Yazoo felt a tugging at his jacket, his eyes snapped open, he glanced to the source, Emi. He hadn't remembered falling asleep, he looked around, but it appeared Reno had followed in suit. The little girl stared up at him, her brown eyes seeming ready to spill over with salty liquid, alarmed he rapidly tried to figure out what to do. Crying children were likely to be less than bearable, as non-crying children hardly scratched the surface. Her hand remained clinging to his jacket, he was almost afraid to move, as if that might set her off.

"Please don't cry," He spoke to her, she didn't respond, just kept clinging. "What do I do…?"

In an instant she flung herself at him, wrapping around him and burying herself in his clothes. He stared shocked and uncertain. He wondered if he should do something to comfort her, like he had seen others do, it was the best he had, so carefully he placed a hand on her back, holding her awkwardly. He watched her auburn hair shake slightly with the rest of her, was she scared? If she was, why seek comfort from him of all people? Granted she didn't have very many decent choices in the room… He gently began to rub her back in an attempt to stop the shaking; it scared him more than her usual cheery self. Surprisingly it comforted himself as well, slowly she relaxed, and he realized she had fallen back asleep.

He heard the thudding of boots behind him; he glanced over at Reno and sighed. Reno tilted his head and proceeded to light another cigarette, if Reno never slept, Yazoo was sure he'd never pause in smoking.

"See yo? You're a natural, which...Is weird," Reno shrugged. "Anyway, someone should be by soon to take her off your hands."

He glanced down at Emi, relieved that she would soon be gone, but slightly miffed that he would never be able to figure out the flood of strange emotions. Reno apparently sensed his confusion, as he brought a hand down on Yazoo's shoulder.

"I guess you aren't completely alien, yo, still have the human instincts to care for something."

"I don't care about her," Yazoo retorted, turning his attention to Reno.

"You shoulda let her cry then."

"Crying children are annoyances."

Reno shook his head and left the room, Yazoo then realized he had yet to stop rubbing the child's back, and quickly dropped his hand. She shifted against him, slowly raising her head in response to the sudden change, when their eyes met the urge to protect returned. It was getting rather frustrating.

"I had a bad dream…"

"Um," Yazoo studied her for a moment. "Do you, uh, wanna talk about it?"

It couldn't hurt to let her talk; besides soon she wouldn't be his problem anyway. At least it was something to do for the next few moments. The silence quickly became awkward around Emi, as if he was supposed to know what to say, do, like she was waiting for him to realize something.

"I was with momma, at the park, like usual, but then…the evil man," She folded herself back into Yazoo; shaky again, he reacted, this time stroking her hair. "He took her away…"

His eyes widened slightly, he could understand that pain. Maybe…they weren't all that different. He frowned; fighting against his self, there was no getting attached now.

"That happened to me too," He said quickly, unthinking.

"I bet you miss her."

"Sometimes…"

She stared at him, he felt slightly uncomfortable, but he could feel his guard slipping away. Slowly a grin spread across her face, as he wandered through his own thoughts of Mother, or Jenova as everyone else referred to her as. He raised an eyebrow, confused by her sudden change in attitude.

"Let's be friends, Yazoo," She nodded slightly.

"Huh?" He stared at her, if there was something he was even more unsure of than children, it was friends.

"I've never had a friend before, it'll be fun right?"

"I wouldn't know."

She pondered that for a moment before jumping out of his lap and shrugging.

"Let's find out together then!" She smiled. He stood up, and unsurely nodded. "Don't worry; it can't be too hard…"

She grabbed his hand and swung it playfully, he stared at her, awestruck. She babbled on about things he hardly caught before the door reopened with Reno standing in the door way. Quickly she silenced.

"They're here."

"Who's here?" Emi glanced to Yazoo who glanced down.

"People…to find you a home."

She pulled away from him and backed away before glaring up at him. He winced, feeling sorry for the kid, but still unable to bring himself to keep her himself. It would be wrong, he didn't know what to do, and Kadaj and Loz probably wouldn't be excited about the idea…

"You don't want me?" She demanded, he, taken aback tried to respond. "I thought you were my friend!"

He glanced to the floor.

"I don't know how…"

"You can learn! Don't let them take me, please. I'll be good; I'll do whatever you say, just please."

Reno shuffled over and leaned into Yazoo.

"She's already lost someone once, you gonna make her do it again?"

"I didn't choose this, she did, I didn't make her follow me!"

"Whatever," Reno walked over to Emi extending a hand, she stared at him horrified.

They moved past him, he pretended to be preoccupied with something else. He heard Reno stop in the door way, stalling. He sighed, and turned around. Kadaj and Loz were going to hate him for this…