After Storm
On previous chapter...
"Yuff... open up."
Yuffie froze and her eyes grew wide... That voice, she knew that voice so well.... once... a long time ago....
Could it be...?
"It's me. I'm back..."
More tears flow out but it is visible that her lips formed a small smile subconsciously. Maybe the miracle she needs is finally here...
Outside, the rain has stopped and small streams of sunlight begins to peak through the heavy clouds...
Chapter 2
Squall sigh. He closed up the book he was reading. He couldn't focus anyway. He placed the book on the table and walk towards the window.
He had really done it this time, hadn't he? He couldn't forget the look in Yuffie's eyes before she ran away... so sad and lonely... and is it a hint of coldness he saw? Maybe it's just a flash, but Squall knew it was there. He never meant to say those word to her, it just come out due to his self- protective instinct.
He turned to look out the window. The rain is getting heavier. It will develop into a storm in no time.
Squall closed his eyes. He knew that Yuffie just wanted him to be open up a little. To live his life. She just wanted to help. Nothing more.
A part of him is glad that her intentions are pure. That he still has a friend that truly cares for him. However, another part of him wanted more. That little part of him wishes that Yuffie cared for him not because he is a friend and a big brother to her. Maybe something more than that...
Squall quickly shakes his head to shut that thought off. That is what he is afraid of... He knew that he shouldn't accused Yuffie trying to replace Rinoa, while in the first place he is the one who wanted Yuffie to replace Rinoa's place in his heart as the most important person to him...
A few thunder roars outside the Bastion. The lighting illuminate the darken sky.
Squall let out a bitter laugh in his mind. It is irony for him. The Squall Leonhart that doesn't afraid of anything now, not even the storm, the thunder, or the heartless... is afraid of facing the little Yuffie Kisaragi. He admits that he is afraid of the change in his heart. He can't help it... He felt guilty towards Rinoa. How can he replace her with some girl that is 9 years younger than him just because she is gone... because he failed to protect her...
Yuffie...Yuffie was always there with him the past ten years. She cracked up the shell he build up around his heart bits by bits without him noticing... She is different from Rinoa. She is not lady-like, not gentle... but he was attracted to her carefree nature, her cheerful smiles and positive attitude.
He gazed out the window. The storm has stopped and sunlight is peaking through.
'Maybe I should apologize to her and set things right between us...'
Slowly, Squall walk away from the window towards the library exit and started walking down the hallway to look for Yuffie.
On the other hand...
Yuffie gets up from her bed slowly, the small smile still plaster on her lips. It was a smile all right, but not even she notice that it is a sad smile.
'Maybe this person is the miracle that can solve the problem between Squall and me...'Just before she opened the door, a conversation with her mother when she was young flash through her head...
"Mommy, mommy, look. The storm is over... the sun has came out.. It's so preetty..." said a 4 years old Yuffie.
"Yes dear, its nice isn't it... but that's not a good sign..."
"Why? Isn't the sun has already come out?"
"A storm wouldn't just stop suddenly and let the sun appears... When this happens, it doesn't mean that everything is over."
"What does it means then?"
"It means that another storm which is bigger and fiercer is coming..."
"Yuff? Are you there?" Yuffie snaps out of her trance. Suddenly, she doesn't have a good feeling about this whole thing anymore...Yuffie open up the door slowly and look into the person's eyes..."Long time no see.... Rinoa...."
AN: Thanks for all who review. It means so much to me as this is my very first story. Hope you all enjoy it.