Author's note : Ahh... Sorry for long no updates.. ...Sigh, still 0 review. Perhaps I am really bad in this..

Diclaimer- None of the characters or most of concepts are mine, they belong to Square Enix. Honestly, if they belonged to me.. ..It would have turned MA+ rated.

Warning - Yaoi, M rated for more than a few reasons (later chapters), abusive languages, crimes, etc. Yaoi pairings (AkuRoku, SephCloud, ZexionXDemyx, etc, more side pairing though not in this one. Side stories may be included after the main story gets over)

No. XIII - Organisation XIII

[Chapter 12. Excuses]

[In the middle of darkness and light, the shadows of both lay.

The shadows, the midst of the extremes-

They lurk in the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times,

And they reign with the mystery and power,

The shadows call themselves-

Organisation XIII.]

XII . i

After a quick exchange of glances, Reno, Rude, Elena and Cissnei exited. The room turned very silent. However, Angeal sighed in discomfort, breathing out.

"...Roxas became so depressed. He usually isn't that sharp or reacting to everything like that. Sephiroth, why is he so stressed?"

"..He found clues related to whereabouts of the traitors. He wants to get hold of them.. Fast. But he has no idea if all of them are real traitors. He is sure about one, but rest.. So he wants to investigate on that matter fast. But it isn't good.. He is responsible to keep them in order. That means.. He have to kill the traitors. All of them. ..Well, I don't think the law holds against killing none-humans.. As well as none-human killing humans. You don't hold a case against a dragon or a monster because it killed a human or another none-human. Though.. I do not know whether I should be happy about that or not.."

"...He already killed plenty monsters, so I am sure he won't hesitate to kill them. He is not a human, so why would he bother? Angeal, it's pointless to worry. We can't possibly ask him to not to kill.. That's the rule of his society, and he is the executor.. He is the one to kill, and that is legal in their community. That's how things are supposed to be."

Genesis had a point. But it was still ironic, how things were. Well, it's not like Roxas's intention was to hide everything.. Sephiroth just thought, knowing that Team SeeD members are too observant to let everything go. Knowing Sephiroth's cue, Angeal and Genesis only gave him a quick nod and left the place. Keeping his Masamune back to it's normal place, Sephiroth looked at Veld and Tseng.

"..I believe, I can talk with you later? Or do you have time now, Veld, Tseng?"

"General, you can talk to us anytime. You have my number."

"Is that good enough for you?"

"Yes, General. Please, take your time, we are willing."

So they are willing to keep this quiet.. Still, they will investigate about this matter by themselves.. Another obvious thought. However, Sephiroth approved their way and let them go. Now he had to deal with the hardest one. Angeal and Genesis knew too much about government, so they agreed to keep thing quiet for his sake- The Turks wouldn't make those information leak out to the public at all even if they find something. But Team SeeD was an entirely different story. Majority of them hated their higher officers, especially corrupted ones.

Seohiroth knew that it was tume to choose his words very carefully- with his natual mask which he developed in his life in a lab ever since he was born (if you could call that a birth).

"..I have not much to say, really. Do I have to say sorry because I used to work at Shinra and you all hate Shinra employees, especially high-ups?"

"...I think what we need is an explanation, Sephiroth."

"...Yeah, Leon's right, you know? I mean, man.. We didn't know anything about all those while you worked with us for a whole year. And what was the real reason you left Team SeeD?"

"...First thing first. I am not fully human. That is, I am a Cetra."

"...Cetra?"

An interesting term. Some of them blinked their eyes, while a few of them frowned. They knew about them, of course.. The Ancients. But weren't they gone a good long time ago? Looking at them, Sephiroth contunued.

"I was born in a laboratory 25 years ago, under the care of several scientists. The project, which resulted in my birth, concerned a Cetra fossil which was found at the Northen Crater. They tried to revive the race from it's DNA.. And I was born. I am practically mix of Cetra and a few monsters."

"...What..?"

"You are..!"

"..There were two more kids like me there. That was Angeal and Genesis. However, the scientist who created me did not like their creator- we didn't meet each other in our earliest years. When we met, they already formed a close tie and I was quite alone. They were the closest thing I got to friends at the time. Scientists experimented on us, tortured us, doing stuff I cared not to remember.. ...And, well.. They betrayed me. They caused a commotion and ran away, carefully planned, leaving me behind. Ironically.. I tried to find them first and found that our room was empty. ..I left a letter for them to follow me, and ran too. They were caught, but I wasn't. Ironically, I managed to escape alone."

Sephiroth chuckled, looking rather insane. However, he shook it off and continued, he was out of this already long ago.

"..I didn't have much idea about what I was. I ended up in an orphanage, where I got adopted to the Safers. But after a year, Sora was born. Now I think of it... ..Roxas.. I never saw him at the time. Only after Sora was- four months? Well, less than half a year, Roxas appeared out of no where, becoming a family. No one questioned, really. That's another aspect of his kinds.. ...Anyway.. After they were born, I was left out. Obvious course. But I did challenge them, asking why the hell did they even adopt me.. Well, I ended up fighting with them and I was furious.. I joined Shinra's special SOLDIER programme, which kept our identities classified. I knew it was Shinra which created me, so I had been avoiding them, but that time.. I was blinded by my emotions.."

"...Shinra experimented on humans! That's outrageous!"

"That's not the case, Prosecutor Squall. I am not human. I am just a specimen born through experiments.. So please stay calm. I met Angeal and Gensis again there. They were happy to see me, but I wasn't. They betrayed me and I hated them for abandoning me there.. We didn't get along well. And after that, my brothers.. The other specimens who were created by the same methods with me broke out, and I got that mission to get them back.. They recognised me, and I recognised them. I didn't follow the orders and got the answers from them.. What I was, and what Shinra was doing.. They told me about this tie between Cetras. We could hear from our Mother, the Cetra fossil they thought dead.. But no, she was alive, only sleeping through years.. ..I resigned immediately and demanded to the president to give us back our mother. He agreed. After all, I was the Great General they had been advertising of.. They needed me. And so I could have a bargain.. If I spoke to media about all those, demanding them to give me back my mother who was still alive.. They were in a big trouble. So they had a deal with me..."

Sephiroth frowned, clearly unhappy about the deal he spoke of. Team SeeD couldn't believe it, but Sephiroth crossed his arms and continued.

"They told me to work for them, get hold of Avalanche and subdue their activities forever. They blown up quite a few facilities at the time.. I had to agree. Mother was powerless, helpless, locked in a Mako tank and in a stasis.. What else could I do? I wanted her back, and it was the safest method. They, in turn, agreed to help me staying away from Hojo, that damned scientist.. Well, anyway, after that, I majored in International Law in order to get hold of them. But appearently, in Team SeeD.. There was no chance of it. Higher officers wouldn't let me do it, and all other minor criminals were all released.. I hated it."

"...And?"

"..That's why I resigned. That's why I formed Jenova. I left Team SeeD so I can get hold of Avalanche with my clones, my brothers. They are Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz. We didn't do anything more than getting hold of Avalanche, because we all want her back. We did get in to a few troubles because we had to have more power and control to know about Avalanche, but Roxas helped us. Well, I wasn't exactly under control, you know.. But Roxas was always there to stop me at the right time. He was acting as a blocker. Is that enough to explain what had happened?"

Sephiroth fixed his eyes on Squall, who was deep in thoughts. Slightly jumping up,

"Yes. It is.. But still.. Why? Why didn't you tell us about it before?"

"..I was, and am, working with Turks, Prosecutor Squall. Do you think it's safe to reveal classified information when you have their eyes fixed on yourself? I am explaining to you just because I am now allowed to explain. They agreed just now, because you became too involved in this. But I am sure they wouldn't want you to speak about those in public.

...I am taking my leave now, see you all tomorrow at the office.. I think I am quite late. Kadaj can hear me alright, but others can't hear me clearly.. And Kadaj is sick now. They must be worrying about me."

Weakly smiling, Sephiroth left, never giving them a chance to ask anything. It was abrupt enough to puzzle the Team SeeD members who were left behind. Looking somewhat irritated, Seifer muttered.

"..It's either Sephiroth completely lied to us, or he was completely truthful to us, or 50-50.. I'd rather bet in lies. If he is related to the Turks, I don't believe that he would be truthful to us. But- I think at least about his Mother is true."

XII . ii

"Moondrop Tear was yours.. And Reno, you wanted Red Jeans, right?"

"Yeah. Yo, by the way- everyone has their special thing, ya'know?"

"Hm? You mean special mix?"

Roxas hummed, creating the mix Reno asked. The house Reno and Rude lived had enough alcohol and equipments- enough for him to produce plenty good stuff. Elena and Cissnei were enjoying themselves too while playing cards with them. After a short pause, Roxas answered.

"...I have a few. Why? I am telling you, those are not for normal people. If you want it-"

"Yeah, I wanna try yours, yo. Why not? Turks are hardly normal people, anyway."

"..My special mix can kill people, it's too strong. I don't give them to normal people. SOLDIER, with higher metabolism, which stops them ever getting drunk with normal alcohol- can be knocked out with mine... Because a couple of them are specially made for Seph, Gen and Ang. The Firsts have awfully high metabolism."

"Whoa, and you managed to make a special mix enough to knock down the SOLDIERs? That's crazy! Not many scientists are capable of that, yo."

Roxas shrugged as Reno jumped up. It was quite obvious for him, because his mix consist of normal favours by mixture and effects by magic. A bit of confusion and dizziness similar to drunken effect as well as sleepiness weren't exactly hard to create.. And his drinks were very strong, too, which helped effects. As Reno got worked up and others started to show interests, Roxas finally sighed and agreed to make one glass for them to try. Still, he was sure that it wasn't that good idea..

"..Later, don't blame me for this. I told you my special mix is too strong for normal people."

"Yeah, yeah- I heard'ya, yo. So what's the name?"

"...This one I am making? ..I call it Fallen Wings. Alright, here."

"..It doesn't look that strong, but sure, its smell is strong.."

Roxas turned his head to Cissnei, who carefully examined glass. Well.. Even without magic spells, this mix was enough to knock out normal Second Class SOLDIERs. But First Class and Second Class were completely different thing.. Making another two of his special mix for himself and females, Roxas murmured.

"Well, I don't think anyone can endure that more than a sip. Gen and Ang's record was six glasses together. Sephiroth, on the other hand, took ten glasses alone, and was still standing. And here, this is for ladies- This one has softer taste. Chocobo March.. This was for another First Class, who is dead now. You know him? Zachary Fair, First Class. I never met him, but Sephiroth asked me to make one for him once, so I made it for him and.. Cloud Strift, First Class. ...Golden Chocobo and Black Chocobo. Aren't they? That's what I heard, their hair having similar qualities with mine.

And this one is for myself- Well, I am not letting you drink this. This one is mine."

"Sure.. Well, Rude, wanna try too?"

"...Hm."

The black Turk nodded, looking at Cissnei and Elena who already divided the drink into two cups and started sipping. From their reaction, and his experience for a few days at Nineth Prison, he already knew Roxas was very good in his work. But somehow he felt uncomfortable about his special ones.. He somehow had a feeling that the glass Cissnei and Elena were enjoying was enough to knock out all four of them.

Considering about the warnings his instincts tell, he shook his head and took the glass redhead was handing over. Reno took it carelessly and after a few seconds, he seemed somewhat off.. And when he tried to stand up, he fall down and directly went into sleep. Shocked, Rude looked around, but Elena and Cissnei were busy talking to themselves and giggling so hard, showing that they were definitely drunk. Now, Rude carefully took a tiny sip and winced.

"..This..."

"Strong, isn't it? I said that it's too strong for normal people. Just like a strong good old whiskey for someone who tastes alcoholic drink for the first try.. It's too strong. But it's nice."

"..Yeah, taste and smell,, It's extremely good.. But.. Ah."

Rude absent-mindedly took a sip or two. It was intoxicating. Blazing feelings were there, but it dimed very rapidly, replacing it with pleasant refreshing tastes... It took him off guarded. He shook his head again as his vision started to turn blur. However, no matter how much he tried.. His sight was engulfed with darkness.

Standing up, Roxas looked down on four Turks who were already past asleep. Smirking, he murmured in a low voice.

"..Oops. I think I used sleeping draught too much by mistake.. You know, I use it often in my mix to add relaxation effect.. Heh.. So you four will have to be my witness, you know? I will have to cast confusion spell on you all, but it will worth it. Good night, good Turks.."

Chuckling, Roxas opened dark corridor and walked into it, taking out his cloak from another smaller dark corridor.