The large part re-entered the forest, from which they had emerged only hours before. Cloud tried to keep his eyes on Yuffie, who was still denying the fact that she did have the Master Materia. Red tried to keep out of the way of the soldiers. Most didn't seem to care whether or not they got mud all over him. Vincent just followed, and as usual said nothing. Yuffie was trying to make her way to the edge of the party. But no one liked letting her out of their sight. The stories of her 'ability' had spread, and no one wanted to loose everything to her. Finally, after a lot of work, she managed to get to one side of the group. And started to stare into the forest.p
(I can't just leave them without a good reason…)Yuffie was trying to think of an excuse to disappear. Unfortunately, she couldn't come up with a good idea. (If Cloud finds out I stole his Master Materia,… Ah @#$@. He probably believes that I stole it. If only I had waited until latter to try and take off with all that Materia. Now I have the greatest prize imaginable, and no way to ensure that I keep it.) P
She was still griping to herself, when she saw an almost human-like shape trailing them. She immediately though of an idea. P
"Hey! We're being followed. I'm gonna go see what it is. If you guys come with me, you'll just scare it off. Latter!" P
Without waiting for an answer, she vanished into the woods. Cloud was not happy. P
"Damn it! She's the one with the Materia. The last thing we need is her going off on her own. Especially if she's got the Mastered Materia… I've go to…"P
But Chrono steeped in front of him. P
"If you go after her, then you can't prove the truth of your words. And I, for one don't believe them. Will you forget about them, and go after her, or…"P
Cloud looked at him, accepting the unspoken challenge. "I don't think you understand the situation. Those 'rocks' as you call them, have incredible power. And with her on the loose, I don't want to think of what could happen. Yuffie's quick to pick a fight, but slow to think of the consequences of doing so. You let her loose with that Materia, and you could have a whole lot more trouble on your hands. I told you it was a mistake to bring her."P
Red steeped up to the two, before swords could be drawn. "Cloud, I think Yuffie loose with the Materia, is less of a problem then Sephiroth. Besides, with her luck, she'll end up getting herself arrested before long. You know how she is."P
Cloud was about to reply, when an unexpected solution came. In the form of a scream.P
"That's Yuffie!"P
Without waiting to see who followed, or what would happen, Cloud ran off towards the voice. Red and Vincent followed close behind. Chrono stopped, and watched them race off.P
"Sir?"P
"We follow. If their friend is in trouble, then they have the right to help her. If they are trying to escape…" Chrono left his comment unfinished. The soldiers knew what they would do without him saying so.P
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
P
IMeanwhile, somewhere in the forest…/IP
"Ha! I pulled it off. Now when I show them what I have, there will not be any Materia to prove that I ever stole it."P
She had wandered off into the woods, and was out of sight of the path. She was still trying to find out what the figure following them was, or at least that's what she told herself. Without intention, she discovered a small clearing, and wandered into it.P
Suddenly there was a crack as a branch broke. It came from directly behind her. As quick as a striking cat, Yuffie turned, shuriken in hand. The figure she saw standing there was the last she expected…P
"YOU!"P
It was the girl once again. P
"Ok, time for our rematch. This time you don't have the advantage of surprise. If you hadn't surprised me last time, I'd have…"P
The girl started to laugh. "Such a show off. Fine, have a free shot. I will not attack until after you do."P
That was all the invitation Yuffie needed. With a battle cry (which is what Cloud and the others heard) She rushed forwards, and threw her shuriken directly at the girl's head…but the girl ducked. And Yuffie's shuriken ended up getting stuck in the tree that the girl was standing in front of.P
"Hey! No fair!"P
"I said I wouldn't attack you. I never said that I would avoid your blows."P
With that, the girl turned, and withdrew the shuriken from the tree. But the shuriken wasn't the only thing she gained by that maneuver.P
"Ok, now can you give me my shuriken back? Please?"P
Yuffie was now trying to get her weapon back…And the Master Materia she'd left inside.P
"And why would I want to do that?"P
The two were so busy in there interchange, that they never noticed the approach of the others, until Cloud spoke.P
"Because it's hers."P
The girl looked up. As soon as she saw Cloud, she stood, poised to fight or flee. But as Red and Vincent broke thought the trees, she turned, and ran. With Yuffie's shuriken.P
"Oh man, my dad's gonna kill me! I've gota get my shuriken back. Latter!"P
Yuffie started after the girl, but Cloud stopped her.P
"Perhaps you've forgotten the others? I'm not going to let them rot in prison, nor us for that matter, just so you can get you toy back. Or have you forgotten we have bigger problems?"P
"But Cloud…"P
Red laughed. "Maybe it's because Yuffie can't believe that someone would, or could, actually steal from her."P
Chrono, and the soldiers walked up at this point. P
Chrono looked at them. "What was the problem?"P
Yuffie looked annoyed. "That girl just walked off with my shuriken! It was a birthday present from my dad. He's not gonna be happy."P
The others laughed, except for Vincent, and Cloud…P
"He's here."P
Cloud was staring into the woods, a vacant look on his face. The others looked at him.P
"Who is?" Red looked concerned.P
Cloud didn't answer. He just walked forwards with the same vacant look on his face. His three friends just looked at each other in concern. Cloud crossed the clearing, and walked under a huge tree…and stopped. He stood there, as if hearing something the others couldn't. Without warning, a figure leaped from the branches, his sword held like a spear, ready to spear Cloud.P
Red was the first to notice this. "CLOUD! Look out!"P
But Cloud couldn't hear them. Red, and the others started to run towards him. But they already knew it was too late…P
HR
Author's notes: Interesting, isn't it. So how's Cloud going to get out of this one, or is he. As for the girl, she'll be back soon, and with a name. But there's a good reason I'm taking so long to give it. Stay tuned for chapter 5; Double Trouble. The title of this fic will finally start to make sense.
