Morning came and everyone indeed felt rejuvenated. Loren woke up in Vincent's lap and promptly rose, not letting Vincent see the flush in her cheeks. In about half and hour after Loren rose, everybody was downstairs.

"Good morning, everyone."

Everyone looked up from their breakfasts at her; some reiterated the message, others spoke through their food, which was promptly reprimanded, some nodded, and some did nothing at all. Loren smirked to herself and sat away from everybody else in a corner of the lobby. A plate of food was soon given to her and she began to eat while thinking. 'At least some of them said something. I do not know; maybe their mouths were too full of food to say anything to me. Maybe they do not trust me. Maybe they hate me. No, I am thinking pessimistically. I cannot do this to myself! But they have not known me for very long, so they could think that this is how I really am. Maybe they are right. I am double-crossing them after all…but that is for them, not for me! I am protecting them! I can help them fight Sephiroth and have a better chance of winning, while on the other hand, I could be dead and they would be plucked off one by one, with Vincent going first. I just cannot have that. I just…cannot…is this really for them? Or is it for me? Argh, I am just going to ignore this and mayhap it would be better for all of us if I just did not speak. I will just have to keep my guilty conscience to myself or I will have more than a guilty conscience to worry about. I will have to deal with odd stares and sidelong glances of distrust. Is this how Vincent felt when I gave him that distrustful stare when I first came into my apartment? I must apologize for that. Will they not give me those horrible stares anyway? Argh, I am thinking too hard! What is wrong with me? Why can I not just…'

Her train of thought broke when a hard cold hand gripped her shoulder. She looked up and saw Vincent gazing at her concernedly.

"Are you alright? You were so absorbed in your thoughts that you looked like me."

Loren shook her head.

"I was just thinking too hard. Come, sit by me."

Vincent went and took a seat on her left. She glanced at him then back at the table.

"How did you react when I first looked at you?"

Vincent remained silent for a moment.

"The way I normally do everyone else. I was passive. I always wondered about your appearance, though. I always thought you too pale to be healthy. Your skin has a strange quality to it to the point that it glows if under any source of light."

Loren's lips slightly curved up in a smile.

"Well, it has been years since I have truly been in direct sunlight. I have never really paid much attention to my complexion."

"I see."

A moment of silence.

"I want you back to the way you used to be."

"…"

"I miss the old you. The person you are right now is so solemn and formal."

"So you want me to be wild and arbitrary? Is that what you want? I expected more of you, Vincent."

"That's not what I meant. I just want you to relax a little and to not be so absorbed in your thoughts. I've been there. It's not very happy."

"I do not think I was ever aiming for happy. I remain absorbed in my thoughts so I do not hurt anyone anymore."

Vincent narrowed his eyes in thought.

"You said you had nearly been driven insane the last time you listened to someone. People have come and gone and used and abused you. I imagine you must have had several relationships. You are alone right now. You must have left them, am I correct?"

"…Yes."

"So how is it that you do not want to hurt anyone despite how much you've been hurt?"

Loren's eye twitched.

"That is the stupidest question anyone has ever asked me. The obvious answer is that I know what it is like to go through such an intense pain as someone hurting you."

Vincent averted his eyes, seemingly feeling stupid.

"Oh."

"Look. Can I be alone for a while? I know I came back to be with you all, but I need to ponder over something for a little bit."

"Okay. I'll be with the others. Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you."

Vincent slowly walked over to the main table where everyone else was. Loren was glad that Vincent didn't ask any questions, but had to wonder why he didn't to begin with. Usually he would ask why. Again Loren started to argue with herself. 'Damn, I feel so guilty. They are treating me at least remotely normal again and I am just going to lead them to their deaths…No, that will not happen. They will defeat Sephiroth. They will, they will…I will help them. Yes, I will help them beat him. I want to remain with Vincent. I will not lose him again!' Even though she had only thought for a while, it had taken about five minutes to get it all done.

Loren stood and strode over to the main table. The table quieted and looked up at her warily and expectantly.

"Cloud, Tifa, Vincent…can we hurry and finish so I can go see your homes?"

They seemed a little caught off guard, but quickly recovered and agreed. Breakfast was quickly finished and all stepped outside into the cool air. The crispness of the air gave the impression that it was deep into autumn. Loren couldn't resist. She smiled and then laughed. Half the group gave her a weird expression. She laughed again.

"What month is it?"

Cloud raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"It's November, why?"

"Oh, nothing. Autumn just puts me in good spirits. I love the cool air and the shorter days. What day is it, anyway?"

Cloud shrugged.

"Hey Red, what day is it?"

"It is Tuesday, the 22nd."

"I see. Oh, what a beautiful day!"

Vincent smiled a crooked smile and caught up to Loren.

"You seem happier now."

"Oh, yes. I feel much better."

"Well that's good. I'm glad your spirits have improved contrary to last night."

Cloud perked up at this.

"What? What did you all do last night?" I heard something about improved and night."

Loren's face screwed up in disgust.

"You pervert! Are you thinking what I think you are? Oh, how disgusting, Cloud!"

Cloud shrugged innocently.

"Hey, what do you expect? The way you all just stayed in the same room last night can instill some form of that in my mind. I mean, you came down flushed this morning and I can suspect that you all have become lovers."

Loren's eyes melted from gray to glowing green. Cloud backed a few steps.

"Nothing of the sort has happened! I have never even thought of such a thing and I am sure Vincent has not thought of such things either…right, Vincent?"

Vincent face flushed the color of his cloak. Loren backed a few steps. Neither said anything for a minute. Cloud ran off. Loren grabbed her sword. Vincent's eyes lit in surprise.

"I cannot believe this! You are unbelievable! Oh my…! I did not know you even thought like that!"

"sigh All men think that way, Loren. It's inevitable. I imagine even you have thought this way before even if it wasn't me."

"No, I have not! Oh, I must get away from you! I cannot believe this!"

"Loren…!"

She drew her sword and pointed it at him dangerously.

"Stay away for now. I need time alone."

"I…okay. There's no point in arguing."

Loren put her sword away and fled from his sight, again not allowing him to see her flushing face. She ran to the safety of the mansion, skipping Cloud and Tifa's houses entirely, not even noticing. As she ran inside, she suddenly felt safe, but still unnerved for some reason as if she were in danger. She pushed such thoughts aside and collapsed on one of the dust-covered couches. She smiled to herself.

"I am going to have to pay for that later."

Her thoughts shifted back to him though. She shuddered. 'I cannot believe he has thought of such things! I thought he was above that…then again…have I ever had those same thoughts before? I always thought he was attractive, but to think of that…maybe I reacted too harshly…I was just caught off guard…no! I have never had such thoughts cross me before…have I? Ugh, why can I not remember? Damn it!'

The next thing she knew, she was being lifted from the couch, and flying across the room to slam against the opposite wall. The wind knocked from her body, she lay on the floor, gasping for breath. She looked down to see a bright red line running down the middle of her chest. The rattling of chains brought to her attention a (insert creature name). She tensed and brought her sword to the ready. Her power completely focused, her eyes glowing green, she leaped in the air and brought her sword down upon the creature, the blade eagerly feasting on its flesh. It screamed in agony and launched itself at her, the giant blade it rested on soaring towards her. She easily dodged the attack but was caught off guard when its fist flew into her face, sending her flying backwards again. She laughed for the joy of it all. She launched her body toward the creature and lobbed off one of its arms. The man-thing fell from its perch and writhed on the floor, struggling against the bonds of death. Loren stood over the wretched thing and ended its misery by plunging her sword into its skull, spraying blood all over her. She withdrew her sword and placed it back in its sheath. She remained alert, though, because she felt as if she was being watched. A sudden impulse compelled her to jump, and she did as a bullet flew below her. Her eyes glowing once again, she grabbed onto the chain that remained from the creature she had just slain. Looking around, she searched for the origin of the bullet. A glimpse of crimson from her right made her heart skip. Was that Vincent? No, it couldn't be. But Vincent wore crimson and bore a gun. She couldn't help but feel anxious. What would he be shooting at her for? She had to ask.

"Vincent? Is that you?"

A cold voice rang out in the empty mansion.

"So, you have come here, of all places."

It sounded like him so she continued, fearfully.

"Well, yes, I could only think of this place. After what happened, this is the only refuge I thought of."

"You shouldn't be here. Get out."

"But…Vincent…you seemed to agree to my request before. Why the sudden change of heart?"

"This is my home. No one should be here. Only me. Only my basement, my precious basement…"

Loren's eyes narrowed. Vincent hated that place. It brought too many memories, too much burden…Loren tensed.

"You are not Vincent! Vincent hates that basement as much as Cloud does! Imposter, show yourself!"

Terse laughter followed her outburst.

"You seemingly know Vincent more than I thought. Alright, fine, I will show myself to you."

A man in a white lab coat stepped from the shadows. He wore glasses, had greasy hair, and held a gun and crimson cloth at his side. Disgust swelled in Loren's breast at the sight of him, the wretched man, Hojo. A sickening smile was plastered on his face, and more horrifyingly so, a look of avid curiosity.

"Your eyes…they are just like his…"

"Yes they are. They are just like your son's. I hate these eyes of his, but I will use them knowing that my power is increased and that it will aid my cause to stop you and him."

Hojo snorted in laughter.

"Son? I've never had a son. If you're speaking of Sephiroth, he was just a perfect but failed experiment. I never had the ability to procreate, so I let her be with Vincent and she soon was heavy with child. I had never been happier."

"Lucrecia…"

"Yes, I let the little whore go and screw Vincent, then she came back to me and allowed her own fetus to be experimented on…all in the name of science. What a stupid woman. I'm glad she did what she did though, or Sephiroth, my perfect specimen, wouldn't be here."

"You have a twisted mind."

"Of course, that is why my work is now incomplete due to you."

Loren's eyes narrowed and her brows furrowed in confusion and anger.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, don't you worry, that will be fixed all in due time, ha ha ha!"

"Hojo, what are you…?"

She was never able to finish her sentence because a dart flew into her arm. She flinched in pain and took out the dart, but the deed was done. Drowsiness overcame her and the disgusting, and now terrifying, laughter of Hojo enveloped her senses before she lost consciousness.

Hojo looked down at the unconscious--and undeniably beautiful--body, and smiled.

"Now we will see how good of a specimen you really are, my dear."

A/N: Helloes! How are my beloved readers faring? I'm truly sorry for the wait! Finals, solo/ensemble, school concerts, writer's block, no internet (I've been having to use other people's comps!), blah, blah, blah, along with an introduction to DDR (Geez, that caused me a lotta pain! It's pretty interesting, though); it all caused me to take forever! And the moos go cow. Yes, yes. Reviews, thanks yous very much. Loren is going to be pretty decorated once I get through with her.

L: Decorated? What do you mean, 'decorated'?

ES: Well, you already have the optional eyeball thingies…

L: What next? Are you going to give me fangs next?

ES: Fangs? I didn't think of that…

L: No, no! I take that back! Geez, make me grow wings, why don'tcha?

ES: What, did I hear wings? Ooooh…. (Evil plan forming)

L: Aw, crap.

ES: Don't worry. I won't make you have either of those. (yet. Mwa ha ha!)

L: Get away from meeeeeee!

ES: Oh, okay, fine! Just let me do what I will.

Seph: Envelop her in eternal flames or something.

L: Fiend Infer--! (Vincent enters)

S: (whimpering)

L: Vincent! (jumps on Vin)

V: Hey. (looks around. Sees Sephiroth) Aah, Sephiroth! Attack, attack! Chaos! (transforms)

S: I can take you on! (gets poked by Chaos; flies backwards) Aaaaaahhhh!

S: (stands) That's it! Super No--!

L: Fiend Inferno!

S: D-damn…grr…grraaahhhh! (kills Vin; removes Loren's arms with Masamune)

ES: Goddammit, Sephiroth! I've had it with you! Limit Break: Living Nightmare! (grabs Cloud and hides him; puts on shades) (Hojo appears in a thong)

H: …Gotta see that tho-o-ong! Baby! That thong, thong, thong, thong, thong…!

S: (mortified) Noooooooooooooooo!

H: Come on, son, join me! Tho-o-ong…!

S: I hate you, ES…

ES: Not my fault. Review please! Don't throw up either!

H: Th-o-o-o-o-onggggg……