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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody	By : DarkSeraphim1 Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1315 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, or Dirge of Cerberus. I do not profit from the writing and/or posting of this fic. I am just a humble fan paying tribute to another's wonderful creations.

Chapter List
- 39
- 40
- 41
Chapter 41
'Legend shall speak of sacrifice at world's end. The wind sails over the water's surface, quietly, but surely' -Loveless, ACT IV
The sun sat low on the horizon, casting pale rays of waning sunlight over the hills and valleys of beautiful Banora. Sephiroth came to a halt as he reached the outskirts of town, his pale green gaze sweeping over a sight that he had never thought to see again. Genesis' hometown stretched out before him in all its former glory, the sizeable orchards with their arched apple trees dominating the hilly landscape, much as they had at the world's end. Unlike the last time he had been here, however, the homes and businesses of Banora's residents were intact, the rapidly darkening streets still showing the signs of human passage, while the normally acrid scent of mako was only a faint tang in the fresh country air.
Shinra had yet to order the town's destruction, and if Sephiroth had his way, Rufus would never be given a reason to do so. Their stay here would be brief, for he didn't want to bring the wrath of his former employers down on the innocent civilians who called this place 'home'.
One of the innocents he thought of was Gillian Hewley, who had been an active participant in Jenova Project 'G', and he reminded himself that she was innocent now, no matter what she had done in the past. She was Angeal's mother, and as such, she must be considered sacrosanct. She must not be touched, by either he or his remnants, no matter how much anger he might feel towards the former Shinra scientist.
And she had been kind to him during his last visit here, Sephiroth reminded himself. He could still remember how confused he had been by Mrs. Hewley's behavior. She had been wary around him, as so many instinctively were, but she had gone out of her way to make him feel welcome as well. While Genesis' parents had been polite, obsequious, and yet slightly disapproving of him, Angeal's mother had been congenial and had shown a genuine interest in him. Not in his 'special' abilities, but in him.
She had asked him questions about his life with Shinra, about his friendship with Genesis and Angeal, and had expressed concern that someone so young had spent time on the front lines in Wutai. Sephiroth hadn't known what to make of her attention, which he now knew had been decidedly maternal, and he had withdrawn from her accordingly. She hadn't seemed to take offense, but rather had been saddened by his lack of response. He knew why now, of course, but at the time her behavior had only mystified him.
As for Richard and Magdalene Rhapsodos, Sephiroth would keep as much distance between himself and them as possible. While he had never cared for the distant, wealthy couple, or the way they had treated their only son, he knew that Genesis did.It didn't matter that his parents' coldness had adversely affected Genesis, leaving him with so many insecurities that Sephiroth sometimes despaired of ever conquering them all. His kitten still loved the man and woman that had raised him, and Sephiroth would never do anything that would force his love to choose between them and him.
He felt an all too familiar presence at his side and was drawn from his dark thoughts. He knew without looking that it would be Genesis; few others dared to approach him so casually. As he inhaled the spicy combination of fire and darkness that so defined his passionate lover, he reached out and clasped a slender, red-gloved hand in his own. "How does it feel to be back in your hometown?" he asked, his voice unintentionally wistful.
Genesis' hand tightened fractionally around his own. "I've missed it, I suppose."
Sephiroth smiled faintly at the dismissive quality to his lover's words. "I know that have long since become accustomed to it, but I find Banora to be a truly beautiful place."
"Mmmmm," Genesis agreed rather absently, "beautiful."
Sephiroth turned his head slightly, only to find the other man gazing at him, and not the surrounding landscape. "I was speaking of the town," he mumbled with embarrassment.
Genesis only smiled and reached up to brush soft silver locks out of Sephiroth's face. "I know," he replied simply.
Sephiroth gazed at him for a long moment before pulling him to him. "You are the one who is beautiful, Gen."
"Of course, I am," Genesis agreed without a drop of humility. He laid his head on Sephiroth's shoulder and squeezed his waist meaningfully. "That doesn't change that fact that you'regorgeous, Sephiroth, so stop arguing with me."
Sephiroth smiled into fiery locks and closed his eyes. "Very well, kitten. Have it your way."
"I always do," came the playful response, and Sephiroth laughed quietly.
Genesis squeezed again, this time just a tad bit harder, and drew another laugh from his normally somber lover. He tilted his head back and smiled up at the other man, whose slitted green eyes gleamed as they met his own, and Genesis literally melted against him. 'Gods, Seph. . ."
Sephiroth drew a sharp breath as Genesis' body hardened against his own. "Koneko," he whispered simply, deeply, in return.
The older man let out a faint, frustrated moan and slowly—reluctantly-pulled away. "My parents had better not put us in opposite ends of the house," he muttered irritably. "I'll sneak around every fucking night I have to, but I am not going without for very much longer!"
Sephiroth silently echoed the sentiment, hating that they had had so little time together since this all began. But he wasn't quite comfortable enough to risk having sex in the middle of camp, regardless of whether or not any of their companions were hard sleepers. Genesis hadn't liked it, but he had understood.
The rustle of leaves brushing against leather came to him, and he knew exactly why Genesis had pulled away. "So, Koneko," Kadaj said in a loud, demanding voice, "when the hell are we going to meet your parents? We've been walking forever."
Genesis scowled at hearing Sephiroth's intimate pet name for him spoken in such a rude way. "I hate it when he calls me that," he muttered under his breath. He ignored Sephiroth's low chuckle and shot Kadaj a withering glance. "We're almost there, angel, so give the bitching a rest, why don't you?"
Kadaj snorted in what seemed to be his favorite affectation and raised his chin defiantly. "I'll bitch if I want to," he declared haughtily. "You don't have the corner on that, kitty-cat."
Genesis made a rude sound as he tossed his fiery head. "I do not 'bitch'," he stated snootily. "And my name is Genesis. Try using it—Kadaj."
"Puhleeze," Kadaj said, rolling his eyes expressively. "We've been calling you Koneko for six years. Why would we need to use your name, now?"
"We?" Genesis angled one auburn brow and slanted a glance at Sephiroth, who looked both amused and embarrassed by the conversation's suddenly intimate turn. "Well, moonbeam, do you have anything to add to that?"
Pale green eyes widened dramatically, the amusement chased from Sephiroth's angelic features by his lover's unexpected question. "No," he answered emphatically, much to Genesis' own amusement.
"I guess, I shouldn't be so surprised," he drawled indolently. "They share your memories, and you are fond of calling me your kitten."
Sephiroth blushed hard and quickly looked away, completely mortified, and Genesis decided to take pity on him. "Sorry, Seph," he apologized, unable to keep the laughter out of his voice as he added, "You're so damned easy to tease. I just couldn't resist."
The younger man merely crossed his arms and ducked his head, hiding behind his veil of silky silver hair, and Genesis quickly wrapped his arms around him. "Forgive me, moonbeam?"
Sephiroth uncrossed his arms and wound them around Genesis' waist, effectively trapping him against his body. He sighed deeply as he rested his chin on the crown of Genesis' fiery head, smiling involuntarily as he felt his lover's hand drop to his ass. "I think I can find in my heart to do so," he murmured, his voice deepening involuntarily.
Genesis' heart skipped a beat at the heat in that low, quiet, wholly beloved voice. "You'd better," he stated, his own voice breathless as he fought his body's enthusiastic reaction. "You know how much I hate sleeping alone."
That startled a laugh out of Sephiroth, the happy sound cloaked in the darkness that had always excited Genesis, and he squeezed his eyes shut. "Damn it," he mumbled disgruntledly, trembling as the arms around him tightened, "you win."
"I was not aware that we were competing," Sephiroth said with puzzlement. "What did prize did I win?"
Genesis lifted his head and smiled slowly, wickedly, but said nothing, and Sephiroth's breath caught as he returned it with all the sensuality he could muster. "I see," he murmured silkily. "In that case, I—"
"Ahem." Angeal was watching them with a stern expression which was belied by the twinkle in his deep blue eyes. "We do have three children with us, you know. I don't know that this conversation is appropriate, in light of that."
Sephiroth cast a glance at his remnants, whom were each grinning knowingly, and fought the urge to blush again. He shrugged as casually as he could as and forced himself to release Genesis. "They doshare my memories, Angeal. I have little doubt that they have 'seen' much worse than this."
"Mmmm," Yazoo's delicate features took on a dreamy cast, "we have indeed."
"Don't remind me," Kadaj muttered with a shudder of disgust.
Loz laughed heartily as he slung an arm around Cissnei's slender shoulders. "Sorry, Father, but Gen's not really my type anymore," he joked as he jerked the girl close.
"No offense taken, Loz," Sephiroth assured him wryly.
Cissnei looked up at the eldest remnant with a fond smile. "You can drop the caveman routine, now. I think everyone got the point."
"Oh," Loz hastily dropped his arm, "sorry, bibishii."
"Beautiful, huh?" Reno tipped his head to one side in feigned consideration. "Yeah, I can kinda see it, yo."
Loz glowered at him, angered by the perceived insult, and Cissnei hastily set a restraining hand on his arm. "He's just kidding around, Loz. Reno only insults people that he likes. Right, Reno?"
"Of course, yo." Reno looked insulted himself as he added, "Ciss and I are tight, ya know."
The muscular young man frowned at both them both before nodding slowly. "If you're sure, Cissnei."
"I am," she assured him softly, "but thanks, for defending my honor."
Loz smiled at her with open adoration, and she blushed just a little as she returned it. "You're welcome, Cissnei."
Kadaj lifted both eyebrows as his oldest brother continued to smile at the pretty female Turk like a besotted idiot. At least, she seemed to like him, too, Kadaj comforted himself. And she hadn't tried to keep Loz from them, not even once. She seemed to accept the fact that they needed each other, and that was enough for Kadaj. As long as she didn't turn into another Vincent and fuck his brother over, he could accept her. And, it would be nice to have another girl in the family.
He slanted a meaningful look at Yazoo, who smiled serenely in return, indicating his own acceptance. Yep, their family had just gotten a little bigger. And speaking of family. . .
"Come on, Nii-san." Kadaj squeezed Cloud's hand and proceeded to drag him passed the others. "I know where Koneko lives. I'll show you."
Cloud cast an alarmed look over his shoulder, and Sephiroth hastily motioned for everyone to follow. Kadaj obviously remembered Mayor and Mrs. Rhapsodos, but there was no way they would know him. To open their door and be greeted familiarly by a complete stranger would only confuse them, and possibly frighten them, as well.
Genesis fell into step beside him, his arm brushing Sephiroth's own as he moved. "So, he remembers my parents?" he asked in a thoughtful murmur.
"Apparently," Sephiroth replied with just a hint of dryness.
"But, Seph. . ." Genesis rich voice trailed off as he sighed. "He wouldn't hurt them, would he?"
"Of course not," Sephiroth frowned. "Why would you think such a thing, Gen?"
The other man caught his bottom lip between his teeth, worrying the soft skin in a gesture that betrayed his concern. "You've never liked my parents," he said at last, his voice so low that Sephiroth had to strain to hear it. "And after the way that he reacted to me. . ."
Sephiroth's brow cleared as comprehension came to him. "I disliked your parents because of the way that they treated you, but have I never wished them harm," he told Genesis honestly.
He smiled to himself as he added, "Unfortunately, there were times when I could imagine myself wrapping my hands around your neck, if only to make the yelling cease."
Genesis blinked at that, then scowled as he realized that Sephiroth's dry sense of humor had made another, wholly unexpected appearance. "Very funny," he snapped with irritation, slanting a dark look up at his smiling lover. "Just remember that my sword's almost as big as yours, and I'm not afraid to use it!"
Sephiroth chuckled as he snagged Genesis' hand in his own, tightening his hold when the other man made to pull away. "You are more than welcome to use your sword on me, kitten." He paused, his smile deepening evilly. "You may even unsheathe Rapier, if you wish for a more. . .proper means of sparring."
Genesis burst out laughing, his annoyance quickly changing to something more. "Oh, I don't think I'll need Rapier, Sephiroth. Not unless you want our boys to see you get your ass handed to you."
Silver-green eyes gleamed down at him. "I think our boys have seen enough of that, Genesis."
More musical laughter greeted his words, and Sephiroth squeezed his hand meaningfully. "Come, kitten, let's show our boys your hometown."
Genesis' fine-boned featured softened dramatically. "You got it, moonbeam."
Sephiroth watched as Genesis released his hand, marched over to Kadaj, and took his free hand. The boy looked startled, but didn't pull away, as the older man began to point out the sights of 'Sunny Banora'. Sephiroth merely trailed along behind them, not at all surprised when Yazoo and Loz wandered up to join them. All three boys hung onto Genesis' every word, their eagerness as touching as it was telling, and not even Kadaj's occasional derogatory comments were enough to ruin the moment.
They were truly becoming a family, Sephiroth thought with wonder, and it was Genesis who had made it so. It was he who understood them, he who had taught Sephiroth to reach out and bond with the boys, he who had worked so hard to bring them all together. While Genesis and Kadaj would probably always be at odds, there was an underlying affection that tinged their arguments now, which Genesis had already assured him was perfectly normal.
Normal, Sephiroth mused thoughtfully. Normalcy was something that he had never had, no matter how badly he had longed for it. And yet, his oddities didn't seem to matter here, among those he cared for. Genesis, Angeal, and Zack didn't know what he—what they—truly were, but their obvious differences were accepted without comment. He and his remnants had received acceptance from the entire group, even those who had cause to wish them harm, and that meant more to Sephiroth than he would ever be able to properly express.
"Sephiroth." He looked to right, only to find Vincent walking silently beside him. "May I speak with you?" the older man asked tonelessly, and Sephiroth could only nod his assent.
Vincent slowed his stride, allowing the others to flow passed them, and Sephiroth did the same, curious as to what the former Turk could possibly want with him. Vincent had made no effort to approach him during the course of their journey, no attempt to reach out to the son he had so recently been united with. The other man had kept his distance, and there was a good possibility that Vincent was uncomfortable with the knowledge that his only child was a monster, which was something that Sephiroth could not blame him for. He could only hope that the dark gunner did not retract his claim of fatherhood before they were given the chance to truly know each other.
So be it, he thought fatalistically. It was better that it happen now, before he came to care for the other man as something more than an ideal. "What can I do for you, Vincent?"
Vincent's step faltered at the cold, clipped quality of his son's words. Was Sephiroth angry with him after all? "I want you to know that I did not enjoy hurting him," he said without preamble.
Sephiroth let out a quiet, relieved breath as he realized that the older man wished to discuss his. . .relationship with Yazoo. "I am not quite sure how I should respond to that statement," he replied honestly. "While I am relieved to know that you took no pleasure from the act, you did hurt him a great deal."
Vincent's gaze found Yazoo, who was smiling indulgently at Reno as the latter fingered long strands of pale hair, and looked away. "He is young," he said, his crimson eyes taking on a shuttered look as they met Sephiroth's own. "Too young to know what it is that he wants. I knew that he would recover from his disappointment. . . given time."
Sephiroth watched the two young men interact with equal parts of resignation and distaste. "But perhaps not so little of it?" he guessed astutely.
"It only shows that I was correct in my assessment of him," Vincent said with a shrug of scarlet-clad shoulders.
Sephiroth sighed deeply, his own gaze touching on Genesis as he turned to include Yazoo and Loz in his conversation, and believed that he had at least a partial explanation. "As you may have noticed, Kadaj shares a great many personality traits with Genesis," he said almost idly.
Vincent frowned as the younger man failed to elaborate. "Yes, I have noticed," he answered at length.
Sephiroth slid him a sidelong glance. "Then, does it not also stand to reason that Loz and Yazoo would share some, as well?"
Vincent watched the boys for a moment, his deep red eyes flickering thoughtfully. "And which traits do you believe Yazoo inherited from your lover?" he asked curiously.
"The ability to lose himself in the sensual side of his nature, of course."
The gunner's frown deepened, and Sephiroth attempted to explain. "When I first met Genesis, he and Angeal were lovers. They seemed wholly committed to one another, and yet Genesis took other lovers whenever it suited him to do so."
Sephiroth shrugged, still struggling to understand the odd relationship that his best friends had once shared. "Angeal says that they were friends, and that the sexual side of their relationship was merely a bonus -though I am still uncertain as to how that is possible-and I believe that Yazoo may view the concept of friendship in a similar fashion."
Vincent looked away, thinking of his own friendship with Cloud, which had been intimate without the burden of love. "I see," he murmured in a low voice. "You do not see things in the same light?"
"I'm afraid that I am quite incapable of it," Sephiroth said ruefully. "I have loved Genesis since the first moment I laid eyes upon him. I would be unable to share him, nor would I ever desire another to touch me. Love and sex may be two different things, but I have never been able to separate them. It has always been so, and always will be."
Vincent only nodded, his sable hair slithering over his shoulders with the motion. "I believe I understand," he said simply.
Sephiroth hesitated, unsure of whether or not he should speak the words that were demanding release. "You obviously. . .care for Yazoo," he said as carefully as he could. "Perhaps, if you were to tell him that, his pain would not be quite so. . . acute."
Vincent didn't answer, merely gazed at him with sorrowful eyes, and Sephiroth smiled with sad understanding. "He is nineteen, Vincent," he told the other man softly. "That is five years older than I was when I first met Genesis. He is more than old enough to know what lies in his own heart."
The former Turk drew a shaky breath, and Sephiroth believed that he knew the cause of the other man's sudden apprehension. "That is what truly scares you, isn't it?"
"Yes," Vincent answered, hanging head as though ashamed, "it is."
Sephiroth could only imagine the kind of scars loving Lucrecia Crescent had left on the man who had sacrificed his life for her-as well as the child she carried-but they obviously ran very deep. "Perhaps, you made the right decision, then. If you cannot give Yazoo what he needs, it may be best that you leave him to find someone who can."
A long, tense silence followed his words, broken only when a deep growl sounded between them. "Your demon does not agree," Sephiroth stated flatly.
"No," Vincent returned shortly, his eyes glinting gold as Chaos railed against the other man's words. "Chaos calls it cowardice."
Sephiroth tilted his head to one side as he studied the mystery that was his father. "And how do you see it?"
"Self-preservation," came the simple, hushed response.
"Saving your own life at the expense of another's?" Sephiroth considered that for a long moment. "That is something that I can understand, although I do not agree with the sentiment. After all that has happened between Genesis and I, I could never turn my back on him. He is my destiny," he added somewhat whimsically.
Vincent sent him a sharp look. "You are not angry with me for what I have done?"
Sephiroth only shook his head negatively. "We all do what we believe we must," he answered somewhat cryptically. "It is not my place to judge you, particularly in light of what I myself have done. But if you were to hurt him again, I fear that my reaction would be. . . different."
"Understood." Vincent took the younger man's words as the warning that they were and changed the subject. "Why were you so resistant to the idea of coming here?"
Sephiroth accepted the conversational shift without complaint. "This is Genesis and Angeal's hometown. It is one of the first places that Shinra would have searched for us. Coming here is a mistake."
"And yet, you allowed the decision to be made," Vincent pointed out. "Why?"
"We may never return here," Sephiroth said with a sigh. "Genesis and Angeal have the right to say goodbye to their families. I could not rob them of that."
Vincent smiled faintly at that. "You are a better friend then you are a leader, then."
"Quite possibly," Sephiroth returned wryly. He returned his father's smile as freely as he was able, and then asked the question that had haunted him for so long. "Why do you blame yourself for what I became?"
Vincent's smile died a quick death. "I failed Lucrecia," he answered in a strained voice, "and in doing so, I failed you. Why shouldn't I accept responsibility for what I have done?"
"My mother left you, did she not?" Vincent nodded once, his crimson eyes darkening with remembered pain, and Sephiroth shrugged again. "She made the decision to go back to her husband, Vincent. She alone decided to conceal the truth of her pregnancy from you both. It was she who chose to inject her unborn child with Jenova cells. You cannot hold yourself responsible for the actions of another."
"I could have stopped her," Vincent whispered quietly. "If had gone to her sooner, she might not have gone through with the experiment. If I had made a greater effort to convince her that I didn't blame her for my father's death, she might not have chose to return to her loveless marriage with Hojo."
"But you did not know that it was loveless," Sephiroth protested.
"I knew that she had been unhappy with him for years," Vincent returned roughly. "It was that unhappiness which drove her to seek comfort from me. If I had only understood how delicate her emotional state was, I could have given her the reassurance that she needed. Instead, I let my own insecurities keep us apart, and I set your tragedy in motion."
"You could not have prevented Nibelheim," Sephiroth stated bluntly. "No one could have."
The dark gunman hesitated before asking, "Not even Genesis?"
Sephiroth closed his eyes for a long, painful moment. "I honestly don't know what would have happened had Genesis tried to intervene that night," he said, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. "Jenova's presence was so strong, and I was in so much pain..."
He shook his head slowly, sadly. "I would not like to think that I was capable of harming him, but in light of what I did to Zack, I cannot discount the possibility. Had that happened. . ."
Sephiroth thought of his beautiful kitten, lying broken and still at his feet, as so many others had that fateful night in Nibelheim, and shuddered violently. "There would have been nothing left of me," he said at last. "I would have died with him, and my body would have become an empty shell for Jenova to use as she pleased. Had that happened, not even Cloud would have been able to stop her. She would have destroyed Gaia and everything on it, and then moved on to the next world. Of that, I have no doubts."
"And you say I did not fail you?"
Vincent shook his dark head despairingly, and Sephiroth hesitantly reached out to him. He touched his father's shoulder with a tentative hand, feeling the muscles as they tensed beneath his palm, and tightened his hold accordingly. The other man lifted his head, his pale, handsome features stark with grief, and Sephiroth hesitantly shifted closer.
"Your guilt is--and has always been--misplaced," he told the other man urgently. "What happened to me was my own fault, Vincent. I was not strong enough to fight Jenova, and so I fell to her. All you were guilty of was putting my mother's happiness before your own. You were not at fault for what those around you chose to do. You have suffered for more than thirty years. Don't you think it's time to forgive yourself?"
Ruby eyes shimmered with moisture, and Sephiroth knew that his own looked the same as he added, "You are my father, Vincent. I would very much like the chance to know you, but only if it is what you truly want, and not merely the result of your guilt."
"I want to know you," Vincent replied, so quickly that Sephiroth's eyes widened with his surprise. "I always have."
"Then, please, let go of the guilt," Sephiroth implored him in a quiet voice. "I do not want such a thing to come between us."
Vincent smiled then, the motion lighting his deep red eyes with genuine warmth. "It will not, Sephiroth." He hesitated before adding, "Son."
Sephiroth gazed at him, his expression all too solemn, before saying, "Thank you-Father."
The older man reached up, squeezed his hand, and withdrew, leaving Sephiroth to stare after him with a growing sense of hope. Vincent had not rejected him, he marveled. He was not disgusted by his knowledge of Sephiroth's origins, nor did he hate him for what Jenova had done using his image. His father wanted to know him.
He watched as Vincent joined Cloud, who was trailing behind Genesis and the boys, and slowly followed suit. As Cloud made a gesture towards Kadaj, who was still holding Genesis' hand in the manner of a much younger child, Sephiroth forced himself to focus on the present, and the people who now filled it, and found himself smiling as peace filled him.
"And that is the town's biggest Banora White tree." Genesis pointed at a large, arched tree, its thick trunk and glossy leaves all but eclipsed by the large purplish fruit with hung from it. "It has the best apples in all of Banora."
"I want one of those,"Kadaj declared instantly, stepping onto the lowest rung of the plain wooden fence which separated the orchard from the road, and pointing at the tree. "You'll get me one, won't you, Gen?"
Genesis gazed at the silver-haired boy suspiciously. "So, now you're willing to use my name?"
"If it'll get me one of those apples, I'll call you whatever you fucking want me to," Kadaj answered in all seriousness.
"You know, you might want to consider asking the owner before you steal his stuff," Reno pointed out in a drawl.
"Pffftt." Kadaj dismissed him without looking his way. "Genesis' parents own this orchard, dumbass. He can take whatever he wants from it."
Sephiroth smothered a laugh even as he forced himself to frown at the boy. "Kadaj, is not polite to call people names," he called out sternly. "You should apologize to Reno immediately."
Kadaj looked at Reno, snorted, and met Sephiroth's gaze evenly. "You're kidding, right?"
"No, I am not," Sephiroth said, a warning in his too-deep voice.
Kadaj stared at him in silence, his pale green eyes flashing with the force of his displeasure, before he finally gave way. He climbed down from the fence, crossed his arms over his chest in an all too familiar gesture, and glared at the redheaded Turk. "I apologize for calling you a dumbass to your face."
He turned to Sephiroth with a defiant expression. "Is that good enough for you?"
Sephiroth merely gazed at him in silence. "Reno?" he questioned flatly.
The Turk shrugged and stuck his hands in the pockets of his trousers, amazed that Sephiroth had cowed the little brat at all, let alone so easily. "Works for me, yo."
"Very well." He let his stern expression melt away, wanting the boy to know that he was not angry with him. "Thank you, little one."
"Hhhhmmmmpppphhhh." Kadaj tossed his silver head and turned back to Genesis, his cherubic features set in determined lines. "So, how about that apple?"

Genesis waited nervously in the foyer of his childhood home, watching the others as they wandered around the expensively furnished room. His father was in the den, which served as his home office, while his mother was resting upstairs. Lucille—one of the newer maids—had then disappeared to inform his parents of their son's arrival.
Goddess, but he was nervous! Genesis thought as he stifled a laugh. His mother wouldn't be happy when she realized that, not only had he deserted Shinra, but that he had brought his fellow deserters into herhome. Appearances were very important to Magdalene Rhapsodos, as Genesis had spent his entire life being reminded. While he could give a shit what anyone else thought of him, he knew that his mother did, and that she was going to very unhappy with him.
He glanced at Sephiroth, who was standing to one side of the window, watching for signs of Shinra forces. Kadaj stood at his side, munching on his second Banora White, his silver-green eyes bright with curiosity as he looked around the room. Loz and Yazoo stood at his back, as always, their apples already gone. Loz looked both excited and nervous, while Yazoo appeared as cool and unflappable as he always did.
Something inside of Genesis eased as he watched them. This is what he had always wanted, he thought. A family that would accept him as he was, love him as he was, and now he had it. They were what he fought for now, what he would die-or kill-to protect. They made it all worthwhile.
His beautiful, unusual family, he thought with a smile. Sephiroth happened to look his way, and Genesis' heart leapt at the love that softened those often cold patrician features. His apprehension faded away, banished by a warmth that was only partly sexual, and he found himself suddenly needing to be with him. Genesis crossed the room, his smile widening as he joined his family, his too-blue eyes nearly blinding in their luminescence.
He took Sephiroth's hand in his own, reaching out with the other to run a hand over Kadaj's hair. "So, what do you think of the house so far?"
Kadaj ducked away from him, batting his hand away with a scowl. "It's fancy," he answered waspishly, adding, "Leave my hair the hell alone."
Genesis only rolled his eyes, choosing not to take offense. Unlike Yazoo, Kadaj didn't seem to enjoy being touched without an express invitation. "Loz? Yazoo?" he questioned hopefully.
"It's real nice, Gen," Loz told him earnestly. "Your parents have a lot of pretty things."
"They are very expensive antiques, Loz," Yazoo corrected calmly. "It is a beautiful house, Genesis. You mother has exquisite taste."
"She'll love hearing that," Genesis said with small, edged laugh. "Mother is very proud of what she has done here."
"And so should you be," Sephiroth murmured, smiling at the other man's surprised look. "After seeing what you did with my quarters, one would have to believe that you inherited your gift for décor from her."
"Ha, ha." Sephiroth only smiled, that beautiful, innocent that always looked so damned wrong on him, and Genesis found himself laughing with genuine mirth. "In the mood to tease, are you?"
"If only I could," the younger man said with mock wistfulness.
"Hey, no sex talk around the K.I.D.'s," Kadaj joked with a grin.
Genesis snorted his opinion of that. "You're no more a kid than I am, Kadaj."
The boy grinned with a wickedness that rivaled his own. "You're learning, kitten. You're learning."
"Genesis?"
Genesis drew a deep breath and turned around to find his mother standing in the entryway. "Hello, Mother," he greeted, releasing Sephiroth's hand and gliding gracefully over to her.
Magdalene Rhapsodos extended both hands, clasping his own, as she lifted her cheek for his kiss. "Genesis," she acknowledged coolly. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this. . .unexpected visit?"
The rebuke underlying her words went unnoticed by no one. "I believe that is something we should discuss in private, Mother," he said formally.
"As you wish." Chocolate-brown eyes swept over the room's motley group of inhabitants, only a slight tightening of the skin around her mouth indicating his mother's displeasure. "I'm sure you are all tired after your long journey. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Lucille will bring you refreshments shortly."
Sephiroth inclined his head. "Thank you, for your hospitality, Mrs. Rhapsodos," he said politely.
"You're welcome, General Sephiroth." She looked back at her son, an angry glint appearing in the dark depths of her eyes. "Come, Genesis. We have much to discuss."
"Yes, Mother."
Genesis sent them a reassuring smile over his shoulder, once that he hoped hid his own apprehension, and followed his mother out of the room. As she led the way to his father's study, Genesis knew that this talk wasn't going to go well. As a child, he had only been called into his father's office when he had done something particularly bad, or embarrassing to the family. Otherwise, his discipline had been left to a string of nannies who hadn't been able control the wild child he'd been.
He held the door open for his mother, catching a glimpse of his father, whose stern expression said it all, and Genesis hid a grimace as he turned to close it behind them. His father's voice rang out, cold and deceptively calm, as he asked, "What do you think you're doing, bringing those. . .people into our home?"
Genesis fought the urge to cringe as he turned to face the man and woman who had raised him. "Those 'people' are my friends, Father."
"They're fugitives, Genesis. Traitors to Shrina," Richard Rhapsodos returned tightly, adding, "as you are."
He stiffened at the condemnation in his father's voice. "Father, you don't understand-"
"I understand that you've brought fugitives here," his mother snapped frostily. "Worse, you brought Sephiroth here, when you were told never to do so again. He is not welcome here, Genesis. Nor will you be, if you do not take him and go."
"This has nothing to do with Sephiroth!" Genesis flared, then hastily checked his own, far more volatile, temper. "This is about the three children you left standing in your foyer. You saw them, didn't you? The three beautiful boys that Sephiroth and I rescued from one of Professor Hojo's labs?"
His mother lifted a shaking hand to her straight blond hair, smoothing it in a nervous gesture, as pictured the three silver-haired youths she had noticed only peripherally. "You took them from Hojo?" she said, her voice little more than a frightened whisper as she traded an alarmed glance with her husband.
"Yes, Hojo," he retorted angrily, not understanding his mother's sudden distress, as he added, "He cloned Sephiroth, Mother. Three times."
"And you brought them here?!"Richard stood so quickly that his chair was thrust into the windowed wall behind him. "Genesis, what were you thinking? Do you know what Shinra will do to you—to us-for this?"
"They can do nothing." Genesis sneered in the face of his Father's selfishness. "Hojo is dead, and even if he wasn't, our boys were being tortured in the name of science! They're children, Father. We couldn't leave them in the lab to be treated like animals. We hadto rescue them, to get them away from Shinra!"
"No, what you need to do is take them back!" the older man bellowed, looking as surprised as Genesis felt at his atypically passionate outburst. The older man drew a deep breath, visibly composing himself, before continuing, "President Rufus Shinra has contacted us, Genesis. He's offered you amnesty if you return to Shinra with his property. I strongly suggest that you consid-"
"Property?!" Genesis gasped, his mako-bright eyes flashing with outrage. "How dare you call them that? Those boys don't belong to anyone! They are human beings, and they deserve to be treated like it!"
"They belong to Shinra, just as Sephiroth does!" His father narrowed icy hazel eyes at him. "I don't know why you brought them here, but they can't stay. If you insist on continuing with this folly, then you can leave with them, but I want them out of this house—now!"
"You'd do that to me?" Genesis asked, hurt by his parents' apparent disregard for their only child. "Throw me out with nowhere to go?"
"Yes," Richard returned without blinking an eye.
"I shouldn't be surprised," he muttered, half to himself. "You've never given a damn about me. All you've ever cared about are yourselves. I don't know why you even bothered to adopt me when you so obviously didn't want children."
"Adopt you?" his mother questioned, her voice rising sharply. "Genesis, you're our son. Why would you think otherwise?"
"Oh, please," Genesis scoffed in return. "I know I'm not your son. I don't look anything like either of you-or anyone else in the family, for that matter. I don't fit in, and I never have."
His father frowned fiercely. "Genesis. . ."
His voice trailed off, and Genesis smiled humorlessly. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"That doesn't matter," Magdalene stated firmly. "You are our son, Genesis. We raised you, we loved you—"
"Bullshit!"
"—and we still love you," she continued, ignoring his inelegant outburst. "We simply cannot condone what you have done."
Genesis blinked back tears as he shook his head. "If you really loved me, you'd understand," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "They're like my own children, Mother. I can't just abandon them."
His father's handsome features took on a disgusted cast. "And Sephiroth?" he questioned, his voice heavy with revulsion.
"Yes, Sephiroth," his mother echoed, looking relieved by change in subject. "Are you and he still. . . friends?"
Shit.
Genesis glared at his father, hating that he was bringing this up again now. "You didn't want to know before," he said, reminding them of a time eight years ago when he had tried to explain that he and Sephiroth were only friends, and they had refused to even acknowledge the subject. "Why the fuck are you asking me this, now?"
His father's Mediterranean features darkened with anger. "Damn it, Genesis—!"
Genesis' hands curled into fists at his sides. "It's none of your damned business!"
"Uncle Gen?"
Genesis turned to find Kadaj standing in the doorway, his slim form bathed in the soft lights which shone in the hall. One small, gloved hand rested on the ornate knob, as the boy took an atypically hesitant step into the room, and Genesis hastily reached for his meager self-control. "Kadaj, go back to your father," he ordered in a low voice. "I'll be out soon."
Silver-green eyes shimmered ethereally as they moved passed him. Kadaj eyed his parents with undisguised curiosity—and a surprising hint of fear-as he pushed the door open and tread gracefully into the room. "I heard yelling," he said in a small, childlike voice. He slid his hand into Genesis' and looked up at him, blinking twice as he leaned into the older man. "Are you okay?"
Genesis barely kept the shock from his out of his expression as he looked down into that deceptively angelic, wholly ingenuous face. Kadaj's eyes were wide as he gripped Genesis' hand, his expression touchingly vulnerable, and Genesis nearly burst out laughing. You brilliant, manipulative little bastard, he thought with burgeoning admiration. How could his parents possibly turn them away when faced with this?
"I'm fine," he said, fighting a grin as he ran his free hand over the boy's silky cap of layered silver hair. Real irritation flashed through those bright green depths before Kadaj smiled up at him like the angel his brothers had named him for, and Genesis returned it as he turned back to his parents.
"Mother, Father, this is Kadaj, the youngest of ourboys," he said, making sure to add a hint of warning to his own expression. "Kadaj, these are my parents, Richard and Magdalene Rhapsodos."
"Hi." Kadaj stared at them for a long moment before asking, "Why were you yelling at Uncle Genesis? Are you mad at him?"
Genesis hid a smile as his mother knelt down, looking properly appalled, as she rushed to assure the boy that they weren't mad at his uncle. His father merely stared at the boy expressionlessly, probably disturbed by his resemblance to Sephiroth. Not that Genesis cared how he felt at this point. All he cared about was securing a ship to the Central Continent before Rufus sent more fodder their way.
"He's only nine," he murmured, meeting his father's gaze evenly. "Hojo did something to age him, to age them. We're not sure what. He's a child, Father, in the truest sense of the word. Please, help me help him."
Green-gold eyes flickered as Richard looked down at the boy, who appeared to be a nearly grown adolescent, and felt a glimmer of both fear and pity. "What do you need?" he asked at last.
Relief flowed through Genesis, quickly followed by a cold practicality that would have done Sephiroth proud. "Passage aboard a ship bound for the Central Continent," he said, his hand tightening around Kadaj's of its own accord, "and a place to keep the boys until it arrives."
Richard only nodded, his expression taking on a resigned cast as he watched his wife quietly fuss over the silver-haired youth. "I'll take care of it," he said simply. "You can take them to the east wing and settle them there. You'll need gil if you insist on doing this. I can—"
"That won't be necessary," Genesis cut in quickly. "We have plenty of gil. We just need to keep the boys safe until we can get them off of the continent."
"I'll leave it to you and your mother to get them settled, then." The older man let out a harsh breath and turned away, rounding the desk and resuming his seat once more. "I'll continue to tell Shinra that we haven't seen you, but you need to be careful. There's more than your lives at stake here."
Genesis bit back an angry retort, knowing that his father was right to worry about himself. If Shinra found out that they were helping them. . ."Thank you, Father," he said quietly. "You don't know how much this means to me."
Hazel eyes flicked his way before returning to the desk once more. "Goodnight, Genesis," his father returned firmly, effectively dismissing him. "I'll see you in the morning."
Genesis pushed back the disappointment which had colored his relationship with his parents his entire life and looked down at Kadaj. "Let's get you settled," he said, his voice softening of its own accord.
Kadaj only nodded and continued to charm his mother, chattering happily as he grabbed her hand and proceeded to drag them both from the room, and Genesis was filled with a renewed sense of hope. It would all work out, he thought with confidence. They would get the boys to Wutai, and they would show them what it was like to live a normal life. No more labs, no more battles, just. . .peace.
Genesis could hardly wait.

"Corel is the key." A black-gloved finger stabbed the large paper map, landing directly on the small mining town of Corel. "The reactor is still in still in the initial stages of construction. Once completed, it will only compound the drain on The Planet's resources, and make saving The Planet that much harder. We must put a halt to its construction, once and for all."
The mysterious young woman known only as Elfe glanced around the large, dingy room that currently served as AVALANCHE's temporary headquarters in Midgar, her gaze meeting that of her field commander. Shears only nodded his acquiescence, his dark gaze moving back to the map, and Elfe looked to the only other person in the room.
Fuhito, the intellectual power behind the ecological terrorist group, began to speak, his words both eloquent and cold, and their silent observer quickly became bored. Rosso The Crimson only shook her head as she crouched on the warehouse roof, her sharp blue gaze quickly focusing on her primary target through the partially open skylight. Elfe was the heart of AVALANCHE, which had apparently been a thorn in Shinra's side for years.
Rosso intended to rip that heart this night.
She smiled to herself, anticipation quickening her breathing, as she carefully shifted her stance. After thoroughly reading through General Sephiroth's fascinating file, she had discovered that the thin wisp of a girl below her was the only person to ever battle Sephiroth to a draw. It had been speculated that the materia she held, which created barriers strong enough to rival Azul's, was the key to her awesome power. Sephiroth had even commented on her strength in his report on the incident, indicating that he had taken some interest in the girl, and that was enough for Rosso. She fully intended to take that materia, and the respect that it would draw from her beautiful General, along with Elfe's insignificant life.
Rosso let them drone on for a few minutes more, listening without interest as they planned to destroy one of Shinra's unfinished mako reactors, hoping that Rufus would appreciate what she was about to do for him. She was about to eliminate Shinra's biggest threat, and that had to be worth something, didn't it?
If nothing else, at least she would get to kill this night. After spending her life in the darkness of Mako Reactor 0, she would finally be able to indulge herself. The blood of these three would only be the beginning. Once she had Elfe's mysterious materia, she would begin to track her Silver General. His companions would provide a wealth of entertainment, she was sure.
The little girl in the unattractive Wutainese outfit began to roll up the maps on the table, a sure sign that the meeting was over, and Rosso made her move. She slipped her body through the skylight's opening, twisted her body, and dove into the room. She landed behind the tall man in the green bandana and lashed out, using the rounded hilt of her gunblade hybrid to knock Elfe to the floor. She whirled towards the tall man in the green bandana—Shears was his name—and slashed his throat with the tip of her blade.
As he began to choke on his own blood, she heard a loud shout and turned towards the distinctly male voice. Her smile widened as the slender man in the black-framed glasses pulled a large gun out and began to fire. She whizzed passed the energy bolt, using her superhuman speed to dodge two more shots, before she reached him. She buried her blade in his chest, laughing as his eyes widened with surprise. She twisted the sword just enough to wring a gurgling cry from the dying man, and then pulled it free. Fuhito dropped to the ground, no longer a threat, and she turned meet the woman who was screaming with fury as she ran straight at her.
Rosso met the girl's katana with her own blade, quickly shifting and thrusting the thin sword inward. She reached up and grasped Elfe's throat, pulling her close as she kept the girl's sword trapped between them, her own double-blade protecting her as Elfe struggled to free her weapon. "Why don't use the materia that's grafted to your hand?" Rosso asked in a purr. "It won't save your life, but it might make this more entertaining."
"Who are you?" Elfe demanded, her dark eyes shining with a combination of rage, grief, and tears. "Why did you kill my men?"
Rosso only smiled again and tightened her hold, effectively ending Elfe's ability to speak—and breathe. "So, you are the one who so impressed my General?" she asked, thoroughly unimpressed. "Pathetic."
The girl blinked at her, confused and probably disoriented by the concussion Rosso had undoubtedly given her, and Rosso graciously explained, "General Sephiroth spoke highly of you in his reports. I see that his respect was misplaced."
Wariness crept into the girl's expression, and Rosso nodded positively. "Yes, you begin to understand now," Rosso said with approval. "Good. We will make this battle one to remember, yes?"
Rosso shoved the girl away from her, lifted her double-bladed gunblade hybrid, and began to fire. Elfe activated her materia immediately, and Rosso saw for herself just how effective the barrier was. "Now, that is impressive," she told the enraged girl. "Come, let us dance."
Elfe let out a fierce cry and lunged towards her. Rosso parried the blow easily, lashing out with a heeled boot to knock the girl away from her. The barrier shimmered as it was hit, but held, much to Rosso's disappointment. Oh, well, she thought as she held her weapon out before her and fired again, Elfe was only delaying the inevitable. She would fall, and Rosso would bathe in her blood before this night was through.
The girl's magical armor was every bit as effective as Azul's, but the girl had none of the genetic enhancements that came from being augmented. She was strong, yes, but she was almost painfully slow when compared to Rosso's superiorly made body. She was also suffering from double-vision, as was evident as she swayed slashed at air a good three feet to Rosso's left. Definitely a concussion, Rosso thought as she patiently continued to fire. She danced away from the girl's blows, staying just out of her reach, when she finally spied the first weakness in Elfe's extraordinary magical barrier. Surprisingly enough, it was right over the girl's hand, in the very spot where the materia was said to rest.
Perfect, Rosso thought with cold satisfaction. She circled the girl, thoroughly enjoying herself as the girl turned with her, and feinted towards her. Elfe jumped back, stumbling as she readjusted her grip on her katana, and then lunged forward. Rosso grabbed the girl's wrist, ignoring the pain that came from contact with the magical barrier, and jerked her off balance. She shoved the girl to the floor face-first, quickly following her down and setting a knee in the center of her back. Ignoring the girl's slurred, rage-filled curses, she carefully reached down and grasped her wrist.
Rosso twisted Elfe's arm up behind her, barely hearing her cry of pain, as she ripped the girl's glove off. There! she thought with excitement. The materia gleamed with brilliant ruby light, yet the light wavered constantly, as though its power was in flux. "Mmmmm," Rosso hummed to herself, wondering just why this particular Barrier Materia was so strong, and why it was the deep red normally reserved for a summons. "The mystery deepens. Well, I'll know soon enough."
She ignored Elfe as she bucked beneath her, merely tightened her thighs around the girl's waist, as she lifted her clawed hand. She began to trace the small, rounded protuberance, surprised to realize that it was only a shard, not a full materia orb. As the girl cursed and screamed beneath her, Rosso pushed her claws beneath the curved edges of the materia and slowly, painfully, began to pry it loose.
Elfe began to scream in earnest, loud, desperate, agonizing screams, and Rosso laughed aloud, exhilarated by the sound. "Scream all you like, darling," she encouraged as Elfe continued to do just that. "It won't make a bit of difference. Soon, I'll possess the power to gain General Sephiroth's respect, and you'll be a part of The Planet you're so desperate to save."
With a sickening sound, the materia finally came free. Blood poured from the girl's hand, pouring over them both, and Rosso absently swiped at her leg, all of her focus on the materia shard that gleamed in her hand. "Beautiful," she murmured, smiling as she set her sword across her knees and slipped the shard into a notch on the ornate pommel of her blade.
The materia flared brightly, and Rosso grinned as she felt its power reach out to her. "Oh, yes, you'll do," she told the mysterious presence she felt within it. "And now, to rid myself of your former bearer."
She activated the materia, watching curiously as she was enveloped in a crystal-like barrier. "Marvelous."
She rose to her feet, jumping back as Elfe grabbed her katana and lashed out at her. The sword's sharp tip glanced off of the barrier, and Rosso laughed uproariously. "Oh, I don't think that's going to work, darling," she said with mirth, "but keep trying. Maybe, you'll find a weakness before you bleed to death."
Elfe cradled her bleeding, useless hand to her chest, holding her sword up before her in a defensive stance. "You killed my men, you crazy bitch!" she whispered hoarsely. "You killed my family."
"So I did," Rosso returned with a shrug. "Don't worry, you'll be reunited with them soon enough."
She began to twirl her gunblade, smiling as it whirled faster and faster, knowing that the girl's unenhanced eyes would be unable to track it. She waited until Elfe took a defensive step back and dove forward. She knocked the other woman's sword away and sunk her blade deep into the soft flesh of her stomach. Elfe dropped her sword and immediately lifted her hands to the blade, and Rosso smiled chillingly.
"Time to die, darling."
She pushed the sword deeper and shoved it upwards. The ripping of flesh was accompanied by the final scream of AVANCHE's dying leader, and Rosso closed her eyes to relish the sound. As she felt the girl's blood shower her, she imagined Sephiroth, bathed in the same, his feline-green widening with shock as they met hers, and shivered delicately.
Rosso opened her eyes and was disappointed to see the girl slumped over it in death. With a moue of disgust, she slid her blade free and turned away, paying the dead girl no heed as she fell to the floor. It was done, and she had other, greater prey to hunt.
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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody