Shadow Dance

By: Liquid Ice

Author's Notes: *wryly* I'm not sure why but I'm actually updating this fic. I suppose that's what I get for the nice reviews people gives. Hope you guys give it a try, I don't know where this is going but I'll sleep on it and eventually it'll give me something.

Disclaimer: *nods* Yes I own Final Fantasy 7 and Sailor Moon. Then I'll get sued and all my money for my university will disappear. But why am I here writing this brilliantly (err…right…) wonderful fic? I mean *snorts* If I DID own Final Fantasy 7 and Sailor Moon, I'll be filthy rich, lounging in a palace with high tech gears and drawing sketches for the next sequel of Sailor Moon! Sailor Moon – The Beginning of Chaos. *grins*

Chapter Two

Barret sputtered, "You can talk?"

The strange animal musingly stared at Barret and nodded, "Yes, apparently I can talk," he drawled. Cloud stared at the animal in amazement.

"What are you?"

The animal pondered, "Depends on what you perceived… I am what you see."

Barret scratched his head, "A tiger that can talk?"

The animal shook his head, "Never mind," he mumbled, "I am nameless…but you can call me RedXIII."

Cloud was about to open his mouth when Aerith suddenly bumped into him. Both of them fell and Cloud looked up in surprise, "Aerith what the…?"

"Cloud…" Aerith whispered, "The elevator is moving…"

"What?!"

RedXIII suddenly growled and cocked his head towards the Avalanche group, "its strong…Make sure you guys have high levels of fire materias with you. Its weakness is fire."

Barret's eyes widened, "Uh oh..."

Cloud stood up helping Aerith, "We need to split up – Tifa go with Aerith and take her down to the main floor, we'll meet you guys there after we're done with this."

"But…" Tifa began.

"Tifa don't argue with me, we can't have all of us dying!" He hissed.

RedXIII curiously looked up at Cloud, "dying?"

Tifa took a step back, hurt by Cloud's harsh words. Tears began to form in her eyes while nodding. She took Aerith's hand and quickly ran off the scene.

Barret frowned, "Wasn't that a little too harsh?" Cloud and RedXIII positioned themselves into their fighting stance.

"We can't take risk Barret; we always have to watch our step. Having them here creates more danger in both parts," Cloud coldly replied, "Barret get ready."

Barret nodded reluctantly, nonetheless positioned himself to a fighting stance.

The monster was huge. Its wobbling head hit the ceiling every time it moved leaving mucus like glob dripping down. But the monster didn't notice its head being scraped off, its skin peeling, green mucus-like blood slowly dripping down his forehead.

"Everyone fire now!" RedXIII commanded.

Cloud gathered all his energy and concentrated, closing his eyes; he found the fire within himself. He snapped open his eyes towards the motioning monster.

"Fire," he whispered.

Flames appeared from his hands and slithered towards the poison monster. It spiralled its way towards the top of the monster leaving trails of flames burning it. Two other sets of flames danced its way towards the monster making it shrieked in pain.

Their concentration was distracted with three mini-monsters appeared hitting them full force. Cloud landed hard on the ground, a small cut appeared on his cheek drawing blood. Lifting a finger towards the wound, he winced slightly at the pain it caused. He was poisoned.

"Cloud watch out!" Barret yelled. The three mini-monsters jumped on him.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

A flurry of cold water sprinkled on Cloud's face, making him feel more energetic and more alive. The mini-monsters on the other hand lay dead, nothing more than frozen waste. Barret, Cloud and RedXIII blinked at the dead monsters.

"Specimen H0512-OPT A, Specimen H0512-OPT B and Specimen H0512-OPT C; Weakness; Ice – I made sure of that yesterday," A young woman stepped in besides the fallen Cloud, who looked up dazedly. She thoughtfully turned her head towards the green monster, her eyes glittering dangerously, "On the other hand…Specimen H0512 is another story…weakness is fire, strength is poison. The three Opts are linked with H0512 so it can use reanimagic to revive them back. Avoid the Opts as much as possible and focus your attacks on the big guy."

She unbuttoned her lab coat revealing a long-sleeved black midriff, a blue choker and a dark blue mini skirt. A small belt hung from her waist that carried a sword with a golden handle. She removed her glasses and smirked. H0512 curiously looked at its newest victim, sensing a familiarity.

"I think you guys might want to save your energy with later on," She said.

Cloud's eyes widened, for a moment he sworn the blue haired young woman was…. glowing

She placed her hands together as if praying, her index fingers pointed upwards. She started to whisper an incantation.

"Within me I summon, the granted powers given. Goddess of Mars I beckon thee, help me banish this evil from innocents way," her hands extended outwards, tendrils of smoke appearing out of thin air, " Mars Fire Celestial Surround!"

Bright red rings suddenly shot out to the monster. It quickly became engulfed in flames, its scream dying within the flames.

It soon turned into nothing but rotten corpse. Barret wrinkled its nose in disgust. RedXIII on the other hand showed no disgust and turned its attention to the newcomer, curious. Cloud gaped at her as well.

A gentle smile replaced the smirk, she wiped the sweat off her forehead, "Well, easier than I thought! You guys should get going. I'll be calling the guards very soon. You need to reach the bottom of the floor in less than a minute. This building is crawling with guards and they can get here in no time!"

"Why…how…who…" Barret stuttered.

"Silly me, forgive me for my rudeness. My name is Ami Mizuno, I am Hojo's right hand assistant," Ami said, bowing formally, "And I know all your names so don't bother with the introductions. As for why I'm helping you, it's for Aerith sake. She doesn't deserve to be treated as a specimen. Nonetheless I work here."

Cloud nodded understandingly, accepting her reasons, "Thank you for your help, we are in your debt."

"It's okay," she replied, "But you guys better go. I'll be arrested if they found out I let you go."

They nodded. Barret and RedXIII ran ahead. Cloud hesitatingly looked at her.

"Here," she tossed him a small vial, "For your cut, it'll heal in due time."

"Thanks."

"No problem…is there anything else you want to know?"

Cloud opened his mouth and closed again, shaking his head he said, "I saw you arguing with Hojo a few hours ago… it sounds like you're here by force. Do you want to come with us?"

Ami's eyes widened, "freedom…"

"I…I can't…unless you let Usagi come with you guys. I'm not going to leave her here where it's dangerous for her."

"Usagi?"

"My friend, she's an experiment for Hojo here. But only Hojo is allowed entrance to where she's located and he's the only one who studies her. Everyone else is off limits or we get killed."

"Where is she?" Cloud asked.

"Top floor, farthest top corner room. Password is moon," She bit, "But…don't worry I'll manage to get her out…"

Cloud shook his head, "Get out of here and I promise I'll get Usagi out of here."

"I…" She trailed.

"Just do it Ami, for gratitude, and to pay off our debt. I'll protect her," Cloud stated quickly.

Ami nodded and ran off. But then halted, she turned to him; "You've got to promise me that you'll protect her with all your life. She's the most important person in my life."

Cloud nodded, "I promise I will protect her with my life."

Tears began to cloud Ami's vision, "thank you," she whispered. She leaned towards him and kissed him on the cheek.

Ami slipped a small crystal in Cloud's pocket. Unnoticed by him, he blushed instead.

Ami ran off as well, leaving Cloud to himself.

Shaking himself out of his dreamy state, he quickly took off towards the top floor.

*****

Okay, so I planned it to be longer and with more action ---but I do have homework sooo…I'll try to update quickly. As for that kiss – IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING! It's a thank you kiss okay. This is strictly purely Cloud/Usagi fic…maybe with a little obstacle along the way.

Got questions? Ask in your review. Got problems, say it in your reviews. Hopefully I'll be able to solve it. Want to see something you've never seen in a FF7/SM fic? Say it in your review and I'll if it's a brilliant idea include it.