A Vampire's Kiss

Disclaimer: All Square stuff belongs to Square the rest to Falkon and me.

Note: All writing between *'s are thoughts.

Part I: Innocence

*Cool night air, so crisp, so clean. Perfect to clear ones mind. Vincent *thought to himself as he strode through the empty streets of Nibelheim. *It is nearing midnight, so beautiful, a shame so few enjoy its splendor.* He paused to enjoy the night sky. Before him stood the well, the one Tifa had spoken about. He climbed a top it. He was here to visit Tifa and Cloud who were in Nibelhiem trying to turn it into a real town. *Maybe I should leave them be, after all they must be busy with their own lives, hmmmm, I wonder if Tifa is still fighting for Cloud's heart. Poor girl try's so hard and is crushed by a clod too blind to see the power and beauty of her love. It angers me. Her love reminds me of mine, yet I learned to let mine go, no need to make the one I love suffer.* Vincent sighed. The night was serene, the stars shone brightly and for a moment the world seemed pure. Suddenly the serenity was shattered. Shout and doors slamming pierced the silence. They came from Tifa and Cloud's house. Vincent turned to see what the ruckus was about. As he did the door flew open, and a very effeminate silhouette Appeared in the doorway.

"Cloud get over yourself, I'm outta here until you get you head out of your ass."

" Tifa, C'mon, quit being stupid, you have no were to go. Man you can be such a bitch, not like Aeris!" Cloud roared at Tifa.

" Get over her Cloud! Your dumb Slut is DEAD!!! She isn't coming back! Deal with it!" Tifa screamed back at Cloud. Cloud's silhouette appeared in the door way as he charged up to Tifa and slapped her across the face. Tifa belted Cloud in the stomach and he doubled over. " If you're going to hit me make it count!" She sneered at him.

Tifa wandered through the town weeping, her heart torn by Cloud. *I do every thing for him and he still casts me aside like trash, why the hell do I still love him.probably because he's all I have left, everyone else has their own lives to continue.* Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted. " He doesn't know how to treat a lady." Tifa whirled around to see the figure following her. She immediately recognized Vincent. " I've missed you."

"Vincent I.I." Tifa tried to wipe the tears from her face. Vincent extended his arm and brushed them off for her.

" No need to explain.I understand unrequited love"

" He's right I have nowhere to go.I'm so lost."

" Come with me, I have somewhere we might be able stay." Vincent led Tifa towards the Shinra mansion.

"This is where we met you, wow. it's changed" Tifa looked around the room. There were no more remains of people and there was only one large coffin. An old wooden desk, a bookshelf, an old reading chair, and a faded old red rug gave the room a lived in feeling. *Vincent will never change, still using a coffin, oh well it makes him interesting.*

"How long have you been living here? Why didn't you tell us?"

" I have not been living here, I set it up after the world was saved so I would have somewhere to come back to after my travels, and so I have returned. It's been a year since then hasn't it?" * Maybe I will stay for a while, just long enough to help Tifa. I'm starting to get thirsty.*

" Yeah, a year. It is great to see you again, Cloud really ticks me off, but I have nowhere else to go and no one to go to." *How could I have become so dependant on some one who couldn't care less if I fell off the face of the earth?*

" What happened?"

" This isn't some thing new, a few months after we saved the world Cloud started to mope around, I thought we had started to have something between us, but he changed. He would get angry with me for no reason and start telling me how I could never compare to her. I would do every thing for him. He never thanked me once all he did was criticize me. Tonight I decided to stand up for myself and he went berserk. Well you know the rest." Tifa sighed and began to weep. Vincent outstretched his arms and she collapsed into him. He wrapped his arms and cape around her.

" Shhh.. He could never understand what you feel. He cannot comprehend the depth of your love." *I understand, If only I could heal your pain, we both deserve love and have been denied it for far too long.*

When Tifa awoke darkness and someone's arms surrounded her. She remembered where she was. *I must have cried myself to sleep.that means this is the coffin.and Vincent. I better not wake him. He's been so good to me; any other guy would have taken advantage of the situation. He really understands what love is. Wow, coffins are actually very comfy! I'll just go back to sleep until he wakes up. Vincent you are like a dark angel.* When Vincent woke up he was careful not to disturb Tifa.* Poor girl will have to learn the hard way like me; I wish I could show her a better way. *Tifa began to stir; Vincent lay still as he waited for her to return to her peaceful slumber, he felt her body relax as she gave in to sleep. *I hope you have sweet dreams, you deserve better than what life has dealt you. I would take vengeance upon Cloud, but I know that it would only hurt you more. How dare he strike perfection.perfection.have I? Fallen for you. I'm must thirsty; I'll need to drink soon. Please let me show you the bliss of my "Kiss".*

It was late morning by the time Tifa awoke again; Tifa sat up from inside the coffin and saw that Vincent was in a chair in the corner of the room reading a book. With out looking up from the book he greeted her. "Good morning, I trust you slept well?"

" I did thank you." She said rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I never thought a coffin would that comfy, it's better then my bed."

Vincent chuckled softly. "Is there any thing I can get you? You're hungry, are you not?" Vincent looked up from his book.

" A bit. I can head home and grab something. Cloud probably got drunk again last night, so chances are he's still asleep."

" How about I take you out for breakfast? I know you really don't want to go back home." Vincent stood and put his book away.

" Are you sure that's okay? I always thought that." Tifa paused about to reconsider what she was saying.

" You always thought what?" He turned to face her.

" You always seem to enjoy your own company. I thought you might have preferred to be left alone."

" Tifa, I shall be honest with you. I do prefer my own company. Do not worry it cannot be helped, though I admit you and Nanaki are the few people who I can stand. Anyways it will be good for me to socialize for once." Vincent gave the faintest hint of a smile.* If only I could show her my world. Even I am not so dark as to corrupt her. Though she would make it an art.*

" Well if you put it that way I'll have to join you! With out me your entire social universe might collapse!" Tifa hopped out off the coffin and straightened her clothing.

Vincent chuckled to himself. "See! I'm making improvements already."

After breakfast Vincent and Tifa made their way back to the Shinra Mansion. It turned out that Vincent had cleaned up the entirety of the mansion. He took Tifa to one of the bedrooms; it had a bed and a desk, it wasn't much but it was nice. "Tifa if you wish you may stay here. I have no use for these rooms."

" Thank you. Vincent, this means a lot to me." * You saved me. I was afraid I'd have to go crawling back to Cloud.*

" I'll leave you to gather your things. If you need me I'll be in my coffin." *I'm sorry. You should leave. Your innocence will be crushed if you remain here ;I fear you might end up like me, embracing darkness. *

Tifa crept into her house as quietly as possible, the lights were of and every thing in the house was strewn about, giving it a ransacked look. She and Cloud had torn apart the house during the argument, and it looked like he had continued trashing the place after she left. Tifa managed to make it to her room without drawing attention. She grabbed her few belongings and stuffed them into an old black duffle bag. As soon as she finished she heard footsteps behind her. "Going somewhere?" It was Cloud; his voice was full of pain.

" Yes. Yes I am." Tifa stated as she turned to face him. His eyes shone with unshed tears.

" Please don't go Tifa. I need you." He stepped closer to her.

" You don't need me. I have to go. You hurt me, you tear open my heart you'll never understand how I feel." Tifa kept cool and held her composure.

" I do need you. I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. Tifa you have nowhere to go." Tears began to stream down his face.

" Cloud, I'm sorry I can't believe you. You've hurt me so much. I do have somewhere to go." Tifa felt strangely numb. *I can't believe you're doing this to me. Haven't you seen how much you've hurt me? *

" Tifa where are you going? Please stay with me." Cloud was pleading.

" It doesn't matter where I'm going. Why should I stay?" Tifa felt herself becoming angry. *Cloud you don't need me just let me go.*

" I care a lot about you Tifa. Please I need you." Clouds voice was becoming urgent.

" No Cloud. You don't need me. You're just afraid of being alone. I'm going. That's all there is to it." Tifa's voice shook with anger.

" Who are you going with? Who is it Tifa?" A hind of rage could be heard on Cloud's voice. *Tifa you'd better not be with anyone. Your mine, you've always been.*

" Who says I'm going with anyone? What would it matter to you anyway? You don't care about me." Tifa had begun to calm herself down.

" Tifa you're mine I won't lose you to anyone. I love you!" Cloud screamed.

" Don't you dare lie to me like that Cloud! I know you don't love me." Tifa paused afraid of what she was going to say. " You just want to keep me because you know I'll survive, you know I can live without you. You're afraid to be on your own." *I'm so sorry Cloud. I can't forgive you for this. I care so much for you, but I know you don't feel the same way. I need to move on. * Tifa threw the bag over her shoulder and began to leave. Cloud blocked the doorway. His eyes were pleading.

" Tifa will I see you again?" His voice was nearly a whisper.

" I'm sure you'll see me, I won't be far." Tifa's voice no longer trembled with rage. With that Cloud let her leave. *Tifa please come back to me, I can't live without you. I'm sorry I didn't show you my love.*

Vincent sat at the desk in the library; his book lay open in front of him and his cape lay across the back of another chair. He realized he wasn't reading his mind had been wandering for some time. *What have I done? I'm a monster. Should not have placed Tifa in such danger. I am the greatest threat she could ever face. I am a sin.* Vincent slammed his fists into the table. He left deep dents in the surface of the desk. *I steal the lifeblood of humans. Tifa I would love to give you my "kiss", to taste your sweet blood, so rich in mako. At least in rescuing the clod she was rewarded.* He had noticed the glow of Tifa's wine coloured eyes, from her fall in the life stream.* I need to go hunting. I'm so very thirsty.* Vincent stood and threw on his cape in one swift motion. He strode through the house when he reached the front door he encountered Tifa with her duffle bag slung over her shoulder. She smiles at him. " Thank you so much Vincent, you have saved me."

" You are most welcome. Tifa, I must leave for a few days I have business to attend to. I'm so sorry to leave you so soon but this is something I must do."

" I under stand. I see you as soon as you get back!" Tifa smiled and headed to her room.* I wish you did understand Tifa. I wish you understood enough to run from the monster I am. I am so sorry. By staying with me you have shrouded yourself in darkness and corruption. Please open your eyes. *