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

Second Chances

Chapter Five: Confusion

Loz and Kadaj were chatting at the bar counter when Cloud and Tifa came back.

"Ah, welcome home!"

Loz passed his eyes over the pair and noticed Tifa's bruised knuckles.

"I'll go get the first-aid kit."

Tifa shook her head. "I'm fine, I've cured it."

"Just to be safe." Loz disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared a moment later with a first-aid kit.

"What about you, Cloud? Are you injured?" asked Kadaj. Cloud shook his head, but a sudden, sharp pain ripped through his abdomen. Clutching his side, he was reminded that he could have broken a rib during his fight with the monster.

"Are you okay?" Kadaj had to help Cloud into a chair.

"I think…I broke a rib." And to think that it didn't hurt when they were heading back. Tifa, knuckles bandaged, came over.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I…forgot…" answered Cloud simply.

"Forgot? How could you forget if you're injured? Here, take off your shirt! I'll cure it right away."

Cloud tried to protest but Tifa glowered at him, sharp glare promising pain should he not follow her orders now. Cloud peeled off his shirt slowly, the pain in his side making it difficult.

"Oh wow, that looks like it really hurts…" grimaced Loz. A few purple-coloured bruises covered Cloud's abdomen, skin broken in certain spots so that there was dried blood on his stomach.

"I can't believe that you could stay silent from an injury this serious!" chided Tifa.

Kadaj sat aside, watching as Loz helped a grumbling Tifa with Cloud's wound. His eyes rested themselves on Cloud. The blond had a very pleasant complexion, not too pale yet not dark. Even the purple of the bruise blended well with his complexion. He was rather lean, but had muscular arms and a well-toned torso.

With a jolt, Kadaj realised that he had been staring at Cloud's chest and looked away hurriedly. He could feel his cheeks burning.

"Kadaj. Hey, Kadaj!"

"Huh?"

"What's wrong?" asked Loz. "Are you feeling sick again?"

"No, it's nothing." Kadaj shook his head. Cloud was dressing again.

Suddenly, the door opened and Yazoo hurried in. Before anyone could say anything, he walked mechanically, albeit in very quick strides, into the kitchen with bags of groceries.

"O…kay…what was that about?" Loz raised his eyebrows.

"Um, was it me, or was Yazoo's face red?" questioned Kadaj. He had noticed the crimson cheeks despite the paper bags.

"It wasn't you." Tifa stated. Just what was wrong with Yazoo?

When Sephiroth opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was that he wasn't in his own body. His whole body was extremely heavy and refused to function properly. The only thing he was able to do was turn his head to the side. This he did, and with a slight shock, locked eyes with Vincent Valentine. Emerald eyes narrowed in suspicion as he passed a cautious glare over this silent figure. Sephiroth noticed that he had not the usual red cloak on, noticed that the garment was covering his body.

"You are awake." The gunman stated the obvious.

"…" Sephiroth gave no response, merely watched as Vincent got up and approached him.

Vincent pulled off the glove on his human hand and placed it on Sephiroth's forehead. Vaguely, he felt the man flinch. Vincent nodded to himself, satisfied that the fever was gone. Sephiroth was tense, not really comprehending the situation. Could this perhaps be some form of delusion? He was rendered helpless on the bed, but the gunman had yet to attack him.

The former Turk rose from his bedside and walked away to one corner of the shack. It was the same shack where Sephiroth first woke in, but the silver-haired man had other thoughts occupying his mind. For one instance, Vincent turning his back to him dealt a blow to Sephiroth's pride. Was he so weak now that his nemesis could afford to lower his guard with him? He made to get up.

"I would suggest you lie still. You have yet to recover fully." Vincent's voice drifted from the corner. He turned around, a steaming bowl in his hands.

"I'm surprised you haven't killed me yet." The former general adopted his usual cold tone.

"Is there a reason to do so?" Vincent placed the broth on the table and moved towards the figure on the bed. He helped Sephiroth sit up, a task the former general found daunting since his muscles were sore and stiff all over. Then, to his surprise, Vincent began to massage his arms.

"Including the time I found you at Lifestream, you have been sleeping for more than a week."

'More that a week? I've slept that long?'

"It was foolish to run off into the forest with a high fever. And to top it off, fighting a monster of that size alone…I wonder sometimes if you have a death wish." Vincent's human hand moved to his legs, working to ease his muscles.

Despite himself, Sephiroth found that he enjoyed the massage and was slightly annoyed when Vincent stopped. He caught the gunman's wrist just as he turned around.

"Why do you treat me with so little caution? I tried to kill you once. I was your enemy." Sephiroth's body was hurt, but his pride was far more injured.

"You have answered your own question, Sephiroth," This was the first time Vincent called him by name. "You were our enemy once, but are you still?"

His reply stunned Sephiroth. He did not know what to make of this enigmatic man who acted as though they were acquaintances and not foes. He reasoned that if he indeed harboured any ill intent, Vincent would have plenty of chances during his period of unconsciousness. So why was he being so…so civil to him?

The truth was, Vincent himself did not understand. Why would he save this person? Why did he feel concern for him? He himself could not fathom the reasons for his own actions. Could it be because he was Lucrecia's son? That he owed her his heart, he wanted to repay her somehow, through her only son? No, he merely wanted to do it, all by his own accord. And for now, that was all that mattered.

"I think it's worth checking out."

Cloud was just discussing with Tifa about the monster they had fought the other day. The fact that it came out from the forest disturbed him somehow. In low voices, the two debated whether to return to the forest the next day, just to look into the problem further.

"Still, it's very odd that monsters are growing more active nowadays." Tifa mused as she cleaned out a glass absent-mindedly. Even though deep in thought, Tifa's hands worked themselves, expertly mixing a drink before pouring it into the glass. Cloud stared at his glass, not really seeing it. In his trance, Cloud failed to notice a pair of catlike orbs watching him intently.

"Kadaj! Your order!"

"Ah, yes!" Kadaj hurried to retrieve his tray from Loz, who gave him a strange and slightly concerned look, though he said nothing.

He was watching Cloud more often lately, though Kadaj was not entirely sure why. It just seemed that at any moment the blond was in sight, his eyes will search for him. Every time he was in need, it seemed as though the swordsman was nearby to offer him help. Now and then, he would see the old nightmare, and when he opened his eyes, the first presence he sought out was Cloud's. Perhaps dependency was taking its toll on him, but Kadaj had a small inkling that it was nothing that simple.

"Your order, sir…" murmured the silver-haired youth as he set down a bottle of whiskey.

'He must dead drunk by now.' Kadaj thought as he passed his eyes over the slumped figure. He cleared the three empty bottles on the table, shaking his head at how much these people drink. He could never understand the lure of alcoholic drinks; he disliked them.

"Hey…" the man pulled at his wrist, eyes unfocused. "Sit down and drink with me."

"I'm afraid not, sir." Kadaj tugged at his hand, but the man's grip was surprisingly strong.

"Come on!" The man rose unsteadily from his seat and drew nearer to the youth. Kadaj tried to cringe away from him.

"Hey, you're really cute when I look closely…" slurred the drunken man.

"I'm warning you…" growled Kadaj through gritted teeth as he tried his best to fend off the approaching man with just one hand while balancing the tray in the other. He was so close Kadaj could smell the liquor on his breath.

"Hey!" Kadaj flinched when he felt those arms encircle his waist. Suddenly, a pair of hands extricated him from the unwanted embrace, pulling Kadaj near.

"Leave him alone." Cloud's sapphire eyes had a sharp glint to them as he held the man at bay. The customer was too drowsy to even bother and fell back into his chair, eyes rolling in their sockets.

"Are you all right?" asked the blond. He released his hold on the green-eyed boy.

"Y-Yeah…" Kadaj had never felt so grateful for the dimness in the bar. "Thanks."

Cloud merely nodded. It appeared that none of his brothers had noticed the incident, so Kadaj was able to breathe a sigh of relief. He was slightly shaken, not from the harassment, but from the close proximity with Cloud he experienced a moment ago. Shuddering as though a cold wind had blow through him, Kadaj went about his work as usual.

A/N: I'm really mean...I molested Yazoo in the last chapter, molested Kadaj in this chapter...wonder who I'm going to molest in the next chapter? I actually faced a huge problem with Sephiroth and Vincent's scene because I had little idea how Sephiroth would react to being rescued by a former enemy. In the end, I settled for this, though I'm not exactly sure it was how I wanted it to turn out. Reviews and opinions are much appreciated, thank you!