FIGARO STUDIOS presents

In association with OZ PICTURES

Divertimento

Part 1

The ninja ran quickly threw the street as the three young men and four Kalm Fang-wolves chased her. She turned once more to cast a round of Fire 3/ALL on them, Knocking out one more of the boys and two of the wolves. "Ha-ha! Only four to go..." She said as she jumped over a dumpster that was in the middle of the ally way. Making it to the main street she ran quickly across until she got to the corridor that led to the other half of the city. Unfortunately though it was locked. "Son of a-" She turned around just in time to see the two young men and two wolves turn the corner and stop a few feet away.

"Oh your gonna pay for what you did!" The first, a short scraggily looking boy, said as he advanced slowly. Knife raised in one hand and a very vicious-looking Titan materia in the other. Her eyes locked with the dark red orb, it almost seemed to beckoning her to come closer. By it's dark color and large size she could tell it was mastered. She smiled happily as she realized what she was about to do.

Springing forward she grabbed hold of his arm and twisted it back, making him drop the precious crystal to the ground. She scoped it up and then turned once more and pointed at the door. Just as she did the large bolt of Lightning 2 that she was casting surrounded it and knocked the hinges right off, sending the large metal fling. She ran threw the opening quickly and kicked the other door open with the momentum she had built up.

"Come back here you thief!" Was all she heard as she ran away to the other side of the great city. She new she could have stopped and most likely would have if she knew who she was coming upon. With her head turned back and watching for her victims she didn't notice the two men until she hit right into the center of the ones stomach. His arms wrapped around her to steady her then he pulled back and looked at the girl.

"Well, well, well... if it isn't . Long time no see kid! 2 years huh?" Reno said with a less then inviting grin. "Where you goin' so fast?"

She huffed slightly before she answered. "It's none of your business! Now let me go, I'm trying to lose somebody!"

As if on cue the boys and there wolves coming running threw the corridor and in to plan view, stopping a few yards from them. The shorter one turned to his friend and whispered something before they stood silently and looked at the three.

"Well, hello there fellas." Reno said as he let go of Yuffie and slipped his hand to the night stick he had at his side just in case.

"Listen ol' man, we're jus' tryin' to get our stuff back from that girl!" The taller of the two shouted. He smiled and looked at Reno with a cocky grin, "So jus' leave us be..."

"Or?" Rude asked stepping a few feet forward and tilting his head to the side slightly.

"What'da think!" Both boys were smiling now and Yuffie could feel how annoyed both of the highly trained assassins were by the 'street rat's' cocky remarks.

Reno drew up his weapon and looked at the leader of the two. As he flipped a small switch on the side there was a small spark emitted threw out the rod. He smiled again before also taking a few steps forward. "So, you wantta fight?" The smile quickly vanished off his face. "You got one."

Both boys looked as though they were going to fall over and die right on the spot before a single punch was thrown. They watched as Rude bald up his fists and took a fighting stance and as Reno advanced once more. "What's wrong kiddies? Afraid? Don't piss your pants now."

"Ya know... we a... w-we gotta get on ba-back home..." The shorter of the two said turning to run before he was completely done. The other quickly followed in pursuit.

After they were out of site Yuffie ran up to Reno. "Oh my god! Thank you soooo much, I know we aren't friends at all but I wont forget this really tha-"

Rude put a hand up to stop her from talking anymore. "We never said that we were doing it for you..." He turned to face her now, as he relaxed. "Orders from up top..."

"Huh?" The young thief didn't know exactly what the large Turk was getting at.

"We were told to stop any fights that we saw going on, "Reno said, as he walked over to stand next to his partner, "and if any of you needed help... to help you."

"Oh..." She said looking down and kicking at the ground. "Well, if that's all. I think I'll be on my way..." She turned to leave but was stopped when Reno started to talk.

"Materia..."

"What?" She said spinning around on her heals.

"You stole materia from them didn't you?" He said this time motioning over his shoulder to where the boys had come from.

"I didn't steal anything..." She took a few steps toward them. "I simply found it when it was in there possession... I mean really, does anyone really own materia? It is the planet’s right? Who can really say it's there mataria? It's like saying that mountain over there is my mountain... it's ridiculous if you ask me!" She smiled at the Turks as Reno nodded back at her.

"Ok , thank you for that wonderful speech, I'll be sure to include that in my report."

"You’re welcome!"She nodded once before trying to turn once again, but once again was forced to turn back and look at Reno as he talked.

"So what's your business here anyway?"

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Just so I know what to tell my boss when he asks..."

"Tell him to piss off."

"You are so much a like a bundle of sunshine aren't you?" He tilted his head to the side as he watched the girl. "So you staying any place?"

Yuffie raised a brow at his question. "What's that mean?"

His smile grew wider now as he knew exactly what she was getting at. "Hey come on now, all I'm saying is that there's an empty room back at the Headquarters that we stay in when were on call." He turned away from her now and took a few steps. "But if you have a place to stay in one of the inns around here..."

Yuffie pondered the invite for a moment before running over to join the two. "Well, I guess... but only cuz then I don't have to spend any gil on a room." All in all, she wasn't going to spend any gil on a room anyway, being that she had none to spend in the first place.

The sweet scent of pancakes and syrup filled her room and nostrils. Ever so slowly she allowed herself to wake up, and open her eyes a little. First one then the other, the room she was staying in, she fond out last night, was Elena's old room. But now that she was working more in Neo-Midgar then Junon she hadn't need a room here. Slowly she swung her feet over the side of the bed and rested them on the amazingly warm wooden floor.

She could hear some voices outside, in to main room, probably Reno and Rude she thought to herself as she crawled the rest of the way out of the big bed. As she trailed across the room she wrapped the top sheet around her shoulders to better cover up herself. Rude had given her one of his shirts to wear for the night but she still felt a little silly walking around in just that.

Pushing open the door she found the Turks and one other in the main room eating some pancakes, as she expected, but oddly both Turks were drinking beer with it instead of milk or juice. "Bout' time you got up!" She looked over to the man that talked and tried to remember his real name but finally gave up.

"Whatever Cait." She remarked back at him and plunked down in one of the chairs at the table. "So what's on the menu?" The ninja asked as she looked over to Reno.

"Who said anything about you getting food?" The Red head snorted out before motioning to an empty plate and the food. "Go on take whatever."

She reached for the plate then stopped and look accusingly at Reno. "You didn't make it right?"

Rude snorted at the question, and Reeve full-out laughed as Reno stared wide eyed at the girl. "Actually, I did!" The red head responded, now very pissed off. "And if you don't want it, then I'm sure that the chocobo's would love to eat it."

"God! Calm down..." Yuffie slowly picked up the plate and started to fix it. "You need to go to one of those anger management programs..."

"No, see we tried that once, but he ended up killing the person that kept on telling him to 'not keep it all inside.'" Rude said grinning at his partner from across the room.

"Screw you Rude!" He shot the other Turk a sideways glance before continuing. "'Side you'd be better off going to one of those than I would."

"Reno, the first step is admitting your problem... don't blame your fiends, we're just trying to help..." The ex-spy added in before having to doge a piece of bacon that was thrown his way.

"That's it! For the next ten minutes I officially hate you all!" Reno said crossing his hands over his chest and leaning back in his chair as he glared at his two best friends and Yuffie.

There was a sad-sort of silence for a few moments as Reno glared at them but was soon broken, again by the ex-spy.

"So Yuffie how ya been?"

"Pretty good. I managed to escape from Wutai a while back and ended up here. What 'bout you?"

He shrugged in response. "Better than a couple a years back."

"Hello! I'm being pissed over here!" Reno yelled as his glare intensified.

"So... anyway. Why'd you leave Wutai?"

"My dad kept on talking about how now that I'm 18 I should find a husband and blah blah blah..." She trailed off as she drowned the pancakes in syrup and started to cut them with her fork.

He laughed for a moment then turned to look at Rude. "So did you find anyone last night?"

"No one that would be good enough. Just a bunch of kids." He discarded his dishes in the sink before continuing. "I doubt we'll find anyone just around on the streets, most of the gangs aren't fighting anymore now that there’s more money for the people."

"That's true, what about other cities?"

"The only places worth looking at would be Gongaga or Wutai... but I don’t think anyone there would want to."

"Want to what?" Yuffie asked turning to look at both men.

"Uh... just some business stuff... nothing you have to worry about." Reeve turned back to Rude then. "Ok try to go to Gongaga anyway, they'd be a little more helpful I think. And keep on looking around here, there still may be a few good fighters left."

"Yes sir."

"I'll see you later then." He also discarded his dishes in the sink before walking from the main room.

"So what's it for?" Yuffie asked again.

"Nothin'." Reno responded as he stood from his chair. "So how about I go to Gongaga and you stay here with her?" He said as he walked across the room to his own room.

"Hey Reno! Wait just a minute here... I'll go to Gongaga and you can stay here..."

"No way in hell."

"HEY!" Yuffie said getting to her feet as well and glaring at both of them. "First off, your making it sound like your going to have to baby sit me... and second what would be so bad about that anyway?"

All three paused for a moment before Reno responded. "I'm going, you can stay here with her." He finished his statement by slamming the door to his room.

Rude slowly turned to Yuffie who was glaring at him. "What?"

"Who said I was even going to stick around?"

"If you wantta leave it's fine with me..."

"Great!" She started for the door but turned when she heard the Turk clear his throat. "What?"

"Um... you may want to put something more on, unless you would like to walk around in only a T-shirt..."

She felt her face turn bright red, she closed her eyes and licked her lips before continuing. When she did she slowly opened her light gray eyes and looked up at the tall figure. "That's a good point..." She walked slowly past him and to the room she was using and softly shut the door.

Rude felt a small smirk coming threw and quickly brushed it a side as he walked out the main door and into the corridor of the underground portion of the Junon HQ.

He only got down to the first hallway before hearing a loud bellow from the room he had exited. "Wait up!"

Slowly he turned to watch as the Ninja ran up to his side. "What?" He said peering down at her threw his glasses.

"I wanna come."

He let out a sigh before turning around and starting to walk again. "Fine, but you better keep up."

"Right like I'm gonna lose you..." She said snickering a little, but when she looked back up she realized he had already turned to corner and was walking into the elevator. She ran in just as the doors slid shut. "You could have told me that you were gonna do that!"

Ignoring her comment he reached forward and typed in a password into the control panel then hit the up button.

"So is this like a secret little part of Junon?"

"Only the president, Turks and some SOLDIER know."

"Wow don't I feel special."

"Don't go around talking about it or I'll have to kill you." He waited for a moment for her response before looking back at her. She had taken a step away from him and actually looked a little scared. "It's a joke..." He said in what he thought to be a somewhat relaxing tone.

She nodded a little but didn't say anything for a few minutes. "So what are going to be doing?"

"Your not going to be doing anything."

"hump... well fine then, what are you going to be doing that I will be watching?"

"Observation..."

"Sounds boring."

"Once we get where we're going don't go off on your own ok."

"Oh my god! What that concern in your voice?" She said grinning at him.

The Turk rolled his eyes before looking over. "I just don't need to be yelled at by Reeve."

She snickered at the thought and then looked away. "So where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there..." The doors to the elevator chimed and the two walked out and started down one of the hallways. "It's a small, illegal, fighting arena."

"Oh, you going to go kick some ass?" She asked jokingly. He neglected to respond to her comment but instead walked out into the open street of upper-Junon.

"Really though... why do you have to go there?"

"Like we've said a few times to you now. It’s on business that you don't need to care about."

"Riiiight..." She stretched as they walked along the cold streets. Being right off the water and on the top/side of a mountain made the city, even in the middle of June, a very cold and windy place. They walked without words for a few minutes as they made there way to the elevator that led to the lower city. And finally into what could be called the slums of Junon.

"This way..." The Turk told her as he took a sharp turn around one of the houses and into the real slums.

"I never knew this was here..."

"Most people don't, you mostly have to live down here for a while to know about it."

"Where is this?"

"Right under the city, and air path." He stopped then and turned to look at her. "Stay right behind me."

"Right I know." She followed him as they walked into what looked like a place even Midgar wouldn't have. There were almost no houses just huge piles of garbage, and what houses there were, if they could be called that, were old pieces of ship mettle. There weren't that many people around, and Yuffie imagined that at one point there was many more jogging by the abandoned 'houses' or shacks.

There were still a few people left though, most of which were children or young adults. All very poor looking and very thin. It smelled horrible, like the inside of a sewer and there was a light mist covering most of the ground. Rats and mice could be seen and heard scampering around as well. "Hey Rude?" Yuffie asked trying not to open her mouth to much as the air around her was hard and rough.

"What?" He responded, sounding not in the least bit fazed by his surroundings.

"Why do we have to come down here? It smells awful and..."

He turned around sharply and glared at her. "It might not be the best place in the world, but you don't have to talk about it like that! There are some people that are forced to live here so try to show some respect!" He snapped before turning to walk again, his pace faster then before.

"Sorry." She muttered under her breath and ran to catch up to him. "Don't have to take it personally..."

A minute after they came to a large building, by what was still left of it she could tell it was some sort of factory at one point in time. Rude knocked on the door that was opened a few seconds after. A man looked out at them for a minute then pushed the door open to let them in. "Hey Rude” he said as they walked through.

The Turk nodded to him and walked down one of the halls till they got to a door. "You might want to stay out here."

"Why?"

"...fine..." He swung the door open and walked in. The room was crowded but there was a small opening near the center where to younger men were locked together in a fight. One was severely hurt, the other covered in sweat and blood. There were blood stains on the hard concrete floor from what she assumed to be previous fights like this one. It was quite obvious that the fight was drawing near the end but what happened next was something she definitely did not expect.

The stronger of the two got the other down on the ground and was repeatedly punching him in the stomach and face. He continued even after the other stopped trying to fight back. A few of the people watching on had to pull him off, and after another counted to ten the already loud room roared even louder. Yuffie watched as someone else kicked the downed fighter in the side then lifted his arm and let it fall to the ground.

She started to advance toward the center but was pulled back by Rude. "But-"

"He's already dead..." He pulled her back and motioned for her to take a seat in a vacant chair. "There's nothing you can do other then get your self killed as well."

She watched in silence as they dragged the body to the side and the winner of the fight stood in the center and waited for a new challenger.

"Why do you have to come here anyway?" She asked after the ninth fight.

"I told you before-"

"Don't give me that business shit! Come on Rude."

"I can't tell you... sorry."

She crossed her arms over her chest and watched as the same victor stood in the center ring. Now quite tired but still taking down all the fighters that had challenged so far. "I bet you could kick his ass..." She snorted as the man in the center looked around with a now cocky attitude.

"Doubt it... he's pretty good, and with out maco enhancements ether."

"Oh come on..." She jokingly punched him in the arm. "You could so take him."

"Wanna see?"

"Sure..." Yuffie said easing back in her chair but sprung back up as the Turk stood from his own seat. "What are you doing?"

"Finding out if I can kick his ass..." He said as he tossed his sun-glasses and jacket to her as he started to undo his shirt.

"Really?" She asked a little alarmed by his sudden choice. "But I thought you just said..."

"Well, if I lose then I shouldn't be in the Turks anyway."

"Oh great theory there." She grabbed his shirt and tie from him as he turned to walk to the center.

"Hey!" He said looking at the younger man.

"Turk?" He grinned wide. "Ok, this should be fun... no magic - no weapons - only fighting skills, first one to be down for ten counts..." They both nodded then took to there fighting stance and began.

Rude was first to advance punching twice but only one of the hits connected. But even with only the one it sent the boy back a few feet, hitting into the crowed. He was quickly pulled away from them though when the Turk grabbed him around the neck and threw him to the ground. This time he waited for the shooken fighter to stand up on his own and get into stance again. Rude advanced once more blocking a few hits with his arms, but taking one hit in the stomach. He didn't seem to be fazed by it at all to the other's surprise, and it was his surprise that the Turk took advantage of. He swiped low with his left foot and knocked the boy to the ground.

He then kicked him hard in his stomach then backed away again. This time the younger man got up slowly and shook it off. He tried to advance first but was met with a fist in his jaw sending him first into the air but then crashing to the ground. This time he didn't move and they began the count.

Yuffie waited patently outside the building as Rude finished up with what ever it was he was doing inside. Finally though the door opened and he walked out. He simply walked past the ninja with out ignolaging her presence. "Come on..." He called back at her once a few feet away.

She kicked away from the wall and ran up to join him at his side. "That sucked!" She finally blurted out.

"What did?"

"I thought I was going to see you get your ass kicked, and all that happened was one little hit before you nearly killed the guy." Yuffie almost swore she could see him smile for a moment before he responded.

"So where do you wannna eat?"

"huh?"

"It's past 12 and I'm hungry, I'm betting you are to, being that you hardly got a chance to eat breakfast so, I'm going to be a nice guy and get you something to eat."

"Oh that's so touching."

"Whatever... just pick."

"You want to eat here...?" His question sounded more like a argument.

"You said I could pick any place I wanted to..."

"But here?"

"What's wrong?"

"When I said you could pick, I meant pick a normal place."

"Would you rather we go to 'Choco Bobs'?"

"I'd be better then here..."

"WHAT?"

"Nothing... come on..." He finally agreed walking into the restaurant. The building on the inside looked like someone picked it up from Wutai and dropped it right into Junon. "What do your people even eat?"

"What's that suppose to mean? My people?"

"Uh... well you are a princess so that does kind of make them 'your people'..."

"Oh right..." She smiled faintly.

-

"So... what exactly was it that you were doing today?" The ninja said as she watched the Turk's failed attempts at using the chopsticks.

Finally he gave up and looked over to her. "I told you before-"

"Fine!" She angrily looked back down to her food and started to pick at it.

"How do you even use these dam things?" Rude asked trying to get her to talk again.

"I'll tell you if you tell me..." She smiled evilly at the man.

He let out a sigh before talking. "We're scouting for new Turks."

"Oh?"

"Now that I told you, can you shut up about it?"

"Why do you need new Turks?"

Rude rubbed his temple as he pondered whether or not Reeve would notice anything wrong if he came back without the talkative girl. "That's confidential business..."

"Bullshit! Come on... please?"

"Why else would we be looking for a new Turk?"

"Uh... need more help?"

"Ding ding ding, what do have for her Jonnie?"

Yuffie snorted but controlled her laughter. "Gwad you don't have to get so upset..."

"Whatever... just eat." He turned his gaze back down at the plate in front of him and tried to use the chopsticks again but failed. After a few more attempts he decided to claim defeat, but just as he was going to set them down the ninja reached across the table and grabbed his large hands in her smaller one.

"Here you gotta do this..." She said as she moved his fingers to hold the utensil in the proper way. Once done he started to try to eat the strange food. "So, how'd you join the Turks in the first place?"

"Tseng recruited me."

"Don't tell me to much now."

"All you asked was how I joined, if you want something else ask the right questions."

"Ok, what led up to him recruiting you?"

"He saw me fighting."

"In a place like that?" She asked referring to where they had just come.

He shook his head. "A gang fight."

"Oh, so you were in a gang. You guys win the fight?"

"You could say that... or you could also say that every one else lost other then me."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing I like to talk about that much..."

"Oh... ok then. So what exactly are you looking for in this 'new Turk'?"

"No way in Yuffie, I know what your thinking and don't even."

"What?" She asked innocently. "I have no idea what your talking about..."

"I know what your thinking, and there's no way in hell that you could make it."

"Why not?"

"First and most importantly, girls can't be in the Turks. Elena was an exception to the rule, we need some one that would be able to act dumb and no one in SOLDIER was smart enough for that. And second, you gotta know how to fight."

"Hold on a second here! I didn't see any great Turk boys down there fighting Sephiroth! I can kick your ass in about 2 seconds."

"Oh really?"

"That's right."

"What about if you didn't have materia, armor, or a weapon? Think you could win then?"

"...well that's a little different."

"To even think about becoming a Turk you have to be able to fight with out anything. Also you gotta have a better judgment of things. It's a lot more elite then AVALANCHE kid."

Yuffie glared at the Turk now. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"You guys had a lion and a stuffed cat in your group!"

"Uh, that lion almost killed you on more then one occasion, and there's a small fact that Cait Sith was one of your guys!"

"Ok fine I'll give you that, but you can't rely on materia if you get captured." He paused for a minute before locking eyes with the ninja. "But, you still can't get in Yuffie."

"Oh really?" She got up from her set and started for the door. 'We'll see about that...'

-

There was a knock on the door and the ex-spy, now president, looked up from the paper work on his desk. "Come in..." He called out, a little curious as to who it was.

The door opened and the young ninja slid in and shut it behind her. "Hi Reeve!"

"Yuffie? What's up?"

"Nothing... just wanted to come and say hi. It's been a while you know..."

"Since this morning, or meteor?" He asked leaning back in his chair. Something was up, he knew it the moment she entered the room. People may have called him dumb before but that was definitely not one of his attributes.

"Hehehehe... meteor silly." She walked further into the room and plunked down in a chair, resting her feet on his desk she continued. "So how've ya been? I mean we really didn't get that much time to catch up earlier today."

"Nothin' really new..." He paused for a moment then leaned back in the chair. "Why did you really come here?"

"What do you mean why I really came here? We're to 'war buddies' don't you think that we should catch up, you know talk about the 'ol days'? What not?"

"Right." A involuntary smile grew on his face as he listened to the girl talk.

"So how's the hole Neo-Midgar going for ya? I heard that the people like you 100 and 10 more then ."

'Great she wants something... didn't anyone ever tell her how to kiss someone's ass with out making it known to the world.' He thought to himself as the ninja continued.

"Or for that matter Rufus! You must be doing a great job!"

"What do you want Yuffie?"

"To be friends with you!"

He snickered at her last comment. "Oh! That's all?"

"I think that would be even more then anyone could dream."

'Oh my god...' He smiled again but this time controlled himself from laughing again. "You do realize that I was the one to 'manipulate' AVALANCHE... this isn't working. Can you tell me now what you really came here for?"

"Damn it! Fine, I wantta be a Turk."

"That's an interesting request. Why would you get the idea that we even have openings?"

"You don't have to play stupid, Rude told me."

"Oh, I'd say yes but there's a problem, you see the Turks only allow men into there ranks and-"

"Oh come on! That's bull shit! Elena got in."

"That's true but since then we've found some troubles with having her in the Turks. And because of that she is the first, last and only female Turk."

'I can't believe he's saying this, I guess I'll have to move on to plan B if wining doesn't help.' Yuffie folded her arms across her chest before she continued. "But why? I'd be good, and you know I can fight. Please?"

"I'm sorry Yuffie but..." He trailed off as the girl started to rub her eyes. "Are you ok?"

"I-I'm fine..." She said with a pout that only she knew to be fake, 'I dare you to try to see through this cat boy!'

"Yuffie I... you can't..." He stopped as he watched the girl wipe a forced tear from her face. "Are you crying?"

"N-no..." She sniffled for effect and watched as he got up from his chair and walked over to her. He kneeled down in front of her and carefully wiped a tear from her face.

"Please don't cry..." 'Damn it!'

"I to-told y-y-you I'm not cr-cr-crying..." With that statement out she started to weep uncontrollably.

"Oh Yuffie..." He reached forward and put his arms around her small form. "I'm sorry, please don't cry, I'll let you into the try outs if you want." He pulled slightly away as he heard her try to talk again.

"R-really?"

"Sure..." He answered back, as he wiped a stray tear from her face. "I can't just make you a Turk but I can give you one of the spots for the replacement Turk."

'He's way to much of a nice guy' She smiled a little at him. "Thank you."

"Sure thing kid..." He stood up from his position on the floor next to her. "You gotta train hard though.

"Yep! Thanks a lot!" She gave him a quick hug before running from the room. Once the door was shut she did a little victory dance in the hall causing a few passerby's to stare at her.