Silent Angel

Author: Spellspinner Vincent Valentine

Rating: M - for language mostly…and possible scenarios in later chapters…

Pairing: Vincent/Yuffie post DoC

MistressSara I owe you a thank you. Your assistance was greatly appreciated. I forgot to add that in my first chapter. Luckily I am not a total air head and remembered it this time around. Kigen, a thank you to you as well…for promising to help me fight off the flamers should any appear. Thank you kindly for such assistance. I've never been much good at counter flames. Cyllwen, thanks for reading bits and pieces to tell me how they sounded. First non lemon was hard work for me, so thanks for tolerating me. Last but not least Faraway Dawn…heh…well I did it. I wanted to thank you for telling me about the quote "To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing..." Is it true that you got that in a fortune cookie?? Anyway thanks for keeping after me to finish the chapter too. Also, thank you to all who read and reviewed. The reviews are an author's elixir of life, or so I have been told by a friend. I must agree with her. Seeing reviews motivated me to get to work on this chapter.

Warnings: Romance/Angst (nothing too serious) I have eliminated Shelke, if you liked her, sorry about that. I just really couldn't stand the girl. She had less emotion than Vincent…and that's saying something. As for Lucrecia…well if you are reading this chances are you don't like her much either, and you are probably delighted that I refuse to make Vincent pine over her. There are a lot of theories about where Vincent was born and raised, to be honest I think it is quite possible that he was either born or raised in Wutai, or had some biological connection to Wutai and her people. When looking at him from his Turks days, I realized he really does have a more Asian complexion than anyone else. So purely based on his appearance I'm giving him a simple connection to Wutai, his mother. Hopefully no one will flame me for it because I have the master of counter flames on my side. –consider yourself warned.

Note: Italics are the thoughts of people; bold italics are the thoughts of Chaos.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except this fanfic and the odd idea I had behind it. Vincent and Yuffie are not mine nor are the other final fantasy characters. Vincent, Yuffie, and all the Final Fantasy VII characters are the property of their respective owners.

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A Sun to Reflect

Vincent watched Yuffie sleep for hours until finally, a faint light appeared on the horizon from a window, one Yuffie apparently had installed. The sun was rising, Yuffie would wake soon, and he would again vanish. Chaos had been constantly asking why he insisted on sinking back into the shadows of the world. Why simply watch Yuffie at a distance? Why would he not just give the girl what she wanted? Vincent ignored most of the questions. Chaos really had no right to be poking around in his business. What he wished to do and why he did it were of no concern to the mysterious demon.

But it is my business. This is my body too…

If I had a choice my body wouldn't be yours...and weren't you supposed to return to the Lifestream with Omega?

Supposed to…but you didn't really think you could get rid of me that easily did you? I figured you nearly got us both killed…you deserved a few months off. But we have veered off topic, come now Valentine…You're ageless because of me, you are practically immortal, what more could a person ask for?

Immortality isn't what I want…I want a normal life…if there is such a thing.

You wish to age, to become old, weak, and useless?

Vincent looked at Yuffie and smiled for a second when she pulled her pillow over her face. Perhaps that is what I desire…

To Vincent's relief, Chaos fell silent. Age did not frighten him, so much as the prospect of being completely alone did. If he did not age while others continued to, in time he would be alone and all those around him would be gone. The last remains of all he held dear would vanish and there would be no way to continue from that point. What more could I do with such a life? Vincent thought moving to the window.

He waited until he heard Yuffie's breathing pattern change ever so slightly, the first signs that she was truly waking up. He deftly jumped through the open window onto the ground just outside and moved around the corner of the house before taking a seat.

He heard her stir. She was getting up, grumbling something about the crack of dawn being too early for anyone to be awake. He smirked slightly as a soft breeze blew into Wutai from the ocean. Yuffie was always the first one up on the Highwind and on the Shera, usually in her usual spots trying not to throw up, and always grumbling about it being too early or about how much she hated airships.

He was startled from his thoughts when he heard a loud crash from the house. He had drawn Cerberus in an instant and had moved back to the window. He glanced inside to find Yuffie on the ground rubbing her head. A small green orb with a few different colored lights inside it was glowing near her feet. Contain materia?? When he was certain she was alright he moved back out of sight fighting an urge to chuckle. She tripped on her own materia...How typical.

"Ouch…oh damn that hurt…" Yuffie muttered slowly getting back onto her feet. She picked up the Contain Materia she had tripped on. It was her favorite materia. They had found it a good four years ago, when they had been in Mideel. A white chocobo had it and Cid had managed to get the materia from the chocobo. With my help of course! Yuffie thought. I'm the one who knew the chocobo liked being scratched behind its ears!! Cid had been on edge about giving Yuffie such a rare materia so Cid put the best materia in Vincent's care.

Vincent had worked constantly to master the materia. Once he had he had given her the original and kept the new materia for AVALANCHE. 'At least you'll have a better defense, should your skills for any reason not be enough…' He had said. She thought it was adorable then, adorable that he was worried enough about her to give her one of the best materia they had. It had saved her life a few times too. The powerful magic harbored in the Contain materia had gotten her through Deepground when she was unable to sneak by the Deepground Soldiers. With a flare spell here, a freeze spell there, and the occasional tornado spell, she couldn't help but wonder how Vincent had not noticed she was following him sooner. Yuffie glanced at her clock. Five-Thirty A.M. Her father would be on her case again in a matter of hours. Well no matter what that old coot says...I'm not getting married. She thought grabbing a pair of clothes before heading to her bathroom to shower.

Godo Kisaragi had been on her case for months since Deepground was defeated. 'You are already much older than the usual bride Yuffie!' he would say. On other occasions he would say things like, 'It's high time you got married!' Crazy old coot… She thought stepping into the warm shower. She was all up for marriage…just not to any of the lame guys around Wutai.

The one she wanted her father probably wouldn't mind. The real problem was that Vincent was in love with Lucrecia, and nothing was going to change that fact. Nothing will change it...She's dead, stuck in a crystal, and even told him to move his ass on...and I'm willing to bet he is just going to sit up in that cave till kingdom come and pine over her!!! Argh! Oh the sheer nerve of him, making me act like a total girl while he pines over a dead woman from his tragic past. Yuffie finished her shower and got changed. Today she would need a brand new excuse for avoiding marriage…and it was time to start thinking.

She began searching her house looking for something that would help her. Corny romance novels, corny romantic poems, corny romance movies…Gawd…how much of this stuff do I have??? She thought growing desperate in her search for the ultimate excuse. Then she spotted one of her mother's poetry books lying open near her bed. Perfect! Mom always knew best! Yuffie grinned and fell back down onto her bed. She picked up the book and read aloud. Her mother was possibly the most magnificent poet in Wutai. Every few pages were not a new poem but simply words of wisdom. "To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing…" she read. Yuffie smiled. That sounded like her mother alright. Then she came across a simple passage of her mother's elegant writing.

'In all relationships someone plays the role of the sun and another, the role of the moon. The sun shines vibrantly, it radiates warmth that all can feel, it needs only a place to shine. The moon however, does not shine with its own light. The moon requires a sun to reflect the light of. The moon appears cold and unfeeling but when the right sun appears it shines brightly and grows warmer. The moon is a guide post to those who travel in the blackest night…and it silently watches over those who require its guidance even when they can not see it…' Yuffie smiled. "Perfect!!!! I'm simply looking for the right guy…and no guy here in Wutai is the moon I'm looking for…"

Vincent listened from outside. The moon she is looking for? He heard Yuffie read a passage out loud. Then it made sense. She is searching for someone to reflect her light…Chaos…did you hear that? Someone to reflect her light…I told you I was not the one she really wanted…

You obviously were not paying attention to the rest of it. If I did not know any better…I would assume the girl's mother somehow wanted her passage to describe you and the girl perfectly.

I fail to see how the passage describes us perfectly…

You seem to be cold and unfeeling, you do not shine nor do you try to. You watch over the girl even though she never sees you…starting to ring a few bells?

If you are trying to say to me that I am the one Yuffie needs you are mistaken…Vincent sighed in frustration. Yuffie was however, very much like the sun. There was a warm glow that seemed to emanate from her and everyone seemed able to feel it. Even he could feel it. She made people smile when no one else could. She made people laugh when some felt they had forgotten how to. She got under everyone's skin in some way and still managed to keep them close. Yuffie was an amazing young woman. He would not deny it. Vincent leaned closer to the walls when he heard Yuffie speak softly.

"Pity the one I want…just won't forget the past…" He heard her open something, more than likely a small chest, and pull something out. It sounded like paper. It was probably a note or a photograph. "Vincent…are you ever going to come back?" He heard her whisper. He leaned back against the house as he heard her continue. "…Because I really miss you…" before replacing whatever it was back in the chest. He heard her shut the window and leave the house. From around the corner he watched as she locked it and headed for the pagoda. Once he was sure she was gone, he went back to the window and opened it.

So she locks the doors but not the windows...

…So she isn't the most intelligent-

Not another word out of you Chaos…Vincent thought climbing through the window. He went over to the chest he heard Yuffie open and gently lifted the lid.

Going through a woman's things is a surefire way to get yourself killed…

Didn't I just tell you to be silent Chaos? He looked at the item on the top of the pile of things inside the chest. It was a picture. He recognized it. It had been taken at Reeve's insistence after the Second Reunion. It was taken at the Sector 8 Slums Church. Cloud smiled rather contently with Tifa leaning against his shoulder. Cid was grinning ear to ear and pointing up toward the sky. Chances were the airship was hovering right above when the picture was taken. Barret, Marlene, and Denzel were laughing about something or other and were obviously not paying attention to the camera. Nanaki was sitting down with Cait Sith on his back. Reeve was beside them both. Then Vincent's eyes fell upon Yuffie. She had thrown her arms around his neck and practically jumped into his arms. A wide, pleased grin was plastered across her face. There he was…staring completely dumbfounded at the girl who had suddenly jumped on him.

Vincent glanced down at another picture…no a collage of pictures. All of them were of him. What on earth…

Oh…I think this means she really likes you Valentine…Chaos said softly in the back of his mind. I mean…she's got some good pictures here…

I'm soaking wet in the one….Vincent noted while lifting a separate picture from the chest. It was taken either after one hell of a rainstorm, or after he had left the cavern behind the waterfall. In the picture his hair was soaked and plastered to his face. He could see the drops of water lingering on his eyelashes and in his hair. Why did I not notice her taking this picture? The garnet eyes that stared up from the picture looked almost, disturbing as it sounded, seductive. And…why do I look like I was trying to seduce someone in this picture?

Again…I'm saying she likes you…Hm? Oh you really do look like you were trying to seduce someone…

Vincent sighed. Inwardly, he had a feeling it was this particular picture Yuffie had been gazing at and speaking to before she left.

On the other side of the town, Yuffie sat silently listening to her father, yet again, complain about how old she was getting. "You are so much older than the average bride in Wutai Yuffie!!! Most girls are married at fifteen or sixteen, and none have ever married older than 18!!!"

"Yeah, yeah I know pops…." Yuffie muttered. Silent though she had been through her father's rant, her mind was completely in another dimension. She was thinking of Vincent again. Again! Do you realize how pathetic you are becoming Yuffie!? Day in and day out he's all you've been thinking about! Really Yuffie this is getting pathetic! Pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic!!!

"Don't you 'yeah, yeah' me Yuffie." Her father said suddenly snapping her out of her reverie. "You have spent enough time running around the world. It is high time you settle down and marry."

"…Aw pops we've had this argument a billion times before!" Yuffie whined. If she tried to be annoying, maybe he would let her slide another few months. "I don't wanna marry just anyone. I want someone Tall, dark, and handsome."

"You've been watching too many movies Yuffie."

"No really!!" She countered. "I want uh….a guy about eh…this tall?" She said standing on her toes and holding her hand above her head. "With long dark hair and eh… a weird eye color!" Gawd Yuffie…make it a little more obvious you want a very specific someone why don't ya??

"Yuffie…getting back to the real world now…" Her father said turning away from her. "I can give you a few more weeks at the most Yuffie. Time is wasting, I am getting no younger, and you need to get married!"

"I get the picture already jeeze…" Yuffie muttered. And I was thinking of a real guy dad…you know…one that's WAY out of my league…but real all the same! "…Do you remember the people that came to Wutai…when I stole the materia??"

Her father tilted his head, unable to see what on earth that could possibly have to do with their conversation. "Yes."

"Well…I kinda like one of the guys from the group…"

"Kinda? Oh dear Leviathan please tell me it's not the pilot with the foul mouth that smelled like axel grease!"

Yuffie almost fell over. "Cid Highwind!? Dad! No Cid's married! He's more like an obnoxious uncle to me anyway."

"Oh gods no! It's the Chocobo head isn't it?!" Godo said growing more anxious. The foul mouthed pilot was one thing but the boy with gravity defying hair was another. The blonde with the large sword and strange hair seemed to be naturally unlucky.

"His name is Cloud dad; I think he's with Tifa, but even if he weren't… NO! It's not him." Yuffie sighed. Eventually her father would have to remember Vincent.

"Is it the funny little cat on the moogle?" He continued.

Does he have to pick the least likely ones first?! "…Cait Sith is a stuffed cat dad…and no it's not him or Reeve."

Godo scratched his head slightly. "Perhaps you mean that Barret fellow?"

Yuffie began to grind her teeth. "He's got a daughter dad…and I'm pretty sure he thinks of me as another daughter." She watched as her father paced around the manor. Finally realizing her father was not recalling Vincent as vividly as she was she muttered, "I'm just seeking the moon to reflect my light…"

Her father stopped. As if it had suddenly dawned on him. "The gunman…that Vincent Valentine?"

Yuffie held her breath and nodded.

"Oh wonderful! I liked him. He was quite an intelligent fellow. Yes…" Godo resumed pacing around, much to Yuffie's displeasure. Something about seeing her father pace around was mildly unnerving. Maybe it was because he always did it when she screwed up in training, or when he was angry at her for some stupid reason. "Isn't he a bit old for you though??"

Of course he is…but age has its benefits. "Yeah but that's part of the reason he's so great dad. He's smart, he thinks things through, he's a bit of a pessimist though…he always seems to look for the worst case scenario…but that's ok I guess. Knowing the worst that could happen helped us prepare for things better than we would have…" within minutes she had gotten off topic. "…and he's just so perfect dad. His eyes are so beautiful; his voice is oh gawd is it sexy…and his hair! Oh I love his hair. I always want to play with it. It's so long and soft…and I bet he's got a great body. I've seen him do back flips I could only hope to land. You know now that I think about it, the way he moves and fights, it's a lot like how I move and fight…Think that's coincidence old man?"

Godo had been tuning his daughter out once she got on the topic of Valentine's physical features. Or, at least he had been, until his daughter mentioned how the man moved and fought. "Like you hmm? Well I suppose it is possible he was trained for combat in Wutai. That would be the only explanation, unless of course he was born here or raised here. Any of those would be plausible, Yuffie." He finally sat down across from his daughter and looked her in the eye. "Tell me what he looked like before this, experimentation began."

"Uh…" Yuffie faltered. She only knew what Shelke had told her, and it wasn't much. "Tall, thin but muscular…" At least I think… "…a tan complexion…kinda like mine maybe a little bit lighter, dark hair, and garnet eyes." She watched her father nod. Nodding was good right???

"It sounds like he may have some Wutainese blood in him. Nothing for certain of course, but it sounds like he might."

Yuffie smiled slightly at her father's words. Well it would explain how he can do the same things I can. I mean Tifa is pretty athletic and even she has a hard time moving the same way Vincent or I do. "So eh…would Vincent be…workable???" Yuffie said softly, making certain to give her father her best puppy dog eyes.

Her father sighed. No one could resist Yuffie's pouty expressions, especially not the puppy dog eyes. She held back her grin of triumph. No need to let the old coot know I know I've won already. Finally her father spoke. "If the man can tolerate you, then by all means, marry him."

"Really!?" Yuffie practically squealed. "You mean it!?"

"Well…if the man can tolerate you he must be a blessing from the gods, and if he can pass my tests he is certainly worthy…"

"Good! Vincent can pass any test you set before him! The man is a genius I swear!" She sighed dreamily. "And Oh sweet Leviathan can he fight…" Yuffie continued to ramble for a few minutes before her father excused her for the day. 'But remember. You've only got a few weeks Yuffie.' He had said. Yuffie didn't mind. Surely within the next few weeks she could find Vincent. Find him…how the hell are you supposed to make him love you that fast!? Idiot what were you thinking you're never going to be able to do this!!! Yuffie tuned out her thoughts. Today was going to be a good day, and no manner of doubt was going to ruin it for her. She headed outside of town toward the ocean shores. She liked to train on the beach there. There were large waves to test her balance against, all sorts of nasty beasts to test her strength on, and plenty of comfy places to collapse when she'd had enough.

When she finally found Vincent he would be beyond impressed with how much she had improved! She would be in tip top shape and would be able to challenge him to a round of sparring perhaps. The mere thought made her grin. Sparring with Vincent would be great…He's agile, he's got some killer acrobatic skills, and I would LOVE to have him pinned after a take down. She could feel the heat in her cheeks. She was blushing. And who cared if she was? As far as she was concerned, any woman with half a brain would be plotting pinning Vincent down on the ground while sparring with him. And plotting what to do if he pinned me…

Yuffie quickly found her spot near a cluster of rocks right along the water's edge and began to practice. Strong waves crashed against her and she held her ground. Beasts attacked and she defeated every single one in seconds. She threw her shuriken across the beach and chased after it, always making it to the destination a split second before her weapon. She practiced her spells on a large ruined cargo ship that had obviously crashed on the coast ages ago.

Perfect balance, increased strength and speed, and improved magical accuracy…but I expected that… She threw her weapon at the ropes that hung from the ships mast. She had tied them there to give her something to target. A perfect shot. The blades of her shuriken sliced clear through every rope. You think I would be happier about this….She thought catching her weapon effortlessly as it returned. If only Vincent had seen that….he'd stand there with his arms crossed and then he would nod. Then he'd say 'Yuffie...You've improved.' Nothing else just that, and my heart would pound like there was no tomorrow.

As Yuffie silently contemplated Vincent's reaction to her obvious improvement, while staring blankly at her weapon, a figure watched her from the high shadows of the cliff. If Yuffie had looked toward the rocky walls of the cliff, she would see only the dazzling sun and the ominous shadows it left in its wake.

It was growing later in the day. It was already high noon. The figure on the outcrop noted. He had to tie back his hair to keep it from whipping around in the breeze; he had to sit on his cloak too. She has improved so much… His eyes followed her every move as she returned to her practicing. The very thoughts he had from watching her before crept back into his mind. Flawless…graceful…Vincent Valentine had to remind himself that such words usually did not fall into the same sentence when it came to Yuffie Kisaragi. After all, hadn't she tripped on her own materia that very morning? He watched her flip across the sand, a feat that required a good deal of strength and balance, as the sand was ever shifting beneath her. Yuffie would never cease to amaze him. She must never know how much I enjoy simply watching her. A dark and very slight smile curved Vincent's lips. She'll make some man very happy one day…

Why some man? Why not yourself? You are happy just watching the girl. You gaze at her with a longing in your eyes. More than anything you have been aching for the touch of another, you can not hide this from me. Approach her, confess your desires, she will reciprocate.

Vincent sighed softly. Why do you wish me to do this Chaos? Honestly, what could you possibly be getting out of this?

Minor excitement? Think of it as a reason for me to completely return to the planet…the perfect opportunity for you to attain that "normal" life you so desperately crave.

The demon had a magnificent argument. It would be the perfect opportunity for everything he desired. Chaos would return to the planet and his mind would be free of the powerful being's thoughts. His mind would be almost free. He would be able to live, possibly love, age, and finally die. …I can not. I will not be the water that douses the flame within her. She is so full of life and she has the right to be happier than I. I can not and will not be the one to cause her sorrow… Vincent sighed bitterly. "And that is really all I am good for…" he muttered watching Yuffie strike down another beast that had snuck up on her.

Below Vincent could hear Yuffie swear profusely in rapid Wutainese. She had a minor cut on her arm and was in the process of healing herself with her Cure materia. He wouldn't have recognized any of the words she had spoken if his mother had not accidentally said almost the exact same words to an obnoxious man one day in his youth.

He had been only a child and his father was always away on "official business" and so his mother took over the duties of mother and father when he was away. Apparently, the man at the shop had not been very respectful to her. He remembered vividly that his mother told him never to behave the way the man had. However, more clearly he could recall the sound of his mother swearing in Wutainese. She had taught him to speak it as well and he knew those were the few words he was not permitted to say in his mother's presence.

The sound of Yuffie swearing made him smile, when in the past it would have earned her a stern glare. Before, he would have told her she was being immature, or that she was not acting very ladylike. She reminded him of how his mother was…so for now, she could do as she pleased. Just like my mother...just like the sun.

There was no denying that if he was destined to be anything in any relationship, he would be the enigmatic moon, just as his father had been. Watching Yuffie however drew a greater question to the surface of his mind.

Is she the sun I yearn to reflect the light of?