Here's a lullaby to close your eyes.

A/N: Sorry for the wait I blame Lioneh 'laughs evilly' no I don't mean it it :D I admire her courage for correcting my terrible grammer

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy


"Hey, Zack."

I yelped and spun around; relaxing as I saw it was Kunsel. "Oh, hey."

"Are you okay Zack? You seem kind of uptight."

Can you blame me! I wanted to scream at him, but I swallowed the urge with some difficulty and smiled shakily. "I'm just worried about my meeting."

"Oh, the Director wanted to see you, right?" he patted my shoulder, "calm down Zack, you know Lazard won't get angry with you no matter what you've done."

"True," I nodded slowly, but he'd get angry if he realised what I was up to! "Thanks Kunsel, I needed that."

"No problem, I'll see you later."

I felt a little sad as he walked off. Why couldn't Lazard have wanted him as well? Taking a deep breath I stepped into the lift and jumped with surprise.

"Sephiroth!" I spluttered. He looked up from the report he was holding.

"Good morning, Zack," he said calmly, cool green eyes taking in my dishevelled appearance, "a rough night perhaps?"

"Yes," I said, relieved for an excuse. He nodded and looked back at his report. "What about you?" I asked quickly. If Sephiroth took the time to be courteous towards you, he expected you to do the same.

He smiled slightly. "Unfortunately, Lazard wanted to go over some of the finer details of what I knew about Genesis, so I was up most of the night."

"You could have fooled me," I muttered darkly. Sephiroth always looked perfect which was more than I could say for myself. I froze suddenly as the rest of his words sank in; Lazard had wanted to know about Genesis! What if that was what he called me for? To try and give him a new lead on Genesis's whereabouts?

"Zack, are you alright?" Sephiroth looked down at me, concern flickering in his eyes.

I laughed airily. "Like I said, I had a rough night, sorry if I seem a little out of it."

"Maybe…you should go back home, just for a while." He must be worried if he was suggesting I go home. I should've felt comforted...but his words sparked a fierce panic in my head.

"No! No, I'm fine. Home's the last place I want to be right now." He gave me another worried glance before returning his gaze down to his report. In an attempt to bring the conversation back onto less dodgy ground I leaned over and stared at the report curiously. "What's this about?"

"My next mission."

"Which is?"

"Investigating the remains of Banora, to see if there are any traces of Genesis and his copies."

Oh dear Gaia. I'd forgotten about the copies. Would they suddenly appear on the balcony, homing in on their master? I blinked and swallowed nervously. If the stress of SOLDIER didn't kill me soon then all this worrying would.

I was visibly shaking as the lift doors opened and I scurried out, turning round with a frown as Sephiroth stepped out gracefully (hell anything he does is graceful!) and strode towards Lazard's office. "Wait, did he want to see you too?" I called as he walked past.

He slowed down so I could walk at a steady pace beside him and inclined his head. "A strange coincidence isn't it?"

"Do you know why he wants us?"

"Unfortunately not," he tilted his head with a slight smirk. "Didn't you and Kunsel set up a camera in Lazard's office last year?"

I cringed. "Have mercy," I moaned, "I was drunk and Kunsel was definitely high."

"Is it still set up?"

Gaia I felt like slapping the smirk off his face. "No, you discovered it if I recall correctly," a sulky tone came into my voice, "you were no fun back then."

"Indeed." He knocked on the door and gave me another worried glance. "I could say that you're sick if you'd like? You certainly look like you are."

"No, I'm fine." He could hardly miss the almost stern note in my voice, but I still needed to stay on his good side, after all he knew more about Mako poisoning than I did.

"Come in, you two."

I jumped and hurried into the office, Lazard regarding me coolly then smiling. "Good morning, Zack."

"Good morning, Director."

Lazard leaned back in his chair and turned his gaze towards Sephiroth. "SOLDIER First Class, Sephiroth."

"Sir."

I took a few hesitating steps forward. "Uh...Director, why did you summon us?"

Lazard leaned forward and typed something on his computer and I briefly closed my eyes. As I suspected a large picture of Genesis came up on the screen. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you two to go down to see Hojo," he said apologetically, speaking more to Sephiroth than to me. "I know you aren't fond of him, but he has valuable information about Genesis's condition."

I felt a chill run down my spine. I knew way too much about Genesis's condition.

"How will this help us capture Genesis?" Sephiroth asked quietly. "As far I know, we have limited information about him as it is, and it's unlikely that Hojo will provide any answers."

Clever excuse Seph, I thought dully, but it's not going to work.

Lazard sighed and met Sephiroth's gaze. "We have to take that chance. If there is information, it is invaluable."

Sephiroth nodded curtly and walked out of the room.

Lazard watched him go and let out another sigh. "I've annoyed him, haven't I?"

I shrugged "Seph always gets a little touchy if Hojo is mentioned. Hojo's a..." I paused and blushed slightly. "I didn't say anything."

"You said absolutely nothing," Lazard agreed and nodded towards the door. "You'd better catch up with him; he'll probably kill Hojo if he's left alone."

Wouldn't that be horrible? I thought, but nodded quickly and ran after Sephiroth.

I caught up with him just before he opened the door to Hojo's laboratory. "Jeez, Seph!" I gasped, bending over to try and catch my breath, "couldn't you have gone a bit slower?"

"If this information is as important as Lazard says, it will be better if we collected it quickly then reported back."

"And if that's code for getting away from the slimy bastard as quickly as possible then I agree with you completely," I grinned up at him but his expression didn't change.

"Leave Hojo to me."

"Great. Just don't kill him yet," I muttered and followed him inside.

The lab was just like I remembered, but the last memory I had of this place wasn't one I liked to remember.

"Why hello to both of you... what do you want?" Hojo looked up from a tube of Mako and smiled at us. Just his voice had the ability to creep me out; I didn't need to see that smug little mocking smile. I shivered and moved closer to Sephiroth even though he looked a little unsettled as well.

"Hojo, do you know anything about Genesis's degradation?"

Hojo laughed. "What scientist doesn't know? After we found out, everyone was dying to study him. Unfortunately, he left before we were completely able to get any useful information."

I felt Sephiroth tense slightly and quickly opened my mouth before he could do anything stupid. "Hojo, do you know what's actually happening to Genesis?"

"Yes, that idiot Hollander managed to leave his notes behind." He adjusted his glasses and folded his arms.

"What do they say?" Sephiroth seemed to have his temper back under control for now.

"They say that over time degradation causes the body to age and become weak and brittle, but of course you knew that already," he paused for a moment for effect, and then went on. "Apparently Genesis showed an increasing lack of control over his emotions, particularly anger."

"Do the notes mention a cure or treatment?" I asked, quickly adding, "if Genesis manages to find a cure, Shinra will have even bigger problems."

Hojo shook his head. "None as such, all there that was left was a note," he said, scornfully holding out a piece of paper.

I took it and stared, a single sentence was written in a faint elegant script.

Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess.

I passed the note to Sephiroth with a sigh. "I think I'll take up your offer."

He scanned the paper and frowned before meeting my gaze. "You do look awful," he said softly.

"I feel it," I ran my hand through hair with a small grin. "I'll see you later."

It was too easy to get back to my apartment; I just lowered my head and kept my expression downcast until I reached the welcome safety of my front door.

I wasn't lying, I told myself sternly. I did feel awful, awful because I couldn't find anything useful. I stopped dead and swore loudly, I'd forgotten to ask Seph about Mako poisoning. But if I went back now it'd look strange since I was supposed to sick.

I slid my keys into the lock and pushed open the door to be greeted with the sight of the living room in shambles. The sofa had been thrown against the wall, the wallpaper was slashed and books had been viciously ripped and in some cases almost shredded. Genesis was kneeling in middle of the mess, trying to get his breath back.

I approached him warily and spoke in a low soothing voice, "Genesis, are you okay?"

"Do I look it, you stupid son of a **?" he groaned and moved his hand up to his cheek. It came away bloody, and he let out another groan and put his head in his hands. "Did you find out anything?"

"Hojo was a big help," I said sarcastically and crouched down beside him. "He pretty much told me what I already knew."

"Which was?" he spat back, and I sighed.

"That's you're having difficulty controlling your emotions and that's you're steadily getting weaker." I looked him in the eye. "What's this gift of the Goddess thing?"

"That is none of your concern!" he wiped his cheek with his sleeve and winced. I pushed his hand away before he could do it again and stood up as he scowled at me.

"But," I said, trying to change the subject slightly, "I did notice that your symptoms were related to the ones caused by Mako poisoning."

"Idiot! Why didn't you say before?" he growled and lashed out at me. I leapt backwards and watched him warily.

"I didn't have the time; I was too busy trying to help you!" I folded my arms and glared down at him. He scowled back and I waited for a few seconds before I spoke again. "Listen Genesis, you need help, and I can't be here all the time. I've got off sick for the rest of today but I can't say the same for tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day."

"I get the picture!" Genesis hissed, "so why don't you just drop me over the balcony and have done with it. It'll be less painful, I'm sure."

"Take off your coat and your jumper,"

"What?"

"Take them off," I said briskly, and then said in a softer tone, "seriously, I think that if it's like Mako poisoning, you'll recover quicker if you don't wear stuff that's been soaked with whatever that stuff is," I gestured towards his cheek.

"And what about clothes, Zack?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "I can't walk around naked."

I almost choked. "I'll find you something," I sputtered, feeling my face burn as Genesis smirked up at me.

"Good boy," he purred, suddenly placid now. I shook my head at his sudden mood swings and went to wet a cloth under the kitchen tap. When I came back into the living room I threw it at him lazily

"For Gaia's sake Genesis, clean yourself up. You look like you've been in a train wreck."

He glared at me, then carefully dabbed at his cheek, wincing every so often. I decided it was safe again and crouched beside him. "Have you been sick again?" I asked quietly, holding up a hand as he opened his mouth to protest. "My apartment, my rules, so you'd better just answer the question."

"Yes, several times." Genesis's voice was filled with disgust.

"In the bin?" I hated to ask, but I wanted to know how much cleaning I'd have to do.

"Yes."

"Well that's good," I stood up and eyed him carefully. "Did Hollander give you anything that could slow down the effects? I'm not coming home to find this every day."

"Nothing really worked," Genesis shrugged hopelessly and his wing slid out of his back with a graceful rippling motion. "He tried extra doses of Mako, and-" his voice suddenly broke off and he glared at the door.

"What is it?" I asked warily

"It is someone I really don't want to see right now."

I felt all the blood drain from my face. "You don't mean?"

"Yes," his voice shook slightly and he started to back away, shivering violently, "Sephiroth."


Please review it makes my day happier to see the emails :D