Chapter Six---Situations

Cloud knocked on his little brother's door. There was no answer. There hadn't been an answer in days and Cloud was begining to wonder about the boy. He opened the door a notch and drew back, nose wrinkling in repulsion. The room smelled of unwashed body and rotting,uneaten food.

Seifer lay facing the window, away from Cloud, unmoving and silent. Cloud watched for the rise and fall of the boys rib cage and was relieved to see his brother was still alive but he wouldn't be for long if he kept up this insesscent moping.

"Seifer. Get up." There was no reply from the figure on the bed and Cloud was fed up. Just because of that stupid...never mind. Best not get into that yet. It took three quick strides for Cloud to cross that room,haul the boy up off the bed and drag him into the bathroom, where he proceeded to strip Seifer of his raunchy clothes and turn on the hot water.

"Cloud! Clou--" Seifer spit out a mouthful of water into Cloud's face. Cloud ignored it, continuing to wash his less then senthetically pleasing brother.

"MOM!!!" Areith Strife bounced into the room as Cloud tossed Seifer's dirty clothes are her.

"Oh! Dear! Seifer, it isn't good for a growing boy to mope around so. Cloud, you'll take care of him won't you?" Cloud nodded as she turned.

"I'm going to Raid his room. Can he sleep with you?" Cloud snorted but nodded nonetheless.

"Cloud! I'm sure I can shower myself."

"I'm not so assured, brother, as you smell like over-ripe fruit, dirty socks and well... you just smell bad." Seifer rolled his green eyes.

"Why don't you come to work with me?" They both knew it was just so he could keep an eye on the younger blonde. And so their mother could clean uninteruppted.

She was a holy terror when it came to cleaning and a monster to anyone who get in her way while ungoing said projects.

Trista was waiting at the kitchen table when Riku and Zexion came down that morning for breakfast. She smiled sweetly but the two knew she had something up her sleeve and it wouldn't be particularly pleasant.

"How did the shoot go honey?" Riku choose his words very carefully, avoiding the condemnation in those jade depths.

"It went well. Mr. Loire says he wants to do a trial, see how the public responds--" Without warning, the woman's countance changed from false pleasantness to outright rage and loathing.

"Respond to what Riku? Huh? What exactly does he want the public to respond to? Maybe this?! "She flung a folder at him. It was the shoot from the night before, with Riku clutching Zexion's shirt, looking very much like a forlorn lovers spending their last day together. Riku didn't look up at his mother.

"Would you like to explain this Riku? You just transfered from Traverse High to get into this? What are you? I raised you better then this!" Trista's nasty glare settled on Zexion.

"And you, helping that twit Loire ruin your brother. You always were jealous that Riku got so much attention and you were just...well, you just weren't enough." Zexion was having none of this.

"Fuck off! I was never jealous of Riku. Except I thought you loved him more, but you just wanted to use him to make your damn money. That's all you've ever cared about and how much Riku could get you. I have always been enough, Mother dearest. And Riku's always been better then you. I think that's why you hate him so much." Trista's eyes went dangerously dark and she lunged for Zexion, her hand connecting with his face again and again, whipping his head this way and that.

The boy didn't cry or tell her to stop, he just stood there and took it until Riku couldn't watch anymore. And before either knew what was happening, Riku had grabbed the woman and slammed her against the wall, tears of rage burning his eyes, his blood boiling under his skin as he looked at the woman before him.

The one that was supposed to love and protect them, not use them and hurt them. The woman he'd loved more then anything.

"No more. You're never going to touch him again. Or me." Riku let her go and turned to walk away.

"You get back here Riku!" He turned slowly, aquamarine eyes dark and rimmed in red, haired clinging to his damp face, making him look wild and dangerous. Zexion stood behind him, silently begging the boy not to hurt her.

"If you walk out that door, you're never coming back." Riku stared at her a moment before he tossed his head back and suddenly began laughing. It was strange sound, on the brink of insanity.

"We both know you'd never make good on that. I'm your paycheck, remember? I said no more and I meant it." Riku looked back at Zexion, wrapped an arm around the shorter boys shoulders and together they left home behind.

Sora stood atop the brick wall outside the Bloodless studios, arms open as if to embrace the setting sun. Cloud stood on a platform just below him snapping picutres, his younger brother sitting idly beside him. Axel was in the dressing room with Leon, driving the brunette to the edge of insanity.

Suddenly blue eyes opened, in a look of surprise. Cloud continued snapping pictures until Sora bounded off the wall and ran to the two approaching figures.

"Oh my god, Zexion...what...are you...come on, let's go get you some food!" Sora smiled brightly, as did Zexion. Sora's solution to every problem was food.

Riku continued on, jumping the wall, looking around for Cloud when he bumped into a very familiar blonde. Aquamarine eyes glared hatefully into shocked jade ones as the silver-haired boy grabbed Seifer by the shirt and threw him up against the wall.

"What are you doing here Seifer?" Seifer struggled for a reply.

"Cloud... he wanted... I didn't know...He didn't..." Riku became aware of the snap of pictures and he whipped his head around to face Cloud, rage radiating from him in waves.

"You! You...planned this...But...he..and you..." Riku slid down along the wall, tears now streaming down his face as Cloud kept snapping those damn pictures.

"Riku..I'm...I'm sorry! I know I hurt you...I really didn't mean too...it's just...if you knew...I wanted you to know..." Seifer's hands cupped Riku's face, forcing him to meet his eyes.

"Please Riku...I didn't tell those people...I don't know what happened or how they found out... but I never meant to hurt you. You're my best friend...please..." Riku was vaguely aware of how girly the two of them were being and how stupid this must look to Cloud, who had yet to stop fliming and how utterly and completely ridiculous this whole day was turning out to be but he continued to cry anyways.

"Can you forgive me Ri?" Riku laughed through his tears and his runny nose and nodded.

"I'm sorry I was an ass. I thought you did it for money..." Seifer snorted.

"We've got enough of that on our own." Riku nodded miserably as Axel and Sora came into view, Zexion and Leon close behind. Leon's stormy gaze surveyed the scene before him before he snorted.

"What is this, an Oprah taping? Come on, up!" Seifer helped Riku stand and hugged him tightly before Leon glared at him savagely.

"If you don't mind, I'd like my model to get back to work." Seifer stepped back quickly.

Touchy bugger, wasn't he?

"Axel...sit right there...one leg up...rest your arm on your knee...good...ok, tangle your fingers in your hair...alright...give me...thoughtful...well...a little more anguish...right! Hold it. Ok, Sora...sit behind Axel, rest your chin on his shoulder, arms around his waist...perfect! No, give me more of a pout...too much...a little more sorrow, less pout...good! Now, Riku on the wall...there, Zexion, stand up and lean back between his legs...cross your arms, no don't look so sad...I want...indifference, calousness..."Leon briefly wondered if the indifference was directed at him or if he was just really good at this modeling stuff. Leon glanced at Seifer.

Hummmmmm. Now there's a thought.

A.n: WOOT!!!!!!! I live!!!!!! Chapter Six for your reading pleasure!

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, keep em coming and I'll reply to everyone in the next chapter! Until then, enjoi!

-iUlti!-