Side Story I

Ting-ting went the door to the shop as it was opened. Vincent looked up to see a tall, long-silver-haired male, dressed in black leather, approach him. "Hello, may I be of assistance to you?"

"Aa, I was wondering about a pet I rented out," the costumer answered. After a long pause with the silver haired male not continuing, Vincent frowned and questioned, "Was there something wrong with the pet? All of our pet know the rules and are tested regularly for diseases and the like; they also know when they are allowed to refuse requests made by their masters."

The customer stared at Vincent surprised, "No, my pet is perfectly fine; I was just wondering if I would be able to keep him longer."

Vincent apologized for jumpy to conclusions and responded to his costumer's inquiry as he headed to the computer, "Why didn't you just say that in the beginning? May I have your name and the pet you are renting? And how much longer do you want to rent him? I'll have to see if the pet has already been booked though."

"My name is Sephiroth and my pet is Cloud." Sephiroth provided as he followed Vincent to the counter.

Vincent stopped in place and Sephiroth's reflexes were the only thing that stopped him from bumping into him. "I'm sorry but the extension won't be possible. Cloud is the most popular pet, which is why he is the most expensive. The only reason why you were able to rent him is because the costumer that usually rented him during this period died."

Sephiroth stared at Vincent with disappointment, "Is there no way for me take over the rent periods of the deceased costumer then?" Seeing the light disappear from the General's eyes, Vincent let out a sigh before continuing to the computer. "Cloud really is a miracle worker."

"I'll see what I can do," Vincent replied, looking at Sephiroth from the corner of his eye and seeing the light return. Within a few seconds, Cloud's schedule was uploaded on the computer and as Vincent looked it over, Sephiroth grew more anxious.

"O.K." the black-haired male said at last.

"O.K.?" Sephiroth repeated.

"No one has yet to replace the old costumer and since you have asked first, you can take the time-slots. Just remember that you have to get Cloud back on time or else you'll no longer be allowed to rent him." Vincent clarified. "Also make sure you pay on time because that's another factor that would prevent you from renting him if you fail to do so."

With a nod and a 'thank you,' Sephiroth exited the store and when Vincent looked out the window he saw the spiky-haired blonde jump into Sephiroth's arms with a smile.

Omake of Side Story I

Vincent stopped in place and Sephiroth's reflexes were the only thing that stopped him from bumping into him. "I'm sorry but the extension won't be possible. Cloud is the most popular pet, which is why he is the most expensive. The only reason why you were able to rent him is because the costumer that usually rented him during this period died."

With a flash, Masamune was pulled out and thanks to Vincent's Turk training, Cerberus was aimed at Sephiroth's head. "General put the sword down," Vincent said calmly, "there is no need for violence."

"Cloud is mine! If I don't get him then I'll just make it so that no one else can!" Sephiroth exclaimed angrily, his sword held tightly in his hands.

Thinking quickly, Vincent decided he might as well bargain for his and Cloud's benefit. "The only way you'd be able to rent Cloud is if the new regular costumer of Cloud is killed."

His sword lowering, the mad look on Sephiroth's face began to fade, "Really? Who is it?"

"I'm sorry, but because of patron-client privacy, I am unable to tell you, but if you look in a newspaper you'd be able to get that information yourself," Vincent answered as his titled his head to gesture to the paper lying on the counter.

With a nod to Vincent, Sephiroth grabbed the paper and left the story with the intention to return.

Ting-ting the bell went as a blood covered Sephiroth entered a week after his initial visit. "It's been taken care of," the General stated before throwing a head onto the counter, "I expect that I will be one of Cloud's regulars now?"

With a smile on his usually somber face, Vincent nodded as he handed papers over the no longer crazy General, "Just make sure to fill out those papers and when you're done you can go, I'll take care of this head." With that, Vincent left to dispose of the deceased costumer's head and when he returned the only thing that signified Sephiroth's presence was the completed files on the counter.

On the following day's papers the identity of the client was revealed, as the front page stories read –

'PRESIDENT SHINRA ASSASSINATED! IS THIS WORK OF WUTAI NINJAS?'

'DECEASED PRESIDENT FOUND WITH NO HEAD! WHERE DID IT GO?'

'RUFUS SHINRA IS THE NEW PRESIDENT! WAS HE INVOLVED IN HIS FATHER'S DEATH?'

'HUMAN EXPERIMENTS FOUND IN SCIENCE LAB! BLOOD OF LATE PRESIDENT ALSO FOUND! BUT SCIENTIST HOJO IS MISSING WHERE COULD HE HAVE GONE?

'SOURCES SAY THAT OLD MAN SHINRA DIED BECAUSE OF CONFLICTS INVOLVING A PET!'

Of course out of all of these, the last one no one believed in even though it was the truth…

End