Surviving The Grim Reaper

Hey guys I know its been AGES since I last updated but life has been absolutely crazy! I apologize! My mother got two brain tumors and I am currently starting my first year of collage. So I still plan on updating but it may be sporadic with how my schedule is. Hope you guys don't hate me lol. D: Hope you like this update. Read, review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I still own nothing! D:

I'm gonna die! Is all that was on Zackary Fair's mind as he sprinted down the medical wing of the infirmary. Zack felt the hair on the back of his neck become singed as he skidded around a corner, barely dodging a large blast of fire. A pale and sickly Genesis hot on his heels. The IV was still connected to her arm as she dragged its stand behind her. Zack had to momentarily wonder if it was causing her any pain, but quickly resumed to running for his life. He wasn't about to stop and ask!

"Genesis! I'm sorry!" Zack half screamed out as he was forced to make a dive around a waiting lobbies couch for protection from the onslaught of fireballs.

Genesis screeched like a dying banshee as she rapidly fired at the couch and other objects that Zack tried to use for shelter.

"You… ungrateful…" Genesis screeched out, while sending another fireball aimed at Zack's head.

Everyone in the ward ran and hid behind doors, counters, and bookshelves; generally anything they could find.

"Where is Angeal and Sephiroth! They should be helping me…! …Come to think of it… how the HELL is she even up so soon after just waking up…!" Zack mentally cried to himself as he realized he was about to run out of 'bomb shelters'.

As if on cue Angeal and Sephiroth came barreling down one of the many hallways. Trying to tame the beast known as the one and only Red General.

Angeal slid to a halt a few feet behind Genesis and raised his hands in defense when she whipped around and glared at them. As if daring them to intervene.

"Genesis…" Angeal said slowly, careful to not set off his injured friend. "Calm dow-…"

"DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" Genesis rawred as she turned her attention back to Zack. A fireball flaring in her hand ready to be launched. "That little MUTT of yours destroyed my book Angeal! My BOOK!" Genesis cocked her arm back ready to let loose another round of rapid fireball bursts.

Zack let out a whimper and quickly backed away from Genesis as she let one of the fireballs loose on his last remaining shelter, exploding and burning into ash.

"Genesis…" Sephiroth said a few feet behind Angeal in his monotone voice.

This caused Genesis to flinch. Only the people who knew the Silver General enough could hear the underlining meaning behind his usual monotone. He had different kinds. And you had to know him extremely well to detect which one he was using when he spoke. And that one spoke volumes of disappointment.

Genesis snarled and glared at Zack with the dirtiest scowl she could muster and whirled around to glare at Angeal and Sephiroth. She stomped her way past them, heading back to her room. The minute she rounded the corner, the whole lobby could be heard letting out collective relieved sighs, as everyone came out of hiding. The danger now over, the spectators went about cleaning up the mess made. Cast the pale Zack a few sympathetic glances as they picked up shredded couch here and burning pieces of wood from a chair there.

Angeal let out a sigh and scratched the back of his head as he walked over to Zack. Who still sat against the far wall with a deathly afraid look on his face as if he'd just seen Ifirit grow three heads.

"Well pup… As you young kids say… I do believe you have hit her 'shit list'." Angeal stated with an amused look on his face as he offered a hand to his student.

Accepting the hand Zack was hauled to his feet. He gave Angeal a thankful nod and turned to Sephiroth with a look of relief on his face.

"We better go make sure Genesis isn't strangling one of the doctors." Sephiroth said as he walked up to his two friends. Motioning with his hand toward the hallway that Genesis had rushed down.

With a collective nod, they slowly treaded back to Genesis' room. Zack moving his feet, as if he had baby feet. Not wanting to face his friends' wrath a second time.

As they got closer to her room they noticed that the doctors where surprisingly still whole and there where no bloody pools anywhere with dead bodies on the ground. They considered that a lucky turn of fate. Considering how livid Genesis had been.

A couple feet from Genesis' door Zack's head snapped up and he snapped his fingers and he rushed past Angeal and Sephiroth. Surprising them both as he bolted head long into the 'lions den'.

Angeal and Sephiroth gave each other concerned glances as they watched their young friend and charge run into; a literal sense of the word: hell on earth. They hesitated by the door waiting for the screams and the banging to start. When none came they spared another glance toward each other before strolling into the room. Expecting a half dead and beaten Zack. They both wore shocked expressions on their face with what they had found instead.

Zack was sitting on Genesis' bed with her sitting there glaring at him. But at least she wasn't ripping him in half. They found out why the latter hasn't happened yet, when they caught wind of what Zack was talking to Genesis about.

"…So you see me and Reno found another copy of that boo-…"

"Loveless…!" Genesis corrected hotly, effectively cutting Zack off.

Rolling his eyes, much to Genesis' disgust. He continued from where he was so rudely cut off.

"As I was saying…" Zack started giving Genesis a pointed glare to keep quite. Satisfied as she gave him a huff and a look of indigence, but didn't say a word.

Zack smiled before folding his legs Indian style on the bed. "Well me and Reno where trying to find a new copy of your book ever since I… kinda… destroyed it." Zack said chuckling nervously at the death glare he was receiving and decided to just quickly spit out what he had to say before they had a repeat of the last hour.

"We found a copy actually! It's in Nebielheim. It's the only copy left according to Reno. We don't know 'exactly' who owns it… but we do know its located there and hasn't left there. So unless its been destroyed by its owner it should still be there!" Zack finished with a wide grin on his face. Proud of his accomplishment.

Genesis gave him that look that said 'Your retarded aren't you… you have to be…'

"Hey! What's that look for!" He said getting to his knees and leaning forward to glare in Genesis' face.

Genesis glared daggers at him, before bringing up one of her feet and slamming it into Zack's chest. Sending him flying off the bed to land face first into the floor.

"Do you have any idea how much an original copy of 'Loveless' costs! How are we going to acquire it from this owner you've found? I'm sure if that person has any decency or sense for good poetry, they wont just fork it over for nothing!"

Zack hoisted himself up off the ground, rubbing his nose with a wince as he wiggled his way back to the edge of the bed to look up at Genesis. He glared at her for a few minutes before stomping his feet as he left the room. They watched him leave. Genesis glaring death rays from her eyes to the back of his head.

He stopped halfway down the hall and turn towards Genesis' room and gave them a determined look before yelling so loud that they all, mako enhanced or not, had to cover their ears.

"I'll get it! You'll see! You'll all see!" Zack turned on his heel and ran down the hallways to the Infirmaries exit, cackling madly. Sending shivers up Sephiroth's spine. And he thought only Hojo could do that to him.

Zack had been running all up and down the complex trying to find someone, anyone who was from Nebielheim. He was running so fast that he could only see blurs of people as he ran past. He came sliding around a corner and with a loud 'smack' fell head over heels and skidded across the floor to a slow stop.

Groaning in pain he jumped to his feet, spinning around to rip a new one into the person who dared to interrupt his important self imposed mission.

"Hey what's the bi-…" Zack eyes widen as he glanced down at who he had plowed over and quickly ran to his side.

"Zack! What the rush?" Kunsel said chuckling slightly as he accepted his helmet that Zack had retrieved for him on his way to aid his best friend.

Offering his friend a hand, Zack hauled Kunsel to his feet. Giving him a apologetic smile he quickly tried to explain himself, trying to get back to his mission as soon as absolutely possible.

"Sorry man. I've been looking for someone who's from Nebielheim but I haven't had any luck yet. And I'm kind of pressed for time." He quickly mumbled with a grimace.

Kunsel gave him a confused look before shoving his helmet back onto his head. "And what is it that's got you so desperate that your plowing over anything and everyone in your line of fire?"

Zack grimaced again and rubbed the back of his head. Casting his gaze to the floor. "Well… It's a long story…"

Kunsel just chuckled and walked over to the vending machine. Grabbing himself a bottle of water and tossing and additional one to Zack who accepted it gratefully.

"Well sit down, I'm sure it's not so dire that you couldn't take a couple of minutes to chill with your best friend. That you hardly ever see anymore and neglect on a daily basis." Kunsel said with a evil smirk splayed on his lips as he plopped down on the nearest bench. Knowing that guilt tripping Zack was the best way to grab his attention long enough to get what he wanted.

Sighing and letting out a few choice words. He scowled at Kunsel before plopping down beside him, twisting the cap off of his water bottle. After Zack had downed half the bottle in practically one gulp, he turned to Kunsel and began his tale.

Three hours later, and a lot of hysterical laughter from Kunsel. Zack had finally finished his tale. He now wore a deep depressed look on his face as his friends laughter continued to discourage him.

His blue eyes locked onto his bottle as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He began to fiddle with a part of the label that had popped up on the edge. His eyes glazing over with a look of defeat on them. How was he suppost to find someone from a backwater town in the mass of SOLDIER…? He'd be looking for weeks without the right access codes to just look it up on a company computer. And there was no way in hell he was going to ask that Turk for help again. He'd like to die with at least half his soul still innocent.

Sighing he glanced up at Kunsel with a defeated, kicked puppy, look plastered to his face. Smacking Kunsel upside the back of his head to get him to stop laughing. Sending the poor boys helmet over his eyes and the rim into his nose.

"If you find it so funny, why don't you go look for someone from Nibelheim!" He snapped out. Scowling at his friend who just gave him a cocky smile after readjusting his helmet.

"Oh but my friend… I DO know someone from Nibelheim…" He let out a chuckle as Zack had chosen that exact moment to take another drink from his water bottle. Watching with mirth as Zack spit its contents out of his mouth and all over the passerby who was walking just a few feet away from where they where comfortably sitting.

Coughing and spluttering, Zack quickly apologized and wiped his mouth with his hand. He grabbed Kunsel by his shoulders and shook him back and forth, sending Kunsel's poor helmet off his head and rolling across the floor once again.

"Who! Tell me Kunsel please! My hide depends on it." Zack practically yelled in his face.

Laughing Kunsel smirked at Zack once again. "Oh I know someone alright. But it's going to cost ya… I don't give out my information to just anyone, let alone 'free' information…"

Zack visibly paled at that comment and lowered his head, hands still resting on his friends shoulders. He whimpered slightly and nodded his head.

"Fine! Anything… As long as it's within reason!" Zack chided.

"Oh don't worry Zack… I believe it's within completely and utterly good reason…" Kunsel gave him the smile that could rival the devils.

Another three hours later and Zack had his information he desperately needed… After having to do something for Kunsel of course.

Zack groaned as he walked down the hall to his apartment. The other SOLDIER's of his floor snickered as he walked by. Apparently news spread fast in the SOLDIER barracks. Kunsel was going to pay dearly for making him dress up like a girl... He would employ Reno's help to get that camera sooner or later.

Zack quickly opened his apartment door and slammed it closed behind him. His face as red as a tomato. He walked to his bedroom and plopped down on his bed. Groaning in frustration, exhaustion and a sense of accomplishment mixed with embarrassment.

He rolled over and slung a arm over his eyes, using his other hand to dig around in one of his pockets. He pulled out a small piece of paper. The name Kunsel had given to him of the one person who was from Nibelheim… The only person from Nibelheim that was in SOLDIER complex or within a hundred miles of it.

Lifting his arm up that was covering his eyes he peeked one eye open to glance at the paper. He read it slowly to make sure he got it right and tried to memorize it. "Cadet Cloud Strife."

He let the paper fall to the floor after he was confident he wouldn't need it anymore. Sighing he threw both his arms down to his sides and groaned, getting closer and closer to falling asleep. Exhausted from the days events.

"Well at least I survived another encounter with the Grim Reaper…"

Well there you have it! I'll try to update again soon! Promise! Remember to give me some feedback on your opinion, comments, or advice :D Peace all!