Yaaaaa sorry for taking so long, with failing 4tests in the past week i didnt really have time to write up the story. So anyway...here ya go

Back to reality. The past 2 chapters lingered a bit longer than i hoped on the flashback, but at least it gives u a feel of the characters, Im not to sure if i went the right way with this chapter. Eh...iunno. FEEDBACK!

Tifa and Yuffie ran down the stairs rushing to my aid.

"Cloud!" The two screamed in unison. "Lookout!"

I turned my head and looked to see the monster Sephiroth had left behind nearly upon me raising its hand to attack.

----End of Flashback----

A crack of thunder suddenly ripped me from my memories. I had started to stand from Aeris's corpse at least that was what I was doing before I found myself at the lake again. I had to rub my eyes, had what I experienced been real? It most certainly felt like it. The feelings I had at those moments belonged to those moments and those alone. Like looking at the stony stillness of her face…it was practically unbearable. I could swear that just a moment ago I held Aeris in my arms…that I could feel the fleeing heat leaving her body. I couldn't help but wonder whether I had just relived that moment in my life or rather it had been a wishful disillusion brought on by my selfish whims. I preferred to believe that it was the latter. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if it really had been my fault that Aeris died because of me…again.

"Cloud…?"

"Huh?" I was pulled suddenly from my deep train of thought. How hadn't I sensed that this person had snuck up on me? I whipped around to find my face mere inches from Yuffie's.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked curiously.

My hardened cerulean eyes gazed into her beautiful dark brown eyes.

I quickly regained my composure and responded, at least tried too, and responded causally.

"Nothing"

As the moment lingered on we continued to look into each other's eyes on the edge of lake. The rain continued to fall around us and made my spikes fall limp around my face while Yuffie's hair seemed to sparkle in the raindrops hanging loosing on her hair. Her face had a look of innocence to it that fit with her carefree personality; because she spoke her mind when she wanted and did what she thought was right even when everyone else would do nothing. It was cute, that she thought that the world could always be solved by doing things the 'direct' way. I guess that's why she still looked innocent. The times when her personality came out, you wouldn't be able to tell because she was like a firecracker. She could go off at any second…and now was one of those times.

"Yea sure Cloud, everything is a-ok." She taunted sarcastically.

"We should all do as Cloud does and bottle up our feelings and act like nothing ever happened back there." At this remark, though, I saw something a little different in her eyes…like she was hurt by her own words. I really couldn't see what that was in her eyes, but whatever it was, was gone pretty quickly.

I sighed, I didn't really feel like having a lecture about how I was handling my problems, but she wouldn't let it go.

"Why can't you stop being a bad-ass and actually tell things as they are instead of trying to act as if you're alone in the world." She paused and looked into my eyes. My solid cold cerulean eyes fell on her eyes again and we were caught again in a limbo. One wanting to say something, but then again one not wanting to break the silence. I decided I couldn't stand here in the rain with her this close all day.

"What are you talking about Yuffie….?" Maybe if I played dumb she would leave me alone. That's all I wanted to be right now. Alone.

I couldn't stand it…Her sparkling brown eyes continued to stare into mine. Her brow went up as if questioning my honesty.

"I'm not acting…" I began to say, but she cut me off"

"Geez cut the crap Cloud; you know what I'm talking about"

"Look….Yuffie…."

"NO! Don't you 'look Yuffie' me! Stop trying to belittle me with that and stop trying to carry the burden as if you are alone Cloud!"

"I am alone…always has been, always will be."

"You have Tifa and… me!"

"Cloud…listen…" she began, but I couldn't let this continue…it was too painful to talk about Aeris. How I handled my emotions shouldn't have concerned Yuffie.

"No, Yuffie, you listen, you don't know how it feels to have the death of someone important to you on your hands. It's nor yours or Tifa's fault that she died. I was right there. I could've done something. Anything was better than me just staring at her die." Her eyes pleaded with me too stop. To stop blaming myself for her death, they were trying to convince me there wasn't anything I could do.

"…I was there…Yuffie…I was right there….I saw her eyes…I saw the life slip out through Aeris's vibrant emerald green eyes…I could've saved her."

"Cloud…Just stop it! It wasn't anyone's fault that she died, so just stop blaming yourself for Aeris's death!" She pleaded with me.

I couldn't stand to look into Yuffie's soft brown eyes anymore. They were killing me inside.

I let out a sigh; I knew this wasn't going to be easy at all.

"Yuffie…I want you and Tifa to hook back up with the main group ok? I can't protect either of you anymore. Tell them that having this adventure was fun, but I'm going solo from here." My eyes couldn't face hers this time.

"But cloud!" I couldn't help but look in her eyes this time.

But there they were…again 'those' eyes…why did she have to look at me with 'those' brown eyes?

I didn't have time to argue with her…but neither did I want to blow her off. Before I knew what I was doing I softly took the young kunoichi (A/N-Female ninja-Kunoichi) into my arms and started to hug her.

"Cloouud?" sputtered Yuffie

"Yuffie, just listen to me for once ok…?" I don't know what I was thinking, why did I hug her? I could have told her off just as easily…but I didn't….why?

I didn't know the answer to that myself…

Maybe it was just to comfort myself since the lost of Aeris.

We stood there in the rain for a good 5 minutes.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Yaaah..…..so see ya around kid" spiky haired jerk said before turning around and starting to head toward the mountains.

"KID?" He just hugged me and now had the nerve to call me a kid! "Where did that hug come from?" I wondered...to be that close to him...felt weird. Cloud was never the affectionate type, so why would he start now. This Aeris thing must have messed him up bad.

"O ya by the way here"

Cloud dug into his side pocket and threw me the PMS(A/N-The communication device that allowed you to contact the other party so you could switch member, talk, etc) devicefor our group. I guess he was serious about leaving. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of remorse personally. Only reason why I couldn't let him leave was because it would break Tifa's heart. God knows this is all the poor girl needs at a time like this. "Geez what can she see in a guy like….him!" I started to wonder also,but that was unimportant at the moment I had to do something before Cloud really was gone…possibly forever.

"Cloud don't go!" What more could I say, I really didn't feel as energetic as I usually did…this Aeris thing even had me down a bit.

Cloud turned around and smiled a bit…it was a smile that said that everything was going to be alright. His cold ocean blue eyes, though, told a different story.

"Take care Yuffie…tell Tifa I said...bye" I stared at the blonde wide eyed. Was this guy stupid? Didn't he know Tifa liked him! And all he was going to say was bye?

I stood dumbfounded at what had just happened in the past 15minutes. I saw the blonde speck slowly grow smaller and smaller till I could hardly see it.

xxxxxInside Yuffie's Mindxxxxx

"What am I doing?" The young ninja asked herself. "Is Cloud really gone….?"

"Well duh he's gone. So whatcha going to do about Yuffie ol gal?"

"I dunno…."

"You dunno? When does the mysterious and crafty ninja Yuffie not know when to do something!"

"I suppose now….." spoke the young girl

The voice let out a long sigh "Dam Yuffie…when did you turn into such a spineless kid?"

"I'm not spineless and I'm not a kid!" yelled Yuffie in the empty plain.

"Well do something then." Urged the voice "And prove your not spineless…..or a kid."

xxxxxBack to realityxxxxx

Ya…I had to do something…I can't let Cloud run off to find Sephiroth and get himself hurt…or worse….killed. Besides I did say I would help him.

But I couldn't leave Tifa alone at the camp without saying something.

"So first things first, ill tell Tifa then ill find Cloud and kick his ass for leaving in the first place"

"I love it when a good plan comes together!" She grinned.

"Cloud is going to get such a beating the next time I see him." thought Yuffie; because beating up cloud was something someone could always look forward too especially her. Plus now she had a reason. Breaking Tifa's heart was unforgiving, and hugging her without permission...that deserved a beating as well. She couldnt help but grin again at the thought.

Yuffie turned toward camp and began to run at high speed, she looked over her shoulder to try to see if Cloud was still in sight...

He wasn't.

Yup so this is what i came up with over the past week. Number 4 is basically done but i havent written it up yet

GIVE ME FEEDBACK! the more readers i know i have the quicker ill write up the chapters. If u have any suggestions ill take them to heart )