Vincent burst out into the basement corridor, wild eyes searching desperately for the intruder. There was no one there… just an empty corridor, void of any sane life forms.

Damn… I'm hallucinating… again…

He trembled as he stood there, face concealed by waves of black hair and a crimson cloak. He was pale, much more pale than usual.

numb…

"Vincent?"

He whirled around, drawing his gun simultaneously instinctively and shot three times. As his eyes focused and the ringing in his ears from the shots subsided, he saw someone crouching just a few yards away.

"What are you doing in my home?" he shouted breathlessly, his heart pounding from being startled.

You know my name?

"Vincent, it's just me," her voice called gently as she rose carefully, glancing behind her at the three big holes in the wall.

He studied her harder, trying to bring some kind of memory up in his mind. And in fact, it was just her. Long raven hair, slim body, and dark eyes… eyes like his.

"Tifa," he gasped, tucking his gun away.

…so cold…

A long, drawn out moment of sheer awkward silence consumed them. The only sound was of a water drip somewhere down further in the basement that echoed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly, stepping away.

Shut her out! Now, before she hurts you…

Vincent shook his head.

"I thought I'd visit you. I live in town, you know… and it's just a short walk up here," she replied sweetly, shivering in the chilly air of the basement corridor.

…numb…

"I almost killed you," he said, almost talking to himself rather than her.

"Yeah… I kind of forgot how… paranoid you are. It's my fault for sneaking down here. I'm sorry Vincent," she spoke apologetically.

Tifa walked towards him, putting on an awkward smile. His eyes watched her, studied her.

Darkness…

"Do not apologize. There is no excuse for my demonic instincts," he replied after a moment of hesitation. This was the longest conversation he had ever had in years…

"Oh, Vincent! You're not demonic," she said reassuringly, smiling to him.

You're right, I'm beyond demonic…

"Please… Tifa," he urged, his heart aching at the very sight of her. The beautiful fighter was trying to comfort him…

I'm hellish…

Another long silence ensued.

"Well, is this all you have been doing since the last battle? Sleeping once again in a coffin?" she asked carefully, glancing through the open door into Vincent's sleeping chamber.

"Yes," he answered blankly, his mind reeling out of control.

Sleeping? I cannot sleep…

She made her way through the door and over near his coffin. He followed her curiously.

Suffering is what I've been doing.

Vincent was feeling lightheaded, as if he were falling into an endless vortex of misery.

"Why are you really here?" he asked to Tifa, who still stood there staring into his coffin.

"I told you, silly. I thought I'd visit you," she replied, tearing her gaze away and smiling up at his dark form.

…numb…

Vincent nodded slowly, feeling the warmth of her smile soak into him. Maybe he could trust her word.

"You were playing the piano before?" he asked, moving past her to stand on her other side.

She looked up into his eyes and gave him a weak smile.

"I need practice, don't I?" she replied sheepishly.

"No, not at all. That song was so… lovely," he commented, feeling his emotional barriers slip away for a moment and the voices subside.

"Really? Thank you," she spoke cheerfully, turning to face him.

Vincent reached out and touched her cheek softly, and then jerked back, scared to death at what he just did.

You'll tear her to pieces, you monster!

Tifa gasped at his sudden movement. He had touched her so gently, so tenderly. Vincent turned away, embarrassed and in heartache.

"Perhaps you should come another time," he spoke sternly, not meaning to sound so angry.

Tifa looked down on the ground, wondering why she had even bothered to come here.

"I'm terribly sorry, Vincent… I didn't mean to bother you," she replied sharply before quickly leaving the room and running up the stairs.

Return to the darkness…

He stood there, shocked and unmoving before finally shutting himself away again. The coffin was his only friend now. He shivered, remembering how distraught her face had been before she had fled. There had been… tears… in her eyes.

"I'm so stupid," he whispered to himself, closing his eyes and feeling tears of his own fall.

…numb… so cold…