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.
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
Legend
"…" conversation
'…' thoughts
FFVIIAC break
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
Second Chances
Chapter Twelve: Innocence
Death was cruel. So was Cloud's thought as he looked at Kadaj's dozing figure. It would strike you again and again in the same place, inflicting the same hurt…refusing to grant the dying a reprieve from suffering. Kadaj was withering away slowly; at times like this, Cloud wished Death would strike quickly, painlessly.
He's fading away…and there's nothing I can do about it.
I don't want this…any of this…
Cloud held Kadaj's hand; it was so cold, so clammy…so lifeless.
I want you by my side…
"Please…" whispered the blond.
A soft knock on the door brought his head up. The door creaked open, and Vincent stepped in. Following closely behind was Sephiroth.
"What are you doing in here?" There was an obvious hint of unwelcome in Cloud's tone.
If Vincent were to describe the atmosphere then, he would say that the air instantly grew thick, and the tension between Cloud and Sephiroth was ice cold. The gunman noticed that Cloud and Kadaj's hands were linked.
"I…may have a way of saving Kadaj."
Doubt rose to Cloud's mind quickly, but a small corner rang with Kadaj's words: give him what you've given us…
Did he dare to trust this man? What did he have to prove his innocence but that unnaturally clear gaze? What did he, the killer of so many, understand about death?
"Please, Cloud. Listen to him, even just for a while." Vincent urged.
Cloud turned his focus onto the ebony-haired man. Why was Vincent pleading for Sephiroth? Sapphire eyes met with ruby in silent comprehension, and Cloud understood. So was this what Kadaj meant by change?
"I won't ask for your forgiveness…I do not deserve it. But I want to save Kadaj as much as you do." It was said with firm confidence. No cold, cutting tone, no words of mockery…just a strong wish that his words be considered.
Sephiroth held out his hand. There lying on his open palm, was the last thing Cloud wanted to see.
"Black Materia…" hissed the blond between his teeth, eyes widening slightly. Questions leapt so quickly to his mind Cloud had no time to think about any of them.
"Mother…Lucrecia gave it to me…she said this can save Kadaj, or at least prolong his life until we can find a real…solution."
"How can you be so sure? It could've been another…delusion."
"I have nothing to prove this but…faith…" Those green eyes, they were imploring him.
It was unbearable, the tension between the two. To Cloud, it wasn't as simple as taking Black Materia from Sephiroth…it was a matter of acceptance. The object sitting in on Sephiroth's palm signified his trust, and to accept it was to accept Sephiroth.
Forgive him…I don't know if I can do it…
He squeezed Kadaj's hand lightly. No response.
'I would sacrifice everything for you to be safe…everything, even my clarity…'
Cloud reached out for Black Materia.
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
Everything was so quiet it unnerved Reno. Yazoo was silent in his arms; the ordeal had tired him greatly. The monotony of everything cast a heavy drowsiness onto Reno. As the damp, cool air pressed upon him, Reno felt his eyes lids drooping. His surroundings fazed in and out of his focus.
"Loz!"
Tifa's cry jolted Reno out of semi-consciousness. He saw Loz kneeling on all fours, limbs trembling violently as he tried to support himself. Tifa and Yuffie knelt beside him, anxious and distressed. Suddenly, Reno was very aware of Yazoo's quick and shallow breathing.
"Yazoo! What's wrong?"
"Re-Reno…Make it g-go away…" gasped the silver-haired youth.
"What? Make what go away?" Reno clasped the young man closer to his chest; his heart plunged into cold water.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up…" hissed Loz over and over again. Tifa was at a total loss.
"Loz, what is it? Tell me what's wrong."
But the two brothers did not hear them. In their minds, the only voice they could hear was the voice of their fears.
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
Young Kadaj did not want to part with his warm bed, but his elder brother's insistent calling soon intruded upon his sleepy mind.
"Morning Yazoo…" murmured the little boy through a haze of sleepiness.
"Morning, sleepyhead. Everyone's up already." Yazoo tugged the sheets off the Kadaj, causing the latter to curl up in his bed.
"Breakfast's waiting downstairs. If you don't hurry, Loz is going to finish everything."
The silver-haired boy bounded out of bed and rushed into the bathroom, eliciting a laugh from Yazoo.
"Morning, Seph! Morning, Loz!"
Little Kadaj was happy, unconcerned…this was his life, his family, his warmth.
"Kadaj…"
The boy turned. He thought he had heard someone calling to him. Thinking that he must have mistaken, Kadaj made to turn back.
"Kadaj…"
This time he was certain that someone was calling his name, a woman's voice. He looked at the table where his brothers sat, and slipped out of the door unnoticed.
"Hello? Is someone there?"
"Kadaj…"
The voice seemed to come from the trees on the right side of the road. He took a step towards it.
"No, Kadaj, come back!"
Now there was another voice, and it vibrated as though it came from everywhere around him. Confused, Kadaj stayed where he was.
The voices pledged him one after another, one begging him to move towards the trees, the other coaxing him back into the house.
"Come now, Kadaj. Your brothers would worry." This voice, with its slow, persuasive whisper, reminded him of Sephiroth, Yazoo and Loz. He turned towards the house.
"No, don't! They're not really there! They're waiting for you to wake up." Kadaj could not understand the strange words, but this voice had a special quality to it. It exuded warmth, gentleness, and love.
The voices continued in their contest, until finally, the whisper became a loud screech. Frightened, Kadaj crouched down and covered his ears. The trees loomed, from a mere clump to a dark forest. Voices swam around him; shouts, whispers and cries. But they could not drown out the gentle call brimming with tenderness.
Kadaj, not the little boy in the dream, but Kadaj as he is, leapt to his feet and dashed towards to black forest. It seemed to him as though he will never bridge the distance between them. At last, he touched a black trunk, and the voices shrieked.
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
Cloud watched transfixed as the Black Materia sunk into Kadaj's chest. He did not know what miracles this stone of disaster could bring, but it was the only thing capable of saving Kadaj. For a moment, there was a bright glow in the middle of his chest. The light swirled on his chest, the oily blackness trying to envelope a crack of green light. It was as though these two colours were struggling against each other in the orb of light. After what seemed like a long time, the green hue seeped into the black, replacing the darkness with a gentle green glow. Soon after, the glow disappeared altogether.
Cloud scrutinised the young boy before him. At first, he could see nothing, but as the seconds passed, Cloud thought he detected some colour in Kadaj's cheeks. He moved a slightly trembling hand to his wrist, feeling for his pulse. In his own throbbing suspense, he almost couldn't feel it, but there it was; slow, but steady, strengthening. Cloud felt a dizzying wave of relief struck him. Kadaj was growing stronger.
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
Downstairs, Yazoo and Loz had stopped acting strangely, but both were still shaking badly from whatever encounter it was. Yazoo couldn't trust his vocal chords to work right then, so he merely clung tighter to Reno. Disregarding the many eyes around them, Reno kissed Yazoo gently, trying to will the horror to leave the youth.
Meanwhile, Loz was reclining against one of the chairs, breathing shakily. Tifa felt a pang in her heart and took his hand in his. Loz felt a squeeze and looked at her, offering a watery smile. She smiled back, radiating love and warmth through her eyes.
Vincent and Sephiroth descended from the stairs, drawing the attention of all. Yuffie was the first to jump to her feet and approach them.
"How is Kadaj?" She sounded almost squeaky, voice lowered in anticipation.
"He's all right now. Sephiroth's idea worked." Vincent confirmed with a nod.
Yazoo and Loz leapt to their feet, eager to check on their brother. However, Sephiroth held up a hand to stop them.
"Wait. Even if Kadaj is out of danger for now, you two are still vulnerable. You will need to take in a strong Materia. The stronger, the better."
There was a moment's pause as Yazoo and Loz wondered where they could get Materia all of a sudden. Yuffie bit her bottom lip, and then, with a resolute face, took out two of her most prized Materias.
"Here, you can use these."
The two silver-haired brothers looked at her, stunned. Then Loz broke into a smile.
"Thanks, Yuffie. I know how much these mean to you."
"Well, I love Materia, and I hate the idea of having to give it away," her eyes suddenly looked watery. "But I hate it more if any of you are going to die."
She burst into tears, shocking others at the unexpectedness of it all. They gathered round her, chiding her gently for her silliness and smiling at her innocence.
FFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIACFFVIIAC
A/N: I'm soooooooorrrrrryyyyyy! I know I'm super late, but college has been real busy, plus I had personal business to attend to. It took me a long time to write this chapter since I had to devote a lot of time to write assignment papers instead. sobs Oh, beloved fic, how I missed writing you! XD And thank you to all of you for your support and reviews. uncontrollable tears of joy Kadaj is safe! Thank the heavens, thank Lucrecia, thank Sephy! Hahaha, I'll try to get the next chapter out soon as possible! Thank you!