Chapter 4: The Gold Tournament

It had been about a week since Aeris had been revived. Cef stuck to her like glue. He was being very protective of her, ironic as he was the younger sibling.The first day Aeris was having trouble walking, not having used her legs for four years. Cef helped her along, and in a few hours she was walking fine. They had dropped Barret off at Kalm where he lived with Marlene and Elmyra. And Cloud was just happy to have Aeris back. One day, Cloud's PHS rang.

"Hello?" Cloud said into the phone.

"Hey Cloud, it's Yuffie." said Yuffie (obviously) on the other end of the line. "So, did ya hear?"

"Hear what?" Cloud asked.

"The Gold Saucer's Battle Square is holding a martial arts tournaments for the sixteen people with the highest scores, and naturally the eight of us are invited. And someone else named Cef. He got a MAJOR high score. Heh heh, he sure made you look like crap. Oh, and the tournament's in a week."

"Thanks Yuffie," Yuffie was still giggling when Cloud cut the line.

"So Cloud," Cef asked, "what did Yuffie want?"

"She called to tell me there's going to be a tournament at the Gold Saucer for the high score holders in the Battle Square." Cloud answered. "Oh, and she said you make me look like crap."

"Cloud," Aeris said, "don't use language like that around Cef. He's just a baby."

"Y'know," Cef said, "Technically I've been alive longer than you have."

"Yes, but I was born twenty-six years ago."

"You were re-born a week ago."

"Yer both bickerin' like God damn two year olds" Cid said, finishing their argument. Aeris put her hands on Cef's ears, but he brushed them away.

"So Cloud," Cef asked, "when is the tournament?"

"In a week."

"Good, well then I better get training." Cef began to walk off when Aeris said,

"I don't see why, your not entering the tournament."

"WHAT!" Cef yelled. "I'm the high score holder."

"You're also twelve. And it's dangerous even for an adult."

"But I'm stronger than all the other entrants"

"Hey," Cloud and Cid said simultaneously.

"It's not safe." Aeris said.

"But they forbid non-lethal weapons when two people fight."

"So you'll get your organs ruptured by a wooden sword?"

"I'm not gonna get my organs ruptured!" (Cef was slightly skeptical that he had actually said 'gonna.')

"Sure, you say that now."

"The slums of Midgar were more dangerous then this tournament."

"I don't care. You're not entering, and that's final. Besides, I'm the closest thing you have to a legal guardian, which means the law is on my side."

"You're not the boss of me!"

"Okay, okay," Cloud interrupted, "Cef, calm down, Aeris, these tournaments are perfectly safe. Cef'll have me watching out for him, so you know he's safe." Cloud stifled a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Cef yelled.

"Oh, nothing much," Cloud said while still holding back his laughs, "just that this conversation has dispelled any doubts that you two are brother and sister."

"What does that mean?" Cef and Aeris said in perfect unison. Then Cid started to get it.

"Oh, I see. Yeah, I guess that is pretty funny."

"What?"

"When Cef said 'You're not the boss of me' he sounded just like every other little sibling on the Planet." Cloud said. Cloud and Cid looked at each other, thenburst out laughing together. Aeris ignored them and said to Cef:

"Well, if Cloud says it's safe than I suppose it is. You can enter the tournament." Cef's face beamed, then he ran forward and hugged Aeris.

"Thanks sis," he said before running off to his room.

"Cloud," Aeris said, but Cloud was still laughing. "Cloud," Cloud kept on laughing. "CLOUD!"

"What?" Cloud said, wiping tears from his eyes.

"Are you sure this tournament is safe? Cef might be strong, but he's little. If he fought some really big guy than, even if he did win the man could still fall on him. I just want to make sure he's safe."

"Trust me," Cloud said, "these tournaments are perfectly safe. Besides, the chances of Cef being up against some really big guy are slim to none."