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I'm sorry for any mistakes.

CHAPTER 26: Rukia's Devotion

SOLDIER DIRECTOR'S OFFICE

"What have you found out about Rukia?" Sephiroth asked automatically as soon as Zack entered the office.

Zack stopped before Sephiroth. "She was seen in the slums. And Sephiroth, Rukia is an Ancient"

Sephiroth was shocked. "An Ancient?" That would explain why Hollander had experimented on her. It could also explain her desertion. He looked at Zack. "How did you learn something like that?"

"I.... I have a friend who is an Ancient" he told Sephiroth. "Her name is Aerith. She is the one who saw Rukia. And she is Rukia's older sister"

"Sister?" Sephiroth said. Zack nodded. "She never mentioned any family" He frowned. "In fact, she told me she didn't know any of them"

"That's because it was the truth" a woman said. Sephiroth and Zack looked to the entrance and saw Rukia. "At the time anyway" She glanced behind her at the door, and then looked back at them. "You should really lock the door if you're having a meeting"

Zack gaped at her. "Rukia! That's... a new outfit" Sephiroth punched him hard in the arm. "OH!" He rubbed his arm.

Rukia folded her arms across her chest and walked further into the room. "My last mission in Modeoheim, I found some of Hollander's files. They said I was an Ancient, one of the only two left in the world, and that the other..." She looked at Zack. ".. was my sister, Aerith. And... I have wings too, just like Angeal" She glared at him. "Do you want to see them?"

Zack put his hand on his sword hilt. "So are you betraying us, or not?"

Rukia looked at him fearlessly without going for her sword. "You Zack, this world... Shinra, they are nothing to me. Not anymore. My desire? Is to obliterate this planet. Just as my people, the true Ancients, always planned"

Zack unsheathed his sword and moved to charge her. But Sephiroth caught him to stop him. "Rukia...." Sephiroth started to say.

"But I won't" she cut him off. She snorted. "Make no mistake, my loyalty to Shinra is gone. However...." She looked at Sephiroth. "My loyalty to you, Sephiroth, still stands" Sephiroth released Zack and looked at her in shock. She walked over to him and gave him a look of devotion. "I will continue to fight by your side and protect you, but I am no longer working for Shinra"

Sephiroth gave her a nod. "Thank you, Rukia"

She returned his nod. "Something you should know: Genesis is alive"

Sephiroth gaped at her. "You know that for certain?"

Rukia nodded. "He taught me to fly. I'm not sure why he bothered. By the way...." She frowned in distrust. "He has something planned for you, Sephiroth. But I don't know what. Something to do with a project he called the 'Jenova Project'" Sephiroth's face lost all expression. She frowned. "You know what he was talking about?"

Sephiroth shook his head slowly, distracted. Then he snapped back into focus. He looked at Zack. "On to our current mission, Zack. Legions of monsters have spawned near a regional mako reactor. The workers have all gone missing. Local SOLDIER operatives have also vanished"

Rukia leaned against a desk beside Sephiroth and closed her eyes. "They're probably dead" she said emotionlessly. "You should forget about them" Both Sephiroth and Zack gave her a look.

Sephiroth continued. "The company is dispatching additional operatives to investigate the matter" He looked at Zack. "You and I, Zack"

Zack turned away in irritation. "Roger that"

Sephiroth frowned at him. "What's wrong?" he asked with genuine concern.

Rukia opened her eyes and looked at Sephiroth. "Why do you care?" Sephiroth glanced at her.

Zack ignored her. "I thought you found something out about... that other matter" he told Sephiroth.

Sephiroth gave Zack a penetrating look. "The missing operatives were the ones tracking Lazard"

Rukia frowned and looked down. "Lazard is no longer whole"she quoted. "And Angeal has partly returned"

Zack lost it when he heard Angeal's name. "Rukia, what the fuck are you talking about?!" Sephiroth gaped at Zack's language.

Rukia shrugged, ignoring his mood. "It was something Genesis said. I still don't know what it meant"

Sephiroth changed the subject back to the mission. "The missing operatives also reported that a strange pod-like device is in the area"

Zack gasped. "Is it... Hollander's?"

Rukia glared at the scientist's name. "It's probably the same device that was stolen in Modeoheim"

Zack looked at her. "Meaning...."

"Hollander...." she responded.

"... and Genesis?" Sephiroth put in.

"What about Lazard?" Zack asked.

Sephiroth crossed his arms over his chest. "We'll have to go see them"

Rukia was confused. "Who?"

Zack rolled his eyes, getting a headache. "Can we just go already?"

Sephiroth looked at Rukia. "Rukia, will you help?"

She bowed her head to him. "If that is what you wish"

Sephiroth nodded. Then he looked at Zack. "Go to the SOLDIER floor. We'll depart as soon as you and the rest of the men are ready to go"

Zack nodded. "Understood"

Zack started to run off but Sephiroth stopped him, saying, "Our orders are to investigate the reactor. They do not mention any..." Sephiroth closed his eyes and put his head down. "... old friends"

Rukia shook her head. "Shinra only cares about their image. "They used Angeal, they used Genesis... and they used me. Angeal and Genesis learned the truth, just as I did. That's why they deserted"

Sephiroth looked at her. "Rukia, do you remember your promise?"

Rukia's expression softened. "Yes. I will still honor it. For you, I will do anything"

A/N: I'll Update As Soon As Possible. Please review!