Chapter 4

This was it, I was going to die, I was sure of it.

"Are you ready, Fox?" Angeal asked me as he came walking down the hallway.

I was waiting in front of the trainingcentre, letting out some silent prayers.

"Not really, no."

He laughed and slapped me on the shoulder while entering the door-code with his other hand.

"I like your honesty, Fox."

"Sir?" I asked him. "Do you think I should apologize to the General?"

I had been thinking about it all morning. I decided against trying in front of all the other SOLDIERs, but I really wanted to try none the less.

Angeal frowned and took me in. "You were slightly out of line, yes."

"But would it make any difference?" I pressed on.

He cocked his head and led me in with a hand to my back. "I doubt it. But, maybe on the long run, it would."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, he's quite insusceptible to such things, but I do think he would appreciate the show of character. It might help him getting to like you." He looked me over as if he was considering something. "Genesis as well." he added after a short pause.

I snorted at this. "Are you for real? He's been at my throat since even before he met me."

"He's a complicated guy and so is Sephiroth. Just try it, if unsuccesful, in any case, showing them your potential might do the trick. They will learn to respect you, if the stories the Director shared with us are true."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I never knew Lazard thought that highly of me, but I was grateful he had stuck out his neck for me.

"Maybe you're right, Sir, I should just set aside my pride and apologize. But, if he continues to be an insufferable ass, then I will not hesitate to let him know."

Angeal laughed heartily at my honesty. "Make sure you do, the last thing we want is for him to run you over. But, please, just call me Angeal. Sir makes me feel old."

I laughed and realized I felt comfortable around this guy. He was easy to talk to and I knew I never had to be worried to speak my mind to him. I prayed thanks to the Gods for letting me have him as a mentor, instead of the cold Sephiroth or the dramatic Genesis.

"Shall we begin?" he asked. "We will start off easy, I just want to see what you can do."

Pulling my Sais out of my harness, I twirled them around in my hands and took my stance, all nerves absent, full concentration kicking in. This was what I lived for. This was what I was.

"Bring it on, old man."

He went easy on me for the first hour, but then a sadistic smile appeared on his face and he turned the simulator up a notch or seventy.

"That's for calling me old man." he said once I was finished, and quite honestly, exhausted.

"I'm not apologizing for that." I replied, making him laugh.

"That's enough for today, Fox, you may take your leave."

"Thanks, Angeal. Will we train again tomorrow?"

"You may, but I will be going on a mission. No, you can't come yet, at least not until you've received your treatment." he added when he saw my excited face. "But you can train with some of the others, Zack's here, you could train with him. Or you could train alone."

"Who's Zack?"

"My other pupil, he's Second Class. I think the two of you could go great together, although I am slightly worried about the well-being of this trainingcentre…" he trailed off.

"Where can I find him?" I really didn't want to get sloppy, and I wasn't about to go messing with the simulations on my own.

"He's usually around in the afternoon, he likes to sleep off." Angeal made a face. "Young people aren't what they used to be."

"So, you're admitting to being an old man?" I mischieviously grinned at him.

"This old man will beat your ass any day."

I laughed at his response as I made my way to the door, but I stopped and turned halfway there. "Angeal? Will the General be here tomorrow, or will he be going with you on this mission?"

"I think he will be here, but you'll have to look though. He's not really a sociable person."

"You don't say."

Angeal chuckled and shook his head. "Come on, let's get some lunch."