Yuffie couldn't believe what she saw in front of her; she rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. What she saw was a children's bedroom filled with stuffed animals of all kinds and a huge stuffed panda in the center of the room and lying on the panda was Cloud sleeping soundly on the panda smiling peacefully.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing and if she wasn't staring at Cloud than she wouldn't have believed it herself; Yuffie snickered and put her hands on her mouth to keep herself form making to much noise in fear of waking up Cloud oh my god! I have to get a picture of this Yuffie smiled as she pulled her new picture phone from her pocket and aimed it at the poor and unsuspecting Cloud this is going to be good; I'm going to send it to everyone Yuffie snickered as she took the picture.
Yuffie was about to send it when her smiled turned to a frown you horrible girl! You are not really going to send that picture are you? Think what it will do to Cloud and didn't you promise to keep it a secret Yuffie's hand shook as her hand guided away from the send button.
Yuffie sighed as she pressed the delete button on her phone and sighed you're a pin in the ass Cloud, alright you win Yuffie said as she back out the door your secret is safe with me Yuffie smiled as she joined Tifa in the kitchen with a smile on her face and new food in her hands; Yuffie also noticed that the kitchen table was empty "Hay Tifa, where is the food I made?" Yuffie looked at Tifa suspiciously.
Tifa turned and looked nervously "Well, you won't believe what happened; a thief came and stole it all so I took it upon myself to remake everything for you" Tifa crossed her fingers behind her back.
Yuffie looked at Tifa and then smiled "Okay, I guess the world just loves my cooking, oh and Clouds says he'll pass dinner tonight" Yuffie skipped into the living area. Tifa sighed and smiled "What a relief" Tifa giggled as she put the last of dinner on the table.
Later that night as Yuffie was helping Tifa clean up when she swore she heard someone crying softly; Yuffie looked around and checked on the sleeping Denel and Marlene "Hay Tifa, do you hear crying? It isn't the kids because they are both asleep" Yuffie leaned against the fireplace.
Tifa looked up only for a minute before she was back to her sweeping "No I haven't heard anything" Tifa sighed as she went down into the bar.
Yuffie waited until she was gone and ran upstairs It has to be Cloud, he the only other person here besides me and Tifa Yuffie quietly opened the door and saw Cloud still asleep with tears slowly falling down his soft face.
Yuffie ran to Cloud and put his head on her lap "Cloud, wake up! Are you okay?" Yuffie gently shook Cloud awake. Cloud slowly opened his eyes and noticed Yuffie looking over him smiling.
Cloud eyes widened as he got up "YUFFIE!! What are you doing here; no one is supposed to know about this room!" Cloud's cheeks were 5 shades of red as he rubbed his eyes quickly as to hide the evidence of him crying.
Yuffie just laughed "It's alright Cloud, your secrets safe with me…I promise" Yuffie looked at Cloud encouragingly.
Cloud wasn't buying it "Please…I…" Cloud just shook and his eyes were watering again.
Yuffie noticed and hugged Cloud "Its okay spiky, I give my word as a ninja and…as a friend" Yuffie then pulled out a kunai and a materia; she made a little mark on her hand and on Clouds and then gave Cloud the materia "This is my promise to you and a symbol of that promise" Yuffie lifted her hand as if to say the pledge.
Cloud looked at her suspiciously for a moment and then sighed "I guess you want to know?" Cloud sat down on the floor.
Yuffie turned her head slightly "about what?" Yuffie sat with him on the floor Indian style. She put her hands on her lap to show respect.
Cloud took a deep breath and started his story "All my life I was sad or angry and I was confuced as a kid and even more confuced as life went on; well I was like 17 when I was given a stuffed Panda and I loved it a lot, it made me happy to hug it" Cloud smiled and took a deep breath again "It brings me peace to be able to be like I was before my dad died, before I even knew Seprhiroth, and before I knew anything about SOLDER" Cloud looked down and frowned.
Yuffie was confuced "But Cloud; he's dead and you have nothing to worry about and no more pain to fight…so you like…being…a kid?" Yuffie leaned in close to him and stared him strait in the eyes.
Cloud looked away "All I want is for somebody to care...I want to fell peace and if it means being a child then yes" Cloud looked worried that Yuffie would tell after all.
Yuffie waited for a moment and then surprised Cloud "Okay then, I want you to be happy so I will help you" Yuffie grabbed Cloud and hugged him "From now on I'll be like your mother okay" Yuffie smiled at him and patted Cloud's head.
Cloud could hardly speak "Hay…just like that?" Cloud just sat there and blushed as he watched Yuffie run out of the room giggling all the way.