A/N: Hey everyone! Wow! I'm surprised at how much you liked "Patching
Holes." I guess the phone conversation thing was a good turn for me.
Perhaps I ought to do more of that sometime... ^_^
Thank you so much for the reviews! I appreciate each and every one of them! Here, for all of my reviewers, you get a Klondike bar! What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Note to Deplora: WOW! Thank you sooooo much! But I don't know when I'll have time for "The Reason," truthfully. I'm busy with all of my stories. But, since you gave me rights to writing it, I will. And it'll be the best songfic I've ever written... hopefully ^_^;;. Also, all of those "You Know You're Obsessed With Squffie When" that you listed... well... I fit them too, don't worry. You're not the only one! ^_^
Note to Vulpes Lapis: Yeah, I know that lists aren't allowed. That's why I'm going to include the list in an author's note. It's not the main subject of the entry, so it shouldn't be considered illegal by ff.net's standards. Thanks for the concern, though! And I'm glad you like my stories!
Summary: Hmm... I don't think I'll give you a summary. It might take away from the effect. Don't worry, though. It's not a hard story to follow.
~*~*~*~
I frowned in concentration at the big book in front of me. There were numerous spells and summons listed in the small black print of the ancient text. For some reason, spells fascinated me. Don't ask why, I don't even know. But it's as if I was inexorably pulled in that direction since I've been able to fight. And I'm not even good with spells; Aerith is! The old tomes still called to me.
I suppose magic just seems to flow in my blood. Ever since I was a kid, I've been subject to many, almost magical, changes. Whether for good or ill, things so out of the ordinary as to be unbelievable have occurred in my life. You don't believe me? Just look at the whole situation with the Heartless. Who can say that that was expected? Who can say that they'd ever dreamed that something so... dark could exist? And then there's the whole magic of the man who was standing on the balcony, his russet hair blowing in the breeze.
At that moment, I wanted to kill him for breaking my focus. Okay, so not kill him literally. Maybe just strangle him and make him blue. No, no Yuffie... just think about something else. Don't you dare think about Squall Leonhart! Too late, a part of me chimed. I sighed and shook my head, willing those inner voices to just shut up and leave me alone for a moment. Leave me alone so that I could stare longingly at Squall.
Go over to him, Yuffie! Talk to him! That assertive voice called from the part of me that was all ninja. Oh, puh-leeze! Yuffie's way too timid to do anything about that! You're kidding yourself! That was the realistic voice, about the most annoying voice in the universe. Wait it out, kiddo. Make him come to you. And that was the part of me that just screamed for recognition. Right then, I agreed with that voice more than any of the others that were vying for my attention.
"Yuffie? Is there something wrong?" A cool, reserved monotone asked me from the balcony. I jumped out of my seat, surprised and annoyed that I had been caught staring. This is all your fault, I hissed at my voices. They tactfully chose to remain silent.
"N-n-no, nothing at all, Squall. J-just reading a book," I stammered. He nodded and turned away. I thought that that might be the end of the conversation, so I placed a bookmark in my page and stood to exit the library. I couldn't think if he was there!
"Another Materia book?" He asked, his back still towards me.
I nodded, "Yeah. I think it's so interesting how people used to have to use Materia to do magic. I wish we could find some Materia now. Then I'd be unstoppable!" I decided to avoid saying anything about him not catching the "Squall" that I had said earlier. He probably wasn't even listening to my anyway.
A snort came from the balcony and I realized that he was... laughing. His shoulders shook, but he still remained silent and turned away from me. I bunched my eyebrows together, wondering what was so funny about the whole thing. In mere moments, Squall was back to his normal apathetic self, back to the shell.
"Well, then, I guess you'll just have to perfect the magic that you can do. I doubt Materia would help you," he said the "you" as if it were an accusation. A tear formed in my eye but I hastily wiped it away. Get back at him, Yuffie, the war mongering voice told her. She growled inwardly at it, and picked the book up from the table.
"All the same, Squ-er-Leon, I like to study it. Makes me think that Materia could actually work for me," I said. A pitiful excuse for a laugh faked its way out of my throat and I ran out of the room, my tome in my hands. Ohhh! How annoying that Squall Leonhart could be! Why, why, why do I have to like him? WHY???
I jumped on to the lift stop and rode it to the level with all of our rooms. Quickly, I scurried down the hallway to my own room. Opening the old, heavy, wooden doors, I cringed at the loud squeak they made. Despite the fact that I acted annoying and obnoxious out in public, all these little noises and irritations really irked me. Especially when I wanted to think. That was partially why I wanted to get rid of those little devils that I called "voices."
I slammed the door behind me, and in one fluid movement, managed to land on the couch. I sprawled out, trying to get as comfortable as possible, and opened the text to where I had left off. Oh yes, there with Shiva and Ifrit. And a little Bahamut. I wished that I could use those summons, but, alas, they were locked away in Materia that would never be found in the hollow mountains of my world.
Something flitted across my mind that was as elusive as a butterfly. I tried to catch it, and just barely got it before it fluttered back out of my head again. Once I looked at it, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Yeah, sure... when pigs could fly! Okay, so that expression isn't very valid, especially when there could very well have been a flying pig Heartless. And that would mean that the thing would be very possible, maybe even true. So, now the whole saying was disproved. Sighing, I made the calculating voice shut up and turned my attention back to the book.
But that thought drew all of my attention and I couldn't let it just go on its way again. Maybe it was true, that there really were summons and Materia and that they weren't so hard to find after all. It could be that the right person just needed to come along and find them. And in that case, could I be just that person to unlock their secrets? Why not?
Something pulled back these racing thoughts and conked them over the head. Despite the pull towards magic and Materia that I had, there was still a little matter of one Squall Leonhart to attend to. It wasn't as if I wanted to tell him I loved him, but if I ever wanted to go on any type of adventure, I'd need to get that off of my chest. So, I guess I wouldn't be going anywhere.
Sighing, I looked down at the book and half-heartedly read about the difference in color the different Materia stones had. Goody. Why would I ever need to know the difference in their color if I was never going to find them? The point was, I wouldn't.
"Great! Now I pretty much have to go and tell him, don't I?" I asked the silence of the room. Predictably, it didn't answer.
~*~
I shuffled towards the library, hesitant about going back there before Squall was safely as far away as possible. I needed to grab all of the Materia books and stash them away in my pack before I could even think about going off. See, my plan was to be all ready to go and then tell him and run. A "hit-and-run" if you will.
Lucky for me, he was nowhere in sight and I grabbed the books from the shelves. I was ready. I had packed a bunch of stale bread that I had found in the back of the cupboard and some moldy cheese as well as beef jerky and a large canteen. No one could say that I wasn't prepared for hunger and thirst. Though, I didn't exactly have all the medical supplies I might need, but... oh well. I was the Great Ninja Yuffie and I wouldn't get hurt. Or, hopefully not... I sent a silent prayer up to the gods.
Feeling a bit naïve, I decided to go to the roof again and look out over the whole of Hollow Bastion one last time before my journey. The lift stop took my up to the spot I wanted to go to, and I completed the trek by climbing up the walls to the roof. Heaving myself up, I caught my breath before looking out.
"Wow. Sure am going to miss this view. I can almost see the whole world from here. Too bad-"
Another voice interrupted me from what I had thought was a personal reflection. "Too bad what? Where are you going?" There it was again, that familiar, beautiful monotone of the man I loved. I was hesitant about answering him, however.
"I'm going... away." He wasn't satisfied with that though. I could tell by his normally emotionless eyes. There was something there, something I couldn't name. "Okay! I guess I'll let the cat out of the bag! I'm going off to search for Materia. It's one of those things... I can't really explain it. But the Materia calls to me. All right, I admit, that sounds really weird, but it's the truth! I can't help but feel pulled towards the Materia and the mountains and... adventure."
"So, when are you going?" He asked, looking away.
"In just a few minutes. I wanted to be here for a moment, though, before I left." He might have said something like "oh," but I didn't hear him. The voices inside of me reached a clamoring chorus, all saying exactly the same thing. TELL HIM!
"Umm... Squall... before I go, I need to tell you something. It's pretty important, actually. I don't know if you'll like it or not, probably not. But, I guess I can't judge you, now can I? Never have been able to..." I drew in a deep breath. "Listen, Squall, if I never get a chance to tell you, you know, if I die or something, and the secret stays in me forever it'll eat away at my soul and I just can't leave anything to be forgotten over time as I pass and I can't leave without telling you so... Iloveyou!"
And then I kissed him.
What should have been a long kiss passed in a second before my eyes, and I was pulling away from him. Realizing what I had done, my eyes widened and my breath caught in my throat. Using every bit of agility that I could, I jumped off of the roof (don't try it at home!) and slid to the lift stop before I even saw Squall round the corner behind me. Heaving a sigh of relief, I got onto the platform and rode it down to the main level.
"Goodbye, Bastion!" I called to it, as if it could hear me. And I swear I could hear it whisper a goodbye back to me. But maybe it was just my rampant imagination. Whatever the case, I was ready to leave. Setting my pack on my shoulders, I set out for the door and my journey.
I took the big, golden knobs of the front doors and pushed them open, my eyes closed against the sudden wind that rushed into the room. When I opened them again, someone was standing in front of me. No, not just anyone. It was Squall.
"Did you honestly think that I would just let you go off without hearing what I had to say?"
I nodded, looking down at my feet. Oh great, here it comes. Here's the comment that's going to rip my heart out, tear it to shreds, and stomp it to a bloody mass on the floor-
Before I could finish my train of thought, warm lips pressed themselves to mine and my initial reaction was to jump away. But I quelled that response and instead kissed him back. And this one lasted longer, much longer. Blessedly, almost an eternity.
"I love you too, Yuffie."
I couldn't believe my ears. Squall Leonhart had just told me that he loved me. Yeah. And I'm King Mickey. Still, it almost sounded real...
"Really?"
"If I kiss you again, would you believe me?"
"Definitely."
See? I told you. Magic just seems to flow in my veins. Because, no matter where I go, extraordinary things happen to me. If that's not a good omen, I don't know what is.
I'm off!
Thank you so much for the reviews! I appreciate each and every one of them! Here, for all of my reviewers, you get a Klondike bar! What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Note to Deplora: WOW! Thank you sooooo much! But I don't know when I'll have time for "The Reason," truthfully. I'm busy with all of my stories. But, since you gave me rights to writing it, I will. And it'll be the best songfic I've ever written... hopefully ^_^;;. Also, all of those "You Know You're Obsessed With Squffie When" that you listed... well... I fit them too, don't worry. You're not the only one! ^_^
Note to Vulpes Lapis: Yeah, I know that lists aren't allowed. That's why I'm going to include the list in an author's note. It's not the main subject of the entry, so it shouldn't be considered illegal by ff.net's standards. Thanks for the concern, though! And I'm glad you like my stories!
Summary: Hmm... I don't think I'll give you a summary. It might take away from the effect. Don't worry, though. It's not a hard story to follow.
~*~*~*~
I frowned in concentration at the big book in front of me. There were numerous spells and summons listed in the small black print of the ancient text. For some reason, spells fascinated me. Don't ask why, I don't even know. But it's as if I was inexorably pulled in that direction since I've been able to fight. And I'm not even good with spells; Aerith is! The old tomes still called to me.
I suppose magic just seems to flow in my blood. Ever since I was a kid, I've been subject to many, almost magical, changes. Whether for good or ill, things so out of the ordinary as to be unbelievable have occurred in my life. You don't believe me? Just look at the whole situation with the Heartless. Who can say that that was expected? Who can say that they'd ever dreamed that something so... dark could exist? And then there's the whole magic of the man who was standing on the balcony, his russet hair blowing in the breeze.
At that moment, I wanted to kill him for breaking my focus. Okay, so not kill him literally. Maybe just strangle him and make him blue. No, no Yuffie... just think about something else. Don't you dare think about Squall Leonhart! Too late, a part of me chimed. I sighed and shook my head, willing those inner voices to just shut up and leave me alone for a moment. Leave me alone so that I could stare longingly at Squall.
Go over to him, Yuffie! Talk to him! That assertive voice called from the part of me that was all ninja. Oh, puh-leeze! Yuffie's way too timid to do anything about that! You're kidding yourself! That was the realistic voice, about the most annoying voice in the universe. Wait it out, kiddo. Make him come to you. And that was the part of me that just screamed for recognition. Right then, I agreed with that voice more than any of the others that were vying for my attention.
"Yuffie? Is there something wrong?" A cool, reserved monotone asked me from the balcony. I jumped out of my seat, surprised and annoyed that I had been caught staring. This is all your fault, I hissed at my voices. They tactfully chose to remain silent.
"N-n-no, nothing at all, Squall. J-just reading a book," I stammered. He nodded and turned away. I thought that that might be the end of the conversation, so I placed a bookmark in my page and stood to exit the library. I couldn't think if he was there!
"Another Materia book?" He asked, his back still towards me.
I nodded, "Yeah. I think it's so interesting how people used to have to use Materia to do magic. I wish we could find some Materia now. Then I'd be unstoppable!" I decided to avoid saying anything about him not catching the "Squall" that I had said earlier. He probably wasn't even listening to my anyway.
A snort came from the balcony and I realized that he was... laughing. His shoulders shook, but he still remained silent and turned away from me. I bunched my eyebrows together, wondering what was so funny about the whole thing. In mere moments, Squall was back to his normal apathetic self, back to the shell.
"Well, then, I guess you'll just have to perfect the magic that you can do. I doubt Materia would help you," he said the "you" as if it were an accusation. A tear formed in my eye but I hastily wiped it away. Get back at him, Yuffie, the war mongering voice told her. She growled inwardly at it, and picked the book up from the table.
"All the same, Squ-er-Leon, I like to study it. Makes me think that Materia could actually work for me," I said. A pitiful excuse for a laugh faked its way out of my throat and I ran out of the room, my tome in my hands. Ohhh! How annoying that Squall Leonhart could be! Why, why, why do I have to like him? WHY???
I jumped on to the lift stop and rode it to the level with all of our rooms. Quickly, I scurried down the hallway to my own room. Opening the old, heavy, wooden doors, I cringed at the loud squeak they made. Despite the fact that I acted annoying and obnoxious out in public, all these little noises and irritations really irked me. Especially when I wanted to think. That was partially why I wanted to get rid of those little devils that I called "voices."
I slammed the door behind me, and in one fluid movement, managed to land on the couch. I sprawled out, trying to get as comfortable as possible, and opened the text to where I had left off. Oh yes, there with Shiva and Ifrit. And a little Bahamut. I wished that I could use those summons, but, alas, they were locked away in Materia that would never be found in the hollow mountains of my world.
Something flitted across my mind that was as elusive as a butterfly. I tried to catch it, and just barely got it before it fluttered back out of my head again. Once I looked at it, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Yeah, sure... when pigs could fly! Okay, so that expression isn't very valid, especially when there could very well have been a flying pig Heartless. And that would mean that the thing would be very possible, maybe even true. So, now the whole saying was disproved. Sighing, I made the calculating voice shut up and turned my attention back to the book.
But that thought drew all of my attention and I couldn't let it just go on its way again. Maybe it was true, that there really were summons and Materia and that they weren't so hard to find after all. It could be that the right person just needed to come along and find them. And in that case, could I be just that person to unlock their secrets? Why not?
Something pulled back these racing thoughts and conked them over the head. Despite the pull towards magic and Materia that I had, there was still a little matter of one Squall Leonhart to attend to. It wasn't as if I wanted to tell him I loved him, but if I ever wanted to go on any type of adventure, I'd need to get that off of my chest. So, I guess I wouldn't be going anywhere.
Sighing, I looked down at the book and half-heartedly read about the difference in color the different Materia stones had. Goody. Why would I ever need to know the difference in their color if I was never going to find them? The point was, I wouldn't.
"Great! Now I pretty much have to go and tell him, don't I?" I asked the silence of the room. Predictably, it didn't answer.
~*~
I shuffled towards the library, hesitant about going back there before Squall was safely as far away as possible. I needed to grab all of the Materia books and stash them away in my pack before I could even think about going off. See, my plan was to be all ready to go and then tell him and run. A "hit-and-run" if you will.
Lucky for me, he was nowhere in sight and I grabbed the books from the shelves. I was ready. I had packed a bunch of stale bread that I had found in the back of the cupboard and some moldy cheese as well as beef jerky and a large canteen. No one could say that I wasn't prepared for hunger and thirst. Though, I didn't exactly have all the medical supplies I might need, but... oh well. I was the Great Ninja Yuffie and I wouldn't get hurt. Or, hopefully not... I sent a silent prayer up to the gods.
Feeling a bit naïve, I decided to go to the roof again and look out over the whole of Hollow Bastion one last time before my journey. The lift stop took my up to the spot I wanted to go to, and I completed the trek by climbing up the walls to the roof. Heaving myself up, I caught my breath before looking out.
"Wow. Sure am going to miss this view. I can almost see the whole world from here. Too bad-"
Another voice interrupted me from what I had thought was a personal reflection. "Too bad what? Where are you going?" There it was again, that familiar, beautiful monotone of the man I loved. I was hesitant about answering him, however.
"I'm going... away." He wasn't satisfied with that though. I could tell by his normally emotionless eyes. There was something there, something I couldn't name. "Okay! I guess I'll let the cat out of the bag! I'm going off to search for Materia. It's one of those things... I can't really explain it. But the Materia calls to me. All right, I admit, that sounds really weird, but it's the truth! I can't help but feel pulled towards the Materia and the mountains and... adventure."
"So, when are you going?" He asked, looking away.
"In just a few minutes. I wanted to be here for a moment, though, before I left." He might have said something like "oh," but I didn't hear him. The voices inside of me reached a clamoring chorus, all saying exactly the same thing. TELL HIM!
"Umm... Squall... before I go, I need to tell you something. It's pretty important, actually. I don't know if you'll like it or not, probably not. But, I guess I can't judge you, now can I? Never have been able to..." I drew in a deep breath. "Listen, Squall, if I never get a chance to tell you, you know, if I die or something, and the secret stays in me forever it'll eat away at my soul and I just can't leave anything to be forgotten over time as I pass and I can't leave without telling you so... Iloveyou!"
And then I kissed him.
What should have been a long kiss passed in a second before my eyes, and I was pulling away from him. Realizing what I had done, my eyes widened and my breath caught in my throat. Using every bit of agility that I could, I jumped off of the roof (don't try it at home!) and slid to the lift stop before I even saw Squall round the corner behind me. Heaving a sigh of relief, I got onto the platform and rode it down to the main level.
"Goodbye, Bastion!" I called to it, as if it could hear me. And I swear I could hear it whisper a goodbye back to me. But maybe it was just my rampant imagination. Whatever the case, I was ready to leave. Setting my pack on my shoulders, I set out for the door and my journey.
I took the big, golden knobs of the front doors and pushed them open, my eyes closed against the sudden wind that rushed into the room. When I opened them again, someone was standing in front of me. No, not just anyone. It was Squall.
"Did you honestly think that I would just let you go off without hearing what I had to say?"
I nodded, looking down at my feet. Oh great, here it comes. Here's the comment that's going to rip my heart out, tear it to shreds, and stomp it to a bloody mass on the floor-
Before I could finish my train of thought, warm lips pressed themselves to mine and my initial reaction was to jump away. But I quelled that response and instead kissed him back. And this one lasted longer, much longer. Blessedly, almost an eternity.
"I love you too, Yuffie."
I couldn't believe my ears. Squall Leonhart had just told me that he loved me. Yeah. And I'm King Mickey. Still, it almost sounded real...
"Really?"
"If I kiss you again, would you believe me?"
"Definitely."
See? I told you. Magic just seems to flow in my veins. Because, no matter where I go, extraordinary things happen to me. If that's not a good omen, I don't know what is.
I'm off!