I do not own Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core or any of the characters.

Vacation

The day after the copies were eliminated, Cissnei was training when Zack called her.

"You'll never guess what just happened," Zack said sounding excited.

"You hit puberty," Cissnei joked.

"Funny," Zack said. "They're sending me to Costa del Sol."

"You're kidding," Cissnei said. "When?"

"In three days," Zack said. "Looks like they finally had enough of me."

"Good for you," Cissnei said.

"Is there any way you could get the day off?" Zack asked.

"I don't know," Cissnei said. "If I can, I'll meet you there."

"Okay," Zack said. "See you later."

"See you," Cissnei said.

Zack disconnected and Cissnei dialed her boss.

He yelled at her then told her that she could have the day off if Tseng agreed to take her place on guard duty of the church. She hung up and called Tseng.

"You want me to use my day off so that you can go hang out with Zack?" Tseng asked. "Sure, why not."

"Thank you," Cissnei said. "Why are you so good to me?"

"Because I'm nice and you're not," Tseng said. "Is that all you wanted?"

"Yes," Cissnei said.

Tseng hung up.

"Well goodbye then," Cissnei said and closed her phone.

She smiled and went back to training. Three days later Zack stepped off the train at Costa del Sol and looked around. Cissnei was nowhere to be seen. He sighed and went to one of the changing booths and got changed into his swimming trunks then went to the beach. When he got there, he spread his blanket out and sat down. He was about to call Cissnei when someone covered his eyes from behind.

"Guess who," a beautiful voice said.

"With that voice it would have to be an Angel," Zack said knowing full well who it was.

Cissnei removed her hands and sat next to him.

"Hey, I was right," Zack said.

"I thought you liked Aerith," Cissnei said.

"Is that supposed to mean I can't see when someone is beautiful?" Zack asked.

Cissnei blushed slightly and Zack smirked.

"So what do you want to do before the copies get here?" Zack asked.

"Copies?" Cissnei asked.

"I'm willing to bet that we'll have a repeat of last time," Zack said.

"Alright," Cissnei said. "You're on. In the mean time, let's go for a swim."

Zack smiled and they both walked to the water. When they were deep enough to swim, Zack splashed Cissnei then ducked under water before she could splash him back. He swam out a ways and resurfaced. Just after he took a breath, Cissnei dragged him under. He spun around and wrapped his arms around her pinning her to his chest then swam further down.

She looked at him and wondered why he looked so calm when her lungs were screaming for air. He held up a glowing materia that was allowing him to breath under water. He took a deep breath then plugged his nose and handed her the materia. The moment she took it she inhaled and smiled. Then she threw her arms around him in a hug but swam deeper. Zack began to tremble and she took a deep breath and handed him the materia. He took it and took a breath while continuing to swim deeper now following the ocean floor farther out into the ocean.

They continued trading the materia back and forth until the pressure from their depth became too much. They began to swim back to the surface while still handing the materia off. After a couple of minutes, something wrapped itself around Cissnei's leg and dragged her back down before she could take the materia back. Zack followed and after a couple seconds, he reached the ground where her Shuriken lay. He grabbed it and followed some clear drag marks until he reached an underwater cave. He pulled himself out silently, wishing he had his sword with him. After a moment of looking around, he saw Cissnei laying against the wall with two Genesis copies standing over her.

He looked back at Cissnei and felt his wind pipe close and his stomach drop. She was unharmed but she wasn't wearing anything. It was obvious what the copies had planned and he was not having any of it.

"HEY ASSHOLES!" Zack shouted throwing her Shuriken at them.

One of them ducked under it but it removed the other's head then bounced off a wall and skidded across the cave. Zack ran at the second one and the copy pulled out a familiar gunblade. It looked like a giant revolver with a blade on each side. The clone swung it at Zack but Zack ducked under it then stood and snapped his neck.

Before the copy had even hit the ground, Zack was kneeling beside Cissnei and very gently shaking her awake.

"Ugh, my head," Cissnei said. "Where are..."

She trailed off as she remembered what had happened, and realized two things. The first was that the copies were dead, and the second was that she was nude.

"W-what happened?" Cissnei said.

"Don't worry," Zack said handing her her bikini. "They didn't."

He turned away and she quickly dressed. Then she hugged him and after a minute she retrieved her Shuriken and inspected the bodies.

"Did you do this with my Shuriken?" Cissnei asked.

"Yes," Zack said.

"Good job," Cissnei said. "You're pretty good when you want to be."

"Thanks," Zack said. "Ready to go?"

"I guess," Cissnei said.

Zack handed her the materia then put on a scuba diving mask the copy whose neck he had broken was wearing. They both got in and swam back to shore then got out of the water. Everything seemed fine so they sat on Zack's blanket and Cissnei leaned on his shoulder. He wrapped one arm around her and lay his head on top of hers.

"Thank you," Cissnei said. "I guess we're even now huh?"

"No," Zack said. "You saved my life twice."

"So did you," Cissnei said. "We're even."

"Fine," Zack said.

They stayed like that for a long time listening to the sound of the waves. The beach had been deserted all day and the only foot prints were theirs so they knew no Genesis copies had gone past.

After about a half an hour, Zack sat up and Cissnei sat up to look at him. The moment she did, he kissed her. She was surprised for a moment then kissed him back. After a few minutes, he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. Neither of them spoke because neither of them needed to. Everything that needed to be said had been said through the kiss.

As if wanting to spoil the moment, Zack's cell phone rang.

"What?" Zack said irritably. "Slow down...Who's doing what?...Are you sure?...Okay, I'll be right there."

"What's wrong?" Cissnei asked.

"Apparently, Luxiere is trying to make off with me sword," Zack said.

Cissnei smirked and stood.

"Let's go," Cissnei said.

"Don't you want to change first?" Zack asked.

"Good point," Cissnei said.

The both changed back into their uniforms then went to the train station and got a train back. In ten minutes, they arrived at the SOLDIER building and were led to an armory that Luxiere had barricaded himself in.

"Luxiere, it's Zack," Zack called through the door. "Can I come in?"

"NO!" Luxiere said.

"C'mon man, I just want to talk," Zack said.

"Fine, but the bitch stays out there!" Luxiere said.

"Sounds like he doesn't care much for you," Zack said. "Be back in a minute."

He opened the door and went inside then closed the door after himself. Luxiere was cradling his sword against the wall.

"Is that my sword?" Zack asked.

"Yes," Luxiere said. "They tried to take it. I wouldn't let them."

"Who tried to take it?" Zack asked.

"The copies," Luxiere said. "Angeal's copies man! They want your sword!"

"Why?" Zack asked.

"I don't know they just do!" Luxiere said.

"Can I have it back please?" Zack asked.

Luxiere reluctantly handed the sword over. Zack took it and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, Luxiere swung another sword at him. Zack blocked it and kicked Luxiere back then opened the door and left with Luxiere right behind him. They fought for several minutes and destroyed nearly everything while they did so. Finally the fight ended with Luxiere impaled on Zack's sword and Zack being incapable of comprehending what had just happened. He collapsed against a wall in shock and Cissnei knelt next to him and simply pulled him into a hug.

"Shh," Cissnei whispered. "It's okay. It's going to be okay."

"What the hell happened in here?" Rude shouted. "ZACK FAIR!"

"He attacked Zack," Cissnei said, still comforting Zack. "He didn't leave him any choice."

"I see," Rude said believing her only because everyone was agreeing and because Zack was clearly not okay with what he had done. "Zack, clean your self and your sword up then meet me in the research lab. There's something we want you to see."

Zack nodded slowly and Rude left. The rest of the crowd slowly dispersed and Cissnei retrieved Zack's sword. He took it and silently went into the bathroom to clean it and his hands. When he was done he put his newly cleaned gloves back on and left. Cissnei was waiting for him.

"Are you okay?" Cissnei asked.

"No," Zack said. "But thank you."

They went to the research lab and Rude showed them something that Zack hadn't thought possible.

THE END

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