A/N: Nah, didn't leave an author's note on the first chapter. But I guess for now and all the rest of the chapters, I say that this disclaimer stands for the rest of the story so here it goes: I don't own Square-Enix and I'm not selling this story to make money. I hope you enjoy all the chapters to come. I'm going to try to write a chapter a day, or maybe every two days (which will explain their relative shortness altogether). We'll see how that works. I haven't written in a while, so if you want to let me know about the horrendous quality or the bad Out of characterness (although keep in mind, this is rather AU)... please do! I love reviews... especially bad ones :) As for opinions on Vincent's POV, I think I'm headed towards a more observant maybe a little sarcastic Vincent, instead of a rather angsty and despairing Vincent. Who knows though, I may decide to throw some angst in there.

That should conclude pretty much any other feedback I really I for the rest of the story. If there's anything really important, I'll post, but other than that, this may be the last time you'll have to hear from me. So Poof!

CH.II - ORANGE

I wake up with sweat. Another visited me tonight. There's a ringing in my head. Or is it a screaming? It's been too long to forget. The sweat drips down the side of my face, down my neck, down my chest. I unwrap the bandana from my head and my hair falls forward across my face. I use it to wipe off the sweat. I raise my eyes towards the clock, where bright red numbers pierce my dark adjusted eyes.

It's 3:15 in the morning. And she wants to know my secret.

I get out of bed. I don't bother to fix it this time. I walk straight to my apartment window and open it. I jump onto the escape ladder, and climb up, up, up, past all the darkened windows and darkened stories. I swing over onto the roof top. Above this particular building, the ceiling of Sector Seven has a hole in it. Through it, I can see the stars clearly beyond the smoke and fog.

She says that she wants to know.

Edward joins me a few hours later. The hole of sky begins to change its colors for dawn. I pet Edward with my right hand. He... I mean she looks up at me. I'd like to say with affection, but I wouldn't know. Instead, I'll say she looks up at me watchfully. It always seems like she's waiting for something to happen to me. Like I'm going to turn into a monster and eat her.

I suppose even cats know when you carry a secret.

Edward starts making weird noises. She's in a sort of ready-to-pounce position. I think she's hacking or coughing. I lean down towards her, "What's wrong with you?"

The strange animal behavior starts to unnerve me. Like she's going to turn into a monster and eat me. Is she sick or dying?

I lay down on the ground next to her and peer into her coughing mouth. Edward makes another gulping noise. Another hack. Suddenly a slimy wet wad of hair slaps me in the face. I sit up and wipe the saliva and God knows what else off my cheek. "Beautiful."

I hear a familiar giggle behind me. "It's you again, isn't it?"

The little girl skips along and sits beside a now-much-better Edward.

"Pretty cat, pretty cat," she pets away again, "coughed up a hairball, but now you feel better, don'tcha don'tcha?"

"How cute," I grumble, wiping the sticky residue on my hand on Edward's fur.

I stand up. Those big brown eyes stare at me again. "What do you want?"

"Have you thought about renaming your cat yet?"

"No," I growl.

"Why not?"

"Her name is Edward," I begin walking away.

"Okay fine! But I want your cat to meet my cat!"

I stop and sigh. She continues, picking up Edward and running along to catch up to me. Her big brown eyes smile at me, "My cat's named Nanaki... What's your name, mister?"

I look back up at the ceiling to view the developing dawn. "Vincent."

"Well mister Vincent, my name is Yuffie!"

"Really."

She nods.

"I see."

She puts Edward down on the ground, and then points, "How'd you get that?"

She is pointing at my most physical and repulsive scar. My metallic arm. From the fingertips to just beyond my elbow, I'm made of metal, it seems. Or maybe I'm just artificial. Or maybe I'm just a monster. Maybe, just maybe, I'm the luckiest guy on earth.

"Freak accident," I say.

"It's creepy."

Thank you, I'm creepy.

She's a real charmer, I can tell.

I sigh again. "So," I say, "What kind of cat is your Nanaki? Tabby? Calico?"

"Orange."

"... I see. Does your cat cough up hairballs as well?"

"Yup! All cats do."

I walk towards the edge, "Go ahead and take her to meet your cat. I have to go to work."