#increasing the weeks

[increasingtheweeks]

NO BODY FREAK OUT BUT This morning I reread the last three chapters of ITW to remind myself what was happening and...I've started writing more of chapter eleven. I am on a Crisis Core crash dump course. It's been so long since I've touched FFVII lore. *bashes head against laptop*

[increasingtheweeks]

Chapter Eleven is currently very short. Due to an intense work load I'm sorry to say that I haven't looked at it since September. It is planned for, however, and now that I have a short Christmas break, more of ITW should be scribbled down soon. Thank you for reading!

[increasingtheweeks]

Increasing The Weeks - Chapter Ten

After a wild escape, Strife has a choice to make: does he stay with Zack or does he leave him out of this mess? Little does he know, Zack's not about to give up on him so easily - not now that his loyalty to SOLDIER is put to the test by the appearance of an old friend.

Can also be read [HERE] at ff.net.

[Week IX]

Monday:

The world stood still. As Cloud soared through the sky, his hands clamped beneath Zack's armpits, he knew he'd left a piece of himself behind - lost somewhere in ShinRa with his dreams of becoming a SOLDIER. He wondered what Soshi might have said.

But I can fly.

Cloud had noticed his back aching as if the muscles had grown ten times too big, but a wing was the last thing that crossed his mind. The aching had peaked on the rooftop, his heart racing in terror, certain a few bullets were about to send him tumbling off the roof. And then it had burst from Cloud's shoulder like a spear, stretching into its true shape in seconds.

It should have shocked him more than it did. In the back of his mind, Cloud wanted to yell, but his instructors had always told him, "When the time comes to panic or take action, to run from the sight of blood or bandage up a severed limb - you'll get the job done. Trust me. Panicking will be the last thing on your mind."

And they were right. Instantly, Cloud had known he could escape.

Midgar spread below them, dusted in morning mist and shimmering with lights in the darker districts. Cloud thought of it like an inverted sky built into the land. Stars among people. If only it felt the same at ground level.

Closing his eyes, Cloud concentrated on his new found strength and the rippling sensation in his back; a rough wave of energy every time his wing beat against the wind-currents. He knew he couldn't go far, not whilst carrying Zack, but for one brilliant moment Cloud considered this a gift.

Zack squirmed in his grip and Cloud felt his arms trembling, fighting to hold on. He opened his eyes and looked down. Zack was failing his legs, staring at the drop below him intensely; as if he believed he might fall the second he glanced away. Cloud tightened his grip, trying to give a reassuring squeeze. Neither of them could speak above the wind, but Cloud wanted to say that he'd never let him fall.

Wind made Cloud's eyes water and chilled his arms, but Midgar was soon behind them and he knew he had the strength to reach one of the mountainous outcroppings. The wasteland proper stretched into the horizon. The divide between Midgar and the wasteland was so severe, divided by a literal wall, that it took Cloud a moment to realise where the buildings had gone.

He flew to the east, his eyes on a narrow pass, and began their decent.

The parched earth looked a lot more solid with each second they got closer and Cloud tried to focus, tried to slow down.

"Careful!" Zack cried, feet treading the air again.

"I'm trying!"

Cloud saw no easy way of landing. How did he minimise his forward velocity with only one wing? "Get ready!" he cried, and let go of Zack a few metres above the ground. He disappeared from sight the second Cloud let go, but he heard him yell in surprise and hit the ground hard.

Cloud travelled forward a few more yards, struggling to pull his feet underneath him and turn his wing out to catch the air. It wouldn't cooperate! He touched land on his tiptoes and only made it a few paces before he lost balance, tripped in a crack and skidded across the ground, hands first.

For a moment, all Cloud could hear was gravel resettling, before Zack started coughing on the dust behind him.

"You alive?" he called out.

Wheezing, Cloud sat up as tremors coursed down his legs. "Yeah," he said, looking up at the strip of sky now so far away. They sat in a gorge. The land rose up either side of them for miles, cut away over thousands of years by a river that had eventually run dry. Different colours patterned the bedrock and boulders blocked parts of the natural pass. Where did they go now?

Cloud tensed, staring into the shadows ahead of him. What if Zack didn't want to go with him? Why should he? Cloud couldn't go back, not without proof that he wasn't a monster, and he couldn't expect Zack to ruin his reputation by helping ShinRa's newest target. They'd probably list Zack as 'abducted'. Cloud hid his face in his hands. What had he done? It was all his fault!

If ShinRa didn't find them, then the Turks surely would. He'd heard about them. Men in suits, deadly and cold-hearted. They wouldn't even let Cloud draw breath to explain who he was, they'd shoot him on the spot. Cloud realised that the one person he needed to confess, was now well protected in a medical lab and surrounded by SOLDIERs. Maybe Sergeant Gomez would report his absence, unless this had been the plan all along - to test on him.

Cloud had nowhere to go. He couldn't involve his mother or Tifa, but he couldn't live in the wasteland or in other cities, either. Cloud looked at his unnaturally coloured hands. No one could hide him.

Looking up as his wing, Cloud flexed the tendons, wondering if he could retract it again. It didn't look hopeful. He was a walking beacon, or, technically, a flying one. How long would it take for the Turks or the air-patrol units to find them?

"I'm sorry," Cloud said, not looking behind him. "I didn't mean to cause you so much trouble. I wasn't thinking. I can't take you back but… If I leave you here, at least it'll look like you weren't trying to help me."

"What are you talking about?" Zack whispered. He heard Zack get up to his feet and move closer.

Everything was ruined. Cloud wanted to run and hide and never look back. After everything Zack had done for him, Cloud felt more than grateful. He wanted to go back to the virtual training room and get to the next level, he wanted to go to the noodle bar again and he wanted to have that date. He wanted Zack.

But Cloud realised, too slow, he couldn't trust anyone now. In fact, what if Zack had somehow informed ShinRa of their location! He was bound by duty and honour, after all! He had all the latest gadgets, he could easily switch on a tracking device. Cloud leapt to his feet and turned on Zack, accidentally knocking the latter's hand away. He had been about to touch Cloud's shoulder.

"What is it?" asked Zack, a hint of caution in his stance. Even Cloud couldn't fault him for that.

"I…" He stopped, lost for words. From the look on Zack's face, Cloud no longer feared him giving away their position. Anguish shadowed Zack's eyes and spoke of how much he cared. He cared. Cloud knew he could runaway this very moment, and Zack would let him escape.

"I…" His heart and head both wanted to speak. Both wanted two different things. With a sad smile, Cloud decided it was best to say nothing at all.

He stretched out his wing and bent his knees.

"Cloud!" gasped Zack.

But Cloud looked away, peering up at the strip of sky. He noticed it wasn't tinted quite so green from all the city's pollution out here. With a strong push his feet left the ground.

"NO!"

A solid object smashed into his midsection and wrapped around him in a vice-like grip. They flew backwards, the breath knocked from Cloud's lungs, and together Zack and Cloud hit the dirt. The shock forced them apart and they rolled onto opposite sides of the gorge.

Wheezing, unable to get his breath back, Cloud's eyes watered and blurred. In seconds he felt Zack hands on his shoulders and let himself be pushed over. He stared up, blinking hard to get a clear view of the SOLDIER leaning over him. Blood oozed from several cuts on Zack's forehead and his face was powdered with dust; the dirt already embedded in his long hair.

"You think you can run away?" he cried, voice rough. "Do you think you can just leave me here?" Zack shook his head and screwed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, Cloud noticed his tears like a spear to the chest. "Well you and everyone else! Does no one trust me? Do you think I'm that bad of a friend?" His voice broke on the last word and Zack bowed his head.

"No," croaked Cloud, "you're my best friend."

Silence.

"I don't know what's happening," Cloud said. "I'm not - I'm not hiding anything." He wanted to reach up and pull Zack close. The earth seemed to be spinning beneath him and a tingling filled the back of Cloud's head. They were so close, he just wanted to breach the last distance between them.

"I might be a SOLDIER," said Zack, "but that doesn't mean I won't ignore protocol. I'm sorry that - I'm sorry this happened. Just don't… You can't…" The gap between them grew smaller. "Please…"

Zack lowered to the floor, half on top of him, and they melted together in a fierce hold. A feeling of wonder and remorse exploded inside Cloud's chest. At last! The circumstances were not what he'd dreamed of, and they could only get worse, but they were together. Out of everyone on the planet, Zack chose him.

Cloud smoothed his hands over Zack's shoulders and into his hair, overwhelmed by a feeling of need for this man. He wanted to know every curve of Zack's body and every dream in his head. He pressed his cheek against Zack's and, as his fear dissipated, he couldn't help but laugh - hot tears spilling into his ears.

"I'm sorry," sniffed Zack, his words echoing against the hollow of Cloud's neck. "I don't know what this is, but we'll fix it." He pushed up and looked Cloud dead in the eye. "Something's going on, and I'm gonna find out what. I'm gonna find Angeal, I'm gonna prove he's not a traitor, and I'm gonna help you!"

"But, won't they demote you? Or arrest you?" Staring up into such a determined face made Cloud feel older than he really was. He already knew Zack's answer, and he prayed that nothing would tear them apart.

"I told you why I wanted you as an apprentice, Cloud. First Genesis disappeared, then Angeal, now you're being tested on… But I didn't tell you everything. When you were out of sorts a while back, I was sent on a few missions with the leader of the Turks, and sometimes Sephiroth. You probably didn't notice I was gone, but we found a lot of trails that seemed to go no where."

Cloud's face burned with embarrassment. He hadn't noticed. In fact, the weeks during his recovery and coming to terms with Soshi's death had passed in a blur.

"Hojo isn't the only super scientist around these parts. There's another one, he's called Hollander - just as wacky, and he's working with Genesis. I don't know how exactly, but they're playing around with human experimentation and I know they've done something to Angeal - brainwashed him maybe. Genesis speaks in so many riddles though, it's impossible to get an idea of what they want. But Cloud…" Zack's gaze travelled to the wing sprawled across the ground. "I've seen this before. Genesis has one and… And so does Angeal."

"They do?" Cloud rubbed his eyes, drying his tears, and pushed into the sitting position. They remained close and, inch-by-inch, Zack wrapped his hand around Cloud's.

"Cutting out all the crap I went through to learn these things, yes. They do. I didn't think you'd be a part of it but at least you're still here, right? You've not disappeared." He squeezed Cloud's fingers.

"I won't disappear. I promise."

Zack smiled briefly, before misery swept over him again. He touched Cloud's cheek and the sensation fluttered through his head, like falling through silk.

"Do you know what Angeal said to me not too long ago?" he said. Cloud didn't waiver from his steady gaze, dreading the answer. "He said, 'Our enemy is all that creates suffering'. He meant ShinRa. And then he disappeared, even though I said I'd help him. Thing is, I don't know how I can help… All I know is, SOLDIER doesn't mean monster. It - it can't."

There was a thud behind one of the boulders. Jumping out of his skin, Cloud almost hit Zack in the face in alarm. They've found us already? They both scrambled to their feet, a black feather brushing past Cloud's nose. He looked up and saw more of them spiralling downward.

"Well, isn't this endearing," said a mirthless, drawling voice. A figure dressed in cardinal and ash-grey rose to their feet. "Legend shall speak of sacrifice at world's end. Quietly, but surely."

"Genesis!" cried Zack, pushing forward. "Are you following me? What's happened to you?"

Even though Cloud had never seen much of Genesis in person - only a few glimpses at his induction ceremony - he could see that Genesis was altered. His red hair and the shoulders of long, signature coat had been bleached of colour, and it seemed the affliction was seeping down his body. And, just as Zack had said, a glistening black wing stretched from his left shoulder.

Genesis sneered at Zack. "If you still have to ask, Puppy, maybe you're in over your head. I'm not here for you."

A chill sank into Cloud's bones, but he held onto his courage as Zack threw out a protective arm in front of him.

Genesis sighed, as if dealing with Zack was hardly worth the effort. "All that awaits you is a somber morrow, no matter where the winds may blow," he said. "We may be monsters now, even you, Zack, but within that boy resides the gift of the goddess."

Cloud glared at the finger pointing at him, daring him to make a move.

"What the hell are you talking about?" cried Zack.

"I should have been the hero," replied Genesis, "but Sephiroth is instead. Petty, in hindsight. Now, what I want most is the gift of the goddess. Only Hollander can stop the degradation process - only he can save us from being monsters, and he's going to do it with that boy. Cloud, if you'd be so kind…"

Genesis stretched out his arm and wing, as if beckoning Cloud to come and stand by his side. Cloud considered him and his unnatural looks. Whatever was happening to his body was probably happening to Cloud, too. Degradation didn't sound good. Did Genesis know a cure? Was that the gift of the goddess?

"We're not going to hurt you," Genesis added.

"Don't move an inch," said Zack, and Cloud shrank from his hard glare. "What do you think you're doing, Genesis? I told Angeal I'd help, but this - all the people you've hurt… Where's your honour? You're not taking Cloud, do you hear me? You're gonna spell everything out for us, and with none of your damned LOVELESS quotes!"

With a flutter of his wing, Genesis hoped onto a boulder and stared down in disdain. Cloud watched in awe, wishing he looked so magnificent. But he clenched his hands, telling himself to stay strong. Zack would get them through this, he'd figure something out. All Cloud had to do was fight at his side and help him find the truth.

"It doesn't matter," said Genesis. "You'll go to him yourselves. Hollander is in a ruined bath house in Modeoheim."

Zack growled, reaching for his shoulder as if groping for his sword - the one he'd dropped on the roof. "And what makes you think I'd be so stupid as to go there?"

"Because Angeal's waiting for you."

The words hit Cloud as much as they affected Zack. He worried what this would make him do as he watched Zack turn away. Cloud tried to catch his eye, wanting to comfort him and grab his shoulders to shake a smile back onto his face. You can fix this, he thought, you always take things in your stride. No matter how he willed for it though, Zack didn't take it well, especially after what Genesis said next.

"He expects you to honour your promise."

"SHUT UP! You don't know anything about -" But as soon as Zack began, Genesis flexed his wing and took off, feathers falling like snow. "DAMN YOU!"

As Zack raced off to stand in the centre of the feather storm, Cloud felt a lash of pain shoot down his arms and through his fingers. He held his breath and kept quiet. Whatever was going on seemed important and it directly involved him now. Cloud thought about running and going into hiding again, but the fiery aching in his joints told him things were going to get worse for him. Degradation, huh?

Perhaps this was the mayhem Zack had tried to prepare him for. He'd wanted to train Cloud, he'd wanted to his trust and he'd wanted to tell Cloud: something is wrong with our job. He hadn't taken Zack seriously. It had seemed more like stress talking and, really, what did Cloud care about the finer company politics? He had Zack Fair's attention.

Stupid of him.

Closing his eyes, a dark, hollow fear opened up inside. They had to run, and they had to run now. Gathering the rest of his new found strength, Cloud concentrated on moving his wing and began charging at Zack. He thudded into his back, feet already hovering off the ground, and wrapped his arms around Zack's waist.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

"We're going to Modeoheim," Cloud said calmly, eyes fixed on the winding route of the gorge.

"The hell we are!"

"You need to face Angeal." They streaked between the bedrock, following the dusty trail. Cloud hoped to put more distance between them and Midgar before arching into the clear sky. "And I need to find a cure."

Zack didn't answer, his hands tightening around Cloud's forearms.

"Can you get out your PHS?" asked Cloud. "I'm not sure how to get there."

They sailed the winds for a good few miles before a village came into view. They descended into an empty field and, after a long hour of rest, Cloud struggled and spasmed as he concentrated on retracting his wing. It would take practice to use it properly, and he didn't relish the thought. Pushing it out had felt like ripping open his back, pulling it back in didn't feel any better.

Sweating and shivering, he clung to Zack as they walked onward through the fields.

By night time, Zack announced that they weren't far and would reach Modeoheim by tomorrow afternoon. They found an abandoned barn and decided to spend the night there. Zack wrenched aside the rotting door and bounded inside.

"Woah, check it out!" he cried. "This thing is pretty decent."

Warmth filled Cloud to see some of his usual cheer again. Zack had been brooding all day, not that Cloud could blame him. He followed him inside, listening to bats flutter in and out near the roof. Just as he made it to the back of the barn, a jarring stab of agony went from his head to his toes.

Unable to hide how much it hurt, Cloud strangled a cry of surprise and buckled. In a flash, Zack's arms were around him. Cloud wanted to burst. If his arms hadn't felt severed, he would've have held him back. His skin felt ready to split open like plum left out in the sun. Even so, Cloud's face burned for different reasons and his overwhelming affection for Zack only made everything seem more hopeless.

"What's wrong?" asked Zack. "Are you hurt?"

Cloud shook his head.

"Don't worry. I've got you, man. C'mon." Half dragging him, Zack helped him to the wall where they sat down. He gripped Cloud's arms as if afraid of letting him go.

They stared at each other. Despite the searing, pulsing discomfort in his body, all Cloud could think about was the rippling, twisting desire in his stomach. With a smile, Zack pulled him between his legs and held him close, chin resting on Cloud's head.

Their bare arms touched like fire meeting wood. Each brush burned like being glazed by the sun and, for a moment, Cloud couldn't move. He clung on as if his will alone would keep them together, keep them safe.

Trembling, head bowed with shyness even still, Cloud raised himself nose to nose with the one person he'd been dreaming about all these weeks. Zack's hand flowed up his back, over his shoulder and cupped his cheek. Heart pounding so hard Cloud wondered if Zack could hear it too, he closed his eyes and absorbed the amazing allure Zack held over him.

A soft kiss met Cloud's lips. Pleasure ruptured inside his head and he smiled at Zack's gentleness. The discomfort in Cloud's joints ebbed away as they moulded together over and over again. He was certain he'd never find anyone else who'd kiss him like this, who'd make it feel like his whole body floated off the floor. Of all the things he'd dreamed of finding in Midgar, this surpassed them all.

Neither of them suffered the cold that night as they lay wrapped in each other's arms.

----------------------------------------------------------

They should be asleep by now.

Tiptoeing through the corn-stalks, resisting the urge to brush pollen off of her suit, Cissnai peeked inside the barn. Yes, there they were, entwined together and snoring like they hadn't slept in years. It warmed the cockles of her heart. Idiots. They'd been so easy to find.

Her cell phone buzzed in her back pocket. Dashing away from the rotten doors, Cissnai flipped it open. "Hello?" she whispered.

"Cissnai, have you found anything?"

She looked back at the barn, torn by duty and friendship. Perhaps she could confront Zack and ask him what was going on. She found it hard to believe that he was working with Genesis and Angeal. "No sir, nothing to report yet."

Tseng sighed down the microphone. "Keep looking."

"Yessir."

Despite the chill, Cissnai watched over Zack and his friend throughout the night, wondering what she should do. Then she slipped away without a trace as sunlight paled the horizon.

[increasingtheweeks]

Increasing The Weeks - Chapter Eight

Despite agreeing to go on an actual-official-date, Zack and Strife forgot to arrange a time and place. To make things more difficult, Hojo is insistent that Strife needs to undergo further post-traumatic treatment. Disregarding all of Zack's warnings, Strife agrees to let Hojo examine him, and what was to-be a perfect day descends into one of many terrible misunderstandings.

Can also be read [HERE] at ff.net.

[Week VIII: part two]

Sunday

Despite not setting his alarm, Cloud awoke at 5AM. Four months at ShinRa had etched a new routine into him. He sighed and stretched when he read 'SUN' on his digital clock. What was he supposed to do today? Sunday, there couldn't be much, there never was. With a gasp Cloud jerked and sprang out of bed. He stood there, bare feet tingling against the cold floor and laughed. Were his memories correct?

Tousling his hair and rubbing his eyes, Cloud rushed to the showers. He couldn't stop smiling and his fingers trembled, even when he stood under a warm shower head. He let the water pour over his face until his eyes felt stuck together, when he realised: where was he supposed to be meeting Zack? Groaning at their idiocy - a knot forming in his stomach - Cloud rinsed and dressed. For the next few hours he and his classmates had cleaning duty in the mess hall, but did Zack know that? Would he wait? What time did he expect Cloud to show up?

Striding to the cafeteria, preoccupied by these questions and gnawing on his lip, he was surprised when someone sprung from a door on the left. Cloud yelped and tried not to grimace when he recognised who it was.

"Good morning, Professor Hojo," he mumbled.

Hojo's eyes widened and he ignored the clipboard he'd been studying.

"Why, you look familiar," he said. "Very familiar." The greasy man narrowed his eyes and adjusted his glasses to read the name tag on Cloud's uniform. "Ah, Strife! Yes, an interesting case." Cloud took a step backwards, unable to shake off the impression that Hojo had never really forgotten. "Why didn't you return for your check up, hmm? It's been almost a month. How's your head? Been feeling ill at all? Nauseous? Stiff joints? Itchy eyes?"

"No - I've been fine." Cloud forced a smile. "I should go. Thank you for your concern."

"Ah, ah! Not so fast." Professor Hojo snatched his elbow and held it firm. "You have unfinished...therapy to undergo."

"I-I'm sure I don't need it anymore." He tugged to free himself but the old man had a bonier grip than Cloud would've given him credit for. "Sir, I've been told I'm fine. I have to be on parade."

Hojo smiled, or, Cloud supposed that's what he was trying to do. It was more like a leer. "And who told you that? A doctor? Hollander maybe? Oh, but that's right. I'm the only qualified super-scientist around here now!"

"Er..."

"Exactly. You can't trust an unprofessional opinion on these things. You hurt yourself pretty badly. I remember, I would never forget a worthy specimen - I mean patient." The man chortled. "Forgive me, I've been teaching nurses in basic-training this morning how to do an autopsy. My mind is tangled with terminology!"

He released Cloud's arm and peered into his eyes. As he considered fleeing from the unnerving professor, he thought he saw a flicker of concern. What was it that terrified Zack? Was it some irrational phobia Cloud didn't know about? Maybe Hojo was just weird. Some people were like that. He was sure Director Lazard wouldn't employ anyone with malicious intent. Thinking about it, what could Hojo get away with? If harm came to Cloud surely it would be noticed and Hojo would lose his job. Why would this lonely (and admittedly creepy) man risk that over an insignificant cadet? There was no reason for this man to wish him harm.

"That's OK," Cloud murmured. "What's wrong?"

Without replying, Hojo removed a torch from his pocket and shined the light into each eye. "Don't wriggle, boy, I can't get a good look otherwise."

"But, what's wrong?" Cloud stared at Hojo's wrinkled forehead as the light blotted out the rest of the corridor.

"I'm not certain." Hojo's creep-tastic leer returned. "But your pupils don't - well, they don't look right. You're not on drugs, are you?"

"What? Of course not!" Did it look that way? He tried to edge away again, his stomach grumbling. "I really need to -"

Hojo glared. It was the kind of glare Cloud's instructor made when a cadet spoke out of turn, or the look his mother gave when she knew the truth.

"I think you should have your follow up inspection," said Hojo. "It won't take too long. If you don't, I'll being speaking to your commander." Another warbling laugh escaped him. "Come along, I've things to be doing, experiments to be run, patients to examine... I'm certain I know just what to do with you - what's wrong with you, I mean. A slight reaction to iodine, perhaps?"

"But I'm not..."

"Cloud," he said with a stiff lip. Stepping to the side, Hojo waited for Cloud to begin heading in the direction of the labs.

"I haven't given my instructor any warning," he tried as a last attempt to bail.

Rolling his eyes and waving his clipboard, Hojo began steering him forward by the shoulder. "I'll write you a note." Cloud couldn't help but think of Zack handing him a scribbled-on bit of paper. "Goodness," Hojo muttered to himself. "The young have no regard for their health or how useful they can be. You'll do nicely, nicely..."

Sighing, Cloud let himself be directed down the corridor. He supposed it was better than swilling a dirty mop across the floor or listening to Yuki boast about the latest slum-girl. Would a letter from Hojo hold the same amount of calibre as one from Zack? It wasn't worth worrying about. Instead, he peered at what the professor carried close to his chest. The clipboard in Hojo's hand was battered and he tried to catch a glimpse of what was written on it.

"What did you use to help me recover, sir?" he asked.

"Hmm?" Hojo peered at him from under his round glasses. "A new formula I've been working on. Nothing a healthy SOLDIER in training can't handle."

"But I'm not a SOLDIER yet."

"Yet. I've, er, I've read fascinating reports about you. All commendable."

There were commendable reports about himself? Cloud grinned, wondering which subject his instructors thought he was best at. He personally felt it was combat. When his next report card came through, he fantasised about seeing 'outstanding' from Takihiro. With Zack's lessons in the VT-room he knew it would be a kick in the teeth for Takihiro to concede that Cloud was a fair fighter.

"Thank you. I didn't realise."

"I said 'commendable'. That's nothing to be proud of yet. I'm sure that'll soon change."

The only person they came across was Sephiroth and Cloud saluted him, staring after the great General once he had passed. Had he just received a small nod from the most famous man in the Eastern continent? He grinned to himself, watching Sephiroth's hair sway from left to right. Today was going to be awesome. Cloud had passed the General and later he was going to be spending time with Zack. Could a cadet get any luckier?

In Hojo's lab the lights were tinted green and yellow. It turned the metallic surfaces blue and hindered how well the corners of the room could be seen. A glass cabinet on the far side held numerous unidentified objects and liquids. One was a decanter filled with floating amber beads. Cloud stared at them, fascinated by the display of colours and how they refracted light.

"Take a seat," said Hojo. He gestured to a reclining chair opposite his desk. The fettered surface was well worn. Cloud lowered into it and perched on the edge, too uncomfortable to consider relaxing into its wide arms. He stared at Hojo as he snapped on synthetic gloves and removed a green vial from the cabinet. The professor shook the vial and the liquid inside glowed. Removing a petri-dish he scrapped out a bit of the gel it contained with a spatula and transfered this sample to the glowing vial. Shaking it again, the vial turned turquoise.

"What is that?"

Hojo's mind had wandered and he looked up as if he didn't know where the voice had come from. "Just something to finish off what we started."

Cloud scrunched his nose.

From the back of the cabinet Hojo now removed a needle. He slotted it onto the vial and as Hojo approached with the needle raised, Cloud slid back into his seat - shoulders raised. It was Zack's fault he was imagining all kinds of awful things in that vial. It was silly to assume this slightly insane professor would do anything irrational. At a gesture from Hojo he pushed his sleeve up and bore his arm. A wet swab was then brushed over the area about to be pierced.

"This might sting," Hojo mumbled.

Cloud stared at the floor and pressed his lips together, trying to keep his breathing steady. When the tip sank into his flesh he winced but nothing more, refusing to appear weak. Cloud felt the liquid enter his arm. A steady stream that seemed to increase the pressure in his veins. It began to burn and he clenched his jaw, eyes squeezed shut. "And this... How will it complete the treatment exactly?" he whispered.

"Hopefully, you'll never be as fragile as you are now."

"What?" He glanced across at Hojo to find the man staring at him, watching his face. The burning reached his fingertips and turned into a tidal wave of agony. Cloud almost yanked his arm away, gripping the chair until his knuckles felt frozen. There was no one else around. The only person who had seen him with the professor was Sephiroth - if the General had cared enough to notice him. It was only when he saw Hojo standing opposite him that Cloud realised the needle was gone.

He shook in his seat, unable to form words with a numb mouth. All he could say was 'ow' over and over again. The flames beneath his skin spread throughout his body. Head too heavy, limbs like ice, organs squeezing and convulsing. Cloud whimpered before realising he should trust Zack's judgement from now on. If there was a 'from now on'.

----------------------------------------------------------

It was one in the afternoon. From experience, Zack knew that the cadets had finished their work an hour ago. He strolled back and forth outside the gates, swinging his arms. How stupidof him not to mention a time and place. Would Cloud even think to come here? Beginning to feel impatient after a long hour in the sun, Zack decided it was time to hunt him down. What a nuisance. ShinRa was enormous. Half the day would probably consist in finding Cloud. If he didn't have a PHS, Zack was going to take him out and ensure that he bought one.

The courtyards were quiet and no one had seen Cloud Strife. Staff in the main entrance said they had swapped duty since this morning and the cadet barracks were full of boisterous recruits, but no Cloud. Where was he supposed to begin searching? Did Cloud have a place where he liked to hang out? Maybe Cloud was looking for him, too, and they kept missing each other.

Checking the time, Zack noted it was 1:45PM. He huffed, already fed up of searching. He took a deep breath and stopped for a drink from one of the fountains, then resumed the search with determination. If only ShinRa wasn't so damn big or the weather so hot.

When Zack made to leave the cadet-area, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, he came face to face with a tall cadet he thought he recognised. There was something familiar about his large forehead and plum lips.

"Can I help you?"

"Good day, sir." The cadet gave a small bow. "Did I hear you asking for Cadet Strife?"

"You did. Have you seen him?"

"No. He wasn't on cleaning duty with the rest of us."

Zack placed his hands on his hips, troubled. He couldn't help being concerned, but he was Cloud's superior and he would prefer not to tell him off for skipping duties. "Why's that?"

"I don't know, sir. He just didn't show up. I didn't see him in the canteen for breakfast, either."

Cloud wouldn't skip his duties just to meet up with Zack, would he? If that was the case, Zack would have to be 'responsible' and reprimand him. In a way, the idea that Cloud would do such a thing made him smile. Daft bird. If that wasn't the case however, then where'd he go?

"Do you know where he might have gone?" Zack asked.

The cadet shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"Not to worry. Keep your eyes open. If you see him, tell him he's in almost-trouble with Zack." He noticed the cadet's face sour as he came to attention, making Zack unease; twisting his stomach like a punch to the abs. What had he done to offend this guy? "What's your name?"

"Yuki Enix, sir," his attitude crept into his voice. "I was with you during the ShinRa Infiltration. Have you forgotten?"

He realised at once that he'd offended Yuki. Zack favoured Cloud too openly and he struggled to hide how ashamed he felt. Professionalism had never been Zack's strength. He wanted to be everyone's friend, even if he knew this was impossible, and vowed to himself - on the spot - not to allow any cadet to think he was undervalued. "Enix, of course. Thank you for your help."

"I know you think Cloud is above average, but you should get to know him."

"Excuse me?"

"He's good with a sword but you don't know what he's really like."

"'What he's like?' Are you bad-mouthing your peers?"

"No sir. Good luck searching. I have to go." Yuki left with a curt nod.

Zack wasn't sure why he felt threatened. He watched Yuki return to the barracks and then headed off.

Cicadas had nested in the few trees on campus and Zack stopped in the main courtyard to think. He watched cloud-shadows pass over the grass and let the droning insects numb his concerns. It seemed important to understand Yuki's words. The glass buildings towering around Zack intensified the sunlight and, overhead, he heard a chopper. The world was moving but, right now, his worries seemed greater than the world.

He headed up to the virtual training floor and stared out one of the windows. Midgar crawled with activity, thousands of people. It overwhelmed him and Zack sat on one of the benches. Searching for Cloud in a place like ShinRa was pointless without clues. As he sat listening to the lights humming with electricity and the wind against the glass, Zack realised what was going on.

Cloud stood him up.

This had never happened to him before and imagining that Cloud would be the first to leave him hanging left a stabbing sickness inside. Zack pictured Cloud's sweet face and tried to recall the eagerness in his eyes, but he couldn't. Perhaps he had seen only what he wanted to see. You don't know what he's really like. Was Cloud a guy who enjoyed attention?

Zack hid his face in his hands, humiliated.

His PHS buzzed and it was a moment before he answered the call. "What's up?"

"Hey buddy, wanna hang out today? I know you don't have any work." It was Kunsel and Zack struggled to reply. He wanted to mope and nurse his injury. "Zack?" But he realised Kunsel would make him feel better.

"Yeah, sure. Where abouts? My place?" He hadn't invited Kunsel over in too long.

"For real? Yes! You're quarters are sweet. I'll be there in half an hour."

"Alright, see ya."

"You OK?"

"I'll tell you when I see you." Zack hung up and stared at the floor for what seemed like ages. Rooted to the spot, his thoughts spiralled around Cloud and Kunsel. Did he wait and hope that this was a misunderstanding, or did he give into Kunsel?

No one came to the virtual training rooms and, when he left, Cloud was still no where to be seen.

[increasingtheweeks]

Increasing The Weeks - Chapter Six

Losing the one friend Strife cared about the most shatters his life in ShinRa, and the weeks pass in a haze. Weeks he'll later wish he'd paid attention to.

Can also be read [HERE] on ff.net.

Blur:

There was no room for grief in the days that followed Zack's declaration: Cloud would be his apprentice.

Soshi was dead.

Cloud had been given the news last week, Friday morning, by Sergeant Gomez. In some respects, Cloud was proud of himself for hiding his pain until he was alone. Men did not cry. It was an unspoken law. Or something stupid like that.

The bed Soshi had once occupied was now clouded with an oppressive shadow. That side of the room was cold. Cloud's side of the room was barren and lonely. There was no voice to cheer him after hard training. There was no arm that would drape around his shoulders in comfort. There would be no more jokes about his solitude. The tiny haven they had woven in the walls of their room was destroyed. His first true friend since Tifa, was gone.

When he returned to the broken refuge Friday evening, his demeanour shattered at once. Every trace of Soshi had been cleared out. It was as if he had never lived and the only image of Soshi's face existed in his memories. Cloud had pressed his back to the door, unable to refuse the tears that filled his eyes. For a while, he could do nothing but stare at the unfilled bed with a hand pressed to his mouth. That night, his lips never stopped tasting of salt and his pillow received abuse in the form of shouts, begging, punches and hugs.

But the weeks passed and the world moved on, for the world did not exist in Cloud's dark room – as much as he wished it did.

Zack's lesson on Thursdays and Tuesdays cheered him, but only for the ninety minutes that it lasted. He did not have the energy to compete with Zack's florescent nature, and his superior saw as much in the heavy shadows under Cloud's eyes. He was grateful, then, that Zack did not make him linger after class anymore. During the second week of Cloud dragging his feet from place to place like a sandy-storm-cloud, Zack told him their first session together would be next Saturday afternoon.

[increasingtheweeks]

Increasing The Weeks - Chapter Four

After a night of terror at ShinRa, it still somehow feels worse to endure the damage left behind. What will become of Strife? Some hero Zack turned out to be.

Can also be read [HERE] on ff.net.

[Week III: part two] 

Thursday Evening:

"Zackary!"

As Zack heard someone call his name, he gasped slightly. A dull pain throbbed in the back of his head – pushing against his skull – and his eyes wouldn't open properly. Zack moved to touch his cheek and an immediate strain rushed up his arm and neck. He focused his gaze on the face leaning over him instead and was relieved to see a sober looking Sephiroth.

"Hello?" Zack murmured with a grimace.

"Yes, I speak English," said Sephiroth.

A small laugh moved the younger SOLDIER and then he gripped Sephiroth's arm. "Ugh, help me up Seph," he groaned.

"Careful." The general lightly touched his hand to Zack's back as he stiffly pushed off the floor and sat up, slumped forward. His mind was sluggish and a headache pounded at his forehead but he was grateful to have Sephiroth crouched beside him.

"Man, my shoulder really hurts," whispered Zack, circling it ever so slightly.

"It's bleeding."

"That would be why then..." As Zack glanced in Sephiroth's direction, his gaze caught sight of a pair of legs behind him. He stared at them a moment, letting Sephiroth gently touch and inspect the wound in his back. Orange light flickered across the walls like a kaleidoscope, the smell of smoke around them and the sound of fire crackled and crunched behind.

The fog over Zack's mind lifted as he remembered more than just an explosion. "Cloud!" He dived past Sephiroth and winced for it as a sharp pain bit through his back, but still he carefully touched cadet Strife's shoulder. He could feel blood trickling down his back and arm, making Zack shudder, and he could see that the boy fared no better.

Blood was slowly oozing from beneath Cloud's hairline and into his ears.

"You fell on him," said Sephiroth, standing up. "Well, more like body slammed him. Perhaps for the better though. You covered him pretty well, Mr Mako Muscles."

Zack felt like anything but Mr Muscles and damn did he have a headache.

Something crashed and momentarily flamed behind them and Zack cast a glance at what had been the main lobby balcony. From what he could see, the majority of the banister was gone and the walls around the door leading to the lobby were charred black – the polished floor looking considerably less shiny.

"This is quite the mess," observed Sephiroth, "but it seems we are reclaiming the upper hand."

"How do you know that?" asked Zack as he carefully whipped the blood off of Cloud's face. Was his skin normally so pale? His hair was soft, too, just as he'd suspected. Sephiroth cleared his throat, making heat rise to Zack's face as he looked up to see the man wiggling a PHS at him.

"The Director called."

"Oh, excellent!" was all Zack managed before his shoulder pulsed and pain rippled through his back. He pressed one hand to the floor for support, trying to focus his gaze on Cloud's face.

The boy let out a dull whimper, his eyes fluttering for a second before a soft stream of nonsense mumbled past his lips. Zack took a deep breath, grit his teeth and made ready to lift Cloud into his arms. He had only just pushed his arm under Cloud's shoulder when a large hand landed on Zack's head.

"You can prove your strength to me another day. I think it would be wiser if I carried him."

Zack slumped slightly. "Yes, you're right." Hobbling upright, one hand pressed to his bleeding shoulder, Zack stepped back so that Sephiroth could scoop up Cloud. The boy's face and arms were marred with cuts, soot and blood and no doubt many bruises. With a sigh Zack guiltily bowed his head.

"Some hero," he muttered.

A fond smile pulled up the corner of Sephiroth's mouth. "Come along," he rumbled shifting Cloud in his hold to better support the Cadet's neck.

Zack limped along behind Sephiroth, staring disdainfully at the floor or at Cloud's feet dangling over Seph's arm. His head was becoming increasingly woozy and it felt as if he'd been cut across the lower back as well because his usually comfortable belt was chaffing terribly against his left side. He focused on containing the blistering ache in his back, glad to have something to distract his remorseful sense of failure.

The boy had gone limp again.

Half way up the fourth staircase and Zack had to stop, clutching his lower back in unbearable pain. Luckily, however, a Third Class SOLDIER came their way and gladly helped Zack through the last floor to the hospital wing.

How could any of this have happened?

----------------------------------------------------------

Friday

When Cloud awoke, everything hurt and his thoughts were slow. His shoulders were cold, so he carefully pulled the covers up to his chin, realising that his torso was naked. The lights seemed to glare into his eyes when he opened them and somewhere close by was an incredibly noisy air conditioner. Cloud groaned and gently smoothed his hands down his stomach feeling a bandage wrapped around it. His head itched like crazy and with a delicate brush from his fingers, Cloud found it, too, bandaged.

As the unfamiliar sounds, lights and worrying pains pressed on his growing sense of awareness, Cloud took in more of the room. His breathing hastened and an incredible fear swelled through his body. Where was he? Had he been kidnapped during a walk through Midgar? But Cloud didn't remember anything. Was he in prison? The area around him seemed meticulously organised and formal, but the neutral colours, metal surfaces and piercing sensory factors made Cloud deduce one thing he rationally tried not to consider, but...had he been abducted by aliens?

He assessed again the glaring lights and glowing machinery by his bed. In fact, a needle in his arm was connected to a glowing green drip bag. Cloud very nearly fainted but that would do him no good.

Forcing himself to sit up, Cloud stared at the other beds. One directly on his left had a grievous crimson stain across the slightly yellow bed sheet; the covers left in a tangled mess. There were other human specimens lying quietly in their beds when suddenly a distant scream sounded through the walls and Cloud jumped. A spasm of pain rushed through his torso.

When Cloud had been younger, he had often sat outside his house at night with his childhood friend Tifa. Together they would talk and stare at the stars until their bums were numb and their noses snifflely. He had entertained the idea of aliens quite a few times while staring transfixed at the endless, glimmering canopy – it seemed impossible to dismiss them – and the town lunatic had once claimed he was abducted! He had said they poked needles in his brain and surveyed him under bright lights. No one had believed him, of course, but right now as Cloud squinted against the harsh lighting and glanced again at the glowing needle in his arm...it was hard to resist thinking...

His eyesight was fuzzy, making his panic justified in his mind. What kind of drugs was he on? How hard did he hit his head? Cloud gently touched the bandage on his forehead again. It felt very strange to feel fabric where his skin should be.

A door opened somewhere down the end of the corridor and an unnerving gargling-growl reached Cloud's ears. In less than a heartbeat two things had swooped into the room and were flying towards his bed. They only had one eye each, huge gaping mouths and a pair of awkward looking wings.

With a spluttered yell, Cloud tumbled from his bed, staggered off at an admiral, if endearing, speed and used the glowing drip stand to support most of his weight. He made it to the second bed down the corridor before blacking out.

----------------------------------------------------------

After being helped to the busy hospital wing last night and having his wounds sterilized with a few licks from a tamed baby Angra Mainyu, Zack's enhanced body was healing itself well. Given they had been attacked at nine P.M. last night, he worked out that he had stayed in one of the wards for a good seven hours. It hadn't been so bad. The nurses took his mind off things and were very friendly, plus, one of the baby Mainyus had decided it wanted to hover next to his bed. They became good friends, in Zack's opinion, and during the time he talked to it he came to find its one eye, green skin and gaping mouth rather cute. Kunsel might have agreed with him, too.

Where was Kunsel? Where was Cloud? He figured they were probably on a different ward, perhaps a quieter one, but he didn't get a chance to check. Around six A.M. Professor Hojo instructed the nurses to give Zack an extra Hi-Potion and then to dismiss him from hospital. He was a First Class now, after all. His body had yet to discover the real meaning of 'GBH'.

So it was now Friday morning around nine-thirty and Zack had got little sleep. In just over an hour's time he would have to give Director Lazard a debriefing of events seeing as he evaded doing so last night. Right at that moment, however, he was on his way to the infirmary to visit Kunsel and he had to admit, he was glad to have Aerith clinging on his arm. She even had a basket of her home-grown flowers with her.

The destruction and havoc that had befallen Shinra had inevitably been reported by most news networks – even the shitty ones that tended to make stories up – and Aerith had happened to catch one of these late night reports. She said she'd had a 'weird feeling', like she should turn on the TV. It didn't really surprise Zack. She was strange and cool like that.

Once Aerith had watched just a few minutes of the report, however, she had called Zack repeatedly until he was able to answer, which was around six in the morning. He told her everything that happened, including how guilty he felt about badly protecting a cadet placed under his instruction. Hopefully Cloud had not suffered anything serious.

They eventually made it to the correct floor and entered the small infirmary lobby. Unlike the rest of Shinra, the floor was a polished bronze colour instead of blue and the walls were white; decorated with hanging paintings of flowers, one full-length painting of Sephiroth (inspired by cubism) and a large profile painting of Rufus Shinra himself above the help desk. It always reminded Zack of their neighbouring country, which allegedly kept pictures of their Queen in classrooms and military workplaces.

The same nurse Zack had met last night was at the desk. She was tired and hugging a mug of warm coffee under her chin. Zack noticed the mug was decorated with dancing moogles.

"Hello again," she said standing up and trying to sound cheerful. She gave a little bow, her mug still in hand.

"Hey there, Miss Sakamoto!" said Zack. "I can't believe you're still awake." She gave a sleepy smile and held up her mug slightly so it touched her nose.

"Intense coffee," she whispered. "I almost wish I was helping to tend to the injured again. Maybe I'd be able to stay awake better." With a sigh, she meekly tucked a few loose brown bangs behind her ear and squeezed the bun on the back of her head. "So, how can I help you, sir?" She politely gave Aerith a smile too. "And ma'am."

"Aw c'mon Sakamoto, you've not forgotten my name already have you?"

The nurse chuckled and shook her head. "You're too loud to forget, Zack. And please, Maaya is fine."

Aerith leaned on the counter then, her eyes wide. "Can you tell us which ward Second Class SOLDER Kunsel is on please?" she asked.

Still hugging her mug, the young woman squinted at her computer and typed in his name. "I misplaced my glasses," she mumbled. Soon straightening up though, she said with a kind smile, "He's on the Left Wing."

"And er..." began Zack. He paused to clear his throat. "Can you tell me where Cadet Cloud Strife is?"

Maaya giggled and told them Cloud was on the same ward as Kunsel, a silly smile stuck on her face.

"What?" asked Zack with a sly, playful grin.

"Ah, we had some trouble with Cloud around four A.M. this morning." She paused to giggle again. "He thought he was in an alien laboratory or something! Maybe he's just sensitive to mako – er – I mean! Maybe he's a little eccentric – right...now..." She nervously glanced around and lowered her mug from her chin. "I wasn't meant to say that," she whispered.

Zack glanced at Aerith and caught her eye. Why was Cloud being given mako? He was a cadet and clearly not as physically strong as SOLDIERs. How could his body handle mako yet?

"I'm sure you weren't," said Zack. "Why's he being given mako?" he asked anyway.

The girl bit her lip. "I don't really know," she said. "Hojo said something about Cloud being a special patient with interesting blood properties that couldn't be ignored – for the good of Shinra! So..."

"I see..." Zack had never liked Hojo – always muttering under his breath about power and 'the perfect specimen' – but he had never distrusted his work before. The man was a genius. But Zack was suddenly less sure if it was safe to have Hojo around. He spared the nurse further questions she probably couldn't answer however, and picked up Aerith's flower basket which she had temporarily placed on the desk. He was tempted to go visit Cloud before Kunsel now. "Well, we better go see our friends!" he cried.

"Oh, um, Zack... Bear in mind," Maaya said gently, "Cloud isn't fairing too well. We think he has minor brain trauma but we can't truly tell to what extent right now. I'm Sorry."

Zack's face went numb and he nodded accordingly.

"Thank you," said Aerith, taking Zack's hand.

The two of them strode towards the left glass door by the desk with LEFT WING etched into it, and Aerith hit the button that made it slide open with a compressed hiss.

Inside, the place was very clean and softly illuminated with slightly blue tinted lights. Beds on either side of the long corridor were almost all occupied with casualties; their bed sheets embellished with the Shinra logo. Zack's boots squeaked on the floor and he couldn't help feeling satisfied with every sticky-sounding-step he made.

There was a soft murmur of talk from various patients and from somewhere in the room an aircon was purring – like a lulling background noise against the medical equipment.

Half way along and they finally found Kunsel's bed, while opposite him, across the walkway, was Cloud. Zack dithered between the two, knowing he owed Kunsel as a friend to put him first. Aerith, indifferent, sat on the side of Kunsel's bed and flattened him with an awkward hug, professing how glad she was that he was OK. She even swiped the flower basket out of Zack's hand and absently began arranging them on his bedside table. Zack, however, hung back as she smothered him and waited to see if he could catch Cloud's eye – just to let the boy know he wasn't ignoring him and that he hadn't forgotten him.

Just as he was about to give up because Cloud's eyes were scrunched tightly shut in retaliation to a headache, the pale blond opened his eyes and met his gaze. Instead of smiling, Zack gasped slightly. His eyes were glowing bright blue! Had his eyes always been that blue?

He quickly assessed the glowing green drip bag by Cloud's bed.

When he finally made to smile at Cloud however, the boy gave him a strange, questioning look, and then rolled over. An icy chill rippled through Zack. Had Cloud just given him the cold shoulder? Did Cloud blame Zack for not recognising a bomber-droid quick enough? For flattening him?

He could barely dwell on the matter or over his bad character judgement, yet again, because Aerith had taken his hand and pulled him closer to Kunsel.

"Hey man," said Kunsel.

"How ya doin'?" Zack asked forcing a smile and tightly folding his arms.

"I shall never be the same!" Kunsel declared. "I am a war wounded martyr!" There was a short pause before they all exchanged a look and then laughed for a brief moment.

"I'm sure many will fall at your heroic feet," giggled Aerith.

"Until," added Zack, "I show them the photo on my PHS of Kunsel dressed in a pink summer dress!"

"What?" Kunsel almost yelled, leaping upright and then wincing greatly for it. Aerith's face lit up with a wicked grin.

"You're kidding! Show me, show me!"

"You said you deleted that!" said a very unhappy Kunsel as he sunk back into his pillows.

"You mean Zack's serious?" Aerith cried and Kunsel dropped his head into his hand.

With a bubbling laugh Zack grabbed Aerith's hands. "Nah, I won't show it to you – for Kunsel's sake – but it is pretty funny. However, have you noticed how Kunsel doesn't get utterly drunk around me anymore? This incident would be why!"

Groaning and laughing all at once, Aerith playfully shook Kunsel's leg. "Aw, is Zack's ability to handle liquor a little too much for you to compete with?"

"I hate you both," he muttered back blushing. His friends quietly chuckled when an angry voice behind them said curtly,

"Hey, would you mind not laughing so loud? It's bad enough that the aircon is so noisy. Thanks." Cloud rolled over again and Zack stared at the back of his head for a few moments more than was polite. Aerith kicked his shin and he returned to the current conversation.

Sadly, he only managed to stay engaged for maybe five more minutes before finding the nerve to say, "Hey, um, I feel like I should apologise to that guy over there." He gestured over his shoulder at Cloud.

"Why?" asked Kunsel. "We weren't that loud."

Zack shook his head and told Kunsel about the explosion that had injured them both. "He's nice enough and he's only a cadet," Zack added.

As nonchalantly as possible, Kunsel flicked his fingers at him to indicate he didn't mind. Zack grimaced when his back was turned, still unsure how to help Kunsel see him as only a friend.

With his hands in his back pockets and shoulders hunched, Zack towered over Cloud's bedside and awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Hey Cloud, I er, I really want to apologise for how hurt you got." Cloud began turning over to face him. "I should have been listening better anyway, and then I might have heard the bomber as it entered the room. But I'll – I'll remember that now. Listen out – always be aware! Maybe you'll remember it too, eh?" Zack grinned as genuinely and as happily as he could. "Ahead of your class maybe? That was some serious skill you showed!" His enormous grin faded a little. "You'll, like, when you're better I mean, you'll have to try going against me in the training room. Think you can handle it?"

A small smile touched Cloud's mouth.

"I mean, you did survive a bomb – but don't think I'll go easy on you!" Zack babbled on, feeling like an idiot. He was unnerved by the bizarre expression on Cloud's face. He scratched behind his ear and decided another apology might do the trick. "But yeah, I'm sorry, Cloud."

"Yeah, you were with me... I don't think it was your fault," Cloud whispered. "Hey, I feel really bad to ask this, but, what's your name again?"

A fresh bout of hot and cold swamped Zack from head to foot.

"I know your face, but er," Cloud gave a nervous laugh, "you're name is evading me right now."

Swallowing against a dry throat, Zack managed to croak his name.

"Ah, Zack! Yes..." Cloud smiled sweetly but nothing new animated his eyes. "Um, it would be nice if you kept talking normally," he said. "Everything is so loud in here that it's really hurting my head."

Everyone and everything, in Zack's opinion, were barely above a whisper. Zack then noticed how Cloud was squinting against the light.

"Enhanced senses, huh?" Zack whispered.

"Enhanced senses? Who?"

Zack shook his head and laughed politely. "Ah, nothing. I spoke out loud without meaning to."

"Oh."

From behind him Zack heard Kunsel say perhaps louder than he'd meant, "I'm serious about him."

As he heard Kunsel say this while looking indirectly at Cloud's face, Zack admitted to himself that he really did like Cloud. He didn't want Kunsel at all unless as a friend. But what did he say? What did he do? He had a lot of questions but to ask them didn't seem very polite, especially when Cloud was ill.

Scratching his cheek, Zack decided he had to ask the most important question at least. "Cloud, can I ask... You do know me, right? I mean really?"

A blush crept over Cloud's face and he thought about it. "Hazily," he said at last.

"Better than nothing," Zack murmured. With a sad smile, Zack saluted him with two fingers and whispered goodbye. Aerith and Kunsel turned to greet him, his sad smile fixed in place, but Zack held up a finger to say he would be back in a minute.

He felt very heavy inside and he needed a short while to think.

Strolling down the ward, thumbs in his belt loops, Zack stared at the floor. The only question in his head was, 'What did Cloud remember?' and as he thought about all the small encounters that Cloud might've forgotten, Zack felt more upset.

When he came near to the toilets at the end of the ward, Zack finally looked at one of the beds he passed and stopped short.

In the last bed was someone he recognised, someone young and... Cloud's friend Soshi! The boy's face was sickly pale and thin, probably from substantial blood loss, and his breathing was shallow. In Zack's almost professional opinion, it didn't look like a full bag of Hi-Potions could help him now. Zack took a deep, stuttering breath and then started walking back down the long corridor, eyes on Cloud's bed.

At least Cloud didn't blame him.

[increasingtheweeks]

Increasing The Weeks - Chapter One

Some weeks drag on forever, some weeks fly by, but this week couldn't possibly get any worse for Cloud Strife. After days of intense training, irate instructors and frustrating other cadets; the last thing Strife needs is to be late out of bed and then to accidentally assault a First Class SOLDIER. 

Can also be read [HERE] on ff.net.

[Week I]

Wednesday Evening

It wasn't hard to know who your superiors were here and it certainly wasn't hard to know who was in the trophy-cabinet at ShinRa. Cloud had been training for SOLDIER long enough to know the names of men he should respect the most, and he wanted nothing more than to avoid these ShinRa Icons at all costs.

The name that struck both fear and wonder in his heart so far was General Sephiroth. A man he had seen once, from a distance, and stared at enraptured. But his induction seminar was two months behind him now and none of the elite had, thankfully, crossed his path.

Being a nobody had its perks and, for the most part, Cloud liked it that way.

Even if...Cloud was still the runt that others found amusing at his expense. Why had he thought it would be different? Well, because he didn't have a past in ShinRa. It was supposed to be a new beginning where he had harmed no one and could prove that he was something. He didn't know what, but he wanted to be worth something that others would look upon with a glimpse of approval. That's what he wanted. Cloud wanted to go back to Nibelheim...as a SOLDIER.

The sound of the door opening made him jump a little, snapping his head in its direction.

"Bwaha! I have found you!" cried his roommate, Soshi. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Grumbling something about having nabbed food on his return to the room, Cloud relaxed back into the bed, returning his gaze to the ceiling.

"Still hurting from the run?" Soshi asked with a rueful grin, hopping onto the bed opposite Cloud's.

"All twenty miles of it," was his even reply, flashing Soshi a smile.

Cloud was grateful to have Soshi. He was the only person Cloud truly thought of as a friend and, even though Soshi was taller and probably stronger, he regarded Cloud as just 'another one of the guys'. He didn't understand why Cloud got so much hassle. His deducted solution was; if Cloud talked to people more often, then they would probably see him as more of an equal. Soshi didn't understand that Cloud preferred his own company.

"You know what you need?" said Soshi.

"Enlighten me," he responded flatly.

"A hot shower, it'll help sooth your muscles," Soshi explained before reaching beneath his bed to retrieve black boot polish, his messy brown hair falling into his eyes.

Shifting like a limbless cat, trying to avoid pain shooting through his legs, Cloud grunted and closed his eyes. A shower sounded good but the thought of moving seemed fatal. He heard his roommate remark upon some new deep gouges cut into his boots, but paid no attention as sleep ensnared his heavy mind.

----------------------------------------------------------

Thursday morning:

With reluctance, Cloud slowly blinked his eyes open. How long had he been asleep? The room was still dark...and suspiciously quiet. "Soshi?" Cloud mumbled. Pushing up as best he could and leaning on his left forearm, Cloud swung his head close to the bedside table and squinted at the glowing red digits of his clock until the haze became readable.

"SHIT!" he bellowed, eyes springing open and body lurching out of bed. Shiva he felt weak. It was 6AM. and Cloud was supposed to be in his basic-training class at six! His asshole of a training instructor was going to make him pay for such tardiness.

Changing as fast as he could physically manage he charged out the room, cursing Soshi with a vengeance for not waking him up. His muscles were burning from the day before, but Cloud did not break his sprint. What would his instructor do? He could already foresee his sergeant yelling, degrading him with some comment and then setting him a large amount of press-ups. The number 'one-hundred' loomed in his mind's-eye. Will I ever get a break? he thought desperately, before smacking into someone and flying back to the ground.

"Hey, no running in the halls, kid!" spoke a good-humoured voice.

Groaning and touching his forehead, Cloud forced himself to look up. His jaw fell slack.

"What's your hurry?" asked the man he'd crashed into, his hand extended down to Cloud. Long black hair fell into his eyes; everything about him unmistakable.

"I – I was...am, late for class," Cloud admitted, accepting the offered hand. His face burned with embarrassment.

"That's no reason to hurt yourself - or others," the SOLDIER chuckled, his gaze never leaving Cloud's face. "I'm Zack," he said with a decisive nod, perhaps thinking it would ease Cloud's tension. No luck. Cloud couldn't unclench his fists or shift his feet apart - he felt stuck, pinned to attention.

"Yeah, I know." A blush started to attack his cheeks. A better response might have been, 'I'm Cadet Strife, sir', but a whirlwind of curses was flooding Cloud's head. All he could think of was how he had just charged into a First Class SOLDIER, the soldier who trained directly under Commander Angeal Hewley.

"Oh, well good." Zack's grin widened. "And you are?"

A bucket of icy water seemed to have been poured over Cloud's body. Was Zack going to report him?

"Nameless?" Zack teased, tilting his head when he got no response.

Cloud hurriedly shook his head. "I - no. Sorry. I'm Strife, sir, Cadet Strife."

Zack laughed, but there was something that sounded fond about it. "Ah-dear. No first name? So we're semi-nameless."

"I -" Cloud snapped his head up and almost wished he hadn't tried to meet Zack's eyes, but it felt rude to look away again. Trying hard to stand at attention and return the confident stare, he replied, "Cloud, sir. My name is Cloud."

"Cloud," Zack nodded. "It's nice to meet you, even if you did almost run me down!"

"Sorry, sir." Relieved to look away from Zack's obscenely blue eyes, Cloud stared at the man's chest instead, studying the black woollen pattern of his tank-top with determined concentration. The back of his eyes began to burn and he tightened his lips together – wishing the floor would swallow him alive.

"Very apologetic, aren't you?" Zack mused.

Cloud tried to smile but half grimaced instead – attempted to look up at his superior and then changed his mind. Cloud could see his name sinking deeper into the 'black-list'. He'd barely even started the training programme and already he felt like he wouldn't make it halfway through with all the scorn he got and mistakes he made. And Zack freakin' Fair? Cloud held his breath and widened his eyes.

"Hmm..." Leaning back to look at Cloud better, Zack crossed his arms.

"Yes sir?" Perhaps, as a Cadet, Cloud could get away with grovelling. What could he offer? To polish Zack's boots every day? To give up his free weekend afternoon's and - and what? Finish Zack's paperwork while he went off to a bar? Cloud could do that. He had decent writing skills.

"Who's your instructor this morning?"

"Sergeant Takihiro." He began to feel heavier. Zack was taking a mental note of him should Cloud ever screw up again.

"Come with me, Strife."

"I – yessir."

As soon as Zack turned his back, Cloud cringed. It took a lot of strength to straighten up but he still couldn't stop frowning. How did he go about asking for favours, or pardons? He sighed. The on-coming press-ups Cloud could handle. The humiliation he could mostly handle, too. The look on one particular student's face, however, he couldn't bear to think about. There always had to be one peer who just loved to watch others burn.

As they headed down the turquoise-themed corridors, Zack turned to look at Cloud. He was surprised to see Zack grinning. With a sweep of his hand, Zack urged for Cloud to walk beside him.

"So, how are you finding your classes, Cloud?"

"All right I suppose," he mumbled softly.

"Not a favourite class?"

"Mmm...maybe materia studies."

"Oh, I loved that one too! The combinations you can make are just real neat, especially elemental materia – but you probably haven't started that yet. You're probably still on healing techniques and the importance of their condition, right?"

"Yeah," was all Cloud could say. They had actually started on shields. He side-glanced warily at Zack.

"My favourite was physical practise though. Getting to grips with combat, the fun stuff, you know? How to wield a cool looking sword around and not get your ass kicked at the same time! Do you like combat training?"

A dark frown took over Cloud's face again. "Not so much." He stared at the floor like he was hoping the clinical colour would turn into acid. He thought of the student in combat training who loved to aggravate Cloud, almost like it was a national sport.

"Hmmm..." Zack mused once more. Cloud chose to act like he hadn't heard this time.

The glass doors that labelled the end on this zone hissed open for the two of them, and Cloud followed the First Class SOLDIER in the direction of his combat class. Why was Zack personally delivering him to class? To make sure he got the right punishment? To tell Takihiro he wanted Cloud under a stricter thumb? To make sure Cloud went to the class at all?

They came to an optional turn in the corridor: carry straight on, or turn right.

"Stay here a moment," said Zack, and he jogged down the right corridor, knocked briefly on a door (hardly waiting for a reply) and disappeared inside the academic-classroom. A few minutes later he strode out with a piece paper in hand. "Here," he grinned, holding out the sheet for Cloud.

Cloud looked at it dubiously. What kind of a report card was this? He raised his hand to take it. "Umm...what is it, sir?"

"Just a greeting from First Class Zack. But I'd head straight to class now, you're late enough as it is."

Cloud glanced at the handwriting scrawled across the paper, baffled, not actually reading it, and then returned his confused eyes to Zack. His superior's smile softened. "Try smile, kid. I know it's tough here, but I reckon smiling suits you."

Cloud's hands intensified their grip on the piece of paper.

With a brief tap on Cloud's upper arm, Zack finished, "See you around, Strife," and saluted with two fingers as he turned and strode back the way they had come. Cloud watched him go, a slight smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

Before Zack was out of sight, Cloud began skimming through what he'd written.

'Hello Sergeant Takihiro! Listen, just want to apologise for Cloud being late. I nabbed the kid on my way to see Hojo. I had way too many boxes to carry and seeing as we ran into each other - files soaring everywhere – I asked him to help me out. He seemed pretty adamant he shouldn't be late for class, so I promised I'd write him a note. Sorry he's late for your class. My fault completely. Zack Fair /signature/'

Cloud heard the doors open and close before he had the chance to catch a final glimpse of him. He wanted to run after and say 'thanks', but ran the other way instead; ready to give Takihiro a smug little grin. Everyone knew what Takihiro was like...

[increasingtheweeks]

WHAT IS THIS WHAT?

This story, Increasing The Weeks, is also available on fanfiction.net [HERE].

My cousin pointed out to me that a few other writers have created tumblr blogs specifically for their stories. The purpose: to provide updates for subscribers on what is happening. It also allows for an easier, more open way to answer questions (aka ASKS), and it means that followers don't have to trawl through my Twitter or normal tumblr for fic-related news. I'm excited to think I have this chance to talk to you guys, and also to apologise every other month for having not updated. 

I know how frustrating it is to follow a work in progress (MORE NOW PLEASE1!), so I hope, this way, we can stay in touch and I can be all giggly and stupid when I've written an extra paragraph - I can SHARE with you, "MORE IS COMING!" rather than leave you in a sea of mystery and doubt. "HAS SHE ABANDONED IT?" Nay, my guilt-complex forbids it.

Thank you so much for reading.