Chapter One: A Friend's Concern, Duly Noted

Vincent sat in silence on his futon, hardly aware of the life bustling outside his small room in Cosmo Canyon. He stared at the wall, not really seeing it, a tranquilizer resting heavily in his palm.

A noise caught his attention; paw pads on the floor, nearing his door. Vincent stowed the tranquilizer under the futon, but hadn't quite regained full composure by the time Red XIII had entered. I'm slow, he noted irritably. What's happening to me?

"You should lay off those things," Red offered gently. "They can be addicting, you know."

"Hmm. Nanaki." Red smiled as much as his feline face would allow and shook his head in amusement. "You're the only one of the Avalanche group to use my real name. Why is that, Vincent?"

Vincent shrugged. "Would you rather I called you the name given to you by… him?" Hojo's image appeared briefly in his mind, causing him to shudder.

Nanaki shut the door and sat down on the floor beside Vincent, his animal eyes sympathetic. He spoke in a whisper, knowing Vincent's acute senses would have no trouble deciphering his words. "It's been nearly six months, Vincent. Are you still so bitter?"

Vincent clenched his claw shut in frustration. "You needn't concern yourself."

"How can I not? I'm worried about you. Everyone is. You stopped going to your sessions with Elder Raan. He's very concerned."

"I suppose you're here pestering me at his request."

"Pestering?" Nanaki appeared insulted. "Is that what your friends are to you, Vincent? Pests? Irritations you'd rather do without?"

Vincent had no retort, but turned his gaze away from the warrior beast.

"You know," Nanaki continued, a fond tone of remembrance evident in his gravely voice, "that night when Sephiroth was defeated and Holy was unleashed, I felt very close to my comrades. We had become a family. I really regret that we all see each other so infrequently. That's why I was so pleased when you decided to move to Cosmo Canyon last month. I hoped to see a new you; a man with peace in his heart, who'd left the sad past behind him. But you haven't change. No; you're in worse shape now than when we found you in that coffin."

"Nanaki."

"I'm not finished," the big orange cat stated firmly, jumping to his feet and leaning closer to Vincent, his eyes burning. "You said it yourself, when we faced Hojo. He was to blame for everything. He hurt Lucrecia; he hurt you. He unleashed Sephiroth on the world, and held no remorse for any of it. But he's dead, Vincent. By your own hand. You've had your revenge. Why can't you move on?"

Vincent's head fell into his hand, causing his ebony hair to drape elegantly forward. "I don't know," he whispered at length. "It's… not just Hojo, or Lucrecia."

"Then, what? I want to help you, Vincent. You're my friend."

"And I apologize for not being yours. I'm truly sorry."

Nanaki sighed and turned to go. "Oh," he said, stopping to look over his withers. "I almost forgot. Someone's coming to see you."

Vincent looked up. "Who?"

"None other than the White Rose of Wutai." Vincent's shoulders fell. "I know she's a little… loud. Just remember, she's coming because she cares about you."

"Is that so?"

Nanaki nodded. "In fact, I believe her exact words were, 'super-ultima badass.'" Vincent sighed and shook his head. "I'm not sure I quite live up to that title."

Nanaki chuckled on his way out. "Yuffie feels differently. Be polite,Vincent,"

"Duly noted."