Drinking Coffee

Chapter Five: Laughter

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When Vincent got home he heard sing coming from the living room, "Ladies and Gentlemen can I have you attention, please!" Yuffie and Shelke laughed. "Do you wake ev'ry morning in shame and despair!" He walked into the room and saw that Sweeney Todd was playing. He sighed and walked down to his room. He had to pack.

Vincent arrived at Lucrecia's cave at midnight that night. He ducked into the watered haven and sat in front of her lake. "Dear Lucrecia."

Vincent…

"I know I said I would take your advice."

Vincent…

"It's harder than I thought."

Vincent…I am

"I've finally made peace." He stated.

Good…

"Since I've let go…You can too?"

Yes,…Lucrecia sounded happy. Yes. I can let go. Moreover, now I can hold my son. He swore she smiled. Do not be afraid to love her.

"I won't be eventually."

Good. Then the cave went silent for a moment. The Mako crystals began to sing again.

"Lucrecia?" No response. She was gone.

Quickly approaching was the marriage of Tifa Lockhart and Cloud Strife. They along with a flamboyant man called Cristobel Hastings, a loud ravish woman named Faye Hastings, and a quiet mousy woman named Sera Hastings, started to plan a wedding to suit the happy couple.

One man was somewhat happy.

His name was Vincent Valentine. And this man lived with a young girl by the name of Shelke Rui and a woman by the name of Yuffie Kisaragi.

Shelke Rui was his little headache. Yuffie Kisaragi made his life some what enjoyable. Reeve Tuesti made enjoyable.

That's why Vincent was on a boat. Again.

This time it was on the Coast of Cosmo Canyon. The Gold Coast.

A creative name.

Unlike Yuffie's cat, Dog. Well, Denzel was to blame for Dog's name. Not Yuffie, but she did have a fish named Vincent, because it was easy to remember she claimed. Vincent sighed and did not see his breath in the air. He mentally chuckled and undid one of the clasps at the top of his coat.

This was not the hell-boat. The hell-boat was cold; this trip was warm and sunny. He leaned up against the rail of the boat and opened his book…this was rather enjoyable. Until the sun, beat down to hard and he had to flip the hood over his head to keep him cool.

Nanaki met him at the barge. The large fire cat stood with Elders of the Cosmo tribe and they were waiting for the man.

"Old friend," Nanaki greeted with a bow. "How have you been keeping?"

Vincent bowed, "I have been keeping well. And what of you? We never here from you."

Nanaki sighed, "Building projects." He walked down the dirt path and coughed, "I haven't been in best of health as these days roll on. It's because of the large amounts of dust." The fire cat sighed, "This should be over soon."

Vincent nodded, "I've come to make the inspections and pick up the evacuation plans."

Nanaki stopped and looked at Vincent, "That should not take a week." They had stopped in the middle of the street, near a shabby sports bar that proudly displayed the Gold and Red colors of the Cosmo Panthers. "What are you really here for?"

"I will return to Nibelheim and burn my coffin." Vincent said beginning to walk again. "Did you get Tifa's letter?"

Nanaki began to walk again, "My mate Dinne and I will attend." He said holding his head up. "However, Cloud and I will not speak of football during the wedding. My mate has forbid it." He laughed and took a turn. He stopped in front of the library. "The books and all plans are here. Take what is needed."

Vincent left that night by motorbike. He stopped in Nibelheim. The blue and purple of the Cavilers where expressed around the town. He smirked and walked into the ShinRa manor. He looked around the home. Maybe one day he would fix this place up and would give it to a family that needed it. On the other hand, maybe he would fix it up and move in here.

He walked down to the basement, cleared out the bookshelves, and then called a cab. The coffin would be for another day.

Vincent stayed in an inn that night. Then he headed for Rocket Town. To pay Cid and Shera Highwind, and Barret and Elmrya Wallace a visit.

He landed on the stoop of the Highwind home at three, four days into his trip. Chaz Layton Highwind answered the door. Brown hair and bright blue eyes, the menacing two year old attached himself to his Uncle.

"Hey-ya Vince! Long time no see!" Vincent sighed as Cid said this he saw him almost a month ago. Not even that. "I see Chaz and you are buddies now." He took Chaz. "I reckon he gets his personality from his mom." He laughed, "Sher' is gonna have another soon, any day now."

Vincent smiled, "It's very nice to know that more saviors of the world will take our places."

Cid laughed, "Nah just us." He looked over his shoulder, "You know why Barret and " 'Mrya are here right?"

"Misses Wallace is here to be the midwife?"

Cid was dumbstruck, "Damn right!" Chaz frowned, "Don't tell your mom Chaz."

Vincent smiled smally, "So did you get Tifa's invitation?"

Cid nodded, "Yup! Everybody on our end is coming." Vincent stayed at Cid's for the night and left at daybreak to get on the slow boat back to hell.

Icicle Inn is different when you are not going their on a mission.

Vincent remembered that the Hastings girls would not be on that hell-boat to jump on him.

They would be in Edge helping Tifa and Cloud.

Vincent flipped his hood back over his head and walked to the Inn after he got off the boat after crossing the Baltic Sea. He would cross the Icicle Lake tomorrow and then meet Reeve in Kalm. He would speak in Native Kalm for the first time in years when he saw Reeve in a day.

Reeve translating Native Kalm would be a funny thing to see and Vincent Valentine did have a sense of humor in him. Somewhere.

He stayed at the same Inn, in the same room, and almost had the same problem with two other fangirls (They ran after him with copies of Gaia Weekly).

Then he got on the hell-boat. On Icicle Lake.

He looked into the iced waters of Icicle Lake. The name, he thought, was not very creative. Like Yuffie's cat, Dog.

Well, Denzel was to blame for Dog's name (once again). Not Yuffie, but she did have a fish named Vincent; because it was easy to remember she claimed, (He wondered where Dog and Vincent were they were not at his home).

He exhaled and saw his breath. It was still as cold as Hojo's heart here. Hopefully he would see the Kalm Skyline soon.

Soon was three hours later.

He spoke in Native Kalm when he saw Reeve. Reeve was shocked and did not know how to respond. He just laughed and sent Vincent down to Edge.

He sent him home.

No missions.

No witty remark.

No cat comment.

He said he would be at the wedding and sent Vincent on his way.

Vincent did not know weather to laugh or make a cat joke.

So he did both.