Chapter 29: Moving day
(Same tags apply as in Chapter 1)
Yuffie stood within the gates of her new residence, watching as the painters applied the fresh white paint to the outside of the Mansion. Many of the townsfolk were watching from their front stoops as the former dilapidated Mansion turned into a thing of beauty once more. Taking a break, she watched as the movers came in and out of the large front doors, placing the new furniture, mostly consisting of tasteful black leather, into the grand building. Yes, she and Tifa had done an excellent job matching its style to its resident.
"Yuffie! Come grab the rest of your bags!" Tifa called from the front door of her home across the small town square.
Yuffie ran back over to the small home and grabbed the last two bags. "It'll be nice to be all moved in!" She said, the excitement clear in her voice.
Tifa couldn't help being drawn in by the young ninja's excitement. "So, do you have a room picked out yet?"
"Yep! I chose the one with the skylight and the balcony. Vincent's room is a few doors down the hall and when everyone comes to visit, they won't have to stay in that smelly ol' inn anymore." The ninja said while adjusting the shoulder strap of her bag.
"Well then, lets get you settled in so we can finish up for the day." Tifa said and left her house following a bouncing Yuffie.
Tifa had to jog in order to catch up with Yuffie and finally did when they reached the high wrought iron gates of the property. Tifa was catching her breath. 'Running with bags full of clothing is a pain in the-' her thoughts were cut off by a vaguely familiar voice.
"Wow, so this is where you're staying." The voice said.
Tifa and Yuffie turned to see the man that Yuffie had run into while they were shopping. The ninja smiled slightly, but really didn't want to be bothered by the man, he only reminded her of the task she was suppose to be doing. "Yep. We're moving in today."
The young man narrowed his eyes slightly at Tifa, then at Yuffie. His eyes suddenly widened but he quickly pushed his surprise away. Feeling really stupid, he finally realized why these two looked so familiar…they were the two women of Avalanche! "You know, last time we bumped into each other, I didn't get your name." He gave her a charming smile. "Mine is Jonathan by the way."
Tifa watched in amusement as the ninja began to squirm. "The name's Yuffie. I really gotta go." She stated quickly as she opened the gate.
He bowed to the two women. "It was nice seeing you once more, ladies."
Yuffie and Tifa nodded politely before hurrying into the mansion and making their way up the stairs. Once inside Yuffie's room, the ninja closed her eyes in irritation. This was not what she wanted to deal with right now. Jonathan's flirting made her realize that she had a little less than eight months to finish her task, and that meant dates. 'Just one more thing I gotta think about.' Yuffie thought to herself with a sigh but was pulled away from her thoughts when she heard Tifa laughing at her.
"I think someone has the hots for you Yuffs."
"Whatever Teef." The ninja said, glancing around the room. It was sparsely decorated, but rather elegant at the same time. In the center of the room was a large bed and on it sat a folded green and blue duvet with matching sheets and a large pile of pillows. A cherry wood dresser, shoji screen and desk with sketchpads and pencils carefully arranged on top were tastefully placed throughout the room. The windows and balcony door were draped in dark blue sheer curtains and the walls were painted a light green. This was her room and she loved it.
"Let's get started, shall we?" She asked the martial artist and received a nod in reply.
The ninja and martial artist made the bed, placed the various knickknacks that Yuffie had collected throughout their journey around the room, and folded or hung her clothing while talking about various subjects. When the last article of clothing was put away, Yuffie plopped on the bed next to Tifa and glanced around the room.
"You know, I'm really gonna miss have you and Vincent staying with us."
Yuffie put her arm around Tifa's shoulders and gave her a bright grin. "Aww, Teef! We're right across the road. And I KNOW you didn't think that I wouldn't come over and find some kind of way to torture Spike did ya?"
Tifa giggled as she thought back on some of the pranks that Cloud and Yuffie had played on one another. "Of course not." She placed her head on Yuffie shoulder. "Yuffie," she said quietly. "Vincent has changed so much…I am glad that you have been here to help him."
"I couldn't let him do this on his own and I really want to help him." Yuffie stated plainly.
"Do you still feel the same about him? Did you tell him yet?"
"Tifa, I do still 'like' him...a lot. Even more since I've been here in Nibelheim, but I still can't make myself tell him." Yuffie let out a sigh.
Tifa gave her a slightly scolding look. "Yuffie, I still think that you should tell him. It would make it a lot better if you just came clean with him."
"I know Teef." Her voice was at a whisper. "I will…"
The burgundy eyed fighter patted Yuffie's knee before hopping to her feet and dragging the ninja to the door. "The movers should be done with the bedrooms, lets go check the out."
Yuffie's mood perked up a bit. "Kay!"
.::-o-::.
Yuffie and Tifa walked through the Mansion glancing in the various bedrooms that they had decorated for their friends, doing the finishing touches in the rooms like making the beds and straightening the pillows on them. They came to the four bedrooms in the east wing of the house.
Little Marlene had her own bedroom located between the rooms of Barret and Elmyra. Yuffie walked into the room and admired the large dollhouse located in the corner of the room, next to a wooden rocking horse and various dolls. The walls were panted a cheery yellow and the comforter was also yellow with white daisies. The curtains matched the comforter and bed frame and dresser where made from a very light colored wood. Tifa smiled at the ninja. "Marlene is going to love this room!"
"Yeah, I can already see her jumping into Vincent's arms and giving him a big kiss on his cheek." Yuffie laughed as she led the way out of the room.
Across the hall was Nanaki's room. His had a special handle near the base of the door to allow him easy entry. In the center of the room there was a wooden bed frame built into the floor with ornate carvings into the sturdy wood. The room was decorated with various pieces of art made in Cosmo Canyon since he had no need for dressers or desks. There was, however, bookshelf on one wall of the room, with various books on many various subjects for their crimson friend.
They entered Elmyra's room, located next to Marlene's, and glanced at the paintings that were placed on the light rose-colored walls. There were two large vases with silk floral arrangements that sat on either side of the white balcony doors. A pair of stormy gray and wine colored eyes came to rest on Aeris' Princess Guard hung proudly above the desk. Yuffie walked to the desk and trailed her fingers lightly over the metal shaft of the weapon and the pink ribbon tied at the base with a fond smile on her face. Tifa came up and placed a hand on the young ninja's shoulder.
Avalanche had kept all of Aeris' weapons. Elmyra asked that Vincent keep her foster daughters' staffs in the Mansion where she knew they would be safe and he humbly accepted. They were displayed in the living room in a glass hutch in her memory.
Yuffie stood deep in thought before she turned the woman who was like a sister to her. "Tifa, I think we need to go back to the city of the Ancients."
The martial artist looked quizzically at the ninja as she continued. "Her white materia is still at the water near the alter down there. I don't think that it's a good idea to leave it where someone can find it."
Tifa nodded. "Chances are slim, but I'd rather not risk it. I know Aeris thought for a while that it did nothing, but we know what can do. There may be no more Cetra, but who knows who will still try to use it."
"We'll head down to the basement and talk to the guys after we finish up here." Yuffie said, leading the way back towards the west wing.
Coming to a door a few down from Yuffie's, they entered. Tifa looked around the room from the hallway and smiled, she knew exactly who's room this was. "Vincent's." She said plainly. "I didn't get to see it earlier."
Yuffie nodded. The room's walls were a deep cream color, almost tan. The furnishings were similar to those in Yuffie's room but the bedding was black with a red trim, the sheets were black satin and the curtains were also black.
Tifa wandered down the hall and came to another closed door and opened it. The floor in this room was made of a very thin layer of a very lightweight concrete composite and there was a large easel standing in the room. Various paints sat on shelves, along with sketchpads, brushes and pencils. An art desk and looking out of place, there was a black music stand in the corner of the room. "Hey Yuffs, I didn't know that Vincent was an artist."
The ninja walked into the room and turned to Tifa blushing as she turned to her. "Actually, he's not. This was part of my birthday gift from him."
'Aww, that's so sweet!' Tifa thought to herself. "I didn't realize you were into art, Yuffs." She said to the younger woman.
"Yeah, well…I did it from time to time while in Wutai and I thought I'd start again." She said modestly.
"You play music also?"
Yuffie didn't want to betray Vince's confidence so she only shook her head. Tifa looked as if she was going to question the ninja, but didn't. "Well, I hope I'll get to see some of your work, but for now, lets go find the guys." The left the room and headed for the secret passage to the basement.
.::-o-::.
Vincent came from the back of the refurbished basement with a large stack of journals and notes in his arms. He walked over to an area where a false wall had been constructed. Cloud was coming out after placing his load in the large safe then went down the hallway, past the recently constructed dark room to grab the notebook he had dropped.
The wall and safe had been placed in order to conceal the notes on the experiments that was left behind by Professors Hojo and Gast. They had decided not to destroy the research in hopes that one day someone chosen by Reeve, could come up with a way to help those people who were still alive and had been wronged by Hojo. But until that time came, no one beside the members of Avalanche would know of the existence of the safe.
"Is that everything Vincent?" Cloud asked nursing one of the many paper-cuts he had on his forearms.
"Yes." He said as he placed his load in the safe.
Cloud locked the safe after the gunman exited and watched as Vincent went to the other side of the room, revealing a hidden electronic panel, pressing a button to close the wall. Vincent typed in his code and moved aside for Cloud to enter his. The wall locked with a metallic clank. Tifa and Yuffie also knew the codes in the event that, planet forbid, something were to happen to them.
"Hey guys." Tifa said as she and Yuffie walked in. Tifa sat in the large desk chair as Yuffie hopped onto the desk.
Cloud walked over and placed a kiss on Tifa's cheek. Yuffie grinned at the gunman leaning against the wall and he nodded in response.
"You guys all done down here?" Ninja left her perch on the desk and began roaming around the library.
"Yep." Cloud said as he sat on the arm of Tifa's chair. "You guys wanna order out or should we go somewhere?"
Tifa shook her head. "I think we should order out. There's something that me and Yuffs were talking about that we need your input on.
Cloud pulled Tifa to her feet and they made their way back to the living room.
.::-o-::.
The food disappeared quickly as they lounged in the living room. Cloud was speaking while lying on the couch, his head resting on the pillow in Tifa's lap and Yuffie was sitting on the couch with Vincent, with her feet folded beneath her. Even Vincent looked quite comfortable.
"…So that's one of the possibilities that Vincent and I spoke about."
Yuffie nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yeah! I think you guys should go for it! Nibelheim could really use a weapons shop since the closest are either in Rocket town or Cosmo Canyon."
"Tifa, have you made a decision on what you wish to do?" Vincent asked.
Yuffie was cheering him on in her mind. 'Go Vinnie!' She thought to herself. The ninja was quite proud of how the way he was opening up, even though it was just to Cloud and Tifa.
"Actually, I was thinking about opening a fight and weaponry school." She said, running her nails across Cloud's scalp. He sighed contentedly at the sensation.
"Wow Teef! I wanna help! Just think, the planet's greatest ninja and its greatest Zangan fighter!" Yuffie said.
Vincent and Cloud nod their approval. "Teef, I think that is an excellent idea. I'll help out too."
"Tifa, you can also have my assistance with your endeavors if you wish."
Tifa and Cloud's eyes widen. During the past few months that Vincent and Yuffie had lived with them, they grew accustom to Vincent's slowly changing personality and behavior, but on occasion, he still managed to surprise them. Tifa quickly shook the feeling and grinned. "Thank you Vincent, you're skills as a marksman will be extremely useful."
"Hey Teef, we should start training. I can show you how to use a shuriken and some other Wutainese weapons, and I'm sure that Vince will show us how to shoot and Cloud'll show us how to use a sword."
"Yeah, we can start training in a couple days."
They sat together for another hour, discussing plans for the school and other random subjects. Vincent began to feel his discomfort at being social with anyone other than his ninja, lessen. He wasn't quite sure when it had happened, but he realized that that the swordsman and fighter had become more than mere comrades…they were his friends.
"Yuffie, aren't you forgetting something?" Tifa asked.
Yuffie stared at her blankly for a moment before she remembered. "Oh yeah. Well I was talkin' to Teef about something earlier. You know, Aeris' white materia is still in the water at the base of the alter. I don't think that it's safe down there."
Tifa nodded. "Yuffie and I think that its best that we try to recover the materia and lock it away…to keep it from those who may try to use its power.
Cloud turned his head in Tifa's lap to look at the ninja. "Well no one can use the materia because there aren't anymore Cetra."
"Sephiroth was not a Cetra, yet he was able to summon meteor using the black materia. Yuffie is right. We do not know who may attempt to possess the white materia." Vincent said.
Cloud nodded. "Point taken."
"We'll need to get some scuba equipment…I'm sure that Junon that kind of stuff, so I'll call Reeve about it tomorrow." Tifa said.
Yuffie grinned and took a pillow to lay back on the couch, her head by Vincent's leg and her feet barely touching the arm of the couch. "I'll call the old fart and ask him to use the airship and we should tell the others too, they might want to visit the Forgotten City."
"Yeah, I'll call everyone and gather what supplies we have here. Lets see if we can head out in three days." The small group nodded in agreement and fell into a comfortable silence as they relaxed, sprawled in various positions around the living room.
Tifa yawned and stretched her arms. "I think it's about time that we headed home." She said, tapping a slightly dozing Cloud on his forehead. He sat up and pulled her to his feet.
Yuffie and Vincent got to their feet and escorted the couple to the door. Yuffie gave Tifa a hug and yelped when Cloud caught her in a bear hug. Vincent smiled slightly as Yuffie glared playfully at the Chocobo haired man.
"Cloud, you better be glad that I'm too tired to hurt you for that." She said with a yawn.
"Goodnight Tifa, Cloud." Vincent said with a nod.
"Night guys." They said as they headed home.
.::-o-::.
Yuffie yawned again once more as Vincent locked the door. "Shall I escort you to your room?"
Yuffie nodded and captured Vincent's arm before he got too far away and felt the blush rise in her cheeks. Vincent said nothing as he led them to their rooms, stopping before her door. She clasped his hand in hers.
"Goodnight Vince."
He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "Goodnight Yuffie."
She changed quickly and climbed into her bed, falling asleep quickly in her room for the first time.
o-o-Author's Notes-o-o
-Cowers behind Vincent and Reno- You can't hurt me!! Vinnie and Reno-baby will save me!
I am extremely sorry about the delay for this chappy. I've been not very motivated as of late and I have been helping Angel, my partner in crime, -Hugs Angel tight- through a difficult time.
Me and my PIC have been working on a Vincent/OC story based on the Kingdom Hearts rpg we're in, during our spare time also. I don't know if we'll post it because of the admins here at but me and Angel will be talking about that when things calm down
Okay, the mansion is done!!!!!! I did manage to find exactly how I thought certain areas of the mansion would look like. If you go to my profile, look under 'Mansion Photos' and you will be linked to the pictures in my photobucket. I have pictures of how the main stairway, kitchen entryway, library and living room would look. When you look at it, just picture the wood as being darker. (The stairway is actually from a well-known mansion here in Portland Oregon called the Pittock Mansion…very beautiful home.)
-Crawls into Vinnie's lap- It has been a hell of a week…that's all I can really say. I have to go back through this story and reformat chapters 1-16 because some of the symbols for Chaos have been removed. Reno, you can do the thank you's…I'm gonna relax here with Vince… -Hides under Vinnies cloak.-
Reno: -Clears his throat- there are a LOT of notes to reviewers in this chapter. Ezzy was too lazy to grab her notebook so it took two evelopes (from her stack of unopened bills) for her to write all of her notes on them. Let's Begin.
Kidbuxx: She says thank you for letting her vent tonight. -Reno shifts uncomfortably- she also says and I quite "71? Maybe I'll fit that in later…just kidding."
Deplora: -Reno waves and winks- I haven't seen you in a while! Squallie-boy has been hogging you for himself!
Ez: Reno…get back on track babe…
-Reno sighs- okay, okay… I've seen a certain chapter where it is pure and simple fluff overload…You'll love it.
Swtlil-azn: She's really glad that you like her stories…she works really hard on them.
Hush the Silent: That was Ezzy point exactly! Why read 20 some odd chapter if you didn't like it? She thanks you for the your support.
Shadowbeaw (Angel!!!): um, Ez you wanna do this.
-Ez peeks from Vinnie's cloak.- Angel, my bud, I'm sorry about the torture. I want some fluff too and I'll be starting soon. In the meantime, we can still work on our Vinceamaya…that has LOTS of fluff…Thank you for everything and I'll talk to you later on about our stories…Love ya girl!!!!!! Okay Reno, back to work. -Reno nods-
Keiei: Ez is sorry about the late update but is really glad that her writing cheers you up
YK2: Ezri told me to do this -Reno tackles YK2- She missed you girl and is really glad you liked it.
Lone Gunmen: Don't get busted at school…she's glad you liked it too and thanks you for everything.
Shadow Reaver: Thank you guys, I really do appreciate you supporting ez's work. She really does try to catch the grammar errors and she's glad you love it…Heh, you will find out about the guy soon…maybe in about 2 chapters…-winks-
-waves Reno over to the couch with her and Vinnie- I'll finish up Reno…thanks babe.
Kitty persona: I am so sorry to hear about your kitty. That's so sad… I am very happy that I could make you smile with that last chapter -Hugs KP Tight-
Amerowolf: LOL! I would NEVER abandon this story…Its mah baby…just like Vincent and Reno. Glad you love it!
Emri: No problem! I guess I should have explained the hot pink paint because there was a reason behind it, but it got cut cause I didn't like it. The paint was originally meant for Elmyra's room, but they sent the wrong color. It would have just sat in the basement, but Yuffs decided to put it to use . . The young man will be explained soon and I'm glad you like it.
Eerian: The sledgehammer and torch came in handy…I destroyed a few things on purpose just to let out a little aggression…my comp is working a bit better though. I have been meaning to email you but just haven't had a chance…hopefully I will soon. Oh and about Chapter 6 of Emerge, I HATE that I had to butcher my baby like that! It really pissed me off but I am glad that the "NC17" version still is out there on mediaminer.
Almost done people!!!!!!!!
Wingaurd: I'm glad you thought it was cute and kept you smiling.
Konie: I try not to but you know what would help? An update of your story
Yuffentine 4 Ever: It pleases me to know that you're enjoying my work.
Destiny Daae: Yay! I hope you and Rude had fun and I'm pleased to know that you're still enjoying it too! .
Lorok: heehee! She felt that way after Vincent's innocent kiss to her forehead. I also hate shopping (ask Angel and Kidbuux!) When I go to Walmart, I have to fight my urge to trip all the kids that run around that damn store.
The Wind Scar: I laughed my ass off when I read your review!!! I have never been called that before! Hehehe, I'm glad you liked that.
Sephiroth2021: You gotta be more careful!! You could have been really hurt! Sorry to sound like a mother hen but damn that must have frickin hurt! And ya know, there's nothing to be ashamed of . I appreciate all your kind words…it was a joy watching you beat the silent stalker with his own limbs…that was GREAT!
-drags Reno closer as she snuggles closer to Vince- That was long! I appreciate everything you all have done for me…my writing is my escape from reality…if I didn't have it, I think I'd go insane. Angel and Kidbuux you guys are great….
I also want to thank Pingpong867, Pyrobaka06, Octoberbreeze and Deplora…my KH rpg buddies. I have had so much fun posting with you guys…I love ya'll!!!
Reno and Vincent: Ezri doesn't own final fantasy 7, though we wish she did…
Ezzy: Bye everyone…-Bearhugs Reviewers- Don't forget to check out the pictures of the mansion in my profile!!!
Goodnight!!!!
8/26/04
edited 1/14/07
10/04/07
Edited because of change in formatting. Also re-numbering chapters. Minor content edits.