CHAPTER TWO
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Yuffie watched in abject terror as Kadaj turned to face her fully, a malevolent look on his face. He hadn't changed at all since the last time she saw him, six months ago. He was paler and he slimmer than she remembered and his hair had grown longish. But he looked every bit as threatening as he did the first time she saw him.
Staring at the girl before him, Kadaj couldn't help smirking. She was the same brat he'd seen at Wutai's entrance who'd had asked him some rather inquiring questions and the one he'd bumped into in Edge. He'd been expecting to meet her again but not in this perfect way.
At Kadaj's sudden approach, Yuffie scurried backwards so fast and carelessly that she finally lost balance and landed unceremoniously on her bottom. Her shopping bags fell to the ground and the whole contents scattered on the ground. Her Fuma Shuriken fell a few some centimeters away and she made to reach it when Kadaj placed a foot on of it firmly and raised his sword at her.
"What a pleasant surprise. I never thought I would see you here," he said smugly, looking down at her maliciously. She looked up at him fearfully; his head was cocked to his side so only a sliver of his face was visible through the fall of his shiny silver hair.
"Are you scared little girl?"
Yuffie felt anger rising inside her despite her fear. Little girl? Who was he mocking? "I'm no little girl. For your information, I'm the great ninja Yuffie Kisaragi from Wutai," said Yuffie indignantly, and hoped he didn't notice the slight quivering in her voice.
"I don't need your personal information before I kill you." Kadaj lifted his double-edged sword at her deliberately.
At that moment, Yuffie knew exactly what she had to do. Before Kadaj could lift his sword high enough so it pressed against her throat, Yuffie scrambled to her feet and ran for it.
She ran as fast as she could through the forest, heading for the exit. Tree branches scratched at her but she could care less. She fell once but quickly recovered and began running again. Yuffie didn't know when it began raining. The thin white threads were slanting and swirling with the wind; the ground was become slippery and muddy but she ran on without looking back. She was blind to the fact that there was a deep slope just ahead of her and before she knew it, she slipped and was tumbling, rolling and screaming until she hit the ground with a loud thud. She tried getting up but a piercing pain sliced through her and she bit down on her lower lip until it bleed, hoping that the throbbing pain would subside but it didn't. She felt as if several knifes were piercing her body everywhere and felt something warm trickled down her left temple. Yuffie heard heavy footsteps moving through the squelchy ground. She tried raising herself but she felt completely immobile. She turned her head with difficulty to see Kadaj coming towards her with an amused expression on his face. Tears blurred her vision.
"C-Cloud," she muttered softly before she lost consciousness.
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Tifa was growing very worried over Yuffie's sudden disappearance. Even though Yuffie often disappeared without warning and suddenly reappear with some rare item, she felt this one was different. Four days had passed and she'd heard nothing from Yuffie, which was strange. Cloud had been searching around and making inquires but nothing was forthcoming.
"Cloud, I'm seriously getting worried. We've searched everywhere for Yuffie and she's nowhere to be found," Tifa told him when they were alone in the bar.
"I've called the others and they have no clue of where she is. For all we know, she might have gone on a sudden adventure and forgot to inform us, like she used to."
"But her belongings are still in the guestroom. What if something happened to her?"
"Tifa," Cloud said gently, "You're just thinking too much. Remember Yuffie is part of the group and she's shown us more than once she can handle things on her own."
Tifa hunched her shoulders. "Maybe you're right, but still -"
Cloud squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. "You need to rest. You're overworking yourself."
"Yes, I guess your right." She smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Tifa. Tomorrow I'd continue searching around for her and probably this time I'd be able to find something useful."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Yuffie woke up, feeling comfortable and so drowsy she felt like dozing off again but distant whispering stopped her from falling asleep again. With difficulty, she forced her heavy lids open and stared at the bare ceiling blearily. All of a sudden, all the pain she felt before came flooding back, though considerably less. The voices were becoming more distinct and she could hear what they were saying.
"Was there any need of you bringing this girl?"
"There was nothing I could she. She has already seen my face and recognized me."
"You could have disposed of her."
"No."
"Why?"
"I thought she might be of use to us. She seems to know brother," she heard Kadaj reply the more deeper voice.
"You know he's not our priority."
"Of course."
"But what do you intended to achieve by keeping her here."
"There's something I want to know about her."
"Hmm. If you so important to you then we can wait a little longer."
There was a moment silence.
"Where is Loz?"
"Buying provisions I think. It's getting more risky going outside."
Both of them withdrew from the room, leaving Yuffie alone. Yuffie tried sitting up in the bed but it was too much of an effort for her so she lay still and pondered what she just heard.
Why was Kadaj still alive? And who was that guy he was talking to?
Another remnant?
What did Kadaj mean by 'she seemed to know brother'?
What were they after?
What about the reunion? And Jenova? And Sephiroth?
Was Sephiroth still alive?
Her battered mind couldn't find any answers to her numerous questions and she soon drifted back to sleep.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
When Yuffie awoke again, she felt stronger and disoriented. The pain had almost vanished and surprising, she was able to drag herself into a sitting position. Her head, arms and legs were swathed in bandages and she still wore the same clothes as before though they were torn in some places. She looked around the dull room and felt frozen in place when she heard his voice.
"You're finally awake. I was beginning to get worried."
Yuffie turned to see Kadaj leaning casually against the doorjamb, his piercing green eyes looking at her steadily. He was no longer wearing a tight leather outfit but a black top, much like Cloud's except it had long sleeves and a hood and black fitting pants with a zipper on each side.
"Why am I here?" Yuffie demanded harshly, suppressing a small voice that said he was quite good-looking.
"I saved you before you could die out there in the rain, and brought you here," Kadaj drawled and looked away from her.
"Why did you save me? I thought you wanted to kill?" asked Yuffie coldly.
"Probably because I found out that you could be very useful to me."
Yuffie eyed Kadaj suspiciously. She became panicky as Kadaj straightened up and walked towards her.
"Let me go," she spat at him.
"I'm not holding you."
Yuffie glared at him. "I don't want to stay here with you. Let me go."
"So you can go back to Cloud?"
Yuffie looked at him with great surprise. "How did you know about Cloud?"
"I have my ways. Besides," he was dangerously close to the bed now and looking down at her smugly, "I have no choice but to keep you here, for other reasons."
"Are you thinking of using me as bait to get Cloud?"
"Who knows? Probably I am."
"No way. I wont let that happen."
Kadaj smirked. "That's if you can stop me."
Yuffie bit her lip and turned her face away from his penetrating stare but he gripped her chin and made her look directly into his eyes. "Whatever happens, you'd stay here for as long as I want. I wouldn't let you go anywhere until I have my answers."
Yuffie slapped his hand away and looked at him malevolently. "Answers for what?" Kadaj laughed quietly and turned towards the door.
"Wait -"
"Take my advice, don't think of running away. I assure you that you are not left unguarded, even though it might seem otherwise." With that, Kadaj left, leaving behind a flabbergasted Yuffie.
The instant Kadaj left Yuffie began quivering and felt tears forming in her eyes. How could she have gotten herself into this mess? How was it possible that Kadaj was still alive? She didn't know what Kadaj and the other remnants were planning to do, but she wouldn't let anyone use her to get to Cloud. Never. She swore with determination that she'd find a way to escape, despite Kadaj's warning and her frail body.
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When Kadaj stepped out of room where Yuffie was, he saw Yazoo leaning against the wall opposite the door with a serious expression on his face.
"I want you and Loz to watch over her. Make sure she doesn't escape." Yazoo remained silent and Kadaj was about to move away without addressing him another word.
"Are you sure of what you're doing?"
Kadaj stopped. It took him a moment to answer. "I can't say. Probably she holds the answer I'm looking for."
Yazoo snorted and pushed himself off the wall. "That brat can't be of any use to us."
"Maybe. We'd just wait and see." As Yazoo watched Kadaj leave he wondered what might be going on in his younger brother's mind.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Yuffie was glad when night came. All day she'd thought of a method of escape and once she'd freed herself from their clutches she would immediately warn Cloud and the others that Sephiroth's remnants, probably himself, weren't dead after all. Of course, she could inform Cloud using her cell phone but she'd searched everywhere on her and couldn't find it. The only option was to escape and meet him personally.
She tore the bandages off her body. There wasn't much need for them since the wounds were almost fully healed. To replenish some of her energy, she drank a portion from the small vial of elixir she usually kept in her pocket in case of injuries. She slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the window. It was almost midnight and she was sure Kadaj and the others would think that she was asleep by now. She'd feigned sleep each time they came to check on her, to give them the impression that she really had no energy to get out of bed.
Yuffie silently pushed the window open and jumped down from the second storey building and almost lost her footing because she was still weak. She noticed how deserted the area was. There was no living soul around and even though in was dark, she knew that she was in ruined Midgar. She glanced surreptitiously around her to make sure no one was lurking in the dark or observing her, then broke into a run. She had only one thing in mind: head directly for 7th Heaven as planned and inform Cloud and Tifa of the remnants' existence.
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Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz watched Yuffie run towards Edge with amusement. Did she think it would be that easy for her to escape them?
"So, that's the girl you brought in," said Loz, smirking.
"I didn't think she would be that stupid," said Yazoo with a sinister smile.
Kadaj mirrored Loz's smirk. "I warned her but she chose to ignore me, to her own peril." He was leaning casually on the windowsill and looking at the spot where Yuffie had just disappeared.
"Nevertheless, you'd have to get her back, Kadaj." Yazoo turned and made for the door.
Kadaj glanced at Yazoo, his face momentarily serious. "Why me?"
Yazoo peered over his shoulder, his hand on the doorknob. "She's your responsibility since you insisted for her to stay."
The smirk reappeared on Kadaj's face. His responsibility, indeed! He'd make sure she pays for running away.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Yuffie ran quickly in the direction of 7th Heaven. Everywhere was dark and empty and Yuffie didn't know how close to Edge she was or if she was heading in the right direction but she never lost hope. She paused to look around and saw distant squares of light. A smile curved her lips. She was getting there.
Yuffie felt petrified when she heard sudden distant footfalls behind her. She whipped around to see who it was but she saw no one.
"Who's there?" she shouted but there was no one answered. Still, the footfalls were growing louder. Horrified, Yuffie broke into a run. She didn't stop until she was sure the sounds had disappeared. By that time, she had already reached Edge. She was panting rapidly and out of breath. She hid in an alley momentarily to catch her breath. Fortunately, she was able to escape whoever it was that was after her.
"I thought I told you that running away is useless." His voice shocked Yuffie immensely and she spun around to see him leaning against the wall a few feet away and regarding her with such intensity.
"It can't be."
"Your escape strategy is pathetic. If you're really a fighter, you should know caution comes before action."
She turned to run again but Kadaj grasp her arm harshly and dragged her back. He pushed her to the wall and held her there.
"You can't escape me no matter how hard you try," he said smugly.
Yuffie tried to free herself but his grip felt like steel, "Let me go."
"Not a chance."
Yuffie became infuriated and began struggling violently, screaming as she did so. Kadaj's hand flew to her mouth but she dug her teeth into his hand and felt blood at the tip of her tongue. Kadaj cursed softly and pinned her arms at either side of her. Then he pressed his body to hers so she was sandwiched between the wall and his body. Even though Yuffie could barely move, she never gave up and kept screaming for help.
Kadaj bit his lower lip. At this rate, they were going to get caught. He could already hear the sounds of people moving about the streets in search for the source of the entire noise. There was no other way to it then. Kadaj forcibly gripped her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
Yuffie immediately turned silent the instant Kadaj kissed her. She was dazed and couldn't bring her body to move. That was the last thing she'd expected him to do. It was strange and out of place, though unexpectedly not unpleasant, which didn't feel right. Yuffie raised her free hand to push Kadaj away but she couldn't summon up the strength to do so and ended up clutching the front of his top.
Sensing that Yuffie was finally subdued, Kadaj drew apart and looked into her eyes. Both of them were panting harshly and she was glaring at him. Kadaj repressed the smirk that threatened to appear on his face. Who would have thought that one little kiss would be enough to still her frantic efforts to escape.
Kadaj's head snapped up as he heard people's voices. He took a step back; Yuffie thought this was the right moment to scream for help or run away but she surprisingly found herself unable to do either.
"What was that for?" she sputtered angrily, but she didn't get an answer. Kadaj was getting panicky. Yuffie was about to repeat her question when she felt a punch against her stomach. White spots appeared before her eyes and she collapsed on top of Kadaj.
Kadaj lifted the dead weight of Yuffie in his arms and hurried away before someone could spot them in the alley.