Chapter 14: Girl Talk

(Same tags apply as in Chapter 1)

Vincent reached Yuffie's quarters and opened the doors. "Do you need anything before I go?" He said, as he watched her progress across the small room.

Yuffie teetered slightly as she finally reached the bed. Just as Vincent was about to rush forward, she turned and plopped on the bed. "No Vinnie, you have done more than enough for me. I appreciate it all. I've been such a burden to you lately I-"

Vincent quickly halted that line of thinking. "You have not been a burden at all. Please do not think that you are one to me because I assure you, you are not."

Yuffie went to lie on her bed, suddenly finding something on the ceiling utterly fascinating. "I'm sorry Vinnie, I'm just not use to people wanting to help someone like me or even really caring."

Vincent walked over to her bed and leaned in front of her. Yuffie stared at the area that had once been occupied by ceiling and peered into his red orbs.

"Maybe you should get use to it, young ninja." He walked back to the door of her quarters. "I will see you later."

"Bye Vince."

Vincent pulled the door shut and started down hallway passing Tifa in the process and nodding to her slightly. He needed sometime alone, so he went to the one place that he knew would be unoccupied.

The Deck.

.::-o-::.

Yuffie took the pillow that was under her head and placed it under her knees, trying to ease the dull pain in her back that remained after Vincent healed her. 'Ah, much better!' She thought to her self as her eyes wandered around the room.

-Knock, Knock-

"Yuffie, It's me."

The young ninja didn't bother moving to answer the door. "Come in Tifa, the doors open."

Tifa poked her head in the door and saw Yuffie lying on her bed. "I'm a little early, I can come back later if you want me to."

"Nah, you're fine, come on in and sit." She said from her spot on the bed.

Tifa sat in the chair and glanced around the room not quite sure as to what to say. She would let her young friend start.

Yuffie turned her gaze from the ceiling to the martial artist sitting across from her. Yuffie was a little nervous at someone else learning more about her. She loved Tifa, but wasn't quite ready to tell her everything. 'I just won't mention the whole throne or marriage business. I'll give her a basic rundown.' She thought.

"This stays between us. Vincent is the only other person who knows. I just don't want the others to know." Tifa nodded.

"I guess I should start with why I had to return to Wutai." Tifa nodded. "Let's see…everyone in Wutai who chooses to train in one form of fighting or another, is usually doing it in order to earn the official title as Ninja."

"Before Shinra, our towns and villages were full of thriving warriors who protected Wutai and trained others. Many of them were killed or taken prisoner during the war and the numbers of fighters have gone down."

"There are two parts that you must complete in order to gain your title and they must be done in order. The first part, which is what Vince and I went for, is to defeat the Guardians of the Pagoda of the Five Mighty Gods."

"Each Guardian represents one of the gods. So there's a Guardian for Power, blah, blah, blah, all the way up to Omni…Follow me so far Teef?"

Tifa nodded but remained silent.

"So anyway, you have to defeat each guardian to get to the next level and each time you advance, the guardians get stronger."

Tifa was curious about one thing. "Do you have to face them back to back?"

"There are two rules that you gotta go by. One," Yuffie held up one finger " You can have one person go with you during the trial for support but they can't interfere in any way. And Two," She added a finger. "After a Guardian is defeated, you have two minutes to get to the next floor and start the battle or you forfeit."

Tifa nodded in understanding. "So basically it's a test of endurance and strength."

"Bingo!" Yuffie said, lazily giving Tifa thumbs up.

Tifa was quiet for a moment. "Yuffs, has anyone ever been killed while facing the pagoda?"

"It's rare, but has been known to happen. Usually the battle stops before loss of life."

Tifa moved her chair next to the bed and grasped the small hand resting at the girl's side. "Yuffie, after what you've told me so far, I am VERY relieved that ALL you got were bruises. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you too." Tifa's eyes were shining with tears. "I already lost one sister, I don't need to lose another."

There were tears in Yuffie's gray eyes, but they had not yet fallen. "Aw, Teef, I love ya too! I'm too damn stubborn to die jus' yet. I plan on being around for a LONG time to annoy the hell out of everyone."

'That's the Yuffie I know.' Tifa thought with a smile. "Yuffie, you don't annoy me and not having you around is not an option! We are all family…slightly dysfunctional, but still a family." Tifa's voice was firm but there was warmth with it also.

"So that was the first part, what was the second?"

"Well the second part says that you have to win a great victory in battle against an enemy. The battle with Jenova and Sephiroth fall into that category, dontcha think?"

Tifa nodded but was slightly confused. "Couldn't you have used the battle against Hojo as your victory?"

"That's a good question Teef, but no, I can't use it. The two tasks have to be done in order. The pagoda, then the victory. Nothing is ever that easy." She said with a wry smile.

There was a companionable silence and Tifa still had Yuffie's hand. "Hey Yuffie?"

"That's me!"

Tifa laughed then asked gently "Why don't you want the others to know?"

For a moment, a pained look crossed the ninja's delicate features and she quickly removed it. Tifa saw it, but did not mention it.

"There is a lot that I'd rather not have out just yet. I can't really explain right now but when the time comes, I will sit everyone down and explain but I promise, I will let you know first."

Tifa smiled at the young woman. "Thanks. I'm glad that you told me about the pagoda and the battle. I promise that I won't tell anyone."

Tifa had a mischievous glint in her eyes and an evil smirk formed on her lips. 'Uh oh…' Yuffie thought. 'This can't be good…'

The fighter flipped her long chocolate hair over her shoulder and casually began to speak. "So Yuffs, tell me about Vincent."

"…" A blush crept up on the young ninja's face at the mention of his name. "What about Vincent?" She said in an innocent voice.

"What's going on between you two?"

Yuffie willed the blush to go down in her cheeks. "Nothing's going on. Vincent and I are very close friends, that's all."

"If that's all, then why is your face as red as Nanaki's fur?"

"Teef, honestly, there's nothing going on between us. We have spent a lot of time together over the last week and he a wonderful, kind man."

"But you do 'like' him don't you?"

"Shaddup Tifa." She said as she covered her face with her hands.

"Just admit it Yuffs."

"………"

"Yuffie…"

"………. ………."

Tifa crossed her legs and made herself comfortable. "Yuffie, I can wait all day. If you told me sometime this century, it would be nice."

Yuffie glared at Tifa. "FINE! I do like him…a lot! Know this Tifa Lockheart, if this gets out, I will fulfill my promise I made to you earlier."

Tifa bounced in her chair with glee at getting the confession out of the fuming ninja. "I knew it! I promise, no one will hear it from me. I don't wish to become intimate with your Conformer. So, how long have you had a thing for Vincent?"

The glare that was being shot from stormy eyes died. "I guess since the first time we met him in the basement of the Shinra Mansion. He was so mysterious and even though he was very blunt and curt with everyone, I knew that he was a good guy, he's just been through so much."

That impressed Tifa greatly. "He talked about his past with you?"

"Yep. But anyway, at the time I thought it was just hormones or something like that, but Aeris saw that there was much more to it than just a little crush. Oh I told her she was crazy and that I was not in love with Vincent but she insisted that I was."

"I know you got a message from her from Vincent…Don't worry, he didn't tell me what was said." Yuffie laughed. "Even from the Lifestream she's rubbin' it in. She told him to tell me 'I told you so' along with the rest of her message."

Tifa laughed with the gray-eyed girl and sat on the bed next to Yuffie. "I didn't know you got one too. I am glad that she's still here with us in a way. I miss her dearly, but it doesn't hurt so bad knowing she's watching us and having you here with me."

Yuffie sat up with some effort and wrapped her arms around Tifa. "Me too sis." Tifa hugged her back.

She lay back on the bed and adjusted her pillow with a slight grimace.

"Your back bothering you still? I'll bring you something later if you'd like."

"Thanks."

"So do you only like him or are you in love with him?" Tifa asked with a raised eyebrow.

Yuffie thought about it for a moment before answering. "Ya know Teef, I think I do love him."

A huge grin broke out on the fighter's face. "Yuffs that's wonderful! Have you told Vincent that you 'like' him?"

"Oh gods no! I can't tell 'im that, not yet. Are ya crazy woman? I don't even know if he feels the same way!"

Tifa shook her head. "You know, I think he really does like you. I can tell by the way he looks at you. I can tell you like him by the way YOU look at him. I bet you didn't even realize that you both are dressed alike today." A smirk reappeared on her face.

Yuffie looked down at her black top and black shorts. Then looked across the room and saw the red of her Conformer. Her eyes went wide, she hadn't noticed at all. "Holy shit!" she blurted out the covered her mouth with her hands at her language.

Tifa arched an eyebrow and laughed at her. "You've been spending too much time around Cid and Barret."

"They're the best teachers if ya wanna know that kinda stuff. Hey, I gotta question for you too."

"Shoot."

"What's going on between you and Spike?"

"Well, I told you about how we grew up together." Yuffie nodded. "I was really depressed when he left. You know the saying 'you don't know what you got 'til its gone?' Well I can't find any better saying that better fit my situation.

"I missed him so much, it hurt. I didn't realize I loved him until he was gone." Tifa drew in a shuddering breath. "When he walked into the Seventh Heaven, it felt like my heart leapt into my throat and I couldn't breath. I thought I would never see him again.

"I knew that I should have told him then, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I was afraid that he would laugh or something." She said and gave a self-pitying laugh.

Tifa sobered a little bit "You know, Aeris gave me some good advice as well in my message. She told me to tell him soon, and you know what…I did. I told him while we were camped out in the Ancient Forest and Barret was keeping the animals away by snoring." She laughed again. "Who woulda thought that such a big, burly man such a Barret could have such horrible allergies."

Yuffie joined the laughter at the image of Barret asking Tifa and Cloud if they had a hankie.

"I told him that after he left Nibelheim, I missed him so much. I told him I realized that I loved him and this time I wasn't going to wait until it was too late. He told me that he loved me too but just didn't know how to say it."

Yuffie looked up at Tifa. "That's sooo sweet! I wish…I wish I knew how Vince felt. I don't want to rush anything, we've all been together for a little over a month and I wanna know him better, ya know?"

Tifa placed her hand over Yuffie's. "Don't worry, he's still adjusting to the way is life is changing. He's a good guy. He will tell you how he feels; it will just take some time. But Yuffie, don't be like me; don't wait until he's gone and then realize what you've lost. Do like Aeris told me and tell him when you are ready, but don't wait too long."

"I will."

"Good." Tifa glanced over at the wall clock and stood. "Well I guess this girl talk session is over. I have to go check on Barret and see what I can make for dinner tonight before the meeting. Oh, I'll stop by in a few minutes with those pills for you. They will make you a little sleepy but you still have about three hours before the meeting."

"Thanks Teef, don't bother knocking when you come back, just come in."

"Okay." She walked out of the door.

Yuffie glanced around the room when a thought hit her. 'Hey, I'm not sick…maybe my motion sickness is gone.' Her happy thought was quelled when her stomach began to turn. 'Son of a Bitch! I spoke too soon. When will I ever learn never to look a gift horse in its flippin' mouth?!'

She reached into her nightstand drawer and grabbed a tranquilizer from her stash and quickly downing the chalky liquid. 'Tif will be back soon.' She thought as she rolled on her side and willed her rebellious stomach to ease up.

.::-o-::.

Despite Vincent's previous plans of heading to the deck, he managed to make his way to the bridge. For the past hour, he stood staring out of the glass at the head of the bridge, watching the ground pass beneath him. Though no one had disturbed him, Vincent headed to the deck to be alone.

He grasped the handle to the door that lead to the deck with his claw. He was met with the crisp November winds as he walked to his customary spot near the railing.

The breeze caressed his face as he closed his eyes to relax his mind. Raven colored silk danced in the air behind him. Vincent let out a sigh of contentment and began to trudge though his thoughts.

Vincent thought back about the truth displayed in his dream.

During his thirty-year confinement, he had been utterly alone. He had felt the sadness, anger and anguish when the nightmares started to replay themselves over and over in his mind forcing him to relive Lucrecia's death. He saw where Lucrecia lie hemorrhaging, crying out to hold her precious child and watching Hojo brutally jab a syringe in filled with a Jenova/Mako mixture, into the newborn Sephiroth. Hearing the infants cries increase at the pain infuriated him.

The moment he was shot replayed in his mind also…he was attempting to stop Hojo from hurting the child and get Lucrecia medical help. The guilt of theses dreams made him wish for death.

One of the most horrific of the dream, however, was of the torture inflicted upon him while he was experimented on. He had awakened strapped to an exam table and struggled to get himself free knowing that Lucrecia had died but her child was still suffering at the hands of that madman.

Hojo came to the table and cut Vincent's clothing from his body with a scalpel, not caring that he was inflicting deep gashes along Vincent's smooth skin. He remembered the pain of Hojo removing his arm. It was unbearable.

He recalled screaming and struggling to get free before almost falling into unconsciousness. But Hojo would have none of that. The madman injected something into his body that had kept him awake the entire time, bordering on the line of consciousness and unconsciousness and able to feel every last bit of pain.

These were the nightmares that Vincent relived. These were the sins that Vincent atoned for. 'I know Lucrecia said that it was not my fault, and I see that now, but I just wish that there was something that I could have done. No one should have to suffer like that.' He thought to himself.

He knew these thought were in vain. 'I can't change the past, nor can I continue to live in it. I do not want to walk that path again and as long as I continue to think of the 'what if's,' I will forever walk that on that long dusty plain. Forever be alone.'

'Lucrecia showed me that I don't have to do this alone. I know that Yuffie will be here with me, I saw as much when she told me about her dream of the cliff overlooking the ocean.'

'I do not wish to be alone anymore with only Chaos to keep me company.'

'Hey! I heard that!'

'Sorry Chaos, no offence but I don't want to spend the rest of my natural life just listening to a sarcastic demon, not to mention the other three stooges.'

Chaos grunted 'None taken…this time. You are correct about one thing though…'

'And what would that be?'

'Move on, host Vinnie. Not that I don't enjoy seeing your nightmares replayed, but they're starting to get rather old.'

Vincent gave a sigh. 'You're not going to stop calling me Vinnie, are you?'

'Not on your life, Vinnie'

Vincent ignored that last comment. He knew that there was one person that he could depend to always be there. He also wanted to be there for her. She was someone he respected and admired for her strength…

Yuffie.

She was waiting with Lucrecia. Waiting for him to walk out of the solitude of his past life. Now that he made it to the cliff he wasn't quite sure of what he was to do next. But at least now, he wasn't alone. Yuffie was standing with him on that cliff and the feeling of despair and loneliness had been lifted.

He had learned so much about her over the past week. But there was one thing about her that bothered him. She had not had the chance to live her own life. For the past three years, her life had not been her own to live…It had been completely dictated by her father.

Her future had been at the mercy of Godo Kisaragi. She spent three years trying to keep her family name so she could institute change when she took her place as leader. She didn't have a chance to choose which direction her life took. Godo blew what chance she had. If she hadn't been sent out to 'collect' materia, she would have had an opportunity to do what people her age normally do. Instead, she was forced to grow up…and fast.

'The time I have spent with her has made me feel like a normal man…I have not felt like that for so long, I had forgotten what it feels like.'

Having the ninja around definitely made things easier, but there was still something in the corner of his mind that made him wonder if he truly deserved her friendship. There was still that all too familiar warped voice in his head that screamed things like 'you are a monster and you always will be one! She's only doing this because she pities you!' and 'They all fear you!' or 'You do not deserve to have a life! Your failures should haunt your dreams until the end of your measly existence!'

There had been a few times over the few days that Vincent had almost caved to the voice that was taunting him. It usually would occur while he would be attempting to take himself into a deep sleep.

He would not let it win. He knew that in time that voice would fade, allowing him to live in peace. He promised Lucrecia and that resolve grew each time the siren-like voice attempted to lure him back into his former life.

Vincent thanked the gods, the planet and whoever else was listening for allowing him to spend time with such a beautiful, sensitive, and caring young woman. With Yuffie by his side, the start of his transition was easier than expected. She was someone who he could easily see himself loving. However, he knew he was not ready yet. She also had so many things that were being thrown at her; the pressure would just be too great.

With Yuffie's birthday rapidly approaching, her search for a mate would start. In approximately 400 days, she will be married. Something was telling Vincent that she was not going to go on a desperate search find the right guy. The fact that she would be looking for a husband made Vincent jealous, but he would push any feelings that he had aside in order to help her.

No matter what she chose to do or whom she chose, he promised himself one thing…if the person she chooses ever hurt his Yuffie, he would kill him.

'I wonder if she could see herself with someone such as myself…' His eyes widened at that thought and the pounding in his chest increased at that thought.

'Our relationship is and will only ever be platonic.' He stated to himself. However, the thought that they would be nothing but friends made him question that statement. What if he wanted more than friendship? Would she accept his feelings for her? Would she feel the same about him?

His feelings for the young ninja confused him immensely. He had only been in one 'real' relationship in his life and that was with his dear Lucrecia. Of course, before he had been forced into the Turks, he had a few platonic female friends but nothing more than that. Lucy had been 'the one,' but had been manipulated and lured away by empty promises of a happy life by that sadistic bastard she married.

His thoughts of the future Lady Kisaragi ran ramped is his mind but realized something. 'Whatever she decides, I will be there for her in whatever capacity she wishes me to be.'

He pictured himself on the cliff once again standing next to Yuffie. The ocean seemed to stretch on forever, leading to new opportunities and experiences. Others had dictated both of their lives for far too long. Maybe it was about time that they set sail on that ocean, together, to find what new experiences awaited them. Experiences decided by no one but themselves alone.

Vincent look out on the horizon and guessed he had another hour and a half before they would need to meet again. He sighed. 'Cloud seems to have an obsession with meetings.' He thought.

Although he believed that to be the case, he wouldn't have it any other way. In this battle, there was no turning back and if they were not properly prepared, the planet would be destroyed.

Vincent sat on the deck and continued to watch the world below pass by.

o-o-Author's Notes-o-o

That was chapter 12 for ya. I've been taking a lil' break from this story, but now I'm back! I wanted to re-read Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw…(I read it while I was in High School but didn't pay much attention to it.), I've also been obsessing over Kingdom Hearts. I started over trying to beat it on Expert since I already beat it on normal…Do you know how many frickin' times I've had my Gummi ship destroyed by the damn heartless?!?

Anyway, I'm sitting here with Rude, who is curled up on my bed…he's a little bit tired right now, he needs to regain his strength...-Grins-

The other guys are on their way to Angel's house for her B-day. So I'm doing this AN solo.

I also took a couple days to write another story, its called An Unexpected Visitor, it's a romance with a little bit of lemon flavoring to it. You know what I realized? If you put in your story summary the words lemon, lime or citrus in it, you get hits on your story up the ying yang! Within the first 9 hours after I posted that story, 380 people had read the story.

I need some lemon advice from people who are good at writing it. It took me so long just to write that one it was insane. I mean, I have ideas (who doesn't) but I just couldn't put them on 'paper.'

Anyway, back to this story. To answer your question Lone Gunmen, I am not sure how long this story is going to be. The story has progressed and I can see the end, its just a matter of getting there and keeping all the ideas I have for the story intact and sometimes its difficult.

ANGEL!! Thanks for the website!! I love my Vinnie! I sat here and stared at my desktop for 5 minutes with a grin on my face and didn't even realize what the hell I was doing. I can't wait for advent children to be released! Oh and I agree with your email, I didn't realize I was doing that so much in AUV. Please let me know if I relapse and start doing that again. I will change it this weekend…and take your time with the sequel, I know finals and the like can be a bitch.

Sephiroth2021: I am very happy to know that you enjoy my story. I hope you were able to get some sleep. I am an expert at all nighters so I know what its like to find a story and just keep readin' it. But it also helps when you're a raging insomniac 75 of the time anyway…like me! -Sends cookies to Seph2021-

TheEvilOne69: I never made anyone cry before!! I am glad you liked that chappy! -Sniffs- I feel so loved!! -tosses a Vinnie plushie to TEO69-

Anyhoo, I'm going back to my corner now to think about my stories, lemons, and stare at the violin that I broke the string on…it was an accident, honest!

I really have no idea how to play it (I wish I did though), I just like how it looks…

Later!

Ezri

Oh yeah, I don't own Final Fantasy, Square-Enix does. -sob-

7/19/07

Edited because of change in formatting. Also re-numbering chapters. Minor content edits.