Masking The Pain

Dsiclaimer: No I do not own any of my characters.

AN: This is for the friends and authors that encouraged me.

She sat on a materia encrusted throne in a large marble hall. Vincent sat on her left and Marlene sat to her right as second in command. In her pocket sat a black silk bag. "We did it Marlene," She laughed, "We did it."

"Yuffie, Yuffie," Vincents voice awoke her from her dreams. "Why are you and Marlene out here?"

"Hmmm?" Yuffie lifted her head from the table, rubbed her eyes and stretched, "Where am I?"

"You're in the kitchen, now give me my cape back," Vincent said looking at the red cape that hung across Yuffies shoulders.

"Why am I wearing it in the first place?" Yuffie said giving it back (being too tired to protest).

Vincent coughed, "You looked cold."

"He gave it to you," Marlene stated plainly.

Yuffie giggled, "Thank you Vincent."

"You're welcome," Vincent grimaced.

"Major headache," Yuffie frowned putting her hand to her head.

"That's what you get for sleeping at the table," Cloud said entering the room.

"What'dyou know?" Marlene asked crankily.

"Yeah," Yuffie inquired, "What do you know?"

Cloud shrugged and sat down at the table next to Yuffie. Yuffie shivered, and no it wan't because she was cold. It was because of the dream she had had the night before.

"Are you cold?" Cloud asked, "You're shivering."

"Yeah," Yuffie lied.

"Here, take it," Cloud said handing Yuffie his coat.

"Thanks," Yuffie replied. Putting it on she felt immediatly warmer, but... on the inside.

Tifa came in wistling totally oblivious to what had happened the night before. "Hey guys," She smiled.

"Hi," Marlene smiled back.

"Hey," Yuffie grinned feeling much better.

"I'm thinkin' pancakes," Tifa said pulling out the buisquik, "What do you guys think?"

Twenty minutes later everyone had left the room exept Yuffie and Vincent

Vincent sat in deep thought. He thought about how he was going to dispose of his cape now that the ninja had worn it.

"Vincent?" Yuffie looked at him with innocense on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," He answered grimly.

"Vincnet?"

"Yes Yuffie?"

Yuffie leaned over and kissed Vincent.

"Why did you do that?" he asked shock on his face.

"Cloud and Aerith loved each other but never told one another how they felt. I don't want that to happen to us...or me," she felt her face grow warm and she looked away.

"Yuffie," Vincent didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry," but she really wasn't, she had no idea why she apolagized.

"Yuffie, I'm old enough to be your father."

"Does it really matter," she asked a pained expression on her face. She tried to smile but she just couldn't do it.

"Yes Yuffie, it really does."

"Whatever," she waved it off and walked out of the room, her eyes filling with tears.

As she walked down the hall she passed Tifa who looked at her blankly. "What's..."

Yuffie kept walking and didn't even hear her friend whisper, "What's wrong?"

When Yuffie got to her room she slammed the door and fell backwards onto her bed. She watched as rain fell outside her window and let out a quivered sigh. "Why doesn't he like me?" she wispered letting a tear fall down her cheek.

"He does," Cloud said leaning against the doorjamb. "But he can't," Cloud sighed, "It's complicated."

"Whatever," Yuffie frowned.

"No, seriously Yuffie," he does love you," Cloud smiled at the ninja and left the room so she could think.