(Rain) I'm pretty positive that Seph knew Cloud before the Wutai War, but if that's not the case then it is now cause I don't care. Seph/Cloud yaoi alert! o

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Of all the days that it could be, it had to be raining in sheets, like the heavens decided to open especially for this instance. Junon was usually a beautiful coastal city with sunny days and balmy breezes, but on that day it was exactly the opposite. Rivers of water poured from the gutters of tall apartment buildings and covered the empty streets with a thin flood of water and rainbow colored oil. And it wasn't one of those days where it was sunny with patches of rain, no. The sky was cloaked with dark, dismal grey clouds that hung low in the sky.

Rain has that funny quality of mingling with tears until it looks like you've been crying for months on end, doesn't it.

A lone man stood, protected from the rain by the overhang of a parked tank, flanked by two purple uniformed others who were stiff at attention with hands frozen in salute. He was tall and thin, his long and elegant face set into a cold stare. He pulled his long, black coat tighter around his chest, huddling into it as he breathed a deep, tired sigh, his breath creating a fine white mist in front of his nose.

"How many more left, captain?" he muttered in a low voice, in regards to row after row of dully uniformed troops marching into the boats lining the docks. The pouring rain beat down on their backs, leaving them soaking wet, and the droplets shone on their helmets like tiny glass beads.

"Mm… about ten thousand sir. We have a while to go," the red head next to him replied, turning his neck stiffly to look at that angel on earth known as Sephiroth.

The general huffed gently, staring out at the lines with faintly glowing eyes of brilliant green. He had always known it would come to this, this thing called war, but not to this extent. They had no other choice but to take all of Wutai's land just to end the years of violence that those poor people had to endure. Just imagining all the thousands of innocents that would be killed would break even the strongest of wills, and Sephiroth had to double that.

Then, among the monotony that steadily flowed by before him, he noticed something different that caught his eye. A private was marching up the line that was much shorter than the rest, with tufts of blond hair protruding wildly from underneath his helmet. The general's placid eyes opened wide with fear. No, this couldn't be.

N-no. Please tell me that's not who I think it is!

"Hey Blondie! I thought I told you all to get a haircut before you came here!" he yelled, then ran out into the rain and grabbed the blonde troop, pulling him by the arm around a corner and into an alleyway. Hopefully those two SOLDIERs back there wouldn't catch on.

Once they were alone, Sephiroth threw off the blonde's helmet and kissed him roughly, running gloved hands through his thick straw colored spikes. The other, not much older than fifteen, clung to him helplessly, his fingers clutching the black leather of the general's now wet coat. They broke the kiss, and Sephiroth found round blue eyes, richer and more calming than the sky, staring back at him with tears welling in their corners. He picked him up by the waist and pressed him forcefuly against the dripping brick wall, nuzzling into the collar of his uniform.

"Cloud… I thought I stationed you back at the base. What are you doing here?" Sephiroth breathed though lank silver strands of hair clinging to his face and the boy's. Cloud whined in response, turning his head away from Sephiroth's prying eyes.

"I-I couldn't stand being without you Seph," he muttered, spikes going limp from the wetness. Actually, they were both soaking wet now, clothes clinging to their bodies as they embraced, hips against hips. Sephiroth's long hair clung tenaciously to his arms, shoulders and waist like strips of shining wet paper.

Sephiroth breathed another drawn sigh, his strong hands traveling down Cloud's back, fingertips resting just under the blonde's beltline.

"This is not a matter to be taken lightly love, you know that. You could… get killed."

A tiny moan escaped Cloud's lips as he felt the pressure of Sephiroth's lithe body against his and the general's lust inducing growl in his ear. He leaned up and kissed Sephiroth again, tasting pure rainwater mingled with the sweet taste of his angel.

"I know… but… it could happen to you too!" he cried, his tears masked by the rain that ran down his reddened cheeks. He thrust his head into the general's shoulder, his entire body wrecked with sobs. When he was finished, he stared up at Sephiroth as the other brushed limp blonde bangs from the other's eyes.

"I have to go Cloud… For both our sakes. " he whispered, kissing the tears away. Seeing the usually cheery private like this was like a knife stabbing deep into Sephiroth's heart. But this was the way it had to be.

"No! Please! Seph don't leave me alone! Don't leave me!" he sobbed against Sephiroth's graceful neck as strong hands held him tight. The general put the boy back on his feet again, then dropped to his knees and hugged him around the waist, burying his head into his stomach. Cloud pouted and petted Sephiroth's dripping hair with one hand while the other lay still at his side near his rifle.

The general panted against Cloud's cotton shirt, watching the mist appear from both their parted lips. How he wanted to take Cloud right here in this rain soaked and trash littered alleyway, but there just wasn't enough time. Those two would come looking for him any minute, and this was not how he wanted them to find him. This sense of urgency sent Sephiroth's heart into a wild frenzy, beating against his chest like an out of control drum.

"Dear, I have to leave. Please, don't think of this as goodbye forever. Our hearts are connected, I can feel it, can't you?" he whispered, feeling Cloud's milky smooth skin under his un-tucked shirt. There was not much time, since he could already hear shouts from the street.

"Yeah…"

"Every time it rains in Wutai, Cloud, I'll be thinking of you." Sephiroth muttered, giving Cloud one last kiss on the ear before sending him back to the base on a backstreet. The blonde ran away without saying a word. Luckily, he had left just as the SOLDIERs entered the alleyway, drenched from head to foot.

"Sir, we've been looking all over for you! What have you been doing…?" one asked, leaning on the brick wall. Sephiroth rose from his knees and smiled weakly, hot tears running down his cheeks amongst the cooling rain.

"I was just enjoying a drink of rainwater, that's all…"