A/N I own nothing but Yuki for now

Ch. 5 Cheating Death

Yuki found a tavern and found the biggest, most drunken men to fight for money. She asked and fought four men, winning all four times though sustaining a few bruises. Over all she made 800 munny, 200 out of each guy she fought. That would be enough for a few days of food and a gummi ship ride somewhere. Anywhere.

Earlier she had been hiding in a hole on the roof of the bell tower. It had taken all her mental will not to run and fling herself into Leon's arms when he'd been calling her name so beautifully, so desperately. His hair had been sticking flat against his paling skin, his blue eyes fierce, scared, and lost. His well defined muscles were shining through his soaking white shirt and he was out of breath. He was going to be sick. She wanted to go back and take care of him, but he wouldn't have let her. They didn't need or want her. Which was fine, she didn't have to burden them with herself…but she wanted to. She needed their warm family love. Even if they all had made it clear they didn't want her there. She had hoped beyond all hope that she was just seeing their hints in the wrong light. But she hadn't. They really didn't want her there…none of them did. So she would go to the place Yuffie had told her of called Hollow Bastion. Maybe some day she would be able to face them…but for now she had to leave, because if she stayed, she would lose herself in what she had lost.

Yuki bought a ticket to go to Hollow Bastion. When she arrived it was raining even harder and colder than in Traverse Town. She looked up at the foreboding sky. "God help me." Her prayer brought on a bright flash of lightening and a booming clap of thunder not long after. Yuki trembled, slightly from the cold, slightly from fear. That night she slept under a tent of crates.

The next day was miserable yet again, but Yuki made herself look at least presentable, then looked for a job. Finally she found an opening at Mr. Scrooge McDuck's shop.

"What's yer name?"

"Yukina." She fought to make her voice not tremble.

"Yukina, why do you want this job?"

She smiled softly. "I love to help people. It's my passion. The money couldn't hurt either."

"Yer hired. Start tomorrow." Yuki smiled greatfully and returned outside to the pouring rain. She worked and slept in the rain for almost a month. She was getting extremely sick. One day she was manning the counter and contentedly out of the rain, she felt as if she were swaying and everything around her was spinning, making her dizzy and nauseous. Yuki threw up the bit of toast she'd eaten for breakfast and proceeded to fall roughly to the floor. The last thing she heard was Mr. Scrooge calling her name.

"Yukina!" Mr. Scrooge's voice somehow penetrated the thunder in Leon's ears. He ran to Scrooge's shop and looked in to where Scrooge was kneeling. Lying on the floor in a thin, soaking wet cream colored dress was a horribly under weight, sick Yukina.

"Yukina…no." Leon leaped over the counter and knelt by Yukina's side. Her hair was plastered to her white as a ghost face. There were dark purple rings under her closed eyes and the dress engulfed her body. "Oh God…What did we do?" Leon gently picked her up bridal style and ran to Merlin's house. He tried to use his body as her shield from the ever present rain. When Leon reached the house he kicked the door in. Five expectant faces watched him then turned pale in horror as they realized the thing in his arms was Yukina. "MERLIN!" Leon screamed setting Yuki on a bed. No one had ever heard him so frighteningly angry. Merlin poofed into his house.

"No need to…my my….shoo!" Even after the others had left Leon refused to move from Yukina's side. Merlin worked his magic and after what seemed like ages Yuki's breathing was steadier, deeper. Her color was returning and her clothes were dry.

When Yuki woke she felt a hand on her forehead, fingers running through her hair and a hand holding hers tightly. She tried to open her eyes, tried to speak, but nothing happened. Nothing happened for ten minutes, no body in the room spoke, it hardly seemed like they were even breathing.

Finally Yuki was able to open her eyes slightly, though the room was very bright after being so long in darkness. When her vision cleared she saw Aerith running her fingers through her hair, Yuffie had a hand on her forehead, and Leon's hand holding hers tightly. He had more than stubble on his cheeks, his hair was disheveled and there were dark bags under his eyes. I wonder when the last time he slept was… She tightened her fingers on his a little. He looked up and she opened her mouth slightly. "L….Leon…" She whispered. Her voice was a croak but they heard her. Aerith and Yuffie ran to get the others and Leon came to her face.

He held her face in his hands. "You gave us a real scare. You were out for a week. We thought maybe you wouldn't wake up." His voice choked slightly on the last part, despair swimming in his eyes.

Yuki touched a hand to his cheek sweetly. "When was the alst time you shaved? Or slept?"

"When did you leave?" Yuki felt like crying, one tear did escape but it was quickly brushed away by Leon. Why had he spent the nights sleepless? Why hadn't he taken the time to shave? "Yukina…" He snapped her out of her thoughts. "I know we don't deserve you…But will you come back with us? Live with us?" With me he almost said.

Yuki nodded mutely. Surprised and pleased that he asked. The door burst open to reveal five, well, four happy faces and a pair of happy eyes from Cloud. "We're so glad youj're ok and we're SO SORRY!!!" Yuffie was suffocating Yuki with a hug.

"It's fine…..really."

"We'll leave as soon as every one is packed." Every one set to packing while Yuki rested more, giving up on asking if she could help after the tenth and final 'no'. When she woke she was in Leon's arms and being carried to a large gummi ship.

"I can walk." She blushed and so did he.

"You need to rest." Yuki nodded then rested her head against his well muscled chest. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the ride.