Title: Not As We

Summary: Yuffie, a princess-in-waiting, runs from who she intends to be. Vincent, more beast than man, hides from who he has to be. In order to help themselves, they help each other, and soon enough she's his housemaid and he's her host. (AU. VxY.)

Author's Note: My take on the whole "Beauty and the Beast" deal with Yuffie and Vincent this time. It's my first time doing something like this (and hopefully finishing it…), while working on some separate fics. I've wanted to do a piece like this for a long time, since I've played DoC (which was, like, back in…whenever it came out. It was awhile ago). I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

Chapter 1: If at first you don't succeed…

Try, try again.

"She escaped! Hurry, gather the forces!"

It happened every time she tried to break off from her destiny.

"She can't be that far off; the outside guards would've seen her by now!"

The chains would tighten—lash out like a malicious animal intent on her remaining to a path that didn't let her choose.

But she would keep trying. She had to, or it would be the death of her.

Yuffie Kisaragi slipped behind the marble statue of the proud, ignorant form of her father, crouching just as another swarm of those market-guards looked for something more exciting than a stolen materia or pick-pocketed person today. Today Yuffie would make her break—and this time remain the free bird she always wanted to be. As much as she loved her country's people, their culture, their kindness, what she couldn't stand was the relentless duties her father impended on her; no more battle practices, you're not a warrior, no more materia hunting, you're not a treasurer, no more stealing, you're not a thief! It never ended!

But this time, oh this time, she would make it end. She would make it end and start anew, make her life on the edge, seek out the danger, live the life she meant to.

So long as she could get past the palace walls. Then she would, as she once put it, be freed from her cage.

As people cleared the immense courtyard that was thronged right before the palace, Yuffie found her chance as she tugged the tunic over her head and wandered amongst the many that were leaving. This often happened whenever Yuffie tried to escape—her father thought he was genius in the whole bit, since she was sneaky, being able to get lost like a grain of sand whenever people were around, that if people were cleared, they would be able to find her…and it worked, actually. Once. The last time she had attempted her strangled attempt at freedom, they had snagged her.

Stupid, robotic, no-brained guards.

But Yuffie was smarter than she let people think; it was a good tactic just in case she got into trouble…or if she put herself into trouble. Whatever the case, it was a good move.

Even as the citizens began returning to their homes, the brunette smirked as she darted down a thin alleyway and towards the sewage lines. Not her idealistic method of break out, but the last chance she had. After all, it was the first idea she had since she ever had first considered running away, but her…picky choices held her back, and her father had pushed her too close to the edge this time. This time, she didn't care how stinky she got or how disgusting the method…she would be free.

Dropping down into the sickening sensation of…she didn't even want to know, she made sure she closed the hatch leading into the line before proceeding to light her way with materia. For once, she wished pity on the soldiers that were under her father's reign and hoped to the high heavens that he didn't put any of those unfortunate souls to watch the sewer all day long, the nice guy he was. Hopefully he would be ignorant enough not to recognize Yuffie was being serious, and that this was a serious choice she was making.

And, after six hours of walking, she realized that her guess was right.

Seems like luck is finally on my side, she thought haughtily, even when her sneakers and socks were soaked down to the last string, and her legs were probably rotting away from the nastiness of the liquid surrounding her thighs. Short-shorts weren't for nothing; half the time they came in more handy than her weapons. Ah, life was spectacular.

…If there was a way out.

Maybe luck isn't on my side, she grumbled, sinking somewhat. Yuffie considered her plan of route even before she took it—being sure to discard any evidence of doing so—and making sure that the line she took was the easiest to get out of the city. In the end it was, but what she hadn't seen was the ending to the line, or an opening to it. This sucks.

Well, if worse came to worst, she could always blow her way out of there like she did with everything else.

…

……

Okay, she was done.

Concentrating for a brief moment, Yuffie tossed the fire materia just before it exploded, creating a nice hole that she could extract herself from the sickening, slimy mess she had herself in. Taking a single, fluid leap, she caught the edge and lifted herself up, clawing at the iced-covered ground for leverage. Wait…ice?

"Snow…" she murmured to herself, pulling her knees up and taking a cupful of it in her hands.

She was…outside.

Glancing about, the young ninja took in the scenery around her and realized—much to her abrupt excitement—she couldn't see her kingdom in sight. All around was nothing but the tall, tall trees, the white, white ground, and the grey, grey sky. And GOD was it BEAUTIFUL!

"Yes, yes, yes!!" she cried, jumping up and down as she did a momentary victory dance. Not a single, stupid guard in sight, not worries, no confrontations about her stupid duties, no maids, no sitting up, no angry fathers, nolessonsnopunishmentsnofilthylyingidiotswhoknownothingabouther!! She was free!!

Making a shout to the sky, Yuffie paused as she caught her breath, smiling happily as she, at last, felt the cold, clear air on her skin, felt the silence of nature her around…

Silence.

There was no one around.

For a moment, the young royal was baffled at the thought; surely there were people out looking around for her, but they had no idea where she was. For all they know, she could've…been killed, or…kidnapped…something horrible. But they would never know. Because they would never find her. She would start walking, and she would leave that life behind forever. The girl huffed.

--

"She's…actually missing?" the king gasped, glancing at the officer that stood, ashamed, before his throne. "You can't find her?"

"We've looked everywhere in the previous places over the years—surrounding villages, even, and they have not seen her. There's been a national alert, but we have not yet received back any word upon her whereabouts," the other replied with his head down on one knee.

"Then…she's really gone," he whispered, true fear, fear that he never expected ever to feel, not thinking twice of his daughter's threats of running away to live a life of her own…no, no! At this, anger boiled in his gut as he stood upright, glaring down at his loyal general—fury burned in his eyes, even as he considered the intense and laborious days he would put Yuffie through when he found her. "Keep searching! Search until the ends of the planet, if necessary! I want her back!"

--

"Aargh!" Yuffie cried for the nth time that afternoon. Her fifth try and the fire still wouldn't start!

Chucking down the brittle branches and fire materia, she huffed as she plopped down on a rotting log in front of the makeshift fire pit. Some attempt…with all the snow everywhere, everything was practically soaked in water (freezing cold water, to boot), whilst there wasn't a stupid animal in sight. Not like she could eat the things without a FIRE, of course…but no! No flames for the trembling, lost, cold and scared Yuffie!

"I-I mean, the triumphant, fearless, powerful…euh, who cares," she muttered to herself as she hunched over, "nobody's listenin' anyways…"

Puckering her lips, staring half-heartedly at the failed shot for a source of warmth, she sighed. This wasn't nearly as easy as they did it in the books; hells, they could probably make a little cottage with a stone fireplace with a toothpick and some stupid magic words, if they wanted…and they would be warm, and safe…

Another distant howl penetrated her thoughts and made her yelp, making her small, petite frame go down in tremors. St-stupid wolves! They need t-to go AWAY! She exclaimed her mind, not daring to aloud.

It had been three hours from her take away from the sewer, long ago wishing that she had stayed in that stinky, ugly place. There at least it was warm—even the smell made a shiver tremble down her spine, but it was warm. Here, there was nothing but the endless tides of hibernating trees, their long, leafless limbs like a spider web as it stretched beyond the horizon. Unlike in her kingdom Wutai, where there was limits, where there was always a place to go back to, here in the forest of mystery and fright, things to go on forever…and there was no-one. Not a single soul.

Even though it been but a day, Yuffie already felt like she had been alone for a lifetime. Back at home she had friends—she was the princess after all—and therefore she was never alone…never had to be alone.

She even had a man waiting for her to be his bride.

But she didn't want to be a bride.

Even when she had thought that her greatest wish was to be alone, this short time by herself made her realize that she didn't want that at all.

She just wanted…her own life.

Another howl, one far too close for comfort, once again interrupted her thought and the royal bolted upright, whipping her gaze about as she tried to see where the sound had come from. Alas, it didn't take very long to make her realize where it came from.

She could see it.

Two dot red eyes glowed hauntingly in the darkness; a soft growl penetrated the tensing silence that hung around them like a curtain, making Yuffie twitch with fear as she came face-to-face with the wolf pack from hell. Though the freedom thing had been nice and all, the survival bit of it was just too much for her. She was done—if only she knew where the sewer line was, she would say she'd made her mistake to her father and return to the palace…

But now was not the time.

Just as she darted away, the wolves took no hesitation at charging after her, rabid and blood-thirsty, snapping at her heels but a hair's length from their target. Yuffie screamed as she waded through the deep, water-drenched snow, unsure of where she could possibly run to that would bring her safety, but knowing that she had no other choice. Not to mention that she hadn't eaten anything in too long, she was almost out of energy. This wasn't good…she was a goner for sure!

"Stay away!" she cried, swatting at the snapping fangs that strived to clamp on her soft skin, her vulnerable limbs.

But she didn't want to die!

Yet, even as she attempted to escape the evil monstrosities, she realized that going through the snow like this, she would never make it to any kind of safety. She couldn't even climb up the trees because they would rip her down within moments!

I just have to keep going, she told herself, even when her lungs burned and her heart threatened to beat right out of her chest, I have to…keep…going!

A growl right by her ear made her scream yet again and flip over, using the last of her fire materia to blow the offending monster away. The creature yelped; it bounced backward, blood splattering as it rubbed on its face even as the others advanced forward on her, their tones promising a terrible outcome, their crimson eyes sending a tremor of horror right down to her bones. Was this meant to be? She thought to herself, a strange idea drifting their her mind at the hand of death, Was I destined for this…this ugly death?

Hells, she would even take freezing to death over being mauled anytime.

But it seemed like not that time.

For she heard something—and seemed like the wolves did, too, as they went deadly silent and crouched down in fear the moment a throaty, deep and horror-stricken growl overcame their own. The tone alone gave Yuffie the impression of a bigger, nastier predator coming to play with the smaller children; like while the pawns were still at war, the king decided to step out onto the playing field. The young woman never was one for chess.

However, though the wolves did hear a beast beyond their power interrupt their session, they did not ignore the fact that Yuffie was still there, too. A lone wolf recognized its last chance and leaped, claws and fangs extended as Yuffie screeched and prepared for the worst…when something much, much worse stopped the furious forest creature in its path. A claw hand held outright and backhanded the wolf away, breaking its neck immediately as it fell limp to the ground. The others weren't so foolish and abandoned the plan instantly, feathering out into the forest to escape their other companions' terrible fates.

But that's not what concerned Yuffie in the least.

The moment she saw those molten gold, piercing eyes, she screamed.

The face of the beast snapped towards her and the monster growled in turn, orbs burning with rage and a taste for meat—perhaps her own—imprinted across their glowing surfaces. The beast must've been at least ten feet tall, and with the wings tightly tucked against its back, made it look moreso imposing and deadly than the headdress, its claws, its rippling muscles needed to do. Yuffie succumbed to a fit of tremors even as her voice escaped her throat and the king stepped forward, staring at the small pawn like just she was—prey.

Taking her two upper arms without an ounce of strength, he lifted her to his eyesight and she once again attempted to scream, only this time her voice dimmed and fell away. Then all at once, she fainted.

--

A/N: First chapter. I hoped you liked it; please read and review.

By the way, the way I see "Chaos Vincent" is in his DoC form, not the original Final Fantasy VII one. Just thought I'd clear that up since I don't really like the original…he looks like he just came from a bad 1950s movie about Satan or something. The DoC version just makes him look so much hotter. (laughs)