Okay… I'm not even sure if sorry could ever come close to being enough. I literally disappeared off the face of the Earth for a year, and then I come back randomly to bring you a chapter of a story I think I swore to myself that I would never finish. Alas, here I am… with another chapter. This past year has been one of the hardest years of my life… there have just been too many things coming all at once, but I've gotten through it and it's made me a stronger person…

NOW! WITHOUT ANY MORE DELAYS, I BRING YOU…

Bleeding Roses – Chapter 8.

Disclaimer – Do I look like I own anything? I don't even own a computer anymore, much less FFVII.

This had never happened before and Vincent was more than a little worried. Vincent had been seeing Yuffie for a couple of months now, and never in this time had she either not picked up her phone or not returned his call within the next hour or two. Yet, it had been two days and he hadn't heard a peep from her no matter how many times he tried to call her. It hadn't helped that he had been working extra these days because summer was drawing near and more and more people were doing stupid stunts because the warm weather just seemed to invigorate them so.

And yet, this wasn't just another period where she was so busy writing that she didn't have time for the phone. She and Cloud had just recently put out another book so she could relax for a while. No, Vincent had a gut feeling that something was seriously wrong. Grabbing his keys, he practically ran out of his apartment and towards the subway. Something was wrong, he knew it, and he was going to find out what it was.

After taking two subways and walking three blocks to her apartment across town. He raced up three flights of stairs, each stair he went up filling him with more dread. Panting, he knocked on her apartment door; the small kitten mobile that was hanging from the doorknob shook violently. Standing still, he tried to catch his breath as he waited for the door to open. After about thirty seconds, the door slowly began to creak open and he was faced with a red-eyed puffy-cheeked Yuffie. Instantly pulling her into his embrace, he led her back into her small, clean apartment and sat her down on the couch.

"What's happened? You haven't been returning any calls for the past two days and then I come and see you like this?" He spoke as gently as he could as to not agitate her any more. Yuffie looked up at him for a moment and started on a fresh set of tears. Vincent held her tighter and gently rocked her back and forth until she was ready to start talking. Gently pulling away but staying in Vincent's arms, Yuffie wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

"On top of everything that's happened… on top of all the shit that's happened to my family… and to me… now she…" Her face got a little redder as if she was to start crying again at any moment, but she held it back.

"My mother… she… passed away. She was the only person left in my damn family that I remotely cared for. I know that I haven't really told you anything about my family or my past… but I think that now I'm ready to… but are you ready to hear it?" The way she said it told Vincent that what she was about to say was not the easiest thing to get out. He nodded slowly, wondering if he truly was ready to hear it. Yes, he had his own problems and things to atone for in his life, but Yuffie seemed so light and carefree at times that it was hard to imagine that anything bad could have ever happened to her.

"Thank you. Vincent," She finally said, "You're the first person, besides Tifa, that has actually listened to me. You mean a lot to me, Vincent, don't ever forget that no matter how much of a bitch to you I get because a lot of the time I'm only doing it to just.. I dunno. Fuck, I don't know anymore. My father… he's a Lord in China. He's like… the Bill Gates of martial arts. He married my mother when she was just fifteen and he was like… twenty-four. She had me at seventeen, which is a fucking shame and I promised myself that I would never end up like her. She had my brother, Shingo, when she was twenty, but I'll get to that in a moment. My father was a tyrant who only cared about appearances. He's very traditional and only let his "family" out of the house if we were in full kimono and whatnot. He made sure I could speak at least four languages, which is why I now speak Chinese, Japanases, English, French, and Spanish, but only a select few people know that." She looked up at Vincent and smiled slightly. "Anyway, my father got into a disagreement with another Lord and began to fued with him, which was a stupid idea because Lord Shake was much more skilled at fighting than he. Now, I know you must be thinking that this is completely ridiculous for all of this to be happening in modern China, but what happens between the Lords stays between the Lords and the rest of China and, especially the police, stay the hell out of it." Yuffie stopped for a moment and took a sip of the green tea that had been sitting on the table. Vincent was beside himself just trying to take all of this in. She was the daughter of a lord, technically a princess, and she practically grew up in a modernized feudal era? All of this raced through Vincent's head as Yuffie took her small break.

Taking a deep breath, Yuffie started up again. "So, my father lost a lot of money and a lot of power, but he couldn't stand that, so he decided, all on his own, that he would enlist me to steal to gain back our former glory. How the hell that was going to happen, I don't know, but he apparently thought it would work. His grand idea was to… put me up for sale for the highest bidder, and once they… took me home… then it would be my job to steal jewelry from them whilst they were… occupied. I was basically… a glorified whore." Yuffie shuddered slightly, but shook her head to clear things out. Vincent sat there speechless.

"I couldn't take it anymore. I was too fucked in the head at this point to realize that this was all fucked up, but I kept doing it because I didn't want to see my mother and kid brother on the streets. Then one day I went semi-insane and ran away. I traveled all the way to Japan and met Toji… a man who I thought I loved. But, I was too fucked up and needy for some real feelings that I actually fell into the arms of a pedophile who fucked with me even more. Then, one day, I was walking down the street and I was suddenly picked up the police. Apparently, when I disappeared, my father was so distraught that his main money-making puppet was gone that he pulled the whole caring father bit and put out a warrant over all of Asia for me. Then they found out about Toji and I had to go through a whole series of trials and all my parents could talk about was whether or not I had gotten AIDS from him, which scared the shit outta me. And, let me tell you, there is nothing more nerve-racking then getting the test results from someone who might have given you AIDS. Thank the gods, he didn't have it, but it was just… hard.

"And from that point on, my father basically just… disowned me. My mother still cared for me, but in that way that only mothers can. My father wisely decided to not put me back in that business, and opted to make money by regular means, which was a huge relief on my part. The bad part was that he now had my brother doing regular performances as some acrobat… and my brother was only about twelve or thirteen at this time. I was about… fifteen-sixteen. Then he got fed up and just up and left one day. So young… yet he just left. It broke my heart because he and I were so close. He left me a letter… I was the only one he left anything to. And to do this day, I still cry if I read it… because I never did hear from him again. We don't even know if he's alive or not." A few rebel tears streaked her face, but she didn't let them all fall. Not yet, at least.

"That was when I knew I had to get away. I told my parents that this was it and I had to leave for the better of everything. My poor mother, only in her mid-thirties now, left crying and my father just beat the shit out of me and told me not to come back until I had more respect for the Kisaragi name. Then I took what money I had and left to come to the states. I chose New York because I felt I could blend in the best here. Here is where I found myself, started anew, and then I began to write… and then I think you know the rest from there." She stopped finally and took a deep breath. Vincent was in shock. He knew that she avoided the subject of her family, but he never, in his right mind, could have fathomed that things would be so bad. She seemed a little calmer now that she had gotten all of this off of her chest, but she still looked miserable. Not knowing what to do or say, he took her into his arms once again. All of this was just… too much. The amount of trust that she must have for him was amazing, and the amount of respect for her that he held had just doubled, or even tripled. Somehow, though, he just knew that there was no turning back now that all of this had come out, and, quite honestly, he had no intention of turning back.

"So what happens now that your mother has passed away?" Vincent asked in a slightly shaky voice. Yuffie sniffed again and cleared her throat.

"I'm debating on whether or not to go back to China and go to her funeral because I don't want to see that man and I know that my brother won't be there… there's nothing there for me except a woman who was practically banned from loving me and died from a broken heart. And…now that I think about it, I'm not going to. I closed that chapter in my life, and no matter what, I can't open it again." Yuffie had a glint of firm resolution in her eye. The same glint that made her her. A small part of Yuffie was coming back out of the ruin. Vincernt saw it and immediately felt a little better. Yuffie was, no matter what anyone said, an incredibly strong woman. A bit carefree and oblivious at times, and other times just obnoxious, but underneath it, she was as mature as a woman could get. At the same time, it also answered a lot of question, including why she was insecure about her body and why she was so afraid of sex. No matter what would happen, how far they would get, she would always stop them just before the actual intercourse started and say that she "wasn't ready" or "wasn't in the mood for that".

Suddenly revived, Yuffie got up and bolted into the bathroom, and Vincent could hear the sounds of her washing her face and whatnot. She came out a couple minutes later make-up free, and looking much more refreshed with a Yuffie-esque expression on her face.

"FUCK YOU, GODO! This Kisaragi will NOT be there to see your ugly stupid monkey face you worthless old man!" Kicking the air a few times, she smiled and looked at Vincent with a slightly daring look on her face.

"Do you think I could spend the night at your place tonight?"

FIIINAALLLYYY done. That chapter sure is a heavy one, but I needed something to break up the cutesey monotony. I meant for it to be longer but I'm actually not used to typing so much.I can't believe it. I have a month left of school, finals are in three weeks, and I'm 100 NOT READY for them… but I felt that I really really needed to write this chapter. This chapter really does mean a lot to me because it… well… I don't want to say it's the story of my life, because it most definitely isn't, but part of it is… soo…yeah, this is a really important chapter to me for that reason.

Now, onto my favorite part of the day. No, not lunchtime…. TIME TO THANK MY ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL REVIEWERS!

The Evil One – Eighth grade was hard but well worth it in the end. Ninth grade is harder but tons more fun. :P Yeah, I'm a special one that likes fishnets AND FFVII! bows Thankies for reviewing!

Gothic Yokai – Well, it's not exactly soon but I AM updating! dances It's been… wow… more than a year, methinks. Wow… I really need to start crackin'. I think I'm also gonna bust out on more of the stupid laws just cause they're awesome times a bajillion.

victem-of-depression - blushes Thank you so much. Yeah, I forgot my username and password for a loooonnnggg time. That sucks majorly. As for curing a writer's block… watch a whole bunch of Tim Burton movies and eat some ice cream. :P grins Thank you much much for reviewing.

Filthy – Mmmm… Fiiillltthhhyyy… achem Don't mind me. laughs I think that I was the master of Alaska I wouldn't have mooses mating on the streets on Sunday either. How immoral of those mooses. :P Thank you much, and I'm hoping to update a bit more than I have.

Kitty Person aka Kari – YES! MY FELLOW KITTY PEOPLE! W00t! laughs Paradise Kiss completes me with its awesomeness. And, YES, I shall update more! puts on super cape and flies away

yeyana v. – I haven't read a fanfic in like.. 9450239584 years because I haven't had a computer in 489572437543 years… but I STILL REMEMBER CATALINA'S FIC! Meow, it makes me so happy. Ahahaha, she and I are the same though because we take a long as time to finish anything. :D I SHALL update.

Kris - hides under her blanky I will be more dedicated. I will update more. I will be cooler. I will be a cool kid. I will update more!

Hikaru Tsukiyono - omfg! That alllwwwaaayyysss happens to me. It's crazy. I guess the reason why I like them paired up like that is because they're so different. Opposites attract, like that old Paula Abdul song. laughs Thank ye for reviewing!

Alx91 - hides from the pitchfork I'm so sooorrrryyyyy! I've just been so… I dunno, messed up for the past YEAR that I haven't had the time to write or anything. I am SOOOO SOORRRYYY! I BEG FORGIVENESSSS! I promise I'll try and update faster, just for you.

Topo Starlight - smiles Thank you so much. At first I didn't think that having her that way would work out, but from what I'm hearing, it appears that it did. I'm gonna try and put out more chapters now… I just hope that I didn't lose everyone who had been reading this story before.

Kapen Youth – Damnit, I was always the only person in my class that didn't know the definition of that damn word. It was like… the breaking down of government or something. Ack, come back to me in three years and I'll tell you what it means. :P Thanks for reviewing, dahling!

Saesama – Ooh! So yoooouuu'reeee her sister! TRAIN HER WELL AND LET HER KNOW THE GOODNESS OF THE FANFICTION-Y WAYS! grins I am of the appreciating of the reviews that you have left for moi because it makes me super happy!

wipes her brow Whoo… only a page more to go.

CloudRox1 – Yessss…. I doooo love your stories. is infitintely happy that you commented Thank you soo much. puts on her track suit IT'S GO TIME! writes like a mad demon

Mahabaraba – Hey, I think that's an awesome name, and if you didn't already have it then I'd take it for my own and say that I came up with it even though you thought of it but I wouldn't know that you did unless you posted up with that name unless I read your mind and took it before you could post it up and then said it was mine and then formed my body into yours and slowly took over your life and replaced you and hid you in a closet for all of eternity. takes a deep breath…. …. … … … Don't mind me. Yes… let us slay the "like like" girls, for they TORTURE MY SOUL! laughs Thank you much, dahling.

Lone Gunmen – Ahh… school sucks majorly… unless you have totally kickin' friends to pick up the days. Eighth grade was super whack, though…. Eek! I'm on a favorites! dances around like an idiot Okay, don't mind me, really. I looovvee you! Whee! Thank you for reviewing!

A Fire Inside Girl - grins Merci merci! My French is absolutely horrible and I believe that I am currently FAILING that class MISERABLY! But that's okay because I know how to say "Give me food" and that's about all I think I need to know how to say… Mmm… foood. Thank you so much for reviewirng. Means a helluva lot to this little girl.

DATsukai - Aww… really? You think so? blushes like a crazy loser Thank you soooo much!

Superpup1357 – For you, yes, I SHALL update. Meow. Yummy. Thankies muchos.

Aj-sama - grins Thank you so much. That means a lot to me when I hear that I've made an accurate portrayal of the characters. Rumiko Takahashi forever! W00t!

Matt – Thankies much. When you write it yourself, the humor just doesn't seem as funny so I'm sitting here with my fingers crossed hoping people will at least get a chuckle from this.

Ruri-sugar - curtseys Thank you sooo much for reviewing. Impressed? Wow, I'm sure not. Grr.. now I have to update so I can make this story better. Onwards and onwards!

Vincent Noble Valentine - laughs Wordy is not the word. Out of my league… yeah, that fits a little better. :P Thank you so much for commenting. Geez, I really do think it's about time I started this story back up again.

collapses on the ground I'm FINISHED! Damnit, that's what happens when you leave your work to pile up. Once again, I am SOOOO SOORRRRYYY! Expect another chapter out sooner than it took to get this one out.

See you guys in Chapter Nine which I already have major ideas for. :P