Standard Disclaimers Apply

Trust/Betrayal 3/?

The festive atmosphere didn't take the pills out of Cloud's mind as he watched his young friend enjoy the party. All of the people on board where enjoying themselves, laughing, eating and drinking.

"Cloud!"

The blond man blinked as he saw an irritated Yuffie. "What?"

"I was asking if you wanted something to drink."

Cloud pulled out his wallet and handed Yuffie a twenty dollar bill. "Light beer."

Yuffie took the money and walked to the bar and gave her order. On the other side of the bar, a brown haired man with short rchoked on his beer.

Irvine Kinneas blinked as he watched as the young woman walked back to Cloud Strife. "Holy shit."

He quickly turned around and discreetly used the hidden communication device on his watch.

"Did I just see…?" A voice asked, and Irvine nodded even if he knew his friends couldn't see the action.

"Yep. Sure did." Irvine replied softly as he glanced at the odd couple. This would make his undercover mission a bit harder, if Kisaragi or Strife saw him, they could blow his cover completely. "Is the boss there?"

"No. Lt Leonhart won't be here for another hour. Should I tell him?"

Irvine nodded. "This could complicate the situation. He should be made aware of it."

There was silence on the other line for a few seconds before a soft female voice replied. "Understood."

Irvine turned around again and watched as Yuffie said something to Cloud who grinned before lightly tapping her head with the beer bottle. The band started playing a more up-beat song, and someone in the crowd yelled 'limbo rock!' He watched as Yuffie clapped her hands in delight as she pulled Cloud with her where a crowd started to gather, ready to join the impromptu competition.

Back at the police headquarters, Selphie Tilmitt, along with the other officers who were part of the small team involved in Irvine's undercover mission watched nervously. They didn't know the whole story between Squall, Aerith, Cloud and Yuffie, but seeing Cloud and Yuffie on a cruise was certainly going to be uncomfortable, and a possible risk to Irvine's mission.

"I am so going to win this!" Yuffie cried out over the loud music to Cloud, who was already out of the game.

"You've been taking gymnastics and martial arts since you can crawl. Unfair advantage! You should be disqualified! Cheater! " Cloud muttered, as Yuffie simply laughed at him and prepared for another turn. He watched as went under the rod that was used for the game. He couldn't help but smile as the crowd cheered and clapped for Yuffie who punched the air in victory and went back to him. "I still say you're a cheater."

"You're just a sore looser!" Yuffie replied as she looked at the remaining competitors. "I wonder what the prize is! Woohoo! I am so gonna win!"

Ten minutes later, Yuffie Kisaragi claimed victory and was given a free dinner for two at Destiny Cuisine, the best, and most expensive restaurant in Destiny Islands. Yuffie laughed with delight, and Cloud couldn't help but laugh along as she skipped towards him with the tickets. It was good to see her really smile, really having fun, even if he knew that there was still darkness and sadness that lurked Cloud simply rolled his eyes as Yuffie continued to grin as she waved the winning tickets right in front of him. "Cheater."

"Looser."

"Brat."

The two continued to exchange insults and neither noticed a group of young men running towards their direction. By the time they realised what was going on, Cloud barely had a chance to move himself and Yuffie out of the way before the rowdy group ran through were they where. They stood at the side, looking at the commotion that passed in each other's arms, and that's how Squall Leonhart saw them on the screen as he entered the room.

"Sir!"

Squall returned the salute of the younger officers. "Status?" He asked, his eyes not leaving the screen even after Cloud and Yuffie stepped away from each other.

"There could be a possible complication to the mission, sir. Miss Kisaragi and Mr Strife might blow Kinneas' cover if they see him."

Squall nodded. "Advice Kinneas to return to his suite, we'll be able to talk more freely."

Selphie nodded and relayed the instruction to her colleague. Everyone in the room watched what Irvine was seeing, and soon, Yuffie and Cloud came to view, and the moving stopped.

"Tell him to move. Kinneas would raise more suspicion with his movements."

Selphie repeated what she was told, and soon enough, there was movement again.

Irvine closed his eyes as he stepped inside the elevator, and crossed his fingers that the bickering couple won't be able to see through his disguise.

"No… it was Scream 2!"

Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Scream 3."

"2!"

"3!"

Yuffie scowled. "I saw the trilogy a hundred times! It was in the second one that Randy died!"

Before Cloud could open his mouth, Yuffie continued. "Randy's sister had the video, the one where he said all the rules on the third movie."

The elevator opened in Irvine's floor, and he held his breath as Cloud and Yuffie stepped out as well. He pretended to pause to look for his keys letting the two pass. The two continued with their movie trivia debate and everyone watched as they entered the same room.

At the head quarters, everyone waited in silence for Irvine to return to his suite.

"Boss?"

"Have you seen the suspect?"

Irvine took his contacts out as he sat on the bed. "He was surrounded by women."

"Do not approach him at any circumstances." Squall said as he looked at Irvine who had just opened his laptop. "Is your position compromised?"

"No, I don't believe so."

"Keep it that way."

"Request for a private line, sir."

Squall accepted the earpiece from Selphie and inserted it in his ear. "Go ahead."

"It's not what it looks like." Irvine said, knowing that his boss knew exactly what he was talking about.

Squall closed his eyes briefly. "Eyes on the mission, Kinneas. Nothing else matters."

"Understood sir, Over."

With that, the connection was closed.

"The suspect is less likely to strike at such a controlled environment, however, I have no doubt that he's already looking for his next victim. How long before they make a stop?"

"They'll stop at Wish Islands tomorrow, sir. They would be there until 12 pm ." Selphie replied as she looked at an earlier report Irvine had sent.

"I'll be sending three people to back him up. Rogers, Castro and Garett. Be here an hour early before briefing."

The three officers nodded their heads. "Yes, sir!"

"Dismissed."

Everyone left the profiler in the room and Squall picked up the remote and sat down. He played the disk from the beginning and began to prepare to take notes. He watched everything Irvine saw, from their suspect, to the many potential victims around. He looked around, and tried to pinpoint the most possible next victim. All victims were different physically. Short, tall, blond, brunette. It was their personality that linked them. They were all smart women, athletic, friendly… his thoughts halted as he saw Yuffie as she made her way to the bar, and made her way back to Strife.

Aerith. Aerith still had feelings for the blond, that he was sure of. If she knew that Cloud and Yuffie went on a cruise, it would hurt her, greatly.

"Platonic."

Squall turned around and watched Rinoa Heartlily, another one of the best profilers in the country as she walked in the room.

"I beg your pardon?"

His ex-girlfriend shook her head as she pointed at the screen. "Their relationship is platonic. See how her body is turned slightly away? And the way he's holding her shoulders? I know you see what I see."

Squall looked at Rinoa, his face showed no emotion. "Then you see what I see as well."

Rinoa looked back at the screen. "True, things could go further, if they pursue it in that direction, but no… I don't think so."

Squall played the disk again and continued with his observations.

"How's Aerith?"

"She and the baby are doing well."

Rinoa nodded as she sat on the chair next to Squall's. "Do you know the sex of the baby?"

"She doesn't want to check it. She wants it to be a surprise."

"The profiles of the past victims… you are aware that Yuffie shares similar traits…"

"She's with Cloud. All the victims were single. She's out of the equation."

Rinoa simply nodded her head. "Does Aerith know that they went to a cruise?"

"No, and I don't believe I should tell her. Their life is none of our business anymore."

Rinoa shrugged and walked towards the door. "It may be better for her to hear it from you, but like I said. It's platonic."

Squall didn't answer Rinoa as he continued to watch the disc.

> > > >

The Next day....

Yuffie smiled as she waved at Cloud from the pool. Cloud returned her wave as he sat on one of the pool recliners, reading the latest digital animation magazine. He ignored the various women around him, who can't seem to get a clue.

A few recliners away, Irvine was glad for the brown wig, and for the couple of women who kept passing by Strife. That should keep him away from Strife's line of vision. In the very same pool was the prime suspect, Carlos Dafoe. The evidence collected against him was weak, they all knew that Dafoe could, and would get away with murder. Reasonable Doubt. Irvine clenched his fists in anger as he watched Carlos flirt with the young women who were obviously enjoying his attention.

His camera, hidden on his gold water resistant pendant felt cool against his skin. He made sure that he was in the right angle, as directed by Selphie. While this case belonged to Lt Leonhart, he appointed the rookie as his unofficial assistant, recognising her ability, and giving her the chance to enhance it.

"Cloud! Come in, the water's absolutely fine!"

Irvine crossed his fingers that their audio system was not that good, but based on the gasp from Selphie, he knew they could hear everything.

"Not now."

Yuffie grinned. "Awwww, honey!"

Cloud rolled his eyes from behind the magazine and noticed the teasing glint in Yuffie's eyes. He was sure she was enjoying tormenting the other women. At least, day by day, she was starting to smile even more.

At the headquarters, everyone tried not to look at the profiler who was intently watching the screen. While the main focus was the suspect, they could still Yuffie at the right side of the screen, at the side of the pool.

Squall didn't take his eyes off the suspect, his mind refusing to concentrate on anything else. He had a job to do, he was going to be a father. There was no space for distraction in his life.

His eyes narrowed as he saw Dafoe look at Yuffie, before shifting his gaze above her head, and back to Yuffie again. /All victims were single. She's out of the equation./

/Platonic/ He recalled Rinoa's observation of the couple as he watched Dafoe looking back and forth to Yuffie and to the person she was speaking to, Cloud Strife. His expression remained neutral as Cloud entered their line of vision, going in the pool. Their conversation could no longer be heard, and they watched as Cloud dragged Yuffie to the deeper end of the pool who was refused to go along, until Cloud practically picked Yuffie up.

"Sir?"

Irvine's voice drifted inside the silent room. Squall never took his eyes of the screen. "The plans don't change."

/She's out of the equation./ Squall repeated in his mind. The one trait that separated Yuffie from all the other victims was the presence of Cloud. All victims were single, they all attended a movie, a concert or a party with friends in the week that they were killed. All victims were killed approximately two weeks after the other. Victim number 9 will be the last. Using a female officer was part of the plan, but was pulled at the last minute. Dafoe's defence team could use entrapment, and they would loose the case.

They all watched as Dafoe watched Yuffie and Cloud before retuning his full attention the women beside him.

/She's out of the equation./ The mantra was wearing thin, and he knew the possibility of what Rinoa had suggested before.

/She's out of the equation./ And as he watched Yuffie clinging to Cloud who was laughing at her, and back to Dafoe, he knew, they all knew that Dafoe had already marked Yuffie. Their suspect saw what Rinoa had seen. It was platonic, and now, Yuffie Kisaragi was definitely in the equation.

End Chapter

Sorry for the absence! Been overseas… now back home! No idea where this angle popped up! But it will only be here and the next chapter. I just wanted this as a set up so Squall could see the Yuffie/Cloud friendship… on what he could see as platonic that could be something more. That's probably how far I would go with Yuffie/Cloud. A little hint here, but… this is a Squall and Yuffie fic. Eventually!