Hello everyone! Here is an update for you! I hope you enjoy it! I don't know when the next chapter will be up, because finals are coming up and both my beta and I have to study! Thanks goes out to KikiBanini for betaing this; and I would like to thank all my wonderful reviewers! I save every review in a special folder. Well, on to the story!

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: All I own is a PSP and the game Crisis Core...

Chapter Ten

Two weeks had passed; Genesis hadn't seen or heard from Zack, and Angeal was refusing to even talk to him. He'd thought a lot about what Angeal had said and came to the conclusion that he was right. Genesis had commitment issues. It was true that every time a relationship seemed to be getting serious, he would go off to Wutai. Sometimes he would even ask for the assignment. So maybe Angeal did have a reason to worry.

But when Genesis would think about Zack, it wasn't just the thrill of the chase or the physical attraction that he felt. There were more feelings there, and those were the ones that scared him before.

These feelings was what he was thinking about as he fixed his broken bookcases in his office when there was a hesitant knock at the door.

Genesis straightened up immediately. He wasn't expecting anyone; maybe it was Zack? His heart started to race as he called out, "Enter."

The door open slowly, and a vaguely familiar 3rd class SOLDIER entered.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Commander, but I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?"

Genesis gazed the kid, trying to place the short curly dark blond hair and dull brown eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said smoothly, smiling his most enchanting smile, "but you are?"

"Kunsel," was the swift reply. When Genesis gave no indication of familiarity, the kid added, "Tiberius Kunsel? I'm a friend of Zack's?"

Genesis finally remembered where he had seen the young SOLDIER before; in the cafeteria with Zack the morning after they made love, and later the same day when he dragged Zack away from a group of rambunctious friends.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, it just took me a moment to remember. What is it that you would like?"

Kunsel stepped into the room and carefully closed the heavy door behind him. "I'm worried about Zack. He hasn't been his usual cheerful bouncy self lately. Ever since he came to your office two weeks ago, in fact." His dark eyes swept around the room, taking in the broken shelves and tools on the carpeted floor.

"And you want to know what I did to him, right?" Genesis assumed grimly.

"Actually," Kunsel seemed to hesitate for a split second, "I was wondering if you knew what happened in general. I'm not saying that I think you did anything, but maybe something happened here that may have that effect or something?" He sounded a little nervous.

Genesis stared at the younger man, trying to analyze if that was the true reason Kunsel was there. He stared so long, he could tell that he was making Kunsel even more nervous. The boy was shifting from foot to foot and twisting his hands around, his eyes were darting rapidly around the room.

Genesis smiled demurely as he slowly glided across the room to lean casually against the front of his desk.

"Less cheerful and bouncy you say?" Genesis asked this innocently, as though he couldn't believe it. "Withdrawn, possibly? Maybe he refuses to talk about it? What do you think could have caused that?"

Kunsel shifted nervously, barely enough to be noticed, before he answered, "I don't know, sir."

"No? You have no suspicions whatsoever about what may have happened here?" Genesis's tone still seemed innocent, but there was a hint of pressing hardness underneath.

Kunsel's eyes widened in shock at the implication he was picking up. "You- I knew you did something to him!"

"And I knew you thought that I did something to Zack," Genesis stopped smiling and slipped behind his desk to lessen the chance of being attacked by the livid 3rd class. "Calm down, Private; I didn't assault him. I didn't do anything he didn't want." He gestured his hand towards the tools and bookshelves. "Commander Hewley and I got into a little scuffle, and ended up breaking a few of my shelves. Before you ask, yes the fight was about Zack. And yes, Zack was here to witness it. In fact, I'm pretty sure he prevented Angeal from beating me to death."

Kunsel gave Genesis a tiny glare. "What were you doing to Zack to make Commander Hewley try to beat you to death?"

Genesis smirked evilly as he replied, "I was just kissing him. Actually, technically, he was kissing me. But it doesn't matter too much what I was doing; Angeal would kill me just for looking at his precious Puppy."

"Oh." Kunsel's voice was small.

Genesis collapsed gracefully down into his chair now that he was sure that there was no chance of being attacked. Not that he didn't think he could defend himself against a mere 3rd class; Genesis just was sure that Zack wouldn't appreciate him damaging Kunsel.

"So you say that Zack isn't acting like himself?" Genesis waved his pale hand indicating that Kunsel should sit in one of the vacant chairs on the other side of his now cluttered desk. "He won't talk to you about it?"

"No, sir," Kunsel responded, sounding a little sad as he took a seat. "Zack usually talks to me about everything; it's difficult to get him to shut up. Has he talked to you at all?"

Genesis snorted derisively. "I haven't even seen Zack for two weeks; Angeal won't let me talk to him. Angeal himself won't even talk to me."

"So you can't do anything to help?"

Genesis watched as Kunsel seemed to slump in defeat, and immediately knew he had to try to help. Not only for the child sitting in front of him, but for Zack's own well-being as well.

"I never said that," he sat up straight and leaned forward conspiratorially towards Kunsel. "I'll talk to Sephiroth; he'll be able to help. Or, if he can't help, he can at least convince Angeal to talk to me. Don't worry, kid; hopefully we'll have our Happy Zack back soon."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Please, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth didn't even look up from the paperwork he was signing. "No."

Genesis sprawled carelessly across the General's desk, effectively covering up the paperwork. "Please, Seph. Angeal won't even take the phone calls I put through to his office. How can I explain anything if he won't even talk to me?"

Finally, Sephiroth raised his head to look his pouting friend in the eye. "Angeal is trying to protect Zack. He doesn't want you to hurt him, even unintentionally. You cannot deny that you have a horrible record with your past relationships."

"Be fair, Seph," Genesis pouted childishly. "I just want to talk to Angeal. Something is wrong with Zack; he's not his usual cheery self."

Sephiroth just blinked slowly, the only sign that he was surprised. "How do you know this?"

"Zack's friend, Kunsel. He told me that Zack hasn't been acting like himself lately."

"What were you doing talking to Kunsel?"

Genesis put on his best innocent look before answering. "I simply ran into him yesterday. We talked for a minute before he brought up Zack."

"Simply ran into him?" Sephiroth repeated slowly. "You didn't happen to hunt him down, did you?"

Genesis feigned shock. "Of course not! It was pure coincidence!"

Sephiroth simply stared at Genesis, waiting for the truth.

"Fine!" Genesis sighed overdramatically. "But I didn't seek him out; Kunsel came to my office. He's worried about his friend, Seph! Please, just try to convince Angeal to talk to me! That's all I need you to do."

"Genesis-"

"Please, Seph," Genesis hung his head dejectedly. "I'm worried about Zack."

Sephiroth stared at his old friend before sighing rather loudly. Genesis raised his head in shock at the audible noise. Sephiroth did not look happy.

"I do not like being put in the middle of all your fights with Angeal," Sephiroth's voice was icy, as were his green eyes. "But I can see that you are being sincere. So this is the absolute last time that I am getting involved. Is that clear?"

"Yes," Genesis breathed a deep sigh of relief as he flung his arms around Sephiroth in a grateful hug. "I promise that this is the last time. Thank you, Sephiroth."

"Last time," Sephiroth muttered icily, shoving Genesis away from him and rising gracefully from his desk to head out his office door.