A/N: I swear, everytime I get writer's block it's on a chapter with Cloud. -_-

As always, thanks for all the reviews, and I hope you enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: If I owned it, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction! Well...I might. Cuz, I'm weird like that. But you get the point!

Chapter Ten

"You're kidding me," Vincent said into the phone. It would have been a very bad joke, and very uncharacteristic for Cloud. Yet part of him was hoping that he was just joking, hoping that this wasn't happening. He had not only lost one remnant, but two. On top of that, now Kadaj was stealing.

Vincent sighed heavily, dropping his head low. He used his foot to roll the chair he sat on further away from the computer, distancing himself from the research. After all, he had a feeling he wouldn't be spending much more time there.

"What is it?" Yuffie asked, wheeling her own chair closer to him. She stared at him with wide eyes, wondering what was happening. "Vincent, what is it?"

"I'll be there shortly," Vincent said to Cloud, ignoring Yuffie for the moment. He opened his eyes and looked to the computer, to the information displayed on it. Strange, how his priorities suddenly shifted, how things that once seemed so important no longer were.

"Alright," Cloud replied on the other end of the line.

"And I'm sorry...about your bike," he added.

Cloud hung up after that, Vincent following shortly after. He closed the cell phone, replacing it in its holster. Yuffie was talking once again, continuing to badger him with questions until he told her what was going on.

"Kadaj left," he answered her eventually, turning his bored gaze to meet her eyes, "And he stole Cloud's bike."

Yuffie suddenly laughed, guffawing with an intensity that was uncalled for in the situation. "I'm sorry," she apologized in the end, "It's just that...that's funny."

Vincent might have found it a little amusing, if he wasn't extremely angry. He had specifically told Kadaj to stay in Edge. The last thing he needed was two lost remnants. But that was still what he got.

"I told you this would happen," Yuffie said, shrugging as she relaxed back into her chair.

Sighing heavily, he pulled himself to his feet, walking the distance of the room to the door.

"Hey!" she said, throwing herself up and following after him. He stopped just before the door and turned to her, as she stopped just before him. "You're leaving? Again?"

"I can't have them running all over. I need to find them...and take them home."

Yuffie stood by the door even after he finished walking out of it. She watched him walk down the hall, contemplative for a moment. In the end, she followed after him, sighing. She had a feeling that her services would yet be needed, one way or another.

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this," Cloud admitted to his friend, speaking low and under his breath. Vincent turned to him, seeing how serious he was. The blonde cast his gaze to Loz, who was sitting in one of the booths, looking a bit restless.

"You don't have to worry," Vincent answered him, speaking just as low, "I promise."

Cloud didn't look too convinced, but he didn't say anything more. He slid his sword into the holster on his back, making sure everything was secure and he was ready. Vincent looked his armed, capable friend over, before turning his gaze back to Loz, and inevitably Tifa, who was standing only a few feet away from him. Suddenly, he became uncomfortable, too.

"So..." Yuffie said, walking up to the two men and encroaching on Cloud's personal space, as she swung her arm over his shoulder and leaned her weight against him. She lifted her shuriken in her other hand, looking the weapon over. "Time for us to go remnant hunting."

Cloud's already upset stare went from Yuffie to Vincent, his gaze both asking and pleading.

"You're not coming with," Vincent bluntly informed her.

"What?" the ninja exclaimed, pulling away from Cloud and approaching the raven-haired man in disbelief. "But..."

"You're staying here to watch over Loz."

"What?" the word was uttered again, this time by the lone remnant. Loz stood from the booth, his disbelieving stare joining Yuffie's.

"I don't want to sit here and baby sit him!" Yuffie said.

"And I don't need her watching over me!" Loz added.

"Then come with us," Cloud replied.

Loz crossed his arms defiantly, standing his ground and showing that he wasn't going to budge. The eldest remnant refused to go with them, telling them he wouldn't help them track down Kadaj, who was the only hope for them finding Yazoo. He said if anyone could find the runaway remnant, Kadaj could, and he would be sure to bring him back. Loz clearly thought their attempt to find them was pointless.

"Come on, Vincent! You need me," the Wutai girl pleaded.

"I need you here," he said softly.

"No, you don't!" Loz retorted.

"Maybe not, but I can't be sure of anything," Vincent replied, meeting the young man's gaze firmly, "I've already had Kadaj and Yazoo run off on me, I'm not sure I can trust you to stay either."

"I won't leave Midgar."

Vincent didn't say anything in response. He wasn't sure he could, not without invoking the young man's anger. He simply turned from him, back to Yuffie. He placed his hand on the young ninja's shoulder, his gaze asking so his words wouldn't have to. She conceded in the end, sighing heavily as she turned from him.

Vincent directed his attention back at Loz, the remnant's gaze unhappy and challenging. He wanted to say something to him, to make their parting a little less bitter. But words were never his specialty, and there didn't seem anything right for the moment. Loz also wasn't helping the atmosphere between them.

"I'll find your brothers." He said no more, turning and making his way out the door.

Cloud went the opposite direction, crossing the length of the bar to meet Tifa. He took her softly by the arms and stooped to place a short kiss on her lips. As he drew back, there was a soft smile on his face, one she returned gladly.

"Good luck," she wished him.

He nodded. "We won't be long."

He pulled away from her, throwing one last glance at Loz-his gaze unfriendly and stern-before he followed Vincent out of the bar. He found the other man waiting patiently outside, staring west, into the distance. Cloud could tell his mood was solemn, more so than normal. He walked to his side, following the direction of his gaze. They stood in silence for a moment, before Vincent spoke.

"Is this what it feels like?" he asked.

Cloud looked over at him quizzically, "What?"

"Being a father."

Cloud smiled, nodding his head. He thought of Marlene and Denzel, and how much he cherished them. He then wondered what he would feel if he were in Vincent's position, and it was his young charges who had run off on him.

"I suppose so."

A/N: Please review. :)