Brothers

Kadaj has a big family—his brothers, his mother and him. He loves his mother best, but he loves his brothers too. Except for Cloud—he doesn't fit. Cloud doesn't love their mother, or any of his brothers. It makes him sad, sometimes. Mother just wants her boys to love her.

Kadaj would do anything for his mother. He wants her to love him as much as she loves her firstborn.

Sephiroth.

Kadaj knows that he's different from Sephiroth, and from Cloud. Sephiroth and Cloud are human. They breathe and eat and sleep and bleed. They were children, once. Kadaj doesn't remember being a child. He only has a year of his own memories. He remembers other things, but they aren't his memories. It took him a long time to figure that out. He can tell the difference between himself and Sephiroth now, and that makes him happy. He's different from his big brother. He's different from his other brothers, too.

Mother loves Sephiroth best. Kadaj can tell. She wants him to be Sephiroth. He'd do anything for Mother, so he'll become Sephiroth. And then Mother will love him. Mother loves Cloud too. He doesn't like that. Cloud doesn't love Mother. Cloud wanted to destroy her. Cloud helped that wretched Cetra girl… the girl that Sephiroth killed. Kadaj likes that memory. Sephiroth could always do what Mother wanted.

Kadaj wonders sometimes if Mother really loves him, or if she just loves Sephiroth. If she loved him, wouldn't she want him to stay himself, and not be Sephiroth? She'll love him the most when he's both of them. Sephiroth/Kadaj—two brothers, one person. He works so hard to make sure she's happy.

The Boss doesn't like that he's breaking the city. Kadaj doesn't care. He likes his new toys. Cloud and his friends don't like them as much. It makes him angry—Cloud never likes what his family does. His brother's such a traitor.

Kadaj is confused when the Boss stands up and throws off the sheet he was hiding behind. He thought the Boss couldn't walk.

"What kind of son are you? Can't even recognize your own mother."

He's holding Mother—he had her the whole time. He lied. He lied! Kadaj hates being lied to. The Boss falls off the edge of the building, after Mother. Kadaj jumps after her. He'll be all right. He can't get hurt. He catches Mother and runs away with her. Cloud knows where she is now, and he'll want to kill her.

Kadaj is a good brother, but a better son. Cloud won't hurt her again.

His brothers fight Cloud, giving him time to get away with Mother. Cloud gets past them, though. Cloud's strong… almost as strong as Sephiroth. They fight, just like all brothers do. Cloud beats him. He's stronger than Kadaj… but not stronger than their big brother.

Kadaj lets go of the ledge. He can't get hurt. Mother will protect him.

The next thing he remembers, he's falling out of the sky. Cloud is still there. Kadaj hits the ground, and he tries to figure out what to do. But Sephiroth is gone, gone from his head, nothing left but fading memories. Mother is gone too. Cloud must've killed them both. Kadaj tries to fight for them, but he's too tired. Too hurt.

He can't fight anymore. Cloud catches him, and for the first time that he can remember he doesn't hate his big brother.

"Kadaj? You've done enough, now…"

Kadaj gasps. Mother's still here?

"Is that you… Mother?"

He can almost see her, now. She's proud of him. He can tell. Mother came back for him. He's crying… crying? Spirits can't cry. He's normal now. The rain doesn't hurt him anymore.

"Let's go back with everyone, shall we?"

Kadaj smiles. They can be a real family. He can see Mother now… he never thought she'd be so beautiful.

Mother takes his hand. They can all go home together… Kadaj and his brothers.