The next few seconds would pass in a blur. I knew my skills as a ninja would keep me alive, but I never realized that Reno was so fucking fast! Just seconds after the word 'three' had died away, he took action. My right breast still tingled where his fingers had brushed it as he shoved me away. It has been so swift he probably hadn't even noticed.

But I noticed. And I would never forget.

"Afraid?"

I knew I shouldn't be taunting him. If this little tiff grew into a full argument, he would have the advantage. He was taller and although didn't look it, much stronger than I was.

"Of you? Don't flatter yourself."

There he was, the same cocky Turk from the days of Shinra. Yet, I knew he was prone to taking orders. Perhaps he would be able to…

"Oh come on," I teased him. "You know you want to kill me. Have since the day we first met."

Sliding his knife back in the sheath, he looked away from me. Was I that hideously scarred that he was even unable to look at me.

"You don't want to die," he explained calmly. Yet I could hear the strain in his voice. He was fighting off some hidden demon and so far was winning.

"And what makes you think that? I do want to die."

"No! You don't want to die," he snarled, spinning on his heels to face me. "Or you wouldn't be doing that to yourself."

I was taken aback. Reno's words had unnerved me greatly. The last thing I wanted to do was reveal that to him. But I was afraid my face was beginning to flush. I could already feel the burning sensation of tears forming in my eyes. My voice threatens to betray me and I refused to talk.

"Look, Yuffie-"

"Forget it!" I managed, before breaking down.

The wind lashed at my face as I ran. My jacket had been left behind, but it didn't matter. Either come back for it later, or even buy another one. The only important thing was getting away.

Getting away from those accusing eyes. But more about getting away from that sound I had heard in his voice. The emotional strain, something not characteristic of cold hearted Reno of the Turks.

Running to my home. Racing to my room. Escaping into my sanctuary of misery.

~*~*~

By the time I awoke, the sun was well below the horizon. Night had swiftly decended on the Planet and my body ached to go back to sleep. Yet, my sense could feel something was wrong. The unfamiliar scent pierced my nose, drawing me into a heightened sense. Somebody was in my home without my consent.

"Are you aware that you cry in your sleep?"

Shooting off the soft mattress, I groped for anything to use to fend off my intruder. Callused palms brushed my soft skin. Fingers dug dangerously deep in my flesh, driving me back to the mattress.

"What's the matter Princess," Reno sneered, his warm breath caressing my right ear. "Your door was wide open, you practically invited me in."

"Get off of me," I ordered, trying desperately to kick him off. "And don't call me that!"

"But that's your title," he commented, refusing to move. "And you give orders so well. Anything else, Princess?"

"I…"

"Anything else, Princess?"

"Get the hell off of me!" I stormed, happy to have found my voice again.

The bed creaked as Reno climbed off. My hands instantly shot to my bruised flesh, falling over them in a protective gesture. Damn that Turk!

"Even if my door was wide open," I said, pushing myself into a sitting position, "you had no right to enter. Why the hell are you here anyways? You made me cry, showed me how vulnerable I was. That wasn't good enough for you? Had to come back and rub it in my face?"

With the dim light, I was unable to see the expression on his face clearly. A wicked smile? Or perhaps his trademark smirk. Something light landed on my legs, surprising me.

"I just thought you might like to have your jacket back," Reno explained. The tone of his voice sent shivers up my spine. He sounded almost, hurt.

"I'm sorry."

"For what! For thinking that the only reason I came here was to make fun of you. Or perhaps even rape you while you sleep," Reno snarled, his voice far from sounding hurt. His voice even made me feel like he would tear me apart with his bare hands. "Hate to break it to you angel. But I'm not this horrible monster you make me out to be. Besides, a little kid like you isn't my type."

Little kid? Why must everybody automatically assume I am a little kid?

"I am not a little kid," I retorted, straightening my back. "I am almost twenty years old."

As soon as the words left my mouth I regretted them. Why the hell would Reno care how old I was? He had to be in his thirties. My age would seem like a kid to him.

"Older than I thought," he said in an off-handed manner. Giving me the impression that he could care less. "Only a few years younger than me."

"What? Only a few-"

His laughter cut me off. "Only twenty-five myself. Don't give me any bull about not looking it. They don't hire baby-faced pretty boys in the Turks. An older appearance pays off."

The room was silent for a few minutes. I was afraid to say something stupid. I don't know why he refused to talk. Perhaps thinking of something to say took him longer than normal people. Maybe being a Turk required little thinking and this was very stressful on him.

"Wanna talk about it?"

His sudden question caught me off balance. I knew he was implying the scars adorning my body. But I didn't feel like discussing it. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I slowly shook my head.

"No."

"Apparently talking about it is suppose to help," he said. "Or some shit like that."

My hand rose swiftly to cover the smile my lips betrayed. His eyes lit up, catching a glimpse of the smile before I could hide it. Dragging over a chair, Reno sat across from me. I really couldn't believe that this was happened. Of all the people on the Planet, it would be Reno that I would be talking to.

"As soon as Sephiroth was defeated, we began instant celebrates," the words were flowing out of my mouth. Now that I had started, there was no turning back. "Everybody wanted a piece of us. We were told what to do, where to be, how to act, what to say. They paraded us around, making sure they had control of our every move. People like Godo were the worse. Showing me off like I was a fucking trophy."

Taking a deep breath, I paused for a moment. I could hardly read the expression on Reno's face. Yet he said nothing, giving me the opportunity to continue.

"And then the hype began to wear down. Everybody else got to escape from it. Yet they didn't have to deal with Godo. He continued to lead me around by the little hand like I was a child. It was really then that it started. The only control I had over myself was over my own body."

Tears welled in my eyes. I didn't want Reno to see me cry. Yet if I brushed them away, he would know what I was doing.

"It's okay to cry," he whispered. "It's okay to be angry."

Through the layers of shadows I stared at him. It was hard to believe Reno had just said that. Perhaps this was just some crazy dream. The sharp sting on the soft flesh I pinched told me it was far from a dream. Brushing the tears away angrily, I forged ahead.

"I hated Godo because I wish I could blame him for this. But I can't because really, it wasn't his fault. I just wasn't strong enough to put up with the way he controlled my life," I paused, staring up at the black ceiling. "I was so happy before and during my time with AVALANCHE. I just never imagined life would be hell after it."

"Godo is to blame," Reno said, stretching his arms over his head. "At least partially to blame. He royally fucked up your life and probably doesn't even realize what he has done."

"I highly doubt that."

"Then why don't you tell him how you feel," Reno suggested. "Tomorrow, you go and tell him how you feel."

I'm sure Reno thought everything would be okay after that. But I had my doubts. What would Godo think if I came in and told him all this? But what harm was there in trying?

"And then what?"

Reno smiled, the first genuine smile I had ever seen on his lips. "Then, we go to Junon and you can begin a new life."