Pretty icky outside today so I may get more than one chapter posted. We shall see.

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Disclaimer:I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters. This is only a fan story written by an adoring fan of the Vincent & Yuffie paring!

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Chapter Four

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Vincent followed Cloud through the forest Reeve directed them to search. They took a bit of a scenic route to the area in wait for the call to begin the search. Shelke set the message to have been received only twenty minutes before they began to dig through the wooded area. It wasn't a spot on number, but it would work for the time being. Yuffie's safety was of their utmost importance.

A few monsters still claimed the forest as their home. According to the reports delivered by WRO soldiers there weren't many strong beasts left in the area and a majority had become very passive aggressive monsters. Chances were high Yuffie was carrying a bit of her materia on her being. There was even the possibility she got a hold of some of their own materia since they exchanged hugs and she was known for her quick hands. Thunder rumbled in the distance pulling Vincent out of his thoughts.

"Hopefully we can get her before the rain does," Vincent said looking to the sky. His well-trained attention caught the sight of a bird as black as the leather boots on his feet. Its orange eyes sent chills up his spine as he thought back to his time carrying Chaos. The bird met his stare then flew away. An odd sighting but not a priority at the moment. "How far in do you think she will be?"

Cloud looked around where they were. Their distance wasn't deep into the woods as of yet. He would guess they were only a quarter of the way into the trees. "If I were trying to get someone out of my hair I would place them deep into an area they are unfamiliar with. Yuffie was born in Wutai and spent a lot of her young years training to be a ninja. I can't say she's ever seen this forest before or not."

"Even if she did spend time in this area, things change," Vincent said looking at a bush of red roses. "These roses may never have grown in this area before and now they do. And who knows what has been destroyed by people or other creatures."

"Exactly," Cloud agreed. "If I wanted to get her taken care of and lost to the best of my ability I would put her in the spot middle. But according to Yuffie she tumbled down the side of the road. Assuming nothing is broken, I would hope she would travel against the road pathway to find her exit. Of course, she could be walking to the completely other side from us."

Vincent rolled his eyes and let out a breath. "As impossible as it may be, I hope she is just sitting there waiting for us without a problem in hand."

"It would make our lives a tad easier," Cloud said smiling.

They continued walking and looking around for any sign of Yuffie or the car she traveled in. No matter how hard they tried they knew they were like two blind men trying to find light. There was too much playing against them to feel secure as of yet. The sound of falling trees put Cloud and Vincent on hold as they listened to the oncoming noise.

From the area they left they could see trees shaking from the falling in their groups. Something large was coming without a care for the nature around them. The orange eyed bird swooped down in front of Vincent and called out. Its noise was similar to that of a call from a lion. This bird was not their friend.

"That looks like a bird I spotted earlier," Vincent said and took out Cerberus and hit the bird with one shot. "I think we've been followed to the area."

"Shit," Cloud growled and pulled his large sword from his back. He should have known they were jinxed to never hold a peaceful mission.

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Yuffie's stomach growled in pain as she continued to sit against the tree behind her. Her growl was answered by thunder in the skies. It was moving closer as time ticked by. She looked at the Gil piled next to her with a heavy glare. Everything inside the car was morphed with her use of her Morph materia. All she held to claim as her own were the clothes on her body and her purse in her hands.

Where the hell are they? Yuffie tossed the last mint into her mouth from the shiny, blue container and threw the empty plastic at the tree nearest to her. If her foot hadn't been shattered during the trip she would have done what she could to meet them from where they entered. Sadly, there wasn't even a way to tell which section of the forest they were in.

"They better have food," Yuffie groaned and wrapped her arms around her stomach. Her wedding dress was covered in stains from the dirt she sat on. "It's getting cold, too!"

Another sound of thunder answered her words and rain began to fall around her. She cursed while looking around her place of rest for any form of protection. It appeared her section against the tree was her best bet. It wasn't perfect, but it was where she would be seated until someone could carry her away.

Years ago Yuffie could muscle up the strength and courage to crawl through the worst situations if it meant bettering herself. But her lack in training and discipline made her weak and pathetic to even her own eyes. The idea of walking on her injured foot was more terrifying than she cared to admit. It was sickening to know she allowed herself to grow so pathetic.

Nearby her hideout under the tree a stick broke. She looked up with a mixture of excitement and worry upon her face. Another stick sounded and excitement began to overpower her nerves. If it were someone looking to harm her they would need to be more precise on the amount of noise they were making. Any well trained soldier knew that.

"Cloud?! Tifa?! Anyone?!" Yuffie called out with a smile on her face.

"Not quite, my queen," a man dressed in all black and gray stepped into view. He looked her up and down while he licked his lips. He was getting off seeing the pain and dirt she was in. A coward of another kind. "We received information from a valuable source stating your survival. We needed to act soon before your friends could arrive."

He knelt down and reached for the back of her head. He took ahold of her hair and pulled it tightly so he could twist her face to his own. The kiss he forced onto her was heavy and dirty. Without success his tongue painted against her clenched teeth.

"Oh what a pity we couldn't have more fun," he said and threw her to the side by the hold of her hair. He moved to stand straight with a smile created by nightmares. "Sadly, once my men defeat those petty fools sent to find you it will be time to go. Without our queen because we could not find her amongst the rubble of the beaten car. Chances are she was crushed in the crash." He looked around to find the car was nowhere in sight. "Where is the vehicle anyway?"

Yuffie glanced to the pile of Gil a short distance away. She glared to the man. "If you would have studied your history about your young queen you would have learned about her odd obsession over materia. Luckily, I was carrying just what I needed to escape from the situation." She watched his eyes light up with desire and greed. He fell to his knees and began filling his pockets with what he could grab before the rest of his team met up with him. Yuffie held a glare against his back as he collected his reward. "And if you would have studied you may have learned more about my friends!"

He rolled his eyes and looked to his side. "What possibly could have benefited me doing that?"

"You would have known about Vincent's sick demons and how they seem to like me a hell of a lot better than you!" Yuffie shouted as the Galian Beast appeared next to the lousy soldier with a heavy growl. She closed her eyes as screams from the man ran out and the growls continued to sound.

"Yuffie, can you walk?" Cloud asked appearing next to her.

"No." She rolled her eyes and glanced to her foot. "My bones are pretty busted up in my left foot." Growls sounded and the screams from the soldier were no longer heard. The beast continued to tear at the man's body even after he was gone. "Cloud, carry me to him."

"What?" Cloud shook his head and refused.

"Damn it!" she groaned and pointed to Galian Beast. "We need to get Vincent back! His attack is done!"

"You know how that thing is. It's like the devil incarnate," Cloud said. He flinched as an arm was ripped from the man's body.

"Vincent Valentine! Get your ass over here and help me!" Yuffie shouted with a glare to the creature. She was ready to vomit at the bloody sight in front of them but her priorities were glued. "Come on! Grow up!"

Galian Beast turned its head and what appeared like a smile formed on its face. It dropped the man and walked to where they sat. It looked down at Yuffie and shook its head.

"Only you hold this power I hope you know," it said his words in a growl and collapsed as Vincent took form over the being. Vincent's eyes were sealed tight as he spoke. "Yuffie, are you alright?"

"Hurting like hell and you're just lying there ready for a nap." She looked over to Cloud as Vincent moved from his pathetic position on the ground. "Care to pick me up chocobo head? Places to be and a country to save."

"Not just yet," Vincent said. He picked up Yuffie making her yelp and grab the front of his shirt in fear of falling. "We fought off a group of men but a few ran away. Derran wasn't present in the fight. That means he is still in the leader's seat and he most likely has plans in the works."

"Whatever," Yuffie said and placed her head onto Vincent's chest. "Where am I going then?"

"I'm calling Reeve to send out a basic plane to pick us up. Too many people know Cid's ship and we don't want too much to get around before we're ready," Cloud said. He delivered their find to Reeve when he answered his phone.

"I'll send a ship out your way to pick you guys up. I have a room ready for Yuffie and a few men ready to be on her guard until we get this situation settled in Wutai," Reeve said.

"Like I'm going to let men protect me!" Yuffie shouted after hearing Reeve's words through the loud phone.

"Yuffie," Vincent groaned as they were nearing the edge of the forest. "Just do as we ask this one time. Once we have this settled you can be on your marry way."

Yuffie giggled and hid her mouth in her hands. "Vinnie said marry."

Vincent rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile on his face from her laugh. She wasn't completely there yet, but it seemed their Yuffie wasn't locked away too tightly. He would do whatever he could to get her back to her annoying, hunting, fighting, lovable, charming and laughing self. How he missed the Yuffie his heart held onto.

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And she's safe! Can't wait to reveal what the team is going to do next chapter!