Authors note: Well, another update. Thanks to everyone whos reviewed so far; your reviews make me happy! Well, anyhoo, enjoy!


Chapter 9 - Visitors

Rihanna sat, hugging her knees, trying to ignore the cold. It was now pitch black, and Yuffie had long since fallen asleep. She shivered as she heard the wind blow harder outside.

Just as she had almost managed to drop off, she was brought back down to her senses by a loud bang. As first, she wasn't sure what it was. She sat up and looked around her, her heart beating quickly. It wasn't until she heard it a second time she realised what it was. Someone was banging at the door.

This time Yuffie sat up quickly and looked over to the door. Earlier, she and Rihanna had barricaded the door in case any more monsters were about. Now, someone or something was trying to get in.

"Rihanna?" said Yuffie, frightened.

"Y-yeah?" Rihanna got slowly to her feet, but before she could step towards the door, it was forced open. Yuffie screamed.

"Yuffie?" Two figures had just entered the room. One of them, the one that spoke, stepped forward.

"Tifa!" Yuffie said excitedly. She ran over and hugged the woman that had just walked into the room. She looked shocked, but hugged her back.

"This is Tifa." Yuffie said, pointing to her, "And, that's Cloud." She pointed at the man standing in the doorway. Rihanna smiled awkwardly.

"Have we met before?" Tifa asked; she hadn't noticed Reno.

"Umm, no, I don't think so…" She looked at Cloud standing in the doorway. He was staring hard at Rihanna, trying to figure out where he had seen her before. Then it seemed to come to him.

"Where is he?" Cloud said coldly.

"Huh? Who?" Yuffie asked.

"You know perfectly well who…"

"Reno?" Tifa seemed to have worked it out too. "You're his…?

"Sister, yeah." Rihanna said, looking at the floor.

"Yuffie, c'mon." Cloud motioned towards the door. Yuffie stared at him for a minute, not moving from her spot. The, unexpectedly, she stepped backwards towards Rihanna and put a hand on her shoulder.
"No." she said defensively. "I'm not going. Reno's hurt, and it's my fault."

Cloud stood there, seemingly shocked. He didn't expect anyone to pick Reno over him, especially not Yuffie. He stared at her for a minute.

"What do you mean…hurt?" he finally said.

Yuffie stared seriously at him and stepped to the side, so that Reno was in full view to both Cloud and Tifa.

"What happened?" said Tifa. "How come neither of you two were hurt?"

"Well, we were…a little." Rihanna held up her arm where one of the monsters had caught her.

"But…"

"Yeah, I know." Yuffie interrupted, "I guess Turk-boy's just unlucky.

"So…" Cloud said quietly, "There's no chance of you leaving without him?" Yuffie shook her head, "You know, there's no way I'm taking him with me…"

Yuffie put her hands on her hips and stared at Cloud, as though waiting for him to surrender without her having to saying anything. Then she sat on the floor next to Reno.

"I'm not going."

"Tifa…?" Cloud turned desperately to the woman beside him.

"Yuffie…I know…you don't want to leave him, but he and his sister came here alone…they were expected to look after themselves." She put a comforting hand on Yuffie's shoulder. Yuffie simply glared at it.

"I don't care. Maybe I want to stay with them anyway." She pouted.

Tifa and Cloud stood before Yuffie, Reno and Rihanna, shocked at her sudden change of attitude…she was stubborn but…maybe she'd been spending too much time around a certain mouthy red-headed Turk.

"Fine." Tifa said. "You know where we are when you change your mind." At that, they both headed back out into the cold, dark night. Yuffie stared after them, equally shocked at how easy they had given in.

"Yuffie?" Rihanna sat down next to her.

"Hmmm?" Yuffie replied distantly. Rihanna smiled at her.

"Thank you."