Technical phrases were just that-technical. Uselessly excessive and pompous, the speech of political savvy dripped thick like slime into her ear canals. If there was one thing that Yuffie agreed with Barret on, it was her dislike of politics and the entrapping mind games it played. It perhaps bothered her even more so, as it was a constant element of her life, as welcome as any debauched sibling. It turned her stomach to see her father practice the hated art, the lashes of his tongue quick and sharp like a whip. It was her birthright, she supposed. To lead from a chair and face the pasty complexions of grotesque politicians was the fate of every true leader, as far as she knew. Yuffie could feel it all ready-the creep and crawl of the dusty old codgers gazes-judging, speculating, scheming-their dry lips and yellow teeth restraining truth and hissing poison. Yuffie's back tensed and her nostrils flared whenever the thought came to her-the reality was a cold shamble, a chilling parallel that saw her father's throne of power as a cripple's wheelchair. Trapped in that place, disputes could no longer be settled through her fists, no longer settled through a direct insult and outright threats. It was all to be specifically unspecific the moment Yuffie took her father's place, and she felt it demeaning to know that her reality would soon be regaled to the games of men aged older than her great grandmother's favorite bottle of sake. The urge to vomit was waylaid only by her desire to see Wutai through to its true potential. She was a nationalist at heart, after all. "Elroy's scheme to play to left-wing activists is only going to lead to extreme anarchism throughout the globe! We've got enough on our plate dealing with over-zealous corporations cannibalizing Shinra's remains, we don't need terrorism to be tossed into the mix!" "Mason, you're getting melodramatic. Just because the commissioner agrees with some left-wing ideas, that doesn't mean he's pandering to them!" "Then what would you call nearly one million dollars worth of contribution money to the Spencer Wings? A KNOWN eco-terrorist group I might add..." Roland flicked a bread crumb into his glass of water. Yuffie quietly applauded him. Neither Tifa or Mason took notice. Sighing, the ninja leaned back in her wooden chair and took to staring at the rafters overhead. They were large and bulky, the wood striped in natural lines of age. In a corner, the girl thought she saw a cobweb. Stiffly she stared to see if anything moved, but after a moment, she came to relax, thinking wryly, "That was the most exciting moment I've had so far." Two hours prior, Yuffie had taken Roland's offhand remark about Tifa and Mason lightly, thinking it was simply an attempt at dry humor. At returning to their table back in the restaurant, however, she quickly came to discover that-not only had Tifa and Mason made the baffling switch from food to the dreaded topic of politics-they had somehow managed to ignite a debate across the entire room; it was an event which led to a portly man attempting to shank a frail-limbed waiter with his soup spoon, and a horse-faced woman to sing an old marching song in unabashed volumes when an old bitter Shinra military veteran deprecated the name of a certain famous war general by the name of Hoss Krinkle. At first, this greatly entertained Yuffie, and she and Roland quietly watched the events unfold with growing amusement and disbelief. But when the restaurant manager came bustling in with his arms flapping and face turned pink, things were quickly broken up. The portly man with the soup spoon was brusquely frog marched to the restaurant's front lobby where he was later arrested by authorities; the waiter was taken to the hospital for major scrape wounds to the chest and face; the surly Shinra veteran was asked anxiously if he could leave the premises; and the horse-faced woman was told curtly to, "Put a sock in it," as she made it a point to sing while all of the above occurred. Finally, the manager, harried and unhappy, came to Tifa and Mason, his long face glistening with sweat as he asked them with a strained voice to keep their discussion quiet and respectful of the other guests. After that, the following hour and a half turned to a slow crawling torture. With thoughts of freedom in mind, Yuffie spoke, taking a brief moment only to clear her throat. "Hey, uh, as fascinating as this whole conversation is-y'know, about greedy bald-headed mayors, economic no-no's, and the yucky bit of trouble our global commissiony guy stepped into...don't you think we oughta get going? We've kinda hit the two hour mark. I, y'know, don't want anybody gettin' into trouble on our account." Yuffie, who had cut her napkin into perfect tessellations of ninja stars using her steak knife, stared balefully at Tifa next to her, her body slouched deep into her seat. Roland fared only slightly better, as he took to evenly spreading the sauce of his recently devoured meat in a perfect sheet across his plate with his spoon. He looked up brightly at Yuffie, who glanced at him with a shared feeling of hopefulness. Tifa, the trance of political melodrama falling from her eyes like a house of cards, blinked at Yuffie, whose question seemed to linger in the silence. "I'm sorry?" she said blankly. Next to her, Mason glanced quickly at his watch. "Oh," he murmured under his breath. He looked up at everyone at the table, his face dropping from it's state of intellectual frustration. "Ms. Kisaragi's right, I have to go." He stood quickly, his hand sweeping once through his hair in a fluid motion. "Time went by so fast, I didn't even realize..." Mason patted his coat, procuring a sleek cell phone from within his pocket. He flipped it open briskly, and his face paled. As he did this, Roland bolted upright, his eyes turned wide, "Mason! Oh, Shiva, I'm sorry I forgot! I should have said something earlier!" His worry wrinkle was once again present on his brow as he looked up at his partner. Mason shook his head as he pulled his chair back towards the table. His face had begun to perspire. "No, no, it's fine. I've just...I've got to call them and get going or..." he looked at Tifa and Yuffie with thin lips and a clenched jaw. "I'm sorry for just leaving so suddenly. I hope we get to see you again before you leave Costa Del Sol. If you'll excuse me..." and without another word, he hurried away from the table and out of the restaurant. Yuffie and Tifa stared after him, their eyes wide and blank. "I didn't think that would actually work!" Yuffie breathed wondrously to herself. "Did we get him in trouble?" Tifa wondered worriedly. "Oh don't worry about him," Both women turned to look back at Roland, who gazed after his lover with gently furrowed brows and intent eyes. The man continued as he turned to look at them both, "Mason just forgot about an appointment for work..." Tifa leaned forward and asked in a low voice, "Is it really all right? He seemed really shaken." Roland shook his head emphatically, a shaky laugh spilling from his lips. "No, no. It's nothing for you to worry about." He raised a hand, catching the attention of a nearby waiter. "Ah, waiter? Check please." ---------- "Do bartenders normally get that bugged?" Yuffie wondered aloud as she and Tifa sat waiting at a stop light. They had left a harried Roland at his store after returning from the restaurant. His haste and anxiety left virtually no room for further conversation, so the girls were left with an abrupt departure and a sneaking feeling of guilt. Now they drove back in the direction of the hotel, the day free to them to do as they pleased. "It depends. He could've been handling business for his bar..." Doubt managed to creep into Tifa's answer. Yuffie didn't miss it. "Well...maybe he's not a bartender, but a teacher instead?" Tifa raised an eyebrow and rested her chin on Yuffie's shoulder, so that she could gaze sidelong into the ninja's face. "What makes you say that?" she asked. Yuffie shrugged her other shoulder, "He's really smart. And I don't mean 'Nanaki' kinda smart, too. I mean like, 'I went to school and studied forever just to teach others' kinda smart. The way he talked about Shinra, Reeve, and all these crazy political factions we've got going now was a bit more intimate than your average person would know." Tifa frowned as her eyes turned glassy with thought. "That's right, isn't it?" she said eventually, leaning back with a deepening frown. "He did seem to know a lot about odd things...Like the remark about the Spencer Wings! I've heard of them, but as far as I know, no paper has reported anything about a million dollar endorsement." the woman paused. "...Then again, I haven't read the paper since I left Tiesmire..." "But still, don't you think he's sort of...unique?" The light turned green. Yuffie accelerated the bike and they once again found themselves sailing along the street. "He's definitely above average." Yuffie turned her head briefly to offer Tifa a skeptical look. "Eh? What? You think he's cute?" Tifa gave her a chiding look. "Who said that?" Yuffie turned her head forward. She smirked as she said, "Well, gee, I dunno...you called him, 'above average'." The woman quirked an eyebrow as she spoke. "And saying 'above average' automatically means I'm calling him 'cute?'" "Nowadays, yeah." Yuffie grinned surreptitiously. "You calling me old?" "I all ready said you weren't old, Rusty. Remember?" "You oughta watch what you tell a girl, Yuffie. Some women don't like being reminded of their age..." "But I never called you old!" "And what was with the 'nowadays' remark?" "Hey country girl, don't get so huffy! Sheesh, I was just trying to let you in on things...y'know...since you're a hermit." Yuffie couldn't help but snicker the last part. Tifa poked Yuffie's back in retaliation, her cheeks rosy. "Says the girl who thinks 'spanktastic' is a word." she returned sorely. "So anyways..." Yuffie continued idly, "Roland was...y'know, nice. Maybe a bit infected with that sage-like mumbo jumbo that Bugenhagen always used to spout...but still nice." Tifa smiled, "Did he offer you words of wisdom too?" Yuffie grinned sheepishly, "Yep." "Paternal, isn't he?" "Yeah. And fatherly, too." Tifa smiled widely and her eyes suddenly turned sharp. It was Yuffie's turn to have pink cheeks. "Yuffie, that's kinda the same thing." the woman corrected slyly. The girl tensed as her cheeks did just as Tifa hoped they would. "Really?" she asked the confidence in her voice thrown off by a questioning rise in pitch. Tifa nodded as her arms hugged Yuffie's body more tightly. She reveled in their conversational games. As she brushed her cheek against the ninja's, she gave a shiver, and said with quiet earnest, "That's fine. I don't really care." Yuffie sighed, her pride still wounded. "I'm buying a dictionary." she grumbled sourly. At this remark, the fighter couldn't help but giggle, and-as if to make up for this-she nibbled at the girl's ear, her tongue tracing along the ear's ridge. The ninja's surly embarrassment evaporated as her back arched and her eyes widened. Instinctively, only her right shoulder rose and her left hand pulled down in a sudden motion. If standing, the girl would have turned to face the sudden surprise-but on her bike, the ninja only shifted in her seat and turned the bike's handle bars. An action that led them into oncoming traffic. It was a cursory glance forward that allowed Tifa to realize the danger headed for them. As she pulled back from Yuffie, the woman pointed and screamed, "Look out!" The warning jostled Yuffie out of her momentary lapse of attention-just soon enough to see the grill of the car headed straight for them. Her face turned ashen with horror as the ninja turned the handle bars and leaned to the right, her body twisted and stiffened from shock as she regarded the other car on its way past them. A sharp, quick, sound tore through the warm air, and before a single thought could be registered, things were still again. "Note to self: never nibble Yuffie's ear while she's driving." "It just surprised me! All of a sudden I felt this warm, wet thing on my left ear and...and..." "I thought I was going to die!" "...Y'know, that actually felt pretty..." "Look! Look! My hands won't quit shaking! I've got goosebumps all over!" "...Ah, d'ya think you could do that...y'know, again?" "I don't think I've felt this shaken up since...since...well...actually...it hasn't been that long ago." "Uh, Tifa?" "I mean, there was that stupid tournament in Gold Saucer, the mess with the chocobos in the forest, and...y'know, yesterday." "Tifa?" "But SHIVA, I could've died this time!" In the parking lot to an outdoor shopping mall, Yuffie stared across at Tifa who stood rigidly three feet away from her. Between them stood Yuffie's bike, Deevo, it's left side-view mirror bent at a slightly different angle than it's twin. Yuffie placed her hands high on her hips as she regarded the fighter with a scathing look. "Rusty, you could've died, like, hundreds of times in your lifetime, remember?" She pointed at the fighter with an arched eyebrow, "You crashed a plane once While being SHOT at!" Tifa shook her head and crossed her arms high over her chest, so that her shirt bunched. "Well...it doesn't matter how many times you come close to dying. It still isn't fun, is it?" Yuffie leaned forward and waved a hand energetically toward the street they had just turned off. "But I didn't hit him!" "And what do you think happened to your mirror!?" Tifa cried back as her finger pointed at the offending object. "I swear, it's just a knick! Shiva-look, y'see? The stupid thing still works and everything so I don't see what the big flippin' problem is-" "You don't see what the problem is!? I could see the brand name of the driver's watch as he sped past me for crying out loud! The car was so close to my elbow I'm surprised the wind didn't burn me or something!" "Well naturally, because wind doesn't burn to begin wi-hold on...wait. You said you saw what brand the driver's watch was?" Tifa, at Yuffie's sudden question, blinked and shifted her weight to one foot. "What does that have to do with anything?" "What brand was it?" "Your more concerned about the other driver's watch?" "I'm just curious! Did you REALLY see the kinda watch that guy had or are you just making that up? He had to have been going at at least 50 miles an hour...lousy speed freak." the girl muttered the last part under her breath. Tifa tongued her cheek. "Yeah. I saw what the brand name was. It was a Redguard." she said tartly. Yuffie scratched her head, as a sudden pensive thought over took her face. "Y'know, I thought I saw a flash of red when he went by..." She gave Tifa a look of mingled admiration and disbelief, "Gawd! I didn't know you had such a good eye!" At first, Tifa's face turned bright red with frustration, and she held up her clenched hands as if in preparation to scream. But then suddenly, the feeling left her in a rush, and a familiar bubbly emotion replaced it and turned the corners of her lips upward. As the laughter built up, the woman covered her face and pedaled backward. It took only a few steps before her heel hit a bump and she fell to the asphalt, spread onto her back. Yuffie started forward quickly as she saw the woman fall, a look of concern and bewilderment flashing across her face. The evening sun was warm and content and it lit up the side of the ninja's face as she gazed uncertainly down at Tifa, whose delirious batch of amusement rang out into the air. She stood with her feet on either side of the fighter, her legs bent as she leaned down. "Uh, are you okay?" she asked slowly. At her question, however, Tifa's humor seemed to worsen, and she no longer made a sound, but simply shook violently with giggles and hugged her ribs. When the girl saw that it would be a while before the woman calmed herself, she couldn't help but smile wryly and state with a flat tone, "I think I'm a little too good at making you laugh, Rusty." When the woman didn't answer, Yuffie carefully sat herself atop the woman and quirked an eyebrow, "You realize of course, that we're in a parking lot. Don't you wanna continue this elsewhere?" Tifa covered her eyes as she took deep breaths in an attempt to stop her laughter. Yuffie, exasperated, lifted Tifa's hands from her eyes and leaned forward, close to the woman's face. "Peek-a-boo." she breathed. "Seriously, let me help you up. Dirt's getting in your hair." The fighter allowed the younger girl to help her up, a small grin still on her lips as Yuffie gazed at her quietly. "You all right now?" she asked. Tifa sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah. It's just...I only just realized how absurd all of this is." She paused. "I mean, I almost get clipped by a car and I somehow end up talking to you about watches." Yuffie grinned triumphantly, "I'm sneaky that way, aren't I?" The fighter nodded her head with a laugh, "Yeah, real slick, Yuffie." The woman sighed and wiped at her eye, "But that...really did shake me up." The ninja's face sobered. "Y'know...I didn't mean to seem like I didn't care about what happened before. It's just...nothing happened, right? No accident, no one hurt, nothing, not a thing. I didn't wanna focus on what could've have happened...I just wanted to make it feel all right." The ninja rubbed the back of her neck ruefully, "Granted, I could've handled that, like, way better..." Tifa smiled again. "No, I think it worked...I think..." Yuffie grinned suddenly, her eyes carefully looking at Tifa with a mix of humor and affection. "I think I'm buying you a Redguard watch for Christmas." "Do it, and I flush it down the toilet." Yuffie's grin widened as she stepped close to Tifa and wrapped her arms around her waist. Tifa relaxed into the embrace, comforted by the feel of Yuffie near her. The ninja squeezed her gently. "Are you feeling any better about getting on the bike with me again?" she asked gently. Tifa reached her hand up and gently stroked back the rebellious strands of hair that teased the girl's face. She grinned coyly as she brushed her nose against the ninja's. "Only if you promise me you'll keep your head when I'm loving you." The girl shook her head and whispered, "Now that's just not fair..." and quietly Yuffie closed the small gap between them and her lips caught Tifa's. The woman briefly closed her eyes as a quiet sigh escaped her. The girl's lips were delightfully soft and wet. She wished the sensation lasted longer, but the girl pulled away with a faint smack, her eyes dark but inviting. As she took Tifa's hand, the girl said in a low voice, "Come on, there's one place I want to show you before the day's done..." ---------- The road winded up the side of a cliff that overlooked the sea. Frail bushes with leaves colored red at the edges draped languidly over the sandy rocks that faced the sun. Here, the sound of the waves crashing surrounded them, their power managing to drown out the noises of the city. The buildings grew sparse and more petite as the wind became harsher at the elevated heights. Tifa spied a street sign as they ascended, and soundlessly she mouthed the words, "Horacio Street." Yuffie pulled into a mid-sized parking lot in front of a white domed building. From where they were, no other people could be seen, but the lot was packed with cars. The domed building seemed new as its high dome and wide columns cast a shadow over the two girls. Slim dark security camera's were installed near the doors, where a lanky security officer stood watch over those entering. Yuffie took off her helmet and looked back at Tifa. "Well, here it is." The woman took off her helmet and climbed off the bike slowly, her eyes trained on the bronze sign that hung from the small overhang. "The Crystalline Dome?" she said, brows furrowed. Yuffie nodded with an excited grin as she stood to her feet. "Yeah! Come on, I don't want to be late for it." Tifa blinked as the ninja pulled her toward the open entrance. "Be late for what?" the woman asked. But the only answer she received was the howl of the cool sea air as it chased them across the threshold into the dome. The fighter blinked rapidly as her eyes strained to see in the dark lobby, but a tug forward had her feet moving before her mind could orient itself. "Hey Yuffie, slow down, I can't even see my-" The dark shape before Tifa gave a tumble, and the fighter felt herself bump into Yuffie's back. "Geez, what's with this carpeting!?" the girl cried, "It's all uneven!" Tifa sighed. "So, like I said, can we slow down?" Yuffie's arm pointed forward suddenly. "Hey is that light up there?" she asked. "Where?" "There, where the hall turns." "Yeah, I think so..." "Come on." "Yuffie-hey, wait!" Yuffie jogged toward the light, her jeans 'swishing' with each stride. Her grip had tightened on Tifa's hand, and Tifa opened her mouth to ask if they had missed whatever it was they were going to see when they rounded the corner and a sudden bright window danced into her sight. The window gave view to a small booth where a young girl sat reading a magazine. She was dressed in an over-sized shirt with a winged mog on it, her shoulders just rising over the counter by two inches. At the sight of Yuffie and Tifa emerging from the darkness, the small girl jumped and gasped, her shiny braces revealed in her moment of surprise. When she realized neither of them were a threat, however, she placed a small freckled hand on her chest and heaved a great sigh. "Holey, moley!" the girl cried, bright green eyes regarding Yuffie and Tifa scornfully, "You scared my curls straight!" Yuffie shrugged apologetically, "Sorry, kid. We didn't mean to scare you." The girl shook her head as she turned her swivel chair forward. "Nah, s'okay. Gramps shoulda put lights in the hall, but he always says that, 'All anyone needs is that sign!'" Tifa frowned, her eyes now adjusted to the new light. Out of the corner of her eyes she could make out posters for events and local shows pasted on the walls. With an odd twinge, she noticed there seemed to be panels around the posters. Quietly, the woman shook off her observations. "What sign?" she asked the girl. The girl sighed and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "The goofy sign that Gramps put up right next to the entrance. 'Watch your step, dim lighting.'" "Well that helped." Yuffie grumbled. "Why didn't that guard say anything?" The girl shrugged. "So you wanna see the crystals?" she asked. Yuffie nodded, taking out her money from her pocket. "Yeah. We didn't miss that special show?" The girl glanced at the clock on the wall behind her to her right. "Nope," she turned forward again. She jabbed a thumb at the price sign to her other side. "A hundred-fifty gil each." Tifa raised an eyebrow as Yuffie paid. A hundred-fifty gil? Just what were they seeing? Her eyes traveled to the sign the girl pointed at. The only show that was listed for that much was "The Evening Spectacle." The girl counted Yuffie's money shrewdly, her tongue caught between her teeth. Satisfied that she had not been ripped off, she pulled herself up onto the counter with a small grunt, her shoulders bunched about her ears as she lifted an arm to point forward. "Behind you guys is the hall leading to the show room doors. Ya can't touch the crystals, and ya can't shine any lights of your own. Here, stick your hands through the little window there. I'm gonna stamp you so's the guards don't kick you out." "Can we stay past sunset?" "Nope, the place closes after that." Yuffie nodded and stuck her hand through the small opening in the glass. The girl took a large red stamper and, after pressing it to an ink pad, stamped the ninja's hand. Tifa did the same and she looked to Yuffie as she spoke. "All right, then." the ninja exclaimed, "Let's go see the crystals!" The ninja took the fighter's hand and began to lead her to the doors. Tifa squeezed her hand as she asked under her breath, "Okay, seriously, what am I going to see here? Is it some crazy light show with lasers or what?" Tifa could see Yuffie shrug as she headed toward the dim green entrance sign that flickered over the dark set of double doors before them. "It's something like that, I guess..." the ninja replied evasively. At the doors, the ninja placed a slender hand, her head turned to look at Tifa. "Ready?" she asked, her voice laced with excitement. Tifa gave a nod, her apprehension recalling memories of grotesque monster displays and fat chocobos. "Open it." she said. Yuffie pushed the heavy door open with a small grunt and Tifa eyes squinted before going wide. They entered a circular room with concrete flooring, the domed ceiling reaching high above their heads. Statues, some tall and some not, graced the space. A slim red rope blocked visitors from crossing. Crystal spears, perfect and geometrical, sprouted at the feet of these carefully crafted sentinels, whose angular faces depicted the deepest of emotions. At the walls, twisted, high reaching trees with emerald leaves sheltered woodland creatures and lithe elves, whose slim faces and sapphire eyes displayed innocent curiosity. Illuminating the artwork from the floor were aimed lights that brought a glow to all. At the center of everything, however, on a raised pedestal, was a maiden, with arms spread wide in acceptance of a higher essence. Tifa's hand flew to her mouth as she stepped forward, the shock robbing her of words. She had seen things crafted from crystal before, but the level of craftsmanship was beyond anything she could have imagined. "Wow..." the woman finally managed to breath. She turned to look back at Yuffie, who stood near the doors her eyes also wide as she gazed about the room. "Excuse me, ladies?" Both turned to see two men standing on either side of the doors. Both were dressed in security officer uniforms. "If we could see your stamped hands please..." Yuffie and Tifa both showed the back of their hands and the officers gave a satisfied nod. "The show's about to start, so if you need to use the restroom, please do so now. We can't let anyone in or out once the show starts." Yuffie nodded as she stepped close to Tifa and pressed her hand to the fighter's back, urging her forward. At the ninja's silent encouragement, Tifa ventured closer to the statues, and she quickly became aware of the other people in the room. Tourists and locals alike mingled among the statues, their eyes transfixed with the art. Though the room was large, it felt cramped, yet none spoke above a murmur. With eyes alight, Tifa turned to look at Yuffie, whose arm had found its way around the woman's waist. "This is amazing Yuffie." The ninja's face was quiet and relaxed, her eyes fixated on the statue of the maiden. "I heard," the girl began in a low, almost reverent voice, "That every statue was cut from their own, single,rock of crystal." She looked at Tifa, her eyes soft. "Can you imagine? How could they have found something large enough to cut any of these? Not to mention the crystal would have to be flawless, or else the figure wouldn't come out the way they'd want..." Yuffie gave Tifa's side a slight squeeze. "It took four generations to find the right crystals to work with. Four generations to make what we're looking at now..." "Unbelievable..." Tifa breathed as she eyed the center pedestal, her eyes lingering on the delicate maiden and her spiritual ascent. Yuffie, with eyes lit faintly by the glow of the floor lights, watched as Tifa found herself before the maiden, her lips parted and her eyes wide with wonder. Then the lights went out. "Yuffie!? What happened??" Tifa wasn't the only one to sound alarmed. Small gasps and sudden exclamations could be heard throughout the room. But Yuffie's voice fluttered warmly over the flesh of the fighter's cheek. "Relax, Tifa. Look." Light flooded her eyes. Tifa held up her arm to shield her face. Golden rays broke between her meager defense. Tentatively, the woman lowered her arm, and her expression turned awestruck. Sunlight. It was warm and glorious, the ferocity of its strength dampened only by the gentle royalty of its own glow. The ray was a single strong beam-a beam that descended from the center of the ceiling, a ray of the dying sun reflected down by a mirror. It shone down on the maiden, and as she sparkled and shone, the meaning of her open arms became clear. The lattices that made up her being, the perfect facets, the distinctive cuts, were no longer a work of art-but a work of genius. The light, scattered and bent, came to fall on the crystal creatures around the maiden in a finely orchestrated plan, and with a haunting rejuvenation, they were suddenly more alive and beautiful than they had been prior. Tifa's breath caught in her throat. Next to her, Yuffie smirked. "Like it?" she asked amid the applause and disbelieving laughter. "Love it." Tifa whispered back. Her hand curled around the girl's back to hold her side in turn. The room suddenly felt warm and the fighter's gaze slowly left the upturned face of the crystal maiden, to the smooth content expression that rested on Yuffie's face. The girl seemed quiet, even subdued. This made the woman anxious, though she knew not why, so she leaned forward and nuzzled the ninja's neck. Yuffie, stirred out of her quiet reverie, reached a hand up to caress the woman's face. "Something the matter, Rusty?" the girl asked quietly. Tifa lifted her head to gaze properly at the girl's face. Then, with a start, she noticed the girl's eyes were glistening with tears. Aware that attention from people nearby was beginning to focus on them, Tifa took her hand, placed it at the base of the girl's head, and kissed her. The affection that overtook her in that moment made her bold. The sudden murmur and hissing that took place caused a jolt in her stomach, but somehow the fighter knew it wasn't from fear. Exhilaration caused her heart to pump harder as Yuffie's hand clutched sharply at the small of her back, pulling her closer. As Tifa pulled away, she stood onto her toes to kiss the ninja's brow. "Thank you for bringing me here, Yuffie." she breathed. Yuffie blinked at her, her lips glistening in the refracted sunlight. Dazedly she asked, "You wanna go outside and come back in? I'm sure it'll be just as neat as it was the first time!" Tifa laughed and wrapped her arms around the ninja's neck. "No," she said, ignoring the stares of those around her. "Let's just stay here a little longer." Yuffie nodded, and the fighter could feel the girl's bangs tease her face. "Yeah," she hugged Tifa and let out a sigh, "Yeah..." And they stayed. They stayed as the crowd thinned and the light died. They stayed until the guards came forward to inform them that the building was closing. Hand in hand, the lovers left the room and re-entered the dark hallway. Ahead, like a beacon, they could see the lit up booth where the young girl still sat, reading her magazine. Instead of turning down the hall leading to the exit, Yuffie held up a shadowy hand and said, "I wanna ask that girl something..." Tifa shrugged in the dark. "All right, I don't mind." So the two, once again headed toward the window. Tifa noted that the girl was wearing glasses now. Yuffie rapped on the glass. "S'cuse me. Kid?" The girl looked up as she closed her magazine, her eyes magnified by the thick lenses of her glasses. "Yes-?" she halted in her words and her face turned pale beneath her freckles. Yuffie cleared her throat and leaned forward, so that the light of the booth illuminated her face in full. "Hey, just wondering-what do you guys REALLY do to keep these statues safe? These guards aren't much, and neither are the cameras. Does your gramps have something up his sleeve or what?" The girl didn't say anything for a moment. She sat, her body stiff, as she regarded both Yuffie and Tifa with flickering eyes. Finally, she spoke. "You-You're Yuffie Kisaragi!" she nodded toward Tifa, her eyes wide, "And you're Tifa Lockhart!" The two women looked at each other. Yuffie, amused, looked back at the young girl with an arrogant smirk. "Yep. You don't remember us from before? We were the last ones allowed to see the light show!" "Well, m-my glasses-I didn't have my-" the girl faltered, and she looked down at her lap with a serious blush. "Aw, how embarrassing..." Yuffie frowned at her. "What is it, kid?" But Tifa noticed it. Her eyes lingered on the cover of the girl's magazine. She grabbed Yuffie's shoulder, "Uh...Yuffie? I think you're father's lackey's aren't the only ones we've gotta worry about..." Tifa pointed and the ninja's eyes followed. "What do you me-oh." Resting on the counter was a pink gossip magazine titled 'FIREWIRE'. The cover image, blown up framed in a heart shape, was of Tifa and Yuffie embracing on the Costa Del Sol beach. Both women pressed their faces to the glass to stare down at it, the consequences of this exposure already sprouting like weeds in their minds. At the bottom of the cover the words, "LOCKHART & KISARAGI: On the road and on each other!" could be read in bold print. Tifa's face turned beet red, "That's uncalled for! How can they print that!?" Yuffie leaned back and tugged idly at her ear as her eyes looked up and turned distant with reminiscence, "Well...y'know we have-" The girl blushed as bad as Tifa, and with a pull of a lever under her seat she sank out of view beneath the counter. Mortified, Tifa swatted at Yuffie's arm, her embarrassment mounting. "We haven't!" she shrieked. Yuffie quickly shrank from her. "I just meant the hugging! We did a lot of hugging!" she amended quickly. Angry, Tifa pounded on the booth window. "Hey! Excuse me, little girl-?" There was a sharp 'clack', light flooded the hall, and a security barrier shot up between the women and the booth. Bewildered and surprised, Tifa squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden harsh light, her feet stumbling back from the booth. Yuffie gave a shout and raised her hands, her eyes squinted as she struggled to make out what was happening. The indentations Tifa noticed earlier turned out to be panels, which sunk in and slid back to allow barrel guns to push forward. A siren ripped through the air, and the sound of the exits sealing could be heard down the hall. An automated voice began to echo around them. "Step away from the window and place your hands behind your head. Any suspicious action will result in immediate termination." Tifa eyes now open to slits, slowly complied. Yuffie after regaining her composure, stepped back so that she stood next to Tifa. Her eyebrows rose as she placed her hands behind her head. "Well...at least my question from earlier was answered!" ---------- "I feel sorry for that kid. She looked so miserable when her grampa came to sort things out." "What kind of a security system is that, anyway? It was so sensitive! It shouldn't activate unless initiated by the owner!" "...Uh, well, you did bang on the window pretty hard." "I was just upset!" Yuffie gave the fighter a sidelong glance from where she was. In their hotel room, the ninja stood before the sliding glass door leading to the balcony, and Tifa sat on her bed with a copy of FIREWIRE gripped in her hands. After apologizing profusely to the girl and her grampa, they were able to escape trouble with the authorities...that was, after they gave the police and the old man their autographs. The ride home was quiet and tense, the discomfort punctuated only by a quick stop at a gas station to buy a copy of the offending gossip magazine. As Tifa read the article, her expression turned more and more disgusted. "Everything!" the woman spat, as she tossed the magazine furiously onto the ground. "Everything about our trip so far is there. From when you met me at Tiesmire up until now. They've even got pictures! Tons from when we went to Gold Saucer and EVEN the Taxidermy Museum! I don't understand how they could have possibly gotten them!" Yuffie shrugged, "Uteki should be ashamed. These creeps got us better than him and his men did." Tifa frowned and looked at her. "It doesn't bother you?" The ninja's eyes flickered to the woman, and there was a sharpness in them that staunched Tifa's sudden indignation. "No. Does it bother you?" Tifa's shoulders slumped and she rubbed at her face. "No. I'm sorry, I just..." she hesitated and peeped between her fingers to stare at her crossed legs, already dressed in cotton pajama pants. "I just wanted things to come out a little more gracefully is all...This isn't going to stay just here. It'll become news that everyone'll be aware of by tomorrow morning. Barret is gonna throw a fit..." "Well he'll just have to deal with it then, won't he?" Yuffie said roughly. She shook her head and gestured vaguely around her. "What does it matter how people find out? Barret and the others suffer the same sort of tabloid-intense attention as we do. If they can't see that this got away from us before we could even gather ourselves, then I say they're a bunch of chuckle heads!" Tifa sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, which was sore from looking down so long. "I know. You're right, I know it..." the fighter mumbled. Yuffie stepped quietly toward her. "So..." she placed her hands behind her head and gazed down her nose at Tifa. "You don't mind everyone knowing, then?" The fighter looked up at her and shook her head. She held a hand up to her chest and gazed sincerely at the girl. "Please don't misunderstand, Yuffie. I just...I hate how they've robbed us of the chance to speak for ourselves. I knew this would happen eventually, but I wanted it to be on our terms..." Yuffie frowned and sat across from her on the edge of the bed, her eyes fierce. "They didn't rob us of anything, Tifa. Hounds like them squabble over scraps. We've got the real story right here." she pointed to herself and Tifa. Tifa sighed and gazed down at the magazine on the floor. "Well...the article did seem a bit rushed. The last parts of it looked like they were added just before publication." the woman rubbed her neck. "At least they didn't get anything from the Neon Carnivale. They were probably putting the finishing touches then." The ninja nodded, "See?" Tifa flung herself backward, allowing her legs to stretch out. An irritated sound escaped her lips. "But it bothers me so much!" she complained. Yuffie raised an eyebrow at her. Her eyes traveled up the length of the fighter's body as her fingers dug into the fabric of the blanket. Unaware, the older woman took a deep breath, her gaze now focused on the ceiling over her. The cool air of the room sent a soft draft along her exposed stomach, her tank top pulled past her bellybutton as her arms stretched over her head. Yuffie shifted from where she sat and asked quietly. "So do you think it's just one guy tailing us? If it were any more, I would've noticed 'em..." in a smooth, fluid motion that caused little disturbance along the bed, the ninja leaned forward, her back curved and her deep hazelnut eyes dark with intent. Tifa scowled grumpily. "I don't know...but if I see him I think I'll break his stupid camera..." With deft skill, the ninja crawled over Tifa's legs, her hands finding place at either side of Tifa's waist. "You think they're watching us now?" she asked in almost a whisper. The fighter closed her eyes and turned her head to the side. "I hope they're not." she grumbled, sour on the subject. Yuffie's lips pulled back in a fiendish smile. "...I hope they are." Tifa's throat tightened to let out the question, "Why?" when she felt something wet and warm on her navel. A small cry replacing her query, the woman lifted her head with a quick jerk as her right arm flew down to prop herself up onto her elbow. Yuffie's eyes peered up at her through the dark strands of her hair. There was a dull glint to them. Tifa could feel a shiver run through her as the ninja, still smiling her fiendish smile, blew against the wet skin of Tifa's bellybutton gently. The sensation caused the woman's skin to turn to goosebumps, and her fingers gripped the sheet of the bed anxiously. "...Yuffie?" she squeaked. The girl didn't answer her. She traveled up Tifa's stomach as her lips left featherlight kisses across the skin. Her body shifted and her right leg slid up between the woman's legs, causing the fighter to instinctively jerk her legs up into a half-bent position. The inside of her left thigh brushed along Yuffie's side as she did this, and the other leg found itself between Yuffie's. The warmth that greeted it caused a knot in Tifa's stomach. Yuffie's left hand arose with languid deliberateness from its place on the bed. The fingertips traced upwards, their reaches disappearing beneath the warm shadow of Tifa's tank top. For the first time, alarm set into Tifa's heart as she became aware of the hand's final destination. "Yuffie, please-" the woman breathed painfully. She wished frantically that she had worn a bra underneath her top. Her insecurity, like a foul beast of the Crater, dug its claws into her mind and the woman tensed her shoulders in preparation of sitting up. "Shhhh..." the ninja hissed against the woman's skin, freezing her before she could do anything. Yuffie raised her eyes, and deep within them glowed a desire that was almost unmerciful, as if it sought to devour all that its attention fell upon. Tifa shivered. Of all the looks she had received in her lifetime, few had appeared as absolute as the one she received now. The weightiness of it subjugated Tifa to a helpless position. She found herself like an animal pinned beneath the clutches of a stronger being... ...A predator. Yuffie continued to stare up into Tifa's anguished face. Her hand tensed and flexed against the fighter's skin. The action caused the woman to take a sharp intake of breath. Then, Yuffie's hand relaxed, and with a gentleness that seemed almost teasing, the ninja reached up and brushed the side of Tifa's breast with her thumb. The woman let out a shaky breath. Her heart pounded hard against her chest as she became aware of the fact that the shirt she wore was little more than a device-a lever that the ninja used to drag on the moment. There was no true separation between the two girls. Another two inches and Tifa could no longer believe in the sham of her coverings. The ninja knew this, and her eyes seemed to fill with mirth at the fighter's discomfort. The younger girl, still using only her thumb, pulled up the fabric, so that the underside of Tifa's right breast lay exposed. With a brief glance at the older woman, Yuffie leaned forward and swept her tongue across it, leaving it slick with her saliva. The woman let out a whimper as the ninja raked her teeth over the wet skin, her breath hot and harsh. Her legs squeezed around Yuffie's, and her eyes rolled shut. "I can't take this." she thought painfully. She was certain Yuffie, with her sharp senses, could pick up her quick heartbeat. Perhaps it fueled her? With an intense blush, Tifa wondered if the girl could feel the growing warmth between her legs, too. As the ninja finally lifted her head and leaned forward, her leg pressed intimately against the fighter's heat, and alternatively, the woman could feel the girl slide along her right leg. Tifa swallowed hard. Did people do this often? She wondered in dazed naivety. The sensations were almost unbearable. It was almost too sweet a torture... But as Yuffie leaned in and kissed her, mouth sucking at her lower lip, the woman thought with fading coherence that the pain could be well worth the pleasure. The girl pulled back slowly. Her face hovered inches from the fighter's, and Yuffie's breath came heavy and warm as she gazed at the woman with lidded eyes. Uncertain of herself, Tifa gazed back, her growing arousal at odds with the emotions that roiled inside her. Yuffie leaned forward again, brushing her nose against Tifa's. "Are you scared?" she asked in a voice deep and mesmerizing. Inwardly the woman's mind raced to come up with a truthful answer. She was frightened how far this game would go. She was frightened how the ninja would react when she saw the fighter's true self-the human being stripped of all pretense and complication. Would Yuffie be satisfied? Would Yuffie be disgusted? But perhaps what frightened her the most, was what would happen if she should turn Yuffie away. "I'm not scared." Tifa lied. Her voice seemed weak and unconvincing. The ninja chuckled suddenly, and her fingers traced a line down the woman's stomach. "So why are you shivering so much?" she asked with a tilt of the head. "Because you're teasing me!" Tifa said in a hiss, tormented. Yuffie smirked. Suddenly, the fighter felt like she had walked into a trap. The ninja slid her right knee up, increasing the pressure between Tifa's legs. The woman's back arched, and her body pressed against Yuffie's. Her lips parted and a small whimper escaped her. Leaning in so that she could speak into her ear, Yuffie whispered in a voice that could only be said with a smile, "Should I stop teasing you now?" Then a sharp ring ripped through the air, and both women froze. With eyes like a demon's, Yuffie pulled away from Tifa and gazed dangerously at the phone on the bed stand. Tifa, eyes wide, stared at the girl to see what she would do. Several rings sounded. It soon became clear that the caller would not hang up. Cursing under her breath, Yuffie carefully disentangled herself from Tifa and stood to her feet. She picked up the receiver with a snarl. "Yeah? Who's this?" she paused to roll her eyes to the ceiling. "Otis?" Tifa flopped backward onto the bed and a sigh escaped her. An odd mixture of relief and disappointment coursed through her, the feeling of cold air rude and sobering to her skin. Yuffie closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as she hissed through her teeth, "What the heck is it? You kinda interrupted me." Her eyes snapped open as his frazzled voice could be heard on the other line. Tifa tilted her head back to stare up at the ninja as she answered incredulously, "Reporters!?" the ninja's face turned a livid red, "NO, you idiot! I don't want to talk to those vultures!" she paused again, incredulity now joining her anger. "What should you say to them?" She held the receiver up to her mouth and shouted, "TRY TELLING THEM HOW YOU JUST LOST ME A GOOD SCREW, YOU GODDAMN CAKE-EATER!" Tifa winced as the ninja slammed the phone back on its dial. There was a pause. "...Yuffie, I don't think that was all together necessary." "He's got no sense. What sort of hotel manager asks his residents if they'd like to be bothered by tabloid journalists?" "The kind that's dealing with OUR tabloid journalists?" Tifa paused as a thought occurred to her. "You don't think he'll actually say that, do you? The um..." she blushed all over again. "The last thing you said?" Yuffie froze, the anger on her face fading. "Nah," she said after a moment. "Otis can get a little wishy-washy, but I doubt he'd cave in to people like that...least, not...y'know...on purpose..." The ninja fell silent. Nervously she licked her lips as she picked the receiver up again and pushed the dial button for the front desk. "Uh...Otis? Hey, buddy? D'you think you could just do me, like, a huge favor...?" Tifa took this moment to stand from the bed. The movement made her head feel light, and she paused briefly, her eyes falling shut against the dots that appeared. Yuffie was mumbling now into the phone. The fighter's eyes eased open again, and she turned her head to gaze at the ninja's back as she spoke to Otis. The light from the lamp she stood in front of outlined her body, leaving the rest in shadow. The fighter sensed the girl was about to hang up the phone, so she stood as quickly as she could without seeming like she was trying to get away, then went to the balcony. There the cool night air greeted her, and again she shivered. With morose eyes turned to the lights of the city, Tifa's mind began to turn with thoughts both harrowing and depressing. The most prevailing of these thoughts came to be the question she had, up until a short time ago, not given much attention to. Was she good enough for Yuffie? The girl was filled with an abundance of vitality, her desire and ambition as consuming as a flash fire. Tifa knew the ninja loved her soul, but with a sinking heart, she also recognized that that was not enough. The sound of the sliding glass door opening caused Tifa to turn around. Yuffie stood, gazing at her with eyes that searched. The fighter averted her face without thinking, a blush coming to her face. The ninja's hand gripped the handle of the door a little tighter, and she looked down. "She...really was scared." she thought, her shoulders turning tense. "Did you sort things out with Otis?" Tifa asked, her eyes turning back to the city lights. "Yeah," Yuffie returned, her tone subdued. She glanced up at the woman across from her. The fighter gave a soft nod. Yuffie stared at her, her brows furrowed together. The lights of the city brought fire in her eyes as she asked quietly, "You wanna use the shower first? I was thinking of going in..." Tifa looked briefly back at the ninja. Her eyes didn't meet hers. "You go ahead. I can wait." Yuffie didn't move for a whole minute. On the tip of her tongue danced apologies, "Sorry for backing you into a corner, sorry for making you feel pressured, sorry for being a monumental mincehead." But they were trapped by the girl's pursed lips. She turned, and after gathering her towel and clothes, she entered the bathroom. ---------- The shower was incredibly sobering. The cold streams washed away all distractions. All that was left were her thoughts...and sometimes she hated the thoughts. Yuffie sat at the bottom of the tub, the rain of water on her head heavy and like a crash of clarity. The moment had seemed an eternity, but it all had been so quick when one looked back at it. Her body had seemed to take control of her. At the sight of Tifa lying back on the bed, her skin exposed, her brow furrowed, and her lip pouted slightly...she had lost it. She had never stopped to think exactly what it was she was doing or the effect it would have. In truth, the ninja had only meant to innocently tease the fighter. Perhaps tickle her. So what happened? Unnerved, Yuffie stared at the white floor of the tub. What had happened to not pushing it? What had happened to letting it happen with time? What had happened to caring about Tifa's feelings? Her teachers and trainers had called her petulant and impatient. She took their claims lightly, not entirely caring if they were true, but now it seemed a problem. "I feel like a filthy lecher," the girl thought shamefully, her eyes turned downcast. The stream of water entered her eyes and she shut them, the burn there behind her eyelids. "I forgot she hadn't ever...well, I mean, it's all new to me too...but I know that isn't that great an excuse." She sighed and rested her head on her bent knees. "It's a totally lame excuse, really..." Streams swirled about her toes and she wiggled them idly. "How do I make it up to her? How can I explain? 'Tifa, y'know...I didn't mean to sorta molest you, it's just all those weeks of hugging and fooling around...it all felt like foreplay!'" The ninja lifted her head to scowl suddenly at her knees. "Actually, that isn't so far off! I mean, sure, we only confessed our feelings like...two days ago. But geez, hadn't we been practically flirting around almost this entire trip?" Yuffie's scowl faded. "No, but I still promised not to push it. Maybe I'd give a bit of encouragement sure, but hitting Tifa so fast so that she couldn't even gather herself enough to give me an honest answer isn't exactly the best way to go about that sorta stuff." The ninja rubbed sourly at her eye. "Still though, I'd wish she'd have just said something..." "She tried to." said a voice in the girl's head, "But you told her to be quiet." Yuffie hugged her arms, her fingernails digging into the skin. "I thought I had this all down pact. I thought I could commit myself to not being a self-serving butt head. But look at this, I've already screwed up. Can I really honor Tifa's feelings? I knew how soft she had gotten, how sensitive she became over the years. Roland didn't need to point that out to me. To me it seemed easy, though; getting Tifa to live again, loving her, and filling my desire at the same time. But I messed up...here at the starting line, I messed up. And now I'm an ass." the girl's scowl returned, darker this time as she glared at her knees. "...Maybe I'm not ready for this 'serious relationship' crud. Who's to say I've grown anymore since Avalanche? Who's to say Tifa loves me enough to forgive my mistakes? My flaws?" The girl leaned her shoulder against the shower wall, the corners of her mouth turned downward. "...Who's to say a 'petulant' brat like me deserves Tifa at all?" ---------- Tifa came back into the hotel room some fifteen minutes after she heard the bathroom door close from outside. When she saw the girl was still in the shower, she paused. She was surprised Yuffie took so long. The girl didn't normally take such long showers. The woman was further discomforted by the fact that she heard no singing. Yuffie usually took to singing whenever she bathed. "She's mad at me..." the fighter thought with a heavy sigh. She sat heavily on the bed, the covers now gone cold from her absence. With eyes glassy and mournful, the woman gazed forward toward the door. She felt a sudden disgust at her cowardice, her unwillingness to solidify the very love she claimed to have. The self-loathing weighed on Tifa's shoulders, causing them to slump low in dejection. Again, the phone suddenly rang. Tifa stared at it for a moment, and her memory returned to barely twenty minutes ago. With a soft snort, the woman stood and answered the phone. "Otis," the fighter said with a sneer and an unkind voice. Her sudden anger at the hotel manager masked her own guilt like a thin perfume. "Look, just tell those reporters to-" "Woman, who do you think yer talkin' to?" The gruff, smoke raked voice caused Tifa to stutter. "Wha!? I, ah, um-" "It's Cid, Tifa." "Cid? Cid Highwind?" "No. Cid, 'The Dancing Ass Clown'. YES, damn it! It's Cid Highwind!" Tifa scratched her head, "How'd you get this number?" "I'm a regular fuckin' sleuth. What can I say? Actually, it's common knowledge where you're at now. I'm surprised you haven't had your door beat down yet." Tifa felt her stomach sink to her feet. "Oh..." she tapped her fingers on the phone. "So...is there any particular reason you called?" "I'll give you three guesses." The fighter clenched her jaw. "I'll only need one." she muttered "What's all this shit on the news about, Tifa?" "Cid, no cursing." the woman warned. "Shera and the baby are out, and it's a good thing cuz I don't think I can keep much composure what with all this crap I'm hearing!" "I don't care," Tifa said obstinately. "Don't curse at me. You'll only make me angry." "FINE! Be angry! See if I give a flyin' fuckin' hoot!" the older man snapped, his country accent suddenly more profound. "If you don't speak civil to me, I'm going to hang up, Cid." The man paused. "...Is any of it true?" his voice was quiet and solemn. Tifa, with no small amount of indignation, noted that it matched the grave tone of a man speaking of death. "Yes." she said snidely. "Yes, Cid. It's all true. And tell Barret too, when you call him next." "Tell him yourself." Cid spat. He paused again. There was a clatter on the other line and the man let out a sigh. "Why didn't you tell us anything? Either of you?" Tifa rubbed at her face wearily. "You haven't read too far into this, have you? This is a recent development." "Then why the hell am I seeing pages of you and Yuffie together over several days?" "Because we're on a road trip Cid! It's kinda hard to avoid one another!" "Just be honest with me, damn it!" the man said, strained. The frown on Tifa's face faded as she heard a note of hurt in his voice. "Ain't we supposed to be buddies?" he asked, "What in the fuck did me or the others do to be left in the dark? Is that why you never stopped by? Hell, or did'ja take social tips from Cloud and Vincent?" Tifa let out a sigh of her own, her eyes falling shut. "Hush. You're reading into things too much. I didn't visit you for so long because...because I didn't feel complete. I felt lost and unhappy. And it's true when I say that me and Yuffie became a couple only recently. Those pictures you see? They just narrate how we got close over time." All she heard was silence on the other end of the line. For a moment, the fighter thought that Cid may have hung up, or the line was cut. But a rough cough banished her concerns. "So...she treated you well so far?" the man asked uncomfortably. For the first time since the conversation began, Tifa's lips lifted in a small smile. The man's question was more than idle concern. ...It was an odd sort of acceptance. "Yes. She's treating me well." the woman replied. Sadly, she thought, "It's me that's the problem." The man gave a gruff, "Hrm." There was another clatter on the other end of the line, and he suddenly gave a harsh laugh. "Damn! I really shoulda saw this coming!" Confused, Tifa asked, "What do you mean?" The man made a non-committal noise. "Feh, I just thought you two acted strange back when you visited me." The woman blushed and curled the phone cord about her index finger shyly. "A person could see even then, huh?" "Well...I dunno. I'm sorta thick in the head, y'know? But anybody'd who'd know you two woulda recognized somethin' different." Tifa gave a nod, momentarily forgetting the man could not see this. Hurriedly, she responded with a, "Oh, uh, all right then..." the woman bit her lip. "Cid, is...is any of this causing you trouble?" "Wha'dya mean?" Cid returned quizzically. "I mean reporters, or...crazy people," the woman shrugged, again forgetting that Cid could not see. "I dunno." "Nah. None of that...yet. 'Specting it, though. I'll bet Reeve'll be callin' in for a bit of damage control or somethin..." the man gave a short squawk, "Oh! Uh, not-not to say that...uh...well, there was any damage done on your part. Just...those damn tabloid hawks." he sounded uncomfortable. Tifa stifled a laugh, "No. I understood you, Cid. Relax." "Cid?" The woman turned with a start, her eyes resting on Yuffie, who stood in the doorway to the bathroom. She rubbed her wet hair with her towel, her gaze wary. "What's he want?" she asked. Tifa held the phone toward her. "Talk to him. He just wants to see how we're doing." Yuffie crossed the room slowly, a small frown on her face. She took the phone with careful fingers, her eyelids lowered as her gaze darkened. "What is it, Cid? I hope you aren't bugging about that wacked out magazine thing." The ninja's face soured, "Hey, I didn't do anything like that! Quit being such a pervy lecher! Should you be talking like that when you've got a daughter, now?" Tifa could hear Cid's shouted insults from where she sat. Yuffie winced and held the phone slightly away from her ear. Her hand placed impatiently on her hip, the ninja quickly conceded. "All right, all right! Geez, you smoking chimpanzee, I get it! I'm, like, sorry to be rude or whatever, I know you didn't mean it that way...and hey-" the ninja added, her eyes turning suspicious, "What happened to not cursing anymore?" Tifa stifled a laugh behind her hand. Without thinking, Yuffie grinned at her. "Uh, huh," she said, nodding after a moment. "Uh, huh...yeah. Look, we'll call him. Don't worry. I don't see what the big deal is. Anyways, yeah, I'll talk to ya later, you grumpy bastard." Yuffie handed the phone back to Tifa. Tifa held the speaker up to her ear. "Cid?" "Tifa, tell Yuffie she's a pain in the ass." The woman glanced at the ninja, then looked to the ground. "You can tell her yourself when you see her again." "You gonna call Barret?" the man asked. "He's achin' to hear from ya." Tifa nodded, brushing her hair back with her hand. "Yes, I'll get in contact with him, but not until morning...I'm sorta tired. Today was pretty crazy." "All right...but you'll have to deal with his pissiness when you finally talk to him. He's like me. Thought you were leaving us in the dark. Only reason I'm the only one calling you is cuz he doesn't want to go buggin' you for answers you aren't willing to give on yer own." "Are you sure you can't call him for me?" "Yep." was Cid's grunted response. Tifa sighed, "All right...it was good to hear from you anyways. I really hope this all works out all right." "For your sake and Yuffie's, I hope the same sweetheart." There was a click. The line went dead. Tifa hung up the phone. "I'm taking a shower," she announced as she stood to her feet. Yuffie, who sat on her own bed now, gave her a distracted nod. The fighter gazed at her for a brief moment before she went to get her things. In the bathroom, she felt the door shut behind her like a solid barrier. Dismayed at the sudden disconnection she felt, the woman stripped her clothing and stepped into the shower. A short time later, she emerged, and after dressing back into her clothes, she came back into the hotel room, her gaze turned downward. Yuffie lay on the bed, her hands behind her head, and her eyes staring up at the ceiling. She sat up as Tifa went to her bed. "Hey," she said. She paused a moment. "I wanted to say goodnight." "Oh." was Tifa's bland reply. She bit her lip. "...Goodnight, Yuffie." Yuffie pulled at the corner of her blanket, and slipped in. "'Night." she returned. Tifa's stomach clenched at the ninja's tone. Suddenly she seemed distant. The woman slipped into her own bed, the sheets cold and unwelcoming. With a brief glance at Yuffie, the fighter shut off the light. As Tifa laid her head on the pillow, she became aware of the silence that sat between them, strained and brittle to the point that the fighter feared breathing too loudly. A yearning rose in her to feel accepted, to feel understood, to feel loved. The dolorous emotion scratched at her heart, and her eyes burned. "Yuffie-" "I'm sorry." Tifa blinked at the sudden remark. The ninja's voice seemed choked, as if the phrase had fought its way to her tongue. Tifa raised herself onto her elbow and looked at the girl's form in the dark. She was curled with her back turned to the woman. Even in the shadow, Tifa could see the tension in the girl's body. Yuffie continued, "I didn't mean to make you feel like you had to..." her voice trailed away. The fighter sat up all the way. Her gaze turned to her lap. "Don't apologize to me." she said, her voice low. "I shouldn't have been so afraid." "Then there's no point in us being together, is there?" Tifa's heart gave a great wrench, and her head swiveled to stare at Yuffie fearfully. The ninja slowly sat up, her body slouched and her dark hair concealing her face. "There's supposed to be a balance in a relationship. If the balance gets tipped then..." she paused. Then she turned her head towards the door. "Don't let me have my way, Tifa. I'll only consume you, then." Tifa turned and placed her feet on the floor. "Yuffie, please come here." The ninja didn't move. "I don't think I should..." she mumbled. "...I need you to lay with me, this bed feels cold." "That's the best excuse you can think of?" "Do you need a better one?" Tifa's voice held no mirth. She gazed with somber eyes at Yuffie's quiet form, the yearning in her heart fueling her determination to end their sudden separation. "Whatever you thought you did wrong...I don't care about it. I just need to know you want me." The woman swallowed a lump in her throat. "Please tell me you want me..." Her voice cracked as she said this. At her plea, the ninja's eyes finally turned to meet Tifa's in the darkness. Slowly, she crept out of her bed and knelt in front of the fighter. She reached up and cupped the woman's face in her hand's. "Don't be ridiculous..." she breathed, "Of course I want you!" "Then lay with me." Tifa whispered. And Yuffie did. Beneath the covers, both rested, their hearts beating together in sync. Yuffie's left arm draped over Tifa's waist, her knees touched the back of Tifa's knees, and her face buried in the fighter's hair. She breathed in deeply, filling herself with the one she had come to love. The one she had come to desire. As sleep slowly came, the girl couldn't help but think the phrase over and over again: "I want you, I want you, I want you, I want you..." But added at the end each time came the question... "...Do I deserve you?"
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