Guardian Demon

Prologue: Meeting

The kingdom of Wutai. A rather small continent settled between the Western and Central Continents. Covered by fields, forests, and mountains, all under the watchful eye of Leviathan. In the small village of Wutai, the king, Godo, keeps the land safe for its residents, and its future queen, Yuffie. The thing is, she hasn't seen her home for a few weeks now. She is more of a free spirit that prefers to travel the world rather than stay and rule one country. Yuffie is exploring the Planet again in hopes of finding materia, as well as who she truly is. After spending a night at Gongaga, Yuffie heads north to see where the path should take her.

Yuffie has support from all of her friends that she previously travelled with four years ago during the Sephiroth/Jenova/Meteor incidents. Everyone she was withal had a motive for fighting. Cloud regained himself with Tifa's help, Barret made the world a better place for his adopted daughter, Marlene, and Reeve (or Cait Sith) got help taking down ShinRa. Nanaki swore to protect the Planet at all costs, while Cid sacrificed ShinRa's Space Program to attempt to bring down Meteor. Vincent wanted nothing more than his sweet revenge on the mad scientist, Hojo, for hurting the one he loved and using him for sick experiments. Yuffie was in it to represent Wutai, and to get loads of materia.

Yuffie didn't mind wandering through forests on bit. She loved the fresh air and didn't mind the insects. The sound of a nearby river completed the tranquility, as well as the chirping birds. "This place would be a good spot for a nap," she thought out loud.

As she walked along the river bank, Yuffie spotted someone lying against a fallen tree, fast asleep. His long, black hair moving to the breeze. The tattered red cape he wore was flowing to the left of him, and his golden claw glistened in the sunlight. Vincent Valentine never looked this relaxed. Yuffie didn't know what to do. Wake him in his peaceful slumber or let him continue sleeping? As Yuffie was thinking, she felt that unmistakable ruby gaze focused on her back, and slowly turned around.

"Umm… Hiya Vince!" she said quickly, trying not to look nervous. "Fancy meeting you here."

Vincent just starred at her. "What are you doing here, Yuffie?"

"I just spent the night at Gongaga, and now I'm seeing where my feet take me," Yuffie said in hesitation. Sometimes she was nervous around the gunslinger.

Vincent kept looking at her. "You're wandering around aimlessly by yourself?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He could tell that she was blushing by the way she talked.

"Well if you wanna put it bluntly, then yes," Yuffie said, sounding slightly annoyed and put her hands on her hips. "Anyway, I'm gonna get going, and, umm, look for loads of materia!" With that, she turned around and started walking.

As soon as she did so, Yuffie felt a hand grasping hers. She looked over her shoulder to see Vincent keeping her from getting away. When did he get up? she thought to herself. "Yuffie," he started. "If you want, I'll accompany you." Her eyebrows shot up as her eyes widened. "Since the Omega incident, things have gotten, well, quiet."

Yuffie couldn't help but laugh. Did she just hear that from him? She pulled her hand out of Vincent's grasp and held her stomach. "Oh my God! Are you serious? You, the great Vincent Valentine, bored?"

"I… didn't say that," Vincent protested, letting out a sigh.

"Well," Yuffie started, trying to regain her composure. "I don't mind if you tag along. Who knows? With you around, things might get interesting." She shot a smile to him.

Vincent hid a small grin behind the collar of his cloak. "Thank you, Yuffie," he said as he walked past the small ninja. She followed after him, with a big smile on her face.

A pair of eyes had been watching the gunslinger and ninja from the bush. He picked up a cell phone and made a call. On the other line, someone asked, "Have you located them?"

"Yes," the stranger answered. "I have located the Wutain princess, as well as the Keeper."