A/N: Sorry for the long delay: my computer died on me. I have several entries written already, but I'm posting in order, so until I can come up with something for #17 - Khz, I'm stuck.

Disclaimer: All FVII charcters and setting aren't mine: I'm just borrowing.

Entry #16 – Give and Take

Yuffie's sick of watching Cloud win his was through the battle arena, blonde hair shining as the world's chosen golden boy. She's tired of seeing his sword arc gracefully in every which way and the sparkles in both Tifa and Aerith's eyes as he waves their way between battles. She can't stand that even Vincent, the resident recluse of the group, is willing to follow him to the end of the earth, just because he's Cloud and he's an ex-SOLDIER and he's so good and strong.

She would turn to Tifa to complain, but then there's another thing she hates: the girl is gorgeous. Her raven locks falls neatly to the small of her back and it looks so straight and smooth; nothing like Yuffie's boyish, dull hair. The shine of Tifa's smile is enough to blind anyone within a fifty-foot radius and should anyone stare at her big ti-chest, Yuffie chastises herself, Tifa certainly has the ability to bust some chops.

Aerith's is a different kind of beauty- while Tifa is rough around the edges; breath-taking in her fierceness, Aerith is softer, more open. She's wrapped in pink, shimmering no matter which way the light hits her. Her eyes sparkle with a secret that she was sure no one knew and her mouth, Yuffie's convinced, is stuck in a permanent pout. She's giving and nice and everyone loves her, whereas Yuffie is loud and annoying and the group addresses her as 'brat' so much she's not even sure if the group knows her real name.

Red XIII sits knowingly by her side, and the two smile at each other. Yuffie is sick and tired of meathead warriors and perfect women. She's tired of fighting for a good cause for nothing and she's sick of being giving while receiving nothing back. Yuffie is tired of playing the hero because the last time she fought for a cause like this, she lost her mother and her country.

So, naturally, when the leader of the Turks bee-lines to untie her on the Wutai cliffs, she's glad. His partner is dangling a few feet across from her and the blonde's eyes are blazing, but the kisses that the red-head presses against her neck as he works out the knots of Don Corneo's chord makes her forget. She knows that Cloud and the others are waiting below on the cliff, and not for the first time, she wished that she had a leader that would take as well as give.

- End -

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the story and PLEASE don't forget to review!