Title: Love is a Virtue; Jealousy, a Vice.

Pairings: Squall/Cloud unrequited Zax/Cloud and Reno/Cloud

Summary: Cloud has always had an antisocial streak, preferring to stick to groups of people he knows he can trust. However, when he goes away to an elite prep school for the summer he finds it difficult to maintain that streak, especially when he finds himself in the company of his rival school.

Side note: Aha, thanksgiving was terrible for me, but in exchange for not finishing LVJV by that time, here is an extra-long chapter. And I'm sorry Nachan for missing your birthday. The extra thousand words, mostly cute scenes with Zax and Cloud, will hopefully make up for it…and the shirts drabble that I owe you. Although, I can't remember for the life of me which organization members I was slashing; you'll have to tell me later after we write our letter to the president.

Warnings: Pg-13, Slight cursing and naughty thoughts about an oblivious blond. This is shonen-ai, but may be bumped up in later chapters.

Chapter Thirteen: Impatience is a Vice

Cloud had been more than a little angry with him. So Reno hadn't known all the details and refused to believe the blond at first. Now he did, didn't that at least count for something?

"Oh come on, Cloud." Reno threw some more clothes from his duffle in the closest. "How was I supposed to know?"

"It's called trusting me," the blond said from the bed. Staring over his English text, Cloud watched Reno throw the contents of the duffle around. Didn't Reno know that was going to make everything wrinkle?

"I'm telling you though, Cloud. You just can't trust them." Nodding to himself, Reno went on, "You should have heard the stuff that guy said. Total disregard to your feelings…"

"But that doesn't sound like something Irvine would say…" He glanced thoughtfully from the book to his roommate. Irvine's so nice; why would he have ulterior motives? Squall too…although I still can't believe he did that"They were really nice to me."

Shoving the last article of clothing on top of the pile in the closet, Reno shut the door. "I'm telling you, just because some guys decided to be friendly one night and show you the way back here doesn't mean that they are all around nice guys."

Cloud could feel the bottom of the bed dip with Reno's weight. "I know, I know. Doesn't everyone get the 'don't talk to strangers speech' at least once in their life?"

Leaning over Cloud, Reno smacked the blond's head. "Yeah, but apparently it didn't through that thick skull of yours."

That had hurt, damn it. Rubbing at the spot, Cloud gave his best pout. "I'm still angry at you for not believing me."

The redhead laughed. "Yeah, but you'll get over that…we'll just have to spend some more quality time together. You know, the usual stuff…" Looking at the blond who was still glaring, Reno poked Cloud's leg. "We can read those girlie mags your friend sent."

Speaking of Yuffie… "I still can't believe that Mr. Vermeule took my cell away."

Shaking his head in annoyance, Reno chided Cloud. "You shouldn't have had it on."

"I know, I know, but what if it was an important call?"

"I think you have more things to worry about than your sad attempt at a social life." The redhead said, grin in his face. However, the grin faded when Cloud turned his head away from the comment. Turning serious, Reno made a suggestion, "Zax still doesn't know the whole situation, and knowing him, he's probably moping to Sephiroth right now."

Cloud's form seemed to draw in more. "Well, what should I do about it? He won't listen-"

Shushing him, Reno's face came alive again. "This time you'll have me to beat some sense into him. That idiot's skull is as thick as yours."

"And this is coming from the man that believed a stranger over his friend…"

The building was crowded like always. Reno was the only thing that kept Cloud from being shoved into the nearest wall by the larger Second and Third years.

"I can't believe how rude some people are." Cloud was using Reno now as a human shield as they made their way to the elevator.

"Get used to it." The redhead pressed the button for Zax's floor. The elevator only contained the two; the occupants of the building were only using it to go downstairs and not up.

The doors closed and Cloud had to steady himself as the inertia caused him to lose balance. They opened again after the light for the fifth floor came on.

Reno needed to warn Cloud first about Sephiroth. The silver-haired man was becoming grouchier each passing day. "Sephiroth kind of got fed up with me earlier today, so just don't tick him off."

Giving the redhead a wry grin, Cloud felt like telling Reno that he should be the one worried about Sephiroth…

"Zax, it's me," Reno banged on the door, "and you'll never guess who the hell I met."

"Go away, Reno." The response was muffled, but at least Zax had responded.

"Blondie's here with me and I think-"

"I don't want to talk to him."

Reno sighed and gave an apologetic look to Cloud. The poor kid looked like someone had died. Trying again, "Listen, at least talk to the kid-"

"What for? And I thought you were angry with him too."

But that was before I found out that those stupid Garden Bastards were leading him on, Reno wanted to yell. Refraining from saying anything even more hurtful in Cloud's presence, Reno prepared to take another stand.

That is until the door opened and Sephiroth gave Zax the same treatment he had given Reno.

Nearly jumping on the raven haired man, Reno made Zax's attempts to get back in the room futile.

The door closed in Zax's face and the man stopped struggling choosing instead to curse Reno out.

Taking the initiative, Cloud stepped forward. "Zax, it wasn't what-"

Zax cut the blond off while simultaneously pushing Reno away. "You could have just told us about it."

"Listen," Reno backed away toward Cloud, hands up in a pacifying gesture, "it really wasn't what we thought it was."

The violet of Zax's eyes seemed to make the glare he was directing in Reno and Cloud's direction even more ferocious. "Than what the hell was it then?"

Before Reno could even think about how to explain, Cloud had beaten him to the chase.

"It's true, I was hanging around with Garden students, but not in the way you thought I was. I, well I met and..." the kid stumbled over his words and Reno decided that now was as good a time as any to apply his knowledge on the matter.

"In truth, they helped him get home one night-"

"You're really expecting me to believe that. I'm-"

"Stop interrupting me, damn it." Reno snapped, making Zax look slightly taken aback. "And they tried using him for making a friend get over his girlfriend."

"I'll say it again: you really expect me to believe that?"

Cloud could only watch the intense argument between the two boys he had come to think of as friends. He was unused to having other people fighting in front of him, the only time he could remember someone doing so was when Yuffie had decided to debate with Vincent on whether or not the man was a vampire. The results of the fight had not been pretty.

Reno was practically growling at Zax now, "I was just as mad at Cloud as you are right now until I met one of those bastards and he actually confessed, and yes, I did say confess," Reno added when Zax shot him a look of disbelief, "to what their intentions were."

Zax was still looking doubtful, so Reno decided to elaborate more. "This guy, I think his name was Irvine, actually came up to the school to talk to Cloud. He admitted how he and his girl had used Cloud."

Cloud nodded reluctantly in agreement. Irvine and everyone had been so nice… "I don't understand why, though. Irvine and Squall were nice."

Giving himself a moment to think, Zax ran a hand through his hair. The whole situation was confusing. He wanted to believe Reno, but he wanted to believe Cloud even more. He had grown attached to the kid. He was still apprehensive. Looking towards Cloud, he said in a calm and serious voice, "You're telling me the truth…right?"

"Yes," Cloud said instantly, hope making his eyes light up that Zax would forgive him, "I swear that I am."

Zax nodded. "Good," he said, "I believe you. But Reno," Zax said, calling the redheads attention to him.

"Yeah, Zax?"

"We're so kicking Garden Prep's ass a week from Sunday."

The redhead grinned, throwing an arm around Cloud and dragging him closer. "I wouldn't have it any other way…we need to get them back good for what they did."

Early the next morning, Cloud woke to Zax shaking him. "Another minute," he yawned, "the alarm thingie on my cell hasn't gone off yet."

Stopping his shaking, Zax instead resorted to thwacking Cloud not too gently on an exposed shoulder. "Incase you've forgotten, your cell phone was taken away by a teacher."

"Stop annoying the kid and let him sleep."

"But it's nearly nine; do you know how cold that water's going to be?" Zax asked while pouting in the general direction of the blanket covered lump known as Reno.

"Arg," the redhead rolled out of the cloth cocoon and landed on the blankets where Zax had slept. "I swear, Taylor, if we're frozen to the bone because you failed to wake us up, so help me…"

"Aw shit, I forgot- hey, what was that for?" Cloud sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he did so.

"Stop abusing him, Zax."

"But he cursed-"

"He's been doing that a lot lately; let him be."

"It's bad," Zax stopped mid argument, noticing the smile on Cloud's face. "What are you smiling about?" he asked. "I certainly don't find it funny."

"Oh, nothing," Cloud threw off the warm covers with a grimace which soon was replaced with a softer smile, "but I really don't want to be late and," Zax watched as Cloud let out a large yawn, "miss all the hot water."

Affectionately ruffling the blond's spikes, Zax smiled back when Cloud swatted his hand away. I have to wonder: how many times did you smile for them? Zax chewed on the inside of his cheek thoughtfully before falling in step with Cloud and Reno to the showers.

And so, Friday passed quickly and everything began to return to some semblance of normal…began being the key word, though; Reno's suggestion that they forgo a trip to Traverse Town in favor of staying in was unusual, but given the past situation, totally understandable. Cloud agreed readily; he didn't want any confrontations happening anytime soon.

Not to forget, it was still awkward being around Reno and Zax after the idea that they would hate him forever had been etched into his being for about a week. It felt like that feeling would never go away, but Cloud was happier, though, compared to how he'd been over the past days. Being happy, however, didn't stop something inside of Cloud on Monday evening from sighing in relief when he realized that he had detention to go to. Zax, Reno, and that awkward feeling could be forgotten during whatever monotonous chore Mr. Vermeule would assign.

No students were wondering the hallways when Cloud walked down to his Psychology classroom; any sane student would be in their dorm, doing homework or getting ready for sleep.

"Mr. Vermeule?" Cloud knocked twice, pushing open the wooden door when the teacher answered.

The desk lamp had been turned on even though there was still some daylight streaming in through the large, dusty windows. Mr. Vermeule seemed to be having a difficult time reading whatever his nose was pressed to and after making an unsatisfied sound, the teacher put the document in a folder and held it out to Cloud.

Blinking, Cloud stepped forward, hesitant in taking the folder.

"There is a copy-room by room two-hundred. Drop this off there. In that room, there is also a corkboard; you are to bring me the envelope tacked to the bottom-left corner. That is all." Mr. Vermeule pushed the folder into Cloud's hands before waving them in a dismissive gesture.

Cloud didn't leave right away as the teacher had expected him to.

"Normally, Mr. Strife, students are overjoyed when I give them relatively easy tasks for detention. If you are not standing there to express your great enthusiasm for it, I'd prefer if you'd leave. Goodbye."

"Sorry, sir, but I wanted to know when I could have my cell phone back." Cloud's fingers were clutching onto the folder, causing the manila colored paper to wrinkle.

"And you will get it back when you can follow directions; for instance, the school's handbook where it says that no cell phones are to be on during class. My directions as well, if you want to be technical about it."

"But, sir-"

"Didn't I just tell you to go, Mr. Strife? You will meet me here tomorrow for another after school detention."

Hearing this, Cloud didn't protest for fear of more detentions, and left the room.

Room two-hundred was easy to find; the copy room wasn't. It wasn't until Cloud heard the 'whish, whish, whish,' of something being copied that he knew what room to go in.

Entering the room, Cloud was surprised to find the man he had met on his first detention there.

Rufus's green eyes flicked from the papers he was copying to the blond in the doorway and then to the papers. "May I help you?"

Cloud stepped into the room from the darkened hallway. The florescent lights were the only things keeping the small room lit, as there were no windows. "Mr. Vermeule asked me to drop this off here." Looking at the folder in his hands thoughtfully, he said, "Do you know where I can put this?"

The whir of the copy machine stopped just as Rufus turned to focus primarily on the envelope in Cloud's hands. A look of recognition passed over the sharp features. "I believe you could give that to me," just the briefest of pauses, "and I'm presuming he's asked you to pick up this as well?" the blond examined the corkboard before removing the envelope.

Cloud nodded his head, affirming that yes, he was asked to get that envelope.

"I've seen you before…" Rufus was staring at him curiously.

Was he that easy to forget? Cloud sighed internally. "Cloud Strife; you asked me to drop something off for you once."

"Ah, thought so." Rufus walked over to exchange the envelope with the folder, "take this then, like Mr. Vermeule asked. I believe, that if you were given permission to look, that you would find its contents most interesting."

Cloud was so confused. Why would he want to look at the contents of the envelope? Before he could voice it, Rufus had turned back to the copy machine.

"You are to go now, thank you." The copy machine started up again and Cloud was left speechless.

The absolute nerve of him…Cloud fumed as he walked back to Mr. Vermeule's room. As he neared the stairs to go down to the bottom floor, the blond thought about what Rufus had said. Why would he be curious about the envelope's contents?

Mr. Vermeule was not in the room when Cloud placed the envelope on the desk. Almost curiously, he picked up the envelope from where he had set it and examined it closely. The seal had already been broken…would it hurt just to-

No, he wasn't going to get in anymore trouble! With his choice firmly made, Cloud placed the envelope back where he first put it and left the classroom to meet Zax and Reno for dinner.

This cheek biting is becoming a bad habit, Zax thought as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. He was waiting with Reno for Cloud to come eat with them, but since they didn't know how long Mr. Vermeule would keep Cloud, they were prepared to wait for a while.

Reno leaned back in the flimsy plastic chair. "So…"

"So what?" Zax replied, resting his chin on his folded arms.

"What are we doing for Cloud's birthday?"

"Whatever we can get away with, I guess we should-" Zax lifted his head and looked intently behind the redhead sitting in front of him. Reno turned his head in the general direction Zax was looking.

"Looks like Cloud managed to get out of detention earlier than expected." The redhead waved to the blond who was getting closer to the table. "I guess I'll go get food. What do you feel like having tonight, Zax? Apples, carrot sticks, or some unidentified substance Shinra tries to pass off as a health shake?"

"What ever isn't trying to crawl away."

"Carrot sticks and apples it is." Reno walked to serving area, leaving Zax to wait for Cloud.

When the blond managed to reach the table, he sat down in Reno's seat and sighed. "Where did Reno go?" Cloud asked, looking around for his friend.

"Reno graciously volunteered to get the food. How was detention, Spike?"

"I played delivery boy again." Cloud muttered, resting his head on his arms.

"Again?" Zax asked curiously.

Cloud covered his mouth as he yawned. "First time I did detention with Reno some blond guy asked me to drop something off. Met him again tonight."

Three apples and several handfuls of carrot sticks on a white paper plate were placed on the table. "Okay, everyone dig in." Reno exclaimed cheerfully, taking one of the apples from the pile he made.
Cloud and Zax looked at the apples and the carrot sticks.

"Hey, do you think that girl of yours will send chocolate soon?" Zax asked hopefully.

Grimacing, Cloud grabbed an apple bit into it. "I hope so."

Reno took the seat between Zax and Cloud. "Seat stealer," he playfully said before turning to the subject of Cloud's detention. "How was it?" he asked sympathetically.

"Terrible," Cloud finished off the apple and moved to a carrot stick. Between bites, he explained what had happened. "…I hate how people can act so smug like that." Cloud finished, referring to, but not naming, the blond he had met in the copy room.

"It could be worse," Reno snatched the last carrot, earning a glare from Zax who had been about to get it, "you could have met Rufus."

Zax and Reno watched as Cloud's skin paled.

"Cloud," Reno's voice was serious, "was that Rufus that you met?"

Cloud nodded.

"Shit. Do you know who Rufus is, Cloud?" Reno whispered, trying to do his best not to yell instead.

"Some random guy who likes to order people around?"

"Wrong guess, kid. You met Rufus Shinra. His father owns this school." Zax shook his head, slightly frustrated. "What exactly did he say again?"

"That I would be interested in what ever was in the envelope he gave me…"

Zax and Reno exchanged worried glances, making Cloud even more nervous.

"I didn't look though." The blond amended quickly.

"Good," Zax and Reno said simultaneously.

A few silent seconds went by before Cloud decided to break the awkward moment. "I probably won't get my cell phone back for a while."

"You're cell phone is the least of your problems." Reno gathered up the plastic plate with the apple cores on it and passed it to Zax who only raised an eyebrow but still thoughtfully took it and got up to throw it out. "Rufus is known for causing all sorts of trouble and going against his father. Sometimes it's funny," Reno gave a thoughtful look, "well, okay, all of the time it's funny, but not for the poor guy Rufus manages to pin down with the blame."

"Not opening that envelope," Zax began as he returned, "was probably one of the smartest things you could have done, kid."

Zax words echoed in Cloud's head the next day after class. He had detention again. This was getting repetitive.

Cloud arrived promptly at Mr. Vermeule's classroom and stood outside. The teacher was sitting at his desk again. Cloud hoped that there wouldn't be a repeat of yesterday.

"Mr. Vermeule?" Cloud said, knocking before entering the room when the man waved him in.

"Take this and make ten copies of it, drop it off here, and leave."

Cloud took the proffered envelope, and damn, it was the same one that he had been told not to open. The blond nearly groaned at whatever hated him enough to do something like this. Taking the envelope, Cloud responded with a thank you and left the room.

Cloud could feel his heart clench as he neared the copy room. There was someone in there already, if the light streaming out of through the crack near the bottom of the door was any indication, and the blond had some idea of who that someone was.

Rufus Shinra was at the machine again, Cloud noticed as he entered the room. The blond barely paid any attention to Cloud, only giving him a glance before returning to his copying.

Clearing his throat, Cloud made a move to speak. "I need this copied."

"You didn't look at the contents, did you?" Rufus spoke, not even seeming to acknowledge what Cloud had said, or even letting Cloud respond to that statement. "Good."

Cloud didn't know who Rufus was directing that statement to, and some part of him told him he didn't want to know. Feeling the envelope snatched out of hands, Cloud watched as Rufus opened the envelope and scanned through the contents.

"Ten copies, I suppose."

"Uh, yeah. How did you know?"

"One for each examiner for testing day of course."

"Examiner?"

Rufus frowned and Cloud nearly berated himself for asking all these questions. "Were you paying attention at the beginning of summer? The opening speech goes over the preliminary testing before the fight between Shinra and Garden…" Noting Cloud wasn't recognizing anything he was talking about, Rufus just placed the envelope's paper content on the copier and pressed the copy button.

"We having testing?" Cloud asked, somewhat shocked by the information. Next time, if there ever was one, he was going to ignore any green-eyed redheads that tried to start up conversation.

Within fifteen seconds, the machine had stopped whirring and Rufus picked up the copies. "It would be in your best interest for you to realize that I made eleven copies…"

Cloud protested as Rufus nearly shoved the copies in his hands. "I really can't-"

"It's not a request…It would benefit those friends of yours if they saw this, and while your at it, try to get better informed about what goes around here." Rufus turned back to the copy machine.

"Why exactly are you helping Zax and Reno? How does this benefit you?" Cloud asked.

"Zax and Reno?" It was Rufus's turn to look confused. "I'm not talking about them," he said after a few seconds, "I'm talking about your other friends."

Cloud paled. "How-how did you…"

Rufus smirked as the blond before him stuttered. "Oh, don't worry," he said almost cruelly, "I actually find it amusing that one of them came up looking for you. He mistook me for you, apparently, when I was going to my rooms. Any aid that you provide Garden with will give them the advantage to win, and that's how I benefit."

"I still don't understand."

"Anything that causes my father grief is what I want. You should have seen him last year."

Growing slightly scared when Rufus laughed, the sound sending chills up his spine, Cloud left the room,

Heart racing, he ran down the stairs to the first floor, nearly tripping over the last few steps. He made it back to the classroom and threw the papers down on the desk. The room was empty like before and as Cloud caught his breath, he couldn't help but wonder about the eleventh copy. Rufus was mad, he was sure of it. That laugh was not one of a sane person.

Picking up the top copy, Cloud felt relief when he realized that he couldn't understand whatever was written on it. It was just a large mess of numbers. Feeling slightly guilty about going against Zax and Reno's advice, Cloud had to question himself. Did Mr. Vermeule know that he couldn't read what ever was on the page? Was that why he was given such a minimal and less demeaning task for detention?

Folding the eleventh copy, Cloud stuck it in his pocket. Chances were that Zax and Reno wouldn't be able to decipher the paper either, but if they could, any information that would aid Garden should do the same for Shinra as well.

"You did what?"

Cloud had gone back to his dorm room, finding Zax and Reno in the middle of playing a card game, and had told what had happened at detention.

Zax was pacing the room now. Reno was picking up the cards, trying at the same time to calm down, while Cloud sat on the edge of his bed and swung his legs back and forth.

"Rufus is planning something," Reno said, shoving the last of the cards back in the card box.

"He wants Garden to win," Zax mused, stopping in his tracks between Reno and Cloud, "and you took the extra copy…" Shaking his head, Zax covered his face with his right hand and groaned.

"I thought it would help…"

"It doesn't matter; if you couldn't understand it than what makes you think we could?" Zax shook his head again.

"Blondie was just trying to help." Reno threw in, trying to at least prevent Zax from going off on Cloud. The redhead didn't want to go through anymore apology episodes.

"Sorry, Zax," Cloud stopped swing his legs and brought them up instead. Sitting Indian style, he rested his elbows on his knees, letting his arms dangle. "It's just that, what with the extra copy and all, I thought that it would be better if I took it."

"Hey, let me see it for a moment."

Cloud took the folded piece of paper out of his pocket and tossed it to Reno.

Zax watched the exchange with a brief look of interest. "Well, Reno, anything?"

The redhead frowned. "Give me a pen."

Cloud reached over to his nightstand and grabbed a pen.

Reno caught the pen with ease when Cloud tossed it.

Watching Reno work was making Zax and Cloud curious.

"Can you actually understand that?" Cloud asked.

"I need a map now," Reno declared, standing up and stretching.

"What is it?"

"Longitude and latitude: a class that we've been exposed to during the regular school year, but Cloud hasn't." Reno grinned, "Right before we face Garden," the redhead directed to Cloud, "we go through what's called preliminary testing. People called Examiners take us into the woods a day before we use them for fighting in."

"Those are the locations of the traps then…" Zax filled in.

"Traps?"

Reno pocketed the map. "Yes, traps. They're a bitch to find. Our side has them, as well as Garden, and they're set up by the schools. We go in there to find as many as we can so we know how to use them and get used the woods; Garden does this, too, on Thursday. The whole testing thing happens when we come out and submit all the locations for the traps that we found."

Cloud rolled his eyes. "Why does everything around here have to be so complicated?"

Zax laughed and ruffled Cloud's hair. "You snatching that copy is actually going to make things less complicated when Friday rolls around."

The two days left before the preliminary testing were spent going over maps of the woods and Reno was sure that he had memorized all of the traps' locations.

The Garden students had left their marks; Cloud noticed large slashes on some of the trees as he entered the woods with Zax and Reno.

Axel waving cheerfully at him was the last thing Cloud saw before the woods grew too dense to see the school. The blond wanted to know who made the call to allow the fire loving redhead to be an Examiner.

Demyx, Axel's friend, was just as scary. The guy had explained the rules to the large group of students before they were to be released in to the woods, and his hyper attitude made Cloud flinch; no one should be that energetic at six in the morning.

Zax, Reno, and Cloud were of the few students that had stayed together; most preferred to beat others to the traps' locations and go by themselves. Sephiroth was a prime example. Zax had tried to get him to stay, but the man had just walked off, clearly expressing his desire to work by himself.

"The closest one is that way." Reno pointed north, the general direction where Zax had taken him for that humiliating hand to hand lesson.

"That way then," Zax followed Reno, Cloud in tow, until they had reached the clearing.

"It should be around here…" Reno frowned. This was going to be more difficult than anticipated; there were a lot of spots where things could be easily camouflaged.

Zax took up the position of leader easily. "I'll look over there, Cloud can go there, and Reno…try over there," he commanded.

They broke apart and began examining the area. Cloud didn't know what he was looking for; he kicked the underbrush he was near in frustration.

After a few minutes of rustling around, Cloud ran a hand through his hair and looked at the others to see how they were doing. "I don't think we're in the right area." He called out.

"I agree. We'll have to pick this whole area apart together than breaking off small areas to search." Zax motioned for Reno and Cloud to join him in the middle of the clearing.

Cloud yelped as he tripped and went down face first. His face smashed into the ground and he let out a painful moan, rolling over and clutching his nose.

Reno reached him first, eyeing the clear wire that had caused Cloud to fall. "You okay?"

"I think I broke my nose…" Cloud rubbed at the area, trying to get the blood to circulate.

Kneeling next to him, Zax removed Cloud's hand. "It isn't broken; however, it's going to bruise."

"Look on the bright side, Cloud. You found the first trap."

Zax glared at Reno as Cloud groaned.

"How many more of these do we have left?"

"Only about forty-nine more," Reno shrugged, "but if Cloud can find them as easily as he found this one, we shouldn't be in the forest long."

They had spent over twelve hours finding as many traps as they could before they were called out by the Examiners. Axel had been nice enough to get Cloud ice, fawning over the blond and comparing him to Roxas as he did so. Reno and Zax gave the embarrassed blond looks of utter confusion as Axel compared how when Cloud blushed, he turned the same shade of red that Roxas did.

Cloud hoped he never, ever had to explain how he knew Axel to Zax and Reno, as he glared at them when they tried to ask. This only caused Axel to go off on another tangent about Roxas's expressive eyes. Nearly sighing in relief when Demyx handed him the form to fill out at the end of preliminary testing, Cloud embraced the distraction and set to work.

"Guess what day it is?"

Cloud opened his eyes when he felt the edge of his bed dip with Zax's weight. "Do you have any idea what it's like trying to sleep but someone keeps talking?"

Reno groaned from across the room, agreeing with Cloud.

"But today's special!" Zax whined, causing the blond to pull up the covers more.

Cloud peeked out from beneath his comforter and studied the lack of daylight coming through his window. "It's too early, Zax."

"It's only five though."

Reno threw his pillow at Zax, missed, and hit Cloud instead. The blond made a noise of protest which Zax found adorable. "Anyway, for Cloud's birthday, I vote that we shower early, and go to my dorm for a three-man party…or four, if Sephiroth is up to joining us."

"You're fucking crazy…" Reno said.

"Okay, you win then," Zax put up his hands in a mock surrender, "I guess I didn't have to wake up at three this morning, down two cups of coffee, and go out and buy all that chocolate at the pharmacy…"

Cloud and Reno were out of bed at the mention of chocolate, and after taking showers, found themselves in Zax's room with a chocolate bar in each hand.

"Thanks, Zax, you didn't have to do this." Cloud bit into his bar. He loved dark chocolate.

"Like hell he did." Reno was reaching for another bar now.

Zax laughed it off. "It really was no problem. Besides, tomorrow is your last day here."

Sephiroth watched the three from his bed. His roommate always did grow too attached to having people around. Munching on his own bar of chocolate, the silver-haired man turned to the next page of his book. "You should really worry about surviving today, instead of leaving tomorrow."

Much like yesterday, the student population of Shinra gathered on their side of the forest; Garden students were on the other side closest to the town, waiting for that one signal where everything would begin.

Cloud was currently holding the standard issued, modified paint gun given to all first year students. The silver dye in the paint was permanent on clothes, took about three days to wash off skin, and the longer it remained on clothes or skin, the darker the dye turned.. He was nervous, and the only thing that kept him from feeling badly about it was that Reno was shaking next to him too. Zax was the only one near the blond that seemed calm.

The morning sunlight glinted off the dull edges of the long sword Zax was carrying. The handle of the sword held the same dye as Cloud's gun; any impact on the blade would cause dye to bleed out through those dulled edges and stain.

Zax gave Cloud his best smile, hoping it was enough to put a bit of confidence in him. Cloud forced a smile back before focusing on one of the Examiners from yesterday.

Auron, the Examiner, went over the rules. After concluding his speech with how long they would stay in the forest, a total of twelve hours, he called another Examiner over. The dark-haired woman nodded her head and pointed in the direction of the forest. "Go," she said.

Almost at once, the forest was rushed by eager students. Cloud followed Zax and Reno into the woods. Before he hit the tree line, though, he stopped. Was this really so dangerous that Shinra would have its doctors on call? Before Cloud could wonder more about the situation, Zax had grabbed his hand and the blond allowed himself to be pulled along.

Two hours later, it was now twelve. Cloud could feel the sweat dripping on his brow as he waited with Reno. The ambush they had set up was clever. While they stayed hidden, Zax was running around and leading Garden students to them. A few shots from both of the modified guns were usually enough to send the unsuspecting person back to their side to retire. However, Zax was taking longer than usual.

Reno checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. "Zax is late…"

Moving his arm and trying to get some sensation back in it, Cloud asked the time.

"Quarter past noon…"

"What do you suggest we do about it, Reno?" Cloud winced as the sensation of pins and needles went up and down his arms.

"Think you can stay here for a bit?"

"You're going to leave me?"

"I'll be right back; just stay here, alright." Crawling out of the brush, Reno rubbed at his knees. Kneeling like that for over an hour was making his joints hurt.

Cloud was not happy when he watched Reno leave; he was in a forest, in who knows what location and the only person with a watch had just left. Crawling deeper into the bush, Cloud hoped he was hidden well enough and sighed. Closing his eyes, he yawned. Zax had woken him up far too early.

With a startled gasp, Cloud woke up to the sounds of frantic shuffling. Steadying his gun, the first thing he noticed was that it was dark out. Cursing under his breath at Reno, he aimed the gun in the person's direction and pulled the trigger.

The person let out a cry. Hearing whoever it was start sobbing, Cloud cautiously came out of the brush. The person he found wasn't who he had been expecting, and he hadn't expected that hug either.

"Yuffie?" He held the girl to him as she started to cry.

"Cloudy," she sniffled as she began to calm down, "why the hell aren't you answering your cell?"

Side notes:

No notes are very good notes.

Next chapter, we find out why Yuffie's all the way in Traverse Town and the conclusion to LVJV, finally. Squall enters the scene, as well as Irvine, and Cloud becomes acquainted with a tree.