One week earlier...
-xXx-
Sunlight drifted slowly over the rooftops of Edge, illuminating the steam lifting from the houses and smoke rising from their chimney's. Yuffie took in the sight as she came to the end of her morning exercise and meditation, marveling at the serenity of the moment. It would be shattered in the next few minutes as the rest of the house slowly woke to greet the day, and the children began their morning routine of eating, dressing, and running off to school.
"You are up early." Noted a deep voice behind her.
"Meditation is better than coffee, Vincent. You should try it sometime…" She didn't turn around to face him so she missed the nod he gave her.
"There is a phone call for you. I believe it is urgent. Reeve would not specify, save to say he needed to speak with you." His tone indicated that he was not in the mood for their usual friendly banter.
"Right." She stood and faced him, her doe brown eyes glittering with mischief and mirth. She made her way past him and down the stairs. She saw Tifa, her expression grave as she spoke in hushed tones to Cloud.
"What's wrong now, Reeve?" She listened intently as he rattled off information about a town in Mideel that had recently been attacked. "Do we know who attacked Mideel? I figured as much. Right, Tifa and I will get the team together. Vincent and Cloud are here…ok, I'll tell them. Right, we'll be there by dusk tomorrow." Yuffie dropped the phone back down onto the receiver. In Cloud's office the fax machine suddenly came to life. He wandered over and collected the few papers, a map, what information they had on the terrorists, and a few pictures of Mideel after the attack.
"So, it did happen. Damn, I liked Mideel, too." Tifa drummed her fingers absently on the countertop. "Well, I can be ready in a few minutes. I'll call Zack, he and Aerith are working with Jessie at the church." Tifa quickly made her way to Yuffie, dialing Zack's phone number. Yuffie nodded to Cloud as he handed over the paperwork.
"Cloud, he wants you and Vincent to stay here on stand-by, incase something goes down here. He's sure these attacks are only a distraction." Cloud nodded his acceptance. "He said something even has Sephiroth worried…I don't know what's going to happen, but it's going to be ugly."
"Where is Sephiroth now?" Vincent took a seat at the bar.
"He's with the President." Yuffie brushed off Vincent's concern with a wave of her hand. "Reeve is more concerned about Rufus, seeing as how he's the next of kin and a hot headed little twerp."
"He's not exactly unskilled as a fighter." Cloud noted with a raised eyebrow. "The Turk's did train him."
"We will remain here, in the event Reeve has need of us." Yuffie nodded in agreement, her eyes conveying something she wouldn't say aloud.
Vincent stood and made for the stairs, leaving her a perfect opportunity to take him in. She thought for a moment, that had things been just a little different, had there not been a crisis, and had she been just a touch braver, she'd ask him out for a date herself. She'd noticed in the last three years she'd become more and more infatuated with him. He had a dark, twisted past and was far from perfect…but something about him drew her in. She'd been as much of a friend as he'd let her. She found herself trying harder to please him than she'd ever tried to please herself. It seemed unfair to her, no one should ever have to suffer as he did.
"Yuffie." Tifa half whispered, trying not to startle the younger woman.
She hadn't noticed Tifa had spoken to her until she tapped her on the shoulder. Yuffie half jumped as she spun around, a blush tinting her cheeks.
"Yuffie, they're ready and waiting. Let's get going." Tifa made to run up the stairs only to be caught by a firm hand caught her wrist. She turned toward the direction she felt the weight tugging her, glancing at her wrist and the hand holding it, her eyes trailing all the way up to meet Cloud's glacial blue. Tifa smiled gently down at him, leaning toward him.
"Be careful, Teef." Cloud spoke softly, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small smile. She turned without a word and quickly made her way up the stairs, Marlene and Denzel sitting in the spare room watching T.V.
"Someone real bad is after you guys, aren't they?" Denzel glanced from the television to Tifa, his expression blank.
"Yes, they are." She answered honestly, collecting her travel worn bag and a small supply of materia from a metal case tucked away on the bookshelf. "You still have to go to school, Denzel."
"Aw, man! That's not fair!" Denzel's face broke into a grin and a forced pout. Marlene began laughing with him.
"Crisis or not, you had better get an education. You'll need it if you ever want to be a somebody." She kissed them both on the forehead before turning to leave. "I love you two and you can always contact me on my PHS." She smiled and waved to them, turning and heading back down the stairs. Cloud caught her hand, placing something in it that made her blush when she looked at it. He kissed her cheek before turning to head out and double check on the spare truck.
Yuffie felt her own cheeks color slightly at the show of affection. "Well, that was a surprise…" she whispered as Vincent stood beside her, eyeing the bag Yuffie had slung over her shoulder. He mentally taking an inventory of it's contents, as he had taken the liberty of adding several items after she had carelessly packed it with a pair of socks, under garments, two cans of tuna and one blanket and left it by the bar the night before. She adjusted the sack, a small frown marring her features. "This thing got heavier since yesterday." She mumbled offhandedly.
"You're a little naïve." He remarked with a hint of amusement as she rolled her eyes at him and trotted off toward the back where the spare truck was parked. "Mind your surroundings…" He said softly just before she was out of ear shot. "Try and be careful, Yuffie."
"I always am." She winked, practically bouncing in place as she waited for Tifa by the door.
"Hn…that is rarely true." He nodded toward her as Tifa gently nudged her through the door with a smirk.
Once outside Yuffie checked her pockets for her keys, heading toward a rather large and armored shed beside the building. She quickly opened it, revealing several of the swords Cloud used, four guns Vincent kept for emergencies, two of Cid's spears, two of the older gun-arm attachments Barrett had made for his hand, and seven different oversized shuriken. Yuffie grabbed her Conformer and Oritsuru before locking the shed again.
"So, we'll get Zack and Aerith then head to Junon get Nanaki and then straight on to Mideel?" Yuffie settled into the passenger seat after tying down the bags.
"That's about the sum of it. Think Angeal will be there already?" Tifa asked as she quickly adjusted the AC in the truck.
"Yes. He's there with Cait Sith…" Yuffie frowned, pouting like a child who didn't get their favorite toy.
"For Ifrit's sake, Yuf. It's a robotic cat…Besides, he isn't that bad, and if you hadn't threatened to toss him off that cliff in Cosmo Canyon while dangling him by his tail he might be nicer to you." Tifa chuckled at the mocking gesture Yuffie made. "Whatever, kiddo…you're just upset because everyone else gets along with him."
"I don't like him because he tried to light me on fire, twice! He shaved my favorite long haired cat, tried to make sushi out of my Koi, and he talks too damn much!" Yuffie threw her hands up with a huff. Tifa was laughing so hard her sides were beginning to hurt.
"That was pretty funny, even you have to admit that! You were running down the hall with your hair engulfed in flames!" Tifa snorted with laughter.
"And now I have next to none…I'll skin that cat if it's the last thing I ever do." Even Yuffie found it hard to keep the smirk off her face, she couldn't help that Tifa had infectious laughter.
"At least short hair suits you, huh? Could be worse…you could be bald." Tifa chuckled as Yuffie shook her head, smiling out the window with a muttered 'whatever'.
They pulled up to the Church a moment later, Zack and Aerith standing in front of the church. She wore her pink dress and a dark pink duster while Zack wore black pants and a blue shirt similar to Cloud's. Aerith held her hands over Zack's palms as he tried to slap the tops of hers. She laughed, grabbing his hands before he could catch hers, kissing the corner of his mouth.
"Those two make me sick…" Yuffie said with a light smile.
"Yeah, no kidding. How dare they be 'publicly adorable'." Tifa gave Yuffie a playful shove as she pulled to a stop.
Aerith spotted them first, jumping up and down while waving frantically with a wide smile. Zack simply nodded with less enthusiasm, urging her to walk toward the vehicle.
"You'd think she had no idea there was a crisis. How can someone be that happy all the time? Really…that's just…it ain't normal, Teef!" Yuffie said with a giggle as Aerith opened the back door to the large truck while Zack tied their stuff off behind Yuffie's bag.
"I'm an optimist, Yu. I don't think I've had one sad day in my life, and I'll be the last one to complain about that." Aerith replied, handing a small package to Yuffie. It was wrapped in a pale pink paper and wrapped with a darker, rose colored bow.
"What's this, a happy Thursday gift?" She began to carefully peel the decorative pink paper back.
"It's a late birthday present, brat." Aerith swatted her shoulder, earning a chuckle from Yuffie. She unwrapped the gift and found a mahogany box with beautiful silver filigree and an ornamental lock. She stared at the box in wide eyed amazement. Aerith was not a wealthy woman and this was certainly an expensive gift, not to mention the most beautiful work of art she'd ever seen. The silver danced around the box forming a knot of sorts on all four corners and eventually meeting again on the top of the box in the form of a tree. "That is the tree of life, purity, and growth. The knots represent eternity and connection, so you'll know we're never going to be apart." Yuffie turned and gave her a soft smile.
"It's beautiful, I don't know what I'll put in it that would be worthy of it." She started to fiddle with the lock.
"Why don't you open it and see if what's inside will work." Zack asked, voice light and playful, as he took his seat and closed the door.
Tifa watched as she popped open the box, revealing four different stones. One was deep crimson, darker than Yuffie had ever seen. One was a pale, unearthly green in the center and a dark forest green toward the outside, another was a pretty emerald green, and the last was black, darker than pitch. So dark it seemed to swallow any light that touched it.
"That is one of the very few Phoenix summons ever found and mastered. It's rumored that the summon can actually activate itself once bonded to the wielder, it wont activate unless you're mortally wounded or worse. Also, it only works if your intentions are good, so be careful with it." Zack said, sitting back as Tifa began to drive them out of the city and toward the ferry. "That one is Ultima, it is very dangerous, you sho-"
"I've used this one before, I know what it can do." She eyed the eerie ball of rock. "This one must be a restore materia." At Zack's nod she moved on to the black one. "What's this, it looks scary." She said as she ghosted her fingers over the ball.
"We aren't sure, it was thrown in as an extra and since I know you know all there is to know about most materia, I figured you could figure this one out. It isn't safe at all, in fact it's already killed two people." Yuffie shot him a glance.
"So you gave it to me?! Gee, thanks…'Hey, Yuffster, this here materia kills people, why don't you try it?' Friends don't murder friends, Mr. Fair." She carefully tucked the box into the glove compartment while swapping out some old materia for three of the new ones.
"I knew you would understand." He chirped back at her.
As Tifa drove them out of Midgar and toward Junon her mind wandered back to the bar and Cloud. They had been moving at the speed of an inch worm, slow and yet so worth it. To hear that he needed her and wanted to try and make it work was change enough. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she thought of the night before, the whispered words in the heat of passion, the breath of a new life he had breathed into her in those moments. Her laying perfectly still in his strong arms, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Slow and steady, and she was more than happy with that. Between him, the children, and her friends she had everything. She smiled to herself, subconsciously rubbing the ring that hung on a chain beneath her shirt.
Junon had been a quick pick-up. Nanaki had offered to ride in the back of the truck, to which Yuffie angrily protested.
"You're not some stupid animal, you can ride inside the vehicle same as anyone else, Nanaki." He grinned at that.
"As you wish, Yuffie." He bowed his head and gracefully leapt into the backseat beside Aerith. "I hope you do not mind." She smiled and threw her arms around his neck.
"Of course I don't mind sitting with you, Nanaki." Aerith gently scratched his chin. Tifa headed down toward the ferry once everyone was situated again.
As they made their way toward the coast, Yuffie felt something tug at her. Deepground, or so they called themselves, had started these senseless attacks over a year ago. Yuffie had been with the WRO for three years now. She was trained by the royal guard, the Wusheng, and it had always been her dream to be a part of something bigger. In the WRO she was the 'Chief Intelligence' officer. She was a spy, a ninja, and a diplomat all rolled into one attractive package. She knew eventually she would have to return to Wutai and rule, years from now of course. For now, though, she was happy to be a part of something planet changing.
To her, the World Regenesis Organization meant an end to so many terrible things. An end to starvation, genocide, the fear of oppression, and an end to hopelessness. She was a freedom fighter, she fought to save the lives of innocent people all across the planet, despite her father's aspirations for her. Her mother, on the other hand, had been the one who encouraged her to always follow her heart, and if that meant she went all over the world to devastated and weakened countries or small villages to rid them of everything from the common flu to behemoths, she would support her.
It was an unusual path for a future heir to the throne of Wutai, though not an unfavorable one. Her mother preferred the 'proactive Yuffie' to the inactive and selfish child she had been. This was, in her eyes, a true character building experience. She would certainly have plenty of opportunities to have her mettle and spirit tested, to see if she could truly take on an entire nation when the time would come. It was far better than Lord Godo's idea of pampering her and keeping her around the palace until she was ready to lead. Empress Kasumi would have loved to go along with Yuffie, to see the sights she had seen, and mostly to be of some help to those who needed it. As Empress she felt that at times she was nothing more than a decoration, a quaint reminder of tradition, a tradition that would likely die with her and Godo, seeing as how Yuffie violently opposed it.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts as she read through the paperwork Reeve had sent. Thirteen people were already confirmed dead, twenty seven were severely wounded. The attack had been quick and brutal leaving everyone in confusion and fear. She couldn't figure out for the life of her why the terrorists had chosen Mideel village. Banora was a better choice as it had been the known birth place of Zack, Genesis, and Angeal as well as housing one of the first and largest Mako Reactors. Mideel itself was the furthest from anything important, Nibelheim was a two day flight from there, Wutai was nearly three. Junon and Midgar were both more than a day away. She traced her pencil from dot to dot, feeling a bit foolish for writing on the map. Then she saw it, the cause for her unease was starring her in the face. She nudged Zack with a rough elbow in the ribs, earning a yelp.
"Why can't you just say 'Hey, look at this' or 'Excuse me' like normal people?" Zack asked in a harsh whisper. They'd made it to the ferry and were traveling toward Mideel, now in the early morning hours a day later.
"Look, here, now." She showed him the map, marked with every one of the attacks. Zack looked over the paper for a moment.
"I don't see any…" She pointed to Junon, the attacks had formed a circle around the city, the last one being one of most difficult to get to and from and the one to complete the circle. "Oh hell." They exchanged worried glances.
"What now?" Yuffie stared at her PHS, which was flashing the 'no signal' sign. "I'm sure he's noticed, he said everyone was on edge with this last attack."
"We wait and hope." He answered softly, his face grim.
"For what? They're not going to be there, Zack. They've moved onto their main target." She pointed at Junon for emphasis.
"No they haven't." He answered, rubbing the bridge of his nose in tired frustration and worry.
"Gongaga, Gold Saucer, North Corel, Costa del Sol, Bone Village, Kalm, the Chocobo Farm, Fort Condor, and now Mideel and possibly Banora…aren't you seeing what I'm seeing?" Yuffie followed the path of the attacks.
""Yes Yuffie, I see it. You don't think we're just going to sit there and let them get away with it do you?" She shook her head. "To get to that," He tapped Junon. "They need to get the protection out of the way." He jabbed her forehead with his forefinger. "We still stand in their way, Yuffie. They're still there and I imagine they're waiting for us."
"You think it's a trap?" She asked, tilting her head sideways as if she was listening to something. He nodded slowly, not taking his eyes of hers. "Oh…what-uh, well, what should we do?"
"You should get some sleep. Can't take any chances once we get there. C'mon, we've still got at least six hours of good rest." She stood slowly, collecting her papers and pens, following Zack down the hall to her cabin.
"Good night, kid." He waved as he continued to walk to the room he shared with Aerith.
Yuffie nodded, too numb to say or do anything else. She was tired and frightened. These people were nothing to mess with, and while she didn't find her odds were too bad, she didn't want to see what these people were capable of. Mideel was small…if she were a cruel mind, such as them, she would kill the townspeople and disguise her troops… with thirteen dead and twenty seven wounded, that left maybe another thirty people, thirty farmers armed with pitch forks and harsh language. No guns, no materia, no legitimate weapons to speak of. She sighed, closing her eyes and praying to Leviathan those people were alive and hiding. She had an urge to call out to her mother, hear her voice one more time, tell her she loved her.
"Kasan…watashi ha hitsuyou tosuru." She whispered before drifting off to a night of fitful sleep. She dreamt of home, of the warriors she had trained with since childhood, the cherry blossoms blowing in the spring breeze, the smell of the ocean and the feel of the breeze as she stood on the cliffs of Da Chao. Of something simple and beautiful as the ferry carried them tirelessly on to their destination.
A/N: So, here is chapter two. I do hope you enjoy it and hopefully I'll be able to get the next chapter of 'Oxygen' up soon. Also, you should all head over to read 'Love Game' by Valnetine'sNinja. Seriously, you wont be disappointed ;)
Sorry, this chapter kind of feels like one big run on sentence or something...I can't figure out what it is I don't like about it. Maybe I screwed up the continuity somewhere in there. Any criticism is always welcome :)