Deadly Addiction

Chapter 6:

The days flew past as the young ninja spent time with her husband and her soon-to-be brother. It was a relaxing change of pace from the meetings and sitting alone being bored as advisors prattled on over petty issues that no one cared about. Unfortunately, today was her last full day in Nibelheim with the two men who meant the most to her.

A sad sigh escaped her lips as she packed food into the soft cooler that they would be taking with them on their short excursion. Vincent was out with Cloud preparing the chocobos and now that she was done putting the finishing touches on their lunch, she slung the heavy cooler over her shoulder and headed out the back door. She locked it and slipped the key into her bra before bounding to the stables behind the mansion.

"So boys, we ready to go??"

"Ready as ever." Cloud grabbed onto the saddle and hefted himself up onto the large bird's back. It was shifted a bit before he felt comfortable in it. Well as comfortable as he could since he couldn't remember the last time he rode a chocobo. The reigns were grabbed loosely in his head, testing out his remembrance of how to ride the bird.

Vincent only nodded and plucked the cooler from the ninja's hands, packing it into his own saddle. Then he hefted himself up onto his own chocobo, instantly settling into the saddle. The reigns were grabbed and he joined Cloud's side, waiting for Yuffie to mount her chocobo. It had been decided that each have their own. Vincent also had the gut feeling that Yuffie would want to race the blond with the large birds.

The three former heroes rode across the plains for a little under an hour before their destination came into view. The sound of crashing water from the small waterfall that was in the distance came into view causing a smile to trace Cloud's lips. The place looked familiar, like a place that he had been during his childhood with his mother and father, but he wasn't sure. His memories of that time in his life were foggy to say the least.

The blonde looked over to the chocolate haired ninja and caught the grin that traced her lips. No words were spoken as the both gently kicked the sides of their birds, sending them racing toward towards the waterfall.

"You can't beat me Yuffie!" He said and laughed at the growl that escaped her lips.

"I'm gonna leave you in the dust Cloudy!" She said, urging her bird to go faster.

Vincent watched the two race towards the waterfall, glad that he had listened to his gut. He shook his head before urging his own chocobo forward. The bird complied and followed after the two though at a slower pace than them. There was no need for him to race with them.

It only took him a few minutes to reach the two once they had stopped. Cloud had a giant smirk on his face while Yuffie was glaring at the blonde. "I'm guessing that Cloud won," he inquired, slipping off of his bird. Their pack of food and a blanket was taken out and set on the ground.

Yuffie turned to face her love. "He cheated!"

"How did I cheat Yuffs?" Cloud said innocently, a smile tracing his lips.

"You tossed that sylkis green! Fuu turned to get it because you know how she can't resist food!" She growled before launching herself at the blonde who caught her easily. The ninja glared at him for a moment before smiling and hugging him tight. It was moments like this that she truly did miss.

He placed her back on the ground and hugged her close to his chest. "Thanks for the race Yuffs." He said before releasing her and turning back to the waterfall. "This place is beautiful...I remember it, but I don't know why..." He said quietly, wracking his brain trying to pull up the long forgotten memory.

"Don't force it Cloudy. It'll come to you...sometimes though, there are just some things we aren't meant to remember." She said and gave his arm a gentle pat.

"Yeah, sometimes it just takes time," he mumbled back. Cloud stared at the waterfall for a few more seconds before turning back to the two. "So what did you pack for us Yuffs? I'm starving." To add to that point, his stomach growled loudly. It made him scratch at the back of his head embarrassingly as red tinted his pale cheeks.

"Told ya..."

Yuffie laughed and moved to plop on the blanket near the cooler. She pulled out a wrapped tray of ham and turkey sandwiches, paper plates and plastic silverware, the homemade potato salad Shera had taught her to make, chips, and drinks.

She watched as Vincent and Cloud took seats the blanket as the men spoke. She made plates for the three of them as Cloud handed Vince a drink. "You know, I'm really gonna miss you two." She said as she looked over to the water. "I've had so much fun spending time with the both of you, I'm dreading what’s waiting for me at home." She said quietly.

"I really wish I could take you both back with me...but I know one day, we'll all be able to go to Wutai together."

"It will be nice to go back there again. It seems like forever since I was there," he replied, taking a bite into his sandwich. It was quickly chewed and swallowed as his stomach grumbled again, wanting everyone to know that it was quiet hungry. "Has much changed since I was last there?" Another bite was taken and he looked to the two, waiting for one of them to answer.

Yuffie nodded and gave a small smile of pride. "Wutai is doing very well. It has grown a bit, but we made ordinances to help preserve it. The houses are all in the traditional Wutain style. Our nation is strong and our people are happy and that’s all that I could ever ask for.

"The turtle paradise has expanded and the Turks are frequent visitors, but I'm glad to say that they don't drink nearly as much as they used to. Reno leaves every so often with handprints on his face...sometimes luck is just not with that man."
Yuffie said and snickered.

Cloud quickly took a gulp of his drink to help him swallow the bit of sandwich he almost choked on. With it swallowed, he smirked and snickered as well. "I guess his charm doesn't work on everyone. I'm sure his ego has been damaged." He shook his head, chuckling at the image of the redhead being rejected.

Yuffie laughed and Vincent smiled. "Yeah I think it has been, but it’s not a bad thing. Lately he's had his eye on one of my assistants. Her name is Raoy and he knows that if he ever hurts her, he will no longer have the ability to get it up." She said with a evil smirk, remembering the threat she gave the redhead. "Besides, Tseng keeps him in line for the most part."

This time Cloud did choke. He grabbed his cup and greedily drank forcing the piece of the potato salad that was stuck in his throat to continue it's descent. "Tseng is still alive?"

"Yup! He’s alive and doing pretty well actually. It took him awhile to recover, but he’s fine." She said and drew her knee to her chest before grabbing a cookie and chomping on it happily.

Vincent nodded in agreement and allowed the corner of his lip to upturn slightly. "After we went into the temple of the ancients, The Turks arrived. Reno wanted to go after Sephiroth to try and stop him after what he did to Tseng, but he ordered Reno not to.

"He knew. He knew that it wasn't Sephiroth and he knew that there would be no way for them to stop him at the moment. He didn't want to see any of his people get hurt. When we arrived, he was too weak. Aeris healed him a bit after he passed out from the pain, but by the time he regained consciousness, we were already in the temple and Elena and Rude were trying to rouse him."

"He still has some problems walking and has to use a cane when it gets a bit cooler out because of some nerve damage, but I swear, that damn man has more energy than I do." Yuffie grumbled, tossing a little piece of her cookie to a nearby squirrel.

"I'm glad that he is still alive..." he mumbled, turning his head to stare at the waterfall. Blue eyes slowly closed as a faint smile touched at his lips. Memories of seeing the older man while he was trying to get into Soldier fluttered through his mind. The time when he had asked Sephiroth and Zack about the Turk also bubbled up from his memories. It caused his smile to brighten.

"They would be glad too... Sephiroth and Zack were the ones that told me about Tseng..." The blonde drew up one of his knees, letting his head rest on top of it. His eyes slowly opened and he looked back to Vincent and Yuffie, glad his smile was still there to reassure them that he was okay.

"I know that he'd be happy to see that you're okay. Tseng is a good man and you know that he would never tell that you were found." Yuffie said and flopped back on her back, placing her hand on her stomach and unconsciously began to rub small circles on it. She sighed happily at the full sensation of her stomach.

Vincent's eyes softened at her actions, the thoughts of their recent decision coming to mind. Eventually he managed to draw his eyes from her form only to meet a pair of amused blue eyes. The gunman cursed himself when the actually felt his cheeks redden slightly from Cloud's look and the night that they shared the previous evening.

Cloud grinned at Vincent before joining Yuffie, lying flat on his back and staring up at the bright sky. "I know that he wouldn't. I got to know him a little bit before the whole 'incident'. It will be nice to meet him again after so long," he mumbled out, tucking one arm beneath his head.

"It will be nice to meet everyone again. Surprising to see how everyone has changed, but still nice all the same." Blue eyes closed and he let out a deep breath. "I only hope that I haven't worried them too much..."

o-o

The trio spent the day relaxing in the sunshine and simply enjoying each other’s company until the day grew late. Yuffie opened her eyes as she lay with her head and Vincent's lap, Her legs draped lazily over Cloud's lap. Her arm came up and she glanced at the watch that was around her small wrist.

Her heart grew heavy as she met the crimson of her loves and the vibrant blue of her brother's. "I hate to say this boys, but we have to get back. The airship from Wutai will be arriving in a little while and its gonna be dark soon."

"You're right, but I really wish you could stay Yuffs."

"I wish I could too, Cloudy-boy. But I'll be seeing you both again soon." She said with a smile and looked up to her husband. "You ready Vinnie?"

Vincent nodded, watching Yuffie lazily get up. His limbs were stretched out before he stood up, yanking Cloud up from his spot as well. Everything was packed up and set up on the chocobos that were grazing at the moment. He watched Yuffie easily lift herself on her chocobo and turned back to check on Cloud.

Cloud was standing still next to his own bird, one hand on the saddle while he stared at the waterfall. Vincent smiled sadly at the blonde before approaching, clasping a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go Cloud," he said softly.

Cloud was jerked out of his train of thought by Vincent's hand. Hearing his words, he nodded and gave a faint smile to the gunman. He watched Vincent get on his own bird before doing the same, letting out a sigh as he did so. The blonde gave one last look to the waterfall and then took off after Yuffie and Vincent.

o-o

They took their time getting back to the sleepy mountain town, wanting to delay the inevitable departure of the little ninja. Cloud had laid on the couch and was napping, tired from their day out as Yuffie packed the few things she had brought back into her bag. She could feel Vincent's eyes on her back as she placed the last thing into the bag.

The ninja turned and gazed into the crimson eyes of the man who held her heart. She moved forward and came to stand before him a moment, then sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around him, her fingers playing in his hair.

"Vincent, I'll miss you..." She said quietly.

"I'll miss you too, Yuffie," he whispered back. His head came down to rest against her own, his arms tight around her waist. "I will be back with you soon though. First we have to make sure that Cloud will be able to stand being alone. I don't want him falling into the same habit again nor do I want something happening to him because of my absence."

Vincent let out a deep sigh, his crimson eyes closing. "We have worked hard enough to find him and now that we have, I don't want us to loose him. Despite how better he may look or how well he seems to be handling things, it is so much easier to let the life he once had take him over again. I don't want that happening and I know that you don't either. I just need to take care of him just a little longer..."

"Vince, I want you to do all that you can for him and I know that you are the one to help him. Cloud will get better, I know this. I just wish that he was ready to go back with us to Wutai." She said.

The ninja leaned in and kissed her husband deeply, savoring the unique taste that was him and only breaking away once breathless. Her forehead came to rest against his as she gazed into his beautiful claret eyes. The moment was broken ringing sound coming from her pocket.

The ninja sighed and flipped open her PHS. "Yeah? Alright, I'll be there in a few minutes."

"They just landed outside of town. So I guess we'd better be going..." She trailed off.

Vincent grasped her chin firmly yet gentle making her look up at him. "No goodbye's and don't be sad, Yuffie. This is only temporary. Soon I will be back home with you and soon enough Cloud will stay with us for awhile," he whispered softly. Another deep kiss was shared before he easily lifted her up, planting her down on the ground.

Grabbing her bag, he walked with her downstairs to get Cloud. Cloud shook of his light nap and jumped up from the couch, following after the two. They walked to the edge of town where the ship waited patiently.

Cloud gathered up Yuffie in his arms, squeezing her tightly. "Don't kill any of the old geezers. I promise I'll give you back your husband shortly. It was great seeing you, Yuffs, and hopefully I'll be able to visit soon," he said softly.

Yuffie laughed and squeezed cloud back just as tight. "I'll try not to and don't worry about keeping my sexy hunk of a husband, he knows I love him and I'm willing to share, if it’s just with you, that is." She grinned at the blush that tinted Cloud's cheeks.

"You know that when you're ready, you'll have a home in Wutai. When you do come, we'll do that thing we talked about." She said with a sincere smile, showing the blonde that she still wanted her to join their family, now more than ever.

"I'm looking forward to it, Yuffs." Cloud reached his hand to ruffle her hair before stepping back. The blonde smiled at watching Vincent embrace Yuffie, whispering soft words of love to her. However it also made his heartache creating the urge to look away. He just sucked in a deep breath, keeping on his smile continuing to watch.

Cloud knew he would have to get over his heartache. It was going to be a long time and he knew it would never truly go away but he needed to get on with his life. Sephiroth wouldn't want him to be this miserable so he would put his life back together for his own sake as well as for Sephiroth's.

The two men stood back, waving to Yuffie before she disappeared into the ship. They watched it heft upwards then take off towards Wutai, the night making them vanish almost instantly. The cold air crept into the mountain town at that time, sending Vincent and Cloud back to the mansion.

o-o-Authors Notes-o-o

Thanks for reading! PLEASE PLEASE Review!!