Disclaimer: I do not own final fantasy or any of its Characters, they belong to Square!

Note: I confess myself a little disappointed by the lack of reviews, I – like many have extremely low self esteem and thrive when I get reviews-they give me that push to continue writing. So please I would be so grateful if you'd take the time to review or even send me E-mail—I always like to hear from my readers. .

Onto the story!

Strange land

Loz shuffled from foot to foot nervously his throat felt tight and his palms sweaty, today was the day Hojo would be releasing him into the world as it were. Sure he'd been out into Midgar a few times but this was the first time on his own…without his brothers.

Hojo hadn't really wanted Loz to go out into the world, but the president of Shinra who incidentally held all the cards had demanded it, Loz had secretly wished to be taken to Wutai with hopes of seeing his eldest brother there, Sephiroth was after all a General of SOLDIER and would be heading his own platoon into the front line of the current war.

But then thinking about it Loz really did not want to be in a war, the mere thought scared him stiff. He shivered and pulled his jacket tighter around his burly figure, he was getting fed up of constantly waiting for Hojo to finish his meeting. The man was doing it purposely to prolong Loz's suffering and constant panic at the thought of where he'd end up.

What particularly nasty things did Hojo have planned for him?

The office door opened making Loz nearly jump out of his skin with fright, man he sure was twitchy today. Hojo followed a tall dark haired man out the door-the man glanced at Loz quickly and the silver haired man saw the small red dot on his forehead the man was from Wutai blood. Upon really observing the stranger Loz noted the long hair tied back and the black suit he wore…this man whoever he was, was a Turk.

Why was Hojo talking with Turks?

Beady eyes fixed themselves on Loz and Hojo smiled pleasantly before glancing down at the watch on his right wrist. He shook his head and glanced back up at Loz his smile widening.

" It appears Kadaj needs picking up from Class, go do that for me Loz and we'll talk when you return." With that said the man turned and went back into his office leaving Loz to stare in Fury.

Great now he had to pick Kadaj up from class, which meant more waiting and suffering for him. Bleh, he grunted indignantly and turned and walked off through the many halls of the science department of Shinra. It took him twenty minutes to reach the military block on the Plate.

Kadaj was taught in one of the top schools of Shinra, it was also where many Shinra troops came to study, many of them only enrolled in the army so they could afford to go to School and college, but Kadaj and many other children of Shinra workers had the privilege of being schooled there.

Not that Kadaj saw it, as a 'Privilege' the boy hated it there and constantly caused trouble. The upside was that Hojo was called at least three times a week to come and sort out his troublesome 'son' Loz and Yazoo would beam at the boy for that.

Oh joy Loz thought stopping outside the School; this visit meant he'd bump into Kadaj's strange friend Ciara. She tended to freak Loz out completely and twice she'd nearly had him in tears by simply glaring at him. He shivered wishing Yazoo had been told to pick Kadaj up.

She was okay apart from her cold Exterior and evil glares. Loz never failed to notice how pretty she was though. Her long Pale blue hair swaying at her hips she was slim and small with pale flawless skin and the brightest and sharpest blue eyes. Yazoo had told him that when Hojo had met her they hadn't gotten off to the best start, apparently Hojo had been cursing her for the remaining of that day.

Ellamere was another friend of his younger brother, and Unlike Ciara she was bright and bubbly, she was the shortest of the three with shoulder length layered blond hair and baby blue eyes. However she happened to be the President's niece, thus she was treated like Royalty though she never acted like a spoilt brat.

From within the building Loz heard the final bell ring, he sighed and pushed a hand through his short spiky hair. A habit he'd recently started, he took a breath and watched the double doors of the School open, hoping Kadaj would hurry.

The doors opened and out came the rush of students Loz moved sideways to give them leeway. He wasn't up for being bashed into by them; he spotted Kadaj a mile away-heck the silver hair was a giveaway.

As always Ciara and Ellamere accompanied the boy, their little trio was given as much space as possible-it was well known how Kadaj could swap moods in an instant without prior warning of any sort.

" Niisan" the boy greeted with a half smile.

" Hey there shrimp" Loz said gently looking down at Kadaj.

" How are you Loz?" Ciara asked her eyes resting on him, sometimes the girl made him feel naked.

" Oh crap! Guys I gotta shoot." Ellamere grumbled glancing ahead of her. " See you tomorrow."

"Bye Ella!" Kadaj waved.

Ciara said nothing, her piercing gaze still holding Loz, before she abruptly turned away. She seemed to be listening to some far distant voice calling to her, eyes narrowing she shook her head quickly and glared down at the earth.

" I must also go, remember what I told you Kadaj." Ciara said mysteriously before walking off in opposite direction of Ellamere.

Loz titled his head to the side " what did she mean by that?"

Kadaj shrugged " nothing important."

Yeah right, Loz didn't believe that for one second but he let it slide for now.

" Come on then, I have to take you back with me."

" Loz…do you…ever wonder about our mother?" the child asked suddenly his sharp eyes fixed on Loz.

How could he answer such a question, man Sephiroth or Yazoo would be better people to ask, his mind was blank on ideas of how to answer the boy. Or what answer to give him: he could tell him the truth or a lie with a margin of truth. Damn! He wasn't sure what to say.

Instead of answering Loz tried a change of subject, well sort of anyway.

" What possessed you to ask that question?"

Not for the first time Kadaj seemed to distance himself from Loz, his features becoming thoughtful and haunted. Almost as if he were reliving a memory over in his mind!

" Heh, it doesn't matter!" Kadaj said with a small laugh.

" Alright…so how was your day?"

Kadaj grinned and pulled out a small container from his bag. It contained three small stones. " It was cool, we've been running tests on these rock samples."

" Err…why?"

The boy rolled his eyes " oh you know to see if they can breed!"

" Really, didn't know rocks could breed!" Loz murmured thoughtfully.

Kadaj stared at him in bafflement " it was a J.O.K.E…a joke. Geez you so gullible Niisan."

" Sure a joke, I knew that."

" I find that hard to believe." Replied the small boy.

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" Huh?" Loz blurted out before he could stop himself, he stared at Hojo in pure disbelief. This was callous of the professor he was placing Loz in a completely unfamiliar field of work, the office of Shinra's Urban Development department. Pft like hell Loz knew what he'd be in for.

" You heard me." Snapped the Professor irately shuffling through his papers.

"But…but" Loz stammered

Hojo spun around to face the burly man his eyes sharp. " Are you arguing with me boy?" he snapped.

He shook his head " no sir," he sighed feeling depressed.

He felt tears stinging his eyes and hurriedly wiped them away, his head bowed he walked solemnly to his room. He had no clue of what his future held anymore, he didn't have any desire to work with Shinra-he had his own dream albeit a small one, but a dream none the less.

Without realising Loz had arrived back at his room, he numbly opened the door and entered. Kadaj and Yazoo were sat at the table a letter sitting between the two, his depression forgotten momentarily Loz rushed forward and took the letter his heart racing.

It was from Sephiroth. It was like his previous letters filled with his worries and minimal information of what was happening over there. Zack had added a little scribble at the bottom sending his love and greetings to them. But the lack of words from Sephiroth made Loz frown.

" Noticed also did you Loz-san?" Yazoo said lower his gaze to the letter.

" He seems distant." Loz agreed placing the letter down.

Kadaj looked between his brothers with a dark gaze. " He's in the war, how would you be feeling?" he said snappishly.

Yazoo and Loz glanced at each other then down a Kadaj. " Since when have you been so wise?" Loz asked suspiciously the boys behaviour was becoming stranger by the day-something was going on with him but Kadaj being stubborn as he was refused to explain what was happening with him, to Yazoo and Loz.

" Since my lessons started." He looked mildly insane at this point.

" Kadaj what's going on with you?" Yazoo asked gently leaning towards the boy.

He snarled vehemently " like you'd understand…you don't even hear her cries!" he wailed throwing his arms in the air.

" Kadaj, I don't understand what your talking about" Yazoo said careful not to upset the boy even more.

" I…uh…you're a traitor…I hate you!" snarled the boy launching himself at Yazoo, the long haired teen caught Kadaj in a tight embrace and held the kicking and screaming boy tightly.

" It won't stop…. please make it stop Niisama!" Kadaj whispered helplessly his body relaxing and falling into Yazoo's embrace.

" Shh…we're here, nothing will hurt you." Yazoo vowed calming the boy.

Loz felt sick, he'd been so busy with his own problems that he'd taken no notice of what had been going on in his own family, no wonder Yazoo had been worn out: it was all becoming clear to Loz now, Kadaj's nightmare's were back and Yazoo had been staying up all night to watch over him…he felt sick with disgust.

" Why don't you get some rest Yazoo?" He offered felling awkward

Yazoo turned his sharp eyes onto Loz, " what'll you do if Kadaj flips out again?" he asked assertively as he cradled the sleeping Kadaj in his arms.

" I'll handle it."

A shack of his head " no! I can not put this on you…you found out about your job today didn't you?"

A nod " yes."

" Then you should concentrate on resting for that. I'll be fine and so will Kadaj…it's the injections that have done this." He sighed softly closing his eyes.

" Always the injections." Loz mumbled feeling more depressed than he had previously.

" Kaasan…" the name left his lips before he realised what he'd said. He turned away from Yazoo's gaze and walked to the door of his room tears rolling down his cheeks, he was having trouble dealing with right now-he wanted to escape into some strange land where nothing bothered him.

His wish always fell to death ears though.

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Heh, next chapter Yazoo converses with Ciara, and Kadaj begins to loose himself.

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