Chapter XVII: The Bandies Die In This One…Sort Of…
Approximately 59 laps later (61 for Shera and Cid), the band campers were once again flopped out on the yard. There was little movement from anyone. Even Sephiroth was slightly winded.
However, as son as any of the campers who weren't any of the group All Creation started to get any energy, they'd stand up and walk towards Yuffie as if they were zombies. Instruments in hand, these exhausted but cheesed off band campers could prove to be rather scary.
It didn't help that Yuffie was completely drained of any energy. Materia thieving had been her passion, not building endurance and climbing the Dao-Chao daily. Running those laps? It'd practically killed her. Again, if doing all that work the first time Commander Leonhart got mad hadn't been enough. She didn't have the ability at that moment to even think about fighting off her new enemies.
This time it was Hojo who was walking angrily towards Yuffie, revenge in his eyes. Sephiroth sighed, tired of fighting off the girl's enemies for her. Granted, one look was all it took, but he was tired of giving that 'one look'.
"Sephy…gonna die…already dead…Hojo coming…" she panted, hardly able to speak.
Sephiroth glared down at her, but couldn't hold the look. The young ninja looked so helpless, staring up at him with sad brown eyes. He sighed and glared at Hojo, who passed out on the spot. Maybe it was heat exhaustion, or maybe it was Sephiroth. At this point, either was equally likely.
Five uneventful but peaceful moments passed before an entire group of people went at Yuffie. Rude and Reno (who, along with Elena, had formed a gang Rufus started called the Turks), Rufus, Rufus's pet kitten Dark Nation, Heidigger, an alto saxist named Palmer, and Hojo (who'd recovered) all started walking towards her. Yuffie let out a tiny cry and covered her eyes.
Sephiroth sighed. Too many to stare away. He reached down and pulled the girl into his lap, smiling at the group, who retreated instantly.
Cloud glanced over at Sephiroth, lifting an eyebrow lazily.
"What's up with this?" he asked.
Sephiroth muttered something inaudible, glaring at Cloud.
"You'd do the same thing if it were Aeris," he scowled to Cloud.
"Yes, but I like Aeris," Cloud pointed out. "You spent an hour last night convincing Cid, Vincent, and I that you didn't like her."
"What's he sayin' 'bout me, Sephy?" Yuffie yawned.
"Nothin'," Sephiroth mumbled.
Cloud glanced at Sephiroth and smiled.
"I'll let you decide," he said, "whether tomorrow will really be the end or not."
A/n: What color are Yuffie's eyes, anyways? I think earlier I said they were green…maybe she wears contacts and it varies XD Whatever…