Yes! Another Yuffentine! What can i say? i just love 'em! enjoy and please review!
Protection
"Fuck off Valentine!" Yuffie screamed, throwing her middle finger in the air. It's force directed at the tall, silent gunman. His emotions were as passive as ever, not letting in on the amount of power her words actually had on him.
"Yuffie, you need to calm down"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" she gestured wildly, throwing her hands in the air "How dare you tell me to calm down! Im CALM! CALM FUCKING CALM!!"
Vincent sighed, sitting down on his bed at the shitty hotel he had been staying in for the past six months. He wondered how it had come to this. When just yesterday he had been the happiest he had been in his entire life.
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The previous day
Yuffie woke up jubilantly ready to spend her day with Vincent. As she had done for the past five months or so.
Helping Tifa with the bar, while Cloud worked, was as safe an excuse as she could come up with for avoiding Wutai, and in all essence, her father. Six months she had been living in the upstairs room at Seventh Heaven, content to hide away amongst her friends and live a life of freedom. A month after she had arrived she was happy to learn that Vincent was also living nearby in a hotel. Since then she had been attached to his hip, though not without annoyance from the stoic, antisocial man. As always, Yuffie was relentless, popping by his room every morning and begging him to take her out. He did, but only because he still owed her from when she saved his life from Rosso (which she wasn't about to let him forget) After a few weeks it had become a tradition for them, to have breakfast together and spend the day doing whatever Yuffie wanted, until it was time for the bar to open. In which case she would run home and prepare to help Tifa with the local drunks and passerby's looking for a good time.
Eventually Yuffie broke down the barriers that made Vincent solitary and he began to anticipate her arrival each morning. After a few months in Yuffie's constant company, those around could swear that he was enjoying it. Even Tifa and Cloud were surprised when Vincent had actually started coming around the bar more often, asking for Yuffie.
This went on for months and Yuffie had never been happier. Spending her days with Vincent and her nights with Tifa. She finally felt as though she was living life the way she wanted to. Without rules, or restrictions, and certainly without the weight of Da Chao on her shoulders.
She skipped happily out of the bar and decided to check the mail on her way out. The sun was high, the birds were singing. It was the perfect day.
Yuffie breathed in the crisp summed air as she removed the letters from the metal mailbox. But her heart suddenly jolted as her fingers grazed over a certain letter. The paper, it felt different. Rough almost. Like the kind of paper made from the pines below Da Chao. Wutai paper had a distinguished feel to it. It's town being one of the least developed and less technological on the planet. Their paper was rough to the touch, primitive compared to that of other towns. She knew it's feel just as she knew every rock face in Wutai, every flower, every tree, every gust of wind. She felt it deep within her soul, knew it, just as she knew what the letter contained. Her heart raced as she turned it over, hoping against hope that she wouldn't find the wax melted insignia of Wutai, holding the letter closed. She did. There was no mistaking the white melted wax in the shape of a rose, signifying her: The White Rose of Wutai.
Tears began to form in her eyes even before she opened the letter, clouding her vision as her nimble fingers fumbled with the scratchy paper. In frustration she tore open the letter and searched avidly through it, her eyes scanning the words she refused were scripted into the pine scented canvas.
Lady of Wutai,
You must return in haste. Two nights ago, Godo, Ruler of Wutai, was murdered in his sleep by the well known enemy of Da Chao : Maistu Ruu. His whereabouts are unknown but he left a threatening letter to The White Rose. You must come home. You must take the throne and fulfill your birthright as First Lady of Da Chao. You were born to this heritage and you must concede yourself to the throne. We are sending a escort to guide you to Wutai in two days. We look forward to the return of The white Rose and the many days you will lead our country to prosperity in your fathers footsteps.
Forever loyal,
Staniv
Yuffie felt her knee's begin to weaken. Even after extensive training to strengthen her body to it's ultimate physical limit, no amount of strength could withstand the pain that comes with news of death. She felt dirt beneath her and before she could calculate what had happened, she was passed out on the ground by the mailbox in front of Tifa's bar.
That was how Vincent found her. Sprawled in a weakened mass of flesh, surrounded by papers. In a panic he rushed her to his home, if a hotel could be considered home, and laid her on his bed, waiting for her to wake up.
Every line of Vincent's face was fraught with worry. Etching his features in a mask of unmistakable concern. There was no denying how he felt for her. Even after months of denying it to himself.
The past five months were a cure to his broken heart. Spending every day with Yuffie did wonders to his broken spirit. And after the fourth month of subconsciously pushing it out of his mind, he finally relented that he did, in fact, love her.
In one hand, Vincent held the letter branded with the insignia of Wutai. In the other he held a small velvet box. Today was going to be the day that he told Yuffie how he felt. Today he was going to confess his feeling for her and hope they weren't unrequited. Funny how fate had a way with toying with lovers.
Tomorrow she would leave. Return to Wutai and fulfill her destiny as the ruler of the ancient civilization. When she did return, she would be untouchable to him. Forbidden to be tainted by his corrupt hands. She would be married to a man with the true blood of Wutai running through his veins. Vincent suddenly felt inadequate. As if he was foolish for even thinking he could be with a woman like Yuffie. A woman with royal blood, destined for a life of grandeur. And what could he give her? Nothing. That's what.
In a convulsion of all encompassing rage he crumpled the parchment in his claw. Shredding any dreams he might have had of spending a quiet life with Yuffie.
In an instant his anger was cooled by the sound of Yuffie whimpering in her sleep. He made his way over to the bed quietly and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. At his touch she rolled over and opened her eyes.
"Yuffie" he said softly, struggling with the words he was about to say "Yuffie, you must wake. You have to pack and return...home" he barely squeezed the words from his shaking lips.
Indeed it was her home. As much as she ran from it, and as much as she refused to accept her fate, It would always be her home.
Her eyes opened wide in surprise at his knowledge of her predicament. She sat up sullenly.
"Vincent...I...you read my letter?"
He nodded.
"What am I going to do? I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with Tifa and Cloud and...and ..you" she looked into his eyes. Precious orbs of tender pleading boring a hole into the most soft parts of his heart. He knew he would never have the power to deny her of anything, as long as he lived. All she had to do was look at him, with those dark yearning eyes and he was hers. He pulled her into a tight hug and let her cry. He felt the moisture seep through, even in his heavy attire.
They both knew she had to go. There was no denying it, even to the blind hearts of those in love. She cried hard. She cried for her father and for Wutai, and for Vincent. She cried because now she would never be able to tell him how she really felt. It would only make things harder.
After several minutes of body wracking sobs, she finally sat up.
"I guess your gonna have to find some other cute girl to hang around with" she said trying to lighten the mood, faking a smile.
"As long as she is as annoying as you, I'll feel right at home" he said. She laughed a bit, sniffing the remained of her tears away before getting off the bed. She turned to him and spoke from across the room, somehow it made it easier.
"Yesterday, you said you wanted to tell me something. What was it?" she questioned him.
"Nothing, It's not important" he stood as well "Not anymore"
"So your gonna give up then? Just let me leave with only a short goodbye and a handshake?" her voice was rising in anger at his fear for telling her. She knew damn well what he was going to say. And until this morning, she had wanted it more than anything. His silence had always bothered her. There were times she was sure he was going to tell her that at least he had grow some sort of odd affection for her. But he always refrained, making her question how he really felt. Until yesterday. Yesterday he held her hand all through the night, telling her that in the morning he had something important he wanted to tell her. Now she felt as though she needed to hear it. Before she left she needed to know that all their time together wasn't a waste. Though in all reality it would make it more difficult for her to leave, she felt she deserved to know.
"It's not that simple anymore Yuffie" they both spoke in enigmatic phrases, though both were wise enough to know what lie underneath the candid words they spoke. It didn't need to be said out loud. They were both in love with each other, and even though it wasn't spoken, it was felt and hit them hard with the crumpled letter on the floor. "Your leaving tomorrow and that's...that"
"That's that huh? Well fine! Goodbye Vincent, nice knowing you!" she turned and headed for the door. Vincent grabbed her and spun her around, squeezing her upper arms harshly and shaking her lightly.
"What do you want me to do?! Your father is dead Yuffie! You have a duty to your people!"
Her face contorted in anger, she wretched her arms from his grip.
"My people?! My people have never done anything for me! I risked my neck for years, steeling Materia for my people! And what have they done for me?! Nothing! I've never done anything for myself!" She schooled her voice into a quiet mocking tone "Don't try to tell me about duty Vincent. It's all I've ever known" She walked slowly over to the bed "I thought for once I'd finally get to live my life the way I wanted to. But you!" her voice rose "..your probably just waiting for me to leave so you can go back to Lucrecia's cave! Or back to the mansion!"
Vincent was angry now. He thought that Yuffie, of all people, would see that he was past all that. That he didn't need to go back to those places to find peace anymore. Because he found it in her. Her words struck him like wicked daggers, leaving trailing lines of hot anger in their wake.
"I might just do that" His voice was soft but his words were aimed to sting. Though the look on her face made him regret it almost immediately. He hadn't meant it.
"Fuck off Valentine!"
Vincent's face softened as he saw a twinkle of wetness in the corner of her eye. He knew it wasn't from her fathers death. He sighed heavily and walked towards her.
"Yuffie, you need to calm down" he put his arms out to her but she swatted them away.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" she gestured wildly, throwing her hands in the air "How dare you tell me to calm down! Im CALM! CALM FUCKING CALM!!"
"Do you think I wanted this to happen? The last thing I want is for you to leave"
"God Dammit Vincent! You waited this long to tell me that?! Im leaving tomorrow, and your still too scared to tell me how you feel! What are you so afraid of?" it angered her to no end the amount of silence she had put up with for his comfort. If he asked her not to go, she would do it. She would betray her people and run away with him, gladly. But he remained quiet and his silence was what hurt the most. Even now, as she waited for an answer, he was as soundless as a mute.
A small tear ran down her cheek as the realization came to her that he wasn't going to answer. And it hurt her that he would rather have her leave, than tell her those words. It was the first time in her short life that she felt her heart breaking. Almost hearing the cracks of her fractured heart as chipped pieces of membrane exploded in her chest. She grabbed at it with her tiny hand as she spoke.
"Go ahead and add this to your list of regrets. Because im not coming back." she whispered and left the room. Once outside the door she let loose the tears that she could not control and ran back to Tifa's bar to pack up her things.
Vincent had almost ran to her. Almost grabbed her and spun her around to scream at her. To tell her that he loved her, far more than any person he had ever loved. To beg her not to leave. But his feet wouldn't move. They seemed too heavy for him to lift and smarter than his mind at the moment. For they were doing what needed to be done. They were letting Yuffie leave. He wanted more than anything to be with her. But he could never give her the life she deserved. She was born into royalty and whether she liked it or not, she was now the ruling Empress of Wutai.
He sighed, sitting down on his bed at the shitty hotel he had been staying in for the past six months. He wondered how it had come to this. When just yesterday he had been the happiest he had been in his entire life.
R&R
