Disclaimer: Characters in this story are copyrights of Square Enix. They are by no means mine. Only the storyline belongs to me. If by any chance I have used any ideas similar to those of existing authors, please inform me so that I may change the details. If there is no notice, I will take it that usage of the idea is permitted. Thank you.

Legend

"…" conversation

'…' thoughts

break

Chapter Two: Rain

"So ya tellin' me to go 'n work with tha' rat? You've gotta to be kidding!" If it was another person, Barret's volume might have made his ears ring, but Cloud was used to the man's explosive voice.

"I'm only relaying whatever he said, Barret. You are the only one who can decide."

The conversation grinded to a halt when they heard strange sounds from outside. Cloud passed Barret a questioning glance to which he replied with a shrug.

"Sounds like a vacuum cleaner or sumthin'…" commented Barret.

A second later, however, the door burst open and Cloud was tackled to the ground before he could react. The blond landed heavily on the floor, the wind knocked out of him. He shook his head slightly to clear the spinning sensation and saw the huge grin right above his face.

"Yuffie!" The Wutaian's grin only grew wider. She hopped off, letting Cloud regain his breath.

"Gotcha this time!" giggled the young girl.

"Whatcha doin' here, kid?" Barret patted the ninja on the head.

"I thought I left a message to say that I was visiting."

"Yes, but how did you get here?" Yuffie pointed outside.

"Cid flew me here." She blanched. "It's horrible, riding in that thing, but it's the fastest way to get here."

Just as she spoke, the pilot kicked the door open, striding in with his spear. He didn't get very far, however, as he was soon hit on the head by a steel tray whizzing through the air.

"Cid, don't you know how to use doors? If you damage my property I'll have you replace it immediately!" Tifa stood at the bottom of the staircase, hands at her hips.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard ya! Sheesh, women…" complained Cid, rubbing the sore bruise.

Tifa snapped at him to shut up and turned to Cloud. The blond almost stepped back; Tifa could be rather threatening when she was angry. "They need you upstairs." She said briefly. Cloud nodded curtly.

When he opened the door to the three siblings' room, the first thing he noticed was that Kadaj was not screaming. Yazoo looked up from his side, a worried frown marring his beautiful features.

"He said he wanted to see you," said the long-haired man.

"He's been a little delusional after we woke him up." Loz tried to explain. The ex-SOLDIER approached Kadaj and soon, caught hold of some of the things he was muttering.

"Where's Mother? Yazoo, where's Mother?" The younger boy had a glazed look in his eyes. He did not appear to be fully aware of his surroundings.

"I want to see niisan…Niisan…" Cloud knelt by the bed. Kadaj slowly turned his head.

"Kadaj…" called Cloud softly.

"Niisan…I want to see Mother…Where is she? You know, don't you?"

"She's not here anymore, Kadaj."

"But, I saw her! I really did!" Kadaj took hold of Cloud's arm, his emerald orbs glinting hysterically.

"You were dreaming. You have a fever and you're delirious right now."

"No! I know I saw her, I can't be wrong! You're lying! You're-"

A sound slap rang shrilly through the silence. Kadaj's cheek was red where Yazoo's hand had struck. Loz's eyes were wide as saucers.

"Ya-Yazoo…"

"Will you stop acting like a five-year-old and face it? Mother is no longer alive! It's because she's dead that you're…" Yazoo looked away, unable to bring himself to say that ominous word. Instead, he stormed out of the room. Loz looked frantically between Yazoo and Kadaj, and went after the former.

Downstairs, the small party were interrupted in their conversation when Yazoo came down the stairs with long, angry strides, followed by an anxious Loz. They stiffened when they saw him coming at them, but he strode past them and slammed the door behind him.

"Loz, what happened?" asked Tifa. The silver-haired man looked troubled.

"There was an argument…"

"Cloud and Yazoo?" It was not uncommon for these two to get into screaming matches, especially when Yazoo was getting edgier by the day.

"No, Yazoo and Kadaj, actually." The martial artist was truly surprised.

"Kadaj? But I thought…"

Yuffie made way for the man and Loz deposited himself into one of the chairs.

"What's up with Kadaj?" asked the curious Wutaian. Barret gave her a short account of Kadaj's 'attacks'. Loz recounted what had happened in the room just now to them.

"I've never seen him so angry."

"I think he's more worried than angry," Tifa said gently. "He must be concerned about Kadaj. That's why he lost his temper."

"Hehe, he's got a kinda girly temper." Yuffie giggled all of a sudden.

Everyone looked at her strangely.

"I mean, I thought only girls would slam doors and stuff when you're angry. I've never seen a guy throw tantrums before."

Loz couldn't help but grin, "Yeah, well, I always thought he was a little high-maintenance."

Yuffie laughed openly at that. The tension between them rose and dissipated, and everyone laughed with her. Tifa looked gratefully at Yuffie. The girl had managed to put them at ease with each other without even trying.

"Uh, so…where's Cloud?" asked the ninja.

Loz pointed up. "He's with Kadaj right now."

Cloud sat on the bed opposite Kadaj's. The silver-haired boy had not uttered a sound since Yazoo's outburst. He was just sitting up in his bed, gazing vacantly at his hands. Cloud did nothing but observe, resting his chin on his clasped hands. For a long time, there was silence, brooding yet not uncomfortable. Cloud found no need for words, and perhaps it was better to say nothing.

"Is Mother…" Cloud lifted his head and brought his hands to rest on his knees.

"Is Mother really…gone?" asked the quiet, subdued voice from the bed.

"I don't know." It was true. Cloud was not sure, could not be sure if Jenova was really dead. It had seemed infinitely impossible to kill Jenova, which was so similar to a higher being. The absence of Jenova's head planted doubt in his mind but Kadaj's deterioration indicated otherwise.

"She's dead, isn't she?" Not a hint of bitterness in Kadaj's voice, just a trace of resignation.

Yes. Yes, she was dead. That was what Cloud wanted to believe. Jenova couldn't possibly be killed…but the proof was right before his eyes. Kadaj's statement only reinforced his belief. Yes, Jenova was dead. He believed so. Kadaj could derive as much as an answer from Cloud's silence. He turned his head to the window. The soft pattering of rain filled the stillness.

"It's raining…"

Cloud looked at the reflection in the window and saw the clear stream flowing down its cheeks.

"Aa." He answered, because he understood.

The rain drenched him through and through as he was not in his usual leather outfit, but Yazoo was only vaguely aware of the stinging cold. He wandered through Midgard, lost in his own thoughts, letting his legs bring him to wherever he was going. He was suddenly jerked out of his trance when someone bumped into him.

"Hey, watch where you're-oh, it's you!" Reno exclaimed as he peered through the curtain of rain.

"What're you doing standing in the rain? Trying to catch pneumonia?"

Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed hold of Yazoo's wrist and started running. Reno did not stop until they were both safely in the elevator in the Shin Ra building. The elevator stopped at the employee's quarters and Reno led Yazoo into his room.

"Here, get out of those! You're soaked like a wet sponge!" said Reno as he threw a towel at Yazoo. He ransacked his wardrobe in search for something dry to change into. When he turned around, Yazoo was still standing in his wet clothes, looking at the towel as though he didn't quite know what to do with it.

"What's wrong with that fellow?" muttered Reno under his breath. He took the towel from Yazoo and without warning, began to dry Yazoo's hair. Yazoo yelped at the rough treatment on his hair.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!"

"What do you think you're doing? I don't want anybody to freeze to death in my room!"

"No one asked you to bring me here! And as if I would die from the cold!"

"What! I was trying to be nice and the only thing I get in return is a pretty boy shooting his mouth off!"

"Well, at least I'm not a whining little dog!"

"Why you!" growled the redhead. "Your arrogant face really pisses me off!"

Yazoo's smirk only grew larger. Reno gritted his teeth, fuming. Then, he sighed and shrugged.

"At least that's better than your mopey look just now."

Yazoo was taken aback. Reno threw the towel back to him.

"You were looking so damn miserable. Whatever it is, better pull yourself together, man!"

Yazoo looked at the towel for a while, and then began to dry his hair. Under the towel, a small grateful smile graced his face.

A/N: Hum, I hope chapter 2 is okay. It should be pretty clear who I'm planning to pair up by now. Well, please review! Thank you!