Disclaimer: Many characters belong to Square Enix, as well as many of the place names.

This story is basically a fanfiction of a fanfiction, based on "Ame ni Matte" by Lily Silver. The story design and set-up is based around that story. Also, her original characters used in this are Lorna Relson and Marshal Gray will be mentioned here and there. I recommend reading her story, for it is very good, and mine would make much more sense if you did.

Ok, guys, this is my first shot at a story, and the only way to get better is to practice. Please, stick with me, and I will do my best to make this story entertaining.

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Chapter 1: Sesame Balls

Hana walked down the crumbling sidewalk. Her small sandals squeaked with each step she took. Casting a weary eye up at the clouds, she noticed that it would be raining again soon. There was a crinkle of paper as she reached onto the brown paper bag she was holding. When she pulled it back out, her small fingers were wrapped around a sweet sesame ball. She was just about to pop it in her mouth when something caught her eye. Stopping dead in her tracks, she stared at a boy, sitting on a wall not too far ahead of her.

Kadaj was pleasantly perched up top a stone wall, snipping away at the newspaper in his hands. The scissors flashed as he violently cut small shapes that fluttered to the ground below. His concentration was broken when he felt as if someone was watching. Looking over his shoulder, Kadaj expected to see Yazoo at the doorway, calling him in, but no one was there. With a small shrug, he looked about to find the source of the staring. His gaze landed on a girl, who couldn't be any older than he was. Eyes flashing with mischief, Kadaj set down the scissors, hopped off the wall, and walked toward the girl.

Hana saw the boy approaching her. The hand clasping the sesame ball dropped to her side, and the food fell next to her foot. Her grip on the small bag tightened as she took half a step back. Hana was a shy girl, so all she could manage was a measly, "Hi."

Kadaj examined the girl. Slightly tilting his head to the right, his silvery bangs slid off his nose and cheek, revealing his right eye. She wasn't much, really. Not tall, or short. She was scrawny, and her clothes were not only too big, but also quite ragged. Her hair was short, brown, and stuck out in odd angles as if it hadn't been brushed in a good while. The spiky bangs half hid her dull, grey-blue eyes. Kadaj felt like having fun, so he spoke to her in a very rude tone, "Who're you?"

Looking up at the question, Hana stared straight into the boy's piercing green eyes. To most, his slit pupils would be frightening, but to Hana, they seemed very familiar. "Hana," she answered slowly, taking a deep breath before continuing with, "Wh-who are you?"

Kadaj grinned at Hana's tentative reaction. "What, are you scared or something?" he asked bitterly in hopes of intimidating her more. The girl shook her head nervously. Kadaj frowned, not getting the desired reaction. With obvious boredom, he responded to her question, "My name's Kadaj." He straightened his head and narrowed his eyes. He was hit with a spark of curiosity. He bombarded Hana with questions. "How old are you? Where'd you come from? Where're you goin'? What'cha got there?"

The gray eyes went wide at Kadaj's sudden explosion. Hana wasn't quite as timid now that she knew the boy's name. "I'm seven," she started, pausing to see if Kadaj was going to say anything. When he didn't, she went on. "I'm going home, and they're sesame balls." She held out the bag with a slightly shaky hand. "Want one, Kadaj?"

There wasn't a moment's hesitation before Kadaj snatched one of the pieces of food out of the bag. He bit down on it, then gave Hana a look of utter disgust. "They're stale!" he shouted, throwing the rest on the ground into a puddle. He crossed his arms over his chest, staring her down. "And you never told me where you're from. The girl was only a year younger than he, but she seemed much more mature. Kadaj didn't like that at all, but he felt strange talking to her, like he had seen her before.

Hana cast a look on the ground. "I-," she hesitated, "I don't know, actually..." She didn't want to tell a stranger she was a runaway.

There was silence as Kadaj tried to think of a smart comeback. They both jumped as the sky flashed bright. Neither were very fond of storms. Hana looked up at the sky again, just as it began t rain. "I have to go," she said quietly.

"But, I want to talk to you," Kadaj responded firmly. He gave her a dark look.

Hana listened to the thunder roll above their heads. "I'll come back tomorrow, 'kay?" She clutched the bag close in hopes of keeping it from getting wet.

Kadaj held his glare, then answered fiercely, "You'd better."

Hana gave a sharp nod to Kadaj and ran past him, down the sidewalk. She turned a corner and kept going, running through puddles and small streams that were forming on the cement. In time, she reached a large, rusty, unused piece of pipeline. She climbed inside and sat down next to a small pink back pack that she had left there earlier. Unzipping it, she stuffed the bag of food inside, and pulled out a natty blanket. She curled up under the cloth, and did her best to try and sleep, even with the echoing sounds of rain on the pipe.

Kadaj watched the girl run away, sure that she probably wasn't going to come back. Picking up the scissors and leaving the soaked newspaper, he went inside the house. He kicked off his shoes, and joined Yazoo in the living room.

Yazoo looked briefly up from the book he was reading. "Who were you talking to out there?" he asked, eyes returning to the pages.

"No one," Kadaj said as he sat on the floor by the couch.

Loz came into the room, holding a tray of food. Kadaj immediately perked up at the warm smell coming from the bowls. "What's for dinner?" he asked eagerly.

"Soup," Loz told him, setting the tray on the small coffee table.

Kadaj took the chance to whine, "But we've had soup for three days!"

Loz, who took that as an insult to his cooking, hit Kadaj on the back. That action caused Kadaj to jump up. Soon the two brothers were scuffling and bickering around the room.

Yazoo calmly took a spoonful of his soup, ignoring the fight. Eventually, he became irritated with the racket they were making. "Stop fighting and come eat. You don't want cold soup, do you?"

They stopped, staring at the middle brother. Kadaj muttered something along the lines of not wanting any kind of soup, cold or not. Yazoo glared coldly at them both. Kadaj burst out with laughter. "You're giving us evils again, niichan!" the youngest said between giggles.

Yazoo sighed and rubbed his temples. "I am not giving you evils," he answered calmly.

Kadaj ran up behind where Yazoo was sitting on the couch. Using his slim fingers, Kadaj picked up strands of Yazoo's long, silver hair. "You were too giving us evils," he said, still laughing. He started singing, "Evil niichan! Evil niichan!"

Loz did a poor job in hiding a chuckle, and even Yazoo was smiling. After a few minutes, Kadaj got bored and walked around to the front of the couch. He plopped down next to Yazoo. Loz sat on Yazoo's other side, and they all ate in silence, but there was a pleasant air around the brothers.

After the food was gone, Kadaj yawned loudly and leaned back against the lumpy cushions. "Help clean up, Kadaj," Yazoo told him.

Kadaj looked up, shooting his brother a glare. "But I don't want to," he said, maliciously.

Yazoo lolled his head to the side. Why were his brothers so difficult? "You will help."

Loz snickered at Kadaj being told off, which bought him a fierce look from the youngest brother. Kadaj stood up, snatched his empty bowl from the table, and stomped into the kitchen. With a clang, the dish landed in the sink. Kadaj stormed up stairs, deliberately making his footsteps as loud as possible. He threw on his pajamas, and by the time the other two had made it up stairs, Kadaj was wriggling himself down into the blankets on the floor.

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End note: Alright! First chapter done! It's not quite as long as I thought it would be, but it turned out better than I was hoping. Please review!