Chapter Sixty-Three: I Don't Know

Yazoo fumed as he walked down the dark street. Streetlights flickered dimly, allowing him to freely roam the shadowed city.

Kadaj had been infuriating as of late, purposely pushing his older sibling past his limits. Loz was let in on whatever he was scheming, but only for the purpose of spiting Yazoo. He knew it had to be something to do with Aralyn. No matter how he tried, he could get no information from Kadaj. He wondered if Kadaj suspected that he would have only tried to thwart that plan, and hoped fervently that this wasn't the case.

If he wanted to know anything, he'd have to find the information himself.

Yazoo slunk down an alley. This was the way to Seventh Heaven. He knew he was crazy for even thinking of coming here, but this was where Vincent Valentine was, and Vincent would have the answers Yazoo needed. He only hoped that Valentine would give him a chance to explain before he shot at him.

If that happened, then it would be the end of him. Yazoo had left his weapons at their base. If they didn't believe him, he would not fight back. It was the least he could do to make up for the incident with Marlene.

The bedroom window was slightly open, voices drifting out. Yazoo silently slid back from the exposure of the moon. It looked like he would have to use the front door instead of climbing into the bedroom as planned.

Yazoo opened the door and held the bell, not letting it drop down and ring. He slid through, and lowered the bell slowly, letting it return silently to its place.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing here?!"

Yazoo flinched. That voice belonged to Yuffie, the annoying little twerp of a ninja. Heavy footsteps pounded on the stairs. Cid and Barret were in the stairway entrance.

"Good," Cid said in his heavily accented voice. "Now we can get some answers."

Barret charged Yazoo, taking his bulky hand and grabbing the thin, white throat. Yazoo felt the wall scrape against his back as his feet dangled above the ground.

"I will ask you this once, and the only reason I am asking is because you didn't kill Marlene. What are you doing here?"

"I've come for Valentine," Yazoo gasped.

Barret threw him across the room, letting him crumple into the corner. Yazoo stood, leaning against the wall. It was his first impulse to fight back, but he pushed it away. If they wanted to kill him, he would let them.

Cloud and Tifa were now standing in the bar. "What does he want?" Cloud asked coldly.

"Wants Vincent," Cid grunted.

"He's gone," Tifa declared. "He went looking for Aralyn. Why did you come?"

"He has some information that I need."

"And you're not going to get it!" Cloud yelled, slamming the standing Yazoo into the ground with his sword.

"Cloud, maybe he isn't a—"

"A what, a threat? A monster? He shouldn't even exist, because he's just a remnant." Cloud jabbed at Yazoo with every word he spoke.

"But he didn't do anything to Marlene," Tifa argued. "He let her go."

"After threatening to kill her!" Barret took his mechanical arm and smashed it against Yazoo, throwing him against the wall.

"I . . . was never . . . going to hurt . . . her . . ." Yazoo choked out. "I . . . just needed . . . answers."

"You threatened her for measly words." Tifa turned accusing now. "You just chose her because she was a child?" She angrily approached Yazoo, placing her feet firmly in front of him. "You vile fragment." She swung her foot around, hitting him and jerking his head to the side. Yazoo ran a finger against his jaw, wincing.

Cloud lifted him by his empty sheath."Where is Kadaj?" He hissed.

"I don't know," Yazoo replied calmly.

"Liar!" Cloud yelled, slamming Yazoo against the wall again. Yazoo felt the floor slam harder against him as he fell.

"What is he planning?" Cloud screamed.

"I don't know," Yazoo responded.

Cloud used the sharp edge of his sword to throw Yazoo across the room. "What is Aralyn going to do? Why is she going to Faramir?" Cloud roared across the room.

"I don't know." Yazoo was seeing spots. So this was how it was going to end. Cloud threw him back to the first pool of his own blood.

"Why don't you know anything?" Tifa sneered. "I thought you were supposed to be Kadaj's right-hand man."

Barret lifted Yazoo against the wall and Cid held him there. "Let me through!" Yuffie yelled. "When I get done with you – "

"No!" A voice cried. Yuffie took no notice of the doorbell sounding. She aimed her shuriken and thrust towards Yazoo.

It found Vincent instead.

Yuffie let go in surprise. Vincent gasped, backing up against the wall and slowly pulling out the shuriken. Cid withdrew his hand and Yazoo slumped to the floor. A girl, remarkably similar to Aralyn, rushed to his side.

"Vincent . . . why?" Tifa asked, her voice quiet but accusing.

"He just needed answers. Yazoo is no longer in league with them. Kadaj and Verian have allied together without him." Vincent pushed away from the wall and walked weakly through the small crowd. "Vega, can you carry him?"

Blonde hair swiveled over her shoulder as she turned and nodded. Her hands dipped in blood as she reached under Yazoo, putting his arm over her shoulder and wrapping her other arm around his waist. Yazoo attempted to help support himself, but his body gave out. Slowly, she followed Vincent up the stairs.

"Vincent, I'm sorry!" Yuffie called.

Vincent led them to a back bedroom, furnished with only a twin bed and a tall, skinny dresser.

"Set him here," Vincent said, motioning towards the bed.

"What about you, Vincent? Even if you are practically immortal, it doesn't mean you won't get an infection." Vega put her hands on her hips. "Come here."

"Tend to him first." Vincent paused. "It's all my fault. If I had been here, then he would have had time to explain...and I would have known and convinced the others..."

"You did nothing wrong," Vega countered. "Now go get Tifa to help you. I'll take care of Yazoo here."

Vincent limped away, leaving Vega alone in the dark room, save for the figure on the bed.

Vega stood still for a moment, letting the air from the open window permeate the room, the soft night scents calming her. She slowly turned around and stepped lightly to the bed. Yazoo's eyes were half open, his breathing harsh and ragged. Wisps of blood-fringed hair splayed across his face.

Vega's pale hand brushed the strands away. Yazoo flinched as if he expected her to strike him. She hushed him, sitting beside him on the edge of the bed.

"Hello," she whispered. "I'm a remnant, too. I think . . . I think we are supposed to go together, like Aralyn and Sephiroth."

Loz found Yazoo's trail easily and tracked it to Seventh Heaven. Looking in the window, he saw a girl by Yazoo . . . and he saw blood leaking out of the broken body of his brother. The girl had something in her hands. Something white – it was cloth.

Loz jumped into the room, crashing through the window. The girl looked up, surprised. Loz approached threateningly.

"No," she started to say, "I'm only trying to he –"

Loz took her face in his hand and shoved her into the wall. A crack resounded in the room. Yazoo weakly opened his eyes. Loz picked him up, gently carrying him between his arms to the window.

"No," Yazoo choked.

Loz looked at him, surprised. Kadaj was going to welcome him back into the fold – Yazoo should be happy!

"Take me back," He gasped weakly.

Loz complied, standing near Vega's crumpled figure. Yazoo let one of his arms fall, brushing her bloodied head. Loz understood what Yazoo meant. He laid his brother back on the bed, then placed Vega next to him. Yazoo inched his hand over to hers, grasping her thin, bony fingers. She clasped his hand firmly in return.

Loz watched as their hands went slack with their final breath.