Pater Familias

“They’ve been in there an hour,” Sakura murmured.

“Let them whisper their sweet nothings,” I said, surprised by the lack of bitterness in my tone. I’d already packed up the equipment and checked our fuel gauges. We had less than enough to make it back, with an extra passenger. I felt tired, but relieved. No longer would I have to wonder when Valentine would snap and tear me to bloody shreds.

We spied them emerging from the cave. Surprisingly, Lucretia walked on her own. Still, she kept a hand on Valentine’s shoulder and he gripped her waist like the solicitous lover. “We’ll occupy the front of the huey,” I said wryly. “They won’t be separated for quite some time. I should take them to the lab and sew them together.”

“Hojo,” Sakura reprimanded softly.

“I wouldn’t,” I said crossly. “Shiva forbid I make it easy for them.” I swung my legs down and opened the hatch for them.

Lucretia looked up from the ground and saw me. Her fear hit me between the eyes. I backed away, by hands laced behind me.

“Kanaye,” she murmured.

“’Cretia,” I answered in kind. “Welcome back. If you ever do anything that stupid again, take your lover with you and spare his soul.”

She flinched and Valentine growled.

I returned that growl with a glare. “Downplay it all you want, Valentine, but she killed you when she killed herself. It takes a special kind of selfish to do that. I should know because I’ve done it, too.”

They both eyed me like I might be something in my own lab, behind glass.

“Get in the chopper,” I said, impatient to be gone.

I endured them making their slow and painful way inside. Sakura got in the co-pilot’s chair and I once again assumed the responsibility of flying.

I stopped us in a backwater to fill up. To my surprise, Valentine slid out to do the honors, and Sakura excused herself to find a restroom. I was alone with my ex-wife.

“You were right, Kanaye,” she said after a moment. “I as good as killed Vincent, too.”

“How about we discuss our son?” I offered shortly.

“Sephiroth is alive?” Lucretia sucked in a breath. “But, Vincent said…”

“He lied to spare your suffering, most likely,” I said. “Sephiroth would not have made you proud until eight months ago.”

“Oh.”

I could taste her questions.

“He’s a General, now,” I informed. “He works for Shin-Ra, but not under Rufus or Sheila. He’s married and has a boy on the way. You’ll like his wife.”

“It sounds like a very normal life for a child we envisioned doing great things,” she replied softly.

“Our son is the most powerful being on the planet.” I took a chocolate bar from my pocket, broke it in half and passed one piece back to her. She did not touch my fingers. “He lives in the apartment above mine. I’m proud of him, ‘Cretia. I’m sure you will be, too.”

“I never stopped loving him.”

“I don’t imagine you did. I, however, only learned the meaning of love after he carved it into my face.”

She drew a deep breath. Valentine chose that moment to join us, reeking of petrol. I tossed him a scent-nullifier and he obediently sprayed himself. Sakura returned with granola bars and a bag of junk food. She offered me a caffeinated soda, which I took gratefully.

We hit the blue once more.

**************************************************************************

I offered to drop them off anywhere, but Lucretia would not be satisfied until she saw her son. So, I landed the huey and called Reno, asking him if he would rather I take it to base or have him come and get it. He sounded quite drunk when he offered to get it, so I quickly told him I’d take care of it after all.

My energy seriously flagged. I knew it had to be stress. While Lucretia and Valentine walked slowly toward the stair access, I snorted a bit of coke. Sakura pretended not to notice.

Sephiroth?

Yes, father?

You’re about to have company.

Who?

Valentine and your…mother.

What?!

I winced from his volume in my mind. Valentine and I retrieved her from the cave. She’s alive and she wants to see you. Please, let her in.

…if you say, father. He didn’t sound pleased, but he did seem curious, which I took as a good sign.

Sephiroth, she always loved you. Remember that when you consider the villainy she and I committed against you. If you can forgive me, you can forgive her. Lean on your little Cetra and everything will be fine.

A mental sigh, then… Father, you always ask so much of me.

I know, boy. But, you’re always more than able to meet my demands.

Even so, I want you with me.

Surprised, I stared out toward the sunset. You do?

I want my father.

His need of me made the world a sweeter place. My heart rejoiced and I felt it grow larger in my chest.

Don’t get maudlin, old man, just get your boney ass down here.

Laughing, I took Sakura’s hand. “Sephiroth wants me there for the big reunion.”

She kissed me quickly, tugged me toward the couple poised at the stairs. “Of course he does,” she whispered.

Once we stood outside Sephiroth’s and Aerith’s apartment, Lucretia began wringing her hands. “What if he hates me?” she asked no one in particular. “He has reason to hate me.”

Valentine rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Your son has the capacity to love, which means he can love you,” he rumbled. “Be honest, above all.”

“Good advice.” I reached between them and knocked. “Never, ever lie to Sephiroth.”

Aerith answered the door, her forest eyes somber. Without a word, she stepped back and bade us enter. On my way by, she caressed my cheek and I felt a blaze of bracing love from her. She knew what this had cost me. I thought of her vow to always be my friend and to always care for me, and suddenly I felt very strong.

A Cetra’s love is the love of the planet, kind, impartial and eternal.

All but Lucretia lined up just inside, leaving her to stare into the glowing, powerful eyes of our son. Tears welled up in her immediately as she took him in.

“Oh, Sephiroth,” she whispered. “You’re beautiful.”

Sephiroth swallowed hard, but his face seemed carved from marble. He stood very still as she walked to him. His eyes sought mine and I smiled encouragingly. She’s your real mother, boy. I know you’ve always wanted her. Here she is. Flawed, but she loves you with all her heart. Give her a chance.

Aerith put her hand on Sephiroth. Some unspoken communication passed between them.

Sephiroth, eyes softening, opened his arms and let his mother rush into his embrace.

********************************************************************


I seated Sakura at my table and prepared to make tea for us. Ink prowled in, saw me working at my countertop, and jumped up for a good view. I let her sit close to me. Yes, I fully understood germs and animals, but she posed no danger to us just sitting there. Besides, I wouldn’t let her lick any containers until I finished with them.

“So,” I said while heating the teapot with a splash of hot water. “Tell me about this latest prospective beau. I believe you said his name was George?”

“George,” Sakura sighed. “He’s probably the worst of them.”

“Oh? In what way?”

“He…” Sakura shuddered. “He really gave me the creeps. I wouldn’t be alone with him either time my parents made me accept his wooing. I made him take me to very public places.” She got up and stood by me while I measured loose tea into the pot. “He’s the reason I finally cut and ran from Junon. I caught wind of some very disturbing rumors concerning his tastes, his plethora of gil, and spare time.”

I noticed her shudder again. She’d moved closer to me for more than being heard. Just talking about this man made her feel unsafe.

“George is a pedophile. I was barely sixteen when they promised me to him, which wasn’t quite young enough. But, he intended to make that sacrifice to get my fortune. I suppose he believed he could continue on as always once he got me.” Sakura petted Ink, her eyes fixed upon my cat without really seeing her. “He’s violent, too. I know because my source of information was a former victim.”

I filled the pot and held out a cup and saucer for her. She followed me into the living room area, sitting beside me on the couch. I poured, sat back, and waited.

“He hurt me only once, since I’d taken such precautions not to have any private interactions. But, once was more than enough. He hurt my weak hand so badly I had to wear a brace for weeks.” Sakura clenched her left fist briefly, then spread out her right hand and massaged it as if feeling the injury all over again. “It really almost prevented me leaving Junon. I could barely carry my bag.”

“He knew your right hand was weak?” I asked, feeling a flare of bloodthirst.

“Yes, all debilities and weaknesses are listed for public view when you’re entered into a pageant. It prevents being sued later and gives the men a better chance of getting the ‘perfect’ wife.” Sakura grimaced before picking up her cup. “I suppose a bad hand isn’t that much of a deterrent to most men, or my looks were sufficient impetus. I didn’t need two good hands to crank out a litter of kids.”

The cup shattered in my hand, spraying us with tea.

I had never, ever treated a lover like that. I hadn’t even treated a whore like that. Here were these wealthy, privileged men, guaranteed a wife, and none of them had been good to her.

I dropped the bloody shards of my cup onto the coffee table, carefully not looking at Sakura. I knew my eyes had to be blazing.

Even black eyes, once mako-enhanced, could glow.

“Tell me, Blossom,” I said softly. “Do you think I’m a man of capability, of competence?”

“Of course I do,” she answered, taking my bleeding hand. It already had healed halfway. “You’re very capable. You can do amazing things.”

Her confidence warmed me. I felt the heat dampen behind my eyes. “Do you think I keep my word, when I give it?” I risked looking at her.

She smiled. “Except for when you’re intent upon a physical, immediate reward, I suppose,” she teased.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her summation. My hand seemed fully healed, so I took hers in mine. Gently, I used my other to sweep a lock of hair from her face. Her beauty and determination to survive took my breath away.

I admired survival. This planet, for all my little daughter-in-law loved it, harbored ills fully capable of ending a person. I’d seen and committed murder, tried and inspired suicide. I knew death. I knew fear, and I knew despair. Sometimes survival stood as the more frightening option. For her to continue to try and live though hunted like a fox…

“Sakura,” I murmured, taking her face in my hands. “I promise you, none of these men will ever harm you again. No matter what happens between us, I will not let any of them cause you another moment’s pain.”

Her eyes watered. Slowly, she leaned her cheek heavily into my left palm and closed her eyes. Drawing a long, shuddering sigh, she went still. I held her that way for long moments, feeling her fragile life beating against my skin.

And, when she slept, I carried her to my bed and put her in it.