Eek! This one contains some angst and what you might call a dark theme… I'm sorry, I know the first chapter didn't seem like there would be anything remotely serious in it, but the cannibalistic plot bunnies threatened me with a gruesome death unless I wrote it. I myself thought this was just going to be a worthless comedy! (okay maybe I still got the worthless part). But anyway I tried to make up for it by adding extra sweetness at the end;D

Disclaimer: I'm gathering my board of advisors to restructure the promotional department of Square Enix. Tetsuya Nomura brings me tea and crumpets every day. …if anyone believes that it is sooo not my fault.

…………………………

Runaway

Kadaj trudged home with his head hanging. He didn't remember ever feeling so exhausted in his life. Not even fighting with his blond brother had made him feel this tired. The only thing that kept him from breaking down right here on the sidewalk was the thoughts of what he would do to his sadistic Nii-san for forcing him to go through all this torture. Maybe if Sephiroth had to suffer for it too he wouldn't feel quite so bad. And Sephiroth deserved to suffer horribly.

Kadaj felt his eyes narrowing in anger and his fists clenched on the straps of his backpack, which were digging into his slender shoulders. Not only did he have to carry what he came with but now there was an extra ton of paper weighting him down. It was something called homework and it completely astonished him. Kadaj had thought that his Nii-san meant to let him be tortured throughout the whole day, but to his absolute horror, the people at the school expected him to act out some sort of masochism and torment himself through his free time as well. It was infuriating! They wanted to take over his life and he wasn't going to let it happen! Kadaj shook his head in determination. But it wasn't really the homework that was the worst part (he didn't even intend to do that), it was everything else that went on there.

The silver hair boy let out a deep breath. It was strange; even though he was tried right now, he didn't really feel like being angry with his brothers. He didn't even want to make Nii-san suffer as much as he thought he had. Kadaj found himself wondering if maybe Yazoo was still feeling as thoughtful as he had been when the teen had left for school. It would almost be nice to tell him about it and have his brother just…listen.

Kadaj shook his head. He didn't know why he was feeling like this all of a sudden. The boy's lip curled up in disgust. It was almost, sentimental.

He tried not to let this take over him and remind himself that he was still the skilled, ruthless, independent warrior he always was, even if he didn't exactly look the part…

But Kadaj just couldn't help the feeling of changing, everything was different now. They weren't on a constant hunt for mother; they weren't under so much strain, so much pressure. Now they were just living. And it was strange.

They had kept the same order of leadership in the family because it made so much sense. Sephiroth was, well, he was the chosen. And Kadaj was still the dominant of the three brothers with his extreme energy and forceful determination. The remnant sighed.

But that just didn't seem to matter any more. With Sephiroth present, the ex-general was completely dwarfing him. All Kadaj had really done in the first place was translate to his brothers what Sephiroth and Mother told him. And now with Nii-san back in his body, there didn't really seem to be any reason to look to Kadaj. The teen often had to fix Loz with a glare to get him to listen, Yazoo was slipping in more sarcastic jabs all the time and when he did obey his little brother there was something that resembled an indulgent smirk on his face. It was terrible, it was bizarre, it was almost like they were treating him like he was…younger.

Worst of all, Kadaj felt himself becoming younger. He had only ever been what he was made. And now he was being made young, probably by Sephiroth. Kadaj scowled at himself, he was starting to act so childish.

Contrary to appearance, Loz was a hugger. This was a fact which Yazoo knew well and detested. Kadaj had also thought himself to find it distasteful. But now as he was being remade, he had actually let the big oaf cuddle him. He cringed at the thought.

He was Kadaj! He was his mother's son! He was as evil as they came! He was not to be cuddled!

But at the time it had been kind of nice, because Loz was so sensitive sometimes and Kadaj knew that his big brother meant to be showing affection. And Kadaj had let him. Oh, how he had fallen…

The conflicted teen sighed when he reached his house; he pushed the front door open and was greeted by the sight of Yazoo tapping away on his laptop over in the far corner. The young remnant all at once remembered how bad and traumatic his day had been and threw his backpack on the floor as hard as he liked (which was quite hard), not paying attention to what sounded like the crunch of electronics.

"Nii-san won't want to buy you another iPod right away if you break that one." Yazoo commented dryly, never ceasing his steady typing.

Immediately Kadaj abandoned the idea for talking over his sorrows to his sarcastic bother and simply kick the backpack again for good measure.

"It can't have been that bad." Yazoo commented not even looking up. Tap, tap, tap.

"You have a lot of nerve being so smug about it. You've never even been inside one of those places! They're like some sick maze or a death trap or something!"

"Uh-huh." Yazoo mumbled, his eyes glued to the screen until he turned them laughingly toward his brother. "I see you weren't murdered though, like you were afraid you'd be."

Kadaj was, for maybe the second time in his life, too angry to speak. The only response was the reddening of his face as he brushed past his brother and began banging on Sephiroth's door, pounding and kicking it until the man was forced to respond to him or else let his house be damaged. And of course he wouldn't let his house take abuse. The silver haired man jerked the door open, already irritated and knowing full well what was on the other side.

"I don't want to hear it." He preempted, before Kadaj could lay down a syllable. "I have a lot of work to do right now, so please don't disturb me tonight." He fixed the smaller teen with a stern down-stare.

The teen stuck his foot in the door. An angered Kadaj was only more flamboyant and he was less then impressed by Sephiroth's height or formidable stare. "Good! Then I won't bother you. All you have to hear is that I'm. Not. Going. Back!"

"This is not open to discussion."

"Well, I don't plan on discussing it!" Kadaj snapped back.

"This is still my house…"

"Then I'll move out!" Kadaj immediately retorted.

"You have no way to support yourself." Sephiroth tried reasoning.

"I'd rather live on the street then go back there!" Kadaj smacked the wall hard enough to bring a resounding thud and leave a large depression.

"I'll tell you one more time…do not abuse this house." Sephiroth never raised his voice, it only got quieter and quieter as it became more threatening.

"Damn the house! You don't even care what happened, do you?" Kadaj's eyes narrowed and his body twisted, fidgeting. Usually when he was this mad, he would be fighting or doing anything to relieve the tension and this being stationary was getting to him.

"It seems to me, that right now you're merely being hysterical, in order to get out of something yo don't want to do."

"Screw this!" The teen turned on his heal, sliver hair swinging wildly. "Why should I do want you ask me to when you don't even give a damn what happens to me?!"

The extremely pissed Kadaj stormed down the hall, heading straight out the door again.

"Be back in time for dinner!" Yazoo didn't even finish before the door slammed shut.

-

Kadaj couldn't really think that clearly, so he ran. But just running was boring, so whenever he found an interesting building or wall he'd scale or jump it trying to make the exercise a little harder. This was much more interesting then simple running and he wound his way into the city, looking for the best obstacles as they kept rising higher and straighter.

He must have been in pretty good shape because it didn't take long for him to reach the deeper slum areas where the buildings where closer together and more degraded, they were completely un-uniform here and ramshackle.

Kadaj finally slowed down to a walked, seething slightly, but much more relaxed for the exercise. He could reason now, though his thoughts were all unpleasant and it was easier just to try and distract himself with his surroundings, which were all new to him. He had never had any reason to delve into this particular underground before and for a while he could just keep himself from going too deep it to his thoughts.

But soon enough the sights become monotonous and he began to settle into a dejection. He was completely isolated from everything he knew. He'd never been so separated before and it was one of the most confusing and uncomfortable situations he ever been in.

And so he wandered for what most have been hours. Damning the world and glaring at anyone who dared look at him, letting just how mad he was at Sephiroth and Yazoo settle in. And Loz, he was mad at him just because he hadn't taken his side, he hadn't even been there at all and there was nothing worse than being non-confrontational.

He steamed for a few hours more like this, until it was getting quite late. Somehow his mind managed to notice that it was dark out and that brought him to the very poignant fact that he hadn't had eaten in far too many hours, after that running it seemed like even longer.

But he could not go back though. How pathetic would that be, to come crawling home so soon? Maybe if one of his brothers called him first…

Kadaj checked for his cell phone…then he cursed the world again. How was he supposed to go back with any dignity if his brothers couldn't call him to apologize or Nii-san couldn't even call to threaten him into coming back?

He needed a plan. But his planning capacity was hampered by the very pressing need for food. Kadaj decided that he'd just have to find something to eat first and then think of an excellent plan. He reached for the cash he kept on hand… then damned the world all to hell.

How was he supposed to think when he was this hungry? This just emphasized how dependant he was becoming; it was just another infuriating point in a cursed day.

The silver trimmed teen absently wondered if Yazoo had intended to make him supper today as well…

But no! He was NOT going back there! It was aggravating just thinking of the people there.

Maybe if he never spoke to any of them again it would be more respectable to just live there…?

Absolutely not, the more resolute half of his brain told him. They were going to have to come and find him. He would just have to 'slum it' so to speak, until they came.

Still, if he ever intended to go back…all he'd have to do is follow that last street three miles back and turn north…or was that west?

How could he not have noticed?

Oh well, he could see that the other way led in the direction he came and…no…he never went that way…

Kadaj snarled in irritation. He'd never been lost before in his life. He just wasn't supposed to get lost. But then he had never taken the time to learn any navigation skills before. Mother had always told him exactly where to go and what he needed to do. It was a desperately lonely feeling, not having mother's guidance…and not having his brothers either.

How could he get so lost?

-

Yazoo accepted the food from the delivery boy of the expensive catering service and brought it into the dinning room, where the table was already set.

"Nii-san! Loz! Dinner's here!" His musical voice called at just the right tone he knew could be heard.

After Kadaj's hasty removal, Sephiroth had shut his door and bolted it purposefully. Later however, Yazoo had heard he open it again and knew that Sephiroth was listening for the vagrant teen's return. He had been listening now and then himself, after it had begun to darken outdoors and he had taken steps to order dinner. Yazoo had actually considered making his little brother more consolation meals but if he wasn't even going to be there, the beautiful remnant wasn't about to go to all that work and risk having it all go to just Sephiroth and Loz. His oldest brother was a culinary stoic and his older brother was not particular enough. Simply not satisfying.

Usually Loz responded first to this particular summon and on a good day Sephiroth would materialize in his own good sweet time (but often he would have to be prodded out of his office by Yazoo). At this moment however, the silver demigod was the soonest to appear and he strode around the table which Yazoo was just finishing preparing.

"Kadaj isn't back yet." He asked in monotone.

Yazoo was far from surprised by the question; in fact, Yazoo was hardly ever surprised by anything. He wasn't exactly sure if it was a question or a statement but he decided to answer it anyway. "No, not yet."

"Where is he?" Loz showed up in pretty good time. He had managed to miss the entire scene from earlier. It was probably a good thing, considering his dislike for domestic conflict.

"We don't know." Yazoo answered, as there was no way Sephiroth would explain. Come to think of it, Sephiroth never explained anything, but that was beside the point.

"But it's dark out." Loz protested.

"I'm glad you noticed."

"Don't be mean, Yaz. I want to know where he is!"

"I said we don't know." Yazoo put Kadaj's unneeded plate back in the cupboard, closing the cupboard door with slightly more force than necessary. "Now sit down and eat or you'll see what 'mean' is."

Loz gaped a bit, wondering why Yazoo was so much crueler than usual, but he sat down anyway. One of the most important things he had learned in his life was never to question any of his brothers' moods. Why was he the only stable one?

Dinner was a very quiet affair. Once Loz had ventured to speak, but Yazoo had glanced over him with so much cold passivity that he did not make another attempt and remained silent and disheartened. Sephiroth was vibrantly emanating fiery waves of energy but for all the noise he made, he might as well not have been existent at all.

At the end of twenty minutes there was a ridiculous amount of leftovers to put away. Yazoo barely counted as a whole human when he ate, Sephiroth tasted his food and then absently got up and walked away back to his office as though he had forgotten what on Gaia the process of ingestion was all about. And Loz had even eaten less then usual, unsettled when the other two sauntered away from the table leaving him alone there.

For two hours after dinner, the night continued much as usual. Sephiroth was working like mad, Yazoo exercised his keyboard writing up God knew what and Loz flipped cannels randomly.

After two hours of this not even Yazoo's mood could stop the inevitable.

"It's late." Loz pouted.

"I'm well aware."

"Kadaj isn't back yet."

"Surprisingly enough, I was able to comprehend that fact a long time ago."

"It's dark."

"You're the only one here, afraid of the dark."

"What if something happened to him?"

With that, Yazoo rose swiftly and decisively from his straight backed chair and gave his brother one of his 'looks'. Loz cringed slightly but to his surprised Yazoo walked right past him and swept into Sephiroth's office.

"Nii-san." He crossed his arms over his chest and took a stance decidedly more aggressive then customary. "I'm worried about Kadaj and Loz's sniffling is driving me crazy."

Sephiroth flipped his lovely pen a few times and threw it into the ceiling where it became imbedded four inches deep and stuck there.

"What do you want me to do about it?" The ex-general growled.

"Why don't you call him or something?"

"You do it."

The long haired remnant flipped his phone open on the spot and selected Kadaj's number, holding the phone to his ear with some guise of patience. The next instant a catchy ring tone sounded from somewhere in the house. Sephiroth quirked an eyebrow in extreme displeasure and exited the room in search and destroy mode.

Nothing lasts long against Sephiroth in this state of mind and Kadaj's badly misused backpack was ransacked for the device, which had miraculously survived the youth's ill treatment earlier. It didn't survive the ex-general however and after the caller ID was confirmed a sad little crunch was heard and the phone's charmed existence had ended. Cell phone abuse seems to be genetic.

Loz began sniffling more, realizing the unfortunate turn of events.

Yazoo tried to ignore him and began pacing, albeit gracefully. "Now, what do we do?" His question was obviously directed toward the older of his two brothers.

"You know him better then I do." Sephiroth frowned. "Where do you think he would go?"

Yazoo drummed his fingers on his crossed arms. "I don't know, Nii-san. He's unpredictable."

"Well, what was he upset about?" Sephiroth paced the other side of the room.

"I wasn't really paying attention today but he seemed upset over something at school, I think." Yazoo chocked his head to the side, trying to remember anything that could be useful.

"What's at school that could upset him so much?" Sephiroth demanded, as though the simple fact that the other two were younger would make them capable of knowing what they all had equal inexperience with.

Loz however watch the most TV and could offer something similar to experience. "The other kids? They can bully people and stuff."

"That's doesn't seem likely." Sephiroth shook his head. "Kadaj is small but he's more then assertive."

Yazoo on the other hand, read the news. He stiffened abruptly at a thought and clenched his fists. "What if the teachers did something?"

Again Sephiroth shook his head. "I don't believe he'd be intimidated by teachers either."

Yazoo let out an almost Kadaj-like huff. "Now I'm very worried. He can't even call us now if something is really wrong."

"And he doesn't have Souba either." Loz commented. "He seems so much littler when he isn't threatening to kill you with that…"

"You would know." Yazoo commented dryly.

Sephiroth's eyebrow twitched in a familiar fashion and Yazoo did not fail to notice. "It's not your fault Nii-san. You were just trying to keep him from getting angry and thoughtlessly murdering someone. He is impulsive that way."

The very, very long haired man sighed moodily. "I would have been better then someone else killing him instead…"

"Oh great, now you made Loz cry." Yazoo stood with his hip to the side and his arms over his chest frowning at his short haired brother.

The ex-general ignored them both for the space of a few minutes while considering the courses of action at hand and weighting them each separately.

"You can stop whimpering." Sephiroth decided after thoughtfully running a hand through his hair. "We are going to have to find Kadaj immediately."

"Good." Yazoo nodded.

"And then I'll be able to think of a suitable punishment for him running away like this."

Yazoo looked at his older brother with displeasure realizing the true course of Sephiroth's extended thoughts. "You've been thinking about that all this time? …and you still haven't come up with any good ideas?"

"You two are so mean." Loz commented, feeling for his overly emotional brother. "Hey, what if Kadaj doesn't want to come back?"

"We'll drag him back, kicking and screaming if necessary." Sephiroth answered smoothly. "God knows he does that enough already…" He muttered, whisking into his office to collect his coat and probably various well cared-for weapons.

-

It was easy to conclude that Kadaj was in the city. They all knew that the teen hated spaces which were too open and so there was no purpose in checking the countryside.

"Which way do you think Kadaj would go?" Sephiroth demanded of the unwillingly elected resident 'Kadaj expert'.

"I'm guessing…" Yazoo hesitated, absently fingering the gun in his holster. "...that way. It's darker and more convoluted."

"That sounds reasonable." Sephiroth lead them down the indicated street.

"I don't get it." Loz protested following behind. "Why does it make sense that he'd want to go down the darkest, creepiest ally?"

"You never 'get' anything." Yazoo said informatively.

"I could if you'd ever tell me anything."

"Just because I tell you, doesn't mean you'll understand."

"Nii-san," Loz addressed his plea to the swaying silver locks before him. "Will you tell me? Then I'll prove to Yazoo that I can figure it out."

Sephiroth open his mouth as though to speak, then paused. "Yazoo, you tell him."

The slender remnant furrowed his brow and prepared to give a well rounded explanation, something so clear, short and simple that even Loz would soon be satisfied. He began,

"Well, Kadaj always likes dark, mysterious places. And since he was in a bad mood when he left he would probably be even more drawn to them." Yazoo smiled thinking that was a very good explanation and had only taken about three seconds to put forth.

"That still doesn't make sense. Why would he want to be somewhere creepy when he's in a bad mood?"

Yazoo frowned. He was going to have converse with his brother for more then a three second period. "Because, his mind is dark and disorganized and this place reflects that."

"But if he's unhappy because his mind is dark and disorganized, wouldn't being here in a place like this, just make him feel worse?"

Yazoo had to admit to the logic of that statement. "Yes, it would."

"Then why did he come here?"

"To make himself feel better."

"That doesn't make sense!"

"I told you wouldn't understand!" Yazoo huffed and flipped his hair.

"You just said that Kadaj came here to feel better, because it would make him feel worse." Loz stood his ground.

"Nii-san, my head hurts." Yazoo held a thin hand to his own forehead. "Maybe Kadaj isn't here at all."

-

Kadaj's thin shoulders slumped. He was hungry, he was really, really hungry. And he was tired and he was cold and he was bored and he was lost and he was just plain upset.

All of these conditions worked wonderfully at making him feel irritable and dejected. He didn't even have the pleasure of being angry anymore. He had been wandering alone so long that the familiar emotion had finally leaked away, perhaps supplanted by the myriad of more painful sensations.

One of the worst things to happen was that he had actually begun to reason back and forth with himself, wondering if maybe his brothers hadn't done anything all that bad. He had after all, purposely irritated Nii-san while he was working and he knew the man hated that. Kadaj couldn't really blame him for working so hard, he made a whole lot of money at it…and then he had dented the wall…

Yazoo didn't really have any excuse. But he was always that way and Kadaj had come in the door planning disturb him as much as possible. Yazoo had also made him so much wonderful food to day… Kadaj lingered on the thought. He had to suppress a whimper at the hunger pangs it produced.

Loz wasn't even there but he usually tried to be nice to Kadaj about everything.

This was terrible. He couldn't even go back if he wanted to and if he wanted to, he still didn't know if he would. One thing was certain though; he wanted to at least know how to. 'Lost' was not in his comfort zone. He thought of asking some of the persons decorating (or rather deteriorating) the slums here but whenever he seriously fixed on one person for consideration, the humiliation of admitting that he was lost and the idea of stooping to communicate with what he liked to call 'creatures' overwhelmed him and he decided to try and find his own way out for a while longer.

In his attempts to get farther from the slums, he invariably seemed to only get drawn deeper into them. Kadaj wondered if they were designed that way purposefully, it seemed unlikely that such a divisive maze as these slums could arise by coincidence.

More and more frequently he was being besieged by hookers who seemed to come out of nowhere and a few strangely dressed men who accompanied the hookers and complimented his looks. Muggers were not uncommon but Kadaj's Death Glare was widely successful at keep them at a comfortable distance.

The teen simply scowled and determined in himself that if he kept walking in a straight line, he would eventually have to hit the edge of the city or a more respectable district. And so he kept on walking.

"Heyya, sweet thing."

Kadaj stopped so quickly that his hair swung from the inertia, his eyes widened and narrowed dangerously. That was one of Yazoo's horribly annoying nicknames of him and damned if he didn't hate it when his brother used it, but it was one of Yazoo's horrible annoying nicknames and for some reason he was feeling extremely defensive of it right now. It reminded him of his brothers and he missed them!

That made him very irritable indeed and he swung around hair flying, eyes blazing, with a snarl in his voice. "Were. you. Talking. To. Me?"

Kadaj was somewhat annoyed that his chain laced opponent didn't seem as intimidated as he should have been. Was he losing his touch?

The other's eyes narrowed as well. "Looks like you wandered onto my turf." For some reason the man looked pleased at Kadaj's misdemeanor. "You know what the penalty for being caught outside your domain is, don't ya?" Now the chain laced man was stepping closer and bore an expression much like leering.

"I'll wander wherever I please." Kadaj couldn't help feeling that the other man knew something he didn't, his flashing cat eyes weren't having the customary effect and it was trying he patience.

In any case, the man was obviously moving toward him with some sort of violent intent and the thrill of combat was flooding Kadaj. He hadn't fought with anyone since his blonde brother and he had forgotten the little bit of a rush it gave. A smirk fixed itself on his lips and he instinctively reached for…Souba?

Kadaj's heart sank as his hand grasped thin air. Somehow he had slipped so far back into his mind that he forgot about being disarmed. It wasn't that he felt that he felt completely helpless without it, quite the contrary, but the sudden surprised realization of a weakness unsettled him and he might not have been able to keep that out of his face.

"Loose something, Sweetie?" The other man was reveling in the knowledge of his physical superiority to the young remnant and now had the confident smirk for himself.

Kadaj glared at the other in frustration. Without his sword if he wanted to fight, he would have to actually touch the 'creature' and that would only make him dirty. Merely walking in this ally already ruffled his delicate sense of hygiene.

The teen remnant made a 'teh' sound and turned to walk away, deciding not to bother any more with the unclean ally dweller. At least big brother had taken baths often, he actually smelled pretty good, like vanilla and…

Kadaj felt a sudden movement behind him and by a split-second evasion narrowly missed the capturing hand intended for his arm. He glared and stepped away quickly, knowing that he was faster then the other. But he didn't get more then a few paces before hearing a sharp whistle which produced another individual like the first. The new arrival looked blankly at the two of them for a second, until recognition dawned on his face and he yelled to someone to his left before blocking Kadaj's intended escape route. Within moments there were two more, then three more helming the teen in and obediently watching their leader.

Kadaj turned back to the obvious organizer and yell at him. "Leave me alone!" It didn't sound as threatening as he had wanted but he just couldn't think of anything else to say.

The gang's leader shrugged. "If you go looking for trouble, you have to expect to find it."

But he wasn't looking for trouble, damnit! Kadaj didn't speak but only concentrated instead on looking tough and mildly succeeding. The Chain Laced signaled to a couple peons who advanced on Kadaj from either side, trying to immobilize him. To everyone's surprise Kadaj overpowered both of them, shoving them off in disgust; but only after receiving a heavy hit to his face. His victory was short lived though and Kadaj felt himself becoming more and more hemmed in, making his heart pound in his slight chest.

He wished that he was home right now in bed, asleep and peaceful. Or maybe snuggled on the couch listening to the constant, even typing of Yazoo's computer or even Loz's bothersome snoring, contentedly aware that his Nii-san was just down the hall. Kadaj shook his head in dismay; he was so weak without his brothers.

"Nii-san!!"

-

"Hush!" Sephiroth stopped dead in his tracks and signaled for the two irritating ramnants to be silent. It could literally be seen that his senses were alert and focused by the rigidity of his body and distant eyes.

Yazoo watched the man with eyes narrowed and his ears perked, he couldn't hear anything abnormal and he knew that his hearing was superhuman. Loz listened as well and shrugged to him, but froze when Sephiroth gave him a warning glare for the creaking of leather this caused. If there older brother heard something they didn't, he would have to be nothing short of supernatural. But that was already established.

Sephiroth's eyes flicked wide open before narrowing again. "Come."

The duo wordlessly obeyed, nearly flying past the next six blocks to their destination. And there they stopped.

There was the street gang. Complete with all the expected sleazy clothes, chin studs and pornographic tattoos. The most important thing about the gang however, was the object of its collective attention, which from Sephiroth's considerably superior height, he could just make out as his little brother.

In the next few minutes the legendary Demon of Wutai resurfaced, with the pale gleam of metal and a vibrant Mako green. Needless to say, those present were quite fortunate that the Nii-san was in too much of a hurry to kill anyone slowly. (For Sephiroth was clearly versed in other methods of dispatchment, which he wouldn't have minded employing.)

When everything was 'taken care of', Kadaj was uncovered in the center of the blood bath; his arms still up defensively around his face. Slowly, he lowered the shied and peered around gazing at the bloodied carnage surrounding him. At the edge of which, a warrior angel stood, formidable, judging, eyes darkened with blood lust, slender weapon streaming in the penalty of his judgment.

"Nii-san!" Kadaj sprinted, barely rounding the crimson edged Masamune and lunched himself into the fell angel's arms. "Nii-san, I love you!" The teen had his arms thrown around his older brother's neck and tried to squeeze the life out of him. Sephiroth wasn't so easily killed however and merely held him in place.

Soon the other two were crowding around with concerned questions and Sephiroth had to firmly place the clinging teen back down on the ground to examine him.

"Are you okay, Kadaj?"

"Did they hurt you?!"

Sephiroth shushed them and took a long look at the remnant who was still clutch his arms in a half hug. Kadaj shook his head in reply; though tears were streaming down his face. He was thankfully intact and completely unharmed except for the bruise on his cheek. Once Sephiroth declared that wasn't too fragile to touch, Yazoo petted his hair while Loz cuddled him.

After a few minutes of this Yazoo looked around him and frowned. "But Nii-san, you didn't leave any for me." He complained.

"I'm sorry I didn't think of it at the time." Sephiroth allowed Kadaj to adhere to his chest again.

"Aw, you've got a bruise, Kadaj." Loz noticed. Then he roughly kicked the nearest body.

"I wanna go home." Kadaj demanded, slightly muffled in Sephiroth's coat.

"Of course. We're going back now." Sephiroth wrapped an arm around the remnant and tried to turn him around so that he could walk.

"Do I still have to go to school?" Kadaj made his eyes wide and puppy-dogish.

The ex-general hesitated. "I don't think we should talk about that now."

"You can't just go endangering your life to get out of school." Yazoo scolded.

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Kadaj clung to his Nii-san's side.

"I know." Sephiroth slowly rubbed the boy's shoulder. "But I promise that I'll listen to whatever you want to tell me. Okay?"

"Okay… I'm really tired, Nii-san." Kadaj's eyes drooped and he yawned.

Sephiroth considered for a minute. "Alright. It's a long way back." He picked up the sleepy remnant and made him comfortable in his arms. The silver haired teen wrapped his arms around his older brother's neck and with his head resting on his Nii-san's shoulder and fell quietly asleep.

Walking softly, Sephiroth glanced back. "Loz, Yazoo, keep up!"

"Yes, Nii-san!" They said in unison, leaving the carnage behind.

Sephiroth glanced down at the usually angry, irritating, angst-filled teen now snuggling and wearing a peaceful little smile. He couldn't help but smirk slightly in return; at least, he tried to keep it a smirk and nothing closer to a 'smile'. Well, it was a good thing no one could see him or hear a small chuckle coming from deep in his throat.

Kadaj certainly could get into a lot of trouble. Sephiroth could only imagine what tomorrow would bring.

……………………….

Okay that sucked out loud. But read on dear friend! There must be a light somewhere at the end of that damn tunnel...