~Fang Again!~

"Lucrecia..?"

I didn't even know I was asleep until Vincent's sleep talking woke me up. Sitting up, I frown at the digital clock beside me. Six thirty. Vincent's usually stoic face is wrinkled in confusion and hurt. I raise an eyebrow and sit up, watching his eyelids flutter randomly and his clawed hand twitch.

"What happened..."

"Poor guy," I mumble to myself, something stirring deep down inside when he begs his past lover not to leave him.

"Fang, please..." I snap my eyes back up to look at him, but he's still asleep. Great, I give him nightmares. "Don't leave..." Aw! He's dreaming about me! I can't help but hide a smile while I dig through the bags Sazh dropped off awhile ago. Courtesy of Reeve. Jeans, some random dark blue T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers I hope will fit my feet. In the front pouch, I find a pair of socks, fake glasses..? And a... A long zip up bag for something. I have no idea.

"Hojo.... Don't touch her..." Should I wake him up?

"Oi! Vincent!" I call. No reply in regards to my attempt at waking him.

"Let go of her!" He yells. "Fang!" Rolling my eyes, I stand and shake his shoulder roughly.

"Vinnie! Wake up already!" His crimson eyes fly open and suddenly I'm looking down the end of three barrels. "Whoa there, buddy! Just me!"

"... Sorry," he blinks, shoving his weapon back under his pillow and throwing the blankets off. I crinkle my nose.

"You smell like sweat." He doesn't respond, just stands and grabs the backpack with his name on it, heading toward the bathroom. Six fourty. I hear the shower turn on and sigh impatiently. He had better not take forever.

When he steps out in a normal clothes, I blink at him with the most astonished look ever. He gives me a skeptical look.

"We must blend in."

"Well yeah, but... You just look really different, that's all."

"Hm."

His hair repeatedly annoys him by falling in his face because he can't wear his headband. I laugh to myself as he irritably tries to tuck it behind his ear, but the soft strands just slip right out. It feels strange to be in pants for once, instead of my 'scarf', as Vincent has taken to calling it. Annoying butthole.

"Here," I finally say, grabbing a hair band from my bag and walking over to where he sits on the edge of the bed. "Turn around." He just blinks at me. Really Vince? Are you mentally retarded? "Relax, I'm not gonna stab you. I'm just tying it back." Nodding, he turns and I end up having to stand to even get all of his hair in my hand. "Geeze Vince! You have more hair than I do!" He chuckles and I manage to get the hairband in without much difficulty. Only his oddly angled bangs that seem to buy out of his head remain hanging in front of his face.

"Hey, what's this?" I hold up the weird bag I found earlier.

"It is a wind instrument case," he shrugs. "You can put your weapon in there if you'd like."

"Well where are you putting yours?" I put my hand on my hip. He smirks.

"I do not believe you can fit your spear in the waist band of your pants."

"Fiiiiine," I groan, pulling the chain-attached ends off and folding them up until the easily and quickly assembled pieces fit into the bag. "Why can't you put yours in here?"

"I am not the one dressed as a complete dork," his smirk grows more evil.

"Hey?" I stomp my foot. "I am not a dork!"

"Well, you did forget these," he grins now, holding up the stupid fake glasses.

"Ugh, I don't wanna wear 'em," I roll my eyes. He attempts to hand them to me and I shake my head. "No." With a sigh, he pulls me closer by the small of my back and forcefully pushes them onto my face.

"Now get your... Clarinet," he sneers and I roll my eyes. Sometimes, I hate it when Vincent is in a good mood.

"You're annoying."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I am aware of that."

"So," I change the subject as we leave the room. "What were you dreaming about that made you so loud?"

"..." He tenses and stiffly locks the door, exhaling heavily with his forehead leant against the wood. "My nightmares have been less easy to suppress as of late."

"What do you mean?" I frown.

"The ones of Lucrecia... Their effects are slowly fading. But, she's being replaced and the tortures for me are getting worse," I watches the ground as we walk. Sazh and Vanille with have been out there for five or ten minutes already.

"Replaced by what? Or who? Or... Where?" I cock my head to the side. I'm an idiot.

"..."

"Vincent..."

"You."

His pace speeds up and he quickly leaves me behind, not even looking back as he heads toward the two who were on time. Me?

~|~|~|~|~

"Vincent, we haven't seen anyone that looks like him all night," Vanille yawns. "Can't we just eat and then go to bed?"

"Yeah man," Sazh yawns too. "It's seven in the morning."

"You may go, I am just searching for a little while longer."

"Okay," Vanille nods, grabbing Sazh's hand and skipping off. I watch them go and cross my arms, raising an eyebrow at my mysterious companion.

"So Vincent," I take a step forward to be beside him. "How're we supposed to find this creepo?"

"Search," he says stiffly, walking ahead of me. He's been practically ignoring me the whole night, which was completely uneventful. We just wandered around Junon until now.

"Thanks for the clarification," I roll my eyes. "But really. How are we going to find one man out of a billion when there's a possibility that he's not even here?" He doesn't answer, just as I suspected. He is really getting on my nerves... "Vince! I asked you a question!"

"I already answered. Search."

"You really get on my nerves sometimes, you know that?" I groan, stomping after him. After I get bored of being irritated, I decide to pick on him just for the fun of it. "You know, I always thought it was weird when a girl would tell me that it's good to have a gay friend."

"Hmm?" He raises an eyebrow at me.

"Like support or whatever," I act as if he's not confused. "I don't know. Supposedly it's supposed to make it easier for you to talk to a guy or something."

"You think it is easier to talk to me because I'm gay?" He blinks at me.

"Hey, you said it, not me," I shrug with a smirk. "I mean, why else would you be so determined to find Hojo? It's true love!" I throw my arms open wide dramatically.

"Mm-hm," he hums slowly, his eyes asking me if I'm on crack. "Or it could be what he did to me."

"Aw, did he break your heart?" I coo. He huffs in annoyance and keeps going. "What's wrong, Vinnie? You can't deny that you like him."

"Which is why I'm going to shoot him," he retorts. A woman walking with her child freezes and stares at us.

"Vince," I hiss, having to jog to keep up. "Chill, you're practically running."

"I am walking."

"Yeah, with your extendo legs! I might be tall for a woman, but you're still taller than me!" He rolls his crimson eyes and slows his pace. "Ugh, these glasses are annoying. They make the bridge of my nose tickle."

"Then don't wear them."

"Aren't I supposed to look like a nerd?"

"I believe it was a dork," he smirks at me.

"Oh, my bad," I scoff. "I forgot you had a thing for nerds."

"Only demon scientists, remember?"

"So you are gay!" Some guy near us makes a point of completely avoiding Vince, instead brushing by me gently. I raise an eyebrow at him and he winks.

"Well aren't you a pretty one?"

"Go away," I stop walking and cross my arms. "I don't have time for idiots like you."

"Nice accent. Where're you from?"

"Nowhere," I shoot back, not missing a beat. "Now get lost." He's so annoying! And I don't even know him!

"Aw, babe," he reaches out and touches my arm. I jerk back and narrow my eyes at him.

"Do that again, Sweetheart, I dare you." Vincent must not have noticed that I stopped. He smirks and yanks me into a tight hug thing. Growling, I knee him 'downstairs' and twist him arm, bend it around behind his back. He yelps loudly and winces. "You bother me again, you won't be seein another day, Sunshine," I snarl by his ear and release him before storming away. Where the heck do I go now? Where's Vince? Did he honestly have to choose today to be oblivious.

Mentally rolling my eyes, I tighten my hold on the case containing my weapon and quicken my pace. People heading to work glance wearily my way as I push past them, lifting my head for any sign of Vince. Nothing. He couldn't have gotten far unless he really wanted to leave me behind that badly.

"Where are you?" I mumble.

"Right here," a voice says, but it's not Vincent.

"Who are you?" I cross my arms and frowning the blonde man behind me.

"Don't recognize me?" He raises an eyebrow and takes a drag of his cigarette.

"Wait! You're that guy that threw Vanille out of your ship!"

"A name would'a been nicer," he chuckles. "And yer the gal that jumped out and landed alive. I've only seen Vin accomplish that."

"Am I that recognizable?" I sigh.

"Nah. Took me a few moments," he grins. "Anyway, who're ya lookin' for?"

"Vincent," I look around me again. "Seen the guy anywhere?"

"Nope."

"Dang it. Fine, where's the inn?"

"Which one?"

"The one just a few yards into the city from the front entrance, I think."

"Yer goin the opposite way," he shakes his head. "Turn around and stick to the sidewalk. You'll get there eventually."

"Thanks," I nod. "Why're you here anyway?"

"Just out flyin' places," he shrugs.

"Right, see ya... Cid!" I suddenly remember his name and run off in the direction I came.

Once I pass the spot where I scared that guy off earlier, I keep an eye out for the inn. Someone walking quickly by bumps into me and knocks me over.

"Hey! Watch it!" I rub my head where it hit the brick building behind me before looking up at the person. "Vince?"

"Are you alright?" He furrows his eyebrows.

"Yeah yeah," I wave him off, accepting the hand he offers. "I'm fine. Where were you?"

"Somewhere," he shrugs. "I did not notice you weren't following me though. Where were you?"

"Well first I told some pervert off... Well, actually, I almost broke his arm, but at least he won't bother me anymore. And then I was looking for you, and ended up running into Cid, who told me I was going the wrong way, so I ended up turning around and receiving a concussion from a normal looking guy with blood eyes." He rolls his blood eyes and looks down at the ground.

"I am sorry for leaving you," he says quietly. "When I could not find you, I thought perhaps Hojo had gotten to you."

"Hey," I lift my hand and bring it gently to his cheek. When he stiffens I jerk back and blush, mumbling a 'sorry'. "At least, er, there was no bad sign of Hojo, right?" He nods and awkwardly clears his throat. What on earth was that, Fang? No idea. I shake my head and look in the direction from which he came. "We going back to the inn to rest up before tonight."

"Come with me," he says after a moment of not answering, watching me for my answer.

"Okay," I nod. After another moment of hesitation, he holds out his hand. I grin and accept it with a reassuring smile. All he needs is a little push, that's all. "Let's get going then; it looks like it's gonna rain soon."

Sure enough, dark clouds roll in and cover the city in dimness. He hurriedly leads me on, observant eyes always moving to watch something. Where are we going, I wonder..? Eventually we reach the railing along the front of the town, right by the docks. "It looks a lot better at sunset, but, well..." He trails off, point made.

"It's fine," I wave him off, fingers still linked with his as I turn my face skyward to relish in the patter of cool rain on my face. "I just love the rain, don't you?" I ask once it starts coming down a little harder.

"... Not really." I look over at him to see his bangs covering his eyes as he struggles to keep them back with one hand.

"You can let go of me, you know," I laugh loudly.

"I don't think I want to," he barely smiles at me, but that's just what Vincent does. I would be terrified if he broke out into a grin one day, especially with those pointy teeth of his. Stupid Hojo.

"I don't either," I make a brave move by laying my temple against his sharp shoulder. As expected, he turns into a rock, but he relaxes after a few moments. Then he busies himself with trying to keep his hair out of his face. I laugh again and try to help him out a little, but the rain just keeps trying to blind him.

"Maybe we should get back before you turn into a mop," I laugh. He huffs and frowns at me, but all in good nature.

"I do not like being trapped inside."

"Sucks for you," I roll my eyes, but make no move to force him back to the inn.

"Fang," he sighs. I exhale deeply and put my head back where it was on his shoulder. "Is it strange that all this time, I have felt so... Dead?"

"Hmm," I look up at the sky. "I suppose you feel dead when you don't have anything to live for. I know the feeling."

"... I find it even stranger that... Well, you of all people make me feel alive."

"What's that supposed the mean?" I frown, pulling my hand free to cross my arms. "Me of all people?!" Vincent blinks at me, obviously confused by my response.

"I did not mean for it to sound like what it did."

"Suuuuuuuure," I roll my eyes, going back to the way I was before. So comfy and warm.

"It does not make sense to me, anyway."

"What? Oh," I shake my head. "I get it, honestly. No, I actually don't understand... But I know the feeling very well, trust me when I say that, Vince." Like what you feel right now. Shut up, subconscious. We're having a rare moment of Vincent vulnerability at the moment!

"I have no reason not to," he looks down at me. Then he sighs and shuts his eyes, turning his face back to the water. "I have a life that will last for eternity. I wish, many times, that it would not be so. I would not have to see my companions die off one by one, Nanaki being the last. That is why I always try to push you out.

"But it seems I cannot. I am a pit of darkness, you are the light. Even if it is small, the light will always make a difference and warm those who need it."

"Er... English, please? Modern, preferably," I raise an eyebrow even though he's not looking at me.

"I do not even understand myself," he shakes his head, opening his eyes.

"No one really does," I laugh softly and look up at him. Why're you so freaking tall, Vampy?

"Should we be heading back?" The rain hasn't stopped.

"You can if you'd like," I shrug.

"I won't leave you out as bait for Hojo."

"Then don't. I'm not on a hook, Vampy," I smirk. He chuckles and shakes his head, soggy hair flopping every which way. I grin and pull him into a soggy hug. "Don't worry, I can handle myself."

"Fang, I, uh..." He pulls away, blushing. I smirk and watch him expectantly.

"You what?"

"Er.. I just wanted to, uh..." Vincent, spit it out already!

"I don't speak that language, I'm afraid," I tease. He laughs nervously and looks back out at the rain pattering on the water. Oh, help him out already, Fang! He's never gonna say anything on his own, shy as he is. "Look, if you want to go back, you can, I just wanted to stay here for a little while longer..."

"That wasn't what I was going to..."

"Then spit it out already," I raise an eyebrow. You're not helping.

"Nevermind," he sighs.

"Vincent," I roll my eyes and hold his shoulders as if in going to shake the words out of him. He stares into my eyes as if he's reading my mind or something. Ugh, I feel like the Grinch with my heart swelling and stuff. "I can't hang on much longer, buddy." My arms hurt.

"I can't either," he shakes his head.

"But you're not..!" I'm cut off my his mouth pressing gently to mine. I jump, caught by surprise (and Oerba yun Fang does not get caught by surprise) only to get an evil idea. Aw, don't ruined the moment, Fang! Zip it, mental Vanille voice.