Disclaimer: Final Fantasy Seven has been produced by Square Enix. I disclaim all intent to profit or other wise benefit from this fan fic.

There was something fun about circular items. They could role, glow and sparkle, and summon some of the most awesome inspiring things on all of Gaia. For Yuffie Kisaragi, this entire thing made up her life. Heck, for her it even managed to summon the best ride of them all. No vomiting inducing motions, no sudden bursts of speed unless she and the bird both agreed on it. Best of all, the came in all sorts of colors and even gave off some of the awesome-est birdcalls out there.

A loud, trilling, thrilling call greeted her when she popped her head into the stall. "WARK."

"Bahamut." she greeted, naming her special chocobo at sight. The massive black bird turned bright eyes towards her with a ruffle of her massive head. Leaning her head out, the bird was rewarded with a scratch across her crest before her mistress settled a braided riding bridle across her neck and over her beak. "You're doing real well, huh? I knew Bill was one of the best people to bring you to after those motorcycle creeps nearly destroyed my poor baby's nerves."

Planting a quick kiss on the orange shaded beak, Yuffie led her from the stall with a steady motion. Between the two of them, they had managed to collect quite the rare treasures back home. Materia, weapons, armor, accessories, and even the rare growing greens that her black chocobo craved the most were all at her fingertips. Once out into the main yard, Yuffie swung up onto her best pet's back and gave Bill an extravagant wave of goodbye. Hollering over her shoulder they would be back later, Yuffie set them out for the best hunting place of all.

The ruins of Midgar.

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It was the most irritating sound he had ever heard. Loud, raucous and entirely unsuited to the poetry that was his infamous obsession. Opening his eyes to the dim light that filtered through broken windows and a nearly caved in roof, Genesis Rhapsodos nearly spat kittens at the small form that darted past his open door with a large black bird chasing her. His mouth twitched into a frown as he succumbed to the desire to investigate their presence.

Wutains rarely belonged in places like Midgar unless they had a scheme up their sleeve or they were just sightseeing. Neither of these actions was even remotely viable any longer and so he found himself climbing through the hole in his roof to stalk the intruder. Rare was the person without fear for this place that even the monsters had learned to avoid it. The female clambered across great obstacles in a nearly clumsy fashion, though how she was so silent about it spoke otherwise of her abilities. Glowing blue eyes followed her as she suddenly dropped into a pit he knew led to the old materia stores and it suddenly became clear.

She was a thief.

Memory resurfaced of rumors involving a smile child stealing materia from the Shin-Ra forces brought a near hysterical choke to his throat. Dear Goddess, had the girl grown up?

"Damn." he muttered at the responsibility he was suddenly faced with ensuring. She must have been looked after by some guiding force or another… Perhaps the Goddess herself…

He drew silent when the female suddenly shouted out.

"Holy Leviathon, we've hit the jackpot."

His face fell into an unsurprised glance. That would certainly explain many things about her. The winged water snake was looking after 'his' precious people. Perhaps not enough to win the war, but certainly enough that this little thief was able to get through life alive decently enough. Waif-ish little fish that she was, the girl had to go. Midgar was not for the likes of the ninja to soil with their despicable desires. Dropping through the crevice in the vault's roof, Genesis came to his full height with his Rapier in hand.

"Girl, I suggest you put those back immediately." So saying, the female let out a scream, whirled, and something flashed in the light. Bright pain burned through his chest as he looked dumbly at her. In her hand, dripping with his blood, was an oversized shuriken worthy of Masamune proportions.

Her eyes shot wide as she met the mako burning in his, mouth gaping open in a near scream. "Oh, crap." she whispered.

"Indeed." Loveless failed him as Genesis vainly reached a hand up to staunch the bleeding of his cursed wound.

"Look, Soldier-dude, I'm going to come over there with my Cure materia. Try anything and I'll tell Vinnie and Cloudy all about you. Capiche?" she warned him.

His eyes narrowed on her in disbelieving slits. "Just heal the damage, girl," he ordered her.

Her chin came up with defiant energy. Still, he was thankful when she approached him and fingered the materia into working its power on him. In the seconds, it took his wound to heal, her guard fell down enough for him to grab hold of her wrist and twist it until her weapon clattered to the ground. Grey eyes gave him a lethal glare he hardly paid any attention too.

Perhaps he should have remembered that ninja, kunoichi in particular, are known for being more devious then a Turk and more resourceful then a Soldier. A small dagger like blade was slammed rather swiftly into his left shoulder, only glancing off his shoulder paldron to sink into the thick binding of Loveless. A red brow rose slowly at her attempted murder of his person.

"That was very stupid," he drawled.

Her lips compressed into a thin line as instinct took over and she wrenched her hand back to redeliver the blow.

It never connected as his other hand dropped Rapier to seize control of loose wrist. This too twisted until the blade was dropped, thusly unarming them except for the materia each of them had equipped into their respective armors. It was a draw of personage as each examined the other to try to find some foothold, some weapon to use against the other.

The ninja's lips pursued together. "Well, damn it, this ain't gonna work."

"Women should not use such language." Genesis reprimanded her. "It's against their frailty."

Her eyes screamed bloody murder at the statement. "Don't tell me what to do, jerk. You have no idea to whom you're speaking."

"Enlighten me."

Her mouth quirked into a grin far more lethal then Sephiroth and certainly more exuberant then the Puppy's. His heart suddenly took a dive into his stomach. It was a moment he would forever remember, etched eternally with all the divine words of Loveless surrounding it.

"Yuffie Kisaragi, the Single White Rose of Wutai and Crown Princess." Her dancing eyes challenged him.

"Princess, huh?" he mused, dropping his left hand from her wrist to give her some room while he thought. Every Hero needed to rescue a Princess.

If perhaps been Sephiroth she was facing, Yuffie would not have become suddenly worried at the… conspiring look on the man's face. "What are you planning?" she stage whispered at him. His open grin suddenly drove her own stomach into her shoes. Especially when with a snap like thunder, she was tossed lightly over his right shoulder, her Conformer, and his sword all ended up in nearly the same spot. Her shriek nearly woke the dead of Midgar when just as lightly, they were suddenly in the air and Bahamut gave a worried 'WARK' of question.

"LET ME GO." she screamed hands suddenly railing against the unknown Soldier's back as he took flight. Her stomach heaved and a worried moan pushed itself out of her mouth.

The black chocobo followed them as Genesis set a course of flight into the Wastelands and promptly dumped the woman on her rear in the dust. Her weapon landed easily some thirty feet into the ground as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"You pin-head." she screamed.

"Such a woeful form of behavior from the Wutai's White Rose." Genesis mocked, catching her as she threw a kick at his head. His hand dropped her back to the ground to give the ninja an appraising look. "You certainly know how to fight a Soldier. Who was it that trained you?"

She blinked at him in confusion. Didn't he know? "You have got to be kidding me? How could anyone miss the big red rock falling on us from Outer Space?"

His glare halted her growing amusement.

"Sheesh, hang out with Sephiroth much?" The White Rose nearly laughed until a gloved hand wrapped itself around her shoulder and brought her close to his face.

"You know nothing about him or his life, little girl," he hissed.

Her hands clenched. "I know what he did and let me tell ya, there is no excuse for trying to blow up Gaia and torturing the innocent, Jerk. Who are you any way?"

"Genesis Rhapsodos."