Sephiroth's soul redemption

thank you for reviewing! i am so sorry i have forgotten your name finally, as I was starting to loose hope for this story! I was becoming concerned that I might have made it too complicated and had introduced too many outside characters, but I just found most other of the final fantasy range too narrow for me to express myself in, and i also think it makes a nice contrast to my own ´people´ anyway, heres another chapter, and dont worry, i still plenty more to be corrected and published, so this is in no way over!

enjoy!

Breaking the habit

Store room confessions.

I can help you change, tired moments into pleasure
Say the word and well be well upon our way
Blend and balance
Pain and comfort
Deep within you
Till you will not want me any other way

Knuckle deep within the border line
This may hurt a little but its something you’ll get used to
Relax, slip away
stinkfist, tool

Zach entered after softly knocking on the door, and looked around the small storage room in amazement. Leaving the door slightly ajar he slipped in. The light inside was soft golden orange, as several candles burned on each side of the altar that had made on top of the large trunk. A large Borronix hide was laid out on the floor they could stay and fall asleep here if they wanted to.
“You’ve made a quite a little home for yourself here, Jehr.” He said. Cloud was right, this is just like a womb. He said sitting down opposite me on the large hide, roughly stroking the thick fur. He saw the small cigarette Jeh-ri held in his hands.

“Are you positive you want to do this?” He asked. You will say things you don’t want to. It is like being drunk, only you stay lucid, coherent. All your.. filters will be gone.”

“Am I going to get laid again?” he asked, grinning

“Despite the rumours going around, you wont get horny. That part of you just goes sort of.. numb, you just sort of forget about it, I suppose.”
Zach nodded, his eyes determined and anxious, saying; I trust you, I have with everything in the last weeks. “You haven’t let me down yet, Jehr.”

The red haired man set fire to the paper surrounding the dry plant material using the candle, handed it to Zach, who took it gingerly, like a pen.

“It is quite smooth, but you have to draw it in gently, or you will cough your lungs out.”
Zach nodded, as he set the roly to his lips and drew in some of the smoke. Doing as the other had said, sucked down the smoke softly, and exhaling, and watched the smoke trail out of his nose and mouth. “Take another drag, one more.” He instructed, seeing his energy starting to shift, but not enough to hold for a proper reading. He did, just a bit more greedily, causing him to burst into a massive coughing fit, that brought tears to his eyes, but accelerating the effect the veritas weed would have on him.

“Fuck me, it burns!!” he tried to speak, but his voice was chocked as he couldn’t stop his lungs from protesting. Jeh-ri produced a bottle of water, giving it to him.

“Drink some, it will easy your throat.” He said, then took the joint of him, taking a couple of small drags, letting the smoke drift up to his nose and inhaled slow and long. He took in just enough to float, but not enough to become totally numb.
“It is really warm in here, Jehr, did you turn the heat up or something?” He heard Zach say, and smiled at that, the Veritas was taking hold.

He felt himself getting heavy, then heard footsteps out in the hall, and got up to close and lock the door. Not being able to lift his head as he was becoming quite dizzy, he looked down the corridor, spotting two black leather boots, coming towards the storage room with slow and deliberate steps.

He swept his gaze up, knowing to whom those boots belonged, and heard Zach behind him, the soft rustle of his sweater as he pulled it off. Realizing that he could see Zach’s naked back from where he stood, he tried to get some idea of what he was thinking. He had his suspicions though, as a slight flicker of amusement trailed across his face. A buzzing took hold of his brain, and he tilted his head so look at the man in the hall from under his brows sideways, smiling lazily at him.

Then he slowly closed the door, leaving Sephiroth alone in the corridor, saying to him; I know you know, and you are not welcome in my sanctuary. Stay out. And left him alone and puzzled. He suspected that Zach would report to him the next day, but he didn’t care about that, as the nature of the reading was for Zach’s benefit only, and if he wanted to divulge the details to his friend, fine. That was his business.

But if Sephiroth wanted what he freely and happily gave to Zach, he would have to find a way to ask. Nicely.
Zach looked up at hem as he took off his boots and sweater, his skin started to burn too.
“Was that Seph out there?” Zach asked.

He nodded. “I shut the door in his face, I am not in the mood for his company right now. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“How do you mean?” Zach asked, settling down, laying his head on his lap.

“Do you think he would take the Veritas, Zach?” Already knowing the answer to that, but wanting him to realize what he was getting at.

“That would be a big fat ‘no’.” he said, laughing softly. “The guy is so closed off, he’s rather die then let you in. I have known him for quite some time now, but he only shows so much.” Zach said, holding up his hand measuring a very small space between his thumb and index finger.

“He would be able to look into us like an open book, but not sharing anything of himself in return. Leaving him in total control and us utterly defenceless, Zach.” Jeh-ri said slowly, letting his words flow together, his inner walls slowly melted away.

“Do you want to get to know him better, then?” Zack asked, “Really look into what makes him tick? Maybe if we pulled him into a threesome, and have a little stuff then, wouldn’t that be ok?” Jehri slowly shook his head, indicating he didn’t like the idea much.

“I have done my share of threesome stuff when I was still back in the Academy. I am done with that now, Zach. I have a hard time focussing when there are more people wanting my attention.”

“I don’t mind.” Zach said, nesting his head against Jeh-ri’s lap, liking the idea of being caught between Jeh-ri’s soft energy and the brute strength that Sephiroth in his desire had unleashed on him on occasion.

“I am just so grateful to you. You have no idea how good you have been to me these past months. Everyone always wanting from me, not really caring for what I want, to even ask, but you just gave to me what I needed, it must have been really scary for you at first.”

Zach nodded at that, having felt really confused at first, than decided he didn’t really care as he had just enjoyed his company too much, with all the exotic rewards it brought.

“I was.. afraid of your rejection, not every one can handle finding both parts on one person.” He lifted himself up, and kissed the other, holding him tight.

“You love him, don’t you.” He asked, wanting to taste his feelings for this man, who was after all, one of his best friends.

“Seph? .. yes I do, but not in that way.” Zach said.

“It is because you know deep inside that he cannot return it to you the way you need it, Aeris could, though..” He explained to him, pulling one leg up, so he could steady his head on his knee, looking down upon Zach’s sleepy face as his head still rested on his thigh.

“You love him too, your Nathan, and Ian, Leisa and Enak.” Zach said countering his question about his feelings for his superior officer.
“I bet you even love that big annoying pain in the ass Erik too.” He said, grinning.

He had no idea, how much he felt for Erik, how he had to do everything in his power to not say it out loud, to admit it to himself. Maybe it would relieve him somehow, ease the tension.
At his persistant silence, Zach sat up and looked him in the eye.

“That much, huh? I thought I saw something pass between you during the ‘Thank You’ thing.” He smiled to himself. “But isn’t that kinda stupid, him being straight and all?”

“Hhmn” Jeh-ri moaned to himself, his face screwed up in a pained scowl.

“Wait a minute, your not saying that he and Enak were the ones you got into threesomes with, are you?” Zach suddenly said, bringing his face really close to Jeh-ri’s.

“It was what was referred to in the Academy as the ‘Stone Twin Sandwich’, and I have had more than I can handle, and no I don’t want to tell you about it.” He added quickly after seeing the eager look on Zach’s face.

“Aaww you’re a terrible spoilsport!” Zach moaned. “Please?” He tried carefully.

“Some other time, Zach. Maybe.” Jeh-ri said, and curled up against Zach’s back.

The next day as they woke up, he told Zach again that he had shut the door on Sephiroth’s face.
“Oh damn, your’e kidding right?” He asked.

Jeh-ri shook his head. “He had no right to be here. It was a private matter between you and me.” He said. “If he wants to be mad at me for setting my boundries, which I am totally entitled to, then sod him all the way up and down his Masamune. He can bully everyone in this place around as much as he wants, but when I am sharing tender moments with one of my friends, he just had to back the fuck away.”

Zach twisted around on his heels a bit, trying to come to terms with what his lover just had said. “Sod him all the way up and down his Masamune?” he said lilting his voice before bursting into laughter. “Your language skills are becoming more wondrous, Jehr. I’d love to hear you say that to his face!”

“He’d probably kick my ass all the way back to Althea.” Jeh-ri mused.

“At least you’d become a little taller.” Zach jibed. They both sniggered at that and left for the canteen to have breakfast before gracing the General with their presence for another day of super-fun filing work.

* * * * *

The days started stringing into weeks and months as they stayed at the Shinra Electrical Power Company. Jeh-ri was very happy that the General had seen the value of the training his friends were now giving to all levels of cadets and the more advanced SOLDIERs. Of course there were the odd weird miss-happenings which came mostly form having both Stone brothers in the same place at the same time, but most of it was quite innocent.

He found himself doing office work with Zach, which was turning out to be a considerable job. When it was just the two of them in there, the atmosphere would be quite free and easy, but would ice over as soon as the General entered. The first couple of times he didn’t really seemed to notice the huge energy shift that occurred when he walked in, as he and Zach where comfortable enough with each other, but Zach noticed the other falling silent every time.

After a couple of weeks the General started to pop in and out, as if he were trying to catch the others off guard. Drifting from the office to the practice dome, and pulling them out separately to run errands for him.

Zach got landed with some duties that made him spend a lot of time on the other side of the building, only seeing Jeh-ri around dinner time.

Now the red head was alone with the General in his office quite a bit. Just focussing on the job at hand, carefully observing the man as he worked through progress reports and other mind numbing procedural nonsense.

As the days went by Sephiroth found himself more and more frequently rubbing his eyes and temples, as the headaches had returned again. After several weeks of severe silence, only speaking when making an answer to questions so Seng could do his job properly, he made the first offer of conversation.

“You made me an offer a while back. I think I will have to take you up on it.” He said. He turned around and he undid the straps that held his shoulder guards in place.

“I was wandering when you’d have enough, Sir.” He said, confirming the Generals suspicion he had been observing him in return, as he took the spare chair that sat in one corner of his office. He indicated for him to sit on it back to front, facing him with a thick layer of leather to work through.

“I can get in deeper if I can get at your skin, Sir.” He said. Sephiroth decided it was bad enough that he had to let the young man touch him again, and shook his head, forcing him to work around it. At first he felt the small tips of man’s thumbs work their way down from the base of his skull, and down along his neck to halfway down his back, gently prodding and poking, feeling the knots of resistance again, angry and strained.

He pulled the collar away from his neck to get a clearer view of what was causing the stain. As he gingerly touched the exact points where Professor Hojo had been injecting him. As it grew dark really early in the day now that winter had arrived, he could see the graduate’s facial expression reflected in the window, as he continued to put pressure on the damaged areas..

“What is the look for, Graduate?” he said, looking at him in the reflection of the window.
“It is the damage of the needles that is putting all the stress on our muscles. In a reaction relieve it you pull your shoulders up, staining these muscles which in turn change the blood flow to your head, that is what is causing your headaches.” He explained.

“These injections are compulsory, every one gets them. Why am I the only one that has headaches?” he asked, frowning, having never heard the same complaints from others.

“It has something to do with your meridian lines, they seem to move differently somehow, Sir.” He said, as he continued to now spread the pressure using the heels of his hands. Pushing the tendons around gently at first, then using his elbows again, causing the pain to return.
“Excuse me?” he asked, turning to face him.

“Your meridian lines are energy lines that run through your whole body, just like nerves connect your brain to your muscles and organs etcetera. Meridian lines transport energy through your chakra’s and other energy points. Only I get the impression yours are enlarged somehow, and they seem to twist in a way I have never seen before, but I wont be able to get an accurate reading.”

“Why not?” he asked, not liking the feeling again that he didn’t know what the man was talking about, letting his head rest on the backrest of the chair.

He laughed slightly. “Well, I think you and I are on a familiar enough basis for me to put my hand between your legs, Sir. Reading some ones meridians also involves a fair bit of bare skin touching, and I get the distinct impression you don’t like to be touched all that much.”

He was right. Him having all his life only been touched by his father in a way that would only be for research purposes only, having very little to do with any kind of parental attention.
“Do you have a theory to go with that assumption?” Sephiroth asked, curious to find out what kind of picture this man had in his mind of him. He seemed to think it over as the other now rested his lower arms on each side of his neck, trying to make him drop his shoulders down.

“You mean aside from the fact you are in serious pain and refused to take your coat off? Permission to speak freely, Sir?” he asked.

Not in the mood for a confrontation, but realising it was now too late as he had in fact asked for it, he said; “If this is going to be another lecture about me not taking proper care of my self you are wasting your breath, Graduate.” His voice level, edging toward boredom.

The smaller man moved around him, and knelt down before him so he could look him in the eye.
“I think you haven’t had a lot of pleasant experiences with physical contact, aside from medical treatments that make you sick, or maybe private contacts with partners. Killing enemies doesn’t count, as there’s seven feet of steel to keep them at bay.” He said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the Masamune standing in the corner behind his desk.

He was quite accurate, at that thought. Did he like the Masamune not only because he was the only one strong and skilled enough to wield it, stroking his vanity in the most subtle of ways? Or was it his ability to make it part of him, just as cold and hard as he was in battle. It’s length very suitable to keep enemies at a very comfortable distance. He chewed on that for a moment then caught the smaller man’s gaze again, cool and calculating.

“You enjoy working in here with me, Seng?” he asked, his mouth hidden behind the arms still draped across the backrest of the chair, changing the subject to focus on the red head instead. Zach was right. He had been neatly thrown into his lap.

“You want a honest answer, Sir?” He asked, unable to keep a pained look from his face.

“I will expect no less.” He said, still keeping their gazes locked. The dark green flecked with gold didn’t waver, but he could notice a shift in the colour of his pale cheeks, signalling slight discomfort.

“I find you physically intimidating, and energetically dominant, but that is nothing I haven’t encountered before. It is quite normal for someone in your position.” The General lifted one eyebrow, expressing slight amusement.
“I don’t really enjoy the work itself. It is boring and I don’t get enough exercise.
I can’t imagine you having this in mind either when you worked your way up to where you are today, being locked up in here.”

“It comes with the job, Seng. I have accepted it.” He said matter of factly.

“Really? I don’t want to be cheeky, Sir, but I don’t see how taking your sword to your filing cabinets reflects that acceptance very well.” He said, knowing he was out of line, and braced himself for the reprimand.

“Touché, graduate.” He said after his eyes briefly flashed with anger, but dissipated fast as he knew the deserved that one. “It is imperative I am aware of all the goings on in this academy. I assume it works the same for the Commander.” He asked, curious to find out more of the man that had visited him one night.

“No actually, it doesn’t. He and all the family close to him are part of a clan collective. They share DNA and so can share information concerning the whole planet and other systems under the rule of the Charrander empire using telepathy. They all focus on an area that most suits them, gathering intelligence on all levels imaginable. Nathan uses that to keep tabs on all that is going on. He then in turn linkes his mind with Gareth Charrander.” He explained.

“Gareth? Who is that?” he asked, never having heard that name before.

“He is the emperor, Nathan’s grandfather, our ruler.” He said, his voice getting slightly low, in reverence.

“You have met him?” he asked, knowing this to be a fact as he could see the shift in expression in the man’s face at the memory of that event.

“Would you like to know what it feels like to be in his presence?” he suddenly asked, looking at the taller man from under his thin dark brown eyebrows, still perched back to front of the chair. But not liking the idea of having himself being invaded again with someone elses memories. He gently shook his head, deflecting the offer with a question.

“And what exactly is your function within the clan collective, Seng?” he asked.

“I started out as an apprentice herbalist, and I still am during spring and autumn, then I got accepted to the Project Ark Academy, where I stayed until I reached the rank of scout captain, doing field research.”

He frowned slightly as he mulled it over. “If I understood right, Project Ark is a scientific organisation first, and you only receive basic military training.” He nodded. “How did you end up at the temple?”

He sighed deeply. Sephiroth could tell that this was a subject the other rather avoided. He wandered why.

“One of the scout force’s duties is also search and rescue, as we evacuate people from war zones or areas of natural disasters. I was on one of those missions when things turned bad. Very bad. I .. realised my skills as a combatant were lacking, and I requested to be placed at the temple for further training, specialising in martial arts and swordmanship. My previous training at the academy allowed me to be able to join the special forces that ensure inland security. I just have to master the skills that will enable me to be accepted into a unit.” He explained.

“And to what level are you able to rise once you make Unit member?” He asked, curious to find out more about this man’s ambitions for the future.

“I don’t really want to go any further. You see, just as you accept all the administrative duties you have as a General, I accept I will never be in charge of a detachment.” He said.

“You are actually willingly serve the rest of your life?” he asked. Realising the instant he asked it, that he was in fact wandering that himself, as his whole existence seem to be to only serve the interest of the Shinra Electrical Power Company.

“It is my destiny for this lifetime, Sir.” Seng said. “The purpose why I am here in this present form is to serve.. I had some trouble adjusting to it at first, but once you give in, and just let it flow, I ended up serving Nathan, and now I am here. It makes no difference where I am, as long as I can be of service.”

“Does that mean you are unable to serve yourself and make you your own master?” he asked.
Trying to get a feel for this train of thought, this life philosophy he seemed to have surrendered to.

“That is not up to me. Things have a habit of not working out the way I want when I do that. I am here to help others, when I do, I feel good, fulfilled.” He explained.

“Even when it is something you don’t really want to do, like doing office work?” he asked.

“It is not up to me to complain, it is a necessary evil. It is a means to end up where I am supposed to be.”

“And where is that, Seng?” he asked, leaning forward, his gaze bearing down on him again.

“I am no fortune teller, Sir. I am convinced that every thing happens for a reason, and it is not up to us to try to understand the plan the Creator has in mind for us. All we can do is to just make the best of it as we can.” He said, wincing as he shifted his position. His legs probably had gone to sleep in the kneeling position he had been sitting in.

“This has been an interesting conversation, Seng. You seem to be more mature than you look.” He mused, trying to guess the young man’s age. “I just wander what you and Zach discuss together that you can’t when I am around.”

“I enjoy Zach’s company, Sir. I find your presence stifling sometimes, it feels to me like I am in some kind of energetic straight-jacket. I just have a problem with formality as I don’t like constantly having to rehash and rethink every word before saying it so I don’t sound insubordinate. I am honest and straight up. I will always give you an honest opinion when you ask me, and that will usually involve me speaking freely. If you can’t handle the truth, you are the one with the problem, not me.” He said.

That was an interesting way of putting it. He found he could actually felt more at ease with the borderline informality with which Graduate Seng approached him. Maybe Zach was right. He was coaxing him out of his shell bit by bit. Noticing the time, he decided he had had enough socialising skills classes for one day. “You are dismissed, Seng. I will see you again tomorrow.” He said, and the other man stood up, inclining his head.

“I’m afraid you won’t. I am needed for the training tomorrow. It is on the schedule. You have a pleasant evening, Sir” he said as he retreated, and softly closed the door behind him.

He pulled the schedule out of its folder and was that he indeed wouldn’t be in tomorrow, or the day after. Oh well, at least it would leave him in some kind of peace for a couple of days.

He had known he had a certain effect on people from the moment he had walked through he doors of his academy at the age of twelve. Always being stronger and faster than every one here, that fact only increasing as he grew up.

He had just never had it explained it to him in such a colourful way. This Seng certainly had a much more interesting vocabulary than most men he talked to, except for his father who had no intellectual equal here, and virtually lived in his laboratory under the power plant.

Of course he had never really enjoyed conversations with his father, as he only seemed interested in announcing when his next compulsory visits were scheduled, and how he was progressing at the hand of his treatments.

He went to shut the computers down, and just noticed that Jeh-ri had left his laptop on, as it still sat on his desk. Now it hadn’t been touched for a certain amount of time, it started to display pictures and photographs of the young man’s life.

He saw foto’s of a very old building constructed of large stone blocks, lined with smaller wooden structures, images of novices and pupils in lotus position before an altar, Leisa holding two babies. A woman he had already met years ago, tall and graceful holding a very large horse by the reigns, who he recognised as Shau-ri.

The Stone twins and Ian obviously involved in a mudfight as they where all covered with dirt, laughing widely, and a photo of Jeh-ri half hidden in shadows, his bare back turned toward him as he pulled his hair over one shoulder, revealing a very large tattoo on his back.

There also was a picture of a man who obviously was of age, his face lined and careworn. Snow white hair streaming long and straight down over broad shoulders. The feathery eyebrows above the deep laying eyes creased in a slight frown. This had to be Gareth, Nathan’s grandfather.

Then there where several group photo’s, depicting the group he had stationed here in the snow, wearing big baggy clothing, all having large flat boards tied to their feet, then sitting around a large fire in the dark, covered in various patterns of bodypaint, in deep steaming pools of water with children in a variety of age.

He turned the laptop off. All those scenes of those people who seemed so involved in their lives, sharing everything so may aspects of it, made him melancholy. No one deserves to be in pain, you just have to realize this, is what Jeh-ri had taught him. And right now he knew just what he had meant by that.

* * * * *

Jehri had walked from the main elevators to the now dark practice dome, and passed the canteen where he saw Zach and Cloud sitting together on one of the tables.
They seemed engrossed in private conversation and he just decided to walk another way, when Cloud had spotted him and called him over.

“Your working late.” The blond boy stated pointing at the clock that hung high on the wall of the large space.

“I had no idea it was that late.” Jehri said.

“What have you been up to with our beloved General, Jehr?” Zach teased.

“Well, I finished another box of files, gave the man a shiatsu, then he fucked me stupid on his desk as a thank you.” He answered.

“What!?” Cloud yelped, totally not ready for any kind of raunchy answer, but giggling anyway.

“I am kidding, Cloud. you really need to get some calluses on your soul, kid”

“No it is ok, it really is kind of funny. So what did you really do?” he asked, giggling.

“The first two things were true, but afterwards we just talked about things, about choices you make for your future and up to what point you are in control of your destiny and stuff.” Jeh-ri said. “Well, I did most of the talking, really, he just listened.”

“Oh, ok. I never realized he was into that kind of… stuff.” Zach said.

“Have you ever tried talking to him about it?” The red headed young man asked, hoping that as Zach knew him a whole lot longer would have had more success.

“He never talks about himself or what goes on in his head.” Zach said, “Not that I haven’t tried, he just clams up.“ he knew that guys in general never seemed to share what ever was rolling around in their heads to begin with, but Sephiroth seemed to have elevated hiding his mind and reflections thereof in his body language to an art-form.

The stunning silences he had shown Zach whenever he had gotten too close for comfort where sometimes worse than the snarling warnings voiced through clenched teeth. At least when he did that, he would show something. Fortunately Zach had found his skin to be quite thick, and had never given up when his friend had resorted to pulling down the shades and hiding in that aloofness that drove Zach crazy sometimes.

“You have forgotten something, haven’t you?” he said suddenly, wanting to let go of this chain of thought.

Jehri racked his brain trying to remember, then he knew. “You and have a date in the dome.”

“You still up for it?”

“I sure am. I have been sitting still for quite long enough. Just let me get Erik’s Souba.” He said and trotted off.

When he re entered the dome, Zach was trying to turn the lights on, but couldn’t find the right circuit breaker.
“Leave the lights off, Zach.” he said. “I can use the night training.”

“Have it your way.” He said and he could hear Jeh-ri swinging the double blade of the Souba around to get warmed up. “Are you sure you can see enough, though?”

“I can find you blindfolded if I had to, Zach.” he said, moving up just a tiny bit in his extra sensory perception, seeing his lover’s energy sparkle with excitement. “When ever you are ready, dear.”

Cloud had settled in a corner of the dome, wanting to see his, and just could make the two combatants out as his eyes where getting used to the dark.

They met halfway, their swords ringing, sending sparks in the dark as they tested each others shifting techniques and explored flaws in their defence and attacks.

Jehri being slightly smaller and lighter, using more of the hand-to-hand combat to make up for the lack in strength as he was using a lighter sword, forcing Zach to use his arms and legs to block and retaliate, turning the sparring session into a wrestling match with swords.

Zach didn’t really seem to feel for the confusion in combat, and took Jeh-ri by the shoulder.
“Stop with the hand to hand stuff, and learn to use your Souba, get stronger, Jehr.” He said to him.

Jeh-ri nodded and approached, as they started to use only their swords again, slowly at first, but gaining in speed and weight so fast, Cloud had a hard time telling how they could see what they were doing.

Suddenly, Zach’s buster sword came down on the Souba, as Jehri twisted his upperhand around, caught the sword between the double blade of the Souba, and swung one leg over so he caught Zach’s arms between his legs, while facing away.

Then cart wheeling through and using his bodyweight to force the weapon from Zach’s hands as the huge blade fell to the floor with a resounding crash. As Jeh-ri swung his Souba around and held the tip just inches away from Zach’s neck.

“Oh, by Shiva. I did it.” Zach heard Jeh-ri say softly. He had finally managed to execute the move he had seen Erik and Enak use with so much ease, now that he finally managed to do it himself, he covered his mouth with his hand to mask his surprise.
Cloud came jumping up to Jeh-ri and put his arms around his waist.

“Wow, you beat Zach!” he said.

“See what I mean? You have to stop falling back on the hand to hand techniques. If you just focus on the one combat form, you get better.” Zach said.

Jeh-ri nodded. “I see what you mean. Thank you.” He said wiping the sweat off with the hem of his singlet. “I guess I just enjoy getting into physical contact too much.”

There was a sudden sound of clapping from the opposite side of the dome, as the General came in. Had he been watching all along? Jeh-ri felt Cloud’s sharp intake of breath as he was about to flee, but he got hold of his arm and made him stay.

“How long have you two been meeting like this?” He asked.

“Ehh about a couple of times a week.” Zach said.

“I see. You are doing well, Graduate.” He said and even though he couldn’t see his face due to the darkness in the dome, they could both tell he was smiling.
“You didn’t have to fall back to trickery to win this round.” He said. “It means your skills and strength has improved.”

“Thank you, Sir. I have a great teacher, though.” Jeh-ri said, and wrapped one arm around Zach’s sweaty neck.

“Now, you try that move on me.” he said and now he could see the feint light coming from the outside of the dome glint of his Masamune.

“I hope you don’t mind if we don’t turn this into a full session?” Jehri asked, already quite exhausted. The general nodded in agreement.

Jehri started out slowly at first trying to find the same opening Zach had unconsciously supplied him with, but Sephiroth couldn’t be goaded into the same downward swing that allowed him to catch the others blade.

He had indeed been watching, knowing now what to avoid. Jeh-ri backed away as he was blocking the sideways swings and suddenly saw the pattern emerging horizontally instead of vertically and also decided to try the move from the other side.

Catching he great length of the Masamune and flipping his legs forward toward in a diagonal motion toward the General’s head who was caught off guard, but bent backwards to avoid Jeh-ri’s feet, as he landed and twisted the other way, his opponents sword still pinned in the Souba, using it as a spring to push himself up, but then felt the hard fingers of the General grab the back of his shirt and throw him across the dome where he did manage to land on his feet as he slid along the floor.

“Nice try, you didn’t approach me the same way you did with Zach. You changed strategy. Why?” he asked as he walked up to Jeh-ri who now stood bend over double, barely able to stand.

“You have been watching us. You knew how the move would be executed and would have blocked it. I wouldn’t be able to wrench your sword from you anyway. At most I can use that move to land a decent blow to your head.”

“Why couldn’t you wrench his sword from him, Jehr?” Zach asked, who approached now that he saw the session had ended.

“You kidding me? The man has hands like vices, Zach. Besides, he is just letting me know who is boss, aren’t you, Sir?” Jehri smiled at the dark figure, silhouetted against the feint light.

“Was there ever any doubt in your mind, Seng?” He asked, his voice amused.

“Not for one second, Sir.” He answered. “Permission to collapse in a quivering heap, Sir?”
he asked, pressing his hand to the sharp stabbing sensation in his side.

“Permission granted, Graduate.” He said, and briefly inclined his head before walking out.

“I seriously need to get some rest. We are going to use arrows on the 1st class cadets tomorrow.” He said, putting one arm around Zach’s waist as they left the dome.

“I guess sex is out of the question, then?” Zach asked, teasing.

“I am afraid so, sweetie, you have your boss to thank for that. He managed to burn the last bit of energy our of me.” Jeh-ri said as they had arrived at the guest room.

“I’m going to have to kick his ass over that. You are right, though, it is great foreplay.” He whispered, as he embraced the smaller man, kissing him fondly.

“I suppose you could take it out on Cloud instead.” He said softly.
Zach grinned wickedly at his blond friend, who was already slowly walking toward his dorm.

“You are in trouble, Strife!” he yelled suddenly, starting to run after Cloud who broke into a run, trying to stay ahead of his faster friend.

“Run, Cloud, run!!” Jeh-ri called out after the two, and gratefully showered and sank onto his hide to get some rest.

continued in ´indoctrination´

Teaser for next chapter
Zach accidentally shoots Jeh-ri during an exersize, jenova rears her ugly head as Sephiroth gets into a provocative converstation.