After Effects
By: Yuffie Kisaragi

Yuffie: And today I'm having Aliah help me out...
Aliah: Hey. My real name isn't Aliah, just as Derek's isn't Derek. But she did a fairly good job describing me. I've got black hair that's shoulder length and hazel eyes...not emerald.. though that would be cool.
Yuffie: And you get to do the disclaimer.
Aliah: Wellllllllll.... Miss Yuffie Kisaragi doesn't own FF7, any songs mentioned, any characters mentioned except Rohan (only cuz that's her b/f's character), the money in her pocket is actually mine and the lint is most-likely either Derek's or Reno's.
Yuffie: Well, if I don't have sarcastic friends then I'll be damned.
Aliah: You just very well may be...
Yuffie: Okay, Doc.
Aliah: I'm your huckleberry... ~grins~ Too much Tombstone for me, but not enough Curt Russell!
Yuffie: You're freakin' hilarious... But I hafta admit that Val Kilmer is ~Gets hit in the head with the Lotulis~ Ow!
Derek: Woops? On with the fic!!! And enough about Curt Russell and Val Kilmer and more about.... Pamela Anderson!

Chapter Six: Swimming And Turning Eighteen
"So, let's go to a Goth shop?" -Cloud Strife

Tifa watched out the window as the rain poured down from the sky. Lightning lit up the dark room, illuminating the man walking up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she snuggled back against her boyfriend.
"I hope it doesn't rain through Yuffie's birthday party tomorrow," she said.
"Don't worry, if it does, we'll come up with something to do." As always, Cloud assured her.
"Yeah, I'm sure it'll be fine. But the present she wants I can't get her."
Cloud thought for a minute. "You mean Reno?"
Tifa nodded and turned around in Cloud's arms. "Yes, I mean Reno. As much as she may like him, I hope he doesn't show up tomorrow. He's a real jerk."
Cloud laughed. "That's not something I'd expect to hear from you. I though we decided that the past is the past and there's nothing we can do to change it."
"I don't mind the past anymore, but he's still a real jerk." Cloud laughed again. "What? He's a pervert and doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself. What exactly would *you* call him, then?"
"A jackass," Cloud replied, then bent down and kissed her as another streak of lightning lit the sky.

Yuffie broke surface and looked around the tossing waves. It was pouring, the wind was horrible, and she was cold and wet. She looked around and swam over to the nearest rock protruding from the water. She climbed up on top and saw Reno. He climbed up and sat beside her.
"Reno! You JERK!" She screamed and shoved him back into the water. He climbed back up and dodged her efforts to shove him. Finally, he threw himself on top of her, pinning her arms with his arms and her legs with his legs. She still continues calling him many not-so-nice names.
"Reno! Get off me! You JERK! RAPE!" Reno stood his ground...or laid his ground. The ninja girl continued her verbal assault and had just reached, "Mother," when Reno pressed his lips onto hers. Her eyes went wide and for a while she struggled, but finally gave up.
Reno pulled away. "Done yet?" He realized that his pulse had quickened and that his breathing was different, but he'd managed to stay...er... calm.
Yuffie looked at him. His blue eyes met her dark brown. "Let me up," she said through gritted teeth.
Reno grinned down at her. "Are you sure you want up?"
Yuffie glared at him. "Reno, you are such a perv! I don't know why I even like..." Her eyes went wide and she shut up quickly. Reno looked at her with wide eyes, but she shoved him off of her. She sat up and looked down at her mud stained pants, they had tears all over them. "Shit," she muttered softly.
Reno looked over at her, she was shivering. "Cold?"
Yuffie looked back at him. He wasn't shivering half as much as she was. "A bit."
He scooted closer and took off his jacket. "This'll help some." He wrapped the jacket around her shoulders. "This'll help even more." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she looked up at him. "The closer we are the warmer we are," he explained.
The young ninja looked at him for a minute, then smiled, and rested her head on his shoulder. He looked down at her, then rested his head on hers. He closed his eyes, but her excessive shivering kept him awake.
"Hey, let's find a cave or land, or something, okay?" Yuffie looked up at him and nodded.
"I know where the nearest cave is. It's over that way," she pointed towards the base of the mountain and yawned. She was really getting tired.
"I'll go scout it out, you stay here."
"No way! I'm coming with you."
Reno looked at the materia hunter and knew there was no way to convince her otherwise. "Fine. Come on." Yuffie started to take off his jacket. "Leave it on. It'll keep you warmer."
She shrugged and dove into the icy black water, then started swimming towards the base of the mountain. Reno smiled, then followed suit.

Trinity woke up in a cell on a small cot, feeling as if she'd been drugged. She looked around and saw a clock on the wall, "10:00?" She heard the door open and saw a man in a lab coat walk in. "Hojo," she hissed.
"Hello, Trinity. Are you ready for your first dose? It took less time than we'd ever thought to get the Mako we needed." He smiled an evil smile and two guards helped Trinity up. "I hope you like your new ensemble, the guard look just didn't suit you as well as something you brother might wear."
Trinity looked down at her clothes. She was wearing black slacks and a white button up long-sleeved blouse. "I look like a f(*@#$% Turk," she muttered. The guards led her down the hallway to an elevator, Hojo followed. They went down to the basement, then to a lab room. The guards strapped her wrists and ankles, she didn't even try to resist.
Hojo held up a syringe and measured out a blue liquid. He turned her head and gave her the shot in her neck. It burned and brought tears to her eyes, though she refused to let Hojo know.
Hojo filled another syringe and administered it in the same place on her neck. Trinity felt something new course through her body and could physically feel her muscles getting bigger.
The evil scientist left the room, muttering to himself. Two guards walked in and unstrapped her. As soon as they finished, Trinity's eyes flashed green and the two guards were hit with beams of ice.
Trinity laughed. "Oh, this is great! Hojo, you're a f(@*#$% moron!" She walked casually out of the lab room. Five more guards tried to take her on, but they got hit with bolt spells followed by Fire and Ice. Hojo walked around the corner and the young woman glared at him. Her eyes flashed and he was hit with an Ultima spell and rendered unconscious. Trinity giggled like a school girl and walked towards the elevator, figuring the exit was on the main floor.

Reno and Yuffie found the cave where Yuffie used to hide out. The ninja girl had non-perishable foods, cooking items, eating utensils, matches, and dry wood.
"I'd nearly forgotten about this cave," she said with a yawn. Reno started up a fire and sat down beside her.
"Did you run away from home on a regular basis or what?"
"Yeah. I used to run into all kinds of people too. I met Sharkie when I was six and he was almost eight here in this cave. I even ran into a couple of Turks when I was eleven, witnessed the murder of one of them too." She yawned again and looked up at Reno. "Reno?"
"Hmmm?"
"Did you promise me something while I was out?"
Reno smiled. "Yeah, I was wondering if you'd remember."
"One date?"
"Yup."
Yuffie stared into the fire, a sleepy look on her face, then laid her head on Reno's shoulder. "D'ya think it could be more than one?"
This caught Reno by surprise. "I-I guess, if it works out."
He leaned back against the wall and Yuffie snuggled in closer. "Goodnight, Reno."
"Night, babe." Reno stared into the fire for a while, hearing Yuffie's even breathing told him that she was asleep. Had she just told him that she liked him? *Damn, what the hell have I gotten myself into this time?* he wondered, but couldn't help but smile and run his hands through the young materia hunter's hair.

"Wow, that smells good, Papa!"
"Shhh, Marlene. Don't wake Tifa and Cloud."
"Sorry."
Tifa opened one eye and saw the leg of the end table. She was on the floor, an arm was around her waist. She slipped away from Cloud and walked into the kitchen of Barret's home.
"G'morning. Aunt Tifa!" Marlene said from the table.
"Tifa smiled back, "Mmmm, Barret, what's cookin'? It smells great."
"Bacon and eggs, but if ole' Spiky don't get up soon, he ain't gonna get none." Tifa smiled and walked back into the living room where Cloud lay sleeping peacefully. She nudged him gently with her foot, but nothing happened. She nudged him again harder.
"Get up, sleepy head." Cloud moaned and threw a blanket over his head. Tifa nudged him again. Nothing.
Finally, Tifa straddled him and started tickling his sides. He laughed and tried frantically to push her off, but he was still sleepy and couldn't see, for the blanket was still over his head. "Okay, okay, I'm awake."
Tifa stopped tickling him and pulled the blanket off his face, laughing still. "C'mon, Barret made bacon and eggs." She got off of him and they went to the kitchen. An hour later, they were fed, dressed, and bored. Tifa was wearing a pair of blue jeans, boots, and a lime green tank top. Cloud was wearing blue jeans, a black muscle shirt, and boots. Barret had his normal ensemble, and Marlene was wearing a yellow dress and yellow bows in her hair.
Tifa glanced at the clock. "It's ten o'clock, too early to call Cid?"
"Probably." Cloud replied.
"Oh, well." She picked up her PHS and dialed Cid's. A few moments later a sleepy voice was on the other end. "Hey, Cid!" Pause. "Good, you?" Pause. "That's great. We need someone to take us to Wutai, and since you're the only one with the Gospel..." Pause. "You will? Great! Ummm...Around one or two?" Pause. "Okay, thanks! See ya then! Bye!"
"I'm guessing he'll be here around one or two?" Cloud asked sarcastically.
Tifa shoved him playfully and flipped on the news. "Warm weather, mostly sunny, great day for a party!" She looked thoughtful. "What are we going to get her?"
"Materia?" Cloud asked helpfully.. or maybe not so helpfully.
"No, everyone's gonna be getting her materia. We want to get her something completely different. How about... a new dress! She only wears two sizes less than me!"
"Uh-oh. I know what that means," Cloud replied fearfully.
"Shopping trip!" Tifa cried.

Yuffie woke up entangled with Reno. She slowly pulled away, so not to wake him, then stood at the mouth of the cave to watch the sun rise. Reno walked up behind her, something had really changed about him, both of them really. ~(A/N: Not THAT way you pervs!!!)~ "Sleep well," she asked.
"Who wouldn't next to you?"
She rolled her eyes and spun around to face him. "Guess what today is, and the first two guesses don't count."
Reno laughed. "Monday, Tuesday, your birthday."
Yuffie grinned, "And I though I got confused easily. Yup! My birthday! I'm eighteen today!"
Reno's eyes got a mischievous look to them. "Oh! So, now you're legal."
"Reno, get your mind out of the gutter," she said with a laugh. Then, walked back into the cave, hid her items and walked out to join Reno. "Oh! Here ya go." She handed him his jacket and smiled sweetly. "And one more thing," she leaned in like she was going to kiss him. "Don't call me Pest." She turned on her heel and walked away.
Reno smiled and put on his jacket, then followed her. She was faster than he, especially in the mornings, so she was lost from his sight quickly. He followed her small foot prints in the sand to the other side of the cove and up the old rock stairs. He reached the top, and looked over Wutai.
"Awesome view, huh?" Yuffie asked from the trail.
"Yeah," Reno said in awe, then hurried to catch up with Yuffie. "I've gotta go back to my hotel room to change. Meet you at your place in an hour?"
Yuffie looked at him curiously. There was definitely something different. He wasn't as flirtish, but more, 'You're my girl and I'll protect you no matter what.' *I wonder what made him change all of a sudden.* "All right. I've gotta get a shower anyway." They continued their way down Da Chao hand in hand. Reno walked her home.
"See you in an hour?"
"All right, we'll go out for brunch. You'll buy." She grinned and went inside.
Reno walked to his hotel, whistling. *Man, I feel awesome! I don't know why, I didn't even get laid last night. But, she's just so... so... different from anyone else I've ever met. I feel like I'm in high school and just got my first kiss again. Damn, I wonder what Rude's gonna say about this!* He took the elevator up to the second floor without much thought. When he realized he was standing in front of the door to his hotel room, he snapped out of it. "Oh.. er.. Where's that keycard?" He checked his pockets, and thought for a moment that Yuffie had stolen it, but he found it in his jacket pocket it.
He opened the door and walked inside, tossing his jacket on a chair and heading towards the bathroom. A voice cut him off. "Hi, big brother."
The Turk spun around and looked at the red head woman sitting in a chair the he'd thrown his jacket at. She was dressed like a Turk, with the added effect of finger-less gloves and dirt smears, along with no jacket. "Trinity! Wha- You're! How!?!"
"All in good time, big brother. First, take your shower, I need your help."

Yuffie stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her slender body. ~(A/N: Derek!!!)~ She dried off quickly and grabbed her clothes. She dressed, then glanced in the mirror. Dark blue jeans, a tight fitting black T-shirt that had a rose on the front and the words 'Kiss from a rose on a grave," and black gym shoes. She looked in the mirror and smiled. If nothing else, the tight fitting showed off her curves a little, and she suddenly cared what she looked like, but not enough to actually wear make-up. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail at the base of her neck, so it hung just past shoulder's level.
"Ten more minutes," she said, looking up at the clock. The eighteen- year-old sighed heavily. *I feel so... retarded. I'm alluva sudden worried about how I look for him, and he probably doesn't care about me at all. Why do women put themselves through this torture! AH! Someone shoot me.* She flipped on her stereo. No one was in the palace, so it wasn't like someone was going to scream at her to turn it down, so she cranked it up. A rock song came on, she'd fallen in love with rock since she'd gone home from fighting with Cloud and the gang. Drums and a guitar played for a while, then a male's voice.
*There's no reason.
There's no compromise.
Changing seasons.
Living the highlights.*
The young ninja sighed and flipped it off. *Five more minutes...* She walked outside and sat on the front steps.

"So, Hojo's back," Reno said it as a statement, not a question. Trinity had just finished telling him everything except her new ability.
"That's not the worst." She looked at the chair in the corner, her eyes flashed green, and it burst into flames.
"Holy shit!" Reno exclaimed, and put out the fire as quick as possible. "The Mako injections did that to you!?!"
"What the hell's going on in there, Reno?" Rude's tired voice asked.
Trinity glanced up at Reno, who checked his watch. "Oh, shit! Trin, that's Rude, he's my partner. Tell him everything you just told me. I've gotta get or Yuffie's gonna kick my ass!"

Yuffie stretched and looked inside at the clock. 10:10. He was only ten minutes late, but she had a feeling that something was about to happen. *Oh, quit it!* she told herself. *You're just paranoid because he's the first person you've liked since... since Sharkie left.*
"Sorry I'm late," Reno said, walking up to the steps.
"It's okay." She stood up and met him at the bottom of the steps, she would've kissed him, but something was troubling him, she could sense it. "What happened?"
"Nothin', just some problems with family. Where to?"
Yuffie looked him in the eyes. "I'm going to ask you again," she said forcefully. "What happened?"
Reno started to shrug it off, but Yuffie's eyes caught his. "I'll tell you over brunch. Where to?"
"Turtle's Paradise. Elena and Vincent left town, so there shouldn't be anyone there." She started off, but Reno caught her hand and pulled her to him. He grinned a devilish grin and kissed her. The materia hunter wrapped her arms around his neck.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at Turtle's Paradise. They found a table in the corner and sat down. Reno repeated to her what Trinity had told him.
"Hmmm, Hojo."
"Hmmm, Hojo, what?"
Yuffie looked thoughtful. "I could've sworn that we finished him off. I mean, Vincent hated him with a passion, though I never figured out why, Cloud hated him for what he'd done to the guy. I thought he was creepy, Tifa and Barret agreed with me. But, the last time I saw him, we fought. He was trying to help 'his son.'" Reno looked at her with a befuddled expression. "Sorry, but, he's supposed to be reeeally smart, right?"
"Right."'
"So, what would stop him from figuring out how to bring back Sephiroth?"
Reno pondered that for a moment. "Nothing, I guess. But why would he do that? Sephiroth thought everyone was below him."
"I dunno, it was just an example. But... if he could bring back the psycho killer, then why couldn't he bring back the Ancient-"
"Aeris." He glanced at his watch. "It's noon and I really need to get back to Trinity and Rude. C'mon."
Yuffie looked at him strangely. "You want. me to come?"
Reno laughed, "Of course. You're my girl now, I can't just leave ya behind."
*Did he just call me his girl!?!*
*Did I just call her my girl!?!*

Tifa looked at a rack of dresses. "What about this one?" she asked, holding up a green dress with puffy sleeves.
"It looks like a prom dress. Why don't we get her something different?"
"Like what?" Tifa asked, putting the dress back on the rack.
"Well, she wanted to change her style to darker, right?" Tifa nodded. "So, let's go to a Goth shop?" Tifa turned and looked at him. He was serious!
"Okay. How about Sassy's? They've got the black stuff. Or Claire's." Cloud shrugged and the couple walked out into the main mall. A couple stores over and they were at Claire's. They walked in and were met by a sales clerk with a lip ring, nose ring, and a green mohawk.
"How can I help ya?"
"Umm, my friend's eighteenth birthday is today, and we wanted to know if you have any gift certificates." Tifa replied, trying not to stare.
"Yeah, how much?"
Tifa looked at Cloud, who shrugged. "A hundred gil." She got the certificate, and they walked out.
"Did you see her hair?"
"Shush, Cloud. That's almost how the guys from the slums looked. How could you tell it was a she?"'
Cloud laughed. "Because... she was wearing a rather tight tank top."
Tifa laughed and elbowed him playfully in the gut. "Y'know. Me and you are goin' ta bring her here."
Cloud looked sick. "Do I hafta? That lady really gave me the willies."
"Yes, this is *our* gift to Yuffie, therefore we both have to be here with her."
Within twenty minutes, they were back at Barret's apartment. "Hey, guys," Cid said from the couch.
"Hey, Cid. You're early, aren't you?" Tifa looked at the clock, noon.

Reno opened the door to his and Rude's apartment and Yuffie walked in, he followed.
"Trinity? Rude?" He called out, but no one answered. He pulled out his night stick instinctively, and shoved Yuffie behind him, though he knew she was trained to take care of herself. He opened the door to the second room and...
"Hey, big brother."
He put away his night stick. "You all need to answer when a guy yells for ya. Damn, almost had me worried."
Yuffie stepped up beside him, "Almost, eh?" She received a glare from her boyfriend in response.
"Trinity, this is Miss Yuffie Kisaragi, daughter of Lord Godo." Reno introduced them.
"Hello, Miss Kisaragi." Trinity said, not bothering to conceal her irritation at her older brother for bringing his bimbo. ~(A/N: Aliah!!!)~
"Just call me Yuffie."
"Or Pest," Reno added with a grin. Yuffie elbowed him in the gut and he let out an 'oof.'
"I told her what you told me," Reno said, sitting down in a chair. Yuffie leaned back against the wall, so she didn't see the glare that Trinity gave Reno. "Before you start getting all pissy, Trin, listen to me. Yuffie is the daughter of Lord Godo, member of AVALANCHE, and knows the mayor of Junon. She helped defeat Hojo once, not to mention brought the downfall of Shinra and killed Sephiroth."
"So, what he's trying to say," Yuffie interrupted. "Is that I may be of some help since I have connections."
Reno grinned," Yeah, basically. Thanks, babe."
Yuffie ignored him. "So, if you want the greatest army in the world, I'm the daughter of Godo. If you want the second greatest army in the world, I know Reeve, the mayor of Junon. If you want stealth, there's me, Tifa, and the Turks, not to mention that Cid Highwind can create the best jets on the planet and with limited resources."
Trinity had started laughing after Yuffie started her little speech. "And you are how old?"
Yuffie looked confused, "Eighteen as of today, why?"
"Eighteen? So, you were what? Sixteen when AVALANCHE was starting to get real active? I find it very hard to believe that you are a member of AVALANCHE!"
"You'll find this hard to believe!" Yuffie growled, lunging at the laughing woman. Reno jumped up a little too late, because Yuffie had already gotten a hit on Trinity. The woman had a bloody nose. Reno pulled his girlfriend away from his sister, though she still struggled.
Trinity brought a hand up to her nose. "That little bitch drew blood on me!" She hit the teen with an Ultima spell, that flung Reno and Yuffie flying across the room like rag dolls.
Reno helped his girlfriend up, "Trinity, you deserved it." Yuffie shoved Reno away from her and got up on her own. After a glare at Trinity, then at Reno, she walked out of the hotel suite.
"And you're supposed to be my brother!" she heard Trinity scream. "Some big brother you are!"
The teen walked down the hallway. "Yuff! Wait!" She turned and saw Reno running towards her. "I'm sorry, Yuffie. I really thought she'd act a little better." Yuffie watched him as he talked, he was visibly angry, something that he could usually hide. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
Yuffie took a deep breath. "I'm not mad at you. I'm just... I don't know. I'm the youngest in AVALANCHE. I can see why she wouldn't believe me, but I'm practically famous now! I tell her I can help her and she sits there and tells I'm a liar! I'm four years younger than Tifa. 30 years younger than Cid, 32 years younger than Red XIII!!!" Her cheeks were flushed and she was ranting. Reno had to stop her somehow. So, he did the same thing that he'd done the night before, he kissed her. Yuffie's eyes went wide, but then she wrapped her arms around his neck, while he wrapped his around her waist, pulling her closer.
They stayed like that for awhile until, "Ahem!" Yuffie pulled away and looked behind her. There stood Cid Highwind. The ninja girl's cheeks were scarlet and she unwrapped her arms from around Reno's neck and Reno unwrapped his from around her waist. The ninja turned and faced Cid. "Hey, Cid," she offered weakly.
"What the f(@* you doin' with this f(@*#$% jackass!?!"
Yuffie felt the rage rising within her. "It's none of your damn business!"
Reno wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him to keep her from lunging at the old timer. "Yuffie, calm down," he sounded calm, but he was actually almost as furious as she was. "You caught us, Cid."

Yuffie: Phew, that took longer than I thought it would to get up.
Aliah: Really, you started this the day you put up the last chapter.
Yuffie: Oh, well. Anywho, review! And on my newest fic! I was really bored, so I decided to post another fic. It's uncreative, cuz it's a 'sucked into the FF7 world' fic. Welp, 'till next time!
Aliah & Derek: Audi!