Thank you so much for 150 reviews!!! It exceeded my wildest dreams that people would ever be so nice and give me that much and awesome feedback *wipes away tears of joy* I luvs you guys!
Now, here´s the next chapter! As always I am eternally (and beyond) grateful to the wonderful purefoysgirl/jaded_grin for her terrific proof reading^^
Without further ado, enjoy!
28
Elena pulled a strand of flaxen hair behind her ear while she read over one of the tests in concentration. During the last few days she had overloaded herself with work just to escape the hollowness that befell her whenever she hadn't anything to do. Her thoughts would inevitably wander to Tseng and the fact that he wasn't there anymore…Work kept her mind busy and away from the agonizing sadness that wrenched her heart. That was, until night came and she couldn't force her eyes open any longer. Then the dreams would come, the nightmares about how she had found him…
Shaking her head in frustration she took a sip from the water glass that stood beside the stack of papers on her desk and tried to concentrate on her work. When the phone ringed shrilly, it was enough to make her flinch.
Elena briefly considered not answering it at all since she didn't feel like having another conversation with that Inspector who just couldn't leave her alone. He called her on an almost daily basis, asking the same questions again and again, and she was so tired of it. Of course, she wanted to help solve the problem, but it was starting to exhaust her as well. She had a bad conscience about it, but she wanted it to be over as well, wanted to forget about it and move on…
The phone rang again, and after another moment of biting her lip the teacher answered it with a sigh.
"Listen, I'm sorry, I told you everything I know, please, don't call me anymore."
"Oh? My apologies…" was the reply from the other end of the line, and it made the teacher freeze in horror. This wasn't…This voice couldn't be…!
"Ge-general Sephiroth?"
"Yes."
"Oh my, I'm so sorry! Please, I thought you were…someone else." Elena stared wide-eyed at her wall, her heart dancing an impressive staccato act while the blood kept rushing into her cheeks. Licking her lips and trying to get her excitement and shock somewhat under control, the young woman stood from her seat and nervously pulled more hair behind her ear.
"If this is an inconvenient time for you – "
"No!" she cried, but then she placed a hand over her pounding heart, took a deep breath and answered in a more composed manner, though her voice was still shaking a bit, "No, I'm sorry, I have time right now." 'Good girl, keep breathing,' she reminded herself breathlessly, unconsciously tightening the grip around the phone. "What can I do for you? Is it about Kadaj? He is doing really well now, both in his classes and with the other children. I think the acting class really helped him to get along with the other students."
"I am glad to hear that," was the slightly amused reply from the other end of the line. "But in all actuality I did not call to hear about my children."
"Oh," answered the teacher, mentally smacking her forehead for getting so ahead of herself. She was acting like a fourteen year old fangirl, wasn't she? But if he didn't want to talk about Kadaj why else would he call her? He couldn't want to talk about…Tseng, could he? Her face fell a bit at that thought, and she cast her eyes downwards, asking in a considerably quieter voice, "How can I help you, then?"
"Well, actually I was wondering if you are free tonight. There is a charity ball I have to attend and I am still lacking a charming companion."
The world was ending. It definitely had to be. Or it least it was for Elena, since her vision suddenly strangely shifted and she barely made it to the chair before her shaking legs gave out under her.
"…Hello? Are you still there?"
"I…" Elena croaked. Her tongue refused to cooperate, as did her brain, and she needed another moment to adjust to the sudden situation. "I am here, I think?"
She gave a disbelieving, helpless laugh, totally overwhelmed. Then she moved a hand over her mouth, shook her head and repeated as if to clear it, asking "Are you…are you asking me out on a date?"
There was a moment of silence from the General and Elena was on the verge of a panic attack that she might have offended him by her blunt question. But she needed to clarify it; otherwise she wouldn't be able to wrap her mind around the concept at all!
"Well, I suppose so," Sephiroth finally said, his voice thoughtful.
"Oh." Was the absolutely startled reply. "Oh."
"Yes."
"Oh…"
"Well?"
"Oh."
"If you have other plans already-"
"No!" Elena abruptly awoke from her petrified state and clung to the armrest of her chair, knuckles turning white. "I mean no, please, I'm sorry. This is all so sudden and unexpected..."
"I understand tha – "
"I would love to accompany you!" she hurried to add, eager to eliminate any possible misunderstanding that she wouldn't! Gods, this was her wildest dreams becoming true! There was absolutely nothing that could deter her from taking that invitation; even if a bloody meteor just hit the planet she would have dragged him to that damn ball, if necessary!
"Well, I am glad to hear that," was the slightly amused reply, and she thought she'd faint right then and there. "Shall I get you at 7.30 pm then?"
"Oh yes, yes, that would be wonderful!"
"Good. I will see you tonight then. Goodbye."
"Bye." Elena echoed breathlessly, fell back into her chair, and stared at her wall for another half an hour in utter disbelief.
*
"Why do you have to go?" Kadaj asked with a crestfallen look for the fifth time now.
Zack sighed, scratched his head, but then he put his duffel back on the black tiles of the entrance hall and crouched down to readjust the boy's school uniform. "I have a new apartment now, you know."
The youngest shot a glance at his two brothers who stood a bit aside, fully glad in their uniforms as well and silently discussing something – probably which book Loz had forgotten to put into his bag this time. Then he looked down at the floor again and announced quietly, so they wouldn't hear, "But… I don't want you to go…"
Things had been fun with the lucky-go-happy soldier around. He kept Sephiroth at bay, somewhat, and Kadaj really, really liked to be with him. Zack didn't treat him like a child but as a friend, and for once he could forget all his misery with the older man around…
"Aw, don't make such a sad face…" The soldier didn't look exactly happy about their departure either, and the smile he forced on his lips couldn't mask that fact at all. He'd come to adore the little rascal so much, there'd be an empty space in his heart now with leaving them. Kadaj didn't even try to look comforted by those words and continued to chew at his bottom lip. He didn't want to cry in front of them all…
Zack heaved a heavy sigh again, but then his features suddenly really brightened and he prodded the boy in the belly, announcing with a wink, "You know what? Tomorrow's Saturday, which means I don't have to work at all. How about I come to visit you?"
"You would?" Kadaj breathed, not daring to hope.
"Of course!" Zack cheerfully announced "I can unpack my stuff later, it's not as important as visiting my second bestest friend, is it?"
Instead of an answer he suddenly felt two tiny arms around his neck, which startled him a bit, but then a small smile graced his features and he returned the hug.
"Are you done now?" Sephiroth entered the hall through the salon, asking the group as a whole and getting three nods and a sighed, "Yeah," from his inferior. The General just gave a curt nod and went for the door to get into his car; but before he was out, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder, announcing diffidently, "I will be late tonight. Do not wait for me."
His eyes briefly met Yazoo's, but then he turned and was gone.
*
Whistling a happy tune he had just spontaneously made up, Zack Fair walked up the stairs to the mansion of his friend, a paper bag with warm, fresh rolls dangling from his loose grip.
The sun was shining brightly into the exotic garden and indicated another hot summer day, though they were slowly becoming shorter as fall came. With a few quick steps the soldier was by the door and just let himself in since he knew that it wasn't locked anyway.
"Hellooooo, anyone here?" he shouted into the large, empty hall, one hand cupped before his mouth to amplify his voice. Actually he had expected quite the welcoming committee from Kadaj, but no one replied to his question.
Frowning, Zack scratched his head and had another confused look through the room, noticing that the kitchen door was slightly ajar. So he went straight for it, hoping to find at least someone up and awake there. Funny thing was that he hadn't expected that Sephiroth would be a late sleeper, but then it certainly was his right to relax from work at least on the weekends. It wasn't that late anyway, or at least 9.30 am wasn't for Zack. Still, he had promised Kadaj to visit him and he was a man who kept his word.
When he entered the kitchen he wasn't met with the littlest, but rather with a thick cloud of smoke and the biting smell of burned eggs.
"What –" Coughing, the soldier went to the stove and frantically grabbed a towel to get the pan from the cooking plate and dump it in the sink. Waving the towel in front of him to get rid of the smoke, he went for the window and opened it wide to get some fresh air in. After he was done coughing he turned around, only to find Yazoo sitting at the table with his back towards him, not even acknowledging his presence as he was staring at something.
"Hey!" Zack called out for him, breathless, dropping the towel on the counter and walking over. "You almost burned the kitchen!"
When he still got not reaction, he frowned and stopped behind the youth's chair, curiously bending over his shoulder. "What got you so caught up – .hell…"
He had to blink a few times, but still the headline of the news paper Yazoo was clinging to didn't change. And now he could perfectly comprehend the youth's shock as the big, bold letters told the world:
'General Sephiroth at the benefit gala for mutilated war victims: who is his beautiful entourage?'
And directly under it was a picture of the man himself, holding a beautiful, blond woman on his arm.
*
"Enter."
Sephiroth sat aside his biro and looked up from his documents. The door opened and closed quietly, and within the next moment Kadaj stood before his desk, eyes on the ground, biting his lips. Being summoned into the General's office was never a good thing, he had learned that much, but this time he didn't even have a faint idea what he could have done wrong again to expect punishment. So he stuck to looking humble and hoping that it wouldn't get too bad.
"Do you know why you are here?"
Kadaj licked his lips and started to say something, but nothing came out apart from a croaked sound, so he cleared his throat and tried again, fine sweat running down his face. "I'm afraid I don't…sir."
He still didn't dare to look up, even when he heard the man stand up from his seat and slowly walk around the desk. Kadaj's little heart was pounding in his chest, the blood rushing in his ears and he thought that the fear was just about to swallow him whole when Sephiroth reached out for him. Quickly, the boy squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw to not cry out. Instead of the anticipated hit however, something fluffy and warm suddenly pressed against his chest, and the next moment a raw, cold little tongue slid over his jaw, followed by a quiet "meow."
Aghast, Kadaj's eyes shot open as he stared at the – now remarkably bigger – kitten. It took him another second to realize what was going on, but then he grabbed Bernhard and hugged him tightly to his chest, eyes still wide with surprise and shock.
"I figured you might want that back," Sephiroth informed him, watching the happy reunion with a fathomless expression.
Kadaj, just becoming again aware of the other's presence, hurried to look up and reply, "Yes, yes, thank you so much, sir!" He was frantically stroking the slightly starved kitten's soft fur, still trying to comprehend what was happening here. Secretly he already had given up all hopes of ever seeing his kitten again, because despite Yazoo's assurances that Bernhard was probably all right he'd been convinced that Sephiroth had already…gotten rid of it. He just couldn't imagine this cruel man to properly take care of something as fragile and helpless as a kitten.
"You are welcome. You have been a good boy. I appreciate that and it should be acknowledged." The man reached out with his gloved hand again and Kadaj froze in his actions. Of course, he was so stupid. How could he have thought Sephiroth could have only one tiny, kind streak in his body?! He'd thought up this scheme solely for the purpose of tormenting Kadaj, to make him feel safe and happy. And then he'd sadistically strike out, to make the boy even more miserable…
The hand connected with his body, but not in the way he'd anticipated at all. Instead, his head was patted a few times, stiffly, and then he was left alone again. Shell-shocked, Kadaj let out the shuddering breath he'd been holding and relaxed a bit, loosening his grip around Bernhard whom he had pressed to his chest in a defensive manner. His eyes slowly dared to look up at his foster father, who looked just as if he felt as awkward as Kadaj did.
Licking his lips again, the boy stuttered a, "Th-thank you," again, just to not anger the man by lack of gratitudes.
The general just gave a curt nod, his jade eyes still heavily lingering on the boy in front of him. A few seconds of utter silent passed, before he finally straightened and announced, "You are dismissed."
Kadaj quickly bowed down and then left the room with his precious little pet as fast as he could before the man might change his mind.
*
Yazoo had almost reached the end of the stairs when a silver whirlwind came rushing at him, breathlessly shoving something fluffy into his face and excitedly blabbering, "Look, I got Berny back!!! And he's all in one piece! Sephiroth said that I was a good boy and that's why I got him back and that he was proud of me!!!"
Kadaj's face was flushed with excitement and happiness, partly of course because he had back his beloved kitten, but partly also because after months and months of discrediting the General had said a few nice, acknowledging words to him. It filled him with a rather irrational pride, but it was there nonetheless, and it may have caused him to exaggerate a bit, but right now he was the happiest little boy on the planet.
Yazoo however didn't look like he shared his little brother's excitement even one bit, on the contrary. He rather coldly shoved the mewling furball out of his face and walked past the boy without a word. Frowning, Kadaj held his kitten, looking after his brother with a slightly crestfallen expression. He was pulled out of his confused state, though, when he heard a familiar voice calling up to him from the entrance hall, and with a bright smile lighting up his face again, he ran down to introduce Bernhard to his bestest friend.
*
Another knock at the door made the General look up from his work, and with a slightly displeased expression he ordered the suppliant to enter. Things had been so much quieter when he still had been alone in his mansion…
His features went neutral however when Yazoo entered and quietly closed the door behind him. Upon the lack of a tray however, he frowned, asking, "Where is my breakfast?"
"Burned."
"…Excuse me?" The silver haired man watched the calm boy in front of him with an even deeper frown, but then his gaze just wandered back to his papers and he said in a slightly exasperated manner, "What do you want then?"
"It seems you were rather busy last night."
"So I was," Sephiroth replied disinterestedly and wrote a note on one of the reports. Clearly he was not in the mood to discuss the matter with his child now.
"Hn." Yazoo inclined his head and kept staring at his father in a way that would probably have unsettled a lesser man, but not the great General. He deliberately ignored the youth's presence for another few minutes and calmly finished his report.
"Is there anything else you want?" the man finally asked in a slightly irritated tone, his fingers making repeated contact with the smooth surface of the armrest.
The child remained silent for a moment, his fathomless gaze resting heavily upon his father, until he opened his mouth again and slowly said, "Yes."
Sephiroth arched a brow, clearly looking displeased that his silent order of leaving him alone had been ignored. He leaned back in his seat and intertwined his long fingers in his lap, asking nonetheless. "Well, and could you deign to tell me what exactly it is? I am rather busy right now."
"A gun."
The General looked startled for a moment, but then his features drew into something almost disgusted, as he echoed, "A gun? What do you want with a gun?!"
Yazoo just tilted his head, never taking his cool eyes from his father. "I simply want one."
Snorting, the silver haired man shook his head, pinched the bridge of his nose and finally waved his hand in dismissal, saying, "Fine. I will see what I can do. Now, go play or whatever it is you do all day long."
He shot him another dark, menacing look, and went back to his files.
The youth silently turned around and was almost out of the door, when his father's voice swept through the home office again.
"Another thing: don't expect me to come to your room."
The only answer he got was the quiet click of the door as it fell closed behind his child.
*
"Hey, watch out here comes the water bomb!" Zack yelled as he sprinted towards the pool and jumped into the crystal clear water, holding his nose.
A huge ring of splashes formed around the hole where he went down and rained down on everything that wasn't fast enough to get away. Kadaj exploded into a new fit of laughter and let the droplets fall onto his face, struggling to stay on the surface as the waves threatened to swallow him. Bernhard indignantly meowed, shaking his small form and stumbled a bit away from the offending pool to clean the water off of his fur.
Sephiroth closed his water bottle, pushed himself away from the balcony door where he had been leaning and observing the actions going on in his garden. He slowly walked across the terrace to the chairs and umbrellas, black sunglasses shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight. His presence didn't go unnoticed, and Zack briefly stroked Kadaj's head, saying, "Hey, go play with Loz for a moment, okay? I'm right back."
The boy didn't look very enthused, but at least he obeyed and slowly swam to where Loz was lounging in one of the corners of the pool. Maybe he could get a rise out of him by asking questions about Tifa. For some reason it seemed to fluster his oldest brother, but it was pretty amusing.
"Hey!" Zack heaved himself over the rim of the pool and grabbed for a towel lying on one of the chairs, before he sat down at a table where Sephiroth had taken a seat. "We weren't too loud and disturbed you, did we?"
"No, you didn't," was the reply, and Zack's worried expression vanished, making place for a smile.
"Great. So, you taking a break or something?"
"Yes, actually I am," the General replied calmly and lifted a brow when he noticed the surprised look of his apprentice. "Something wrong with that?"
"Ah, no no no," Zack hurried to answer and waved his hands on front of him, laughing. "That's great, you can't stay locked up in your office all day anyway, since the weather's so nice and all!"
Sephiroth nodded in agreement and guided his water bottle to his mouth again, taking a sip.
The soldier eyed him somewhat awkwardly and fidgeted in his seat till he couldn't hold back anymore and crawled a bit closer, asking curiously, "So what's up with that girl and you?"
Rolling his eyes, the other man sat his bottle down again and tried to look past the eager face of his soldier to keep an eye on his other two children who had indulged in a water war already. It didn't seem serious though, judging from Kadaj's delighted – and a bit mean – laughter…
"I invited her to the charity ball."
Zack shot him a 'No shit, Sherlock' look, that brought a faint smirk to the General's face, and impatiently waved a hand, "Yeah, yeah, I know that already, I read the newspaper you know." He was graced with another sardonic quirk of the brow, but simply continued in his inquiry. "And, what's she like? What's her name? Is she nice? I bet she is, she's beautiful! Where did you meet her?"
The General had to hold his hands up to calm the flood of questions down, and took a certain delight in Zack's pained expression when he took his time to take up the kitten that had stumbled towards him and prodded for his attention. Setting the furball on his lap and stroking its slightly wet back, he explained, defeated, "Her name is Elena. She is Kadaj's teacher and I met her at the boys' school. And yes, she is nice."
"Oh." Zack looked excited beyond reason, much to Sephiroth's dismay and barely took a breath before he fired his next question, "And, when will you marry her?"
"Excuse me?" the General looked a bit dumbfounded at the question and stilled his movements.
"When will you marry her?" exclaimed the soldier again and just as happily.
"Oh my…" Sephiroth shook his head and held his temple, continuing to stroke the pet. Still, he patiently tried to get some reason into that air headed inferior of his by explaining dryly, "Zack, I only met her and we spent one evening together."
"Yeah, but she's nice," the soldier pointed out with a grin, and leaned back with satisfaction. "The kids like her?"
"I suppose so."
"Great! Hey, can I be the groomsman, yes, yes, yes? I'll even wear a suit, I promise!"
Sephiroth looked up at him with a slightly unnerved expression that was mostly hidden by his sun glasses, but then he just waved a hand in agreement, thinking that it probably was a futile task to try to talk his friend out of the idea.
"I love you!" Zack announced, deeply stirred, wiped away a tear and stood up to attack the poor man with a bear hug. "Come here, you!"
"What…will you let go off me!" bristling, the General freed himself and unruffled his clothes. Zack just sat back in his chair with that bright grin of his and reached for his own glass of orange juice.
"What moved you to go out with her anyway? I mean, apart from the fact that she's nice? Don't get me wrong, but you didn't seem like…you'd enjoy such things, to tell the truth…"
"Really?" Sephiroth asked, frowning. "Well, if I remember correctly it was your suggestion that I get myself company…"
"Hehe, it was, indeed," the soldier replied, proudly stretching a bit in his chair, folding his hands behind his head and holding his face into the warm sun. "I'm really glad you listened to my advice."
"Hm." The General reached for his bottle again and focused his attention back on his children, where Kadaj was sitting on Loz's shoulders and imperiously demanding that the youth go faster by splashing water into his face.
Zack just smiled and let his lazy gaze wander over the beautiful mansion, thinking that he just had seen a silver head by the window and waving at him to come down and join the fun.
However the rest of the day he wouldn't get another glimpse of Yazoo.
tbc
Seph´s becoming a good guy (well, he´s trying, but he ain´t doing that bad, is he?) and Yazoo is not amused… oh the possible drama }:)
sareyva: Yes, Vincent is sharp indeed, but maybe he can never prove that Yazoo is the murderer, since all evidence is gone now… We´ll see^^ Zack really is a great guy, I adore him! But at least it seems that his little speech has gotten through to Sephiroth! Hahaha, well, Sephiroth was pretty much an asshole, it´ll be hard for him to get redemption. But it is a start.
Valitiel: Yepp, there´s no messing with Vincent XD Well, I suppose that there had to be something to make Sephiroth the man he is now and such a traumatizing experience can do those things… And yes, we shall definitely see more of Zack and Vincent, no worries!
Aiko Celeste: Hahaha, Zack and Kadaj are such fun to write, it´s like Zack´s the father/brother figure Kadaj needs, since Yazoo and Sephiroth are somehow epic failures (well, the latter at least tries now). I had the feeling that I couldn´t just make Sephiroth the 'bad guy', that would have been superficial and he certainly has a reason why he is how he is. And yepp, poor Vincent, but maybe he´ll make a comeback ;)
IA1979: It will all be revealed, even why Sephiroth adopted the boys. As to the same hair and eye color I´d say that it might be not very common, but still not too outstanding either. There´re a lot of redheaded, green eyed people too, but they aren´t necessarily related^^ I will work on the Sephiroth-Loz relationship, exclusively for you XD Sephiroth makes some efforts to get on better terms with his children now, so he will see that Loz isn´t useless and dumb at all.
Wildfire Sniper: I´m glad you like it so far! I put very much effort into the dream scene, because I thought it was a crucial point to the story, so I am very happy it got to you!
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed, you guys are the best! Now, I do not dare to hope, but maybe, maybe we can make it the next mark before the story is finished…?
