Author's Notes:
For all of my notes, please see the bottom, after this chapter. But otherwise, please enjoy this chapter!
Sephiroth's Guide to Love and Deception
Chapter Twenty: Passionate Vengeance (Part I) Sephiroth's Begins His Guide to Deception
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Thursday Morning
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Kairi smoothed her skirt before she took one last look at the tickets in her hands, trying to swallow down her nervousness. So close. She was so close to completing her mission and getting her prize that she could practically already envision herself wrapped in Sora's arms, the brunette delivering soft kiss after soft tender kiss to her lips, holding deep love and admiration for her in his eyes.
But none of that would be possible if Axel was still around to be a thorn in her side.
Taking a deep breath and slipping the tickets behind her back, she knocked hard on Axel's bedroom door and waited with baited breath to see if the slightly short tempered pyro would even let her in.
"What the hell do you want," he called and taking that as an invention to come in, she twisted the knob and entered the room, plastering a bright smile on her face, giving a little friendly wave. This was quickly replaced by a look of pure shock as she nearly dove to the ground to avoid a very nice wave of fire that he'd aimed for her head, 'tsking' and scolding himself for missing.
She got to her feet, not so quickly, and glared at him angrily. "What was that for, you bum!"
"I never told you to come," he snapped though a firm mocking smirk was plastered on his features as his emerald eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Well it wasn't called for," she snapped, smoothing her skirt down before she removed invisible dirt for her long blouse sleeve. "Especially when you wouldn't want me telling my dad that you once again, weren't even in your room last night."
Axel hunched, his eyes glowing with dark bliss as his smirk became more sinister. "Sweet cousin, have we not learned that it's not wise to play with fire yet? Would you like to be awaken by a room engulfed in a flurry of flames?"
"You'd never do that, so don't bother threatening me Axel," she snapped, and he watched her as if she were his prey now, challenging her belief in what he was and wasn't willing to do to her. He won easily, as she uncomfortably shifted her gaze to her skirt before continuing. "Where were you anyway."
"Where do you think, stupid?" he smirked. "Roxas and I were playing Clue: I caught him in the bedroom with a candlestick.."
Kairi made a face and Axel rolled his eyes as he sent a small flicker of flames by the side of her head, making the girl welp and jump to the side, glaring at him with concerned and fearful eyes that made him smirk in glee. "What the hell do you want Kairi. I haven't got dressed for school yet and I'm getting bored and rapidly thinking up ways to use you as entertainment."
"I only wanted to give you these," the girl snapped angrily, taking the small pair of tickets out of their hiding place and thrusting them out towards him. Axel simply looked at the small pieces of paper in her hand, before glaring back up at her, unimpressed.
"They're Gummi ship tickets," she explained, insulted that he didn't at least take them from her. "To Notre Dame."
She paused, waiting to see what reaction that would gain and was pleasantly surprised to at least see his emerald eyes flicker with interest and hope before they dulled back into uncaring indifference and he focused on her again.
The room grew quiet as the two simply stared down one another, Kairi waiting on edge to see exactly what the pyro would do. When he still hadn't taken the tickets, she grew very irrate and frowned openly at him.
"Take them," Kairi sighed impatiently and Axel simply gave her a skeptical, humored glare before looking at the tickets in her hand. "How fucking stupid do you think I am?"
"I'm not trying to trick you Axel," she giggled, cover her mouth with her free hand, seeming amused by his lack of trust. "This is my peace offering. I know we're not getting along right now–what with you deciding to be a complete asshole towards me."
Axel burst into laughter, falling back to lay down on his bed. "I'm always an asshole toward you: that never changed. You thinking that you could actually pull that same bullshit you pulled on your so-called best friends on me–that's what changed between us."
Kairi rolled her eyes, ignoring him. "Fine, whatever. But if you want the tickets to Notre Dame, they're yours. I can't use em: Selphie can't go, neither can Namine since she just came back into town and has to catch up on schoolwork and well–I'm not going alone."
She placed the tickets on Axel's bed and hunched. "Burn them for all I care. But I figured it was my way of telling you I was. . .sorry."
"Don't insult my intelligence," Axel snorted, snatching up the tickets as he sat up and taking the girl by the sleeve of her blouse, began to show her to the door. "If you wanted me out of the house for the weekend, just say so. I thought you would've learned by now that trying to outsmart someone out of your league is stupid."
He flung her out of his room and slammed the door shut, Kairi glaring at the offending object as she straightened her school blouse and smoothed her skit before smiling brightly, finding his last words to be rather ironic.
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She sat there quietly, listening to the soft beeping of the machine as she sketched out tuffs of the young man's hair on her sketch pad, pausing to admire her work with a frown before shaking her head and she erasing the downward line she'd drown on his face, sketching a thin pointed end oval instead.
She studied it again smiled, looking over at Marxula as if asking for his approval before flipping her notebook to a close and placing it on a small table by the chair she was occupying before standing up and walking over to his bed.
She would be late for school, she knew, but she had to come and visit the slumbering rose since she hadn't really been able to as of late.
Rose.
That's what he'd always called him. His precious rose...
"Am I interrupting," a voice called softly from behind and she whirled around, startled directly out of her thoughts. Seeing the familiar dread-locked man, she calmed down instantly.
"Hello Detective Xaldin," Namine smiled, brightening up considerably as the serious looking man entered the the room, shutting the door slowly with a soft 'click'. "You weren't interrupting at all. I was just drawing another sketch of him."
He came over to her side, pushing back a odd angled dread-lock out of his face before his piecing eyes focused solely on the slumbering rose haired boy in the bed while Namine stared at his long, rather wide sideburns for a moment before focusing more on him. "He always use to pose for my sketches."
Xaldin smiled but never tore his eyes away from Marxula. "He asked me if I would pose with him once."
"In his garden," Namine nodded, turning back to watch the sleeping boy as well. "I was really looking forward to drawing it. He'd been so excited about it–you made him so happy..."
"And when he wakes up, I'll continue to make him happy," Xaldin promised softly and Namine remained quiet, content with his unwavering commitment to one of her dearest friends. They watched him together in continued silence before he finally spoke to her again. "Still no signs of improvement, Namine?"
She looked sad instantly and shook her head. "No. He still hasn't shown any indication that he's conscious yet."
He nodded, the small sound of the life support machine making a haunting melody before she spoke again. "How is your case going?"
"No new developments yet," he admitted with a heavy sigh. "As you know, all the evidence–as little of it as there is– is only circumstantial. There just isn't enough there to take the case to a prosecutor yet–we had to damn near fight tooth and nail just to get a search warrant that uncovered absolutely nothing."
She gave a small nod.
"There were no eye witnesses to the crime to implicate that bastard had anything to do with it and if Marxula doesn't wake up..." He pause for a moment, his expression darkening.
"I don't understand," Namine admitted suddenly and Xaldin looked over in her direction as she continued. "Marxula was...he was raped." She paused. "Shouldn't there be some sort of evidence?"
"You mean physical evidence," Xaldin nodded. "I thought there would have been as well. Anything. But the physic evidence isn't adding up, even after he was given a rape kit."
His entire demeanor darkened. "They said the DNA of the perpetrator was 'undeterminable due to the time frame and condition of the body when found'. They also said they found more than one sperm sample, and since that bastard was his boyfriend, there was no way of 'proving' that they didn't have 'consequential' sexual relations before hand."
Namine frowned in disbelief. "More than one? But I thought–"
"–the evidence showed that the attack was carried out by one individual?" Xaldin finished. "That's the time frame issue: they're having a problem determining the time and day the attack actually happened. He was sexually assaulted by one or more people but the attacks, two others that is, may or may not have happened later. The problem is, from the three sperm samples they have, and since Marxula was found after a longer length of time than the attacks actually happened, they're having a problem establishing which sperm was deposited when. They're even claiming that the temp in the environment he was in could effect their test."
He shook his head. "It's a load of, excuse my language, bullshit to me."
"Why not just go with the first sperm sample?" Namine questioned. "Shouldn't it belong to–"
"They can't determined if they may have had consensual sex before he was attacked and if the second or third sperm is the actual first and/or second attack, if there even was a second attack," he explained. "For all they know, he could have had sex with two people and the third was the actual sexual assault. And the confusion is the same with the physical evidence: of course it's going to be there: their lovers and lived together so naturally, he should have some kind of DNA on him.
"However, when it came to the actual attacks and wounds Marxula established, they couldn't find any evidence that he was the one to inflict those wounds."
"So even if Marxula woke up and was able to identify his attacker, you still wouldn't have the evidence needed," Namine said in a soft, sad tone. Xaldin gave a small sigh. "Not at first–but his testimony would be an exciting lead to an otherwise cold case."
Namine nodded, turning her attention back to the slumber teen with sorrow. "He's been through so much...I'm surprised he didn't..." she let her words falter before she began again. "I just hope he'll finally wake up soon."
"He will," Xaldin said confidently. "He has too. We may not be able to find justice for him otherwise."
She watched as he leaned over the side of the small railing of the bed, taking a hold of Marxula's hand and stroking it in a loving manner as he continued to watch the peacefully sleeping victim.
"Do you think...he could hear me if I spoke to him," he asked Namine softly and the blond gave an almost invisible nod. "I believe he can hear every word that's said to him. He wants to wake up–but he's in a safe place right now. He's afraid of being hurt again so he's hiding away–but I know he can hear us. And I know he understands how much we love and miss him. And he'll wake up soon. I know it."
Xaldin gave the beautiful boy a loving, hoping smile as he moved a few strands of his pink hair out of his face with his free hand as Namine slowly moved back to her chair, picking up her sketch book again and watching the pair, turning to a fresh page in her sketch book and picking up her pencil.
She couldn't hear the sweet, loving words that Xaldin spoke to Marxula, but she had an idea–she knew exactly how the close the pair had been before the horrible chain of events happened that caused Marxula to end up in his current state.
Before she'd been convinced to get involved. She paused as she was about to drag her pencil across the paper, her eyes feeling with unshed tears, the guilt of her actions returning.
Her fault–this was all her fault that they couldn't be happy, together. She had only meant to help–she knew Xaldin understood that. But in the same breath, she knew they both could guess that Marxula would not. Not when he'd been so happy, felt so safe–only to have that torn away from him yet again and with the help of someone he considered to be a younger sister in his eyes no less.
But she wouldn't give up on the entire situation–she couldn't. She knew one day, Marxula would pull through. And if he didn't hate her–if he'd allowed it–she would be there for him.
And even if he did hate her–she would still try to be there for him anyway. Or at the very least, she would make amends for stealing his memories and tainting his heart.
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"Hot damn! He's back from the dead," Cid smirked, taking a puff out of his cigarette before pulling it out of his mouth and beaming at the brunette as he walked into the household, serious as ever.
"Leon," Aerith frowned with worry, quickly coming around the counter to assist him while Yuffie popped her head around the cornering, the sound of a flushing toilet being heard in the background. Beaming, she bounced her way into the living room, completely ignoring Cid and his cuss words as she pushed passed him and hugged Leon tight around the neck, making him grunt in pain as having a little weight shifted to his bad arm.
"Yuffie, he's still in pain," Aerith frowned, placing a hand on her shoulder lightly to make the girl pull back and loosen her grip as she gave the serious man a concerned frown. "You should still be in bed at the Madison residence Leon. You're not well yet."
"I need to know where I can find this 'sister' you both spoke of," he stated firmly, glaring first at Aerith, then at Yuffie, not giving any room for further argument.
The pair looked at one another before they both stared back at Leon, Yuffie speaking up this time. "We don't know where she is Squall."
"She's right," Aerith agreed remorsefully, still watching him with concern. "We haven't seen here since the night Yuffie ran into her on the street."
"We ran into each other," Yuffie sighedmatter of factly. "I thought we talked about this."
"Why do you want to find her anyway Leon," Aerith questioned, examining his wounded shoulder. "You should be resting."
"I've been doing that for long enough," Leon retorted coldly, pulling away from her a little. "I just need to know where I can find this little girl you met. I need to know exactly what happened to her brother so I'll know how to protect Cloud."
Everyone in the room looked at one another, Cid putting his hands up in a surrender fashion before grumbling that he was staying out of people's love lives before going to his large computer station centered on the far left wall of the living room.
Yuffie gushed outright, punching Leon–in his bad shoulder. The brunette in turn hissed in pain before Aerith was already rubbing the wound to sooth it while Leon glared harshly at Yuffie who was oblivious as she bounced about in place, pumping her fist into the air in excitement. "Leon's going after Cloud!"
"I'm not doing anything but making sure that hard-head isn't doing anything stupid," Leon retorted darkly. Yuffie paused, fist in mid-air. "But you are going to sweep Cloud off his feet, right Squall?"
Leon gave a tired sigh. "We've had to deal with that damn mouth since we got here," Cid offered, making the brunette lighten up, but only slightly, while Yuffie spun around to make a face at the back of Cid's head before turning her attention back to Leon.
"Come on Squall! You mean to tell us you're just going to try and get Soapy and Cloud out of an relationship for nothing? I thought you were in love with Cloud!" Yuffie protested.
"I never once said I was 'in love' with anyone, you read to much into things," Leon began, giving her a disapproving look. "And I am not getting involved with Cloud's personal life just to break him up for myself. I'm doing this because I'm worried about him. If this guy you were telling me about ending up as badly as you've described, I don't want anything like that happening to the kid, even if he's too blind to see it coming."
"You're being a good friend," Aerith smiled in approval and Yuffie gave an overly loud sigh as she brought her arms down just to toss them back into their air. "So you're just going to give up on getting Cloud all together now?"
"This never had anything to do with 'getting' Cloud!" the others cried in unison, though Cid chose to add the word 'fucking' between 'to' and 'do' and he sounded far more frustrated.
"I've already got my priorities," Leon snapped, glaring at her far more coldly then he meant to.
"So 'romance' just isn't one of them, huh?" Yuffie sighed and Leon, realizing this conversation was completely pointless, was across the room in minutes and out of the front door with the spunky haired girl calling words of advice to 'catch' Cloud, followed by a cry from Cid: "Will you shut the fuck up?"
Though it was Aerith's hurried and concerned voice that caught his attention and made him pause just on the pouch of the home as she came out and closed the door softly behind her.
"Since you won't listen to me about your arm," she began sadly, staring at it a moment before focusing back on Leon as a whole. "Will you at least try not to do anything to drastic again? I'm sure Cloud wouldn't want you to get hurt again–none of us would–and I really don't believe confronting Sephiroth is the wisest of things to do Leon."
He frowned at her, their eyes meeting. "What makes you think I'd do that."
She gave him a small smile. "Because even though you wouldn't like to admit it, you're being controlled by your emotions. We've upset you with what we've told you, though you won't admit it. And you want to protect Cloud the best you can because you do care for him so much."
"I knew it!" they heard Yuffie cry through the door but both chose to ignore her.
"If you think he is in danger, you'll try to do anything you must to protect him, you've already shown that Leon," Aerith pushed, shifting a little in discomfort as she adverted her gaze to her small but growing flower bed. "And you have to realize that Cloud's feelings for Sephiroth–since he has had them for such a long–are quite deep Leon. When you feel so strongly for someone, you can't just give up those feelings even when the person you love is hurting and abusing you. That's why abusive relationships work. There a lot of emotional attachment–they know that their in a bad situation, yet sometimes the love that lingers for the person keeps the hope alive that maybe things will change back to the way things were or at the very least, get a little better. It's often too late before they realize the truth of the matter."
Leon gave the girl a small smile. "Aerith, you're preaching again."
She returned the smile, a tint of pink coming across her cheeks. "I just want to you realize that it isn't as easy as you think for Cloud to give up on his feelings for Sephiroth. If you are seriously about helping Cloud–and anything else that transpires after it–you will need to be there for him not only psychically to protect him, but emotionally. He needs to know the difference between a loving, healthy relationship and an abusive, hopeless one."
She paused, nodding at herself before her gentle smile became full blown as she placed her hand on the door knob, ready to turn it so she could go back in, though she still faced Leon. "He may want the help at first, be ready for this. But in the long run...everything will work out, I'm sure."
Leon simply nodded, looking at the brunette gratefully. Aerith was always the perfect person to speak to–even if you never meant to in the first place, the girl had excellent advice.
"I'll start with finding this sister you met," he announced in a low, serious tone and Aerith nodded. "I'm not doubting you Aerith, I just want to see the ex for myself and get the entire story, if you didn't."
"I understand.," she replied softly. Then taking a moment to think, she smiled. "Will you be moving in soon? Or will you stay with..."
"I've honestly been trying to move back since last week," he admitted, a mirthful twinkle enter his eyes as he gave her a true, warm smile. "But Mrs. Madison refuses to let me leave until she's certain I'm well. I'll probably hear an earful when I return–I'm suppose to be on bed rest."
Aerith laughed. "She's such a motherly woman." Then she looked serious. "She is right. You shouldn't be walking about. You need to go back to bed. Maybe I should call her–"
"He is a grown ass man, damn it, leave him be!" they heard Cid scream through the door followed by a giggle of laughter from Yuffie and the pair looked at the door before looking back at each other.
"I'll let you know what happens," Leon stated finally with an incline of his head, taking his leave. "Be careful, please Leon," Aerith called as she nodded, giving him a little wave. He had only gotten halfway down walkway before he paused, looking at the base of one of the bushes that lined it and picking up something, began to walk back to her, the girl staring at him and his bundle with questioning eyes.
"It looks like this is for you," he announced, handing her bunch of tulips, tied off with a pink ribbon. Aerith gave a small gasp as she excepted them, studying the followers in awe before noticing the small card that had been lodged between the stems. She brought it close to her face, and read the golden script, a bright smile crossing over her face as she read the words:
One for every day that I've known you. And remember: no selling these.
-Zack
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It wasn't even noon yet–he hadn't even had lunch–and already, he'd had a very long day and was only a few seconds from taking the red head around the neck and strangling her.
By all accounts, Kairi had been acting odd. Happy go lucky, she had all but broke out into song about how wonderful she thought it would be if he and Sora got into a relationship again, making their entire group of friends stare at her as if she'd been replaced by an alien or doppleganger.
"You're both just so cute!" she'd exclaimed during breakfast, linking her arms with both of them (she had found a way to sit between them, much to Riku's displeasure), gushing with affection and bouncing in her seat, causing Selphie to squeal and work herself into frenzy. "I know aren't they!"
"They are!" Kairi squealed happily, looking first at Ku (who was glaring daggers at her, not falling her act for one minute) then at Sora who continued to stare at her as if she might not be feeling well. "Ku's all cool and confident and Sora is just so adorable and sweet!"
"And they're just so cute," Namine offered, giving the pair a sympathetic smile as the rounded on her in disbelief for joining in as Kairi and Selphie squealed and began to babble at the same time, Tidus shrinking back away from the flipped haired brunette while Wakka slowly picked up his tray and moved away from the table, toward Lulu and her group...
It didn't end there.
In every class they'd had so far, she'd kept slipping him notes about asking Sora out, going so far as to try to give pointers on how to get the brunette. (Like he needed her help.) She'd made sure–after breakfast–that the pair sat together no matter what, going so far as to pull Tidus out his seat when he'd tried to sit by Sora in an effort to hold a conversation with him.
She kept bumping them close together when they walked in the hall, catcalling whenever they started talking–no matter what they were talking about–and just recently, while they were taking their study hall in the library, she had all but tripped him in an attempt to make him land in Sora's arms–though her aim had been completely off and he instead, had landed face first into some senior's extremely large bosoms, knocking himself and the girl back in her chair and onto the floor.
He'd been hit several times over the head with a spiral notebook by the girl and her friends as he hurried to pick himself up, ignoring the laughter of the students that had seen the fall. He'd dusted himself off and rounded on Kairi, who was standing by a side- holding- as- he- laughed Sora, the red head beaming sheepishly at him before she gave a weak finger wave.
"Kairi!" Riku snarled in anger, making the red head flinch back and behind Sora slightly as she stared up at him with big round eyes and an innocent look. "Did I do something–"
"I'm going to find my brother, you can sit with her Sora," Riku snapped annoyed, already storming off. Kairi hid her joy well as Sora looked dismayed, following the platinum blond quickly. "Riku!"
"It's okay Zo," the platinum blond sighed, pausing to turn around and look at the brunette. "I needed to give him something anyway."
Sora looked disappointed. "Oh." Riku watched him a moment longer before taking the brunette by his wrist and pulling him close, kissing the boy full on the lips, all the while, staring over Sora's shoulder at Kairi.
He knew her blood was boiling–while she tried hard to give the pair an look that suggested she thought it was adorable, her eyes were sharp and dark, glaring with an almost hatred fill glow.
Satisfied, Riku ended their kiss, tearing his eyes away from the jealous hearted girl to Sora, who was just fluttering his eyes to an open, looking dazed as his cheeks flushed from the mild amount of catcalls that were being thrown their way.
Riku fought the urge to laugh. Sora could be so damn adorable at times, it was hilarious.
"I'll find you later," he promised before finally going on his way, Kairi watching him with intense ocean blue eyes before they softened, shining brightly with affection as they rested on Sora.
She took her time making her way toward him, standing behind him for a few minutes before she realized he was in deep thought, still looking in the direction Riku had gone. Inwardly frowning for being ignored, she tapped the brunette on the shoulder softly, making him jump slightly before he turned around to face her.
She giggled softly before rocking back and forth on her feet, from the toe to her heel, placing her hands behind her back. "Somebody's love-struck!"
Sora blinked before giving a goofy grin, scratching his head and adverting his eyes to the ceiling. "We're okay Kai."
"Then why were you thinking so hard just now Zo?" she questioned with real concern. She couldn't have him backing out now–she had to have them together before her plan could work. "You never think hard."
He glared at her, pretending to be insulted. "Well thanks Kai!"
She giggled. "I'm serious Sora! What's the matter?"
He smiled nervously, shaking his head but not looking her in the eye and Kairi put her hands on her hips, glaring at him in a motherly fashion, becoming impatient.
"Talk to me Sora!" Kairi pressed with a warm smile, pushing the brunette playfully in the arm and he gave her a nervous smile that made her heart flutter. All of Sora's smiles were so beautiful on him–she adored any moment they were directed at her and if all things went according to her plans, all of his loved filled smiles would be directed at her and only her.
"You should go," Kairi stated finally, trying to sound as calm possibly could given the rather nasty thoughts she had about Riku and Sora possibly going anywhere without her. The brunette looked at her amazed and she gave him a warm smile, taking hold of his hand and patting it in a reassuring manner as she gave him a confident smile.
"Don't think I want to get rid of you," she laughed jokingly and the pair laughed in unison for a moment before she continued. "And don't even want you to go–but I can see you really do care about Riku. And I think for the sake of your relationship, maybe you should go away with him for a while. Like a little vacation–just the two of you. So you can you know,"
She paused to advert her eyes away from him, having a hard time staring him in his eyes know when she knew what would happen to him if he fell through with the plan she was setting up. "Get back into the relationship you both had."
Sora beamed at her and engulfed the girl into a hug as he began to smoother with his gratitude, Kairi for the first time, feeling pangs of guilt and compassion for what she knew she was about to put the brunette. He was just so trusting of her–so innocent.
But she had to keep telling herself her motives were justified–that they served a greater purpose. In the end, all this would help Sora and they would finally be together as they should be.
She was so close in completely her plan after all–she couldn't turn back. Not now.
They finally pulled apartSora still beaming as Kairi reached up and ruffled, gaining playful protest, the pair not noticing two sets of cold mako green and aqua blue eyes watching them, or more so the girl, intently.
"She's up to something," Riku muttered coldly, more so to himself than his elder brother.
"And what do you want me to do about your problem," Sephiroth demanded in the same demeanor, taking the moment to advert his eye sight to his younger brother in mild disapproval.
Riku stayed silent for a moment before finally turning away from the scene and his brother, placing his hands in his baggy, navy blue pants pocketsas he began to slowly stroll away. "Personally, I don't give a damn what you do to her, as long as it gets done," he called back softly before mixing in with the uprising crowd of students that were heading out of the library and to their next class.
Sephiroth continued to watch the back of his brother's head until he completely disappeared in the sea of students, before he turned his attention back to Sora and Kairi to find Sora bidding the girl farewell, having spotted his own brother and wanting to speak with him. He watched as the girl gave him another hug before the spiky haired teen jogged after Cloud, his blond lover pausing and turning around when his younger brother called for him to wait.
When the pair disappeared through a row of bookcases, he finally turned his attention back to the red head, who's eyes where darting around in a suspicious manner before collecting her things, she slowly made her own way out of the room and the towering beauty followed her.
Truly, this entire matter disgusted him. His younger brother was once again shaming himself by letting the little wretch getting the better of him.
Certainly he did offer his assistance should Riku need it, however he had been in the doubtful hope that his younger brother would have at least attempted to handle the situation or do so completely before he was alerted to the situation.
Obviously, the girl couldn't be as calculating as she appeared–she after all, was still trying to ruin the relationship after he himself had warned her of the consequences should he find out. However, he couldn't help but admire her determination and constantly using his brother's would be lover lack of common sense and naivety against the both of them.
Still immersed in his thoughts, he continued to follow the red head down a series of hallways, stepping easily out of eye sight when the girl seemed to grow suspicious and look around, seeing if she were being followed, the farther the pair went, the scarce the students became and the more the girl continued to seem far more paranoid.
Finally, she reached her destination: door Number VI on the Science Wing of the overly large school campus and she knocked, still looking around her to see just who, if anyone, was following her. Though Sephiroth had fashioned himself in a not so far away doorway, examining his finally manicured nails in a bored fashion as he listen for the door to open, a few quick whispers of words, and the door shutting yet again.
He entered the hallway then, in full view of anyone that may be looking, still studying his nails as hell of his black leather boots clicked softly against the marble floor as he made his way over to the door, standing right beside before he leaned back on the wall and patiently, listened to the conversation that was being had inside.
"...need it by tomorrow night, midnight."
"Kairi, the prototype isn't complete yet. And there is a strong chance it won't be ready by anytime this week, much less by tomorrow night."
"That wasn't our deal, Zexion," he heard the girl snarl in outrage. "If my plan against Riku is going to work, I have to have his replica and it has to work by tomorrow!"
Sephiroth paused in mid buff of his nail. So the girl was fashioning a replica of his younger brother...but for what?
"Can't you reschedule whatever it is that you're doing?" he heard Zexion snap angrily. "To ensure that the replica will actually work as properly as you need it to?"
There was a pause as the girl 'awed', followed by a girlish giggle. "I didn't know you cared about my plan going through so much Zexion."
"Cut the bullshit, you little bitch," he snapped moodily and Sephiroth heard the girl taunting gasp. "You know very well that I only care for this plan to work so you can't have any reason to try to go back on our end of the deal."
Sephiroth heard the girl sigh wearly. "Look, I've already made my plans and I won't get another chance if Sora and Riku react the way I know they will. Besides, it's the only weekend I'm certain I can get Axel off the island and I'm not sure how long I it will be before that monster Riku calls a brother can be distracted with what I did to him before he figures everything out and comes after me."
Sephiroth arched an eyebrow. So now the girl wished to try her hand at deception with someone whom had perfected the art. Oh this would be rather enlightening...
"They're going to find out everything anyway," he heard Zexion protest but he heard Kairi click her lips and could just picture the little red head rolling her eyes. "That point is: I don't want them figuring it out before the plan can go through! I could care less if they find out before then Zexion, I just need to be sure that I can get Riku out of the picture before then."
There was a bout of silence between them and Sephiroth slowly began to make his way back to the doorway he'd slipped into before, already sense someone heading for the door. Sure enough, it opened a moment later and Kairi came out, giving Zexion a sickeningly sweet smile as she gave him a little way as he stepped into the doorway. "Now you just make sure you have my replicate done and I'll make sure no ones sees those embarrassing pictures of yours!"
Zexion simply glared hatefully at the girl as she gave finger wave and he slammed the door in her face, Kairi bursting into a giggling fit as she danced a little in place, twirling around. "Just you wait Riku," she squealed softly to herself as she bounced her way toward Sephiroth.
"Sora won't remember a thing about you and I'll have him all to myself!"
She passed directly by him, to excited about her plan to notice the Mako green eyes following her as she disappeared around the corner. Sephiroth once again stepped out of the doorway and back toward the door marked VI.
He knocked on it softly then stepped directly out of the doorway's path just as it opened,Zexion swinging it open with a scowl before giving an aggravated sigh, he walked out of the room–and tried screaming in vain as he was grabbed tightly by his throat and slammed against the wall so hard that it shook little fragments of the ceiling down.
Not remembering that he closed his eyes, he slowly opened them to see a very angry Sephiroth glaring at him in a cold, calculating manner.
"I warned that girl if she interfered with my brother's relationship, it would be the end of her," he whispered in a casual, calm demeanor that completely betrayed his actual deranged look. "Though pulling me into her little game changes the entire affair."
Zexion struggled to speak but Sephiroth tightened his grip. "I did not ask for your input. You will simply listen to my words and do as your told, if you value your life for helping that little bitch, understood?"
Zexion gave a wheeze of pain and Sephiroth lowered him closer to the ground but still failed to release him. "You will reprogram that duplicate of yours."
Zexion looked alarmed but Sephiroth slammed his head into the wall, making the silver haired boys eye water as he opened his mouth in silent agony, still trying desperately to breath as he felt light headed.
"It is to complete the task as ordered, however, you will also implement this duplicate of yours into tell Sora the truth as soon as he is finishes–with whatever his task may be. Who he is. And why he was made to be into existence. Understood?"
Zexion nodded as much as he could and Sephiroth finally released him, Zexion coughing violently as he slipped to the floor and doubled over, taking in strong gulps of breath as he face slowly turned back to normal. Sephiroth waited patiently, glaring down at the young scientist as if he were the lowest of creatures before stormy gray eyes finally glared back up at him with hatred–and fear.
"W-why? D-do you know what she wants with it?"
"A suspicion, yes," Sephiroth muttered calmly and Zexion looked baffled and alarmed. "Then why not stop her instead!"
Sephiroth flicked a piece of his long hair behind his shoulder before turning his back to him. "I need not answer to the likes of you. But considering my lack of conscience interest you so: I intend to teach all those involved a lesson. It is because of Sora's own foolish heart and trusting mind that he will be hurt by one he sees as his best friend. My brother's own lack of intelligence to rectify this situation and letting the foolish girl get so far in her plans–Sora's pain will be his own and thus, his punishment. Perhaps, if they can over come this deception, they will finally be able to truly strengthen and start anew."
He let a rather evil smirk form of his lips before he continued. "As for our little mastermind–I simply wish to teach her that playing a big leagued game such as that of the heart and dragging me into her little school-girlish games."
Zexion stared at him in awe as Sephiroth stormed away, his long black coat and shining silver hair bellowing behind him in a commanding manner before he disappeared behind a set of double door and exiting the wing.
He was certain his professors wouldn't mind him forgoing the rest of the day to do a little 'investigating' into the matter of Kairi's role she's having him to play. After all, Sephiroth is far used to being the master, and never one's puppet.
Though honestly, the intelligence of such weak minded mortals such as Kairi amused him–it made things all the sweeter.
His sharp, almost cat like Mako green eyes narrowed in anticipation.
Those who made Sephiroth their enemy would come to learn what true agony and deception was.
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Finally, after having a semi deep conversation with Cloud and finally catching up with Riku, Sora pulled the boy to the side as the rest of the P.E. class prepared for their next lesson, awaiting the arrival of Professor Saix and his assistant, Goofy.
"What's wrong Sora," Riku whispered, looking at the brunette in concern as he was dragged toward a row of bleachers and out of ear shot of everyone else. Sora gave the him a sheepish sort of grin, an embarrassed tint of pink reaching his cheeks.
"Nothing's really wrong Ku I just...needed to tell you something," Sora revealed, focusing his gaze on their linked hands instead of the taller boy's face. "I've been thinking about this for a while and well Kairi thinks that I should so– "
"Really Zo, how can you believe anything Kairi says?" Riku frowned and this made the brunette look up and place a finger to Riku's lip as the teen was ready to go on with his statements. "Let me finish before you go way off the deep end Ku," the brunette stated with a lopsided smile and Riku simply rolled his eyes and nodded before Sora lowered his finger.
The smaller boy shifted his gaze at Riku's chest, then their linked hands again before taking a deep breath, she looked back up at him, confident and excited.
"I'm ready," Sora replied softly with a bright smile, his large, almost innocent sapphire shining brightly with excitement.
Riku frowned at him, confused. "Ready? For what Zo?"
His breath caught in his throat as Sora wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his face into his shoulder, the platinum blond taking the moment to inhale the scent of the brunette's hair, smiling a little when he caught the scent of strawberries.
"You said that we could just leave," Sora announced in a dreamy tone, tightening his embrace. "You said that we can go anywhere we want–as long as we went together." He nuzzled Riku as he felt the older boy embrace him finally around his waist, pulling him even closer. "So Riku–let's go. Anywhere you want–or we can just drift away and see what other worlds we end up on. I don't care–as long as I can go with you. As long as we're together."
Riku smiled into the mess of spiky hair as he pulled Sora back and cupping his face, kissing the teen passionately before he finally pulled apart, the pair touching foreheads. "When Sora. Just tell me when."
The brunette beamed and he engulfed the platinum blond in another hug, Riku returning the gesture with as much affection, neither wanting to be the first to pull apart. "Tomorrow night ," he gave a muffled whisper in Riku's shoulder. " Midnight. Meet me at our special place."
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Author's Notes: 1. I know I originally said I would update with this chapter the day after I updated my last one but there were a number of things that stopped me from updating until now: 2. The next chapter will be really dark. I'll place the warning before the beginning but I'll be honest: I'm having a little trouble writing it out, as it's making me rather...sad on many accounts. In any case, I do like the way it is turning out. 3. For the Leon/Cloud fans: Yes, I did take the poll of who everyone wanted Cloud to end up with, but that does not mean there will be no Leon/Cloud. I've already got the love triangle mapped out now but you'll all have to wait and see what willk transpire. 4. Kairi's plan will finally be revealed (completely) in the next chapter. As I said, I'm rather like the plan as a whole and really like the way it effects the story. Just remember that I don't hate Kairi in any way and that I have nothing against her actual character. But I needed a moving villian here and well, she fit the bill.
Thank you all for reading so far and I really hope you've enjoyed everything! Remember to leave feedback, as it makes my chibies grow big and strong.
Just a few things I want to make you guys aware of. Sit back a minute, there's quite a bit:
-I ended up rewriting a lot of this chapter, because I was giving to much away and having important scenes too soon.
-I haven't been feeling too well lately and when I don't 'feel' like writing, I write utter crap.
-My job has been a little stressful as of late.
5. To clear a few things up: -Yes, Axel is also aware that Kairi is up to something, but to be honest, he's weighing a weekend alone with Roxas and being able to go to a the Festival of Fools over caring what exactly she's doing and decided to be 'selfish' in this reguard. It's not that he doesn't care, it's just he doesn't care enough to ignore his own needs and chance for a good time. -I despite nothing happening yet, I didn't put Leon in Cloud's house (to live there temporarily) for no reason. As for the next Chapter: And that's all I have for now! Happy Reading!
-I know a few of you will wonder why (since he knows at least something) why Seph won't at least try to worn Riku or Sora but he already explained why, in a sense. You'll question this more so after you find out what will happen, more than likely, but Seph has got plans of his own...and that's all I will say.
Kairi's evil plan is revealed, Sephiroth investigates the case of Marxula as does Leon, and Rikku and Vincent get closer...
Kamirine