These 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?! Sorry I forgot to say thanks to Lord Cirenmas and Yuna8 Thanks for your input too!

Red Death's Love

-LMG-

/

/

/
Vincent woke up with a start. He looked around at his surroundings. He was in his room laying on the bed. He slowly sat up.

"Aeris?"

He called out her name groggily. He wiped his eyes. It was getting dark outside. It looked to be around 5:00pm or 6:00pm. What time was it? Realization crept into his head when he remembered Aeris was gone.

She had her own room now.

Vincent shook his head as if to wake himself from slumber. He remembered the conversation they had this morning after she showed him her room. He remembered telling her about her father, Lucrecia and Hojo.

Aeris had been quiet and observant as she listened to him speak about the past. After that he went to town for supplies. He got back a few hours later and decided to take a nap. That's when he had the dreams.

Lucrecia and the guys.

He remembered it like it was yesterday. Vincent fell back into the mattress. Aeris. It seemed that they were both stuck in the past and couldn't move on with their lives. Maybe that's why she came back?

Maybe she's here to help me with my past as well as hers? Vincent shrugged.

No matter. He was getting tired of this game. The Cetra sent her back, but they didn't tell her anything about her mission, only that Vincent himself would know what to do. He shook his head. Well, sorry to disappoint you ancients, but I don't have a clue as to what to do.

He did know one thing, he was going to have to pay Nanaki another visit. He would have to make sure not to say anything about Aeris, less something catastrophic should happen. Vincent knew that the only people that studied about the ancients were the red people of Cosmo Canyon and the Shin-Ra of Midgar.

There was no way he'd go to Shin-Ra to ask their advice on the Cetra.

Even if Reeve was running the show now, it was too risky. Trust is something that didn't come naturally for Vincent.

It seemed like Cosmo Canyon was the place to go. Vincent nodded to himself.

Fine, tomorrow I'll go to see Nanaki. I'll leave Aeris here. I don't think anyone knows that she's back. She should be safe here by herself.

With a plan slowly coming to mind, Vincent got out of bed. He went to the shower. He turned the water on and got undressed. As he did so, he noticed his lean muscular body in the mirror.

He looked at his face and his eyes. They were so red. The yellow lighting in the bathroom made him look sinister. His skin had a yellowish tint to it. I look like a monster.

A vampire.

Vincent snorted. Heh, I guess the kids at Shin-Ra Academy knew me best when they called me a vampire.

He ripped his gaze away and stepped into the warm water cascading from the shower head. He stood there eyes closed, his hands were pressed against the walls. The water ran over his face and down south of his body. He let the warmth seep into his naked body.

It's so hot. His jet black hair stuck onto his shoulders and back as the water surged through the hair follicles.

It felt so good.

Vincent sighed. He just let his mind drift. He thought about Aeris and her whereabouts.

I hope that she's alright.

Vincent knew that Aeris probably found something to keep busy with. She was a resourceful young girl. She was probably with the old man chatting away. Vincent didn't mind as long as she was with someone and she was content. He didn't have to worry about her then.

After he was done, Vincent dried himself off. He went into the next room and started to get dressed. He had his pants on and was getting ready to put on his shirt when he heard a knock at the door.

Vincent's towel fell to the floor and he bent over to pick it up.

"Come in." He said.

The door opened. When Vincent leaned back he saw Aeris at the door.

She was wearing her blue shirt and a white A-line skirt. She had her hair in a pony tail. She had a blue bow in her hair. Her new brown boots made little squeaks as she crossed the threshold of the door into his room.

She stopped when she saw that he was half dressed. There were fresh clean blankets in her arms. She had her eyes glued to his chest. She swallowed and turned her face away embarrassed.

Why was she always doing this? It seemed that she had a knack for bad timing.

"Ah.. I'm sorry Vincent, did I come at a bad time?"

Vincent threw his towel on the bed and quickly put on a black T-shirt.

"It's alright Aeris. I'm dressed." He told her as he meshed his wet locks back.

Aeris nervously turned her head back. The shirt was well-fitted. It did very little to hide his muscular build. Well at least he has his clothes on.

Aeris's face turned red as she unwillingly recalls the memory of her walking into the bathroom on him. He was naked.

Oh god. I don't want to think of that!!

Aeris bit her lip. Well it's a good thing he can't read minds.

Vincent threw her a funny look. Why is she red?

"Aeris? Are you ok?" he asks her with concern.

Aeris nodded. "Uh, yes I am, I-I-I brought you these!"

She threw him the blankets and brought up her hands and touched her face. God was it hot in here?

Vincent caught the blankets. He arched his brows. He gave her a ridiculous look.

I hope she's not coming down with anything. Why is she acting so peculiar? I don't know.

Vincent shook his head and turned away from the girl.

Aeris wanted to hit herself for being such a nuisance. She saw the look Vincent gave her and she couldn't blame him. She was acting like a fool.

If Cloud was here, he'd probably say that I was being childish. But I don't care, I really don't want to have naked visions of Vincent in my head.

Aeris shuddered. It wasn't as if Vincent was ugly or anything. She never really thought of him that way. She was just nervous because she'd never seen a naked man before in her life that's why.

Aeris sighed.

She pushed the thought out of her mind and touched her arm.

"Um Vincent?"

Vincent turned his head towards her. "..."

Aeris toyed with a strand of hair in the front.

"Um, I just wanted to let you know, that I've fully moved into the other room and that I felt bad for living here for free and having you pay for me- ."

Vincent shook his head again. "Aeris how many times do I have to tell you it's alright, I don't mind paying for you-."

She held up her hands and interrupted him. "No Vincent, that's not what I meant at all, I mean it is kinda, but what I mean is that I really want to do things for myself. I want to be able to do something and not feel guilty about it like I owe you."

So- that was it.

Vincent stood there and accepted her honesty with good grace. He could understand where she was coming from. He himself would feel the same way if the roles were reversed. He wasn't mad at her for saying what she did, but it was almost like those words hurt him somehow. He didn't know why he should feel like that. There was a nagging tug at the corners of his heart. He didn't know what it was but he just felt strange.

Vincent nodded. "Alright, I understand Aeris. I appreciate your forthcoming."

Aeris smiled at him. Good. He doesn't mind! "Oh thank you Vincent! I thought that you would be mad at me! But now I know that's not the case."

She turned to leave and stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot."

She turned to face him again. "Marta and Grandpa really need the help, so I thought that I should do something to help them out, and they told me that if I did they would pay me and I would get to stay here for free!" She beamed happily.

Vincent gave her a little smile. It was good to see her in brighter spirits. He was glad that she found better things to occupy her time with. He didn't know what she was going to do tomorrow after he left, but now, it seemed she was going to be very busy.

Aeris spun on her heel. "I'll be around if you need me. But right now I have to go downstairs and make sure that Grandpa isn't sleeping on the job!" She waved and exited the room.

Vincent stared after her shaking his head. Aeris never managed to stop surprising him with her charismatic optimistic attitude. Even after all that's happened to her, she's still willing to look life in the face and accept her destiny.

She's strong and hopeful.

Maybe that's why she's back? I should go and tell her about my plans.

Vincent grabbed the towel and hung it to dry in the bathroom. He headed off towards the lower areas of the house inform Aeris about his trip tomorrow.

-End-