It has taken some time but I was able to write this chapter. I hope you enjoy.

The One They Call Beautiful

Chapter 7

9 Months Later

The dreams have increased to the point where I no longer get any sleep. An insomniac is the best to describe it. Black circles under my eyes have been very noticeable but I refuse to take pills for sleeping. For some reason I know if I were to take them I'd overdose on purpose.

For the past nine months, Vincent has been teaching me hand to hand combat and using a gun but I am very bad with guns. Very bad. Last time I helped Vincent with an errand concerning chocobos' and I had one…let's just say Vincent was displeased with me for a week.

I'm still somewhat passing my other classes with an average of a C but science is my best subject…how fitting. I hate science, yet that's the one subject I'm passing with an A. Lucky me- note the sarcasm.

As I started to get ready for the last day of school of this year, I prayed that there would be no homework, but teachers were just so evil these days and still gave me for the break. Right after school, I went back to the Shinra mansion. Mr. Valentine had told me to read up on swords since I was-in his words, "You are intelligent, fast and well-coordinated. I recommend for you to use swords as your first skill but you're better off learning from books. I'm not much of a swordsman myself, but you'd benefit from the reading."

'Now that I think about his words…it must mean that I really suck with a gun.'

Walking through the mansion's library feels like a maze to me or it might be the fact that I've never been in here until now. It's most likely the latter.

"I wonder." I went towards the back of the library under the history section and found books on weapons and such. I read about claymores, cutlass, falchion, long sword, and katana…damn that's a lot. So far the only ones that have interested me are the heavy weapons. I look at my arms and poke at what small muscle I have and sigh silently. "I know I'm a girl and 13 years old, and that my body probably won't be able to lift heavy objects. Even with Valentine's crazy workout it still won't be enough for my muscle development.

I sat on one of the libraries round table and laid 5 books down for me to read through, which were thankfully not that large. About three hours later it felt though as if someone was staring at me, so I looked to my left, then right.

"Try looking behind."

"What?!" I dropped the book and fell backwards still in my chair. I looked up and Vincent was staring down at me with a blank face.

"My, how graceful you've become in the months that I've trained you."

I rolled my eyes at him and got up.

"Not only more clumsy, but you show more emotion now- which I am grateful for-, but you have yet to tell us your name, so I've decided to give you one, Daisy."

"No, I told you that I'll give you my name, but not yet Valentine."

He sighed in disappointment, "I'm still going to call you Daisy. It's tiring referring you to her, she and so on. Have you decided what sword you're going to use?

I nodded, "Not yet. I'm having trouble deciding."

His eyebrow arched, "Need help?"

"Yes, but how are you going to help?"

"I need to see your body type."

"What do you mean? You've seen me for more than one year."

"Yes, but you always wear baggy clothing, so I cannot determine if your body will be able to withstand heavy or light weapons. Not to mention that's all you wear to school and training now."

"I see, so what do I do?"

Vincent walked in front of me with his blank face back still in place, "Strip to your last layer of clothing."

"…"

"…"

"Is there another option?"

"Oh sure, unless you rather I grope you through your clothes." He said dripping with sarcasm.

"Option one." I started to take off my hoodie and long-sleeved shirt, leaving me with my spaghetti strapped shirt. I did the same thing with my sweats and was left with shorts under…I love to layer clothing.

The raven haired man began to circle me and asked me to do certain stretches. It felt comfortable since he wasn't the type to "look" at a girl. He grabbed my arms and legs to check for muscle. The part that felt weird was when his had went to my stomach and told me to flex and started to push his hand further into it but gently pulled back.

"My recommendation would be a katana or something closely related to it. Based on your muscle growth you'll be strong but…I'm not sure if a heavy weapon will be in your favor. Though it's too early to tell, I'm only saying this from observation."

"Thanks for your opinion oh wise Mr. Miyagi." I finished dressing back up into my comfortable unnecessary clothing.

"You are most welcome Daisy." I swore that I saw him smirk, "We'll be going to find you a katana or something close it and hopefully balance you out in your grace, speed, and strength." We began walking out of the mansion.

"Grace?"

"It sounds worthless, but during battle -and if you have grace- it's a lot easier to flow through your movements and predict the enemies' attacks."

"Makes sense."

"Come on, right now Lucrecia is running an errand with Hojo," he spat his name, "so they won't be back in a while."

"Um, aren't you supposed to be protecting them?" I asked unsure.

"Yes."

"Then-"

"Apparently this one is top secret. Even I can't follow on some objectives."

"I see. Where do they sell katanas?"

"There's a person around here who makes them to the wielder's needs. So long as you give them the money to do it and to buy the metals' needed."

"It sounds expensive, how do you know he exists?" He turned his head to me and winked. I guess being a Turk has its advantages. We walked into the empty streets of Nibelheim.

"Even though it's expensive, it is worth every gil."

The rest of the way was silent to a small shack, just on the corner of Nibelheim- long walk. We went inside and saw many blades on the walls of the shack. As I went to inspect the swords I heard footsteps coming from another door.

"Can I help you?" The voice was that of an adult male, maybe in his late twenties or so.

"I need a sword for her." that was my cue to walk over to Vincent and the older man.

"What kind of sword are you thinking of?"

"I need something close to a katana." 'Something heavy basically.'

"Alright, how tall are you?"

"5'3". Why is he asking me this?

"Age?"

"13." Now that's just inappropriate.

"Since you're still growing, I think a longer sword is suggested. Are you comfortable with a Nodachi that's 68 inches?"

"Umm, that thing is 5 inches longer than me." I mumbled under my breath, "Yes."

"When do you need it created by?"

"Uh-"

"As soon as possible." Vincent cut me off.

"Very well. In exactly one week and do you have any preference on the hilt?"

"No-wait!" I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my silver medium sized bell that Lucrecia had given me as a joke, "Could you make this part of the chain to hang off?" I gave it to the man and nodded. I walked out as Vincent left the necessary amount of gil with the craftsman.

"You still had the bell with you?"

"Of course I do. It's one of my first gifts. I still have yours too but I haven't touched it since you gave it to me. I've been so busy since I last played it, especially with my classes that were keeping me up from sleep.

"Hm," he smirked, "you should play when I have a day off. I wouldn't want my gift to feel neglected."

"Maybe I will. Race you to the mansion?" I looked to my right and he was already several yards ahead of me. "Hey? Not fair!" I ran after him all the way to the mansion.

OMAKE

30 minutes later

"You cheated Daisy." We were talking in the living room discussing about a very serious subject.

"I did no such thing." I responded as Vincent put a bag of ice on his cheek.

"You elbowed me in the face while we were running." He stated plainly.

"…I don't believe I did."

"You are a horrible liar."

"Okay then how about a rematch? Winner gets bragging rights for a whole month."

Footsteps began to echo through the living room and Lucrecia came in with a pitcher of green bubbling stuff and a plate of what was…moving?

"I made some snacks!" Lucrecia set them on the table in front of us and walked out.

"Okay new plan," I began, "we run to Luigi's Pizza. The last one has to buy for the winner and themselves. Deal?"

"Deal, but no elbowing in the face."

"Sounds fair." We ran out the door and I elbowed him in the stomach and got ahead of him. Hey he never said anything about anywhere else. At the end of the day, I had a very full stomach. Vincent had a full and sore stomach.

Pay attention to the mentions of the dreams. If you pay attention you'll figure out how she's connected. I'll reveal "Daisy's" name in either chapter 9 or 10.