A/N: Okay, this is the result of plot bunnies roaming on Deviantart. ^^
Also, the rating may change. It only started off as "K" because nothing really happens in the first few chapters. But be wary that the rating may raise. (At this point, the worst will be "T." I'll post it in another chapter if that ever may change.
Disclaimer: I don't own the idea for this story. The original idea belongs to Sana-Sama on . Check her out, she's amazingly awesome. I just borrowed the idea from her one-shot, tweaked it, and created a multi-chapter story. It's totally with her permission, too. Also, I don't own Vincent Valentine, Nanaki, or any other Final Fantasy VII references in this story. The only things I, myself, own are the many members in Vincent, Yuffie, and Nanaki's family (ones not mentioned in the games or movies) and some of the new towns that I've thrown in there for plot purposes.
Full Summary: A little over 400 years have passed since the adventures of AVALANCHE, and they have become nothing more than legends. Unbeknownst to anyone but their families, Vincent Valentine and Red XIII still live. Vincent has changed in a lot of ways, but Nanaki now thinks Vincent may be going into a recession. But will one 16-year-old girl remind him that family is the most valuable thing in one's life?
Chapter 1
Soft padded, shoe-covered feet treaded the flight of stairs that led to the small apartment that housed her target. Bounding over the last two steps, the oriental girl approached the door, tweaking with it a bit before making her way inside.
Biting back a chuckle, she snaked her away around the rather roomy apartment from her family's past. Over the years, each resident within had moved away, leaving with time. After a while the landlord had handed over the deed to the building to the girl's grandfather of times past. Beautifully, he had refurbished the building, turning the rundown apartment complex into a multi-level home. Why, the girl didn't understand nor did she care. She knew where her target was hiding either way.
Finally reaching the back room, her hand froze over the door the keypad that accessed the room. "Come in, Yuffie." A deep voice had said from the other side. Yuffie groaned, plugged in the access code, and stormed into the room.
"Can't you humor me for once, Grandpa?" The sixteen year old grumbled.
The man smiled from behind his book at the only desk in the room. Looking up at his granddaughter, his eyes lit up slightly at the sight of the girl before him. She was the spitting image of her great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother. Shoulder-length dark brown locks threatened to cover sparkling maroon eyes, eyes that have been passed down in her family since the times of Meteor.
"I humor you all the time, young one," the girl's grandfather said, closing his book, "now. Does your father know you're here?"
Yuffie averted her eyes to the ceiling, "well, about that…"
A sigh came from the occupant of the desk, "Yuffie…I dare not imagine the tirade my grandson will go through once he finds out…"
Stomping her foot, the Wutianian girl frowned, "aw, Grandpa! Daddy's always making me stay home! He's more paranoid than you about this 'Viral Stigma.' Not even Uncle Red is worrying about it!"
"Because 'Uncle Red' is immune to such a plague," an elegant eyebrow rose, "He need not worry about his family catching such a human-transferable disease. You, on the other hand, are very susceptible to it. Which is why your father and I worry about you. Do you see your brother—"
Yuffie sighed, "you sound like daddy, Grandpa."
The elderly – but by no means physically 'elderly' – man chuckled, "as I should. Just as you should be heading home before he 'blows his cap.' "
"It's 'blows his top,' Grandpa," Yuffie huffed, exasperated by her grandfather's sad attempt at slang, "For Gaia's sake, don't try to be cool now. It's not your thing."
Fighting off another chuckle, the man stood from the desk, "I'll keep that in mind. Now, call your father."
Giving him a sour look, she pulled out a small square contraption. Pressing one of the ten buttons on the top, it folded out into a phone. Pressing another button, she waited for a signal and put the receiver to her ear. "…Daddy?" A lot of yelling. "Heh…sorry, daddy. I really wanted to see Grandpa—" More yelling. "I know, I know. And I was careful!" After a bit more yelling, Yuffie handed the phone to her grandfather.
The man took it and put it to his ear, "yes, Kyoshi?" A slight pang in his chest reacted to the name. She always wanted to name their first son 'Kyoshi'…
"Grandfather, please, please, PLEASE, knock some sense into that girl!" The man chuckled at how similar his grandson was to his late beloved. "What if she had encountered someone who was infected?"
"Calm down, Kyoshi," the man said. "She said she was careful. I know you care for her well-being, but don't forget to show her a bit of trust as well."
The man sighed on the other end, "geez, Grandfather. Do you always have to take her side?"
Glancing at the waiting girl, a small smile graced his features, "always. What kind of grandfather would I be if I did not spoil her?"
Kyoshi laughed on the other end, "true, true." His voice lowered to one of curiosity, "are you coming to the family reunion? It'd be nice to have you there for once…"
The man's smile faded almost instantly, "I'm sorry, Kyoshi…"
"I'm sure Grandma Aeris would be glad to see you," Kyoshi's voice held a hint of sadness in it, "she hasn't seen you in almost twenty years, you know…that's when you stopped coming…"
Aeris Valentine-Marlow was his great-great- great-great granddaughter. Elderly past his physical one, she had adored her grandfather just as much as Yuffie did. It pained him that he hadn't seen her in so long, but he couldn't build up the courage to face his happy family. How could they be happy knowing the curse I'd unknowingly bestowed upon them…?
It was true, he had passed on longevity to his children, and it tore him up inside to know anyone with the Valentine blood would outlive their spouses. He didn't wish that pain upon anyone…and he passed it on to his precious children. Her children…
"…Vincent?" He snapped back to reality at Kyoshi's voice. He only called his grandfather by name when he was absolutely serious. "…Yuffie would really like it if you would come. I know she would."
The pang in Vincent's chest seemed to worsen. He took a breath and said, "I'll get back to you on it, Kyoshi. I'll send Yuffie back to Nibelheim." Before his grandson could answer, he closed the phone with the push of a button. It reverted back to its original box form, and he handed back to the awaiting hand of Yuffie Valentine.
Said girl had a frown on her face as she put the contraption away, "I have to go home, don't I?"
Vincent gave her a small smile, "I'm afraid so."
Yuffie nodded wordlessly. She looked at him her maroon eyes shining, proof of the mako-induced curse that Vincent plagued himself so harshly for, "will you…come to the family reunion?" When he didn't respond she grabbed the sleeve of his black button-up shirt, "please, Grandpa? It'd be so much funner with you there! And daddy and mommy would like the whole family to be there…that includes you, Grandpa…please?"
Vincent placed a hand on her head, consoling her, "I'll think about it." Seeing the smile rise to her face, Vincent cringed mentally. He hated to lie to his family, but he just couldn't face them. Shaking the rising guilt from his throat, he turned her towards the door, "now, let's get you a ride home."
Yuffie grinned, "That's okay. I brought Chaos." Again, Vincent mentally cringed. Chaos was the bike his beloved—his Yuffie—had spent almost a year trying to fix up. She even ran to Cloud for help more than a few times. Yuffie's brother, Ren, was a tinker for old bikes and kept the thing running after Vincent had passed it on to his grandson, Kyoshi's father, Godo III.
"Just be careful," Vincent said with genuine worry, "the number of Stigma victims keeps rising…please, for both your parents and my sake, don't be reckless."
Yuffie just smiled at him before running out of the apartment, a distant "promise!" heard in the background.
A/N: And there's chapter 1. Please Review so I know if people actually LIKE this story or not, please. :( I'd be most appreciative!