Hello, Hello, Dearies...Pleasure seeing you here...
WRITER'S CORRECTION: Yuffie is indeed 19 as is Shelke, for some reason I wrote my last chapter thinking it was still based on AC events..slaps self...ouch...rubs brusing cheek...ahh...I need more...java...Hugs Java
X Perfect Corners X
Yuffie surpressed a sigh of boredom, if Tifa heard her she was sure to assign more chores. The nineteen year-old snorted, more like missions! Lugging around a fifty pound basket of clothes wasn't easy, even if it kinda was her own.
Heaving another sigh she plucked at her shirt, she did need clean clothes, these old ones just weren't cutting it. Her fingers found a small band of soft string wrapped loosely at her neck, she removed it from her neck to admire it. She rubbed the tiny medallion between her thumb and forefinger, smiling softly.
It had been her mother's at one point. Yuffie thought it looked better on her mother's neck, polished and proud with it's owner dressed in her finest silk kimono. Yuffie often toyed with it when her mother cradled her in her arms, now it was her's. Yuffie could almost feel her mother sitting beside her, and she smiled deeper feeling a mixture of warmth and comfort.
Tifa's voice called her from her daydream, with a snap she jumped from her seat.
"Coming!"
Yuffie shoved the medallion in the pocket of a pair of pants that rested on the top of her laundry pile.
XxxXxxX
Tired with her busy day of regular housekeeping Tifa strolled into the laundry room. The machine had cut out about an hour ago, and there were still more dirty clothes.
She moaned at a rather large pile, that had to be Yuffie's.
May as well get a headstart while Yuff helped Denzel with his homework. She lifted the basket with a little difficulty and dumped its contents into the washer. Adding a little soap, Tifa slammed the lid shut and started the machine.
XxxXxxX
Yuffie scratched her head unintelligently.
Who knew math could be so difficult!
Now she'd have to sit through a whole laundry cycle for her clothes, she switched on the lights and gasped in horror.
Her clothes were gone and the machine was running, she could hear the water swish inside the metal innards – the machine's blade churning the clothes.
The necklace!
Yuffie screamed in terror and ran to the machine, half-running half-stumbling she skidded to a stop and struggled with the latch – finally the latch gave and the lid opened with a snap, the machine stopped abruptly leaving a distorted blend of soap, water, and saggy clothes.
Crying now Yuffie fished around for the pants with her medallion, she caught a flash of blue and pulled them out by the lip. The medallion wasn't there, Yuffie gave a desperate gasp and plunged her arm into the soapy pit.
It felt like she was losing her mother again.
There! Something smooth and flat brushed her finger, her grip fastened around the necklace which lay abandoned at the bottom.
She pulled it out and tried to scan the damage with blurry eyes.
The soft burlap string was knotted and frayed, the little bronze disc was worn, discolored, and scratched to hell. The beauty and shine it once possessed was gone.
Yuffie's knees buckled and she slowly slid to the floor sobbing softly.
The last thing of her mother's had died.
XxxXxxX
Shelke folded herself into a small corner and ran her finger over the little necklace.
She scoffed at it, why would the little ninja fret over something so simple and unimportant. Yuffie had told the tale of the little medallion's lost battle with the washing machine over dinner, she had even held back tears.
Shelke had rescued the necklace from its place on the kitchen counter when Yuffie had hid herself upstairs.
Looking over the bronze disc again, Shelke saw signs of inner beauty and grace, something spiritual emitted from the necklace.
Hmmm...maybe the necklace held something of value.
An idea formed in Shelke's head and she quickly set to work.
XxxXxxX
An hour's work had led to this.
The ex-Tsviet tiredly stretched and pocketed the medallion, all intentions set to find Yuffie.
The Wutai girl had been easy to find, she had been sitting in the living room flipping through a book, Shelke noted that this book had been left on the floor the night before.
"Yuffie Kisaragi?"
The girl looked up and frowned slightly.
"Yeah?"
Shelke dug through her pocket and let the necklace dangle from an outstretched arm.
"Hey! What are you doing with m-"
Yuffie noticed a shiny almost happy glare reflecting off the bronze piece.
She grabbed the medallion and looked at it. The string had been replaced with a newer thread of burlap and the little disc had been repainted, polished and sanded down – hiding scratches and clearly revealing the previous Wutai symbol. That symbol had long sinced faded, faded awhile ago back when her mother was alive. It looked new, the beauty and strength it weilded calmed her.
Her eyes were torn from the medallion to Shelke. Shelke smiled faintly and turned on her heel to leave.
"Wait!"
Shelke stopped and stared, looking confused.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
Shelke nodded despite the strange new feeling growing inside her. She continued walking into the shadowed hallway.
XxxHearts4Black
It's crazier and crazier I know...mhem...does it suck?...remember...reviews!