Disclaimer: I do not own any Final Fantasy ideas or characters, but Akira and a few of the upcoming SOLDIERs are my creations.

A/N: Alright, compared to the other chapters, this one's a bit small. But the ending seemed perfect so I didn't make it any longer then it is. I decided to bring in Avalanche a tiny bit this time. And there are no cut-scenes from Advent Children this time. There probably won't be for a while because I'm trying to tie the end of the movie into the parts I'm working on now. So, whatever. Enjoy!

Chapter Six: A Bullet in My Heart

Riding back was much better than going there. After actually sitting down and talking to Zack, Akira wasn't afraid to hold onto his waist tighter. She rested her head on his back as the wind tugged on her now almost golden locks. It was dark, and had to be well past curfew. Regardless of Akira's worries of being caught, sleep soon over took her. Once at the dorms, Zack carried her down the hall and to her room, not caring if anyone passed by. Obviously, Kisuke was already there, showing his boyish charm by not locking the door. He was tall and pretty muscular with brown hair that was a medium length. His amber eyes gave him a fierce and strong look. The brunette glanced up from a magazine, startled to see Zack. He sat up on his bed with a salute.

"Captain Fair?" he questioned

"Just dropping your roommate off. She fell asleep on the way here," Zack explained quietly.

Zack walked to the open bed and laid Akira on it. Waking up from the movement, Akira barely had time to open her eyes before Zack gently kissed her cheek. Zack didn't notice her eyes flutter open and began to leave.

"Make sure she gets up on time cadet. Good-night," finished Zack as he left.

Akira slowly got up, rubbing her cheek. The kiss was so innocent but had a bit of meaning in it that made her blush. She couldn't help but feel it had to be a joke. She was the only girl on campus after all. The thoughts disappeared when Kisuke suddenly started to talk.

"What's up with you two?" he asked. "It's our second day and I've never even seen your face. You were with him?"

"We just sort of bumped into each other yesterday, he helped Cloud and I out, that's all," Akira replied.

"With Sasuke?"

"Well…"

"Oh, it's cool! You don't have to tell me. I just thought it was strange…You comin' in with the captain an all."

"You don't have to be nice to me just because I'm the only girl."

"No of course not. I was just…Jeez, you're pushy."

"That how I was raised," she said with a smile.

"You're obviously from a small town."

"Sort of…"

"Not me! I'm from the biggest city in Gaia," Kisuke said with an even bigger smile.

Akira chuckled. Kisuke reminded her of Havoc, giving her a better feeling of home.

"Speaking of you and Zack, what about you and Cloud? You two seemed to have hit it off," started Kisuke. "Are you two related or something? You're like, exactly the same, always hanging out together."

"No, just friends," Akira said quickly.

"And Zack, he seems like he really likes you."

"What?" Akira cried, snapping her head up.

"The captain…"

"No way! We just met! Besides, he's a first class SOLDIER and I'm just a cadet. Why would Zack like me?"

"And you call him by his name because…?"

"He doesn't like being called Captain or sir. It makes him feel old."

"So he told you and no one else?"

Akira stuttered, searching for the right words to say.

"Don't worry. I'm not like the others. Your secret's safe with me."

"Secret! I don't like him…I don't think…"

"Hey, I'm not a girl. I'll stay out of your man problems if you want."

After a pause, Akira quickly changed the subject.

"So, you've got school in the morning?" Akira asked.

"No…Basic training. You alone on your schedule or something?" Kisuke replied.

"No, Cloud's there. It's just nice to have people I know there. And I'm really the only girl, aren't I?"

"The only first-year."

"Wait, so there's another?"

"Sorta, her name is Kia. She was put into the Shinra Special Operations group after she failed the SOLDIER exam three times. I guess she's sort of a rouge person now. Only coming to Shinra when she feels like working."

"Really? I hope I don't end up like that…"

"Probably not. She was a weird one. People say she was crazy from a mako overdose…An accident on the test run."

A loud rap at the door interrupted them and startled them both. A boy was on the other side with a frantic look on his face. He was breathing heavily and covered in sweat, making his hair stick to his face.

"What's wrong?" Kisuke asked.

Akira and Kisuke stared at the boy as he helplessly tried to speak.

"…Captain…Captain Fair! He's…been shot by…a member of AVALANCHE!" the boy gasped.

Kisuke grabbed his Shinra shirt and quickly pulled it over his bare torso.

"This way!" the boy hollered.

Akira stood wide-eyed by her bed. It was her fault…She shouldn't have gone out with him. But, maybe it would've happened anyway. No, she should've stayed home. What was she thinking? She didn't really like him…did she?

"Akira!" Kisuke shouted, grabbing her arm. "Let's go!"

Akira snapped back to reality and ran after the other boy with Kisuke.

A large crowd had already gathered by the time they got there. Akira and Kisuke joined, noticing Cloud near the back.

"Wow, it must've been bad. They even called out Professor Hojo…" said one of the boys in the back.

Akira shoved her way to the front with Cloud and Kisuke behind her. A Shinra guard quickly stepped in their way.

"Stay back cadet," he growled.

Akira struggled to look around the man, but all she saw was Hojo helping to lift a body onto a stretcher.

"Please, just let me see him," Akira begged.

"No can do kid," the guard replied.

"Is he alright? Can you tell me that much?"

"Sorry, that's none of your business. Now back up cadet."

"Hey professor? Isn't that kid one of the Strife's? The only girl?" asked a nurse.

A man with brown hair in a small ponytail and thin black glasses glanced curiously at the crowd.

"So it is…" Hojo replied, watching Kisuke try to hold Akira back.

"Akira?" questioned Zack, wearily opening his eyes.

He was shot three times, maybe more, but it didn't look like any had pierced his heart.

"I suggest you stay still," mumbled Sephiroth in his usual uncaring tone.

"Let her through," Zack said quietly.

"Zackary, you can't honestly be attracted to a mere cadet…"

"I said, let her through!" Zack growled louder, but still barely above a whisper.

The guards that where near enough to hear looked at Sephiroth in question. He sighed and answered sternly,

"You heard the man."

"But, general…" stuttered a guard.

"If Zackary wants to see her so badly, just let her through," Sephiroth repeated, turning away.

The guards shrugged and let Akira through. Cloud and Kisuke watched hesitantly from the front.

"Zack, are you okay?" cried Akira. "I was wor…"

Akira stopped, realizing what she was saying. Zack just smiled.

"You were worried about me?" he finished with a breathless chuckle.

"Well, I……yeah," Akira muttered, blushing.

"I'll be fine. Back on my feet in one…two days tops."

Akira looked over his body, not so sure. During the silence, Zack began to cough uncontrollably, causing fresh blood to spurt from his wounds. Hojo and the nurse ran over, followed by some guards who pulled Akira away.

"Stand back! Make way!" the guards shouted.

Sephiroth stayed by the stretcher's side as they made their way through the crowd, and to the infirmary. Akira stood motionless, feeling her eyes sting with tears. Cloud walked forward silently, stopping next to her. Kisuke followed and put a hand on her shoulder.

"You gonna be alright?" he asked, sympathetically looking into her eyes.

"Yeah," Akira said quietly, walked back to the dorms.

Kisuke slowly followed, leaving Cloud alone.

End of Chapter Six

A/N: I've been working real hard and I have a few more chapters written in advanced already so I can update pretty daily. I think the rating might (keyword might) change to M by chapter 9…10…11-ish. Just for warning. Chapter 7 should be up soon!