A/N: I don't know what took me so long to write this, if it was just writer's block, or my own fear...O_O I did a bunch of research on FFVII on the internet, and that helped. It also gave me another story idea. -_- And I swear, that is not what I need write now. My brain is going to overload with story ideas! Well, on the bright side, you may have something else of mine to read when this is all done with.

Anyhoo...I hope you enjoy this. OH! And I need to give a shout out to...Spiritwinned! XD

Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII or any of its characters. I also don't own Chaza [but I got permission for him ;) ].

Chapter Twelve

This was strange. Maybe ironic was the word. Kadaj wasn't sure. He stared at the town of Junon before him, Fenrir's engine humming comfortably beneath him. He hadn't been here in quite a while. Not since he and Vincent had been trapped at the inn during the last winter's snow storm. The memory evoked a smile.

He drove through the streets, glancing at the unfamiliar faces of the pedestrians he passed. He watched the tall buildings, smelled the salt of the sea. He took in everything that was Junon, despite the fact that he was exhausted. His anger had been diminished by his change of scenery, and the sense of freedom Fenrir had given him. He still intended to beat some sense into Yazoo once he found him, but right now he was too tired to think about. He would eat something, then rest for the night. He would find Yazoo in the morning, after all, he was very close by.

He brought the bike to a halt outside the inn, staring up at the three-story building. He left Fenrir behind, taking the keys with him and hiding them away in his pocket, as he entered the inn.

The smell of food cooking made his mouth water and his stomach ache more than it already was. He glanced around the virtually empty space. The tables and chairs were all empty, despite the food that tempted anyone who walked by the front door. The counter at the end of the lobby was empty as well, the innkeeper out of sight. Kadaj certainly hoped he hadn't missed him.

"Hello?" he called, leaning over the counter to try and peer into the kitchen behind it. He jumped back when a man suddenly popped up before him, looking a little frazzled. Kadaj recognized the innkeeper immediately, but in his state, it took the older gentleman a little longer to do the same.

"Sorry," he said immediately, "Welcome. What can I do for...Hey, Kadaj!"

The remnant offered a friendly smile, leaning forward on the counter again, "Hello, Chaza."

Kadaj had met the man the last time he had been here. The power had gone out, so the innkeeper wasn't aware of the fact that he had been handcuffed at the time. In his opinion, Chaza was a hard-working, friendly gentleman, who had taken a liking to the young remnant. He also thought he had a soft spot for his boyish looks and the way Kadaj always put on an air of childish innocence around him.

"What brings you back here?" Chaza asked, adjusting the patch over his left eye as he talked.

"Traveling," he answered, "I'm very tired and very hungry. Can I get a meal and a room?"

"Sure. I'll be out in a minute." Chaza turned and disappeared in the kitchen, leaving Kadaj to stand there on his own. The remnant sighed heavily, forcing his eyes to stay open as he rubbed the back of his aching neck.

It was only a few minutes later when the innkeeper came back out, a bowl of steaming stew in his hands. He slid the meal to Kadaj, as the remnant reached into his pocket for his money. "The meal's on the house," Chaza said, "It'll be forty flat for the room."

The remnant smiled to him gratefully, handing him the amount of gil in exchange for a room key. "Thank you, Chaza."

The man nodded to him, before Kadaj left the counter and went for a table. He took the one in the far corner of the room and sat heavily in the seat, before he began eating the meaty soup. It was delicious and he ate it ravenously, not only curing his hunger but temporarily sating his fatigue.

The lobby was silent, the only noise coming from Chaza as he organized something behind his work station. Kadaj watched him from a lack of anything else to watch. He marveled at the man, wondering how he could be content to live such a simple existence. He probably lived at this inn for years, doing nothing but serving its patrons. From his scars, it was obvious he had lived a life full of adventure and action. Kadaj wondered how someone could go from such a lively way of life to something so mundane.

Maybe his lively existence was what brought him here. Perhaps he was tired of all the fighting.

The noise of footsteps coming down the stairs pulled Kadaj from his thoughts. He glanced at the case that led from the second floor and watched the man clad in black, with auburn red hair, descending. His hand slid along the railing as his gaze settled on Kadaj for a second, then quickly flashed over to Chaza. Kadaj noticed he smiled directly at him in that brief second their eyes met.

"Chaza," the auburn-haired man greeted the innkeeper, approaching the bar and leaning against it, "I need a drink."

"A drink?" the keeper questioned, staring at him strangely. "Now?"

"Not that type of drink. I need something to drink."

"Oh," Chaza replied, "What kind?"

"Juice. Any kind, it doesn't matter."

"Alright." Chaza stared at his patron strangely, before turning and making it back to the kitchen.

The strange man clad in black looked over his shoulder, back at Kadaj, meeting his gaze once again, "On second thought, make that two!" he called to the innkeeper.

Kadaj paused with a spoonful of soup in his mouth, staring back at the man and his unwavering blue eyes. A strange feeling crept over him, something he couldn't explain. The other man's smile never left, even as he pulled his gaze away to take the drinks from Chaza.

Like predicted, the man headed straight for his table. Kadaj's unfriendly gaze held his the entire time.

"A drink?" the stranger offered, that smile still on his face. It softened his features, but at the same time didn't make him seem any friendlier. It was a knowing, almost amused, smile. It spoke words Kadaj couldn't quite understand. It made him uncomfortable, yet at the same time, he wasn't repulsed by him. Something about him was familiar. Maybe it was those eyes, so bright and blue, so much like Cloud's.

They told of a life in SOLDIER.

"I noticed you don't have one," the stranger continued, after he didn't respond. He held one glass out to him. "It's just juice." He took a sip of the other glass to find out what type of juice it was. His features showed a bit of distaste as he swallowed it. "Apple."

Figuring there would be no harm in it, Kadaj accepted the man's offer with a nod. The smile on his face was pleased.

"Mind if I have a seat?" he asked.

"No," Kadaj replied. After all, they were the only two patrons here. Maybe the familiar stranger just wanted some company.

He sat in the chair across from him, his eyes going to Kadaj's soup as he continued to eat. The stranger took another sip of his drink, his eyes going to the window and the twilight outside. "So what brings you to Junon, friend?"

"Just traveling," he answered, sipping from his juice. After a long point of silence, Kadaj asked, "What about you?"

The man smiled again, his eyes still to the window. "I was looking for someone."

"Did you find him?"

His smile turned a little sad, his mako eyes turning back to meet his. "Only what was left of him."

Kadaj wasn't sure what that meant, but he decided not to press the subject. It didn't look like it was something the man wanted to discuss.

"Not to be presumptuous, but you seem to be looking for someone as well. I can always tell when a person is searching for something, it's clear in their eyes."

Kadaj sipped from his juice. Was he really that easy to read, or was his fatigue allowing his feelings over the situation to surface again? Now that he had finished his soup, he felt his tiredness coming on him once again. He sighed heavy, resting his elbow on the table and his head on his palm.

"My brother," he answered, shrugging.

"You have a brother?" his eyes were alight with interest, "Is he as unique as you?"

"Unique?"

"Silver hair, interesting eyes?"

Kadaj had never been reminded of his appearance by anyone, not even the townspeople in Nibelheim, who were all familiar with him. It wasn't an appearance he would flaunt, but also wasn't something he could get rid of.

"Your eyes are interesting, too," he remarked, diverting the subject.

The stranger smiled again, "My eyes are the eyes of sorrow."

"The eyes of a soldier?"

He nodded softly. "For a soldier, the end is inevitably sorrow."

"Well, you're not dead yet," Kadaj remarked. He blinked to relieve his drying eyes, fought hard to keep his vision in focus.

"Not yet." The stranger drank from his juice, this time ignoring the fact that the taste displeased him.

"What's your name?" Kadaj asked, wondering if hearing it would somehow jar his memory. He couldn't shake the feeling that he knew this man.

"Loveless."

"Loveless?" he asked. He remembered something, but not anything about the stranger. "Isn't that a play?"

"Actually, it was a book first."

Kadaj smiled, amused. "Your mother must have really loved it."

"Not as much as I did." Loveless relaxed into his chair, eyeing the tired teen. "What about your name?"

"Kadaj."

Loveless repeated it, weighing how it felt on his tongue.

Kadaj nodded, running his hand down his face, as if trying to wipe his fatigue away. He looked from Loveless to his empty bowl on the table, then to Chaza's station. The man wasn't behind the counter. He blinked as his vision went fuzzy again, the room swaying a bit, side to side.

Was he really that tired? He had gone longer than this without sleep and this had never happened. What was happening to him?

"Are you alright?" Loveless asked, noticing his state.

Kadaj looked back at him, his image swaying, that same smile on his face. His knowing eyes looked right back at him, amused.

The remnant suddenly stood from his chair, realizing what was happening. His gaze went down to his half drunken apple juice-his drugged, half drunken apple juice.

"You..." He tried to step back, but only stumbled. His leg caught on his chair, sending it scraping over the floor, sending him crashing onto his back. He had to get to his room, that was his only thought. He could lock himself in there, away from this familiar stranger, away from whatever he planned to do with him.

Loveless rose along with him, his glass forgotten as he took a step closer to Kadaj. The remnant tried in vain to crawl away from him, his arms and legs too heavy to move. He looked to the counter, to where Chaza was not. He tried to call for the man, but the only noise that came passed his lips was a small groan, not even loud enough to be heard.

Loveless's hand was now on his arm, pulling him effortlessly from the floor. Kadaj watched him in fear, his body unresponsive, paralyzed. Loveless's smile took on a sinister turn, as he gathered the remnant in his arms. The last thing Kadaj saw with his vibrant eyes, before everything went black.

A/N: Genesis scares me. O_O Or the aspect of writing about him scares me. O_O

Although I did enjoy this...I liked the simple, unspectacularness of his entrance.

Anyhoo...

Please review. :)