Disclaimer: I still don't own anything...likely never will ;;

A/N: Thanks for sticking with me, everyone! Sorry it's been so long but I've been trying to get my life in order. This is dedicated to all my readers/reviewers! Thanks so much!

Yuffie stared down into her cup of hot chocolate, unwilling to raise her eyes to look at the man bowing before her. Reno stayed bowed, noticing the silence. He shot a sideways glance to Rude who gave a small jerk of his head, indicating that his partner should straighten up. The lanky man raised his head and took a step back, first shooting a wistful glance at Yuffie, and then a pleading look at Reeve.

After all... Reno thought bitterly, This whole mess IS kinda your fault ya know...

Reeve reached over the table and gave Yuffie a small shake. The girl looked up at him blankly.

"You lied to me. All of you...why would you do that to me?"

"Princess...It was never meant to come this far. Will you give us all the chance to explain?"

Tears welled in the young girl's eyes as she shook her head, no.

"I don't care what any of you have to say for yourselves...you're all no better than my father! Manipulating me to try and get what you want!"

As she got up from the table and tried to run, Reno caught her by the hand and pulled her into a firm embrace, holding her tightly despite her struggling to get free.

"Look, at leave give me a chance to explain, will ya? This whole mess was my fault.You ain't got the right to drag anybody in this but me. Okay? Come on, let's go for a walk."

Reeve and Rude looked on as the lanky Turk led the young ninja out of the cafe.

Sitting her down on a bench, Reno took a seat at her feet, looking up into her face as he spoke.

"My partner, Rude Sparks, he was the one who sent the letter. He's kind of a weird guy, you know? So he ended up gettin' cold feet and asked me if I would go see you instead -- coz he didn't want to stiff your father. I went, and at first I didn't think anything of it. I was just doin' my partner a favor...but then I saw you and got to know you a bit. And I couldn't help myself but I started to like you. Then when we got drunk and kissed..."

"We what?"

"...We got drunk and kissed. And I knew that you were the one that I wanted. But you were already off gonna try and get married to that loser Vincent Valentine...Crown Prince of this stupid...crummy...whatever. I'm just a second in command of an organization that ain't any better than a bunch of thugs. I don't know if I have anything to offer you. But I'm here to offer you myself, and my love, whatever that's worth."

"How do I know that any of what you're saying is true? You pretended to be someone completely different all this time. You probably just wanted in my pants or something! I don't see any reason at all why I should trust you. Coz I thought I did. But that was someone else..."

"No. It was me. The whole time. So I was borrowing my partner's name - big deal. The rest was really me. The guy that loses his temper and gets into fights with pretty girls, makes comments about cute asses, gets drunk and kisses a woman he's got no chance with, who comes all the way to Nibelheim, stompin' on the Prince's territory, and trying to steal his girl. This is all me. That night at the bar, when I was singing to you, I wanted to tell it all. But Reeve called and told me that Valentine was out looking for you. I had no choice but to let you go. I could have made the biggest mistake of my life, not just tellin' you and to Hell with whatever happened with him. Now the ball is in your court, and I don't know if you still want to play the game."

"Why now? I can't even pretend like I don't like you. Coz I do. Even if you're an impulsive smartass...I think that's why I like you so much. Is coz we got so much in common. I've never met anybody who could stand who I am, but you don't just deal with it; you understand me. But I think Vincent has the potential to understand me too. What am I supposed to do, Reno? What am I supposed to do?"

The redhead's eyes were brimming with angry, jealous tears. He hated the idea that she thought Vincent could be the one for her. He didn't want to even imagine that she could choose the Crown Prince over him. Unable to look her in the eye, he kept his gaze turned to the side.

"I don't know. You tell me."

Yuffie leaned down and extended a hand towards Reno's face. Gently guiding his head, she turned him so that he was looking at her, the pain threatening to spill from his baby-blue eyes.

She started first by kissing each eye, catching the tears in her lips. Then without warning, she kissed him full on the mouth, conveying a tenderness she had never felt towards another person. This wasn't admiration or a schoolgirl crush. There was a certain, soul-deep longing in the gentleness of her kiss. Reno kept his eyes closed and savored the overflowing of emotions that he was experiencing. On the one had, he felt bitter and defeated, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the princess set him free, realizing that he was not enough for her. On the other, he could feel all those things she was trying to hold back in the kiss. He wanted her to say she loved him. He knew she wouldn't. Managing to pull back, it was her turn to look away.

"It's not just about us. It's about my father too. The Kingdom of Wutai. The Crown Prince. Even the Turks. What we do from here could affect everything around us. We could destroy everything we've touched. Would you be okay with being responsible for that? Don't answer...because I'm not sure what I would say either."

Getting up and swiping at the tears on her face, Yuffie dusted herself off and offered her hand to Reno to help him up off the ground. The young Turk was thoroughly confused and could say nothing. What had been accomplished? The truth was out, sure. But what did that mean?

And more importantly, who is she going to choose? She doesn't get it...does she...For her sake, I hope it's --...for my sake, I hope it's me.

"Let's head back and talk to Reeve, okay?"

And what could Reno do but nod his assent and follow her back to the cafe, his heart slowly beating out a wistful tune...

"...Come on, forget the king and..."