"Who are you?" Reeve demanded, standing before the young girl. She haughtily tossed her short hair back and refused to answer. "You stand before me accused of theft. This is a very serious crime in this city, and you shall be dutifully punished. Tell me who you are!" The girl still refused to answer. Cid came forward with his spear and held it close to the girl.

"Mr. Highwind..." Reeve began.

"Trust me Sir," Cid said. He looked down at the young girl. "You want this spear rammed down your throat? If not, you'd better talk. Stealing from me and my pal is a very dangerous thing to do." To mark his words, the spear went very close to the girl's throat.

"All right!" The girl said, exasperated. Cid removed the spear from her throat, smiling at Reeve. Reeve looked astounded, but pleased with the situation.

"Tell us who you are," he said.

"Yuffie Kisaragi," she said proudly. "Heir to the Wutai throne."

"Wutai? That's on another continent!" Cid exclaimed. "How did you get here?!"

"By Gold Chocobo. It's tied up outside Bone Village." She produced a small, harp instrument from her pocket. "I dug this up and used it."

"I thought we had the only Lunar Harp," Cloud whispered to Cid.

"There's more than one," Cid told him. He turned back to Yuffie. "Please continue."

"My father-that's Godo, Wutai's Emperor-had a Gold Chocobo. I...borrowed it."

"You stole it," Cid translated. Yuffie looked indignant.

"Did not!"

"Whatever." Cid rolled his eyes. Yuffie cast him an evil look and looked back to Reeve.

"My father would be furious to find out about this." Reeve looked at her for a moment, studying her.

"How old are you?" He eventually asked.

"Sixteen." Reeve glanced at Aeris.

"Sixteen," he repeated. He sighed. "Well, we have two options. We either inform Godo about this, and let him punish you. Or we can punish you ourselves, and Godo will not be told."

"I don't want my father to know," Yuffie repeated. "Any punishment you give is better than that."

"Then be it so." He glanced at Cid and Cloud. "First, apologise. Then I will decide what shall be done with you." Yuffie glanced at the two men.

"I'm sorry I stole your Materia," she said quietly.

"So you should be," Cid said. "Brat." He turned and walked out of the throne room, almost bumping into Zack.

"What's going on?" Zack asked. He cast a glance at Yuffie. "Who is this?" He asked sharply.

"A thief," Reeve said. "She entered the palace gardens and stole our guest's Materia." Zack looked at Cloud.

"Have they got it back now?" He asked.

"Yes," Yuffie said. "I gave it back."

"Then surely the problem is resolved?" Aeris looked at Zack, surprised.

"She stole from them!"

"Sir," Zack said, turning to Reeve. "I could understand if they stole from Aeris, or Reno, or someone who lives here. But a guest stealing from a guest..."

"She is not a guest!" Aeris said angrily. "She trespassed! She stole!"

"And they have the stolen items back now," Zack repeated. "Then it's resolved."

"What is wrong with you?!" Aeris yelled. Zack looked at her, a little surprised at her anger. Reeve was casting a surprised glance at her as well. "She stole!"

"I agree with him," Yuffie said, pointing at Zack ."I co-operated. I gave their Materia back .Everything's all right."

"Shut up!" Aeris yelled at Yuffie, who immediately did so. The venom in Aeris's voice was unmistakable. She turned back to Zack, who was now looking at her impassively.

"Aeris, I don't understand why you're getting angry," he said gently, approaching her. "That's not like you." He brought a hand up to touch her cheek, but she pulled away.

"Don't touch me!" She hissed. Zack backed away a little, looking hurt.

"Aeris..." Reeve began.

"No!" Aeris shouted. She turned to Reeve. "Don't you understand, Father?! If you don't punish her, she'll do it again!"

"No," Yuffie said hurriedly. "No, I won't. Not from you." Catching Aeris's gaze, she quickly added, "or anyone!" Aeris looked at Cloud, who was wide eyed in shock. He could see the situation was getting out of hand, but made no move to stop it. He knew the chances of getting yelled at were very high. She glanced back at Zack.

"Aeris," Zack said, approaching her again. "We can't punish a kid."

"A kid!" Aeris pointed to the star-shape the girl was clutching. "She has a weapon, Materia and is obviously a good fighter!"

"Yeah, I am," Yuffie agreed. She held up the star. "This is a shuriken." Finally realising what Zack had said, she added, "oh, but I'm a kid at heart really. Just a kid."

"Oh, be quiet!" Aeris said irritably. She looked back at Zack again. "I know why you don't want to punish her, and it has nothing to do with her age." She shook her head. "And it's pathetic." With that, she stalked out of the room. Zack turned round to Cloud, anger in his eyes.

"Now look what you've done!" Cloud looked at him indignantly.

"Me?!" He said. "I haven't said a word!"

"You didn't have to." He turned to Reeve. "I don't think this girl should be punished. She only wants her to be because she stole from him." He pointed at Cloud, almost spiting the last word. He cast Cloud an evil gaze and walked from the room. Cloud watched him leave, wide eyed. He looked at Reeve, who was looking at him regretfully.

"Perhaps we should start making those enquiries," he said slowly. Cloud didn't answer, but just walked from the room calmly. The moment he was outside, he clenched his fists. Zack was beginning to get on his nerves. Just one incident had given him a reason to voice his hatred. He slowly walked back to his room, and was surprised to find Aeris there.

"I don't think you being here is a good idea," he said slowly.

"I don't care," Aeris said. "Zack can think what he wants." She turned to him. "He just has a problem with jealously." Cloud entered the room, closing the door.

"I still don't think it's such a great idea." Aeris ignored him.

"Let's go for a walk," she said quietly, standing up and smiling at him. Before he could protest, she had taken his hand and led him out the room. As soon as they were outside, he let go of her hand.

"Aeris..."

"Zack needs to be shown."

"I don't think us going for a walk is going to help him realise you're still in love with him."

"Just...shut up," she said, leading him out the palace gates. "Shut up."

Let me enjoy this, she thought. While I can.

*******************

Zack watched them leave from his window, silently seething. If she wanted to be with that other man, fine. But she wouldn't be able to do it, seeing how they were engaged. A fact she seemed to have forgotten. A smile crossed his lips. He could make he remember, even if he had to use force. He opened up a drawer in his desk and pulled out a card. He dialled the number, one he never thought he'd have to use. The phone rang a few times and connected.

"Hello?" Zack said. "Is that Mr. Valentine?"

"It is indeed," a voice answered. Zack smiled again.

"Great. A have a job for you..."