SEPARATE ENTITIES !

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Disclaimer: I do not own any Characters from Final Fantasy. They all belong to their original creator. I only ‘borrow’ these characters to use purely for the entertainment of myself and anybody who reads it. I do not make any money of this fiction, this is purely a ‘for fun not profit’ story.

Authors Note: This is set I guess possibly in an Alternate Reality.
Zack, Tifa and Cloud are Seniors in High School, all of them are 18.
Sephiroth and Angeal are in College. I’m putting them around 20.

Still no pairings… Gots a feeling this is gonna be a long one.

Pairings: Eventual Seph/Zack, possibly Cloud/Zack not too sure yet.

Summary: Zack’s a Senior in High School and its time for him to begin thinking about his future. When School takes his Senior Class on a week’s trip to Riverview College his whole idea about what he wants changes when he see’s a mysterious silver haired student. He knows he has to have him, but how? When the guy doesn’t notice anybody younger than him?

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SEPARATE ENTITIES !
Chapter Three: Depature and Heartbreak

High School was over. It was done with, and as the summer holidays began drawing to a close, Zack began to feel slightly giddy at the thought of going to College. He‘d decided to drop his more serious attitude and take on a more fun personality. The way he used to be. The lovable innocence as Tifa called it. Tifa had decided not to go to Riverview with them. Cloud and Zack had spent weeks asking her to reconsider but she remained adamant. What was worse was that she was going halfway across the world and they’d only see her a couple of times a year. All three of them felt it. The divide, the breaking of their trio, and it hurt them all deeply.

The night of Tifa’s departure had been a sad one. There had been a leaving party, for the most of it Tifa had spent crying, saying silent goodbyes to everything and not so silent goodbyes to Zack and Cloud, whom she had spent a good half an hour telling how much she loved them and how much she would miss them. It was sad, Zack felt the lump rise in his throat when he, Cloud and a couple of others went outside to bid her a final farewell.

Even Reno, surprisingly, was there. And even he looked a little put out. As though he didn’t want her to go, although he didn’t know why. The three of them watched the car roll out of sight, their last glimpse of Tifa was a tear stricken face full of sadness. Zack put his arm around Cloud and turned him away from the lane. Reno still stood there, staring where the car had been only moments ago. Zack looked back at him, it was odd actually, to see him without Rufus.

“Rufus not with you tonight?” Zack asked in a hollow voice, “I haven’t thanked him yet for hurting my sister.” Reno turned to look at Zack.

“No, he’s not here yo.” Reno’s usually irritating giddy voice was surprisingly withdrawn and wary. “And I doubt you need to thank him. Your sister thanked him enough for herself. His face resembles a prune right now. Nothing less than what he deserved though.”

That surprised Zack, he let go of Cloud and looked at the Red-Head with curiosity in his eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?” He asked, letting the icy tone creep into his voice. “Do you know what happened between them?”

Reno smirked. “It’s what didn’t happen.” He pushed a strand of red hair from out of his face, Zack didn’t miss the way Cloud shifted as he watched Reno. “Apparently Rufus wanted to… you know… Take their relationship further--”

“WHAT!?” Zack yelled, although Reno put up his finger in a ‘are you going to let me finish or not’ kind of way. “I’m listening.”

“Your adorable little sister told him she wasn’t ready for it. Well, our dear Rufus Shinra didn’t like that did he. He stormed out leaving Cadey stood there.” Reno sighed, “Cut a long story short, she went to find him and found him she did.” He paused, taking in Zack’s reaction up to now. “She found him naked, on a desk… underneath Robyns.” Reno shrugged. “Apparently Robyns swings both ways too. Safe to say Cadey almost threw up… Dragged Robyns off him… and proceeded to batter the shit out of him. Of course, I’m an arrogant moron who plays around no doubt about that… but I would never cheat on anyone, even I have some morals.”

“Not many.” Zack said acidly as he stalked off. He wanted to find Rufus and not just batter him. He wanted to bury him.

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Rufus’ usually cream-white skin covered in ugly purple bruises, he sat with a large whiskey in hand in one of the towns bars. They let anybody in, they didn’t care. As long as people were spending money Rufus doubted they would care if you snorted coke right off the bar. Honestly, right now that wasn’t seeming like a bad idea. How embarrassing would it be to have to tell someone you let a girl beat the crap out of you? Especially Cadey Fair!

“Fucking idiot.” He mumbled.

“You got that right.” Came an angry voice behind him. Rufus turned just in time for a fist to connect with his jaw. He felt it crack and his hand went instinctively to his jaw. “You are a fucking idiot! For more than one reason!”

“Do enlighten me.” Came his sneer, although not the best time to get a smart mouth he knew that but he couldn’t help it. It was his natural reaction. “Just what have I done now, Fair?”

“One!” Zack yelled, snapping his fist back and allowing it to connect with Rufus’ gut. “You tried to make my sister do something she didn’t want to. Two! You cheated on her! Three! You cheated on her with a guy! Four! You fucking hurt her!”

“Yeah well, at least I got some. Unlike you.” He sneered, “And don’t pretend to act disgusted over guy on guy! You know you swing that way too.” Rufus recoiled as another fist came to his face, but even as he saw it coming towards him, he couldn’t do anything but close his eyes and wait. But the fist never connected. He opened his eyes to see Zack’s wrist being held to his side by someone taller and obviously older.

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Zack’s anger flared as Rufus’ last remark hit home. His own sexuality had nothing to do with this. A red-haze filled his vision as he brought his fist back again and saw Rufus close his eyes as his fist rushed forward… But it never connected. Someone else’s hand shot out from nowhere, gripped his wrist and pinned it to his side. Zack turned to look at the person who dared get in his way of battering ten tonnes of crap out of this cheap moron…

And he melted.

Silver hair framed pale features and bright green eyes shone as they bored down into Zack’s. “W-what?” He managed to stutter as his wrist was sharply spun around and he was being dragged out of the bar by none other than the Greek God of Hotness himself. His usual shadow was nowhere to be seen, and for the first time ever, he found himself actually face to face with the man who’d plagued his dreams since he’d first seen him.

But it didn’t matter.

He’d gotten in Zack’s way, and his anger rose up again, this time directed at the Silver Haired male. “You… How… Why’d you get in my way from beating ten tonnes of shit out of that worthless piece of crap?” Zack shouted angrily, twisting his arm out of the grip the male had on him. Green eyes suddenly became cruel, and dangerous. “I’m going to kill the fucker!”

“And how would you protect your sister if you’re rotting away in a prison cell?” He asked, his voice low. God that voice. Zack couldn’t help but stare. “I don’t think a single person in that bar didn’t hear you yelling.”

“You…” He stammered again. “This is sibling stuff and has nothing to do with you! Who the hell do you think you are anyway? Rufus’ bodyguard? His knight in shining fucking armour?”

“Hardly.” Came his voice again, “I do not know the blonde haired brat. So no I’m definatly not his body guard or his knight in shining fucking armour as you so crudely put it.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Zack spoke again, slapping his hands to his sides. “Who the hell are you anyway?”

“My name is Sephiroth.” He spoke and looked through the window, “And you would do well to leave him alone. As I said before, You can not possibly protect your sister if you’re rotting away in a prison cell.”

With that Sephiroth left Zack standing alone, his anger abated and suddenly feeling quite stupid. Running a hand through his hair he thought of going back inside, not to hit or murder Rufus Shinra, but to instead, just have a drink. However he thought better of it, he didn’t know if his temper right now could be kept. So turning on his heel, he strode down the darkened street heading home. Right now all he could think of doing was going home and giving his sister a huge hug. He’d been stupid to think that she was doing alright, that she’d be able to handle this alone. Cadey needed him, and he was going to be there for her.

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A knock came at the bedroom door. Cadey sat up on her bed, blonde hair dishevelled from lying down and eyes bloodshot from crying. She’d known Rufus’ reputation before she’d got involved with him. Zack had warned her not to get in it. But Caye was going through a rebellious stage, not wanting to do what she was told. Little did she know she’d need to protect her heart from being torn to pieces. Which is was now. She’d fallen in love with Rufus. Stupid Girl.

“Yeah!” She called, voice high pitched. “Its open.” Zack walked into her room, and judging by the look on his face he knew what had happened. “Who told you?”

“Reno.” He answered honestly. “He didn’t seem best pleased by it either. Which was a surprise.”

“Reno’s not as bad as you lot think he is. He even warned me not to get involved with Rufus.” She sniffed. “I should have listened to you. When Reno saw Rufus with Tom.” She made a gagging sound, “I thought he was going to do something stupid.”

“Im not here to say I told you so.” Zack spoke lightly as he sat by Cadey. “I’m here to tell you that if you need someone I’m here for you.”

“Big brother to the rescue.” Cadey’s voice was monotone and dry.

Within seconds, tears began to pour down Cadey’s face. She felt quite lost now in amidst a sea of emotions. She was angry at Rufus for trying to make her do something she didn’t want to do, flattered that he had found her attractive enough to want to do it in the first place. Furious that he’d cheated, sickened by who he’d cheated with. Hurt and broken because she’d loved him and again angry for letting herself fall so hard.

All she was really sure of right now, was that her brother was here and that, in that one moment, she knew she could count on him. She knew there was someone in the world who did actually give a damn. It made her tear up once more.