Chapter 2: Reunion

Cold winter air filled with oppressive grey clouds covered the sky. The clouds weren't even polite enough to stay in the heavens above and glare down at the people; no, they had to send out small emissaries of ill will to the rocky earth below, sporadic tendrils of mist and drizzle that would be enough to drive any traveller crazy.

Yuffie smirked and stuck her tongue out at the sky overhead. The weather only worked on those who were not already crazy in the first place, and that made her a definite exception to the rule. Scrabbling over the rocky mountainside, she made her way to the small mountain stream that she remembered had burst out from the surface some time before. "Oh my gawd, I'm gonna be so late!" she squeaked to herself as she settled near the spring and began to frantically scrub at her face and hands. The water was bitingly cold, but it was a small price to pay for the modicum of cleanliness that she so desperately needed.

A reflection caught in the stream made her pause, and Yuffie took a few precious seconds to sit back and regard her distorted features in the fast-moving water. "Hair's getting longer… gotta get that chopped when I get back," she mused to herself, toying at the strands. "With all the grime and monster guts all over it, doesn't make much of a difference anyway," she added with a grimace. It was no use trying to distract herself with the length or condition of her hair, though, as the figure in the water stared back accusingly. Nanaki had already commented on her appearance the last time she had returned to Cosmo Canyon, and now surely Cid would notice as well. She blinked, then winked at herself in the water, watching the weakly glowing reflection of her gray-violet eyes appear and disappear in the dark water. Mako eyes, she though with irritation. Yuffie Kisaragi is growing home-made mako eyes. As if Cloud and the others didn't think you were enough of a freak before! She snorted, annoyed, and pushed away from the water suddenly.

It wasn't as though she minded the change. After all, what could anyone expect, spending so much time embedded in the remains of the northern crater. The lifestream flowed through the ravaged ruins continuously, changing the landscape periodically as it tried to repair the areas damaged by their battle with Sephiroth. Even the innocent-looking water of the spring this far out from the bowels of the crater was probably more contaminated that the dirt surrounding Mideel. The scientists would love to use you as the next research specimen for combating mako exposure if you let word of this get out. If they could get through Cloud and Tifa first, she thought with a smirk. There were perks to being renowned world heroes sometimes, and the right to demand (and violently enforce) one's privacy was just one of them.

Yuffie stood up, adjusting her pack, and began to sprint towards the peak of the cliff, where she knew the Highwind would be awaiting her. Cid was like clockwork, coming to collect her from the same spot on the face of the northern crater every three months. And every time his greeting was the same, he'd swear and call her the damn craziest girl he'd ever known, and who would spend their free time running around in a #§$hole like the northern crater? And she'd laugh, and tell him proudly that not even the monsters in the northern crater could get the best of the Great Ninja Yuffie Kisaragi, and spin around victoriously not only because it annoyed him, but also to show that she really wasn't hurt, but healthy and whole and back on his ship once more.

Cid was one of the few people Yuffie had learned to call a close friend during the last five years. They had never been very friendly during their time together in Cloud's group. After parting ways in Cosmo Canyon, Yuffie was certain that Cid would marry Shera, have 3.6 kids, and start wearing white golfing shoes by the time he was 35. While the first half of her prediction had come true, and Shera was already on her second pregnancy, the ever active pilot had done anything but settle down. Rocket Town was booming under his leadership, and the pilot training program he had established there was known to be the best in the world without question. It had actually been Nanaki to suggest that she contact him for transportation when she made her plan to travel to the remains of the northern crater first known.

"Yuffie, a gold chocobo can only take you so far, and it's too dangerous to spend that much time alone in the northern crater. Nobody knows what's up there anymore, and they stay away from it for good reason. At least if you ask Cid it will be faster, safer and he can keep an eye on you."

And so here she was, five years later, racing towards the huge thundering metal contraption that was Cid's pride and joy, waving wildly as the pilot grinned and threw a rope ladder down towards her. It sure feels good to be going back!

Cid hauled her up as she neared the railing of the airship, enveloping her in a bear hug. "$#! It's #§&'!# good to see you again, kid. You get skinnier every time I look!"

Yuffie danced away from him with a grin and did her trademark spin. "And you're as ugly as ever, cancer-man! I don't know how Shera stands wakin' up to your face every day!" The silence that followed made her nervous. Cid was supposed to start with his good-natured ribbing right now. Blinking, she stopped and looked at him.

Cid's mouth had drawn into a thin line, the cigarette clenched firmly between his lips. There was a furious look on his face, the one he reserved for using only when he wanted to hide his concern. "What happened to your #§$&' eyes, Yuffie?" he grit out. "You're starting to look like Cloud, kid."

Yuffie feigned a look of mock indignation and patted her head. "Excuse me? I don't think my hair's that bad yet!" It was the wrong answer, as she noted by the way Cid's cigarette rolled between his gritted teeth.

"I'm takin' you back to Cosmo right now, Yuffie, and you're gonna #§$'$ stay there this time until we figure out what the &#!'s wrong with you."

Yuffie sighed inwardly and rolled her eyes. "Look, we can talk about this later, right now there are more important things to do! You HAVE to get this ship back to Cosmo Canyon, pronto! I can't believe I'm saying this, but turn on the jets, old man!" she said, hauling the rope ladder back on board.

Cid's face turned purple, and the cigarette dropped from his mouth completely. "What the $?# could be more important than your health, you damn idiot!?"

Yuffie turned around, joy radiating from her face as she dropped the tangled mass of ladder at his feet. "I found something important here this time, Cid. I found a future for Nanaki!" she yelled, hopping around excitedly. She laughed at the pilot's look of confusion as she grabbed his arm and spun him around wildly. "I found the survivors of the Gi tribe, Cid. I found more of his kind!"

… … …

Vincent sat back in the comfortable couch of the observatory and regarded the steaming cup of liquid in his hand. The residents of Cosmo Canyon had welcomed him back with open arms, if a little surprise. Vincent Valentine was only known there as the aloof hero of legend, the man who didn't need anyone. But the people lived among their own legend in the canyon, and it was only a brief moment of surprise before he was accepted as if his presence there was a normal, everyday thing.

Nanaki had come to greet him as soon as the word of his arrival reached his ears, and allowed him to spend some time relaxing and making himself comfortable in the Canyon. The large cat was wise in many ways, and knew when not to ask questions. But on the third day, he had called Vincent to the observatory on "a matter of importance," and that was how Vincent found himself sitting on the couch, sipping tea as he waited for the giant cat to speak. He wasn't disappointed, as Nanaki cut straight to the chase.

"We weren't expecting you, Vincent. You wanted to see Bugenhagen, and I apologize that he can't be here to help you right now." Nanaki paused, his tail swishing slightly. "I'm expecting visitors soon. Yuffie and Cid, to be exact. If you don't want to see any of the others right now or let them know how you've been, you chose the wrong time to stop by." He focused his good eye on Vincent attentively. "I think your timing is perfect. You cut yourself off from the rest of us, and now you're being given the opportunity to make up for it."

Vincent said nothing, still staring into his cup as he considered the giant cat's words.

"Yuffie will remain here for two weeks. Cid won't stay long, but he'll be back before Yuffie leaves again, and bring news from the others as well." The cat paused, giving Vincent a long and hard stare. "It's a tradition we've been keeping for the past four years. Every three months, Cid travels the world in the Highwind, carrying the latest news and messages for all of us. All of us except for you, Vincent."

Vincent finally looked up from his cup, his unblinking red stare meeting Nanaki's own. It was a fierce competition, but Nanaki finally looked away first, Vincent having a two-to-one advantage in the staring match. He shifted slightly, Nanaki's unspoken accusation thick in the air between them, creating an uncomfortable silence. He considered the fleeting moments of peace he had felt arriving in Cosmo Canyon, detesting how fragile they were to preserve. Still, nothing Nanaki had said was untruth; perhaps, like his actions with Lucretia, this was a trap of his own devising.

"I'll stay," the dark gunman finally said, causing Nanaki to blink with surprise. "And see them both." Something that could have been compared to a grin crossed the huge beast's long face as his teeth flashed, and suddenly, the air in the room seemed less oppressive. Lifting the cup to his lips, Vincent took a small sip and was surprised by the delicate flavour that filled his mouth. "This is excellent tea, Nanaki. Where did you find it?"

"Well," the cat grumbled, "it's actually a Wutai blend that was recommended to me by—"

"YUFFFFIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

The large cat's sentence was cut off as a loud bellow that sounded suspiciously like Cid was heard from outside. Both the gunman and the cat instantly jumped to attention, rushing outside to the balcony as they stared at the entrance to the village below.

Vincent quirked an eyebrow as he watched a flash of colour racing up the canyon steps towards the observatory. Following much more slowly behind was the more recognizable figure of Cid, who was leaning heavily on his lance as he worked his way up the many steps. All that chain smoking was finally catching up with the man's lungs, apparently. "Well, I'm glad you consulted me about this visit so I would have time to make an informed decision," he said to Nanaki drily as they watched the two figures approach.

Nanaki growled slightly under his breath as his tail flicked in annoyance. "I didn't know they would be arriving this soon. It's not usually like this; something must have happened. Come!" He turned towards the ladder leading to the lower cave, but already the ringing sound of feet on the metal could be heard. Yuffie could be quick when she wanted to.

Surely enough, her head burst out of the hole, followed shortly by her small body, which she immediately launched at Nanaki and enveloped in a giant hug. Her next words escaped in a giant woosh, spilling out of her like water from a faucet. "Nanaki, Nanaki! I'm back, and I have huge news! HUGE! Huger than the hugest materia in Cosmo, and you have some pretty darn huge materia here! It was so huge I made Cid turn on the rockets, and you KNOW how sick I get when he turns on the rockets! But this is unbelievable! You just got to hear this!!"

Nanaki gently extracted himself from the girl's iron grip and gave her a toothy grin. It was always his theory that the talkative ninja went through withdrawal in the time she spent away from the Canyon and human contact. It was as though she was trying to make up for lost time in one breath. "It's good to see you again too, Yuffie. But aren't you forgetting something?"

Yuffie released Nanaki and leaned back, looking confused. Glancing over the giant cat's shoulder, she spied Vincent, standing tall and silent behind them. "Oh my GAWD!" she said, her eyes widening like saucers, just as Cid appeared from the opening below.

"Yuffie, you little §#!, I told you to slow the hell down—holy mother§&#in' &§ of §#!§$!!! Is that Valentine?!"

Vincent signed and narrowed his eyes briefly in annoyance. It was going to be a long visit after all.

… … …

"So, Vince, you finally stopped moping in Nibelheim and crawled outta that coffin to come visit us?" It wasn't the best way to start off the conversation, but Yuffie could care less, her mouth already stuffed with cookies and a large mug of tea in her hands.

Nanaki coughed politely, knowing that Vincent could only be pushed so far for progress in one day. "If you had bothered to keep yourself informed, Yuffie, you might have realized that Vincent has been busy these past years helping out various communities on the continent with safety issues."

"So you've been monster hunting too, huh?" the girl said, raising an eyebrow amusedly. "Gee, Vincent, I never would have figured you for one to go looking for more battle experience!" Vincent leveled her with a silent glare and said nothing. Cid, however, picked up on the comment as a convenient excuse to remember his annoyance with the young ninja.

"Looking for §#§$? 'battle experience' is what got you in this mess the in the first place, Yuffie! You care to tell me what you're gonna do about your eyes?"

"Cid!" the ninja squeaked in indignation. In the dim light of the northern crater, the faint glow around Yuffie's eyes was easy to detect. But in the broad daylight of Cosmo Canyon, her affliction was hardly noticeable. She had been hoping to keep THAT argument at bay for a while longer, but it was unavoidable now.

"Yuffie!" Nanaki's commanding voice carried across the room as he leapt down from his perch and padded over to her. "Let me see your eyes."

Yuffie swallowed quickly and squeezed her eyes shut, and she heard Nanaki sigh. Groaning, she knew she couldn't avoid the cat's inquisition forever and slowly cracked an eye open. What surprised her was that both Vincent and Cid were standing behind him, looking intently at her. Both eyes popped open in surprise at this as she sputtered. "What?!"

"Damn!" said Cid as one of Vincent's eyebrows raised. Nanaki growled under his throat and sat back. "Yuffie, the mako poisoning is getting worse each time I see you. I don't like the idea of you returning to that place, no matter what vows you made. The exposure was gradual at first, but the rate at which you're displaying the symptoms has increased dramatically since your last visit."

At this Cid turned red once more. "Last visit? You mean you $&#$!& knew about this and you let me take her back?! $&#! Son of a §$#!"

Yuffie grimaced and Nanaki turned around briefly to glare at Cid. "Technically, that's not true, since I'm feline, not canine. But don't you think I tried to stop her before?" The pilot swore once more and stomped away, crossing his arms over his chest angrily. Vincent just stood to the side, watching them silently. Finally, he broke in, his quiet voice still a shock for the others to hear.

"How did you get mako poisoning, Yuffie? You're showing the signs of long term exposure, at least two years' worth. Scientific research into human mako experimentation died with the Shinra Corporation."

Yuffie flopped backwards on the couch and swung her legs around lazily. "Mako exposure, mako poisoning!" she parroted, rolling her eyes once more. "I don't see why you guys are treating it like some kind of disease. I swear, I feel fine, and I think my vision's even improved!" She picked up another cookie and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing furiously. "I don't see what the big deal is, Tifa and Cloud got dunked headfirst into the lifestream and they came out just fine."

Nanaki frowned as much as he could with his long muzzle. "Tifa's eyes don't glow, Yuffie. We don't know what the long term effects of mako exposure might have on your body. You could be shortening your lifespan, or even making yourself sterile. How do you think Godo would react to that?"

The change in Yuffie's features were instantaneous at the mention of her father's name. "Godo? Hah! Like he'd care." Her face turned down in an ugly scowl. "He'd probably be glad that the Kisaragi line ended before it could produce another failure like me. Wutai will live! So don't even bother trying to pull that sort of a guilt trip on me, Nanaki!" Snorting, she looked away angrily. A short silence followed after Yuffie's outburst. But, despite being older now, the young woman's moods still changed as quickly as the weather, and soon after a radiant smile broke over her face. "But hey, you know you can't keep me from going back to the northern crater, and in fact, I bet you're gonna wanna come this time!" she said as she pointed at Nanaki, who sniffed curiously.

Cid turned around and chewed on his cigarette. "I wouldn't jump to conclusions, kid. Better tell him the whole story first."

Yuffie nodded wildly, and gestured for Vincent to come closer. "I'll answer your question too, Vince. Two cranes with one shuriken!" she cheered, pumping an arm in the air. "So you remember how I asked you all for your materia before we split?" As she spoke, she reached for her backpack and began to rummage through it. "Well, it was all about that vow I made to Godo and Wutai, you see. I decided I was gonna bring Wutai the best gift ever—ah ha!" A huge smile split her face as she pulled out a few bags triumphantly and leapt out off of the couch. "Nanaki, let's open the safe. I finished one!"

"Damn! Congratulations, Yuffie!" said Cid as he walked over and clapped her on the back. Nanaki growled in agreement, gesturing for the others to follow him with a flick of his flaming tail. Curious, Vincent followed as they trailed into the small back room of the observatory and stood before a squat iron safe. Leaning down, Yuffie quickly opened it with a few deft twists of her wrist, and carefully brought out some large black boxes. They gathered around the table in the room, where Yuffie laid the boxes neatly next to each other in a row. There were 10 in total, and labels printed in Yuffie's neat Wutaian script identified each one of them. Carefully, Yuffie began to explain their contents as she pointed them out.

"My vow to Wutai has to be filled before I turn 25. I figured this would give me just enough time to complete my quest, which is why I've been working at mastering the materia we gathered for the past five years now." She carefully opened one of the boxes, which not surprisingly, were velvet-lined containers, each holding row upon row of materia. Some of the slots in the box were still empty, but a good portion of it was filled with the shining multicoloured orbs of crystallized mako. "I've been travelling to the northern crater repeatedly to master all of this stuff you guys gave me, and create the ultimate gift for Wutai…"

"Master Materia," Vincent breathed in surprise, as the others remained in silent awe at the wealth displayed on the table. "You want to bring them the three Master Materia."

Yuffie's laughter caught him by surprise. "If only it were that easy, Vince! Naw, it's more than that. I'm not only bringing them Master Materia, I'm also bringing them a full set of newborn materia. You know, so we can give birth to more if they're ever needed." Pride filled Yuffie's eyes as she regarded the rows of shining orbs on the table.

Vincent narrowed his eyes and studied the orbs in the box once more. Admittedly, none of them were as skilled at cataloguing and mixing materia as Yuffie, for whom it was an obsession. But even he could tell with closer inspection that there were miniscule differences between the many orbs contained in the box. There, laying next to each other in the box, were two fire materia. One was pulsing slightly and larger than the other… a mastered materia, and a newborn materia. It was interesting to see the dichotomy of the two in their different states of growth as they lay side by side; there had never been time for an in-depth study of the crystals they used in their battle against Sephiroth. A thought struck him as he eyed the rows upon rows of materia in the single box. "But if you only need to bring back Master Materia for Wutai, what are the other nine boxes for?"

Nanaki cleared his throat, looking slightly embarrassed. "Well… that's partly my fault. After Yuffie started her quest, I realized the value in the continued study of materia development by watching her own collection grow." He paced around the table and leapt up, leaning his front paws against its edge so he could have a better view of the boxes. "Cosmo Canyon has always preserved the knowledge of the planet, and frankly, no one in the history of the world has ever managed to collect the variety of materia that we did in our travels together."

Yuffie nodded wildly and opened another box, also full of shining materia, although it was slightly less filled than the first one. "Yeah, this one I call the Cosmo Collection." She smiled and ribbed Nanaki amusedly, causing him to fall off the table. "Sometimes this slacker helps me out and comes along to the northern crater to train his own pieces, but generally, I just let him have my extras."

"Well, I have to charge you something for the two weeks you spend here, Yuffie," Nanaki growled back jokingly. "You eat enough for a whole company of soldiers, after all." Yuffie snickered and blew a raspberry at the giant cat, who turned insolently and flicked her legs with his tail, causing her to screech and jump in the air while yelling about burns.

Watching the two playfully tease one another, Vincent suddenly realized that they were much closer friends than he remembered. In fact, even Cid seemed to enjoy being around Yuffie more than before. How much has changed in five short years? he wondered to himself absently. There was a time when he was sure that at least Cid saw Yuffie as nothing more than an irksome brat. Indeed, that was what Vincent remembered her to be himself. But as he studied the materia, he realized that no brat could have done the sheer amount of work represented by the boxes on the table before him. It made a twist of resentment flare up briefly within him. Even Yuffie has managed to grow these past few years. It ís only I who have stood still. His morbid thoughts were halted by Yuffie's voice as she busily continued her explanation of the other boxes on the table.

"… and the rest are just to return the materia I collected from the rest of you. I always keep my promises, after all. See, there's even one here for you, Vincent!" she said, pointing at one of the boxes with neatly printed script on it. "I just wish Tifa hadn't given me so much mastered stuff. It's taking a really long time to refill her box!" she added, flipping open each of the boxes and displaying the various orbs filling them. Pulling out her bags, she began sorting the many loose crystals rolling around inside and quickly inserting them into the empty slots in the different boxes. "I don't see why Reeve never finished mastering his Luck materia," she mumbled in disgust as she put away a small pink orb. "Oh, and Cid, I finally got your Gil Plus back. I hope you don't mind, but I threw in an Experience Plus, too. I thought your flight school students could use the extra help," she smirked, pushing another two pink orbs into a separate box and sliding it across the table at the pilot. "Here, you can take the whole box, it's done now."

Cid rubbed the back of his head and mumbled a little. "#§$, Yuffie. You know I told the others about what you were doin'. We don't care about the most of the $&#§$ stuff anymore, it's easy enough to get it ourselves…"

Yuffie cut him off curtly with a wave of her hand. "I promised, all right? I don't go back on my promises. Besides, after what I did, I'd never be able to live it down if I didn't at least return the stuff you gave me." She continued to place orbs in the remaining boxes, a more serious look etched across her face. "I never said I was sorry for what happened in Wutai, that first time. Y-you all could have died. I almost helped destroy the planet." She fell silent, fiddling with one of the orbs in shame.

Cid looked sheepish and muttered under his breath. "We all know how you feel, kid. Don't worry about it anymore." Fumbling inside of his jacket, he finally pulled out a small, carefully wrapped package and threw it on the table before Yuffie. "Here," he said gruffly as he recrossed his arms. "A little somethin' the rest of us threw together for ya, kid. Don't let it get to your head, we still think you're a spoiled lil' brat."

Squealing with delight, Yuffie dove for the bag and tore it open. "Presents, presents!" she sang, stopping suddenly as she eyed the contents inside. "More mastered materia?" she asked wonderingly. Pausing, she quickly emptied the contents of the bag, her eyes widening as each orb rolled out. "Contain… Full Cure… Barrier… Ultima?!? And what the—" her eyes grew bigger as she drew the shining metal bracelet out of the bag. "Cid! Is this what I think it is?" she asked in an awed whisper, turning it over and over carefully.

The blond pilot grinned, his eyes wrinkling with mirth as he watched Yuffie goggle over the items. "Cloud thought he was a little harsh on you that night at the candle. Said if you'd told him earlier what you were planin', he woulda helped. §$#, Yuffie, we all woulda helped if you'd just said something."

Yuffie ignored him, her eyes still glued to the bracelet like it was water to a man in the desert. "B-but this is the Mystile! You can dodge Ultimas with this thing, Cid! There's only two of these in the entire world, and Nanaki got one and Cloud the other! I can't take this!" she gasped, handling it as though it would break if she dropped it.

"It's a fair decision," Nanaki cut in. "You've practically been living in the northern crater for two years now, Yuffie, I really think you could use the protection. We all do."

Yuffie sniffed as her eyes grew suspiciously bright. Then with a sob, she leaned down and hugged Nanaki. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" she cried. Leaping up, she barreled into Cid and squeezed him tightly as well, causing him to blush and mutter embarrassedly while patting her on the back. "I really appreciate it. This'll cut months off my quest!" she said, releasing Cid, and finally moving over to Vincent, who stiffened as she approached him.

"Yuffie," he said suddenly as he realized her intent. "I really had no part in this effort. You don't have to thank me."

Yuffie eyed the dark gunman momentarily, and then laughed, latching onto him. "Oh, just shut up, Vince, shut up! You need to learn when to keep your big mouth shut!" she yelled as she enveloped him in a bone crushing hug. The others snickered quietly at Yuffie's highly inaccurate assessment of their tall companion, making him look even more uncomfortable. Finally she released him and skipped back to the table, happily putting away the rest of the materia.

"And don't think I don't have presents for you too, guys! You know I always clone too much of my protective materia up there." Reaching into the now-almost-empty bag, she withdrew a red and blue globe and showed them to Nanaki. "Phoenix and Final Attack, Red! Newborn, but I figured you'd wanna put them in the Cosmo Collection anyway." Her face scrunched up momentarily, and then she pulled two more materia from the shrinking bag. "And since you finally showed up on the face of the earth again, Vince, here you go." With that, she tossed the two small orbs at him, which he grabbed out of the air reflexively.

"Odin… and Added Effect," he said quietly, studying the materia. A deadly combination, one that could spell instant death for opponents when used properly. And your curse follows me even now, Lucretia, through my companions? he thought to himself, his hand straying to the Death Penalty. But his face remained impassive, and he kept his thoughts to himself. "Thank you, Yuffie."

"Oh, and have some ribbons," she added, throwing a few colourful scraps of material on the table as she packed the boxes away in the safe. This time everyone stared at the remaining items on the table. "Where'd you find these, Yuffie? Ribbons are almost as rare as that Mystile," Nanaki said quietly.

"Not really! A girl's gotta have her secrets," she joked with a grin, her eyes twinkling. "Now, I'm pooped, and I still smell like dead Marlboro guts. I want a bath before I finish this story!" she yelled, picking at her ragged clothes.

Cid shook his head, snickering. "We're used to seeing you look like that, brat. Why get concerned all of a sudden? Tryin' to impress Valentine with somethin' besides your smell?" Yuffie scowled and pulled off a sock, hurling it at Cid's head, who swore and dodged. "$#§, Yuffie, that thing could count as a toxic weapon!" Laughing, he headed towards the door. "I know where I'm not wanted. I need to make the rounds, gonna come back in two weeks." He paused at the door, holding it open as he glared back into the room. "And don't think we're done talkin' about your $&'$§ eyes, girl!" he yelled at Yuffie. "Oh, good seein' you again, Valentine. Hope you'll stick around 'till I get back," he added. And then with a final curse and a slam of the door, Cid was gone.