Hi! I know it took me longer than a week, but I just needed a break from writing and the computer, so this went on the back shelf for a bit. But I'm back and refreshed, and I managed to finish the chapter:) Yay for me.

I've moved to a new town. It's called the "I do not own FF7" town. I'm here. I live here. I'm kind of the Mayor of here. Enough said.

Chapter Three: Confrontation

-x-

The young moon cast a pale light on the ground, silhouetting the world in liquid silver. I walked from the building as quickly as I could. Though it was a warm night, everything within me felt icy and numb. I should have known. Yuffie lied. She had never loved me. I had hoped and prayed she was different then Lucrecia, but now I knew the truth about her, and all women. They could never be trusted. None of them. My heart pained me as I thought of the love I had wasted on her. How could I have been such a fool – to fall for the same deception twice?

That is the way of women. They reassure you with soft words and a gentle smile. They insist they love you, and only you. No, how could they ever love someone other than you? And when they have convinced you of the sincerity of their feelings, and have trapped you in the web of intricate lies, the kind words and loving façade fall away. The claws come out, and you see just how "loving" they really are.

There was now only one thing I could do. I would leave Wutai forever, and try to rebuild my life without any thoughts of her.

Unless…

I could return to Nibelheim.

I could return to an eternal rest, free from the cares of the world. Perhaps that would be best.

I began walking toward the borders, but paused. Yuffie would say I was making a mistake. But, did it matter? I could lie to myself and insist that it didn't matter, but my heart knew better. I could not return to Nibelheim. Besides, Yuffie might follow me there. Even if she didn't, the thought of her reaction to the knowledge of where I was would be enough to keep me.

Turning off the road, I walked under the shelter of the eaves of a forest. I needed time to think, to reason, and to decide. Reaching a clearing, I sat against a boulder, leaned my head back, and closed my eyes.

A small spring bubbled and trickled out of the ground. A moonbeam struck the ground near my foot, casting a gray shadow over the world. One leaf floated on a breath of wind. The entire world seemed so peaceful. A small slice of solace in a world of chaos and hurt.

She was crying. Even though she was the Empress, and was supposed to remain dignified and aloof, she was crying. Her expression when Valentine had opened the door was of one torn between two of her heart's greatest desires. How I wished I could help her! All I could do was sit with her, wrap my arms around her, and whisper comforting words to her. Never have I felt so helpless in all my life.

Her sobs finally quiet, she raised her head to me with an anguished expression that pierced to my heart. "Reno, what should I do? I love him, and I hate how he seemed so hurt, but at the same time, I love you, too!" Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice caught in her throat.

What could she do? Even now, if she were to go after Valentine, there was very little hope he would want anything to do with her. That was the sad truth of that man. If he was hurt, it took him years to heal. However, if she didn't go after him, she would stay here with me. That was what I wanted, wasn't it?

But if she did go, and Valentine forgave her, they could be happy together. But I would lose her, then. On the other hand, if she didn't go, there was a part of her that might regret it for the rest of her life. What was I to do?

A tear rolled down her cheek, trembled on her chin, and dropped to the floor. She was confused. Lost and confused, with no clear path and no way of knowing the right way. But what could I do? Anything I tell her will be coming from my desire for her to stay with me. After all, that was what I wanted… wasn't it?

I looked down at her helplessly. Was it? Was it what I really wanted?

Now I was the confused one.

"What should I do?" Her voice was a mere whisper, embodying hopelessness. She had given up on ever figuring this out.

I had to help her. I knew what she should do. But…

Could I really give her up? She was such a dear part of me. My heart was hers. Letting her go would be like tearing my own heart out…

But if I didn't… I would end up regretting my decision.

My throat felt tight, and my eyes began to swim with tears. Because I loved her so, I had to let her go. I took a deep breath, and called on my Turk training to regain control of my emotions. Inconspicuously, I wiped my eyes.

"Yuffie… go." My voice wavered. Turk training or no Turk training, I was heartbroken and was going to end up showing it somehow.

She raised her head to look me in the eyes. "What?"

"Go. Go after Vincent." With each word, my conviction solidified. This was the right choice. "Go. That's where you want to be. That's where I want you to be."

"B-but… I want to be with you, too." She hugged me, resting her head against my chest. Her eyes were screwed shut. No more tears would be falling.

I sighed. "Vincent needs you, Yuffie. He needs you to show him the love and kindness in the world. You showed it to me. Now show it to him." I smiled softly, and stroked her hair.

"Reno…?"

I glanced down at her, trying to swallow the lump forming in my throat. "Yes, Yuffie?"

"Thank you."

She stood on tiptoe and kissed me. It was our most heartfelt ever. I kissed her back. No matter what, I would always love her. Because I loved her so much, I would let her go after Vincent.

We pulled away and stood, arms around each other, for a long minute. Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped back. Looking up at me, she gave a small and sad smile. "Goodbye, Reno."

The door swung shut behind her, and I stood in the room alone. Alone with my feelings. Alone with the loss. Alone with the pain. Alone with the love. Alone with the joy.

I smiled. She would be happier with him. When she was happy, I was. Walking to the window, I glanced out into the night.

"Goodbye, my love."

I would leave Wutai now. It would be better for us both to spend some time apart. But not too long. Though we could never be together, we would still be together. Not as lovers, but as friends. It was good enough for me.

My slippered feet hurried along the path. Ninja senses alert, I scanned the area for any sign of Vincent. Reno had let me go. I had seen the pain it caused him. However, he was happy, too. He had smiled at me, and that smile had given me hope. It had also given me freedom. The freedom to pursue my love without fear of inflicting pain to Reno.

The moon was nearing the western rim of the trees. By its faint light, I could see no visible tracks. I stopped for a moment.

Where would he have gone? Nibelheim? I toyed with this idea for a while, then discarded it. No, far too obvious.

Lucrecia's cave? Less obvious, but still expected of him in a time such as this. No, that would not be his destination.

Edge? He had never liked the place. Junon? He might have gone to help Reeve, but something told me that no, I was looking at this wrong.

Then, it hit me. He hadn't left at all. He knew I would expect him to leave tonight, so he purposely waited. He was still in the country.

I looked around and my eyes settled on the forest. Hurrying over, I glanced around the border. Yes! Prints. He had crushed some of the undergrowth when he entered.

I dashed down the path, silent as death. Vincent… I had to explain and tell him what happened!

I sensed her presence before she came into sight. Like a breath of fresh air, her presence wafted through the clearing. Had it been any other night, I would have been pleased. Tonight, however, it held no pleasure for me. Why was she coming? Had she come to inflict more pain and torment? Standing, I focused on the path she would inevitably appear on. She would not hurt me again. I was prepared this time. Taking a deep breath, I closed my heart to any feelings for her, shielding myself from that potential danger. Then I waited.

She stopped in the shadow of the towering oaks, uncertain and afraid. Lowering her eyes, she slowly entered the clearing. I could see it in her body language – she was timid and fearful. But I knew better. Merely an act. It is simply an illusion to attempt to not lose what she thought she had snared. Her mouth is open. She is about to begin to weave a web of lies to entice me.

Her voice shook as she spoke to me. "Vincent… please let me speak. I – you came in at the worst moment possible, and left thinking one thing, when in truth, it's something different. You see-"

I raised my hand and she fell silent. "Yuffie, I do not wish to hear it. Your lies have deceived me for the last time. No, I know exactly what happened. Do you really believe me that unintelligent?"

She winced. I obviously was reacting as she feared I would. Good. It would do her some good to feel the consequences of her actions and words. Nevertheless, if this conversation continued, I would be in danger of showing her my weakness. She would see my brokenness. I could not grant her the satisfaction of knowing how she had hurt me.

"No Vincent, you're not stupid! But, you're misinformed. You think that-"

"I said I did not wish to hear it!" My voice rose above its usual quiet monotone. "Are you so unintelligent that you cannot decipher the meaning of such a phrase? I have no interest in listening to the many lies that you fooled me with!"

Too late I tried to control myself, but the walls I had built around my pain had fallen. Anger burgeoned within my heart, and I lashed out with it at her. I wanted her to feel the pain, the loss, the anger, and the agony I had experienced. She was the unintelligent one. She was clueless to my true feelings. She was now about to be harshly instructed.

"B-but…" Her eyes were wide with shock and shiny with tears. For a moment, she seemed to shrink back to the sixteen-year-old ninja I used to know; so small, helpless, and vulnerable.

My eyes narrowed as my heart hardened against her. I did not care. Let her hurt. Let her cry. It would teach her a lesson she needed to learn. "You are no better than Lucrecia." I hissed. "You are exactly the same as her."

"Vincent Valentine, don't compare me to her!! She purposely hurt you, and I –"

My voice adopted a tone of scorn. "And you would have me believe you never wished to harm me? No, Yuffie, I am not stupid, not anymore. I have been mislead by your sweet words. I actually was foolish enough to believe this!"

I pulled her letter from my pocket and slammed it on the boulder. She gasped slightly as she recognized it. "My letter…"

"The central object to your plan." My anger clawed at my voice, so that my throat seemed to close against it. I took a breath, and continued. "Do you delight in the harm of others? Do you rejoice as others fall into despair by your hand? I pity Reno, for he is not aware of this personality trait."

"I didn't lie to you then, and I'm not lying now!" Her voice was nearing a hysterical shriek.

"Your actions speak differently, do they not? I granted you a chance. I was foolish enough to believe that you were any different than Lucrecia or women in general. But no, you are far worse. She left me broken, Yuffie. Completely broken. But you have shattered me now." I raised my eyes to the heavens. "If only I had known then what I know now. So many years wasted, because of you."

I now lowered my head, and my eyes were hard and cold. "Regardless of my foolish ideas about you, I can begin to finally do something to rebuild my life. Get away, Yuffie. Leave me. You have accomplished your task; now leave me in my shattered brokenness." I turned away, slowly regaining control over my emotions.

I did not see her expression, but I could imagine it. Her voice trembled as she whispered. "Reno let me go. He saw I loved you, and he only wanted me to be happy." I heard her footsteps retreating, and then a pause. "Forgive me, Vincent. I never wished to hurt you like this."

As her footsteps faded away, I sat on the boulder. Instead of the fierce satisfaction I had felt during our confrontation, I now felt only remorse. Curse that girl; she even now still had an effect on me. My mind began to catch up with my emotions, and I began to apply logic to the situation.

She claimed that she loved me. Yet I had seen the two of them together while Reno presented her with a ring. That would seem to lend itself to the idea that she was lying…

Unless she had never meant to accept Reno's hand. The thought made me feel uncertain.

She claimed she had never meant to hurt me. Yet if that were the case, why would she be with Reno? They must have been together for a while before Reno would propose to her…

Wait, this was Reno I was talking about. It might have been three weeks, for all I knew. My conviction wavered.

She said Reno had let her go. But since when had Reno cared more about other people's feelings than his own? He seemed to always look out for himself, and to forget that others might be affected.

Could Yuffie have brought about such a change in him?

And if that were the case, would he had actually let her go?

Well, if he really had changed, and if she really loved me more, and if he really wanted her to be happy, he might have let her go. That seemed like a lot of "ifs" for my taste.

The crumpled note lay forlornly on the ground, resting in a patch of soft grass. I slowly took it and read it again.

I… had not really given Yuffie a chance to explain herself. Even if she was guilty of the crimes I had charged her with, she still deserved a chance to defend herself. I decided to give her that. A chance. Just to explain herself and then I would know. I would know if she lied or spoke the truth.

Final chapter to be posted in about a week. Basically, some time next week. And I apologize for the lack of quality in the confrontation section, I realize it's not the best writing.

So, read and review!