The Touch Of Your Flesh

Vincent Valentine

◊ Vinaya's POV ◊

Vincent Valentine is his name. I'm told he's a good friend of Cloud and Tifa's. During the previous week I was invited to a dinner Mr. Valentine was supposed to attend, but he didn't show. I guess he doesn't care too much to meet me. The reason I am to meet this Mr. Valentine is that I could be of very valuable help to him. You see, Mr. Valentine...Vincent, has a demon named Chaos residing inside of him. This didn't used to be such a big problem until someone stole the protomateria that allowed Mr. Valentine to control this demon. So now, he has no other options but to live alone with scarce contact with anyone because if he loses control he could seriously hurt someone. However, I, Vinaya Yadavalli, have a unique and unexplained gift. I am able to, just by touching the flesh of one who holds a demon, sooth the demon back into slumber inside of the body completely reducing the pain and stress an active demon causes the human body.

My strange powers also allow me to completely extract a demon from the human body. But this process is very dangerous and most likely leads to the death of the demon holder.

4 years ago my sister Vimala requested that I remove, Mateus, a demon, from her body. She said to me she would rather face death than a life like she was leading. I did as she asked, but once released Mateus unleashed a powerful attack that killed everyone in sight including itself, my sister, and my parents. How I survived, the Gods will only know.

So here I am now, walking through a place called the Forgotten City where this Mr. Valentine is supposed to hang out at. I've never come here alone before so what some people found as peaceful quiet just sounded like eerie silence to me and I expected something to jump out and attack me at any moment. How did I know Mr. Valentine wasn't in his Chaos form now!? I only stand about 5'2 and am very petite so I don't know how I would defend myself.

After about 30 minutes of walking around aimlessly I took a deep breath and yelled "Hello!!? Is there anyone out here?!!"

My voice echoed through the air. I looked around at the glowing white trees gently swaying in the wind. Nobody responded to my cry so I turned around and tried to find the path that led me out of here.

"Are you looking for someone." a deep monotone voice sounded to the right of me. I turned sharply and stared at the tall man dressed in red and black. His long red cloak was tattered and ripped at the bottom. He had a golden claw for a left arm and pointed golden boots. I assumed this was Vincent Valentine according to Tifa and Cloud's descriptions. There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked as if he could use a few good meals. Cloud had told me his heart breaking story of his short love affair with a woman named Lucrecia. This man looked like he had lived every bit of a rough life.

"I uh..." All I could do was stare at him. He had long black unkempt hair flowing down his back. It was much longer than my shoulder length ebony hair. His pale skin told me he must not have seen the sun for years.

He tossed his cloak back with his claw and approached me a little faster than I'd rather this man move. I took a small step back.

"Who are you?" his tone didn't sound too friendly. I hoped once I stated my purpose he'd warm up a little bit.

"I'm Vinaya Yadavalli. Cloud and Tifa wanted you to meet me so I could help you." My voice was shaky and very quiet. He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously.

"How do you think you can help me? Its dangerous to even be around me." His voice was so so deep. I almost found it alluring. I looked around avoiding this man's intimidating crimson glare. Before I could open my mouth and say anything more, the man grunted and dropped to his knees, holding his chest. "Please… leave."

What, did this man have any faith at all? I simply bent down and snatched his black glove off of his right hand and held it in my own. His hand was ice cold and just the touch of it sent shivers down my spine. He instantly relaxed and his crimson eyes looked up at me with a new glow. The cold stare was now gone and he looked at me as if I were God coming down from the heavens.

"How…."

"I don't know." I interrupted. "I've had this gift ever since I was born. Cloud and Tifa sent me here to talk to you. They said you had been out here for so long by yourself and could use some kind of company. With me by your side, it would even be safe for you to return to Edge." I watched the man look around contemplating what I had said. The other's had said that he preferred solitude and isolation, but I could sense in his touch that he was indeed still human and every human has a desire to be included and accepted by other humans.

"They really care a lot for you. After hearing you story, it's almost like I've begun to care a little myself." I laughed softly. I jumped slightly as Vincent reached out and grabbed my hand again. He examined it and held it in his own for some time. Next to my cappuccino colored skin, his looked ghastly.

"Try all you want, you'll never figure it out. I've been to a million labs and have had experiments done and everything. There's no explanation. I'm just special I guess. And it's not just my hands, any fleshly contact between you and I will calm Chaos." I smiled down at him even though he wasn't looking at me.

"I see." He muttered releasing my hand and standing up. I felt a little more comfortable with this man kneeling down because of his height. He towered over me looking down at me with his piercing red eyes. I had never seen any like his before in my life. From what I saw of his face he appeared to be very handsome. His forehead and most of his eyebrows were covered by a red bandana and his mouth was covered by his red cloak.

I looked down at my watch. It was 2:00, my four year old daughter Priya would be home from Preschool in 30 minutes. I pulled out my cell phone and quickly dialed Tifa's number. I hated asking her for favors all the time, but being a single mother was really hard. And Priya would never forgive me if I ever forgot to pick her up from school.

◊ Vincent's POV ◊

This is near impossible. How can she….? Could I possibly return to Edge? I could just for a visit. I glanced down at her as she held up one finger, putting me on hold. I stood there patiently waiting for her phone conversation to end. It seems she has a young daughter back home, must mean she has a man there waiting for her. I should be more appreciative of the time she took to come here for me. She snapped her phone shut and looked up at me.

"I really need to be heading back, uh…so..would you like to come stay with me for a while? You can visit Cloud and the others. Everyone asked about you. They are so happy I've found you and that I'm willing to bring you with me. Do you get along well with children? I have a daughter named Priya. She's only four years old. I have a guest bedroom and its right across the hall from mine so if anything was to happen….I could easily get to you."

I blinked.

"So what do you say?" I could tell her smile was genuine. It couldn't hurt to stay with her, just for a little while. I should at least visit the people who considered me…their friend.

"Ok." I replied simply. She then surprised me again by extending her hand out to me. I looked down at it waiting for her to say something else.

"C'mon. Take it. I don't want you flippin out on me or anything. I've done my fair share of research on Chaos and boy that things a powerful one." I took her small hand in mine again. It felt so warm, it sent a feeling of relaxation throughout my whole body and I no longer felt the tension Chaos created deep inside my chest. And I no longer heard his whispering or growls.

◊ Vinaya's POV ◊

His cold hand was in mine once again. I began feeling a little uneasy about having a man stay in my house. I have never been able to trust a male in my life. Priya's father promised me he'd be there forever, but as soon as he heard the word pregnancy he disappeared into thin air. My own father wasn't a man to be trusted. He made my family's life a living hell. I was beginning to think a demon was residing in him as well.

"I parked my vehicle somewhere around here." I said once we walked into an area that looked more familiar. Vincent remained silent except for the clicking of all the metal attached to this man. Not only were his boots and claw metal, but he had belts and buckles all over his outfit.

"Ah! There it is." I looked at my little red automobile. This was part of the newest technology going around. It had wheels and could operate like a normal car, but if you shift the gears down to F, it takes flight! It suddenly began to look smaller and smaller as I realized Vincent would have to sit on the back of it and hold on to me. All at the same time our flesh would need to be touching or else he could fall off or even knock me off the automobile. I just looked at him and nervously tucked my hair behind my ear a few times.

I then slowly sat down and scooted as far as I could to the front leaving Vincent plenty of room on the back. Without me even telling him, he sat down on the back and hesitantly wrapped his human arm around my waist. "Uh…Vincent could you…" I lifted up my shirt a little allowing him to press his thumb against the area just below my belly button. "Ready?" I managed to squeak out.

I took his simple "Hmm." as I yes and sped off and up into the air. This must have surprised the hell out of Vincent because his grip on me became painfully tighter and I could hear him gasp slightly. I smiled to myself as I said. "Don't worry Vincent, I'm a great driver." He didn't say anything in return, but didn't loosen his grip any either. Cloud warned me that he might be a little uncomfortable around females since it had been more than 3 decades since he had even touched one. As I swooped down to avoid some flying monsters Vincent's body pressed further against mine and I could feel his heart beating against my back. I then screamed out loud as I heard a gunshot from behind me.

"Cerberus." Vincent said simply.

"What?" I parked my vehicle in mid air and it hovered there while I turned and looked at Vincent. He held up his gun and shot again at the flying monster that dared to swoop down dangerously close to us. It fell to the ground as three bullets tore through its body. Guns made me terribly nervous, but I could see that Vincent only meant to protect us. I continued to look at him while he scanned the sky with squinted eyes looking fierce and very concentrated. His head then turned sharply and his eyes met with mine. His eyes didn't show any emotions neither did his voice when he said. "The coast is clear." I took this as his way of saying uh...can we please get going. So I turned back around and Vincent got back into his position and we sped off once again towards Edge.