Chapter 11: Telegraph

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII. 'Nuff said.

Yuffie sat with the Chocobos in the pen on the Highwind. That was the only place on the whole airship that she never got 'air-sick'. She stroked the feathers of the black Chocobo that belongs to Vincent. Convinced she was alone, Yuffie thought out loud. "I wonder if Vinnie and I will be placed on a team. But…why do I care. We were just stuck together out of pure chance, weren't we?" She scratched the happy bird on the belly.
Yuffie brought her knees to her chin and closed her eyes. "Vinnie said it was a long story…so there was a reason behind it…I wonder what it was? Hmmm."

The ninja was lost in thought and totally oblivious as a crimson cloaked man stood behind her. The Chocobo had laid its head in the young woman's lap. Vincent sat down silently behind her.

She…is so gentle with the creature, he thought as she continued to pass her hand over the bird's beak.
He decided it was time to inform her of their comrade's arrivals. "Yuffie," he said softly.
The girl jerked her head up while her face flushed.
"Vinnie, you dumb-butt, you of all people sneak in here while I'm trying to think! Gawd!" Vincent got up and bowed slightly.
"I'm sorry. I only meant to tell you that Cloud and the rest are onboard"
The girl jumped up.
"Are you serious? You had better be Vincent Valentine, or I'm going to kick you where it hurts!"

The girl jumped up and walked out of the room. Oh Leviathan, if he heard me…egad! She noticed that her face had become terribly hot. Oh cruds…think about someone else…anyone else…Reno! What was he thinking, trying to make me feel better earlier…
Yuffie's train of thoughts ended when she walked into the cockpit. Everyone was there: Cloud with his arm around Tifa, Cait Sith sitting on Nanaki, Cid with a lollypop in his mouth and Barret with a smug little grin on his face.
"Hiya Tifa! What's up Cloud?" Yuffie laughed. Tifa smiled. "This is what's up." She raised her hand to show an engagement ring.
"Leviathan, go Cloud!"
The spiky headed man ruffled the ninja's hair.
"It's good to see you too, kid."

Vincent strode silently into the room, which all of a sudden went quiet. Barret finally spoke.

"&!#$ ya'll, I didn't know Vincent was coming…" Vincent turned his gaze toward the man, red eyes burning.
"I am here. Does that bother you?"
The black man shook his head. "Nuh-uh. Not a bit."
"Good. I am here to inform you of why you are here."
Vincent, in monotone, gave a brief summary of Ashton Talbot and his 'Chaotic' plans. The group listened in silence until he was done, partially because the story was so intriguing and partially because they had never heard Vincent speak for so long before.
No one spoke until Cloud broke the silence. "What do you propose we do, Vincent?"
The gunman nodded his head to where Reno stood.
"Reno scrapped up some information about Talbot's hideout being in a Mako Reactor"
Yuffie nodded, then spoke:
"Hey, aren't there five reactors left"
Barret, who was apparently in mid-thought, snapped at the shinobi.
"Yo, shut up brat!"
Vincent tensed.
"She is right. One is in what is left of Midgar, Nibelhiem, Corel, Fort Condor, and one in Gongaga"
Yuffie smiled. Man, Vinnie here is going on a 'defend the ninja' streak. You wouldn't think he was a sweet guy… I wonder if we'll be going to a reactor together…Ohmigawd, don't think that, Yuffie! Think Cloud…

Yuffie unknowingly shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts revolving around the gunman. Tifa sensed what Yuffie was thinking. Someone's got a cru-sh, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it, the waitress of 7th Heaven noted in her mind.

Vincent walked from the middle of the room and stood beside the wall. Cloud movedto the place that Vincent had occupied.

"Okay, we are going to need to form teams: Nanaki and Cait Sith will go to Midgar. Barret and Cid will go to Corel. Tifa and I will go to Fort Condor. Reno and Rude will head back to Nibelhiem to check the reactor there which leaves Yuffie and Vincent to go to Gongaga."

Yuffie blinked. Wow…I'm paired with Vinnie again…something must be up…the girl looked at Cloud suspiciously.
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The ninja ate her dinner on the deck of the Highwind. As she ate, she noticed that the large picture of Lady Luck was still on the side of the large airship. She giggled. I can't believe Shera hasn't made him get rid of that picture yet!

Yuffie looked beside her to see the female bartender from 7th Heaven sitting beside her.

"It's been good to see you, Yuffie." The lady gave Yuffie a hug which she warmly received. "Hey, it's been good to see you too." The girl let out a dramatic sigh.
"I can't believe you and Cloud are getting married. When is it going to be, consider me there"
The woman laughed.
"In April, in Aeris' Church"
"Did Cloud think of that one, Teef"
"Actually, it was my idea. I feel that Aeris would be happy"
Yuffie nodded.
"I think Aeris would approve"
Tifa nodded too.
"Hey Yuffie…I want to ask you something before we each go our separate ways to search for that Ashton guy tomorrow"
"Shoot Tifa, go ahead"
The woman leaned back and held one knee with both arms.
"You and Vincent are getting to be real good buddies, aren't you"
Yuffie leaned forward, setting her dinner plate to the side.
"I guess you could say that. Vinnie is real nice to me"
"Hmm…I was thinking that you could've been more than that"
Yuffie's face flushed.
"W-what? You mean, Vinnie and me? Hold it there, chick"
Tifa smiled.
"I know you like him"
Yuffie tried to punch Tifa on the arm, but the woman caught it.
"Why do you say that, Miss 'I-have-big-breasts-so-I-can-get-any-guy-I-want"
Tifa laughed at this outburst.
"I only have eyes for one man, Yuffie. Vincent is all yours, so you don't have to worry"
Yuffie turned away from Tifa.
"C'mon Yuffie, I won't tell a soul"
Yuffie turned to face her.
"You promise, Tifa"
The woman crossed her heart.
"I swear on my honor as a Martial Artist, Yuffie"
The shinobi nodded.
"Fine then, I like him"
Tifa picked the girl up and twirled her around.
"I knew it! Congratulations, 'cause I think he has a thing for you too"
Yuffie smiled. "You think so"
"I know so."

Yuffie smiled, then spoke. "Hey Tifa, do you know why Cloud has been pairing Vinnie up with me?"

Tifa grinned inwardly, because she knew."You'll have to ask Vincent for yourself."

Tifa left a full-of-hope Yuffie on deck and walked back inside the airship where Cloud, Vincent and Cid were waiting for her. Cid was holding an opened telegraph. The men all looked downcast. "Guys…what's wrong?" Cid hung his head. "The little brat is going to feel real terrible and this is going to set us off track." Tifa took the letter with her shaking hand. A few moments had past before the letter fell to the floor which Vincent picked up. Tifa hung her head. "Oh my god…" was all she could utter.

Author's Note: Hmmm…what could possibly be in that letter? Yeah, it's kinda obvious, isn't it? I suck at cliffhangers. Sue meh. The next chapter will be full of Yuffentine lurve. I promise. Oh, hope this chapter was long enough for you. Thanks to everyone for the reviews. Yuffie was a bit ooc…sorry about that. Remember to review, review, And REVIEW!
–Kweh-