A/N: I just got this idea today after watching Avent Children and reading some fanfics about Kadaj. For some reason I really feel for him. He desperately needs someone to love him. Thank you Pied Flycatcher for your corrections. :-)

Disclaimer: I do not own Kadaj, Yazoo, or Loz. They belong solely to Square-Enix.


A Simple Question

He sees it everywhere he goes. Everywhere he looks. The smiles, the laughter, the soft hand upon an upturned face. He has never smiled that smile, laughed that laughter, nor felt that touch. He knows it exists but has never known it personally. Has never heard the word uttered. Families are supposed to know it. Families are supposed to express it. So why does he not know it? Why does he not feel it being expressed to him?

He has a mother. He has older brothers. Have they ever uttered those words to him? Laughed that laugh with him? Smiled that smile for him? He bows his silver head as emotions he has never felt before wash over him. He knows he is feeling weakness. He is being incompetent. He must find his mother so he will be complete. But will he be complete? Will he ever stop this feeling of longing in his soul?

He lifts his green eyes to meet those of his brother's. The brother is staring down at him, waiting for his orders. He remains where he is. His eyes drop.

"What now Kadaj? Where do we search next?" The brother asks, his voice impassive.

He does not answer. He tilts his head slowly to one side, wondering if he should risk the question. Finally he looks up.

"Does Mother love us?" he asks.

The brother looks unsettled. The other brother joins them, not having heard the question.

"What are your orders, Kadaj?" The second brother asks.

He stands and looks from one brother to the other. "Yazoo, Loz. Do we love each other?"

The brothers look at the teen as if he is mad. They look at each other in confusion. They do not know how to answer the question. The boy turns away.

"Never mind. Let's go."

He knows they are unable to answer. That was why he is in charge. He plans the searches. He is the one who searches most desperately for their mother. Yet deep within him he feels a stirring. His longings for Mother drive him more strongly than ever. She will answer his question. She will love him. He knows she will. She would complete the longing in his soul. He does not need his brothers' answers. His mother will answer him. She will answer his simple question. He must find her.