Disclaimer: I do NOT own Final Fantasy 7…If I did though, I'd keep Kadaj in my closet, Cloud under my bed, and Zack wherever he'd be in easy reach.  Although, Akira, Kisuke, Sasuke, etc. are my creations

A/N: Chapter Eleven done! What was with Angeal you ask? Time to find out! Happy reading!

Chapter Eleven: A Tragic Loss A Change of Heart

"There's someone waiting for you, isn't there?" Angeal asked, advancing toward Zack.

"Angeal, you're not serious are you?" Zack questioned, reaching for his sword.

The two's sword locked in a fury of sparks. Akira yelped, still restrained by Cloud. The door opened and Hollander appeared at the opening.

"Good Angeal," Hollander said as he entered. "Now is the time for our child to take his revenge."

"Our child?" Zack asked, turning to Angeal.

"Shut up! My father is dead!" Angeal shouted.

Angeal angrily pushed Zack away. Akira caught him before he fell and the three stood to watch.

"Then, take your revenge on your mother's behalf," Hollander suggested.

"My mother was ashamed of her past and ended her own life!" Angeal cried.

"Ashamed? Unfortunately, you're mistaken. I would think she was very prideful of it. She even used her own name for the project code name. Project G, otherwise known as project Gillian," Hollander explained.

Angeal angrily grabbed Hollander by his shirt.

"Don't you dare speak my mother's name!" Angeal shouted.

Hollander grabbed Angeal's arm, but ignored the threat.

"Jenova cells were injected into that woman, Gillian," he said as he pushed Angeal's arm away. "Her cells were then directly injected into the fetus known as Genesis. But Genesis was a failure. I would never accept something like that."

Hollander looked up at Angeal.

"Although Angeal, you received her cells directly. You…are perfect," Hollander exclaimed.

Angeal punched Hollander as hard as he could, and walked back to Zack.

"Zack, I'm nothing more than a perfect, monster," Angeal muttered. "It is possible to inject my cells into other people…Bidirectional clones."

By know, Hollander had stood up and Akira and Cloud backed away.

"It means that you've received Jenova's power," Hollander added.

Angeal growled and focused his attention back on Zack.

"Zack, do you remember our promise? That we'd fight against anything that torments this world."

"Yeah, but you're wrong," Zack replied.

"I'll become the torment."

Zack ignored Angeal's words and Cloud and Akira watched in horror.

"Zack I'll show you."

Zack slowly turned to face Angeal.

"Stop! If you do that you can't turn back!" Zack cried.

Angeal rose his hand and called forth a pack of hungry monsters.

"Damnit! They're just cells!" Hollander shouted, running toward Angeal.

Angeal quickly threw Hollander out of the way. Akira shoved her way out of Cloud's arms and ran to help. The monster leapt toward them in a single bound. One landed right on top of Zack. He had his sword between himself and its teeth, his arms shivering.

"Akira! Now's your chance! Attack!" Zack shouted.

"I can't! It's too strong! Why can't you?" Akira shouted back, fighting another smaller monster.

"Remember last night, was I said I wanted to talk to you about training?" Zack asked over all the noise.

"So, what does that have to do with anything?"

"I lied! And it's been driving me crazy all this time! I can't even concentrate anymore! I was going to tell you…"

"Tell me what? If this is supposed to help just spit it out!"

"I was going to tell you that…I LOVE YOU!" he cried, he arms almost ready to give.

Akira slashed away the small monster and turned his way.

"I love you okay? I said it!"

Akira stared into space, not even noticing another monster heading her way. Zack pushed angrily against the monster and it flew back.

"Wow that feels better…" Zack sighed.

Zack glanced over to Akira and ran over to her. He slayed the monster with one quick move. He stood in front of Akira and tried to shake Akira out of her trace like state.

"You okay?" he asked.

Akira nodded.

"Sorry I sprung that on you. But it was making me go nuts!" Zack continued.

"That's alright…cause…I love you too," Akira hummed.

Zack pulled Akira into a hug and was about to kiss her when they noticed the monsters were beginning running at Angeal.

"Angeal!" Zack hollered.

Hollander stood up and quickly scurried away. All the monsters jumped onto Angeal and molded together. Zack, Akira, and Cloud put their arms in front of their faces to block their eyes from the bright light it was producing. One giant monster was left at the end. Zack uncovered his face first to stare at the monster. It lunged at Zack with its weapon, cutting his cheek.

"Zack!" Akira cried.

Zack turned to Akira with an angry scowl.

"Akira, Cloud, get back!" he shouted.

Cloud ran toward the door, taking Akira with him.

"Angeal! Where did your pride go!?" Zack asked in a yell.

Zack screamed in anguish and prepared to attack. Zack slashed continually at the monster that used to be his mentor, but nothing was having any effect. The monster swung a claw at Zack, knocking him back. Zack stood up and wiped blood away from his face. His head had obviously suffered a good blow. Blood was running down his face, and his hands from gripping his sword too hard. Zack ran toward Angeal with one last desperate move. Blue light flashed everywhere and Zack had to step back to stop from getting knocked down. Akira and Cloud could see it from outside and ran in. By the time they got inside, the monster vanished in a mass of feathers. Angeal was left on the floor, surrounded by the white that was once his wing and crimson blood. Akira let out an almost shocked whimper and ran toward Zack. But yet again, Cloud held her back.

"You did well Zack," Angeal gasped.

Zack sadly knelt down beside him. Angeal wearily lifted his sword.

"I'm counting on you for the rest."

Angeal nodded, telling Zack to take the sword. Zack struggled not to cry, and took the sword. Akira struggled just as hard not to run to his side.

"Never forget your pride," Angeal finished as he passed away.

Zack wept quietly and dropped the sword. He regained his composure as quickly as he could and stood up with the buster sword in his hand. He held it up close to his face, hearing Angeal's words in his head.

"Hold on to your dreams. If you want to be a hero, you have to hold onto your dreams…and also your pride," his voice echoed.

Zack let the sword fall and shuddered as it began to rain. Cloud finally let Akira go and she ran to Zack's side, putting a hand on his shoulder. He shifted, dropping Akira's hand from his shoulder and walked away. He went outside, followed by Cloud and Akira, but the chopper was gone. The three started to walk back to camp. Luckily, a group of SOLDIER sergeants crossed their path.

"Captain! What are you doing here! Is everything alright?" one of them asked.

"We need to get back to the Wutai base as quickly as possible. It's confidential." Cloud replied.

The sergeant looked back to the others and shrugged.

"This way. We have a chopper at base."

Cloud stayed close behind the group as Akira and Zack slowly plodded behind. Once at the base, the group started up the chopper and took it to themselves to see the three off. Zack sat in back with the other two this time, but he said nothing. He sat as close to the window as he could while Akira sat by Cloud on the other side. All three were wrapped in blankets, still shivering from the rain. A medical staff member was already looking at Zack's bloody wounds. At the base, Zack and Akira quietly packed their things, not saying a word to each other. Akira didn't want to make Zack feel any worse than he already did. The two met Cloud at the entrance and got into the chopper again to head back to Midgar. They went straight to Lazard to report. Zack went alone…

Lazard was behind his desk and Sephiroth was near the door. Lazard spun around in his chair.

"Congratulations. Started from today you are now a SOLDIER, First Class," Lazard exclaimed.

"That's weird. I don't feel one bit happy," Zack continued.

"I guess that makes sense. A lot has happened after all."

Sephiroth crossed his arms and stared glumly at the floor.

"Zack, I know this is a bit sudden but I have a favor to ask of you."

Zack looked back to Sephiroth.

"Planning on putting me on another mission?" Zack asked.

Sephiroth sighed and looked up to Zack's sad face.

"Sorry," Sephiroth muttered.

"It's fine," Zack replied.

"The company has decided Genesis and Angeal be assassinated," Lazard continued.

"You're asking me to do that when you already know Angeal's dead!?" Zack cried.

"I know. And the Shinra army will be taking care of the rest."

"Then I'll be?"

"They don't seem to trust you with it."

"That SOLDIER sense of camaraderie will dampen your decisions and…" started Sephiroth.

"That's a lame excuse," Zack interrupted.

"That why I will also be going."

"To kill him?"

Sephiroth grinned. Zack growled angrily and left.

Zack didn't know where else to go and ended up going to see Aerith at the bottom plate. Akira followed while Cloud stayed back to avoid being caught off campus. Akira had asked Zack about Aerith before and Zack said it was nothing to worry about. Even though he had liked her in the beginning, she had made it clear that they had more of a brother/sister relationship and there was no romance. She was always there for Zack to talk to when he needed it.

"Hey, Zack. If you were on the upper city, the sky must be really close, right?" Aerith asked, trying to sound cheery.

She stood up and kept talking.

"I'm a bit scared, but the flowers would be happy, right?"

She turned to Zack and sighed, seeing him crying and crouched down in longing. Akira was sitting next to him, trying to comfort him as best as she could. She sadly walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Akira continued to just sit and hold his hand. The two decided it was best to just let him cry.

In the following week or so at Shinra, Zack got no better. He had let his hair grow out quite long and a tuft of raven hair now hung in front of his face. And his new scar was still visible on his cheek. After the long reprieve, Zack finally got the strength to get back up and start work. He was promoted to first class and he should've been happy to get back on the job, but none of it seemed to matter anymore. It had been about nine months since Akira's group of cadets had arrived and the new recruits were just arriving. He walked along the long row of cadets, hands positioned behind their backs. He stopped at Cloud and Akira, who were standing facing the new additions to SOLDIER, and put a hand on Cloud's shoulder.

"Are all SOLDIERs present?" he asked.

"Yes sir!" all the cadets said in unison.

"You're all new recruits, right?" Zack asked the SOLDIERs in front of him.

"Yes sir! It's a pleasure to be working with you!" they all said.

Akira chuckled from the row of second years behind Zack. All first years were the same. Zack grinned and looked back to them quickly. Even though Cloud and Akira were not quite to their second year, he had convinced Shinra to promote them after the mission to Wutai. The only drawback was that their individual SOLDIER exams were moved to 5 months from now instead of 12. And their mako injections were moved to this coming weekend. It was Thursday afternoon…

"I only have one word of advice…Actually, this is an order…"

Zack pulled out the buster sword and continued with the order.

"Never lose your dreams. Also, no matter the situation, never let go of your pride as a SOLDIER. Got it?" Zack finished.

"Yes sir!" all the new recruits said with a nod.

"Make sure you all make it back here. Move out." Zack added.

The SOLDIER all moved out in a single line, heading to wherever their mission was. Akira, Zack and Cloud left to the main Shinra building for their individual orders.

"You two are going to stay here," Zack started.

"What? Why can't we come?" Akira asked.

"Both of your mako injections are scheduled for Saturday at dawn. I don't want you rushing to get back here in the middle of the mission."

Akira crossed her arms and huffed.

"Fine…But what'll we do tomorrow?" Akira asked.

Cloud looked up, wanting to know as well.

"I'll be taking care of that," said Sephiroth as he passed by them in the hallway.

"General?" Cloud questioned.

"You are second year cadets now, thanks to your captain. But you both agreed to go through special schooling for your situation, did you not?"

"Yes sir. They told us we'd have trained mentors to teach us so we'd have time to go on our missions," Akira replied.

"Well guys, say hello to your current mentor," Zack said.

"General Sephiroth is going to teach us!?" Cloud stuttered.

"For the time being," Sephiroth began. "I expect you to be at the VR training site at 3. We'll be there until late evening so come prepared."

Sephiroth left, leaving Cloud and Akira with their mouths agape.

"What!? Three o' clock!? In the morning!" Akira cried.

"Sephiroth doesn't like wasting time. He probably plans on getting a lot done with you two. I'm heading off now. Make sure you're not late tomorrow morning," Zack finished, also leaving.

"Zack!" Akira hollered.

Zack turned around and cocked a brow.

"Don't worry. It's a first year mission. I'm just a chaperone," he explained.

"Alright…but Zack, aren't you forgetting something?" she asked smugly.

"Right…"

Zack walked back to the two and gave Akira a heartwarming good-bye kiss. Cloud smiled with a chuckle. Zack turned back and began to leave.

"Love you babe! See you in a few days!" he added as he left.

Akira frowned as she watched Zack disappear down the hall.

"Hey Cloud? Do you mind if we go see how Kisuke is doing? I haven't seen him in a while," Akira asked.

"Sure," Cloud replied.

Akira and Cloud began to walk through the building to get to the barracks, not wanting to go outside. It was snow season and it was pretty cold. While talking to Akira, Cloud accidentally bumped into someone. Akira was standing face to face with a familiar red-head. She wanted to lunge at the man and pummel him, knowing he was the one who sent her here in the first place…Reno, one of Rufus' Turks.

"Long time no see Strife," was the first thing he said.

"Hey Reno," Cloud said somewhat angrily.

"Aww, you got a girlfriend," Reno said mockingly, wrapping an arm around Cloud's shoulder.

"Back off Reno!" Cloud growled, pushing him away.

"I'm hurt," Reno whimpered.

"I'm busy. Go away."

"Fine. Catch you on the flip side sweet cheeks."

Reno continued on his way with a small wave.

"Sweet cheeks?" Akira questioned, watching the Turk stride down the hallway.

"That guy's been on my case ever since I met him when you went to the bottom plate with Zack."

"Reno…The same asshole as he is in the future…" Akira growled to herself.

End of Chapter Eleven

A/N: Hmm, nothing much too say about this one except I finally got the "I love you out". So now we can start having some fun! Review if you wish!