These characters aren't mine, I don't know why I have to repeat myself, but I really don't wanna be sued! I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, but what the hell I thought that I needed a break, well, now I'm back, you can give me my good ol critiques. No flames, I still have no songs, and Kougar, Dj, and Mouse are all my characters. This is a long long chapter and it's somewhat revealing, it's majorly about the roommates and where they come from. I swear, I'll finish this Shin-Ra Academy thing real soon okies?! Thanks for reading, oh, thanks to those who review my crap! Special Thanks to Ardwynna Morrigu, Sephiroth2021, Mako Magic, Ezri Candy (I still have the Vincent pluchie!)!,Lady Complicated, Bishonen no miko, Aeri, thanks to you guys for helping inspire me to write!!
Red Death's Love
-LMG-
/
/
/
Greyson Kougar was pissed. How could this have happened to him?! What the hell? He slammed his fist into the wall of his room. Mouse looked on with concern while DJ sat on his bed scratching his head.
"Come on Grey! It isn't that bad!! I mean you still kicked ass!! That fight against Olaf was mad cool!" Mouse said while putting his apron and rubber gloves away in his drawer.
Kougar pounded his fist against his hand. "No it ain't that... it's just that- that Valentine guy!!! I mean, who does he think he is? Strolling up here acting like such a big shot!! I mean, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have gotten slugged!!"
Mouse nodded. "Yeah, that's quite a bruiser you got there dude!"
Kougar scowled at him. "Shaddap Mouse!!" Mouse erked and bowed his head.
DJ shifted himself so that he was laying on the bed. "Relax Greyson, you don't even know the guy, besides, he just said what we were all thinking! I mean, even I was getting bored!"
Kougar pouted,"Yeah well, that don't give him the right to go saying something like that, and causing me to look bad in front of people! I mean, those ARE my fangirls out there!!!"
Mouse raised his hand. "Don't you mean WERE Greyson?"
Kougar glared at his friend. He turned to face DJ. " I mean, I've never seen this guy around here, I've just heard that he's real stuck up ya know? Well, I don't know about you guys, but I wanna know where he's gonna be staying! I didn't think that I would ever get to meet Valentine but, I don't want him as a room mate!"
Mouse and Dj looked at each other and then back. Mouse laughed nervously. "Well, heheheh... eh.. you know Grey, I think there's something you ought to know..."
Kougar looked at mouse evenly, his hands flexing. "Oh yeah Mouse? An what's that?"
Mouse gulped. "eh.. well ya see.. eh... I uh..... " He trailed.
Greyson crossed his arms and raised a brow. "So? Come one Mouse spit it out!!"
Mouse looked shaken. He didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. He was too small, and Greyson'll probably kill him if he knew that Vincent was their new room mate. Kougar was tapping his feet eagerly anticipating what Mouse had to say. Dj shook his head and sighed. Mouse? When are you going to learn how to stand on your own? Dj cleared his throat. That got everyone's attention.
"Ahem, well, you see Grey, about our new room mate, ah, I think that there's something you should know..."
Kougar turned his head towards DJ. "Yeah?" He asked impatiently.
"Well," Dj continued. "I guess there's no easy way of saying this so-, I'll just come out and say it.... Our new room mate is-"
A few seconds later, outside their door, a horrible cry rang out through the halls of the Academy.
"WHAT?!?!" Kougar screamed.
It could be heard miles away. The students walking around the halls stopped to ponder what had transgressed inside the room. When nothing happened, they continued doing what they were doing before the interruption. Kougar's heart was pounding. His head was screaming. His fists were wound up so tight the room mates thought that his bones were going to pop out.
Dj merely shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I told you that there was no easy way of saying it, so- there!"
Mouse was frightened. Uh oh, does this mean that I have to become the punching bag again?
Kougar grabbed at his hair.
"Wh-What does it all mean?!?! We got Valentine as our new roommate?!?" He yelled incredulously.
Ah man, could things get any worse?!? Kougar shook his head. "No way man!! Nu-UH!! I ain't puttin up with this shit! There's absofuckinlutely no WAY!! I'ma have to go downstairs to the dean of the students, or whatever, an talk some sense to that old guy, an see if we can get rid of Valentine!! I don't want this bastard in my room!! There's no way!!"
Dj scratched his head. "Well, I don't see how you're going to accomplish that guy, I mean, you are still on probation for fighting Olaf last week, and if he finds out you were fighting againe.... My take is, you're probably the least person the dean of students wants to see, and if you do go down there an talk to him, I think that he'd just laugh and say you got what you deserve and to handle it. He can't kick someone out of the room, especially if they didn't do anything!"
Mouse agreed. "Yeah, an besides, I think that Vincent's a decent guy!"
Kougar scowled. "Oh yeah? And since when did you become so opinionated?"
Mouse hung his head.
Dj shook his. "Man, how can you be so rude man? That's your friend over there? Don't that mean anything?"
Kouger growled. "Nothing means anything to me..."
Dj smacked his lips. "Well, that's a damn shame you feel that way..."
Kougar ignored Dj's comment. "Whatever, don't worry about me, I can take care of myself, and Valentine..."
He went over to his bunk and hopped atop his bed. Kougar sighed. "I swear, if Valentine tries anything funny, I'm gonna get him!"
Dj snorted and closed his eyes. "Heh, yeah, this coming from a guy who's been on the deans list of misfits!"
The list of misfits, was a little list inside the Dean of Students's office. On that list were names of students that have misbehaved or were academically failing. Kougar's name was on that list along with several others. Kougar had discovered the list one day while "visiting" the dean's office.
Kougar shrugged off Dj's comment. "Whatever...."
He sat there staring up into the ceiling wondering about living with Valentine. As long as he stays on his side, I'll be fine!
As if on cue, the door opened, and a very bruised and disheveled Vincent strutted through the doorway. Mouse and Dj's jaw dropped. Vincent looked so haggard and ill. His hair was messed up. His cheeks had a touch of pink to them. His uniform was wrinkled and dirty.
What happened? Dj sat up in bed. "Hey, you ok over there Valentine? I mean, you look pretty beat up! What did those fan girls do to you?!"
Mouse went over to Vincent's side. "Awe man! Tell me you didn't have sex with all of them!!"
Vincent stared down the smaller man. Mouse jumped back, and cowered under Vincent's gaze. Vincent re-adjusted his uniform.
"I did no such thing." He said icily.
He ran his long fingers through his straggly hair. Horrible creatures these fan girls... He shuddered when he thought about them.
Dj glared at Mouse. "Mouse, what the hell's wrong with you? Why are you always saying stupid things that make people wanna smack you?!"
Mouse placed his hands on his hips. "I don't think I say anything stupid!"
Vincent rolled his eyes and walked by the two squabbling roomies. He was so preoccupied about his new popularity that he didn't notice Kougar seething at him. Vincent stepped over to the closet and grabbed his extra uniform. As he was about to go into the little bathroom, he heard a voice call him.
"Yo Valentinte!!" Vincent stopped in his tracks.
The voice sounded familiar. He turned to confront the owner of the voice. His eyelids hooded over when he spotted the guy from the cafeteria, in the room on top of the other bunk. Kougar was that what they called him in the caf? What was he doing here? Don't tell me HE'S Greyson? Vincent stood there and studied Kougar for a bit. The other guy seemed to be observing him as well. A smug slowly spread over Kougar's handsome face.
"So, you're the one they call Valentine!" He stated with an attitude.
"Yes... I am." Vincent retorted evenly. What is up with this guy?
Kougar pursed his lips together. "I heard a lot about you Valentine... Is it true what they say about you?"
Vincent blinked. "What do you mean is it true?"
Kougar waved his hand. "You know... the rumors, that you got Donovan fired and made Hingleton cry and all that bull shit! I'm asking ya if it's true...."
Vincent nodded. "Some... Is your name Kougar?"
Kougar snickered. "That's only my last name, my first name is Greyson....."
Vincent turned towards the bathroom door placing his hand on the knob. Kougar stopped him again.
"Oh, Valentine...."
Vincent turned his face towards the blond boy. He arched his brow inquisitively.
"Don't think that because you're hot stuff then, that you'd be able to pull off the same shit up here with us! I know you! You're spoiled and you're probably used to getting yer own way, but I'm here to tell you! It ain't going down like that! Not here! Not ever!! There's only one bad ass here! An that's me!" And with that warning, Kougar rolled over to his side so that he wouldn't have to look at the eye sore.
Vincent stared at Kougar's back for a couple of seconds, and entered the bathroom, leaving Mouse and Dj to their heated argument.
It went on like this for a couple of months. At first everything seemed normal. Vincent was not used to sharing a room, let alone with three other people, but he soon found that he enjoyed Dj's company as well as Mouse's, to a certain degree. Vincent learned a lot about his roommates.
Dj came from a middle class well to do family. He had four other siblings, three boys, and one girl. Dj was the second oldest of the bunch. His father worked for the Shinra company and his mother ran a little café down Midgar central, called Black Iris. His family was the stereotypical fun loving family, that everyone wished they had. Vincent could only dream that he be as fortunate as his friend. So, that's why Dj goes home on the week ends. He has a wonderful family that supports him.
Dj could always be found sitting outside under a shade reading a book or on the bed reading a book, it seemed wherever you go,there he was with some kind of reading material in his large hands.
Mouse, had only his mother to rely on. No wonder he's so timid and he's such a mama's boy!
His mother was a plump woman that wore heavy perfume and immersed herself in her wealthy attire. What Vincent remembered most about her were her ridiculous hats. They were so big and droopy. She nearly knocked down every one she walked by. Vincent himself had to duck a couple of times, else he be hit as well, during family visitation week.
Vincent had to smile, she reminded him of a female version of Professor Donavon.
Mouse came from a wealthy family. He was the only male in his family so that made him the sole heir to his family's fortune. Mouse's father passed away when he was really young. Before he passed on to the afterlife, he purchased 5 mines in the Mideel area. As it turned out, those mines were filled with the precious Mythrill metal. Mouse's father never got a chance to see his fortune, but thanks to him, Mouse and his mother, were well taken care of. Mouse never had any friends. He was such a shy little kid, he would just hang out at home with the servants and help them clean.
So that's why Mouse likes to clean so much!
Kougar remained a mystery to Vincent, and he was glad too. Vincent didn't want to be around anyone who thought he was god's gift to mankind. Neither Vincent or Kougar enjoyed each other's company. But it seemed as if the two had a silent agreement, a kind of, if you stay out of my way I'll stay out of yours, type of deal.
Whenever Vincent came into the room, Dj and Mouse were there to greet him. Kougar would cuss or stand up and walk out of the room miffed. Whenever Kougar decided to bring a girl home, Vincent was always there doing his homework or reading. The girl would be more interested in Vincent than she would about Kougar, which really pissed him off.
They would have arguments about privacy and respect. Vincent usually ended up leaving the room. God, how he despised Kougar! Why doesn't he just grow up?!
Vincent didn't have anyone that he could rely on as a friend. He felt so uncomfortable talking about his problems, so he didn't. Instead, he wrote to the old man and explained to him, his dire situation. The old man's response was always smoothing and settling. Vincent looked forward to getting his letters from the old guy. He always felt better after reading them. He had a shoebox full of letters from his father figure and he kept it in his bottom drawer, neatly tucked away.
One day, while writing a letter in bed, Kougar came bursting in through the doorway. Apparently Mouse accidentally spilled tomato soup on Kougar's uniform jacket. He was furious. Kougar threw Mouse into a wall and was getting ready to throw a punch. Vincent intervened. Kougar sneered because he had wanted an excuse to fight Vincent, and he got one. Vincent knew that Kougar would never leave him alone. That he would always be there lurking in his shadows. Vincent knew that Kougar's fight with Mouse was only a façade to get to him, so he accepted the challenge.
This fight was long overdue.
They were outside in the gymnasium. Kougar, Vincent and Mouse. Vincent was standing 10 ft opposite of Kougar. Mouse was on the side lines sweating. Vincent had his hands in his pockets, a look that everyone at school had grown accustomed to seeing him in. Kougar had his arms crossed. A smug smile tugged at the corner of his handsome lips.
"Heh, I hope you know how to fight Valentine... cuz I'm not going easy on ya!" He cracked his knuckles.
Vincent bowed his head slightly. "Don't worry about me... I've read enough books to know what to do..."
Kougar laughed evilly. "HAhaha.. yeah well, reading and experiencing it are two different things!!"
I am so going to win this fight, Kougar thought as he stretched.
There was a student running in the hall towards the cafeteria. He was tired and out of breath, but he had to tell everyone the great news! He stopped in front of the caf. There were so many people here, and so little time, so he'd just blurt it out.
"Hey, everyone!!! There's a fight happening in the gym!!!"
That got everyone's attention.
"IT's Kougar vs Valentine!!"
There was a long pause first. No one knew quite what to say. Then suddenly the screaming horde of fangirls yelped and cried with joy.
"OH MY GOD!!!!"
Then everyone started for the gym knocking over the messenger. Dj had just gotten out of the lunch line and was ready to put down his tray when he heard the news.
"Oh lord!!" He smacked his face. "What the hell are those two trying to do here?"
He dropped his tray of goodies and ran after the crowd.
When Dj got to the gym, everyone was there, he spotted Mouse on the other side and meandered his way towards the small fry. Mouse called over to Dj as he neared and pointed towards the center of the circle. Dj turned his head and spotted Kougar and Vincent. The fight hadn't started.
They were staring each other down. Dj accidentally bumped into someone. When he peered down at the person, he noticed that the person was a small brunette female. She had a wad of bills in her hand. Dj's frowned at her, but this sort of behavior he had grown accustomed to. He already knew that as of now, students were betting on which one of his friends would win the fight.
Kougar's eyes never left Vincent. There they were, two rivals facing off. Kougar narrowed his eyes. This is going to be fantastic! Kougar darted towards his opponent at lightning speed. The whole crowd blurred as he focused on his main target. Valentine.
As Kougar neared him, he brought up his right hook. Vincent stood there anticipating this move. He stayed glued at his spot until the last second possible, then without warning, he dodged to his right, avoiding the attack. Kougar's eyes were wide with surprise.
How did Valentine do that? That was so quick! He quickly banished the thought as Vincent's leg came from the side in swinging motion. Kougar quickly blocked with his arms. The force from the kick sent him back a couple of steps. Vincent curled his leg back and back onto the floor, his hands never left his pockets.
Kougar smiled. "Heh.... You're good..."
Vincent smiled at this. "Thanks. I've been practicing."
This time Vincent took his hands out of his pockets. They hung there by his side. They stood there for a couple of seconds. Kougar knew better than to attack Vincent. He had learned not to overestimate his opponent. He would not be so careless again.
"Alright then... let's get this show on the road!" Kougar held his hands up boxer style. His feet were slightly apart from each other.
This time Vincent was the first to strike. He ran towards Kougar. Kougar was ready. Vincent threw a few punches. They were rather weak, Kougar deflected them easily. Heh, is that it? That was pretty weak! Kougar laughed. That was his mistake. Vincent's leg came up at lightning speed. Kougar had a mere seconds to react to this. He had been so preoccupied with the weak punches, that he left himself open for an easy attack.
Kougar's grabbed Vincent's leg and tossed the pale man behind him. Vincent reacted by doing a few backward flips on his hands and feet. He landed in a crouch. Both men were breathing heavily. The crowd was jeering them and egging them on. There were shouts coming from the student body.
"Go Valentine!! Go Kougar!!"
Kougar and Vincent decided that it was time they took off the kiddy gloves and ran towards each other. They began attacking each other at different angles. They were good.
Each time Kougar thought he had Vincent, he would deflect the punch or dodge it somehow. Kouger once thought he had Vincent. He tripped Vincent and was getting ready to bring his leg down in a crushing blow when Vincent grabbed his leg and twisted it causing Kougar to lose his balance and flip onto his back. He must have turned three times in the air before landing on his back.
Vincent hopped up and bounced back into his fighting stance. He had his hands up. There were tiny beads of sweat on his forehead. Kougar growled and hopped back up as well. This was the longest fight he's had in a while, it had been going on for a good half hour. Valentine just won't give up.
The two were getting ready to go at it again when someone screamed.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
IT was a professor! Everyone started to scramble.
"Ah... quick! Get outta here man!! Let's goo!!"
Vincent and Kougar gave each other a knowing look. "We'll finish this later..."
They turned to leave, but someone grabbed a hold of them.
"There they are!! Those are the two that were fighting!!" It was the Dean of students. He looked mad.
Vincent and Kougar were brought down to his office. The dean of students was very cross and didn't like the fact that they were fighting in the gymnasium.
"There were students around... they could have been seriously hurt!! What were you guys thinking?!? Our school is built on principals of respect and discipline!! The students that go here are the best of the best around the world. Do you want to ruin our good name?!"
After he lectured them for a while, he decided to let them go. "Vincent," The old man turned to him. "I know, that you're a good student... And I don't believe that you started the fight! If you promise not to do this again, I'll let you leave with a warning... "
Vincent nodded. "Yes sir, I promise that this won't happen again. Not on this property."
The dean nodded. "Alright, you may go."
Vincent got up from his chair. As he started for the door, he noticed that Kougar hadn't been dismissed by the dean yet. Vincent casted a sideward glance at his room mate. Kougar had a nonchalant look on his face. Like he knew he was in for it.
The dean shook his head at Kougar.
"Greyson, I just don't know what to do about you anymore!! I've tried and tried... nothing seems to be getting through to you!! I know that you've had a hard life, and that this is all new to you... but you don't need to do this!! I've given you countless chances to redeem yourself... do you not want to be here? Is that it? This was the last straw young man! You were on probation and now this? I don't want to do this to you... but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to let you go Greyson... I-I'm sorry-"
Greyson looked away from the old man.
The dean of students shook his grey head. "I-I'm terribly sorry Greyson... in a way.. I feel responsible for you... you remind me of my dead son.. maybe that's why I've given you so many chances... but now that's got to stop. I can't keep giving you chances so that you can throw it all away. What would that be telling the students? I can't treat you any different than I treat them."
There seemed to be a hint of sadness in Kougar's eyes when the old man said that he reminded him of his dead son. So, he has a soul after all.
The two men seemed to have forgotten about Vincent's presence until he cleared his throat. "Ahem..."
Kougar and the Dean of students looked up at him. "Oh, Vincent, I thought you left already?"
Vincent paused for a brief second. I hope what I'm doing doesn't come back to bite me in the ass! Vincent stepped towards the two men.
"I'm sorry, but I have a confession."
The dean of students looked surprised. "Oh?"
Vincent nodded. "Yes, I have to say, it wasn't Greyson who started the fight, it was me. You see, we both share the same room, and we haven't been getting along very well. I suggested to Greyson that we go to the gym to spar. I guess word must have gotten out somehow, and that's when all the students came. I was a little upset and I guess I just got out of hand. I really didn't mean to hurt anyone... Greyson didn't want to do it, he told me that he was on probation, but I pushed for it. I'm sorry that I did. I wasn't thinking at all. Forgive me." Vincent bowed his head forward.
The dean sat there for a moment. At first Vincent didn't think that he would buy it. But apparently he did.
"Alright Mr. Valentine, I guess I have no choice but to put you on probation for your rude misconduct. You, Greyson or another one of your peers could have been seriously hurt! I strongly urge you to use your head next time you come up with another one of your bright schemes! I'm surprised by you Vincent, I thought you had more sense!"
Vincent sighed. "I'm sorry sir, I swear it won't happen again!"
The dean sat there staring at Vincent for another minute. Finally he relented and let the boys go. "I'll be watching you two!"
When the boys made their way out of his office, they headed straight for the room. Neither of them said a word to the other. When they got to their door, Kougar stopped them.
"You know, just because you did what you did, don't mean nothing! I'm still not gonna like you!"
Vincent nodded. "I wasn't expecting you to. Frankly, I don't give a damn."
Kougar frowned. "Oh yeah, then why help me? I mean, I'm the guy that you were fighting with in the gym a few hours ago!!"
Vincent shrugged. "It just seemed like the right thing to do."
Kouger shook his head. His eyes narrowed and he pointed his finger at Vincent. "I don't want your pity Valentine, an I never asked for it!!"
Vincent crossed his arms. "You, you , you, the world doesn't revolve around you Greyson, I didn't do it for you!"
Kougar's eyebrow arched. "Oh yeah? Then who'd you do it for? Yourself? So that you can feel like a big man? Kougar's in trouble so good ol Valentine swoops in to save the day?" He said bitterly.
Vincent blinked. "If you have to know, I did it for the old man..."
This answer startled the blonde boy. He had to step away from Vincent. "What?"
Vincent nodded. "Yeah, I guess.. I did it for the old man. I didn't think he wanted you to leave the school. All that talk about his dead son....- I guess I didn't want to picture his lonely old face, thinking about his kid. And besides, I think that he would miss you too much if you leave."
Kougar stood there and allowed Vincent's words to sink in. Vincent placed his hand on the knob and turned it. He walked into the room leaving the door open for Kougar.
As the weeks went on, Vincent began to notice something strange about Kougar. It seemed like a side of Kougar that Vincent hadn't notice before. He was no longer a hothead, he hadn't cussed in a while, or started any fights. He had become quiet and reclusive, he didn't even seem like the same person. Dj and Mouse were intrigued by this sudden display of peace in him. They had known Kougar for a long time, and neither of them ever saw him act this way. This strange phenomena went on for a good month.
Dj and Mouse often asked Vincent questions about the change in Kougar.
"You gotta tell us your secret Val, I mean I've never seen Kougar act this strange in all the years I've known him!" Mouse stated with outstretched arms.
Dj agreed. "Yeah man, You gotta give us the low down, I mean, this is like a miracle! Are you sure you're not a wizard?!"
Vincent stared them both down. "I have no comments, if you guys are so interested in Kougar's change, why don't you ask him yourself?"
The two room mates shook their heads in unison and held up their hands. "Nah, nah, that's aight.... "
At the end of the month, Kougar reverted back to his semi-normal self. He was still a hot head, that'll never change, but he was definitely calmer and more laid back. He even spoke on friendly terms with Vincent.
Kougar told Vincent about his past. He was born and raised in the slums. Kougar had been orphaned at age eight. He doesn't remember his parents, or what they look like, but he remembered that he was very happy once. He has one sister who was four years younger than him. Her name is Sarah. They lived together in an orphanage.
The head mistress and master were vile people that profited off of the well- being of others. The head mistress was a miserable woman that lived to terrorize the orphans in her care. The head master was an odious man that never stood up to his wife and listened to everything she said with bated breath. He treated the children just as horribly. Kougar and Sarah never had enough to eat.
There were days when they would starve because there wasn't enough food to go around. They would have to save their scraps and ration them out between the two.
One day, the head mistress found out what they were doing and punished them by giving their food to the rest of the children. She made them watch as the orphans devoured their scraps.
Sarah had cried. Kougar? He vowed to take Sarah away from the orphanage.
One day, they snuck into the kitchen and took some food. They left in the dead of night. They were runaways. After they left the orphanage, they begged for survival. They came across a Vatican. The nuns there took pity upon them and took the two children in. The nuns taught Sarah and Kougar how to read and write as well as other general studies. It was then that they discovered just how intelligent Kougar was. He picked up everything they taught him. Learning came naturally to him.
Kougar was ingenious, but because of the way he was raised, trust didn't come naturally to him. He was very over protective over Sarah, he even bit one of the nun's that tried to take them in. He thought that she was trying to take Sarah away.
They lived in the Vatican for a couple of years. Kougar was twelve now. Sarah was eight. The nuns had found a great couple for little Sarah. Because of his age, the couple weren't interested in Kougar. He was too old.
Sarah, she was perfect. A blonde little girl. That's what the couple wanted. When it came time for them to part, Sarah had cried. She didn't want to go without Kougar.
With a little help from the nuns and coaxing from Kougar, she finally relented and left with the couple. Sarah was in tears. She cried so much and sadly waved at Kougar as the car pulled away.
Kougar was on the verge of a breakdown. He had lost everything he held dear, and nobody wanted him. He wanted so badly to cry, but he didn't. He knew that all of this would work out somehow, and he was happy that Sarah found a place, even if the couple didn't want him.
After that, Kougar was sent to a boarding school. He lived there until he was eighteen. When he turned, he decided that he would attend college in the city. He came to the Shin-Ra Academy, and he's been here ever since.
After his story, Vincent sat there intrigued by the story told to him by his former rival. Vincent was pleased at the fact that Kougar felt close enough to him to tell him his secrets and his past. Vincent felt compelled to do the same. After Vincent told Kougar his story. The two laughed at how much they had in common.
Now that Kougar was in better spirits, the four room mates became nearly inseparable. They hung out at the same lunch table, they all did homework together and they nearly took the same classes together.
Whenever Vincent and Dj got into philosophy debates, Kougar and Mouse would play cards or talk about women and vise versa. By the end of the year, Vincent, Mouse, Dj, and Kougar had become more than friends, they were brothers.
Before they graduated, they spent some time together in their room pondering about what they were going to do after they graduated. They were all in the room lying in their beds. It was 1:00 am. The moonlight shown through the cracks of the curtains.
"So, Vincent, whaddaya think yer gonna do after ya graduate?" Kougar asked him. He had turned over so that he was lying on his stomach.
Vincent had his hands behind his head. His black hair spilled over the pillow. "I don't know. I actually haven't thought about that at all." He answered truthfully.
Mouse tsked. He was busy knitting away in his bed. "I dunno about you guys, but, I think I'm going to go home and take over my dad's business's. I mean, my mom says it's about time you know, for me to be a man and come home."
Kougar scowled. "Eh, ferget about your mamma for a second you cry baby! We're talking about what YOU wanna do!"
Mouse stopped knitting and thought about the question. He shrugged his bony shoulders. "I guess I really don't know too, I mean, this is gonna sound weird, but I always thought that we should all do something together you know? Like go into some kind of business together... I mean we're all pretty smart. I think it would be worth investigating! And if you're worried about the funds don't be. I got plenty of money."
Kougar lifted his head from the pillow. "Hey, you know, that don't sound like such a bad idea Mouse."
Mouse yawned. "Yeah well... Hey Deej? What are you going to do after this?"
Dj scratched his head. "I dunno, beats me... although-" He trailed off.
Kougar shifted onto his back. "So, what was that again Deej?"
Dj shook his head. "I dunno, it's just something my dad told me!"
Mouse neatly tucked his needles and yarn back in it's cases. "Oh yeah? What's that?"
Dj shifted so that he was on his side leaning on his elbow. "Weelll- you guys know that my dad works for Shin-Ra right? It's just that he told me recently that they were opening this division in the building. It's already been authorized by the president himself. It's supposed to be a special elite force for the president. It's kinda like body-guarding stuff. But I heard that it pays really well."
Kougar shook his head. "hm... sounds intriguing. What's it called?"
Dj shrugged. "I forget actually, I think my Dad told me, but I forgot the name of it. It sounds kinda retarded. Anyways, I think that my Dad wants me to join so that I'd be closer to home."
"Oh." Mouse and Kougar said at the same time.
Kouger narrowed his eyes. "Hey Deej? You think your dad could hook me up with a job at Shin-Ra inc?"
Dj nodded. "Yeah he could if I asked him. Why you thinking about joining up with that new division?"
Kouger shook his head. "Yeah, it sounds kinda cool actually. Not only that, but we'd probably be on the same team! HEH, imagine that, it'd like here all over again."
Mouse piped up from under the bed. "Hey, hey, don't forget about me too! I wanna go, if you guys go! I think we'd make a great team!! I mean, look at us!! We all get along right?"
Dj sat up in his bed. "Hey, I don't care as long as I'm not there by myself! I'm sure my Dad would help us! Half the people over at Shin-Ra Inc are alumnus's from this school anyways! There's no way they'd turn us down!"
All three boys were getting excited. Dj poked Vincent's mattress from underneath. "Hey Valentine, you're not asleep are you?"
It had been a while since Vincent spoke. Everyone forgot about him.
"Yes, I'm still up" He replied tonelessly.
He had been contemplating what the guys said. Vincent sighed. He had wanted to visit Gongaga Village one last time before deciding on what to do for the rest of his life.
Kouger sat up in his bed as well. "Hey Val, you should join up with us too!"
Vincent shifted himself so that he could see Kougar's face. His eyebrows were raised. "What? Body guarding? Sounds like we'd be fighting and putting our lives at stake, and for what? The most maniacal man on earth? That's not my cup of tea."
DJ shook his head. "Man, you better not let them catch you saying that about the pres, you'd be in trouble."
Mouse peered up at Vincent through his covers. "Awe, come one Vincent, why don't you just go with us an see what it's like? I mean working for Shin- Ra can't be that bad! Hey, Deej, what else do you know about this division?"
Dj scratched his head. "Well, I think my Dad also said that they train you before you become a body guard, I mean you have to be good, like real good. I mean you're really there to protect the president. I think he said that you get trained for a good six months, then at the end of the six months, you have to pass a test of some kind, and then after that, you're hired."
Mouse pursed his lips. "Well, what if you don't make it?"
Dj shrugged. "I dunno about the guys that don't make it, I just know what my Dad tells me."
Kougar bit his lip. "They probably let them go or give the guys who don't make it like desk jobs or somethin who knows. I know that I'll probably make it through the training program, so I'm not worried about that at all!"
Mouse gulped. He knew that Kougar had the strength and the discipline to go through the rough training, but Mouse didn't know if he himself had the endurance to go through that at all.
Kougar fell back onto his pillow. "I dunno Valentine, I think you should go and try it out with us. I mean, yer a smart guy! You can probably do anything you want, but don't you wanna do somethin out of the ordinary fer once? I mean at least go with us to see what it's like, hell, why don't you go through trainin with us? Then if you decide that you don't wanna do it anymore, you can just quit! I mean it's that simple!"
Vincent sighed. Was it that simple? He didn't know. Vincent bit his lip. He could do it. Kougar was right, he could do anything he wanted. He could become a musician, or a writer, or a philosopher, or a translator of some sort. Vincent could speak three different languages so it wasn't that difficult. Or maybe he could be a teacher? A professor? Maybe a scientist? He was always an inquisitive creature, so it wasn't that far of a stretch. What did he want to be?
Vincent shook his head. I- I don't know what to do? Nothing seemed challenging enough for him. At that pinnacle point in his life Vincent decided, that it was time for a change.
I think that I will go with the others... it can't be that bad can it? I just want to see what it's like. It's not as if I'll enjoy it. I can always leave if I want to. Besides, I think that I would rather like it if we- if we were all still together after we graduate. Kougar, Mouse, and Dj, they're my only friends. I would miss them. I don't want to be alone anymore. I can't ever imagine being without those guys. I don't know how I've made it this long with out people in my life. So- I think that I will- I will go and see. Only see. Vincent told that to himself quietly.
"Hey, Valentine, why you so quiet? You still haven't answered, are you gonna come with us or not?" Kougar asked annoyed. He was very impatient.
Vincent inhaled shortly. "I think that I will go with you.... Just to see how it is.."
Kougar looked surprised. "Really? Awright! Now that's what I'm talkin bout! Heh, now that Val's comin, we're gonna be unstoppable!" He pumped his fist.
Vincent scowled. "I didn't say that I was going to join, I- I just want to see what it's like, and then I'll make my decision."
Kougar waved his hand. "Yeah, whatever, you're gonna join up!"
Mouse grinned, "Yeah, this is great! It'll be cool!!"
Dj yawned. "Yeah, yeah, I'm tired, so we'll have to talk about this tomorrow..." He rolled over onto his side and pulled his covers around tightly.
Vincent rolled his eyes and turned over. His thoughts were on the old man. I wonder what he's going to say about me going to Shin-Ra. Vincent gathered that the old man wouldn't like it too much. The old man had been strongly against Shin-Ra for years. The only reason why he helped Vincent enroll at the Academy was because it was a reputable school and it was a way of helping him meet people and become sociable. Vincent shook his head and closed his eyes. I hope that he doesn't become too angry with me. With that thought in his mind, he drifted off to sleep.
-End-