~Disclaimer~: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or ANY of the characters in it.

This is a Squffie story and if you don't like it, please don't yell at me for the coupling. This story is made for the Squffie fans so enjoy!

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Summary: He's back, stronger than ever, with the Heartless, but it's not Ansem. Yuffie, Squall, Aerith, and Cloud plan to stop him, but how can they if Sora's no where to be found? *Squffie*

Chapter One

They're back

"How come everything is so quiet?" The eighteen-year-old asked. She was sitting in the library with nothing to do as usual.

"It's like that everyday," a cold voice said, behind her. Yuffie leaped a couple feet forward and whipped around. The figure behind her was giving her a cold glare and she creased her eyebrows in ire.

"You love doing that don't you?" she said, as she put her hands on her hips. All he did was raise his eyebrows and nonchalantly lean against the bookcase. She sighed and said angrily, "You! All you do is torment me!" She turned around and stomped away past the bookcase and down the stairs. Her footsteps could be heard through out the library and when they were gone, the man looked down to see if she was there anymore. Once he thought she left, he pushed himself up from the bookcase.

He slowly paced himself towards another bookcase and began to shuffle through a set of books.

*****

"Why does he always do these things?! Help me, Aerith! He's driving me crazy and he's always getting on my nerves and I just can't stand him anymore!" She cried to the woman in front of her. Aerith nodded and flipped her hair out of her face. She gave her charming smile that everybody loved and she straightened out her dress.

"Well, maybe you're getting too upset too easily," she said calmly. Yuffie dropped her mouth and felt a strong urge to scream.

"The 'Great' ninja Yuffie doesn't blow her temper easily! He just provokes-"

"Yuffie," Aerith said, making her point. Yuffie shut her mouth and looked down, still angered. "Don't worry, just try not to react to his actions because he probably likes it when you get mad." Yuffie creased her eyebrows still looking down. 'He won't get to me. I'll make sure of it,' She thought. She felt like arguing back at Aerith to let her frustration out, but decided against it. She just looked back up and nodded.

"Thanks," she replied. Aerith gave a nod for a welcome and Yuffie tried to walk over to head towards the chapel area. She was muttering under her breath, "He criticizes me too! How could she not see that? His favorite word to call me is brat!" Yuffie wasn't looking where she was going and hit something. She fell back and looked up to see Cloud.

He didn't look happy at the moment. Well he never looks happy. She scowled and he said, "Doesn't look like you're in the best mood."

"I wonder what gave it away," Yuffie snapped sarcastically back at him. His face remained emotionless while Yuffie got up. "Gee, thanks for the help," she muttered. She pushed past him and all he did was look over his shoulder before venturing forth to find Aerith. The other quiet one in Hollow Bastion. He wasn't as cold as Squall, correction as he says Leon. What was with that name anyway? Why did he want to be called Leon? Yuffie persisted to call Leon, Squall because it annoyed him and it was a mere habit. That was one of the things they fought about.

"That's the only thing I can get to him with other than annoy him in training. I can't believe I got paired with him, but who would protect Aerith? Obviously not him because he can't. The heartless were getting stronger everyday and they just said I was baby and didn't know how to fight. Aerith is on my side, but him. He just criticizes me and puts me down!" Yuffie said, throwing her hands up into the air.

After blowing her temper and frustration away, Yuffie sat on the edge of the balcony by the entrance to the High Tower. She examined her Ninja stars to make sure they were in top condition. She touched the point of her conformer and smiled. It was sharp, very sharp.

"Hehe. Perfect!" She stood and threw a Ninja star for practice and she hit her target perfectly, but when she realized the target shouldn't have been her target, she squealed. She hit the main entrance door to the castle of Hollow Bastion and there was a hole.

"Oh no, oh no!" She said, quickly putting her weapons away. She jumped off, now realizing the height of the drop and landed with a painful thud. Her face scrunched up and she fell to her bottom. "Ow." She examined her feet and ankles to see they were okay but still stung with pain. She pulled herself to her feet and used the balcony for support.

"This is going to kill me tonight!" she said, no doubt with pain. She pulled herself along towards the door and saw no Ninja star. She groaned and knew she was going to get in trouble. There was a hole, not real big, but still a hole in the door. She pushed the large door open and saw standing there a figure, which made her squeal. Squall was standing right there holding the Ninja star and just crossed his arms. Yuffie laughed nervously under her breath and gave a cheesy smile.

"Um, that's mine," she said, her voice hinting with nervousness. Squall looked up with his bangs in his eyes and said, "I know." Yuffie creased her eyebrows and said, "Can I have it back?" Squall uncrossed his arms and slowly walked over to her. Yuffie stepped back a little everytime but his pace was faster. He stopped in front of her and held out the Ninja star. Yuffie quickly grabbed the star and turned to leave.

"You have awful aim," he said. Yuffie felt anger rise to her face, but took Aerith's words to heart and continued walking. She wanted to shove the Ninja star in his mouth so he'd shut up.

She wasn't walking fast so she put her Ninja star back where it belonged. It was almost too late when Yuffie heard footsteps running at her. She pulled out her Conformer and whipped around for it only to come in contact with his Gunblade. A loud cling echoed through out the large room. Squall pushed her back with his Gunblade. She stumbled back and fumed. She was searching for words and a lot of profanities came to her mind, but that would be useless.

"But your guard is doing better," he said, flipping his bangs out of his eyes. He tended to do that a lot because he had shoulder length brown hair that got in his eyes. She clenched her fist in fury and began, "I can't believe-," she said going silent because she realized something. Did he just compliment her? She looked down and he knew he was confusing her, which he liked.

"Squall," she said.

"That's Leon," he corrected. There was silence then he said, "but not by much." Yuffie looked back up at him and frowned. She knew it was too good to be true. He was messing with her. He was challenging her to some good training. Yuffie had her hands make their way down to where her Ninja stars were placed. She gripped one and smirked, "But how good is yours?" She threw one at him at lightning speed and he just whipped up his Gunblade to counter it. It flew up and that's when the battle began.

"Ha!" Yuffie said, as she launched a couple more making them spin all in different directions. Squall dodged most of them, but one hit his shoulder, which was enough time for Yuffie to throw her Conformer and it stumbled him back. Yuffie grinned, but it backfired on her. His Gunblade went into over power mode and hit her, knocking her into the wall. She dropped the rest of her Ninja stars and fell to the floor. She could hear the clicks to his boots coming towards her. He really hit her good. Maybe good enough to knock her out.

He stopped right in front of her figure laying face front on the floor. She knew that his eyes were buried into her back. She frowned and with held a groan.

"Hmph. Celebrated too early," Squall said. Yuffie waited a moment then quickly grabbed a Ninja star and threw it at him. He caught it between his fingers and she frowned. It was silent for 5 more seconds before Yuffie front flipped forward and kicked Squall out of the way. He was knocked back and Yuffie front flipped various times across the room gathering her stars along the way.

"I think you celebrated a little too early!" she hollered across the room. Squall gripped his Gunblade and he charged at Yuffie and said, "It's over!" He jumped up in the air and came down at Yuffie. Yuffie looked up quickly and yelped. She dropped her stars and the Conformer with a cling on the floor and put her hands behind her head, as she squatted in fear. She felt the impact hit her and she flew back and hit a pillar. She felt the worse pain in her back and her hair fell in her face. She tried to get up after a moment, but it only hurt her more.

"Thanks a lot!" She hollered. She frowned and shook her head. Squall stood where he was and stared down.

"Yuffie, why'd you cower?" He asked quietly, but she could still hear him. Yuffie remained silent and flipped her hair out of her face.

"Yuffie!" he said fiercely. She put her face in her hands and brought her knees to her chest.

"I…dunno…" she admitted. She felt like crying, but held it in. Tears started to build up in her brown eyes. She surely didn't want to show Squall she was crying or get close to it. Her face was still in her hands. She then felt something put an arm around her waist and helped her up. She was certainly surprised when Squall helped her to her feet. She looked up at him since he was taller and she almost let the tears fall.

"Squall," Yuffie said, quietly.

"Leon," he corrected yet again. She frowned and she asked, "Why are you helping me?" There was a silence while they walked up the stairs.

"Because you're my partner. We have to watch each other's back," he said still looking straight ahead. Yuffie looked down and squinted to keep the tears from falling. A smile formed on her face and Squall remained emotionless as they got towards where Yuffie's room.

Yuffie cured both her and Squall and she was able to walk on her own. There was something different about Squall at that moment. Yuffie thought he seemed…nicer than before but that didn't last too long.

"So where are you going?" Yuffie asked. Squall ignored the question and began to walk away. "You're SO kind!" Yuffie hollered at him.

"Hmph," was all Squall said and walked away. She shouted, "I HATE YOU!!" Squall just continued on and disappeared. She didn't go back into her room only because she didn't have her Ninja star and Conformer. She made sure the way was clear and Yuffie ran back and then down the stairs. She was at the top of the stairs and saw that they were scattered all over and the one Squall had deflected was stuck in a pillar.

"Just great." She hopped on the stair balcony and balanced herself before jumping. She wrapped her arms around the pillar as fast as possible but slid down. She slid and on the way down she grabbed the Ninja star and smiled. Another mission complete.

She rushed around and grabbed the Ninja stars and finally her Conformer. She wanted to go back outside and did since it was dark and that's when it's been nice out. She went outside and up the stairs and jumped up by jumping on a couple things and got onto the balcony.

"Another day almost gone," she whispered, "and most of it was utterly horrible." She leaned on the balcony and watched over the edge. She smiled as the wind blew her short brown hair. "I wonder what everybody is doing. Sora, Kairi, and Riku. Did they make it back?" She felt someone next to her and turned her head.

"Having fun?"

"Not really," Yuffie said.

"Seems like it," Aerith said smoothly.

"Are you a mind reader?" Yuffie asked. Aerith giggled and replied, "What makes you think that?" Yuffie turned her body towards her to let the wind blow her scarf.

"You always know what to do, what to say, and what to think," Yuffie said looking up at the stars. Aerith let her ponytail fall behind her back as she smiled again.

"It's just part of what I do," she said.

"Yup." The two broke out into laughter and after a while, they calmed down and Yuffie asked, "Did Cloud ever find you?" Aerith tilted her head towards Yuffie.

"Yeah. I'm supposed to meet him tonight at 8," she explained. Yuffie nodded and laughed.

"Well…you better start moving because look at the time," Yuffie said, pointing at the clock tower. Aerith turned her head up and her eyes widened.

"Oh yes. Better to go now then be late," she said. She turned around and headed out. Yuffie turned back to the balcony and smiled. Those two were so cute together. Yuffie realized she should head back to her room now since it was getting late.

*****

Everything was beginning to be different in the past couple weeks. Squall fought harder than before against Yuffie. He pushed her to her limits and she lost everytime, which resulted in another fight between the two. Aerith was no where in sight most of the time and when Yuffie found her, it was only because Cloud wasn't there. Not many people where back in Hollow Bastion. That one day Squall and Yuffie had the duel, they were lucky no one was around. Yuffie hadn't gotten in trouble for the hole in the door because no one ever knew what happened and Yuffie's lips were sealed.

Yuffie walked along the High Tower and jumped around on the balconies. It was something for the 'great' ninja to do and it helped her in her jumping skills. Yuffie wobbled and tried to keep balance sometimes and once almost fell off but she stopped herself and just jumped down getting bored of it.

"What's something for the ninja to do?" Yuffie said to herself. She looked over the edge to see some of the people in Hollow Bastion having a good time. She turned around to walk forward and was stopped by a small yet loud squeak. Yuffie jumped back in surprise and apologized immediately when she saw what it was. It was a moogle and it didn't seem too happy.

"Sorry!" Yuffie said, with concern in her voice yet some hidden laughter as well. The Moogle just crossed it arms and squeaked again. Yuffie looked up and blinked a couple times. "Hey…aren't you supposed to be in Cid's shop?" she asked. The moogle hit its pom pom out of its face and said, "I'm looking for someone."

"Oh…Who are you looking for?" Yuffie asked bending over to the 2-foot tall moogle.

"He says she calls herself…the Great Ninja Yuffie. Do you know who she is?" It squeaked again. Yuffie blinked and the stood up and said with some pride, "You're looking at her." The moogle groaned and turned around muttering.

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Yuffie said, irritated. No wonder she didn't like many moogles. It said to her, "Cid wants you," then ran off. Yuffie frowned and rested her hands against her hips. "How rude!"

Yuffie followed forth to Cid's weapon shop he now owned in Hollow Bastion. It was great and huge! She wondered what he wanted as in because he really didn't like her 'perkiness' about being the greatest ninja. She didn't care though. Squall already put her down about it and she learned to fend it off.

She came to a pair of huge doors and pushed open one of them. She went in and smiled in awe because of the amount of weapons he kept in stock. It was unbelievable.

"Cid!" she hollered and it echoed. She could hear huge fire crackling and she was right. To her left was a huge fireplace that was burning brightly because they used it to make the weapons. Moogles were working non-stop and a couple of moogles had to hold the weapon because it was so big.

"Cid! Where are you?!" Yuffie hollered once more. There was some grumbling and cussing then he hollered, "Hold your damn horses!"

"Well, hurry the hell up!" Yuffie hollered back. He came out with the toothpick in his mouth and he realized who it was.

"Oh it's Yuffie," he said with an irritated voice, "I got something to show ya," he said turning around and walking back towards some weapons. Yuffie followed him as he grabbed a key. "I don't leave weapons like these out in the open. I made the new weapon you asked me to. It's one hell of a strong baby," Cid said, pushing the key into a hole in the wall and it opened.

Yuffie slapped herself mentally. She had completely forgotten. A couple days after losing to Squall made her temper rise so she turned to Cid. He helped her out and made her this new weapon. She smiled evilly as Cid handed it to her.

"It's a boomerang Ninja star. When you throw it, it'll come back to ya," he said chewing on the toothpick. Yuffie examined it and her evil smiled widened.

"Thank you! For being an old man, you can surely do a miracle!" Yuffie said with a large hint of excitement in her voice.

"I'm not old!!" He hollered back. Yuffie waved goodbye quickly and left in a hurry not really caring who was in the way. She almost ran over 3 moogles and hot metal from the weapons.

"Watch it!" they squeaked. Yuffie just shrugged putting the Ninja star on her belt. She made her way down towards the main hall where the Squall and Yuffie had fought. She hadn't seen Squall in that last couple days though. She walked into the main hall and smiled. No one was here so she went into the library hoping at least Aerith and possibly Cloud was in there. She was really bored since she'd save her weapon for later.

She smiled when she came upon someone, but then scrunched up her nose. It was only a child. She was too old to try and talk to this child since the child looked only about four. She smiled when the little girl rushed down the stairs towards her mother so they could read a book. She gave a sigh and saw it was raining a little outside. She gasped and crouched when she heard lightning. She looked back up when it was done and mentally slapped herself.

"No need to be scared Yuffie. Just a little-" The lightning struck again and she squeaked. "Okay, nothing's wrong with a little lightning right?" Yuffie stood back up and left down towards the main hall. It was bigger and nicer and it seemed more appealing than the library at the moment for some odd reason. She looked back up at the sky and frowned. The sky was darkening and at a fast pace too. She turned around and left through the door. She left the library and was on the top balcony. She closed the door and heard a click. She turned around and tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"What the hell?" Yuffie said. She looked over her shoulder and went out towards the other library door. Once she arrived, she couldn't get the other door open either. It was locked and Yuffie yanked on it so hard she tumbled backwards.

"Ow! Hey! What's the deal?!" Yuffie said. Yuffie backed into the middle of the main hall and looked around. She was getting a feeling and this feeling wasn't good. One last look around and she would be done. She looked back then forward and her eyes widened. Her breaths became short and her steps became small. She looked around and saw those piercing yellow eyes. She pulled out her Ninja star and shakily threw it and it hit one going right through it into another and they both dissolve into thin air like they usually did.

"Heartless? The Heartless are back?!" Yuffie said. She looked around to see almost twenty heartless. She put her Conformer into over power mode and threw it hitting about seventy-five percent of them. More heartless appeared and the main entrance burst open with Heartless staring at her. She looked at them with fear and tried to hide it. She then felt a piercing pain in her arm. She looked down to see her own Ninja star imbedded in her arm.

"Ah shit!" Yuffie said in pain. She had forgotten already that it was a boomerang Ninja star. The heartless shadows were watching to see if she was harmless or not. She pulled it out and cried out setting the Heartless off attacking at her. She backed up and threw her Ninja star at a couple of them and they dissolved after hissing at her. Yuffie gave an ear-piercing scream that echoed through out all of Hollow Bastion. They piled against her and quickly too. Her Conformer wouldn't last much longer and neither would she. An alarm went off sounding that trouble was about. A voice went on the loud speaker and it was telling all the residents of Hollow Bastion to go and run and hide.

"What good is that?! They'll just get killed!" The heartless scratched her and a large one came about. Yuffie felt like cussing her heart out right now. "Not good!" Yuffie said. The large belly heartless threw itself at Yuffie hitting her. She flew forward and hit the wall crushing some of her leg.

She screamed once more and it seemed to set the Heartless back, but not for long. She cowered as a large amount of Heartless pounced on her. Right as 5 jumped at her, she put her arm over her head as if it were going to give her protection. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes quickly waiting for the impact. All she heard was hissing and then nothing came.

Yuffie was cut and bruised badly. She looked up to see someone standing in her path and no more heartless were there. It was clear and the person standing in her path was Squall.

"Yuffie," he said, as he turned around. His eyes widened at her wounds and he crouched down. She was dumb stuck and was actually happy for the first time to have Squall being with her. "Are you alright?" She gave a quick nod. "Yuffie…Listen to me. We have to get out of here," he said. Yuffie looked at him.

He had concern in his eyes and didn't speak meanly to her. "We have to get you medical help. You're wounds need to be treated." Yuffie nodded and Squall helped her up.

"Yuffie." She was shaking from the battle and this would scar her for a long time.

"I-I'm fine," she said. Squall just glared and replied, "No. You're not." Yuffie looked at him with rage in her eyes.

"I'm not hurt!" she replied back. Squall just put one of his hands to his forehead and sighed. She was being very stubborn and right now wasn't the time to be stubborn. She didn't want him to accuse her of being weak. She pulled out of his grip and stubbornly tried to walk. He just stood there, his arms crossed, watching her limp up the stairs.

Squall looked around and saw a couple of her Ninja stars laying there along side her Conformer. He picked up the stars and Conformer and followed her, but pretty soon she'd be following him with the pace she was going at. They went up the stairs and headed towards the High Tower. Cid's shop was up there and he had the Gummi Ship. Squall was going a lot faster than Yuffie, but she didn't mind. As long as she proved she wasn't weak, she'd be happy.

More Heartless came and Squall slaughtered them before anymore harm could be done to them. It also gave Yuffie time to catch up. They got close to the High Tower, but they stopped when they heard more Heartless coming and footsteps of a human. A human? These footsteps were calm too, not running, just a normal pace of walking. Squall grabbed Yuffie and clamped his hand over her mouth because she was ready to protest. He hid them in the dark corner and they watched as many different kinds of Heartless came by. Their antennas were twitching, as if they could just smell Squall and Yuffie in the shadows. They watched as many went by and then both their eyes widened at whom they saw.

"It can't be," Squall said very quietly. Yuffie couldn't say anything since Squall's hand was still clamped over her mouth because he knew she'd probably blow their cover. His long silver hair swished as he walked. He mouth was showing nothing but a smirk of evil and he carried the ultimate weapon.

"Sephiroth…"

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A/N: Hola! This is chapter one and I write long chapters like these so ya… Hoped you liked it and please review so I know what you thought!! Thanks!

Starling94