He was so nice, my first true friend. The only one who ever cared about me. I wonder why he cared so much? Everyone respected him, even President ShinRa. There was something about him......a mature air, yet you knew that he would look after you, be friends with you. I though of him as a God, too good to be human. Until, one day. The day I found out that he was like other people...........

"Tseng? Tseng!?!" repeated Reeve, knocking patiently on the door. After no answer, Reeve carefully pushed open the door to reveal Tseng, head buried in his arms, face down on the desk, sobbing quietly. Reeve paused, and was about to leave when his good nature got in the way.

"Tseng" Reeve called softly, walking over to his desk. Tseng carefully lifted his head, his face tinged from crying. His eyes took in Reeve, and he nodded at him.

".......Reeve......." he said, shaking his head. Reeve stepped forwards, and looked straight into Tseng's tear-filled eyes.

"Tseng......what's wrong?"

For the first time, Reeve noticed that his boss's clothes were torn, and he bore a deep cut on one arm.

"Tseng....what happened?! Who did this to you?"

Tseng gulped deeply, and shakily raised a hand to his eyes.

"Professor Hojo.....he......" he whispered, breaking down into fresh sobs. Reeve placed both hands on his boss's shoulders and knelt down in front of him.

"He.....he did what Tseng?" he asked gently. Tseng bit his lip.

"He....raped me"

Hojo raped Tseng! I can't believe that he could do that to someone so beautiful, so kind. I was so angry. He hurt my best friend, in a way that couldn't possibly be repaired. I couldn't even find the words to console him, but he seemed to be comforted by my just 'being there'.

For a long while after that, Tseng just stayed in his room, not eating, not sleeping, scared stiff that Hojo would come and attack him again. I brought him food and drink, which he just managed to eat and drink, not even quarter of what I brought him, but enough.

Finally, under President Shinra's orders, he left his room, and was sent to the top floor. I was present, he refused to enter without me. I never knew why, but I guess Shinra really wanted him in there.

"Tseng, you do realise that you have refused to leave your room for over a month?" the large man questioned, seated comfortably behind his desk. Tseng saluted, then hung his head.

"Yes Sir"

"And may I ask why? You have a job to do"

Tseng kept his head bowed, his long dark hair hiding his face. Reeve hesitated, and stepped forwards.

"He was ill, Sir"

The President cast a surprised glare in his direction.

"And you are....oh, that young Technician. And why did you not bring this matter to our attention?"

Reeve stopped short, at a loss for words.

"I made him, Sir. I made him promise not to tell. I thought it was just a common cold, but it unexpectedly developed into a virus"

The President looked at him, and cocked his head.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes Sir, much. Reeve looked after me"

"And I trust that you'll be back to work on Monday?"

"Yes Sir"

He stuck up for me, or rather as he said later on we both stuck up for each other. He didn't want anyone to know about what Hojo did to him. He was embarrassed and ashamed of it.

I, on the other hand was livid. It seemed as if we'd swapped places as I marched down to Hojo's lab, in the basement of the ShinRa mansion of Nibleheim. I would soon regret it.

Reeve eyed the two SOLIDERS in the tubes, staring at him with a look of helplessness behind their Mako eyes. He shuddered, and went past them, into the seedy underbelly of Hojo's lab.

"Hojo?! Where are you?!" he yelled angrily, kicking aside overflowing boxes of files. He clenched his fists, and moved further down the corridor.

Suddenly, with a huge bellowing cry, the professor body slammed against Reeve, sending him to the floor.

Winded, all Reeve could do was watch desperately, trying to get his breath back as Hojo stood over him.

"Hmm, another young man who wants to challenge Hojo" he said, his eyes glittering, " But, like that other young fool, you will regret what you have tried to do"

Reeve quickly got unsteadily to his feet, and wavered slightly, before breaking into a full scale attack at Hojo.

At the speed of light, Hojo caught his arms under Reeve's leg and flipped him over hard onto his back.

Reeve grimaced in pain, and he could only just stop himself from crying out. Hojo yanked him up by the shoulders and threw him into the nearest table, books and testubes went crashing over him. Reeve gave a sharp gasp, and fainted, his body lying limp against the wall. Hojo smiled cruelly, and started walking over to him.

"Stop there Hojo" cried Tseng, cocking his gun. Hojo raised his arms, and turned to face him.

"My pretty little boy isn't so innocent now" he sneered, indicating to his gun , "Why are you so upset, my pretty?"

"Leave Reeve alone!" yelled Tseng, aiming the gun at Hojo's heart. Hojo smiled falsely, and backed away from Reeve's fallen body. He glared icily at Tseng before making a run for it, and sprinted out of the room.

Tseng lowered his gun, and went over to Reeve. He crouched down beside him and caressed his cheek.

"I'm so sorry Reeve" he whispered, a tear running down his face.