Chapter Seven

Kadaj found he couldn't stop thinking of Strife. All his free time was spent staring out the window. It worried Yazoo and Loz greatly. Even if Loz didn't understand the whole situation, it was still good that he cared.

"Maybe.. We should buy him some ice cream.." Loz suggested. Kadaj was walking away down the hall, head shifting side to side as though he didn't care.

"His mood has toned down in the last few days, huh Loz?" Yazoo noted.

"Yea. He's not as.. Um.."

"Evil?"

"I guess."

"Well he wasn't always that mean.. Maybe it's a good thing.." Yazoo portrayed general curiosity perfectly and Loz didn't suspect a thing.

– –

Cloud had waited until his bullet wound had a chance to heal, at least a little bit. By then, the rain had stopped and he told Tifa his goodbyes.

"Oh, Cloud!"

"Yea?"

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Aerith's mom just had another baby! It's a girl! Aerith's an older sister!" Tifa was ecstatic.

"Tell her I'm happy for her." Cloud sighed. "Goodbye Tifa." Cloud embraced her.

"Good luck finding Kadaj.." Tifa mumbled.

"What!" Cloud hadn't even mentioned Kadaj.

"Cloud.. You've changed in the last few days. You even came back to see us. You're constantly looking out the window at your bike. I walked up behind you once, and you didn't even notice! The last time you were like this was when Kadaj moved away." Tifa smiled.

Cloud didn't know what to say. Was it that obvious?

"Tifa.. I.."

"When you see him again.. Give him a kiss for me."

"Wha-?" Tifa turned and ran off before he could finish.. In the middle of a very strange conversation. Cloud ruffled his hair in frustration.

"What did that mean?" he grumbled. Cloud got on his bike and cast a last look at the bar. Tifa was in the bedroom window, waving at him. He nodded and drove away.

– –

"Loz, tell me about Kadaj."

Loz was kneeling on the floor as though bowing to a lord.

"He's the same as ever, sir."

"Really? I've heard he's been daydreaming a lot."

"Well. Yazoo and me did have a talk about his daydreaming."

"And..?"

Loz considered his choice of words.. Or maybe he was trying to remember what they'd said.

"I thought he might've been sick, but Yazoo said ice cream wouldn't help him like it used to. Kadaj seems normal on missions and when he's working. But if you walk up to him in his room, he acts like he doesn't even know you're there. I'm worried." Loz lowered his eyes.

"Hm.. Interesting. Dismissed." A gloved hand waved him off. Loz stood, bowed, and exited.

The dark figure Loz had spoken to contemplated shortly. Kadaj's strange behavior could prove disastrous for the army's overall goal. And they needed him in the fight that was to come. He made a mental note to find out what plagued Kadaj.. And remove it from opposition.

The man crossed his legs and pulled his fingers, once, through his long silver hair.

– –

Steel caught steel and Kadaj's green eyes flashed. He pushed off against his opponent's sword and got back into stance. Sparks flew as they connected again and bounced off. Charging again, Kadaj altered his stance slightly and a gleam flashed through his eyes.

He rushed right past his opponent and both men froze. Kadaj stood up and sheathed his sword. The other man stood silent. Kadaj cracked his neck and walked away. As he left the room, the other man's head fell from his shoulders and he fell to the floor, dead.

Kadaj walked outside and shielded his eyes from the sun.

"How'd it go, Kadaj."

"He wasn't that great of a sword's man. He should learn to keep his head on his shoulders. He loses it too easy." he laughed. Loz shuddered and Yazoo nodded. Kadaj seemed to regain his old spark as he sword fought.

"Don't forget, Kadaj. Sephiroth wants to talk to you." Loz noted. Kadaj sighed.

"Loz... I have to hand it to you. You're the best." Loz smiled. "I've never met anyone, save Sephiroth, who can ruin my mood as fast as you." Kadaj gave Loz a smile as though he were complimenting his brother, but Loz frowned.

"Mm.." Loz grumbled. "Sorry."

"Come on, you two. We don't have time to stand here." Yazoo nodded behind him where a cloud was forming. Midgar's army men were headed their way.

Kadaj and Loz nodded and Kadaj lead them home.

– – –

Cloud was floating across the sand at an easy pace. He was in no hurry. He kept getting messages from that strange voice.

The voice informed him that Sephiroth was just beginning to gather his warriors. Sephiroth worked slow when there was no danger of interruption to his plans. Therefore, Sephiroth shouldn't be rushing.

'Sephiroth seems anxious. Be on your toes, Cloud.'

'End of Messages.'

That had been the latest and shortest message he'd received. He'd tried tracing the calls but it never worked. He still suspected it was Yazoo helping him, but he couldn't figure out why.

Yazoo hadn't ever really liked Cloud. In fact, he had begun to hate Cloud before they moved away. Cloud wondered if it was because of Kadaj but he never had a chance to ask. If this really was Yazoo, or even if it wasn't.. That first message said loud and clear that Yazoo had been jealous of him and that he seemed to feel guilty for what he'd done.

Cloud stopped his bike under an overpass as it began to rain. This would be a good place to stay for the night. When the rain stopped, it might be clear enough to see through his binoculars. For now, he'd sleep.

– – – (next morning)

Kadaj sighed. He opened his balcony door and walked out. The hard, cold flooring of his balcony was still slightly wet from last night's rain. Kadaj looked out over the barren land around this stronghold. Below ran hundreds of roads that weren't being used at the moment and one large, long, abandoned highway.

Kadaj turned from the scene, not really caring what image he saw. It didn't change his issues. Something caught his eye and he spun back around. Under the overpass.. Was that.. Cloud?

Whispers entered Kadaj's mind and he smirked.

"Ok." and he left the balcony.

– – –

"So how's it look?"

"Ya. They're definitely stocking up. I can see the extra automobiles down below." Cloud looked through his binoculars.

"Okay, Cloud. Come on home. We have to prepare too." Tifa sighed. "And don't worry about Cid." Cloud nodded and hung up.

As Cloud put up his phone, a sound caught his ears. The sound of a motor. He was sitting on Fenrir so it wasn't his.. andthen he suddenly remembered that motor. He, himself, had bought it. He watched as a small cloud of dust rose into the air from a far away bike. He waited as Kadaj came ever nearer.

Kadaj stopped in front of him and gave Cloud a grin. A grin he hadn't seen in years. Kadaj's head titled toward the open highway and Cloud slipped on his glasses. He accepted the challenge, not one to let it drop.

Kadaj sped off and Cloud followed close behind. Cloud leaned down to his bike and sped up.

'We aren't kids anymore, Kadaj. I wont go easy on you.' he declared.

Kadaj grinned wickedly as he pulled farther ahead. He always won.. Always won? That was right.. He raced Cloud a lot and he always won.. But Cloud.. Looking back.. Was Cloud always holding back?

Racing right now, Kadaj saw Cloud standing in that doorway when they first met. He saw ten years of memories flash before his eyes and he momentarily faltered in his racing. Cloud was speeding even with him and then past him.

Kadaj's eyes widened and he sped up. He couldn't loose.

As he became more determined, random thoughts ran into Kadaj's mind from so long ago. Feelings and senses and all of it. He began to feel frustrated and angry. Most of all he felt a strange sense of happiness.

Happiness.. Nii-san was.. No. Cloud. Cloud was racing with him. Cloud didn't blame him for anything. He wanted things like they used to be, just like before. As Cloud looked back at him, he spotted those mako blue eyes piercing through those sunglasses. He remembered Cloud saying his name and he remembered Cloud's lips as they formed the word. And he couldn't think straight.

His mind was rolling over things that used to bug him about his life and Cloud ran over all of that with one word. One name. Yet, he couldn't stop thinking and something was telling him he had to win this race.

The highway ended and that was the finish line. Cloud climbed off Fenrir and took off his glasses. He looked quickly at Kadaj, who still sat on his bike.

'I.. I never..' Kadaj huffed. "I never lose.." he muttered.

"Kadaj?" Hearing his name, the silver haired man jumped off his bike and landed in front of Cloud.

"You cheated didn't you?"

"Kadaj! I didn't cheat! Never have!" Cloud yelled back, uncharacteristically.

"You always did! Admit it! You knew you were better than me, but I said that if I won the bike was worth it. And you kept losing on purpose so I wouldn't feel bad! And you always acted angry because I gloated so much afterward! You cheated to make yourself loose! You stupid idiot!" Kadaj turned away and paced around.

Kadaj rambled on subjects ranging from Cloud's choice of eating habits to the time in the bathroom. Cloud looked at the ground and smirked slightly. So Kadaj obsessed over things like this even now? It was great. Kadaj hadn't changed at all.

"And you.. You..!" Kadaj turned and pointed at Cloud accusingly. "You've been wanting to kiss me, haven't you! Ever since that birthday, haven't you! I mean.. The signs are obvious and.. And.." Kadaj's voice cracked as he began to cry. He tried furiously to wipe them away.

Cloud wrapped his arms around the younger and embraced him comfortingly.

"No, Kadaj.. That's you.." he said lowly. Kadaj clung tighter and smothered his face into Cloud's shoulder.

"I missed you, Nii-san.." was his muffled choice of words.

"I'm not.."

"Just for now.. Let me call you that.. It's been too long since I've heard it.." Kadaj explained. Cloud sighed and set a hand on Kadaj's head.

"Okay.." He ran his fingers through Kadaj's hair and they stayed like that until Kadaj felt composed.