I'm trying to explain things better in this chapter, and I hope it works.

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Cloud cursed as he fought to keep Marlene in his sights. It was only the second day since they had split from Denzel and Seph, and already they were fighting for their lives. He swiftly cut down the monster in front of him, and turned in a semi-circle, cutting down another as it came for his back. He shook himself, and grimaced as he realized he was covered in their sticky black blood. He glanced up, and his eyes widened as he took in Marlene's prone form on the ground, about twenty feet away.

"Marlene!" He raced over to her, but was to late as one of the chocobo looking monsters grabbed her, and took off faster then even he could run. He tried anyway, calling her name as he cut down the beasts that were in his path, but eventually he was overrun, and it was either fight, or die. With the despair that was eating at him, as he swung repeatedly at the seemingly endless horde of beasts, he was tempted to just give up and let them take him. He gritted his teeth, and cut down the last of them, looking up at the rim of the crater where he knew the beast has taken Marlene. He couldn't go after her, not by himself. He would find Sephiroth and Denzel, and figure out what to do then. With a heavy heart, and an aching body, he made his way back to their campsite, packing things up, before he started trudging through the snow towards the rendezvous point. On his way out, he saw something lying in the snow, and walking over to it, he realized it was Marlene's Glaive. He picked it up, and snapping the bolt in the middle, he separated the two blades, attaching them to his pack. With a deep breath, he took off down the path again, eyes carefully watching the shadows for any sign of monsters.

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It took about six weeks for Cloud to get to the rendezvous point. Six weeks of fighting monsters who were sent after him by Hojo. 'Six fucking weeks of fighting everything thing Hojo has, being thrown at me constantly. Fuck, can't this man take a break?' he thought as he cut a swath through another throng of beasts. Frustration, anger, and a raging hate were slicing through him, making him burn in a constant halo of blue fire, his eyes black as the night. Four days before he would reach the point, the monsters stopped, turned their heads north, and drifted off across the snow-covered wasteland, back towards the crater. 'Well, that was special.' He shook his head, and forced his body to keep going, each step draining the fire into the ground, until he lost it completely, and he could finally feel the weariness on his body. It dragged him down, and that was why he didn't stop until he reached his goal. He forced his body to keep at it long enough to start a large fire, before collapsing next to it. He had enough sense to wrap himself around with a thick blanket, and then he was dead to the world for over twelve hours. He woke, did the math, and began making breakfast. 'Only a three days until they get here. If I can survive this long, I can do that.'

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That night, Sephiroth was startled as he saw Cloud sitting next to a large fire, a heavy blanket wrapped around his shoulders, and Marlene's Glaive across his lap. He did the math quickly, and realized that Cloud shouldn't have been here yet. Denzel and he were already three days ahead of schedule. His eyes focused on Cloud, and they narrowed as he took in the dark circles, and the slightly gauntness of his cheeks, and chest. Somehow, it suited him. As though a layer of him had peeled away to reveal what truly lay underneath. It was extremely appealing, in a vary dangerous way. Looking away from those searing eyes, he took in the surroundings, and narrowed his eyes as he noticed Marlene wasn't with him. Setting down his gear, he gave Denzel a sharp look as the boy opened his mouth, and motioned for him to set up the tent, before going over and settling down next to Cloud. The blond raised his arm, and Seph tucked himself into the blanket, and the other mans warmth. Setting his head on Clouds shoulder, he stared into the fire. He really didn't want to ask this next question, but it needed to be asked.

"Is she dead?" he said quietly, still staring at the fire. He felt Cloud tense, and held his breath, expecting the worse. He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the man shake his head no, and then cursed at the words that came out of his mouth.

"She was taken," he whispered softly. Sephiroth noted Denzel looking at them, and he stood, bringing Cloud with him. He led the other man away from the fire, Denzel glaring murderously at him the entire time. He walked, Clouds hand in his, until he could barely see the fire, and then turned to the blond.

"What do you mean, she was taken? And what the hell happened to you?"

"A monster took her. I talked to a traveling merchant and found out that Hojo has only been taking the dead that have Jenova cells in them. The only thing I can figure out is he learned about Denzel and Marlene, and knew that one of them had Jenova cells. He must of tracked us when we got here. He just didn't know which one, so I believe he plans to take them both. I know he needs the cells alive, for whatever he's trying to do."

Sephiroth stared at him a moment, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. This was bad. Many of the trainees were the ones that had Jenova cells in them. It made them faster, stronger, easier to heal. Because of Jenova, they all were somehow…more. He had a horrible thought, and opened his eyes to see Cloud staring up at the moon, his eyes drowning blue in the light.

"Cloud," he said, and swallowed. The other man looked at him, and drew the blanket tighter around his shoulders. "If he finds out that Marlene is SOLDIER, with no Jenova cells…he will experiment with her. He won't be able to resist."

Cloud nodded, and turned back to watching the moon. "I know. As much as I want to rush off and go rescue her right now, we can't, not with just the three of us. I think the two of us could handle it, but we would be no use by the time we got to Hojo, not with all the monsters running around." He started at the small cry that was made behind him, and both men took off running towards the fire, their swords already drawn.

They burst into the clearing, and stopped short, glaring at the monstrosity that held Denzel by the throat. Cloud blinked, the point of his sword dropping to the ground as his jaw dropped open in shock.

"Hojo?" he whispered. The…thing, in front of them was no longer a man. It had the body of a man, but it was covered in small, hard scales, and two extra arms sprouted from under the human ones, and they ended in scythe like blades. He now had multiple eyes, and they were faceted so they sparkled liked jewels in the firelight. His legs, from what they could tell, were still human.

"My failed experiment, how nice to see you again," the thing hissed, proving that it was still Hojo inside that twisted body. "I am taking the boy now, since I realized I grabbed the wrong one. Finally, a live specimen of Jenova. Don't worry about the girl, she is in my tender care." With a laugh, and a curiously high chittering sound, he turned and ran.

Cloud and Sephiroth tried going after him, but were soon ambushed by his beasts. By the time they killed the last one, it was dawn already, and they knew they would never catch up to Hojo now. Cloud took a deep breath, and throwing his head back, he screamed into the sky. Sephiroth made no attempt to touch him, because he was fighting back to strong urge to begin chopping down trees. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, and as he turned to walk back to the camp, his eyes alighted on a glint of metal lying in the snow. He bent, and upon picking it up, saw that it was Denzel's Katana. With a heavy heart, he walked back to Cloud, where he had collapsed to his knees in the snow, his hands clenched into fists around the hilt of his sword.

"Cloud," he said softly, laying a hand gently on the other mans shoulder. Cloud looked up at him, and swallowed hard before a cold mask settled into place. It wasn't fast enough to hide the pain and self-hatred shining in those sapphire eyes. Sephiroth decided to let it go for now, and helped the other man to his feet. "We need to get moving. This has to be reported, and we have awhile to go."

Cloud nodded and got to his feet, swallowing once before he felt a peculiar calm settle over him. Sephiroth looked startled, and Cloud smiled slightly as he realized there must have been a change in his appearance. This was the mind state he had finally achieved after the first three days of burning from the inside out, this quiet place. He knew what needed to be done, and he did it. His body wasn't racked with fatigue, and his mind was no longer filled with doubt.

"What the hell. . ." Sephiroth said quietly, and he was staring at the Cloud that he had only seen in a memory. His eyes were the deepest blue they could be, and still be blue. They burned with his fire, the flames outlined with black, as it spread from his eyes, quickly over his face, before engulfing his body. Sephiroth gasped, and fell to his knees as the door inside his mind was ripped away by the force coming from Cloud. He looked up at the other man, and felt his eyes burst into flame.

Sephiroth closed his eyes, trying to ride the tidal wave of energy that was engulfing him, but he was soon swept away, and the fire consumed his body, making him burn with a delicious fire. He opened his eyes slowly, and looked up at Cloud, and knew in that moment that he would do anything for the man in front of him, to keep him from any, and all harm. He was his Lover, and he would defend him till the end.

"What is this Cloud?" Cloud shook his head, and held out a hand, helping Sephiroth to his feet. He spoke, his mouth not two inches from Seph's.

"I don't know. The last time I couldn't control it, but I have been in this state constantly for the past six weeks. I can ride the power better then you can." He pulled away, and began walking down the path, a fiery fallen angel. Sephiroth watched as with every step, Cloud swallowed that burning fire, till it was nothing but he in that slender body. He felt a whisper through his mind, through the still open door, and suddenly knew how to ride this power. He swallowed, and began to slowly drag the power inside of him. He was staring at Cloud the entire time, and he was staring back with that eerily calm gaze. When Sephiroth felt the last flame be sucked into himself, the door shut quietly between them, and it was only himself back inside his body. He brushed the other door in his mind, but suddenly knew that Zach wanted to be left alone. He blushed slightly, and focused back on Cloud. The other man had stopped, and was staring at him with a small smile on his face.

"They have been together for the past couple hours or so. Avoid doing anything more then just brushing that door or you'll get a visual." Seph raised an eyebrow, and had to grin slightly.

"You tried, didn't you?" He had to chuckle softly at the blush that rose in the blonds cheeks. Cloud quickly looked away, and started walking down the path again. He spoke from over his shoulder.

"We need to get going." Sephiroth grinned at the quickly retreating back, and shoving all his questions aside for now, he quickly followed him.

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Cloud led the way down the path, his steps becoming faster and faster until he was flying over the snow, Sephiroth easily keeping up with him. They made it to Icicle Village by that night, three days worth of travel done in one. The two of them got their gear put away in a room in the lodge, and Cloud called Rufus. Waiting for him to pick up the phone, Sephiroth walked up behind him, and started to massage his shoulders. Cloud relaxed into his love's hands, and was even smiling slightly by the time the other blond picked up the phone.

"Rufus."

"Its Cloud. We have a problem."

"I don't like it when you tell me that, Strife."

"Yea, I know, but this one is serious. The reason Hojo was taking the dead is that he is looking for a different source of Jenova cells to continue his experiments. He found out that dead cells aren't very good for trying to clone her cells. He also found out about Denzel, and Marlene, and he knew one of them carried Jenova. He just didn't know which one."

"Understood. So he took one of them?"

"Yes, he took Marlene on our second day out by ourselves. We were ambushed, and separated. I saw her knocked out, and when I went to go help, she was carried away. I attempted to follow, but was ambushed again, and by the time all the monsters were dead, there was no way I would have been able to follow. Not by myself."

"What about Denzel and Sephiroth?"

"I had only made it there a day and a half before Sephiroth and Denzel joined me. They arrived three days ahead of the actual rendezvous date. I can tell you from experience that Hojo has more beasts then we anticipated. I had the pleasure of having the damn things at me constantly for about six weeks. Sephiroth told me that he and Denzel encountered nothing other then a couple. I don't know how many I killed, but it was a lot, and they always kept coming. The night they arrived, we had walked away from the fire, so I could tell Sephiroth what happened with Marlene, without Denzel overhearing."

"Shit."

"We heard Denzel, and by the time we got back there, Hojo had already captured him."

"You actually saw Hojo?"

"Yes, and he is barely human anymore. He is some sort of mix between human, reptile, and insect. He took Denzel, and told us plainly that he was going to use Marlene and Denzel both for experiments. We need to do something, and fast. Denzel has only been with him for a day, but Marlene has been with him for five weeks already."

"I'm sending Cid there to pick you up. Be ready by morning."

"Yes sir."

Cloud hung up the phone as Rufus did, and sat there staring at it for a moment. The entire time he had been talking, his voice was emotionless, a good soldier giving a report. Now that it was over, his shoulders shook under Sephiroth's hands with silent tears. Sephiroth said nothing, just wrapped his arms around Cloud's shoulders, hugging him from behind as he laid his head on his shoulder.

"We will get them back Cloud," he said softly. He was pushed away as Cloud stood, and turned, glaring at Seph angrily.

"Yes, I know we will get them back, but what is going to happen to them while Hojo has them in his tender care? Neither one of us came out of it completely sane," his voice dropped to a whisper, and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes in an effort to control his emotions. His anger would not help anyone right now, least of all Denzel or Marlene, and Sephiroth did not deserve to have it taken out on him. He raised his eyes, and met the calm jade ones gazing out from underneath silver hair grown long enough now to brush the floor. He absorbed that steely calm, and as Sephiroth enfolded him in his arms, he let out a breath of air, closing his eyes and relaxing against that broad chest.

Sephiroth was surprised when Cloud turned his head to kiss him gently on the lips. He was even more surprised when the blond slowly removed the heavy outer coat he had on, and then the feather lined shirt, leaving his upper body bare to the cold air. He stood there as Cloud took a step back, shivering with the gentle desire that was growing in those blue eyes. He watched as Cloud slowly took off every article of his own clothing, and as Cloud reached for his pants, he captured his hands.

"Let me, please." Sephiroth nodded, and put his arms back down at his side, closing his eyes at the sensation of Cloud slowly taking off what remained of his clothing. He opened then, and watched Cloud as he took his erection into his mouth. He flung his head back, shuddering as he leaned against the wall, savoring the sensation of his mouth moving on him so slowly. He threaded his fingers through the silky blond, not to force him to go faster, to just touch him. There was something different about tonight, and even as the thought crossed his mind, he cried out softly as Cloud removed his mouth, and gently bit his hip. He looked down, and met those solemn blue eyes. Sephiroth kept his one hand in his hair, and with his other, he reached down, and caressed Clouds cheek, bringing him to his feet so their mouths could meet.

Cloud groaned softly, melting at the love he felt in that tender kiss. Tears gathered in his eyes, but he ruthlessly crushed them back. He laid his hands on Seph's shoulders, and half pulled, half pushed him, until he fell back across the bed. Cloud stood there for a moment, looking down at the man that held his heart.

"You are so amazing Seph," he said softly, leaning down slightly to run his palm down the mans chest. "What did I ever do, to deserve someone like you, hmm?" He smiled as Sephiroth grasped his hand, and then pulled it to his lips, kissing each one of his fingertips.

"You love me. That's how you got the great General," he whispered. Cloud lay down next to him on the bed, Sephiroth propped himself up on one arm, and looked into those impossibly blue eyes. "You saw the real me. There were so many people who wanted me for a night, a weekend. I realized, in that night after you became SOLDIER, that you were willing to keep me for a lifetime. Your love made me feel human, which was something that no one, not even Zach, ever made me feel."

Cloud gazed into those amazing eyes, and his breath stopped as the words came pouring out of that perfectly shaped mouth. Finally, he smiled, and it was wide and full of love for the man lying next to him. Sephiroth smiled back, and it was just as true. Sephiroth made Cloud roll over onto his stomach, and began to slowly kiss his way down his spine, his fingertips running lightly over Clouds ribs, hips, and then thighs. Cloud sighed, and gave himself over to the feelings spreading a gentle warmth through him. He raised himself up on his elbows, and looked over his shoulder at Sephiroth.

"Make love to me," he said quietly. He raised himself onto his hands and knees, offering himself completely, in a way he had never done to anyone but this man. Sephiroth smiled, and gently bit his ass, before sliding off the bed to fetch the lubricant that was somewhere in his pack. He had Cloud laughing by the time he climbed back on the bed, but his laughter died as first one, and then two slender fingers slid inside him. Sephiroth leaned over Cloud's back, whispering in his ear as he slowly worked Cloud's body larger.

"Something funny, my love?" he said softly. He chuckled at the gasp of pleasure from the body under him, and slid his fingers out. He straightened himself, and slowly and gently, pushed his way into Cloud. The cries of pleasure from under him were almost to much, and as soon as he got all of him in, he reached forward, and drew Cloud's body back up against his, so they were both on their knees. He wrapped one arm around the blonds' chest, the other around his stomach. He glided in and out of him slowly, and shivered as Clouds hands reached back, and rested on his hips.

Cloud groaned softly, laying his head back on Sephiroth's shoulder, and was reminded of the first time this happened. The position was the same, but the emotion made it so much different. While the first time was full of anger, and a dangerous passion, this was sweet, gentle, and meant so much more to him then any of the other times. He cried out as Sephiroth moved his hand down to cup him, stroking him just as gently. He sighed, and his soft cries made Sephiroth move harder inside him, but it was still slow, still gentle. Cloud turned his head, his lips finding the strong pulse in the other mans throat. He slowly licked, and bit that throbbing point, and was rewarded with a deep groan. He moved his hands from their resting place on Seph's hips, and buried them in the silver hair that was flowing over his body. He held Sephiroth to him, and the man began mirroring him, kissing his neck in the same fashion. Cloud tensed as he felt his orgasm coming, and softly whispered the other mans name.

"Sephiroth…"

Sephiroth groaned and closed his eyes tightly, feeling Cloud tense against him, crying out as the blond took them both soaring in pleasure. He held the other tightly against him for a moment, and then laughed softly, before whispering in his ear.

"I do love you Cloud, never forget that." Cloud smiled, and slowly lowered them to the bed, disentangling them from each other. He rolled onto his side, gazing into Sephiroth's eyes.

"I love you too, and trust me, I won't ever forget. Not this time. Now, go to sleep. Were going to have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then grinned. "Cid is going to have to wait though. I have someone I have to visit before we leave in the morning."

"Who?"

Cloud smiled secretly, and turned back over, Sephiroth's arm automatically wrapping around his waist. Cloud pulled the blankets over both of them, and closed his eyes, sighing contentedly.

"Cloud, who do you have to see?" Cloud chuckled quietly, and looked over his shoulder at Sephiroth.

"It's a surprise. Now go to sleep."