The week that followed was one of the hardest of Sephiroth's life. He threw himself almost viciously into solitary training sessions and missions, wandered around Midgar for hours on end, and even tried to take up instructing some of Angeal's pupils - anything to distract his mind from the subject it unerringly returned to whenever he was unoccupied.

Nothing worked; the training sessions only frustrated him; he had completed any and all missions the science department could devise; and he ended up being banished from the training drills by Angeal for 'upsetting the students'. As the weekdays dragged on, he tried a kind of punishment; every time he allowed himself to think of Genesis, he pulled out a long silver hair from his head; after a mere afternoon of this technique, he ceased for fear of losing all of the waist-length strands.

As much as possible, he avoided traversing the corridors; he spent a lot of his time in the training rooms, materia room or outside the ShinRa building. Every time he stepped out of a door or lift, it was with great trepidation in case Genesis should be out walking the halls as well.

Using this technique, in five days Sephiroth managed to keep his encounters with the redhead down to just two; yet both times he had almost broken into a run to get past the other, and had been haunted by the sweet scent of Banora Whites drifting in the air after Genesis had passed.

Both times, neither acknowledged the other, both staring rigidly ahead and hurrying away afterwards.

Both times it had taken all of Sephiroth's carefully regimented self-control to keep walking and not to drag Genesis into the nearest empty room.

Those glowing azure eyes stalked his sleep and waking hours, yet nothing could dull their colour or banish the look he remembered having been in them that day in the common room.

Every night as he lay in bed alone he wondered what Genesis was doing, where he was - alone, or in company? Asleep or awake? Reading? Thinking? Thinking about what? Was he thinking about Sephiroth as much as the silver-haired SOLDIER was thinking about him?

Sephiroth had none of the answers, but the questions buzzed like hornets inside his head; he hadn't slept properly since their agreement.

And so it was with reluctance and conflicting eagerness that he attended a meeting called 'for all first-classes' by Director Lazard the day after the weekend. He was glad that the seemingly long stretch of free time had come to an end - all he had done was wander aimlessly around the streets of Midgar with nothing to distract him - except one thing.

As he woke groggily to the sound of the mail alert on his phone, Sephiroth winced at the thought of how much alcohol he had consumed the night before, and after reading the summons with squinting eyes he mixed himself a remedy, gagging at the bitter taste. Why do they always say the worst tasting ones are the best?

Surprisingly though, he was the first to the briefing room, the neon lights turned down to a low glow before he flicked them on fully, screwing up his eyes at the bright illumination. On the table lay four copies of a file filled with sheets of paper, and taking one he seated himself at the side of the table furthest from the door. For the next five minutes he was alone, and concentrated furiously on reading the documents fully and in depth.

He was studying a map in detail when the glass door slid open, and his gaze flicked up from the page to the newcomer. When he saw who it was, his heart both dropped and leapt into his mouth simultaneously, a most unpleasant feeling. Genesis seemed to have the same reaction, hesitating for a moment in the doorway before cautiously moving towards the table.

Sephiroth tried to ignore the frenzied beating in his chest and tear his eyes away, but found he could not. Even when Genesis was still, having taken a seat on the other side of table - not opposite, but a few places upwards - it took a superhuman effort to drag his gaze back to the map on the sheet, though now it seemed irrelevant and a waste of time.

Every time he glanced up furtively from the page, Genesis seemed to either be watching him from the corner of his eye or had just looked away, and Sephiroth struggled to keep his breathing even and keep his heart from going into seizure.

The next five minutes seemed interminable; though he stared so hard at the paper before him it surely should have burst into flames, Sephiroth could not take in a word he read. He also noticed that while Genesis had collected a file and was looking intently at it, he did not turn from even the title page in the whole time they were alone.

Finally, the door slid open again and the last two attendees entered, Lazard looking battered - no doubt from the lecture he had most likely received on the walk there - Angeal looking curious at the forced stillness hanging in the air between the other two SOLDIERs. Sephiroth looked up gratefully as Lazard took his place as the head of the table and closing his eyes laced his long fingers together, probably recovering from his verbal beating from Angeal. Genesis did not move except to shift his gaze to the Director, and as Angeal took a seat behind him Sephiroth tried with inhuman effort to keep his attention on Lazard.

The Director opened his eyes after a moment and jumped, startled to see the imposing figures of both Genesis and Sephiroth glaring at him with intense concentration. His eyes flickered between them as he swallowed nervously and opened his file.

"Good morning," he began slowly, clearing his throat. "Sorry we were a little late, Angeal wanted to demonstrate a new training technique..."

Sephiroth sighed in sympathy; he knew as well as any other that once Angeal was set on an idea it was impossible to dissuade him.

"... and so we ran a little late, apologies."

Genesis waved a hand in acceptance and without speaking a word nodded for Lazard to continue the meeting. Sephiroth clenched a fist underneath the table and narrowed his eyes a little to concentrate on Lazard better. The blonde man cleared his throat again and smiled weakly at him.

"So, the reason I've called this meeting..." He faltered again as Genesis frowned harder at him, triggered by Sephiroth moving his hair away from his face. Lazard quailed for a moment before gathering his wits and continuing. "Yes, the reason for this meeting is that a small reconnaissance contingent is to be sent to Wutai, by order of the president. We fear that the anti-ShinRa movement there is growing in momentum, and may inflate into a full-blown war."

He unlinked his hands to make a placatory gesture as the three SOLDIERs shifted. "Of course, we hope that it will not come to that... but if it does, we will need to be aware of their weapons, defences, troop movements... you all know the drill."

He paused for a moment. "The president has requested that two of you go on this mission for safety and assured success; and as Angeal will be busy training our forces, it's left up to you, Genesis and Sephiroth."

Sephiroth started and his eyes widened as a feeling of mixed dread and excitement lurched in his stomach. He drew in a hurried breath and opened his mouth to protest.

"Director Lazard, I really don't think..."

"No, Sephiroth," Lazard stopped him swiftly. "This isn't a mission you can refuse. The president has given his orders, and we cannot override them. So you will go to Wutai with Genesis, and you will do your SOLDIER duty. That is the end of it."

Sephiroth did not miss the smile that flickered over Genesis' face and through his apprehension and confusion he shared the amusement; Angeal himself could not have put it better.

But what did this mean for him? Sephiroth calculated that the journey from the port of Junon to the southern tip of Wutai would take two or three days at the least; and then the assignment itself, involving hours of trekking through the rocky backcountry of Wutai would last maybe another three days, if they wanted to do the job properly.

The thought of over a week in Genesis' company with nowhere to hide, no one to distract him - the lower-ranked SOLDIERs were like sheep, with not a forward-thinking mind between them in Sephiroth's opinion - terrified him. What am I going to do?

"You will depart tomorrow morning for Junon and your ship leaves in early afternoon. Good luck." Lazard's voice dragged him back to the present. "Meeting dismissed."