Chaotic

The year is 103AD, more than a century after the great disaster. Shinra Corporation's mad plunges into the planet's untapped resources had resulted in a catastrophe that claimed most of the original Midgar. Only the very outer limits of the city were spared. Fifty years after the disaster Shinra documents were discovered that pointed to the secret of the corporation's destruction and the hope for the future. A substance beneath the surface was believed to exist that could produce 500 times its weight in conventional fuel. Whoever could harness such a substance could not only resuscitate Midgar but could take the world by storm.

It wasn't long before war broke out among those that would own the world. Of the many warring factions three distinguished themselves as the most powerful. SOLDIER, led by an inhumanly strong and crafty young man named Sephiroth Gainsborough and his sister Aeris, AVALANCE, led by a brash but brilliant man known only as Barrat and The Wutai Tai led by the last surviving Wutainese Princess Yuffie.

After 10 intense years of fighting between the three gangs the remains of Midgar were divided amongst the factions; SOLDIER in the north, AVALANCHE in the east and The Wu in the west. Each guarded their borders savagely and each had their own plan for finding the Secret of Shinra. But even in these trying times romance could still blossom... and so could hate.

Chapter I

It had been four long nights before the conditions were just right. There were no scheduled deliveries to this particular part of the complex for three hours. The rotation of the guards would leave a small window of opportunity and even the gods seemed to be cooperating. There were thick clouds hanging over northern Midgar casting the already dark streets in an infinite black void. A small figure in all black stood atop a derelict rooftop and stared at the SOLDIER main headquarters. The figure's timing was perfect. For two minutes no one else would be watching.

The figure leapt from its perch and plunged into the darkened street below like a bolt of lightning. The figure was like a living part of the dark, all unseen motion and liquid like fluidity. The figure was darkness. Darkness shot through he abandoned streets like rounds from a cannon. The Darkness moved silently and swiftly between buildings emptied long ago by SOLDIER enforcers. General Sephiroth ordered the clearing of all the buildings around his fortress for two blocks in every direction. He wanted to know exactly what was in his territory and he wanted a moat-like free zone around his home. But General Sephiroth had no idea that Darkness was about to pay a visit.

A keening wind coursed through the empty alley ways like the vengeful ghost of the once thriving city. Darkness was too young to remember what things were like before Shinra's disaster but records still existed. Pictures, books, and holographic blueprints of the former metropolis were prized among its displaced people. Even Darkness had a stash of photographs, rumored to be of the old Shinra building. The SOLDIER main headquarters and the Shinra corporate headquarters had an alarming similarity. A left turn brought the HQ in to view with its menacing shadow casting evil shapes on the buildings it dwarfed. Less than a minute remained before the window of opportunity closed.

Time was ticking away and the SOLDIER sentries would arrive at any moment. Darkness wasted no time checking a time piece because internal clocks were more reliable. Sephiroth's lackeys would kill anyone found trespassing on his land... after they applied aggressive questioning. They're torture techniques were legendary and Darkness had no desire to experience them firsthand. The foot falls of the returning guards could be heard in the distance. Maybe Darkness had miscalculated and cut things too close. Two long strides and a magnificent leap saw Darkness take to the air and disappear into the night. Two sentries took up their post and watched for any sign of enemy encroachment. They watched the streets and rooftops around the complex with a practiced thoroughness that would spot a hunting stray black cat with ease. Lucky for Darkness they searched for targets approaching and not targets already climbing the side of the building.

Aeris Gainsborough sprawled lazily across her huge bed, eyes closed in deep contemplation. Brown hair framed her face like the veil of a waiting bride. She wore a dark grey nightgown that clung tightly to her slight form and accentuated her womanly curves. The window was open allowing cold night air free reign of her room and her erect nipples. A particularly strong gust of wind blew through the chamber and caused Aeris to shudder as it flew up her gown and caressed her pantiless lower regions. She parted her legs slightly and imagined it was her Romeo. She was lost in thoughts of Cloud Strife.

She remembered that horrible day when he walked out of her life. She had always had a crush on the quiet and brooding SOLDIER and knew that he had feelings for her too. She arranged the sentry assignments so that he would be posted in an area as far from the main complex as any of the guards dared to go. With him posted alone and away from her overprotective brother's prying eyes she snuck out of HQ to surprise him. He was perched atop the roof of an old house in order to get a good view of the surrounding area. His keen eyes saw her coming from blocks away. He was waiting for her when she opened the front door to his chosen watchtower.

"Mistress Gainsborough, why aren't you at headquarters? It's very dangerous out here so close to the ruins and the Wu border." said the SOLDIER. She rolled her eyes and closed the door behind her. She had worn a short one piece dress in the black a dark blue worn by her brother's faction and a small matching jacket. "Seriously ma'am you should not be he-" protested Cloud until she through off the jacket. The top of the dress was low cut, revealing round shoulders and an alluring length of collarbone.

"Who are you to tell me where I should and shouldn't be?" she asked in an authoritative tone. The blonde SOLDIER tensed as if she had slapped him. He saluted rigidly.

"Mistress, my intention was not to over step my bounds but merely to impart upon you the danger you're putting yourself in." he said. Aeris shook her head sadly. She liked strong assertive men like her brother and the SOLDIER that stood before her was a drastic let down from the blond man she'd seen behead a captured prisoner. Disappointedly, she wondered whether planning this clandestine rendezvous was a big mistake.

"I am quite aware of the danger, Strife."

"Ma'am I was not attempting to imp-"

"Shut up." She spat with a wave of her hand. "That's an order." She slowly walked a circle around the stiff SOLDIER. She pretended to be taking an inventory of the nearly Spartan room they occupied while in truth she was check out Clouds toned form. As she finished her forth rotation she pinched his rear. Cloud gasped and opened his mouth to say something. "I gave you an order SOLDIER!" she said swiftly, stifling a laugh. "Now, I want you to be silent and listen.

"To answer your first question, I'm not at headquarters because I choose to be here… and I'm here to see you, Cloud. Don't look so shocked. I've seen the way you look at me when you think no one is watching. There you go looking shocked again… I must admit that it's kinda cute." She winked at the SOLDIER and began circling him once more. Circling like a shark that had scented blood. She lightly brushed her hand down his spiky blond hair. "I've even spoken to your bunkmate… did you know you speak about me in your sleep?" She was ahead of him again, a grin on her face that was anything but innocent. "I arranged this little meeting so that we could be alone." She purred.

"…"

If she hadn't been watching his face she might have missed it. The psychoanalysts were convinced that Cloud Strife suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder or some other form of displacement. He had a tendency to change in to a drastically different person in the heat of battle. She'd once seen that other Cloud when he was ordered to execute a prisoner. His features became less beautiful and much harder. His bright azure eyes turned menacing, murderous. Those same eyes stared back at her.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked. For a moment it appeared that he wasn't going to answer.

"What do you want me to say? You want me to deny it, pretend that your information is incorrect? What can I say, Mistress?" His tone was mocking and bordered on insolent. Instead of taking offense Aeris blushed. This was the Cloud that made her heart skip a beat.

"You can say 'I want to rip your clothes off and ravish you, Mistress'" she stated with a devious chuckle. His eyes flashed for a moment and suddenly she was in the air. His strong fingers held her tightly and shock kept her from screaming out. He slammed her into the wall with enough force to make her bite her own tongue. Plaster from the building's aged walls showered the two. Aeris Gainsborough tasted blood and was afraid.

The SOLDIER leaned forward slowly until their lips were only a hair's width apart, nearly touching but not quite. Aeris held her breath. Green eyes stared into azure eyes for what seemed like an eternity until finally he lashed out with his tongue and tasted at a trickle of blood that had escaped her mouth. She shuddered and released the breath she'd been holding and became weak in the knees, close to fainting.

"I want to rip your clothes off and ravish you, Mistress." He said into her open mouth just before he kissed her deeply. This second Cloud is much more to my liking Aeris thought to herself.

Cloud grabbed her milky white thighs and hoisted her up against the wall. Straddled by her pale flesh he pressed into her. Her skirt rode up thigh on her legs exposing her pink panties. The bulge in his pants pressed firmly into her nether regions. She shook as he pushed into her harder and for a brief moment she thought he might enter her while they were both fully clothed. She leaned toward his ear and bite down sharply, forcing a gasp to escape his lips.

"Take me, Cloud Strife. Take all of me." She whispered in his ear. Obligingly, he pressed her against the wall with his waist so that he could use his hands to unfasten his belt. Impatient and eager Aeris began to grind into him. She moaned out of pleasure and he moaned out of frustration. Both felt that his pants were taking too long to come off.

Finally Cloud gave up and ripped his belt in half. The sound of the buckle hitting the ground was almost drowned out by the sound of their heavy breathing. She reached down to help with his pants when she sensed the use of materia. The door to the hovel imploded and bathed in the afternoon light, framed by the shattered doorway stood two statuesque figures. The taller of the two had long silvery hair that nearly sparkled as he rushed into the room. Cloud barely managed to parry General Sephiroth's blow with the flat of his own blade. He was thrown across the room and through a wall weak with age. Zack, Sephiroth's right hand, was right behind the head of SOLDIER scanning the room for any unseen threats.

Sephiroth turned to his younger sister and stared at her sitting on the floor where Cloud had dropped her to draw his sword. To her credit Aeris had the decency to look embarrassed. He made the barest of nods in her direction and Zack was suddenly by her side helping her up. She let him get her to her feet and swiftly fixed her skirt. Sephiroth and Zack both watched her, the latter with poorly concealed lust and the former with a slowly simmering fire. The sound of moving rubble snatched everyone's attention. Cloud stumbled wobbly into the room rubbing his head, his expression and manner back to normal.

"What the fuck is going on here, SOLDIER!" exploded Zack. He was seething and his hand had made its way upward to the hilt of his buster sword.

"Commander Zack, Master Gainsborough! I... I..." stammered Cloud as if at a loss for words. He appeared to be bewildered by what was going on.

"ANSWER ME!" bellowed the dark haired man. Aeris was between the two before Cloud could babble another bewildered response. She put a hand on Zack's chest and pushed him backward. Her eyes were narrowed and she stared furiously at the SOLDIER commander.

"Back off, Zack!" she spat in his face. Zack's fury abated as he peered into those green orbs.

"Why are you here, Aeris? Sephiroth forbade you to leave Headquarters." He stated with an air of finality. "And why the hell was this whelp touching you?"

"Fuck you, Zack. I don't belong to you… or my brother." Though her response was heartfelt her conviction faltered as she glanced at the silent legend. She loved her brother and felt a bit of remorse for disobeying him.

"You don't mean that." said Zack, the plea clear in his tone.

"Yeah, I do!" said Aeris in a mocking tone that drove deep into the commander's heart. He cringed at the force of her words. Enraged he drew his huge sword. Cloud took a step back but Aeris stood her ground. She knew that Zack was too enamored with her to do anything harsh. From the corner of her eye she could see Sephiroth watching with intense, burning eyes. She wondered if her brother would save her if she proved to be wrong about Zack.

"Step aside, Aeris. Arm yourself, Strife!" There was a hint of insanity in his outburst. Aeris didn't move. She stared at Zack with scorn evident on her face.

"This is none of your concern, Zack! Get out of here."

"General, I believe your sister is has forgotten her place." Zack said over his shoulder in Sephiroth's direction.

"How dare you say I've forgotten my place?" A cloud of tension hung thickly in the air. "Have you forgotten who is boss here, SOLDIER? And next time you are to speak of me you shall refer to me as Mistress." said Aeris as she circled around the armed warrior. "When did we get on a first name basis, Zack?" she added with malice. "You will speak to me with more respect. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes" he said grudgingly.

"Yes, who?" she repeated.

"Yes, Mistress." said Zack with clenched teeth as he gave the patient general a glance. "But you insult yourself and your brother by letting this peon touch you." It was obvious that Zack was the one feeling insulted. Aeris laughed a derisive bark that was laced with cruelty and malice.

"You're jealous, Zack. It would be cute if it wasn't so pathetic." she said soberly. Cloud let a brief laugh escape his lips. For a moment there was a thick silence and then Zack was shoving the young woman aside and bringing his huge blade down in a hacking motion. She could barely make sense of the images that swept pass her face as she fell to the hard ground. Maybe she'd pushed Zack too far. Just before she hit the ground she thought she saw a black shape like a silent specter dash pass her.

The sound of steel meeting steel echoed through the dusty room and for a moment Aeris thought she would be deafened. She turned her head and stared in shocked disbelief. Zack's Buster Sword balanced impossibly on the edge of Sephiroth's Masamune, the long dai-katana easily supporting the weight of the other's broadsword. Cloud stood open mouthed. His hands had reached for his long sword but would have never drawn the weapon in time. Zack was shaking as much from exertion as from fear.

Aeris got to her feet and moved tentatively toward the frozen men. She was an inch away from her black-clad brother when he turned and stared into her eyes. For a moment her heart stopped and she knew that it wasn't her imagination but the fury and power of her older sibling that did it. His eyes were like simmering embers and reflected nothing that resided in the room with them.

"Zack, take my sister home." he said without breaking eye contact. The tone of his voice was laden with a calm that frightened more than any outburst could have. Zack sheathed his weapon and swiftly left the building, Aeris was not far behind. She had been ready to argue but decided not to test the limits of the General's patients. Cloud was left alone with the reputed deadliest swordsman in the world. His hands were still on the hilt of his sword but he entertained no hope of it being any use.

"General, I… I want to explain. It was all my fault. Mistress Aeris had-"

"I know this is all her doing." said Sephiroth, his voice still thick with that frightening calm. "That is the only reason you'll leave here alive."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Don't thank me. If I ever see you within my borders again I will gut you and leave you for the buzzards." Cloud had no response and Sephiroth expected none. The General left and Cloud was never heard from again...

She was broken of her revelry by a sudden change in the breeze. Aeris shifted and her nightgown rode up her thighs, exposing her lightly brown-dusted womanhood. She wasn't inclined to cover herself. Modesty was never one of her strong suits. Her thought drifted back to that day and the long walk back to Headquarters with Zack. Everyone knew that Zack served her brother out of hope that he might gain her hand in marriage. He was her creature to use, but she didn't want him. Like most women she wanted what she couldn't have and Sephiroth banishing Cloud made him very appetizing.

Images of blond spiky hair danced through her head. She could smell the scent of his aftershave and the thought of his strong hands was pulling at things low on her body that made her purr like a kitten. She smiled and worked her hands down to the point where her legs met. Fingers found flesh and she shook with passion. She moaned and grounded her bottom into her thick comforter. She writhed and wriggled… and suddenly froze. Had someone just cleared their throat?

She opened her eyes and perched like a bird of prey was a figure draped in all black from head to toe. The figure was deathly still and framed by the clear night sky. Darkness. Aeris rolled off of the bed leaving it between her and the newcomer. She was sharply aware of the twenty-three story drop from her window and wonder how her visitor managed. She slowly eased toward the door to her chamber never taking her eyes off of the figure in her window. Like an owl Darkness followed Aeris with only the steady shift of his head. She was almost to the edge of the bed when impulsively she shot a glance at her goal less than five feet away. There was a gust of wind and she turned back toward the window.

The windowsill was empty but moving with the grace and speed of a nightmarish cat, came Darkness. Aeris leapt to her feet and made for the door knowing that she couldn't match the other's pace. She extended her hand for the steel doorknob but closed it around thin air. Darkness had her in an iron grip and stood between Mistress Gainsborough and freedom. Aeris was too proud to cry out for help and too stubborn to comply peacefully. She attempted to twist her arms away in a hand-to-hand technique taught to her by her brother. As her assailant attempted to pull her forward she intended to use the momentum to through him off balance. Unfortunately Darkness had no intentions of pulling against Aeris. Instead Aeris was the one tossed off balance and was effortlessly slammed against the door.

The impact made her bite her own tongue. She would have laughed at the irony of the situation but she didn't find it funny. Darkness moved in closer and she pressed herself into the wall in an attempt to get as far away as circumstances would allow. Effortlessly, Darkness took both of Aeris' small wrists in a single hand and raised them above her head. With his free hand he slightly lifted the bottom of his mask. He leaned forward, bringing his lips a hair's breadth from hers. Her breath caught in her throat and Aeris heart pounded like a war drum. Déjà vu. Darkness lashed out with his tongue and attacked the small trail of blood that had spilled down Aeris' cheek. She shuddered and was once again weak in the knees. This time she laughed.

Aeris had always hoped that Cloud would return for her but not like this. He was like a whole new person. He was still silent still fast and strong but there was something different. She searched her mind for any indication, any telltale sign of the change that had befallen him. Her mind had finally focused on something when Cloud moved that last inch and kissed her harder than anyone had ever kissed her before. Her mouth felt bruised and her tongue stung but she couldn't help but enjoy it. She kissed Cloud back with equal force. The pain was excruciating but the pleasure over shadowed it. She had been dreaming of Strife's return for so long that just his mere presence was sending shockwaves through her body.

Cloud released her wrist and brought his strong hands to her waist, alternately kneading her round bottom as well as the muscles around her spine. His other hand found her perky breast and treated them the way he would examine ripe fruit. He squeezed a nipple and she screamed. Her hands were no longer restrained but she'd been so caught up in the moment she hadn't bothered to lower them. Her hands dropped down on his shoulders and with all of the strength she could muster Aeris pushed him towards the bed.

They hit the large and downy bed bouncing and rolling. When they're momentum had subsided Cloud was on top of Aeris and his hands had found her moist nakedness. The sensation of Cloud on top of her, his mouth fastened to her own and his hand exploring her insides. Her back arched in excitement. Cloud's alter ego must have finally taken over because he had never been so bold. She gripped the comforter and pressed her body against his.

Déjà vu.

The door to her room burst open. General Sephiroth and two SOLDIERs came charging into the room. Cloud reacted immediately. He rolled off the bed and was at the window even as the SOLDIERs were making sense of the scene on the bed. The men had guns and were trained in their use. Cloud leapt through the open window as a storm of machinegun fire ate at the wall. Aeris drew the comforter around her shoulders and stared wistfully out the window. Sephiroth left the room without saying a word, the SOLDIERs at his back.

"We heard screaming and thought you were in trouble, Mistress." one stammered as he hurried into the hall. Caught up in her own thoughts she barely heard him.

Darkness knew that heading back toward ground level was suicide so he did the only thing he could, climb to the roof. In the gloom of night he was a black silhouette moving with liquid fluidity up the side of the building. He was black as night, he was darkness. Darkness moved up the wall swiftly and was there within moments of leaving Aeris's room. He stood alone on the edge of the roof like a figure carved of onyx stone. The figure perched like a bird of prey and scanned the night for any sign of pursuit. It was turning out to be a very eventful night.

The figure removed his mask and took a deep breath of fresh air. Aeris had called out Cloud's name repeatedly as they kissed… Princess Yuffie Karasagi had no idea who Cloud was. All she knew was that Aeris Gainsborough was a good kisser and General Sephiroth appeared to be every bit as imposing as rumors stated. She dug into one of her many pockets and removed the piece of Materia she had stolen from Aeris's bedside table. Sources had said that Aeris kept it in her room and so Yuffie worked long and hard on a way to steal it. It wasn't very useful or valuable but it was rare and it was all that mattered to her.

A/N: I want to thank my best friend without whom I wouldn't have even bothered. I'd also like to thank all the author's who have written bad stories and given me the drive to post something good. As always… We live to hate.