Disclaimer:I own nothing. Except for the idea.

Special thanks to: Imayame21, JilianLo, and UnratedCrimsonBlood for reviewing.

Sun-streaked pavement clashed with the white gravel, opposites contrasting violently, forever locked in a tug of war. Passing the construction site, he felt a small connection to it somehow, as if he understood what it was like always being on end with someone.

Story of his life, in a way.

"I'm home." He said again.

Yep. He was home now, so…now what? What should he do first? Kadaj blinked.

"Bloody hell…"

He didn't even know what he wanted to do! There was so much! He could walk to the park, or call a cab to go to a hotel…Where was a coin when you needed it?

Undecided, he walked off wherever his legs would lead him readjusting the strap on his traveling bag every few minutes. Streets crawled by slowly as he walked until he reached a cross walk. He idly watched traffic go by.

When the light turned he sauntered across the street, his…odd attire drawing attention. He stuck out like a red rose in a field of poppies. Then again, Midgar had never been the most up-to-date. Or knowledgeable on the latest fashions.

Kadaj sighed.

What on earth would his dear brothers think? He knew his brothers never really cared much for the way they dressed. For them it was always whatever was comfortable.

And last time he checked they were slobs. But it had been ten years…maybe…no, he highly doubted they were any different for some reason. Kadaj would just have to change that.

It couldn't be that hard right? Teaching personal grooming and hair care to people who didn't give a damn…

"You've gotta be kidding me." He'd most likely die trying.

"Live life so you have no regrets." He muttered. It was his way of life. Even if his actions did lead to death. Actually,

Especially if they did.

Kadaj shook the thoughts from his head. It would only make him depressed and besides, he was here now. He wouldn't have to worry again.

The city hadn't changed much he thought, looking around again and the cold blazing sun offered no warmth at all. Then he shuddered. Not because of the temperature (though it was cold), but because of all the eyes on him.

Kadaj could actually feel the stares, pinpoint where each one was and still be able to tell one from the other. He kept walking, his cat-like walk increasing slowly so it wouldn't be noticeable.

He just wanted to get the hell away from there.

Figuring that he would just be stared out no matter where he went, he changed his train of thought towards earlier at the airport.

He didn't feel nervous anymore, seeing as he was there now. He almost felt a little stupid even, for freaking out earlier. But there was nothing to worry about, no nothing at all.

It wasn't as if they could have forgotten him or moved or something…oh crap, it was like the airport all over again.

He stumbled a bit, oddly graceful even with his feet stuttering.

Kadaj looked around. Coffee sounded really good right then.

Yeah.

While he couldn't find a coffee shop, he did find a bar. Seventh Heaven. Charming name really.

He stepped inside not knowing what to expect, but found it was to his liking. With a calm atmosphere and cozy feel to it, he felt a bit more confident as he strode up to the bar stools.

"Hello, welcome to Seventh Heaven, my name is Tifa. How can I help you?"

Kadaj smiled at her. "Do you by any chance, serve coffee?" He asked, tone hopeful and eyes pleading. She smiled back at him.

"Why yes, we do. Regular or decaf? And would you like anything else in it?" Her brown eyes showed her attitude was genuine and his eyes scanned her features. She wore a white tank top and a miniskirt with its own stylish flair.

"No, just regular would be fine."

"Alrighty. Coming right up."

He watched her leave, black hair bouncing behind her. She was attractive and she seemed sweet. Even if he didn't swing that way, he had to admit he liked her. Her eyes were honest and clear, she looked like the type of person who had never had a single bad thought in her life.

Her, what was her name? Ah, Tifa-was the kind of person he liked best.

The type of person who grew up in a happy home.

"…"

"Well, here you are then sir. Call me if you need anything." Tifa smiled, albeit apologetically as she rushed to see to other customers.

Kadaj didn't look up, his eyes reflecting how he felt. The memories he had tried so hard to bury were steadily resurfacing. And along with that came the emotions with it. His eyes darkened in color momentarily and his body went slightly rigid. He took a sip of coffee.

"It's good."

"I'm glad you think so. I made it myself."

His eyes visibly brightened and his body mirrored it, no longer tense. He looked up to see another girl, with short black hair this time, grinning at him.

"Really. My compliments to you then." He said with a soft smile.

"Heh heh, thanks. I'm Yuffie. Pleasure to meet you…?"

"Kadaj."

"Kadaj. Pleasure to meet you. Nice name."

Her eyes held the same warmth that Tifa's did and he found himself liking Yuffie too. Maybe they were sisters.

"Yours too."

"So I haven't seen you around before. You new here?" She asked resting her arms on the bar counter.

"You could say that. I haven't been here in awhile is all."

"Really?" She tilted her head to the side in concentration. "You know you look a lot like Yazoo."

At the mention of his second eldest brother's name, his smile grew wider. "Well I am his brother."

Yuffie stared at him in surprise, mouth forming an 'o'. "No way! Hey Tifa, Tifa! This guy here is related to Sephy and the guys!"

Tifa, hands full, managed to make her way over. "Wow, I had no idea! So you're their brother…"

"Aye. And the youngest to boot. But don't tell anyone else yet. I want to give them a surprise."

Yuffie and Tifa nodded all smiles and flowers. Kadaj regarded them wearily. He'd have to move fast if he didn't want the surprise to be ruined…

He finished his coffee quickly. "So how much will it be?"

Yuffie grinned. "It's on the house. Coffee's not on the menu anyways."

"Are you sure, I kind of feel guilty now."

Tifa smiled. 'We're sure. Besides, you're new here. We like to give everyone a warm welcome."

"But-"

"There's no point in arguing kid," Kadaj turned to see a man wearing a black suit and interestingly enough…sunglasses. Indoors, for Pete's sake.

"Once these two have made up their minds, it's impossible to change them. And the people around here are party animals. Don't be surprised if you get a party."

"Alright." He pouted getting up. "But I'm leaving a tip anyway."

And after leaving the money on the table, he left.

"Hey there, Rude." Tifa said giving him a kiss on the cheek. She ignored Yuffie's 'eww, gross'.

"Hi Tifa." He said with a smile. "Who was that kid just now?"

"His name is Kadaj. He's the brother Seph always talked about."

Rude would've done a quick double take but Kadaj was long gone.

"So that's him. He's so different from his brothers…"

"I know! He looks like a model!" Yuffie said. "Unlike his brothers who everyone knows don't care about what they wear."

"What are you saying about me and my brothers now…?" They jumped as they heard Sephiroth's voice. They looked to see him walking towards them, Loz in tow.

"That, umm…you guys should, uh," Yuffie stuttered not knowing what to say.

"Come over more often. You've all been busy lately." Tifa finished.

He gave them a look of suspicion. Loz just made conversation with Rude.

"So what brings you here?" Yuffie asked.

"Yazoo insisted he didn't want help going grocery shopping."

"Does that mean he just barely went to shop now?"

"No, he probably finished up. Why?"

Yuffie and Tifa exchanged split-second glances, laughing nervously.

"I heard there was a delivery going to your house." Tifa said willing herself no to say anything more. If only she hadn't promised Kadaj she'd keep it a secret.

"Right…" Sephiroth didn't believe them for one second.

XXXX

As Kadaj wove his way through various winding streets yet again, he thought about how much Midgar had changed…and how much it hadn't.

The ice cream stand was still there, his favorite playground…and yet everything had changed. He felt like a ghost. A ghost that was getting a lot of stares again. Midgar was the kind of place where everyone knew everybody.

And everyone knew what was going on with each other's lives. Yeah, it was that tiny. Kadaj smiled. In about a good half hour, everyone would know he was there. If Tifa and Yuffie didn't open their big mouth's first.

When he finally did get to his brother's house he burst had laughing. After all this time, the only thing that had changed was the doormat!

"Ten years…ten bloody years!" he laughed unable to hold it in. He wondered how strange he might look, laughing in front of another person's house.

"Kadaj…is that you?"

He stopped laughing then and turned eyes showing his shock. "Ya…zoo?"

Yazoo tackled him into a great big hug on the ground. "All these years…all these years…Kadaj!"

"I missed you too, brother…" Kadaj managed. His voice was shaky and a sob threatened to tear from his throat. He would not cry. He would not…

"Tell me I'm not dreaming. Or hallucinating. It's quite possible I may be losing it…"

Okay. He'd cry.

"You're not dreaming Yazoo. I'm real." I'm here.

Yazoo helped him up, picking up the grocery bags he had dropped on the ground. Tears were now gently running down both brothers' cheeks. They didn't care though.

Because after all those years of separation there was no way, they were not going to cry. That would be like…asking a little honey bee not to buzz.

"Come in! You have much explaining to do."

Kadaj followed him inside. Yazoo watched him carefully, sensing something was different in his little brother.

Even though it'd been ten years, he'd seen Kadaj plenty of times but it felt like the first time. The young man in front of him was no longer the child he had been. He bore himself with confidence and pride…although there was still something he couldn't put his finger on.

Kadaj?

"So how did you manage to get here?" Yazoo asked, carefully avoiding the mention of their mother. It would be like twisting a knife in his brother's wounds. And he'd probably close up after that.

"I rode a shark." Kadaj smiled and Yazoo rolled his eyes. It was so like his brother to answer like that. He paused.

"An airplane?"

"Woah, you're on fire today Yazoo."

"Come on, I'll help you unpack."

Kadaj blinked at him tilting his head to the side cutely. Yazoo ruffled his hair. "Of course. You're staying with us."

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly impose on you, seriously…"

"It's not imposing if you're asked to stay Kadaj. Besides Seph and Loz would probably kill me for not making you stay…and we both know how they get when they're angry…"

Kadaj hung his head in defeat batting Yazoo's hand away playfully. "You're right, you're right." He held out his wrists and in a dramatic falsetto voice said, "Take me away officer."

"Geez." Yazoo knocked him lightly on the head. "Let's go to your room."

Kadaj's eyes sparkled and widened at the same time. "You mean its still here?"

"Yes. Although we did switch the mattress and bed frame since you're older now. Other than that, it's been relatively untouched."

The smile Kadaj gave then was simply dazzling, a smile from the heart. Yazoo mirrored it with one of his own, happy that his brother was here. They could finally be happy again.

Finally.

Kadaj practically ran to his room jumping on the bed and laughing. It was like all the pent up energy (most likely from all the coffee) inside him was bursting out.

Yazoo felt the same giddiness well up inside him, too, joining his brother on the bed. They laughed for what seemed like hours on ends.

"Hey, Yazoo we're home!"

They stopped instantly trying to quiet their laughs. Kadaj tilted his head towards the door and Yazoo nodded, communicating through silent telepathy.

Yeah, right.

In reality Kadaj gave Yazoo a signal to go and greet the others so he could make a grand entrance. Just like when they had been kids.

Yazoo walked out the room quickly straightening his clothes and fixing his hair. He tried to look as normal as possible. Two words: Epic fail.

"You didn't bring a guy over did you?" Sephiroth asked looking at Yazoo's current shape. His hair was messy and his cheeks flushed. To make matters worse he was out of breath.

"N-not exactly. But I don't think you'll mind."

"Oh really." Sephiroth always had been protective of his brothers.

Loz also inspected his brother. "Who is it?"

"Ah,"

"It would be me! The phantom, um, kisser, Kadaj Miomano!" Kadaj announced dramatically, wearing a cape (blanket) and random cowboy hat.

Sephiroth and Loz stared at him for a few unbelieving seconds before tackling him to the ground.

There went the water works…again.

"Where did you come up…with Miomano?" Sephiroth chuckled.

"It sounded good at the time."

"Kadaj~" Loz sniffed holding onto his brother.

"Loz." He smiled. "I must look a mess."

"You're worrying about that now?" Yazoo asked joining the hug. "More importantly, what should we have for dinner?"

It was a question that they all knew the answer to. Kadaj and Loz grinned happily. "Pizza!"

And so, thirty minutes later the brothers sat around the TV, channel surfing while holding conversation.

"We still have all those birthday presents for you over the last eight years. Do you still want them?"

"Sure! 'Sides I have yours too. It's a wonder what having a job does for you." Kadaj stated simply.

"You have…a job?" Loz asked, voicing the question the others wanted to ask.

"Why, yes I do. Wanna know what it is?"

His brothers nodded in anticipation.

"Hmm, should I really say it?"

"Please!"

"You have to!"

"Ah, come on…"

"Well, it's not that I have to, it's that you want me to…"

"Kadaj." Sephiroth demanded with a no-nonsense tone. "You better tell us right now."

"Okay, okay, I'm a m-o-d-e-l." His brothers blinked at him. "A model. I'm a model. I even have proof." He clarified placing a few magazines on the table.

Yazoo smiled as he opened a magazine. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Because I'm just that amazing."

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes as he glanced through a different magazine at a certain picture. Kadaj's entire back was exposed and his jeans rode low on his hips. There were two wing-shaped tattoos on his back.

"This one is rather risqué. Don't you think you're showing too much skin?"

Kadaj blushed a little then. "Actually, I thought that too, but they said it was for the sake of art…and I wanted to show my tattoos off."

Loz stared at the photo in question and gasped. "You're too young for that!"

"My thoughts exactly." Sephiroth said with conviction.

"You can't be serious! I'm eighteen! A legal adult! Also, that was a year ago. It's behind me now."

Yazoo decided it was time to step in. "Now, now, Seph is that any better then your job as a host? You may not do anything with your clients but entertain them, but how much sense does it make to tell him not to do it? Although Kadaj, you really shouldn't show that much skin off."

Sephiroth gave a bit of a pout, but didn't protest.

"Oh, alright." Kadaj pouted earning a hair ruffle from Loz.

"Fine." Yazoo patted Sephiroth on the head. "There, there…"

"Do you really have those tattoos? Like, permanently?" Loz asked with a look of confusion. Sephiroth and Yazoo looked like they were going to shock. They were almost deathly pale by the time Kadaj answered.

"Yes, I do. Mother…" He cut himself off right there. "I like them a lot."

His brothers all winced. It would seem they hit a nerve. Hard.

"I think it's cute." Yazoo said finally. "It suits you."

Sephiroth nodded in agreement. Loz pulling Kadaj into a hug.

"I'm fine, seriously…" Kadaj muttered voice shaky and eyes avoiding direct contact; his brothers knew he was lying. He quickly recovered.

"So you're a host, Sephy?"

"I used to be. I'm actually the co-owner of a music store now, so I quit my job as a host."

Loz nodded. "I'm a vet."

"Currently unemployed." Yazoo said, actually sounding proud of himself. "I just hang out with people and do the occasional errand. With pay of course."

Kadaj laughed. "Okay, Loz I can understand you being a vet. Yazoo, you sound way too proud of yourself. But wow, Seph, a host? Why'd you quit?"

"I'm seeing someone now, that's why."

Kadaj's mouth dropped open. "No way! So who tops between you guys?"

"Kadaj, that is extremely inappropri-"

"His boyfriend Zack does." Yazoo answered calmly.

Loz handed him Seph's cell phone. "Here's a picture of him."

"You sure know how to pick 'em Sephy…"

Sephiroth turned three different shades of red before finally answering. "It's not like that…"

"Don't lie to me!" Kadaj snickered. "I know the truth! And it'll set me free…"

Sephiroth glared lightly at his brother snatching his cell phone back. Just then, his phone started vibrating. "Hello? Oh, Zack, what's up?" He made his way out of the living room so as not to be heard.

His three younger brothers snickered, sharing knowing looks with each other. Their Sephy could not hide from them! Kadaj was the first to get up, slinking towards the hallway like a cat, quiet and graceful. His brothers followed.

"I know it's been a while, Zack. Believe me I miss you too. And our *ahem*activities. "

His brothers' grins grew wider.

"…yeah. I'm sure they'd like that. Tomorrow? Okay, I'll make sure we're there. Oh, and Zack? I love you. Bye." Sephiroth hung up his phone while his brothers scrambled towards the living room again. He looked at them then.

"I would expect this from Kadaj and Yazoo. Et tu, Loz?"

They smiled guiltily. "So what was that all about?" Kadaj dared to ask.

"Tifa is holding a party for you tomorrow. And I have a date with Zack at ten."

Yazoo gasped smirking with his usual sly smile. "Oh my, dear brother, I had no idea it was that scandalous!"

"Not like that! We're going to see a movie!"

"At ten?" Loz asked.

"It's the most convenient time okay?"

"Yeah, so you can go partake in your naughty activities afterwards." Kadaj finished.

"Go take a shower Kadaj."

"Yes sir." He grinned, getting up. "I'm off to see the bathtub! The wonderful bathtub of Oz!"

Kadaj sang as he skipped down the hall. His brothers watched him, smiling at how childish he was. It was good to see. After their mother had taken him away, they'd had no idea what to expect.

"I'm glad he's back." Yazoo said simply. It summed up all his emotions from the past years and tied loose ends.

"Seconded." Sephiroth smiled, finger combing his hair.

Loz nodded, quiet as always, grinning from ear to ear.

When Kadaj finished his shower, he jumped back on his bed, lying back this time. He pulled back the sheets after a little while, climbing into bed. He pretended to sleep. If he waited long enough, his brothers would tuck him in.

He'd guessed right. His brothers crept in quietly, one after another. Each of them gave him a kiss on the forehead, and Sephiroth tucked him in. Score!

"Hee." Kadaj snickered and then…"oops."

His brothers looked at him in mild surprise. Yazoo smiled. "So you were awake the whole time?"

"Eh, you caught me. But thanks for tucking me in." He murmured sweetly. Sephiroth and Loz caved instantly while Yazoo remained amused.

"Goodnight Kadaj." Loz smiled walking out of the room.

"Night Loz."

"Night Kadaj." Yazoo said following Loz.

"Night."

Last of all was Sephiroth. "Good night Kadaj. Sweet dreams."

By this time, Kadaj was ready to pass out. "G'night…Sephy."

And for the first time in ten years, he knew a peaceful sleep.

A/N: In case no one noticed in my story, Tifa is going out with Rude. Now while I'm also a fan of RenoXRude, for this I wanted to go for TifaXRude.

And no worries, Reno will get paired up. With Rufus. So be on the lookout for that. While I really would rather just write about how Kadaj and Cloud fall in love at first sight and live happily ever after, it's a story and their relationship will take time. Lots and lots of time. Bear with me, okay?

Thank you for reading, I do hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are welcomed.