Ghost of Wutai

by Catsitta

They call him the Ghost of Wutai. His cause, no one is for certain, just that he has a score to settle with ShinRa and its infamous Trinity. When he makes his boldest attack yet, the events that follow could lead to his ruin. AU. Rated M for a reason

11. Curiosity and Consequences

Author's Note:

Thanks soooo much too all who fave, watch and review this story and my other. You don't know how much your support makes me feel.

I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter but hopefully once I work my way through whatever rough spot is holding this story back, my creative muse will flow as it did when I began this project.

I enjoy comments and reviews. Please, if you have constructive criticism, do share. Even an "I like" or an "I don't like" are better than nothing. I thrive off feedback.

Rating (chapter): M(sexual references, rape)

Word Count: 3,059 (short chapter… )

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7, blah, blah, blah. All characters and such belong to their creators. To quote another author, "These are not my characters, I'm just abusing them."

Summary: They call him the Ghost of Wutai. In battle, he emerges out of the shadows and strikes down his foes without mercy. His cause, no one is for certain, just that he has a score to settle with ShinRa and its infamous Trinity. When he makes his boldest attack yet, the events that follow could lead to his ruin. AU, post Nibelheim, dark, m/m slash. Rated M for a reason.

Ghost of Wutai

By Catsitta

Part eleven: Curiosity and Consequences

Rain fell in Midgar for the first time in months. It started as gray skies and distant thunder, the scent of moisture heavy in the polluted air. Soon the wind began to rise, clearing away the stale heat of summer and replacing it with the thick aroma of upturned soil and the ocean. When the first drops of water fell, the citizens peeked up at the clouded sky, expecting the storm to pass…Only it did not. In a matter of minutes, the scant droplets became a torrent that flooded the streets.

A flower girl whom lived beneath the plate, in a little abandoned church, watched as the homeless of the slums scurried desperately for shelter. Eyes of emerald gleamed with conflicted emotions.

It did not rain in Midgar. If it did, the lower-plate never saw a drop.

Brushing back bangs of burnished brown, the young woman tried to clear her thoughts. She often heard the Planet cry out in pain, pleading for it open wounds to close…begging for Her children to stop draining Her lifeblood. Now was one of those times. Gaia was in agony. She wept because of this pain. The rain was both a blessing and a warning… Her tears brought life, cleaned away the filth and pollution that burned. But Her sorrow would bring death.

Desperation. The woman could hear Her song of fear and agony.

'What can I do?' She bid Gaia. 'What causes you to mourn openly, Planet? What brings you such grief that you pour your sorrows into the skies above?'

Flashes of a boy with striking blue eyes and wild, flaxen hair filled her mind's eye.

'Weapon?' The woman finds the word tumbling off her lips, confusing her further. The images flood her mind again, the Planet's song more intense. 'WEAPON.'Eyes of emerald slip shut as foreign emotions rip through her body, igniting her every nerve. 'This boy…this boy is a WEAPON? And he is causing you pain? No, he is in pain. His pain is your own. You grieve for your child. But why? Why is he important? What pain could he suffer that hurts you so?'

Glinting silver hair and glowing eyes of mako green tangled with the images of the blue-eyed boy. Laughter. She heard laughter. Then the cry of another…of pain.

It is too much; the young woman falls to her knees and sobs, unable to restrain her tears. Something terrible was happening and it hurt Gaia more than the theft of her blood. A chosen protector. He suffered at the hands of someone with silver hair and mako eyes…

"Sephiroth…" She murmured, 'Calamity's son.'

000X000

Cloud scrubbed desperately at his skin, blunt nails leaving blood-hued trails. There was nothing he could do that could wash away the filth. Nothing he could do to wash away the stain on his mind and soul. Half of him cowered in fear, begging for the nightmare to end, screaming that he did not deserve this fate…afraid that this time he would be consumed by fear. The other half conflicted within itself, roaring its defiance and demanding for vengeance, as well as reflecting on events as a punishment long since deserved. Who was he to question destiny? Why was he to give up all his values?

Confusion quickly led to nausea and soon he was tumbling from the shower (the water already ice cold) and heaving into the toilet bowl. Only bile came up. When was the last time he consumed any real food? Anything more substantial than water? Hell, when was the last time he drank anything?

Disoriented, Cloud rose shakily from where he had been crouched and stumbled over to the sink. Ignoring its ornate and high-tech design, the blond began twisting knobs until water trickled from the spout. He cupped his hands, collecting the cool liquid and brought it to his lips. Each swallow was painful and burned his throat, but long ago he learned to dismiss something as miniscule as minor aches and injuries.

In the midst of his desperate, almost feverish, consumption of water, he did not to hear to the door open. Nor did he hear the approach of leather boots as the heels echoed against moist tile. He did, however, feel the lethal gaze of his enemy upon his back. With a snarl, Cloud abandoned the sink to face the intruder. Only, when his eyes met those of poisonous green, something inside of him recoiled and twisted, making it difficult for him to be strong in the face of danger. Fear attempted to sink it's fangs into his mind as memories assaulted him.

Why do I feel so weak?

Cloud slipped to his knees.

I am a warrior!

He kept his eyes locked on Sephiroth's.

I am the best of the best—the ultimate fusion of SOLDIER and Turk.

His whole body trembled.

The Trinity's strengths resides within me.

He kept his chin high.

But…

Fear slipped through the cracks in his defense, wrapping tendrils around him…suffocating him.

"Sephiroth…" Cloud growled.

A wry smile played upon his enemy's lips.

"Ghost…I am in the mood to play a game. What about you?"

"Fuck you!" The blond snarled.

"Eager, aren't we?" Cloud paled at Sephiroth cruel laughter. He should be stronger than this. Where was his strength? His courage? His determination? It abandoned him. It left him helpless and weak. He had to find his inner self again. He had to overcome whatever hold the silver General had over him.

Except…

Fingers encased in cold leather closed around his throat, lifting him to his feet. Eyes of mako-tainted blue widened and kept even with those of venomous green. Sephiroth was heartless, cold, a weapon built in the womb of a woman and distorted by the evils of a madman. Then again, Cloud was a weapon too. Except he was human once. He lived a normal life with normal ambitions and dreams. Then he made the biggest mistake of his life…pursuing those dreams.

ShinRa destroyed and corrupted everything it touched and influenced. No man, woman or child escaped its taint. The company raped the land for its wealth of bounty, stripping it of life. It was because of ShinRa that Cloud died. It was because of ShinRa that he was reborn again. ShinRa cursed him and never gave him reprieve. Shadows of the past chased him everywhere. It was only a matter of time before he turned around and fought back…unfortunately, the shadows overwhelmed him. Now he was suffering for his foolishness, his naiveté, and failure to succeed in his mission.

For a split second, he wondered what would have happened had he managed to kill Genesis that night like he had planned. Would Sephiroth have his loathsome hand wrapped around his throat right now? Would the silver General ever have had the chance to soil his body and put another crack in his fragile sanity? Would he be struggling now, uncertain whether to give up or fight like hell to get free?

Then, his vision began to blur. The lack of oxygen was catching up with him. Cloud blinked, letting his muscles grow lax. Maybe he should give up…slipping into unconsciousness and never waking up again was becoming rather…appealing of a thought. Soon spots collected before his eyes, warping reality and shadowing Sephiroth's face with inky shadows. For some reason, he found his lips twitching into a smile. No more suffering. No more pain. Even if ghosts could not die, at least they could come to terms with oblivion. Nothingness. Yes, nothingness would be better than this hell. Even if he deserved to be punished for his failure, to walk among the living and experience the torment of anguish…he still wanted to have a chance at redemption…to sleep…

"Wake up!" Sephrioth's command was paired with a significant slap to the side of Cloud's skull. The blond found his vision clearing despite the assault that would have knocked a normal man into a coma. Cloud shook himself and found that he could not move his arms or legs. Filled with surprise, he strained against his bonds, rolling his shoulders and flexing his wrists. He was not tied with chains like before, but rather…fabric? Cord?

His arms were bound behind his back and his ankles were tied together. It made for awkward movement but Cloud managed to worm his way onto his knees and sit up. The blond warrior glared at the silver General whom, he noticed, was missing his trademark trench coat….and gloves. When had he removed the top half of his uniform? Hell, how had he tied him up without Cloud noticing? Had he really black out for that long?

"Let me go you sick bastard!" Cloud snarled but he was rewarded with a backhanded smack across the face.

"It seems my toy needs a little lesson in manners." Sephiroth purred, leaning forwards and brushing his fingers over the darkening bruise. Feeling aware of his nudity, Cloud flushed with both embarrassment and anger. The silver warrior had no right even looking at him with those traitorous eyes of his!

Cloud opened his mouth to spit out an insult in Wutainese but the General's fingers were pushed past his lips and forced against the back of his throat. Startled by both the action and the natural reflex to gag, he did not react quickly enough to avoid Sephiroth's next attack. The silver-haired man gripped the back of his neck, withdrew his fingers and wrenched Cloud's head up.

"Do not speak unless I grant you permission…boy." He could feel Sephiroth's breath hot against his ear. He struggled in the older man's grasp, but quickly found his face pressed into the sheets, smothering him. "Now that I have you tied up so nicely…and quiet…I think I'll take up your earlier offer. You recall your request, yes? To fuck you. Such an eager toy. Even if you can be a little difficult to handle."

Hands ghosting over Cloud's body made the blond freeze in horror. Memories crashed onto him, paralyzing him. The cocktail of fear, anger, humiliation, pleasure, desire and disgust was a distraction all in itself. When Sephiroth's touches became more demanding, more forceful, Cloud was helpless to resist. He cursed Hojo. He cursed Sephiroth. He cursed the man who decided he wanted to surpass the madman and his crazed creation. He cursed Zack, Angeal and Genesis…He cursed ShinRa. He cursed himself for being too weak to stop the man from abusing and using his body, and for being unable to fight the reactions instilled into him by science. He hated the way Sephiroth used him, but his body reacted on its own accord. Pleasure and pain conflicted inside his chaotic mind, drowning him until he was lost in a void of desolation.

He was the Ghost of Wutai.

And ghosts never die.

Ghosts also never feel fear, loneliness or despair.

Nor do they feel pleasure, passion or anger.

Ghosts are creations numb of human emotion.

They are remnants of the souls that used to define their reality.

Yet in a matter of a few simple moments, the right (or wrong) touches, he was trapped in emotions and sensations he should never have felt. Somehow, this dehumanization, mistreatment…this torture of his mind, body and soul…it brought him back to the cusp of humanity…back among the living. He just wanted to die again. To never feel again. He missed the ice and shadow. He wanted to drown in the blackness of death.

Instead, he felt alive…burning…alight with life's fire.

Cloud could not contain his screams any longer. It hurt too much. He felt too much. He could take it no longer.

He wanted to break. He wanted to die. But his body fought him with the human compulsion to live; to cling to whatever reminded the mind of life.

"Just let me die…" Cloud gasped, uncertain of his surroundings since the world around him was dark. "Please, no more…Kill me. No more. I can't…I can't…." Sephiroth ignored his pleas. Then again, why would he listen? To him, Cloud was a toy to use for his own pleasure, to sate his body's cravings and desires. He wanted Cloud begging for then end. He wanted Cloud to be useless and broken because that gave him control and power… The man was obsessed with power.

"Shut up…" Was Sephiroth's only response. After which, Cloud found his world spiraling around him. He closed his eyes in a despite attempt to escape it all. It was the only thing he could do.

000X000

A shadow of a figure walks through the ashes of a ruined village. Said figure was small and slight, its contours that of a blossoming woman.

"Where are you?" The small woman asks the silent air, aware that the night sky will have no reply to offer. Her dark hair and eyes are lit silver by the glow of the moon above. "Are you safe? Alive? By the will of Leviathan, please be okay. My love…Remember…never forget…" She blinked back salty tears and shook her head. Suddenly, her posture changes and she grits her teeth. "What are you doing to yourself, Yuffie? You're a ninja princess, not some simpering peasant girl longing after her lover!"

The false bravado fades as tears break free and crawl down her cheeks. Why did she hurt so much? Cloud was a powerful warrior…a paragon! He could take care of himself. Just because he went missing did not mean he was gone forever—dead. He was hiding…or wounded…or…he did not love her anymore.

Yuffie bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

Cloud would never abandon her without a reason. He hated ShinRa and sought the company's destruction—so he would never go back those inbred dogs that called themselves men. So why did she feel so unsettled? Why did it feel as if someone was taking a knife to her heart? Confused and conflicted, the ninja braced herself and tucked away all her doubts. She had to be strong.

Wutai's rebellion would not lead itself.

000X000

Genesis wanted answers and damn anyone who stood in his way.

The Ghost had a remote control—check. Sephiroth had said remote—check. Blondie was a good fuck—check. Sephiroth was not planning on sharing… For some reason, that pissed him off. After all, was it not Genesis who first saw the Ghost? Was it not he who first engaged in battle with the elusive warrior? And let's not forget who called Seohiroth and Angeal to Wutai in order to deal with the boy.

It was not as if he was particularly attracted to Cloud, per se, but the fact remained that Sephiroth should share the spoils of victory. Genesis growled, startling the unlucky cadets that happened to be passing by in the hallway. The Ghost made his blood boil with hatred but also begrudging respect. Cloud was a sociopathic rebel leader who should have been disposed at the earliest convenience, whose actions led to the deaths of innocents and SOLDIERs alike—yet Genesis could not help but admire the boy's willpower.

He wanted nothing more than to strangle the boy or beat him into a bloodied, unrecognizable pulp, but the same rush of hate came paired with a rush of blood to uncomfortable places. Just once, he promised himself, he would slake his thirst and lust merely once and be done with the petty cravings. But, the auburn Commander decided, not before he found out exactly what was going on.

Who was the Ghost? True, they had a name. Cloud. Cloud Strife. A former cadet in the SOLDIER program and apparently a rising star at that. Zack and he were close until the traumatic day where the boy was raped by someone bigger, stronger and likely a SOLDIER. Now, the blond was a strange natured warrior with mako enhancements, an unnatural knack for materia use, and a lack of empathy for anyone or anything ShinRa.

Knowing this, Genesis headed towards the one place that he knew answers could be found—one way or another. The underground labs.

He would pay Hojo a visit and if the man decided to play him a fool, the First would introduce him to one of his favorite spells. Hell Fiarga. Cradling the little green orb in a leather clad glove, the auburn Commander continued his brisk, purposeful pace.

000X000

"There are going to be consequences, Commander Hewley, you do realize this, yes?" Tseng spoke quietly to the dark-haired First so as not to wake the sleeping SOLDIER in the big man's arms. Zack looked so peaceful and innocent in his sleep, utterly oblivious and untouched by the troubles and sings of the world he lived in. It was almost enough to tug at the Turk's heart when he thought of how pure the boy remained despite his experiences. Perpetual optimism was a gift…or a curse, depending on how one looked upon it.

"I know…I know…but the boy meant well. The prisoner was his friend…his best friend. He did not mean to do wrong." Angeal murmured, stoking his student's raven hair.

"Even if his intention was without malice, his actions or negligence led to the deaths of over fifteen people. Countless others are injured…some are so close to the edge, they likely will not live to the end of the week. Commander, you cannot excuse him from this case."

Cobalt eyes burned with emotion,"I understand. Tell the President…tell him that…" He could not find the words.

"This is only the beginning, you realize, yes?" Tseng said as he turned to leave the hospital room.

"Yes…" Angeal's throat felt raw.

The Wutainese Turk disappeared, leaving the two First's alone. Angeal fought back the need to shout and break things in his frustration. Damn ShinRa. Zack could be arrested…or worse, executed! All for trying to help a friend. True, that friend then turned around and tried to kill the puppy, but the kid was only trying to escape.

"I have to help them…both. If it means leaving ShinRa, I will. For Zack…for Cloud…I won't let them suffer anymore." Angeal muttered. He needed a plan. A chance. He needed the Ghost to trust him and for Zack to get back to full health. "Despite his crimes, Cloud does not deserve abuse at Sephiroth's hands."

How was he going to fix this mess?

A/N: (Looking for action? Next chapter! Seriously. The drama needs some fighting and stuff to break up all the angst and stuff…Review please!)