Mahalo, fellow readers! I had another idea Q-Q and for some cockamamie reason it took precedence over the mythological/Kenyon one I'm working on Dx I hate inspiration sometimes! So before we begin let me outline a few things about this current one. Firstly, modern day. Secondly, largely revolves around the Advent Children universe. Thirdly but not lastly, I have a rough idea where I'm going with this… but all botches can be attributed to no beta (hint hint), and an authoritative claim to artistic license.

Thank you Square Enix and company. Really, thank you. I promise not to do wrong with the rights you have handed over to me…*is clubbed to hash and heck with Tifa's diamond knuckles*

….*bleeds*… So anywho, with only a minimal continuation of codswallop, I give you A Pondering of Peripherals. Please read and review

Chapter 1: "Ah, the Package…"

"You're an enemy to all men Seph. Seriously? Do you even know how much Rolex's run for? And women just give them to you like candy! Not to mention the clothes, the expensive food, the rare wine…"

"So help me Reno, if you don't shut your mouth and dig your knuckles in harder then I won't take you out for Yakitori for a week. I didn't accept it anyways so what's your problem? It's not my fault they always decide to bum rush me. "

The redhead flipped his hair in a pique but clenched his fists and kneaded them harder into the muscles of the other man's neck. "The fact that you didn't accept it, really. A Rolex bro, come on. And I can't believe you'd hold meat over my head like that. You know how much I love it. Unlike you, meat is all I have."

Sephiroth tensed as Reno's fingers spidered across the dips in his shoulder muscles. "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. The clients we get can't distinguish reality from what they have here. They think that if they dump these things in my lap and that if I accept them they'll have some claim to me. But that's not how it is…It's just a job…"

"A job where women give you Rolex's like candy", Reno mumbled.

Sephiroth rolled his eyes and glanced at Reno in the mirror. "I bet you'd get a lot more clients if you kept your mouth shut."

Reno sneered and replaced his fists with his elbows, making Sepiroth groan softly. Reaching back, Sephiroth pulled his hair into a severe que then braced his hands against the lighted vanity in front of him. He leaned forward on the stool to give Reno more access.

"Someone needs to bronze those hands of yours. And I mean that in a totally platonic way. Love you man, no homo." Reno chuckled and attacked the other man's kinked muscles with renewed fervor.

"I bet you do love me Seph. Just like a geostigma outbreak on your privates. Gee, where would you be without me?"

"Probably stuck in some lab somewhere." Reno snorted as the phone in Sephiroth's pocket went off.

"Who is it?" Reno's fiery pony tail spilled to one side as he tried to peek over Sephiroth's shoulder. The other man slumped to block his view as he flipped open the display. His brow crinkled at the name. Brushing Reno away, Sephiroth stood and answered it while he paced to the far side of the dressing room.

"Aki? What's wrong?"

"Sephy boy, how have you been?"

Sephiroth cringed and rubbed the skin between his eyes with his thumb. "I'm fine, but you realize I'm at work right?"

Aki Ross made a sound deep in her throat. "You know I only call when I'm forwarding messages from your mother. And cowering in the back dressing room of a host club getting a massage is not work."

Sephiroth's jaw dropped as he glanced furtively around the dressing room.

"Do you have this place bugged again? Dammit woman, you know how much I hate it when you do that."

She sighed. "Don't fuss over the small stuff. It's for your own good. Now then, Jenova wanted me to remind you about the care package she was sending your way. I have it here so come by when you get the chance."

Sephiroth groaned and momentarily entertained the notion of crawling into the closet next to him and never coming out. Anytime his mother was involved with anything it usually meant either something remotely illegal, or something extremely painful…or an arcane mixture of the two. This wouldn't end well. "I wasn't aware of any care package."

"Aware or not, it's already here. And it's your responsibility. I expect you to be here to pick it up tomorrow."

The man puffed out his cheeks in exasperation. "I thought you said whenever I got the chance."

Aki snorted. "You have tomorrow off, I know you do. Hence you have a chance."

Sephiroth's aquas narrowed dangerously. "Fine. But I can't stay long. Loz and Yazoo are taking their entrance exams tomorrow and I promised to celebrate with them afterwards."

Caution softened her voice a decibel. "Seph, you work too hard for those boys. They've got grandparents who can provide for them. It's okay if you just focus on you, and get a more…."

A muscle worked in the Sepiroth's jaw as his eyes flashed. "What? A more decent job? Do you realize how expensive college is? Their grandparents would never be able to afford it. They are my responsibility, not the other way around. And hosting is the quickest way to make a buck. I'm good at what I do. And I'm not ashamed. You are my benefactor Aki. Not my mother. Stay out of it."

Static crackled on the other end but Sepiroth hardened himself. He was tired of people judging him like this. Aki, as amazing as she was, could never understand. This was a tired argument between them.

"…the car crash wasn't your fault… You're only twenty two. You shouldn't be shouldering all this by yourself. You don't have to. Seph, listen…"

"No. Stay out of it. He was my father too. They are my brothers and they need me, and I won't have you or anyone else—"

A knock sounded at the door. Vincent Valentine—another good looking host with feathery black hair and crimson eyes—popped his head in. "Hey guys. Cid said if you don't get back out on the floor then he's going to bust skulls. Your break was over like five minutes ago. And I think he means it this time. He and Shera got into it again, so he's kind of on the warpath."

"We're coming", Sephiroth groused as peeled the phone away from his ear. Aki's smooth voice called him back. "Tomorrow Sephiroth. I mean it."

"Yeah" he sighed under his breath.

Sephiroth shut the phone and went to throw on his jacket that he had hung on the back of the chair. Reno watched him with an unreadable expression.

"What" Sephiroth snarled. "Are you going to start in on me too?"

Reno held up his hands and shook his head, backing away slowly. "Peace brother."

Sephiroth tugged on the lapels of his jacket and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. He reached up and pulled the tie from his hair, allowing the gossamer locks to spill freely down the length of his back. Arguably, the silver hair was one of the main reasons that he had such a vast clientele. Of course, it helped that he was also very tall and good looking, boasting eyes that were the envy of the oceans themselves.

Eyes that reminded him of his obligation to his brothers. Despite what anyone thought, this was his burden. Everyone claimed they needed an anchor to live. This was his.

But then, at Advent Children pretty faces with a story were the standard. Only the worst masochists worked in this club by choice because it was a place constantly mobbed by women who had an extra buck to spend as they basked in the presence of all the gods among men that sauntered here.

The buck was the tyrant, under which all the walking wet dreams were trapped. Every smile could make or break one's career. Every gesture meant for nothing more than ultimate flattery. Sephiroth blinked and coughed before turning on his heel to go guzzle more alcohol and accompany women he would have rather gutted.

_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_

"Meat."

"Later Reno."

"Meaat."

"Later Reno."

"Meeeeeat." The redhead, devoid of any and all survival instincts, clung to Sephiroth's shoulder as they walked down the street in a sector of the city that never slept. Midgar was a wonder at night with the glittering lights, the constant rush of traffic. Signs blared about deals on hotels, girls, pachinko. It was the epicenter on Gaia, where people came when they didn't want the innocent fun that the western continent boasted.

His was an area that seemed to bleed excitement as it charged the air with the hustle and bustle of activity. For the visitors anyway. For those that worked here it was like a glitter coated bear trap. There was no vegetation anywhere, as all metropolises must inevitably sacrifice for the obelisks they structured.

Commercial and residential complexes, as well as bars and theaters littered the sector. There were eight in all, if he remembered correctly. The Shinra Company headquarters, Sector 0, was located at the center, and served as the tallest structure in the city with seventy floors, the top ten of which were restricted access unless you were one of the crème de la crème. And that was where he'd have to go tomorrow.

The farther the city spread out, the more rundown it became. The land beneath was taken up by the poorer residents of Midgar and their ramshackle slum dwellings. The majority of the buildings there were made of collected scrap shaped into dwellings; few buildings exhibited thorough architectural planning. There were, however, scattered buildings that were presumed to be left behind from the city's pre-construction.

Like the city above, the slums were divided into eight numbered sectors punctuated by walls and gates. Each sector Sephiroth knew by heart. Quality of life in the slums was low due to the elevation they occupied, trapping all the pollution from the city and that of the slums underneath it whilst at the same time blocking out the sunlight.

It was a place that no man asked questions about another. A place where one had to become something else to survive. Softness got you killed.

The sky was constantly overcast, scarred from the exhaust vomited from the cars, the industries…but it had been home. Just as this place was his home now. And he counted himself lucky that Aki had come along to pluck him from the slums when she had. If she hadn't…he shuddered to think. Now he was here, sector six and all its jagged glamour. Expensive, but he refused to complain. As long as he could stick by his brothers and provide for them where he could.

It definitely beat the alternative.

Sephiroth sighed as he rolled his shoulder to try and shake off the other man. "For a best friend, you really know how to push your luck."

Reno looked up at Sephiroth and his grin turned feral. "My dear man, that is what Reno's do best."

"I thought you had a boyfriend."

This succeeded in loosening Reno's grip long enough for Sephiroth to extract himself. Reno looked at the ground as he walked and kicked an empty can of Asahi out of the way.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"You and Rude in a snit again?"

Reno pouted out his lip and tossed his ponytail. "We don't snit. He overreacts."

Sephiroth snorted. "The man would have more patience than Aerith if you were to step all over her rhododendrons."

"Who's Aerith?"

"…No one." Sephiroth scowled as he tugged his hair back into a compulsive cue. They were starting to attract lusty glares from the men and women alike that they passed. "So", he continued when he finished. "I'll bet you broke something— "

"Shut up."

"—he called you on it—"

"I hate you so much."

"—you threw a tantrum, and you ran away."

Sephiroth cut him a smirk as Reno's eyelid twitched. "For a best friend, you're an asshole."

The other man grinned. "I know." Tossing his silver locks over his shoulder, he pulled his phone out as it buzzed again. He glanced at the display and cursed.

"Your benefactor again?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "It's that one client I was telling you about. She somehow got my number and now she won't stop calling. I'm going to have to change it pretty soon."

Reno gave a low whistle. "Poor baby. Oh, to be mobbed by pretty rich women who would love nothing more than to lock you up and use you for hot monkey sex on their ceiling. You are so mistreated and unloved. "

Sephiroth whipped around and planted a good natured foot into the other man's arse. "That's it. No meat for you."

Reno cried out in mock pain as his own phone buzzed. He yanked it out and groaned sheepishly. "Speaking of meat, I need to get going. That's my boy and I think I've cooled down enough to talk."

"Speaking of hot monkey sex on ceilings."

Reno stuck his tongue out then shot a cocky grin at the masculine beauty. "Nothing says ego-boost better than a solid session of people pawing at you and singing your praises. Best part? We get paid for it."

His silver hair rippled as Sephiroth shuddered. "You're a sick man."

They laughed and bumped knuckles.

"Well, this is where we part." Sephiroth nodded as he watched Reno skip off with a bittersweet pain swirling in his chest.

I wonder what it's like.

Reno turned back and cupped one side of his mouth before hollering, "Don't forget to call me tomorrow and tell me what your mom sent." The red haired man stuck his arm up in farewell then jogged around the corner out of sight.

Shaking his head, Sephiroth popped into a service station to buy a six pack of water and a bento. When it was safely tucked into a plastic bag he was out the door again and on his way. The night suited him whether he wanted to admit it or not.

You could never see what went on in shadows and that matched him just fine. Sephiroth was a tired. In the dark, you couldn't see people gunning for you. But it wasn't as harsh. When the final strike came, it was comforting because you didn't have to see it happen.

All of it was feeling.

The key stabbed his fingers as he dug in his pocket to open the rickety apartment door. It would be dawn soon and he needed to get a shower and some food in him before he gave into exhaustion. Stepping into the cramped space, he toed his shoes off and walked into the little kitchenette. He shrugged his jacket off, setting the bag on the counter.

With a sigh he pulled the splintery chopsticks out of their paper coverings and split them. A few gulps of water and half a bento later he glared at the forlorn bathroom.

Tomorrow, he sighed. And with that he face planted into his rumpled futon.

_o_o_o_o_o_o_

Sephiroth turned in his futon, decidedly irate. It was no later than one in the afternoon but his body was chomping at the bit to resume consciousness. Groaning, he rolled over and dragged himself into the bathing room.

He sat at the scrubbing stool and ran soap hurriedly over his hair and body. With a curse he reached for the shower head, rinsing the errant subs from his eyes. Groaning as his bones creaked, Sephiroth crawled into the tub when all the suds had been flushed from him.

The steam rose in billowing tendrils, lulling the tired man into a dream state. But nothing good could last forever. Ignoring his protesting muscles, Sephiroth dragged himself to his feet and splashed out of the tub.

The alarm on his phone went off so Sephiroth ravaged his hair with a towel before pulling it back and getting dressed in a sedate black suit and grey dress shirt. He didn't bother with a tie and left the top buttons undone in a way that would have everyone guessing at his sexuality.

He turned to the side as he buttoned his shirt cuffs, regarding himself in the full length mirror propped against his wall. Oh yeah, this would do nicely. Slipping on a pair of opaque sunglasses and grabbing his house keys, Sephiroth slipped on his loafers and turned to do tea with the devil.

_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_

"No, Jenova. I'm telling you he honestly doesn't remember." Aki Ross leaned back in her chair and let her eyes drift to the care package across from her.

Sephiroth's mother was a cold creature. She was the type of woman who could cow mountains into moving with a single glance. In so doing, she was one of the top business executives in the cosmos.

Second only to Rufus Shinra himself, Jenova was the spine of the entire megacorporation. It was her energy that kept things together and attracted new business partners to prostrate themselves before Rufus, head executive.

Shinra acted as a world government and as such had its own policy on world affairs. The first leader of the company, Rufus's father, had followed a doctrine of using Shinra's vast reserves of munny to maintain control over the world's populace. The means by which the munny was deployed was never made clear. Jenova was that means. To cut your teeth on Mako meant success and she was the devil that lured them in and got them hooked.

Only a choice few were read in about the woman, and once Rufus had succeeded his father, he had recruited Aki Ross to bring Jenova to heel, since they had been friends from the cradle. Nothing held sway over someone like the people they adored.

Her son, Sephiroth, was almost a spitting image of her in an I-could-kill-you-then-dance-on-your-grave kind of way. Rising to the top meant that she had never had much time for her son. She left his care to her dearest friend, and when the boy had been old enough to fend for himself at thirteen, Jenova had loosed him onto the crowded streets of Midgar to make his living.

It was by the skin of his teeth that Sepiroth had managed not to implicate himself in the dealings of Junon, the military base owned also by Shinra himself. The boy had instead chosen the alternative. Aki had found him, seventeen and bitter, slumped over his poor excuse of a drink in the slums.

And now she was charged with keeping biweekly tabs on the boy, checking in with and assuring Jenova that her son was properly clothed, fed, and sheltered. The basic necessities any mother would provide. Though in the executive's case, it had been from a distance.

The boy had never really minded though. As far as Aki could remember he had been a loner.

But Jenova showed rare moments of compassion at the times she didn't have to skip around the world to keep a whole corporation running. She would call him to her home in the southernmost part of the northern continent, into the wilderness of the sleeping forest. It was there she had chosen to dwell, far from the expectations of the blood thirsty munny mongrels. She had affectionately dubbed her house 'The Northern Crater', as a warning for all those that might want to tread in a place they dared not belong.

Aki took a moment to roll her eyes at the name, and at the status that she knew her bosom buddy would have much rather occupied. Hermit nothing, Jenova wanted to retire from the world after laying it in ruins. But Aki loved her anyways; her success, her fire, and her iron clad will.

"So there is no recollection whatsoever? You aren't supposed to make an accord and then banish it to the nether wrinkles of your brain. I thought I taught him better than that."

The chair creaked as the raven haired woman leaned farther back, regarding the package across from her with sandy eyes that narrowed in speculation.

"Raising is a matter of opinion."

Jenova growled and Aki fought back a smile as she heard the scuffle of activity in the background. "The board meeting is starting sooner that I thought. Damn these Turks. They negotiate like a load of Neanderthals. I'll talk to you later Ki. Tell me everything that my son does. I want to know how he accepts this new development."

Aki smiled and nodded. "Will do. Try not to bust in too many skulls."

Jenova groused. "Oh believe me, I can't afford to botch these exchanges. Rufus has been riding my ass these last couple of weeks because Heidegger and Scarlet are pulling their crap again."

There was another scuffle as Jenova dropped the phone. Aki shook her head and tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear as the woman on the other end scrambled and cursed.

"Seriously Ki."

"Okay. Be good."

"Yeah right."

They ended with a click just as Aki's assistant shouldered the door to her office open. He looked extremely harassed in a way that made the woman's sharp brow arch. He ran a hand through his hair as if to settle himself then took a breath.

"He's here Ms. Ross."

Aki's eyes flashed as she spared one last glance at the package in the chair across from her.

"Send him in."

_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_

Sephiroth snorted at the people around him as they tripped over themselves. His looks had always caused a stir in whatever room he had happened to find himself. Men and women alike trembled with the desire for just a taste of him.

A tragic angel. Sephiroth's aquas rolled. The only thing tragic about him was the few times he hadn't taken the munny on the bedside table from the people he'd fucked. And here was no different.

He braced both arms against the doors of the reception area. Swaggering up to the desk at the front, he tossed his hair.

"Aki Ross is expecting me."

The woman looked up and paled visibly. "Oh…oh my yes. Just one moment."

Her hand shook as she reached for the phone. She spoke with hushed tones as she cupped one end, shooting him hot glances when she thought he wasn't looking. Sephiroth cut her a grin as she placed the phone back in its cradle.

"Head on up Mr. Nomura."

The man inclined his head as he stepped past her to make his way towards the elevator, smirking as she turned to swoon. When he clambered into the dratted contraption, he pressed the button for the top floor and held his breath as it shot up like quicksilver—smooth, silent, and quite possibly the impending death of him.

His stomach dipped as the elevator came to a stop. It dinged smoothly and the heavy doors slid back to reveal a lush area done in greys and blues. It was an office meant to intimidate and it might have done so for him, were he still a callow youth. Not giving his resolve a chance to slip, Sephiroth walked into the posh interior. His black duster clung to him, outlining every honed muscle as it fanned back from his legs with every methodical step.

With an arrogant swagger, he shouldered another door open. The man sitting at his desk was none other than Gray Edwards, his benefactor's long- time partner. Sephiroth and Gray refused to be on good terms because the older man knew that Sephiroth would have any and all takers as long as they paid the right price.

Gray despised that he too, felt a pull towards the man.

"She's expecting me Gray. Don't get your balls in a bunch."

Gray sputtered and stood as if to confront the other man. Sephiroth curled his lip.

"I don't have time for this. Either show me into her office, or I'm leaving and you", he raked the man with a sneer, "will be responsible for it."

The older man stiffened and then turned on his heel to lead Sephiroth back. The silver haired man followed at a close distance, reveling in the way Gray cringed at the heat from Sephiroth's body.

The assistant pushed open a final set of doors, mumbling a curt introduction before pushing past Sephiroth to resume his post at the front desk.

Aki stood and came towards him, her arms spread out in a hug. He held her to him distractedly as he looked around for the package…bomb…torture device. His eyes settled on a lanky middle schooler, hunched over in one of the plush chairs that occupied the front of Aki's desk.

The woman in his arms pulled back and cupped his face in both of her hands. "You're losing weight again Seph. Jenova won't be happy."

Sephiroth screwed his face up. "Stop dawdling. Where's the package?"

Aki turned and took her seat again before gesturing for Sephiroth to do the same. He followed obediently, wondering if she had tucked the thing under the table out of sight. The boy still hadn't moved. He tore his lingering eyes away from the silver hair that was so like his own before regarding his benefactor. The back of the chair pressed against him as he met her eyes without flinching.

"Well?"

A slow smile curled her lips as she raised one arm and pointed at the boy he felt all too aware of.

"Sephiroth, meet Kadaj. Your latest care package."