Author's note : Next few chapters are tricky. My settings on this particular fanfiction is almost maddening, it can take an hour or two to understand the whole details. From now on, any settings which are mentioned in the story will be discussed at the end of the chapter if any questions are asked to me. You are welcome to ask any further questions on my settings.

Diclaimer- None of the characters or most of concepts are mine, they belong to Square Enix. Honestly, if they belonged to me.. ..It would have turned MA+ rated.

Warning - Yaoi, M rated for more than a few reasons (later chapters), abusive languages, crimes, etc. Yaoi pairings (AkuRoku, SephCloud, ZexionXDemyx, etc, more side pairing though not in this one. Side stories may be included after the main story gets over)

No. XIII - Organisation XIII

[Chapter 9. Avalanche]

[In the middle of darkness and light, the shadows of both lay.

The shadows, the midst of the extremes-

They lurk in the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times,

And they reign with the mystery and power,

The shadows call themselves-

Organisation XIII.]

IX . i

It was that moment while everyone were enjoying the fun when a loud bang was heard- All of them jumped up, shocked. There were cries and shrieks, as well as a few more explosion sounds-

"What's that?"

"Outside!"

Squall and Zell were first to rush out, Sephiroth shortly behind them, with Genesis and Angeal. Behind them, Irvine and Quistis followed, as well as Raijin, Fujin and Seifer. As they rushed out of the room- they could see quite familiar figures in the hall, where most of VIPs running away and the Turks protecting them. Squall noted them silently- So, there were no immediate danger. As they raised their guards, Genesis muttered first in annoyance.

"...Avalanche? What the hell are they doing here? I thought they were eco-terrorists as well as anti-Shinra-terrorists. Well, Team SeeD is almost under Shinra too, but still, it's civil service..."

"It ain't different, redhead! Ya' chas' those who ain't guilty, 'nd chas' those whose 'nnocent! Ain't different!"

"Well, I didn't ask your opinion, Legend shall speak;Of sacrifice at world's end;The wind sails over the water's surface;Quietly, but surely."

"What? Ya' think I'm-"

"Genesis, it's not time for that, stop it. What do you want, Avalanche? You do look familiar. Your name was Barret, wasn't it? Former leader of Avalanche. Others.. I think I have indeed seen a few of you before, too."

Sephiroth stopped Genesis and stepped forward, his Masamune in his hand. The man with gun-arm looked angry, but the woman in black garb with glove held him back and glared at Sephiroth.

"Of course you remember me, you burnt down my hometown and killed everyone there!"

"...In the war, I was merely following orders. I had no say in my actions at the time. I do not deny that I burnt down an innocent town by following an order which was given to me by mistakes in higher officials, but I'd rather point out that it was not entirely my fault. I was just a SOLDIER, first class. I wasn't even in charge of the mission. Your name was Tifa Lockhart, wasn't it? I remember you."

"Of course you do! You killed my father in front of me!"

"I saw no difference between killing the traitors and Wutaian soldiers at the time, Ms. Lockhart. I do not have any reason to feel guilty of my actions at the time- I refused my commander's order to kill you. At least be happy that I didn't kill you along with a few childeren and defenceless citizens."

Sephiroth answered in his typical emotionless voice. Others flinched at the meaning of his words, but Angeal and Genesis just sighed. When a few others looked at them, Genesis only snorted, but Angeal explained, looking rather uncomfortable.

"..It wasn't rare to find some traitors in the Wutaian Uprising. Especially against Wutaian ninjas- they infiltrated into our ranks and assassinated commanders or spread rumours- We still do not know how many of the 'traitors' who were found guilty were actually guilty. A lot of commanders died, so anyone who was found suspicious was ordered to be killed immediately. I.. Personally I did not like it, but it was still the best decision at the time. And there were cases of.. Well, the entire village's inhibitants were killed and ninjas replaced them, attacking us from rear or poisoning entire squad or army at the camp.. The best choice was not looking suspicious at the time, nothing else. It wasn't rare case to massacre a few villages rather than taking such risks. Sephiroth was on the fore-most line of the battle field, so he must have got a lot of such orders."

"What was a big deal? Anyway all those Wutaian soldiers and fighters must had their families, friends and all- we fought, we killed. It wasn't called a 'war' for nothing, woman. My friend, the fates are cruel There are no dreams, no honor remains."

Now people turned to Genesis, who shook his head in annoyance. Still, a few members of each sides remained alert. It was at this very moment when the glass doors to the balcony shattered, which was at Team SeeD's rear- And the man immediately got hold of Roxas, who was at the back-most. As he attacked Roxas, Roxas's 'Magic Wall' and 'Pre-emtive' link was activated, but his assault was physical. In mere seconds, Roxas was held tight by this man who wield an extremely large sword.

A few members of Team SeeD spun around, shocked. However, Sephiroth lunged at the sight- only to froze as the man spoke.

"...So this is your brother? ...Strange. A man who killed his best friend is willing to protect his brother."

"You... Leave him alone! It's nothing to do with Roxas!"

"...Cloud Strife..? ..You were alive..? Sephiroth! You didn't kill him! You said that you took care of him! How could you-"

"Shut up, Genesis!"

Sephiroth snarled, his eyes fixed on Cloud. However, as Cloud looked down at Roxas curiously, he flinched with shock, just as other members of Avalanche did. Before, Roxas was completely hidden behind people, out of their view- Now, as Roxas was away from them and they had a clear view of him, they could see a striking resemblance between Roxas and Cloud. Both were blond, their hair gravity-defying just as one another's, with sapphire-blue eyes- except that Cloud's eyes were blue-green, tainted by Mako. Both were short, too- their body lithe, evident grace in their slightest movements. Though Cloud's body was more well-built and musclar, Roxas looked like Cloud's younger brother rather than Sephiroth's.

Another striking resemblance was there, too- Roxas's cloth was almost same with that of Vincent's, making others realise how similar they looked as well. It was strange sight, the hostage looking more similar to the Avalanche rather than his own brother. Another thing was that Roxas did not struggle at all- Or so it seemed. Roxas remained silent, staring at Sephiroth- without a single action. It was so unlike him, looking almost like a doll- lifeless, emotionless. However, this changed 180 degree when he murmured in a childish innocent voice.

"...Cloud Strife? I heard about you, and I thought you were close to elder brother. Weren't you? You were under his command before, with Zackary Fair- both of you were SOLDIER, first class. Right?"

"...You heard about me? From Sephiroth?" Cloud was aghasted and the rest of Avalanche was shocked again by the fact that Cloud was once under Sephiroth's command, but Roxas continued anyway.

"Yes, he told me about you, though he never told me how he parted with you. He only told me about how you were when you were in SOLDIER, and he missed you a lot. But then.. Why are you in Avalanche? I thought he liked you-"

"...He liked me, huh.. ..Well, then you were wrong. He certainly didn't like me or Zack enough to help us. Zack died because of him, and so did I as well- only thing was, I escaped by a mere luck. He certainly didn't like us enough to not to kill us."

"...You don't understand, do you.. Cloud... Leave Roxas alone. Who you want the most is me, not my brother. Roxas has nothing to do with that incident."

Sephiroth stepped closer once, his eyes fixed on Cloud. As Sephiroth finished his words, Roxas turned his face to Sephiroth with a questioning look- which Sephiroth disregarded. Still alert, Cloud held Roxas tight and answered to Sephiroth.

"If he is close to you, then he has something to do with it. I still do not understand your actions. Why are you siding with Shinra? Why are you standing between me and them? You know about their crimes and illegal activities- Maybe even more than normal Turks. You know about those only the executives of the board know- And you yourself were once a victim of them. Why are you still guarding them?"

"..Leave Roxas alone, I said! It's nothing related to him- if you want to revenge or make me pay for what I have done, then do it to me- He doesn't know anything about those!"

"That doesn't concern me! Explain yourself, Sephiroth! What is it so important to you, enough to abandon your comrades and go against your promises! You are not insane- You are as sane as every normal man- why the hell did you resign, your reason being 'emotionally unstable'? I don't think they let an insane man be a prosecutor!"

"...Cloud, I.."

Sephiroth flinched, looking away. Now it was Genesis and Angeal's turn to be aghasted- They both stepped in, shouting at Sephiroth.

"'Emotionally unstable'! Is that a new joke! Sephiroth, what the hell did you tell him?"

"You didn't resign because of such a useless reason- what kind of excuse is that? Even Shinra wouldn't have buy that! You lied to Cloud and Zack!"

"I... ...Damn it, cut it out, Genesis and Angeal! Then what was I supposed to tell them! I resigned because of what! I was not supposed to tell anyone why I resigned! Cloud.. If you do not wish to release Roxas.. You will regret it."

Sephiroth sent a murderous glare at Cloud, glancing around the hall. It was empty, except the Team SeeD and the Turks. It was safe for Roxas to use his power.. Anyway, to be in Team SeeD, Roxas had to show his combat skills. However, Cloud merely joined back to the other members of Avalanche through empty space, still holding Roxas tight, though he was still rather staying at the front. Sephiroth knew he waited enough, and he had no wish to be questioned further.. Finally, Sephiroth spoke in his normal emotionless commanding voice.

"Veld, Tseng. I want to ask a favor."

"...What kind of favor, General?"

"Keep everything happened here as classified information. Can you? I don't think it is a good idea for some of our combat skills or abilities to be known to the public.. ...I am asking this favor instead of someone who can't speak for him or herself now. Can you?"

"...I see, you are asking the favor instead of the person.. ...The Turks have no problem in it, General Sephiroth. We will keep everything happened in this place as classified above the positions that are equivalent to the Generals in SOLDIER. The agreement shall remain untouched."

"...Good to hear. ...Cloud, you brought it to yourself.. You made a grave mistake."

"...I do not understa- Argh!"

"Cloud!"

"He-"

"No way!"

It seemed the time had slowed down for the moment. Everything happened so fast, so sudden- but everyone could see what happened too clearly, the image burning into their minds. Roxas, who remained motionless for all those while, casted Hel-Thundaga and moved away from Cloud swiftly, his movement graceful and flawless. After a mere few seconds, Roxas was standing beside Sephiroth, his innocent face replaced by cold and icy face, his voice as cold as Sephiroth.

"..You should have done that faster, Sephiroth."

"You didn't have any problem there anyway. What's your problem? At least you weren't questioned like me, Roxas."

"Oh? And you think I won't go through that after this? What a joke.. ...And Tseng? Thank you for realising what stopped me from acting so late, damn it. Were you about to stand and watch forever until he thought of harming me or something?"

"...Of course not, Mr. Safer.. We didn't mean to do that, we just.. Didn't realise what stopped you from acting.. We thought it was Team SeeD, not us."

"Ha, they would have known sooner or later anyway, because Seph is so determined to drag me into Team SeeD."

Roxas muttered in disgust without hiding his emotions. However, he did not attack Avalanche or anything- he just stood there, clearly annoyed, while Angeal shook head and Genesis smirking.

"Well, that's the Roxas I like. Roxas, how was it, fooling around them?"

"Annoyed as hell, Genesis. Well.. Are we fighting or what? They ambushed the party which highly important personels attended- Aren't we supposed to arrest them? Or-" Roxas turned to the Turks, and smirked at Reno. "Are we to annihilate them? I do not have any problem in both, so pick your side. I'd rather prefer cleaner way, though.. And, actually- you want me here, Veld?"

"...No, Mr. Safer. We do not want to owe you such a favor. Though General Sephiroth spoke in such a manner of making it sound as if you were under our department, you are a head of another department.. We do not want to owe you such a great favor. This is our work."

"I thought I was under the category of 'missing and possibly dead'for quite a long time.. Don't call me the leader of that department, though. Our department is almost gone now.. Most of our members are missing, thanks to those traitors. Well, anyway- if you say so.. I shall remain neutral about this.. Of course, that is if you do not have anything to say, brother."

Roxas turned to Sephiroth rather playfully, looking up at him with hopeful face. Quirking his eyebrow, Sephiroth spoke in annoyance.

"You haven't forgotten that agreement between your- Well, your department and me, have you? Your mentor gave me his words, and after you became the leader- You gave your words as well."

"Well, so it's decided, then. Indeed, I gave you my words that I shall aid you in destroying Avalanche.. In exchange of seeking my mentor, other comrades who are missing, as well as those traitors. You kept your words, and I shall keep mine as well. So, then.. Am I to annihilate them, elder brother?"

"...No. We do not need to.. ..The agreement says subdue their activities. I do not necessarilly destroy them either, Roxas, I just have to disband or subdue them permenantly and Shinra will return Mother to me.. And we will have our Reunion."

"What's the difference? Disband or subdue permenantly- that's as good as a direct order to kill or cripple. Huh.. Alright, if that's what Shinra wants and hence your wish.."

Roxas chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing with a dark pleasure- Before anyone could stop him, Roxas stepped front, raising his left hand. Again, before anyone realised what was going on- Roxas was standing behind Avalanche members, blocking their exit. Only a few of them catched glimpses of Roxas's movements- most of them only lens-flares. He had five bright shields of lights guarding his body. Crossing his arms, Roxas spoke matter-of-factly.

"It seems not many of you actually can follow my speed.. Well, Cloud Strife can, from his movement- and him-" Roxas turned his face to Vincent Valentine, who was already on his guard, "But Cloud is yours to deal with, right, brother? Then.. I take it he is mine to deal with.. Am I right, Sephiroth? That man- he reacted to my movements.. He saw me."

"I don't care who you deal with, just deal with any who you want while blocking their exit. You can do that much, can't you?"

"You don't need to ask unnecessary questions, I have my limits."

"Wait, Sephiroth! You can't just-"

Too late. Squall gritted his teeth as Sephiroth rushed towards Cloud. Accordingly, the Yuffie rushed towards Irvine and Quistis as Zell approached Tifa. Seifer, Raijin and Fujin was against Barret and Cid, Riona and Selphie against Cait Sith and Arieth. Red XIII was left alone against Angeal and Genesis, but Genesis wasn't interested and the Turks choose to block other possible exits such as windows and doors. The battles were brutal, their pace quickening faster and faster- But it was forced to stop aburptly when Vincent got a critical hit by one of the Roxas's shields.