A/N: Wow, I updated again! Woo! Enjoy!

Right, here's a disclamer that I haven't done in awhile: I do not own Final Fantasy Characters, or the francise, or Square Enix. I'd like too, though...It'd help in my plot of world domination...

How to Be Human

Lesson Fourteen: How to Introduce Yourself

Shera's (Cinder's) View

I don't want him to die.

Isn't it weird? My last master died to a gunshot too. Wait, not "too." Master Zel isn't dead!

Yet…

I woke up in a hospital room. Funny, I don't remember falling asleep. But…maybe I fainted after Miss Lilith told me someone had shot Master Zel. The doctors told me that I slept for a whole day.

It's been three. Master Zel still hasn't woken up.

Yesterday some of the Turks and Miss Lilith came to visit. It turns out that the hospital we're in belongs to the Shinra Corporation, where Master Zel works. For some reason, Miss River, Mr. Rito, and Mr. Tori didn't come.

I thought River liked Master Zel…?

Maybe she was busy.

Miss Riley stayed the longest out of all the visitors. She sat with me and read me stories and just talked. It helped a lot and stopped me from crying way too much.

I think I'm dehydrating myself from shedding too many tears.

Mr. Vincent visited once, while Riley was reading a book to me. For awhile, neither of us noticed he was there. He'd taken a seat next to Zel's hospital bed and was resting his elbows on the side of the bed, his hands clasped together as if he was praying. His forehead was resting against his hands and his eyes were closed.

Riley stopped reading and we watched him silently, surprised. We hadn't heard him come in.

Vincent seemed to notice that we were staring at him and looked up at us.

Then he looked at me. Just at me.

Without a word, he stood up and ran from the room.

Riley told me not to worry about it. Vincent was just shy, she said.

But why did he look so…guilty…when he looked at me?

He's already killed one of my masters…would he do it again?

In the end, all the questions boiled down to one accusation that I couldn't understand. In the end, for whatever reason, I believed that the person who shot Master Zel was the same person who killed Master Kriev.

But why would Vincent shoot Master Zel? Weren't they brothers?

I told myself it was an accident, but I couldn't believe it. Riley…everybody…seemed to know something I did not. And no one was telling me anything!

Did this all connect? And, when I say "this," I mean, Master's changing eye color and memory issues connecting to him getting shot.

After about two hours of questioning myself, I found that I was going in circles and giving myself a headache. And, the whole time, only one question really registered in my head.

What was going on here?

Around about four in the afternoon a man came and stood outside the window looking into Master Zel's room from the hallway. He didn't come into the room. No, he just stood outside, looking in, his face full of worry. The type of worry a father would have looking at his dying son.

I noticed something about this man.

He looked a lot like Mr. Vincent.

And I don't mean like they might have been related, or that maybe they were distant cousins or something. No, it was obvious that this man was Vincent's father.

(Actually, I thought he was Vincent's brother, until I noticed he had grey hair…that was the only difference I could find…I know, I'm pitiful.)

Riley caught sight of the man about the same time I did and excused herself to go talk to him. I stayed put in my chair, watching Master Zel sleep.

Why won't he wake up?

Scientist's View: Grimore Valentine

Grimore nodded slightly to Riley of the Turks, frowning at the coma-like form of his adopted son.

"Care to explain?" he asked quietly. Riley sighed and looked down the hallway quickly before answering.

"I…I don't know much, Doctor…All I know is that they-er, Vincent and Miss Lilith- brought Zel in three days ago and that he was bleeding out from two pretty severe bullet wounds."

"You do know that Vincent was the cause of those wounds?" Grimore asked calmly. Riley could only nod.

"If you want the whole story…you're going to have to talk to River or Vincent…I-I'm sworn to secrecy, Sir." Riley winced. She really wasn't afraid of Grimore Valentine. No, really, the Turks' nickname for him was Gramps. But…she knew how protective he was of his family, despite the fact Vincent complained on a regular basis about how neglected bye his father he was as a child. Well, not complained, more like stated.

But everyone knew that Grimore had a lot hidden behind his seemingly laid back personality and carefree smile. A Valentine is a Valentine, after all. Vincent's cold, calculating genius and his skills with long-ranged weaponry were obviously hereditary traits.

Riley learned that the hard way. She was one of the few Turks who'd ever seen Doctor Grimore Valentine hold a gun.

"Funny…You Turks can't seem to keep your mouths shut when it comes to mission specs and the supposedly 'top secret' information, but when it comes to dirt on each other, you're harder to get information out of than a monk who's taken an oath of silence."

"Funny how things work Sir," she replied, gulping slightly. Grimore nodded solemnly.

"You Turks are a fickle bunch…Good Day, Riley," Grimore said before walking off down the hall. Riley looked after him, sighing and heading back into the hospital room.

Shera's (Cinder's) View

Riley apologized for having to leave, but I knew she had to work and eat and sleep. She couldn't just sit with me for however long it took for Master Zel to wake up.

If he woke up...

After Riley left, the feeling of being alone really began to crush me. Of course, I was used to being alone at Master Zel's house, but I was always used to the prospect of knowing he was going to come home eventually.

I began to regret things, I noticed, as time wore on. Like never telling Master Zel my name, for instance, or never asking him anything about his family or letting him talk. He told me he liked hearing me speak, and that's why he let me talk all the time.

I wished I could hear more of his voice…

For some reason, I really wanted him to know my name.

-Day Four-

I know I shouldn't give up.

-Day Five-

I'm not going to give up, I swear.

-Day Six-

Please don't die, Master Zel…Please don't leave me alone…

-Day Seven-

He wasn't getting any better. But he wasn't getting any worse. I wouldn't leave his side, though the doctors told me I should. When I had to sleep, I'd sleep on the chair. Or I'd curl up next to Master Zel and sleep there.

That's where I was now, curled up next to him, watching him sleep.

Wake up, Master Zel.

I sighed, holding back more tears. I mean, seriously, I didn't even know I had so many tears.

"Please wake up, Master Zel," I whispered, burying my head into his chest. "Please, for me? I-I want to talk to you again, Master Zel."

Nothing. I began to cry harder. I know I'm acting stupid…as if tears could wake him up again.

"Please!" I sobbed harder, trying to disappear into the sheets that covered his chest. "Please wake up!"

Something around me shifted and someone groaned.

"Ugh, what time is it? Huh? Why are ya crying, Cinder?" My eyes went wide.

"MASTER ZEL!" I squealed, throwing my arms around him.

Scientist's View: Grimore Valentine

Seven days. It'd been seven days since Zel had been shot, and his condition hadn't changed. Grimore sighed, walking into his designated lab and shaking his head. He really didn't want to get back to work. Sure, the first couple days he was able to concentrate fine.

Zel was a Turk after all. A few gunshots normally kept him bedridden for two days, three days tops. Then he'd be all ready to go and get himself shot again, or hurt in some other way. Zel never stayed out of trouble.

But as the days wore on, Grimore began to think it wasn't the bullet wounds keeping his normally hyperactive son sedated and in a coma-like state.

Grimore was pulled out of his silent contemplation by and unusual sight. Sticking out from behind one of the many counters was a blue-clothed leg. Just one, mind you, with the shined black shoe still on the foot.

Grimore took a stab at who it might be.

"Planning to ambush me, Vincent?" he asked. The leg moved and disappeared behind the counter.

"Sure. Leave and come back in so I can do it right. I fell asleep," came the smart-assed reply. Grimore smiled slightly. This was, in fact, an old joke that ran between him and Vincent.

Because exactly how long Grimore was going to stay off of the Turks' "hit list" was yet to be determined, the joke was that, if he ever did end up on the list, that Akito would send Vincent to kill him.

Grimore often wondered what kind of father Akito had if he thought it was normal for a son to kill his parents.

Vincent stood up from where he was sitting (hiding?) behind the counter and waved in greeting to his father.

The older man took this moment to stare open-mouthed at the disheveled look of his son.

"You look like shit, Vincent, pardon my language."

"You'd look like this too if you shot your brother," Vincent replied, making a futile attempt to straighten out his uniform.

"Thank the Gaia I'm an only child."

"It sucks for me. I don't have any cousins."

"Trust me; they're not worth the effort."

"Whatever you say, Dad, whatever you say," Vincent shrugged, frown returning to his face.

"You did what was right, Vincent. I know that's hard to believe," Grimore said, walking over and putting a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

"Who'd you hear the story from?" Vincent muttered.

"Lilith. Rito. River. In that order."

"Oh…I see…"

"What's your side?" Grimore asked.

"I shot Zel."

"I already know that."

"Then that's all you need to know."

"What, nothing about him actually turning into that demon incarnation known as 'Drakra' or nothing about how Zel's in for a very rude awakening when he wakes up…"

"If," Vincent stated.

"When he wakes up, because most likely he won't remember any part of the incident?" Grimore continued, ignoring Vincent's comment. "So basically, you just lost your bet."

"How much did Lilith tell you?!"

"It pays to be the father of a pair of Turks, doesn't it?" Grimore frowned. "What do we do about the little girl? Cinder, was it?"

"What do you mean?" Vincent asked.

"Well, since you seem to have such a happy outlook on your brother's survival, I'm asking you what you are planning to do with the little girl entrusted to your brother's care."

"Me? Why me?"

"You want me to take her in? She'll die from my cooking."

"I'm not a kid person."

"Vincent, you're not a people person. Sometimes, I doubt whether or not you actually are a person. Zel's the same way, and, if you haven't noticed, he seems pretty happy with Miss Cinder."

"'Cept I shot him. That makes me even less of a person."

"Yes, and you bring that up again. I swear, Vincent, you have trouble letting things go."

"You still think Mom died because of you."

"Touché. That aside…"

"Doctor Valentine!" A voice called from the hallway. Grimore and Vincent looked out into the hallway, watching as a body clad in all black (not counting the white lab coat) slide past the door and into a wall. "I'm okay! Don't worry, I am OKAY!"

"Fameos, stop attacking my wall!" Grimore yelled. Fameos (yes, this is Lilith's boyfriend) slipped into the room, grinning broadly.

"My deep apologies, Doctor…HEY VINCENT! HOW ARE YOU?!" Fameos waved. Vincent smiled slightly and waved back. Fameos's overly hyperactive personality was contagious sometimes.

"I'm fine, Fameos. What are you doing here?" Vincent asked. Grimore nodded

"I'm on a mission! I mean, I have a message!" Fameos said, smiling. He nodded and looked around and then looked back at the pair of Valentines.

"I am happy to announce that Zeliki woke up approximately five minutes and forty three seconds ago and was immediately assaulted by doctors. He should be released tonight or tomorrow morning," Fameos rattled off. When he was done, he saluted and turned around. He then poked his head into the hallway and searched for signs of life. When he was satisfied that there weren't any (he wasn't too sure about the bacteria on the floor) he closed the door to the lab and swung around to face the Valentines again, frowning.

"I can guarantee you that the bullet wounds weren't what kept Zel in a coma for a week, Doctor, Turk," he said somberly.

"We thought as much," Grimore replied. Vincent nodded.

"Then we need to do something about this 'Drakra' nuisance, even if it's only temporary," Fameos stated, fingering the one blank strand of hair he hand on his head, a stark contrast to the rest of his hair, which was blonde.

"What do you propose we do?" Vincent asked heatedly, scowling. "It's not like there's a cure for whatever Drakra is."

"Insanity can be cured," Grimore stated. "The problem is, Drakra might not be a form of insanity, or, rather, Multiple personality disorder."

"What do you mean, Doctor?"

"Dad, drop the 'sentient life forms' crap, would you?" Vincent muttered.

"Thank you Vincent; it's nice to know you think my work is 'crap.'"

"You think Drakra might be a sentient being?" Fameos asked, eyes lighting up. "So I'm not crazy!"

"Yes, Fameos, you are crazy. And so is my dad," Vincent said, glaring at the pair of scientists. Grimore rolled his eyes.

"And you are a vegetarian painter, Vincent," Fameos said.

"Huh?"

"If I'm crazy, you're a vegetarian painter."

"That doesn't make any s-" Vincent started, but when he noticed Fameos wasn't even listening anymore, he shut up. Fameos began to dig in his pockets, checking first his lab coat, then his shirt, then his back pockets. Finally, he pulled out his wallet and from his wallet produced a folded piece of paper. He replaced the wallet in his back pocket and carefully unfolded the piece of paper.

"Gather 'round," he said, staring at the paper and not looking up to see if anyone listened to him or not. Grimore and Vincent walked over and stood on either side of Fameos, looking at the paper. Actually, it was a picture.

Vincent leaned in to examine the picture more closely. In it, there was a short boy with wild short blonde hair. Around his neck there was what looked to be a leather collar with metal spikes on it. The boy's clothes were torn and blood was pouring down his leg and arm. The kid was smiling, as if to say "you should have seen what I did to the other guy." His ears were pierced. In his hand he held a bloody knife. The last thing Vincent noticed was the boy's eye color.

Bright yellow.

"Zel?" Vincent asked, squinting at the picture. The picture was out of focus, like someone hadn't used the flash. The boy's skin was darker than Zel's, but the smile was uncannily similar to Zel's smile.

"No, Vincent, this is Drakra," Fameos said, nodding.

"WHAT?!" Grimore yelled, grabbing the picture from Fameos's hand and holding it close to his face. "Fameos, you're telling us that's Zel…with Drakra released?"

"Nearly fully released," Fameos corrected. "That's why his skin is turning black."

Vincent felt sick. So it wasn't the camera…and it wasn't out of focus.

"Why are his eyes yellow?" Vincent asked

"Because Drakra's eyes are yellow, idiot Turk," Fameos said, looking irritated.

"Drakra's eyes are green, Fameos," Grimore said, still examining the picture.

"Vegetarian painter, how do you make green?" Fameos asked, tapping his food impatiently on the ground. Vincent rolled his eyes.

"You mix blue and yel…low…" Vincent stopped, eyes widening slightly.

"Oh…" Grimore said, lowering the picture. "Oh…that's…"

"As you can see, Zel's regained much of his self control in the last few years…" Fameos said, playing with his black strand of hair again.

"Obviously, it's not enough," Vincent muttered. "Where'd you get this picture?"

"From an old friend of Zel's," Fameos said, taking the picture from Grimore and carefully folding it again. "Another Dog, like him."

"You know a Dog?" Vincent asked.

"Yes. And he's who I'm going to go ask for information about when 'Drakra' first made his appearance. That is…as long as I have your permission, Doctor, Turk."

"Of course," Grimore said. "Anything as long as it helps Zel."

"Wait, who is this Dog, Fameos?" Vincent asked. Fameos smiled as he turned to leave.

"A very good friend of Zel's, Vincent…"

"You already said that. Who is he?!"

"My older brother, Sakito..." Fameos said, taking a deep breath. "Or, as Zel knew him, Wolf Brandel."

Turk's View: Zel

"MASTER ZEL!" Cinder cried, throwing her arms around me. I returned the gesture, wincing as my muscles protested from lack of use.

Why was I in a hospital?

Okay, run through what you remember, Zel. Playing chess with Vincent, then River comes and asked to talk to me. We leave my apartment and go to talk in an alley. River thanks me (for what?) and then…gunshots? And then…after the gunshots…

I wake up in a hospital.

Lovely.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Cinder cried, tears falling from her eyes.

"Hey, don't cry!" I squeak (mouth/throat's dry). She laughed slightly and reaches over to the bedside table to hand me the glass of water sitting there. "Thanks." I drank it quickly.

"Master, I want to tell you something," Cinder said, curling up against my chest. (Aw, she's so cute!)

"Huh? Really, what?" I asked, looking down at her.

"I was really worried about you…I thought you were going to leave me…" she said, looking up at me. Her eyes were still moist with tears, it broke my heart.

"Hey, don't worry about it. It'll take more than a few bullet holes to kill me!" I said, trying to cheer her up.

I don't think it worked.

"You were out for a week," she said.

"A WEEK?!"

"Yes. I was really sure you were never going to wake up. It scared me, Master!" Cinder continued. I decided to wait for her to be done. "During that time, though, I decided on something."

"Really, what's that?" I asked. She smiled at me and jumped off the bed, smoothing out her shirt and jeans before holding out her hand.

"Hi, Master Zel, my name is Shera." My eyes widened and I smiled too.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Shera. A real pleasure." I took her hand and shook it. "Why did you tell me your name, Cin…excuse me, Shera?"

"Because, now that you know my name, you'll stay with me!" Shera said, jumping back on the bed and curling up against my chest again. "You won't leave me…"

I was about to reply when a scraping noise at the door got my attention. I looked up to see Tori standing there.

"Hey To…ri…." Why was he glaring at me?

Oh no…

"You're awake," he hissed. Tori can talk in full sentences? Wow, I didn't know that…why is he hissing? Shera's eyes went wide.

"Um, yeah…I'm not dead yet," I said, laughing weakly. Tori's eyes turned to slits and his hands turned to fists. He didn't say anything right away. I saw Rito appear in the hallway, followed by Riley, Lilith, and Vincent. Rito looked slightly delirious. Riley's eyes widened when she caught sight of me and Tori having our sort of staring contest.

Then Tori spoke again.

"You should have died, you fucking bastard!" he screamed.

A/N: Well, Tori is pissed. But wouldn't you be, if you were in his situation?

I feel really bad for Zel...I'm about to ruin his life...

What did you think of Fameos? This is the first chapter he's ever really been in, so I have to know what you thought of him. Oh, he's actually one of my sister's (Sno Italever's) OCs, but I'm borrowing him with permission.

BTW: "Wolf Brandel" is the name of one of my favorite characters in the book called Milia 18 by Leon Uris. (READ THIS BOOK!)

What did you think? Reviews? Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Flames? Ideas? I'm open to it all.