Disclaimer: These characters belong to Square and Disney, except for a handful.

Note: It's me again! Okay...I think I must have a huge addiction to reviews. No, I know that I do. So review! Anyway, I have had strong writing urges lately and I'm going to spend every waking minute trying to finish this story so I can make more. I have grown attached to this story, though. Remember, R&R! It's every author's favorite word on this website.

To Cat of Darkness: No, it's not from "Bring Me to Life," although that is a great story, and one of my favorites. I try to make my stories as original as I can, and I have never really "copied" off of anyone, even if some of my writing is of the same idea as others. It's impossible to have every single thing different. As you can see, I'm very offended when it comes to matters like these. I do, in every way, appreciate your reviews and hearing your opinions, so don't let this discourage you. I'm not trying to be mean, though.

To Everyone: I appreciate everyone who reviewed to my stories for the past six chapters! They really mean a lot to me, especially a certain few. I won't name everyone, because I might miss someone, but I love you guys! To all of those who bothered to read and not to review...shame on you!

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Fallen

Chapter 7: Final Meeting

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Squall was scared.

Anyone who knew him knew him for his cool and his rock hard emotions. He tried to keep up that reputation and pushed down any emotions. You could do your job better that way if you didn't have emotional attachment. But there was no way he could stop it this time.

He dropped down next to her. She blinked, but didn't seem to see him. She looked...empty.

"Yuffie..." he said slowly. Had she been raped? "Yuffie...look at me."

She ignored him, but he could see her fingers curl a centimeter. Her tears stopped coming, except for one single tear that rolled down her cheek.

"Yuffie," he pleaded, "Please, Yuffie, look at me!"

He ran a hand through his dark hair that fell into his blue eyes. He directed her face to look toward his, but she kept her eyes averted.

Finally, as if it took as much energy as she had, she looked up at him. He felt a sharp pang in his chest. Her eyes...they were...sucked of life. This isn't Yuffie. At least, not the Yuffie from a few days ago.

He noticed the ring hanging around her neck. Carefully, he picked it up and unsnapped it from her neck and looked at it. Yuffie never wore this before.

Almost as soon as the ring touched his fingers, he knew what had happened.

In anger, he threw the ring into the water of the Waterway and took off his jacket and wrapped it around Yuffie. She made a whimper-like sound and stared at him with her big, brown orbs of sadness.

He picked her up carefully, one arm under her knees and another around her back. Her hand escaped the jacket that covered her and fell limply, just hanging in the air. Her head rested against Squall's chest. He feared that if it weren't, she would let it fall back, unsupported.

As inconspicuously as he could, he carried her to the hotel, which wasn't far away. The night air felt extra chilly out, being November 18. Only two days away from Yuffie's birthday.

He looked down at Yuffie's face. Her eyes were open, still, but she hadn't seemed to snap out of her trance. He just hoped to God she didn't start to cry again. It looked so...wrong. Her, crying, especially when the tears seemed so detached.

Squall looked back up and noticed Aerith staring out the hotel window, peering through the blinds, the soft glow from the lights in the hotel coming outward. She must not have seen him yet.

He passed the window, but Aerith wasn't there to see. She was already out of the hotel, running toward him as fast as her feet could take her, her long auburn braid flying behind her.

"Oh, Leon, what happened?!" she said in a soft breath. She narrowed her eyes in concern and touched Yuffie's cheek. "What's wrong with her?"

His eyes flashed. "I don't know if I should suggest it...I might be wrong."

But he knew he wasn't wrong. It had been Damien who raped Yuffie. He knew right after he saw the chain and ring around her neck. It was a long story.

Aerith grabbed his shoulders, tears in her eyes.

In hysterics, she said, "Squall, Squall! Why is she bleeding down there? Why are there handprints all over her? And those," she said, referring to purplish marks all over her neck and chest. "Squall...where is her clothing?"

He looked at Yuffie, then at Aerith. He didn't mind that Aerith had slipped and said "Squall" and not "Leon."

Cloud came out of the hotel, eyeing the scene with a stunned look. He came over to them, took one look at Yuffie, and had an expression on his face. The kind where you realize what must have happened...but you don't want to accept it.

Aerith turned around and gripped Cloud's shirt, throwing herself into his arms. He put his arms around her uncertainly, still a bit unclear on what was happening.

"C'mon, Sq...uh, Leon. Let's get Yuffie inside," he said into Aerith's hair. He led her inside, and Squall trailed behind. His arms felt like they were ready to snap off if he had to carry her one more second.

He brought her into the Green Room and laid her down on the bed. He racked his hands through his hair and walked over to the balcony, his arms crossed over his chest. Aerith had taken control of herself and sat next to Yuffie on the bed, willing her to say something.

Cloud stood behind her, looking down with a worried expression.

"Yuffie," Aerith whispered in a comforting voice. "Look at me. I'm telling you right now. Look at me," commanded the older girl.

Yuffie barely turned her head and stared right through Aerith.

Aerith bit her lip and put her warm hand on Yuffie's cheek and the other squeezed Yuffie's hand. They were ice cold.

There was no response. Aerith adjusted the jacket around her a little more and wrapped her arms around her in a long embrace.

When she finally let go, she said, "I think Yuffie is in shock. Leon...what happened, exactly?"

He spared a glance over in her direction, his arms still crossed.

"I went looking for her when you told me. I came into the alley and saw a dark figure on the ground. It was Yuffie. She was all banged and bruised and her clothes were everywhere. She didn't respond to me. I...I didn't know what to do," he answered in a very long detailed way for him.

Aerith nodded, and then said with a strain on her voice, "Was she...violated?"

"How should I know? I wasn't there..." he replied crossly. He was angry. Damien was getting old. It didn't bother him to be after him, but when he...hurt Yuffie, it was different. He wouldn't get away with it.

He glanced down the balcony to where he found Yuffie. He thought that all that time ago at Hollow Bastion...well, he thought Damien was gone. How wrong he had been.

"Cloud, help me give Yuffie a bath. She needs one," Aerith said in a firm voice. She wrapped one arm around Yuffie. Cloud obeyed and followed her lead. They carried her into the bathroom, her feet dragging across the floor.

Aerith closed the door and Cloud walked over to Squall.

He opened his mouth to say something when he was cut off by a loud shrieking scream. Both men, startled, ran to the bathroom door. There was splashing sounds and incoherent words coming from inside.

"Aerith, what's going on?" Cloud asked.

"Someone help me!" Aerith yelled.

Cloud swung the door open and went inside. Squall closed the door behind him and stood next to Cloud. Aerith was soaked, trying to hold Yuffie down. She was in the bathtub, only partially filled, screaming and crying, her arms flailing around like she was falling through the sky.

"Help me hold her down!" Aerith yelled above the screaming. Cloud knelt next to her and grabbed Yuffie's shoulders. For a moment, it seemed like she couldn't recognize him, but something passed behind her eyes and she was out of the bathtub, naked and wet, sobbing into his shirt.

Blushing furiously, Aerith grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Yuffie. Squall diverted his eyes from looking past her face and watched painfully as she continued to cry. Aerith rubbed her back and made comforting noises.

Yuffie stopped crying and wiped at her eyes. She looked at Squall and a light pink shade crossed her cheeks. She wrapped the towel around herself and he realized she was visibly shaking.

Aerith helped her up and into the bathtub, and gave Cloud and Squall a look. They left the room.

"I wonder if the water jolted her out of whatever that trance she was in," Cloud said aloud. Squall shrugged and acted like nothing happened, but in truth, he was shaken. He wasn't used to seeing people start screaming out of no where.

He covered himself efficiently enough. He leaned against the wall, unknowing of what to do. Cloud sat on the couch and rested his elbows on his knees.

Aerith and Yuffie emerged from the bathroom. Both Yuffie and Aerith's eyes were red and puffy from crying.

Yuffie kept her eyes diverted from Squall's and stared at the floor. He followed her with his eyes until she reached the bed and collapsed onto it in a heap.

Aerith wiped her eyes and took Cloud's hand. He squeezed hers reassuringly.

"Let Yuffie rest, and we'll question her tomorrow...she's not well," Aerith said quietly to Squall. He gave a single nod and walked into the bathroom for a shower, not waiting to see them out.

He un-bandaged his arm and took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and dressed into a pair of pants and a white T-shirt.

He climbed into bed and turned off the light. Yuffie was on her side, facing him. Her eyes were closed and her short black hair fell into her eyes. She smelled of roses from the soap, but not even the soap could wash away the bruises.

He closed his eyes and had his back to her. He fell into a light sleep and didn't wake until morning.

~~~

Yuffie opened her eyes slowly, thinking that there would be light streaming through the windows and the familiar sound of people all around her like at Hollow Bastion. But she was at Traverse Town. When was the last time she woke up thinking she was still there?

She closed her eyes again as she felt excruciating pain. And the memories of last night flew across her head in a painful display. Hesitantly, she pulled her shorts outward from her stomach and looked down. She almost gagged at the sight of her battered thighs and the handprint marks all over her where...he had grabbed her so roughly.

Her head dropped. She was no longer a virgin. She had carried herself highly above her friends that she had been a virgin, and saving herself for marriage. Now, he had gone and ruined that. She pushed tears out of her eyes and wobbly stood up.

She ran into the bathroom and puked. She felt so wrong. She moaned and cleaned herself up and dressed in a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a lime green turtleneck sweater. It was getting chillier outside, and she also wanted to cover up her bruises and hickey marks.

Yuffie took a deep breath and walked out into Second District. It was the next day of the Festival. The merchants were still selling, and most likely, all of the games and rides were still up, too. Everything seemed so normal.

She walked past the shops. She stuffed her cold hands into her pockets and sighed.

"Yuffie!" Vanera yelled.

Yuffie looked behind her. Vanera was running to catch up to her.

"Hi..." Yuffie said in a soft voice.

Vanera grinned. "Hey, I thought that was you. Finally ditched those shorts, huh?"

She nodded and managed a smile. "Yep..."

"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're still mooning over Squall."

"No."

"Then wha..." she trailed off when she saw Yuffie's arm. She had pulled up her sleeves and her wrists were showing. There was a circular bruise on it, like someone had clasped it with strength. Vanera looked up at Yuffie's face, stunned, and noticed her scratches.

"What happened to you?" Vanera asked slowly. She looked like she was choosing her words carefully.

"N-nothing," Yuffie replied. She leaned against the railing by the stores.

"That's it, that Squall—" was all Yuffie heard. Vanera was running down to the crowd, apparently looking for Squall.

"Oh my God," Yuffie groaned. She put a hand on her forehead and stood up wearily.

She reluctantly followed Vanera, trailing behind her by about five feet.

"Vanera, wait up! I need to tell you something!"

They were separated by the crowd. Yuffie stood on her toes. Vanera had found Squall, and she was talking to him with a look of attitude on her face.

Yuffie pushed through the crowd and caught up with them. She was breathing heavily.

Vanera had stopped in front of the alley doorway. She walked inside. Yuffie was struck with a pang of fear. Could she go in there? But what was Vanera doing? Looking for Squall?

She timidly walked inside. She felt her heart beating in her chest, faster than she had ever felt it.

It was lighter out, and she could see much better than before. She saw Vanera hiding behind some boxes. She walked closer to her, wondering what she was doing.

Vanera took Yuffie's hand and pulled her down. She had a finger to her lips, and a frightened expression on her face.

Vanera mouthed, "Look," and pointed above the boxes.

Confused, she looked into the darkness. Squall and Damien were standing by each other.

Understanding what could happen, she darted under the boxes and clutched her chest. What if someone was killed? What was happening here?

"Like what happened to little Yuffie, Squallie? She's a gorgeous one."

"Shut up."

"I bet I gave her the time of her life. I knew that hurting her would hurt you, and I think I was right," Damien said with a chuckle.

There was no reply.

"What's wrong Squallie? Cat got your tongue?"

"Curiosity killed the cat," said a low, angry response.

"Enough with these cat cracks."

"Let's do it, then."

Yuffie started to jump out from behind the boxes. Vanera grabbed her ankle and shook her head quickly.

Yuffie ignored her and pulled away.

"Wait!" she screeched before they could do anything.

"Ahh...look at this!" Damien said. He walked over to Yuffie and put a hand on her thigh.

"Don't you dare touch me," she growled. She punched him backwards.

"Got a chick defending you now?" Damien taunted behind his hand holding a bloody nose.

"Stay out of this!" Squall yelled.

"No! This is my fight to," Yuffie protested.

Vanera came out from the shadows, holding a long sword. "And mine."

"Take her back to the hotel, Vanera!"

"Yuffie can fight, and so can I. I have been into more fights than you can count."

Damien started laughing. "Oh, this is great. This is just special. You're going to have two girls fighting with you?"

"Come on. Just you and me, you bastard."

Damien charged at him. Squall lifted up his Gunblade above his head and held it in front of him. He ran right into the blade.

Slowly, he looked down into his stomach and gasped.

"Oh...!" Yuffie buried her face into Vanera's hair. She couldn't see that...that was...horrifying.

Squall dropped his Gunblade and took a step back. Damien collapsed onto the ground, clutching his wounded stomach.

"Squall..." he whispered. "I'm sorry."

"No, NO!" Yuffie shouted. Vanera hugged her and turned away from Damien's body. Squall retrieved his Gunblade and started walking out of the alley.

Yuffie pulled away from Vanera and ran after him. He turned around and faced her. She punched his chest with her hands.

"How could you kill him? And then walk away? How could you kill somebody? Look, he's dead, he's dead!" she sobbed.

He shook his head. "I didn't kill him. He killed himself."

"No, no, no! How...how could you..."

She crossed her arms and took a step away from him. "You're a murderer."

"Believe what you want."

He continued walking and left the alley. Yuffie ran after him. Vanera took her hand and stopped her.

"Yuffie...let him go."

Yuffie turned around and faced her, despair and grief visible all over her face. Vanera wrapped an arm around her. Death was nothing new to her. It was something she accepted would happen to everyone. She had seen and been the cause of many deaths. And she was ashamed of all of this, of not being upset like Yuffie.

"Let's go home."

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I'm done! Wow, I think that was the quickest time span between chapters that I've ever had. Only a day or two, I think.

Anyway, I did it. I killed Meow/Damien. And I PROMISE that in the next chapter I will explain EVERYTHING. Just so you all know...I'm about to end the story. But if I get enough reviews and if everyone begs, then I'll make a sequel! Hopefully everyone wants a sequel!