Disclaimer: I do not own anything Squaresoft does.

Chapter Nine

Yuffie

"He has been rather silent this whole trip," the blonde whispered to the pilot. It would be a long trip to Hollow Bastion since they had to pass all of the worlds to get by and what held them back longer was the heartless trying to keep them away.

"Ahh, the boy's okay. He's just thinking about her," the pilot muttered. Normally, Cid would just hit and curse at the boy, but the current moment didn't seem right. They knew how he felt about Yuffie (although he had a hard time admitting it) but they knew he'd come forth when he swallowed his pride.

It seemed different without Yuffie around. They hoped she was all right since they had no idea what was happening in Hollow Bastion. Sephiroth heeded to make Squall think that if he killed her in his dream or perhaps nightmare. They all knew he wouldn't since he kidnapped her in the first place because of his 'attraction' toward the petite ninja.

Cloud turned his icy gaze toward Squall, whom was giving off a pouting look. After running a hand though his thick blonde spikes, Cloud pursed his lips while leaning over his seat to talk to the disdained man. Squall was apparently in deep thought because he didn't realize Cloud watching him. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips but soon dissolved in a slight frown.

"What are you thinking about Leonhart? You seem a little 'gone' at the moment," Cloud's voice broke through his thoughts. Cloud gave a slight shrug when he received a death glare as a response. "You'll get to her. It's not like Sephiroth would do anything to her. Although, he is unwell in the in the mind, it doesn't mean he can't hide his affection for the girl so he'll do everything to protect..."

"Who the fuck likes an eighteen year old when they're almost thirty years older than her?" Squall growled venomously as he interrupted the one-winged-angel.

"Many in this world are of such in the mind, which means they can't control emotion. I for one have a belief you may perceive the feeling," Cloud replied to his nasty comment. Apparently, Squall wasn't happy that such an aged man (who looked twenty still) would be attracted toward an innocent girl. No one would happy with that in the first place. Cloud even felt it wasn't right. Of course, it wasn't right! The man was very mentally indisposed.

"He'll feel your wrath soon enough, Leon. But for now, concentrate on how we're supposed to get into the castle and defeat that crazy son of a bitch," He replied in a rather harsh tone. Leon gave a scowl in reply to his advice. His mind couldn't concentrate on anything else but Yuffie. He had the feelings for her…but he figured he couldn't tell her because he felt that he was too childish with his feelings or…He didn't want to hurt her. Squall began to wonder how Cloud was taking Aerith's kidnapping. He seemed calm and collected, but underneath that expression, he knew the fire burned inside his mind for revenge.

Maybe the fire in him burned for revenge, but the softer part of Cloud figured he wouldn't touch Aerith because of Yuffie. That petite ninja probably threatened do to rash and uncaring things to herself…or maybe Yuffie hadn't seen the perky flower girl yet. That was a great possibility as well but Squall was aiming more for the first choice. What bothered the swordsman most was that Hollow Bastion was supposed to be burned down and dilapidated but now they were heading toward the ruins of it. Maybe it wasn't even in ruins and just maybe it wasn't even harmed, but only intruded and taken over by those wrenched Heartless.

"Ah damn it!" Came the pilot's voice as the Gummi ship suddenly jolted downward hurling Leon into the side of the ship with a loud batter. He rubbed her shoulder, which seemed to be in the most pain, and turned toward the front with a dangerous glare plastered on his face.

He was about to chew out Cid for causing an upstart, but kept his mouth shut as he realized the ship was directed downwards.

"Pull the damn ship up!" Squall practically screamed at the pilot. The pilot glanced at him a death glare toward the man and frowned.

"I am trying to keep this thing flying so shut the hell up!" Cid growled harshly. Cloud looked back and frowned.

"Leon," Cloud began in an unusual whisper. Leon turned his gaze over toward the one-winged-angel.

"What?" He asked in a low growl.

"Prepare for crashing."

(Now to Yuffie...God...the stupid won't let me put stars to separate them!)

"Yuffie," a voice called. The trembling woman looked over. She had bruises on her face and cuts. Squall had attacked her…She felt as if she could never trust him again. He came and didn't even rescue her but only attacked her. He called her horrid names and scowled. He almost killed her but her last minute thinking saved her life. What made her wonder was…Was it really Squall? He had never tried to hurt her before and right now, she was just so unsure.

"Aerith?" She felt a warm hand touch her cheek for reassurance.

"Oh dear. You're cold Yuffie," her soft voice came. She gave a weak smile and then closed her eyes. She couldn't tell if she was dreaming or not. She hadn't seen Aerith for a while and it brought rapture to her mind to know she was all right. At the current moment, nothing seemed to make her happier than seeing someone she knew.

"Please keep your eyes open," Aerith said in an anxious voice. "We don't want to lose you right now…" Yuffie shot her eyes open and said, "Who's we?"

"Everyone you know, Yuffie," Aerith said warmly, but her smile turned a little sour when she realized Yuffie frowned at the word everybody.

"Hmph," Yuffie snorted. She gave a slight laugh, while she crossed her arms sorely.

"What do you mean? Is there something wrong?" Aerith asked, as she tilted her head to inquisition. Yuffie frowned and said, "Don't you see the wounds on my face?" She gave a moment for Aerith's answer and continued once she saw her nod.

"Do you know where I got those from?" Yuffie asked. Aerith opened her mouth but Yuffie cut her off. "They're not from Sephiroth. They're from Squall." Aerith her eyes widened and shook her head in confusion.

"But how? He's never been here…"

"Yes! He has…" Yuffie blurted then quietly shook her head. "Why do you think I am in this dungeon? Squall had put me here laughing along with Sephiroth. He hates me," she said as her eyes clouded with tears. "He attacked me…I don't know where Cloud is…Sephiroth already killed him. I saw it with my own eyes! And you…I never saw you till now and I'm glad you're okay…"

"Yuffie! This is not true! Don't believe Sephiroth!"

"But I saw it with my own eyes! You can't really have any other explanation!" Yuffie retorted angrily.

"He's putting illusions in your head," Aerith's voice reached her as it grew deeper in anger towards Sephiroth.

"Then how do you explain these bruises and wounds I've obtained? Huh? Can you answer that one?" Yuffie huffed. She slowly began to stand up and advance towards Aerith.

"He's done something to you," Aerith whispered in fear. She scanned Yuffie's appearance and shook her head. "It's just illusions!"

"So are you saying you're an illusion? So it wouldn't matter if I did this?" She said as she gave Aerith a push knocking her to the ground.

"Stop it!" Aerith yelled in alarm.

"Oh," Yuffie said as her voice talked like a baby, "does it hurt? Illusions should hurt now should they? See this shouldn't hurt too bad either if you're are an illusion." She pulled out a ninja star and let it glimmer in what little light they had in the dungeon.

"You've gone psycho!" Aerith said as the fear in her voice increase. "Stop it!"

"Here! Feel my wrath illusion!" Yuffie said as she pulled her arm back to throw. Aerith covered herself for protection waiting for the impact and gave a slight whimper.

"…." Aerith peeked up and saw Yuffie just standing there. "Huh?" Her body slumped to the ground in a heap and her breathing became soft. "Yuffie?"

Footsteps echoed in the dim moonlight and came forth a small figure. Aerith's eyes widened and she jumped over towards Yuffie and screamed while she used her body as cover, "You shall not touch my friend!" A quiet laugh echoed and Aerith looked up.

"You still have faith in her as a friend as she tried to kill you?" Then the laugh continued. She knew the person was just kidding. She lifted her head to try to get a visual glance at who was standing in front of her in the darkened shadows. She beamed at the person in delight and practically leaped onto the person when he revealed himself to her.

"Sora!" Aerith examined him; his hair was ruffled along covering his sweet blue eyes. He wore peculiar clothes; they seemed to be similar to his old fashion. His hair was a bright brown illuminating in the moon rays while his teeth and eyes glimmered.

"Hey Aerith…Miss me?" He flashed the sweet flower girl his same cocky grin.

"Where have you been?! Sephiroth said…"

"Oh Sephiroth says a lot of things! I'll tell you later! We have to get Yuffie out of here. She's sick. Sephiroth poisoned her with mind illusion. In these illusions, the things that happen hurt her if any physical abuse is made," Sora explained in a slow breath. Adjusting himself, he bent down to look at Yuffie's wounds to see how bad they were.

"She said Leon attacked her. He did…but it wasn't the real Leon. Sephiroth made that illusion so she would hate him will all her might. We can't let that happen, we have to get her out of here, and fast or she might suffer brain problems. He's poisoned her too much…"

"I knew it! I figured Sephiroth has done something…He always does something to an innocent," she growled. If Leon knew about this, Sephiroth's death would come quicker than a jackrabbit. Then it struck her mind and she inquired, "How are we supposed to get out of here? I've tried…" Sora just grinned and picked Yuffie up bringing her around to his back for an easy transportation.

"How do you think I got in here?" He shifted his deep blue eyes over to a dusty stone wall with water leaking through. Aerith tilted her head in bewilderment and began to speak, but Sora put a gloved finger over her lip to keep her aphonic.

"Follow me," he whispered in a hushed voice. Aerith only continued to nod, while trailing behind him at a quick pace. They were actually going to make it out of there alive. One person had redeemed her hope and she felt warm hearted because of it. Yuffie was going to be okay…or she hoped she would be. Sora gave her enough confidence to believe nothing would go wrong. After all, he had defeated Sephiroth before, but would he do it again…or leave it to Cloud and Leon? It was unknown right now because all she could do was think about Yuffie's safety.

Sora inched over to the wall as he adjusted Yuffie on his back so he could reach out and pull the wall away. In as quick as a second, he motioned Aerith to go through and he would follow. She obeyed curtly. In her view came a long set of crumbling stairs. At first, she wasn't too sure about even taking a step on the corroded stairs for fear of them breaking underneath her. Sora ushered her too move faster so she took a sharp breath and began to lightly jog down the steps. The light taps of Sora's feet motioned her to know he was right behind her.

It was then only seconds later; Aerith's foot met the bottom of the step that didn't happen to with hold her weight. She stumbled to keep balanced and held herself up at the end of the stairs.

"Oh yeah," Sora began, "I forgot to tell you about that stair didn't I?" Aerith gave a scowl of anger but wiped it off because of her pure thinking.

"Alright…Which way?"

(Back with Leon)

"Leon," a voice called out. "Get up."

"No…."

"Get up or else I will kick you."

"…."

"Ow! All right! I'm up!" He scowled rubbing the side of his leg. His fierce azure gaze turned toward the blonde.

"We're here," Cloud informed. They were at the bottom of the steps to the entrance of Hollow Bastion. Leon felt a smirk inch its way up his lips. Now, he could finally see Yuffie again. Cloud would be happy too since the love of his life was probably with her unharmed. If not…he'd probably go berserk again and stay here until he could find her.

Whipping his Gunblade around, Squall headed toward the entrance of his home. Of course, Heartless began to attack them but will kept him going. He had to see her again. She had to be safe so he could be with her again. Even if he would just train and criticize her, he would still be there with her.

"She should be somewhere in Hollow Bastion. This won't be too hard," Cloud began, "since you know the place front and back…."

"Yes…" They were already in the entrance of Hollow Bastion and Leon took a sharp breath. Something in the wall began to move and from there a figure, no two emerged.

"Yuffie?" Everyone came to a halt.

A/N: I know it's been long. Heck, I'm in high school now and I have something going on every frikin day of the week. So I write in my spare times and I haven't been writing much but I'm itching to write again. I'm anxious to finish this story too…lol so review and tell me how you like it! What do I need to improve? (Other than updating frequently.)

Thanks! Starling94