The cold is comforting… A barely audible voice whispered in the man's subconscious. It's a welcome change to the blazing agony that used to run through your veins…

The coffin lid snapped shut, a low laugh full of hatred echoing behind it. Crimson eyes that were barely open caught a final sight of a flash across glasses.
How did he find me…? The withering voice inquired. He wasn't supposed to find me… Did she tell him…?

Defeated, the man retired to his slumber; the demon begrudgingly allowed him. After all, Chaos could wait. He had been "patient" all this time with this Vincent Valentine creature he was now a part of. Chaos and its host sighed in unison and settled back into an uncomfortable sleep despite themselves.

That had been close to fifteen years ago, and Vincent Valentine had long since left that coffin behind. His skin was still deathly pale as if he had never been out in the sun; the case was not so, however. The raven hair had grown quite extensively since his days as a Turk, and it no longer bothered him to have such long hair. In fact, he did his best to dismiss the physical characteristics of his former self while he abhorred the newer characteristics he acquired without due reason.

The man had been alone for months now, and it no longer bothered him as it had before whenever he had originally sealed himself in a coffin. Certainly, there were sometimes whenever he missed Tifa's motherly attitude or Cid's foul language or even Barret's "leader" skills… He chuckled to himself; the thought was amusing. He dragged his mind from his reminiscing and let his gaze stare up at the sky.

Pure blue mingled with the whiteness of the clouds while pale beams of sunlight scattered about, casting their otherworldly glow on the Planet. It was no longer foreboding as it had once been to the ex-Turk. His eyes had readjusted to the powerful light even though it did little to warm his skin as he walked in the secluded valley. He let out a breathy sigh as he remembered the traitorous red the sky had been when the Meteor had been so near…

Vincent narrowed his gaze. Why had he thought about the Meteor? That had been a few years ago, and he had no reason to think about it now. The Meteor and its summoner weren't around anymore; he had nothing new to worry about…except for the gigas now standing in front of him.

When did that get there? His brain laughed at itself. 'Suppose that's what I get for not paying attention to where I was walking…

Vincent reached in and pulled Death Penalty from its place on his belt, flipping off the safety as he withdrew the gun. He dodged the gigas's charge with a graceful leap high into the air. He flipped once he reached a considerable height and fired the three barrels in unison as the gigas wheeled around to face him again.

The first of the three bullets skimmed the top of the beast's head. The second was a little further south and sank into the forehead of the beast; the third followed suit. The gigas slammed its hands into the ground and charged Vincent for a second time as the man landed elegantly.

Vincent rolled this time, quickly switching Death Penalty to its single fire option. He steadied his aim as the beast turned once more. Fury leaked into its features as it began its death run. A final warning cry sounded as it neared the raven-haired man.

A small, unwanted smile slithered onto Vincent's features as he pulled Death Penalty's trigger. The bullet slammed into and through the entrance the second bullet had created. He backed up just a step as the great beast stumbled and crashed into the ground. A great crater remained as the beast's inertia exerted itself on the earth before the gigas.

Vincent replaced his fired bullets, switched on the safety once more, and returned Death Penalty to his side. He sent an apologetic glance at the beast and took in his surroundings. He was alone once again and began to wonder if he had unintentionally entered the gigas's territory. He shrugged indecisively and decided that it would be best if he turned around.

A flicker of silver caught his eye. Instinctively, his eyes followed the source of the strange occurrence. A confused look slowly morphed onto his features. This was the middle of spring… Things held colour; they didn't suddenly lose it. What was going on here?

Curiosity piqued, Vincent flicked Death Penalty's safety off once more. He wasn't going to take any chances if whatever was causing that light was a foe. He approached the source cautiously with his hand hovering over Death Penalty.

The gleam of a sharp blade met Vincent's gaze the next moment. He hastily rolled into a nearby bush; the move had likely saved his life. He leapt into the above tree as the blade switched direction and slashed through the underbrush the raven-haired man had just inhabited.

Vincent's eyes widened for a split second as the sword wielder straightened up and turned to face him. A gasp caught in his throat, but he managed to suppress it. Death Penalty was in his hand at once; he would not be caught off guard this time.

Casually, the aggressor leaned against a tree across from where Vincent crouched on a branch. The man smirked mischievously at Vincent as if he were enjoying the little charade.

"It's been a while…" The voice smirked to match the look on the man's face. "Perhaps… Too long even; wouldn't you say so, Vincent?"

The sounding of a gunshot was the answer to the man's question. Vincent hadn't been expecting to hit the man so it was no surprise that a hole was burned into the tree. The man had cocked his head ever so slightly to the side as Vincent pulled the trigger.

"My, my…" The other man cooed, glancing at the wounded tree to his right. "Such feistiness…"

Flipping his silver hair back over onto his black leather back, Sephiroth smiled tauntingly up at Vincent. Masamune was nowhere to be seen, but Vincent didn't take that for granted. Sephiroth approached the ground beneath Vincent's branch; those mako-green cat eyes never left the crimson orbs that stared him down.

"Why don't you come down from there?" Sephiroth suggested coolly, his apathy returning. "It is most frustrating to talk to someone who is high above you."

Vincent scoffed at the request. "We…are not on level footing, Sephiroth," He returned with equal coldness. "I have no intention of coming down before you."

"As you wish…" Sephiroth muttered.

Masamune reappeared in his hand. A single flick of the man's wrist sent a clear, robin's-egg blue energy blade slicing into the tree. The branch fell out from underneath Vincent's feet as the man retreated into another tree and returned the aggressive behaviour with a bullet of his own.

Masamune sliced the bullet in two as Sephiroth continued his advance. He seemed as if this were boring, utterly mundane, compared to what he felt he thought he should be doing. He made no attempt to hide his disappointment.

"I'm disappointed, Vincent," Sephiroth sighed as he gracefully slid out of the path of yet another bullet. "Very disappointed in fact… I expected more from someone with skill such as yours."

The same blue streak Sephiroth had used to cut down the branch sped swiftly towards where Vincent had taken to hiding. The latter man cast barrier, and the magic dissipated as it made contact with the invisible sphere surrounding Vincent.

Sephiroth clicked his tongue. "Not altogether a bad move, but not exactly the wisest either…"

The seven foot blade slashed through tree after tree until Vincent had no choice but to land on the ground. Sephiroth had backed him up to where he had fought the gigas not even five minutes prior. The silver-haired angel ceased his onslaught as he had achieved his goal.

Sephiroth tapped his darling blade gently on the toe of his black leather boot. His green predatory eyes sparkled in the sunlight as that mocking small smile resurfaced onto his face. He appeared seemingly content with what he had accomplished.

"That's better," The man openly admitted with a sigh. "I much prefer it when I can actually see you… I can promise this won't be like last time."

Vincent's eyes narrowed. Last time? There was no last time… He fumed in his mind.

"There was no last time…" Vincent shot darkly. "Your mind is playing tricks on you."

"Upon the contrary, Vincent," Sephiroth chided lightly. "There was a last time; it is your mind that is playing tricks on you. Or do you prefer to fancy that you forgot, perhaps? In either fashion, I would very much like you to reconsider your words."

Vincent growled, "What are you talking about?"

Sephiroth eyed him apprehensively. Distaste lurked in the bottom of those deceitful green eyes. "So you really don't remember…" He sighed as a slender eye brow rose. "That's such a pity."

"I don't remember what?" Vincent demanded in his quiet tone. "If you keep speaking in riddles, how is anyone to remember?"

Sephiroth laughed lightly, hastily. "Now, now, no need to be so hostile," He chided again. "I haven't decided-"

"You're one to talk…" Vincent shot back, interrupting the former general.

Sephiroth's eyes lit up, but he continued as if Vincent hadn't spoken at all. "-If I want to explain it to you or not… I would be tempted to show you, but Mother…has abandoned me, so to speak. It is rather upsetting; although, I am sure you know what it's like to be abandoned by something you care very much for."

"That 'mother' of yours is nothing more than a dead creature; "she" knows no love for you or anything else. Surely even you know that by now."

"In any case," Sephiroth continued, once again ignoring Vincent (who was starting to get a little annoyed with being ignored). Sephiroth's pupil's narrowed maliciously despite his dismissal of the comment. "I shall have to tell you sooner or later, but that is not why I sought you out."

The man ran his free, gloved hand through his lengthy silver locks before he continued. He was suddenly distracted, unfocused. This sudden change in mood threw Vincent off spontaneously. Sephiroth went on, "This I will tell you if you are at all familiar with Genesis Rhapsodos."

Vincent lowered his straining arm as Sephiroth's eyes met his again. "I know very little of the man except for what was written in his very limited file."

"I note that Tseng had something to do with that…" Sephiroth heaved a great sigh. "Of little consequence," He decided. "It will have to do."

"You think that I'm going to willingly cooperate with you: the once harbinger of the world?"

Masamune was at Vincent's jugular teasingly skimming the skin. "Your cooperation will only ease your burden," Sephiroth assured him as he tickled the blade down the length of Vincent's wind pipe. "I will forcibly make you otherwise."

"You will force me to assist you? Are you not capable on your own?" Vincent sneered, knowing well that he was taking his life in his hands.

"I am capable of finding him on my own, yes; I am capable of killing him on my own as well, yes. I do not require assistance in either case; however, I do require assistance keeping Cloud's nose where it belongs while I do what I have set out to do. I would much prefer if I could accomplish my task without interference from that pesky blonde." Sephiroth applied pressure to his precious silver blade. Droplets of blood gathered at its tip where it pressed to Vincent's neck. "It's a fairly simple task, Vincent, that I am sure you are more that fully capable of seeing to completion.

I care not how you go about keeping him occupied, just as long as you manage to do it. Yes, I am aware that you would likely inform Cloud that I am back to do Mother knows what; but I trust you know what will happen if that little tiny detail slips from your tongue… And no, it will not be death; although, I am sure I can make you wish for it even though you think of yourself as too vile to die."

When Sephiroth finished, his voice was nearly a whisper. He lowered Masamune's tip from Vincent's throat and made the streamline blade disappear from sight. He locked Vincent into an unbreakable gaze.

Vincent mulled over Sephiroth's words in his mind. "And if Cloud somehow managed to figure out your return without words leaving my mouth?"

A wicked grin flickered over Sephiroth's features for a split second. "Well… You wouldn't want to find out what I would do then," He assured the other man. "Just see to it that he doesn't find out one way or the other, and I will reward you."

"I want nothing from you," Vincent snapped back. "I take that back… Your reward to me will be leaving me alone for the rest of eternity."

Sephiroth laughed a cold, hollow laugh. "You would like that, wouldn't you?" He inquired childishly as he approached the raven-haired man, who stood rooted to the spot thoroughly determined not to show the man weakness. "No, no, you will have a decent reward… One that Mother refused to give me, but one that I am willing to give you." His gloved fingers gently touched the place where Masamune had punctured Vincent's skin. "No, your reward will be better… Much, much better." He breathed in Vincent's ear as he circled predatorily around the man. "Wouldn't you like that?" He inquired in the other ear, stroking the golden gauntlet on Vincent's arm as he spoke. "We will…see each other again soon."

With that, Sephiroth was gone. Vincent wheeled around and stared up at the sky half expecting to see the man hovering above him with one filthy black angel's wing fluttering in the wind. He clenched his hands into fists and grimaced. All the while a small tinge of red had surfaced onto his cheeks. He cursed Sephiroth and made a beeline straight to where he had decided to call home.

Vincent quickly disappeared into the confines of his home after unsealing the entrance. He pulled the great door back into place using the inhuman strength his body had acquired from Chaos. He slunk back into the darkness, bringing a hand to his head and heaving a great sigh as he went. Sephiroth had honestly returned, and he seemed to have business with Genesis Rhapsodos. The grimness of the situation hit Vincent like a ton of bricks.

What happens if they're actually going to be allies again? His brain mumbled to him as he walked the length of the entrance corridor in the direction of the living room-study. What if Sephiroth is plotting some greater scheme and is going to use Genesis as a cover?

No, no, the other side of his mind disagreed. That's too irrational. The last report that you read on Sephiroth's interaction with Genesis stated clearly that neither one of them were on good terms with each other… After all, Genesis had pushed Sephiroth to do all that God-forsaken research on the JENOVA Project in Professor Gast's study back in Nibelheim… Why on earth would Sephiroth want his cooperation of all people?

You have a point, the first voice conceded. But nothing is adding up right now… Perhaps I should just do some back ground research before this gets well out of my control…

Vincent entered the living room-study a few seconds after he had decided he would do some research. He had moved some of the documents from the old Shin-Ra mansion upon his decision to dwell elsewhere. He didn't feel the need that the information on the JENOVA Project and other highly sensitive cases should be kept there with no one to watch over them, but that might just be the remainder of his Turk side talking to him…

Vincent situated himself in front of the massive bookcase in the room and looked over each and every group file name in search of some older SOLDIER files. He knew that they had to be there somewhere…

An hour or more passed before Vincent finally stumbled upon what he had been looking for all along. He was immensely relieved to see that he had actually grabbed it; he really didn't feel like making a trip all the way out to Nibelheim if he could avoid it all together. He snatched it from the shelf and retired to the old desk he had wrangled up.

Vincent meticulously withdrew the older file from its protective casing. His eyes quickly scanned it. It seemed Tseng had been through this file a multitude of times whenever he had been assigned to discover what had happened to Genesis after his first disappearance.

Vincent thumbed through to the end of the file, which is where it appeared that a few pages were removed. He eyed the end of the file with great distaste. He wasn't sure who was responsible for the removal of the pages, but he was highly displeased with them. His thoughts flew back to Tseng.

Vincent had first met the man whenever he had been traveling with Cloud and his group back before the Meteor and before Tseng's unfortunate "death". Vincent recalled that Tseng had been one of Shin-Ra's most loyal workers; therefore, it didn't make sense that Tseng would remove pages from a file the man had painstakingly been trying to keep from falling into either Hojo's or Hollander's hands by the President's request.

Hollander… Vincent's mind told him instantly. That's who tore those pages out; that's who doesn't want you knowing what you need to… That's who has kept you from doing what you know you should be doing.

Vincent now glowered at the missing pages. That man certainly had a way of complicating things just the way Hojo could even though he was deceased for quite some time. Vincent slammed the file shut and retired it to its case once more.

"This is infuriating…" Vincent declared aloud in his usual tone. "First, Sephiroth, and now this… It's going to be a long night."

He rocked back in the chair and ran his hand down the spine of the file. Perhaps if he did return to Nibelheim, he would find something… And run into Sephiroth again, his mind reminded him dully.

"Vincent?" A voice called suddenly from the entrance of his home. It snapped Vincent back to reality. "Are you home?"

It was a female voice, but there was only one other person aside from Cloud that knew where Vincent was currently, and that was Tifa. The thought brought a smile to Vincent's lips; her presence would calm his mind for a little bit.

"I'm in the study, Tifa," Vincent called back to her.

The black haired woman entered the room smiling at him. "Why are you sitting in the dark?" She demanded with a low laugh. She flipped the light on before she sat down on the couch across from Vincent. "What were you looking at?" She inquired as she caught sight of the file sitting on the desk in front of Vincent.

Vincent shrugged. "It's a passing fancy," He lied. "It's a file I hadn't looked over before, and I thought it would be worthwhile."

"Looking for something to do, eh?" Tifa joked. "Well, I have something for you to do, if you're interested."

"And what would that be?"

"Could you watch Marlene and Denzel?" Tifa gazed at him quizzically. "Barret won't do it since he and Cid are doing Heaven knows what on the Highwind…"

"You and Cloud are doing something; I take it."

Tifa nodded. "I asked him if we could go spend a little bit of time up at the Gold Saucer… He finally caved since it's my birthday next week, but we'll be busy then so I'd like it if we could go tomorrow… Would you mind terribly?"

"Not at all… Do you want me to go to them or have them come here?"

"It would be best if you went to them. That way, you'll be able to keep them entertained to a degree with the things that they have… I'm fairly certain you have nothing to entertain children with around here," Tifa chuckled.

"Not a blessed thing," Vincent laughed lightly as well. "When do you want me there?"

"Would noon be stretching it?"

"Consider me present."

"Thank you so much, Vincent."

"Any time, Tifa."

The woman rose and gave Vincent a slight hug. "Thanks again, Vincent. I'll see you tomorrow before we head out… And make sure you get some rest. I'm sure those kids are going to be quite a handful."

Vincent laughed and assured her that he would as she departed.

I suppose my little side trip will have to wait… He sighed as he returned the file to its proper place on the book shelf.

AN:
To clear things up, this is a little OOC in on Vincent's part in later chapters. Next, Tseng isn't really "dead," which I more or less lead the reader to believe. I'll get into that in later chapters. And I think that covers the bases... I think. ^^""" ((I also have a lot written already for this fic, but I am prone to lose interest in things I start writing if I feel like I'm wasting my time so there may be periods of time where this isn't updated. Just a warning.)) Oh! And the world I present in the fic may seem a little different from the games and movie. I apologize in advance for that.