Dislciamer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts 1, COM, or 2.
Title:
Where is the Love?
Words:
605Summary:
Inspired by the Black Eyed Peas Song, "Where is the Love." Squall
had always given Yuffie the real truth, not matter how tough. Now,
however, he is faced with questions he can't answer.A/N:
5 years since 9/11. This fic has no relation to that occasion, but I
still want to dedicate this to those who have relatives serving in
the military either here at home or in the Middle East. It is also to
anyone who lost someone dear to them 5 years on this day. But,
especially, this is dedicated to the army brats like myself. God
bless you all.
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Was 30 days too long to still mourn, or was it just beginning? Was a month too soon to stop searching, or was the effort long past hopeless? Squall wasn't even sure anymore. Rinoa was gone, along with almost everyone else who'd mattered in his life. What was he to do?
Keep living, fighting, and searching. Distance himself from the others, so he wouldn't have his heart scarred again. There was only one obstacle to achieving this goal: a seven-year-old girl named Yuffie Kisaragi. She clung to him like Velcro and always had something to annoy him.
"Squallie!" She ran into the Green Room and jumped onto the foot of the bed, sitting in front of him cross-legged. He looked into her, knowing this would not be good for his mental health. When she sat like that, it meant he would be here awhile. "Did Ansem have a Mommy like I did?"
…
…
Certainly not what he expected, but he nodded. "Everyone has a mother and father." He said, knowing he couldn't be too harsh on her, or Aerith would beat the living daylights out of him, along with Cid. Despite his claims of hate towards her, he'd seen how the pilot would watch after her sometimes, guarding her from Heartless and thieves alike. Anyone who looked at the girl the wrong way would meet the business end of his spear. Not to mention Squall personally despised seeing her cry.
Yuffie didn't even take the time to process this answer before asking, "Did his parents abandon him?" Squall remembered faintly his own parents leaving him, but disregarded the memory.
"I don't know." He answered truthfully.
"Why don't the kings in fairytales ever turn out bad, and Ansem did?"
"I don't know."
"Did he like seeing Mommy and Daddy die?" She was screaming now, tears cascading down her cheeks. "And Vincent and Shera and Rinoa and Zell and Tifa and Cloud and," she sniffled, stopping her cries. Her lithe frame began to heave with her sobs of pain and confusion, and all Squall could do was watch helplessly. He was always helpless…
"We don't know that Cloud and Tifa are dead Yuff, they might have escaped." She didn't seem to hear his logic, however, as she dove into his lap, burying her head in his chest and grabbing her leather jacket so tightly her knuckles turned white. She was grieving.
Squall, in a more distant way, was grieving when he held Yuffie. He did not protest to the dampening of his shirt or the pain when her nails dug his skin. They stayed that way for almost ten minutes, letting out their sorrow. Yuffie mourned every single person she lost, while Squall could mourn only one woman. Rinoa…
"…Squall?" She looked up at him with moist gray eyes. He met them, showing he was listening. "Why is all the love gone?" Too perceptive for her age, darn ninja.
"…I don't know."
Yuffie suddenly seemed determined. She pushed away from him and stood up proudly, hands on her hips. "Then let's make a pact Squallie! We both have to promise to make sure that, one day, we add a little love to the world. Promise?" She looked at him hopefully and he could only sigh.
"If I do, will you go to sleep? It's almost midnight." The raven-haired girl contemplated this, and then nodded. "Fine then, I agree. Go to sleep."
"M'kay, nights!"
Neither knew where this would someday lead them, but it was something they silently held to over the years. This vow, a constant they both remembered, stayed in their hearts and minds, waiting for fulfillment.
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Okay, this tunred out to be a Squall/Yuffie friendship, but the next will be a bonafide Squiffie, promise! I'd like to thank my reviewers and request you continue to R&R!
