Sephiroth's soul redemption

a/n check out the photo album on the fanfiction artist department, and enjoy. i have tried to capture Seph and Nathan together.
Yaoi is God.

The rebirth.

I was there at the birth
And out of the clouds burst the head of the tempest
Murderer, murderer of calm
Why did I go, why did I go?
*Little Earth, Kate Bush*


Zach had found the large round pool empty and dry. And thank goodness the rest of the sauna appeared abandoned as well. This was good as he wasn’t in the mood for having to explain himself endlessly to other officers who might be in there. Leisa right behind him, pulled a piece of chalk from a large wooden box filled with various objects. She started to draw strange symbols on the tiles, and pulled two large animal skulls from the box which she placed according to a direction which she read of a compass. She lit a large bundle of braided grass and started to fill he space with a sweet smoke.

‘I was very surprised to see that the General wanted to join us in this ritual.” She said, slowly moving around the bathroom, as she gently wafted the smoke around with her hand.

“You and me both! He doesn’t usually join in group things, he keeps to himself mostly, doesn’t like being touched much too.” He said, realizing that they all would be packed quite close together.

“Oh, so hugging is out of the question?” Leisa asked, not really knowing how to cope with someone who didn’t like it. ”We usually hold each other a lot, afterward. It is our way of expressing gratitude to each other. We share a lot of our selves with the ones in our rituals, it keeps the bonds strong between us.”

“I don’t think it would be a good idea to try to hug Seph, he is just not the bonding type of guy.”

“I think it is a very brave thing of the General to volunteer to help us, Zach.” She said, “We must all seem very strange to him. The same goes for you.” She said her face pensive as she sat on the edge of the sunken pool, Zach beside her. “It is not without danger, you know. Erik is incredibly strong right now.”

“I have never known anyone to be stronger then Seph, Leisa, I think he will be alright.” He said and put his arm around her shoulders. She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him, which he returned. “If he wont accept our thanks in this way, maybe you could pass it on to him.” She said against his shoulder. “You’d better brace yourself, your going to get a lot more.”

Zach laughed at that. “I can get used to this no problem.” Burying his face in her long thin dreadlocks.

“I just hope you are not too bashful about kissing the others, Zach” she smiled as she broke their embrace.

“I’ll just have to grit my teeth and bear it.” He said rolling his eyes theatrically.

Enak arrived with the suits, which seemed to be made of a padded black rubbery material. He pulled the boots and sleeves off the suits with quick efficient tugs and started to strip, as did Leisa. Zach flushed slightly at seeing Leisa naked, but she said; “Now isn’t the time to be bashful, Zach.”

“I don’t mind if you don’t.” He simply said, and stripped too to put on one of the suits Enak handed him. “The more the merrier.” He simply said, as Enak helped him fasten the shoulder straps. The suit was kind of tight at first, but became very supple and comfortable as the material took on body temperature.
Leisa filled the pool with cold water, only adding a little warm water to take the worst of the chill off, then Enak moved to the middle, as she lit more dried plant material and let the smoke it created waft over his head and chest.

He tied his hair up folding it double, and then double again. Leisa took her hair up and twisting her long thin dreadlocks into an elaborate knot at the back of her head. She got into the bath with Enak, and placed her hands against the sides of his face. They said something together, in a language Zach didn’t understand, then Enak took a deep breath, and allowed Leisa to push him under water. He settled at the bottom of the pool, his knees pulled into his chest. After about two minutes Zach could see him open and close his mouth rhythmically, breathing in easy deep gasps.

“He is breathing the water?” he asked, his hair standing on end. Just then Sephiroth and Ian entered the room. “He can breathe underwater, Seph, it is the weirdest thing I have ever seen!” he looked at the unconscious form of Erik on the litter, and the flushed face of Jeh-ri just behind him, who had already started to take his clothes of, and pulled on another suit. He held the last suit up to Sephiroth, who took it to the small adjoining dressing room started to pull it on, after removing his clothes.

“You better have a full upper body cover., see?” Jehri said, as he showed Erik’s hands to the General. Every finger had developed a razor sharp talon, and as he gently pulled away the still man’s upper lip, he could also see that the incisors and teeth in the front had become a lot longer than any human would have use for. He allowed the smaller man to fasten a collar around his neck and protective sleeves into the shoulder straps. “You need a full suit too, Zach” he said.
“Why? I have been getting Mako treatments for quite a while, I can handle being scratched.” He said.

“It isn’t being scratched what I am worried about.” The redhead said.

“Zach, don’t you think it is better to take this advice?” Sephiroth asked.

“I’ll be fine, stop worrying about me.” he laughed at his friend, who now fitted the straps over his shoulders.

What is going to happen?” The General asked Leisa.

“The moment his body hits the water, he will wake up. Enak will grab hold of him, and pull him under. You will push from the top to help Enak. He will soon go into shock, and pass out. His sim will take over to ensure he doesn’t drown.” She told him, handing him an elastic band so he could tie his hair up too. He hesitated at first. “He will use it to get purchase.” She warned him. He nodded and tied his hair into a topknot.

“Use what ever means necessary to keep him under. The moment he goes into his coma, you can let go of him but you will have to remain on top of him. We will begin the healing ritual, and when he is ready, he will wake up.”

Sephiroth nodded as he took Erik’s body off the litter, and stepped up to the side of the pool, which was sunken mostly into the floor. Sitting down on the edge first, holding the unconscious man on his lap. All the others where sitting on the edge, their legs dangling over the top. Enak briefly came to the surface, holding out his arms to his brother, as the General stood up and jumped into the middle of the pool.

Erik jolted to wakefulness, as his body touched the water. Enak reached up, and caught him around his waist and neck, as the General grabbed his shoulders and pushed him under, using his weight and knees to balance himself. Erik bucked, his arms flailing wildly, trying to get his legs under him, but was held horizontally by Enak.

He tried to pull Sephiroth’s hands away from his shoulders, and grabbed the taller man by the throat, pulling him under. Suddenly the three of the burst from the water, Enak still clinging to Erik’s chest, who snarled at the General, his claws still around his throat. Sephiroth’s face was still quite calm as he raised one fist and struck Erik squarely on the chin, who briefly went limp and disappeared under water again.

The General felt the claws on the other man scrape across the chest of the suit and reaching for his face. He jumped up and planted both knees on Erik’s chest, driving him under again.

Zach, Ian, grab his wrists!” Leisa commanded, and they both jumped in to prevent Erik from clawing Sephiroth’s eyes out.

Erik managed to twist his hands so that the talons bit into the into the muscles of the lower arms of the two men holding his wrists, and briefly the water stained red with blood, but it washed away fast as the taps were still running and the water ran down the holes that prevented the tub from overflowing. Then the claws withdrew as the man under water began to loose consciousness again, convulsing heavily, but easing fast and becoming quite still.

“Okay, every one, take up positions.” Leisa said, and every one closed in, and placed one hand on the still forms under water, and one on the General’s upper body. Enak started to turn Erik around, so his head rested on the inside of his brother’s leg, and he took the same position to Erik, holding his hands.

“They are in the womb again.” Leisa said softly, and started to sing, softly at first, then the others joined in. The melody was sad and easy to pick up, and after a while, Zach joined as well, not really getting the hang of the words, but really enjoying the feel of the emotional charge of the song. Then Leisa quickly slipped out of the water, and turned the lights off, instantly plunging all into complete darkness. The water briefly shifted as she took up her position again, began to pray;

“Oh great Creator,
Who brings the life spark to the universe, and all that lives,
Hear us, for we are in need of your help.
We seek you aid for our brother, for he is lost and hurting.
We ask you, humbly to return him to us,”

Then every one fell into a chant, softly at first but then gaining in volume.

“Oh Great Creator, we are of the Water, let him be quenched here.
Oh Great Creator we are of the Earth, let him be fed here.
Oh Great Creator, we are of the Fire, let him be purified here.
Oh Great Creator, we are of the Air, let him breath here.

The chant took on a life of its own as it gained in strength, as every one but the General added his energy to the chant, not saying the words as such, but focussing on them intently. The whole group thrumming with his power added to the collective focus, as it built and grew.

Tiny bright lights could be seen descending from the ceiling, forming a vortex, drifting and turning around each other, in the middle of the lights there was a slightly bigger one, being guided and steered by the smaller ones, pushing it downward. It slid down past the General and briefly his face was lit by it, his eyes reflecting its glow.

It stopped just at the height of his heart, and it gained in strength, then it slid further down and disappeared under water, toward the still form under his knees and hands. The body shook once violently, and started to get warmer, heating the water around him. The water started to move, to turn faster and faster, as the chant everyone said was now being yelled at the top of every ones lungs,

Then Leisa cut in, saying; “Say the final chant with me, finish the infusion!”

By the power of the Great Creator, the elements, Mother Earth, and Father Sky, let him be healed, allow him to be reborn!”

The water began to seethe and turn around the people in the middle. The atmosphere charged with electricity as everyone could feel the hairs stand up at the back of their necks, the water still heating up and swirling faster and faster, and suddenly there was a soundless implosion as all the water around seemed to be lifted from the pool, and crashed back down.
Leisa jumped from the tub and turned on the lights.

“Let him up, General!” Leisa called out, as all the others jumped out to the side of the tub, and Erik and Enak burst from the water, wrapped in each others arms, taking in a deep breath, gasping for air.

Jeh-ri rushed in together with Ian and Zach to support the exhausted twins. Erik’s heavy frame was supported by the water, so he could easily hold him up, letting his head rest on his shoulder. He watched as Ian took Enak over to Leisa, and she undid one of the straps over her shoulder, and he buried his face in her neck, desperately needing Nutria to restore all the energy he had spent.

Leisa looked over at Sephiroth who was resting his head on the edge of the bath, staring at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts.

Erik bit into Jeh-ri’s shoulder, and slightly grimaced at the taste of the Nutria. He mouthed the word ‘Mako’ at him. He seemed to contemplate what that meant, but shrugged his shoulders and continued to feed as he decided he didn’t really care. He closed the vein at the smaller man’s shoulder, and looked at him, who felt his spirit renewed and clear his mind.

“I took you.. I.. took you over..” he said, his voice faltering as he frowned, trying to remember. “I was so cold inside.. you were so warm, I had to get inside you”

He remembered feeling the defenceless form of Jeh-ri on his knees in the cell block, totally unaware. It had been so easy to slip in, to envelop him inside the chill of the ferility of his ghost, warming himself on the love there, like a snake that needed warmth to function, and he had felt the love Jeh-ri had truly felt for him, but had always hidden, knowing that it would never be appreciated, just used and cast aside.

Then he had finally understood why he had always been turned down, but then the presence of the General had broken the spell, and beyond that, everything went dark, until the lights went on and he was in the pool, Enak’s arms around him, his mind crisp and clear.

“I’m so sorry, I know I am such an asshole to you, I haven’t taken anything serious in my life, ever..”

He tried to interrupt him, but he just placed a finger on his mouth.

He took the chin of the other in his hand and turned his head toward Sephiroth and Zach who sat side by side, but he also noticed a look of concern on Sephiroth’s face, as the his friend looked extremely pale, and had to be held up.

“Zach? What is the matter?” He said, and all of them immediately shifted focus.
Leisa pushed herself off the wall and moved to Zach, placing two fingers against the vein at his throat. He looked at her, his eyes unfocused and jittery.

“I don’t feel so good, Jehr.” He breathed. As Jeh-ri took hold of the arm where Erik had scratched him. His skin being tougher than usual due to the Mako treatments, but the razor sharp talons had managed to tear three shallow gashes along the skin of his arm anyway.

The skin around the cuts had taken on an angry red colour, and the exposed flesh was swollen and pale looking.
“Leisa, I need Nutria, now!” He said, as she stood up like a shot, and grabbed two vials from the medicine box, and slapped them into his hand. Then she moved to the taps, adding hot water to the bath quickly raising the temperature.
He saw Zach’s eyes roll backwards, and his body stiffened.

“General, we need to open his mouth.” He said, and Sephiroth took the black haired man’s upper and lower jaw in his hands, and pulled. Slowly but surely the clenched teeth came apart, and he could pour the vial of Nutria down his mouth.

Jeh-ri rubbed his fingers down his throat to trigger a swallowing reflex, but nothing happened.

The healing properties of the fluid started to work on his mouth first, as his jaws slowly unclenched, and worked its way down his throat. And he swallowed once, twice, but started to tremble as his body was starving for oxygen now his chest was caught in a muscle spasm that wouldn’t allow him to inhale.

Jeh-ri took a deep breath and closed Zach's nose, trying to push his breath in, but couldn’t make his chest move to inflate his lungs.

Sephiroth guessed what he was trying to do, and took over, bearing down his breath into Zach’s unyielding chest with all his strength, and finally the muscles around his ribs unclenched, and he started to breath again in long shuddering gasps. Jeh-ri popped the stopper of the second vial and poured some of the thick silvery pink fluid onto the scratched on his arm, which healed instantly. Zach’s breathing steadied out, and his entire body went limp.

“That is why you needed to put the full sleeves on, wasn’t it. Next time just do as you’re told, Zach.” The General said, as he grabbed his friend by the neck and shook him.

Then Jeh-ri saw the deep gashes Erik had left on the suit the General was wearing.
He reached up and pulled open the seal at his throat exposing his chest. Two tiny puncture marks were visible on his skin, and held up what was left of the second vial.

“I think having brought back two people from the dead is quite enough for one night, don’t you think? Bottoms, up, General.” Erik said, who had been holding on to Zach’s legs, and was now rubbing the strained muscles, getting them to relax, “Everyone, we have another patient here.” He said, and they shifted Zach to the middle of the tub, and started to peel away his suit so they could knead the lactic acid from his overstrained muscles.

Erik and the General locked gazes as he was working Zach’s legs over. Something seemed to pass between them, a certain understanding, the silver haired man’s face showing practically no emotion, but the small movements of their eyes spoke volumes.

It was a bit unsettling for Sephiroth , feeling that same sensation of fingers sliding down the back of his mind, then withdrawing to the front of his head, centering between his eyes.

“You saved me.. why?”

“Because your friends asked me for help.”

“But I have caused nothing but trouble for you..”

“I am aware of that.. I just thought it was a waste for you to die.”

Erik hung his head, feeling ashamed. Than resumed the conversation.
”I have a lot of people to apologise to, you not being the least. I will totally understand if you want to throw me out.”

“It has never been up to me to do that, Erik. President Shinra is very pleased with your progress. He can’t wait to see what you have in store next. And to be honest, so am I. I just hope I don’t have to go through another cold bath to see it.

“So do I, I just don’t know how to thank you.”

“I would appreciate it if you stopped misbehaving, every time you do, I have to deal with it. Just act your age.”

Erik hung his head again.

“I’ll try.”

“Don’t try, do it.”

“Yes Sir.”

Sephiroth took the vial from Jeh-ri’ hand, and poured it down his throat. He saw his eyes flash as the liquid got absorbed, the punctures at his chest disappearing without a trace.

They all moved in on Zach, grabbing one of his limbs, kneading them till they softened out again. His head leaning on Sephiroth’s shoulder lolling to one side as he had seemed to have passed out.
“Aaahh. You should toootally try this, Seph.” Zach moaned.
The General moved away from behind him, and pushed him under water, than pulled him up again. Zach emerged coughing and spluttering.

Sephiroth looked at the faces of the people around him, relaxed and comfortable now the water had turned warm. They all in turn started to embrace each other, holding and kissing with out reservation or discomfort. He felt his stomach clench solidly as he saw Zach being so easily pulled into this common form of intimacy, as Erik wrapped his huge arms around him and kissed him full on the mouth.

Zach laughed and returned the embrace without hesitation, and the General he saw how Ian did the same to Zach, and then looked at him, and reaching for him but Zach slid himself between the advancing man and the General. This he wasn’t ready for. It had been strange having their hands on his back and chest while the brothers where curled up together under him, but the suit had provided a comfortable barrier.
He realized if he wanted to avoid this uncomfortable situation, he had to get out right now, and he did.

They looked at Zach who was still a little shaky, but got out after him, and followed him into the small dressing room, leaving them to their thoughts, slightly taken aback, but understanding.

“What is the matter, spoilsport?” he asked as he shut the door behind him. “They wanted to show you their gratitude, and you take off like a sulky teenager.”

“I am really tired, Zach. Please don’t harass me.” He said as he got out of the sodden suit, and started to towel off.

“Just tell me what is going on, Seph.” Zach persisted. “I have never seen you like this.”

Sephiroth looked at his friend, trying to find words to describe what he had felt, when he had seen the lights come down from the ceiling, the essence that had connected with the capsule in his chest, the one Nathan had placed there. He had been connected with something so vast, so overwhelming, he couldn’t place it, contain it. He had wanted to jump from the bath then and there, wanting to be alone, flee from all those prying knowing stares.

“Try watching you going into toxic shock and nearly dying, Zach. If we hadn’t responded as fast as we did, you’d probably be dead right now!”
he hissed, trying to keep his voice low as he was well aware how far sound would carry here.

“Oh.. was it that bad?” Zach asked, “ I admit I was kinda freaked out for a while, but I feel fine now!” really not understanding is friend was making such a fuss about

“I just need to be alone for a while, Zach.” He said. “I could feel him go through me. You know how it is with me how I have trouble.. dealing with emotions. And than you....” He wanted to say more, but found his mouth work wordlessly, his voice gone.
“Between Erik turning into something with claws big enough to rip through this space suit , Hojo disgusting me to my core wanting him to perform tests on him, you nearly dying I have had enough.”

“Seph, don’t shut me out now, come on.” He said, as he reached out for his friend, wanting to offer him some kind of comfort, but he caught his arms by the wrists before they could touch him.

Suddenly Zach realised why Seph had been willing to help Erik out. It had nothing to do with him liking Erik, him mostly being a huge pain in the ass. He had done it to deprive his father of another victim, pissing him off to no end. But he had to wander briefly if it also hadn’t been an act of mercy, feeling that the man didn’t deserve to be put down like a rabid animal.

Zach tried to imagine what is must be for someone like him. Always locking away all his emotions, staying aloof and distant. Now this group of people had invaded his nice neat world, turning every thing inside out. He, the mighty General of the Shinra armies, was exposed and vulnerable.

“I appreciate your concern, Zach, I really do.” He let go of his friend’s wrist and allowed his head to sink on the slightly smaller SOLDIER's shoulder. Zach felt the shift in him, his surrender, but knew it would be brief. He wrapped his arms around him, feeling the heart beat rapidly in the large pale chest. Then released him as he broke the embrace and pulled on his pants and overcoat. Just carrying his boots and shoulder plates in his hands, he practically fled from the dressing room.

The others carefully came into the room after they heard the door close. Zach was sitting there in a total state of befuddlement.

“Don’t worry. I know how he is feeling.” Jeh-ri said, smiling at Zach.

“Oh please enlighten me!” He said as the others started to pull off the suits and also got changed.

“He has been doctored. He and Nathan spend the night together at one stage, and he left him something special. It got triggered as Nathan’s spirit guide came to heal Erik.” Leisa explained.

“Nathan has that effect on people, especially ones like Sephiroth.” Erik said. “In a way, Enak and I are like him, growing up without our parents around. Our mother died soon after she gave birth to us, and Dad was just always on a mission of some kind, only we had Nathan to turn to.

“I have felt his pain too. Nathan’s mission in life, besides that of keeping his family and people safe, is to heal and save lost children.” Enak added.

“He saw Sephiroth’s inner child, the one who grew up without a mother’s love and tenderness.” Jeh-ri mused. “What he showed him, is that not allowing yourself to feel can be useful, as it makes you less vulnerable, but by locking all the bad things out, it also deprives you of all the good things.”

“That is what I have been trying to teach him, for years now.” Zach said.

That struck Jeh-ri as kind of funny, a guy teaching a guy about feelings, and sniggered briefly. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place.

“I have an idea, people!” Leisa said.” we have a thank you ritual to perform, to thank the spirits for restoring Erik. We could send him the energy of the ritual. It will calm him down.”

“That is a damn good idea, Leisa. He will probably blow out every window in the building! He actually blew all the water out of the bath about half an hour ago, and that was just with one spirit helper.” Ian said sarcasticly.

“You mean to tell me Sephiroth lifted all the water out of the bath?” Zach said.

“Well we sure as hell don’t have that amount of power. That friend of yours is one powerful psychic, Zach.” Ian said. “I mean, and we are all just b5 at best. Jehri is b10, Erik is at a1, Nathan is at level a3, That would make him an a10 at least, probably higher!”

“What are you going to do?” Zach asked.

“We are going to perform the Dance of the Celestial Bodies. Each of us, you included, will represent earth, fire, water, air, the sun, the creator and the moon. It is a really easy dance to do, and we will send some of the energy of it to Sephiroth. Oh no! We are one person short, now that he has left!” Leisa said.

“We could ask Cloud.” Zach said. “He can be a little uncoordinated at times, but he has been improving a lot lately.”

“Ehh, this thing does require a certain level of maturity. We are all going to be half naked anyway, and it involves a fair amount of intimate touching.” Leisa said.

“Don’t worry about that. He’s not as innocent as you think, and he already knows the steps too.” Jeh-ri said.

“What? Since when is Cloud not innocent?, And when did learn how to dance?” Zach asked, grabbing the smaller man’s shoulder and turning him face to face with him.

“Guard duty is boring, Zach. I have been keeping him company every night he was scheduled from the moment I got here.” He explained, and Zach couldn’t help but feel irritation rise in eyes as they darted around his. “He also told me a couple of things that are very hard for him to cope with here. He confided in me and I in him, and unlike someone I know, he doesn’t tell tales, Zach.” Zach caught the slight annoyance in the other’s voice, realising he had told Seph about them, but never considering discression.

He was to busy trying to wrap his head around the picture of Cloud with Jeh-ri.
“So did you two.. you know.” He asked, but not really wanting to know the answer.

The red haired man shook his head. “You misread the situation, Zach. You have already been with guys before you slept with Seph, right?” he nodded. There had been some casual contacts before the General had expressed interest in him, but that had been casual too, and settled into a solid friendship instead. His other few contacts had been kept at a distance after the event, but Zach refused to be shut out for some reason, and still shared moments with him as he seemed to understand him somehow.

“Frightening thought, isn’t it?” he said, “Can you remember back to when you lost your virginity? I hope he or she was patient with you, someone who didn’t worry, or made you feel that you had to impress them.”

“I don’t get it. He and I have been friends from the moment he got assigned to my troops. I have always looked out for him, making sure he was alright.”

“Are you mad because he didn’t trust you enough to come to you, or are you disappointed because you are attracted to him and you wanted him?” Jeh-ri asked. “That would explain why you are angry right now.”

“Both.” He said, turning his back, startling himself with the fierceness of his own answer, as he poked the inoffensive floor with the tips of his toes.. The moment his retort burst from his mouth, he knew he had hurt Jeh-ri.

“Have you any idea how much he looks up to you and how much he loves you?” He than asked, his voice persistant but soft.” He likes me good enough to let me in, just for a little while, but all I found in there is you, and you, and more you.” He said, and he was glad to feel some kind of relief washed through him. He allowed Jeh-ri to place one hand on his chest and one against his neck. His hands where so warm, so nice..

“Do you realize how hard it is for him to always depend on you, for everything? He wants to grow up too, be stronger, more confident, like you. I mean look at you, your handsome, your funny, and damn attractive. Girls want you, guys want you, even the General still wants you from time to time, doesn’t he? .” He said, dropping his voice to almost a whisper as he said those things, making Zach flush with colour slightly.

“And then there’s Cloud. Fragile, insecure little Cloud. He is just afraid of disappointing you, Zach. You should know, he is the one that made the first move. You should be damn proud of him that he dared to approach someone way older than him. I felt honoured, Zach. I didn’t fuck him, and he didn’t fuck me either. I just gave him a hand, you know.”

He just had a hard time seeing little innocent Cloud like that. Always out of sorts, awkward in this environment and the people around him. He had to admit to himself that it had been pretty ballsy of him. He looked at Jeh-ri again, seeing worry in the slight frown on his face. He had real trouble placing the emotion there, if he was just mad in self defence or mad at his stupid behaviour. “I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell me.”

“I asked him not to, Zach. I was afraid of you reacting like this, and it turned out to be a good call.” He said, and Zach knew he deserved that one.

“What was he like, anyway.” He asked, still feeling awkward, but wanting to steal the moment back somehow.

“He is a better kisser than you, Zach” Jeh-ri said, and by the crooked smile, he knew he was teasing him.

“No way.” Zach said smiling, but deep inside knowing that it was a real possibility.

“You know, what you should really consider, is what value sex would add to your friendship, Zach. Just because you think he is so cute and adorable doesn’t obligate him to want you too. He placed the palms of his hands against his temples, trying to let the memories he had of him touching Cloud flow into Zach’s mind. It went falteringly at first, as he had to make his ghost understand what was happening. Zach closed his eyes, his respiration smoothed out, becoming long and deep.

“I just felt that it wasn’t up to me to take him, to have him.” He said as the moment faded and Zach looked him in the eye again, the same way he had done that night in the Seventh Heaven bar in Midgar.

“You didn’t feel too good about doing it either, did you?” he asked, still swimming in the emotions he had left in him.

He gently shook his head. “If I had been in my right mind, I would have turned him down, Zach. I find you very young sometimes, but I needed to talk to someone neutral, a place to feel hidden. Spending the night with you rattled me, Zach. I needed to level myself out a bit, get some perspective, and so did you.”

Zach had to agree with that. As the next night had fallen, a strange kind of obsession had settled over him, and he had searched almost the whole building for him. Then something took hold of his mind. “Wait a minute.. just how old are you, Jehr.”

"If you count the years I spend in the time zone of earth and of the seasons I have seen on Althea, I have been around for about fifty years, but if you convert them together, I am about thirty- six.” He said. “And you are how old, twenty , twenty one?” Zach nodded.

“So what would that have made me, if I did have full on sex with Cloud?” The look on Zach’s face made him want to have a camera as it was priceless.

“I‘ll go get Spike.” He said, and walked off with a seriously puzzled look on his face.

“At thirty six, that would place you in your sexual peak, if you where a woman.” Erik said.

“That is on Earth, but even so, according to Nathan, physically I am an eighteen year old man, that is the age guys reach their sexual peak, Erik. But that’s on Earth too, though, dear.”
Erik’s face worked furiously, but no sound came out as he was trying to make sense of it all.
“That must make you horny as hell, Jehr. How do you manage to function?”

“Well the amount of testosterone in this place it enough to turn the most hetero of hetero’s gay, Erik.”

“It did with you, didn’t it?” He asked.

“No, not really, technically I turned lesbian with Hazel for a while, now I just loooove men again, Erik.” He said, pressing himself against him and steering his face toward him so he could kiss him. “It is like being gang-raped on a energetic level.” He said, and pressed his mouth open and wet against his.

Erik growled deep in his throat and pulled away roughly. “You’re a terrible cock-tease, Jehr.”
“I do my best, dear!” He said and strolled off after Leisa, Ian , and Enak to their room to get ready.

Continued in ‘Rituals and growth’

a/n: Teaser for the next chapter...

Cloud gets invited to a very special party, and has a once in a lifetime experience..

Sephiroth gets a visit from Enak.....finally