A Heart For My Nobody says:

Hey all! Twenty-five chapters! I'm still doing my best to keep the updates coming every four to six days for you. I haven't let a whole week pass so far.. at least I don't think that I have. Reviews have really gone down in number though. I have a lot of regular reviewers that I'd really like to thank for their diligence and their enjoyment of the story! You guys are great! And to everyone else, thank you so much for reading, and I'd love to hear from you too! Feedback is one of my favorite things (positive or negative), and it's my biggest form of motivation to keep writing. So, the more reviews I get, the less likely I am to get into a writing slump one of these days, y'know? And I'm still responding to every one of them that's not left anonymously (although I love those ones too). Anyway, thanks for listening! You guys are great for reading this far. I hope you continue to enjoy the chapters to come!

Zack

I'd almost lost my way. With Genesis showing up, and Sephiroth disappearing, and with all this talk of 'monsters' and being 'created', I'd almost forgotten what it meant to be a SOLDIER. Just as I felt like I was at the end of my rope, Cloud said something to me. It was something small, and to most people, unimportant, but to me it was so much more. He told me he hadn't ever seen me use my sword. That was something I'd said to Angeal a long time ago, and he responded by telling me that use brings about wear, tear, and rust. Angeal had always told me to hold onto my honor and my dreams, and when the day came that he grew a wing and was told that he was a monster, when he began to degrade, he gave that honor to me. He gave me the Buster Sword. Angeal's wing wasn't dark like Genesis', but a brilliant white. I never believed that was the wing of a monster, and I felt like even then, even when I'd struck him down myself, even when he'd been reported killed so long ago, he was still watching over me. He was guarding me, lending me help when I needed it. That wasn't the wing of a monster... it was the wing of an Angel.

SOLDIER wasn't just about fighting and doing what you were told. It wasn't about monsters, or about everyone turning on each other. It was about dreams, and honor. It didn't matter what course anyone else took. I would still hold onto my honor, I would still save people, and if I grew a wing too, I would use it for the good of others. Everything was a choice, and I wouldn't let myself get pulled down by a fate built from fear or anger. Everything was a choice, and I would choose freedom.

When I woke the next morning, I had a lot of energy. Hopefully, I thought, it would be enough for me to get myself to go find Sephiroth. I stood up from my bed and stretched. It looked like everyone else had gotten up and left, other than Cloud, who was sitting on his bed with a cell phone. He put the phone away when he noticed I was watching.

"Morning!" I said, giving him a wave. He smiled, but looked like he didn't get too much sleep. Getting nothing else out of him, I decided to do a few squats in the center of the room.

"Feeling better?" Cloud asked, watching me bob up and down. I stopped my exercise and rolled my shoulders.

"Loads better," I said, waking up to him. His eyes continued to follow me, then he smiled and looked away. "I'm gonna go into town," I continued. "Wanna join me?" He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees.

"Let me get a little more rest..." he said, and I shrugged.

"Alright, I'll meet you out there." I waved, jogging to the door of the room. I looked back when I heard him say something.

"Zack." H paused, looking like there was something on his mind. "I'll be down in a few minutes." I nodded at him with a smile, and ran out, keeping a fast pace even as I moved down the stairs. When I got to the bottom, I flipped open my own cell phone to see what time it was, and noticed that I'd gotten an email from Tifa the previous night. I cocked my head at the phone, taking a second to remember exactly when Tifa got my number, and then I opened the mail.

Subject: Is he all right? – From: Tifa

Is that guy all right? I'm a little worried, because it looked like he got hurt pretty bad. I'm glad

you were there. Thank you, Zack. I had heard of SOLDIER and how tough they are. I hope we

can talk a little bit more about SOLDIER one of these days, because there's something I want to

ask you.

I wondered why she didn't ask me what she wanted to in the email, but it didn't really matter. I figured I'd be seeing her soon enough. Just as I thought that, Tifa came running through the doors of the inn, and stopped in front of me.

"Sephiroth is apparently at Shinra Manor," she said, sparing no words. I thought for a second about where that was.

"That big mansion?" I asked, feeling a buzz come from my pocket where I'd just put my phone.

"Yes," She answered. "Shinra has owned it for a long time." She watched as I took out my phone and flipped it open. I supposed it was kind of a rude thing to do while we were talking, but I hadn't really thought about it at the time. I had another email, this time from Cloud. When I looked up to finish talking with Tifa, she was already gone, so I brought my attention back to the phone.

Subject: If you'd like... – From: Cloud

Hey, do you want to come over to my house? I want you to try Mom's cooking. The thing is, I

haven't been home yet since I've been here. I hadn't been able to make up my mind about it, but

I decided that I should show my face... but going home alone is a bit uncomfortable, so I was

hoping you could join me.

I smiled to myself. Cloud was finally gonna go home, and he wanted me to come with him. That was enough in itself to make me wish I didn't have anything else to do that day, but it seemed that a trip to the Shinra Manor was in order first. Stepping outside, I scanned the area for Tifa. She'd really disappeared on me. The only person I saw out there was the other infantryman we'd had with us. He took notice of me, saluted, and walked passed me into the inn, presumably to sleep off the effects from his night shift. I took a few steps into the center of town by the well, and my phone went off again. This time it was ringing. As soon as I flipped it open and put the speaker to my ear, I heard a sound from the other side.

"Hell-lloooo?" a girly voice said, almost mockingly. I stopped walking next to the well.

"Aerith?" I smiled, not expecting her voice. I hadn't received too many calls from her in the past.

"I finally got through!" She sounded happy. I felt bad, but I knew I'd have to cut that phone call short. I wanted to save all the happy things until after I'd gotten matters settled with Sephiroth.

"Yeah..." I said, pulling the phone away from my face to look at it. I wished I could see her on the other end. I really did miss her. Then I noticed Cloud stepping out of the inn, looking around the area for me, and I put the phone back to my ear. "Uh, listen..." I said, choosing my words. "Now's not the best time. I'll call you later."

"No, no," she replied, sounding disappointed, "you don't have to..."

"Okay," I said, only feeling worse. "I'll come visit." I waited a moment for her to respond.

"I'll be here."

"I'll see you," I assured her, trying to smile with my voice. "I promise."

"Goodbye, Zack," she said after a hum, and I clicked the phone shut with a sigh.

"Aerith," I said to myself, gripping my hand close to my chest. "Wait for me just a little while longer." Then I turned to Cloud. He was a distance away, but he'd spotted me. I smiled and jogged over.

"Tifa says that Sephiroth's in the mansion," I told him, and he nodded.

"Yeah, Dallert told me," he said, gesturing back at the inn. I thought I'd heard him say that name before. I guessed it was one of the other guys we'd had with us. "Shinra Manor is up the stairs straight ahead, then to the left." He gestured again. "Come with me!" He turned and ran ahead. I was surprised by his energy. He looked tired when I'd gotten up that morning. I ran after him and up the stairs. Soon, the large manor was looming before us. Despite being a mansion, the place looked like a dump. It apparently hadn't been cared for in a while. As we approached, Cloud slowed to a walk, and I had time to admire the spiderwebs on the window.

"Eerie..." I thought aloud, and Cloud said nothing, pushing open the doors. The inside was just as bad, if not worse. It was dimly lit, and everything was covered in dust or cobwebs. Cloud walked over to a set of stairs leading to the second level.

"Sephiroth apparently went to the second-floor room on the right." He turned to me, repeating what he'd been told.

"Right," I said as we walked up. The stairs creaked beneath my feet. I found it hard to believe that Shinra had owned a place like that. I wondered what it was used for. Cloud led me to the right, and through a few more rooms. They were decorated with little more than the bookcases that lined the walls. We came to a room with a strange wall made of bricks. It wasn't papered or painted, and there were little depressions that outlined what was probably a secret passage. Cloud stopped.

"Something's wrong with Sephiroth." He frowned, and I could tell he was worried. I was too. "The door to the underground passage was unlocked, and I think he went in, but..." He turned his eyes warily to the door.

"I'll go talk to him," I said, and as I walked, he moved to follow. "It's probably better if you stay here."

"Oh..." He stopped with a sigh, and I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry." I smiled and he looked up. "I'll be back soon."

With that, I opened the passage and stepped inside. It was even darker in there. It looked to be a tunnel carved into the earth, and it was lit only by lanterns. I wondered how long they'd been burning. A long spiral, wooden staircase took me deeper down into the passage. I went deeper still with a ladder I found down there. The whole place became a bit more damp, and I couldn't help but be reminded of a tomb. Then I saw the shadow of a creature running, startled, away from me.

"Monsters?" I said to myself, putting my hand to my sword, just in case. "What is this place?" Looking around, I saw a number of doors, but most of them were wooden and worn. The most direct and likely door for me to take was straight ahead at the end of the tunnel. It was a large and metal one, more protective then the rest. Easing my way there, I managed to make it to the door with only a hiss from one of the monsters nearby. I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind me.

Then I found myself in a room that looked nothing like the previous ones. The walls were made of a dull, gray brick instead of earth, and they were lined with many bookcases similar to the ones above. Pacing at the end of a long hall, I saw Sephiroth, book in hand, and as I approached, I could hear him reading aloud.

"A life form in a state of suspended animation, excavated from a two-thousand-year-old stratum," he said, not even looking up as I came close. "Professor Gast named this life form Jenova..." There was that name again. Jenova. It must have been a different person. I cocked my head as Sephiroth came closer to me and continued to read. "Date: X/X/XX – Jenova verified as an Ancient... Date: X/X/XX – Jenova Project approved. Mako Reactor 1 authorized for use..."

"Sephiroth?" I said, wondering if he'd even noticed me there. He turned around and paced the other direction, back down the hall.

"My mother's name, Jenova... The Jenova Project..." he continued, flipping another page in the book. "Could this be a coincidence...?" Then he let his arms drop, still holding the book in his hand, and turned his gaze up toward the ceiling. "Professor Gast... Why didn't you tell me?" He hung his head and I walked closer to him. "Why did you die...?"

"Hey..." I said, walking up next to him. He still hadn't returned to reading the book, nor had he acknowledged me. "Sephiroth, what's going on?"

"I would like to be alone," he said after a moment.

"It might help to talk about it," I pressed, but he said nothing. When the silence continued, I raised up my hand, considering another attempt, but I decided against it. "Okay," I said, stepping back. "Just know that I'll be around if you need someone to talk to." As I expected, he remained silent, so I turned and walked out.

I didn't understand what was going on. Sephiroth turned Genesis down, which was a good thing, but I'd never seen him act like this, ever. He was a man possessed, and something inside of me still worried that the worst was yet to come. Even if that was the case, however, I decided that I wouldn't let it get to me, and I'd take whatever was to come as it came. SOLDIER wouldn't be a den of monsters anymore. Not for me.