Returning Shadows

A/N: I'm quite please people are taking a interest in the story. 3 Huzzah. Well, enjoy Chapter 3 then.

Chapter Three

There was an awkward silence in the room, as there was some tension between the two men who sat across from one another at the table. Vincent's cloak hanged over the chair he sat in, as he would be slightly difficult to eat while wearing it. Though, he didn't bother taking off his protective clawed glove. He lifted his cup of coffee too his lips as he sipped from it slowly. Leon looked at him, as he noticed he had some very high etiquette despite his appearance. Which only questioned how he could be around someone life Yuffie. Who lacked etiquette, manners, and poise at times. Though Yuffie didn't really have the time to be learning all of that, despite Aerith trying to teach her. Since, she was always fighting in tournaments, training with him, and defending the town from heartless. Yuffie jumped down the stairs before she ran into the kitchen as she vaulted off one of the tops of the chairs before falling down into it.

"Always know how to make a entrance, huh?" Leon said, as she looked at her.

"Yep. I have to be the center of attention. Oh, and don't think I haven't forgotten what you did to me this morning either." She said looking down at the her plate in front of her grabbing her fork and quickly began to eat as she scarfed down her food.

"Honestly Yuffie, don't put your elbows on the table." Aerith said, as she turned off the stove as she sat down at the table.

"Hey not my fault. The table should move if it doesn't want my elbows on it." She mumbled between bites, as she swallowed her food. Vincent shook his head putting his cup back down on the table.

"I still see your manners need much more improvement." He said.

"Oh, well your social skills could use a little work as well." She said sticking her tongue out. "In a way, you and Squall are sort of the same."

"Don't compare me to him." They both said. Aerith stifled a small laugh, as Yuffie grinned.

"Told you."

"Hmph." Leon rolled his eyes looking back at his newspaper. Yuffie quietly reached over trying to swipe a piece of bacon from Leon's plate.

"Take it and you might lose a hand." He said, without looking up from his paper."

"So, violent." She teased, before pulling her hand back as she looked at Vincent. Yuffie reached over as she snagged his cloak from behind him as she wrapped it around herself. It covering half of her face up to her nose as she got up.

"Shrouded in darkness I am as invisible as the night!" She said, as Leon looked at her as if she had lost her mind. Vincent merely sat there, before taking another sip of his coffee as she jumped over behind him and hugged him from behind. "Her victim cornered as he has no escape. Oh, how will he escape?" Vincent sat there quietly sipping his coffee as he lifted his plate before lifting it up to her face before she took it. He wasn't really all that hungry.

"The beast is pleased, until another day." She said, as Aerith giggled at the shinobi's antics. She sniffed the plate, but a odd smell from the cloak made her wrinkle up her nose. She couldn't quite place it, but it smelled.

"Ew, when was the last time you washed this?" She asked, as she put the plate down.

"I don't really remember. What you're smelling is probably the remains of an animal or monster." He said casually, before the young girl shrieked as she pulled it off.

"Well, it needs to be washed and the rest of your clothes. You might wanna take a shower." She said, as she put the cape back over the chair. "Stinky."

"I suppose."

"The bathroom is two doors down when you go up the stairs." Aerith said, as she got up from her chair as she took her plate to the sink. "Leave your clothes in front of the door. Me or Yuffie will grabbed them."

"Thank you, Aerith." He said, as he got up, as he left the kitchen.

"Yuffie you can be...very weird." Leon said, as he looked over to her.

"You know you love it." She said, as Leon merely shook his head before looking down at his plate as he noticed the bacon that was there earlier wasn't present.

"Wha?" He looked over at Yuffie who was nibbling on it playfully.

"It's so good, I wonder if Leon wants any." She said, as Leon rubbed a hand on his forehead.

I can't even eat in peace.

---

"No!"

"If you just..."

"No!"

"Yuffie, you're being real difficult. Just take it."

"...no."

Vincent Valentine sighed, as got down on the floor and looked underneath the bed to see the young girl backed up against the wall. He reached under to her his hand grabbing a small limb before he dragged her out and held her upside down by her foot as she squealed out and tried to kick and punch him as her arms and legs didn't even reach him.

"I don't want one!" She yelled out, before he calmly walked out of her room and down the hall to the bathroom. She screaming 'Da water is evil' the whole time. He shut the door behind him as he put her down on the floor.

"Trai...tor!"

"Look, I ran your bath. You're filthy from being outside. Just take it, please." He said, as he was arguing with a 7 yr old.

"You take one!" She retorted, before pushing him with whatever little strength she had to knock him off balance. There was a loud splash, as Vincent sat there in the tub with his legs hanging over the edge. His body soaked with water, as he looked at the girl laughing at him. The girl was more trouble than she was worth. He gave a defeated sigh, as he leaned back.

"Happy now? I'm taking one."

She nodded her head, before she hopped over the tub and into the water wearing her clothes as she began to splash around in the water getting it everywhere. He couldn't help, but manage a smile on his lips.

Vincent leaned up against the shower, as the hot jets of water hit his body. His hair falling over his shoulders and along his back. He closed his eyes, as this place was still as quiet as ever. Despite it's appearance at the moment, it was still very serene. He opened his eyes as he looked up at the ceiling, as the tear drops of water ran along from his eyes and down along his cheek.

I really shouldn't be here...

Why, because you know don't belong here or is it because you might end up killing more innocent people?

It's not me...it's you...because of you I can barely be in contact with another human being.

Really, Vincent how childish. Blame me for everything when you're part to blame as well. Remember, I never tell you to pull the trigger.

A pale hand came to his forehead as he sighed quietly to himself. His body hunched over in the bathtub with water running down along his backside. He slid down onto his knees with his head hanging as his wet ebony hair hide his face.

What...am I going to do if I lose it like I did long ago...?

A sick feeling rose in his stomach, as he could remember the blood and horror on the people's faces that night. The smell of human flesh and burning corpses painted in his mind. It was something he could never forget and something that nauseated him every time he thought of it. He could feel the bile slowly rising in his throat. His hand cupped over his mouth as he coughed violently. It was like he could see it happening all over again.

Aerith hummed to herself pulling the long cloak out of the washing machine as she flapped it up and down in the air a few times before she put it in the dryer. It looked a bit tattered, maybe she could sew up a few tears later. Well, at least it didn't look as worst as Cloud's cloak did. Though Cloud didn't really wanted it fixed when she offered him some time ago. Aerith sighed to herself, since Cloud has been gone for more than a few months now. She wondered what he was up to.

Yuffie put his clothes down on top of her bed, as she sat down. She curiously picked up the clawed metal glove that sat on top of them slowly. It was pretty creepy seeing it off of his arm like this cause she use to think it was just attached to his arm all together. Her head turn side to side looking around, before she slid her hand down into the empty glove. She flinched a bit as it hugged her arm. Her hand clenched and released as she looked at her hand.

"I don't see how he wears this. My arm is starting to sweat." She said beginning to pull off, but to her dismay it wouldn't come off. "Uh oh..."

She pulled at the glove firmly as she tried to get it off, but it felt like it squeezed her hand even more. Yuffie began to panic as she thought this thing would never come off her hand as tugged and even chewed on it, but it still didn't come off. Her arm waved up and down quickly hoping it'd just slide off. After 5 minutes, her arm got tired before she panted.

"Man, this thing is like a vice. How do I get it off! The glove is cursed!"

"What...are you doing?"

Yuffie turned her head as she saw Vincent standing at the door. He was dressed in a blue robe. His hand rubbing a towel along the side of his head against his wet hair that lay down over his shoulders and down along his back. She quickly put her hand behind her back, as she waved to him.

"Eh, heh...N..nothing."

"You're a bad liar." He said, as he walked over to her as he tossed the towel on the floor. He grabbing her arm behind her back as he lifted it up. "Relax your muscles."

"What?"

"Relax your arm. I'm going to yank it off."

"What? It might take my arm off!" She protested.

"It will if you don't relax and quit being so tense."

She swallowed hard, as she closed her eyes. Trying her best to relax, but the thought of her arm being torn off did come to mind.Shivers ran up her spine as she waited for him to possibly rip her arm off with it still inside the glove.

"O..ookay, I'm ready now."

"Open your eyes. It's already off." He said.

"Huh?" One eye peeked open as she noticed the glove was off her arm, as Vincent was holding it.

I didn't even feel that...

"Ohh, my precious, precious hand." She said as hugged her freed hand. Vincent sat down next to her as he put the glove down as it had a few bite marks down on it now. He put the towel back over his head as he began to towel dry his hair. Yuffie watched him and then looked at his arm as she noticed it had scars all over it.

Is that why he wears it?

Her hand reached over slowly to his arm. Her finger tips pressing against the soft pale skin of the man. Yuffie jumped at the sudden jerk he gave as if he was suddenly burned and if like a machine his hand quickly grabbed her arm. She looked at him wide eyed, as he pulled the towel from his head. He looking at her with the same blank serious expression on his face. He noticed her startled expression, before calming down.

"Forgive me." He mumbled, releasing her arm.

"What was THAT all about?" She asked.

He said nothing.

"Don't give me your silent treatment."

Still nothing.

"Well, fine be like that." She said. She'd be lucky if she could even get a sentence out of him. It seemed he only spoke when necessary. Though, Yuffie would just have to bug him like she did Leon constantly. Until Leon decided to chase her off that is and threaten to extend their training sessions. Though, Vincent didn't seem to react like Leon. He'd just stay quiet like he wasn't listening to her at all, that only angered her a bit that he was ignoring her. Well, he really wasn't. He listened to every word she said though he didn't feel the need to respond back. Yuffie gave a sigh of defeat as she hopped off of her bed and walked towards the door to leave him to dress. She shutting the door behind her leaving him by himself.

Vincent looked down at his left arm with the scars going down along it. It disgust him that he had these and that Yuffie had actually touched this hideous arm of his. He wondered what possessed her to touch this damned arm of his much less why would someone as innocent at her want to be friends with a...

"...monster."

—-

Leon was fast asleep on the couch in the living room. The newspaper over his face as he slept soundly. He didn't really sleep to soundly seeing all the events that had happen yesterday. Though knowing that 'man' was upstairs in the house wasn't any better, though Leon was too tired to think at the moment. It had only been a few minutes after he had dozed off and it was only second it took him to wake up as he jerked at the sudden weight on his stomach that dropped on top of him out of now here. He grimace in pain, before he lifted the paper off his face to see Yuffie sitting on top of him with a grin on her face.

"Hey there."

"..." He put the newspaper back over his face.

"Hey! No sleep for Squall." She said, snatching the paper off his face.

"Leon and you do know you're obnoxious right?" He said letting his right hand raise and come to his forehead. He closed his eyes.

"Only to you Squally." She sang. Leon grimaced at the pet nickname 'Squally' he hated that more than her calling her Squall.

"Whatever. What do you want, Yuffie?"

"I thought we were going to train."

"No we're not. Aeris won't let me train until my wound heals." He said.

"Oooh, Squall's whipped!" She snickered making a 'whoopah' sound.

"..." He rubbed his temples feeling her bounce up and down on his stomach. "Are you leaving any time soon or are you just going to torture me more?"

"Maybe and yes. I told you I haven't forgotten what you did to me this morning." She said.

"Of course 'you' wouldn't." Leon sighed. "Can you annoy me later Yuffie? I'm tired..."

"Tch, you and Vincent are such party poopers. Fine. I'll leave you alone...for now."

"Thank yo–"

Leon trailed off as he had slid his hand from his face. Yuffie had leaned down and kissed him on his mouth which caught him off guard. Though it was more of a quick peck really.

"Sleep tight then, Squally." She said, jumping off of him and over the arm of the sofa. He didn't even correct her as he was momentarily stunned by the kiss. His gloved finger tips pressing touching his own lips lightly. It wasn't really that big of a deal, but why did it make him feel odd?

"Hey Squally!"

"Hm?"

Squall was leaning against the front gates of Radient Garden as he was looking down at the crystal steps that had water running from them and dropping down into the water below. He turned his head noticing Yuffie running towards him. He smiled getting ready to be jumped by the small girl. It was something he was accustom to if she wasn't trying to jump him without him knowing. He tossed her up into the air once as she had jumped into his arms.

"Hehe."

"Aren't you suppose to be doing your lessons with Master Ansem?"

"It's boringggg and Grandpa Ansem didn't have any ice cream today." She said.

"Figures, he probably bribes you with ice cream." He tickled her as she giggled. "So, why are you out here then?"

"I wanted to ask you somethin'" She said.

Squall sat down with his legs hanging off the side of the ground with Yuffie sitting in his lap, "Ask away."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"A...wha?" He was taken back by the 9 yr old girl question. "No, not really. Why do you ask?"

"Cause Aerith was reading me a book, but it wasn't my picture book." She said.

'Must have been once of Aerith's romance novel's she's always reading all the time.'

Leon thought to himself before he nodded his head a little, "I see."

"That settles it then! I'm gonna be your girlfriend." She said proudly.

Squall blinked as he laughed a little, "So, you're my girlfriend now?"

"Yep!" She nodded her head.

"Well, guess that means I can kiss you now."

"Kiss?" Yuffie looked at him before sticking her tongue out, "Ew, no. You got co..cooties!"

"Cooties? Oh yeah? Let's see if you get cooties too!" He said as he assaulted her with kisses on the cheek.

"Ewwww! I got cooties!" She yelled, squirming around in his arms.

TBC

How was that? Won't update this for a little bit. Not too long, it might be updated next week while I'm updating other stories. Bleh, this chapter was a bit short though I'll make the next one a little longer okay? Read my other stories!