So, this took longer than I would have liked to update. Happy reading! Of course I own nothing but my measly little plot.

XxXxX

As they approached the island Yuffie anxiously paced the length of the ferry, twirling her smaller shuriken between her fingers. Tifa came out and began walking with her.

"You ok?" She asked the young Wutaian.

"I will be when we get there, twenty minutes never seemed to drag on like this before!" She whined up at Tifa.

"I know…want some company?" Yuffie nodded silently at her friends request and the two continued to walk along the ferry until they made port.

It took another hour to reach the village, and the trek was far from reassuring. Bodies of all shapes and states of dismemberment littered the road as piles of burning rubble choked the sky. Zack hung back with Aerith, keeping her hand in his as they walked. While she was no stranger to war or it's ugliness, she was more than a little upset with how cruel the attacking force had been. As they neared the town they were surprised and more than a little relieved to see it fortified with what sparse troops Angeal had been able to commandeer as well as what appeared to be well armed civilians.

"Gods above, they made it in time…Angeal made it!" Yuffie gasped in relief and excitement. She and Nanaki took off at a brisk jog toward one of the guard towers, signaling as they went. They were greeted by troops, who recognized them on sight.

"You're here! We've been waiting for you. Angeal is in the main hut with Zan the village leader." The woman laughed as she spoke. "You have no idea how glad we are to see you all." Yuffie smiled and thanked her for her information before heading out to see Angeal and the Leader. No sooner had they entered the tent did Angeal order Aerith and Tifa to the medical tent to assist what few doctors they had. Yuffie, Zack, and Nanaki sat down with Angeal and Zan to hear what had happened.

"We are so far from any sort of help, isolated on our little island." Zan, the leader of the survivors stated with a smile. "They came from the beneath the sea and above the clouds…we were not prepared for any sort of attack..." He coughed as he spoke, sputtering a bit. Yuffie quickly handed over a cure potion, helping to soothe his wound. "We are so far away, all we have to count on is…well, ourselves. It is out of necessity that we use violence. We are a peaceful people." Zan became increasingly more distressed over the ordeal.

Yuffie sat quietly, for the first time in years unable to think of a single helpful thing to say. She frowned at the ground, glancing up slowly to meet Zan's cold green eyes. He sighed, his face pinched with pain. She rifled through her sack, surprised to find a store of X-potions. She handed one over to Zan. He took it with a weak smile and muttered thank you.

"Angeal did all he could, there were too many insurgents. Despite knowing how to fight, we are neither equipped well enough nor trained enough to stand alone very long against an army, it was by luck alone that they left." He shook his head, glaring furiously at the ground. "They went after the children…unarmed and defenseless children!" A woman, older than Yuffie by possibly twenty or so years, approached and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Hush now, my love…the children are safe now." Kieran, Yuffie remembered her as his wife. Her long hair held back neatly in a braid. Deep golden blond streaked with the sterling silver, her eyes were a beautiful hazel that reminded Yuffie of her favorite green tea on a winter morning. She was, in Yuffie's opinion, one of the most beautiful women she'd ever seen, her skin had been kissed by the sun and her body was slender and firm from years of working farmland and raising children. She had a soft, lightly accented voice, that if it weren't for the fact that it reminded her of that stupid cat, she would have found pretty.

As if on queue, Aerith appeared. "Nemia is asking for you, Kieran." The older woman smiled, the first real smile since the attack.

"I'll be right there, dear." Her voice cracked slightly. "Come, Zan…let's both go see her." She tugged him to his feet. "Besides, I do believe you and these young people could all use a bit of a rest from this terrible talk." She turned to Yuffie, nodding briefly. Yuffie had never been more grateful.

"Well?" She turned to Zack as he poured over the maps and satellite photos.

"They must have drawn back in anticipation for us to arrive. It's a scare tactic, they're going to break their will in the hopes they will either offer us up…or worse." He shook his head in frustration.

"What would be 'worse'?" She eyed the picture of one of the infiltrators. His face was twisted into a malicious grin.

"Let's not worry about that now. We need to ready an evac for these people. I'm going to call Reeve, why don't you go check on Jessie, Wedge, and Biggs?"

"They made it here? Last I heard they were still with Rufus preparing Dark Nation for its next assault." She smiled faintly.

"Yeah, they were flown in the day before we left. They should be at the east tower." Zack didn't look up from what he was reading.

"Yeah, I'll go do that…" She stood slowly, the oversized metal blades of her disassembled Conformer chiming faintly as they dangled from her hip. She folded a new Oritsuru in the span of three seconds.

"How do you do that?" Zack cocked his head to one side, a curious smile at the corners of his mouth.

She chuckled gently, "Lot's of practice." She lifted another sheet from a pouch on her hip. In another few seconds she had a miniature Conformer, and with a flick of her wrist it was full size. "My mother taught me…"

"Huh…I never knew paper could be so dangerous" He smiled, watching her turn on her heel and head out the opening of the tent, toying with Oritsuru, the paper Conformer again in miniature form at his feet. He picked it up and tucked it into a breast pocket, hoping it didn't decide to be its full size anytime soon.

"You were never trained to be a ninja." She countered from just outside the tent.

As Yuffie walked out toward the furthest outpost she noticed most of the people seemed relieved to have them there. She heard them mumbling 'good evening, Lady' and 'That's Yuffie Kisaragi, the future Empress of Wutai' and she found it strange, they seemed to be in awe of her and yet she didn't think they had any reason to be. She was just another young fighter, being an heiress wasn't all it was cracked up to be. She wished she could tell them that. Tell them that her mother still scolded her like a child, she still could get grounded, and that she just like them, and yet she wasn't. She was trained like no soldier ever could be. She was trained in the ancient arts of the Wusheng, and an elite even among them. She was ninja, and ninja were nothing like these harmless, peaceful farmers.

She made her way to the tower, a single light burning inside the tent at the base of the watch tower. She felt her stomach knot up instantly. She slid the pieces of Conformer together as she approached the tent, slicing a small slit in the back with one of the four points. The tent was empty, though neat. A single helmet sat facing the entrance to the tent. She moved around toward the tower, hidden well in the shadows. She made her way up, silent as the night. Her breath caught in her throat. Jessie's body was splayed across the floor of the tower, her hands and feet nailed down with massive stakes, her face was twisted in agony and fear. Yuffie quickly scanned the area for any sign of the attacker. She dropped back to the ground without a sound.

She pressed a button her PHS, a small red light began to flash, she turned it face down directly beneath the tower and ran for Zack's tent. She could hear her pursuer attempting to gain ground on her. She was the fastest thing on two legs, thanks to her training, leaping from building ledge to fence post, she dodged several darts shot her way.

A snarl from somewhere ahead surprised her, though she kept running head on as a flash of fiery orange came bounding toward her, and in that same instant there was a massive explosion. The east tower erupted in flames. The shockwave caused the person behind her to stumble and she wasted no time in turning and taking advantage of the misstep. She dropped low as she turned, the orange blur clearing her easily and slamming bodily into her silver haired attacker. He screamed in pain as Nanaki's fangs sunk deep into the muscle of his right bicep. Yuffie quickly activated her strongest sleep materia. To her surprise the man went limp, his arm nearly bitten in half and still held firmly in Nanaki's jaws. The entire encampment was alert, the fire burning bright at the east tower.

"What the hell was that?!" Zan yelled running toward her with Zack and Angeal just behind him. "That's one of them!" He pointed angrily at the man now in her custody.

"They've killed Jessie, I didn't see Biggs but I did see Wedge's helmet." Her face contorted in pain suddenly as she dropped to one knee.

"Hold still, Yuffie." Nanaki bit into her shirt, pulling a single dark from her left side. "You should have Aerith analyze this, it smells foul…" Nanaki dropped the object into Zack's hand.

"Right, Tifa!" She came running over, her face white with panic at the sight of Yuffie and following the explosion. "Get this to Aerith." She nodded and ran back to the healing tent in the middle of the camp. Angeal lifted the dead weight of the man Yuffie and Nanaki had captured, chaining his hands behind him and quickly disarming him, not bothering to heal the wound he'd received.

"Good work, Kisaragi." Angeal mumbled, dragging the man to another hut.

"Are you going to be alright?" Zack eyed her warily. Nanaki stood beside her, holding most of her weight. She nodded, the green orb in her wrist guard glowing brilliantly. "Heh, seems like we picked a good time to give you your birthday gift." She smirked at him, trying to stand on her own. He shook his head. "Yuffie, I'm sorry about-"

She shook her head and coughed. "I'm going to be fine, just need to get to my bag." Zack nodded and went after Angeal without another word.

Nanaki helped her to her bag. Her suspicion was confirmed when she found two bottles of a remedy in there. She rifled through the bag, looking for any indication as to who repacked for her. She found a small pocket, with a small piece of paper tucked in there. She opened it slowly, reading over the few words written on there several times.

Return to me…

She smiled, clutching the simple note in her fist. She stood slowly, the effects of the poison still lingering.

"Worry wart." She mumbled, stuffing the note in her pocket. She frowned when she saw Oritsuru had been maimed too badly to use again. "Should've packed something tougher than you, huh?" She returned the rest of the paper to her bag, opting to use her massive throwing star and Kunai instead of the paper crane.

"What shall we do?" Nanaki asked softly, concerned by the young woman's sudden quiet.

She opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off.

"What the devil is wrong with ya, lass?! You cannot be blowin' just anyting up ya wan'!" The mechanical cat howled angrily at her.

She glared hard at the ground, jumping back to her feet and tossing Conformer at the cat. "Shut up you fucking robot! You didn't see her, you didn't see what all they'd done to her body! You can't feel anything, you're nothing but hard wear and microchips!" The Conformer had landed so close it had sliced through the whiskers on the right side of his face. The cat made a whirring sound and backed away silently, another voice coming through.

"Yuffie…I'm so sorry…" It was garbled and static made it difficult to hear much more. She struggled to compose herself as the cat sat down again, his battery powering down.

"And you wonder why I hate your stupid mechanical piece of shit." She spat out at the thing. "Reeve, I'm moving everyone out, it's a trap I know it. We'll evac tonight, on foot if we have to." There was a beep and a click from the cat. She collected the metal creature and her bag, leaving the tent. She found her way to the healing tent where Aerith was trying to pinpoint the poison.

"It doesn't appear to be anything special, not like last time." Yuffie nodded, dumping Cait Sith on the table beside her. "I'm not fixing that cat again…" She chuckled, noting Yuffie's lips quirk up into a smile. "Has Reeve contacted you?" Yuffie nodded, frowning again.

"He wasn't able to say much, the power cell burned out." Aerith looked up, her smile both sympathetic and comforting. Yuffie looked pale and out of sorts, her eyes were rimmed red as though she'd been crying.

Aerith stood slowly, coming around the table, and embracing the smaller woman. Yuffie shook, struggling to hold back a sob. Tifa came around the corner, spotting Yuffie and Aerith, quickly coming to Yuffie's side.

Jessie had been with them since they were kids, they went to the same middle school together, played together, gossiped, shared memories, grew up together…and now she was gone. Biggs and Wedge were missing, Jessie's two older brothers, and all Yuffie had to show for it was the soot on her face.

"I couldn't leave her like that, I couldn't- I…" Yuffie dissolved into tears as her knees gave out and she sunk to the floor. "I didn't-didn't even know she was here!" Aerith soothed her, trying to calm her crying. Tifa held her hands in hers.

"Hush, now, Yuffie…it's ok, now. You did the right thing…" Tifa wrapped her arms around Yuffie and Aerith, trying to convey her sorrow to the younger girl. "We're still together, we'll make it through this…you'll see." She whispered into her hair.

All at once there was a flurry of activity outside. Gunfire and explosions tore through the base. The lights in the tent flickered as the whole thing began to give way and collapse around them.

"MOVE!" Tifa shoved them all over as one of the tent poles came down beside her. They scrambled to their feet and bolted for the door, getting anyone they could up and out before the whole thing came down. A second explosion ripped through the tent, sending Tifa hurtling into a pile of debris and burying Yuffie. Aerith had a second to blink before something strong grabbed her around the chest, nearly crushing her. She opened her mouth to scream only to have a cloth covered in a foul smelling liquid cut her off, she struggled in vain as she slowly succumbed to the drugged fabric.

Yuffie was the first to free herself from the dirt and debris, Tifa emerged a moment later with the help of Zack and Angeal. A few survivors sat huddled in a circle, looking more pale and terrified than ever.

"Where's Aerith?" Zack glanced around frantically. "AERITH?!" He shouted for her and received no answer. "Where is she? Where is she!?" He glared at Tifa, who was swaying where she stood. Something had hit her in the head, blood trailed down the right side of her face.

"I…I don't know, it went dark and the…" She found it difficult to talk and breath suddenly.

"The tent came down and then something exploded. Tifa was hit with debris, Zack, just look at her!" Yuffie shouted defensively, her own body aching. "We need to get these people out of here, we'll find Aerith…" She finished with a sigh as she glanced out toward the darkness. "Where did they come from?"

"The east side of the village, they must have been waiting for us…you forced their hand by blowing the tower, and adversely their cover." Angeal's eyes were cold and calculating as he studied the ground. "These foot prints don't belong to just any soldier…" He pointed out a boot print that Yuffie could fit both feet in side by side.

"Azul…" Zack's voice held a deadly edge to it. "I'm going after her, you and Tifa go with Angeal and Nanaki. I'll contact you when I know something."

"Zack, that's crazy! You don't even know where she is or how many there are…you could be killed!" Yuffie was frantic, losing two friends, possibly more, in less than twenty four hours was too much for her to handle.

"Yu, you'll be fine. Lead them to safety, it's your job. You were the one put in charge of us, you and Angeal have to do this. Just like I have to find her. I don't expect you to understand, now go." He hugged her before taking a weapon handed over by one of the soldiers there and his massive sword. "I'll be back before you know it…" He waved over his shoulder with a wink before trudging off in the direction the attackers came from.

"C'mon, Yuffie…gotta go now." Tifa mumbled, leaning heavily on Angeal.

"Yeah…yeah, let's move the survivors out. Is there a chance the ferry is still there?" Angeal shook his head in the negative.

"Air support is inbound, we have two hours to make it to the rendezvous, or they will consider us KIA." His face was grim, his voice colder than Yuffie had ever heard.

"Ok." She turned to the sparse crowd, spotting Zan and quickly making her way to him. "Get them together, we're moving out now. Keep low and keep quiet. I'll be covering our exit." She forced herself to focus as she spoke, trying desperately not to lose her composure and run after Zack and help him find their friends.

"Just you? But you're but a girl, how can you-" The youth he'd seen vanished in an instant and left him face to face with a cold, hard warrior.

"I am more than just a girl, sir. I am more than enough." She turned quickly on her heel, signaling to the rest of the soldiers gathered around to move out. She took another X-potion out and handed it to Tifa. "You ok to walk?" Tifa nodded, downing the blue liquid.

"I'll be fine. Are you ok." Yuffie shook her head in response.

"No, but I will be when we hear from Zack. We need to find out what's going on. Have we heard anything from Cloud or Vincent?" Angeal nodded slowly.

"Reeve has sent them to collect us." Yuffie felt her heart skip a beat. "There was another attack…"

"Where?" She was only half listening to him.

"Nibelheim, Dr. Hojo is in critical condition, his assistant Dr. Hollander was killed along with several of his assistants." Yuffie, while not being particularly fond of the old man, had never wished him any harm. Hollander on the other hand was a pervert and she felt little remorse for him.

"What do they want us to do?" She looked up to the older man. "Are we going with you to Nibelheim?"

Angeal looked at her and it felt like the first time he'd actually laid eyes on her. She was pale, her eyes were bloodshot and she was covered in dirt and dried blood. She'd seen one friend killed and another spirited away amidst the chaos of the second attack, she had single handedly drawn in one of the insurgents, who for all intents and purposes should have been able to easily overcome a nineteen year old girl who weighed no more than one hundred pounds soaking wet…and yet she bested him with little effort. He had not taken into account her age and the depth to which all this struck her.

"Let's wait to worry until we speak with the rest of your people. I'm sure Reeve has given them orders. We should focus on arriving alive, if anything." He gave her a reassuring smile and turned his attention back to Tifa who had been walking silently beside him, holding a damp rag to her head to ease the pain the potion hadn't alleviated. "How are you holding up, Miss Lockhart?"

"I'm still vertical, right?" He nodded with a faint grin. "Then I'm doing better than I thought."

It didn't take two hours to get there and the helicopters began landing not long after they arrived at the large field. Cloud rushed out of the helicopter toward Tifa.

"Tifa, are you hurt?" He winced when he asked as she lifted the rag on her head to reveal a good sized laceration and a soaked towel.

"I'm alright…they took Aerith, Zack went after them." Her voice trembled as she spoke. Cloud stared at her for a moment, trying to process what she had said.

"Aerith is gone…?" He shook his head, staring at the ground for a long moment before glancing back up to Tifa. "I should have gone with you, I should have been there."

"It wouldn't have mattered, they were going to take someone and she was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. If they didn't want us to find her they would have killed her." Tifa found herself finally coming around and her head began to clear. "Zack will find her, I know it."

Vincent watched Yuffie as she stood speaking to Reno and Elena. Her eyes were heavy and dark circles began to form under them. She looked tired and worn thin, and in the span of only one day. He resisted the urge to walk over and take her by the hand back to the helicopter. Soon enough she finished her talk with the two Turks and made her way toward him, dragging her beaten and battered pack behind her, Nanaki walking slowly in step with her. She looked up at him and the floodgates opened. She ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and hiding her face against his chest. He let her cry for a moment before carefully guiding her and Nanaki to the helicopter they would be taking. She righted herself once they were seated, drying her eyes hastily with the back of her hand and quickly composing herself.

"Reeve has us accompanying the Turks to Nibelheim, I guess this was the worst hit yet." Cloud spoke softly as they lifted off. "Hojo is stable, though he is apparently in some sort of coma. No word yet if his other assistants have made it out. Apparently he had a second team working there unbeknownst to Reeve. Shalua Rui, her sister Shelke, and Lucrecia Crescent. They are all three missing, we are not sure of their condition or really much of anything, according to Reeve. He isn't even sure why Hojo had his wife down there in the first place."

"I still don't' get that. Why is she married to that creep?" Yuffie perked up at that. She felt Vincent stiffen beside her. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything…I was just thinking out loud…." She turned away, embarrassed.

"I know." Vincent folded his arms and listened intently to Cloud as he rattled off the statistics, their points of entry, and separated them into teams. Yuffie stared out the window, for the first time not really noticing her airsickness. She attributed that to her current state of mind. It would be at least four hours before they landed and she had never felt so exhausted in her life, before she knew it she'd fallen asleep against Vincent. Tifa forced herself to stay awake as Cloud used a cure materia to mend her wounds.

"It was bad, Cloud, but she was impressive." She nodded toward Yuffie.

"What happened?" He ran a hand through her hair, inspecting the now pink and healing tissue of her cut.

"Jessie was killed, Biggs and Wedge are MIA, Yuffie managed to bring down one of them though. They identified him as 'Yazoo'. Creepy ass guy, if you ask me. Nanaki nearly bit his arm clean off, that man has no pain receptors. And, to top it all off, Azul attacked us and grabbed Aerith." He whistled softly.

"You guys are lucky you made it out with any survivors at all…" Tifa simply nodded in agreement. She made herself comfortable next to Cloud and closed her eyes. "I'll wake you when we land." She hummed her agreement and was quickly sound asleep.

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So, how was that? Too much, too little, too fast? Review and the next chapter will be better! I feel I should remind you, or myself, that this is totally A/U and people are different here. Hojo and Vincent dislike one another for other reasons...like that little thing called adultry..ery...damn I need spell check! Joey heeeelp!! This was fun to write, hopefully it's fun to read too.