Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII.

Forty Four

-Opportunity-

It was perfect. The absolute, perfect opportunity. This was the final test he had for her, if she passed this one he would know for sure if she could handle being with him. He glanced back at her for a moment, but her eyes were fixated on the scene at the bottom of the valley. They'd been hiking through the jungle for weeks, a thin layer of sweat glistened on her skin and her chest moved gently as she caught her breath. Then she started down the slope to the village.

Vincent fell behind and watched her carefully as her backpack hit the dirt at the edge of the village. She grabbed the nearest person she saw and he could here her worriedly asking what happened. Then he took the time to look around what was left of the village.

It was a fairly simple village, he guessed it was made up of several tight-knit families living together and moving from place to place every so often. There was very little in the way of technology that he could see, mostly they had simple huts made from dried wood and recycled debris from the nearby reactor. Most of the huts were destroyed, and a line of fresh graves dotted the far side of the village. Loose chickens and dogs ran back and forth through the pathways between the buildings, and every face he saw was grim and hopeless. Judging from the straw and foliage lining the right half of the village, a flash flood had caught them off guard. His inspection ended when Yuffie appeared in front of him with a distraught look in her eyes.

"That storm we got caught in a couple days ago caused a flood through here, they barely had time to react. There's a lot of people missing…" Yuffie let her voice trail away as she stared up at Vincent. "They can't defend the village from monsters, look for their friends and family, and rebuilt… They need our help." She said softly.

Vincent looked down at her with an indifferent look in his eyes. "We shouldn't interfere, these people live here to avoid the outside world. They know the danger that comes with such a life."

Yuffie was sure she hadn't heard him right. Vincent always helped people, she was always hearing about someone he saved, ever since Meteor. To think he was really planning to walk away from these people was simply unbelievable.

"Excuse me?" Yuffie blurted out in surprise. Vincent looked away and started to walk past the village. He paused for a moment to look back at her.

"What happened here is unfortunate, but none of our concern. The worst is over, they will recover without outside assistance, Yuffie." He made a point of adding her name on the end, and she caught it. He meant it as a command. He was commanding her to stay out of it. He walked several paces away before pausing to look back again.

"Are you coming?" He asked stiffly. Yuffie stood her ground.

"Are you serious?" She shot back before putting her hands on her hips. "What does it matter what happened to them? The point remains that they could use, and would very much appreciate, our help." She stood there for a long time, returning his hard gaze furiously. Finally realizing he meant what he'd said, Yuffie let her arms drop and shook her head.

"I don't think I know you anymore. Just go if doing the right thing will be such a burden to you." She said it gently, but venom dripped from every word.

Vincent shrugged it off and disappeared into the tree line. By the time he managed to get the pleased grin off his face and turn to look, Yuffie had already disappeared back into the village.