Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Unrequited Desires ❯ Fateful Night at the Gold Saucer ( Chapter 16 )

Unrequited Desires

 

 

Chapter 16 Fateful Night at the Gold Saucer

 

Evening of Day Three

 

 

 

?????????????????

 

“I can't believe we're actually doing this.” Cloud mumbled as stared wondrously up at the towering golden saucer that was above him. Never in his life, well never at this point in his life, did he think he would be at the Gold Saucer with Sephiroth on one side of him and Zack on the other.

 

They left on their mission tomorrow, and well Cloud was a nervous wreck. Sephiroth had informed him of the details, and it turned out that there were monsters infesting his old town of Nibelheim. Yeah that's right…his old hometown. A place he never wanted to go to again, let alone without having made it into SOLDIER, and let alone with having to go with both Zack and Sephiroth.

 

Now he had told Zack about his fucked up child experiences, and he had been completely supportive in the past. The only bad thing about it though was that he remembered it in the present, and was convinced he needed a night out on the town before he had to go back to…what was it they he called it…oh yeah, NiHellheim. He had laughed at the ridiculous name, just because it was so ridiculous, and because it had been quite some time since Zack had even tried to make him laugh.

 

As to how much Sephiroth knew of his past he had no idea. All he knew was that he hadn't told him anything, and he wasn't planning on it. The last thing he needed was to get pitying glances from two members of his party…At least he could always count on Caden to just plain out despise him.

 

He couldn't believe that had come here though. Because since him and Sephiroth had practically humped on his desk, the General hadn't exactly been subtle about their relationship. Cloud and Zack had just been getting around to being somewhat friends again, but whenever the three of them were together Sephiroth would always be touching him in some way to get Zack to quietly excuse himself from whatever it was they were doing. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Zack, and so he had asked Sephiroth why he was being such a bastard, and he just said that Zack had done the same thing to him, then always found one way or another to make the subject drop.

 

“Believe it shorty. Now whatta yeh wanna do first?” The blond glared at the nickname Zack had given him, but tried as hard as he could to ignore the childish action for the greater good…plus he was really excited to be here.

 

They walked through the entrance after Sephiroth flashed the gold card to the man dressed as a chocobo at the gateway. The guy didn't say anything, but even if they didn't have a lifetime membership he doubted he would have said anything anyways. Because really he tells the General of Shinra that they can't go somewhere?

 

The tubes labeled with the different places shined in the false light, and his eyes lit up in anticipation. Having exactly no childhood, he got real happy when he went to places like this. “I wanna go Chocobo racing.” He headed over to the tube, but then he spotted another labeled area and his mind abruptly changed. “No Event Square! No Wonder Square!”

 

“Let's go to the Fighting Arena.” Cloud jumped a little at Sephiroth's half amused half annoyed voice, and he turned around to see him already heading towards that direction. “If I'm going to have to put up with the two of you jumping around like maniacs and playing video games all day I'm going to have to kill something first.”

 

Cloud bit his lip to hide his laughter. He glanced over and saw Zack trying to do the same thing. The scariest part of that statement was the fact that Sephiroth was completely serious when he said it.

 

“Did you hear that Cloud…being around us makes him wanna kill things?” Zack tsked and shook as finger at the silver haired man before walking over to the blond and whispering something in his ear.

 

That something made Cloud want to double over in laughter, but he kept a straight face for the sake off their plan. Giving a little smirk, he walked over to the tunnel leading to Wonder Square, and Zack being the completely inconspicuous person he is started walking in Sephiroth's general direction.

 

“You know Seph if I didn't know any better I'd say you didn't like us.” Sephiroth held out his arm, stopping Zack before he could come any closer.

 

“And if I didn't know any better I'd say the two of you were up to something.” Zack waggled his eyebrow towards his friend.

 

“Now Sephiroth what ever would make you think that?” With a glance towards Cloud, Zack sprang forward grabbing onto Sephiroth, and screaming out “Now!” Simultaneously.

 

As soon as the words left his lips Cloud lunged forward, springing half way across the room so that he collided with Zack's back and sent all three of them sprawling down the pipe that lead to the Fighting Arena, ignoring the cry of protest Sephiroth made as he was sent down head first.

 

Wind whipped his face as he sailed down the tube in a tangled mess. He was laughing at the top of his lungs, and he recognized Zack's laughter as well, and he couldn't be sure but he thought that the great General of Shinra had even joined in on the joke. Of course that didn't mean that he wasn't going to kill him as soon as they got out of this thing, but Cloud was more a here in the moment kind of person, and so he tried not to worry about it…yet at least.

 

As they tumbled out of the tube, Cloud's worry began to increase, because as they tumbled out they all fell into a large mass of limbs, and those limbs were all in extremely inappropriate positions. Zack landed on top of Sephiroth so that his back was against his chest, and Cloud landed on top of Zack…face first into his crotch.

 

A tingling sensation ran up his spine as he took a whiff of the spicy scent that is Zack, and he realized right then that this night out was a very bad idea. He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready to be friends with the SOLDIER while still seeing Sephiroth. The truth was he didn't know how Zack was. After all Cloud was the one that had screwed him over, not the other way around, and he seemed to get over it long before him.

 

A blush spread through his features as the laughter all around had died down, and knowing that this trip was probably going to be the least amount of fun possible, Cloud quickly scuttled off the two people and went to stand in the corner of the sign up room. Biting his bottom lip, he tried to make himself disappear as the two slowly made their way back to their feet.

 

He could feel Sephiroth's eyes on him, yet he refused to look up. Not even when he curtly stated that he was going to sign up did he move from his spot in the corner. As a matter of fact the only time he looked up was when he was made to look up by Zack's hand slowly tilting his face up to look at him.

 

“Cloud it's alright.” He took in a deep shaky breath as a finger began to make small circles on his cheek. “It's weird for me too, but I love you and Sephiroth's my best friend…I have to try.”

 

Loved him?...”How can you still love me after what I did to you?” Cloud whined, coming awfully close to loosing it and just running out of the room…either that or running into Zack's arms…he wasn't sure yet.

 

Though he was becoming more and more sure of one of those choices as he was pulled forward into a gentle embrace, and he just let his head fall to Zack's shoulder. “Oh baby of course I still love you…I'll always love you.” He pulled him back away to arms length. “Though just because I love you, that doesn't mean that I necessarily have to like you.” With a wink, the raven haired man pulled away altogether, and as he did Cloud couldn't help but notice the jealous look Sephiroth gave them as he finished signing up for the arena.

 

Damn. He could only imagine what that might have looked like to Sephiroth. In all truths the man probably thought he was still together with Zack. They hadn't even slept together yet, and they had been dancing around for almost two weeks. He lost his virginity to Zack the day after he met him…Hell they had almost fucked when he was dressed like a girl. Cloud had wracked his mind many a times to try to think of why he didn't think he was ready to be with Sephiroth like that yet, and the only thing he could think of was that it had to be special…It had to be perfect.

 

He didn't know why he had such strong convictions in this area, but it was Sephiroth. How can the man that everybody in the world either wants to be or fuck live up to his name. How can you sleep with a god just casually? It's not possible to ever be good enough for someone like that. He was just some scrawny nobody from a hick town, what could Sephiroth possibly see in him?

 

Speaking of seeing him, he was seeing him right now, as a matter he was glaring rather heatedly at him as he walked over to where the two were standing. Cloud gulped in nervous anticipation. Sephiroth motioned towards the arena. “You guys seem to be having a wonderful, so why don't you go play while I'm fighting…it'll be a while.”

 

That smugness turned to the blond as Sephiroth walked nearer, pulling him forwards so that their lips met in an unsuspected kiss. A kiss that lasted until Cloud's lungs ached for oxygen as their tongues slid together. He peaked a glance for a moment, only to cringe a little to see the triumphant look Sephiroth was giving to Zack the entire time their lips were connected.

 

When they finally broke apart, Sephiroth pulled him close so that his mouth was against his ear. “I expect you to play nice Cloud…Don't do something you might regret later.”

 

Still a little breathless, all Cloud could do was dumbly nod as Sephiroth stalked back towards his fight. The blond let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he watched him walk through the doors. Why had they come here together? They should have known it would have turned out like this…He did know it would turn out like this, but did anybody listen to him…NO!

 

Cloud turned nervously to the side to face Zack, who was no doubt either very pissed or very hurt. When he actually saw his face, he found out that it was definitely the latter. “Zack I…” He tried, but as his mouth opened to break the awkward silence, he couldn't think of anything to say.

 

He was a horrible person, and Zack…Zack was a saint. He never deserved someone like Zack. Besides Reno, the raven haired SOLDIER had been the only one in the entire encampment that was even a little nice to him, and what did he do…pissed all over it. He came here to find Sephiroth, that much was true, but what he found was something that seemed better. He was happy with Zack…happy and sated. It was all that bitches fault! If he ever found out who the prissy brunette in the church was he was going to kill her! If it wasn't for her he would never have kissed Sephiroth to begin with!...If it wasn't for her he would never have to see that hurt look on one of nicest people he had ever met's face.

 

His guilt was only increased by ten fold when Zack gave him his trademark smile before slightly ruffling his gold spikes. “Don't worry about it Spike…So Sephiroth gave us free reign while he's fighting, and if I know him he'll probably wanna kill everything in there ten times over again, so that gives us some time…Whattya wanna do?”

 

The hurt in the voice was hid very well, but being with Zack for so long, Cloud could easily pick it up. They needed to talk…they hadn't since Sephiroth had walked in on them when he was high on acid. He wracked his brain to try to think of a good place to talk in this crazy mixed up place, and from what he had read of the descriptions of the different areas only one thing came to mind.

 

“Umm…Can we go to Round Square?” He asked sheepishly, not at all used to talking to Zack in a purely platonic manner. Though he figured he would have to start getting used to it, because he adored Zack, and if he didn't, he would never get to see him.

 

That actually made him smile. “You want to go on the gondola?” Cloud furrowed his eyes at the amused look he was receiving, and couldn't for the life of him figure out why he was receiving it.

 

“Yeah…Why is it like stupid or something?” The quirky smile he was so accustomed to came back, and he started heading towards the tunnel, calling behind his shoulder as he did.

 

“Oh no…It's just that a romantic car ride for two around the saucer might make it exceedingly difficult for me to keep myself from jumping you as we go over the top.”

 

Cloud's face flushed a deep red, and he swallowed in dread. He had never thought about that…”Oh.” Zack was almost to the tunnel labeled `Round Square' when he stopped and looked over his shoulder giving a small wink.

 

“Don't worry Cloud, although it'll be hard, I think I will be able to keep my hands to myself.” He gulped before nodding and running to catch up to Zack as he began to walk down the pathway.

 

Until he practically felt drool running down his chin, he didn't realize just how far his chin had dropped to the floor. Seriously he was pretty sure a fly had just made a nice home for himself in the gaping hole. It was like he was doomed in life to make the dumbest decisions possible. Yes, the gondola would be a nice secluded place to talk, but it would also be a nice secluded place where him and Zack were totally alone with each other…where romantic music was playing…He was fucked!

 

By the time he had successfully wired his jaw shut so that his chin didn't scrape against the floor, Cloud raced as quickly as possibly to the quickly fading dot that seemed to be moving much quicker than it should be. “Wait up!” Cloud called as he got closer and closer to the end of the tunnel, and he saw the strangest thing on the other end.

 

He had heard from testimonies from people who had had near death experiences that they go down a long lit tunnel, and at the end of they saw epiphanies that explained the meaning of their worthless existence…They saw the meaning of life. Well you know what he saw at the end of that damn tunnel…he saw Zack, staring back at him with a charming smile on his face and two recently purchased tickets to their short lived romantic getaway.

 

“Ready to go?” Cloud swallowed as those beautiful eyes he still adored so much twinkled back at him, and he felt his resolve already slipping. If they went on this ride who knew what would happen, but he did know what could happen, and he knew that he was 85% sure he didn't want it. So that meant he had two options. One, he could go on the air ride, be tempted, possibly give in to temptation, and loose Sephiroth. Or two, he could politely decline the ticket, turn right around, and go watch Sephiroth slaughter some nasty monsters.

 

“Yeah…I'm ready.”…He always was a weak son of a bitch. To make matters even worst, he actually took the hand that was politely extended to him, and let Zack help him into the car…And to make matters the worst they could possibly get, he was so nervous when he was getting in that he stumbled over the threshold and ended up falling into his ex-lover's arm like some weak ass girl.

 

His blond spikes fell into the warm and inviting chest that he had curled up to sleep so many times. Feeling more than a little embarrassed he slowly unpeeled his face, and held his breath at what he saw. Zack's face was so close, and his eyes, those warm and friendly eyes were glossed over as they stared deeply into his. “I'm sorry.”

 

Cloud's voice came out as a soft whisper, and as he was saying it he wasn't sure if he was apologizing for falling into him, or for destroying his life. But he actually did let out a sob when a stray hair was wiped carefully out of his eyes. “Think nothing of it.”

 

Feeling his resolve slipping away, Cloud quickly pushed his way past his temptation and sat as far as he could in the corner. This was a bad idea…this was a very bad idea. In fact he was so sure that it was a bad idea that he was about to bolt out of the car altogether, that is until the car unfortunately began to move…trapping Cloud together with Zack on their romantic getaway from hell.

 

His breathing sped up the faster the car went, and towards the end he really did think he was going to hyperventilate. His panic attack was increased as an arm wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him close.

 

“Cloud it's alright. I know how you're feeling…believe me this is hard for me as well, but I'm trying to fight through it, because as hard as it is to be around you, it's even harder not seeing you.” The gut wrenching pain such a statement caused was unbearable, but strangely enough it seemed to snap him out of his fuddled haze.

 

He shoved Zack's hands off of him in anger, and quickly retreated to the other side of the gondola. Was this payback? Is this what he had planned all along? With narrowed eyes, he expressed his deep seeded anger rather clearly.

 

“So what Zack, did you think that you could just get me alone like this and bat you eyes and that everything would be like before?” He bit out. “Did you think that playing the sympathy card would just make me come running back into your open arms?” Giving a lopsided grin, Zack replied cheekily with.

 

“Well the thought had crossed my mind once or twice in my latest wet dreams.” Blue eyes narrowed to slits, and an actual growl escaped his throat.

 

Before he knew what the hell he was doing, Cloud was on his feet, and staring down at Zack with a look an unbridled fury. “This isn't a time for jokes! Do you think it's been easy for me?...Do you think for one second that I don't love you every bit as much as you love me?!”

 

The grin faded from Zack's face, only to be replaced by a cynical scowl. “Easy for you?...No, I don't think it was easy.” All the jovial emotion had completely dropped from his voice, and now the only thing you could even come close to hearing in it was a deep seeded pain and resentment. “I think it must have been rather hard for you to find abandoned closets and hallways for you and Sephiroth to screw in so that I wouldn't find out.”

 

The words reverberated off the slowly rotting wood of the compartment. For the first time he saw in Zack's eyes something that he had never seen focused on him before, and as he saw it a lone tear rolled down his cheek. “How long have you hated me?”

 

At the words Zack glanced down, refusing to even meet the hurt blond's eyes. But just that action was enough for Cloud to know his answer. Zack hated him…probably despised him even. Though it's not like he could blame him, he deserved every bit of that hatred…but that didn't make it hurt any less.

 

Silence filled the car for what seemed like hours, but was probably only more like a few seconds. He didn't know why, but to him uncomfortable silences had always been like nails on a chalkboard to him. Cloud wouldn't break it though, he deserved every bit of it. He deserved to sit in this silence until he went mad from it. He had hurt one of the only people he had ever truly loved, and he had done it in the worst way possible.

 

“You never think it will the last time, yeh know?” Zack's voice came out as a quiet whisper, and he hadn't looked up from his interesting view of the floor. Cloud bit his lip in confusion. Despite how much he didn't want to force anything out of him, he really had no idea what he was talking about.

 

“What?” His voice was every bit as quiet and broken as Zack's, the only difference is that the blond's cracked rather badly. He blushed in embarrassment, but the soldier didn't even seem to notice.

 

Golden eyes glanced up as they met with his, and Cloud's breathing stopped as their eyes met. “The last kiss…you never know it will be the last one, and so you can never remember it.”

 

Cloud's mouth dropped open into an `O' in realization, but just because he had figured out what he was talking about, didn't make the very idea of it the most depressing thing imaginable. Their last kiss?...he couldn't even remember when it happened. Of course it had to have been during their course of acid tripping love making, but he couldn't point down the last precise moment when their lips had touched…and it made him sad.

 

His sadness soon turned to surprise as the cart whipped around a corner of the saucer, and his poorly thought out standing position really screwed him as he fell forward, crashing right onto Zack's lap.

 

The blond's breathing sped up to almost deep panicked breaths as his surprise soon turned into horrified embarrassment. His embarrassment didn't lessen when he realized that he had landed in the most undignified position possible. His thighs had landed on each side of Zack's hips, and his face had fallen into the man's chest…So pretty much he was straddling his waist like a stripper about to give a lap dance.

Cloud abashedly lifted his head from that warm and inviting chest, fully prepared to apologize over and over again for landing on him like that, but when he looked up their eyes met, and everything else fell away. All he could think about was all the moments they had shared, all the times they had made love…all the times they had laughed…but mostly, all he could think of was all the many times their lips had met in the most sensual of connections.

 

“Last kiss, huh?” Cloud asked, his voice coming out in a timid hiss as he unconsciously drew closer to the source of his current infatuation. Zack seemed to be in the same far off world as he was, because all he could do was nod.

 

He wasn't sure which one of them had started to lean in first, but before he knew it his lips were sliding against Zack's, in probably the most explosive kiss he had ever shared with him. He hadn't kissed Zack in so long that he forgot just how fiery it was when their lips were connected, but he soon remembered, and did all he could to further the kiss. Opening his mouth, he allowed the raven-haired man's tongue to invade his, and moaned as the velvety soft appendage slid against his own.

 

In the back of his mind he knew this was wrong, but he couldn't seem to get his mind to process that fact. This was heaven and hell rolled into one, and he wasn't sure he wanted to ever leave the fiery pits of his no doubt damnation. All he cared about was how Zack's hand found it's way to the back of his head, pulling him all the more close.

 

As a matter of fact he was so into the heated kiss that he didn't even bother to take a breath, let alone notice how their little ride was slowly coming to a stop. His lungs burned with lack of air, but he let them, refusing to listen to their demands, refusing to listen to anything…even the sound of the door opening.

 

“So I guess it's true what they say about these rides…they really do make you throw your inhibitions out the window.” He refused to listen to anything…except that. No that made him break out of whatever world he thought he was in.

 

Cloud took deep panic breaths as he stared into the glowing green eyes of the last person in the world he wanted to catch him in this position. No. No. No…How could this be happening?...Not again! “Sephiroth you don't understand…I” He tried, but the silver haired man had placed a hand up to stop him right there.

 

“I don't care for your excuses. This is the end of us.” Cloud felt all the blood drain out of his face at Sephiroth's callous words, but even how bad those were, they weren't the worst things that were said. No, he topped himself by blowing a kiss, and saying, “I'm missing you already.” Before turning around and walking out of Round Square, and out of his life for what seemed like would be forever.

??????????????

 

 

“No!” Cloud's head shot up suddenly as a scream escaped his throat. But as his head shot up, it just so happened to bang rather painfully into someone else's, and he ended up falling backwards, fully prepared to flip out on whoever was needed over this latest dream.

 

How could that possibly be real? He wouldn't cheat on Sephiroth…and especially with someone like Zack. Either these dreams were fake, or he was just a huge slutty whore back then. Seriously though judging from the bastardly dreams of his it seemed like he would sleep with anything that said yes. Hell, he almost even kissed Reno!

 

At the sound of a rather painful groan, he was brought back to reality and remembered that upon waking his head had collided with someone else's. Though upon glancing up he began to feel less and less bad about it. After all it was only Zack clutching his swollen forehead in the seat across from him, and if what he had seen in his dream was real, then he deserved a lot worse.

 

“You know there are less painful ways to wake up Cloud…If I knew you were so dangerous upon rising I would have never woken you up to tell you we were here…Yeesh.” He continued to rub his head, as he glanced out of the air car window towards probably the last sight in the world Cloud wanted to see right now.

 

The Gold Saucer shown as brightly as it had in his dream, but unlike his dream, the picturesque view only filled him with dread and remorse. No, this was not the happiest place on earth, this was not where dreams came true, this was where lives were ruined…and he didn't plan to forget that anytime soon.

 

You know when he had made up this nice clause with Zack, he hadn't really minded the idea of coming here for a fun time…It was on Zack's time after all, but now seeing as how the last time they had come here everything had gone the ex-SOLDIER's way, he wasn't sure he should have ever agreed to come. No, strike that, he was positive that he should never have agreed.

 

That bastard! He had planned this! Pointing an accusing finger, Cloud fully prepared to rant unto the unsuspecting Zack who most likely had no idea what the hell he was talking about. “You did this on purpose! It was just a clever rouse…you wanted a repeat of last time.”

 

Raising one amused eyebrow Zack asked the no doubt obvious question. “What are you talking about spike?”

 

Oh like he didn't know. “Your rouse Zack.” Cloud stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You know your cunning attempt to trick me?” At the annoyed look he was receiving from the driver, the blond figured that this might not be the best place to have this conversation, and so he said the next part while walking backwards down the ramp. “I bet you thought you were so smart in suggesting this place…Oh yes take Cloud back to the place where he cheated on Sephiroth from before and it might have the same results.” He crossed his arms over his chest, and caught his balance as he nearly fell backwards after underestimating the length of the ramp. “Well it won't! So get the idea of you and me together like that out of your head. I said I'd try to be friends, but that's the most you're going to get.”

 

For some reason he had thought Zack would have smiled at that, or at least said some sort of assholish comment in reply, but he didn't. No, instead his face filled with a kind of worry he had never seen before…the kind of worry that makes you wonder just what had gotten such a happy person into a state of almost fear…He didn't have to wait long.

 

“You've remembered the Gold Saucer…which means that.” He took a sharp intake of breath as he seemed to stare the blond up and down. Cloud for his part wasn't liking the attention in the least.

 

“What?!” He snapped, not at all liking where this conversation was heading. This was meant to be about him bitching out Zack, and had somehow turned into a poor him thing all over again.

 

“It's just that seeing as how your dreams have been going by the most important events so far, chances are that your next dream...” Zack paused, not at looking like he wanted to even divulge the rest of the information. “Well your next dream is probably going to be Nibelheim.”

 

The statement at first filled him with dread. He could still feel the fire and smoke from his hometown…still hear all the screams. It was definitely not something he wanted to remember, let alone have a detailed flashback of. That was of course when something occurred to him. “Why do you look so worried? Hasn't anyone informed you that of my fucked up past Nibelheim is the only thing I remember?”

 

Zack's face turned grim. “You don't remember it.” He stated matter of factly. The thing Cloud didn't get though is why he sounded so sure of himself.

 

“What are you talking about?...Of course I do.” What gave him the right to say something like that? Like he knew what the hell he did or did not remember. He didn't know anything about what went on in his head!

 

“You don't Cloud.” Zack's voice was raised now, and even though the grim expression was still there you could definitely see a raw anger in his eyes. “You would never love Sephiroth like you do if you did.” He practically yelled, earning a stone silence around the platform.

 

The other passengers from the car huddled closer together, whispering among themselves about dangerous hooligans as they made their way past. Cloud couldn't care less about them though, no his attentions were focused solely on the person standing in front of him.

 

How dare him! “I do remember Zack.” He bit out through clenched teeth. “I remember the killing, and the fire, and the smoke…I remember what he did he to Tifa…and to my mother…I remember what he did to my home town.”

 

“But do you remember what he did to you!?” Zack screamed hysterically. “Do you remember how he left you, and how I had to pick up the pieces?!...Do you remember how much pain you were in after he left you so broken on that stone floor!?”

 

The outburst stopped whatever Cloud had wanted to say dead in its tracks. As a matter of fact it seemed to stop everything dead. “What are you talking about?” Cloud's voice was a strained whisper as he tried to wrap his mind around what it was that Zack was insinuating.

 

Though, unlike before, Zack didn't seem to be in a very informative mood. “Forget I said anything.” He quickly replied, before passing Cloud and heading towards the entrance without a backwards glance. “Come on we should really get going if we're gonna do anything before the park closes.”

 

Oh no he did NOT just try to sweep something of such obvious importance under the rug like that! “Hey you can't just say something like that, and then just expect me to drop it!” Sadly even after his outburst, Zack didn't stop in his walking, as a matter of fact it seemed like he actually sped up. “Zack! Hey, wait up! You have to tell me what you meant by that!” Cloud demanded, not at all liking the man's uncooperative attitude.

 

He did begin to appreciate it, however, after Zack actually did turn around to talk. His eyes were blazing in anger as he poked him rather hard in the chest with his index finger, obviously intending to get some much needed steam off his chest. “First of all I have to do nothing! I don't owe you anything Cloud…quite the opposite in fact, but hey who's keeping track?” He bit out venomously as he continued his tirade. “And second, even if I did tell you there's no way you'd believe, so as much as it hurts me to do so, I'm going to let you it experience it first hand so that you don't try to dumbly suggest that I'm poisoning your mind or something ludicrous like that!” He prodded him again in the chest as he attempted to make his finale. “And last…well I don't really have a last, so just come with me and shut up and we'll go on some rides.” He huffed, apparently finally done letting off that steam of his…and damn was there a lot of it.

 

Grabbing his wrist rather painfully, Zack started towards the entrance again with a rather reluctant Cloud in tow. As they passed the for some reason rather quiet man dressed up like a chocobo, the blond tried his hardest to wiggle his way free of Zack's vice like grip, but he wasn't having all that much luck, and even when he did somehow manage to get his steely fingers to budge, it didn't really matter because as soon as they entered the room that led to the all the different attractions he stopped dead in his tracks….Nothing could have made him move from that spot...Nothing could even make him breath once he caught sight of what lied beyond those neon gates.

 

Blood, sooooo much of it. It covered the walls and floor like a new coat of pain freshly applied to place. The putrid scent of it filled his nostrils making him gag, as did the sight of the different trails leading down the pipes. God only knew what he would find once he followed them.

 

His heart had sped up to an unbearable rate, and as his heart raced, his head became muddled. Thousands of possibilities of what could have happened here entered his head, and yet he could only think one source of such evil. But it couldn't have been…why would he? This had to have been a monster…a devil…some sort of demon.

 

Movement out of the corner of his eye distracted him for a moment, and he glanced over to see that Zack's arm was shakily pointing to one spot on the blood splattered walls. A spot that seemed to be surprisingly clean considering the rest of the room. Though he wished he wished it wasn't…He wished that he would never have seen such a thing. For when he followed Zack's arm to what it was pointing to he saw that something was written in blood on the wall…something that sounding disturbingly familiar. Bile rose to his throat as he read the dreadful words written on the wall, the words that said rather clearly `Missing you already' the implications of such a thing hit him, and they him rather hard. Not only was Sephiroth responsible for this, but he had just obviously killed the most recent visitors that had rode with them on the ferry…That meant that he was near, and it meant that once again so many people had been killed because of him…in some sick way for him. Such thoughts entered his mind, and he couldn't take the knowledge of them, and so he did the only thing he could do to make them go away…he passed out, knowing that when he woke up that there probably would be no silver lining in this dark cloud.

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A.N- Okay I have a lot to point out in this authors note. For starters I'm very very sorry for the long update…I have no excused I'm just a terrible human being. Now that I got that off my chest let's get on to more important matters. The next couple chapters Are going to be about Nibelheim, and practically the whole thing is going to be in the past…they'll be a little Reno and Zack in the present, but most of it is through Cloud's eyes in the town. The next couple chapters ARE going to be very dark, and I gave a hint about what is to transpire in this chapter, and if you don't like such a thing…please don't read…and trust me when I tell you that I don't like it all that much either, but I have to do it…don't hate me. Alright and the final thing I have to say is that I'm SOOOOO excited about Kingdom Hearts 2…Cloud and Sephiroth fight in it, and he looks exactly like he does in Advent Children…and I'm just soooo friggin excited about it. Yeah but anyways please please please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW I appreciate all of them so much, and they make soooo happy. Thank you for reading my story….I love to know that I made someone happy with it…although it's not very happy at the moment…or ever…but hey life sucks…. Well anyways thanks again and I'll try to get the next chappie out as soon as I can.