So many updates this week! Hooray! So when I had Zack crying, everyone assumed Sephiroth had said Cloud had been raped, but why?

Pairings: SephxZackxCloud, TsengxReno (Eventual SephxGenxZackxCloud and TsengxRufusxReno)

-o-o-

Angeal, fearing the worst, touched his former student's back softly. Zack squeezed harder. "Was Cloud...?" he asked softly.

Black spikes shook rapidly from side to side.

"You're crying," Genesis pointed out.

"From pure happiness and relief," he blurted, pulling away from Angeal. He stood still for a moment, taking calming breaths, but it was futile. He ended up emitting a quiet shriek and couldn't resist kissing them both on the cheek.

Then he ran back to the bedroom, where moans and gasps had started to leak out. He left the door open in his haste.

Angeal caught Genesis when he tried to sneak a peek. "Zack," he called. "Unless you want Genesis watching, close the door.

The door was closed by an almost nude brunette. The rest of the night was filled with the sounds of passionate sex. All in all, Genesis had a great night.

-o-o-

The next morning they were woken to Cloud bringing in a tray of food to them. Angeal took it before Genesis could say anything in case Cloud took offence and left without feeding them.

Cloud was all smiles and, as he was teased, all innocent blushes. Cloud seemed genuinely embarrassed that they heard his first time having sex with Sephiroth.

They were interrupted when Zack peeked his head in. "Spike, it's for you!" he said, waving his PHS around in Cloud's face. Cloud took it, confused.

"Hello?"

"Puppybo!" the voice exclaimed.

"Reno!"

"I missed you," he said sadly.

"I missed you too..." he agreed, walking out of the room, ignoring the faces the AWOL men made. When he was about to slip outside, Sephiroth scooped him up and sat in the dining room, Cloud squeezed next to his side.

"I've been having a lot of fun," Cloud said slyly.

"Ohh, what kind of fun?"

"Every kind of fun," Cloud answered, grinning shyly.

"Mmm, so you finally got your cherry popped. Who was the lucky one, or did they both do it at the same time?"

Cloud considered that and made a mental note to ask his lovers if they would try that sometime. "No, it was Zack."

Sephiroth, realizing Cloud was talking about his sex life, placed the boy on the outside porch and retreated in to watch him without intruding on his privacy.

"Zack? I woulda thought Sephiroth... Anyway, I want details!"

Cloud smiled a bit and figured there was no harm in it. He immediately started filling the Turk in.

-o-o-

Almost an hour later, Cloud finally came inside and gave Zack his PHS back. Zack slipped it in a pocket. To Cloud's confusion, Sephiroth and Zack were dressed in light pants and wore no shirt and not the silken robes they had been wearing.

"Get dressed, Spike," Zack cheerfully exclaimed. "We're going to do some sword training today to keep you in shape for the assessments. You need to kick their butts or I will not be happy," he informed the boy.

Cloud gave him a mournful look and obeyed. Moments later he trotted out with the sword Sephiroth had given him when he first was put into his care. He was further dismayed to see Genesis and Angeal sitting and watching with interest.

He sighed and took up the stance he was taught, directly across from Zack. He reminded himself that he shouldn't hold the blade so tight. He loosened his grip, but not enough to drop the sword.

Zack came at him and Cloud barely had time to bring his sword up to parry the attack. It seemed Zack wasn't going to let this be an easy spar.

Soon Cloud got so into the fight that he forgot there was anyone watching. It was only a sword and his sword in an endless struggle to overpower the other. Cloud began feeling as if the sword was fighting the other sword, and he forgot that there was any human power behind the movements of the sword opposite of him.

It was just him, his sword, and his opponent.

Cloud saw his chance and managed to hit the other blade in a way that made it fly out of Zack's hands, but it was awkward.

It was so awkward in fact, Cloud feel flat of his back at the effort. Instead of rising, he stayed in the dusty soil and panted.

Sephiroth leaned over him and Cloud wrinkled his face as the silvery strands tickled his nose. He was limp and Sephiroth picked him up and carried him to the shade of the cherry blossom tree. A water bottle was put to his lips and Cloud managed to hold it steady as he drank.

After he was finished he pushed it away and cuddled into Zack, who had plopped down next to the cadet after retrieving his sword. He also seemed worn out.

"You're doing pretty awesome for being the runt of your class," Zack teased.

Cloud barely had the energy to open his eyes when he felt a wet cloth wiping away the salty sweat on his face. He saw Sephiroth's concerned face and Angeal and Genesis's faces in the background.

"If he can disarm a First Class, what is he doing as a cadet?" Angeal asked.

"His teachers and all the other students hate him," Zack answered. He sounded tired, Cloud mused, eyes closing.

Within moments he was asleep.

-o-o-

Cloud woke to a flurry of concerned voices.

"I didn't mean-"

"You need not apologize-"

"-passed out."

"-worry, it's not your-"

The Voices were too loud and very grating. Cloud groaned and the Voices quieted.

"Are you awake?" one of the Voices inquired.

"No," he whispered, and was surprised by the sound. His voice was hoarser than it had ever been. He weakly rubbed at his throat when a small pain flared up.

Hands helped him into a sitting position and a cup was placed at his lips. He drank and noted the flavors of various herbs. Once he finished the cup, he pushed the hand away and opened his eyes, only to close them again when the light burned them.

The light dimmed after a flurry of movement. He chance opening his eyes again and found it didn't hurt as much. He looked at Sephiroth and Zack and Angeal peering down at him with worried eyes. Genesis walked in with a cup and gave it to Cloud, but had to help him hold it when his strained muscles began crying out in agony.

After that cup was drained as well, he took his chances in talking. "What happened?"

"You slept for a few hours. It's about bedtime now," Angeal informed him.

"I was too reckless and I didn't stop and I'm so sorry!" Zack cried out, hugging the blond.

"Zack," Sephiroth said, sounding like he was tired of saying it. "I've done it too. It's easy to get carried away."

Zack still looked unconvinced. When he tried to pull away, Cloud held on as tight as he could. Zack only felt the barest hints of pressure, but stopped and looked down at the cadet.

"Stay. Lay with me for a while. Heat helps," Cloud told him. He lifted his blanket with the last bit of his strength to let Zack slip under the cover. Sephiroth also came over and sat on the edge of the bed, then worked on shedding his leather boots. Once finished, he also got under the covers, pulling the blond to his chest. Cloud was small enough that he could wrap his arms around Zack as well. Zack did the same to Sephiroth, and they created a cradle of arms for their youngest lover.

Genesis walked over and gave them goodnight kisses. Angeal had to once again drag his friend away when he tried to stay to spy on the three.

"Goodnight," Sephiroth whispered to his lovers, but they were both already asleep.

-o-o-

The next morning they were woken up by the ever temperamental Genesis barging in their room. "I'm hungry!"

Sephiroth cracked and eye and felt his lovers began to stir. Cloud yawned and slipped out of the comfort of Zack and Sephiroth's arms. He stretched and all three men were breathless at the sight.

"I'll go make something," he promised. As soon as he was out the door, Angeal peeked in to see why Genesis had abandoned their room.

He was met with the familiar sight of Sephiroth and Genesis arguing. He sighed and tried his best to sort it out.

When he succeeded, he sent Sephiroth to find Cloud to cool him down. Zack and Angeal were left with the task of trying to talk to Genesis. They were on the edge of a huge breakthrough when they heard frantic footsteps and the door was thrown open.

"Zack, get your weapon," Sephiroth ordered, going to the closet and pulling out his trademark black leather suit. He quickly dressed, ever inch of him screaming pure fury.

"What's up?" Zack asked. "I thought you didn't want to wear that thing here in Wutai?"

Sephiroth, now dressed in the leather, sat on the bed to pull on his leather boots. "I didn't want to. But someone isn't leaving me the choice. Cloud is gone."

-o-o

So far I have suggestions for:

AngealxAeris

SephirothxAngealxGenesisxZackxCloud

So now I need people to vote for which pairing they want for Angeal. If I don't get any votes, Angeal will have to grow old and die alone. No one wants that!