First fanfiction! Hope you all enjoy it :D

Final Fantasy 7; going on during Dirge of Cerberus; YAOI

Sephiroth x Genesis. Nothing hardcore going on in this chapter, but don't worry, it'll get better ;) ~~Safer-Nin~~

It was night; he could hear the crickets off in the distance and smell the night air drifting around him. Green, cat-like eyes opened to stare up at the sky; it was clear of overcast.

...Where...am I...?

The SOLDIER sat up, looking around to take in his surroundings. It appeared to be a demolished area, as if someone let loose a few bombs. A deep crater was nearby, streams of Mako pouring out from it towards the heavens.

Something must have cracked through the surface.. he thought, slowly getting to his feet.

That's when everything spun.

" ngh..." he groaned, closing his eyes as he rubbed his head. A few minutes slugged along before Sephiroth was able to open his eyes again, the dizzy spell passing. "I wonder what that was all about.." he mumbled to himself, beginning to walk as he took a look around.

The area was a town once, it looked like. He knew of this place, but he couldn't remember from where...until he came upon a set of graves and tombstones that survived the demolision.

Loving Memory of Mr and Mrs Rhapsodos

That simple word suddenly jolted Sephiroth's memory. Of course... he thought, He was an aquaintence...no... He looked at the headstone again, crouching down as he ran slender fingers slowly over the last name.

...a friend...

After finding nothing else besides those graves, Sephiroth wandered over to the deep crater in the ground, peering down over the edge. Apparently there was a tunnel down there..

Don't do it, A voice said in the back of his mind, It has nothing to do with you.

"It wouldn't hurt to look...besides," he nudged a rock over the edge to judge the hole's depth; apparently it was a long ways. He may have some trouble returning back out, "I may find answers there."

The most you will find are monsters and LOVELESS quotations.

Sephiroth frowned. Monster? LOVELESS? Why do those two words strike hatred into his heart? Why was there hatred there in the first place? ...what happened?

He sighed, giving in to the tiny mental voice urging him not to go any further before making his way towards the edge of the destruction.

Until he stepped on a book.

"Hm?" Sephiroth looked down as he pulled his foot away. "What's this?"

The book was upside down and covered in dirt and debris. Picking it up, Sephiroth dusted it off to read the front cover: LOVELESS.

He blinked, almost dropping the book in shock. This was impossible! How could a book manage to survive this wreck? It probably saw better days, but it was still in good condition minus the many dog-ears and tears in some pages. He flipped open the book to the first page, noticing a few written things inserted on the inside cover.

Property of Genesis Rhapsodos

He couldn't believe it; this was his copy. Genesis' copy...his friend's copy.

'Friend?' questioned the little voice. 'Isn't he the reason you're in this situation in the first place?'

Sephiroth looked up at the sky, thinking. Why? What did he do?

Think, dear. "Monster"? "LOVELESS"? ...what about "Angeal" or "Jenova"?

"...Mother?" Sephiroth whispered, his eyes widening. That's it. Genesis told him the truth about Jenova. His Mother. He had her...and then...

...then...what happened?

That boy...the blonde.

Right, they fought, but the boy was stronger. He threw him into the Lifestream with Mother's head. But it was dark after that. Why did he resurface? Better yet, how long was he in there? He had to find out.

Pocketing the book inside his coat, Sephiroth took off down a path hoping it would lead him to salvation.

He wasn't sure how long he was walking, but Sephiroth never grew tired. The sun rose and set 2 or 3 times before he came to a sudden cliffside, a large hole not too far off to his right. For the first time in a few days, Sephiroth stopped, looking around the cave mouth before continuing on.

The cave was dark, narrowing down into a thin tunnel which continued on for about a mile before opening into a wide cavern filled with various rock formations, moonlight pouring it from a hole in the ceiling of the cave. The sound of water dripping was echoing around the area, but apart from that and the sound of his quiet footsteps, there was no noise. Water surrounded a small island of rock in the center, gleaming slightly from the light of the moon. But there was another reflection, and Sephiroth knew it couldn't have been from the water.

In the back of the cavern was a large bubble-like form, the sillouet of a man hovering inside, apparently in a deep asleep. Curious, Sephiroth cautiously advanced upon the bubble until he was in front of it...before jumping back in shock, nearly slipping back into the pool of water.

This man...he knew this man. He had run across his parent's graves. He had found his book lying on the ground amongst the rubble. This man...was Genesis.

How did he manage to find him? Was something...or someone...guiding him? He didn't want to ponder too much on it; he still needed to find Mother. Turning to leave, the book in his coat suddenly slipped out and fell to the ground at his feet, falling open on a page that had a piece of paper tucked away inside. He stooped, picking up the paper and unfolding it to read what it said:

Even if the morrow is barren of promises

Nothing shall forestall my return

To become the dew that quenches the land

To spare the sands, the seas, the skies

I offer thee this silent sacrifice.

" ..'I offer thee this silent sacrifice'.. " he muttered, wondering if this had any real meaning. Suddenly, he felt the air around him begin to twitch with lightning, looking up sharply as the bubble before him began to glow, pulling in all the energy from around it. Sephiroth shielded himself as a blast nearly knocked him down, hearing a dull *thump* as if something dropped. He opened his eyes, suddenly locking with Mako-infused blue ones that stared right back. A smirk slowly played across the other man's lips; Genesis had come back.