Chapter 7: Eight o' Clock Romance

( Note: My goodness.... I haven't updated!! You guys... I really need so motivation . The midi factor is starting to wear off. Blargh. Anyhoo, I'm going to try my best and write when I have free time, and I'll stop drawing. I've been drawing so much, I need to focus on writing. Because I'd love to finish my story. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the FF characters and yadda yadda, you get the picture. )

"Oh deary! TIIIIIFA! No, don't cut it there, cut there! Yea. That's better. Phew!" Yuffie kept shifting in her chair and teasing the bottom of the towel that was wrapped around her neck. "Yuffie, would you just chill? It's not like you're going to end up bald." Tifa carefully snipped off pieces of hair neatly and then placed the scissors down and grabbed a hair dryer and some hair spray. Tifa started to carefully dry and curl Yuffie's hair outward. Occasionally she would spray hair spray and then dry it a bit more.



"Alright Yuffie. I'm done!" Tifa handed her a mirror. Yuffie looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, "HOLY MATERIA! This is the best haircut I've ever had! Thanks Tifa! I'm so going to come to you when I need a haircut ever again! Alright?" Yuffie hugged Tifa and she laughed and hugged her back, "Anytime Yuffie."



As the two girls laughed, there was a knock at the door and Yuffie jumped up, gasping, "It's probably my dress! I'm so excited!" Yuffie ran to the door in a robe and the door slide open quickly. There stood Cait Sith, holding a nicely, non-wrinkled dress. "Oo thanks Cait Sith!" Yuffie quickly ran off and the door slide shut in his face. "Hey... er... TAKI, that was rude." Tifa walked tot he door and it slide open again, "Sorry about that Cait." The huge plush jumped up and grinned, "Not a problem!"



"It's her first date," Tifa whispered with a smirk. "Oh... who's the lucky fellow?" Cait Sith mumbled. "Why, none other than Reno himself." Cait Sith jumped into the air again, "Well this going to be fun, now isn't it?" Tifa nodded and waved to Cait, "Have a nice evening." Cait Sith bowed, "You two Ms. Tifa." The door shut and Tifa pondered, "Ms. Tifa? Heh... I bet Reeve installed more manners into that plush." She smiled and walked over to the bathroom, which was closed and locked.

"Uh... Tifa? Help please!" The door unlocked and Tifa walked in. "I need some help with the zipper, if that's ok?" Tifa grabbed the zipper and carefully zipped it up along Yuffie's back, "There you go." Yuffie turned around and smiled, "What do you think?" Tifa crossed her arms and nodded, "Very pretty, I must say." Yuffie placed her hands behind her back and stood on her tiptoes, blushing, looking down at the ground, "You think so?" Tifa nodded, "Mhm!" She patted Yuffie on the shoulder, "Now for some make-up!"

10 minutes passed by and Yuffie opened her eyes to find "Taki" staring straight back at her in the mirror, "That's really me, Tifa? It can't be! I haven't seen such beauty on myself ever." Yuffie leaned forward and touched the mirror, then jumped back, "It really is me." She look saddened, but then joy filled her eyes and she turned to Tifa.

"Oh, what's the matter?" Tifa looked at Yuffie, as Yuffie's eyes filled up with tears, "I'm so happy. I really appreciate this. I've never been this pretty, and... I've never felt so happy! Thank you Tifa.... Thank you!" She hugged the puzzled looking Tifa. She stood there as the tiny girl hugged her, but then smiled warmly and hugged her, "Oh Yuffie. It was no trouble. Just one thing." Yuffie stepped back and sniffled, "Hmm?"

"Don't cry... You'll mess up your make up." Yuffie laughed at Tifa and smiled, wiping the tears carefully before they ran down her cheeks, "Thanks again."

"Oh! One more thing," Tifa said with a small jump, "I have to repay you, for when I went on a date." Tifa walked out of the bathroom and Yuffie stared at her carefully, "Hmm?" Tifa goes to her side-table drawer, next to hear bed and opens it, pulling out an emerald necklace. She walks to Yuffie and places it around her neck. Before Yuffie could say anything, Tifa pulls her out of the bathroom and opens up the closet door, viewing Yuffie's whole outfit.

Her shimmering, dark green dress shines in the lamplight, and she turns around delicately in her deep forest green heels. "Beautiful," Tifa says quietly, but loud enough for Yuffie to hear. Yuffie stops admiring herself and grabs Tifa's hand, "Thank you a million times. You are like the big sister I've never had." Tifa nods and looks at the clock, "7:51pm. He should be here soon to pick you up." Yuffie nods, and start to blush out of nervousness.

Tifa wonders off into the closet and rustles around in a box. The box nearly falls on her, but she catches it, "Yes! I found it!" Yuffie leans over to look at her and Tifa pulls out a camera, "I have to get a picture of you two, alright?" Yuffie blushes even more and nods, "Alright." Tifa winks and tilts her head, "For keepsake, y'know? But first, let me take a picture of you by yourself." Yuffie nodded and stood in front of Tifa, smiling as big as she could, "Say chocobo!" Yuffie continued to grin, "CHOCOBO!" Tifa snapped a picture and it came out of the camera. Tifa grabbed it and shook it. "Very nice!" Tifa looked at it.

"Hehe..." Yuffie paced around and kept checking the clock every 10 seconds, while Tifa sat back on the bed, placing more film into the camera.

* * *

Reno, standing outside of the apartment, stares at the door. He checks his watch and it reads, "7:53pm." He sighs, about to knock on it, but then backs off, "Why can't I do this? I'm so nervous! Why should I? I have to show her that I'm truly a ladies man. Oh but that sounds so stupid." He pulls his fist back and is about to knock, but then stops, "Geez, stop acting like a coward!" He mumbles to himself. Another minute passes and he paces around, holding a dozen roses and a small box.

"What happens if she isn't ready when I knock? I mean, I am a few minutes early. And girls tend to take forever. But then again, she could be ready! And waiting for me! Oh I don't know what to do. Maybe I can make a good impression by actually being on time! Exactly at 8." He sighs and shrugs, "I'll just knock. I wouldn't mind waiting if she isn't ready."

He raises his hand, ready to knock, but his phone vibrates and he picks it up, "Hello? Rufus? What is it? What?! You need my help. And exactly with what? Ugh... Can't you get Rude--alright, how about Vincent? Elena? FOR HOLY WEAPON'S SAKE! What about Reeve? Tseng- er never mind, he's always busy. Can't you get anyone else to help? I have a really important date to attend to! I don't want to mess this- ugh... Yessir. I'm on my way."

Reno puts his phone away and placed the roses and the box on the ground, in front of the door. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a note. He placed the note carefully in between two roses. He looked at his watch and it read, "7:57pm."

"So close, yet so far." He banged his fist on the door and walked off to the elevators.

* * *

Inside, Yuffie jumped at the bang, "Oh my gosh! That must be him! But... I can't answer it! He's a bit early! TIFA! YOU ANSWER IT!" Yuffie was running around, trying not fall in her heels. "Oh Yuffie, you are so childish sometimes. Are you positive you want me to answer it?" Yuffie nodded and blushed, "I'm sure! And when you open the door, you can take a sneak picture! Like 'SURPRISE!' and snap a picture of him." Tifa laughed and got up from the bed, "Alright, fine. But if you ever go on a date with him again, you answer the door, alright?" Yuffie nodded and ran into the bathroom, peeking out.

Tifa looked at Yuffie and then faced the door. The door slide open and Tifa snapped a picture, "SURPR...ise?" She lowered the camera and looked around, "Reno?" The picture Tifa took fell out of the camera and slowly started to appear next to what she saw was flowers, a box and a note, "Uh... Yuffie?" Yuffie jumped out and smiled, "HIYA RENO! I'm ready for my date!" She ran over to Tifa and looked around, "Where's Reno? It's exactly 8pm!" Tifa pointed down and Yuffie saw the gifts on the floor.

She slowly kneeled down and grabbed the flowers, then undeveloped picture and the box. She walked backwards and sat down on her bed, placing the box and picture by her side and she picked the note from the flowers. Yuffie carefully read it and stood up, dropping the flowers to the ground and running out of the room, "YUFFIE! Where are you going? Come back!" Yuffie ran to the elevator and pressed the button over and over. It arrived and she got inside, pressing floor number 64, but then half way there, she hit the stop button and sat on the ground, against the glass. She clutched her knees to her chest and hid her face in between, sobbing.

"It's not fair. I could have had my first date. My first REAL date, and then he screws it up. I bet he stood me up. Just a big, practical joke. THE JERK! I knew this was too good to be true." She continued to sob hard.

* * *

Tifa looked out of the door and stared at the elevator, debating whether she should go or not. She turned about and looked at the note on the ground. She leaned down and picked it up, reading it aloud, "I'm sorry Taki. Business called, couldn't stay. We'll try again later. ... Love, Reno" Tifa sat down on Yuffie's bed and stared at the note, "Maybe she went to go find him. I hope that's what she's doing. I'll go find her later."

* * *

Reno stepped up to President ShinRa's office and pushed the door

open with quite a force, it hit the wall, "What is it Rufus?" Reno snapped at him with anger. Rufus was sitting at his desk, typing on his computer, "Oh. I was having problems with the computer, and I knew that you knew a lot about computers, so I called you up." Reno taped his foot, giving a mean look at Rufus, "Key word... WAS having a computer problem. You're telling me you called me up here to fix NOTHING?" Reno was standing at Rufus' desk and he slammed his fist down, shaking everything laid atop of it.

Rufus jumped slightly in his chair, "Chill. Why are you so mad?" Reno straightened up, his head tilted downward, laughing, "I had a date. With one of the most prettiest girls in all of ShinRa." Rufus leaned over his desk, elbows on the table and with his head lying in his hands, listening as if he was interested, "Oh really? And who may that be?"

"Taki Kanzaki. Room 3, Floor 53. Her roommate, Tifa Lockheart, sir." Rufus sat straight up, "Tifa Lockheart? Oh my. I interrupted the date that could have happen between you and Tifa Lockheart's roommate, eh?" Reno glared, "She has a name, not 'Tifa Lockheart's roommate'. Now if you excuse me, I am no use here, and I'm going to go attend to my date." Reno kicked Rufus' desk and turned around, walking off, without closing the door, "Geez, how rude." Rufus snorted under his breath.

Reno walked over to the elevators and got inside, pressing floor number 53.He looked at his watched and it read, "8:13pm."

"Maybe I'm not too late. I hope she'll forgive me." The elevator zoomed down and stopped. He walked out of it and walked down the hall to room 3. He knocked on it and it slid open, none other to hear Tifa's voice respond, "Yuffie? Is that you?" Tifa peered at the door and it turned out to be Reno, "Eh heh... I'm having those silly dreams again! I keep thinking Yuffie, or Barret, or the other members are here. Er... so uh, hi! Where's Taki?"

Reno gave her a puzzled look, "I thought she was here." Tifa shook her head slowly, "Uh, no. I thought she went to go look for you." Reno shook his head, the him and Tifa both gave a shocked look, "Oh no!" Tifa grabbed her shoes and slipped them on, "I'll search the lower floors. You, Reno, go search the upper floors!" He nodded and ran off, thinking to himself, "I'm coming Taki!" Tifa ran the other directions, taking the stairs, "Oh Yuffie, you ditz. I hope you are all right." Reno pressed the elevator button over and over, "OH HURRY UP!!" He got inside and started clicking the top floor.

* * *

Tifa skipped stairs and jumped over them, opening the door to each floor, "Yuf---er---TAKI? Where are you?" Tifa kept looking around, as she bumped into Tseng on the 48th floor, "Oh! Tseng, have you seen Taki?" He shook his head no. "If you do, phone me. It's important!" He nodded with a surprise look and walked up the stairs.

* * *

Reno's elevator shot up, and he looked through the glass, searching everywhere, "TAKI?" He spotted an elevator, stuck, and just sitting there. Inside he spotted his love, "TAKI!" He slammed on the stop button and the elevator stopped with force and screeched to a stop.

"Taki?" Reno got to his knees and pressed up against the glass. His elevator lingered right next to Yuffie's and she looked up, make up smeared down her cheeks, "Reno?" Reno placed his hands against the glass, but then reached in his pocket and pulled out paper and pen, writing a note. He pressed the delicate paper up against the glass and Yuffie read the words to herself, "I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me?" Yuffie sniffled, scooting over to the other side of the elevator, placing her hands on the elevator glass, gently nodding. Reno smiled a smile that she has never seen before, a smile of forgiveness and of relief.



Reno stood up, along with Yuffie. They both pressed the open door button and they got off at the 61st floor. Yuffie fell into Reno's arm and sobbed, "I thought you were just playing with me. Standing me up. Like before." Reno hugged her tightly and smiled, but then got confused, "Like before?" Yuffie stepped back, "Uhm... I had a dream that you were playing a mean trick on me. Yea, that's right." She sighed of relief, forgetting that she wasn't Yuffie, but that she was Taki. Taki Kanzaki, and not herself.

Yuffie than realized that Reno didn't like Yuffie, he liked Taki. She hid her face in his chest and sobbed hard, "It's alright, don't cry. I'm here." She continued to sob, but tried to stop. Reno smiled and sighed happily, holding her closer, "I meant to tell you earlier, but I was so shy in telling you, but uhm," Reno paused and blushed. Yuffie looked up and tilted her head, "What is it?"

Reno stumbled on his words, "You..." He gulped, "...you look beautiful. The most beauty I've ever seen." He looked up and blushed even more. "You mean it?" Yuffie blushed and sniffled. Reno nodded and rubbed his nose, "Yea. I mean it. I really do." Yuffie smiled and tears ran down her cheeks, "Thanks." Reno looked down at her and got a puzzled look, "Why are you crying?" Yuffie wiped her tears and chuckled, "I've never heard kinder words ever." Yuffie, again, buried her face in his chest and sobbed. Reno softly stroked her hair and smiled, closing his eyes. He rested his head on top of hers, taking in a long breath.

"I missed you. I've missed being this way. I wish you knew." Yuffie mumbled extremely softly under her loud sobs without realizing she had done it. Reno nuzzled her head with his, "It's alright. I've missed you too. It's alright to cry... Yuffie Kisaragi."

Yuffie shot her head up, nearly popping him in the chin and pushed him away, "What?" Reno looked at her with soft eyes and a soft smile, "I heard what you said. I know you aren't who you say you are. It's really you. My long lost love, Yuffie Kisaragi." He took a step forward. "You aren't supposed to know!" Yuffie leaned forward and shouted, "Don't tell! Please don't tell! PLEASE!" Reno stood close to her and lifted her chin, pressing his lips against hers. Tears streamed down her cheeks as they locked lips. He pulled back slowly, "I promise. I won't." He kissed her again, and this time Yuffie seemed to tell him, "I love you" through the emotion of the kiss.

Reno gazed into her eyes and pulled back, "I love you too Yuffie."