It was six years ago. Sephiroth. Meteor. Holy. The Lifestream. Everything had rested on their shoulders. Everyone was depending on them, even though few knew they existed. They'd started out with nine. Then Aeris was killed. Many tears and broken hearts later, Sephiroth was gone, forever. Now Yuffie had been taken from them through some cruel twist of fate.



Six years ago, they'd barely know each other. She was a young, spunky ninja from Wutai. He was a lonely, tormented man straight out of hell, or a coffin in the Shinra mansion, whichever you prefer. Then, throughout the weeks of the Meteor crisis, a fragile friendship was formed. Between him and her, most importantly, and between them all eventually. That fragile friendship turned into more, much more than anyone had expected. During the battles they fought together Vincent found himself looking out for the young ninja. Protecting her in battle, healing her when he could, and then the materia incident in Wutai.



She'd taken every last piece of their materia. Every summon, every fire, cure, ice, bolt, everything. Gone. The fight against the soldiers right after wasn't difficult, but everyone's heart skipped a beat when the searched for a fire spell or summon and none were to be found. He'd scoffed at her actions initially. The sudden hate quickly dissolved and was replaced by his own curiosity. Why? Why had she taken their materia? She wasn't like that, it wasn't her, he knew her better than that. Didn't he? Vincent remembered was Yuffie used to say during the long nights, camped out in the middle of nowhere.



"Yeah, that father of mine," it always began like that, "he's a coward. Defeated once, once, and he runs and hides. Pfft. Then he scolded me for not being more like mom. Why couldn't I bring money in to support Wutai? Why this and why that. I couldn't take, I ran away. That's when I met you guys," she'd smile and look at him. "Thank Holy I ran away..."



Vincent would turn a little red at this remark and continue to listen to Yuffie's stories. Never interjecting unless she forced it out of him. Just nodding, understanding.



It was then the realization dawned on him. Yuffie had stolen their materia to try to impress her father. To try and show that she wasn't useless. Vincent began to immediately regret his anger at Yuffie. He wanted to explain to Cloud, but decided it wasn't in Yuffie's best interest. So when Cloud wanted to leave Wutai, Vincent took action.



"We must not leave. We need to go after Ms. Kisaragi and get our materia back," he replied icily, trying to hide his concern.



Cloud agreed, and the set off for Wutai. After getting their materia back, and scaring Yuffie in the process, things seemed to get back to normal. But it never was really normal. Cloud trusted Yuffie less, and hardly ever let her come with him on missions. He also gave her first level materia and gave Vincent the responsibility of being her bodyguard. She was never allowed to go anywhere without him. This caused her to be very bitter in the day, and cry her eyes out at night. One night he came into her tent while she was crying. He didn't mean to sneak up on her, but he was always unnaturally quiet.

"Gawd...Vincent...you...scared....me..." she sobbed while wiping her eyes, trying to hide her tears.



"I am sorry Yuffie, I heard you crying. Are you..."

"Oh Vincent!" she grabbed onto him, pulled him into her tent, and began to sob. "They...they...don't trust me....They.....hate....me....don't....want....me....here....."



Vincent's shirt was getting damp but he didn't care, "Yuffie that isn't true. I trust you, and I don't hate you."



She stopped crying. Looking up at him with a questioning look on her face she asked, "You...don't hate me..."



No, of course he didn't hate her, he didn't know what to say without sounding insincere. So he tightened their embrace and let her tears roll down his shirt. She cried herself to sleep that night. Eventually, he fell asleep too. When he awoke the next morning, her found himself still sitting up, with Yuffie in his arms. It was then he realized how much Yuffie meant to him. At first, she was like a little sister he was trying to protect. Now, she was more. For the first time since Lucrecia entered his life he felt love again. He waited with her in his arms until she woke up.



After Sephiroth was defeated, she came to him in the Highwind.



"Vincent...you aren't going to go back to the mansion are you?" She asked timidly.



"Yes," everyone's face looked as if they'd expected this, but didn't want to believe it, "The mansion is the only place left for me. I must return and atone for my sins."



"..." Yuffie first looked as if she would cry, but she regained her composer and blew up in his face, "Vincent Valentine, how can you say those things?! You've helped saved the planet!! Dammit Vincent!! You're NOT going to live you're life like that!! Can't you leave the goddamned past behind you and..."



"Miss Kisaragi, you have no idea what I still can do to harm this planet," Vincent's tone was enough to make Sephiroth shiver.



"Vincent, there's still...so....much you could do with your life...." Yuffie breathed.



"What do you suggest then..." what was he saying, he should return to atone for his sins, why was he accepting Yuffie's offer?



So Yuffie's little plan was set in motion. They would tour the world, it was supposed to get Vincent's mind off the past and make him appreciate the present. Such was Yuffie's explanation. So they went to the Chocobo Ranch took their two gold Chocobo's, after much bargaining with Cloud, and set off. Through the week's they were together, much happened.

First Reeve, being the new 'president' of Shinra, discontinued all mako and materia research and production. Everyone that owned materia was compelled to turn it in to Shinra. Over a live broadcast across the entire world, all the materia in the world was placed in the Lifestream were Mideel used to be. The whole world cheered. Cloud was their with Reeve, giving the materia back to the planet. No one could remember when they'd seen a smile that big on Cloud's face. Reeve also discontinued the SOLDIER program and announced that Shinra would be dedicated to protecting the planet and to make sure everything world-wide was alright and in order. Besides the changing events in the world around them, Yuffie and Vincent's relationship was changing.



At the beginning of their trip Vincent was still quite distant and removed. Yuffie kept happy and outgoing, taking Vincent to every carnival, restaurant, and play in the city they were in. After a few weeks had past, Vincent was warming up to the idea of being with Yuffie. Both their lives changed that year.



For the better.