A/N: I am re-writing this whole story. -_- I re-read the first chapter, and realized it was way too short and messy to even call a chapter! I messed up, since I had to re-arrange some things when first writing, so it didn't make sense at some parts. I'm sorry if you liked it better before than from what I write now, but I need to do this for my own calm of mind… ^^'

Oh, and before I forget, could someone tell me if the "On the way to a smile: Case of Yuffie" story, along with all the other character cases are fanfiction or real? I think they're real, and if they are there was a cute Yuffentine moment I found. (: Thank ya'!

Stirring in her confident of warm, white blankets, Yuffie opened her eyes slowly, meeting the glare of the cloud covered sun illuminating through the window. She watched silently as the rain drops hit the glass, racing down for the window seal; picking which drop she thought would win, she waited for the outcome before hearing what had woke her up in the first place; the soft clanking of shot glasses knocking together as Tifa cleaned up downstairs, awaiting the late night traffic in Seventh Heaven bar.

Her eyes drifted, locking on the tall wooden door across the room from her. She still felt the same as she had yesterday, although she couldn't place an emotion to what it was. Her stomach felt light, not in the best way; her normally optimistic mood—truthful or not—seemed to dissipate within an instant, a moment she couldn't place a time to. It felt like she had been feeling like this her whole life. She seemed to forget how to act the way she normally did, like she had lost all hope of being herself again.

Sighing, Yuffie pulled back to hide her face under the blanket once more, tightening her grip on the soft fabric as images flew through her mind.

///

"You don't look too ruffed up…" Yuffie's voice seemed to carry through the metal hallways as she straightened up to look at the man in front of her.

His gaze seemed to soften, "neither do you." His voice followed hers quietly against the walls, making their surroundings seem even colder. Yuffie kept her gaze locked with his, noticing the difference in how he treated her compared to how he did when she was 17. They stood in silence for a few moments more, before continuing down the hall to where their enemy waited.

///

She gritted her teeth unconsciously, a habit she seemed to have picked up quite recently.

///

They stood together in the green illuminated room, turning in surprise to the sudden noise. Yuffie's silent relief of knowing he was okay quickly disappeared as she stared in slight shock at the green beam flaring towards them. Before she had time to react, she felt his hands grasp her shoulder and hip, pushing her out of the way. She landed on the floor away from danger, as she saw the sight of him taking the full front of the attack.

"Vincent…!" Her voice cracked in desperation as she took a step towards him before being forced to jump away from another extracting beam.

///

Sighing, she slipped out from under the covers. He had been gone ever since his battle as Chaos. She had no idea what happened, where he had gone if he had survived.

///

Yuffie ran into the Seventh Heaven bar, almost knocking a stool over as Tifa turned to greet her. Shelke, having stayed to wait for his arrival before continuing on with the life she had left behind, sat in the far corner of the bar. Yuffie tried to ignore her as she passed; she didn't hate her, but they weren't the best of friends considering how Yuffie slapped her in rage over Shelke's sister's death.

"Any word from Cloud…?!" Her voice came out making her sound much more concerned than she had let on as she leaned forward for an answer. Holding her hopes high, something she needs to learn not to do, she waited for the reply she was almost positive would be good.

But it wasn't. Tifa shook her head, "no, they haven't found anything." Leaning back, Yuffie kept her composure, difficult to do when such high hopes crash down into the abyss.

Crossing her arms she replied normal, "ain't gonna make this easy for us, is he?"

Tifa talked with her, seeming not to notice as Yuffie's cheerful exposure began to silently waver.

///

She stepped onto the cold floor, feeling a shiver shoot through her leg as her toes touched the tarnished wood. She kept her eyes locked on the sky through the rain drop covered window, trying her best not to look down at the walkway to the bar.

He'll come when you least expect it! She thought to herself, placing each hand on the window seal. The rain seemed to pick up, making louder and quicker taps against the glass. Her stomach felt light, which she soon identified to being hungry.

It's been two days…since I've eaten. Making a note to fix that,she looked down quickly before averting her eyes back towards the sky. Still nothing; No one was there. He was still gone, and she still felt empty. She had been so bored, the day they reunited, on her mission with Reeve. Seeing Vincent in trouble, she didn't even think of a plan, she simply acted on instinct. All she knew was, Vincent was in trouble, and only she could save him. Seeing him again, talking to him again, it made her so happy; not that she understood why. She felt like a 17 year old again, announcing herself with such pride. Not that he seemed all that happy to see her, even for Vincent.

///

Vincent spoke coldly to Yuffie and Elena's kidnapper, turning his head away in disinterest, "I don't care what you're doing, so much as the idiotic way you're doing it."

///

Even when she was in trouble, back then, he didn't even care. Yuffie closed her eyes as she remembered how serious he was, he truly did not care that she had been kidnapped.

She shook her head, what am I thinking? That was over two years ago! He's changed and so have I! Even thinking that way, she couldn't laugh, or smile. Not truthfully, anyways.

Her stomach growled in a loud protest that she go get some food. She sighed, turning to walk out, but stopped to glance at the mirror quickly. Her hair was a little messy, a few tuffs sticking out here and there; she wore a white thick strapped tank top and baggy black shorts. Her normal attire was probably washed and dry by now, but for sleeping basically two days straight; comfort is a nice thing to have. She sighed, pulling her shirt down past her belt loops to straighten out the wrinkles. Her appearance has become something she cares a bit more about, growing up tends to do that so people, and certain people.

She kept her footsteps silent as she descended the stairs, but somehow Tifa knew she was coming. She waited at the bottom, her hands seeming dead at her sides. Her expression looked like a mix between shocked and worried, but that soon disappeared as Yuffie reached the last step, being met by an embracing hug from Tifa.

"Are you alright?" Her voice was muffled by the crook in Yuffie's neck as Tifa tried to reach above it but failed because of the height advantage the stairs gave Yuffie.

"Uh…" Yuffie looked around the room, not meeting anyone's gaze; she looked for words, building up her false happiness, "yeah! I'm perfectly fine. What's got you so worried?" She smiled at Tifa as she pulled back.

"Yuffie…you've been in your room for two whole days…you…I was so worried, everyone was! We didn't know if you were sick, or what…you never talked to me when I came into check on you, you just…you…" Tifa stumbled on her words, trying to contemplate the situation as best she could. She shook her head, hugging Yuffie again.

"Tifa…" Yuffie tried to come up with an excuse, but what could she say? She hardly remembered Tifa coming in the room, she felt like she hadn't even been there the past two days. Her mind was so distant that she didn't even realize how worried she was making everyone.

Tifa stepped back, smiling, "you must be hungry."

Another loud growl answered her before Yuffie could; laughing, Tifa walked towards the bar.

"I was just about to bring this to you, actually." She spoke, gesturing towards a plate on the countertop, emitting steam from the freshly made food. Yuffie forced a smile, a bit curious as to how easily Tifa could laugh in a situation like their own.

"Thanks," she sat in one of the stools, idly twisting strands of her hair around her finger, "I'm probably gonna take a shower after this, is…" she tried to make casual conversation leading up to what she wanted to ask.

"Cloud and the others are coming by to pick Shelke up soon." Tifa seemed to know what she wanted to say already, something Yuffie didn't seem to notice as she perked up in response to that name.

"Shelke? Why?" she spoke through a mouthful of food, hiding it with her hand.

Tifa seemed to hesitate, as she let out a sigh; "they, um, know where Vincent is." Yuffie's hand that had been leading another bight of food stopped, dropping the fork abruptly.

Keep your composure! "Um, what does that have to do with Shelke…?" part of her felt like she didn't want to know the answer, while another felt like she needed to.

"They're going to send her in to get him. Cloud thinks she's the first person he should see after being with Lucretia's…anyways, it's just what Cloud thinks should be done." Tifa avoided eye contact with her friend, not sure about what reaction she should expect.

"Oh..that's nice. Good to know he's not just lying somewhere dead." Yuffie looked down at her lap, "I'm going to go take a shower. Thanks for the food."

Before Tifa could answer, Yuffie was gone.

She ran into the bathroom, closely avoiding slamming the door as she leaned against the rough wood, her hands still grasping the doorknob.

Lucretia…and Shelke… Her heart seemed to sink as she thought of each woman. Even if she is actually 19, Vincent wouldn't fall in love with a girl who looked like she was 10, right? But, she will be alive forever… Yuffie shook her head abruptly.

"What on Earth are you thinking?" She laughed half heartedly, "what do you care if he falls in love with her? It'll be good for the guy, he's too dark and gloomy for his own good!" Her smile darkened as she let her head fall, "it's not like you'd ever want him for yourself, so just get over whatever your problem is!" Even with her own self encouragement, she felt sick to her stomach.

Turning the water on to a nice temperature, she put the stopper in for her bath, hoping to wash away all the confusing feelings that consumed her conscience. She watched as the water filled up to the brim, then stepped in, wincing a bit at the heat. Breathing in the steam, she brought her knees up to her chest and placed her forehead on her kneecaps. Her eyes filled with tears, from the steam of course, she would never cry over something as simple as this.

She shook her head as her nose lightly touched the tip of the water, she let out a sigh, trying to assure her old self back with words.

"You're not in love with Vincent Valentine."

A/N: Much better, yes?