Death: I don't understand my brain. I don't even know why I am stepping away from anime and shit, but here goes nothing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII

Chapter One The Awakening

=3=

It was a normal mission. Seek out the strange activity within Nibelheim reactor, stabilize the reactor, and return to Midgar. Simple and clean. However, he didn't understand why they needed the one and only General Sephiroth on this mission at all. Lt. Zack Fair could take care of this on his own with the grunts.

And then they got separated when the bridge collapsed from under his feet. Without so much as a second thought he threw their guide to the other side with Zack, only for the general to fall seconds later. The fall wouldn't kill him, he knew, but it knocked him out for a few good minutes.

When he came to, Sephiroth was groggy. His senses were clouded, as snow drifted on top of him. He sat up slowly, forcing away the wave of dizziness. A general did not have weaknesses, after all.

When the blurry vision subsided, he managed to stand up. Sephiroth checked his surroundings, blinking away the snow that attempted to get into his eyes. He noted a grunt some five feet away. He didn't have to check for a pulse. With his hearing he sensed no heartbeat, and no sight of breath.

Another death I couldn't save.

Sephiroth had lost count how many lives he owed. The amount drove him to the brink of insanity, and so he stopped. That didn't mean he didn't care when a fellow soldier died and he couldn't prevent it. At least the young man didn't show any signs he suffered. His death was quick and painless, which was a relief to him, as he had witnessed many who didn't have that luxury.

After removing the soldier's tags, Sephiroth gazed around. The only path he found was a cave that lead into the belly of the mountain. He heard there were caverns here. Maybe one of them would lead him back to Zack.

With that final thought, he entered the vast caverns.

Some thirty minutes later Sephiroth was not having any luck finding his way through the caverns. Normally, he had a good sense of direction, but without the sky in sight, he was hopeless. He encountered many monsters, too, and he began to feel irritated to be interrupted in his search to have weak creatures spring upon him at every turn.

He eventually came to an open cave. For once he had only one option to continue, instead of three to five different paths to choose from. He paused when he realized in the middle of the large cave was pure Mako, crystalized. What made this unusual was the large amount, for he had never seen so much in one location.

It was cylinder in shape, with a wide density and circumference. It glowed green, bright and shimmering from different lighting that hit it in certain angles. The sight was breathtaking.

And then he realized there was a body in it.

"What in Gaia's name is this," he breathed out, eyes straining to figure out features.

He couldn't fully make out anything besides blonde hair, pale skin, and dark clothes. His eyes narrowed at a strange sword, somehow shown no signs of rust, stabbed into the pool of Mako in front of the cylinder. It seemed as if minutes had gone by since this person became encased by pure mako.

Curious, he made his way closer, albeit cautiously.

The sword was made of strong material, and it appeared to be many pieces of swords combined into one. It was broad like Angeal's, but somehow thinner than his former comrade's bulky old thing.

Sharp bright eyes glanced up at the figure. Even up close, he couldn't make out any defined features. Sephiroth stood there, staring. He silently debated whether or not to leave this person here.

Ba dum.

The general blinked, suddenly aware of another heartbeat that wasn't his own. He closed his eyes to concentrate even more. He slowed his breathing to almost nonstop as he listened.

Ba dum. Ba dum.

There was no doubt about it. This person was alive. Eyes flashed open, surprise and awe filled in them. For a moment he stared in disbelief. But there was no doubt about what he was hearing. After a moment he drew out Masamune, stepping back to take careful aim.

With a few swift movements, the cylinder block was free. He didn't even have to knock it down when it suddenly shattered into tiny pieces now that it was disconnected from the planet. Sephiroth quickly caught the now free prisoner before he could collapse.

He studied the features now that he could see them clearly.

Soft, spiked hair in every direction. Pale and flawless skin, and a young angel like face. He couldn't have been older than his late teens, maybe early twenties. His clothing was rather strange, to boot.

Black pants, a black vest, shoulder guards and a sleeve over one arm and yet the other was barren save for a glove that went to the elbow. Around the hip were straps connected to the shoulder guards and the straps for his swords, and wrapped around half of his side from hip down was black fabric to mimic the one sleeve on the same side.

How long have you been here?

Sephiroth felt the pulse quicken as the strange individual stirred.

=3=

The first thing he realized was warmth. He was so cold, at first he couldn't feel anything. His nerves were numb. And then he felt the warmth of another body holding him. His mind slowly came to, drifting out of the comfortable unconsciousness, as his eyes opened.

His vision blurry, and his hearing was still coming around. So for the first few minutes all he sensed was touch and smell. He breathed in a scent he didn't recognize, but it was inticing. Whoever it was who held him smelled of strange spices, leather, a spoonful of sweetness, and a musk that further drew him out of his dreams.

And then his hearing and sight hit him like a boulder to the head.

He's gorgeous.

He took in the sight, dazed and still out of it from his coma. Paler skin than him, long silver hair, a handsomely narrow face, high cheekbones, strong nose and those eyes. They shined green in the darkness, with cat-like pupils.

"What's your name?" The man inquired.

Damn, his baritone voice can weaken any man to his knees.

He groggily searched through his memories. He had forgotten after however long he was asleep. Suddenly, a memory came to, and a different face was staring down at him.

"Your father named you Cloud. A cloud of hope in a long line of strife, a curse from generation to generation to become the Goddess' sword. You and your father are her Champions. Remember that, son."

"Can you hear me?" The sweet baritone snapped him back to reality. He struggled to find his voice.

"Cloud." He rasped, his voice hoarse. "Cloud Strife."

"Interesting name. Can you sit up?"

Cloud nodded, and sat up almost too fast. His vision blurred and his stomach tightened into knots. He leaned over to the side, away from the beautiful stranger. Cloud held back the urge to vomit.

"Easy, I doubt anyone can wake up from crystalized mako and be hundred percent fine."

Yeah, no shit. Remind me to never sleep in mako ever again.

"...Who are you?" The blonde asked after he recovered himself.

"General Sephiroth, of ShinRa SOLDIER First Class."

"Fancy." Cloud scoffed, as he stood up on wobbly legs.

Cloud nearly toppled over. A hand reached over out of reflex, and the blonde gently pushed it aside. It wasn't that he was ungrateful, he had a sense of pride. He wasn't going to come off as weak to the man who woke him up from his supposed eternal sleep. The general didn't take the rejection to heart.

"How did you end up in the mako? Usually something like that...kills the unfortunate who falls into pure, unfiltered mako."

Good question.

"... I don't remember." Cloud did know, but he didn't quite feel like explaining himself.

Better to play it safe, for now.

The silver haired general didn't seem to believe him.

"Hm."

"Hm, what?"

"Must be a side effect. Do you know how long you've been in there?"

Cloud gave him a puzzled look. At least this time he was honest. By the looks of things, it had been a rather long time. He was inclined to believe it was more than centuries, and the fact his own voice had a completely different dialect and accent didn't help matters.

"Do I look like I have a calendar on me?" He must have come off too harsh, for he didn't receive an answer.

He's not very talkative, is he?

Then again, Cloud couldn't blame him. If he were in his shoes, he would be suspicious of someone who survived being trapped inside of crystalized mako. That's not something that happened often. And it was weird the substance went by a different name, now.

That was the clicker, there.

He was definitely centuries after he went to sleep.

For a moment, he closed his eyes, concentrating on his breathing. He reached out with his mind to sense for someone. His mind brushed against Sephiroth's, and the two gasped at the feeling. They could feel each other's strengths, their every breath and pulse. It was as if two bright pieces of a broken puzzle fit into place as they brushed against each other.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

Cloud quickly withdrew, and before the general could question him about it he pulled out his sword with one hand. He swung it around a few good times before separating a few pieces and then placing them in his straps along his back and side.

Sephiroth was staring at him inquisitively. And yet he didn't pry.

I wasn't supposed to feel for his presence.

He was intent to search for someone else entirely. Cloud knew that nothing was a coincidence. The Goddess planned for everything. So there had to be a reason why he had awoken from his self induced coma. Even though this was an odd way to wake up to, he wasn't exactly complaining. Sephiroth was able to sense him in an intimate way where most people did not have that ability.

"So what brought you here?" Cloud directed the conversation elsewhere.

"I'm on a mission. Got separated when the bridge collapsed. I am trying to find my comrades." Sephiroth didn't delve into any specifics, not that the blonde really cared. If one of them was hiding secrets, then the other had the same option.

"Mind if I tag along? Until I can get my bearings, anyway. I don't know how long I've been in that crystal mako."

"If you manage to keep up, fine. Just one rule: don't slow me down."

Sephiroth was already walking a fast, brisk pace. Cloud followed soon after, grateful for the company out of the mountain.

=3=

Zack was anxious. He honestly didn't know what to do, but he knew the general could survive a fall. And with his insistence, he had Tifa lead the remaining group along. The guide was hesitant at first, but he assured her a dozen times Sephiroth would be fine.

At least I hope so.

He tried to be as confident as he sounded.

And so they continued along the treacherous mountain path. So far, they haven't encountered any monsters on this side of the bridge. Which was a relief, for Zack wasn't so sure he could keep himself together under pressure of keeping the grunts and the girl safe after watching his friend and best soldier alive fall.

"You sure he will be all right?" Tifa glanced at him with concern.

"Pssh. He'll be fine. He's the general! He's the strongest man alive. I'm sure he'll meet up with us." Zack put on his best poker face.

I hope so. I really don't want to explain to the Turks how we lost Seph.

She didn't seem too convinced. But she understood he had to keep up morale for the other two grunts. If everyone started panicking like headless chocobos, then the chances of survival would dramatically drop. And so Tifa didn't question him any further on the subject.

After taking down a few small fry monsters, they came to a fork in the road.

"So, uh, which way?" He inquired the guide.

"One path takes us to the reactor. The other takes us-"

She didn't even get to finish when General Sephiroth was upon them. He appeared from one of the paths silently, catching them off guard. Zack bellowed in relief and joy at the sight of him. And then he noticed someone who accompanied the general.

"So where did you pick up the cute little chocobo, Seph?" He cracked a smile.

That was Zack's first thought, the hair made him think of a chocobo chick. He wore strange clothes and carried stranger swords. As Zack got closer, he gasped at the sight of the young man's eyes.

Deep, bright pools of blue, the kind to drown in. And then he noticed the small detail of green glowing around the pupils. They were hints of mako, but enough to make even the blue glow.

"You have the most beautiful mako eyes I have ever seen." Zack breathed out in awe.

"Good to see I'm not the only one who noticed." Sephiroth commented. "You're still good for something, Zack."

"Gasp! Did the great and always cold General Sephiroth crack a joke? Someone, jot down today as the day the man cracked a joke!" Zack turned the insult around as a joke to lighten the atmosphere.

Even Sephiroth cracked a smile at that, while the others laughed. Even the stranger softly chuckled.

They started their long treck towards the reactor. Sephiroth took to the front, and Zack stayed behind to the back. He wanted to know about this young man who came out of nowhere.

"So does the little cutie pie have a name?" Zack smiled at the bright blush on those pale cheeks.

"It's Cloud. Cloud Strife."

What's with that accent?

Zack had been to a lot of places. So he got to hear unique accents belonging to nearly each region. But this was strange, one he had never heard before. It reminded him of the natives of Nibelheim, but it was different at the same time.

"Cloud, huh? You from some backwater town aren't ya?"

"Says the porcupine." Cloud scoffed. "And yeah, but I doubt the town is still around. What about you, country boy? What Gaia forsaken small town did you come from?"

"Me? Gongaga!" Zack swelled with pride.

At the name of his hometown, Cloud busted out laughing. Zack stared, feeling his groin tighten at the sound. One glance around he wasn't the only one effected. Tifa had this weird dance to her step, and the grunts suddenly found the snow very interesting.

Even Sephiroth faltered in his steady walk. Zack couldn't blame him. Cloud may have a strange accent, but past that he had a wonderful melodious voice where everyone would do anything he asked.

"Gongaga? What kind of backwater name is that?"

"Hey, hey! There ain't nothing wrong with Gongaga!"

"Just by the name itself is weird." Cloud responded with a wave of an arm.

"Oh, yeah? Your town can't be much better." Zack commented.

"Honestly? I don't really care about my hometown."

There's some history, there.

Zack knew better than to press matters. If some memories are too painful, it was better to wait for someone to open up on their own time. It was the same for Sephiroth. Zack had been patient with waiting for the general to come around.

Maybe Cloud would do some good.

"So how old are you? You look like you're in your teens, kid."

"Excuse me, sir, but I am twenty."

Hot damn! He doesn't look any older than sixteen at least!

"Wow. I mean, damn, never would have guessed."

"What? How old are you then?"

"Hm. Guess!"

"Nineteen."

"C'mon, man! I'm twenty four!"

"You certainly don't look it. Or act like it, either."

"Har har. Very funny."

"So where are we going, then?"

"To a mako reactor. There's been strange readings in the area. We were sent to check it out."

"Can we keep the details of the mission as simple as possible?" Sephiroth intervened, knowing full well Tifa was trying to learn more about what they were doing here.

"Yeah, yeah, I gotcha Seph."

"What's his deal?" Cloud whispered after a moment.

"Don't mind him, he's always prickly on the outside. On the inside, though, he's soft and fuzzy."

"I can't really picture that, but I'll take your word for it.'

Zack noticed how the young man eyed the general. And he certainly couldn't forget the way Sephiroth reacted to the sound of Cloud's laugh. Never in the few short years he knew the man reacted in such a way to anyone.

I don't care where this kid came from. He just might be the one person to help Seph.

=3=

Cloud felt uneasy at first with the group. However, Zack eased him to trust them. He felt the vibe Gaia was sending him. Zack and Sephiroth were important, he knew it with the way he felt the planet surged him with warmth as he accompanied them. With Zack, everything was warm and thick, like a soft fuzzy blanket next to a fireplace in a snowstorm.

With Sephiroth, the tune kept changing. Cloud was confused with what the Goddess had in store for him, but he knew there was pain and suffering. And this pained him, for he didn't like the idea of anyone suffering.

The air shifted when they were upon the reactor.

I don't like the feel of this.

The smell was toxic, the feeling this building gave off was ominous, and the sight was horrid. The building was built entirely of metal, and time did not make it any easier. Rust and erosion was everywhere, as the reactor was apparently abandoned for some time.

"Zack, stay with me. The rest of you, stay outside the reactor. And don't go wandering off." Sephiroth instructed, eyeing Tifa and Cloud.

"Aw, man. I wanted to see inside." The girl huffed with a pout.

"Better to ward off monsters than see whatever horrors are inside, anyway." Cloud commented.

He felt he should have kept his mouth shut when everyone gave him a weird look. Cloud ignored it, pretending he didn't notice their stares. When they had enough from staring, the two soldiers went inside. Cloud watched them with a heavy heart.

"So, you've got to be native to Nibelheim. I know that accent anywhere. But yours is kinda strange." The girl turned to him with intent.

I can't get passed this one, can I?

"In a way, I guess." Cloud knew he shouldn't say he was trapped in mako for quite some time.

"I know everyone in Nibelheim. I haven't seen or heard about you in my twenty one years I've lived there."

"Is there a point in this interrogation?"

"I'm just saying that I have a hard time believing you. What were you doing in the caverns? Hardly anyone has gone through them and survived."

She's a smart one.

"I guess I can't fault you for that. And honestly, I was trapped in those caverns. Then Sephiroth found me, and we decided to find an escape together. If it weren't for him, I don't know what would have happened." Cloud shrugged.

She stared at him with intelligent brown eyes, searching for any reason not to believe him. After a moment of finding nothing wrong, she extended a hand out with a smile. Cloud looked at her, puzzled.

"The name's Tifa Lockhart."

"Good name." Cloud found himself smiling as he accepted her hand and shook it.

"Thank you. Yours is strange, though. Cloud Strife was it? It's strange, but it's a good name, too."

They talked a little more, about whatever random things that came to mind. At one point, his stomach growled. Tifa giggled, and handed him some jerky she had stashed for a snack, knowing how long this trip would take. He thanked her gratefully, and happily ate his first meal since his awakening.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to satisfy him.

After some time, they heard a battle going on inside. Cloud turned just in time to see someone fleeing in flight. He caught side of an awkward shaped wing twice the length of the man's height struggling to remain in the air, heading straight towards them. Cloud pushed Tifa out of the way just in time to be tackled and rolling on the ground several feet.

Ow...

"Who are you?" The winged man groaned when they had stopped, now the pair were a tangle of limbs.

Cloud stared at the face in shock. The man was ghastly pale in a decaying way. His auburn or brown hair (Cloud couldn't fully tell) was graying, which he found odd when there was no sign of old age in that young face. What made Cloud sad were the winged man's eyes.

They used to be blue.

There were hints of blue in grey, the signs of a decaying body. And yet this one was still living.

Cloud felt the surge of sorrow coming from the Goddess. She was saddened, and hurt, for the painful fate of this one individual. The blonde almost started crying. But then Zack was running up on them.

The winged man shakily got up and flew off. In a blind panic, Cloud ran after him.

I have to help him. The Goddess needs him. The planet needs him. He's one of the champions.

Cloud heard Zack's cry after him, but he didn't stop. He was too focused on keeping the man in his sight, running as fast as he could. Which was fast, despite how short he was, but even though he had been in a coma for so long he was still in great shape.

At some point the winged man had collapsed again, too exhausted from fighting and running away. Cloud skidded to a halt a few feet away, regaining his breath. The man glared at him for the intrusion, though Cloud caught hint of surprise in that face. After nearly calming his breathing, Cloud cautiously stepped closer.

"I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to help."

"Nothing can help me." The winged man rasped out.

"But I can. I can hear the planet's cry. I can feel what the Goddess wants and needs." At the mention of the Goddess, the winged man stilled.

"You know of the Goddess?" He was skeptical, but there was hope in him.

"Yes. She feels your pain. I can help. I don't know how I can help, but I know I can." Cloud stepped closer, now within arms reach.

Close enough for the winged man to see the glow in his blue eyes. The decaying soldier gasped.

"You have mako eyes."

"Yes. My name is Cloud Strife. I'm not a soldier. I was trapped in crystalized mako for some time. Sephiroth found and freed me." Cloud explained.

"...I am Genesis Rhapsodos, formerly First Class SOLDIER. And then I learned the truth about my origins. I am nothing more than a science experiment, a monster." The man motioned to his wing as he sat up.

That's not true. If anyone is the monster, is me.

"You are not a monster. Let me help, and the decaying will be reversed."

"I've tried everything. No amount of mako, healing materia, or whatever else Dr. Hollander put in me. What makes you think you can help me?" He was distraught, and skeptical of a cure.

"If you can tell me why you're decaying, maybe that can help me figure out how I can help you."

It was worth a shot, at least.

He could see the gears turning in those pained, sad eyes. After a moment he nodded. Cloud sat down next to Genesis, waiting for the story to start. He knew it was going to be sad, so he prepared himself mentally as best he could.

"I was created to become the perfect soldier. In many ways, I was. While I had strength, I excelled more in magic and materia. And so, I am nothing in comparison to the general. After an injury, I couldn't heal. My body started shutting down. My cells are basically attacking each other, eating each other without regenerating as I slowly rot away."

"Why are your cells failing?"

"I was given J Cells in the womb. But they weren't perfect cells, they were tampered with. There were three of us. One of them is dead. The other gets to sit on his throne, perfect in every way, his body isn't rejecting itself or attacking itself from the inside."

"So...you need pure cells. What are J Cells?"

"Jenova cells."

Cloud resisted the urge to shiver. Out of all of everything these scientists experimented with, they had to use her cells? And for a second his mind panicked. This meant they found her. She was supposed to be buried deep in the mountain, never to be found.

So then this must be the danger that is rising.

"You need cells. Well, I'm not sure if my cells are pure, but I can give you some. The problem is whether to do this with a syringe, or let you suck my blood like a fucking vampire." Cloud knew this was a long shot, but he might as well offer.

"I don't have any needles." Genesis shrugged.

"So vampire status it is, then. Great. I'm not looking forward to injuring myself."

Before he reached for a sword, a gloved hand stopped him. Cloud looked up at Genesis curiously.

"Why are you doing this for me?"

The question caught him off guard.

"Because... Because I can't stand to watch people suffer."

They were silent for a moment. Genesis was taking in the answer, while Cloud felt awkward from just sitting there with a gloved hand over his. He briefly wondered if Sephiroth would ever do something like this. Then his mind backtracked. Why did he think of the general in a tender moment? They had just met.

"You're beautiful, you know that, right? Inside and out, you are beautiful." The smooth voice was sincere.

Cloud blushed, not used to be complimented on so much. First was Zack, and now Genesis. He didn't understand how anyone saw him as beautiful. He considered himself awkward and weird, nothing in comparison to handsomely cute Zack or the striking tall and silver man that was a walking sex god, Sephiroth.

"I'm not that great."

"Don't hold yourself so low, little one. No one has showed me such kindness in a long time. And no one has given me such hope, either. I was told over and over that I will die a slow and painful death." Genesis lifted up Cloud's chin.

"If you're all right with it, then I have a different way of transferring cells."

"What are you...?"

Cloud gulped. The purr in this man's voice, the dark undertone of arousal, and the heavy scent of it hung in the air overtaking the scent of rotting flesh and sour mako. He could feel the heat intensifying the air, and he couldn't deny his own response when he felt a mind gently brush against his own.

"You...you can do that too?" He inquired.

"It's called Mako Connection. It only works with those who are really sensitive. Think of it as a means of putting trust in another person into your own mind. I don't go into people's heads, but brushing our minds together makes for a much better experience. As a bonus, we can now track each other."

"You've done this before?" Cloud was genuinely curious. Before his awakening, it was only an ability between the champions. The fact anyone can basically do it now just by having mako in their bodies was strange to him.

"Sephiroth and I used to do it all the time during our...intimate moments. I was right to think you were sensitive. Mako has this way of connecting people in the strangest of ways."

Cloud felt his heart jump. So that was why the general gave him that look earlier.

"This doesn't mean we're together...right?"

"What? No, not if you don't want to. I don't mind, either way. I haven't had a lover in a few years, my body aches for the act. If you don't mind a few flings, no strings attached, then we can help each other. You're not a virgin, are you?" Genesis tilted his head curiously.

Cloud shook his head, his face bright red. No, this wasn't his first time.

"Good. I don't have to show you the ropes."

"No strings attached?" Cloud was nervous, as he had every right to be.

Every person I slept with have gone crazy over me. One night stands don't exactly work well with me.

At least this way they can get the need for each other physically out of their systems. And he couldn't deny that, underneath all the decay, Genesis was handsome in his own way. He could tell this man was like a peacock, proud and ready to strut at every chance he could get. Normally Cloud avoided those kind of people, but Genesis was different. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders.

"No strings attached." Genesis assured him.

Delighted, Cloud sealed their agreement with a passionate kiss. And then before they could do anything, he felt another mind intruding against his own and slipped in.

The next he knew was pain as he struggled against the invading force.

=3=

Sephiroth was agitated. They were back in Nibelheim, at the inn. He couldn't shake the feeling something was off. He had told Zack how he found Cloud. For some reason, he didn't tell him of the moment Cloud accidentally reached out with his mind and brushed against his. That was something private, something Sephiroth was jealous of.

He didn't understand why he was jealous.

His heart wanted to find the blonde again. At the same token, a part of him wanted to take a look at the abandoned ShinRa Mansion. As he debated, he remembered something. After brushing ones mind against another, they can more easily locate each other even after the briefest of two minds touching.

Closing his eyes, Sephiroth calmed his breathing, regulating his heartbeat. He concentrated, expanding his mind out towards the mountain, careful not to disturb Zack in his bed behind him. He focused mainly in the direction of the mountain, as he knew the blonde wouldn't come too close to the town.

After some minutes of searching, he found him.

Cloud wasn't alone.

Sephiroth near growled, recognizing Genesis. He felt their minds intertwined in passionate intimacy. Feeling overwhelmingly possessive of Cloud in a way he could not rationalize, Sephiroth joined in through their minds. Their guards had been down, so it was easy to slip through.

And then something happened that Sephiroth did not expect.

While his real body collapsed in the inn, his mind left behind his vessel and was suddenly inside someone else's body. He couldn't understand the feeling of being pulled without his consent. He gasped, eyes opened, and realized with shock and uncertainty that he was now within Cloud's body.

He wasn't the only one to notice.

He felt Cloud pressed against him, as they fought over control. Genesis cradled the smaller body, confused and worried. He saw how the eyes flashed from blue to green, and a quick brush of minds the former SOLDIER realized that Sephiroth was somehow trapped inside Cloud. The two fought for control, panicked as they didn't understand what was happening.

Thinking quickly, Genesis leaned in for a deep kiss. The action caught Sephiroth's and Cloud's attention and they stopped. Cloud was surprised, but he could feel the loss and sorrow from Sephiroth. Most of the general's pain came from the former SOLDIER.

And suddenly memories that were not his own flashed through his head. He saw moments of Sephiroth and Genesis together, kissing, fucking, or the rare cuddling they had shared. Here, Genesis was the same passionate fireball that he was, riling up the cool and collected general's work and life.

He felt Sephiroth's pain. He felt the betrayal. Cloud suddenly felt extremely guilty for what he had done. The guilt was drowning over him, and suddenly he felt assurance from Sephiroth. The shared emotions were two way, as the man felt his grief.

"I didn't know...I'm sorry, Sephiroth. I'm so sorry..." Cloud murmured, having control of his body enough for the tears to fall.

"Don't blame yourself." Sephiroth said, his voice portrayed through Cloud.

"So...how did this happen exactly?" Genesis quirked an eyebrow.

"I...don't know. I was searching for Cloud. And then when I found him with you, I was suddenly drawn in without invitation. I couldn't pull away and then I was...here." Sephiroth answered when Cloud couldn't, he was too confused to explain.

"Of course. You were always a party pooper, general."

"And what exactly were you doing with Cloud?"

"Is someone jealous?" Genesis had a knack for picking up even the most subtle of hints and reach for it, never minding the consequences.

I was trying to help him. He needs pure cells. I figured I might as well try.

Cloud explained through their shared mind. He could feel the tension rising. And he found that, to his surprise, the general was jealous. But why? They had only just met. Or was the jealousy over someone else with Genesis?

(I don't care if Genesis is with other people. I can't fathom you having sex with someone you just met.)

At the revelation Cloud felt confused. His mind was jumbled between the fact Sephiroth was trapped in his head, to notice his body heating up. Suddenly they were both aware of mako energy swirling around them. It was then they realized they were next to a pool of mako. The pure substance was being drawn in towards the high energy levels of two minds within one body.

Panic swept over Cloud, realizing what this meant, while Sephiroth was concerned and Genesis was in awe.

"Run!" Cloud gasped out before their minds were pulled from their bodies.

The three were transported to the Lifestream.

=3=

Death: I don't understand my brain. I have no idea where this baby came from. It just POOF, appeared and then the next thing I know, I'm writing.

Oh, and no, this will not be Genesis and Cloud story. The pairing is basically Seph and Cloud. I have plans for Genesis later with someone else.

Please leave a review.