Secrets
(A Yuffie + Vincent fan fic)
by Yuu Mizuyuki

standard disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 is owned and copyrighted by Squaresoft, thus I do not own them. I am just borrowing them for this story. Plot owned by me of course. ^_^ R&R onegai!

Btw, thanks to the following people!

Falvus: ^_^ thanks for all the reviews by the way ...

Michelle Coleman: ... me too ... I don't know why it is. I forgot.

kittie: wow, thanks for constantly reviewing my fic. It really helps me continue my fics. Thanks a bunch!

DigimonPrincess Shinaka: thankees! new reviewer!

and to all the wonderful reviews you have given ...

Chapter 7: Arrival

Yuffie set off, just as the sun's rays have been spotted over the horizon. Carefully, she tiptoed towards the entance of the house, just to make sure no one heard her leave. She grabbed her knapsack by the door before wistfully looking back.

Ja mata, otou-san ...1

She ran across the dirt path, making a mental note not to look back lest she loses her will to leave Wutai once again. She would miss Wutai ...

Slowly, she walked up the hill in search of her means of transportation aka Highwind. She had called Cid through her PHS to ask him for this certain ride. He had reluctantly agreed after being bribed with a few packs of cigarettes and an antique, one-of-a-kind lighter that Yuffie had found in her travels. And so, Yuffie had reached the top and spotted a metallic glint. A sly smile crept her face.

Upon reaching the Highwind, she looked around the massive plane until she spotted the hangar's opening and she silently went inside to spot a sleeping Cid on his seat. She giggled as she ran and jumped to land on top of Cid with a loud thud.

Why you @#%$in &(@^&^#^@&^#(!$^#!!!!

She grinned as she helped herself up and dusted her shorts. "Gotcha!" She exclaimed.

Cid glared at Yuffie. "Kisaragi, I hope my daughters don't turn out like you!"

"Oh c'mon Cid, why not? Wouldn't that be great. Gawd, they would all look like me and act like me ..." She grinned. "When you get married with Shera, wh-" Cid glared at her but gave up and sighed. "Who @#%$in told you I'd marry Shera?"

Yuffie's eyes widened. "You mean ..."

Cid winced and kicked himself mentally for acting like such a fool. He looked back at Yuffie who was waiting for his answer expectantly. He sighed. "Ya ya ... I am gonna marry her, but don't @#%$in tell anyone or I'll @#%$in kill you!"

Yuffie squealed in glee as she went of to her own usual place before things get messy.

He muttered as he placed his attention to the conrtols. The Highwind's engine started and its usual purr had set in. Slowly, Highwind lifted off the ground.

Cloud and Tifa had finished cleaning the upper floors by noon and Vincent finished cleaning the lobby and the rooms in that level. They had gathered all the junk in the center of the house, near the main entrance in which they will sort out all of the garbage to be brought out and be picked up by the garbage truck.

Cloud went down the stairs followed by Tifa who brought down 3 glasses of lemonade. As they reached the lobby, they spotted Vincent pacing back and forth, deep in thought.

Tifa approached Vincent. "Hey, Vincent!"

Vincent looked at her passively and nodded.

Cloud walked towards them and stood beside Tifa. "So, Vincent, what's wrong? You seem to be ... well ... you're not acting like yourself today."

Vincent looked at both of them and sighed. "I do not know why I have been acting like such as well. I'm very sorry if it bothers you ... I just feel quite uneasy today for some unknown reason ... somewhat apprehensive." He sighed and sat down on a nearby chair.

Tifa gave Vincent an understanding look. "It's Yuffie, isn't it?"

Vincent gave out a small, shy blush which he tried to hide. I assume it's rather obvious ... He sighed and nodded gravely. "I am just feeling rather uneasy ... her coming here ..."

"Why?" Cloud asked, "You do want to see her right?"

Of course I do ... I miss her so much, then why, Vincent Valentine. Vincent sighed and shrugged. "I do want to see her. I ... I miss her." He stood up and looked at his 2 friends. Tifa nodded, "We know you do, right, Cloud? That's why were here to help you out." Cloud nodded in affirmation. Tifa went on, "Besides, if something goes wrong, we'll back you up." She smiled mischeiviously, "but first ... we better do something about your clothes."

Vincent gulped. I sense something I would regret later on ... There was something about Tifa's smile that he did not like.

"Hey! Wake up, will ya!" Cid shouted as he knelt and shook Yuffie as gently as he could.

Yuffie sat up and yawned. She stretched her arms as she opened her eyes to meet Cid's glare. "You hate me, don't you?" She grinned.

"Took you a hell of a lot of time before you @#%$in realized it." He grinned back in return as he helped her up. "We're here."

Yuffie's heart skipped a beat. Mixed feelings came in ... she felt excited, uneasy, happy ...

I'll be seeing Vincent!

She grabbed her knapsack and jumped out of the Highwind. "Cid, are you coming?"

Cid shook his head but grinned. "I'll be @#%$in back in a couple of @#%$in days to bring everyone. Be a good girl who I can be proud of until then!"

Yuffie pouted playfully. "You mean I'm not a good girl now?"

"@#%$in NO!" Cid smiled as he went in the Highwind. Yuffie laughed heartily. "Spoil sport!"

She ran off into Nibelheim happily and heard Highwind's purr at the distance. She sure was gonna miss Cid.

She looked inside her knapsack and went through its contents, searching for her PHS.

The three had just finished cleaning up the whole mansion except for the basement which was quite hard to clean up in a day and was left for tomorrow. Cloud finished coating one of the rooms with fresh paint as Tifa redecorated one of the rooms. Vincent finished carrying out all of the trash into the garbage truck and went in the mansion to see the progress thay have done in the past 2 days. He smiled, appreciating the new look. He really owed the 2 so much for helping him out. Vincent went up the newly cleaned stairs to where Cloud and Tifa were resting.

"We've just finished. How about you?" Cloud asked wearily.

"I have just finished my work as well. I thank you for all the help you have done." Vincent said solemnly. He saw Cloud nod before he began to doze off on his chair and Tifa smile. "It was no problem, really." Tifa exclaimed. "Besides, Vincent, we're as excited as you are in seeing Yuffie!"

Vincent blushed. "I ... I-" His statement was never finished as the ring of Tifa's PHS interrupted him.

Tifa grabbed the PHS on the table and answered it. "Hello. Tifa speaking." Tifa grinned. "YUFFIE!" Vincent froze as Tifa went on, "Where are you? Are you here in Nibelheim or did Cid throw you out of the Highwind like before?"

Tifa nodded. "I see ... I'll be right there." And with that, Tifa turned off her PHS.

She looked at Vincent and grinned. "She's outside."

Author's note: I guess this fic will end up longer than I expected ... ^^; ... oh well. Sorry if it took so long. I forgot the plot and I made a new one ... gomen nasai minna-san!

[1] "ja mata ... otou-san" means "see you later ... dad"

Reviews please ^^ ... thankee in advance!