Sephiroth tried his best to put some distance between the Pharaoh and himself. But somehow, someway, he always found himself in that same position. Alone in a room with him and pinned to a wall, floor, or whatever happened to be nearby while his mouth was ravished by the 'motivated' Pharaoh. For this reason, he had started wearing garments to cover more of himself. This only succeeded in getting the Pharaoh to try and get him into water or get him wet some other way.  

It was getting harder and harder to push him away. Either Yagami was getting stronger or he was getting weaker. Neither reason had been particularly interesting to his ego. Both would mean he was frailer than the Pharaoh.  The one time he was completely overpowered, he had been asleep and had given into the kiss from lack of strength. The Pharaoh enjoyed that a little too much. Scary thing was, he did too.

Growling as he walked along the morning route with Pharaoh Yagami, he tried not to think of any of those times when he had been cornered and placed in quite the 'provocative' position. That Pharaoh really wanted him.

The very thought sent a red-hot blush to his cheeks. It wasn't as though he wasn't used to male attention. That was what that Jono kid had been giving him. He still shuddered a little at the looks of pure lust he shot his way.

He caught sight of one of the blond's heated looks as he passed. He kept his brown eyes on him as he walked by. He could feel him undressing him with his eyes. It was unsettling.  And when he saw him lick his lips in a suggestive manner, he bumped into the Pharaoh.

" Something wrong Sephiroth?" He asked smirking.

" No. Nothing. I just-"

*CRACK*

He jumped reflexively at the sound of the whip cracking. He turned and glared at Kimoth. He smirked and cracked whip again on another slave. It was some kid. This kid reminded him of his own little brother except he was smaller and younger.

Without a word to the Pharaoh, he dashed off silently and launched a powerful punch to Kimoth's face. No one knew he was gone until they heard Kimoth's yelp as he fell down. He rubbed his red, swollen cheek while figuring out what happened. He then spit out a tooth and glared at Sephiroth.

Sephiroth cracked his knuckles. Oh he'd been waiting for this. A chance to make Kimoth pay for the 7 slashes on his back. He was going to take each one from his hide himself.

But before he could do so, other slave monitors ambushed him. They swarmed him and whipped him like a wild animal. He fell to his knees after the 5th strike, but he fell on his hands after the 15th. They were coming from everywhere and so fast. He couldn't possibly block them all. And even though the whips ripped and beat his skin, he would not cry out. He bit his tongue until blood filled his mouth, but he would not cry out. Kimoth even got a kick or two in, but he. Would. Not. Cry. Out.

" Enough!!"

Just when he thought he could take it no longer, the strong, deep baritone of the Pharaoh filled his ears. He could tell he was more than a little angry by his tone. But he didn't know whether or not he was angry with him.

**********************

As the Pharaoh had been walking along that morning, he had been totally ignoring his advisors as they talked.

His thoughts were occupied by an extremely sexy slave sauntering behind him. Yagami stole glances at him every now and then. He was just waiting for a chance to pounce on him again.

Even though he did seem to only want him for his body, Yagami did have other things he liked about Sephiroth. He was strong, quick on his feet, absolutely gorgeous, well aware of things around him confident and very intelligent. He was just perfect.

He had thought of all this while he was bathing that morning. He was quite in love with said slave. Very, very, VERY much in love with him. The only problem was that he seemed to be pushing him even furtherer away the harder he tried to get him to submit to him.

Sighing, he tried to pay attention when he noticed the object of his affections was missing. Yagami had just turned his back for a second and just like that Sephiroth was gone. The next thing he knew, said slave was on his hands and knees being beaten. This immediately made him see red.

" Enough!!" He had yelled.

They stopped their assault. Yagami stalked over to them with livid scarlet eyes. He shoved them aside and knelt by Sephiroth's fallen form. He managed to sand, but just barely.

" You're all going to be punished! There was no need for this!" Yagami said.

" But sire-"

" Silence!!" He yelled, glaring furiously at the incompetent monitor," My word is final and you're going to pay!! Seize them!!"

All of them were dragged off, kicking and screaming, towards the confinement chambers. 

***********************

 Sephiroth staggered towards the entrance to the palace. As he moved, he could feel the blood from his gashes run down his back and run down his legs until it dripped onto the floor.

He had to hang onto the wall to keep from falling over. This was a lot harder than he thought it would be. His body's protests got louder and louder. Soon he would not be able to move on his own.

" Sephiroth!"

That was the Pharaoh. He could hear his quickening steps behind him. He must have moving slower than he thought.

" Are you alright?" He asked.

Sephiroth almost hit him. What kind of question is that, he thought to himself. How stupid did you have to be to ask something like that? Was he just not looking at him or anything?

" Define 'alright'." He said.

" You shouldn't be walking. You need to get to the healer." He said.

" I can take care of myself. I don't need any healer." He protested.

" You don't have to act anymore. They are gone. It's just you and me." Yagami said.

Before he could even think of the proper snap at that, his body gave into the pain he was putting it through. His vision became increasingly fuzzy. He faltered one more step, and then his legs just gave out. 

The last sound he heard was the Pharaoh crying out and catching him. After that, he faded out.

*****************

When Sephiroth regain his consciousness again, he was lying on something soft and warm. He was lying on his stomach and he had been stripped of his clothes from the waist up. There was only so much after he had been beaten.

He could sense someone behind him. They were moving because he could feel their shifting on the bed. They were trying to stay quiet and not disturb him. He wasn't sure what all they were doing there though.

He flinched when cool fingers traced over his gashes on his back. He wouldn't dare twist around to see who it was. Dried blood was all over his body and he could barely see straight in the first place.

" Calm yourself Sephiroth. You are safe."

That was the Pharaoh; he was sure of it. This should have set him on high alert, but it didn't. The sound of his voice wasn't the same sultry tone he used when he was flirty. He was compassionate. Totally different from what he was when he was outside.

" What…….What are you doing?" He managed to get out.

" Tending to your wounds. You would not let me take you to the healer, so I will handle them myself." Yagami said.

He hissed at the pain of some herb oil used to wash his wounds. It stung badly and he bit his tongue to keep from crying out.

" I'm sorry. It had to be done." Yagami said.

" Do what you have to do." Sephiroth replied.

******************

Yagami nodded in understanding and continued to repair the damage that had occurred on Sephiroth's back. He had so many scars across his back. Some were faded, but others were recent. 7 in particular.

" He's hit you before hasn't he?" He asked; running his fingers over them.

" Who?" Sephiroth asked.

" Kimoth. The monitor you hit." He said.

" So what if he did? It wasn't like he hurt me." He replied.

" Why didn't you tell me?" He asked.

" Why do you care?" He asked.

Yagami ignored the sting to his heart. Sephiroth had no idea of what he said. He was in pain and obviously mad at his situation. He cared deeply for him, but he just wasn't ready to know that. At least not now.

" I am not as heartless as you think." He said.

" You still haven't answered my question. Why do you care?" He asked turning to look at him.

" Nevermind. Let's just say that I do. Now why didn't you tell me?" Yagami asked.

" I'll answer your question when you answer mine." Sephiroth said.

Yagami was silent after that. He didn't want to push him away anymore. He was just getting close to him. He feared if he just forced his feelings on him, he'd reject him. No, he couldn't afford to be in that position.

" Forget the question then." He said.

" Fine. Just forget everything that happened." Sephiroth said turning back and supporting his head on his arms.

*If it were only that easy Sephiroth.* He thought to himself

He supposed he would just suffer in silence for a while. After all, if he could be this close to him everyday, then it wouldn't be so bad.

Besides, he thought smirking evilly, I still have monitors to torture.