Confused Heart

Chapter 13: Secret

Yuffie's eyes fluttered open to a loud sound and a stomach-turning movement that made her almost flop out of her seat.

She yelped in fear, flapping her hands around.

"What was that!? Is everyone okay!? Did the heartless come here too!?" Yuffie's eyes double sized.

"We landed Yuffie, stop being so paranoid," the Cloud replied, waving her hand away casually.

Yuffie quirked an eyebrow as she rose to her feet.

"It's not normal to wake up to scary sounds like that." she whimpered, crossing her arms.

"We made it to Hollow Bastion!" Tifa grinned as she came out of the cockpit, with a victory cheer.

"Nice landing.." Yuffie mumbled. They made their way out of the ship into the familiar world of Hollow Bastion.

"I feel like I'm home again!" Tifa chirped as she skipped out of the ship.

Yuffie raised an eyebrow, walking cautiously behind Tifa. She absent mindedly kicked a rock in front of her thinking back about Cloud, Leon, and Aerith. Problems and memories came swarming back in her mind.

Aerith…more than ever, I need your advice. I need your help. Why do you have to be gone when I need you the most?

The young ninja turned her head toward Leon who was looking forward in deep thought, his eyes fixed on the ground.

"Are you okay?" Cloud whispered in Yuffie's ear.

Yuffie, gasping, stumbled backwards.

Is it that obvious that something is wrong with me!?

"Cloud you scared me!" Yuffie mumbled, getting to her feet.

"Are you okay? You've been acting strange lately." Cloud pointed out.

"I'm fine." she smiled weakly, failing to keep her cheerful tone.

He frowned slightly. "You know that you can tell me anything if there's something wrong."

"I'm fine Cloud." she repeated, smiling.

Cloud narrowed his eyes. He knew that she wasn't being honest with him.

Yuffie raced forward to catch up with Tifa, and not feel tense standing between Leon and Cloud. Cloud didn't know what was going on with her right now, but she knew that Leon did. Thinking of Leon made Yuffie have butterflies in her stomach and her cheeks turn a shade of red.

"Something wrong Yuffie?" Tifa asked, putting a hand on the ninja's shoulder. Yuffie felt like screaming that she was okay, but she only gave her a silent nod. She had never expressed her feelings to anyone else but Aerith. Now that she was gone, it made Yuffie feel uncomfortable to talk to anyone else about her problems.

Tifa kicked Merlin's house door open with a grin. She raced inside into Yuffie's room. Yuffie scurried along with her, leaving Leon and Cloud behind. Tifa plopped back in a comfy bed, letting out a sigh in relief.

"I wanna go to sleep." Tifa yawned.

Yuffie shifted uncomfortably closer to Tifa, putting her hands on her lap, as if she wanted to say something.

"Tifa can I tell you something?" Yuffie's voice was almost a whisper.

"Sure." Tifa shrugged casually, as she got in an upright position, her eyes were slightly closed.

"You know that I love Cloud a lot…and well…" she stammered nervously as she gazed at the door, making sure no one was listening.

"I'm listening…" Tifa murmured.

"Um…well I don't know if you already knew that…I've always loved Squally too." she sighed, the words slurred out of her mouth and she turned bright red.

Tifa's eyes fluttered open, looking more interested with the conversation.

"You never mentioned that." she chuckled.

"Would you stop laughing?" Yuffie begged as she made a frown.

"Okay, sorry." Tifa smiled.

"Well, let me just tell you what happened…" Yuffie mumbled, as she looked at the ground.

"Okay, I'm listening." Tifa replied.

"Yesterday when we were healing Cloud, and I thought he was dead, I felt horrible. I was talking to Squall and- h-he k-kissed me- I guess it made me feel better to think Squall would be there to fill in the empty gap in my heart if Cloud would die…" Before Yuffie could go on, Tifa's eyes widen.

"Are you sure you know what you are saying!? So you would betray Cloud just like that!" Tifa raised an eyebrow.

"Just listen to me! He kissed me and I know he loves me, but I can't because…Cloud doestoo,butIloveSquallyandIdon'tknowwhattodo!!!" Yuffie cried.

"You love Leon too, wait what did you say?" Tifa cocked her head in confusion.

"I-" Yuffie stopped dead when she noticed who was at the door, hearing their conversation.

"Cloud, please!!" Yuffie's eyes double sized as she screamed his name desperately.

Cloud had heard the whole conversation, his eyes glowing with anger, he raced outside.

Tifa froze in her spot, her eyes widen in shock.

"Cloud!! I'm sorry!" Yuffie felt her face draining color. Her secret was out.

Without thinking, Yuffie raced after him her eyes starting to shed tears. She bit her lips in order to keep from crying.

"C-Cloud! Just listen to me!" Yuffie screamed before he opened the door.

"I don't understand anything anymore!" Cloud shouted, followed by a bitter laugh. "I hate being lied to. I hate knowing that the one person I trust and love is lying to me."

Yuffie met his eyes from across the room.

"I was going to fix this eventually.. I'm just so confused.." Yuffie whispered.

He glowered, shaking his head. "If you have feelings for Leon then go with him. You thought I was already dead and you kiss him. I guess that sort of made you happy, so that's means you love him. I'm not trying to keep you away from your happiness, so just go with him." he muttered coldly.

"Cloud, you are taking this way to seriously. I love you, and I just wanted to fix things, but I don't know what to do. I needed someone's help…" Yuffie's voice was a whisper.

"If you can't decide and if this is so hard, then I rather not get involved anymore. Just go with Leon and you'll be much happier with him." Cloud muttered

" I made a mistake, Cloud! I'm sorry! Please don't go!" Yuffie cried, her hands covering her face, as she gritted her teeth in pain.

Cloud slammed the door shut, making the wall shake behind him. He rested his back on the door. Why was he feeling the way he was? There was something telling him to leave her be, and something telling him to run back inside and tell her that he loves her.

I can't…I'm just hurting her. If she truly loves Leon then I'll let her be. I really didn't expect this…I love Yuffie. But I can't do this to her.

That was when he heard Yuffie crying. He closed eyes and felt his heart shatter in pain.

Cloud gently pushed himself off the door and started walked away. Each footstep he took he felt like he was shattering his heart into pieces.

I just have to let her be…

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The ending is coming soon! Who would you like Yuffie to end up with!?

Thanks for all the reviews, and sorry if the update is kinda slow. I've been really busy with school lately. But please review the chapter and tell me what you think! Thank you!
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