Leon and Materia Don't Mix
Ren: Hello everybody! Today I pulled some strings in the realm of imaginary muses and I was able to drag Cloud the do the disclaimer.

Cloud:…why do I have to do it? Gala made me faint in the last chapter. I look like a wuss.

Ren: Sorry Cloud, I think she got mad when she read that Clouffie fic.

Cloud: CLOUFFIE! 'faints'

Ren: oops…anywho, Gala doesn't own anything, if she did she wouldn't share it that's for sure.


Chapter 5: Launch Time and Threads of the Past
Yuffie walked around the gummi ship, flicking it every few seconds a hollow metallic clang echoing throughout the entire ship.

After about 5 minutes of continual flicking, Cid emerged from the ship practically foaming at the mouth. "YUFFIE! Stop doing that, I can't concentrate when you do that!"

Yuffie grinned sheepishly at him, " Sorry old man, I just can't believe you made it to look like the Highwind. Even if it's a smaller version."

The Highwind II was quite a sight, with it's streamlined cone-shaped silver body, and scantily clad "Lady Luck" painted on the side.

Yuffie cocked her head to the side staring at the voluptuous woman painted on the side of the ship." Cid, who is Lady Luck? Was she a person in real life?"

Cid looked at her, his eyes were filled with a distanced sadness. "Lady Luck is Shera," he chuckled softly. "She looks a lot different without grease covered coveralls on, doncha think?"

Yuffie's eyes nearly bulged out of her sockets, "THAT'S SHERA?" For some reason Yuffie could not picture the quiet, shy, mechanic as brash as the painted Lady on the gummi.

Cid snorted, "Course, I'm the only one who ever saw that side of Shera. She was one wild woman. Brave too, I might not be here today if she hadn't stopped me from launching that rocket with the faulty oxygen tank." Cid slammed the lid down on the engine compartment. "Well I think she's ready. The others should be down here any minute."

Cid's prediction turned out correct, for right as he finished talking Aerith and Cloud, attached at the hip, walked in with Leon trailing behind them.

Yuffie skipped over and bounced beside Leon, "what took you so long?"

Leon merely glanced at a blushing Aerith and Cloud.

Yuffie grinned at Aerith, "Interrupted a special moment huh?"

Cloud scowled at her, while Aerith turned even redder. Cid thwacked Yuffie on the back of the head. "Oww, what was that for you old fart?"

"Fer being annoying, brat." He ruffled her hair and handed her a long electrical cord, "Go plug this in a power outlet somewhere."

"What's it for?

Cid pulled a tarp off a worktable and revealed a console with a joystick and many multi-colored buttons. Yuffie's eyes widened in delight. "Cool…Can I try it!"

Cid laughed, "I knew you'd want to play with it, but maybe later. This is the remote controls for the ship. Instead of using an artificial intelligence program I decided to do it this way, more maneuverability."

Yuffie stared longingly at the controls before grinning impishly at Cid. "So, can I break the bottle of Champagne?"

Cid stared at her in confusion. "Champagne? What for?"

"Don't you usually break a bottle of something, on a new ship? For good luck and stuff?"

Cid laughed, "No, it's a waste. I'd rather drink it and get royally drunk."

Aerith gasped, "Cid! You are not going to get drunk again are you?"

"It wasn't my fault! Somebody spiked my tea." He glared at Yuffie putting special emphasis on the word 'somebody'.

Leon stepped between the bickering pair. "Can we drop this foolishness and get on with launching the ship. I am rapidly loosing interest." He didn't notice the ninja girl behind him mocking his every word; so he became quite angry seeing that Cloud was trying to hide his laughter, thinking he was laughing at him. "Something funny Strife?"

Yuffie put one hand on her hip and shook her index finger in the air, a mad grimace on her face.

Leon noticed movement behind him and turned around to see an innocently smiling Yuffie standing there with her hands behind her back. He turned back around convinced that she was up to something but not quite knowing what.

Yuffie dropped her antics when Cid opened the large hangar door though. The air was filled with excitement as the sun reflected off the silvery surface of the ship. Cid flipped a few switches and the lower turbines kicked on, the airship began to move forward out towards the landing zone.

Everyone followed Cid out as he rolled the control panel, which was on a table with wheels attached to the legs, out of the dark workshop. After warming up the engines the Highwind II rocketed off from the launch pad, like a silver bullet gleaming majestically.

Everyone held their breath as the ship slowed down and strained against an invisible barrier. Cid carefully turned two large wheels together, slowly the ship began to repell the invisible force field. The space around the ship seemed to morph and twist.

Suddenly the Highwind II shot out, unhindered into the fathomless depths of space. Aerith cheered and kissed Cloud full on the lips, causing them both to blush furiously when the noticed the others staring at them.

Cid laughed and shook his head, Yuffie leaned on Leon's arm. "Awwww, they look so cute don't you think so Squall."

Leon shoved her off his arm, "Leon. They're pathetic."

Yuffie narrowed her eyes in mock anger, "Love conquers all! You can't resist it Squall. Your day will come!" She stood on her tiptoes and waggled her finger in his face.

Leon's heart quickened as he realized how close their bodies were. 'What's wrong with me? I've never felt this way around her before…'

Yuffie blushed and pulled back when she saw the intense look in the older man's eyes. 'Whoa there Squallie…where did that come from?'

Luckily no one noticed the strange exchange between to Ninja and the Gunblade wielder. Cid carefully brought the ship back into the Hollow Bastion atmosphere and skillfully landed it in the same place it took off from.

Everyone else headed inside the Castle to ponder the next step now that they had the ability to penetrate the world barriers.


Cloud stood on the balcony that led from the bedroom he and Aerith shared. As the sun set, the fading light caught the tarnished surface of his claw, catching his attention. He was so caught up in staring at it that he didn't notice Aerith's presence until she slipped her arms around his waist.

She pressed her face against his crimson cloak, her words slightly muffled in his back "What are you thinking about?"

Cloud smiled and turned around, pulling her into a tight embrace, "You. Do you really want to go back to our world?"

Aerith looked up into his glowing blue eyes before answering, "I want to find out what happened to the others." She fingered the edge of his cape, "Why are you wearing Vincent's cape and claw? I didn't want to say anything earlier, but I'm dying to know."

"Vincent gave them to me right before…he said they were a physical reminder of a promise." Cloud clenched his eyes shut.

Worry filled Aerith's bright green eyes, "Cloud I'm sorry I asked, please forgive me…"

Don't be sorry Aerith, I need to get this out. Somebody else needs to know as well, but you can't say anything to Yuffie."

Aerith nodded solemnly.

"Vincent made me promise to protect Yuffie and make sure that she made it out and was looked after." Cloud gestured to his claw and cape, "He gave me these to remind me of my promise."

Aerith choked back a sob, " Did…did Yuffie know?"

Cloud slowly shook his head, "I'm not sure, but I don't want her to hurt any more than she has been."

They remained in each others' arms as the sun slowly slipped below the horizon, eclipsing the pair in shadow. Aerith pulled Cloud into their room and gently shut the door, unknowingly she had eased his burden.


Heh, heh, hopefully that fills in some of the plot. And as a bonus you got a bit of Clerith fluff. I stink at fluff. Yes I'm sorry for that crap I just wrote…I'm gonna go kill , muse or something…Oh wait if I do that then there would be no story. Gah. Anywho, leave me a review and I might be convinced to write more..better..and faster. The more reviews I get the more I am encouraged to write.

Laterz-Gala