A/N: Hello again! Hope your enjoying the story so far. Sorry it took so long to update, I won't lie - I felt lazy, so I couldn't be assed to do it. Sorry. Anyway, I'll thank every reviewer for reviewing my second chapter at the bottom. I'll cut the small talk, enjoy.

EDIT: I agree, enjoy.

Ch.3 - Zack's Past

Yuna and Yuffie dived into the girls changing rooms just before Cid caught a glimpse of them being late. Yuna, slightly panting holds a hand over her chest feeling her thumping heartbeat. Yuffie stood rooted to the spot watching her with an amused expression plastering her face, erupting giggles slowly start to flow from her mouth. Covering her mouth, Yuffie tries to stop the giggles becomes harder and harder until.. she bursts; attracting several girls attention. Yuna turns to face her innocently,

"What?"

"Yuna, Yuna, Yuna...don't tell me you've never experienced the thrill of being late. Actually...have you ever even been late before?" Yuffie asks between giggles. Yuna looks down at the cool tiled floor in shame slightly swaying side to side. Yuffie's mouth drops.

"Yuna.. you haven't been late before, have you? You're such a goody-goody!" Yuffie sits on the bench, facing an empty locker next to Yuna's and Kairi's. "Thinking of Kai.. where is she? Her clothes are in her locker so maybe she's already changed. Still where is that new red-headed friend of mine?" Yuffie thought to herself. Yuna opens up her locker and quickly gets changed, all the while talking to Yuffie.

"Well...I guess I am a goody-goody. But I'm not that much of a goody-goody am I?" Yuna closes her locker and sits next to her raven haired friend, who still hadn't come equipped with a P.E kit.

"Actually… you're as innocent as they come, and to the bone! You really think you have a bad streak? Please spare me the laughs. I still don't know why Tidus would want to go out with you anyway, he knew Selphie way before you." A girls voice interrupted. Yuffie quipped her head over her shoulder to find the owner, Namine. The blonde was standing at her full height with a hard glare on her sickening sky coloured eyes. Yuffie unaware she too had found her feet, looked down to Yuna. Her eyes were glued to floor and she was quietly playing with her nails; letting these push-over girls bully her. Yuffie, being the protector she was comfortingly lays a hand on Yuna's shoulder before staring straight back at the preppy girl, then back to her muted friend.

Reacting to Yuffie's tender touch, Yuna looks up, her unique coloured eyes becoming a pool salty tears, Yuffie's eyes softened suddenly before glazing over with an icy shield and staring in rage at the bullies. Tifa, Selphie and Rinoa were standing behind Namine, giggling amongst themselves.

"Then again maybe not. Selphie isn't much of a prize herself." Rinoa added with Tifa giving her a high-five. Tifa had long dark brown hair with matching eyes, a dull plain brunette with no unique style.

" Ahh, so this is the last plastic, Tifa. I think she's had some serious plastic surgery! So that's why you should never have surgery... it makes you look worse. Rinoa has had her lips pumped up, Namine has had a nose-job... or was that Kairi's doing?" Yuffie laughed, meltally willing herself so shut up. Each of the plastics had hardly anything on at all for P.E. Did they have nothing better to do with their time besides attract attention?

A strappy white shirt with navy hot pants. Ideal for summer but Yuffie couldn't wait till mid-winter. "This Tifa is just as bad as the others. They're all sour faced cows who only care about their appearance and boys. They sorely need a hobby. And who the hell do they think they are? Picking on Yuna… what did she ever do to them?" Yuffie was about to open her mouth to voice her opinion but was cut in by a familiar red head.

"Girls, I feel really sorry for you. Honestly I do.." Kairi appeared from Cid's office and was now standing in the girls changing room doorway with a P.E kit in her arms and her voice was dripping with sarcasm."...I mean you must have forgotten your mirrors or something, you're no prize yourselves!"

"Look at yourself doll! You look like you were dragged through a bush backwards." Namine fired at Kairi.

"You shouldn't keep putting yourself down Namine." Kairi answered coolly and polished her nails on her shirt, just to annoy them.

"Sora would have gone out with me if it wasn't for you!"

"Really? Aw, now I feel like such a bad girl. Bad Kairi." Kairi playfully slaps her wrist, still smiling.

"Yeah he would have but you see I.. um.. I turned him down."

"Accept it Namine, he chose me. Maybe I should call you Pinocchio? You remember that little incident don't you a few months back?"

"I'm not! Besides he still loves me and I still love him."

"Living in the bubble of ignorance are we? Am I in the way of your perfect relationship? Good, because like it or not, Sora and me are together." Namine had no answer for that one and stormed out with her gang in hot pursuit.

"Go Kairi! Never knew you had it in ya!" Yuffie cheered as Kairi blushed slightly and handed Yuffie the P.E kit.

"Well I have hit her before. She just gets under my skin and... urgh! They're just so annoying. Plus they always pick on Yuna, ever since she went out with Tidus. Selphie got jealous and there ya have it, instant bully victim. Hopefully they won't pick on you too Yuf." Kairi added sitting next to Yuna while Yuffie quickly changed into her P.E outfit.

"Me? Nah - They wouldn't dare." Yuffie chuckled, trying to tie up her extra long trainer laces before sighing in defeat and stuffing them in the sides of her trainers.

"You should have seen her Kai! Yuffie stood up to all of them. She bent Selphie's wrist right back too, and kicked Rinoa in the stomach. Mostly mocking them until the bell rang. Speaking of kicking when will we find out how you can fight like that?" Yuna asked curiously as the three friends left the changing rooms and followed the rest of the class outside for a run.

"In all do time my friends, in all do time." Yuffie spoke in a hushed mysterious tone making her friends laugh.

"You sound like someone I know. I just can't place my finger on it." Yuna said frustrated "When you speak in that low tone it sounds like.."

"Ha, I doubt you know him. He's one of my father's friends."

"Wait is his name, Auron?" Yuffie looked at Yuna wide-eyed.

"How d'ya know that?" Yuna just smiled and walked ahead, now she was the one with a spring in her footing.

"Auron is her guardian, since her father died he was always there for her, like the uncle she never had. She still has her mother though." Kairi filled in the shocked Yuffie.

"Right ya horrible lot! 3 laps on my whistle..." Cid shouted, all of the students lined up and prepared for the run. Yuffie had Yuna to her right with Kairi next to her. A few other students next to Kairi then the Plastics. To Yuffie's left was Tidus, Leon, Sora and Cloud, then the Shinra members.

" It's not a race but give it all you got so I can put ya in our shit team that is always losing… And hopefully win something! Right ...3...2...1.." Cid blew the whistle and Yuffie pushed off her right leg as hard as she could. Running in front of the girls and gaining up to the boys. After 2 laps there were only Sephiroth, Axel, Seifer, Avalanche's boys and, to Cid's slight amusement, Yuffie heatedly catching up. Kairi and Yuna screamed at the top of their lungs for Yuffie to run just that little bit faster, jumping up and down, waving their arms around like someone a wire short of a circuit. Yuffie smiled inwards and took a deep breath Giving her friends a thumbs up she started sprinting. Running straight past Tidus, then Sora, Seifer and now it was only Sephiroth, Cloud, Axel, Leon and Yuffie neck and neck with the finish line in sight. Cloud was in-between Sephiroth and Axel who gave each other a quick glance and smirked. Both sticking out their foot they tripped Cloud up who cursed and stood up.

"Beat them sons of a bitches for me Leon!" Cloud shouted. Leon only looked back and nodded. Yuffie watched as the two plotting Shinra members were suddenly side by side next to Leon.

"Their gonna do the same to Leon. CHEATERS! Over my dead body is that gonna happen." Yuffie thought. Pushing herself that little bit extra she gained more speed and tried desperately to get in-between them, but Axel and Sephiroth kept blocking her way. Letting out an irritated growl Yuffie could only watch as Leon tried to dodge their feet but failed miserably as he too fell. Yuffie stopped in front of the fallen Lion and kneeled next to him worried.

"You okay?" Yuffie asked.

"Yuffie, I'll never ask for anything of you again if you beat them. I know you can do it. Show them Avalanche are always the step ahead." Yuffie nodded mutely. Standing up she looked at Cid for help. He got the message.

"Another lap! Since uhh… I don't know, get off my back it's just another lap ok?" Cid shouted. Yuffie grinned and took off once again to beat Sephiroth and Axel. It didn't take long for Yuffie to catch up to the laughing pair. Running was the main sprt she was good at.

"We got them!" Yuffie heard Axel say cunningly.

"Avalanche will never beat us. They need to learn to accept that." Sephiroth answered coyly. Yuffie smiled and pushed past the two startling them.

"Excuse me Boys!" Yuffie said cheerfully. The rest of the class went wild shouting, screaming, waving their arms in the air encouraging Yuffie to keep going. The two boys ran either side of Yuffie trying to trip her up like her friends before her. To their surprise she dodged every foot.

"Being a ninja has it perks idiots!" Yuffie laughed in her mind. Noticing the finish line was metres away Yuffie decided to finish them off.

"Guys are you hungry?"

"Huh?" They both answered in union.

"Eat. My. Dust!" With that Yuffie pelted across the finish line and the whole class clapped and cheered as Yuffie did her little victory dance, then collapsed to the floor in dire need of oxygen for her now forming stitches. Kairi and Yuna was soon by her side, bright smiles crowning their features.

"Yuf, you won!"

"I didn't know you were that good at running." Kairi praised the tired friend.

"I know! Oh the talents of me!" Yuffie joked sitting up on the cool, lush grass. The rest of the gang was soon at her side.

"Great job Yuf." Tidus said sitting next to Yuna.

"Yeah you whipped 'em." Sora added giving Kairi an award winning smile.

"Did you see their faces when Yuffie crossed the finish line?" Cloud asked leaning on his hand with a playful smile on his own face.

"They were priceless. I would pay millions to see that again." Sora chuckled while getting into a tickle fight with Kairi.

"Maybe you should join the track team? They could really use a runner like you." Leon spoke up for the first time since the race ended.

"No way! I hate running."

"But your really good at it." Tidus complained.

"Tidus just because she's good at running doesn't mean she likes it." Yuna pointed out.

"Hey Yuffie!" A girls voice called out. The gang looked up to see Selphie.

"What?" Yuffie said coldly with a dangerous spark in her eyes. Selphie didn't dare break eye contact.

"Look I probably deserve that but-"

"No, you deserve worse for picking on my friend like that." Yuffie cut her off.

"I know and I'm sorry okay." Selphie said but Yuffie could tell she didn't mean it.

"What do want?" Yuffie crossed her arms over her chest and glared up at the brunette.

"You have to go to the office. Someone is waiting there for you, I'm not joking look? I sprained my ankle, so I went to the nurse who was by the office in which the secretary gave me that." Selphie passed Yuffie a note that was clearly written by the secretary. Yuffie slowly tears her eyes from the note and gives Selphie a puzzled look.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know. It's just this guy, he's cute too."

"Yeah. What does he look like?" Yuffie said quickly standing eye level with the plastic member.

"Um.. he has um.. dark hair, sorta spiky and um.. really bright blue eyes." Yuffie's face immediately lit up with joy as she hoped up and down excited.

"Yay! Thank you!" Selphie nodded and quickly limped back to her gang who didn't notice even her disappearance or acknowledge she was injured.

"Who is it?" Cloud asked.

"Why d'ya wanna know?"

"Well there's something that people possess and it's called curiosity, Yuffie." Cloud started as if he was talking to a child. Yuffie pouted then exchanged it for a trade mark grin.

"Okay I'll tell ya.. IF you come to the office with me? Please? I don't know where it is." Yuffie's question was answered when Cloud stood up and took the lead. Waving goodbye to her friends Yuffie followed Cloud through the winding corridors in silence.

"Right. Well his name is Zack. He's so adorable, but he can be a right pain in the butt. You can blame me for that." Cloud nodded.

"How old is he?"

"He's about 21 nearly 22 in a few weeks. Do me a favour though?"

"What?" Cloud looked over at Yuffie and met lovable puppy eyes. "No! Not the eyes NO! Aerith does that to me all the time. I know I'm not going to like this." Cloud sighed looking away in defeat.

"Just don't tell anyone Zack is my bro' okay?"

"Why not?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you someday, but, not now. It isn't the best time." Yuffie fiddled with her fingers until the office was in sight.

Her brother stood there in all his glory, leaning up against the wall; and talking to the flirting secretary and someone hidden from sight behind a corner. The office walls were a creamy lemon colour. A new water machine was in the corner, standing lifeless next to some black chairs. The two secretaries desks were pilled with files, notes, pens and never ending phone calls sticky notes. The more younger secretary had brown hair in a small ponytail and emerald eyes. The older one, who wasn't flirting, sat at her desk answering calls and writing down notes, her eyes strict and hard. Zack looked up to meet Yuffie's gaze.

"'Bout time! You took long enough." Then the hidden person made itself known by peeking around the corner.

"Aerith? What are you doing here?" Cloud asked walking up to his girlfriend.

"I just finished a magic exam. The nurse wanted me to heal someone by the time I came down here, the person was gone. Then I saw Zack and started talking." Aerith explained with a smile.

"Right.. okay Zack. Why are you here?" Yuffie asked putting her hands to her hips.

"Well you can't go far without this." Zack picked up a small suitcase and passed it to Yuffie.

"Thanks Zack. So how's it goin?" Yuffie nodded towards the secretary with a mischievous smirk on her face.

"She won't leave me alone." Zack whispered. "Any detention yet?"

"Yep! Tomorrow night, half an hour."

"Whoa. What lesson?"

"Maths."

"You take after me. But I'm worried. Detention already? What would mum say?"

"If I didn't have detention you wouldn't be worried you'd have a heart attack."

"True." Yuffie and Zack talked some more until he sadly departed from his sister, and pried himself from the secretary. Aerith lead Yuffie to their dorm as Cloud walked back to his lesson slightly agitated.

"So your Zack's sister?" Aerith began as she opened the door to reveal a spacious room with creamy and earth coloured walls Peeking into another small room she noted the glowing baby pink painted walls. Yuffie grimaced.

"I hate pink."

"You'll learn to like it but in the holidays we can paint your side of the room whatever colour you want." Aerith sat on one of the beds and leaned up against the wall.

"Um.. okay and yes I am Zack's sister. Why?" Aerith laughed a little then turned to face Yuffie.

"I thought he was dead and he's not! I'm so glad, it was really hard for me to get over him..."

"Wait how do you know about that?"

"I never had the chance to meet you because of…well because of what happened with him and them thugs, but he never stopped talking about you. It was always "My sister is this" or "My sister, Yuffie is so cool." He thought the world of you, and by the look of things down there he still does."

"How do you know about that. You were…you were his girlfriend wasn't you? The one I didn't get to meet before he moved in with me and my parents?" Aerith nodded before taking the suitcase out of Yuffie's hands and neatly tucked it away under Yuffie's bed for the time being.

"So, you know about his past and that he's only my adopted brother. The thugs? The trouble he was in? The death threats? He moved into my house when he was 16 I was only 12. We adopted him and ever since he has always been my brother. My father said that he should change his name, it would of been safer but he only changed his last name. He loved the name Zack. 5 years ago he changed from Zack Fair to Zack Kisaragi." Yuffie finished, looking down sadly before meeting Aerith with a grin.

"Let's go Yuf. I won't tell anyone about Zack if you won't. It'll keep us both safe."

"Promise. Are you coming to the next hour of P.E with me?" Yuffie pondered.

"Don't see why I couldn't." Aerith smiled that optimistic smile of hers as she and Yuffie walked to the arena for the second hour of P.E.

Meeting up with their friends Yuffie readied herself for her promised battles...

"

A/N: FINALLY DONE! Shout out to those who reviewed me:

Haiz14

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EDIT: ALRIGHT another chapter edited slightly. Not much really needed to be done but I get to correct my really bad spelling and get intouch with the story again, wOOt Kai xox