Lights and Shadows

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Disclaimer: FFVII and all its characters belong to Square Enix Co. Ltd, not me. Wow, if you haven't gotten this by now, you're a sad, sad individual.

Italics - mental conversations

' ' - thoughts

" " - normal conversation

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Chapter Five: Bureaucrats and Zack's Girlfriend

Sephiroth sat quietly in his desk, writing almost mechanically on the papers on his desk. His 'partner' sat across the room staring at a document with a bored expression implanted on his face. He had that same expression ever since they started work again. Sephiroth never would admit it, but it was nice to have someone else in his office, even, if it was someone as loud and vociferous as Zachary Donovan. Zack's eyes tore away from the document and that only meant one thing: the percentage of him using that mouth of his was very high.

"Seph, do we have to do this all day long? Because this stuff is boring enough to put old people to sleep and old people like these kinds of things," Zack voiced out.

Sephiroth allowed his breath to escape harshly from his nose. "Until we have to inspect First Class in the evening, and then tomorrow you can sort through SOLDIER applications. Otherwise, stop your complaining and get your work done, Zachary."

Zack frowned slightly and then waved it off. "Okay, but are you feeling well today? You're still pale… wait… you're always pale, but that's beside the point."

He didn't bother to look up from his writing. "I'll live."

"That's good considering yesterday you couldn't move. At least we both got the day off, right? You should invite me over to watch some TV sometime."

"Zachary, don't push it."

"Never hurt to try." There was that cheesy smile of his again. Sephiroth hated it. It perplexed so on how this man could care so much about his well being. "Anyway, let's try to get done before this evening. I promised my girlfriend I'd go meet up with her then."

Sephiroth looked up at that. "You… have a girlfriend?" His voice was very calm and then he started laughing. Imagine someone as loud and flirtatious as Zack keeping a girlfriend longer than five minutes.

Zack glared at him. "Yes, I do. At least I can get laid… Even though, I'm not the one who needs it, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth glared at him with a look that could kill. "Zachary."

Zack smirked slightly in a devilish way. "Oh, I get it! You don't go for girls. That's all right."

Sephiroth's eyes narrowed at him. The man, no, boy didn't know when to stop. "My gender preferences shouldn't be any of your concern, nor my private life."

'What private life?' Seph's eyes narrowed even more as if he had heard him. "Well, of course it is, Sephiroth! I work along side you so it'd be nice to know so I can hook you up with someone nice!"

If anger could radiate in the air, it was at that moment. Sephiroth looked posed to kill Zack.

"What did I do wrong!"

"You're clever. You figure it out."

Zack frowned. "All I did was try to be nice to you. You know even that asshole Hojo takes in lovers ever once in a while. No one can walk alone in life, Sephiroth. It goes against human nature."

Sephiroth continued with his reports not once looking up. 'Funny, human…? I'd be surprised if I still was that after all the chemicals I've been injected with.'

Zack left out a sigh through his nostrils and got back to work. If Sephiroth wanted to remain silent, let him. He racked his hand through his hair and caught a glimpse at the clock. It was noon which meant two things. One, lunch break was thirty minutes from then and two he had seven hours before he would see his girlfriend, Aerith.

"So Sephiroth, where are we going to for lunch?"

"I don't remember saying 'we' were going anywhere."

"Fine, I see. You don't like me and after all the things I did for you." He crossed his arms and pouted albeit slightly.

Sephiroth sighed. He couldn't find himself much hating Zack as he would have thought. More he had respect for him ever since their sparring match and then yesterday. 'I don't believe anyone has actually cared before now. I don't quite understand what he getting from this. He can't move up any higher in the ranks unless he wants my job.' Sephiroth chuckled lightly to himself. Now, that was a thought that landed people in the mental ward.

"No, Zachary, I eat alone."

"Well, today, you're not. You will have the thrill of having my presence with you!"

"Wonderful." Warning sarcasm is the next step down from not allowing 'that to happen' state. 'Well, if it is hero worship or bribery, I'll be sure to cut him down right now.'

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Sephiroth stared idly out of the window of the limousine with both of his hands intertwined in his lap. He couldn't recollect the last time he actually went out himself to eat lunch. Normally, his secretary or some delivery boy brought what he ordered. But Zack insisted that it was better to go retrieve it yourself. The boy was across the seat gawking at all the gadgets in the car. Sephiroth pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

"Zachary, sit back and stop bouncing around like a chocobo on drugs."

"Oh calm down, I'm not hurting anything besides maybe aggravating you." He smiled. "Any-way, I hope you'll like this place. It isn't ritzy, but the food's good. Though, I did have them clear out in advance most of the potential fan girls. Then again, most people will think you're cosplaying as Sephiroth and doing a damn good job at it."

The car stopped at an upper middle class restaurant. Now, this was a first time. Sephiroth was a brat in the way that he only got the best or the most expensive. He stepped out of the car with such natural grace that he carried himself. He always seemed regal and noble when he moved. Zack walked beside him with his hands tucked into his pockets with a slightly slumped posture, the opposite of posed and dignity of the person beside him.

Inside they were escorted by a waiter to their table. Zack noted that Sephiroth did change into something more civilian looking. He had discarded his leather trenchcoat for a polyester long coat that he pushed the sleeves up to his elbows. He wore a black tanktop as well. Gaia knows that he needn't show off his chest. There was no need to attract more attention to himself than necessary. Zack sighed as he took a menu in hand. Sephiroth had already told the waiter what drinks they wanted, and the waiter served it to them. He had only to listen inside Zack's mind for his drink of choice. He really didn't want unnecessary conversation either, even if most of the restaurant stared in their direction.

"Man, it looks like you've already attracted some friends." Zack snickered, referring to the women who gawked at him.

"They aren't friends, just a bunch of horny women looking for a cute guy for a quick lay."

"Don't be so harsh, besides, one nighters can be fun!" Zack closed one of his eyes and sipped his drink.

"Only you would know."

"Don't be so harsh. You should try it at least one time in your life. You only live once."

'That explains your behavior."

Zack frowned, but could say no more as the waiter came to serve the both of them. He took their order and went back to collect on it. It took a record time to get their meals at about fifteen minutes. Still, they were surrounded by stares and whispers. Sephiroth cringed at this. He hated his mental capabilities and heightened senses. He really never cared to know what those women wanted to do to him. To him it was an unappealing venture. By no means was he innocent, but he'd never admit to the times alcohol led him to do less than desirable actions he had to deal with when he woke up the next morning. Most of the women he remembered waking up to the next morning were geishas. They wanted to please the SOLDIERs over their victories even if their own men were just defeated.

They attempted to save their own skins in the end, trying to work into his good graces as to persuade him to keep their culture and dignity in tact. He would visit and stay at the inns with his men where the geisha filled him with sake and then took him to the backrooms. He would arouse the next morning with a migraine and an extremely sore back. He never really did it out of passion, but in a moment of weakness that he gave into his base instincts and the alcohol.

"Hey Sephiroth are you okay?" Zack asked, breaking him from his trance.

"Fine."

"Okay because you were blanking out there for a second."

"Just reminiscing."

Zack nodded and asked no more of him. A man's past was his own and that was something even his prying self couldn't bring to get out of a man, especially Sephiroth. He continued to eat and watch the man in front of him. The more he got to know Sephiroth, the more he intrigued Zack.

Reflecting back, lunch with Zachary was a welcomed relief from normal routine. Then, it was back to the same routine, work on reports, inspect the troops, and attend a meeting with the top executives. Apparently, the war had been declared officially over, but some platoons remained to strip Wutai of any dignity Godo managed to salvage. That just meant more headaches for him. Soon he would be sent back to Wutai, not as a warrior, but as a representative of Shin-Ra 'bringing peace'.

He rubbed his temples, even in the sanctuary of his home he couldn't rest. Well, it didn't help that he had been ill just the day before and it still affected him. He still had paperwork to complete and it was already well into the night. Most people were out on the town enjoying the company of their significant other. He, by choice, chose not to ever participate, but instead stay at home and dwell over his work. There wasn't much else to do. The television was on, but it wasn't anything that invoked his interest. He felt that he was going to pull an all nighter.

If Shinra wasn't so damn adamant about getting things done so quickly, he wouldn't have to stay up late at night. Heidegger also had a habit of adding to his workload. The man was fat and lazy. He gave work to Sephiroth that he should have done himself, but decided Sephiroth needed more work. It often made him wonder how the man became the leader of Peace Enforcement. True, the man had some sense under the lard that caked him, but money got you everywhere in Midgar. This was true of Heidegger. What he wouldn't pay to see that man get his just dues.

He looked up at his door, hearing footsteps outside in the corridors. Shortly afterwards a gentle knock came to the door. Sephiroth groaned. Who would dare disturb him at this ungodly hour? He opened the door to find himself staring down at Zachary. Sephiroth's expression didn't change, but he appeared less than happy with the situation.

"What do you want, Zachary?" His voice was calm and very controlled.

Zack barged past him and made himself comfortably on the couch. The man reeked of alcohol. Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at him. He shouldn't even be allowed into his home, but couldn't find reason to throw him out.

"You don't mind me staying here do you?" His words were slurred and it took him much effort to talk. He leaned back into the sofa and made himself at home without awaiting a reply.

Sephiroth growled and threw a heavy blanket at him before walking off to the back part of his home. Damn, he wasn't going to get any work done with him around. He didn't have time to deal with Zack's foolery. Drunks were the worse type of humanity to deal with. He should have thrown him to the street, but he owed him for tending to his poisoning the day prior. Zack offered him a goofy, drunkard smile.

"Aren't you gonna- assk what happened…?" Zack leaned dangerously over the arm of the couch pointing haphazardly into the air.

"No, I can already guess."

Zack continued, choosing not to listen to him. "Well… I had the most wonderful time! Until Aerith started acting funny. Something about people going afters her. I kill himm or her… She thinks I have something to do with it… Ha! Funny, me a kidnapper!" He started laughing uncontrollably.

Sephiroth raised his eyebrow slightly and narrowed his eyes slightly at Zack before retreated to his own room. "Go to bed, Zachary."

"Yes sir."

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The room remained fairly quiet. The long conference table was seated with every leader of the Shin-Ra government minus the General of the armed forces and his second in command. It was late at night, but everyone sat to full attention with the Turks standing erect with their hands behind their backs. Shinra sat at the head of the table with his hands clasped together in front of his face. Scarlet puffed idly on her cigarette. Beside her was Reeve who looked uneasy, but otherwise nothing out of the ordinary. Hojo as always was focused and had a certain glee in his black eyes. Palmer was chewing on a donut and Heidegger was shifting through some documents. Though, there was a new addition to the panel that night, the young vice president, Rufus Shinra.

Scarlet flicked the excess ashes from her cigarette. "So what is the point in this meeting and at such an ungodly hour? I've things to do."

"Don't fret your little blonde head, Scarlet; you won't be here for long. I've called to order to announce the official surrender of Wutai." Shinra answered, remaining calm, but with an evil look in his eyes.

"Yes, that means we can finally establish the new reactors over there," Heidegger said in deadpan.

"The mako is too far underground there for us to try such a venture," Reeve responded, "We've already looked into it and the mako is so far down that it wouldn't be profitable to try."

"Then, what are we going to use Wutai for? There is no use conquering the area and not making full use of their resources." Scarlet commented.

The young brat prince raised his head. "We can always disband their army and use it as a tourist attraction. That would increase our profits so that we can develop our other programs back here in Midgar."

"Brilliant." Shinra stated, "I want this reported to the general and the other representatives going to these treaty assignments. Thank you, Rufus. Everyone take notes and follow suit in action."

"What about the space program, sir?" Palmer interjected.

"Nothing will change." Shinra said with a cool demeanor. "At this moment in time that is the least of our concerns. Everyone is dismissed except those I conversed with earlier."

Reeve, Scarlet, Palmer, Rufus, and Heidegger stood and left without another word. That left only the Turks and Hojo with President Shinra. There was a long eerie silence and edginess in the air. The Turks shifted nervously, no one was comfortable around Hojo except Shinra. Veld lifted his head up and cautiously approached the President.

"Let's get straight to the point. How is Project J-1 progressing? You have failed to inform me as of late." Shinra started.

"He's progressing as beautifully as we expected and I can now move him into the final phase of the Project. The problem is getting him to showing us where the Promise Land is. Otherwise he has shown flawless results in every aspect. Though, I do desire that his mental capabilities were a bit better." Hojo replied.

"You're rambling again, Professor," Shinra took up a cigar and lit it. "At any rate, professor, make sure that I see results. I've invested too much money into this project for it to fail. I want you, personally, to make sure that any potential problem is weeded out at the source, immediately."

"Certainly, Mr. President, all the problems will be weeded out very, very soon," Hojo's shoulders shook slightly as he laughed to himself.