AN: Re-post from my old account (which I am deleting…as soon as I figure out how to delete it), edited the writing, etc., fixed the paragraphs, yeahp. Don't know if I'm finishing this, though. Anyway, yeah. There! –the last time I touched this fanfic, I was fourteen years old. I am now eighteen. It has been that long.

This was written waaay before, when Advent Children wasn't even conceptualized yet. So, we are going to completely gloss over the fact that Advent Children ever happened, for this fanfic. Okay? Okay. :Dv

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Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, or any of the characters. I'm just borrowing them.

Crazy About Yuffie, Chapter 2

Vincent Valentine stared into the flowing stream, lost in thought.

The time for atonement has long passed.

Now I will live…for Lucrecia.

Lucrecia. The one—and only—woman he had ever, would ever love.

He sighed. He had been on his way to Nibelheim, as Tifa had requested him to 'come and join us', as she had put it.

He didn't want to meet up with anyone at this point in time, though. He wanted to be left in solace—to collect his thoughts, contemplate. He wanted to be left in peace.

But Tifa had insisted. Something about " helping Yuffie out."

Helping Yuffie out--?

Vincent didn't know what they wanted, but if it was for helping a former comrade who could be in immediate danger, he would be there.

He had been on his way, when suddenly, as he was crossing the shallow stream on to the Cosmo area, his heart seemed to stop.

Lucrecia was the thought that came to mind after that.

It was an old memory, from years ago. However, though old it was, the pain was still there. The scars it left were still there.

Nothing could change that.

He had stopped for a while, to take a hold of himself. But…

Vincent just couldn't seem to leave the place. Not yet.

Finally, he made up his mind. Standing up, he made to cross into the other side.

When a figure jumped from the trees and attacked him.

Vincent whirled around, startled. An attack--?

He whipped out his Death Penalty, and faced his attacker—

Who was no other than Yuffie, his 'comrade in need'.

Yuffie grinned wickedly when she saw him.

Oh yes. What luck she had today!

She thought she'd encounter a villager or two ( who didn't have that much materia with them, anyways) but look at this!

She approached him from the back. He was dressed rather handsomely—which meant he had to have at least some Gil, since he sure dressed it—and he carried a weapon, which meant—MA-TE-RI-A!

Then she attacked. She jumped out from the trees.

" YAAAH!--"

Yuffie gasped. Her victim spun around, revealing his weapon to be…the Death Penalty.

" VINCENT!"

Her Conformer dropped to the ground, forgotten. All she did was stare…at Vincent.

Vincent stared back at her too. Only he seemed more of stunned rather than surprised.

Ah, the heck! The two meant the same thing anyway!

Yuffie couldn't get her eyes off Vincent. She hadn't seen him in…three years, now.

He hadn't changed. Much. He still had that long red cloak on, and that headband around his forehead.

Same crimson red eyes, like he hadn't slept for years ( funny, seeing that he had been locked in a coffin for years, giving him all the time to sleep. How'd his eyes turn red?) and long, jet-black hair. Same claw, in the same hand.

But wait. Yuffie paused.

If…he was standing before her right now…then…it meant….

" This isn't a dream, is it?" she said softly.

He was still staring at her.

" No," he finally replied.

So she was correct. Which meant…

Yuffie gasped as a sickening realization came to her head.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

She ran away for cover.

"VAMPIRE!"

Vincent studied Yuffie strangely. Vampire? Where?

He spun around, cape billowing from behind.

" Where?" he said, instantly on alert. Was that why she was in danger--?

Yuffie looked out at him from behind a tree, her face now feigning anguish.

" Idiot."

Idiot? Vincent didn't know why Yuffie had resorted to calling him names, especially when he was just trying to defend her.

" And why is that?" Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow. He still held on to the Death Penalty, just in case the vampire showed up.

Yuffie still didn't come out from behind the tree.

" YOU'RE the vampire, dorkus. Gawd, you don't even know what you are?" She disappeared in a flash once more. Probably went to hide in another place.

Vincent wanted to laugh. Him? A vampire?

" My dear girl, I am not a vampire," he informed her, or rather, the trees surrounding him.

I am a monster, though. My flesh reeks of inhumanity.

In another flash, Yuffie stood before him, her face bearing suspicion.

" Hmmm…how do I know you're telling the truth?" She blurted out.

Vincent sighed. " You don't," he informed her. " You can just choose to believe what you want to believe in—what seems to be more of the truth to you, than a lie."

Yuffie still didn't look convinced. Maybe she hadn't understood him.

Vincent sighed again. " And vampires do not walk around in broad daylight." That might help her.

"Oh." Yuffie instantly relaxed. " In that case, hey!" she plopped down on the ground, and patted the earth next to her. In other words, come sit with me.

Vincent briefly thought of the rest in Nibelheim, then let it go after a second. He sat down next to Yuffie on the bare ground. He would see why Yuffie needed his help here and now.

Yuffie spoke first. " Long time no talk, huh? What brings you to this area?" She yawned, and lay back on the ground. The sun had started to set now, bringing a magnificent view to Yuffie's eyes.

Vincent was silent awhile before answering her question.

" The others requested I go to Nibelheim at once. A terrible matter of urgency, perhaps. Something about you--" he glanced at Yuffie "—needing help."

Yuffie immediately bolted up, and glared almost accusingly at Vincent. " Needing help?" she asked sharply. " On what?"

Vincent closed his eyes, feeling Yuffie tense up. " That Tifa didn't mention."

Yuffie was enraged at what he had just said. Tifa? Me? Needing help!

She had the feeling that Tifa was about to recruit Vincent into her " Let's get Yuffie and Reno together" Club. If she hadn't thought of robbing Vincent awhile ago…who knows what would have happened? Yuffie suppressed a shiver.

Well, let's see. Yuffie Kisaragi isn't gonna give up so easily. " Actually," Yuffie said, in the sweetest, most pitiful voice she could muster, " I am in…well...a state of trouble."

She congratulated herself for coming up with that sentence. Ha! It sounds serious! He should fall for that

Vincent opened his eyes and gazed at Yuffie. " Go on." It sounds serious…really serious.

Yuffie went on, pouring all the emotions she could muster as she told her story.

" And now, Reno—he w—wants to—HE WANTS TO MARRY ME AND HAVE ME ALL FOR HIMSELF! BUT I DON'T LOVE HIM! I NEVER DID! OH, WOE IS ME!" she burst out into fake sobs. He he. They always said I was a good actress.

Vincent grimaced as Yuffie burst out into tears.

" Err…do not worry. It will be alright." He awkwardly patted her on the back, careful to use his real arm. He wasn't good at this…

"I will make sure that Turk will never lay as much as a finger on you. I promise this," he told Yuffie. She really is in trouble…poor child…

Yuffie immediately stopped crying. "Really?"

" Yes."

" Cool!" Yuffie jumped up, eyes flashing wickedly. " Um, I mean, thank you." She burst into sobs again. " You—you're such a kind person…" and a rather idiotic one, if I may add.

Vincent smiled slightly. No one has ever said that to me before…

Yuffie smiled to herself. Great. She thought. So far, so good…Vincent's on my side, and if I work my cards right, he will be of some use to me…heheheheh…

She let out another last sob, and straightened up. " Well…"

" Why don't we go on to Nibelheim?" Vincent suggested as he stood up. " Everyone else is waiting there."

" Ummm…" Shoot. She couldn't tell him why she didn't want to go there! Dammit…

" Well…uhh…" Yuffie stammered out.

" Yes?"

She decided to risk it. After all, her whole life had been a big risk, hadn't it?

" Let's go!" Yuffie bounded ahead of Vincent joyously. " C'mon!"

Vincent smiled and walked after her at a less boisterous pace.

Hah. Yuffie thought triumphantly as she ran along. Stay back, Reno. Let's see you do against Vincent. She half wished they were back in Wutai, so Vincent could beat Reno's pretty little ass off. Boy, am I lucky!

Vincent watched almost fondly as Yuffie ran ahead of him.

She's still such a child…

Then he winced as Yuffie bumped into something…a monster.

He ran to catch up with her, bringing Death Penalty out. He had work to do.

AN: Hmmm….I honestly don't have any idea on what to do next. Is it okay? Please tell me! I need assurance! AHHHH! yawns well, I woke up at 6 am to do this thing ( a big sacrifice for me, considering I slept around past two am) so I am now going back to sleep. Oyasumi! Uh, I mean ohayo. . R&R! tell me if it sucked! Ummm…do you think the characters are a bit OOC? I feel sorry for Vincent…