Dust and Bones | Chapter 3
A FFVII Fanfiction by Majokai Yukiko
This is an amateur effort and does not intend to infringe on the rights of Squaresoft.
This story is set a week after Sephiroth was defeated, though some events in the past are altered due to the fact that Sephiroth had survived the Omnislash and Zack is still alive.
Pairing: Zack X Sephiroth, Cloud X Sephiroth
Warnings: Shounen-ai, angst.
A/N: I'm squeezing this chapter out of me…by force. Now, what can give me more motivation to write the next chapter? A few reviews and a doujinshii for this fanfiction. ^_^ Er…I'm out of ideas for the next chapter. You guys have anything that you really want to see? Other than hot steamy sex?
By the way, sorry to my dear beta reader, Sabriel, for not updating you on the previous chapter. Sorry about that. And sorry again about not updating you on the latest addition to this chapter.
To my dear doujinshii artist, you know what to give me for Christmas ne?
To the rest of my readers: As I just broke up with my boyfriend, I'm having some big problems handling real life right now. Fic writing is a form of escapism for me…but I really wonder if this loss of faith in true love will affect the fate of this fic. If I'm lucky I can get the next chapter out by Christmas. Just do some praying for me? I think I'll need that very much.
To my ex boyfriend, if you are still reading my fics to guess my thoughts…just want to tell you that I still love you very much. So much that I'm holding back the impulse to kill you. If you still love me, I know I'm absolutely shameless to say this, but will you please take me back? I'll do anything for you right now.
Time through the rain has set me free
Sands of time will keep your memory
Love everlasting fades away
Alive within your beatless heart
Dry your tears with love
"Tears", X Japan
Zack never stayed after the first night. Whether it was from the shock or any other reasons, Sephiroth had gotten down with a terrible fever after releasing Zack from his prison. Zack sat by his bedside all night, holding his hands and muttering soft reassurances to his long-lost lover.
A look at Cloud confirmed Zack's doubts about what had happened during the time of his absence. Sephiroth had gone mad, as he had predicted, and tried to retrieve the Earth in the name of Jenova. But he had been defeated in his quest for Godhood, and lost his memories as well.
Life would have been perfect for the white haired ex-General, only if the past had not return to haunt him in the form of Tifa's thirst for vengeance. Cloud had made him happy, something that Zack had never managed to do when they were together. It had always been like this, no matter how much Zack tried to protect Sephiroth, he always ended up hurting him in the process.
How could he even blame Cloud for being the one who had saved Sephiroth when he was at his weakest? Cloud was there, while he was not. Cloud had managed to do what Zack had failed to.
Keep him sane for me, Spike.
And Cloud was only keeping his promise.
Regardless of what the conclusion of his mental debate was, there could only be one result. His presence around Sephiroth would only cause him more harm than good. He had to leave. But first…
He had to make sure Sephiroth was all right.
Cloud stood silently outside the room, leaning against the door with his eyes closed. The tears were threatening to fall any moment. The situation he was afraid of the most had finally occurred. Zack had returned, and he would be tossed aside again, forgotten like an abandoned rag doll.
He had to admit that his selfishness and jealousy had, like demons, surfaced again and again in his mind. No matter how hard he tried, he could not shake the image of Zack's naked body from his memories. That man…he was no longer human. The left side of him was made out of metal and wires, his body operated by an artificial source of power, keeping the man working with great dependence on Mako. How could someone like this provide for Sephiroth the way a lover should?
Cloud shuddered slightly when he involuntarily recalled Colonel Zack's cold efficiency in the army.
How much of his humanity had he lost?
Sephiroth frowned as he crushed the piece of paper in his hands. All around him, SOLDIERS of different ranks looked at him in anxiety and fear, afraid to suffer his wrath and, at the same time, curious about what was it in the message that had caused the General to lose his cool.
Only one man in that room could still smile and remain at ease with the growing tension in the room. That man, was none other than Colonel Zachary, the General's second in command.
"What's wrong, Seph?" The colonel asked. Sephiroth frowned harder at the nickname It was obvious that Sephiroth disliked the use of that nickname in public, but Colonel Zachary remained oblivious to that dislike. Or rather, he knew, and was very amused by it.
"Everything," Sephiroth answered, having given up correcting Zack's use of that nickname in public long ago. "Those idiots the President sent to Wutai before us failed miserably in their mission." The white haired man signaled for a map to be brought to him.
Zack leant over Sephiroth's shoulder to try prying the crumpled note out of his hand. Sephiroth surrendered it willingly.
"Hmm…" Zack murmured while straightening out the piece of paper, only to choke in shock and disgust when he finally managed to decipher the handwriting.
"Understand now?" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at his second in command, handing him a glass of water at the same time. "The worst mistake a strategist can make is to set his army in a forest under the Wutai heat."
"Serves them right to b burnt together with the trees." Zack snorted, handing the glass back to Sephiroth and taking the map from the trooper who had just entered the room. He spread it out on the table.
"And now the President wants us to clean up their mess."
"Oh, so they know they made a freaking mess too…f*cked up bastards.."
Sephiroth ignored the vulgarity and circled out a hill on the map.
"Apparently, the Wutaians aren't any smarter either." A few more arrows were drawn on the map. "They built their camp on this hill over there, hoping that more Shinra idiots will fall into their trap by traveling through this road here."
Zack studied the map for a moment and winked at his friend. Taking out his PHS, he quickly got the armies to ready themselves for battle.
"…Lieutenant, I want you to move Team C to seize the river at 24, 86. Yes, this is the General's order." Zack had to control his laughter and amusement at Sephiroth's outraged expression.
"Team A and B, gather at the foot of the hill at 0030. Make sure everybody's equipped with Fire materia. Team D, you are to gather at Point S by 2359. You are to be our front line attack, wait for the General's signal to kick some Wutai ass."
"You are the 'damnadest' creature, Zack." Sephiroth buried his face in his palms out of exasperation.
"You are me that well, buddy. One team should be enough for you, right?" Zack smirked.
***
At 0100, Sephiroth officially launched a major attack against the Wutai main base. The troopers moved quickly and efficiently, killing every villager they see on their way, sparing only women and children. Nobody else was to be spared. Like this, a path was cleared for Sephiroth to approach the palace like the God of Death.
Without hesitation, Sephiroth made his way swiftly to the clan chief's, Lord Godo, room.
"Who are you?" The warrior asked, getting into his fighting stance, sweaty hands grabbing tightly on the hooked sword in his hands.
"Sephiroth, representative of Shinra. I'm here to bargain a deal with you, sir."
Lord Godo laughed, not out of hysteria but truly out of humor.
"Sephiroth, is it? You're young, therefore I suggest you leave this place right now before my messenger returns with back-up forces."
"From your other base?" Sephiroth questioned, keeping his cool. "I believe my men had just burnt down that hill where the camp was pitched. Sorry about the pollution caused."
"Although your messenger did give me some problems." A new voice spoke up. All attention was directed to the newcomer at the door.
"Zack!" Sephiroth exclaimed in surprise. The back haired man smirked and saluted with his broad sword.
"Mission accomplished, buddy. Now let me sit down for a moment while you finish off that big boss."
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Zack never asked to take a break, no matter how tired he was. But much as he hated to admit it, it was not the time nor place to worry about his friend.
Turning back to face his opponent, Sephiroth bowed slightly out of courtesy and began the fight.
The battle ended as quickly as it began. In a blink, Lord Godo lay dead on the floor of his own room, his blood staining the expensive tatami mat, hands still tightly clenched around his sword.
"Good jo—" Sephiroth turned around in panic. Dropping his sword, he rushed to where Zack was sitting and shook the unconscious man slightly.
"Zack, are you alright? Stop scaring me, Zack. This is not funny, Zack. Answer me!" Sephiroth gingerly touched the back of his friend's head…
…Drawing back a bloody hand…
"ZACK!!!!!!"
Sephiroth blinked at the sudden brightness. That calm forest again, he had been there before. But he did not want the calmness. Not at this moment. Was Zack all right? Had he lost him again? He had almost lost him during the Wutai War. Why could he not learn? Why was it that he never treasured him, always taking him for granted?
Because no matter where Sephiroth goes, his shadow naturally followed.
"Zack, wait for me, will you? Give me another chance, please…"
"What about Cloud?"
Sephiroth spun around quickly; Aeris was standing a few feet behind him. Her demeanor was not as gentle was she had been in the last time they met.
"Aeris…" This was the girl that Sephiroth had killed in the midst of his insanity. Why? What had caused him to hunt her down specifically, this powerless flower girl?
"How old is she?"
"Huh?"
"The friend you visited today, that sweet-looking girl with brown hair and green eyes."
"I…I don't know."
"It was jealousy, Sephiroth." Aeris spoke up. "It was jealousy that fueled your hatred for me. In your insanity, I became the one responsible for Zack's 'death', I became the whipping boy for your sins, Sephiroth."
Sephiroth fell silent for a moment, not knowing what to do or what to say.
"Erm…I know there's no use apologizing but…"
"You need to go back. Zack's waiting for you, right?" Aeris finished for him. The cold smile on her face was out of place, so out that Sephiroth could not help but shiver slightly. His well-trained sense of danger told him clearly that the girl was dangerous. Aching for the reassuring weight of the Masamune in his hands, Sephiroth looked straight into green eyes that mimicked his own, silently praying to whatever deity up there who bothered to watch over him.
"Scared, Sephiroth? I'll think you very stupid if you are not. But don't be. I'm a dead spirit, there's none but one thing to fear from me."
"And what will that be?"
"I can keep you here with me."
"His fever's down." Cloud turned to look at the man standing at the door.
"Are you still planning to leave?"
Two friends, brought together by fate, bonded by time, but separated by their love for the same man. But one of them had to leave, and Zack chose himself to be the one.
Cloud watched as Zack strapped his broad sword to his back and walked out of the mansion. It would not be the last time they meet, Cloud was sure of that. If Sephiroth were light, Zack would always be his shadow, the one who stood silently behind him, supporting him in all that he does. Fate had a way of bringing them back together. As long as he stayed by Sephiroth, Cloud would definitely see Zachary Fayln again.
And Cloud? He would stay contented as Fae's puppet to hep tear the two lovers apart and bring them together again.
Until Fate sends a greater adversary on their way.
End of Chapter 3
Continue to Chapter 4