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My Sanctuary

Chapter 20: Hate vs Love

The car pulls to a stop and I climb out then open the door for Kadaj. As gracefully as a ballet dancer, he steps out. I follow him until the others have dispersed and have left us alone. "When is your announcement?"

"At noon, why?"

"Because I was never informed of the time and place."

He smiles gently at me, "No worries Squall. Leave those to me, you're in my hands now. You don't need to worry."

Why does he have to be so sweet. I love Cloud with all my heart...but he's got this sickeningly delicious personality once he's known that no one could stand up to. He's like my best friend that I have to protect...from anything and everything.

"Now let's hurry to the temple. I want to have leisure before I the assembly."

I nod and let him lead me to the large glamorous stone temple. It soars up almost as if it means to touch the cotton-ball clouds. The sunlight bounces off of them and warms the citizens that stop and bow to Kadaj as we make out way down the sidewalks. All the smiles and praises thrown at him are returned with a caring smile and a flash of deeply concerned eyes.

He couldn't help it. He's fallen in love with the people. He wants to protect them and destroy the past that had harmed so many. Kadaj isn't evil...not in the least.

Heavenly guards part the polished golden brown door to allow us entrance. The rest of the squad of guards idles on the steps, not allowed in. Except for me. I catch the eyes of Cloud just before the doors close back.

I haven't spoken to him since that last encounter. I'll have to make sure I do before the speech is given or else...things could get messy.

I shut the door behind me only to be slammed up against it. Teeth nip at my ear and lips ghost over my neck. The possessive and passion pouring out of him infects me and I let a moan slip unknowingly out of my mouth.

Stripping off my jacket and unbuttoning my shirt before pushing me down onto the bed. His fingers graze over my chest as kisses slowly descend from my lips down to my stomach. A smirk lights up his countenance as he leans down so that his hands trap my own into the sheets.

I hate myself for giving in. He's like that drug...that addiction that's always so sweet while its there and no one knows...no one that should know.

A startled cry dies in the throat of the man standing in the doorway. "Y-You're wanted in the c-council room," barely makes it out of his lips as the blonde slams the door on his way out.

Oh God, what have I done! How could I let this siren seduce me so?

Kadaj resumes unbuckling my belt as if it never happened. But my body seems to go numb and I sit up and push him away. "Shouldn't you go there before someone else comes up?"

"The rest of them know what I am so it doesn't matter if anyone else does. They're just going over the plans that I've already memorized to a T."

Throwing my legs over the edge of the bed, I draw my attire back over my body. "We need to get over there. It could be an emergency."

Kadaj rolls his eyes and rises as well, "If you're so worried then let's go already."

With a vexed expression, he leads me down to the meeting room. All of the robed members are seated at tables bordering the room. The stark of the white in this shadowed room strikes me as a reminder of Kadaj's wings.

During their meeting, I had kept off to the side and leaned against a pillar, not paying a lick of attention to what they're conversing about. By the time they're done, it's already time to go out onto the stage.

Deciding to avoid all of the citizens attending so that we won't be late, I follow him through a back alley. Kadaj halts without any warning and I barely avoid smacking into him.

"Yo, sorry to make you late but we need to talk."

I glance over Kadaj's shoulder to see Reno and Cloud. Over my own shoulder I see an awaiting Vincent...a very pissed off one at that.

I take a deep breath and pull my Gunblade from its slumber at my hip. I point it at Reno and Cloud after pushing Kadaj behind me.

Now infuriated, Cloud shoves Reno aside so that his suit almost touches the tip of the blade, "What the hell do you think you're doing? I should beat the crap out of you for what I saw you doing!" Cloud throws his hat onto the ground to reveal to Kadaj exactly who he is.

"So Squall, I thought you told me that he wasn't here?"

Reno puts a hand on Cloud's heaving chest and tries to make eye contact with me, but I keep them focused on the grimy ground. "Squall, what's going on? Just explain everything."

"I...I thought if I got close enough I wouldn't have to involve any of you in this. So I don't have to lose any of you. But, then I saw that Kadaj isn't evil, he just needs someone to understand."

"You can't save everyone Squall." he says as though to comfort me. But Reno doesn't understand and I'm sure Cloud's told him all that I've said and done.

Kadaj's nimble fingers land on my shoulder, "It's alright I'll tell my dearest Brother since you've asked me so nicely before."

Cloud shoots me a look of surprise but I lean back against the stone wall, that way Kadaj has his audience.

"You see Brother...Sephiroth had indeed implanted his seed into our Mother, Aerith. What no one but he knew was that I'm a monster; half guardian and half dark. I was sent to a hole in the mountain home. That's where I met the man I grew to care for. We devised a devious plan for him to infiltrate that castle so he can assure Father's, Seifer's, and your death. I didn't know no one knew about me then.

"Not many years passed and I joined the ranks of the Mages. They were kind and excepted me. That's how I chose Squall to go and kill you all so that it would look better for the society. Unfortunately my dearest friend was injured during it and lost his memory so that he couldn't return to me...You've taken the man I loved so I came to the conclusion to take yours for retribution."

Cloud pulls the gun out of the holster. "Then let me give you yours for all the pain you've brought me!"

Azure eyes flash with anger and then regret as the bullet hits Kadaj square in the torso and Vincent dashes forward to catch his falling body.

The raven haired man cradles Kadaj against his chest as he smoothes his hair back, "I'm sorry Kadaj I should have done something."

A sorrowful smile twists at Kadaj's lips, "N-No...I should be sorry. I...understand now. Y-You have people who c-care about you...y-you don't need m-me."

"I love you Kadaj. I apologize for have taken so long."