Fan Fiction ❯ Brightness and Darkness ❯ The Big, Happy Family Reunion Part 2 ( Chapter 7 )

Brightness and Darkness
Chapter Seven: The Big, Happy Family Reunion Part 2

Pairings: Sora/Kairi, Riku/OC, Cloud/Aerith, Leon/Yuffie, and maybe Riku/Sora

Author's Note: Another mini fight scene in this one, you guys! Remember, I suck at fight scenes! Also, this chapter will give a more…in depth look at Kaze's power. And you guys will find out the reason Cloud shed his one tear.

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"Alright then, Ansem, when are we going to get out of here?" Laiktu crossed his arms and glared angrily at the man towering over him.

When the man chuckled evilly again, Kioko's wails filled the room. Hot tears trailed down her cheeks, leaving red streaks to follow. Ansem smiled, somewhat lovingly, and walked over to Kioko, placing his hand on top of her head.

"It is okay, young one," Ansem said, trying to soothe Kioko's tears. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Laiktu scowled at him. Was the bastard ignoring him? "HEY! I'm talking to you! Are you listening to me?!"

"Do you mean it?" Kioko sniffled and whipped her tears away with her sleeve.

"As long as you two do as I say, no harm will come to you," His voice was betraying, and Laiktu didn't trust it one bit. Kioko, being more gullible, smiled and wiped a few glistening tears from her face.

Laiktu stomped his foot and cleared his throat loudly, "I don't trust a fucking word you say! How can we be sure you won't hurt us? When are we getting out of this place? Why are you ignoring me, you bastard! Answer my fucking questions or I'm going to shove my foot up your ass!"

Ansem continued to ignore the ranting Laiktu as he stood upright and reached out his hand for Kioko to take. Hesitantly, she clasped her hand in his. In what he thought was a reassuring smile when it was more of a grimace, he led her to the entrance of the cell just as the cell door flew open. Laiktu turned around, ready to hit whoever was coming through that door, but froze when he saw the familiar white hair and the twenty foot long no datchi. This was the man that had taken them from the hooded people.

"Lord Sephiroth!" Ansem said, rather in a scary cheerful tone. "What brings you here?"

Sephiroth bowed to Ansem out of respect and looked him in the eye, ignoring the boy to his left making the funny faces, "They tried to escape again. The guards caught them on the southern waterway entrance."

Smiling morbidly, Ansem released Kioko's hand and patted her head. He turned to Laiktu, who was still making faces at Sephiroth, "Just the gentleman I wanted to see. This is perfect. Take the two children to the sitting area. I will return with the two…boys shortly."

The soldier nodded his head just as Ansem walked out of the cell. Dear God, not this again. Why was he left to handle these two children? The girl cried too much and the boy was just so…annoying! He scowled.

"What?" Laiktu asked as he crossed his arms. "Got something to say? Then say it!"

Sephiroth hissed. "Keep trying my patience little one, and I'll cut you down to a shorter size," he said, indicating his no datchi.

"I wish you would, mother fucker!" Laiktu bit back. Sephiroth was being tempted to harm the boy by any means necessary, but resisted as best as he could.

He will be mine later, he thought, a warped smile on his face.

"Follow me," he said shortly. Kioko was a bit more reluctant to follow Sephiroth than she was Ansem. Adding to the fact that Sephiroth had about as much charm as the size of a flea, and that every time he looked at the kids his face would appear as though he ate something sour, it was understandable for Kioko to step a few feet back. She looked to Laiktu who stood a few feet from her, arms folded across his chest, defiance spread over his face.

"Maybe I didn't make myself clear," he said, his teeth clenched. "Follow me." Sephiroth was longingly fingering his long sword, imagining that he was scalping Laiktu's skin from his face.

"And if I don't?" Laiktu asked smartly. Sephiroth roared and pulled out his no datchi, placing it to Laiktu's throat.

"If you want me to pull your spine out through your Adam's apple and jump rope with it, then you, you pathetic little runt and weeping willow over there will do as I say and follow me! Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Laiktu gulped and nodded. He gave a sharp look to Kioko who looked on the verge of tears yet again. She nodded so hard it was likely her head would pop off and roll on the floor.

Sephiroth placed his weapon safely back into his belt and ushered the children out of the dimly lit dungeon. He escorted them out of the door into a brightly lit, yellow bathed hallway.

Laiktu shielded his eyes from the stingingly bright light.

"Can someone turn down the lights in this fucking place?"

"If you would enjoy being used as a baseball bat to put out the lights, be my guest," Sephiroth said sardonically. Sneering at Laiktu, he turned his back and walked on.

Laiktu stuck his tongue at him from behind his back. With a little nudge from Kioko they trekked on, making sure to follow Sephiroth at a distance.

The hallway seemed to stretch on before they finally reached a brass door. Sephiroth tugged on the seemingly heavy door, pulling it open. He opened it wide enough to squeeze through, not bothering to hold the door open for the kids. Being their size, they slipped through without difficulty.

They were in what appeared to be a dinning hall. The room was less bright than had the hallway they just exited, which was only an improvement at least. Laiktu, unlike Kioko who was just glad to be out of the dark depths of the dungeon, was puzzled as to why they were brought here.

"What are we doing here?" Laiktu threw out to Sephiroth. Sephiroth closed his eyes to the boy's question.

"Hello? Guy with the dragon wing on his back! Where the hell are we?" Laiktu continued, hoping to aggravate Sephiroth long enough to get a response.

Finally giving in, Sephiroth swerved around and gave Laiktu a withering look. Laiktu clamored down.

"This is the dinning room, in case the long table with the silverware on top of it didn't tip you off. Master has asked me to give you little monsters something to eat, though it is not too late to force feed you poison. Anymore questions?"

Instead of shaking his head no like his younger, easily frightened sister, Laiktu crossed his arms and said, "Can I have fries with my order?"

"You'll have more than that if you keep pest--" The soldier stopped in mid sentence and looked up. The corners of her mouth curved upward as he felt her. His little play toy was wandering around looking for her child. She was stupid to use her dark powers and not realize she could be traced. Foolish girl, he thought. He was going to have some fun.

"Uhh…" Laiktu said, uncrossing his arms and pointing up, "Are you going to finish what you said or stare at the ceiling like someone struck your ass with lightning?"

That kid is getting on my last damn nerve! Sephiroth turned around to the two children and pointed at the table, "Sit down at the table, and don't move. If you do, I'll kill both of you. Got it?"

"I don't think you have the guts to ki--" Laiktu closed his mouth immediately as the cool tip of Sephiroth's no datchi touched his throat. The platinum haired boy gulped.

Kioko's sapphire eyes widened as she believed the man was going to kill her brother. Feeling some sort of strength in her body, she grabbed Laiktu's forearm and pulled him next to her body, wrapping her arms around him protectively.

"Don't you touch him you psycho maniac!" She growled. It was a rare occasion to see Kioko angry. Sephiroth glared at her, but did not react to her sudden boldness.

"Have it your way," He scoffed, "but heed my warning." And with that, he disappeared in a flash.

Kioko and Laiktu both breathed a sigh of relief.

-

Kaze was not only ticked off, but she had no idea where to carry on next. Adding to her frustration, her partner was knocked out cold, and she was forced to have contact with her brother from hell. Groaning, she slumped down next to the lift stop, underneath the Grand Hall. She buried her head into her knees.

"There's no fucking place to go…"

"My thoughts exactly."

Snapping her head up, she saw Sephiroth in her view, cruel satisfaction smeared over his face. Kaze leaped up, rearing to attack.

"I want my fucking kid, Sephiroth, or I'll slice your head off," she thundered as her KI rose dangerously. Sephiroth uttered a low chuckle.

"Silly girl. That is how I found you in the first place. You'd think that you would at least attempt to disguise it. But sadly, you were too dense to do so. Besides, it's not hard to sense your KI; it's as foul and rancid as you are."

Kaze growled as her body was illuminated an inky black aura. Sephiroth unsheathed his no datchi.

"You may have the dark arts on your side girl, but you won't beat me."

With a cry, Kaze leaped forward, missing as she tried to land a right punch onto Sephiroth's jaw. He vanished seconds before she could reach him. Reappearing behind her, he delivered a good kick in the small of her back, sending her face forward into the ground.

"You must move quicker than that to have an inkling of beating me," he jeered, as he pointed his no datchi directly at Kaze's head. At the last second, Kaze rolled around on her back, as Sephiroth's no datchi splintered the patch of ground she laid on seconds ago.

"I will win," Kaze said determinedly as she leaped to her feet and charged for Sephiroth again.

-

"Not only were you rude to me, Cloud, but you were completely horrible to your own sister!"

"I told you before, our relation is by blood only."

"Regardless, that is not how you treat someone, kin or not!"

"I treat everyone else like that and have yet to hear of a complaint."

"Honestly, do you ever act your age?"

"Do you ever stop nagging?"

Aerith howled in exasperation at Cloud's insensitiveness. She had an urge to slap him, suppressed the feeling. Pacing back and forth a bit, she waited until she gathered her words.

"Cloud," she said as sweetly as she could in her irritation, "I know that you two have had… differences or what have you, but was it right to insult and scorn her?"

"You don't understand," he muttered.

"Because you never talk to me!" Aerith roared, making all in the small medical lab jump. "How am I supposed to know you, Cloud, when you shroud yourself in this big blanket of mystique!"

"It's my life and I'm entitled to not publicly share my affairs," he said sourly. Aerith momentarily looked appalled at Cloud's bitterness. Furious and losing all of her self-control, Aerith delivered a stinging slap to Cloud's cheek. Cloud showed no significance to it; he stood there as if made of stone.

"Go on and cope with your problems, then! Just to make it easier on us, remove yourself from existence period!" She stormed out, leaving an aghast Yuffie, a politely shocked Leon, and a callous looking Cloud. He did not mind at all the burning that Aerith's palm imprinted on his cheek.

Yuffie blew a long whistle, trying and failing to look like Aerith slapping people occurred on a regular basis. Leon attended back to Kairi as if nothing happened in the first place. Cloud stood there, staring blankly at the two.

"You gonna be okay, Cloud?" Yuffie asked, gawking at him as he stood still.

"Yuffie, if you want me to accidentally shove this flashlight up your eye, pay attention," Leon said. "He'll be okay."

Yuffie shrugged and focused her attention now on Kairi. Cloud stood there oddly for a while when he felt something sharply strong in the vicinity. Without a word, Cloud bolted through the door. Yuffie, being so easily distracted, followed him out of the door.

"Where's he going?" Yuffie asked, squinting to see in the distance.

"Obviously, he made up his mind about how he was going to kill Aerith," Leon said, still examining Kairi. Catching the horrified look on Yuffie's face, Leon assured her that it was a joke and that they still need to help Kairi.

-

Kaze's body crashed into the wall, causing it to crack underneath the weight of sheer force of Sephiroth's punch. The young woman didn't have time to recover before the ex-SOLDIER appeared in front of her, beating her mercifully. Kaze quickly regained some of her senses as she grabbed Sephiroth's right wrist and delivered a hard punch to his jaw. He was unfazed, though, and countered with a kick to Kaze's torso, causing the wall to finally give away. With one last punch, Kaze was sent flying out of the room and outside.

"You are pitiful, Kaze. You have grown soft over the peaceful years and your skills have diminished. What would your father say if he saw you now?" Sephiroth stepped out into the light, staring at the woman lying on the ground ten feet front him.

"Simple," Kaze whispered. She rolled over on her side and coughed up a little blood. Her palms face down on the ground, she hoisted herself up to stand on shaky legs. Ice blue eyes hardened as she wiped the blood from the corners or her mouth. She smirked and clinched her fists, "He would tell me to stop fucking around and kick your sorry, egotistical, silver headed ass!"

"Big words from such a little girl. You know, your son has the same problem. He doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut."

"You…will hold your tongue, or it will be cut off," Kaze said through gritted teeth. She unclenched her right fist, palm facing the ground. Her wrist popped to the right quickly as a small object shot out quickly from her sleeve. Her fingers tightened around the object as it grew in length. When it stopped, Kaze twirled her staff and slipped into a fighting stance. Her eyes narrowed and attention focused solely on Sephiroth.

Sephiroth yawned and held out his no datchi in front of him, smiling morbidly at Kaze, "Your stupid parlor tricks don't scare me, girl."

"I'll make you eat your words, asshole," The white headed said loudly.

"Tell me, Kaze. Do you think your precious son will start screaming when I tear the flesh off his body piece by piece?" Kaze closed her eyes and tried to block out the images running through her head. "But don't worry, I will save you a sliver." With that, Sephiroth let out a hair-raising cackle that further infuriated Kaze to her breaking point.

She let out a scream of rage and closed her eyes, her KI rising dangerously high. Sephiroth took a step back, but regained his cool. Maybe making her mad wasn't the best thing to do, but he knew that Kaze wouldn't rely too heavily on her dark powers. She wouldn't want to be taken under control, now would she? But he highly thought against it when Kaze reopened her eyes, which were now pure black.

"You son of a bitch, you so much as poke my son with that skimpy piece of metal you call a fucking sword, I'll make sure that I'll be the last thing you see before I send you to hell in a matchbox!" Kaze's body was engulfed in a black aura. Her waist length braid flew wildly behind her before the rubber band holding it together snapped, causing the white strands to scatter around her body. With fists clinched and teeth gritted, she summoned the needed power of darkness it would take to bring Sephiroth to his knees.

"FOOLISH GIRL!" Sephiroth flew at Kaze, but was knocked to the side by another body. He looked up at the intruder. "STRIFE! When the hell did you get here?"

Kaze stole a glance at the man who had knocked her opponent to the side. Her body started shaking uncontrollably as the color of her hair started blinking from white to black and her eyes blinking from black to ice blue. She was trying to resist being taken over, but the rage at seeing her brother arrive caused something else to snap inside of her. She let out a piercing scream before her will was shattered and her body was submitted to the darkness.

Both Cloud and Sephiroth looked up at stared in awe. Kaze's body was slowly but surely transforming. She sunk to her knees, screeching in pain like an Irish banshee. Medium sized, black-feathered, sharp looking wings protruded from her shoulder blades, finally unfolding and spreading around her. Her stark white hair, which was fanned around her morphed into black, the wind whipping it askew made her alarmingly haunting. Her normally icy blue eyes were now fully raven black. Her screaming had ceased now as she had fully converted into a demon like creature. She rose to her feet and turned to the men. Sephiroth's eyes widened in shock. Cloud was simply stunned. Levitating a few feet off of the ground and facing the horror struck gentlemen; she gave them a piercing glare.

"I'll kill…both of you…" Kaze whispered before she charged Cloud.

-

"I don't want any of this slop," Laiktu hissed as he tossed the bowl aside. It rocked dangerously on the edge of the table before finally falling and shattering to tiny pieces.

Kioko shared the same feelings, but just politely slid her bowl aside unlike her friend.

"At least he was kind enough to give us something to eat," Kioko pointed out.

"Kioko, we ate at least four hours ago, I don't think we're starving," Laiktu said sardonically.

The kids were left to their own doing since Sephiroth left over half an hour ago. Being reluctantly obedient, they had stayed in the kitchen as agreed, though boredom was seeping in fast for Laiktu. He could hardly contain himself without moving for more than thirty minutes.

"I'm bored," Laiktu said, not directing his statement to anyone. Kioko rolled her eyes. Making up his mind, he hopped off of his seat and pushed it back in. Kioko gasped loudly and followed suit, trying to stop Laiktu.

"Laiktu," Kioko moaned, "you know what that man said would happen if we move!" Agitated, he turned to face his white-faced companion.

"Kioko, he's probably a billion miles from here, what's he gonna do?" Kioko opened her mouth, ready to give Laiktu a lashing out, when it froze. Laiktu waited for her to say something, but she stood there, looking like a fish out of water. He waved a hand to her face, waving it back and forth a few times.

"Kioko, hello? Earth to dingbat? Hello?" She did not answer, let alone move an inch.

"Whatever," Laiktu said, turning around and slamming headlong into something. He reeled back and balled up his feet, preparing to attack. His eyes followed an adorned white belt to the waist on up. It was their captive, Ansem.

"Greetings, little ones. How was your meal?" He flashed them his alarming smile. Kioko let out a squeak, frozen with fear. Laiktu crossed his arms.

"It's you again," he said resentfully.

"It's needless to say that you've missed me," Ansem said, brushing past him to the middle of the room. He swept the room with his eyes a few times, squinting in curiosity.

"And where might Sephiroth be?" he said out loud, knowing the kids had no clue. But he soon figured out where his soldier disappeared to as he felt a woman's KI vibrating through him powerfully. He smiled cruelly.

She shall be with me soon, he thought.

"We don't know and we don't care," Laiktu bit out.

Ansem was just about to answer the boy's retort gladly when an unpleasant voice rang through the hall. Kioko and Laiktu did not recognize it since their short stay at the castle.

"ANSEM! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" Ansem looked displeased.

"Honestly, all of that racket is uncalled for."

The doors to the dinning hall burst open as two guards came in, holding tightly two men who were bound by their wrists. Laiktu and Kioko eyed the men who had great resemblance to their own. One had silvery, shoulder length locks that blended in with his aquamarine eyes that were hardened with anger. The other had wild, unruly chocolate brown hair, molded in spikes. His sapphire eyes glinted in anger like his other captive.

Ansem eagerly watched the children's expressions before turning his attention to the men "I should have known it was none other than you. Guards, explain."

"They just won't be still, sir," one of them grunted. "They tried to flee yet again."

"If these mother fuckers weren't holding me back, I swear I would tear your hide inside out, Ansem!" the one with the silver tresses bellowed.

Kioko exchanged a look with Laiktu. Why did that man sound oddly similar to her silvery white haired friend?

"Now, now," Ansem said, shaking a finger their way. "Not in front of the children."

They looked down at the kids for the first time, mirroring the same puzzled looks as the children.

"Laiktu, Kioko, may I introduce you to your new… house guests? Meet Riku and Sora."

The spiky haired gentleman roared. "Well, this is a damn good way to introduce us to children, in chains!"

Ansem ignored the one named Sora's words. "Boys, may I introduce you to Kioko and Laiktu, my grandson."

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Author's Note: I had intended to update Friday, but I didn't get to. GOMEN! I'm really sorry. So, how did y'all like Chapter 7? Very revealing, wasn't it? The best has YET to come! I can promise you that! I want to thank Silver-hair Angel and Meilin Rae for making me get off my lazy ass and finish this; although, Silver deserves a lot of credit for this fic. She's helped me out so much! Love ya sis! (See, this is why I don't put her on the reviewer's corner anymore.) I do intend to finish this up by the end of the month. So, it won't be much longer y'all! I'm usually going to update on Friday's, but I may update two or three times a week, if my classes aren't giving me too much trouble. Oh, Meilin has also posted an alternate ending to this fic. It's called Paradise. Do me a favor and check it out.

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Reviewer's Corner

Harry: Help is a long ways away, but it'll get there. Trust me.

Dimitri Plabato/Drake Dragon: You were the first person to actually figure it out before I posted! Congratulations! There's a lot more things to not expect in further chapters. Thank you for the wishing! I hope you had a Happy New Year!

light*hope: Profanity is another descriptive language. It makes things sound better. Tee hee. Just kidding. Thanks for the info! I'll remember that from now on. Kaze isn't dark, she's just misunderstood…somewhat.

Linear: I think I can say this for everyone, "You got your wish!" Sora and Riku are back in the action. Don't you just love Riku's mouth? I put a little more Sephiroth in here for you and RainWarriorPrincess-er--VixettaremIx, since you two said you liked him. Yes, the Laiktu and Kioko scenes are the best. Always make me smile when I'm writing them. I'm glad Kaze is one of your fav characters now. She's one helluva person to write and keep in character.

Sorafan: And you're another person who figured out a clue to chapter 6! *hugs you* And the other question should be obvious. ^_^

VixettaremIx: Go and change your penname on me, chica! ;_;. Cloud and Kaze's relationship is different for a reason, which will be brought up here soon. I'm glad you like Laiktu's mouth. He's just a cute kid with select words to back it up. Kaze has the attitude more so than Laiktu, but yes, he does have it as well. Oh, and unless I'm contacted via email or IM, this is the only way to talk with the fans. I think when people review, they should get credit at the end, ne?

Kintora: It's okay. I didn't mean to jump your case, which I hope I didn't. Silver-hair Angel has me defending yaoi now. Blame her! It's all her fault! Tee hee. But, if I do add a yaoi scene, which I don't know about yet, it won't be a full out lemon between the two. It won't be bad, just know that. lol.

Inuyashalvr9: I'm glad you liked both stories. It's great to hear feedback from the fans! ^_^ As for the comment on the yaoi thing, read Kintora's paragraph.

Fallenangelofdarkness: Glad you love the fic. I'm enjoying writing it!

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Next Chapter: Now that Kaze is under the control of darkness, what will happen to Cloud and Sephiroth? Will they be spared from her wrath or get the brakes beat off of them? And what about Ansem's sudden outburst? How will Laiktu and Kioko take to that? More importantly, what will Riku and Sora do? Stay tuned!

~~Winter Peacecraft-Yuy