I bring you all a new, fresh from the oven, smoking hot RenoYuffie fic! Before it begins, I just want to make some parts clear. Yuffie, Tifa, Aerith and Scarlet have been friends since high school (though Yuffie and Tifa have known eachother since childhood) and after having experienced the typical high school and college crushes they decide to leave the university as members of the Sexy Singles' Club. All four are in the early twenties and the story takes on about a year after graduation. Several things have changed (obviously it wouldn't be much of a plot to this story if they hadn't), and this is very much a story of the process of dealing with changes and the unforeseen twists in life. Also starring in this fic is Reno in his middle/late twenties, but I don't want to reveal too much about him. Many other characters will appear and be more or less vital to the story.
I hope you'll enjoy reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. There will definitely be a few typos here that I've missed, and I would really appreciate if you'd point them out to me. Any other constructive criticism is just as welcome, but if all you want to do is flame me, then don't bother. Any irrelevant flamings and rude behavior will most likely be possible if it is possible. I am NOT a professional writer, and I have flaws just like anyone else. If you still don't like what I write, then just press Back and forget you ever saw it.
This story is rated M for a reason and there will be sexual content in later chapters. Warnings will be noticed in the beginning of every chapter.
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Disclaimer: I own nothing. I use them for my own pleasure and make no money out this.
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Warnings: Some language and mentions of sex.
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It should have been a radiantly beautiful day in Midgar. After all, it wasn't just any day that your best friend got married. And not any day that you wore a bridesmaid's dress that actually was pretty enough for you to consider wearing it again some day, a knee-lengthed midnight blue dress that hugged her every petite curve like a second skin.
Yuffie Kisaragi forced herself to smile. Definitively not every day you got taped having sex, either.
A shiver rushed through her just thinking about it.
She threw a look towards Tifa, who, in blessed ignorance, rectified her veil in front of a large full-bodied mirror in the church's small dressing room. Tifa, who had never been taped while having sex.
Yuffie thought about telling her about the shitload of trouble she'd gotten herself into, but in the end, her conscience told her not to. It was the wedding day she'd dreamt of for years and years, and nothing should taint her happiness today.
"Is everything okay?" Aerith wondered as she came up from behind. "You look a little pale."
Aerith. Sweet, innocent, beautiful Aerith and her big warm eyes.
Yuffie waved the wedding program in front of her. "It's the dress", she whined. "I can't breathe!"
"It looks great on you, though."
She strained a smile. "Yeah, I think so too."
This freaking dress was what had gotten her in this mess in the first place. They'd had Tifa's bridal shower directly after the last fitting. Oh, Yuffs, you've got to wear that tonight. You're drop-dead gorgeous!
Yuffie usually never wore dresses of any kind. And she never downed more than four beers a night. And under normal circumstances, she never had a one night stand with overly-excited research assistants who then tried to blackmail her.
The anxiety struck her again.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Aerith repeated.
"Yeah, yeah. I just gotta sit down for a while, " Yuffie assured her as she slumped down on the nearest chair.
"You want some water?"
"Oh, I'd love that!"
Aerith returned with a plastic cup. "I know this is hard on you, hun," she said and handed her the water.
Yuffie stared at her in confusion. She knew?!
"What?!" she shrieked.
Aerith cocked her head towards Tifa. "Tifa. Cloud. The wedding. But remember that you won't lose a friend, you'll win a whole bunch of hot and available men!"
The saddest part of this was that Aerith was completely serious. "I haven't looked at it like that..."
"I know we swore never to get married, but that was all just a joke, right?" Aerith said, eyes twinkling with hope.
The Sexy Singles' Club. Last year, on their last night as college students, the four college students had vowed to live their life as independent single women to the fullest. Free from men, free to do whatever they'd want.
The most important for her at the moment would be the free from men-part, since she now had to concentrate on getting her hands on a tape from a night she didn't even remember... When she finally would be able to put this horror story behind her, she could focus on her work assignment and the presentation she was to hold for professor Hollander and the rest of the Academy. Her ticket to fame and money. Well, maybe not money, but enough attention for her to enter the inner circle of Astrophysics Periodical. And maybe even earn her some respect from a certain business tycoon named Godo Kisaragi, also known as Dad.
But if he, or someone at the research center heard even the slightest of whisper about that video, she'd turn into some astrophysic dobe within a second.
The day after Tifa's bachelorette party, Genesis had come up to her with some vague allusions of the night they'd spent and the video he had as proof with the intent to use it unless she did what he wanted her to. Which, naturally, was to have even more sex with him, and that was down right frustrating, since she couldn't recall it had been that great in the first place.
Aerith grabbed a chair and sat down beside her. "You know what, we should do something together. I mean... if you want to?"
This time, Yuffie's smile came naturally. "Sure, Aerith. We can go out after the reception."
"To Harry's, and take a beer?"
A beer? Hell no. But she could do with a Bloody Mary. "Okay."
The music started and the two friends were rushed out into the foyer.
Yuffie leaned closer to Tifa. "Good luck," she whispered.
"Next time's your turn," was all Tifa had to say.
Yeah, right! When I'm done with that shithole Genesis, I'm gonna forget men even exist...
The ceremony was beautiful, she admitted. White lillies, classical music and tears that threatened to fall any minute. When Cloud kissed his bride, Yuffie was close to a breakdown.
The walk down the aisle started, love conquered all, the first step into a new future, la di da di da.
Yuffie sighed, took the offered arm of the steward and followed the happy couple out the door. The man beside her smiled at her, a harmless, humble smile, and Yuffie nodded stiffly.
He was amongst the enemy. He was a man, and right now, Yuffie Kisaragi had very little to say about human creatures with an extra appendage.
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Under the watch of Yuffie and her knowledge in professional mischief, Aerith, Scarlet and a few other friends decorated the newlyweds' car with different tips and practical advices. They didn't stop until they'd blocked most of the field of vision for the poor sucker who would be driving. And all the time, they enjoyed themselves tremendously.
A few hours later, the reception turned to an end, and the time had come for the happy couple to leave. Tifa aimed her bridal bouquet towards Yuffie, who in turn ducked the best she could, but in the true spirit of Murphy's law, it hit her straight in the chest. With reflexes as quick as lightning, she threw the bouquet on to Aerith.
Finally, Tifa's black Aston Martin took off down the streets of Midgar. Yuffie waved goodbye and dried her tears before anyone else noticed them. Her best friend was married. Then why couldn't she feel happy for them?
Because she wanted everything back to normal. But she'd noticed the small changes so long ago she'd known what was coming. For example, every time they went out, Tifa had kept one eye at her watch. And when she, for once, joined them on a night of flirts and pick ups, she always decided to go home before the good parts started.
It was so goddamn depressing.
To divert her troubled thoughts of the impending depression and the whole sex tape-story, she met up with Aerith and Scarlet at Harry's that same night.
As usual, the place was packed with men and women on the hunt for only one thing. Sex. Yuffie had changed her dress for the sake of her favorite shorts and a matching top. Much more comfortable. And also, the perfect way to avoid unwanted male attention.
Scarlet, elegantly fitted in a blood red cocktail dress that highlighted her every curve, shook her head in dejection. "Cinderella back in her rags," she commented dryly.
"Yep, the fairytale's over. Back to reality, ladies."
Sometimes, it was hard to master a surplus of brain cells, and a shortage of all the things guys looked for in a woman. Wherever she turned, all male gazes were plastered on different parts of Scarlet's body.
After a few minutes, two business men came up to chat with Scarlet and Aerith, leaving Yuffie alone at their table. She glanced furtively over her shoulder at them chatting, scrutinizing everything from the way they talked to their expensive suits and cynically wonder what jackass would dress like that a Saturday night.
Aerith coaxed herself away from her company and joined Yuffie at her table where she ordered some chips and dip for the both of them.
Rummaging the bowl, Aerith picked up the largest chip and stared at its golden glory with yearning in her eyes. "This is like three weight watchers-points," she sighed. "But I've semi-starved myself all week. Tonight we celebrate."
"Great," Yuffie answered gloomily and dipped one of her own in the hot salsa dip. "What made you leave your potential life partner over there?"
"Too much after shave."
"Yeah… I hate that," she said snidely, although the jealousy crippled through the back of her head. That was also something new. Yuffie had never really wasted any time being jealous of anyone.
Until now.
She forced down a new chip with more force than necessary and managed bite on a chunk of chili, making her eyes burn in the process.
Discreetly, Yuffie studied Aerith, who wasn't as red hot as Scarlet, not as down-to-earth as Tifa, and not as smart as herself. Aerith who was perfectly content with being exactly the way she was.
"How do you do that?" she blurted out.
"Do what?" Aerith asked in confusion.
"How can you be so satisfied with your life and with who you are?"
Aerith pulled a face. "I know you don't have the highest of thoughts about me…"
There were times when Yuffie didn't have any high thoughts about anyone… That's what made her world such an isolated place.
"That's not true," she automatically protested and pushed another snack down her throat.
"But it's okay," the brunette continued. "I know what you think, but you're wrong."
Yuffie stopped with a chip halfway inside her mouth, suddenly curious. "And what do I think?"
"That I'm a weaker kind of woman, destined to fulfill the primal urges of the genetic line since I believe that men are necessary for the sake of human development."
That actually sounded like something she could've said. When had she gotten so cynical? Oh right, life had made her that way.
"That's not really true, Aers," she objected in order to feel better about herself.
"I could learn a lot from you, you know," Aerith continued. "You're so strong and independent, while I feel so… reliant. If we spent more time together, maybe you'll rub off some of that on me. Only if you want to, of course…"
And there stood Yuffie, feeling smug and supercilious when her life in fact had hit the lowest water mark in history. She was getting blackmailed. Because of sex. And she almost never had sex. Oh gawd, this was just pure irony from the deepest depths of hell.
"If you only knew," she muttered with her nose deep down a glass of Bloody Mary.
"Knew what?"
"That strong and independent people like me sometimes make some of the worst mistakes in the whole friggin' world."
"I don't believe you!" she cried out in doubt. "What kind of mistakes?"
Now came the hard part. To admit that she – who saw her brain as one of the seven wonders – could do something that stupid.
"You remember the bridal shower?"
Aerith nodded.
"Remember me disappearing?"
Another nod.
Yuffie took a deep swig of Aerith's wine to pluck up some courage. "I can't do this," she moaned to herself.
Aerith suspected a looming meltdown. "Yes, you can," she assured.
Taking in strength from her liquor, Yuffie steeled herself.
"Okay," she started. "As I left the bar, I called Genesis –you know, the really hot intern at my work? – and I asked him if I could drop by. Anyhow, some things led to another, and then…"
The next step required another gulp, and Yuffie felt it burn all the way down to the nervous heap that was her stomach.
"He taped me," she whimpered. "When we, you know…"
There was no judgement in Aerith's eyes, only a glow of admiration.
"Really?" she breathed. "How adventurous of you, Yuffie! I thought Scarlet was the only one of us to walk the forbidden way.
Adventurous? That was another way to look at it…
"I didn't know about it," Yuffie grumbled. "And what's worse is that he wants to do it again."
Aerith grabbed the second bowl of snacks. "The video-thing or the sex-thing?"
"The sex-thing."
"Oh. And if you refuse, he'll publish it on the internet? I hope it you don't look fat on that tape. Cameras add at least ten pounds, you know."
A shiver went through Yuffie, who hadn't thought about that detail.
"I'm supposed to be performing my final exam in a couple of weeks. Now I'm gonna become the gag of the decade. I have to get my hands on that tape."
"Can't you buy it from him?"
"Nope. Already tried that one."
She'd gone through every possible solution to save her job. Blackmail, bribing, begging and murder. There was only one thing left to do. "I have to steal it," she stated.
"I have no reason not to believe you could pull something like that off, hun, but if you got caught, it would still be the end of your career."
But Yuffie had already thought about that.
"That's why I have to hire someone."
"A private detective?"
Yuffie looked around them, making sure no one heard. "No, a professional. You know, a real thief. But I have so not a clue of where to find one."
"I know one," Aerith answered in a flash.
Astonished, Yuffie stared at her friend with renewed appreciation. "You really know criminals?"
With a cock of an eyebrow, Aerith smiled ruefully. "You meet a lot of different personalities when you work at Starbucks, actually. Meet me there at 10 am. He has his own table in the back of the room."
Yuffie considered her offer for a moment. It did sound kind of cool. "Do you know what he's dealing with? Drugs?"
She shook her head. "No, I think he's with the mafia."
The shock was too much. "Seriously? A real-life Mafioso?
"Yes. In my own little Starbucks."
Starbucks. That was quite a long way from the Godfather. Times sure had changed.
They ordered another round of drinks. The liquor made everything seem so logical. "You sure he's a real mob?"
"I saw his driver's license once, when he opened his pocket. His name's Reno Corlucci."
Yuffie still had her doubts though. "Just because he's got some fancy Gongagan name it doesn't mean something for sure…"
"Trust me, Yuffie. It's just one of those things women know."
A scientist would laugh his butt off by the sole mentioning of female intuition, but Aerith sure seemed certain about it. In any other case, Yuffie would have rejected that sort of reason with cold logic and scientific clarity. Two of the few things she'd inherited from her father.
But now, it all seemed so fantastic. The mafia. She'd always had a weak spot for Al Pacino.
Still, it wasn't what she'd had in mind from the start. Some cheap, creepy guy lurching around the mall would have been just fine. But when it all came down, did she have any choice?
This was her whole future at stake here. Her status as a career-woman and scientist. She'd give them all hell for trying to take all that away from her!
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"Aerith. Psst, Aerith!"
Aerith stared emptily at her from behind the espresso machine. This was great! Her make-over was a success. Yuffie's transformation into an uptown bimbo was flawless.
"How may I help you, ma'am?" Aerith asked her.
"It's me… Yuffs," she whispered while trying desperately to keep her short skirt where it was supposed to be.
A smile spread across Aerith's sweet face and she leaned over the counter. "It was all just a lie, wasn't it?"
"What?"
"All this men-hating business. Just look at you," she giggled as her eyes took in the whole appearance before her. "It's like you just walked out of the center spread of whatever men's magazine you can think of!"
Not exactly the impression she'd been looking for. "Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?"
Aerith finished mixing a cappuccino and pushed it over. "I didn't mean it like any men's magazine. But one thing's for sure. You'll be having a hard time keeping the guys from the Ethics Department on arm's length!"
When Aerith thought she was being witty, they were in some real nasty trouble.
"Where is he?"
Aerith nodded to the area further in. "That's his table over there, but he's not here yet."
Yuffie, who'd been looking forward to meeting a real Mafioso felt slightly disappointed.
As she made her way towards the small table, she took her time to practice her walking. Hips to the right, hips to the left, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. It had a hint of samba-rythm to it. Not that Yuffie knew how to dance samba, but if she could, she could imagine it would have the same tingly feeling she felt right now.
Three espressos later, he finally came through the doors. Yuffie knew it from the moment she saw him. This was the guy. The Mafioso. He moved with that special elegance. A man who could kill someone before the victim even knew he was there. Despite his lanky frame, he had the muscular build of someone with viciously raw strength, probably from carrying around corpses. All in all, a dangerous guy. A really, really dangerous guy.
She stretched herself in her seat. Her back, chin and breasts came to their righteous places. She'd taken a class in body language and she knew what her body said right now. Come on, light my fire, was the same in all languages.
A cold stare from a pair of aquarious eyes landed on her.
Oh oh.
The temperature lost at least ten degrees within the matter of a second. One second for her to realize what a dim-witted idea it had been.
He was going to kill her. He could undoubtedly hide a machine gun inside his coat and no one would notice. Or even worse, a strap. Unwillingly, her hand reached up to her throat.
Next she knew, the cold-blooded killer towered over her.
"You've got three seconds to get your cute little behind away from my table."
My table, eh? She narrowed her eyes. Nothing could annoy a woman as much as conceited behavior, and Yuffie was no exception. She'd heard it all before, and she'd learned to bite back with the true strength of a woman who'd managed to solve the Maxwell-equation at the tender age of eighteen.
"I'm here in business so you might as well quit your glaring and get your cute little behind down on that chair. Right now," she more or less hissed and gave him a sweet, innocent little smile. Fake, of course.
The ice in his eyes turned into heat. Damn, he was hot. Handsome in that Gongagan way that just screamed "Casanova's my grandfather".
"Say what you have to say. It's a free country."
He dropped down on the chair beside her own, his legs unpleasantly parted. A position with the intent of drawing her attention more to his body than to his face.
"I want to hire your services."
His reaction was not what she'd expected. His legs closed shut, his arms came to cross over his chest and his glare could've turned her to stone.
"You haven't even asked me what it's about yet!"
He moved his head to glare up the ceiling in lack of concern. "No."
This was bad. "I'll pay you," she whispered. "I'll pay you really good."
He turned to look at her once again.
"I'm not doing anything illegal," he said with the intonation that said anything against the law was another day at work for him.
"It's not that illegal. It concerns a certain property I want to have returned."
"To whom?," he asked.
"To me."
"Listen, if you're pissed off about some unsuccessful drug deal, this isn't the place to go to…"
"No drugs. A video-tape."
He frowned in suspicion. "Who's got the tape now?"
Yuffie pushed a small note across the table. The shithole Genesis' name and address were written in Ariel to avoid any mistakes. She'd seen it on Law & Order once.
"How much are we talking about?"
"Two hundred dollars."
Eyes turned cold again. "No."
Yuffie didn't push him to take it. Ordinary payrolls for thieves wasn't something you could google. "Two thousand."
For the sake of her future, she could deal with a dent in her savings. She needed muscles, and she was willing to pay for it.
The sudden spark of interest caught her eye, though he still shook his head. "No."
"Please!"
This was the closest she'd ever come to begging in her life, but she was desperate.
"How do you know there's just one tape?"
Yuffie closed her eyes and started to count to ten. It wasn't entirely easy, but she just had to deal.
"If there's more than one, it may need some…firmer methods. A broken leg. Or a real beating," she suggested, imagining the screams of pain. The pictures brought a smile to her lips.
"No way," came the answer and the screams in her head came to an abrupt stop.
"Oh," she sighed in defeat. "But you'll take the job, right?" she asked him as the bell above the door rang and a large man entered… He looked like a big bear with his dark skin and twinkled eyebrows behind the largest shades she'd ever seen.
Yuffie looked around in search of Aerith, but she was nowhere to be found. Where was the moral support when she needed it?
Slowly, the large man paced toward her.
"We're done now," Reno told her as if she was nothing but a nano-particle in the air.
As she realized Mr. Big Guy wasn't out to kill her, but more likely one of his colleagues, she rose from her seat.
"You're taking it?"
He didn't answer, just grabbed her arm so he could drag her down in his lap.
Wow.
And he kissed her. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my gawd!
He broke the kiss off before she got the chance to make a complete bamboozle of herself, which was a good thing. Then he slapped her on the butt and whispered in her ear.
"You've gotta get out of here…now. Meet me here tomorrow at ten. I'll help you. And no talking to anyone."
Like she could talk about this to anyone!
For a moment, she stared at him in an attempt to read his thoughts. But there was no "bone cracking" cold or any "cara mia"-heat. Just… curiosity.
She blinked once, and – poof! – the icy stare was back again.
"I'll see you around," he said and slapped her once more.
She could've killed him, right there and then, but that would've put a halt in her plans.
With a glance over her shoulder, she noticed Mr. Big Guy was pretty much shadowing the whole table by now.
"Okay, okay," she muttered, just to make sure he knew that even if he was the most important person in her life for the moment – her only savior – it didn't mean she liked him one bit!
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So... What'd you think? As you've noticed, I chose to portrait a more mature side of Yuffie that shows her arrogance and cynical personality, but that also holds the fort of a still very young and very lonely girl. We'll see more of her complex personality later. But as mature as she is, she still has the ability to, more or less, make a fool of herself.
If you get any bashing signals according to Aerith, they are not intentional! I just decided to let her take on a very motherly but quite naïve role. Frankly, I think it suits her really well.
I have no idea what more I can say so early into the story, but I do want to throw out some love already. To vinnie2757, for always asking wierd questions and who never says no when I ask her to read something. To my cousin, in whom's apartment this story sprung to life (I took care of her cats while the brat went to Gran Canaria). To Valentine'sNinja (though she might never read this), because she's such an inspiration for me. And last, and probably most, to Patrick. No one has supported me so much in my writing as he has, and as soon as I get rid of this cold, I want to get cozy with you and a large cup of coffee...
With love