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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody	By : DarkSeraphim1 Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1315 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, or Dirge of Cerberus. I do not profit from the writing and/or posting of this fic. I am just a humble fan paying tribute to another's wonderful creations.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
Chapter 34
            ‘Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take it to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest.’ -Loveless, ACT I
Sephiroth stumbled ashore, his normally fluid movements hampered by the young man under his arm, who was stubbornly struggling to break free of his hold. He released Kadaj abruptly, grasping one slender arm to steady him as a precaution. An unnecessary one, as it turned out. The youngest remnant jerked his arm away and tossed his head, the effect of the defiant gesture dimmed somewhat as his wet hair flopped back into his face. Sephiroth hid a smile even as he looked passed the boy, his pale gaze finding Genesis, as the other man staggered to the grassy part of the shore and flopped onto his back in a wholly dramatic fashion.
His lover’s fiery auburn locks were plastered to his skull, his clothes saturated with moisture, while sea-salt clung to the pale cream of his skin. He looked adorably bedraggled to Sephiroth’s admittedly biased eyes, but Sephiroth was smart enough to keep his thoughts to himself. Genesis would not appreciate any comments on his current state of dishevelment, no matter how fondly uttered.
Genesis sensed his perusal and lifted his head just long enough to nail him with a piercing glare. “Don’t you dare laugh!” he warned acerbically before falling back to the ground once more.
“I would not dream of doing so,” Sephiroth assured him, straight-faced.
“Hhhmmmppphh.” The other man didn’t even try to hide his own smile as he turned his head just enough to meet Sephiroth’s gaze. “Your hair’s going to need to be brushed, again,” he all but purred, and Sephiroth couldn’t contain a small chuckle.
“You’re a lucky bastard, Genesis.” Zack dropped to the ground not far from him, groaning as he threw his arms out to clutch the damp grass. “Gods, but that sucked! I don’t ever want to do that again!”
Angeal lowered himself to the ground between his current lover and his former, his hand automatically reaching for Zack’s. “Neither do I, pup,” he said with quiet laughter. “If I never see another ocean again, it’ll be too soon.”
Loz, who had crawled ashore some ten feet away, was running a hand through his wet hair as he jogged across the sand towards them. “Daj?” he questioned, his deep voice wavering precariously as he threw his arms around his youngest sibling. “Are you okay?”
Kadaj snorted at the concern in his brother’s voice even as he hugged him tightly. “I’m fine,” he snapped, pulling away to glare sharply at Sephiroth as he added, “It’s Yazoo you should be worried about.”
“Yeah, I saw that big. . .thing that took off with him,” Loz said with a touch of anger. “We’re gonna kill it, right?”
“Yes!” the younger boy hissed.
“No.” Two silver heads swiveled towards him at the same time, and Sephiroth narrowed his eyes in warning. “As I have already explained to Kadaj, the winged creature you saw was Vincent Valentine, one of Cloud’s allies. Your Nii-san would be quite upset with you were you to harm him.”
“Valentine?” Loz frowned for a moment. “He’s the gunner who interrupted us when we were playing with Nii-san last year, isn’t he? The one who did those cool tricks with his cape?”
“So Father says,” Kadaj muttered disgruntledly.
Sephiroth ignored him as he nodded in acknowledgement. “Yes, that is him.”
“Hmm.” Loz glanced at his younger brother, who still looked pissed enough to kill, and winced a little. Yazoo had told them both about his dark one, but he’d never used Valentine’s name around their possessive little brother, so he didn’t think that he should either. “Well, maybe we should just find them first. We can decide if this guy needs killing after that. How’s that sound, tenshi?”
“Tenshi?” Genesis echoed incredulously. He sent a dubious look Kadaj’s away as he pulled himself into a sitting position. “Your nickname is angel?!”
Silver-green eyes bore into his own, and Genesis realized that if looks could kill, he would already be dead. “Yeah, and what of it,” the boy paused for effect, “kitten?”
Kadaj laughed spitefully at the older man’s shocked expression. “Here, kitty kitty,” he called out tauntingly, and Sephiroth had had enough.
“Kadaj.” The boy turned towards him with a smug smile, and he frowned down at him. “Taunting Genesis is something I will not tolerate. You had better learn that, now.”
The young man showed neither fear nor remorse as he snorted again and turned away. “Whatever,” he muttered defiantly, albeit under his breath. “Someone’s coming, so you guys might want to get up and at least act like SOLDIERs.”
Sephiroth merely sighed and shook his head, sending an apologetic glance towards his friends. Genesis looked at him with a heartrending combination of anger, bewilderment, and hurt, and Sephiroth’s own heart turned over. He approached the other man and extended his hand, his own expression full of things that couldn’t be said in front of five other people.
Genesis slid his hand into Sephiroth’s and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Strong arms slipped around him, and he found himself pressed against a wet, muscled body. He sighed and rested his head on Sephiroth’s shoulder, smiling slightly as he felt a kiss pressed into his hair. “You’re all right?” he asked, his smooth voice nearly inaudible.
“Yes,” Sephiroth answered in kind. “You?”
“Yeah.” Genesis closed his eyes for a long moment. “Does the other one hate me, too?”
Sephiroth winced and tightened his hold. “No,” he answered, running his hands down his lover’s slender back in a comforting gesture. “I assume Angeal explained that the boys share my memories?”
Genesis nodded and lifted his head, his fine-boned features taking on a vulnerable cast. “He’s so angry, Seph. Did I really hurt you so much?”
“Genesis. . .” Sephiroth pressed his lips to the smooth skin of his lover’s forehead, wondering how to explain the little one’s rage without revealing its true source. “There were times when we fought that I was angry with you, yes, but those times did not last. I fear that such moments are all that Kadaj remembers of. . .us.”
The other man drew a ragged breath and attempted a smile. If it wobbled a bit, neither man mentioned it. “I’m not that man anymore, Sephiroth.”
“I know you’re not,” he acknowledged in a quiet voice. “Once Kadaj comes to know you, he will, also.”
Genesis tucked a strand of sodden silver hair behind his lover’s ear. “I hope so, Seph.”
“You two look like a couple of drowned rats, yo.”
Genesis lifted one brow arrogantly and forced himself to step back. Reno was standing a few feet away, his hands tucked into the pockets of his dry trousers, and Genesis snorted. “The next time you want to trade places, just let me know.”
Aquamarine eyes lit up as the young man moved towards Sephiroth and Genesis quickly stepped between them. “I meant swimming out of Junon Bay, not touching Sephiroth!”
Reno looked so crestfallen that Genesis almost felt sorry for him—almost. “Sorry, street-rat, but you’ll have to find someone else to play with for the time being,” he said, not unkindly.
“Still chasing your own tail, Turk?”
Reno turned to find Kadaj standing behind him, a superior smirk curving his lips. “Well, well, if it isn’t little Baby Sephiroth,” he drawled insultingly. “How’s tricks, kid?”
“I should be asking you that,” the younger remnant retorted. “Where’s your master, little man? Has he had steal anything interesting lately?”
The Turk flinched as though he’d been struck, much to Kadaj’s surprise. “What’s wrong with you?” he demanded tactlessly, and Reno merely shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line. “Father, what’s wrong with him? And why is he limping?”
“Kadaj.” The gentle rebuke came from Aerith as she joined them. She set a hand on Kadaj’s shoulder, and he flashed her a blinding smile, temporarily distracted. “It’s good to see you, again, little brother. I’ve missed you.”
Kadaj slid his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. “I missed you, too, sister.”
“Sister!” Loz bounded up to the young woman and swung her into his arms. Kadaj swore as he wiggled out of the embrace, and Aerith grinned as she laughed breathlessly and hung on for dear life. “You made it!”
“I told you I would,” she said laughingly. “Now, put me down before you drop me, brother.”
“Oh!” Loz set her on the ground with exaggeratedly careful movements. “All better, Sis?”
Her deep green eyes sparkled as she lifted a hand to her chestnut curls. “Much better, Loz. Thank you.”
He merely grinned, not insulted in the least, happy to be reunited with the woman who had saved he and brothers. “You're welcome, Sister.”
Reno snorted even as he took an uneven step closer and gave her a loose, one-armed hug. “Are you sure about setting these three loose on the world?” he asked her dryly. “I don’t think The Planet’s ready for it.”
She merely laughed again and patted his cheek fondly. “Gaia will survive, Reno. That all that’s important.”
He only shook his red head, one corner of his thin lips quirking up in a crooked smile. “If you say so, little sister.”
Kadaj rolled his eyes, hating that the stupid Turk could get away with calling her that when they weren’t even related. “So, what’s with the limp?” he asked again, smirking at the older man’s sudden glare. “And why aren’t you back at Shinra, with the rest of the peons?”
Sephiroth, who had been observing silently, heaved a heavy sigh. “Reno no longer works for Shinra, little one,” he told the boy quietly. “Please, leave it at that.”
Kadaj’s jaw dropped at that. The loud-mouthed Turk he remembered from before had been completely, stupidly loyal to Rufus Shinra, a trait he had admired, even if he would never admit it. “No shit?” he questioned with disbelief.
“No shit, kid.” Cissnei approached them with her Shiruken held close at her side, her tawny brown eyes meeting Sephiroth’s. “We took care of the guards in Junon, but we should leave as soon as possible. It won’t be long before more troops arrive.”
Sephiroth merely nodded in response. “We need to search for Cloud,” he said, “as well as Vincent and Yazoo.”
“Understood.” Cissnei tapped Reno’s arm with her weapon and jerked her head towards the plains. “Come on, hotshot. Let’s get going.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Reno visibly shook himself, rolling his eyes and sauntering after her, calling over his shoulder, “You so owe me for this, Sephiroth!”
“I’ll come with you!” Zack hollered after them, giving Angeal a quick, hard kiss before bouncing away.
Loz watched him go wistfully. “’Daj?” he questioned, his deep voice hopeful.
“Oh, all right.” Kadaj dismissed him with an imperious wave of his hand. “But call me if you find them!”
“I will, tenshi. Promise.”
Kadaj watched his older brother jog over to Zack with a fond smile, shaking his head as he turned back to Sephiroth. “You’re sure that Valentine, or Chaos, or whatever the hell you called him, won’t hurt Yazoo?”
Sephiroth hid his worry behind a positive nod. “He seems to be an honorable man,” he said, choosing not to mention Chaos’ more aggressive nature.
“Good,” the boy said with genuine relief. “Then, all that’s left is to see if Yaz survived the dome’s collapse.”
Angeal watched the boy’s catlike eyes narrow he began to study their sparse surroundings, much as Sephiroth’s did while surveying a battlefield, and realized that Kadaj was very astute, despite his obvious volatility. It reminded Angeal of Genesis, and the way he had always feared his friend would someday become. Luckily, his best friend had more restraint than the youngest of Sephiroth’s clones, as well a compassion that the boy seemed to lack. He only hoped that Genesis’ newfound feelings for Sephiroth would be enough to combat Kadaj’s hostility, or things were going to end very badly between his closest friends.
The older man sighed heavily and the mercurial boy quickly focused on him. “Are you okay, Angeal?” he asked with genuine concern.
Angeal smiled tightly. “I’m fine. . .Kadaj,” he answered stiffly.
Kadaj studied him for a long moment, his pale emerald eyes glinting in the moonlight, before he smiled with almost affectionate warmth. “Don’t worry, Angeal. Sephiroth will make everything right. Won’t you?” the boy asked, suddenly nailing Sephiroth under an intense stare.
Sephiroth gazed down at him with a veiled expression. “We shall see,” he answered cryptically. “Let us concentrate on finding the others before we worry about such things.”
A curt nod sent that heavy curtain of rapidly drying silver hair swinging into the boy’s face, and then he turned to follow the others, drawing his sword as he did so. Souba glinted under the moon’s light as the boy broke into a run, his speed enough to rival that of any FIRST, and reminding them all of whom he had been cloned from.
A collective sigh of relief sounded and Sephiroth surprised them by chuckling. “He is a handful, isn’t he?”
Genesis stared at him before smiling reluctantly. “And then some,” he returned very dryly.
Angeal hid a laugh of his own behind one gloved hand, turning it into a cough that didn’t fool either of his friends. A high-pitched giggle came to his ears and he flushed as he realized that Cloud’s friend, Aerith, had remained behind.
“Kadaj is a very unique individual,” she stated, mirth dancing in her sage-green eyes. “Luckily, Cloud has a lot of patience.”
“He’ll need it,” Genesis retorted with a toss of his fiery head. “That boy is hell on wheels.”
She laughed again, the sound ringing through the crisp night air. “Kadaj is very young, very spoiled, and very insecure,” she explained. “He’ll grow out of it, eventually. All he needs is love and a firm hand.”
“Ppffftt.” Genesis rolled his eyes at that. “What he needs is a good spanking.”
“Oh, I’m sure Cloud is perfectly capable of handling that,” she teased, her voice rife with insinuation.
Angeal and Sephiroth were both shocked into silence, a deep blush climbing into the latter’s cheeks at the racy comment. Genesis merely laughed as he said, “Better him than me, my dear.”
Another giggle followed as Aerith drew the Princess Guard off of her back. “We should probably catch up to them. Gaia only knows what kind of mischief they’ll get into without us there,” she added with a grin.
Genesis flashed her his most charming smile as he drew Rapier and bowed over it. “After you, my lady.”
The girl curtsied regally and then ruined the effect by giggling once again. Genesis offered her arm in a gallant gesture and she switched her staff to her left hand to take it. She included both Sephiroth and Angeal in her bright smile, and then they were off, their heads close together as they began to joke about things Sephiroth preferred not to think about.
Angeal was shaking his head as they both began to follow, a reluctant smile curving his lips. “I’ve always wondered how Genesis does so well with women when he has absolutely no interest in them,” he murmured in a low voice.
Sephiroth merely returned his smile as he shrugged. “Genesis is a social creature, Angeal, in a way that neither of us will ever be.”
“True.” The older man mimicked his shrug, sighing again as Genesis’ voice drifted back to them. “She is much too young for that particular joke, Seph.”
He slanted a sidelong glance at his friend, which Angeal missed in his preoccupation. Sephiroth merely made a non-committal sound and kept walking, knowing that the girl was not nearly as young as she appeared. But then, none of them were what they appeared to be, and hadn’t been for a very long time.
A part of Sephiroth wished that he could be honest with Angeal, that he could unburden himself to the one person who could be trusted with his secrets. But Angeal was secure in the image he had of himself, so much so that the truth of his birth had been enough to strip that sense of self from him completely. No, Angeal would be irreparably damaged by the truth, and so Sephiroth kept his silence, even as it grieved him to deceive someone he so respected.
Some truths were never meant to be unearthed, after all.
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Cloud dragged himself wearily to the shore, flopping down on a brief expanse of sand that lined whatever the hell coast he had ended up on. He closed his eyes as he dragged in lungfuls of fresh, clean air, knowing that he was lucky to still be alive. The effects of the Underwater materia had long since worn off, and the long swim out of Junon harbor had exhausted him. He hated that he had been separated from Kadaj so soon, but he couldn’t search for him until he’d regained at least a portion of his normal strength. He had no choice but to wait for his mako-saturated system to recharge.
When the ocean had swept in and carried him away, he’d nearly panicked. Then, he had seen Sephiroth swimming with Kadaj, and he’d known that his little lover would survive. Sephiroth cared for Kadaj and his brothers, more than Cloud had ever believed possible, and Cloud had to believe that he had gotten Loz and Kadaj to safety.
As for Yazoo. . .well, that remained to be seen, Cloud thought with tired worry. The Gods alone knew how well he would fare if retained control of Vincent’s body. The demon was full of furious aggression and he had proclaimed his possession of Kadaj’s mysterious older brother. If Vincent wasn’t very, very careful, he was going to lose Yazoo before he had a chance to regain his memories of him.
Shit, Cloud swore silently, he couldn’t just lie here and let Yazoo be molested by an angry demon. He had promised himself that he would protect Kadaj and his brothers, and that was exactly what he was going to do. Just as soon as he figured out where the hell he was!
Cloud forced himself to sit up and take stock of his surroundings. The ocean lay before him, gently lapping at the sandy shore. He twisted around, scowling, as he saw nothing but hilly grasslands behind.
Fuck, he could be anywhere, he thought angrily, pushing himself to his feet and wringing out his wet clothes as best he could. He checked First Tsurugi and was relieved to find all six blades safely ensconced in his weapons harness. His PHS, unfortunately, hadn’t survived the dunking.
No more dancing chocobos, at least!
Small blessings, he thought with a small half-smile. The smile died as he remembered that he still didn’t know where he was, and he really needed to get his bearings if he wanted to find Yazoo. He looked up at the stars, wishing he remembered more from his childhood astronomy classes, and was startled by how clear the sky seemed. He had become used to seeing the floating carcass of Omega in the weeks following the Deep Ground incident, so much so that the sky seemed almost. . .wrong without it.
Focus, Cloud, he told himself sternly. While he didn’t remember much from his days as a student, he did remember sitting on a bed in the Kalm Inn with Vincent and discussing the changes that Meteorfall had wrought in the cool night sky.
There, that was it. The one that showed the brightest in the night sky, and glowed with the most unusual white-tinged green light. Cloud remembered sitting on the roof of Aerith’s church with Vincent one night after Sephiroth’s first defeat, and confessing that it reminded him of her. Vincent’s smile had been sad as he agreed, and together they had given the star their own name, one which they had never shared with another living soul.
“Holy,” he murmured on a sigh, and then began the long trek across the plains. He would follow the star, the only one in the night sky which never changed its position, and it would hold him steady on his course. He would find Kadaj and the others, and together they would find Yazoo. He couldn’t allow himself to believe otherwise.
Cloud kept the coastline on his left while walking through the grass to avoid the monster-filled sands. Thanks to Holy, he knew was traveling north, and that he would eventually make his way back to Junon. Once there, he would search the surrounding countryside for any signs of Sephiroth’s passing, and track the party as best he could. He hadn’t come back in time only to lose his little tyrant now.
He smiled a little at his own whimsy, but that was exactly how he saw Kadaj. The young remnant was strong, arrogant, and completely confident in his own abilities. He ruled his brothers with an iron fist, and they allowed it, their confidence in their youngest sibling absolute. If nothing else, Loz and Yazoo were completely loyal to Kadaj, and would do whatever it took to keep him safe and happy.
The smile died as Cloud wondered if that would include accepting him. He wanted to make peace with his lover’s siblings, if only to make things easier for Kadaj. He didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to the two older remnants if they were ever deprived of their baby brother. They had killed themselves the first time they’d lost him, and Cloud doubted that they’d think twice about doing so again. The boys seemed to have a truly symbiotic relationship, and Cloud wanted it to stay that way.
And he was worrying way too much, Cloud told himself firmly. He was ‘borrowing trouble’ as his mother might have said. He wouldn’t know how Loz and Yazoo would react until they actually met him, so worrying about their reactions were pointless. He’d deal with the situation as it developed, and do his best to make the boys feel comfortable with him.
He didn’t know how long he walked before he heard the wholly unique sound of Kadaj’s voice raised in excitement. His little lover was screaming Yazoo’s name, the sound more distant than Cloud would have liked, and he swore he broke into a run. Kadaj was close, but not close enough, and it would take Cloud some time to reach him. He could only run and pray that he got there in time. If Chaos hurt any of his friends or family, Cloud would have no choice but to kill him, regardless of the consequences to Vincent.
In the end, all Cloud could do was run and pray that he wouldn’t be forced to kill one his closest friends this night.
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Vincent watched from the depths of his own mind as Chaos winged his way through the turbulent sea. Yazoo was limp in his arms, his delicate features slack, those haunting eyes closed, perhaps forever. When the dome had collapsed and Yazoo had been swept away, he hadn’t fought Chaos’ insistence that he come forward. He had allowed the demon to take over, knowing that his own, all too human form wouldn’t be enough to save the beautiful young man that they had both claimed as their own. He was very much afraid that not even Chaos would be enough, and that he would be left behind to mourn the loss of yet another lover.
‘Shut it, host. The pretty one will live, or you will never know another moment’s peace. That, I swear to you.’
Vincent didn’t dispute the demon’s words, knowing full well that if Yazoo died, the demon’s torture would pale in comparison to that of his own mind. Losing Lucrecia had tormented him for so long, but his impossible memories of Yazoo had eclipsed that suffering, set him aflame body and soul, in a way he hadn’t believed possible. Losing Yazoo now, before he was given a chance to truly know him, would haunt him for the rest of his immortal life.
‘That is why you must heal him!’ Chaos inserted thunderously as he burst from the sea. ‘I have no wish to listen to you whine about this one as you have that faithless woman for the past thirty-four years!’
‘Thirty-four years?’ Vincent echoed with a mental frown. ‘It has only been twenty-six since our imprisonment, demon.’
‘And you are a dense one, human,’ the demon snapped, his patience gone as he landed on the grassy plains just outside of Junon. ‘Allow Storm-Cloud to return your memories at the very first opportunity, so that we may properly claim the pretty one as we should have from the first!’
‘What do you mean?’ Vincent asked sharply. ‘Yazoo is already ours. Why would we need to claim him?’
‘We have no time for this, host! Heal the pretty one, or suffer my wrath!’
Chaos receded unexpectedly, leaving Vincent wet and dripping in the cool night air, Yazoo still clutched in his arms. He laid the boy on the ground, stripped off the golden gauntlet that would only get in his way, and immediately began to administer CPR. As a Turk, he had been trained in the art of both taking and saving lives, though he had never before had an opportunity to use the latter part of his skills. As he pinched Yazoo’s delicate nostrils closed and lowered his mouth, he could only pray that those abilities had held.
He gripped the boy’s gently rounded chin in his free hand, eased that beautiful mouth open, and covered it with his own. He forced himself to ignore the silken feel of Yazoo’s lips as he blew air he himself did not need into the young man’s mouth. He released the boy’s head and set his palms on the muscular chest he remembered only from his dreams and began to count. Five pumps later, he moved back to Yazoo’s mouth and repeated the process, all the while praying for a miracle that he feared would never come.
After what seemed like an eternity, the boy’s chest rose sharply on its own, and then began to jerk as his body struggled to rid itself of all the seawater he had swallowed. Water came out of his mouth in spurts, accompanied by a gurgling sound that filled Vincent with hope. Reining in his exhilaration, he lifted the boy off the ground and turned him over, so that he would have an easier time emptying his lungs.
Finally, the young man’s breathing eased, although it continued to hitch with an alarming irregularity. His gloved hands came up to grip Vincent’s arms as he struggled to pull himself up, and Vincent lifted him into a sitting position as gently as he could. The boy slowly lifted his silver head, his wet hair gleaming like molten silver as it clung to his neck and shoulders, and Vincent waited in an agony of suspense.
Heavy-lidded green eyes, surrounded by a thick fringe of silver-gold lashes, widened dramatically as they finally locked onto his. Sensual bow lips parted on a wheezing gasp, and the hands on his arms tightened with the force of the boy’s shock.
“Dark one!”
The delight in that breathless exclamation was all the invitation Vincent needed. He jerked the boy to him, his arms banding around him, even as he lowered his head. He took the boy’s mouth in a passionate kiss, devouring his lips with a hunger he hadn’t thought himself capable of. Yazoo returned the intimate caress with greedy, eager lips, his hands coming up to tangle in the thick silk of his hair, and Vincent groaned deeply as his deprived body began to burn.
The young man shivered in his embrace, and Vincent was reminded that they were both dripping wet, and that the boy had nearly died only minutes before. He tore his lips away, panting heavily as he fought to control his more dominant instincts, and rested his forehead against the other man’s. Yazoo made a soft sound of protest, and he found himself smiling as he lifted his head.
“Hello, pretty one,” he murmured, his deep voice hoarse as he ran one gloved knuckle over the high arch of the boy’s cheek.
Yazoo gazed at the man who was holding him so tenderly with unconcealed wonder. “Dark one,” he breathed unevenly in return, reaching up to touch Vincent’s lips with reverent fingertips. “I thought I would never see you, again.”
“I couldn’t let you go.” The words tumbled from Vincent’s lips of their own accord, but he couldn’t refute the truth of them, even if he didn’t understand their meaning.
“It would have killed me if you had,” Yazoo whispered as his heart stuttered in his chest. “Thank you for coming for me, dark one.”
“Vincent,” he corrected, his crimson eyes locked intently on those not-quite feminine features. “My name is Vincent. . .Yazoo.”
Yazoo flushed with pleasure at the sound of his name on his dark one’s lips for the first time. “Vincent,” he repeated, his melodic voice catching, the sound wholly sensual to Vincent’s ears. “Thank you for coming for me, Vincent.”
Vincent stared at the beautiful, deceptively delicate-looking young man with something akin to awe. He brushed heavy silver locks out of Yazoo’s face, his touch as gentle as he could make it, while unsatisfied lust threatened to steal what little was left of his restraint. Yazoo turned into his touch, his striking, disquieting emerald eyes drifting closed, and Vincent quickly enfolded him in an unapologetically possessive embrace.
“I have dreamt of you for so long,” Vincent told him in a longing-filled whisper. “I nearly went mad, wondering if you were real.”
Yazoo frowned slightly as he returned the tender embrace. “Of course, I’m real,” he began, only to fall silent as his name was shouted through the crisp night air.
“Yazoo!”
He looked over his shoulder to see Kadaj in the distance, Loz following closely behind, as he ran towards him. He felt Vincent stiffen against him, his arms tightening around him in a wholly possessive way, and had to stifle a satisfied smile. Yes, he had made the right decision when he had accepted Sister’s offer, he thought contentedly. To be held like this by Vincent, after so much misunderstanding had passed between them, was enough to convince him of that.
He looked back at Vincent and offered a very small, very rueful smile. “My brothers,” he murmured in explanation.
Those brilliant crimson eyes flickered, and Vincent finally loosed his hold. But not by much, Yazoo quickly discovered as he tried to turn around. Vincent’s leather-clad body brushed against his with every move that he made, and he was breathing heavily by the time Vincent finally pulled him back against him. He closed his eyes for a long moment, letting his head fall back onto the other man’s shoulder, and knew that this was where he belonged. So long as he had his dark one, he would always have a place to call home.
Vincent held the younger man as close as he could, his deep red eyes trained on the incoming figures, and waited with veiled curiosity for his pretty one’s family to join them. The two silver-haired youths each bore a striking resemblance to the man in his arms, but they were definite differences, as well. One was tall, as Yazoo was, but had rather exaggerated musculature. His silver hair was short, while long, close-cropped sideburns emphasized undeniably masculine features.
The shorter of the two, obviously the youngest, shared the greatest resemblance with his pretty one. His face was more rounded, giving it the cherubic, nearly angelic quality that one associated with youth. He appeared to be more lightly muscled than either of his brothers, but Vincent was sure that would change as he grew older. He had an aura of power around him, however, that neither of his brothers possessed, and that put Vincent immediately on guard.
‘This one could be trouble,’ Chaos warned from the depths of his mind, and Vincent unconsciously tightened his hold on the man in his arms.
The smaller one looked terrified as he finally reached them and threw himself down on the ground before them, and Vincent was moved in spite of himself. Powerful or not, he was just a boy, one who was very worried about his brother.
“Yazoo!” the boy panted, reaching out and attempting to wrench Vincent’s arms away from said brother. “Let him go! If you’ve hurt him I’ll—“
“Kadaj.” The gentle, almost indulgent rebuke had the younger boy blinking as he hesitated in what Vincent was sure was an atypical manner. He could hear the smile in his pretty one’s voice as he said, “This is my dark one.”
“Him?!” Kadaj settled back on his haunches, studying Vincent with interest, and not a small bit of wariness. “But he’s one of them. One of those AVALANCE people!”
“Not anymore,” Yazoo replied, much to Vincent’s confusion. “He’s one of us now, tenshi.”
“But. . .” the boy’s voice trailed off as the larger brother finally reached them. “Yaz!” the other exclaimed, ignoring Vincent completely as he threw himself at his brother. “You’re okay! I thought you were gonna die!”
“Not today, brother.” Yazoo drew Loz to him as best he could with Vincent’s arms still around him. His older brother began to sob, and he cradled his head to his chest. “I’m all right, Loz. Please, don’t cry.”
The one called Loz immediately began to sniffle as he tried to rein in his tears, and Vincent lowered his head to hide a smile. Loz pulled away slowly, swiping at his cheeks ineffectually at his cheeks, and surprised Vincent with his next words. “If you’re not hurt, why are you breathing so funny?”
“The experiments, duh.” Kadaj rolled his eyes as he reached for his brother once again, scowling when Vincent refused to give way. “If you’ll take your hands off my brother, I can heal his lungs before they get any worse.”
Vincent hesitated, listening to his pretty one’s short, gasping breaths, sounds he had previously attributed to sexual excitement, and quickly released him. “What’s wrong with his lungs?” he demanded, hovering in a protective manner that drew a snort from the mouthy young man.

“Hojo tried to splice fish DNA with ours,” Kadaj snapped as he laid his hands over Yazoo’s chest. “Now, shut up and quit distracting me. This isn’t exactly easy to do.”
Blood-red eyes narrowed almost imperceptively, taking on a gold tint as Chaos made his opinion of Yazoo’s younger brother known. ‘Do you think the pretty one would be too upset if I disemboweled the little--?’
‘Yes!’ Vincent hissed mentally, setting a hand on Yazoo’s back to steady him as he swayed. ‘Unless your intent is drive Yazoo away, you will behave yourself and leave his brothers alone.’
‘But the little one annoys me!’ Chaos roared with disappointment. ‘He has another brother. Surely, he won’t miss this one?’
Vincent didn’t bother to reply as he watched the youngest boy—Kadaj, he reminded himself—close his eyes and mutter something uncomplimentary about humans under his breath. A gentle glow began to emanate from the boy’s hands, and Vincent watched with both surprise and wonder as Yazoo’s chest rose and fell in a deep, cleansing breath. Kadaj waited until his brother had taken several more before opening his eyes and withdrawing his hands, a pleased expression that didn’t quite hide his relief shaping his deceptively innocent features, and Vincent realized that most of the boy’s bluster was exactly that. He might be powerful, but he was still a child, one who desperately needed his older brother.
“So, how do you feel, now?” he demanded expectantly, and Yazoo sent him a dazzlingly affectionate smile.
“I feel much better, tenshi,” Yazoo assured him, placing his right hand on the ground and pushing himself to his feet. “Thank you.”
Kadaj beamed at his brother and stepped up to him, and Yazoo enfolded him in a warm embrace that spoke volumes about their relationship. “I’m sorry about the dome,” the boy whispered, and Yazoo quickly shushed him, pressing his lips to the crown of his head. “You were only trying to save me, brother. I would have done the same for you and Loz, had the situation been reversed.”
The boy only nodded and rested against him for a moment longer before reluctantly pulling away. “We should go,” he said decisively. “Father is looking for us, and he’s not happy about us taking off like we did.”
Yazoo, who had immediately reached for Vincent, went completely still at his brother’s words. “Father is here?” he asked with quiet amazement.
“Yep,” Kadaj replied with a smug smile. “I told you he’d come.”
“So, you did,” he murmured, looking nervous as he combed gloved fingers through his hair and attempted to straighten his wet clothes. “Kadaj, what is he like?”
“He’s bossy,” the younger boy replied with a pout, adding, “but really tall, and stronger than all of us combined. And his voice is even deeper than Loz’s!”
Loz quickly smothered a laugh as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder, knowing that his volatile little brother would take it as an insult if he didn’t. “Here he comes,” he announced with an excited grin, and Yazoo’s head jerked around as the sound of multiple footsteps approaching reached his ears. “You’re gonna like him, Yaz. He’s real nice, I promise.”
Yazoo merely nodded and reached for Vincent’s hand, smiling faintly as strong fingers instantly closed around his own. He cast an excited glance at the man he had so recently been reunited with, and Vincent responded with a peaceful smile that he had never seen before. It lit up those smooth, pale, faintly Wutaian features, and chased the shadows from those extraordinary ruby eyes. His dark one looked at peace with himself, something that had escaped him during their first frantic, heated encounters. It made Yazoo all the more certain that he had made the right decision when he had given up an eternity of ‘supreme happiness’ in The Promised Land to come back to a world which had already rejected him. If he had had any doubts before, they were wiped away by the power of that unexpected but wholly beautiful smile.
“Yaz!” his younger brother urgently, and he looked up to find a rather motley group of people standing only a few feet away. He let his gaze flick briefly over the party, ignoring the Turk he had once engaged in a very one-sided battle, as well as the attractive cinnamon-haired girl at his side. Angeal stood beside the girl, whose trademark black suit marked her as another Turk, the hilt of his Buster Sword sticking up at an angle behind him. Zack stood at his side, as always, nearly bouncing in place as his mako-charged body thrummed with invisible energy.
“Zachary, Angeal,” he greeted with quiet affection. “It is good to see you both, again.”
Zack nodded excitedly, able to see what Loz had meant when he’d implied that his brother was irresistible. Yazoo was gorgeous, even if his features were a little too feminine for Zack’s liking, and he practically exuded sex, even though all he was doing was standing there. He was almost as hot as Sephiroth, and that was saying something!
“Heya,” he returned with a grin, hoping like hell that his thoughts weren’t too obvious. “You’re name’s Yazoo, right?”
Yazoo smiled knowingly, well aware of the effect he had on others. “Correct,” he confirmed, his silver-green gaze locking onto Angeal’s. “And how have you been, my friend? Are you still lecturing the Seconds on pride, dreams, and honor?”
The older man hesitated before shaking his head and giving way. “I’m afraid so,” he answered with a small smile, adding, “Or I was, before we left Shinra to rescue you and your brothers.”
Yazoo merely nodded, his long silver hair swaying enticingly with the motion. “I’m sure you made the right decision, Angeal. You always do.”
“Thank you,” Angeal said simply.
Aerith stepped forward from her place beside the bemused First, her lips curved into an infectious smile. “Hello, little brother,” she greeted cheerfully.
Yazoo smiled serenely at the woman who had made his impossible dreams a reality. “Hello, Sister,” he murmured, bending down to accept the kiss she brushed across his cheek. “You are suffering no ill effects from the journey?”
“Oh, no,” she assured him, her smile widening as she realized that he meant the journey back in time, not the trip to Junon to rescue he and his siblings. “It was smooth sailing all the way.”
“Good.”
Yazoo straightened and paused, smiling slowly as he caught sight of Genesis. Still so beautiful, he thought with an appreciative sigh, forcibly reminding himself that--this time around—his kitten was not his at all. There was small, minute movement at Genesis’ side, a flicker of silver and black, and he found himself face to face with the man who had made his own existence possible.
Yazoo tilted his head to one side as he studied Jenova’s chosen son, not even attempting to hide his curiosity from the man who could read his thoughts as easily as he could read the emotions of others. Sephiroth mirrored the gesture, his pale emerald eyes with their elliptical pupils locking onto his own, and Yazoo was struck by the realization that his ‘father’ was just as curious about him.
He was tall, Yazoo thought, at least five inches over six feet. His physique was slender yet muscular, much like his own was, and Kadaj’s someday would be. Sephiroth’s features were perfectly symmetrical, whereas his own were so delicate that he had often been mistaken for a woman. Gilded silver hair arched high over Sephiroth’s forehead and flowed around his body, falling nearly to his knees in a shimmering moonlight fall, and yet it didn’t detract from his masculinity. If anything, it actually seemed to emphasize it, which was something that Yazoo’s did not.
“Sephiroth,” he greeted simply, and was rewarded with a slight curving of bow lips that were echoes of his own.
“Yazoo,” Sephiroth returned in kind, and Yazoo blinked once. His voice was deeper than Loz’s, perhaps even deeper than Vincent’s, which Yazoo wouldn’t have thought possible.
Sephiroth very slowly extended one hand and Yazoo allowed himself a smile of his own as he stepped forward to take it. He found himself drawn up against a damp, leather-clad chest, and he sighed as he wrapped his arms around the other man in return. “Father,” he said in a low, hesitant voice, and the arms around him tightened fractionally.
“Son,” Sephiroth returned, his own voice tentative as he hugged the young man to him.
Yazoo turned his face into that great fall of hair, composing his features to hide his relief, before slowly drawing away. Sephiroth smiled in what Yazoo knew was intended to be a reassuring way, and he did his best to return it. This was the man who had given them life, he had to remind himself, not the maddened facsimile that Mother had created. He had no reason to fear this man as he had once feared the ghost which had tormented his younger brother until he went mad. This man would protect them, care for them, as he himself once had. Finally, they would be safe.
It was with a sense of relief that his heavy-lidded gaze moved to the handsome red-haired man at his father’s side. While Genesis might not belong to him, he was that sure Father wouldn’t begrudge him one last kiss. “Genesis,” he greeted, his smooth voice rife with affection—among other things—as he stepped towards him.
“Hello,” Genesis returned hesitantly, his own voice hopeful as he took a step forward. “You’re Yazoo?”
“Indeed, I am.” Yazoo reached out and grasped the other man’s chin in one slender hand, allowing himself a very slow, very sensuous smile, one which matched the pleasure-drenched memories flooding his sensitive mind. “Mmmmm, it is certainly good to see you again, kitten.”
Genesis blinked at that, not quite sure what to make of the boy’s words as he drew uncomfortably close. The pretty, almost feminine version of his lover leaned towards him and brushed soft lips over his own, and he nearly jumped out of skin.
Kadaj rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, puhleeze,” he muttered under his breath.
“Oh, my!” Aerith exclaimed, clasping her hands before her. This was certainly an unexpected development!
“And then some,” Cissnei murmured at her side.
Reno watched the long, lingering kiss with fascination. “That’s so hot, yo.”
“Yazoo!” Sephiroth’s voice was rife with warning as it rang through the darkness. “Genesis belongs to me.”
“Of course, he does,” Yazoo returned in a seductive purr, smiling with all the satisfaction of a lazy cat as he pulled away. “I was merely welcoming him to the family, Father.”
A low growl sounded behind him and Yazoo glanced over his shoulder to find Vincent glowering at him, his stunning ruby gaze flashing gold with the force of his displeasure. “My apologies, dark one. My memories of Genesis are rather. . . pleasant,” he murmured in gross understatement, adding, “It will not happen again, I assure you.”
Vincent didn’t speak for a long moment, his eyes narrowing as he held out one gloved hand in an unmistakable demand. Yazoo went to him without hesitation, not even thinking to protest as the other man drew him close with obvious possessiveness. He merely laid his head on Vincent’s scarlet-covered shoulder and smiled serenely, leaving no one any doubts as to where his true affections lied.
“Okay,” Zack said into the stunned silence which followed, “now that was weird.”
“Yes,” Genesis murmured, unconsciously shifting closer to Sephiroth, who immediately put an arm around him, “it certainly was.”
Loz was laughing as he said, “Well, Zack, I guess you don’t have to ask which memories Yazoo got.”
Zack blushed even as he laughed with him. “No, I think I’ve got a pretty good idea,” he returned in the same joking vein. “So, Yazoo, care to share?”
“No, he does not,” Vincent stated flatly, much to Genesis’ unending relief.
“Zack, please,” Angeal said on an exasperated sigh.
Guileless blue eyes lifted to his own. “What?”
Angeal merely shook his head and ruffled his lover’s spikes, which earned him an adorable pout from his young lover. “Give it a rest, Pup,” he murmured with a faint smile.
The sound of heavy footsteps rushing towards them had weapons being drawn by nearly all of the group. Kadaj spied a spiky blond head cresting the top of a hill to the south and grinned ferociously. “It’s Nii-san!” he cried, sheathing Souba and running past them in a black and silver blur.
“Kadaj!” Cloud came towards them at full SOLDIER speed, and Kadaj called his name as he ran to meet him. Cloud swept the boy up into his arms, laughing breathlessly as slender legs locked tightly around his waist. “Thank the Gods you’re all right!”
Kadaj’s response was to kiss him, and he laughed again, the sound muffled by his voracious lips. He let Kadaj have his way for a few moments longer before finally pulling back. Pink bow lips curved in a wicked smile, one which was echoed by the gleam in Kadaj’s dual-toned eyes, and Cloud swallowed hard as he felt his body respond.
“Missed me a lot, didn’t you?” the younger man said smugly, and Cloud snorted as he smacked his ass and lifted him off of him.
Kadaj only resisted for a few moments before giving way, unlocking his ankles and allowing himself to be set back on his feet. “Come on, Nii-san,” he said demandingly. “We’ve found Yazoo, and I want you to meet him.”
His beautiful little lover grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the beach, where the rest of the party had gathered around Vincent and the silver-haired man currently draped over him. Cloud kept his expression carefully neutral as he found himself face to face with the remnant that had shot him through the heart with every intention of ending his life.
Yazoo straightened, his own expression carefully blank as he inclined his head. “Nii-san.”
“Yazoo,” Cloud returned quietly. The other man said nothing more, merely gazed at him with veiled green eyes, and Cloud knew that it was up to him to make the next move. He slowly held out his hand, wondering if the boy would take it or spit on it, for all that they were ‘family’.
Silver-green eyes flickered as Yazoo’s gaze dropped to the proffered hand. He slanted a quick glance at Kadaj, who was watching them with a bright, expectant expression, and forced himself to reach out. He took Cloud’s hand, grateful for the gloves which prevented full contact, and squeezed lightly. “Thank you, for coming for Kadaj,” he said simply.
Cloud only nodded and stepped back, smiling faintly as Kadaj slipped his arms around him and beamed up at him with approval. The older remnant moved towards them with hesitant steps, and Cloud managed a small smile. “Loz, is it?” he asked encouragingly.
“Uh-huh.” Loz looked down at the ground shyly, and then peeked back up at him with anxious green eyes. “You’re, uh, not still mad at me, are you?”
He quickly shook his head, extending one hand to the nervous young man in welcome. Much to his surprise, Loz completely ignored the hand in favor of a bone-cracking bear hug. “Loz!” Kadaj snapped, squirming out of the embrace. “Knock it off!”
The older boy immediately dropped Cloud, much to his relief. He drew in a deep breath, grateful for the genetic enhancements which had prevented the boy from damaging his ribs, and managed another smile. “It’s nice to meet you, too,” he said wryly.
Vincent, who had been watching the bizarre reunion in silence, finally stepped forward, one hand still clutching Yazoo’s possessively. “Cloud.”
“Vincent.” When the gunman continued to stare at him in silence, he sighed and nodded once. “It’s time, then.”
Vincent watched as the smaller man reached under the half-cloak that covered his left arm and removed his leather glove. Cloud extended his hand, his features characteristically solemn, as he silently asked for a trust that Vincent realized he had already given. Vincent released Yazoo and took a quick step towards him, reaching under his own crimson cape to do the same, eager to have his memories of himself and his pretty Yazoo restored to him, even if had to touch another to do it.
Yazoo watched with confusion and not a small amount of worry as his dark one stripped the glove from his right hand and reached towards Cloud Strife. “Vincent?” he questioned tentatively, only partially distracted by the pale elegance of his dark one’s skin. “What are you doing?”
The other man merely flashed him a reassuring smile over his shoulder and turned back to Cloud, leaving Yazoo to watch in bewildered silence. The sable-haired gunman reached for Cloud, his bare hand even paler than Yazoo’s own, and he had to fight a tide of pure jealousy. That elegant hand grasped Nii-san’s, and Vincent gasped, his deep red eyes widening dramatically. He swayed and dropped to one knee, bowing his head as his brow knitted. He almost seemed be in pain as Cloud knelt with him, yet he never let go, much to Yazoo’s displeasure.
Cloud was aware of Yazoo as the remnant took a step towards them and thrust out a hand to warn him away. The last thing Vincent needed was for Yazoo to touch him right now. The Jenova cells that the dark gunman shared with them were enough to make this transfer possible, but they could easily overwhelm his stoic friend if another carrying Jenova’s mometic legacy was to initiate physical contact. This had to be kept between the two of them, so that Cloud could control the tide of memories, and make sure that Vincent didn’t end up with too many of his own. Cloud wouldn’t wish his past on anyone, let alone someone who had already suffered as much as Vincent had.
“You can let go, now.” Vincent’s too-deep voice was ragged as he slowly lifted his head. Sharp crimson eyes locked onto Cloud’s own, and Cloud was relieved to see the friend he remembered in their gleaming depths. “Although, I would prefer it if you never did that, again.”
Cloud let out a short laugh and helped his stoic friend to his feet. “You and me both, Vincent.”
The corner of Vincent’s thin lips tilted up ever so slightly, which was as close to a smile as the man Cloud knew ever came, and then Vincent surprised him by dragging him into a tight hug. Cloud returned the embrace, marveling that the other man would show this much of himself when surrounded by virtual strangers. Vincent drew back, his near-perfect features solemn once more, and Cloud nodded once in silent understanding.
Cloud stood back and simply watched as Vincent replaced the leather glove hand that covered his gun-hand, and then bent to retrieve his gauntlet. The other man slid his left hand into the shining golden metal, and with an audible click locked it firmly in place. When he lifted his head, his deep red gaze went straight to Aerith. He never even glanced at Yazoo, who was watching him with distressed, yet hopeful, green eyes, and Cloud winced inwardly as he realized what was coming.
But not quite yet. Aerith opened her arms to the stoic gunman, and Vincent immediately drew her to him. He held her for a long moment, his mind replaying her death, and its devastating effect on them all, before he forcibly reined his emotions in. He drew back and gazed down at her, his expression as grave as always, and she smiled with empathy.
“It’s hard, I know,” she said softly, “but it’s awfully good to see you again, Vincent.”
“You, as well,” he returned in a low voice. “I only regret that Nanaki felt the need to leave us so early.”
Her green eyes darkened briefly. “We all do what we believe me must,” she murmured, and then smiled with characteristic benevolence. “So, now that you’re you again, how about giving your son a proper greeting?”
Vincent’s gaze flew to Sephiroth, who was watching him with wary eyes, and he smiled faintly as he made his way to him. “Sephiroth,” he said with more confidence than he had the first time, and shocked them all by putting his arms around Sephiroth and pulling him close.
Sephiroth stood rooted in place, stunned both by the embrace, and its implications. He hadn’t expected such a warm reception once Vincent regained his memories, which left him to wonder if perhaps he hadn’t properly regained them. Sephiroth’s gaze shot to Cloud, who looked surprised as he felt, before he slowly responded in kind. He lifted his own arms and slipped them around Vincent’s waist, and was rewarded with the feel of his father’s arms tightening around him.
“Vincent,” he murmured uncertainly in return.
Vincent drew back and grasped Sephiroth’s paldroned shoulder in his hands. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a very long time, Sephiroth.”
Pale, cat-like green eyes widened as they met his own, and he saw echoes of Lucrecia in their luminous depths. “As have I,” Sephiroth returned solemnly, and Vincent allowed himself another small smile as he stepped back. He turned to Cloud and asked, “Do we ‘mosey’ now?”
Cloud gave a snort of unwilling laughter at that. “Yeah, let’s get the boys away from Junon, before something else goes wrong.”
Vincent merely nodded. “I’ll take point, then.”
“We’ll be right behind you, Vincent.”
The gunner turned and began to walk away, Yazoo couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Dark one?” he called out uncertainly, hope and dread battling for possession of his heart.
Vincent paused at the tentative, hopeful call, but he didn’t look back. “No.”
It was one word, simply stated, but it was enough. Yazoo watched with stark eyes as Vincent walked into the night, his tattered crimson cape fluttering dramatically behind him, and then he was gone, swallowed by the darkness that was so much a part of him.
‘I nearly went mad, wondering if you were real.’
Too late, Yazoo realized just what those passionately whispered words had meant. Vincent hadn’t remembered him, either as lovers or as adversaries, when he had saved Yazoo’s life. Somehow, he had lost his memories during the trip through time, and that’s why Nii-san had been touching him, to restore those memories, and to make him whole again.
Yazoo thought of the brief time they’d spent together in the Sleeping Forest, of Vincent’s ardent, often reluctant passion, and everything clicked into place. He’d realized early on that his dark one wasn’t comfortable with the sexual fire that raged between them, but he had attributed that to the gunner’s natural reticence, as well as the scars that had covered his magnificent body. Yazoo had recognized Hojo’s work right away, and had been pleasantly surprised to find a kindred spirit in his new lover, one he had hoped would help them in their search for Mother. Instead, his dark one had snatched Nii-san from their clutches, choosing the world of humans over the one they were trying to create, and he had lost him.
Much as he had now, Yazoo thought despondently. “So be it,” he murmured fatalistically. It didn’t matter why Vincent had left him this time. It was done, and he had no choice to but to accept it. He still had his brothers, even if he was forced to accept Nii-san for Kadaj’s sake, and that was more than he had ever expected to be given. It would have to be enough.
“Yazoo.”
He came back to himself to find Sephiroth standing before him, tall and imposing and larger than life. “Yes, Father?”
“Kadaj mentioned a problem with your lungs,” Sephiroth said, troubled as he studied the young man’s distant expression. “Are you well enough to travel? I would like to put as much distance as I can between us and Junon.”
Yazoo lifted one silver brow in a very familiar gesture. “I am quite strong, I assure you.”
Sephiroth gazed at him for a moment longer before turning away. “Come then,” he threw over his shoulder. “We’ll make camp as soon as we’ve gone a sufficient distance.”
Yazoo didn’t respond, merely checking his weapon to assure himself that it had survived the trip through Junon Harbor, before following. Sephiroth glanced over his shoulder every so often, presumably to check on his progress, and Yazoo made sure to keep up with his brothers as they walked. He didn’t think that Sephiroth would leave him behind, but he knew how much SOLDIERs valued strength, and he didn’t want to be perceived as weak. While he might not be as powerful as his brothers, he was a force to be reckoned with, and he would allow no one to believe otherwise.
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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody