Chapter Two. Protection.
Barely any trees stood proudly any more. Most were withered away. Burnt down to the ground. It had been a long few months since the bombing. There was still some conflict time to time, but that was to be expected in Wutai. The shame of it was; so many people lost their lives and Yuffie's precious home had been ruined and torn apart. There wasn't a beautiful blossom tree in sight, no matter where she looked. This upset her. Where was the sentimental value of her home? Oh, yeah... It didn't exist any more. Those selfish cowards had torn down everything and burnt everything down to the ground. Families were broken. Children were left without a home. People were still being affected by that awful situation.
Peering out over the devastation from her bedroom window in the manor, tears pricked her eyes and she splayed her hand out across the mirror. She was the heir to the throne. She felt as if it was her duty to be a protector. But yet, that was the one thing she didn't do. Her hands clenched and she looked down at the floor in shame. She heard footsteps behind her and a gentle, comforting hand rested on her shoulder. "It's not your fault." Reno mumbled. He felt guilty himself. But he would do anything to cheer her up. She was so upset and broken about how torn apart her home is and she couldn't do anything about it. "It'll be okay." He told her, stepping closer behind her to rest both hands on her tiny shoulders. Yuffie's head dropped in shame. That's not what she believed. Looking outside she wondered to herself how that will ever be fixed. Or if it can be. She started to blink away the tears. She didn't want to break down in front of Reno. She turned to face him and looked up at him, smiling softly. "Thank you." She mumbled. He looked confused and chuckled for a moment. He was being thanked? "What for?" He asked, cocking his head slightly in confusion. "For protecting me, of course!" She giggled and sat down on the bed, patting the space beside her. He followed the girl and pulled her into his arms. He wondered too. Just, about different things. She often thought about her kingdom. He thought about protecting her, making sure she survives and how they're only just friends. Being just friends disappointed him because that's not how either of them acted with each other. But if someone were to ask about their relationship status, they would both answer "Just friends!"
"Will anything ever be okay again?" She asked quietly. He hummed and nodded. They sat there in silence then. Yuffie shuffled closer to him, resting her ear on his chest to listen to the soft thrumming of his heart with the occasional skip of a beat. He ran a hand through her raven, soft locks of hair, kissing the top of her head. "I don't know... Let's just hope so." He started to drift off to sleep. Yuffie smiled and rested her head in his lap, pulling a blanket over them both.
The pair both awoke to loud crashes and yelling inside the manor this time. Yuffie's heart started to race. She looked up at a panicking Reno and she stood up, her breathing; frantic. "W-what's going on!?" She asked him. He touched her arm and smiled. "I'll go find out. Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise." Yuffie hid herself under the bed as she heard Reno yelling at a group of men. That carried on for what felt like a century. There was fighting, more shouting and thuds heard. She heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs and she feared what was about to happen. "Yuffs, it's just me." He called. Yuffie shuffled out from underneath the bed and looked at him. He was more cut up than when he shielded her from the glass! There was blood coming from his lip, his eye was swelling and becoming a deep purple. "Reno! What happened to you?!" She cried. Reno was definitely a sight for sore eyes now. His shirt was tattered and torn in places, open wounds and bruises everywhere... "Right! You stay here." She shoved him by his shoulders down onto the bed. Looks like Yuffie was going to have to aid him again.
Yuffie returned with bandages, cleaning wipes and plasters. Gentle classical music played in the background whilst she got to work. "Reno... You'll have to take off your shirt." She stated, nibbling the inside of her cheek as she flushed furiously as he revealed his bare torso that was now bruised and wounded in some places. "You really got yourself into a mess. Just cause you wanted to protect me? You're stupid." She grinned, wiping away the blood. Reno caught her chin and tilted it upwards. His eyes locked with hers, almost like he had paralysed her right there. "You think it's stupid that I wanted to save your life? You have no idea, how much you really mean ta me, Yuffs." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Yuffie looked down, confused. She wiped up the wounds on his chest and covered them up with plasters. She then started to work her way up his body. His arms, his neck and his face. When she started to clean up his face, she had to be sat next to him, facing him. "Why don't you tell me, then?" She mumbled, as she finished working. He chuckled and shook his head. He looked at her with his eyebrows raised. "I don't think you'd understand, Yuff." He chuckled under his breath again and sighed. He wished she would understand and hoped that it portrayed on his face that that was what he wanted. Yuffie looked at him and blinked. She blushed and her mouth fell open a little. "You... Really?" She asked in bewilderment. He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Before he could open his mouth and speak; her lips were crushed against his momentarily. "Ditto, Reno." She smiled. He chuckled and held her close to him, his bare skin feverish against her cool skin.
They were safe now. Nothing could get in their way. He had taken care of everything. Nothing could ruin the moment. Everything was how it should be. At least, everything was out in the open. No more secrets. Well... Except one. "How long have you been hiding that, Reno?" She looked up at him and twirled a strand of his red hair around her pinky finger. He widened his eyes and tilted his head back to think. "Ever since I can remember... It's truly been that long." He told her calmly. He was relieved now. He didn't have to hide anything. She knew everything now. "Thank you, Reno." She leaned over him and gentle pressed her lips to his. His lips were sweet and soft against hers. He held her close and she nuzzled back into his chest. Everything was calm and serene. Until her father knocked on the door. Yuffie told him to come in, oblivious to the fact that Reno was without a shirt and they were currently cuddling in Yuffie's bed. Godo looked at them with surprised eyes. "Oh no no, it's not like that! I promise you." Reno stammered, afraid that he was now going to get another meeting. "The both of you... I have something to tell you. It's very important and I would like if you could join me at the table in the next few minutes." Yuffie shared a worried glance with Reno and he gave her a brief peck on the lips. They made their way downstairs and froze as their eyes scanned the room. There were suitcases and bags packed. "Yuffie, Reno. You're being evacuated from Wutai."