Megumi-chan: To be clear, this is like a prolouge of sorts, introducing one of the major characters, Mei. And then the next is when Shinra is after Cloud and Zack. You'll understand(Hopefully) as the story goes along.
Claim: I own Mei and any other original characters.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cloud, Zack, or any other characters that belong to FFVII. Square Enix does.
~*~Log I: Beginning~*~
"Zack~" The young black haired male turned, only to be glomped by a smaller form, slender arms winding around his neck as bright blue green eyes bore into his own. Backing away, the young girl smiled as she brushed a few strands of dark brown hair away from her face.
Zack grinned at the younger girl. "Hey Mei." he greeted, and Mei's cheeks puffed out indignantly as she placed her hands on her hips, moving forward so that she stood right in front of him.
"'Hey Mei'? I don't see you in three months and all you say is, 'hey Mei?' I can't believe you!" she ranted, though her eyes glittered, showing that she wasn't truely upset as she reached forward and hugged him tightly. "I've missed you."
Zack's mako colored eyes softened and he wrapped his arms around Mei's slender body. "I missed you too." he whispered, and Mei smiled brightly as she stepped back, slender hands locking together behind her back as her eyes slid shut, and her head tilted to the side.
"Mother's making dinner, you want some?" she asked, and Zack smiled and nodded. Laughing softly, Mei reached forward and pulled on his hand, tugging him with her towards the smaller house in the distance.
"So Zack, where've you been all this time? Mei's missed you." teased Mei's mother, Satsuki, as she glanced towards the dark haired male, and Mei nearly choked on her water.
"M-mother!" she spluttered, a soft blush crossing over her features as she glared at Satsuki, who merely laughed before resuming eating. Zack shifted in his seat.
"I'm planning on becoming a SOLDIER." he said, and almost immediately, the pleasant atmosphere in the room disappeared, an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air as both Mei and Satsuki looked up. Satsuki smiled faintly.
"Oh...Well, be careful, alright?" she asked before standing up and taking her plate to the sink to wash it. Mei remained silent, staring at her plate. Her father, Hiroshi, had been a SOLDIER. Key word: had been. He had died a few years back, and both Mei and Satsuki still missed him.
"Mei?" Zack's voice was soft, barely above a whisper as he glanced at the brown haired girl, who's bangs had fallen over her eyes, keeping her expression from view as she clenched her fork tightly. Dropping the silverware onto the plate, she pushed away from the table and ran out the door, Zack staring at her back as she receeded from sight. He sighed quietly and got up as well.
Mei stared at the ground with indifference, biting her lip as she struggled to keep the tears at bay, slender hands clenching into fists as her fingernails dug into the soft flesh of her palms. A gloved hand landed on her shoulder.
"Mei. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-" Zack's apology was cut off as Mei looked up, soft blue green eyes connecting with his own mako.
"It's okay, Zack." she said softly, a gentle smile pulling at her lips as she turned to face him completely, "It doesn't matter. You can be a SOLDIER if you want, just be careful, okay? I-I don't want to lose my best friend." Mei bit her lip and looked away.
"Mei." Mei didn't look up. "Mei, look at me." She turned, and Zack smiled as he raised a hand and placed it on her cheek, her eyes closing as she leaned into his touch before her eyes opened again. "Don't worry, okay? I'll be fine. And I'll make sure to come visit you and Satsuki."
Mei nodded before smiling and punching his shoulder. "You better, because I'll kick your butt if you don't." she warned, and Zack grinned as he faked being wounded, one hand going to clutch where she hit his shoulder.
"Oh, you hurt me so. Why must you be so cruel?" he pretended to cry, and Mei giggled before slapping his shoulder again as she shifted her weight to one foot.
"You big goof. Still, promise you'll come visit when you have the chance?" she held out her pinky, and Zack nodded before holding out his own, and Mei's curled around his.
"I promise." he said before pressing a kiss to her forehead and turning to leave, his broad back fading from sight as Mei stood there, watching him leave. Clasping her hands in front of her, Mei bowed her head.
"I know you will, Zack. I know you will. And I'll keep waiting until you do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ending Notes: So, how was the first chapter? Yay or nay? Please, please review.
