Big apologizes for a short chapter, but I can promise you the next one will be much longer...

Insane Mako Amber Eyes-(wow long name)anyways...I left a comment in response to your reviews(Thanks BTW) on my Xanga site(if you haven't checked already, though I just updated there)...

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Tifa waited for Luxord, prepared for anything that would be thrown her way. The last encounter with this guy didn't prove much, as the other blonde male was the one she had fought off originally. She was just interested to see what cards this guy had up his sleeve. She was surprised when Luxord had literally pulled a deck of cards from out his right sleeve and laid one one the ground in front of him. The card suddenly grew to an enormous size as it stood up and several other large cards began to form around Tifa and Luxord. Before long, they were both trapped in a circle surrounded by several playing cards. All cards were numbered except for one which was blank, as Luxord jumped back and into the blank card becoming a part of it. The cards than dropped face down and began to scatter in front of Tifa.

"How about a little game of memory?" Luxord said, as the cards stood back up facing away from Tifa.

Unsure of which one was exactly Luxord, she just took a wild guess and punched at the nearest card. The card exploded and she was thrown back with tremendous force, the cards disappearing as Luxord became visible again. Tifa quickly got up surprised by the unexpected attack, she should have known there was some type of trick to it all. Luxord just laughed as it all seemed to be nothing more then a game to him.

"See you can't just choose any random card and hope that its the right, you have to use skill and luck to win." Luxord said, "Otherwise, well let's just say it's game over for you."

"Thanks for the heads up, now I know!" Tifa responded.

A smirk appeared on Luxord's face as he raised his figures up and snapped them twice. Much to her surprise, Tifa was turned into a piece of die. She looked in horror noticing her physical body was gone, and wondered if she had been transformed or trapped in a die. She looked back over to Luxord who laughed, as he tossed dice around in his hand.

"I'll roll and if I get above a four, you will take major damage." he said, tossing the dice between his hand, "However, if I get below a four then I will take major damage. If I get a four exactly, then we both take damage. A fair even game you might say."

Luxord then tossed the dice into the air tossing and turning until they hit the ground. Both dice rolled around until they both landed on four, causing an explosion beneath both Tifa and Luxord to go off. Luxord jumped back quickly, but still was hit from the attack as he could feel the wound on his lower leg. He took a chance and paid for it, and now this wound would not make the battle any easier. Tifa was still in die form so that gave him an advantage, however that trick only lasted a certain amount of time. He thought that if he took risks in this battle, luck would turn in his favor. Obviously he was wrong, but for now he had to make the most of the situation at hand. Tifa hopped around dodging the attack but still taking heavy damage. She wasn't sure how injured she was being in this new form, but she could feel the intense pain rushing through her body.

A giant card appeared in back of Luxord, as he disappeared into it making the card multiply. Again dozens of playing cards began to surround Tifa, as they turned face up towards her to reveal Luxord in one. He threw out several smaller cards in his hand as they hit Tifa cutting her and knocking her over. Making cards as sharp as needles was one of Luxord's many talents, and he planned to display as many as needed to win this bet. The cards turned face down and began to circle Tifa again, repeating the same process but instead Luxord threw exploding dice instead of cards. The explosion knocked Tifa back and out of the circle of cards returning her to her normal body. While she was glad to be back to her normal self, wounds now covered her as blood poured from them making her weaker. She knew she couldn't give up though, it was all for the sake of finding Rinoa and Zell's friends. It was for the sake of Rinoa and Zell, but also for her was well. If she won then she might have a clue as to where to find Cloud. She might be able to see him once again.

Tifa looked around at the cards that now scattered face down in front of her. Trying to remember which one she saw Luxord in, her eyes followed the cards as they shuffled in all different positions. She then charged at one and with all her might delivered a punch striking her fist right through the card. Luxord was forced out after been hit in the gut and tossed to the ground, the cards turning to dust as he did. Holding his stomach, he slowly got up and smiled slightly looking up at Tifa. He wasn't sure how much longer this battle was going to drag on, but if he went any longer there was a chance he might lose. It seemed that Lady Luck appeared to be on Tifa's side more then she was on his. Though now losing did not seem so bad to him, as he knew he aways had his opportunity later. Plus it was Rinoa's heart which was the ultimate goal, Tifa's would make a fine addition but wasn't necessary to retrieve.

"Looks like you play the game well." Luxord said.

"Yeah but I'm not much of a gambler." Tifa responded, coughing up blood, "Call it beginner's luck."

"Ha, I was thinking the same exact thing." Luxord laughed, "Not only are you strong, but you're smart too. Though I hate to say it is now time to..."

"Luxord, time to leave." came a voice from behind.

Luxord turned around to see a cloaked man, the same that confronted Saix earlier, standing behind him. Luxord sighed as he turned back to Tifa, who was exhausted and bleeding heavily. Their battle had only gone on for several minutes yet both had taken quite a lot of hits, and now it seemed it would end in a draw. Though Luxord, even though Tifa hadn't won, decided to keep to his word in revealing the location of her friends. There was nothing he hated more then a cheater anyways.

"Even though we both fold, I will still keep to my end of the deal." Luxord said, "I'll tell you where your friends are."

Zell raced through the streets as he finally made it to Tifa, just managing to see Luxord and another man leave disappearing into a dark mass. Again he was to late to help and judging by Tifa's appearance things didn't go to well for her either. He quickly rushed over to her, giving her support and trying to stop the bleeding by wrapping cloth around her wounds.

"Zell I know..." she said, breathing heavily from the fight, "...I know where your friends are."