The Village S1 (Rough Draft)

[Beebs]

The Village
Written by: Liamane, Siani, and BB Valentine
Published by: Avatar Goodies, KH Cloudchasers, and BB Valentine

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Jenova. The word haunted Vincent Valentine for the past thirty three long years. As the former Turk sat on his bed in Kalm and slowly opened his eyes, he pondered away into thought. For some reason, his mind was dwelling on the past. He thought of Hojo and his former love Lucrecia. She had chosen Hojo over him and he still could never forgive her for that, even if she wasn't alive. Why was he thinking of such terrible things that had happened years ago?

Vincent sighed and looked out the window. The town of Kalm was tranquil nowadays after defeating the Tsviets. With Cerberus at his side, the man sighed and tried to think of a more pleasant memory.

As he lay totally flat on his bed, there was a scream outside. The Turk looked out the window to find a young woman running for her dear life. Apparently, she was being chased by a creature on four legs. The man grabbed the gun Cerberus at his side and jumped out the window of his apartment. The creature looked at Vincent and instantly charged at him.

The former Turk simply pointed the gun at the beast and shot a bullet into its head. The creature fell to the ground and the girl was far away from danger. "That was a complete waste of my time," he muttered as he headed for the entrance to his home.

Suddenly, a vortex emerged from the sky and began to pull Vincent into it. "What the hell?!" he hollered as he fell victim to the vortex. Just as it had appeared out of the blue, it had completely vanished and Vincent Valentine was long gone.

Several moments later, the bewildered man found himself on the ground after falling out of the vortex. His head was sore and his vision was still blurry. As he began to pull himself together, he saw a group of people staring at him. He reached for Cerberus and pointed the gun to the foreign crowd approaching him.

The people backed away at the sight of the weapon. The Turk regained himself and stood on his two legs "Who the hell are you?" he asked coldly while keeping a steady aim at the people. "And what is this place?"

No one from the crowd seemed to answer him. They all simply backed away, returning to their lives in a sense of shock, for they were frightened by the man who had mysteriously made his way into their world. Vincent snarled, still wondering exactly what had happened.


Meanwhile, the priestess Kikyo walked along a small pathway in a field full of dead demons. The air was filled with death and she simply wished to pass through without any trouble. "Great... all I want is to find a place without demons,” she grumbled under her breath. “I just need a place with as little chaos as possible. At least they are already dead."

Moments after stating her words, the demon Naraku suddenly appeared. "Kikyo, I see that you fell into my trap!" he exclaimed as he lunged forth to begin his assault upon the priestess. She promptly responded by pulling out her bow and grabbing an arrow.

All of a sudden, a vortex appeared behind Kikyo as Naraku's eyes grew wide, almost showing fear. Kikyo felt something pulling her from behind. "I've had enough of you!" she yelled becoming angered as she looked upon the demon's shocked face. The force from behind the woman pulled her in, and as soon as she blinked, she fell from the sky and landed near a man in dark clothes with a red cape waving in the wind.

[Beebs]

"What did Naraku do to me?! Where am I?" she asked sounding weak. The priestess grunted as she rubbed the side of her face and her eyes focused upon the man before her.

Vincent stared intensely at the young woman who fell from a portal, the same way he had just moments ago. "Your guess is as good as mine," the Turk said with bearing any expression. He blinked once and turned toward the road and began to walk away from the scene.

"This isn't my home... What's going on around here?" Kikyo articulated as she glanced down to gather her thoughts and she gripped her bow tightly. After a moment, she looked up and stepped toward Vincent. "Wait! Please, can you tell me what’s going on?"

The Turk paused and thinned his eyes as he looked over his shoulder. "I already did," he uttered with a chilling glare. He then turned his attention back to the road before him and continued to walk in the opposite direction.

"Fine," Kikyo huffed with a frown. The woman groaned and stood up while brushing off her sleeve. "Well, at least this place seems to have some a sense of serenity to it. Is there a place where we can find some answers?"

As he scanned the area with his intense red eyes, Vincent blinked and quickly found a sign that read "Village: One Mile". The man looked over to the priestess and offered her a slow nod. "Perhaps someone can help us in that village," The Turk wasn't very social and he usually kept to himself, but the woman seemed to suffer the same fate as he had. If he was going to find a way back to his own dimension, he would need as much help as he could to return to Kalm.

The man let out a sigh as he looked over his shoulder once more and motioned for her to come along. “Well... are you coming?” he asked as he finally reached a reluctant decision.

The woman nodded as she walked over to the Turk’s side and began to walk with him. "As for introductions, I'm Kikyo and I belong to a world full of demons and humans fighting and causing destruction,” the young woman said in a firm tone. She glanced to her companion and nodded. “I'm sure that your world is somewhat similar, correct?"

Vincent snapped out of his thoughts of returning home, and he looked over to Kikyo. "My world used to be a chaotic mess," he told her as put Cerberus away in its leather case. The man noticed the bow and arrows that the girl was carrying and he gave a dry smirk. "It seems that you can fight, then."

[Beebs]

Memories of the past began to flood in Kikyo's mind as she tried to push them away. To her, it seemed like everything that happened in her world was all her fault. "Yes,” Kikyo replied with a brief pause as she began to continue. “I slay demons and help out in villages. I'm a priestess... well, I was until I was killed. My only goal now is to kill the one who killed me."

The Turk looked down at Kikyo and couldn't believe what she had just said. "You were killed?" he asked. Vincent frowned and looked up at the road before him. "I was also killed. But it was because I was standing up for someone I loved." He was silent for a moment and then spoke once more. "One could say that it was her fault that I've become the beast I am today."

"The only beast I've come to know is the one who impersonated the person I truly loved only to kill me and take away from something that I should have guarded with my life," the priestess said softly while she lowered her head and fought back the urge to cry. Although she didn't cry, Kikyo’s face showed pain and anger; something she usually didn't express, for she always kept her emotions inside of her. "You look human to me but your eyes tell me different."

Vincent brought his hand close to his face and observed his limb more closely. "I was a human a long time ago," he said, remembering the day Hojo had killed him. "But a bastard injected me with Jenova cells and twisted me into this thing you see before you."

The priestess raised a brow in reply. "I'm not sure what 'Jenova cells' are but you are not a 'thing' in my eyes," Kikyo replied with a blank expression. She also held up her hands and looked at them. "Like me, you still have feelings and still have someone you care about."


Vincent sharply drew in breath and thought about what his companion had said. She was right. Even though he rarely showed them, he also had feelings and emotions. He still loved Lucrecia, even though she had abandoned him, and he felt a strange feeling for his friends, as if they accepted him for what he truly was.

The man nodded and was silent for another long moment. He sighed and looked over to Kikyo. "It's Vincent," he murmured to her. "The name's Vincent Valentine."

Kikyo looked at the surroundings and noticed how peaceful it was. "Vincent Valentine," she repeated back to him. "So Vincent, what were you doing before you came to this world?"

Vincent looked at the scenery along with Kikyo. It had been over thirty years since he had seen a place of peaceful serenity with nature. "Nothing of particular interest," he replied. "I was trying to find a way to live out the rest of my life. Three years ago, a friend of mine discovered me under a mansion after thirty years of suspended animation. It's been a while since I've seen the world like this."

Kikyo looked at Vincent and sensed a calm aura around him. She looked up and saw a near-by village almost similar to her world. "Finally," she said relieved, "we can get some answers."

"It would seem that way," Vincent said without any emotion. The village before the man reminded him of his home, Kalm. He headed toward the village and glanced at Kikyo. "Let's go."

After a while they ended up at the village which almost seemed like a ghost town; everything was left untouched and no one was outside working in the fields. Kikyo looked around and noticed a bouquet of flowers lying on the ground by a hut. "Someone has to live here with all of this around," she told Vincent.

The man bent down and picked up the bouquet. Vincent observed the delicate flowers for a moment and then smelled its sweet fragrance. He looked over to Kikyo and nodded in agreement. "They're fresh picked, too," he said as he handed the flowers to her. "Now, where is the person who picked these?"

[Beebs]

A young girl stepped out of the hut that Vincent and Kikyo stood near. The child’s emotions were doused due to the foreign adults’ presence, and she began shaking a bit. "P-please go away," she stuttered nervously and she continued to tremble. "Take whatever you want. We don't want trouble."

Vincent simply looked at the girl and frowned. "I won't hurt you," he said trying not to scare the child. The man looked through the huts and the road, but his eyes failed to scan any source of life in sight. "Where has everyone gone to?"

The girl looked up at Vincent, then at Kikyo. The priestess gave the child a smile and a reassuring nod. The girl then gave a shy smile in reply. "They’re back in the forest hiding,” she said softly with a timid tone. “A few of the boys that live here saw you two come out of the sky like demons. They all fled back here to warn all of us. I was in the garden picking flowers, and when I came back everyone was gone."

The man let out a sigh and crossed his arms while turning to the girl. "Do you think you could get the people to come back here?" he asked the child as he looked at his companion. "Kikyo and I would like to talk to some of the adults."

On the opposite side of the village, a young blind traveler shuffled about the area of the village attempting to find a source of life. The young man was rather tall, and he was dressed in meager clothes while his eyes were covered by a black band of cloth. “Excuse me!” he shouted out to the heavens above, hoping someone would hear him. “Could someone please help out a blind traveler in need?! Anyone?!”

After hearing the unfamiliar voice yell out about food, the young girl became so frightened that she grabbed onto Vincent's red cloak. "You stay with the girl," Kikyo ordered, grabbing her bow and arrow. "She seems fond of you now."

Kikyo rushed over to where she heard the male's voice, and her eyes came across a boy around her age. She noticed the cloth covering his eyes, and he seemed to be moving toward some food that was cooked not too long ago. "What is your name?" she asked as she cautiously approached him. "Are you from this village?"

[Beebs]

As the young man inhaled the scent of some of the food, his feet warily shambled across the ground and his hands wavered about in the air. “Well, my name is Oberon and I’m from Atharta,” the blind teenager said as he followed his nose to the food. “My village isn’t from around here, and I found this place quite by accident. I’ve been here a little more than an hour and now my stomach’s craving for something. Excuse me, but would you mind giving me a bit of whatever’s over there?”

Kikyo turned her head to the direction in which the boy raised a finger to, and she handed him a bowl of the stew that had been left out to cook upon a fire. The teenager bowed his head as he grasped the bowl and sat down in his place to eat his newly acquired meal. “Thank you,” he said as he indulged in the stew, not even minding his manners.

The priestess shrugged and nodded. “So, you say you’re a blind traveler, right?” the woman asked as she put away her bow and arrow. "My name is Kikyo, and I am a priestess. If you don't mind, I would like to ask you a few questions." The young man dipped his head in reply to nod and pursued eating his food.

"So, I'm assuming that you are from this world,” the priestess continued as she watched the young man eat. “What do you call this world? Do you know anything about it?"

Oberon wiped his lip and turned his head to Kikyo’s direction. “The world is called different things in different parts of the land. To be honest, I have no idea what they call it in this region,” the young man confessed as he put the bowl down. “I was with my uncle a short while ago, but somehow we got separated. Then I found this place and I stumbled upon you. So, Miss Kikyo, where do you come from?”

"That's really no concern to you," Kikyo snapped with an emotionless tone. "What I need to know is how we all ended up in this world and how to get back to our own world. If you can't tell us how to get back, then I have no need of you."

[Beebs]

Oberon responded with a shrug and he let out a short laugh. “Apparently, there’s no need for me then,” he said as he scratched his head. “Now what do you plan to do with me now? Attack me with your bow perhaps?”

The priestess raised a brow in surprise as she became curious of the boy’s knowledge. "Of course not," Kikyo replied slowly walking away, shaking off her curiosity. "You won't be able to answer any of my questions, and I have other things to attend to. Follow if you wish to do so."

As Vincent and the girl stood by one of the village's hut, the Turk’s eyes scanned the scenery about him and he seemed to enjoy the spectacular site. It had been over thirty years since he had seen such a flourishing and vibrant world as such. In those days, he traveled as a young man from finishing school to his home in the countryside. The lush scenery had always inspired him to travel when he became older, an act that he was deprived of when Hojo had killed and experimented on him.

The man sighed and leaned against the hut. "What is taking Kikyo so long?" he told without emotion as he looked down at the girl still hiding beneath his red cloak. The priestess slowly approached him, and he cocked a brow and crossed his arms, hoping to hear of some favorable news. “So, what took you so long? Any luck?"

Kikyo let out a sigh as she nudged toward Oberon’s direction. "This guy,” she replied as she turned her attention toward the Turk once more, “was eating and he's just as clueless about how we can get back to our own worlds as we are." She looked around and her ears perked to the sound of a bell while she saw the village people coming forth from the woods.

Oberon flinched at the sound of the bell, as he nervously said, "Well, heh, I should probably be going, after all these people might not be pleased I was stealing their food. And I do need to find my uncle so...uh...bye!" The blind traveler then dashed towards the exit of town. "What a strange man," Kikyo said, turning her attention back to those from the village.

"Hey, that's my sister over there,” the little girl said as she pointed to a woman amongst the approaching crowd. “Someone must have ringed the bell and signaled that it was safe. By the way, my name is Kohana, and this is Riyona Village."

[Beebs]

"Kohana!" a young woman yelled behind the three while rushing over to them. Her eyes widened and worry and concern raced about in her mind as she looked upon her younger sister standing near the two alleged ‘demons’. "What are you doing with my little sister!?" She looked at Vincent and Kikyo, then to her younger sibling. "Where were you, Kohana!?"

The girl was silent for a moment, and then she responded to her sister. "I went to the garden. I was picking flowers for mother," Kohana replied to her older sister. "Then when I came back everyone was gone." The child then loosened her grip on Vincent's cloak and looked up at her sister’s worried face. "Don't worry. He didn't hurt me. He was with this girl."

Kikyo gave a warm smile, and the young woman gave her a small nod. The young woman, who was worried about her sister, turned to Vincent and paused for a moment as she exchanged eye contact with him. The Turk gazed intensely at her bluish gray eyes and felt himself lost in them for a moment. "Th-thank you for staying with my sister,” she said softly as she snapped out of her daze. “Is there anything I can do?"

Kikyo looked around and saw that the village people nervously went back to work and remained quiet. Kohana’s older sister, who was a little younger than Vincent, noticed that Kikyo was curiously looking at the people in the village. "They don't want any trouble,” she informed the priestess. “This is a peaceful place and it makes everyone nervous when a large group of random strangers are gathered around here."

"Why is that?" Kikyo asked the woman as she raised a brow.

[Beebs]

"Well, they believe that both of you will attack us," the young woman replied, looking at Vincent for a brief moment. Her face blushed with color and she looked back at Kikyo. "Some of the younger boys saw you two from a distance. The elders thought that if we stayed in the forest where our protector is, then you would go away. But, anyway, it's getting late. Kohana and I have to make dinner. Will you all be staying?"

Vincent glanced over at Kikyo and then lowered his head. "You go ahead, Kikyo," he said as he closed his eyes. "I really don't need to eat or sleep. I'll just stay here outside."

[Beebs]

"You can't stay outside!" Kohana replied grabbing his hand. "Come on! Come inside, please?"

"That would probably be best," Kikyo insisted, taking a step forward. The young woman looked up toward the darkening sky and then turned her attention to the others. "It seems that it's going to rain soon, and I highly doubt you want to get dramatically wet."

"Yeah! My sister can cook for everyone here and we have some extra room since it's just the two of us," Kohana continued as she persisted to bribe the Turk. The young girl then gave Vincent an innocent look hoping that he would come.

"If he doesn't want to come, leave him alone," Kohana's sister replied as she looked at him once again. "My name is Miyoushi, you can call me Miyo. I'll prepare some food for you anyway, if you care to eat some."

The man nodded in reply as his mind wandered away while looking at the young woman. Never had he been so captivated by a woman; not even Lucrecia appealed to him in such a manner. Trying to snap back to reality, Vincent then looked down at his hand with Kohana's. It had been a while since someone had actually touched the man without any intentions of harming him. He nodded and looked up at Miyo once again. "Well, if I get hungry, I'll come in," he told her in a soft tone. "So make an extra meal for me, just in case."

"No, don't stay out here!" Kohana pouted. "Like Kikyo said, it's going to rain."

"Stop it!" Miyo shouted reaching over to her sister. She lowered her head in embarrassment as she grabbed Kohana and carefully pulled her away from Vincent. "I apologize," she said to Vincent, bowing to him in respect. "She hasn't acting like this for some time now. She's only been this excited around our brother, but he departed some time ago. Anyway, we'll be in that house."

Miyo pointed to the rather large house behind them, and she grabbed a basket full of fresh fish before going inside with Kohana, dragging behind. Just as the priestess predicted, it started to rain heavily. Kikyo then walked up to The Turk after watching the whole scene. "I'm going inside and ask some questions," the young woman explained to him. She gazed at the house that Miyo and her younger sister had gone to, and she turned her attention to the man beside her a moment later. "They seem very fond of you, even though they barely know you."

[Beebs]

Vincent's mind raced with thoughts of Miyo, and he suddenly frowned. "That's what I'm afraid of," he said as he turned to Kikyo. "If they knew who I really was, they would think differently."

Kikyo stared at him before looking at the village people going into their huts, still a little frightened from previous events. Beginning to get soaked by the rain, the priestess gazed at the Turk before speaking once more. "They seem different from the other people here," she concluded as she exhaled a quick breath. "They're giving you the chance to show who you are, and you apparently didn't seem to notice. Maybe it's best if they don't know, then."

As she finished her statement, Kikyo trudged up a short path up to the house. The aroma of food filled the house, and the pleasant scent brought a smile to the priestess' face. "Do you always pre-cook your food?" she asked Miyo, as her eye caught a collection of pre-cooked foos in the kitchen.

"No, but today seemed different than others," the hostess replied with a smile. "I guess my feeling was right.I have some fish, bread, brown rice, some potatoes, and yams. There's more than enough for us and your friend."

"Well, I barely know him myself," the priestess retorted while sitting down at the table. She continued after food was placed before her, and she took plenty of food and placed it on her plate. "We aren't from this world, or so it may seem that way. He seems weird to me."

[Beebs]

The man looked up to the heavens and closed his eyes. He felt the cool rain caress upon his skin like a thousand tear drops from thousands of souls and he enjoyed the loud crackle of the thunder. It had been a while since Vincent Valentine stood in the rain, and, as usual, he was alone.

It's strange, he remembered Cloud Strife saying to him from a moment like this a while ago. Even though the rain looks violent and cruel, in reality, it's actually tranquil and calm. It's kind of like you, Vincent.


"He doesn't seem weird to me!" Kohana shouted at Kikyo with food in her mouth. "Vincent is nice!"

Kikyo raised her eyebrow at the little girl. Miyo noticed and said, "Calm down Kohana. Although he seems nice we don't know him. For all we know, he could be a demon with those red eyes." Kikyo turned to Miyo and replied, "He told me he was human at first, but I'm not sure of what he is now. I do sense a great power from him though."

"So how did you all get here in the first place?" Miyo asked making a meal for Vincent.

"Well I felt a force pulling me backwards." Kikyo replied, "I thought it was from my enemy but it was greater than that. It seems like a vortex of some sort sucked us all here. What is this place anyway?"

Miyo replied saying, "It's called Riyona, named after the spirit of the forest. Riyona is our protector and we built a small shrine as an offering. We don't travel far from our home so we're not sure about what's really out there. That's why the village sometimes gets scared when something out of place or someone looks like they can threaten our home. It's been a while since we've had visitors but I'm glad that you all came. It's been boring lately. Excuse me for a moment."

Miyo got up from her seat and grabbed a small cloak. As she looked upon to Vincent's soaked form, her eyes glistened and she felt her heart pounding through her chest. The young woman felt her entire face blush, and she then cleared her throat to gain the Turk's attention. "You should come inside," she said softly while biting her lower lip. "You'll get sick out here, and I don't want you to be alone."

[Beebs]

Vincent opened his eyes and looked over to Miyo. He stopped and froze in place as his eyes widened at the sight of her. "She's... she's beautiful," he thought to himself. "I'm surprised she's even noticing my existence... But... she would never understand. I've always been alone."

The Turk sighed and swallowed his pride as began to walk over to the young woman. "F-fine," he replied while stuttering as he followed her inside.

"Yay!" Kohana hollered as she rushed over to Vincent. "You came!"

"Wait!" Miyo shouted at Kohana giving her a large towel. "Give this to Vincent."

"Ok!" Kohana replied as she gave him the towel. "Here dry off. Miyo kept some food hot for you." Before she went back to her seat, she whispered to him, "I think she's starting to like you." Without another word, she giggled and sat down at her chair once more to continue eating.

"Kohana, calm down," Miyo said as she gave Vincent a plate of food with a small smile. "I hope you like it."

The man looked down and took the plate from Miyo. "Thank you," he said avoiding eye contact with any of the girls. Vincent sat down and began to eat his meal. It had been a long time since anyone had made food for him, and it had been a while since he actually had a hot meal.

After he was done eating his dinner, Vincent finally looked up at the girls. As he shifted his eyes to each girl, an overwhelming feeling began to grow in the man. It was a feeling that he never felt before in his life. No one, not even his father, expressed this emotion to him. It was the feeling of being wanted and cared for. It was the warmth and love of a family.

[Beebs]

Smiling, Miyo nodded and looked over to the Turk. "Anytime," she said gently, fixing her own food. As always, the young woman was certain to feed others before she would dare to eat her own food. She sat down next to Kohana and then began to finally eat her dinner.

"So Miyo," Kikyo continued, lifted her head, "tell me more about this Riyona spirit."

"Well," the hostess began, swallowing and putting down her utensil, "based on what my mother told me when I was young, hundreds of years ago, Riyona was a great spirit that wanted to reign over his own land and be at peace. When he finally found that place, which was here, he created the forest where he lived there peacefully for many years. But as humans became destructive, causing chaos, they destroyed much of the forest and Riyona became enraged. He sent out a sickness that almost wiped out our race. Those who defied his rule were then deformed because of Riyona's plague, and they were cast away, labeled as demons." Looking sternly to her sister, Miyo raised a brow and folded her arms across her chest. "Isn't it time for bed, Kohana?"

"Ah! I'm not sleepy Miyo!" her sister whined while rubbing her eyes. "It's past your bed time and we have to help cook and set up for the festival. If you go to bed now, I'll let you stay up all night tomorrow."

"There's a festival?" Kikyo asked, curious about the event.

"Yes, I'll tell you about it when I put Kohana to bed," Miyo replied, shifting her eyes to sister once again. She rose to her feet and grasped the child's wrist. The woman motioned to the direction of her bedroom, the child responded with a pout, and the two walked into the bedroom, leaving Kikyo and Vincent alone together at the table.

"This world," the Turk muttered, raising his eyes toward Kikyo. "It's so peaceful, no? I haven't seen a place as such for ages. It's so... nostalgic." The priestess, who sat parallel to Vincent, blinked as she gave a small nod in response. It was strange; something inside of her compelled her to agree.

Returning a few moments later, Miyo emerged, shaking her head at Kohana's antics before she fell asleep. "Sorry about that," the young woman apologized, gaining a smile. She gazed at Vincent and Kikyo before continuing her story. "Now where was I? Oh, of course, the demons. Even to this day, the demons try to get back at Riyona by trying to destroy the forest. My parents died at the hands of some of the demons with those intentions. Anyway, since we take from the forest and use its resources, we have a festival every year in the honor of Riyona, in which we thank him for providing us with the herbs and plants we live on. This time of year a rare healing plant blooms, called a Spider-Lily Flower, and we use them for their medicinal properties. I've heard that if you were to go deep in the forest, you'll come across a waterfall where Riyona's heart is. The elders say that we should protect the forest or our land is destined to die. That's why we ran to the forest after hearing about demons. I was so worried about Kohana, and I'm really glad that you found her and everything. I owe you all so much."

[Beebs]

"You owe us nothing," Vincent said crossing his arms as he took a quick glance at Kikyo. "We don't deserve your hospitality." The man looked up to Miyo and expressed no emotion. "I apologize for the loss of your parents. It's unfortunate how they met their end."

Kikyo looked at him and replied, "Don't mind him, he seems to like pushing people away. But he's right, you don't owe us anything. You've done enough."

"No, you two protected my sister, the only survivor in my family," Miyo uttered in a soft voice. "The least I could do is provide you with food and a place to stay until you find a way home. It's always boring here. This is the most excitement we've had in months, maybe years." The young woman paused before continuing.

She then looked at Vincent, saying to him, "You don't have to be sorry about my parents. Loved ones die everyday; it's part of life. Yes, it's unfortunate that they died under terrible circumstance but it's even worst to see Kohana not know anything about our parents. I tell her a few stories about them but she never experienced the love from them since they died when she was a baby. You know how hard that is for a child?"

"I understand that hardship," the man said as he looked away from the two girls. He knew exactly what this small family was enduring. When he was small, Vincent had lost his mother, who was unable to provide him with any siblings. His father was never home during his childhood because of his extensive research, and Vincent was always alone.

Out of this loneliness, the man was inspired to join the Turks, or the Investigation Division of the General Affairs Department of the Shinra Electric Power Company. There, he became powerful gunman he was today and where he met Lucrecia Crescent and his entire life afterwards fell into place. Vincent was silent for a long moment and fell into deep thought.

"Throughout my life, I just wanted to be an ordinary woman, and being a priestess, I thought I was not permitted to display emotion," Kikyo muttered, there was a hint of sadness in her voice. "I grew up hiding a lot of things inside, and I almost became this lost soul. I understand how attached a child could be, Miyo, especially with no parents."

"I see that we all lost some part of ourselves," the hostess added, cleaning up and putting any other food away. "When my parents died, I felt so terribly alone. To make matters worse, I had to take care of my infant sister and try to get a hold of myself. One day, when Kohana and I were in the garden, I realized that our happiness is connected with our outlook on life. I've always try to stay positive even if it's not for myself."

[Beebs]

Vincent lowered his eyes and thought of his painful past yet again. The man took his hand and placed it upon his chest and felt his heart beating. "It's there alright", he said to himself. "But it feels like it's not really there and it's been ripped out of me."

The Turk barely expressed any emotions, but when he did, they often got a hold of him and would get out of control. The image of the Chaos creature he once had the ability to transform into appeared in his head and felt his stomach churn at the sight of it. "Stop it," he commanded himself in his head. "Get ahold of yourself."

Miyo finished cleaning up, which wasn't much, and sat down in front of the two people she had welcomed into her home. She noticed Kikyo starting to doze off a little, and she then looked over to Vincent. The young woman gazed curiously as she saw him in an uneasy thought. "Are you alright?" she asked, taking a step toward him. "Maybe you should get some sleep."

"I'm fine," he quickly snapped as he looked up at Miyo with his intense red eyes. Vincent quickly regained his emotionless face and he stood upon his feet. "I don't need any sleep."

"Well, I do," Kikyo responded, also getting up. "Is there any room left?"

Miyo quickly lowered her head, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Yes," the woman replied to the priestess. "Down the hall, to the left. There's an empty room."

Kikyo walked toward the hallway before turning to the Turk. "I sense that you're suppressing something, but either way you'll end up hurting yourself as well as others," the woman explained to the man. She then turned her attention to the hostess, continuing, "Miyo, if you can find a way to help us get home that would be greatly appreciated. Although, this place seems better than my world."

Miyo gave Kikyo a small nod, and the priestess went to her room. Miyo gazed at Vincent and saw his red eyes intensify with the light coming forth from the house's fireplace. She had a confused look on her face and she didn't want to question him or make him angry at her. "I don't know what you're thinking, but whatever the problems are, they're not here in this world," Miyo said softly, offering a bit of comfort. "I'm not sure of how to get you back home yet, but I'll find a way to help you and Kikyo. I'm sure that you'll be happy then."

[Beebs]

Vincent looked into the glowing embers of the fire. He frowned and continued to watch the flames dance about. "Happy," he repeated, shaking his head. "No, there hasn't been a moment of joy in my life for the past thirty three years. There is nothing worth expressing happiness in my world. Who would I share my happiness with?"

Miyo noticed the frown Vincent made. The young woman gasped as she quickly bowed down in respect and courtesy to the Turk. "I'm so sorry," she said in a soft whisper, trying to be as polite and reverent as possible. "I didn't mean to be rude. I-I was just assuming things about you."

The man shook his head. "No, don't be sorry," he said as he motioned for her to rise from her bow. "You just didn't know. It's not your fault that my life has turned into a mess." Vincent looked outside and noticed the rain continue to pour from the sky, and it showed no signs of ceasing. "No, it's not your fault at all."

[Beebs]

Miyo fell silent with a loss for words. She didn't like the air that seemed gloomy like the rain, so she looked around and got up, seeing the flowers that Kohana picked earlier. She went over and picked them up before placing them on a table as she took a tall glass and placed it outside. She then asked Vincent, giving a smile, "Did you bring these flowers in?"

The Turk glanced over his shoulder and nodded. As he crossed his arms and focused once again on the fire, he fell silent for a long moment. The thunder outside crackled and the man attempted to warm his cold hands. "We've both lost people that we once held dear," he said as he looked up at Miyo. "I understand what loss can feel like."

Miyo brought in the tall glass, now filled with water, and placed the flowers inside. She placed them on the table and said, "Yeah, you feel abandoned and alone. You end up feeling all of these emotions and you want to bottle them inside because you feel like the world doesn't care or understand."

She looked out at the rain for a moment and she then looked at Vincent once again. "But you know," the young woman continued, raising her head, "things happen and all we can do is keep moving on until it's our time. The love we felt for them, if it was there, is still present, but we can always grow more love for others as well and give ourselves the happiness that we truly deserve."

[Beebs]

Vincent looked down once more and reflected on Miyo's words. "Am I really worth deserving happiness?" the Turk asked himself, he blinked slowly. The man shook his head and gazed up at the young woman.

"I have no emotions or love within me," he told her demonstrating his emotionless face. "I've tried to conjure enough happiness within me, but something or someone always deprives me of it, and the wonderful feeling vanishes. So, how can I move on when there is nothing else for me to love or to hold dear?"

"I was once happy," he said, moving on, with a dry tone. Lucrecia's face appeared in his head, and he remembered what his life was like all those years ago. "But just as quickly as it happened, it vanished right before my eyes. And now, because of the Jenova cells inside of me, my emotions have been greatly suppressed and I've become an animal. Now, I'm forced to live a life that I don't want."

Miyo grinned in response, showing one of her brightest smiles. Although she was rather tired, she didn't show it; she was glad to have someone to talk to. "No love? No emotions?" she thought, raising one of her eyebrows.

"Everyone feels something, even though it doesn't seem like it," the young woman replied to him. "Earlier today, you had to feel at least something when you got here. You wanted to be alone, even when we invited you inside and it started raining. I also see you deep in thought from time to time. I know it's confusing, but like I said, everyone deserves even a little happiness, even you. You don't need anything to move on. You can make your own decisions and do what you want. If fighting makes you happy, do it. If you found someone that makes you feel happy, stay around. I don't know what makes you happy, but you have the power to find it for yourself. "

[Beebs]

Vincent nodded and walked towards the front door to watch the rain continue to pour down. "I must be still searching then," he said solemnly, crossing his arms. He looked over to Miyo, and he leaned against the wall. "It's strange how I can speak to you in such a manner. I haven't had a good conversation with anyone for a long time. I feel... much lighter."

"That's because you're saying how you feel instead of keeping it inside," Miyo said, giving a warm smile. "Although I don't have anyone to talk to, the flowers in the garden listen." She looked over at the bouquet of flowers and nodded. "I'm sure that you'll find your happiness, Vincent. You have a good heart even though you don't show it."

Vincent nodded and stared into the bouquet. He thought for a moment and then spoke once more. "Why are you doing this?" he asked as he looked up at Miyo's smile. "I'm a complete stranger, and you've welcomed me and Kikyo into your house. I've only met you today, but by the way we speak to each other, it seems we've known each other for a long time. So, why are being so kind to me?"

"Well, there must some good in you to protect my little sister" she responded, looking into his eyes. "My parents, before they died, were kind and peaceful people. They taught me to be kind as well. No one around here is my age, and for a majority of the time, I'm taking care of Kohana or working in the garden." Miyo sighed as she gazed into the fire. The rain had slowed down as the night sky started to appear.

[Beebs]

Vincent nodded and looked up at the starry sky. "I guess there is," he said with a blank face as he crossed his arms. "Then, I assume it was enjoyable to talk to someone besides your sister and the flowers. Tell me, Miyo, how old are you?"

"Twenty-four." she replied with a hint of hesitation. "My parents died when I was fifteen, and Kohana is nine now. Everyone else is either older or younger here. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I was just curious," he quickly snapped. Vincent brushed away the hair that was in front of his eye and he spoke once more. "I was about your age then when I joined the Turks. Time really flies."

"You're curious... about my age?" Miyo replied, raising her eyebrow. She let out a weary yawn, but she was still interested to know about Vincent's world. "To me, you look just a little older than I am. You all must age slowly in your world."

Letting out a sigh, the hostess looked down the dark hallway in which Kikyo and Kohana had gone to rest. Smiling, she gazed at Vincent. "I wish I could stay up any longer, but the festival is tomorrow and I'll be pre-cooking food and setting up. If you need a bed to rest, there's a room over there." the young woman uttered, pointing to the room down the hall. "I'll be in the next one over, to the right. If you need anything, feel free to get it."

The young woman walked over to the fire place and lit a lantern before putting the large fire out. She walked up to Vincent and gave him the lantern, her smile never left her place. "Here you go," she whispered, looking to his face once again. The young woman broadened her smile as she watched the light's reflection in the Turk's passionate, red eyes. "I'm really happy to have met Kikyo and a great person like you, Vincent Perhaps you would care to stay for a while more? There's more to this world than meets the eye."

Walking into the dark hall, Miyo gave the man a reassuring nod before proceeding into the darkness. Her smile seemed to have enchanted him.
He sat down in a chair and let out a sigh as her face and words of reassuring comfort bloomed in his mind over and over. The Turk raised his head once to gaze into the corridor in which the woman had retired to, and after he lowered his head, he set the lantern upon the floor beside him. Although he had arrived not too long ago, the mysterious world known as "Riyona" began to leave a growing impression on Vincent Valentine.