8/21 Edit- Fixed a typo
Eternal Child
For Yuffie Kisaragi, Squall Leonheart is always going to be that guy.
The first guy she noticed in that way when she came of age to start noticing these things. The first guy who made her blush the color of a cherry and stumble over her words like she barely knew the language she was speaking. The first guy she doodled about in her diary; to this day she still writes Yuffie + Squall in hearts before scribbling it out past recognition. The first guy she dreamt about and could never seem to get off her mind; the one she always hoped of losing her virginity to (even though she'll never admit it). The one she knows she'll always love; even when she's old and icky and barely able to remember her own name. She will love Squall Leonheart.
The problem is, Squall already has that girl.
Or, had anyway. Her name was Rinoa Heartily. She was smart, funny, beautiful, strong, kind, and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. But more importantly, she was absolutely perfect for Squall. She was his other half; the missing piece to his guarded heart. She'd made him smile when he hadn't thought possible, made him happy almost all the time. Yuffie doesn't remember too much from the days when Rinoa was alive, before the heartless and such, but she does remember one thing painfully clearly. He loved her; she loved him. It was like a promise they'd made without even realizing it; to love each other through anything, even death. Squall will love Rinoa.
For Squall, Yuffie will always just be a child.
Yuffie tries (oh does she try) to make Squall see her as something other then the Yuffie he's always known; the one who always makes jokes at inappropriate times, tells everyone she's the greatest ninja around (even though he's told her to stop because it's embarrassing), and steals cookies during dinner and then says she's not hungry so she can go eat them in her room.
Yuffie tries to act grown-up. She no longer babbles for hours on end, no longer proclaims her great ninja-ness to the pedestrians as she patrols Radiant Garden with him. She eats her vegetables and won't make faces and gag when Cloud and Aerith kiss goodnight. Still though, her efforts are in vain.
Squall ("Leon," he constantly admonishes, "Damn it Yuffie, my name is Leon, not Squall.") doesn't look twice at her maturity. Even though she's completely putting herself though hell to make him see her as more then an annoying younger sister it doesn't work.
It's late at night when the self hatred comes; harsh and painful like a cut she's not expecting.
"How could he ever think about me that way when I look like a little kid?" She asks aloud as she gazes at herself in the mirror. Slim, androgynous body. Wide, innocent eyes. A youthfully rounded face. Childlike full lips.
You're nothing more then a kid to him, her minds taunts during the endless nights. You're a kid to him now and you always will be.
The next morning at breakfast, Yuffie drinks coffee (even though she thinks it's repulsive) and reads the paper (even though she thinks the paper's boring as hell).
Squall doesn't look twice
This actually turned out to be a lot more depressing then I meant it to be. But I've always sort of pictured Yuffie loving Squall while he thinks of her as his sister. Whatever, reviews are loved!