Disclaimer: Yuffie and the many amazing characters in this story as well as anything entailing Final Fantasy XII are not mine, but owned by the god-like creatures that run Square Enix. If only I had half their geniusness…. Yes I just said geniusness.

Chapter 1

It had been rather quiet since everything with Underground. I didn't like it when things were peaceful. Call me crazy, but I don't like it when someone's not being stupid. Mostly because it leaves me nothing to do. Nothing bothers me more than to be bored. If I become bored, Reeve and Vinnie would kill me mostly because I probably destroyed some expensive equipment in an attempt to figure out how it works. Then Vinnie will give me that stare he has when I've done something wrong. Then Reeve will tell Vinnie to be nice, but he'll just wait till Reeve has left to make some condescending comment to make me feel like I'm three.

Yes… this has happened before.

This was why I started to take little hand-held games to work. If Reeve had nothing for me to do, or I just got bored of his assignment, I started playing my Sudoku game. Here lately my hands had more of a workout than the rest of my body. I had to do some training exercises with Tifa everyday or my body would go stiff. Don't get me wrong, I love doing the exercises, but when it's the only thing you've done productive in the last 3 months it starts to wear on you.

Walking into work, I went about my routine of telling everyone hello and seeing if I could bug old Mr. Hayashi into buying me lunch again. He was a delightful old man that was no doubt hansom in his earlier years. Too bad his wife died a few years back and he begged Reeve to let him stay even after he had retired because he couldn't stand to be alone. I then found myself personally responsible to make this man's life a little more enjoyable.

After the old man agreed, I walked towards the back to meet up with Reeve. Hoping he'd have something interesting for me to do. The door slid back as I stepped forward and by the look on Reeve's face when he seen me I almost got giddy. Well… never mind almost. I was.

A half smile on Reeve's face appeared and I started jumping up and down and squealing. "Oh thank you, Reeve! I've never been so happy before! Well… except for that time when Marlene called Vinnie an emo vampire, but that's just self-explanatory," I started laughing, mostly because of Reeve's exasperated expression.

I ran over and grabbed Reeve squeezing him so tightly, "Now I don't have to sit and play my Sudoku game all day! I mean… write all those reports on other countries I haven't finished. I mean…. I should just stay quiet and let you tell me my mission, shouldn't I?"

Reeve just sighed and indicated the seat on the other side of his desk. After I sat down he began to tell me my mission, "First of all, I'm giving you this mission because of it's basis and your connection towards it. Note: I will not use this against you. If there is info you wish not to report that is entirely up to you. WRO is only here to help, not cause more problems…"

"REEVE! Get on with it. I'm dancing in my seat with anticipation and can't hold it in much longer," I'm practically bouncing in my chair at this point.

Smiling, Reeve shook his head. Reeve always looked hansom when he was more personal, friendly, …or just plain human. It was no wonder his secretary, Akira, cared about him so much. Sadly, Reeve would never know that, because he was always too stuck in one of his computers to notice the love of a woman that had dealt with him since he was in Shinra. I hate men….

"I want to get WRO into Wutai," before the words slipped out of his mouth I was already grinning. "I was thinking of starting a branch of WRO in Wutai that specializes in espionage and materia research."

Standing up and saluting military style, I roared, "Say no more! I'm your man- I mean woman- for the job!" Leaning forward against the desk, I whispered, "I mean who better than the heir to the throne of Wutai?"

"I thought you didn't like being called that?" Reeve smirked.

Growling, I snarl at him, "I don't mind being the heir to the thrown, I'm honored by it, but I hate being treated like a Princess."

"Isn't that sort of the same thing?"

Completely leaning over the desk to press my finger against his mouth, "But its ok if you want to call me Ninja Princess, or the single white rose of Wutai, or even Treasure Princess (which I was known by in my younger years). I'd just rather not be treated like some frilly, goody-to-shoes princess."

"Did you just say frilly?", Reeve was grinning even though I was leaning across his desk, messing everything up in my way.

Exasperated, I slumped against his desk, "Of all the things I said, that's the one you pick up on?"

Chuckling, he answered, "Nothing else you said was anything I haven't heard you say. Except for the Treasure Princess. Where did that one come from?"

Cheeks going red, I stumbled as I said, "Something that a SOLDIER called me when I met him at a battle at the Fort Tamblin. I tricked him into getting some valuable items I couldn't quite reach myself, being so young."

"A SOLDIER? He must have been pretty high up if he was at that battle. Would I know him?" Reeve looked interested, not because of me knowing someone important, but because it was a SOLDIER.

Pressing my lips together, I passively said, "You might of. He was a first class SOLDIER."

"First class? Then of course I know him. Who was he? Angeal? Hopefully not Genesis. Maybe even Sephiroth?", now I had Reeve's attention.

"Maybe it was Jack… Zack? Maybe… can't remember exactly," I remember Zack like it was yesterday. No one could forget that idiotic, high-strung SOLDIER that was so loveable you had to like him. I just had a hard time talking about this subject so I was trying to seem uninterested.

Reeve watched me for a second, "You're talking about Zack Fair. Now that you say that, that would make sense. How did you get him to work for you? I know Zack was gullible, but I never thought he'd be bad enough to get manipulated into being conned by a chi-i-i-. (cough) I'm sure you were very cunning."

Still glaring, I moved so I was sitting on his desk, not caring what I smashed in the process. I just shrugged my shoulders as I seemed to look off, "I didn't try really. He just…" I had to clear my throat as a lump formed. "He just helped of his own accord."

He watched for a long time before he finally said, "You should talk to Cloud about Zack. He might be able to help you with some of your grief you're still hiding."

Getting annoyed, I snapped, "I'm not grieving and Blondie would probably kill me if I came to him about anything personal."

"You'd be surprised," Reeve smiled. "Either way, back to the Wutai Project."

Clearing my throat again (stupid lump wouldn't go away), I listened to Reeve's idea of inserting WRO into Wutai's politics and social standings just long enough to get them back on there feet and headed back to their former selves. Reeve was showing his compassion for people to his extreme on this project. He had been studying Wutai's traditions as to not insult my father or any other respectful Wutai.

With tears in my eyes, I jump into his lap screaming, "Oh Reeve! Thank you so much! I'll never be able to repay you."

Reeve's cheeks were bright red and I knew I was making him exceptionally embarrassed because of his lack-of-human-interaction. Everyone in the group had their own ways of teasing Reeve. Mine was my overly affectionate personality. I was about to kiss him on the cheek, knowing it was cause Reeve to fail, when there was a knock at the door.

Clearing his throat, Vincent spoke at the doorway, "Am I interrupting something?"

Ever since Underground, and the lose of Chaos, Vincent had been rather quiet… more than normal. It was starting to worry me. He hadn't been calling really bazaar names that I later find out were scientific ways of calling me an idiot or childish. The names were annoying, but comforting. It let me know he even noticed I was alive.

Grinning ear to ear, I jump off of Reeve's lap to run to Vincent, "Vinnie! Guess what?"

"What have I told you about calling me 'Vinnie'?"

Ignoring his question like I always do, I grabbed his arm and yelled, "Reeve is setting up an organization to set up Wutai to its former glory. With me as the head of the group!"

"With your help," Reeve said.

"With your hel- What?" I spun around.

Reeve was staring at me with that simple smile he has when he knows he's pulled a fast one on you. I didn't have to look at Vincent to know he was just as shock as I was. Here I was thinking I was going to get to show my leadership abilities and they had to send Vincent. I was going to spend more time dealing with unraveling my own thoughts than my mission.

"Do you really need me?" Vincent asked. It had been awhile since Vincent had done any missions since we wanted him to rest awhile and get use to not having Chaos inside of him.

Reeve leaned back into his chair as he watched us, I'm sure planning some more evil ideas, and began to inform us, "I need Vincent to be there to show we know our position with having the heir to Wutai working for us. That we respect but protect her with our lives as they do. Vincent will also be able to get some inside information about the workings of the lower ranks to see if theirs anyone we can enlist their help with the project."

"You're telling me he's coming to be my… bodyguard?" this was unbelievable.

Vincent slightly smirked, but continued to stay silent. What was he laughing about? Better not be my inability to take care of myself. I'll throw him on the ground so hard it will make his 70-some year old head spin. Him losing his immortality will not make me feel bad.

"I don't know how much use I'll be… but I'll give my all on it," Vincent was looking at Reeve as he spoke.

Damn it…. Stupid, emo vampires…. Shifting my weight, I turned my attention back to Reeve. Ever have that feeling that someone reads straight through you? I hate know-it-alls… Especially computer geeks too smart for their own good.

"In a sense, yes. Vincent, you'll be her bodyguard. But it will be so much more than that. As for you being capable, I wouldn't trust anyone else with the job. It's good to have you back," Reeve grinned and Vincent inclined his head.

I mumbled something about "men being as mushy as women" which got both of them to stare at me. Coughing, I shifted my weight again, "Well… when do we start?"

"Immediately," Reeve answered. "You'll leave for Wutai tomorrow."

As much as I was excited about going to Wutai, the idea of being stuck on an airship-my stomach turned as I thought of that- with only Vincent. Probably not ONLY, but this was going to be bad enough. Also, if we were using an airship, that only meant one thing. Cid. This just kept getting better as it went on.

Reeve just continued to smile like he knew every thought going through my mind until I turned around and walked out of his office. Taking deep breathes, I tried to regain my composure. This whole mission, Wutai's glory, depended on me being able to get this organization up and running.

"So, the Wutai Princess needs a bodyguard in her own city?" his voice trailed down my skin like fingertips.

Remembering what he said, I retorted, "I didn't ask for you to come. Reeve did." The pain on his face was unexpected. Vincent hardly ever showed emotion. So, why would he care what I thought? "I-I didn't mean it like that."

Vincent shook his head, "Doesn't matter. I should have expected it." He suddenly seemed nervous. In all the years I had known Vincent, I had never seen him nervous. He was not looking at me and slightly fidgeting. Worried slightly, I placed my hand till he turned back to me. "Vincent?"

For a split second, I seen vulnerability, uncertainty, and… fear. None of this fit Vincent. Yet, as quickly as I thought I had seen it, it was gone. He pressed his lips together and the expressionless face I was use to, but hated, reappeared.

Shaking his head, he said, "We should probably work on getting ready to leave. We also need to discuss how we're going to enter Wutai, since our arrival will be our first impression. Then we need to discuss how we'll work inside and how we'll communicate information."

"You can really tell you use to be a Turk," I chuckled and started to walk out of WRO.

I could hear Vincent sigh behind me as he followed, "It's a lifestyle, not a job."

"That's obvious. So, when do you suppose we sit down to talk about this?" I continued to keep my back to him. My nerves were getting to me too badly and I knew I couldn't look him in the face right now.

"Now. Isn't there a nice restaurant you like in town? You go to it at least once a week with that man in Computer Intelligence," I turned to look at Vincent, but he continued to stare at the wall.

"Uh… yeah. That's fine. You actually eat food?" I teased.

He then glared at me, "I am human."

Chuckling, I said, "You could fool me sometimes."

The next thing I realize, Vincent is walking right next to me. I barely have time to think and comprehend him being there before he leaned over next to me to say, "That's not very hard to do."

My skin rippled with his breath blowing across my ear. I almost lost myself in the feeling, but his words brought me back. Snapping my head to glare at him, I noticed he was smiling. My heart stopped. I tried to remember the last time I had seen him smile: I couldn't. When had he ever smiled? I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he didn't do this more often.

Before I could do or say anything, he walked past me and headed toward the elevator. When had he ever smiled? When did he get a sense of humor? How did he know about me going out to eat with Mr. Hayashi? I think the only thing I did know was that this mission was going to give me a headache, my Sudoku game was finally going to be able to rest, and I was going to have to cancel lunch and upset a very lonely man.