CHAPTER 6

THE BRIDGE

When Yuffie finally caught up with Vincent she grabbed his one shoulder and brought him to a stop. "Vincent, how could you!?" she demanded.

"Look, I don't want you getting involved," he said, turning around and looking down at her. "I'm going to be going to the Shinra Headquarters. It could be dangerous."

"I told you before, I live for danger," the ninja said, stepping back and folding her arms. "Besides; do you want me telling the other guys what you're up to?"

Vincent sighed and looked away from her. She is such a sneak! She did want to blackmail me! Now I have to do what she wants!

"All right," he said, shrugging. "Whatever."

He walked away from her.

"Could you slow down, please?" she called, trying to keep up with him. "I can't keep up!"

"Like I care," he said and just kept walking.

"Hey, it couldn't hurt for you to be a little nicer," Yuffie said, dashing up to him so she could walk beside him.

Vincent didn't say anything.

"I never really paid any attention to this before but Cloud was right. You are cold," she commented. "Way too cold. You should learn to warm up to people."

"Ha ha," he said, looking down at her. "Very funny."

"I wasn't trying to be funny."

By then they'd reached the foot of the mountains. Vincent instantly started to walk the well worn path. Yuffie had to walk behind him because the path was so narrow. A silence lingered for a few minutes as they trecked up the mountains.

"I'd just like to know one thing," the ninja said, after a few minutes.

He sighed. Here she goes again. "What?"

"If you were around before Sephiroth was born and he's thirty, how can you be twenty seven now?"

Why is she asking about that?

"I didn't age while I was sleeping," he told her. "Time was frozen for me."

She noticed any mention of the subject upset him. She plowed on anyway. "So since Sephy was thirty when he died and you were twenty seven before he was born that makes you fifty seven now!"

Vincent came to a stop. He turned around and glared at her. "I am not fifty seven!" he snapped. "I am twenty seven. Do I look fifty seven?"

"No," she said, looking him over.

"Then why do you think I am?"

"Becau- nevermind."

They walked in silence for almost an hour. Soon the pair arrived at a bridge. Yuffie remembered that bridge. She had only crossed it once before but she knew where it led. The Mako Reactor and the path to Rocket Town.

"Be careful," Vincent ordered, putting out his arm to keep her from walking ahead. "This bridge doesn't look as safe as it did the last time we crossed it. I'll go over first. I weigh more than you. If it holds me it will hold you."

The ninja nodded. "All right," she said. "Go for it."

Vincent walked across the bridge at a normal, steady, pace, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his steps never slowing or stopping.

Yufie watched him cross, all the time worrying that the bridge would break and he would fall. That didn't happen. By the time he'd reached the other side she was extreamly nervous. Once he'd actually gotten off the bridge she sighed in relief.

He turned around and beckoned to her. "Now you come!" he called to her. "Do what I did and you'll be fine."

The ninja slowly stepped onto the bridge, her hands gripping the rope railing tightly. Don't look down. Just don't look down! Just do what he did and you'll be fine. she kept telling herself.

She was doing fine until about halfway across when the wind blew up, causing the bridge to sway. Yuffie tightened her grip on the railing but couldn't stop herself from looking down.

When she did her whole body froze in terror. There seemed to be no ground below. Her heart began to pound. She told herself to keep going but she couldn't. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't move.

Her hand went to her chest as she gasped for breath. What was I thinking!?

From where Vincent stood he watched the girl. He felt something was wrong. She'd gotten about halfway and stopped. She hadn't moved since.

She's too scared to move, he concluded, watching her. I'd better do something.

Even though he could have walked away he chose not to. Before he could change his mind he stepped onto the bridge and walked toward her.

"Yuffie!" he called.

She slowly turned her head to look at him.

He was still walking toward her. He put out his hand. "You stay there I'll come to you," he instructed. "When I reach you, take my hand."

The girl nodded slowly and didn't move. She kept her eyes on him as he walked toward her.

He didn't look down or let his attention linger, it was easy for him to keep his mind on one thing. His only goal for the time was her. The only thing that mattered was her safety. Even though he found her obnoxious sometimes he knew he had to help her. After all they'd been through many things together. Including killing Hojo. If I abandon her now I will be no better than him!

As he got closer he heard her whimpering. "Please hurry, Vinnie."

He still didn't like being called that but it wasn't important at the moment. She was the only thing that mattered.

Finally he was just inches from her. "Yuffie, take my hand!" he called over the wind.

The ninja reached for it. The wind blew and she grabbed the railing. "I can't!" she shouted.

"You have to!" he yelled. "Try again."

Once more she reached for his hand. This time when the wind blew she yelped and took it. As she let go of the railing he pulled her toward him. She fell into him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Yuffie..." he began.

"No! I am not letting go!" she shouted, before he could say anymore. "If I do I'll fall!"

Vincent said nothing. His claw gripped the railing. The wind was still blowing the bridge. He snuck a look down then looked back up instantly. Well, that was a dumb thing to do!

"Okay, here's what we'll do," he said slowly. "You just hold onto me. I can't turn around on this bridge with you holding on..."

"I'm not letting go!" she yelled again.

"You don't have to," he said. "Just look behind me. I'm going to have to walk backwards. You'll have to be my eyes so I don't make a wrong step. Okay?"

The ninja was nodding vigerously.

"Okay, here we go." He took one step back.

That's how it was the rest of the way. Since he couldn't see what he was doing and Yuffie was practically being dragged backwards, since she couldn't stand anymore, it was slow moving. There were a few tense moments as they went but, other than that, nothing else happened. Once they reached the mountain at the other end they both breathed a little easier.

Yuffie let him go, collapsed onto the ground, and sighed in relief. "Thanks, Vinnie, you saved me!"

"Please don't call me that," he said, not looking at her. "But you're welcome."

Yuffie got up in his face. "Why not?" she asked, her voice full of offence. "What's wrong with being called 'Vinnie'?"

"Nothing," he replied evenly. "I just don't like it."

"I think the name is cute," she said.

"Then use it on something that's cute," he said starting to turn away from her. "If you want to call someone Vinnie and be cute about it get a cat."

Yuffie raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "I call you Vinnie because I like you!" she roared. "It's a compliment! What? Do you want me to call you Mr. Meloncolly?"

Vincent grabbed her hand. She saw a red mark on his cheek. "If you want to compliment me," he said, closing his eyes. "Please don't call me that. Just call me Vincent, okay?"

"All right!" she conceeded, glaring at him. "Whatever!"

"Thank you." He let go of her hand and turned toward the path. "Let's go."

Yuffie shook her head and followed the gunman. Man, I told him I liked him and he didn't even react! she shrugged. All well!

They were finally finished. Cloud was the first to head upstairs. He left Cid, Tifa, and Barret reshelving the last of the books.

When he came upstairs he found Cait Sith and Nanaki sprawled on the front area carpet, playing cards. He stared at them a moment. He couldn't understand how the fire wolf was holding cards in his paws, but he was.

"Got any threes?" Nanaki addressed Cait Sith.

"Go Fish," the cat said.

The wolf picked up a card.

"Yeah, I got paws so I can't help clean up but I can still play Go Fish," Cloud said sarcasticly.

The two animals looked up. "Hey, Cloud, you guys done?" Nanaki asked.

Yes, no thanks to you guys... He nodded. "Did either Vincent or Yuffie come by?"

Cait Sith shook his head. "Nope, but I still think he should have been helping you guys. After all, he was the one who made the mess."

"That wouldn't have worked. He might have gone nuts again."

"What was his problem anyway?"

The blond shook his head. "I don't know, but maybe Yuffie found out."

"That reminds me," Cait Sith said, hopping up to Cloud. "I thought I heard her yelling at someone outside earlier. When I looked out the window I didn't see anyone."

"Maybe you were hearing things," the human suggested.

"Maybe," the cat agreed. "But I think we should head to the inn and check on them, just to make sure."

"I was planning on doing that," Cloud said, heading for the door. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure, why not," Nanaki said, standing up. "We don't have anything else to do."

Except play Go Fish instead of working... Cloud didn't say.

The three headed to the inn. Cloud entered first and walked up the stairs with the animals following close behind.

"Hey, didn't you tell Yuffie to keep the door closed?" Cith Sith asked, when they'd reached the top of the stairs.

"Yeah," the human said stopping. He looked toward the door. It was wide open. "What the...?" he stopped. "What is she doing?"

He ran into the room. "Oh no! Yuffie!" they heard him exclaim.

"What?" Cait Sith asked, hopping to the door. "What is it?"

He and Nanaki didn't even have to enter. They saw what was wrong right away. The room was empty.

"She didn't!" the cat exclaimed.

Cloud looked over at them. "She did!" he confirmed.