Happy House

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Warning: This fanfic will contain explicit scenarios, bxb love, and a lot of foul language.

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1: Seven Is Enough

---WANTED---

Who: ?

When: Right now, if possible.

Time Period: 3 months

Must: Be domestically trained, be a human being, be able to work with people they've never met before, be physically fit, brush their teeth everyday, be good with their hands, know the difference between a hammer and a nail, like cookie dough ice-cream

Can: Lift more than 50 lbs., breath, climb stairs, chew gum and walk at the same time

Compensation: 300 million yen

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Enter Cloud Strife

"The Pretty Boy"

Age: 21

The tall figure was casually dressed in a white t-shirt, faded jeans, and Converses. He had striking blue eyes and against his perfectly tan skin, chiseled features, and brilliant blond hair, he was irresistible. He set his duffel bag on the floor, which contained the bit of material possession he had, and peered into the mansion. The newspaper ad was still stuffed underneath his arm. The ad had intrigued him. All honesty, he had no idea what the hell it was asking but that money looked mighty tempting. He was just hoping that he wasn't going to be probed by some perverted psycho. He had enough psychos in his life. He wouldn't mind a probe…if he was hot enough.

He had called two weeks ago to an anonymous voice message. He left his name and number and hung up. Feeling doubtful, he decided to forget the job and set his sights on something more conspicuous. It was probably a hoax anyways. Cloud had forgotten about the ad when just a week ago he received a text message from an unknown number:

Congrats! You have been selected for a position. Please bring enough clothes for three months. Meet at Green Oaks Manor at exactly 3 p.m. Don't be late. I hate late people. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don't forget your toothbrush.

The door had been left unlock so he took the liberty to let himself in and make himself at home. He looked out the door and into the winding driveway, which had taken him an eternity to climb because the house was built on a sloping hill. The mansion was beautiful but it was falling apart. The damage was not noticeable. It was something you learned to see when you worked as a carpenter. Cloud had actually wanted to become an architect but after his parents had died, he was forced to leave school and work. His eye for detail, his excellent craftsmanship, and amateur understanding of structure had resulted in an apprenticeship at a carpenter's studio. But just a few months ago, his boss, whom he respected and cared for as a father figure, had died. So, that left him jobless again. And with him and his brother's mouth to feed, he had to find a job that could support them. When he saw the ad, he saw fast cash. He saw money he could use to continue to send his brother to school. He didn't want him to end up like him.

Cloud opened the door fully and stared at the teenage boy with same undeniably beautiful blue eyes.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Cloud held the door open for him and gave him a half-hearted smile.

"It smells weird inside there."

Cloud had hardly noticed the smell. "It's because the house hasn't been used for awhile. Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

Cloud had forced his brother to accompany him. He felt uncomfortable leaving his brother alone in their home for three months. He wasn't sure what the job entailed but if it meant not being able to see his brother, he knew he could not accept the job. Cloud knew his brother could take care of himself but since their parents' death, he has turned a little overprotective and a tad overbearing. Just a tad. But his brother was a good kid.

"Are you sure I can come with you?"

"Remember I jump, you jump."

"You got that from Titanic."

Cloud shrugged. "You know what I mean."

His brother reluctantly walked through the threshold. He gripped his backpack and scanned the enormous home. The foyer, which was the size of their entire house, opened into several rooms. Thick paper white columns separated the rooms and rich marble covered the floors. Directly in front of him stood an elaborate winding staircase that appeared to have no end.

Cloud wasn't use to such finery. His life had always been simple. Cloud led his brother into the house. He tried to conceal his own reservations about the mysterious job. They both felt movement from the main door and were surprised to see another person standing in the doorway.

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Enter Leon Lionheart

"The Mystery Man"

Age: 21

The dark figure stared at the house sitting on a hill with uncertainty. A gate and nearly a mile of walking distance separated him and the house he was supposed to live in for three months. Normally, we would never have answered such a mysterious ad. He lived life in the fast lane but he seldom consciously put his life in danger. For all he knew, he was walking into inevitable death. But he needed the money and the ad never asked for any specific skills. He could cook but he would never openly admit to that.

Leon brushed back his deep chocolate brown hair and hiked the bag sitting on his shoulder. If he was going to do this than he better do it now before his reasonable side decided to kick him in the ass. The things he did for money.

He walked the expanse of the mile in contemplation. His mind went back and forth. A couple times he actually stopped in indecision. But he could practically touch that 3 million yen and he moved forward. The mansion was enormous, already clearly visible a mile away. Now that he was near it, he was miniscule in comparison. The land seemed to go on for miles. There wasn't another house in sight. The terrain was an indication that the house had been abandoned for years. Though the garden appeared as if someone came in to water it on a weekly basis, the rest of the property was nearly decaying. The house itself stood in immaculate condition, as far as he could tell. But the landscaping was a mess. He had worked as a landscapist a year ago for a dick that thought he knew everything. The only thing he knew was just how to piss him off.

Leon felt the sweat making its way down his shirt. By preference, he seldom wore any other color except black. The walk wouldn't have been as exhausting if the heat wasn't so powerful.

Through sweaty brows, he saw the blurry image of an open door. He strolled through the remainder of the winding driveway and the stone pavement into the house. He was surprised to see a group of people already inside. He had assumed that this was going to be a one-person job. People made him nervous. He scanned the room. And there were kids. Kids made him even more nervous. Leon sighed and walked carefully into the room. He made no eye contact. Though, everyone's eyes were on him. In an effort to play friendly, he looked up from the floor.

He met his gaze instantly. Soft blue invaded his vision. Leon had never seen anything more beautiful. They held their stare for seconds before Leon turned his head away from a feeling of unexpected anxiety. He shifted his attention to the remainder of the clan, trying to avoid the figure with blue eyes. He was sweating again but this time not from the heat.

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Enter Riku Miyazaki

"The Bad Boy (With a Soft Spot For Cute Blue-Eyed Brunettes)"

Age: 18

Riku was extremely tired and damn hungry. His stomach was growling for food. He hadn't eaten a decent meal since he was fourteen. After the mile to reach the fortress of solitude, he felt a terse feeling in the pit of his stomach. He sensed something big was going to happen. Propelled by hunger and curiosity, he stepped onto immaculate marble flooring. He spied two other people in the mansion. He guessed this was like an interview process.

He was making his way to greet them when he locked eyes with a familiar face. His features were memorable. In an instant the recognition had hit him. Of all the people in the world, he was staring into the face of his first love.

It had been nearly four years since he had seen him but Riku was certain that the boy standing before him was Sora. His features had changed slightly but his bright blue eyes and chestnut brown hair were undeniable. They parted suddenly and Riku was never given the chance to confront Sora about his feelings. He was scared that Sora might never learn to accept him as more than a childhood friend. So he kept his feelings but meant to tell him when the time was just right. Then Sora's parents died and everything changed.

Sora's looks were still soft, reflecting his personality. But bits of masculine appeal traced his face and chiseled his jaw. Riku wasn't sure if this chance meeting was destiny (though he liked that idea a lot) or a curse. It had taken well over three years for Riku to accept Sora never coming back into his life and moving on. Was he going to fall back in love with now?

Riku flashed back to the day before Sora had left…

4 Years Ago

Rain fell into the open window of the tree house. Thunder was audible from miles away. The storm had arrived without any warning. One minute the sun was shining and the next minute, cumulus clouds had formed overhead, shooting dime-size drops of rain at 60 m/ph. The day seemed so promising. Riku had planned to confront Sora about his deep-seated feelings. He had pictured opening his heart out to him under a blanket of stars not a catastrophic rainstorm.

Riku glanced beside him towards the boy of his dreams. He had grown up with Sora. They were practically inseparable. Though they were complete opposites, Riku could not deny the attraction he had for him. He could not let go of the idea that maybe this was the person he was meant to be with. Sora had not spoken since they arrived at the tree house, a structure they had built together with their own hands. They met there more often than they went home. It was a nice spot. A quiet, unknown location, for them to only know. Riku could sense there was something wrong. He always had a sixth sense for disaster, like a silver haired Spider-Man. It was always hard for Sora to hide any feelings. And Riku knew his friend so well.

Riku watched his friend stare blankly out the open window. His body was present but his mind was elsewhere. Sora had lost his parents a few months earlier. His brother and he were basically living off their parents' savings, which was very little. Then Sora's brother, Cloud, decided to quit school, to work full time and support their livelihood. No matter what Riku said, Sora was convinced he was to blame for everything. His face was pained with guilt. Riku had always been independent. But, Sora relied on his family and was very much close to them.

Riku wrapped his arm around his friend hoping to get a response. Instead, Sora continued to stare at the heavy rainfalls outside. Riku relished in the stolen moment with his arm draped around the person he cared for the most in the world. Even though Sora might never return the feeling, it was times like these that he was thankful for life.

"Hey, tomorrow, let's grab some of those sweet rolls you like and ride out to…"

"I'm moving." The interruption was like a stab to the heart.

"What?" Riku had heard him but he could not believe it. He would not believe it.

"Cloud got some job and we need to move," his gaze finally drifted towards Riku, "We leave tomorrow."

Riku could feel his heart breaking. His body struggled to stay steady. His mind was on the verge of a meltdown. "You're kidding, right?"

Sora shook his head. "I'm not, Riku." His answer was straight to the point. It was aimed at his heart.

"But…"

"Don't worry we'll see each other again. And plus you won't have me to bug you anymore."

Riku tried to smile but it seemed as though the frown was plastered to his face. "Right."

"Besides, maybe its for the best."

Riku could not for the life of him find the silver lining in this tragedy. He wasn't really sure if he was going to survive without Sora. He was the only friend he had. He loved him.

"Do you promise you'll come and visit me?" Riku was desperate for a yes.

"Sure, Riku. You're my best friend." Riku tried to read his face for truth but could not decipher the emotion written on Sora's face.

Riku held onto the hope that Sora would keep his word and come and visit him. His greatest fear was that Sora would move on and no longer need him. He'd find a new best friend, a girlfriend, a wife…something. Something that didn't involve Riku. Even as Riku stared at Sora, he could feel their connection slipping.

Since Sora's departure, Riku continued to wait for his friend. It was only after the third year of waiting that Riku finally lost hope. By this time, he had abandoned college, the future, and maybe even life.

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Enter Sora Strife

"The Clueless Cutie"

Age: 17

Coming to this mansion wasn't exactly what he thought he'd do for summer vacation. He was thinking about riding his bike and watching T.V., not being trapped in a musky old mansion. But he wanted to be with his brother. Since their parents' death, Sora was reluctant to be apart from Cloud. He was the only family he had left.

He stared at the door and watched the unknown figure approach them. Sora held back tears. He felt the rhythm in his heart palpitate and increase.

The recognition was instantaneous. Sora stared at the childhood best friend that had become a stranger to him. His face had hardened. He looked callous and unwelcoming. He moved like a hurricane, destroying everything in his path. Though his face had changed, Riku had a presence that Sora had never forgotten. Sora hadn't seen his friend in nearly four years. They had loss contact. He no longer knew the boy before him.

Sora watched his old friend approach them. The guilt began to seep into his system. Sora wasn't quite sure what to say. The word sorry kept flashing before his eyes. He had promised to come back to him but never did. Cloud and he had moved a lot. By the time they had truly settled down, nearly three years had passed. By then, he knew Riku had moved on and made new friends better than him. But, Sora always missed him and he thought about him constantly.

"Sora."

Sora stared into steely aquamarine eyes. "Riku, how are you?" Sora smiled, hoping to tear down some harshness on his face.

Riku could not make himself smile. He still felt bitter. But God, Sora was so cute when he smiled.

Cloud could feel the tension between them so he decided to wander the house, in an attempt to try to piece together the puzzle of this predicament. Sora eyed his brother and watched him leave in agony. Alone, he could no longer hide behind his brother. The discomfort was unbearable. He swore to get his brother back for ditching him.

"How have you been?" Sora repeated.

"Well. And you?" Riku was lost in old feelings again. He could feel his hormones taking over his body. Only Sora could do this to him. He masked his attraction with more unwelcoming stares.

Honestly, Sora was a little scared of Riku. He was staring at him so hard, it was burning holes in his retina. But he was scared to look away. He didn't want to be rude.

"Okay. Are you here for the job?" Sora needed to change the subject. He needed a drink of water. Damn, he needed a beer.

"Yeah. You?"

"Cloud's here for the job. I'm just tagging along." The discomfort heightened. They used to talk so freely. He wasn't use to being so casual with Riku. His mind drifted towards happier times with him. He remembered the tree house, the sweet rolls, and riding bikes.

"Hey guys! Look here!" Cloud's appeared suddenly in the doorframe of another room. Sora was thankful for the interruption. He was holding an apple. He sunk his teeth into it. The juices dripped down his chin.

Riku watched him licking his lips. Don't get the wrong idea. He's hungry remember?

Sora crossed the room to meet his brother. Riku did the same, anxious to see more food.

"There's a whole frig full of food and cabinets and a closet. It's like heaven." Riku's stomach was talking to him again and it was telling him to get his ass in the kitchen.

The instant they turned to leave, another figure appeared at the door. He was tall, dark, and handsome. Cloud was particularly interested.

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Enter Tifa Lockhart

"The Hopeless Romanic and Shopaholic"

Age: 20

"Oh my god!" Tifa cried aloud. She could see the mansion in her peripheral vision. She could practically grab it. But was she any nearer to it? No. There was nothing in the newspaper ad that said she had to walk a goddamn mile to get to the mansion. She had turned around twice already, convincing herself that this was not worth it. She could dance in the street naked and probably get the same amount of money. But, she wasn't really the type to publicly expose. Sure she was loud and a little obnoxious but she would never take her clothes off for money…Tifa shook her head in confirmation.

She decided to drop out of school this last semester because she wanted to begin her career as a singer. But, she learned the hard way she couldn't sing for beans. To punish her, her father decided to cut her off completely. She begged and pleaded but she was on her own. When she saw the ad, she knew this was an easy way to get some cash. So, after all this trouble to drop out of school, she wanted back in. She needed enough money for the entrance fee and 3 million yen sounded just about right, plus some left over for maybe a new pair of shoes.

She pulled on her rollaway luggage. The text message had specifically said to pack enough clothes for three months but Tifa found that a challenge. Her paranoia forced her to add more clothes until the damn thing weighed nearly twice her weight. Stupid scenarios kept popping into her head like blizzards, hurricanes, and typhoons. Three hours of packing and the amount of sweaters outweighed the number of underwear. And she was sure she would need underwear everyday.

If she had known she'd have to climb a mountain, she would have left her knee-high boots, iron, and hot-pot back home.

Fatigued and dehydrated, Tifa hardly noticed the bubbly figure striding across the expanse of empty winding terrain to the mansion. Tifa halted to a dead stop and watched her run under the heat like an idiot. Tifa felt like she was traveling in the Gobi desert. This stranger looked like she was having the time of her life.

The girl turned around and smiled. "Are you going to the mansion too?"

Tifa didn't have the energy to play nice. "What are you doing at the mansion?"

"I'm here for a job."

Funny, Tifa was here for a job too. What a coincidence. "Me too."

Tifa dragged her sweating body to meet the stranger.

The girl stretched her arm out for a handshake. "My name's Yuffie."

Tifa stared at the girl's hand and took it. "Tifa."

Tifa walked a long side Yuffie, a little happy for some company. Tifa was becoming a little anxious. Just how many people were going to work here? Was it going to be just her and Yuffie? Was she was going to survive being with Yuffie 24/7? Tifa was beginning to think this might be a bad idea.

"Hey, your bag looks really heavy."

"No shit."

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Enter Yuffie Kisaragi

"The Hyper Obsessive"

Age: 19

Yuffie was excited. The text message came as a surprise. She had been hoping it would be that cute blonde who sat in front of her in Chemistry. Though for him to text message her, he'd have to notice her. Well, the noticing actually wasn't the problem because she usually caused a scene wherever she went. The problem (and really, it was just a little one) was getting him to acknowledge her as more than the silly girl who sat behind him.

She saw this as a mini vacation from all her post-pubescent boy drama. The job was intriguing. And it was a welcome change to usual summer couch potato mode. If she weren't hiking up this never-ending hill, she'd be watching reruns of I Love Lucy. She was grateful and confused to see another body up ahead. She was wondering where all the echoing cursing was coming from.

She looked exhausted. And no wonder. Her boobs were the size of two of Yuffie's heads. She didn't know they made them that big. Yuffie looked down at her own breasts and shrugged. She wasn't lacking but they were more of cantaloupes not watermelons.

After some brief acquaintance, they hiked together through the blistering hike up towards the cream colored mansion. When they got there, the door was open and a crowd had formed in the foyer. Yuffie looked around in bliss. She had never seen so many hot guys congregating in one spot. It was like picking candy in a candy store. (Too bad they weren't exactly interested in what she had to offer).

"Tifa, these guys are hot," Yuffie squealed. She already took dibs on the dark haired stranger with the weight of his body against the doorframe.

"Yeah. I have my eye on the blonde hottie." Yuffie had to agree he was gorgeous.

The pair walked towards the group cautiously, not wanting to disturb the aura of hotness around them. The group of men finally turned their attention to the two women that just invaded their bubble of security. They nodded their heads, showing their approval. Yuffie came in for the kill.

She slipped through the group of strangers and made her way towards the bored figure. It had always been easy for her to make friends. She was a welcoming person. She always knew what to say to help people open up. But in front of him, she was frozen. Nothing witty, brilliant, or charming to say was coming to her. For the first time in her life, she was speechless. So she decided to start out simple.

"Hello." That was as simple as it comes.

He didn't even bother to look up. His eyes were fixed elsewhere. Yuffie felt defeated. She really wished he wasn't scanning Tifa's goodies.

"Pretty strange, huh? Us, being here…together." It was like talking to a brick wall.

"My name's Yuffie." Yours?

Suddenly, his attention drifted towards her and he looked at her as if realizing she was in front of him for the first time. Sincerely, he hadn't noticed her before. His attention was elsewhere. Sightseeing? Yuffie was melting under his stormy grayish blue eyes. She must have done something to catch his attention. Like become an annoyance?

She caught sight of the scar that ran through his face. She bit her lip to hide the smile inching its way on her face. He obviously lived dangerously. He had a hidden past. Yuffie was drawn to this bad boy side of him.

Now that he was looking at her, she didn't have much to say. Should she repeat everything she had just said?

Tall, dark, and handsome straightened and brushed past her. Yuffie watched him follow the crowd into the kitchen. She bit her lip and sighed in frustration. He wasn't going to get away that easily. She'd get him sooner or later.

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Enter Kairi Ogatama

"Neat Freak"

Age: 16

The kitchen was the size of her living room, family room, and two-car garage. The pantry was packed with food. It was just the right amount of food to feed a handful of people for about three months. Kairi folded her arms and stared at her companions. She had arrived and to her great surprise, she realized she wasn't alone. She wasn't dumb. She knew that not just one person was going to be chosen for this infamous position. They all were going to live here. It was survival of the fittest. Mano a mano. God help her if she wasn't going to get that 300 million yen. She had entered into this fiasco blindly, solely motivated by the smell of yen.

She scrutinized the group. If she didn't know any better, she'd swear she was in a modeling agency. One guy looked like he could be on the cover of GQ, the other on Teen Bop posters, and a couple on Most Desired Criminals. The girls weren't any better. One of them looked like she just had some enhancements.

Kairi's ill-tempered examination was interrupted by a slight bump to the forearm. She turned around and came face to face with the potential teen idol. His lips curved in apology. His smile was welcoming.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to bump you." Sora could sense her negative energy. But she seemed harmless. A little bitchy but harmless.

Kairi's glare slipped. She was just annoyed at the situation and not his accidental collision. Sora drew back, eager to hide in the crowd where she might not be able to kill him in plain view.

"My name's Sora." He was hoping that maybe an introduction might cool her temperament.

Kairi gave in. "Kairi." She watched his hand rise, asking for a handshake. She stared at it blankly and shook it reluctantly.

Riku watched the pair interact and felt like throwing a blunt object. His emotions were nonsensical and irrational. It had taken him nearly three years to finally find peace with possibly never finding happiness again. And out of nowhere, he comes back into his life. Instead of patching up their friendship, he was scamming on some random chick. Riku reached for an orange. Upon feeling it within his grasp, he realized it was just made of wax. A hit with this to the head wouldn't hurt nearly as much as the real thing. He scanned the table again and thought about using a water bottle when he finally came to his senses.

So he was making nice with that girl. It wasn't like he liked her or…oh my god! They were touching. Sure it was just a handshake but that could progress. Before he knew it, they'd be on the floor…Riku head his head with the palm of his hand. He was thinking crazy.

He went to an unmarked corner hoping to escape from his thoughts. This wasn't good. Deny it as much as he wanted the truth remained. He was still in love with Sora. The feeling was overwhelming. Even at this very moment, he was thinking dirty thoughts. Oh the things he could do to him if they were alone. And Sora wasn't a screamer. Or was he? Riku rolled his eyes, disgusted by his perversion. Obviously, he hadn't been so lucky in love. How could he move on when he was so busy getting over Sora?

Riku strolled to the fridge, eager to tame his hormones with some food. He reached for a carton of milk and drank it gingerly.

"Hey, grab a glass. We have to drink that too, you know."

Riku lowered his eyes to the petite figure beside him. He ignored her and continued to drink.

"Are you listening to me?" Yuffie wasn't in the mood to play nice. She had just made of fool of herself prancing around that stoic Leon character with no avail. He hardly even breathed her way. She was ready to take her anger out on anyone that pissed her off just right.

Riku was getting a little annoyed. His mood was rotten. If this chick didn't stop messing with him, he might just do something he'd regret later on.

"Leave me alone." Riku brushed passed her, the milk carton still attached to his lips.

"Only if you stop drinking out of the carton."

"There's a fridge full of milk."

"That's not the point." Yuffie's anger level was on high alert.

Riku finally set the carton down and glared at her. "Leave me alone. You're just pissed that Leon guy won't give you a time of day."

Yuffie could feel her blood boiling. "Take that back."

"No."

"Take it back!"

"NO!"

The group had turned their attention to the bickering taking place beside the fridge. Everyone stood back and watched them feud through a combination of death glares and growls. The spectacle was entertaining against the uncertain future. And if they all had to live together, it was nice to know it wasn't going to be boring.

Riku hoped that this Yuffie girl was going to be eliminated from the house. What was this? Survivor? She didn't seem like she'd be any help. The only thing she was good for was reasserting his sexuality. No wonder he was never into girls. They were just all drama.

Cloud finally stepped in to settle madness. He put an arm on each person and pulled them apart so that the fight wouldn't escalate to a more violent level. Yuffie hardly noticed Cloud. She was too busy thinking of ways to decapitate Riku. Riku, on the other hand, was bothered by the unwarranted intrusion. It was always like Cloud to play the superhero.

"I think you guys had enough." Cloud was unfazed by Riku's steely stares. He dealt with people like him, who thought they knew everything. Cloud was a little upset that Riku had re-entered Sora's life. He didn't know anything except how to cause trouble. Less than an hour here and he was already causing a scene.

"Mind your own business." Riku rolled his eyes and shrugged, aggressively brushing Cloud's hand from his shoulder.

Cloud was beginning to think that no matter what he said, Riku was going to continue to act like an ass. So, he turned his attention to Yuffie.

"Yuffie, why don't we back off and leave him alone."

Yuffie had forgotten why she was mad at Riku in the first place. And walking off with Cloud didn't sound so bad.

"Yeah Yuffie, run along." Riku gestured her away. Yuffie remembered why she was mad again. He was an asshole.

"Make me, jerk."

Cloud shook his head. He was back at square one. It was like babysitting little children. He pulled away and put his hands up in defeat. He watched them scowl at each other.

"It was worth a try."

The voice was warm and sensual. Cloud felt goose bumps on every inch of his body. He turned around to meet gray blue eyes.

"Yeah." Cloud was paralyzed.

Leon leaned in closer. Their arms touched. Cloud liked the contact but thought that he better pull away lest he do something irrational like jump him and have his way with him. Cloud's dirty thoughts were interrupted by footsteps.

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The footsteps belonged to a figure with long white hair. He walked into the room and his presence demanded attention. He was nicely dressed in an expensive gray pinstriped suit. He scanned the room and put his hands behind his back. He straightened at the sight of the confused group of people before him. His amber eyes lingered from one person to the next until he completely surveyed the crowd and his attention yielded upon seeing Sora. He felt out of place. The count was off and he hated surprises.

The room was an eerie quiet. The unknown stranger's footsteps echoed in the unbelievably large room. Marble made contact with genuine leather. The group parted, allowing him to cut through the center with ease. He stopped just inches in front of Sora. He bent down to examine him and cocked his head as if he had never seen such a specimen before. Out of curiosity, he poked him on the nose.

Sora leaped back and rubbed at the spot on his nose where the stranger's finger had made unwarranted contact. "Hey!" He felt like an animal on exhibition.

"You don't belong here." The stranger's words were firm. He wanted to poke him a second time but his attempt was interrupted by Cloud's intrusion.

"He's my brother." Cloud stood as a barricade. If the nut was going to poke someone else, he'd have to poke him as a substitute. "And stop poking him."

The stranger's lips curved into a smile. "You look fun."

Cloud shimmied backward to avoid any physical contact…just in case. "I do?"

"I didn't give you permission to bring more people. I said clothes and a toothbrush."

Cloud was taken back. It was apparent that this freak owned the place. "Well, if you can't let him stay then I'll go."

He could feel Sora squirming behind him. Sora didn't want to ruin any chances of his brother finally getting work. "Cloud…" Sora whispered.

"I don't like being put in a corner. How about if we keep him in a cage out back and you can visit him from time to time?"

"Huh? He's not an animal." Cloud was beginning see all his fears come alive. He was a damn psycho and he was going to kill them.

The stranger nodded his head indecisively, mentally debating whether Sora was an animal or not. In the meantime, Sora felt a little insecure. He never saw himself as an animal before. And the idea of staying in a cage was scaring him.

Cloud watched him pace in front of them, battling with the part of him that might be human being.

"Okay, he can stay but he'll have to work too."

"And he can stay in the house?"

The stranger sighed. He was really hoping to use the cage he got for the pet lion he wanted to buy in Africa two years ago. "Okay, fine."

The stranger turned around to refocus his attention on the remainder of the group. The crowd stared back at him in horror. Their greatest fears were being reaffirmed. They were in the hands of a madman. They'd have to sleep with one eye open tonight.

"My name is Akira Ansem. I own this humble abode and I own all of you." The crowd grew weary. Leon shook his head and focused his attention on Cloud, who seemed to be the only driving influence on him staying. "I brought you all here to care for this mansion for three full months. This mansion has been neglected for a couple years and because of it, the place is practically falling apart. Each of you will have a part in making this mansion new again."

"How about the money?" Kairi wanted to get to the point. She was not ready to share 300 million yen between 7 people.

Ansem smiled at her. "You're going to be a cheeky one. Yes, the yen. I am offering each of you 300 million yen." He cut his attention to Cloud and Sora. "But not you two. You two will have to share it." He stared back at the crowd and a snide grin crawled across his face. Yuffie was getting a funny feeling about this guy. She knew guys like him and they always belonged behind bars or in a straight jacket. "There is a small catch."

Tifa grunted. She knew there was a catch.

"It's a teeny tiny one really. In order for each of you to get this money, you must all live in this house together. If anyone leaves, no one gets the money. And there is no contact from the outside world. The only people allowed near this house are the people you see before you."

Kairi opened her mouth to protest but realized she was speechless. She took another gander at her surroundings and felt a stab at the side of her stomach. This wasn't going to be good. Seven completely different people living together for three months? Was this Real World?

Riku wasn't speechless. "Are you shitting me? How about if the food runs out?" He had a one-track mind.

"The food is supposed to last you all three months. You must eat it all moderately."

Riku took a glance at the fridge and thought about stealing some dumplings and holding them hostage in his room.

"Where do we sleep?" Tifa was getting impatient. So she had to live with a few hot guys and a bunch of whiney girls. In the complete spectrum of things, the situation wasn't horrible.

"I have assigned you all rooms. And in these rooms, you will find your assignments."

"What'll be my job?" Sora sheepishly asked.

"Oh, you. Well, I guess I don't have a job for you really but I do need a new footstool."

"He can be my assistant." Cloud wasn't going to let this guy turn his brother into a piece of furniture.

"Well, I think it'll be much more fun if he was…" Ansem scanned the room and pointed specifically at Riku, "your assistant." Riku looked around and pointed at himself confused.

"Yes, that would be just perfect."

Sora was already nervous. He didn't like this job already. Riku might be the cook and stab him in the back when he wasn't looking.

Ansem reached into the inside pocket of his gray suit and set six postcard size pieces of paper on the kitchen counter. The group shuffled closer in curiosity. "These are your contracts. Once you sign this, you must abide by the rules presented before you. Breaching it would result in imprisonment…or possibly death."

Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Yuffie was having second thoughts. She wasn't particularly interested in signing something that could kill her.

"Death?" Riku asked unconvinced.

Ansem didn't respond. The smile across his face was misleading and masked a deeper emotion. He stepped back from the counter and watched as the group stared at the six pieces of paper sprawled haphazardly across the surface. No one dared to touch them as if they carried a vital disease. They read the small print from afar. Ansem handed a fountain pen to Cloud. He held the pen in his hand, staring at it in contemplation, not sure what to do next. His signature was practically a declaration of death for not only himself but also for his little brother. But the money was tempting and though he loved to believe that money didn't make the world go round, the thought was a lie.

Cloud approved the contract and held his breath unconsciously to sign it. Through squinted eyes, he pressed the fountain pen to the paper and signed it. He did it. It was done and he couldn't take it back.

The group followed after, each signing the contract one at a time. Leon hesitated before holding the paper to his face, hoping to see something no one else could. But it seemed so plain before his eyes. Live here and die. Cloud took a quick peek at the mystery stranger. His presence was alluring. Though he didn't want to complicate his life, he was drawn to him. Leon could feel his eyes on him and his pressure to sign heightened. Leon shrugged and signed, hoping for the best, expecting the worst, and rather liking the company.

"Okay now scurry along. After you've received your assignments, I want the cook to begin cooking. By the way, I like my meat medium rare."

------

Cloud grabbed his belongings and headed up the stairs, keeping a close eye on his brother in case Ansem changed his mind and decided to use his brother has a footstool. The troop climbed the winding staircase one foot at a time, pacing themselves for the unknown that lay ahead.

The staircase ended at a hallway marked with doors on either side. Cloud couldn't believe he had gotten himself and Sora into this mess. He looked back at the group and decided to take the initiative. He turned to the first door and realized that envelopes with names had been taped to the door. He read the envelopes. They said Tifa and Yuffie. Cloud moved on. The second door and stopped dead in his tracks. He read his name and then the next envelope below his. In big bold letters it read Leon. Cloud took a deep breath and opened the door. Leon followed him in.

END

So that's it, there isn't any more. Just kidding. Another chapter will be up soon. But in the mean time, click that review button and give me some love!

-co tsukino