A/N: I come back to you all at the turn of the tide...not really, just with another chapter. Reviews were nonexistent last chapter and that's a bit of a downer...OH WELL!

Please have a good time reading this chapter!

Ch. 5- Love and Things

"Ohhhh crap…I'm…I'm….I is…" started Kit, before he was interrupted by Kythe.

"You're what? Gay, injured, starting to spazz out, questioning your masculinity? C'mon man spit it out!" Kythe said.

"No! I was gonna say that I was dead, but since you're still here…I can't possibly be in the afterlife, seeing as you're virtually unkillable. I mean, you've been through how many different scrapes and tussles with the worst that this whole damn universe has to offer and you don't look stressed at all. Well…aside from the silvery hair." Kit responded.

"I mean, c'mon, why would I be dead if you are dead, because I don't think that spirits can talk to each other in death and even if they could what would they talk about? The corrupt government, our shitty economy, all the crap we're putting our worlds through, how they died, how they plan to spend the rest of eternity, how they want to haunt somebody? What could they possibly talk about?"

There was silence, and then,

"Y'up. He's fine."

"Are you sure? 'Cause he seriously just went off on a completely pointless rant…about dead people. He didn't use to do that." Said Seraph.

"No, he always does that after he experiences very traumatizing ordeals." Kythe explained.

"But, haven't ya'll been dealing with the Aliens and Heartless for a long time? And we always had to hunt them in big groups like that when we were with the Preds."

"No, no. By traumatizing ordeals I was referring to you going and nearly kissing him smack on the lips." Kythe responded.

"Oh…well I'd really hate to see what he would be like when he hears that magic is real."

"Magic? Real? Hardy har har. Not even I'm that stupid! There's no such thing as magic!" Kit retorted from his place on the floor.

"I beg to differ young man." Said a scratchy, old voice from somewhere in the corner.

"Oh come on Merlin! Can't you just show him instead of explaining to him? You know that nobody except the group from Hogwarts can understand you. We only understand that you have to have enough energy to cast it, and that's because Donald didn't care to teach us!" interrupted another voice, one that Kit had heard before, but couldn't name due to the fact that, seeing as he had been unconscious for awhile, he'd missed the introductions.

"Okay, first things first. I need introductions people! I only know two of you! Second, I thought Merlin was a mythical wizard that didn't even exist, and third…WHO THE HELL IS DONALD!" Kit shouted.

"Oh right!" said the more youthful of the two most recent voices. "My name's Riku, the old one obsessed with explaining the complicated complexity's of magic and its properties is Merlin. That," he said pointing to the corner, "As you already know is Leon, next to him fondly cradling the unnecessarily large sword is Cloud, the brown haired beauty over in the "kitchen" is Kairi, and the other brunette helping her is Aerith (sp?). And finally, the two that are not here are Sora and Yuffie."

"Where are they?" Kit asked.

"Well, during the chaos yesterday when we were running from the Aliens and Heartless, Yuffie tripped and took a pretty nasty spill and cracked her head on the ground. She would've been dead if it hadn't been for Sora. He picked her up like she was nothing and kept going." Leon said from the corner.

"That still doesn't answer my question of where they are." Kit pointed out.

"Ah, well, seeing as our magic is somewhat limited, especially in the art of healing, Sora had to take Yuffie to the infirmary, which is ultimately just another room in this underground "fortress"." Leon started.

"Yes, both went in there yesterday and either has yet to emerge. The infirmary, just so you know for future reference, is run by Poppy Pomfery. She is a very able and formidable witch and her skill in healing goes way beyond any of ours." finished Merlin.

Riku snorted, "It's common knowledge that Merlin has a thing for Poppy."

"For the last bloody time, I do not have a thing for Poppy! I just have…a lot of…respect for her." Merlin denied.

As one, the entirety of the room, save Kythe and Kit, replied,

"Bullshit!"

The aged man blushed madly and quickly left the room.

"Oh man, it's so hilarious to get Merlin all worked up." Riku laughed.

"Back to my questions! Are Yuffie and Sora alright?" Kit asked.

"Sora is fine, but Yuffie…she hasn't woken up at all. That's why Sora's still in there; he flat out refused to move from Yuffie's side when Poppy was trying to kick us out so she could work with her patient." Cloud said.

"So, why did I pass out when I fell down through the darkness?" Kit queried.

"It's because of all the protective magic that's set up as our defense from the enemy. It usually takes about three or four tumbles before the magic finally recognizes you. It really is a brilliant piece of work. That Potter kid and his girlfriend sure know how to cast magic." Seraph said in response to his friend's question.

Meanwhile, in the "Infirmary"….

"Sora, I must insist that you get some rest! It's been nearly a day and you haven't even closed your eyes. She'll be fine, she just needs a little while. It was only a minor concussion, easily remedied." Poppy assured the stubborn brunette who didn't even turn away from the motionless ninja.

"Fine! Just don't come crying to me asking for a Pick-Me-Up Potion when you can't see straight!" With that the frustrated medi-witch exited the makeshift hospital.

There was silence for a moment as Sora just stared at the soft features on Yuffie's stoic face.

'She's…beautiful. I..I guess I've never actually noticed…well okay so I have, I just haven't let myself believe…myself. In my defense, she's always so hyper, I can never really catch a good look at her face. Until now.'

Sora sighed.

He knew that nobody blamed him for what happened, and that Yuffie wouldn't either, but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling like he could've prevented her predicament.

'Just remember you numbskull, it was only a fall, and you managed to get to her before the real threat did. You're just putting yourself through all this grief because you realized that you love her and that she was almost taken from you in the blink of an eye. I think all this chaotic crap has finally hit home for you.'

"Yeah, it has. Too close." Sora whispered as he slipped his hand into Yuffie's, intertwining his fingers with hers.

He gently put his hand on her face, running it softly across her cheek. He didn't realize he was crying.

"Oh god Yuffie, I-I almost lost you! I was so scared…I-I…" he couldn't form any type of coherent thought after that, he just stared at Yuffie's emotionless face.

"Yuff…I..I l-love you. I didn't realize how much until it was nearly too late! Please wake up! I need you here, I need…I need…I need you. You're the reason that I get up every morning, you're the reason that I fight, you're the reason that I still have hope. You're my world."

At this, Yuffie stirred. The hand Sora clasped gripped his, as if trying to make sure it was real.

"S-Sora? Where…? Sora!" she cried as she threw herself at him, drawing him into an embrace.

Sora was stunned.

"Oh Sora…I-I…I heard what you said. Everything. I was trying…I've been trying to get up since yesterday, but I couldn't. And then I heard you…and I followed your voice back… I have something to tell you though."

'Oh great,' Sora thought, 'I knew I should've kept to myself, every time I say something like that it always ends bad. Like Kairi, she ended up with Riku. Dammit!"

"Sora?"

"What?"

Yuffie giggled, "I said I need to tell you something."

Sora mentally prepared himself for another heartbreak.

"I…I…I-Oh screw this!" With that, she jumped at him again, this time crashing her lips down over his in a rather…passionate kiss.

At first Sora was too dumbstruck to even react, but eventually he came round and readily responded to Yuffie's kiss with vigor.

It was sweet bliss, until a rather loud "He-hem!" caused both teens to shoot apart.

"Well, it's good to see you awake Yuffie, but had I known that all it required to revive you was mouth-to-mouth, you would have been up a lot sooner." Poppy said with an amused glint in her eyes.

"Well, heh…never know!" Yuffie threw out.

Poppy laughed, "No, I suppose not. Now I must ask you to leave Sora, while I check over my patient one last time before I release her."

Sora nodded.

"Sora," whispered Yuffie as she caught his hand, "….I love you."

Sora smiled, before bending down and giving her a soft kiss on the lips.

"I know. I'll see you in a few?"

Yuffie nodded before turning to Poppy.

"Ahh, young love. How I envy you Yuffie."

"Aww…come on Poppy, rumor has it that Merlin's got a thing for you."

Poppy blushed a deep crimson, "..D-Do you really think…oh never mind! Now let's finish up this once over so you can get back to your friends."

Yuffie laughed.

A/N: Well, there's another chapter for the Seventh Blade. If you think that this one had some pointless points in it as well as some parts that make no sense then I agree with you. For some reason this chapter seemed harder to write than the others.

No worries though, I'm hoping the next one will be easier. Please R&R!

HakushoRurouni