Queati silently moved through the foliage around Cloud's manor thinking over what was going on. The prophesy he didn't put much stock in simply because the future was a very fluid thing and usually didn't make sense until they had been fulfilled. Seeing Genesis the sapphire haired General crouched down to see what he was doing.
"GENESIS!" Spiral shrieked and Queati found it took a great deal of effort to keep from rolling his eyes. The formerly black haired, well there was some silver but not enough to make him look old, Chiati sprinted out of the house. Queati blinked to check and see if what he was seeing was real and actually pinched himself.
Bright violet with silver and blue highlights and cut into a bob. Queati's eyes widened and his lips twitched into a smile. Shaking his head he turned slightly to see Cloud walk outside with Kai, who really was growing quite tall for a six year old, dressed in those strange water clothes. It just looked like they were wearing strange very short hakama's. Only to their knees and in colors Queati had only ever seen on a Chaos demon. Really they would wear just about any color.
Something fluttered on Cloud's side and Queati leaned forward no longer paying attention to Genesis who was running around cackling madly while Spiral tried to catch him. What was that? Where those... gills?! On HIS SIDES?!
Queati didn't bother to keep his expression neutral. Water Demons had gills on their necks! Why... Kai. That cunning, overly knowledgeable... of course! Cloud was too pale and light colored for a Water Demon! And he had only met one of them briefly... Kai must have known what Cloud was. He didn't want Queati to protect Cloud from emotional guilt.
Queati leaned back thinking to when the Voro had been 'defeated' when he was young and just after he had met Kai. He sat down hard. A theory he didn't like started to form in his mind. If he was right... this changed everything.
He needed to find out if Kai had really died from an illness. If not... then Kai might not be the only one who was reborn. He shuddered thinking about the possibilities. Turning he informed Vincent he had something he needed to check on then very quickly made his way towards the ruins of Kai's estate. Kai might have been hard to pry secrets out of, but he usually left around important information in the War Room. He wasn't sure what he wanted to find.
Vincent stared after Queati. In the time they had known the Demon General he had never appeared anything less than collected. The shock and paleness of his skin worried Vincent. Looking around he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Queati was an old fashioned kind of person due to his age... so the swimsuits may have shocked him. However, Vincent didn't think that was what was going on.
Queati knew something or suspected something that worried him.
Crimson eyes narrowed. The sound of a child's laughter drew his attention back to Cloud and Kai playing in the large swimming pool. Queati was extremely loyal to Kai. He would be back if only to protect the former Demon Emperor.
Seeing Spiral tackle Genesis into the pool a smirk was hidden behind his cloak. Genesis shrieked in furry as his beloved LOVELESS was soaked and it was Spiral's turn to run. Kai laughed and tried to tackle Cloud into the pool, but the blonde was too heavy for him to successfully dunk. Vincent quickly used chaos centered magic to change into a pair of black swim trunks and ran over to assist him.
Cloud yelped in surprise as Vincent jumped on his back and both fell into the water. Cloud sputtered in shock as they came up for air. Kai cannon balled into the water right next to him and Cloud mock growled. Shrieking with delight Kai tried to swim away.
Vincent smiled as Cloud grabbed Kai's arm to drag him close enough to throw him over his shoulder. Seeing the mischievous glint in his son's eyes Vincent swam backwards to get out of range.
Zack decided to join in with a belly flop that had Angeal wincing. It looked very painful.
"This water is cold!" Zack exclaimed coming up for air besides Vincent blocking off his escape. At that moment Cloud and Kai decided to splash Vincent with a wave of water. Vincent took a deep breath and ducked down leaving Zack to get a face full of water. He sputtered and the water war began.
No one was sure who won, but they all where thoroughly soaked and shivering slightly due to the cold water. Cloud lifted Kai out of the water and pulled a towel from under the umbrella he had set up above it in case a full scale water fight began.
Kai grinned up at him as Cloud wrapped a towel around him and rubbed most of the water off of him.
"Why aren't you cold daddy?" Kai asked. Cloud could see the gaps in Kai's teeth from the wide smile. His fangs should be growing in soon.
"The Nibelheim Mountains I grew up in were much colder. This cold doesn't bother me." Cloud replied ruffling Kai's hair until it stood on end and Kai, protesting, pulled away.
"Can I see where you grew up daddy?" Kai asked. His grey held no hint of the crimson they would become and were so innocent.
"Maybe in the future Kai. Now what do you say we go inside and get you in some dry clothes?" Cloud asked.
"I don't want to be done yet!" Kai protested.
"The swimming pool isn't going anywhere. You can play in it tomorrow." Cloud replied picking up Kai who didn't protest being carried.
"We can play in it tomorrow." Kai replied firmly. "And maybe Uncle Spiral will have black hair again."
Cloud grinned, but didn't say anything. Knowing Genesis Spiral would be stuck with that hair color until he used a very nasty shampoo that reeked. Once Kai was dressed Cloud sat down with his son to read an old book of legends his mother had read to him when he was little. He was going to spend as much time as possible with his son.
Dark eyes fluttered open and a human like figure blinked. Darkness surrounded him. Breathing in the tainted water he grinned. He could feel the life force of his twin. It looked like his spell was successful. The energy of his hive moved around in what felt like a large cavern next to the smaller cave he was in. He really hated his father... but he had his uses.
'Master!' He heard and his mind reached up to take control of the hive again. They willingly surrendered eagerly.
'Tell me of my brother,' He commanded.
Images of a man he did not know flowed through him and he saw his brother in the way he moved.
'Tell us what to do Master,' they chorused.
'Wait for me to regain my strength. In five years we will be strong and that arrogant Emperor will still be weak.' He replied. 'Hide my pets and let them stew as they wonder where you are.'
'As you wish Master.' Was the faithful reply.
Another chapter! Thanks to AtsukoSchulyer for reviewing. I can honestly say that the LOVELESS prophecy does not have anything to do that I know of with this story. I still don't really understand it fully ^_^"
Queati really does wish that Kai left him more information than he has, but Kai sometimes doesn't give everyone the information they want. He's irritating like that at times. If Queati knew what he now suspects he wouldn't have set foot near Cloud. He would have turned around and ran away. So yes Queati knows more, but no he doesn't know everything.
That being said Kai knew exactly what was going to happen and tried to set things up accordingly.