Pater Familias

Mira slept with me again. I curled up to that big, silky body, burying my nose in her neck. Her purring had force enough to shake the bed.

Yes, I would take one of her kittens. Fuck the no-pets rule in Sephiroth’s apartment building. I dared anyone to tell me I couldn’t have one of Mira’s offspring. As if she heard me, Mira made a chirruping sound. I smoothed the fur on her big face, feeling her coarse whiskers tickle my palm.

I felt improved now. The clock read four in the morning. Syvas had claimed I’d feel recovered by tomorrow, and tomorrow it was.

No more transformations. No more mutating when angry. I felt thankful for that. I found it inconvenient to never let go of my temper.

My brain un-fogged, I wondered if I’d really dreamed Valentine’s visit or if he’d really come here. Why would he offer me the chance to see Lucretia? He would have had to track me down to do it, too, not that I didn’t think him capable of it. I didn’t think I could make up such an honest representation of Valentine in my head, but the whole thing seemed very odd. Mira had not reacted to his presence, which made me think of two possibilities. Either she sensed him unthreatening or he hadn’t really come here.

I really had no desire to see my ex-wife, especially under the conditions Valentine described. I’d imagined her peacefully dead, not imprisoned. Knowing her, she’d put herself prisoner on purpose. She’d always possessed an overdeveloped sense of guilt. She and Valentine were a regular meeting of the minds that way. I imagined she wept tears for me while Valentine fucked a new hole in her.

I’d forgiven her, though. Now, after having dealt with the ex-Turk personally a few times, I could see why she’d given in to him. At least I’d fallen to a man I couldn’t compete with. If she’d found another scientist, a colleague to fuck, I know I’d have killed her.

If Sakura ever treated me the way Lucretia had, I’d skip to the chase and kill myself. I couldn’t bear another betrayal.

I didn’t know I cried until I felt the tear sliding down my face. Disgusted, I wiped it away. Tears did no good. I’d cried plenty during my healing process. Yes, they helped then, not now. Crying now meant I wallowed in bitterness. Crying now meant even after all this time Lucretia still had the power to hurt me.

My door eased open. I watched a familiar, slender and feminine form slip into the room. I couldn’t help a sigh of relief as I felt Aerith lie against my back. Her arms went around me. She said nothing but she didn’t need to speak.

Mira got up. She curled around my suitcase and her kittens crowded her.

Another figure entered my room. Sephiroth. He took my other side. The two held me, joining their hands together over my chest. How they’d known of my distress I couldn’t figure. I didn’t think Sephiroth could hear my thoughts again yet.

It didn’t matter. They knew, and they were willing to help me.

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Only Mira and I occupied the bed when I awoke. I patted her a few moments, enjoying the tactile stimulation of her soft fur. Then, I got up with the intention of grabbing fresh clothes. Finding the kittens still in my suitcase, I squatted to look at them. They all seemed identical.

They were cute. It almost disgusted me how cute I found them. There they slept, all balled up in knots around each other, tails tucked into noses and random paws in the air. I tapped a kitten’s foot, watching it twitch and the claws come out briefly. Another kitten’s tail wrapped around my wrist and hung on. I pulled, dislodging the tiny beast. It slumbered on, hanging from my wrist like a little monkey. Charmed, I cradled it in both hands and looked at its rounded belly. Instead of spots, it had a white stripe.

I wanted this one. Any creature that reached for me in sleep automatically had my number. I tucked it into my breast pocket and left, unwilling to disturb the other babies.

It felt like I stood in front of the toilet for an hour. Wondering if Syvas’ potions had diuretic effects, I turned my attention to the mirror. I already needed to shave again. I made quick work of it. Afterwards I wet my hair and towel dried it. I didn’t feel like bathing again so soon, but I needed the freshening.

Barefoot, shirt un-tucked and carrying the cat, I meandered toward the kitchen. Only Syvas stood there, busily preparing breakfast for the rest of the lazy household. I knew he tended to arise before dawn.

He saw me and smiled. “How do you feel?” he asked.

“Like a new man,” I answered truthfully. “Thank you, Syvas.” I took down an iron skillet and oiled it, intending to help him. Some of my best memories involved helping Syvas cook. He’d taught me my way around a kitchen. Mother certainly would have never spent the time teaching us anything.

“You’re welcome, Kanie.” Syvas saw the bulge in my shirt pocket and grinned. “Pick one?”

“Yes. May I have her?”

Syvas dipped into my pocket and took the slumbering cat in his hands. “You picked the only female,” he said, chuckling. “She won’t be as big as her mother; Mira mated with a clatha cat.” He stroked her little stripe briefly, smiling when she yawned. “They’re very loyal, very cunning animals, Kanie. And, since I dosed Mira with an intelligence potion, her babies are unusually smart as well.” He put the cat back in my pocket, turning to wash his hands. “Of course you may have her. I think a cat will do you good.”

I rummaged around until I found some onions. I began to peel and chop, intending to fry them with the eggs. “Are the cats nocturnal?”

“Mira tends to be, but her children probably won’t follow any set time to wake; clatha cats wander at all hours.”

The kitten slept all through breakfast preparation. Mindful of her, I helped Syvas cook, and before long, my son stumbled in. Sephiroth plopped down, silver hair awry. Aerith, looking fresh and wide awake, sat beside him. Sakura, yawning and listing from side to side, grabbed the back of a chair and simply held on as if it were a lifeline.

“Here, Kanie,” Syvas said as we finished cooking. He took a long dishcloth, knotted it, and slung it around my neck. He scooped the kitten out, settled her in the sling and smiled at me. “Bring back memories?”

I glanced at my son. “Actually, yes,” I said. “But, he weighed more.”

Sephiroth straightened and looked at us closely. His blue-green eyes glittered from across the room. You carried me like that? He asked silently.

I carried you like this until you were able to walk, yes, I answered. It works very well. They probably make things just for this purpose now, but at the time it seemed a very odd and progressive practice. I carried plates to the table, keeping his eyes as I handed out food. Maybe you’ll remember now that you know.

“It looks practical,” he said aloud.

Aerith glanced between us. “It is,” she said. “I’ve already bought two of them for us,” she went on, looking happy. “Plus, one that goes on the back. I’m sure Rai will enjoy seeing where he’s going at times.” She put a hand on her belly. “I didn’t expect you’d want to carry him to work with you, though.”

“I couldn’t,” Sephiroth replied, sounding as if he regretted that. “He’ll need you more than me.”

Yes, I enforced. Don’t make your son drink out of a bottle like you did.

Syvas entered my vision. “I must interrupt,” he said. “I realize telepathic communication is for privacy, but I’ve raised more children than anyone in this room.” He put his hand on Aerith’s head and looked down upon her, a gentle light in his eyes. “It’s perfectly fine to express milk and send your son to work with daddy every so often. A new mother needs a break every so often, and a child needs both parents.” He patted her just like I often did. “Pick days where my nephew will be stuck in the office. Rai will become a wonderful distraction from the perfidious evil of paperwork.”

“You’re telepathic too?” Sephiroth asked.

Syvas grinned. “Not all of your gifts are from Jenova, boy,” he replied.

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“You have a fascinating family,” Sakura said, joining me once again at the goldfish pond. My kitten wandered around at our feet, watching the fish with big, golden eyes. “Seriously,” she went on. “You’re all gifted, intelligent and very brave.”

Warmed, I put my arm around her. “Thank you, Sakura,” I murmured. “I’m glad you came with me and took the chance to know them more intimately.”

She laughed softly. “I came for so many reasons,” she confessed. “Your brother is just as interesting as you are, in his own way. Your son is more than a general and a public figure. Your daughter-in-law is now my best friend.” She edged closer, putting her head on my shoulder. “You make me feel like part of your family already.”

“I never wanted to exclude you, my dear.” I leaned down and picked up my cat, settling her in Sakura’s lap. “Help me name this little ball of black.”

“Hmmm,” she murmured. The kitten climbed up her shirt and walked around the back of her neck, purring loudly enough for us to hear her. “She’s so inquisitive.”

“I noticed.” I put my arm closer to Sakura’s neck, allowing the cat to walk my elbow to my shoulder.

“How about Inquira?” Sakura giggled. “You can shorten it to ink, which is what she looks like.”

My kitten made the distinctive, chirruping sound her mother always made, just in miniature. I smiled. “Inquira it is,” I allowed. “It suits her.”

Sakura leaned against me for a few long and blissful moments. I enjoyed feeling like a protector again. No, nothing lay in wait for her here, but the illusion of guardianship nonetheless settled upon me. I was a sucker for traditional roles. In my mind, she should need me to look after her. Such need validated me.

“I told Syvas I couldn’t take one of his kitties,” she said suddenly. “I didn’t think it fair to submit a kitten to my lifestyle. You’re different; you have a stable life.”

“You make that sound like a vow,” she replied.

“I do aver that you will have a life without running.” I met her eyes, making her keep my gaze. “Forget those entitled, persistent, swinging cocks that pursue you, Sakura. I won’t let them drag you off to match-made matrimony.”

She shivered. “Hojo, how will you stop them?”

I smiled. “Do you want the answer, truly?”

She paused. Light gleamed in her stormy gaze. “No, I don’t believe I do,” she said after a moment.