Wednesday 1:55 P.M

[Zean's P.O.V]

School was just like any other day, boring, boring, and boring…

I don't why I have to go and study? I mean I can survive on talents alone, c'mon I'm a good drummer, so all I have to do be a success is get in audition, make sure that I don't screw up…Then my future's secure.

Sigh… Great fives minutes will seem like an eternity.

"Zean please don't slouch!" The teacher scolds. I hate her, I can't even relax for a few minutes…Does she have to use up every second too? I can't wait to get home, and then I can slouch all I want.

Tong… tong… tong.

Tong… tong… tong.

'FINALLY!' Yes school's over! I shoved all my books in my book bag and rush out.

The teacher yells at me to come back because I haven't been excused yet. 'Like hell! I'm not going to spend another second in that prison!

Ha! Ha! I'm free.

As soon as I saw the gate, I put my legs into overdrive and rush there as soon as possible.

Five seconds later I saw Scáth, as usual I call out to him. "Scáth!" He hears me, and then slowly turns his head to my direction, a second later I closed in on him, and then I bend over taking a few breaths to get my lungs working again.

"Zean, we're meeting mom in the clinic today so let's go." He tells me. I shot up and then nodded with excitement. Yes we get to know if she's pregnant or not! Scáth puts his hands in his pocket and then leads the way to the clinic.

Ten minutes later, we finally reached the place, the nurse who stood in the doorway led us to the waiting room. 'Great more waiting…' I thought. Scáth just leans back on the chair looked at door that had the name of Spéire's doctor on it. "So mom's trusting him to do the check up?" I ask. He nods. "Why wouldn't she trust him?" He adds. I don't know why, but there was something about the doctor that made me shiver and no it's not because I don't like doctors, but he doesn't seem right some how? "Hey you think he's not going anything creepy to her do you?" I suggested. Scáth looks at me slightly flabbergast ( Finally he can express shock at least!) "Why would you think that? He's a good doctor, if it weren't for him Spéire wouldn't be here now." He scolds me.

Well that was true, but still… I don't trust that guy and neither should Scáth…

You might be smart big bro, but you're shallow when I comes to life.

Soon the door opens and mom thanks the doctor. I stood up and wave so she could see us. Mom turns to us and waves back before heading our way. "So what did the doctor say?" I ask eagerly. "Well you will have to wait till your father gets home––" "Dad called me outside the school, he told me that he'll have a delivery to make in Wutai, so he won't be home tonight." Scáth informs us. 'Great…just when I was looking forward to it too…Dad has to go and spoil everything…Wait, Scáth does that too! Grrr…I can't stand them sometimes!'

Mom nods profoundly, and then places her hand on my back. "Looks like you'll have to wait till your father comes home." She tells me. No…dad why did you have to pick today of all days to accept a delivery?

"Scáth did your father tell you when he was going to be back?" Mom asks, looking at Scáth now.

He shakes his head. Huff…That's so typical of dad to go off without telling anyone.

I look up at mom. Like always she's seemingly happy but deep down, I think she's sad, cuz dad's been away most of the time…

Puh. I don't really care about it, I still have mom and that's alright with me.


(Scáth's P.O.V)

I wonder what dad could be doing in Wutai? From the way he sounded on the phone, I could tell that it was something serious. Maybe it was better that I don't tell mom about it.

So when she asked, I just shook my head telling her that I didn't know why dad was there in Wutai.

"Mom let's go home." I suggested simply. Mom nods and follows behind me while I lead the way.

3:00 P.M

When we neared the bar, the three of us were met by an astounding sight. "Denzel!" Zean cries with glee. Denzel turns around traps Zean in a head lock then gives him a noogie. "Let go! Let go!" Zean shouts trying to pry himself out of it with no avail. "Denzel leave your brother alone." Mom tells him. Denzel then lets go gently. "So Tifa how have you been?" He asks mom. She replies 'never better' and then she adds that the four of us (including Spéire) we're doing well.

"That's good." He says. Mom asks where will he be staying for the night. He replies that he doesn't know. So she offered him to stay here for the night.

Later on during dinnertime, Spéire joined us (mainly because she wanted to see Denzel).

"So Denzel, has anything interesting happened lately?" Zean asks. "Nothing much, but a few gang members stealing a few engine parts." Denzel answered while taking a bite on some curry that mom made.

"Gang members?" Spéire turns to him in a worried manner. Denzel nods and explained to them that those members just took a couple of tools, but left anything valuable out.

Now that was just strange, why would they need tools? "But it's not that important, I can always buy more tools later on anyway." He adds. Mom looks at him sternly. "What do you mean it doesn't matter? Of course it does." She told as simply as that. "Mom's right Denzel, whoever is behind the stealing should be investigated." I add. "I suppose, but don't go overboard alright." He tells us (especially mom and I).

We both nodded and promised that we weren't going to overdo it, and we simply told him that we were going to call dad or Vincent so we know what they can find? In an instant mom walks over to the phone, and gives dad a call, but he doesn't pick up…so after letting out a sigh, she calls Vincent and he answers.

Mom told him what happened. Mom nodded to whatever he said on the other line.

After five minutes or so she hangs up. "Denzel Vincent will find out what he can and he'll let you know in the next few days." She tells him.

And that was that for the next few days that event was forgotten, and the days that follow were like normal.

Spéire recovered and then she was able to go to school, then she had to take the tests that she missed due to her absences. Then when the results came back she had received a high score of ninety in her test.

Mom was pleased.

Dad still hadn't come home yet, but mom send a text message to let him know.

And once again the three of us Strife siblings went to school together just like every other morning, and we go through school, hanging out with friends, dealing with school pressure, strict teachers and some teachers that you liked.

A month came back before anyone knew it, and soon the dance was a week away.

By this time dad had returned, and mom finally revealed her secret, she was pregnant. However it was a lot riskier now since because of her age.

When dad and I heard about the risks, he, Zean and I suggested that mom terminated the pregnancy. But she wouldn't have any of that, and Spéire was the one who supported her through.

Wednesday 2:30 P.M

Zean, Spéire and I were walking home from school as usual, when Spéire suddenly got the urge to do a little clothes shopping so she could have something nice to wear for the dance.

By four in the afternoon, we had already stopped by at least ten shops. "Onii-chan which one looks good to you?" She asks. I sigh and continued reading the magazine. Spéire. "Could you try to be a little supportive?" Spéire says. I shrug. "You don't have to worry about looking flashy or anything like that, it's just a dance." I said. She sighs. "You should lighten up a little, it would do you some good you know." She says. I didn't really care, I've heard that saying before.

"Hey shouldn't we be getting home?" Zean points out. Spéire looks at her watch. "Eh? You're right…Let's go!" She says rushing out, leaving the dress on the floor. Zean rushes out after her. I put the dress back on the hanger, and apologize to the employees and then run outside to catch up with them.

I caught up with them. Unfortunately we weren't the only ones that were in a rush.

A car pulls up in front of us, and then eggs were thrown. Most of them hits Spéire. Zean and I tried to shield her from it as much as possible. Soon the attacks stopped and then car drove off.

Spéire starts hiccupping, and that normally means she was getting ready to cry. "Stop it." I told her sharply. "If you cry, then that means you've lost your pride…Don't cry, don't let them know they've hurt your pride." I advised her. Spéire nods and wipes her tears.

Zean made a face and wipes yolk off his shirt. "Scáth we should find out who did it, and kick their butts!" Zean says throwing a fist in the air. "Don't resort to physical violence, especially if those 'kids' seem older than you…That means their bigger and most likely stronger as well." I tell him. But he just waves it off, and says he's not going to chicken out on any opponent no matter how big or strong they were.

Spéire slaps herself on the forehead. "Only idiots want to be all brawn and no brains." I commented on Zean as he head his back turned. "Hey! At least I'm willing to defend my own honor and then honor of my sister!" He shouts. I cover my ears with my hands, not wanting to listen to anymore…

Zean takes a big huff and then stomps forwards. Spéire smiles nervously and then follows casually after.

Mom was already standing in the entrance to the bar, with her arms folded. Then she immediately drops her arms and rushes to the three of us. "What happened?" She asks. "We just ran into a little trouble on the way here…" I answered.

Mom tells the three of us to get cleaned up.

Once we all were egg free, she called the three of us down to the bar. "Scáth I really think that you all need to learn some self-defense lessons…That way you three can protect yourselves." She says with a slight begging tone to it. I stood and said. " Mom I don't want to learn anything that involves hurting people…Even if it means protecting myself, it's still unjust." I told her.

Mom sighs. "If it's self defense, than it's acceptable." "I just want you all to be able to defend yourselves." She adds. "I think we should go for it." Spéire says. "I second it!" Zean says.

I sighed and then raised my hand, showing her that I agreed to it too. Well it wasn't like I had any choice.

"So when do the lessons start mom!" Zean asks punching his fist into the palm of his hand in excited manner.

"On the weekends after you finish your homework." Tifa answered. I didn't like where this was going.

"Cheer up Scáth…After all a strong mind does need a strong body. It's all about balance." Spéire says clapping her hands together. Well she did have a point there…It's all about balance after all.

I clenched my fist. "Maybe this will help me too…After all, I want to find something that I'm good at…That I can do instantly." I whispered. Mom shakes her head. " Nothing that achieved to perfection instantly…It requires practice." She says. I nod again, she was right.

"Now do you three, do you have any homework to do?" She asks. I shook my head, and so did Spéire, and of course Zean did too. But mom saw through that instantly. "I hope you aren't lying young man." She stated clearly. Zean rubs the back of his head in a nervous manner. "If you get grounded, I want you to remember it's not for my sake, but for your own." Mom says as she goes upstairs.

The three of us looks at her as she came back down with her gloves on her hands. "Mom?" Zean looks at her bewilder. Mom nodded casually. "Since you three don't have any homework. I will be training you." She tells us.

Now this was unexpected, we all knew that dad was a fighter, but to have mom know to fight too? That was way out of the ordinary, and I could no longer hold the urge to ask.

"Um mom, are you sure you know how to fight?" I ask. Mom smiles, and orders that I come at her. I shake my head, she nods. I sigh and then rushed forward.

Mom's face turned serious and she waited for her moment. As soon as I got close enough, mom grabs my arm and painful pulls and bends on my back, while she had one knee on resting near my spine. Then she forms her free hand in a karate chopping position and brings it down, but only let it the side of her hand kiss my skin slightly. Soon she releases the hold and helps me up.

"Sorry if I was too rough." Mom says. I shake my head and tell her it's alright, after all it wasn't my place to question her.

"Alright all of you upstairs, get your sport gear ready and then it's time for some training." Mom orders us.

Zean throws his fist in the air and yells, 'Alright'. Spéire smiles and then pats him on the shoulders, and comments how exciting this was.

Of course I didn't put much thought into it and did what I was told…

"Finally I can defend my pride!" Zean exclaims. I raised an eyebrow. Was this training really about pride or self defense?


Well here's chapter three, and personally I'm not that happy with this, and I'm sure that this story is getting boring for some people.

Again I don't know why, but despite the fact it might be boring to some, I feel that I have to continue it.

Anyway, please read and review, like I said in the first chapter, I appreciate honesty!