Yuffie's POV

That voice, so familiar… Yet, I can't put a finger on who he may be. I better not let my guard down. Oh no, he's moving closer. What if he's a serial killer? Or even worse, A RAPIST!

Yuffie aimed a sharp kick to what she figured was the man's abdomen. But, the mysterious cloaked figure caught her leg in mid-air with ease and gently pushed her leg out of the way so that he could lessen the distance between them.

"Who are you! IDENTIFY YOURSELF NOW!" Yuffie half screamed in fear, yet trying to sound intimidating at the same time which clashed horribly.

"Hmm…" He pulled himself so close to her that their noses were barely touching.

"We haven't seen each other for, what, a day? And you forget me?"

"OH. Sorry Vincent."

Yuffie grinned sheepishly. The moment she saw those wine colored orbs, she knew exactly who it was. Who else she knew would roam around in the dark with a scary red cloak anyway?

Snapping out of her daydream, Yuffie realized that Vincent was staring back at her and casted her mind around, trying to fish for a conversation topic to avoid the awkward silence.

"Hey Vincent, how come you only joined us now?"

"You know it's not exactly convenient for me to travel in the day."

"Oh…"

Vincent shook his head and sighed. She was as ignorant as ever. Yuffie, the young, meek ninja that caught his attention the first day they met. Though he knew that his heart would always long for Lucrecia, this young ninja proved to be something that might take his mind off his old flame.

"Hey Vincent, I'm gonna get changed and go to sleep alright? So, catch ya' some time tomorrow!"

Yuffie walked off but stopped after a few steps. Then came running back to where Vincent was.

"Remember to get some sleep alright? Don't want you to look like a vampire tomorrow."

With that, Yuffie took off for her tent at a jog.

"Don't I already look like one? "

Vincent whispered under his breath, grinning to himself at Yuffie's silliness.

- - - -

Cloud was tossing and turning in his make shift bed. He had been lying there for about an hour having insomnia. But he knew what was keeping him awake. The same thing that had troubled his sleep from the first day that he met that stunning beauty.

"Tifa…"

Cloud whispered and looking longingly at the empty space beside him.

"You're never here…"

Cloud turned over and let his face sink into his pillow.

"Damn…"

He growled in frustration.

As if on cue,

"Because you didn't let me come!"

Cloud sat up straight and turned around to face the entrance of his tent. Shock was written all over his face the moment he saw the beholder of that sugar-sweet voice.

"Well? Aren't you gonna start apologizing to me so that you can sleep?"

Tifa sat down beside him and leaned against the tent, hugging her knees.

"You shouldn't be here. And besides, that's not what's bothering me." Cloud lay down and turned so that his back faced her.

"It's not?" Tifa's eyes widened slightly.

"But I'm glad that you didn't listen to me and stayed at the Canyon."

Tifa smiled to herself and was glad that Cloud couldn't see how happy she was when he mentioned that he was happy to see her.

"So, what's bothering you?" Tifa enquired like an innocent child.

Cloud sat up again, and faced Tifa. He looked deep into her wine-colored eyes. Tifa could feel the blush creeping up her cheeks but she wasn't really bothered about that now. She too was peering deep into those mako- blue orbs of his.

Cloud took off the covers, edged closer to her and placed his hand upon hers.

"This has been bothering me…"

He clasped her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Since…"

Cloud looked her in the eyes again.

"I met you."

Their faces were inches apart. Tifa could feel his breath on her lips and her face was lighted up like Christmas tree.

Cloud's free hand went up to her face and cupped her cheek lovingly.

"Tifa…"

Tifa's heart was beating rapidly and her mind was as good as blank.

"I…"

Cloud closed the distance between them and whispered,

" I love you."