For those of you who asked, this is not part of Frank Verderosa's Internet Series. I was inspired by his series to write this and it is set right after the seventh book(I can't remember the title off the top of my head). Enjoy Chp. 2!
"Miss Yuffie, are you feeling well?" Shake asked slowly. Yuffie turned to him and gave a half-hearted smile.
"I'm all right, just a little depressed at the thought of spending more time that I could be working with my materia at one of these stupid meeting sessions. And, on top of it all, I have to wear a dress." She replied as she looked up at the Costa Del Sol resort hotel. "I'm sick of traveling to all of these places for simple meetings. Why can't we just hold them in Wutai?"
"I don't know, but I wish we could stay home, too." They walked into the hotel and Shake went to the desk for their room keys. Yuffie waited for her 'bodyguard' to return and sifted through her backpack for her small, spiral-bound sketch diary. She had left her big book at home to conserve packing space, but couldn't stand to be without a little book, not in a place like this. As soon as she pulled out the book she had spotted her first subject through the window. Lying on the beach was the familiar face of LaiLi stretched across a beach towel in the sun.
"Shake, take my things up to my room and give me my spare key. I'll be up in a little while." Shake complied and Yuffie stepped out onto the porch to get a better view. A few yards away from LaiLi she spotted Rude in a pair of swimming trunks splashing at LaiLi in the shallow tide. Yuffie smiled as she pulled her pencil from behind her ear and opened the sketchbook. Half an hour later she had completed a portrait of Rude in the surf and turned the page to begin on LaiLi, who hadn't moved the entire time. She didn't notice the lean, red-headed figure watching her on the steps from the doorway.
"Hmm…" Yuffie hummed, aloud but mostly to herself. "If Reno and Elena were here I could have a series called 'Turks in the Surf.'"
"I don't know about Elena, but you wouldn't get me in my trunks if you gave me a million gil." Yuffie froze as she heard Reno's familiar sarcastic voice. She turned slowly to face him.
"How long have you been there?" she demanded, staring at him and snapping her sketchbook shut.
"Long enough," he shrugged. "How long have you been sketching? Your work is really good."
"What would you know about my 'work?' I've never shown anyone. Not even Shake or Godo."
Reno stepped towards her, holding out a handful of pictures. Yuffie took them and flipped through. They were pictures of her sketches from the book she had left at home. "Where did you get these?" she cried, near tears. "What were you doing with my sketchbook?"
"I found it while I was on a job."
"On a job? This book was in my room! Why would a job send you to my room?"
"Don't ask me. I was hired to search your room and properties for any information pertaining to Wutai's economy."
"Tough cookies, I don't keep that information."
"I gathered from my search, but I did find those rather lovely sketches and your diary." Yuffie reached her hand to her chest where a tiger-shaped pendant hung.
"I want my book back. And my diary."
"I didn't take them. They're still in your desk."
"Why wouldn't you take them?"
"It wasn't part of the job to turn in your hobbies. I was simply instructed to find information." He smirked. "Now it is my turn to do the questioning. What are you doing in Costa Del Sol?"
"Meetings."
"Really? While you're here, why don't we have some fun? Say… tonight at eight?"
"Not if you paid me. The last time I went out with you I ended up soaking wet."
"Yeah, but then your father's little monkey was following us. As far as I hear, he's going back to Wutai at six and you are to be left here until Saturday."
"Where did you find that out?"
"I have my ways. So, what do you say? Eight o clock? Rude and LaiLi will be with us, and I promise you won't end up in a lake."
"That's only because there aren't any lakes around here. What the hay, my job is going to be boring anyway so I might as well make it downright miserable." She stood up. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, and don't give me that 'I don't trust your surprises' look. Be ready at eight and wear a dress. What's your room number?"
"418, but why do I have to wear…"
"All right. I'll be at your room at eight." He winked at her before turning around. "It'll be nice. I promise."
"Why do I not trust that?" Yuffie asked herself as she turned to go to her room.
Ooh…cliffhanger.
More later!
Rikku