"Promising Entirely."
A/N: Yes, my friends. Find something to hide behind. I am indeed attempting a full blown Squaffie. I randomly had this idea. I think I was in the middle of playing soccer, which doesn't make much sense. But oh well. That's not the point. I hope you all like this! I'll be able to concentrate more on the Squaffiness of this one, since there won't be more rediculously twisted and complicated relationships. (P.S. I love Cloud/Aerith. Really. SO fun to write)
Special Note: There's a really cool community on called Squffielove. If you have a Live journal you should definately check it out. And if you don't, you should get one so that you can check it out. It's a great place to learn about new squaffie fics or fanart. Even websites sometimes. And of course, generally just being crazy and loving Squaffie. So, check it out!
The day was a perfect one.
The air was crisp but not too cool. The sky was the kind of blue that went on forever. Music and laughter floated through the air, and it appeared that everyone and everything was happy. If only for that one day. The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow on that perfect, fall day.
Yuffie Kisaragi tucked her dress neatly around her ankles as she sat down. Her mother would be very angry if she got grass stains on her pretty clothes, and so she opted to sit down in a small pile of raked leaves instead, deep blue eyes scanning the sea below. This was the first wedding she had ever been to, and she didn't understand them. If two people loved one another, they would be together forever anyway, right? So what was the point of involving religion? It seemed unclear. However, her mother had been all too delighted at the prospect. So she supposed weddings couldn't be all bad.
"Yuffie?"
Yuffie quickly tucked her black hair back in its neat bun. She'd promised her family that she would keep neat and tidy on this day. However, she was saved the worry of fixing her appearence as she identified the intruder. Squall Leonhart sat down beside her, chuckling and helping her fix her hair. She'd known Squall for as long as she could remember, he was always stopping by to help her parents with things. He'd become sort of an older brother to her, and she was glad she didn't have to act proper around him.
"Hi, Squall." She said cheerfully, taking a very red leaf in her hands and shreading it.
"What are you doing out here by yourself, Yuffie?" He asked her curiously.
Fighting off the fear that he was reprimanding her, she clasped her cool hands tightly in the lap of her dress, biting her lip as she thought of a suitable answer.
"Mother and Father were busy with friends." she told him truthfully. "I felt like I was intruding."
"Why didn't you come find me, then?" He questioned, pinching her playfully. "You know how bored I am at these sorts of things."
She sighed. "I just...don't understand these things, Squall."
He looked confused, so she quickly began to explain her thoughts on matrimony. Eventually, his expression cleared and he began to laugh. Weddings weren't all that complicated, he expalined. It was a way for two people to finally tie their love for eachother, in a more officially way than simply saying it. Yuffie tilted her head to the side, comprehending but still lightly flustered.
"But it doesn't make sense." She told him. "Why should it have to be official? Why do all these people have to see it? My mother always told me love should be a private thing."
"Nevermind, Yuf." He chuckled. "You're only seven. Way to young to be thinking about this."
"Oh."
They sat silent for awhile. The music and laughter mixed with the never-ending blue sky. Everyone seemed to be happy. But then, why was she so confused by the idea? Weddings were just another custom. She'd always thought love was more important than that. But maybe Squall was right. Maybe she was too young.
She looked up at the fifteen year old that had been her Older Friend for so many years. Brown hair fell in flanks around his face, his blue eyes troubled as they watched the sea. She'd never seen him so reserved before. Had she upset him somehow?
"Squall," She questioned him, and he tilted his head to show he was listening. "Will you and Rinoa get married?"
He stiffened. "Yuffie!"
She flinched at his tone, turning away. "Sorry. I just wondered."
He sighed. "It's okay. And no, I don't think so."
She gasped. "What? Why not?"
Squall looked at her. The small girl was watching him with wide, horrified eyes. Yuffie's outlook on life was that everything should be as it is intended. It was difficult sometimes to explain things to such a simplistic but curious child. But he tried. Partly because he loved her and partly because he strongly disapproved of the way her parents dealed with her. The parents of Yuffie did not have time for such a curious child, it would seem.
"Just because I'm with her now doesn't mean I'll be with her forever, Yuffie." he said gently.
"B-but, you love her, don't you?"
"Sure I do," He reassured her. "But I might not someday. Everything passes in time, even love."
"Then what's the point of getting married!" She cried in frustration, tugging at her dress.
He sighed, rubbing the skin on his forehead in annoyance. She squeaked and shut her mouth. Despite his calm and patient nature with her, he could be pretty scary when he was annoyed. And the rubbing of his forehead was a gesture that he was becoming annoyed. They were going in circles with this conversation. Maybe it was time for a new subject.
"Well.." She hesitated. "Do you think you'll ever get married?"
"Maybe." He picked up a leaf. "I'm not really sure."
She eyed him. "What if you never get married?"
"Then I don't. Its not a big deal." He stood, brushing shreads of leaves from his dress pants.
She stood as well. "The thought of being alone doesn't bug you?"
He stiffened. "That's enough, Yuffie."
But Yuffie was way beyond stopping point. Squall watched as the young girl chattered away about love and loneliness and the silliness of weddings. He'd have to remind her parents to watch her daily sugar intakes, and the amount of sleezy romance novels she could stumble upon.
"Squall." The seriousness in her voice caught his attention. "If you're not married by the time you should be, I'll marry you."
He blinked at her. He saw the seriouness on her face. The twinkle of mad brilliance in her eye. And he couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.
"Yuffie," he cackled, picking her up. "I'm eight years older than you!"
"So?" She glared at him for his laughter. "Eight years isn't that much once we're older."
He rolled his eyes. This child was so ridiculous. Perhaps that was partly why he loved her so much. She was getting very angry with him, since he wasn't taking her seriously. Finally, he relented. After all, what were the chances she would remember fifteen years from now? And if she did, what were the chances she would take it seriously? It couldn't hurt to tell Yuffie what she wanted to hear.
"Alright, Yuf." He smiled. "If I'm not married by the time I'm...thirty, I'll marry you."
She brightened. "Really?"
He patted her head. "Really."
Tiny arms wrapped themselves tightly around his neck. He smiled, holding her to him and sitting back down in the pile of leaves again. Eventually, Yuffie became impatient again, pulling out of his hold and making quick work of tying his shoe laces together. He didn't have enough heart to tell her to stop.
"Hey, you two!"
The two of them glanced up as Rinoa Heartilly made her way down the small hill. Yuffie immediately hopped of her friend, fixing her dress in the presense of such a pretty lady. She suddenly remembered where they were, the laughter and music of the wedding mixing with the endless blue sky and setting her thoughts at a million times a minute. Squall sat up as well, smiling as the young woman finally stopped to stand beside them.
"You look lovely, Yuffie." The girl told her kindly.
"Thank you, Rinoa!" Yuffie beamed. "You look lovely too!"
Rinoa winked, ruffling Yuffie's hair. "But we don't want to look too lovely right?"
"Of course not." Yuffie assured her seriously. "But I did promise my mother."
"Oh, right." She smiled. "We'll have to be unlovely another day then. Now, do you mind if I borrow Squall?"
Yuffie tilted her head, as if confused. Could Squall be borrowed? Was he a possesion of some kind? Rinoa and Squall exchanged a look as her eyes narrowed slightly, preparing themselves for what they knew would surely be an unending attack of questions.
Yuffie only smiled. "I suppose so."
Squall grinned, taking his turn to mess up Yuffie's hair. Yuffie grumbled as she attempted to fix it, heatedly reminding them of her promise to her mother. But the two were already gone, laughing and holding hands. A odd sense of emptiness filled her, something she was too young to understand. And so, she sat down in her pile of leaves again, tucking her dress neatly under her.
I'll remember our deal, Squall. I won't let you be alone.
Yuffie Kisaragi sat up quickly. She had to blink a few times to get the blue sky and crisp air from her mind and eyes. It was instantly replaced by the white ceiling of her bedroom and the cold air only the castle could provide. Letting out a resolute sigh, she shrugged out of her covers, planting her feet firmly on the ground.
She squeaked and hopped around the room as the cold air hit her skin. She made her way quickly over to her bedroom window, slamming it shut and wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. Personally, she hated sleeping in the cold. But her time spent sleeping in the same room as stick-up-my-butt Leon had gotten her addicted to leaving the window open, since he wouldn't sleep with it closed. Even now, four years after she'd left Traverse Town, she couldn't get rid of his annoying habbit.
The halls of the Castle were slightly warmer as she made her way through them, probably due to the many fires that had been lit early that morning. She was curious as to why it was so cold. She didn't remember Hollow Bastion having such a cold climate, and yet everyday she woke up and her room was freezing. Then again, she'd never really been outside at night when she'd lived here. She'd been too young and her parents wouldn't allow it. Maybe it only got cold at night.
She composed herself as she stopped in front of the wooden oak doors that led to the kitchen. Pushing them open with a flourish, she was greeted with the sight of her companions sitting at the table. Only Aerith seemed to notice her entrance, giving her a warm smile and a wave.
"Good morning, Yuffie!"
Yuffie smiled. Aerith frowned at her lover seated across the table. Cloud was busy reading a paper of some sort, usually spiky blond hair messy and falling loosely in front of his face. Aerith smacked him in the back of the head, and he looked up at her in such astonishment that Yuffie really beleived he had no clue what had been going on around him.
"Say good morning!" She hissed at him.
He blinked and turned his eyes at the small ninja standing in the doorway. Yuffie merely shurgged under his gaze. She was used to the fact that Cloud wasn't someone who was overjoyed at greeting someone in the morning and therefor wasn't bothered by it. But it seemed Aerith considered this general impoliteness. Then again, Cloud wasn't one to be told what to do either.
He grunted and flicked a piece of cereal at her. Yuffie caught it easily and placed it in her mouth, chewing it with relish as she sat down at the table. Aerith eyed her apologetically, as if embarrassed for Cloud's rudeness. Yuffie grinned at her and shrugged.
"That's good enough for me, Aer." She reassured the Flower Girl. "What's on the menu?"
Aerith sighed at the impossibility of her lover and friend.
"Its make it yourself day." She told her. "We've run out of bread, so there's cereal if you're too lazy to make something."
Yuffie shrugged and grabbed the cereal box. "I'll pick some bread up today."
"I was reading that, Yuffie."
Yuffie glanced up. Leon was glaring at her from across the table, pointing at the innocent cereal box that Yuffie was holding in her hand. With a careless shrug, Yuffie began to pour cereal into the bowl placed in front of her. However, her movement was interrupted as Leon reached across the table and snatched it back. She stared at him in shock as he began to read the side of the box again, hardly even throwing her a glance.
"Leon, how many times have you read the fricken' cereal box?" She hissed.
He moved the box as she attempted to snatch it back. "I'm reading it. You can have it when I'm done."
She slid back into her seat, arms folding over her chest. "I hope you don't think you're some kind of Supreme Being. Why don't you just let me pour the cereal and then you can read it while I'm eating?"
"Stop being asinine." He said without much interest. "You can have it when I'm done."
Cloud and Aerith moved at the same time that Yuffie opened her mouth to reply. Cloud tipped the cereal from his bowl into hers while Aerith snatched the box from Leon and replaced it with another one for him to read. Blinking at the joint solution they had created, the two shared a small smile before departing from the room. Yuffie and Leon could be dangerous when their anger was joined together against them.
Yuffie snorted, done complaining as she began to shovel Cloud's leftovers into her mouth. Leon crinkled his nose watching her eat with some disgust before slamming the box down. Yuffie cast her eyes on him as he stood and made his way over to the door, picking up his weapon.
"We argued over a cereal box today." She said conversationally.
"I was reading it." He said, tossing his jacket over his shoulder.
She sighed. This man was impossible sometimes. "Okay, you were reading it."
He made a small sound of satisfaction, and she rolled her eyes at him. She watched as he made his way to leave, probably off to train unnecessarily. He was so steadfast. He'd always been. But when she tried to fit Leon into the boy she'd once knew it just didn't click. He was so different.
"Squall?" She called out to him, and he stopped.
"Leon." He corrected her, glancing at her from over his shoulder.
"Um, I was just wondering." She hesitated, feeling herself flush. "Do you remember–."
"No." He turned away. "The answer's always no, Yuffie."
She glared at him. "There's a difference between not wanting to remember and not being able to."
He looked as though he was going to comment. Then he shrugged.
"Whatever."
She winced. How did she know he was going to say that? 'Whatever' was more or less Leon's only comment. She sighed. There was no getting around him.
"Where are you going?" She asked, although she already knew the answer.
"Training." He replied, making his way towards the exit again.
"Can I come?" She asked hopefully, although she knew the answer to this too.
"No." He answered, and he was gone.
She sighed, pushing her bowl away from her and resting her head on the table. Squall was so stubborn and annoying and cold and cruel and...alone. The coldness he portrayed didn't hurt her for her, but for him. It was an odd emotion. Maybe it was that promise she'd silently made to him that day. The promise he couldn't or wouldn't seem to remember. She didn't want him to be alone.
She sighed, rubbing the skin on her forehead just like him.
Yet he was so insistant.
She grinned suddenly, dumping her bowl in the sink and putting the breakfast materials away. She wouldn't let Leon dampen her spirits. After all, she really knew that deep down beside all that hostility there was a Squall that still cared about her.
She could be stubborn too. She would do anything to help him find that kind and caring Squall even if it was the last thing he wanted and the last thing she would ever do. She was Yuffie Kisaragi! The Greatest Ninja Ever. Not even Cold Leon could get rid of her that easily.
Finishing her cleaning by wiping the counter, she bent down under the table and picked up her weapons. Pushing open the door and stepping into the sunlight, she grinned.
Oh no. It was take much more to make her forget her promise.
I'll remember our deal, Squall. I won't let you be alone.
So. How did you all like? This was a completely random idea, I must say. But I think it just might work out. SO! Tell me what you think?
This story is taking place A.S (after Sora) by a few years, so remember that they're all a little older and living in the castle now instead of Traverse Town. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to fit our favourite Key Bearer into the story. Maybe a flash back or two, but I'm trying to keep this mainly a pure squaffie.
I thought about doing an AU, in which they live in the 'real world'. And I would have made Squall a cold business tycoon or something like that. I might write an AU one day, but since this is one of my first Squaffies I think I'm going to take this one easy.
Please Review! Thanks for reading!