Promising Entirely

by mystic-angel1

It was a silly promise she'd taken seriously. It was a silly promise he thought she'd forget. A promise she would marry him if he was still alone. But now he pretends to forget. He's distracted and cold. And he's also eight years her senior. Squffie

4. Letting go

"Promising Entirely."

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. Although, I do own a rather disturbing thought of Squall as Peter Pan. You will not see Peter Pan Kingdom Hearts story from me. Except from EXTREME special requests. Which I doubt and hope not I will receive. .

Author's Note: This chapter is for October Breeze. Happy Birthday, October! Its almost a week late, I know. I apologize. But I tried to get it as quick as my temperamental muse would let me. We must forgive her as she has a problem with commitment.

Also, for those of you who are reading this and have NOT already joined, please check out LiveJournal Com and check out Squffielove. Its really fun and a great place for all your squffie needs. Its great.

Deplora: Heh. I suppose I could have Squall sink to his knees and say some corny movie line. But I shall resist the temptation. Well...this chappie has sort of half-romantic fluff. Sort of 'on the verge' of romantic..sort of dishonest fluff. You'll see what I mean. I hope my half-romantic dishonest fluff cheers you up. And maybe draws you from the Squinoa. Maybe for a little bit. .

The Contessa: That dance was even better! Would you consider becoming my official choreographer? -

Joy Blue: Thank you so much! You've made me even happier than I am now, as you will see from the bottom of the page. I wouldn't want to get you fired though. This story ain't going anywhere, so you can read it again when you get home. Heh. I love your story, by the way. Update it quickly. Poor Cloud. And semi-poor Squall, as our fanfics seems to be attacking him lately.

The Frogness: Oh dear. You read me too well. But don't tell anyone else your secrets. Or I shall be forced to send my Squall Plushie army after you. I hope I didn't ruin the IC of them in this chapter, since there is a little fluff. I was really happy you said that, since OOCness is my greatest fear. But..if they are IC in this chapter, they have excuses. As you will see, if you havn't already figured it out with your shrewdness.

Taryn: Ah. Don't worry. I love Squally-boy too much to really torture him. I'll just make him suffer a little bit. Really? You thought he'd kill her? That's good, since that's what I was intending. Kind of a demonstration of how messed up Leon just might be? Not that it will stop me from torturing him anyway.

October Breeze: Eh. I hope I never read a Yuffie/Cloud. They're just two of those people, as friends, that I just cannot pair together. Its like Rikku and Tidus from FFX. I can't pair them together, although I love them as best friends. Some people just need to stay friends, or our society is doomed! DOOMED, I tell you! Hehehe! Waffles! Squffles? I think I'm calling this pairing Squffles from now on.

Yuffie Kisaragi2: Gravy-n-a-half! I think it has subliminal messaging. I now have a strange urge to eat something unhealthy with gravy. Preferably with french fries and cheese. You've probably just ruined my NO-POUTINE diet my sister and I have gone on to. As its SO bad for you and I want to stay in shape over the winter. But I'll resist it. -

Sora no Hairo Yuko: Hehe. You can stop twitching. There will be no Yuffie/Cloudness here. Never. Although Cloud will probably be extremely glary on Yuffie's behalf.

Kimou: Oh, they will eventually! Don't you worry. It just might be destructive.

Zarrel's Darkside: passes out from adorableness Hehe. Thank you very much! This chapter has fluff, so I hope you like it as much.

Bella: That's exactly what I thought! Cloud's so older brotherish. I'm excited for Advent Children.

Aio-Butterfly: I know....I felt sad writing that. Especially since I don't believe Cloud deserved to lose his best friend and his not-so-secret love. But I have a soft spot for Tifa, since she's a perfect demonstration of realisticism when it comes to OUR lives. The best friend who doesn't end up with the hero. Woop! Hehe.

Enjoy the Squfflness!

Aerith sighed as she shoveled another burnt egg down the garbage bin. She could feel Cloud wincing each time she threw one out, the economy was still very unstable and eggs were very expensive. Not that they had any problems with munny, the Heartless war had dealt out enough for them to live off it for a lifetime. But many others were poor, refusing to live in the castle as the refugees did, preferring to try and rebuild the lives they had once lived in Hallow Bastion. For them, eggs could be just as or more valuable that munny.

She knew this. But everytime she tried to cook one her thoughts would stray to the heavy and tense air of the castle and she would lose concentration almost immediately. Leon was unusually late. In fact, he was almost always awoke at the same time as she. It was quite possible that he had left the castle earlier, but it was very rare that the Gunblader didn't show up for breakfast. Yuffie was always late of course, in characteristic habit of sleeping in. But here she was, sitting at the table and glaring tiredly at her hands as if she hadn't slept all night.

She jumped slightly as she realized she hadn't been paying attention to the pan, shoveling the egg and flipping it over before it could burn. Across from Yuffie, Cloud was watching her with amusement, finally standing up and taking the spatula from her shaking hands. She was extremely nervous, although he didn't know why. The problems between Yuffie and Leon were so normal that he couldn't understand what she was getting on about. But then again, Yuffie had never left one of those problems in tears before. And, of course, this was Aerith.

"Sit." He said, frowning at the pan as it spat at him. "I'll take care of the rest."

"How is she?" Aerith whispered, quick on the mark. "Did she say anything?"

"No." Cloud muttered, casting a quick glance at the young ninja. "She won't talk."

He hadn't meant this as an suggestion, but it seemed Aerith thought he was encouraging her to take on the task herself. Yuffie was probably extremely agitated in her tiredness. He didn't know if it was a good idea for Aerith to talk to her, but he settled for a roll of his eyes and a tug on her braid instead of trying to dissuade her.

However, Yuffie was saved from Aerith's wrath when the door opened and Leon slouched into the room. Cloud looked quickly over to the young ninja, who had tensed but refused to look up at the Gunblade wielder. Leon was the picture of perfect fashionable lateness, looking at them in mock surprise as if he assumed they were early. Cloud rolled his eyes, cursing as he turned back to the pan and realized he had burnt another egg. Aerith giggled.

Her laughter bounced around the tense and uncomfortable silence. Everyone in the room knew what had gone on, and everyone knew that everyone knew. Yuffie buried her face in her arms over the wood of the table's surface, face burning in humiliation. She wanted to curl up into a ball and disappear. She hadn't felt that way in a long time.

Aerith cleared her throat after a long time of silence. "Yuffie, could you pass the salt?"

Yuffie stood up, banging the table with her knees as she stood. Her face was red, but there were no tears as she fled the kitchen, pushing the door open and storming down the hall. Aerith watched as the door swung back and forth, shocked and confused at the outburst. Cloud shook his head with another sigh, reaching across the table and handing Aerith the salt. They both turned to look at Leon. The stoic man hadn't reacted at all, calmly cutting his eggs.

Cloud shook his head a final time, wrapping his arm around Aerith's shoulder and pulling her close. He didn't speak, but Aerith appreciated the gesture. She rested her head on his shoulder, watching with a quiet frustration as Leon continued to eat his eggs as if nothing had happened. She would have to give him a stern talking to. And then run for her life.

Yuffie pushed to doors of her balcony open with angry force, throwing herself on to the ledge with as much drama as she could muster when she was in such a bad mood. She lifted her face to the wind, letting it touch and cool the skin of her cheeks. She stared into the rising run, squinting as to see the hills that lay on the horizon. Her balcony was her solitude; a place where no one would bother her or her rare deep thoughts. Aerith and Cloud's bedroom didn't have a balcony, and Squall's bedroom was on the other side of the castle. Her door was locked, and no one could find her out here. The sight of the mountains and the swirling abyss below gave her a sense of peace as she tried to relax.

She'd woken up this morning and had wanted nothing more to curl into a ball and go back to sleep. What had seemed a big deal the night before seemed silly to her now, and she knew Squall would use it against her at some point. Call her a child. She refused to feel as though the whole incident had been her fault. She'd been trying so hard.

Squall, quite honestly, had been her life project. She hadn't had much when she'd been forced to leave Hollow Bastion. Fortunately she'd been raised under the watchful eye of Aerith, who had ultimately stopped any scars from growing in her emotional psychology. She wondered sometimes if Squall would be different if he had come with them; if maybe he wouldn't be so scarred. But Squall had left in tears without so much as a goodbye, devastated over Rinoa's death, and had joined the King's Army. Nearly six years later he returned to Traverse Town as its protector and Yuffie had seen him again for the first time. Yet he had been so different....

She would never forget the day she ran up to him and he glared at her as if he didn't know who she was. When she had smiled at him and got nothing in return but a blank stare. The first time he had raised his voice to her. The first time she had been truly scared of him. It was nearly a month before Yuffie realized her old friend was gone. And wasn't coming back.

Then the King had issued a request to Aerith and her to join Leon in the quest to find the Chosen One. It seemed like a golden opportunity to Yuffie, who refused to move into the Red Room. She'd learned more about him in that one day where he'd moved into the Hotel then she ever had trying to talk to him before. And eventually, through heated arguments and near death, they had become friends. Partners.

They'd managed to focus on their one common interest. Sora was more important then any of their arguments. They needed to work together to help him through his burden. Sora, she supposed, had brought out the first part of Squall that had been hidden. Nothing hurt Squall more then sadness in people. Sora, Perdita, Pongo and any lost soul brought out a fierce compassion Yuffie hadn't seen in years. It was then she felt a small hope.

But once they moved to Hollow Bastion again everything had changed. Squall had sunk deeper into himself then before. He was not only cold or mean. He was angry. A hidden demon that his old homeland had given birth to. It was then that she realized he wasn't being stubborn or harsh. Leon was hurt deeper than she had ever imagined. And that scared her.

And now she had told him she hated him. Which was definitely not true....

"Yuffie?"

Yuffie was snapped out of her shock so quickly that all the blood rushed to her head. She was suddenly acutely aware of her surroundings and the wind burn on her skin. She hated being absorbed in old memories. But Hollow Bastion seemed to do that to her. She shook her head quickly, leaning over the stone edge of her balcony to peer down. She could see a small figure standing on the moving platforms below and it took her a moment to figure out who it was.

"Tynan!" (1)

The young girl gave her a grin and a small wave. Redish brown hair was tied back in a traditional bun; grey eyes hidden behind thin bangs. Tynan was a page living in the bottom part of the castle, responsible for getting messages out to villages who would accept and home refugees and orphans. As far as Yuffie knew, the girl was an orphan herself, and she was slightly jealous that Tynan has such a free job. Traveling. Helping. She was rarely at the castle and so Yuffie didn't know her that well. But she seemed nice enough, strangely dangerous in a mischievous way she'd only ever seen in Sora. She was a refreshing friend to have, really, since her only companions were Cloud, Aerith and Leon.

"Good to see you, Yuffie!" Tynan shifted her letter bag over her shoulder. "What are you up to?"

"Oh," Yuffie's smile was fake and small. "Just thinking out here. You know me..."

Tynan took this information without so much as a doubt, which came as a shock to Yuffie, who lived with such shrewd people. In fact, Tynan seemed to be losing interest in Yuffie already, eyes wandering around as if she longed to be moving around. Yuffie felt slightly miffed at this, and crossed her arms over her chest until Tynan regained her concentration and raised her eyebrows.

"You look kinda mad." She commented. "Leon giving you trouble?"

Yuffie snorted. "You could say that." She shrugged. "It doesn't really matter."

"If you say so." Tynan chirped, which was exactly not what Yuffie wanted to hear. Who was she supposed to steam to if no one agreed with her about Squall's absurdity? Tynan wasn't exactly the best listener and Yuffie didn't exactly blame her since she traveled for a living.

"What are you up to?" Yuffie asked instead, resting her chin in her hand. "You're back early."

"I'm staying at the castle for awhile." Tynan said happily. "The season is getting too cold for most refugees to travel with me. So I'm kind of out of a job until it gets a little bit warmer. Wouldn't want our escapees to freeze!"

"That's great!" Yuffie gasped, forgetting her problem for the briefest of moments. "How long are you staying?"

"A month or two." Tynan sighed, turning a bit to look at the mountains. "I'm happy here. Its so relaxing. I won't have to walk around for a bit. It will get me a chance to gain some weight back just for the fun of losing it when my work picks back up."

"Do you have family here?" Yuffie asked innocently, missing Tynan's flickering expression. "Where are you staying?"

"No family." Tynan said quietly. "But my best friend is working here as a squire. I'll be able to spend some time with him and some of the refugees. We're going out to the village tonight."

"Oh," Yuffie said sadly, and her world crashed down again. "That's nice."

Tynan blinked up at her. "Why don't you come with us, Yuffie?"

Yuffie blinked back at her. "Aren't you going...to the pub?"

The innocent grin that overtook the younger girl's face was enough to make Yuffie want to back into her bedroom. Tynan was crazier than her and didn't seem to have any knowledge when it came to moral issues. However, a night in the village could be...interesting.

"We might go at some point." Tynan said. "I just go for the crack." (2)

Yuffie gasped. "Tynan!"

The girl looked shocked at Yuffie's expression, and then broke down in gut wrenching giggles. Yuffie wasn't sure what was so funny, but eventually Tynan straightened with a man twinkle in her eyes.

"You've been away from home too long, Yuffie." Tynan giggled. "Crack means fun. I didn't mean the drug."

"O-oh." Yuffie said, feeling a little stupid. "I knew that. So you don't drink?"

"Not often. I don't like the taste of it." Tynan grinned. "But the refugees drink like you wouldn't believe. It amuses me beyond belief."

Yuffie grimaced. "You should meet Sora."

Tynan made a face. "Huh?"

Yuffie shook her head. Going out with Tynan and her friends would be an amazing break from the castle. Especially since she hadn't been out in a long time. But would Aerith really approve of her going drinking and partying with people who were younger? Come to think of it, would Aerith approve of her going drinking and partying at all? Well, Leon was always saying she should start acting like an adult if she didn't want to be treated like a child. It was time to put that theory to the test. She could make her own decisions.

"Nevermind." Yuffie smiled, waving off Tynan's confused expression. It would be better for Tynan to find out Sora's story on her own. She probably wouldn't be able to sit through the story anyway. "I'll come with you, Tynan! Just give me a few minutes to get ready."

"Great!" Tynan said happily. "You'll have a fun. I promise!"

Yuffie grinned.

Yes. For once, she would.

Leon snorted softly as he pulled his own shirt over his head. He needed to have a shower and get to sleep before more guilt plagued his thoughts. He couldn't escape Yuffie's wounded expression, her tears, her flushed face early that morning. Then she hadn't shown up for dinner and he'd had to endure a whole hour of Aerith's wounded face and Cloud's glare. Aerith could really make him do anything if she altered her face well enough. And Cloud was usually so calm that he was great trouble indeed if he'd received a glare from him.

He'd had something new to think about in the first time in months. He felt different somehow, as if he had woken up that morning a different person. He felt outside his own situation, looking in on how ridiculous the whole thing was. Who was to blame? Why did he feel bad? Why couldn't he just ignore her?

And yet, despite Aerith's pout and Cloud's glare, he refused to blame himself for a situation beyond his control. He hadn't forced Yuffie to bring the subject up. He hadn't really said anything to make Yuffie cry. As far as he was concerned, Yuffie had brought it on herself.....

But that didn't make the guilt any easier. Yuffie had always fought so hard to be around him, to try and help him and be his friend. At times it was the last thing Leon ever wanted. But on the other hand, he often felt the silences at night without Yuffie snoring beside him. She was his companion, his partner, no matter how much he tried to deny it. And she said she hated him..

Why did that hurt him so much?

The door gave a loud rap and Leon jumped with a loud curse. He bent to scoop his gunblade on the floor, crossing his room as slowly as he could possible managed. If Cloud was here looking for a fight, he wouldn't back down. However, he really had no want to see the blond man. He wanted to get to sleep so he could stop thinking about her big, sad and blue eyes...

He squinted at the young figure who was standing at his door. It took him a moment to identify it as a person, as it had an odd shape slumped over its shoulder. But messy redish brown hair was unmistakable in the small population of the castle, and Leon loosened his hold on his Gunblade.

"Tynan?" He said in confusion, opening his door just a little more.

"Hiya, Leon!" The girl said in fake cheeriness, scratching the back of her head in nervousness.

"Can I help you?" He said cooly, narrowing his eyes at her expression. She stuttered for a short moment before something launched itself at his chest, smelling odd and knocking the wind out of his chest. Hair tickled his nose until he realized this thing was a person. A short, strong, black haired person to be exact. He pushed away from it, tilting his head down to stare at its face in shock.

"Yuffie." He growled, holding her out at arms length and peering suspiciously into her face. Yuffie giggled and swayed in his hold, lips gaining and dropping a smile as she gave him a grand wave. That odd smell hit his nose again, and her behavior concluded his suspicions as he recognized what the smell was.

Alcohol.

"She kept challenging people to duels on the street." Tynan said quietly as Leon turned to glare at her. "I didn't know she would drink so much. Actually, I didn't think she'd drink at all."

"How much did she drink?" Leon growled as Yuffie hiccuped.

"Four pints atleast." Tynan seemed to be finding a grin. "I guess she was trying to keep up with the regulars."

"Squally?" Yuffie drew the attention to herself as she reached up and touched a piece of his hair. "Your hair is real soft." (3)

Leon shut his eyes at the feeling. No one had touched his hair like that in a long time. Not since...He had to fight to keep from pushing her away. He didn't need these feelings now.

Tynan held up her hands. "Better you than me."

Leon shook his head, taking Yuffie by the shoulders and pushing her into the room. She went without a fuss, looking wildly around and exclaiming about how bright the room looked at night. Tynan shook her head with a small smile and turned to leave, pausing only to bow her head apologetically.

"She seemed really down earlier. That's why I invited her out." Tynan told him. "I didn't mean for it to go this far. I'm really sorry."

"Get to bed." He sighed, moving to shut the door. "It isn't your fault."

Its mine.

He turned and was suddenly face to face with a very pale looking Yuffie. Her eyes were wide with panicked fear, her nose right next to his as she clutched tightly at his back. Leon tensed immediately, arms slack as his side. He was shirtless and tired; Yuffie was drunk and holding him like the world depended on it. Strangely enough, he felt extremely worried. Yuffie knew better than to get this drunk. Had he really driven her this far? The guilt he'd felt only increased and it suddenly didn't matter why he cared. The least he could do was give They'd been friends once after all.

Slowly, he lifted his arms, unsure what to do with them after such a long time. He settled for resting them on her waist, feeling how warm they were despite the cold weather. Yuffie tucked herself furthur into his embrace, resting her chin over the side of his shoulder.

Memories assulted him from all sides. Holding Yuffie and protecting her from the young boys who senselessly chased her through the streets of the villages. Holding Yuffie as she sobbed from the memory of a horrible nightmare. Dashing through a violent storm with Yuffie tucked safely in the folds of his coat. Yuffie holding him when she had found him crying one day. Yuffie holding him as they watched Hollow Bastion's destruction. Yuffie holding him when she'd promised him something he had tried to forget. Unconciously, he tightened his hold, old feelings brought from these memories temporarily controlling his actions.

"Squall...." She whispered, pulling her head back only a little.

She looked up at him with white skin, tinged a little with green. It took him a moment to realize exactly what she was about to do. She gagged over his shoulder (4) and he quickly dashed to the bathroom. He grimaced as Yuffie hurled wildly into the toilet, bending down to pull her hair back from her face. He couldn't bring himself to chastise himself for any weakness. Couldn't be angry at Yuffie at all. For the moment, Yuffie was a child again. And he was Squall again. He couldn't shake that feeling off.

"Better?" He leaned over her to flush the toilet.

"A little." Yuffie murmured, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. "But I threw up a boot! What did I eat for dinner?"

"Ethyl." (5) Leon said dryly, helping Yuffie up and leading her back into the bedroom. She sunk down on to the bed, wavering slightly as she tried to regain her senses. Then she opened her eyes extremely wide at him, as if inquiring why he was standing when she was sitting. He sighed, sitting carefully down on the bed beside her.

"Sounds organic!" Yuffie giggled. "I never really liked organic food!"

"Okay." Leon muttered, getting up and crossing the room to the small dresser in the corner. He pulled out the smallest clothing he owned, old training clothes from his days in the army. He handed them to Yuffie, who took them without question and began to mutter away about how celery took more energy to eat than it gave back.

"Yuffie." He interrupted, and she blinked up at him. "Put those clothes on, okay?"

"I can do that!" Yuffie jumped up excitedly, only to gasp and fall flat on her back. Leon sighed and shook his head, taking the clothes from her weak grasp and helping her to stand steadily.

"Turn around." He instructed, which she did with some difficulty. "Take off your shirt."

Yuffie gasped. "Oh, no! I can't do that! You're a man!"

"How very astute of you." He muttered, rolling his eyes. "I've seen you without a shirt before, Yuffie. I won't look. I promise."

"Double promise?" Yuffie demanded, tugging at the hem of her shirt.

"Yes." Leon sighed, waiting impatiently as she struggled to get her shirt over her head. He was then assaulted with the sight of the scarred skin of her back. He had seen her scars before. He felt like a failure each time he saw them, that inner Squall that had always itched to protect her. But he'd never had to see them this close up. It made that feeling all the more worse.

"Yuffie." He murmured, touching the long scar that traced her spine. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Yuffie chewed her nails and looked back at him.

"For.." He paused, not quite sure what he was sorry for. "Everything."

"Well, you can't be sorry for everything!" Yuffie turned around, arm crossed in front of her chest. "Otherwise you'd do everything wrong. Even I'm not perfect!"

Shocked and slightly amused at this piece of wisdom, he pulled the new shirt over the top of her head, readjusting it until it fell almost to her knees. He opted to remain silent for the rest of the process, unsure why he felt so odd and was saying things like that. Yuffie yawned loudly once he'd finished pulling her sweatpants on, stretching high above her head and stumbling over to his bed. There she buried herself into the pillows, keeping her arm high in the air as she began to fall asleep. Leon shook his head, taking her arm and tucking it under the blanket. She made a loud noise of protest, throwing that arm back into the air. He gave up; he was too used to her odd sleeping habits.

"Yuffie?" He said stiffly, moving towards the door. "I'm leaving now, okay?"

"What?" She sat up quickly. "Where are ya goin'?"

"To another bedroom." He shrugged. "I don't mind."

"No, no!" She rolled her eyes. "There's lots of room in this bed! We used to sleep in the same bed, remember?"

"Oh. Did we really?" He asked quietly.

She rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you don't remember, Squall."

"Leon." He told her.

She shrugged as if that had absolutely no importance to her. That hadn't changed during her alcoholic tendencies, although it could have been the one good thing out of this entire situation. She was patting the bed with her hand, indicating him to get in to the bed. Leon had no idea why he felt so uncomfortable with the situation. He'd slept in the same bed as her for nearly three years. Why did it seem so weird now?

Still, she would probably insist on making a fuss if he didn't. He slipped under the covers slowly, and Yuffie have a contented sigh as she settled back into the pillows. She was asleep in a matter of moments, her arm thrown into the air and her breathing loud. He stared at the ceiling until she shifted. When he looked over, the t-shirt he had given her was pulled down to show him that scar once again. And he suddenly had something new to look at.

Squall was emerging from him faster than he could control. He didn't know if it was because of their fight. If it was Cloud's glares or Aerith's sad face. He didn't know if it was the way she had hugged him earlier. But he suddenly felt guilty, sad, lonely and hurt. Wonder, amusement and affection. Anger, annoyance, and hate. It was suddenly all jumbled together, and he couldn't control his emotions or what he said, nor could he tell what was up and what was down.

Hollow Bastion had taken down a large junk of the cold ice he had protected his heart with for so long. Yuffie, slowly and with the smallest weapon imaginable, was chipping away at the other half. He felt stranded in a place he had always called home, dealing with things he hadn't in years. People like Tynan had been forced to grow up too fast. But he hadn't had the chance to grow up at all. And now it was catching up with him.

The only way to ease the pain in his chest now was to do what his arms wanted to. He reached out his arm and draped it over Yuffie's side, pulling her closer and concealing that scar from him. Yuffie muttered, turning over and pressing her cold nose to his neck. Sighing, he pressed his own nose to her hair, willing to ignore that disgusting scent of alcohol to allow him this moment.

His thoughts in this one night had made more sense that they had since the day he learned that Rinoa had been killed. Everything was suddenly clear, he didn't feel angry. Only numb from his epiphany. He knew it wouldn't last. He knew this was once of those things that made sense when you were tired and not thinking straight. He would probably wake up with a worse hangover than Yuffie would from all this thinking. But for now, he enjoyed the sense of peace. Enjoyed the feeling of protect her. Enjoyed, oddly enough, having her so close.

"Yuffie." He whispered. "I am sorry for everything."

Tommorow he would wake up and realize how stupid and overemotional he was being. That Yuffie was drunk and wouldn't remember a time when she didn't hate him so much. That everything he had thought was foolish and made no sense whatsever. Yuffie brushed her nose against his neck, as if an acceptance to his apology. For now, that was good enough for him.

He fell asleep that night without a frown. He wasn't smiling, but he was blissfully even in his emotions. He drifted off slowly and without force, dreaming one of those dreams you knew was good but couldn't remember when you woke up. He felt human, alive. It didn't matter if he would wake up in anger and with regrets. For now, he was content. The future just didn't matter any more.

And his gunblade lay forgotten on the floor, way out of hand's reach, for the first time in eight years.

Yar!

1) Yes, Tynan has made another appearance! But she won't be a big thing in this story. She might show up again at the end. Maybe if Sir Riku pays a little visit? -. She isn't from Hollow Bastion in Sea Salts to Heal. But I needed a character to take Yuffie out to get drunk. My original character was extremely dislikable and I don't think Yuffie would trust her. So, I just took Tynan out of SSTH and popped her in here. This, you could say, is what Tynan would have been like if she hadn't been all traumatized in SSTH. What she was like before maybe? Hehe. She's really OOC in this one. But she's not really supposed to be the same person as in SSTH.

2) Crack is a word used for fun in Ireland. Its just a slang word, but it seemed to be something the new Tynan would say. I love the expression myself, especially when I say it here in Canada and people give me horrified looks. Then I must explain myself.

3) This one was inspired by that scene in FF8. When Squall and Rinoa are dancing and she touches his hair? I can see Squall being thrown off by the gesture coming from Yuffie.

4)That happened to me once. My friend suddenly collapsed on me and I thought that he had passed out. But then he started to giggle, then gag. And since we were inside, I got him outside before he threw up all over the floor. But it turned out he was only trying to communicate that he had to go to the bathroom. I love my drunk friends.

5) That's the scientific term for the alcohol that you drink. In case you didn't know.

I'm extremely happy right now. Mostly because I finished this chapter. Also, I got the second highest score in Maths (which is a BIG deal for me since I struggle in maths). ALSO, my Great Aunt June is out of the hospital now. She had pneumonia and we were all pretty scared. ALSO I got a letter from my Great Uncle Graeme. His letters are always something to look foward to, especially when he was so worried about Aunt June. But, all seems well for now, and I am so happy as the world is a spectacular place!

Eh. My television is being assaulted by the vote. It had a big effect on us Canadians even if we're a different country and I've been following it. Needless to say, I don't know how to react. But I'll save that for my livejournal, since this isn't the place to discuss politics.

Er..ah..I probably should have warned you all to just skip that paragraph. Anyway. I hoped you liked this chapter! Its been a long time in the making. Please Review!

Off to work on Seal Salts to Heal!

-