Chapter Seventeen

Tight Security & Yuffie's Secret Stash

Reeve and Barret were talking on their cell phones, Reeve with Mayor Domino and Barret with Dio, while the others were deciding on what they would be doing next. They hung up and joined the conversation.

"Well, I just discussed what we found to the Mayor and we agreed we should send soldiers to towns with large populations on all the continents. He also said that there would be a curfew so no one can enter or leave the towns after 10 P.M."

"An' Dio said he and some close friends o' his would keep an eye on the town while I'm gone."

Cloud nodded and he leaned against the window.

"Now that continent security is being taken care of, that's one burden off our shoulders. So we sit and think of a way to stop Jenova and Hojo."

Aeris looked over at Jessi and she was looking out the window with a slight frown on her face. Cid chewed on his cigarette and scowled.

"And not to mention his &$# monsters as well. Damnit I hate them creepy creations of his."

Vincent looked at him with a raised eyebrow and Tifa glared at him.

"Cid! Honestly, you can be so insensitive!"

Cid looked at Vincent and grinned.

"Oh I didn't hurt the vampires feelings, did I Vince?"

Vincent side-glanced at Jessi, then at Cid again. Cid looked over to Jessi and he scratched his head.

"Oh…eh sorry 'bout that little lady, I didn't mean to offend you…see, I tease Vincent all the time and…"

"I didn't take what you said offensively Captain, but neither Vincent or myself are vampires."

She looked him in the eye and he swallowed.

"Understand."

It wasn't a question; Cid looked away and grumbled. Tifa smiled at Jessi and turned back to Cloud.

"So, its back to the Crater then?"

Cloud shrugged. "We need to find Hojo first then go to the Crater."

"Hojo will be trying to set Jenova free, he should be at the Northern Crater already." Sephiroth said.

Aeris nodded.

"He's right, we should prepare ourselves then head over there as quickly as possible."

Yuffie jumped in.

"Hey, let's go to Wutai first."

Cloud raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Like we haven't heard that one; do you think you can pull the same stunt twice Yuffie?"

Yuffie's jaw dropped and she looked hurt.

"I'm not…"

"The same immature sixteen year old brat, so you tell us."

"…Brat? I never said I was a brat."

"You didn't have to say so, we knew."

She scowled at Cloud and he grinned.

"Oh I'm kidding, we'll go to Wutai."

Yuffie smirked and went off to her spot on the ship. Cloud shook his head and laughed.

"I wonder what she has up her sleeve this time."

They landed outside Wutai a short time later and disembarked off the ship. Yuffie ran ahead of them and looked back.

"Come on slowpokes, I haven't got all day!"

They all headed for the town but Sephiroth stayed back. Aeris looked at him.

"Sephiroth?"

"I will stay here until you return; the people will not be so happy to see me…again."

She looked at him and nodded then hurried on to catch up with the others. Sephiroth walked back on to the ship and sat outside on the back deck to wait. The others followed Yuffie into a small shop nearby the pub. A young girl walked out and she smiled warmly when she seen Yuffie.

"Lady Kisaragi, you have returned!"

Yuffie smiled in return.

"Hello Yulu, no I'm not back for good yet, is Hotari here?"

Yulu nodded and went to the back of the shop. A different woman came out a few moments later smiling as soon as she appeared.

"Yuffie!"

She threw her arms around her and laughed.

"I have missed you so much."

Yuffie laughed.

"I've only been gone for a few weeks."

"Yes well we don't have our guardian to help bring in new merchandise and the tourists have no rare items to take home with them."

"Oh is that why you missed me?"

"Nonsense, now Yulu says you are not here to stay so what can I do for you?"

"…Remember that big load I brought in one day and told you to keep somewhere safe?"

Hotaru's face registered shock, then went back to normal; she nodded.

"Well, I'm gonna need it pretty soon. Where is it at?"

"In Da Chao Mountain; it's in a lava pool so you'll need a water scale."

Yuffie looked at Cloud and he pulled the dragon scale out of his pocket a moment later.

"We have one, got it after stealing a submarine during one of our missions a few years back."

Hotaru nodded.

"The more rare items are in Da Chao, but…"

She motioned for them to follow her and they went to the back of the store. Hotaru moved a rug from the floor and pulled up a few floorboards. A safe was facing up at them and Hotaru began to input the digits.

"The other important items are here."

The safe clicked open and Yuffie smiled at Hotaru; she kneeled down and began to pull out all kinds of armor and items. Cloud and the others gawked at her.

"Yuffie, did you…"

"Don't you dare ask if I stole all of this."

She started to sort everything out and looked at them.

"I became Wutai's guardian after I left and I battled all kinds of monsters to get their items for Hotaru's shop. At times Yoshi and I would travel around to all the continents where there were harder monsters…"

After she organized everything she smiled.

"And harder enemies means better items. I found caves that we had somehow passed up and I found many rare things. So I brought them all back and told Hotaru to keep them somewhere safe in case I would ever need them…and now we do so start equipping and stocking up because we have two more stops to make!"

Everyone began to pick their armor out and Tifa picked through the items then distributed them.

"Wow, there must be a ton of mega elixirs here. This is really something."

"You think that's good, this Tetra bangle grants immunity to all elemental attacks and it takes off non-elemental damage by 45."

"There is armor in there that is even better than that. Like unbreakable shields and magic barriers; and that arm guard that Tifa has on, prevents any kind of stats changes."

Cloud perked up. "So no turning into a toad?"

Yuffie nodded and Cloud lunged for Tifa.

"Gimme that, I hate being transformed."

Tifa easily dodged him and laughed.

"Why? You make such a cute little frog."

Everyone chuckled and finished getting ready. Yuffie gave Hotaru a hug and said goodbye.

"Thank you so much for keeping all of this, when our fight is over, you are going to be rich from it all."

Hotaru smiled and tears began to form in her eyes.

"…I always hoped you wouldn't need all of this again, please be careful."

Yuffie winked at her then left. They climbed up Da Chao and cleared the lava pool protecting their treasure. Yuffie opened up a very large metal crate and looked at the others.

"…Dig in."

They all stepped up to the crate and gasped. Inside the crate were their mastered materia and all kinds of other materia as well. There were weapons for everyone that Cloud assumed was as powerful as the Ultimate weapons, but with more benefits. They all grabbed their weapon of choice while Yuffie handed them materia to fill the slots in the armor and weapon. Jessi looked at everyone's weapon then back down at her own.

"My sickle cannot hold any Materia… and I've never even casted a spell before."

Yuffie grinned.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you how to cast magic later. You can wear armor to keep your materia in. Is everyone ready, I just have one more stop."

They all put their new weapons away and followed Yuffie down the mountain and towards another part of her hometown. When they went in Godo's house she turned to them.

"I won't be long. Please wait here."

Aeris smiled at Yuffie warmly.

"Take your time."

Yuffie smiled and went back to her father's room. Everyone sat down and relaxed while Yuffie was saying her good-byes. She slid open her father's door and kneeled down in front of him.

"Godo, I hate to say it…"

"You are leaving again. That is why you are fully equipped isn't it?"

Yuffie closed her eyes and nodded.

"I don't want to…"

"It is your duty as guardian of Wutai and one of the planet's heroes to protect us. You are a strong and noble Ninja, the last of our family at that, and you have great power flowing through your veins. You are going to be a great leader Yuffie."
Yuffie bowed her head.

"But that wont be for a long time yet…"

"It will be sooner than you think."

She snapped her head up and looked at him.

"Don't say such things, look at how far you have come already."

Godo smiled at her.

"My dear, I am old and my time here is running out. I have no qualms about dying, I am just part of the never-ending cycle of life and death. You don't need to worry about anything except for the current obstacle in your path."

Yuffie nodded and stood up.

"I will come back as soon as possible. And you will be here Godo or else…"

He laughed and she hugged him. He was taken aback, but he hugged her tightly; it was the first embrace they had shared in years. There wont be many more… he thought silently to himself. She broke away and nodded to him before turning to leave. She closed the door and joined the rest of her friends. Cloud looked at everyone and smacked his fist.
"Allright everyone, lets get this party started!"