this guy took a blow to the head and can't remember anything for the life of him.
"Canada ...?" Never heard of it. Where am I?
"Yes ... Canada."
Vincent smacked his forehead. I can't get back, I'm in a different world ...
"Mr Valentine ... are you alright?" Vincent jumped at being addressed like this. Ellie was coming closer to him, but he ignored her, thinking desperately of the future. Suddenly Ellie screamed. Vincent looked up, and realised that she saw his gun and his claw. Stupid cloak.
"I am not going to hurt you," said Vincent matter-of-factly. She backed away from him, fear still in her blue eyes.
"Miss Canterwell ... I am not an outlaw, or a criminal. This is merely for my own protection," he said, trying to reassure her. She nodded, and sat back down on the floor.
"Um... so you'll be leaving tomorrow?" she said timidly, looking up at him again. Vincent sighed.
"I'm sorry to say this, but ... I don't know how to get back."
"Where do you live?"
"Nibelheim."
"Erm ... Never heard of it ..."
"Precisely."
Ellie thought for awhile. This guy, although scary-looking, was quite a nice guy after all. Maybe he can be my "housekeeper", she thought, smiling. Clearing her throat, she voiced out her opinion to him.
"Housekeeper?" he echoed. She nodded back at him, smiling.
"I'll pay you, don't worry. My parents will be gone for 6 months, they just left, and I'm supposed to hire a housekeeper. Since you have nowhere to go, why don't you keep me company instead?"
Before Vincent could say anything however, a tinny meow sounded somewhere near his feet. Something was pawing at his legs. He picked the little kitten up with his hand and stared at it. Ellie giggled.
"That's Fluffy. Say hi, Fluffy," she said to the tiny furball now licking Vincent's claw. Then she turned to Vincent again. He looked like he didn't know what to do with the animal beside him.
"So what do you say? Be my housekeeper?" Ellie asked. She wasn't that afraid of him anymore. Then he nodded, a hint of a smile showing on his pale features.
"Alright! Make me dinner, now," said Ellie, giggling. "I'll tell you the rules of the house later."
"Maybe you need to give me a tour, before I get lost in the house," said Vincent. "Where's the kitchen?"
"Just across the hall, past the dining table," she said absently, taking out the Final Fantasy RPG and inserting it into the Playstation. Vincent turned and left the room. So did Fluffy.
Well, that's the first chapter. If it's a bit boring, well I'm sorry. Hehe. Wait till Vincent finds out what game Ellie's playing! Hopefully he doesn't go into cardiac arrest, lol. Bye bye people, please review!