Author's Notes:

This is my first Final Fantasy story, so no flaming please. I admit I came to the fandom late. I stumbled across it one night fooling around on YouTube and saw HewieAlbino's fan video set to "Requiem for a Dream". After I picked my jaw up off the keyboard (this is ANIME?!), I went looking for more, found Vincent, and it was love at first sight. Those eyes…that hair…that cloak…Those. Eyes. *ahem* Anyway…This is what came from that. Square Enix owns all the characters but one, and it should be pretty easy to tell which one's mine. One last thing: It's M for a reason. Don't let the first few chapters fool you…

Sanctuary, Part 1

Vincent approached the Crystal Cave slowly, more slowly than usual. Nothing looked outwardly different, but he could sense something was definitely not as it had been, as it should be, as he walked to the entrance.

Once his eyes adjusted to the relative dimness, he could see the cause of his unease. A lone figure sat in front of the large crystal that held Lucrecia. He couldn't tell the gender, but the figure had long hair the color of spun sunlight that touched the ground where it sat with their back to him. But that wasn't what caused him to pause. The figure was causing the water in the pool around the crystal to form the figures of people and animals and dance around the crystal. He also noticed the sound of water gently falling on the walls of the cave. He stood transfixed for a moment, watching the graceful movements, until he found his voice, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Although he did not raise his voice, the figure jumped straight into the air, its white cloak billowing about it as it rose. Turning, the figure landed at a height about thirty feet above him and perched on an outcropping of rock just inside the glow of the crystal. He could see now that it was a woman, slender and graceful, dressed in shades of blues and greens. "I could ask you the same question", she replied. Her voice held no fear, more a gentle curiosity.

"I mean you no harm", he continued, studying her.

"I know", she said, stepping off the outcropping and floating down to stand in front of him. "I sensed that when you walked in here". She looked up at him then. "What beautiful eyes", she said quietly, and then her expression became soft and sad. "Such pain within", she continued, "such sorrow".

Her eyes. They were the color of deep oceans, drawing him in, causing things to stir within him he thought were long dead. There was gentleness in her, but he knew she also held great power in check. "What is your name?" His voice sounded harsh and strange in his ears as it echoed in the cave.

"Phaedra", she replied, smiling. "And to answer your question, I am here to visit The Lady. I come here to talk to her and give her company when she needs it and just to be in a peaceful place when she does not".

"You can speak to her?" Vincent marveled.

"Yes", Phaedra continued, smiling back at the woman incased in the crystal. "We've had quite a few lengthy conversations about many things". She looked back up at him. "You haven't told me what you are doing here".

"I come here to visit her, too", he found himself saying, "She was—is—a friend of mine." He looked back down at the shorter woman. She came up to his shoulder. She was beautiful in the soft glow. "My name is Vincent".

Her eyes widened slightly, and he felt like he could drown in the deep pools. "Vincent?" She repeated. "Vincent Valentine?" At his nod, she took a deep breath. "We've talked a lot about you", she said. She smiled. "I will leave you to be with her now". Her smile widened. "Yes", she continued, "you will see me again".

He watched as she walked out of the cave into the brightness, her white cloak and blond hair floating softly in the breeze she made.