First, he figured he should find some place to unpack their stuff. Materia clunked together in his toolbelt and gleamed on the knuckles of his gloves. He'd need a safe area to put them down as well as his sword and the myriad of other supplies they'd always force him to lug around. Just because he was strong didn't mean he was a pack mule. Honestly.

At first glance, Costa del Sol looked like sparkling mass of golden huts. Everything was beige and peach, and the shimmery heat in the air transformed the buildings in the distance into sandstone castles with coral for roofs. It was an aquatic kingdom, with the ocean visible at literally every angle so that the effect put you in a tourist paradise, replete with enough shops to bankrupt you. But, happily bankrupt you. Cloud made a mental note to see what materia and weapons were offered here.

Like any other stop in their travels, they'd need to secure a few hotel rooms. Cloud decided to start there, passing by the main square of Costa del Sol with eager, yet tired eyes. Red XIII lounged against the hotel, soaking in the sun so that he positively glowed. He already looked asleep to Cloud, although Red XIII had a habit of looking asleep when he was in fact perceiving everything else around him. He probably noticed Cloud as Cloud passed on by, entering the alarming shade of the hotel's interior. It was like a light switch went off, drowning him in darkness.

A few moments were needed to let his eyes adjust, but right away, Cloud spotted Barret at the pool table in the room off to the right.

"You fuckin' bastard," his voice boomed out. Cloud's gaze snapped to the man Barret played against and stifled a laugh as the man's face paled. He looked completely out of his element; compared to Barret, he was the size of a mouse. But Barret could be persuasive when it came to pool, and so the man probably felt he had no choice but to accept a game or billiards just in fear of what Barret would do if he said no.

"That was a good shot!" Barret mumbled angrily. His thick, dark brows furrowed as a scowl bloomed across his face. "But it'll be the last one you get. Hey, Cloud!"

Cloud waved at Barret noncommittally—he just jerked his hand. "Hey, I'm probably going swimming after I book us some rooms. I think Yuffie might be down there too if you want to join."

Hope—fresh and sharp—cut into Barret's opponent and the man visibly perked up at the thought of Barret leaving. He wrung his hands on the billiard pole and tried to sound nonchalant as he spoke.

"You should go! I won't mind."

Barret's eyes narrowed into slits and he tilted his head at the dismissal. "You're just trying to get me to forfeit, ain't ya? Well, too bad. It's not gonna work." And without another glance at Cloud, Barret went back to his game, shoulders bowing over the table like brown mountains. Cloud shrugged to himself and stalked across the main hall until he arrived at the check-in counter. A man who looked so bored he came off catatonic manned it. As Cloud thought, the rooms would be expensive. He tipped the coins into the clerk's passive hands and selected the two rooms in the back of the building.

xxxxxxxxxx

Buying swim trunks had been an ordeal on its own. Of course it was. Strange things happened to Cloud every day and this had just been another instance where life was trying to tell him that the world was insane. Not him because of the voices in his head or the visions, but the world. The world was literally crazy.

Halfway towards the beach, it'd occurred to Cloud that he didn't have any swimming trunks. And no way was he going to swim in his underwear. The potential for embarrassment was far too high to ever entertain the thought. Mumbling a string of dark oaths, Cloud scowled at the thought of spending any more money and made his way towards a general shop. The cashier had been a cheerful looking man who read a magazine that sported two very naked women on the cover—women who were doing unconscionable things to each other—and Cloud's eyes slid over the images quickly as he'd headed to the side of the store that advertised swim-wear.

The color really didn't matter to him. Nor the pattern. After ten seconds of deliberation, Cloud had picked out shorts that looked more khaki than anything else, and he'd pushed the material onto the check-out counter. The cashier continued on reading for several seconds more than courtesy usually allowed, and Cloud's eyebrows slowly furrowed, dark lines blackening them as he waited patiently to be noticed.

"Um, hello?"

"Hey," the cashier replied. His eyes remained glued to the magazine. Cloud fought the urge to rip it out of his hands. Just as the his fingers started to curl into fists, the cashier—his name tag read Larbeight—rang up the trunks quickly and without comment on the magazine or his own rudeness. In fact, he didn't really even look at Cloud. The man named Larbeight looked like the average male, if a little more attractive. He was lanky but in the athletic way, and his eyes were soft and almond shaped.

Whatever.

Cloud just wanted his stuff. As soon as the transaction was done, Larbeight had went back to sitting on his stool behind the counter, the inappropriate magazine already back in his hands. If he was that confident about his pornography habits, Cloud supposed that was fine, but still.

Weird. Insane.

"Can I use the changing room?" Cloud had reluctantly asked. He never wanted to speak to the man again after this exchange.

"Mhm." Yet again, no eye contact was established, but Cloud didn't complain. In long strides, Cloud had shuffled into the changing room—a mere stall with a curtain for privacy—and shed his armor. He'd pulled the trunks on and tied the strings so that they wouldn't slip off his hips—hips, he realized, that used to have a lot more to them. He'd also made a mental note to eat as much as he could here. Clearly, constantly being on the road was not conductive to retaining a healthy weight.

Now, as the soft sand dissolved under his feet, the slight rage that had built up from the whole transaction began to loosen and seep out of his body and into the warm atmosphere. He dropped his armor unceremoniously behind a pile of rocks that looked safe enough and immediately spotted the three girls already waist deep in the ocean's bay. The sun highlighted them like individual spotlights, and Cloud shuffled his way towards them, absently acknowledging that they were also in swimsuits…

…which were expensive, so where did they get the money for them, exactly?

"Hey, Cloud!" Yuffie shouted. She cupped her hands around her mouth and then waved him over, and Cloud tried not to flinch as Aerith and Tifa's subsequent gazes turned to him. He could feel them scan over his body, looking, analyzing, comparing… maybe even judging. And it wasn't that Cloud didn't have a body to be proud of—on the contrary. Still, it was hard not to feel like he was a specimen in a lab and researchers had come to poke and prod him.

Then again, he supposed that the same could be same for the girls as well. All three wore two-pieces that showcased the majority of their skin, so of course, Cloud did his very best not to look at them for too long lest they feel uncomfortable under his own scrutiny. Still… he managed to sneak in a glance or two.

Tifa sported a dark red bikini. The top was a halter and clung around her neck while the bottoms were plain. It was a simple suit with no design on it—just a single maroon color. The color of rich blood. The color of her eyes. Her entire body was corded with impressive muscle—Cloud knew that—but undressed as she was, it was all the more noticeable. Cloud felt a weird, strange proudness come over him. Tifa was strong and he knew it, but the physical evidence only reaffirmed the pride he felt at being best friends with a woman that could shatter ribs with a single punch to the gut.

Tifa smiled as he stepped into the water and like Yuffie, also waved him over. Her abdominal muscles rippled with definition at the movement and Cloud thought he could practically see the red glow of her eyes from where he stood. She looked radiant. Radiant, tall, and powerful.

He returned Tifa's smile with a more timid version of his own. His gaze next slid over Aerith who was an immediately contrast to Tifa in every conceivable way. Her body was wrapped in a pink suit, and small, wavy ruffles adorned her chest, meanwhile there were two bows fastened on either side of the bottoms. It took a few moments to realize that the suit was the exact color of the ribbon in her braid. A smart choice! Aerith seemed more shy than Tifa did—her smile betrayed her, her slow grin a trickle of water compared to the raging river of Tifa's.

Cloud didn't stare, but it was clear at first glance that there were major differences between Tifa's body and Aerith's. Aerith was soft, the muscles on her bones covered with smooth, pale skin that was flawless. No scars, no abrasions or marks, just a vast, endless map of snow-white flesh. Aerith was fierce and protective and capable, but she was no warrior. Not like Tifa was, with the various, healed cuts that adorned her arms and legs from battle. Cloud tried not to think of what it'd feel like to run his fingers over the curve of Aerith's shoulders or wrists. Especially because both girls were watching his every move and where his eyes traveled.

He should have bought sunglasses.

Yuffie was the only one of the girls who looked bored. She didn't smile as Cloud approached, and her eyes only raked over his body once before she began picking the seaweed that clung to her suit. Yuffie's particular bathing suit was an emerald green. The top was a crochet wrap-around that was peasant-styled and hung off her shoulders, accentuating the graceful curve of her collar bones. The bottoms were also crochet and hugged her hips at high angles. If Cloud were to compare her body to Tifa and Aerith's, he'd classify her build as a runner's, with long, lean muscles that were neither prominent or missing, but instead a much more subtle version of Tifa's. Whereas Tifa was all power, Yuffie was all speed, and it showed. There was something to be said for the agility of a thief-ninja. Something unparalleled about it.

"Hey," Cloud said as he came to a stop in front of them. The ocean water was warm and inviting, rippling against his lower belly with gentle swells. Tifa and Aerith beamed at him while Yuffie simply smirked, her eyes watching how he clapped an uncomfortable hand to the back of his neck.

"Nice abs, leader," she said. She folded her arms across her chest and the straps of her bikini slipped minutely down her skin. "You're positively dreamy."

It was so obvious what she was trying to do. What she always tried to do. Which was make him more uncomfortable than he already was—and she was good at it too. He tried not to glare at her but might have failed, he didn't know. Was the tightness in the center of his face an indicator that he was frowning? Yuffie said nothing but looked pleased with herself. Tifa and Aerith exchanged slow, nervous smiles. Great. Everyone was laughing at him.

He suddenly and excruciatingly regretted going swimming.

"Um… out of curiosity, how did you get those bathing suits anyway?" he asked them. "Where did you get the money?" Considering that Cloud was the one who always handled their finances, it was a strange occurrence to see such expensive, obviously designer-wear on the trio of girls.

Aerith spoke first. "Yuffie promised the cashier she'd cover his shift later tonight."

Cloud raised his eyebrows at that. "And to him, one shift was worth those three suits?" He shifted his eyes back to Yuffie. "You'd only be working a few hours, right?"

Yuffie nodded, seemingly unbothered by Cloud's concern. She fanned out her hair with both hands, tousling it until it lay messily across her forehead.

"…Interesting," was all Cloud said in response.

Tifa's face broke into a grin as Yuffie sighed. Honestly, it was terrifying being the only male among a group of women—in particular, these women. It was like you knew nothing that they did or that they were sitting on a treasure pile of information they'd only give to you as long as you danced for them. It was annoying, but it was more frightening than anything else. Seeing the friendship form between Tifa, Aerith, and Yuffie was nice to watch but it was also intimidating as hell. After a few moments of awkward silence, Yuffie at last relented and took pity on a wary Cloud.

"Oh, all right. The guy—Larbeight—has a date tonight with a tourist girl and he really wants to get laid, so we exchanged the suits for the rest of the shift. I essentially offered to take his place just so that he could get his rocks off, I guess. I know, I know. I might as well be a philanthropist."

Tifa was already giggling the moment Yuffie opened her mouth to speak but when she finished, she was bent over, heaving with the spasms of laughter that ripped through her. Aerith was likewise affected—she had her face in her hands and each shoulder rocked forward. Cloud didn't know if he was more impressed or disgusted by the bargain Yuffie'd struck. On the one hand, Larbeight getting "his rocks off" with anyone was the last mental image Cloud wanted to think about. But on the other hand, it was clear that Yuffie was a master of manipulation and that that particular ability would come in handy during their travels. If she knew how to haggle, well, let's just say it made for easier transactions in the future.

Cloud pursed his lips before replying because he wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or frown. Maybe both.

"Yeah, I met Larbeight. Hell of a guy. Nice magazine he had, too."

Tifa and Aerith only laughed harder, and to his surprise, even Yuffie cracked a grin. "The pornography? Yeah, we saw that too. The poor guy must really be pent-up or something, I don't know. It's all a bit sad, frankly."

Cloud felt his mouth split open before he had a chance to modulate it. It was just so ridiculous—so like Yuffie to get herself into a situation like this.

"So!" she said, smacking her palms together.

Uh-oh. Nothing ever good happened when she did that.

"Who wants to play chicken?"

Aerith's hand shot straight into the air and she jumped up. Seawater splashed all around her, inadvertently wetting her face. She shook her head free of the droplets. "I do! I do!"

Yuffie next looked to Tifa, success already written across her face. For a moment, Tifa's eyes narrowed and she seemed to scowl at the idea of the game, but Yuffie's expression of triumph was too funny. Tifa rolled her eyes, exhaling sharply as she did. "Okay. Fine. I'll play."

"Excellent," Yuffie hissed. Her eyes shone bright with playfulness and she immediately darted forward towards Cloud. "I'm on Cloud's team!"

Cloud flinched as Yuffie rose up on her toes and threw an arm around her shoulder. Vaguely, he was aware of her body pressed to his, but her assumption that he was also playing took the forefront of his mind instead.

"Who said I was even playing?"

Yuffie tilted her gaze up to his. "I did. And Tifa. And Aerith. Right?" She cast each of them quick and furtive glances. While the both of them frowned at the casual contact between Yuffie and Cloud, Tifa and Aerith eventually smiled in unison, mischief coloring their eyes as Cloud was savagely rendered outnumbered.

"Right!"

"Yep."

Women.

Before he knew it, Yuffie's hands were on Cloud's shoulders, pushing him under the water. He supposed he could spare one game, right? He inhaled deeply and dropped to his knees, feeling the soft, muddy sand of the ocean floor dig into his knee-caps. In a matter of moments he felt Yuffie straddle his shoulders, slipping each leg over his chest with ease, and Cloud rose back up, straightening himself as he fastened his hands on her legs.

He felt Yuffie push the hair out of his eyes for him. "I always wondered what your hair looked like wet," she said happily. Blinking water, Cloud stifled a laugh and watched as Aerith similarly mounted Tifa.

"Um," he said, "Is this going to be fair?"

Tifa glowered darkly at Cloud's taunt and threw her knuckles into his sternum. Jolted by the force, Cloud stumbled backwards, and the laugh he just stifled spilled out of his throat.

"Worry about your own damn self!" Tifa shouted.

Aerith, like Yuffie, gently brushed away the strands of wet hair that stuck to Tifa's face and neck. "Yeah! You're awfully presumptuous for someone with a thief sitting astride your shoulders!"

"HEY!"

Yuffie's scream of defiance elicited laughter from all three of them.

"I didn't say that you were a common thief!"

"No, but the implication was there!"

"Was not!"

"Consider your materia GONE, Aerith. You hear me? GONE. All mine now."

Yuffie slapped a palm against Cloud's cheek and pointed forward, toward Aerith's smug face.

"Charge!"

Not one to argue, Cloud lunged forward, steeling his fingers atop Yuffie's muscled calves. He felt the shudder of initial contact between her and Aerith as they grabbed each other's arms and thrashed. Cloud and Tifa engaged in a battle of their own beneath the water, as she struck out with her heel, landing blows against his shins and ankles. They exchanged wicked grins and Cloud ducked for a moment, taking water into his mouth only to spit it out at Tifa's face.

"Okay, gross!" she yelled. Tifa mimicked this and Cloud allowed the water to splash his face. He laughed and clutched onto Yuffie's legs tighter than before as he felt her start to waver.

"Don't let Aerith win, Yuffie! She called you a common thief!"

"I did not!"

"Did too!" Yuffie yelled.

With a savage shove, Yuffie disarmed Aerith entirely, and she toppled off Tifa's shoulders with a resounding splash. Tifa, yanked down by the force, also crashed into the water. Cloud raised a hand to Yuffie and she high-fived it eagerly, kicking her heels lightly into Cloud's pectoral muscles.

"In your face!" she said as Tifa and Aerith re-surfaced. "So much for a common thief."

As Tifa shook out her abundance of hair, Aerith sighed, adjusting the ruffles on her bikini top so that they lay flat against her chest. "I didn't call you a common thief!"

"Yeah, yeah. Semantics," Yuffie mumbled. Cloud allowed himself to laugh at her dismissal of Aerith, which earned him a glare.

"Oh, okay. Take her side, then!"

Cloud winked impishly at Aerith, "Is there even a side to take considering we already won?"

"Oh…good one, Cloud."

"Shut it, Yuffie."

"Come up here and make me, Aerith."

Meanwhile, Tifa watched on with knowing eyes, and she cracked her knuckles while the two girls had their spat. She looked to Cloud next. "Man… Aerith doesn't take losing well, does she?"

"I heard that!"

Aerith splashed water into Tifa's face, and Tifa only grinned despite the salt water in her eyes. "Like I said," she sputtered, "A sore loser."

Cloud just thought it was cute. Or maybe the word was endearing. Either way, it was slightly like watching a toddler having their toy be taken away from them. It was good to see such normal interactions. There was no Sephiroth here. There was no time for exhaustion or paranoia or fear. There was only the ocean, the sun, and the food they'd get into later on. Cloud's stomach practically rumbled with longing.

"Want to play again?" he asked.

Aerith's green eyes lit up with opportunity and she practically jumped onto Tifa's back. "You're on."

"You know," Tifa said as Aerith climbed up her body, "You could ask."

The next game of chicken was more interesting as Aerith had more fight in her. She gripped Yuffie's hands and forearms with fury and jerked them back and forth without reprieve. Yuffie was strong but she became worn out, and as she slid off Cloud's shoulders, he somehow remained standing despite her fall.

"Nice job," he said to the two girls. Yuffie surfaced a moment later, dark, short hair clung to her face. Tifa and Aerith exchanged a high-five. They played several more games of chicken and the two girls on top soon became ravenous with revenge. Their arms burned with effort, their eyes blazed with indignation—they were relentless, pushing back and forth, striving to unseat the other with every fiber of their being. Frankly, it looked like good exercise.

When both Yuffie and Aerith tumbled off, Cloud stretched out his shoulders, hearing the joints pop in their sockets. "So… I'm ready to be done."

Tifa mirrored him, extending her elbows far in front of her. Her cheeks with red with exertion. "I am too. I am so hungry."

"Same," Aerith said as she righted herself. She began squeezing the water out of her braid and checked that the pink ribbon in her hair had stayed put. "What are we going to do about dinner?"

Cloud shrugged. "We'll figure something out. I'm sure there's restaurants nearby."

"Hey," Yuffie whined, sticking out her lower lip. "What about me? I have to work! Don't I get dinner too?"

Aerith smoothed back the fringe from her face. "You could always steal dinner."

"Aerith, do you like your clothes? Because I'd shut up if I were you." Yuffie stared at her dangerously, her eyes like slits. Aerith simply smiled and stuck out her tongue.

"Just kidding!"

Tifa and Cloud, as usual, watched the exchange with an air of resignation. There was no stopping the two once the bickering began, but they usually settled things on their own. After awhile.

"We'll get you food," Tifa promised. Yuffie rolled her eyes at the attempt at diplomacy but seemed to accept this. Ever since that first night in Junon, Yuffie and Tifa had had a weird, silent understanding. Cloud thought that they admired each other's spirit in a strange way. Both girls were fiery and passionate. Both were stubborn as hell too. There was no convincing them about anything. Because of it, it was like they shared a kinship. The bond usually served Tifa well when she had to intervene between Yuffie and Aerith's fighting.

"We might as well start back towards the hotel," Cloud said. He raked each hand through his hair in a weak attempt to arrange the usual spikes back into order. "Where did you all put your clothes, anyway?"

"Beach," Tifa answered. "On some lawn chairs."

"Okay. I hid mine behind some rocks. Want to go now?"

The trio of girls all nodded assent and slowly—even, begrudgingly—they padded their way closer to shore.

"Hey guys," Aerith said, "Is that Larbeight with his date?"

And indeed—it was. On the beach, Larbeight and a young woman sat side by side on white beach chairs. She looked shy if anything, whereas he looked extremely comfortable with himself. He was shirtless and in trunks, and impressive slabs of muscle flexed on his stomach and chest whenever he moved. Larbeight hadn't looked that built from inside the shop, but it was clear he was an athlete.

By the time Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Yuffie had reached the ocean's edge, Larbeight had climbed into his date's chair and settled behind her. While she lay on her front, his hands glided over her shoulder blades as he began to massage her with his thumbs, working at her skin with easy, confident movements. The young woman looked a little abashed at the gesture but allowed the contact, although her shoulders remained high and stiff with tension.

"Is it just me or is he coming on a little too strong?" Tifa muttered. They all watched him with wary gazes, but when Cloud checked, it was Yuffie who looked the most upset. He could see that her teeth were gritted and her jaw locked; she looked as if she held something dangerous and unpleasant in her mouth.

"Yuffie, are you all right?" he asked. His voice was low and quiet, not wanting to be intrusive, but the emptiness on her face was downright alarming, like a sudden hurricane that washed over what was once a calm, ocean front.

Yuffie jerked her head up and down—too severely for it to be normal. "I'm fine." Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith all exchanged worried glances, but made no further comment.

They continued to watch as Larbeight became more and more insistent with his hands. At first, he only massaged his date's shoulders, but soon he became bolder, and worked his thumbs into the sides of her torso, near her breasts. The young woman stiffened further at the touch but did not push his hands away. Still, she looked so wound that it was uncomfortable to witness. It was clear that Larbeight took her silence as an indication that she was fine with his flirtatious touches. From their perspectives, however, it was clear that she wasn't.

Aerith's frown deepened as they finally came ashore. "Geez, he's forward. This is their first date, correct? That's what he said?"

"Yeah," Tifa replied. "Sure looks like it's off to a great start."

The sarcasm was heavy and palpable. Yuffie made no effort to comment—Cloud pretended like he wasn't watching her, but was.

"My clothes are over here," he said, gesturing to the pile of boulders west of the main beach. "Let me grab them real quick."

"Sure," Tifa said. "We'll get ours and then wait for you."

Her red eyes, dimmed with concern, watched Cloud strut off towards the small alcove of rocks. Aerith also followed him with her eyes, but they made their way to the chairs which featured their clothes draped across the tall backs. Yuffie was zeroed in on Larbeight the entire time they walked, a stony, blank expression that spoke of something barren etched deep into her features.

Cloud didn't take long. His strides were long and smooth, and he soon returned, his normal armor clutched in the crook between his wrist and elbow. "Okay," he said, "Let's find Barrett and Red XIII. See what they want for dinner."

He started off in the direction of the beaches entrance, where Larbeight and his date were. They sat in a chair east of the staircase which ascended into the main square, and hot, soft sand cushioned their soles as they all straggled in unison. Only Yuffie remained rigid, her skin so pale and wax-like that it betrayed her earlier words.

"Wait, Larbeight, stop."

They were near the staircase and subsequently, Larbeight and his date. At this distance, Cloud could see Larbeight's fingers lingering on the thin bikini strings tied around the back of the young woman's torso. He playfully pulled at them, threatening her with what looked like exposure.

"Babe, relax. They're in the way. If they're untied I can reach better," they all heard him say. His voice sounded like an oil vat—greasy and slick.

They all saw the young woman hesitate. She obvious wanted to make a good impression—why else would she put up with his behavior—but it was evident that she was torn between what she wanted to say and how she wanted to be perceived. Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith all averted their eyes away from the couple and began climbing the stairs, but Yuffie halted in her tracks, her eyes and face completely blank. She didn't even try to hide her staring.

"Yuffie?" Tifa hissed. Aerith and Cloud also paused in their ascent.

Larbeight tugged at the straps again, this time more insistently. "Trust me, okay? The massage will feel much better with them off. I'll tie them myself when I'm finished."

He waited for about half a millisecond before thumbing the strings again and yanking on one end of them. As the top visibly loosened, the fabric began to fall off the young woman who instinctively clutched the at the suit with her hands.

Yuffie darted forward, her clothes suddenly at a heap on the ground where she no longer stood.

"Hey!" Larbeight exclaimed.

So fast that nobody had seen it, Yuffie quickly encircled one of his wrists with her hand. She tugged viciously, pulling Larbeight completely out of his seat so that he stumbled over his feet before righting himself on the sand.

"What the fuck?"

Cold fury slashed Yuffie's face into a frightening mask that chilled Cloud's gut.

"Yuffie!"

"She told you no," Yuffie said. Her voice lashed out low and harsh, like a verbal whip. Incredulousness bloomed on Larbeight's face, filling it with color. Disbelief followed and then soon, rage.

"Mind your own business you miserable bitch. Aren't you supposed to be covering my shift? Or do I have to take back my merchandise?" His almond eyes were no longer soft but sharp and narrowed with anger, and he eyed Yuffie greedily, not bothering to conceal the lust in his eyes at his own idea. Aerith and Tifa were frozen, their mouths open with horror. Cloud prepared to intervene.

"You can try," was all Yuffie said in response.

"All right," Cloud said. "Yuffie, that's enough. Let's go."

Larbeight and Yuffie simply stared into each other's face—his blatant rage warring with the frigid, emptiness of her own expression. She watched as Larbeight deliberated on his decisions. He could either leave her and his date alone, or he could make good on his threat, and attempt to disrobe Yuffie in front of everyone.

She waited patiently for Larbeight to make a move. A full minute passed, but nothing happened.

Yuffie eyed Larbeight a last time and turned her back to leave with Cloud, who still waited for her on the staircase.

"Don't you turn your back on me, you little—"

Larbeight had lunged forward, but his outstretched hands never made contact with Yuffie's suit.

She whirled on the spot, striking out with her fist and launching it straight into the center of Larbeight's windpipe. He audibly choked and grabbed at his neck, doubling over, his next breath a loud gurgle.

Yuffie's mouth curled in disgust at the sound. Palming the back of Larbeight's head, Yuffie pushed down the same time she drove her knee upwards. She felt his nose break against her knee-cap, and blood, hot and dark, spurted everywhere. Larbeight collapsed to the ground, writhing into the sand, his face a swollen mess of gore and broken tissue. His hands still clutched his throat as he struggled to breathe.

Slowly, almost lazily, Yuffie's eyes lifted to where Larbeight's date sat on her chair. The young woman looked terrified, her eyes large saucers that exposed the white surrounding each iris.

"You okay?"

Shakily, the young woman nodded her head. Her frantic gaze flicked back and forth between Yuffie and Larbeight, who weakly jerked against the sand. "Thank you. I didn't know what to do…"

"I understand," Yuffie said. She spoke robotically, her voice as monotone as the rest of her face looked.

"Yuffie!" Cloud seethed. He bounded down the stairs, fear and outrage battling for domination on the expanse of his visage. "What was that?" He touched a hand to her shoulder, but Yuffie froze, and studied his hand with a withering glare. Cloud promptly removed his palm.

"What did you do?"

Yuffie met his probing eyes with an even, still countenance. "What does it look like?"

Cloud bit his tongue, wanting to say more, but knowing that now was not the time. "We should get out of here. Come on."

He stalked back towards Aerith and Tifa, who looked on with equally concerned gazes, their eyes and mouth blackened by tension lines.

"Yuffie," Aerith called out, "Please!" She beckoned with a hand. Yuffie swallowed thinly and shuffled towards the pile of her clothes laying neatly in the beach sand. Gathering them in her arms, she approached the staircase with a dull, dimmed consideration before heading back towards Larbeight.

She gazed down at him a long time. There was no hatred on her face, nor scorn, nor rage. There was only an absence of all emotion, and perhaps that was the most frightening thing of all.

She turned away, leaving Larbeight and his frozen date behind.

A/N:

Whassup! God, this took so long to write. I've been agonizing over this chapter for like TWO weeks now. I think (and hope) that it's pretty clear what I'm setting up Yuffie's backstory to be, but if it isn't, you'll find out next chapter!

Also, 100 points if you can tell me what FF game Larbeight is from :) Poor Larbeight. He makes a cameo and it had to be as a fuckboy. Still, if you were to tell me that a star blitzball player like him had manners, I wouldn't be inclined to believe you!

Yuffie & Aerith though, uwu O.O

****UPDATE**** It has come to my attention that the original cameo I wrote in (Wedge) was complete shit BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY IN FF7 AND I FORGOT lmaooooo. Okay, my bad. When I think of Wedge I honestly JUST think about him in FFX (and no where else) and I hate him so… anyway! I switched Wedge with Larbeight because I hate him too! Oops! Please forgive me :)