Yuffie woke with a start. Sitting up, her eyes scanned the room. Seeing the familiar surroundings, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a dream. The ninja left her bed and walked over to the dressing table. She reached for the switch and was momentarily stunned by the bright light dazzling her eyes. She stared at her reflection for a moment. Noticing the bags under her eyes, Yuffie sighed again. "I look like Hell."
She hadn't been sleeping well for weeks and it showed. Yuffie was sure Tifa knew something was wrong. If her continual questions about how she was, hadn't been enough of a give away, the worried expression she wore, each time she saw the ninja, was. Trying to reassure the barmaid she was fine, by being as cheerful as possible, had long since ceased to work; Tifa just wasn't buying it, not anymore.
She knew Tifa would ask her about what happened in the bar last night and honestly, she didn't know herself. The memory of the man touching her, as she bent down, briefly flashed through her mind. Yuffie wished she could forget how terrified she felt. That's what you get for wearing a miniskirt in a bar full of drunk men. She laughed bitterly to herself. Though the thought of him caressing her sickened Yuffie, it was the least of her worries right now. I had a panic attack, in public. The realisation hit her suddenly and she groaned, looking at the ceiling. She felt the tears coming again and Yuffie knew she was just too exhausted to fight them.
A gentle knock at the door halted her weeping and she quickly wiped her tears, trying to steady her breathing. "Y-yes?"
"Yuffie…" Tifa paused as Yuffie held her breath. "May I come in?"
Yuffie panicked. She cannot see me like this! Taking a t-shirt in her hands, she dried her eyes. She stood quickly, looking around the room for anything, to help her face look less like she had just been crying her eyes out. She cursed in frustration, glancing at the door. Tifa was still waiting patiently on the other side. If she didn't let her in, she knew Tifa would just worry about her more, but if she did… Yuffie went over to the dresser and switched off the light. Sending a hopeless prayer to the Gods, she opened the door slowly.
"Morning Tifa." She stepped aside to let the older woman into the room.
"Yuffie. Good morning."
The two women stood awkwardly for a moment. Recovering quickly, Yuffie turned to Tifa and smiled.
"Did you sleep well?"
I could ask you the same question. Deciding to play along, Tifa replied. "I did. Much better than usual actually. I guess I really needed the rest."
"That's good," Yuffie replied.
"What about you, Yuffie? Did you sleep well?"
"Pretty good, thanks."
Tifa studied the ninja's face. Despite the faint light filtering into the room, she could clearly see that Yuffie had been crying. This only confirmed what she thought she heard in the corridor. She was weeping.
"About what happened last night…"
"Tifa it's fine. Honestly." She saw the look of disbelief on the older woman's face. "It was har-"
"Yuffie, you don't have to pretend. I know-"
"Know what?!"
She heard the edge in her voice. "…how it feels. When guys… I guess it comes with the job, but that doesn't make it right. Yuffie, I'm sorry. I should never have put you in that position." Tifa looked genuinely remorseful and this only made Yuffie feel worse.
"Tifa. I'm not blaming you." She tried to keep her voice steady as the memory resurfaced. "What happened… It just shocked me. I-I wasn't expecting it; I was caught off guard…" She trailed off, unable to continue.
"Oh Yuffie…" Tifa moved closer to her and Yuffie flinched. The hurt look on Tifa's face only increased her guilt, but Yuffie remained silent. As the martial artist made her way to the door, she spoke clearly. "I won't be opening the bar today. I thought…" She then turned around to face Yuffie. "If you want to talk Yuffie, I'm here. Remember, you're not alone."
When she heard the last of the footsteps on the stairs, Yuffie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She felt Tifa's gaze lingering on her eyes and was thankful she hadn't mentioned it. She moved over to the window and drew the curtains slightly. It was pouring with rain outside. Guess I'm not the only one feeling sad.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Grabbing the phone on the last ring, she answered. "Strife's Delivery Service. You name it, we deliver i-"
"Tifa."
"Cloud?! Why are you calling?" Surprise was evident in her voice.
The blonde laughed. "You didn't answer your phone."
"What? My phone is right here…" Feeling her sides, Tifa realised she wasn't wearing her usual work clothes. She had opted for a blue dress that morning. "I guess not. Sorry Cloud, I must have left it in my room. Is something wrong?"
"That's why I called: to find out."
Tifa furrowed her brow in confusion. Cloud sensed her uncertainty and clarified. "Yuffie."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"What about Yuffie?" Cloud wondered if Tifa was in a bad mood.
"What happened last night, Tifa? You don't normally close early, not on a busy night like that." Cloud had been making his last delivery in Edge and had ridden past the heaving bar.
"Yuffie, she…" Tifa knew she wouldn't want her to say anything. "…had an accident."
"An accident?"
"It was nothing serious. Things were pretty crazy with all the people and I had a massive headache. I just couldn't make it until midnight."
"Is she okay now?"
"She's fine Cloud." Tifa lied.
Cloud could tell something was bothering Tifa, though she didn't say it.
"What time will you be home?"
"…late. I'm sorry. I know you said you would close the bar today."
"It's okay." Changing the subject, she asked: "Did you like the rafutee?"
"Yes."
"Really?" He smirked. Was she fishing for compliments?
"Tifa. It was delicious. Thank you."
She smiled. "I'm glad."
The blonde slowly started the engine. "I should go."
"Okay." The martial artist sounded disappointed. "Be safe. See you at home."
"Bye."
Tifa knew that Cloud only worked very late when Marlene was staying with Barret. She just wished they spent more time together. Realising she was still standing in his room, she turned to leave. The martial artist looked up and saw Yuffie standing in the doorway. She stood still, watching the ninja. Yuffie mirrored her actions.
"That dress really suits you."
"Thanks."
How long has she been standing there?
"I heard the phone ringing and I came to answer it. You beat me to it."
"Yuffie, about what I said…"
"It was an accident. He just got lucky." Yuffie gave a small chuckle. "It's fine. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Tifa wanted to say that 'he just got lucky' really didn't cut it, but she knew behind Yuffie's smile was a message: I just want to forget about it and move on.
"So you made him rafutee?" Tifa didn't miss her teasing tone.
"…yes."
"Is there any left over?"
The question surprised Tifa and she couldn't help but grin.
"You bet."
Cloud stepped off his bike and parked it in the garage. He was certain Yuffie and Tifa had already gone to bed. He would try to make it up to Tifa. By making the extra deliveries this evening, he would have fewer to make tomorrow. Today, he realised looking at the time. It was 1:30 am. Tifa would definitely have something to say when she saw him. She was always telling him not to work too hard.
He walked into the silent bar and then to the kitchen. He placed his used food container in the sink and took a clean glass from the draining board. The cool water was very refreshing. Cloud thought about the day ahead and smiled. He quietly ascended the stairs and headed straight for his room. The smell of freshly laundered sheets struck him instantly. He could tell Tifa had cleaned his room.
The moonlight coming in from the window illuminated his desk, which he saw was now free of clutter. His work papers were neatly arranged in tidy piles, with sticky notes attached to each one. Looking around, he also noticed that the clothes he'd left scattered across the room had vanished. She's been a busy girl. Smiling at the image of Tifa hard at work, Cloud settled into bed.
Cloud woke to the smell of sizzling bacon. He sat up stretching and looked at the time. He didn't often get to sleep this late. He showered quickly and went downstairs. He was met with the sight of Tifa bent over, rummaging for something in the cupboard. The barmaid was dressed differently today. She had on a red tank top and a black pleated skirt. Instead of her usual canvas shoes, she was wearing ankle high boots. Cloud stared appreciatively for a few seconds, before looking away and clearing his throat.
"Oh shoot!" Tifa rubbed her head as she stood upright.
"Sorry Tifa."
"It's fine. Take a seat, I'll be right out."
Cloud moved into the bar and sat down at the table marked with plates and utensils. Tifa followed moments later with a serving dish full of bacon and sausages. She uncovered another dish, revealing the omelettes. Cloud also noted the freshly made bread.
"Coffee?"
"Thanks." As she poured him a cup, Cloud saw that there were only two places set. "Where's Yuffie?"
"She had a meeting at work so she had to leave early."
"So it's just the two of us?" Cloud hadn't intended it to sound pleading.
"I guess so," Tifa said simply. "What time did you get in last night?"
He'd been expecting this. "After 1."
"After 1?" She cut into a sausage, looking directly at him. "Huh."
He was surprised when she didn't say anymore, instead, telling him about her day with Yuffie.
"We had a really fun time. It was good to see her so happy," she finished, a wistful look on her face.
"That's good to hear."
"So how was your day?"
"Uneventful." This earnt him a frown from the brunette. "Tifa. Do you have anything planned today before you open?"
"Not really. Why?"
"There's something I want to show you."
"Oh, okay. What is it?"
"When we get there, you'll see."
Tifa looked up at this, quirking her eyebrow. Drinking the rest of his coffee, he stood from the table.
"Thanks for breakfast." Watching Tifa take her last bite of bread, he asked: "How long will it take you to get ready?"
"Uh, I'm ready now. Just let me clear away the plates and I'll just grab my coat."
"I'll do the plates. It's the least I can do. Get your coat and meet me in the garage in ten minutes."
Without another word, Cloud began clearing up the breakfast dishes and taking them into the kitchen. Tifa watched him go and walked to the stairs. She stared briefly at his back as he cleaned the plates, before making her way upstairs. In her room, Tifa checked her reflection in the mirror. She had opted against wearing lipstick and only applied black eyeliner. It's not like this is a date or anything. Get ahold of yourself Tifa. She grabbed her brush and quickly went over her hair. Taking her coat, she closed the door behind her and went downstairs. Cloud looked up at her entrance. She followed him as he pushed Fenrir outside.
"What time are you opening today?"
"At 4."
He got on and Tifa paused. Where are we going? When she felt his eyes watching her, she hopped on the back and held onto his waist. He put on his glasses and revved the engine.
"I'll have you back by 3."
Tifa held tighter as they sped off, closing her eyes. She had to admit: she was excited.
Yuffie kicked the ground as she walked, thinking about the meeting she just came from. Reeve had been sympathetic, but still insisted that she take leave. "Think of it as a sabbatical." Though she had protested and even offered to be on desk duty, Reeve held firm. She couldn't look Vincent in the eye after she stormed out of Reeve's office. It was just too much; she didn't need his pity.
Yuffie didn't know how she was going to explain this to Tifa. She considered pretending to go to work each day, but rejected the idea, knowing the barmaid would figure it out soon enough. I'll just have to tell her. Unless… A new idea formed in the ninja's head as she touched the bag at her side. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't see the man walking towards her.
"Ouch! Watch it!" She shouted angrily, rubbing her chest.
"Sorry Yuffie."
"Huh? Johnny? Oh…"
"Good thing I caught you. I was just on my way to the bar."
"How come?"
"I was just going to drop this off." He held up the small box he was carrying.
"I can take it for you, if you want," she offered.
"That'd be great Yuffie," he smiled, handing her the box. "So…"
"So?"
Johnny laughed. "How was Monday? I heard the bar was packed. Must have been a crazy night. I bet Tifa was glad you helped out."
Yuffie grimaced, the memory rearing its ugly head. "It was okay," she managed.
"Just 'okay'? You don't sound like you enjoyed it much," Johnny commented. He put his hands in his pockets. "I noticed the bar wasn't open yesterday…di-?"
"Look Johnny, I'm kinda in a hurry…" She was starting to feel irritated.
"Sure. Sorry to keep you." He stood for a moment regarding her. "I guess I'll see you around." She watched as he walked back down the street and turned left.
Yuffie felt her head spinning and she knew she had to get home, quickly. She tried to take deep breaths as she walked briskly back to the bar. As she rounded the last corner, she was certain she saw Cloud and Tifa riding on Fenrir, heading out of town. Yuffie pushed into the bar and sat down on a nearby chair. She examined the small box, wondering what was inside. Maybe I should have asked. She placed the box on the table and got up. A grumble from her stomach, reminded Yuffie that she forgot to eat breakfast before leaving. In the kitchen, she saw a note attached to the refrigerator.
'Yuffie. You really shouldn't leave without breakfast.
I left some food for you in the oven.
Please finish it.
Tifa x'
"Yes, mom." Yuffie went over to the oven and opened it. She was greeted with the sight of a feast and her mouth watered in anticipation. She made short work of the bacon, eggs and sausages. The ninja let out a contented sigh when she finished the last slice of walnut bread.
Yuffie sat still for a moment, thinking. She didn't mean to lose her temper. Part of her was sorry about what happened, yet the other part, she knew, given another chance: would have punched him again. The guy's a chauvinistic pig, she thought bitterly. Yuffie knew she shouldn't have let him get to her; normally, she wouldn't. The ninja recalled the conversation she had with Reeve.
Yuffie knocked lightly on the large oak door. "Come in Yuffie." Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the door and stepped inside the office.
Reeve's office had always been impressive. The WRO Head had a taste for fine art and he had many exquisite paintings on display. Yuffie had often wondered who the woman in the picture above the doorway was. Her striking blue eyes seemed almost to pierce the soul. Though they bore no physical resemblance, Yuffie was always reminded of her mother when she stared at the portrait. This both soothed and unnerved her. Perhaps looking at the painting gave Reeve some reassurance?
Bookshelves lined the walls behind his desk and they were crammed full of volumes on a variety of topics. Yuffie remembered the many times she'd been bored while she waited in his office previously; passing the time perusing through the many titles he had on 'The Wonders Of Wutai'. She smiled at the memory. Yuffie had been sure she knew all there was to know about the 'wonders' of her country, but even she found herself amazed at the hidden facts she'd learnt.
A tapping sound brought Yuffie out of her reverie.
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Huh? Oh sorry…" Great. I spaced out, again.
"Take a seat, Yuffie. I'm sorry to call you in so early. I have to leave at 9 and I wanted to see you before then."
"That's cool. I'm used to early starts Reeve." Biting the bullet, she continued. "So what did you need to see me about?"
"I saw Blair-"
"It was an accident. I mean, I didn't mean for it to happen. We were just having a heated discuss-"
"and he said he was worried about you."
"What?" She had not been expecting this.
"We all are."
"What do you mean, 'we'?"
"I would be willing to overlook this last incident, if it wasn't for the fact that I have also noticed the change in your behaviour."
Change in my behaviour? "Reeve, what are you talking about? There's no change in my behaviour. I just had a bad day is all."
"You seem to be having a lot of them recently…" Yuffie could tell where this was going. "Vincent-"
"Doesn't know what he's talking about!" She said angrily.
"Oh really? Yuffie, he's been your partner for almost a year now. You don't work side by side with someone, day in day out, and not notice when something is off."
He had a point but Yuffie wasn't going to admit that. "So what did Saint Vincent say to you then?"
Reeve ignored Yuffie's sarcasm. "Very little."
The ninja rolled her eyes. "Figures."
Reeve laid his hands flat on the table and looked straight at the ninja. His gaze unsettled Yuffie and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Seeing this, the director sighed. "Yuffie. Is something bothering you?"
"Apart from working with a bunch of tattletales, no, not really."
"They're concerned about you, as am I. You've not been yourself lately." He paused, debating whether or not to continue. "Is there… A personal matter-"
"No! There's nothing wrong, Reeve, I'm fine."
"You don't seem fine. Yuffie, I don't mean to pry, but if there is something that could potentially affect the outcome of missions I send my officers on, I have to know. I can't risk recklessly endangering…"
Yuffie was almost shaking with rage. Reeve thought she was endangering the missions? Looking back at her boss, she realised he was still speaking. He really was a windbag…
"…while it was a harmless mistake, it was careless and not what I would expect from one of my senior officers. This is just one of such cases." The WRO chief gazed at her. "You're easily agitated, distracted and lacking in drive."
Wait. What? "I am not lacking in drive! Sure, I get frustrated at times, I mean I do have to work with Vincent Valentine, but don't tell me I'm not committed to this job, Reeve. I put a lot of time and energy into my work." Yuffie could feel the tears forming.
"I know you do, Yuffie, believe me, I do. Which is why it pains me to have to say this…"
"Say what?"
"…I think it would be best if you took some leave."
Yuffie couldn't believe her ears. She shot up suddenly, surprising Reeve. "No. You can't. That's not fair Reeve!"
"It would be unfair if I didn't. Yuffie. I'm sorry."
"Can't we at least talk about this?"
"We have, for the last half hour." He gestured to the clock. It was almost 9. He rose and moved to stand beside her.
"What if…" She blinked back tears. "If, I didn't go on missions for a while. I could help out with admin and stuff…"
Reeve looked at her sympathetically and shook his head. "We both know that wouldn't work. You belong out in the fiel-"
"Then let me go," she pleaded.
"You need time, Yuffie. Deal with whatever you have to and come back when you're done." He placed his hand gently on her shoulder and she winced. Withdrawing hastily, he looked her in the eyes. Reeve could tell the ninja was struggling to contain her emotions. He had never seen her like this.
"How long?" She said, defeated.
Reeve hesitated. "Let's see how you are in June."
"Three months?" Yuffie felt her chest tighten.
He moved towards the door, and stopped, looking back at the young woman. "Think of it as a sabbatical," he said, glancing at the shelf full of Wutaianese books. He faced her once more. "Look after yourself Yuffie."
She stood and went over to the sink. Her job had been the one thing keeping her sane these last couple of months. Without it, Yuffie wasn't sure how she'd cope. Her nightmares were getting steadily worse and training didn't seem to help focus her mind anymore. She looked out the window at the lonely tree in the backyard. Cherry blossoms were only just starting to bloom on its branches. She closed her eyes. Spring had always been her favourite season. She jumped when she heard a loud ringing. That damn phone.
"Strife's Delivery Service. You name it, we deliver it."
Tifa gasped. "It's…"
"Beautiful," he finished, looking at her.
Tifa could barely believe what she was seeing. She was standing in front of the clearest lake she had ever laid eyes on. The huge snow capped mountains were reflected in the water, adding to the impressive view, and tall pine trees spread out across the landscape. The lake appeared to glisten as the Sun hit the water. Looking in the distance, Tifa saw what appeared to be a watermill. Cloud watched as she stood in awe at the vista before them. It truly was breathtaking.
She turned to him suddenly, moisture in her eyes. "How did you find this place?"
"One of my deliveries… I was lost." He laughed. "I took a detour and rode past."
"I wish I had my camera…"
"Good thing I brought it," he said, holding up her gold camera.
"Cloud?" She reached for it, smiling. Well aren't you full of surprises.
He watched her take a series of pictures before moving to stand next to her. "Stand over there." He pointed to a patch of grass further ahead, near the water's edge. He took the camera from her and Tifa gave him a confused look, doing as he instructed. When she was in position, he brought the camera to his eyes. He quickly pressed the button and the red light flashed.
"Hey! I wasn't ready."
"Pay attention then." Tifa laughed as he took another picture. She said nothing this time, simply looking back at him. Cloud couldn't help but admire the stunning view. After a few more shots, Tifa rejoined him. Taking her camera back, she pushed him forward.
"Your turn."
"What? Tifa-"
"Come on. We can take some promo shots for your stand up debut." She winked at him.
"Tifa."
"Don't tell me you're camera shy, Cloud." The brunette giggled.
Cloud sighed and walked over to the spot where Tifa stood moments before.
"Say cheese." The blonde frowned. "Ah, Cloud. I know you can do better than that…"
He looked at her then. She was standing there, hands on her hips, pouting. She's cute when she does that. Cloud smiled. A bright flash caught his attention. "Happy?" He asked, walking back to her.
"Very." She smirked. "Let's take a look around. There's a path up ahead." She pointed to a small parting in the trees.
The two walked in silence along the path. They stopped at a dead end where the trees grew close together in a circle, essentially blocking any progress forward. There was a large tree stump in the centre that had been sanded down and small mushrooms grew around it. "Cuilidh." She spoke softly. Cloud looked around. It was a fairly secluded area that he doubted many people visited, judging by the lack of disturbance on the grass.
"Yeah, I guess it is."
Tifa seemed transfixed. She bent down and examined one of the mushrooms. After a few seconds, she picked it and placed it on the tree stump. She then proceeded to pick the rest. Straightening, she turned to face Cloud. "I can use them in a sauce."
A loud rustle in the trees drew their attention and they looked up to see a red squirrel staring at them. It slowly made its way down the tree and stood before them. Tifa crouched down to get a better look at it.
"Hello. Is this your home?" She smiled. "We're just visiting."
The animal seemed to respond to this, as it moved closer to her. Tifa held out her hand. Cautiously, the squirrel sniffed it. She looked up at Cloud and he returned her smile. "Ow!" Tifa rose quickly, rubbing her thumb. "It bit me!" The squirrel scurried away into the bushes. "Guess it was expecting food and when I didn't deliver, it decided to take a bite instead."
Cloud started laughing. "Yeah probably."
"It's not funny. It really hurts," she protested, but Cloud could hear the giggle in her voice. Soon, they were both laughing.
"Want me to take a look at it?" Tifa held out her right hand to Cloud. He gently held her hand and examined her thumb. The squirrel's teeth had pierced the skin and it was bleeding slightly. He looked up and saw her watching him. They stared at each other for a moment. A blush crept on to her cheeks and Tifa was glad that where they were standing was shielded from sunlight. She looked away and saw what she thought was the same squirrel back in its tree.
A gentle stroke brought her eyes back to Cloud. He slowly ran his index finger down the centre of her open palm before drawing small circles at the base of her thumb. Involuntarily, she closed her eyes. She felt his ministrations on her pulse point and Tifa could barely contain the moan that escaped her lips. Just as his finger began travelling up her arm, a ringtone sounded. Tifa opened her eyes immediately, withdrawing her arm. Cloud reached into his pocket, without taking his eyes off her.
"Cloud." He waited for an answer and when none came he looked at the screen. Unknown. "Who is this?" When there was still no response, he went to end the call and he was certain he heard breathing just before the line cut out.
"Wh-who was it?" The barmaid asked, sounding breathless.
"I don't know."
"Cloud?"
"We should probably get back," he said, turning away from her.
"Uh, yeah, sure." She quickly scooped up the mushrooms and followed him out of the grove.
Cloud was quiet on the ride back and Tifa was lost in thought. What was that back there? She had enjoyed whatever it was, but she didn't know what it meant, if it even meant anything at all. What was she to Cloud: just a friend? No. They lived together, like a family. Tifa had tried not to get her hopes up that they would become something more. She'd even been on a few dates, and then there was Johnny. She knew Cloud only tolerated him. Johnny was charming and funny. They had a lot in common and she enjoyed his company. But he's not Cloud.
"Tifa?"
"Yes?"
"Hold on tight."
"Oh, sorry Cloud." She leaned into him on the bike and closed her eyes. Whatever they were to each other, Tifa knew that Cloud cared about her and that was enough, for now.
Yuffie stepped into the shower stall and closed her eyes. Deep breaths, Yuffie. She shakily reached for the tap and turned on the water. As the warmth coated her skin, she felt her muscles relax and the tension slip away.
The ninja had been training for over two hours and she was exhausted. Her body seemed to cry out in protest as she turned to face away from the showerhead. Yuffie knew she'd pushed herself too hard, but it would all be worth it tonight; she'd be too exhausted to dream. That gave her some comfort at least. She had tried everything: chanting, meditation, herbal teas, training and even prayer; each one had failed to help her. It seemed that no matter what she did, her nightmares persisted and when she was awake, Yuffie was plagued with flashbacks and panic attacks.
If she was honest, Yuffie was surprised she'd managed as long as she had at work. I'm a mess. She had considered going back to Wutai, but the thought of another fight with Godo quickly dissuaded her from the idea. She couldn't take another lecture about 'bringing shame to the house of Kisaragi' by working for Shinra. She had really tried, over the past year, to get her father to open his eyes to all the good that the World Regenesis Organization did, but none of that mattered to him. All he cared about was the fact that his daughter, future ruler of Wutai, was dishonouring her people by working for an ex Shinra executive.
Yuffie was certain he was responsible for some of the townspeople calling her 'Midgar lover'. They probably still blamed her for 'bringing the Midgar Disease to Wutai'. She remembered when her father had locked her in their dojo. She sighed, was it too much for her father to just be proud of her, for once?
She stepped out of the shower and wrapped the large towel around her. Wiping the condensation from the cabinet mirror, she looked at her reflection. It was times like this that she barely recognised herself. Yuffie felt that each day, she was simply going through the motions; simulating reality, but not truly living.
In the corridor, she heard voices coming from the bar. They must be home. Tifa had mentioned that she would be opening at 4 and it was only 2:30.
Yuffie walked into her bedroom. Standing in the middle of the room, she closed her eyes and listened to her breathing. She felt the towel loosening around her and it dropped to the floor before she could catch it. She bent down to retrieve it and caught sight of her back in the wardrobe's full length mirror. Turning slightly, she gazed at the scar marking her skin. Yuffie gritted her teeth as she gradually traced a finger across it. Seeing her face in the mirror, she immediately averted her eyes.
Going over to her drawers, she hurriedly dressed and got in bed. Yuffie stared at the ceiling for a while, willing herself to stay awake. It was too early to sleep.
The ninja opened her eyes and sat up quickly. Looking at her watch, Yuffie saw she had only been sleeping for an hour. She pushed off the covers and got up. Yuffie briefly checked herself in the mirror before heading to the door. She had gone for one of her more conservative outfits: a three quarter length blue top and black leggings. The ninja slipped into her tan boots and left the room.
Yuffie paused in the hallway, looking towards Tifa's room. It had only been a few days since she had considered opening up to her. She had woken from another distressing nightmare and found herself stood outside the barmaid's door. It felt like hours before she plucked up the courage to actually touch the handle. She froze when she heard Cloud coming up the stairs, and when Tifa called out to him, she panicked and almost ran back to her room. Would it have made any difference? Shaking her head,she continued downstairs and walked into the bar.
"Tifa?" The ninja scanned the room. The bar was dark and the chairs were still stacked on top of the tables. Maybe she stepped out? It was 3:45 so Yuffie reasoned that she couldn't have gone far. She went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She took out her blue bottle and downed the contents. Absentmindedly, she drummed her fingers on the counter. "What's keeping her? It's almost 4 o'clock."
Sighing, Yuffie went over to the door. It was still locked. She opened it and flipped the 'closed for business' sign over. Guess I'll have to open without her. As she was arranging the tables and chairs, she heard the door. "About time!" When she received no response, Yuffie looked up.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir. I'll be right with you." She hurried to the bar.
"Scotch, on the rocks."
"Coming right up."
Yuffie glanced at the man seated in the far corner. Something about him seemed familiar. He was wearing a dark cap that obscured his features, but she was certain he was watching her as she prepared his drink. She hoped Tifa would come soon. She went over to serve his drink and without a word, he handed her the exact change. The ninja sensed he was still watching her as she went back to the bar. Reaching down, she picked up the cleaning cloth and almost jumped when she saw him standing right at the bar. Yuffie placed a steadying hand on her chest.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." He placed the empty glass on the counter. Removing his cap, he extended his hand. "I'm Abe."
"Yuffie," she said, returning the gesture. He had a firm handshake.
"Yuffie? That's an unusual name."
"It's Wutaianese."
"Really? I've never been. Never was one for exotic travel."
Yuffie nodded. Abe looked to be in his mid fifties. His receding hair was mostly grey.
"If you don't mind me saying, you look awful young to be working in a bar."
"I'm twenty."
Disbelief was evident on his face. "Anyway Yuffie, it was nice meeting you. I'll see you around."
Replacing his cap, Abe went over to the door and stepped outside. Seconds later, Tifa appeared at the doorway.
"Yuffie!" She glanced at the clock.
"You're late," the younger woman deadpanned.
"I know, I'm sorry. I got held up… I shouldn't have left you to open by yourself." Tifa looked downcast.
"It's fine. I only had one customer so I was hardly rushed off my feet. It's always dead at this time anyway." Yuffie winked at her.
"Thanks Yuffie." She moved to stand behind the bar.
"Reina called while you were out. She quit."
"What! Why?"
"She got the part she auditioned for: so she's moving to Costa Del Sol." Yuffie was probably supposed to leave out the first part, but she thought the look on Tifa's face was priceless. "So, it looks like I'm your new waitress."
Before she could formulate a response, the younger woman shifted and began wiping down the tables.
It had been a quiet evening at 7th Heaven and both women had been glad. They sat down in the living room after closing. The room was pleasantly furnished with two beige couches. Next to the balcony door, was a grey reclining chair Yuffie had spied Cloud napping in, on one of his rare days off. As with the rest of the house, photographs decorated the walls. A coffee table stood in the centre of the room. The shelf beneath it had an array of books and magazines, ranging from photography to childcare. Yuffie smiled at the thought of Tifa reading about how to raise children. She was born to be a mother.
Reclining in her chair, Tifa looked over at Yuffie. "So…" The ninja looked up. "How did your meeting with Reeve go?" Yuffie had almost forgotten about it.
"Uh, okay, I guess." She hated lying to her, but Yuffie knew if she told her, Tifa would only ask more questions she wasn't ready to answer. "It was just about a new assignment."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I'll be off active duty for a while…" When Tifa didn't probe any further, she continued. "I'm on sabbatical as part of my transition to a new division Reeve is setting up. He wants me to lead it."
"That's great Yuffie." Tifa sounded pleased. "So what is this new division?"
"The Wutaianese Task Force or the WTF." Wait. What? Yuffie slowly turned to look at the martial artist.
Tifa stifled a giggle at the abbreviation. "Sounds, interesting."
"Yeah, the name sucks. It's a working title," she said, letting out a breath.
"So you'll be travelling back to Wutai?"
"Huh?" She hadn't thought of that. "Yes, eventually…"
"I bet your dad will be pleased."
"He'll probably have a statue erected to The Great Ninja Yuffie Kisaragi: Head of the WTF."
Tifa sat up and looked at Yuffie and the two women burst out laughing. Tears rolled down Tifa's cheeks and Yuffie felt her sides splitting.
After their mirth died down, they sat in silence again.
"So how was your day with chocobo head?"
"Good."
"Just good?"
"Yuffie."
"What? There's obviously more. Don't hold out on me boobs. You've been in way too good a mood tonight."
"Wh- no I haven't."
"Whatever."
Tifa had missed this: the two of them, together, talking. The past couple of days had almost seemed like things were back to normal. Tifa looked over at the couch opposite the television. Yuffie was staring off into space, struggling to keep her eyes open.
"He took me to the most beautiful lake. It was crystal clear..."
Startled, Yuffie sat bolt upright and turned her attention to the martial artist. She listened as Tifa recounted their visit. Tifa decided to leave out the part where Cloud essentially gave her a massage and she moaned in pleasure. Yuffie would never stop teasing her about it.
Opening her eyes, Tifa realised she'd nodded off. Glancing over at Yuffie, she saw her lying across the couch, her mouth slightly open. Soft snores echoed across the room and Tifa smiled. Picking up a blanket, she walked over to the couch. Carefully, she draped it over the sleeping girl. Tifa stroked her hair affectionately. It had really grown in the last year and was now past her shoulders.
Yuffie stirred in her sleep and her face darkened. The barmaid gently pushed the bangs from her eyes. She's so warm. Tifa readjusted the blanket, moving it lower. Glancing once more at the sleeping ninja, she kissed her forehead and stood up. Turning off the lamp, she moved to the doorway.
"Night Yuffie."
Cloud still hadn't returned and it was almost midnight. She eased into her Queen size bed and shut her eyes. She hadn't been sure what to expect when Cloud took her out after brunch. When they stopped in the middle of nowhere, she was surprised. Her surprise had quickly turned to awe as she took in the breathtaking view. The fresh scent of pines and the crisp mountain air, had reminded her of being back in Nibelheim. She rarely thought of her hometown, because it always brought with it the painful memories of the past.
Today had been different. She had smiled and laughed. Tifa was touched by Cloud's thoughtfulness. She looked at her camera on the bedside table. Photography was a hobby she had developed as a teen. I'll have to look through the pictures tomorrow. Her mind replayed the events in the grove. The feeling of Cloud's hand as he held her own had been so gentle and caring. When he began stroking her, electricity shot through her arm. She saw the look in his eyes as he watched her. Tifa was sure she had seen him scowl right before he answered the call. Who was that?
She sighed, turning on to her side. Thoughts of Cloud, she rarely allowed herself to have, resurfaced as she drifted off to sleep.
Cuilidh [ku-lee] is a Gaelic word meaning sanctuary or secret hiding place.
Rafutee [la-foo-tay~] is a braised pork belly dish from the Ryukyu Islands originally served to royalty.
