Forever With You - Yuffie's P.O.V. –

I can remember when Vincent and I had first met, it was a long time ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was five-years-old and was living out in the street of a small town. Every day I would wake up to another lonely morning in rain, shine, or snow. I woke up starving to death from the lack of food from the previous days and dying of thirst sometimes if wasn't able to get a drink of water. I was dirty from head to toe and my clothes were worn out and holey. It was a time that I don't like to remember but I do for one special reason, because of one special person….

11 years ago,

"Mmmm…." I moaned as I opened my eyes to the sunlight that hit them. "So hungry…."

I sat up in the box I was in and rubbed my eyes, just as I sat up I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, I shut my eyes and winced in pain. At this time I hadn't eaten anything in almost a month; I tried begging for food but no was generous enough to give me anything without paying for it. If I were lucky enough I would be able to get scraps of something, but still it wasn't enough for me.

I crawled out my box and stumbled to my feet looking around the dirty alley where I lived; I sighed a bit and started off to find some form of food. I held my aching stomach as I walked down the streets, I looked at all the people that I passed by and saw them smiling… They were all so happy. Me… I was miserable and had been miserable like this for two almost three very long years. It was like they were all laughing at my misery, all joking about this five-year-old little girl that was homeless and needy.

I looked away angrily from the people with these thoughts inside my five-year-old mind, I didn't need those people, I didn't care what they thought…

As these thoughts continued to go through my head the smell of bread came toward me, my stomach growled hungrily as I followed the scent. It wasn't too far, it was right on top of me, I looked in all the buildings that I passed, and finally… Jackpot; it was the bakery that I always passed when I was searching for food and the number people that refused to give me anything without money.

I looked inside, the baker had gone into the back room, and here was my chance. Now I wasn't the one to steal, I knew stealing was wrong but when you're hungry you'd do anything for food. I went in the bakery and took two or three loaves of bread out of basket up in the front of the store, just when I was about to make my escape the baker came back out hearing the bell of the front door. When he saw me and the bread he exclaimed,

"You again, I thought I told you if you don't have money you don't get anything from me!"

I turned and began to run as the baker bounded over his counter and began to go after me. I didn't know where to go or if I could even escape the clutches of this man, but I had to try. I ran through crowds of people, the bread tucked tightly under my arms. Behind me I heard, "Stop that girl! She's a thief! She's a thief!"

I closed my eyes, I wasn't a thief, I was just a starving little girl with no money. I just wanted a little something to eat, just a little to hold me over.

I continued to run my weak body giving out on me now, but couldn't stop not with that baker that was chasing me, hard telling what he'd do to me. I looked back it seemed like the man was getting closer to me as my body got weaker and weaker. I turned my head forward, closed my eyes as frightened as can be and shook my head.

"No! No! Leave me alone!" I exclaimed.

The next thing I know I run right into someone that was on the street, I fell backwards on the street on my butt. I opened my eyes and looked back at the baker that was now about to close in on me. Then I turned and looked up at the person I had ran into, I gasped softly looking into the face of a young man, older then me but not quite a man. His pale skin, brought out his long dark locks, and the sun made his bright red eyes shine brilliantly.

Never before in my fiver years of living had I ever seen a more beautiful person.

"Little girl, you should watch where your running." He said, giving me his hand.

"I'm sorry." I said gently, taking his hand.

He helped me up and as he did we both heard the baker yell from a distance,

"Young man! Young man! Keep that girl right where she is!"

"Pl, please! Don't let him get me please….!" I begged as I looked at the young man with tears now running down my face. "I was so hungry and I have no money and….!"

He looked down at the small loaves of bread that were in my arms, then at my face. His face suddenly saddens as he looked at my dirty face now covered in tears.

"Say no more, I understand and I will handle everything."

"Thank you for stopping this little thief young man! She stole from my shop and thinks she can just get away with it!"

"Do you realize this child is homeless and starving to death practically? How much is it for these loaves of bread and I'll be glad to pay for them for her."

"Twenty gil each." He replied.

"Affordable. I assure you that she will not be stealing from you anymore." The young man said, putting his hand on my shoulder and his other hand in his money bag.

The baker looked greedily at the sixty gil that was now in the palm of his hand then looked up and said,

"Huh very well, if she ever comes to my shop again with no money, I am going to call the authorities on her."

"There is no chance like that happening again."

The baker looked at the young man and nodded, then at me and shot me a warning look, I turned away a little from him. He looked away and started to go back to his shop.

"What's your name little girl?"

"Yu, Yuffie Kisaragi …." I said gently.

"Yuffie, it's very nice to meet you my name is Vincent, Vincent Valentine." He said.

"Vincent…. Valentine…."

At the moment I said his name my whole body had given out from running and starving to death just about. I closed my eyes and everything went black, only his face was in my mind. That kind and beautiful face…. Vincent Valentine…

Vincent's P.O.V. –

"Yuffie…." I said, catching the small girl in my arms.

Without even feeling her I could tell she hadn't eaten anything in quite a long time, plus her body was so small and so skinny that she couldn't have eaten anything. I got on one knee and placed on her on my back and started off back to my dojo.

I had decided at the moment when I looked at that dirty little face that I would take this little girl in as my own. I would be able to provide for her no problem being in a rich family; and with no parents telling me what to do I would have no problem having her in my home. No servant, maid, or butler would have to take care of her unless if I ordered them to.

I was fourteen but very mature for my age and was capable taking care of myself and if it came down to times like this, taking care of others too.

I looked back at the five-years-olds face and smiled a bit; though her face was dirty I had to admit that she was kind of…. Cute…. I could see her growing up to being a very pretty young woman. But that was just a thought and a thought alone at the moment.

Once we were at the mansion, I had one of the maids give Yuffie a bath and find her something to wear temporarily until Yuffie and I were able to go buy her some new clothes. Meanwhile I was in the kitchen, helping the chefs fix Yuffie a huge buffet of food to get her strength back; I did this considering I didn't know what she liked and what she didn't like to eat. I was sure she'd eat just about anything at this time but it was better safe then sorry. It took an hour for all the food to be prepared but it was made to perfection for our special house guest.

"This girl, your going to be taking care of her Master Valentine?" asked the man that had taken care of me since I was kid.

"Yes, she will be my responsibility Takuma." I replied, looking at the thirty-year-old gentleman in a black suit.

"Taking care of a child is a big responsibility. Are you sure you will be able to handle this?"

"I'm sure. If I wasn't I wouldn't have brought her here would I?"

Takuma's dark blue eyes hit me for a moment, then closed as he smiled and ran his fingers through his short brown hair and nodded.

"I suppose not Master Vincent. I'm sure you know what you are doing." He said, as he and I began to wheel to carts of food to Yuffie's bedroom.

"I don't know what it is about her, but once I looked at her I couldn't help but want to take her in as my own."

"Maybe deep down it's a love that is bound to happen?"

"I don't know about that Takuma," I chuckled. "She is five and I'm fourteen there is an eleven year age gap between us."

"I know but still, when she grows up a bit perhaps you will think in a different way?"

"Are you trying to set me up with a little girl Takuma?" I asked looking back at him.

"Oh no Master Valentine, I was only saying!"

He and I laughed a bit as we walked down the long hall to Yuffie's bedroom. Takuma was the man that was like a father to me, the man who took care of me as a kid when my parents died, he was most loyal servant. No matter what I knew I could always trust Takuma with anything, no matter what it was. I guess you could say he was my dad more so then my servant.

I smiled a bit to myself,

"Yeah, but like I was saying," I began, reaching the room finally. "This girl will be my responsibility and mine alone. You and others will not have to be with concerned with her."

"As you wish." Takuma simply replied. "But please do let me know if you need help with her, taking care of a child can be hard work, even for someone like you."

"I think this girl isn't going to be much trouble, but I will let you know if I need help with Yuffie."

I opened the sliding door a bit and peered in Yuffie was sitting on the bench at the window in one of my old kimonos I had worn when I was younger. I smiled a bit at the sight, seeing how adorable she was in it. I opened the door and wheeled the cart in the room, Takuma behind me, her head shot back; it was obvious she had smelled the food that had come into the room. She slowly staggered to her feet; I came up to her and scooped her up in my arms.

"Here we go Yuffie…." I said, placing under the covers of a queen sized bed. "You lay here, rest up, and eat some good food that was made especially for you."

"But I don't have any money Vincent." She said, as I propped up the pillows for her.

"Free of charge!" Takuma said, wheeling both the carts beside the bed. "You don't have to pay a single gil!"

"Re, really I get eat and drink all I want here?"

"Of course you do, I give everything I have very generously Yuffie, especially to people like you." I said, sitting a bowl of noodles before her. "Now eat up and once you're done with your lunch you just might get a little treat."

"Ice cream?" She exclaimed, gulping down the bowl of noodles.

"If that is what you want…" I replied, sitting on the side of the bed.

"Ye, yes! I have never tasted ice cream before!"

"Takuma, you heard the girl make sure ice cream is prepared for later."

"What flavor Master Valentine?"

"Surprise her." I replied.

"Right away sir!" he said, as he turned and left the room.

I nodded and sighed contently, so far, so good. Yuffie seemed to be happy with what was happening and how she was being treated, a very good start to something like this.

I felt the young girl's eyes on me, I turned see that Yuffie was looking at me; I looked back at her, her green/grayish eyes danced happily as she stared into my red orbs,

"Vin… Vincent? I can call you Vincent can't I?"

"That is my name."

"Vincent… I am so grateful to you. Thank you so much…" Yuffie said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you for saving me from that baker and taking me in like this. I know no one else would have done that for me…!"

"Yuffie… Like I said before, I give generously to people of what I have and you're no exception." I said, wiping away her tears. "If you would have been out there any longer, you would have died."

"I know that…. But you… you saved me… When I get older, when I am able to work and able to care for myself I will pay you back in some way. I'll do anything to pay you back."

"You don't have to pay me back anything."

"Then allow me… to be with you forever Vincent, don't let me be alone…"

"Forever, that long? Are you sure you want to be with me forever? You hardly even know me."

"I'm positive, I know I barely even know you but I can tell that you're different from other people Vincent," Yuffie began. "I can feel… something from you. Something that is warm and gentle… I want to feel this feeling forever."

Yuffie climbed out of from under the blanket and took my hands gently in her small hands as she climbed on my lap. She stared up at my face and said gently,

"Allow me to stay with you forever Vincent."

I smiled warmly at her; this girl was special she was causing me to smile more then I have in a long while. I held her hands gently but tightly in my own and sighed softly.

"As you wish. But if you ever want to leave, if you ever want to go off on your on Yuffie, you can leave me anytime at all." I said gently, stroking her soft, short black.

"You won't be able to get rid of me that easily Mr. Valentine…" Yuffie replied, smiling gently.

"What a persistent little girl…. Now come on lets get you fed or you're not going to get your ice cream."

"Yes sir!"

She reached for another plate of food off of one of the carts and began to start eating again, I held her close to me in my lap. I closed my eyes and laided my head in her soft black locks. I didn't quite understand this, why was this girl making me feel this way? I didn't understand at the time why I too also wanted her to stay with me forever…

Chapter 1 complete! I will post chapter 2 as soon as possible!