A/N

This one is for the wonderful reviewer and watchers! I'm updating just for you guys! (I dunno if you're still reading or not, but I hope so.) Still, I feel it important to try and keep my readers happy! I updated this one today for that reason! Almost hit one hundred reads and all that already! Thanks so much everyone!

You Will Never See It Coming

Cloud stared at the meal he was making and sighed softly. Why did he think this would end well? "I don't think this is edible, Zack." The raven haired man was sitting on the couch and snickering behind his hand. He looked like a school girl being overly shy. "I'm not eating this."

"Do you ever want me to move on?" Zack asked kicking his legs like a child. He shouldn't have been able to do that and look so damn innocent. "I'll crossover if you entertain me for a few days."

It had been a few days and Zack was still giving him odd food combinations and then making him eat it. This time it was a peach, yogurt, salmon, and taco seasoning. What the hell, was he supposed to do with this stuff? He supposed he could combine the peach and the yogurt, but he despised seafood and couldn't imagine liking tacos.

"You've been saying that since I was able to see you." Cloud grumbled mostly to himself.

Zack was suddenly behind him, blue eyes peeking over his shoulder to survey his work. "So what are you doing?"

"Seasoning meat with taco stuff." Cloud muttered.

There was a light breeze on the back of his neck making Cloud shiver. Did he have to stand so close? As if reading his mind Zack stepped back once or twice. His face fell some and Cloud wondered if he hurt his feelings. He hadn't actually asked him to do anything though, so why did he feel bad?

"You're not much of a meat eater are you?"

Cloud looked up at the sudden question. "I like some meats, but I mean….I don't know I don't like red meat I guess. The taste is weird."

They fell silent again and Zack moved to the counter to sit atop it. Cloud wanted to ask how he had died, but that didn't go well the first time. He hadn't gotten anything out of him. "Zack, how come you haven't crossed over yet?"

The black haired man looked up, "I don't know."

"No seriously, I can't help you if you don't let me. Why are you here, how did you die?" Cloud turned away from the stove. He was forgetting about his food. "If you trust me a little bit I might be able to help."

Zack's eyes flashed angrily before he looked away, "I don't know Cloud, I can't remember, so just drop it."

He'd never heard Zack get angry before, so this was a bit shocking. Cloud stood stunned for a moment before looking away furiously, "You're no help at all! What the hell binds you to this place?"

"I wander, Cloud. I don't even live in this building! I'm bored and have been looking for companionship since I died. I don't even remember dying! If I could tell you things I would, but I know nothing about my death!"

Zack was still shouting, but he wasn't angry but sad it seemed. His eyes were full of desperation and confusion. He wanted nothing more than to get out of here, but for some reason he was stuck. Cloud sighed and looked at some spot on the floor that was suddenly way more interesting then what he was doing.

"Food."

The simple word made his heart jump as he turned and fanned the smoke away from the pan setting the fire alarm off. "Damn it!"

Fifteen minutes later Cloud was eating a plate of half burnt meat with sour cream and a tortilla. It wasn't that bad honestly. "One meal down, three to go." He muttered dropping the plate in the sink.

Zack watched him fondly; obviously the previous conversation had flown his mind. Cloud looked back at him before running a hand through his hair and heading for the apartment entrance. As he threw the door open, a woman yelled at some man before he struck her across the face.

She had short black hair, a black belly shirt, and really short, shorts. Her hair was short, chin length about, and she had a red ribbon tied around her bicep. She was adorably cute and for Cloud to admit this that was something big.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" He moved forward and shoved the man back catching a light scowl. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to hit a woman?"

Cloud didn't get a chance to lecture before he was punched in the face. He should have seen that one coming. Touching his nose gingerly he scowled at the man and beckoned to the stair well. He needed to leave before Cloud did something he regretted.

"Leave."

The young girl gasped slightly but made no move. Her eyes watered slightly and she looked at Cloud with slight admiration. No one had stood up for her before.

"I'll kill the bastard!" Zack yelled moving forward. He seemed to forget he was a ghost because he went straight through the man. "Take him out, Cloud! Do something to him, now!" Never, had Cloud seen someone so angry.

The lights in the hall flickered and Cloud put himself in front of the girl. "Get the hell out of here, man."

"Not without my girl." The light haired man scowled. "She's mine."

Cloud snorted in contempt, but he didn't get much further when a long, silver haired man came up the stairwell. "He is correct, Hollander. You need to leave."

The girl wiped her eyes and ran to the other man, "Sephiroth, I'm so glad you came! Rude told me you wouldn't and then Reno said I was just being cold, I'm so sorry!"

Zack crossed his arms against his chest fuming, "Why the hell is she still with this prick? How could she do this? I'm so fucking pissed!"

Zack was capable of cussing? Cloud raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Blood slipped off his chin making him dab at his nose again cursing slightly. Man that had hurt. Two other men came up shortly after and the one called Sephiroth moved aside.

"You can go now or Genesis can throw you out."

The brunette-red came up from behind smirking wickedly. He looked like he would enjoy kicking someone out of the building. "To be or not to be, dick?"

Cloud was really confused and he realized he hadn't gone on a walk like he originally thought he would. Looking at the three men he stepped back wondering if he wanted to get mixed up in this group. All three looked highly intimidating.

"Cloud, those three were my closest friends. Rude and Reno kept my attention when they weren't around. These men are the best friends you could ever ask for." Zack spoke quickly, but his eyes were full of pain. "I miss them so much."

The worst part about being dead had to be this, and Cloud found himself feeling sorry for Zack. He didn't like seeing that look of hopelessness on the others face. "And the girl?" His voice was a whisper, very soft. No one besides Zack heard.

"That is Yuffie….my little sister."

Zack had a sister? What the hell? When the Hollander man was gone, Yuffie ran over to Cloud and hugged him quickly. Cloud froze and turned his attention to what was going on. "Thank you for that, sir. You didn't have to say anything to him because you don't even know me."

Cloud looked down at her and then back at the three men. Each and every one of them was glaring hard at him like he was about to beat her down. He paled and pulled out of her grasp hitting the wall behind him.

"Oh, no problem! No one should hit a woman; I left something in the oven." Zack wasn't paying attention to anything around them besides Yuffie.

Yuffie looked confused as he sped past her and reached for his doorknob. "Hold on a minute." Genesis was the one talking. "You helped Yuffie with Hollander?"

Cloud turned slightly with a nod, "Kind of. I didn't do anything I just got hit and then he showed up." Cloud looked at Sephiroth and felt his heart thump against his chest. This was nerve wracking as all hell.

"We owe you thanks then." The black haired one held his hand out. Cloud didn't know his name yet and he seemed quiet. "I am Angeal, this is Sephiroth, and that is Genesis. We made a promise to Yuffie's brother that we'd keep her safe and…we haven't been doing the best of jobs."

"It would be easier if she stopped running away." Genesis mumbled lightly.

Yuffie puffed her cheeks out in annoyance, "Hollander loves me, Genesis! If you all stopped scaring him away I wouldn't have to run off with him!"

"If thou remember'st not the slightest folly, that ever love did make thee run into, thou hast not loved." Genesis spouted off another odd saying making Cloud look at Zack.

The raven haired man smirked, "He is obsessed with Shakespeare. Half the shit he says is quotes from plays and what not. He never makes sense, so try to ignore it."

"I know what love is you psychopath!"

Genesis smirked once more before another spout of bull shit left his mouth. "But love is blind, and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that themselves commit."

Sephiroth rubbed his eyes tiredly and Angeal smirked, "You seriously need to stop reading the poetry and plays. This is getting old."

Then again he had been quoting this stuff since they were eight. Cloud was seriously confused and now he was tired. "Just don't worry about it. I'm sure anyone would have helped her."

Zack groaned as Cloud opened his door, "Why was she worried Sephiroth wouldn't come? Why would Reno call her cold?"

He didn't want to find out, but Cloud sighed knowing Zack wouldn't leave it be if he didn't ask. Turning slightly to face Yuffie he paused, "Why would Reno and Rude be so mean to you? I met them a few times and they didn't seem…." He couldn't even finish that sentence without choking. "That bad."

Angeal grinned widely, "You've met them then?

That was the biggest understatement in the world, "Reno broke into my apartment a few days ago."

The three men burst into laughter making Cloud go red. It hadn't been funny it was infuriating. Sephiroth shrugged before pointing across the way. "If you ever need anything you can come to us. We owe you one for helping Yuffie."

They started to walk off and Cloud bit his lip, "Hey uh….Yuffie?" The girl looked back brightly, "What…what happened to your brother?"

Her smile fell and Sephiroth's face hardened. Cloud knew he had no right to ask this question, but he had to know and if Zack couldn't remember there was no progress to be made with him.

"He had an accident. He was always trying to protect me, and…and I suppose I should have listened to him. He's somewhere far away right now." A single tear slipped down her cheek before she flicked it away. "At least his pain is gone, right?"

Cloud nodded. He didn't understand, but he wasn't going to make her cry. "I'm sorry about him."

The four left silently and Cloud shot a look at Zack. He was standing at the top of the stairs looking mournful. "Why can't I remember, Cloud? What happened to me?"

He didn't have answers for that and he felt bad for the other. Shrugging he walked inside feeling a bit down. "I'm sorry Zack, but I don't have answers for you." He was a medium not a damn fortune teller.

It was odd seeing them again, all of them. Zack would be lying if he said he was just fine when he saw them all. The whole gang was still together, besides his sister who had once annoyed him so dearly. He was glad the others were trying to watch her though. It didn't seem as if Yuffie was making it easy on them.

He didn't like the fact she was still with Hollander, not at all. The man was sick and twisted. Not only was he fucking ten years older, but he was also an alcoholic that liked to hit her. Zack couldn't let her think she was still in love, no, he couldn't cross over until she was okay again.

"Cloud."

He had been totally silent for the past five hours, so when Cloud heard his name he looked up surprised. Zack didn't have time to try and fake a smile he had to save his sister. "I promise I will cross over if you can help Yuffie break away from her relationship."

Cloud managed a slight nod, "I get my apartment if I get rid of him then?" Cloud wasn't much of a fighter, his jaw still hurt from where he had gotten hit. When Zack nodded the blonde's face split into a grin, "Then let's get rid of a jerk off."

Zack couldn't have been happier to hear the news. Good, he was going to get rid of a jerk and be fine in the end. "So, what's the plan then?"

Cloud had no plan, and he had slightly been hoping Zack had one. "This is kind of your thing; I don't know anything about any of them."

Zack pondered for a moment realizing the other was right. He knew nothing about Sephiroth or the others. "They said you could go over there anytime, right?" When Cloud nodded he smirked, "Then invite them over for a game night or something. They like to mingle, sometimes Sephiroth doesn't, but Angeal and Genesis are pretty fun. Angeal likes to drink, Genesis likes games, and Sephiroth is mostly content just watching everyone else. They aren't hard to entertain."

Cloud sighed softly, "You want me to invite more of your psychotic friends over?"

"Reno and Rude can come too and everyone will be fine."

The blonde crossed his arms, "Fine, but that means I'm inviting Aerith as well. I refuse to sit with all of YOUR friends with no one to converse with."

"Reno will…"

Cloud cut him off sharply, "Hell no! I want to kill that red head every time he opens his mouth. Someone needs to put him down."

Zack laughed and almost fell from the couch, "Oh come on! He isn't that bad, Spiky."

If he could get Cloud to help his sister everything would be alright. He watched the blonde sulk for a moment before sighing. "Zack, I'll do what you ask, but I don't think this is going to end well for anyone."

"Be positive, Cloud. I need your help with this, I really do."

How could you tell someone like Zack you wouldn't help him? He knew he was charming and adorable, hell he had heard it enough in life. He just needed Cloud to think the same as most of the others.

"Have some sympathy; this is my last run on earth."

Cloud smirked slightly, "Hey, that's not fair. No playing the guilt-trip game."

That was the game he was best at though. The two boys smirked dumbly at one another for what seemed like hours. Cloud was going to help him save Yuffie, and then he could go cross over. Zack could feel it already, the edges of some unknown thing pulled at his body here. He didn't want to go yet, couldn't. He shivered with the effort of keeping himself in tact before nodding at the blonde.

"I'm going to take a walk."

He walked out of the apartment and down the stairs. He could fly through things, sure, but he missed walking. He missed feeling the warmth of the sun or the cool breeze, Zack really just missed life.

A/N

Perfect place to stop! I'll update more soon I promise. Hope this works for you guys some little stuff about Zack and what not.