Life as a SOLDIER

Disclaimer: Ooh, I think CloudxSephiroth is a GOOOD possibility-becoming-reality now… Worry not, everyone, I'm sure that's the case here!

A/N: True that! If it gets demanded enough, I sure will do CloudxSephiroth! Hell, I'll probably go on ahead and do it! TRY AND STOP ME:3 Anyway, let's get started with Chapter 41!

Chapter Forty-One: Snack Time!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zack had checked his e-mail. Oh… Rufus has the first test ready…?

To: zack(underscore)wolf(underscore)lover(at-symbol)yahoo(dot)com

From: rufus(underscore)shinra(underscore)01(at-symbol)shinra(dot)company(dot)com

I have the first test run for the new program, MAXIMUM. But don't have it tested here at Shinra. Trust me, this program will have a devastating effect on everything around it.

It works like this: it'll summon power from the Lifestream, and give it to a SOLDIER. The test subject will be Cloud. You are to go to the City of the Ancients and test MAXIMUM there…and send the results to me. I am very eager to see how it's first test run will go…

Shachoo no Shinra Company

"…this sounds suspicious," said Zack quietly. "He's telling me to test a program that could have devastating results in the City of the Ancients…? Why there?" Zack sighed, signing out of his account and turning his laptop off. "Well… I have to go find Cloud now…"

He stood up and walked to Cloud's room. When he entered, Cloud was face-first onto the bed. He must have just fallen asleep, as his boots were still on and Cloud was laying on the blanket.

Zack smiled sadly and walked over to Cloud. "Cloud?" he asked quietly, giving him a gentle shake. "Are you awake?"

Cloud groaned and rolled over. "Turn the light off…"

"…sure," said Zack, not wanting to test the program today. He walked over to the curtain and closed it, and then turned off Cloud's light. "There. I'm sorry to bother you," he said quietly. "I'll come back at dinnertime, all right?"

"You can't…" murmured Cloud. "Sephy said I can't have any meals the rest of this week…"

"He what!" asked Zack in shock. "Why!"

"For training…"

Zack stood in shock for a couple more seconds. This isn't just training… This is cruelty! Torture! What is Sephiroth thinking! I thought I was something like…but, no, this is completely different… Was I wrong? Zack shook his head. "Cloud, you have to eat something, even if it's a small something!"

"But Sephy said I can't eat," said Cloud.

"His training won't get any easier if you don't eat," said Zack. "Please at least have an apple or something."

Cloud laid still for a few minutes, apparently thinking it over. He sat up and smiled sleepily at Zack. "An…an apple would be nice."

Zack sighed with relief. "Okay, then. Wait here, I'll go fetch you an apple, okay?" Cloud nodded, and Zack hurried down to the cafeteria to get an apple. "Hey, cooks, I'd like an apple," said Zack to the cooks in the cafeteria.

"You do?" asked a cook. "It's not dinner for another two hours. You sure you can't wait that long?"

"I'm sure."

The cook nodded. "Very well, then. You know the drill, two gil per apple. How many do you want?"

"Uh…two apples please," said Zack, realizing that he was hungry himself. He took out four gil and handed it to the cook. "Two red apples if you don't mind."

"Two red apples coming up," said the cook, heading for the fridge and pulling out two apples. "Here, enjoy."

"Thanks," said Zack, taking the apples and rushing upstairs. Upon climbing the last step, however, Zack crashed into Sephiroth. "Oof!" went Zack, more out of surprise. "Watch where you're going…" Zack trailed off.

"Yeah, think twice before telling me what to do," said Sephiroth, narrowing his eyes at Zack. "What's that you got in your hands?"

"Uh…apples?" asked Zack.

"Yeah, and I noticed that you have two of them. Are we hungry tonight?"

"Yes, we are," said Zack.

"…then why do I have this feeling that you're bringing that apple to Cloud?"

"You're just paranoid," said Zack. "I have absolutely no intention of bringing this apple to Cloud. I'll leave that to you, Mr. I'm-now-Cloud's-trainer."

"Hmph," scoffed Sephiroth. "That's right, I'm Cloud's trainer. And when I say he can't eat for the rest of this week-" he snatched the apples "-it means he can't eat at all!"

"…! Hey! Give those back!" exclaimed Zack. "I paid four gil for those!"

"You shouldn't have wasted your money then," said Sephiroth. "Don't try to sneak Cloud any more food, I'll find out about it."

"How did you know Cloud asked for food anyway?" asked Zack.

"I have my ways," said Sephiroth. "Maybe I was…ah, outside the door?"

"Outside of Cloud's door?" Zack blinked. "What are you, a stalker or something? Why were you waiting outside Cloud's door?"

"To make sure Cloud wouldn't try to sneak out himself to sneak food," answered Sephiroth. "You want those apples? Go and get them," he said, dropping them down the stairs.

"! My apples!" yelled Zack, hurrying down the stairs to get the apples.

THUNK THUMP

"Ow…" said the other SOLDIER. Zack's two SOLDIER friends were walking up the stairs and the two apples hit the other SOLDIER on the head. Two apples in a row. Ouch.

"Hey, dude, are you all right?" asked one SOLDIER.

The other SOLDIER rubbed his head, picking the two apples up. "Yeah, I think so. But look at these! Apples!"

"Ooh! They came from heaven! YEAH!" one SOLDIER grabbed one apple. "You get one, I get one."

"Alrighty then!" said the other SOLDIER.

Zack stopped at the third step when he saw them. "Oh, guys, you found my apples!"

"No, these aren't yours, these came from heaven!" said one SOLDIER.

"Yes, and we're gonna eat them!" agreed the other SOLDIER. "But we'll share with you if you like."

"No, no, you two, you don't understand, Sephiroth dropped those apples so I couldn't give one to Cloud."

"Why doesn't Sephiroth want Cloud to have the apples?" asked one SOLDIER curiously. "If he wanted one, he could go get one himself, huh?"

"No, he doesn't want Cloud to eat for the rest of this week. He says its to train Cloud to ignore hunger, but I say it's torture!"

"It is training!" called Sephiroth from above.

"Pheh, whatever, man," sighed Zack. "Look, you two, could I…"

"Waf's dat?" asked one SOLDIER, his mouth full of apples.

"I fihnk he wants da applsh," said the other SOLDIER.

They both exchanged guilty glances, then held out the half-eaten apples to Zack. "Sigh…never mind, you two can keep them."

"Okay, if you say so," said the other SOLDIER after swallowing, shrugging to take another bite.

Zack walked up the stairs, where Sephiroth was still waiting at the top. "I'll wait for you to go," said Zack testily. "Cloud does need to eat, and he does need sleep. Why is it that you seem to enjoy causing anguish to others, especially Cloud? You a sadist or something?"

Sephiroth looked up. "Something like that," he said slowly. He walked down the stairs to his room.

Zack sighed, and walked into Cloud's room. "I'm sorry, Cloud, but Sephiroth stopped me from getting you an apple. Will you be all right?"

Cloud saddened, looking down at the bed. "I…guess I'll be all right… Thanks, Zack."

"…come with me really quick," said Zack suddenly, hurrying over to Cloud.

"Huh? Go where?"

Zack took Cloud's hand and hurried him to his room. "I have plenty of snacks in here," said Zack cheerfully. "Now that Sephiroth has returned to his room, you can grab a bite or two to eat!"

"But, what is Sephy finds out?" asked Cloud, looking around.

"He won't, don't worry," said Zack, closing his door. "Go on and pick a snack from the cupboard."

Cloud hesitated, then slowly approached the cupboard. He opened it and looked inside. There was Ritz crackers, saltines, a bag of trail mix, several bags of chips, some Oreos, a half-eaten Kudos snack bar, some Hershey's Kisses, a packet of Reccees Peanut Butter Cups, a packet of fig newtons, Teddy Grams, Skittles, a few Nutri-Bars, and jelly beans in a jar.

Cloud gaped at all the snack. "All--All of these snacks are yours! What kind of special privileges do you have!"

"Well…I'm not sure if you already know this, but I'm the lead programmer here at Shinra Company. I'm in charge of overseeing all new programs tests and making sure no program has flaws. So, I get special privileges, cause the company would be screwed without my ability to program."

"Oh…" said Cloud, looking at all the snacks in turn.

"Eat as much as you like, I always get my snack cupboard refilled at the end of every month. Heck, you can take all of it if you like!"

"Is that all right?" asked Cloud, glancing back at Zack with worry. "I don't want to pig out on all your snacks. What if you get hungry later on, and all of your snacks are gone because of me?"

"Cloud, it's no trouble at all," said Zack, smiling. "Really, my top priority is you. I won't let you starve. Please, eat up! You must be hungry after all."

Cloud returned the smile, and looked at the snacks. "I'll…I'll take…Ah! I'll take them all! Thank you so much, Zack!" Cloud took an armful of snacks and brought them to the table. "Co-Could you and I share the snacks, so I don't feel guilty?"

"Sure! Snacks are funner to share with friends anyway!" Zack helped Cloud opened some of the snack bags and packets. "Well, let's eat!" said Zack.

Cloud and Zack clapped their hands and announced, "Itadakimasu!"

Zack munched on a handful of chips, watching Cloud hungrily wolf down snack after snack. Oh…he is my priority… But how can I tell him that I'll have to test MAXIMUM later on today or tomorrow…? What effects will MAXIMUM cause?

Cloud finished a handful of trail mix, letting out a happy sigh. "That tastes soo good…!"

"You want some more?" asked Zack. "Here, let's split the rest of the Ritz crackers, huh?"

"Sure!" said Cloud excitedly. He munched a Ritz cracker, and said to Zack, "Zack, you truly are a good friend! Thank you for all this wonderful food!"

"Of course, Cloud," said Zack happily. "I'll do anything for you."

"And I you!" agreed Cloud earnestly. "I…I really like you a lot!"

"Me, too!"

Cloud smiled at Zack, then looked down bashfully. "I'm so glad you and I became friends…I couldn't deal with Sephy if I didn't have you. Sephy, he's…well, a little rough, but he's a friend too. I hope you and Sephy can get along better."

"Huh?" asked Zack. "We do get along."

"Well, it's just… Never mind," said Cloud, standing up. "I'll tell you later, okay? I need to go get some sleep now."

"But…sure," said Zack slowly. "You sure you had your fill to eat?"

"I'm sure," said Cloud. "Thanks, Zack, for everything. Good night," he called as he left.

"…Rough?" repeated Zack to himself. "What does 'rough' mean…? Does that mean that Sephiroth really does…?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm halfway through this chapter, when this friend of mine comes up beside me to see what I'm typing. She reads the chapter, and points out to me that "MAXIMUM" is an actual program thingy in the game "Dirge of Cerebus". Is that true? It can't be true!
Mario: If it is true, will someone be a dear and tell that to Fairy Red? -under breath- She wants nothing to do with "Dirge of Cerebus"…
Damn right! I don't like Vincent that much. Pheh. Anyway, uh… See you later, and don't forget to review! Bye for now!