Chapter Nine: Of Drunkards And Chocobos

Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII. Neither do I own the original characters. So you can't sue me. The story plot is mine. –Sticks tongue out at you-


Yuffie yawned as she sat up, the bright sunlight streaming in. Finally, it's stopped raining! Yuffie opened the window, and then looked over at Vincent who had just finished reloading his gun. "You know what Vinnie? I'm so glad it isn't raining anymore. Rain is so depressing. I really don't care what the weather is like, just as long as it's not raining." Yuffie pulled her backpack off of the bed and strapped it onto her back.
Vincent put the gun in its holster while walking over to the window beside the ninja.

"I seem to prefer the rain."

Yuffie giggled.

Vincent raised his eyebrow just a little bit.

"Why is that funny?"

Yuffie stopped laughing and looked thoughtfully out the window.

"It's just that…when I think about it…we are so different. I'm like sunshine and you're like rain. The funny thing is…I wonder what Cloud and Tifa were thinking when they stuck us together like this"

Vincent looked up at the ceiling.

"…so do I."

Yuffie skipped down the stairs of the Inn with Vincent following quietly. The ninja stopped at the bottom stair and looked around. Turning to Vincent she said, "Hey, where is Reno? And Rude?" An idea popped into her head and she burst out the door.
Vincent followed Yuffie into the bar down the street. Reno's head lay flat on the table while his right hand still grasped an empty glass bottle. Rude sat in the chair next to him, totally sober. Yuffie strode over to where Reno had collapsed with an impish grin on her face. "Hey Vinnie, watch this!" She reached behind his head and grabbed his pony-tail and yanked. Vincent had begun to say 'Yuffie, I don't think that's a good idea' but his feeble attempt was drowned out by a blood curling yelp from the red-headed man.

"Yuffie what the #$ was that for"
The ninja smiled sweetly.
"We have to leave, Reno-kins," Yuffie said jokingly.
Reno rubbed the back of his head muttering curses that would rival Cid Highwind himself.

Reno staggered out of the bar a few minutes after Vincent and Rude left to go get Chocobos. He clumsily walked over to where Yuffie stood, practicing with her ninja weapon.

He hiccupped.

"Hey, honey."

Yuffie jumped.

"What the-? Reno, you sick drunk person…"

She started to walk away, but the drunken man grabbed her arm, making her drop her weapon.

"Hey, lemme go! I swear, if I could, I'd shove my Conformer right up your…!"

Just then, Vincent and Rude came out of the Chocobo stables with the reins of three Chocobos. Vincent handed the reigns to Rude when he saw Reno's inexcusable behavior, then pulled out the Death Penalty and pointed it to Reno's forehead. After years of interrogating enemies with the Turks, he found that your whole life flashes before your eyes as you find yourself looking down the barrel of a gun.
"Reno let her go."

He didn't have to ask twice. The man was instantly sobered due to this near-death encounter with Vincent. "Whoa man, I didn't know she was your girl! I'll keep my hands to myself next time."

Vincent's eyes were like bullets burrowing into Reno's soul. He lowered his gun. "Good." He put the weapon back in the holster and stepped beside Yuffie who was clutching her arm.

Gawd, I could've totally owned his behind...but I seriously didn't expect that from Reno. And he called me 'Vinnie's girl'. Hmm…Vinnie's girl…that does have a ring to it…eek! He didn't even protestto that...Speak of the devil, here he comes!

"Did he hurt you?"

Vincent asked coolly.

Yuffie half smiled.

"I'm m'kay, Vinnie. He just scared me a bit. It's not every day you have a drunken guy trying to hit on you."

Vincent held her arm, gently inspecting it. On one side of here arm there were four yellow finger marks and on the other side there was a thumb imprint. Gawd, Yuffie thought. Rude didn't even care about Vinnie threatening to kill Reno…man, that guy is cold. At least Vinnie would stand up for me…but I'm not the one going around and hitting on little girls. At the same time that Yuffie was thinking, Vincent was also pondering, but on a different subject: they only had three Chocobos with four people.
Yuffie will have to ride with one of us. Reno is out of the question. Yuffie could ride with Rude…but the Chocobo would probably collapse under the extra weight. Vincent sighed. It was obvious who he was riding with.
Host, we should have left earlier.
I know that.
Do you mind riding with the brat?
Yuffie is not a brat.
You defend her?
I defend my friends with my life.
This girl is not only a friend to you, mortal.
What do you know demon?
I know whatever you think.

And tell me, Chaos, what do I think?
You know, Host.
That is enough. We should be continuing on.
I have a new question for you, human.
And what would that be?
Why do you not tell the girl why you chose to come?

Answer the question.
I refuse to continue this conversation.

Vincent silenced Chaos as he mounted the Chocobo. Yuffie scrambled up with a little help from Vincent, reaching out his hand to assist her. Rude grabbed Reno by the shirt collar and set him on a Chocobo then got on his own. Within a few minutes, they raced out of town, Yuffie's arms tightening around the ebony-haired man's waist.


Author's Note: This Chapter was…sigh. I'm still mad at myself for the last two chapters. They sucked like mad, seriously. Sorry for the short chapter and the late update. I've been busy, very busy. Please, Please, Please notify me of any plot contradictions or spelling errors. This is my first attempt at writing, ya'know. Love, Peace, and Doughnuts.