Didn't I say I will update this story, like once every week? Sorry, guess I broke that promise. Too busy, too much stuff…lol

Chapter 7: Laments in the Church

Kadaj never forgot how Cloud humiliated him at his very own base.

"I'll make him pay, I will." He swore again and again in the presence of his brothers and in solitude. However, other pressing matters had to come before his ultimate and inevitable duel with Cloud.

The fact that the little girl did not bring forth the Reunion with the Great One but instead, brought him to the flower girl, was interesting indeed. Marlene had been an important part of his plan but now that she was no longer accessible, he knew he could always turn to other sources.

Aerith, he would whisper her name sometimes when he was alone and other times, when he was not, Loz and Yazoo would gave him a queer look but he offered no explanation. How were they to comprehend something so mysterious and wonderful, he thought. He knew Aerith was something much more than just a girl in his sub-consciousness. One thing for sure, she knew Marlene and Cloud. In that case, she must know the Great One too.

But lately, Kadaj was always preoccupied with thoughts and this cause a degree of concern in the group. His brothers actually asked him if he still wanted to find Mother.

"Of course not, stupid fools." He was tempted to say but instead he gave them a "We will find Mother in time to come. Have patience." That always shut the boys up.

However, he silently admitted that his mind had been distracted of late. The search for Mother seemed pointless to him now. He realized there was a greater answer to their existence and to the existence of the planet and that answer lies in the Great One.

And he also realized something else. The little child, Cloud, Aerith and the Great One are all interlinked together in a way that he didn't quite understand yet but in time, he was certain he would uncover their secrets.

Most of all, he was intrigued by Aerith. She was in another dimension, in another space and time. The only instance he could visit her was in his dreams or when Marlene performed the "Sending".

Kadaj was completely sure that Aerith was in the same dimension as the Great One. If he could somehow connect his consciousness with Aerith, he may very well be able to connect with the Great One.

"Brother, I'm aching for a good fight." Loz said, one afternoon, cracking his knuckles.

Kadaj barely glanced at him. His mind was distracted. He thought he wanted to pay a visit to the church again. The church down at the slums. Maybe if he could just retrace memories, he might be able to find out more about Aerith.

"Did you say something?" Kadaj asked, distractedly.

"Yeah, I said we should…" Loz started to speak but Yazoo suddenly interrupted.

"I was thinking Loz and I needed to check out the other sectors a little more. I've been hearing rumors that the President and the Turks hide around there. If we could find them, we could force them to tell us where Mother is."

"Good, good." Kadaj nodded carelessly. "Go ahead. "

"Huh? Hey Yazoo that's not what I…" Loz started to protest but Yazoo just smiled faintly and pulled him out of the room.

As soon as they were gone, Kadaj decided it was the best time for him to get out of the house and to the church. He couldn't have his brothers know he had been visiting a church in his free time. They would certainly think he was out of his mind.

So with as much discretion as possible, Kadaj slipped on his black cloak and left the building with only one place in mind: The Church.

It wasn't his first time in the church and it seemed as if nothing have changed. The same old musty smell still hung in the air and the floorboards still creaked as he stepped over them. The church, as usual, was deserted, save for a bed of flowers in the middle of the aisle.

The scene was every bit the same as his recurring dreams. Only he felt emptier now because he knew he wouldn't see her here. Not in this reality. Not in this time.

What is this hold you have on me?

He took a seat near the flowerbed, mesmerized by the silent beauty of this old church. Maybe time do stopped moving here. He felt at peace. Something he only felt when he was sleeping, immersed in his dreams of her. Now, even when he was awake, it was almost as if he was relieving a part of his dream.

It felt strangely good to him and he wanted this foreign sensation to last longer.

"Aerith…" he whispered her name softly. He shut his eyes, trying to picture her again in her usual dress and the way her soft brown curls framed her lovely face.

A gust of wind blew through the church and it ruffled his hair, but it did not bother him. He was at another world of his own. A world where Mother and the Great One did not matter. A world where he only wanted to know more about this flower girl.

His eyes suddenly opened, when he sensed he was no longer alone. Instinctively, his hands reached for his hidden blade, just underneath his cloak, yet he did not wield his weapon. Not yet.

With a fast leap, Kadaj landed neatly and quietly on the far end of a broken pillar and crouched down low, hidden by the shadows and waited.

His keen senses did not fail him, because true enough, soft padded footsteps can be heard echoing through the entrance of the church, drawing nearer and nearer to the flowerbed.

Kadaj peered out from behind the pillar, his bright green eyes meeting a flash of golden blond hair. Spiky golden blond hair.

He might have cursed fluently out loud, but he had to keep his presence unknown.

Kadaj watched, frowning as Cloud approached the flowerbed and seemingly stood there, staring into nothingness. If this were anywhere else, Kadaj would have ambush him without second thoughts. However, he remembered Aerith's words.


You'll ruin the flowerbed…

Count yourself lucky, traitor, Kadaj thought grimly.

He watched with increasing annoyance at Cloud's lack of intellectual behavior. Just what was he thinking, standing there and staring into thin air? Of course, if Kadaj took a moment to reflect on his earlier behavior, he would have realize Cloud was doing the exact same thing as he was doing just a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry." Cloud suddenly said gravely, to no one in particular.

Kadaj felt like snapping his head off with his blade. Already, he was itching for a fight.

"I…I can't forgive myself…after so long…I still can't forget that day..." Cloud said again, lowering his head in shame. His voice trembled slightly as he said it.

Kadaj rolled his eyes at this point but then Cloud began to say something else that brought to his attention.

"I want to see you again, Aerith. Why won't you show yourself to me?"

There was complete silence in the church and if Cloud was expecting an answer, he wasn't going to get one.

A sudden rumbling could be heard coming from the sky and within moments, the rain started to fall. Droplets of cool liquid rushed through the hole in the roof of the church and began to drench the flower bed and its inhabitants in no time.

Cloud made no signs to leave and Kadaj was getting impatient.

Sorry Aerith, I may have to ruin your flowerbed after all, he thought.

But then suddenly, a soft female voice called out and Kadaj froze in his position.

"Cloud?"

Cloud spun around. Kadaj tried to peer out from the pillar. He got a glimpse of dark black hair, nothing more.

Cloud stared at the female and then lowered his head again. The female started to walk towards Cloud, until finally Kadaj could see her form. She was wearing a deep blue outfit and had a pink ribbon tied around her arm. She was awfully familiar.

"So you've been coming here." The girl muttered, glancing around. Already, the rain was making both of them drenched through. Kadaj, too, was frustrated just sitting there and spying. He wanted to get out of this rain and into a proper shelter.

"Yeah." Cloud muttered. "What are you doing here?"

The girl sighed and now Kadaj could remember what's so familiar about her. She was the "big girl" Loz was infatuated about.

"It's Marlene. Barret can't seem to talk sense into her. She kept saying Aerith is alive but…"

"I know, Tifa." Cloud interrupted, shaking his head slowly. "She's dead."

"Cloud…" Tifa muttered, lightly touching his shirtsleeve. There was another moment of silence between them. Finally, Cloud spoke again.

"Let's go back." He suddenly said.

Tifa nodded, her expression still grim. "Certainly…"

The two walked quietly out of the church. Kadaj watched them as their shadows disappeared completely. When he was certain they were gone, he leaped out from his hiding place and darted to an area where the rain couldn't get in.

"Idiots…" he muttered, running his hand through his wet and slightly limp silver hair.

But it was not to say this trip had been wasted. On the contrary, Kadaj learnt a lot from Cloud today. For one, he knew Aerith had not been appearing to Cloud and second, they thought Aerith was dead, just like they thought the Great One was.

However, Kadaj knew better. And all of a sudden, he wanted to get back to the base and dream of her.

Hmm in case some of the readers are wondering, am I a "Cloti" since I pair Aerith with Kadaj? The answer is "No". I don't intend to pair Cloud and Tifa in this fic. The central couple should be Aerith and Kadaj only so…yep!

If ya have any questions, feel free to send emails/reviews my way!