~Disclaimer~: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or ANY of the characters in it.

This is a Squffie story and if you don't like it, please don't yell at me for the coupling. This story is made for the Squffie fans so enjoy! Oh yeah. Forgot to mention this. Aerith/Cloud coupling in this story. Mainly Squffie though…

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Summary: He's back, stronger than ever, with the Heartless, but it's not Ansem. Yuffie, Squall, Aerith, and Cloud plan to stop him, but how can they if Sora's no where to be found? *Squffie*

Chapter Two

Traverse Town

He held the deadly weapon in his grip as they waited in fear for him to pass. The one winged angel that made people quiver in fear. He could kill you in one strike of that Masamune, the long bladed sword that never left his side. He had an evil smirk on his face at the moment and seemed to be a peace with himself while on the other hand; Yuffie was starting to struggle against his grasp and he whispered fiercely for her to stop acting like a child before they both get killed. All she did was pout under his grasp and growled silently under his hand.

The Heartless were jumping all over and it was a while after Sephiroth left, Squall decided it was safer than before.

"Let's go and hurry," he ordered coldly. Yuffie glared and crossed her arms stubbornly. She turned her head up and ignored him walking passed him or more like limped. Squall just sighed and gave his emotionless glare. Yuffie just clutched her arm as she walked since the blood was beginning to pour. The stress on it was making it even worse and Squall noticed that.

"Yuffie," Squall said, as if he caught her. She threw her hands up in the air and turned around.

"Oh GAWD Squall!" Squall glowered at her and said, "You can't walk! Face it! You're just a mangy teenager who is a brat and can't face the facts because you can't admit it!" Yuffie's eyes widened and were watering up. She was tooken back and yet she didn't know why. She let this comment get to her and she opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She creased her eyebrows with anger and her eyes were filled with tears. She stood in a defensive position and yelled, "You're a horrible person!!" and took off in the direction of Cid's office. Squall only now realized what he had said.

"Leonhart, can't you ever learn to shut up?!" he said cursing himself. Yuffie was already in the distance. He didn't think before he spoke and this time he actually hurt Yuffie's feelings, which was very very rare or he thought so. Squall took off after her gaining on her as she walked real fast, jogging if you asked him. She was looking down as she cantered up towards the High Tower. Squall's footsteps were barely audible and he got in front of her.

Yuffie didn't know Squall was in front of her and bumped in to him and fell back, but he grabbed her before she could fall down.

"Yuffie," he said, as he pulled her up to him. They were close and he let go of her. "I didn't-"

"Then why'd you say it?! Squall-"

"Leon."

"That's what kills me about you! I," she said bluntly and swatted his chest with her fist, "Hate," and again, "you!!" and again. Her hits didn't seem to affect him very much. Squall just stood there numbly and let her hit him for a couple more seconds and then grabbed her wrists.

"Yuffie, stop it," he commanded. Yuffie bit her lip and glared trying to look threatening, but she knew it wasn't working. "No!! Don't treat me like a child!" She replied back, while trying to tug her wrists from his grip.

"Then stop acting like one!!" He growled back. Yuffie replied, "You provoked it!!" She pulled her wrists harder and from what she could tell, they were probably gonna turn black and blue tonight.

Squall just growled and said, "Quit your barking! A real ninja doesn't act like this and the Heartless could be here any moment!" Yuffie stopped pulling when she heard 'Heartless' and went numb. She was acting like a child again and he provoked her temper. Yuffie turned her gaze downwards. It was seconds until Squall let go of her wrists and then she felt she was being lifted off the ground. She snapped her head up at him and he was looking forward with a regular Squall glare.

Yuffie clenched then unclenched her hands to get the feeling back in her wrist. Squall probably never meant to hurt her, but she kind of pulled it on herself.

"Are you…okay?" Squall said looking forward, as he watched where he was taking them.

"What do you think?" she snapped at him.

"Well, you still got you sense of humor after a hells worth of shit, so I'd think you're okay." Yuffie gave a small smile and blew a piece of hair out of her face.

"Well, I'd guess so then."

"Fine."

"Fine then." Squall carried Yuffie to the High Tower with not much trouble. She was relevantly small for being eighteen so that gave Squall an advantage. Advantage on what you say? Advantage on everything…

*****

"Where's everybody at?" Aerith wondered. The alarm was going off but for what? She did not know. She ventured out into the halls (caliginous halls was more like it.) She was cautious, very cautious that something was going to attack her. She stepped quietly, barely audible to her, and took tiny steps. She couldn't really see so it slowed her down. There was a slight echo of dripping along in the distance. The pipes must have a crack in them.

"Cloud…?" she said, not very loud. "Yuffie," she said a little louder than before. "Leon?" This time it echoed and she heard something in the distance.

Scratch, scratch, scratch….

She pulled fists up protectively.

Clank, clank, clank…

Now she was getting frightened. She whispered this phrase over and over to herself, "Just run, just run, just run!" Her legs couldn't pull themselves to do it though.

Clank, Clank…

Now it was behind her. She gave a slight whimper and then she shrieked when something tapped her shoulder. The only thing she could do was whirl around throwing a punch. She had her eyes closed and then she peeked open one eye and then sighed of relief.

"Quite the punch…" He said letting her fist go. Aerith practically jumped into Cloud's arms because she was afraid at the moment.

"What's going on?" she asked, uneasily. Cloud's expression became ever more serious. More serious than she had ever seen before. "Cloud…?"

"We have to leave Hollow Bastion, Aerith. They're back," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the High Tower area.

"W-What?" Did he mean the Heartless?

"The Heartless are back to take over Hollow Bastion." Aerith fell silent as Cloud led her.

Scratch, Scratch, Scratch…

Cloud's expression didn't look good, as he was speeding up. Aerith was struggling to keep up, but they had to keep going.

Scratch, Scratch, Scratch, Scratch, Scratch…

"Damn it!!" Cloud cursed under his breath. "They're speeding up!" Aerith gasped and came to some stairs. He climbed up and then pulled Aerith up after him. They looked back and could see a cluster of Heartless chasing after them. "Run ahead. Now!" Cloud said, as he pulled out his Buster Sword. Aerith hesitated and ran up the next set of stairs.

"Be careful!" she called over her shoulder. Cloud nodded. Aerith ran and she could hear the slicing and sharp clinging noise of his sword going in contact with the Heartless. Hisses and screams of the Heartless echoed and Aerith cried inside at the sounds…

*****

Squall let Yuffie down with a thump as they came upon Cid's weapon shop. Yuffie looked over the balcony and gasped.

"Oh my," was all she could say. Squall pounded his fist on the door.

Thwap! Thwap! Thwap!

"Cid! Open up!" While Squall was busy trying to get Cid to answer, Yuffie was in shock. The rain was soaking them both, but she didn't really notice.

"Holy. How many is that?" she began to count them by the dozen. They were all holding up in the Rising Falls. Was Hollow Bastion gonna send what they had as an army to fight the Heartless or let the people fend for their lives? A large booming sound was heard and Yuffie turned around instantly. There was Squall holding his Gunblade as he broke part of the door.

"Not very patient are we?" Yuffie asked, with some humor. Squall tipped his Gunblade over his shoulder.

"Now's not the time to be very patient." Yuffie chuckled and began to see fire spread all over Hollow Bastion. She turned her head to her side and threw herself to the floor as a flying heartless attacked her. Squall cast fire on the Heartless and it paralyzed it for the minute. "Come on!" He helped Yuffie up and took her hand yanking her through the door to Cid's Weapon Shop. All they could hear was their gasps for breath and the fire crackling.

"CID! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!" Yuffie blurted because she had lost her patients. Squall spared a glance out of the corner of his eye and walked forward. Yuffie heard some tumbling and thrashing in the back and pulled her herself into a defensive position as well as Squall. A couple moogles peeked their heads out behind some equipment and Yuffie sighed. She strolled forward passed the moogles and towards the back.

"Who's there?!" Cid's voice boomed up from top and startled Yuffie. She let out a small scream when she saw a Bazooka pointing at her. Cid peeked his head out from behind and gave an ugly face once he saw who it was.

"What's that look for?" Yuffie questioned.

"What do ya think?" He snapped.

"Ha ha very funny. It's so funny I forgot to laugh." Yuffie shot him a glare and he returned it. Squall walked passed her and Cid saw him.

"Hey! Leon! Damn good timing," Cid said blissfully, as he came down with the Bazooka still at hand. Yuffie just scowled at Cid and turned her back to him and squatted.

"Cid, do you know where Aerith is?" Squall asked. Cid chewed on his toothpick and frowned.

"Yeah old man, where's Aerith? Your stupid weapon backfired and hit me instead," Yuffie explained. Cid turned his gaze to Yuffie who was examining the piercing the Ninja star made in her arm.

"You probably didn't know how to use it and I'm not an old man!!" Cid raved. Yuffie just grinned and wiped the excess blood away.

"Well Cid? Have you seen her? With the Heartless around, we haven't been so lucky," Squall explained.

"She's-"

"Cid! We have someone coming up. They're carrying a long sword," a moogle squeaked.

"WHAT?!" Yuffie hollered. She then clamped her hands over her mouth.

"Yuffie, shut up!" Cid hissed at her. Yuffie jumped up and was trembling. "What the hell you scared of?"

"He's coming. He's gonna kill us all," was all she could choke out. Cid raised his eyebrows and looked at Squall with question. Squall had a huge frown plastered on his face.

"Who's 'he'?" Cid asked.

"Sephiroth," Squall answered quickly. He began to move quickly towards the door.

"WHAT?!" Cid screamed.

"SHUT UP!" Yuffie hissed venomously at Cid. Squall was running towards the door a came to a screeching halt. Yuffie wheeled around in a flash and put her hand over her mouth. There they saw that dark outline of the swordsman. A wing was spread from his back and…blonde spiky hair covered his face? That wasn't Sephiroth. It was Cloud and Aerith, who came out from behind him. She had a couple cuts, but she was certainly in better shape than Yuffie and Cloud.

Aerith came forward from behind Cloud. She examined the area in awe just like Yuffie had done earlier in the day.

"Aerith!" Yuffie yelled getting the attention of the flower girl. "Cloud! You guys are--WATCH OUT CLOUD!!" Cloud instantaneously swung his sword back cutting the Heartless in half. Yuffie and Aerith gave a sigh of relief while Squall just stood there emotionless. Yuffie got up to confront the pink clad-woman and grabbed Aerith's hand with both of hers, thankful that she was alive.

"You're alive! Thank god," Yuffie exclaimed. Aerith smiled at Yuffie, but let out a gasp at Yuffie.

"Yuffie! You're wounded!" Aerith cried. Yuffie let go of Aerith's hand and crossed hers.

"Oh it nothing. Really."

"You're damn wrong about that, Yuffie," Squall said from the corner. Yuffie shifted her gaze over to Squall and scowled. "She was attacked by the Heartless and seems to be suffering a bad leg and wounds."

"I'm fine!" Yuffie burst out.

"Yuffie. You're doing it again," Squall pointed out. Yuffie opened her mouth to argue and decided against it. She just glared and then felt a warming sensation go through out her body. Her wounds began to close and her leg was stable enough to walk on and not limp. She turned to Aerith and gave her a quick smile. Aerith nodded and she moved towards Cloud.

"Ouch," Yuffie said, as she whistled. "That's a doozie. What happened to him?"

"Plenty," Aerith replied.

"I see." Everything went quiet and kind of awkward for the moment till Yuffie turned back to Cid.

"I don't see why we're standing here since the Heartless are roaming. Cid, what 'bout your Gummi ship? We need to leave here." Yuffie crossed her arms feeling a perkiness rise in her.

"Well, the ships not doing it's best right now, but it way better than staying here."

"Obviously!" Yuffie said. Cid wrinkled his nose at the comment and just turned his head away as if he had never heard anything. Aerith laughed and Cid just grunted. Yuffie smiled and squatted down when she heard the lightning again.

"Scared of lightning?" Cid asked, chuckling. Yuffie looked up giving him a glare mouthing a couple words that made him shut up.

Aerith watched the two as well as Cloud. She looked up at him and smiled. He looked down at her and gave a slight smile. Cid and Yuffie fought as much as Yuffie did with Squall.

"Let's go already!" Yuffie said, jumping up. She poked Cid in the chest with two fingers. "Do hurry." He gave her a glare and turned around heading towards where he kept some of his stock. He grabbed a couple weapons and had the remainder of the moogles help him carry a few things. Yuffie grabbed a few things off the shelf and Cid turned to her and pointed his finger at her.

"You're gonna have to pay for that."

"Grow up, Oldman. Your stock's gonna disappear anyway. So I say screw you." She walked passed him and he gritted his teeth. He just shrugged his shoulders and gave up.

"I'm not old!!" Cid yelled at her.

"We have to hurry. No time for games," Squall said. Cid just sighed and began to chew more on his toothpick. They followed him to the Gummi ship and he opened a door. He pressed a button and the roof slowly opened. The Gummi ship's door was open and everyone made their way towards it. Aerith was the first one in, followed by Cloud, then Squall, then Yuffie.

"They're coming!!" Aerith pointed out.

"Ah damn! Hold on tight. We're taking off!" Cid jumped in and closed the door as fast as possible and clicked a few buttons here and there. The Gummi ship began to shake and they blasted off. They rose up with difficulty. Flying Heartless came straight at them and Cid pulled out a trigger and pressed a button. The Gummi started shooting. They took seconds then flew at the lighting speed.

"Where are we going?" Aerith asked. Cid was having trouble steering and pulled them out of Hollow Bastion.

"Hollow Bastion! Look!" Yuffie said, pointing down at it. It was all in flames, but they were going down from the rain. Then she saw him. He was looking at her with those cold venomous eyes. Sephiroth smirked as a wing emerged from his back.

"Sephiroth!" Aerith gasped.

"I don't think that's good. Cid! Speed 'er up!" Yuffie said, as Sephiroth powered up. Lightning began to spark around him.

"I'm trying!! It's too damn rainy!" Cid cursed. He steered and Sephiroth shot an attack of energy at them.

"Hold on tight!" Yuffie yelled, as the energy hit the Gummi ship. The ship began to spin and Yuffie blacked out.

*********

"Yuffie…."

"What?" she asked with a horse voice. She couldn't speak real well.

"Yuffie."

"What?" She said again.

"Yuffie….Can you hear me?" There was a silence and Yuffie replied, "Who's asking for me?"

"Yuffie's not responding. Come on Yuffie. I know you're still in there! Do die on me now!"

"I'm alive! How come you guys can't hear me?!"

"Aerith. Where are you when I need you most?" The voice said, almost pleading.

"…….Squall?"

"Yuffie! Come on! Don't…die," The voice said pleading. Yuffie opened her eyes slowly and her vision came clear. He looked down at her with a glint of concern in his eyes. He was inches from her face and she said slowly, "Squall?"

"Leon." Yuffie glared and realized she was laying on the floor.

"Where are we?" She said sitting up.

"Does this place look familiar?" Squall questioned, waiting for her answer. Yuffie surveyed the area. The large doors, trees, and stores. They were in Traverse town.

"Traverse town!" She exclaimed. She looked up at him and gave him a look of question. "Wait…where are the others?" Squall looked down and didn't reply. Typical Squall. Leaves her hanging. She got up quickly and looked around. There was no Gummi ship, no Cid, no Cloud, and most of all, no Aerith.

"Do you think they're at the hotel?" Yuffie questioned.

"I don't know." Yuffie didn't like 'I don't know' and frowned.

"We're stuck here aren't we?" It was silence and Yuffie said, "Just like old times." She got up and walked around to make sure her legs were in good condition. She bent them and then stretched her arms behind her head. Yuffie looked around and saw the funny mail box was still there. The item shop was right where it was before. The café was next to them and nothing changed there either. Nothing at all.

Yuffie headed up the stairs towards the second district. Squall followed her and she pushed open the doors. She smiled to see everything was yet again, the same as before. She walked down to the hotel and pushed open the doors. Yuffie's smile widened as she saw the three of them.

"Yuffie!" Aerith said, as she turned to face her. Aerith ran to meet up with them and Yuffie rejoiced in her mind.

"Where back…" Yuffie simply said.

"Back like old times…now with the same rules as well." Yuffie gaped. No, no, no, no, no. Uh uh. Not happening. Yuffie waved her hands in front of Aerith's face.

"No! Not happening. I'm strong enough to take them on! I am! Really!" Cid, Cloud, and Aerith both crossed their arms and gave her the look. Yuffie couldn't believe it. "Y-You can't do this!"

"Actually…We can."

******

It had been a couple months since the arrival of Traverse town and Yuffie had been punished in her terms. She now had to share a room with Squall all because Aerith wanted one with Cloud and Cid wanted one to himself.

"You can't do this! Please Aerith! Let me stay with you!" Yuffie asked in a hushed voice.

"It's for your protection. He's going to protect you from the Heartless-"

"I can fight! Why do you do this to me?" Yuffie asked. Aerith just shook her head. Aerith had won the battle and Yuffie lost. Now she was stuck with Squall when she slept. Yuffie stomped out of the room and ran outside. Heartless had been roaming the streets of Traverse town. No signs of Sora been shown either. He was gone and they didn't know if he'd ever come back.

Cid was in the process of making another Gummi Ship, but it would be a while. Squall was gone most of the time and had gone as cold as ever. All he did was throw cold remarks and he looked like he was going to beat her to a plum when she made him mad. If she got hurt while training, he'd yell at her to get up. He showed no mercy and he was like controlling her mind.

He made her want to kill him, but when he got close, she felt she couldn't control her actions. It was like she was a puppet and he would move her anyway he wanted to. That's why she avoided him as much as possible.

Yuffie was sitting on the bed in the Green Room, which she shared with Squall. She was examining her shoes for no reason at all. She was given the rule not to go out alone, but she never abided by it. Aerith would have a cow and send Squall out after her. Surprising enough, he'd actually go out to find her, but not without a few complaints here and there.

"Yuffie?" The brown headed female looked up with curiosity. She gave a slight smile at Aerith.

"Hey."

"Are you okay?" Aerith asked. Yuffie nodded and arched her eyebrows.

"Um…Why do you ask?" Yuffie inquired. Aerith sighed and hesitated. "Aerith…?"

"Yuffie. More uprising attacks with the Heartless came. Seven people lost their hearts…" Yuffie's eyes widened and then she looked down.

"And you didn't tell me about the Heartless attacking?" Yuffie's voice rising already.

"It was for your-"

"No! No Aerith!" Yuffie blew up now standing. "I'm not a child! I can defend myself. Why do you do this to me?! First, I'm always ordered around, second, I'm always criticized, and third, I'm never able to fight without you guys down my backs! I'm sick of this Aerith!" Aerith stood quiet and gazed upon Yuffie with her eyes. Yuffie just growled and cried, "I'm not taking this anymore." She rushed passed Aerith who turned to Yuffie and called her name.

She ran out of the hotel and up the stairs towards the Gizmo shop. This is the place she hid when she didn't want to be found. She burst through the doors and ran up to the other door. She climbed up the ladder and got onto the cement floor. She fell down and cried. Life wasn't fair. They were treating her like a child and she hated it. She wasn't gonna stand for it anymore. It must've been hours before Yuffie noticed the time. Luckily, she never encountered any heartless.

"No one cares… All they want to do is watch me suffer." Yuffie had felt for the years she had been with Aerith she had been the outcast. No one cared for her…or she thought. She had mixed up emotions and she sat where she had fallen earlier. Her bottom was starting to ache a little so she decided to get up and go to the Waterway. Squall would surely be back to the hotel by now. It was late and no heartless ever roamed the Waterway. It was perfect.

Yuffie got up and jumped off the edge of the platform cement she had been on and landed with a thud. She was getting used to jumping from high distances and she hurried towards the alleyway. She pushed open the doors and smiled. No one is sight.

"Great." She wandered over to the Waterway and smiled. She slipped down into the cold water, which made her squeak a little and she continued forth. Yuffie walked into the Waterway unaware. She trampled through the water and only to find herself being watched by the Gunblademan. She looked up and stopped. He was looking at her with his piercing eyes.

"Yipe…" Yuffie said to herself.

"What are you doing alone?" Squall asked gruffly.

"I should ask you the same thing…" Squall went silent and looked at her.

"Well, you shouldn't be out here alone," Squall said. Yuffie looked at him and sighed.

"I can fend for myself." Squall snorted at the comment. Yuffie looked down and scowled. Squall moved towards her and was in front of her when she looked up.

"I'm taking you back to the hotel."

"No…" Yuffie said, looking up at him. "I'm going to stay here."

"Yuffie."

"Squall." She countered.

"That's-"

"I know. Leon." Squall just stood there, his eyes piercing through her.

"Yuffie…What did you do?" Squall asked. Yuffie looked away from Squall and didn't answer.

"You got into another fight with Aerith, didn't you?" Her not answering gave him the clue. "It's because of the loss of people today, isn't it?" Yuffie remained silent.

"Why," she began, "why won't they let me fight with you? Why won't they let me prove myself?"

"Because you're not ready." Yuffie snapped her head up again and frowned.

"I am too ready. You guys won't let me prove it. All you guys do is torture me. I can't do this," she explained while tears began to spill, "I can't do that. I can't do anything. You can just lock me up in a stray jacket for all I care. It won't make a difference anyway!" There was a silence in the Waterway except for Yuffie's crying. Squall still looked at her while she looked down crying.

"Is that…how you really feel?" Squall asked.

"Of course it's how I feel. I can't do anything. I feel like I'm going to explode!" There was a silence then something unexpected happened. He took her hand and pulled her into a hug. Her crying ceased and they stayed in that position for a while.

"Why…Why are you doing this?" Yuffie asked. Squall replied, "We're partners Yuffie. You have to understand that I have to push you to your limits while protecting you at the same time. It goes the same for Aerith, Cid, and Cloud." There was a silence and Yuffie smiled.

"Squall…"

"Leon." Yuffie rolled her eyes.

"Thanks."

A/N: Wow….I spent the whole day writing this!!! It's long than the first chapter and had some Squffie fluffiness…yeah…I hope it wasn't too sappy. Anyway, please review! It'll make me write like this all the time!!!

Thanks,

Starling94