Even in the present day, Kadaj's gaze had darkened, now darting towards the door. Outside. He wanted to get out of here. He needed to. Not to cause a ruckus, just...out. He. Needed. To. Get. Out. Of. Here. Clutching Souba in a frenzy, Kadaj slipped into the empty hallway, closing the barrier behind him quietly.
He was outside now. He was outside. Now where did he want to go? He didn't have a destination in mind, but his feet started marching on a steady path, and he chose to follow along. Creeping around the Shinra building was pretty entertaining, he had to admit. With nobody else about, he could practice his tailing skills in the darkness of a silent operation.
He'd never get caught, either. There wouldn't have been anyone out at this hour who would've been able to stop him. Not unless the higher-ups got involved, for some reason. But that wasn't about to happen, now was it?
The uniform wasn't the only thing that had served to stoke his appetite. It was merely one of the entrees. Before, Kadaj hadn't given much of a crap towards either of his female siblings' wardrobes. What did he know or care about women's 'fashion'? But now, he couldn't stop noticing everything that his little Sister Kira had taken to wearing.
Since she'd become more active around the complex, she had gotten out of the habit of wearing those long nightgowns morning, noon, and night. Besides the school clothes, Kira had a whole slew of fresh outfits that had been picked up for her, and in a few more instances, once she'd gotten used to the concept, picked out by her. It was easy to tell which ones were which; the girl was almost always clad in one of the casual things she'd found in the many stores beyond the company walls. Things officially called 'sundresses' and 'peasant tops'. Shorts and pants with loose shirts. Plain clothes mostly, in stock colors. Lots of pastels, like white, baby blue, pink.
That was when they had reared their familiar heads.
He'd seen them on her arms, and her legs. Added to the ones on her face and throat...Kadaj had to wonder just how far those marks extended, if they went on so far as beneath the coverings of all her pretty clothes. Maybe he'd liked to have found that out for himself.
Scars. Many, many, many more scars. More than he could count. Where the hell could she have possibly accumulated them from?
"Rrgh - !" Kadaj was clutching at his head with his free hand, doing his best to banish away the murky rage that was trying to settle over his vision. He wasn't about to start lashing out in the hallway, not when he'd wanted to keep as low of a profile as possible. Never mind if the aggression was so palpable, he could taste the bitter toxin in the air, upon his tongue.
It was an option. If someone had inflicted those marks on her above, then it was safe to say they could've very well done the same below that. Someone had dared to lay a hand on her, maybe many someones. He couldn't be sure; there was no way to tell the history of a scar just by looking. But. To any of those fucks who would attempt to harm her again:
Just try it now, on his watch. Huh, when had he gotten so protective?
The girl never did talk about her old wounds, and eventually people above stopped caring, or trying to ask. She'd never give any answers on that subject. Kadaj wondered if it was a way of coping, or moving on, attempting to forget about the stains embedded in her skin. It was a noble, if somewhat foolish sentiment. She was alive, wasn't she? There was nothing wrong with wearing those marks as badges of honor. Not as something to be ashamed of. They hadn't killed her, and she was all the stronger for it. That's the way it should've been.
Then, he'd had to head down one day, to the lower levels of Shinra. It didn't matter how he'd wound up there, all he could remember were the words. Everything that had been exchanged between those bottom-feeders, as he'd skulked in the corners. Absorbing every syllable and allowing it to stew inside him. Letting the rage on another's behalf take a turn behind the wheel, for once. And you know what?
It felt good.
The topic of discussion had been the upper levels of Shinra, as always. Things about the SOLDIERS, and the President. Business decisions that the company had put into play recently. Profit increases, output margins. And then, the rest of the family. A few comments towards him and his Brothers, before the focus had shifted to the two Princesses.
"I wonder what they do up there?" The group had consisted of four figures, three women and a man. One of the females had started the whole sorry mess, inquiring as to what could possibly occur beyond the levels they were restricted to. "Those lucky girls, being born into such status. Wish I could've been so fortunate."
The man of the group had responded in like. "Yeah, join the club. Everyone wants a piece of the action at Shinra. But you'll have the worst time trying to get in. Those guys are tight-knit to a T. That's why there's this whole stupid hierarchy of secrecy and the 'higher' levels versus the rest of us." Ha, like any lowly peon could understand the real reasoning behind the way Shinra operated. Conceited little upstarts. The discussion had continued.
"How can they possibly be related?" The third of the women had been going on, opening her mouth and shoving her foot inside quite thoroughly. "They look alike, but they certainly don't act alike or seem similar in any other sort of way. Those two Sisters are complete opposites! I heard one of them hadn't been going outside for the longest time, right before the ceremony!" At this, Kadaj's hearing had perked up. They were referring to Kira, obviously.
"I heard she was sick, with something or other. And multiple things, too. Did she catch them all at once? Perhaps they had to decontaminate her for the rest of us." Now the male was chuckling, as the ladies giggled. Kadaj had nearly been biting through his tongue. The critique continued on, each one of the ignorant twittering fools having helped contribute further to his rising anger.
"Why did they keep them all locked up for so long? And even before the coming-of-age gathering, that one hadn't been coming out from her room? Plus, she just looked so weird, when they first showed her. Even now that they've grown a bit more." The second woman tutted. "Not much like royalty, I'm afraid."
"She's too scrawny. She needs more meat on her bones. How can she possibly hope to take over things if she's always falling ill? Shinra has no time to deal with that. We have bigger fish to fry." That was the man again.
"I'm not sure if I would trust her to produce any sort of heir, either. She doesn't look strong. They should put their bets on the first two instead – I know Rufus, and even that Kyra has more presence than her. What's this one's name again? Kyria?" And now the first woman was chiming in.
"No, no, it's Kira. Though that's not much better, is it? Either way, she needs to get herself together, and soon. Otherwise, Shinra should really consider tying up that loose end." Noisy man. Noisy busybodies. By now, Kadaj had heard enough.
He didn't give a shit that their thoughts had been painfully close and familiar to his, once before. His thinking had changed, it had evolved, when he'd finally taken the time to get to know her. His Sister. His lovely little Sister. All she'd invoked in him, exposed him to. With every moment that flew by between them, the similarities continued to build. The differences, so tiring and frustrating in the past, were now commonalities, reminding him that, if anything, she was opposite from everyone else on the outside, in more ways than he'd had enough gratitude to express then.
Then, there was the simple part, of possession.
Yes, he'd thought those things of her before. Just him. No one else had treated her so. And eventually, neither did he. Although the madness was still present, he had been welcoming her in with open arms, waiting for her to make herself at home in his grasp. She was there to stay. The thoughts had been quieted, the rage was being channeled in a whole new flavor.
Just like then, at that instant. He was the only one who could ever say those things about her. He'd been the first, and the last. No one would be permitted to utter such words, and most definitely in his presence. If she were to ever be attacked, beaten down, broken...it would be at his hand. His actions. His words. His intent. Nobody was allowed to take that kill away from him.
It had taken all his strength not to skewer the bunch of them through the head with his Souba. Instead, he'd taken a stab at the wall nearest to the closest figure's face. None of them had been expecting someone to pop up, never mind one of the Remnants. What business could he have down here? No one had been brave enough to address him, as he'd removed the tip of his blade from the wall and began heading off.
But not before shooting them all the most spiteful, venomous glare he could manage. One that was sure to linger on their minds long after he'd left. It was all he'd needed to do; the perfect method of dropping that little bomb. He'd heard every last word they'd allowed to spew from their mouths like verbal fecal matter.
And yet, he was allowing them to live. They should've considered themselves damn well fortunate then. If he could've gotten away with it, he would've left behind quite the scene for the next person to find, traveling down that path. He'd probably be facing some sort of consequence for this stunt in some form or another, but okay. He could live with it. It wasn't like Shinra wasn't good at finding replacements for menial tasks and labor anyways. Even the office grunts were expendable, to an extent.
More importantly, that 'protective' instinct – another something he wouldn't have found on his own, had started cropping up now as well. It drove him to watch the girl for any possible sign of distress. He wouldn't let it mar her features. He needed to see that joy. Her joy, a special sight for him, because he was the only one meant to bring it forth.
He would never let anyone else make her so happy.
Maybe it had been fate or some such, smiling down on him. But once again, he hadn't gotten caught for any sort of damage or accusations of threatening. He'd been able to go on his merry way, whatever that was or entailed. And he had felt better, really he did. Technically, he'd done a good deed, even if it didn't necessarily look or feel like one on the surface. It still worked both ways, and he had been satisfied at the outcome. No matter if it had been somewhat restrained, a little stress relief was better than nothing at all. Right?
Yeah. Just a little.
By this point in the present, Kadaj had started to recognize the familiar route under his feet, and his heart jolted as the door came into view. That door. Her door. The one that led directly into her domain, during a time when she...was completely unguarded and helpless.
Why the hell was he here to begin with, though?!
Everything else had settled down after that, aside from the roaring desire that was now running through his veins thanks to that little Sister of his. Things had fallen into their own version of 'normal', just like before, except the urges in him had continued to grow stronger. They ran deeper. They bit harder. They bled more, and took longer to heal over. And they never went away. They only increased, even with the constant waxing and waning in intensity.
That had carried over, even into today. As was blindingly obvious by this point, the whole of the earlier day's events had shaken those feelings up but something awful inside him. And after a frustrating, violent night in his room, Kadaj's search for peace had led him here, the bedroom door of Kira dearest. It opened smoothly as he slipped through, once more taking in the sight of her girlish, childish room, though blanketed in the night's inky light.
Her bed was directly in front of him, and he could see her form, snuggled up under the blankets and lying on her right side. At least he had his enhanced senses. Kadaj's eyes flashed as the door closed quietly. He crept closer to Kira's slumbering form, remembering vaguely that she was probably out until morning thanks to those pills they had her on at bedtime. Probably.
Another rush of adrenaline to his system. The male could barely keep his shaky breathing in check. He was here, in her room, in Kira's room once more, this time when everyone had already retired for the evening...and she was knocked out cold.
A wicked smirk began to tug at Kadaj's lips, as he gradually drew closer to her bed. Soon, he was standing just a little further down from the side she was on. He couldn't see most of her face until he'd gotten nearer. Yes, just like that. Now, he was looming over her, gazing heatedly at her peaceful expression. In this lighting, he couldn't see the marks on her skin. But he still knew they were there. He knew they existed.
After all, he was about to contribute to the cause, right?
In an instant, he'd unsheathed Souba, and aimed its tip towards Kira's face. The end of the blade was grazing her skin, and he angled it slightly, bringing it upwards along her cheek with a light, gliding pull. Even with that diminished pressure, he knew it would leave a mark, if not in the long run then at least for a few days until it healed.
"Mm..." In her sleep, the girl scrunched up her face, as if actually registering the mild sensation of pain. But she didn't stir from her blankets. Kadaj allowed the blade to travel down then, its tip drawing over and lower, aiming at a whole other area altogether. Her back. Through the upper left side. He could pierce her through cleanly, get her heart in one strike. Take from her what she had taken from him. Something he hadn't had any intention of losing.
The sword was primed, ready and waiting to strike. He'd assumed the stance beside the bed, it was simply a matter of actually going through with it – jumping headfirst into his own grave while dragging her along with him. And Shinra too, if word ever got out...
His pulse was pounding furiously, and he could see it, feel it, though he didn't want to admit anything. But it was there: the shaking. Souba trembled in his grasp, even as he kept up his aim, and tried to still his breathing. Why? How? Why was she doing this to him? And how? Was this really the only way to 'fix' things? How did any of this work? Why, why, why...
...why wouldn't she just give him her heart? She'd already offered him her body and life; why not her complete affection and adoration? What was the big leap here? At least they'd have belonged to the same name! Why was she allowed to take from him, but he couldn't get anything back from her in return?
It was more than just wanting to "get some" from his Sister; he'd had an actual need, a gnawing need, to have her wrapped just as tightly around his little finger as he was hers. Somehow, she'd ensnared him. And he couldn't snap the binds. Not even Souba was strong enough to cut through the figurative restraints. So, if he couldn't break free...then he'd just have to bring his 'captor' down to his level, now wouldn't he? Sounded simple enough, except for one tiny snag:
He wasn't the only one fighting for her attention here.
This time, it wasn't just his Brother. He knew that. Every so often, other faces would come sniffing around, others who didn't understand, didn't belong...and Kadaj would have to drive them away yet again. Such was the price of being a young, single heiress.
But they couldn't have her. She was his treasure, his catch, his bounty. And he wasn't sharing her with anyone. There was only enough room in her heart for one being, and that? Was him. He wouldn't concede that point to anyone else. No matter how many times Yazoo tried to pull the rug out from under him.
He'd seen her first. He saw her first! Just because Yazoo was older did not mean he got first pick! Kadaj was the Leader, and more than willing to square off against the sharpshooter if that's what it would take just to keep his Sister at his side. He already had the nicknames, the early meetings, the class visits, and now, even this! The maid getup, appointment companionship, and sex talk! What was going to be left for him?
Well, he wasn't about to accept any 'leftovers' to begin with. Kadaj didn't give a shit what advantages his older Brother had had over him, he would not accept defeat. Not here, not this time. He'd had to swallow that bitter pill so many times throughout his life, no matter his abilities or bloodline. He was never first, he wasn't the best, he was always trying so hard, and falling just short of the mark. Failure. Failure, failure, failure!
But, when he was with Kira...things had changed. At first, all he'd been able to see were her faults, the many ways she didn't work. He'd ignored her attempts to reach out to him, not wanting to admit he'd had any inclination whatsoever towards giving her the time of day. There was no reason to pay her any mind, at least not in a way that he enjoyed. Why would he wish to constantly be surrounded by mediocrity? He'd get a laugh, then it was over. He didn't keep pushing the same buttons for the same reaction.
Yet, that girl...did not only produce the same reactions again and again. Well, at first she had. Just at first. Then, everything else had started tumbling out. Soon, he'd been eagerly awaiting those outcomes, waiting to see the new emotions upon her features, displayed for him in their entirety. He would form his own special bond, with his own set of personal quirks that were known to them and them alone. Just him and Kira. Maybe she could give him another nickname, too?
Why...did he want a nickname...? Maybe not that then, but perhaps something more forceful than the '-kun' suffix? He hadn't even liked the honorifics to begin with! By this point however, he had already graduated from being a mere 'boy' or 'male'. They were supposed to be terms of respect, right? There had to be something else she could use!
However it turned out, this was going to be one instance in which failure was not an option. He'd seen his paradise, reflected in the eyes of that doe-eyed ragdoll who had regarded him like something holy and sacred. Even after all he'd put her through, she had still given so much of herself to him.
Not her heart, though. Never fully her heart.
"Ngh -!" Kadaj's vision was swimming, with both shadows and crossed emotions. He was having a hard time making out Kira's shape completely now, the borders seeming to waver. It was kind of disturbing, in reality. But that punch, that sharp slice to his insides...that reminded him of what she had given and taken away. He couldn't drop the sword, and he couldn't stab her, either. What the fuck was he supposed to do here?!
At that moment, he heard it: a feather-soft yawn, like the coo of a dove. He felt the pulse rate jolt slightly, as the figure beneath the bedcovers began to stir. In an instant, Kadaj had retracted Souba, and was now trying to make it back towards and out the door before getting caught. It had only been about three feet away, the exit was just in his reach!
He hadn't been paying any attention to the soft shuffling sounds behind him, until the gently questioning, sleepy call reached his ears. He froze then, rooted to the spot and unable to go any further.
"'Yawn' A-Ano...is someone there? Who... 'yawn' ...w-who are you...?"
There was no way out of this, at least not by running. He was liable to give Kira quite the fright if he'd just left now. She would've definitely thought him some sort of intruder or criminal, and that was not what he needed at that moment. On the other hand, she was also very tired. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage?
So, carefully turning around, Kadaj regarded the girl behind him with what he hoped wasn't an imposing demeanor. No matter what he usually portrayed. Right now, he needed Kira to go back to sleep.
She was quite the...adorable thing though, in oversized pajamas with her short hair sticking up all over the place, thick bangs falling in front of her eyes. Her groggily questioning expression, paired with the rest of her appearance and tone of voice, plus the fact that she'd already crawled halfway out of her nest of blankets just to regard him? Yeah, it was certainly something to behold.
"It's alright, Kira...it's just me." At hearing these words, a sleepy sort of recognition crossed the girl's face. "Ka...Kadaj-kun?" Now she was smiling dreamily, swaying a little as she tried to climb out further. The way she was going, she'd most likely fall out of the bed head-first, and that wasn't something he'd wanted to deal with, not now. He wasn't aiming to hurt her like that.
Not this time.
In a single move, he'd been at her side, holding her upper body and guiding her back under the covers. The girl had not protested, seeming to instinctively trust in her Brother's actions. He was only hoping that he could trust himself, too. Tucking her back in, almost tenderly, pulling the covers up and around her delicate form. Seeing the way she was regarding him now, with that murky, dream-fog addled gaze...and a half-smile.
"Kadaj-kun..." Another soft yawn. "C-Came to see me...in my dreams?" Holding back a chuckle at his luck that evening, he nodded, reaching to brush the hair from her face. She wasn't yet lying down among the pillows, and it was just as she'd been about to do so, when he'd stopped her. In her groggy state as directed by his touch, Kira hadn't struggled. She was still under the impression of it being a dream, as Kadaj cupped her chin in his hand, turning her head to the right.
The line he'd left behind on her cheek had, by now, begun to dribble down just slightly, a little bubble over from the fresh cut against her skin. Kira must not have felt much of anything in her sleepy haze, but Kadaj could see it, plain as day. He'd made it, after all.
And, if he drew in ever so close...almost close enough, but not quite...he could even smell the fresh blood, albeit faintly, upon the stillness of the air here. The tiny scrape was driving him mad, even if its owner had been too doped up to notice, or care. He'd take what he could get...if only to satisfy that voice, echoing from deep within his mind. The one that always wanted more, that was never happy with the bits and ends it got from its host. It wanted resolution and, if only for tonight, was going to get it.
In an instant, both of his hands were now holding her face, gloves pressed against jawline. The girl beneath him seemed to vaguely register his touch, though this time she hadn't jumped, like usual. She was really tired, just what the hell did they have her on?
Whatever. It wasn't important. Not here, not now. He had bigger things to take care of. The violent arousal, and hunger, upon seeing his little Sister like this...doing what he'd done, what he'd started. Now, it was on him to finish it.
With slow, heavy heartbeats, Kadaj locked his glittering cats' eyes on Kira's own heavy-lidded gaze. She seemed to notice it somewhat, as a soft, disjointed giggle left her mouth. He paid it no mind, leaning in close. He stopped when there was less than an inch between his mouth and her injured cheek. Oh, that scent...the smell of blood – fresh, pure, unspoiled blood. Young blood. Blood that belonged to someone who carried far more meaning to him than was natural or healthy. After all, they were 'siblings'.
"Close your eyes...and let me take care of you." At that instant, his breath traveled over her skin, warm and husky. With a light series of laps with his tongue, Kadaj had begun cleaning away the stain, savoring the delectable flavor upon his lips. Kira had simply sat there, half-conscious of what was happening, but her dominant mind had her thoroughly convinced that this was all just a dream. Though it was probably a nice one, to her at least, seeing her Brother. How she trusted him so.
A trust that he had been using and abusing in all his own ways for how long now. She only realized part of it, not all. Nobody else was even close to doing so, though. It was their little secret, even if he was the only one with any sort of full clue. Kira was just a silent keeper. 'Care' for her, huh? Well, this was one of the things that his 'care' entitled her to, did she still want it?
Of course she did. He wouldn't have it any other way.
That temptation. That damn vixen of pure, unadulterated lust and need. The disturbingly volatile erotic images and sensations that threatened to overtake him, hijack his controls completely. That one taste of blood had been more than enough. He'd wanted more.
But, he couldn't get more, not here or now. No matter what those devils may've said to him otherwise. If he were to ever do something like that, it would be when she was actually conscious enough to feel it, and remember. And, she would've had to do something drastic to get that sort of reaction out of him. Maybe something like, oh, running away with his Brother? That could work.
For a moment, that flash. The brief drive to just take what he wanted here, 'morals' be damned. Then, a last look down, to the girl now lying among the pillows and blankets. Her face cleaned of crimson trails, eyes closed and lips slightly parted. What she could've possibly been thinking about after all this was anyone's guess.
But, for now...it was a dream he wouldn't disturb.
Licking his lips once more, Kadaj enjoyed the last lingering traces of Kira's lifeforce. Then, he left the room, casting a final look back at the figure settled among the soft masses of puff and stuffing. Her breathing was so light and faint, as was her heartbeat. But he could still make it out, even through the pitch black. Nothing could stop him from following that pulse, her rhythm. It called to him, even while she did not.
And someday, someday...that rhythm would respond, to him and his own. The colorful laundry list of contradictions that had built up between the two of them was now scattered to the winds, its intent ready and waiting to be invoked. The spell had been cast, the order issued. It would be a bloodbath, what would eventually ensue, and all in the name of her heart. Something that Kadaj would've never guessed himself to be a fighter for.
He fought for himself, no matter under what header. He'd thought he'd had it all figured out, what he wanted, needed to obtain. What he was so desperate to claim for his own. At first, it had merely been success, recognition. Prowess. His own sense of pride and accomplishment, more than he'd already had. The desires had been easy enough to identify, and for the first part of his life he'd gone chasing them, like any child was want to do. It was a simple, idyllic existence, if gritty and straightforward. At least he'd been 'enjoying' himself, mostly. Then, he'd grown up.
It wasn't just that glory he craved now – that urge to be the center of attention, outshining all the rest beneath him. The feelings ran far deeper, like a winding river throughout his body. Every nerve was on edge and electrified by the fresh current that was fueling him and his responses. It was leaving behind his mark, his legacy – that's what had gotten to him. That's what he'd wanted, more than anything else.
He'd gotten his 'recognition', that glimpse at a proper future, as soon as he'd met that girl, and saw the look in her eyes. The way she'd beheld him. Like no one else had before, or ever would again. Her stare had caught him, and in return he'd begun spinning his own vicious web, determined to tie her up until she was just as much at his mercy as he was hers.
Mercy...did he have any of that to spare? For her?
Just one glance. That one sight, and he hadn't been able to look away again. She had taken his eyes from his prior goal, before finding a way to entwine herself with it perfectly, in that special way only she could. Kira had no idea that she was in the danger zone; she'd continued to press on, putting all of her faith into her pair of dearest 'Brothers', believing they would protect her. And, to a certain extent, they would. They could protect her from the outside world.
But they would never be able to protect her from themselves. And that was something she would learn too, in due time. Kadaj chuckled to himself, a low ominous tone as he'd made his way back through the winding, shaded hallway. He'd proven that quite well tonight. Luckily his hormonal desire had outweighed his irrational rage. It wouldn't have been a good thing, killing her like that in her bed, so easily. No, it didn't fit. Not at all.
If Kira were to die, it should've been a death befitting of a Princess, right? In the arms of that special someone she loved the most. Looking for all the world like a dying angel in his arms, gazing up at him with that peaceful understanding. Even as the pain and blood loss overtook her completely.
And then, there were the other bits...he wanted to do more with Kira than just kill her. She was far beyond a plain target. From Enemy, to Sister, to Friend, and now...this. What was this? A 'crush'? Did he want her...to be his 'lover'? Hell, did he want her as his mate? It certainly would've made sense, what with all the possession shit he was going through. Damn, this was frustrating.
But the rush he'd gotten, as the first drop of blood had unleashed its flavor upon his tongue. And that steamy vision that wouldn't stop assailing him with its alluring sounds and pleasing sensations. Imagining being able to take that...everything that he'd witnessed this night...and experiencing it fully. The beginning, the middle, and the end, of such an encounter. No more teases or peek-a-boos. He wanted her. He wanted her, so badly...a balancing act of lust and lividity, day in and day out. Trying to keep the cravings at an even level, along with the pain and the destructive tendencies.
There was nothing easy about it. In the best terms, it was organized chaos. Not something he'd have willingly taken on for himself. In this, he hadn't gotten a say. But, soon enough...the balance would be tilting in his favor, as would the rest of this crooked existence. He would get his beautiful disaster, and when the smoke had cleared and the rubble fell away...when the bodies could finally be ignored and the world had gone silent. Then, and only then...would he be able to share in the bloody sunrise with his 'beloved'. A dog day sunrise.
'Beloved'. Kira was his...'beloved'. A wicked little smirk was curling his lips, as Kadaj continued on to his room. Yet another something different he'd learned to accept. This one, pain though it may've inflicted upon him on a regular basis – beyond regular, actually – had also become something far too familiar to release, to banish. At first, he hadn't wanted it.
Now, he couldn't live without it. This connection, that he and Kira shared.
It was precious, it was unspoiled, it was just waiting to be used and manipulated for his own benefit. But even at the bottom of all that, there was his twisted longing, his violent loneliness...and that need to ultimately control. Even in matters of the 'heart', his nature could not be altered. He was who he was. So, his heart – and hers – would just have to learn how to deal with it then, now wouldn't they? Considering the progress he'd made this 'fine' evening, Kadaj wasn't doubtful of its happening. All it would take, was time. Time and patience. Not a thrilling combination, in his opinion.
But, if all that time brought with it even more memories, more incidents...more highs, like tonight? A hard jolt in his chest, and Kadaj knew the answer then: Yes. It was worth it. No matter how much blood was shed in the process...he would never surrender on the loss of his 'heart'.
With that thought in mind, Kadaj started humming to himself then – a creepy, entrapping tune, that drifted among the shadows like a lost child behind him. That song of Kira's was surprisingly catchy. Perhaps it was simply a mutual interest between jailbirds. Or, they'd begun sharing a cell.
The sadistic little second-best, and the masochistic haunted doll. What a fitting pair, indeed.
A/N: And, thus ends this twisted little tale. To those few of you who have been following its efforts, thank you. Hopefully, this conclusion was satisfactory. I've been sitting on it for a few YEARS now, so it's nice for it to finally see the light of day. At long last, the book is closed on this universe.
Until next time, take care, and stay safe, everybody.