Sorry for the lateness... But as I said, I was really hoping to get more than 2 Reviews in over 600 clicks for this story =(( I'm new at this kind of thing so I would love some feedback! Also, still looking for a Beta reader, preferably with facebook or something... I'm not very active on skype (but might have to be...)

HeartofGeorgia: We should really try to get in contact DX I'll try to get on Skype if you can tell me your online times! (Mine would be like 3am - 12pm US time... which I guess kinda sucks for you =(

Guest: No, it was only a dream! Their relationship will slowly progress (:

Enjoy!

I arrived at Zack's apartment with a big grin on my face.

After explaining him my first experiences, I was eager to learn more about my instructor.

We were chilling on his sofa and my friend had given me a drink.

"Sooo", he started. "What to tell you... Well, there's not really a lot to tell. I'm going to tell you how I see him, as his friend..."

I didn't notice how I had begun to move around on the sofa. "Tell meee" I nagged, immediately hating that I must have been sounding like a little child. 'What is this man doing to me...'

"Well. After knowing him for some time, I know that to a few of us - the ones he's close to - he is absolutely loyal. He's friendly, even has a sense of humor... It's really fun to message with him, I tell you. In person, he doesn't make as many jokes, at least not in public."

My eyes widened a little. "Maybe I do have to write him sometime..."

From the corner of my eye I could see Zack nodding enthusiastically.

"He doesn't let many people close to him. Most of the time, he tries to turn people away with his cold and arrogant attitude... I don't really understand why, but that's his thing." The raven haired stretched his arms and pulled me into a hug.

I didn't usually react to these, being used to that from Zack, but the next thing made me blush.

"We do that a lot, too. Just a few hours ago, it wasn't you in my arms but Seph...", he said flirtingly.

"Whaaaa" I moved backwards, almost falling off the sofa. "Really?" By the look on his face, I could tell that Zack had accomplished whatever he had wanted to by telling me that. He chuckled and helped pulling me up again.

"Yeah. Don't worry, I was just teasing you." His grin stayed wide as he grabbed my beer bottle, having finished his, and took a sip.

I gulped. "... and you are sure that you two aren't...?"

"Hum?" His eyes turned into big puppy dog ones. "Ohhhh!" Then he realized what I meant.

"No, no!", he defended himself. "You know that I like that one girl from the flower shop... and Seph... I don't think he's interested in males. Or romance in general, I don't know... General, ya get it?"

He started repeatedly poking my side with his elbow but I didn't notice or care anymore, as some kind of lightning had struck me just now. My eyelids lowered a little and I slumped down in my seat. 'True... The famous hero of the war wouldn't want to be connected to something like that... Or be called gay, for that matter... I'm nothing but his student as well...'

My mood had really dropped from one second to another but Zack didn't notice until his (my) beer was finished.

"Everything ok, Spike?" He put a hand on my shoulder.

I moved my head up again quickly and tried my best to smile. "Yeah... uhm... what else can you tell me about him?"

No doubt, I was happy that Zack's attention span was as short as it was, so his face already lit up again, as he thought about what else he could tell me. I was glad that we were able to drop the topic, since I was not exactly eager to mention that I had apparently started liking the General.

"Oh, yeah! He is really calm and collected in all dangerous situations, so whenever we go on a mission, I feel safe around him all the time!" He grinned at me. "I don't think that I need to mention how strong he is... but he can control it well."

I nodded, now really looking forward to future training with him. 'Might as well try to make the best of my situation, I should just enjoy having an awesome fighting instructor like that'.

"Okay, I see... That's nice." I mumbled.

My gaze turned outside, it was already getting dark. The sun had already set but there still was a faint orange in the distance, where it had been. That orange was followed by a yellow which soon turned into blue which got darker and darker, the more my eyes moved up.

"I think that's all for now... Told ya, it really wasn't that much. It's best you get to know him yourself. When's your next appointment, by the way?"

I turned to look at Zack again. "Uhm... He said he'd SMS me as soon as he knew when he'd have some time."

Casually, my hand moved into my pocket and I noticed that I had left my phone at home.

My friend nodded, he had already started to clean up the rests of our evening snacks and the two beer bottles. 'Wow, he got me so distracted that I forgot about mine...'

We hugged eachother goodbye later and I blushed lightly again when I remembered what he had said about Sephiroth having been in his arms before.

The next morning I woke up with a surprise, it was my phone vibrating. "Ahh, Zack..." I mumbled and grabbed it. The time read 6:40, so it was almost time to get up for morning training. Kunsel, my roommate, was still sound asleep in the room next to me.

Grumbling, I grabbed the smart phone and unlocked it. What I saw then made my heart skip a beat. It wasn't Zack... the name read... Sephiroth.

All of sudden, I was wide awake. My fingers clicked his message shakily.

*Tomorrow at 11 am. Confirm by SMS, please. Greetings, Sephiroth*

A grin spread across my face. This simple message had already made my day better. In a hurry, I typed an answer. *That's fine by me :) I will study for my theoretical part until then, so my instructor will be proud ;) *

I felt my fingers tremble a little and had the urge to mentally slap myself for adding the last part. But I had to find out whether what Zack had told me was true. Therefore, I wanted to try to tickle it out of him, the "sense of humor" and friendliness that my friend had mentioned.

Meanwhile, I started getting dressed and also gave Kunsel a poke to wake up.

A little bit of disappointment washed over me when I didn't get an answer from the General before going to the morning training... But then I remembered that we were talking about a busy man here - who played an important role in ShinRa. He probably wouldn't have a lot time to answer his students.

The training took place in a facility in the basement of the main ShinRa building so the students didn't have to take the bus to the mountains every time.

"Every time" only meant two times per week anyway, on Monday and Friday. As a 3rd class, we spent most time studying to become 2nd class - where the morning trainings would get more frequent.

The training itself was very basic, mostly some kind of martial arts - without weapons.

I had to admit that I felt safer with my sword, but we always had to be prepared for the case of disarming or getting attacked in a situation without a weapon. 'Zack would probably say "in the shower" if he was here. But who gets attacked in the shower...' I rolled my eyes, grinning lightly.

Kunsel suggested to be my training partner for the day, during the training he told me a lot about techniques and certain situations in which I'd have to use them. I had to admit that he knew a lot... he just wasn't as good in practical training as he was in theory. So even though he knew more, he always ended up hugging the floor.

"You're really good, Cloud! You really learn quickly!" He chuckled when the training time was almost over. "Was nice to have you as a partner. By the way, you can add me on your phone as well, then I'll tell you all the information I learn about fighting."

I agreed and we exchanged numbers. Just when I was about to move my phone back into my pocket... "Brrr"

I almost jumped but tried to play it cool so Kunsel wouldn't get suspicious.

Sephiroth had replied. *Yeah, study hard, I'm sure your instructor will be proud then ;) See you tomorrow. Sephiroth*

"Ahh" I stuttered and was glad that Kunsel had already turned around to talk to other SOLDIERS.

Therefore I quickly walked out of the training center and up to my room. My face felt warmer than usual when I thought about his message. He had even added a winking smiley. 'Zack probably wasn't lying', I had to admit. 'He does seem a bit different when it's not in person'.

Raising my fist, I decided that it was time to "make him proud". Therefore, I spent the rest of the day studying. Kunsel showed up after a few hours and was surprised how motivated I seemed to be. Little did he know about the reason...

When I went to bed, I felt genuinely accomplished. I never would have thought that feeling this way would help me study...

Now I was really looking forward to tomorrow.

Saturday Morning. The day of my 2nd training.

When I felt the cold from outside creeping up into my bed when I raised the blanket, I didn't quite want to get out. The coming winter was more than noticeable by now, it was only a matter of time until the first frost.

Since I still had more than enough time until the field training, I decided to take out my phone. 'No idea why, but I want to message Sephiroth... But what do I write...'

*Morning :)... brr, it's so cold outside of the bed -_-* I proofread it again and clicked send. 'Well, better than nothing. He can't expect something smart from me so early in the morning' I thought, trying to defend myself from my own inner voice complaining what dipshit I was writing the General just to get any reaction from him.

To my surprise, I got an answer immediately.

*Morning. Then stay in bed today :)*

My grin only grew bigger. *But what about the field training?* Send.

*Ha ha... if you've got a big bed?! ;)*

I felt the heat rise up to my face. 'Does he realize what that sounds like...' I almost dropped my phone when fumbling for the keys to answer. *Not sure, does 2m wide sound okay?*

My heart always skipped a beat when I heard the vibrating resulting from his messages.

*Ha... enough if we only want to stand on one spot. Otherwise, it could get rather narrow. ;)*

I blushed, my inner cinema playing the scene of me and Sephiroth on my bed, close to eachother... In some kind of "training position"...

'Ahhh' I violently shook my head to get these thoughts out. "Bad Cloud, you said you wouldn't fall for him!"

"What was that?", a voice from the room across mine muttered: Kunsel.

"Nothing... Just a bad dream!" I thanked my fast reaction to think of an excuse.

"Ahh." A grumble, followed by... a snore?

I chuckled at how carefree my friend was. *Okay, going out now, see you in training!* I sent the SMS quickly before getting the urge to reply to his previous text.