-Chapter 1-
5 months prior to the story...
He walked, leaving silent footsteps behind, leaving what the past held behind. The man had a deep, dark complexion. He wore a long red cape, his hair hovering inches below his devilish red eyes. To some, he appeared to be a monster. Vincent Valentine never denied that fact, he felt it even as he slept at night. Afraid, but he never took much attention in how others perceived him. He felt more of a wandering soul, a dead soul trapped in one's body. A body that he hated with torment.
The rain gently fell down the darkened streets of Nibelheim, which hadn't changed much since the past 5 months. Lights shone brightly from the lit houses, that hovered highly above the town itself. The sky was dark, just as gloomy as he was. Vincent came to a stop, the rain falling gently against his face, as his red eyes gazed up at what was left of the Shinra Mansion. The only place that he called home in the last 30 years. It wasn't what one wanted as a humble home, but that was what the man was given.
His dark eyes trailed the old building, he hadn't stepped in Nibelheim for so long. It was nearly dreaded. He hesitated, thinking deeply. How long had it been since he'd seen his allies last? Vincent would have never called people of such persistence, friends. Friends, that was only a word. No one actually had friends. What was this thing that one would call friendship? Something that was had and thrown away?
A smile crept on his pail face, as he thought of those memorable days. He shivered at the thought of how horrific he might have looked at that moment. The man slowly swung around, his eyes trailing gracefully across the quiet streets. He treaded slowly down the wet pavement, as he headed out of Nibelheim. Not knowing exactly of where to go. But as long as there was a future, there would always be a road to follow.
"Man, rain sure doesn't stop," Yuffie Kisaragi muttered, her hands holding up her chin, as her elbows pressed against her knees. She had never really changed, except for the fact that she had matured a bit after the past 5 months. But material hunting was always a game, when coming to Yuffie. After all, where would all the materia go?
Tifa Lockhart smiled, as she placed a clean mug onto the high counters, "Give it time, Yuffie. No one could really predict when it'll stop." Yuffie swung around, her big brown eyes shining with excitement.
"Whatever!" she exclaimed, slowly standing up. The young girl was dressed in the exact same garment that she had always wore. The clothes clinging tightly onto her petite body. Yuffie quickly walked over towards the counter, leaning over it, as she glanced over at a couple drunken young men, having quite a good time.
"Losers...," she muttered, gazing back up at Tifa. Tifa smiled, still as kind as ever. Yuffie slowly sat up, leaning back against the counter.
"I'll go bug Cloud," she muttered, quickly standing up and walking towards the elevator. But before she had much of a chance to attempt anything, Cloud quickly came up. Tifa smiled, as she watched him walk over towards the door.
"Cloud," she called out, "Where are you going?" He turned around to face her, his blue mako eyes gleaming. He took in a deep breath, as he suddenly exited the door, with no more than a simple good-bye. Not even a word. Yuffie bit her bottom lip, a nervous expression on her face.
"Well...," she began, "That was...amusing..." Tifa turned away, as her ruby eyes gazed down at the counter. The two hardly seemed to communicate at all, after the death of Aeris. She always knew that somewhere in his heart, that he hurted more than anything. To see one he loved die, right before his eyes, and he couldn't do a thing about it. Tifa understood that, and she tried harder than ever to just let him be. Give him time to think, time to be alone, time to sulk in sorrow.
It wasn't just only him, Cloud always seemed to think that others hadn't cared much about Aeris' death. Which was never true. He didn't know how Tifa felt, Aeris was more than just a friend, she was like a sister. Tifa took in a deep breath, as she felt her eyes beginning to water. She quickly gazed up at Yuffie, who was staring at her oddly. She smiled, heartily, as she slowly stepped away from the counter, and sat down on a chair at the nearest table. Yuffie hesitated, pondering the thought if she should have just let her be or try to comfort her.
"What the hell's wrong with you? I thought you'd be out fucken stealin' those god damn materia," Cid exclaimed, pulling out a broken engine part. Yuffie rolled her eyes, she wasn't in quite the mood to meddle with Cid. Although, if it were another time, she wouldn't have mind giving the old man a 'Promo of Yuffie Kisaragi'.
"...nothing," she muttered, placing her head on her knees, as she gazed up at the brightened sky.
"You know I ain't good with kids, all right! What the hell are you doin' here, anyway?" he questioned, tossing the metal scrape aside. Yuffie slowly gazed up, as she had a hopeful look on her face.
"You ever wonder about life?" she questioned, a bit surprised with herself. After all, out of everyone she knew, she came to Cid Highwind for advice. Hey, Red XIII was never around, he was probably back at Cosmo Canyon, and just the thought of Yuffie asking an animal for advice?
Cid let out a high-pitched laugh, his head tossing back, "Hell, now you finally begin to get your damn life together? Surprise me anymore, and I could drop dead!" Yuffie rolled her eyes, quickly standing up, as she placed her hands on her hips.
"You should drop dead! After all, you're over the hill! Quit pushing 40!" she shouted out, quickly stepping off the broken down ramp. With that, the young girl turned around, sticking out her tongue, at a confused Cid.
"You fucken lil girl! That's why I ain't ever gonna get kids like you! All you fucken do is whine all fucken day, and expect the older people to take care of your lazy asses!" Yuffie stuck out her tongue, mimicking him, when she quickly swung around, facing Shera.
The woman smiled, "Cid off to a bad start, again?" She forced a smile, as she followed her into the house, still hearing Cid's voice off in the distance. With who knows what of his continuous swearing.
"Would you like some tea, dear?" Shera questioned, putting a tea kettle onto the stove. Yuffie sat down, her thoughts drifting about, as she nodded her head.
"How could you marry him?" Yuffie questioned, out of the blue. Shera turned around with a smile, the woman was quite pretty for her age. She had long dark brown hair, that was always tied back in a tight pony tail, and she always wore that white lab coat.
"Well," she began, placing a cup in front of the young woman, "When you love someone, you gotta live with what they have to offer."
Yuffie's eyes widened in surprise, "That big mouth? GAWD!" Shera smiled, pouring some hot tea into the cup, as she then took a a seat across from Yuffie.
"Exactly," she exclaimed, with a giggle. Yuffie paused, as she stared down at her tea, carefully spooning it. Her eyes slowly gazed up, quizzically.
"Can I ask you sumthin'?" she questioned, a bit serious, "Have you ever felt out of place in life? Like there's somethin' missing...alone, somehow...." Shera paused, as she studied the young woman's expression. Yuffie's eyes quickly gazed back up, "I mean...I always felt like that...my father being who he is..and me, off into my own World. That's the reason, I never wanna go back home..."
"Are you falling in love?" Shera questioned, startling Yuffie. She shook her head, turning away.
"With who?" she questioned, although she knew quite well of the person that constantly entered her mind. Yuffie wouldn't have called the thing she was feeling love. That was too much of a tough word to deal with. Like maybe...or even pity. She never really quite decided the word that would suit what she felt. Hell, she didn't even know where he was all this time. And she never bothered to go looking for such a character, either. Never had she think she'd ever. Yuffie constantly wondered about the man known as Vincent Valentine. More than months ago, he had left without a word to anyone. He just left...without a trace, seeming to have disappeared off the face of the planet.
Not even as a slight good-bye. But who would he have said good-bye to anyway? The man hardly talked to anyone, he only did when spoken to, or when he had to. She didn't recall many moments with Vincent. They talked, but never did the conversation state much. Just simple questions and answers.
That mostly came from Yuffie's mouth. She had to admit, she talked a lot, and to some, she even annoyed them for always wanting to steal their materia. Yuffie felt different after theses past 5 months, she had time to think. She actually felt sorry for him, now. But what for? She'd often ask herself. Was it because it seemed as though no one wanted to communicate with him? Or was it the fact that most thought of him as a monster of some sort? Was it possible for human and beast to live as one? Of course....right?
