Title: Sephiroth's Mistress
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud
Rating:
Warnings: Yaoi, humor
Disclaimer: Characters and settings belong to Square Enix.

Author's note: This is to satiate the grumblings of a certain Amiga's of mine stomach cough cough Kuciemba whose hunger for a Seph/Cloud fic was gnawing at my tummy too. This is to appease the both of us.

Part One

"There's no possible way! They won't go for it! You know this."

Voices rose up in opposition. Arguments abounded around the large rectangular table, all peoples squabbling and bickering like small children. The room filled with the elite of the all refined in the Shinra Electric Company quickly degraded themselves to the standing of any bar or pub patron. Brash and youthful men stepping forth to yell in other, more dignified and aged, men's faces causing respect to be ripped from all proceedings, when a voice spoke out above all of the rest.

"Perhaps, we should go through this one more time. After all, the key player is now present. I'm sure that with him here, we can now get this matter resolved," the rich, aristocratic tone of President Shinra addressed his audience all but daring them to dispute his decision.

He, seated again at the head of the table in his high backed wooden chair with its many golden adornments, let his eyes settle on his fellows as they each, one by one, settled down as demanded and prepared for the conversation ahead of them. Then, when all of the finely attired men and women in their suits that so apparently cost more gil than many a household made in a single year had arranged themselves comfortably, their many sets of eyes become fixed on the newest arrival still poised at the double doors.

Sephiroth waited only a moment longer before the President gestured vaguely to his left where a place had remained vacant. He crossed the room quickly, his long strides carrying him to the chair where he sat gracefully down, and all the while the sets of eyes weighed heavily on him. Even someone such as Sephiroth, whose weakness lay greatly in a stunted aptitude to read people and their emotions or reactions, could tell that what he was about to be told was most probably not something that he himself wished to hear at all. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for the worst and hoped that maybe he had thought wrong.

Scarlet, in her blood red and rather skimpy dress, rose to her feet and gazed steadily at the room's inhabitants. She cleared her throat, though it seemed unnecessary, and began to explain what was obviously the problem that had caused such an unseen and unheard of reaction from the prominent Shinra executives.

"As I'm sure you've heard, General, the Wutaian cities have grown… uneasy… since the time of their defeat only a short while back." Her voice had velvety qualities, Sephiroth mused silently, that made pleasant all of her words—an ability she often used to her advantage, and today appeared to be no different. She paused in her speech, obviously waiting for some sort of reaction from the reserved General, so he gave a slight nod of his head, indicating her to continue.

"Of course, they don't like Shinra very much, what with their being utterly conquered by us. That is well known. But, a good ruler, such as our President is, knows that such unrest cannot be tolerated within the hearts of those that have been crushed by his mighty army. This can lead to many problems, amongst them retaliation or even, perhaps, assistance to the rebels we are already at problems with." Here her sharp eyes narrowed, trapping Sephiroth's own in her strong look.

"What we need," Scarlet persisted softly, "is a means by which to show them that Shinra is not an oppressor, but their savor and not so very different from Wutai itself. What we need, is a way to show them that they can instill in us their trust, a trust that will make an excellent ally in times of need I'm sure."

Sephiroth again gave a simple nod. It made sense after all. The war between Shinra and Wutai had been bloody. Men, women, fathers, mothers, children and so many more had died on those battlefields, their blood mingling until one could not be distinguished from another. Friends lay on the muddy ground with foe beside them. So many had fallen and all in the name of conquest and greed. In the end, President Shinra had called forth Sephiroth, instructing him to finish the job. And, so he did. His slaughter of their people would not be forgotten so soon and, though respect was due to him in their society for his prowess in combat, the Wutaian citizens had also seen what a fight without mercy tasted like on their lips and were not so quick to wash that taste from themselves or their memories. They would not, could not, trust a subjugator who took to such ruthless tactics.

"But we have a plan," came the smooth baritone of the President. "A meeting with the lord Godo has already been arranged. It's to take place in the latter part of next week. You have then to prepare, keep that in mind."

The silvery haired man raised a single eyebrow in question causing the leader of the powerful company to smirk ever so slightly before he answered the unspoken question.

"You'll need the time. You will be coming of course. You're the one to get Shinra back into Wutaian good graces."

For the first time during the whole course of the meeting the quiet general spoke, "And how am I to do that?"

"Why you'll be showing them what a respectable person you are, living up to all of the values and virtues that those Wutaian fools hold so precious to their horrible, little hearts." Scarlet smiled with something akin to ferocity at her own little remark. "You'll be introducing them to your fiancé."

That's when her little devil of a smile grew and a look of complete and utter confusion could be seen on Sephiroth's face as his eyes ever so noticeably grew wider and his muscles tensed.

"Excuse me?" was the only thing he could think to say.

The conversation ended with Shinra's prized general unable to find a way to escape from President Shinra and his plan concerning Wutai. Sephiroth left shortly after this conclusion, his frustration over his predicament mounting with every second that slipped by and, now, every step that he took.

Unknowingly, his feet led him along until he realized that he was standing on the edge of the cadet training rooms. A large open area greeted him and racks filled with an odd assortment of weapons and armaments stood against the far wall. The doorway leading down a short set of stairs to a public shower and bathroom could be seen to the right of him. Sephiroth took in the familiar setting almost hungrily. He had spent his fair share of time within the four walls, training surely but also watching, watching the newest members begin their lives here.

Across the way and exiting from said shower area, his faintly glowing emerald eyes caught movement; a second later two figures appeared side by side. One, the taller of the two, shifted dark brown locks back behind his ears as laughter slipped easily from his smiling face. The other, though much shorter and appearing to be quite meek, gave a smile of his own in answer, blonde bangs blocking from view what Sephiroth knew to be a pair of breathtaking blue eyes.

Zack was the first of the two to take notice of their observer and gave a quick flick of his wrist, beckoning his friend over. As he did so, the pale general noticed the light dusting of pink that accented the cheeks of the cadet, Cloud. The teen never ceased to amaze him. Even when any other would have given to the hopelessness all control and left, Cloud rose up and stood to show any who was willing enough to look what he really was. Sephiroth had watched, and seen often. He had come to know in recent months the cadet teenager who was in the unit under Zack's care. But, now was not the time to be concerning himself with thoughts about the blonde boy. Focusing back on the two, Sephiroth began to walk towards them.

Zack's smile never left his lips as Sephiroth, glower firmly set in place, approached and came to stand before the two. "You look like Shinra stuck a pole up your ass…way up!" His smile stretched a bit more and a light that wasn't from the Mako danced deep in his eyes. "Don't tell me you're taking it now?" he teased.

Green eyes rolled in reply as a small voice said, "I'll see you later, Zack, General. I've got to study for the tactics exam tomorrow." The blonde gave a farewell wave before setting off at a near run.

"I swear," Zack said scoldingly as he shook his head, "that boy is terrified of even trying to have a conversation with you." He sighed.

"As he should be," came Sephiroth's quipped reply and Zack gave an amusing, if not hysterical, and confused look at such behavior.

Knowing that sooner or later the Soldier First Class would find out, Sephiroth gave a heavy sigh before relaying the evening's events. No sooner had he finished his retelling of how he'd be forced into finding some woman to play the part of his fiancé and, with great seriousness, even have the high possibility to become just that if all things ended as the President desired, did Zack crack into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Laughter that caused the brunette to double over and attempt to wipe tears from his eyes and cheeks.

"I do not, for one, see how this situation could be even the slightest bit amusing," Sephiroth bit out in a clipped and angry tone.

"Oh…but…I…do…" Zack wheezed between bouts of giggles and laughs. "Just think about it," he said having finally regained his somewhat relaxed composure, "the Great General Sephiroth, having to find himself a girlfriend. That's pretty funny to me. I mean, do you even like girls? What's more, have you even ever tried to impress someone or go on a date? That's something I'd pay to see." He flashed that bright and big smile of his again. Slapping the taller and higher ranked man on his shoulder he bid a goodnight and headed off to bed still breaking out into quiet giggles the entire way back to his dorm.

And, behind him, he left a very confused and annoyed man, one who would have to come up with a plan before any aristocrat attempted to set the Mighty General up with some air headed woman and said general lost his sanity. Giving a shrug to no one in particular, the tall, long haired man turned and left the training area to head for his own rooms and to rest that seemed to ensure only more torturing thoughts of this problem of his.