Chapter 16

The Hitomi, Part 2

"She defended herself. There was nothing else to do," she said quietly. She took Kadaj's hand and carefully picked her way through the carnage.

"I hope we find her soon," Kadaj sighed.

The two of them walked silently down the hall. Kadaj gazed around, his stomach feeling sicker and sicker as he observed Kali's unknown and even more unusual wrath. He estimated that there were no less than a dozen guards in this first hall alone. Sachiko stepped gingerly between the bodies, Kadaj helping her when she was in danger of failing her attempt of avoidance. When they reached the third corridor, they could hear moaning and screaming farther ahead. Sachiko squeezed his hand.

"Are you scared?" Kadaj asked as he squeezed hers back.

"Yes," she whispered. She looked towards where he stood. "Are you frightened as well?"

"Fuck, yeah," he muttered.

"Don't let go," she muttered shakily. They squeezed each other's hands even tighter.

"I won't if you won't. I promise."

They continued down the corridor, Sachiko's staff moving from side to side and Kadaj's eyes watching the carnage in disgust. They stopped when she heard a noise by their feet. Kadaj looked down and saw a man slowly crawling across the floor. He knelt and struggled to keep the contents of his stomach where they belonged, for the guard's intestines were hanging from his stomach and his head was cut open, blood dripping heavily to the stone floor. Kadaj recognized the glazed look in his eyes as death coming on swift feet.

"What happened?" he whispered to the guard.

"Monster…" the guard gasped. "Black clothes… flesh of a human… silver and black hair… huge sword… strong… unstoppable… called herself Nanashi…"

"Nanashi?" Kadaj gasped. "Which way did she go?" he snapped. The guard pointed down the hall.

"The left… hurry and stop her…" he moaned. He closed his eyes and was dead. Kadaj prayed silently as he stood.

"We have to hurry," he whispered. He grabbed Sachiko's hand and pulled her along again.

Kadaj used his sword to peer around the corner when they reached it. In the reflection, he saw a shadow moving across and more bodies on the floor. One of them was on fire, a torch from the wall having fallen onto the poor man. He and Sachiko moved slowly. Kadaj closed his eyes as he felt tears fill them.

She's not becoming father… she's not going mad like he did… I can't bear it… not again… he thought. Sachiko shook him and he opened his eyes. The bodies were all on fire. Kadaj scanned them before looking up at the other end. He saw a flash of silver down the next hallway. The next moment, it disappeared.

"Which way?" Sachiko whispered.

"Left," Kadaj said quietly. He began to pull her along, avoiding the dead bodies and balls of flame. A yell behind them made Kadaj turn. Sachiko kept going, but Kadaj kept a tight hold of her hand, so she froze as well.

"Kadaj, you are under arrest for the murders of countless soldiers of the Hitomi army and the kidnapping of a private Hitomi prisoner and experiment," Valda called. She was pointing at him and frowning. A dozen guards, including Bao and Zan, were behind her. "Return The Hitomi now and we'll forget about the kidnapping."

"Come and get her," Kadaj said quietly, releasing Sachiko and tightening the grip on his sword.

"As you wish. You know what to do," she nodded to the guards behind her. Two of them came within two feet of Sachiko when Kadaj sliced through them. They dropped dead.

"Anyone who wants her has to go through me," he snarled. Sachiko looked towards him with teary, loving eyes. She gently laid a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not worth it. I'll go," she whispered. She began walking past him, but he held out a hand and stopped her.

"Get out of here. Get the others and run," he said softly. He held her hand.

"Kadaj, please come with me. You've been my eyes all evening."

"I'll be your eyes again shortly," he whispered. He gave her hand one more squeeze before she took off down the hallway behind him. Valda chuckled.

"You love her," she laughed. "You've just met her and you're already in love."

"Ridiculous," he said quickly, but there was no mistaking the look in his eyes, nor could he ignore the churning of his stomach at the thought of love. He raised the blade in defiance.

"You are a terribly poor liar. Do you even know who her parents are?"

"What does it matter?" he snapped as he prepared to swing.

"I would think you'd know them very well. Or at least, her mother."

"Huh?"

"Her parents…" Valda said quietly. She stepped up to Kadaj and smiled before telling him.

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Sachiko ran blindly down the hall, her staff swinging madly and the orbs hanging from it hitting each other violently. She heard yelling to her right as she stopped to catch her breath.

"Hey, you! Get us out!" yelled a man.

"Are you Kadaj's friends?" Sachiko yelled back.

"Yes! Please, let us out!" cried a woman.

"Has Kali come by here?" she asked.

"Yeah, she went that way. Completely ignored us, too," another man called. Sachiko was unable to see it, but he was pointing to a corridor directly across from the cell.

"Which way?" she asked. The second man sighed angrily.

"That way! What are you? Blind?"

"Yes, I am."

"Cid, you ass!" the woman snapped. Sachiko heard a loud slap and a yell of pain. "Sorry about that. Can you find our cell?"

"Yes," Sachiko nodded as she approached them. She reached out and found a hand sticking out of the small window.

"My name is Yuffie," the woman said quietly. "Now turn so that your back is to us. Walk directly forward and you'll find her."

"Thank you," Sachiko whispered. "I'll be right back to get you."

"Be careful," the first man called as Sachiko walked off. She walked for a few moments before stopping suddenly.

"Oh, no," she muttered. She held the staff tightly as a ripping noise reached her ears, but this was not what made her stop. Sachiko listened carefully to the whispers of the Planet.

"No more war… no more pain… that is all that the One-Winged Angel's child can bring… as a daughter of the Planet, please stop her… stop her destructive mind…"

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Kadaj's eyes went wide and he swung at her. Valda stepped back just in time.

"No! She isn't!" he yelled. He was trembling.

"But she is. You know it. You knew it the first moment you saw her."

Kadaj stared around at the group before him. They began to walk towards him slowly. When they were only a few yards away, his gaze turned to the ceiling. As subtly as he could, his eyes followed a rope that held a large, chandelier-like torch to the ceiling. He smiled and spun his sword. The confused guards hesitated and as they finally gathered enough courage to come forward, Kadaj stopped spinning it and cut the rope. The torch fell to the ground and smothered his attackers. While Valda and the guards were yelling, Kadaj took off after Sachiko. An odd smell reached his nose and he turned to find his shirt on fire. Panicking, he tore the jacket and dress shirt off and threw them to the ground. He yelled as his hand hit the flame. He glanced at his blistered appendage before running again. He winced at the blistering feeling on his lower back, but he gritted his teeth and continued. Kadaj stopped as he heard yelling.

"Please, Kali, help us! Get us out!"

"Yuffie," Kadaj muttered. He followed the yelling and found his friends.

"Kadaj, snap her out of it!" Reno yelled when he realized Kadaj was there.

"Hurry up!" Cid screamed. Kadaj saw why. A small fire was growing in their cell, no doubt from another torch. He ran up to them and began trying to break down the door.

"I can't open it!" he yelled. At that moment, he saw through the small window of their cell. He saw Rude sitting there, waiting for them to come out. "One of you take this," he yelled. He tossed a small lighter to them. "Light it four times near the window and Rude will come and get you out. Where's Kali?"

"Just down the hall. There," Yuffie pointed. "Some woman in a blue dress followed her."

"Sachiko. Damn it," he muttered. He turned towards them. "When Rude gets here, leave one bike for the rest of us. We'll be out soon."

"Right," Yuffie nodded. "And Kadaj?"

"What?"

"Be careful," Reno finished. "She's not herself."

"Thanks," Kadaj whispered. He ran down the hall and found Sachiko standing very still.

"Kadaj," she whispered, waving her hand as she listened to him come up. He took it and stared at the sight before them. "Your sister is not herself. The Planet is afraid of her."

He furrowed his brow at this, but then Kadaj turned and saw Kali. She was staring out a window in the cell across from them. The door was gone and pieces of the wall were broken, making the doorway nearly three or four times as wide as it was supposed to be. He walked towards her, but stopped at the doorway. He was shaking as she turned. She was tearing pieces of the skirt on her dress. He did a double take when he realized that the top of her dress was torn so much, her breasts were exposed. He was two yards away from her when she dropped the piece of the skirt she was tearing and pulled out Masamune. She swung at Kadaj, but he brought his sword up just in time.

"Kali, what are you doing? Do you know how you look right now?"

".ilaK ton sie man yM" she said quietly, her voice echoing. He looked into her eyes and suppressed a gasp. They were shining silver, not just grey, and her pupils were very pronounced.

"Snap out of it," he ordered. "Kali, please."

".ihsanaN maI .ilaK ton maI" she whispered. Kadaj thought for a moment and turned it around. I am not Kali. I am Nanashi.

"Nanashi…" he whispered.

"Very good," she replied.

"What have you done with my sister?"

"She is here," Nanashi smiled, pointing at her head. "She is locked in her own mind. That is where she is safe."

"Let her out."

"No. She must stay there so that I may shed these clothes and achieve my true form."

"What? Kali! Can you hear me?" he yelled.

"She cannot hear you. Her mind is lying dormant under mine. She will awaken when I fall unconscious or I choose to release her."

"Kali, fight her!" Kadaj screamed. Nanashi furrowed her brow.

"Why do you do this? Why do you wish her to awake? I am far stronger."

"But you are not the girl I love and would give my life for," Kadaj said solemnly.

Nanashi raised Masamune above her head and prepared to bring it down on his. As it came down, Kadaj raised his blade and caught Masamune. He spun the blade and the other landed to the side. Nanashi ran for it, but Kadaj tripped her and she tumbled.

"I'm sorry, sis," he muttered. Before Nanashi could get up, he struck her with the hilt of his blade. She fell still.

"Kadaj, what happened?" Sachiko called. He picked up Kali and grabbed Sachiko's hand as he ran past.

"I'll explain later. Come on, we have to go now! And give me your sash!" he yelled. As he did, he could hear a rumbling a few corridors down. As they reached the cell, Kadaj saw that the dungeons were collapsing. Dust was filling the corridor. Kadaj quickly wrapped the sash around as much of her upper body as he could, but it was not much help as the fabric was semitransparent.

"Stand back!" someone yelled from the other side of the door as he finished. Kadaj and Sachiko ran back as they heard a loud gunshot. The door flung open and the lock fell to the ground with a clunk. Kadaj smiled.

"This is the first time I've been happy to see you, Rude," he gasped. He picked up Kali, who had slipped from his grasp, and dragged Sachiko along.

"Who's this?" Rude asked.

"I'll explain when we get out. Take her out. I've got Kal."

Rude turned and climbed out the now enlarged window. He helped Sachiko, grabbing her staff as she held the other end. When she was up, Kadaj quickly pushed Kali through the small hole, Rude pulling her and trying not to glance at her chest. As Kadaj pulled himself up, he glanced back down the hall. His eyes went wide when he saw a large fireball flying towards him. With another surge of adrenaline, he dragged himself up and out of the dungeon.

"Run!" he screamed, as he picked Kali up off the ground. "They're blowing up the dungeons! Go, now!"

The others, having been waiting for him, now turned and ran towards the bikes. Kadaj followed slowly and painfully as his back was burned, his hand was just as bad, and Kali's weight added to his own. As the explosion reached the dungeon they had just left, tremors shook the ground under his feet. With a yell from each person, they all fell hard to the ground. Glancing back, Kadaj saw that they were a short distance from the building they had originally entered. The dungeons, he realized, were another, shorter building a slight distance away. Cursing himself for not knowing this sooner and wasting time, he stood shakily and picked up his sister once more, but as the building began collapsing, the shockwaves threw him back down. He turned in time to protect Kali from the blast, but he fell to the ground and began screaming at the new burning sensation on his back. As the waves passed over him, he fell to darkness.

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Kadaj opened his eyes slowly. He tried to flex his burnt hand, which was resting upon his chest and felt constrained, but it hurt to do so. He glanced at it and saw that a bandage was wrapped tightly around it. He closed his eyes again, but as he began to fall under once more, he saw the events of the last time he was awake. With a start, he snapped open his eyes and compulsively threw his injured hand out. He jumped when it hit something. Looking over, he was highly embarrassed. The object had been Sachiko's breast. He took it away and turned red.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. He looked back at her and was surprised to find a smile on her face.

"Don't be. It was an accident. No worries," she whispered. She moved from her chair to the bed he lay on and picked up a cloth from a bowl on the nightstand. She gently wiped his face after mistaking his chest for it.

"I guess we're even now," she grinned when he moved the cloth to the right place.

"I guess so," Kadaj replied with a smile on his own face. "Where are we?"

"An abandoned farm outside of Kalm," she said quietly. "You've been out for six days."

"Almost a week," he muttered. "How's Kali?"

"She still hasn't woken up."

"But she's going to be okay, right?" Kadaj asked worriedly as he sat up slightly. He winced at the pain in his back.

"Of course," she whispered, pushing him back down gently. "I think you overdid it when you hit her, though."

"How did you know?" he muttered. "That I hit her, I mean."

"I figured you did. She has a large lump on her head. Plus, you kept talking in your sleep," she said softly. Sachiko laid the cloth in the bowl of water again and held his hand. "You were saying how sorry you are for striking her."

"Where is she?"

"Right over there," Sachiko said quietly. Kadaj looked over and felt his heart ache. Kali was stretched out on a bed across the room. Her eyes were gently shut, but her arms and face were covered in bruises and cuts. He adverted his gaze when he noticed a particularly large one on top of her head.

"What's happened the past few days?"

"Hardly anything. We've mostly been waiting for you two to wake up. I was first to rise after the explosion and got everyone else up. Then we brought you here. The Hitomi group is in a panic because of me, as well."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Sachiko asked, giving him a sideways look.

"Taking you away. I saw a little bit of sadness in your face when you said that," he said quietly. Sachiko laid her hand on his cheek.

"Don't be. I'm only sad because now they're after you as well," she said softly. Kadaj shuddered as she laid her head on his chest. "I've been wanting to escape for quite some time. I'm grateful to you. Thank you so much."

"Sachiko," Kadaj sighed. He wanted to say something, anything, but nothing would come. He finally closed his eyes and laid a hand on the back of her head. He was on the verge of sleep when Sachiko suddenly stood and approached Kali's bed. "What's wrong?"

"I really should check on her," she replied. "Go to sleep."

"Sachiko?" he said softly. She shook her head and felt Kali's forehead. He waited for a reply. After receiving none, he closed his eyes and rolled onto his side to face the window. He fell asleep silently, but woke up a few hours later to voices talking outside the room.

"Hey Sachiko," Cid said. "Look, I'm really sorry about back in the cell. I honestly had no idea that you really are blind."

"Cid, you've unnecessarily apologized enough. I understand. Don't waste any more worry on the topic."

"I should go get some sleep. Good night," he called. Kadaj heard another set of footsteps join Sachiko as Cid's heavy steps receded and she bid him peace.

"Good night, Cid. So you're The Hitomi, huh?" Yuffie asked as Kadaj rolled over.

"Yes. I've told you before."

"Sorry. It's just…" Yuffie sighed. "We really haven't gotten much time to talk. You've been cooped up in there with Kadaj and Kali for the past few days."

"He rescued me from the President. It's the least I can do to repay him," Sachiko said. Kadaj closed his eyes and lie still on his back as the door opened and the two women walked in.

"So do you like him?"

"He's a kind man. Of course I do."

"That's not what I meant. What I mean is do you like him the way I like Reno?"

"I cannot really say. I haven't really spoken with him enough. What does he look like?"

"He has silver hair to his shoulders. His eyes are green with pupils of a cat and he has a crossed scar on his cheek."

"Yes. I felt it when I wiped his face earlier."

"Do you know what I mean when I say 'green' and 'silver'?"

"Yes," Sachiko nodded. "I was not blind until the Meteor crisis. I was too close when it hit Midgar. The radiation and light ruined my eyes. It was hard at first, but I'm used to being unable to see."

"A lot of people lost their lives in the crisis. You're lucky," Yuffie whispered. Sachiko nodded in agreement as she knelt by Kadaj.

"From what I have felt of his facial and muscle structure, and what you just told me, Kadaj seems like a very handsome man. I wish I could see him."

"Maybe you will someday. Maybe your sight will come back."

"It will not. But thank you for the optimism," she smiled. "Would you check Kali for me?"

"Sure."

Kadaj listened as Yuffie walked over to Kali and squeezed extra water out of the cloth. He felt nervous as the edge of the bed lowered slightly with the weight of the woman. Sachiko picked up a cloth from Kadaj's bowl and wiped both his face and chest. He avoided a shudder as she knelt over him, found his cheek, and kissed it.

"Thank you, Kadaj," she whispered. "I'll be right here all night if you need me for anything within reason."

Kadaj opened his eyes ever so slightly to see Yuffie leaving and Sachiko lying on another bed in the room. He slowly rolled over and laid his hand on his cheek. With a content expression on his face, Kadaj fell back to sweet slumber. A few minutes later, he found himself awake and walking painfully over to the two women's beds. He hugged his unconscious sister and kissed the lump he gave her gently. When he looked into her face one more time, he turned to Sachiko and stood next to her, watching her sleep.

So beautiful, he thought. He laid a hand on her face and closed his eyes. I hope she doesn't find out her parents. After all, how could she love the son of their murderer? How could she love a man with my past? Hell, how can I love such a beauty of the Planet? How is it that I feel so strongly for one of which I know I am not worthy? He opened his eyes and allowed his tears to fall upon Sachiko's hand. She moved slightly at the feel, but did not wake. He stared a moment longer before returning to slumber himself.

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Kali woke with a start and sat up straight in bed, the morning sun shining through the clouds onto her face and Kadaj and Sachiko still fast asleep in their beds. She trembled and began crying heavily. She remembered nothing but death. She had watched the men fall by her hand, but she had been unable to stop herself. She sobbed harder as she pictured Kadaj and Masamune coming down on him. Kali finally regained control and lie back down. She cried silently as she suddenly thought of Devin that day on the tracks. As her eyes closed, she listened to heavy footsteps walk across the floor. She opened them at a hand on her forehead.

"You're finally up," Rude smiled. Another figure joined him.

"Hey kid, you feel better?" Reno asked. Kali nodded weakly.

"A little," she whispered hoarsely. Rude picked up a cup from the tray he had carried in.

"Drink it. You'll be able to talk and you'll feel even better," Rude said quietly as Kali sat up slowly.

"It's not potion, is it?" she moaned.

"No," Reno shook his head as he sat next to her. "Just tea with herbs that Sachiko said helps the sick."

Kali sipped it slowly. She looked down at the blankets, aware of the two pairs of eyes staring at her. Reno finally spoke.

"Kali… back at the dungeons," he said slowly. Kali gulped down the rest of her tea and slammed the mug down on the bed.

"I don't know what the hell happened to me, okay? I wasn't being myself. Don't bother asking. I don't want to talk about it," she snapped.

"Kali-" Rude began as he removed his glasses to wipe some dust off.

"I don't know what's wrong with me any more," she said angrily. She dug her fingers into her scalp and began crying. "I feel horrible about those men. I don't even know how I did it. Don't talk to me about it."

"Kali, just listen to us. We don't want to talk about it either," Reno insisted.

"I hate this place. I want to go back to Jahan. I want Vincent back and I want to see Devin again. I want to go home where people aren't held in dungeons or framed for avenging their parent's death. I want to go back to a world that isn't so fucked up," she moaned.

As she sat sobbing loudly, Kadaj and Sachiko stirred slowly. Rude laid his glasses aside and sat next to her. He wrapped his arms around her as Kadaj looked over at them. Kali buried her face into Rude's shoulder as her brother watched silently and worriedly. Reno rubbed Kali on the back slowly.

"That's it. Go on. Cry, Kali," Rude whispered gently, his eyes closing to hide his own tears of sympathy. "You need it."

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NM: Okay, chapter 16 up. Yippee! I know updates have been really quick lately, but they might slow down a little bit after this one. I'm not stopping or putting this on hiatus like KHFD, but I need to get my thoughts in order. So don't get mad if it's another week or two before chapter 17 is up. Okay? And from now on, Nanashi's speech will be shown translated except when in Kali's mind. Anytime she (yes, Nanashi is female) talks to Kali in her dreams, mind, etc and cannot be seen, her speech will be backwards. Reviews:

Sayahiei: Blood is tasty and carnage is fun! And I know you're not a fan girl. But you can still dislike her for ((SPOILER WORD)) a kick ass character.

Panny Savage: You'll find out more about Sachiko in the next few chapters. As for Kadaj doing unexpected things, I suppose anything he does here is unexpected since nobody really knows how he's supposed to act. Except Square-Enix. Darn them… but the movie looks awesome. Did you watch the trailer I mentioned a couple of chapters ago? If you haven't, you should. And I agree, there's no limit to the number of times you can fall in love with him. ((sigh))

Kizna1200: Wow, you haven't reviewed in awhile. I'm glad you're still reading. Maybe her mom was Aeris, maybe not… ((shifty eyes)) Actually, you'll find out in the next few chapters. And I won't tell you that Kadaj falls for Sachiko. I'm sure you already deduced that from the chapter. And Kali might have a few more psycho spells.

REVIEW!

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