And here we have, the sequel.
And they still don't belong to me!
Breath Away
Chapter 1
Reno Mikagi looked at the three-sided card on his table and smirked. It arrived with a packet of herbal cigarettes, and a pack of non-alcoholic beer. He didn't know why those people bother making useless stuff. The card was filled with scribbles from the children at the orphanage. He gave back the money Yuffie paid him, well almost. He used a small amount to buy the gifts. He remembered Yuffie speaking to an old woman about the lack of school funds, and that she was trying to arrange something from the local schools about donations. Of all the things Yuffie seemed interested in, besides materia, it was the orphanage that she talked about with Shake, and him when they were making their daily appearances.
Rude and Elena didn't question him when he sent over a dozen of toys in Wutai. They didn't even say anything when the package arrived. Although he bet that Elena was dying to know what was going on.
He read the card again, and discovered many ways one can spell 'thank you'. He returned the card back, and picked up another gift that was leaning against the wall.
It was a guitar. The quality was one of the best, not the top selling brand, but it was still good. He positioned the guitar in front of him and started strumming the strings. He recalled the last day he saw Yuffie, almost a month ago.
/For friendship... and stuff.../
He couldn't get her out of his head. Not her smile, not her lips, and definitely not her kiss or her scent. He knew he was in trouble the night Theresa told him that he called out Yuffie's name in the 'heat of passion' as she called it. He tried hanging out in his usual spots, but found everything suffocating.
They've both become busy, and Reeve told him that Yuffie chose Cait Sith as her personal bodyguard. It was either him or half of the Royal Guards. According to Reeve as well, Yuffie regretted her decision, but Lord Godo was happy that Yuffie could barely get away from Cait.
"Well, hello Mr. Music Man."
Reno ignored Elena as he placed the guitar back on the wall. "You're late."
"No, actually... you're early, and sober. On a Monday morning..."
Reno didn't reply as Elena sat on her chair and turned the computer on. "I didn't realize we were taking charity cases..."
"We aren't."
"Hmmm, then why all the research?"
Reno shrugged. "I like to be informed on many things. You never know when these things can become useful."
The door opened, and Rude walked in with a stack of newspapers in his hands. "You should read this." He dropped the newspapers on Reno's desk and sat on his own chair.
"What the hell is it with this bastard?" Reno snarled as he read the headline. Alec Kitani had gone to a full offensive strategy, and was currently claiming that the new and improved mako reactors was better than the solar power panels that Shinra Inc was producing. He scanned the report and Elena winced as Reno let out a string of profanities that would make Cid proud.
Reno clutched the paper tightly as he continued to read the article.
"... it is believed that Lady Kisaragi, also a member of AVALANCHE exchanged sexual favors with the President of Shinra Inc for the installation of the first solar panels in Wutai. She has also been linked to a former bodyguard of the old Shinra Inc, Reno Mikagi who is now in-charge of a 'detective' agency. Mr. Mikagi played a part in the rescue of Lady Kisaragi during an assassination attempt..."
Reno threw the paper down and felt his hands start to itch. He needed to hit something. Preferably a violet eyed bastard. He didn't know exactly what in the article that made him mad. Kitani slamming Shinra Inc, the sexual favor...
"I'm going to kill the journalist who wrote this &%$# article."
Rude didn't look at Reno as he turned his computer on. "Read the other paper."
Reno did just that, and this time, he slammed his fist on the table. "This *&%$ idiot is calling the Turks a relic? A &%$ relic?"
The article went on with rumor about Yuffie and Reeve, and more trash about the uselessness of the new Turks... The paper also showed a picture of Yuffie with Reeve, talking on the streets of Wutai. Yuffie was laughing, and had her hand on Reeve's chest. Reeve was also grinning and was looking at her. It was obviously shot using those long ranged lenses, or whatever those photographers use. The stupid caption claimed it as proof of their affair, but to Reno, Yuffie was in the act of hitting Reeve.
"The Midgar Guardian is even better."
Reno scowled as he took all of the newspapers and threw it in the bin. "That's where those idiots belong."
"Killing journalists are easy you know, they've pissed too many people. Easy cover."
Elena said as she read something on her computer.
"Why Elena, spoken like a true Turk... I'm proud of you."
"I read the Guardian." She replied as she turned to Reno. "Well, you'd be pleased to know that with all the research you made us do, I think we can pretty much link Kitani to the assassination attempt."
"Good. I want hard proof, no holes. I'm going to send that Kitani straight to hell... stupid bastard think he can just shove Reeve out of the way..." Reno muttered as his phone rang.
"Turks."
Reno's eyes narrowed as he listened. "What? Well, what about you? Listen, this time I'm not taking no for an answer. You're gonna need us."
Rude and Elena watched as Reno took a pencil from his desk, and broke it in half. "Reeve, shut up. We're on our way,"
"What was that about?" Elena asked as Reno slammed the receiver down.
"The Shinra factory in Rocket Town was burned. No one got hurt, most of the panels were saved... and Reeve's car was hurled with rocks."
Rude and Elena shut their computers down as Reno took a gun from his drawer and hid it on his back pocket. He took the guitar, and the card from his desk before walking towards the door. "I'll meet the two of you in World Hotel. He's in room 215."
He didn't wait for their response as he shut the door behind him.
*-*-
Yuffie rubbed her eyes as fresh tears threatened to flow again. She refused to talk with her father, with Ayami, Shake... everybody. This day was supposed to be fun. She was supposed to meet with the council before lunch, then she would visit the orphanage and watch the children rehearse for a play.
"Open the door, Yuffie. You're going to be late for the meeting."
"No."
Lord Godo sighed. "I know that you're upset, but as a future leader of Wutai, you can not let anything stop you from performing your official duties." He felt his heart break as he heard Yuffie protest.
"No one in the council believes it Yuffie. The people know that it's not true. They know that you won't do something like that..."
"You do..." Her voice was soft, but still clear.
What was he supposed to say? It was true, he did doubt her... he did accuse her of having a more intimate relationship with that man. But he knew that his daughter was innocent, in every sense of the word. "This is the dirty part of politics, Yuffie. All these rumors are being done to discredit you, and your participation for the anti-mako meeting next week..."
Yuffie didn't reply, and his shoulders sagged in defeat when he heard someone call his name softly. He turned around and looked in surprise as he saw Li Xing.
"How is she?"
Lord Godo motioned for his friend to follow him. "Upset."
Li Xing nodded. "I will call for the meeting to be cancelled. I am here to give my support to Lady Kisaragi." The elder said softly as his face darkened. "I still can not believe that these people would *dare* to spread these lies..."
"I appreciate your concern, Li Xing... but the meeting will go through. This is a first test for Yuffie as my heir. She cannot run and hide when things like this come about. She must learn to be strong..."
"She maybe your heir Godo, but she is also your daughter... At least postpone it for the afternoon..."
Lord Godo thought about it and shook his head sadly. "Just an hour. As much as it hurts me, Yuffie must face this."
Back in her room, Yuffie hid under her blanket. If Vinnie the Bear could breathe, it would be choking now because of Yuffie's tight grip. Her PHS rang for the hundredth time since the rumors started this morning, and she wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone. It wouldn't have been bad if it was just one newspaper, but it seemed like every paper in the whole damn planet was broadcasting her alleged affair with Reeve.
She was embarrassed, as well as hurt. Reeve practically gave the first panels for free. As much as he said he was giving them for free because they were in beta-mode... she knew how expensive those things cost. How could she look at him now? With all the help he gave Wutai, she was now being the cause of his problems.
The PHS rang again, and this time, against better judgment, she answered it.
"Hello."
"Morning, Yuffie."
His voice was light and teasing. "Reno..."
"So, do we kick their butts? With your conformer and my nightstick, they haven't got a chance, sugar."
"I'm dying with laughter."
There was a few seconds of silence before Reno spoke. "Are you crying?"
"No."
Reno knew she was lying. "Hate to break this to you Yuffie, but you're in another game now. Listen up, ignore those idiots. Why the hell should you care what they write, huh?
Remember, this is all just a big game for them. It's all about the gil. If you hide under your bed, you let them win. Go out there and prove them wrong..."
"But..."
"You call yourself a ninja? A member of AVALANCHE?"
His taunt made Yuffie sit up. "Yes."
"I don't believe you. A true ninja never hides."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You tell me," Reno replied. "Brat."
Yuffie scowled. "I am not a brat!"
"Now that sounds more like the ninja-chick that I know!"
Yuffie 's mouth dropped open. "Hahaha... you make me laugh, Reno."
"Listen, I've read all those shit. There's nothing you can do about it. This is all about Kitani and his stupid publicity push to re-activate the reactors. Think like an AVALANCHE, and stop acting like a sissy."
Yuffie gave a small smile. The hurt, humiliation and the embarrassment were still there, but it did not hurt as much. "Thanks, Reno."
"Anytime, sugar."
And he was gone. Yuffie took a deep breath as she got out of bed. Her father was right. There should be no excuses, she has official duties to Wutai, and she would do them.
She walked to her bathroom and turned the shower on, conditioning her mind for the day.
She is Lady Yuffie Kisaragi of Wutai. She will not hide underneath her blankets again.
She'll just blast every single one of them with her All Creation if they print that shit again.
~tBc~
So... first chapter has been kicked off...
Did I make Yuffie and Reno OOC with their reaction to the rumors? Well, I just hope the next chapter will provide a deeper insight on why they reacted the way that they did.
Thanks to everyone who commented on Thoughts: Reno. The Yuffie p.o.v. should be up as well.
And they still don't belong to me!
Breath Away
Chapter 1
Reno Mikagi looked at the three-sided card on his table and smirked. It arrived with a packet of herbal cigarettes, and a pack of non-alcoholic beer. He didn't know why those people bother making useless stuff. The card was filled with scribbles from the children at the orphanage. He gave back the money Yuffie paid him, well almost. He used a small amount to buy the gifts. He remembered Yuffie speaking to an old woman about the lack of school funds, and that she was trying to arrange something from the local schools about donations. Of all the things Yuffie seemed interested in, besides materia, it was the orphanage that she talked about with Shake, and him when they were making their daily appearances.
Rude and Elena didn't question him when he sent over a dozen of toys in Wutai. They didn't even say anything when the package arrived. Although he bet that Elena was dying to know what was going on.
He read the card again, and discovered many ways one can spell 'thank you'. He returned the card back, and picked up another gift that was leaning against the wall.
It was a guitar. The quality was one of the best, not the top selling brand, but it was still good. He positioned the guitar in front of him and started strumming the strings. He recalled the last day he saw Yuffie, almost a month ago.
/For friendship... and stuff.../
He couldn't get her out of his head. Not her smile, not her lips, and definitely not her kiss or her scent. He knew he was in trouble the night Theresa told him that he called out Yuffie's name in the 'heat of passion' as she called it. He tried hanging out in his usual spots, but found everything suffocating.
They've both become busy, and Reeve told him that Yuffie chose Cait Sith as her personal bodyguard. It was either him or half of the Royal Guards. According to Reeve as well, Yuffie regretted her decision, but Lord Godo was happy that Yuffie could barely get away from Cait.
"Well, hello Mr. Music Man."
Reno ignored Elena as he placed the guitar back on the wall. "You're late."
"No, actually... you're early, and sober. On a Monday morning..."
Reno didn't reply as Elena sat on her chair and turned the computer on. "I didn't realize we were taking charity cases..."
"We aren't."
"Hmmm, then why all the research?"
Reno shrugged. "I like to be informed on many things. You never know when these things can become useful."
The door opened, and Rude walked in with a stack of newspapers in his hands. "You should read this." He dropped the newspapers on Reno's desk and sat on his own chair.
"What the hell is it with this bastard?" Reno snarled as he read the headline. Alec Kitani had gone to a full offensive strategy, and was currently claiming that the new and improved mako reactors was better than the solar power panels that Shinra Inc was producing. He scanned the report and Elena winced as Reno let out a string of profanities that would make Cid proud.
Reno clutched the paper tightly as he continued to read the article.
"... it is believed that Lady Kisaragi, also a member of AVALANCHE exchanged sexual favors with the President of Shinra Inc for the installation of the first solar panels in Wutai. She has also been linked to a former bodyguard of the old Shinra Inc, Reno Mikagi who is now in-charge of a 'detective' agency. Mr. Mikagi played a part in the rescue of Lady Kisaragi during an assassination attempt..."
Reno threw the paper down and felt his hands start to itch. He needed to hit something. Preferably a violet eyed bastard. He didn't know exactly what in the article that made him mad. Kitani slamming Shinra Inc, the sexual favor...
"I'm going to kill the journalist who wrote this &%$# article."
Rude didn't look at Reno as he turned his computer on. "Read the other paper."
Reno did just that, and this time, he slammed his fist on the table. "This *&%$ idiot is calling the Turks a relic? A &%$ relic?"
The article went on with rumor about Yuffie and Reeve, and more trash about the uselessness of the new Turks... The paper also showed a picture of Yuffie with Reeve, talking on the streets of Wutai. Yuffie was laughing, and had her hand on Reeve's chest. Reeve was also grinning and was looking at her. It was obviously shot using those long ranged lenses, or whatever those photographers use. The stupid caption claimed it as proof of their affair, but to Reno, Yuffie was in the act of hitting Reeve.
"The Midgar Guardian is even better."
Reno scowled as he took all of the newspapers and threw it in the bin. "That's where those idiots belong."
"Killing journalists are easy you know, they've pissed too many people. Easy cover."
Elena said as she read something on her computer.
"Why Elena, spoken like a true Turk... I'm proud of you."
"I read the Guardian." She replied as she turned to Reno. "Well, you'd be pleased to know that with all the research you made us do, I think we can pretty much link Kitani to the assassination attempt."
"Good. I want hard proof, no holes. I'm going to send that Kitani straight to hell... stupid bastard think he can just shove Reeve out of the way..." Reno muttered as his phone rang.
"Turks."
Reno's eyes narrowed as he listened. "What? Well, what about you? Listen, this time I'm not taking no for an answer. You're gonna need us."
Rude and Elena watched as Reno took a pencil from his desk, and broke it in half. "Reeve, shut up. We're on our way,"
"What was that about?" Elena asked as Reno slammed the receiver down.
"The Shinra factory in Rocket Town was burned. No one got hurt, most of the panels were saved... and Reeve's car was hurled with rocks."
Rude and Elena shut their computers down as Reno took a gun from his drawer and hid it on his back pocket. He took the guitar, and the card from his desk before walking towards the door. "I'll meet the two of you in World Hotel. He's in room 215."
He didn't wait for their response as he shut the door behind him.
*-*-
Yuffie rubbed her eyes as fresh tears threatened to flow again. She refused to talk with her father, with Ayami, Shake... everybody. This day was supposed to be fun. She was supposed to meet with the council before lunch, then she would visit the orphanage and watch the children rehearse for a play.
"Open the door, Yuffie. You're going to be late for the meeting."
"No."
Lord Godo sighed. "I know that you're upset, but as a future leader of Wutai, you can not let anything stop you from performing your official duties." He felt his heart break as he heard Yuffie protest.
"No one in the council believes it Yuffie. The people know that it's not true. They know that you won't do something like that..."
"You do..." Her voice was soft, but still clear.
What was he supposed to say? It was true, he did doubt her... he did accuse her of having a more intimate relationship with that man. But he knew that his daughter was innocent, in every sense of the word. "This is the dirty part of politics, Yuffie. All these rumors are being done to discredit you, and your participation for the anti-mako meeting next week..."
Yuffie didn't reply, and his shoulders sagged in defeat when he heard someone call his name softly. He turned around and looked in surprise as he saw Li Xing.
"How is she?"
Lord Godo motioned for his friend to follow him. "Upset."
Li Xing nodded. "I will call for the meeting to be cancelled. I am here to give my support to Lady Kisaragi." The elder said softly as his face darkened. "I still can not believe that these people would *dare* to spread these lies..."
"I appreciate your concern, Li Xing... but the meeting will go through. This is a first test for Yuffie as my heir. She cannot run and hide when things like this come about. She must learn to be strong..."
"She maybe your heir Godo, but she is also your daughter... At least postpone it for the afternoon..."
Lord Godo thought about it and shook his head sadly. "Just an hour. As much as it hurts me, Yuffie must face this."
Back in her room, Yuffie hid under her blanket. If Vinnie the Bear could breathe, it would be choking now because of Yuffie's tight grip. Her PHS rang for the hundredth time since the rumors started this morning, and she wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone. It wouldn't have been bad if it was just one newspaper, but it seemed like every paper in the whole damn planet was broadcasting her alleged affair with Reeve.
She was embarrassed, as well as hurt. Reeve practically gave the first panels for free. As much as he said he was giving them for free because they were in beta-mode... she knew how expensive those things cost. How could she look at him now? With all the help he gave Wutai, she was now being the cause of his problems.
The PHS rang again, and this time, against better judgment, she answered it.
"Hello."
"Morning, Yuffie."
His voice was light and teasing. "Reno..."
"So, do we kick their butts? With your conformer and my nightstick, they haven't got a chance, sugar."
"I'm dying with laughter."
There was a few seconds of silence before Reno spoke. "Are you crying?"
"No."
Reno knew she was lying. "Hate to break this to you Yuffie, but you're in another game now. Listen up, ignore those idiots. Why the hell should you care what they write, huh?
Remember, this is all just a big game for them. It's all about the gil. If you hide under your bed, you let them win. Go out there and prove them wrong..."
"But..."
"You call yourself a ninja? A member of AVALANCHE?"
His taunt made Yuffie sit up. "Yes."
"I don't believe you. A true ninja never hides."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You tell me," Reno replied. "Brat."
Yuffie scowled. "I am not a brat!"
"Now that sounds more like the ninja-chick that I know!"
Yuffie 's mouth dropped open. "Hahaha... you make me laugh, Reno."
"Listen, I've read all those shit. There's nothing you can do about it. This is all about Kitani and his stupid publicity push to re-activate the reactors. Think like an AVALANCHE, and stop acting like a sissy."
Yuffie gave a small smile. The hurt, humiliation and the embarrassment were still there, but it did not hurt as much. "Thanks, Reno."
"Anytime, sugar."
And he was gone. Yuffie took a deep breath as she got out of bed. Her father was right. There should be no excuses, she has official duties to Wutai, and she would do them.
She walked to her bathroom and turned the shower on, conditioning her mind for the day.
She is Lady Yuffie Kisaragi of Wutai. She will not hide underneath her blankets again.
She'll just blast every single one of them with her All Creation if they print that shit again.
~tBc~
So... first chapter has been kicked off...
Did I make Yuffie and Reno OOC with their reaction to the rumors? Well, I just hope the next chapter will provide a deeper insight on why they reacted the way that they did.
Thanks to everyone who commented on Thoughts: Reno. The Yuffie p.o.v. should be up as well.