SOLDIER Doesn't Make Heroes.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of the characters used in this fan fiction. They belong to their respected owners.
Pairing: N/A.
Characters: Genesis Rhapsodos, Yuffie Kisaragi — along with a few others.
Warning: Complete and utter craziness. There is no pairing. Slight OOCness. Mild cursing.
Summary: After learning the truth of his own existence, Genesis is sent off to war—the Wutai War. Though with the fact he is unable to accept the facts causes the man to lose his mind, though things only get worse when Wutai's Princess gets involved.
Chapter Eight; He Wants To Become A Hero.
"GENESIS!"
A male voice echoed, followed by the sound of metal slamming heavily against metal. The force of air blew the princess's hair lightly, but no pain of the sharp blade came. Pale eyelids lifted off her chocolate eyes, she found herself staring at a wide and large blade blocking the crimson blade of her attacker. The same brown orbs moved from the blades to the red warrior for a moment, noticing the scowl on his face, then turning her gaze to the other blade wielder. She found herself in a state of surprise — the other wielder was dressed much like the other SOLDIER members at the camp yet instead of maroon, his uniform was blue.
"Angeal," Genesis growled as his scowl darkened. He wanted to pull back his blade and continue his on-slaughter; however, with one look into his best friend's eyes, the warrior couldn't find his strength. Still, he narrowed his bright blue eyes and released another growl of frustration. "Get out of the way."
Angeal responded in an even tone, "Put away your weapon and I will."
Yuffie had no idea what to do, her eyes moving between the two men before she swiftly hid herself behind her savior. Her head peered around the man and locked her gaze onto the seething crimson male, whose sights seemed to be set on the other SOLDIER. The warrior seemed to be plotting either the death of both her and Angeal, or maybe even plotting a way around the larger being to get to her. She wanted to just hide behind him, to be protected — yet, much to her surprise, she found herself watching as the slender SOLDIER lowered his blade.
Genesis sheathed the blade he owned and locked his heated gaze with his childhood friend's. He could not honestly say that he was surprised when Angeal did not lower his sword; he had figured that Angeal did not trust him that well now. He couldn't blame him there — he had just attempted to attack a prisoner of war, a little defenseless girl. He was most certainly turning into a monster, if he wasn't one already, and couldn't really even trust himself in this moment. He couldn't even find himself speaking, only staring icily at his best friend.
"Hollander will be here soon," Angeal spoke firmly as he slowly lowered his blade. "Where does the girl go?"
Genesis growled lowly, "Have a second class take —"
"I will take her." The warrior's words mutters as he places his sword away, and turning to the young girl behind him. As soon as their eyes lock, he noticed the little female flinch and shy away. He only reached out and grabbed her arm, his touch as gentle as possible, eyes drifting behind him to keep his sights on the other SOLDIER. "Where are they keeping you?"
"A tent." Yuffie's voice was uneven, much to her dismay, although her body remained as stern and stubborn as normal. The warrior's eyes moved from the crimson to the girl, she forced back a shiver. "I —"
"My tent." All eyes seemed to shift to the crimson SOLDIER, who doesn't even so much as flinch at the stares the two beings were giving him. He merely turned and advanced to a seat, settling onto it then turning his sights to the two across the tent. He almost didn't speak again, until he noticed the look in his best friend's eyes. "It was the safest place. Take her back there."
"Are you sure that's a good idea," Angeal remarked with a light glare. "I'm sure there are more appropriate, not to mention, safer places for this youngster to be."
"I—"
"Excuse me," the little ninja spoke up without a care who she was going to offend. No one was going to speak in such a manner to Genesis, no matter what he had just done to her, and if anyone was to speak to him like that, it was going to be her. "Nothing bad has ever happened to me in that tent! Everything always happens when I step out of it, so there is no way I'm going to let anyone move me from that thing."
Both men stared at her for a mere second, then turned their gazes to one another. Neither said an actual word but it seemed they were having some type of silent conversation. Genesis scowled a few times while Angeal almost smirked quite a lot, Yuffie could only watched the two men having this odd discussion. Although when she was about to speak up about how they were being rude, she noticed that Genesis's eyes had moved to her and his head had nodded ever so lightly.
"I see," Angeal spoke lightly and began to the door. He hadn't released the small child, merely dragging her along for the journey. He didn't speak a word to any of the other men that hurried along, nor what Yuffie figured was this Hollander, who was now hurrying inside the tent they exited. Not even a statement was conversed to the young ninja from the SOLDIER, that was until they had entered their destination. "What is your name?"
"I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie Kisaragi!" She beamed a bit; taking the title, that Genesis had called her before when she had kneed another warrior. "The Single White Rose of Wutai!"
"Godo's daughter," Angeal mumbled in thought while eying the child before him. "What is it that Genesis wants from you, I wonder."
"To end the war."
Angeal lifted his gaze to her, "Excuse me?"
"He wants to end the war," she answered in a matter of fact tone. "That's what he says anyway. He's going to use me to end the war."
Angeal's lips curved into a stern frown, eyes locking with the strong brown orbs of the young ninja standing a few feet away. He pondered her words for a mere second, his sights never moving from the young female, then his frown deepened. "And you are fine with his ways then?"
"I wouldn't say that. I do want the war to end, but I don't want you to win." She explained with the determination he had only seen in Wutai people's eyes. "You will not ruin my land. Why don't you guys go home or something?"
"The world is moving forward and Wutai should not be left behind," Angeal echoed the words spoken to the entire company. "Mako energy has increased the value of everything; it's better to be with us then left behind."
She puffed out her cheeks, "So what? You sound like Genesis, bet you think you didn't have a choice too!"
"We don't. It seems that you don't understand the situation either." He narrowed his eyes at the girl, feeling like he was losing to a small child. "Your country refuses to join our cause —"
"Shut up!" She shouted and scowled at him, not believing that she was getting this spill, again. She couldn't believe that he seemed to think that she was the one who didn't understand the situation. "You're so wrong! You big monsters from Shinra are the ones that don't understand! You know nothing of honor or pride in—"
"I know much about honor and pride," Angeal corrects her in a quiet tone. "We just have different views it seems, but it does not mean we are any different. Please do tell me, are there men in your country, fighting for the honor of your people — to be their heroes?"
"Yes," she answered slowly while not quite sure where the man was taking this conversation. "So what?"
"We want to protect the honor of the world, Little Princess." He responded in a low yet prideful tone, "We too want to become heroes. We may do it a little different then your people, but we are one in the same."
"Is that why he wants to end this?"
"Yes," he nods slowly. "He wants to become a hero. He has always wanted to be one, even when we were just boys — probably younger then even you."
"Huh?" She blinked a few times, eying the elder being with a look between curiosity and confusion. "Younger then me? How would you know?"
Angeal smirked faintly, "He and I grew up together."
"What was he like?"
"Hmm?"
She pouted, "When he was little like me, what was he like?"
"Much like he is now, just a bit more head strong." He spoke carefully, not wanting to reveal too much of the past. Maybe it wasn't even that, maybe he wasn't ready to admit the changes in his old friend. "He was almost a bit like you, from what I've noticed and heard."
"Really — wait! You've heard about me?"
"Of course," he held back a chuckle at her excited expression. "You are on the lips of many SOLDIER members at this camp; injuring one of the men, arguing with everyone, including the General."
She pouted, "They deserved it though!"
"I'm sure."
"Tell me more about Genesis when he was my age." She spoke as she seated herself on her chair, eyes locked on the SOLDIER. "I still can't believe he was anything like me."
"Are you sure you would want to know about such things, Kisaragi?"
"Of course," she beamed up at him with a childish innocent. "It's important!"
His eyes sparkled with a silent chuckle, "Well —"
"Before you start telling embarrassing stories about the General," came the chuckling voice of Kunsel, "The mighty crimson one wishes to see you, General Hewley."
"Right," Angeal nodded in the direction of the other SOLDIER. His gaze then turned the young ninja, staring with uncertainty. He was extremely unsure about leaving the girl alone, however, when he turned his sights back to the other male, he noticed a light nod from him — a silent telling that he would watch her. His hand shot out and patted the girl's head, eyes turning back to her with a faint smirk. "I'll return soon, little one."
"You better! You owe me proof that Genesis wasn't always a big jerk!" She spoke loudly, leaning back on her chair a bit. Her brown eyes watched as the man turned and moved towards the exit. "Until then I won't believe it!"
"Just remember," Angeal paused in his step, glancing over at her. "Shinra changes people. Always keep that in mind about all of us."
She parted her lips to speak but never got the change; the elder exited the tent and disappeared from sight. She turned her attention to the young second class SOLDIER, who merely just shrugged his shoulders at her. It seemed to her that the man — maybe he was just a boy, she couldn't really tell — seemed distanced and possibly a bit uncaring, however, that seemed to be just her imagination getting away with her. She bit her lip and turned her gaze back to the door, the elder being's words echoing through her skull. She wasn't sure whether or not to ponder the words, or even take them to heart — after all; they were from one of the enemies.
Yet, enemy or not, he had been very nice to her. He offered her more then even her own people did, he offered her stories — which had meant friendship in her mind. She began to ponder her situation; how many of the SOLDIER members had treated her and how the path had been laid out before her. She began to run his statement — 'Shinra Changes People' — repeatedly in her mind. She wondered just how much all of these men had changed since joining the company that was at war with her country.
Suddenly, she couldn't wait for Angeal Hewley to return and tell her stories. Stories of the man that she had called a monster without truly knowing what was going through his head, what was going on in his life. Slowly, the young and naïve little ninja found herself beginning a journey to grow — one that would certainly, and secretly, follow her into her teens. She wouldn't quite realize it yet, but Shinra — without joining the cause — would change her as well.
Author's Note: A short chapter really, but the next one is going to be fairly long. I think you guys are going to like it, well, I suppose, I hope that you guys like it. I do love the reviews that you guys left, although any questions and/or concerns are to be sent to my inbox or my email (which will be posted soon to my homepage). There's only two or three more chapters left of this story, but the sequel will come out almost as soon as this one ends. More will be posted about it during the last chapter of this fanfic. Remember to leave reviews and what nots. Love, NYJAA.