Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Behind the Smoke Screen ❯ Discussion ( Chapter 6 )

Note to Disclaimers: I do not and never will own Kingdom Hearts 1, 2 or CoM so…please do NOT sue me. This is way beyond standard at this point, doncha think?

A/N: HA! Here is chapter 6! Same rules apply. There will continue to be boy/boy love (sorry all—it’s not the main pairing) and Mature themes (I.E. incase you haven’t noticed at this point, that means Rape, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Gangs, blah, blah, blah!) meaning NO LITTLE KIDS! I can’t stress that enough. Um…this chapter is bringing in a few new people, so bear with me. I hope I didn’t get them TOO out of character. I mean, they can’t stick completely to their layouts in the games cause that’d be…weird since there aren’t heartless and no hearts and nobodies, etc. Thanks. Please R&R. Enjoy.

Word coding: ' Thoughts' , "Speaking", Random flashbacks or other stuff, Everything else

:THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LINE BREAK HERE:

Discussion

“Good morning! Attorney Kosaka’s Office, this is Aerith speaking. How may I help you?”

Tifa rolled her eyes. “Hi, Aerith, it’s me, Tifa.”

“Tifa, hi! How are you?”

“Fine, thanks. Listen, I think I have a potential rape case and I need Attorney Kosaka to review the doctor’s report,” Tifa explained. “But we don’t have a police report yet so…”

“You need a police report though, you know that Tifa,” Aerith stressed over the phone, scolding though her voice sounded nothing like it. “Maybe you can get…maybe Cloud can do something…have you spoken to him about this yet?”

She blinked. “No, I haven’t yet…but I suppose I could give him a call. Hopefully those kids will come back…or…” she checked her clipboard. “She didn’t write down her phone number!”

Aerith could be heard laughing on the other end. “Oh, Tifa, I’m sure you can find her some other way. Just input the rest of her information. She’s bound to have a medical record somewhere! In fact—hold on. Just a minute, sir!” Tifa waited a few minutes. “Oh, I’m so sorry Tifa! I have to go. Mr. Kosaka needs me to show a client into the back! I’ll call you on my lunch break.”

There was the click of the phone and Aerith was gone. ‘Dammit…’ The long, jet black haired woman cursed under her breath as she shook her head. She was about to leave when she suddenly turned to the nurse in front of her. “Kisaragi, make a copy of this record. Then I want you to file it, and input this information into the database. Find this patient. I want to know everything we are allowed to know about her without breaking the confidentiality contract, understand?” The nurse nodded as Tifa let out a loud sigh. “Now…I think I’ll go have some breakfast.”

Yuffie Kisaragi, said nurse with assigned task, slumped in her chair. Tifa was like a slave driver sometimes but damned if she wasn’t excellent at her job. Aside from that, Yuffie was Tifa’s friend from way back when, the little circle of them staying connected throughout the years. And now she worked under her friend as one of the resident nurses while Tifa went on her merry way being a Ph.D. certified doctor. She used to see only children patients, having signed up for pediatrics when she first entered the field of medicine. But recently, meaning about four years prior, she’d opted for special cases while specializing in teens, which explained why she was seeing the young girl for possible rape. Yuffie glanced at the sheet. ‘Namine…hmm…that’s an uncommon name. If she’s in the database, she should come up right away.’ Sighing, she went about doing everything she’d been told to, her heart hammering in her chest. Twilight Town didn’t necessarily have a low crime rate but it wasn’t high either. Most of the time it was just gang violence, graffiti, robbery and occasional Domestic Violence situations that were referred to their hospital. The next town over, Traverse Town, was the town full of violence though hardly any of it had leaked over into Twilight Town.

They were somewhat opposites though they were connected by a bridge that joined the communities every so often, usually when the mayor had something to say—most of the time, it was complete and utter bullshit, too. ‘That jackass…he wouldn’t help either city if it meant he could still get re-elected scott-free.’ Mayor Ansem was the biggest liar and flake of a mayor, in Yuffie’s opinion. She couldn’t believe how he’d been re-elected but she figured it had a lot to do with the fact that all his people were on the election board. Snickering, she continued to search for Namine’s medical records, hoping that she found something—Tifa was a terror when not satisfied. Whatever the case, it’d been 10 minutes and she still had yet to see anything on the girl in their database. ‘This is really odd,’ she mused as she glanced at the girl’s record once again. ‘Namine, Namine…I could’ve sworn I’d heard that name before, at least once…’ She took another quick gander at the record and practically gagged. It said that the girl had been raped, in some way, by her step-father. ‘How disgusting…’ Yuffie had to hold the tears back as she remembered the image of the young girl walking by, sobbing and holding onto a boy, who appeared to be her boyfriend, as though he was her anchor to life. Otherwise, she might die.

Trying to shake the image proved futile as Yuffie poured over anything in their database that would resemble Namine’s name. Still, there was nothing. Letting out an angry shout, she slumped in her chair as the computer screen results revealed nothing helpful. Growling, she grabbed the record and headed in the direction Tifa had gone, determined to talk about it over breakfast. Immediately she spotted Tifa sitting in a corner table surrounded by papers, a large cup of coffee, a biscuit and some fruit. Yuffie shook her head; Tifa was a strange one. She dropped herself on the seat, unsurprised when Tifa did not look up, instead muttering a brief “hello” before going back to work. The younger woman simply laughed. “Man, Tifa, you haven’t changed since we were kids.”

“I was the older kid, remember?”

Yuffie snorted. “Yeah, yeah, so you remind me all the time. Anyway, I didn’t find anything.”

“Nothing?” Tifa looked annoyed.

“Nope! Zip, nada, blank, nothing! It seems she doesn’t exist here, not in this hospital,” Yuffie replied, waving the record around. “She’s gotta be from somewhere else.”

“But she’d have had to come to the doctor here at some point. She’s almost eighteen, and I’m sure she needs a yearly physical. She looked so fragile—she must be a regular patient,” Tifa argued lightly.

“Nope, she’s not. Not here, anyway,” Yuffie returned. “It is weird though. You would think…well, scratch that.”

“I think what?” Tifa put the paper she’d been browsing through upon the tabletop, suddenly interested in what Yuffie was saying. “Yes, go on Yuffie. I hate when you don’t finish sentences, you know that.”

Shrugging, the short, black haired woman slouched in her chair. “I’m simply suggesting we check the records at Traverse Town Hospital. It is the only other close hospital near here, not to mention that a lot of people go there before they come here. It just…seems like a good idea.”

The other woman laughed as she slapped Yuffie on the back. “Yuffie, you are a genius. Get on that right away.”

Yuffie groaned. “Indeed…me and my great ideas.” Tifa smiled. “Ok, I’m on it in ten. But first,” she took a chip from Tifa’s freshly opened bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos. Sighing contently, she leaned back in her chair. “I need some nourishment, slave driver.”

Tifa looked appalled. “I am so not a slave driver Yuff, you liar!” She threw a chip at her.

Yuffie caught it in her mouth, laughing once she’d swallowed it. “Yeah, that’s what you think. But I think some people would beg to differ.”

Chuckling, Tifa started recollecting the papers on the plywood table. “Whatever, you dork. Just finish eating because we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

:LINE BREAK:

Namine curled up on the bed, her eyes tired and body beyond sore as she waited for Axel to come in. He was supposed to be taking her to school today but had decided that it wasn’t a good idea. Roxas was in the kitchen making cocoa and her sister was no where in sight. She was somewhat relieved at this; Larxene on a rampage was a terrible thing. Marluxia, Demyx and Zexion were noticeable absent as well, though Demyx had called to say hello to her earlier that morning. She was just beginning to drift off again when Axel came in, a steaming cup of cocoa in his hands while Roxas lingered behind him with a box of tissues and a plate of warm chicken soup. She smiled, appreciating their effort but wanting nothing more than to take a scorching hot shower in hopes to remove the dirtiness she felt on her skin. After they placed the food on the table next to her makeshift bed, Axel left and Roxas stayed. As soon as the door clicked shut she turned away from her friend. He said nothing but she jumped when his hand touched her arm.

“Namine?”

She felt tears burn at her eyelids; she didn’t want anyone to touch her, not even Roxas. “I don’t…” her voice quivered heavily. “I can’t…please understand Roxas…I don’t…please don’t touch me.”

He frowned, worried. “Namine…I would never…I mean I’m not…” he was at a loss for words when she shook her head. “”Ok, I understand…I’ll leave you be, all right?” She nodded as he proceeded to leave. “Try to…get some sleep and we’ll take care of everything for school?” She nodded again. “Sleep well.”

Outside, Axel was busily arguing on the phone with Demyx who didn’t seem to want to put Larxene on the phone. Axel was winning, of course. The red-head was shouting furiously, waving a thick yellow pages book in his left hand while the other held the phone, which looked like it was going to break. Roxas let out a small chuckle as he returned to the kitchen to eat some of the leftover soup they’d made for Namine. After a long night of holding Namine and comforting her, he was tired and hungrier than he could remember. Axel had spent the night searching for attorneys and anyone who would be willing to take down Namine’s step-father. But every time he thought he’d found one, it would turn out that the person was good friends with the bastard. Roxas felt his eyes narrow as he spooned the last bit of soup out with a large ladle, almost spilling some; he realized his hand had been shaking the entire time—in anger. Brushing it off, he grabbed the nearest spoon and proceeded to join Axel, who was still shouting, on the couch to eat. Even if he didn’t like when Axel shouted he still wanted to be near his lover, especially after last night. In a way, he wasn’t sure what to do with himself after Namine had asked him to leave.

He was halfway through his soup by the time the pyromaniac slammed the phone down on the receiver, successfully breaking it. Axel let out a string of obscenities—he was going to have to buy a new phone or Larxene would slit his throat. Annoyed, he fell back onto the couch seething. He was vaguely brought back to reality when he heard Roxas slurping his soup next to him. Giving a half-hearted smile, he looked at his boyfriend, watching intently as Roxas ate until the blonde shot him an irritated look. Axel laughed. “Good morning.”

“Yeah, and what a fine morning it is,” Roxas replied with sarcasm. “What’s on the agenda?”

“Demyx and Zexion want us to retrieve Larxene.” Roxas raised a brow. “She’s trying to kill Marluxia.”

“And what is Marluxia doing?”

Axel smirked. “Matching or besting her in everything, from what it sounded like.” He leaned back, letting out a slow, deep breath. “I think she likes him.”

“I think she does too…when she has knives pressed at his throat, is making him bleed and causing him severe bodily harm.” Axel laughed and Roxas shook his head. “You think the weirdest things…you’re sick.”

“Hmm…and coincidentally, I’m all yours,” Axel answered as he looked at the curtain that hid them from the world. Had it been any other time, he knew Roxas would have shot back a witty, smart ass comment. But when nothing came he wasn’t surprised. Instead, he slipped his arms around Roxas, successfully surprising him and making his squeak. Once there, he buried his head in the blonde’s surprisingly fragrant hair. “Roxas…I would never let that happen to you. You’re my world, you fiery little asshole.”

And although it didn’t sound the most affectionate, Roxas couldn’t help but smile. Axel had an odd way of showing he cared but Roxas never misinterpreted or misunderstood it. He nodded, nestling in the taller man’s arms. “I know…I know, you damned pyromaniac.”

The two sat there in silence for a few minutes when suddenly the door burst open and Demyx came bolting in, wheezing and clutching something in his arms. Axel raised a brow. “Hey Demyx. Whatcha got there?”

“MY FUCKING KNIVES!”

Demyx made a mad dash for the bathroom, disappearing around the corner just as Larxene ran in with Marluxia and Zexion looking utterly bored behind her. Axel immediately noticed that Marluxia was limping a little; he snickered. “What happened to you, prissy boy?”

“She stabbed him in the leg with two knives,” Zexion answered as Marluxia let out a frustrated groan and shot them all a death glare. “Do you have a first aid kit around this dump?”

“My house is not a dump, you anti-social prick!” Larxene could be heard banging on the door but somehow it didn’t stop her from yelling at Zexion.

“I do not need a first aid kit; I’m fine,” Marluxia snapped as he fell onto the bean bag chair located by the TV. He sighed. “I need some water.” He was looking towards the kitchen when he caught sight of long, blonde hair. He suddenly remembered Namine. “What happened with the girl?”

Roxas blinked. “Namine? Oh…well…you see…”

“I’m fine, thank you,” came a timid whisper from the behind Axel and Roxas. Zexion nearly jumped out of his skin, or would have had he been any other person. Instead, he nodded. Marluxia just stared at the young girl, somewhat amazed at how she was still around after the incident. She could feel him staring, and she blushed. “Oh, I um…everything is…ok. I’ll just be going back to sleep now.” She turned to Roxas. “Thank you for the soup. It was very good, really.”

And then she was gone. She had very clearly blocked out the racket coming from the other end of the house, not caring to even mention it to the residents in the living room. When they heard her door click closed—though how they did over the racket caused by Larxene and Demyx was still a mystery—they resumed their original states with Marluxia peering at the puncture wounds in his legs. Zexion rolled his eyes as he went in search of the first aid kit that Axel neglected to provide. Meanwhile, Demyx and Larxene continued to argue while Larxene tried desperately to break down her own bathroom door, which Axel seemed to find amusing. Roxas buried his hands in his hair, his mind boggled as to how his friends could carry on such childish measures at such a crucially stressful time. Axel was too busy laughing at the two in the hallway to notice that Marluxia had grabbed a hold of the yellow pages and was using the pages to stop the bleeding of his cuts. He all but snorted when Axel gave him a horrendous look, having finally noticed this, and continued dabbing at the blood on his skin.

“What the fuck? Couldn’t you have asked for band-aids? We need that book to find an attorney for Namine, you jack ass!” Axel roared.

At that moment Zexion chose to walk in, rolling his eyes as he handed the first aid kit to Marluxia who accepted it graciously though he appeared disgruntled as well. “We did, you moron, but you were too busy being a five year old, as usual. Besides...have you even found any yet?”

Axel looked positively irate. “Well, fuck, no we haven’t. But still, Marluxia is being a jerk-off!”

“I am not, you gay asshole!” Marluxia fired back, annoyed as he dabbed at his cuts with the alcohol pads, not even flinching at the contact. “Man…how the hell do you put up with this shit all the time, Zexion?”

The lavender haired youth shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve learned to block it out, really.”

“You mean you ignore me?” Axel smirked as Zexion nodded. “Well, we’ll just have to fix that then, won’t we, you anti-social little bitch.”

“Cut it out Axel. It’s not a good time,” Roxas interjected as he stood up to put his bowl in the sink. Immediately the red head backed off, seething through his teeth as he played with his lighter and can of almost-empty hairspray. “Geez…can’t you guys be a little more mature? Namine was raped less than 12 hours ago. She’s having post traumatic syndrome, or whatever the hell it’s called. Don’t you think we should at least be good friends and give her some god-dammed, well deserved peace and quiet?” When no one said anything he rolled his eyes and walked towards his room. “You guys make me sick.”

Axel frowned as he heard the door slam from their end of the house. Sighing, he grabbed fistfuls of his hair and disappeared through the front door. “FUCK!”

Marluxia raised a brow as the red-head’s shout penetrated the windows and walls of the dilapidated house, even drowning out Larxene and Demyx, temporarily. “Does he do that a lot?”

“Only when Roxas gets upset with him.”

“Oh, so she hasn’t killed you yet, I see,” Zexion replied quietly when Demyx resurfaced looking better than he should have. “Where did she go?”

“Um…I gave her back her knives. I think she went to Namine’s room,” Demyx answered, somewhat relieved. “At least she’s not bothering me anymore.”

“Do you ever think with that thick skull of yours, Demyx? She shouldn’t be bothering Namine right now!” Axel had reappeared in the doorway for a split second before darting off towards Namine’s room. “DAMMIT!” There was a crash then a feral scream. “LARXENE, LEAVE HER ALONE! YOU’RE NOT HELPING!” Another shout and a yelp. “BITCH, THAT’S MY ARM! I AM GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!”

“NOT BEFORE I CUT OFF YOUR DICK, YOU ASS!” Larxene’s reply was furious as Axel dragged her down the stairs and back into the living room.

The occupants already in the room could only stare as they watched him drag her in, kunai sticking out of his arms and Larxene’s nails digging into the flesh by his collarbone. His teeth were clenched as he threw her on the couch, where she landed next to Zexion and settled down, hissing at everyone around her. After grabbing the kunai from his arm and tossing them on the ground, he stomped over to Marluxia, snatched up an alcohol pad and slapped it onto his own wounds, glaring at Larxene the entire time. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you fucking stupid? You know talking to Namine isn’t your strong point. Stop being an ass and let her be. She needs to fucking heal and you being around her NEVER helps, Larxene. Stop being so fucking selfish for once in your pathetic life!”

Larxene stopped hissing, her eyes widening. She shook with rage, her fingers curling dangerously around the remaining knives between her fingers. “Listen, you faggot, you know nothing about me or my life so don’t fucking judge me. And I am not pathetic, and neither is my life, and I’m not selfish. I let you stay here free of charge so don’t accuse me of stupid shit!” She laughed though everyone could see her eyes were beginning to glisten. “Don’t be so quick to talk about others when your life is just as pathetic Axel! If you don’t like it, get the fuck out! No one is making you stay around here.” She turned to leave. “Besides…I wasn’t kicked out because I was gay.”

He laughed maliciously. “Oh, that’s right, I almost forgot!” She blinked apprehensively. “No, you were just kicked out because you were a whore and gave it up to anyone who wanted a free ride!” He fired back, angrier than ever. At this, they both knew they’d gone too far. Axel would’ve been the first to step forward and apologize but Larxene had already fled, practically knocking the door of its hinges as she departed. Sighing again, this time heavier than before, Axel fell against the nearest wall, shaking his head. Marluxia, Demyx and Zexion, though still there, were forgotten. “What the fuck, what the fuck…WHAT THE FUCK?”

Silence reigned for about a minute until a soft voice broke it. “Axel, are you ok?”

He smiled weakly, not looking up. “Yeah, thanks for asking Namine.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry Larxene called you that. She didn’t really mean it…you’re still her best friend. She just…needs time to cope with this…more than me, I think.”

“I shouldn’t have called her that—she’s not a whore,” Axel replied.

“No, she isn’t a whore, and there isn’t anything wrong with you being gay…but it looks like I’m causing too much trouble being here,” Namine said, her eyes watering. “Maybe it’s better if I go. Larxene’s only trying to be my big sister…but I can’t be around her, not like this…tell Roxas I—”

“You can’t leave, Namine, you can’t!” Roxas emerged from his doorway. He quickly bolted over to her, enveloping her in a hug though she tried to break free, disgusted by the touch. “No, Namine! You have to stay here—this is where you belong! Larxene will get over it, and she’d want you to stay too! She just doesn’t know how to show it. We need you here, just like you need us. You’re not going to heal if you go back. And he’ll just hurt you again, and again, and again!” She tensed more, trying harder to break free. “No! I’m not letting you go. I won’t let him hurt you anymore. I’m your friend; I’ll never hurt you Namine, never. I just want you to be safe…and you have to try. You need a new start, and this could be it.”

“Roxas, I…” she trailed off as tears slipped from her eyes. She cowered, clutching his shirt as she sobbed. “I know…but it hurts…and I feel so dirty still…and your touch frightens me…but I know you’d never hurt me. I just…I feel so dirty…”

He smiled weakly as he smoothed her hair, ignoring the looks he was getting from the other people in the room. “You’re safe here Namine. You’re always safe here, with us, with me. I’m your best friend, remember? I’ll do anything for you.”

“I know,” she sobbed.

Axel shook his head, trying to process everything. “Listen, Namine, you have school tomorrow, don’t you?” She nodded. “You don’t have to go. I can call the school again and…”

“No, I have to go back. Roxas, Kairi and Sora will be there with me. I should be all right,” she said hesitantly. She looked at Roxas. “Will you…stay with me the whole day?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“I’ll…call the school and talk to the principal. Why don’t you go back with Roxas and get your clothes from the house. I doubt your bastard ass father is there right now. The maid called and told me he was on a business trip.” Axel motioned for them to leave as he picked up the phone. “I’ll have some more tea and soup ready for you when you get back, all right?” Both teens nodded and disappeared through the door and into the night. Rubbing his temples with his free hand, Axel searched through the papers for Namine’s school number. “Hey, Marluxia, go make Namine some soup and tea. She’s going to need it when she gets back.”

“Why the fuck do I have to do it?” He asked, annoyed.

“Because I said so, girly-man,” Axel shot back.

“Who died and made you the boss of my life?” Marluxia retorted nastily as he rose from the couch to move to the kitchen though he made no move to actually put anything on the stove to cook.

Demyx rolled his eyes. “I’ll do it.”

“That makes sense. YOU’RE the REAL girly-man around here,” Marluxia said, leaning back against the table.

“Haha Mar, you’re so funny I forgot to laugh,” Demyx spat sarcastically at his friend as he pulled out another can of chicken soup and a few bags of tea. “Zexion, could you put the water for the tea to boil in the kettle? I think we’re going to need more than just soup for Namine.”

“You’re so motherly when you want to be,” Axel said from where he was still searching for the High School’s number. Zexion quickly nodded, agreeing with the pyromaniac. Nevertheless he did as his boyfriend had kindly requested while Axel let out a triumphant shout. “Aha! I found it! Victory is mine!”

Marluxia rolled his eyes as he watched the display. It appeared he wasn’t doing anything so he made to leave when Axel suddenly called to him. “What the hell do you want?”

“Go find Larxene. She needs to come home or she’s going to do something we’ll all regret,” Axel replied.

“Like falling into a sewer drain? I highly doubt we’ll regret THAT,” The brown haired man answered grumpily. “And no, I am not going to look for that crazy bitch. She’s already tried to kill me numerous times.” Silence. “And why does it have to be me?”

“You’re not doing anything,” Axel answered, waving him away in irritation.

“I told you. It would’ve been better if you’d made the soup, dumbass,” Demyx said with a chuckle. “Now go get Larxene, Mar. I’m sure she’s just running around the mansion yard, probably throwing knives at things.”

“Wow…that makes me feel so much better you ass,” Marluxia said as he grabbed the doorknob to the backdoor.

“Good luck. Be careful,” Zexion whispered to him on the way out.

“Gee, fucking thanks.” The gratitude was drowned out by the slamming of the back door as Marluxia disappeared into the night. He growled in anger as he looked at the backyard—it was like a graveyard. The moon cast eerie shadows over the land, bouncing off ancient statues and the dew wet grass. Shaking his head, he slowly started a path straight into the yard, not able to really see where it ended because the yard was so big. The statues hid a lot from view and he had the feeling finding Larxene was going to take longer than it should, especially if she would not come willingly. ‘Yeah, I’ve known her for two days…and already I don’t think she’d come willingly, not ever,’ he mused as he glanced back and forth between the left and right sides of the area. He could hear the small ping of metal bouncing off of something, which he figured was concrete or marble, in the distance. He was sure it was Larxene and thus his thought was confirmed when he saw her at the far left end of the land, knives glinting in the moonlight as she threw them at a stone statue. Some stuck, feebly, while the rest had bounced off and landed on the floor in front of her angry figure. She hadn’t seemed to notice him for she was so angry, and so he proceeded to retrieve her. He was almost there when he was jerked backwards by something tearing through his coat. Seething, he pulled the sharp, shiny silver knife from his coat just as it embedded itself within the leather-like material. Tossing it to the floor, he brought this gaze up to meet that of Larxene’s.

She looked absolutely infuriated, her posture defensive and hostile as she clenched her fists—it appeared she’d run out of knives. He wondered how this was when she seemed to always have some magically endless supply at her fingertips. His thought was cut short when she suddenly slid backwards, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away from him. “What the hell do you want, you jerk? Did Axel send you to get me, like a little messenger boy?”

“Let’s get this straight, you crazy witch—I’m no one’s messenger boy,” Marluxia spat back as he continued walking towards her. He stopped once he’d reached her, only about four feet of space between them, which, in his opinion, was too close for comfort. Annoyed again, he too crossed his arms and stared at the space she seemed so preoccupied with observing. “What the hell are you doing, you savage nymph?”

She snorted, the sound unpleasant and unladylike but funny enough to break the entirely too tense mood that had settled between them. “I’m looking at that statue back there, jack ass.” She glanced at him, briefly. “What are you still doing out here? Waiting for something that is not going to happen? I am not coming inside with you. Tell Axel he can kiss my ass—I’m sick of him and his shit.”

He carefully rubbed his temples. “I said I’m not your messenger boy. If you want tell Axel that, then be my guest. That guys pisses me off, and so do you but—”

She spun around at this, her face malicious. “I’m not making you stay. Why don’t you both fucking leave my house? I don’t need you assholes in my life. Get the hell out already…go and do something with your lives.” She turned away again, her body stiff in the moon’s silver beams of light. “I don’t need any of you people bothering me anymore.”

At this, something in him snapped. Before he knew what he was doing he had reached out, his hands clasping onto her shoulders and spinning her around to face him. Her look was stunned. She was so stupefied that she didn’t have time to react violently. Instead, she went rigid in shock, her face clearly showing it, as he stepped closed, holding her firmly in his grip. “Listen up, I’m not here to deliver messages, and I didn’t necessarily choose to come here. I have my own reasons for being here, and personally, I’d rather not have to come fetch you whenever something goes wrong. If this is going to be a pattern, then I’ll gladly leave this dump you call your house. You’re not the only one with a past you don’t like and don’t want to remember. Everyone in the world had problems, so why don’t you try growing up?” She merely blinked, stupidly, and he rolled his eyes as he resumed his little speech. “What I’m saying is that you’re being immature. Your little sister was just raped less than 12 hours ago and here you are being insensitive and mean when she’s trying to find some comfort in this place.”

“Excuse me?” She still made no move to become violent so he continued.

“Your sister, you twit, was just RAPED. What part of that don’t you understand? Whatever happened in your past…you’ve just got to get over it, at least for now. Your little sister needs you. Axel was right. You need to stop being so selfish. What’s in the past is in the past. I don’t even know you but I can tell you have some growing up to do. So why don’t you grow up and let it go?” He let his hands fall from her shoulders as he turned to leave. Before he disappeared down the pathway, he threw a small smirk over his shoulder. “By the way…the shocked look suits you. It’s somewhat…dangerously attractive.”

She gasped, taking it all in, flustered. “What the hell?”

He heard her shout as he vanished around the corner of the nearest statue. He could hear her cursing loudly as he hid from sight, falling back against the statue. ‘Let it go…wow, Marluxia…why don’t you learn to take your own advice…’ He inhaled sharply. ‘Yeah…grow up…let it go.’

:LINEBREAK:

Tifa Lockhart waited patiently in the receptionist area of Attorney Kosaka’s office, trying to ignore the hum of the Zen waterfall at the corner of the counter. Aerith was nowhere in sight but the office was noisy nonetheless. She was about to bang her fist on the glossed wood countertop when Aerith suddenly reappeared, her demeanor pleasant and cheerful as usual. When she spotted Tifa, her smile only widened. “Tifa, I’m so glad you could make it! Mr. Kosaka is in the back waiting for us. Come on.”

Tifa glanced at Yuffie as the younger woman played with her pen and notepad, her mien questioning. Tifa nodded as they all proceeded to the back after Aerith locked the door and put the “out to lunch” sign on the knob. The back area was ominous with shockingly white painted walls and no decorations. Yuffie gave it all a disgusted look; Tifa frowned. Neither of them understood how an office could be so bare. Even hospitals were more exciting. However, Aerith didn’t seem the least bit bothered by this as they walked down the hall, the flower girl humming cheerfully. At the back, before they’d arrived, Yuffie and Tifa could make out the outline of a single oak wood door with cherry stained lining and a single doorbell to the side. Aerith pressed the mechanism and a small chime was heard. All was silent until a voice came from above, most likely on a well-hidden intercom—Yuffie’s imagination was running wild.

“Yes?” The voice was deep and booming in the empty hallway.

Aerith leaned over the door as a microphone slid out. This must have been normal, Tifa figured, as Aerith casually took the gadget and spoke into it. “Hi, Mr. Kosaka, they’re here. I have locked up the office. Is there anything more you would like me to do for now?”

“No, that will be all. Thank you.” There was a whirr-click sound like that of a camera and the door slowly opened. “Come in.”

Tifa and Yuffie both gave the door a skeptical look until they saw a desk appear and a swivel chair come into view, though the person had the chair turned around so that he couldn’t be seen. They stepped inside, gingerly taking their seats in the available chairs while Aerith closed the doors behind her. It was a mere moment until the chair swiveled around to reveal Attorney Kosaka. Yuffie almost fell out of her chair while Tifa simply nodded. Tifa had worked, indirectly, with Mr. Kosaka several times though she’d only met him once and he had been partially hidden from view. Yuffie had never seen him before and so she was shocked at how young and handsome he was in real life. His face was serious and there were no traces of a smile on his lips; he was positively debonair. Tifa rolled her eyes at her friends display, somewhat shocked and embarrassed that Yuffie couldn’t seem to control herself from drooling or looking like a giggly high school girl. Instead, Tifa extended her hand in his direction, trying to appear as professional as possible given Yuffie’s obvious flop.

“Good afternoon Mr. Kosaka. I am Dr. Tifa Lockhart, not sure if you remember me from previous cases. I called earlier to inquire about a Child Sexual Assault case. Aerith tells me you are the best, or she has in the past.”

He glanced at her hand for a moment before taking it in his own. “Charmed, really, Dr. Lockhart. And I am flattered.” He leaned back in his chair, eyeing her. “So…tell me more about this…case you’ve decided to bring to me. I hear from Aerith you are missing pieces and the survivor has not actually filed a police report of the incident.”

“No, she did not. Her friends brought her in last night around midnight. She’s only 17 and there are no records of her in our database,” Tifa replied. She watched as he leaned back in his chair, silver hair flawless as he nodded, still listening. “I do believe, though, that it is a valid case. However…there is a complication.” He looked particularly interested all of a sudden. “You see…the girl’s father…her friend told me, last night, that he is the man who runs KH International INC. I’m sure you’ve heard of him, right, Mr. Kosaka?”

“Sumitse? The business tycoon? Who hasn’t, Dr. Lockhart?”

She sighed. “Well, Aerith tells me you’re the only Attorney willing to take him on. He has so much money and power…we’re afraid the case will go straight to “closed” status if it gets to court. Well, if it gets past the DA anyway.”

He looked thoughtful, his green eyes staring at her hard. “Yes, this is a dilemma. Taking down someone like Sumitse will be extremely difficult. It will take a lot of cooperation from the survivor and her family as well as the hospital that is holding her records.” He drummed his fingertips on his desk. “Indeed…you present a good case here, Dr. Lockhart.” He reached for his phone. “Aerith, can you please get the necessary paperwork for this type of case? And let Strife’s superior know that the pinhead is going to be busy for quite some time. I’m calling the police department.”

“Right away, sir!” She said, saluting briefly before disappearing through a side door.

Mr. Kosaka turned back to her. “All right. I’ll take the case. In the meantime, Aerith will collect your numbers and information so that I may keep you updated. In any event, you should probably get back to work, right, Dr. Lockhart?”

She gaped. “That’s it? You’re willing to take him on just like that?” Even Yuffie was dumbfounded. “I don’t think you grasp the seriousness of this case, Mr. Kosaka. Did you miss the part where I said how much power and money this bastard has to his name? How many friends he might have all over?”

He smiled at her though it was somewhat eerie. “Oh, I think I do, Doctor. You see, you’re not the only one who wants to see that man burn in the fiery depths of hell. Aerith, please show them out. We shouldn’t keep the good doctor from her work. After all, there are many in need of a good, certified doctor.” Tifa opened her mouth to protest what she believed was mockery of her profession. However, as she was being ushered out, she heard him call to them. “Oh, and Dr. Lockhart, please, call me Sephiroth.”

She felt her cheeks burn. ‘Why that insufferable son of a bitch!’ She was all ready to break the steel door down when Aerith appeared again, smiling as usual. “Is he always that arrogant?”

Aerith giggled. “Well, Sephiroth is the best of the best! He’s more powerful than you think. Besides,” she giggled again. “He was just teasing you Tifa. He does really think you’re a good doctor. I mean, you’ve been published, remember? He reads the Twilight Town Tribunal, and I mean he reads the entire thing. He’s heard about your accomplishments.” She turned to Yuffie quickly. “And yours too, Yuff.” The younger woman blushed furiously. “You two are some of the top medical personnel that Twilight Town Hospital has ever had. So please don’t think he was making fun of you.”

Tifa grumbled. “Hmm…sounds like you two are awfully chummy. Does Cloud know about this?”

Aerith blushed. “No, it’s not like that. Cloud…Sephiroth and I were…playmates when we were little. Didn’t I already tell you that?”

“No,” Tifa replied, annoyed.

“You are so stubborn!” Aerith said as her brow knitted against its own accord. “Yes, we used to be playmates when we were little and Sephiroth, he…well, he liked me…and I’m not sure, sometimes, if he ever got over it but…I told him I liked Cloud.” Tifa looked skeptical. “Oh, stop! I’m in love with Cloud and I always have been, so stop harassing me about it!”

‘You weren’t the only one.’ Tifa waved her away as she dragged Yuffie towards the entrance. “Yeah, yeah…just keep me updated, all right? Thanks. Bye!”

Aerith could only clench her fists in annoyance as she let out a hiss. ‘Damn that Tifa…’

:LINE BREAK:

Cloud fiddled with his badge as his superior lectured him on the usage of sense in a hostile situation. Usually he was the one giving the lecture, but his most recent assignment hadn’t gone the way he’d planned and for once, he acted before he thought. Sighing inwardly, he waited for the lecture to be over so he could grab some late lunch. He was supposed to meet Aerith in ten minutes since Mr. Kosaka, thankfully, allowed her to eat out while the office was closed. He had pretty much tuned out everything his superior was saying, which was why when he was asked to respond, his answer was, “Yes, if that’s what you have to do. I accept.” He knew he was on auto-pilot at that point.

“Were you even listening, Strife?”

“Of course Ma’am,” Cloud answered, not really sure what she’d asked.

“Oh, were you? Well then, tell me Strife—because it really doesn’t seem like you’d let this go without a fight—you’re saying you don’t mind giving up your badge for the next two months?” She smirked when his face turned white.

“What? I never agreed to that!” He yelled.

“You just did, which proves you WEREN’T LISTENING!” She shouted. “I SHOULD take your badge away just for that, you idiot!”

“Superior Payne, no!” He quickly stuffed his badge into his pants. “Listen, can’t we talk about this later? I have to meet someone right now.”

“Your girlfriend, for lunch? Cloud, do I have to stress how important your job is?” Cloud shook his head. “Then don’t tell me stupid shit like that! I will have that badge in ten minutes, so help me…or I’ll—” The phone in her office suddenly rang loudly. Swearing, Payne picked it up. “Hello? Yes, this is she. Oh, hello Ms. Gainsborough. I apologize but we’re in a very important meeting and I cannot allow him to leave for—excuse me?” Silence followed for a few minutes but when Payne’s eyes narrowed, Cloud knew the worst had happened. “What? Tell that asshole he cannot go ordering people around, especially not me! Does he even remember who I am? He doesn’t? Tell him I’m the fucking head chief of the FBI and he cannot order me to give one of my—how dare he! Son of a bitch!” She was fuming so loudly that Cloud had to strain to not laugh as he noticed his fellow detectives and co-workers gathering around the office. “He’s going to what? FUCK HIM! TELL HIM THAT!” A few more minutes passed of her cussing into the phone before she slammed it on the receiver. She threw Cloud a begrudging look as she fell into her chair behind her desk. “Strife, get your gun and go down to weapons storage and exchange it for a damned Beretta. You’re not going to need that M-16 where you’re going. Tell Detective Yuna to give you clearance. Now get the hell out of my office. I don’t want to see you till this next case is done.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He silently saluted her before high tailing out of the tense room. He quickly passed all his co workers, not making eye contact until he reached his desk. Sitting across from him was his partner, Detective Yuna, smiling cheerfully as she looked at a file for a recent homicide case. “Yuna, do you know anything about a new case?”

She nodded. “The superior just informed me that you have a Sexual Assault case that was just called in. I think you were jus tin her office when it happened, weren’t you?”

Cloud blinked. “That’s my case? It’s just a Sexual Assault case? She made it sound like a homicide case with the way she was cussing out my girlfriend on the phone!”

“It’s a serious case, not JUST a Sexual Assault case. Sexual Assault cases are VERY serious Cloud,” Yuna snapped.

He put his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he replied as he fell into his own chair. “So what’s the big deal about this case?”

“Well, the rapist is supposedly some big shot, business tycoon—the head of KH International; ever heard of him?” She inquired.

Cloud nodded. “Sumitse or something? I don’t know his first name but…yeah; he’s supposedly really huge, really powerful.” He thought for a moment. “You’re right…I get it now. This is going to be a hard case. But why did she choose me to do it?”

Yuna chuckled. “Apparently someone requested you and demanded that you do it. Someone named Attorney Kosaka.”

The blonde haired man scowled. “Why that asshole…”

“Eh, get over it Strife. Kosaka’s saved your ass more times than I can count. In fact, he just saved your ass again, didn’t he?” She reached for her lunch; a box of chow mien. “Well, I’d say take it and run with it. Better that job then no work for two months, right?” Cloud’s scowl deepened as Yuna tossed his a car, which he caught between his fingers. “Anyway, here’s your clearance. See you in two months, Strife. Good luck.”

As he stood up to leave, he shook his head. “Gee, thanks Yuna. I’m going to need it.”

:LINE BREAK:

Sephiroth sighed as he rubbed his forehead, dropping his expensive briefcase onto his bed. Another long day at work meant, of course, more work for him; but the new case he’d received from Doctor Lockhart was going to be anything but easy. He already knew that when she’d mentioned the name Sumitse in his office. ‘What in the world was I thinking when I took a job as an Attorney?’ Sighing again, he sat down on his mattress, ignoring the fact that there were whip cream stains and ketchup all over the floor. He knew his brothers had been at it again, and he really hated them sometimes, especially after work. He swore they were completely infantile though two of them were in college and the other about to graduate high school. Readying himself for the impending battle, he opened the door just in time to catch the youngest run by; he quickly snatched him up by the collar of his leather jacket. Narrowing his eyes dangerously, Sephiroth brought his younger brother to eye level. “And just where do you think you’re running off to Kadaj?”

The young man smiled nervously, batting at his brother’s hands. “Nowhere. Is something wrong?”

“What kind of question is that, you twit? Just look at my bedroom!”

Kadaj immediately cowered. “It was Yazoo’s fault this time!”

“It was not, you little asshole!” Yazoo’s voice could be heard nearing them, presumably to defend his name from all accusations. “It was Loz’s fault and his, too!” He pointed at Kadaj. “I was at work until ten minutes ago!”

“Hey! I wasn’t here either. I was with mom!” Loz interjected, emerging from the bathroom with a magazine. “What the hell did you do Kadaj?” He peered inside their older brother's room and let out a whistle at the ketchup stains and whipped cream dripping from the bedspread. “Oh man…Seph’s going to kill you now!”

“My name is Sephiroth, Loz, you idiot. Don’t call me Seph,” came the irritated reply as he dropped Kadaj to the floor. He gave them all an angry look. “Clean it up. I want it gone in ten minutes when I get out of the shower.” Grabbing his towels, the silver haired man made his way towards the bathroom, his steps annoyed. Just as he was about to slam the door, he threw them a loathing look. “If it’s not done, then that is your allowance money for a week, Kadaj.” Yazoo and Loz laughed. “And as for you two, that means no living here for the next four. Move it.”

Their protests died in their throats when Sephiroth slammed the door. Kadaj stuck his tongue out at Yazoo as Loz punched the floor, hard. “Haha, losers. At least he can’t kick ME out of the house.”

“Oh yeah? But who’s to say we’re not going to kick your ass?” Loz asked as he reached for the youngest of the three/ Kadaj quickly hopped up ad ran to the backyard, his steps fast as he let out a shriek. Loz was dumbfounded for a moment before Yazoo hit him over the head. “Come back here you crybaby!”

From his position in the hallway, Yazoo let out a bitter yell. “Hey, why do I always have to clean up after you two fucking pinheads?” Bothered, he stomped to the kitchen, picked up a wet cloth and went about cleaning until his brother’s stopped fighting. He figured once they were done, Sephiroth would let him torture them, personally. Smiling maliciously, he began thinking of a good plan. ‘Oh, this is going to be great.’

Meanwhile, in the shower, Sephiroth let the water run over his nude form, relishing in the beads of water as they trickled down his skin in a soothing manner. His mind was trying desperately to relax but with his destructive brothers unsupervised during the day, he figured he might as well kiss his money and luxurious lifestyle goodbye. He hadn’t realized it until the week prior, but he’d already cleaned his bedspread at the dry cleaners 15 times in one week and had the carpet shampooed 25 times in one week. ‘God dammit Kadaj! Why’d mom have to leave you with me?’ His mom had pretty much abandoned Kadaj when he was about 14, and since then, Kadaj had been under his legal care. Loz and Yazoo had been older, but they were also in his care at one point. Once they were old enough he’d told them to go to college and to get jobs—he wouldn’t support them past 17 years old. However, with real estate prices at an all time high he understood why they needed to move back in with him. He had left their rooms completely untouched while they’d been gone; the thought of cleaning up after teenage boys disgusted him like no other.

Out of the three, Yazoo was his favorite, if he had to choose. Yazoo was more like him, cynical and clever. He liked to plan things out and take action; he was an intellectual, which is what Sephiroth liked. Loz was, more or less, an idiot in how he acted—he always acted then thought later. Kadaj was a smart ass little troublemaker, and to Sephiroth, it would never change. However, he knew all his brothers were smart. Then there was his step-brother, Riku. Riku and Kadaj were only a year apart and Riku was the child of an affair his father had right after Kadaj was born. However, when their mother left and their father died, Sephiroth became more involved in Riku’s life, even though Riku lived with his actual birth mother, who didn’t know if Riku living with Sephiroth was such a good idea. He had been insulted, at first, by her blatant denial of his skills as a guardian. But after living with his three blood brothers for a year he decided that she’d made the right decision. They kept in contact for Riku’s sake, and his little step-brother visited them once every other day. He usually came to the house after school with Yazoo and Loz, who treated him like a brother, not a half/step brother. However, today was an off day and Riku was probably with his best friend or a group of friends. Sephiroth didn’t think too much into it as he started shampooing his hair, which was becoming increasingly difficult with how long it had become in the past few months.

His mind kept drifting in and out of different trains of thought from the case to his brothers to their jobs to Dr. Lockhart to Aerith and then back to the case. Truth be told, he had never quite gotten over the whole Cloud and Aerith thing. When they were younger he had told her he liked her; but she refused him, denied him. She loved Cloud. ‘I don’t know what she sees in that idiot,’ he mused as he lathered the shampoo in his hair. ‘He’s such an idiot.’ Jealousy was one of his weak points, though he’d never admit it to anyone but himself. Sighing, he began washing his hair out, his thought returning to Dr. Lockhart. He’d worked with her a couple times before now, though indirectly, and he couldn’t seem to recall her being so fiery. It was endearing on her, especially since she was like Aerith; she looked so kind and gentle. But he knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Annoyed at where this was going, he quickly rinsed himself off, forgetting to condition his hair, grabbed his towel to dry off and threw the door open. He wasn’t surprised to find Yazoo grumpily putting the finishing touches on his room while Kadaj and Loz continued fighting in the back yard. As he passed Yazoo in the hallway he nodded his approval before slamming the door shut. Yazoo let an evil smirk place his lips as he started towards the back.

“Oh Loz, Kadaj, come here for a minute!” Both young men stopped arguing and fighting, turning towards the door as if they’d seen a ghost. Yazoo stood in the doorway, his smirk widening with each passing second as he lifted a finger, beckoning them to him. “Dear brothers, I thought you might like to…play a game.”

Kadaj let out a yelp as he wiggled free of Loz’s gasp. “Oh shit! Fuck that!”

A minute passed before Loz realized what was happening. Regaining sense, he made a mad dash after his younger brother. “Crap! Kadaj, wait for me! Don’t leave me with this psycho!”

Yazoo took off after them, laughing the whole time. “What’s the matter? Don’t cry Loz!”

Inside his room, Sephiroth put his earplugs in to block out the noise that would ensue. Quite used to this routine, he settled back into his bed, his glass of water and Sword Collecting Magazine right next to him. ‘Ah…nothing like peace and quiet after work.’

:Again, imagine said line break inserted here:

(Welpers, all! There is chapter 6. Still, not much else to say except there will still be new people coming in and out, and, hopefully, the time will come to reveal what happened in Marlu AND Larxy’s pasts. It just takes time so please don’t be discouraged! That’s all. Please R&R! Thank you soooooooooo much! Until next time!)

Sadistickunais