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 Nine: Visions

Yazoo had stressed to Reno that their relationship remained private until they, or rather he, had adjusted to this odd status. But seriously, must the redhead try to molest him at every opportune moment? Sure, he liked the shows of affection; it made him feel needed and well-loved, but it was kind of embarrassing when he pulled such stunts in public. It took a good deal of skill on Yazoo's part to hide his surprise and he chided Reno constantly. You could never count on Reno to keep secrets, and Yazoo suspected that Reno didn't exactly intend to keep their relationship a secret.

As it happened, Reno was hanging out in the kitchen watching Yazoo wash the dishes when he was gripped by another one of those impulses to kiss his lover. And as it happened, Loz and Kadaj chose to walk into the kitchen at that particular moment to get something from the refrigerator. Yazoo refused to recall whatever that happened next, because it was painfully embarrassing. Yazoo's chagrin didn't end there as his brothers decided that he needed reminding every hour or so for the next few days.

The news had struck Cloud as a total surprise, but Tifa took in Yazoo and Reno's latest development with a huff and said, "It's about time!" Obviously, his childhood friend knew something was going on beforehand. Cloud wondered if all females were this observant, or it was just Tifa in particular.

"Kadaj, are you all right?"

The silver-haired boy looked up from whatever work he was doing, and Tifa saw that he was paler than usual.

"Are you okay? You don't look so good."

Kadaj wanted to reply that he was fine, but his head was hurting, and he felt slightly nauseous.

"I don't feel so good…" he admitted.

A twinge of concern flashed across Tifa's face. She brought a hand up to his forehead. It was slightly warm.

"I think you have a fever. Come on, I'll get you some medicine and then you should take a rest."

Kadaj could only nod slowly.

Cloud leaned back on his arms, head tilted upwards to catch the little glittering lights up in the sky. There was always something serene about sitting up here, on the roof, so close to the stars. And in the quiet, he was truly in touch with his thoughts and his feelings.

His feelings…Cloud had never been so aware of the turmoil inside of him, and the centre of it all. Just then, his peace was mildly disrupted by another presence on the roof. Smoothing down her skirt, Tifa sat down beside Cloud without words.

The martial artist didn't need to be able to read minds to know what Cloud was thinking about; after all, she'd known him since childhood. What she needed to know was whether he had come to terms with his problem.

"They've changed so much." Tifa said softly. The blond simply nodded, knowing whom she was referring to.

"So have you."

Cloud looked questioningly at Tifa. The look she gave him told him that she knew who he was thinking about. Cloud was again struck by how perceptive Tifa really was.

"I've seen the way you look at him," said Tifa carefully. "And it reminded me of the way you used to look at her."

Cloud winced mentally. It was a confirmation, but a part of him objected to the thought.

"You couldn't accept that. Is it because of who he is?" Tifa probed gently.

No, it's not that.

"Or because of what he had done?"

It's the pain…this pain in my chest…

"Or is it because it's you?"

Silence, so deafening, and acknowledgement.

"If the two feelings are the same," whispered the blond uncertainly. "Then why is it that I can feel this pain?"

It hurts so much that it's comforting…

"Why is it that I can't stay away from him?"

Sweet…

"Why is it that I can't bear being too near him?"

Sublime…

It was so different, the pain. With her absence, he had been hollow, empty as though some part of him was missing. He was numb, in some way. But with him…

So beautiful…this aching feeling…

"Why am I hurting?" His voice, barely a whisper, admitting to himself rather than anyone else.

"It's because you're still holding on to her," said Tifa. "You loved her, you still do. But you're not letting her go, and now he's here…you have to learn to let go, because…"

Tifa knew how much it will hurt the blond to say this, but it was necessary. "Aerith is the past, Kadaj is the present. Don't punish yourself, Cloud."

"I know. I know that but…" Cloud bit down on his lower lip. "I need time…"

Tifa didn't pursue it further. She understood that he was facing an emotional conflict and decided that he needed to think this through for himself. Just then, Loz popped his head through the window, face anxious.

Kadaj's condition had deteriorated significantly since this morning. He was deathly pale with flushed cheeks, sweat covering his body, and his breaths were coming out harshly. Tifa placed a hand on his forehead and drew it back in alarm.

"His body temperature's too high! We need to bring it down! Fill the tub with water." She ordered Loz.

"What are you going to do?" asked Yazoo. Tifa's serious attitude made him all more fearful.

"He has to be submerged into water. At this rate, the fever will kill him."

They worked quickly, letting the brothers undress Kadaj and lower him into the tub. Kadaj whimpered and flinched visibly as his skin made contact with the freezing water.

"Yazoo…"

"Ssh, you'll be okay. Just…bear it for a while, okay?" Yazoo comforted his younger brother as best he could.

The few minutes Kadaj spent shivering in the tub seemed like an eternity, but Tifa came in at last, and told them to dry him off. They helped him dress, since Kadaj was still numb from the cold. Then, they helped him back to bed, where he was tucked under layers of thick blankets.

"I sent Cloud out to get the medication." Tifa stated, implying that they would have to wait.

Yazoo was trembling. Life had been so smooth that he had almost forgotten just how close Kadaj's mortality really was. With a jolt, he realised that in the past few months, they had been living, really living, and the thought hit him so hard he had to struggle for breath. If Kadaj were to be wrenched from the life they were so accustomed to now…it was a terrifying notion, and it shattered the sense of peace Yazoo had been experiencing. He felt so vulnerable, so helpless. He wished Reno were here.

Quick footsteps indicated Cloud's return and he entered the room quietly with a package in his hand. Tifa tore it open and took out a syringe and some alcohol swipes. Yazoo and Loz stiffened at the sight of the unfamiliar object. Cloud and Tifa approached the bed.

"Kadaj, this is going to sting a little, okay?" said Tifa gently. She knew that if he hadn't seen a syringe before, he might panic if she tried to stick it into him without warning him first.

Kadaj only nodded as Cloud rolled back his sleeve. He looked like a frightened child, emerald eyes wide and glittering. On an impulse, Cloud took his other hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Kadaj squeezed back without thinking. Tifa found a blood vessel and rubbed an alcohol swipe on that spot, glancing at Kadaj. The boy took a deep breath, and Tifa applied the shot. Cloud felt Kadaj's grip tighten when the needle penetrated his skin. He noticed that Kadaj was looking away from the syringe pointedly.

It was over before he could dwell on the pain, and Kadaj relaxed. Tifa smiled at him.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it? The medicine I just injected into you is going to make you drowsy, so I suggest that you go to sleep."

Yazoo and Loz assured Tifa and Cloud that they could manage now, and that they too should go to bed. Both of them did not mention their fear that Kadaj's fever might have something to do with him being Jenova's genetic thoughts, in which case, nothing they did would help. The worry they shared was the same, and the knowledge that Kadaj was just living on borrowed time was hanging over them like a dark cloud.

He was standing in the middle of a flower field, his surroundings too bright for him to see where he was. Cloud looked around slowly, recognising this place. He had seen it so many times in his dreams.

"Why?"

Suddenly, the flowers were wilting before his eyes, and he heard someone calling to him faintly. He wheeled around, but he couldn't see Aerith anywhere.

"…oud…"

"Aerith?" The words were coming in bursts of soft sounds.

"…anger…danger…"

Cloud frowned in confusion, his surroundings were dimming.

"…Life…eam…find…iroth…"

Cloud strained his ears to catch the words.

"Danger…Lifestream…find Sephiroth…"

And then the world was plunged into darkness.

Cloud woke up with a jolt. Was that a dream? Aerith was warning him of danger, and she mentioned Sephiroth. How could Sephiroth pose as a danger? He was dead!

'He managed to come back once…' Cloud shook his head. This couldn't possibly happen, could it? A sense of dread seeped into Cloud, and suddenly he was cold with terrible premonition.

Vincent had been dozing lightly beside Sephiroth when his lover suddenly sat up in bed. He was breathing heavily.

"What's wrong?" asked the concerned gunman, sitting up and laying a hand on Sephiroth's shoulder.

The former general turned to meet Vincent's ruby eyes, a grim look on his face.

"I need to meet my brothers." Vincent heard the urgency in his voice, and he nodded.

A/N: Major swing of mood in this chapter. Cloud is facing some sort of internal struggle, which hopefully, will be resolved in later chapters. Poor Kadaj had a relapse. I know that I probably exaggerated the bit about the fever. I was holding my breath when I wrote about the injection. Personally, I'm not afraid of needles, but I tried to identify with Kadaj's fear since it's his first time getting a jab. Sephiroth and Vincent made an appearance towards the end! Going for the cryptic effect, hopefully the suspense is there. Please review! Thank you!