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So here is another chapter! Hope ya like it. Please review. I am really happy that people have been reviewing, but i would like more people to review. And say what they think of it! Thanks you guys!
Chapter 5: So Screwed!
Light filtered in through a window, showing light to the small particles of dust floating in the air of the inclosed area. Giving off the impression that the room itself was sparkling. There was only one occupant to this room. He was middle aged, and a white strand of hair could be seen in his black locks here and there. No matter how he tried to hide them, they still found a way to pronounce their existence on his head as much as he detested it. This poor soul had been up since three am going through paperwork, calling in to check on Genesis, and dealing with Hollander's nagging about what had happened to one of his precious 'children'. As each paper was signed, two more replaced its now vacant spot. This stress was probably the cause of his white hair, he was sure of it!
Grumbling, Angeal slammed his pen on his desk before leaning back in his chair to stare up at the ceiling of his office. A lot had happened in the past twenty-four hours. From Genesis' attempt on suicide, to Sephiroth uncharacteristically almost having a meltdown. Oh and don't forget all the paperwork that was originally Genesis', but, being who he was he took it all on for his dear friend. As much as he wished the stack of unending papery hell would sprout devil wings and fly out the window and go torment someone more worthy of its torture. But he was without a doubt, stuck with it. It would have been wonderful if maybe it could have gone to Hollander perhaps, or better yet, if it could have gone to Hojo. He'd love to see that man squirm in frustration over this massive mound of paper.
Angeal slowly tore his eyes away from the ceiling and began to lean forward in his chair. Bringing his eyes back down to his desk, looking over the paperwork that was laid out in front of him. He brought elbows up to rest on his desk, clasping his hands together to create a makeshift cradle for his head. Angeal's eyes traveled to his mug sitting on the corner of his desk. It had been recently filled with dumb-apple juice and mint. One of his favorite beverages from his childhood.
He had been debating wither or not he wanted to tread deep water with his secretary in order to get more of his wonderful drink, when he heard someone come sliding past his door and ram into something just outside his office. Rolling his eyes he brought his hands to his lap, leaning back in his chair as he listened to the secretary yell at someone to pick up what they had just knocked over, before his door burst open. He knew who it was the minute the crash was heard and spiky black hair poked its way through his door.
"Hey, you ca-!" The rest of the secretaries warning was cut short as Angeal's young apprentice slammed the door shut promptly in the secretaries face.
Raising a eyebrow at his puppy, he motioned with one of his hands towards one of the seats in his small office. Judging from Zack's disheveled look, the wet pant leg, and the look of utter horror and frustration on his young features... This was going to end very interestingly.
"So... What do I owe this visit pup?" Angeal teased, trying to get a little humor into his day of torture at the expense of his hyper active puppy.
Zack plopped into the closest chair he could get his hands on. And held up a finger as he dropped his head down and panted like he had just ran laps around Midgar.
"A-angeal... um... a..." Zack struggled to ask his question, his head still held low against his chest.
Curious now, Angeal leans a forward, leaning slightly on his desk. "What is it?"
"Um... you wouldn't... happen t-to have a extra copy of... Loveless?" Zack says quickly coughing when he said the title. Lifting his head up to grin nervously at Angeal, casting his gaze this way and that.
"Why would you want to know that for, pup? I know you do not read poetry, you barely have the attention span for training. Let alone reading a poem and trying to understand its complexity..." Angeal stated, Zack scowling at him slightly at the mention of his poor attention span.
"Hey! Low blow 'Geal! You wound me." Zack says putting a hand to his heart and leaning back in his seat, letting his head go limp against the back of the chair and letting his tongue hang out of his mouth, shutting his eyes trying to add to the effect.
Rolling his eyes, Angeal reached over and snapped his fingers in front of Zack's face as best as he could, while still behind his desk.
"Seriously, pup. What do you want a copy fo-..." Angeal tilted his head slightly, while Zack looked nervously at him from his chair. Looking as though he was a deer caught in headlights and ready to bolt at a minutes notice.
"Wait... you said you needed a 'extra' copy..?" Angeal stated, waiting for Zack to nod his head to confirm. This turning on a light in Angeal's head.
Leaning back in his chair, Angeal brought one of his hands up to his face before slapping it firmly over as much of his face as he possibly could, before groaning.
Peeking through his fingers, Angeal held out his unoccupied hand. "Well, let's see the damage..." Angeal winced, he didn't want to know how much trouble Zack would be in if this book was the cause of the problem as he had a hunch it would be.
Zack let out a nervous chuckle before leaning over to one side to make it easier to pull the book out of his pocket were he had shoved it earlier. No longer caring how much more damaged it could get. It was in pretty bad shape already he doubt anything, besides lighting it on fire, could do much more damage to the stupid book anyways.
"Here...Don't tell Genesis!" Zack said while holding out his hand that held what looked like a mound of mold.
Angeal slowly slid his hand off his face, opening up one eye at a time. After getting a good look at it, he unfortunately had to do a double take. His eyes widen and his mouth fell slightly open in shock.
"Z-zack! What did you do to..." Angeal didn't even finish. He grabbed the book gentle as if it was made of gold from Zack's hand. Turning it this way and that as he examined it. It looked like a red worm with its guts squishing out of its sides. The paper was now dry but it didn't help its look any. As Angeal went to touch a piece of the paper that was sticking out, it cracked and crumbled away into little flakes. Slowly drifting down until it settled on his boot. Angeal's eyes following it all the while as it made its decent.
Putting the book on his desk, Angeal sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose slightly, knowing this was just gonna be another stressful event.
"Hey now! It wasn't my fault... Yo-you see this... monster! I was down in the Wall Market earlier and you see. This monster jumped out behind me and I didn't see it! And-and I was um... flipping through the book ya know! Trying to get all inspirational from its... um..." Zack rambled on, as Angeal's face just got darker and darker as it went.
"Zack! Stop. I know you were not in Wall Market today or yesterday or any other day for the past week." Angeal said, letting go of his nose.
"B-but..." Zack stuttered out, leaning forward in his chair trying his best to make his mentor believe him. Although he knew he was lying out of his ass.
"Well Zack there are some problems with your story. One would be... you were on a mission just until two days ago. Second being, when you got back you took me and Sephiroth below the plate to a run down bar in Sector 5 slums. And thirdly, I have heard people talking about you coming out of the bathroom sopping wet, and may I add, smelling like rancid, moldy, toilet water." To say Zack's face drop was a understatement. It completely fell. A look of horror and pleading broke out on Zack's face as Angeal continued with his statement.
"Come on 'Geal! I need to find a replacement for this book! Please, please, pleaseeee!"
"I'm sorry Zack. As much as I would love to help you I can't. You see this book..." Angeal motioned with his hand to the now poorly mistaken thing referred to as a book was at laying on his desk. "Is a one of a kind, First Edition. Its nearly impossible to find one."
Zack was about to suggest just getting a cheapo dime store one, when Angeal raised his hand to silence him.
"That would not work. You see, Genesis has added her own little touches to this book. Secrets and the like. Highlighted what she liked, put dates next to ones that meant something to her at a certain time in her life. You see she's had this book since she was a little girl. It was the only thing she could relate to when she was a child. And even now. This book is priceless. You can't simply expect to go to a dime store and purchase one. I'm afraid I can't do anything for you this time pup. Your on your own."
"You've got to be kidding me... Seriously!" Zack half yelled at Angeal.
Angeal simply grinned and slowly proceeded to get up out of his chair. Grabbing his Buster Sword from the corner were it was nestled, he swung it around to the magnetic sheath on his back. Before heading to the door, he looked over his shoulder.
"Sorry puppy. But you have to find a way to fix this one by yourself." And before Zack knew it, Angeal had left the room leaving a Zack glaring at the door.
"Wh-what the hell Angeal! What happened to your honor?" Angeal only smirked as Zack's voice rang from the door and down the hallway. Angeal just kept on walking, getting into the elevator and leaving Zack to figure this out on his own. He needed a break, maybe some dumb-apple juice would do...
"Oh crap, oh crap, aw shit! I'm so screwed!" Zack had been running all around Midgar, and even searching on the internet. And! Had blackmailed Reno into looking for a copy of the 'Loveless' book as well. So far nothing had come up. Everyone he had turned to in the shops had just told him the same thing that Angeal had said. Or had stared at him like he was the biggest idiot in the world and laughed in his face.
"You've got to be shitting me! What does it take to find a First Edition of this stupid, damn book!" Zack yelled as he stomped his feet in the dirt of the slums, throwing what looked like, to passing people, a deadly SOLDIER throwing a tantrum.
"Hey, what are you lookin' at! Never seen a grown man vent his frustration before or what?" Zack glared at the people staring at him as if he had finally lost his mind, or jostled something in his brain during his small, but amusing, tantrum.
Still glaring slightly at the people around him, he felt the vibration of his phone in his pocket. Turning his gaze elsewhere he slammed a hand roughly into his cell phone pocket, before flipping it open and pressing it to his ear.
"Yeah, what do ya want?" Zack irritation not sliding past the receiving persons end.
"Yo, Fair. What's been eattin' your ass alive, man?" Reno's voice drawled out, amusement clearly heard in his voice.
"Reno. Did you find any leads on where we can get a copy of that book?" Zack asked, trying his best to ignore Reno's taunting.
"Your in luck my man. There is one known copy left, after you destroyed that other one. Dude did you even know how much that thing was worth, yo? If I'd known ya had it I would have stolen that from ya and made some pretty gil, yo! I could have fuckin' retired." Reno yelled into the receiver.
Pulling the phone a little bit away from his now ringing ear drum, Zack asked. "Where is it, Reno? And don't tell me the price... I want to keep 'Rob Shinra Co. so I can save my ass from a fiery demise' plan at the very, very bottom of my list at the moment, thanks."
"Pft, and you call yourself the 'Great Almighty Fair'." Reno cackled on the phone before continuing. "Well let's see... Ah here it is, yo. The last copy is in a small town called Nibelheim. Apparently someone there has the book, yo."
"Aw thanks man! I owe ya one. Now I just gotta think about how I'm gonna get it..." Zack said running a gloved hand through his hair.
"Ah, no way man. You leave me out of this one, yo. The deal was I snoop and find this book for ya. No way in hell I'm playin' delivery boy now, yo. Unless ya want to throw in a life time supply of alcoholic drinks and babes, then ill think about it." Zack grimaced at the last sentence that spilled from the red heads mouth.
"I think I'll pass. I need to go brush my mouth out, ya know talking to you is like putting radio active shit in my mouth."
Reno laughed, while Zack quickly slapped the phone closed. Sticking his tongue out in distaste at his phone. Talking to that man, or boy should he say, really did leave a horrible taste in his mouth. That kid was worse then he was when he was chasing tails.
"If I was ever like that... Gaia forbid I ever get into the life stream." Zack whispered before shuddering.