A Change of Heart

(AN: BA BA DA DA!! Ok so here it is...the long awaited next installment of my story...well maybe not so much but for those of you that have been following it, thank you! I really appreciate the feedback! I'm sorry it took so long...school was a little overwhelming towards the end but its summer now so I've gotten some time to work on it! Enjoy!!)

Reno awoke with a start, beads of sweat tickling his forehead. He sat up in bed and surveyed his surroundings. The room was still dark due to the think, velvet curtains that fell in front of them and gathered in a heap on the floor under the windows. He checked his watch on the bedside table and frowned.

"9:30..." he muttered as he stood and searched the shady room for his pants.

Across the hall, Yuffie sat listening to the rustling and soft footsteps emanating from the space under Reno's door. She was debating inside herself as to whether or not to traverse the hall and blindside him with an apology for her mood the previous night. She wasn't sure if she had actually done anything wrong. She didn't feel guilty, she just disliked the way he had spoken to her and felt that an apology would avoid any of that in the future.

Once she had convinced herself that an apology was appropriate, she swallowed her pride and stepped into the cold hallway. She placed a soft knock on his door and heard a sigh from beyond it. He knew it was her, and he was hesitant to approach the door.

"C'mon Reno...Please..." she murmured.

There was a shuffling and she heard the lock on the door click. It creaked slightly as it gave way to Reno's solemn, unshaven face. He didn't speak, he just stepped aside and granted her entry. She tentatively passed him through the threshold of the door and flopped down on the edge of his bed. He shut the door out of habit and continued with his morning routine, completely ignoring her.

"I...I'm sorry...I guess..."She sighed.

Reno made an almost inaudible gutteral noise and took a brush to his messy mop of red hair.

"I can see the changes in me that you mentioned...I don't know where they're coming from or if I even dislike them, but I never wanted to alienate you..."She continued, glancing up at him expectantly.

"I just keep trying to help you and keep getting brushed aside...I'm tired of it Yuffie. I'm tired of the sarcasm and the emotionlessness..."He replied without looking up.

"...It's not like I asked for this," Yuffie muttered, "It's not like I walked up to Vincent and asked him to bite me!"

Tears began to stream down her pale cheeks. She didn't even realize she could cry anymore, so the sensation was very foreign-feeling. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and continued.

"You act as though this is all intentional on my part!" She cried, "If I could go back to that moment and stop all this from having happened, I would!"

Reno turned on his heels and glared at Yuffie through squinted eyes.

"You could have fooled me! You follow him around like his own personal little lap dog! If he told you to jump, you'd do it no questions asked! So don't give me some line about wanting to turn back time! It's all a farse!" He snorted.

This only served to increase Yuffie's tears. Without another word, she stood and ran from the room. However, rather than returning to her own room, she proceeded through the long corridor, down the winding stairs, and stopped short just in front of the door to Vincent's room.

Reno sighed and fell back onto the bed. He now felt like Yuffie was the one who deserved an apology from him. He just wanted things to be like they used to be. When all either of them wanted was to be together, no questions asked. When he wasn't afraid to get close to her. Before Vincent had ever come along and complicated things. He had hated Vincent before during his stint with Shinra trying to thwart Avalanche, but now that he knew Vincent on a more personal level, he hated him all the more.

Yuffie wasn't sure why her feet had carried her there, but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted someone to comfort her. She knocked lightly at the door, but heard no movement from behind it.

"Vincent?" she called softly, "Are you there?"

The door creaked open a few inches and a small burst of stagnant air escaped past her. She pushed the door open and entered tentatively. Although the room was cloaked in darkness, Yuffie could see clearly with her cat-like eyes. Vincent was huddled in the corner by the window. She approached him quietly and knelt next to him.

"Vincent?" she murmured, "Are you ok?"

However, no sooner had the words left her mouth that she realized something was different. She stood and backed away slowly as Vincent began to move under the blanket wrapped around him. His eyes flashed as he turned in her direction. They were glowing a fierce red, but Yuffie began to notice that his entire body was bathed in the same soft, red lambency.

Yuffie turned to run, but felt something holding her back. She looked down and saw a thin, pale hand wrapped around her leg. She shrieked as she was thrown to the floor and suddenly felt a weight atop her. Vincent was perched on her back, pinning her to the floor.

Before she could do anything to try and cast Vincent off of her she could feel him lean down over her. His breath was hot on the back of her neck. His lips pressed gently against her skin and she felt a shiver run down her back. His hand met hers and grasped it tightly.

"V-vincent?" she stumbled over her words.

Suddenly, she felt a twinge of pain as his fangs sank into her neck. However, this time it wasn't as unpleasant as the first. In fact, she found herself enjoying it. She lost herself in the feeling and before she realized it, Vincent had released her and sat a few inches away.

Yuffie sat up and turned in his direction. He had his back to her.

"I-I'm sorry Yuffie," he said remorsefully, "I shouldn't have allowed myself to do that..."

Yuffie crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Don't be..." she replied, "As strange as it may sound, I haven't felt that close to anyone in a very long time..."

She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"Yuffie...I..." Vincent broke off.

"You what?" She said looking up at him.

His eyes met hers and he couldn't reply. He placed a hand under her chin and gently pulled her towards him, allowing their lips to meet briefly.

"What was that for master?" she said, a bit taken aback.

"Just a small thank you, I suppose," He replied, "No one has treated me as you have in a very long time...It's been ages since anyone has looked upon my face with such kindness in their eyes. People usually equate me with a monster, something to fear and avoid. However, you are not afraid of me..."

Yuffie was speechless. She placed her hands on his shoulders and rested her forehead against his.

"How could someone with as soft a voice and as kind a heart as you ever be seen as a monster?" she replied deftly.