I wanted you by my side Chapter 11: Beginning of the End, a final fantasy vii fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own any piece of FF7's characters!

Summary: Zack was dead, but Cloud did something to revive Zack. Story set after Crisis Core.

WARNING!! THIS STORY CONTAINS YAOI, SHOUNEN-AI, BXB RELATIONSHIP, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT! IF YOU FEEL OFFENDED, PLEASE PUSH THE BACK BUTTON OF YOUR INTERNET BROWSER. IF YOU DO NOT MIND (hopefully) PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ!

Pairing: CloudxZack (at first, Cloud one-sided, depends on how I wanted the story to go, they might become lover ;3), ZackxAerith, TifaxCloud (Tifa one-seided. Oh yeah, Tifa always had crush on Cloud)

A/N: I do not own a PSP so I do not play Crisis Core (I plan on buying it though), but from a lot of fictions I have read, I assume I have sufficient knowledge of the story. If you happen to find anything wrong, please be kind and inform me.

This is an edited version. Many thanks to my wonderful betas for correcting the mistakes and improving it.

Here's another chapter, as I promised. I'll upload the other 2 chapters as soon as my beta finished correcting them.

Oh, thanks a bunch for Spiralgal for the review. I hope my story won't disappoint you. Also thanks to DarkBombayAngel for the review. Loved u guys~

Then, thank you so much for everybody who put this story into their alert and fave list. Last, thanks to all of you who still reads this story!

Story 10: Beginning of the End

"Hey Chocobo head, stop moving your head. You make it hard for me!"

What were we doing? Zack was bandaging my head after the fight with that unknown monster. He didn't notice it at first, but when we reached the camp and the fire gave enough lighting for our eyes, he finally noticed that my pale blond hair had gotten red. Not all, but most. Somehow it looked like I had half of my hair dyed red. The color was creepy of course. I had it washed right away, but then Zack noticed that the wound was actually deeper than I thought. I guessed the monster's claw did scratch my head a bit. I told Zack I could warp the wound, but he insisted that he should do it and all of that led to this situation. I sat in front of Zack, facing him. I couldn't bring my eyes to meet his, so I turned my head. Zack seemed to notice it and he kept scolding me for turning away.

It was hard for me to sit quietly under his gaze. I wanted to run right now, but I couldn't do it. I could only bite my lips again and stop myself from fidgeting every time his fingers touched my skin.

"You know…" he suddenly started, making me slightly jump in surprise, "…I noticed that you avoid me lately."

I laughed inwardly. I knew this question was going to come sooner or later. Am I such a bad actor? First Aerith and now Zack?

"What do you mean? I never avoid you."

Usually he would just laugh and say, 'oh, then I was wrong?' but he didn't laugh. I knew he wanted a serious conversation.

"If so, then will you say that and look at my eyes?"

Of course I couldn't. He knew I was lying. I stared at my feet as if something might grow suddenly. I tried to keep myself calm although I almost reached my limit. I really wanted to run right now.

"Cloud," he patted my head and lifted my head. His beautiful azure eyes stared at mine. I saw neither disappointment nor anger was shown. There was only pure understanding and care. "…I won't force you to tell me everything, but if that is important for you, then I wish to know it. If that is a problem, then I wish to help you. And if that has something to do with me, you have to tell me."

I couldn't reply him. I couldn't even give a nod. Everything he had said was exactly what I couldn't say.

"…I see…" he sighed. "…you couldn't tell me anything, but can you just give a nod to my questions? I won't ask you the details, but please don't lie to me."

"….fine…"

"Thank you."

I could feel his smile. I can only hope he didn't ask questions I couldn't answer.

"Are you avoiding me because you hate me?" I shook my head. He sighed in relief. Zack must have thought that I hated him.

"Then was it because you've done something…wrong?" I shrugged and I noticed he frowned. I was not sure how to answer this one. It might be wrong for him, but for me my decision was correct.

"Okay, last question. Does it have something to do with your life or mine?" I froze. How did he know?

"Cloud, don't lie to me, please." I hesitated, but then nodded in defeat. I couldn't refuse him when he said something like that. I imagined he must've been very confused or angry right now. Zack removed his hand from my head. He moved and sat on the ground. His eyes leveled with mine.

"You know what, although I didn't know the details, I knew you've been keeping something from me and that has something to do with me and my life. I was so sure that I was going to meet Angeal that time, but when I woke up, I found myself on a bed. I didn't know how I survived, but now I know you did something. Just…promise me something. Please, whatever you did don't ever throw away your life."

"I promise." Yeah, I promised him something I couldn't fulfill. There was no way I could tell him that I already gave up my life. I had prepared myself. I would gladly accept his wrath or whatever he threw at me later as long as he was here with me…until my life drained.

"Good, I'm done." With a gentle tap to my cheek, he stood up and arranged the medical aids and materia. Although heal material was able to close wounds, in cases where the wound is too deep, medical aids were still needed. Following him, I stood up and made my way back to the tent. The sun had risen and it wouldn't be long until we departed again. I needed to prepare myself.

Zack's Pov

Although I said all those things, I knew, deep in my heart, that Cloud was not just doing some heal casting to save me. Heal material could be used to close the wound, but if the wound is too severe, not even a phoenix down could help. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to know, but forcing him to tell me would hurt him. I knew, from his expression, that he had done something that couldn't be undone.

"Cloud…what have you done…?" My head hung low, my voice came out only as a whisper. My eyes stared blankly at the medical kit that I hold. I fought the urge to throw away the medical kit. I was frustrated.

"Zack…?" I turned to the voice that called to me. I saw Aerith come out from the tent she shared with Tifa. She looked concerned.

"Heya, have a good sleep?" I waved my hand to greet her. She smiled in return and passed me one of the two cups she held. I gratefully took it.

"Why are you holding that?" she asked, pointing at the medical kit on my lap.

"Oh, this…Cloudy had his head scratched by a monster. The wound is small and I've mended it, don't worry." I took a sip at the warm liquid. It was refreshing after the fight.

"I think I should check on him…" Aerirth stood and left her cup beside me. Before she walked away, I caught her hand. Something was bothering me. She knew something, otherwise she wouldn't have make that kind of face when I told her Cloud was slightly wounded.

"You know something, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"….No, forget it…Sorry for asking…" She wouldn't tell me even if I asked, so what was the point of asking anyway. I let go of her hand. My head hung low. I was disappointed, sad, concerned; everything was so mixed up.

"Zack," she said, hand patting my head gently. "He will tell you when the time comes. Until then, just be patient and believe in him."

I nodded, but my mind was not there to accept the words. Why…why did Aerith know? Why did he tell her? Why not me? What did she know? My emotions were in disorder. I hated to be left alone. I wanted to know the truth, but I didn't want to force both of them. Then what should I do? I didn't know. The most distinct emotions I could feel were anger and disappointment. Unknown to me, this would be the beginning of everything and also the end of my current relationship with them.

Arghhhh why I feel like the storyline is so chaotic?!!!! Oh whatever, next chapter I will go back to follow the initial storyline...so maybe...just maybe...will be less chaotic haha...