Sephiroth's soul redemption

Jenova revealed


They continued talking as they walked through different hallways, Jehri explaining things about the world he lived in, the stark contrasts to the one he lived in before, and finally arrived at the General’s private rooms. He was quite startled at first, entering something which was considered by almost every one as a holiest of holy, except for Zach.

As he took his boots off at the door and motioned for him to follow him, he did the same, grateful to take the heavy boots off. Then followed through a second door, into the room beyond where he watched him take the armour off that he wore almost continually, placing it on a lower table.

He was glad to see the armour the unit members had given him was hung from a t shaped standard. At seeing the smile on his face, he smiled back. “It is a good armour, I don’t know if I will wear it again, this just suits me better.” He said, rapping his knuckles on the metal shoulder guards on the table.

Jeh-ri nodded, understanding. The General walked out to the adjoined bedroom, re-appearing moments later, having taken off his overcoat and boots, wearing nothing but his black pants. Now the other could see his feet, long and thin as his hands, bared as well without those damn gloves he always seemed to wear.

“Just put those on the table.” he said gesturing to the files the shorter man still carried, hugging them to his chest, as his last line of defence, but obeyed hesitantly.

“Are you tired, Jeh-ri?” he asked, pulling strands of his hair out and down over his shoulders, and he leant against the doorframe that separated the main living area from his bedroom.
It had been a very long day, but being in this room that had virtually no furniture but the two small tables and the large white bed made him aware of the awkward position he was in.

He shook his head in answer, and could feel his cheeks burning as he gestured for him to come into his bedroom.

“Sir, are you hitting on me?” He asked trying to keep the tone in his voice light, but failed miserably.

Sephiroth just smiled lightly and tapped one hand on his shoulder, indicating he wanted Jeh-ri to rub his shoulders. “You’re the one who suggested it.” He reminded him. “Your not pulling out on me after that little display you and Zach put on the other week, are you?”

He laughed at his assumption. Stupid!
The tension dropping out of his head, feeling relieved, walked up to the bed, and knelt down behind him. Gathering up the veil of hair, he quickly twisted it around his hand and tossed it over one shoulder, where it formed a silver puddle in his lap.
“You’re doing a lot better, Seph.” He said, carefully, using the nickname Zach always used, but the other just looked over his shoulder, the corner of his mouth curling into a crooked smile.

Seeing that the knots Jeh-ri encountered every time were now almost gone, the muscles giving easily as he at first gently pushed and tested their resistance, but finding very little. As his head started to drop further and further down, he reached over and took his chin, lifting it back up.

“Why don’t you just lay down, let me get at your entire back. He stood up, and took his pants off, and pulled a sheet to cover his lower body. Not out of his own embarrassment, but for the other’s benefit, having noticed his slight discomfort several times before. He climbed on top of him, straddling his lower back just at the height of his hips.

Finally having access to his entire spine was exiting, him surrendering like this was very uncharacteristic. Quickly he ran his hand down the other’s skin, which was warm and smooth. He noticed now the several rough calluses on the palms of his hands and having a lot greater surface to cover, and would need something to ease the friction.

“Don’t, I hate oil. It makes me feel dirty.” He said into his mattress, guessing why the other was hesitating.

“You’ll get raw, though.” He said.

“I’ve had so many Mako treatments for so long, I’m not worried.”

He started at his shoulders, gently prodding the small tendons around his vertebrae, working his way down to all most his tailbone. Back up again across his scapula’s first left, then swinging to the right, pushing against tighter areas with the heel of his hands, gathering larger layers of overlapping muscles shifting them around, not afraid of using his bodyweight to get in deeper, knowing this one wasn’t for a soft treatment.

Jeh-ri could feel him melting, walls of resistance slowly disappearing. As he could barely notice him breathing Jeh-ri guessed he must have dozed off for a bit. This was a good sign as he now felt comfortable enough. He was getting tired, working he way across such a large body was quite a job. He levelled the depth of the treatment off as his hands now started to ache and just lightly ran the palms of his hand up and down the bones of his spine.

Suddenly the man under him lifted his head sideways and brought up his arm so he could take the hand that had drifted down along his side. Then he brought the hand around under him, to his chest. The redhead couldn’t stay upright, being completely pulled off balance, and laid down against his side, his face pressed between his shoulders.. He wormed his way down a bit more, so he could press an ear to his back, listening to his heartbeat steady and slow.

Fighting the urge to trace his tongue along the well defined line of his shoulder blade, he let his breath slide along the pale skin beside his face.

“Stay with me, please.” He whispered into the pillow. Okay, fine. So he just stayed where he was, to afraid to disturb him, his mind swimming in Sephiroth’s presence, so strong, so heavy all around him like a shroud. Then he let go of the hand so he take his clothes off, and get more comfortable.
He took one of the pillows and laid down in the blanket Erik had given the General, that was still unused on the foot end of the bed. Then just settled down and just listen to him breathing so quietly it was barely audible.

So different from Zach who was always making noises and had snored on more that one occasion. Just to watch him sleep, be at peace, and now could be subjected to intense observation without making him feel uncomfortable. This was as close as he wanted to get to this man, as his insurmountable shields were down, it was plenty good enough, as he drifted off to sleep not too long afterwards.

Sephiroth awoke with a start somewhere halfway through the night, finding Jeh-ri had moved to the foot end of the bed, wrapped in the huge ceremonial blanket, his coppery red hair adding warmth to the black, grey and white pattern. He was breathing softly, steadily, but suddenly making a noise; talking softly.. “ .. Nate.. he is… leaping.. I cant.. “ Then he stirred and slid a hand along his leg, caressing the skin.

“Hmm Zach.. your leg feels.. cold” then he turned on his other side and falling silent again. Then a figure caught his eye, it was perched on the chair that always stood in the corner of the room, but for some reason now it had been moved to the foot end of the bed.

He could see the eyes gleaming in the figures head, distinguish the face, the strong jaw, the high cheek bones, but the arms and legs folded under itself, at an odd angle, ready to pounce.. then the eyes became even larger and now he could see the slight gleam of teeth, too large to be human, and the creature dropped its head, growling deeply in a chest that seemed too slight to produce such a ferile noise.

Then it tilted its jaw forward and hissed, spat at him like an angry predator, and flew at him, ready to rip his throat out. He threw his arms up, ready to parry the attack, but it never came. He could feel the warm form of Jeh- ri’s body shift in his sleep, the skin of their legs touching. That was weird.

He had been having dreams about a white Sukha tiger roaming the corridors, encountering him from time to time, but this was something quite different, and al together very disturbing.

Jeh-ri woke up, and saw he had been watching him sleep.
“You and Zach been lovers for quite some time now, haven’t you ?” he asked softly.
Seeing the startled look on the other’s face he said: “You talk in your sleep. Jeh-ri. Are you actually ever quiet.?” He asked.

The smaller man could tell what he was getting at, always having thought he talked too much and frequently telling him so.
“You insisted on me staying here.” He said pointedly, “Good morning to you too by the way.” Not ready to be harassed now as he had just woken up.
He looked at him sideways, and spotted the look of undisguised amusement.

“You are cranky.” He said.

“I am glad to yet again be such a source of amusement to you, General.”
He said, gathering up his clothes off the floor and stalked off into the bathroom, feeling defensive.
“I don’t appreciate being grilled about my private life so early in the morning, Seph” He said, and started to get dressed, pulling on his clothes as fast as possible, wanting to get the hell out of here.

“I don’t think I like your tone of voice, Graduate.” Sephiroth said, his voice slightly edgy, feeling the defensive state of mind of the other man, deciding this was something to be explored. He had gotten up after the smaller man and was now watching him from the door.

“You invited me in here, into your bedroom, and expect me to now be al formal again?” He said, his voice rising to match his level of aggravation.
“Just wait until we leave this room, will you? Then you can dominate me from one end of the Shinra building to the next, but I don’t want to be treated this way after being nothing less then a friend to you.” he snapped at him, looking at his face, which had become cold as stone again, and realising what he had done. He had triggered the other man’s anger so he could in turn retreat again in that infuriating fortress of arrogance of his.

“Zach and I sleep together on occasion, and he is flexible enough to accept certain aspects of my physiology, for the rest he and I are training partners and he is a great teacher for me.” He said, keeping his voice level, knowing that yelling at him would be like throwing bricks at walls of solid stone. As he wanted to step out the bathroom door, he blocked his way with one arm, then he pinned the smaller man against the wall with his other arm.

“Let me go, Seph.” He said, still angry.

The General was still quite naked and his anger was making room for embarrassment again. His hands now shifted to his upper arms, and he pulled the other into his chest, trying to make him look into his eyes again. Jeh-ri’s head started to buzz and his heart started to race, as he pressed himself against the other man’s frame, who was a whole head taller at least, pinning him to the cold bathroom wall. He slid his arms around Jeh-ri’s shoulders, drawing himself up to his full length, so the other could rest his face against his throat. Sephiroth placed one hand behind his head and dug his fingers into the soft red hair.

“What are you trying to do to me?” he asked, “If you were just trying to find out how things are between me and Zach, why didn’t you just ask?”

“I did, you got huffy and stalked off” he said.

“Because you chose to criticize me about the fact that I talk in my sleep.” He parried.
“I can cope with you just fine like that in a formal situation, but it is a bit stark when you’ve just woken up, and have spend the night sharing a bed together. Your comment was like a slap in the face to me.” he said, softly tucking some of the hair around his face behind his ear, just to he could get a clearer look at his eyes.
“How do you expect your social skills to evolve if you keep treating every facet of your life as a military campaign, Seph” he said.

“It is all I know.” He said, his head sinking down again against the smaller man’s shoulder, facing away.

He felt so sorry for him, not having had anyone around to show him any kind of nest warmth, no family to grow up with except for that sadistic sick twisted little man who cared for nothing but to satisfy his lust to distort and twist everything he touched, all in the name of so called science.

He could sense loneliness in him then, the void he had filled with dedication to this place, even his friendship with Zach, who seemed to be the only one who ever came close to him with something that could be seen as unconditional love. He dropped his arms in a helpless gesture, moved off to his bed again, and sat down on the edge, then let himself fall back.

“You afraid of me?” he asked suddenly, as he noticed, as Jeh-ri was still leaning against the outside wall of the bathroom and had not followed him to the bed.

He shook his head. No, I am not afraid, just nervous as hell.
He sat up, and held his hand out as to invite the other to join him.

Jeh-ri moved over hesitantly, but walked around to the other side and laid down on his side, facing the silver haired man’s back. He suddenly caught a trace of something on the mattress, something very familiar, buried deep under the sheets. He wandered why he hadn’t noticed it before, but realised that Seph had laid on that exact spot the previous evening.

He couldn’t resist burying his face in it, sensing the presence, the memories there.

“What is it?” the other man asked who was now watching Jeh-ri run his hands over the material, caressing it.

“Enak is still here, I can feel him.” He said, recognising his energy, rubbing his face against the sheet like a cat. “You enjoyed him very intensely, didn’t you?”

“I think the feeling was mutual.” Sephiroth said dryly, not really wanting to discuss the event.

“I can tell, he left an extremely pleasant impression here, and you still let it work in on you.” He was glad he had his face pressed against the mattress, so the other man couldn’t see the undisguised mirth on his face. Consider it payback time for you interrogating me about Zach, he thought.

Jeh-ri turned toward him, and sat up, folding legs under him. “I know why you brought me here. You want me to leap with you alone.”

“I got the idea you and I alone could achieve more.” He said, frowning slightly, trying to find a more accurate description of their last experience.

“Zach held us back, he lacked capacity.” Jeh-ri agreed, “He was afraid too, turning him into..”

“Dead weight.. “ Sephiroth supplied. “I know it sounds uncharitable, but it is accurate, isn’t it.”

Jeh-ri nodded. “I had hoped that you being with him, he’d be more confident, but you and he are just of such different calibres, I couldn’t bridge the gap.” He said. “Between the two of you, I was almost literally torn apart. I had to keep you down to his level.”
He wandered at how far they would be able to go, unrestrained, with all that power hidden inside the mighty Generals ghost.

“You realize you lifted all the water out of the bath, when we were rebirthing Erik, don’t you?” he said, looking intently at the other man’ face trying to guess how he would react.
“Can you remember what you were feeling just prior to the implosion?”

Sephiroth mulled on it a while, reaching back. “I wanted everyone to stop touching me, not only physically, but energetically as well. You all moved through me, and I just wanted it to stop. It was.. too close for comfort.”

“After the water crashed back down again, we all let go. The ritual had been completed.” He said. “You have a lot of power in you, you know. I have no idea of how far we could actually go without.. getting physical.” He said, hoping the other would catch on without having to go into too much detail. “It helps if there is a certain level of attraction. It makes certain boundries easier to overcome.” He continued, more talking to himself than to the other.

“You need me to be attracted to you, then?” he said turning toward the smaller man. Jeh-ri felt self-conscious and ugly at the tone he said it in. The gap between him and the General seemed larger than ever, and he had no idea of how to overcome it. He felt a dull pain rapidly spread outward from his heart. He knew that having genuine feelings for his man would be the stupidest thing he could possibly do, but why the heartache then?

“This leaping that we do with our partners, we only do it with people we trust. When we want to share more than just the physical aspects. I don’t know how things will work out between us. I know you don’t trust anybody, but I believe there are different levels to trust, just as there are different levels to love.” He explained, while he hung his head as the subject was rapidly becoming too personal for his liking.
“I have tried to go further with Zach a couple of times, but the same thing happened as last week.”

“You think Zach doesn’t love you enough to let go?”

“Maybe. He just wants to keep things within boundries of his capacity, only focussing on the physical aspects of our relationship. I have been involved with people on the same level, and it always just bleeds to death after a while.”

“And that is due to a lack of emotional growth between you and the other.” Sephiroth concluded. That is why it never went any further between him and his other interests, fleeting and few in number as they were, he realized. He had just never seen the point in investing emotion in any of his contacts, Zach being the only exception, and even that had simmered down to just a sometimes awkward but solid friendship. “So you are just enjoying it while it lasts. Aren’t you afraid of hurting him if you let it carry on too long?”

“He knows I am not staying here. My assignment will end within the next few months. Zach is a big boy, Sephiroth, He will be sad for a while, but don’t think for one minute that I won't miss him.”

“Then explain something to me. Why the loyalty issue the other week when I tried to persuade you?” The taller man asked, trying to point out that fidelity hadn’t really been necessary as the relationship was doomed to end regardless.

“You were high, I was exhausted, and I will decide when and how I end my relationships, Seph. I owe Zach that much.” He said, trying not to be mad as the other’s lack of understanding.

“Is that why are you hesitant about getting ‘physical’ with me as you so eloquently put it? You are afraid that Zach will end what is between you and him if you sleep with me?”

Jeh-ri nodded. “I wouldn’t blame him, I have no idea how he would respond. It tried to get an idea about it, but he was kind of vague.”

“I think you worry about nothing.” He said.

“But that is not the only thing I worry about. I do work a little differently from what you are used to, Seph, I have already admitted to you that I am half female, and you are definitely not attracted to women. If your body goes stone cold on me, you will hurt us both, badly. Once committed there is no going back.”

“You are afraid I will reject you?” he asked his voice pensive.

Jeh-ri nodded. “You can’t take me as you are used to doing with a man. It simply doesn’t work that way.”

So it will be an interesting experience of both of us, regardless, he thought. He looked at the figure sitting opposite him on the bed. He was closely inspecting the lines on the palms of his hands. Sephiroth watched the other as his mouth worked words he didn’t choose to speak out loud, as if he were engrossed in some inner conflict. He looked at the body, the muscles small but well defined under the singlet, knowing the limbs held a strength that belied their size. His long red hair tucked behind his ears, the tattooed bracelets around the upper arms and wrists twitching as the muscles underneath bunched and slid around.

“What about you, though? Are you attracted to me?” He asked, his eyes narrowing as his mouth pulled into a slight crooked smile.

“Don’t play coy with me, Seph, do you think the flame asks this of the moth that comes up to it to be burned?”

“That is very poetic of you, Jeh-ri” he said, placing emphasis on the name. The other realised this was the first time he had actually used it, always calling him by his surname or rank, and looked at him with large eyes. “Besides, you are attracted to me, but won't act on it, who is playing coy here?”

Jeh-ri snorted softly at that. ”I don’t act on feelings if I don’t know if they are going to be answered or welcomed, besides, you don’t have to act on everything you feel.”

He took Jeh-ri’s head in his hands and kissed him square and solid the mouth. Jeh-ri’s breath faltered at the sudden and unexpected attempt at intimacy, as the other’s tongue worked its way in as his kiss deepened, becoming more demanding. He smiled inwardly as he felt the smaller man kiss him back, his mouth yielding, enveloping his tongue, sucking it in, holding it hostage. Then releasing gently, his mouth moved off to his ear and down to his neck. Jeh-ri squeezed his eyes shut and rested his face against the large bare chest in front of him.

He seemed to make a decision then, as he pulled his head back.
“I felt how powerful you are, I need to take precautions, if I don’t, we could end up going in to the beyond, and our bodies will die here.” Jeh-ri realized, frowning at the inplication, he was about to mate with someone so unspeakably powerful, he would be able to tear the universe a new black hole if he wanted to.

“How long do you need.” He asked, pleased at Jeh-ri’s agreement to do this for him.

“Give me today to set things up, then we can leap tonight. You want to do it here, or next door?”

He thought it over, thinking about the pleasant impressions he already had in his bed, left there by Nathan and Enak. He wanted to be in his own surroundings, to feel safe. “We do it here.” He said, and Jeh-ri nodded.

“You will have to promise me one thing, I have sword exams in two days time, you will have to stay away from me for at least two whole days.”

“Why? You never had to with Zach?” he asked, frowning.

“I never took Zach all the way. If I had done that, he would have gone mad. I have always kept him at bay, rebuking him if he got to persistant. If I hadn’t, my sim might have started seeing him as a potential sim partner and could have implanted him.”

“You mean, impregnate him with a sim, just like you have been?” he asked, knowing what the other was on about, he pursed his lips in agreement. “I will stay away. I will regret not being able to see you go through your exams, though. You still owe me a sparring session.”

Jeh-ri laughed at that. It really was the last thing on his mind, now with this evening’s events to focus on. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he hoped the other would lock the door behind him, just to stop him from bolting as doubts and nervousness were steadily building within him.

“Would you like for me to sent some food up to you?” he asked, as he got dressed.

“No, it is better if I fast today.” He answered.

Sephiroth nodded, and headed out to work for the rest of the day, leaving Jeh-ri to mull things over in private.

* * * *

When he arrived back at his rooms that evening, he had a nervous feeling slowly churning around in his stomach. It had eradicated his need for food that evening, as he just wanted to be left alone. As he entered the small hall that preceded his room he took off his boots, placing them beside Jeh-ri’s black boots, and taking off his shoulder guards. He suddenly realised that this was the first time he had come home to someone, that he had entered his rooms and found a second pair of boots to put his beside.

Then he walked through the living area, which was in total darkness, to the adjoined bedroom, he could already smell the heady scent of sage and sweetgrass. His bed had been pulled away from the wall and now stood in the centre of the bedroom. Crystals and candles had been placed the same way as before, in the corners of the room, only the strips of cloth had now been hung from the walls.

The large blanket that just stayed at the foot-end now was spread across the whole of the bed. He briefly looked back into the living-area, and now could make out the still form of the young man, sitting in lotus position, his body facing the window, lit by the cold light of the moon.

He moved over to him, and caught the slight scent of soap. The redhead had taken a shower earlier, and he gently stroked one damp stand of hair away from the pale still face. Jeh-ri appeared to not have noticed his presence as he seemed to be in some kind of trance.
He was now wearing his dark brown silk Kimono, his hands hiding in the sleeves. He took a deep breath and slowly turned his face toward the General, who had sat down beside him in the same position, looking at the clear night sky. The young man reached over to him and took his hand. He pulled the glove off and interlocked his fingers with those of the other. Sephiroth felt a warm tingling in the palm of his hand.

Tho she ne at ne ka et et uun, General?
- Are you ready to make your journey, General?-

The taller man nodded in answer, not really knowing what to make of the soft whispering in his ghost, enabling him to understand that weird battle language of the Altheans.

Jeh-ri stood up, slowly gracefully and pulled the other up with him. He slowly reached for the clasp that held his coat closed, undid it and let the huge leather coat slide off his shoulders, draping it across a chair that stood in the corner of the room.

:The General took his chin, and placed a long warm kiss on his mouth, as he undid his pants himself, letting them drop to the floor. Jeh-ri held up a small sake cup filled with silvery pink fluid, letting the edge rest against the taller man’s bottom lip, as he slowly opened his mouth and allowed the red haired man to pour the contents into his mouth. The taste was salty sweet, and thick.

Ir kuun se at?
What was that ?-

He asked, in perfect Nay-ta-uut.

Re ke na ti riit. Ner we she re ai nu the ei, sim it is sha ne ty ry et.
-Insurance for later. It will tie you to me for tonight only, making it easier for you to shift your boundries.-

He could feel something starting to swirl around in his head. Something started to tickle in his lower abdomen, like a soft hairy caterpillar was making its way around in there, making him want to laugh, sending pleasant sparks to his solar plexus making his heart begin to race. He bend down again to kiss the smaller redhead, more forceful now, as what ever it was that had been given him seemed to egg him on. He reached behind the redhead’s back and untied the knot of the sash around his waist, pulling it free in one fluid motion, and sliding the Kimono off his shoulders. He lifted the man’s small frame easily up and carried him off to his bed, feeling the fuzzy material of the blanket against his knees and arms, as Jeh-ri wormed his way on his back to the head end of the bed.

As the taller man laid down against his side, hovering over him, Jeh-ri let the other’s long tresses trail through his fingers. The moonlight poured in through the un-shuttered window, and illuminated the silvery strands, forming a cold contrast to the candles that spread a warm golden light around the room. His hair now forming a veil all around their heads as he laid down, on top of the smaller man, cocooning them together, their gazes locked.

”What a beautiful web you have caught me in, General.” he whispered softly. Then he closed his eyes, and placed his forehead against the other’s.

He felt the man gently move his hand, stroking his chest, circling his navel with one fingertip. As he moved to kiss again, he said; “One drop of tenderness can swallow a whole ocean, Seph,” rising up to meet him, as their mouths met, and the other man slid his long fingers between his legs, exploring the warm wetness.
He wanted to slide his fingers in, but Jeh-ri stopped him.

“Please don’t, you’ll spoil it” he breathed against his mouth.

“Spoil what?”

“First penetration, it is the best part for me.”

“Won’t it hurt?” he asked.

“A bit at first, but I like it that way, being forced open, conquered.” Jeh-ri said, realizing it sounded kind of kinky, strange. He took the hand that was still running along the edges of the fleshy rose that started to ache as it opened wider, getting ready to receive, and guided the hand to the front, needing that part to be sated and quiet. He had always regretted not being able to hold out longer, not having any restraint, feeling inadequate and slightly embarrassed he came fast in the hard grip.

Sephiroth sniggered slightly and looked at the flushed man under him. “Zach warned me of this, I didn’t believe him.”

“It never gets a lot of attention, that is why it is always over so fast. Once woken up, it doesn’t die all they way down, like you do, though.” Jeh-ri said, his breath steadying out.

“Really, let’s explore that, shall we?” he said, looking at the smaller man who’s face contorted as he took the subject of discussion into his mouth. Usually after initial satiation all sensation kind of bled away, leaving his member quite numb, but now a strange cold feeling spread out from deep inside his groin, aching, itching, feeling the womb contract painfully as another spasm gripped hold.

He contorted under the man on top who held him down in an iron grip, trying to get away from the mouth and hand enveloping him.
“Please, stop.” He breathed, his face screwed up and his eyes closed tightly

Sephiroth slid his way up to the others face, enjoying the fevered look in his eyes. He pressed his mouth close lipped against the others, and when the lips under him opened, sliding his tongue in, he let the semen he just got flow down. He laughed softly as the small man under him swallowed and grabbed his neck, digging his fingers into his hair. He let him have his way for a bit, then took a handful of the thick red hair and pulled his head down on the bed.

He turned the smaller man over on his stomach.

He knew what was coming, having been through it with Nathan, but not needing it with Zach, as he probably found the other option nicer. Not this one, though, he spread Jeh-ri’s legs and after slicking his fingers with the fluids gathered between the red head’s legs, started to work his way in. Sephiroth breath hissed as the other reached back and found his building erection, exploring him back. He pushed the small hand away and pulled the other onto his knees.

Sephiroth was quite pleased to find the other adapt and stretch as he pushed three fingers in.
Then deciding to have had enough foreplay, he pushed in, forcing the body under him into his arms, feeling the tight ring close convulsively around him, as Jeh-ri fought to relax, to accept.

Jeh-ri fled back into his mind, not wanting to be there.. what the hell… was I thinking.. that I could handle.. he mewled softly, burying his face in one of Sephiroth’s hands. As it hurt badly, feeling his hands tremble as his fingernails dug into the hard muscles of the other’s arm.

Sephiroth was getting worried as he didn’t feel the man under him breathe, but after he gently squeezed his side he drew a great shuddering breath, and growled deep in his chest as he started to move, pushing in deeper.

“I thought you’d be used to this, having been with Nathan.. “ He murmured, trying to keep his amusement to himself, enjoying some twisted amusement at sensing the tortured little redhead struggle under him.

“I have, it is just that Zach never.. ” He groaned, as he buried his face in the large pale hands again, biting into the thumb.

The body under him coiled tight like a spring. Something was missing, then he realized what. He slid the long fingers of one hand in the other opening between the smaller man’s legs, and curled them inward, finding there what he tried to stimulate from behind. Jeh-ri took a deep smooth breath, and relaxed in his arms. He smiled against the shoulder under his mouth. Of course, he should have known. All the pleasure centres were hidden somewhere else, that’s why he couldn’t take him the way he was used to.

“Just allow me my pleasures for a moment longer, I will allow you yours soon enough, Jeh-ri.” He whispered as the other stopped clawing at his arm and relaxed more.

He made soft shushing noises in the redhead’s ear, trying to make him relax further, running his fingertips across his spine, as he felt tears drop into the palm of his hand. Jeh-ri started to unwind as the other placed a very soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. He went totally limp again as he withdrew, and rolled the man on his back

“It has been a while for me.. that way.” He said trying to clear his throat, and sat, gathering himself up. “My turn.” He said, as he climbed on top of the silver-head who’s eyes went wide with wonder.

Does he think he can..

Jeh-ri took the other’s length into his hands, slicking it with saliva.
“Don’t worry, this will hurt me more than it will hurt you.. at first“ He said, as he let go and with a quick twist of his hips managed to scoop the hard length up, and sank down, letting it work it’s own way in, deeper and deeper.

Sephiroth felt the blood starting to pound at the back of his neck as he felt himself being slid in, forcing the silky wetness open, the muscles inside twisting around his erection, enveloping him as he felt something else sink down around him like a sleeve. He felt his heart leap into his throat as it tightened around him, the embrace becoming almost unbearable as his breath raced through his chest, trying to ease his confusion. He dug his hard fingers into the hips of the man on top of him, searching for purchase as his eyes refused to see, his ears deafened with the blood rushing, and as he climaxed, let out a loud moan of disappointment.

No! I don’t want it to be over this fast!

Jeh-ri threw his head back as he received him, digging his fingertips into the muscles of the chest under his hands. He breathed through clenched teeth, his hair forming a coppery veil as he dropped his head against his chest, and collapsed briefly, gathering himself back together.
“ Aahhh soo much Mako.. how do you stand it..” he moaned as he felt it burn it’s way along inside.

“I’m sorry, I should have warned… “ But he never got to finish his sentence as he felt something moving inside him, as he laid on his back. He felt it working its way in, taking him over, rebuilding his erection after allowing it to dissipate first. He could feel something move inside his groin now stimulating areas with gentle prodding of tiny fingers. He didn’t feel afraid, and he wondered at that, as maybe he should. But this sensation was way to fascinating to shy away from.

The horror of it was too unique, as pain eased and now turned him on to no end, and he knew he would never get to experience anything like this ever again.
Digging his fingers into the muscles of the hips holding him prisoner now, pressing the body down upon him, he planted his feet down, and thrust in, once, as hard as he could.
Jeh-ri flicked his hair back, clearing his face, and laughed, deep in his throat. His eyes two large pale blue disks as they reflected what little light was in the room.

“How do you like to be back-fucked, General?” the redhead sneered, lust flaming in his eyes. Great Creator he was big, as the sim had pulled him all the way into the womb, embracing his whole length to the root.

He thrust in again, as hard as he could stand it. “I suppose this is payback for me bum-fucking you before?” He snarled back, but couldn’t help but smile, as another wave moved through him, making him arch his back.

“Honey, shush. This is just business as usual for me.” The other sighed. “Now be a dear, and flip us over, will you?”

Jeh-ri moved one leg under Sephiroth’s hip, and got him to wrap his arms around him as they rolled over, Sephiroth now on top again. The smaller man took his hands into his, locking their fingers together, and started to roll his hips against the mate on top of him, enticing him to start thrusting in again. “We’ll go up with the next wave, Seph.. brace yourself.” He breathed against the pale throat above him, the salt sweat biting into the skin of his lips.

Burying his mouth into the muscles of the shoulder pressing against his face, as the lean hard body over him started to move again, growing more forceful, more demanding as he seemed to expand and grow. Sephiroth didn’t as much break free, he burst forth as the restraints of his physical form were forced to separate with his next climax, heaving out and up, as Jeh-ri and him both tore away and fused.

“Do it, Sephiroth, go and be all that you are.. I am no longer afraid.. “ The soft angelic voice in his ghost said, sounding a lot higher than he was used to hearing.

… Is this what he would have sounded like if he where….. Expanding even further, becoming the deity he was created to be, becoming leviathan, unrestrained as he tore straight up, and left the safety of the planet’s aura. He knew he didn’t need it, would have no need for it in the future when his fate would draw to its inevitable conclusion, but none of that mattered now.

Now he could see the life-stream pulsing through the darkness of the universe, ponderously twisting and swirling. Humbly obeying the will of the Creator as it held the matter of which …the Great Mystery was made of, like a womb. Filled with life and power, all those uncountable lives pulsing in there, the beauty of it singing into him. Greeting him, hailing him, as it whispering to him with the promise of all the possibilities there as he saw one tiny snowflake break free, drifting to meet with them.

Jeh-ri shivered with anticipation as he saw what was happening within the lifestream, feeling afraid and confused as the life-seed that greeted them. He stretched forth his hand seeing it was still connected with Sephiroth’s

What is your name…child.?.

Serephine… I have chosen you.. to be my parents…

Are you sure? … there is real danger for you with me now…

You have to find my other father too.. then I will be safe, mother.. be blessed with me..

“What is happening?” Sephiroth wandered, as he felt the ghost of the new life tickle against his mind.

Father.. mother awaits your gifting.. don’t be afraid..

Jeh-ri looked at the partner with him and through him. Jehrica knew, having been through this twice with Nathaniel, the father of her two sets of twins. The sim with them stretched forth, welcoming the spark that had separated into two and drifted down through the crowns of the two entities entwined together, passing down lower and lower, and re-fusing in the energy of the smaller.


The life force of the new child contracted, then erupted in a dance of fire. Seething as it drew on both their life-forces to forge itself into existence. Sephiroth felt it course through his entire being, crying with joy. Sensing how it was feeding on him, drawing on his strength, he wanted to break free, causing him to streak across space, twisting and careening wildly out of control. The sound of their passage roaring in Jeh-ri ears as he was afraid to loose all sense of hearing, even though he didn’t have ears in this form.

He had no idea how far and fast they were going, as distance held no meaning on this level. He just held on as the sense in worrying seemed to cease to exist. Sephiroth ruled, reigned, without equal. Allowing himself to be absorbed into the vastness of the others consciousness, the last of his defences laid to waste, as he was now his, the body back on the prayer blanket got filled with the essence of the man moving inside him.

Jeh-ri, it burns.. I want it to stop..

Then we have to go back.. we cant last much longer anyway.. time to go home, Seph..

Reluctantly he allowed him to be steered back to his home, homing in on the song of the life stream. Seeing their bodies still entwined, moving together, as he felt them build up to another wave, riding the backflow in like the tide. Slipping back in felt like walking into warm water, as there was a slightest of resistance. His heart leapt in his chest as all sensation returned to him, the sweat on his skin, the aching in his groin as the sim withdrew. He felt the dampness of Jeh-ri’s breath against his shoulder as he propped himself up on one of his knuckles. His arm trembled with the effort as all his strength seem to be drained from him. One arm cradled the smaller man’s head that moaned as their bodies disengaged.

He must have passed out at some stage, as he felt the chilled damp skin of the man under him, his breathing slow and steady. He carefully got off, rolling onto his side feeling cold and stiff. He felt exhaustion steal over him as he pulled the covers out from under Jeh-ri’s still form, and covered them both up, pulling the shivering body of the copper haired man close, his face screwed up into a scowl, and he could see his eyes move restlessly under the tightly closed lids.

Jeh-ri couldn’t respond to Sephiroth who moved them around on the bed, as the presence of the sim demanded all his attention.

The gene code.. it is dangerous.. it is tainted with something that is very bad for the child’s mental health. She will be strong, but unstable. It will not have a good chance of survival if I let it develop unaltered. I cannot complete the infusion in your male form anyway..

Store what you can use, can we use other genes?

We need untainted Althean DNA then we can complete the code, douse the insanity.
This one will be a handful.. the potency is unbelievable. She will develop at an accelerated
growth rate. The father is an Alpha Male, as we use genes from different fathers, she will be an Alpha child too.

Oh great Creator.. what have I done..

Be brave, little woman. You have help..

I wanted to mate with the strongest.. here you have it..

I will have to store the genes in your tissues until the infusion can be completed, you will face some changes, I cannot maintain your male form any longer. As a woman you are stronger. You will keep your muscular structure and more than have the strength to fight.

That is good, I agree, keep my voice low and my breasts very small. I still have things to do here.

If you let him come too close again, he will be able to take you over, pushing your personality out and away. He will control you.

I’ll do what is necessary.

I hope so.. for both our and both your sakes, so much Mako in his semen, thank the Maker it has already been metabolised once, otherwise you’ll be in such pain!

Do what you can, sim. We are to be with child again.

Sleep Jeh-ri. I will do what I can to keep your mind stable.


* * * * *


Jeh-ri awoke a few hours later, flat on his back, his eyes open. He had become she again, and for some reason she felt incredibly relieved. It was over, her task was done. She looked over at the form of the General, who laid on his side, facing her and as she held her hand over his face felt him sleep deep and soundly.

Finding she needed no light to get around as her eye sight had dramatically improved somehow, made her way to the bathroom and looked at herself. The fringe and at least half of her hair had gone silver white, but the back of her waist long hair was still coppery red. Her face had become more delicate, the mouth fuller, the eyes that where a dark green with gold speckles where now pale green, the pupils elongated thin vertical lines, now had an unfamiliar green metallic glow in the dark. The arms and shoulders had become larger too, the muscles more pronounced.

She had finally gained the skill to force her body to attain combat weight, having a flood of
the General’s genes coursing through her system would have helped that too, she mused.
The male genitals had gone and the hips out flared slightly under the slim waist.

She moved into the room and quietly gathered her clothes that she had brought up along with the things she had needed for the ritual that night. After belting on the black leather Hakama and pulling on a sleeveless sweater, she left Sephiroth sleeping.

* * * * *

Zach was lying flat on his back, mouth slightly ajar as he snored softly. It had woken Cloud up, feeling tired and annoyed as he couldn’t sleep anymore now. He carefully crept out of his bed and was about to climb up on the ladder to push Zach on his side when he heard the soft creaking of leather boots behind him. He turned and startled to see the very familiar silhouette stand before him, two huge eyes glowed at him in the dark as he felt one hand in his neck and one clamp down over his mouth. “Sssshhh Cloud, it’s me.” a voice in the dark whispered.


“What is going on?” he reached out to the person who had pulled him down on the bed, and sat down beside him.

“I need Zach to help me today. I have been given something, but I now need to learn how to use it.

“Why don’t you just wait for him to wake up? It is almost dawn.”

“I have a bit of a nasty surprise for him in store, Cloud. I want you to give him a message for me. Tell him to meet me on the helipad when he wakes up, tell him to bring his buster sword. And don’t tell anyone else.”

“Sure, okay” he said, still feeling confused, “Can I come too?” he’d asked before he noticed the words falling out of his mouth, making him feel like a little kid wanting to play with the bigger kids.

“You might not like what you see, Cloud.”
. Jeh-ri stood up, and turned Zach on his side with such ease as if he where no more than a small child. He moaned softly at the slightly rough treatment. “.. Easy, Seph.. “ He said under his breath before going back to sleep. That struck home, and he looked at Cloud who had been watching the whole time.

“I can hardly wait to see what kind of surprise you have for us, Jeh-ri”
He said, but his voice seriously lacked enthusiasm.


* * * * *


Zach and Cloud moved up in the elevator to the highest possible level of the west wing of the
Shinra building. The sun had just risen over the mountains in the east, and was rapidly burning the chill and the morning dampness out of the sky. It was still quite nippy up there as they got out of the landing area and moved out into the open air.

“Well, where is he?” Zach asked. “He’d better have a damn good excuse to get me out this damn early.”

“Your in a really foul mood this morning, Zach.” Cloud observed sourly. “At least you got a decent nights sleep. You kept me up half the night snoring, then Jeh-ri scared the living shit out of me.”

There was a sharp whistle from somewhere on the tower overlooking the helipad, and they both turned to look at the sound.

“What on Gaia is Seph doing up there?” Zach said, looking at the silhouette as he was staring against the light.

“Eeehh, Zach, I don’t think that is..” but he never got to finish his sentence as the figure lept up, flipped several times and than landed a few feet away.

“Morning boys, nice of you to come” He said, the voice was lighter, more melodic some how. He was wearing a tight fitting sleeveless shirt and wide falling track suit pants. His feet where bare. Zach had never seen him wear white before, and it suited him, making the tattoos on his arms stand out more starkly.

All Zach could do was stare. What the hell had happened to the happy go lucky redhead he had known over the last year? This was a complete stranger, taller, larger, hair half white, voice different, more effeminate. “What happened to you?” he said, his voice sounded a lot more emotional than he wanted to.

“I tried to warn you the other night, Zach, after we did the leaping session with Seph.” She said, dropping her gaze, hurt by the look of disbelief in Zach’s eyes. “ Jeh-ri is gone. I am becoming Jehrica again.”

“Seph happened to you.” He said. “Didn’t he?” He frowned first, letting the fact settle in, but found no anger or jealousy in response. He wandered at that briefly, then walked up to the figure in white and looked her in the eye. “You look different but you still feel a lot the same.” He pulled her close, finding the contact familiar, but shifted somehow. She kissed him, but couldn’t help but drop her gaze as it broke. “You still taste the same too. Thank Gaia for that.” He sniggered lightly as he saw her flush slightly. “You ok?” she nodded gratefully.

“I hoped you wouldn’t freak out on me.” He was probably the only one who would feel comfortable with her now as he had been with Sephiroth so much.

“Sooo, spill the gory details, how badly did he beat you up?”

She felt a little uncomfortable, thinking about it again. “Well, he pretty much showed me all corners of his bedroom, but I returned the favour by letting him go supernova up there.” She said, as she pointed upward towards the sky. She indicated to Cloud, who giggled with his hands clamped over his mouth with mirth.

“So he got what he was after then?” Zach asked his face pulled into a crooked grin. “I suppose he’ll want a repeat performance.”

“I seriously doubt it, Zach.” she said, as she frowned thoughtfully.

“Because of your physical change you mean?” Zach asked.

She nodded. “I don’t really like it much either, so close to the teachers and peers coming over from the temple and P.A.A. I have my exams tomorrow, I now live inside a body I don’t know.”

“What have you been up to?” he asked as he looked at the height from which she just dropped down from.

“Just running and jumping all over the building. I went for a run to the rock we had dinner on the other night.” He shrugged. “It is insane, if this is what I can do just running.. “

“You want to see what you can do, fighting.” Zach supplied.

“I have to know my boundries, Zach. I don’t want to hurt people. I mean, Sephiroth had his whole life to grow into his strength, but I get the impression he still has no real idea of how strong he really is. And now I am supposed to come to grips with it in twenty four hours!”

Zach nodded and went to get the sword he had left standing by the helipad entrance.

“You have sparred with Seph, haven’t you.” She asked.

“Sure. But he always holds back. I don’t ever want to be on the receiving end of him at full blast. He’ll cut me into ribbons.” He said, laughing, as he went through some quick warm up exercises.

Jeh-ri nodded, deciding to start slow, just simple attack and block moves, but finding surprising little resistance from Zach, finding her strength easily rising to meet his, then they sped up, going over moves they had been practicing on all their sessions, but having trouble focusing his eyes, as Zach seemed to move in slow motion.

“You ready to get a bit more.. challenging? She asked,
and as came for her she still found his charge not enough to make her give up ground. Twisting out of reach of the edge of the huge sword, she easily caught it in her Souba and send it flying, executing the whole move with only one hand.

“Shiva!!” Zach yelled as the sword flew a wide ark off the edge of the Helipad.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get your butter knife back.” She said, after she gave her sword to Cloud to look after. Then she sped after it and leapt over the edge. She re-emerged only a bit later, swinging the sword around, testing it’s feel. “Here. Lets go on. Stop holding back, Zach, come at me like you are going to kill me. Make me defend myself.”

Zach frowned and seemed to mull it over for a bit. Than he started again, this time she found she did have to keep both hands on the hilt of her Souba, but it didn’t matter how hard Zach tried, he couldn’t get through Jehrica’s defenses and more than once found the tips of the double blade against his throat or his hip.

“You should spar Seph. I cannot get near you.” Zach said.

Jeh-ri cocked her head in a strange way, and looked at the Shinra tower. It was only occupied by the highest bigwigs of the company, but she sensed the strong distinct impression that someone was watching them. “We are being watched. But no, it is very important I don’t see Seph today, or tomorrow.

“So what are you going to do? I am exhausted, Jehr.” Zach said, breathing hard, pressing his
hand against his side, feeling a stitch there.

“I don’t know, Zach. I have no idea. I think I’m just going to have to wing it.”

“I think you will be alright, Jehr.” Cloud said quietly as he looked over the horizon. The distinct shape and approach of a large craft descending from orbit told them that the examinators and peers from P.A.A. had arrived.

Zach’s phone started to ring.

“That will be Seph, wanting your assistance getting the guests settled in.” Jehrica said.

Zach read the message on his phone, and nodded in agreement.

“Good luck tomorrow, Jeh-ri.” Cloud said, and wrapped his arms around the taller frame, as did Zach. “I think I’ll make myself scarce.”


* * * * *

After having showed Master Tsuba and Master Samune their rooms, he took the five accompanying unit members to a room similar that he shared with a large number of his troops. He looked them over and recognised most of them, as they had all been here before during the combat simulations last year.

“You have been training with Seng?” One asked him as he watched them stow their armour and swords in the appointed storage rooms. He nodded.

“Do you think he has improved enough to make it through these exams?” A woman unit member asked. “I would like Seng to join my unit if that is the case.

Oh yes, he..she has definately improved. “I guess you will just have to wait until tomorrow morning to see.” Zach said. “If you will excuse me, I have to go see the General with Masters Samune and Tsuba.”

The gruff looking men and woman inclined their heads in acknowledgement, and Zach had to stop himself from running from the room.

The two Masters outlined and confirmed the contents of the usual way Temple exams were conducted. The Graduate in question would have to perform several different levels of skills necessary to be accepted into a unit, and those tests would be conducted by the Unit commanders. Sephiroth was already well aware what would happen as Jeh-ri had informed of it, and he had read the briefings send to him by Nathan Charrander.

To both the master’s surprise, suggested the General to also add an extra sparring session between Graduate Seng and some of his SOLDIER 1st, so he could make a comparison between the two training programs. Master Tsuba and Master Samune agreed, and left the office.

Zach found Sephiroth, as he craned his head at an odd angle as he peered out the window, toward the west end of the building.

“Were you and Graduate Seng on the helipad this morning, Zach?” he asked quietly.

Since there was no point in lying to him as he would know, he opted to tell the truth.
“We were.” Jeh-ri was right, he had been watching us.. he thought.

“I think Graduate Seng’s exams tomorrow will be very interesting, don’t you, Zach?” He said quietly, with a tone in his voice that made his skin break out in goose-bumps.

“I think so too, Seph.”

“I suggested for him to fight some of the veterans, Zach. I am curious to see how far your ‘training’ has taken him.”

“Is there something wrong, Seph?” Zach asked, not liking the strange emphasis he had laid on the word ‘training’.

“I don’t know, Zach. Is there something you want to tell me?” He said as he turned to face the black haired man slowly, resting his hands on the window sill, tilting his head inquisitively.

“If you aren’t going to make sense anytime soon, I’m walking out of here. I still have a lot of things to organize for tomorrow.”

“I suppose…you better go then. I will see you tomorrow morning in the observation lounge, Zach.” he said quietly, trying to pin the others gaze with his, and for the second time that day, Zach was forced to flee.

I just thought that I saw something.. odd earlier this morning. I thought I saw Graduate Seng disarm you like you were no more than a 3rd class cadet, Zach. I saw him leap over the edge of the helipad and retrieve your sword like it was a walk in the park.
When he wondered out on the helipad to see if Jeh-ri was still there, the illusive graduate was nowhere in sight, but couldn’t help but feel he was being watched, and Seng obviously didn’t want to be found.

Continued in ‘Bloodlust’, which will be the final chapter, folks....