Purest of Heart

A/N: Hey, look at that a chapter is finally up. Yes, go crazy I'm updating now. 3 No errors I fixed all previous chapters as well. So, no confusion. Enjoy.

Chapter Three: Black Hood

He can be such a jerk sometimes. Though, maybe I shouldn't have run off like that still…

The girl's legs were hung over the edge of the roof of the Gizmo shop as her hands rested along her knees. She leaned back on her arms behind her and tilted her head back as she glanced up at the night time sky of Transverse town. This town was a bit odd, since it seem to be night time here all the time. It was like the night life never ended here, yet people still went to sleep though and it would sometime rain here. Though she still thought this place was still a little odd, though she's gotten use to being here just like everyone else has. The sky reminded her of how the sky back home always looked; very pretty and dark and filled with stars. Yuffie closed her eyes and gave out an exasperated sigh as she leaned back and lay on her back with her arms spread out.

"I really miss my home. Stupid heartless just had to come and mess everything up. Why did he have to suddenly be infatuated by darkness for? He was always such a caring and nice ruler…"

Ansem…

She went silent as the name entered her mind and the image of the man that once use to rule over the kingdom that her, Leon, Cid, and Aerith use to live at. Everyone always had such high respect for Ansem. Aerith would tell her how much of a wise and caring man he was and that he cared for everyone in his kingdom. Yuffie couldn't remember much from when she was little, but she could recall some of the visits that were made when Aerith took her to the castle with her. She was always excited when she would go there, since Ansem would usually share the knowledge that he knows with her and read to her from his books. It was always interested her as well. You can't get many six year olds to listen to what you have to say. She stretched her arms up above her head before putting her hands down over across her stomach, she opening her eyes and looking up at the sky. Because of everything that's happened she was told by Aerith that Ansem's name really wasn't suppose to be mentioned, at least when Leon was around. Leon seemed to despise Ansem for everything he's done and was more shocked than anyone by everything that's happened. All that can be proved by Ansem's reports that were found thanks to Sora for finding the rest for them.

It's getting cold.

"Mmm…"

Her eyes were beginning to feel a little heavy now, as she was starting to feel a little tired now. Though she didn't see why she was, she was out for a good while when she had passed out in the Third District. It felt like her body 's energy was being sucked away slowly really.

"No way, it's too cold to be sleeping up here…"

She slowly began to sit herself up off the ground, she stretching her arms up and yawning out loudly. She stood herself up on the edge of the roof and began to turn to leave, but she then noticed something moving around down below on the ground. It looked to be a person, perhaps one of the townspeople that stay here. No, it wasn't anyone she knew that looked like that before. The person was cloaked in black with a hood over their head. She wasn't quite sure if the person was a man or a woman actually. She wondered if he or she was new in town. They usually don't get too many visitors to Transverse Town.

"Guess I can afford to greet someone before heading back to the Hotel."

With that being said, she prepared to jump off the roof of the Gizmo shop as she back up a little for some running speed, but as soon as she started she was jerked back by a hand grabbing a hold of the back of her shirt as she nearly tumbled backwards. She turned her head back and to her surprise saw Leon, though not with the best look on his face.

"Yuffie, how many times has Aerith told you not to jump off from here?"

"I swear you and Aerith could be my parents. Let go Leon and besides I've done it many times and I've never got hurt before. I was just going to talk to that person down there."

"What person?"

"That guy dressed in black down there wearing a hood."

She turned around and pointed downward, yet her arm lowered some as the hooded figure had seemed to disappear because he wasn't anywhere to be found. Yuffie glanced around for awhile and didn't see any trace of the hooded person.

"Well…there was someone down there."

Leon looked at her silently for awhile, as she turned back and noticed the look he had on his face.

"What? I didn't make it up there was someone dressed all in black and…"

"I think you should go back to the Hotel it's getting late anyway." He said, as he pulled her away from the edge of the roof and handed her scarf. "You dropped this. Your neck is a vulnerable place to be catching a cold, well that's what Aerith says."

She looked at the yellow fabric he held out to her, she taking it from his hand slowly as she smiled a little. She didn't think Leon would be so nice and generous. Well, that's Leon for you. He can surprise you sometimes out of the blue.

"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks. I'm getting tired anyway I guess."

She wrapped it around her neck and yawned a little before walking over to the side of the Gizmo shop to descend down the ladder. Leon watched her leave before turning his head back to look around. He narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering who Yuffie had seen. He usually knew if anyone like that came to Transverse Town. Leon glanced over and saw Yuffie walking down the stairs and turning around to open the Hotel doors as she walked through them. Leon then jumped off the left side of the Gizmo shop where the entrance was and landed on his feet nimbly the sound of his gunblade clanking slightly along his side as he began making his way to the Hotel.

"Hand me that wrench over there will ya?"

"Um…"

Aerith searched the table for the tool Cid asked for. They were in the backroom of the Accessory shop or Cid's workshop behind the front desk. It was where he usually worked on Gummi ships and other things he was usually tinkering with. She pushed aside some blue prints and some cans that ended up rolling off the table and onto the floor. The young woman picked up one of the scattered tools on the table and held it up.

"Is this it?"

"That's a screwdriver Aerith. Even that kid can be a little bit more useful sometimes."

"Cid you don't have to be rude about it and if you don't want my help then get your own tools then." She said, huffing slightly as she put her hands on her hips as she walked over to one of the gummies he was working under and hit the side of it. There was a loud clank made and low groan, as Cid slid up from under the Gummi with a hand placed on his forehead.

"Damn woman, you didn't have to do that. Sorry already, okay? I didn't mean to get your bow in a knot and all, geeze." He sat up and took a white rag from his pocket and began to wipe his face that was smudged with some oil. He pointed over to the table as he wiped his forehead.

"That thing on the edge of the table is the wrench; it looks like two C's on each end."

"Well, you could have told me that in the first place." Aerith said, as she waltzes over to the table grabbing the wrench, it feeling a bit heavy as she picked it up. She went back and handed it back to him before dusting her hands off a little from the dirt that was on it.

"If you're going to be back here helping me then you're going to have to dress a little more differently than that. You're going to get dirty being back here girl. You might have to just stick with just helping at the front desk." Cid coughed a little, before standing up and stuffing his cloth back into his pocket.

"I guess so. It's getting a little cooler now. I was listening in on the radio earlier and it's going to be raining pretty soon…" She said trailing off a little bit as she walked over to a window in the room and glanced out of it in a slight daze.

"Hey, you're doing it again." Cid said, as he dusted his pants off as he rubbed a hand underneath his nose.

'Hm?" Aerith turned her head back a little and looked at him, "Doing what again?"

"You know what. Aerith you know you're thinking about Cloud."

She went silent for a moment at the sound of the name that came from Cid, she sighing a little as she nodded her head slowly, "Yeah, just a little worried about him that's all. I mean didn't he say anything about where he was going Cid when we last saw him at Hollow Bastion?"

Cid shook his head before walking over to her, "I think I told too many times now that he didn't say anything. Just that he'll just be looking for something he lost a long time ago. Damn spiky haired guy, always making others worry about him all the time. I wonder what most girls usually see in him sometimes."

"See in him? Oh, no, no... It's not like that." She said, she getting a little bit flustered now and a little pink in the cheeks. "Cloud is just my friend just like you and Yuffie are his friends too. Besides, Cloud was with someone already before…well we had to abandon our home."

"Girl? Oh, I remember her. She was very sweet really and knew how to fight really good as well. I wonder if she made it out alright."

"I think that's who Cloud is probably looking for though. Well, I hope he does find her though."

"Well, if the heartless didn't take her heart that is."

"Cid! Don't say things like that! It scares me to think how the heartless take innocent people's hearts without any kind of remorse what so ever."

"Whoa, slow down I didn't mean anything by that. Take it easy. I was just saying." He waved his hands up in some defense, before scratching the back of his head. "Anyway, don't worry about him he'll be fine alright? He can take care of himself just like Leon can take care of himself. Besides, it's getting late anyhow. You better go back to the Hotel and go to bed you been on your feet all day any day."

"But Cid what about…"

"Helping me? Pfshh, I'll be fine on my own I've been doing this longer than I've known you. I'm not an old man. Now, off with you before I decide to make you stay up working on this thing with me. Though I know you'll be more of a distraction than helping me, honestly never seen so much damn pink in my life."

Aerith smiled at him and laughed a little, "All right I'll go then, just don't work too hard though. Goodnight." She said, before wrapping her arms around him and giving him a hug.

"Hey, hey that's enough. I need to get back to work and I don't' think you need to be hugging someone as dirty as me." He said, brushing her arms off as she just smiled at him before leaving the workshop.

"Tch, always have to be so nice all the time." He shook his head slightly, before sitting himself down on the floor and slid back up under the Gummi to continue working.

The large doors closed behind Aerith as she entered the Second District. It was quiet no one was out of course because of the time. Everyone usually stayed inside after hours usually, no reason to be outside actually. Some were a bit skeptical to come out cause of the incidents that use to happen with the heartless sometime ago. As soon as Aerith came to the door of the Hotel, she stopped shortly of opening the door as she heard the loud ringing of the bell echoing across the district above the Gizmo Shop. It was indicating it was midnight now. Aerith then caught a glance of a figure that seems to be hovering on top of the roof of the Gizmo Shop. Though, it suddenly faded away as soon as she saw it.

"Wha…"

She rubbed her eyes slowly and looked again at the top of the Gizmo roof top.

No one was there…

"I must be seeing things. I'm probably a little more tired than I thought I was." She said to herself, before going inside of the Hotel to go to her room that she shared with Yuffie. She opened the door to the Red Room and walked inside. Yuffie was soundly sleeping on the bed, snoring at the most too. She quietly closed the door behind her and walked over to the bed and sat down on the bed as she began taking her boots off. She put her bracelets aside on the nightstand near the bed and put her hands behind her head as undid her braid before laying down on her side of the bed.

Cloud…

She sighed to herself quietly and closed her eyes slowly as she hoped Cloud was doing all right, wherever he might be at right now. She hoped that whatever or whoever Cloud was looking for that he'd find it soon. Hopefully, he might come back here and even try to live a normal life here with his friends just how it use to be a long time ago before their home was taken over by the heartless. Aerith dozed off into slumber after awhile, not too bothered with Yuffie's snoring through the night as it only bothered her when she was usually kicked or pushed off the bed by the wild sleeper.

The days passed by slowly, yet it felt pretty quick though. Yuffie seem to be doing all right now, as Aerith has been examining her for the past week. Though, the only thing now is that Yuffie would get dizzy spells here and there, but she figured it would pass as it's probably from where she usually trains with Leon and exhausts herself sometimes. It was after 2'oclock and it was pretty cloudy outside today, well that was because it had been raining. Yuffie walked into the outside restraint and put down her yellow umbrella and shook it a little bit before she approached a waitress that was working there. A girl that looked to be as young as Yuffie but she was about two years older than she was. She had blonde hair that was pulled back into a pony tail and had blue eyes. She was a little taller than Yuffie. She was a waitress outfit with an apron on the front of the skirt, though she made it look pretty skimpy though. Though, Yuffie didn't really like her too much anyway.

"Oh, like, Hello Yuffie. Haven't seen you in like awhile." She said, as she turned herself around to face her.

And you wonder why you haven't.

Yuffie rolled her eyes a little and thought of how much of a ditz she always sounded, "Yeah, hello Celes. Anyway, I just came to get the regular. Just go to the kitchen and tell the cook, he'll know what I mean."

"Yeah, no problem. So, like Yuffie how is Leon doing?" She began fingering and twirling some hair from her ponytail around her finger. "He's been looking really good lately; I bet he works out everyday. He's so handsome." She said, putting her hands together as she gave a dreamy sigh. Yuffie looked at her with a slight grimace; this girl was such a pain. Did nothing but bother Leon and try and flirt with him all the time. She was just glad that Leon didn't go for girls like that though.

"He's been doing fine. You mind go getting my freakin' meal now so I can get going soon?" She said, getting agitated now by her as she just wanted to get her lunch and get going.

"Okay, like don't blow your top." She said, before going to the opened door where the kitchen was located at. Yuffie took a seat down at one of the tables and stretched her arms out a little before folding them on the table as she put her chin down. The rain wasn't pouring down too much, but you still needed an umbrella so you don't get soaked. The day was going pretty slow today and it was a little boring as well. She would have even liked to be training down in the waterway, but it's a little dangerous when it's raining because it can over flood. Even Leon doesn't train in the waterway when the weather is like this. Aerith was probably in the Hotel or somewhere around in the Second District, Cid was working in the Accessory shop and Leon…well she wasn't quite sure actually where he was, though lately he's been acting a little odd towards her. Though she just brushed it off it wasn't that serious she supposed.

"Mm, I guess I'll just go back to the Hotel and take a nap after I eat. Not too much to around here, maybe I can get Cid to lend me one of the Gummi's so I can go check out some of the other worlds…heh, yeah right…" She laughed to herself a little and could already hear Cid's answer to that question.

She sat there for twenty minutes now, as she waited for her lunch to be done. Her arms stretched up above her head as she gave out a yawn, she was starting to feel a little bit tired now. Maybe it was just the sound of the rain that was starting to make her a little sleepy. Her head turned to the side to look out to where the rain was coming down a little more now. Yuffie's eyesight then caught sight of a hunch figure dressed in black moving past the Accessory shop.

That's…the person I saw that night.

She stared quietly, as the figure turned the corner and made it's way down the alleyway between the Item and Accessory shop. Her attention was drawn away as the sudden crumple of paper was heard with the small thump following it. She looked at the paper bag that was in front of her on the table. Celes flipped her hair back behind her shoulders as she was standing there looking at her.

"Okay, here's your food now to go. Though, I can't see why anyone would eat anything like that anyway. Looks fattening right me, though I think you can afford to gain some weight though." She smiled, before turning to leave. Yuffie was using whatever was left of her tolerance not to just slap the bag in that girl's face. She stood up and gripped the bag a little, before calling out to her.

"Hey, Celes. Have you noticed anyone dressed in black around here lately? With a hood and all?"

"Hm? Black and a hood? Umm…" Celes put a finger to her chin and thought for a moment.

Don't hurt yourself too much thinking now…

Yuffie mumbled to herself before Celes spoke up.

"Ah, I think I know now. Yeah, there has been this occasional guy that would walk around her occasionally. Looks like a total bum though, but we don't give out any handouts. So, hope he won't be too disappointed when he finds that out." She said, before going back to the kitchen.

I wonder what powers that brain of hers to be running like that during the day time.

Yuffie picked up her umbrella and opened it as she walked out from the restaurant and walked up the stairs in front of the Accessory Shop. She was beginning to walk pass the shop, though she glanced back to where the alley next to the shop was at where she might have saw the hooded figure go to. It's just a dead end down that way, why would anyone go down there for? She bit her lip a little now, as she felt curious now. Her body turned now to face the other way as, she turned around the corner and made her way down the alleyway. Yes, she really was that curious to why someone like that would come to Transverse Town and make their selves so discreet from everyone. She held the umbrella above her head and the warm paper bag in the other. Small splashes were made as she walked through the forming puddles in the alley. Yuffie turned the corner and stopped shortly, as the hooded person was sitting back into the corner near some crates and a barrel. Was this person homeless?

"Um…hello?"

There was a long pause and nothing was heard besides the rain hitting against the ground and rooftops. She began to walk a little closer to see if he could hear her a little better or not.

"Excuse me are you okay? I was just, you know, wondering and all. You shouldn't be sitting out here when it's raining." Yuffie still didn't get a answer, she got a little bit bolder as she walked in closer before she was standing in front of the hooded cloaked figure. We'll she could see very much now it was a man and he seem to be breathing as well. He was looking down at the ground, she really couldn't see his face just strands of his hair that was hanging down. She crouched down to his level, as she looked at him, though even like this she couldn't see his face.

"Hey, are you some kind of tourist maybe? Are you stranded here maybe? Or…are you looking for someone?"

Som..e…one…

He didn't seem to say anything, just breathing lightly and just staring downwards. Perhaps the man was death maybe or maybe he just couldn't talk? Well, whatever the reason Yuffie couldn't seem to get him to talk. Also, she was beginning to feel a little light headed now and her chest was beginning to tighten up a little now. She thinks she's been out too long in the rain. She felt some compassion towards the poor guy, but she really had to get back to the Hotel before she passed out.

"Well, I got to go…hope you find whatever you're looking for here. Here you can have this. I think you need it more than I do."

She took her umbrella and put it to his side to shelter him a little bit from the rain and she also put the paper bag in his lap. She put her hands above her head before she started to run back from the alley now so she could get to the Third District. He was left alone now. He glanced down at his lap where the paper bag, with the contents of Yuffie's lunch inside, was sitting. He had lifted his head up slowly, as he watch Yuffie run off through the rain as she left the alley. He quietly murmured something to himself as his vision went back down to his lap.

'Such…kindness…'

The clock above the door in the Green Room was ticking loudly, since it was so quiet in the room. Leon was leaning against the wall with his back to it. His arms were folded across his chest and one of his legs crossed over the other. One of his fingers tapped slowly against the side of his arm, as he was patiently waiting. The sounds of footsteps were heard coming down the hallway slowly. Leon turned his head and glanced at his opened door leading to the hallway. The steps got closer and one of Leon's hands loosened as it went to rest on the handle of his gunblade. The footsteps stopped as they got to the door and to his relief it was Aerith standing there holding a tray with a few mugs sitting on it. Leon sighed, before taking his hand off the handle of his weapon, as he shook his head slowly.

"Honestly Leon, put that thing away. I swear you're going to end up swinging that thing at me or someone else. Calm down there's no reason to be alert all the time." She said, as she walked over to the table in the room and put the tray down. "I've brought some hot chocolate. I hope Yuffie gets back soon so it doesn't cold."

"Where IS Yuffie anyway? She really shouldn't be out…" He asked her, his voice sounding monotone.

"Hm? Oh, I think she went to the restaurant to get some lunch about an hour ago."

"I'm going to go get here…" He said, as he got up from the wall and walked over to the door, but he was shortly stopped by the woman in pink as she grabbed a hold of his ear from behind, as she took one of the mugs off the tray and put it down on a napkin on the table with her other hand. Leon turned his head and looked at Aerith who had a hold on his ear like a mother would with a child really.

"…? Do you mind?"

"Yes, I do. Leon take it easy okay? You don't have to be so concerned about her. Besides, you know she can take care of herself just as well as you do."

Leon looked at her silently; as he saw the look she was giving him. He only gave an exasperated sigh.

"Fine…but please don't' grab my ear like this." He reached up and took her hand from his ear gently.

"Hehe, that's only when you're being stubborn. Now, why don't you sit down and--"

She stopped in mid-sentence at the sudden thump that came from the next room. They both turned their heads and looked at the door that leads to the red room. There was some shuffling around in the room before the sudden sound of a sneeze following.

"I guess Yuffie's back now and the only thing that's happen to her is that she's getting a cold." Aerith said, as she made her way towards the door and opened it as she walked in. Leon watched her as she went to her and Yuffie's room. He felt a slight relief of knowing she was back now.

"Yuffie! What happened to you!"

The feeling passed now, as he heard Aerith's voice. He went to the next room to see what was wrong. Aerith was standing in front of Yuffie who seemed a little flustered towards Yuffie who was soaked from head to toe. Her hair was dripping wet as were her top and shorts that sticking to her skin. Droplets of rain was rolling off her arms and legs and falling off onto the floor. She was barefoot now as she had probably took her shoes off earlier.

"Honestly, Yuffie look at you. You're soaking wet! You're going to catch a cold or worse like this. Stay right here, I'll get some towels."

Aerith walked out of the room quickly to go down the hallway to one of the closets to find some towels that might be around. Yuffie rubbed her arms a little as there was this uncomfortable silence in the room now since she was alone with Leon. She coughed a little and rubbed a hand over her moist face, she noticing the look Leon was giving her as he eyed her.

"What?"

"So, what happened to your umbrella?"

She didn't think he would ask about that. She nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment, as she thought of something to tell him real quick.

"I guess, I just left it at the restaurant or dropped it around there when I was running back."

"Oh? Then, what about your lunch?"

"My lunch? Uh, I decided to eat at the restaurant that's why it took me awhile to come back here."

He narrowed his eyes, as he looked at her. He didn't say anything and Yuffie thought he might not be buying her excuses really. She turned around to avoid his gaze, as she didn't want to make any eye contact with him. Leon wondered what else she had been doing while she was gone. Maybe it wasn't too much of a big deal as Aerith was mentioning to him before. His gaze somewhat found it's way going down her backside, as the small droplets of water rolled down her smooth skin. Some of them just settling down along her back giving it an almost glistening coat. It began to remind him of how it use to rain back at their old home. How after it rained there was usually dew that was on the grass and leaves of the trees and they would slowly drip off.

It's been such a long time…

"Leon, what are you looking at?"

"Huh?" He snapped out of his daze, as he noticed Yuffie was looking at him now. He guessed he had been staring at her for the whole time by accident. He wasn't quite sure of what to say now, as he felt a bit awkward now by this. He shook his head a little and put a hand up to his forehead.

"Just remember to wear a raincoat next time."

"Hm? Heh, you're beginning to sound like Aerith now; sounding so concerned for me. Next you'll be wearing pink." Yuffie grinned as she turned around fully and looked at him. Leon looked at her unimpressed by her sarcasm.

"Whatever…"

He said, as he turned around to go back to his room, but he was stopped shortly by some arms wrapping around him and a damp body pressing along his back. It was no one other than Yuffie.

"Oh, Leon you're so sweet."

He could hear her snickering, as the hug was pretty much intentional as he could feel the back of her shirt getting damp slowly. Also, he was feeling uncomfortable with her getting so close to him like this. Obviously he didn't like the body to body contact. He swallowed slightly and his muscles tightened slowly.

"Hey, I found some fresh towels."

The door opened as Aerith was carrying a few towels in her arms. Leon pulled himself away from her hold, as Aerith dropped the towels down in one of the chairs in the red room. She took one of the towels and went over to Yuffie as she put it over her head and began to dry her hair.

"Hey! What's the big idea, I could have done it by myself."

"Oh hush. Just let me dry this mop head of yours." She rubbed the towel around her hair for awhile before taking it off and putting it around her neck, as her hair was messed and out of place. "Dry yourself off and put some dry clothes on then come into the next room with us to have some hot chocolate with us." Aerith glanced over at Leon and raised a brow.

"Leon are you all right?"

"Yeah, fine." He said, before leaving the room to go back into the Green room. Aerith shrugged her shoulders slightly before looking back at Yuffie.

"Take an umbrella with you next time. I swear you're going to get sick."

She followed Leon into the next room and closed the door behind her leaving Yuffie alone. Yuffie held the ends of the towel around her neck and walked over to the window. She could see and hear the rain coming down a little more. Her hand ran back through her dark hair, as she gave a low sigh.

Hope that guy will be okay out there…

TBC

Well, that's the end of the chapter. Hope you enjoyed that. Though, I hope it wasn't too short though. I guess it'll be okay for you to read. I've already started on the next chapter, so it should be coming along soon. Check out The Bloodstained Diary sometime if you can.