A/N: Thank YOU Mystic 777. Thank you readers. Thank you reviewers. Thank the Plot this Chapter is done! :p Now, please. Read and Review... Or I'll drop the chapters to come back down to 1000 words or less. :D You know you like the longer ones.
Chapter 21: A Tad Bit Tricky
Reeve's airship smoothly docked just outside of Wutai's capital. Tifa shivered as the small hairs on the back of her next rose. Taking a few steps onto the observation deck, the martial artist grimaced at the abundance of brightly colored banners, balloons and flowers wreathing the city. It almost looked like a carnival, and she suspected it had something to do with the reason she was there.
To stop Yuffie from getting married.
She knew the ninja well and if she were backed into a corner, there would definitely be trouble. Yuffie was capable of causing political disasters on a good day, she shuddered to imagine what the spunky girl could cause under pressure. Shivering a second time, Tifa tilted her sideways as Reeve called for her attention.
"What is it?"
"I've had my people looking into the reports we got from the Deepground Affair. While we've discovered some interesting information, none of it was completely unknown to us. Unfortunately, we didn't find anything to give us leverage in the situation here." He scratched his goatee and scowled down at the file in his hands. "We're going to have to plan a different route of attack."
"I'm going to talk to Yuffie." Tifa stated, folding her arms and shifting her weight to her left leg. "That's the best way to handle it."
Nodding with a resigned expression, Reeve closed his file. Tifa opened a pouch on her hip and pulled out her fighting gloves. She pulled them on, flexing her fingers to settle them into position and then sighed. "There's so little we know about the situation that I'd never forgive myself if I let this marriage happen before I talk to her."
Reeve's face fell into the passive expression he'd perfected in his years in the Shin-Ra board room. He asked. "You think there is something more to this?"
Tifa nodded. "I know Yuffie. Her country means everything to her, but her freedom is just as important. Yet for some reason she's going along with this wedding."
"For some reason indeed..." Reeve agreed.
"Yo, you two planning to cut back the chatting and getting off this ship? We've got a squirt and a SOLDIER to find." Barret called from the top of the ramp. As he descended, the big man muttered. "At least stealing our materia made sense!"
Smiling at the old joke between them now, Tifa and Reeve joined Barrett at the gates of the city. Straightening is lapels, he strode under the red gates of Wutai. He was in Wutai for more than personal business. Not only was something off with the wedding, but Shin-Ra had shown an unusual amount of interaction with Godo lately. Yuffie might be one of his more trying employees, but she was also his friend, and heaven help the soul who took advantage of her.
(break)
Yuffie skipped a little as she continued to lead her confused entourage around Wutai. She made a point to stop at every little tourist section to explain its history and the purpose it now served. Starting with the Da Chao Mountains...
"This, as you all know, is the Da Chao Mountains. It's said that the Ten Faced Gods watch over and guide the people of Wutai. That's because the mountain was supposed to be filled to the brim with natural mako streams and such. But that's a big ole' fib according to Shin-Ra when the discovered that the mountain was just a giant empty cavern. Personally, I think my ancestors sacrificed people to the monsters living in the caves." Yuffie declared. "Now, of all the best spots for visitors to come, I recommend Da Chao because it's one of the few places not easily changed into spots like the Red Gate."
Gesturing in the direction of the large red pillars decorated in old ofuda and sacred markers, Yuffie glared at the thing. Waving to a billboard for shampoo plastered on the gates. She spat out an explanation for the once sacred place."That is the Red Gate. In ancient times, our most honored soldiers came here to be blessed by the gods. Now, it is a shopping district and the gates are used for advertisement."
The ninja fell quiet for a moment as she watched the passing figures of her other Avalanche companions pass her group completely by without even seeing them. A grin twitched the ninja's lips upwards as she turned around to the lead them to the next attraction. Trailing off, Yuffie began another tangent of playing tour guide. "This way we have the..."
She strode past the gate without further comment, drawing worried glances from her escort as she grabbed at Genesis's wrist and hauled him after her. The man felt a slight uplift of his lips as he heard the woman begin muttering under her breath about all the indignities of the Wutai War and Shin-Ra's involvement. The more she went on about it, the more Genesis became convinced that not only Shinra, but Wutai had offended her honor rather than the country's by the changes. Then again, he bet that Yuffie considered the two to be the same.
The young woman stopped for a second as her eyes flicked on towards the departing figure of a foreigner dressed nearly in all black leather. The ninja's eyes flicked towards Genesis before her grumblings ceased and a sly smirk took it's place. "Captain Hikaru," Yuffie whispered in Wutain. "I want three of our most loyal men."
With a few swift words in Wutaian she sent three of her frazzled guards in different directions. Her secret smile sent shivers down the necks of three of her companions as she spun around in a wide circle to face them. Finally, they arrived at the center of the capital where a massive shrine dominated the town square. Yuffie's manner became even more excited as she hustled them inside for tea, food, and conversation.
"This is the center of Wutai." she exclaimed. Her eyes drifted to Cloud as she spoke with blond's hand drifting to his materia pouch in concern. "This is where the royal family and nobles make all sorts of declarations, from celebrations to laws. And it's here where I'll be making my own announcement.
"For some reason, I don't like the sound of that," Cloud said, his brows lowering at the young woman. "What are you planning?"
The remaining guards shifted nervously as a few of the more experienced members recalled the young princess's exploits years earlier. One of them even made a sad attempt to suppress a whine of distress as the captain's face visibly paled.
"Princess Yuffie, please, no." he whispered, fingers tightening into his palms as her requested men assembled to the front.
"It's also now known for it's stellar tea and kabuki theater. Gen-gen, you'd love the Loveless enactment they do. Totally without narration though." Yuffie added without missing a beat. "Relax, Captain. I've only got to send them on a few errands for me."
(break)
"Wakey, wakey, Sleeping Beauty, I've got some questions for ya!" Reno prodded the bound ninja's head lightly with his nightstick. After a moment's disorientation, the ninja scowled up at the Turk. "There we go! So tell me, what was so important that you left your princess's side?"
Reno's lips quirked upwards as the silence lengthened.
"That's cool. Loyalty to the Boss is always a good thing, but see, you might just be keeping me from completing my mission. 'Fraid we can't be friends if that happens."
Rude made a sound in the back of his throat as the red head leaned back to grab a piece of paper from the table to the side of their guest. He held up the paper before flipping it over so the ninja could see it.
"See, Yuffs here and her boy-toy are supposed to be getting married. Ol' Godo and my Boss made a deal and all. Now I'm a realistic man, and I'm sure you are too, so we both know it ain't gonna happen all nice and pretty. The Boss has been pretty cool about things in the past, but we don't wanna get him mad."
Reno stood back and cracked his neck in the continued silence. "Now, I don't want to get ugly, but my 'ugly' and the Boss' 'ugly' are chocobos of a whole different color. Make it easy on yourself and tell us what little high-n-mighty sent you out to do."
The ninja swallowed. Reno grinned as he leaned forward and continued to speak in pleasant tones.
"It's about her Avalanche pals, isn't it? Ah, hit it on the nose, you ain't meetin' my eyes anymore. I'm already half-way there, why don't cha tell me the rest?"
"We were just on an errand." The ninja broke. He remembered the stories his father used to tell him about the war and the Turks in particular. He shivered when he recalled just why this Turk was second in command of his group. No matter his manner and lazy way of dressing, Reno of the Turks got every job done.
"Oh, good." Reno drawled. "You don't want to answer my questions. Guess we'll have to get a little creative since actual torture would just ruin negotiations between the bosses. How about a drink? See, I've got this really rare stock of wine from Banora. Why don't we get you some of that, huh?"
Leaning over a table beside his hip, Reno uncorked a bottle of wine with a pop of it's wooden cork and carefully poured it's contents halfway into a thin glass. A red brow swept up as he caught the ninja's nose between two fingers.
"I won't talk..." The ninja choked out.
Reno's grin turned fearsome. He casually tipped the wine against his prisoner's lips as the liquid spilled out. "You sure about that?"
A little over an hour later he patted the swaying man on his shoulder and backed away. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it? How about another drink? Hey, Elena, pour the man a drink then let him get back to his work. Pleasure workin' with ya."
He tossed a backhanded wave and left the room.
(break)
The next two hours passed by with little more then a bleep on the monitor when Tsetse returned with Rufus. Reno sat quietly in his own little corner, fiddling with a small monitor when he chanced to meet the worried expressions given by Rude and Elena. He grinned before answering.
"We can watch them get their butts kicked trying to kidnap Tifa or we can offer them some help."
Dropping into one of the office chairs, the owner of Shin-Ra smiled at the Turk. "What are you thinking Reno?"
"Oh, just that little Yuff's isn't one to go without a fight. She's a lot like a Turk like that. Hell, if I know little Yuffie, she's already got a plan and it involves a certain little couple we all love." he responded. "Strife and his lady friend are her targets."
"Strife and Lockhart? How is that Turk-like? Unless she was planning to use them as..." Elena's eyes widened. "You think she's going to foist the wedding onto them? But that's preposterous. How can someone like that girl even think of something like that? She's a walking disaster area."
"You underestimate the loyalty Avalanche has for its members. They would live and die for one another, Elena." Tseng responded. "Since you let your informant go so easily, you must have a plan."
"Oh, yeah." The second in charge answered with a grin. "Don't worry, boss man, I've never failed a mission I set my mind too."
(break)
"Your plan is dangerous to implement, Yuffie." Genesis scolded, as the ninja turned away from the window she was looking out. She had booked them into a small suite of rooms at one of the inns as she waited for her people to report back. Cloud Strife, Vincent Valentine, and the others had left them to their own devices while they saw to personal errands. Genesis had pursued the moment to dig into the ninja's plans for their arranged wedding at her father's hands.
"Cloud and Tifa have been together for years now." Yuffie answered. "Giving them a wedding as a gift is no small feat…"
"How do you know that your plan won't backfire and cost you their friendship, princess?" Genesis whispered, as he slid onto the window seat beside her. "Friendship… it was not something I understood before."
Yuffie's palm slid away from her jaw as she looked up at the SOLDIER. "They won't turn me down."
"You are sure of this?" he asked.
"As sure as that Materia in your sword." Yuffie declared with a small laugh. "I'm not intending to just spring it on them like my dad did. I'll ask them both first. I know it isn't the most honorable of things but on several occasions, they've both mentioned the idea of marrying the other. They just need a little push in the right direction."
"Yuffie…" Genesis whispered. The ninja's attention drifted to his eyes as he leaned slightly in.
She giggled and stroked a faint scar on her arm. "If they turn it down, I'll have to think of something else. My friends are precious to me Gen-gen I would do anything for them." A warm light shone in the gray depths of her eyes as she met his gaze.
"And me? Do you count me as one of your precious friends?" He traced her jawbone gently with his index finger, using the same finger to tilt her chin up. A faint blush rose to her cheeks and her pupils dilated, trapped in his azure gaze.
"Or, perhaps even something... more?" he purred, leaning in closer. Just before their lips touched, a sharp knocking resounded from the door. Genesis pulled back and glared heatedly at the door. Yuffie opened her eyes and followed his gaze, a faint expression of confusion on her face before she shook the stupor away and called for the person to enter.
Long dark hair fell across the face of Tifa Lockhart as the woman entered the inn room. Cloud Strife was mere feet behind her with the rest of Avalanche following them inside. The bar maid examined the ninja from a distance before calling her name. "Yuffie."
"Hi, Boobs." the girl responded. "Gang, this is Gen-gen. Gen-gen, this is Avalanche."
"I'm aware." The Red Commander said, his eyes darting towards the woman Yuffie claimed as her friend. He recognized her somewhat from a brief encounter years ago. Shrugging off the dark memories, he returned the woman's heated glare with his own and tugged the ninja closer to himself. A muffled squawk echoed out of Yufffie's lips as she turned a confused look up at him.
Clearing his throat, Cloud sent the ninja a glare. "I heard you, Yuffie. What are you thinking that involves us?"
Stiffening, Yuffie struggled out of Genesis's hold on her. Taking a breath, she finally relented her in sharing her plan. "Those banners out there are for my wedding to Genesis. Neither of us is ready for that. We just wanted to have a little fun but daddy caught wind of my traveling with this guy. So, we lied a little bit and next thing we know… We're here."
"So you're not married or even engaged?" Tifa asked.
"Nope." Yuffie confirmed scratching the back of her head, "But when it comes to politics there are just things you can't say no to. As I'm sure you've seen, those banners were arranged for my wedding to Genesis... But, you guys know me, do you REALLY think I'm ready to settle down and get married?"
Barret snorted loudly and folded his arms and jerked his head to the window. "So what's the deal with all that then?"
"Turks were shadowing us," Genesis leaned against the window frame. "Likely Shinra and Godo cut a deal as a sort of political marriage."
A scowl darkened Reeve's brow. "I was not informed of this. You are certain?"
Yuffie nodded. "I sent one of my men to let himself be captured, the fact that he hasn't returned yet means he was captured... and that they are overly interested in my actions."
Genesis made a sound beneath his breath. "There are many reasons behind their actions. I was one of their better commanders. Perhaps I was not as preferred as some, but there was always a purpose to being a first. There is nothing Shin-Ra will not do to improve its image, power, and profits."
"You sound as if you know what they intend?" Reeve questioned. "But before we get to that..."
"We can question him later." Cloud countered the commissioner. "Right now we need to settle our current situation."
Yuffie gave her friends a guilty look. Tifa caught the small trembling in her lips, but no matter how much she loved Cloud and he loved her...
"Yuffie, it's..." Tifa began, trying to think of a way to aid her friend without making the situation worse. "Cloud and I..."
"If Tifa agrees, we'll do it." Cloud interrupted her. His eyes shifted to meet the martial artists as he gave her a soft smile. Color took hold on his features and the faux-SOLDIER ducked his head. "You know how I feel, Tifa. Everyone is here just as you wanted and we..."
Genesis approved, his smile eerily similar to the blond man's as he pulled the ninja closer. Softly, he recited a part of his beloved Loveless for them all to hear. "My friend, your desire. Is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess."
Barret groaned, rubbing a hand over his eyes at the poetry. He shot Cloud a glare. "What are you waiting for Tifa? Marry that spikey assed foo' of yours. Hell, Spike's just tryin to make an honest woman out of you. Finally."
The blond's face darkened slightly before he leveled a meaningful glare at the larger man that whispered reprisal.
"Don't give me none of that, now." Barret snorted. "You're the one who's finally getting his act together."
Yuffie snorted, her attention on Tifa as the entire group waited in silence for Tifa's answer. The woman shifted her feet nervously. "Can I have a moment to think about this?"
"Sure," Yuffie chirped a little too quickly.
Beside her, Genesis silently fingered the materia locked within his Rapier in contemplation. The materia slotted into was mostly for offensive magic, but the little used status materia glittered in response to the general's silent contemplations. If the ninja's plan failed he had a final set of options and they could resume their own journey. Even if she was displeased with him, he was certain that he could cool her wrath. A smirk twisted his lips, and enjoy himself in the process, of course.