He reminds me so much of you, Zacari. It's a shame things have to be this way. I think it's more of a shame that I will never get to tell you this in person, nor would you be able to read this letter. In the past, I have written many times, as if we were secret lovers. Only, I was the hopeless lover falling for a woman who's heart had already been taken. Zacari, the perfect wife, ever loyal to her husband. You're heart belonged to him, and I knew that, but I refused to accept it. I would never say such amatuer words out loud, I'm a better man than that. But to speak in all honesty, Zacari, it was a foolish thing to fall in love with Jaythan. I wonder if you ever gave thought about me, about us and what we could accomplish together. Rufus would have loved to have you as his mother, at least he would have a mother. Jerran, Reno, and Amira would have had a much safer life, much more of a broaden upbringing. Jerran and the baby girl you lost at her birth would never have vanished, and I, certainly, would not have left you for dead. Although I will admit this, you have raised them well. However, I do not approve of Reno's stubbornness. And is more than protective of Amira one would think she was a princess and he was her guard.

Jaythan is to blame, I don't know how, but I can feel it. He killed you. And like Reno I, too, refuse to believe Jerran is dead. I cannot explain my reasons, and since this will be added to my pile, I do not need to...

Shinra leaned back, staring at the half filled piece of paper with his heart spilled over it. In a way, he was glad no one would read it. He couldn't imagine the humiliation of someone discovering his love for a woman that was already taken. He wasn't one for sharing his feelings out loud, it was better written and hidden away. But that still didn't erase the pain his heart burdened, nor the guilt. Maybe, if he had tried harder, things would have been different between him and Zacari. Now she was gone, all that was left of her were her two children.

"Father?" Rufus muffled voice said through the door, then he knocked. Shinra shot his head over to the door, startled out of his thoughts. "We're going to be late for our lessons."

"I will be down in a moment, Rufus." Shinra answered calmly, folding the paper in half and stuffing it into the briefcase. Despite his self-loathing emotions and wallowing, he had completely forgotten the busy day ahead of them. Sighing, he stood up and adjusted his tie. "Make sure Reno and Amira are in the car before I get down there."

"Yes, father."

He stood behind his desk, staring at the closed door, listening as Rufus' footsteps faded down the hall. Taking deep breaths, waiting for the pain to leave his heart. Rufus was the biggest reason why he kept things to himself, it wasn't easy trying to keep a dark secret from his son. Not when every time he looked at him, he saw yet another failure he could never fix. Facing the other two children, seeing Zacari in both of them, was going to be much more of a challenge than he had hoped. He was content with Reno never seeing Shinra as his father. Actually, he didn't want Rufus calling him 'father' either. But the difference between the two boys was that Rufus was only being told half truth's.

"May I ask, why are you so crude towards my father?" Rufus asked Reno, taking his seat in the car across from him. The 'car' wasn't really a car, it wasn't a limo either. It was basically their 'city' car, and they still had a driver. Shinra preferred to use a different car for when he took the children to their activities, at least make them look like they were 'normal' people.

"Crude?" Reno asked, crossing his legs and spreading out his arms, sitting as casually and informal as ever. Rufus tried to hide his disgust at Reno's choice of attire; blue jeans with a hole in the knee, a plain white t-shirt underneath a black leather jacket, and goggles on his forehead. His silver earring gleamed blindingly in the sun light, his red almost orange hair resembled a mess of fox fur on the top of his head. The embarrassing fact was that Reno refused to get it cut. "I wouldn't call it 'crude'. Just stating facts."

"And you call constant arguing and disobedience stating a fact?" Rufus asked, resisting the urge to shout at him. He leaned forward slightly, placing his elbows on his knees. He understood that Reno was still getting accustomed to his new life style, but Reno had to be taught a little bit of gratitude.

"Not really 'disobeying'," Reno's fingers bent as if to do air quotation marks at the word. "I just don't understand why he has so many rules. When I lived with my mom-"

"You're not with your mom, anymore." Rufus reminded him sharply, regretting his haste words. Reno blinked, surprised that his rich, somewhat adoptive brother, would talk to him like this. But this wouldn't be the first time he dealt with a firm voice and stern eyes, telling him the obvious. "My father has adopted you and is treating you like he does me. And I am treating you like a brother. In fact, if it wasn't for me, my father would've left you in the hospital." He paused, realizing he was talking too fast. He slowly took a deep breath and continued with a more calmer voice. "I think, the least you can do, is show us respect."

"Us?" Reno scoffed. "You think I ought to respect you like your my brother? And your dad like he's my father?" His crooked smile aggravated Rufus, it was like Reno was mocking him. Rufus could see that Reno was making it clear that he didn't care what any of them had to say. Reno, however, wasn't intimidated by people like Rufus or his father. But, although he would never admit it, Rufus had a point.

Sighing, he leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. "Alright, humor me, what would you consider to be 'respect'?"

It took a little bit of effort for Rufus to not act surprise. For once, instead of arguing, Reno was actually talking without a hint of harsh sarcasm or cynicism. He paused, if there was one thing his father taught him in any deal, always start with something simple. "For starters, call him 'father'-"

"Not a chance." Reno interrupted, his bright blue eyes firm and cold like blocks of ice. Rufus stopped, his mouth dangling open as his eyes watched Reno's fingers clench tightly together. He started to wonder if, when he takes over in his father's place in the company, any clients or business partners would be like Reno. "He's your father, not mine or Amira's. I know who my father is. And you are not my brother." Hearing a loud gleeful shout, he glanced out the window, watching Amira run out the door with an excited smile on her young face. Reno looked back at Rufus, determined to make his point clear. "And I'll tell you this, when our father and brother return, you'll never see us again."

"And what if he never shows?" Rufus shot, struggling to fight the urge to leap across the seat and punch Reno. Rufus's gaze turned just as dark and cold as Reno's, feeling more confident. He leaned in closer, literally, on the edge of his seat. "What if he's abandoned you two?"

Reno stared at him with a heated glare, his knuckles white. If anyone were to peek in through the car window, they would've wondered if the two were having a staring contest. Outside of Amira's gleeful screams, the car was silent. Finally, Reno scoffed and shook his head with the same arrogant grin and his ice blue eyes were empty."Na, you don't know our father."

"I don't think I need to know your father to know what kind of man he is." Rufus bit his lip, hoping he was hitting a nerve with Reno. "Think about it, Reno. Your mom dies in a house fire, and your father is nowhere to be found. It has been months since that event occurred. And yet, he hasn't come to find either one of you." Rufus was feeling proud of himself, choosing his words carefully. "Now tell me, since you know him so well, would he ever do that?"

"Shut it, rich boy." Reno growled, resisting the urge to fight. It would be the last thing he'd want Amira to see. "You think you know everything when you don't know shit."

"Would you please not cuss?"

"Make me."

"Enough!" Shinras voice boomed, entering the car at the other side. Both boys, startled, fell silent, staring at each other with heated anger. Reno scooted to the middle as Amira climbed in, putting her seat belt on.

"Father-"

"I will not hear it, Rufus."

"Yes, sir." Rufus felt his heart dropped, sitting back and staring out the window.

"And Reno-"

"I know, sorry sir." Reno said carelessly, leaning back in his seat. Shinra ignored him, buckling his seat belt.

"I'm so excited big brother!" Amira exclaimed, jumping up and down in her seat, the seat belt clanking with each jump.

"What's with the bag?" Reno asked, grabbing the blue duffel bag from Amira. Zipping it open, he found a towel and ballet shoes.

"My ballet clothes are in there."

"And you're bringing a large gym bag?"

"Every professional needs to have one."

"You think you're a pro?" Reno chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"I will be when I'm a big girl."

"I see."