Somehow I'm under the impression that this story won't be nearly as popular as my other L/Y. *sigh* Well, I can't have everything. It's nice to know I still have some loyal fans. And all of spring break to work on my makeshift masterpiece.
A disclaimer is no longer necessary. If you still need to see it, the only necessity is psychoanalysis.
By the way—anyone know where Snowri went?
~*~
Yuffie knew someone was in the room with her. She'd heard someone of considerable weight tumble through the ceiling and land gracelessly on the floor, but she didn't know who it was. The footsteps pattern was unfamiliar—perhaps it was a guard. She pretended to still be sleeping.
Whoever it was, he was taking great caution in going slowly and quietly, but, lately, nothing had escaped her hearing. He was getting closer. She assumed it was a man, because there were no other females in this place except for herself and Disarray, and Disarray wasn't the one walking towards her.
She appeared to be sleeping, and actually did begin to drift off again. Leon got closer to her, only a few feet away. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness and he could see her clearer now. She was in remarkably good condition considering what she had gone through—bruised and scratched and a little thinner, but other than that she appeared to be all right. On the back of her left shoulder, Cloud's shirt had been torn some, revealing a nasty black wound that hadn't healed properly. Upon further inspection, it proved to be a burn mark: a brand burned into her skin, two capital D's hooked together like chain links.
He was close enough now to touch her—and to untie her. He reached one hand out, and Yuffie sprang to life, twisting as much as her restraints would let her. She was strapped to the beam around her stomach and under her arms as well as her hands tied around it behind her. Leon was surprised, and got back on his heels. Growling was muffled from the gag around her mouth and her eyes were still closed. He tried to get closer to her, but she was doing a good of keeping him at bay.
Despite her restraints, she was using what she could to keep him away, not knowing if he was a guard or not, and the sensible part of her mind had shut itself down. She heedlessly swung her own head, using it like a sledgehammer, catching him twice and taking little or no pain from it. She'd hoped she taught this stranger a lesson, so she stopped and just growled.
Leon used her calm state as an opportunity to slip the gag off of her. Big mistake—once her mouth was free she hissed and snapped at him. She was like an animal—what was wrong with her?
"Yuffie, stop it. Calm down," he whispered, as loudly as he dared. Her growling faltered and stopped. A look of disbelief came over her face, even though she still kept her eyes shut.
"It can't…" she trailed off, trying to pull her hands around and not succeeding. "Untie my hands," she told him, then she added, in a somewhat pleading tone, "Please."
Confused, not knowing why she didn't just look, Leon did as she asked. She rubbed the raw spots on her wrists where the ropes had rubbed against her skin. After a minute, she reached forward with one hand to touch his face, but suddenly took her hand away. She was scared that if she touched him, this would all turn out to be a dream. Biting her lower lip, she brushed his cheek with her hand, running her fingers up through his hair. The other hand trailed down his chest, finding the chain that led to the pendant he always wore.
"Squall?" She tested him, knowing how much he hated to be called by that name. She hadn't let go of him, felt him come forward and kiss her forehead.
"I don't give a damn what you call me anymore," he told her as he cut through the leather straps holding her to the beam. He took her by the hands and helped her to stand. When she was on her feet, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Her eyes were starting to water, and she pulled away to dry them, looking downward as she did so.
"Yuffie?" Leon asked, now entirely confused by her actions. She turned towards him, eyes still closed. "Why don't you just open your eyes?" She turned her head downward again, staying quiet for a long time.
"Wouldn't make a difference," she whispered. "The only reason I know it's you is because I can hear and feel you." She wiped her eyes on her sleeve again.
"What're you talking about?" He asked. "Are you being this shy on purpose, or do you outright refuse to tell me why you won't just look at me?" Silence. "Yuffie, look at me. Please." He hooked one arm around her waist and the other hand stroked her hair. Yuffie released a shaky breath. Without another word, she tilted her head up and opened her eyes.
They were completely glazed over—mirror-like with a bluish hue to them. Whites, irises, and pupils were no longer visible. She was completely blinded, looking right at him but seeing nothing. He stared for a second, trying not to believe it. But it was true—she was blind.
"You're staring," she accused him. Shocked, he looked away, snapping himself out of his stupor.
"Wait—how'd you know?" He asked. She shrugged.
"You were breathing on my face and not saying anything." She paused. "I dun need to see anything to know what's going on around me." There was an awkward silence between them until Yuffie broke it. "Oh for—"
She didn't finish her sentence before she threw herself around him and kissed him, legs around his waist. He took a step backwards to regain his balance and kissed her back. Neither wanted to let go, but Yuffie tore herself away and looked off in the direction of the hole that Leon had made when he fell through.
"What's wrong?" He asked, allowing her to get back on the ground, even though he didn't want her to.
"I think someone's coming," she whispered. He started to say something, but she clapped her hand over his mouth—remarkably good aim for someone who couldn't see. She relaxed some and took her hand away, saying, "It was just some Unknowns. Unless one of 'em falls through that hole you made, we're okay."
"So how do we gout outta here?"
Yuffie thought about her answer for a moment before asking him, "Do you remember which way you came to get here?"
"Yuffie, I took so many passages and turns that I'll probably be stuck in this labyrinth forever."
"Would you be able to find the gates if you got to the roof and could see everything?" She asked, sounding hopeful.
"Probably, but how're we gonna get onto the roof?"
Here, she grinned. "I know how. Follow me." She headed for a thick oak door with cast-iron handles. It opened with a loud creak. Both she and Leon winced, but no one had heard it. She opened to door as much as she dared and slipped out, followed by Leon, who closed the door behind him.
"Now what?" He asked her.
With complete confidence, Yuffie grabbed his hand and went to the right, running silently down the halls. She had to slow her pace so that Leon could keep up with her. She kept her free hand on the wall, using it for her guide.
"How do you know where you're going?" He panted.
"They put me up on the roof every night to freeze. They're hoping I get sick and collapse, but I know the way by heart now." She tapped the wall with her knuckles, indicating the carvings. "I use this as a roadmap." She got to a wall the appeared to be a dead end, and she slid her hands along it, looking for something.
"There's no door there," Leon told her. "Maybe you took a wrong turn…" He watched her hook her hands into the gaping mouth of a carving of a dragon. She started to pull on it.
"Maybe not—to you," she said between pulling on the stone wall. "But—appearances are—" the wall slid open, revealing a darkened staircase. "Deceiving." She smiled to herself and started up the stairs. "Be careful," she warned. "This is a pretty tight spiral. Whatever you do, don't run, or else you'll trip."
At the top of the staircase, Yuffie pushed the door open and stepped onto the roof. Leon followed her. The height was nauseating.
"Can ya see the gates from here?" She asked. He got down on his knees and looked off of all sides. The gate was off to the east where the sun was starting to rise. Yuffie whimpered and shut her eyes tightly.
"You okay?"
She nodded. "Light hurts my eyes, though I don't know why. Can you find the gates?" She asked again.
"Yea," he said, standing. "Off thataway, the east." Yuffie was on her knees on the roof tiles, clenching her teeth shut and scratching at the disc in her skin. She was making no sound at all, only thrashing.
Before he even asked, she told him. "They know I'm gone."
~*~
Oooohhhh, another cliffhanger! Unless I get reviews, no continue! I know I said I could be on the computer all the time, but it's so nice outside, and after two friggen weeks of Mother Nature and her PMS, I think I'll go and enjoy it while it lasts!
Thanks to my reviewers, the few that I have for this one. I guess nothing's as good as the first. *shrugs* Ah well. Review, anyway. Because I said so.
GBF: UPDATE YOUR STORY! Yer leavin' me hanging and it's no fair!
Ellyrianna: You, too.