Whee!!!!  Sorry it's been so long since I reviewed!  Finals start this week…I am so not looking forward to the Calculus final…especially day one!  No Calculators!!!!  I'm gonna die….*sobs*  I also finally saw Nightwalker, so I'm on a Vampire trip right now…Ooh, Shido's so cute, so's Cain, in a creepy, posessive ex-lover sort of way…*drools*

Now what you all are really here for….Okay, this one does some jumping, clear from Midgar to Wutai, in fact!  I hope you all like this part as much as you liked the others!

*     *     *

Cloud awoke the next morning at his usual time.  About five minutes before he was supposed to.  He quickly stripped out of his jumpsuit, and hastily spread some of his mother's cream on the worst of his bruises.  Like 'Zack's Revenge'.  Ooh, that one hurt a whole lot this morning.  After he put on the cream, he quickly jumped into his uniform.  Well, most of it.  He wasn't putting on the jacket until after breakfast.  Fortunately, it wasn't the patrol uniform, with helmet and everything.  On the other hand, that would have covered the bruise on his face…

/Oh, well./ Cloud thought.  /It could be worse./  Cloud privately wondered if Zack was as hurting this morning as he was.  He doubted it.  All Cloud could think of was that at least his muscles weren't complaining as much as he'd thought they'd be.

As the rest of his squad got up around him, Cloud left to take his usual leisurely morning stroll to the mess hall.  That was the good thing about his frustrating habit of being up a little early every day.  He didn't get much leisure time, with all the balls he was struggling to keep in the air all at once.  He winced as he realized he'd just added another one.

Cloud reached the mess hall just before most of his squad did, though, the place was hardly empty.  With all the troops in Midgar, there were enough hungry mouths to feed to warrant several mess halls.  Which Midgar had.  But all of them were pretty packed at the height of mess hour.

Cloud ate his breakfast with great gusto.  Most of the food the mess hall served was not fit to feed to worms, but they did do good breakfasts.  Which was good, since Cloud was frequently working through at least one of the other meals.  Cloud thought breakfast was the most important meal anyway.

Cloud disposed of his dishes, then went off to the field where his company was to meet for inspection.  He saluted respectfully to Lieutenant Jackson, whom he personally really did like.  Jackson had 'gone mustang', as they called it.  He'd worked his way up through the ranks, so he was older than his rank might suggest, but he knew what he was doing much better than any other snot-nosed officer Cloud knew.  Not to mention, he wasn't a mean, sick pervert like the 'Captain'.

Cloud pulled on his jacket and straightened it, checking to be sure all was in order.  As he waited for the command to order up with the others, Buck Sergeant Ryans came up to him.  Ryans was the one in charge of Cloud's platoon, the one who took things back and forth between the Lieutenant and the enlisted.

Ryans was also one of the few females Cloud knew in the military.  Since uniformity was so highly valued in the modern Shinra Military, a woman had to work extra hard to prove she could cut it.  And Sergeant Ryans was one tough as nails lady.  And she really was good at her job.

Cloud looked respectfully up at her, waiting.  She got straight to the point in her typical no-nonsense way.  "Strife, what the hell'd you do to your face?"

Cloud reached up to the bruise on his cheek.  "What, this?" he asked.  Was it really that obvious?

Ryans rolled her eyes.  "Yes, that.  Who the hell hit you, huh?"

Cloud shook his head.  "Don't worry ma'am.  It's just from a workout last night.  It's really nothing."

"Nothing?  Captain's gonna see that a mile away, Strife.  And I wanna know if I gotta take anyone apart for doing Bad Things to one of my Spec fours."

Cloud blinked, before realizing what she was talking about.  She thought someone had attacked him?  He fought back the urge to laugh.  "Ma'am, you know how good I am in a fight.  Do you think anyone around here could do something like this to me?  I just had a really good workout last night.  There's no problem."

Ryans nodded.  "Alright.  Just making sure.  I know you get a strange amount of attention, so it never hurts to make sure."

"Thanks, Sarge.  I appreciate it."

"No prob, kid."

Just as Cloud was about to (politely, of course!) remind her not to call him 'kid', they were called into order.  The whole company scrambled into its platoons and squads, everyone coming to a stiff attention.  Some of the company actually respected the captain, but most were just afraid of the punishments he could dish out.

Captain Banford strode in as imperiously as ever, and inspection began.

Banford nailed two men off the bat for the stains on their uniforms.  Another for his shoes being 'not shiny enough'.  A few more, here and there, mostly made up.  The company was always very careful about inspections when the captain was present.

Then, Banford was in front of him.

"Strife!  What is wrong with your face!?  Were you in a fight?"  The Captain's glare was suspicious.  Cloud didn't move an inch as he leaned in towards him.  "Well!?  I'm waiting for an answer!"

Cloud heard snickers behind him, but ignored them.  "Sir, no, sir.  I just had a really good workout last night, sir."

The captain smirked.  "So, who is she, Strife?"

The snickers grew louder.  Cloud responded levelly. "Sir, it was just a workout, sir.  Nothing like what you're insinuating, sir."  The captain bent closer.

"Are you saying I'm wrong?"  The glitter in his eyes was dangerous.

"Respectfully, sir, yes."

The officer's sneer grew.  "We all know how good a fighter you are, so who could have hit you this hard?"

Now Cloud was getting annoyed.  "Sir, a new friend, sir."

"Ah, well then…."  Suddenly a familiar voice broke in.

"Excuse me.  Are you Captain Banford?"

Banford wheeled around with a roar.  "What is it, soldier!?!?  Can't you see I'm busy!?!?  I've half a mind to—"  His voice died in his throat as he saw that he was indeed addressing a 'soldier'.  Zack just looked amused and tilted his head, cocking an eyebrow as if to say 'to—what?'  Banford, wisely, changed his tone.

"Oh, I'm sorry.  I didn't realize we were going to get a visit from a SOLDIER today."  Then, to the troops, he said.  "You all should be grateful you get a chance to see a real SOLDIER."  His eyes spoke directly to Cloud, saying he should be grateful for this temporary respite.

Zack smiled thinly.  "I was told you were the person I needed to see about getting a Spec Four, Cloud Strife, detailed to me in place of his usual P.T.  Are you?"

Banford blinked.  "Strife?"  His eyes slid over to glare at a very confused looking Cloud.  "Surely, there are better choices if you want to spend some time helping a soldier train…"

Zack shook his head.  "After the workout I had with him last night, I seriously doubt that."  A small piece of Cloud was temporarily elated when he saw how stiffly Zack's right arm was moving.

Banford blinked.  "So, you're the one that gave him this bruise?"  Banford viciously jabbed a finger into Cloud's bruised cheek, but he didn't even twitch.

Zack studied his face carefully.  "Well, I didn't realize I hit him so hard there.  I'll just have to be more careful.  It's so easy to forget how delicate you normal humans are."

Banford twitched at the reminder of the Mako-enhanced SOLDIER's strength.  "Well, I guess I could let you have him…But only for his P.T. time."

Zack nodded.  "That is acceptable."  He started to leave.  "I'll have the paperwork delivered to you by the end of the day."

"Wait!"  Banford exclaimed before Zack could leave.  Zack turned back.  "I'd like to know who's asking, so I know who to report if I think anything…questionable is happening.  Can't have my troops being roughed up on.  You understand."

/Like you have any room to talk about 'questionable' happenings, Banford./ Cloud thought acidly.

Zack smiled.  "I'm SOLDIER First-class Colonel Zack.  Though, you could just mail any complaints to Sephiroth; it'll go to the same address."  And Zack was gone, leaving Banford gawking at how powerful a man he'd just met.

Cloud just felt awe at how skillfully Zack had just handled his so-called captain.

This was shaping up to be as good a day as yesterday had been.

*     *     *

"Aw, Hell, Seph!" Zack whined.  "Go easy, would you?  That hurts!"  Sephiroth's lips curled in a faint smile.

"So you said this morning when you finally woke up.  Though, you weren't complaining last night, and I was much rougher with you then."

Zack sighed.  "You know that's different, Seph."

Sephiroth shook his head and continued to rub Zack's sore side.  Thanks to the Mako enhancements, the bruising was almost completely gone, now, but there was a persistent ache lingering in it's stead.  "You know, if you're this sore now, can you imagine how Strife must be feeling?  You hit him many more times than he hit you, and you probably hit him harder, too."

Zack rolled onto his back more completely to level a glare at his friend.  "What's this 'Strife' business?  You called him Cloud yesterday, so why're you reverting back to last names?"  Sephiroth did not answer, and Zack sighed.  "You are hopeless."

Sephiroth changed the subject.  "So, I take it Banford's agreed to release him to you?"

Zack's eyebrows rose, telling Sephiroth that the change in subject hadn't gone unnoticed.  But the dark-haired man let it drop.  "Yeah.  You wouldn't believe that guy.  I walk in and he's up in Cloud's face interrogating him on where he got a bruise from!  And then he wanted to know who I was so he knew who to contact if he thought I was being too rough with Spike!  Couldn't even recognize me, damn bastard!  How he ever made it anywhere in the military is beyond me."

Sephiroth sighed.  "Sign of the times, Zack.  Sign of the times.  So you have him for P.T.?  He got that in the morning?"

Zack nodded.  "Most of the time.  Can you believe it?  Yesterday was a training holiday and Banford kept right on training them?  I don't even know if he's allowed to do that."

Sephiroth shrugged.  "Whatever.  At least you've got him now.  You better be careful with him, though.  He is fragile."

Zack nodded.  "He is.  Though, I think his emotions are more delicate than his body."  Sephiroth nodded in silent agreement.  Then Zack shook his head.  "Well, whatever.  I'll be training with him enough, starting tomorrow.  For now, on to important things!"  The SOLDIER reached up and caught Sephiroth by the hair and reeled him in, wrapping his arms around him.

Sephiroth stiffened then relaxed.  He'd first hated Cloud for putting his Zack into strange moods.  Now he thought he might be an angel or something.  Some of Zack's 'strange moods' were fun!

*     *     *

(about a month later)

Cloud sighed and hefted his sword back up to his shoulder.  The training with Zack was going so well.  It was what he looked forward to every day, his whole reason for getting out of bed in the morning.

And now, it was over.

Cloud was swearing mentally, not looking forward to telling Zack about this.  They'd become actual, honest-to-the-Planet friends over the past month, and Cloud really didn't want to leave.

/Damn it!  And why the Hell do they have to send me someplace as far away as Wutai!?/  Cloud was Not Happy.  Of course, his whole company was complaining, too.  The people of Wutai had been getting more and more restless, and the Shinra had decided to send some more troops to 'keep the peace'.

Cloud stepped into the SOLDIER gym and waved to those who waved at him.  Cloud now knew a fairly substantial number of the SOLDIERs who frequented the gym, and even sparred with some of them.  Normally only when Zack was unable to come.  Now he made his way across the mat to the place Zack had staked out for their practice sessions.  As expected, there was Zack, wearing his customary smirk.

Cloud set down his things and saluted very formally, and the smile bled from Zack's face.  "Colonel Zack," Cloud said crisply.  "I am to inform you of my new orders, sir."  At Zack's nod, he continued.  "As part of the 397th Company, I have been ordered to report to Fort Xi-Fe-Xiu in Wutai.  The transport leaves at oh-five-hundred Thursday."

Zack scowled.  "At ease," he said softly.  Cloud relaxed a bit, watching his friend and superior officer carefully.  Zack sighed.  "Thanks for telling me, Spike," he said wearily.  "I'd heard that things were getting rough in Wutai, but…Damn it!  Just 'cause you were doing so well!"  Zack shook his head.  "Well, I guess there's nothing to do but get in as much training as you can, now….How long are you gonna be there?"

Cloud shrugged.  "They're calling it four months, right now, but Sergeant Ryans says it'll probably run more like five or six."

Zack's scowl deepened.  "Damn.  I wish they wouldn't pull this kind of shit in the middle of training…Well, I'll talk to Seph, and we'll see if we can at least get things worked out so you can get assigned to the SOLDIER garrison there for P.T.  Your SOLDIER sector pass will let you in, but I'd be happier if you had some regular work-outs with the SOLDIERs there."

Cloud nodded in agreement.  He couldn't even imagine going back to normal P.T. after this.  It would be so…so…easy.  He didn't want to go back to a totally unchallenging, boring course of P.T.

Zack sighed.  "Okay, Spike.  Get your sword.  We've got three days for you to work out in, and by the Planet, I'm gonna make sure you get the most of them!"

*     *     *

Cloud hefted his small pack of possessions to his shoulder.  He didn't have much, so he didn't even have to worry about the shipping weight restrictions. Cloud sighed wistfully. Some of the others had enough that mattered to them that they actually had to ship some stuff.  All he really had were the necessities, plus his sword, knife, and a very few personal things.  He had only the pack on his back and a suitcase in the cargo boat.

That was the other thing.  The whole trip was going to be spent on a boat.  Cloud just knew he was going to be sick as a dog for the whole trip.  He knew that Mako could cure something as trivial as motion sickness, another reason he'd wanted into SOLDIER.  But noooo~!  Hojo was being as much an unscientific butt-hole as his father's notes had suggested.

Stifling the sigh that threatened from deep inside his chest, Cloud started up the ramp into the troop carrier.  Then he heard Captain Banford's voice bellowing his name.  "Strife!  Strife!!"

Cloud winced, mentally.  He sounded pissed.  Cloud turned to find his bellowing commander.  Spotting him, Cloud jogged over to him, not missing the red head next to him.  Cloud saluted Banford and Mac, the SOLDIER second he had met the first day of sparring with Zack.  Mac grinned.

"Heya, Strife!  The Colonel sent me down with your orders for P.T. in the SOLDIER garrison.  You're gonna be stuck with the normal P.T. for a week or two though while they sort all the paperwork out on that end."  Mac handed him a packet of papers, then grinned.  "You're supposed to be assigned to Colonel Andrews and Major Shimo.  Zack swears they're the best in all of SOLDIER, so you better soak up every word they ever say to you."

Mac smiled, and patted Cloud on the shoulder, oblivious to, or maybe simply ignoring the furious glare from Banford.  "You take care, Spike.  Despite what the army says, Wutai is still a formidable fighting force.  Watch your back, ne?"  Then, with a cheerful wave, and a sort of salute to Banford, he left.

Cloud blinked down at the papers in his hand, then shrugged and picked up his bag, turning resolutely back to the transport.

*     *     *

(Four days later)

Cloud sighed in relief as he shook out his watery legs.  He'd never been so glad to be on dry land in his life.  Okay, so maybe it wasn't particularly dry, being a beach in the middle of a rainstorm, but at least it didn't move underneath him!  If he never saw another boat in his life, it would still be too much.

Cloud quietly hefted his bag to his shoulder.  His only solace was that most of the others had been having problems, too. And that, after the first day, he'd been so tired of it that the heaving, rocking, shuddering motion of the ship hadn't bothered him any more.  They had to have been the most seasick group of soldiers the Planet had ever seen. 

The whole ship emptied out, and a company of still queasy Shinra military troopers filed out onto the shore.  They lined up, and waited for their orders with the patience of men who were so tired they couldn't be anything but patient.  Captain Banford finally had the platoon leaders separate the platoons, then each platoon trudged their weary way through the pounding rain to their assigned quarters. 

The rain was beginning to make Cloud feel human again.  It ran down his face and into his eyes and took the smell of the cramped, tossing ship away with it.  He was grinning ear-to-ear by the time Lieutenant Jackson got them to the barracks.  As they attempted to cram three at a time through the narrow door, Jackson called Cloud aside.

"Strife.  I know you've got orders pending to get your P.T. in with the SOLDIERs, but until confirmation of those orders gets here, you're gonna have to work out with us.  Tomorrow, make sure you get those papers that SOLDIER gave you to the appropriate authorities.  Got it?"

Cloud nodded.  "Yes, sir."

Jackson smiled.  "Good.  Now go get settled in.  Remember that P.T. is at oh-six-hundred tomorrow."  Then the officer vanished off to wherever it was that officers always went off to.

Cloud turned and entered his new 'home' for this 'four month' stint in the back of beyond.

*     *     *

Cloud was wondering how he had ever found this difficult.  All around him came the sounds of the rest of his platoon working out: grunts, moans, sighs, and the sound of flesh striking flesh.  It was kind of relaxing, but the actual workout was nowhere near as intense as working out with SOLDIERs.  Which was to be expected, but it didn't change the fact that Cloud was quickly growing bored.

Just as he thought he was going to be driven out of his mind, they were called to line up to start the run.  It was his favorite part of P.T., the part he performed particularly well on.  He'd been improving his endurance and speed at running during his time with SOLDIER, and he couldn't wait to see how he'd do on a typical P.T. run.

A few minutes later, he was mentally taking that thought back.

/Bored, bored, bored…/ he thought, miserably.  It was so easy, he just wanted to keel over and die, or maybe go stark raving mad.  Just then, something interesting happened.  Cloud saw a squad of SOLDIERs on their daily run.  A standard Shinra squad was composed of twelve men, since they usually operated in groups of two or three, and twelve was divisible by both.  A standard SOLDIER squad was ten men, since SOLDIER usually worked in pairs.  And a perfectly formed squad of ten SOLDIERs was headed down the road that intersected the one they were on.  It gave Cloud plenty of time to study them.

Frankly, he was envious.  They were all in perfect shape, and ignored the scowls of the inhabitants of Wutai, which had been distracting the regulars all morning.  He watched them, not even bothering to hide his envy.  He saw one of the men in the lead glance at him, notice his look, and actually smile at him.  As the out-sized platoon and the SOLDIER squad's paths once again diverged, Cloud wondered what the smile was for.

Meanwhile, at the head of the small group of SOLDIERs, Colonel Andrews turned to look at the Wutaian man beside him.  Major Shimo looked up at him questioningly.  This was the SOLDIER garrison's leader and his personal friends on their morning jog.  Actually, Andrews was in charge of all the SOLDIER forces in Wutai, but Xi-Fe-Xiu was the main base on Wutai, so he lead from here.  Shimo was the actual base commander.

"Well, Shimo, did you see that kid with the spiky hair?"

The Wutaian shook his head.  "How could I miss him?  Short as I am, bright blond hair that gives him a few extra inches, running like it was just a stroll, and looking bored as hell…Something's up with that one, Andy."

Andrews smirked.  "Well, that was part of the 397th.  What do you wanna bet that was our semi-SOLDIER?  You know, the one Zack told us about."

Shimo shrugged.  "I haven't gotten to look over all of that yet.  I imagine I'll know once I see the personnel file on this 'semi-SOLDIER', as you called it."

Andrews nodded, turning back to his run.  "I imagine so, too.  If that's what Zack gave us to work with, I think we may have our work cut out to find something he can't do.  Already has the build of a SOLDIER, we may just have to get him the mind of one."

*     *     *

Well, well, well!  Hey, Cloud's in shape!  As for all those wondering why Cloud's so much better than the average Shinra trooper, *crickets chirp* that's going to be explained in the next part!  So keep reading and reviewing!

Ja!

Akuma no Tsubasa