Chapter Nine---Valentine's Day

Yuffie squirmed in her seat, excitement coursing through her small body. Today was the day. It was Valentine's Day, her 19th birthday and her big brother, her favorite brother was coming home from his tour. It was all so glamorous! Not only was her brother the wet dream for every girl south of Hollow Bastion, he was spending Valentine's with her. Just her. He promised.

Yuffie clapped delightedly glancing up to see her mother smile at her in the rear view mirror. This was another thing Yuffie liked about Squally; he may be a big star but he loved his family most of all. The airport edged closer and Yuffie nearly had a heart attack from suspense, looking frantically for the angry grey-blue eyes and indifferent swagger she knew so well. Finally her mother parked and Yuffie bolted from the car, catching sight of a familiar black bomber and silver pendant.

"SQUALL, SQUALL, SQUAL, SQUALL!!!!!!" Yuffie launched herself at the brunette who grinned and caught her in mid air, spinning her around easily before setting her back on solid ground again. A brilliant, adoring smile was granted the taller brunet as the last of the afternoon sun faded away behind grey clouds, clouds too sad for Valentine's Day. Taking his hand, Yuffie pulled him to the car.

"Come on! You promised today was OUR day! You've got so much to tell me! I'm fabulous as always, but you knew that so we don't need to go over it again! Ah! How was your flight?! Oh my gawd, I can't believe I haven't seen you in months!" Crushing the pale teen in a hug, Yuffie squealed and bounced around 'Squall' before sliding into the little blue fixer-upper he'd bought her for her 16th birthday. Chuckling to himself, 'Squall' ruffled his baby sister's hair, vaguely realizing that Yuffie was 19 today. Not quite such a baby.

"Happy Birthday, Yuffs." Yuffie beamed at him and continued dancing in her seat to the song on the radio, her exuberance filling the small car and reminding Squall he was home. He frowned as he looked out the window, wondering when the sky had become so dark and the wind had started blowing so much. Pushing the thought aside, Squall turned to look at Yuffie who had taken his hand and was looking at him happily, singing her favorite song. If he had a choice, Squall would forever wish her smiling face had been the last thing he'd seen.

But it wasn't.

Sephiroth tapped his fingers on the steering wheel idly. Only another 30 miles and he was home. Home meant Cloud would be sitting on his couch, waiting anxiously as he looked out the window for a glimpse of the old black truck Sephiroth adored so. Smiling to himself, Sephiroth leaned back in his seat, the empty road stretching out before him as he thought about what would happen when he got home.

Cloud's blonde spikes would be visible from over the top of the couch as Sephiroth pulled in the drive. By the time Sephiroth unbuckled, got out and closed his door, Cloud would already be out the door and in his arms again. It would be like holding heaven in his arms when Sephiroth finally got to hold the blonde once more. It would be like heaven.

Smiling to himself Sephiroth closed his eyes for a second as Cloud's excited laughter echoing through the empty cab of his truck. Echoing through his heart before the sound of screeching tires tore it away.

Squall remembered how it happened.

Suddenly all was still, Yuffie had turned to look ahead and the smile was suddenly gone, terror in its place. He heard his mother scream, distantly as though she were very far away; as though she wasn't there. He heard his father yell at her, "Raine, the break! Raine!" But either the break failed or Raine didn't step on it because the last thing Squall saw was Yuffie's terrified face staring back at him, tears in her big brown eyes as the front of the car caved in with a sickening crunch, the shriek of tires deafening him as bright headlights filled his vision, blinding him from what happened next.

It may have been years, days or minutes later but Squall was suddenly flung back into the real world, the sound of flames and screams in his ears, pain tearing through his body as he tried to move. Nothing worked and terror clawed at him, almost suffocating him. Finally, he managed to stand, his breathing coming short, ragged gasps as he looked around, astounded at the wreckage before him. A black pickup truck was embedded in the front of Yuffie's car and Squall knew there was no way his parents were alive. There was no way. But the driver of the black pickup truck was nowhere to be seen as Squall staggered forward, vaguely registering sirens in the distance.

"SQUALL!!!!" Yuffie's petrified scream froze Squall to the spot as he took a good look at the little blue car, the little blue car that was consumed in angry flames. The little blue car that still held his baby sister in the back seat. Squall's voice wouldn't work and his legs wouldn't move forward as he tried to reach Yuffie, the sight of her reaching for him, crying his name over and over again burning itself into his mind. It was the last time he would see Yuffie.

Squall stared on helplessly as the car burst into flames with his sister in side, her screams suddenly halting as he sank to his knees with a primal scream, tears burning their way down his dirty cheeks. He must have screamed for a long time because suddenly there were people around him, with equipment and oxygen masks and questions. Flashing lights blinded the brunet teen as he screamed again for Yuffie, struggling against the paramedic's grip. He managed to break free and run a few yards before his boot caught something and he tripped, rocks and glass digging painfully into his knees and palms as he stood, turning to look at what he had tripped on.

There at his feet lay the driver of the black pickup, blood soaking his clothes and pretty silver hair. Squall's face contorted in a grimace as he realized the man wasn't dead. Yet. The pallid man was still holding on, still gasping and choking on his own blood, drowning in it as tears filled jade eyes and a shaky hand reached out to Squall.

"I'm sorry…" And it was as the man's hand fell lifelessly to the ground that Squall realized something with perfect clarity, even as he stood among the burning, mangled wreckage.

He was the only one left alive.

A.n: I'm sorry my lovelies, This was a horrible sad, awful chapter but it had to happen. Forgive me. But I hope you enjoyed the sadness because there is joy ahead, I promise! Thanks to all my reviewers, fav'ers and readers!

Ulti!