Chapter 4

Maniacal Mother

Yazoo stumbled as the group landed in the clearing outside the Capitol entrance, grateful that Kadaj already had hold of Harmony as the woman instantly lost consciousness.

"Idiot!" He hissed. To use that much of her already exhausted power on something as stupid as blinking that many people!

"I'll call Cid." Vincent sighed, pulling his phone from his pocket.

"He's going to be so pissed." Kadaj groaned. Cid was obnoxious anyway, but even more-so when he was angry. And this anger would be justified!

"Uncle Kadaj?" Fionn's voice called from the hollow tree. "I thought you weren't going to be back for a couple more days? Uh! Why is Aunt Hari asleep?! Is she hurt? Kiku, Kiku! I think Aunt Hari is hurt!"

Before Kadaj could get a word in or even try to stop his daughter from recklessly leaving the safety of the Capitol gate, she was sprinting across the clearing. Her wide eyes caught his, fearful and trusting at once, and he sighed.

"She blinked us home." He said. "Now, you go tell Fionn or Miri to get their mom. We have two new people who need vetted, and I'm sure she'll want to check us too, where we came home so early."

Kiku nodded and rushed back, and Kadaj turned menacingly when Kunsel stepped up beside him.

"I'm not even gonna ask what the Hell that was or how we got here." He said. "But who was that? You guys employing child soldiers now?"

Kadaj snarled. "You're lucky my hands are full, or I might consider taking your head off your shoulders."

Kunsel blanched and backpedaled away. "Jeeze, man, I was just asking a question!"

"That's his daughter." Elena whispered, pulling the soldier closer.

Kunsel's eyes went wide and he glanced back toward the tree. He knew that the Remnant had a child, of course, but he had been led to believe that the child was much older. Rufus himself had ordered the execution of the Guardian Child on the spot if anyone ever caught her again.

But… This was a little girl. She couldn't have been older than six, maybe seven!

"What a fuckin' psychopath." He said, and he shivered when Kadaj growled.

"Wanna tell me who it is you think is a psychopath?" The Remnant hissed, and Kunsel hurried to explain.

"Rufus… He led us to believe that the Guardian Child was much older… And a great threat. We were all ordered to kill her on the spot. Dude," He turned wide, panicked and pleading eyes to the man, "she's in so much more danger than you guys apparently think."

Kadaj had paled, and his angry expression faded for a moment before returning with savage threat. He tossed Harmony at Yazoo, who cursed and caught her, and then the younger Remnant was on him.

Kunsel yelped and tried to flee, tried to backpedal away but Kadaj was too fast. A pale hand crushed around Kunsel's throat and Kadaj was in is face, snarling his promise with inescapable certainty.

"If you even look at my daughter like you're going to hurt her-!"

"Kadaj, let him go." Sassi's voice called through the clearing, and Kunsel hit the ground with a gasping, raspy cough. He looked up, worried – scared for his life at the powerful creature gliding toward him.

"You're supposed to wait inside." Kadaj deadpanned, and the woman snorted.

"I know it's really you. And I know Harmony's okay, just stupid." The woman sighed, and Kunsel gulped when as she reached him, she gently lowered to her knees.

"… Lady Cetra." He whispered, shaky, and then she smiled and it was amazing, how rapidly his fear just evaporated.

"Hey." She said softly. "I'm going to touch your cheek, okay? And when I do, I'm going to see every thought you've ever had. I'll see your memories. You can't lie to me, so don't even try. You can't fabricate. I just need to be sure it's safe to let you into our haven. Okay?"

Kunsel frowned. That was intensely personal, what she was asking… But… He understood the necessity. "…Okay." He whispered. Her hand was calloused, but gentle where it cupped his cheek, and he expected to feel some sort of power. There was nothing, though – just a far away look in the woman's eyes for only a moment, then she sighed and pulled her hand away.

"He's good." She said. "…I feel he's more trustworthy even than others we've allowed inside. No nefarious intentions." She glanced back to him and offered a wider smile. "And I think our resident Puppy is going to be ecstatic to welcome you to our ranks."

"Uh!" He gasped when she suddenly lunged, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

"You're the one who called when our children were taken. You tried so hard to help us, even then… Thank you."

Kunsel blinked in surprise. He'd forgotten about that!

"One more, Sassi." Yazoo called from behind them, and the woman nodded and stood, and Kunsel watched her cross to the Turk.

"Elena…" She whispered, and there was a soft sadness in her voice that made him hurt to hear it. "I'm so sorry for everything that happened… But I'm so glad you're alright!"

"Sassi." Elena said, and gone was the anger and accusation in her voice that the Turk had expressed when talking about Director Tseng. The blonde held her hand out fearlessly, and Kunsel knew at that point that she really was on their side. If she wasn't, there was no way she'd have let the woman into her thoughts.

"She's good." The Cetra said after a moment, and both Remnants and the gunmen with them breathed sighs of relief. "Come on," Sassi continued. "Let's get inside and get Hari to bed. I can't believe she blinked that many people back after using that glamor for so long. What an impulsive idiot." She rolled her eyes, but there was a loving smile on her face.

"As soon as Cid gets back, he has the things you asked Harmony to get. We managed to find most of it before we went into the Gold Saucer." Vincent informed her, and she nodded.

And then Kunsel watched, full of awe and understanding, as the woman paused before a crystal dome at the center of the giant, hollow tree. She placed her hands on it, and the crystal just shattered into what he could only describe as glittering stardust.

A long, green staircase appeared, and Sassi ushered them through before pausing to call up that magical barrier again.

A group was waiting at the bottom – Zack Fair rushed to him the moment he stepped onto cool stone, and Kunsel thought his ribs would crack under the strength of his old friend's embrace.

"Damn, it's good to see you!" Zack said, and Kunsel smiled.

"You too, man. Sorry it took me so long."

And then the temperature suddenly fell. Or at least, it seemed like it did when Kunsel looked back at Elena and caught the glacial fury on her face. She stared ahead at the pale skin and long, dark hair of Tseng, previous Director of Turk and now wanted criminal.

"Elena…" Tseng whispered, and then Kunsel – and everyone else – blanched when she rocketed forward and Tseng hit the ground. He propped up, one hand rubbing his jaw as Elena shook her smaller fist.

"You bastard." She uttered. "You left me there!" I didn't even know if you were okay, and then Rufus called me in and… And he watched everything and I couldn't get away and you left me there!"

"'Lena," He tried, "I couldn't drag you-"

"You just shut the hell up! I let it go when you were trying to help Sukai. Even though it made me so angry that you wouldn't just tell her you were trying to help her! But… Me?! You don't get to walk away from me! You don't get to take my choice away!"

"She's got a point." Kadaj drawled. "The utterly righteous way the good people think they have to do everything on their own is old."

"I can't even look at you right now." Elena growled at her fiancé. "Just… Take me to Sukai. I'll stay with her."

Tseng suddenly looked away, and his features fell to tortured grief.

"Elena…" Sassi whispered, and she sounded positively shattered. "Sukai didn't survive labor. The baby is okay, but… Suk'… We lost her."

Every bit of color drained from Elena's face and Kunsel was quick to move when she dropped, lowering her gently to her knees.

"She's gone?" She breathed, shaky. "She's…" Her wild eyes found Tseng again, and Kunsel swore he saw the man's soul wither. "You put her through so much pain… Making her think you hated her… And she died. Did she even know?!"

"Yes." Tseng said softly. "We spoke. Well, I spoke. She… wouldn't talk to me."

"Good." Elena spat. "And now, you can just never talk to me again, either!"

"Elena," He tried, and she shrieked.

"No! You selfish, pompous, arrogant asshole! I'm here to help them. You and I? We're through."

Harmony hissed and groaned as she awoke. Damn, that never got easier. One would think with as often as she blinked passengers, she could at least remain conscious. Oh, sometimes, of course, but not often.

"Glad you're finally awake." Kadaj's voice murmured from the foot of the bed. "So I can yell at you for being stupid."

Harmony's lips split in a tiny, crooked grin before her eyes even opened. "Go for it." She said. "Just know that it will do no good, because I'm not sorry. How pissed is Cid?"

"Very." Kadaj drawled. "Seriously, Hari, we could have convinced her. You keep putting yourself in danger like that, and one of these days it's going to bite you in the ass."

"It's just blinking!" She protested, and he rolled his eyes.

"This time. What'll it be next time? Hell, Kiku was so worried about you that she left the Capitol to get to you."

Harmony frowned. That was so unsafe. "Before Sassi got there?" She asked. Kadaj nodded.

"Kunsel told me something, too… He said Rufus has ordered his people to kill Kiku on sight. They've been led to believe she's much older, but I don't think a lot of them will care when they find out she's not."

Harmony paled, her features drawn in horror and desperation as she lurched up. "Oh my God…" She rasped. "Where is she? She needs to know, she has to be ready!"

"I know." Kadaj soothed. He walked around the bed and sat down, drawing her into his arms. "You have got to learn to stop and think things through, baby." He whispered. "I can't lose you again. Kiku can't lose you. And we can't lose her. You were so careful in your world… What changed?"

"I…" Harmony sighed and melted into his embrace. "I feel safe." She admitted. "Even with everything happening, I feel safe with you. With all of you. I feel home. Sometimes… Sometimes I feel invincible, even though I know I'm not."

Kadaj smiled and squeezed her tighter. "I'm honored that you feel that way. I just want you to be careful. I mean it when I say I can't lose you again. I… I've never wanted to die so much, myself, than when I thought you were gone."

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I really am. I didn't want to hurt, or leave anyone behind."

"I know." He cut in. "And I get it." He hooked her jaw and coaxed her head back, pressing a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. She hummed and returned it, and sighed when he pulled away.

"Where's Kiku now?" She asked.

"With Sassi and the twins. She already talked to her about leaving the Capitol on her own, but it'd probably stick better if you and I had a conversation with her, too."

"You mean if she had a conversation with you." Harmony pouted. Kadaj frowned and stilled, and Harmony knew that he knew something.

"Hari…" He started.

"You know." She said. "You know why she's not talking to people. Why she only talks to you and the twins."

"She talks to Yazoo sometimes, too." He admitted. Harmony blinked as she felt the sting in her sinuses, gleaming wetness lining her lashes.

"Why?" She whispered, her voice trembling on a sob. "Why won't she talk to me, Kadaj?"

He heaved a sigh and shifted, pressing her back to lay on the bed and lowering to tug her against him. "She's afraid." He confessed. "She… Hari, you've raised her Wiccan. You've taught her that life is sacred and she should never kill."

Harmony's breath caught and she gripped his hands, hard. "She killed someone?" Kadaj nodded.

"When they were taken… They were put in a cell in Wutai. And…" He trailed off, and Harmony could taste how angry he was. "The guard was a pedophile. He went after Miri. That was how it happened. She bonded on both of them at that moment, and shifted, and killed the guard."

"And's afraid I'll be mad?" Harmony whispered.

"Yes. She just- Hey, wait, where are you going?" Kadaj protested when Harmony lunged from the bed.

"To have a talk with my daughter!" She growled. Kadaj let out a sound of concern and followed.

"Hari, you can't yell at her. You can't be angry with her about this!" He hissed. "She's my daughter, too, and I say she didn't do anything wrong!"

"You stay out of this." She snapped. "If you'd told me this weeks ago, all of her pain," She choked off, sobbing into her hands as she walked. "All of her pain could have been avoided! You want me to stop being reckless? Stop keeping secrets from me, especially when they're about my child!"

She came to a stop outside Sassi's cottage, and her face held nothing but anguish as she watched her precious daughter frolic and play with the Cetran children.

"Kiku!" She called, and at seeing her mother's distress, the girl gasped and bound toward her.

"Hari," Kadaj tried again, his tone warning.

"Shut the hell up." She growled. She pulled Kiku into her arms, hugged her so tightly the girl probably couldn't breathe as she sobbed into her pretty silver hair.

"Aunt Hari?" Fionn asked cautiously. "Are… You okay? Should I go in and get Mommy?"

"I'm so sorry." Harmony sobbed into Kiku's hair. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Oh, God…" She pushed the girl away, "I'm so sorry I let them take you, and I'm so sorry for what you had to… Oh, baby…"

Kiku's eyes were wide and afraid, tears welling to roll down her tiny face.

"You're… You're not mad, are you?" Miri whispered, drawing closer. "Aunt Hari, Kiku saved us… Please… Don't be mad!"

"Oh I am furious." Harmony said, and her tone validated it. Kiku flinched, and Harmony sighed and pushed her back. She cupped the girl's cheek, tried to make her voice as soft and loving as possible. "But not at you, baby. Not at you. I'm angry that you were put in that position. That at six years old you had to make that choice. But…"

"Hari?" Sassi's voice called softly, and Harmony glanced up to see Fionn leading the Cetra out of their home, Loz trailing behind curiously. Harmony took a deep breath and looked back to Kiku.

"You did exactly what you were supposed to do. You kept your Cetra safe. You kept them safe in the wilds of Wutai for three weeks before Nanaki found you. Seasoned Wu Sheng ninja go into that jungle and don't come out."

Kiku looked up at her, her eyes shining hopefully.

"I am nothing but proud of that, my powerful little Guardian."

A heartbeat stretched on – hours, it felt like. Finally the little girl wailed and threw herself into Harmony's arms.

"Mommy!" She sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Mommy! I didn't want to hurt anyone, but I couldn't make him leave her alone, then I couldn't stop, and lightning came out me and I killed him and-"

"Shhh." Harmony soothed. "It's okay, baby. It's okay. I'm here. I know it's hard. But you did a good thing. You protected them both. I'm sorry you have to bear this burden so young, but I'm here. I'll help you. I'll teach you."

She glanced up to Kadaj, took in the gentle smile, though worry on his face as he dropped to one knee and pulled them both close.

"I'm sorry I told your secret." He whispered to his daughter. "But your mother's right… We shouldn't have secrets with each other."

"And we shouldn't be reckless." Harmony said. "I have to learn, too… But Kiku." The little girl looked up. "Don't ever leave the safety of the Capitol without me, your father, or your aunts and uncles ever again. Understood?"

"Yes, Mommy." Kiku said. "I'm sorry. I was worried you were hurt…"

"I know. And I'm sorry I made you worry."

"I hate to interrupt," Sephiroth's voice cut in, and everyone – including Sassi and Loz – whirled around. "We have a problem."

"What happened?" Kadaj asked as he stood and hauled Harmony to her feet.

"We've been had." Sephiroth frowned. "Rosso the Crimson has been spotted in the Forgotten City."

If Harmony paled any further, she'd have been a ghost. That one… Oh, this wasn't going to end well. She may have been a mother lost to melancholy and recklessness, but this mother was maniacal.