A/N: Aaaaand here we go. I worked on this all day (I didn't sleep again last night, sigh) and I would have worked on it last night, except that Dirge of Cerberus was calling my name loudly… and really, who can tell Vincent No, I refuse to play with you… *Grins* Anyways, here you go, enjoy!
Oh, and thanks for the Review Saan and you too Schierach! You'll just have to wait and see Saan, and Schierach, I couldn't agree more, I adore Cid. 'Specially since I cuss a ton *giggles*.
Ranisa spent several hours cleaning and polishing her weapon… Vincent had left without a word, shortly after she began cleaning the blood from the blade. He still hadn't returned, but she didn't worry about it. Instead, she was almost a little honored that he'd left her in his home, unattended. She propped the blade by the door again, smiling when it gleamed like new. Tucking the wooden box onto the shelf above the sword, she looked at the dirty rag in hand. Pondering, she started looking for a laundry room of some sort.
She found Vincent's bedroom and between that and the kitchen she found the utility room. She set the rag over the edge of the sink there and turned, heading for her room. Might as well get her clothes cleaned if she was going to be meeting 'friends' Friday. She frowned at her torn shirt and realized she would have to ask Vincent if he had something she could wear… Somehow, she doubted the dark gunman would have anything she was used to wearing. She chuckled at that thought as she gathered her torn and bloody clothes. She walked these back to the washing machine and dumped them in, followed by detergent that sat on a rack above. Shutting the lid, she stared at it for a moment and decided to leave it on its current settings and turned it on. She put her boots in the utility sink to the left and grabbed the rag she'd been using on her sword. The clove oils in it wouldn't harm the leather boots at all. She set to cleaning those and flipped the laundry over when it was done. Once her boots were clean, she took them to the foyer and set them next to her sword.
She tapped her foot quietly for a few minutes before something occurred to her. Vincent had long hair; therefore, he had to have a hairbrush somewhere… But... she didn't really want to snoop around in his room. She made her way to his bedroom door and pushed it open. If she didn't see one in the open, she didn't need one. Her eyes swept the room and she spotted one sitting atop a dark cherry wood dresser. Grinning triumphantly, she walked over to it and snatched it up. She turned around and nearly ran face first into Vincent. She let out a rather undignified squeak and nearly fell on her ass. He looked at her and she pointed the brush at him menacingly.
"You!" Was the highly intelligent thing that popped out of her mouth. Right. He raised one dark eyebrow at her and she swore she saw a smirk twitch at the corner of his mouth before he tilted his head down so she couldn't see. But the amusement in his eyes was clear to her. She glared. Then she stalked passed him out of her room. She had been so focused on getting the brush that she hadn't heard him enter or walk up behind her. Stalking to the bathroom, she brushed out the tangles in her hair, scowling at the mirror when she shut the door behind her.
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Vincent chuckled quietly, shaking his head and shut the door to his bedroom behind him. He had heard her by the door to his room but when her footsteps entered it, he was curious as to why. Not that he really cared, it was just a bedroom. Seeing her snatch the hair brush up in victory he had smirked, but the she had taken a step before turning around and when she did, it had been one smooth step back for him so she didn't run into him. He assumed she would have heard him come in, so he was amused when it had startled her. He started to head for the living room when he heard the soft beep indicating that the dryer was done. He changed direction and pulled her clothes from the dryer, folding them. Noticing the torn shirt and the ripped pant legs he had a thought. Setting the clothing atop the dryer, he went back to him room, returning a few moments later with a black folded shirt and a small metal case. Both of these he set on top of the clothes. Walking then to the living room, he raised his voice a fraction.
"Ranisa." He waited and sure enough moments later, her head peeked out from around the wall, golden eyes curious. He held something out to her in his gloved hand and he heard the brush clatter to the ground as she rushed into the room. He was holding her leather harness, only it was fixed. Taking it she looked at him. "Thank you!" He nodded once and turned to head for the kitchen. She held the sturdy leather in her hands and realized something; he hadn't gotten it mended… He had a new one made. She looked in the direction of the kitchen, a shocked though grateful look covering her face. Sighing, harness clutched in hand, she returned to the laundry room, blinking in surprise to find her clothes folded atop the dryer and a flat metal box atop them. Her brows drew together in confusion until she opened the box and realized it was a sewing kit. She grinned and gathered everything up and disappeared into the guest bedroom. She sat on the bed and began to stitch her torn pants, wondering just what she could do to return all the kindness shown to her here.
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XxXxX
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Tseng pulled his phone from his pocket, flipping it open as he brought it up to his head. "Yes?" His tone was as usual, without inflection. A moment of silence passed and his lips twitched downward slightly. "I see. Where?" Another pause followed before Tseng blinked and responded. "We'll meet you there." He snapped his phone closed, sliding it back into his pocket. Turning, he spotted Reno lounging on the couch of the main room. One blue eye was locked on to Tseng and Reno heaved a sigh. "Yeah yeah, I know the drill Yo." He came up off the couch fluidly and followed Tseng when the older Turk turned for the door. As he passed through the door, he spoke, strangely serious.
"So, did they find her?" Tseng paused for a split second before nodding once, the door clicking closed behind them.
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XxXxX
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The sun had set and it was growing late when Ranisa finished sewing the tears in her pants, but she was happy with the result of taking her time. Luckily for her, the tears were clean cuts and easy to stitch back together… She supposed at some point, she was going to need to work for someone so she could replace them. She recalled finding them in an old dusty locker back in the labs when she escaped. The tank top and boots had been with it. Folding the pants up, she unfolded the shirt that had been on top of the pile. Surprisingly, it was short sleeved. It looked like something someone would wear as an undershirt, but it was good quality and slightly stretchy. She smiled and refolded it, setting it atop the pants. Her socks she set with those, glad that she had thought to toss those in. Closing up the sewing kit, she stood and headed for the living room. She spotted Vincent in his chair with a book, though red eyes had lifted to look at her when she walked in. She held up the metal sewing kit and grinned widely. "Thank you for letting me use this… Where should I put it?" He nodded and seemed to think for a moment.
"If you don't mind, just put it on my dresser, please." She nodded, and turned down the hall. Stopping, she turned around and walked past the living room entry again and Vincent looked up curiously. She bent down and picked up the hairbrush she had dropped earlier, tucking the box under her arm and walking into the bathroom. She pulled the loose strands of hair out and disposed of them before heading for his room again. She offered a sheepish grin on her way past the entry way and waved the brush. Vincent just shook his head and went back to reading, his smirk hidden in the high collar of his mantle. Once those things were put away, she headed for her room again but paused at the doorway.
"Good night…" She spoke softly, but knew he would hear, and as she was closing the door behind her, she heard his voice, amusement faint but present in his tone. "Good night, Ranisa." She smiled as the door clicked shut. With a soft sigh, she wiggled under the covers and curled up on her side. For a moment, she stared at her hands. She had realized earlier, that her fingernails were blue. Not just nail polish or something similar, but her actual nail was blue. The same went for her toenails and it was an almost metallic, dark blue. It only served to remind her that she wasn't human. However, on the up side, she never had to worry about painting her nails or the polish chipping. Smirking, she drifted off into sleep.
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XxXxX
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Shelke walked up the stairs from the bar, clean sheets clutched in her arms. She was helping Tifa get the few rooms they had ready for Friday. Tifa had told her that she and Cloud both suspected that the entire gang was going to show up and Shelke looked forward to seeing them all again. She hadn't gotten to talk to Cloud, Barrett or Nanaki very much and it would be good to see Vincent again. When she had finished changing all the sheets and tossing the dirty ones into the hall, where Marlene, who was helping, would bundle them up and throw them down the stairs at Denzel, she smiled faintly. Next was sweeping, mopping and getting the bathrooms clean. Well, Tifa was already cleaning both bathrooms, and Denzel promised he would mop if she swept. Marlene was already in the doorway holding the dustpan in both hands, the broom leaned against the doorframe.
"You're on top of it today, Marlene." The young girl smiled and gave her a 'thumbs up'. "Uh huh!" Shelke returned the gesture before grabbing the broom and getting to what needed to be done.
Tifa smiled at the sight as she stepped back into the bathroom with the mop. It didn't take her long and she put the mop next to the bucket in the hall for the others. She made her way down stairs and down the hall to the back room where Denzel had thrown the laundry and started stuffing it into the washer… It would take her between now and Friday just to do all the laundry. She sighed but smiled, knowing Marlene, Shelke and even Denzel would help out with it.
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A/N Woooot… Read and Review my lovelies! … Pretty please? Has a cookie?
Also, Uber challenge. If you can guess who Tseng is talking about, I will hug you and draw something for you! (Or try to draw something for you .)