Sephiroth's soul redemption

A/n, just a short chapter. setting the events that tells how the p.a.a. people are installed at shinra. it gives a deeper look in sephs head too.
Jehri developes feelings for Zach.

for all you people who are brave enough to plow through, I have posted some artwork of my own characters in the fanart section, under sephiroth soul redemption. i hope it makes the read more enjoyable when you have some visual idea of my home made characters.


The first challenge.

My knife, it’s sharp and chrome
Come see inside my bones
All the feigns are on the block
I’m the new king, ill take the queen
Cause in there we’re all anaemic
In here, anaemic is sweet so..

Go get your knife go get your knife
And come in.. lay down.. now kiss me..
Knife party, Deftones


The next morning they all awoke, feeling ready for the next days of the competition, this time it was for the novices and the lowest ranking cadets to have a go at eachother. All had assembled along the walls of the great dome Enak and Erik had faced off against eachother the previous night, who now sat side by side, quietly gesturing with their hands.

Jeh-ri could tell they were sharing each other’s thoughts, them being so close, they needed no words. He sat between Ian and Leisa, listening to the instructions of both master Tsuba and the instructor of the Shinra academy. They would all fight eachother with the blunted practice swords provided by Zach, after being given the same tagging gloves they had used in the simulation yesterday.

At first both groups looked at their superiors, each group standing on opposite sides of the hall, full of anticipation. Then Master Tsuba lifted one hand, and sharply moved it downward. A fraction of a second later the novices stormed at the cadets at the other side, who flew up to meet them halfway. Master Tsuba and the other officers stationed around the fighting groups had a hard time trying to keep an eye on everyone as they whirled around eachother.

“Wow! It is like a mosh-pit with swords!" Ian said, laughing loudly. “I never realized what a ferocious bunch those snot nosed brats of ours were! We should do this more often!” as he got to his feet to get a better view of the action. The seniors separated a few of the ones getting a bit too carried away, but soon the fight was decided. The Temple “kids” had won, as most of them were left untagged. Jeh-ri happy to see that almost half of the group were girls. They all got up and clapped enthusiastically.

Jeh-ri had to cast a glance at the General, who’s face betrayed no emotion. The whole of the day that followed, their people faced off against the Shinra troops, all matched to strength and skill, so the sparring bouts where quite exiting to watch and to participate in.

Jehri watched as Hazel bested most in her category and bounced around with glee as she and Siona were the only ones left. Jeh-ri nudged his shoulder to Zach who shook his head in disbelief, but smiled approvingly. She walked up to Zach slowly, her hips swaying seductively till she was only a few feet away from him. Then she swung her katana around her head, challenging him to come for her. The whole dome was instantly filled with catcalls and whistles, as Zach shrugged his shoulders and took up a sword. Hazel didn’t last long against Zach as he was way out of her league, but she managed to block and retaliate nicely before he simply grabbed her sword arm and lifted her off the ground, placed one foot behind her leg, tripping her up and laid her neatly on the ground. Then he simply tagged her out. Hazel briefly fluttered her eyelashes at him and planted a noisy kiss on his cheek, as he pulled her back up.
Zach shrugged his shoulders and smiled as everyone roared with laughter.

Now it was up to the Graduates and the second class SOLDIERS to have a go at eachother, and the sparring session shifted in its intensity and level.
Jeh-ri had fun fighting several opponents. Then he got to look as Ian and Leisa who did well, but got tagged out by Zach, and one of the other more advanced officers. Erik and Enak took care of those remaining, and then decided to sit out as Jeh-ri noticed that Zach and he were the only ones left.

As they been assigned to different categories Jeh-ri bowed lightly to him, inviting him to ignore this fact, somehow feeling it was up to him to keep some of the honour of his unit up. Zach looked over to the General who stood side by side with the Commander, they briefly looked at eachother, then nodded.

Every one was watching them, but Jeh-ri only had eyes for his opponent. They started off slowly, getting a feel for eachother, then sped up, just as Nathan and Sephiroth had done the night before. Each attacking in turn, their swords ringing, as Jeh-ri’s soul sang to the beat, turning, using his legs to force an opening, but Zach managed to duck under or away, then he advanced on the copper haired man using his greater build as an advantage. He was going for his bare feet just as the General said his men would, trying to slice at them with his sword, but in that he dropped his guard in some of his movements.

Being briefly distracted by a feigned attack at his side, which he parried, as Jeh-ri spun and jumped, finally ramming his heel against his jaw. Zach reeled briefly, shaking his head to clear it. The smaller man tapped the tip of his blade against the floor, goading him into charge, folding away under his stroke and swung at his exposed back, but he brought his sword around to catch the stroke.

Then they stood face to face again, and charged at each other, but stopped dead within inches of eachother, as their swords crossed into equal binding, face to face. In a sudden rush of mischief, Jeh-ri quickly ran his tongue across his face causing a storm of cheers and whistles form the people around them.

Jeh-ri looked at the dull practice sword they where using, and shook his head.
“What weapon do you usually use, Zach?” He asked, not really liking having to fight with fake weapons as they both were in a more advanced group.
“Why, do you want to up the stakes a bit?” he asked, as he stopped and looked at him.
“Sure.” The smaller man said, as Zach smiled and moved off to the side where he pulled his Buster Sword out, and walked back to the middle of the floor. There was a gasp from the crowd on both sides as he swung the almost man high blade around.

“Ok this is going to hurt.” He said to himself.

“Jehr, catch!” He heard from the side, as Enak had gotten up, and threw his Souba at him.

“This should even things out a bit.”
It was quite a bit heavier than his own Katana, but after swinging it around his head to get a better feel for the weight, the sim made adjustments to the muscles in his arm and shoulder, making it easier to wield.
Zach came down on him like a ton of bricks, as he seemed to swing the huge sword like it had virtually no weight.

It is a good thing Enak lend him his double Katana, as it made him more defensible, even managing to force his opponent to defend a couple of times too as Jeh-ri was smaller and faster on his feet.

But after a while he cottoned on to the way he avoided his attacks and anticipated where he would land next.

He managed to trip him up, bringing his sword down on him, and all he could do was to use his block the final stroke, letting the tip rest against the floor, and reaching in the same movement for the short dagger in the small sheath at his thigh. He pinned the smaller man’s chest to the ground with his knees and bore down on him with all his weight, slowly forcing the edge of his sword toward his throat. He couldn’t move anymore.

“Yield? He asked, panting heavily into Jeh-ri’s face.

“Zach, look.” He said, gesturing with his head to look under his arm. In forcing him to the floor, he had exposed his armpit, and Jeh-ri now held the butt end of his blade just a couple of inches down below where his arm joined his chest.

“You would have joined me in the life stream, Zach.” He breathed into his ear. A slow tingle in his lower abdomen told him that something.. inappropriate was developing inside him, as Zach's energy bore down upon him just as his sword was. Their gazes locked just as their swords were, and in that fraction of a moment a connection was made as Jeh-ri slid inside just as the man ontop reached out to him. Let go, the whole academy is watching! The voice of reason came, just in time to stop things getting beyond the point of decency.
He got up, lifting his sword off him, and held it tip down, indicating his surrender.

“Stalemate.” Zach breathed

“Stalemate.” Jeh-ri agreed.

He heard some loud cries of amazement and surprise go though the crowd, and as Zach lifted his arms, they could now see his predicament. His people applauded loudly. Then the SOLDIERs reluctantly, joined in too. Zach got off him and offered his opponent his hand, and pulled Jeh-ri up into a huge bear-hug, lifting him off the ground.

Then they were surrounded by the other combatants. Clapping him on the shoulders. Erik came up to him and pinched his cheeks painfully.

“Didn’t he do well, our little Jeh-ri!” he said loudly. And knowing what he was going to do now, he grabbed two hands full of his dreadlocks, and pulled his head down, then planted a loud kiss on his mouth.

“You have been holding out on us, Jeh-ri.” Zach started, laying an arm around his shoulders, and leaned heavily on him.

“When you lack strength, you have to use your smarts to make up for it” He said, still breathing heavily, part from exhaustion, part out of excitement.

“So what you are saying, is that I am stronger than you, and you are smarter than me?”
Zack said, rubbing his chin, his face theatrically thoughtful.

“I have always thought you where somewhat of a knucklehead, Zach.” The voice of the General came from behind them.

“Oh, by the Creator, the General made a funny!” Ian yelled. More laughter all around as he saw Nathan shoot a startled look at Sephiroth who just lifted one eyebrow, the rest of his face still quite cold.

“Leisa, you know what I would really like right now?” Ian said loud enough so a lot of their people would hear.
Jeh-ri had already guessed, as all the simulations were over, and we would be leaving the next day.

“You want to have a jam session, don’t you?” Erik said.
Several of the Unit members and others of our group started to get into the idea.
Erik watched as Nathan lent in towards the General and briefly explained what we had in mind.

Jeh-ri could tell he didn’t really agree, as he obviously had no idea at what was about to happen.

“In a way it is a lot like what we have been doing these last few days, General, just there are no weapons involved and it is a lot of fun.” He went on to illustrate that this was the way we always said farewell to comrades, and that it would be a happy way to close off the competition. Judging by the look on his face he hadn’t really warmed to the idea, but Zach certainly had.

“We could use the practice fields between the barracks” he suggested. At that the older man nodded, at least they wouldn’t make a mess inside. Zach turned to Ian and said; ”Well, you have a green light, I can’t wait to see this.” His curiosity had been spiked after watching the ritual of Cleansing in the showers the previous evening. Every one filed out, heading for food and showers, leaving only Jeh-ri, Zach, Nathan and the General.

“That was impressive, adapting, changing weapons, challenging someone who is above your level.. I would enjoy seeing you try something like that on me, Graduate.” The General’s voice suddenly managed to penetrate the noise in his head, as he was totally taken aback by the question.

“I had to give everything I had just to get the better of Zach, Sir.” He said, meaning every word. “Are you serious, about wanting to spar me?” He asked, still hoping he wasn’t serious, but knowing that he was as he pulled out his Masamune, resting the dull side of it on his shoulder, then slowly brought the edge toward his face. He shied away from than great silvery blade, not having the stamina anymore to fight. "Do I seem like the kind of man that would make jokes, Graduate?" He asked coldly.

He knelt down, mustering all his bravery just to look him in the face.
“Please Sir, if you want me to offer you some kind of challenge, some time later? Then the blade was gone and for a moment he was certain he had sliced his ear clean off.

“Hm” He breathed near his ear, so only hear could hear, giving him goose bumps. “Later then, when you are rested, I can’t wait to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve.”

Then he turned and left, leaving him feeling like he was about to have a heart attack. Was he in fact angry for suggesting the Jam session, taking it out on him for upsetting the rigidity of his world? He had no idea, but as things turned out, time would tell.
Ian ran up to him like a flash. “What did he want, Jehr? It looked like he was about to cut you clean in half!” he said grabbing his shoulders, shaking them.

“He.. wanted me to spar him, Ian..” He said slowly barely able to force the words out.

“What? You are no way near his level, Jeh-ri.” Leisa said, having joined the conversation.

“He could seriously hurt you.”
“What are you talking about, Leisa? Did you see how he fought Zach? He has managed to surpass me, now. I agree he would never win, but he could manage to get close enough to give old silver-hairs a shave!”

“Leisa is right, he would just be toying with me…Ian , that’s it!” He said, and ran off to Nathan, grabbed his hand, forcing him to come with him, and followed him into the room they slept in.

“I sort of told you about the presence inside him, how it didn’t feel like possession, but how it was deeper, like it had been with him all along, even before he was born?”
Nathan nodded, indicating he knew what he was talking about.

“Ian just gave me an idea. I could try to get a couple of strands of his hair, get his DNA!”
Nathan’s eyes grew wide.

“How were you planning on going about that?” he said, frowning.

“He wants to spar with me, Nate.” He said, his mind reeling at the storm of nervous energy, which already was building within.

“I’ll consider it.” He said in a way as to tell him he now considered the matter closed.

Continues in ‘Seperation’

a/n aawww no yaoi in this chapter my laddies! If you are dissapointed, just hang in there, I have been working on some big ones in future chapters and I keep deleting and adding bits and pieces to deepen the relation between Seph and Zach. I just love the tention those two can build up, as my Zach takes little to no shit from mister grumpy.

preview Seperation:
Jeh-ri gets roped into cleaning up the General's office after he has taken his masamune to his filing cabinets. Sephiroth makes another subtle move on Enak, signalling his interest in the instructor. Jeh-ri encourages Enak to accept.

“If you think I am unworthy of your trust, then why do you have me go through your entire filing system?” The smaller redhead asked. There was a slight edge in his voice now. He was getting angry. Good.

“That wasn’t my idea, it was something the President and your Commander concocted together.” He said, sounding more sarcastic then he had meant to. It wasn’t after all the Graduate’s fault that he got roped into this assignment. He was still extremely aggravated at the reprimand he had received from that fat prick who was still in charge of him, and he needed someone to take it out on. This touchy feely young man served the purpose just fine.