The hand was white, and, as Leon and Cloud followed the hand up to its owner, their eyes widened.

"Nobodies get that big?!" Yuffie screamed, already yanking her shuriken from a pile of rubble and spinning it.

"Apparently they do…" Leon was already studying it, eyes narrowing. "It doesn't look overly strong, though."

"…it's still a big damn samurai, though." Cloud freed his Buster sword, holding it at the ready.

"Eh, I've fought a lot worse. Griver was smaller, but he was fairly annoying. Ultimecia was a pain, and Omega…"

Cloud looked sidewards at the other man, who was still studying the Nobody. There was a glint in his eyes he had never seen and all of a sudden, he was seeing Leon as he must look in a true battle. Against the flimsy other Nobodies, he was nonchalant, and even on the verge of carelessness. Leon as he must be with a purpose.

"Forget all that and get me DOWN!" Aerith hammered the non-beings fist. "LEON!"

Asking Leon instead of me?

…Don't let it get to you.

Leon nodded, gunblade coming to his hand. "Alright. Yuffie?"

"Hm?"

"Get into the air and start aiming for its eyes. Cid, find your spear?"

"Yah, and the damn things broke! Can still use it though."

"Good. Aim for its chest. Cloud, try and destroy its hamstrings. When it drops Aerith, catch her."

"What makes you think you can order me?"

"…whatever. I'll force it into a duel."

Leon took a breath, squaring his shoulders. "Everyone. Move. Now!"

Yuffie left a black cloud of smoke as she disappeared and reappeared high over the rooftops, shuriken already flying for its eyes. Cid circled to its left, trying to get a high enough perch to start his own melee. Cloud glared at Leon and started moving, purely because he could see that Leon's tactic would be the most effective. His would be limited to 'slash-and-run, not forgetting Aerith'.

It had been short, violent and surprisingly messy, considering Nobodies don't bleed. Yuffie and Cid were painful distractions. Yuffie managing to put out one of its eyes, and Cid was tearing into it when ever it looked like stepping on Cloud or Leon. Yuffie, seeing her job was done, was already starting on her next one, she had given herself: liberate Aerith!

She nodded to herself: liberate Aerith and save the day! Oh yeah! Great ninja POWE-oops.

"Cloud! Catch Aerith!"

Cloud looked up from sawing away at its hamstrings in time to see Aerith fall.

Oh shi-

Aerith!

He started moving.

…*looks around* I just wanted to get this out. I know, short and incomplete, but I needed a break from figuring out my essay. I have no idea how many I've written, and its all starting to blur together. And I'm tired, but that's what happens when you're trying to get the Magus Sisters on ff10. Back to my essay *groan* and thanks to all new favouriters. And yes, Gackt can be nekkid as he delivers my thanks if you want him to be.