12. Hold me, Thrill me, Kiss me, Kill me...

"Man, I've obviously done something wrong in a previous life!" Reno complained in a nasal whine as he flipped through another pile of research papers. "Why do we gotta do this? I mean, it would make much more sense if Rufus would just let us go after these guys! Why send us up to freeze our asses of here?"

"Because he trusts you," Rude answered absently in his monotone voice before continuing his effort to hack into the last files in the computer.

Ever since Rufus had given orders for them to return to the lab in the Northern Crater and discover what they could about the three silver haired men, Reno had not stopped complaining for more than two minutes at the time.

"Found something!"

Elena's voice made both male Turks glance over at the blonde and she waved a file in the air. "It's all here. Their backgrounds!"

Reno jumped to his feet. "No shit?" He trotted over. "Lemme see!" Ignoring her protest when he grabbed the file from her, he opened it to peruse the contents. "Huh... Half expected these guys to have popped out of a tank, fully grown and with a bad attitude."

"Kinda like you?" Elena asked venomously, but was unable to keep from smiling when the red-head winked at her.

Making an invisible frown behind his sunglasses, Rude leaned slightly forward. "I think I got something as well..."

Reno grumbled, shutting the file and walking over to where Rude sat in front of the one computer still working. "Dammit, you guys are making me look bad!"

Elena glanced over at the mess where the Turk had been 'researching' and crossed her arms annoyed. "It would have helped if you actually did read those, you know, Reno! There might be important information in there!"

"You think?" Reno mused with a puzzled look. "Probably nothing tho." He grinned at the impassive Rude when Elena stomped over to gather the scattered files and re-read them like he knew she would eventually. The grin faded at the scolding frown between Rude's eyebrows and the red-head cleared his throat. "So what do you got, partner?"

Knowing there was no real use in trying to correct Reno's behavior, the bald Turk merely turned back to his screen. "It says here the research has been going on for fifteen years..."

Reno opened the file in his hands and read the first few passages. "Yeah, according to this one, the subjects arrived here fourteen years ago..."

"Seems like this guy was pretty set on copying Hojo's work with Sephiroth..." Rude commented silently, opening a file containing research stolen from ShinRa labs. "And perhaps even more so: Dr Gast's work.."

Tapping a finger on the paper, Reno snorted surprised. "I'll be... Two of them are brothers!" He turned the file to show it to Rude. "They 'recruited' two siblings from Cosmo Canyon. Take a look!"

Rude slowly accepted the file, read the first paper before flipping over to the next one. "And the last one...?"

"Seems they fished him out of Junon. Orphan." Reno shoved his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders slightly like he did every time he was uncomfortable. "They were just kids... Those two had parents too. Could've had a normal life."

Elena made no comment as she watched Reno, knowing the heart he refused to admit he had was probably feeling sorry for the three causing so much trouble. Like Sephiroth, they too were pawns in a game they had no choice but to participate in. She also knew Reno would not be able to sleep when the night came.

Rude returned his focus to the computer. "I'll send these documents back to Midgar..."

"I wonder if they know..." Reno mumbled, gazing over at a picture sticking out of the file Rude had placed on the table. A picture of two young boys with black hair and brown eyes filled with fear. "I wonder if they remember..." Snapping out of it, he shook his head and forced a smile. "Yeah, guess I better call the President, huh? He said he wanted to know the second we dug up something. I'd say this qualifies as 'something'!"

Gathering up the last files Reno had thrown to the floor, Elena voiced what they all were thinking. "If Jinrei created these three all those years ago... Does that mean there might be more of them?"

Rude's finger nearly missed the key it was aiming for, and he cleared his throat quietly. "Let's just get this info back to the President. And when he gives us new orders, we follow them. A Turk's job does not involve speculating."

Rufus gazed over at Tifa, watching her silently as she stood gazing out the window in his office. Her arms were tightly wrapped around herself, and he didn't need to see her face to know she was crying. The tense shoulders and the occasional shiver that went through her body was enough to reveal her agony. Silent tears were shed in mourning for Yuffie and Hawk. Two of her friends that Rufus had brought back from the Cetra capital. The brat prince didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet.

Cloud and Jessie's deaths had shattered Tifa in ways that could never be repaired, and now it was happening again.

Knowing that something inside Tifa died with each of her friends, Rufus was helpless to do anything about it. He could only watch and be there if she reached out for him. In some strange way, it helped him to ignore his own grief by focusing on Tifa's.

Hojo had barely spoken on the way back to Midgar. The dark haired man had simply taken over Cid Highwind's care and buried himself in work. Rufus figured that was probably Hojo's way of refusing to deal with things. They all had their own way. The only words Hojo 'did' speak were words of warning. Kadaj would return, and most likely with a bad attitude. He'd merely acknowledged Sephiroth with the smallest of nods. It didn't improve the depressed general's mood to be frowned upon by his father.

Then again, everyone was in a poor mood now.

When up against Jinrei, their biggest problem was the fact that they didn't know who they were fighting against or the motive behind it all. This time, they knew everything, and people were still dying.

Suddenly the entire ShinRa Tower shook and Rufus leaped out of his chair, as the explosion sent debris from the wall surrounding Midgar high into the air. Blue eyes held no surprise when he stopped beside Tifa to see the dark figure flying above the wall. For a heart-beat, the two stared at Chaos making it's way towards the ShinRa Tower, but there was no hesitation when their eyes met.

"The kids," Tifa stated.

"The kids," Rufus agreed, and he yanked her close for a desperate kiss before letting her storm out of the room. He pretended not to see the fear in her face, but marched over to get his shotgun. It was the final show down. The final fight. The ShinRa president placed the weapon in it's holster, corrected his jacket and was about to leave when his cell-phone began to ring. Frowning at the interruption, Rufus absently pushed the reply button. "This had better be important...!"

The annoyance quickly vanished from his face, and Rufus sank down in his chair again while tapping into his computer with his free hand. "Yeah, I'm ready..."

Watching and waiting as the files downloaded, blue eyes narrowed slightly at the information he was receiving over the phone. "Cosmo Canyon and Junon, huh?" Junon... Rufus had spent several years in Junon. Grumbling in a golden cage, while a boy was kidnapped in the streets for experiments. No one even mourned the loss of that boy. "Do we know anything about the parents of the other two? Dead? Figures."

The building shook again, and the ShinRa President tossed an absent glance at the window before returning his gaze to the computer screen.

Chaos was coming closer.

People yelling orders, determined sprints with a taint of fear and the sound of gun fire was everything Rufus needed to hear to know that the ShinRa army was mobilizing and the preparations had not been in vain.

"They wont be able to stop it, you know." Hojo entered the office to walk over to the window. The scientist was even paler than usual. "It's going to cut it's way straight through your little tin-soldiers and not stop before we're all dead."

Rufus frowned annoyed, muttering for the Turks to finish up in the North and then return to Midgar before closing his cell-phone and focusing on the self-invited visitor in his office. "Well, aren't we the bright little ray of sunshine? You do know I got all the forces in Midgar ready for this? The same forces that faced Weapons and came out victorious?"

Hojo shook his head. "You don't know what you're facing. You think you know Chaos because you've seen Vincent release it in battle? That version is absolutely nothing compared to the one we're about to face. Chaos is in control this time. Not your dear Valentine. That demon is too strong for any of us to defeat. And with Sephiroth this unstable, we don't stand a chance..."

Feeling unease spreading through him, Rufus got up and glared harshly at the other man. "If Chaos is that dangerous, why the hell did you shove it into Vincent?"

"I didn't," Hojo declared silently. "I refused to go near that thing. It scared the living daylights out of me." He closed his eyes when the building shook once more, then turned on his heel and walked out.

"Go!" Sephiroth shouted, giving the final ShinRa soldier a push that nearly sent the poor soul flying flat on his face. "I want everyone in position within five seconds, or I will kill you myself!"

The demon in the sky sent another ray of destruction into a building near by. Dangerously close now and showing no signs of changing direction.

"Brother dearest... We meet again..."

The familiar drawl made Sephiroth spin around and glare at the person crouched on the railing meant to prevent anyone from actually falling off the ShinRa tower. The long haired copy smirked satisfied at the anger flooding at him from reptilian eyes. What had Aeris called him? Yazoo? It didn't matter, Sephiroth realised as his hand slowly curled around the hilt of the Masamune. The boy would be dead soon enough anyway.

Yazoo's wary gaze saw the movement and the smirk widened. It was a fight he was looking for, after all. "We never did get to finish our little game up north..."

"That eager to die?" Sephiroth growled, using his free hand to signal the ShinRa soldiers to keep back. This was personal. "Lucky for you, I have a slot open in my list of people to kill today..."

Jumping down from the railing to stand a suitable distance from the other silver haired man, Yazoo lightly tested his grip on his gun. "You mean I wasn't on the list already? I'm hurt, brother dearest. But I'll let you make it up to me by dying!"

The movement was too fast to be caught by the human eye, yet Sephiroth had no trouble deflecting the bullets when Yazoo fired the gun. It was the starting signal for a deadly race. He sprinted forward, reflecting and dodging the bullets, and was almost relieved when Yazoo easily darted away from the first lunge of the Masamune. It would have been a disappointment if things ended too soon. Sephiroth wanted to make the insolent expression turn into agony and fear. He wanted to hear a plea for a worthless life!

Yazoo gritted his teeth as he ducked underneath the sharp blade, sending a couple of shots towards Sephiroth that he knew would be swatted away, and rolled into momentary safety. His so-called brother was faster, stronger and angrier than anything Yazoo had fought before. He should have known. The way Kadaj was swooning about the great Sephiroth, and Mother's obsession about her favorite son. Still, it only gave fuel to determination and disgust. Only one would leave this place alive...

Sparks flew when bullets collided with the unyielding metal that was the Masamune, boots struggled for grip on the cement, and strained curses drowned in the explosions near by. Yazoo backing up. Sephiroth following. Gun barking out deadly projectiles. A flash of razor sharp metal. A scream when an unfortunate ShinRa soldier got hit by a stray bullet. But neither combatant took focus off each other, which probably saved Yazoo's life when the Masamune barely missed him, two silver locks of hair falling to the ground, and he landed hard on his hip to roll away half a second before the sword bit into the ground.

Fear and anger flooded Yazoo's senses as he tried to will his feet to move as fast as his thoughts were racing, but all it took was a slight slip of his footing when getting up and a fierce pain drowned out everything else. He heard someone scream. It was probably him.

Sephiroth didn't feel triumphant when the Masamune finally sliced through black leather and tender skin, but moved over to kick Yazoo over on his back where it was his instincts that saved him from the bullets fired. The danger was over quickly as Sephiroth rammed his sword through the struggling man's shoulder. The sickening sound of shattering bones were only outdone by the agonized scream. Another kick sent Yazoo's gun flying off the ShinRa tower. And Sephiroth glared down at him before yanking his sword back.

Pain threatened to sent him into darkness when the Masamune was pulled free, but desperation gave Yazoo enough strength and speed to lash out a kick towards his opponent, buying himself enough time to get up on his feet. However, his escape ended a heartbeat later when a hand locked around his throat and he was slammed against the annex wall.

Yazoo fought in vain to breathe, clawing at Sephiroth's unbreakable grip on his throat, and stared with horror as he saw the flames reflected in the eerie eyes. An inferno dancing in lifestream green and slit pupils. Midgar burning. Nibelheim burning. The screams of thousand dead souls.

They'd been so wrong. Yazoo had been wrong. Seeing Sephiroth with the half-Cetra and their offspring, he'd seen a domesticated warrior. A beast that had lost his fangs. But the true Sephiroth had been lurking underneath the pretty surface all along. Not the Sephy who played with his daughter. But Sephiroth, who burned down entire villages and relished in the blood spilled. The creature that wanted to destroy the Planet and everyone with it. Sephiroth would never be free from the darkness because he was darkness.

Another scream tore free when the Masamune cut through his stomach and Yazoo was almost relieved when Sephiroth released him to sink down, leaving a trail of blood on the wall. Dull eyes caught the movement when the lethal sword pulled back to deliver the final strike, and Yazoo was surprised to feel his heart cry out in protest. He couldn't die now! His brothers needed him! Kadaj! Loz! His family!

"No! Sephiroth, stop!"

A flash of pink and brown appeared between the defeated Yazoo and the victorious Sephiroth.

Aeris trembled as she held Sephiroth's eyes, knowing the danger of doing what she did but was unable to do nothing. "Don't kill him, Sephiroth... Please..."

Sneering furiously, Sephiroth didn't ease up on his fighting stance. "You're begging for his life?"

"He gave us back Zefiris, remember?" Aeris pleaded softly. She knew better than anyone how dangerous her beloved could be in this state, but the flower girl had also hope that she was the one who could reason with him. "He didn't have to, but he did."

Sephiroth sneered again. "If I let him go, he'll come after us again!"

Aeris swallowed hard. "If he does, then you kill him. Ok? A life for a life?"

Taking a step towards her, Sephiroth towered dangerously over the brunette. "Step aside, Aeris!"

Yazoo closed his eyes. Placing a hand to his bleeding stomach, he felt the cold slowly seep into him. It was over. Why did Aeris even try to save him? Aeris... The half-Cetra... Damn her...!

Shaking her head, Aeris didn't move. "Sephiroth... Please... For me?" She was pushing him too far, and she knew it...

Sephiroth stared furiously at her for a while before coming to a decision. "You will regret this, Aeris... He'll hurt you. Both of us. As soon as he get the chance."

"I'm sorry," Aeris whispered while feeling like a traitor, then she finally turned to face Yazoo. "You heard him. Come back and Sephiroth will kill you. I wont stop him if you are that foolish." She kneeled down, reaching out to force Yazoo to look at her with a touch by his jawline. "You gave our daughter back. For that, Sephiroth will let you live. I suggest you run, as far and as fast as you can. Never look back."

Yazoo drew a pained breath. "My brothers..."

"Take them with you," Aeris advised silently. "If they stay here, they'll die."

Nodding, Yazoo struggled to get up and had to swallow his pride as the flower girl helped him. "Thank you..."

Gentle green eyes met reptile eyes so alike her Sephiroth's gaze and Aeris had to force away the memory of a forbidden kiss. "You're not a bad person, Yazoo... Give yourself a chance..."

Yazoo smiled faintly. "Too late for that..." He slowly made his way over to the door, fighting to stay awake as each step sent waves of pain through his body. "She married my older brother..."

Aeris drew a startled breath, staring at the door closing behind him and was ignorant to the agony on her face. "It's never too late to chose life..." Knowing that Yazoo was walking down the path Sephiroth had been on for so long ago, only this time there was no flower girl to walk alongside him.

A firm grip around her arm, Sephiroth yanked the brunette around to face him. "Something you want to tell me about him?"

Swallowing down fear and sorrow, Aeris forced a weak smile. "He reminds me of you..."

Starting like she'd slapped him, Sephiroth snorted offended. For a moment, poisonous jealousy reared it's head but he was quick to remember that Aeris would look at an injured puppy that way. She felt sorry for everyone and everything. "What the hell are you doing up here anyway? You were supposed to go with Tifa and the others!"

"I know what you decided," Aeris declared, trying to hold on to her courage. "Too bad you didn't ask me!"

Sephiroth closed his eyes briefly, choking down his anger and the urge to shake the flower girl until she promised to stop these insane stunts. "You're hopeless!"

"Well, I learned that from you!"

Scoffing offended for the second time, Sephiroth pulled her along as he stalked over to the ShinRa soldiers tending to their fallen friend. "Yeah? Well, you're as bad as the Sage! Hah!"

Aeris gasped. "Now you're just being mean...!"

Shera turned around abruptly with a startled look when the door to the hospital room opened, and her surprise did not ease when she saw the visitor.

A certain dark haired scientist eyed her with dry disdain. "Aren't you supposed to be with Tifa in the safe room?"

Swallowing hard, Shera turned back to gaze at the sleeping Cid. "I'm not leaving him..." She reached out a trembling hand to stroke the pilot's hair and realised with a faint smile that Cid would probably have slept through Chaos' attack even without his injuries. The man slept like the dead. The smile vanished.

Hojo pressed a button, and ignored the puzzled outcry from the woman, waiting for the guards to arrive. "You're going to the safe room."

Shera got up, trembling with rage and fear. "Don't you dare do this, Hojo." The amber eyes revealed no sign of him changing his mind. "You can't do this! I can decide for myself!" Still no reaction. "I will never forgive you if you do this...!"

"You wont, but Cid will," Hojo stated curtly. He nodded towards her when the two guards came stumbling into the room. "Bring her to the safe room." The scientist almost appeared bored when they had to just about drag Shera out of the room. He had other things on his mind. She'd soon forget hating him for throwing her out of her husband's room when she discovered that he'd sent Cid off to an early death as well.

Walking over to the bed, he waited until the door closed, and only then did Hojo speak. "Cid... Wake up, Cid. Hey!" He placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder and shook him. "Cid! Rise and shine!" A weak groan. Hojo swallowed hard and forced himself quiet while waiting for the blue eyes to open and focus on him.

"Wha...?" The pilot whispered confused, barely able to keep his eyes open. "Hojo...?"

Hojo cast a quick glance out the window then gathered himself. "There's not much time, so just listen for now, ok? Chaos is attacking Midgar. The three are with it. They're after the Jenova cells, and they mean business this time. Sephiroth is weakened. And I fear he'll weaken even more. I saw what that last seizure did to him. Without Sephiroth, nothing can stop Chaos from killing us all."

Cid frowned and tried to make sense of it all. He hated how weak he felt and how slow his brain seemed to work. "Why... are you telling me this...? I ain't much use to ya anymore."

Another hesitation and Hojo was getting annoyed at himself. This shouldn't feel this difficult, dammit! It was the only way! "You can still... be of use."

"How?" The blonde felt a flicker of curiosity cut through the fog. "Can hardly even move..."

Hojo held up a syringe and held the azure gaze. "This will get you up on your feet. Give you the strength you lack."

"And... you kept this hidden all this time, why?"

"Because it will use whatever time you have left," Hojo whispered seriously. "Understand?"

Cid fell silent as he stared at the syringe. Eventually he drew a slow breath. "You want me to unleash Panlong."

Hojo nodded. "It's our only hope against Chaos. The only creature powerful enough to defeat it. Hopefully."

Hopefully. Cid knew how true that word was. Panlong was as weak as the pilot. "Any chance of me surviving this battle? At all?"

"No."

The answer was short, brutal and honest. Cid managed a faint smile and closed his eyes. Figures. And yet he knew Hojo would not have turned to this unless there was no other way. Strange how one could suddenly have faith in a crazed scientist? "Do it."

Hojo wasn't sure if he was relieved or saddened. "You will have about one hour, Highwind. Maybe less. Make it last." The needle broke through skin without pain.

And just like that, Cid could feel himself waking up again. Like rising from a nice nap, all fresh and revived. More than revived, really. He felt like running laps and kicking ass! The blonde blinked surprised and slowly sat up. "Whoa, that's some good stuff, Doc." He grinned at the weak smile Hojo managed to tweak out in response. "Hey, better to go out in flames than lie here waiting!" The pilot suddenly seemed to hesitate and he cleared his throat. "I, uh, can I ask ya one favour tho...?"

Shrugging, Hojo sighed resigned. "Sure." Who could refuse a dying man's last wish?

"When I'm gone..." Cid said silently, his gaze absent and filled with a pain that was not physical but strong enough to appear so, "...could you look after Shera for me?"

Hojo frowned. Certain he'd misheard. "What...?"

The pilot glanced over with a faint smile. "Shera. She's not going to take this very well, you know. And... she's got a kid to think about, so... Would you look after Shera for me? And my kid?"

Feeling a hint of panic, Hojo stared at the other man with clear disbelief. How could he ask something like that? Hojo had just taken away whatever time Cid had left with Shera, and now he wanted him to make sure his family made it? "Dammit, Cid, make me feel like more of a bastard for sending you out there, and I will punch you in the mouth!"

Chuckling, Cid merely shook his head. "Promise, Hojo."

And Hojo remembered Yuffie making him promise with her dying breath too. Hadn't there been enough death now?

"I promise."

Bullets dug into the wall where Loz had been half a second before, but the muscled man shot forward at an unnatural speed and sent the ShinRa soldier crashing through the window. Adrenaline was racing and the silver haired man grinned absently. Why had they waited this long before attacking Midgar? This was the most fun he'd had since playing with that ninja in the shiny place! It was kinda crappy that Kadaj had decided they had to split up as it would have been even more fun sharing this with his brothers, but you couldn't get everything you wanted in life!

And they would meet up real soon. Loz making his way up, Yazoo making his way down, and Kadaj waiting for them at the middle.

Two more ShinRa soldiers in his way, backed up against a door, but he sent them to join their friend out the window. It was an explosion that prevented him from advancing, causing just enough delay for a familiar voice to call out.

"Unca Loz?"

Spinning around, Loz was surprised to see the small group inside the room. Women and children. And Zefiris! The little girl smiled happily at the sight of him and started walking towards him only to be abruptly halted when a hand reached out to hold her back. A hand that belonged to a fiercly defensive Tifa.

Loz halted mid-way in a motion to stretch out his hands to Zefiris and slowly straightened to gaze curiously at the brunette. It was the one he'd played with when they took Kadaj from him! She was fun! Even if he couldn't understand why she was glaring at him and refused his niece to greet him.

"Stay back, Zefiris," Tifa ordered in a steel voice and slowly raised her hand to get into a fighting stance. "You. Stay away from her."

Blinking, Loz then lit up with happiness. "You wanna play with me...?"

Tifa's wine coloured eyes narrowed. Deadly muscles tensed under deceptively soft skin. She waited two heartbeats, and suddenly darted towards him only to avoid death by inches as the wall exploded. Turning everything into screams, fire and thick smoke.

For a few seconds nothing but silence followed.

Loz wasn't sure how long he'd been out of it as he shook his head to remove the ringing sound from his ears while slowly pushing himself up from the floor. He'd been tossed to the floor? What had happened? A quick glance around revealed the gaping hole in the wall, courtesy of a stray shot from Chaos, and debris covered everything. Small grit fell to the messy floor when the silver haired man struggled to his feet, swaying slightly before regaining his balance, and willed a wave of nausea away. Stupid demon! People could get killed!

"Unca Loz!"

The thin voice was filled with fear and he spun around to find his niece by the crumbled form of Tifa. Two other women sat kneeling beside the unconscious woman too, eyeing him with nothing less than fear. A little girl squirmed in the grip of the woman with the darkest hair, crying out for her mother. Loz took a wobbly step towards them, ignoring how the two women flinched, and focused his gaze on Zefiris.

"Auntie Tifa..." Tears filled the emerald green eyes of the silver haired girl. "Auntie Tifa got hurt... Can't you help her, Unca Loz?"

Loz gazed down at the still form and noticed the small trickle of blood from her eyebrow. (She had amazingly long eyelashes.) He tilted his head, wondering if her hair was as soft as it appeared to be where it pooled around her, and finally kneeled down beside her as well. Giving a quick glance at the two women eyeing him with fear and anger, the silver haired man managed a faint smile in hopes of reassuring them. "I got her, Zefy. Don't you worry." He held the gaze of the woman with darkest hair. "You got some place for injured people?" She nodded nervously. Loz nodded as well, gathering Tifa up in his arms and straightening. "Wanna lead the way?"

A little boy with hair the colour of fire eyed him seriously, and took the hand of the crying girl. He seemed to challenge Loz with his glare, something the young man found utterly amusing.

"Don't worry. I know how you feel." Loz tried a reassuring smile before following the frightened women gathering the other children. The brunette felt strangely light in his arms and his gaze was drawn to her face once again. She was strong, this one. Willing to die for the children.

The monsters created out of the will of Jenova exploded into dust as Loz' mind failed to keep the connection to the beasts. He'd been looking for Mother for as long as he could remember and he wondered if Mother would be willing to die for her sons like the woman in his arms.

His heart said no.

Rufus refused to acknowledge the chill up his spine when the building shook once again, but focused on reading the last lines of the report Reno sent him. As much as he relied on fire-power, the brat prince always knew the value of information!

He got up and put the shotgun in it's holster by his ribs, ready to move out and join his troops, when there was a step into his office.

"Going somewhere?"

Tensing, Rufus slowly gazed over at the figure in the doorway. "That was the original plan. To what do I owe this visit, Kadaj?"

The young silver haired man gave a dangerous smile and stepped forward to stand in front of the desk. "I was hoping to talk to you before I met up with big brother."

"I'm honoured," Rufus declared smoothly as his hand slid towards the weapon he'd just holstered. "Any particular reason?"

Kadaj's smile widened a touch and he gave a little shake of his head to prove how futile it would be for ShinRa to draw his weapon. Only when Rufus lowered his hand did the silver haired man reveal what was on his mind. "Remember what you told me in the cell? That you would fight us. That you would win." Kadaj's smile turned cruel. "The ninja and her boyfriend is dead. Highwind is dying. Valentine is on our side now. No Strife to save the day. My dear big brother is growing weaker and weaker..."

Rufus' eyes narrowed. "You're enjoying this..."

"Of course I am!" Kadaj laughed merrily as he gestured faintly to his surroundings. "I was born to make this happen! I am Mother's arm! Bringing justice!"

"You were born in Cosmo Canyon," Rufus corrected coolly. "You and your brother. Brother. Not brothers." He searched the reptilian eyes for any sign of sanity but found none to be reasoned with. "You know what you're doing is futile. You 'know' you wont succeed, in your heart, and yet you refuse to realise that you have a choice."

Tensing, Kadaj placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Words were always your strength, Mr President. But words wont save your friends this time."

Fear seeped into him, yes, but stubbornness was the one feeling that overcame it, and Rufus managed a faint smile. "I doubt they need saving."

Kadaj took a step towards him, his hand half-drawing the double-sword, when a familiar voice called out his name. Blinking surprised, Kadaj glanced back to see the bleeding Yazoo lean heavily against the door-frame. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to deal with the ShinRa soldiers!"

Clutching his bleeding stomach hard, Yazoo managed to straighten and take an unsteady step into the room. "Sephiroth..."

Kadaj's eyes narrowed with fury and he stalked over to his brother. "I'll deal with him." A Restore materia was shoved into Kadaj's free hand. "Patch yourself together. We still have work to do. Start by killing off ShinRa. Team up with Loz afterwards."

Rufus watched silently as Yazoo stuttered something in vain as Kadaj stalked away, allowed the wounded man to stop the bleeding with the aid of the cure materia, before he spoke to another of Jenova's dangerous spawn. "You're the one who gave Zefiris back..."

Yazoo's once youthful face now looked tired and pained. "Don't confuse me with someone you can manipulate, ShinRa. My brother wants you dead. Simple as that."

Blue eyes flickered as shadowy beasts materialized out of thin air and Rufus backed up to the wall. His eyes saw but his rational mind found it hard to believe that fifteen of these creatures had just appeared out of nothing. "You might want to hear what I know though..."

A weary snort and Yazoo shook his head, a flick of his wrist making the growling beasts advance on their prey. "I severely doubt that."

"He's not your brother!" Rufus sneered, pulling out his shotgun and tried to keep calm. "He's using you. Like Jenova is using him."

Anger flared up and Yazoo took a second unsteady step into the room. "Shut your face, ShinRa! You're lying! Liar! I know my own family!"

"Do you?" Rufus shouted back. "Do you really?" He swallowed hard as the shadow beasts were dangerously close now. "On my computer. The file on you and your 'brothers'! Read it!"

Yazoo hesitated, his mind screaming for him to ignore the brat prince and follow Kadaj's orders, but his heart... His heart had been trying to voice it's worries for so long now and it wouldn't be silenced anymore. The young man felt sick with worry as he slowly rounded the desk and the light from the screen hit his face while his eyes began taking in the words. The words that would shatter his world.

Rufus dared a quick glance out the window, seeing the ominous presence of Chaos tearing it's way through Midgar without the gun fire even slowing it down. Even if they managed to defeat Kadaj and the other two, there was no way they could beat that thing...

"I'm sorry, Tifa..."

AN; Update! At long last! To whomever still reads this and to the ones who joins up: Thank you for your patience. I shall not bore you with the details. Two people I loved very much was taken from me with little time between them and writing seemed impossible. Yet my love for this story and this characters is as strong now as before and I promised to not leave this discontinued! Yes, people, the updates are back on track! Huzzah!