Chapter 2 - Until we stop

“Do you think anyone saw us?”

“What if they did”

“Don’t try to be cool, you care as much as I do”

“You really think so”

“Yes”

“I don’t care”

“There’s a trademark line if I ever heard one”

Cloud stared at her, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. Yuffie couldn’t help but giggle more at the look she received. At this his mako eyes seems to go aflame.

“I’m sorry, but its true” Yuffie said in between giggles

“Besides, relax” Said Yuffie, waving her hand to make her point more urgently

They were in wonder square, trying to decide what to do tonight. But thought’s of planning seemed to have drifted away from conversation.

“Would you rather be here with Aeris or Tifa?” Yuffie asked, trying to stare him out at the same time.

“What’s that meant to mean, I’m here with you. That’s that”

“You know what I mean” Yuffie said still keeping his gaze

“I really don’t. . .” Cloud sighed. He should have seen this coming. She’d got him so she could question his personal life or getting him to ‘open up’ or something like that.

“Did they put you up to this” Cloud asked quietly

Yuffie shook her head, trying to suppress a laugh.

“Don’t give me your angry leader treatment” She replied

“What I mean is. . . Tifa and Aeris like you and. . . I bet one of ‘em was going to ask you out tonight, I suppose I ruined that” Yuffie trailed

Cloud looked her the eye a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Its not that I don’t like either of them. It’s just they constantly follow me around everywhere and I’ve got things on my mind, you know?”

Yuffie was truly surprised and felt slightly happy at the same time. She gave him a thoughtful gaze for a second.

“I know” She replied

“But its me and then them. . .” She trailed

“Stop moaning” Cloud said, frankly shocking the young ninja

“I’m here with you, unless your going to force me back to the hotel”

“I could. . .” She said. Trying to joke to cover her surprise.

“What do you want to do then?” Cloud asked

“What do you want to do?” The girl replied typically

“Maybe something at the battle square” Cloud suggested

“I see why you asked me” Yuffie said, with no hint of sarcasm

“I’m a girl, Cloud. Why would I want to go fighting somewhere!?”

“Your a Ninja” stated Cloud

“But tonight I’m a girl. . . On a date with you”

Cloud found it hard to believe he had heard her right. Yuffie was unpredictable to say the least. He really hadn’t though ahead at all. He noticed that Yuffie was looking around looking slightly nervous. Now what was up with her?

Yuffie’s mind was racing at a speed that would clearly blow any speed meter, so there was no point in guessing what that speed was. She had admitted that it was a date and it didn’t evoke any reaction in Cloud, perhaps he assumed that it was a date. She certainly hadn’t. the prospect of such an idea scarred her and excited her a just as much she realized.

Yuffie looked at Cloud to find him staring right back, rather than in deep thought when she had last looked at him. He was looking at her with the edge of a grin on his face. He should have known that would provoke a response.

“What?” Yuffie said defensively

“You look like everyone’s dancing around you”

“What’s that meant to mean”

“What I just said!” Said Cloud. Frustration filling his eyes.

Yuffie looked down, cursing her sometimes aggressive nature.

“Lets go” Cloud said getting up. Braking the silence before it could properly adjust.

“Where?”

Cloud just tapped his nose and gave her a wolfish grin, which made Yuffie blush slightly.

Vincent actually felt clumsy for the first, in perhaps his life.

It was like his mind was a block of ice. He simply didn’t have the slightest idea of what to do.

Tifa had stopped crying, eventually. But she was still in his embrace. Silence had descended on the room for a little while and Vincent was clueless. He felt that he probily couldn’t move if he wanted to. As if the embrace was of the most delicate and priceless porcelain and if he moved it would break. ‘Priceless’ he realized, he had forgotten how to feel in that sense. And he admitted with a mental sigh that he liked the feel once more.

He withdrew swiftly, without further thought. He couldn’t show his reluctance, that was priority.

She drew a sharp intake of breath as he let go his hold. It seemed like an almost harsh moment, after his comforting touch, wrapped round her. Fending off the world, at least for a little while. She found wondering and drifting, Showing little care at the current situation, that none could have predicted. And then his arms slipped out of their places, that seemed permanent for the time being.

She breathed in hard as he moved away. It was simply all she could do. She was completely drained, emotionally and physically.

Vincent’s mind flared as he walked towards the door. No other option seemed remotely worth thinking over. Then he stopped almost at the door and looked over his shoulder at Tifa, expected some response. Instead he saw her sitting in the same position. His cloak draped clumsily over her back. The only difference was she had slumped a little without Vincent to support her.

His mind went as blank as an artists canvas in the early morning. For a second he wasn’t sure if she was breathing, he gave a mental sigh of relief as he saw her give the slightest of movements to show she was breathing.

Vincent took a step back and then felt confusion stumble over his mind. What was he doing!?!?!?! He had to leave, he had too. . .

Tifa barely looked up to see Vincent make his descion and her lips made the barest of twitches. . .

Yuffie followed, oddly silent. She didn’t ask where they were going again. Infact she was so lost in thought over they’re earlier conversation that she didn’t even notice the tunnels they were walking through, she just followed Cloud’s visible form.

“Here we are, Event square” Cloud declared, as he stopped in the middle of the current tunnel.

“We are we here?” Yuffie asked as she walked alongside Cloud.

Cloud just smiled and beckoned her on. As they walked on Yuffie could faint music floating through the air in majestic breeze’s.

They reached the entrance and Yuffie looked on in sheer amazement. The area usually filled with row after row of seats had been cleared out into, what best she could tell, was now a ballroom.

“What do you think?” Cloud asked, smiling at Yuffie’s shocked expression.

Yuffie’s gaze was now set directly on the stage where was an orchestra playing a rather laid back song. She also noticed the huge amount of people dancing, she also noted that many were dressed for a special occasion.

“What’s going on?” She asked

“I saw a poster earlier. Apparently its a party thrown by the owner, I don’t know why, its just a party for. . . Being at the golden saucer I suppose” He gave a short laugh at the end of the sentence.

“But everyone’s dressed up”

Cloud looked at her, his expression showing that he either expected something more from her or he didn’t care much about a set dress code.

“We’re not” Yuffie stated

“We’ll stand out more” Cloud replied

“That’s the problem”

Cloud apparently didn’t feel the need to discuss the situation further as he took a few steps down the short stars that led into the room.

He turned around and offer his hand.

“Your not going to make me find another partner are you?”

Yuffie took a few steps forward, cautiously. He’s right a voice said in the back of her mind. She couldn’t help but smile at how stupid she was acting.

She took his hand in her own and took a step in. Slowly she moved closer to him. She kissed him on the lips almost shyly. She took a step back. Now came the battle of stares, but stubbornly she refused to look at the ground. Just for the briefest of seconds she thought she saw something in mako eyes.

He smiled and then began to lead her down the steps behind him.

“I’m. . . not really a dancer” Cloud said, when they reached the floor.

“Then we’re in this together” Yuffie said, with a light laugh.

She brushed a strand of hair out of her face and looked at him, strait in the eyes. At times his eyes were almost hypnotic.

They both looked around at other dancers, trying to get the gist of it. It seemed simply enough, and moved to the rhythm of the song which was quite a laid back affair.

Shyly, but with calm graceful movements she put her arm’s around him.

He copied the motion, steadily. Making sure not to betray any emotion or nervousness.

Slowly at first they began to flow with the music, a slightly faster and better past with each moment.

And they