"Do crazy people know they are crazy? 'Cause the voices in my head seem to think so."
His breath hitched and eyes went wide. If Yuffie heard voices, did that mean...?
Oblivious to his inner debate, Yuffie went on, "'Cause you know, you were dead. I heard him say it and it was my fault. I was the one to tell them all about you. I didn't want to do it, but they somehow made me. Now I know you're not, cause here you are. At least I think you are. I mean, I can see you and feel you, and hear you. Well not really. You're not talking, but you're breathing, so I guess that must count for something right? Vinnie, are you feeling alright? You look kinda.. I don't know, weird."
Unable to control himself, Vincent wrapped his arms around the young woman and held her in a viselike grip against his body. He closed his eyes tightly making sure all emotion was held inside. Reeve sputtered before turning away. He ran his hands through his hair in defeat.
"Reeve, just what did they do to her?" Fury under-toned each word as it was spoken.
It wasn't Chaos speaking, but Reeve could tell at least one of the other leftover demons was hovering under the surface. Had he been facing the gunman, he would have seen the unwavering gaze of the man's red eyes. "I don't know, Vince. I just don't know," Reeve finally answered. "Yuffie, she. She would not divulge any information to me." Broad shoulders sagged in failure.
Pulling the girl away, Vincent stared down at her, "Is this true?"
Purple eyes looked away quickly. Her body shook as if holding back sobs. Yuffie began to make small mewls before sniffling loudly. "I'm sorry. I wanted to, but just knowing what I've done. I-I couldn't! I know you must all hate me, and I can handle that!" The tears were flowing freely now and Vincent pulled her back to his chest as she went on with her confession. "But when I heard you were dead and that it was because of me, well, I-I."
"Shh. No one hates you." Vincent used his good hand to rub small circles on her back and leaned in close. At the same time Yuffie lifted her own face and he found himself dangerously close to her lips. The demons in his mind were shouting, encouraging him to press his lips against hers. The dissonance was so loud that he almost complied before thinking about the many sins against her. Breathing hard, Vincent pulled away. "Reeve, I'm going to make a few calls. You need to find a place for her that isn't this room." Disengaging his body from her grasp, Vincent strode out of the building.
Thinking she had just been rejected, Yuffie dropped to her knees. "I knew it. He really does hate me. They were right."
Within days, Yuffie found herself staying with Tifa at Seventh Heaven. Tifa observed her closely as she worked. So far it seemed as if Yuffie was doing quite well. The day Vincent came to her and asked a favor, she jumped at the chance. After what the Wutaian had been through, Tifa was determined to do whatever she could to help her friend recover.
Yuffie was less talkative than normal, but that was to be expected after the trauma she had experienced. Tifa took it all in stride. She never gave Yuffie any more work than she felt her friend would be able to handle. If Yuffie was having a bad day, she would allow the young woman to stay upstairs and away from customers.
When the Turks came in one afternoon, Tifa quietly herded Yuffie from the bar. She knew Reno's mouth could get him in trouble more often than not. Rude could only shake his head whenever his partner bit off more than he could chew.
Tifa figured they were probably spying for Rufus. And while she understood why, that didn't mean she wanted to put her friend on display. Once the two of them left, she allowed Yuffie to come back to work if she pleased.
Vincent visited every night right about the same time. Tifa learned to keep an eye out and reserved a seat in the corner just for him. He would sit while nursing a glass of wine and make sure no one acted out of line. It was almost as if Tifa gained a new bouncer. Shortly after sitting, Vincent would find himself with a female companion. He would not admit if it bothered him, but once Yuffie began to tell him about her day, it took close to three hours before she was finished.
He never said a word, it wasn't as if he were able to if he wanted. This was the point that Yuffie seemed most alive. It was as if she worried he was not going to be there the next night and had to get everything she could out. She chatted non-stop ignoring all else except for him.
This worried Vincent. So far he had managed to convince Reeve that he would only take on jobs that were local and no more than a day long. Cloud asked one night after returning from a delivery if listening to Yuffie endlessly bothered him at all. After all, they all knew he was a reserved person that enjoyed his privacy. Vincent replied with a firm, "It's fine. She needs it." Cloud left it at that.
The thought that bugged them all was what would happen to Yuffie should he not show just once?
Three weeks passed, and Vincent sat in a booth watching Tifa clean up the day's mess. Yuffie was upstairs sleeping, Marlene curled up next to her. "Tifa, how is she? Is there any change at all?"
The brunette raised one shoulder before setting her rag aside and joining Vincent in the booth. "Shelke would be better able to tell you than I would. I mean it seems like she's alright, but I obsess. Although, we did have one incident today. I'm not sure what happened."
"Just tell me what you can," He assured her. Truthfully he wished he could have known about this right away, but at least only a short amount of time passed.
Tifa began with what she knew, "It was a normal day. Nothing extraordinary happening. Customers filed in almost as soon as I opened the door. Lunch was good, Yuffie appeared to be having a good day."
"It was the gentleman who told her that her cheeks resembled a red rose that affected Miss Kisaragi," A new voice joined the conversation having just entered through the back door. "He was attempting to flirt I believe." Shelke strolled over to the booth before sliding in next to Tifa.
Vincent turned slightly so that the young Tsviet had his undivided attention. Shelke continued her story with even Tifa leaning in close as she had not known the full story.
"I was clearing a table nearby and I heard him. I turned in time to see him reach out as if to touch her cheek. He was an older man, gray near his temples and I believe it was the combination of his words and looks that affected Miss Kisaragi so." She went on to explain how the man had been drinking, and most likely had more than what was good for him. Yuffie had been busy and so her face was flushed from the exertion. When his arm reached out for her, Yuffie froze in panic. The tray of mugs in her hand dropped and shattered to the floor. "I quickly discontinued the job I was on and rushed by her side. She clung to me without protest. The man called after her as I lead Miss Kisaragi upstairs. She was in hysterics by then."
"And that was when Marlene offered to stay with her?" Tifa interrupted making sure she understood the story fully. Shelke nodded in response.
No one spoke for some time as all processed the events surrounding the incident. Vincent sipped his wine before standing suddenly. He ignored Tifa's calls as he headed up the worn stairs to where Yuffie lay sleeping. The wood creaked under his feet as he slowly ascended. His steps paused as he found Marlene's room and he stood like a vigilant father in the doorway.
Marlene seeming to sense he was there opened her eyes. She stared at him for several seconds before whispering. "Is Yuffie okay? She hasn't let go of me ever since Shelke brought her up here."
Vincent entered the room and knelt by the side of the bed. He used his gloved hand to brush stray hair out of the Wutain's face. "I don't know. Marlene, think you can take care of her for tonight? I need to do a few things. I'll be back in the morning."
"I guess so. It's not like I can go anywhere," She smiled letting him know she wasn't upset, but was still worried.
"Thank you." He silently left the room after glancing down to the young woman currently clutching desperately to the child. When he reached the bar once more, he explained that he had a few details to take care of and that he would be back in the morning. Tifa wished him luck before putting the next chair on top of the table.
It was nearing the end of the workday for Reeve Tuesti, but he was a man devoted to his job and would more than likely to stick around for at least an extra hour anyway. He was working on plans to help develop the small town of Gongaga when a swirl of black and red entered his peripheral vision.
"Vincent, it's late. What are you doing here?" He questioned in surprise. He had never even heard his door open and close.
"I need a favor," the gunman began with a tone that signaled this was not a request that could be denied. He went on to explain, "I need a few weeks off."
Reeve stuttered out an answer, "W-what is it? How long do you need?"
"Hn. I'm not sure. I need to go back to Nibelheim."
Fingers stopped moving as unsure if their owner heard correctly, "Nibelheim? But that's where..."
Dark hair moved as Vincent nodded. "I know. I'm not going for myself."
Reeve sucked in a deep breath as he put the puzzle pieces together in his mind. "Yuffie." He whispered as it all came together. "That's where she saved your life."
"Exactly. She may seem better now, but she's not recovered yet. Today proved that." He moved away from in front of Reeve's desk and leaned against the wall. His arms crossed his chest that signaled he was willing to wait this out if need be.
"Have you thought this through? I mean, what about taking her back to Wutai? Get her back into familiar sites and areas?" Reeve was not willing for Vincent to suffer if it could be prevented. He knew the pain it caused his friend to be back in that city.
Shacking his head negative, Vincent went on to explain. "Think about it. Would you want to see the future leader of your country out of their mind, or to be seen in such a way? The social standards she must hold are severe, more-so since Yuffie is the only child. She must be strong enough to carry on in her father's stead. There are no other options for her."
The commissioner sighed in defeat. Vincent was right, and he knew it but that did not make the truth any easier to bare. "Before you go, can I ask you to do one last mission for me? I promise you can have as much time as you want after this." Vincent stiffened as he was in a hurry to leave as soon as the next day. "Don't worry," Reeve assured him. "You'll be back in a day or two." Turning in his chair, Reeve pulled a folder from a cabinet behind him. He handed it over, "Just bring back the old Yuffie?"
"Thank you. I will." Taking the file, Vincent left the office.
"Take care, Vince. Of Yuffie, and especially yourself." He whispered in prayer.
Yuffie clung tightly to his arm as they drove making it difficult yet not impossible to steer the small buggy. Vincent could have asked Cid to fly them to his destination, but figured staying on the ground would be the better option given Yuffie's known motion sickness. He wished, and not for the first time that roads had been paved for the trip, but that was still a WRO project in the works.
Reeve had begun last year, but the planet was vast and cities spread far. The majority of the ride, when Yuffie wasn't sick that is, was spent with Vincent commenting of "Yes, Yuffie. I see it." Or perhaps the occasional, "That is amazing," for a change of pace.
Vincent never told her where they were going, and she never asked. That in itself concerned him greatly. Yuffie loved surprises, however, her normal temperament involved pestering for hints and details. During the four day trip of almost non-stop driving he expected at least one question. Yet none was coming.
Winter was coming to an end in the town of Nibelheim when they arrived. It was mild enough for the residents to wander outdoors, yet still chilled enough that a coat would be needed. Vincent had prepared for this event and so pulled out a coat of ninja size as soon as he parked the buggy.
"Vinnie, what are we doing here? I thought you didn't like this place." Yuffie inquired as she buttoned up the offered article.
"Hn," He glanced around to gather his bearings before getting out of the vehicle and opening the small space that made a joke of being called a trunk. He pulled the three bags he packed and easily carried them back to the waiting ninja. "We are staying in the hotel tonight." Dusk was settling in and he wanted to get inside as soon as possible.
"If you say so, but I'm not sleeping alone." She warned him as she moved ahead. That made a dark brow rise, Yuffie valued her privacy above most things. Yet now she refused to be alone? He had to physically restrain her in Icicle Inn when told they would be sharing.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vincent knew he had his work cut out for him.
As Yuffie took her shower, Vince took the short time of freedom to set the rented room in order. He selected the bed closest to the door should the unforeseen happen. Yazoo and Loz were like roaches, it seemed like the kept coming back. He would the first person they encounter were it to happen.
The water stopped running at about the same time he finished. When Yuffie exited the bathroom, steam following, he was inspecting and cleaning his gun. She was using a towel to dry the moisture in her hair, but paused as she approached.
"You're not going to need that, are you?" Her bottom lip quivered in a manner akin to fear.
Setting the weapon aside, Vincent cautiously stood and crossed the room. He set both hands on her shoulders being mindful of his golden claw, "Don't worry, it's nothing more than what we encountered..." He was about to say 'before' but thought better of it and finished with saying, "with Cloud."
The ninja relaxed and stepped away to flop belly first on the remaining bed. "So what are we doing here? You never answered me."
A ghost of a smirk was hidden behind a red caplet, "You ever wanted to live in a mansion?"
Rolling over Yuffie waved one hand in the air about her face, "Well sure! Who hasn't? I used to break into Cloud's villa when he wasn't around. He had some good stuff stocked up in there. But even that doesn't compare to a... Wait! Don't tell me. Not Shinra Mansion! That place is supposed to be haunted!" She leaped up from the bed until she was sitting on folded legs.
"Think of it as training. Now, get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us."
Four hours had passed and Vincent knew he should have been sleeping along with his companion. The room was dark enough that a normal person would not be able to see the young woman in the next bed tossing and turning. Yet Vincent could not only see her, he could hear her all too well. He tried to close his eyes, but the sounds of her struggles was too much.
It had been going on for near an hour now, and he had no idea how to help her. He wondered if waking her up would do any good, but passed that idea over as what would happen when she fell asleep once more?
Anguish filled his face in the dark, her pain was his as well. She was his responsibility now. It was his duty to fix her, and fix her he would! Covers were thrown aside as he stood from his bed and made his way to her side. She was laying on her back, sheets tangled within pale legs. The outfit she had chosen to wear to bed was twisted as well, but he could do nothing to help that. Not unless he wanted her to wake up screaming at him that is.
Yuffie was still flailing, pillows were flung to the floor with her next movement. He set his hands on the edge of the bed to be closer to her. His left was curled into a fist to prevent tearing of the fabric on the sharp digits. It was at this moment, Yuffie flopped over and her hand came down on top of the claw. Vincent froze unused to having anyone touch the weapon. Yet it seemed to have the opposite effect on his friend.
As soon as she felt the cool alloy Yuffie's flailing ceased. Her small hand curled around it and a smile came over her face. Searching for a substitute, Vincent tried to pull away, but her moan of protest stopped him. With a resigned sigh, he used his free hand and pulled the covers back over her body and sat on the floor near her for the night.