Sephiroth's soul redemption

still not beta-ed, i am afraid, although she is teaching me lots of stuff, i will replace the chapters when they have been buffed and polished, so my apologies for the fuck-ups.


Rituals and growth.

Going through the plain lands
To the place that is higher
Moving in the circle
That dances round the fire
We spit into our hands
And breathe across the palms
Raising them up high
Held open to the sun
* The rhythm of the heat, Peter Gabriel*


Cloud was laying on his bunk that evening, looking at Zach who sat opposite him as he leant against one of the supports. The dark haired man had taking one of Cloud’s socks off and was digging the balls of his thumbs into the sole of the foot he was holding.
“That is nice, Zach.” the younger man sighed. “Jeh-ri teach you this?”

Zach nodded. “He refers to it as ‘common tenderness’. He has been trying to teach Sephiroth about it too.” He grinned at the lazily smiling face of his spiky haired friend. “You know, trying to get him over his phobia about being touched.”

“Really? Is it working?” He asked, as he propped himself up on one elbow.

Zach shrugged. “He has been giving him Shiatsu massages, but I have had one, and that is not exactly nice, it hurts mostly.”

“Well duh! It is not meant to be nice, Zach! Shiatsu is to force out toxins and to make sore muscles to heal them selves and to improve circulation. That soft patting and stroking isn’t going to do the trick then, isn’t it?” he said, and was actually just as surprised at his reaction as Zach was.

“Where the hell did that come from, Spike?” he asked, laughing. “What have you and him been up to together?” his hand slid up Cloud’s side and squeezed the sensitive muscle just under the line of his ribs. The blond boy twitched violently, trying to push the prodding hand away.

“Nothing, just talking and stuff.” He said, sounding evasive. “He has been teaching me about things.”

“What kind of…. things, Spike?” Zach asked, letting go of his foot and digging his fingers into the muscles of his friend’s thigh.

Cloud frowned, he did want to tell him about the things he and the copper haired man got up to when on guard duty, but was afraid of the gossip that could go around. Kids are cruel sometimes when not having a positive way to cope with insecurity, Jeh-ri had told him and he had agreed, having received his fair share of shit from other cadets.

“About rituals they do, they celebrate the coming of the seasons and do all kinds of dances and stuff.” He said quietly so only Zach would hear. “Sometimes they have group sex after ward!” he whispered.

“Really? He never told me about those things.” Zach said, a puzzled look on his face.

Cloud smirked at that. It made him feel good that Jeh-ri had shared more mature aspects of this spiritual lifestyle with him. He had felt a bit left out when Zach would disappear some nights, turning up the next day with a vague, stupid smile on his face, even going out to places in Midgar with the other P.A.A. instructors. It had been nights like that when he was sick and tired of being too young, even though he was almost sixteen.

Suddenly Zach’s phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and Cloud saw him blanch when he realized who was that he was talking to.
“Yes, professor. That is right.. okay.. I will bring him.”

“Was that Professor Hojo?” Cloud asked, his eyes huge with surprise.

“Yes, something very strange is going on with Instructor Stone. His High and Mighty Nasty-ness wants me to bring the other P.A.A. people to his lab A.S.A.P.” He said as he pulled his boots back on.

“But Jeh-ri’s still unconscious.” The other protested.

“I know. I hope he is up to a visit with the good Professor. He didn’t sound too happy.” And with those words he sped out of the room, leaving Cloud in a rather befuddled state of mind.

* * * * *

Cloud was in the dark now, and it was warm inside. He felt lots of soft hands run over him there was a strange scent around him too. It reminded him of a forest just after heavy rain. He heard many feet crunch their way along, as they stepped on the brittle leaves on the forest floor. There where a lot of voices around him and as he opened his eyes he could see the sun rising through braches of giant trees. It’s golden light pouring though mighty bows filled with new growth and budding blossoms.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. It has been a while, but you’ll be fine.” He heard a deep woman’s voice say. “You can still learn to beat away the arrows when you are bigger.”

What? Why would I want to do that though?

“It is alright. Your wings will grow too.” Some other voice said, and he felt lips against his, soft but with a thin line of coarse whiskers that tickled under his nose. It felt nice but disturbing at the same time, as it send an intense tingle down from his heart to his lower belly. He was lying flat on his back, looking at a sky that had the pale crisp blue of springtime, and the blue became smaller into the eyes of Instructor Stone, who’s face hovered over him, and smiled fatherly at him. Was he the one who had just kissed him? What the hell was going on? There was pressure on one of his shoulders that shook him gently.

“Wake up, Spike! You’re dreaming.” He heard a familiar voice say, soothing him, and now he noticed his breathing was fast and shallow. “Shhh quietly! Here, put this on!” he heard Zach whisper at him, as he pulled the covers off him and pushed his bathrobe into his sleepy friends arms.

His mind was really foggy at first, but as his older friend pulled him from the room, he felt the excitement thrumming though him.

“What is going on?” he asked, till rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“There is going to be a party at the guest room, Spike, and you are invited.”
The black haired man said, keeping one arm wrapped tightly around him.

”But I am in my underwear!” The blond haired young man protested.

“Don’t worry, we soon all will be, I think.” He said, and saw the look of puzzlement reflected in his younger friends face. “They want to do some thing called the dance of the celebrities or something.”

“You mean the Dance of the Celestial Bodies?” Cloud asked.

“Ehh, yeah, that one, I think.”

“Did they tell you what is going to happen afterward, Zach?” he asked, voicing his concern.

“No, but I don’t really care, this sounds like way too much fun! I have just been through something that will make your hair stand on end, Spike!” he said, and looked at Cloud’s hair which made the previous comment a bit redundant, as they both sniggered.

As they entered the room and closed the door, they saw that the lights bulbs in the fixtures had been replaced with brightly coloured ones, giving the stale bare room a warm cheerful atmosphere. One of the advantages of the location of the room, was that it was in a relatively abandoned part of the building, so there was no need to be quiet. Zach had informed the people on guard duty that night to not worry about any weird noises coming from the guest room that night, so they wouldn’t be disturbed, but Ian and Enak had hung sound wave interrupters in all the corners of the room anyway.

“What are those.? Zach asked as he saw the long black strips hanging from the ceiling to the floor.

“Sound travels in waves, these things emit waves at a frequency that cancels out anything from those speakers there.” He said pointing at the laptop that now had two small black boxes attached to it. “So nothing can be heard outside the room.”

Jeh-ri motioned for Cloud and Zach to come over to one of the mattresses, where two black Hakama’s had been laid out for them. Cloud to took off the shabby bathrobe, and he gingerly stepped into the wide falling trousers, that got belted around his tiny waist so he wouldn’t trip over the hem. Then Cloud got send off to Leisa, who was already painting an elaborate pattern on Erik’s back, chest, and face. The second Hakama got put on Zach, who smiled mischievously at down at the red haired man kneeling before him.

“Are you going to take them off me again, later?” He giggled, as he saw Cloud blush as Leisa had also stripped to her training bra, wearing the same black trousers as the men, and was carefully tracing the patterns for sky across one side of his face and his shoulder and chest.

“Clouds belong in the sky, don’t you agree, sweetie” she whispered at him in her deep husky voice. A strange sense of deja vu, tickled through his stomach, as he almost knew what she was going to say next.

“There, all beautiful for the ball, Cloud.” Leisa said, ruffling his hair.
Leisa looked so pretty up in the moon patterns that Erik had painted on her before, and Jeh-ri felt lightly envious as she was so comfortable in her elegance and femininity.

Zach came next who got the patterns for sun traced across his shoulders and forehead.

Now everyone was ready, all standing in a circle, listening to Leisa who explained to Zach and Cloud what was going to happen. They were all going to move around in a circle, holding the right hand free, and one hand at the back of the person to the left. They would make a series of steps turning clockwise, and use the free arm to move around and touch the person in the middle of the circle who would be on his or her knees.

She first got them all to do the steps together slowly, so that Zach and Cloud would get the hang of it, then she taught them what to do with the free arm, reaching up, and making a pulling down motion, then running the hand across the chest of the person in the middle, stopping, reaching, swinging our arm around and bringing it up again, and letting the backs of their hands slide down the centre person again.

This was to be repeated four times for each person, to honour the four directions of the wind. After several practice runs, Zach had gotten the hang of the steps enough to start the ritual. Enak quickly chose a track in the play list on the laptop that had the right rhythm and emotional load to keep them going.

“Ok, everyone ready?” Leisa asked, and they all nodded, taking up position again, but now with Cloud on his knees within the circle their enclosed bodies.

“Youth before wrinklies, sweetie” she said and he had smiled at that. Then they where off, first holding our hands above their heads as they hopped around his small frame in small steps. Then holding hands high and letting their palms slide along and around his chest.

Cloud shivered from head to toe as the energies and fingers ticked his bare skin.
He couldn’t stop his chest from heaving feverishly as the others continued to circle him, bearing down into him, shaking him to his core. As he kept his eyes closed he started to feel incredibly light in his head, which seemed to extend to his feet. Then they all pulled their hands back and out, exhaling sharply as he jumped up, and got pulled back into his former place, and Ian took his place, who elected to stay on his feet, turning the opposite direction of the dance. Cloud loved being involved, his feet moving so easily to the simple energy of the steps, feeling light and coordinated as he held on to Zach, who seemed to pull him along, just as he was towing Ian along who held on to the belt that held the huge pants in place. The fabric was soft and light on his skin as he once again went round and round.

Then it was Erik’s turn, who held his hands up in the air as he sat on his knees, letting them run their hands down his arms before trailing then across his chest. Cloud found the sensation of running his fingers along the hairy arms quite exhilarating. He actually couldn’t remember if he ever got to touch so many different people. All the different energies where coursing through him and he could feel the blood pulse behind his ears. Jeh-ri had his turn, as did Leisa and as they turned around her, Cloud’ pulse moved to a new level every time he got to run his hand across the soft swell of Leisa’s breasts.

Enak knelt in reverence as he received their touch, his eyes dreamy and distant, until he was pulled to his feet and Zach was the last one to be in the middle. He did as Enak did, kneeling but pressed his hands against his stomach, his eyes closed tightly.

“Okay everyone, close your eyes, we are going around one more time, but this time for the General. Just try to imagine him sitting on his knees here in the circle, and think of him with all your mind.” Zach and Jeh-ri it was quite easy to imagine him there as Zach and him had been friends for quite a few years now, and Jeh-ri had spend quite some time with him in the office. Zach felt it work, as he could almost really feel his skin under his hand as they did the final round for him, and in the end, at the last move, they send the energy of it upward, thinking of him with all their minds focused on letting him receive their gratitude, closing the ritual for them, as they all sank to the ground, out of breath and their energy spent.

They pulled all the mattresses together to form one big bed, and pulled blankets out to keep warm. The music had changed to something soft and ponderous, suiting the relaxed mood perfectly. Erik had pulled out a bottle of mead from his luggage and passed it round.

Cloud’s face screwed up at first at the taste, but as the alcohol worked its way through him, he started to relax and settled against Zach.

“You realize you have to cook a kick-ass dinner for us tomorrow night, don’t you?” Enak said to his brother, who grinned fiercely.

“What do you mean?” Cloud asked, his eyes switching from one brother to the other.

“It is tradition, that when a person receives healing, he is supposed to feed the people that helped make it happen, and he has to give things away, too.”

“What did you think of the dance, Zachy-boy?” Erik asked, as he grinned at the black haired man, as he was obviously still letting the experience work its way through him.

“I think it was the closest I have ever been to coming with out actually having sex.” He said, trying to somehow embarrass Erik back, as he misread his intention, and realized his mistake. Erik just nodded in agreement, as he sat down opposite him, resting one arm on a bended knee, and gently gnawed at his thumb.
“You okay, Cloud?” He asked softly as he touched the blond youth’s forehead. “You did good tonight, you being kind of young and all.”

Cloud smiled stupidly as he felt the alcohol work it’s way through him. He shrugged and crawled deeper into Zach’s arms, feeling he needed a place to hide from the prying eyes of the wild looking mohawked man in front of him. Erik decided to play with the little man a bit grabbed him around his waist, and pulled him away from Zach’s protective arms, and onto his lap. “Let’s see if he is ticklish, shall we?” He said as he started to prod and poke the much smaller frame in the sides and under his armpits. Zach joined in the fun and soon Cloud was making his way across the floor, laughing and squirming, trying to get away from the pinching fingertips.

“And what about you, did you get turned on by our touchy feely dance, kiddo?” he asked as Cloud desperately tried to push Erik’s hands away.

Cloud tried to answer him through the gales of laughter, but couldn’t. He had in fact felt tingly all over and had wanted to press his mouth against something soft and wet. He felt Erik do something to him, sinking in somehow. Now his hands had stopped triggering his fragile spots, and he could feel the large calloused hands just rest against his chest and side.

The warmth of the palms working its way in, making him relax and unafraid. His pale blue eyes boring into his large emerald pools. He softly ran one large fingertips across the smaller youth’s lips who couldn’t take his gaze away from his.

He bend closer, his face just inches away as he gently pressed his large mouth against Clouds, enveloping his small soft lips. Cloud felt another burst of déjà vu coarse through him as Erik withdrew.

“Blossom in the bud, be ready to come forth.” He whispered, reverently, into the small pale ear. He placed one hand on the boys head and one over his heart, and allowed it to drift lower to the space between his navel and pubic bone, pulling the teenager’s focus down.

“Breathe, Cloud..” He heard Jeh-ri whisper, and he did, trying to concentrate on making his lower abdomen push against his combat instructor’s hand, which moved along his hip to the inside of his leg and he felt the heel of the big hand press on the blank patch of flesh between his legs. “Leisa, this boy needs you.” He said, at the woman who came closer, and peeped over Erik’s shoulder at the blond youth under his hands, her eyes dreamy.

“What is he doing?” Zach asked Jeh-ri who sat down beside him, his arm wrapped around his lover’s waist. Zach could feel the moisture of the red haired man’s breath gather against his shoulder as they both watched in total fascination.

“A lot of young people lose their virginity during the Dance of the Celestial Bodies, Zach. He is getting him ready for Leisa.” He whispered as he could feel Zach’s excitement building.

“Shouldn’t we, like, give them privacy or something?” Zach asked.

“We all stay and bear witness.. don’t you want share the event of your friend becoming a man, Zach? It is a beautiful thing.” Jeh-ri smiled at Leisa, who had laid down beside the blond boy and pressed her mouth against his forehead.

“He is all yours, priestess.” Erik said, and moved off. Leisa knelt between Cloud’s legs and ran her hands over him from throat to thighs. “You have been prepared, Cloud.” she breathed at him, as she undid her bra and slid the Hakama off her hips. Cloud felt the blood climb to his cheeks, but his eyes where focused and peaceful. He pulled at the buckle of the belt that kept his pants up, and lifted his hips up as the naked woman pulled them away from under him.

The five men spaced themselves out evenly around the two on the mattresses and knelt, heads bowed. They started a chant, whispering as Leisa kissed the boy under her, guiding his hands to her breasts, and closing his eyes with her mouth.

Zach knelt by Cloud’s head, and he reached out to touch his head, but Jeh-ri stopped him.
“Don’t, you’ll break the spell” he whispered.

“What spell?” He asked softly, as he saw Leisa take his friends member into her hands, and gently stroke it.

“The spell Erik put on him, to give him confidence.” Jeh-ri whispered. Zach looked at Erik, who’s eyes where closed in a frown of concentration. It did make sense as Cloud was as shy as can be, but didn’t seemed to be bothered at all by the five instructors all watching him get laid. “ Now say the chant with us.” Jeh-ri said.

“Blossom in the bud, make ready to come forth, to become complete, and leave the child behind.”

Leisa pushed Cloud’s legs together and straddled him as she sank down over him.

“Ahh.. you are so clean, sweetie.” He heard her moan as he pushed into her, and placed his trembling hands on her hips. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into her chest so she could roll them over. “I’m yours, Cloud” She sighed. Cloud looked into her large brown eyes, warm and inviting, and thought about how they reminded him of Tifa’s eyes, the girl he had liked from his home town, of course the hair was different, but the skin and energy was very similar. At this very moment, he just to focus on what was going to happen to him. He was getting lucky, very lucky indeed.

Cloud moved around on the soft body under him, feeling, melting, as she rolled her hips against him. He pushed himself up so he could look at the nipples that had pressed against his chest, asking for attention. He felt the mind of the older man beside him, suggesting, guiding… showing him what to do next. He bend his back a bit, and took one of the small fleshy marbles between his lips, feeling them go hard as he sucked them into his mouth. Leisa moaned as he withdrew so he could take the firm orb as it pressed against his palm, filling his hand. She rose up under him, and pulled him up so she could kiss him, long and tenderly. Cloud wrapped his arms around her waist and shoulders, and started to push in again. Pressure build in him as he tried to hold back, he felt kind of proud as he felt Leisa respond to him, her breathing speeding up to match his. Encouraging him as her hands dug into the tight muscles of his buttocks.

The chant around him gained in strength but not volume, as if it where being voiced on an energetic level rather than with vocal cords, driving him up, concentrating the collective focus of the five around him, Leisa panting against his throat, one hand buried in the thick hair on the back of his head. “Come and feed..” she said, as she guided his head to the pulsing vein at her shoulder.

Cloud didn’t understand what she wanted from him, but couldn’t concentrate on anything else but her silky wet embrace between her legs, the soft orbs of her breasts against his chest. He felt Zach whisper at his ear, telling him to bite her shoulder, that it was good of him to do so. Cloud found it very strange and confusing to have this asked of him. He carefully nipped at the skin with his front teeth, and the Nutria streamed free. Leisa pushed his head against the tiny wound so the fluid would be caught in his mouth.

“Swallow, Spike.” Zach encouraged him, as he rubbed his hand across the blond boy’s neck. “It is just like making a hickie.” He finally did so hesitantly, but took more in as he felt it tingle and work its way through him. It seemed like he was expanding somehow, fatigue, aches and pains disappearing, growing more powerful. He pressed his tongue against the small hole, closing it.

Cloud yelled as he came, Leisa curled under him, pulling him in as deep as her body allowed, welcoming his outpour. The others around him exhaling as if they all had been awaiting his release, he sank into Leisa’s arms, his heart racing in time with his breath. He felt the hands of the others around him, gently pulling him off her and setting him on his feet.

“Welcome to the world, Cloud, you are a man now.” Zach said, and pulled him into a fond embrace. Cloud trembled at first, like a newborn foal trying to find its footing after being dropped by its mother, but found strength return to him as Zach released him and passed him to Jeh-ri, Enak, Ian and finally Erik. He looked at the tall man, and felt like crying out as he was pressed against the rounded muscles of his chest, feeling the strength thrum in the large hairy arms. This is what it must be to be in a father’s embrace, he thought, as he slid his arms around the man’s waist. The others closed in again, forming one body with Cloud at its centre. “Welcome, little brother.” Enak said, “Welcome to our tribe.”

Cloud smiled quietly to himself as he sank back down on the mattress, and looked for the Hakama he wore previously, not liking the fact that he was the only one naked now that Leisa had pulled on her clothes again.

Erik sat down in front of him, and pulled Cloud’s smaller frame between his legs as he knew there where things he needed to share something with him, gesturing with his hands as the big golden haired man frowned as he listened to him intently.

Zach watched the exchange between the two, and saw the need in Cloud come into focus. He was looking for a father figure, and had found one in Erik, even if it was for a moment. As he saw the two sit so close, they could be father and son. He now also understood how Jeh-ri had tried to make clear to him how it might not be such a good idea to try and pull him into a physical relation with him, as he needed something different from his older friend. He was looking for a big brother, and what kind of brother would he be if he obligated the blond into something that was for his benefit only.

He looked around the room and saw how everyone was settling down for the night, but noticed that Enak seemed to have slipped out unnoticed somehow.

Leisa crawled over to where Zach and Jeh-ri sat leaning against each other.
“I know it is way too late to think of this, but wasn’t he too young for this?” She whispered at Jeh-ri, who sat while Zach rested his head in red haired man’s lap.

“Yes to the first, maybe no to the second. On Althea he wouldn’t be able to get an erection if his life depended on it.”

“Because people don’t reach physical maturity until they’re twenties.” She supplied.

“Exactly, but here it is quite normal for his age. Of course it is frowned upon legally, but I wont tell if you don’t.” he said, very matter of factly.

“Jeh-ri, you are such a smart ass sometimes!” Zach yelled up at him as he reached up and tried to pinch the other’s nose., as he looked at Leisa who had gone quite pale.

“I am only joking, Leis!” Jeh-ri giggled, as he saw his girlfriend flush with anger.
The next thing he knew he was involved in some strange wrestling match between himself, Leisa and Zach.

* * * *


Sephiroth had never been so glad to see the inside of his rooms. He dropped his boots and shoulder plates just inside the door, and he moved off to the bathroom and got under the shower. His entire being filled with emotions he couldn’t place or cope with in any positive way. He had genuinely been afraid for Zach, the fear stabbed clear and hard stab through his heart as he had felt his friend’s body go rigid. He could almost see that that was how he would become if he really had died tonight, the always lively warm body go cold and hard as rigor mortis would have taken hold, changing everything forever.

The affection in the eyes of the Altheans still on him, not the usual mindless admiration he received from so many of the easily influence-able cadets and lower ranking SOLDIERs, but what was it then? Not lust, it was something far less fleeting than that, it was.. solid, almost tangible, and it seemed to centre itself around the same spot in his chest where Nathan had touched him last. It was gratitude, or was it something deeper still?

He desperately needed to get rid of the hands he could still feel on him, unload somehow, but the idea of masturbating seemed so utterly unsatisfying he rejected the idea almost as fast as he thought of it.
He opted to have a long hot shower instead and tried to scour some of the day’s events off him. After what seemed to be ages, he finally turned the water off and towelled himself dry and fell into his bed. He tossed briefly before falling into a deep sleep, not even having bothered to set an alarm, not caring either.

* * * * *

“Okay everyone, close your eyes, we are going around one more time, but this time for the General. Just try to imagine him sitting on his knees here in the circle, and think of him with all your mind.”

He found himself standing in a pitch black room. When he looked around him, it seemed familiar somehow, but it wasn’t his own quarters. A strange tingling started to sink into the soles of his feet, crawled up along the skin of his ankles, up and up, then the tingling got replaced with fingers and palms, circling all around his legs.

He could now feel the warmth of many exhaled moisture settle on his calves, knees, and up to his thighs, and the hands followed now only as fleeting and teasing as ghosts. He opened his eyes, and looked down.

He could now see people lying on the previously empty floor, writhing and rolling all over each other, naked and sweating as they entangled them selves in the grips of extacy. More hands reached up to him from the writhing puddle of bodies at his feet, inviting him to kneel, and he allowed himself to be guided down and sink in.

The warmth that had started at his feet now reached his groin, and continued up, touching the spot between his pubic bone and navel, then his solar plexus. As it reached his heart he felt it leap in his chest, building in his throat, where he felt its desperate need grow. The pressure became so great he thought that if he vocalised what he felt, it would rupture his vocal chords.

His hands clutched his straining throat, swallowing convulsively as he tried to contain it.
The load continued to grow and swell until under its own enormous weight, it tore free and slammed back down into his lap, where it erupted outwards. This time he couldn’t withhold the scream that burst from his mouth, as he sank forward, and bend over forward, leaving him panting and disoriented as he was still on his knees.

The hands withdrew and he shook his head as if to clear it. He tried to get his bearings as he could now recognise the unshuttered windows of his bedroom, the scent of the carpet on the floor. He had never in his life sleep walked, but he now found himself halfway to the door to his living room. He reached up along the doorframe and found the light switch.
The room was immediately flooded with harsh light that stung his eyes and blinded him briefly, then he reached for the dimmer and turned it to a level that was easier to cope with. Traces of the dream still churned through his mind, and chill sweat on his skin made him shiver. He looked around him on the floor, but didn’t find any thing that confirmed his recent climax, in fact that part of his body was the only thing that seemed to be in perfect rest.

I could have sworn I just came all over the floor he thought, confused but relieved too, as the thought of having to clean it up didn’t appeal much to him.

At that moment he wished he did have a partner, someone nearby that he could find comfort in. Zach had offered, and he had turned him down. He now regretted his decision, and eyed the phone on the bedside table. Then he noticed the time on the alarm clock beside the phone. 3.45 am. He would probably be fast asleep now anyway.

The unsettling feeling that someone was in his rooms crept up on him as he walked to the door, grabbing a bathrobe off the back.
As he turned on the lights in the sparsely furnished living room he saw that there was no one there.

The image of the black-haired man with the tattoos came to the surface, his mind went back to the brief exchanges they had during the combat simulation, and the lasting glances he had thrown at him in the pool after the ritual had ended. For some reason they never got the chance to really act on those fleeting moments, as always something seemed to get in the way.
He honestly could say that he wasn’t all that surprised when he found the object of his desire outside his door, leaning against the wall opposite the entrance, wearing nothing but a slim falling black Hakama.

“You are here… how did you get up to this level?” he asked, his heart beating faster.

“I slipped in with one of the others who came up. I can make myself unnoticeable if I want to.” He said, his voice soft and low. “I was concerned about how you are feeling. You left so suddenly.”

Sephiroth noticed this scene was kind of awkward if anyone had come along, both of them half naked in the corridor, and gestured for Enak to come in. There was enough gossip going around already and he wasn’t in the mood to become the subject.

“We are very grateful you participated, but I am worried that we should have warned you, that you would need us to ground you again afterwards.” He said as he walked into the room, but paid no attention to his surroundings what so ever. “But I guess there wasn’t time.” His whole mind and presence focused on the silver haired man in the black bathrobe.”And of course what happened to Zach.. maybe you shouldn’t have shut him out like that.”

Sephiroth’s head snapped around to the dark haired man. Had the exchange in the changing room been that obvious? He felt himself turn into glass before the calm reddish brown gaze of the man before him.

“It made you realize how much you care for him, and it is scared you, didn't it.?”

Sephiroth refused to nod, knowing all to well that Enak had struck at the core of the issue. The Ritual in itself had been a huge experience for him, but what had happened afterward had indeed put him in touch with something he had previously never given any attention to.

He did feel something for Zach. It wasn’t exactly love, as he thought something like that would feel.. different, more intense somehow. He resisted the urge to pace, as it would only fuel his restlessness.

“You are still very upset about things” The black haired man said, a slight frown of concern on his soft face. “I think you need to sit down, Sir.”

“Why are you here, Instructor Stone?” the other asked, still refusing to feel at ease, as the noise in his mind were causing too much interferrance for him to act on the suggestion.

“I am here to ground you, to calm you down.” Enak said, his voice low and soft.

“What is that supposed to mean? How would you go about that?” The silverhead asked, apprehensively.

“It is better if you just let me show you. You will feel lots better, trust me.” Enak said, and stepped up to the other man who finally sat on the edge of his bed. He raised his hands to the Generals head, just letting them hover, palms at his temples one inch away from the silver framed face.

Sephiroth could actually feel the warmth of the palms starting to push against his mind, the pressure building first, then slowly abating, as a blister that had been lanced. He caught the scent of the man standing in front of him, a vague sweet burned smell the same as it had been in the sauna before. Not all together unpleasant, but it did place him back in the feeling he had tried to shake off in the shower a couple of hours ago.

Only the difference was that now it seemed okay, focused and no longer threatening, it probably had a lot to do with the fact that he was now just faced with only this man who had captured his interest. Enak twitched slightly as the tip of the other man’s nose touch his skin, and he looked down at him.

He felt his mind becoming still, and placed his hands on the man’s hips, so he could pull him close enough to press his mouth against his chest, and as Enak dropped his hands on his shoulders, he saw it as an invitation to create a long wet path with his tongue from below his sternum to his throat. Enak sighed deeply.

He saw the henna paintings on his chest and face. He wandered how come he hadn’t noticed before. “What does it mean?” he asked as he gently trailed his finger along the patterns around his nipples.

“I represented Earth tonight.” Enak said, his voice becoming hoarse. “That is why it is my job to help you.”

Enak slid his hands around his shoulders, letting his hands sink down over his back, pushing the bathrobe down. Enak shuddered as he felt the warm breath of the taller man brush his chest, and ran his hands through the long shiny tresses. Sephiroth kissed the skin just above the rapid beating heart and wrapped his arms around the slender waist.

“What took you so long?” He whispered.

“I just wasn’t ready yet, and all good things come to those who wait, General.” Enak smiled

“You are ready now?” he asked, letting his hands explore the skin on the chest and back of the man in front of him.

“I am here, aren’t I” He said and felt himself flush slightly as the man on the bed started to undo his belt, felt the soft fabric fall away from his hips. “I have never found anyone that caught my attention, made me want him, I didn’t even realize, until someone pointed it out to me, that there was nothing wrong with it.” He moaned, trying to keep his sentences coherent.

“I’ll make a point of thanking him” He said as his hand moved up along the inside of Enak’s leg.

The silver haired man smiled inwardly as he slowly started to fist the dark skinned man’s member, and, took the tip into his mouth. Enak starting to thrum with excitement, the muscles of his legs trembling, his breath uneven and shuddering. His head tilted backwards as he moaned.

Sephiroth felt the strands of jet-black hair stroke across the free hand at the small of Enak’s back. He gathered a hand full of it up and pulled it over the other’s shoulder, so he could press his face against it.

Enak looked down at the fair skinned face, seeing the contrast in colour to is own skin as he ran his fingertips across his forehead, pushing the fringe aside, removing the veil, allowing him to see his face no longer hidden by shorter strands. The pupils in his jade green eyes dilated with arousal.

As they kissed, solid up to the point of bruising, hungry and feeding, tongues exploring back and forth. Sephiroth grabbed Enak around his waist and pulled him onto his lap, pushing their erections together. He dug his fingernails into the skin of his buttocks, telling him that he was his now, and his alone, to have as no other man would ever again, and the other seemed to know that too.

“I don’t need your kindness, just give me your pain. Don’t worry, I can take it..” He sighed as the silver head rolled them over, and knelt between his legs, taking hold of his length with his free hand, slicking it with his saliva, as the pale man’s fingers explored his opening, finding he relaxed fast. At Enak’s invitation, he didn't wait long to start pushing in, aching to devour, to find release.

Moving inside Enak without mercy felt good, as the black haired man begged him to not hold back, his mouth greedy and yielding as they kissed, wanting to be filled like a bottomless well, inviting him to totally loose himself, as his body was strong and resilient.

His hard fingers biting into the dark flesh, hearing the other man hiss and groan, but never once asking him to stop, just taking it all in. It seemed that no matter how roughly he was treated, he kept running his hands across Sephiroth’s chest, every now and then digging in his fingertips into the muscles of his back, only seemed to encourage him.

He poured all the emotions Nathan’s pairing had awakened in him out, taking his temporary weakness out on the hard body under him, so totally subservient in his demeanour it was a screaming contrast to his godfather, but it had fed Sephiroth, and now he could let it all go, giving it a safe secure spot where no one could trigger it again.

The hard slap of Enak’s semen against his stomach brought him to, the force of the man’s orgasm made him buck under him, as the friction of their bodies had made him come. As he felt his own climax close in, the oncoming storm about to unload itself as it rose like the building thunderclap that followed the bright violence of lightning.

A sudden image, a need arose as he felt his climax near. A voice rose in him like deep forgotten thoughts stored away in the dark abyss of his mind. It spoke to him of violence, so powerful and destructive, no matter how strong this man was, he couldn’t possibly survive it..

**Be silent.. I cannot.. will not allow you to go there..**

He wanted to place his fingertips on this man’s sternum, dig his nails into the skin and bone until he’d have enough purchase to pull the chest open, separating the ribcage, exposing the organs beneath.

To see the labouring heart, the lungs in and deflating rapidly to feed the bodies need for oxygen.

**I want to drown you..**

To see himself move, thrusting in and out, until he could flood this man’s innards with his semen.

**I want to see you struggle and succumb as you try to cope with all the horrors inside me**

And Enak answered…

**Give it to me.. hurt me.. I can take it…**

He came so hard he thought it would tare the man under him apart, but he just held him tight, pressing their bodies together, shaking and freed from both their individual vices and frustrations.

**No.. no you can’t.. not even you, strong and beautiful as you are, I cannot allow you to be destroyed, just so I can shed my pain. **

His mind emptying itself out has his body did, welcoming the serene blankness that followed.

“Thank you… Enak.. thank you for being here for me.”

Enak’s breath hissed as the taller man withdrew, but his were eyes fierce and energetic, dark orange coals glowing at him in the dark, as if a fire had been lit in there, now scolding his ghost. Sephiroth pulled on the of the pillowslips off and held it against his abdomen, cleaning away the nacreous fluid.

Then pressed his mouth against Enak’s neck, now tender in his gratitude, becoming heavy and sleepy as he rested his head against the smaller man’s shoulder. Draping one pale arm across reddish brown slow moving chest, felt the world under him opening like a womb, allowing him to just fall in.

“Sleep, General.” Enak said quietly to the heavily breathing man resting against him, and allowed him to experience the calm and peace Enak had felt to be under water with his brother, enclosed in eachother’s arms.

And he stayed awake the whole night, making sure no one would disturb this man’s peace, as everyone who wanted him for something to suddenly changed their minds and went about their own business until the sun was high on the horizon. Then slipping out of bed quiet as a ghost, and left just as mysteriously as he had came, after he had just placed one more tender kiss on the temple of the sleeping man, who’s eyes moved slightly under the closed lids.

* * * * *

Enak quietly slipped into the room and was glad to see every one still fast asleep. Feeling damaged and bruised after the General’s rough treatment he sought out Jeh-ri, who was curled up by himself on one of the mattresses. He snuggled up to the sleepy man and nuzzled at his neck, trying to wake him up.

The redhead turned on his back and stretched out, protesting at having his rest interrupted.
“Enak? What’s up?” He asked, at seeing the dark skinned man hover over him. He had to take just one look at the man’s face, saw the bags under his eyes, the bright eyes burn feverishly, and he knew what had happened.
“You went to the General, didn’t you?” He asked. Enak nodded, as he buried his head against the other man’s chest. “Did he… hurt you?” Jeh-ri asked, but could already see in the odd waver in his friends energy that he had been damaged. He pushed himself up out from under his covers, and looked him over. Bruised started to form along his chest and along the insides of his thighs, all along his hips and upper arms.

“Good Gaia, Enak. Look at you. You didn’t have to let him go that far you know.” He whispered.

“He needed to, Jehr. He was so confused and hurt, I gave him a way out.” Enak sighed, as he lay down on his back. “Besides, I asked him to.”

“I hope you aren’t going to make a habit of it, Enak. Otherwise I think it is really necessary to educate the man on some tenderness. Everyone gets to cope with traumatic events in their lives, but that doesn’t give him the right to fuck anyone to pieces.” He pointed out to Enak, as he took off his t-shirt and started massaging the Nutria vein at his shoulder so his friend could be healed. Enak took the smaller man into his arms and fed gratefully.

“What was it like?” Jeh-ri whispered. Enak fell quiet for a while, trying to find the right words to describe his experience.

“It was kind of like almost falling off a cliff, or out of a tall tree, or a car accident, knowing that if you had fallen you would have gotten very badly hurt, or killed.” He said as he still felt the adrenaline tremble through him. “I have been in quite a few battles, having to fight for my life, but I never have been more scared in my life.. but I was so turned on at the same time, Jehr. Isn’t that strange?” He said, as he lay on his side, the corners of his eyes squinting in a pained expression, as the memory crawled across his face.

“Almost but not quite like being in a car accident, seeing your car reduced to a total-loss, the shock of it not hitting you till later, when you wake up with sore and pulled muscles, as you have sustained injuries that your mind didn’t get the chance to register until the worst of the shock has worn off.” He said, his voice becoming softer still, as his shock now started to wear off and the nutria was healing him inside and out.

Well that summed it up nicely for him. That was what the future had in store for him. To deep scan him and in doing so needing to have sex with a man that made the act feel like having been in a car accident. What a great future he had ahead of him. Not! Thanks a lot Nathan.

Jeh-ri watched how Enak nested his head against his chest, and drifted off. Then he sank down too and slept for several more hours.


Continues in ‘The Give-away’
a/n yes yes, i know another very very long chapter, but i am cutting them in half lately, and i am losing track a bit of where the other halfs go.

teaser/review next chapter: Erik gives the General a very special gift.
Sephiroth gets invited to dinner. lots of silly ness and bullshit ensues between the brothers.