A/N: I like to keep up…Since I haven't updated in a while, I'm updating a lot!
Vincent was on the phone with Cloud within minutes of their return to the hotel. He explained the entire situation as briefly as he could and made his request.
Tifa and Cloud engineered a pick-up quicker than Vincent could have hoped. The girl…No, use her name. Kiya had fallen ill with a fever. Shelke had done what she could, but she was no doctor.
Tifa was, fortunately, much better at nursing people. She had to take care of orphans, after all.
He was banished from her presence until she'd recovered.
"You'll kill her with your questioning," Tifa chided. "She needs rest and relaxation."
Still, Vincent hovered. He often asked Shelke to check on her, make sure she was all right and comfortable. Shelke would comply with amusement shining in her eyes.
"What's so great about this chick, anyway?" Yuffie demanded one day. "I mean, seriously."
"I don't know yet," Vincent told her. "I will find out."
"How can she be important if you don't even know who she is?" she inquired.
Vincent's only answer was a glare.
Kiya was awake for once when Shelke entered to see her. Usually, the strange girl was asleep.
"Good morning," Shelke said carefully.
"Hello," Kiya rasped. She still didn't have too much control over her voice. She was getting much better, though.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you."
"That's good. Vincent has been hovering outside your door."
"Why hasn't he come in?"
"He's been banished. Tifa thought he would not be conducive to your recovery."
"You're a good friend of his?"
Shelke nodded. "Yes. He saved me about two years ago."
"What's your name?"
"Shelke."
"That's pretty."
"Thank you."
Kiya was silent for a moment. Finally, she asked, "What is he like?"
Shelke was surprised. "I thought you knew him."
"I did. He'd different. He doesn't show emotion anymore, he's more reserved. He looks different. He's a different Vincent than the one I knew."
"I see. He is reserved, very quiet. He doesn't let anyone in. I don't know much about him, other than he is caring. He doesn't like to show it, though."
"What happened to Lucrecia?"
Shelke tilted her head. "You knew her?"
Kiya nodded. "Yes. I knew a side of her that wasn't very pleasant. Is she here?"
"As far as we know, she's dead."
Kiya smiled. "Good. How did he get how he is?"
"Hmm. I'm not entirely sure. I do know he was heavily experimented on by Dr. Hojo, and that Dr. Crescent did something else. What she did, though, is gone. Done with forever."
Kiya nodded. "I see."
Tifa appeared in the door. "Ah, you're awake. Good, you can eat something."
Kiya smiled up at Tifa. "Please."
Shelke stood. "I will take my leave."
"Tell Vince to come in himself next time. I want to talk to him."
Shelke exchanged a glance with Tifa, then nodded. "I will do so."
Kiya settled back down, content to wait for Vince.
They had a lot of catching up to do.