The Log of the progress of the Jenova child Sephiroth. Day 2555:
Today marks the child's seventh birthday. I have enrolled him in a school,
hoping to stimulate his social skills. He is a very quiet boy, but a very
intelligent one. How long will it be before Jenova takes his strength to
the next level? I am uncertain, but, as always, I will keep a close watch
on his progress. It is not yet time for him to realize he is drastically
different from the other children. I have very high hopes for this boy.
However, I am beginning to think he does not like me. Perhaps he would
think differently of me if he knew that I was his father.
"School?"
Sephiroth questioned, glancing quizzically at Hojo. "Why?"
Hojo
shrugged and declined to answer the posed question. "Would you rather stay
here?"
Sephiroth
glanced around the lab with a disgusted expression. He wished someone else
had taken him in and not Hojo. He was a strange man, scary in some ways.
If only his mother, Jenova, hadn't died and his father hadn't.....
"Is
that a no, Sephiroth?" Hojo spoke, interrupting the child's depressing
thoughts.
Sephiroth
nodded. "It is."
"Good,"
Hojo replied, heading for a desk stacked with books. "You start tomorrow."
Sephiroth
rolled down his sleeves. "Am I done now? No more protein studies today?"
"No.
You may leave," Hojo answered, flipping through one of the books.
But
Sephiroth stood still, just staring back at Hojo as though he were waiting
for something.
Hojo
grew annoyed at being studied in such a manner and looked up in annoyance.
"What is it, Sephiroth?"
".....today
is my birthday," the child said timidly. Sephiroth was extremely mature
for his age, and did not often display behavior parallel to that of his
age. The sudden childish timidness was a puzzlement.
"I
am aware," Hojo answered, going back to his book.
Sephiroth
asked in the same small voice. "Do I.....do I get a present?"
"A
present?" Hojo looked up in confusion. It had not even crossed his mind
for a moment. Had he given him a present last year? His memory of the event
failed him. Had he written it down.....?? He fumbled through the books
lying on the desk, but the correct volume wasn't there. With an annoyed
sigh, Hojo pushed his glasses back up on his nose and looked at his son.
"What do you want?"
"A
kitty....." Sephiroth answered quietly.
"A
kitty!" exclaimed the professor. "A cat?! You can't have a cat! Think of
something more practical, then approach me about a birthday present."
Sephiroth
hung his head sadly and trudged off, mumbling something offensive under
his breath.
Hojo
recorded his latest findings from Sephiroth's blood sample. The child had
been told the research was on protein, another in the long string of lies
Hojo told the child to cover up the truth. He could never discover he was
a manufactured Ancient, created by the cells of Jenova. That was one of
the several secrets Hojo swore to take to the gave, however far off it
was.
Think
of something more practical....Sephiroth thought bitterly as he returned
to his room.
Maybe he should find something more practical to conduct
his failed experiments on. Every day Sephiroth came up with a new reason
to despise the greasy old man. Today was no exception. After all, Hojo
had shot down his one desire without so much as a reason why. It became
increasingly frustrating. If only Hojo would die....the thought passed
through the child's mind often. Then he could live somewhere else...then
he would be gone from the experiments....
Sephiroth
lay down on his head with a small yawn. Dreamy visions of school swan through
his tired brain. What would the other children be like? Sephiroth had never
seen someone his own age before. All his life he had been surrounded by
adults. Were children much different? He wondered if the other children
had parents or if they were orphans too. He hoped they weren't. That way
maybe he could absorb some of their happiness....
"Sephiroth."
"...I
want that kitty..."
"*Sephiroth*."
"...The
white one..."
"Sephiroth!!"
The
child jerked awake with a startled snort, silver hair falling over his
piercing green eyes. "Yes?"
Hojo
stood impatiently in the doorway. He glared at the child. "Dress yourself.
School begins shortly." He abruptly slammed the door and was gone.
Sephiroth
rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He had been having such a pleasant dream
that he wasn't the least bit surprised Hojo had put an end to it.
School.
He had nearly forgotten about the whole concept. Sephiroth dressed as he
had been instructed to. What from here? He hesitantly opened his door and
peered out right into Hojo's stained lab coat. He lurched backwards.
Hojo
seemed annoyed. "Come, Sephiroth," he ordered, marching down the hallway.
Sephiroth
meekly followed him. Well, no matter what school is like it separates me
from Hojo. That's a gift all in itself.
The
classroom was a wonder of color and movement. Sephiroth stood in the doorway,
his senses absorbing everything in amazement. There were many other children
playing, laughing and simply having fun. They looked so happy. Sephiroth
was jealous. He wanted to be happy too.
But
he couldn't be until Hojo was gone. The old professor remained at the child's
side, surveying the busy classroom. He nodded his head, seemingly pleased.
"When you return home you are to report everything, understood, Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth
silently nodded, eager to be rid of the old man. he excitedly watched him
disappear from sight and proceeded to run over to the children.
They
watched him approach with interest. There were four of them in this particular
group, and one of the children held something protectively in his hands.
"Who're
you?" One of the kids asked.
"I
am Sephiroth," he answered promptly. "Hello."
"I'm
Alloy," said the child, gesturing to himself. He gestured to the other
children as he continued the introduction. "That's Locke, Axel and Riker."
Sephiroth's
eyes became fixed upon the glinting object in Locke's tiny hands. "What
do you have there?"
"I
ferget what it's called," Locke responded, holding it out for all to see,
"But my daddy says you can cast spells with it. I brought it for show and
tell."
"Materia,"
said Sephiroth.
Locke
was confused. "Huh?"
"That's
called Materia," Sephiroth replied, gesturing to the glowing green orb
as he spoke. "Restore materia, to be specific.
"Spesefic?"
Axel pronounced poorly. "What's that?"
Sephiroth
was taken back. "Specific," he repeated, "it means.....exactly."
"Oh,"
Axel sighed.
Sephiroth
suddenly felt strangely out of place. How could they not know a word that
simple....??
"I
need your report," Hojo said when the child returned.
Sephiroth
shrugged and sat down. He said nothing.
"Sephiroth,
you are to speak when you are spoken to," Hojo said sternly. "Tell me about
your day."
"Why
am I smarter?" Sephiroth asked.
Hojo
could not help but jump at the direct words. "Excuse me?"
"I
said why am I smarter," Sephiroth snapped, his eyes glaring like daggers
into the old man's soul.
Hojo
backed up a step. He's just a child, he's just a child, he's just a....
"Sephiroth, that question has an obvious answer." Hojo smiled to hide the
fear. "It is because I have already taught you so much, and the other children
have not had the same opportunity." A well spun lie, Hojo applauded
himself. Sephiroth was a very smart child, but Hojo knew he was not smart
enough to see through that.
"Why
am I different than everyone else?" Sephiroth asked.
"You
are not different," Hojo explained. "You're just like any other child."
The
look on the boys face told Hojo that he obviously was not convinced.
"Is
there anything else that should be brought to my attention?" Hojo questioned
lightly.
