Chapter Four: Trick or Treat

Zack pushed the trolley down the corridor, to the very last room of the 59th floor;
heaving a sigh. It was pure pain and torture, the job was dirty and nevertheless,
boring. This was the 25th day and he had managed to complete all 35 floors of
dormitories. He had never expected THE General Sephiroth to come up with such
a punishment. And all because of a single photograph landed him into such big
trouble.

He felt unjustified! Where was law and order when you needed them! It wasn't
only his fault! Why was he the only one getting all the punishment? Well, maybe
because it was that time when he glued Sephiroth to his seat in the meeting room,
hmmm. Or maybe it was because he had tried to dye his hair black to see if it
suited him or maybe… (I mean… hey! wouldn't black hair go with emerald eyes?)
BAH! He didn't get a lot of punishments, only a handful. Was it because the other
time he buffed Sephiroth's nails while he was asleep? Or perhaps it was the other
time when he… …hmmm, alright… scrap that, maybe a couple more handfuls.

True… he was the one who initiated the idea (the others just encouraged him
tremendously and that boasted his ego, HEH!) but that didn't mean for him to
suffer alone too! All he did was slam open the door while Sephiroth was bathing,
snapped a photograph and ran out of the room. And it wasn't even a full body shot!
It was only the upper half where he was topless and all gorgeous. That quick shot didn't
even make him look fat! It was flawless! Indeed a superb photograph! So why was
Sephiroth so angry! (Knowing Zack, he knows the reason better than anyone else but still
chooses to ignore "it's-right-in-your-face" facts that the General does not like his pranks.)

What he hadn't expected was an announcement over the building's system declaring he
do the laundry for all 35 floors of dormitories. At least, if one should look on the brighter
side, he was now considered a hero for Section 14-A, that was where all the homosexuals
were. (He made quite a bit of gil from selling that photograph too.) In fact, if one tried his
hardest to look on the greener side, he thought perhaps Sephiroth had opened up a little
more, giving such a ridiculous punishment despite his cool demeanor.

Zack heaved the 137th sigh of the day, patiently waiting for the laundry to be turned in.
Sephiroth badly needed to loosen up. Zack had tried all ways to make him laugh and it had
only caused him repeated failure. The General's eyes were lifeless and very empty. In fact,
it would be even worse after his visits to the lab and meetings with Professor Hojo. (And he
had no idea what happened during those meetings.)

Sephiroth would turn into a totally different person; in fact if one would stay long enough
to describe him, he would label him a monster. Sometimes he did not even recognize Zack
as a comrade or a friend but as a prey. He would glare at Zack with that malicious look that
made him want to scream in fright. It was almost as if Sephiroth could shred his soul just by
that glare.

His General talked to himself occasionally after those visits. Zack knew because he would
silently thread in his room and observe Sephiroth. The first few times it happened, Zack
thought he was talking on the phone. However the General hated handphones and tried to
do without them all his life. The next few times he paced around, and seemed to be in a
heated argument with himself. Zack never heard those conversations as he was quite far
away from Sephiroth. Getting caught would have caused serious damage, knowing his
General's temper and strength after those laboratory visits.

Being in this industry was harmful to one's mental health. The pay was excellent but one
had to have a reason to live for in this job or life would be quite meaningless. Zack scratched
his head, blushing a little at the thought of his family waiting for him to go home. Aeris would
be the one waiting outside the gate for him, welcoming him with a big hug and the sweetest smile.
Sidetracking a little, he pulled back from his daydreaming and focused on his current problem:
What would make his General smile?

Thinking of his next prank as he scooped the laundry from his comrade, he felt an unfamiliar material
in his hand. Looking at the source, he turned to frown at his comrade. This was the 40th women's
throng he had collected this day! His comrades had been sneaking in women for bodily pleasure. His
comrade gave a shrug and a sheepish grin as Zack shook his head and headed for His General's room.

Meanwhile…

Yuffie had snooped around the lounge for quite a bit. There next to the television area was the gym
and on the right was a huge spacious room which held all his swords. On the left was his bedroom
which held a king-sized bed, a room which held EIGHT wardrobe cupboards and a washroom that was
as big as her house in Wutai. Speaking of wardrobe, she felt really grimy after a whole day of adventure.
She was sticky from perspiration and was desperate for a bath. Searching through his wardrobes, she
managed to dig out a white singlet and baby blue boxers; both small enough to fit her. The General had
kept all his clothes and uniforms from his younger days in a single cupboard.

Happy with her findings, she headed to the bathroom for a refreshing bath.

Sephiroth answered the door. Standing outside the door was Zack, grinning lazily with the laundry
trolley. Sephiroth cued him in the room with a wave of his hand and Zack headed to the lounge to
grab his blankets and towels. Busy trying to strike a conversation with the General, he had not
heard the shower running when he pulled the bathroom door a little open and bent down to reach
for the laundry basket…

Until he heard:

"SEPHIROTH YOU BIG MEANIE! ARHH! PERVERT! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH MY CLOTHES!"

Zack's eyes shot open. He had not just heard a high pitched scream from the bathroom. He had NOT
just heard a female's voice from this particular bathroom. The General's bathroom. NOT HIS VERY COOL
AND COMPOSED GENERAL, no way! Twisting his head so fast to question Sephiroth, he managed to
catch a glimpse of his General's amused expression in his eyes, gazing past him and to the bathroom. It
had quickly went back to his stern conduct, as though that sacred expression was not meant for Zack's
eyes but only to that mysterious person in the bathroom.

This time, it must be His General's turn to play tricks on him.

Note:
I apologize for not updating soon but I've been working thus the delay. Zack's an interesting character to
write on, especially since he's so playful. :) Hello to Kit Thespian and Magy! Thank you to all reviewers (Oh LOVE!)
and (to Magy for) telling me that I've not been accepting anon. comments! Did this chapter satisfy your demands?
I certainly hope it did :)