I don't own Final fantasy or the characters. Chaotic Rei you can think of this as a going away present. Thats why I did not send it to you for beta-reading. Have a happy holiday.


Chapter 8

Ever since I took the groups materia they have all been giving me the cold shoulder, all but Cloud and Aeris that is. Barret won't look at me, Cid sneers at me, Red wags his tail in a threatening manner, Vincent just doesn't even acknowledge my existence, which is nothing new and Tifa dose her best to avoid me at any cost. (Long sigh) If it were not for Cloud and Aeris I would have left the group. I have to make it up to them but I don't know how. I'm a strong person but after what happened at Wutia I realised that there getting better and I'm not. The fights are getting harder but everyone takes it in their stride. After my date with Cloud I will have to get him to train me. If I can save their butts in battle then maybe, just maybe they will forgive me.

The trek to the Gold Sourcer was an easy one but the monsters around here are pushovers. The people of Corral gave Barret a cold welcome just like last time and again I wanted to teach them a lesson but until Barret considers me a friend again I had best just ignore what happens unless I want his gun in my face.

Being in close proximity with the rest of the group while riding the tram made us all a little on edge. I could tell that Barret and Cid hade a few choice words for me but they kept quiet thanks to Cloud giving them his best evil stare. I skooch a little closer to Cloud and I see Tifa twitch much to my delight. The Tram comes to a halt and we all disambark. Cloud makes his way to the battle arena and I quickly follow with Aeris.

I don't fully understand what's going on but apparently we need to find a thing called a key stone which goes to a place called The Temple Of The Ancients and apparently the owner of the Gold Sourcer, Dio, has one. That's why we are looking him in the battle Arena. Me, Cloud and Aeris walk into Dio's prize room and look would have that the Key Stone would be on the central pedestal.

"You like that do you boy." We all turn around and see Dio flexing his oversized measles.

"Dio, would it be ok if we borrow this?" Could says pointing at the Key Stone.

"Sorry my boy. I cannot just give you something of value but since you have been good to me in past I will give it to you on one condition." Dio says flexing again.

"And what would that be?"

"Entertain me boy, Fight in the arena." This I did not like. Cloud is a great fighter but fighting in the battle arena is completely different to fighting on the field. No doubt Dio would want Cloud to win but it's not as simple as picking up your sword and swinging.

"Cloud. There must be another way. Can I just steal it? I promise I won't get caught."

"Don't worry Yuffie. I'll win. Just root for me in the stands ok." And with that said he walks off with Dio leaving me and Aeris to watch helplessly on the side lines.

I should never have doubted Cloud. He's into the seventh round and going strong. The penalties he received so far have mainly been poison, small and frog; all of which Clouds Accessory protects him from. Aeris and me have been cheering him on just like he asked and after every round he waved at us. Aeris will swoons at this and I just wave back with a slight blush that Cloud thankfully can not see from this distance.

Cloud kills off the monsters and prepares him self for the next round by stretching. For ones he gets no penalties. Cloud swings his sword back over his shoulder and gets into his fighting stance. (A.N. I never liked his fighting stance in FF7 so imagine Cloud with his legs bent. Left shoulder forward and arm pointing at the enemy and his right hand clutching the handle to his sword which in on his back.) His next opponents are nothing more than ground squirrels. Cloud kills them off in record time. The crowd at this time are going wild. Only Dio has ever made it this far and personally I thing he cheated for no one is as good as Cloud in a fight.

The ninth round doesn't last long ether. Cloud had to beat a big red raptor. The creature is weak but has massive stamina so Cloud just hacked at it until it fell. The penalty on the other had was bad, real bad. The received an 8 10th health reduction and to make matters worse he was fighting a dragon in the next round. The battle started and just as I thought would happen Cloud was slow on his feet. Cloud is on the defensive and whenever an opening comes up Cloud is to slow to make a strike. The dragon knocks Cloud to the ground, Me and Aeris scream out his name and telling him not to give up. Cloud barely evades the dragon's claw and get onto his feet.

Cloud surprises us all by running straight at the dragon. The dragon gets on its hind legs and blows out a burst of fire which engulfs Cloud. Aeris nearly faints but I keep her awake. Cloud comes out of the flame with his sword shining and rams it into the dragons gut, Cloud then jumps up bringing the sword with him cutting the dragons stomach in two then swinging the his sword and beheading the dragon. The whole room bursts in cheer. I jump over the railings and run straight up to Cloud. Hr promptly faints into my shoulder and when Aeris arrives we take him to the lobby where Aeris cures him and wakes him up. Dio congratulates Cloud saying that was the best fight he had ever seen and gives us the Key Stone like he promised.

We make our way to the station only to find that it has broken down. This give me a chance to take Cloud out on are date but also gives Tifa and Aeris the same chance. I will have to be sneaky if I want to get that date with Cloud. I could always lock their door at the hotel we will be staying at but Tifa will just break it down. Looks like I will have to use my sleep materia and tie them down, just to be on the safe side.

NYUCK! NYUCK! NYUCK! NYUCK! NYUCK! NYUCK! NYUCK! NYUCK!