Hi everyone! I'm sorry it took me so long to put this chapter up! I'm finding it really hard to concentrate on my work when I'm at home, but I'm trying to pull through my laziness. Thanks to everyone for reviews and sending me private messages, they're awesome! The thanks goes out to…(I'm sorry for the late replies!)

Yusuke kun I tried my best to get this out last week by mid night on Saturday, but my mind had other ideas and wanted to keep going.

Princess Turk for all those lovely reviews and encouragement! I hope I didn't kill that light at the end of the tunnel for Cloud. I promise good things will come to Cloud and Zack, it will just take a while so bear with me! I promise to make it extra special? :O

Hikari-chan (I know such a late reply… GOMEN!) Things will get better for both Cloud and Zack… eventually! D:

Megglez (even though I told you already…) yes, you can be my #0.5 fan! xD

Yoyo-yaoiJR thank you! And OC means OutofCharacter, not the show OC. And I don't think this fic will be 30 chapters… then again maybe. And I don't think I will put in a rape scene, so that our main couple will just get together and be all happy with each other in the end, just so that they could have their first make out session.

PriestessAdnara Thanks! I hope you will continue to read this fic!

Zack Winters LOL at the computer comment. Thanks for the encouragement and I'm waiting for your updates on your fics! Hope you can update soon! :O

emmyxogats aww… xD Hershey Kisses are the best! ;-)

nicegal1 thank you! I hope this chapter was worth it!

Well, enough of me already! Here's the next chapter! Go forth and read… and hopefully you won't kill me when you reach the end! O_o

Chapter 9

(Cloud's P.O.V)

Everything hurts. My body, my mind, just everything hurts… everywhere. I feel cold, my stomach is getting hungry and I can't move my arms and legs.

Well there goes my idea of trying to get out of here in on piece.

As I open my eyes, I wasn't welcomed to a surrounding with a clear view as to where I was, in this moment of time. Sheer utter darkness conformed my vision; enveloping me to who was around me.

My head feels heavy, I feel like puking but there is nothing inside of me to clear out my stomach. Why does this have to happen to me now? I just want to go home, be with my family… be with Zack. Zack, I'm so sorry… Zack, please help me!

My mind was rushed with memories earlier today. Tears flowing down my face, as I was remembering the moments I spent with Zack. I have never witnessed Zack being sad, and I don't want to see him sad because of me.

The restraints on both of my wrists and ankles are bound tightly and it seems that if I move either limb, one of them pulls the other, leaving me to guess that there is a binder connecting the two.

I can hear muffled voices, another noise coming from a generator or some type of machine.

I'm guessing that I'm in the schools' basement or some separate building that holds up the machines that works everything on the school.

I can hear and make out footsteps, they sound sharp and precise. Maybe this person is wearing heels? Then they suddenly stopped, I knew that this person was more than likely standing over me.

Suddenly I felt a light touch, a hand, on my left side. It gently glided itself up like a swan gliding beautifully across the still waters. Then that very same hand, planted itself roughly around my neck.

"If you so ever, speak, talk back, or do anything out of place, I will make sure to you that my friend here will give you pain." I heard this feminine voice say to my ear like ice cold daggers.

Then I felt her fingers danced their way to my face. Spreading out like wings of an eagle, taking flight and looking and feeling this great new landscape of my features.

I wanted to scream, but I remembered what she had said to me, and my mouth wouldn't move the slightest bit. It figures that these people would cover my mouth. Gently I felt her fingers, pull down one of the corners, and then suddenly ripped it off of me.

I whined just a tiny bit. I tried to conjure, bring my voice back to me, but it seems that it has deserted me. I have no words to defend myself against them. So many questions and thoughts spun a web of chains in my head.

After I brought myself down from my thoughts and focused on the bigger issue at hand; everything was too quiet, I could decipher my own heart beating faster as each second or minute flew by. That's when I felt bludgeoning blow to my head, a kicked to my back and to my stomach.

I coughed and gagged on my own air. I could feel the bile moving closer to my mouth, the faint taste of blood mixed in. My mind and body doubled over and cried out in pain and agony. I wanted no more of this, I only hoped that my saving grace would come and rescue me.

Hearing these people bellow out with roars of laughter, it made me sick to the pit of my stomach. Hearing their voices crash out like thunder, made me wither inside, and drowning out every sense of feeling I had within me.

I felt vulnerable, disgusted, humiliated, lost and lonely, just every possible sense of sad feeling you can name, and I can raise my hand to signify that's how I feel at the moment.

I felt hands touching me this time. They were different from the one before. These were a lot rougher and grabbed harshly around my arm. From what I could feel, I was being brought to my knees.

"Now, if you would so much as to love to live… then be quiet or I would have my friend here hurt you again." I heard the voice from earlier said to me.

Knowing that my voice left me, I slowly nodded my head in agreement.

"Good, cause I don't want to hurt this precious body of yours… even though it is very tempting not to. Well, now that we have a somewhat agreement, I still have to show you what will happen if you disagree." The voice said again. I heard the said person retreating from me. I struggled somewhat to find a more relaxing position than the one I'm already in. But those strong hands and rough fingers found a weak spot and pierced into me, hitting my pressure point.

I gasped for air, tears filling up to the rim of my eyes.

"Now, where were we? Oh yes… my friend here is going to cut the bind that connects your arms and legs, and if you dare try to break into a run… well, I'll let you feel that soon enough." I heard the voice say sarcastically and I picture that person grinning ear to ear.

In turn, the said friend of the leader of this whole nightmare cut the bind and my arms and legs were set free and welcomed with relief. I brought my legs up to my chest and slightly pushed my legs between my arms. Did I mention that I'm double jointed? No, well now you know. Being bored all day and having nothing to do can totally bring out a whole new person in you.

"Hate to break it sweetie… but give it to him… give it to him good." I heard that female voice say, the evilness practically falling from her mouth like water running lightly down your throat.

Suddenly I felt something my left side behind me, then before I could do anything, I felt waves of electricity flow up towards my arm to my fingertips and down my legs to the tips of my toes. I screamed out in anger, in pain, in fear, and cried out with tears streaming down my face. I couldn't move my left arm and leg, and they felt dead to me at the moment. My head swam through the ocean of my thoughts, and I'm glad I came face to face with the darkness once more.

Dad… Zack… please, someone help me!

~*ZxC*~*ZxC*~*ZxC*~*ZxC*~

(Third P.O.V)

What the hell is takin' so friggin' damn long? That's the nth time he has said, 'hmm,' what the hell is, 'hmm,' suppose to mean! That's it I can't take this crap any longer!

Cid thoughtfully roared in his head, as the rimmed doctor kept checking his insides for any signs of something out of the ordinary. Already fed up as it is Cid thought it was time to ask him.

"So, what's the… OWW! What the HELL!"

"HUSH."

Practically seething never ending curses and beautiful sentences, Cid decided to bite his tongue and keep his mouth shut. As Cid started to come down from his rage, an idea popped in his head. Cid hummed a little tune to himself, if the doctor wasn't going to speak; he was going to make him speak!

"QUIET… imbecile!"

"Okay, but ya' didn't have ta sound like ya' had yer tidies in a wad." Cid spewed harshly, practically biting back from cursing the creeper.

Seething incoherent words under his breath, the said doctor kept his mouth shut and made haste as to hurry this appointment to its end. Seeing as to everything was fine and nothing too serious, Prof. Hojo wiped at his brow and sighed.

"You're finished. Everything checks out to be good… for now. So, I would like to see you every three months. But if you start to see any changes, call me right away. Or, I'll visit you myself. Good day." Hojo said with a glint in his eye as he looked over his shoulder at Cid, and walked out of the room as he came in.

After putting on the last of his clothes, Cid made his way over to the check out desk and made another appointment due in three months.

On his way out of the building, Cid looked up at the sky and gazed at sight of a cloudless blue casting over him. His sight lingered long and hard, thinking only of his two kids… especially Cloud. 'Cid… I can't stand Shera, that woman you call your wife. Cid, I'm worried about Cloud.' Those words played over and over in his head.

Cid was worried about Cloud too, but the way Cloud was acting with him this morning, said otherwise. But closing his eyes and focusing deeply on his eldest son, Cid knew that Cloud was keeping something from him. There was something more, when he looked into Cloud's eyes.

After some deep thinking, Cid thought it was best to talk with both his brother and his wife about this matter.

Maybe, a little get together with our family will do some good. I know Cloud and Aerith were really close like brother and sister. I bet they still act that way.

Cid thought as he made his way back home, to tell Shera that they were going over to his brothers' house for dinner tonight.

oooOOOooo

'Who's there? Cloud… hey, what's wrong?' Zack said as he spoke peacefully at Cloud.

'Zack, th-there's nothing wrong. I-I'm fine really.'

'Cloud… please, look at me. Please tell me what's wrong! I want to help.' Zack said reassuringly towards Cloud. Zack lifted both of his hands and placed them gently on both sides of Clouds' face, awhile stroking Cloud's flustered left cheek with his thumb.

'I-I… I can't tell you. I'm sorry!' said Cloud while stumbling at his words and looking at the one person who he can never tell that he loves him.

'Cloud, why can't you tell me? There's nothing that you've done that you have to go and to apologize to me! Listen… you have done nothing wrong, so please Cloud, just tell me what's wrong.' Zack said honestly and sternly to the blonde hoping that he will believe what he said.

Zack slowly pulled the blonde towards him, and willingly wrapped his arms around the person of his dreams. Zack wanted Cloud to know, that he, Zack, will always be there to protect him; give him that place of security, yet filled with unconditional love.

He wanted to be Cloud's shining shield, or was it Cloud's knight in shining armor, whichever it was, it wasn't a big concern to him at the moment. His main concern was Cloud, and he was going to tell him that he loves him.

Pulling away slowly, Cloud looked into Zack's eyes and just seemed to have lost himself in there. He was mesmerized with the deep sense of pulchritude and tenacity that was held within Zack. It was like he was looking at the most serene sight he could ever lay his eyes on and he didn't want it to end.

Taking his arms from the blonde's waist, Zack brought one of his hands towards Cloud's and intertwined their fingers. Both jumped at the little touch, but Zack noticed how good it felt to have Cloud's hand in his.

'Cloud, you okay? Your silence is killin' me.' Zack said a little laughingly at Cloud and giving his best smile, but his eyes expressed a worried stare at the blonde.

'Well, w-what I want to tell you is t-that… I'

'What is it, Cloud? Tell me.'

'Zack… I…l-love you! I love you Zack!' said Cloud while his eyes burst out tears of happiness.

Zack couldn't believe his ears. His breath was caught in his throat. Those words that were spoken unto him from Cloud beat along side with his heart. It was like he was hearing an angel sing a song only made for him to hear. The beauty of it, there was no word he could use to describe that could make sense of what he just heard.

'Zack… Zack… Zack'

"Zack… ZACHARY FAIR! WAKE UP!" screamed the teach from the front of the class, with steam fuming from his ears, and sweat rolling down from his hairline, down the curve of his face and sizzling from the heat radiating from his body, because of one student slept in his class.

"I love you too Cloud!" Zack shouted as he straightened himself up in his seat and was wide awake.

Hearing what their classmate said, the whole class erupted with laughter at Zack's wild outburst.

"Bribery isn't going to take you very far Mr. Fair. Mr. Fair would you please step out of my classroom with your things; I will see you in my class… after school, in detention."

"Damn it" Zack said under his breath and rubbed at his temples as he made his way to the door.

"There will be no vulgar or crude language spoken in this classroom."

'I know…' thought Zack as he shut the door behind him.

Walking the hall for a bit, Zack found a spot beside a set of lockers. Tossing his schoolbag aside, Zack eased himself down and planted his head into his hands. Zack couldn't stop thinking about that small dream he had moments ago. He knew he should at least try to get his feelings out to Cloud today, but what happens if Cloud didn't like him? What would he do then?

A plethora of questions were flying around his head. Were Cloud's feelings were just as strong as his? Would Cloud love him back? Just so many questions swamped his head and it was driving him to utter insanity.

Just as he lifted his head up, he felt his side pocket vibrate. Taking out his phone, he saw that he had received a message. Opening his phone, and going to his message box, Zack opened the message, and was stunned at what he was reading.

'Hey it's me Aerith. Zack, I don't know if it's me or what, but I feel like someone is in trouble. I get this feeling that it might be Cloud, but I could be wrong. But for some reason, it could be that he is in trouble. Please, Zack find him before something really bad happens.'

Reading the message over and over redundantly, Zack's mind and body wouldn't function. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, and couldn't scream out. His mind was swamped as it was, and this just made him lose it, made him lose control. Shoving the phone back in his pocket, he grabbed his bag, and ran like his life depended on it.

He didn't know what he was doing at the moment, but thinking, Zack knew one other person who he could use the help to search for Cloud. As he started to run down the hallway, his mind came back into focus and the one thing that hit him square in the head was that he had to use the bathroom.

So making a quick turn to his right, Zack walked into the bathroom and saw the one person who could help him in the slightest bit possible, but seemed to busy with someone else at the moment.

ZZZZzzzzXXXXccccCCCC

'I can't move, why? He's… he's right in front of me and I can't keep my mind straight! He's so full of himself and he is… good looking. WAAAAIIIT! Did I just compliment him? Oh Gaia… he's looking at me. I bet I'm blushing… damn-it!'

"Are you thinking about me, Thomas? Hmm…" Derick asked cooingly towards Thomas.

"Zack? What's up dude?"

"Huh… 'Sup Derick? Thomas…THOMAS have you seen CLOUD?" Zack roared inside the guy's restroom.

"Hi to you too Zack, and no I haven't seen Cloud since he left in the middle of our science class. He was gone for a really long time, and I was getting worried, so I asked our teacher if I could go look for him and haven't found him since then. Thought I would start looking in the restrooms, because you know how Kyle and his little gang can be, but no signs of Cloud anywhere." Thomas said worriedly to Zack, eyes filled to the brim with worry and hoping to find his friend.

"…" Zack turned slowly away from Thomas and clenched his teeth together. He really hoped that he can find Cloud before something happens, if that hasn't already taken place, maybe hoping he could stop further harm from starting.

Zack begrudgingly walked towards one of the urinals and tried his best to think of where could possibly Cloud could've gone. And here, Zack thought today would be the day that he could tell Cloud what he wanted to say for so long.

'Cloud… no matter what happens, I will find you. Please… just hang in there a little longer!' Zack thought to himself after he calmed down. After doing his business, he washed his hands and started making his way to the restroom door, only to be stopped suddenly by a strange noise.

"Did any of you make that noise?" Zack asked as he turned around facing Derick and Thomas.

Both boys' shook their heads, telling Zack that they didn't, but before either of the three could say a single word, that strange noise came back. Zack and Derick only looked at each other once and made their way to the stalls'.

Kicking each stall door one by one, they found themselves faced with the last stall. Looking at each other with determination and worry, Zack and Derick let the last stall have it; the door broke off its hinges and fell on top of the toilet. Picking up and moving it aside, both boys' let out a bloody shout.

"RENO!"

Puppy-n-Chocobo

'It's useless, I can't move both of my left arm and leg. It hurts let alone just to lie on top of them. I feel so useless, weak, and pathetic.' Cloud thought to himself as he was receiving hit after hit to his bruised and weaken body.

"This whole thing will be much easier for you if you just confess already! Now… do you or do you not have anyone who cares about you?" screamed the feminine voice.

I don't want them to hurt Zack, and I don't want to hurt him either.

"NO!"

"Wrong…wait, I think you might be right. I don't think there is anyone who cares much about you. Hmm… didn't you made a new friend with that crazy ravenette? Oh what's his name again? I know… Zack Fair! Yeah, that's him, but I don't think he cares about you the same way you care about him. He's always flirting with that ex girlfriend of his. I don't think they broke up, they're always together, being all mushy mushy with each other."

Why does this voice sound familiar? It's like I have known this voice since forever. But why can't I remember!

"I bet you're trying to figure out who I am, aren't you?" said the voice sweetly throughout the room. Stepping closer and leaning down close enough to where only Cloud could hear, Cloud couldn't believe it.

"It's me your friend… Tifa. You were always so easy to pick on! Seeing you like this, it just makes my heart beat faster. I never really intended on us being friends forever, as you would have hoped for. But if you ever mentioned this little charade to anyone… ever, next time you won't be so lucky."

Tif… Tifa, why? It can't be Tifa! There's no way it's her. I… her… we been friends since we were kids. WhyTIFA! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS! Cloud couldn't believe that the one person that he trusted with everything was or maybe standing right in front of him. And here he is, showing how vulnerable he could be.

All Cloud could do was just stare at the blackness from the blindfold and feel horribly stupid. His thoughts were shaky, his body immobilized, and everything from here on out will just fall apart. And there was nothing that he could do to prevent it.

"You could probably more than likely guess who is with me in all this. He's known famous to you all the time with him and his little gang. He's also my cousin, poor thing didn't want to see you get hurt, but after convincing him here and there, he caved in, such a fool I would say. But after all is said and done, it's true that people will do the craziest things when they are knocked up in love with someone. Oops, did I let out his secret? Yes, Cloud… Kyle loves you like a dog loves its master."

"I think I said why too much as it is. Well, I'm pretty sure that your new friend Zack can't return your feelings as you so hoped that he would. Last time I saw him, he was still hanging around that girl, Aerith, from what I could see, looks like they were still hitting it off. I think he said something along the lines of, 'I think I only like him as a friend, there's something about him that mysterious.' Then again, it could mean something else, but what are the chances in that? I think maybe, you will never find that special someone."

Tifa said all too daringly towards Cloud. The look in her eyes, the smirk in her smile, and the pose of her body just radiated and foretold that she was a backstabber and can twist words and manipulate her victims into believing anything that she told them.

"You're… you're wrong Tifa! I do have people who love me!"

"Oh really, sure your real mother loved you, but she died all because of you, if you weren't born Cloud, then your mother would be alive! Your stepmother never has nor will she ever love you. Unless beating and hitting you with anything and everything means that she loves you dearly. Face it; you're alone in this big world all over again. Kyle, give it to him and you know what I mean. Well, it's time for me to go… next time, you won't be so lucky."

Maybe Tifa is right… if I wasn't born, then my mom would be alive.

With that being said Tifa walked back towards Cloud and slapped him in the face. She pulled the blindfold off from him. She put her hand under his chin and gently lifted his head so she could gaze into his eyes. Silence passed between them and when no words were exchanged between them, they knew what the other was thinking.

Taking her pride filled stride with her, Tifa left the room and headed where only Gaia would know. As minutes passed between the silent room, Kyle knelt down in front of Cloud and looked at him like he never looked at him before.

Reaching his hand out to touch Cloud's cheek, Kyle couldn't take his eyes off the blonde who was right in front, staring at him like a deer in headlights.

Why is today so confusing? I don't want HIM, KYLE, of all people touching me. Zack… where are you?

Cloud couldn't help but to let a single tear slowly roll down the side of his face. His throat hurt from all the screaming he had done earlier, his body weak from all the beating and abuse, and his mind shut down and trying to figure out what had been said. Cloud couldn't do anything to get away from his predator that had been vouching him for so long, had been told his deepest secret.

The way Kyle was touching him, it felt wrong, he felt like throwing up, he wanted to scream, to shout, do anything to voice that he was in trouble. He felt dirty, he felt like a play thing, he was scared, fearful, abused, and condemned to the one person who he never wanted to be in the same room with or to be alone with him.

He heard Kyle scream at him, punch, kick, whip, and spit upon his body. Cloud just wanted to die right then and there. He didn't want anyone, let alone Zack see him like this; weak, vulnerable, and downright humiliated. He felt dark inside, it swept over him like a vast storm moving across the open plains. He could feel his body succumb to the event being foretold, his mind malfunctioning, his eyes no longer that shiny color of blue, it was replaced with a dullness shade.

His eyes, red and puffy from all the crying and weeping, that he had received from the trauma. He felt like an animal, trapped in a horror house, getting ready to be slaughtered. He didn't listen to what his heart was telling him, he listened to what the darkness inside of him.

After all that had happened to him, everything was quiet and still. He lifted his head up and saw that he was alone. No one was with him, no one is here to comfort him, no one is here to make him feel safe, and to feel cared for. He was yet again lonely, like he was when his mom died. He regretted that day ever since, he hated the fact that he wasn't strong enough to rescue his mom.

He hated the fact that he has an abusive stepmother as a replacement. He was always lonely, and he will always feel lonely. Too tired to cry or do anything for the matter, Cloud fell into a deep slumber.

I am lonely… Zack, I'm sorry that I failed you.

After being drawn out of his little slumber Reno woke up to a white ceiling and the smell to a doctor's office.

"Glad to see that you're awake. How are you feeling?" asked Catherine as she checked Reno for any other signs of injury and discomfort.

"A lil' dizzy up in the head, sore here and there, but in all I feel shabby, yo." Reno said as he slowly edged his way up to a sitting position.

"Nothing that a little medicine and a little rest can't fix. Just remember to take it easy. Zack, Derick and Thomas are all waiting outside for you. They seem concerned about something, so you are free to go, but if you feel anything else bothering you, don't hesitate to come back here, understood."

Nodding slowly, Reno made his way out of the door and glomped by his puppy friend Zack in a breath taking bear hug.

"Glad to see ya too pup."

"For the last time already… I'M NOT A PUPPY!" Zack said being defeated, as he pouted and crossed his arms across his chest; while the other three burst out with a roar of laughter at Zack's little display.

"Fine, you're not a puppy dog. Anyways, the nurse said y'all were concerned with something and I'm guessin' y'all want to ask me somethin'. Well, before y'all start askin' the questions, I'll just lay it out for y'all. See, I was walkin' in the halls and heard two maybe three or four people talkin' in the hallway. So, me being curious as I am, stayed far away and played with my phone, and listened in on what they were talkin' ', as I was secretly listenin' in on them, one voice I recognized and that was Kyle. But he didn't seem all too pleased with the little charade that the group was plannin'. He seemed quite upset and pissed off. But the other voice I heard was a girl, so, me bein' darin' and all turned and saw Cloud's friend Tifa. I couldn't believe it yo, she was talkin' 'bout doin' somethin' to Cloud. Zack, you know how I am, I know how much you like Cloud, it's written all over your face all the time, so I asked them why would they hurt Cloud, I pacifically asked Tifa. I always see her with Cloud, and next thing I know, I'm out cold."

After taking in what Reno said, Zack just let it out. He punched the wall right beside him, kicked the small coffee table off its legs. Before he could do any further damage, Derick and Reno held him back and brought him face to the ground, all awhile Zack struggled to get up and find the bastards who were hurting Cloud.

"GET OFF OF ME! DERICK! RENO! LET ME GO! I HAVE TO FIND CLOUD! GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!"

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO, HUH? CALM DOWN, YO!"

"I-I HAVE TO FIND HIM! H-HE NEEDS ME!"

"NOT UNTIL YOU HAVE CALMED DOWN!"

Struggle after struggle, Zack found out that that the more he struggled the less time he would have to rescue Cloud. Finally easing into a state of tranquility, Zack breathed in and out repeatedly and asked once again to be let go.

Seeing that Zack was a lot calmer than before, both boy's let Zack up, but still kept him in his place if he ever tried to escape.

"What on GAIA happened here?"

"Jus' a lil' rough playin'. Sorry 'bout that, it won't happen again. Our lil' puppy here got excited 'bout somethin' and made a big deal out of it and should apologize for causin' a huge commotion." Derick said reassuringly to the nurse and glaring back at Zack, knowing that he too should apologize.

"I'm sorry, but it won't happen again. AND I'M NOT A PUPPY FOR THE LAST TIME TODAY!"

Knowing that these boy's meant no harm, Catherine accepted their apologizes and went about her own business. Leaving the boy's to clean up the mess and make sure to throw away the destroyed table and scrapes in the trash can.

"So, what are we going to do, yo?"

"What do you think we are going to do! We are going to save Cloud. And by saving him, we going to find Tifa and force her to bring us to Cloud. That's what we will do!"

"Zack… What happened to Cloud, and what does Tifa have to do with it?

Zack stopped what he was doing in his tracks, that voice, he heard it before, and they all did. Zack slowly turned around and standing right before him was the one person that he hoped that he didn't have to break the news to. Principal Rufus was standing right there, his facial expression confused and worried about what Cloud was involved in.

"Tell me, Zack, what happened to Cloud!"

"I think you need to sit down first and listen to what we have to say. And don't interrupt us until we are finished." Zack stated firmly at his principal.

Nodding and moving swiftly towards the bench, Rufus elegantly seated himself and was all ears to hear what they had to say. After hearing each story from all the boy's in the room, Rufus was dumbfounded, mouth opened wide, eyes wide like a robber caught by a policeman.

"So, all this time Tifa was toying with Cloud. Pretending to be his friend, pretending to care about him when he needed it the most." Said Rufus as looked at the floor below him and shook his head side to side. He couldn't grasp what Cloud might be feeling now. After all that has to happen to him and now this, Cloud might never open up to anyone.

"Tiffany, call Tifa Lockheart to my office."

"What do you plan on doing with Tifa?" Thomas asked, curious as to how Rufus was going to handle Tifa.

"Going to make her regret that pretending to be someone's friend is the best thing to do that this world is full of hatred and cruelty." Rufus said as he turned around and started heading to his office.

"Oh, all three of you are coming, so, once she tells us where Cloud is, I want you, Zack to go get him. The rest of you, go back to class, I'll give each of you a note telling your last period teacher where you all have been. And I'll have informed your other teachers as well."

"Pardon the interruption, but will the student, Tifa Lockheart please report to the Principal's office, I repeat, Tifa Lockheart please come to the Principal's office, immediately. Thank you, that is all."

Taking her leave to the Principal's office, Tifa was frantic with the announcement. But she was happy how things had turned out as she had planned. As she arrived to the main office, Tiffany escorted Tifa to Rufus's office.

Walking into the office, Tiffany locked the door behind her, for the time being until the principal showed up.

"Why did you lock the door?"

"So that you won't get away, and you're under my watch until Principal Rufus shows up to deal with you. I saw you and two other people skipping classes in the hallway on the school's camera. What, you think they don't work, they always worked, we just make them look crappy, so that student's like you will get caught."

"Whatever." Tifa said as she took herself to the chair in front of the big ivory desk.

After a few minutes had subsided, faint footsteps and whispers could be heard behind the door. Unlocking the door, Rufus and four students resided themselves into the office. The last person to enter into the office was Zack and slowly raising his gaze, his eyes made contact with none other than the person who had threatened to make Cloud's life miserable.

"HOW DARE YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF CLOUD"S FRIEND! YOU EVIL BITCH! I SWEAR IF YOU EVEN HURT CLOUD OR LAID A HAND ON HIM, I SWEAR TO GAIA, I'LL BREAK THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE!"

"Zack drop it, she isn't worth it, yo!"

"Zack. Stop. Now. Taking your anger out on her won't help anything."

"EVERY ONE. BE. QUIET." Rufus shouted over his students.

"Thank you. Now, to get things started. Tifa, the reason why you were asked to come into my office is because, one of the student's here heard you talking about doing something to another student here at the school, is that true?"

"Yeah, I did. What's it to you? And if you're wondering if it's someone precious, then yes. And like I said before, what's it, or rather he is to you?"

"Well, that particular, student if my guess is correct which happens to be Cloud, he is my nephew. And if anything happens to him while he is under my care and under my watch, then there will be harsh consequences against you as a student for threatening another individual."

"What happens if I tell you it wasn't my idea to act upon this so called, 'incident.' That it was someone else who…"

"That's a load of crap! Stop trying to ask innocent, when you know it was you who started this incident with Cloud."

"Zack that is enough! No more talking from you."

"… fine."

"Tifa, as you were saying?"

"Oh well, so, what I was perfidious and Zack caught me. It doesn't matter, anyways, yeah I took Cloud. And I might have done something to shaken him up a little here and there, like ruffle his feathers." Tifa chuckled delightfully in the office.

"WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS CLOUD?" Zack shouted as he grabbed a handful of Tifa's shirt uniform.

"I think you should treat me nicer, Zack. Put me down first, and maybe I'll tell you where your secret crush is hidden."

Zack dropped his gaze from the face in front of him, and loosen his grip on the person's clothing. Taking a step back, Zack walked back to his spot beside Reno and slowly lowered himself to the floor.

"Since that is out of the way. Sure, I'll tell you where is, but I don't think he will be the same Cloud that you once knew him as."

Zack hearing what had been said didn't want to register what had slipped out from her mouth. His insides churned slowly, filled to the brim with disgust. He wanted to rip that smirk and glint from her eyes and mouth. She had no right to talk about Cloud like that. She doesn't understand Cloud like he did, she couldn't care for him like he did, there was absolutely that she could that could possibly replace or reciprocate Zack's feelings for Cloud.

"Where is Cloud? If he is hurt, I will make sure to rip up your scholarship and I will have to ask you to leave this school."

"He's in the school's generator room. But like I said, he probably won't be the same Cloud, you once knew him as."

Once those words left her mouth, Zack walked up to her and slapped her on her right cheek. Leaving her to stare at him, Zack ran as fast as he could to Cloud. Zack felt like he let Cloud, he wasn't there to save him, he should have checked up on him after his classes were over, he should've had someone look after him if he couldn't be there with him. He hoped to Gaia, that nothing about him had changed. A single tear escaped his eye and rolled down his tanned skin. He tried his best to shake the horrible thoughts from his mind; he wanted the memories of Cloud smiling, of him laughing, and of Cloud being together with him.

As he came to the door containing Cloud, his right slowly took its journey to the doorknob. Slowly turning the rusty object in his hand, he turned it out and pushed it open. Seeing the barely lit room come into view, nothing but machines filled his vision.

Taking his stride with him, Zack left the door open and ventured further into the room. Coming around the last corner, time just seem to slow down, his heart beating faster, his anger rushing throughout his body. The one person he deeply cared for was right there, tied up by his wrists, body barely breathing, blood spots here and there.

"CLOUD!"

(A/N): Well, majority of this turned out different from what I had on my BlackBerry. I was planning on stopping on it, but then I decided that I didn't want to make this particular event like 3 chapters, so I kept typing and typing. And I have no clue how all of it came to me, it just did. So, if anything feels a little off, like the characters and so forth, I truly apologize for that! Lately, I've been out of it myself. I was typing this story with 2 swollen knuckles on my right hand. How did that happen you ask? Well, I have a short temper and anger issues, but it only happens when I'm stressed out completely or when someone ticks me off. So my (bad habit) stress reliever is by punching a wall or something. Don't worry I don't punch a person to take my stress out. And after all this typing, now the fingers on my left hand, hurt too. But I can deal with it! Nothing that I can't handle!

So… how was this chapter? If something is wrong with it, please tell me, but in a nice way. I had an anon review on my other fic, who criticized my work, which I don't mind at all, but the thing that ticked me off was how he/she approach it! So, please, if you have something to say about anything, please don't be rude. That's all I ask for. Sorry if I made mistake here and there, we're humans, we make mistakes, that's what we do to correct ourselves. And if any of you caught that A/N note that my friend posted on here, yes I got my internet back. And yes, if you're wondering my house is really old…like 50 years old. And it's still standing! Still uses fuses to run electricity through the house. Some connection in the fuse box screwed up and we had someone who knows us really well, fix it for us today and we didn't have to pay dime. O_O I KNOW RIGHT! I'm glad my dad didn't have to pay, cause my parents are like in a financial crisis. And, it's been hard for me to find a job, so, since I don't have one at the moment, I guess writing this story for all of you, is like a job? So, I'm happy if my story makes you happy… it's personal to me in a way. This fic holds a place in my heart, and I hope each of you will continue to read this til the very last chapter!

I promise this is the LAST BIG thing to happen to Cloud. I mean, yeah later on he will be in a depressed state and etc, but I wanted to make this feel real, like you, the reader could connect to it. Cause in reality, we as humans struggle through harsh things in life, and when we reach that breaking point, something huge happens along the way, and that silver lining is taken from us for the time being, but as we struggle to survive, to fight on, we actually come to that breaking point that we longed for so long. So that's how I want to do this story; I want my readers to have a somewhat connection to this, and if you can't connect to this, please don't stop reading it until it's finished. I didn't mean to go serious on y'all! Oh another thing that took me awhile to get this out, is that I have one of my brother's dogs in my room. Yeah, I'm dog sitting, poor thing, was positive for heart worm. But he's doing much better! Yeah, hes the baby in our family, Shadow is big and fluffy! Hes a pure bred black lab with a white spot on his chest in a shape of a diamond (ex. but its vertical, not horizontal) xD But thanks for reading this chapter and please R&R! =) 'til next time SAYONARA!

*Rayne*