Chapter 18: Costa Del Sol

I groaned in pain as Cloud and Tifa helped me leave the cargo ship. Through my one eye that wasn't blindfolded by the makeshift bandages, I could see that Costa Del Sol was indeed a picture of paradise. Too bad I was in too much pain to really enjoy it.

"C'mon, there has to be a clinic somewhere around here." Yuffie spoke up, constantly turning to look at me in concern.

Scratch that, all of AVALANCHE was constantly turning to look at me in concern. It was actually really, really annoying. Aeris had said that I was guaranteed to survive, so why all the excess concern? Not that I'm unappreciative though. The fact that they care for my well being so much is kind of flattering. But please, give me my space. Tifa and Cloud excluded, since they were the ones half carrying me, since I could barely walk without support.

The extent of my injuries?

Let's just say that I'm lucky I still have two eyes intact. Though the cut over the right eye will never truly heal, at least it had left the eyeball alone.

This wouldn't be a problematic injury under any other circumstances. The thing that made it problematic, was the fact that neither potions, Materia, nor Aeris' healing abilities were actually healing the injuries I had received. Hence the makeshift bandage. Course, the cut over my eye wasn't the only one, but it had been the one that was bleeding the most.

"Red, Yuffie, you two go ahead and try to find a clinic." Cloud ordered.

The two in question nodded, and then vanished. I was led to a seat and sat down.

"Don't close your eyes." Aeris told me, trying to use her healing skills again. "You still have a concussion."

And concussions, I had learnt, had to recover through time, since they weren't affected by most healing techniques.

Maybe you'd understand more if I told you what had happened earlier.

Two hours ago

I groaned, loudly, leaning against the ninja in disguise. Yuffie, in response, groaned back. Sea sickness... one of those things I could do without. This wouldn't be so bad if I were up on deck, breathing in the fresh sea air. I don't get motion sickness when I have fresh air on my side. There is a reason I stick my head right out of the window of a car, after all.

Yuffie and I sat, side by side, a single bucket being all we had to throw up in.

We were a pitiful sight. Both of us were green, well, a different shade of green in my case, but that wasn't the point. The point, I feel like crap, and for once, Yuffie was in complete agreement with me. We both felt like crap, and there was nothing either of us could do about it. Well, almost nothing. I could still take some vicodin, which had the side effect of sleepiness. A blessed side effect, since when I'm asleep, nothing can hurt me. Not figuratively, at least.

However, the pain killers took a fine (sarcasm) time to not induce sleepiness. No... they just made me throw up quicker. I hate my life...

Cloud offered a little sympathy, when he checked us out, in our little hidey hole. Unfortunately, he hadn't thought to buy any tranquillizers when he was in town. Dumb blonde. Red had danced by a couple of times to check up on me, being the loyal friend. Though I have a feeling that he's amused by our plight.

Traitor.

It was a small blessing when I actually managed to fall asleep. Well, I sort of fell asleep. You know that sleep where you are actually asleep, but you're still vaguely aware of events going on around you? Yeah, that's what I was doing. I could hear Yuffie's moaning and puking, but I was actually asleep despite it.

Not that it lasted for more then half an hour. No, my luck would never grace me with such a blessing. Instead I got an earful of alarm. It took all of my willpower to refrain from shooting my gunblade at the speakers that were blaring out that god awful racket. Regrettably, the lack of shooting meant a lack of venting my grumpiness. That meant I wasn't very pleasant to be around.

Sucks to be Yuffie, who received a face full of glares that had the power to shatter glass... well, they almost have the power to shatter glass.

The ninja brat flinched at the glare and stood up, putting on her stolen uniforms helmet, completing her disguise.

"I'll check with the others, see what the noise is all about." She declared, before making a hasty retreat.

I'm offended. My 'just woken up' face wasn't that bad, was it?

I'd have given anything to have followed after her, just to go up on deck. Just to be able to move around. Sitting in this place is boring, and it makes me want to pace back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.

You get the picture.

But no, because I'm the unlucky sod that fuses with his pet lizard, disguises are wasted on me. Well, except for the cardboard box, but that's a useless disguise on deck. Dunno why, Cloud just said so. Damned fusion.

Spike spoke up, grumbling. 'And what is wrong with fusing with me?'

Nothing, nothing. I mentally waved a white flag. Just annoyed at certain restrictions that come as a price.

Sighing, I put my hands behind my head, trying to get comfortable. \it was a sound plan. It could even end with my falling asleep again. Well, I can always hope, can't I?

'Emergency alert! Reports of a suspicious character found! Those not on detail, search the ship. Report when found! I repeat. Suspicious character found on board! Those not on detail, search the ship. Report when found!'

Well, that was certainly an interesting way to tell the crew of an intruder. And alerting the intruder to the fact that he or she has been caught while at it. Stupid Shinra. They make things so difficult for themselves.

I sat up sharply at a sound that had become familiar from my time around Cloud. A blade slicing through flesh. And if that hadn't done the job of fully awakening me, then the screaming would have. Quickly unsheathing Talon, I stood up, forgetting my previous sickness, a feet helped by the adrenaline that started pumping through my system.

Exiting my hidey hole, I caught sight of a Shinra commander, crawling backwards, shivering. He had a terrified expression on his face, eyes so wide; I was surprised that they didn't fall out of the sockets. He must have seen me from the corner of his eye, because he quickly turned his head around to face me.

"Oh Gods... not another one..." He stuttered, just before a long blade stabbed itself through his throat.

He gagged, still alive, though barely. The blade drilling through his throat was a fatal wound though. He would choke to death from his own blood. Shaking my head, I pointed my gunblade at his head and fired, ending his suffering.

A bitter mercy.

The blade pulled itself from the commander's neck. I heard several footsteps, before the wielder of the blade spoke.

"Show yourself."

The voice sent shivers down my spine, and I could feel Montblanc withdrawing from my mind, returning to the Materia. Spike seemed to crawl as far into my mind as possible, trying to get away. He was incoherent.

The voice alone had terrified them both. Maybe its an instinct thing. Humans, and I am still partially human, didn't have as good instincts as most other creatures when it came to being cornered by a predator. We're too used to being the number one predator ourselves.

I stepped out from behind the crates and faced the attacker. Glowing emerald eyes examined me, from the moment I entered his field of vision. Despite all the blood that was spread over the room, there was not a drop f the red liquid on anywhere on his person. His clothes looked as if they had never even been tarnished before.

Sephiroth had a faint smirk on his lips, seeming to reach a conclusion from his examination.

"What a fascinating creature you are." He said. "If I didn't know any better, I'd have believed you to be a Laixiu, but they're just a myth."

"Stories have to be based on something, do they not?" I replied.

The silver haired swordsman's smirk grew.

"Indeed."

Sephiroth flicked his wrist, and I was forced to step back, or be cut by the tip of the Masamune. That is a very long sword. Lengthwise, it puts Cloud's to shame, but then it was a difference of style. The Masamune, despite its ridiculous length, was still a katana, a sword with grace in mind. The Buster Sword is a complete contrast. As a great sword, its design was to power through the enemy, and whatever defences they have. Though Cloud can use his sword gracefully, when the occasion calls for it, (though I've only seen him using it gracefully when we win a fight) he does tend to rely far more on power over speed.

"However." Sephiroth continued. "The Laixiu were never depicted as sentient creatures. Intelligent yes, but not sentient. So, that leaves the question of what you are..."

I snorted, bringing Talon into a defensive position.

"Tell me when you find out." I grunted.

The former-General's attention was drawn to my blade, and an eyebrow raised in interest.

"Ah, I see now." He nodded. "Shepard's child. He always did say that you were... different. How true that statement was."

He could tell that by my choice in weapon? I thought he was a master swordsman, not Professor Xavier. Sephiroth continued to examine me, and took a step forwards, swinging his katana into his battle pose.

Now, let's see if I can figure out any weaknesses he might have. Well, I can see one right away. The Masamune is a mid-range weapon. If I get right up to him, he won't be able to use it as effectively. Course, him being the master swordsman, he'll still be difficult, even at close quarters. And that's assuming I can slip past his guard, which is probably going to be nearly impossible.

Me, being the impatient git I am, made the first move. I hopped back, aiming Talon at the silver haired swordsman. My finger pulled the trigger five times, but only the first shot even went anywhere near the intended destination. The Masamune had connected with the side of my gunblade and threw my aim completely off. Damned katana... that sword is way to long to even consider using the gun features of Talon at this range.

Sephiroth leapt forwards, and seemed to glide towards me, Masamune already swinging in a wide arc. Spike forcibly took control of my body and sent me spinning sideward, barely avoiding the slash. When I landed, I had to waste a few precious seconds trying to regain my balance, before giving a mental shout of 'screw it' and did a backwards roll to avoid another slash from the silver haired general. I wasn't quite fast enough though, and he managed to catch my thigh. Not a massive wound, just a scratch. But it's the principle of the thing. He managed to slice me. I can't let him get away with that.

"Oi, mamma's boy!"

You know, this probably ranks right up there with throwing Tia in the dumpster on the list of things I'm going to regret doing. I'm probably going to regret calling Sephiroth a mamma's boy very quickly, if the fire that had just ignited in his eyes is any indication.

'I'm too young to die!' Spike cried. 'And I'm still a virgin! Jethro, I'm going to die as a virgin because you couldn't keep your mouth shut!'

Shut up, Spike. I don't need, nor want to know of some things. The state of your virginity is one of them.

Blocking out the lizard within's response, I focused on trying to defend myself from the homicidal swordsman. Not as easy as one might guess. Especially not when he's charging at you, full speed.

I swung my gunblade into the Masamune, blocking the blade before it could sever my head from my body. The satisfaction in knowing that I had survived outweighed the pain in my arms from blocking a slash that had a lot of force behind it. Still did, it was becoming a struggle to keep his blade at bay, I could feel my arms quivering, barely able to keep the opposing force at bay.

Gritting my teeth, I kicked out at Sephiroth, but partway through the kick let my other leg collapse under me, and the force of the kick sent me sliding away from the general. As far away from Sephiroth as my lame slide would take my, I leapt to my feet, already bringing Talon into a defensive stance. Almost immediately, Sephiroth's blade slammed into my gunblade, with enough force to send it flying. I didn't stop to ponder this turn of events. The moment my weapon had left my grip, I cast Fire, throwing a fireball at Sephiroth. The silver haired swordsman sidestepped the flame, flicking his wrist.

I ignored the bite of the Masamune as it sliced through the outer muscles of my right arm as I dove for my fallen weapon. The cut was deeper then the one he'd managed to put on my thigh. Still no big deal though. Nothing a potion couldn't deal with. Grabbing my blade from where it had fallen, I turned back to face Sephiroth, only to stumble back, my breath taken, forcefully, from my lungs. Sliding down an oversized metal crate, I stared at myself in disbelief. Where had all these other injuries come from? I only remember the two cuts, but my arms were riddled with them.

A shadow fell across me. Gulping, I looked up at the figure of Sephiroth. The former general lifted his sword and swung it downwards. I jerked my head back, in a vain attempt to save myself. It was probably that act that saved me from losing my right eye. As it was, I had a cut starting from my eyebrow ridge to half an inch from under my eye, only a small gap in the middle where the tip of the Masamune had missed my eye.

Yelling out in pain, I put my hands over the latest injury, in a vain attempt at stopping the blood that was pouring from the wound. Sephiroth looked at me, raising his weapon again, but jerked his head upwards, looking at the ceiling. After a couple of seconds just staring, the general turned and moved through a door in the back of the cargo hold.

A minute later, I was greeted by the sounds of hurried footsteps. I looked up, removing one hand to search my pockets. A found what I was looking for just as Cloud rounded the corner, followed closely by Barret, Yuffie and Aeris.

"Spike!"

I couldn't tell who it was that yelled out my name. I was too busy trying to open a vicodin container with one hand. Not easy, considering the fact that the container is child-proof. Somehow I managed it, and swallowed two of the pills that the container held.

"What happened?"

"Some maniac with a big ass katana was racist against lizards." I mumbled, looking up at Cloud.

Cloud narrowed his eyes.

"Sephiroth..." He growled. "Where did he go?"

"Oh, that's kind." I snapped, angrily. "No sympathy for the lizard, just a demand for the whereabouts of Sephiroth."

Cloud winced at my tone of voice, probably not used to hearing me angry. And certainly not when it was directed at him. Barret raised an eyebrow in surprise as well. Shaking her head, Aeris cast cure on me.

Nothing happened. No cuts healed themselves. Nothing.

Barret and Yuffie gaped. Aeris frowned and started to use Healing Wind.

Again, no result.

"It's useless." Cloud spoke up. "Sephiroth's sword, the Masamune, inflicts wounds that can't be healed. Something about the blade being pure."

"Pure 'what' is debatable." I hissed.

Cloud frowned as I removed my hand from my eye and tried to pick myself up. No luck, my strength seemed to have abandoned me.

"Yuffie, stay with Spike. Spike, where did Sephiroth go?"

"In the engine room." I told him, pointing at the door Sephiroth had left through.

Cloud nodded, turning to the door. Aeris and Barret followed him. Yuffie knelt down beside me, inspecting my injuries.

"You got lucky with that injury over your eye." She spoke up, running a finger alongside the cut. "Even with a regular weapon, if it had taken your eye out, nothing could have bought it back."

"I'll keep that in mine next time I challenge someone with a sword. No letting them near my good-looking face." I smirked.

"You wish." Yuffie laughed. "But still, we need to bandage that injury. Head wounds tend to bleed more then other injuries."

As she spoke, Yuffie brought her hand to the odd sleeve thing she wore and gave it a sharp tug, tearing it off. I watched her, confused, as she tore it into long strips. Once she was satisfied with her work, she started to wrap one such strip around my head, covering the injured eye.

"I'm shocked." I spoke up. "I didn't think you'd know how to be a medic."

"I'm confident in my skills, yes, but I'm not stupid." Yuffie answered. "Injuries happen, and becoming dependant on Materia and potions won't do you much good if you run out of potions and are too exhausted to use a cure Materia."

Huh, learn something new every day. While Yuffie worked on bandaging me up, I could faintly hear the sounds of fighting coming from the door that Cloud and co. had exited through.

"That cut will leave one heck of a scar." Yuffie commented.

"Just what I always wanted, a scar covering my eye." I muttered, sarcastically.

"Just be thankful it didn't take out your eye itself." Yuffie reprimanded. "Otherwise, I'll have to accuse you of copying Red."

"Y'know, he never did say how he lost his eye."

"Something to ask him once you're feeling better."

I grunted, feeling my eye drooping. The ninja must have noticed, because she smacked my arm, hard.

"Don't close your eyes." She commanded.

"Odd, the one thought that ran through my head during the whole fight... 'Jethro, I'm going to die a virgin because you couldn't keep your mouth shut'."

"Jethro?" Yuffie asked, confused at the unfamiliar name.

"'S my name isn't it? Jethro 'Spike' Logan..."

"Nice name. Parents fans of Jethro Tull then?"

I was about to answer in the affirmative, but stopped myself, remembering that in this world, I had no parents.

"Wouldn't know. I was found and raised by a former SOLDIER and a guy that puts even me to shame in the whole unique looks front."

Yuffie looked apologetic at the thought that she'd just spoken of my being an orphan.

"How can you be beaten on the unique looks aspect of life?" The ninja asked, changing the subject.

"Let me paint a picture for you. He has one big red eye, with lots of little ones around it, and a third arm sticking out of his chest. Oh, and on an unrelated note, he can shoot electricity without Materia."

"Ah. I suppose that would make anyone feel normal, compared to such an unusual look." Yuffie swallowed.

I laughed lightly, wincing as the ship's intercom spoke up.

'Dock workers-- We will be docking in Costa Del Sol in 5 minutes. Prepare for docking.'

I looked up at the ceiling, confused. I couldn't seem to think straight. When Cloud exited the engine room, I didn't hear what was said; I just stared at the ceiling. Eventually, I felt myself being hoisted up and was half carried.

I only became aware of my surroundings again, after we'd left the ship. Costa Del Sol, a sunny vacation resort. I felt myself enjoying the heat as we walked through the streets, something I'd never liked as a human. As a lizard, the heat was more than agreeable for me.

Eventually, we came to a stop inside a small clinic. The doctor gave me a check-up, but all we learnt was that, indeed, nothing would heal my wounds except time itself. I was ordered to keep the bandages in place for a week. Once that was cleared, I was effectively booted from the clinic.

"Well... what do we do now?" I asked, scratching my snout.

"We spend the day here, so you can recover." Tifa answered, her tone leaving no room for argument from Cloud, who looked annoyed that his hunt for Sephiroth was on hold for the day.

"In that case, I'm going to the beach to bask in the sun." I grunted, turning towards the coast. "Cloud should go book us a nice 5-Star hotel for the night."

I ignored his wail of protest, just moving, slowly, towards the beach. Occasionally, I was forced to stop, leaning against a wall for support. That fight with Sephiroth... I was beaten without me being able to even try hitting him. He'd toyed with me, and his strength was still enough to take me out without breaking a proverbial sweat.

Coming up to the beach, I threw off my coat and t-shirt and just collapsed on the hot sand, instinct taking over. Lizards like to bask in high temperatures, mostly because they couldn't generate their own body heat, leaving them dependant on outside sources of heat. Unfortunately, this meant that where I couldn't feel the cold as a human, I was now extremely sensitive to it in my current state.

Purposely wiping all thoughts from my mind, I fell asleep.

--

I awoke an hour later, though I wasn't certain why. Scanning the beach, nothing had changed, a few more people, because it was now afternoon, but that was normal. To my right, several feet away, the three female members of AVALANCHE were clad in bikinis, sunbathing.

Women and their need to tan; I'll never understand it. My current situation was different from simply sunbathing for the sake of it. Still, I wasn't about to go talk to them about their strange, feminine habits. Even if thy saw fit to answer, they'd probably just end up confusing me further.

After looking to my left though, I caught sight of a familiar girl, and stood up, moving towards her. Jade flinched, lifting her sunglasses when I moved directly in the path of her sunlight, looking annoyed. The look only deepened when she realized who it was that had the gall to block her precious tanning light.

"Oh, it's you." She groaned, making gestures with her hand that clearly told me that she wanted me to move.

"Yes, it's me." I replied, sarcastically.

"If you've decided to bother me just because of your new injury, don't bother, I didn't tell you to go attack a clearly superior fighter. By your self, might I add?"

"A little warning about his strength would have been appreciated!" I snarled.

"And would you have believed me? Would you have listened to me if I told you not to attack him?" She snapped, rising to her feet, looking strangely menacing for someone who looked half my age.

"Besides which..." I hissed, ignoring her. "I didn't pick a fight with him, he picked one with me!"

"If you'd remained hidden, he wouldn't have known you were there!"

"Oh, so I'm supposed to play the heartless bastard who lets people suffer needlessly, when I can end such pain?"

"Remember one little thing Jethro, and remember it good: to you, these people aren't worth jack-all." Jade ground out. "You are the only 'real' person here, and your life takes priority. If something happens to you, I may not be able to save you in time. Phoenix downs, potions and the like aren't the cure all to all your problems, as I'm sure you figured out with that wound."

"Are you saying that if I...?" I began, but was cut off.

"What Jade means is that while there are rumours, she'd honestly rather not take the chance." A familiar voice cut in.

Both Jade and myself turned to the newcomer to the conversation. It was the girl that Jade had been laying next to. She sat up, glaring at the both of us.

"It is honestly really doubtful that a permanent death in this world will mean anything." The new girl continued. "You'll probably just be forced back to your own reality, maybe with your heart beating faster then usual, probably with lingering pain from whatever wound it was that killed you, but otherwise perfectly unharmed."

"The word 'probably' is what concerns me." I grunted, trying to remember where I'd heard her voice before. She looked familiar as well, like someone from a dream.

Her looking like she could be Jade's sister didn't help. Probably meant that she was another PS2.

"The fact is, no player has ever been confirmed as permanently dying in their game." The new girl explained. "We do take measures to avoid such a thing, such as only bringing players to a game they know really well, and making slight changes to the Player's body. In your case, no meddling was needed; you got everything you needed in regards to strength and stamina from fusing with your pet."

"But, like in your world, ours does have its gossip and rumours. Rumours of Players surviving such an occurrence are far more common then the other way around." Jade finished.

"Right." I nodded, slowly, letting all this register in my mind. "But there is always a chance that the rumours of Players dying is true."

"Naturally." Jade shrugged. "But think about it, everything good in life has its share of risks. This is no more different then you crossing the road, there are no guarantees that a speeding car won't hit you as you cross the road. But you do everything to avoid such an occurrence, and we do the same."

I hummed, digesting this piece of news.

"Ok, fine." I consented. "Just warn me of anything that seriously threatens my wellbeing."

Jade nodded.

"Ah, Jethro." Jade spoke up, gesturing towards her friend. "This is Maria, a friend of mine."

"Another PS2 incarnation?" I asked.

"Got it in one!" Maria grinned. "Nice to meet you while you're fully conscious."

That last statement made it click as to where I'd seen her before.

"You're the one that was making bets against me." I exclaimed.

Both PS2s had the decency to look slightly sheepish.

"Ah, you were awake when we were talking were you?" Maria asked.

"Barely." I muttered. "So I take it your owner is the hot chick in the trench coat?"

"Maggie, yes." Maria nodded. "Though you're the first person I've heard call her a 'hot chick in a trench coat'."

"Hey, teenage hormones, plus she is good looking, from what I remember." I explained.

"I'll have to pass on that she has a secret admirer then." The PS2 claimed. "Now talk to your own PS2, I want to enjoy my vacation away from the troubles of looking after a trouble-magnet, while it lasts."

"Hate to break it to you, 'Ria." Jade cut in. "But Jethro here is just as much a trouble magnet as Maggie is."

"Ah, but he isn't my responsibility, he's yours." Maria countered, lying down again. "And no dumping your responsibilities on me, else I won't let you enjoy the private baths in Balamb Garden."

Jade muttered something under her breath, shaking her head before turning to me.

"Well, I suppose it's easier to tell you face to face then over the phone." Jade declared, blue eyes narrowed.

"Why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to like this?" I asked.

"Because you know that you attract all sorts of trouble." The PS2 answered. "But be careful around the Shinra folks."

"I do that plenty already." I grunted, frowning.

"Yes, but now, you've pissed off the President."

"What? How?" I asked, confused.

"You did kinda throw his favourite pet off the edge of the Shinra Tower." She pointed out.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Wait, he's pissed because I killed a pet?

"How would you feel if somebody had killed Spike, back before this ever happened?" Jade asked, seeming to sense my thoughts.

"I'd fucking rip their throat out!" I snarled, picturing myself strangling some poor sod who murdered my beautiful pet lizard... oh... "Point taken."

"Yeah." Jade nodded. "He wants to chain you to the end of the Junon canon and fire; I believe he told the Turks in their briefing."

"Thanks for the mental image." I muttered.

"And Sephiroth now hates your scaly hide for calling him a mamma's boy."

"Not my fault he's overly sensitive." I defended myself.

"Tia now wants to rip your balls off for knocking her out and tossing her in a dumpster."

"That was... wait, how did she even know it was me?"

"No comment."

"Useless... Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask you..."

"I made new characters to keep this whole experience from just being a simple 'remember everything you've ever known about Final Fantasy 7 and breeze through the adventure'. Gotta add new elements to make this exciting for you. Though some things changed by themselves when you were added to the mix, so be careful."

I nodded, understanding and respecting her reasons for adding a few new elements to the mix. She was right, it would be rather dull if I could remember all of the events and 'read the future'.

"That's all I believe needs to be said." Jade concluded, striking a pondering pose. "Yo, 'Ria, did I miss anything?"

"Only that Tifa, Aeris and Yuffie are watching us and wondering what Jethro would have to talk about with a pair of pre-teen girls." Maria sighed.

Both myself, and my PS2 looked to the side, and spotted the bikini clad women that Maria had referred to. I give a friendly wave to them, grinning when Yuffie waved back.

"What do I tell them?" I asked, turning to face Jade.

"I have an idea." She answered, turning to Maria. "How would you like some ice cream?"

The other PS2 looked at Jade, eyebrow raised, and then they must have spoken to each other telepathically or something, because both turned to look at me, an evil glint in their eyes.

"Oh, Uncle Spikey?" Jade spoke, in a loud enough voice that the three girls could hear.

"Buy us some ice cream!" Maria demanded, equally loudly.

Then, both moving as one, they latched onto my arms, and began dragging me to the ice cream stand, just past where the three women were sunbathing. As we came up to them, Tifa spoke up.

"And who might these be, Uncle Spikey?" She asked, sounding amused.

"My nieces." I groaned, realizing what the two PS2s had done. "Evil and Wicked."

"Hey!" Maria yelled out, indignant, and sounding exactly like her age. "We're Maria and Jade."

"And Uncle Spikey is getting us ice cream." Jade stated, still trying to pull me to the ice cream stand, the man running it looking amused at my plight.

Finally at the ice cream vendor, fully aware of the three women laughing at me behind my back. The two girls made their order, and the grinning ice cream vendor handed them the two most expensive ice creams they sold, before looking at me expectantly. Sighing, I put my hand in my back pocket, where I normally kept my wallet, and froze at the fistful of air that filled my pocket in its stead. It was gone.

And I knew where it was.

"Yuffie!" I yelled, turning to face her. "Gimme back my wallet!"

The ninja in question held the wallet in question up.

"What, this?" She asked, to which I nodded. "Hmm... Nah!" She stuck her tongue out.

Giving a roar of mock rage, I charged at her, making the bikini clad ninja squeal, jumping to her feet and racing away from me. She leapt into the water, swimming away, tongue still being stuck out at me.

Didn't she realize that water dragons weren't named such for nothing? If what Spike tells me is true, I could stay under water for a full half an hour and my swimming ability now outclasses hers by several leagues.

Stepping at the edge of the water, I pulled off my jeans after checking back at the other two women. Aeris had gotten up and paid the vendor for the ice cream I'd brought, so I was in the clear. Diving into the water, I quickly caught up with Yuffie and dunked her head under the water, grinning as she came back to the surface, sputtering and growling at me.

"If that's your way of asking for your wallet back, then you have another thing coming buster!" She cried.

"Ah, but I can get it back by force easily." I smirked. "This is just revenge."

And with those words, I dunked her under again. Sniggering at her futile attempts to pull me under with her. As she came back up the second time I grinned.

"Besides which." I continued. "I already know you left my wallet with Tifa and Aeris, so really, I'm free to do what I want."

Another squeal from the brat, only this time, before I had a chance to dunk her, she splashed me. Thus started the most epic of all battles as Yuffie and I waged splash war on each other, both of us laughing the whole time.

Eventually, I managed to dunk her again, only this time, it seemed that she had planned for it, since a second after she went under, I felt something run down my legs. Yuffie re-emerged several feet away, waving some fabric like a flag, laughing victoriously. I didn't even need to check to confirm what it was.

The ninja had just managed to yank off my boxers.

"Oi! Give those back!" I cried out, though really, it didn't wasn't a matter of modesty that asked I have them back.

Being a lizard had some advantages, and the most unexpected of which was that nobody could see anything unless I was using them. Really, it was more because I didn't want to be arrested for streaking that I wanted them back.

Most people wouldn't bother checking to see what they could see before screaming about the streaker that was emerging from the water.

I made to advance on Yuffie, intent on getting back the article of clothing, but as I approached, the ninja held them above her head, a smirk on her face.

"Come too close, I might just rip these." She taunted.

I stopped, glaring at her.

"Please can I have them back?" I asked, surrendering.

"Hmm... only if you... gimme all your Materia!"

"No dice."

I should have seen that one coming; she does seem to have a fixation on shiny things. And Materia has a shining quality about it.

"Fine then, how about... you buy me several rounds of beer at a time of my choosing, regardless of when it is I ask?"

That, actually sounds reasonable, though I shudder to imagine what her definition of 'several' rounds of beer is.

"Fine." I nodded, catching the underwear as they were tossed to me.

Slipping them on, I vowed vengeance under my breath before swimming back to shore, following after Yuffie, who started to complain that she was all wrinkled up. As I was behind Yuffie, I caught sight of the large tattoo that ran from her shoulders down to halfway down her back. The tattoo itself was of a familiar creature. Leviathan. Well, that made sense, she was Wutain, and they worshipped Leviathan didn't they?

At Aeris' claim that it was time to go to the hotel Cloud had booked us, I nodded and started grabbing my clothes. The tide had risen while I was swimming, so my Jeans were now completely soaked from where I'd left them. My coat and t-shirt were sandy, but otherwise fine. Hopefully there was a way to wash the clothes at the hotel Cloud had booked.

As I left the beach, I failed to notice Jade and Maria watching me, it having completely left my mind that they were even on the beech.

"Do you think it was right?" Jade asked Maria. "Not telling him the truth."

"He might have panicked." Maria pointed out.

"Yeah, but... Doesn't he have a right to know?"

"If he knew that dying here would mean dying for real, both in this world and his, it'd have been a constant thought at the back of his mind, and he'd be unable to think properly. He'd make his chances of dying that much more likely by trying to avoid it."

Jade sighed, watching me walk up the stairs that led to the town.

"I suppose."

"If he makes it through this, then he'll never have to know. If he dies, then at least he'd die doing something he enjoys."

"You sound calm about this matter." Jade growled.

"You think it doesn't worry ME?" Maria snapped. "Maggie almost died, several times. Each time, I was unable to help her; she had to pull through herself. I do worry about the idea that I might have sent her to her death, then again, you'd have to be a 'heartless bastard' to not care."

Jade sighed again, mumbling something under her breath.

"Why was this rule imposed on us after we sent the kids into this situation?" Maria asked the older, yet less secure PS2.

"Rumours." Jade muttered, wearily. "That's all I can say really. Rumours… and none of them are good."