The Deal of Eternity
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, its characters or Bedazzled. They belong to people much more creative than I am.
AN: Sorry it's taken so long but I've been pulling over forty hours a week trying to save money for my trip. Hope this update is worth the wait. Once again, "blah blah" talking and 'blah blah' thoughts
Yuffie blinks the red light out of her eyes and sees she is standing in a busy hallway. A half open office door reads 'Guidance Counselor' and she figures she's at a school.
"Well you're are an adult now Miss Clayton," a familiar voice admonishes inside the office.
Yuffie surreptitiously steps up to the open door and peers in.
In the office the Devil sits behind a desk wearing a dark gray business suit and glasses while talking to a young girl a little older than Yuffie herself. The girl has short black hair, green eyes that are obviously contacts and is wearing blue jeans and a white tank top that says 'Got Jesus?'.
"If you feel the only way to finance your education is by stripping than by all means," the Devil tells the girl. He smiles and says, "After all, your education is the most important thing." Only Yuffie can see how mocking and derisive his smile to the girl is.
She nods at his advice but argues, "My parents aren't going to like it."
The Devil sighs, seemingly commiserative with the girl's plight. "Well have you asked them for more money?" he asks.
"Yes."
"Then if they won't help you then you must help yourself," he urges her. He takes her hands and looks her in the eyes. "You know what you want to do with your life. You know you aren't going to stay a stripper. Do what you must to get your degree," he advises.
Yuffie's mouth drops in outrage. 'What the hell is he doing? He is so totally twisting that girl's feelings around.' She barges into the office.
The girl looks up at her, embarrassed at what Yuffie may have heard but the Devil looks at her amused. "Ah Yuffie, back so soon?" he asks her. He turns back to the girl. "I'm afraid I already have another appointment. Would you excuse us please?" he asks her.
The girl grabs her purse and hurries out of the room.
Yuffie glares at the Devil.
He chuckles darkly. "She's a good girl. I'm trying to get her on the wrong path," he tells Yuffie.
Yuffie growls at him, "You made me into a drug dealer!"
The Devil smiles at her. "You asked for rich and powerful," he reminds her. He takes her arm and leads her out of the office. They walk down the hall towards the exit doors and he opens the door for her. "Does 'root of all evil' sound familiar?" he asks her as she passes him.
Yuffie shoots him a dark look over her shoulder and keeps walking.
The Devil catches up to her quickly with his longer stride. "Now why the hard feelings? Didn't I give you what you asked for?"
"No!" Yuffie exclaims indignantly.
The Devil smiles patiently at her and removes his glasses from his face. "Then tell me how I neglected you," he tells her.
Yuffie frowns. "Well there was Reno..." she begins.
"Nah uh," he interrupts her and holds his finger up. "You only wished that the two of you were married. You never said anything about a happy marriage," he tells her. He resumes walking.
Yuffie shrugs her shoulders impatiently. "Well when two people get married I assume..."
The Devil turns back to her, "There is your mistake." He takes her arm again and leads her down the street. "Would you like a bit of advice?" he asks her. "Rich and powerful thing wasn't the way to go. Everyone always asks for that first and it never works," he informs her.
"Really?" Yuffie asks.
"Would I lie to you?" he asks her and holds out an apple to her.
Yuffie frowns again.
"Not in the mood are you?" he asks and bites into the apple.
Yuffie shakes her head. "I don't know where to go from here. All I really want is to be with Reno," she confesses. "Devil, I want him to be happy with me," she says.
A pair of old ladies stop to look at Yuffie.
"Er, what I meant to say was..." Yuffie stumbles.
The Devil wraps an arm around Yuffie's waist and smiles at the old ladies. "A lover's pet name," he assures them enjoying the horrified looks on the old ladies faces and the sudden brilliant flush on Yuffie's cheeks at the intimation.
The old ladies walk off giving the two uneasy looks.
As the ladies walk off, the Devil leans down to Yuffie's ear and whispers, "You have to be more careful doing that or someone might lock you up in a lunatic asylum."
"Sorry, but what should I call you?" Yuffie asks.
The Devil looks at her face for a long moment, watching her fidget under his intense stare. He smiles and whispers into her ear, "You can call me Vincent Valentine."
"Now Yuffie dear, allow me to point you in the right direction," the Devil says, pulling away from her.
Yuffie puzzles over his name choice but snaps out of her reverie when she hears him offering help. "What's the catch?" she demands.
"Why Yuffie? How can you ask such a thing?" he asks. "Have I given you any reason to distrust me? Have I broken our contract in any way?"
Yuffie sighs. 'I have to give him that.' "So how exactly are you going to point me in the right direction, Vincent?" she asks.
The Devil throws his apple over his shoulder, snaps his fingers and they disappear in a flash of red light.