Chapter Eleven

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the world.

A/N: Wutai will be spoken in bold. Tseng's name is just a random Japanese name that I like the sound of. I also used certain Japanese words and customs for Wutai particularly regarding family structure. This is meant with no disrespect and if I muck it up, I apologize in advance.

…

Zack stared blankly at the two men in front of him. He was more than a little concerned about his new friend's mental stability and frustrated over that same friend. The irritation would have to wait for a more appropriate time. Right now Cloud looked brittle enough to break a part with one blow. Zack knew he needed to stay calm to keep Cloud from losing it. The blond may seem like he had it together, but Zack remembered the rage Cloud displayed at Angeal only hours ago.

"…Come again?" Ok, so probably not the smartest response possible.

"That was a little rough." The demon told Cloud. His voice was deep and soft, but Zack was surprised at how kind is sounded. Demons weren't supposed to have kind voices. They were supposed to have evil rotten voices that made ears bleed to hear them.

Cloud shook his head and rubbed his face with a deep sigh. Zack felt a pull on his heartstrings even as he tried to hold onto his anger. Cloud looked drained, Zack didn't think he had a decent night's sleep in a while. He physically looked young but at the same time, he also appeared worn and faded. Like a blade that had been used and abused too many times by the owner. Wear and tear and rust, Zack didn't know it could apply to people too.

"It's a long story and we don't have a lot of time to go into complete detail." Cloud sighed "Do either of you know about the Weapons of the Planet?"

"I have heard of them. The Turks have encountered them in the past." Tseng answered.

Zack stared at Tseng for a brief moment. When did that happen? Why hadn't he heard about it? Were the Turks gathering them in secret? That sounded like something Turks would do.

"I haven't!" Zack exclaimed, turning his attention back onto Cloud.

"A Weapon is a type of monster that the planet created to protect itself from any threat, perceived or real. There are several variations of them. Most are enormous metallic beasts. Some appear to be made of nothing but energy. Then there's me."

Cloud paused for several long seconds. He looked even more haunted than he had just a moment ago. Zack really wished he could have kept his big mouth shut. But he needed to know what was going on. As much as he wanted to hide away from what Cloud was saying he couldn't, he was a Soldiers and Soldiers didn't run. As much as it was hurting Cloud, he needed the information only the blond could provide.

"That's what I am, a Weapon. Seven or eight years ago, my time, I fell into the lifestream. The Planet took me, crafted me, and controlled me. In many ways… it still does." Cloud smiled grimly "I wasn't lying when I said I haven't been human for a long time."

Zack saw the demon shoot a sharp glare at the back of Cloud's head. It was obvious that Vincent knew what Cloud was talking about and didn't like whatever it meant. He didn't say anything about it though. Zack wondered how Cloud was able to sit so calmly under that baleful gaze.

"Are you a Weapon too?" Zack indicated the demon. He tried not to flinch as the demon turned that red glare back onto him.

"Vincent is…more complex than that. He is, and at the same time, he…isn't." Cloud answered instead.

Huh…so the demon, no Vincent let Cloud speak for him. Were they really that close? Cloud seemed perfectly fine under Vincent's claws and Vincent seemed content to follow anything Cloud said trusting the blond even if he didn't agree with him. Zack had a hard time letting anyone speak for him, even Angeal. To know and trust someone that well confounded him. That trust was even harder to give since his mentor left him. He couldn't trust anyone these days.

Maybe he was looking at it the wrong way. Cloud seemed so shy around him yet was obviously used to being in charge. He didn't look to him or Tseng for instructions and he certainly gave out commands like the thought of someone disobeying didn't even cross his mind. That would put at least some truth into what Cloud was saying. Corporals didn't give commands to anyone. Maybe they were from the future and Vincent was simply used to following Cloud's lead. Zack studies the demon closely. He couldn't ask about the inner workings and thoughts on the demon. Only time and familiarity will solve that puzzle.

Zack's curiosity was definitely taking over as he focused on a new line of thought. Why now? Why come back now? Cloud already existed in this time and he didn't look all that old.

"How far into the future are you two from." Zack asked then quickly added "assuming I believe you of course."

Cloud appeared to think about it before answering, "Um…twelve years, I think, give or take a few months."

"That's not that far off." Zack thought about it for half a second "Hey! Did we know each other? Are we the best of friends in the future?" It made sense to him if they were. It explained why Cloud wanted to be near him. He wondered what he was like. Was he a brave Soldier hero? Were he and Cloud close?

"That's not relevant." Tseng chimed in.

"It is relevant Tseng." Zack insisted.

Cloud ignored them. He was lost in his own world, smiling at a memory only he could see. The range of emotions that crossed his face humbled Zack. "He was…what I imagine having a big brother would be like. He…protected me when no one else would…or could. I owe him…you, everything."

Cloud came back to himself and caught Zack's eyes, the love and determination shined out to him. Zack didn't know what to think. No one ever looked at him like that before and he felt unworthy of it. HE hadn't done anything to deserve such devotion, that was someone else.

Zack rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment "I…uh…I well, uh, you-you don't, um" He trailed off embarrassed.

"This is all very interesting, but it doesn't explain why you jumped us in the study." Zack could have kissed Tseng for taking the focus.

As Cloud turned his attention to Tseng he lost all trace of softness, his features were once more hard and impassive. For the first time in Zack's memory Vincent left Cloud's back to stand closer to Zack. He met the red eyes once more and tried not to flinch from the man and he thought he did a pretty good job of facing the demon until that ruby gaze shifted once more into a sickly yellow. In that second it felt like something else was staring at him through Vincent's eyes…something truly evil. He was less convinced the guy wasn't a demon. Or that he had Cloud's back.

"In truth, I panicked. That lab holds most of my nightmares and seeing you in there…" Cloud sat back and shrugged "I overreacted. I may not be human any more, but I'm not perfect." Vincent huffed silently but Zack still heard it. "I'm being open now because there's something I need to insure doesn't happen when we leave."

"What is that?" Tseng asked.

"Your silence."

"What?" Zack blurted.

"What I'm going to tell you can't be discussed with anyone outside this room. Not to anyone in Soldier, not within the Turks, no one. It's vitally important that no one who hasn't been cleaned be made aware that we are here."

Zack could tell that Cloud was being deadly serious right now.

"Why?" Zack asked "And what do you mean 'cleaned'?"

"Because if Jenova finds out, then everything I'm trying to do will be for nothing. Everyone will die, the world will end. Game over, we lose." Cloud said harshly. Cloud closed his eyes and visibly brought his emotions back under control.

"Everyone on the planet has been infected by Jenova in some way. The moment Gast discovered her, she started infecting the population. My entire purpose is to eliminate her but before I can remove the source, I need to get rid of the infection. To do that I have a serum that will wipe out Jenova cells without harming the host. Remember the cure to Degradation Hojo gave me Zack?" Zack nodded "Well, the cure was based off of that."

"So Angeal and possibly Genesis have already been 'cleaned?"

Cloud nodded, "So have you two."

"What! When?" Zack shouted.

"While you slept." Vincent answered when Cloud flinched away from his shout. "We could not tell you if you weren't, and Cloud knew you would want answers."

Logically it made sense but Zack still felt a little violated. He had enough stuff he didn't know about pumped into his body by Shinra. He didn't like that they didn't bother pretending to give him the option of accepting or refusing. He probably would have taken it anyway, but he wanted the choice. One glance at Tseng and it was clear the Turk felt the same way.

Tseng glared at them "You had no right."

"I have every right." Cloud said bleakly "It's my mission. The only difference here is that I told you. You want answers, I will give you all I can, but I need your silence before I can go any further."

"Then convince me." Tseng challenged.

"You, I don't have to." Cloud told the Turk "You will go along with anything and everything I tell you to."

"Why is that?"

Cloud's entire focus was on Tseng now. It was almost like Zack wasn't in the room with them anymore. He glanced at Vincent in confusion and the demon met his eyes with his blood red ones and shook his head slowly. For the first time since they woke up, Cloud stood from his chair and approached them. He knelt in front of Tseng and held his gaze with a look that Zack could only describe as pity.

"Because I know ..."

The demon had erected a silence barrier before he could hear what Cloud had said but he would never forget as he watched Tseng turned deathly white and collapse forward. Cloud jumped out of the chair just in time to catch the Turk.

"What's happening?" Zack demanded.

"It is not for you."

…

…Natsume Mikoto

Tseng could hear a ringing in his ears. His vision had blanked. He couldn't breathe. He knew he was going into shock, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. He hadn't heard that name in years, a decade. It was erased, destroyed. Impossible, it was impossible. No one knew. No one could ever know.

The fog thankfully only lasted for a few seconds before Tseng quickly became aware of his surroundings again. He was bent over with his head resting on Strife's shoulder; one of Strife's hands in his hair holding him. His own hands were clutched tight in Strife's vest and he could hear a soft litany of his voice saying comforting nonsense in his ear.

Tseng viciously fought himself back into control as he pushed Cloud back. The blond allowed some distance between them but not enough for Tseng to feel comfortable.

"How?" he whispered.

"You told me." Cloud murmured.

"Impossible."

He never told anyone. No Turk would. It went against everything, not even his fellow Turks knew. The only one who did would have been Veld and nothing would crack that old bastard. He couldn't have gotten it from his family either as they didn't know he was a Turk.

"I know. But you once trusted me. I need your trust again."

"Why would I trust you?"

"The southern island was under attack by Jenova's puppets. My group was getting ready to head out when you showed up and pulled me into a conference room. You raised a barrier and stared at me. You didn't say anything…just stared. Finally, you handed me a picture of a family at a beach. It was old and worn. Mom, Dad, two boys and an adorable little girl with the biggest smile I've ever seen."

Tseng stared at the man. He knew intimately the photo Cloud was talking about. It was sitting in the bottom of the safe in Veld's office.

"You asked me…if I could, save them. Afterward…"

Cloud paused lost in thought.

"Afterward you showed up out of your Turk suit and introduced us. After that…whenever there was a calm you would drag me and Denzel back there. I don't know why you did it. You never told me your reasons."

Cloud smiled wistfully.

"Denzel loved that beach."

"Who is Denzel?" Tseng asked.

"My son."

That was a secret that equaled Cloud knowing his name. Family was the most important thing to have in Wutai. He'd done everything he could to protect his family from his life. He couldn't imagine trusting a stranger with them.

Tseng nodded slowly "I understand."

Tseng blinked as he realized he had slipped into his mother tongue in his shock. He stared at Cloud with bewilderment. This man knew him. He spoke his language fluently, which he himself never used anymore and worked hard to destroy his accent. He knew his name and his family. Could he really trust this stranger with responsibility of not just his life, but possibly the Turks and those he's sworn to protect as well? Could he take that chance? He knew his name.

"So long as it doesn't interfere with my duties and obligations as a Turk, I will follow. Were they still alive?"

"Yukiko had married and had a little one on the way when I left. Your mother was driving everyone crazy preparing for things. Ryu had stepped up and protected the village borders. Your father…I'm sorry."

Tseng nodded his understanding. Cloud was right, he didn't have to go any further to convince him. Tseng's loyalty was well and truly caught.

Cloud slowly stood up in front of him. He placed one hand back in Tseng's hair and pulled him forward to lean on his side. Tseng accepted the care this time. He turned slightly to watch Zack. He sat further away from him than what Tseng remembered. The stranger Vincent had his normal hand on the other's arm. The Soldier looked upset, Tseng could imagine why.

With a gesture from Cloud, Vincent dropped the barrier that separated them from the others. Cloud stepped back from Tseng's side to face Zack. Tseng wasn't paying that much attention anymore. He was trying to wrap his head around the fact that this stranger knew him more deeply than anyone else alive.

"What happened just now?" Zack asked a little miffed at being excluded.

"Forgive me Zack" Cloud answered firmly "But that conversation is both private and personal to Tseng. Any questions relating to it are off limits."

Zack stared at Cloud for a moment before relenting. Tseng was grateful Zack didn't push.

"OK, I can accept that." Zack scratched his head "so…where do we go from here."

"That kind of depends on you. Will you keep silent?"

"If I don't, what would you do?" Tseng watched Cloud tense and Vincent shift to watch Zack closely.

"Please don't make me answer that Zack." Cloud all but begged. "I have a duty I MUST carry out. I cannot yield, even for those I hold most dear."

"Angeal was cleared or cleansed right? So I'll be able to talk to him about this if I need to?"

"Once he's been read in, then yes you can talk to him about this." Cloud ground out.

Tseng and Vincent watched Cloud and Zack stare at each other. Whatever Zack decided at this point would determine the way things would go in the future. Vincent, Tseng noticed, showed no emotion regarding the tension between the two enhanced men. As for Tseng, he had no energy to do more than passively observe the battle of wills. His earlier shock was still affecting him, and he needed to know that Cloud could actually handle the obligation as he claimed.

It appeared that Zack made his decision when he scratched his head and sighed, "Alright Spike, I'll keep my mouth shut for the time being. But I want to know everything when we get back. If this is going to work, there can be no holding back information. OK?"

Cloud relaxed almost completely, "When we get back." He promised.

"We should go. Reno won't wait forever and Rude will follow." Tseng said. Cloud nodded and offered his hand to Tseng to pull him up, he accepted. Cloud offered his hand to Zack who smiled wryly and took it to pull himself up. Vincent shifted to stand behind Cloud again.

"I still want to hear your buddy's story; I bet it's an interesting one." Zack's joke was strained.

Cloud just smirked, "His story is the most interesting one of all of us. But you'll have to get it out of him." He said as he led them out the building and through the mansion.

Tseng turned to look back at their newest companion. There was something oddly familiar within his ruby gaze. Something that was digging in the back of his mind. He was too worn to give it his complete attention, but when they return he had some research to do. He may have decided to place his trust in Strife but Hojo and this stranger were two very different stories.