A/N Hi guys its been a difficult week for me, getting this out was one of the hardest things i could pull but I'm happy I was able to get this chapter out. It finishes off the Wutai arc so I hope its up to par with what I hoped it would have been if i didn't have any distractions.

for the odd line in the fan fic...it was when Corneo was referring to Elena and Yuffie being I quote "A squashed Tomatoes" just think about that and reread that line, you'll see what I meant.

I hope everyone has a good read. Also You know what you guys should listen to? He Mele No Lilo, its that Hawaiian song from the beginning of Lilo and Stitch, I realized how awesome it really is

Shout outs to my beta reader Saria19 as well as botoingness who put a shoutout to my fic, if you want another insert, check out Chosen, I can say you'll get a laugh or to.

Ch 23

"What do you mean you can't give me my materia?"

"I said I couldn't get it to you until later...maybe tomorrow."

"Why not now?"

"...It's getting polished."

"You sent my materia to get polished?"

"Have I steered you wrong yet?"

"Yes, when you led everyone here to steal our materia."

"I gave back the rest so that doesn't count, and if it does you helped convince them to come."

"I accept that, now I want my materia."

"You do have an Elemental."

"The crap one the group found at Mt. Nibel."

"Nathan, stop being impatient and wait." I face palmed, arguing with Yuffie was getting me nowhere. I didn't even get a straight answer when she only stole one of my materia and not all. I was happy she didn't, but it still racked my brain. I turned to the rest of the gang exchanging materia since Yuffie messed up the whole party arrangement, I took the MP absorb just so it would be less complicated for everyone else.

"Can we stay one more day? It was basically mastered." He sighed.

"Fine, but it is coming out of your gil to stay at an inn."

"No need! You can all stay at my father's house. It's got plenty of room." Yuffie added delightedly.

"It is hard to believe she is actually a real princess." Nanaki mused. I had informed everyone about the conversation between her and Godo and it didn't take long for everyone to connect the dots.

"Aren't princesses' quiet and polite and dressed high class and all?" Barret asked. Yuffie sputtered a laugh.

"That's the boring kind, I'm a warrior princess!" The group sweat dropped.

"Well if there isn't anything else to do, I'm going to the bar to collect a few things. Maybe I'll walk around the rest of the village and see what I can buy." I walked out off Yuffie's hideout and collected a few items, namely the HP absorb in the cat house and my prize at the bar. At the Turtles Paradise I looked around and felt relieved the Turks weren't there. I walked up to the counter seeing a smiling bartender.

"Are you looking for some more Sake?"

"No, I have these actually." I reached into my travel pack and rummaged around for all of the ticket stubs. I gave him the wad of papers and he went wide eyed.

"You won the contest? That is amazing; you must travel a lot to have been able to find all six. Congratulations..." He went under his counter, when he came back up several bottles were placed on it. I examined each one finding them having different colors and consistencies.

"Are these Sources?" I asked.

"Yes, natural enhancers. They are very hard to come by but we happened to have all types in stock, the competition was to get business but the mystery prize was always going to be good, I threw in a Mega-elixir just to seal the deal." He explained. I took one bottle labeled with a "P" and uncorked it. I drank the thick liquid and found it didn't taste all that bad. When I was done I belched.

"Nothing's different..."

"It takes time, the world wasn't created in a day, but for you it will take that long for the Power Source to take effect. Why not enjoy some other drinks while you're at it."

"Meh, why not?" I placed a few gil down and the man gave me a cheap drink. Being no stranger to alcohol it was easy to stomach, decent taste too. A little later the bar door opened for me to see Vincent stride in.

"Hey Vince." I waved.

"Hn." He nodded and sat next to me and asked for some water. Looking at him I could still see some sheen from his sweat. We both sat and drank until he started tapping his claw on the counter.

"I'm surprised you're not asking." He mumbled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The mountain..." He stated. I shook my head and took another sip from my drink.

"Everyone else has been asking?" His silence was answer enough for me. Everyone else was giving him a wide berth since his transformation. Only ones who didn't seem to care were Nanaki and Yuffie.

"It really doesn't matter to me, we have two types of talking cats, an obnoxiously loud ninja, a flower girl that's part of an old race, a foul mouthed pilot, two freedom fighters, and then Cloud has his own category. I'm used to this by now."

"And where do you fit in?" He asked. I shrugged.

"The unlucky guy, every group has one. I was dragged into this instead of volunteering like everyone else." God isn't that the truth.

"Not everyone is as accepting as you."

"Don't worry Vince, everyone will warm up to the cold, emotionless, bastard you believe yourself to be. I know I have." He didn't even spare me a glance. Meh, I don't blame the guy.

"I have been wondering one thing though, why don't you use materia?"

"I don't consider them as reliable as my guns."

"Didn't they issue materia back in your Turk days?"

"Very rarely, Shinra was only beginning to integrate materia into its employee's regime."

"Doesn't explain why you don't use them."

"Call me old fashioned." There's that Turk sense of humor, cracking dry jokes with a straight face, I love it.

"Twenty years in a basement would do that to you." We kept drinking in silence until Cait found us and said the group was to meet at Godo's mansion. We followed him and I found it had gotten later than I thought I was, it was around sun down when we reached the complex. Most of the gang was already inside in one of the many guest rooms.

"I don't like it here." Cid said.

"And why is that Cid?" Aeris asked.

"It's the damn people around here."

"But everyone's been really good to us since Yuffie offered to keep us here."

"Exactly! I've been called an honorable guest too many times today, everyone's all quiet and nice and bullshit. It's like I'm with a whole town of Shera's." Cid shivered when he said that. I just laughed. Just then Yuffie had barged in.

"Alright everyone, let's eat. Follow me." We all got out of the room and into some dining area. Everyone sat down around the low tables with some people coming in with different variety of food. I felt nostalgia as I recognized a few dishes here and there; surprisingly it was a culmination of what I believed was Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and a few others I couldn't quite place. Hey you know maybe Wutai is just the culmination of all of Asia's eastern countries. Thinking about that, how complicated is the language? Oh well, I'll think about it later after eating.

"How the hell do you use these things?" Barret and Cid both yelled at the same time, both trying to eat with chopsticks, and failing miserably. I noticed everyone else had similar trouble with the utensils excluding Yuffie who was laughing at everyone else while taking bits and pieces from the food in front of us. I couldn't help but to join in.

"I'd like to see you try to use this too kid." Cid growled. I picked mine up in between my thumb and index finger and started eating rice which I had already placed into my own bowl. Cid actually looked shocked that I did it so easy.

"Bullshit you cheated!" He yelled.

"How do you cheat at chop sticks? You can't now shut it!" I yelled right back.

"How do you know how to use them then?" asked Aeris.

"Because I've learned to use them before. This isn't the first time I've used them." everyone was surprised to hear that.

"Have you been to Wutai?" Nanaki asked. I shook my head. Well unless you count Japan as a version of Wutai then yes, yes I have.

"Just because I've never been here doesn't mean I shouldn't know about the culture." The explanation was good enough for the group and everyone kept eating and conversing. The whole team was at ease, there wasn't any danger to look out for, no hurry to get anywhere.

A true moment of peace. It's times like these I truly enjoy traveling with everyone.

"Are there people in my home who are having fun and I am not?" One of the doors slid open and Godo came in. Everyone quieted down. Yuffie was glaring at him.

"Now don't stop on my account, please enjoy!" He picked up a cup of Sake and drank. The group went back to talking although not as lively and Yuffie just sat in place.

"I see they caught you, not the ninja you thought you were huh?" He said. Yuffie's fist tightened.

"They rescued me, I'm repaying them." The man laughed.

"I'm sorry my daughter put you through so much trouble, she has her head in the clouds you see, always dreaming of restoring Wutai's honor."

"Because cowards like you don't make the effort to!" Godo ignored her outburst.

"She always did dream big and disrespect her elders, why when she was nine she ran away from her own home, right after the war."

"Because you willingly made our village into a resort town!"

"It wasn't in my power to oppose Shinra, I made the right decision." Yuffie slammed her fist onto the table

"You disgraced what Wutai once stood for. I at least try to bring it back."

"And here you are the weak little ninja who can't scam anyone."

"These are my friends, and I am not weak!"

"Right when you completed your training you left, you didn't gain any discipline or skill while you were gone."

"I did to! I can prove it!"

"How? What could you possibly do that could prove you're a good ninja, or even have the ability to restore Wutai?" Yuffie looked down, thinking. After a minute she pulled her head back up with a determined look in her eye.

"I'll take on the five Gods of Wutai!" Godo's eyes widened at the challenge.

"You think you can easily take the best warriors of the village? You don't even know who they are, how much power they have..."

"I don't care, I'll show you and the rest of those guys what I'm made of. Tomorrow I will battle through the Pagoda!" Everyone in the room was dumbstruck at Yuffie's declaration. I tried to hide a smile. Godo shook his head.

"If you truly wish to make a fool of yourself then I can't stop you. Good night and good luck, everyone knows you're going to need it." He got up and left.

"Troublesome." Vincent spoke first.

"I agree." Cid said.

"Yuffie what are you doing?" Asked Cloud.

"I'm proving that this village has become weak because of my father's decision."

"You're just delaying us from perusing Sephiroth." Cloud said coldly.

"Cloud just let me do this so I can show my dad why he's wrong! Please please! I have to!"

"Fine, now be quiet." She smiled.

"Great so I can use everyone's materia for help right?"

"Like hell you're getting your hands on all of the materia again!" Barret added.

"I have to agree Yuffie. You're already on thin ice." Cloud said.

"Come on guys, I just need maybe three...four...eight at the most."

"The answer is no. Now everyone get some rest. When Yuffie is done tomorrow we leave." The rest of the group got up and mumbled their good-nights. Yuffie was sitting staring at the ground and I was still eating.

"You really want to prove yourself huh?"

"I had to train myself to be a ninja you know," I looked at her sad visage. "Being the princess I wasn't supposed to learn all of these dangerous skills, my dad always frowned at me when I would talk about using them to bring Wutai back."

"You stole our materia so that you could show how powerful Wutai could be." She nodded.

"Maybe I was being stupid, the Five Gods are supposed to be the most powerful ninja since before the war. I should call it off."

"Now why do that?" She looked at me. "I think you could take all of them on, you dream big Yuffie, I like that. Its better you try to achieve that dream instead of ignoring it. Beating these guys at the Pagoda will be a big step for you, and I believe you can take it."

"You mean..."

"I'm more than willing to help you." She jumped up and squealed in delight.

"Don't get cocky; we have a lot of planning to do. You're going to face five very powerful people. You'll need to be adequately prepared. I'll only help if you do exactly as I tell you when I tell to." She shook her head excitedly before deflating.

"But, all I'll have is your materia. How can I win with only those?" I smiled.

"Well I guess we'll have to borrow a few while everyone else is asleep." I saw the wicked grin on Yuffie.

(The next day.)

It was the break of dawn, everyone else in the group was still sleeping. I was tired as all hell again but I could take a nap on the Tiny Bronco, I had changed from my old clothes into some new ones that I got from staying at Godo's house. I was wearing a loose white karate Gi and some of what I like to call my new favorite pair of Bruce Lee pants, the one thing I didn't like was I had to go bare foot since my shoes were worn out from all the battles now. Yuffie and I were standing in front of the Pagoda looking at the tall tower in all of its glory.

"You sure I can do this" She asked me.

"The way I set you up, I can guarantee you will win. But if not, we can always switch a few materia out." I held the bag that contained all of the borrowed materia. But I made sure Yuffie was already prepared since I knew the bosses beforehand. I had given her Choco/mog with the extra Elemental on her new weapon, the Razor Ring. Along with Restore, Enemy Skill, and Barrier materia. Since she took my Elemental I had to compensate her armlet with Nanaki's leveled up Poison as well as Sense and Time.

"Come on, we have a tower to tumble." We both walked in and found the first room with a man who looked about his mid thirty's wearing a green Gi.

"Oh Miss Yuffie. Will you be climbing the Pagoda today?" She nodded. "Then I, Sacred Gorky will be your opponent on the first floor." Suddenly footsteps were running down the stairs when a kid no older than twelve came in.

"Yo call me Shake! I'll be watchin you fight Gorky." Yuffie and the man got on opposite sides of the room.

"Ready...Begin!"

"Power charge!" Gorky yelled an immediately a puff of smoke engulfed him when out came a demon flapping its wings, dissipating the smoke. Yuffie looked worried.

"That's a really good technique."

"Stay on your toes Yuffie, remember what I said?" She nodded and started using Sense. The boss cast protect on itself when Yuffie struck. Her Enemy Skill flashed and a large hammer appeared in front of her. Though it looked heavy she easily lifted it and hit Gorky, however he didn't seem fazed by the attack.

"Nathan that attack didn't do anything!" She yelled, dodging a swipe from the boss.

"Yuffie, trust me and use the attack again."

"If I lose because of you I'm taking it out on you as well!" She pulled out the magic hammer again and hit Gorky only to be countered with a punch from the flying monster man.

"Now what?"

"What is it weak against?"

"Wind."

"Then attack, you have Choco/mog!" Yuffie threw her bladed ring at Gorky when it tried to use its wings to knock it off course, but having a wind element it hit true and cut the monster deeply. The monster knelt down looking it was about to cast a spell when it stopped, confused. Yuffie was as well until she realized why I had her use magic hammer. She picked her weapon back up and attacked again. The final blow made the monster disappear in another cloud of smoke, now leaving the real Gorky who looked winded.

"I thought you were just some wild girl, but you handled that well. I must see how you do on the next fight." Yuffie smiled and waved me over, the both of us went up the stair case.

"Alright who's next?" Yuffie yelled.

"Are you blind? I'm right here!" Shake said.

"What, I have to fight a punk?" Yuffie said. Shake was really red in the face.

"Some punk? I'm more of an adult than some bimbo girl!" I held in my laughter.

"What did you say!" Yuffie yelled.

"See! It's that kind of anger that makes you immature! Don't pat yourself on the back until you beat me!"

"Come on you snot nosed brat! I'll take you!"

"Someone got past Gorky?" A third voice asked. From the stairs came a woman in her twenty's with a bun tied in her hair.

"I, Chekhov, will have to stand in." Yuffie ignored the woman, looking at the little girl in front of her.

"Here I come brat! Speed Charge!" Just as with Gorky, she changed, but instead came out a colorful penguin. Yuffie burst out laughing at the sight. I shook my head.

"Yuffie, take this seriously." I said. She wiped a tear from her eye and got in a ready position. The penguin flew up into the air and started shooting energy bombs at her, she barely dodged when I yelled out to her.

"Yuffie, use L4 Suicide." She looked at me confused when the penguin attack again and she dodged. She tapped into her enemy skill and a spark appeared under the penguin, it exploded only to show a now very weak little girl.

"No fair! You cheated!" The little girl was having a tantrum.

"Exploiting an enemy's weakness is hardly cheating." I said.

"Thanks Nathan, how did you know that would work?"

"Experience." I had discovered something odd about the spell. Since experience was not a numerical based number here, L4 Suicide was a questionable spell when people used it, so I guess it was known as a powerful spell that only worked a small percent of the time. Being the only person in the entire world who knew boss levels I was technically the only person who knew how to use it.

"But the fight wasn't a challenge, I couldn't show my skills!" I sighed.

"Yuffie just because you didn't fight all out doesn't mean you're weaker than you think you are, I'm helping you conserve your energy for the final fight, the only way to do that is to help you in the others so it doesn't take a toll on you." Plus if we don't finish this boss rush with a few hours I'm going to have my ass chewed out for letting Yuffie take the materia.

"Aw Nathan you're so nice to me." She patted my shoulder.

"Do you want me to leave right now, cuz I will." She removed her hand and we went up the stairs. Yuffie stood on the opposite side of the woman when a man came down wearing some odd hat.

"So even Shake was defeated. It's been a while since you had to fight Chekhov." The woman smiled.

"Yes, but this is as far as this goes."

"That isn't going to happen. I'll teach you the strength of youth!"

"Fine then, Magic Change!" Another poof and the woman was an alien looking monster.

"Remember the strategy Yuffie." She nodded, the monster attacked Yuffie when she pulled out Magic hammer and hit the third pagoda boss. Its eyes then flashed when Yuffie was about to attack again, she stood completely still while Chekhov attacked Yuffie and drained her strength.

"I knew I should have given her the gem ring. Just hang in there." I mumbled. The paralysis soon wore off and Yuffie was back in action with another hammer attack. It hit and the monster actually fell and dissipated which really threw me off. The woman stood up.

"I concede, I have no more magic to cast, you are the victor." She said through clenched teeth. Well at least competence translates in this world. Yuffie and I went up the next set of stairs.

"Nathan this is so easy...how do you know how to beat these guys if you've never been to Wutai?"

"I simply prepared you for all possibilities, and gave you basic strategies to work off of so you could fight at your best in the end." Man that made me sound like a boss; I have to exploit my knowledge more. We reached the next room seeing Staniv smile at us.

"You see the rules are the best fighter on each floor is your opponent, although it is a five story pagoda, the fourth floor is the highest. After all, no one has beaten me, the master of weaponry! Weapon change!" This time the transformation was one of those headless boulder swinging monsters. He charged right at Yuffie who barely dodged before focusing on a spell before I interrupted.

"Use suicide again Yuffie." She didn't question me and cast the spell which did a huge number on the man. It was very sluggish when it attacked and was easily avoided by the still healthy Yuffie. Yuffie won the fourth battle, completely in glee we had advanced so quickly.

The other four pagoda bosses walked in, each praising Yuffie for her increase in skill and power. The fourth simply said we would have to face "him" All of them went up. I switched out Yuffie's materia so she would have my lightning in her armor, taking back Choco/mog and made her wear the star pendent. Everything else I really couldn't change around. We went up the final set of stairs hearing a very loud, but familiar voice.

"I truly underestimated you Yuffie, it seems you have grown."

"Dad? What are you-" He held up his hand to stop her.

"I am the leader of the village; you think I would be weak? Come Yuffie, let me see how good you claim you really are!" Yuffie was very nervous when she looked at me.

"Please tell me everything will work out like you said." I shook my head and smiled.

"Sorry Yuffie but I could only help you till we got here; it's up to your skills to fight Godo now, good luck." The color drained from her face but she stepped forward anyway. Godo smiled.

"Let's fight, OMNI change!" He disappeared as well, a large figure coming out of the smoke. A four armed three faced moving statue readied itself in front of Yuffie. She got into position, her Razor wheel at the ready.

Godo attacked first, casting Trine quicker than the Materia Keeper and ensnaring Yuffie, the Elemental just barely negating some of the damage. She jumped back and healed herself when Godo attacked with his sword, Yuffie blocked and tried to strike back only to have her weapon swatted away and to get a punch knocking her across the room. I cringed at how bad that must have hurt, but Yuffie got back up.

"Come on Yuffie...just remember the basics." I mumbled. Yuffie got a lucky hit in and was able to poison Godo when he tried to strike again, the statue monster coughed but laughed.

"Poison? Using tricks to take down your opponent. Impressive, but not enough daughter!" Godo attacked again and Yuffie twisted so the sword would glance off her shuriken, leaving him open for her ti strike, she had magic hammer out in less than a minute and smashed Godo's back before jumping back.

"What a useless attack, I barely felt it!" Godo's face changed to the porcelain white one, it had a dark orb in its hand and he threw it at Yuffie. She dodged but the level two Demi spell cover a very large area, enough to catch her legs and make her scream from the crushing and pulling sensation of warped gravity.

"You fought well enough against me Yuffie, but it is over." He pulled out his sword and tried to attack Yuffie only for her to spin out the way and use magic hammer again. Right after she cast a bolt to keep Godo away.

"Why do you insist on using that attack? It's useless against me." Yuffie ignored him and healed her legs before getting into her stance again.

"That attack has helped me before, and I will use it again if I have to." She said. Godo just charged at Yuffie while casting a Bio spell which splashed across the field, her being protected by the Star Pendant and making one last Magic hammer hit Godo across the head.

"It seems I will have to show you why you should take me seriously." He tried to cast Demi again when the spell disappeared before him, his eyes widened when Yuffie smiled.

"Not so useless now, huh." She was breathing heavily, the constant magic casting taking a toll on her. But she kept it up by casting Haste and Barrier before readying herself.

"I'll show you who's skilled." She went up and slashed Godo, then somehow appeared to his right and slashed again, then the left, then above him. Somehow Yuffie was fast enough to appear and disappear around the man and attack. The final blow knocked him onto his back, his transformation wearing off. Yuffie fell too, exhausted from the fight. The rest of the Five Gods staring in awe that their leader was beaten.

"Not...bad...old coot." Yuffie managed to breathe out.

"You...really improved..." He started laughing, then Yuffie joined in, both trying to laugh and catch their breaths. Both got up, Yuffie having that mischievous smile of her's, and Godo with a proud look on his face.

"It is time I gave you this Yuffie." Godo went up to her and handed her a red materia, a serpent swirling around inside.

"That is Leviathan's materia, take it." He placed it into her hand.

"But Lord Godo, Leviathan should only be given to the one who conquers and takes over the pagoda, it is custom..."

"Customs, customs, customs! They are so stupid." Yuffie voiced. The pagoda bosses didn't seem pleased.

"What about the rest of you? You all have power, are you satisfied being cooped up in this tower?"

"Yuffie!" He father scolded, but she continued.

"You to dad! Just because you lost the war! You turned Wutai into this; you turned it into a resort town peddling for tourists! How dare you! Leviathan and Da-chao would be ashamed!" The whole room was silent at her outburst. Godo adopted a thoughtful look.

"She is a kid!" Shake blurted out Yuffie almost charged the kid before Godo stopped her.

"Forgive me Yuffie, it is my fault..." He admitted, the other four bosses were shocked.

"Lord Godo! What are you saying?"

"Losing the war...turning Wutai into this...it is my fault."

"Lord Godo!" Chekhov shouted.

"SILENCE!" The entire room was shaken hearing Godo sound angry. But he put his head down.

"Yuffie...I am the same now as I was when I wanted the war...but after I lost, I got to thinking. Is strength only for defeating the enemy? Or just something to show off?" He sounded troubled, he was baring his feelings in front of his daughter, and it was like he had to find the right words.

"Might begets might. That's the same way as Shinra." Everyone contemplated his words. He looked back up.

"I knew you were looking for materia for the good of Wutai, but the reason I hide my strength is also for the good of Wutai...but now, I realize both are necessary. Strength without determination means nothing. Determination without strength is also useless."

"Lord Godo?" One of the four asked. Godo turned with a resolute face.

"You there!" He pointed at me. "Please take Yuffie with you! You and your team have both strength and determination!"

"It'll be my pleasure." Godo smiled.

"Go Yuffie, for the sake of strengthening Wutai!" Yuffie smiled and nodded at her father's order. Everyone started to leave besides them, I saw Godo catch Yuffie out of the corner of my eye and I laughed at how he would want her to bring back the team's materia in the end. I was down to the third floor before Yuffie caught back up.

"Nathan he wants to talk to you."

"Who?"

"My dad duh!"

"Wait what? Why?

"Beats me, just hurry back so we don't get in trouble." She ran ahead. I went back up the stairs to see Godo waiting in the fifth room.

"I must thank you. If you didn't help my daughter this may never have happened."

"I really didn't do anything."

"You helped her exploit every weakness of the Five Gods, you encouraged her to use underhanded moves and strategy. You fight like a ninja, I respect that." He came closer to me.

"I also know you are the only one of your team to help her for this fight, She could have taken all of the gods one after the other, but you made it so she would have more than enough strength to face me." He patted me on the back.

"I expect you to take care of her; she will need someone just as crazy, but more level headed to keep an eye out for her out there. Once again, thank you." He bowed so I did as well. I went back down the stairs thinking about how Godo praised me. It was nice, kind of cool too. Maybe I should take a more active role in the story.

I came out the front door seeing Yuffie with her hands behind her back.

"I hope that's my Elemental you have there." I joked.

"Even better, it came out just like I asked the smith, I hope you like them." Them?

She held out her hands, in each one wasn't my materia. Instead it was a pair of armored gloves. They were blue with a red tint, there was a small shimmering in the cloth that told me they were made from my materia, but they also had a red plated samurai gauntlets attached to them, both having four inter-connected materia slots. I dropped the bag of materia seeing them.

"How.."

"We have weapon smiths here in Wutai too, I only knew of one that was able to make materia armor and weapons. I gave him your Elemental and asked him to make those gloves you described one time on the buggy." I damn near fell to my knees, they were a spitting image of what I was thinking of.

"That's why you only stole the Elemental?"

"Yep!" She smiled.

"But...why?" I couldn't think straight, she stole everyone's materia except mine which was made into a gift? That didn't fit Yuffie's profile.

"Even though you're the one who beat me up when we first met, you did try to keep your word and watch out for me. You let me be your friend Nathan, and I let you be my best friend...you and the rest of the group are all my friends now, and I want to make it up to you all!" That's...considerate...and admirable...and selfless...

Where did I get stuck into now?

"Here, take them. The smith said that it's a master piece." I took them from her.

"These must have cost a fortune." I managed to say.

"Being the daughter of the village leader has its perks. Didn't cost me a single gil, but I will take the materia it spawned as payment." I looked and she had another Elemental.

"But.."

"It was almost mastered; it didn't take long for me to get it the rest of the way up. This came out from the mastered materia." I was dumbstruck. She laughed.

"You can thank me later, let's get these back to the group before their up, we still have time." She took the back of materia and ran off, leaving me in the dust. I stared at the gauntlets for some time, I don't know how long. I came to my senses and put the gauntlets on, the slipped up to my elbow and tied easy. I felt the materias power serge a little when it was on completely.

But Yuffie did something so generous, and calling me her best friend...did I really do that much for her compared to the rest of the team?

I expect you to take care of her; she will need someone just as crazy, but more level headed to keep an eye out for her out there.

I felt heat go to my face remembering what Godo said, and looking at Yuffie's gift. He couldn't have possibly meant anything by that...could he? No No, I just helped her a little, it was no big deal...was it?

I shook my head. I must be going insane. Yuffie was really nice once you get to know her but...I don't know maybe there was...no couldn't be...crap...

I slapped my head with my armored hand. Realizing what i was thinking

I might like a video game character...what the hell is going on with me...

See you during the weekend...no...see you soon space cowboy...I always wanted to say that to someone.