Beyond Paradise

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Final Fantasy VII. I wish I did. But I don't. I don't have the money for it. But Squaresoft/enix does... Damn them all.

Author's Note: Sorry for the late chapter, but I was having a serious case of Writer's Block. It's such a horrible thing... But here it is! This chapter is filled with Yuffentine goodness and a good Yuffie section (if you like her). Please, read and enjoy!

I'm making a list of the things I must say for politeness,
And goodness and kindness and gentleness,
Sweetness and rightness:
Hello
Pardon me
How are you?
Excuse me
Bless you
May I?
Thank you
Goodbye
If you know some that I've forgot,
Please stick them in your eye!

I'm Making a List
-- Shel Silverstein

- Chapter 7: The Flame of an Unsure Heart

Yuffie stretched up towards the sky as the sun began to rise over the horizon. Her body flopped forward onto the index finger from the Da Chao Mountain, arms wrapping around the stone digit in a "good morning" hug. Eyes of storms reflected the mix of orange and red that painted the ocean beautifully, the white foam of the waves giving her view a picturesque look.

She glanced down to her beloved Wutai and watched as the people, soon to be her people, began to awaken. "What are you doing up here?" she asked casually, remaining on her perch. The dirt shifted behind her and she slowly sat up.

"Come, Yuffie. You should prepare for tonight's events..." Chekhov replied in her reserved manner. Yuffie smiled and stood up, balancing on the thin finger with much practice. "Please, be careful up there. Wutai wouldn't know what to do if you were to fall," Chekhov pleaded as she stepped forward.

Yuffie laughed softly and jumped down to stand next to the older woman. "I'm sure. Leviathan forbid I fall, right? Pfft, I'd have to be really stupid to do that." Yuffie patted the woman on the shoulder and started on her way down the mountain path. "Don't fall behind, you old bag! I might not come back for you!"

Chekhov let out a heavy sigh. "Young ladies of Leviathan are supposed to be calm, lady-like, and quiet..." Brown eyes glanced up to the heavens. "What'd you do to this one?" If she had it in her, she would curse the gods for turning Yuffie into the complete opposite of what was wanted for Wutai.

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"So, Tifa, what's with the blush?" Cait Sith asked, winking to their resident martial artist as she turned her gaze downcast. She kneeled on the mats placed around the short table and began to twiddle her thumbs over her lap.

"Leave 'er alone, damn cat." Barret lifted the black cat by the red cape and was ready to toss it over his hulking shoulder before Reeve grabbed the robot from him.

The ShinRa ex-employee fixed the crown on Cait Sith's head before placing him back on the pink moogle. "He may be a robot, but he can feel things. Artificial Intelligence, Barret. Think of it as a human," he scolded the larger man. Cid laughed at the black man's misfortune, but a Look from Shera quieted him.

"Whipped!" Cait Sith shouted across the table at the smoking man. Cid retaliated in insults littered with curses while Shera tried her best to calm him. Barret spouted his own thoughts about the robot and Reeve argued intelligently.

Tifa sipped at her drink and ate her breakfast quietly with both Cloud and Nanaki.

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Vincent remained in his room, sitting on the inside-sill of the window that overlooked the fishpond and organic garden. He heard a crash from the room his comrades were having their breakfast in and could only sigh. If truth be told, they were embarrassing at times.

He turned his head at the sound of his door sliding open and watched as the Wutainese maid walked in, eyes wide in shock at the man sitting there. "A- ...anou..." Her face turned an interesting shade of vermillion as she backed out of the room, bowing in apology before rushing off.

Seconds later, Yuffie came in, an amused look twinkling in her eyes. "Gee, Vinnie... I didn't think you'd have that kind of affect on the servants. What'd you do to her?"

The man slid off of the sill and went about fixing the covers on his futon. "I did nothing. I believe she expected the room to be empty," he responded flatly.

Yuffie didn't accept the answer. "Yeah, right. I bet you started stripping for her or something..."

"I did no such thing."

"Right. And Leviathan is my uncle," she rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips.

He looked up from the mattress to watch her momentarily before going back to his work. "Do all of your servants speak nothing but Wutainese?"

The fact that Vincent was starting a conversation shocked the little ninja into a few seconds of silence. She quickly covered it up and laughed nervously. "Yeah. They haven't left Wutai since the day their shiny butts popped into this world, so they can't speak anything else."

Vincent merely nodded and moved to organize his few belongings. "What you have planned today... it has nothing to do with thievery?" he asked nonchalantly. He could sense the sudden anger at his inquiry and her hands balled into fists.

But their little Yuffie knew how to control and replace her anger. "Of course, Vincent. What else do I know how to do?" Sarcasm could be an ugly thing.

He saw the error he made and began to apologize, but Yuffie had fled. "I really am no better than my demons, am I?" he questioned the thin walls around him.

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Nanaki glanced up to his silent friend, briefly wondering what went through his mind. "Is there something troubling you?" He watched as Vincent dropped his gaze to look down at the beast.

"I said something this morning that upset Yuffie." As plain as that. He stared ahead as the two continued down the path which would eventually lead them to the Da Chao Mountains. Nanaki smiled as well as something of his kind could and shook his head.

"She'll get over it. She's that type of person," he replied quietly, as if it were an afterthought.

Vincent thought back to the many times Yuffie had been scolded for the little things, and how, five minutes later, she smiled, laughed, and commented on the stupidest things to cover it up. To cover up the guilt and unhappiness that shone in her eyes.

The gunslinger frowned at his thoughts and quickened his pace. Nanaki found himself trotting on and off to keep up with the man. "Where are you headed in such a hurry now?" But he was tiring from keeping up with the long legged man and slowly came to a stop without an answer.

Vincent, on the other hand, hadn't paused in his pursuit of the young ninja invading his mind. And why is she..? He would have to question himself later. He made his way up the stairs and tapped lightly on her door with his claw.

The door slid open, and instead of a smiling girl with eyes that held a mystery stood an old man with short gray hair and dressed in green robes.

"If you are searching for Miss Kisaragi, she's busy preparing for the events tonight," Gorki told him, arms folding over his chest. Vincent stared down at the old man then glanced quickly around the empty room.

"When will I get to see her?"

Gorki frowned at Vincent's disrespect by looking for the young ninja and began to slide the door shut. "Tonight. Good day, Mr. Valentine."

Vincent stared the door down, as if it would burst into flames at his will. When the door refused to burn at his command he simply turned on his heel and left.

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Jethro watched as Zeb looked over his cards. "What do you plan on doing with AVALANCHE right now? The people are growing more and more impatient as you sit around and do nothing," he commented.

Zeb threw a card down on the table then shrugged. "I know. For now, we'll allow things to sink in. I'm sure our heroes need time to understand that their beloved people are rebelling against them, and there's nothing they can do about it."

The blue eyed man pushed a few blonde locks away from his face and tossed a card down. "Maybe so... but don't give them too much time. They'll fight back eventually..."

Silver bangs covered one steel grey eye as Zeb stared at his hand of cards. "We'll make them kill the people they fought to protect." He pulled one card out and lay it face down beside the growing stack they were creating.

"...You know I don't always agree with you, Zeb..."

"Than why do you continue to stand by me?" The man grinned to his friend, head tilting to the side. "Your turn."

Jethro frowned and fanned his cards out on the table. "You win."

Zeb reached out and turned the facedown card over.

"You cheat," Jethro remarked as he stood up.

Zeb followed his example and stood as well. "But I still win. Come, my friend, we'll calm the people so you stop worrying."

Jethro nodded, unhooking the puppet from his belt and setting it down gently on the table with the stack of cards. The door shut as the two men left and the jester fell onto the winning card, the Joker.

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Night was growing near and Yuffie could feel her heart beating loudly in her chest. Sure, this was a big step for a Wutaian daughter of the Lord, but that didn't make it the most important thing in her life! ...It kinda does, she thought to the other half of her mind.

Her guardians had long since left her to ready herself, and here she was, an hour later, still sitting around in her bathrobe. Her elbows were placed on her knees as she buried her face in her hands. "What if I mess up? Gawd, that would totally suck..."

The door slid open and a maid walked in, smiling kindly to Yuffie before shuffling off to clean and replace the towels in the bathroom. Yuffie let out another heavy sigh. "Ugh, and I'd have to get used to that everyday, wouldn't I?"

"Is that a problem?" a voice responded. The little ninja turned her attention to the window, only to find none other than Vincent Valentine standing there, leaning quietly against the outside wall.

"What the hell are you doing here? You're not supposed to be seeing me until tonight, you know... And when did you turn into the type to roam around my house, huh?" A thin brow rose as she questioned him, arms crossing over her chest so she was sure her bathrobe wouldn't flutter open for him.

Vincent shrugged lightly and stood up straight, turning to look at her through the window. "I wanted to apologize for my comment this morning. I was out of line," he apologized in his Vincent way. Yuffie almost laughed.

"Great, thanks Romeo. Get out of here before you get caught," she said as she began to shoo him away. He nodded to her and left without another word. To anger Yuffie was one thing, to anger her entire hometown was another.

Yuffie let out a sigh as she watched his retreating form. She had completely forgotten the servant until a small hand was placed on her shoulder. The little ninja looked up to stare into the curious eyes of her maid.

"Kare o shitte imasu ka..?" the woman tilted her head to the side, glancing up just as Vincent turned a corner. Yuffie smiled softly and nodded before standing up.

"Hai." Then she frowned and waved the maid off. "Tachisaru."

The short maid nodded and bowed down to the girl before shuffling off.

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Cloud stirred his drink idly while Tifa and Reeve went on about their new opponent, Zeb. He knew he should have been listening, but they were practically repeating themselves! He shoved the drink off to the side slightly, nodding his head when Reeve glanced to him.

Five more minutes passed of the same information being formed into different words when there was suddenly a loud 'thud.' All occupants of the Turtle's Paradise turned to see Cloud jump up, rubbing at his forehead embarrassedly.

Tifa stood up to check if he was alright, but he took a step back. "I'm fine. I guess I just didn't sleep much, you know? I'm gonna go check on Nanaki. I'll see you guys later," he covered for himself before leaving the bar as quickly as he could.

"Ugh, how embarrassing," he grumbled to himself as he came to a stop next to Nanaki.

"What is?" the beast questioned, glancing up to the blonde man.

Cloud shook his head and tried to forget the event ever happened before looking ahead towards the Pagoda. "What are they doing?" He watched as a few citizens of Wutai began throwing wood into a pile and setting up cushions around the vicinity.

Nanaki sat back on his hind legs and shook his head. "I haven't the slightest clue... I believe they're making a bonfire. It might have something to do with the events of the night that Yuffie wanted us to stay for."

"Ah... Seems like fun. How much longer till it starts?"

"Another hour, I think."

Cloud nodded as his arms crossed over his chest. "Hmm... Would you like to join me up on Da Chao till then? It'll be good if we could get some training done since we might have to fight with Zeb at some point."

Nanaki nodded in agreement and the two started off to practice their skills in fighting.

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The time had come, and Yuffie was nervous as hell.

The dance was a well practiced routine from the day Yuffie could walk. Her usual tomboyish garb was replaced with a short kimono-type, the red silk ending at the thighs. The lavender lining extended its length enough to no longer become a rival to Tifa's leather skirt, a black sash tied around her waist saving her the worry of her rear becoming exposed as the remaining length of the two ends gently brushed the back of her knees. Matching arm warmers finished the ensemble along with the fishnet that wrapped up her left arm. One red ribbon was tied around her right ankle to signify that the young heir to the throne was not married off. At least, not yet.

Yuffie stood quietly in front of the mirror, watching the stranger that stared back at her. With a deep breath, the little ninja pulled a black ribbon, a copy of the sash around her waist, from her dresser and tied it around her forehead. Her arms dropped to her sides and she took a step back. "Let's get this over with."

The bonfire in the center of her beloved city was a rival to that of the Cosmo Canyon's own flame. Children ran around it happily, giggling at each other as they played a Wutaian game of Serpent. A game Yuffie had enjoyed playing with the servants beneath her father. It was similar to the game other children knew to be Tag.

But this had nothing to do with what Yuffie was so nervous about. Staniv and Chekhov met her at her doorway, bowing to their princess before each taking the hand on their side and leading her to the flame. Shake and Gorki met the three on a bridge over the creak and bowed as they passed, soon following behind them. Godo looked above the fire from the steps on the Pagoda and smiled warmly.

Tifa watched the expression on his face curiously and turned to see what was so fascinating. Her jaw dropped and she let out a gasp. "Oh, Yuffie..."

Cloud frowned and glanced over her shoulder, the knit of his eyebrows turning into a shocked expression. "What have they done to her?" At this, Nanaki picked his head up from his forepaws and glanced over, along with Barret, Cid, and Vincent. Each had their own expression for the entrance of their youngest member. Even Vincent found himself holding his breath as she walked by them.

The children became quiet, as did the citizens of Wutai. Yuffie could feel her heart racing in her chest as she approached Godo. The smile he gave her made something harden in her mind. "Lord Godo Kisaragi." She acknowledged him and gave a low bow, followed by the four Mighty Gods of the Pagoda that led her to this point.

The grip that Staniv and Chekhov had on her hands became tighter and suddenly Yuffie felt like a hostage. Shake and Gorki moved past them and shuffled to Godo's side. Shake reached behind their Lord and grabbed a thin brush and a bottle of what seemed like brown paint. Yuffie's first instinct was to fight back, but this was her father, these were her going-to-be- advisors, and the ones behind her were her friends and people.

Godo approached her and dipped the brush into the brown liquid, then pulled it up and began to paint an intricate design beneath her left eye. When he pulled away, Staniv and Chekhov slowly turned her around to face her people. Those stormy hues were closed and the fire light glinted on the fresh paint beneath her eye.

Now the dance was to begin. Staniv and Chekhov released her as a light strumming of a wind instrument could be heard from both sides of the blazing bonfire. With eyes remaining shut, she slowly walked down the stairs. The music came to a slow stop as she neared the flame, then started again, just as slowly. It was a beautiful melody that matched with the fluid movements as Yuffie seemed to sway with the breeze to the right.

She shifted her weight to turn her body around to balance on her hands, slowly moving back around, one foot long before the other. The black sash around her waist flitted with the night's sigh as she continued this motion around the flame. There was a high note as she stopped in the place she had started. The gentle tune continued as she leaned back, palms pressing into the ground.

Her body was straightened as another entered the circle, a Wutaian man dressed in black. He gently held onto her bare legs as she pulled herself up, no longer touching the ground. Tifa let out a gasp as she was slowly placed onto the ground again, where she stood up, one foot before the other, and faced the man.

"She looks so serious..." the martial artist commented quietly, leaning over to Cloud. The man nodded as he watched AVALANCHE's youngest member fall into the embrace of the unknown man. Cid's cigarette fell from his mouth as the man brushed his hand up Yuffie's thigh.

"No way in hell is that our brat," Barret grumbled in awe. Shera let out a sigh and lifted both his and Cid's jaws to close their mouths.

Something inside of Vincent twitched.

If Yuffie could have seen their faces, she would have started laughing, and that wouldn't have been a smart thing to do. She dipped back, then slowly came back up as the two stepped away from each other.

The tune rose as if the music would repeat its same slow rhythm, and Vincent didn't know if he could stand by and watch as another man touched their youngest member for much longer. He shifted uncomfortably and Nanaki looked over to him. "Are you leaving?"

"So don't leave. I want you to be there."

He shook his head. "No."

Suddenly, the music picked up. A clicking beat came from the right, then more from the left, and then the string instruments picked up again in a much livelier pace. Yuffie's arms came up above her head and her hips moved with the beat. The two were soon circling each other, and this time Yuffie was having fun.

The music took a dangerous tone and the two started backing away from each other. Yuffie cartwheeled away from the man and stood on the other side of the flame. Her feet moved with the rhythm as she dance-stepped around the fire, arms remaining above her head. She spun and leapt up and over the flame as the snapping quickened, no longer keeping a beat.

She hit the ground on the other side of the bonfire just as the sound of even more instruments joined in. String, wind, flutes, and the replacement of the snapping beat. The orchestral music filled the night air as she took a firm grip of the man's hand, the two dancing around each other in unison.

He lifted her into the air and spun her around then set her back down and the two continued their dance. The pause came again, then the music picked up and there was applause and cheers from the citizens as the two danced around each other. The music suddenly stopped, only leaving the string instrument and a drum. The two tapped around each other, never remaining on their toes for long.

The man dipped her back then swung her around and back up, lifting her up by her waist. She leapt out of his arms and landed back in a crouch, her eyes closed. There was a silence, then the music blasted once again as her eyes snapped open. Her ceremonial dance was over, and now she was going to have fun.

Children ran into the circle, giggling and laughing as they danced with her. She spun around with a circle of the children, skipping around before releasing their little hands. The Wutaian princess turned and watched as Tifa pulled Cloud out to dance with the others, doing their best to imitate the Wutaian dance. Cid was pouting as Shera pulled him out to dance with her, and Barret was somehow forced to rock awkwardly beside one of Yuffie's maids. Nanaki was doing his best to dance on his hind legs with the children, making Yuffie laugh. Even Cait Sith was trying to dance with Reeve. This was truly a night to remember.

But, once again, Vincent was distancing himself from the fun. Yuffie sighed and sauntered up to him, hands behind her back as her fingers played with the ends of her black sash. "Hey, Vinnie... I'm glad you didn't leave."

The man glanced down to her, grunted, and looked away.

"Aw, c'mon Vincent. What's wrong now?"

He shook his head and crossed his arms to keep himself from grabbing and shaking the life out of her. "You let him touch you like that."

If Yuffie didn't know any better, she could have sworn Vincent was being as childish as she ever was. "Jealous? Ah, I see... Well, let's go," she reached out and grabbed his human hand, pulling it out of its fold.

"Go where?" he questioned her as she tugged weakly at him.

"We're gonna go up to Da Chao. That way, you don't have to be anywhere near the happiness of this place. Now come on," she grunted as she tried to pull him again. If this man didn't want to go anywhere, no one would be able to make him.

He let out a small breath and started walking, much to Yuffie's relief that she wouldn't have to literally attempt to drag him. It didn't take long for the two to reach one of the hands of Da Chao.

Yuffie sat down on the thumb, swinging her legs back and forth as she watched the citizens of Wutai and her friends dance around the large fire. Glancing back, she noticed Vincent was still keeping to the shadows.

"Oh, c'mon. We're about as far as we can get from it and you're still trying to hide? You know what, I give up!" she huffed and crossed her arms over her stomach. Silence passed, then finally Vincent sat down beside her, claw and hand pressing into the stone. "That's what I thought," she grumbled in annoyance.

Vincent quietly watched the festivities below, unsure of what to do at the moment. Even Yuffie wasn't trying to talk to him, and that was unnerving.

"It was required that a man touch you like that?" he asked softly, watching her from the corner of his eye. She barely moved.

"Yeah, I guess. Godo said that to be a princess, I have to be comfortable with other people."

"But in such an intimate way?" Vincent regretted his words. Yuffie was her own person. He shouldn't have let it bother him.

Yuffie simply shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself. "I wish I didn't have to wear this stupid outfit, though. And what the hell did they do to my face?" she reached up, touching the design beneath her left eye.

Vincent glanced to her, gently taking her hand with his human hand and pulling it away to inspect the painting. "It seems to be a word. 'Sun' I believe..." he replied. Yuffie's cheeks turned a light shade of red as her hand slid out of his. She quickly looked away from him, the fire below becoming increasingly fascinating.

"Ah... You can read Wutaian?" She stammered, fighting to think of anything but how warm Vincent must be if she could feel is body heat from where she was sitting. But then again, it wasn't as if they were a mile apart.

He seemed to notice her distress and looked away. She's a princess now, Valentine. You can't look at her the same way, not here at least. "A little. Not enough to understand. It was needed when I was a Turk."

Yuffie nodded slightly, index finger drawing random designs into the dusted side of the thumb. The awkward silence droned on until Yuffie couldn't take it anymore. She wasn't a silence type of girl. It drove her insane, really.

"Uh, Vincent you—"

"I should head to bed now..." He interrupted quickly, getting to his feet and swiftly starting down the mountain path.

"Vincent, wait!" she called after him, scrambling to her feet and running after him. He stopped abruptly and she plowed into his back. The two tumbled forward, ending with Vincent catching onto the wall with his claw and snagging Yuffie to him with his human arm. Once the two regained balance, Yuffie blushed and apologized profusely.

"What is it, Yuffie?" He didn't know why, but he had to get away from her. She made him hesitate, made him think about his actions and words, and this wasn't to Vincent's liking. It made him uncomfortable with himself.

"Don't leave me," she blurted out without really thinking. After another moment of silence, she tried to explain her words. "I mean... Tonight. Stay with me for at least tonight." Oh Leviathan, that sounded even worse! "Not like that, though!" she hurriedly tried to find the best words. "Vincent, I don't want her coming near me again... Please? Just so I feel safe... You can even leave after I go to sleep or something, if you want!"

Vincent blinked down at her, having to think about what she was saying. Her..? The clown... "Alright, Yuffie... I will accompany you for the night."

Yuffie smiled and jumped up, hugging him around the neck. Vincent staggered back slightly, catching himself quickly enough so the two didn't tumble down the mountain. His human arm wrapped around her awkwardly to return the hug before she dropped back down to her feet. "Thanks..."

And the two started on their way down to her house where Yuffie would sleep, and Vincent would watch her the entire night through, wondering what the little ninja had done to make him feel so unsure about everything he did.

A/N: Yes, all the Yuffentine yumminess. :3 I love it. I leave you with this chapter for a few days because I am going to be gone till July 5th. The music for Yuffie's dance is actually the Flamingo dancing song in Riverdance. Download it. It's really fun to listen to, and you'll get a better feel to the scene. By the way, the Wutainese is Japanese (given the fact that everything in Wutai is written in Japanese characters, I believe). The 'conversation' between Yuffie and her maid goes as: Maid-"Do you know him..?" Yuffie-"Yes." then "Go away." Alright, please review and whatnot. Thank you.