I snuggled into the bed sheets. I was so tired. And my body ached all over. My legs ached from earlier today, while my arm ached in memory of the final fight with Vayne.
I flinched. None of us had come out of that fight uninjured. Vayne had pulverized my arm with one of his punches. It still ached every so often, usually at inopportune moments.
I shifted and buried my face into one of the pillows on the bed. Tifa was really nice, to let a stranger like me just come in and give her a room. Even if said stranger reminded her of somebody. Ahhh, don't look a gift chocobo in the mouth.
Grooooooooowwwwwwwwwllllllllllll.
"Well, somebody's hungry."
"Food? Where?"
"Cuchulainn, shut up," I snapped at him. "And yes, Chaos, I AM hungry."
I pushed my torso off the bed and lazily stared out of the window. It was sunset already. And I could smell food, as well as hear some customers for the bar. I sighed and rolled off the bed. My damp braid smacked against my back as I stood up and stretched. I yawned and went downstairs.
I found Tifa standing at the bar. I meandered over to her and asked her where the kitchen was. She absently pointed to a door and moved to take an order from a customer. I gratefully entered the kitchen. I was ravenous.
" 'Lo Marlene," I mumbled to the girl as I passed her. She cheerfully greeted me before returning her attention back to the paper that lay before her. I began to search through the cabinets for the ingredients I needed.
"Whatcha doing?" I asked over my shoulder, removing a box that contained rice, and began to search for some carrots.
Marlene glanced up. "I'm working on some math problems," she replied. I grimaced.
"Ugh."
Marlene giggled at my reaction. I ignored the giggles and continued to gather the needed ingredients for the food.
I finished making the dish about 45 minutes later. I dug into my delicious dish of super spicy Dalmascan Rice. It had rice, green peppers, red peppers, chili peppers, and any other really hot spice in it. It was guaranteed to set your taste buds on fire.
I happily munched on my dinner as I listened to Marlene ramble about her life. Her dad certainly sounded like an interesting character. I was so busy listening to Marlene's interesting stories (I wonder if the Vampire man really is a Vampire?) that I didn't hear Tifa come in until she spoke.
"What is this?" she asked.
I swallowed the rice that was in my mouth. "It's Dalmascan rice," I responded after a few seconds. "Why? Do you want some? I warn you though, it's very hot."
Tifa smiled. "I have a friend who claims she can eat the spiciest food and not need anything to drink. So, can I use this?" she asked. I smirked.
"Sure. I want to watch the performance though." I rose from my seat and grabbed my plate. Tifa spooned the extra rice from the pan onto a spare plate. I followed her out into the bar area and saw her head towards a short-haired girl who sat on a stool, grinning like a cat.
"So is that it?? Doesn't look that spicy," she said cockily.
Tifa smiled. "My friend assures me that it is." I smiled at the girl as her attention was diverted to me.
"It's the hottest you'll ever run across," I said with pride. I may not be able to cook most foods, but I pride myself on my Dalmascan Rice. It's the best you'll ever find.
"Yeah right," the girl said scornfully. "Wutai's rice is much hotter I bet." I rolled my eyes. The poor, poor ignorant girl.
"So take a bite then, Miss...?" I slid onto a stool.
"Yuffie," Tifa supplied.
"So take a bite Miss Yuffie," I urged. The girl smirked, picked up a fork, and scooped up a large portion of the rice. She stuck it in her mouth.
Her eyes began watering even before she began to chew. But she persisted. One forkful. Two. Three. She was openly crying now. Four. Five. Six. "Water!!" she bellowed. I passed her a glass.
"I'm guessing that this is your first time eating Dalmascan rice?" I inquired. Yuffie nodded as she slurped down the water. "You did pretty well. The first time I ate it, I could barely get down a forkful." I smiled.
A few minutes passed in relative silence as I ate my rice, Yuffie recovered from the rice, and Tifa moved to serve more customers.
"What's your name?" Yuffie piped up after her mouth finished recovering.
"Cressida," I mumbled in between bites.
"You look like a friend of mine," she continued. I glared at her. She continued, ignoring. "But she died a couple years back. Maybe that's why Spike left..." I tuned her out. I am getting REALLY sick of this.
I let her ramble for a while. Before I knew it, it was closing time for the bar. I said good night to Tifa and Yuffie, who apparently was staying here too, and went to bed.
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When I woke up both of my legs were aching. I bit my lip and curled into a ball. I cursed and waited for the pain to subside.
It took a while, but the pain lessened so that I could walk. Stiffly, but I could still walk. I went and took a shower. I slowly moved downstairs to the kitchen where Tifa was. Marlene was there, along with a boy that I hadn't seen. That must be Denzel; Marlene had mentioned him.
"Morning!" Marlene cried out cheerfully. I grunted in reply and grabbed a piece of toast while I collapsed in a chair.
"I forgot the celebration was today," Tifa said.
"What celebration?" I asked distractedly, munching on my toast.
"The celebration of Meteor's prevention," Tifa explained.
"Ah," I muttered, leaving it at that. It was silent for the next couple until...
"Have no fear, the great ninja Yuffie is here!!" said ninja exclaimed as she entered the kitchen. I flinched.
"Too early," I mumbled at her. She just smiled and stuck out her tongue. I responded in the same way.
"The festival's today," Yuffie cheered, punching the air. I shoved a plate of food her way.
"Eat and be quiet," I mumbled incoherently at her. She grinned and began to eat.
"Grouch," she accused.
"Guilty as charged."
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Before I knew it, Yuffie and I were wandering around the festival. We had split off from Tifa and the others a short while ago. Yuffie really wasn't so bad. I mean, come on, you have to admit it, two thieves are better than one. Upon learning of her 'hobby', I warmed up to her even more.
So we wandered around; she liberating people of their materia, and I of their purses. Materia is truly interesting. I had never heard of it before now. Apparently, it helps you to cast spells. I had never heard of a such a thing. Simply amazing.
After about an hour of practicing our 'hobby' we sat down and grabbed a bite to eat.
"You're very good," I mumbled through a bite of a hot dog. I had never had one before. They were really good.
"You're very good, too. Where'd you learn to nick?"
"On the streets. Where I grew up."
"Oh."
"It's all right."
"Hey Yuffie, who's your friend?" a voice called.
We glanced up. A girl was walking towards us. The same girl who had shot me yesterday.
"Well that's trouble."
"No shit, sherlock.'
Diclaimer: If I owned any of this, Cressida really would be in FF12.
Another chapter. Sorry I didn't update sooner, but the fact is I just didn't feel like writing. I'm sorry. I'll try to be more favorite.
Also, a BIG shoutout to my friend, Lady Karai. It's her birthday. So Happy Birthday to you!! Another year older, another year wiser!!
Where are my reviewers? Nobody reviewed my last chapter... sob... Please review. A Yuffie plushie to those who do!! Thank you!!