In The Beginning

Chapter FIVE. Break the silence.

The sun was burning hot and Sky's feet were beginning to hurt. They had walked for hours. One time they had met a big nasty creature, but hadn't had any problems, taking it down.

Genesis didn't talk much. Mostly, he just looked very unpleased, with a big frown planted on his face or he would look concentrated and focused.

Sky didn't talk much either, but the forever going silence, slowly began to bother her. Once or twice Genesis would tell her to keep her eyes and ears open, and then… Silence.

Say something Sky, don't be afraid he might shout at you or something.

When you were a SOLDIER, you would have to work with others, learn how to cooperate, how to be a team. Of course you wouldn't always be paired up with your favorite colleges, but you'd have to be able to talk and work properly together anyway, so no one got killed. Sky would show Genesis, that she could do that.

"Why did you join SOLDIER?" She asked, before she could regret. Genesis eyed her, surprised by the silence-break.

"Because…" He began, "because it seemed like the right thing to do, I wanted to become a hero, I had heard about Sephiroth, the youngest SOLDIER of all times, and I wanted to be just like him. Back then, I had no idea we would become friends".

Wow. That was probably the longest sentence he has ever spoken to me. I'm surprised. It goes the right way… I hope.

Sky nodded thoughtfully. "How is he?" She asked. "As a friend?"

Now it was Genesis' turn to look thoughtful, but only for a second. "What do you mean?" He replied. Sky scratched her head.

"Is he as cold, as everyone says?" Sky did her best to ignore the icy glare she got from her mentor.

"He can be, if he is pissed off, but SOLDIERs like us, are often being misunderstood, by SOLDIERs of lower ranks".

What does he mean with that?

It was like Genesis felt her confusion. He looked at her, then said: "The general is a close friend of mine, I know him, those to spread rumors, does not. Don't believe in what others say, make your own opinions."

Sky thought about it. It did make sense.

"Well, I guess you're right, but I haven't met him, yet." They came to a river and Sky watched with fascination how Genesis jumped from stone to stone, and crossed the river with so much grace. Genesis shrugged, and they carried on their walk until sunset – in silence.

"It's too quiet, we can't sleep at the same time tonight." Genesis and Sky had stopped for the night in the edge of the forest. They didn't make a bonfire, because it would be too easy to be spotted. The darkness had lowered itself around them, and as soon as the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, the temperature had fallen a lot. They now had to keep warm by wrapping their coats and blankets tightly around themselves.

Genesis had had a bad feeling about this mission from the very beginning, and when he became nervous, he talked. Until now, Sky had showed strength, courage and the will to cooperate. She hadn't complained once about the lots of walking, and she had even tried to lead a conversation with him. Even Genesis could se the SOLDIER potential in her. And he didn't like it.

He looked at her, careful. She stared at the dark sky, and the pale moonlight, made her look so unbelievable beautiful. He could not run from it, he could not deny it. She was so damn beautiful. Of course it didn't change Genesis' thoughts of her, but would he be able to go on like that? Would he soon begin to take her serious? He was beginning to doubt himself, which just made him frustrated and irritated.

Skylar was so talented, but it was like… it was like something wasn't right, like something was bothering her.

Maybe because you behave like a total asshole!

But then again, it had to be deeper; it had to be something more. Genesis wanted to find out.

"Why did you join SOLDIER?" He suddenly asked. The question seemed to catch her totally

Off-guard and she looked down, hesitating. Genesis noticed, and looked at the girl, curiously.

"I… I wanted to…" She swallowed and looked at her hands, "I just… I", Genesis sighed and lost his patience, "If you ever want to reach 1st class, then you better have to come up with a good reason, and answer a little faster," he said – with just the slightest hint of annoyance.

Skylar lifted her head, stared at him for a long time, and then it was like she lost it.

"Why do you hate me so much? What's the matter with you?" She suddenly exclaimed.

And where the hell came that from? I don't hate her! Well, maybe a little, but it isn't even personal!

"That's no way to talk to your superiors!" Genesis snapped in frustration.

"Then give me an answer!"

"No, you give me an answer. And I've never said I hate you"

"But you don't like me either"

"Why do you care? As long as I am training with you, you don't have to…" He was interrupted.

"You just don't get it, you just don't understand. People like you, will never understand." Skylar's tone was cold, but at the same time sad.

Even if he didn't show it, Genesis was confused. He had just asked the girl, why she had joined SOLDIER – a totally normal, not offending, question. She herself had asked him the same thing, only hours ago. What the hell just happened? He told himself not to get angry.

"I will tell you what my problem is, if you will tell yours", he said. Now he was defiantly sure that something wasn't as it should be. It looked like Skylar was considering it, and then she slowly nodded.

Genesis thought about his answer for a moment.

"I just don't think that women are great as SOLDIERs. It's a dangerous and difficult job, and women shouldn't be doing things like this."

Skylar dropped her jaw. "You simply hate me, because I am a girl?" Genesis blinked. "I don't hate you, I just don't approve girls in SOLDIER. Don't take it personal."

"How can I not? I'm you apprentice! Please, the faster you help me reach 1st class SOLDIER, the faster you'll get rid of me."

I hate women when they are being difficult. I don't know how to deal with this?

Genesis didn't know what to say. Skylar just looked at him, her eyes big, waiting for him to answer. He didn't.

"Can't you see, that this is absolutely ridiculous?"

Genesis sighed. "The only thing that's ridiculous is that you freak out, just because I ask you a harmless, little question". Sky's eyes stared into his. It was hard to see the look in her eyes, because of the darkness.

"I don't have to tell you why I joined. You will never understand", she whispered.

In that moment, Genesis really heard the pain in her voice. He suddenly felt very guilty.

What the hell is going on?

Genesis remembered Angeal's words: "You should be nice to her. Zack told me she had a kind of a tough childhood"

"Tell me, make me understand", he suddenly said. Surprising them both with his words. Skylar stared at him, shook her head and then looked at the ground.

"It just hasn't been easy for me, nothing has, and I don't want you to dislike me even more with my self-pity, but I… I just don't want to go through the life, and feeling scared anymore. SOLDIER seemed like the perfect way to get away from it all…" She raised her head, and locked his gaze.

"I don't want to be a victim, ever again. I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to quit. I want to become a 1st class SOLDIER, because I need the feeling of being save", her voice were trembling, just a little, but it didn't matter. Genesis still wondered, what exactly Skylar meant, when she said she didn't want to be a victim again.

He was so confused and didn't know what to answer.

"But I can't do it on my own, don't you understand? I can't do it without help. Why won't you help me, Genesis?" It was the first time, she had ever spoken his name, and the sound of it, sent chills down his spine. Why – he didn't know.

He had never seen Skylar like this before. In the short time he had known her, he had just considered her as a stupid, little spoiled brat who just expected to get whatever she wanted. Genesis had never thought she would have a hard time. Well, maybe – because of her looks. All the SOLDIERs were men, and these men, always surrounded by other men, did not just let a girl like Skylar Williams walk by, without trying on something. And maybe – because of him, being an even bigger idiot.

But he didn't know she had a troubled mind.

"What is wrong?" He asked in a low voice. Skylar looked at him, frustration crossed her face. "You! You should stop being so annoyed with me, and begin to train me, like you mean it!" She was so frustrated, and Genesis was beginning to be nervous. He was so bad at handle situations like this.

He had no idea of what to say. Genesis had not been prepared for her little outbreak, and he had certainly not been prepared for her point in it all.

"Skylar, I just don't…"

"Then maybe you should! And stop calling me Skylar!"

"Seriously, What the hell is happening, now you tell me why you are being like this,"

Genesis was getting angry. He didn't want to sit and play guess-games with her. He wanted to know what this was all about.

She sighed heavily and rested her head in her hand. "I'm a failure. I'm nothing, but a fail! I've been failed my whole life and… What is it?"

Genesis did not look at Skylar anymore; he stood up and began to check the area. They had practically yelled at each other, and had completely forgot about being quiet.

"I can hear something", he whispered. "There's someone in there", his eyes narrowed as he stared into the forest.

Genesis! You idiot, even a fool know how to shut up and always be on alert in goddamn Wutai!

He couldn't think about Skylar and her problems right now, it would just have to wait.

Skylar suddenly became very flustered and felt utterly embarrassed. How could she just loose control like that? It had never happened before, ever!

If Genesis hadn't asked her about SOLDIER, it would never have happened. But she couldn't tell him, she just couldn't. She looked at him. His hand was clenched around his red-glowing Rapier, and his face was expressionless.

What was I thinking? You're so stupid Sky! SO STUPID.

"Be ready", Genesis suddenly growled, as he took a few steps back.

Sky hurried to her feet and grabbed her sword. Her heartbeat was fast, and she felt a little nervous. She would prove to Genesis now, that she could handle this, that she was good.

But before she knew it, they were surrounded by the Wutaian ninjas. Sky swallowed, and saw how Genesis just threw himself out in battle. He was so graceful, so fast and so strong.

A man came running towards her, and she quickly began to concentrate about herself. This was now or never.

She had never killed a human being, before. Never. He was bleeding, a lot. Sky watched with horror how his eyes went cold and lifeless. She thought she was going to be sick. She had just killed a man. A human.

"Skylar! Behind you!" Genesis' voice shot through the air and reached her ears, she immediately turned to see another man run towards her, sword above his head.

Sky closed her eyes at the terrible sound of metal cutting through flesh. The blood. Oh Goddess.

Genesis had it under control, he slaughtered man after man, his clothes and face were covered in blood, his blue eyes were burning with hatred. Skylar killed another. She was in shock.

Come on! This is the enemy! Don't be such a coward, focus Sky, FOCUS!

She closed her eyes again, thought of that thing. She let the pain fill her heart, the anger against him, the hate she felt, the loneliness, his hands on her body… She could do this.

She let out a small cry when she attacked the next one and brutally killed him. She saw nothing but him.

Another one.

I HATE YOU!

Another one.

YOU RUINED MY LIFE!

Another one.

YOU TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME!

Another one.

YOU DESTROYED ME!

Apparently she hadn't been careful enough. She didn't even notice the man sneak up on her from behind. Everything went black.

Genesis? Help me. Please!

Dadadaaaammm! Fifth chapter done! :-D Guess it didn't go very well at all huh?

Please let me know what you think ^^

xx