It didn't take long for Sephiroth to admit to his friends. Through Angeal his pupil learned as well. Zack stopped asking questions and let it be.
Since the relationship started there were less incidents during their training sessions. And as Sephiroth pushed Cloud harder, he improved drastically.
Even his classmates and teachers noticed the changes. Cloud has become less withdrawn. He's actually participating in groups when the lesson called for it. Although his brutal honesty still earned some distaste, people knew better than to argue.
Soon Cloud and Kunsel weren't the odd ones out. The latter was delighted with the change. The blond was taking it all in stride even though he still didn't like socialization.
Then there was a sudden change.
Training room was closed with no explanation as to why. Cloud noticed Genesis has become scarce. Even Angeal, but the first time he seen him the blond paused.
"What happened to Genesis?" He asked.
Zack was confused. He watched his mentor silently. Angeal was shocked.
"What do you mean? He's fine." The commander tilted his head.
"His scent changed. Sweet and rotting. Like the fruit has rotted. And it's replaced with something sweet. Like when Zack bakes cupcakes."
"You mean vanilla?" Zack caught on what he was trying to describe.
"Yeah. The stuff that tastes horrible unless mixed and baked." Cloud couldn't believe he forgot the name.
Angeal stared at the blond. His face was masked perfectly. But his eyes told everything. Pain, concern, shock, and uncertainty. Something was definitely going on.
"Nothing is wrong." Angeal spoke plainly.
That was a lie. They all knew it. But if Angeal wouldn't talk then they didn't have the authority to press further. So Cloud tried a different route.
"What happened with Genesis?" Cloud asked Sephiroth that evening.
"What makes you ask such a thing? I haven't seen him in a while. I presumed he was at the front lines." Sephiroth was confused.
"His scent changed. I smelt it on Angeal. It's...rotten and covered by sweetness."
"Hmm. He did suffer an injury. Perhaps that caused a drastic change? He ended up needing blood donated."
"When did that happen?" Cloud was surprised this was kept quiet.
"Nearly a month ago. Almost right after we started sharing a bed." Sephiroth had been too busy to fully think about that incident. Then again he forced himself to work so he couldn't.
A part of him wondered if he should tell Cloud everything. Sephiroth decided if the need arose then he will. Until then he wanted Cloud out of this feud that sparked dramatically.
Cloud let it be after that night. At some point he even forgot about it. Until almost two weeks later.
He and Kunsel were joining Zack and some new buddies in the cafeteria. This was Cloud's first time venturing in there. The scents of so many people drove him away. This time he promised Zack and Kunsel he would come.
Soon as they entered Cloud stopped. His body froze as his nose was hit with the same scent fermenting throughout the large room. And the majority of the people were the source.
The same rotting fruit and vanilla extract.
"Cloud? You doing all right?" Zack tilted his head, noticing how pale the blond was.
His voice snapped Cloud out of the shock. And instead of answering he turned and bolted. He ignored his friends calling out to him. He raced down hallways to evade them as he pulled out his PHS.
"Director Lazard speaking."
"Where is Genesis?" Cloud demanded.
"What is the reason for this demand?"
"Nearly everyone in Third Class is infected with the same rotting scent that has taken over Genesis. Now where he is he?" Cloud couldn't pick up a trail.
Too many individuals had the same scent. And the metal of the building wasn't helping matters. He had to narrow the search.
"He's about to depart to the front lines by the hangar."
"Keep him grounded! I'm confronting him!" Cloud hung up and put his PHS on silent as he changed direction to the hangars.
He ran until the hangars were within sight. He could hear Genesis arguing with someone about why they weren't leaving. Cloud caught his breath and hid to listen.
"What the hell is taking so long?"
"There's an issue with the deployment. Sir." A Soldier answered shakily.
"We were just cleared for flight!"
"Orders. Sir." The Soldier gulped.
"From who?" The red commander demanded.
"Director Lazard."
"Fucking hell!" Genesis reached into a pocket.
"Genesis!" Cloud came out of his hiding place.
"Bold of you not to address me by my rank. Even if you're Sephiroth's muse." His pale eyes glared heatedly.
"What did you do to the Third Class Soldiers?"
"I'm afraid you will have to clarify a few things. But whatever it is, I've done nothing."
"Your scent changed. The summer is scorching, and the fruit rotten. The majority of Third Class Soldiers have the same scent as you." Cloud glared back.
"That still doesn't prove anything. As I've told you before, I have done nothing to those men." Genesis remained stubborn.
"Then whatever has inflicted you has spread!" Cloud was at a loss.
Was Genesis not the source? Then who would? Unless a lab coat? Someone would have access to Genesis and his blood. Then spread the rot to others without their knowing.
"What infliction are you taking about? And how would it spread?"
"You're sick. You never fully recovered from your injury. A lab coat is using those men as scape goats to find a cure." Cloud connected the dots.
And suddenly Genesis swung with all his fury. Cloud blocked. With nearly two months of harsh training under Sephiroth he learned to be caught unawares. His muscle memory reacted in time as the commander was a blur.
"It's not a Soldier's job to uncover secrets. Leave that to the Turks!" Genesis hissed as he tried to strike again.
"I'm not like you dogs!" Cloud snarled as he blocked.
"Ha! Look who's calling the kettle black!"
Genesis lunged again. This time Cloud deflected. As he did he noticed that the commander was favoring his left arm with the way it tensed. His hand flexed to help release the tension. And yet strangely he didn't use his materia?
Unless the injury was the left side? It couldn't be the arm, otherwise it wouldn't move at all. Then it occurred to Cloud that perhaps the back. Maybe the shoulder.
With that in mind the blond began a series of attacks to overwhelm Genesis. He used all his speed and strength. Cloud never had the chance to face Genesis to fully gage the differences in their strengths.
So he treated this like any other day in training with Sephiroth. And as he came close to landing hits Cloud felt a surge of energy. And he came to realize he was stronger than Genesis by far.
Was this how Sephiroth felt? Being so powerful that it felt that nothing can stand in his way? It was thrilling. And frightening at the same token.
He began to prepare to perform one of Sephiroth's techniques. Cloud had never done this before. Even so he memorized every move. And he had only seen it once in action.
"What? No!" Genesis caught on.
He tried to make a run for it.
Cloud's eyes hyper focused on the commander. His wolfish smile revealing fangs made everyone's blood run cold. And with all his speed he began Octaslash.
One. Two. Three strikes in a single breath. Cloud hit from different angles.
"How is this possible?" Genesis was tossed into the air from the third.
Four. Five. Six. Seven slashes were blurred together. Even so Genesis felt the pain from all of them. He tried to move or block to interrupt the attack but Cloud was too fast. The blond too driven after seeing the commander try to run.
The eighth landed on the back. Cloud aimed for the left side. Genesis yelled out in pain as his shoulder wound reopened. The commander crash landed onto the floor. Cloud landed just as Public Security and a few Soldiers arrived.
"The Heart Eater has gone rogue! He attacked me!" Genesis took advantage of the confusion.
"No, wait!" Cloud tried to argue.
They wouldn't listen. Guns pointed at him. And the Soldiers approached swords in hand. Cloud panicked and braced for another fight.
Then a gloved hand placed itself on his shoulder.
"All of you stand down." Sephiroth's voice carried the tone 'or else'.
"Fuck you!" Genesis snapped as he struggled to stand. "You just allow him to get away with everything, don't you!?"
"Enough. Genesis." The general glared.
"Don't you start! He attacked me!"
"Actually...I saw you attack him." Zack came out of hiding.
Cloud was confused. When did he get here? How much did he see? How much did Sephiroth see? Did the director inform them what was going on? As he pondered this, Angeal emerged from a door.
"Genesis!" Angeal called out.
"Stay out of this!" The red commander spat. "I stand by what I said, your wolf attacked first!"
"Who else can verify either claim?" Sephiroth inquired the entire hangar.
"It's true! Commander Rhapsodos swung first!" The Soldier who was the unfortunate messenger that the commander wasn't being deployed spoke up with a shaking voice.
"So then it has come to this." Sephiroth spoke to himself, but Genesis and Cloud heard him.
"He's a monster that's twisted all of you." Genesis straightened.
"Then what does that make you?" The general countered.
"A different kind of monster." He extended out his left arm. With it a black wing stretched out.
Cloud narrowed his eyes. The source that changed Genesis from within had taken form. A giant wing that was almost twisted and ominous.
"I see Cloud as he truly is. As he accepted the twisted darkness of his heart, so have I. Only difference is I aim to actually do something with my life than be a puppet."
The words stung. Piercing through as if Cloud had just been pierced by a sword in his chest. He welcomed the fact his pride kept him from showing his pain.
"He's a better person than you ever will be." Sephiroth defended.
"We shall see. Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return."
With one stroke of the wing Genesis took flight. Black feathers drifted down in his wake. Even the taint in the commander was effecting the new appendage.
"Zack. Come with us to the director's office." Sephiroth turned to take the lead.
Cloud silently followed with Zack at his heels. Reluctantly Angeal brought up the rear. He had one last glance at the feathers before turning away and closed off his heart.