Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy games, characters, places, designs, music, plots, or anything else involved with the games. If I did…would I be writing some dumb stories that'd be forgotten in less than a year?

Note: The end of the story is nearing…

Second note: I apologize in advance for any OOC-ness.

Third note: Thanks to my reviewers!

Fourth note: Yes, the first note was correct, the end of the story is nearing. But you see I have to make a Yuffentine and I can't really work on three stories at once. Trust me. I tried…and failed.

Chapter 9: Departure? (Vincent's POV)

Even though she swore she didn't blame me at all, I apologized at least one hundred times for what Chaos did. I cleaned and bandaged her arm, then washed the bloodstains off of my arm and face. When I heard the long, even, somewhat hard breathing patterns that slumber usually brings, I knew Tifa had fallen asleep.

She looked so peaceful in sleep, and not the somewhat forced kind of calmness she displayed during the day. I smiled…even Chaos was smiling, probably content that he was able to take control.

"Good night," I muttered, and carried the sleeping bartender back to her room.

The night went by quickly—even though Chaos didn't let me sleep, he let me have my own thoughts, and for once he didn't taunt me at all. The morning came sooner than I realized.

But that blasted sun still hurt my eyes…

I stood up, then just looked at myself in the mirror for a moment. That was the only word I can find to describe it…I wasn't gazing, and I wasn't really staring.

As usual no one else was awake, except for Tifa and I. She greeted me with the usual "Good morning," that I had become used to. I'd miss that when I went back to the loneliness of the mansion in Nibelheim…

There was a moment of silence between us…Chaos was back where he normally was so I couldn't speak as freely as I could before.

"I'm sorry, Tifa," I said for at least the thousandth time since Chaos hurt her.

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Vincent…it wasn't your fault. You weren't in control. I don't blame you, okay? So stop apologizing!" She smiled and went back to making breakfast, then paused. "By the way, do you…remember anything that happened the past two days?"

"All of it," I said, shrugging.

Tifa smiled, her cheeks slightly tinted with red. Then she continued making breakfast…

"Vincent?" she said softly, not turning to face me.

"Yes?" I muttered. Chaos decided not to let me have much emotion in my voice anymore.

"I'll miss you…you know, when you go back to Nibelheim…" She put the dish she was making in the oven to cook, then turned to face me. Her eyes looked like they were watering slightly.

"I'm not leaving right away though," I said.

"I know. But today everyone's leaving, and, I'll miss you…I'll miss everyone else too, yeah, but…I don't know, it's hard to explain," she said, walking up to her side of the counter right in front of me.

"Well, I'll miss you to. You can call me, if you want…I don't spend my days sleeping any more," I assured her, trying to smile though my lips wouldn't take that form.

"You're not gonna forget, are you?"

"Forget what?"

"You know…" She put her hands together awkwardly, looking down slightly.

I knew. I leaned forward slightly, gently pressing my lips against hers. "I won't forget," I said.

She smiled, then grinned, giggling. "Good…because if you do, I'll make you remember," she said, and gently pulled me back to her.

I heard someone giggle from the side, and pulled away. "Yuffie, stop spying," I growled.

The familiar black-haired ninja crawled out from under a chair—the kind of chair that, if you crawled under, you wouldn't be visible from the sides.

"But you're just so cute together!" she squeaked.

The hours ticked by faster than I wanted them to. Before I knew it, it was time for everyone to go…I was the last one left.

"Well…" Tifa shifted her feet. "Bye…"

"Tifa…you must get pretty lonely here," I observed. "I mean, the only guests you ever have are customers…"

"Yeah…but I get by," she said, smiling slightly.

"You…" I sighed. The words were in my mouth but they wouldn't come out.

"You can leave when you're ready," she said softly.

"Tifa…"

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking…what if I just…stay?" I suggested.

Her eyes lit up. "Then that'd be great! But wouldn't the mansion miss you?"

"The only thing that was alive there was me, and the few monsters that had spawned there in my slumber. It won't miss me," I said.

Tifa grinned. "So…you're staying?" She looked up at me. "I mean you don't have to but, you know, if you wanted to you could…"

I nodded. "I…think I'll stay," I said. "And, uh, one other thing…"

Yumesuta: Short, crummy chapter ending in a cliffhanger! MUAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, review please!