Standard Disclaimers Apply

Standard Disclaimers Apply

This is so boring! Yuffie thought as she leaned against a column inside the ball room. She looked behind her and observed the people dancing and chatting. She rolled her eyes as she turned her attention back to the window. She wasn't even supposed to be here, but Shake insisted that her presence was necessary. After being shown off by Godo, she was conveniently forgotten for the perfect Lucrecia.

I'm going to die here! She looked at the pale green ball gown, and back to the glass window. She could make out her reflection and she had to admit, as much as she hated gowns like these, Minerva Guerin did a fine good job. The dressmaker wanted to give her skirts long slits to show off her legs, but Shake discouraged the woman, who simply rolled her eyes and muttered something in French. Minerva had always been nice to her, one of the few people who were genuinely nice to her. Minerva respected her no pink and ribbons policy, though the woman insisted to use lace on her sometimes.

"Are you alright?"

Yuffie nearly jumped at the voice besides her. She looked up and saw Vincent Valentine looking at her with concern. "Have you eaten?"

"I'm fine, thank you for asking." She replied as she looked away. She didn't want to look at him, she couldn't look at him, unless she wanted her heart to break into a million pieces again. "Shouldn't you be with Godo and be socialising?"

She heard Vincent take a deep breath before replying, "Unfortunately, socialising is one skill I still need to acquire. You should be out there, enjoying the night."

Yuffie wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Gawd! That is so not my scene."

"I'm sure a lot of people would be delighted to meet you."

"Nah, the meet and greet with the press is over. Nothing more for me here." Yuffie answered. "How's the merger going?"

"Quite good. Everything is looking well for your father."

"Well, whoopee."

Vincent noted the sarcasm in her voice but decided not to say anything. "Will you be staying the entire night?"

Yuffie scoffed at his question. "Are you kidding? No way. I was about to leave before you came, anyway."

"Vincent, there you are! Have you seen Yuffie?"

Both Vincent and Yuffie turned around and saw Lucrecia who smiled when she saw Yuffie. "There you are! Father's looking for you. There's someone he wants you to meet."

"Oh, has he found someone to trade me to?" Yuffie asked snidely, not caring if someone heard her.

Lucrecia's face fell. "Yuffie, please…"

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Yuffie muttered as she stepped away from the column and out in the dance floor. "So, who's the luck guy?"

"His name is Katsura Minamato." Lucrecia replied softly as Vincent gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze to show his support.

Yuffie nearly stopped walking. "The guy who owns Minamato Resorts?"

Lucrecia nodded, and they were approached by Godo Kisaragi and Katsura Minamato. "Father, Minamato-san. Good evening."

"Katsura, this is my eldest daughter, Lucrecia and her husband Vincent, and this is Yuffie."

Godo introduced them with a smile a politician would be proud of.

"Ahh, your pictures do no justice, Mrs. Kisaragi-Valentine, and Yuffie Kisaragi. You loom adorable."

Yuffie resisted the urge to punch the man's face. I'll show you adorable!

Godo grinned, satisfied all was well. "I'll leave you in good company, I just saw your uncle. I have to reschedule that match."

Katsura laughed. "Good luck. My uncle's not known to participate in a game unless he knows he's going to win!"

"What brings you here, Mr. Minamato?" Lucrecia asked politely.

"Please, it's Katsura. I'm checking the new development sight for our newest resort. I'm sure you've heard of it."

Yuffie grinned. "Of course we have. It's just right next to the Chocobo Reserve, the one your company is trying to get rid off."

"Yuffie!" Lucrecia cried out in shock.

"No, it's quite alright. It is a pretty sensitive topic. However, Minamato Resorts is committed to find a more suitable homes for these endangered species."

Yuffie just rolled her eyes. "Like the same commitment you had with the old Cetra Temples?"

Katsura's smile never wavered. "That… that was an unforseen tragedy."

"Right." Yuffie replied dryly.

"Yuffie, please…" Lucrecia pleaded with her half-sister. "I'm sorry…"

"No, no. It's quite alright. I'm used to being interrogated in such manners. Although I must admit, I didn't expect to be challenged tonight by such a lovely woman."

Grossness! Yuffie tried so very hard not to say that out loud. Instead she just gave a small shrug. "I think I'm going to go."

"Where are you going?" Lucrecia asked, not wanting to offend their guest.

"Home." She replied without further explanation. She turned away before anyone can say anything, and she vaguely heard Lucrecia apologising for her behaviour.

She stepped out of the hotel and took a breath of fresh air. She looked at the people scattered out front and realised she had no way of getting home. She looked back at the hotel, and swore as she saw Shake and her obviously upset father talking. "Time to make an exit…" She walked quickly down, and instead of crossing the streets, she turned left and tried to walk as fast as she could with her heels. She really didn't feel like arguing with her father, and she certainly didn't feel like returning to the boring party.

She turned right at an intersection and looked before she turned, and cringed when she saw Shake walking to where she was.

"Shit!" She looked the streets, and decided to cross since there were hardly any cars on the road. Just before she was about to walk, a car honked behind her. She turned around, and groaned at the sight of the redhead. "YOU!"

Reno grinned as he saw his prey all dressed up. "Hey, babe."

Instead of launching a verbal attack, Yuffie did something she thought she'd never do. She walked to the passenger side of the car, much to the jerk's surprise. "Drive."

"I beg your pardon?" Reno asked. His night was getting better. When he went out for a drive, he didn't really expect to see Yuffie. He decided to give himself the night off and pursue the young woman the next day.

Yuffie bent down, so that anyone outside the car won't be able to see her. "Just drive the car, damn it!"

Reno grinned as he looked at her. "Where do you want to do, because there's a whole lot of places I can take you, babe."

Yuffie wanted to strangle the man. "Anywhere!"

"I lost sight of her!"

Yuffie held her breath as she heard Shake's voice. Reno looked out of the window and grinned, before stepping on the accelerator.

"You owe me."

"Don't remind me." Yuffie grumbled as she sat up. "Thanks… you can just drop me off in the corner. I can take a cab from here."

"So, I take it you ran away from some fancy party?"

"It's so boring… hey, you missed the corner."

Reno smirked as he looked at her. "So you won't give me your name, but you'll just jump in my car…"

Yuffie turned red as he chuckled, blue eyes looking at her as he stopped at a traffic light. "Yuffie. Yuffie Kisaragi."

"There, that wasn't so hard!" Reno said as he looked at her dress. "Nice dress."

"Thanks… ummm, you can drop me off now."

Reno shook his head. "Not a chance, sugar. You owe me one… and I need a date for this… party I'm going too."

Yuffie groaned. "No more parties! I'll pay you! I'll give you money! I'll take you out to dinner, anything but a party!"

"Babe, this is a party that you'll never want to leave…"

Yuffie narrowed her eyes at him. "Reno, right?"

"You remember? I'm flattered."

"Don't be! How can I forget someone as annoying and arrogant as you?"

Reno smiled his killer smile. "Is that a way to talk to your knight in shining armour?"

Yuffie tried not to notice the way his lips were curved into that smile that made her want to blush. "Whatever. Just drop me off and I'll be on my way."

"You do realise you just said that you'd do anything except go to the party, right?"

Warning bells started to ring in Yuffie's head. "Yeah…."

"Well, I'll ditch the party and you can take me out to dinner since you're all dressed up."

Yuffie was starting to think that she was better off at the ball. "Tonight?"

"Yep, not letting you go until I get what I want."

Something in his tone made her shiver, but Yuffie just ignored it. "Well, I would love to indulge you, but I just realised that I forgot my bag… I don't have any money with me."

Reno's smile reminded her of the big bad wolf. "Well, you owe me twice, then." Before Yuffie could protest, Reno suddenly turned the car right, ignoring the other cars and earning a few beeps from the other cars. "Trust me, babe. This is a night you'll never forget."

The restaurant was classy, so much like the places she was obliged to go to, and it bored her.

Reno watched her through the menu as he began to formulate a plan. "This place not good enough for you?"

Yuffie looked at Reno and felt a little guilty, even if the whole situation was a bit uncomfortable. She did go in his car uninvited after all. "No.. I mean, this place is fine."

"So what's wrong?"

Yuffie shrugged as she put the menu down. "I really don't like these places… I'd rather go to McMoogle… the fat content will probably kill me… but hey, I like the McMoogle toys."

Reno looked at her before setting down his menu. "Should've said something sooner." He stood up and walked towards her. "Come on, we're leaving this joint."

"What… where?" Yuffie allowed herself to be dragged away, and ignored the looks of the other patrons, and the way his calloused hands felt against her skin.

"You want a McMoogle? I'll give you something better than a McMoogle."

Half an hour later, Yuffie and Reno sat on the hood of his car, looking at the beach eating a chicken souvlaki wrap. She actually enjoyed this.. She snuck a look at the not so annoying guy anymore and took a bite of her food. "This… this is really good."

"Glad you think so." Reno replied before taking a gulp of his beer. He watched as Yuffie wrinkled her nose at the sight of his drink. "Sure you don't want one?"

Yuffie shook her head. "How can you drink that stuff? That's just gross!"

Reno shrugged. "You're missing out."

The two continued to eat, enjoying the silence for different reasons. "Are you doing anything on Friday night?"

Reno looked at Yuffie with that smile again. "Why?"

Yuffie fidgeted before she replied. "Well, I do owe you… so.. . I'll treat you to dinner."

"Why not?" Reno answered as he placed his food down and took Yuffie's wrist. He took a pen out of his pocket and jotted his number down. He handed her the pen and Yuffie rolled his sleeves, only to stop as she saw his tattoo. On his arm, were the words she couldn't pronounce. Reno smirked as he took his shirt off and showed off his other tattoos.

Never did Yuffie imagine that she would be looking at any guy's bare chest while sitting on the hood of his car eating souvlaki. "Didn't… didn't they hurt?"

"Nope." Reno replied, enjoying the reaction he was getting. He was so going to win this bet. "I've got more…"

Yuffie just quickly scribbled her number on the palm of his hands. "I'll take your word for it."

"Almost finished?"

Yuffie nodded as Reno put his white shirt back on. "So, this Friday."

Yuffie's instinct was screaming for her to say no, but since when did she really listen to anyone, much alone her instincts anyway. "It's a date."

Reno grinned. "It sure is."

End Chapter.

Okay… that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can put up the next chapter before end of Feb…. Thanks for reading.