The Days Before
-Squirrel Tamer
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.
Squall Babysits
I'm going to kill Yuffie Kisaragi one of these days. Squall Leonhart mumbled to himself.
He was walking down one of the hallways he rarely ever visited. It was the section where the wealthier families lived. He was going to find Yuffie to retrieve the necklace he had bought to give to Rinoa for her birthday in hopes that she might start to like him back.
He put his hand to the door, but before he could knock it was flung open.
Oh dear, you're not the babysitter! Yuffie's mother cried. We're going to miss the banquet! Unless... She turned to Squall who was still standing there. You'll watch Yuffie for us won't you?
That's a good boy. We'll pay you if you do it for us. Yuffie's father and I are going to a banquet being held for Lord Ansem. We'll be back around midnight. I suppose that's all then. Ciao!
And with that she and he husband ran out the door.
Squall said to their retreating backs.
Came a little girl's voice.
Hi, Yuffie.
You're our babysitter?
That's when he noticed Kairi sitting on Yuffie's couch eating a bowl of popcorn and watching T.V.
I need to sit down. He cried. Babysitting was not for him. He could barely even take care of himself.
Sit down? I don't think so! We want to play! Yuffie yelled happily. Kairi turned her eyes to Yuffie.
I wanna play too! She said, Can we play dress up? I want to be the princess!
No way! I am not playing dress up with a bunch of little kids. Squall protested.
You'll play dress up if you want this back! Yuffie giggled merrily, holding out a box with a carefully wrapped necklace inside. Squall lunged at the girl.
Give it to me! He yelled.
Catch Kairi! Yuffie cried and then threw the box to the little girl who made a surprising catch and then ran out of the room. Yuffie laughed and ran out behind her.
Squall groaned and then followed Yuffie out the door.
~~~~~~
Oh crap. He mumbled. He had followed Yuffie all the way to the banquet. The very important banquet. A banquet that now had two little girls running around in it.
Guess I better go find them. He sighed. Then slowly he made his way through the crowds of people.
Excuse me boy! But do you have a reservation? Someone asked him. The man had a long pointed nose. And was looking into a booklet that seemed to be filled with names.
I didn't think so.
Hold it right there, Ula. This boy is with me. Came a voice from below Squall's line of vision.
Of course Miss Yuffie.
Then Yuffie pulled on Squall's hand and led him past the many rows of tables to one where Kairi sat eating a bowl of ice cream. Her whole face was covered in a sticky mess. Squall sat next to Yuffie in a daze. He had never seen this hall before. It was amazing. He knew it was one of the halls where only the rich could go.
Its pretty here isn't it? A voice said in his ear. He turned to Yuffie and nodded.
Yeah...Maybe I'll be able to take Rinoa here someday. He said dreamily.
Yuffie scowled at him.
Hey! You happen to be on a date right now! You shouldn't be talking about other girl's in front of us!
Squall asked Yuffie.
Yes. It's a double date. That means that you get two dates. Me and Kairi!
You have to be our date tonight or else we won't tell you where we hid the necklace.
Squally Wally's our datey watey! Kairi cried out in a sing-song voice.
Fine. But you better give the necklace back. And we have to go somewhere else because we aren't supposed to be here. Okay?
Yuffie looked at Kairi for a moment.
Well...all right.
Then they both leapt up and each one grabbed one of Squall's hands.
Let's go!
~~~~~
I love burgers! Yuffie said happily.
Good because that's all I can afford. Squall told her. They were at the nearest fast food restaurant they could find. Kairi looked at the burger in front of her and grimaced. What's wrong Kairi? He asked her.
I don't like eating things that were alive once. She told him.
Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you Squall, Kairi's a vege-vege-
He offered.
Yeah that.
Siru's a vebetearial too. Kairi told him.
He corrected. Don't worry. I'll go get you a salad.
Kairi told him.
Hey look! Yuffie yelled excitedly.
Squall asked.
Cloud and Aerith just came out of the movie theatre together. I bet they were on a date! She turned to Kairi, Let's go be childish and mock them.
That's mean Yuffie! Kairi told her, But let's go!
Then they ran out followed by Squall.
Hey, wait!
~~~~~
This isn't a date! Cloud yelled for the fifth time while Yuffie just danced around him, mocking them. Aerith also tried telling her it wasn't a date.
Well what are you doing? Cloud asked her giving up.
Me and Kairi are on a date with Squall.
Squall felt himself go numb all over. His life was ending. This couldn't possibly be real. He had to be dead.
Really? I didn't think you were really his type Yuffie. Aerith told her.
Of course I am. He's just to shy to admit it.
Dead. Dead. Dead.
Wow! Hey Squall how comes you never told us that you and Yuffie were an item? Cloud said, trying his hardest to suppress his laughter.
Dead.
Hello Squall.
This couldn't be happening to him.
Not now.
Hi, Rinoa. He croaked out. Then he heard Yuffie pipe in.
Squall's on a date with Kairi and me. Isn't that a surprise Rinoa? Big tough Squall going out with little old me.
Suddenly he felt himself snap.
Actually Rinoa. Yuffie's just a little crazy. She likes to pretend that I like her so that she doesn't have to admit to herself that no one likes her. She doesn't really have any friends. We just pretend to like her because we feel bad for her. He told her.
He saw Yuffie staring at him. The hurt was obvious in her eyes. He instantly began to feel like a real jerk.
Yuffie I- He tried to say but then she ran off.
He cried, Aerith watch Kairi for me okay?
Of course.
Then he tore after Yuffie. She had managed to make it to a small garden area. Where three trees grew.
He yelled. YUFFIE! Please come out! I'm sorry!
NO YOU'RE NOT!!! He heard her yell. Then he spotted her climbing the tallest tree she could find.
Yuffie come down! He yelled.
NO! You don't like me! You hate me! Well I hate you too! She cried and climbed even higher.
He was right beneath her but he didn't start climbing. He had never been good at climbing trees.
No I won't and-
*SNAP*
Yuffie screamed and grabbed onto the closest branch she could. But her legs dangled and her hands were already beginning to slip.
Squall screamed.
I'm gonna die! Squall help! She cried.
You'll fall before I can reach you! You'll have to let go and then I'll catch you! He told her.
No! You'll drop me! You hate me!
Yuffie, I promise that I'll never let anything happen to you! Remember that I love you kid!
You promise I'll be okay?
I promise. Now let go on three. ONE! TWO!
Yuffie shut her eyes tight.
She let go and fell right into Squall's arms. She opened her eyes and smiled.
You really don't hate me.
Of course not.
Y'know that was kinda fun.
We are not doing that again!
How about tomorrow?
~~~~~
And then the snow stopped. Rimo had done it. He had stopped the blizzard. The townspeople were glad and they rejoiced. But Rimo was not happy. He had grown to love the snow. But he knew it would come again. It always did.
Squall yawned and looked at the two little girls snuggled against him. Kairi had Siru in one hand and the thumb on her other hand in her mouth. Yuffie just lay beside him.
He slowly got up so he didn't disturb them.
Yeah, Yuffie?
He turned to face the six year old who was sitting up and staring at him. She pulled something out of her pocket.
Here's the necklace. She told him and then handed it out to him.
Keep it, He told her, I don't think Rinoa will even want to look at me for awhile. Plus it looks better on you.
Yeah. Although it does have her birthstone color.
No it doesn't.
Her birthday's in December. Mine's in November. You got her my birthstone color.
I guess it was meant for you then.
Thank's Squall and I'm sorry for today.
Just promise me one thing.
What's that?
That you won't force me on another date for at least another week. He said and then held out his hand for her to shake.
She looked at it for a moment and then furiously shook it up and down.
~~~~~
A/N: Here's chapter 6. Hope you like it. The next is a two part one. It's going to be a big dance and.... well I guess you'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for so many reviews on the last chapter. They are what I live for.
