A/N: I had this idea swimming in my head and I couldn't resist. I've seen some school romances involving Yuffie and Vincent, and I also decided to take a page from "Sorceress Fujin" herself, since she likes involving either Yuffie or Vincent being pets. In the meantime, I'll think of more to write for "Biwa and Ninja"…Please read and review—reviews will help me in writing the next chapter, and in figuring out whether or not to continue this story…I know it's short, but please bear in mind that this is only a prologue.

Two years ago…

"Who can tell me what are factors that led up to the war in Wutai?" asked Professor Valentine, writing down 'Factors Leading to the War' on the dry-erase board, "Can I get any volunteers?" At the sight of hands shooting up, all of them from the girls and some boys in the classroom.

"Let's see…ah yes! How about you Miss Kisaragi?"

The girl stood up, and cleared her throat. "According to my dad, one of the factors that led to the war was the fact that Shinra was looking to make more money regardless of what they sold to Wutai—an issue that just added to the tensions between the island kingdom and the Western Continent. That, and Shinra threatened to make war with Wutai upon making first contact—an action that would create great resentment towards Shinra, and thus planting a seed of rebellion. But the biggest factor that led to the war (and the last straw in my opinion), was when President Shinra ordered for a mako generator to be built over Da Chao."

Yuffie Kisaragi—one of his brighter students. Actually, her whole family is Wutainese, and it is understandable that her father would know all this, and it was true too. Being Half-Wutainese himself, he had as much resentment for Shinra for what they did up to that point…but the past was the past, even he cannot change it…just like the crimes he had committed after his being drafted into the Turks. Even today, fate considers anything in the past water under the bridge and will continue to move on regardless of who is punishing whom for whatever transgression had happened then.

Besides, under Rufus Shinra, the company had been going under heavy reforms…or so the media says. Vincent, being a former Turk himself, knows that they will always make use of these clandestine dark suits to perform unspeakable things…although counterterrorism happens to be one of the things the Turks now do.

Professor Valentine simply nodded his head as he wrote the factors down on the dry-erase board as 'corporate dishonesty and greed', 'threats', and 'mako generator on Da Chao'. "Correct Miss Kisaragi…we now have three main factors that contributed to the war. Anyone else? Yes Miss Lockheart?"

Tifa Lockheart was another of his students, a year senior to Yuffie, and just as bright—she was dating Cloud Strife of the football team, the Midgar High Behemoths. "What about the rumors about human experiments being done in Wutai by Shinra?"

Professor Valentine nodded and wrote on the board 'rumors of human experimentation'. "Excellent…although those are probably simply rumors, we cannot disclose the fact that rumors are based on the truth. So whether or not those experiments are real, we'll have to investigate one of these days. Anyone else?" Before anyone could raise their hands, the bell rang for classes to be over for the day. "Okay everyone, remember, you have a final in three days—this lesson will be included, so I want you all to have plenty of time to study…otherwise, I will have to flunk out some unfortunate soul."

At that, everyone left for home, while Vincent started packing up to do the same. Once he turned around, he saw that Yuffie stayed behind. "Is there anything I can help you with Yuffie?" he asked, holding his portfolios next to him. "Actually, I was going to ask if you could take me to your place," she said, "I really don't want to go home."

Vincent had a concerned look in his eyes, scanning her for anything wrong with her—normally, Yuffie Kisaragi was a very energetic and perky girl, and even yesterday, she was hyper, but today, she sounds a bit bummed out. "Did something happen with your dad?"

"Nothing much. He's just a bit angry since his company's taken a plunge yesterday and he got laid off from his office…I think he's been to a bar all night, because this morning he smelled like sakè."

Vincent sighed, and said, "Very well then. I'll take you home and give your father a call. All I ask is that you don't disturb my wife—she's in her eighth month now, and so she will likely be asleep at this time." Yuffie looked a bit disgusted when she heard 'father' and 'wife', but she immediately cooled down as she swallowed. "Thanks."

Vincent and Yuffie rode on the black Harley Davidson Fatboy with their things in the cargo boxes. All this time, Yuffie had been gripping quite close to her teacher as he drove the motorcycle to his home. As he looked back on his parent-teacher home visits with Godo Kisaragi, he knew that the man and his daughter did not exactly have what one would call an ideal parent-child relationship…they both constantly argued and fought each other. But any idiot could tell that Godo really did care about his daughter—and probably that job was the only thing that kept him and his daughter afloat, and now he had nothing…any single parent getting laid off would go to a bar and drink themselves to near-death. It was bad enough losing your wife to childbirth, but having to see something that reminds you of your wife every day, would hurt anyone very badly.

They finally made it: 117 Nibelheim Way. The Valentine residence was a Spartan two-storied house—but it was not a bad place, its lime green paintjob on the outside and the soft yellow interior paintjob would make anyone feel at peace, and the way everything was decorated on the inside screamed homey. Even Yuffie had to admit that this was a good place to raise a baby in…although this is not her first time visiting her teacher outside of school. In fact, she had followed him here without his knowledge just to get observe him once in a while—not to speak, just to look from afar.

"If you'll just wait here Yuffie, I'll call your dad," he said, "I have to at least let him know you're staying here. Otherwise, I could go to jail for this." With that, Vincent left and dialed the phone.

"Hello, Godo? This is Professor Valentine from the school, and I'm calling about Yuffie. No, no, she's fine. It's just that she wants to stay here for a bit. Yeah, she told me about your layoff, and said she was afraid. What of, she didn't tell me…she just had this bad feeling. Now don't go blaming her, she told me that she was scared of you this morning. Anyway, I'll be taking care of her until you've cooled down and are ready to pick her up. In the meantime, I wish you a penny for your thoughts." With that, Vincent hung up.

"Okay Yuffie," he said, turning to face her, "since you're here, I'd like to introduce you to someone…" With that, he beckoned Yuffie to come on upstairs with him quietly to the den. "Lucrecia? Are you awake?"

"Right here Vincent!" said the woman in the bed, her belly was swollen with and with a new life inside it. She looked at the door, and waved at her husband happily. Lucrecia Crescent-Valentine was indeed a beautiful woman, and the best wife any man could ask for. She was also lucky herself to have caught the affections of such a devilishly handsome man, and not to mention a very good husband.

"Lucrecia, you remember Yuffie don't you?" asked Vincent, while Lucrecia nodded, "She's going to stay with us for a while. Her dad got laid off, and so we're keeping her here until he gets his mind straight. Well, I'm going to fix dinner, while you two catch up." With that, Vincent left the room, and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

Yuffie simply sat close to Lucrecia, and put her ear to the belly of the mother. "So, did you find out the sex of the baby yet?"

Lucrecia smiled and chuckled. "It's a boy." She then looked out the window meditatively…what would she do if he found out? How could she do this to him when he's been nothing but good to her? What will happen to him when he finds out that this child is not really his?

Yuffie noticed the silence, and looked up at Lucrecia. "Is something wrong Mrs. Valentine?"

"It's nothing dear; it's just that I'm having thoughts."

"I hope they're good ones. You don't deserve to have your mind clouded by things like that."

Lucrecia sighed. She didn't deserve a man like Vincent…for what she had done, she deserved to be raped and beaten in front of the whole world. "If only that were so; I was only thinking of how a baby would change everything. I mean, after I recuperate and learn to take care of this child, how will things be after this boy comes into our lives?"

Yuffie simply smiled. "I don't think it's supposed to be predictable like that…for good or for bad, I think you're supposed to figure it out on your own as they come up."

"You're right. I'm just being silly…"

"That's right…think positive thoughts. You'll get through this—I know you will."

The next day, came and went quickly, but Yuffie enjoyed every moment of last night with her teacher—she would not trade that night for anything in the world. She was really reluctant to go back to her father when he showed up at Professor Valentine's doorstep…but he had this look of sincere regret on his face while she walked towards the Toyota Matrix in the driveway. "I'm sorry Yuffie," he said, as he closed the door, and started driving, "I've not done right by you in the past. I promise…after we move out, things will be different. You'll see. I will make it all up to you."

Godo had realized what a complete asshole he'd been to his daughter. It took a secretly-planned visit to her teacher on her part for him to realize this. She was what's left of his wife…if he really wants to keep her in his heart, he'd better cut back on all the fights they've had in the past and would have in the future, and treat her better.

Vincent watched as they drove away, knowing that after Yuffie graduates this year, he will never see her again…but being with her was like a preview for how parenthood would be like. It would be hard, but that would be nothing compared to the joys of having a child. He was ready to be a father, and a good husband…