A/N: I'm getting new reviewers by the chapter. It makes me happy. Also, I think I might start a Riku and Kairi fanfic sometime soon. Of course, there'll be some Cleris in that, too. It might be fun. Enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy anything. Don't sue me.

spirited angel1305: You really think so? Thanks! I'll update frequently, don't you worry.

AerithRosey: Yeah! A kid with guns is a fun idea. I'll keep your suggestion in mind.

Raitokage: Hum…Red Hojo is Nanaki. Since he was Hojo's experiment, I just put him as Hojo's son. It made more sense to the story, I thought. Rufus…? You'll find out soon, if I get my way with the story. It's my story, but I tend to forget things. And don't worry. I'll keep writing this one till the end.

Anonymous: Thanks! I'll keep the recommendation in mind. A 10 out of 10, huh? You're too kind.

Ghost in the Mirror: Thanks! I love compliments. I'll try to make the other ones as good. Personally, I really like a scene in this chapter.

Beeria: I like Yuffie, too, but I like cliffies the best. Can you tell? You'll see what happens right below, though. Ahhh, confuuused. Please update that story soon, kay?

Chapter Nine

Yuffie looked around. Reno had taken her to a bridge. She looked down, far, far down to where the river was. If she fell, she'd die. That was something to think about. (Foreshadowing? Hehe, I love messing with y'all.) It felt nice to be alone with Reno, looking up at the starry sky. Few cars passed by this late.

Reno had been with her all day, and it was pretty late. She didn't have to go back home soon since her dad was probably sleeping or something. He used to be a big businessman, but all he did was lie about all the time.

"Yuffie," Reno said, "my friend Rude's coming about soon to meet you."

"Okay," she said with a grin. "Hey, do you think we could go bungee jumping soon or something? I heard Laura and Brandon went rafting."

Yuffie was confused by the sad expression on Reno's face. It didn't make since. Her usually-cocky boyfriend had never looked very sad around her. Drunk, maybe, but never sad.

"Maybe…" he said, looking up at the sky.

Yuffie saw a pair of lights approaching. "Hey, a car's coming," she said. "Is that him?"

Reno squinted. "Maybe," he repeated.

Yuffie realized Reno was looking more and more unsure as the car approached. Suddenly, when the car was almost to them, he shoved her to the ground and fell on top of her. Before she could ask why, she heard several gunshots. The car kept going. Reno helped her to her feet.

"What was that?" Yuffie asked, eyes wide. She hadn't expected gunshots after the whole Sephiroth-thing was over.

"Run, Yuffie," Reno said. The car was turning back around. Reno pulled a gun out and aimed at it. When he pulled the trigger, cracks spread throughout the car's windshield. "Run!" he shouted. Yuffie glanced back before taking off.

Brandon's POV

Brandon looked up when Sergeant Major Gordon, his JROTC teacher, called his name. "I need you to take this to Coach Kapatry? She's the gym teacher," he said.

Brandon jumped up and took the paper he handed to him. He walked quickly out of the room and down the hall, heading to the gym. All the kids wee playing volleyball. Laura should've been playing, too, since it was her gym period, but he didn't see her. The teacher wasn't there, either. He asked one of the kids where Coach Kapatry was.

"Uh, she's in the girls' locker room," said one kid named Nathan. He was very inattentive and had failed several times. "Take it in there to her. Unless you're scared."

Brandon scowled at him and headed to the locker room. He pushed open the door and took a few steps in. Some girl was in there, her back turned to him. She was in the process of putting on her shirt. Brandon's eyes fell on the bruises on her back. The girl pulled her shirt down and turned around to go. Her eyes met his, and he realized who it was.

"Laura?" he said, confused. "Your back-"

"Brandon," she said, eyes slightly widened. "You- you weren't supposed to see that."

"Did…your dad do it?" he asked. Laura's eyes dropped to the ground. "He did it, didn't he? Laura, you have to tell someone."

"One person knowing is enough," Laura said. He walked up to her. She looked at him questionably but got her answer when his arms wrapped about her. She hugged him tightly. "Promise me you won't tell anyone."

"I…wish I could do something," he said, releasing her. His face was slightly red, she noticed.

"I appreciate that," she said, "but that's life."

"What are you doing in here?" demanded a stern voice.

Brandon whirled around, surprised. Coach Kapatry stood there, every four feet and seven inches of her. She had her arms akimbo and an almost-scowl on her face.

"Uh, I came to give you this," he said.

"Ah," she said, grabbing it. "Thanks, kiddo. Lauren, what are you still doing here? You were dismissed almost fifteen minutes ago."

"Sorry," Lauren said, gathering up her stuff. "See you later, Brandon." She walked out the door. Brandon quickly left when the teacher gave him a look.

(later that day)

Brandon pedaled into Garret's front yard and jumped off his bike, letting it drop. Vincent was sitting on the porch, sunglasses his only disguise. "What are you doing out in sunlight?" he asked.

"Sephiroth has some allies, apparently," Vincent said.

"Like the guy in the cloak I told you about?" Brandon asked.

"Sort of," he said. "Talk to Yuffie about it."

Brandon passed Vincent and went inside. Yuffie was sitting on the coach, looking abnormally…unhappy. When she looked up, he didn't see her usual smile. Garret was sitting beside her, watching the news.

"Look at this, man," Garret told him. Brandon sat on the other coach. They were talking about the "crazy game-killer". "I've told 'em a thousand times that Sephiroth is Steven, but they don't even have that on here. They said nothin' about Tif gettin' kidnapped or all the attacks on us. It's all bull."

"They're trying to settle people down," Tiffany said, coming in from the kitchen. She tossed Cloud a soda. "Do you want people panicking?"

"Well, they need to know," Garret grumbled.

"What happened to you, Yuffie?" Brandon asked.

Yuffie looked up and told him everything. Brandon was surprised and shook his head. "No way," he said. "Reno's…one of them?"

"He tried to protect me," Yuffie said.

"It said in the news that that bald guy that was shootin' at you is dead," Garret said, pointing at the TV. "Reno's on the run, like Vincent."

"He's part of a group of assassins, kidnappers, etc. called the Turks," Vincent informed them, walking in. "They're currently working for Sephiroth. He called me just a second ago. They believed him when he said Rude was trying to kill him."

"Is he still going to work for Sephiroth?" Brandon asked.

"No," Vincent said. "He wants to help us. Actually, it's more like he wants to help Yuffie. We have an informant now."

"Awright!" Garret said. "No more runnin' around in the dark."

"Where's Laura?" Brandon asked. "Is she coming over?"

"I tried to call, but she wouldn't pick up," Tiffany said. "Does anyone know where she lives?"

"I do," Brandon said. "I'll go get her." He was rather nervous about going to Laura's house and being near her dad, but he was also hoping he could confront him. People weren't supposed to do what he did. He had a handgun on him just in case.

After several minutes, he came onto the road that led to Laura's house. That was when he caught sight of a column of smoke. His eyes widened, and he pedaled faster. No way. That couldn't be her house.

He began to hear sirens coming from far down the road as he neared her house. Finally, he turned around a corner and saw it. It was completely ablaze, and people were crowded about at a safe distance. He jumped off his bike and asked someone, "Is anyone still in there?"

"Yeah, a girl and her father. The mom is in the hospital," said the person. Brandon barely registered what he said before he took off towards the house. A couple of people tried to stop him, but he was determined. He grabbed the doorknob and yanked his hand back when it burned him. Instead, he raised his foot and kicked down the door.

"Laura!" he shouted into the roaring fire inside the house. There was no answer. He covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve before running inside. "Laura!" He began to cough as he walked quickly through the burning living room. It took three kicks to knock down the door to a hallway. He flinched as fire flared up, reaching out at him. It was too hot. He wasn't going to be able to…

"Brandon!" He looked up and saw Laura amongst the flames, trying to push a fallen beam away from a door. It was hot and burning her hands. "Help me."

Brandon closed his eyes and rushed through the fire. It hurt him, but he needed to help Laura. Together, they pushed aside the beam. Laura was the one to kick down this door. She ran in with no regard to the fire and crouched beside a fallen man. Brandon helped her pat out the fire on the man, and they helped him up. He was unconscious. It was Laura's father.

They went out into the hall and tried to get into the living room. Intense heat forced them back. Brandon tried to stomp out some of the flames, but he was coughing so badly. The fire was creeping around them, and the heat was unbearable.

"Laura," he croaked, "we're not gonna make it."

"Don't-" Laura slumped under her father's arm. "Don't talk like that."

Brandon's leg caught on fire. He patted it out, tears coming to his eyes and streaming down at the smoke and pain. It was game over.

A jet of water suddenly shot through the front door and put out the fire. Without waiting, Brandon and Laura quickly ran out, carrying her father. A firefighter met them as soon as they came out and helped them over to an ambulance. Her father was very badly burned. He had to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

"Can we ride with him?" Laura asked quickly.

(later)

Brandon's mom was coming to pick him up, but both Laura's parents were already at the hospital. Her mother was suffering from lung cancer.

"My mom wanted to know if…you could let me stay over for a while," Laura said, wiping soot from her face.

"I'm sure they'd let you," Brandon said. "They have before." He pulled out his cell phone and called his mom.

"Yes, Cloud, what is it?" his mom asked.

"Well, Laura needs a place to stay," he said. "She was wondering-"

"Of course she can stay at our house," his mother interrupted. "I'll be there to pick you two up in a couple of minutes." His mother hung up. He sighed. "Why do people always hang up on me?" He looked up and smiled at Laura. "You can stay."

Laura smiled. They were standing outside the hospital. It was starting to get dark, and Laura was really tired. Brandon watched her out of the corner of his eye. Her father was men and beat her, but she still risked her life to go in and save him. Her green eyes were sad as she looked up at the sky.

"Thanks for coming in to help me," she said, giving him a small smile and adding, "bodyguard."

"Anytime," he said, smiling back.

A/N: That's it for the one. Dude! I almost have forty reviews. Just one more…come one…Anyway, thanks, guys, for reviewing, and thanks for the suggestions. Brandon didn't exactly tell her father off, but he did get what was coming to him, from my point of view. Maybe it was a little harsh. Well, please review. I hope you liked this one.