Chapter 10

By Crystal Snowflakes

Author's Notes: Sorry for the late update. I know I haven't updated in two weeks, so as an apology, I've also finished my other one-shot. It's called 'Last Time', so if you want, you can get it from my profile :) Thanks for being patient guys! Oh, and I'm going to make a new one-shot that ties in with this story... Kind of like a side story. It'll be out in a few weeks maybe? Depending on how long it ends up being...

Disclaimers: Quite unfortunately, I do not own Final Fantasy 7.

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Yuffie twirled around in his chair, bored. How long has that Turkey been gone for?! A coffee landed on her desk. Turning around, she looked up at a blond.

"Reno will be back soon." Elena told her, sipping her own coffee.

Yuffie nodded, "I know. I'm just bored as hell though." She whined softly, "Why the hell are they taking so long anyways? How hard can it be to get a map?"

"Reno's incompetent." Elena grinned.

"Yeah, but then that means Rude's incompetent as well." The ninja grinned as she pointed it out.

Elena took another sip of her coffee. "And why is that? How does Rude fit into this?"

She shrugged, "Well, if Reno's incompetent, then so is Rude. They both went to get the friggin' map."

"Maybe Reno's just fooling around again."

Yuffie laughed, "You know Elena... If I didn't know you any better, I'd think you had a crush on Rude, from the way you're defending him..."

The female Turk blushed slightly, "I'm going to finish my paperwork," she muttered something under her breath to herself, "What's wrong with liking Rude anyways?"

Yuffie's eye bulged out, "Oh my gawd!" She snickered, "You like him, don't you?"

"You're being stupid Yuffie."

"I'm so going to tell Reno!" She squealed slightly as Elena reached over and attempted to grab her across Reno's desk.

The flush was still present on Elena's face. "Don't you dare..." She warned the ninja dangerously, "Yuffie..."

Yuffie laughed as she held her hand up defensively, "Fine, fine! No telling!" She shot her a grin.

"Better not. I am still a Turk, you know Yuffie..." She took her pistol out in a playful manner.

"I'm not going to tell Reno." She snorted slightly, "Who would've thought..."

Elena shot her a look yet again, "Promise you won't tell?"

Yuffie nodded as she smiled, "I promise I won't tell Reno—"

"Tell me what?" He stepped in the Turk office, his jacket slung over his shoulder with Rude following behind him quietly. At their shocked expression, his smirk widened.

Elena was standing in front of his desk, a pistol in her hand, her mouth agape, speechless. Yuffie, too, sat in his chair, shocked.

"So?" Reno asked again.

Elena stuttered, "W-We were talking about who Yuffie liked."

Yuffie scowled at her, but kept her mouth shut.

Reno's eyes darkened as he looked at Yuffie with a raised eyebrow.

The blond Turk rolled her eyes, "Don't look at her like that. We were talking about you, dumbass." Well... It was partly true... We were talking about how incompetent he was until a certain ninja... She shot a look at Yuffie again. ...decided to the conversation around and talking about Rude... She glanced at the stoic bald behind the redhead.

The redhead grinned, "I know. But I was asking about what Yuffie promised she shouldn't tell me."

"It's none of your business." Elena snapped.

"Oh?" Reno muttered carelessly as a smirk made its way to his mouth, "So it's about you, eh 'Lena?"

The blond bit her lips and said impatiently, "Did you guys get the map?"

Yuffie, who was still sitting on the chair, finally spoke up. "Nice topic change Elena. Smooth."

This time, it was Elena who scowled, "Shut up Yuffie."

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Yuffie held her new cup of hot coffee, the warmth heating up her hands, her mind already drifted away from the boring topic. She thought about the Meteor Crisis and wondered how the rest of AVALANCHE were doing. Then she wondered about Reeve and Barret, hoping that they were fine and well. If Barret isn't fine, how are we ever going to make it up to Marlene...?

Then she thought about the old Midgar that the Meteor and Holy had destroyed, the battles during the Meteor Crisis, Shinra... Her eyes drifted upwards just for a few moments to look at the three on the couch, surrounding the coffee table with a map on top, each holding their cup of hot coffee...

She shook her head, wondering how she had ended up in their office, sitting together while sipping coffee like a bunch of old friend... Many years ago, she had hated everything that had to do with Shinra, now her friends were part of it, one of them was the President of Shinra, Inc. The man across him was currently her love interest... And he was a Turk. How had that happened?

She remembered how much she had hated the Turks at first glance because all she could think of was the word 'Shinra'. She could still remember the smell of fear, blood, and war during the War of Wutai...

How had things taken such a turn?

Her mind then set on Wutai and her father... How she despised her father. She wished her mother was still here, then she'd have a family member to talk to, and maybe her father would be less of a cranky old man...

Somehow, that had drifted from Da-chaos to Gold Saucer, then to Gongaga and Midgar, once again to the redheaded Turk across her. She began thinking of the past few weeks and how well they had bonded together right away.

Then one way or another, her thoughts had gone to the conversation between her and Elena last night...

Gabriella might be right. I might just be another one of his conquest.

It really doesn't seem like it.

She hoped that Gabriella was wrong and she wasn't just another one of his conquest... She really hoped what Elena thought was right.

From the way he acts around you, I don't think you're just going to be another conquest.

Do you really think that I won't just be another conquest though?

I don't know. I don't want to give you false hope, you know... But...

She shook her head as she looked up, giving all three Turks another momentary look. As much as I like hanging around with the Turks, I don't belong with them. I belong in AVALANCHE... And plus, I can't continue this without any consequences... Godo will never accept the Turks or Reno, but then again, neither will AVLANCHE, especially with our relationship...

And plus, we don't know where this friggin' relationship is going. We don't even know if it's going to go anywhere. For all I know, like I said before, it might just be a crush, and he might just be playing along to humor me.

Maybe I should leave him alone when I can right now. Something big is going to happen soon... Or maybe I'm just saying it because I'm a paranoid freak, but something is going to happen, and it's not going to be very pretty. As much as I like the Turkey's company, maybe I should leave... I mean, wouldn't it just be better for the both of us? A Turk and a member of AVALANCHE. Oil and water. Romeo and Juliet. Except just not as tragic.

Okay. I get it. So just wait for the right moment, then tell Reno you want out. Then leave his life forever. Except that's not quite possible since Reeve is the President of Shinra and they work for him. Yuffie groaned inwardly to herself. Why is this so frigging difficult?

That's it! I'm going to tell him after this stupid... thing! And I'll tell him I don't want to see his face again... And I won't really care at all. She frowned slightly.

Then why does it hurt so much? And why does the thought of leaving him pain me?


I should really go before I fall in love with him, and we all know that's the smart thing to do. Falling in love with a Turk is not intelligent. Falling in love with Reno Chalmers the womanizing Turk is even dumber.

She looked up, then looked back down at her hands. What are the chances of him loving me anyways? She sighed softly, getting the confused gaze of Elena. She shot her a grin and the female gave her a smile as she turned back to the map on the coffee table. Maybe I should stop this before I get hurt even more... Not that I'm getting hurt now, but there's no benefit in this relationship. Either I'm going to get hurt, or we're both going to get hurt. I should really stop this before I really fall for him. It's bad enough as it is right now, thinking about him day and night... But if I fall... She looked up, only to meet her eyes with his pools of mako blue eyes.

At that very second, she knew it was already too late.

Despite what she thought, she had already fallen.

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"So..." Elena started as she glimpsed at Yuffie who was on the balcony, who had just moments ago stood up and walked away without a word. "Thought about what she means to you yet?"

Reno looked up, "I swear to God..."

"What?" She replied instantly, defending herself.

"You and Rude..."

A barely visible blush formed on her face. "What about Rude and I?" She asked, trying to keep her voice as normal as possible.

"Why the hell else did you think it took us almost an hour to get a fucking map?" The redheart snorted as he glared at his bald friend, "Mr. Miller right here kept questioning about the relationship between me and the brat."

"The brat and I." Elena corrected mechanically.

Reno snorted again, "The brat and I." He mocked.

"So what happened on your way to get the world map?" She asked, an eyebrow quirked up in interest.

"He cornered me and told me about how I should treat her with respect and not treat her like a common whore... Blah blah. The same shit you said to me last night when you were over at my place." He waved his hand dismissively. "I bet you," He looked at Elena, "Made Rude talk to me about that. He wouldn't bulge until I told him that she was different than everyone else."

Elena, at the same time as Rude, had her lips lifted up into a smirk. "So she's different. What else?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Hell if I know."

"Don't treat it like you've got all the time in the world!" Elena snapped at her, "One of these days, if you keep treating her this way, she's going to leave you, you know. Girls don't wait forever."

"Isn't my problem." He replied, "And plus, wouldn't it be so much better if we weren't together? Everything would be much less complicated. We wouldn't have to see each other—"

Elena cleared her throat, "I hope you're aware that Reeve is part of AVALANCHE and is her friend. Yuffie is also Lady of Wutai, so if any ball is held in Shinra, she's probably going to be there, and you're going to probably be there, which means you guys would have to see each other."

"Shut up 'Lena. Nobody asked for your opinion."

She gave a grin.

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The Lady of Wutai held onto the coffee cup still, hoping it would warm her hands up, although it really wasn't working out. The cold air had long cooled the coffee down.

So what do you suggest we do, Yuffie Kisaragi? You're in love with Reno of the Turks. Good fucking job, smartass. How the hell did you get into this anyways? Why the hell did you go on a date with him at Gold Saucer? Why the fuck did he have to save you at Da-chaos? And lastly, why did he have to give you his damn number? Why the hell did Reeve have to get kidnapped? She growled to herself while rubbing her arms with her right hand, hoping to warm it up.

Shouldn't have come out Yuffie. You're freezing out here. Just go back in.

I don't want to see him.

You're freezing to death.

Am not.

Don't be a stubborn bitch.

Shut up you fuck—

Her thoughts ended abruptly when she felt something on her shoulders.

"Thank you." She mumbled quietly.

"You're welcome." He replied smoothly, his eyes towards the sky.

She looked back, seeing Rude and Elena together on the couch, the latter one talking to the former nonstop.

"They'll be fine on their own." A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts, "They'll be together when the time is right."

Yuffie blinked confusedly, "You mean you knew?"

His eyes twinkled merrily as he chuckled, "Of course. How could I not? The talk between you and Elena only confirmed it, as well as the blush on her cheek when I said 'you and Rude' to her."

"He doesn't know, does it?" She asked, glancing back again.

"No. He's too thick to notice these things."

She snorted, "You're nice. And plus, I wouldn't talk. You're not exactly good at noticing these things."

"I noticed you, didn't I?" He grinned as he put his arm around her shoulder.

"I guess so." She replied, leaning towards him. She thought for a few moments until she opened her mouth, "Reno...?"

"What is it?"

She looked down at her feet for a moment, then looked up at his beautiful eyes, "What am I to you?" She asked, then shook her head in embarrassment, "I mean, what do I mean to you?"

A grin found its way on his face, "What is with people and asking that today? First Elena, then Rude, now ? Elena...?" She asked, dumbfounded.

He nodded, "Rude too. Surprised?"

"To say the least, yes..." She closed her eyes for a second, "But I mean, I'm not some sort of conquest, right?"

"No." He shook his head, "Not a conquest. Don't listen to the shit that comes out of a bitch Gabriella's mouth." He suddenly felt anger towards the slutty blond. It was strange, really. It had never bothered him if anyone had called some of his girlfriends a slut, whore, or whatever, but this time... He clenched his hand.

Yuffie grabbed his tightened hand and held it. "I'm sorry for thinking that way about you."

"I probably would too, if I were in your shoes."

"It's wrong of me to assume."

He looked down at her, her eyes tinted with hints of guilt. Slowly, he bent down and gave her a peck on the forehead.

She tilted her head upwards.

He caught her mouth in his.

When they broke apart, each had their own thoughts...

Yuffie Kisaragi had her suspicions confirmed, and Reno Chalmers had finally decided that she was someone different. She was someone that made him laugh and smile genuinely, someone she could trust and definitely someone that could possibly kick his ass. She was so innocent that it made him feel guilt every time he touched and kissed her... But he liked that feeling. Very much so.

"You know Reno..." She paused suddenly, not knowing what to say. "You don't have to return the feeling, I'll understand..."

Reno's mind stopped when he registered the words. "No." He said.

"...I love you."

He shook his head, "You're really too young to know what love is."

"Then what is love then?" She asked, "If I'm too young to understand, you're bound to, right? Then explain it to me."

"I don't believe in love." He muttered to himself.

She shot him a look, "I don't believe you. Maybe you weren't raised to love, or maybe something happened that made you that way, but you and I both know that there is love in this world. And I'm feeling it right now, whether you like it or not."

"You don't love me."

Yuffie almost rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Reno..."

He opened his mouth to say something when someone tapped on the balcony door. Both their heads swung over towards Elena, who was pointing at the phone. They walked inside at the same time.

"What is it 'Lena?" Reno asked, glancing at the young ninja.

She was paler than usual, "It's a phone call from Wutai. It's for Yuffie."

Frowning, Yuffie walked towards the phone and picked it up. "Hello?"

Miss Yuffie? It's Shake. Godo... He's missing.

She dropped the phone in shock.

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Author's Notes: Sorry for the late, late, late update! I'm really, really, really sorry! Anyways, I hoped you enjoy that! Shakai! I was going to make the 'I love you' thingy later in the story, but seeing your last review, I decided to change it. They won't really be properly together until the really end. But yeah, either way, hoped you guys enjoyed it! This chapter will be revised later. I just wanted to update it first cause I know I was taking quite a while :P

The next chapter should be out this coming Sunday, but no promises since I have 2 midterms Friday, 2 on Monday and 2 on the following Thursday. Wish me good luck and have a wonderful day!

-Crystal Snowflakes

Monday, January 17, 2005