Onee: the beginning of this chapter jumps a bit so forgive me. -smile-

Chapter Nine

Kadaj parked his bike and paused. A sense of some sort had run through his body. Like an animal instinct of danger.

"The battle begins in two days. Be prepared, Kadaj." Kadaj spun, hatred spreading through him. Suddenly, his mind screamed at him and he bowed respectfully to Sephiroth and replied a simple 'yes, sir'.

'I must act like nothing's happened..' Kadaj declared. 'If they find out, they might hurt Cloud.'

Sephiroth nodded and walked away.

"Where have you been, sir?" he asked.

"Out.." Sephiroth replied with a smug smile that said 'I know something you don't know.'

"Oh." Kadaj waited till Sephiroth had gone inside to consider things. Before he could start, Yazoo walked out into the garage.

"Kadaj!" he called, seeming worried.

"Yazoo, what's wrong?" Something in his eyes must have seemed different to Yazoo because he was suddenly being embraced.

"You remember then?" Yazoo lowered his voice. Kadaj nodded numbly.

"What's wrong, Yazoo. You seemed worried." Kadaj asked again.

"It's Cloud."

"Hm?"

Yazoo explained how he'd gotten a call from Cloud. Cloud had called and simply said 'Thank You, Yazoo.' before hanging up. Yazoo had tried calling back several times but Cloud never picked up. Yazoo wasn't even trying to block his number anymore.

"And?"

"And I called again and the phone was answered."

Kadaj didn't see the point his brother was trying to get across.

"Has Sephiroth gone out today?" Yazoo suddenly switched subjects.

"Ya, he just got back. Why?" Kadaj was getting agitated at not understanding.

"Did anything seem weird about him?" Yazoo asked.

"Not that I notic..." Kadaj paused and his mind flashed through his encounter with Sephiroth. There.. On the hilt of his sword.. And the tips of his fingers.. "He had blood.. On his fingers.. And his sword.." Kadaj replied mechanically.

"Cloud's in trouble." Yazoo said.

– – –

(About 5 minutes ago)

Cloud crawled along the ground. He grunted in pain and one eye was squeezed shut in shock. He needed help..

Just as fatigue was about to claim him, a ringer caught his attention. His phone was nearby. He got to the phone and saw it read 'Yazoo'. Yazoo'snumber was his name, same as Kadaj.

"Yazoo." he grunted and he opened the phone.

"Cloud?" Yazoo's voice drifted from the phone.

His reply was Cloud huffing and puffing against the dirt below him and grunting in the pain of moving his arms.

"Cloud! Are you alright?"

"Ka..daj.." Cloud managed. Yazoo hung up and Cloud allowed sleep to take him. Just as his eyes closed, he saw his vision encompassed in red.

– – (I bet someone knows what happened.. -wink wink-)

(Present Time)

Two feet hit the ground. They hurried over to the back end of another bike and then far off toward the front end. These feet ran around and stopped over a trail of blood.

"Nii-san!" Kadaj bent by the blood. It was drying so he must've left it a while ago. But how did he leave? His bike was destroyed... InKadaj's head a voicemurmured 'he loved that bike'.

"Kadaj?" Yazoo called.

"Grab part of the bike. And don't leave anything behind." Kadaj ordered, seriousness all over his face. He knew someone who could help.

– – –

"Cloud.. Please don't die.." Tifa hung her head mournfully. Her hair hid her face and she was crying. She was sitting by Cloud's bed in his room.

Cloud lay there, bandaged up. He had a wrap around his torso and up over his shoulders. He hadn't moved since he'd been brought in. Vincent had carried him there, somehow unseen by the eyes of the people.

"Tifa." Vincent called from the doorway.

"Eh?" Tifa wiped her eyes and looked up at the tall, red cloaked man.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, quite coldly. Or maybe it was wisely.. In Vincent's case, it was always hard to tell.

"Cloud could die.." Tifa glared at him. Did he not care?

"Ka..Kadaj.." Cloud murmured. Vincent and Tifa both looked at him, Tifa standing up. Vincent sighed.

"And if he does, will he wake up loving you?" he asked.

"What! I.." Tifa sat down slowly. "I know he doesn't love me.."

"Hm.."

"I've known for a long time.. The way he stares off blindly, the way he speaks, his hobbies even.. I know I'm not the one he loves.. But you can't ask me to stop caring."

Tifa clasped her hands. Vincent was going to answer her. He was going to tell her that she didn't have to stop caring, but she had to understand to give in to Cloud's wishes. He was going to say something. Say something wise. He would say it and leave, but he never got the chance.

"And how would Kadaj act if he died?" Tifa asked. She turned and smiled through her tears at Vincent. "He has to live.. For the one he loves.."

Vincent nodded and found himself being hugged. Tifa held on tight, hoping for any comfort even from someone like Vincent. Vincent relaxed a little, when he knew she wasn't letting go, and placed a hand on her head. He lifted his gaze to Cloud and then closed his eyes.

'Yes.. Yes, he has to live.'

– – – –

Kadaj threw chairs and tables from his path as he walked straight through a room. He walked on until he came to his destination. The anger on his face scared the guards and they ran away. Kadaj threw open the door and stormed down the stairs that greeted him.

The door slammed behind him and he paid it no mind. He walked cat like to the cell. Without a key or any provocation, the cell door swung open and the man inside jumped awake.

"What the...?" he griped, seeing his visitor.

"You're going to help me..."

"Why should I help the likes of.."

"You're going to help me help Cloud." Kadaj ordered.

"Cloud? You? Help Cloud? Why should I believe that bull..?"

"You're going to help." Kadaj dashed over and knocked the man out before throwing him over his shoulder and leaving. No one saw him as he walked through. They could sense him coming, angered and dangerous, and they moved away.

Yazoo awaited him in the garage's workshop. He'd set the bike up on the workbench like he'd been told and now stood awaiting his brother's orders.

"No problems?" he asked.

"None." Kadaj murmured, setting his prisoner on the floor between them. "He'll wake up soon."

As if on cue, the blonde man shot up.

"What the hell?" he moaned as he saw two of the three brothers around him. "What do you..?" He gasped.

There was Fenrir, slashed in two. That beautiful machine sat in two pieces before his very eyes.

"Fenrir..."

"Can you fix it?" Kadaj asked.

"Fix it?.. look at it.. Poor Fenrir.. You were a good bike.." he pet the bike's logo.

"Answer the question." Yazoo ordered, getting bored.

"Of course I could if I had the parts!"

Yazoo opened several compartments around the room, showing all the parts in storage.

"You're in the Mako garage workshop. You have more parts here than anywhere.." he pushed his hair back from his eyes.

"Hm.. Why do you want me to fix it?" the man looked at Kadaj. Kadaj's eyes softened from their glare into a more tired and worried look.

"Please, Cid. It's for Strife.." he spoke softly.

"Strife?" Cid's eyes widened at the name and nodded. With that, he began to order Yazoo around. Get this and that and Yazoo disliked every minute. Kadaj smiled and relaxed but he knew the bike was only part of the issue.. What happened to Cloud?

Kadaj held the locket protectively in his ungloved hand.

– – –