Chapter 2: Kingdom of Nyx

All was quiet. Everything was a reason for contentment. The sun shone bright and pleasant as shafts of sunlight filtered through the glazed windows of the library. Everything marked the start of summer this morning, and all seemed happy and quite well...until Kadaj broke the silence that is.

"It is getting pretty hot huh?"

Yazoo groaned inwardly, his moment of peace and quiet was broken.

"I fancied you more when you were silent," Yazoo grumbled, turning the page of the book he was reading.

Kadaj sat sprawled out on the armchair, one leg thrown carelessly across the arm, and his face lazily propped on one hand, his silver hair hanging on one side of his face, concealing his right eye.

"I just made a comment. What was wrong with that?" Kadaj demanded loudly.

Yazoo sighed. "Mind you, little brother. I believe we are in a library."

Kadaj rolled his eyes; typical of Yazoo to be observant of the rules and all. "And I believe we're the only two people here," he snapped.

"True, but observance of the rules is crucial." Yazoo pointed out, flipping a lock of silver hair from his face.

"Since when do you care about the rules?" Kadaj taunted blatantly.

"Since I found out that Sephiroth isn't so forgiving," Yazoo snapped back, never losing his stoic demeanor.

Kadaj was silent at that. All of them remembered how their eldest brother went totally berserk after Loz went into the wing of the palace that Sephiroth strictly forbade to wander in; claiming it as his territory. Kadaj wasn't afraid of him, but as spontaneous as he was, he gladly avoided collision with the heir to the throne.

"So what do you think this summer would be like?" Kadaj asked conversationally, lowering his voice a little.

"Another uneventful one," Yazoo answered vaguely.

"I think we should get you a girlfriend," Kadaj mused.

Yazoo shook his head. "I intend to fall in love on my own, thank you."

"Yeah right." The youngest rolled his eyes. "You're so damn loveless."

At this, Yazoo actually met Kadaj's languid stare with his own fierce one, knowing the reputation the boy carried, and his profound habits towards 'love'.

"I should say the same thing about you," he finally said, and immersed himself in reading once more.

"What's that s'posed to mean?" Kadaj exclaimed.

"It means that you merely woo women for the purpose of self-gratification. You don't care about their feelings or their needs. You don't love them as you claim to do." Yazoo knew his speech was quite double-edged, but it was the truth.

"Yeah, but so what?" The youngest shrugged.

Yazoo sighed and gave up on the book. He couldn't really concentrate with Kadaj chatting him up. Closing the reading material, he placed it on the table before him and stared at his brother who was seated across.

"Love doesn't work that way, little brother. You're treating them as to the likes of toys." Yazoo pointed out. "You're dating a total of five women, and two are older than you by seven years. Are you not ashamed?"

"Yazoo, drop the formal talk. It's me you're talking to," Kadaj slurred, righting himself despite Yazoo's angry remarks towards his outrageous behaviour.

"Fine. You're doing something wrong, and you may think it's fun, but someday it's bound to pay you back. You're dating two twenty-four year old women, one is your age, the other is a year younger than you, and the most recent one is a twelve-year old. Seriously Kadaj, what's gotten in to you?" Yazoo demanded, throwing aside his quiet self.

"Chill, Yazoo. I'm not abusing them physically or anything harmful for that matter. I'm not Sephiroth," Kadaj placated, but Yazoo just glared at him.

Yazoo resisted the urge to smack his forehead. "Kadaj, I know you're not like Sephiroth, and I know you're not a dumb ass, but seriously, you need to stop what you're doing. Those women are human beings just like you, and you have positively no right to treat them that way. I think you're fully aware of you're current reputation as the consequence of the previous noblewomen you've dated and dumped for no reason."

Kadaj scowled. Why does Yazoo always make sense? Childishly, he folded his arms across his chest and looked away, thinking of his brothers words. Yazoo was...undoubtedly right, but it was just fun. He really couldn't get over the fact that women swarmed him prior to his deceptive charms and good looks. It simply couldn't be helped. But of course, he did all those things to inject some fun into his life. He couldn't really look to his brothers or to the circus for entertainment now, could he?

Of course he was aware. He was aware that the aristocratic class deemed him a Casanova, and among the masses, a certified playboy in his own right. Well, they had every right to think of him that way, and he didn't mind. They still had high regard for him though their respect was now stained with shame for having a Casanova prince. It did nothing to stain his confidence.

"Why does Sephiroth get to do all that, and I can't?" Kadaj challenged, knowing full well of his eldest brother's predatory ways, and that though Sephiroth did all those things, his life was devoted to utmost secrecy even if the people regarded him highly.

"He doesn't play women like you do," Yazoo stated, returning to his state of boredom.

"He does much worse," Kadaj muttered under his breath.

"I think he's bound to stop. King Frederick of Ceres already pledged a dowry to him to marry his daughter, Natalie Rose." Yazoo explained to which Kadaj raised an eyebrow.

"Marriage? I didn't even think he liked the chicks enough to marry them," the youngest smirked, amused.

Yazoo rolled his eyes. "He doesn't. He's doing this to fulfill a treaty made years ago to prevent war against our kingdom and Ceres."

"Have they even met each other yet?" Kadaj questioned harshly.

"No. We're going to a party at Ceres tonight, remember? That's where they'll first meet."

"But Sephiroth hasn't returned from Yakkie's yet!" Kadaj protested loudly.

"He's coming back tonight via plane and heading straight for Ceres."

"How do we get there, then?"

Yazoo frowned slightly. "I think we're going by land. It's not far, you know. A five hour drive won't do you harm."

"Oh sure. But it would to Loz," Kadaj grumbled sourly and Yazoo didn't bother speaking again and let his little brother sulk.

A/N: At least two of the SHM brothers finally made their appearance, and now I'm imploring you to tell me what you think. And about that Yakkie's thing Kadaj mentioned in this chapter, I honestly have no idea where that came from.