Chapter 17

Final

o.o.o

Sephiroth's POV

Aerith…

She's the reason I've been alive all of these years…

She's the reason I bought a mansion and let those kids stay with me.

I wanted to help them…

Flashback

I asked Aerith out for lunch. I knew it was wrong of me to do it, but I just couldn't stand to see this woman in so much pain. Just because I was her therapist… didn't mean that I couldn't be her friend… right?

She looked absolutely gorgeous in her purple knee-length dress and perfectly matching accessories and makeup. If her husband knew where she was today, well… let's just not go there.

Aerith felt really uneasy for being here with me and was always looking over her shoulder. I tried to distract her by asking about her children, not her husband. If there was one thing Aerith loved, it was talking about those beautiful little girls of hers.

"Kairi just started pre-school and Namine will join her next year."

However, whenever she talked about her children, somehow her husband always had to come into the picture.

"I know we're not in a session right now… but…" Aerith put down her fork and put her hands into her lap. "As friends… could we just… talk?"

Friends… right…

"Of course. I'm always happy to listen."

"I think… I'm going to divorce my husband… but… I'm afraid of him."

"Afraid of him?" She had never mentioned anything like this to me before.

"He… started drinking a lot. He stopped listening. It's amazing how he keeps his family life so private… but… at home… it's just… hell…"

"Has he… done anything to you?" By anything I meant…

Aerith didn't respond, but 'yes' was printed all over her face.

"WHAT?" I stood up. Everyone looked over at us. Clearing my throat and trying to calm down, I sat back down quietly. This was not the place to talk about this.

But my blood was boiling…

How could this man… this… beast… do such a thing?

"Please don't tell anyone…" Aerith pleaded. "I can handle it… just as long as he doesn't hurt my children… I mean… he hasn't done anything to them or around them… but…"

"Aerith… you have to take care of yourself…" I wanted to hold her.

After lunch I we walked back to my office. She took a seat on the couch.

"I just… can't be with him anymore… I can't…" She busted into tears.

This woman made me weak all over. I couldn't stand to see her cry. I went over to her and hugged her tightly.

"Seph… Sephiroth…"

"Can we just stay like this for a while?"

I loved her.

o.o.o

Cloud's POV
(Flashback)

"Daddy, can you push me on the swing?" asked my daughter, Kairi.

"Of course, sweetheart." I began pushing the swing. She laughed and urged me to push her higher.

"Weee! This is fun!"

Was she really my daughter?

"Dinner is ready!" Aerith called from the back porch. Kairi cheered and jumped off of the swing and started running towards the house.

I came inside. Aerith had set the table up extra nicely as if this was some formal event. Kairi and Namine sat down at the table and waited to be served. Aerith put the huge pot of lasagna onto the table.

"Aren't you going to sit down?" Aerith asked, noticing that I was still standing.

"Yeah."

"Mommy, mommy! It looks so good!" Namine said happily.

"Namine, dear, put your hands down and wait until everyone gets food before you start eating." Aerith gave her that warm smile she always had.

Why was tonight so special?

"I'll have a beer." I told her as she set drinks down. I could feel tension from her after I said that, but the kids didn't notice anything.

We all ate, mostly in silence. Aerith talked about her day; nothing new. She asked about my day, I said it was fine.

We tried not to 'fight' in front of the kids, but after dinner was finished Aerith seemed really upset. I decided to ignore it and went to watch TV, cracking open a bottle of vodka.

"Did you forget?" Aerith asked, sitting on the couch near me.

"Forget what?"

"Oh God, are you drunk?"

"So what?"

"I can't believe you forgot our own anniversary…" She marched out of the room.

"I… didn't forget! See, you just reminded me!" I fell asleep right there.

A few days later, I had a day off. The children were at school and I didn't know where Aerith was. She finally came home around two. She was dressed up like she went on a date or something; she didn't have any friends to go out with so that had to be the only possibility.

"Where have you been?" I yelled. She just walked right past me. "Hey! I'm talking to you! Don't you dare walk away—"

"STOP IT!" Aerith screamed. "I can't take this anymore…"

"Where did you go? Tell me!"

"I went to the therapist… because… I hate you!"

"Why are you going to spend my money on a therapist? What do you need help with? Are you mental?"

"You will never understand me… I'm taking my kids… and… I'm leaving!"

I smacked her across the face. She looked at me with teary eyes. Suddenly she grabbed her purse and ran for the door. I grabbed her and swung her around, forcefully trying to kiss her. She rammed her heel into my foot and then ran again.

"Oh… and by the way… I love someone else!"

"WHAT?" I hopped on one foot.

"Burn in Hell!"

"You won't leave!" I ignored the pain and went after her. I didn't know what was coming over me.

"Leave me alone!" She cried, trying to unlock the car door. I caught up to her and covered her mouth, then dragged her inside. I threw her onto the floor and stood over her.

"What… did you say?"

"Cloud… stop it!"

"So you're in love with someone else…" I took deep breaths. "Who is it?"

She didn't respond.

"DAMN IT, WHO?"

"None of your business!"

"None… of my… business?"

Aerith covered her head and cowered on the floor. I reached for the knife that was laying on the counter.

"I… am your husband… Aerith… I believe… it is my… right to know…" I couldn't control myself now. I kneeled down next to her and put the knife up against her neck. "Now I'm going to ask again… who is it?"

"Se—Seph…"

I didn't let her finish.

o.o.o

Sephiroth's POV (Present)

"You're the reason she's dead, Cloud!" I yelled from across the room. "It's your fault! Just give up already!"

"I may have given up on my family once… but I won't! My daughters did not deserve what was—" I kicked Cloud in the face.

"Why do you feel so sorry for them all of a sudden?" Sora stood up.

"Sora, what are you doing?" I yelled. "Someone, get him!"

"I did some research on you, mister." He grinned. "You're not a very nice man."

"What the hell is this kid talking about?" Cloud stepped towards Sora. Sora pulled out a huge key-like thing and pointed it at him.

"I know you killed Kairi's mommy. I know you planned to blame Sephiroth for that. I know you don't give a DAMN about Kairi and Namine… you only want them back because everyone keeps asking why you're single and what happened to your wife! But no… you kept it hidden by covering it up with your money or whatever… you're the worst of worst! You only want to look good to the public!"

"Sora…" Kairi couldn't believe him.

"Do you guys seriously believe this crap? I'm not the brightest crayon in the tree but at least I know when someone is lying!"

Everyone was astonished.

"Crayons don't… come from trees… Sora…" Zexion stated.

"Um, DUH! My point is, this guy has to be punished! Now… I'm not sure why this big key chose me, but the little mouse told me to use it so I will!"

"Sora… what the hell are you doing?"

"Argh… so annoying!" Cloud charged at Sora. My eyes widened.

"SORA!"

A huge flash of light knocked Cloud out of the window. Glass shattered everywhere. Everyone covered theirselves and screamed.

"What's happening!" Namine yelled, holding onto her sister.

Once the light disappeared, I was the first to look up. Sora was on the ground, unconscious; the key lay next to him. I rushed over to him, picked him up and shook him.

"Hey, kiddo! Wake up… wake up!" I was frantic. I couldn't stand to lose a child of mine, even if he wasn't really my child and just some kid I picked up off the street but he WAS my child regardless… okay, Sephiroth… calm down… he's fine…

"Sora…?" Kairi crawled over to us. "Sephiroth… is he…?"

"That blast of energy could've been too much for him…"

Kairi gasped. "Sora! Sora, please don't leave me… please wake up! Sora!"

The kid squirmed in my arms and opened his eyes. I was so overcome with joy that I hugged the little rascal to death.

"Ahh!" Sora jumped out of my arms. "Hey… what happened? Why were you hugging me just then? Could it be that… you really do love me, Sephiroth?"

"Oh… shut up…" I mumbled.

"YAY!" Sora tackled me to the ground. "I love you too!"

"Um… guys…" Genesis was standing at the window. He pointed downwards. Everyone crowded around to see.

Cloud lay there, on the ground. Blood was coming from his skull.

"What happened? Let me see!" Namine pushed past everyone. Once she saw, she nearly fainted.

Kairi wasn't sure what to think of it either. She just stood there quietly.

"I think it's time to go home."

"Can I take my new toy?" Sora asked. I grabbed him.

o.o.o

Kairi's POV

So… that's that.

I may have wanted my father to die, but actually seeing him dead just changed everything.

I'm not a completely heartless person…

Nobody spoke on the way home, unless you count Sora, well… he's just dumb so he doesn't count.

"Dude… you seriously don't remember what happened?" Riku asked.

"Nope… why is everyone so sad?" Sora looked around.

"Sora…" I went over to him and sat down. "Thank you."

The boy gave me a confused look. I then proceeded to hug him.

"Um… Kairi?"

"I love you, kiddo."

"Whoa… you… you love me… too?"

"Not like that… don't get any ideas. You're like a best friend to me. No… like a brother."

"After all this time… that's all you think of me?"

I knew that boy liked me, but hey… you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

"Yeah. Sorry."

"PHEW!" Sora said, relieved. I raised an eyebrow.

"I think having a girlfriend is the worst thing in the world. You have to listen to their problems, then be able solve their problems, then be there even after you've solved their problems, and if you can't solve their problems—"

I kissed his cheek to shut him up. Sora went completely red.

"You never make any sense."

I guess I could accept the fact that my father has died, that just meant that he would never be able to harm me, Namine or anyone else I care for. Even though my mother is gone, I still have great memories of her and I will always keep those in my heart. And now, with this new family, I feel wanted and accepted for who I am and the sky is the only limit. Everything happens for a reason, I suppose.

o.o.o

Namine's POV

A few months have passed. Everyone was settled back into the mansion and things were proceeding as normal. Sephiroth made Kairi and I do more chores around the house, but we weren't exactly maids.

I was helping Sora repaint his room. After many pleads to the 'Chief,' he was finally able to do it. A few others were 'dragged' into this, such as Kairi, Riku, Roxas and Axel.

"I want this wall to be blue, this wall can be green, this wall can be purple… and…" Sora scratched his chin. "That wall can be… pink!"

"Why the hell would you want a pink wall?" Riku asked.

"It brings out my feminine side. To tell the truth…" Sora cleared his throat. "I was always so confused before, never understanding anything around me, not even why I was alive. College opened my eyes and made me realize why I am here! Never did I truly realize my Raison d'être until now! This is what I'm supposed to do with my life! This is my rationale! This is my calling!" Sora picked up the pink paint bucket and began throwing paint at the wall.

"When did you go to college?" Riku asked. Sora ignored him.

"Abstraction is the greatest method for an artist to truly articulate his innermost emotions! This is how I release them! Liberating myself and letting out my dreams, my fears, my hate, everything! And now...I express my excitement!" Sora throws paint and it lands on Axel.

"It's beautiful…" Sora said.

"Moron…"

"So, Kairi…" I looked at her, "any chance for Dumbo over here?"

Kairi smiled. "Not at all."

"What about me?" Roxas appeared next to me. Before I could respond, he kissed me.

"R-Roxas…" I blushed severely.

"Namine, any chance?"

I was so nervous I fainted.

"Come on! Banzai, banzai!" Sora yelled. Everyone ignored him.

o.o.o

Genesis' POV

"Look what I made for you, Sir!" I set a huge apple pie on my Master's desk.

"Did you really make this, or did you ask someone else to?"

"Um… regardless… It's for you!"

"Thank you, Genesis. You may leave now."

"Oh… don't you look snazzy!" I noticed he was dressed in a tuxedo. "Where are you going?"

"To a funeral."

"W-what?"

"Just kidding. I'm going on a date."

"D-D-D-Date?"

The doorbell rang.

"Could you get that?" Sephiroth asked. "That must be her."

Um… Sir… might I suggest that…"

"Suggest what?"

All of a sudden, a large black wing sprouted out of my back. Sephiroth stared at me, amazed.

"You're finally growing up! Now leave!"

I cried all the way down the stairs.

o.o.o

Marluxia's POV

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that Sephiroth is making me move out of the house and start my own life! Just because I'm thirty-five years old…

"Um, sir… this lady is waiting for her haircut…"

I looked over to see a very pissed off old lady. "Oh for goodness sakes, girlfriend… I'm having a crisis here!"

"I don't care about your midlife crisis!" She began whacking me with her cane. "Now cut my hair before I beat your ass!"

"M-Midlife?" I tried dodging her attacks.

"Are you a man or woman? I don't care! Just cut my hair!"

I gasped. Just as I was about to kill her, my co-worker Selphie stopped me.

"Calm down, sir. She doesn't have much longer…" She whispered.

"ARGH! THAT'S IT! I QUIT! I'M GOING TO SPAIN TO LIVE WITH MY LOVER, MIGUEL!"

o.o.o

Zexion's POV

I'm not sure why, but I briefly dated a girl named Eternity.

Flashback

"I'm sorry, Eternity… but I just don't feel like this relationship is going anywhere. Actually, I don't feel anything at all." I said. The skinny girl that wasn't anorexic but was just really skinny looked at me with hurtful eyes.

"But I lovz u! I thoughtz weed be 2gether 4eva!"

"Right… whatever. Truth is, you get on my nerves and I can never understand anything you say. So um… go cry sexily or something."

"OMG! #%$ U! I DON'T CAR ANYMORE!" Eternity ran off.

One week of my life, wasted.

End of Flashback

Sora, Kairi and a few others were bugging me in the library. I was looking through a very interesting book I found in Cloud's office.

"So if I just write down a person's name and picture their face… they would—"

"Hey guys!" Olette appeared with some army brat and a fat kid. "I finally found friends!"

"Whoa!" Sora jumped over to them. "Hey guys! Nice to meet you!"

I stood up. I really wanted to see if this thing worked.

"This is Pence, and this is Hayner!" Olette said happily.

"Um… how do you spell that?" I asked.

"What?" Olette asked. "Why?"

"Just for… memo."

They spelled out their names for me. I wrote them down on separate pages.

"Anyway… you have no idea how happy I am to finally have some friends. We've been hanging out every day now!"

"Yeah, Olette is really awesome." Hayner said.

"Really? Because I thought she was dead." Sora said. Kairi smacked him.

Argh, I guess this book is a fake. And here I thought it could really—

Suddenly, Hayner and Pence both clutched their chests and fell to the floor. Olette screamed as I watched in awe.

"Are you guys okay? Hey! What's wrong?" Olette panicked. They stopped moving.

"I take it the Death Note worked, then?" I said aloud. I looked through the book again. Olette faced me.

"You… killed… my… friends…"

"Whoa… calm down, honey. I was only trying this thing out. I didn't think it would actually—"

"THAT'S IT! I've had ENOUGH of you! All you've ever done is push me around and abuse me… well NOT ANYMORE! NOW YOU WILL FEEL MY WRATH!" Olette grabbed Sora's Keyblade and thrust it through my chest. I stopped breathing and fell to the ground.

o.o.o

(A few days later)
Kairi's POV

So Zexion lived; he woke up about thirty minutes later saying that he didn't die because he didn't have a heart. Everything went back to normal, well except for Olette who had very deep therapy sessions with Sephiroth about everything that had been going on in her life. Sephiroth decided to send her to a foster home where he believed she would be loved and accepted.

In the meantime, Riku, Squall, Marluxia and Reno were preparing to move out. Sephiroth said they were becoming too old to keep depending on his care and insisted they left. Marluxia whined about it for a while.

"He must hate me!"

"No he doesn't." Riku said, putting his suitcase down on the floor. "You're thir—"

"Stop! Would you guys just stop reminding me of my age?" Marluxia shushed him.

"Whoa, you're older than I am." Reno snickered.

Sora ran into the room. "RIKU… YOU'RE LEAVING?"

"Um… yeah."

"Wait a minute…" Namine looked over at Genesis. "Why are you still staying here? Aren't you old too?"

"What do you mean by that?" Genesis hissed. "I… will stay here and help my Master whenever he needs it. Actually… I've come to a conclusion. I want to become just like him. I want to be a therapist."

Everyone busted out laughing.

"Shouldn't you get some help first?" Riku was rolling.

"Genesis," Sephiroth started, "move out."

Genesis cried and ran over to the corner. He curled up and sobbed.

"Zack! You're back!" Tidus exclaimed.

"Where the hell have you been?" Sephiroth asked.

Zack took deep breaths and pointed to Genesis. "That bastard shoved me in a box!"

Sephiroth glared at him.

"I THOUGHT HE WAS GETTING IN MY WAY!" Genesis ran off.

Namine and I went up to Sephiroth. "We just wanted to… thank you so much for taking care of us…" I started. "And… we don't mind that you… were in love with our mother."

"Thanks girls. But it's all over now." Sephiroth turned to Riku, Squall, Marluxia and Reno. "I've paid for the first two months of rent so you guys can get settled in. After those two months are up, you're on your own."

"Yes sir." Riku, Squall and Reno said.

"And make sure to keep in touch." I said. "We'll all miss you."

Riku came up to me and hugged me. "My offer still stands, babe."

"Eww… we're practically brother and sister…"

"Not by blood." He winked and walked off.

"Wait, why is Riku moving out, anyway?" Roxas asked. "Isn't he our age?"

"Riku asked to move out. He wants to be independent." Sephiroth stated. "With that said, I'll be going on my date now. Sora, you're in charge."

"W-What?" Everyone gave Sephiroth an astonished look, even Sora.

"Why me?"

"Yeah, why him?" Roxas yelled.

"Trust me on this." Sephiroth left.

o.o.o

Sephiroth's POV

As I was walking out of the house, Demyx showed up.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Oh… I came to see… Zexion."

"He's inside. Go on."

Sometimes I really don't understand these kids. Despite being the top therapist, there are so many things they've taught and helped me with.

I love them.

o.o.o

Zexion's POV

"Zexion! Your boyfriend is here!" Kairi called from the other room.

"What?" I ran to find Demyx, standing there with a box.

"Hey…"

We went outside to the pool area where we could talk in private.

"Here. I have some of your CDs. I just wanted to give them back." Demyx handed the box to me. "I also have your swimming trunks… you left them behind that one day…"

"Oh…"

"And… I'd also like to apologize… for running away."

My heart was racing. Did he really come back for me? I've missed him all this time and I was just starting to accept my feelings for him…

"That's all. See you, man."

"W-What?" I was speechless. "Are you… serious?"

"Yup." He walked off.

"YOU BASTARD!"

My book... where is my book... I shall trap you in the pages forever!

But he was gone. Fuck.

o.o.o

Kairi's POV

As for Tidus, Axel, Seifer and Terra, they all decided to stay in the house for another year. Namine and I will stay too. She seems pretty happy here, especially with Roxas. As for me, I'm sure my guy is out there somewhere.

"Okay! Since I'm in charge… um…" Sora was never the assertive type, but he sure was cute for trying. "go clean your rooms!" Everyone ignored him and walked off. Namine, Roxas, Axel and I stayed behind.

"You know, I'm really glad I met you two on the street that day." I said to Roxas and Sora. "Who knows where we would be now if we hadn't."

"Probably pregnant." Axel said. Namine and I glared at him.

"Well it doesn't look like it will happen to you any time soon, but Namine…" Axel winked.

"What? No way! I want to wait until I'm married."

"Since when did that ever work out for anyone?" Sora sighed and walked off.

"He never ceases to amaze me…" Namine said.

"So Namine… you really want to wait until you're married…?" She and Roxas went the other way, leaving me with Axel.

"So… do you miss your father?" He asked.

"A very small part of me does, but I'm glad he's not here anymore."

"Still hate him?"

"Of course."

"Yeah well… you can't hold a grudge forever. Move on. There's nothing you can do about it now." Axel patted me on the back and left.

o.o.o

That night we all gathered around the table. Sephiroth came back early from his date just to be with us.

"It's been crazy, but we survived. No matter what happens now, take everything you've learned and appreciate it." Sephiroth said. "A few of you are about to go your separate ways. Pretty soon, all of you will leave. Nobody knows the future, but let me say this. I will always love you guys."

"And girls!" Sora pointed to Namine and I.

"And girls." Sephiroth sighed. "By the way, I have an announcement to make."

We all listened in on what he was going to say.

"I'm quitting the therapy business… and…" he paused. "I'm getting married."

"WHAT?!"

Sephiroth just smirked and continued eating his food, leaving us all in a state of confusion.

He never told us until the wedding.

And now... he's my uncle.

o.o.o

The End

o.o.o

A/N: (3/16/2014) I EDITED THE ENDING SO THERE IS NO ROOM FOR A SEQUEL.

(Sorry everyone, I just don't have the desire to finish Cupcake Factory. It will probably be deleted). It's not fair to you at all!

But if you want the file to Cupcake Factory, PM me or let me know in a review.

Also, sorry that Sora and Kairi didn't get together in the end.
...Namine and Roxas did, though! Isn't that enough...?
I have plenty of SoKai stories (hence the name) so check 'em out!

Don't try to figure out the plot.
Just read this when you need a laugh.

Kthxbai~