Authors Note: Sorry, it's a shorter chapter and I made you all wait so long for it too. The wedding in Jamaica was awesome, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Shortly after returning from that I had lots of babysitting time with my nephew – whom was born on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). I also moved out of living with my parents and found an excellent new job. So yes, I've been distracted quite a bit in real life. I promise though, I have not abandoned this story. Thanks for sticking with me everyone and without further ado… let's continue.

Chapter Four: Silver and Cold

It was so easy to act as if nothing had ever happened when Yuffie simply didn't allow herself to think of the past. She focused her thoughts on one thing and one thing alone. That was the mission. The final goal, step-by-step and how she could be of the most use to Vincent. Not to dwell on the past, on her mistake or the feeling of his lips on hers. Not to remember how happy she had been until her world came crashing down into a harsh reality at the slip of a tongue.

She refused to allow depressing memories to hold her captive as they had done so for Vincent all these years.

Just to avoid any confusion, she didn't give him much chance when it was just the two of them to remind her of her mistake. She did the talking and then she ran off with a friendly smile and wave. As soon as she was out of eyesight and ear shot, a sigh would escape and she'd take a few minutes to pull herself back together again. Only Vincent had the power to break her so wholly without ever once having to say a word.

When Vincent wasn't around, while he cleaned house and Yuffie worked on making her way towards the reactor everything was fine. Yuffie didn't have the distraction around that he had proved himself to be, without meaning too. It was almost too easy, to focus once again on the mission and forget why things were so very wrong in her own little world. The rest of the world too… but that problem was easily pinpointed. Yuffie's was simply passed off as a crush that wouldn't let up.

When they met up again, at the final stepping stones to the end of the mission the time for false cheeriness was pass. There was a serious note in Yuffie's voice, a strict mission-only persona played by both her and Vincent. His reasoning for only focusing on the mission was very different from her own… She simply wanted to forget that she was hurting still. He wanted to find forgiveness for the sins in his past. Neither of them made an attempt to speak of what had happened, or the talk on the bridge of the Sierra that they had.

Strictly business. That's all it was now.

It wasn't hard at all to find Weiss or Nero. Weiss was in a state in which he was hardly a threat. In fact, if Yuffie had a vote in the matter she would have said he was dead. He certainly looked it with his eyes open – not seeing nor blinking. There was an eerie stillness about him. Nero on the other hand was still very much alive and just as creepy as the last time she had seen him. With a slow drawl in his voice and words that made little sense to anyone but himself and Vincent. They both ignored her though when she asked for further clarification, going on as if she wasn't even there.

Before Yuffie could respond to Nero's attack she was enveloped by darkness and pulled in the dimension that Nero created and controlled. At least, she believed he created it but it could only be a speculation. Vincent was no longer by her side and panic was swelling up inside of her in the darkness. She felt utterly alone. Fear, depression, loneliness… they ate at her sanity. No matter how hard she tried in vain to remain sane. To stay as calm as she could. Her breathing was hitching in her throat and tears were welling in stormy grey eyes. And without any warning at all, everything intensified by ten times.

She needed a release of some sort in the darkness. She didn't know why, it was pointless really but it was due to the panic and fear and loneliness eating at her that caused her to bend over into the fetal position, screaming. She was screaming her pain to the darkness. Screaming to ease her irrational fear... Screaming because it was the only thing she could remember how to do.

Before she could fully curl into a ball, in a pathetic attempt to protect herself from the cold grip of the darkness there was a warm light on her back. Arms of protection, of safety wrapped themselves around her lithe frame, pulling her into the sanctuary of a warm chest. She was suddenly very aware of the fact that Vincent held her. Vincent Valentine had saved her from the darkness and it had been his light that had reached her. The realization was almost heartbreaking. He would save her from the darkness, but she could never save him. She didn't have that kind of power.

She felt drained of energy physically, mentally and emotionally as Vincent set her down. Though she assured him she'd be fine. Yuffie Kisaragi didn't break under pressure. She was a real trooper, a go-getter with endless supplies of energy. She only wishes she had emotions made of rock like Vincent, because then it wouldn't hurt so much to be as close as she was to him. Close enough to feel safe in his arms, to smell the scent of spring water that clung to his cape. The scent of his cape was both a blessing and a curse. She loved nature… but the scent was her scent. Lucrecia's. From the cave that Vincent so often visited. It was the reminder in the scent that told her she never stood a chance with Vincent that broke her.

Authors Note: I wanted to make this chapter longer, but this just seemed like the right place to end it. The next chapter will be the last DoC-centric one, and then we go post-DoC and start delving further into the storyline I have worked out for this.

Featured Fic: Shattered - by TionneDawnstar

A Yuffentine story, rated M for lemon in Chapter 26, language and violence. Terrorists are targeting Vincent, and the only person that can help him is Yuffie! Can she save him, and make it to Cloud and Tifa's wedding?

Thanks for the Reviews.