Of Time And Place - A Yuffentine Fan Fiction

AU: Sorry if the characters are a little OOC, Vincent and Yuffie are a hard pair to work with... Sorry also for the short chapter.... I'm having a hard time writing...

Previously

"Answer me..." She demanded, "Are you ever going to be okay? Or have you given up? Cloud tried that trick too, but Tifa wouldn't let him and I won't let you." The battered girl stared up at the man who always seemed to be watching from somewhere in the shadows, the man she'd come to care for like a dear friend, family, or more? "Let me help you Vincent. I'm sick of being the only one in the group who doesn't seem to be allowed to care about her friends."

Chapter Three

Vincent looked upon the young woman in a new light. He had never considered that Yuffie might worry about him, or that she would ever care that he didn't tell her anything. It was the same with the others though, he had never made an effort to keep the party informed about his past and they had never asked. It's true that he and Yuffie were a bit closer than he was to the others, maybe it was something that was expected of close friends? The dark man sighed audibly, catching Yuffie's attention again.

"Well, Vincent?" His friend prodded again, the look on her face making him want to hold her. Why was she so teary-eyed? Was the thought of him giving up that hard on her? ... Of course it was... She would view him giving up like losing a friend... She didn't show it, but Yuffie had been through some hardships as well. He often found himself wondering how she managed to stay so upbeat and chearful all the time, but it never felt right to ask. He was afraid it was some sort of magic spell to her, as soon as he asked all of her heart's strength might vanish.

"HEY!!! Are you ignoring me, Vincent Valentine!?" Shoot, he was supposed to be answering a question, now she was angry with him. It was his own fault though, he really should stop letting his mind wonder when he was around her, she tended to take his thoughtfulness the wrong way. "I am not ignoring you, Yuffie." He told her, stalling to find an answer for her. "I'm not giving up, not anymore."

He couldn't really think of anything more to say on the matter. What was he supposed to tell her anyway? Well, in any case she looked satisfied. "Well, good!" She seemed so proud of herself, always the optomist? Or was it all a mask? "Are you going to be okay, Yuffie?" He asked her before he had time to think about it.

"Wha!?" The ninja girl was staring at him, seeming more confused than he had been only moments before. "Oh, yeah... This wounds nothing! Don't worry so much, Vinnie!" She said, patting him lightly on the back. Good, she seemed to have misinterpreted his question. What was he thinking? Of course, she had misunderstood! Yuffie would never imagine that he thought about her like- Like what? He'd never really thought about what the brave (if not somewhat misguided) ninja-girl meant to him. Was she special to him? Well, yes... Honestly, he cared even more about her than he did for any of his other friends, but what did that mean? Did he love her?

Vincent stole a glance at Yuffie's pained, but still cheerfully smiling face. Looking at her, it was pretty easy for him to come to the right conclusion, but... It didn't matter if he did love her. She deserved so much better than some old man who wasn't even technically classified as "human" anymore. No, he would love her, but he would never tell her so...

End Chapter

Thanks to Rie Valentine Strife for her review of the second chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy this humble fan fiction. ^_^