Authors note: Gasp a new chapter! Sorry it took so long but I am happy with this story so far. It was recently brought to my attention that Yuffie gets sick on airships, well I know that...but I chose not to include it...so I know it...have fun and I would love to know that people are actually reading my stuff!!

Ship sitting with the Yuffster

Chapter 5

Everyone had finished eating and left the dishes in the kitchen sink. It was Cloud and Tifas night for dishes, so they would do them with the dinner dishes. Cid went around checking for anything else he may need while in town. Barret went back to his room to get his list and change his shirt. Tifa was tidying up the ship while waiting for the others and Red was already out and probably wouldn't be back until dinner. Yuffie had already changed out of her pajamas into her normal attire, her blue shirt and black shoes with matching black knee socks, and her khaki shorts since she couldn't find her others. She was loading her hair up with hairspray to get to stay in place. She had no idea what happened that made her hair go bonkers like it did. Finally getting it to lay down she tied her bandana in it and bounded out to the deck room of the Highwind. Cloud finally got dressed after almost falling asleep again when he laid down to relax a minute. Yuffie woke him up as she ran by his room singing at the top of her lungs. Strapping on his scabbards he loaded his smaller sword into them. It was the one he used when going into towns like this. Walking out of his room he headed out to meet the others. Vincent had put his cloak back on and was behind Cloud as they walked down the hall. Vincent turned and dropped his dishes off in the kitchen and made his was to everyone else. He hung back at the rear of the group. Cloud standing at the front of the group spoke up.

"Ok guys, we are going into town to restock supplies and run some errands. We all remember what happened the last time we left the ship unattended so Vincent and Yuffie will stay behind till we get back. I understand Vincent will need to go into town and pick up some bullets when we return. We should be back before lunch so Cid can do his repairs and get us air born by dinner." Cid grumbled at the memory of coming back to his vandalized ship.

It was 9am. Cloud had everyone go over their lists to make sure they had everything they needed on it. He went over Yuffies and Vincents. Vincent's list was the easiest.

-Ether

-Hi-potions

-Elixirs

-Phoenix downs

-Mega potions

Yuffies list was far more complicated and leaned heavily on the woman's side of things and Cloud gave her list to Tifa. He kept Vincents. The group finally made their way out of the ship and towards town. Yuffie stood on the deck watching them leave. She saw Tifa turn and give her thumbs up before trotting to catch up with the others. She smiled back and turned back towards the main room of the Highwind. She saw Vincent standing with his back to her. He was going to make his rounds on the ship. Cid sent his crew into town earlier in the morning for some much needed R&R. This was why he and Yuffie had to stay behind and watch the ship.

The last time no one watched the ship it was vandalized bad enough it took 5 days to get it off the ground and Cid made everyone help. Vincent tried to, but to his dismay the only thing he was good at was watching. Merely on accident Cid found out just how conducive metal could be. Vincent, who happened to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time took a nice jolt of electricity as Cid pulled a hot wire from the panel and hit his claw. His head was buried so deep in the control panel he didn't see Vincent reach out to move his tea so it didn't spill all over the panel making things worse. That jolt knocked him out for about 3 hours. The bad part was Cloud got shocked when he tried to move Vincent. Cid felt horrible about the incident and apologized several times to Vincent who told him it wasn't his fault, that he shouldn't have been that close. It took him 2 days to get his hand back under control without shocking himself or the others. It made Cid feel worse than before and offered to help. Once again Vincent turned him down. He was always very good at pulling the attention off himself and back to the others when he was injured. Remembering it made him shake his gauntlet. Those 2 days were hell. Not only did he feel it but his demons felt it too, only Death enjoyed himself. He didn't get one minute of quiet during those days. He opened the door to the engine room and peered inside seeing nothing out of place he closed the door and moved on. He walked down the hall to sick bay and checked inside. Shutting the door he walked towards the storage room.

Yuffie went the other way. She snuck around the corner and into the storage room. Since Vincent walked by it everyday he knew where all the crates should be and would notice if one was out of place. So, she moved a couple so Vincent would come in there. She loved playing pranks on people, Cid and Cloud were her favorites but this time it was Vincents turn. She ducked down behind the bigger crates in the back of the room, looking through the small separation between the two crates and waited for gunman. Sure enough about five minutes later Vincent looked inside and saw the crates. Knowing they were supposed to be against the wall he slowly stepped inside, his senses on alert. He walked down the pathway in the middle of the room. The crates were piled high against the wall on either side of him and full of supplies for the ship. He stopped in front of the row of crates along the back wall where Yuffie was hiding. She held her breath and stayed deathly still. Vincent smelled her perfume and smirked behind his cloak. Nice try he thought to himself. He was convinced that no one else was here but him and Yuffie and he turned and started walking slowly towards the door. He knew what she was up to but wanted to make her think he didn't. If she was going to do this she needed lay off the perfume. He would make sure to tell her. Yuffie let out her breath as quiet as she could and climbed up on the crate she was behind. She watched Vincent walking slower and assumed he was doing it to see if he could hear someone. Confident she had gone un noticed she crouched down on the crate and leapt straight for Vincent. He smiled behind his cloak as he ducked down at the last minute before impact. Yuffies eyes widened as she toppled over him and onto the floor in front of him.

"Ouchie" she whined as she sat up on her knees rubbing her elbows and hands. Vincent walked over to her and looked down into her big grey eyes brimming with tears.

"Vinny, how did you know?"

He reached down with his human hand to offer her some assistance.

"You wear too much perfume." He replied quietly.

She took his hand and stood up. She wasn't very heavy but it still amazed her as to how effortless it was for him to get her to her feet.

"Oh, you know one of these days I'm gonna getcha"

He shook his head and walked in the hallway towards the main room again with Yuffie following closely on his heels. When they got to the main room Vincent walked out onto the deck and leaned against the wall crossing his arms on his chest and his eyes scanning the perimeter of the town. Yuffie came out and stood next to him.

"Whatcha looking for" Yuffie asked.

Vincent didn't answer.

"How come you don't let anyone else buy your bullets?"

Again, Vincent said nothing. She was getting annoyed. He is way too quiet; I guess its time for stage one she thought. Yuffie walked over and stood directly in front of Vincent and looked up. Seeing this he dropped his gaze to meet hers.

"How come you hate me so much Vinny?" she asked crossing her arms defiantly.

Oh great, she was pulling a guilt trip on him, he hated it when she did this.

"Yuffie"

She heard him sigh and smiled.

"I don't hate you" he replied quietly.

"HA! I knew it! You like me don't deny it!" she yelled happily.

The thing was he couldn't deny it but he also want ready to come to terms with it yet either. He cared for her yes, but he just wasn't ready for the Wutian ninja.

"Yuffie, you're a friend"

She was happy she got that much out of him .she took a step forward and looked at his arms crossed on his chest. His gauntlet was on top of the other one. She giggled softly when she saw him try to press himself further into the wall.

"That's good enough for now." She said smiling.

Her hand shot out and took hold of his metal clad wrist and pulled it out so she could look at it. He tensed up and tried to pull away but Yuffie locked her hand around his wrist and her other one was on his fingers.

"I just wanna see you big fraidy cat" she said. He stopped trying to pull away and let her have his arm. He was afraid he would cut her if he tried to pull away again. He knew this would happen eventually but he wasn't entirely prepared for it to happen so soon. He watched as she moved her fingers around his to see where the metal penetrated his leather glove.

"This glove acts like your second skin doesn't it." She said looking up into his vermillion eyes. He shook his head, this was making him uncomfortable and he wished she would stop soon. Looking back down at his hand she smiled again. She knew this was making him uneasy but she was happy she got this far especially with the hair incident earlier. She wanted to travel farther up his arm but seeing how he was shaking slightly and how uncomfortable this was making him she would wait another time. She flattened out his hand with hers and saw were the metal attached to the back of his hand. She then turned his hand over so it was facing palm up and readjusted her death grip on the metal around his wrist. He was amazed at how strong her grip was. She ran her fingers across the place where the leather of his give disappeared under the metal of his wrist. She had a hold of the piece that was just above where she was touching.

"Is there stuff under this?"

Again he shook his head no. He was hoping she wouldn't find the sensitive spot on his wrist. Well leave it to Yuffie to find such things because she pressed her fingers on his wrist so she could run down his palm to feel under the leather and she hit the spot dead on. He grunted and tried again to pull his arm from her death grip. She didn't let him of course.

"Sorry Vinny." She said removing her fingers from his palm and tracing his clawed finger tips. They were really sharp.

"Do these ever get dull or bend?"

"No" he answered.

She nodded and removed her hand from his but not relinquishing her grip on his wrist. She was glad he actually spoke that time. She never thought he would allow her to do this with him conscious, but she was doing it and he was still conscious. She wondered why he tried to pull away when he touched that spot on his wrist, but figured she would ask later.

"Vinny, is this thing heavy" Yuffie asked looking up into his eyes.

He just nodded his head. She really was curious as to just how heavy it really was when he wasn't holding it up.

"Can I see?" she asked. Knowing she wasn't ready for it he relaxed his arm muscles and let Yuffie bear the full weight. She leaned forward and let out a surprised yelp then dropped it. Vincent, seizing control of it again brought it back up on top of his other arm.

"Damn Vinny, that think is carrying a chunk of lead with you. That thing is heavy." Apparently she underestimated its weight.

"How come it doesn't bother you?"

He moved his gaze from hers and looked out over the town again before answering her.

"Because I am used to it."

He was amazed someone so small could hold on that tight and how Yuffie could become so serious. He felt very awkward and cursed himself for letting her seize his arm like that but he did enjoy her touch and how soft and gentle it was.

"I'm gonna go see if I can dig some dirt up on Cid. See you later" Yuffie said walking towards the door of the Highwind. Turning his head to meet hers he nodded.

"I think I am going to leave a prank for Cloud too, oh thanks Vinny." She added throwing a glance at Vincents arm.

Again, Vincent just nodded. She smiled and ran into the ship to look for blackmail and left to his thoughts.