Love is Like a Rose - Chapter 10: Love Just Is
Yuffie sat at the kitchen table Saturday morning, stirring sugar into her orange juice absentmindedly as she wistfully stared out the window. It was the morning of the ball—a.k.a. D-Day. The week had gone by way too fast in her opinion. She began to run a hand through her silky highlighted hair when she remembered that Aerith had told her not to. "It causes frizzing and split ends," the Flower Girl had told her. Split ends and frizzing my butt, Yuffie thought with a sigh. Those were the least of her problems. In a mere twelve hours she would be accompanying Leon to the ball. The thought made her sick to her stomach and excited all at once. Frankly, Yuffie was beginning to have second thoughts. What if she tripped or something? What if she spilled punch all over Leon? What if Leon stood her up? What if she made a fool of herself? What if she told Leon about her feelings and he rejected her? What if she stepped on his toes while dancing? It didn't help that she had two left feet. Why oh why did she accept Leon's invitation again? Well duh. You've only been dreaming of this moment since you were seven, a part of her answered.
Ah. Right. That's why.
Yuffie scowled for no reason in particular and dumped more sugar into her cup. Her ears perked up as a pair of heavy footsteps sounded down the hall. The familiar thud of boots and clink of chains told Yuffie that it was the man of the hour--Leon. She didn't know how he managed to move with deadly stealth and silence in battle with all that metal hanging on him. Yuffie didn't shift her gaze from the window as he made his entrance.
"Morning," he spoke in a clear, deep voice.
Yuffie didn't look up. She sensed his familiar towering frame standing behind her. She felt her heart leap up into her throat, but didn't turn around.
Leon stood there for a moment, watching the girl before him dump spoonful after spoonful of sugar into her cup. He was shocked to see her awake and alert before 11AM. In fact, he was surprised to see her at all.
"Mmm," Yuffie returned distractedly.
Leon arched an eyebrow at her as he poured himself a mug of coffee. He went to the table and set down his cup. Leon glanced at her expectantly, awaiting a reply, but she still didn't speak. He turned a chair backwards and straddled it. Yuffie was uncharacteristically quiet, he noted. She had kept to herself this past week, emerging from her bedroom like a hermit only for meals and chores. Other than that, he hadn't seen her for days. "That's one hell of a sugar rush you're gonna get if you drink that," he commented.
"Huh?"
"You've emptied the sugar holder," Leon said, gesturing to the empty utensil and her glass of orange juice that was thick with sugar.
Yuffie chuckled. "Oh." She put the spoon down and took a tiny sip of her juice. She grimaced at the over sweetened tang that attacked her taste buds. Yuffie pushed the glass away and sighed softly.
Leon sipped his coffee. He watched Yuffie attempt to drink her orange juice and grimace. Leon hid a smile and mentally shook himself to wipe the grin away. He'd been smiling too much lately. "So...tonight's the big night," he said, trying to get the girl to talk. Normally he would've jumped for joy if she'd stay quiet, but he missed her incessant chatter. It chased away the uncomfortable silences and tension that had come between them lately.
Yuffie put her elbows on the table and buried her hands in her hair. She combed her fingers through her highlighted tresses and muttered unenthusiastically, "Woo. Hoo."
"Nervous?"
"You think?" Yuffie asked sarcastically, trying to slow her pounding heart.
"What're you nervous about? All you do is mingle, talk, and don't drink the punch, since someone's probably spiked it."
You're the reason I'm nervous! Yuffie wanted to scream at him. "Nothing." She wrung her hands, trying to stop them from trembling.
"Nothing," Leon repeated as if he didn't believe it.
"Leon?"
"Hm?"
"Have you ever had anyone you…" Yuffie let her voice trail off. What was she thinking? He would never return her feelings. After two other beautiful women, why would he choose a scrawny girl like herself?
Leon raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing," she said with a sigh. "Forget about it."
"You know," Leon said conversationally, "back in Traverse Town, you used to tell me everything, even though I didn't want to hear it. Whether it was about Cid being…well, Cid, Aerith trying to teach you some basic magic spells, how much you hated Traverse Town place, you talked to me, whether or not I cared. Now you hardly talk to me." He paused before continuing. "And even though I still find it incredibly annoying, I sort of miss it, you know? It's something I thought that wouldn't change no matter what happened."
Yuffie studied her hands that were folded in her lap. He was right. Again. She'd always tell him everything in an attempt to make conversation. She forced herself to breathe normally and caught Leon's gaze. It was now or never. "Leon, I—"
Aerith and Cloud strolled into the room, arm in arm. Apparently, it's going to be never, Yuffie thought wryly. They were talking animatedly about the ball when Aerith fell silent. "Oh I'm sorry. Did we interrupt something?"
Leon shook his head.
Yuffie could've died right there and then. She was about to tell him, but nooooo…Aerith and Cloud had to choose then to come waltzing in, acting all lovey-dovey and all that crap. Yuffie could feel her blood begin to boil. She focused on not killing the two on the spot.
"You two are up early," Aerith said as she began to make breakfast.
"Couldn't sleep," Yuffie and Leon answered together. Yuffie felt her face heat up and she lay her head on her arms to hide her face. She was growing tired of blushing all the time.
"Oh?" Cloud asked, taking a seat next to Leon. A smirk crossed his face and Yuffie exhaled loudly.
"You know, you really ought to consider getting your mind out of the gutter," Yuffie muttered before raising her head to glare at him.
Cloud laughed at this. "I think you've been hanging around Leon too much. Your glare of death is almost as good as his." This earned another glare from Yuffie and one from Leon. Cloud looked at Yuffie and asked, "Excited about the ball?"
She shrugged. The ball was in twelve hours, and she was already sick to her stomach. "More or less." Oh, what a long twelve hours it will be, Yuffie thought as Aerith set a plate of food before her.
"That's my eyeball, not my eyelashes!" Yuffie complained.
"I wouldn't be poking your eye if you would stop moving around!"
"Ow!"
Yuffie sat on a chair in front of Aerith's vanity mirror. Aerith carefully applied mascara and eyeliner as Yuffie flinched from time to time. "Hold still!"
"Are you done yet?"
"Hold on. You need a bit of foundation and blush, and I still didn't get to put on your lipstick yet."
Yuffie repressed the urge to sigh. She should've known what she was getting herself into when she asked for Aerith to help her with her makeup. Eleven hours flew by a bit faster than she would've liked. In an hour, Yuffie would be living a dream…or a nightmare, depending on how the night went. "Oh, I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this," she moaned faintly.
"I spent two hours on your hair and makeup. You will do this," Aerith replied. "Calm down. It's not a death sentence or anything."
"It isn't?"
"You're going to have fun, whether you like it or not."
"Fun," Yuffie said as if she didn't know of such a thing. "Right."
A knocking at the door startled Yuffie and caused her to jump. "Oww!" she cried out as Aerith poked her eye again.
"Are you done yet?" came the voice of an annoyed Cloud.
"Finishing Yuffie's makeup," Aerith called. "We'll be done in a bit."
"That's what you said a half hour ago," they heard Leon grumble in response.
"Don't you want Yuffie to look her best?" Aerith asked.
"As long as she's wearing a decent dress, I could care less if she wore clown makeup," Leon answered, irritated. Yuffie smiled. Good ol' Leon.
"All right, all right. We're coming," Aerith said as she finished smoothing lipstick on Yuffie's lips. "Well, what do you think?"
Yuffie studied her reflection in the mirror and gaped. Whose reflection was that? She looked behind her to see whom that beautiful reflection belonged to.
"Yes, that's you," Aerith said with a smile, reading her thoughts.
Yuffie's mouth fell open. She hardly recognized herself.
"Shut your mouth, you look like a fish," Aerith scolded. "Which, might I add, is very unattractive."
Yuffie felt as if she were living a clichéd world of Cinderella. All she needed were glass slippers…she winced at the thought of wearing glass slippers for a long four hours. "The sooner I face my doom, the sooner I get to escape," Yuffie sighed, standing up. She fixed her shawl around her shoulders and pulled on the scarlet lace gloves that matched her dress. Yuffie carefully slipped on her sandals and walked to the door, followed by Aerith.
"Finally," Cloud sighed. He looked around and his eyes settled on Yuffie. "Hi there. Who are you?"
"Yeah, where the hell's Yuffie?" Cid chimed in.
Yuffie felt her face redden with anger. "I am Yuffie!"
"Oh. OH," Cloud realized. "You look…erm, nice." He winced as he felt Aerith rap his head sharply. "Ow!"
"Aren't you going to compliment your date?" Aerith asked.
"You look beautiful," Cloud replied immediately.
"She's got you whipped," Cid laughed.
"Shutup."
"You're all dressed up, and for once it wasn't against your will," a soft, husky voice spoke from behind her.
Yuffie turned around to see Leon behind her, clad in a tuxedo. If anyone could pull off looking mysterious in a tuxedo, Leon could. In Yuffie's opinion, Leon was the definition of tall, dark and handsome. His dark, russet hair fell into his glowing, sapphire orbs as he looked down at her with his piercing gaze. Yuffie smiled and greeted, "Hey."
"For you."
Yuffie was surprised to see Leon extending a red rose to her. Yuffie didn't speak. She couldn't. For the first time in her life, Yuffie Kisaragi was speechless. Another rose? Two in one lifetime? SCORE! Yuffie thought with a triumphant smile.
"Cat got your tongue?" Aerith asked, gently elbowing Yuffie's ribs.
Wordlessly, Yuffie took the rose. She looked up into Leon's eyes and caught the discreet wink he gave her. Just like the day Kingdom Hearts was sealed.
"Did you know that roses symbolize the vagina?" Cid spoke up, ruining the moment. Yuffie wondered if he was ever sober, or at least acted like it.
The four others glared at him. "You know, there's a time and place for making wisecracks, and now isn't one of them," Cloud said sternly before wincing as Aerith rapped his head sharply again. "Ow! Now what?"
"Why didn't I get flowers?"
"What the hell do you need flowers for? You grow your own flowers," Cloud grumbled, rubbing his head.
"It's not the flowers, but it's the thought that counts."
"It's not Cloud's fault he's not a gentleman," Leon interjected, smirking at the spiky haired ex-SOLDIER. Cloud scowled. Leon held out his arm and stared at Yuffie expectantly.
Yuffie blinked back at him. "What?"
"Well?"
Blink. "Well, what?"
Leon rolled his eyes. "Aren't you going to take my arm?"
"Oh. Sorry."
Yuffie's POV
One reason why I've always hated these fancy dinner dances: the people are so full of themselves, or they're pretty full of something (coughshitcough), but you didn't hear that from me.
I have to admit the four of us made a pretty good sight. Either that, or we looked as out of place as we felt. People were staring at us as we weaved through the crowd. Just about every other person was Cid's age and older. There were about twenty kids running around being…well kids. Though I don't remember being such a brat when I was younger.
"Aerith and I will go see if we can get in anywhere else," Cloud announced. "This entrance is way too crowded. At this rate, the ball will be over by the time we get in. You two stay here in case there isn't another entrance."
"Okay," said Leon as Aerith and Cloud walked off.
But I knew better than to believe that. "If you ask me, that sounded like an excuse to go find a broom closet and make out," I said flatly.
Leon chuckled. Hmm…note to self: Make Leon laugh more often. Just as I was about to make another witty comment, a woman in a slinky black dress, blonde hair put up into a bun (though it resembled a nest), and her nose stuck up in the air sighed dramatically and cut me off. "Do they have to let in all the uncivilized people?" she said to her date, who was older than Father Time himself.
"And I thought Cid was old," I whispered to Leon, motioning to the old man. For Christ's sake, there was HAIR growing out of his ears. Leon looked between the young woman (who couldn't have been any older than Leon) and the elderly man and a disgusted grimace that matched my own crossed his face.
Mrs. I-screw-old-codgers-for-their-money looked down at me with disdain. I really hate being short. "Aren't you the Kisaragi child?" she asked in the snootiest voice she could muster.
I was tempted to reply, "Aren't you the community prostitute?" but Leon squeezed my arm gently. I clenched my teeth and replied stiffly, "Yes, that's me."
"I didn't realize they let trash in here," Snob Face said to her date, not bothering to lower her voice. The old man snorted, and Leon glowered at the two.
I decided to take matters into my own hands. "I'm sorry," I said with fake politeness, "the entrance for sluts is over there." I pointed towards an imaginary entrance and smirked.
"You're not one to talk about age gaps," the woman hissed, her gaze landing on Leon and shifting back to me.
I felt my face turn as red as my dress. "At least I don't sleep with my date for his money—not that I sleep with Leon or anything," I added quickly, wondering if I should just keep my mouth shut for once. Yeah, now was looking like a pretty good time to shut up.
To my advantage, the woman wasn't the brightest crayon in the box. "Are you calling me a prostitute?"
"I'm sure not calling you a princess!" Touché! I enjoyed watching the woman swell with anger as she fished for another comeback. She was more fun to annoy than Leon and Cid put together.
Leon steered me away before the woman lashed out at me. Ha, like she could match up to me, Yuffie, the Greatest Female Ninja Ever! Leon looked at me with that piercing gaze of his, and I figured he would chastise me for acting so childish. I braced myself for his harsh words, expecting the worst. What I wasn't expecting was Leon bursting into laughter. Not a chuckle, not a smile—a laugh. A cute sounding one, might I add.
"That," he told me, "was priceless."
My heart soared, angels sang a chorus of "Allelujah!", and the heavens opened up and shone down on me. He was finally loosening up. After years of wisecracks and annoying him, he finally started to break. , which was good.
It would make being rejected a hell of a lot easier.
Ah. Great. I've found my pessimistic side again. I thought I left her in the closet with the rest of my hopes and dreams…
Leon's POV
At some point or another, we were finally inside the ballroom. We descended the winding set of stairs; I could feel the stares of the other couples as we did—they didn't bother me. I could care less what other people say about me. Yuffie was a different story though. I could feel her trembling as she clung to my arm for dear life—whether it was fear or just because it was what every other couple was doing, I don't know. I resisted the urge to yank my arm away and led Yuffie to the refreshment table. "Do you see Aerith or Cloud?"
"That depends," Yuffie answered. "Do you see a closet or bed around here? Have you checked underneath the snack table yet?"
My eyes scanned the vast room. No sign of either Aerith or Cloud. Though I did spot Cid getting drunk with a woman that suspiciously looked like the one Yuffie got into a fight with earlier…"No, don't see them," I sighed. "I should've known that there weren't any other entrances," I said to myself with a sigh.
"Let's dance!" Yuffie said suddenly, and looked up at me with wide, amethyst eyes.
Ah, the art of dancing. Sure, I took lessons as a kid but I still hated it. Moving mechanically like a robot in time with music was not my thing. I'm sure it wasn't Yuffie's either. Why she brought up the idea was beyond me. "Want some champagne?" I changed the subject.
Yuffie hesitated before answering. "I don't know…I'm not very alcohol tolerant," she confessed. "You remember what happened when I snuck into the wine cellar."
"No one gets drunk on champagne. Besides, they don't have anything else," I pointed out. "This ball was originally for older people." I regretted my worlds immediately when I saw Yuffie's hurt expression.
"So why did you invite me if it was for 'older people', as you put it?"
I sighed. The girl was a walking talking time bomb. "I'm gonna go get us some drinks," I mumbled as I walked away, purposely leaving Yuffie's question unanswered.
"Two please," I said gruffly to the woman behind the champagne table. I brushed my bangs out of my eyes. Why did I invite Yuffie? I guess I felt bad for her. All those times when Aerith, Cid, and I would go to the pub in Traverse Town and we'd leave Yuffie behind…I mean, shouldn't this make up for all those times?
Why do you care? a voice nagged at me.
Great. Voices. As if my life wasn't already complicated.
"Aren't you a hottie." the woman broke my train of thought as she handed me two glasses of champagne.
"Thanks," I said, ignoring her comment.
"A stiff huh?" the woman went on. "I can fix that."
"I'm not broken," I replied tartly.
"Are you here alone?" She seemed unfazed by my harsh tone.
"Why would I ask for two drinks if I was here alone?" I seriously hoped that this woman wasn't the genius of her family. She practically created the need for public schooling.
"So, what are you doing tonight?" she asked in a deep, sultry voice.
"Hoping to be as far from you as possible."
The woman frowned, looking a bit miffed. "Just trying to be friendly."
I began to apologize when the woman asked flatly, "You're gay, aren't you?" Any bit of pity I had for her went sailing out the window into nonexistence.
"If I have to be to get away from you, then fine," I growled, taking the drinks back to Yuffie.
"Here."
Yuffie took her glass and took a small sip. As I drank, I could sense Yuffie's intent gaze on me. "What?"
"You never answered my question."
"I wasn't planning on it."
Yuffie bristled with anger and tried to contain it. "Okay. So you won't dance. You won't talk. You won't mingle either. Is there anything you will do?"
"You know very well that I'm not the dancing kind of guy."
"So? Neither am I. I've never worn high heeled shoes in my life until tonight. I don't know about you, but I can't have fun sitting around the refreshment table all night."
"Who was asking you to stick around?" I asked coldly.
Yuffie glared at me with all the annoyance she could muster. "For Christ's sake, I was just trying to get you to enjoy yourself for one night."
"Who said I wanted to enjoy myself?"
"You're impossible!"
I didn't reply as I took another swig of champagne.
"And to think I could be out there having fun with the others…"
"Then why aren't you with them?"
Yuffie's POV
I hesitated. Why wasn't I out in the crowd, mingling and dancing and having a merry ol' time? The answer was simple, but for some reason it felt so complicated. I wanted to stay with Leon. I bit my lip and glanced at Squall.
"Well?" he prompted, meeting my gaze.
"W-well," I stammered, thinking of an excuse. "I'm tired of seeing you moping around all the time. Loosen up a bit, will you? Relax…there's no Heartless, no immediate danger, nothing. Just you, me, and this party."
"Why do you care so much?" Leon asked in an icy tone. "My idea of fun and your idea of fun are two totally different things."
I tried. I honestly did. Next thing I knew, words were flying out of my mouth. "Cold-hearted, thickheaded bastard" and, "Resident jackass" were among the few phrases used. I stomped away and vaguely wondered why I had fallen so deeply for this jerk.
"Hi, do you want to dance?" a sudden voice called out to me.
"Thanks, but no—" I stopped and looked up. It was a boy around my age, maybe a year or so older than me. He had rich auburn hair that was pulled back away from his coffee colored eyes in a ponytail. He stood about two heads taller than I did (which isn't surprising...) and had his hand extended towards me.
"Name's Quint," he introduced bowing slightly.
"I'm Yuffie," I answered, taking his hand. I noticed Leon looking in my direction. Humph. The guy had a lot of nerve to glare at me when he told me that he could care less if I was around or not. "I'd be glad to dance."
I let Quint lead us in a slow waltz. Why was Leon still staring?
Quint leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Don't look now, but there's this weirdo staring at us."
I chuckled. "Oh, um, that 'weirdo' happens to be an eccentric friend of mine," I said. "Ignore him."
Quint nodded and started up some light chatter about his life. How old he was (eighteen), plans for his future (architecture), family (Dad died, lives with his mom and younger twin sisters), and other general questions. Now don't get me wrong. He was cute. Very. But you try to imagine getting to know a guy when you have Squall scrutinizing your every move. It's unnerving beyond reason. Why hadn't he stopped staring at me like that?
"Want to take a break?" Quint asked.
"Ok."
He led me to the end of the refreshment table where Leon wasn't stalking me. "How's your night been so far?"
I turned to the sound of Aerith's voice. "Much better since I've ditched Mr. I-have-a-policy-against-human-emotion."
"Who's this?" Cloud asked, not far behind Aerith.
"Oh. Aerith, Cloud, I'd like you to meet Quint."
"Nice to meet you," Quint said with a thousand watt smile.
"Pleasure."
"Aerith?" I whispered, poking her between the ribs. "Do you have any idea why Squall's staring at me like that?"
Aerith glanced towards Leon and focused her gaze back on me. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he's jealous!"
I blinked. "You mean he still hasn't gotten over you?"
"Not me. You."
"Me?" I laughed, shaking my head.
"You."
I guessed Aerith was better than this people reading thing. A grin that was wide enough to put the Cheshire cat to shame spread across my face. So Squall's jealous of Quint. I could definitely use that to my advantage…
Leon's POV
I watched Yuffie dance with that kid. His hands on her waist inched lower and lower with each second. All teenage guys have one thing on their mind. If she continued on the way she was, she'd end up getting drugged and raped by the end of the night. But no, she wanted to "have fun." Good for her. I don't care. I wasn't going to let her spoil my good time.
Sitting at a refreshment table all night. Some fun, huh?
She didn't have a clue. I wondered how she could miss that lustful glint in that kid's eye. It spoke loudly and clearly: "Let's get drunk and jump into bed later." Now that I think about it, Cid often has that look when he opens a keg. I scoffed and shook my head. Just when I was thinking that Yuffie had finally started to grow up, I realize that she's still naïve. A little too naïve for her well being.
Sissy (a.k.a. Yuffie's dance partner) and Yuffie went over the far end of the refreshment table for a drink. Aerith and Cloud met them there, and the introductions were made. Couldn't they see through the act? Apparently not I thought as the two smiled back at Sissy. Not only was he a fruitcake, I'm sure he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. So help me if he harmed a hair on Yuffie's head...
Whoa. Why do I care if he takes advantage of Yuffie? I don't care, I don't care, I don't…oh screw it. She's my friend. Besides, she deserves better than that. Surviving the Heartless had taken its toll on all of us, more so Yuffie. She was barely seven when the attack happened. She could hardly remember what had gone on that day, but I could clearly…
Chaos. Utter and complete chaos. People screaming, some crying, few fighting, but the majority of them running. I made it to the Gummi garage, completely winded and bruised. I used my Gunblade for support. I've never seen creatures like that in my life. Nor did I ever want to see them again. I brushed my hair out of my eyes and searched for any sign of Cloud. I haven't seen him at all today.
"Squall!"
I looked up to see Aerith pushing her way through the crowd, holding a small child in her arms. "Hey, are you okay? Have you seen Cloud?"
Aerith nodded. "Fine, but Yuffie isn't." She frowned and a look of worry creased her forehead while she whispered tearfully, "I haven't seen Cloud all day."
I looked down at the trembling girl Aerith held. Her eyes were as huge and round as dinner plates, and they showed the fear slowly taking over her, causing her to panic. "Get in the ship," I said, opening the door. Aerith climbed in with Yuffie, who still hadn't said a word. Fear took over as she began to shiver uncontrollably. I started to climb in when a rough hand pulled me back.
"Women and children only, boy," a tall burly man with a wild tuft of dark as night hair and piercing gray eyes said, tightening his grip on my shoulder. He lifted me a few feet off the ground.
"But—" I tried to protest.
"But nothing. Kids and women first," he said firmly. His eyes held a look of bravery I only could've dreamed of having. He was going to die. He knew it. But he wouldn't go without a fight.
"Let me on that ship!" I demanded, about to start thrashing wildly.
"Be a man, kid!" the man said gruffly, tossing me aside by the scruff of my neck.
An unfamiliar emotion began to anchor itself deep within me. Panic. Painful realization that I was probably going to stay here and fight until I die. But I didn't want to. I couldn't. These creatures…they awakened a fear within me I couldn't fight. They'd plunged its claw deep into Rinoa's chest and took her heart. The scene was all too fresh in my mind. Right now, I'd rather run away than to protect my honor.
"Squall? Hey!" Thirteen-year old Cloud came running up to me, his huge sword strapped to his back. "Have you seen Aerith and Yuffie?"
"They just got into a Gummi Ship," I answered.
"Why aren't you on it?"
I turned away. "Women and kids first." A lump formed itself in my throat. I couldn't look Cloud in the eye. I didn't want him to see the fear that had lodged itself in my heart.
"What?" Cloud asked, his brilliant blue eyes wide with incomprehension.
"You heard me. Now get on the ship. One of us needs to look after Yuffie and Aerith."
Understanding filled his eyes. "If you're staying, so am I," Cloud said defiantly.
"All aboard!" a booming voice called. Several people scrambled onto various ships before they left. At least a hundred men stood on the platform, watching the ships prepare to fly. Heavy sobbing met our ears as women and children called out for their husbands and fathers.
"Get on!" I insisted, pushing Cloud forward. I wanted to make sure my friends made it at the very least. He dug in his feet and didn't budge.
"You go. Take my spot," Cloud said suddenly.
"What are you talking about?" I inquired, losing patience. "Get on the damn ship now!"
Next thing I knew, Cloud had pushed me into the ship, shut the door and locked it. I rammed the door with my shoulder, but it wouldn't open. I pounded my fists on the window, screaming for someone to grab my best friend and haul his ass onto a ship. We began to lift off, and Aerith joined me in screaming for Cloud. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she screamed her throat hoarse.
Cloud looked up at me with solemn eyes. His hair moved gently in the wind. He mouthed the words, "Take care of them." He said something else I couldn't quite make out. Tears blurred my vision. He sacrificed his spot for me. And inwardly, I was happy he was the one left behind and not me. I clenched my fists and slumped down in my seat, defeated. I was such a coward. I couldn't help Cloud, I couldn't help Rinoa…
"Squally?" a small voice, scared, called quietly. "Are we safe?"
I looked at the young ninja. Yuffie sat on the floor a few feet away from me, hugging her knees to her chest. She slowly rocked to and fro, hoping to understand what was going on. She had no idea that Cloud was never coming back. She had absolutely no clue…I looked away and said with an angry tremor in my voice, "Don't call me Squall. Don't call me Squall ever again."
Yuffie cocked her head to the right. She was too young to understand. Just too young…
Ever since then, I felt the need to protect Yuffie. She was one of the few people I know who are still alive after that fateful day. She didn't have the chance to finish her childhood. She was forced to grow up much faster than anyone would've liked. She was like a child in an adult's world; vaguely familiar with her surroundings, but not aware of its evil.
A fast song came on and Yuffie followed Sissy onto the dance floor. They began to move to the beat, twisting and turning. My eyes lingered on Yuffie as she danced. Her eyes reflected pure joy, and her hips swayed from side to side. For a moment I forgot that Yuffie was only sixteen. Her dress clung to her body with slight perspiration. She'd long abandoned her shawl and her cream colored shoulders were exposed. I shook my head to clear it.
What was I thinking!
"Snap out of it," I grumbled to myself. This was Yuffie, annoying girl who you had to share a room with in Traverse Town and baby-sat more times than I would've wanted to. But she was no longer a girl. Not quite a woman, but well on her way.
Yuffie shuffled from the library in her nightclothes and fuzzy slippers. Her eyes were bleary with sleep, but sleeping was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment. All she wanted to do was to relive the past hours over and over again. It had been truly magical. A dream come true. She couldn't have asked for more—perhaps a goodnight kiss from Leon, but she wasn't complaining. After ditching Quint, she'd spent the rest of the ball with Squall, and had the time of her life. Best of all, Yuffie had finally started breaking through his defenses.
Yuffie walked into her bedroom and shut the door. What would happen between her and Squall tomorrow? He'll probably go back to being Leon, she thought glumly. Yuffie belly flopped onto her bed and reached underneath the mattress for her diary. She grabbed a pen and dated the next page.
Dear Diary,
I never believed in magic or love and all that stuff. Well…until tonight. It's time I admit something to myself. I, Yuffie Kisiragi Greatest Female Ninja ever, am head over heels, completely smitten, in love with Squall Leonhart. Whew. Felt good to finally let that out. Oh, what would Aerith say if she knew? Probably something along the lines of, "Aren't you a bit young to know what love is?" If love knows no boundaries, then why does a nine year difference make it so hard? So I'm still a kid, whereas Squall's an adult. When I'm twenty, he'll be twenty-nine. Besides, it's not as big of a gap like that woman and the old codger. Ewww…I wouldn't screw that man no matter how much money he had.
Aerith says that sometimes we just need to be listened to and let out our thoughts without receiving any judgment or advice. Right now, I'd do anything for a bit of advice. How am I supposed to handle this? Tell him, I get to eat a meal of heartbreak for breakfast. Don't tell him, and I'll be eaten alive while slowly being driven insane. Insanity or heartbreak…it's a lose-lose situation. I guess I could write him a note…but what if it falls into the wrong hands? Like Cloud…or worse, Cid. I'd never hear the end of it. I can already imagine the badly sang chorus..."Leon and Yuffie sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-N-G…wait…K-I-S-I-N-G…no…" I'd bet you all my munny that he'd spell it wrong, too.
Somebody tell me why people search all their lives for true love when it may end up unreciprocated? Why would you search for something that doesn't even exist? But the rose………it has to mean something, right? And the conversation in the Infirmary? He can't stop thinking about me. Which is good. At least we're in the same boat now. Even if the boat does have dozens of leaks…what does it all mean? I've always heated puzzles; this isn't any different. Only if Leon would give me a hint, a sign, of how he felt. Whenever I think he feels one way, he goes around and feels another way. I can never assume what he's thinking by his actions. For all I know, his actions are just as fake as his mask.
Yuffie put down her pen as her stomach began to growl. She yawned and looked at the clock. It flashed 12:30AM in bright, fluorescent numbers. She'd been hit by a case of the lat night munchies, as Cid referred to it. Yuffie rolled off her bed, put on her robe and slippers, and headed for the kitchen for a quick something to eat. She ventured down the dimly lit hall, the events of the past night coming to life once more as she remembered…
Yuffie's POV
"Hey, let's talk," Quint suggested softly. It was around 10:30, and my feet were killing me after dancing for nearly three hours straight.
I shrugged and looked at Leon. He still stood by the refreshment table, tall and brooding. He caught my eye and looked away. Good. "Sure."
Quint gently took my hand and led me into an abandoned corner. "I really like you, Yuffie," he began.
Um, ooooookay…I didn't respond.
"I'd like it if we could…get to know each other better."
"What? You mean like going out for a coffee or something?"
"Not quite what I had in mind."
Hey, that wasn't supposed to happen! I could feel myself turning red. "What did you have in mind?" I asked, even though I was pretty sure I knew.
"If you're not doing anything later…I was thinking, maybe you could come over."
"Sorry, buddy. She has somewhere to be," a gruff, menacing figure snapped, looming up behind me and Quint.
I recognized that snappish tone immediately. I spun around and saw Leon towering over us, looking pretty murderous at the moment.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Quint asked defiantly. I have to admit, the guy had courage to stand up to Leon like that.
"The weirdo by the refreshment table," Leon replied through grit teeth.
Two guys fighting over little old me…I thought this only happened in my dreams. Just to make sure, I pinched my arm. Ow. Nope. I wasn't. Fully awake.
"Why don't you go back to your table?"
"I'll tell you once, stay away from her. Got it?" He jabbed Quint's chest with his forefinger to express his point.
Quint glared daggers at Leon, and Leon met his glare with a look ten times worse. Quint turned to me and let go of my hand. "See you around," he said before Leon took my upper arm and led me outside onto the balcony.
"Doubt it," I mumbled, feeling Leon fix his gaze on me.
"Do you have any idea what that guy was planning on doing?" was the first thing out of Leon's mouth.
"I'm sure I have an inkling," I shot back in the iciest tone I could muster. "I can take care of myself, thanks."
"Sure," Leon laughed. "That's why I had to jump in and save you."
"That's the thing. You didn't have to," I pointed out, feeling my temper rising steadily.
Leon fell silent and looked up at the stars. He walked slowly to the railing, leaned on it, and shut his eyes. He looked angelic, his hair swaying gently in the wind. "I'll leave you alone," I announced, turning on my heel. "I'm going inside."
I felt a hand close around my wrist. "Wait," Leon said. "Want to dance?"
"Out here?"
"Why not?"
"It's freezing."
He took off his jacket and handed it to me. "I wonder why," he said, his voice lined with sarcasm.
I realize that I left my shawl inside. I took the jacket and put it on. "You'll get cold," I protested. Really, I could care less if he was cold or not. I just didn't want to dance with the guy. I knew I'd get all flustered and start stepping on his toes, and say stupid things…
"I'm fine." Leon looked down at me curiously. "What, you don't want to dance?"
"I do, but…"
"But what?" Leon persisted.
I could see he wouldn't stop asking until I accepted. I exhaled slowly and said, "Oh fine."
Leon placed a hand on my waist and took my hand in his own. It was calloused rough from years of swordsmanship. I looked up and said, "I'm sorry."
This seemed to surprise him. "For what?"
"For being a brat tonight. I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with. I shouldn't have said the things I did."
"Forget it," he dismissed as we slowly danced to the music booming from the ballroom.
"But—"
"Forget it, all right?" Leon cut me off.
I was grateful for his forgiveness, but I was trying to confess to him. Too bad he thought I was trying to apologize. Almost makes me sorry for falling in love with such a stupid idiot. Keyword being almost. Then I look up into his indigo eyes and realize why I did in the first place.
"Yuffie!" Leon said loudly, knocking on her bedroom door. She still had his jacket that he loaned her hours ago. He'd rented it, and needed it back. Leon turned the knob and poked his head into the room. It was empty. He stepped into the room to find his jacket. Leon looked through her closet and found it hanging next to the dress she'd worn. He took his jacket and began to leave when a book fell off Yuffie's bed.
Leon scooped it up and began to place it back in its place when he'd read his name written in Yuffie's untidy scrawl. Leon knew he should just leave, but curiosity had taken over him. He read the first few lines and frowned. His frown deepened with each word he read. "For all I know, his actions are just as fake as his mask," he read aloud. Didn't she know that he was just as confused as she was? Now he knew the true meaning of curiosity killed the cat. Suddenly feeling tired, Leon sat on Yuffie's bed. He couldn't think right now—didn't want to.
A strangled moan caused Leon to look to the door. Standing in the doorway was a mortified Yuffie. Her amethyst eyes were dancing with fear and her whole body went rigid. A single thought ran through her head. He knows, oh my God, he knows.
Leon leapt off the bed and dropped his jacket and the diary. "It's not what you think," he insisted, starting towards her. He thought over what he said and amended his sentence. "Okay…it is, but let me explain."
Yuffie couldn't string two words together. She felt hot, stinging tears prickling her eyes. Releasing a shuddery breath, she ran. Ran away from it all, hoping it was just a nightmare. She left the room, and hopefully her feelings for Leon, behind—for good.
"Wait!" Leon followed her out into the hallway. But to his surprise, she was gone. He mentally kicked himself. He should've known better. "Yuffie, come back!" he called, nothing but the silence answering him.
Yuffie was gone. And she'd been running from him.
Leon ran a hand through his tousled locks. He messed things up pretty badly. All because he'd been an emotionless jerk, leading her on when he'd tried not to. In the end, he was leading himself on. He cared deeply for the ninja, no matter how much he denied it. He wanted to protect her from any pain or suffering. A mutual bond built from friendship and training side by side had turned from respect into love.
How he had kept the secret buried so well that even he didn't know it?
Cloud handed the diary back to Leon, who sat on the edge of Aerith's bed with this head hung and hands folded. Cloud and Aerith exchanged a glance. Both were thinking the same thing: It's about time!
"Where's Yuffie now?" Aerith asked.
Leon shrugged, not looking up. He cradled the diary in his hands.
"You okay?" Cloud furrowed his brow, studying his friend's appearance. "You look like you haven't slept all night."
"I haven't. Been looking for her for hours now."
"It's nearly five in the morning," Aerith noticed the digital clock reading a quarter to five.
The three fell into a tense silence for a moment. Leon fought the wave of fatigue that had suddenly hit him. "If anything, anything happens to her..." he said seriously, breaking the silence, "This is all my fault."
Cloud sighed exasperatedly. "Why is everything your fault? The Heartless weren't you fault, losing Rinoa wasn't your fault, me being left behind wasn't your fault, and Yuffie falling in love with you isn't your fault either."
Leon didn't answer.
"We'll look for her in the morning," Aerith spoke up. "Yuffie can take care of herself."
"I have to find her now," Leon growled.
"We're useless in the dark. This is a huge castle. We should rest," Aerith reasoned.
Leon stood up abruptly. "I'm going for a walk," he announced. He strode out of the room before either Aerith or Cloud could reply.
Yuffie sat on a branch in the tree she'd grown up with. For the first time in years, she finally visited her home. She could almost hear her father training in the dojo, landing punch after punch on the punching bag. She could hear the slice of his shurikens as they cut through wooden targets. She could hear her mother's voice cheering her on as she sparred with her father…Maybe, when she was older, she would move back into the house and reopen the abandoned dojo. Even though she didn't care much for tradition, she missed her parents and wanted to make them proud. To her dismay, Yuffie's mind wandered back to Leon.
He'd read her diary. Her thoughts, fears, secrets…all revealed. They were meant for her eyes and hers only, and now her deepest, darkest fear had been divulged to the last person she'd ever tell. She was dreading the moment Leon would find her. Yuffie knew he would sooner or later. She couldn't bear the thought of facing him after what had happened. "It's always darkest just before dawn," she whispered. Her father used to tell her scary stories of what happened to children who went outside before dawn. Of course her mother would come in and chastise her father for telling her such things, but she loved his stories. Even if they did give her nightmares as a kid.
Yuffie looked up for the moon. It was nowhere in sight, and the tree blocked out most of the light from the stars. She couldn't see her own nose. She could feel her fear of the dark rising in her chest. "Hey," a soft, sonorous voice spoke, causing Yuffie to nearly fall out of the tree. It came from another branch about five feet away.
"Who's there," Yuffie demanded, wishing she'd brought her shrukiens.
"You've been gone for only a few hours and you don't recognize my voice?"
Yuffie stiffened and didn't answer. He'd found her. Unfortunately sooner rather than later like she'd hoped. She felt an arm wrap itself around her shoulders. "What're you doing?" Yuffie asked, her breathing coming out shallow and raspy.
"You're still afraid of the dark, aren't you." It was more of a statement than a question.
The darkness reminded her of many things. The day her father went into the night to defend the kingdom during the attacks, the day she watched her mother drown in a pool of darkness when the Heartless came…the day she got stuck in a tree with Leon.
"How'd you get up here?" Yuffie asked suddenly.
"I climbed."
"How are you getting down?"
"Who says I want to when I could just be here with you?"
It took Yuffie a moment to register what he'd implied. She was semi-grateful for the dark. It hid her blushing face. "Stop messing with me," Yuffie said, pushing his arm away. "You have something to say or not?"
Leon shook his head. "I don't have anything to say."
Then why the hell was he up here? She was about to voice her thoughts when she felt a feather light warmth touch her lips. Her heart began to pound double time when she discovered what was happening.
"Leon and Yuffie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-I-N-G—"
"Stupid! You forgot an 's'!"
Yuffie pulled away and groaned as she heard the voices of Cid and Cloud below them. She could make out their figures and Aerith's staring up at them. Aerith was giggling while Cloud and Cid fought over how to spell. Chances were that Cid was drunk and/or high. Again.
"Ignore them," Leon instructed, cupping her chin. A strange, but pleasant, shiver ran up and down her spine as he pressed his lips to hers more firmly this time.
It wasn't a dream. The search was over for both of them.
Love is like a rose. It can be such a beautiful thing, or the most painful thing you've ever touched.