He avoided going back for a while, but eventually realised that one way or the other he was going to have to return, and getti

Vincy's a Pervert! (In loud and annoying tones)

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We're back! And WE know what happens! (For once… ^ ^;;;) If you finally wish to solve the mystery of the pizzas, read on! And if you wish to know whether Mr Boki was actually a Chocobo, also read on! And if you want lots of Vincy thinking stuff, and all that other stuff we promised, READ ON! Okay, okay, we'll let you read now… read on…

Oh! And we still don't own Vincy (except in our minds). Nor FF7, to our disappointment. But as we have previously pointed out, we DO own his pottery! POTTERY AHOY!

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Vincent avoided going back for a while… But he eventually realised that inevitably, one way or the other, he was going to have to return- and getting the pizzas would be the most painless method of going about it.

It wasn't like he was doing it for Yuffie… And he could even afford her enormous demands, as well. As he had roamed the dusky cliffs and crannies of his island home, various mutated creatures regularly assaulted him, obviously past experiments of Shinra, gone feral. He dealt with these monsters as quickly and humanely as he could; gone from him now was the burning hatred that had inflamed before, that pent up rage that frightened even him, his constant companion in so many battles.

No… He knew what these animals had been through, what they had been, and what, through torturous experiments, had become now. He could tell by crazed gleam burning in their eyes that they were in pain, driven insane by what had been done to them, so that all they could do was lash out at whatever surrounded them… But inside that lay a terrible desire to die.

He had once shared that feeling himself.

But now it had been months since he had transformed into the dark beasts that lurked beneath his trembling psyche. He didn't come out on these hills to kill. There were many reports, confirmed by the distorted life forms, of an abandoned research centre somewhere on this island.

Vincent had made it his work. It was the only thing he could do, the only thing he could think of to pay for what he had done. The thought of some other creature, trapped like he was, but with a mind still not totally decayed… aware of what it was going through… Vincent pushed the painful memories from his mind. That was all in the past.

He could never again live with other human beings. The few who had accepted had got over his monstrous appearance; forgiven him, though he could never deserve it, for the terrible things he had done… yet they too had left him. He didn't blame them, but still… He had never really been close to those bright others who had so unexpectedly intruded on life; so young, with hopes and hearts and dreams ahead of them. They had all grown during that time, but none so much as himself. When he had been with them, though they never knew it, he had shared a bond, an affinity- they had given his life meaning and hope. When those smiling faces had surrounded him, he had somehow fooled himself into thinking… that he was no longer alone.

But afterwards… As they had been torn from him, turned their backs and walked away, he felt like a part of him had been wrenched away with them. What had he been thinking?! He screamed in his mind. Did he really think that after this was over, they would accept somebody like HIM? What vague fantasy had he painted of the future? Had he really supposed that he would be anything other than he was… alone. He had wanted to do something, anything. He had wanted to run after them, to call out their names, to reach out to them, to scream at them not to abandon him to the life of suffering that he had lead before. Didn't they realise that he… needed them! He needed them so much… But he couldn't. He had sunk down into the dust, and for the first time in seven years he had cried.

It had taken him a long time to accept it- a long time of wandering and pain. Trying to forget the hurt caused by trusting them. But now he understood their fault. It was his. It wasn't for him to be loved and included; happiness was not a feeling meant for him, for someone who committed such atrocities. All he could do live out his miserable life. He could never even thank them for the brief glimpse of light they had brought to his dark soul.

But then… She had come. Vincent vaguely remembered Yuffie. No, actually that was incorrect. Yuffie was not the kind of person you remembered 'vaguely'; she was the kind of person you either remembered distinctly or you had never met her at all. So, Vincent remembered Yuffie distinctly.

He had avoided her back then. There was something about her youth, her naivety, her confidence and loudness that reminded him of something, a long time ago… Something he didn't want to think about. He remembered watching her from afar. He was never involved in any of her frequent skirmishes, but it used to amuse him to see her running and screaming after Cait Sith, or celebrating in such a way that made it clear to everyone that they had obtained a new materia. But at the same time, it hurt him. They had been so alike, yet so totally different. Her presence made him uncomfortable- he recalled once trying to explain his feelings to her when she had unexpectedly come up to talk to him. This had never happened before; despite his cold exterior, Vincent was inwardly nervous, and somehow afraid. He said nothing, just stood and listened while her happy chatter washed over, terrified that if he said anything he would scare her away and she would never come back. But as the time passed he grew more comfortable. Was it… acceptance he saw in her eyes? So when she yelled in her usual cheerful brisk manner for him to reply, he couldn't help himself. He started hesitantly at first, but he had said far more than meant. He began to open up, to talk things he saw in her that he would never have told anybody. But then he looked down at her face.

The expression of boredom, horror and disdain imprinted in those brown irises was unmistakeable. He shut up immediately, feeling embarrassed, hurt, and furious with himself. She quickly made a thoughtless excuse and escaped. She never to him again. He never spoke to her. He had assumed she now hated him, and did as much as he could to stay out of her way.

Until now. What was she doing here? He had been alone for so long. Then she had voluntarily approached him, literally leaping upon him after such a long absence…so long spent avoiding him. It made no sense. What was it the girl had mentioned? She had spoken so fast in that flurried introduction that he could barely understand her. That her father had kicked her out? The bright lights of the neighbouring town grew closer, momentarily distracting him. That would be logical… He reasoned. Another detail about Yuffie that time had glossed over was her pure mind-numbing annoyingness. It was not unthinkable that the others would refuse to take her in. And I would obviously be her last resort…

But whatever happened she needed to go. That much Vincent was sure of. Shaking his head, with his sable hair flying out behind him. He had been alone too long to trust again. The more he grew accustomed to having her around, the more it would hurt when she eventually left. No. He would get her the pizza, she would stay the night, and the very first thing tomorrow morning he would escort her to Cloud and Tifa's Villa in Costa Del Sol. With that he strode into the town, not even noticing the strange looks shot at him by the people.

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The stack of pizzas was warm against his skin as though the cardboard casing of the uppermost package was by now sodden, as was everything else about Vincent as he trudged, disheartened, through the rain. It was more than once during the long walk home that he asked himself why he was doing this, Yuffie's remarkable talent for screaming temporarily forgotten in his annoyance. He was therefore not in the best of moods when, finally, he neared the top of the hill on which his cave was situated. But nevertheless, he was surprised to see a brief glimpse of firelight dancing on the cave walls. Looks like she has more sense than I thought… Cautiously he peered into rocky interior of his home. He was even more surprised, however, when he plunged into the flickering darkness, by a sight that made him jerk back, though he didn't know why.

Yuffie was sprawled out on the furry pillows, fast asleep, but that was not what amazed him. Part of it was quiet she was when she slept. Deep down in has sub-conscious, Vincent had been secretly wondering whether she made noise even when she was not awake to make it. She seemed almost a different person when her immediate surroundings were not echoing with the sound of her own voice. But what shocked him more was that she had actually removed the armour she wore like a second skin. He realised this was the first time he had ever really seen her in the clothes she wore underneath. Vincent's philosophical thought of the moment: Yuffie's clothes were somewhat like God- you were vaguely aware of their existence, but you didn't generally come into contact with them during a normal lifespan…

Even more, though, all of Yuffie's materia save her prized Odin were gone, presumably hidden amongst her things. Odin was nearly slipping out of the grasp of her right hand as only a sleeper can a sleeper can allow.

Hesitantly, he took a step forward. He was now close enough to make out the details, and what he saw took his breath away.

Soft fire shone angelically on Yuffie's sleeping features, the golden glow lighting her entire form. Stripped of the menacing armour that she wore day in, day out, she looked very different. It was as if the tough, confident front she showed to the world stripped as well; to reveal a slight, delicate girl, so different to the shuriken wielding maniac she was in her waking hours. She stirred in her sleep, slowly rolling on to her side, her silky brown hair half-dried by the fire moving with her. A couple of fluffy strands drifting over her face. Lying there so peaceful… She was almost…

Impulsively, Vincent reached down, not even knowing why, to brush the hair out of eyes.

Well, that's what he had meant to do- but the moment he came within an inch of her he was interrupted by a large, feathery, moving object (that reeked with the unmistakeable stench of Chocobo) slamming into him from behind, bowling him over and knocking him straight down onto Yuffie's sleeping form.

Brown eyes snapped open.

'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! VINCY'S A PERVERT!'

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See! We eventually got around to it- but will happen next? What terrible fate will befall our poor Vincy? Find out in the next chapter, AS YET UNTITLED! (We refuse to be trapped by our own stupidity again- we leeeeeeeeeearn from mistakes, we learn! Aren't we bright little cookies!) It's cute how Yuffers' thoughts are light-hearted and silly, even her serious ones, while Vincy's are all… Deep, dark and serious! And the Chocobo even made its appearance! And there was a pissed off ninja! AND we got rid of all the untoward clones- WOW! We're going well… Until next inspired, FAREWELL! (There might even be pottery in the next one- but we're not promising anything! So you'll just have to keep on hoping!)

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