Author's Note: Well, I'm starting the next chapter. And I think this will be a pivotal chapter in the story. And, it should be better than the last chapter that was really just a stopover between point A and point C. Anyways, enough rambling from me. Oh, and we're still in the past. I know, everyone wants me to hurry up and get back to the present, but I can't.
Note to daea: The only reason I can explain the characters is because I've read nearly every Squffie on the site and this is my *counts on fingers* 7th story, so I've had practice. But, thank you for the compliment.
Note to Annjirika: Actually, Yuffie's groom was mentioned in the Prologue in one of the paragraphs with Cloud and Aerith, near the end. He's an original character named Pierce. And I couldn't make Vincent the groom even if I wanted to because I've never played FFVII or read any of the fics about it, so I just vaguely know about him. *note to self: rent FFVII* And I update fast because I'm a college student, living with her parents, and I don't have a job. Yeah....I'm pathetic.
Note to October Breeze: Well, I'm glad you started reading the story. And, I'll admit, I do suck at writing summaries, but if anyone can come up with a better one, I'll change it.
Note to Regno Cuore: I'll get back to the present in about 3-4 more chapters, I think. But, don't worry, I'll get back there again eventually. We have to find out what led up to her current mess, though, don't we?
[Disclaimer: Hmm...do you really think I own Kingdom Hearts and the characters therein? Well, maybe if you go see a psychiatrist right now, he can end your delusions and maybe my delusions about owning Squall. (Sorry, I just have to mention him in each disclaimer....it's become a tradition ^_^)]
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Chapter Three
"Yuffie..." Leon gently shook the ninja's shoulder as he leaned over the bed. "Yuffie," he said a little louder this time, causing her to crinkle her eyes and move away from him as she pulled the covers over her eyes. "YUFFIE!"
The teenager jumped up, terrified, bumping heads with Leon, who was still leaning over her. "Ow!" Yuffie exclaimed as she rubbed her head and glared at him while he rubbed the spot where she had hit him as well. "Why are you waking me up, anyway?"
He raised his eyebrows and stared down at her. "Aerith...Cloud...wedding...any of this ringing a bell?"
Groaning, Yuffie rubbed her face with her small hands. "Yeah, I remember. What time is it?" She squinted as she tried to read the clock over the door, her eyes still sensitive to the light in the room.
"Nearly nine."
"Good. I still have time." She climbed out of the bed and trotted over to the door to the Red Room, knocking as she opened it since she didn't have to worry about Cloud being in there, as he had stayed in the Blue Room at everyone's insistence. It was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, after all. "Aerith," Yuffie called as she stepped into the room. "You awake?"
"Of course, I am," came the muffled reply from under the blankets of the bed. "I was just lying here and thinking about it." Aerith sat up in the bed, stretching her arms above her head and smiling. "Yuffie, today is the first day of the rest of my life."
Yuffie sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over to hug her friend. "I'm so happy for you," she whispered. "But, I'm going to miss you, too." A few tears formed in her indigo eyes, which she hastily wiped away.
"But, Yuffie, I'll always be there for you. You know that," the green-eyed woman said softly.
Releasing Aerith from her hug, Yuffie stood up and smiled. "I know, but things will be different from now on. It won't be the same. But, it's okay because I'm just so happy for you." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily, willing the tears back. "Now, let's get ready for this wedding."
There was a cough from the Green Room's door, causing Yuffie to spin around and glare at Leon, who was leaning against the door frame. "What?" he asked, smirking.
The ninja placed her hands on her hips and continued to glare at him. "How long have you been standing there?" she inquired suspiciously.
"Long enough," Leon answered shortly. "Now, if you two are through with the whole 'everything's going to change' talk, might I suggest we start getting ready?"
"I just said that, Squall," Yuffie replied in annoyance.
"Leon, for the last time." He turned around and went back into the Green Room. Before he shut the door, he called back to them, "I'm going to check on Cloud."
Aerith slowly slid out of her bed, laughing at Leon now that he was gone. "I swear, Yuf, he seems more anxious about this wedding than me."
Rolling her eyes, the teenager shook her head in exasperation. "Well, you're supposed to be more nervous than you are. He's just making up for that." She turned around to leave, saying over her shoulder, "I'm going to take a shower, then I'll be back to help you."
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In the back of the church, Cloud paced nervously in front of the door of the room where the bride and Maid of Honor were dressing. Not having seen Aerith since last night, he feared he was having withdrawal symptoms. He decided that one quick glance wouldn't hurt anything, so he knocked softly on the door.
The door opened a crack and Yuffie stuck her raven head out. "What?" she asked.
"Can I see Aerith? Please?" the blonde practically begged while trying to push the door open and squeeze in.
Appalled, the ninja's eyes widened as she held the door firmly in place. "Cloud! You know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. Now, shoo!" The groom stood resolutely at the door, refusing to budge. Glaring at him, Yuffie decided to try another tactic. "Squ-er Leon, come and get Cloud!"
From around the corner, the stoic swordsman came, dressed in a stunning dark blue suit that accentuated his azure eyes. Yuffie found herself unable to take her eyes off him, nearly swallowing her tongue at the sight of him actually wearing a suit. Leon grabbed the protesting Cloud by the arm, dragging him away while she still watched from the doorway. After they were out of sight, she turned back to Aerith, blinking her eyes furiously and shaking her head to get the picture of Leon out of there.
"Yuffie, what's wrong?" Aerith questioned as she gave the teenager a concerned look before turning her gaze back to the mirror as she did the last finishing touches to her long chestnut hair.
"Nothing, nothing. I was just watching Squall forcibly pull Cloud away from the door." Standing behind the bride, she helped Aerith put the veil on her head before starting with her hair. "He was so desperate to see you," she continued as she brushed her hair back, deciding to forgo the silver headband she usually wore and simply place a single white lily over her ear.
Smiling, Aerith took a deep breath. "And I'm desperate to see him," she sighed. She looked at the small clock located above the mirror. "Well, only a few more minutes, Yuf."
Yuffie peeked out the door, seeing that Cid was the only man back there, and was anxiously chewing on a toothpick. "Come on, Aerith. We can come out now," she called over her shoulder as she stepped out of the room.
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Leon and Cloud waited patiently at the altar for the bridesmaid and bride, who would both begin their processional soon. His eyes at the end of the aisle, Leon saw Yuffie start down the aisle. His jaw dropped. Somehow, he had thought that it would be 'little ninja Yuffie' as the Maid of Honor, not this new Yuffie. A Yuffie all grown up.
Realizing that his mouth was still agape, he shut it with a snap and continued to watch her slowly walk up the aisle, the details of her dress becoming more clear to him. The color Aerith allowed her to pick was none other than the same shade as her eyes, a deep indigo which contrasted nicely with all the pink around the church. His eyes drifted to scan her dress, noticing the way the A-line skirt swayed gently with each step she took, the way the top was intricately beaded, and the way the thin straps showed off her pale, creamy shoulders. But, it was her face that really caught his attention, framed by her short ebony hair with a single white lily tucked behind her right ear and a soft smile playing across her lips as she reached the altar and took her place across from him.
So caught up in gazing upon Yuffie, Leon didn't even realize Aerith had started down the aisle until the wedding guests, which consisted of most of Traverse Town, let out a collective gasp. Reluctantly taking his eyes off the Maid of Honor, he turned to watch the bride make her way up the aisle on the arm of Cid, who had agreed to give her away as he had played a major role in her life since the fall of Hollow Bastion. When the bride finally reached the altar, she joined hands with Cloud after handing her bouquet of pink and white lilies to Yuffie, who Leon found himself watching once again.
The ceremony was going smoothly until it came time for the rings to be exchanged. Instead of having the traditional ring-bearer, Cloud had opted for his Best Man, Leon, to carry the ring for Aerith while Yuffie carried his. But, Leon, who found himself unable to pay attention to the preacher's words in his thoughts about Yuffie, missed his cue.
The preacher turned his eyes to Leon sharply and repeated a little louder than before, "The RING?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry," Leon mumbled softly as he shook his head gently and pulled the ring out of his pocket and handed it to Cloud.
Yuffie found herself biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. As it was, her shoulders were trembling from the stifled laughter while Leon sent her a withering glare before breaking into a smile himself at the situation, knowing that Aerith was sending him warning glances.
The vows were exchanged, and Cloud and Aerith shared their first kiss as husband and wife while the women among the guests wiped away a few stray tears. Yuffie handed the bouquet back to Aerith, and the newly married couple made their way down the aisle. Leon stepped forward, offering his right arm to Yuffie as was practiced the night before, except this time, he realized, she was noticeably taller. As they slowly followed the bride and groom down the aisle, the scent of the lily in Yuffie's hair wafted across to Leon, who happily breathed in the heavenly scent.
When they finally reached the back of the church, Leon turned to Yuffie. "You're taller," he accused laughingly with raised eyebrows.
She grinned, lifting her skirt a few inches and sticking her foot out to show him the two-inch heels she was wearing. "Yep. Shoes can work miracles, although they hurt like you wouldn't believe."
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The reception was held in the open area of the Third District where the caterers had set up a large tent filled with Japanese lanterns and covered tables around the edges, leaving a large space in the center of the tent for dancing. Leon and Yuffie shared a table with Cloud and Aerith, who were too busy smiling at each other to notice the rest of the guests at their reception.
The band soon began to play a waltz, and the crowd waited as Cloud led his bride out onto the floor to begin the dance. Other couples soon followed, prompting Leon to look across the table at Yuffie, who was watching everyone else dance. He stood up and offered her his hand. "Do you want to dance?" he asked.
Blinking in astonishment, Yuffie stood up slowly, nodding. "I didn't think you liked to dance," she said quietly.
"It's traditional for the Maid of Honor and Best Man to share a dance," he explained, not telling her that there was more to his asking than that. That he wanted to dance with her.
"Oh, just don't step on my feet. I had to take my shoes off because they were pinching my feet." Yuffie took his hand and walked out into the midst of the now crowded floor, where Leon put his hand around her waist while holding her other hand. Nervously placing a hand on his shoulder, she realized this was the closest she had ever been to him before.
They danced to the music in silence for a few minutes, wondering what the other thought, before Leon broke the silence. "You remind me of Cinderella," he whispered.
Raising an eyebrow, Yuffie looked up at him. "Really? How so?"
There was another moment of silence while he tried to think of a way to say what he was thinking. "Well, you're like the princesses in the story books. You know, where they're in the tower, always in a gown yet barefoot at the same time," he finally answered.
"But why Cinderella?" she persisted, wondering why he had chosen that princess to compare her with.
"Because, before I saw you today at the wedding, I was expecting a little ninja to be the bridesmaid. Not the person I see in front of me," he admitted.
Smiling, she gave him a strange look. "You were expecting me to come dressed in a halter top and khaki shorts, huh?" He gave her one of his rare smiles before nodding. "And, for the other part of your explanation, who do you see in front of you?"
Before he could respond, the dance ended and the band started to play another song, this one slower than the previous waltz. Yuffie began to pull away from Leon, believing he had only danced with her because of tradition, but stopped when she realized he hadn't released her hand yet. "Where are you going?" he questioned softly as he pulled her back to him, a little closer than she had been.
"I...I thought...never mind," she stammered as she began to dance with him again, sighing in contentment. She felt the pressure of his fingers on her lower back as he pulled her even closer to him. Although she still wondered who he saw in front of him, she didn't push the issue as she was enjoying the dance too much.
After a few more dances, Cloud and Aerith approached them. "Yuffie, Cloud and I are sneaking out of here, okay?" Aerith whispered so that the other guests wouldn't overhear.
"What! But, you can't. It's your reception," the teenager protested.
"Go ahead," Leon told them. "We'll take care of things here for you." Cloud and Aerith thanked him profusely before they slowly made their way across the tent and slipped out the entrance. Yuffie gave her dance partner an accusing look. "Yuffie, can you blame them? Look at this crowd." He gestured around the tent to all the people. "They don't even know half of them. They just came because it gave them something to do."
Looking around, Yuffie had to agree with his assessment. "Okay, you're right," she acknowledged. "But, why do we have to take care of things? Can't we just leave it to the guests?"
Not answering her question, Leon started leading her towards their table while they danced. Once there, he lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Grab your shoes." Giving him a strange look, she did as he said and followed him as he pulled her toward the entrance and out into the night.
"Okay, what's going on?" she demanded as she leaned against the wall and put her shoes back on.
"You said you didn't want to be there, and, well, frankly, neither did I. So, we're leaving it to the guests, like you suggested." He waited for her before opening the large doors to the First District. Noticing that she was rubbing her bare arms in the chill night air, he took his suit jacket off and lay it over her shoulders as they walked into the First District.
Pulling the jacket around tighter, Yuffie looked up at him in shock. "Are you okay, Squall?" she asked timidly.
"I'm fine, and it's Leon," he answered automatically at the name 'Squall.' "Why?"
"It's just... you... I... forget it," she faltered as they slowly strolled passed the Accessary Shop and towards the doors to the Second District. Gathering her courage, she decided to ask him something. "Sq-er-Leon, you never answered me earlier. Who do you see when you look at me?"
He stopped walking, placing a hand on her shoulder to stop her as well and turned her to face him. Searching her eyes, he took a deep breath. "I see someone who has gone and grown up on me without me noticing. Someone who has grown from a little girl to a beautiful young woman," he murmured so softly she could barely hear the words.
They stood like that for a moment, both gazing into each other's eyes, before beginning to stroll towards the Second District again, this time with Leon's arm across her shoulders. Once inside the hotel, they stopped outside the Red Room that Cloud and Aerith had given to Yuffie while they were gone. Taking off the jacket Leon had loaned her, Yuffie handed it back to him, mumbling a 'thank you' before opening the door. He grabbed her arm, stopping her and causing her to turn back to him. Without saying a word, he gently kissed her forehead.
In a daze, Yuffie stared at him a moment, then stood on tip-toe and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before diving into the Red Room and shutting the door.
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Author's Note: Okay, I was going to add a little bit more, but I rather like where I ended this chapter, don't you? And, see? We have Squffieness. I'm happy and I hope you're all happy, too. So, anyways, read and review and I'll start work on the next chapter as soon as I'm able, but considering I don't know what will happen in the next chapter yet, I don't know when that will be. But, do not despair, as most of my ideas come right as I'm falling asleep. So, in other words, I'll probably think of something tonight and get the next chapter started tomorrow afternoon.