A/N: So sorry for the slow updates! I've never been this busy in my life before... I can still remember how I started experimenting with the whole Squall/LeonxYuffie pairing in this collection and tried to get everyone in character. At least I improved (or that's what I like to think). XD And I'm still in love with this pairing. My 100th story was a Squiffie, too. If that doesn't say enough already... XD Anyways, this still takes place near the end of KH1, before they go back to Hollow Bastion. You get bonus points if you can catch the Harry Potter reference. Enjoy! :)

Thanks: dannielovessora, KC-Chan13, PrismRain13, thedoggydog2, and M. L. Ayala, my beta reader.

~ "For the last time, if you don't stop yer constant yellin' right now I'm gonna-" ~

The ex-pilot let out a highly frustrated cry that frankly sounded more like a snarl, almost scaring the shit out of his customer, who quickly paid for the items that he needed and left the two bickering figures alone. The people in Traverse Town knew these two long enough now to know when they should go and look for a hiding spot to be safe for the upcoming 'storm.' Oh, and some storm that would be. Now seemed to be exactly one of those utterly terrifying moments, so the poor man didn't know how quick he should get out of the shop to avoid being in the crossfire.

He was just in time, because at that moment, Cid growled, "For the last time, if you don't stop yer constant yellin' right now I'm gonna-"

"You're gonna do what, old man? Cuss me to death?" the young ninja quipped, giving him a defiant look, as if daring him to say what he had in mind. "Gosh, I'm almost looking forward to that."

She put her hands on her hips and awaited his answer.

For a short moment, it looked as though Cid would explode from all the pent-up anger, but that was when, strangely enough, his features softened and a rather creepy smirk appeared on his face. Yuffie narrowed her eyes suspiciously at that sight. A smirking Cid was never a good sign. He was up to something, that much was sure. But what could that be? Surely, he wasn't sneaky enough to actually try to-

"No... I'm gonna show Leon the letter you wrote for him," was the soft reply.

A moment of silence passed the two stubborn figures. The raven-haired ninja frowned, wondering if all that drinking maybe had killed his brain cells... or that little bit what was left, anyway. She never wrote letters when there was so much action on the streets. Come on! Only people like Aerith did that, because they never stepped outside to fight. Besides, who was she supposed to write? Herself? Aerith, who lived in the same house? Nah, even she wasn't that weird... more or less.

"What letter?" she asked, more curious than suspicious now.

If the guy really thought that he could scare her with something that lame, something that wasn't even true to begin with, then he was really more of a weirdo than she'd thought.

"Oh, you know..."

His blue eyes bored deep into her dark ones, trying to get a reaction out of her. When she couldn't take the silent stares anymore, she exclaimed, "Cid, just spit it out, man!"

"Very well, then, brat. I meant your lost letter. The one you wrote to Leon years ago. The love letter. I'm gonna tell him if you don't watch out. What do you have to say to that?"

"You still don't make any sense, ya'know. Wh-" she started, but then gasped, as realization hit her with the force of a brick to the face.

Snap, how could she forget about that? That letter... Wait, how did Cid get that in the first place? Had he picked it up on the table when he'd gotten home many, many years ago? That could be possible. After all, this man was known as a figure who liked to put his nose in other people's business. Still, it wasn't as bad as the case that was called Merlin, but the meddling was enough to irritate everyone, especially He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named-Squall.

"I've had it all this time with me," he told her. "And now it's finally payback time for telling Aerith about my secret liquor stash."

"Where is it?" she demanded, at once looking around, as though it had to be hidden somewhere in his shop, some secret hatch, or something.

Yes, Cid was sneaky like that. She started putting things aside and even looked into the hearth, but without any success.

Cid looked at her actions with a wry expression on his face. "Oh, don't worry. You won't be able to find it in time. I put it in a safe place out of your reach for when Leon gets back. I bet he can't wait to read it as soon as I tell him about it."

The first thought that crossed her was, That almost sounds like he's put it in his pants. Ew, I'm not going to explore that place. Grossness!

She gave him a horrified look. "...Y-you wouldn't dare."

If Leon ever read how she'd written that she wished that Rinoa wouldn't be found, that he should stop searching for her... that she was in love with him, her world would end. The thought alone filled her with terror.

"Oh no? Watch me when I read it out to him, then," he taunted. "I'm sure he'll be pleased."

As if on cue, the shop's door opened (almost dramatically and in slow-motion) at that moment and the tall brunet, leather-clad swordsman appeared in sight. The last person Yuffie wanted to see at this time. He quickly closed the door behind him, so that the biting cold stayed outside and turned around. Yuffie knew that he had just returned from another journey of trying to find survivors in other worlds that were engulfed in darkness and bringing them to Traverse Town, which had been the home of the refugees for years on end now. It was a task that he'd taken upon himself voluntarily and nobody stopped him. They all knew why he was doing this; the pain, the feeling of being powerless, they had all changed Leon into the man that he was now. This way, he at least had the feeling that he was doing something.

"Ah, speakin' of the devil," Cid exclaimed, earning a suspicious look from the brunet man.

He stood still. Honestly, did he want to know what they had said about him? Probably not, so it was better not to ask. A gossiping Cid was one thing, but when it involved Yuffie, he'd better watch out.

He ran a hand through his glossy brunet locks, trying to ignore the fact that his muscles protested at that simple move. "Hey, Cid. I think you need to take a look at my Gummi Ship. It's been acting weird this whole trip and I have a feeling that the brakes are worn, or something," he spoke up, as soon as he had reached the counter that Cid stood behind. "I hope you have nothing to do with this," he added as an afterthought, giving the hyper teen a meaningful look.

Yuffie huffed, indignantly. "Of course not! Why does everyone always assume it's me whenever something doesn't go right?"

"What can I say. I guess your reputation speaks for itself," was the reply.

Yuffie was about to retort something back, but (fortunately?) she didn't get the chance. "Well, that can wait. I need to tell you something first. Something important," the older male started, giving Yuffie an evil grin. "Trust me, you're going to find this very... interesting."

"Oh?" It seemed that this actually caught Leon's interest. The man also didn't fail to notice how Cid's eyes seemed to travel from him to Yuffie every few seconds. He had a bad feeling about this. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, while crossing his arms against his chest. "What is it?"

Meanwhile, Yuffie tried her best not to show how panicked she was starting to get. Drat, she had to do something now to distract that evil man from his goal, otherwise she would never dare to look anyone in the eyes. Especially not Squ- uhm, Leon...

That was when she got an idea. At once, the ninja started searching for a few items in her pockets. She had to be quick, but that was no problem, since she was an epic ninja. Nobody was faster than her. She would show Cid what would happen if one messed with her. The other two figures didn't pay much attention to her anymore.

"So?" Leon asked, lifting a thin brow.

"You're not going to believe this, but the thing is, Y-"

"Uh, Cid..." Leon then started, interrupting Cid, while pointing at something behind him.

The tone of his voice didn't promise any good.

Cid turned around, fearing the worst, and cursed when he saw smoke coming up his way at top speed. "Damn, that brat stink bombed my shop! That's it. She'll pay for this!" the blonde man roared, before climbing over the counter.

But that was of later concern. As of now, he did his best to reach the door before the smoke (and smell, although it was too late for that now) would catch up on him. Unfortunately, both he and Leon miserably failed at that. Yuffie had already fled the place and watched the scene unfold from a nearby rooftop. She snickered. Mission accomplished... but not quite. She had to get that letter before Cid showed it to Leon. The question was, where to look?

A/N: And only one chapter left now after this. Then I've finally finished this collection. I'm already working on it, so it shouldn't take me as long as this one did. Also, for the people who hadn't noticed yet; in case you love (the) Hollow Bastion (crew) as much as I do, I've made up a challenge for anyone who's willing to give it a try and/or is suffering from a writers block at the moment. You can find it on my profile, along with the rules tied to it and the responses to the challenge (there really are some brilliant entries between them that make me love the HB crew even more!). Thanks for reading, and for listening to my usual rambling. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. :)

Is anyone actually reading this? I feel like I'm talking to a wall now, as Squall would put it so nicely. :P