Final Fantasy VII: Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Summary: "((An Angeal x Zack, Sephiroth x Genesis story)) With several of their greatest allies unable to help them, bodies piling up and being discovered by the dozen, and uncovering secrets that were never meant to be revealed, men who know much more than they let on, and when dead men speak again, time is clearly running out as the Ring comes ever closer to fulfilling their cruel, though still partly unknown, purpose. And as SOLDIERs rush to solve the mystery and save their missing friends, can it be that one they never expected to know anything knows more than what he let on, and more? Will anyone be truly saved, or will they all be included in the final body count?"

Warning: "This will be a Yaoi ((male x male)), first off. It will have rape, reference to rape and childhood abuse, and also implied rape. There is a reason that this Fan-fiction is rated "M," and by continuing to read this story, I am no longer responsible for any offense taken by the manuscript, and will not receive any more complaints and/or hate mail because you have hereby been warned."

Disclaimer: "I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters so don't haul off and think I do. However, the following characters are actually mine, whether or not these characters actually appear in this particular story: 1st Class SOLIDER Marshall Willowstaff, Cadet Captain Benjamin ((Ben)) Adler, Captain Daniel Marks, and Head Physician Julian Jake."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: to MAGISTER LUDI, who discovered a recent error on my part in this story. Because of his review, Something Wicked This Way Comes will now continue. Thanks buddy. Also, to LOVELESSINRED, whose constant reviews make this author a very happy person. You deserve some recognition! It's because of you I kept at this story!

I hope the two of you most enjoy the story. Thanks again!

Start of Part Three.

A_ _ _N

Chapter Twenty-Six: All His Love ((Part One)).

The moment General Sephiroth entered his and Genesis' empty apartment, his unnervingly intelligent mind cracked into action. Genesis must have had a good reason for doing this. He must have known something we- I- hadn't. But why didn't he say something? Why didn't he… why couldn't he wait for me? Why didn't he tell me? Surely the perpetrators were only Cadet Captains, and no matter how many there were, Genesis could have overpowered them had he wanted…

Sephiroth was sure Genesis had let the Ring take him- and the only other explanation of why Zack Fair was also missing pointed to this: Genesis went after the Ring when they went after Zack Fair the night before to protect Zack. After failing to do so, Genesis let them take him away.

Genesis' crimson duster, which was hanging ((almost lifelessly)) by their bedroom door, caught Sephrioth's attention. Taking hold of the coat, Sephiroth gently checked it. He wasn't sure what exactly he was looking for, but he felt compelled, for some reason, to check it.

He found Genesis' cell, turned off.

He found LOVELESS in one of the deeper pockets.

He found a small, silver key that didn't belong to their apartment door.

Turning the small key in his hand, Sephiroth stared hard at it, as if it could give him all the answers he sought. The innocent piece of metal was neatly polished and barely held a scratching. Suddenly, as if by instinct, Sephiroth entered the bedroom, knelt by Genesis' side of the bed, and reached under. His hand caught something smooth and cold.

Pulling it out, Sephiroth discovered a silver-painted, medium-sized box. Using the key he'd found in Genesis' coat pocket, he unlocked it, and was confronted with a neat pile of newspapers, drawings, and, at the very bottom, a black-leather spiral bound journal, complete with a crimson lead pencil.

Taking out the first paper his fingers touched inside the box, Sephiroth's breath caught. He instantly recognized Genesis' handwriting, which was small, painstakingly neat, and borderline cursive:

Sephrioth's attitude changes drastically when someone shows kindness to him. This morning I discovered this when I offered him LOVELESS. Since I've got many copies of the book, I didn't mind sharing this one with him, but that look in his eyes was amazing- those beautiful jade eyes that haunted my imagination as a child lit up! It was like he was a totally different man then…

I left a Banora apple on Sephiroth's desk today and discovered that it was still there when I snuck into his office this afternoon. I wonder if he thinks it's poisoned because of its color? I asked Angeal what he thought and he said if I wanted to get Sephiroth's attention I should just go up to him and just give him the damn apple already. But could I get away with that when he doesn't trust me? Surely he'd throw the apple away if I were the one who handed it to him?

The next few passages made Sephiroth smile. He actually remembered these events. Could Genesis have been writing these every single day since they met four years ago? The thought pleased Sephiroth, though he couldn't imagine the look on Genesis' face if he ever found out that Sephiroth had been reading this journal.

While on a mission in Wutai, Sephiroth saved my life. I had been ambushed by several warriors, and I could swear on my life that Sephiroth came running, though I didn't have it in me to ask when the situation was over with. He wasn't even rude about it like I expected him to be. He was actually kind and even looked scared when he saw me. Maybe this means we're friends?

Sephiroth found out about the scar. He was waiting for me outside the shower and actually pinned me to the wall facedown, exposing the damned thing perfectly. He demanded to know where I'd received the scar and wouldn't let me go until I told him the truth. It felt like we were there for hours by the time he let me go. He told me that he wouldn't rest until he found out what happened to me. I can't even believe he cared- I mean, it's a scar. It doesn't hurt anymore. Still, it was nice that we were doing something other than fighting. Even though I was kind of naked throughout the entire thing.

Sephiroth smiled at that one. He remembered it clearly: he'd ambushed Genesis a year into their friendship just as Genesis came out of the restroom wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Sephiroth had seen the scar reading "SOLDIER," on Genesis' back and was somewhat curious as to how it came to be there. Genesis had refused to tell him anything, on the grounds that it was none of his business, and Sephiroth could understand why: the two of them didn't have the greatest relationship back then. They were always- or at least Genesis was- picking fights with each other.

Last night, I admitted to Angeal that I loved Sephiroth. Angeal gave me the greatest "what the hell?" look, like it was weird that I, Genesis Rhapsodos, could be in love with Sephiroth after how long I was complaining for nine months about how being room-mates with him was driving me insane. But I've seen a part of Seph that no one else has- he's not sweet, but then again, he can be in his own way. You can't associate someone like Seph with the word "sweet," or "nice," because he certainly isn't either. He's something that's neither sweet nor nice, but he isn't mean OR emotionless, and I'm damn sure he isn't a Demon or a monster. I feel like a complete idiot for writing this, but it's true. I'm in love with Sephiroth. After everything that's happened between us, I've fallen in love with him. Gaia, and I have to be in the same room with him every night. How can I keep on like "normal" if I'm in love with him? Angeal isn't being any help, either. Thank you very much, Angeal…

The next entry alarmed Sephiroth. This particular entry had to have been done when Genesis was angry or upset, for the writing was messy and disorganized, so unlike all the other entries. This particular one was incredibly recent, too, for these events and the sequence in which they happened seemed familiar to Sephiroth- because they were from that night Genesis was first attacked.

Am I becoming like my parents, even after everything they did to me? After all that's happened, is it because I'm becoming just like them that I'm drinking when I'm upset? Mother and father both used to drink too much when they were upset, and then they'd take that out on me. I did the same thing- I got pissed off and took it out on Angeal and Sephiroth. Why? Why has this happened? Am I doomed to live like them and hurt the ones I love? Am I to become just like them?

I'd rather die.

A_ _ _N

Did Genesis truly believe that he was becoming like his parents? Sephiroth had met Genesis' parents in Banora several years ago, before all this had happened, before he had known exactly what Genesis' parents had done to their son.

Genesis' father was a cold, distant man. He looked nothing like his son. The mayor of Banora was a narrow-eyed, bad-tempered person. Genesis' mother had been completely superficial, to the point where it got on Sephiroth's nerves. Both of them seemed tense, however, around Genesis and Angeal. Angeal, who was quite openly thankful he wasn't staying with Genesis' parents for the duration of their stay in Banora, never remained in contact with Genesis' parents for long. Genesis did, and it wasn't until much later that Sephiroth found out what they had been doing: arguing.

It turned out that even without all the "other things" that Genesis' parents had done, they approved of nothing Genesis did- especially leaving Banora and joining SOLDIER. They hated Angeal. They hated the fact that Genesis chose Angeal over them. They hated the fact that Genesis wasn't interested in women. They despised Genesis' dream of becoming a hero and out-right refused to support him. Sephiroth remembered Genesis once saying that if they could get away with it, his parents would have disowned him a long time ago, but couldn't on account of Genesis' ties to ShinRa.

Slowly, Sephiroth put the journal away and carefully put the box away exactly where he had found it. He remembered to lock it again and place the key exactly where he had found it in Genesis' coat. He then made his way out of the apartment and back down to the Courtyard.

Where he found Angeal.

Angeal was standing at the rose bushes, where Sephiroth remembered seeing Zack and Angeal side-by-side, planting new roses after Genesis was attacked the first time. The new plants were growing well, and were beginning to bud. Sephiroth stood back, and shook his head in understanding:

He wasn't the only one who'd lost someone.

Turning again, Sephiroth made his way into the ShinRa HQ. He would find Genesis and Zack, and bring them back safely- and if he could, Captain Daniel Marks, too. He was going to question every Captain, every Cadet, whatever it took to bring his Star-Gazer back. He wasn't going to let the Ring take Genesis from him again. He wasn't about to let them take Zack from Angeal, either. I'm coming, Star-Gazer. You'd better wait for me this time. Sephiroth thought as he entered the Cadet Corps.

Sephiroth was going to win this. No matter what.

A_ _ _N