I giveth thiseth chaptereth toeth Nami, my lovelyeth multi reviewereth. Glad you like! Special mention goes to the rest of you fabulous people out there, faving, reviewing, and alerting.

I don't own it. Although I do pwn in general. And now, brought to you by the power of caffeine, I give you chapter FOUR! What will the future hold? Nyuk nyuk nyuk...

"...Conditions?" Vincent asked warily.

Yes. She sketched a complicated design into the earth between them while she continued. First. Once we find a way to integrate Chaos, you will once again play host, or find someone willing to take your place.

Second. You will find someone to be my host, and ensure that this person will stay by my mate's host's side. For all of eternity.

Third-you will do your utmost to fulfill your end of the deal, as I will do my best to un-occupy your friend.

Do you accept these terms? Azara extended her hand.

He made a choice, perhaps the most difficult choice a human could ever make.

Gods, how he had craved death. When he found he'd been freed of the weight that was Chaos, the thought of finally being able to rest was more precious than any reward given to him for saving the planet.

But he couldn't imagine making someone else suffer the way he did, watching things die and fade, while he lived, unchanging. He was almost glad for the thirty years' sleep- he didn't have to see the people he knew back then wither away into dust.

"I find it unacceptable," Vincent stated, more calmly than he felt, "to foist this burden of unending life upon anyone else." That would be a sin perhaps greater than the ones he'd committed so far...

Azara smiled, revealing rather pointy incisors.

Good, good. So we have a volunteer for host No. 1. Still, someone else is gonna get immortalized here-

Uncomfortably, Vincent interrupted: "We'll get to that bridge when it comes." He really didn't want to think about that right now.

Shall we seal the deal, then? She offered a slender hand, holding it over the design. It's a binding contract- it will allow me to keep control of her body until the contract is fulfilled or broken.

"Can't you just take my word for it?" 'Skeevy.' That was how Yuffie would have described the deal.

You're a human. Your words mean nothing to me, she sneered. It was your lot that caused this whole mess, giving men the power of demons! He saw Nero, without the wraps and straps, darkness streaming out of every pore; Azara, a ball of lava-colored energy laced with streaks of cerulean reaching out to touch the matter-and the images stopped.

Enough. I do not want to remember. Her eyes darkened, melancholic.

I do not have the energy to hold this form on my own for very long. The contract will fix that by borrowing energy from both parties- you and I, until the terms are fulfilled.

"Very well." Vincent held out his hand- he could feel his choices narrowing into this one option- a deal with a devil.

The devil in question smiled toothily, and took his hand.

Where their palms touched, an electrifying pain jolted. The wind picked up, raising dust, and causing the gunman to close his eyes. The pain and the wind died out when they broke contact. Vincent snatched his hand back the moment the demon let go, expecting to see third degree burns, at the very least- but all there was was a tiny black loop, in the center of the same complex diagram etched on the ground between them. He looked at her, questioning.

My seal. Infinity. While Chaos is the embodiment of fire, which consumes without prejudice,I am water, which is continuous, adapting to change, always changing, always being changed. She touched his forehead, and he could see beyond the human guise she wore. He noticed her features were ever-shifting, rippling, almost like gazing into moving water.

He flinched. Not human. Despite her appearance, she was an ancient being. He had briefly forgotten that, a dangerous mistake. He had to separate "Yuffie" and "Azara." Just because the ninja wouldn't hurt him didn't mean the demon had the same reservations.

Azara smirked, knowing her other-ness bothered the man. Balance is important- you cannot have too much life, or too much death. I think you know that better than anyone, Valentine. Azara stood, brushing off Yuffie's battered and stained clothes. Let's be off then. I believe that our destination lies in Niebelheim. There are documents of your transformation stored there if her memories are accurate. But first, I could really use a bath and a change of clothes...

"There is an inn in town. We can stop there for a short time, if you wish." He tried not to put too much stress on the words "short" and "time", but his patience was wearing thin. Just when I thought I'd heard the last of demons and Neibelheim Mansion...

Nyeh. A little short, but better than nothing at all. Rave on my lovelies! And don't forget to drop me a line! You guys that review are the reason we see updates before the new year, lol.

*grooves her way out*

:D, :3, and XP,

W.A.L.D.