Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children, or any of their characters.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Kadaj sat outside of the small church, taking freely to himself aloud. He seemed to be having an all-out conversation with someone in his mind, and Loz, Yazoo, and the now conscious Tifa were ignoring him.

Loz had stopped his 'cruel act' from earlier, and now appeared less frightening to both Tifa and Marlene. With Kadaj out of the picture for a while, he had become a lot more humane towards the two.

Yazoo was sitting on the wooden floor cross-legged with Tifa propped up against his body for support. He showed concern for her when she had awoken, but she seemed more focused on Loz. Her fight with him not too long ago was forming a fear of him inside her, and the woman seemed uneasy in his presence.

Loz sat a decent distance from the two, with Marlene asleep by him. He still carried out conversation with them, as the distance was only so Marlene would be away from illness.

"So... What do you suggest we do? About getting these two to safety?" The eldest asked, clearly at a loss for how to keep them out of Kadaj's way.

" Pretty soon, we are going to have to bring Kadaj down... Somehow, we must assist Cloud in defeating him and the parasite inside him." Yazoo said calmly, the woman in his arms looked up.

"You mean Kadaj is...?"

"He has been completely overtaken and driven insane by JENOVA. In order to save him, and rid the entire planet from GeoStigma, Kadaj has to be destroyed..." The man holding her looked towards Loz.

"I have a pretty big feeling that something bad is gonna happen if we take him on, Yazoo..." The older mans expression grew grim.

"Tifa, listen to me." The long silver-haired man turned his attention towards her, and she listened intently. "I sense you are, strangely enough, recovering the illness slightly. You seem to have regained some mobility... I am glad. However, later there is going to be a battle. Do not interfere, no matter what happens. I will try, but I may not be able to protect you then..."

"You don't have to protect me..."

" Listen to me." He reached out with a pale, un-gloved hand and touched her face gently, his eyes becoming a cross between purple and blue. She realised he was feeling both happiness and sadness at once, as he continued. "You are the first thing in my life that I have managed to develop concern for. I care a lot about you, Tifa, even though I do not know how to express this feeling very well. I was created to have certain instincts, and one of the only things that registers to mind for something I... love... is to protect it with my life."

" Yazoo..." She blushed, trying to speak, but his finger was gently placed on her lips to silence her.

"Today Loz, your friend Cloud, and myself may die today along with Kadaj. Do not raise the possible death count to five."

"You won't die... Promise me you won't..." Tifa was once again succumbing to the wave of unconsciousness that came with GeoStigma. She was only half conscious at this point in time, and her voice was just above a whisper.

"There can't be any guarantees. What Yazoo says is true; we have a chance of losing our lives. JENOVA isn't going to go down without taking people with her." Loz narrowed his eyes upon saying the parasites name.

" Loz is right, I am afraid... I am sorry Tifa, but I cannot promise that I will live through this." She looked up at him teary-eyed, before passing out.

Both men knew now was the time if any to get away from Kadaj and join what had once been their main target. Loz gathered the sleeping girl into his arms and Yazoo picked Tifa up gently. The two exchanged glances before taking off out an 'alternate exit' the eldest of them created with the Dual Hound. They travelled swiftly on foot, knowing that the noise they had just created would surely cause alarm to their JENOVA infected 'master'.

And indeed Kadaj had heard the noise. He stopped in mid-sentence to listen, his silver pupils narrowing. A vicious growl escaped his pale lips as he stood.

"They got away! You should not have left them, FOOL!" JENOVA's voice screeched from his mouth, and a shockwave of pain surged through his body as punishment. "It doesn't matter. Let the fools run, we'll kill them later my puppet..."

A part of the young man, who was now on his knees, wanted this all to stop. This monster controlling his body was going to destroy not only himself, but also a lot of other people. The want for destruction and death he had felt earlier was fading, though now there was nothing he could do. His body and his mind were this creature's now, and he felt he was no longer Kadaj, but JENOVA itself.

.......................

Cloud had been wandering for a number of hours towards the ruins of Midgar. He knew full well the clones would have gone there; not only was it obvious, but the ex-General in his head felt their presence.

However, even though it was them he was searching for, he knew full well his true enemy wasn't Yazoo, or Loz, or even Kadaj. He knew it was JENOVA, and this time in order to stop her he was prepared to take anyone's life to stop the parasite from causing further death. But not only had he prepared himself to kill; he had prepared to be brought to an end as well.

Cloud knew that upon taking on someone with Kadaj's current power, there was a massive chance he wouldn't come out alive. This was going to be an intense battle, and he could already feel the loss of life that was going to occur.

He stared at the dull horizon ahead, knowing in an hour or so he would see the ruins of the once great city that meteor had reduced to wreckage. The sun was setting over the grim landscape, and storm clouds could be seen pushing their way into view. A low growl of thunder signalled Cloud to walk faster, and reach his destination quicker. The atmosphere was morbid, and grew even more so as the sky slowly darkened.

Something unusual came into view. People, far up ahead, and they were running. Running in his direction. Cloud noticed these figures had also caught sight of him, and were steadily quickening their pace toward him. He didn't need the light or a clear view of these people; he knew they were his enemies.

Yazoo and Loz were approaching at an almost insane pace, and now it was visible they held their hostages with them. There was no sign of Kadaj, which almost gave Cloud a feeling of relief. Almost; but he knew deep down that Kadaj was the one he WANTED to be there. After all, that was the one whose life it was necessary to remove from The Planet.

However, Sephiroth's presence in his mind calmed, and he realised the once great hero sensed no threat from their oncoming 'foes'. Cloud stopped in his tracks to allow the silver haired men to approach him.

" Greetings, Strife." Loz nodded at the blonde, obviously slightly winded from running.

Yazoo came to a halt next to the older man, setting Tifa down for a moment. He regained his breath quickly before speaking. "Be on your guard, he will find us soon..." The man muttered, pushing some of the silver hair out of his eyes that had fallen there.

"I don't understand... Are you... Helping me?" Cloud cocked an eyebrow at the two experiments before him.

"Yes. Kadaj needs to be stopped, and we will be here to help you stop him. I wish Loz, Kadaj and myself could have met you and your friends on better terms, Cloud. Not only have the three of us caused you and your companions trouble, but we have also doomed The Planet." Yazoo knelt by the unconscious woman, hanging his head in shame.

Loz nodded and began to speak. "Yazoo and I have been rapidly having memories since Kadaj told us of our true beginnings. We were never intended for such destruction, but were intended to serve the same purpose Sephiroth was... To protect mankind... To protect The Planet... Not annihilate it. We are unsure of what we truly consist of, but we know we were intended as super clones of the great General. When it was known that Sephiroth himself could pose a threat in the future as he grew, we were sealed in glass tubes until recently..."

"We will carry out what we were intended to. We will fight for the sake of The Planet, even if it means death." The younger of the men before Cloud said softly. "I thought you also may want to know, Tifa has almost completely recovered from the virus. She must not have infected as bad as the others... When she next awakens, she will be able to move, but will be very weak." Yazoo placed his gloved hand on her forehead, and gently pushed back the dark locks of hair that covered it. He leaned forward and picked up her hand, pressing his lips to the flesh on the back of it.

The three men all sat on the dirt below them, and remained in silence until Marlene stirred from her sleep.

Yazoo looked at Loz quizzically, cocking his head to the side. She had been asleep since that morning in the church as well as partially the night before.

"When we were about to leave, I put a materia spell on her to keep her quiet while we took off. Wouldn't want her getting Kadaj's attention any sooner than we did."

The longer haired man nodded thoughtfully, before turning to the little girl.

"Where are we?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

" Marlene... We need to get her somewhere safe..." Cloud though aloud.

"Loz, take Marlene back to the High Wind, then return here. We will wait for Kadaj and fight." Yazoo gestured toward the child.

"What about Tifa?" The older man inquired, picking the protesting girl up

"I wanna stay here!" Marlene cried, fidgeted in a futile effort to escape the mans hold.

"Yazoo is right, Marlene. You need to be safe. We'll be back, don't worry." Cloud made his best current attempt at a smile.

"Tifa will remain here, out of view. Kadaj will be preoccupied with us, and will not harm her. Go, quickly, and get back here as soon as you can." Loz nodded at Yazoo, and ran with the same immense speed he had earlier.

Tifa awoke almost moments after their departure. She sat up, surprising herself that she could move again. However she quickly laid herself back down, when she felt the weakness in her body.

"The virus seems to be subsiding more and more. She should make a full recovery." Sephiroth suggested out of Cloud's mouth, catching the blonde off guard.

"Why are we here? Where are Marlene and Loz?" Tifa suddenly became worried as she mentioned the young girl.

"Loz has taken her back to the air ship with your friends. He will return shortly to aid us."

She looked at Yazoo, and then another worry passed over her. "Is Kadaj... coming?"

Both men nodded grimly, and her eyes widened. She used every ounce of strength to sit up.

"Here." Yazoo offered her a hand and helped her to her feet. She instantly fell into his arms. Lifting her up, he walked over to a small ruined building he assumed would have once been a house. He kicked the door in swiftly, and walked inside. Laying her down on the floor, he leaned over her smaller form. "You will remain here. No matter what you hear or what may happen, stay here. I do not want to see anything happen to you." He kissed her hand gently and caressed her cheek, before rising and turning to head out.

"Yazoo..." Tifa whispered his name as he paced away from her. He stopped at the frame of the broken door.

He turned his head in her direction, his silver hair covering most of his face. The darkness coming from the building and the outside world allowed her to see nothing but a glowing flame blue eye that was transfixed on her. Their eyes stayed locked for a moment that she wished would last forever, and the next words from his mouth she heard, Tifa hoped to hear again.

"I love you..." She could feel the soft, sad smile he was giving her as the delicate words escaped his mouth. Yazoo continued out the door, and back out to join Cloud.

Tifa had been speechless when he said that. She wanted to rush out there into his arms and tell him she felt the same, but the weakness in her body wouldn't allow it. Something deep inside her told her she was going to live her life in deep regret for not being able to go after him, as she heard the commotion rise.

A gunshot tore through the air and echoed into night, as well as a thunderous clang of metal. She knew Kadaj had arrived, and that a fight had commenced.

Cloud stood his ground, Buster Blade locked against Souba's dual steel blades. Kadaj forcefully shoved him back, and Yazoo fired at his former companion. Kadaj merely held his sword up, and the bullets clanged off it, falling harmlessly to the ground.

Swinging ferociously, steel hit steel as Cloud and Kadaj exchanged swordplay. Their deadly metallic dance continued, the storm in the background brewing with lightning illuminating the battlefield once in a while.

"You think because you have backup Strife that you can bring us down?" Kadaj smirked at him, delivering a swift slash to Cloud's shoulder after parrying the Buster Blade. "We will kill you all!" The younger man snatched Cloud by the neck, and threw him to the dirt. He pointed Souba at him, his face half covered by shoulder-length, silvery locks. Kadaj's mouth twisted into a hideous, hate-filled smile as he hissed. "You are a traitor."

Just as he was about to impale the blonde man's throat with his wicked sword, a bullet caught his chest, and he fell back. Yazoo stood, pointing the Velvet Nightmare at what he had once thought of as a younger brother, his own look of hatred overtaking his features.

" Yazoo!" Tifa suddenly found the strength to move herself. She got to her feet and staggered towards the door. Forcing her aching body outside, she made her way over to them as quick as possible.

"Tifa, what are you doing?!" Yazoo looked her way in shock.

" Yazoo, don't fight him..." She fell only a metre or so from the ruined building.

" Another one? Do you intend for us to make a bloodbath of your friends so soon?!" Kadaj narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"Tifa, get back! Don't get in the way!" Cloud hollered at her, but was met with the possessed mans foot ramming into his side. He cried out as he clutched the now bruised area in agony.

"Shut up! We'll kill her as well!" The silver pupils in the man's black eyes became slits as he crooked his head in her direction. The grip he had on his sword tightened and he dashed at her.

"Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with this!" Yazoo yelled at him, charging and letting his gun blade meet Souba. Sparks flew from the two metallic objects, and the two struggled with each other's strength.

Tifa watched them push on their weapons, shocked that they didn't break from such torture. She noticed the intense force of both Kadaj and JENOVA was gradually pushing Yazoo back. By then, it was obvious that if the Velvet Nightmare didn't give out, then the man wielding it surely would. He gritted his teeth in frustration as he pushed harder with all his strength on Kadaj, knowing full well it was hopeless. His opponent took this moment to stop toying, and simply gave a harsh shove that hurled Yazoo into the cold ground below.

" Pathetic." He muttered. "You want to defend this human, yet you're not even strong enough to stand your own ground."

Tifa now knew that with both Cloud and Yazoo lying on the ground in defeat, that she had to escape. She had to hide, but just as she tried to crawl away, Kadaj turned his attention to her.

"Tifa Lockheart... Your time is now." He sneered at her, and it slowly contorted to his familiar, disgusting smirk. He walked over to her, pulled his blade back, and lunged forward with the point for her heart.

Everything seemed to slow down. A million thoughts ran their way through her mind at once, and she knew it was the end.

' But it doesn't feel like the end for me...' She looked up just in time for her gaze to meet the tips of Souba's blades. When her gaze focused on what lay beyond the shining, red and silver metallic mess in front of her, she was greeted with a mess of black, silver, and red.

Yazoo fell to the ground, landing on his knees, the blades ripping from his abdomen to his chest. He gasped slightly, as he felt the pain surge through him. It wasn't quite what he had expected. He lifted his head icily to glare at Kadaj, his eyes now fading from a mix of red and green, to a glossy white.

The man looming over him simply ripped the blade from his body and stared at him with amusement. "Fool." He hissed. "You could have kept your life."

He felt the support keeping his body on his knees give out as soon as the metal was removed from his torso. He slumped over face first.

Tifa could do no more than let out a scream. She rushed to his side, ignoring the weakness in her body completely. Using all of her strength, she rolled him onto his back.

" Yazoo..." She managed to choke, fighting a hopeless battle with the tears in her eyes.

" Tifa... Tifa I am sorry..." He coughed slightly, and a thin river of blood made its way out of the corner of his mouth.

"Don't die... You can't... Not yet..."

"I told you... I could not promise... Forgive me... I have served my purpose; I helped mankind to an extent... I gave my life so you could keep yours... Knowing that you will live makes me happy in death... Do not worry, I will remain with you... Even if I cannot attain a physical form... I will be here..."

She took a deep breath, avoiding breaking into sobs. "I love you Yazoo..." Tifa threw her arms around his body, and he put his around her. She laid her head on his chest feeling the short, shallow breaths of air and the slow pulse of his heart.

A faint tinge of blue stained his now almost white irises, and he smiled a weak, gentle smile. "I love you too... Good bye Tifa..." His voice trailed off, eyes becoming white.

"No..." She was beginning to shake as sobs threatened to rack her body.

His breathing slowly came to a halt, and she heard the weak pulse of his heart slowly fade. His arms now hung loosely around her, one limply rolling off as she convulsed with heaving sobs.

One last breath of air escaped his mouth, and his head rolled to the side slightly. Yazoo was dead.

........................

A/N: Please do not kill me... I know for SURE no one enjoyed this chapter, but at least stick around for the last chapter, pleeeease? Sorry about the length of time it took me to post, I was kinda tied up on last minute touch ups to my Aeris costume for the Anime Convention in Toronto. Forgive me for killing Yazoo, he's like my favourite character, so you can at least know I suffered for writing that. ;;