Abuse

Thanks to AyaFujimiya (Hehe, here´s the next chapter. I hope the suspense didn´t kill you;) And thanks fo telling me that I manage to keep everyone IC, that´s a great compliment I think!) and Elenna (I´m glad you don´t really hate me and still like the story :) You´ll see who the father is in the next minute!) for reviewing!!!


4

With her mouth hanging open, she stared wide eyed at the man behind Yazoo. Suddenly she asked herself how she could have been so dumb. It had been obvious, hadn’t it?!

Instead of the fat, old, bald pervert, she saw herself confronted with a tall man in his mid twenties. And the last thing he was, was fat and bald. She had seen him uncountable times before. And like nearly every woman on the planet she had desired him, freaked out when he was on TV and had her secret dreams about candle light dinners and romantic beach walks. This just wasn’t happening…

It was.


The great General Sephiroth, idol of millions of people slowly walked towards her, smiling his heart breaking smile, his impressive long silver hair waving behind him.
Elena shut her mouth and opened it, just to shut it again. She was totally caught of guard. She didn’t know what to say nor what to do. Everything was spinning around and when he reached out to shake her hand, her world went black.

“Can you hear me?” The voice was muffled and she had some difficulties to understand it.
Something cool was spread into her face and with a moan she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a blur of silver and green, but after a while she managed to focus her view. Elena looked into two wonderful, emerald cat eyes, which where full of concern and belonged to the man she had been secretly in love with since the first time she had seen him. But then, who wasn´t?

She suddenly noticed his strong arms around her shoulders, holding her, stopping her from falling to the hard ground. How often had she imagined this in her lonely nights when it was just her and her thoughts…

Now it was real and for a moment she was the luckiest woman on the planet. That was, until she remembered how it had come to the situation.

Struggling, she broke free and sat on the cold floor, still a bit confused and disorientated.

“I suppose she’s alright now,” someone stated sarcastically and she recognised this someone tobe Yazoo, who leaned against the table, legs and arms crossed. “I told you it wouldn’t be a good idea,” he added into his fathers direction.

“Yes. You have been right. Like always. But now it happened and cannot be made undone. I would appreciate it if you would get a glass of water for our guest, ” Sephiroth replied politely, looking up from his crouched position. Without complaining this time Yazoo left them and the general threw his attention back at Elena. “Shall I help you up?”

“No, no. I’m fine, thanks.” She hurried to jump to her feet and regretted it soon after. Her vision blurred again and she grabbed the table for support.

“You better sit down,” Sephiroth advised with this commanding voice of his, and before she even could think about it she sat on a chair.

“I apologise for this. We should have prepared you.” He sat down in front of her, looking apologetic.

“No, really. I am sorry for causing you trouble. Normally I’m not one to fall unconscious.” She shock her head and looked down at her still shaking hands.

“Don´t worry. That happens constantly. I’m used to it.” He gave her a small, reassuring smile, Elena nearly lost herself in, as a glass of water blocked her view and was set down in front of her.

“Thank you.” She looked up at Yazoo gratefully, who just gave her a short nod. He still seemed to be tense and worried, albeit not so much about her but what she might could tell his father…

Elena took a big sip of her water. So here she was. Sitting at a table with the great general. The paedophile, sadistic general. This thought was so absurd she nearly choked.
This just couldn’t be. Somehow they must have made a mistake. There had to be a logical explanation for all of this. She begged that there was one.

Sephiroth just sat patiently on his chair, waiting for her to start a conversation. He didn’t look the least bit like a monster, on the contrary his features were relaxed and soft, his eyes friendly.

“Do you feel better now?”

“Yes, thank you,” Elena managed to say with a harsh voice and took another sip.

“May you tell me now why you wanted to talk to me?”

“I… yes, I…” she stuttered, blushing. What was she going to do now? She had no idea what to tell him!

“Just relax, take a deep breath and try again,” the general told her in a way one would talk to a child, but it worked. After taking a deep breath an idea hit her and she spoke again. “It is about Kadaj.”

Was it just the dimming light outside or did his view darken?

“What is it with Kadaj? Did he get himself into trouble?” It must have been the light. His voice was concerned and soothing, holding no signs that he was angry.
Nevertheless she hurried to deny this by shaking her head. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Yazoo clutching his jaw.

“No, I’m just a bit worried because… Well it seems he has a problem to make friends. After two months he still isolates himself and I thought it might help him to visit one of our school clubs. So his classmates and he can get along better.”

Before Sephiroth had the chance to answer, their attention was captured by a harsh choking sound. Their heads turned around to watch Yazoo who was hanging next to the sink, gasping for air. His eyes rolled wildly until they could only see the white, and a second later he fell to the ground, squirming in agony, trying to breath.

Elena was too shocked by the sudden interruption, but the general reacted so fast she didn´t even see him move.

Cradling the squirming body in his arms he fingered something out of his pocket, all the time whispering reassuring words and stroking over the boy´s head. His face was nearly as pale as his sons when he carefully inserted a white, little pill into his mouth.

“Sh, kitten, it´s over soon. I´m here…” He continued stroking the shivering boy´s head, softly pulling sweat wet hair out of his face, and rocking for and back a bit, to calm the youth down.

Elena, who had jumped from her seat when she had heard the unexpected noise, sat down heavily, taking a deep breath on her own. So he really was ill. And it seemed to be bad.
Seeing how lovingly and worriedly Sephiroth treated his child, noticing the fear in his eyes made her shaking her head in disbelief. This man wouldn´t hurt Yazoo. Therefore they must have made a mistake.

“Excuse me.”

Elena nodded and watched the general carrying Yazoo, whose breathing became regular again, out of the kitchen.

She drank the rest of her water and waited nearly 20 minutes for his return. Finally he came back, looking tired but relieved.

“How is he?”

“Better,” he answered shortly, pouring himself a glass of water and drinking it with his back turned towards her.

“I think, I better go now…” She grabbed her bag and left the table, when he sat down the glass and came after her.

“Wait, I´ll drive you home.”

“Oh no, that´s not necessary, I can walk on my own! Surely you have more important things to do-”

“I insist. It is already dark outside and the streets are not save these days. Above all for a young woman.”

Giving in, she followed him through the hall and outside to a black limousine. It was just impossible to resist him. And honestly, she didn´t really want to. First of, it was dangerous in the city, secondly she didn´t know the way back and lastly there were worse things than getting driven home by the great general.

She sat next to him and he started the engine.

Most of the way they drove without talking, Yazoo´s attack still had its impact on both of them. Elena had been convinced that the boy had lied and was perfectly fine but the events of the evening had told her otherwise.

She cleared her throat and started the conversation she had to made. “Does he get these attacks often?”

Not taking his eyes away from the empty street Sephiroth sighed. “It´s getting worse lately. Especially when something discomposes him.”

“I´m asking, because neither of us teachers knew he is that ill. And if he´s getting an attack at school, we won´t be able to help him…”

“The school doctor is informed. But you are right, the risk is too high. I just did not want him to feel… weak and different. You know, he is such a proud person…His classmates should not know, he has enough problems being the youngest anyway.”

“I see…” Elena didn´t know what else to say and they fell silent again. Outside the dark houses and few people passed by. At least it had stopped raining. A half moon spend the only, poor light. Electricity was a luxury these days, expensive, and everybody tried to use as little light as possible. The nights had become dark again, the former busy nightlife had been reduced to a minimum.

“Did Kadaj show you around the house?” The question came out so unexpected that she was about to tell the truth,when the young teacher remembered her promise.
She wet her lips. “Not much. Only the entrance and the kitchen.”

“Mh.”

“But what I saw was impressive. A very unique style. And everything was so incredible clean…” She couldn´t resist, but to mention this.

“Yes. That´s the boys work.”

His frankness really surprised her. Making an innocent face she asked “You mean they clean it? But don´t you have enough money to pay someone to do that?”

He laughed. “Of course I have. But that is not the point. They have to learn what work really is. They shall not forget where we come from. I don´t want them to become arrogant, spoiled brats, not knowing what to do with their money but taking drugs. We are privileged and they should make this experience on their own. They have to learn that there is another life and they shall respect working people. I have seen enough of those upper class kids, who command around others, looking down on them and feeling like something better. They are not. When they have learned this lesson I will have no problem to offer them whatever I can. I know they do not like it and think I want to torture them, but I hope some day they will understand.”

“Oh.” She could have smacked herself for thinking he was a sadistic, avaricious pervert. Ashamed, she glanced outside the window.

“You have to drive right. It´s the second house on the left.”

He slowly took the corner and finally stopped in front of her apartment.

“Here we are. Before you leave I want you to do me a favour.”

She looked up at him in surprise. Sephiroth had turned his head towards her and met her gaze intensively. Suddenly Elena knew that she would do everything he´d request from her.

“Yes?” Elena breathed, leaving the car door half open.

“I want you to not tell anyone about who the boys father is. I don´t want them to have advantages, or maybe disadvantages at school. No comments of my identity to anyone.”

“Ok…” Gods, he was so beautiful…

Flashing her a thankful smile he nodded, then he took something out of his pocket and put it into her sweating hand. “This is my number. If there are any problems with one of the boys don´t hesitate to call me, alright?”

Her heart forgot to pound for nearly a second. “Y-yes, of course. You can count on me,” she stuttered and hastily put the card into her bag.

“Thank you. Well, I don´t want to steal more of your time. Good night.”

“Good night.”

With shaking legs, Elena left the car, shut the door and waved her hands for a good bye. She watched the general wheeling the car and driving away. Incredibly relieved that her worries were entirley unfounded and clutching her bag and the precious in it to her chest tightly, she made her way up to the apartment.

*

Kadaj heard the car stopping in front of the mansion he refused to call his ´home´. Shortly after, the sound of heavy footsteps followed and the way they angrily stomped up the stairs told him it wasn´t over yet.

They promised pain.

Shivering he crawled deeper under the blanket, a poor attempt to hide from what surely was to come and knowing that there was no escape.

Sephiroth was pissed.

Clinging to his teddy bear -the only toy he had been allowed to keep and the last remaining thing of their old life apart from his memories- he waited.

Next to him Loz snorted. Lucky, dumb Loz.

Kadaj almost envied him for being so oblivious and soft headed,for just ignoring the trouble and sleep. But since his dreams had turned into nightmares that wasn´t much of an option either… Although right now he would have rather coped with some imaginary monster than the real one.

The door opened with a shrieking sound.

Peeking out fearfully from under his pillow, Kadaj sighed in relief when he noticed the slim figure of his brother instead of that of his punisher.

“He wants to see you.” Yazoo tilted his head, then left the room to wait outside.
Slowly Kadaj got out of his bed, not too thrilled to see his father as soon as possible. Since it was dark he didn´t see where he was going and promptly tripped over something, falling to the cold ground.

Rubbing his poor ass, Kadaj got to his feet and slowly walked out of the closet. His butt wouldn´t be the only thing to hurt at the end of the night…

Yazoo turned around and walked to the cellar door with long strides, not waiting for his little brother to follow. Kadaj had some difficulties to catch up, but finally jogged next to the long haired one.

“Is he…very angry?” Fearful eyes looked up, but went unnoticed. Yazoo held his gaze straight forward, avoiding his little brother´s troubled and pale face.

“Yes.”

Kadaj bit his lip and walked a bit slower. As if this would help to get away from Sephiroths wrath… On the contrary, the longer he had to wait to satisfy his sadistic needs, the messier it would get. And this was a lesson Kadaj had learned on his own.
Eventually they reached the heavy wooden doors of the salon and the brothers came to a halt.

“This time you are on your own. You know the rules. There is nothing I can do.”
Surprised Kadaj looked at his brother again, who seemed to find it incredibly interesting to count the tiles on the ground.

“It´s not fair,” the younger pressed through gritted teeth.

“Life never is.”

With this, Yazoo knocked on the door, his face an expressionless mask. When had he started to become so… indifferent? There was no time for Kadaj to consider, since the cold voice of his father ordered them to enter.

With shaking legs, the younger followed the older, sneaking into the room and making himself as small as possible.

He didn´t dare to look up, or have the courage to look straight into Sephiroth´s face. He had done this once and immediately regretted it. Best was to just make a guilty face and wait until it was over…

“You can leave now. Wait upstairs. I won´t take long.” This nearly softly spoken words were obviously not addressed to him but still, the first moment Kadaj was incredibly relieved.

´I won´t take long´… This sounded promising. But the next moment he realised that the shorter his punishment went, the longer Yazoo´s would be…

Clenching his fists he stared at the ground, listening to the sound of the shutting door. Now it was only him and his father.

“Look at me.” The cold command forced him to automatically lift his gaze. Sephiroth had this impact on nearly everyone. It was just impossible to refuse his orders.

The silver haired man sat in a large, comfortable chair, casually holding a glass with a dark golden liquid and generally giving a relaxed impression. But Kadaj knew better. And a short look into the general´s icy green orbs confirmed his fears.

“Well.” Sephiroth took a sip from his glass, never letting his eyes from his victim. “What do you have to say to your defence?”

Kadaj´s mouth was filled with a bitter liquid. He gulped and mumbled “I…”

“I cannot hear you. Stand straight,” the general interrupted him rudely and watched with satisfaction how the boy flinched. Then Kadaj gathered himself together, straightened, cleared his throat and started in an almost provoking loud tone. “Sir, I have to say that it wasn´t my faul-”

The first hit connected with his stomach and Kadaj thought the world had come to an end. A fire exploded deep in his guts, all air was knocked out of him and his legs gave in.

Holding his stomach he rolled over to the side, eyes squeezed shut and tried very hard to not vomit on the expensive carpet. That would only give the general another reason for more punches. Not that he would have needed any.

“Not your fault, mh?” Another punch, this time on his back, made the boy scream. “Tell me Kadaj, whose fault was it?” The general´s voice was calm, friendly.

Heavy boots seemed to crush every bone in his body, that only consisted of agony by now. He wasn´t able to answer, even if he had been physically, he couldn´t have brought himself to do so. Because there was no right answer. Whatever he said wouldn´t matter. Sephiroth wouldn´t listen anyway. It would only lead to more punishment.

“Answer.” The blows stopped abruptly, and two green, merciless eyes took their time to watch the whimpering, crying boy and to enjoy his agony.

Finally, Kadaj managed a “The teachers” through sobs, but he cried out again when his hair was roughly gripped and his head jerked back. Sephiroth slapped him hard, VERY hard in the face.

The boy´s eyes went wide. Not only from the pain that exploded on his cheek and the ringing in his ears. Sephiroth never EVER had hurt him where it could be seen! Either he was really angry or had lost control … and Kadaj wouldn´t make it to the other day.

“Please it..it was my fault, just my fault, please don´t kill me… I won- won´t do it again, please…”

A sadistic smile crept over the general´s fair face, which turned into a disgusted snarl when the child´s bladder emptied itself, not standing the pressure of fear any longer.

He smashed the boy´s head to the ground, and left the room without another look at his unconscious child. If he couldn´t scream there was no pleasure in torturing him and Sephiroth had other things to do. Things that promised to be much more… fun.
With a small smile he walked up the stairs.

*

Kadaj groaned. Every bone in his fragile, little body hurt and screamed.

But at least he was alive…

Forcing his eyes open, he took a short look at his surroundings. He was in his bed in the cellar?

“Wake up, brat.” Someone threw him not too gently out of his bed. The boy growled. Loz stood next to him, already clad in his school uniform and frowned. “Would you get ya ass moved now, or what? I didn´t drag you down here and cleaned you up for you to get beaten up again.”

Kadaj hissed under his breath and managed to stand on his still weak legs for some seconds before they gave away and he sat down heavily.

“Oh, come on, it couldn´t have been that bad…” Loz leaned over him and wrapped a strong arm around his younger brother´s torso to support him. His voice wasn´t teasing, but low and he was speaking more to himself. Kadaj wasn´t sure but he thought to have heard a slightly concerned edge within the other´s voice…

“I´m fine!” The boy pushed his brother away and glared at him. He hated to be weak…
Loz had a stupid and surprised look on his face, then it went angry and he turned his back on the other. “Hmpf, fuckin´ brat…”

Kadaj bit his lip and started to get ready for school. There was an old sink in the cellar, which provided them with a little cold water, so they could brush their teeth and wash their faces. He took a look into the mirror fragment Loz had found somewhere and managed to put on the naked wall.

It was a bit too high for the boy to see his face completely, even when he stood on the tip of his toe, but from what he could see his face was ok. It still hurt but there was nothing that indicated his little conversation with the general. Sighing, Kadaj held his face under the thin jet of water. He still had to figure out if it was a good thing that they healed so fast, faster than normal people.

He didn´t know why this was so, it simply happened. His wounds had almost completely vanished over night, like they always did.

He dried his face and got dressed. With an old hairbrush he combed his messed up silver hair and winced at the knots, but there was no time left to be careful. He was already late and that wouldn´t please his father…

“Will you stop now and come? Doesn´t make you look better anyway.” Loz stood at the door and stomped with his foot against the wall impatiently.

Kadaj rolled his eyes, threw the comb into the sink and grabbed his bag.

As quietly as they could the two of them slipped into the hallway and tiptoed to the front door. When they passed by the salon, Kadaj noticed through the open door that Loz had cleaned the carpet for him and he almost regretted his harsh behaviour towards his biggest brother. Loz might be stupid and unnerving and most of the time they were fighting, but still…

Loz had taken a short look into the kitchen and came back, looking concerned.

“He isn´t here…” he whispered. Kadaj´s hands balled into fists. “Maybe… he comes down in a minute. Let´s wait.”

Loz nervously eyed the first floor where his fathers rooms were, but gave a short nod.
Kadaj stared at the clock. Normally the middle brother waited in the kitchen.

Maybe Yazoo had just overslept and would jump down the stairs with an apologizing look and a smile on his face. He would get them their lunches from the fridge and ruffle his hair and ask if he was alright and then they would go to school together and everything was okay…

“He isn´t coming…” Loz mumbled. Kadaj could swear he saw one single tear at the corner of Loz´ eyes but he didn´t say anything.

Sighing he carefully went to the front door and out of this madhouse which was his ´home´. Loz followed a little behind but caught up soon. They made their way through their quarter in silence and even the bright, warm sun light and the sweet scent of the flowers couldn´t push the dark thoughts of the boys away.

“I´m hungry…” Kadaj´s stomach made itself noticed in a rather aching manner. He hadn´t eaten for how long now? Two days? And beside this he had thrown up the little he'd had left in his body…

Loz made a grunting noise, but the next moment his stomach began to grumble too.
Kadaj opened his mouth to say something vicious, but then decided not to. After all, Loz had done so much for him last night, he did deserve a ceasefire.

Kadaj cleared his throat. “So…thank you…for last night and all…” It came out somewhat stubborn, even though he really meant it.

The silver haired boy glanced at his older brother, but stared back to the ground immediately. Loz seemed to be very upset, he had clenched his teeth and stared angrily at him.

Loz being angry was never good…

“Pah, I didn´t do this for YOU! I did it so he wouldn´t hurt Yazoo more! It´s all your fault, you´re such an ungrateful brat! He´s doing everything to protect you, and you… you only make it worse! He´s probably having the worst pain and you´re complaining about that you´re HUNGRY!”

His voice nearly snapped and he had become louder with every word. He really had a hard time to not slap the brat across the face.

Kadaj bit his lip and kept staring at the ground. It wasn´t fair…

“Stop blaming me, I´m sorry, ok? I didn´t want this to happen either, and at least I even tried to help!” Now it was Kadajs turn to yell. “What are you doing ? You´re only crying and whining like a baby and never doing ANYTHING! If you would love him as much as I do, you would help him! But maybe you are just too stupid.”

That was it. Loz lost it and grabbed his little brother by the collar.

“How dare you…” His voice was low and merely a growl. His green eyes were burning into his younger brother´s equallyemerald orbs, who stared back at him, pouting.

“With your stupid actions you´re not helping anyone! How dare you say I don´t love him!” Now he was really crying. “You think I want him to be hurt? I don´t. But I´m not doing anything until he wants me to. And you ‘re not doing anything stupid anymore either or I´ll get really angry!” To underline his statement he pulled the boy a little closer, snarling.

Kadaj showed him his teeth and was about to spit into his face, when he noticed just how tired and worried the other was. How hurt he felt because of his younger brother´s words.
So instead he shrugged and stated in a mocking tone, imitating the middle brother. “Don´t cry Loz.”

The big guy snorted but let go of Kadaj. The boy unraveled his clothes and looked up to met Loz´ suspicious gaze. “Stop giving me that look. I´m not doing anything, ok?” He crossed his arms over his chest and liftet his chin.

Loz narrowed his eyes and demanded in a childlike manner “Promise.”

Rolling his eyes, Kadaj did it and Loz looked a bit more satisfied.

“Fine. Can we go now?” Kadaj noticed the time on a public watch and cursed. The last meters to school they ran.

-------------------------Later that day...----------------------

“Kadaj, please wait.”

The boy tensed and stopped dead in his tracks. He had known.

It just would have been too easy.

The whole day at school had gone rather well. Since he had managed to cool the swelling on his cheek down to a minimum no one had realised, not even his stupid teacher who was more or less responsible for his misery. He had almost reached the school´s front door, allowing himself to be relieved, when the deep voice had stopped him just inches away from his goal. Life was never fair.

Slowly he turned around to look into Tseng´s friendly face. Fake. Just fake. They always pretended to be nice. But in the end it only meant punishment for him.
Expressionless he stared back, but this didn´t wipe away that stupid, sympathetic smile from the mans face.

“What is it? You know, my bus is coming and I´m already late…”

“I´m sorry. I won´t take long.”

Brilliant.
´I won´t take long´ meant it was getting messy. A lesson he had learned just yesterday, thank you very much.

“I just wondered where your brother was, he wasn´t at school tod-”

“He´s ill.” The boy interrupted him rather rudely and was about to turn around again to get his bus, when a hand hold his arm. Automatically the boy flinched and couldn´t held back a hiss.

“Oh. Seems… you are ill, too…” the man had carefully lifted his shirt a bit and recogniced the deep purple bruise. Hastily Kadaj escaped his grip and lifted his chin in a provoking manner. “I tripped.”

“I see,” Tseng stated calmly.

“I have to go now.” Looking as self-confident as he could Kadaj straightened up and marched, finally, through the door.

“The bus is gone. But I can drive you home if you want.”

“NO!” Kadaj´s head turned around and offered the teacher the most shocked expression he had ever seen on a childs face.

The teacher hold his hands up in a calming manner and the boy relaxed.

“No. I will take the next one.” With this he nearly fled the building, leaving a confused and head shaking Tseng behind. Whatever Elena had said -which wasn´t much apart from the very convinced statement that the boys father would never EVER lay a hand on his children- he would have an open eye on all of them.

This was the least he could do.

Since Yazoo hadn´t come to school again that day he had tried to get something out of his older brother, but as expected there was more use in carrying water in a sieve than getting something out of Loz. He had only managed to give Loz his phone number, just in case, and which was probably rotting away in a trash can by now.
Sighing, Tseng shook his head again and walked to his car.

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I wish you a happy new year!