Chapter Seven
Yuffie had taken the news that Genesis was sleeping downstairs very well -- so well, in fact, that, in the back of Genesis' mind, he wondered if his first supposition hadn't been correct after all. Then, however, he'd been distracted by Angeal's departure, and the terrible reality that he had to take care of three children -- well, an adult who acted like a child, and two children -- all by himself.
"Alright," Genesis declared, trying to sound very positive and in-control, "I suppose you three are hungry?"
"Well, duh, we haven't eaten all day," Yuffie responded, rolling her eyes. "I mean, your friend -- the smart one -- fed Yukki and Grozni, but no one got me anything…"
"Oh," Genesis said, not terribly impressed by her plight, "that's good at least...I don't have to worry about feeding the babies." Seeing a pout forming on her face, he added, "At least, the little ones. Alright, follow me...we'll get you something to eat."
Yuffie followed him, taking the opportunity to study the premises as she went. "Did Shinra build this house?" she asked.
"What? Why?"
She shrugged. "Just curious." He shot her a suspicious glance, but said nothing. They continued toward the kitchen. "So, I suppose you must have a fancy-schmancy security system installed, huh? What with you being an important Shinra guy and everything?"
Genesis turned a knowing gaze toward her. "Don't even think of it...there is no way for you to escape!"
Yuffie balked most unconvincingly at the suggestion. "What? I wasn't thinking of escaping! I'm just...curious!"
"Yeah, yeah," Genesis answered, rolling his eyes. They had reached the kitchen, so he opened the refrigerator and peered inside. "Now, what do you want to eat?"
She shrugged. "Whatever."
"Ok...then I'll make you a sandwich."
"A sandwich?" she repeated, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
"Yes..."
"I don't want a sandwich," she pouted.
Genesis sighed. "What happened to 'whatever'?"
"Well, you know, I mean whatever, as long as it's actual food!"
"A sandwich is food..."
"Dog food, maybe," Yuffie scoffed.
Genesis sighed again. "Alright, then...how about a bowl of cereal?"
She wrinkled her nose in disgust again.
Grimacing, Genesis said, "Let me guess...cereal isn't food either?"
"Well, when you're ten, sure, but..."
He rolled his eyes, but made no comment. "How about salad?"
"Yeck...what am I? A rabbit?"
"Leftover tuna casserole?"
"Ugh!"
"Steak?"
"Eww."
Clenching his jaw, he shut the refrigerator and opened the freezer. "I could bake this frozen lasagna..."
She made a barfing noise behind him.
"Heat up some fish sticks?"
"I hate fish!"
"Frozen pizza?"
"What kind?"
"Veggie."
"No meat?!"
"Nope..."
"Disgusting!"
Genesis closed his eyes and breathed very deeply. He was trying -- trying -- to control his temper, but she was making it so very difficult. "Well, why don't you tell me what you want, and I'll make it for you?" he suggested through clenched teeth.
"I told you!" Yuffie replied. "Whatever, as long as it's good!"
* * *
Yuffie was sitting on the kitchen counter, eating a bowl of mac and cheese as Genesis finished frying up hot dogs. Finally, after going through the refrigerator, freezer and cupboards, she'd decided on what she wanted to eat. "Hurry up there," she told him. "My macaroni is almost gone!"
Genesis clenched his jaw. "Well, we wouldn't want that, would we now?" he asked sarcastically.
"You know," she continued, "I think you put too much milk in this macaroni. It's pretty thin."
"And yet, the planet is still spinning..."
"Plus I think you undercooked the pasta."
He sighed, but said nothing.
"And, I don't know what brand this is, but the cheese is pretty lousy. The stuff we have in Wutai is much better. This just tastes...well...lousy."
Glaring at her, Genesis demanded, "If it sucks so badly, why are you on your second bowl?!"
"I didn't say it sucked," Yuffie replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Geez, you're sensitive. I was just pointing out what was wrong with it. I mean, other than that, it's not too bad."
Genesis rolled his eyes, taking the franks out of the pan. "Well, your hot dogs are done...I trust they're cooked to your satisfaction, your majesty?"
Yuffie smiled, swallowing a large mouthful of macaroni. "It's about time you Shinra people started showing some respect!" Glancing over at the hotdogs, she frowned. "Well, they're a little darker than..."
"Oh shut up and eat them!!" Genesis exploded.
At that moment, a hideous, shrieking howl tore through the air. Yuffie jumped off the counter, spilling her macaroni in the process, her eyes darting about for the source of the horrifying scream, and Genesis turned an ashen white. "My baby!" he cried. "Azimawa!"
