FINAL FANTASY VII – MUSCLE DECLARE

CLOUD woke up and looked at the calendar. Usually Zack would write something on there. There were days that he had work and some days he didn't. A smile came to Cloud's face. He wasn't going to work. He then ran back into the small room with Zack spread out on the futon, snoring.

"Dad!" Cloud yelled. "Dad! Guess what! Guess what! You're not going to work today!"

Zack only snored loudly.

"Dad!" Cloud continued. "No work! That means you and me! You and me!"

Zack still didn't move. Cloud grew angry. He came near the blanket to the middle of Zack's legs. He then took a mighty jump.

……………………………

"Sorry, Dad. I thought it would wake you up." Cloud said.

Zack didn't say anything. His voice sounded hoarse as it had a faint squeak in the back. He opened his mouth.

"Hey, it's alright. It worked, didn't it?" He asked. "Just, never… and I mean never… do that again, okay? Especially when you got shoes." He moaned in pain.

Cloud only laughed nervously.

"Yes, Dad. Never again especially when I got shoes."

Zack removed the ice pack and got up slowly. His stance had a small shake every once in a while. Cloud felt ashamed. He caused Zack pain. He sighed. Zack looked back and gave Cloud a small pat on his head.

"Hey, don't you worry." Zack said. "Sorry for the loud snore, I didn't go to bed till midnight and all so… well… just sorry."

Cloud nodded.

"Heard you screaming that I don't have to go to work. Well… you're right there, kiddo. I don't. So you know what that means, don't ya?"

Cloud smiled.

"It means you and me get to spend time together!"

Zack nodded.

"That's right."

Zack stood up a little. The pain then came back again in the lower region. He grasped on and bent down as far as he could, trying to rid the pain. Cloud watched.

"You're not gonna be doing that ALL day, are you, Dad? Cause if you have to go to the bathroom, it's that room over there." He smiled.

Zack looked at him, his voice mildly high.

"Thanks, Cloud. I'll be sure to remember that."

After an hour, Zack and Cloud were finally outside. Zack had his sword on his back. Cloud watched as Zack swung the sword with the greatest of ease. He was amazed.

"Wow. Dad, how do you do that?"

Zack stopped swinging and put it back into place.

"It took me a long time." He said. "A very long time."

Cloud smiled.

"Dad. It might have taken you a long time but it's always different for everyone. Teach me. Please."

Zack sighed.

"I don't know, Cloud. You're kind of… you know… small?"

Cloud showed Zack his arms.

"I'm not small, Dad. Tifa says I got muscle."

Zack laughed.

"Yeah, in her dreams."

Cloud looked angry. Before he could say anything, the sword appeared in front of his face. Cloud blinked.

"You want to show her those muscles some time? If you want, you gotta get them first."

Cloud stared.

"You mean…"

Zack smiled.

"Yup. I'm going to train ya. By the time you know it, and God forbid, you're going to have Tifa's muscle dreams come true in no time."

Cloud smiled.

"So… I can hold it?"

"No."

Hello, reader. This little chapter here, I guess, starts to lead to Cloud's adulthood. It's been getting a little rough around the edges near this part but, it was fun typing, anyway. I hope that you've enjoyed the story so far and continue reading. I know that my chapters have been a little cut short here and there, I believe, but, hopefully, this still keeps ya interested. Thank you all for the reviews and comments.

-The craptastic Author: Shanyu Hitachi.