A man watched someone leave the bar with a red cape glittering in the streetlights, flapping in the brisk wind. With a quick graceful gait, the caped one walked to the inn and stopped inside the doorway. His head tilted up towards the man in the window with his red eyes that gleamed in the moonlight. Suddenly, the cloaked one's eyes became tiny slits, like two horizontal scars burrowing through the man until he had to look away. Even with his eyes closed, he could still feel the caped figure's intense eyes staring, searching inside of him. His judging scarlet orbs were the things nightmares were made of. The spectator shuddered. It was almost as if the man in the crimson cloak and matching eyes could see him, but that was impossible. Satisfied with himself, Vincent quietly walked into the inn. The man at the window turned back to the street, opening his eyes again. (That man knew something.) His own matching blood red irises darted through the streets of Kalm searching for the man in the cape but they came up empty. (His eyes were just like mine and he….…sensed me.)

The man's attention was then turned to another figure leaving the bar. This time it was a female who walked slowly, putting on a long black coat to shield her from the unrelenting winds. She seemed familiar with a proud, fierce posture about her with a hint of sexuality. She did not notice her admirer but began to wander towards the chocobo paddocks on the outskirts of town. He watched her from behind, even after she was no longer bathed in streetlights, with a faint red glow in his eyes and a smirk on his face. (Yes,) he thought. (Very familiar.)

"Tatsu, what are you doing here in the dark?" a high-pitched nasal voice called from behind him.

He grimaced. The glow abated. "Just thinking, Yuffie." He turned to the young ninja as she tried to light the oil lamp on the stand near the door. "I prefer it this way."

"Sometimes you worry me, sitting alone in the dark thinking. You wouldn't even come into town to rest. Why not?"

"I'd rather sleep under the stars. It helps me to----"

"Think," Yuffie finished blandly. "What do you gotta think about now?"

Tatsu simply stared at her. They had grown up together and she still did not understand him. He sighed, turning back towards the night. "The best warrior is on constant vigil, pondering the enemy's next plan of action."

She put her hands on her hips. "Don't you ever have fun or do you sit around ponderin' all day since I left?"

He did not answer.

She went to him and put her hand on his shoulder. Yuffie yanked playfully on his long, black ponytail. "Glad I came back for ya, huh?"

Again, Tatsu was silent. He brushed his long bangs out of his face dismissing the persistent girl.

She ignored him and pressed further. "Would you have rather me leave you to 'search for your inner warrior' on Da Chao? Maybe listen to Godo lecture you some more on what things were like for him back in the Stone Age?"

Tatsu sighed. "I was able to teach you many martial arts techniques but I could never teach you when to shut up." His voice was monotone but not cold. "Silence is a virtue." He pulled away from her and extinguished the lamp. "Goodnight, Yuffie."

"Geez," she said, stomping over towards the door. "If you wanted to be alone with your thoughts, why didn't you just say so?" She left.

(Finally,) Tatsu thought, unbuttoning his shirt, revealing a finely tanned muscular chest. He was tall, well built and quite handsome save the long vertical scar over his left eye. He took off his pants and folded his clothing, placing them on a chair near his bed. In nothing but his boxers, he sat on the floor, crossing his legs and began to meditate, facing the window and the stars above.

After a few moments of stillness and silence, Tatsu's arms suddenly sprang to life performing moves he had been practicing since he was two years old. His limbs thrust forward aggressively, swirled around gracefully, and moved with such fluid precision, they seemed as if they were dancing with one another. Every small gesture had a meaning and moved to a hidden rhythm only he heard. At times his hands were only a blur as they struck down another enemy of the mind. Then as suddenly as he began, it was over as his hands slowly lowered to his lap, and he exhaled, releasing tension.

A giggle rose behind Tatsu.

He turned sharply. "YUFFIE, I THOUGHT I SAID---"

The door slammed.