Oh oh oh, a new story! And I haven't submitted anything for a year...I should update my previous stories, but...I've kinda lost the feel of them. xD Gah. Either way, if anyone here have ever tried to contact me via mail...the mail I used here is kinda dead, so, I'm sorry that I haven't replied, in that case...
Oh well. New story! A random idea I got, which I'll hopefully get through with. I already have the next two chapters ready. :)
"Kadaj has been granted 3 more days to live, to see life through his own eyes. Though unsure if this was secure to do, Cloud decides to help out..."
Enjoy reading. xD
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PROLOGUE
It was only one package left to deliver, once that was done he'd promised Tifa to come right back home to Seventh Heaven. It wasn't long since the events of Kadaj and his brothers, and once after, when Cloud had started to actually be around Tifa and the kids, the woman made sure he would keep being there, making him promise.
The last package was supposed to be delivered to a house around the outskirts of Edge, which meant 10 minutes away or so. Driving past where Bahamut had wreaked havoc two weeks ago it was surprising to see how much they'd been able to repair already, though it still was much more to do. Although the three brothers' destructions had startled the entire city, it seemed to Cloud that most of the city had already gotten over it, though; he himself was a different matter. He'd ended up thinking about them a lot. He wondered about where they'd come from, where they'd been before they appeared in Edge, how they'd become the way they were, how old they were, and of all things, where they were now, when dead. He wished there were someone who could answer him, but it obviously wasn't. These thoughts kept spinning around in his head, even now, when heading towards the last house to deliver a package to.
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Delivering the package itself went quickly, handing it over and having the nice old lady sign the paper. Turning as she closed the door, Cloud headed back towards his bike, sighing contently as another day of package delivering was done. Swinging his leg over the bike, he was about to start it up to head back to Seventh Heaven when something made him stop up. Just now, had he seen..?
Cloud turned his head, looking towards the street between two buildings. Had he just seen Kadaj? It wasn't possible. All these thoughts about the kid must've made him hallucinate. Shrugging, Cloud lent forwards once again, starting Fenrir, but he didn't take off. Once again he saw him, and he stopped the bike once again to check.
Kadaj was standing there. He really was. Staring back at Cloud as he stared at Kadaj. Neither moved for the next minute passing. Kadaj was no longer wearing the leather clothes he had before, instead he wore some loose black pants and a dark red, thin sweater that seemed to be a little too big for him, and on his feet he had some old brown shoes. It seemed like he didn't have his sword with him, but Cloud wasn't sure, he wasn't even sure if what he saw was real. Kadaj was supposed to be dead, what was he doing, standing there?
Cloud did the first move, getting off of Fenrir, scowling at Kadaj as he slowly walked closer. Kadaj didn't move, didn't scowl back, he just kept staring, until Cloud was only a few feet away from him, then he absently took two steps back.
"Kadaj?"
It was all Cloud managed to say, in a low, unpleased tone, trying to keep his confusion from showing. All Kadaj did as a response was raising his eyebrows slightly, crossing his arms over his chest, shrugging as if there weren't any need for Cloud's question.
"…you're dead." Cloud continued, still scowling, although it didn't seem like Kadaj was affected by the scowl, instead he simply smirked and shook his head, finally replying.
"Not right now."
"How?"
Another silence. Cloud was almost worried he wouldn't get an answer, but after seemingly thinking for a bit, the youth replied.
"I was allowed…three more days."
Cloud raised an eyebrow. What on earth did that mean? Three more days? Why? And from who? That was the question he decided to ask.
"From who?"
Kadaj's smiled, almost evilly, Cloud wasn't sure if that simply was Kadaj's normal smile or if it was meant to be evil.
"From your flower girl. Aerith."
Cloud's scowl faded at the mention of her name, being unable to keep his reaction to it from showing, something that seemingly amused Kadaj as he giggled softly with an evil undertone. Had Aerith let this cruel creature be around for three more days? Why three more days? What if the youth would wreak havoc once again? Cloud knew Kadaj was well capable of doing so in only three days.
"…why?"
Now Kadaj laughed, shaking his head as if Cloud was such an idiot.
"Stop asking!" he then said, letting his arms down at his sides again, "she gave me three more days, as me, only me, so I could see life as it truly is. At least that's what she said. I don't know! Why do you care? I'll be gone again in three days, don't worry."
At the last words, Cloud thought he could hear a slight sadness added to the youth's voice, but decided not to care for it. This kid shouldn't be here in the first place anyway. Letting him back, if so for only three days, was insane. He was insane.
"And what are you doing?" Cloud didn't bother the fact that Kadaj just told him to quit asking, he wanted to know, and Kadaj shouldn't order him anyway.
"Looking around."
"At me?"
"I didn't expect to see you, that's all."
It seemed now like Kadaj had grown bored of it all, not so weird though, if he only had three days to live, using them to answer all of Cloud's questions couldn't be his first choice of things to use them on. Kadaj didn't even bother to say bye, or any of the like, as he simply turned and begun to walk away.
Cloud simply stared after him at first, hundreds of thoughts going through his mind at the same time. This wasn't right. Kadaj was insane. He couldn't let a remnant like Kadaj just walk around in Edge alone. He couldn't deny the youth though, that wouldn't be right. And what if it really was Aerith who'd let this happen? She'd brought Cloud back after all, but Cloud wasn't insane. Damn it. If he followed Kadaj, Kadaj would get mad. He couldn't do that, but…
"Perhaps I could show you around then?"
Cloud couldn't believe himself, calling this out after Kadaj. But it was the only option he had. If Kadaj allowed this, it would allow Cloud to make sure Kadaj wouldn't do anything bad, yet it would seem as if he didn't mind that Kadaj was alive.
Kadaj had turned, staring at him with a disbelieving look. Though once he'd realized that Cloud wasn't joking, his face became thoughtful, actually considering the offer before asking.
"Show me what then?"
"Edge. Life. …whatever you want to see."
Kadaj thought for a little longer, before he concluded with a nod.
"Fine."
And so they walked down the street together in silence.
