Chapter 7

Author's note: I almost didn't post this today, but I couldn't sleep till I did. I'm running on fumes right now.

"Sephiroth, late to your own party?" Sephiroth looked to Kadaj with a glare, Kadaj knowing very well were Sephiroth had been. Sephiroth was wondering why he even told the boy, already knowing many words would be used to tease him. Sephiroth cleared his expression, looking around the room to see who had come.

More woman than he wanted attending, it seemed. All of the men it seemed had levitated to a corner, no doubt talking shop.

His grandmother was talking to the Queen, Jenova's eyes searching the room like a hawk looking for prey. She would no doubt find him a woman who was young and energetic, the complete opposite of himself. Sephiroth looked back to Kadaj who was eating a piece of fruit, watching his wife who was dancing with Yazoo. Kadaj did not trust his other two brothers, and Sephiroth understood that. They were rather unfaithful to their own wives.

"I was sent downstairs to retrieve you on Jenova's orders. You sounded very busy." Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at his little brother, taking the fruit from him and throwing it to the table. Kadaj gasped in surprise, giving Sephiroth a small glare.

"I was eating that."

Sephiroth grabbed him by the arm, pulling him to the side away from the crowds of people. Sephiroth was glaring at him, his nerves on edge with Jenova walking around. She would use every resource to pin down Cloud.

"Don't talk about it in public," Sephiroth hissed, Kadaj raising his hands in mock defense. His eyes apologized though, Sephiroth letting go of his arm.

"I won't, sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" Sephiroth would have jumped but didn't, looking to his grandmother. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. She was always so rude, never explaining her actions even when they deserved explanation.

"Don't enter a conversation which isn't yours," Sephiroth told her, Kadaj looking to the food table.

"Can I get one fruit? Then I swear I won't eat till dinner starts." Sephiroth looked to his little brother, grateful he could mix any situation to look like an innocent one. Kadaj had saved himself many times with that ability.

Sephiroth nodded, Kadaj scurrying away to get another piece of fruit. Probably two if Sephiroth didn't watch him.

"You know, you shouldn't talk like that to your grandmother. I practically raised you." Sephiroth looked to her, a fear that had yet to disperse bouncing from his stomach to his chest. She was smiling like a snake, her eyes seeming to almost see right through him. She seemed no more alive than the dead. Sephiroth walked away, making it easy on himself by just not talking. Just when he thought he could escape to the outdoors, he heard a voice.

"Sephiroth." Sephiroth stopped, looking over his shoulder to the woman that called him. He saw a younger girl, probably only the age of twelve behind him. He turned fully to face her, bowing and kissing her hand when she offered it.

"My name is Aerith."

The Queen's adopted daughter. The Queen had a son many years ago, but on his fourth birthday he was taken from his room. It led to everybody to believe he had been kidnapped and murdered. Unable to bare another because of her husband's death shortly after the loss of their son, she adopted. Sephiroth had never seen her daughter before till this day, but even so he did not find this girl attractive. She seemed too delicate. He could break her like a twig.

"Shall we take a walk?" Sephiroth asked, Aerith smiling softly before nodding once.

"That would be delightful." Sephiroth offered his arm with a slight bow, feeling all of the eyes on them. Aerith grabbed his bicep gently, following him to the garden through the gala. Sephiroth didn't talk much to her, but everybody seemed to already think he fancied her. He found her to be boring.

"I heard of your engagement to Miss Scarlet. If I may not be prude, may I ask why did you call it off?" Sephiroth looked down to her, her green eyes still holding the curiosity of youth. Cloud's eyes held an undeniable wisdom, and understanding too valuable for his lack of years. But, he had youth in his soul. Cloud's eyes showed Sephiroth his still young, playful soul he harbored.

Sephiroth thought it was beautiful.

"You look like a man in love." Sephiroth blinked, his visage of Cloud disposing to show Aerith. He sighed in longing, looking away from the girl.

"I called off the engagement because she was unfaithful." Aerith raised an eyebrow in disbelief, her eyes shifting to look to a flower. She stopped for mere seconds to caress it.

"For such an attractive man, you would not think a woman would drop her catch once she has you." Sephiroth wondered who had taught her a sentence such as that one. He couldn't stop the small smile that pulled at his lips, the girls choice of words fit for a beggar, not a princess. He looked to her, wondering how old she really was.

"So, Sephiroth. Are you a man in love?" Sephiroth looked to the flowers in front of him, wondering which one Cloud would like. He reached a hand forward, touching a pale white one, it's center painted a light pink.

This one he would give to Cloud.

"I see I didn't have to work as hard as I thought." Sephiroth froze, looking over his shoulder to his grandmother. Aerith gave her a small smile, Jenova moving down into a courtesy. Sephiroth wanted to move away from Aerith, not wanting to find a wife in this girl.

"Miss Jenova, what a pleasure to meet you," Aerith told her sweetly, pulling away from Sephiroth to talk with his grandmother. Sephiroth turned, walking away without a word.

He already knew what was going to happen.

He didn't desire that girl, and he could tell she knew that. But Jenova had found her prey.

He needed some wine.

And get that flower for Cloud.

:::+:::

The ball was beautiful. Cloud had never seen one like it before in his entire life, the dances and endless food leading him to dream of all the things he could possibly do when he became of health again.

"Cloud!" He stood up straight in alarm, already begging the Goddess to not let him be whipped for not obeying the orders he had been given. It wasn't his previous master that had called his name though, it was Cid. Cloud relaxed, looking down to the floor. He knew he wouldn't get whipped, but he would probably get in trouble.

"I was told you were not to leave your room," Cid scowled, Cloud looking up to him with near pleading eyes.

"I just wanted to see the ball. Just a few more minutes than I swear I will return to my chambers." Cid sighed softly, taking off his cooking hat and putting it on Cloud's head, effectively hiding his spiked hair.

"Five minutes. If anyone asks, you are waiting for my orders," Cid told him, Cloud nodding once with a smile. Cid walked away whistling, his hands folded behind his back.

He was like the big brother Cloud never had.

Cloud looked back to the ball through his peephole in the wall, his lips pulling up into a smile when he saw the Queen walk away from the crowd, walking towards the wall he was peeping from. A woman was with her, but Cloud couldn't tell who she was.

She looked a lot like Sephiroth though.

Strangely enough, Cloud felt like the Queen looked more like himself.

"I think she will be perfect for my grandson. Sephiroth has already seemed to take a liking to her." Cloud's smile dropped.

Sephiroth was already interested in somebody else?

"They hardly spoke. She is fourteen, yet not one man has tried to court her. I do not believe Sephiroth has intent to court her." Cloud took in a small breath, his heart screaming in his chest.

"He is cold to everybody. I believe we should plan a courtship. It would make it easier for all of us." Cloud pulled away from the wall, his eyes filling with tears he quickly tried to suppress.

Was Sephiroth just playing with him?

Cloud took off the hat on his head, placing it on the floor next to the peephole. Cloud wiped his eyes, walking away from the wall.

Sephiroth was a rich man. He could have anyone he wanted. Cloud took in a sharp breath, feeling a warm tear fall down his cheek. He wiped it away, his steps slow and heavy. Cloud always prided himself in being strong, but right now he felt like a broken chair.

How many more times would Sephiroth use him before he couldn't use him anymore?

Cloud turned to enter into the slave chambers, stopping when he heard a familiar voice.

"The boy had been mine, Sephiroth. I want him back." Cloud hurried inside to the slave chambers, keeping the door just slightly ajar so he could here.

The Don?

What was he doing here?

Cloud held his breath, closing his eyes.

Sephiroth wouldn't...

Would he?

"You had not paid for him Don. The boy is mine." Cloud felt his heart clench, closing his eyes tighter.

"He's a rare delicacy, boy. He is a virgin that needs to be deflowered by my cock." Cloud felt like vomiting, the disgusting man shameless in how he spoke. Sephiroth didn't respond for a long second.

"What if I already deflowered him?" Cloud's eyes snapped open, his breath hitching in his throat.

"You? Why would you find pleasure in a slave?" Cloud looked through the opening, seeing Sephiroth's still form.

"Leave my home, barbarian." Cloud turned and ran when Sephiroth walked to the door, sneaking into his own room and closing the door silently. He took in a small breath, walking over to his bed. He laid down with a small sigh, closing his eyes.

Sephiroth entered into his room only seconds after, Cloud curling more into his blankets. Sephiroth walked over, Cloud opening his eyes when Sephiroth lit his candle.

"Are you going to find a wife?" Cloud's voice had been so soft he hardly heard himself, turning onto his back to look at Sephiroth who stared at the flame. Cloud didn't want to hear it from anyone but Sephiroth. He didn't want any lies, only the truth.

"Yes."

Cloud frowned, turning away from Sephiroth.

"Then why do you touch me?" Cloud whispered, closing his eyes with a small breath. Sephiroth was quiet for a long second, Cloud stiffening when Sephiroth's nimble fingers moved his hair away from his eyes.

"Because I want you to be my wife." Cloud felt the burn of tears in his eyes again, biting his bottom lip so he wouldn't sob. They both knew Cloud couldn't ever be accepted as his wife. Cloud would never get the blessing, and Sephiroth's family would forever reject him.

Sephiroth turned Cloud onto his back, moving the blankets off of his body. Cloud refused to open his eyes, taking in a sharp breath when Sephiroth touched his skin.

"I only want to touch you, Cloud."

Cloud opened his eyes when something touched his cheek, a smile touching his lips at the sight of the flower Sephiroth held. He took it tenderly, breathing in its scent. It smelled like rain, his eyes closing in bliss.

"Be mine, Cloud."

Cloud looked to Sephiroth, sitting up in bed.

Tifa watched from the shadows, her hand clenching the rags in her fist till her knuckles were white.

"Yes, Sephiroth."