Across the Shadows

They headed back to Riku's place, and the two of them explained the worlds to the younger newcomer. Yukio listened intently, fasinated with this new place. He was always one to spend time learning new things.

Of course the other two didn't realize that one of the better things he had learned from his daddy, was the art of pick pocketing, and general theivery. After all, what would one expect from the son of Virus.

When they arrived at the house, Riku started searching his pockets for his keys. "The hell? I was sure I had brought them with me."

Axel laughed at him, "figures that you'd forget your keys."

"Shut up Axel! I remember picking them up before I left!"

"Well mybe you lost them somewhere."

They were too busy bickering to see Yukio pick the lock and open the door. "The door's open now," he said meekly. Offering them a soft smile.

"How'd you do that?" Axel asked, follwing Riku into the house.

"It's rather simple actually. My dad taught me how to do it, along with a few other things. Of course father doesn't really approve of it, so it's kind of a secret." He then tossed Riku's keys on the table.

"Hey! Where'd you find those?" Riku snatched the keys up.

"Um... in your pocket?"

Axel laughed as he plopped down onto the couch, shaking his head. "That's a good one."

Riku just glared at Yukio, not believing that the kid could snatch his keys without him knowing. "What else did you manage to take."

Instead of answering, Yukio started emptying his pockets, pulling out everything that both Riku and Axel had on them. There was a neat little pile on the coffee table when he was done. "You two carry so much useless stuff on yourselves... the pocket lint was almost worth more."

It was now Riku's turn to laugh and for Axel to glare. Yukio just shrugged, blushing faintly, then sat down in one of the chairs next to the couch. "So you're dad taught you how to be a theif?" Thinking that he would make the boy feel a bit ashamed for what he had done.

"Yes," he nodded, still smiling. "My dad was the most elusive theif that Midgar ever had. They could never figure out who he was, nor could they capture him. He was nicknamed Virus."

"So why did you pick out pockets, and not some random person on the street?" Riku voiced.

"Simple, I knew that I could return the things I took from the two of you easily. I mean, I don't normaly pick people's pockets, but it's good practice. Too see if I am able to do it to other people, instead of somebody execting it. If that makes sense."

"Yeah... I guess it does... in some sorta twisted sense."

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It was about a week later, that Riku and Axel were arriving home after taking care of a heartless attack. Axel had been spending more time there since it was decided that Yukio would stay there.

They could hear the heavy base line of music turned up loud from outside. Inside, waiting for them, was something they never expected to see.

Yukio had the music pumping, and it was a driving beat, something almost techno or trance. He had his long jacket off and folded neat to the side. He was wearing a deep crimson mesh sleeveless shirt, that showed off the nipple and navel rings that were normaly hidden. His lithe body was moving with the music, as though possessed by the very beat. His hips swaying in such a seductive manner, it was hard not to notice. To say he was a good dancer was putting it mildly.

Over the loud music, Axel murmured just loud enough for Riku to hear. "If you don't make a move... I will."

"Touch him and I'll kick your ass." Riku hissed back.

Unknown to them, Yukio's enhanced hearing allowed him to listen to what they were saying. A sly smirk came across his lips, as he dipped low to the ground, twisting his hips on the way back up, giving them a good view of his ass. When he knew he had their undivided attention, he looked back over his shoulder and blew them a little kiss.

Riku and Axel blinked, then glared at each other, as though ready to break out into a fight over who the kiss was meant for.

Sensing this, Yukio made his way over to them, slinking up to press himself against Riku and wrapping his arms around his neck. He almost seemed to purr. "You were the one who stole my first kiss...." Then leaned up to place a soft kiss on his cheek, before slipping easily away towards Axel.

Once his arms were around the older man, and he was pressed firmly against him, he murmured for them both to hear. "But I would like to give my second kiss to you...." Shyly leaning up to press their lips together. It took a moment for Axel's mind to click into what was happening, but when he did, he responded eagerly. He was about to demand for more, when Yukio slipped away from him as easily as he had Riku.

"And remember boys... no fighting over me." Dancing across the room and out the back door, leaving it wide open so he can hear the music out there.

It was a hard thing to do, not fight over him. Since both Axel and Riku wanted this exotic stranger so badly.

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Yukio had managed to escape from the house, without either of them realizing it. They didn't suspect that he was going to the back yard just to hop the fence and take a break from them.

He knew that they'd end up fighting over him, then a little later on, one or both would try to seduce him. It wasn't that he didn't like them, just that he wasn't ready for that sort of thing. Plus he didn't really know which one he liked more, if he did like them enough to get involved.

Without knowing how long he was going to be here, he didn't want to start anything serious, knowing how hard it would be for all when he finally returned home.

After walking around aimlessly for a while, he saw two familuar figures coming towards him. They looked alot like some of those he knew back home. Needing to be sure, he remained walking towards them. Once he was walking past the blonde one, he reached out to snag the wallet out of his pocket, making sure that his 'victim' felt it. One achieved, he ducked into the alley next to him and waited.

"The hell?! That punk just stole my wallet!"

Yukio heard footsteps coming his way, and waited. When the man entered, Yukio got a good look at him. "Cloud?"

"Yeah?" A little confused as to why this kid wasn't running, and just how he knew his name. "Who wants to know?"

Almost in tears from being so happy, he lunged at Cloud and hugged him tightly. "Oh uncle Cloud! I was so worried that I would never see you or any of the others again."

"I didn't know that you had any siblings, Cloud. Why didn't you tell me?" Sephiroth pouting, trying to hold back the amused smirk.

"I don't have any siblings, you idiot! And I have no idea who this punk is!" Cloud pushed Yukio off of him.

The younger looked between the two of them, and it instantly clicked. These weren't members of his family... these were other versions. His happiness faded into sorrow. He had been so sure that they were here to take them home, he never thought that they might actually be of this world. Though now it looked as though he was not only on a different world, but in a completely different universe as well.

"I... I'm sorry... I thought you were somebody else...." He handed Cloud back his wallet, and moved to leave the alley, pushing past both of them before he broke out into tears.

Sephiroth grabbed his arm before he could escape, and pulled him back. "Just a minute kid. You have some explaining to do." Forcing Yukio to look at him.

By now the tears were falling, and he shook his head. "I told you, I thought you were somebody else... I'm really sorry. I only took the wallet to get your attention... I wanted to see if you were really who I thought you were. Everything's still in it... I'm sorry... please let me go."

The taller man glanced to Cloud, who nodded to him. True to his word, Yukio had taken nothing out of it. Sephiroth sighed, then took a better look at the boy. "You're not from around here are you? What world do you come from?"

Yukio froze, not sure how to answer that. "None that you have heard of I am sure... infact, I am not even from the same universe as this one."

Cloud and Sephiroth blinked at each other, then looked back to Yukio. "Perhaps we should take this elsewhere... I've got a feeling that this is going to take a while."

Sephiroth let Yukio go as Cloud started to protest. "Just why do we have to spend anymore time listening to what this kid has to say...."

He was cut off before he could start ranting. "Because... this could prove to be interesting. Plus aren't you curious why he mistook you for his uncle?"

Yukio added, "Actually, you both look like uncles I have back home."

The older man laughed, then pushed Cloud forward. "This should be interesting... now move it." Taking Yukio's arm in a courtly manner as they headed for a nearby cafe.

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Once he had finished telling them the whole story, including the history of his family, starting with his uncle Cloud and Sephiros, he looked down into his cup of tea. It had gone cold by now, but that was nothing new to him. His tea often went cold while he was studying.

Cloud was the first to speak. "That is some fucked up family you have there kid."

Sephiroth was about to scold him for being rude, when Yukio nodded. "Yeah... I know... and I miss them terribly. Including all the crap that we have to go through in order to be left alone."

Another short silence before Sephi inquired. "So, where are you staying while you're on this world?" Hoping that he wasn't living off the streets.

"With Riku and Axel...."

"Ha! Told you those two were fucking."

Yukio shook his head. "No.. they aren't doing anything like that to each other. It's still Riku's place... but it seems that since I have arrived, Axel has been spending alot of time there."

"Does Axel like you?"

"I think they both like me... that's why I'm not back there. They're probably fighting over me again." He sighed and shook his head.

"Alright... so what about you? Do you like either of them?"

"I... I'm not sure. I mean, I think I might... but I can't... it wouldn't be fair... it wouldn't be right to have to leave somebody behind when I finaly find a way to get back home."

"What if you don't find a way?" Cloud asked. "Are you prepared to live your life like that? To let yourself be miserable and alone until the day you day, for the mere hope of going back home? That sounds like a stupid thing to do. Even if you don't get involved, and you do find a way home, don't you think you'll regret not seeing if you could have had some sort of relationship with either of them. You looks so freaking terrible right now, like as if your world is falling apart. The least you should do is try and have a little fun while you're here. At the very least, something that will make you happy, even if everything else around here goes to shit."

Yukio hadn't thought of not being able to get home, and it made his heart sink even lower. "I... I'll keep that in mind." Sighing, he looked out the window, only now noticing just how late it had gotten. "Thank you for the tea, and for listening... but I should be getting back now. They're probably worried about me... or have managed to kill each other." He offered them a smile, then slipped out of the cafe.

Sephiroth chuckled, and mussed up Cloud's hair. "Who knew you could be so.. uncle-ish."

Cloud swatted at Sephi and grumbled. "Shut up."

With an amused smile, Sephi reached into his pocket, then frowned slightly. "Looks like you'll be getting this Cloudy... seems I left my wallet at home."

He rolled his eyes at the taller man, then reached for his own wallet. Feeling something that wasn't there before, Cloud smirked. "Actaully, Sephi... looks like you're still buying." He handed him his wallet.

Seems Yukio was a far better pickpocket then either of them suspected.