A/N: So sorry for the utter lack of Zack in the previous chapter. But he's back so it's all good. ^^

I have a feeling some of you who played Crisis Core without playing the original Final Fantasy VII may be confused about the different uniform system present in this fanfiction. In the original Final Fantasy VII, the uniforms were royal violet for First Class, dark red for Second Class, and navy blue for Third Class. If you go to the Final Fantasy Wiki and type in SOLDIER, you can see the original SOLDIER sprites from the game.

With this fanfiction, I wanted to focus more on the original Final Fantasy VII but still include things from the other compilation games. I'm very much a true-blue fan of the original universe even though I love Crisis Core all the same.

Chapter 17

Two rows of blue in front of two rows of red stood at attention in the gathering hall of the military branch at the Shin-Ra headquarters in Midgar. To the side of the SOLDIER sect was the security sect of the Shin-Ra army, the basic infantrymen. Angeal peers at every soldier with an intense gaze that was piercing enough to cause a few infantrymen to rattle their knees. The very sight of the First Class SOLDIER intimidated them plenty, but not the members of SOLDIER themselves.

Angeal stops before the SOLDIER sect and faces them with the eyes of a proud father.

"Today… marks the beginning of a new chapter in your lives," he began. "Today… you take the next step towards greatness. Never forget your friends and family. Never forget the sacrifices made for you to be here. Embrace your dreams and protect your SOLDIER honor!"

"Sir, yes sir!" all the helmeted SOLDIER members shout simultaneously.

With an approving nod, Angeal dismisses SOLDIER and the infantrymen before disappearing. Once gone, Zen and Kunsel snicker to themselves as they had memorized and mouthed Angeal's every word during his speech. Zack, on the other hand, was less than amused.

"C'mon guys, we're Second Class SOLDIER members now. How about we act like it?" he chastises them.

"Porcupine, even you gotta admit Angeal had it coming," asserts Zen, putting a hand on her hip.

"Even so," Zack argues back with a disapproving look on his face, despite how much he agrees Angeal can sometimes be a broken record.

"I still don't get why you're still wearing your Third Class SOLDIER uniform," speaks up Kunsel, pointing out Zack's navy blue uniform while his and Zen's were dark red. "We got our Second Class SOLDIER uniforms earlier this week."

"Eh, I didn't feel like having to break into another uniform set when I've already gotten myself comfortable in this one," explains Zack, putting his hands into his pockets. "Besides, I look better in blue anyways."

"Whatever floats your boat, Porcupine," Zen rolls her eyes playfully. Stretching herself out after having to stand at attention for so long, she adds: "Well, I'm off to the training room. You guys coming?"

Before Zack could say a word, Kunsel lays a hand on his shoulder and speaks up.

"Yeah, we'll meet you there," he says. "I gotta go back to my quarters to get something."

"Okay," responds Zen, thinking nothing of it.

Once she disappeared from sight, Zack turns to Kunsel and stares at the brunette quizzically. Kunsel nods his head towards the direction of an alternative exit and the two of them began walking back to the SOLDIER barracks. As soon as they were alone, Kunsel lets out an exasperated sigh.

"I've got a problem," he says at long last.

"Gee, I couldn't really tell," chuckles Zack as he walked. "You look so tense, I thought you were going to go fall apart at the seams."

"I… uh… how should I put this…?" Kunsel stutters as he scratches his head. He then began to twiddle his fingers together. "I… I think… I like… Zen."

"Oh," exclaims Zack nonchalantly.

Then he took a double take. "Oh!"

Then it truly sunk in deeply. "OH!"

"I'd appreciate it if you at least use a little more variety in your vocabulary," groans Kunsel, raising an eyebrow.

"Wait, what?" exclaims Zack, looking a little more surprised. "You serious?"

"I know!" Kunsel stops in his tracks and began hitting his head lightly on a nearby wall. "I just… I mean… I don't know what to do!"

"You could, I don't know, tell her how you feel," Zack smirks and crosses his arms.

"I know that, I just…" Kunsel stops hitting his head and lets out another exasperated sigh. "I just don't want to mess up our friendship or anything. And I don't think I can handle a rejection."

"Geez, I don't think you're stuck enough between a rock and a hard place," banters Zack. "Can you make it any harder for me to figure out a solution?"

"Could you… perhaps… ask Angeal for help for me?" wonders Kunsel meekly.

Zack couldn't help but laugh at such a suggestion. "Yeah, I doubt Angeal's total lack of girlfriends is going to give him much to go by."

Kunsel groans upon hearing Zack's answer. "So, what should I do?"

Without a word, Zack simply grabs Kunsel by the belt of his leather suspenders and drags him back to the Shin-Ra headquarters.

"W-w-wait Zack! What are you doing? I don't think—"

"There's no point prolonging this any longer," reasons Zack, his grip on Kunsel still firm. "We're going to the SOLDIER floor and you're going to tell Zen how you feel."

"Aww, c'mon, Zack," pleads the brunette as he trips along. "Couldn't this wait until tomorrow?"

"Kunsel, whining is very unbecoming of you," Zack responds back in a mature tone usually utilized by Kunsel.

The two young men arrive at the SOLDIER floor just as Zen was getting ready to use the training room. Upon noticing them exit the elevator, the young woman quickly approaches the both of them.

"Some other SOLDIER members are using the training room so we're going to have to wait for our turn," she sighs. "You'd think Shin-Ra would have the money to build another one."

"Oh," exclaims Zack. Not wanting to beat around the bush any longer, he eagerly pushes Kunsel towards Zen. "Kunsel has something to say."

Kunsel's face was blushing so red, he felt as if he was going to explode. Luckily, he was still wearing his SOLDIER helmet so most of his face was hidden away from view. He tries to compose himself as Zen looks on curiously.

"Ahem, Zen," he began very nervously. He pulls the collar of his shirt and gulps. "I… Uh… I…"

Zack rolls his eyes and elbows the brunette in the back.

"I like you!" exclaims Kunsel. Suddenly, it felt like tons of weight was lifted from his shoulders, making him slightly more relaxed. "I like you, Zen."

"Aww, I like you, too, Kunsel," responds Zen with a smile.

"Y-you do?" says Kunsel, surprised.

"Sure, I do," affirms Zen. She then pats him on the shoulder. "You're the best friend a person can ever have!"

Zack was choking back a bout of laughter as Kunsel could literally feel the color drain from his face.

"Oh?" exclaims Kunsel, dumbfounded.

"Ooh, the training room's clear!" chirps Zen, glancing over at the door. "Let's go before some other SOLDIER members beat us to it!"

Kunsel could only watch on in absolute astonishment as the young woman obliviously jogs to the training room. When he was sure she was out of earshot, Zack finally lets out an exuberant fit of laughter. Kunsel, on the other hand, didn't find the situation all that amusing. In fact, he had a sneaking suspicion Zack knew about this beforehand.

"You knew she would be totally oblivious to this, didn't you?" he turns to glare at the young man in question.

"Maybe…" Zack drawls between chuckles. He laughs harder upon seeing Kunsel glare at him even more. "Okay, okay, I knew."

"I thought something was amiss," Kunsel utters angrily. "You've been friends with Zen longer than me so you have to have known her better.

"I can't help it if Zen has no romantic interests in anyone," maintains Zack with a snicker. "She flirts with guys without even knowing it."

"I'm so going to beat the crap out of you," asserts Kunsel as the both of them head over to the training room where Zen stood waiting for them.

A/N: LOL, I had you going, didn't I? I wonder how many readers I lost with this chapter. XD Zen and Kunsel are so incompatible, it's not even funny. Okay, maybe it is. For Zack, anyways. ^_^ Hee hee! Looks like he got his revenge after all.