Chapter 7: Yuffie's Secret Stash
Look you little pain in the ass I'll be done when I'm done - Cid
_______________
"Huh?"
'......'
"Hmph nothing."
Cloud put his head back down on the pillow unable to sleep right. This was the fourth time he had woken up, looking out the window he could see it was still dark outside.
He yawned and ran the events of last night through his mind once more.
________
"Woah! How many times did he cut you?"
"I don't know." Cloud threw the shirt on the floor letting Yuffie examine the wounds.
"Can't you cure him?" The ninja looked over at the flower girl.
"Sorry, I'm too tired." Aerith finished taking off the rag around Cloud's hand. "I used up most of my strength trying to heal this." She held up his hand which, was covered in a thick layer of blood, the cut had become sticky an unclean.
"Gawd that looks even worse." Yuffie took a few potions out of a draw and pour one onto a cloth, she sat back down next to Cloud and began to wipe along the cuts, the smaller wounds began to close and heal once the potion sank in. "There, that's looking better."
"Thanks I should get going now."
Cloud quickly reached down picking up his shirt and then heading towards the door feeling uncomftable.
"Wait!" Aerith ran after him and grabbed in to his arm. "I'm not going to be able to heal the wound until the morning so why don't you stay here tonight."
"It's ok, I can get this fixed up at the barracks."
"But, but.." She bit her lip thinking what she could say to make him stay.
'What's wrong? Is it about Sephiroth returning, well I guess I can't blame her after what just happened.' "Are you worried about Sephiroth coming back?" He stopped heading towards the door. "Don't be, I highly doubt he would try something so soon."
"No that's not it..." She looked into his eyes hoping he would understand without words.
Cloud stared straight back into her deep green eyes still confused. 'Maybe she just wants to repay me for saving her... Thinking about it, it would be nice to get away from that place for a night, what the hell.' He nodded and closed the door. "Ok, I'll stay."
__________
'And here I am.'
The spare bedroom was quite nice, nothing fancy but compared to the Soldier barracks it was five star. He lifted his arm up feeling a slight tingle in his hand, Aerith must have put something in to the bandage to help heal the cut.
Apart from Cid's occasional snoring from the room over everything else was silent, and unable to sleep Cloud's mind began to wander. He began to think about Soldier and his encounter with Sephiroth, then to him been promoted to First Class after taking Sephiroth down. His thoughts then came to more recent events, meeting Cid down in the docks, beating up the idiot drunk up and saving some girl. He didn't realize back then what that girl would mean to him a few days later.
'Strange how things turn out.' Closing his eyes Cloud managed to fall back to sleep.
_____________________
"Huh?"
Cloud leaned up and looked around once again, in the back of his mind he was sure he heard something.
"Nothing... that's starting to get annoying."
Out the window the sun was just creeping over the horizon, it was still very early in the morning though. 'Sod it, I've had enough sleep.'
He crept out of bed and headed out the room into the corridor. Turning round the corner he was surprised when something bumped into him and fell to the floor.
"What the?"
"Ohmp iphts yupff!" Yuffie looked up and the towering Soldier, the glow in his eyes seemed to show more in this darkness.
"What?"
She took the food out of her mouth and tried again. "I said 'Oh its you!'"
"Hmm, little early for breakfast don't you think?" He said pointing to the stash of junk food Yuffie had in her hands. "Not like I would call 'that' breakfast."
"Hey this is all good, anyway what are you doing up huh?"
"Couldn't sleep, say have you been creeping around all night?"
The ninja gave him a puzzled look. "Me? Nope just now."
"Oh..." He scratched the back of his head. "Must have been my imagination." He mumbled.
"Well if you're up then you might as well get washed, Cid usually takes half an hour and Aerith all morning so I'd get in while you can. It's just round the corner."
Cloud smiled at the advice. "Noted." 'Actually that's not a bad idea.'
Yuffie gathered the rest of her 'breakfast' and walked past sticking another small cake in her mouth. "Welph hve pfun Cluud."
'Odd girl.' He carried on and headed towards the bathroom, again nothing special but compared to Soldier it was great. Cloud reached in and turned the shower on, looking in the mirror he rolled his eyes seeing his spikes had flattened on the pillow and were now pointing sideways instead of straight up.
The room quickly filled with steam and he removed his cloaths and stepped in. While washing he couldn't help but be reminded of the events from yesterday, when Aerith held on to him in the middle of the pool, her body pressed up against his. 'Wait stop, I shouldn't be thinking like 'that' about her, she more special than that.' He took the soap and began to wash his face, still unable to shake those thoughts from his mind.
_____________________
Aerith rolled around in her bed unable to sleep, she just couldn't seem to rest. 'Come on just sleep already.'
She heard someone walking around outside and figured it was Yuffie on her usual trip. 'Hmm don't think your going to get away with that, come to think of it those jelly or cream filled doughnuts she hides are really tasty... No I shouldn't... but then again they are really good.'
After a little while of daydreaming about those treats Aerith's stomach began to rumble. "Great now I can't get food out of my head, I'm never going to get back to sleep."
Shuffling towards the edge of the bed she stretched her arms and yawned still feeling sleepy. "Well, I guess they're worth it."
The flower girl headed towards the door and down the corridor passing the bathroom. 'Hmm I guess Cid's up early too.' She carried on to the kitchen and found the secret cupboard in which Yuffie kept her stash of goods.
"Hmmmm cream filled or jelly..." She kneeled down in her nightgown and picked up the bag studying the contents. "Oh they both look soo good... emm.. what the hell, you only live once." Aerith reached in and pulled out one of each then put the box back and closed the cupboard. "Mmm these are sooo good."
She stood up and began to walk back down the corridor to her room when the door to the bathroom opened and Cloud leaned out dripping wet.
"Omph!" Aerith stood slightly startled with a half a doughnut in her mouth. "Murnin Cluud."
Cloud raised his eyebrow and smiled as the girl as she quickly tried to wipe the cream off of her lips. "Does anybody eat healthy around here?"
"Oh this? This is just, well.."
"Uh huh." He grinned as she tried to hide the second one behind her back. "So is everybody usually up this early."
"Says you, I thought I told you to get a good nights rest."
"Yeah well... I couldn't sleep."
"Hmm, well since were up I better take a look at those cuts while everywhere is quiet."
Cloud just nodded knowing he would just get yelled at if he disagreed. "Ok, mind if I get dressed first?"
Aerith looked down at the towel Cloud was tightly holding around his waist. "(Sigh) If you have too." She walked back to the kitchen already happy with this day.
__________________
"Cid! Hurry up already!" Yuffie continued to bang on the bathroom door.
"Look you little pain in the ass I'll be done when I'm done."
Cloud rolled his eyes listening to the on going battle down the corridor. After getting changed it seemed that everyone else had raced to the shower. "Is it always like this?"
"Most of the time." Aerith sat down next to him and opened a small bag with a few potions. "These should be enough for the ones on your chest."
Cloud nodded and lifted his shirt up, Aerith tried to hide her smiled as she worked. 'Well I guess there is an upside to looking after Cloud.' She poured a hi-potion on to a cloth and began to rub it along the cuts.
"There, you heal quite quickly."
"Always have." He pulled the shirt back down.
"Hand." Aerith held out hers and waited for Cloud to give her his, carefully she opened the cloth around his hand. "Okay, I should be able to fix this up now." Holding Cloud's hand in both of hers Aerith began to chant a few words and soon enough a soft warm light engulfed it closing the wound fully.
Cloud pulled away and studied the healed flesh. "That cure, it's so powerful compared to any other I've seen."
Aerith grinned feeling a little smug. "Well, that's one of the benefits of been a real Cetra."
"I'll remember that." He continued to stare at perfectly healed cut. 'Not even a scar.'
"So, you on duty today?"
"Huh? Oh no, not anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Sephiroth showing up yesterday changes everything, I'm going to have to lay low now until Soldier sends us reinforcements."
"It's that important." She cocked her head.
"He's dangerous, and to be honest I'd rather keep close eye on things here."
"Here? Are you trying to protect me?"
"It's more than that, he might use you to get to me." He sighed and rubbed his face. "I can't be searching the city and worrying about you at the same time."
Aerith laughed and moved off of the table and sat down on his knee instantly making Cloud tense up quickly, she put one arm around his neck and the other she lifted his chin up to look at his face. "You know I'm a big girl and I can looked after my self."
Cloud smiled back at her. "I don't doubt that." His face changed back to concern. "But Sephiroth is different from any other threat, he takes his work very seriously and no matter how strong you are he will find and exploit your weakness."
"Cloud come on I'll be fine."
"You won't!" He held back after half shouting at her. "Do you think he would make it so simple as a fight? What would you do if he took a hostage? A child? To take a life means nothing to him, would you be able run away knowing you leave some one else to die in his hands?"
"I, I..." She lowered her head.
Cloud shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry."
"No, your right. In something like that... I guess I wouldn't be able too. I guess thats what make you guys in Soldier so special, you can handel stuff like this." Aerith took hold of his hand. "So does this mean your going to be staying here?"
Cloud nodded. "If you would let me."
"You think I'm going to let you stay somewhere else?" She crossed her arms. "Your staying right where I see you, just cause you some big Soldier doesn't mean you don't need protecting yourself."
"You make it sound like I'm some super hero without a side kick."
Laughing Aerith brushed her fingers through his spikes. "Well you never know, Soldier boy and Flower girl, got a nice ring to it."
"Forgive me if I pass on that choice."
"Well," She stood up and walked over to one of the draws taking out a small piece of paper. "If you're going to stay here then you can help out with the chores."
She handed him the piece of paper. "What's this?"
"Grocery list, have fun I'm going for a shower. Don't be too long."
Cloud watched her leave feeling half stunned and then looked back down at the list. "Wonderful."
________________
Done already, this chapter just seemed to come real easy, although I had no idea where it was going. Thanks to Clorith for the review it's nice to see you liked the last chapter. As for everyone else click that little thing down there that says Review and tell me what you think.
_______________
"Huh?"
'......'
"Hmph nothing."
Cloud put his head back down on the pillow unable to sleep right. This was the fourth time he had woken up, looking out the window he could see it was still dark outside.
He yawned and ran the events of last night through his mind once more.
________
"Woah! How many times did he cut you?"
"I don't know." Cloud threw the shirt on the floor letting Yuffie examine the wounds.
"Can't you cure him?" The ninja looked over at the flower girl.
"Sorry, I'm too tired." Aerith finished taking off the rag around Cloud's hand. "I used up most of my strength trying to heal this." She held up his hand which, was covered in a thick layer of blood, the cut had become sticky an unclean.
"Gawd that looks even worse." Yuffie took a few potions out of a draw and pour one onto a cloth, she sat back down next to Cloud and began to wipe along the cuts, the smaller wounds began to close and heal once the potion sank in. "There, that's looking better."
"Thanks I should get going now."
Cloud quickly reached down picking up his shirt and then heading towards the door feeling uncomftable.
"Wait!" Aerith ran after him and grabbed in to his arm. "I'm not going to be able to heal the wound until the morning so why don't you stay here tonight."
"It's ok, I can get this fixed up at the barracks."
"But, but.." She bit her lip thinking what she could say to make him stay.
'What's wrong? Is it about Sephiroth returning, well I guess I can't blame her after what just happened.' "Are you worried about Sephiroth coming back?" He stopped heading towards the door. "Don't be, I highly doubt he would try something so soon."
"No that's not it..." She looked into his eyes hoping he would understand without words.
Cloud stared straight back into her deep green eyes still confused. 'Maybe she just wants to repay me for saving her... Thinking about it, it would be nice to get away from that place for a night, what the hell.' He nodded and closed the door. "Ok, I'll stay."
__________
'And here I am.'
The spare bedroom was quite nice, nothing fancy but compared to the Soldier barracks it was five star. He lifted his arm up feeling a slight tingle in his hand, Aerith must have put something in to the bandage to help heal the cut.
Apart from Cid's occasional snoring from the room over everything else was silent, and unable to sleep Cloud's mind began to wander. He began to think about Soldier and his encounter with Sephiroth, then to him been promoted to First Class after taking Sephiroth down. His thoughts then came to more recent events, meeting Cid down in the docks, beating up the idiot drunk up and saving some girl. He didn't realize back then what that girl would mean to him a few days later.
'Strange how things turn out.' Closing his eyes Cloud managed to fall back to sleep.
_____________________
"Huh?"
Cloud leaned up and looked around once again, in the back of his mind he was sure he heard something.
"Nothing... that's starting to get annoying."
Out the window the sun was just creeping over the horizon, it was still very early in the morning though. 'Sod it, I've had enough sleep.'
He crept out of bed and headed out the room into the corridor. Turning round the corner he was surprised when something bumped into him and fell to the floor.
"What the?"
"Ohmp iphts yupff!" Yuffie looked up and the towering Soldier, the glow in his eyes seemed to show more in this darkness.
"What?"
She took the food out of her mouth and tried again. "I said 'Oh its you!'"
"Hmm, little early for breakfast don't you think?" He said pointing to the stash of junk food Yuffie had in her hands. "Not like I would call 'that' breakfast."
"Hey this is all good, anyway what are you doing up huh?"
"Couldn't sleep, say have you been creeping around all night?"
The ninja gave him a puzzled look. "Me? Nope just now."
"Oh..." He scratched the back of his head. "Must have been my imagination." He mumbled.
"Well if you're up then you might as well get washed, Cid usually takes half an hour and Aerith all morning so I'd get in while you can. It's just round the corner."
Cloud smiled at the advice. "Noted." 'Actually that's not a bad idea.'
Yuffie gathered the rest of her 'breakfast' and walked past sticking another small cake in her mouth. "Welph hve pfun Cluud."
'Odd girl.' He carried on and headed towards the bathroom, again nothing special but compared to Soldier it was great. Cloud reached in and turned the shower on, looking in the mirror he rolled his eyes seeing his spikes had flattened on the pillow and were now pointing sideways instead of straight up.
The room quickly filled with steam and he removed his cloaths and stepped in. While washing he couldn't help but be reminded of the events from yesterday, when Aerith held on to him in the middle of the pool, her body pressed up against his. 'Wait stop, I shouldn't be thinking like 'that' about her, she more special than that.' He took the soap and began to wash his face, still unable to shake those thoughts from his mind.
_____________________
Aerith rolled around in her bed unable to sleep, she just couldn't seem to rest. 'Come on just sleep already.'
She heard someone walking around outside and figured it was Yuffie on her usual trip. 'Hmm don't think your going to get away with that, come to think of it those jelly or cream filled doughnuts she hides are really tasty... No I shouldn't... but then again they are really good.'
After a little while of daydreaming about those treats Aerith's stomach began to rumble. "Great now I can't get food out of my head, I'm never going to get back to sleep."
Shuffling towards the edge of the bed she stretched her arms and yawned still feeling sleepy. "Well, I guess they're worth it."
The flower girl headed towards the door and down the corridor passing the bathroom. 'Hmm I guess Cid's up early too.' She carried on to the kitchen and found the secret cupboard in which Yuffie kept her stash of goods.
"Hmmmm cream filled or jelly..." She kneeled down in her nightgown and picked up the bag studying the contents. "Oh they both look soo good... emm.. what the hell, you only live once." Aerith reached in and pulled out one of each then put the box back and closed the cupboard. "Mmm these are sooo good."
She stood up and began to walk back down the corridor to her room when the door to the bathroom opened and Cloud leaned out dripping wet.
"Omph!" Aerith stood slightly startled with a half a doughnut in her mouth. "Murnin Cluud."
Cloud raised his eyebrow and smiled as the girl as she quickly tried to wipe the cream off of her lips. "Does anybody eat healthy around here?"
"Oh this? This is just, well.."
"Uh huh." He grinned as she tried to hide the second one behind her back. "So is everybody usually up this early."
"Says you, I thought I told you to get a good nights rest."
"Yeah well... I couldn't sleep."
"Hmm, well since were up I better take a look at those cuts while everywhere is quiet."
Cloud just nodded knowing he would just get yelled at if he disagreed. "Ok, mind if I get dressed first?"
Aerith looked down at the towel Cloud was tightly holding around his waist. "(Sigh) If you have too." She walked back to the kitchen already happy with this day.
__________________
"Cid! Hurry up already!" Yuffie continued to bang on the bathroom door.
"Look you little pain in the ass I'll be done when I'm done."
Cloud rolled his eyes listening to the on going battle down the corridor. After getting changed it seemed that everyone else had raced to the shower. "Is it always like this?"
"Most of the time." Aerith sat down next to him and opened a small bag with a few potions. "These should be enough for the ones on your chest."
Cloud nodded and lifted his shirt up, Aerith tried to hide her smiled as she worked. 'Well I guess there is an upside to looking after Cloud.' She poured a hi-potion on to a cloth and began to rub it along the cuts.
"There, you heal quite quickly."
"Always have." He pulled the shirt back down.
"Hand." Aerith held out hers and waited for Cloud to give her his, carefully she opened the cloth around his hand. "Okay, I should be able to fix this up now." Holding Cloud's hand in both of hers Aerith began to chant a few words and soon enough a soft warm light engulfed it closing the wound fully.
Cloud pulled away and studied the healed flesh. "That cure, it's so powerful compared to any other I've seen."
Aerith grinned feeling a little smug. "Well, that's one of the benefits of been a real Cetra."
"I'll remember that." He continued to stare at perfectly healed cut. 'Not even a scar.'
"So, you on duty today?"
"Huh? Oh no, not anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Sephiroth showing up yesterday changes everything, I'm going to have to lay low now until Soldier sends us reinforcements."
"It's that important." She cocked her head.
"He's dangerous, and to be honest I'd rather keep close eye on things here."
"Here? Are you trying to protect me?"
"It's more than that, he might use you to get to me." He sighed and rubbed his face. "I can't be searching the city and worrying about you at the same time."
Aerith laughed and moved off of the table and sat down on his knee instantly making Cloud tense up quickly, she put one arm around his neck and the other she lifted his chin up to look at his face. "You know I'm a big girl and I can looked after my self."
Cloud smiled back at her. "I don't doubt that." His face changed back to concern. "But Sephiroth is different from any other threat, he takes his work very seriously and no matter how strong you are he will find and exploit your weakness."
"Cloud come on I'll be fine."
"You won't!" He held back after half shouting at her. "Do you think he would make it so simple as a fight? What would you do if he took a hostage? A child? To take a life means nothing to him, would you be able run away knowing you leave some one else to die in his hands?"
"I, I..." She lowered her head.
Cloud shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry."
"No, your right. In something like that... I guess I wouldn't be able too. I guess thats what make you guys in Soldier so special, you can handel stuff like this." Aerith took hold of his hand. "So does this mean your going to be staying here?"
Cloud nodded. "If you would let me."
"You think I'm going to let you stay somewhere else?" She crossed her arms. "Your staying right where I see you, just cause you some big Soldier doesn't mean you don't need protecting yourself."
"You make it sound like I'm some super hero without a side kick."
Laughing Aerith brushed her fingers through his spikes. "Well you never know, Soldier boy and Flower girl, got a nice ring to it."
"Forgive me if I pass on that choice."
"Well," She stood up and walked over to one of the draws taking out a small piece of paper. "If you're going to stay here then you can help out with the chores."
She handed him the piece of paper. "What's this?"
"Grocery list, have fun I'm going for a shower. Don't be too long."
Cloud watched her leave feeling half stunned and then looked back down at the list. "Wonderful."
________________
Done already, this chapter just seemed to come real easy, although I had no idea where it was going. Thanks to Clorith for the review it's nice to see you liked the last chapter. As for everyone else click that little thing down there that says Review and tell me what you think.