Disclaimer: Many characters belong to Square Enix, as well as many of the place names.

Remember: This story is basically a fanfiction of a fanfiction, based on "Ame ni Matte" by Lily Silver. The story design and set-up is based around that story. Also, her original characters used in this are Lorna Relson and Marshal Gray will be mentioned here and there. I recommend reading her story, for it is very good, and mine would make much more sense if you did.

Ok, guys, this is my first shot at a story, and the only way to get better is to practice. Please, stick with me, and I will do my best to make this story entertaining.

-------------

Chapter 8: Intrusions

With every good thing, there is almost always something bad following close behind. The only way to learn that is through experience. For instance, Kadaj and Hana had stopped to pet a stray dog one afternoon, only to suffer from flea-bites on their wrists later that day. That small happening was a perfect example of a harsh life lesson.

Hana had taken a peculiar liking to washing the dishes. She never put them away, though, for fear of one of the brothers discovering that she knew about the weapons. Dipping a plate into the water-filled basin, Hana listened to what was going on in the next room over. Murmuring voices found their way to her ear, and by the sound of things, two of the brothers were having a hushed argument. One of the voices rose slightly every time it spoke, and Hana decided that it must have been Kadaj's. Her thoughts were confirmed when she heard him shout, "Don't you EVER talk about that place!" The echoing of running feet rang out, and there was a bang as the bedroom door was slammed shut.

Peeking a curious head out of the kitchen doorway, Hana saw Yazoo on his way up the stairs. He stopped when he noticed the young girl watching him. "What happened, is he ok?" she asked with a nervous tone.

A simple, "Yes," was all Yazoo said to answer her before proceeding up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Hana dried her hands on a ragged towel, and threw it to the side. As she left the kitchen, she almost bumped into Loz. "Excuse me," she muttered.

Loz gave a gruff nod, and walked past her. He felt something tugging at his sleeve. Looking back, he saw Hana gazing up at him. With obvious discomfort, he turned around to face her. He focused on a spot on the wall, just past Hana's ear. There was an awkward silence that seemed to last forever. "Well?" Loz finally asked.

"Um," Hana started, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt again. "I-is he really ok?" she managed after a few deep breaths. She seemed to be even more uncomfortable than Loz, and that made him relax a bit. He looked at her face, now, with an expression that said he didn't comprehend. Hana tentatively pointed up the stairs as she asked, "Is Kadaj...is he really ok?"

Loz held his expression, but found an answer, "Yazoo told you he is, right?"

"Uh huh, but," Hana stammered, shutting her eyes tight. She took one last breath before blubbering, "But I don't think Yazoo's telling me the truth, because he doesn't like me. Because...because he doesn't want me here." At this, she started to cry. Her shoulders shook with every sniffle, and she frantically wiped her eyes. Even through the tears, she continued to vent out at Loz, "And, you don't either...and...and...and I don't like the secrets or...or the nightmares...and I just want to know..." Hana looked up at Loz with red, watery eyes. "What's going on?"

Very surprised by the sudden outburst, Loz took a couple steps back. He scratched the back of his neck, think for what to tell her. "Look, uh," he started. "Nothing...nothing's goin' on. And, uh, It's not that Yazoo doesn't like you...he just isn't great around newer people. I don't not want you here, ya know."

Hana wiped under her nose, still staring up at Loz. "Really?" She jabbed her finger at his stomach, the look in her eyes changing to a stern glare. "You're not lying are you?"

"No," Loz answered quickly. "I promise! I'm not lying."

"Good," Hana said, looking down at her feet. Something came thumping down the stairs, then clobbered her by jumping on her back. With her face pressed into the worn carpet, she could hear Kadaj's laughter.

"Ha! I got you good, didn't I?" Kadaj asked smugly. Hana nodded in defeat, just so Kadaj would get off. When he saw her face, he furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong with you? No need to cry about it."

Loz walked past, muttering to Hana, "See?" Hana nodded, forcing a smile.

Kadaj glared at Loz's back, then at Hana. "See what?" he asked impatiently. "What do you see?"

Hana giggled, her mood lightening more with every second. "Oh, nothing."

"What do you see?" Kadaj pressed on. Hana giggled again, stood up, and moved back into the kitchen. "Hey!" he yelled, running after Hana. He skidded to a stop, bumping into her back, and almost throwing both of them into the dish-water filled sink.

"What was that for, clumsy?" Hana asked accusingly. The front of her shirt was soaked due to her hands splashing in the water after Kadaj had run into her.

Kadaj shot Hana a harsh glare. "How is that my fault? You're the one that stopped." Hana sighed and wrung as much of her shirt as she could out above the sink. She was in no mood to try to argue with Kadaj. She never won the arguments, so there was no real point in trying anyway. Kadaj leaned over Hana's shoulder, inspecting her shirt. "You've been wearing that same outfit since I met you," he said with a disgusted tone. "That's gross!"

"What do you expect me to do? I've got no other clothes," Hana fired back. She knew she looked ratty, and she definitely didn't need to be told so by Kadaj.

"You're all quiet and stuff again," Kadaj said. "You need to be more," he paused, thinking. "Loud, I guess. Come!" He grabbed Hana's wrist as usual, but this time dragged her upstairs. He pulled her into a small room that was mostly empty, and started shifting through a pile of clothes. "This is the clean pile," he explained. Pointing a finger at a second pile, much larger than the first, he wrinkled his nose. "That's the dirty one. Niichan's going to do the washing today, I think. Ah ha!" Kadaj pulled on something at the bottom of the clean pile. After a small struggle, he managed to pull free a small, dark blue sweater. He threw it at Hana, and went back to searching the clothes. It wasn't long before he pulled out a pair of jeans that were faded from use. He also threw them at Hana. Looking back at her, he laughed. Hana was clutching the sweater in one hand, and pulling the jeans out of her face with the other. Afterwards, she stared down at the clothes curiously. "Don't just stand there, idiot! Go change!"

Hana nodded sharply, saying, "Ok!" and running out of the room. She pattered down the stairs and went into the bathroom. Puling off her shirt, Hana realized just how bad it really was. Sure, she washed up once a day, and sure, she played in the rain and snow often, but her clothes were still a mess. She threw the shirt in the corner of the bathroom, next to the sink, and her jeans soon followed. The sweater was soft and warm, and Hana enjoyed the pleasant feeling of the clean top. Pulling on the new jeans, she found that they were slightly too big for her, and they hung about an inch lower on her hips than her old ones had. She looked at her self in the mirror. The clothes seemed to swallow her. She raked her fingers trough her mop of hair in an attempt to tame the brown mess. She wasn't satisfied, but decided that there wasn't much she could do without a comb anyway. With a hand almost completely hidden by the sweater's sleeve, Hana picked up her old clothes and left the bathroom. She had taken much longer than she thought, for when she peeked around the living room door, she saw all three brothers sat contentedly together.

The two oldest brothers were engaged in conversation. Something funny must have been said, because Loz was chuckling softly. Kadaj was perched on the armrest of the couch, abstractedly playing with strands of Yazoo's hair, twisting them about his finger and muttering to himself. Hana wasn't entirely sure what she was feeling, but somehow, she felt like she didn't belong. She felt out of place, like an intruder. Realizing she hadn't been noticed yet, she shut the door again, walking slowly back to the bathroom. Her mood was slipping, and fast. She hadn't quite recovered fully from her outburst at Loz. She wasn't sure if she would be able to hold back again, like she normally did.

Hana sat curled up in the bathroom. With her knees tucked against her chest, she cried into the once clean sleeve of the sweater. She spent nearly twenty minutes spilling hot tears into the blue fabric. By the time there was a knock on the door, Hana had calmed down enough to ask without sniffling, "Who's there?"

"Who do you think?" came Kadaj's snappy reply. By the sounds of it, he was quite irritated. "Aren't you done yet? You've been taking forever and a day in there!" He slammed his fist on the door a few more times for emphasis.

Hana wiped her face off with the dry sleeve, stood up, and opened the door. Kadaj pushed past her, seemingly oblivious to Hana's tear-streaked face. Now shoved out in the hallway, Hana watched as Kadaj slammed the bathroom door behind him. With her dirty clothes from before still in hand, she made her way to the stairs. She plopped down on the bottom step.

Yazoo came around the end of the banister. Not paying attention, he nearly tripped over Hana's tiny frame. With his usual grace, he caught himself before falling, and murmured an apology to Hana. He was about to leave her there, when he noticed something quite different about her. "That shirt is Kadaj's isn't it?" he asked. Hana looked up at him, nodding her head quietly. "It's about time you got into some clean clothes. Here, I'll wash your old outfit." He bent over and gently took the dirty clothes from Hana. He saw that her eyes were slightly red and puffy. Remembering Loz mentioning something about Hana being upset, Yazoo decided to leave the matter alone.

Craning her neck, Hana watched Yazoo disappear up the stairs behind her. He was always so graceful, so aloof and distant. Suddenly, it hit. Hana realized why she felt so intrusive. She always did, and probably always would, envy Yazoo. Clumsy, ditzy Hana could never fit into such a close knitted family.