Disclaimer: I don't own them. They all belong to Squaresoft. Each and every one of them.
*sob*
Author's notes: Thank you, once again, to all those who reviewed. Here is the update! ^_^
Firefly99: O_O you actually scared me. Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.
Rose_Flame: Yes, they are all out to get us, I'm glad there's someone else who shares my opinion of the evil pebbles.
On with the story…
I shifted sleepily, snuggling under the cotton warmth. Wait a second! When did I fall asleep? What about Vincent? I shot up, rubbing my eyes. They opened sluggishly, and it took a while for everything to register.
Backtrack.
Alright, I had been outside, after a quite spontaneous decision to leave the shadows and confront Vincent. Right. Then that had happened. Yes. There was no way I could describe it, so I would have to settle for that. I suppose you could say it was a long hug, that lasted long into the night, but I don't know, `hug´ seemed like such a polite word, so… detached. Yes, that's right. But I was going way off track. So I had stayed there, holding him. Then how in Odin's name did I end up here? I looked down and was torn between melting and giggling.
My pillow was compromised of my pack. And my makeshift, well, bed wasn't the proper word here, more like, my makeshift sleeping ground was located in a fairly even and comfortable spot.
But that's not what made me simultaneously melt and giggle. Oh no, ladies and gentlemen. It was my blanket. Yes, my blanket. Or rather, it's state. Would you believe it if I told you that I had been laid to sleep, all tucked in, by no other than Mr. Valentine? No? Would you most likely consider enrolling me into an institute for the mentally unstable? I sure would, if I had not seen it with my own eyes. But here I was, after falling asleep, silly me, all tucked in and comfy.
Well, slap me hard and call me Sue!
Or actually don't, unless of course you don't mind suddenly finding that your head is rather… detached from the rest of your body and hurling straight toward the middle of the ocean.
Although, I had to admit it was awfully sweet, and kind. Sure hadn't thought Vincent was the type. I laughed. The day Vincent had kids and did the same to them would be the day I willingly donated all my materia.
I stretched and looked around, no sign of Vincent. I stood up, gathering my stuff, and placing it in my pack. That done, I strode outside.
I found him crouching on an outcrop, elongated legs tucked neatly underneath. With that sensitive hearing of his he picked up my shuffling, and turned his head towards me. Once again I was confronted with those chilling eyes. Yet he merely nodded, as way of greeting, rose, and turned to walk off. I shifted the pack so it settled comfortably over my shoulders and began to walk after him, silently. Neither of us said anything, but then again, what could you say? „Gee Vincent, Thanks for letting me comfort you, and letting me in, and I'm glad you didn't mutilate my body when I hugged you."?
To anyone watching us, this morning journey would have seemed like an other of our travels, inlcuding the silence that draped around us. But it was different. I never knew what `companionable silence´ meant until then. I didn't really mind the silence. I simply skipped on, smiling like I always do. Strangely, not once did Vincent turn back and glare, or ask me with a forced politeness to „Please subside with this impish habit," not even when I sang.
Not once did it strike me to think about what was my task, its difficulty, and why I was doing it. I suppose that's why it hit me so hard. I failed to see the deadly calm before the storm.
It was afternoon when I spotted the pond. Already the gears were grinding in my head, as a plan emerged. I smiled wickedly, and uttered a „Nuk nuk nuk" under my breath.
I was lucky, we were passing right by the pond, following its lazy curve as we traveled towards Costa del Sol. At the perfect point I slowed down and altered my course, now walking to the right of Vincent, so he was between the pond and me. I halted and called out, „Vincent! Behind you, the pond!" Wow, I really should get an award for acting, really. Personally I think I've always had this talent. Vincent turned swiftly, and I jumped at the chance. Or rather, I jumped at Vincent, my hands outstretched as I pushed him into the pond. The push caused me to skid a little, but I dug my shoes into the ground and managed to stop right at the edge of the water. Can't say the same for Vincent though. He flew right into the water, eyes wide with surprise. Ha! Bet you didn't expect that one, Valentine!
Yes! I pumped my hand ecstatically, Yuffie scores! All I saw of Vincent was a few bubbles. But finally he surfaced, all sopping wet. I cracked up at the sight. His long locks were askew, hanging limply, a few strands obscuring his face. The bandana sat haphazardly, looking as if it would unwind any second. His cape was no better off, clinging to his frame. I almost doubled over, clutching my insides as I shook with laughter. Someone, get a camera! This was priceless!
I chanced a look at him, and suddenly a dangerous glint graced his eyes, and I could have sworn a tiny smile perched on his lips for a second. It dissolved as the rest of the world did, when abruptly the skies wheeled up above me and I suddenly found myself immersed in freezing water. I surfaced, sputtering. Due to my wild laughter, and the fact that I had been caught unawares, I had now succeeded in swallowing an amount of water equal to the amount that could rejuvenate a whole desert for several years.
I glared at him, and cried indignantly, „You jerk!" as I proceeded to dunk him. I repeated this several times, until I tired, and my hands turned an icy blue.
I clambered out onto the shore, and threw myself down onto the grassy slope, gulping like a half spent fish. I closed my eyes, regaining my breath. The sun stained the back of my eyelids, as I once again recounted that brief smile that I had seen. Surely it had been no trick of light, I had truly seen Vincent Valentine smile. I smiled to myself, feeling proud. I had made him smile. Alright, so he had committed a grave sin in turning my prank against me, but still, he had smiled whilst doing so. Maybe I really was rubbing off on him.
There was only one way to make sure that I had seen what I really thought I had seen. I stretched my arms and opened my eyes, shielding them slightly from the sun's glare, as I turned my head and stared at him. He was lying on his back, drying himself. His arms were curled beneath his head, supporting it. All in all, he seemed so nonchalant, so, dare I say, carefree, that I couldn't resist adding a mental daisy tucked behind a pale ear to this image. I giggled. Really, now that was taking it too far. Vincent and wearing daisies, really. Next would come the ballerina outfit. He heard my giggle and he looked at me with one eye, not bothering to turn his head.
„Do it again…" I implored. Once again the raised eyebrow, as he turned his head this time.
„I beg your pardon?" said with interest.
„Smile! Oh come on! And here I thought you might have buckteeth or something." I teased. „Or do I have to push you in again to make you smile?" He made no reply, simply staring at me. I suddenly spotted a cluster of white dandelions to my left, and turned slightly to retrieve two of them. It must have taken only a second or so, but it was long enough. When I turned back, one dandelion outstretched as an offering for him, it all crashed around me. In that second everything had changed. Although the same pair of eyes stared back at me, they were so different. They resembled the eyes I had looked up to after the unfortunate encounter with the pebbles. I stared at him, shocked. Yet he only narrowed those eyes, jaw set, and his face resembling a statue of cold marble. In seconds the silence was poisoned, as he rolled away and stood up.
„What?" I uttered foolishly.
„We've already wasted enough time, Yuffie. We should move on, and cover as much distance as possible before nightfall." Same cold words.
„Wait, Vincent!" I hastily said, stumbling to my feet and plunging after him; the dandelion falling from my hands and landing on the ground, the slight breeze freeing a few seeds, but leaving the most of them to their despairing demise on the hardened earth. I did not care however, as I ran to catch up with him.
„Hurry up, Yuffie."
„Vincent! Answer me, what was that all about?" I questioned persistently.
„What do you mean?" Ah yes, back to the cold bastard act.
Till nightfall I walked alongside him, scampering to keep up with those long strides of his.
Yet though I am walking right there, not a meter away, it seems as if he is as far away as the edge of the world. The barricades that had been lowered since last night have once again been raised, strong as ever, and presided over by a watchful eye.
No matter how much I pounded on them, how my hands grew bloodied from all the pounding, and my voice hoarse from the shouting, it did not change. They were there, and I could not do a single thing. I raged against them, tried to slither through every hole, prying through every chink, yet to no avail. Each time I was faced once more with the cold and curt retort, detached and lifeless.
I was locked out, with no way in.
Yet I persisted, even long after we had stopped for the night. I persisted until I was exhausted, and sleep came and dragged me in, relinquishing its hold only in the morning.
The rest of the days until we reached Costa del Sol were the same, no matter how much I fought, the icy barriers would not melt. But most of all, I could not understand why they had been so abruptly erected. He wasn't any help either, being mostly „Monosyllabic Vincent". No matter what I did, I could not break through this shell of ice.
It was expected, therefore, that each night sleep would arrive like an uninvited guest, snatching me rudely and pulling me into its restless embrace; its grasp loosening only when the sun appeared on the horizon.
I was not awake to watch him from the shadows, I couldn't see him at all.