Disclaimer: I do not own Square-Enix, Final Fantasy or any of the characters, wish I did, but I don't.

A/N: I have had this idea for a while and I wanted to get it posted to see what you thought. I still don't have a beta reader, but I am trying my best. I have an idea of where I want this story to go and I hope that I get the chance to get it done. I am still working on UB, but I think that it may be worth it to explore this story and see where it takes me. I invite you to join my journey and hope you enjoy your travels with me. There is a reason for the latin title. There will be a little very light and implied yaoi later, but please do not misunderstand, this is NOT a yaoi story, it is a mystery. There will be warnings at the beginning of the chapters that have any in it, so if you want to skip it, you can.

I don't have a beta reader, so if there are any mistakes, let me know or just overlook them, it's you're choice. *grinning*

Intra Tentatio Insania
"Within the Temptation of Insanity"

"Don't lower your standards. Instead, wait for people to rise to your expectations." -Unknown

Prologue

~Finality~

"We are calling off the search," Lazard shifted in his chair as he moved a file with the large red letters 'Confidential' stamped across the front.

"We can't just give up. Please sir, we will look on our own time, just don't call it completely off," Genesis leaned on the other side of the desk.

Large fists hit the desk in an exaggerated manner as Lazard stood in a rush, "It has been nine months Genesis. I don't like it any more than you, but my decision is final!"

Genesis straightened and his pleading eyes turned to Sephiroth, "Seph, do something. We have to do something."

The silver General stood motionless with his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, "We have to accept his fate Genesis," Sephiroth looked back at Genesis with a noticeable sway of emotion welling in his face, "It's over." A flash of silver hair stormed out of the door with a crash. When the door landed on the floor next to Lazard's secretary, he didn't slow, he just continued down the hallway.

Genesis was left with emptiness, gazing at the plush swirl of colors that made circular patterns on the carpet. The tone was the saddest he ever thought he heard, "I hope you can live with this decision." Crimson leather fluttered behind him as he followed his sterling partner.

Getting to his apartment, he inserted his card key, but it flashed red. He tried again and yet again it denied his entrance. Black gloved fists struck the reinforced steel door several times until he rested his forehead on the offending barrier. Silver hair fell across his shoulders in its unruly state. Not having the will to lower his hands, they continued to flail softly against the cool silver door. A small sniff, then a swipe at his face to remove the moisture that was a clear sign of weakness, he flipped around to face away from the door and leaned his back against it.

A few SOLDIERs and a couple of infantry passed by him in the hallway, some nodded in recognition, some smiled in awe, others still avoided eye contact with him. It was something that he had gotten used to anymore. His breeding had seen to that, emotion was stupid and frivolous, but it was something that he had learned to appreciate in certain doses.

His father, being the President, had its drawbacks. He had worked hard for his place as General. It wasn't just given to him. However, over the last few months, his fits of anger had shown many to stay clear. The trainees he was in charge of had become the center pieces of his wrath. When in training, he had let himself get carried away and had sent several of them to the infirmary. If it hadn't been for Genesis, he was sure that he would have killed a few of them.

Genesis living just next door to him had been a great way for them to get through the second most difficult thing that they had gone through. They had exchanged keys so that the other had access to the other's apartment at any time, but it had become a crutch for them anymore.

"Are you okay Seph?"

Sephiroth looked up at blue eyes peering through the first class's red hair, "I will be, but it doesn't change that we have lost…" Sephiroth's words trailed off as Genesis closed the distance and embraced Sephiroth.

In a rare display, Sephiroth returned Genesis's affection. The two SOLDIERs basically grew up together and were as close as brothers could be, "I miss them too but we need to talk."

Sephiroth looked up at Genesis and he could tell that there was something going on in that hard head of his. Not wanting to hold the suspense any longer, Sephiroth turned and tried again to open the door to his apartment. Genesis looked around and as Sephiroth threw his card key on the coffee table, it slid off the other side to the cluttered floor, "When was the last time you cleaned around here?"

Pulling a large half empty bottle of vodka out of the freezer, he poured himself a glass and downed it quickly. While he poured another he answered, "What does it matter? The company doesn't care about us anymore, why should I care about my fucking apartment?" Another glass down and Genesis joined him at the kitchen counter.

"Seph, give me that," Taking the bottle, he raised it to his lips and drank a large part of it until he choked on the strength of it, "What the hell? Is this shit actually vodka?"

Grabbing the bottle from him, he poured another, "No, I confiscated it, from some of the infantry guys in the barracks," He stepped away from Genesis and pulled open another cabinet, "Along with these here."

The large assortment of alcohol was impressive to say the least, "I guess I should pay a visit to my garrison to see what they have to offer," Genesis drank the selection that Sephiroth poured in his glass.

During the evening, well into the night they drown their memories in the bottles that soon littered the already disarrayed apartment. They talked about everything that they dared and Genesis tried to keep Sephiroth as far off the subject as possible, but that was unavoidable as predicted.

The next morning, Genesis found himself waking up in a seriously uncomfortable place somehow under the coffee table. Fuzziness at the previous night's sorrow drowning events pried themselves to the top of his list of things to analyze right after hitting the bathroom. Not seeing Sephiroth, he shrugged and continued on his way when he noticed the front door was slightly ajar, "Hey Seph?" No response, but that didn't mean much. Having to go through the bedroom to get to the bathroom, he tripped on a pair of boots that had been left in the middle of the floor. Standing at the foot of the bed, his face blushed brightly at the sight of a naked Sephiroth lying next to a well-endowed naked woman.

He didn't recognize her and that was okay, lately Sephiroth had taken to going through women like shit through a chocobo. It was a revolving door that his depression had led him through. Continuing into the bathroom, he relieved himself and as he flushed, a small glint caught his attention. Sitting on the back of the toilet was a syringe and a tourniquet. Maybe Sephiroth's depression was deeper than he thought originally. It would have to wait for another day to discuss, but he couldn't be hypocritical, he had his own drug of choice.

Lazard had no idea what his two remaining firsts were up to. He wondered if he even really cared, sure that he had heard stories, nothing was said to either of them.

"Hey Seph, we got to get to work," Genesis's light tap on his leg brought him out of his deep sleep. Genesis realized that they hadn't talked about what he had wanted to talk to him about before they got shit faced drunk, "Come on, we gotta shower."

Sephiroth rolled over to the side of the bed and had to pull his hair out from under the sleeping woman. Sephiroth was far too nice, so Genesis woke her and pushed her things into her arms as he pushed her out the door. With the unpleasantness out of the way and making sure that Sephiroth was indeed awake, he headed back to his own apartment to shower.

His desk seemed to be covered in paperwork, "I thought I was a warrior, not a damn paper jockey." Disgusted with the systematic removal of their field work, he swept all the papers into the wastebasket. To the surprise of his office mate, he climbed on the desk and promptly fell asleep. That was until Reno showed up.

Sephiroth didn't even look up from his paper work when the Turk walked in, "Hey Sephy, how is it hangin these days? I heard it's pretty loose here lately."

Finishing his signature on the forms and without giving the red-headed Turk the satisfaction of his undivided attention, he asked, "What do you want Reno?"

When Reno's rear end planted itself on the edge of the desk, Sephiroth finally looked up, "Well, I have some info that just crossed my desk, just thought you and your fuck toy over there just might be interested."

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes and growled, "Get off of my desk…Turk."

Throwing his hands up, "Fine, fine, I guess it isn't that important anyway, it was just a sighting, nothing confirmed," Reno's departure from the room marked Sephiroth jumping and vaulting over his desk. In a swift move, he slapped Genesis and then followed the Turk out into the hallway.

"What is going on Seph?" Genesis wiped the sleep from his eyes with a wide yawn.

"We gotta find that damn annoying Turk. He knows something," Sephiroth scanned the rest of the office floor and open aired hallway and finally spotted the object of his search. Grabbing a handful of red leather coat, he ran and pulled Genesis with him until they reached the elevators and cornered the black suited man, "Spill it Reno."

"What no drink first?"

"Reno, its five o'clock, quitting time, so what do you want?" Sephiroth crossed his arms an impatient look covered his pale face.

"All I want is a little of that awesome shit you get," The blank looks from both firsts pulled a laugh out of Reno's lips, "A little booze, some porn and women, geez what a bunch of stingy bastards around here."

Genesis's red gloved hand pushed Reno's back firmly against the elevator wall, "How do we know the info you have is worthwhile?"

A sly smile crossed the subtly red lips of the red Turk, "Oh, it's good shit. Trust me, but you didn't hear any of it from me."

Silver eyebrows raised and watched the elevator doors open on the floor holding the first class apartments, "We know the routine Reno, now come on before I change my mind."

Five hours of listening to the man ramble on and on about his sexual preferences, alcohol tolerance, childhood sweetheart and on to what his favorite subject in school was, they grew impatient at his incessant talking. They finally got to the topic of interest, "A report of a sighting in the small town of Calchest, about fifty miles from Nibelheim was…"

Sephiroth grabbed him, "Was what? Was what Reno?"

"Oh, what was I saying?" Reno smiled at him, "Oh yeah, that's right. The sighting, they said it was a guy claiming to be a SOLDIER first class."

Genesis and Sephiroth looked at each other and Genesis rolled his eyes, "Reno, we get those just about every day. What makes this one so special?"

Reno smiled and grabbed a little of Sephiroth's long hair and slurred out, "His eyes are said to be mako eyes and he surprisingly fits the description of one very missing Zack Fair."

A/N: Thanks to all of you who read, favorite, subscribed and/or reviewed, I appreciate your time and I dedicate all of this to you. To quote another author, "Getting reviews makes me feel all warm and squishy."

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