I am just so bored this week! You can tell because I've been writing a lot lately. How did everyone like the last chapter? I felt so bad about Damien. I did create him, after all. But then I started to hate him. Oh well. Like I said before, the story is coming to a slow close, and I haven't made enough Squffie! If there is a sequel, I will have a lot of it, and maybe a few lemons here and there. I have an idea for another story, so when this one is done, be expecting another one from me. By the way, the story "Look to Tomorrow" is pretty good for a real angst-like Squffie, if anyone would like to read it. It's by PingPong, but I don't remember the numbers at the back of her name.

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Fallen

Chapter 8:

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Yuffie sat at the table in her hotel bedroom, nervously reading a magazine. She was waiting for Squall to come back. She desperately needed to talk to him. She leaned back in her chair and flipped another page of the magazine, watching the door out of the corner of her eye.

She turned her head slowly and glanced out the balcony doors. Damien's body might be laying there. She shuddered and quickly turned back to her magazine, unable to think about something so utterly horrible.

It was true she hated him; it was no secret. But...to see a person die like that...to run into an open blade...it was horrible. She knew she shouldn't blame Squall, Damien, technically, had run into it and killed himself, like Squall said. But she needed someone to blame.

She glanced up when she heard the lock click and the doorknob turn. The door opened and Squall stepped into the room.

Yuffie bit her lip and watched him walk into the bathroom. She heard the shower turn on, and then heard the sink running when he brushed his teeth. He came out, dressed in a white T-shirt and a pair of sleeping pants.

"Leon...can I talk to you?" she asked softly. She seemed to be talking quieter more than usual.

"What is it?"

"Please, I just need to talk about what happened tonight. Come sit at the table with me."

He sighed and sat down across from her.

"Leon...I'm sorry for blaming you for his death. I just thought that...maybe...well I think I needed reassurance. He did run into your blade, and maybe you didn't purposefully kill him."

He crossed his arms. He figured what was coming next.

"What is between you two?"

"A past. We share a past."

"At Hollow Bastion? Because I remember him being there."

"You should. He and his family lived in the poorer section of Hollow Bastion, but he was with me often."

"And?"

"What else is there to say?"

"What happened?"

"Damien told you he was your Meow right?"

"Umm..." she said uncertainly. She vaguely remembered it, but she didn't believe it.

"He could transform into a cat since he was a baby. And ever since he could walk he used it to take advantage of people. He would steal things from stores for his family. And I helped him."

"Y-You did?" she gulped.

"Yeah. It wasn't a big deal, but after awhile, he started taking more risks and started to nearly expose himself. So I stopped hanging out with him."

"I remember," Yuffie whispered. She remembered her dream when Squall was trying to convince Damien to stop doing...whatever he was doing at the time. Stealing.

"Remember what?"

"I remember you and Damien from a dream when I was little. You were both in a bar and you were warning him about that. Then you kind of did something with your blade, it's a little fuzzy, but I remember you leaving after that."

"I remember, too. He was starting to annoy me with his actions so I warned him, but he got defensive. I didn't hurt him, I just threatened him."

"Well...what else?"

He sighed. "He got older and he joined a group of people called "The Lectus." It means "The Chosen One in Latin, or something. They killed powerful men so they could get stronger. Damien's boss told him to kill me and do the job right, or else he would kill Damien and then have to kill me."

"Oh, wow."

"He confronted me one day and pulled out a knife. I heard about what he was going to do, so I knocked him out. I didn't want to kill him. I left after that. From what I heard, the boss's men got him, but obviously not. He sent me a letter after that."

"I see...but what about when you were knocked out and I first saw the cat?"

"Damien found me and he challenged to fight me. He knocked me out and I broke his arm."

"And to think that I actually...wanted to keep him," Yuffie said with a sigh. "I understand now why you didn't let me keep him, and...I don't mind."

She looked at Squall expectantly, but he said nothing. She cast her eyes to her hands and sighed. She was hoping they would be able to talk more. She didn't have many good friends that she could really talk to and trust. Even though she knew he hated her, she could trust him. That was important to her.

He left the table and went into the bathroom. She heard the squeak of the knobs turning then the splash as the water hit the porcelain tub.

She stood up and rubbed her hands together. It was growing chillier outside by the second, it seemed. She walked towards the balcony doors and pulled them shut, avoiding looking down at the body. She hoped that Squall came back and took it away.

Yuffie turned off the lights and crawled into bed. The day had passed by so quickly, and tomorrow was her birthday, November 20. She didn't really want to turn eighteen. She had been waiting for that day for her whole life, when she could be declared an adult. Now, all she wanted was to stay a kid and be allowed to cry into her pillow at night and hug a stuffed animal.

She stared up at the ceiling, unable to rid herself of Damien's face. He had looked so utterly pathetic when he ran into the blade, so sorrowful. She never wanted to see someone die right in front of her eyes ever again. She blinked back tears and turned on her side to fall asleep.

~~~

Yuffie opened her eyes slowly and stretched. She sat up in bed groggily and felt something fall onto her lap. It was a lavender envelope that smelled like Aerith's perfume.

She opened the envelope and pulled out the card. It was decorated with a soft color palette, and had ivy and roses stretched around the words. It said,

A day of peace and hope on your birthday.

She opened up the inside carefully and read the words.

Another year you have grown older, another year of maturity, strength, and happiness. Another year that I can treasure our special friendship and love you with all of my heart. Happy birthday.

Aerith

Yuffie smiled and closed the card. It was just the type of card she was expecting from Aerith. She stumbled out of bed; her spirits lifted, and set it up on the desk. She picked up her birthday outfit she had laid across the couch the night before and walked into the bathroom.

She took a shower slowly, enjoying the feel of the hot water running down her back and stomach. She got out and dried off and blow-dried her raven black hair.

She held out her outfit. It was a black, billowy skirt that came mid-thigh. It felt smooth and satiny on her legs and made her look older, more mature. Her top was a white camisole and over it, blue see-through blouse.

She slipped into it and ran a brush through her hair. She took a step back and looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't look like her Yuffie anymore...she looked like an older, more mature Yuffie.

She smiled with satisfaction. This was her day, and older or not, she would make the best of it.

She pranced out of the hotel room and down the hall where she knew Aerith would be. She knocked once on the Red Room door and stepped inside. Aerith was sitting on the bed, looking at pictures.

She glanced up when Yuffie walked in. She hopped off the bed and hugged Yuffie.

"Happy birthday! Did you get my card?" she asked eagerly. Her eyes were shining.

"Yes, and I loved it," she replied.

"You look nice," Aerith commented.

"Thanks."

"I have a present for you, but you can't open it now."

Yuffie sighed and gave a fake pout. "Why not?"

"Because we have to wait until we go out for your birthday, silly!"

"We're going out?"

"Of course we are. We're not going to just stay home and do nothing."

Yuffie grinned. "Cool. When are we going?"

"Around four-thirty, for dinner. Make sure you're ready."

"Okay...who's coming?"

"Cloud, Leon, Vanera, Cid, you, and I."

Yuffie smiled and gave a nod. "I'll be ready!"

~~~

Everyone who said would come to the party dinner arrived with gifts and balloons. They all sat around a large, circular table, talking and laughing with each other.

Yuffie smiled. This was turning out to be one of the best birthday parties she had ever had.

"Oh, the food's coming!" someone said. The waiter was carrying large trays of food. He dished out the plates and everyone started to eat. Yuffie took a delicate bite of her food and then a sip of ice water.

When everyone was finished, Aerith raised her glass into the air and shouted above the chatter, "Quiet, everyone!"

Everyone hushed down and looked at her.

"I would like to make a toast to Yuffie. Yuffie, you have always been there for us and had a happy smile on your face doing it. We all love you, and we all wish you a happy birthday!"

They raised their glasses and shook their heads. Yuffie smiled sincerely and brushed a few tears out of her eyes. Was it just her, or was she turning into a sentimental, mushy kind of girl?

"Presents! Presents!" someone yelled.

Aerith thrust a few presents into Yuffie's arms. "Go on, open them!"

Yuffie took them, surprised, and proceeded to open one. It was wrapped in shiny pink foil. Inside was a box that felt like it held clothing.

She opened the box that said, "From Aerith," and looked inside. She smiled. It was a pink dress, but it wasn't as bad as the ones Aerith wore. On top of it, there was a dried out bouquet of violets.

"Oh, thanks, Aerith!" Yuffie said sincerely. She just wasn't sure if she would ever wear it.

Another box was pushed into her hands, from Vanera. She opened it quickly with a smile. It was a set of shiny, sharp star-shaped shurikens of much finer materials than her old ones. She thanked her and continued to open presents.

A weapon cleaner from Cloud, a bunch of Munny gems from Cid, and finally, a new headband from Leon.

She thanked everyone gratefully for their gifts, and they left the table one by one. Aerith paid for the check and she, Aerith, Cloud. And Leon left the restaurant.

Yuffie ran outside ahead of everyone else and twirled around. It was snowing, the first snow, on her birthday! The fluffy, big flakes fell onto her skin and clothes and slowly melted. They leisurely twirled down from the sky in a display of white.

She turned back to look at Aerith and Cloud. Aerith was smiling as well.

"Wow, it's finally snowing! It took long enough!" Aerith said softly. Cloud came up to her and took her hand and started dragging her forward, wanting to be alone. Aerith cast her an apologetic look and allowed herself to be dragged forward.

Yuffie sighed and continued walking the path back to the hotel. She never saw this path before, it was outside of First District in the woods where she hardly ever went. (A/N: I know it's not true but I had to make it! Hehe...)

The dirt path was set far behind First District, and already had a light layer of snow covering it. Small oriental lanterns lit the path up.

She felt someone walk up behind her. She turned around, partially frightened then relaxed.

"Squall...you scared me."

She walked slower to keep up with his leisurely pace.

"Having fun?" he asked and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Can't you tell?" she asked. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Yeah..."

"I am having fun...this has been one of the happiest days I've had in awhile."

They walked together on the sidewalk in silence. Yuffie didn't really know what to say; she was just happy they could walk together without fighting.

She noticed the doors of First District up ahead. She paced up and reached the doors.

"Yuffie, wait..." Squall said.

"Huh?" she asked.

She turned around and stared up into his face. His deep, azure eyes were staring back at her.

"I have another present for you."

Before she could react, she felt Squall's lips brush against hers. She felt herself intake a sharp breath of air.

"W-what are you doing?" she murmured, caught up in his eyes. Her cheeks held a pink tinge that was not the cause of the coldness.

She felt dizziness overtake her. She grabbed onto his sleeve to steady herself and was surprised by the intensity of one kiss.

Her heart was racing and her legs felt wobbly...it was just like how everyone described a kiss to be.

"Was that your first kiss?" he asked with an amused grin.

"N-no..." she lied.

"Liar."

"I know..." she said with a sigh.

He kissed her again, only harder and longer this time. She broke off the kiss, breathless and in need for air. She grinned up at him and threw her arms around him in an embrace.

"So...does this mean you like me?" she asked.

"I wouldn't kiss you if I didn't."

"I like you, too."

She let go of him and pushed open the doors to get into First District. The Festival was all closed up, the three days of their stay over.

She grabbed his arm and started running to the hotel, eager to get inside, out of the cold, and tell Aerith about her kiss.

He was running behind her, trying to keep up.

"Come on, aren't you coming?" she yelled over her shoulder. She felt light-hearted and at ease with her life, and felt the wounds of the past days closing over. She felt...for the first time...truly happy.

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I hated, hated, hated this chapter! But I had to get some fluff in there. I wish I just would have written it better. Oh well...what's done is done. Did everyone like it? I'm not sure if I should keep this the last chapter or if I should write a follow up. I'm not sure if I'll write a sequel either...oh well. Now, review please!