"Lazard, Lazard it happened!!" cried Zack as she ran in his office.

"Wait, wait, what happened?" asked Lazard trying to calm her down.

"Okay," said Zack trying to control her breathing. "I was walking down my hall to go to my apartment when I see this new guy I haven't seen before—at least I don't think so, well anyways I smiled and he tipped his hat to me and passed me. My eyes, for some strange reason followed him, and I said to Sephiroth, who was standing beside me— 'is he new? He's kinda cute.' It's happening Lazard, just like you said! What should I do?!"

"So you just got your first male attraction?" asked Lazard putting it plainly like a man usually would.

"Uh—yeah, that's what I've been trying to tell you all this time," she said with her hip out. "I mean gosh men are such . . . eh, never mind."

"Well I'm glad you told me," said Lazard with a kind smile. "But I wouldn't worry too much about that. A 'girl' like you wouldn't fall in love at first sight would you?"

"Umm, I don't know—maybe," she said rolling her shoulders.

"Then tell me how you like your relationships," said Lazard ready to listen.

"Well I like a couple to spend more time with each other so they can know each other well," said Zack. "But love at first sight—I guess it could happen. If it's the right person that you're destined to spend forever with to love and hold and cherish and . . ."

Zack stopped herself finding she was hugging herself with her right foot up. She realized how girly she had been sounded—and looking and so stopped and slumped her shoulders saying—

"Yeah . . . anyways."

"Uh-huh, I see," said Lazard jotting down some notes. "Well in that case I don't know really what to say to you. You could fall in love you could not. It depends how far your womanhood is progressing."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Zack.

"Well," sighed Lazard not too sure how to put this. "Do you have any sexual feelings?"

"Like would I want to slept with someone?" asked Zack raising a thin eyebrow.

"Well—yes," said Lazard.

"Now that I think about it . . ." said Zack placing a finger on her chin.

"Oh dear you do!" gulped Lazard not too sure how he could fix that especially if she ever got pregnant.

"Just kidding!" blurted Zack with a loud laugh. "Sheesh like I'm that dumb."

After a minute Zack looked at Lazard with a questionable face and asked—

"How would one start to get these feelings and thoughts?"

"Well," said Lazard thinking about all the woman he's dated before and what they said about why they were so attracted to him and such. "You start to notice things about the men."

"Like what?" asked Zack with a shrug.

"Like the sound of their voice. The way it sounds towards you and—well you know what I mean?"

"No," said Zack shaking her head.

"Uh, well I heard that women usually go by their ears and guys their eyes. That's why women like smooth-talkers or men with deep voices. Do you get it now?"

"Nope," said Zack with a smile. "Anyway . . ."

"Anyway, moving on," said Lazard thinking again. "You start to notice other things about men as well like how big their muscles are or how bright their eyes are or how fair their face is. Women can go by sight just as much as men."

"Uh-huh," said Zack licking the inside of her cheek. "Well hopefully that was just a freak thing."

"Considering how you ARE a girl now I wouldn't say it was a freak thing," Lazard said.

"Thanks for reminding me," said Zack walking out.

"Take care Zack Fair," said Lazard. "Miss Zack Fair."

Zack tried to take what Lazard said to her and apply it to herself, but nothing seemed to work. She listened to many men voices, but none excited her that much as he said it would. She observed closely the features of men. None really had as much muscle, or as bright eyes or as fair faces.

Zack only smiled knowing one man who had those features. His name was Zack Fair. She missed that man and it seemed like a distant memory to her now seeing how she had spent a month in a half being a woman. Being a woman seemed to take its toll on her and she was afraid of so much.

She bowed her head and slowly blinked. Was she really going to forget about being the guy Zack Fair? She hoped not for if she did would she ever want to be a guy again? No . . . how could anyone ever forget a guy like that?

She shook it off and continued with life as usual. She kept asking if Hojo was done, but all she ever got was that he wasn't even halfway done. She kept optimistic and always was glad that at least he wasn't nowhere.

Everything seemed normal to Angeal, Genesis, and Sephiroth until one day when Zack was training. She seemed to keep to herself a lot, which was NOT like Zack at all. Angeal didn't like this mood of her, but it soon changed when she practiced with her sword.

Zack swung her sword to and fro and back and forth in the stances Angeal taught her. One time she did it wrong and hurt her wrist just a bit. She looked over at Angeal who did the same sword dances, but he did it perfectly. He 'always' did it perfectly.

She rolled her eyes and head until she turned her attention to Angeal again. She watched the way he handled his blade and remembered a time when she could do the same, but her memories soon ceased, as she was transfixed on the way Angeal swung. Her eyes seemed to admire now, but everything soon stopped as Angeal noticed she wasn't doing anything but starring.

"Why aren't you practicing?" he asked ceasing his moves.

"Oh, uh, I need help again as how to remember to hold my blade a certain way," she said holding her blade out.

"Hhh, like what?" asked Angeal putting his blade on his back and walking over to Zack.

"Oh uh, stance 36?" she said with a wry smile.

"Alright," sighed Angeal as he came up behind her and placed his hands on hers to show her how to hold it when doing that stance.

Angeal then began to speak on how you should hold it. Like what degree your wrist should be at or where your fingers should go on the hilt. This all seemed to fade out as Zack focused on the strong muscular arms around her. His words came out in whispers to hers as her eyes scanned his buff arms just wishing to hold gaze a little longer each second that passed.

She took a deep breath of him in and then let her eyes fall on his hands that lay atop her. Her eyes seemed to be in a dream-state as a gentle smile came to her face just taking in the feel of Angeal's hands on her own guiding them on what to do and where they should go.

"Do you get it now Zack?" asked Angeal tilting his head down a bit to look at Zack's face.

"Mhmmm," she sighed slowly blinking.

"Zack . . . are you okay?" asked Angeal.

"Hm, hm, you smell good," she said with a smile as she turned her face to his.

"Uh," said Angeal not really expecting that on coming out of his student.

It was only about a second later until Zack caught herself and what she was doing. Her eyes widened and she gasped. She quickly got out of the grasp of Angeal and shakingly held her sword in her hands saying—

"A-angeal I didn't . . . I mean . . ."

"So now you're attracted to me Zack?" asked Angeal crossing his arms. "If so I don't think we should continue our usual training until you change back into a man."

"I don't know I . . . it was just a freak thing that . . . it won't happen again I swear it!" swore Zack firmly placing a hand on her heart.

"Alright then," said Angeal shaking his head. "I'll give you leave so you can go see Lazard."

"Uh—when will you have me back?" asked Zack taking a step to the side.

"When you figure out how to control your feminine feelings," said Angeal walking off.

Zack cast her eyes down and bowed her head. She felt horrible for doing that to Angeal and yet she felt as if she had just told someone she had a crush on them and they just rejected them and walked away. So this is the feelings of a woman huh? She hated this one the most.

"Lazard," came Zack as she entered his office.

"What is it Zack?" asked Lazard folding his hands. "You don't look so good."

"It's," she said with her eyes cast down. "Hhh, it's happened."

"What's happened?" asked Lazard listening more closely.

"Those feelings," said Zack glancing at Lazard then back down. "It's happened."

"Where, when and to whom?" asked Lazard standing up.

"Angeal," she sighed turning her head to the left. "We were training when I asked him to show me how to hold a sword . . ."

"What did you do?" asked Lazard.

"I don't know," said Zack flapping her arms. "I just—got attracted to him—badly. When he rejected me and told me to leave I took it rather hard like . . . like some school girl with a hard crush."

"I see," said Lazard placing his thumb and index finger on his chin. "Well at least Angeal is disciplined enough to let you go. Any other man would have taken that as an advantage."

"Angeal's a good man," said Zack. "He'd never hurt me."

Lazard then noticed Zack's hands on her heart and how she swayed gently. On her lips was a tender smile as her eyes closed to capture that feeling. Lazard new this would be natural for a woman, but he had to keep reminding himself that she wasn't a woman and that this wasn't good for her.

"Zack," said Lazard seeing her in this state.

Zack opened her eyes and looked at Lazard. She saw the way he looked at her and so noticed herself and let her arms fall to her side.

"Oh I . . . I don't know what came over me," she said shaking it off.

"Be careful Zack," said Lazard. "That kind of feeling can be dangerous."

"I know," said Zack bowing her head then glanced up at Lazard. "Can you think of any alternative to this?"

"Well," sighed Lazard turning around. "There is one way I suppose."

"I'll do it," said Zack taking a step forward.

"Well," said Lazard turning to her. "You could act like a man in these circumstances."

"What do you mean?" asked Zack tilting her head a bit.

"What I mean is to not care about men," said Lazard. "Like some men don't care about women."

"But that's just wrong!" said Zack. "Those men are nothing but bast----!"

"I know, I know," said Lazard. "And sometimes women are the same way."

"No—I can't do it," said Zack crossing her arms and turning from him. "I won't turn into some bi---!"

"Then think of it as an experiment," said Lazard. "Just have fun with this. Do you get what I'm saying Zack."

"Yeah I get," said Zack turning to him.

"I know that you're curious as to how girls do some things so use it to your advantage, that way you won't have any closely attached feelings to anyone you run into," Lazard said.

Zack crossed her arms and thought about it for a moment. She tried to think of a way this would seem right to her. She wasn't like that really, but then a smile came to her lips understanding it a bit better.

"Well," she said looking at Lazard. "I am only gonna be a girl for so long right?—and you do keep telling me to start acting and trying to be a girl . . ."

"Now you're getting it Zack," said Lazard crossing his arms.

"I see your point," she said with a smile. "This might be a lot of help to me."

"I hope so," said Lazard.

"Well," she said clapping her head and exhaling. "I'll let you know how this goes. Thanks, bye."

"Good luck Zack," said Lazard as he watched her walk off.

Just as soon as Zack left Lazard went back to his desk and called Dr. Hojo. "Hojo . . . how's everything going?"

"Oh fine, fine," said Hojo on the other line. "Though I am still nowhere on completing it."

"I see," said Lazard with a sigh.

"Well on the other hand how is my experiment coming along?" asked Hojo. "I heard she is starting to get feelings. Certain feminine feelings."

"You pay too much attention to him Hojo," said Lazard tilting his head up a bit. "Don't worry about that we sorted that problem out."

"Problem?" said Hojo. "Oh that is no problem. That is good, very good. That means she's evolving perfectly well. Soon she'll probably forget about even being a man or how it feels to be one."

"She's still a he Hojo," said Lazard.

"Not for long I presume," said Hojo with a giggle.

"Which is why we want you to hurry and complete the reverse of this," said Lazard.

"Oh right, right, but I do say . . . if I had my way I'd breed her," said Hojo with an evil smile. "That would be the ultimate test of her womanhood. If she could harbor a child then I'd truly know my test wasn't a failure."

"Well that's too bad you won't get to see that," said Lazard. "We're keeping a good eye on Zack to make sure nothing like that happens to him . . . I can't imagine the headaches I'd have to go through if anything like that happened."

"Hm, well then keep a close eye on her Lazard or else you may encounter many headaches," said Hojo hanging up.

Lazard sighed and wiped his eyes. He hated Hojo for his blasted experiments on human beings. He wished that Hojo would just stop being so mad all the time, but he knew that day would never come.

"How's everything going Zack?" asked Angeal watching her walk out of Lazard's office.

"Oh, fine," she said with a smile.

"You know what I mean Zack," said Angeal with his arms crossed.

"Oh," said Zack casting her eyes down with a blush she still couldn't get under control. "He said that it's just a phase—you know, being a girl and all—and he gave me some ways to help control them."

"That's good," said Angeal shaking his head.

"So can I come back to training?" asked Zack in a high mood.

Angeal looked at her in a strange way. A way that Zack felt he'd say no and so backed up and bowed her head in sadness.

"You aren't going to get a crush on me again are you?" he asked.

Zack looked up at Angeal and saw he was smiling. Her eyes widened a bit and her heart felt like it had skipped a beat. She gasped slightly and smiled saying—

"N-no."

"Good," said Angeal with a twinkle in his eye as he turned. "You can come back tomorrow."

Zack's body was then thrust upon Angeal preventing him from moving. Her arms wrapped around him in a hug. Angeal's eyes widened a bit as his mouth hand agape as he looked down to see two slim arms wrapped around him.

"Thank-you Angeal," said Zack with a smile and slow blink.

She then let go of him and ran off. Angeal just watched her until she turned a corner and was seen no more. Angeal just sighed, closed his eyes, and shook his head. He then continued to walk off and wait to see how Zack was fairing.

Before training she decided to test Lazard's theory out. She dressed up in some of the clothes the guys had convinced her to buy and decided to head out for the night. She went to numerous bars to work on her womaness. She would deliberately put herself out to attract the men—even though she didn't really need to.

She'd try talking smooth to them and to her liking they all fell into seduction. No she had no attraction to them whatsoever and didn't want to reach any higher level than acquaintance. She made sure no one tried anything on her or slipped anything in her drink. She was to smart for that.

Some tried to, but she caught them and dumped them where they stood. She soon figured out how much she liked dumping a man. She felt like she had so much power.

"So this is the power of a woman," she said with a smile tightening her hands into fists.

She then lifted her chin and decided to go after a few more men before going home. They all were such suckers falling for someone like her. She was such a player that night and it was so much fun she decided this is what she was going to do before she changed back into a man.

It was time for her to leave her games and return home. It was late and so she instantly fell asleep. Once she woke up she saw what time it was. Her eyes widened as she shot out of bed and grabbed her gear saying—

"Oh man! Angeal's gonna kill me!!"

She quickly got dressed and ran to get to training. Once she made it in the room she saw Angeal already practicing some techniques with his sword. She bit her bottom lip and quietly made her way inside. She hoped Angeal wouldn't notice her but then again . . . it was Angeal.

"What were you doing last night Zack?" asked Angeal as he twirled his sword on the hilt.

"Uh . . . I was out," she said casting her eyes down.

"Where?" he asked turning to her.

"What does it matter to you what I do on my free time?" she asked boldly.

"It matters if my student's late for his training. Who do you think's responsible for that?" asked Angeal.

"You," sighed Zack bowing her head and dropping her shoulders.

"Now," said Angeal turning. "We're going to continue from yesterday. I trust you know all the stances and don't need any help."

"Yeah I got it," said Zack pulling out her sword and starting.

And so Zack trained with Angeal and this time everything turned out normal. Just the part at the end of the training where she had to face off against Angeal was her worst part of it. She hated fighting him even though it was just part of training. She always ended up the loser of the two and falling back on her butt.

"Ah!" she said with a groan rubbing her hurt spot. "Can't you handle me a little more gently Angeal? I am a woman after all."

"Since when do you agree with your gender that's not your true one?" asked Angeal walking over to her.

Zack just smiled and shook her head. She leaned back on her hand behind her and just sighed. Angeal continued to speak about how the 'real Zack' wouldn't be admitting he's a girl and needs special attention.

"So what do I treat you like?" asked Angeal bending down to her. "Zack who'd want to never be treated any other way then like the man he was, or a woman who wants special treatment just because she's the weaker of the sex."

There were a couple of seconds in silence as Angeal waited for her answer. He got none yet though seeing how she just smiled tenderly and looked into his eyes. She slowly sat up straight to look him better in the eyes as she smiled and said—

"Treat me gently."

At that she leaned forward and kissed him softly. With her eyes closed her mind seemed the same way to her usual sense. Five seconds had passed before a jolt of her old sense shot through her and she knew what she was doing. She let out a gasp as she shot her head back from him.

Her mouth lay agape as her eyes widened and scanned his facial features, which didn't seem to change much. All she could do was let out small gasps feeling a burning pain in her chest like her heart was ready to explode.

"Angeal I . . . I didn't," was all that could come out of her mouth.

Angeal stood up and turned away from her. All he could manage to say was—

"Training's over Zack."

"Angeal!" she said standing up quickly. "W-why didn't you stop me?"

"Because you're a woman," said Angeal turning his head slightly to her.

"What?" she asked taking a step back and shaking her head.

"You are a woman and do women things, just as you were a child and did childish things," said Angeal turning to her with the same look he always seemed to give her. "Go home Zack. Training's over."

At that Angeal walked off and Zack reached out to him, but held her hand back to her side. She closed her eyes tight and before he left the room shouted—

"I'm sorry!!"

Angeal stopped and sighed. He slightly shook his head as he turned to her and said—

"Don't be . . . this is supposed to be natural for you—so I won't condemn you."

Angeal then turned and left. Zack felt her cheeks burn again for an unknown reason. She placed her gloved hands on her cheeks and cast her eyes and head down. Why did she always feel so horrible? Was it because she did this to one of her friends who was always there for her in such crisis'? She shook her head and whispered before she left—

"I'm sorry Angeal."