New chapter, finally had the time. So umm yeah, cool, uhhh read on? Reviews please! googley eyes

"You want me to WHAT?" Aeris shouted in disbelief.

"Attack me," replied Sephiroth, more composed than his female companion.

Sephiroth had lead them to a deserted beach far away from any building. The only light they had were the stars in the sky. They shone brightly as their gleaming light was reflected eagerly upon the ocean water. Aeris was entranced at how romantic this place became at night. Then she had glanced at her companion and suddenly it became a much scarier world.

"With what?"

The dark man just sighed feeling the beginning of a headache pound at his temples.

"I didn't buy you a sword for nothing, Aeris."

He had bought the sword for her! Aeris quickly examined the thin weapon she held and just looked at Sephiroth like he had lost his mind. She didn't know the first thing about sword fighting and he knew that.

The General saw the confusion in her big owl like eyes and proceeded to explain.

"You need to know the basics of combat just in case you are ever in a situation where your pathetic sticks wont be useful. What matters is that you live and if you have to learn how to kill someone then so be it."

The young woman just shook her head causing her braid to wiggle behind her, her mind trying to make a convincing argument. Her right hand meanwhile barely held the sword away from her body. Aeris looked like she expected the sword to bite her at any moment.

Sephiroth on the other hand calmly crossed his arms over his chest while observing how hesitating Aeris was being with the weapon.

He really had his work cut out for him.

Breaking the silence, he said, "Lesson one, that is not how you hold a sword."

Aeris just narrowed her eyes at him.

"I know that," she replied sarcastically. "I am also pretty sure you don't hold the sharp end in your hand, but it could just be my naivety talking."

Once again Aeris noticed his mouth curve up slightly. She liked when he did that, it made his face seem so untroubled.

Aeris's eyes instantly widened. Since when did she find Sephiroth even remotely attractive?

The slim sword slipped from her numb fingers, vertically piercing the sandy earth with a smooth slash. Aeris just gawked at the weapon wondering how it got there.

Sephiroth on the other hand just stared at Aeris trying really hard not to lose his temper at her ineptitude. Was she being so uncooperative on purpose or did it just come naturally to the Cetr?

Aeris lifted her green eyes and almost took a step back when she saw his steely eyes. His gaze made Aeris feel exposed to the point where she wanted to make herself as small as possible. But the man had such an ethereal beauty Aeris couldn't tear her eyes away no matter how much her logic screamed to do so.

Whatever light there was made his hair impossibly silver as it waved gently to the rhythm of a small breeze. His cat like eyes just seemed to belong to the night, unflinching and hard yet completely mysterious.

Such stark contrast between what he looked like and how he acted Aeris thought.

Sephiroth by now was getting irritated with the small woman looking at him. They were wasting time just standing around while he should be teaching her some important life skills.

"Well?" he exclaimed through clenched teeth.

And before Aeris could think, a single word escaped her lips as she watched his cat eyes swirl in the night, a word that would have brought a cruel and painful death to anyone who would have dared to say it.

"Meow."

As soon as it was said, Aeris slapped her hands over her mouth causing a smack like echo to resonate in the now silent air.

How could she have said that, she mentally screamed at herself. Her wide eyes stared at Sephiroth trying to discern any movement from him.

The usual impassive silver haired warrior seemed to be as shocked as she was because his eyes had actually widened a little. Eventually his right eye began twitching as he continued to look down at her. Aeris could feel the stiffness emanating from his still body even with the several meters separating them.

"Let me explain! I was just –," Aeris stuttered but Sephiroth instantly interrupted her.

"Pick. Up. The sword," he enunciated each word tersely, his eyes narrowed at her.

Aeris quickly picked it up not daring to question him when she didn't know if she was going to need something sharp to protect her from him in the very near future.

She held the thin blade upwards in front of her chest, arms extended hoping she at least looked a bit intimidating.

Without warning Sephiroth crossed the distance between them, his black coat flowing as he walked to stand behind her. Aeris watched all this but didn't dare look back. She knew he was very close because she could feel his heat on her back. Unconsciously, she hunched her shoulders, bracing herself for whatever was going to happen.

Instead of the violent attack she was anticipating, a pair of gloved hands grabbed her shoulders and forced her to stand straight.

"Wh-what are you doing?" asked Aeris nervously.

"You don't go into battle looking like a mushroom. Now keep your back straight or I will break your spine."

Aeris didn't know if he was being serious or if it was his way of making light of the situation.

Sephiroth now satisfied with her posture walked to stand in front of her. Aeris had not moved an inch, sword included. Although her arms were beginning to ache but she didn't want to show it to him.

However nothing was lost on the super soldier. He could clearly see the sweat beading on her forehead from the weapon's weight. She was just going to have to learn to deal with it.

"There are three basic moves to learn first," he began. "Slash, strike and defend. The first is a sideways attack, followed by a stabbing motion and at the end you raise your sword to parry the attacker's blow."

She nodded slightly at his instructions.

"Aren't you going to take out your sword for this?" asked Aeris innocently. He might be a killer but that didn't mean she wanted to hurt him.

A rather elegant snort escaped his lips.

"I really doubt you will even touch me. Now stop thinking about me and try attacking."

Aeris's jaw dropped. "I am not thinking about you!" she screeched, looking horrified.

How did he know she had been thinking about his good looks before? Was he telepathic? He had been with Jenova but could he be with her?

Then it dawned on her, he had meant that she should stop thinking about his safety. She tried to laugh it off but his blank stare wasn't making it easier.

Breathing in, Aeris lowered the sword and thought about what she was about to do. Never had she allowed herself to use a killing object and yet here she was, persuaded by the devil himself into doing so. When she was with Cloud, he had been the one using the sword. Even everyone else in the group had owned deadly weapons except for her. They had probably viewed her as a tender flower to protect and safeguard. It's not like she had done anything to discourage that notion.

She looked down at the shining metal and resolved herself.

She was going to do this.

Aeris gripped the sword with all she had and swung sideways, causing the sword to sing in the air. It quickly followed by her thrusting the blade forward towards Sephiroth's body and rapidly raising the weapon sideways over her head in a defensive posture.

She tried to keep the sword held up but her muscles were getting tired and so it was lowered to her side.

Sephiroth was actually impressed. He had thought she would fall over her own feet trying to swing the sword but she had managed to do it. Of course, there was plenty he would change but it was a promising start.

"Do it again, Aeris," Sephiroth commanded. He wanted to see her do it again. He needed to know her weaknesses and her potential strengths. It had nothing to do with how beautiful she looked, nothing at all. Her eyes absolutely shone with feral concentration, she was determination incarnated.

Such a stark contrast between what she looked and how she acted sometimes, he thought.

After Aeris had finished the last movement Sephiroth watched her face a while longer and finally said,

"Good, but there are a few major things to change. Firstly when you swing your sword you must not make a too wide arc otherwise your foe has plenty of room to wound you. Your footwork also needs more practice but all in due time."

With that he slowly approached Aeris and stood a little behind her. She turned her head to look up at him but all he did was lift an eyebrow at her silent question. Suddenly his gloved hand touched and covered Aeris's grip on the sword. Aeris's eyes widened and she quickly looked away. Wetting her dry lips, she wondered why she was so nervous. After all that was the only reason why the butterflies could be flapping wildly in her stomach, right?

Sephiroth's grip tightened a little around her much smaller hand causing Aeris to focus really hard on a patch of seaweed not far away from her. But then she felt an unfamiliar warmth snake it's way around her waist and as she looked down she could see his gloved hand on her stomach.

"What are you doing?" Aeris said trying not to sound too loud.

She felt him shift down and hiss near her ear, "Don't you dare think that I am enjoying this."

At least she wasn't the only one a little uncomfortable.

Soon after he was guiding Aeris's stiff arm through the various movements she had being doing earlier, only more expertly and efficiently. With the arm around her slim waist, Sephiroth directed her body with his, forcing Aeris to let herself glide to his rhythm, trying not to think too much of his body pressing against hers. Maybe sword fighting wasn't as artless as she thought it had been.

She closed her green eyes for a moment, trying to let her mind soak in every sway of her arm and body. She could hear the faint, yet perfect sound of the sharp blade slicing the salty air. And for once it didn't bother her. It almost seemed beautiful at that moment. They probably looked like they were dancing, Aeris mused in her meditative state. Then she rapidly tensed when she realized what she had been thinking about. Sephiroth noticed the change for he stopped and let go of her.

"What is wrong?" he asked simply, although he didn't really seem to care.

Aeris thought fast wondering what she should say. She turned to face him and said,

"Uh, why aren't the Seraphim attacking us?"

She was relieved to find it was a logical question to ask, well more surprised by it.

Sephiroth smirked slightly and turned his mako gaze towards the ocean.

"The Seraphim are like an ant hill, they are only dangerous when in numbers."

"So they aren't attacking because there aren't enough of them here?"

Sephiroth seemed to ponder that question.

"Maybe. Or it could just be that they didn't really think about looking for us here. Their leader is the real danger. She is the mind of the Seraphim and the others just blindly follow the orders. When she gives an order, her followers wont stop until it is accomplished. So it could be that they have different directions to deal with us. Either way, they won't attack tonight. "

"Wait, did you say she?"

Even though all she could see was his profile, Aeris watched his mouth corner curve up, making her shiver but she blamed it on the cold air.

"Indeed. And you know what else?" he asked her casually.

"What?" she responded not able to keep the weariness out of her voice. Why did he have to be so cyptic?

"She was created by Shinra."

Ok better cliffhanger I think, well better than the last few. Wow since when am I watching curling? I have the t.v turned on and typping this chapter. Guess I didn't pay any attention to my surroundings. Talk about a zen moment. Okie then, reviews?