Love is Like a Rose - Chapter 3: Sleep, Perchance to Dream
Yuffie ventured towards her room, ready to collapse if she didn't get there soon. She mentally cursed the long, winding hallways that distanced their rooms. Her thoughts wandered again to Aerith and Cloud. She was angry with herself for giving Aerith such a hard time. Yuffie had already known long ago that Aerith and Cloud were meant to be together. But Cloud was gone for so long, and Aerith was so miserable...Leon seemed like the only one worthy enough to fill Cloud's spot and pull Aerith out of her slump. But in the end, Aerith wasn't ready for anyone to take Cloud's place. Yuffie guessed it was a good thing Cloud had shown up. Otherwise, Aerith would've had to break the news to Leon herself. And that would have been more painful to watch than Leon breaking down, Yuffie decided.
A rustle of some sort of clothing told Yuffie that she wasn't alone. She spun around sharply and saw nothing. Frowning slightly, she turned around to continue walking. She shrieked loudly as she saw a shadowy figure before her, hands going to her pockets for a shuriken.
"Shhh! You'll wake up the whole castle," Cloud hissed, grabbing her shoulder firmly.
"Oww! You're hurting me," Yuffie cried out.
Cloud loosened his grip. "What're you doing up so late?" he queried, flicking his blonde bangs out of his eyes. "Where have you been?"
"Squall's room."
Pause. "What?" Perhaps he hadn't heard correctly...
Yuffie blushed immediately. "Ok...that definitely didn't come out right. I meant to say I was in there with him when he fell asleep."
Cloud raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
"Gawd, you have a dirty mind! I helped him into bed, that's all." Yuffie thought over what she said for a moment and sighed loudly when Cloud gave her another weird look. "Just forget it!" she said, throwing up her hands in defeat. Yuffie let a smile cross her face. "You know, I haven't talked to you in such a long time. I really missed you." She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Uh-Yuffie-I-can't-breathe!" Cloud said between strangled breaths.
"Oops. Sorry," Yuffie apologized.
"Have you seen Aerith?"
Yuffie shook her head. "Well, I talked to her in the library, and then she went down to the waterway to talk to Leon." She gasped as she remembered something. "Uh, Cloud, about Aerith...well you see, when I was talking to her--"
"Cloud! I've been looking for you everywhere," Aerith called down the hall, striding quickly over to him and Yuffie. Her cheeks were ablaze with anger.
"Too late. Cloud, run while you still can," Yuffie muttered to him out of the corner of her mouth. "If you run fast enough, you might make it."
"What are you talking--" but he was cut off.
"How long have I known you? How dare you think something as little as selling your soul to Hades to find me would stop me from loving you?" Aerith demanded.
Yuffie almost laughed at Aerith's expression until Cloud glared murderously at her.
"Erm...I guess I should've told you that some things...slipped out," Yuffie explained looking between an angry Aerith and a bewildered Cloud.
"Aerith, give me a chance to explain," Cloud pleaded. It was very amusing, watching a fully trained soldier cowering before a harmless looking woman. Yuffie had to stifle her giggles.
"Uh, well then. It looks like you two are having a lover's spat. I'd better be on my way," Yuffie said hurriedly, walking away as quickly as she could without actually running.
Aerith flushed slightly at Yuffie's comment. She shook her head and shot Yuffie a look. "Oh, shut up."
Yuffie grinned and turned into another hallway, her footsteps echoing quietly.
Coward. Some ninja she is, Cloud thought to himself, glowering at Yuffie's back as she fled.
"Cloud, I thought you knew me better than that," Aerith said softly, the angry blush leaving her cheeks.
"Aerith, it's been quite a long time since we've last seen each other. How could I not think that you'd forget about me?" And find someone else to love? he mentally added.
"You promised. And I know you would never break a promise," Aerith said firmly.
Cloud looked down at her. Aerith's vibrant green eyes and flowing chestnut hair glinted in the dim moonlight. Her slim, curvy figure was hidden beneath the terrycloth robe she wore. He couldn't help but fall in love all over again. "God, I've missed you," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist securely and breathing in her floral scent.
Aerith was slightly shocked at his actions. "So have I, Cloud." She was surprised to see such a softer side of Cloud. It was downright endearing. Aerith looked up into Cloud's eyes. They were a sharp, icy blue and warmed with a few flecks of gold. Aerith found herself drowning in his gaze. So many emotions were running through her head at the moment, she wasn't quite sure if what happened next was just a dream or reality.
Next thing Aerith knew, his lips met hers in a chaste yet meaningful kiss.
Yuffie awoke to the sun shining in her face. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up. She yawned, remembering the night's previous events. "Maybe it was all just a dream," she said to herself. Then she saw the rose sitting on her bedside table. "Okay, so maybe it wasn't a dream." She looked at her clock, which flashed 11:41AM. Yuffie sighed and fell back on her pillows. She'd slept in. Again. Yuffie rolled to the edge of her bed and stood up. She walked to her dresser and looked at the mirror.
Would Leon ever return her feelings? Would he ever see her as more than a little kid? He definitely wouldn't, the way she acted now. Sure, she knew she annoyed Leon. It was fun. But he would never see her as anything but a little runt if she didn't stop acting and looking like one. Yuffie sighed again as she opened a drawer. She pulled out a dress Aerith had given her when she had outgrown it. Yuffie pulled off her nightclothes and put on the dress. She walked to her closet and fished around for a pair of sandals she had bought while shopping with Aerith back in Traverse Town. Standing in front of the mirror, she studied her reflection. The dress made her look considerably older. It accented her practically nonexistent curves. But she did notice that the sandals made her look taller.
Yuffie smiled and picked up her brush. She pulled it through her short, thick hair, humming idly. Yuffie removed the headband she always wore and sighed once more, but this time happily.
Cloud sipped lightly on his coffee. His eyes trailed along Aerith's graceful figure as she moved about the kitchen, preparing breakfast. She whistled a little tune as she worked, a few strands of her long brown hair falling into her emerald eyes.
Aerith felt Cloud's intense gaze upon her as she hustled around the kitchen. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she did. She blew away some hair with an upturned lip, trying to keep the blush from crossing her cheeks. Trying to seem nonchalant as possible, she looked over her shoulder and smiled brightly at him. He set down his mug and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. The two stood there in a comfortable silence, enjoying one another's company.
The moment was ruined when a figure burst into the kitchen, fell face first, and let loose a colorful string of words. "Owww...shit," a voice cursed. "Whose idea was it to put that damn bump in the tile?"
Aerith gasped. "Yuffie? Are you okay?" She walked over to the fallen Yuffie and lent a hand.
"Fine," Yuffie mumbled, limping over to an empty kitchen chair.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Cloud asked, eyeing her outfit. "No wonder you fell flat on your face."
Aerith rose her eyebrows. "I thought you'd never wear a dress until you got married," she commented.
Yuffie shrugged. "Yeah, well, things change."
"Why in the world are you wearing a dress?" Aerith exclaimed, setting a plate of food in front of Yuffie. "And high heeled sandals at that?"
Yuffie shrugged again and picked up her fork. "I dunno. The Heartless are gone, there's no need to dress like I'm ready for combat anymore."
"But that's not the real reason, is it?" Cloud stated rather than asked.
"Let's just say I got tired of being seen as a little girl all the time."
It was then that Leon decided to waltz into the room. He yawned and said, "Good morning," in mid-yawn.
Cloud nodded, taking another sip from his mug.
"Sleep well?" Aerith asked, setting another plate on the table.
Leon felt a horrible lurch in his stomach when he saw both Cloud and Aerith in the kitchen. For a moment he'd thought that last night had been a dream. He regained his composure and nodded curtly. Leon began to take a seat but stopped when he spotted Yuffie.
Yuffie averted her eyes from Leon's and stared at her food. She picked at it, taking little bites. She desperately fought the red that crept up her neck. "Morning," she replied, not looking up.
Leon ran a hand through his hair. "What happened to you?"
"What do you mean by that?" Yuffie snapped.
Leon inwardly cringed. It wasn't like Yuffie to be snappish. She was usually unnecessarily cheery. "Why the sudden change?"
"I just wanted to try something new, that's all," she answered, still not looking at him.
Cloud narrowed his eyes. "That's not what--OW!" he hissed when Yuffie kicked his shin beneath the table.
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Really?" he asked, unconvinced.
"Really," Yuffie nodded and kept eating.
Leon knew she wasn't telling him something. Cloud was glowering at her, and Aerith was giving her a questioning look. "Okay, is there something going on that I should be aware of?"
The three looked at Leon and said, "No!" at once.
Leon raised an eyebrow again. Something was up. And he'd get to the bottom of it.
Yuffie couldn't get out of the kitchen fast enough. She had nearly wolfed down her food just to get out of there. Leon was sitting next to her, and his knee brushed against hers when he'd sat down. It had taken her all her willpower not to blush throughout breakfast. She felt like melting when he asked her if she had any interesting dreams. Dreaming about your friend who sees you as nothing but a little girl usually isn't something you discuss over breakfast. Yuffie hadn't glanced at Leon at all, for fear she might do something stupid. Like wearing these damn sandals! she thought, wincing. Her feet were killing her. She didn't know how Aerith wore these kinds of shoes! But if it meant getting Leon's attention, then she was willing to do it.
Yuffie rounded a corner and started up the stairs. She figured she might as well go find Cid and bug him. He at least put up with her, and even helped her out sometimes. He should be around here somewhere, Yuffie thought, increasing her pace. With a yelp, she lost her balance and began to fall. Yuffie cried out and flailed her arms wildly to regain her balance. She found a pair of strong arms wrapping themselves around her waist and steadying her.
"I ask again, why are you wearing those sandals?" Leon asked. "Aren't you afraid to break your ankles or something?"
Yuffie's breath caught in her throat as her heartbeat raced. The feel of his arms wrapped so tightly around her was making her feel lightheaded. She managed not to blush furiously. "I told you, I just wanted a change! Something different," she lied through her teeth.
Disgusted, Leon let go of her waist and gave her a solemn look. "You promised never to change, Yuffie. I never thought you as a person to go back on your word." He scowled and turned his back on her.
"I didn't!" Yuffie insisted.
"Then tell me why you broke your promise."
Yuffie's mouth worked noiselessly. What was she supposed to say? "Oh, Leon, I'm in love with you and I wore this outfit to get your attention"? That' wouldn't go over very nicely. Yuffie exhaled. "Leon, don't do this. I haven't changed! Look, I'm still the same annoying person I was yesterday."
Leon shook his head, frustrated. "No you're not," he said, still not facing her. "Whenever you're ready to tell me the real reason you've changed, I'll be here," Leon said before he stalked off down the corridor.
"Dammit!" Yuffie cursed as she watched him disappear. And men say women are complicated, she thought wryly, continuing her search for Cid.