DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy VII characters belong to Square Enix. Only the ideas contained within this story are my property. No profit is being earned from this.

Devilishly Divine

By Scilja

Prologue

---

Crystals showered down to join the dark red liquid soaking the thick burgundy carpet.

That was the fifth glass broken this month.

Vincent doubled over in the velvet chair, hands clutched at the temples and teeth grit
as another splitting migraine shot through him.

The clock ticked by until his ragged breathing gradually steadied and his heart rate
slowed from its rapid thundering. With a resigned sigh, he slumped back in his seat.
Ten minutes, the clock told him.

It started with a tingling, an itching in his nerves building to fevered blood. Days
later the room tilt, his equilibrium torn, and breath choked in strangled gasps. When
Chaos departed, it felt as if a large weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the
heavy chains of a remorseful past released. Things should have been better then, but
it all came crashing down like a scale tipped too far.

Chaos contradicted his own namesake. The demon had been the main balancing
thread which kept the other three demons in line. The absence of the powerful demon
gave them the opportunity to act rashly, including frequent attempts to achieve their
own liberation.

Being a host to three demons certainly has its downsides.

He had been able to constrain the demons for the most part but he knew it would not
last. He could feel their growing strength, their actions became more dangerously
reckless and imprisonment only increased their hastiness. They wanted out and they
wanted it soon.

Nearly six months since Chaos left, chastising the demons came to be a daily routine
and entailed a great deal of his mentality to rein them in. The incidences initially
brought on the occasional mild headache that developed into mind-blowing migraines
which usually left him haggard and drained.

His fists clenched in frustration knowing he would not be able to stand against them if
this continued. Even worse, he did not know of the outcome by chance they
overpowered him and he no longer had the control to prevent whatever havoc and
mayhem may occur.

"Three against one is entirely unfair, don't you think?"

Cerberus whipped out instinctively as he scanned the room to identify the body to the
voice. "Come out."

"Relax, Valentine, if I was here to kill you it would only be a foolish act on my part
since you're immortal. I don't particularly feel like exerting much effort either."

The gun aimed pointedly at the man emerging from the shadows. "This is not a social
call," he said.

His visitor smiled, a surface disguise he sensed hid a darker aura. "Ah, sharp in
thought as well." The figure moved across the floor in a fluid manner before he settled
into the chair in front of him.

Vincent narrowed his eyes, a foreboding vibe crawled along his skin. "You're not
human."

"Perceptive." The man raised a leg to rest atop his knee and laid an elbow against an
armrest. "Tolefin. A demon. More specifically, an eidolon."

"A demon cannot be a ghost."

"True, but that does not mean they cannot take the form of one. Consider it a method
of communication," Tolefin said, his fingers waggled nonchalantly. "Pity, I thought
Chaos would have mentioned this. Tricky demon."

He instantly straightened, alert overpowering the hazy aftereffects of his demonic
assault. This man already knew far too much for his liking. "How do you know
Chaos?"

"Demons are not solitary creatures, Valentine. We are aware of our own kind and do
associate with each other." As if to prove his otherworldliness, Tolefin snapped a
martini from the air and tipped it towards him in a sly gesture. "I could further
divulge you of the demon network but it would diverge from my original purpose."

He scowled at the entity, one hand sorely tempted to pull at the trigger and send his
form back to the dark dimension. He had already spent more than half his life dealing
with demons and did not want any more to do with them. Demons never brought
good news. "I have no intention to partake in whatever you propose."

"You should listen before you speak for it is rather beneficial towards you, especially
where it concerns Behemoth, Death Gigas, and Hellmasker."

His grip on the revolver tightened. No-one, aside from the members of Avalanche,
knew about the four occupants he contained and he had been highly cautious upon
revealing them since the reconstruction of the Kalm. Peace had no place for darkness.
Yet each time the eidolon spoke, he posed an increasing threat.

"The three desire freedom. I can sense their restlessness emanating from you. While I
certainly applaud your endurance and will at hosting four demons for decades,
nothing lasts forever. Merging with Chaos provided a sort of stability for your
control. Now that Chaos has returned to the Dark Echelon, you have lost some hold
on their influence. It would only be a short time before they will possess your entire
being and use it as their own. Only those who have dark powers can act."

"What part do I have if I have no dark powers?"

"Fortunately, I do. I am fully capable of restraining the three. Of course, I'm not
limited to simply that. I am also able of ridding them from you permanently."

Beyond the throaty voice and glinting yellow orbs, he lowered the gun and eyed the
grinning man incredulously. He had waited for this chance for too long. Far too
long. Whether it was fate or a twisted coincidence, nothing screamed louder than a
tempting opportunity presenting itself.

"What is your proposal?"

Tolefin gave a wicked gleam in his eyes as he sipped his drink, obviously pleased he
changed his mind. "Currently, I do not have enough power to generate such a
complex task. To do so, I require a certain orb that amplifies the Dark Powers of the
beholder. The whereabouts, to my dismay, is unknown as it has been lost for a
century."

"You want me to find it," Vincent realized.

"Seek the Pavuloek talisman to acquire the orb. Retrieve it and I will dispel your
demons. You will be freed from the monsters that haunt your past and linger in your
nightmares. No more pondering about being a threat to others. Atonement will be
closer and reconciliation sweeter." Tolefin leaned closer, his grin more devious than
the last. "Do we have a deal?"

Demons always came with a price. Nothing was free and he had the scars to live
by it. As a host, he had surrendered countless periods of sanity and individuality.
In exchange for enhanced demonic abilities, his body paid the sacrifice. Time ran
precariously grave and the situation ultimately turned into one of life or death.

He had no choice. In a downward flick of his head, he made his decision.

The eidolon bowed, his smile not once wavered. "Until then, farewell." In a rising
murky cloud, he was gone.

As the smoke dissipated, Vincent was left with the sinister feeling he had sold his
soul to the devil.

- - - - - - -

"Great Leviathan, karma's come back to kick me in the ass," I muttered, riffling
through boxes containing random supplies and personal belongings in dire search of
my cell phone.

Due to my natural obsession of being a pack-rat, I had the tendency to carry more
items than necessary. Better to have it and need it than need it than not have it, I
always say.

I let out an angry huff when I came up unsuccessful from the third box and cursed
my genes. While I was a born genius at taking things without batting an eye, I did
not have the complimenting gift to be a neat freak. So as my collection grew, the
mess spread. Funny thing though, I have an incredible memory, ideal at keeping tabs
on blackmail material which had proven successful against Cid on Shera, and
particularly useful in tracking objects amongst the clutter.

Thus I had the right to spazz out when I could not find something I supposedly had.

"Yuffie?" The chimes and muffled voice from the floor below told me my building
buddy returned.

"Up here!" I yelled, hopefully loud enough to sound through the jumble.

Footsteps thudded louder up the stairs in approaching the door. "Yuffie, do I have
the best news for you or what! I – Heavens above, what God did you anger here?"

I poked my head out from my crouched position under the wooden bureau to catch
her aghast at the room's condition. "I just got my stuff in four days ago, Dee. Cut
me some slack."

"Slack and you don't go, doll, or you'll end up wallowing in your own filth," she
said, nose scrunched as she carefully made her way to me. "This place wasn't so bad
yesterday. What happened?"

"I can't find my stupid cell," I grumbled, placing my hands on the table to hoist
myself to a standing position.

A month ago, I decided WRO, also known as World Restoration Organization, didn't
cut it for me anymore since things in Midgar began to settle. Not wanting to be stuck
at a desk job, I packed my things and zipped to Costa Del Sol, bumped into a place
for rent, and called myself a professional Seeker. This way I could keep my ninja
skills up and about and earn a nice profit in the making.

Darcy, or Dee as I called her, took the position of my landlady and bookkeeper to the
quaint library below. It housed the oldest of old books, scriptures, and historical
records relating to myths, legends, and theories cooked up by writers who had either
gone mad at some point in their life or missed out on the break of day. Her patrons
came in the wildest bunch, ranging from the crazed fantasy fanatic to the eccentric
scholar. The woman's appearance went far from the typical librarian with her fair
skin, trim figure and sea-green eyes, although I like to think her snowy white hair
resulted from having to deal with the paranormal on a daily basis, clients included.

I turned to look at said librarian and raised a brow at her chewing her bottom lip, a
bad habit I discovered occurred whenever she felt guilty or nervous. "Shoot," Dee
cursed and quickly dug through her pockets. "I'm so sorry, Yuffs, I heard it ring this
morning and since you were out I took a call for you. Must've forgotten to return it."
She stilled, eyes widened as if a light went on. "Yes, that's it! You got your first
potential client!"

My hand shot up to catch the cell phone thrown at me as I gaped back at her.
"You're kidding."

"Nope." She clapped happily, bouncing on her heels. "I told you that online ad would
do you justice!"

"But Dee, look at all this!" I said as my arm whipped out in an irate fashion. "I
wasn't expecting a case for another two days at least. I don't even have an official
sign up yet!"

She psshaed me with a flick of her hand. "It's no big deal, doll. You got most of the
office set up already. Everything else you can finish off in an hour or so."

To confirm her declaration, I skimmed across the room, spotting the all-in-one
telephone, fax, and printer, a water cooler/heater and a coffee maker to counter it,
a high-tech computer atop the desk compliments of Reeve, a bookshelf against the
wall, and metal filing cabinets in the corner. In the middle of the room situated a
round coffee table surrounded by plush seats for discussion. Simple and practical was
my motto. The remainder in the boxes held a few decors to spiff up the room along
with documents concerning my previous work with WRO and books on Materia and
weapons.

"I'll believe you this time." I checked my phone for messages before pocketing it.
"News sure spreads fast in this town. It's been only two days since I put it up on the
Net and already I get a client. Not bad."

Dee gave a lopsided shrug and popped a caramel taffy into her mouth. "Guess people
lose stuff fast here."

"That's gold to me," I said and went to stack up the empty bookshelf. "Did he or she
mention about meeting?"

"Sure. He said around three today."

I turned to her so fast I nearly dropped the books. "Three? That's thirty minutes
from now!"

She glanced at her watch and nodded. "Yeah, sounds about right."

As much as I like this girl, sometimes I wanted to give her a good shake.

"Did he mention anything else?" I asked, looking at her pointedly.

"Not really. I guess he's saving it for the meeting," she replied, the words a bit
muffled from her simultaneous chewing. "Although I gotta tell ya, Yuffs, he had the
most delish voice. The kind you hear roll out from the tortured hero in moments of
fiery passion. Turned me into a big puddle of drool, all wet and happy."

My mouth quirked upwards as I shook my head. "All that fantasy has finally mushed
your brain into delirium."

"You wouldn't mind being in this one." She ambled over to the desk and propped a
hip against the edge. "When you hear him you'll know exactly what I've been
through."

"I don't drool."

"A puddle of goo then. You can't tell me a healthy, twenty-one year old female
doesn't experience desires and urges."

I mentally groaned. Dee, with all her naive heart and blunt words, occasionally took
it upon herself to fix my love life or rather lack of it. While I have skillfully avoided
blind dates and club-hopping, I had no such luck when it came to Cupid Dee's
lovelorn lectures.

"Of course I do! I desire the triple-decker, mint chocolate fudge from Labelle's."

She pouted, "That's…not the same," and sighed the Yuffie-is-a-hopeless-kook sigh.
"When was the last time you got laid?"

"You make it sound like I'm sex deprived," I said, leveling the books from tallest to
shortest.

"Aren't you?"

"What exactly does that have to do with anything? I don't need sex to have a love life."

"Better than nothing," she quipped, reached for the candy bowl sitting at the corner
of my desk and unwrapped a peppermint. "Maybe your client can help you out."

"I think it's supposed to be the other way around."

"I meant help you with your love life. If he looks as good as he sounds, jump him."

I gave an unladylike snort. "There are so many things wrong with that sentence.
First, I don't do work relationships. Second, voice and looks have proven not to go
together, like the cross-eyed chick with the man voice who came in your shop last
week. And third, it's a quarter to three and I'm in a hurry to look pro."

To my relief, Dee gave one last resigned sigh and hopped off the table. "Need any
help?"

"No thanks," I did a little finger wave, "bring him up when he arrives, okay?"

"Should I tell him to strip before or after he goes upstairs?"

She skillfully dodged a flying book and descended the stairs laughing.

I jumped when I felt my left pocket vibrate and realized I got a call on my PHS. I'll
never get used to this vibrating technology. Honestly, it's like a dirty toy in disguise.

"Kisagari's Road Kill. You smash 'em, we trash 'em!"

"Fuck girl, can't you say some normal shit for once?"

My lips pulled back into a wide grin at the familiar gruff voice. "And miss out on
ruining your day? No chance in hell, Smokey."

He mumbled something along the lines of little girls bitching to his grave then
grunted, almost in exasperation. "How's it going, kid?"

Cid Highwind, royal-pain-in-the-neck chain smoker who got picked up by Cloud
some time during the Sephiroth era and later became appointed as our main source
of transportation. I worked with him, Barrett, and Reeve back in WRO. Aside
from maintaining the main system ports at WRO, he trains other aspiring pilots under
his own academy. How the recruits stand the cloud of smoke and colorful language
five days a week, eight hours a day without pissing their pants is something they
definitely deserve credit for.

"I found out I need to get laid."

He let out a series of mixed expletives and coughs at the other end of the line. "Shit,
man, I'm not a fucking sex therapist."

"No, but it's fun to hear you squirm," I said, holding back a laugh.

"Next time I ain't callin' ya."

"Aw, you don't really mean that. As much as I know you love to hear my problems
in bed" – another curse – "what did you call for?"

I heard him make a small "Hn" and mentally pictured him smirking, full of masculine
pride. "Got your bike ready."

I might have pierced his eardrums from the loud, high-pitched squeal I shrieked into
the phone. "Thank you thank you thank you! God, Highwind, I'd kiss your ugly mug
if it didn't stink of smoke."

"Shera'd beat you off with a stick, girlie," he said, "I'll drop it off tomorrow. You
still at that sunny place?"

"Sure am."

"Burn in heat, kid."

I smiled at the softness behind the rough exterior. "Suck tar, Old man."

At the signaled beep ending transmission, I scrambled to get any last minute bearings
together – another way of saying I dumped it all in my room, turned on the coffee
maker, and laid out official looking spreadsheets on the table. Ten minutes later, I
heard the distinct chimes of the shop door open.

Sixty seconds passed and no client. I rolled my eyes. Whoever he was must be quite
a looker considering Dee liked to keep attractive men lingering. Then I heard a low
voice speak, smooth and deep, which I admit made me forget the two minutes that
went by, followed by a light giggle from my friend. Charming.

"It's a good thing you were able to find this place even without the sign up. It's
pretty new but open for business nonetheless." Two knocks rapped on wood as the
door swung open and she ushered my client inside. "Here you are, sir."

The wheels of my chair swiveled back as I got up and rounded my desk, hand
outstretched for a salutatory shake. "Welcome. My name is –"

"Yuffie."

My eyes bugged out and my jaw went slack to imitate a gaping fish at the sight of the
man who stepped into view. I had to force my knees to keep from buckling for
nothing could prepare me for the person standing before me. Sans the cloak and metal
claw, the long hair, red eyes, and pale skin could not be mistaken. "Vincent?"

I prided in the fact my voice did not squeak.

Aside from me, Dee resembled a bird, darting her head between Vincent and me.
"Woah, you know Tall-Dark-and-Handsome?"

A small leer sent Dee's direction ceased further curiosity. With a zipping motion
across her lips she made her exit, but not without a thumbs up and wide grin. I
resisted the need to throw another book and shifted my attention to Tall-Dark-and-
Handsome.

His aura had my feet seemed frozen under his piercing gaze. No matter how many
times I came across those eyes I could not escape its grasp. Never been one to let a
chance go, I allowed myself a good look over at the man who I had not seen in
nearly half a year.

Rarely did Vincent wear casual so I drank in the image like an appetizer. Donned in a
heavy cloak and gold metal, he exuded dark and mysterious. In a black dress shirt
and slacks, he dressed to kill hearts everywhere. His hair still lengthy, albeit a smidge
longer but carried the same untamed nature. At eternally twenty-seven years, he
made immortality appealing.

In haste I gave myself a mental smack, reminding myself he came as a client and not a
fanciful reunion. "Mr. Valentine." I entered into full business mode and gestured
across the room. "Please, take a seat."

He looked at me for a few seconds longer than I thought he would before walking
over to the offered chair. "I did not know you became a Seeker."

"I needed a change of air from WRO," I said, "it became more paperwork and not
enough action. I decided my skills would come in handy as a Seeker so I went for it."
I reached for a glass from a nearby shelf, peeked into it to check for dust and gestured
towards him. "Coffee?"

A simple nod came his response. Somehow I thought he would be less withdrawn
given the whole separation from Chaos incident, but I guess some things never
change. "How do you like it?" I asked.

"Black."

Fitting.

I set the steaming drink in front of him and took my seat. "I'm going to go ahead and
say you need to find something."

Vincent gave me a seemingly blank which, in all the instances I met his wordless
expressions, blatantly meant 'Duh'. I always was good at pointing out the obvious.

"Right," I cleared my throat, "what are we looking for?"

"The Pavuloek talisman," he said.

My brow rose at that. "A talisman? No offense, Vince, but you don't really strike me
as a relic hunter. You're more like the bang-bang-shoot-em-up type."

He crossed his arms. I helped myself to admire the strength peeking through the
rolled sleeves of his shirt. "The talisman leads to what I need to attain."

"So it's two things," I remarked and scribbled a record based on the information
given. "Do you know where it might be?"

"No."

"Have you made recent contact with it?"

"I have never encountered it."

"Anything you know about it? Background history and all."

"That is something I need to know as well."

I touched the end of my pen to the corner of my mouth. "Tell me if I heard right," I
said. "You're in search of this Pavuloek talisman. Possible locations are moot. No
previous association has been made. And you don't have any clue about its location
or history."

"Yes," he said, a slight frown on his face.

"Is it safe to say you don't know what it looks like either?"

His glower deepened. I shared in his dissatisfaction at the vagueness of it all with an
inward cringe.

My first case was not meant to be this complex. Glancing at the blank record taunting
back at me, determination welled in me to make it work. Kisaragis do not back down
from a challenge. "I'll do it."

Vincent raised his head, gaze hardened and firm. "You are certain?"

"Positive," I answered, reeling in adrenaline rush. "Gathering information and objects
are my forte. I am one of the greatest ninjas, after all, and the best won't take any
less."

The furrow in his brow eased a bit, indicating neutrality in Vincent terms.

"Where are you staying now?" I asked.

"The Costa Inn."

"Good. Distance won't be a problem then."

"Problem?"

"To keep you informed of the progress, of course."

"I intend to be actively involved in this case."

I shook my head. "I work best alone. Espionage calls for concentration and stealth
and going solo works it."

"It will go faster with two."

"You have a time limit?"

"In a way."

From his rigid posture, I knew further refusal went over and out. I demonstrated
successful achievements in performing operations without accompaniment in several
occasions. Having someone tag along involved a major change in plans.

I fixed my eyes on the man facing me. Vincent, on the other hand, was not just
someone. Perhaps this time I could make an exception.

"Alright, you're in," I finally consented. "But I lay down the borders, no going
around about it. Agreed?"

He shot me a look. "Agreed."

I wish someone told me presuming too much overly jinxes it.

TBC…