Just to wish you all a late Happy New Year from me. My PCs finally fixed (well - most of it...).
My browser settings don't allow me to access chapters on. Its not the only page my Internet is having trouble with. I can't even update this properly - only upload it onto the PHP and then I can only update at work.
Hence is also why I can't send/compose emails on my Yahoo mail account.
Anyway - Enough ranting...
This fic is near the end. I don't know how much longer I plan on making it - but there'll be another..... three, four chapters as it depends on how much I write/add in at the last minute/how much I'm inspired.... or how sane I can stay with this PC in front of me.......
Reveiwers:
Kadaj: LOL, thanks. I'm sorry about the lack of updates. Thanks for Reveiwing.
Koluno1986: Yeah, I liked that part as well. We don't really get Snow in Ireland you see, and there hasn't been any for five years. But oddly enough - we got snow on Christmas Day, and that hasn't happened since my mom was small! It was an unusual coincidence.
Yazoo's little story won't be as depressing, I promise you. Thanks for reveiwing!
Hollowed Shame: LOL, I like Loz a lot more then the other two - so I wanted him to stand out a bit.Thanks for Reveiwing.
labrat-seph:Yeah - Its interesting how he's emotional unlike his brothers - and yet we haven't seen how much of a "Crybaby" he is in the trailers yet. And Kadaj is Sephiroth's little brother - whats NOT evil? LOL. Also, I do want to read your fanfic - but my explanation's above. Trust me, I would've enjoyed reading a lot of fanfics over Christmas...
Thanks for reviewing!
Chaos911: LOL, Yeah, Loz is unloved...Thanks for reviewing!
moogle: Consider it continued - LOL. Thanks for reviewing!
Vindina: I'll try to at least, LOL. Thanks for reviewing!
Divine Star: I've something a little sappy for Yazoo, LOL. It'll be in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing!
KokoroHikaru: I inspire? Thats a first! LOL I'm going to try and involve everyone... but I'm not sure how I'll actually -end- this... LOL. Thanks for reviewing!
DevaGlenn: Aw - Thats a nice thought! I used to do that with fanfics I really enjoyed reading over - Can't now though... printers broken... grrr! Thanks for reviewing!
Lt. Jessie: Aw.... (grins) Thats cute. I always figured Loz would be a big softie... kinda like Barret in a way. Thanks for reviewing!
Note: Shadow Creepers are those strange beasts in Advent Children. Likely guess is that they're Jenova spawn...
This'll focus a bit more on Cloud and the others too.
Italics - Cloud's thoughts
Bold Italics - Vincent's thoughts
The Advent Child
Everyone was grave and silent as they disembarked from the Highwind. Both Loz and Yazoo had been disarmed before departure, and both brothers were walking in the middle of the group like prisoners. Neither had complained either, their minds more occupied on Kadaj's safety then their current situation.
Then Cloud stopped and turned to them, "Lead the way - and don't try anything."
Yazoo cast him a dark look before moving forward. AVALANCHE and the their captives passed through hundreds of fallen ruins. Wherever they lived, the Highwind couldn't land due to the buildings being too close together, and walking on foot didn't seem like a nice idea due to the Shadow Creepers lurking about. They weren't left with much choice, however, when Cid refused to have his ship damaged in any way....
Cloud felt a growing headache, and his body was stiff and aching already just from sitting down for a while on the ship. He fiddled with his glove for a while on a nervous habit, only to notice his skin was bleeding again.
His sword felt a little heavier then usual as well....
Its catching up. I wonder how long I can keep up with everyone else....
He spotted Yazoo's intelligent gaze, but the silver-haired prisoner merely turned his head forward again without a word.
Do they know? It doesn't look like they have it.... Although. Why would they? They caused it.... Right?
Cloud allowed his thoughts to wander as they followed Yazoo and Loz to their hidden home. He found it increasingly difficult to be alert and on-guard all the time - and he figured only Tifa and Marlene knew what was wrong with him...
Marlene had always been a perceptive child anyway....
"Oh... CLOUD!!"
Cloud was shot from his daydreaming by Tifa's yell. Yazoo and Loz had broken into a run, but that wasn't the problem.
There were children's bodies lining their path - and Yazoo's voice passed through Cloud's ears. He heard a name being called. But all he could see was the kids on the ground, unmoving.
Already all of AVALANCHE were on the ground checking to see if they were still alive - but the ex-SOLDIER's blue gaze travelled to the two disappearing figures.
He followed them inside a fallen building - more children littered on the floor. Cloud felt like he was suffocating - he couldn'rt breathe properly. His chest was tight with horror, making his fear, and his weakness, worse.
His shaking hand rose to find something to steady him. The palm of his hand came to rest on a wall, and his other hand was against his chest as he struggled to get enough air into his lungs.
Geostigma....
Is this.... This is Jenova's.... doing... isn't it?
Then why.... ?
Why are these... these two so.... worried?
He heard Yazoo's voice call Kadaj's name again - then Loz's.
Ignoring the ache in his muscles he forced himself forward, careful of the small bodies on the floor. He could see some of them still breathing, much to his relief.... but they were all so... pale....
He caught up to Yazoo and Loz at last, both men looking at him and dismissing him as they ran towards another room. Yazoo had a panicked look in his eyes, while Loz looked outright scared - an unusual sight to Cloud considering this man was... actually physically bigger then Sephiroth, he realized.
"KADAJ!!"
Time froze for Cloud in that moment as he entered the room.
Sitting there in a wheelchair was Sephiroth. His eyes were closed, his head bowed forward a little. He looked asleep - but his skin was the colour of death, his lips tinted blue.
And on the floor was Yazoo kneeling with an unconscious Kadaj in his arms.
"All of the kids are still alive."
Cloud lifted his head very slowly, his vision becoming blurry. There was a styrofoam cup in front of him, a gloved hand holding it. Then he saw a face come into veiw as he lifted his gaze a little higher.
"Tifa?"
"Yes?" she asked, kneeling by him and taking his hand to put the cup into it.
Cloud shook his head, "Thanks... I wasn't sure... where I was for a minute."
"You passed out on us, Spike!" Barret grunted heavily, thick-muscled arms folded. Despite his tough pose, he looked a little shaken. And pale.
Cloud blinked slowly. Barret did have a soft spot for kids since Marlene is his daughter....
He wondered how he was taking it on the inside....
Everyone else seemed to be trying to look distracted, but he could feel eyes on him. Even Cid's as he piloted the Highwind, the gruff forty year old chewing his cigarette nervously.
I forgot... No one knows if Geostigma is contagious or not....
They're all afraid of me... except....
"Tifa?"
She hadn't left his side. He hadn't touched his drink either.
He sipped it slowly. Water never tasted better....
"Do you want me to get you anything else?"
He shook his head, "No.... I want to know... where are the... Where are Sephiroth's brothers?"
She was silent for a moment.
Then he heard footsteps walk towards him, but there was no hesitation.
"They are inside the meeting room. Sephiroth is dead. The child called Kadaj is in the same condition as the rest of the orphans - so it seems they are untainted by Jenova's influence."
"Vincent...?" the blonde frowned, but his gaze was on the floorboards.
The rave-haired ex-Turk didn't answer him. He knew that every time he heard someone - Cloud wouldn't be sure who it was anymore... Calling there names, however, meant that he could still remember.... calling them... to make sure it was them he was talking to. The rest of AVALANCHE could now see how he struggled with being conscious alone....
Geostigma....
Vincent's gaze slid to the doors of the cockpit that led out into the hallway -
The disease like a slow cancer...
How long will they last?
Do they know these children are all going to die anyway? I can -feel- Jenova's poison pass through them. Draining them....
They hide it well, but slowly and surely, Jenova will drain them dry like the others.....
Vincent turned his ruby-red gaze away from the door - almost reluctantly, and watched as they passed the grey tinted sky. Near him, Cloud leaned against Tifa's shoulder, her arm around his shoulders. He refused to give up. But Vincent could feel his guilt, and he could smell the fear around him from the others.
Perhaps... all they did two years ago - was delay their end...
Shaking his head a little, he focused more on their so-called prisoners.
The one called Yazoo had carried Kadaj in his arms, his eyes hidden under his hair. The older one, Loz, had carried Sephiroth's covered body on board.
No one had said anything.
That boy, Kadaj....
Seth...
So... I wasn't wrong when I knew you were human...
But now....
Sephiroth is dead....
Lucrecia....
Can you see him now?
Are you both no longer alone?
"Yazoo?"
The silver-haired gunman lifted his head slowly to Loz, only for his green eyes to widen.
"I don't... feel so good..."
"LOZ!!!"
Daenis.