Disclaimer: All characters belong to Square Enix.

It had been a week since that man, Vincent Valentine had walked into his hangar. Somehow the thought of him didn't want to leave Cid. Who was he, and maybe more important, where had he come from. As far as Cid was concerned there wasn't a settlement within a two days radius, only old, gloomy forests. He hadn't looked like someone who lived in a forest, he had looked too well groomed, albeit maybe a bit odd, for that.

Then there was also the discovery he had made only yesterday. He had taken the Tiny Bronco out for a test flight after completely upgrading the little old thing, and what had he seen as he had been soaring through the air? A mansion. A big, old stone mansion hidden away in the depts of the forest. Was that were Vincent had come from? And if so, how come he had never noticed that mansion before during any of his earlier flights.

That night he had asked some of the villagers if they knew about a mansion in the woods. All the answer he got had been that no one had ever dared to go any further inside the forest than the edge. When he asked them why they said it was because the forest was haunted, that werewolves and vampires and demons resided within it. Cid had thanked them, rolled his eyes and went back home.

The blond shook his head as he thought back to the frightened looks he had seen in the people's eyes when they told him. Vampires, werewolves and demons. No, Cid Highwind did not believe in such nonsense. He tried to imagine Vincent as one of those creatures as he stepped outside and lit the cigarette hanging from his lips. Nah, if he had been he most likely would have eaten him or drank his blood instead of marvelling at the airships.

Contrary to popular belief Cid was actually very good at reading people, and he had seen not a glimmer of evil or bad intentions in those too big, bright red eyes. True, it was a pretty uncommon colour and he could understand how people might find that creepy, but all he had seen was the child-like wonder in them as he had gazed at the airships. Yet what had touched him the most was the sadness and loneliness he had seen in them as well. It had struck something inside him, as if he needed to help this man, and ever since he had been unable to get him out of his mind.

"Exactly who the fuck are ya, Vincent Valentine." He said to the woods, blue smoke wafting to the air.

- Ancient Pines –

Vincent let The Galian Beast run through the woods as he was drawn back in his own mind. It wasn't unusual for one of his lower demons to take over whenever he was nervous, frightened, angered or just needed to think. Today it was the latter, as it had been almost all week. He had been surprised by his behaviour whilst visiting the village, to say the least. He had been extremely nervous. Not only had he defied his father by leaving the house, he had also risked him and his father being found out for what they are and being killed. The sole thought of his father being killed just because he was curious made his blood go cold. It wasn't fair, the fact that they were judged by what they are, punished for the actions of others.

And then there was his meeting with Cid. He had thought that, as soon as he even caught glimpse of someone, he would either flee in fear of being found out or attack to prevent them from revealing him. Instead he had just stood there, frightened, yes, but he hadn't acted on the feeling. He had been too amazed by the sight of the airships to think about either fleeing or attacking. And then the blond had spoken to him, and he had replied. That was probably what had amazed him the most. He didn't usually say much, not even to his father, but talking to Cid had seemed so… easy. As if he had talked to him many, many times before already. It had been strange, still is. It was almost as if he had instinctively known that it was safe to talk to the pilot, that he could trust him. Maybe it had been his soft laughter, or the fire in those blue eyes, he really didn't know, and it bothered him, fascinated him even. The strangeness of it all.

He wanted to know, no, needed to know. Just like his father Vincent possessed a great thirst for knowledge. He needed to unravel every mystery he came across, especially ones that concerned himself.

To engrossed in his own thoughts Vincent only now noticed how close to the village they were. Should he go have a quick look? After a few moments Vincent decided to go and took control of The Galian Beast. Not enough to change back into himself, but enough to control his actions. He directed the feral demon towards the edge of the forest, close to where he knew Cid's hangar was. He hid behind some bushes as he spotted the blond outside the hangar, smoking. For a while he stayed there and watched as dusk settled over the village.

Having finished his cigarette Cid looked towards the darkening sky and the gloomy forest once more before deciding to go back it. He still had some work to do on The Highwind he wanted to finish today.

Just when he was about to turn his back to the forest he froze.

Vincent's eyes widened just a bit as he saw the pilot freeze mid-movement. Quickly he pressed The Galian Beast's body to the ground, hoping he hadn't been seen.

Cid searched the forest for a few more moments before going inside. He thought he had seen a pair of luminous yellow eyes. Probably just some nocturnal forest dweller, he shrugged. Yet he couldn't help but think of what the other villagers had said. Right, werewolves. As if.

Making sure he had heard the door fall in the lock Vincent sat up again. His heart was racing as he turned and retreated back into the woods. Not long after he detected the scent of a lone deer on the wind. Something akin to a grin appeared on The Galian Beast's muzzle. Be it claws or gun, Vincent loved hunting. That and it would take his mind off of things for a while.

Excited, he slightly lessened his control on the lower demon and set about tracking the unsuspecting deer, weaving through the endless pine trees.

AN: I really enjoyed writing this chapter, even despite having only one useful hand seeing as I accidentally cut the skin between two of my fingers on a shard of glass. Chapters may be a bit short until my hand is healed.

JiLLiBeanz: Thanks a lot for the review. I hope this explains things a bit for you.