20

The next morning Tseng woke up early, or at least it was early for a Sunday. He walked past the two boys on the floor, residing there with their legs and arms interwined and both seemingly blessed with a rather deep sleep, for which the teacher envied them a bit. Without waking them he entered the kitchen and began to make some coffee.

While he was waiting for the water to run through the filter paper he watched the sun slowly making its way over the horizon. It promised to be a warm day, the first birds started to chirp in the trees outside and a mellow orange light engulfed the room.

Tseng turned away from the window and sat down at the table. He had thought it over again and again but still couldn´t quite comprehend what had happened the night before.

It still felt like a bad dream, but Loz´s snoring noises from the living room just reminded him HOW real it had been. And one thing was for sure: he couldn´t let the boys go back to that 'father'. But other than that the black haired man felt uncertain of what to do. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he got himself a big cup of too hot coffee and swallowed it almost with one gulp. He nearly welcomed the hot, burning sensation in his mouth, it woke him up at least. Rubbing his tired eyes and pondering at how to proceed he failed to notice the small figure that plodded into the kitchen, jawning and still looking a bit drowsy.

"Morning," Kadaj mumbled and took a seat next to the teacher. The man looked up from his pot in surprise, but caught himself immediately.

"Good morning," he answered kindly and offered the kid a cup of coffee. Kadaj wrapped his little hands around the hot item and swang a little with his feet, apparently not really awake yet. Absently he sipped at the coffee, but instantly grimaced and complained.

"Urgh, that´s disgusting."

Tseng couldn´t help a small smile when he saw the boy´s distorted face and rose up to make some tea. Meanwhile the boy had laid his head on the table and watched the man rummaging in the cupboards through his silver bangs.

"Hey, you are the one who talked to Yazzy because of my homework, aren´t you?"

Tseng tilted his head and glanced at the boy from out of the corner of his eye and remembered that until now they hadn´t talked that much. Apart from the incident at the schoolyard, which the boy had fled. "You are right. My name is Tseng."

"Hi Mr. Tseng. I´m Kadaj."

„Well, nice to meet you Kadaj."

"Hm." The boy nodded in agreement and Tseng continued to make the tea. The sun had become rather warm and lit the kitchen now fully.

"See, I was right, wasn´t I?"

This time the teacher didn´t turn around, but spilled some of the tea leaves he was preparing. Being taken aback by the sudden question he was frozen to the spot for a moment, but regained his composure rather fast. "It seems like it, yes."

"Hm," the boy made again, watching the man´s back closely.

"Sooo…what´s going to happen to us now?"

Lacking for a satisfying answer, Tseng instead put the finished, steaming tea in front of the boy, avoiding his gaze. Staring at the cup and then back at the teacher, Kadaj´s eyes narrowed. "You are not going to bring us back, are you?"

Seeing the suspicious look on the boy´s face Tseng hurried to assure him that this wasn´t his intention at all. But he was right, they had to think up something.

"You´ll stay here for now," he decided after a short pause and Kadaj seemed to be satisfied, finally drinking the offered tea.

"I´ll make you something to eat and we´ll have to see how your brother is doing. We might need to go to a hospital…" Tseng repressed an excruciated sigh when he noticed the boy´s ornery look.

"I told you he doesn´t need that," Kadaj claimed again over his tea cup in a voice that didn´t tolerate any arguing. Tseng surpressed another sigh and instead murmured a "We´ll see."

To distract the boy from this obviously sensitive topic, Tseng sent him for a shower and to brush his teeth. Kadaj didn´t apply too enthusiastically, but slipped from his chair to do what he was told to nevertheless. From the living room Tseng could hear an annoyed grunt and a petty Kadaj, telling his brother that he was SO sorry for tripping over him. Shaking his head, the teacher sipped at his coffee again. This was definitely going to be a challenge.

After he had finished he left the empty cup in the sink. Before making his way to the bedroom, he told Loz that he could help himself with some coffee in the kitchen and was answered with another muffled grunt.

Rapping at the bedroom door, Tseng waited for a reply and entered after he didn´t receive a response.

Yazoo hadn´t moved from the position Tseng had left him in a few hours earlier. The only difference was that he seemed to be asleep this time, since his eyes were closed. Taking two soundless strides, Tseng was next to the bed and carefully lifted the blanket from the boy´s chest just to see if he might need medical treatment. To his exorbitant astonishment there were nearly no traces on the youth´s body left that indicated what had happened the night before. Staring at the unblemished, smooth chest rising and falling with his steady breathing the teacher couldn´t believe his own eyes.

Hadn´t the memories of the abused body been so fresh and burnt into his mind like acid he wouldn´t have been sure if anything had happened at all!

Though, when he had a closer look, he could make out some fine red lines here and there, where just some hours ago had been deep scratches and cuts.

What was it with these kids?! If they were all three like this it was no wonder no one had ever noticed that they were lambasted every once in a while.

Still amazed by Yazoos healing ability he let the blanket fall back and decided that a visit at the hospital wasn´t that urgent.

Since Yazoo hadn´t awoken by now Tseng decided to let him sleep for another hour or so, when the boy made the slightest movement and began to wake up. Although the light seemed to hurt him, his student forced his eyes open. From where he stood, Tseng had a good look at Yazoo´s slitted pupils, another mystery the boys shared and which he didn´t understand.

After the youth had adjusted to the brightness he became aware of the unfamiliar room and looked even more confused when he spotted his math teacher. He tried to sit upright in the bed, causing the blanket to slip from his slim shoulders, but the sudden move seemed to make him dizzy as he sank back into the pillows. Still, his bemused eyes were glued to the teacher.

"Good morning," Tseng tried in a friendly manner.

"What am I doing here?" came the prompt reply, and it wasn´t only confussion swinging within, but also distrust and slight annoyance.

For a moment Tseng hesitated, arguing with himself if he should remind the boy of the nightly events or spare him.

But Yazoo didn´t notice the lack of an answer, he had lowered his head and rubbed his right temple with two fingers. His eyes were closed again and he frowned slightly.

"Are you okay?" Tseng stepped forward, just in case the boy needed help, but Yazoo just stated dismissively that he was fine.

Before he could say anything else the door swang open and a shadow rushed passed Tseng, shoving him aside and attacking the occupant of the bed.

"Yazzy! Are you okay? I was so worried about you last night, with all the commotion! You´re not hurt, are you? Mr. Tseng wanted to take you to a hospital and all, but I said you didn´t need one because it wasn´t that bad and I was right, wasn´t I? Though we thought we might have to bring you somewhere save, so he wouldn´t hurt you more…"

Yazoo held his overexcited, exuberant little brother at one arms length away from him, still failing to realize what was going on, when the second brother entered and headed for the bed as well.

"You´re finally awake! You know you scared the shit out of me last night!" Loz half complained, half cried. Meanwhile Yazoo had managed to make it into a sitting position and looked alternately from one brother to the other to understand what they were trying to tell him both at the same time. Kadaj and Loz were relieved and excited and struggled to get their brothers attention first, but Yazoo didn´t look so elated.

Never straying his eyes from his teacher, he asked with little hidden disapproval:

"Why did you bring me here?"

Kadaj and Loz both fell silent and looked at each other uncomfortably until Kadaj pointed with his index finger at Loz and stated "His idea. I didn´t do anything."

Loz growled at his little brother, but averted his eyes under his middle brother´s piercing glare and shifted nervously, murmuring something under his breath.

Yazoo closed his eyes for a moment, then he looked back at the teacher, who had observed the boys from the door in silence until now.

"I apologize for my brothers inepted behaviour," he said submissively and lowered his head.

"Although I appreciate their concern for me, it seems that they have gone a bit too far this time. We sure have bothered you enough. I´m fine now and we will be gone in a few minutes." Adding an assuring smile to his little speech, Yazoo was about to leave the bed and obviously thought the matter was settled.

Tseng watched with a blank expression as the middle brother gracefully gathering the blanket around his waist, since he was still naked, and the other two boys looking at each other with troubled expressions. A few seconds passed until Tseng finally spoke.

"No."

Stopping with what he was doing Yazoo looked back at his teacher and tilted his head in question.

"Excuse me?"

"You are not going back."

The smile on the boy´s face seemed to falter for a second, but then he was back to being self-confident again.

"But we've already imposed too much on your generosity. Besides, I really don´t think that it is for you to decide whether we are going home or not," he pointed out friendly, but with an underlaying threatening tone.

"And I think otherwise. You are staying here," Tseng decided, unyielding.

Kadaj and Loz looked from their brother to their teacher and back again, observing the silent battle of wills. Though they were without a doubt loyal to Yazoo, this time both of them hoped for the teacher to take the victory. Neither of them was eager to face their insane foster father again.

Yazoo on the other hand didn´t give up that easily. Narrowing his eyes and not smiling anymore he answered. "You should be aware of the fact that you are exceeding your authorities by far."

"Maybe. But as I see it you are not in a condition to decide what is best for you and your brothers right now and since I am your teacher I am also responsible for your well-being."

"I´m fine." Yazoo alleged coldly.

"Really? Last night that didn´t seem to be the case," Tseng retorted somewhat dryly.

The boy was quiet for a moment, observing his uncooperative teacher with slitted pupils. Eventually he said with a blank face:

"What you are doing is kidnapping."

"Then tell me what it is your father is doing to you. You prefer that treatment?"

Tseng didn´t fail to notice the boy´s flinching and the cold glare he received, but he wasn´t going to back down. No matter the costs, he would definitely not let them go back to that household.

Tseng couldn´t help his grim and determined expression. He was furious about the boys so called father, of course, but partially he was also frustrated with Yazoo´s reluctance to let him and his brothers be helped. But this time he got some unexpected support.

Kadaj had taken Yazoo´s hand into his own and pleaded "He´s going to help us, he promised, right?" He glanced at the teacher, who nodded reassuringly.

"See? We don´t need to go back, we can stay here."

Loz looked hopeful too and bobbed his head enthusiastically, though it didn´t do much to convince his brother, who still sat stiffly on the bed, head tilted in an arrogating manner.

"He can help," Loz tried again.

"There wouldn´t be a need for 'help' if you hadn´t messed up, dear brother."

Loz jerked at the icy statement and didn´t look so confident anymore.

"What.. do you mean?" he asked hesitantly.

"Tifa called. At a very inconvenient time."

Loz suddenly went morbidly pale and his eyes widened unnaturally. Tseng didn´t know what was going on, but decided that this was something at least Kadaj didn´t need to hear, so he interrupted the two of them.

"Why don´t you discuss this while Kadaj and I make breakfast? I´m sure you're hungry." With that he held his hand out for Kadaj, who wasn´t too happy to leave the scene when it was getting interesting. After all, Loz was in deep shit, so to say, and he really didn´t want to miss it.

To his dismay this time Yazoo agreed with his teacher and ordered his youngest brother with a light nod of his head to follow Tseng into the kitchen. After they had left the room, Loz finally had gathered enough courage to look up and stammer an excuse, which was rewarded with silence.

"So that´s why… he did this to you? Because Tifa called you?"

Yazoo remained silent, looking somewhat tired now. He leaned his head back on the wall and stared at the blanket with half-lidded eyes.

Biting his lip, Loz tried to think, tried really hard and scratched his head.

"Why… don´t we stay here for a while. Just until… it´s over and done with?"

"And when do you think this will be?" came the sardonic reply.

"Dunno." Loz admitted sheepishly. "I… that´s just what I thought…"

"Oh please. Spare me with your 'thoughts'. Apparently they are only leading into pandemonium."

Cringing at the dig at his last idea -namely giving Tifa Yazoo´s phone number- Loz was on the verge of tears, sniffing and wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

"Not crying again, are you? That´s all you can ever do..." the other spat, eyeing his brother with an icy look. "Funny, since I´m the one who should be crying for being burdened with someone as braindead as you." Yazoo apparently seemed to have fun rubbing salt into his brother´s wounds, who indeed was crying now.

Noticing the thick drops falling onto the blanket, the other boy turned away in disgust and snorted "Hn. You´re so pathetic."

Loz only trembled harder, though this time not out of grief but upcoming anger. "Say that again."

Yazoo looked back at him with an arched eyebrow and a wicked smirk tugging at the corner of his lips "Oh? Becoming couragous now, are we?"

"Do you even hear yourself talking?" Loz´ voice, shaking and low at the beginning, became stronger, louder and aggressive.

"I said I´m sorry. I know that there´s no excuse for what I´ve done. Still! You´re calling me pathetic and weak, but you´re not better either! You keep hiding and pretending that nothing´s happening. Nice thing for you to do, since you´re the one who´s getting all the privileges. You don´t have to live in a cellar hole, you don´t have to eat the left overs, you don´t get beaten up every fucking night! You think you´re the only one who´s suffering? Do you ever think about how Kadaj or I might feel?"

Yazoo mouth dropped slightly open as he was petrified by his brother´s unusual behaviour, albeit he caught himself rather fast. His gaze went cold and remained undeterred, although all base amusement was gone now.

"That´s enough. I don´t have to listen to this."

He moved to majestically rise from the bed, but his arm was seized in a firm grip and he was forced to sit back.

"I´m not done, brother." Watching Loz´ fingers painfully digging into his flesh in disbelief, Yazoo stopped his attempts to leave the room and his furious brother, but glared back at him with no less ire. How dare Loz touching and hurting him!

"What are you going to do? Beat me?" Upon hearing the derisive tone, Loz let go as if he had burnt himself.

"Thought so." Yazoo smirked, eyes narrowed slightly in victory. He was about to stand up, when Loz spoke up again, this time uncharacteristically calm and bitter.

"No. I´m not going to beat you. You know what? Just go back. Go back to him, be his fuck toy and pretend that nothing´s happening. I don´t care anymore." He let out a shaking breath and looked down at his big, rough hands.

"I thought we were brothers and I really thought we would face everything together as brothers, no matter what. But that thing in front of me isn´t my brother. My brother would never EVER do this to Kadaj or I. My brother would never say such things to me. You know how you sound? You sound so much like the general that I hardly can tell the difference! Just go back then. Maybe you deserve one another. But I and Kadaj are staying here."

One single tear was rolling down the young man´s cheek, but his gaze was steady und clear.

Having nothing more to say, he stood from the bed and left the room without a last glance back.