Chapter 2

Tifa

And with that, everything was over. We moved a few days later, back to Edge and the bar as we had nowhere else to go. Luckily they took us in without questions and long days blended into each other. Both Leon and Luna were brought in for several medical tests, along with their father. Days turned to weeks and eventually, we were called in for results. As I sat beside my husband in the sterile hospital office, I had no idea what to expect. Vincent's expression suggested he felt the same way.

"So" the doctor started, pushing his spectacles closer to his forehead. He had just received our file from a nearby clinic and together they had processed the results.

"Let's recap a bit. I need to make sure everything matches up"

He turned his eyes towards Vincent, who instantly straightened up in his seat.

"You were experimented on during your youth, correct?"

Vincent nodded.

"Do you know for how long the experiments went on?"

"No. They started when I was 27. Beyond that I do not know"

"What research was done on you?"

"I was shot and used as a test subject by Professor Hojo of Shinra. Mako and possibly Jenova cells, but I am not sure. What he did to me I'm not sure of either but when I woke it was easy to tell that I was different from before, even if he deemed me an "failed experiment"

"How so?"

"I woke up in a body different than my own. Whatever Hojo did to me, it made me able to transform into different beasts. It completely replaced my old Limit skills, which I no longer can recall what was. When I changed, I would lose most control of myself but I have regained a lot of control during the later years"

"How long ago was this?"

I looked over at Vincent in pity. How many times did he have to recite this over and over again to different people? I knew it was painful for him.

"Forty years or so"

The doctor raised an eyebrow, although almost unnoticed.

"And how old are you now?"

"76"

The doctor kept his stern gaze while peeking into the notes in front of him, comparing the story with the results.

"There is no reason not to believe your claim" he said, looking back up at us.

"Our tests support it. Your body is aging, but not changing, so telling your real age was the easy part. The harder part is understanding what caused it, but I am afraid that is way beyond what we can do at the current time. What we can tell however, is that Professor Hojo's alterations aren't physical in the way we first thought"

Vincent straightened up in his chair again. He looked extremely worn out. I reached out to touch his hand and he clenched around it tightly.

"What exactly does that mean?"

The words came swiftly and effortlessly.

"It's genetic. Your genes are altered, not your physique. Whatever Hojo did to you changed your DNA and genetic building blocks so drastically that calling you a human would be incorrect."

His expression changed and he looked over at me.

"This is why your children are affected as well. The physical growth of the youngest is slow at best, while in your daughter it has come to a complete halt. They have inherited your genes Mr. Valentine, both transformation abilities and long lifespan. You can prepare to have them around for a very long time"

It took a few moments for us to let this new information sink in. When I married Vincent and we eventually decided to start a family, this possibility wasn't even close to crossing my mind. After the shock had subsided, I managed to take the word.

"What can we do about the transformation process?"

His eyes trailed from me to Vincent, who still held onto my hand. His expression was impossible to read.

"You, Mr. Valentine, must teach them. This may sound harsh but you might need to build a safety cage somewhere for the moments where they do transform and work on restrain and self-control. If you lose control over them they can do a whole lot of damage and even hurt people. Right now they don't know what they are doing so you have to be careful"

Vincent nodded in understanding. I tried to picture my children thrashing about in a steel cage, but the thought became far too terrifying.

"Do you have full control over your transformation Mr. Valentine?"

Vincent nodded. "I can transform at will, yes"

"And the file mentions several monsters you were able to transform into. How many can you transform into now?"

"Only one. I don't know why but it's the only one I'm able to do"

"And said transformation is the mythical Galian Beast, yes?"

Vincent nodded again. It was clear he was tired of the same routine, over and over. Now he knew they were just asking questions they already knew the answer to.

"Yes. The same as my children"

"Then I suggest that whenever they do transform, lock both of you inside the cage and transform along with them. It will be easier for them to see you as one of them and you'll probably restrain them easier"

"So training can be done in beast form?" I asked.

The doctor nodded.

"Actually it is preferable if you try that out first. As they get easier to deal with and learn to control themselves to some extent, you can go back to tutor them as humans. Until that time, I would advise you Tifa to leave this job to Vincent. It is far too dangerous for a human, even with the reputation and experience you have"

Vincent nodded in agreement.

"No my wife will be left out. I'll make sure"

I felt my stomach sink. I would be… left out? Left out of what? Raising our children? While I knew well that what they said was probably true, it still left me feeling helpless. While I was happy with a diagnosis and possible treatment for my children, I was still trying to comprehend the extent of what all of this meant. While happy knowing Vincent would have our children around for a very long lifespan, I was still depressed about the fact that I would die so soon in comparison. I would probably not even live to see them grow into young adults.

I walked back to 7th Heaven alone that night, deeply immersed in my own thoughts. Was this fate something I had to accept or… was there something that could be done about it?

I knew whatever I might end up doing could go drastically wrong, but the more I thought about it, the more determined I became.

If there was a way, I would find it, no matter the cost.

Author's Note:

So here's chapter 2 after a short delay. I'm not sure how long it will take for me to finish up number 3, but I'll get it done as soon as I find time for it. Most of this so far have been for introduction and the story will pick up from this point on. Thank you so much all my faithful readers, your feedback really means a lot to me!

~CrimsonHeaven