Negotiations
Chapter 2
The spark of the old Rufus Shinra, President of Shin-Ra power company, ignited a flare of irritation inside Yuffie.
"Yup. He's still an arrogant bastard inside. Good to know that he's not a completely reborn Rufus. Or else I would have no idea how to handle him." Yuffie thought to herself. She felt her eyebrow twitch. From the grin on Rufus's face, she knew he saw it.
"Alright." Yuffie spoke aloud, leaning back in her chair and daintily crossing her ankles – on the table. She saw the subtle flick as his eyes looked at her feet on the desk before going back to the paper. "You've clearly thought about this. Why don't you start?"
"First is your freedom to go out and fight monsters." He saw her eyes sparkle. "You will be given back all your weapons that your father gave me. But you cannot kill me. With them or anything else."
"I'm not allowed to kill you anyway."
He was surprised to hear that. There had been no discussion of his well being during the contract discussions with Godo.
"Tifa and Reeve made me promise." She explained. "Mostly because they don't want me to be a murderer, but also because the company would get messed up and the people of Edge will lose jobs."
A petite shoulder shrugged as if the decision to let him live was not enough for her to spend time or energy to deal with or fret over. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Rufus wondered if she ever did anything just for herself. Everything seemed to be for the good of the masses.
When Rufus sat there, unmoving, for a few moments, Yuffie cleared her throat, "Don't kill you; check. What else?"
"I'm not too sure how you will react to my second condition, so I will refer you to Condition one." Rufus shifted his weight, as if his previous position was suddenly uncomfortable, when, in reality, he was preparing himself for a physical onslaught of rage.
Yuffie noticed and slouched even more, folding her arms behind her head. It was highly possible that she would try to attack him. As it was generally bad form to kill your husband on the first night, she tried to make it as difficult to reach him as possible. Hopefully, it would give her brain enough time to rein in her immediate reaction. Whatever it might be.
"I promise I will not force you into any sort of… unwanted physical contact of… intimate nature beyond asking this: one morning and one evening kiss." Yuffie's face blanched and she looked like she was about to lose her dinner. "These are up to you on when and duration, but two, however brief, on the mouth every day for one year."
Yuffie shot out of her chair, much faster than Rufus thought possible from that position, and whirled away to pace. Gray eyes shifted across the room, not really seeing, as she walked in a large circle around the furniture in the room.
"One a day."
Though her voice was unwavering, her counter offer clearly omitted a key word.
It was met with resistance. A single sharp shake of his blonde head was all she needed for her to restart her walking. This time, she added her thumbnail firmly between her teeth to help her think.
"Six months."
"Eleven. Don't think I'll settle for a time less than our engagement, Yuffie." The businessman was his natural state of being. Yuffie could see him wear that confidence with more surety than his most favorite suit.
"Eight." Their engagement had been seven months. They officially announced their intentions to the world when Godo and Rufus signed the business contract.
"Ten. That's as far as I will go, Yuffie."
"Fine. Then in your contract to me, separate from whatever you have with Godo, you are not allowed to be involved with women or men in any capacity beyond official or publicly disclosed business." Seeing his expression at her inclusion of "men," Yuffie added, "I don't want to limit or discriminate. I'm just covering possibilities."
"Okay, ten months. I won't be involved with anyone but you. And only by your invitation, of course." The pen scratched out their terms so far.
"What else? You can't just have two conditions."
"Your legs and stomach."
"What about them?" Yuffie looked down quickly, her hands pressing self-consciously on her flat tummy.
"I would like you to have them mostly covered when you are outside the house." Thankfully for Rufus, the dim light hid his blush.
"What's wrong with—"
"There is nothing wrong with you liking what you wear. I would just feel better if other people did not see so much of your skin. It might give them ideas." Ideas like the ones Rufus had to shake away earlier when she woke up.
"You're saying I have to wear pants?" She looked slightly wilted and she sat back down in her chair.
"No, just that your shorts cover more… just maybe seam line of at least seven inches?" Silently Rufus prayed that she would bend easily.
"The fact that you know about seam lines is scary." There was something in Yuffie's expression that Rufus couldn't place. Then, as quickly as it came, it left and Yuffie spoke. "Agreed. But that means I can wear them at home."
"Unless there are people over."
"Besides the cook?"
"Yes. Besides the cook."
"Okay. Do I get an allowance?" Yuffie looked up, puzzled as the thought dawned on her. She would need to buy new clothes to fulfill the newest condition. Her bank was fairly well stocked with loot from her travels, but she hated to spend any of it. Especially on clothes not of her choosing.
"I thought you were working for Reeve in the WRO. Was I wrong?" Surprised, Rufus looked up from where he was writing. "I assumed he had a job lined up for you. He said he was excited to have you in Edge again."
"You… are letting me work?" This time it was Yuffie with complete shock written on her face. "But I thought…"
"What? That I would cage you in here?"
"Well… yeah…" Her hands were gripping the arm chairs and she was leaning towards him slightly, as if she had to be closer to hear him properly.
"I'm sure it will be a lot less interesting than the constant and long fighting field work assignments you're used to, since there is Condition two," Tapping the pen to the paper, the words "two kisses a day" and "for ten months" assaulted Yuffie's mind. Rufus continued, "But it's better than doing nothing."
"Yup. Got it. Home, everyday. No overnights." Yuffie gave him a thumbs-up. A successful attempt in preventing him from saying the words aloud.
"Your income will be yours. Should you require something out of your range or personal necessity, you may ask me." Rufus was writing again.
"Personal necessity?"
"As my wife, there may be times when you may be invited to functions that require a new dress or other items. Those are items that I will purchase. As a token of my gratitude for your companionship." He did not look up.
"You'll buy me off by paying for my clothes so I have to go to parties or dinners with you." Deadpanned Yuffie.
"I'm glad you did not need me to feel like an ass by saying it aloud myself." He threw her a smirk.
"I've got time. I'll make you feel like an ass for blinking in a few months." Yuffie's smirk was a thousand times more sarcastic than Rufus's.
"Are there any other matters you would like to discuss?" Rufus was successful in moving the conversation along.
"Is this contract final?"
"We can say that we can renegotiate once in a while. It does not need to be absolute, but we shouldn't change it too much, or too often."
"How about renegotiation at the five month marker? It's half the time for," Yuffie swallowed. "Condition two."
"Agreed." Rufus wrote then slid the paper over for Yuffie to read.
Conditions to the marriage of Rufus and Yuffie:
1. Yuffie shall retain all weapons and freedom to their use. Addendum: cannot kill Rufus under any circumstance.
2. Two kisses a day (one morning, one evening) from Yuffie to Rufus (on mouth) for ten months. Addendum: Rufus may not initiate any unnecessary contact.
3. Rufus shall not be involved with anyone, female or male, in any capacity beyond official or disclosed business.
4. Yuffie shall wear shorts with a seam line no shorter than seven inches and a shirt that covers her stomach when outside the residence and when there are guests on the premises.
5. Yuffie shall retain the right to work. Incomes shall be separated.
6. Purchases for Yuffie in preparation for an event for Rufus's sake will be charged to Rufus's accounts.
7. Renegotiation of conditions shall be allowed at the five month point into the signing and authentication of the Conditions.
She looked up as she reached the last line, her eyes landing on Rufus's serious expression. She could see very little of his intentions in his face. Later, she would have to play Poker against him to see just how good he was at maintaining his composure.
"Are you sure you're going to survive?" Her voice, highly incredulous, was punctuated by her raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Ten months, only two measly kisses controlled by me. Not to mention your life with an infidelity clause." Yuffie slid the paper back to Rufus with a finger. "Though, I suppose there are loopholes. Like if Pops were to croak."
"You're right. We would, in that scenario, get divorced, you would gain full control of my company, become Lady of Wutai and I would be left with some tramp." He held up a hand, stopping any retort. "Sorry, that was unkind. I should not assume I would be with a tramp. That would insinuate that I started it."
"Pops sure wanted to make sure Wutai will be safe. I'd probably blow a gasket the first day on the job." Yuffie stood. "I'm beat. I think I'll get ready for bed and read a little."
"Alright. I'll be up later. There's some reports I need to go over before tomorrow." Rufus moved his chair around the desk and pulled folders out.
"Working on your wedding night." Words tumbled out before she knew she was saying them. "I bet you imagined it differently when you were younger."
"Not as much as you think." Rufus had pulled a pair of reading glasses out, surprising Yuffie at how normal he looked while working.
"A-hah….I'll leave you to it." She turned and glided out the door, careful not to trip in her slippers over the edge of the rug.
Rufus felt himself smiling as he watched her leave the room. Recalling how he had always envisioned his wedding, he had to give a small sigh of relief that it was not like he imagined it. Never did he imagine his wedding to go so well.
As a young boy, Rufus always felt that his father would force him into a marriage with the young Wutaian princess. With nine years separating them, it always seemed like a massive gap when they were both young. Now, it did not seem to matter nearly as much as when Rufus used to think about it when he was the legal eighteen years of age. To marry a nine year old would be like the world ending in his mind.
Also, Rufus's imagination, since he stopped imagining it as he got older, was always full of childish melodrama. Kissing a girl and getting cooties, for example of his twelve year old mind. Or, getting shot by a trigger-happy guard because he didn't move quickly enough during the wedding.
What he was sure about, however, was that the bride was always Yuffie. Since he first saw her as a toddler, he knew, somehow, that it would be her. Rufus was also certain that Yuffie had said her words based off of who he would marry, the circumstances for the marriage and the events of their first night. In his response, he meant that two of the three were always known, and the third part was made perfectly clear as Rufus heard more about the White Rose from the encounters the Shin-Ra workers had with the fiery girl.
With a shake of his head, Rufus redirected his attention to the papers in his hands.
Upstairs, Yuffie had a toothbrush stuck in her mouth as she quickly tied back her hair. She was still getting used to having long tresses. Tifa's hair was always an envious point for Yuffie, but as a travelling ninja, she kept her hair cropped short. But as of late, she was holed up and didn't have the tools to do it herself. Mainly her weapons. When she was little, only her mother cut her hair. As a tribute to her memory, Yuffie made a point to cut it herself. The Lady Kasumi Kisaragi said that hair was important depending on the role she had to play. When Kasumi was a ninja and was unmarried, she had short hair. However, when it was made clear that she was to marry and change her status, she grew her hair out to show her different rank as wife and as a classy woman. In the same fashion, Yuffie followed in her mother's footsteps.
Though she had assumed Rufus had ideas of his wedding, Yuffie did not have any of her own. As Godo's daughter, she was not free to randomly pick someone, let alone have any control over any aspect of getting married. She had run different scenarios, rather than picturing the actual ceremony. Her favorite being, she would bring Materia to raise Wutai into prosperity and she did not have to get married. The other ideas were less entertaining and infinitely more gloomy. First, Godo would force her to marry, her husband would rule her country and she would have no say in anything. Or second, she would be used as a bartering chip to somehow give Wutai what it needs to become more than a tourist trap.
Well, gloomy number two won out.
And gloomy she was. But not as bad as she thought it would be. Mostly, that put her even more on edge.
At least she knew Rufus before they got married. They had been in each other's company throughout the years as the former president would tour the islands and leave his son at the palace where Yuffie would pull pranks on him before disappearing. There had always been the looming possibility that she would be married to a complete stranger and then she would have no advantage.
Knowing she did not have any control over her wedding since she was little meant she never imagined what she wanted. For surely she would be disappointed. The only thing she supposed she wished for was her mother to be there. The Lady of Wutai had little power to sway any plans, but at least she would have comforting words for Yuffie.
Tossing her toothbrush into the cup on the counter, Yuffie angrily rinsed her mouth and stomped back to the bedroom. There was no benefit to wishing for her mother any more. Several years were already spent on the endeavor and there was nothing to show for her efforts.
Her wardrobe was frightfully bare. Most of the articles were not even things she bought. Godo had supervised the packing of her clothes that were sent to Midgar. Several items still had tags on them and weren't even in her size. As such, Yuffie continued to wear the sole ensemble of shorts and tee she was wearing on the trip over. Left to sleep in peace before the wedding, Yuffie would remove her clothes and wrap up in the blanket to sleep. Now that she had to share a bed, things had to change.
The bedclothes set in her closet were little more than scandalous. A thought struck her and she scrambled through the closet in the bedroom and then the one in the hall. The box she was looking for was shut tight and smelled of cedar chips to keep bugs from eating the silk garments inside. What she pulled out was not silk, but a plain cotton yukata. That and a soft obi was all she took from the box before closing it up and putting it back into the closet.
It had been a while since she had put a yukata on herself, so it took a few tries before she got it tied securely. Her book was already in the small shelves in the bedroom, so she retrieved it before climbing under the light blankets.
She was engrossed in her book on weaponry when Rufus came in. His hair was ruffled with the many times his fingers raked through it. Yawning, Rufus went to the closet and pulled out a set of pajamas before disappearing into the bathroom.
Focusing on her book became harder as her mind wandered . Yuffie had shared a bed with others before. Usually with Vincent because he argued the least. But now it was not just a person, but her husband.
"Interesting book?" Rufus came out and saw her with her book in her lap, but not reading. His hair was still slightly damp from his quick shower and he was trying to dry it more by ruffling it with his fingers.
"Yup. Weapons." Cheery Yuffie bubbled up. "I still don't really understand how guns work. Even though I took each one of Vincent's apart."
"Did he explain any of it to you?" Rufus slid into his side of the bed and threw himself down. "Or did he just put everything back together for you?"
"Well, technically, he did not give me permission to do any of it." Yuffie placed her marker between the pages and put her book on the night stand. There was no hope for any more reading.
"I can give you access to an extensive array of firearms. There are many people who would be willing to explain it to you as well. If you're interested." A yawn escaped Rufus and he settled down even more into the comfort of the bed, closing his blue eyes.
"Um. Not to bring up unnecessary things, but what about Condition two?" Yuffie was still sitting up, picking at the stitching on the blankets.
"If you want practice, you are welcome to it. But the contract is not signed yet. So…good night?" Rufus cracked an eye open briefly to peer at her before sliding it shut for the more tantalizing promise of sleep.
"Oh, okay, good night." She clicked off her light and snuggled down into the bed, curled around her pillow and waiting for sleep to claim her.
For two hours, sleep eluded her. Almost immediately after the light was switched off, Rufus's breathing slowed and deepened, indicating his state of slumber. Shifting lightly, she tried to become more comfortable. To no avail.
Through the window, the summer moonlight fell into the room, filling it with soft blue hues. Turning, Yuffie looked over her shoulder at Rufus's sleeping face. It had turned towards her slightly, his long bangs falling across it and his lips parted slightly as he breathed.
"It's just practice." Yuffie told herself and shifted silently. She place an almost phantom kiss to the corner of Rufus's mouth. When he shifted ever so slightly, Yuffie quickly turned over and shut her eyes, forcing her breathing and heart rate to slow down.
Rufus settled again quickly and Yuffie sighed in relief. His even breathing was melodic, even and continuous. And quiet. Often times people asked her if she lived outside the palace for her independence. Not wanting to shatter any images that were built, Yuffie agreed.
The truth was different.
Lord Godo Kisaragi of Wutai snored like a rusty chainsaw. And the poor, sensitive-eared, princess couldn't get any rest when she was in the palace. Yuffie was more blessed than her mother in regards to sleeping partners.
Lulled by the soft sound, Yuffie slowly drifted off to sleep, never seeing the soft smile on Rufus's face.
