I do not own any of the characters from any of the FFVII games, movie, etc. Though I do love them all. =3=


Chapter 7. Meeting The Head of The Family

Reno stared ahead, eyes not straying from the back of Kadaj's head for a moment. This was nerve racking and he could feel sweat beading on his brow and between his shoulder blades.

Kadaj was still talking with the royal messenger, but Reno had heard what his message was. Apparently, the Pharaoh had decided it was time for a family gathering, which meant that he was going, though no one else was allowed. Reno heard a small voice in the back of his head wonder if this was why Kadaj had made him his body guard two days ago, but he ignored it.

Shaking his head and pushing away the dread of having to meet the Pharaoh, he paid more attention to what Kadaj was telling the messenger. "- I will be there on time, with only my body guard as he commanded. Please inform the Pharaoh that I will be honored to be there and will stay as long as he wishes." The pleasantries rolled of his tongue like the silk that incased his body today.

Bowing, the messenger turned and left. Kadaj turned and smirked at Reno. "Looks like you get to see the whole family in one room. That should be entertaining, don't you think?" Kadaj's eyes flashed dangerously.

"It will be an honor to meet the rest of your family." He replied, with a small bow.

"Very good." Kadaj turned away and walked off, forcing Reno to run to catch up with him.

He ran a quick eye over the rooms they now stood in. They were fit for someone of Kadaj's station, just as they should be. But he thought the decorations could be a little less…well gaudy. There was just too much gold and other reflective metals for his liking, but he wasn't one to complain.

Kadaj just smiled a sort of knowing smile, but other than that he ignored Reno as he walked into the room. "They certainly don't know my tastes." He drawled as he lay back on the bed. This one was exactly like the one he had back at home. Large and circular, it took up about a third of the room.

Reno looked around for the door that would lead to his rooms, assuming it would be like at home, with his rooms now adjacent to Kadaj's, so that he could always be within shouting distance.

He couldn't see any doors, hidden or otherwise. What, was he going to be sleeping on the floor? "Reno…" Kadaj called his attention, "you will be sleeping in this bed. It is one of the Pharaoh's rules, that a body guard must always be close to the master, even in sleep." Reno just stared at him. That couldn't be true. But he knew Kadaj wasn't lying. Kadaj never would. What was the point of lying to him, a lowly slave, anyways.

He just nodded his head. "Of course, my lord." He knew there was no way to get out of this. He would just have to sleep as far away from him as possible. Though, knowing Kadaj, he wouldn't stay that far away for long, if his first night with Kadaj as his master was anything to go by.

He walked a few feet behind Kadaj, eyes roving everywhere in search of future trouble. The Pharaoh's palace was a place known for assassination attempts, even on the Pharaoh himself.

But no one suspicious looking or other wise tried anything as the walked down the long hall that was the only entrance to the Pharaoh's throne room. He wouldn't have had to worry, since guards had been posted every twenty feet, but the thought that someone could pay them off kept floating through his mind. He kept a weary eye on the long pikes they held in an easy, relaxed grip.

Finally reaching the doors, he heard a low horn blown from the inside, and Kadaj's name called out as the doors were pushed open by the last two guards in the long line.

He walked forward with Kadaj, but as the stopped before the throne Reno bowed low, but not low enough to throw him off balance and leave Kadaj undefended. He heard a low cool voice over head and shivered, but controlled his fear. "I see you have your guard well trained, little brother." This was the voice of a cruel man, one who did not care what others thought of him, so long as they feared him.

"Well, you know how I love to train my pets." Kadaj's voice was exactly like the man's above him, but it sounded slightly more possessive, like one brother gloating his favorite toy before the other. He hoped this wouldn't get him killed. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Kadaj, waiting for direction from him. He just jerked his head up, telling him to rise.

As he rose from his half bent position, he took a quick glance from under lowered lids to look at the man who's voice alone could strike fear into him. He wasn't surprised by the long flowing silver hair or the green cat slit eyes. He had gotten used to seeing it on Kadaj, so that it no longer freaked him out. There was just something about him, some sort of aura, that spoke of power, as if he actually was the mortal vassal of some great god whose name escaped his memory.

He seemed to love gold from all the jewelry that adorned his person. From a flowing head dress to a chest and neck ornament, he screamed gold. It wound around his arms, hands, and feet, making him shine brightly where torch light hit it. There were no widows in the large room.

Straitening fully, he kept his gaze averted from the god like figure, unsure what to do in such an overpowering presence. "Tell me, body guard," The voice called out to him, "What is your name and where is it you come from? I've yet to see one with such a shocking coloring as you have. Like blood on milk." The voice seemed to caress the word blood.

"My name is Reno, Mighty Pharaoh and as to where I am from, I don't remember. I left when very young and have no memories. All I know is that it is to the far north of here." He bowed his head, but continued to keep his gaze averted.

"You may look at me. It is not forbidden to gaze upon me." He could hear a smile in the sentence, but it didn't help the frost that still laced the words.

He looked up, but before the Pharaoh could say anything, the horn was blown again and the man announced that both Yazoo and Loz, the rest of this small family, had arrived. He saw an annoyed look flash across the Pharaoh's face, but it was gone so quickly, that he thought he had been seeing things.

"Yazoo, Loz." He greeted them, eyes examining the two brothers that were coming up behind them. He turned to look with Kadaj and saw Yazoo, whom he knew, but Loz was one whom he had not met personally.

He could see two body guards shadowing their foot step, eyes darting around for any danger. They even eyed him for a moment, but than dismissed him as any threat to their charges.

"And now, the whole family is gathered." They turned to look at the Pharaoh again. "I, the Great Pharaoh Sephiroth, welcome my brothers to my home and hope their stay here will be pleasant as always. Reno shivered at the hidden threat of those words pressed into his mind. It was going to be a long visit, that much he knew.


[Dramatic music] Yes, I did it. I made Sephiroth a Pharaoh who considered themselves as the mortal images and vassals of the gods they worshiped, mainly Horis and Osiris. If you don't know who these gods look them up.

I've decided to make Reno's life miserable, so the next few chapters will involve lots of threats to his life, fights, traps, assassination attempts, and anything else I feel like throwing in along the way. I will give a hint though, there is a routine among this family, that involves pitting their body guards against each other. What else are brothers with all this power going to entertain themselves. [grins evilly] You all will enjoy this one to come.

Until Next Time

~Reiya

Reno [reading end notes]: WHAT!? Why me? Why is it always me?

Me: Aw don't be sad, after this, things will get kind of better.

Reno: I doubt that.

Me: Oh Kadaj, what ever can we do to cheer him up?

Kadaj: I can think of a few things. [looks over at Reno].

Reno: Shit! [Makes a run for it with Kadaj in pursuit].

Me: Well that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed this new chapter. [Smiles and waves to all readers.]