Takes place after Kairi's rescue; contains spoilers for the end of Kingdom Hearts.

Yeah, I convinced myself to write a Zack chapter, ^^;; This is actually a birthday gift for Koorino Megumi! I wanted to do a bit of focus on Zack and what he's been up to, so I let her decide what would come next. Sorry for delaying the real chapter yet again, but this is by special request, so I have an excuse, ^_^ Enjoy!

This chapter is written from Zack's perspective.


~*~


Ephemeral Blossoms

Akai Kitsune

Zack's Interlude, Part One


~*~*~


"Where is he?!"

I watched the girl pace back and forth behind the counter of the bar, rubbing a cloth around the same glass she'd been drying for ten minutes. Propping my elbow on the counter and resting my chin in my palm, I let her fret for a moment longer before reaching out to grab her arm, halting her movement.

"Tifa," I said seriously, my voice weary, "Stop it before you wear a hole in your uncle's carpet."

She spun around, her eyes reddened from tears and worry. "Cloud's been missing for a week, and you're worried about a carpet?"

I shook my head with a wince. "That's not what I meant. But you're not making things better by pacing around."

"Well what do you expect me to do? Where could he be?!"

"Maybe he went home," I suggested in a lame voice, knowing it was far from the truth.

Tifa shot me a look that would have tamed a rabid chocobo. Giving her a wide shrug, I sighed helplessly.

"Can't you check with any of those higher-ups in the army?" she continued crossly, slamming the cup on a shelf and returning to the sink for another. "I thought you had connections!"

Believe me, so did I. "I've been trying, Tifa. It's not that simple, though. If you want anything done in this town, you've gotta deal with more beaurocratic bull and red tape than you know what to do with. Even I can't just storm in demanding answers without enough authorization."

She clenched her hands into fists, eyes flashing with anger. "I thought you had authorization!"

She was repeating herself, I knew, but I couldn't blame her. I gave her the most serious look I could manage and took the glass from her before she broke it and hurt herself. "I do... but only so much. I don't like waiting any more than you, but until I find out where Hojo's disappeared to, it's all we can do."

Tifa turned away, flipping the towel over her shoulder and sinking her arms into the dishwater, scrubbing furiously to vent her frustration. I just watched her, absently spinning the cup in my hand.

"I can't wait much longer," she murmured after a while, resting her hands on the countertop and looking over at me. Her gaze seemed to challenge me to object.

I smiled sadly, giving her a slight nod. "Neither can I."


~*~


"Are the mission preparations complete?"

I nodded, not looking up as I tugged on my boots. "Yeah, everything's set. We shouldn't run into any problems when we leave tomorrow."

I heard a faint sound of papers sliding together, and I knew my superior was studying the mission outline we'd been given days before. His footsteps echoed through the room, and after a moment, I felt him standing beside me.

"You seem preoccupied these days, Zack."

Grinning, I stood up, giving each boot a tap to make sure they were on tightly, and looked up to meet Sephiroth's questioning gaze. "I guess it's 'cause I am. Life's been keeping me pretty busy."

He raised a silver eyebrow. "This is the first mission we've had in weeks. The military is losing it's importance now that the clans have settled down. What could possibly be making you so..."

"Distracted?" I offered, and he frowned. "Well, I've got a student now."

"A student?" His eyes widened a fraction, which is as much of a reaction I'd ever gotten from him. "That's unusual for you. I thought you hated dealing with the smitten fans of the lower level soldiers."

I smirked. "No, that's -you-. I don't deal with half the problems you do. Besides, this one's no fan - he didn't even know who I was."

"Ah, that -is- unusual. He's from out of town?"

"About as far as you can get," I nodded. "Across the continent, from Nibelheim. He wants to join SOLDIER."

Sephiroth smiled faintly. "A small town... this sounds like a familiar story. Is that why you're helping him?"

I laughed, scratching my head. "It can't be that obvious."

"To someone who knows you, it is." He moved towards the desk in the corner, replacing the pages he carried in a folder and resealing it. "So is the boy any good?"

"He's talented. There's potential for a lot of improvement - I'll have to wait and see how far he can go."

"I have no doubt you'll keep me informed."

Smiling in response, I gave a broad shrug. "If you're interested, I guess I could handle that."


~*~


"You haven't answered the question, Major."

I sat before the city's main council, resisting every urge to leave and come back with a more effective method of convincing - namely, my sword. Midgar's president habitually left minor issues within the army or the city in general to a smaller group of nobles. They were a collection of blithering idiots who knew nothing about running an army, and I hated dealing with them.

Too bad weapons aren't allowed in the council chambers, or I'd show them just how dangerous angry SOLDIERs can be...

Instead, I narrowed my eyes at the man who had addressed me, my voice level. "I did answer. Three times already, in case you weren't listening." I was bordering insolence, but by that point I was beyond caring. Cloud had been missing for three weeks, and I wanted to know why.

The man clearly wasn't impressed. "You dodged it as usual, and that simply is not good enough. Where is General Sephiroth?"

I came close to rolling my eyes. "I. Don't. Know."

"Then you should be concentrating all your efforts on locating him. Never mind this Strife character." Another council member sniffed disdainfully, waving a hand in dismissal. I felt my anger beginning to rise again. "I've never even heard of him. Anyway, he's not important compared to finding the General."

"Sephiroth can take care of himself," I snapped, getting to my feet. "And if he wants to take care of his own business as well, that's fine. All I'm asking for is a location - where is Hojo?!"

"Be seated, major," the first man shook his head, his gaze sharp, "Or I'll have you thrown out." Reluctantly, I sat down, glaring back at them. "Professor Hojo's location - and his research - is not your concern."

Yeah, right. Considering all the dodging -they- have been doing, I wonder how much of this whole affair is illegal...

Big surprise in Midgar.

"Strife is my concern," I answered tightly. "If he's with Hojo, then that research is my concern as well."

"Rest assured, he is not," the council leader replied curtly. "This friend of yours has nothing to do with the delicate research the professor is working on for the High King of the Bastion. If you were to investigate his experimentation grounds, this would disturb his projects."

"Interfering with his Highness's orders is treason, Major," the snobby one added, smirking as he spoke. "None of us wish to see you executed on nothing more than a whim."

Oh yes, I know -you'd- just break down if that were to happen.

... Tell me again why I still tolerate these political nightmares?

"Thanks for the concern," I muttered, rolling my eyes. I was too far away for them to notice.

A woman on the far side gave me a small smile. "Major, we understand that you're worried, and it is serious that a SOLDIER applicant has disappeared. We'll deal with this situation. Right now we need you to focus on finding General Sephiroth. Strange things are happening these days, and we are going to need his strength in the near future."

I raised an eyebrow at her words, both puzzled and intrigued, but she didn't continue. Instead, the council leader stood, lifting his hand and pointing to the door. "You're dismissed, Major. We look forward to the results of your investigation."

Grinding my teeth together, I spun on my heel and stalked out of there before I did anything I might have regretted later.

It's for Cloud. To help Cloud, I can't get myself into trouble...

If I get tossed in jail, who's going to find him...?

As I made my way to the SOLDIER barracks, I thought back to the last I'd seen of Sephiroth. Finding him had been at the very back of my mind since Cloud had disappeared; he had told me he was leaving, and would return eventually. I didn't question him, because he would have told me if it was anything I could help him with. We were like that. It's part of being a team, and he knew it even though he didn't always show it.

"You're leaving?"

"There are a few things I must get done. It's not a mission, Zack, so..."

"So I'm not coming."

"Yes."

"If you need my help, just call; you know how to find me. Take care of yourself, Seph."

"Thank you. I will."

Where had he disappeared to...?

And... where was Cloud?

Too many questions, but never any answers.


~*~


"Come on! Attack me!"

The teenager raised an eyebrow at me, his body slouching with exhaustion. "Zack, we've been at it for hours. I just can't handle this sword yet."

I straightened up, resting my own sword in the ground and leaning on it. "Of course you can. But do you want to?"

"What?"

I smiled. "Once you master the basic moves, it'll just get harder. Aren't you scared of what might happen?"

His eyes narrowed. "I'm not scared!"

"You're not? Not even the slightest bit nervous around screwing up?"

"No!"

"Because you know," My smile broadened into a wry grin, "Tifa asks me every day how you've been doing."

Cloud bristled. "I don't care what you tell her," he muttered sullenly.

"Sure. If you don't care, why do you hide in your room whenever we're talking about it?"

He grit his teeth, shooting me a glare. "I get tired, okay? You wear me into the ground every day!"

I gave him an innocent look that stated, who, me?

His grip around the training sword tightened, and he charged towards me, shouting out a challenge. I smirked and lifted my own sword to meet his attack, blocking deftly. In one smooth motion, I kicked his leg out from under him, sending him face-first into the dirt.

I crouched beside him, ruffling his hair with a grin. "Tifa will love this one, won't she?"

Cloud groaned, wiping a bit of dirt from his chin. "Tyrant."

After a moment, I began to laugh. "You think I'm bad, wait till you meet the trainees in the SOLDIER program. Then you'll be wishing you could go back to these little spars."

He rolled over, sitting up and grasping his weapon. "I know. You're... you're a good teacher, Zack."

I fell silent, watching him for a moment, his eyes obscured by that crazy hair of his. Finally I stood, offering my hand. "Come on, kid. The day's still young, and I still have a dozen more ways to humiliate you."

Cloud blinked, looking up at me. "Tyrant," he repeated, taking my hand and letting me help him up.

But he was smiling, and I knew he'd do better next time...


~*~


The sun was barely beginning to rise when I woke up, feeling more tired than I had felt when I'd first gone to sleep. I rubbed at my eyes wearily, squinting at the foggy sunlight as it filtered through Midgar's polluted sky.

Today would be a good day for training, I thought absently, and then I remembered, as I did every morning.

Cloud wasn't around to train anymore. He'd gone unquestioningly with the men who were supposed to teach him how to be a SOLDIER - disappeared off the face of the planet without a word to anyone.

All because I'd told him to.

And nobody knew where he was... or nobody cared enough to help him.

That's going to change today, I told myself quietly, pulling on my gear. I'd been given a mission - not by Shinra, not by the pasty-faced old freaks in the council, and not by Sephiroth, either.

"You're going to find him, Zack," she told me, brushing stubbornly against the tears in her eyes. "You're going to find him, or I'll pack my gear and break into Shinra HQ myself. Just watch me."

Yeah, I smiled slightly, tugging on my gloves. I'm not gonna wait anymore either, Tifa.

I've waited long enough.

I grabbed my sword, slinging it over my shoulder, and left my apartment. It was time for my visit to the Shinra headquarters.


~*~


The Centre of Urban Development in Midgar was bustling with activity as usual, when I stepped inside, glancing around in search of a familiar face. Soon I caught the eye of the red-haired secretary in the far-right cubicle. I also caught her abrupt flush, and grinned.

Mission 1 - start.

"Good morning," I approached her desk, leaning against the open wall, flashing her my best smile.

She reddened even further. "Good morning, Major," she murmured, finding her fingernails suddenly very interesting. "How can I help you?"

I shrugged. "What, you mean I need a reason to visit my favourite secretary? Wounded to the heart, dear."

She giggled, her body relaxing a little. "I'd hate to see you hurt, sir," she said, clasping her hands together neatly in her lap. "Though it would serve you right."

I blinked. "Eh?"

The secretary smiled secretively. "No reason. So what's your real excuse for showing up at my office?"

Okay, so she didn't feel like playing around today. I didn't let it bother me; it was a game of chance with this woman. "I surrender," I answered in a cool voice. "I'm just here to see the chief." I jerked a thumb towards the office behind her.

It was her turn to blink. "Why would a high-ranking SOLDIER want to see someone in Urban Development?"

I winked at her. "Secret mission," I grinned. "Top secret. I can't breathe a word."

She rolled her eyes. "Melodramatic as always, Zack," she muttered, dropping the formalities of my title. I gave her an innocent shrug, and she picked up the phone, punching in a code and pausing as someone picked up. "Sir, you have a visitor. ... Yes, I told him you were busy." She sent me a sidelong glance, cupping a hand over the receiver and mouthing 'He's busy'.

I chuckled. "Tell him I'll go in anyway, so he might as well tell you to let me past."

She repeated my words, then lifted her brows at me. "He says the door's locked."

My smile didn't change, and I spoke a little more loudly. "Tell him I'm going to break the door down."

The secretary opened her mouth to speak again, but the door suddenly jiggled and opened, revealing a tall man with dark, disheveled hair. He glared over at me. "I heard that," he said dryly. "What do you want?"

I smirked. "Hello to you too, Reeve."


~*~


"You know I'm busy this time of year, Zack," Reeve grumbled once we were both inside the office, the door shut behind us. He went back to his desk, rifling through the stacks of papers that seemed ever-present in his office, while I stood by the door, watching him. "So I won't waste time - what is it you need?"

"Nothing major," I answered casually. "I need a list of all the Mako reactors Midgar has shipped out of town."

Reeve spluttered at my response, nearly choking on the coffee he'd been drinking. "You need what?!" he demanded when he recovered.

"Mako reactors. I need the types and locations, then I'll be out of here."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why the hell do you need to know something like that?"

My eyes narrowed. "Hojo," I told him quietly. "I need to know where Hojo is."

Sitting back in his chair, he eyed me suspiciously. "And you think I know where he is?"

"Not in the slightest." I strode over to the desk, giving one of his file cabinets an inquisitive tap. "But no one else seems too inclined to help me find him. I don't have any other options - I have to track him down by following the equipment. Hojo's specialty is Mako experiments. He'd need a reactor before he could do anything."

Reeve blinked. "Why are you so interested in Hojo?"

"He skipped town a while ago," I replied, my expression darkening. "I would have cared less if he hadn't taken one of my friends with him. Neither of them have been seen in Midgar for a month, but I'm going to find him."

The leader of Midgar's Urban Development shook his head. "Even if I had that sort of info available... Zack, you're asking me to help you break the law, here-"

"Not so," I grinned. "You know as well as anyone that Sephiroth's gone missing. Three guesses who's been given the job of finding him?"

His eyes widened. "You?!"

I shrugged. "Who better to track him down than his second in command? Besides, if I know Seph, he'll be keeping an eye on Hojo as well. He hates that shady bastard more than anyone. I could be killing two birds with one stone."

For the first time, Reeve smiled wearily. "I get it. I give you info on the Mako reactors thinking you're looking for Sephiroth. Which is exactly what you're doing..."

"I'm just doing a little personal exploring en route," I finished with a nod. "Exactly."

He sighed. "I wish I could help you. I've got a lot on my plate right now, Zack... it could take days, even weeks to dig up every reactor that's left this city. Many of them have broken down, been moved around, stolen... even if it is to find Sephiroth, it's not top priority. It would look awfully suspicious if we rushed it."

I grimaced, closing my eyes. No, no, no. Already, I had this aching feeling that it was too late... "Is there anyone who could do it? Someone who knows the city inside and out, who can... take care of these little barriers I'm finding all over the place?"

Reeve hesitated, but I caught it, leaning on the desk and watching him like a hawk. "Reeve," I said seriously, "All I need is a number. A name. Anything."

There was another moment's pause, and Reeve deflated at his desk, brushing a hand through his hair. "I'm going to regret this someday, I know it," he muttered, tearing at a scrap piece of paper and scribbling a number on it. He then folded it once and passed it over to me. "Give this a try."

I studied the number, searching my memory to see it I recognized it, but nothing came to mind. "Who's-"

"I," Reeve interrupted tightly, through clenched teeth, "... don't know."

My brows lifted. "Right," I quietly replied, tucking the paper into my pocket. "Right. Thanks for the donation to my fireplace, Reeve. You've been real helpful."

"You can thank me by leaving me alone," he muttered, picking up a folder and opening it again.

I smiled faintly, turning and heading for the door. As I reached out for the knob, I heard him call after me, "Good luck, Zack."

Thanks. I owe you again, you know... I gave the secretary a playful smile on my way out, and earned myself a slap on the arm. I suppose I could have done worse.

It was a short walk back to my apartment, and as soon as the door was shut behind me, I picked up the phone, tugging the slip of paper out and dialing the number. I listened to two rings, and then an abrupt, sarcastic voice I'd heard only a handful of times in my life.

"Turks hotline. What do you need this time, Reeve?"

You've -got- to be kidding me.

Taking a deep breath, hoping I wouldn't kick myself for it later, I answered. "Reno, get me Tseng."


~*~


"Well, well." Tseng, leader of Midgar's most efficient political mercenaries, didn't waste time once he'd been given the phone. "I see Reeve wasn't very discreet with this number."

I raised an eyebrow. "Different lines for every client, Tseng? I would think you'd be a little more careful with your money."

He snorted. "Different extensions," he corrected, "And the number doesn't come free. If you needed to contact us, it should have been Reeve making this call. This is bad business, you know."

"Don't be so tense," I leaned back on my couch, closing my eyes. The Turks were borderline criminals, and their ways of making 'business' gave me migraines.

But Reeve trusts them, to an extent. May as well hear them out.

Besides, what I'm planning isn't exactly legal, either...

"Reeve's busy these days, and I didn't have time to wait for a convenient time for him to contact you. I'm not here to pester you or play the role of the good SOLDIER - this is strictly business."

I could hear the smirk in his expression as he responded. "Why doesn't that reassure me? All right, Major, I'm listening. But any answers will probably cost you."

"Fine. My first question - do you know where Hojo is?"

"Who's that?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Don't pull that on me, Tseng. Everyone in Shinra knows Hojo."

"For 2000 gil, I might remember."

"Stingy jerk." Doing a quick calculation, I took a wild guess at the Turk's prices and made a mental note to collect some old vacation pay back at HQ. "I have a job for you, and if Reno's got time to think up those cheesy intro lines then you have time to work for me." I paused meaningfully. "I can't pay you over the phone, you know."

"Point taken," Tseng murmured. "A meeting, then. Set it up and call back. Don't come empty-handed, Major."

I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't dream of it. Just make sure you don't hold out on me."

"What makes you think you can afford us?"

This time, it was my turn to smirk. "That one's easy. If Reeve could afford your services..."

"Understood. I expect to hear from you shortly, then."

He hung up, and I was left to consider my actions. Here I was, asking the Turks for help. I really was desperate, wasn't I?

"It's okay, Zack."

"Things are changing-"

I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against my palm, letting the phone drop from my fingers.

Not desperate.

No... I was scared.

Damn, Cloud... you better be okay.


~*~


AN: And thus ends Part 1 of Zack's Interlude, ^_^ The next chapter will be a real chapter, and the conclusion of Zack's story will be after that.

Zack's official title/rank: I swiped Major from Madam Hydra's fic, "Conflicts of Interest". A lot of Zack's characterization is a hybrid of a fics I've read (including that one in particular) as well as my own intepretations, so I just thought I'd tip my hat so everyone knows where the idea came from.

The inclusion of Reeve and the Turks: Come on, can you blame me? They're only a few of the coolest minor characters in FFVII! I'm still pretty unsure about their characterization though, so their role in Zack's story is pretty minimal. I'm doing my best though, so we'll see what happens...

Reviewer Responses:

Jade-Jaganashi: Meg showed me that pic you did. Friggin' hilarious. ^^

Koorino Megumi: I've never received a more amusing review in my life. Thank you SO much. ^_^ You know, I'd have loved to watch you read the chapter because your reactions must be... interesting. Happy Birthday, by the way! *glomp*

sore-wa-himitsu-desu: Ah! You read it! *hides* Yeah, Hojo's pretty bad, but what else can ya do? Heh.

link no miko: Actually, yes, I wanted to tie in the claw/wing ideas with Hojo... for some reason, is just seemed to fit. I couldn't think of any other reason for Cloud to have a wing (notice how he and Seph both have wings - but on opposite sides? ^^). And... er... all the Heartless have golden eyes, you know. Cloud was just reminded of Zack because of that.

Seishin Kibou: I liked Vince too... he's in AC? I so did not see him in the trailer, ;_; Everyone tells me he's there though... must re-watch...