Everything was fine, fantastic and much better than Tifa could have imagined. The fair was a glorious sight to behold, large crowds, rides, games popcorn and cotton candy. After a quick lecture e to her date, no magic, no intimidating and most importantly don't shovel food into your mouth they were on their way. After a few odd looks, the outfit had to change. With a quick stop at a downtown fashion shop, Tifa brought up the suggestion if work.

"I think this would be beneficial, to both of us." Tifa smiled from her seat on the train. Driving in Midgar was as effective as nipples on a boar hog. Sephiroth lifted a brow at this, what job was there for a djinn such as himself?

"Oh yes, I agree. Your boyfriend would make a fantastic model. Those eyes alone," the old woman beside Tifa fanned herself, exaggerating the movement. Tifa lifted her hand, holding up a finger but decided against correcting the woman's assumptions. The woman continued to talk, not looking to see if either youngin, as she referred to them, was paying attention. She continued to do so even as they stepped off the train.

It seemed everyone teens milled about in groups, young couples, couples with kids. Right beside the entrance stood Aerith, pink and frilly as ever, beside her was Cloud, umbrella in hand. Tifa smiled, chest tightening as she swallowed the vision that was Cloud Strife. The young man could make a potato sack look amazing.

Aerith waved at them, "Tifa! Over here!" Cloud smiled, wincing at his girlfriend's yelling. Tifa waved back, turning to the djinn, wrapping her arm around his.

"That's Cloud," she pointed to the handsome blond. Her voice dropped into a growl, "and that's Aerith. His …"

Sephiroth looked down, "woman."

Tifa pulled a face, half scrunched, "well I wouldn't call her that. Like bed warmer."

"Is he not with her?" Tifa pinched the inside of his arm as a warning. He may have been right but, it didn't matter.

"Just don't do anything I wouldn't or would. Just stand there, look nice, be nice. Don't talk." Sephiroth frowned but kept his mouth closed. As they drew closer, Tifa smiled and pulled Aerith into a to a tight hug. Turning to Cloud she gave him a hug as well, earning a glare from Aerith as she lingered a bit too long. When it appeared Cloud was not letting the brunette go, Aerith stepped in clearing her throat.

"Who is your friend Tifa?"

Reluctantly Tifa let Cloud go, "Sephiroth, this is Aerith." Aerith held her hand out, smiling sweetly as the tall man bent down kissing the palm of her hand. Cloud tensed, moving away from Tifa, jealously moving close to his girlfriend. Aerith cheeks reddened giggling at the gesture.

"It's a pleasure to met you Miss Aerith." The woman's breath caught and she swallowed not used to geniality. Fickle, Sephiroth dropped her hand looking at Cloud's outstretched hand.

"Cloud." Sephiroth took the offered appendage which automatically tightened in crushing strength. Cloud jerked back as if the mans had scolded him, Sephiroth had returned the gesture, nearly crushing the bones in the blonde hand. "How do you know Tifa?"

Aerith frowned, wrapping her arm around Cloud's, "I'm sure they met somehow Cloud. Let's just have fun." She jerked her boyfriend towards the gate, Tifa following with Sephiroth bringing up the rear.

Cloud glanced back at the man, already hating him and that face. Cloud leaned into Aerith, "I don't like him."

Aerith smacked Cloud's arm, "Its cause he's cute huh?" She smiled then, "If it makes you feel better, you're not so bad your self."

Cloud smiled, Aerith beside his ear whispering. With a slight tug on a spike of hair, she turned to the other pair. "There is a battle arena this year, want to try it Tif?"

Tifa frowned, "don't you have to beat the reigning champ to get the belt?"

Cloud strolled through the turn style, then turned around, walking backward, "are you afraid you're going to lose? I'll take it easy on you."

Scoffing, Tifa crossed her arms, "are you challenging me Cloud Strife?"

"I'm making an offer."

Tifa stepped forward ready to accept the challenge. "A woman's place is not in a fight." Tifa turned glaring at the djinn. Hadn't she told him not to talk, she recalled she had.

Cloud chuckled, "are you going to talk her place?"

Sephiroth looked to his fuming master then the blond, "yes."

Aerith looked between the two, "winner gets a date with me and Tifa. Loser has to pay." Tifa glared at the other girl. On one hand, if Cloud won, which he most likely would, she would get a date with him, on that same side she would have to pay as Sephiroth, to her knowledge was fairly destitute. On the other side, well, she didn't want to date the magical being, but Aerith seemed to have taken a liking to him and well, Tifa couldn't have that.

Tifa hopped over, grabbing Aerith's hand, "yes! Sounds like a plan." Cloud smiled, this wouldn't be hard at all.

Aerith winced, hiding behind her hands. Not many people attempted to fight in the Battle Arena, as the number of fighters dwindled the crowd grew larger. Cloud had easily surpassed the human contestants and quickly decimated the monster realm, a highly specialized arena for those who actually knew how to fight. Cloud, it seemed, would retain his title of Master Swordsman. However, it wasn't Cloud that had drawn the crowd.

"A nodachi?" A man nearby scoffed, a Shinra pin on his lapel.

"Wutaian most likely, filthy scum."

Tifa glared at the two men then looked back at the man in the ring. Sephiroth stood silently in the center, Aerith cheering loudly.

"Did you know he could fight?" The Cetra looked at Tifa quizzically. "It's like a dance, with Cloud it's just hacking."

Tifa frowned, of course, she didn't doubt Cloud's fighting technique, but she hadn't expected Sephiroth to be proficient. A loud gasp drew their attention back to the ring. A giant Nibel dragon stalked out of the cages, the crowd falls silent.

"He's a goner for sure. Only Cloud can kill those." The dragon angered from being taken from it's home, for being made to show off for the pleasure of these humans growled, smoke rising from its nostrils and open maw. It stopped as the lone figure caught its eye, the long nodachi held loosely in a lazy stance. Growling with glee, he would tear this puny being asunder.

Stomping forward, the dragon inhaled readying for its attack. Blue faded to yellow as the dragon swirled it's head, fanning its flameout at the man. Aerith brought a hand to her mouth, no one could survive that. All Tifa heard was screaming, it was her, throat raw as she yelled at him. He was a djinn, had he planned to kill himself this way, in a dragons blaze!

The flame died down, the bright haze of light disappearing. Satisfied the dragon turned to the spectators ready to scorch them. The crowd leaned forward, eyes wide in the center of the ring stood the challenger not a scratch or mark on him. The nodachi stood erect, the sheath of the sword driven into the cement flooring.

The dragon growled, puny human you will die. Sephiroth smiled, the dragon narrowed its eyes realizing too late that this was not a human. The crowd drew back as dragon blood splattered along the clear globe, prices of the majestic beast flung around the area catching fire as the reptiles bladder was punctured by the steel. The crowd quieted, mouths open as they absorbed the devastation in the ring. Sephiroth looked at Tifa and Aerith then to the two men who had mocked his choice of weapon. Both men squeaked, ogling the swordsman.

"That was amazing!" They gushed. Around them, the crowd erupted into a cheer. The djinn flicked the blood from the sword, slid it back to its sheath and with a twist of his wrist pulled the jammed stealth from the cement and stepped out. A red light fell over the area and the pa system announced the arena would be closed for repairs but would be open within the next hour.

Cloud frowned as Tifa and Aerith rushed up to him, "Did you see that? The way he took the dragon fire, it was…oh wow, just so awesome!" Aerith bounced nearly jumping Sephiroth as he appeared.

Cloud narrowed his eyes, "so you know how to use a sword." Sephiroth paid no heed to the blond looking over Tifa's seething face. He was ruining her chances with Cloud. She turned away, Cloud stepping away as well. "I won't go easy on you."

A smile appeared, "I don't expect you to."

Cloud shook his head, following after Tifa" let's go get something to eat."

This was where the fair double date turned into a mess. Cloud loved noodles much to his father's displeasure. The two girls sat in stunned silence, their waiter beside the table as the two men seemingly turned the meal into a competition. They where both on their fifth bowl and while Tifa knew the Battle Arena was tough, a tough battle even for a man of Cloud's caliber. Tifa had also witnessed Sephiroth ratting her out of house and home, that was only three hours ago. Two more large steaming bowls appeared, Tifa and Aerith's having long since cooled.

"Where do they put it?" Aerith whispered, slightly disgusted at the two. Tifa just shook her head speechless. Tifa studied the djinn, noticing the markings on his face had easily come off in the shower and with his hair out of the taunt ponytail, it draped around him. He had actually smiled when she suggested letting it down like a chain had been broken. Cloud and Sephiroth sat back, bowls empty.

The waiter's jaw dropped, "six bowls…of noodles." The man walked away shaking his head. Returning with the bill, Cloud snatched it handing over his credit card.

"Are you ready to lose?"

Sephiroth smiled, "You have that much confidence?"

"That much skill." The two smiled, neither cared about taking the two girls on a date; Sephiroth didn't to begin with and Cloud felt it was an attempt by Aerith to make him jealous. It worked, for a few minutes.

"The arena is open." The waiter handed Cloud his card, "There is a new challenger, the guy is good too. He just finished the last round of the Monster Quest."

Cloud thanked the man, then looked at Sephiroth, "your up first."

The crowd had returned to the Battle Arena, lining up near the underground entrance, cheering, waving pictures of Cloud and Sephiroth. Tifa balked, how did they get his picture, and so fast.

"You know my father," Cloud glanced at the two Turks by the entrance. Reno and Rude smiled watching the silver-haired man as he walked past. Tifa and Aerith glanced at each other, as the gate shut behind Cloud, the Turks looking out from the other side.

The arena was charged, people clamoring for the front row. A young blond Turk met them at the door, Elena, Aerith whispered as the woman led them to a seating area reserved for them

Tseng nodded as the three women joined. Rufus and Lazard stood in front of the box, looking down at the arena. Tifa frowned, having the older Shinra siblings around and the Turks were never good news.

"Miss Lockhart, Moss Gainsborough how nice if you to join us." Rufus smiled at the two women, Lazard glanced at them then back down at the arena as two figures entered.

In the back of the box, a shy low emitted. "My, these two are delicious. How come I have never seen you two flowers." Tseng glared at the man in the back, the sun lights if the box seat illuminated his shaved head and heart tattoo.

"Don," it was Lazard, the eldest moving away from the window. "these ladies are our guest. I'm sure Tseng will have no issue remembering your body." The Turk smiled, it would be a dream come true. Corneo glared, petulant brat.

"They are lovely creatures." Don defended than shut up as Tseng turned his foot.

Tifa looked away first, "Why are we here Rufus?"

Rufus motioned for them to move closer, it wasn't out of protection. Don knew not to mess with the girls, once they were gone he could care less. "This man," he pointed at Sephiroth. In the arena, two swords clashed, one red the other the nodachi. "Two of my employees say he's a great swordsman. He withstood the breath of a dragon." Rufus smiled the snake. While Tifa supported Yuffie's relationship with the vice president, and they had a friendship, she knew how he really was. Rufus was always looking out for himself, and his brothers, but mostly himself. "How did you meet?"

Aerith wasn't fond of any of Cloud's relatives or the Turks, Tseng was a gentleman but still a danger. She had to admit, she was just as curious as Rufus was on how Tifa and this man had met. Tifa looked down to the fight, the challenger was cloaked, meeting Sephiroth hit for hit. She felt bad for Cloud, he would not win against either man. "A café."

"Yours?"

"No," Tifa looked at Rufus, his hands held in his pockets. "The one in Donatello Ave."

Rufus nodded, "I see. He is infinitely a better sword master than Cloud. Tseng, this sword technique, it is Wutaian?"

"Yes, sir."

Rufus nodded, "word spread fast, it's not every year the Battle Arena is closed because of dragon chunks." Lazard chuckled.

"I would like to meet him."

Tifa shook her head, "Oh no. See, he's here visiting a cousin and will be leaving soon."

"Then we will arrange one."

Tifa looked to Aerith for help. The girl shrugged, once Shinra had their sights set, there was virtually no escape. Rufus and Lazard looked at each other, then to Tifa, "we will be by tomorrow morning, for breakfast. Please have him join us." The two turned away from Aerith and Tifa, that was the end. No fighting, no compromises to be made. Elena let them out. Tifa frowned, pushing the way to the front of the stands, the two girls watched, shocked as the challenger flew into a wall, recovering as if nothing had happened.

So I wanted to move this a bit faster. I finally figured out Zackers. I had a cat named Zack once, he was so sweet and when i would taoe a shower he woukd sit on the door track and touch my shoulder.