---

Yuffie grinned up at Vincent, hands clasped behind her back as he landed onto the green Nibel plains beside her. "I'm so glad to be back on the ground, aren't you? I really think that I hate that way of traveling more then flying!"

Vincent let out a laugh at the ninja's comment. "You never change, do you?"

"Nope! If I changed, I wouldn't me anymore! Who'd want that?!" Yuffie paused, raising a hand to her forehead to block out the sun's light. "How can the light not bother you? Isn't it bright; we just spent an hour underwater?"

Vincent shrugged, his crimson eyes meeting Yuffie's narrowed storm grey ones. "It . . . hasn't been an issue for a while."

"Oh," Yuffie murmured, looking down. "Hojo . . . right? Sorry about that."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Vincent said, looking over Yuffie's head to the ghost town of Nibelheim. "I do, however, have something you might find useful."

Yuffie stopped, raising an eyebrow at Vincent. Her storm grey eyes watched the gunslinger's every moment as he rummaged through his multiple pockets, eventually pulling out a pair of black glasses a moment later.

"Use these; I see no need for them now."

Yuffie took the pair of black sunglasses from him, her heart beating rapidly as she took them from him, her hand briefly touching his. Grinning tentatively up at him, she unfolded the arms of the glasses, and taking another glance up at Vincent through her eyelashes slipped the glasses on. The glasses immediately slipped down her nose.

Vincent let out a rare laugh, frowning at glasses as Yuffie pushed them back into place. "I guess they're a little too large for you," he muttered, instinctively reaching for the glasses.

"I don't mind," Yuffie said, automatically moving away from Vincent. "It was a nice gesture – that's all that counts.

"How much bigger are they?"

"Not bad," Yuffie shrugged, reaching a hand up into her hair, feeling the arm of the sunglasses. "Um . . . about two fingers past my ear."

Vincent nodded, looking at the oncoming deserted town. "What did you do while you were here? Don't tell me you just waited around."

"More or less," Yuffie mumbled sheepishly, looking away from the gunslinger and glad for the sunglasses. "I went to visit Shera a lot, we'd go shopping together. Granted, if I did manage to run into Cid – I did most times – he'd kidnap me and fly me to Edge to visit Tifa. But, then Tifa always wanted to talk about what I was doing, it's unhealthy, waiting around in Nibelheim like that, she'd tell me," Yuffie shook her head. "She asked me to move on once; I think I yelled at her for a while. Cloud eventually had to intervene. So, after a couple visits, I got tired of hearing the same conversation about us," she pointed at herself and Vincent," and that I maybe I could go back home, to Wutai I mean. Although she didn't like Chekov – he called her a Midgar whore, you know – she suggested that I try marrying him instead of waiting around for you. How did she put it? Instead of waiting till I was old, alone and with only my cats. She mentioned Aries a few times. Then, I had enough."

The cobbled stone road of Nibelheim, stretched out before them, the lamppost over the town flickering weakly. The old houses stared back at them, impenetrable darkness beyond the broken window frames, the old ShinRa mansion towering above the small town.

"I eventually stopped going to Edge and then Rocket Town because I didn't want to run into Cid. Sometimes, if they were in the area, they would come by. I didn't really want to talk to them though . . . not another lecture from Tifa. I think I stayed here – just here, except when it was the time of Aries' death – for a year. Reeve would come and visit me when he had a chance . . . he helped me with some renovations. I had a hard time guessing what a guy would like, so he helped me out. And, that brings us full circle . . ." Yuffie finished, the winding path up to the mansions' gates staring at them. "Wait till you've seen what I've done with the place – you'll like it. Or, did you already look?"

"Some of it," Vincent said, glancing at Yuffie.

"Oh, not fair! I wanted to show you," Yuffie pouted.

"You still can," Vincent murmured, pushing the rusted iron gates open enough for the two of them to slip in through. "I was in a bit of a hurry when I was following you – besides, don't I owe you nine thousand gil?"

Yuffie flushed at the mention of her countless messages to him over a year ago. " . . . Did you keep them?"

Vincent didn't respond, casting his crimson eyes around the front yard, the grass now slightly overgrown, weeds popping up here and there. He stopped, blinking as he felt Yuffie brush up against his side, linking her hand with his.

"You're so sweet, Vincent; I never knew that!" Yuffie grinned, leaning her forehead against his red cloak. "I'm really glad toy came back, Vincent – I –I really missed you."

Vincent smiled, taking his hand out of Yuffie's and placing it around her shoulders. "I missed you too . . ."

"I'm glad," Yuffie murmured, dropping her hands to her side, leaning heavily against him. "Hmm? What . . .? I can't believe this," Yuffie cried, running her hands under her eyes, traitor tears making their way down her cheeks.

"What're you crying for?" Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know," Yuffie laughed, wiping under her eyes. "It just started . . . silly, eh?"

Vincent shook his head, placing a hand on the ornate door handle of the old mansion. "I'll never understand you girls. Did you refurnish the door?"

Yuffie nodded. "Yeah, Reeve helped me with it. I never knew the door could be so pretty underneath all that grime."

Vincent nodded, ushering Yuffie into the house, a slight coat of dust covering the new laminate flooring. Yuffie looked around the house – she hadn't been here for a couple months. She smiled at the memories, turning around as Vincent's crimson eyes roved around the room, taking in the surroundings.

"Do you like it?" Yuffie asked after a moment's silence.

"I do . . . how did you manage this?"

"I had a lot of help," Yuffie shrugged, walking into the foyer and dropping into the blue printed couch sitting underneath the second floor balcony, flipping on the light switch as she went. "Tifa and I got rid of the monsters – that was as soon as I moved in; they were all coming in through Hojo's secret lab – no surprise, huh? The hardwood floors were a real mess though, there was a whole lot of deep scratched and ripped all up. So, we ripped the hardwood up, well, Cid, Cloud and Barret did while Reeve and I went to Cost de Sol for the laminate. I got these light fixtures when I was there too," Yuffie pointed at the six light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. "Granted, after that I soon started to avoid them. I painted the house, I got more paint on my clothes then the walls, and then I did the window trimmings and polished the windows. When Reeve had time, he'd come by and help me; he actually did the yard work and refurnished the banister."

Vincent nodded, looking around the wide, open room. "I like the rooms; you've spent a lot of time on this."

"Of course!" Yuffie grinned, pointing the level above them. "I made the bedrooms upstairs – plus an office for you – but, there's not a lot of furniture yet . . ."

Yuffie pushed herself up off the couch she was sitting on, running to get ahead of Vincent as he started up the stairs. "No way, I get too show you," she grinned a she past him by. Vincent nodded, following after the young ninja.

"Your room – that is, unless you want to sleep in your coffin down, downstairs – your office, and, uh, a spare room," Yuffie faltered, pointing at the three closed doors as they approached them.

"You know the room is yours, Yuffie," Vincent said, pointing at the closed door.

"Thanks, Vincent," Yuffie said, smiling over her shoulder. "I haven't forgotten what just happened though! You and Rufus looked so angry, what happened?"

"Rufus wanted to know about Deepground." Vincent shrugged.

". . . Deepground? You mean that group of people Reeve was talking about?" Yuffie asked, looking at Vincent as he turned his back of her, starting back down the hallway. Yuffie ran to keep up with him. "What's he got to do with this? Is he actually trying to help the planet for once?"

"One would wonder," Vincent muttered, pushing the door Yuffie had mentioned was his open. "Rufus seems interested, but for what reason?"

Yuffie paused in the doorway as Vincent muttered to himself, passing the second hand desk Reeve had given her, stopping at the window overlooking the mansions' backyard and Mt. Nibel. Slowly closing the door behind her, Yuffie treaded over to Vincent, perching herself of the window ledge. Smiling up at the gunslinger, his crimson eyes staring unseeingly ahead, Yuffie reached under his cloak for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. Vincent blinked, casting his crimson eyes down at her.

"We're a team, Vincent – you have to tell me the truth . . . you promised."

Vincent sighed, closing his crimson eyes momentarily. "Deepground was created around the time the JENOVA project was slated to start in Nibelheim. They are a very old group of elite fighters, unaging like myself. SOLDIERS were the forebearers of Deepground by a couple of months maximum; Hojo was eager to see what more mako energy and JENOVA cells could do if it wasn't condensed."

"Hojo created Deepground?! But that would mean . . . where have they been for the past thirty years?"

"I'm getting to that," Vincent said, shaking his head, his dark bangs falling across his face. "The late President ShinRa was involved –"

"Rufus's father?!" Yuffie yelled, eyes wide. "I knew we couldn't trust Rufus!"

"Rufus has nothing to do with this – he wouldn't have been born yet."

"But . . . I'm confused," Yuffie mumbled, her eyebrows coming together in confusion as she frowned. "Rufus was President! Shouldn't he have known?"

"Rufus became President so quickly, no doubt he was never briefed on them; anyways I highly doubt Scarlet was one for passing along info."

"Did you know Scarlet?"

"She was just starting at ShinRa when I was stationed at Nibelheim; rumor has it she would do anything for a promotion – how else did she become head of the weapon department when she was originally Palmer's assistant? No doubt about it, she probably slept with those in command. But, that's beside the point; Deepground was created to act as a special team of mercenaries; trained for bloodlust and efficient at what they did – if you met them, you never lived to tell about it."

Yuffie shuddered at Vincent's description . . . that was horrible. "What did they do?"

"They were above the Turks and ShinRa, they acted strictly behind the scenes. They dealt with terrorists or those who simply knew too much for their own good. However, eventually Deepground became wise to what fate ShinRa had dealt them – they were unhappy. They rebelled, killing the heads of both Heidegger and Scarlet's departments at that time. With the help of Hojo – the original creator – ShinRa locked Deepground within the catacombs beneath Midgar in a suspended reality, for lack of a better word. When Midgar was destroyed by the power of Holy and Meteor, no doubt that is what awoke Deepground from their years of exile. During that time, their hate for the human race would have increased greatly, and if they are walking among us once more . . ."

"We're doomed." Yuffie finished; a chill running down her spine as a dark cloud danced across the late afternoon sun.

"Is that why . . . you wouldn't join Reeve's group? WRO, or whatever it's called, because you know their true power?"

Vincent nodded, crimson eyes meeting storm grey. "Would Reeve know all this, about Deepground?"

"As one of the heads of ShinRa, he'd have to know a bit."

"Why was Rufus so angry though? You told him about all this, didn't you?"

Vincent shook his head, staring out the window, the sun falling behind the mountain range. "Rufus didn't care about stuff like that – all he wanted was a strategy to defeat them, one that only I could make for him as I know about Deepground from first hand experiences. What Rufus failed to grasp was that Deepground are an elite fighting group with no care about how they do things, who lives or die and could easily take one another out if they weren't needed anymore. They have no attack pattern, style or aim, they do what they please. Rufus asked for the impossible, there is no strategy for defeating them. Rufus simply doesn't like to be told no."

Yuffie laughed, slipping down from the window ledge to face Vincent. "I suppose you wish I weren't in the WRO then . . . but, I could say no to Reeve . . ."

"It's alright," Vincent muttered, placing a hand around Yuffie's waist, bringing the small ninja against him. "You just better not do anything rash out there . . ."

"Are you worried about me?" Yuffie asked; a smile on her lips as she traced circles on his back. "You'll have to come after me then."

"Is that a threat, Yuffie?"

Yuffie laughed lightly at his low voice as she stood up on her tiptoes to see him better, moving her hands up his back to rest around his neck. "That's what I love about you, Vincent," Yuffie trailed off, surging forward, crushing her lips against his. Yuffie suppressed a smile, her heart fluttering as she felt Vincent place his gauntleted hand around her waist, his other hand disappearing into her short black hair. Yuffie let out a sigh, tightening her grip around his shoulders.

Slowly, Yuffie's feet touched back down on the carpeted floor, leaning her head against Vincent's chest, her breathing heavy. "I . . . why are you so much better at everything?" she tried to sound upset, but it came out as a yawn.

Vincent shook his head, resting his chin on top of Yuffie's head. "It's been a long day, you should get some rest."

"Can you believe that it was only yesterday that we were fighting Bahamut and Kadaj? So much has happened since then, huh?"

Vincent nodded in agreement, his hand on the small of her back as he led Yuffie out of the room, closing the door behind them. "You need your rest – I'll see you in the morning." He said as Yuffie tried to protest as they made their way down the hallway.

Yuffie cast a fleeting look over her shoulder at the gunslinger as he pushed the door to her room open. "You'll still be here in the morning, right?"

Vincent nodded; a ghost of a smile on his features. "I'll still be here, yes. That roof still needs to be fixed."

Yuffie laughed, shaking her head as she leaned against the door. "And here I thought you hated this place . . ."

"I did," Vincent amended. "That was, until you arrived."

"Yeah, you can thank me," Yuffie grinned, winking at him. "Without me . . . you'd still be depressing and locked up in your old coffin."

"I thought you were the one who refused to come inside the mansion."

Yuffie glared at him, standing as tall as she could manage, a hand on the doorknob. "Humph, goodnight Vincent." She said in a singsong voice, closing the door in his face.

Vincent blinked at the closed door, hearing the burst of giggles from the other side of the room. "Night Yuffie."

Yuffie leaned heavily against the closed door, listening to the gunslingers; footsteps against the laminate flooring, followed by the creak of his bedroom door. Moving away from the door, Yuffie sighed and flopped down on her Pokka dot bedspread. Closing her eyes, she laid a hand over her heart, which was hammering against her ribs. She had just made out with Vincent . . . she couldn't believe it. She had thought of nothing but him for while, and there he was, two doors down from her, slightly angered by the fact that she was putting herself in harms way.

He didn't want to lose her . . .

"Awe, Vincent," Yuffie whispered, a smile flittering across her lips.

Sitting up suddenly in the bed, the mattress groaning in protest to the sudden movement, Yuffie took in the room she had lived in for the past two years. The walls were bare, but were painted a light blue with a dresser cluttered with photos against the wall, top drawer open, and a purple sleeve hanging out. Grinning to herself, Yuffie marched over to the dresser, pilling out another drawer, many garments staring back at her.

A frown marred her features as her nimble fingers started through the pile, discarding what she didn't want onto the floor – she'd pick that up later. "Where is it?" she mumbled, shuffling the remaining clothes around. "Of all the times to go missing!" she huffed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. "Where are – ahah!"

Seeing the garment she wanted, Yuffie pulled it out from the drawer – of course it had been on the bottom! – and tossed it onto her bedspread. Quickly discarding her vest and shirt, she threw the garment on, pulling it down over her head. As she pulled her hair out from underneath it, she grabbed her clothes and shoved them into the open drawer; and returning to her bed, pulled the covers and sunk into it.

With a yawn, she turned over, storm grey closing as she murmured a goodnight to Vincent.

---

The mattress creaked as Yuffie rolled over.

Storm grey eyes opened, darkness all around her.

One AM, she groaned, rolling over wanting to sleep, but unable.

Then she remembered him . . . it hadn't been a dream.

"Vincent . . ."

Shaking her head, wide awake now, Yuffie pushed her covers aside, jumping out of bed. She shuddered as her feet hit the cold floor; paying it no heed, the rest of the house warm from the late summer heat. Opening her bedroom door and making sure her footsteps were silent, she made her way towards the staircase opposite Vincent's closed door.

She was taken aback when she noticed the light from Vincent's room creeping underneath the doorframe. "He's still awake . . ."

A plan in mind, Yuffie descended the curved stairwell and down the hallway to the large kitchen. Flicking the ceiling lights on, her eyes momentarily dazzled by the brightness; Yuffie made her way over to the cupboards, picking out two glasses. Pondering what to put in the glasses for a moment, Yuffie finally decided on something Cid and Shera had given her for her eighteenth birthday – wine. Alas, she didn't own any wine glasses, so the overall effect was sadly lacking. Grabbing the two now filled glasses, Yuffie turned out the lights and headed back upstairs, stopping outside the gunslinger's door.

The light was still on.

Shuffling the glasses around in her hands, Yuffie raised her fist and lightly tapped on the door.

"Come in."

Pushing the door slowly open, Yuffie let out a smile ad she tried to fight back a blush. Vincent, his hair falling around him, his bandana removed for the night, sat against the headboard, the dark comforter around his waist, the top of his black boxers showing, a book in his lap.

"Er . . ."

". . . how come you're up so late, Yuffie?"

Yuffie shook her head, trying to get her thoughts back in order. "I – um, couldn't sleep, so, I thought I'd get a drink. I saw your light was still on and thought you might like one too," Yuffie paused. "Why are you up so late?"

"Just reading a bit, come sit down," he added, indicating the spot beside him.

Yuffie nodded, her mind going a mile a minute as she crossed the room to the bed, Vincent taking the glasses from her hands as she climbed up on the high bed.

He handed her drink back to her when she was settled, an eyebrow raised. "Aren't you still underage? Who on earth would give you wine?"

" . . . Cid . . ."

"Ah, that explains it," Vincent murmured, marking his book and placing it back on the bedside table.

"Vincent," Yuffie trailed off, staring at the comforter.

"Hmm?" Vincent looked over at her, crimson eyes staring at the fidgeting ninja. "What is it?"

"Nah, forget it," Yuffie shook her head. "It's stupid, forget it."

Vincent let out an aggravated sigh. "I highly doubt that, tell me Yuffie."

"Do you think . . . I mean, do you mind . . . could I . . . spend the night here, with you? I –I'm tired of being alone," Yuffie amended quickly.

Vincent smiled. "I don't mind."

"Thanks Vincent," Yuffie grinned at him, squiggling down into the dark comforter.

"You're welcome; night Yuffie."

Vincent reached up, turning off the bedside lamp. Yuffie felt the bed move slightly as Vincent settled down beside her, getting comfortable. Yuffie closed her eyes, her heart beating wildly. She was here . . . with Vincent . . . in bed. Taking a deep breath, an idea striking her, she turned over in the bed, facing the gunslinger. Although she couldn't see him, she could see his vague outline against the curtained window.

"I'm glad you're here, Vincent," Yuffie muttered sleepily, placing her head on his chest.

"Yuffie," Vincent ran his hands through her hair.

"Shh," Yuffie said, running a hand up his arm.

---

The light from the curtained window shone a red tinge around the room, illuminating the rooms' occupants. Yuffie laid on the bed, an arm draped across Vincent's chest, her head lying on his arm, while the gunslinger ran a hand up her arm. Closing her eyes tighter against the morning sun, Yuffie let out a groan, burning her face deeper into Vincent's black hair. She froze as she heard a low laugh, and blinking due to the light, cast her eyes upward.

"Morning Vincent," she yawned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"How'd you sleep?" Vincent asked, moving to sit up.

Yuffie blinked as the sheet fell to rest at his waist. "Um, good; have you been awake long?"

Vincent shook his head, looking away from the ninja. Yuffie raised an eyebrow at his actions, but shrugged it off.

"You hungry?" Vincent asked, calling Yuffie's attention back to him.

"Yeah," Yuffie replied, pulling the sheets off and quickly followed the gunslinger out of the room and down the staircase. "What're we doing today?"

"Well, that roof needs to be fixed before it starts leaking in our room –"

"Our room?!" Yuffie sputtered, stopping in the kitchen's doorway. "You mean . . ."

"You may stay if you wish too," Vincent responded, placing two glasses on the kitchen's island. "But the roof should be mended – no, you're not helping – and those weeds should be dealt with . . ."

"You work too much, but I want to help too!" Yuffie interjected, pointing a spoon in his general direction.

Vincent laughed. "We'll see."

---

Indeed the roof did get fixed, Vincent ended up reshingling it, the rood now a deep brown colour. It had taken no more then three weeks with the help of Cloud and Barret after Yuffie turned out to be no help when it came to power tools. The gates were restored, the weeds were pulled and gone and the house now stored more furniture and a lived in feel to it. Four months later, Shera had her baby; a little girl named Aleria with Tifa ending up as the godmother due to her numerous skills with children. Nothing much had happened on the Deepground front, a few people disappeared every once and a while, although the reporters on the news casts told everyone not to panic and hat the cases weren't related. Reeve had called everyone together for a meeting a couple times regarding Deepground and that they were, no doubt, behind the disappearances. Yuffie had believed Reeve at first, slightly nervous about meeting the strong force, but when the cases of disappearing people or equally mysterious ideas suddenly stopped . . .

Ring, Ring

Yuffie jumped as the phone rang, breaking the quietness of the large house. The strange quietness of Deepground and thinking it might be Reeve wanting her help crept into her mind as the phone rang again from the countertop of the kitchen. Sighing, Yuffie pushed away from the large kitchen table, picking the phone up mid ring.

". . . hello?"

"Yuffie!" came a loud female voice. "How are you? I haven't see you or Vincent since New Years."

Yuffie let out a sigh as she heard Tifa's voice through the receiver. She sounded happy . . . definitely not something she was doing on Reeve's wishes. Crossing the kitchen, Yuffie slumped back down into the chain, her quick movements making her photographs and scrapbook materials fluttering slightly.

"We've been busy," Yuffie shrugged.

"Busy doing what?"

Yuffie blinked, fighting back a blush. "Nothing like that Tifa! Me and Vincent wouldn't . . ."

Tifa sighed from the other end of the phone, and from what Yuffie could hear, Tifa was drumming her fingers against something. "I wasn't thinking of that, but anyways, its natural Yuffie, You and Vincent live together, you belong together."

"I know Tifa . . ."

"Don't mention Lucrecia," Tifa ventured a guess. "I know – we all know actually – that he liked her, but he has you now. If he didn't like you . . . he wouldn't want you living there. But! I called for a reason."

"What for?" Yuffie asked, sitting up straighter.

"It's that time of year again –"

". . .?" Yuffie brought her eyebrows together. What was so special about March?

"Don't tell me you forgot!" Tifa yelped, cutting off Yuffie's thoughts. "This weekend, it'll be three years since we defeated Sephiroth!"

"Oh!" Yuffie shouted, remembering. "I can't believe it's been that long. Are you having a party or something?"

Tifa shook her head. "No, but Kalm is having their annual festival in celebration of Meteor's destruction. We're all meeting there – Marlene, put that down."

Yuffie let out a laugh. "What's she doing?"

"She's helping me run the Seventh Heaven today."

"Where's Cloud?"

"With Barret and Reeve, they're off in Junon – you've seen Reeve's massive operation there. But, about the festival, we're all meeting up there in the town's square. Cid's coming this way on Friday –"

"Are Shera and baby Aleria coming too?"

Tifa smiled. "Yes, them too, he's also picking up Red from Cosmo Canyon, since you're on the way, he can pick you up too."

Yuffie nodded. "Sure, I'm in. Vincent's not here right now, though."

"Okay, I'll call Cid and tell him. If you decide not to come – and you better not! – you call Cid and tell him."

"Alright, thanks Tifa," Yuffie smiled. "See you Friday night."

With a bye, Yuffie hung up the phone and started down the light blue carpeted hallway. Pushing open the ornate front door and putting on the sunglasses Vincent had given her, the glasses slipping down her nose immediately.

"Vincent?" Yuffie called, wandering around the front yard.

"Hmm? What's up Yuffie?"

Yuffie grinned as she saw Vincent look over at her from behind a tree trunk. She saw Vincent place a large book on the ground beside him as he motioned to Yuffie with his outstretched hand for her to come visit him. Smiling, Yuffie made her way over to her, dropping down to the ground between his legs. Her storm grey eyes took in the fact that Vincent had just stashed something in his pants' pockets as she leaned back, resting her head against his chest.

"How's the book?"

"Pretty good," Vincent said, running a hand through her short black hair. "What's got you all excited?"

"Tifa just called."

Vincent nodded. "What's up with Tifa now-a-days?"

Was it just her or did she hear something else in Vincent's tone? "Not much, she's trying to get everyone together for the annual festival in Kalm. Can you believe it's been three years since Meteorfall? She said Cid and Shera can pick us up on the way. We're going, right?"

Vincent nodded; looking down at Yuffie's upturned face. "Why not . . . it would be good to get away, see everyone again."

"Vincent?" Yuffie questioned, raising an eyebrow. "What are you . . .?"

Vincent shook his head, resting his chin atop Yuffie's head. "It's nothing."

"Okay . . ." Yuffie shrugged, intertwining her fingers with Vincent's. "Can you believe how much better the house looks?" Yuffie let out s sigh, looking across the lawn at the massive mansion. "Tifa's insane like always . . ."

"What'd she say now?"

Yuffie laughed. "You know Tifa – she wanted to know everything that'd we'd been up too; we haven't seen her recently. Cloud and Barret are in Junon with Reeve, and Tifa . . . um . . . wondered what we'd been busy doing . . ."

"Did she know?" Vincent's tone sounded amused.

Yuffie shook her head, hitting his arm lightly. "You know Tifa."

"I do," Vincent nodded. "When's Cid coming?"

"Friday!" Yuffie chirped, closing her eyes. "What should we bring? Hmm . . . oh . . . well, we still have time."

"Friday's tomorrow."

"What? Really?" Yuffie's eyes opened and she sprang lightly up off the grass; holding her hand out to Vincent. "Come on then, Cid'll be here early. You know him – he hates being late!"

With a laugh, Yuffie winked at Vincent and clasped her hands behind her back. Vincent nodded ay Yuffie, telling her to go on ahead. Crimson eyes watched Yuffie's small frame as she started up the stairs, disappearing into the mansion. Vincent let out a sigh, pulling a small box out of his pocket. "Tomorrow then," Running the small box over in his hand, he put it back into his pocket, and picking up his book started after Yuffie.

---

"When did Cid say he'd be here?" Vincent asked, leaning against the pillars around the iron gates.

Yuffie shrugged as she rolled her eyes. "Tifa said around two . . . and Cid said I didn't know how to be on time, jeez."

Vincent shrugged, staring at the rooftops the mansion overlooked. "Life changes when you have a kid."

"I know . . . but still . . ." Yuffie huffed. "He should have called then; oh! I'm so going to bug him about this . . . time for some payback."

"Yuffie . . ."

"What?" Yuffie muttered, pushing away from the pillar to twirl around the path. "Cid picked on me all through out Sephiroth days and oh man, after you left and I'd get lifts from him . . . he never let up. Granted . . . that was about other things . . ." Yuffie trailed off awkwardly.

Vincent didn't reply, but any reply he would have had was drowned out as a sleek, newer model of the Sierra flew loudly over their heads. Yuffie clamped her hands over her ears, squinting up at the airship as it flew overhead, landing on the stretch of grass behind the mansion and before Mount Nibel.

"It's about time!" Yuffie called, knowing that neither Cid nor Shera could hear her as the airship came to a stop, engine's whirling silently.

Flashing a grin back at Vincent, Yuffie started for the large airship, her mind reeling with comment's for Cid. Stopping outside the ship, rocking back on her heels as she waited, she felt Vincent approach behind her, the wind whipping his cloak around. The ship's gears started to whirl as the ramp slowly came down to meet them. Yuffie grinned, her comments ready. However, all her comments disappeared as the lowering ramp revealed Shera, baby Aleria resting on her hip. Smiling at the older woman, Yuffie waved at them before started quickly up the ramp.

"Hey Shera, how's my niece doing?" Yuffie asked, leaning down to look at the small child. "Boy, she's sure gotten big since I last saw her! Yes, you have, you've got your mom's looks thought. Watch is Shera, she'll probably have Cid's hair."

Shera laughed, bouncing Aleria on her hip. "Perhaps so, morning Vincent," she commented, nodding at the gunslinger. "Cid's in the cockpit, I doubt you want to hear us women talk."

Vincent nodded as Shera let out a laugh, his eyes on Yuffie who had managed to get Aleria from Shera's grasp. "You'll be flyer like your father is . . . you just can't talk like him!"

"She certainly won't!" Shera huffed, turning around, hands on her hips. "Her first word won't be a swear word. I'm trying to get Cid to stop too . . . it's like trying to take his cigarette's away."

"Don't tell me you tried that!" Yuffie called; quirking an eyebrow before grinning wildly. "Cid wouldn't have liked that, huh?"

"Yeah, that went over real well," Shera grumbled, rolling her eyes.

Vincent shook his head at the two as Shera pressed a button to retract the ramp, starting towards the cockpit. No doubt Cid would have a few choice words about the small delay.

---

Loud music could be heard slightly as it drifted from the bright town to the large ship as it descended through the twilight sky, the docking bay below them.

"This is so great," Yuffie shouted, bounding on her balls of her feet. "We didn't get to go last year; this is going to be so much fun!"

Shera grinned from her position beside Cid. "You'll love it – the firework display is phenomenal, they go all out."

"That's great, I can't wait," Yuffie called over her shoulder. "We used to do that all the time in Wutai . . ."

Yuffie let out a sigh, pressing he hand against the cold window, her storm grey eyes locked on the dark horizon. Her thoughts a million miles away, Yuffie jumped as a hand landed on her shoulder. Yuffie smiled up at Vincent, leaning against him. "Things will work out in the end."

Yuffie snorted. "Yeah right."

The roof of the airship dock started to retract, allowing the Sierra entrance to the large bay. The airship lowered itself into the dock, the sky disappearing from view as the roof came back across, closing over them with a loud bang.

"You're coming to the festival too, right Vincent?" Yuffie asked, her hand intertwining with his, storm grey eyes meeting crimson. "I have to see that with my own eyes . . . I can't see you the life of the party." Yuffie let out a small laugh before quickly standing up on tiptoes and brought her lips to his.

"Come now, Yuffie," Shera commented after a couple seconds, stopping a few feet behind the two. "You can make out with Vincent later – like at the festival," Shera added with a wink.

Yuffie flared a bright red, breaking away from Vincent, her hand still in his. "Er . . . yeah . . . so where are we meeting Tifa?"

Shera laughed, shaking her head. "Nice try at a subject change . . . she'll be outside the building –" A mechanical jingle started in her pocket, making the brunette jump. Juggling Aleria on her hip, she pulled the phone out of her pocket. "Scratch that, Tifa's outside asking what's taking so long too open the hatch," shaking her head, Shera flashed the text message to Yuffie.

"I see Tifa's impatient as always," Yuffie laughed, taking her hand out of Vincent's grasp and sprinting past Shera. "But, c'mon, let's go."

Shera caught Vincent's eyes and shook her head. "I see Yuffie's still hyperactive as always."

"I doubt Yuffie can ever change that," Red commented, padding into the cockpit, the robotic Cait perched on his back.

"She figured out your access code," Cait chirped, gripping Red's mane as he started down the staircase. "Looks like she's been practicing those ninja moves."

Cid let out a drag on his cigarette, moving away from the ships' steering wheel. "No doubt she's practicing for those Deepground punks . . . scared little bunch ain't they Cait?"

"Scared? I doubt that," Cait grumbled, shaking his head. "They wouldn't know fear, they weren't trained for it."

"Damn bastards, their like ghosts," Cid grumbled, taking Aleria from Shera.

"Cid, you got a kid now, no more swearing," Shera glared at him. "And take that cigarette out," she glared, pulling the cigarette from his mouth, before following after Yuffie.

"Women," Cid grumbled, shaking his head as the door closed behind Shera. "Now, don't you grow up to be bossy like your mother."

Cait grinned. "Don't let Shera hear you say that."

"I know, I know," Cid shrugged, sitting down on the staircase, Aleria on his lap. "So, has Reeve found out anything new about Deepground, Cait?"

Cait shook his head. "The last time we even came close to them was in Corel . . . but we got there too late."

Corel had been targeted by Deepground around six months' ago. They had been looking for something – or someone, they weren't exactly sure. Reeve had gotten word from Barret that there was some movement around the old reactor. Hot headed like always, Barret was unable to wait from the WRO to arrive for backup and went on ahead to scope it out. Deepground had seen him and his small group from the mountain tops and their elite snipers had made short work of them. Barret and other miner were the only survivors, Barret having knocked the man over the cliff, Barret following suit. By the time the WRO arrived, the newly rebuilt Corel was destroyed, many dead in the streets, very few survivors. It had been a couple days before they found Barret, and another while before Barret had regained consciousness.

"Their ghosts, just like I told you, nothing but damn ghosts," Cid grumbled. "Only thing they leave behind is dead bodies, some help that is. That just means we know where they've been."

"Then the pickings must be getting smaller." Vincent put in, his crimson eyes dead. Deepground was something he didn't want to talk about, let alone remember. Rufus' words still haunted him, had he been a test run to see how far gene mutilation could go?

"Thought you didn't want to be involved, Vince," Cid said, looking up at the tall gunslinger.

"I don't. But with Yuffie around, she likes to bounce her ideas off me; so it's only natural too piece things together."

"Well, don't hold us in suspense," Cid drawled, waving his hand impatiently for Vincent to continue.

"There's nothing in Mideel, Fort Condor, the Forgotten Capital and Nibelheim; Midgar, Corel and Edge have already been destroyed. That only leaves Kalm, Cost de Sol, Cosmo Canyon, Rocket Town and Wutai; four of which have members of WRO and AVALANCE living there. No doubt if they were going to attack anywhere, it'd be Kalm or Wutai, the two biggest free countries, or Junon, the stronghold of the WRO."

Cid glared from Vincent to Cait. "Tell Reeve that Vincent should be second in command, not that strange Shaula. What's she found out anyways – she disappears all the time."

"Shaula . . . she likes to investigate on her own."

"She's still searching for her . . . whatever it is?" Cid demanded, rolling his eyes. "That girls getting useless, she should be helping out in the damn war, but building her family tree and shit."

"She's in Edge."

"Edge?! It's been abandoned for the past two months, what the hell is she doing there?"

Cait sighed and Red shook his head, lying down on the top step. "She's attempting to find a way into Deepground's headquarters. From the files that Reeve acquired after Meteorfall, and everything that's happened since, we've figured out that Deepground's stronghold is Midgar –"

"ShinRa trapped them there for thirty damn years, why the hell did they go back?"

"You just proved what their thinking," Vincent commented, looking at the three. "They were trapped there for thirty years and you would wonder why they would go back to that hell . . . simply because no one would look for them there. You wouldn't expect them to go back."

The cockpit door whirled open, the tension of the room breaking as they looked up. Tifa wandered into the room, her long brown hair pinned up elaborately, a small flower appearing in the curls of her hair. Small tendrils framed her face whole she worn a modern black dress that hugged her features, stopping at her knees, followed up – of course – her black trainers.

"I take it you like it then," Tifa ventured a guess to break the silence.

"Nah, just never seen toy in a dress before Teef," Cid commented, grinning at the bartender.

"I'll take that as a compliment then," Tifa beamed, moving off to the side, hands behind her back. "I had one for Shera and Yuffie as well – I put their clothes in the small closet for now – it's kind of a custom to get dressed up. It's a celebration after all!"

"Don't tell me you actually got Yuffie in a dress," Cid said in mock surprise.

Tifa rolled her eyes. "What do you think?"

"Not a chance in hell."

Tifa grinned. "More or less, so I didn't try. Shera has one too – come on out already!" Tifa yelled, grinning like a school girl.

The cockpit door opened once more, Cid craning his head to look at the two. Shera had let her hair out if her ponytail and wore a white sundress with capped sleeves, a pair of white flip flops adorning her feet. Yuffie stood beside her, her black headband gone, her hair falling across her face, a few of the strands braided. A red outfit hugged her features, one strap draped over her left shoulder, the dress's hem ending above hr knees. Without her ever present knee socks, her legs actually looked longer, drawing attention to them.

"Thought you said she wasn't wearing a dress, Tifa," Cid commented as Yuffie flitted to Vincent's side.

Tifa rolled her eyes. "The shorts were, uh, short and . . . they're under the dress."

Cid burst out laughing. "Only Kisaragi would do that."

Yuffie glared over at Cid, her face red while Tifa shook her head. "Come on, Cloud and everyone else is waiting in the square." Nodding at the group, Tifa exited the room, Red following after her, Cait on his back.

"Last thing we need is Spike worrying again," Cid grumbled, as he past Aleria to Shera and pushed himself off the stairs. "I don't need no lecture from him."

"Do you like it?" Yuffie asked, staring up at his crimson eyes, waiting for his commented.

Vincent eyed Yuffie critically, the ninja fidgeting under his gaze. "I like it," he commented, the ninja twirling on her foot. "It looks good for a change."

Yuffie glared at him. "That's mean – but, I still love you." Taking the gunslingers' hand, she towed him off after the others. "Tifa said there's supposed to be dancing, so you have to dance with me! All the girls will be jealous because you're with me." Yuffie grinned, stepping closer to him.

Vincent shrugged, brushing Yuffie's hair back. "You know I won't notice."

"Guys never do," Yuffie sighed, rolling her eyes. "It look you how long to notice me?"

" . . ."

"Exactly my point."

---

Tifa was right, the Kalm festival is a lot of fun, Yuffie thought as she watched the brunette being spun around on the dance floor by Cloud. Cid and Shera and Barret and Marlene were out on the dance floor as well. Yuffie sighed, glancing at the empty chair beside her: Vincent's. The stoic gunslinger had disappeared on her half an hour ago to make a phone call. She had seen his phone display before he left; it was Reeve. She had frowned at that, pulling out her phone as well – no message, none at all. What would Reeve want with Vincent . . . he wasn't even part of the WRO! Granted, he did have information no one else had.

Vincent had danced with her though; he was surprisingly good at dancing. He moved through the dance floor with an ease and grace that no one else seemed to have. Like Yuffie had told him, he had acquired a couple of hearts. Despite the fact that his arm was on the back of her chair, the small ninja leaning against him, made no difference to those brave enough to ask him out on the dance floor. She'd laugh at Vincent's reactions; he'd slowly look up at the girl(s) staring at them with his crimson eyes and then say no and look away just as quick.

Yuffie was brought out of her thoughts as the chair beside her moved and Tifa slumped down into it, smiling over at Yuffie before faltering. "Vincent hasn't come back yet," Tifa frowned, shaking her head. "I swear . . . I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

"Don't," Yuffie grinned. "I know Vincent, I lived with him for a year, remember?"

"No idea how you did that," Barret grumbled, shaking his head. "Hasn't changed much."

"He has, you just don't see it."

"Yeah, I don't sleep with him."

"BARRET!" Tifa shouted.

"Still in the gutter and alone, huh?"

"Yuffie . . ."

"What?" Yuffie grumbled at Tifa. "He asked for it."

Tifa shrugged. "You two never change; just get along for one night, at lease. Jeez, who knows if we'll all be here next year."

Then, a series of things happened in quick succession.

The street lights dimmed.

The paper lanterns lining the street flickered to life, casting colourful shadows on the cobbled street.

Music started to play through the towns' speakers.

At the east end of the city, a large crowd of dancers emerged onto the street.

"Oh! It's the dancers!" Tifa exclaimed, looking over the heads' of the crowd. "You have to see them Yuffie, they're so good!"

Followed by a far off, but still loud whirling . . .

Storm grey eyes narrowed, staring up at the sky. "Tifa, do you hear that?"

Tifa paused and then shrugged. "It's part of the music."

Yuffie watched as Tifa pushed away from the table, her ears straining for the sound.

The whirling was getting louder, closer.

Narrowing her eyes more, she stared up at the sky, willing whatever it was to show itself. She paused, eyebrows quirked as a lone light blinked from over the plains.

"What? A helicopter? Che, Reno," Yuffie rolled her eyes, the red head was always late, but Reno hadn't been seen for the past year . . . "I've got a bad feeling about this . . ."

Her suspicions were confirmed as more blinking lights filled the sky, all seemingly heading in this direction. One, two, she lost count at six. Dread coming over her, Yuffie pushed away from the table and over to Tifa, a grin on her face as she watched the dancers.

"Tifa . . . something's wrong."

"I'm sure Vincent's fine," Tifa said, eyes never leaving the dancers.

"No, the sky! Something's coming!"

Sighing, Tifa looked up at the sky, pausing as she noticed the lights in the sky. "Reno."

"He disappeared a year ago."

The helicopters got closer still, their whirling louder as they closed in on the city, the music of street drowned out by the helicopters. People paused, looking from the dancers to the sky.

"What?"

"You see it?" Tifa nodded. "What the hell could they be?"

Hearing the whirling, the rest of AVALANCE took their attention away from the dancers as well.

"What the hell?" Barret grumbled, tightening his grip of Marlene's legs, the little girl on his shoulders.

Cloud narrowed his eyes, at the oncoming helicopters, his mako eyes cutting through the darkness. His breath caught, making Tifa glance at him.

"It's the Deepground symbol."

"Damn, Vince was right!" Cid cursed, stamping out his cigarette.

"What? What'd Vincent say?" Yuffie demanded.

"'Fore you ladies came back, we were discussing Deepground. He said the most likely place they would attack would be Kalm or Wutai next, possibly Junon.

"He said that?!" Tifa yelled, over the overpowering whirling. "Good night to come – half the continent's here!"

Glaring up at the sky, Tifa drew her hands up into fists. Barret quickly dropped Marlene to the ground, hurriedly asking Shera to watch over the younger girl.

Cid let out a curse. "Damn good time, all the damn weapons are on the Sierra!"

"We've got to get out of here, no weapons, we don't stand a chance," Tifa glanced at the crowd, all of who were looking at the helicopters, panic in their eyes.

"Ah!" Yuffie yelled. "My Conformers' in my hotel room, dammit! I'll meet you at the ship; I'm not leaving without it."

Tifa nodded. "Figures I'd wear a dress," she grumbled, then shook her head. "Grab as many people as you can . . . meet at the airship launch pad quickly!"

---

Yuffie huffed, her feet pounding heavily against the cobbled street as she weaved her way through the crowd. The Deepground helicopters had come down on the small unexpecting town, cries of terror now mixed with the rapid gunshots from the Deepground soldiers piercing the night . Yuffie's heart pumped as she forced herself down the street, cutting off into a dingy alley as the gunshots of the Deepground soldiers closed in on her before they turned the corner, finger of the trigger.

"I'm sorry," Yuffie whispered, her eyes closing tightly as the screams started up again. "I'm so sorry."

Yuffie came to a sudden halt as she reached the back entrance of the hotel her and Vincent had gotten into because of a last minute cancellation. Her ninja skills kicking in, her storm grey eyes ran across the back wall, looking for an entrance. From everything she had learned about Deepground for the many near captures of them and from what Vincent had told her; these people were very efficient, nothing left behind. Survivors: nil. No doubt they'd check the hotels and homes.

"Gotcha,"

Yuffie smirked, finding what she was looking for – a fire escape. Grinning to herself, Yuffie made her way over to it, and grabbing the rungs, clambered up it, her mind fixed on her hotel rooms' window and her Conformer. Hopefully Vincent was still in there . . . maybe.

Her mind a mile away, she didn't noticed that there was another dingy alleyway beside the hotel and the house beside it that connected to the main street, Voices drifted down the alleyway, their screams mixing with the rest as Deepground approached the alley, gunning the people down instantly. In her hurry, Yuffie failed to keep her footsteps down, so sure that no one would come down the alleyway. Her feet clanged against the metal rungs nosily, alerting Deepground to her presence as the screams died down.

Behind Yufife's back, two soldiers emerged, guns raised as they looked around the small alleyway for her. Finding the source of the noise, one looked up, gun moving with the action.

"Target located – pure."

Gasping, Yuffie quickly looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide. Letting out a curse, she tried to climb faster up the ladder. Yuffie let out a loud yell, her grip of bars slipping as the gunshot made contact with her outstretched right arm, the second piercing her leg.

Mixed with her scream, Yuffie yelled out the word "Vincent" before darkness started to edge around her vision, pain taking over her body as she hit the pavement.

---

Alright, Dirge of Cerberus time!

Word of note: This will not be a novelization of the game; it'll focus on the other characters, Deepground and how it all comes together.