Beauty of the Beast

Authors Note: 10th time saying this! None of these FF chars belong to me, no matter how much I beg to get Yazoo : ( thank you for being patient with getting these chaps up. My internet was broken and it took us a month or more to get a new one (it was pure hell) a

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Loz must have survived. Yazoo sat, huddled on the corner of his bed, his teeth worrying at his lip as he came to this conclusion for the hundredth time. He can't be dead, not Loz, he can't be dead. Tucking a resilient piece of hair behind his ear Yazoo stood up, determination flashing eerily in his cat eyes. And, if that is so, then I must find him. His eyes scanned the room; coming to rest on the main camera's positioned at each corner of the white, sterile room. These will be bothersome. Contemplating for a second Yazoo, innocently, glided towards the first camera, the one in the far right corner, until he stood directly beneath it. Bending slightly, his body wincing from the previous injuries, Yazoo jumped up and grabbed onto the bracket until he hung from it like a piece of forgotten washing. This is stronger then I thought. Taking a better grip, Yazoo started to pull down on the bracket, jumping slightly in an attempt to jar it from the wall. The 'Crack' cried insanely within the white room before stopping quickly at the quite 'thump', that was Yazoo landing in a delicate crouch. Wires hissed their insults at him and he stared at the destroyed piece of machinery. One down, three to go.

--

The Grunts had been worried when the remnant had moved under the first camera, but now their faces had palled when the screen went static. Gulping their eyes jumped to another monitor. They watched the beautiful remnant glide gracefully onto the screen defiantly throwing away the destroyed camera before moving onto the second one. Another screen went blank. Then the fourth and final screen shimmered before falling dead with only the grunts reflections staring back at them.

"Move you idiots!" One cried motioning at two nervous looking Grunts, their guns looking too big in their shaking hands:

"Go down their and make sure everything thing is OK! I'll go and inform the Turks." Nodding the two Grunts ran out of the room towards the remnants cell while the third ran for The Presidents office.

--

He had taken out the mini cameras within the bed post and under the table, just to be careful. He now stood against the wall beside the door waiting patiently for the sound of footsteps to signal his chance for escape. Breathing deeply and slowly Yazoo tried to block out the painful thumping within his body for the fight to come. Footsteps became heavier as they neared the door, then the fuddling of keys drifted through the wall. Yazoo smiled in anticipation. The door was flung open stopping centimetres from Yazoo's nose as the unknowing Grunts charged into the room. Positive they weren't looking his way before slipping soundlessly out of the door and, with viper speed, raced forward, grabbing the heads of the pathetic Grunts and knocking them together watching with satisfaction as they fell listless onto the ground. Wasting no more time Yazoo turned, checked the emptiness of the hallways before racing out and down the blue lighted corridor.

--

"You did WHAT?" Chocked Reno staring disbelievingly at the cowering Turk who began to open his mouth to repeat what he had just said before Tseng bet him to it.

"He sent to Grunts...Grunts! to try and stop the Remnant." He shook his head in disparagement before glancing at Rufus.

"Yes, you must go and stop Yazoo, its too dangerous for him to leave."

Nodding the four Turks, they had been holding a meeting, jumped up and left the room, the scolded Grunt tailing slowly behind them.

His chest sparked a flare of pain through him, again, forcing him to lean against a wall to regain his breath. He had met a few oppositions along the way but even in this state it hadn't taken much to defeat them. They now lay in empty rooms that Yazoo had hoped contained Loz, but Loz was nowhere to be found. He must be outside, he must be. Wincing Yazoo stood withdrawing his hand to find fresh blood staining the shirt and his hand. Gasping he attempted a slow jog as he continued down the corridor, but he did not get far. Hurried footsteps echoed down to him from the approaching stairway. Glancing right and left revealed no doors for him to hide behind. Biting his lip again Yazoo looked up.

--

Reno and the Turks bolted down the stairway and pelted down the corridor, the long overhead lights casting them in a freakish blue light. I didn't think he'd make a run for it, I didn't think he was up to it. Reno thought leading the pack of Turks down the corridor. I hope he's OK. Rose unbidden to his mind.

Yazoo lay still, not daring to breathe as he listened to the sound of the passing Turks, silently congratulating himself on his clever idea to hide in the elongated ceiling light while also cursing himself for the pain he had put himself through to get up here. Crawling to the edge of the light, which swung precariously under him, Yazoo waited five minutes to make sure the way was clear before jumping out of the light. He stumbled as he landed. Wincing he fell onto a knee, blood leaking out of his mouth. Wiping it away as if it meant nothing Yazoo assured himself all would be fine once he found Loz, when he found Loz, if he found- Shaking his head Yazoo stared towards the stairs. Taking them two at a time Yazoo flung open the door, felt the fresh natural breeze in his hair and a cold hard EMR striking him across his temple, flooring him. Grunting he tried to spring back to his feet to counter attack but found that he couldn't. Two pairs of arms grabbed him and pulled him to his feet where he hung, his head swinging dizzily as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Neither of the people holding him were the flaming Turk, their hands felt to fleshy to be his. This was confirmed when a door to his right swung open and revealed Reno, Rude and a cowering looking man run into the compound. Directly in front of him stood Rufus Shinra flanked by Tseng and Elena and a few other grunts stood ready behind them. His head started to scream as he faced each of his captors so he let it fall, boneless back down to his chest, a cough racked his throat and chest, three drops of blood fell to the concrete ground below him.

"Take him back down to his room and get him a medic!" He heard Rufus order before he felt himself being jostled then the world dimmed and turned black.

Yazoo decided that he hated the colour white. It glared triumphantly at him through his slitted eyes, reminding him of where he was...and his failure. Shifting slightly he felt something in his skin move with him. Waiting for his eyes to become accustomed to the light, which wasn't long, Yazoo focused his gaze onto a thin tube that implanted itself into his forearm, directing a red liquid to run into his arm. Weakly, he lifted his arm and grabbed onto the tube, preparing to pull it out when a hand, larger and slightly darker than his own gently grasped his hand and directed it away from the IV.

"Hey, that won't do you no good." Whispered a voice above him as it laid his hand back down on the sheets, frowning at the interruption Yazoo directed his glare towards the voice only to see the flaming Turk gazing down at him. Startled, Yazoo attempted to move away from the Turk, who in the not so long ago past had tried to attack him, but a burst of pain from his side had his eyes rolling as he dropped back down onto the sheets panting. Lifting an eyebrow Reno slumped down into a seat next to the bed, his feet propped up against the beds silver frame.

"You shouldn't move too much, you're escape attempt reopened your wounds and made them worse, so you should just stay still." Reno muttered, his turquoise gaze trained on the Yazoo's face, his lighter flickering pitifully in his hands. Growling faintly, causing Reno to drop his feet and look at him in slight trepidation, Yazoo levelled a glare before rasping out.

"What do you care? Let me escape, then you can have you're wish and kill me!" Eyes widening at the accusation, that had not too long ago been true, Reno cautiously leaned his feet once again against the bed frame before resting his head on the palm of his hand to gaze curiously at the steaming silver haired man.

"Why do I care? Maybe it's because I want a challenge? Maybe it's because I've been able to see past the error of your old ways-"

Yazoo sniffed, his eyes disbelieving as he turned them to the wall.

"Or, maybe it's because Rufus would have me skinned if I hurt a single bone in your little body." Reno grinned wolfishly down at the accusing stare of Yazoo before whipping his head towards the door as it silently opened and the other Turks and Rufus filed into the room.

"Good afternoon Yazoo, and how are you feeling?"

Yazoo levelled a glare at the charming businessman as he sat down on one of those plastic chairs.

"...I am sorry about you're head. But you see I could not have you leave without you hearing our proposition first. Please accept my apologies." Rufus finished nodding his head towards the prone figure of Yazoo, who was now staring as the wall, ignoring him. The silence stretched out, Rufus opened his mouth to continue when a melodious voice interrupted him.

"Where's Loz?" Starting at the unexpected voice Rufus and the Turks stared quizzically at Yazoo before realizing who the only person that he would ask about was.

"Loz...is that the big guy? The guy who fought Rude?" Asked Reno jabbing a thump towards the straight backed figure of Rude.

"He's my brother, where is he? Where are you keeping him?" Demanded Yazoo struggling up to level a glower at his audience, his jaw tightening at the strain he was feeling from his body and the restraining tug of the IV.

"I am sorry Yazoo, we have not heard anything about Loz and we are not keeping him here. If we had been we would have told you, I assure you." Rufus told Yazoo softly in an attempt to calm the agitated looking youth as he strained against the IV.

"You lie!" Yazoo snarled pulling his arm against the IV, blood began to leak from his forearm.

"Please calm down" intoned Rufus raising his arms in a gesture of calming.

"It would be unwise for you to lose that blood."

A quick smirk raced across his angelic features before, rebelliously, he jerked his arm wincing as the tube slid out his skin. Silence settled like a suddenly thrown sack over their heads as they watched the red liquid flow from the tube and surround the white angel upon the bed making him look as if he had just fallen from heaven. Tseng stood and calmly walked over to the machine that continued to pump the blood through the IV and switched it off before sitting down again.

"We will not force you to take the blood, though it will speed up your healing process." Stated Rufus staring at his nails before flickering his eyes up to the prone figure of Yazoo. Yazoo lifted his head defiantly, his eyes distaining as he stared down at Rufus.

"...Now, Yazoo it was very rude of you, you know. Trying to escape like that without even attempting to listen to my offer. I am deeply wounded." He held a hand delicately to his heart, his sea green eyes twinkling as he captured Yazoo's un-amused glare in them. Stiffening at for once having his glare captured Yazoo lifted his chin higher before gracefully, like slow moving liquid he lifted his hand, and gaze Rufus the finger.

"Ah! So you're not all culture and grace!"

All the heads in the room swivelled to face Reno as he chortled away to himself, the dawning that he was being stared at slowly to come to his realization.

"Oh, sorry."

He smiled crossing his hands behind his head. Shaking his head in aspiration Rufus turned his gaze back to the lonely figure of the child on the bed, since really that was all Yazoo was, a child. A child who could help him.

"Now Yazoo, seeing as you have nothing else to do you can now listen to my proposition." Rufus cleared his throat, reaching in to his briefcase, pulling out sheaf's of paper and neatly arranging them on the table in front of him.

"I am only going to say this once...we...no I need your help."

Yazoo raised a silver brow half in smugness and half in confusion as Rufus continued.

"More of you, more remnants of Sephiroth, are heading for Edge. Their a long way away but the move ever closer. I have already sent some highly trained soldiers against them. They have failed. I believe that you are our best chance of defeating them."

The Turks and Rufus stared at him expectantly. Silver hair hide his face as he stared at his feet, letting this information run through his head. Slowly his head began to shake. His audience froze as he barked with laughter. Deep chords struck within Reno. The laughter held malice, true, but it also cried of loneliness, bewilderment and fear.

"You expect me, to help you. You who killed Kadaj and are now hiding Loz from me? And the people here call us warped?"

Yazoo fell silent, tucking his head against his knees before piercing Rufus with an aloof glare, his face once again a distant, icy mask.

"Go to big brother for help...it seems that he can kill anyone."

Slowly, Rufus placed his papers back in his case before arching his fingers and settling his chon onto their points.

"Once again, I am sorry for what happened to Kadaj. But how about this-"

He stood up and went towards Yazoo until his legs scrapped against the covers and Yazoo had pressed himself against the wall, long beautiful hair obscuring his growling face.

"If you agree to help us, ie. destroy the rogue remnants, we shall look for Loz? I know what you are going to say-"

He raised a hand as Yazoo leaned forwards, momentarily shocking him to silence,

"'I will go for Loz' that is what you were going to say am I correct?"

At the lack of reply Rufus flicked his pale fringe away from his eye, it fell straight back into its original position, before continuing.

"It is to0 dangerous for you to go outside; Edge has yet to forgive you. So if I send out my men, twenty four, seven, to look for your brother and have daily reports back of which I will inform you of, will you work for me?"

Reno's eyes absorbed the image of Yazoo as he sat their, still proud looking, as he absorbed the information, his teeth nibbling his bottom lip. Egg Blue eyes widened at the image before, shivering, he turned away.

"I...I accept your terms"

A gently sigh escaped Rufus as he resumed his seat, a smile worming its way onto his lips.

"However-"

Yazoo moved slightly getting his feet away from the spreading blood before flickering his gaze back up to the President.

"When you find Loz, we shall discuss whether we should to continue working with you. If we believe we shouldn't, you let us go, or give us time to get away."

The Turks swivelled their heads to face Rufus as he leaned over his chair contemplating this added requirement. Slowly he looked up, his pale red lips quirking up at the corner as he extended a hand towards Yazoo.

"Agreed."

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