Author's note: Well, I really, really, really, really liked the response I got from one chapter alone, which was almost like an experimental chapter, and so I decided that it would indeed be a multi-chaptered story! A super huge thanks to anyone who reviewed and everyone who read it. Here is chapter two of Abstract Silver.

Update: This chapter as well as chapter one have been edited.

Abstract Silver

Decisions

Cid had let them all off at Tifa's bar, Seventh Heaven. The strong minded fighter, having quickly positioned herself behind the bar, declared a celebration in the defeat of Kadaj and his gang. She hadn't seen him actually die, none of them had, but she had high hopes for Cloud and knew that without too much trouble, he had put an end to the annoying bother; that amazingly cunning youth.

She took out small crystal glasses and filled each one with the right amount of hard liquor expertly. They made a light clank noise as she drew small groups together, slowly lowering them carefully onto a dark brown saucer she used to deliver them to their intended consumer. But she wasn't a waitress, no way.

Tifa checked to make sure everyone would have their own shot of the brown liquid, minus the kids, Denzel and Marlene, who were upstairs waiting for Cloud. He hadn't shown up yet, not even called, but Marlene filled her in on the disappearance of his phone, so she couldn't blame him. But she knew something was amiss. It didn't take that long to reach her bar. Nevertheless, Tifa continued to work hard and had stepped out from behind the bar, carrying the drinks to each and every one of her friends. The bar was closed for today.

Barret and the cigarette smoking pilot, Cid, sat at a small rounded table, talking loudly and commenting on several things. Cid lit up a caner stick, no surprise there, a smirk tugging on the corner of his mouth. Barret glanced at his gun arm from time to time, pleased that he had it, especially during the fight with Bahamut. When Tifa came around, giving them the first of the hard liquor to go, their expressions lifted as they grabbed for the small crystal glasses. With many thanks, Tifa left and headed into the direction of Vincent.

He was originally sitting at his own table, watching everyone intently, but had moved. It took the bar owner a couple of seconds to realize this and turned the opposite way, facing the bar, and spotted his unmistakable crimson cape, gold claw, and long midnight black hair.

"Want a drink Vincent?"

The older man, forever ageless and extremely quiet, only shook his head slightly from side to side, refusing her offer. Tifa gave him one of her smiles and went in search of Yuffie. As she left, Vincent contemplated on leaving to go find Cloud, but decided otherwise. He didn't need alcohol at this moment and settled for watching the two creatures off in the far right hand corner of the bar.

Cait Sith and his new perch, Nanaki, were half asleep, remaining quiet among all the chit-chat that had formed. The red furred creature was curled into comfortable position, head resting on his front paws, while the robotic animal remained on his back, keeping to himself, though mumbling from time to time.

Yuffie, Tifa found, was nowhere to be seen. She didn't have to look hard or even think for that matter about where the younger woman had gone. Tifa placed the drinks down, liquor threatening to splash over the edges. She went for the stairs, listening as a smirk formed on her face when Cid pushed his chair back and made for the refused drinks.

Upstairs, Tifa caught the ninja looking for materia. The younger woman froze, standing as still as a brick wall, eyes wide. She looked for an escape route, but Tifa was blocking the best one. She sighed in defeat, watching Tifa through half lidded eyes as the older woman took a step forwards. The bar owner had made a grave mistake.

Using a small amount of her never ending energy, Yuffie quickly sprinted past Tifa, down the stairs and into the bar. That girl never failed to amaze her.

Dirt crumbled under their feet, but it was now turning into mud. The sky was heavy with clouds, all the same, dark gray color. The first raindrops splashed onto them, causing the one being dragged to wince in pain. Quickly, the amount of rain increased. They needed to reach a place of safety, one well sheltered and free of any leaks.

Kadaj stopped, bringing Cloud back with him since the older man a strong grip on his wrist. He clawed at his face, feeling the pain build up as more rain connected with his delicate skin. His eyes wanted to close, even they weren't safe against the Planet's liquid. But before he could let any signs of how much pain he was in slip, Cloud had dragged him to the side, pulling him under an overhang of a building that was nothing more than a stack of rafters and wooden planks.

"... Niisan, I can't."

He was out of breath, out of energy. Even his well trained body couldn't stand anymore of the events today held. He longed for his mother. If she was here right now, she would've helped him. But no, he was stuck with the traitor, his brother, his rescuer. Kadaj's thoughts towards the older man were still bitter, but he did owe him his life. And now he was going to get killed, being out in the rain. His skin crawled at the simple thought of it, twisted, turned, and burned as the pain he had pushed back while running had finally caught up to him.

Cloud remained silent, taking in his surroundings and remembering where he was. The bar wasn't that far way, but if the others wouldn't allow the suffering youth inside he might die. He really couldn't save any lives, but this was a start, or maybe there was no start and no matter how many times he tried, he would fail. His thoughts shattered as a light tug on his arm brought him out of his depressed state. He looked to the side and met Kadaj's jade eyes.

"Can we go now?" He bit out between clenched teeth.

"You will have to run."

Kadaj's body immediately screamed in protest, doubling him over in pain. His knees met the soaked ground that was under his feet only moments ago, and grunted as the wetness alone seared his skin through his tight leather gloves and leather armor.

He should have tried better to have their reunion. Now everything was lost to him. His mother, who was no more in his mind's eye, and his brothers, Yazoo and Loz. They were irreplaceable, as was the one called Jenova, his dearly missed mother. The only thing he had left was the blond man, who had managed to help him up without even noticing it. He looked at Cloud and felt something well up inside of his aching body and decided that he might be able to give life another chance.

When Cloud stepped into the rain, Kadaj reluctantly followed, and was met with even more pain. The older man knew what was happening and hurried along with the youth in tow, heading straight for Tifa's bar that was no more than ten feet away. He only hoped his long time friend could find it in her heart to come to terms with the silver haired rebel.

Grasping tightly onto the doorknob, Cloud pushed it open and brought Kadaj in. As expected, everyone inhabiting it at the moment fell silent. He had no time for worrying over what they thought and made for the stairs.

Kadaj had been fixed to the doorway, unable to move. He saw their distrust and their anger towards him and would have normally paid no attention, preferring to walk away, caring for nothing but what happened to him and ignore them while keeping a straight face, but he felt strangely alone as Cloud walked away, oblivious that the youth wasn't following him. But as the blond just reached the stairs and the sound of footsteps that should have been there were not, he turned around to see Kadaj staring around at everyone, looking absolutely vulnerable.

He passed Tifa, offering her an apologetic smile that matched the look in his eyes, and walked over to Kadaj. Cloud then felt just as exposed as Kadaj must have, with all eyes on him this time. He had some explaining to do, no doubt, but that would have to wait. He looked at Kadaj, reassuring him with a hidden message in his eyes that read of forgiveness, and found that he almost had to move the boy, since he wouldn't budge.

"Niisan ..." Kadaj whispered, but it came out like a whimper. Cloud found that hard to believe, but moved forwards, nonetheless, with the boy in tow.

This whole place was unsettling; making him nervous. He wanted to escape from here, but he had to repay his brother somehow and planned on staying until an idea, be it big or small, crossed his mind. The silver haired rebel reached the top stair, body overrun with immense pain. He detested this place and now the strange smell that came with the top level of the bar only drove his determination to get out of here further. He had never smelt it before, having missed the luxury of being able to play with children's toys and have a sense of belonging. And right now they reeked.

Cloud opened the door to Denzel and Marlene's room, and was unable to say a thing or move for that matter as they jumped onto him, cheering his name repeatedly. He placed a hand on Marlene's small head and looked at Denzel, who still had an ugly trace of the Geostigma growing on his head, threatening to spread into his eye. It brought forth that same feeling of depression that he had went through for over two years, but once again Kadaj broke him out of his trance, yet this time when he snapped back into reality, the children were frightened.

To Denzel, Kadaj was barely recognizable, only from being under some sort of spell by the youth himself. But Marlene hadn't been tricked into drinking the black water and remembered Kadaj very well and ran behind Cloud, peeking at the rebel from behind the blond's leg.

"It's okay Marlene," he reassured her, but she wasn't convinced.

Kadaj watched this, and he too remembered what had taken place. Everything had become such a blur up to the last hour or so, giving him many problems. If this little girl, who had saved Cloud from losing his head to Souba, was apart of his life, then Kadaj knew he would have to get along with her and pose no threat. He raised his hands, turned around and let a half hearted smirk appear on his pale face. It was the best he could do.

This wasn't his sort of thing anyways.

Barret's adopted daughter still remained in hiding, along with Denzel. Cloud stepped to the side, surprising both children as they were put out in the open, no longer able to hide. They scurried after him, but stopped when he bent down, looking at Denzel.

"The Geostigma, it needs to be curred."

Kadaj moved over to a window that overlooked the streets below, letting Cloud handle his problems, and watched as several children, most of whom he had made drink the black water, dance happily in the rain. He longed for the happiness they displayed, longing even more for the reunion, yet he suddenly realized that it would never happen.

It hit him like a brick.

Cloud moved the boy Kadaj recalled as Denzel, and they walked to the door. The older man turned back for a moment and held a deep look of questioning within his pure, mako eyes. He told Denzel to head downstairs and patted Marlene on the head.

"Will you stay here?" He asked Kadaj, half expecting him to refuse, given his nature, which didn't seem to be around anywhere.

Kadaj could only nod his head, unable to speak. His pain was growing rapidly, his heartbeat felt like it was surpassing unimaginable speeds. As he watched Cloud leave through his vision that was already beginning to fog up, he felt his legs turn to liquid themselves, just like the rain, and the need for his mother greater and greater.

By the time Cloud was downstairs, slightly explaining to everyone what had taken place, the rain stopped and from up in the room with Marlene watching him closely, Kadaj's world went black and he toppled down, onto the hardwood floor.