AN: Please send me feedback! You know it's good for both you and me! And after such negligence, I come to thank all my reviewers. I know I haven't been giving you much say, but I do hear your requests and take them to heart. I really appreciate all/any suggestions or words of encouragement you have given me and hope it continues. I'm surprised that so many people have put me on either their favorites list or author alert. Shame I haven't put up a strong impression to be on your favorites, but at least you still want to read my stuff, and I'm happy with that. (Since chapter 11, I've put up responses for your reviews.)

The Complete Opposite

By Duchess of Darkness (DoD)

Chapter XII

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Red sniffed and got up on all fours. He padded to the front door of the dorm and walked right out as it slid open for him. Had it been a normal door, like back in Kalm, he would have had to use a few tricks in unlocking and opening the door. (1) He gave one last look at the door before heading down the hall. In their time at Junon, Red had plenty opportunity to explore the base and get a good idea of how things were arranged. He only had to travel by elevator once to get to the right floor, and when a member of Force boarded a floor above him, he received an odd look. Red was used to it, though. It wasn't often that one found a talking lion with a few tricks up its (imaginary) sleeves.

He exited the elevator and continued down another hall toward the President's office. At the door, a pair of guards outside greeted him. Inside, he met another pair, and a secretary at the far end of the first room.

"Please wait a moment," the woman said as she spotted the lion approaching her. She paged the President and gave a quick glance in the lion's direction. "You may go in," she said after a moment.

Red nodded and walked through the sliding door. He spotted a head of pale blonde hair bent over a small stack of papers. A white-gloved hand passed through the locks and held a few stray strands back as blue-grey eyes ran over the top paper. Red walked forward until he was a few feet away from the blonde's desk and sat on his haunches. It took a moment before the blonde realized his presence.

Rufus looked up as soon as he noticed a small flame dancing around his carpet. He frowned until he spotted the large lion sitting before him. He flicked back a bang and pushed his work aside. "Sorry, Red. What can I help you with?"

Red could've easily answered by commenting on the other blonde man, but instead said: "I see you're drowning yourself in work again?"

Rufus glanced down at his desk and saw it littered with scattered papers and reports. "Ah, yes, I am. Excuse me. But you understand that I have much to work on. Especially with all the strange activities going about, and JENOVA's sudden resurrection, I am waist-deep in work. Well, almost." The blonde laughed a bit at himself and leaned back in his chair.

"Strange activities? Other than JENOVA, what would that be?"

Rufus frowned. "Well, the obvious would be Cloud Strife's miraculous state of sanity. Also, there are these strange readings coming from both the Crater and Midgar. I have yet to figure out what each means, and if they're connected. I just spoke with Sephiroth and I noted about it briefly. I didn't go too into it because I'm sure his mind is far too occupied with a certain someone. ...Speaking of, how is he? I assume while Sephiroth was gone you and some other watched over him?"

"Vincent and I did," Red answered. He didn't even have to work the man into a conversation. "Amazingly enough, he posed no harm while our General was gone. In fact, when Vincent and I checked in on him, he was fast asleep. Quite amazing that he could pull off such a peaceful expression. I do not think it is an act, either, his innocence and strange behavior. I'm sure you know what I mean."

Rufus shook his head and sighed. "Bugenhagen is taking a risk in stating this. I would like to believe all this is true, but— (I'm sure everyone's told you this already.) It's a slim possibility. A sliver of hope."

Red puffed and swiped his tail around himself. "I'd still like to believe it could happen."

Rufus put up a hand in his defense. "Don't get me wrong, I'd like for it to happen as well, but... Cloud Strife as an ally? What would this do to everything we know? How would this affect your General?"

"I say that this would be a perfect second chance for him. And maybe a first try for Cloud Strife."

"You speak boldly, Nanaki."

Red snorted at the sound of his native name coming from the President. "Perhaps. But what do you believe, president? How boldly will you speak?"

Rufus stared at the lion for a long moment before speaking. "You and Bugenhagen risk a lot in coming up with this theory and presenting it to the rest of us. If anything, I want to believe it, but since I am a simple man of only so much power, and my power comes from money and reputation, not insight or any sort of connection to the Planet, I can only go so far with things. It's bad enough that I have done wrong to this Planet and am making up for it at such a horrible time, because now that chaos has only started to fall over the Planet, I have barely stitched up the holes I have created. Say we were right; if I stated this to the people, I would either be hated once again, or highly doubted. ...As I said before, I would like to go along with this theory and state it true."

"But you cannot. I understand. Things are complicated for you, Shinra. I wish you good fortune. Hopefully, the people will come to see that you have truly changed. And perhaps, if we're right about this man, someday everyone will see it as well."

Rufus watched as the lion turned to leave. Just before he reached the door, he called, "You are still too bold, Red. But do look in to your theory. If you find proof or anything that makes your right, tell me right away."

Red turned back and dipped his head in acknowledgement. He opened his mouth to say something when an alarm suddenly went off. Alert and concerned, the lion turned toward Rufus and barked a question. "What does it mean?"

Rufus turned on the monitor for one of the computes on his desk. He frowned at the screen. "It's another reading from Midgar and the Crater. Midgar's signal seems to be pulsing. The radius is... Oh crap."

Red bounded to the blonde's side and rested his front paws on the edge of the desk to see what the problem was. He narrowed his eyes. "Ten kilometers from Midgar?" He paused to read the Crater's signal. He growled out the rating. "Nearly thirty to thirty-five kilometers! This is outrageous. What is causing these readings? They can't be the same, yet the act alike. We must scout it out. Shinra, assemble AVALANCHE here immediately. We must plan and set out at once."

Rufus didn't need to be told. As soon as he got over his shock, he started making calls. He had his secretary page all the AVALANCHE members and a few Force members while he made an announcement all throughout the base. He called for the AVALANCHE members and initiated a warning to the people. He assured the civilians that everything would be worked out, but they should still be cautious. Private messages to researchers and scientists were set immediately at work to give him an update on what the hell was going on.

It didn't take long for the members of AVALANCHE or Force to assemble in the President's room. What was strange, though, was the absent Sephiroth and Cloud. One would've thought that the silver-haired General would be first to be there with a small blonde dragged along, but they were the only two missing. Buzz of what was the matter and where the General was filled the President's office.

"Everyone. Is Sephiroth anywhere to be found?" Rufus cut in the chatter.

AVALANCHE members turned to each other and shared negative answers with a shake of their head.

Rufus frowned. This was unlike the General. If there was something wrong with Strife, the man would certainly be detained and could handle himself. But...

"Vincent. Get Sephiroth."

Red placed his paws on top of the desk. "I believe he is still in the dorm. Last I saw him, he went into Cloud Strife's room."

Vincent quirked a brow at the lion and received a twitch of the ears in response before he nodded and immediately started for the room.

"If something is the matter, page me," Rufus added just before the man left the room. "Otherwise, I'm sending half of AVALANCHE and a few Force members over to check out Midgar."

Vincent glanced over his shoulder to give a quick nod before disappearing, the door clicking shut behind him. He moved as quickly as possible, taking as many shortcuts to his son's room as he knew. Under the alarm, several Force members were running around in half panic, but full of purpose. It still amazed him in how many people still worked under Shinra. The man had power, that was for sure, but it was simply shocking how many from the original ShinRa Inc. company that moved over to the Force, and how many were regular citizens that used to be so frightened of the blonde. Vincent couldn't help but smirk a bit at this thought even through all this rushing. Rufus Shinra was just simply amazing. Controlling the people with fear, or else with trust and promising words — he was magnificent.

Vincent shook his head quickly. This was no time to get carried away with simple thoughts. He needed to get to Sephiroth's dorm. After a flight of stairs (the elevators were still too slow even after all the advanced technology), and down two halls, Vincent finally skidded to a halt in front of the sliding door that led to the dorm. He quickly pulled out his keycard and swiped it through. A soft ping and a green light from the machine on the wall by the door told him he had access. He stepped in and headed for the blonde's door. He checked the handle and found it unlocked. Pushing open the door, his brows rose to find the room empty. The sleeping blonde's figure was pressed into the sheets of the bed, and by the slight disarrangement of things told Vincent that there was a small fight or struggle between the two. He hoped that no bodily damage was done.

Just to make sure, Vincent checked the other rooms of the dorm and found them all empty. Sephiroth's boots were missing, as well as his Masamune, so that assured him that he at least had a weapon on him before he left to wherever. The door to Cloud's room was broken in one part. Vincent took a moment to look at the floor and saw where there was tile a small black line leading toward the door. He guessed Cloud was literally dragged out. And as much as the thought amused him, Vincent couldn't take the time to ponder some more or even laugh at the situation. Instead, he went for the videophone and dialed the number for the President's office.

Rufus picked up just after the first ring. "Yes? Vincent. What is it?"

Vincent shook his head. "Sephiroth and Cloud are not in the dorm." He took a quick glance behind him as he continued. "From the looks of things, they both left, if with a bit of fighting between the two."

Rufus frowned and sighed, shaking his head. "Do you have any clue of where they went or how long they've been gone?" When Vincent shook his head, Rufus replied with, "All right. Come back. We'll alert everyone and have them look out of a blonde and silver-haired man."

"Did you need me at the office?" Rufus shook his head. "Well, I'd rather be out looking for them, if you don't mind." Rufus gave his permission and Vincent nodded. "I have the PHS, so I think you can contact me easily. I'm not sure, however if Sephiroth has one with him, or one at all. Last time I remember having one, was before it got thrown at Zack's head over the ocean for making some stupid comment."

Rufus laughed at this and nodded in turn. "Yes, I remember that. Well, you'd better start your search if you want to find them. I'll contact you if I need you for anything."

"Where's Red?"

"I'm keeping him here with me to come up with any plans beneficial in our excavation through Midgar and finding the source of those pulses."

Vincent nodded again. "Roger."

The screen became blank as he disconnected. He left the dorm after once last look around and started his search for his son and their so-called enemy.

---

Cloud glared at the silver-haired man in front of him. He couldn't scream or curse at him due to the Silence spell cast on him. He had no weapons on him, not to mention any materia. He had one Fire materia stuck in his glove, but that was it. It wasn't even Mastered yet! That was how helpless he was to Sephiroth's power. At least back on his Gaea he had a few spells and a kick-ass weapon to use when he fought the man. Speaking of, he still didn't know where they had confiscated it. It was stupid to think that AVALANCHE would give him back his weapon, let alone know of its location. But still... as much as he found it awkward to admit it, he missed having its reassuring weight on his back.

Sephiroth turned a corner and Cloud had to speed up a bit to keep up with the man's fast pace. He didn't know where they were going, but had a feeling that it was either to Rufus's office or else to the Highwind. He went with the former and was rewarded in being right as they stepped through the door to the blonde's office. Rufus was sitting at his desk monitoring one of the three flat screens decorating his desk. When the President heard them come in, his eyes widened and looked them over before pressing a button to call his secretary. He ordered the woman to contact Vincent immediately and send him over, and she obliged.

"Sephiroth. Where were you?" Rufus inquired. He glanced at the blonde partially hidden behind the silver-haired man's tall body. "I sent most of AVALANCHE over to Midgar."

"Midgar? Why?"

The door behind the two slid open to reveal Vincent. "Rufus's scientists have discovered strange pulses from both Midgar and the Crater. Gaea's Wound is too far away to inspect, so we settled with Midgar. You would be surprised at the breadth of this pulse, Sephiroth."

When Sephiroth settled his gaze on Rufus, the blonde answered, "Ten kilometers from Midgar, and nearly thirty to thirty-five kilometers from the Crater."

The General's eyes narrowed marginally at this news. "How long ago did Highwind leave?"

Rufus shook his head. "You just missed it but a few minutes ago. I have a private plane you can use to get there. It's not as fast as Highwind, but it'll get you there a few minutes after Highwind. Well, that is if nothing happens, of course. You never know."

Sephiroth nodded. He looked over his shoulder at the disgruntled blonde looking off to the side, his lips set in a small pout. He couldn't speak, he knew, but it wasn't his fault that the man argued with him and refused to cooperate. It was childish to resort to cursing the blonde into silence, but it was the quickest solution if he wanted to get a few points stuck in his head and quickly head out for Rufus's office.

"We'll take it."

Rufus nodded and buzzed his secretary to call the hanger and prepare the plane. When he finished, he looked up and caught the other blonde's eyes. "Are you taking him with you?" he addressed Sephiroth while he kept his eyes locked on the other blue-eyed man.

Sephiroth didn't bother to look back as he nodded. "We cannot leave him here. He would better serve on the battlefield."

Though it wasn't direct, the other men in the room caught what the silver-haired General was trying to say. They stared at the man in silent shock, Cloud's expression the most expressive with his eyes opened wide. Had he not been silenced, he would have made a noise of surprise and caution. Instead, he quietly hissed as he sucked in a breath through his teeth.

Rufus cleared his throat and composed himself from his own shock before saying, "Very well, then. I have no objections to your decision, so please prepare yourselves for the trip. The ship should be ready any minute."

As if on cue, Rufus' intercom dinged. He pressed a button and his secretary's voice came through. "Sir, the airship is ready."

"Thank you, Delia."

The connection closed and Rufus turned back to his guests. "You may leave immediately."

Cloud blinked and turned his attention from the General to the President. He couldn't say anything, but by habit he opened his mouth. Rufus caught the action and turned his attention toward him again. He lifted his brows in question.

"Is there something you needed to say, Cloud Strife?" Rufus said with amazing ease, considering it was toward the (supposed) man who tried to kill him a few years ago.

Cloud shook his head and closed his mouth. He looked away, staring down at the carpet at an angle. Rufus was puzzled, but didn't say anything. He turned back to Sephiroth and nodded to him, dismissing the group. Sephiroth nodded back and exited the room, the other two men following silently behind him. The lion, however, lagged behind a moment.

Red got up on all four legs and swished his tail around his haunches. "That was most unexpected, don't you think, Shinra?"

Rufus looked at the lion with red-tinted fur. "I know. Maybe we can hope for the best. ...Do you think they are starting to get along?"

Red chuckled. "Most likely not. You can't tell as well as the others, but Cloud had a Silence spell cast upon him. That was why he was so subdued during the meeting."

"Still, Sephiroth said that he would 'better serve on the battlefield' instead of being locked up. What do you propose that means?" the blonde president asked as he leaned forward on his desk, resting his chin on his fist.

Red shook his head, the ornaments in his mane jingling as they hit each other. "Who knows? I would hope it means that the hatred is lessening. The fact that Sephiroth did not get rid of Cloud at the mention of having a chance to leave him here must mean something."

"For the better, I hope..." Rufus sighed. He sat up straight and smoothed the front of his shirt, clearing his throat out of habit. "Well, you'd better go. You will need to be the tranquilizer between the two. I would hate it if another war began just because they cannot understand each other or get along."

Red dipped his head and exited the same way the three men had, leaving the President to get back to his work. He trotted on his way out to catch up with the others, not at all surprised to find the petite blonde jammed between father and son. (2) Sephiroth led the way to the hanger; Cloud was a few steps behind him, hanging his head as if in shame, or to hide his face from any passersby; Vincent walked at a slower pace, almost as if he was watching the two. Red nudged Vincent in the back of his right leg, drawing the man's attention toward him. When their eyes met, Red twitched his ears and looked pointedly at the blonde. Vincent shook his head and looked ahead again, letting the lion quicken his pace and walk astride with Cloud Strife.

Cloud blinked and turned to Red with a slight frown. He was unsure of what the intelligent beast would want, but didn't know if he should ask. The lion looked up at him and gave an animalistic smile that was meant to be gentle. Cloud hesitantly reached out to the lion, stopping halfway. Red stared at the hand for a moment before meeting it with his nose. There a million words he could say to this blonde who radiated innocence and hidden power, but silence was probably the best. As he heard long when he was but a cub of one year, "actions speak better than words." When Cloud reached out to him, he felt no hatred towards or from the man. Accepting the gesture, he let the blonde run his hand over the top of his head and entangle his fingers in his mane. And, to his surprise, he caught the man smiling lightly. Whether it was directed at him or not didn't matter. It was a smile.

Vincent, from behind the two, cracked his own smile inwardly. The blonde's actions were indeed inquisitive, but they showed honest emotion. It was a minimal sign, something easily missed; however, after learning more about Sephiroth and watching him for so long, Vincent was able to pick up little signs that drew them closer together as family. He was surprised, though, that Sephiroth was ignorant to all these signs and the possible innocence of this boy's name. Shaking his head, Vincent simply continued to watch from his spot in the back, a strange, warm feeling awakening in the pit of his heart.

---

AN: Aaand, here we have Chapter 12! The ending was kind-of mushy, but so far, so good. I'll have you know warned and greatly shocked when I say that I didn't plan anything in this story. I never do, it seems. It just flowed out. I admit the ideas I create are kinda random and really off the top of my head when I start typing, but... I say for non-planned writing I'm doing pretty good. My "outline" is very broad and generic. There's a bunch of stuff I could put in here that I probably won't, or have it paced out and saved for later. Eh, who knows? Anyway, I would just like you to know that even though this thing is all scritch-scratch, you guys actually help more than you think. A little request of this, a hint of that... I answer all questions!

(1) Here, doors slide open for you. You just need a keycard to unlock it. Just like in the game. Bloody damn keycards. I hated the library part because it was the first time I actually had to use my brain! Nyoo-- You are not supposed to use your brain for games! There shouldn't be strategic games! They're supposed to render you brainless and turn all your knowledge to mush! (Okay, I take that back. I kind-of like strategic games every once in a while. Not too often, though. I don't wunna fry my brain just trying to kill some guy. My brain's lazy like that...)

(2) I've been contemplating this for a while now, and was debating over it with a fellow fan, and have yet to come to a conclusion. Is Vincent really the father, or was Hojo the father? I want to believe Vincent was the father, and when Hojo found out, he decided on experimenting on the baby, thus dubbing Sephiroth his "son," but I'm terribly confused and unsure. If anyone could find some facts for me and/or prove one of these theories right (or perhaps state the correct one if it's different from both), it would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, we will be arguing until the moon turns blue (or red)!

Review Responses: (since chapter 11)

babymar-mar: freaky conscience indeed! I just love it, don't you? Sephy without a side on crack (more than usual) is just not a complete lovely-wuvely Sephy!

Minako: another appearance? Hmm... I don't know... Hehe. Or will there be? Oh, the anticipation and dreadfully long wait! You'll ahve to read to find out. (A hint? Maybe.)

Terra: answers? Did I give you enough this time? More to come in future chapters! (Hehe. I'm so evil!)

schu: evil Cloud? No, no, I LOVE Evil Cloud! Such complications in Seph and Cloud's lives is very fun to write and read, don't you think? And yes! I'm dying, waiting for AC to come out! I need to snoop more. Oh, is he the guy in the wheelchair? Some say yes, some say no! (Oh, the insanity!) And, of coruse I know of Gackt. He's such a gorgeous pretty-boy! It's the exact definition of all those girly-pop-gorgeous-famous-droolable boys!

Shara: thanks for reviewing! (yip-yip!) I don't know about Cloud doing that... Esacpe? Maybe from Sephy's greedy clutches, sure, but... Escape? Hmm... so many ways I can answer that... (Hehehe.)

DemonSurfer: Eww! Sephy and disgruntled greasy woman! (shrieks and collapses) How can you say such a thing! Now I have horrible images stuck in my head! (Eyugh!)

Narcissistic-Fruitcake: ...Hun, you just make my world go 'round. (snickers) Tifa: Tour Guide Barbie! (bursts out laughing) Ahahahaha! I adore your reviews, thank you. Aaand, yes, here's your wish wiht a wonderful (yet peculiar) new chapter that you've been craving for!

Hope everyone loved their personal letter from me. (Heh.) I do enjoy yuor reviews, once again, and I would love to hear for more people, new AND old! See you next time, and have a ...

HAPPY DUCK DAY!

(My family's not having a turkey, so hurray for killing other poultry!)