I have a poll up for this story. A friend of mine gave me an idea and pondered on it. So why not, but of course it's up to you if you're interested in it. Check it out, it's on my profile and ready to go.

I'm also wondering if anyone got the little reference in the last chapter about a certain someone. *Smiles*

The One They Call Beautiful

Chapter 9

A few days after Vincent was shot I stopped wallowing in the dark. Staying like this is not going to help Lucrecia or Vincent. They need me more than ever now. I knew that he would live, I have to trust in Lucrecia but I'm not sure anymore. Vincent would live, but at a cost. She explained it to me- he would become of something less than a human. Hojo would be in charge and I wanted to put bullets through him. First his legs, then work my way slowly towards his head. I want to see him suffer. Unfortunately he is the only one to help stop Vincent's body from decaying. I despise being so useless.

I've been training harder with my sword and combat skills without Vincent. My skills in books have been increasing as well-since I'm an insomniac I might as well take advantage of it. I want to see Vincent when he wakes up. I'll make sure that his training won't be a waste. I can't lose him, not another person in my life. This is why I hate letting people in, why I despise many things, people lie and they leave. The same story over and over again. Just once, I want to feel as if I belong. I don't know why they even wanted me to stay. I never asked for help, pain, and the fear.

I open my eyes and realize that I slept on my bed, "Hm, how odd." I sat up and stared at my violin case in the corner of my room and stood up. The dusty and spider webs were setting on it. "I haven't touched that thing since the day Vincent saved me." Due to the constant stress I've been putting on myself my body was beginning to malfunction. I looked at the mirror to my right and remembered that last night I cut my hair with the Nodachi. It now rested below my shoulder blades. My hair was a reminder of how much Vincent liked it and said that I should keep it long. The hair I had cut off was still on the ground. I picked it up and threw it in my trashcan and saw something fall from my dresser. It was the white ribbon from Lucrecia. I wanted to, so badly, to burn the damn thing, but that would only remind me of how hurt she was as well. Instead I used it to put my hair up in a braid with it at the end.

No matter how many bad things Lucrecia has done, I cannot do anything but forgive her. I cannot hate her, she was there when I was alone- my first friend. She gave me a place to live, learn and have memories. Never, I could never hurt her. I walked to my lonely violin- it's been almost 3 years. I opened the case and traced over the smooth details and texture of the violin. I laid the violin under my chin and its correct position. So I played, a new piece of song that Vincent would have definitely would have liked.

5 Months Later

I walked down into the basement to visit Valentine. Lucrecia always made sure that Hojo was out so I wouldn't get caught while trying to say hi to him or talk to him at least. I descended downstairs with a white thick book in my hand since I still had homework to do. I kept asking myself if I should tell them who I am or not. Keeping them both in the dark is not wise, especially now. 3 years and I've still yet to tell them my real name. Lucky me, Lucrecia said Vincent could hear everything that was going around him, but he would not be able to move to indicate that he had heard me. Occasionally he would open his eyes and close them after a while.

The door creaked open and saw Lucrecia. She smiled sadly at me and waved to enter, "I'm glad you're here, I was about to go get you."

"Lucrecia, you shouldn't over exert yourself. The baby will get hurt. Please, at least sit down-take a small break."

She giggled, "Sometimes I think if you're better off being the father, you worry too much." She joked which got me to smile somewhat.

"See, you should smile more often. It makes you look a lot more beautiful-not that I'm saying that you weren't before of course!" I nodded in understanding. Her legs carried her forward towards Vincent's mako tank. "Vincent…he has the same eyes as his father. They're both so similar that it's scary. The hair and eyes are what strikes your soul." Her voice cracked at the end and tears started to leak, "You asked me once if I had ever lost a life while on the job, the answer was yes, but it was Grimoire Valentine."

"His father."

"Yes. It's my fault for pushing him away, and I may lose him now too."

"I know that now isn't a good time but…when I was in class about a year ago, the teacher called me Ms. Crescent, instead of the name you gave me in disguise" (A/N- I know I didn't put her other fake name in chapter 6 but just go with it). I looked at her, "did you adopt me?"

Lucrecia took her eyes off Vincent, "I was about to sign the papers to make it official, but that was when Hojo shot-"she glanced at the floor, "when I got back from what happened the documents were in the fire of the chimney, it was him who most likely that did it. It was clear and simple. If I adopt you, you die. If you were to cross paths with him…you die. Even if I wanted to and Hojo didn't exist, Shinra would have found a way to destroy you. They want this project safe and a secret."

The depressing mood was awkward. "So, wither way…I'd die. As long as I stay hidden."

"Yes, but let's not dwell on it. So I see you're reading LOVELESS." I looked down at my book and nodded.

"Yeah, but I'm not a big fan of poetry. There is no ending for LOVELESS. I don't understand why our teacher is making us read it." I held the story to her as my white ribbon fell from the book to the ground.

"Really? I think it's interesting." She looked at the time on the computer, "well I believe I should leave you and Vincent to talk. I'll keep a lookout for you." As she left I heard her whisper something directed to Vincent and it was so very familiar, "I'm so sorry."

I turned towards Vincent, "I don't know what to do anymore. I'm so confused with all of this…I'm sorry for not staying with you after you got shot. I just…couldn't say goodbye in case you were going to leave us alone. " My eyes closed as I took a deep breath and let it out as I shook my head, "I wish I could ask for your advice." My eyes wandered to the right of the lab, "I finally played the violin you gave me and I'm making a new song for you. I hope you'll like it. I'm also at the top of my classes now, still training and made first string on the soccer team." My mind wandered to Lucrecia as I sat on the floor, "I'm sorry, I'm being selfish. All I'm doing is talking about my me, but then again you're probably just ignoring me while thinking about what kind of harsh training you're going to put me through when you get out…right?" I chuckled lightly.

I tucked my knees and book under my chin, "You're father sounds handsome. At least I know where all your good looks come from." I joked a little, "I know that you'll never think of me as much as Lucrecia and I can live with that and dare I say I'm a little jealous of her. She's so beautiful, while I'm just pale and without beauty. I'd say that our roles are like beauty and the beast. You're becoming less human while Lucrecia…is Belle… The day you told me that you'd stay in the background and imply that you'd love her from afar," I sighed, "You reminded me of my favorite flower –the lotus. They wish to bloom but no other person I know of will allow them to. But don't worry Vincent," I stood up, "I'll help you bloom, just like you helped me. I swear that I'll try to help Lucrecia. If I can't then…I-I'll help her baby and you Vincent. Even if it's only a little. Like you, I'll love you from afar, just as you love Lucrecia from the same distance."

Lucrecia came in running out of nowhere. "Quickly! Hide! He's coming." She grabbed my hand and led me into a cabinet under Vincent's tank, filled with glass containers, "Don't move."

"Oh hello Dr. Hojo. D-did you need something?"

"…"He ignored her and went to collect notes and proceeded to leave but noticed a white ribbon on the floor and the cabinet slightly opened. He was staring right at me as I peered through the crack. I shifted a little and accidentally dropped a glass container, shattering it. 'SHIT!'

"It seems that we have a rodent infestation." He took out a gun from his coat.

'What the hell! Does this guy always carry one with him?' I clutched to my LOVELESS book close to my body while my left hand was covering my mouth.

"BANG!"

I felt it make me go back somewhat and hurt my chest. Was I bleeding?

"If you find the rodent, please clean it up, I have other business to attend to." He left out the door with a smirk. He knew it was me.

The cabinet door opened to find a crying Lucrecia and took me out. She checked me for injuries in a hurry. "Thank god you're safe."

I looked down and stared in shock at my LOVELESS book. It had the bullet stuck in there. I began to hyperventilate as I clutched to Lucrecia and we both sat on the floor. She calmed me down and took me a few minutes to breath normal again. I still had the adrenaline and I snapped. I began to laugh in hysteria. If I hadn't put my book at all in front of me, it would have hit my heart. I could have died.

Hope you enjoyed! ^_^

I couldn't decide on how to end it so I chose this.

When I start school I won't be able to update as much as I'd like, but no worries I'm uploading my chapters as fast as possible to make up for the future.

R & R