Howdy everyone! Sorry for the delay, I hadn't had the internet in a while. But I got it back now, and I have this chapter done with. Wow... Okay... there's a lot of reviews. 00 Um... since it's a little late and this chapter is already a bit long, I'm going to have to skip replies this time around, sorry. I'll make sure to do next chapter. Big thanks to everyone who has reviewed though.

But there is one thing I'd like to comment on. I can't remember who said it, someone said it seems like I haven't played Final Fantasy 7 before. I first read that and I laughed. I have played Final Fantasy 7 and beaten it many, many times. So many times that I can't count them all. If some of the characters seem out of character for any of you, it's because I'm trying to keep them within Kingdom Hearts type deal. Plus... I'm usually not one to write a romance/comedy/drama or w/e you call this type of story. Most of my fics are Action/Adventure... I'm not mad at the review nor am I uh... flaming the reviewer, I just like to make things 'Clear'. Anyway... I've ranted enough. LEt's get on with this long waited chapter.

Disclaimer- I don't own Kingdom Hearts

The Morning After

Yuffie Kisaragi

'What is with everyone starring at me?

You may look but you cannot see

Who I really am, and what I'm really planning

I'm young and I'm scheming

I may look weak but I'm really strong

Underestimating me would be wrong

I have pride and a heart that's confused

Yet if you offer answers, they'll be refused'

Leon cried out as his head smashed against the brick wall of one of the buildings. He instantly felt dizzy, his world began to spin. It took him a moment to realize that he wasn't standing up on his feet. His knees buckled as he forced himself back on to his feet. He kept his gaze out into the darkness, to try and catch a glimpse of the creature. All he needs is to see those glowing red orbs and he'll know where the creature is.

The flap of a wing echoed in the ally. Leon quickly turned towards the sound. He immediately felt his chest being torn by the creatures razors sharp digits on each of its hands. The blood rushed out of his wounds and he fell again, his hands clutching placed above his wounds to try and stop the bleeding. The creature kicked him in the side, hurling him back to a pile of stacked crates. Wood shattered as he crashed through them, the wood covered most of him, and even though he knew he could get up, Leon wasn't willing to.

Leon remained in his place as the creature loomed over him, the darkness seeming to envelope the creature as its bloody gaze stared right down at him. The claws on its right hand glimmered in the night as it raised it up for the deathblow. For a moment it remained posed in that position, as if to laugh at Leon for beating him.

Then it hurled its claw forward. Leon's hand struck out from the pile of shattered wood and captured the attackers wrist to prevent it from laughing a single claw on him. "Leon..." The creature called out as it tried pulling away, but Leon would not let go, his grip on the creature's wrist only tightened, "Leon you're hurting me." Leon brows furrowed in anger as his free hand grabbed a broken piece of wood to use it as a stake.

"Leon let go!"

Aerith attempted to pull her arm free of Leon's grasp. It was only when he finally woke up and let her go that she was free from his death grip on her wrist. She took a moment to rub her sore wrist and rotate it to make sure it wasn't seriously hurt. Leon took the opportunity to take in his surroundings. He quickly figured out that he was in Yuffie's room and not his own. "How long have I been out?" He asked, his gaze settling on Aerith.

Aerith stepped back up at the side of the bed and grabbed the damp washcloth she had dropped, "Not long, only the entire night." She replied quieting, not sure whether she should ask what had happened. She ran the washcloth over the wounds on his chest, remembering to be cautious of them. When Leon tensed up Aerith muttered a quick apology.

"It's cold." Leon stated. He tried sitting up but the pain was too much for him to bare and he settled back down. Aerith didn't even bother telling him he shouldn't move. She knew he'd try anyway so it was best for him to find out first hand whether he could get up or not. At least she won't have to worry about him doing it again. "What time is it?" Leon asked, not exactly comfortable with the silence.

"Around seven in the morning." Aerith answered immediately.

"...Where's Yuffie?" He asked since he noticed that he's taking her bed.

"Um... I think she went and slept on the coach last night. I'm not sure though. I didn't look when I woke up this morning." Leon just nodded his head and became quiet. Aerith's eyes moved from her work at hand to Leon face, noticing that he had become deep in thought. "So... you got pretty beaten up last night." She stated, trying to get into the subject.

"I should've had my gunblade with me." Leon muttered in slight anger for his stupidity, "I would've beaten it then."

"It?" Aerith questioned, pausing from her work.

"...The demon in Traverse..." Leon lowered his gaze, as if shamed at what he's going to say next, "I know it's not Cloud now."

Leon expected Aerith to question him about how he could even think Cloud was the one to blame in the first place. She doesn't however, she just nods her head and says, "That's a relief." After a moment Aerith adds, "I guess that explains how you got these wounds." She said, referring to the three gashes along his torso.

With one finger, Aerith traces one of the gashes, feeling the agitated flesh. Aerith gave a startled jump when Leon grabbed her wrist again. Realizing what she was doing, Aerith took a step back and tried to cover up her embarrassment, "You must be hungry. I'll go get you some breakfast." With that said, Aerith quickly left the room before Leon could get the chance to see her reddening face.

The sound of the door across the hall being closed roused Yuffie from her slumber. For a few moments she was in a state of confusion, not recognizing the room she's in as her own. It takes her a minute or two to recall last night's events, and how she had gotten herself in Cloud's bed. 'At least the storm's gone.' Yuffie thought to herself. She rolled onto her side and found herself starring at Cloud's back.

Seeing him faced away from her made her feel a bit disappointed. For some strange reason, last night before going to sleep she had thought she'd wake up in his arms. 'Okay... this is getting complicated and weird.' She told herself, 'I'm suppose to be trying to get Leon and I'm here hoping to be in Cloud's arms.' Yuffie scowled at her thoughts, 'Damn teenage hormones, never make it easy on me.'

Yuffie turned back around to stare out into the dark room. Her gaze settled on Cloud's crimson cape sitting on top of the dresser. For a long while, all Yuffie did was stare at the cape in thought, 'He really needs to figure out something else to wear. That thing just makes everyone stare at him.' Slowly, a grin spread across Yuffie's lips as an idea struck her. With her eyes shining with mischief, Yuffie glanced back at Cloud to make sure he's still asleep. Convinced that the coast is clear, Yuffie got out of bed and made her move. 'Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!'

At the sound of Yuffie's departure, Cloud opened his eyes. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Yuffie had indeed left the room. Letting out a breath, Cloud turned back to the wall and closed his eyes, not yet ready to start the day. For some reason he felt that it would be a long day.

"What are you laughing about Yuffie?" Aerith finally questioned her younger friend's seemingly endless giggles. Having already gotten Leon his breakfast, Aerith is now busy making breakfast for the rest of the household, knowing that Cloud will be up soon, and if he isn't, she'll wake him up.

Yuffie bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hold back the grin that didn't seem to want to fade. She couldn't help but find the situation hilarious. She can only imagine what Cloud's reaction will be when he wakes up and finds that his precious cape has mysteriously disappeared.

"Nothing!" Yuffie chimed.

Aerith raised an eyebrow at her, knowing better to believe Yuffie. "I hope you didn't do anything TOO bad Yuffie. I'd rather not have the day start out with you starting an argument."

Yuffie rolled her eyes at the idea, 'As if Cloud would argue with anybody.' "Don't worry Aerith! I didn't do anything! I promise."

Aerith opened her mouth about to reply but stopped when she saw Cloud walk pass the kitchen, and then again in the opposite direction. Yuffie noticed too which ended up causing her to break out in a grin. Again they saw walk pass the kitchen and into the living room. Yuffie crossed her arms behind her head, put her feet on the table and leaned her chair back onto two feet, feeling a strange sense of fulfillment over what she had done.

Aerith's curiosity got the best of her, so when Cloud walks pass the kitchen once more she quickly stops him, "Cloud?" She called out to get his attention. The blonde swordsman walked into the kitchen, "What are you doing?" Aerith questioned.

Cloud glances around the kitchen, his gaze landing on the ninja sitting at the table, amusement written clearly across her face, "...I'm searching for my cape." He answered as he returned his gaze back to Aerith.

"Oh.." Aerith tilts her head to the side in question, "Where did you see it last?"

"My room..." Cloud shot a look over to Yuffie as he heard her give a snort of laughter, "Where is it?"

Yuffie stops her laughter and feigns innocence, "Why ask me? I wouldn't know."

Cloud crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her, something that made chills run down Yuffie's spine, "You slept with me last night, you were the only one in my room besides me."

Aerith's brows shot up at the comment. Yuffie's face flared up in embarrassment upon noticing her friend's expression. Yuffie hid her face in her hands in an attempt to hide it, "GAWD Cloud! Do ya have to say it like that? You make it sound something happened last night."

"Something did happen last night." Cloud stated a matter-of-factly. Yuffie dropped her hands from her face and let her mouth hang open in shock, an expression that Aerith was close to mimicking, "You took my cape." Cloud finished.

Aerith stifled a giggle finally catching onto what exactly is going on. "No I didn't!" Yuffie snapped offended, "I took it this morn-...Umph!" Yuffie covered her own mouth with her hands to stop herself from speaking.

The corners of Cloud's lips twitched the slightest as he was tempted to smirk at Yuffie's slip, "Where is it?" He asked again, keeping his tone neutral.

Yuffie stuck her tongue out at him, "Ha! Like I'll tell ya! You hide behind that thing too much. If you want it back, find it."

Cloud's eyes narrow in annoyance. He turns around and makes like he's about to leave, "I will find it." He stated before leaving the kitchen.

Aerith shook her head at the young ninja, "That's not very nice Yuffie."

"Puuulease Aerith. I'm doing him a favor!" Yuffie looked around in confusion as a bell rang throughout the house, "What the heck was that?" Yuffie asked in confusion.

"I believe that was the doorbell." Aerith answered.

"That means we have a visitor!" Yuffie stated before hopping off her seat, "I'll get it!" Yuffie called out before racing towards the door to beat anyone who might be trying to get there before her. Her eyes widen as she sees Cloud just a few feet away from the door and getting closer. "No! Mine!" Yuffie shoves the blonde out of the way, almost causing him to crash into the lamp standing a few feet away.

With her hand on the handle, Yuffie faces Cloud once more and stick her tongue out at him, "I win! Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!" Yuffie opened the door with a quick turn of the knob and stared at the stranger on the other side.

A man standing around Cloud's height, taking off the extra few inches from Cloud's blonde spikes, his eyes were the strangest color Yuffie has ever seen. They looked like a mixture of a deep violet and a crimson color. He's decked out in black leather pants, and a long sleeve black shirt with white lining. His short brown hair ended in spikes, but they were nowhere near Cloud's. His pearly white teeth are easy to see from the man's smile, which Yuffie had to hold herself back since it seemed more forced than anything. But all in all, he couldn't have been any older than Leon.

"Alright. Who the hell are you and what do you want?" Yuffie demanded, not liking the man in front of her already. Something felt off about him.

"You have an amazing way with greeting people." She heard Cloud say as he stepped up to the door to see who has dropped by for a visit.

"Oh my GAWD! He cracked a joke! Cloud made a joke! Oh Aerith is going to be so jealous that she missed it!" Yuffie teased, completely forgetting about their visitor for the moment because of the shock from the man duped 'emotionless and humorless' had actually cracked a joke.

"Heh..."

Yuffie turned her gaze back to their visitor, "And what are you laughing about? You still haven't answered my question, ya know."

"You two are no doubt the other couple that Mr. Leonheart had mentioned." The man in front of them replied.

Both sets of eyes blinked in confusion as the same thought ran through their heads, 'Couple?' Yuffie glanced at Cloud and immediately broke out into laughter, 'He's got to be kidding! Me? With Cloud?' She had completely forgotten that she had been trying to get hooked up with Cloud to begin with just to make Leon jealous. 'And Squall is the one who told this guy? He's got a sick sense of humor.'

Evidently, Yuffie's reaction was not what the man was expecting. "I say something funny?" He asked, a little on the annoyed side.

Cloud is about to correct the misunderstanding by informing him that he isn't with Yuffie. Before he gets a word out however, Yuffie slaps a hand over his mouth to stop him, "No not at all!" Yuffie answers quickly, 'Leon obviously has reasons for telling him that Cloud and I are... "Anyways!" Yuffie quickly changes the conversation, "You still haven't answered my question."

"Ah... Sorry... I'm Yuri Hyuaga. I'm the one who sold this place to Mr. Leonheart." Yuri answered.

"Oh! Uh... What're you doing here?" Yuffie asked. She felt Cloud pull her hand away from her mouth, having forgotten about it.

"Thought I'd come out and see how everything is doing and meet the other couple."

'Other?' Yuffie thought immediately.

"Yuffie! Who's at the door?" Aerith called out while she walked out of the kitchen. Her eyes lit up when she saw the familiar face of the nice realtor who sold them the house, "Oh, Mr. Hyuaga! How nice to see you. Come in, come in."

Yuri groaned as he walked into the house, "Please... Call me Yuri... Mr. Hyuaga makes me sound so... so..."

"Geezerly?" Yuffie decided to try to be helpful.

"Gee thanks kid." Yuri said sarcastically. He looked around the house, "So... Where's Mr. Leonheart?" He asked upon seeing the mentioned man not around.

Aerith frowned a bit, "I'm afraid he's bedridden right now. He's... recovering from a fight and he can't move around too much."

"You make it sound like I'm dying." The Aerith and Yuffie gave a startled jump upon hearing Leon's voice from the hallway. Turning around they see him standing, supporting himself on the wall as he starred into the living room where everyone is gathered.

"Ah... Mr. Leonheart, you're looking uh... good." Yuri strained to say, "You look like you've been run over."

Leon rolled his eyes, "I've been in worse shape before."

Yuri nodded his head, "I'm sure you have."

"..."

"Oh!" Aerith cut into the silence, "Where are our manners? Please, have a seat." Aerith offers.

Yuri wanders over to the coach and takes a seat at the end. "I'll bring out some coffee." Aerith announces before heading off to the kitchen.

"Uh... I guess I'll go help her." Yuffie said before following the older woman.

Leon slowly made his way over to the coach and took a seat at the other end, while Cloud took the lazy boy chair facing the side of the coffee table in front of the coach. "Is there something you needed to talk to us about?" Leon asked, getting straight to business.

"Only a few things I had forgotten to mention earlier." Yuri admits, before he can continue Aerith and Yuffie arrive.

"Coffee anyone?" Aerith asks holding a fresh pot of coffee that she started before Yuri had arrived. Yuffie puts down a small tray that's holding the coffee mugs onto the table. After filing the mugs up with the steaming hot liquid, Aerith settles in the empty seat between Leon and Yuri, leaving Yuffie with nowhere to sit.

'Hmm...' Yuffie looks around. She considers sitting on the floor, that is until an idea crosses her mind. Smirking to herself, Yuffie wanders over to where Cloud is sitting and before he can ask what she's doing, she jumps into his lap, emitting a dull 'Umph!' from the blonde.

Leon and Aerith both turn to the two and give Yuffie a strange look. Noticing their stares along with Cloud's confused an uncomfortable look, Yuffie quickly explains, "What? Can't I sit in with my boyfriend?" Leon and Aerith quickly catch onto her meaning, glad that someone had remembered the 'arrangements', though Cloud would feel much better without her arms wrapped around his neck.

Yuri raises a brow at Cloud and Yuffie, finding something strange about the two. He decides not to question it. "Um.. Yeah..." He said, not to sure how to restart the conversation, "I thought I'd let you know that if you four ever need anything, repairs or replacements for anything in here, you can call my boss and he'll have someone down here within a day or so to fix whatever that happened to break. Knowing the old coot though, he'll probably just send me."

"Are you saying that we should expect things to fail?" Leon asked, suspicion clear in his voice.

Yuri shook his head, "Nah... This is just standard procedure, or something. The old man just likes things to be clear, just in case."

"I see." Leon replied quietly.

Yuffie stared at Yuri from her spot on Cloud's lap, her eyes more focused on his gloved hands than anything else. Squinting her eyes, Yuffie could just make out irregular shapes on his knuckles as if he's wearing something underneath the gloves. It only took her a few more moments to figure out what exactly they are. "You don't strike me as a realtor." Yuffie cut into the conversation they were having.

Yuri just shrugged his shoulders, "Expecting an old geezer?" He chuckled a bit at his own joke.

"No..." Yuffie dragged on, "You look more like a street fighter."

The group gave her a strange look and Yuri raised his eyebrows in amusement, "And why do you think that?"

Yuffie smirked at her own intelligence, "Well... For one, you're not scrawny, your built like someone who fights. Two, you're not wearing a suite, you're wearing something that looks like it doesn't restrain your movements much. And three..." Yuffie raised her brows at him, "The brass knuckles you're wearing under your gloves are a dead giveaway."

'So she noticed that too.' Cloud thought to himself, mildly impressed by the young ninja's observation.

"Heh.." Yuri gives a short laugh and pulls a glove off to show that he is, in fact, wearing brass knuckles, "That's pretty good kid."

"Stop calling me a kid. I have a name, it's Yuffie!" She snapped growing annoyed by him calling her a kid.

"Well Yuffie. I guess you're somewhat right. I can fight. But I'm not a street fighter. I've learned that it's best to be prepared rather than be caught off guard in an alley in the middle of the night somewhere with no weapon." Yuri smirked to himself.

Leon brows furrowed in thought at what he had just heard. 'Just a coincidence' He told himself, but he couldn't help shake the feeling that it wasn't.

Yuri stood up from his seat, "Well, I hate to cut the visit short but I have business to attend to. I'll drop by time to time to check up on things."

"You're always welcome to visit." Aerith assured him.

Yuri nods his head before turning to Leon, "Hope you recover soon Mr. Leonheart." He turns to Yuffie and Cloud, "See ya later Yuffie and..." He stops as he realizes that he had yet to get the name of the blonde.

Yuffie makes a move to get up but finds herself being held down by something. Looking down, she finds that Cloud had sometime in the course of the little meeting, had wrapped his arms around her waist. She felt her cheeks flare up.

"...Cloud Strife." Cloud answered Yuri's unspoken question.

"Yes... I see..." Yuri muttered between clench teeth. "Well... goodbye." He quickly made his way out of their home.

Once outside and far from eavesdroppers, he takes out his cell phone, "Roger... You were right. No... I'm sure they're not... I know... Cut me some slack here. How am I suppose to know he was just trying to get the place cheaper?" Yuri rolled his eyes as he begins hearing Roger lecture him over the phone. Rather than stand there and listen to him all day, Yuri hangs the phone up, "Don't worry old man. I didn't cost you any money." Yuri eyes lit up in excitement as he walks away.

"Ah-hem!" Yuffie clears her throat, trying to get Cloud's attention, "I know how much enjoy having me in your lap." Yuffie began, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "...but do you mind letting go of me Cloud?"

Cloud stood up from his seat, letting go of Yuffie at the same time which only ended up causing her to fall to the floor. Before Yuffie could bite his head off about dropping her so rudely on the floor, he disappeared down the hallway and into his room. The sound of a faint 'click' signaled to everyone that he had locked the door.

Yuffie leapt to her feet and scowled, "Talk about rude." After taking a moment to debate whether she should march over to Cloud's door and pound on it to demand an apology, she turned to Leon who is still sitting on the coach, "So Squall, you got your butt whipped pretty good last night." She wasn't going to let the opportunity to poke fun at Leon pass her by. "You must be getting old."

Leon icy gaze narrowed into a glare directed at the ninja, "I wasn't prepared, it won't happen again."

Yuffie waved him off, "Suuure. Excuses, excuses. You'll be moving around like a geezer for awhile by the looks of it."

"I'll be fine in a day, two at the most." He sounded so sure of himself that Yuffie almost believed him. Almost, being the 'keyword'.

Cloud examined the mess he made of the room. He had literally torn the place apart while searching for his cape. Now, not only will he have to clean it up, but he still doesn't have the cape. He considered the idea that the cape is somewhere in Yuffie's room, but he wasn't about to go searching through things that aren't his.

Walking over to his bed, Cloud sat down and thought about last night. Something out there had given Leon a good beating. He doubts that the Traverse Demon is going to remain quiet for long. 'Others will be attacked unless something is done about it.' Cloud made up his mind. Grabbing his Buster Sword from its place near the nightstand, he sheathed it on his back and walked over to his door.

Cloud takes a moment to listen for the others in the house. He pinpointed them in the kitchen, which was good because he'll be able to walk pass them easier without them noticing him.

"This is good Aerith!" Yuffie exclaimed with her mouth half way filled with pancakes and syrup dripping from the side of her mouth. Leon rolled his eyes behind the newspaper he's reading, having already eaten his breakfast from when Aerith gave it to him earlier that morning.

"You have a little something right.. there." Aerith pointed to the side of her mouth to show where she was talking about. Yuffie whipped her mouth with the back of her hand causing Aerith to frown a bit, "Yuffie... they make napkins for a reason."

"Yeah I know. To clean the utensils with, right?" Aerith isn't sure whether Yuffie is being serious or not. Going by just face value, Yuffie doesn't look like she's joking. Yuffie let out a satisfied breath once she finished off her last pancake. She pat her stomach for good measure, "Mmm... Now I'm ready for the day."

"Like you ever do anything." Leon muttered from behind the newspaper.

Yuffie didn't seem to hear his comment, if she did, she didn't say anything. Without explanation, Yuffie stood up from her seat and walked towards the doorway. She glanced around the corner to look into the kitchen. She's just in time to see the front door close, 'So that was Cloud I saw. Wonder where he's going.' Yuffie turned back to the two at the table, "Well see you guys later, I think I'll go drop Cid a visit."

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled." Leon commented.

Yuffie didn't waste her time to make a comeback, she had to hurry if she wanted to catch up with Cloud before he disappeared. After quickly slipping her sneakers on, she ran to the door and made her way out.

Well everyone, guess this is a good enough place as any to stop. I'm already at nine pages 0P Don't want to make it too long. Sorry for the long wait. My phone was disconnected so I didn't have the internet either. Stupid dialup Well anyways! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. School's finally over, so updates might come quicker. Might being the 'keyword' We all know how evil life can be.