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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
- 36
- 37
- 38
Chapter 38
'My soul, corrupted by vengeance, hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey in my own salvation, and your eternal slumber.' -Loveless, Act IV
'He looks stupid.'
'No, he doesn't, Kadaj. He looks. . .superb.'
'Oh, please!'
'I think he looks good, 'Daj.'
'You would,' Kadaj snapped, irritated at the interruption, before returning his attention to Yazoo. 'Everybody knows that redheads shouldn't wear red, Yazoo. It just makes them look stupid.'
'It becomes him, tenshi.' A small, sensual sigh sounded. 'Of course, he looks even better in nothing. . .'
'Eeewww! Do you have to think with your dick?''
Loz burst out laughing, stumbling a little with the force of mirth, as he clutched at his stomach. He flashed a quick look at his brothers, who were both eying Genesis with speculative expressions, then at Genesis, who was frowning at them suspiciously, and laughed even harder. Oh, it was a good thing Gen couldn't talk to them in their heads, or they'd be in big trouble right now.
'And who says you are not?'
"Oops." He grinned at Sephiroth, who looked exasperated as he shook his silver head, and had to stifle another round of laughter. "Sorry, Seph. We forget that you can hear us sometimes."
"We don't forget, Loz." Kadaj leveled a pointed look in Sephiroth's general direction. "We just don't care."
Kadaj tossed his head and looked away, continuing on ahead of them, both of his brothers in tow, and Genesis arched one eyebrow at Sephiroth. "Arrogant little shit, isn't he?"
Sephiroth smiled angelically. "I had not noticed," he returned, deadpan.
Genesis gave a snort of reluctant laughter at that. Sephiroth could be a very funny man, when he wanted to be. "Really?" he questioned, his voice heavy with sarcasm, as he added, "I don't see how you could have missed it when I didn't."
"Perhaps, that is because it was not me that they were. . .discussing," Sephiroth offered with mock solemnity.
"I knew it!" Genesis declared, throwing both hands up before him in a dramatic manner, and Sephiroth couldn't contain a laugh of his own. "I knew they were talking about me! What were they saying? Was Kadaj talking shit? I bet he was, the little—"
"Genesis." Angeal frowned at him as he cut into his rant. "Name-calling is not acceptable when dealing with a child."
"Child?" Genesis echoed incredulously. "He's no kid, 'geal. He's a smug, mouthy, spoiled-rotten little pain in the ass!"
"True," Sephiroth admitted with another smile, "but he is our pain in the ass, Genesis."
"Hhhmmpphh, don't remind me."
Genesis tossed his fiery head, much as his nemesis had done only moments before, and Sephiroth's expression softened affectionately. Kadaj was so much like Genesis that it was frightening at times, and yet the older man remained blind to their many similarities. Everyone saw it but Genesis, but not one of them had the courage to point it out to the mercurial SOLDIER. Genesis would not take the comparison well, no matter how well meant it might be.
"He's never had a normal life, Genesis," Cloud said, as he and Vincent drew even with them. "None of them have. Once we get settled in Wutai things will change."
"Or so you hope," Reno inserted wryly from his other side. "Baby's got a few problems, yo, in case you haven't noticed. You've got your work cut out for you, Strife."
Cloud sent a veiled look, one which didn't quite hide the spark of anger in his clear blue eyes, and Reno shrugged negligently. "Just calling it like I see it, yo. Don't get your panties in a twist, Cloud."
Zack snickered as he slipped around the Firsts to join his two friends. "So speaking of undies. . .which is it, Spike?" He threw an arm around Cloud's shoulders, the other encircling Reno's, as he jerked them both close to him. "Boxers or briefs?"
Cloud snorted and attempted to jerk away, only to find himself yanked back unceremoniously. Reno laughed and simply went with it. It was hard to get away from Zack when he was in any mood, let alone an obnoxious one, so he didn't bother to try. After failing to help Tseng find and save the other man in the past, he was just glad to have the opportunity to be with him again. SOLDIER or not, he'd always liked Zack Fair.
"I'm thinking briefs," he offered in a drawl, and was rewarded with a wide, typically happy Zack Fair grin. "Cloud's wound way too tight for boxers."
Zack watched Cloud's fair skin darken in an embarrassed blush and laughed again. "I don't know, Reno," he said with mock consideration, "after seeing the size of his sword. . ."
"He'd need room for something that big, wouldn't he?" Reno joked in return. "Okay, we have two choices here: We can either depants him and find out for ourselves. . ."
Baby-blue eyes narrowed in an icy glare, and Reno hastily added, "Or, we can just ask someone who'd know."
Two pairs of bright, eager eyes landed on Vincent, who grunted and looked away. "I believe that the proper term is 'commando'."
Both boys laughed, both surprised and delighted, as Cloud buried his burning face in one gloved palm. "Vincent!" he all but groaned. "I can't believe you told them that!"
The normally stoic gunman smiled, the corners of his mouth tipping up in the smallest of smirks, as he added, "We traveled together for nearly a year, Cloud. I learned a great deal about all of my companions in that time, not just you."
Reno snorted at that. "Yeah, lame save there, Valentine."
"When did you travel together?"
Vincent looked at Angeal, whose presence he had very nearly forgotten, and quickly schooled his features to blandness. "Three years ago," he answered, the answer short, emotionless, and lacking in detail.
The quiet First frowned at what he suspected was a deliberately vague response. "So, you've only known Cloud for three years, then?"
"Yes."
The frown deepened, and Vincent slanted a look at his only son. Sephiroth inclined his head, indicating that Vincent should deal with Angeal's questions as he saw fit, and telling Vincent that the other man trusted him not to reveal too much. While Vincent was pleased by the trust, he was also surprised by it. He and Sephiroth hadn't spoken since the night he'd rejected Yazoo, and Vincent had feared that his less than honorable actions had offended the younger man.
Perhaps, he had been wrong, Vincent mused as he switched his gaze back to Sephiroth's friend. "Cloud found me in Nibelheim," he offered, ignoring the sudden widening of Cloud's eyes. "I had been. . .imprisoned there shortly after my death. Cloud is the one who set me free."
Cloud was stunned by the other man's sudden, uncharacteristic openness, but recovered quickly. "It was all you, Vince," he said with a crooked, poignant smile. "If you hadn't been ready to leave, nothing I could have done would've pried you out of that coffin."
Genesis, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke up. "Coffin?" he queried. "You found Sephiroth's father in a coffin?"
Vincent shrugged once. "Hojo's idea of a joke," he offered blandly.
Pale blue eyes widened at that. "A joke?" Genesis echoed incredulously. "Why that-that dirty, slimy, soulless piece of shit! He put you in a fucking coffin as a joke?"
Vincent merely gazed at him and said, "Yes."
"Oh, it's a good fucking thing that he's dead," Genesis declared, forgetting for a moment that he didn't like Sephiroth's father, "or I'd kill him for pulling that shit!"
Angeal was shaking his dark head as he listened, thinking of all the things that didn't add up. While Vincent hadn't revealed nearly as much as Cloud had, his story also had too many holes in it, things that needed to be explained, if only so that he could make sense of them.
"Vincent. . ." Angeal's voice trailed off as he sought the words to ask his questions without offending the other man. In the end, he simply asked them. "If you were killed before Sephiroth was born, that would mean that you were in that coffin for at least twenty-six years. Correct?"
'Thirty-four,' Chaos promptly supplied, adding, 'Coward.'
Vincent ignored the demon's less than helpful response as he nodded. "Correct," he answered simply.
"And you only left it because Cloud," Angeal cast a look rife with skepticism in Cloud's direction, "talked you into leaving?"
"He offered me the one lure I could not resist," Vincent explained with a faint smile. Lucrecia's son, he thought as he imagined his first meeting with Cloud Strife. Aloud, he said, somewhat proudly, "My son."
"You're making it sound like you were there voluntarily, Valentine," Reno muttered, uncomfortable with the whole situation. He should have kept his damned mouth shut! "You might want to add a little more if you want them to think otherwise, yo."
Vincent grunted at that. "I don't care what they think, Turk."
Reno's bright red eyebrows shot up at his words. "What about Sephiroth?" he questioned tauntingly. "Don't you care what he thinks?"
"Do not drag me into this," Sephiroth muttered, aiming a scowl at the young Turk. "I am well aware of Vincent's reasoning, and even if I were not, it is none of my business, nor is it yours."
Vincent smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Sephiroth merely returned the smile and looked away. He understood the other man's motivations, and even if he had not, he had spoken true. It was no one's business but Vincent's own.
'Father.' Kadaj's voice sounded in his mind, its pure, childlike tones changing, until the words they formed were laced with something resembling anticipation. 'We've got company, Sephiroth.'
Sephiroth's head came up at the silent warning. He saw Cloud's head do the same, and they shared a long, grim look. Rufus had finally made his move. All that remained to be seen was what—exactly—the younger Shinra had in store for them.
As they crested the last hill that separated the grasslands from the southern coast of the continent, Rufus' plans became painfully, foolishly obvious. Spread out over the plain below them was more than half of Shinra's private army. All SOLDIERs, most of whom had never met Sephiroth and the other Firsts, guns raised and ready for a fight they couldn't possibly win. They were going to be forced to kill their own men here today, and there was nothing they could do to stop it, short of surrendering.
"Which we will never do," Kadaj declared as he set one hand on Souba's beribboned hilt. "We're warriors. We don't surrender."
Sephiroth grimaced as he watched Loz and Yazoo assume their own battle stances. Loz spread his legs wide and half-crouched, pulling his muscular arms back as he prepared to fight. He was grinning like mad, his silver-green eyes sparkling with anticipation of the fight to come, while Yazoo's reaction was more reserved, but no less disturbing.
The middle remnant simply moved to Kadaj's right side and reached behind him to grasp the rather lovely ivory grip of his Velvet Nightmare. He didn't draw the large handgun with its intricate scrollwork. Instead, he glanced at his brothers, smiled with surprising tranquility, and giggled.
His loud giggle attracted Reno's attention and caused the Turk to shudder at the sound. Reno quickly edged away, knowing exactly what that high-pitched, creepy laugh meant from his own past encounters with the middle remnant. Every time Yazoo had giggled like that, the guy had been on the verge of killing either he or Rude, and Reno hated the reminder. When Yazoo giggled, it meant that someone was about to die, and suddenly, Reno felt sorry for the poor schmucks spread out below them.
"They're all going to die, yo," he whispered to no one in particular.
"It can't be helped," Cloud murmured in return, his mind flashing back to another time, on a bluff just outside of Midgar. He had to fight to root himself in the present as he said, "Rufus can't get his hands on them, Reno. You know what he'd do to them."
Reno fought an automatic urge to defend the man he had spent almost ten years serving—and loving. "This is going to be even worse than dropping The Plate, yo," he said at last.
"Only because you cannot run fly away, this time," Vincent pointed out, his deep voice toneless.
The younger man shot him a dirty look, and Vincent shrugged once. "Witnessing the results of your actions firsthand is something you will have to get used to. You are no longer a Turk, Reno. Slinking away in the shadows will only get you killed, now."
Reno scowled as he pulled the EMR from his suit jacket. "Go fuck yourself, Valentine."
"Don't think about any of that," Cissnei said, her voice sharp with reprimand as she drew her own weapon, a large shuriken. "Think about what you're doing here, what you've all sacrificed, to have this second chance, and concentrate on that."
Cloud looked at her sharply, wondering just how much the pretty Turk knew, and how she had gained whatever information she had. Cissnei met his gaze and smiled briefly. "Loz is a talker," she stated in response to the question in his sky-blue eyes. "I know more than I should, more than I probably want to, but enough to realize that this is exactly where I need to be. Not just for Reno, but for all of us."
"We can trust her, Cloud." Aerith drew the Princess Guard and held it out before as she spoke. "Cissnei understands what the consequences would be if we failed."
"I hope so, Aer." Cloud looked away and drew First Tsurugi with steady hands. This was nothing he hadn't done before, and would probably be forced to do again. "Vincent?"
Vincent pulled Cerberus from its holster and checked it for ammunition. He snapped it closed and held the large black handgun up before him. "Yes, Cloud?"
"No Chaos, alright?"
A faint smile played on the gunner's lips, and then was gone. "No Chaos," he agreed quietly.
"I don't know what the hell you guys are talking about," Zack said, as he pulled the Jr. Buster off of his back, "but count me in. I love a good fight."
Cloud only shook his fair head in response to Zack's light-hearted words, fighting off memories of that fateful afternoon just outside of Midgar. Yes, they were in a similar situation now, but it wasn't just his best friend against a hundred Shinra SOLDIERs. This time, they had a veritable army of their own, consisting of the strongest warriors Gaia had ever produced. Zack would be fine, and he really needed to quit borrowing trouble!
Angeal heard his lover's words and shook his head. He opened his mouth to call Zack over to him, and then closed it without uttering a word. He, Genesis, and Sephiroth would be the army's main targets. It was safer for Zack to remain where he was, where he had the protection of his closest friends, and a Cetra healer. As for Sephiroth's clones. . .
Even as he watched, Kadaj drew his sword and jerked his head towards the waiting forces. Yazoo and Loz traded a quick glance, and then they were off. Loz took off at a run, moving so fast that tracers of blue light trailed in his wake. Yazoo was covering him, the gun in his left hand firing at a high rate, even as he began to take his first steps forward. Kadaj went last, nearly strutting as he walked, exuding a confidence no boy his age should have, as his brothers cleared a bloody path for him.
"Shit!" Genesis exclaimed, drawing Rapier and running after them. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Get your asses back here!"
"Genesis!"
The fiery First completely ignored his friend's sharp call, intent on reaching the boys before they got themselves killed.
As Genesis fought his way towards the silver-haired trio, he realized that he needn't have bothered. Their boys were going to have no problems dealing with Shinra's forces on their own.
He saw with surprise—and a small bit of awe—that they boys fought almost as thought they were one entity. They fought with a macabre sort of harmony, their bodies moving and striking with perfect synchronicity, as they used bullets, steel, and sheer strength to overcome the almost insurmountable numbers surrounding them. Loz had activated the silver apparatus he wore on his left wrist and hand—called a Dual Hound, he'd informed Genesis when asked—and was using it to both stun and incapacitate the enemy SOLDIERs. Yazoo was using his Velvet Nightmare only to disarm his opponents, knocking the machine guns and batons from their hands, before moving in to finish them off with martial arts. They were quick, nimble, and ruthlessly efficient as they removed the threats around themselves, and Kadaj.
Kadaj, on the other hand, was a whole different matter entirely.
The youngest of the remnants was taking advantage of his brothers' protection, using his dual-bladed katana with a skill that would have done any SOLDIER 1st proud. But even with the boy's questionably young age, that didn't surprise Genesis. The boy had been cloned from Sephiroth, after all.
No, what shocked him was the way that Kadaj was drawing his battles out, toying with his opponents, taunting them, before closing in for the kill, only to draw back at the last moment, leaving the other combatant covered in a mass of painfully shallow cuts. The young boy was laughing as he fought, his enjoyment so dark as to border on the sadistic, and that was enough to disturb even a hardened warrior like Genesis Rhapsodos.
He'd known that the boy had problems, Genesis thought, as he lifted Rapier over his head and triggered the ancient runes that made the blade so powerful. Kadaj was angry, aggressive, and had shown a selfishness that bordered on narcissism. But what Genesis was witnessing now pure madness, a blood lust that was nearly sociopathic in nature, and an unshakable self-confidence that was so absolute that it would have been laughable, if not for Kadaj's unquestionable, nearly super-human fighting abilities.
Genesis swallowed hard as he was forcibly reminded of Sephiroth, and the way the other man had been when they'd first met. Sephiroth had never been the type to laugh-or even speak-while fighting, but he had been arrogant. Even at fourteen, he'd known that he was different, that he was better than the rest, and he hadn't been humble about it. When holding Masamune, Sephiroth had been a god, and he had known it. Only afterwards, when Masamune was sheathed, did Sephiroth revert to the beautiful, socially awkward youth he'd truly been.
It had been a startling change to witness, but one that Genesis had become used to over the years. Seeing the same change in Kadaj, magnified the nth degree, alarmed Genesis more than he cared to admit. There was something wrong with the boy, something that Sephiroth either couldn't see, or was choosing not to, and it couldn't be allowed to go on. Kadaj looked up to Sephiroth, saw him as a father-figure, and that made his physical and emotional health Sephiroth's responsibility. He would have to take charge, and teach the boy what it meant to live a normal life.
If he could.
The unwelcome thought danced through Genesis' mind, and he grimaced to himself. Sephiroth's own life had been far from normal, so much so that it might not be possible for him to teach Kadaj what he needed to know. Of course, he wouldn't be alone in it. Sephiroth had he, Angeal, and Cloud to help him.
Genesis brightened at the thought. Of course, they could help Kadaj. It would take time and effort and a lot of patience, but thanks to Sephiroth, they had money and a whole lifetime ahead of them. Kadaj would learn what it meant to be a part of the world, to be a normal young man, because he would have their love and support. What more did the boy need?
Feeling better about the situation, Genesis cast one last glance at the boys before going his own way. They could take care of themselves, and there were plenty of other SOLDIERs standing between them and the coastal dock for Genesis to engage. He'd thin their numbers a little, and make things easier for them all. Sephiroth would do the rest.

Sephiroth scowled as he watched his lover first fight his way to Kadaj and his brothers, resisting the almost overwhelming urge to follow. He knew that the boys could take care of themselves. It was Genesis he was worried about. Not that Genesis would be unable to defend himself—he was a SOLDIER 1st Class, after all—but that Kadaj would become angered by his interference and try to harm him.
"He'll be fine," Angeal told him firmly. He drew his own weapon, not the impressive Buster Sword, but the Jr. Buster he preferred to use, and stepped forward. "He can handle Kadaj. Loz and Yazoo will keep the boy from hurting him. Concentrate on the here and now."
Sephiroth focused his attention on the SOLDIERs that were even now firing in their direction, closing in for the kill, and narrowed his eyes. "Those are our men shooting at us, Angeal," he said in a growl that didn't quite hide the hurt in his voice.
"Not anymore, Seph," came the curiously gentle response. "They're enemy soldiers now, just like in Wutai."
"Wutai," Sephiroth repeated, shuddering at the memories which assailed him.
"Wutai." Angeal clasped his shoulder briefly and gripped his sword once more. "I'm not saying that you can't show them mercy, but don't imagine that they'll offer you the same. You're their enemy now, Sephiroth. Remember that."
Sephiroth drew a deep breath and thrust his emotions away. As though a switch had been tripped, he withdrew behind the coldness that had always made him so successful in battle. Those were not his men out there, trying to end his life. They were the enemy, another obstacle to be overcome, and overcome it he would.
He manifested Masamune, smiling coldly as he watched it catch the sun's light, and thrust himself into the fray. His long silver hair fluttered behind him as he fought, swirling around him almost lovingly, the sun streaking it with pale gold, and Reno sighed his appreciation.
"And there he goes," Reno muttered, grasping his heart dramatically as he took a staggering swing at the nearest SOLDIER. "Why can't you look that good when you're fighting, Strife?"
"Blow me, Turk."
Zack laughed as he twirled the Jr. Buster and deflected a barrage of machine gun fire. "You'd better be careful, Spike. You don't want Kadaj to hear you talking like that."
"Gods forbid," Cloud agreed with a shudder. Kadaj was nothing if not possessive!
He heard Aerith laughing a few feet away and rolled his eyes, knowing that her mirth was directed at him. He watched as she lifted her staff and brought it down on the helmeted head of a particularly persistent SOLDIER. The soldier dropped to the ground with a muffled thump, and she hit him again for good measure. He didn't move, and she cast a quick, low-level healing spell before moving on. He wouldn't be waking up any time soon, but at least he would die, either.
"Poor Kadaj," she said as she stepped over the unconscious man. "If he could only hear the way his beloved Nii-san talks about him behind his back. . ."
Cloud's eyes widened as he shoved a SOLDIER away from him. "You wouldn't!" he gasped, and the sound of her laughter filled the air around him. "Aerith!"
Reno grinned at him as he shocked yet another SOLDIER into oblivion. "Give it up, Chocobo Boy. Little Sister's got your number, yo."
"Do you guys always talk this much shit while you're fighting?" Cissnei asked as she sent Shuriken flying into the throng. It cut through one armored soldier and zoomed right back to her. She caught it in her hand even as she lashed out with her foot and knocked another combatant to the ground.
"Don't know," Reno said with a shrug, zapping the fallen SOLDIER and earning a hot glare in return. "Never really fought with Strife before today."
Vincent grunted as he jumped into the air, fired three shots, and landed gracefully beside Cloud. "Yes," he answered with pained resignation, "they do. Mostly, it is Aerith's doing, though."
The girl in question giggled, not offended in the least, and bashed another SOLDIER in the face. He dropped like a stone, and she stuck her tongue out at Vincent in retaliation. "Spoilsport," she accused, unable to hold her stern expression as her smile resurfaced.
"I've been called worse," Vincent assured her dryly before moving away. He caught a glimpse of Yazoo, who had forsaken his gun for hand-to-hand combat, and felt a flash of concern. As good as Yazoo undoubtedly was, he should not have abandoned his weapon in the face of such a large force.
Suddenly, Vincent stopped dead in his tracks, stumbling a bit as he felt an unpleasant stirring in the vicinity of his solar plexus. He was stunned to realize that his demons were reacting to his worry for Yazoo in a wholly unexpected way. "No!" he whispered fiercely, fighting the change as it began to creep through him. "He is in no danger. Stand down!"
A loud roar ripped through his skull, but it was not Chaos' angry bellow, as he had expected. No, the Galian Beast was making his own displeasure known, and there wasn't a damned thing that Vincent could do to stop the change, as the demon overwhelmed him with its sheer power.
"You've got to be freakin' kidding me, yo!"
Cloud felt the shift in the air, the electricity that made the little hairs on the back of his neck stand up on end, and cringed inwardly as he realized what it meant. He glanced at Vincent, who was surrounded by a whorl of red-tinged light, and uttered a sigh. Vincent's self-control had always been erratic at best, at least when it came to his demons, and Cloud knew that he should have expected this.
Please, let it not be Chaos! he prayed fervently, knowing that someone would get hurt if they had to fight Chaos to keep him away from Yazoo. And if Chaos manifested, he would go after his 'pretty one'. Of that, Cloud had no doubts.
There was a bright flash, and it was done. Vincent was gone, and a large, horned, blue-furred beast crouched in his place. "Galian!" Cloud gasped with relief, and then swallowed hard as the beast turned towards him.
Those strange, glowing amber eyes met his own eyes, and Cloud nodded once. "Go," he said with resignation, and the Galian Beast was off, running towards the remnants' position in a pale blue blur.
He watched as Galian dropped to all fours and galloped towards Yazoo, knocking SOLDIERs out of his path with his huge, clawed paws. He didn't slow as he approached Yazoo, who was trading blows with one of the larger combatants. Instead, Galian launched himself at the SOLDIER, his sharp teeth bared in a ferocious snarl. The soldier froze for a moment, as did Yazoo, before turning to flee. Galian knocked him to the ground, landing on him with all of his considerable weight, and turned towards Yazoo.
Yazoo sprang back as the big creature with the blue fur effectively eliminated his opponent. The beast turned towards him, and he took a quick step back, the Velvet Nightmare drawn and ready to be fired. The monster whined in a rather piteous manner as it lowered its massive snout, and Yazoo found himself hesitating. The creature shuffled towards him, its horns nearly touching the ground as it abased itself, silver hair flowing all around its doglike face, and Yazoo frowned in confusion.
He slowly lowered his gun, tilting his to one side, as he took in the remnants of the beast's clothing. Large silver armor covered its rippling chest, while crimson cloth flowed from its waist to mid-thigh. The red cloth was held in place by buckles that looked exactly like the ones on Vincent's cloak, and Yazoo was shocked to realize that this creature was Vincent Valentine.
The beast came to a halt before him, craning its neck to nose his boots in a thoroughly unnerving way, and Yazoo forced himself to holster his gun. "Vincent?" he questioned hesitantly.
The blue-furred creature whined again, this time in what sounded like a protest to Yazoo, and he carefully crouched down before it. "Dark one?"
The beast made a soft snuffling noise and lifted its head, its tongue lolling out of its mouth in what appeared to be a smile, and Yazoo blinked once. He reached out with a tentative hand and touched the creature's smooth muzzle. "How can this be?" he murmured, half to himself, and the creature made another odd noise, as though in answer.
Yazoo smiled at the creature, whose tawny eyes glowed much as his own did, and gently touched one of the massive horns. "You're another one of Vincent's demons, aren't you?" he asked softly, sadly.
The beast huffed at him once, and Yazoo sighed as he withdrew his hand. "I should have known," he muttered with disappointment. Vincent hadn't come to help him, to fight at his side, as he had hoped. One of his demons had taken over instead, and Yazoo could only imagine how angry Vincent would be when he came back to himself and realized it.
"You should go back to Cloud," he told the creature, ignoring its questioning whine as he rose to his feet. "Vincent will not thank you for this when he awakens."
The beast growled, and Yazoo had no trouble translating the sound as an outright refusal. "Very well," he told the creature distantly. "Stay if you like, but do not harm my brothers."
Galian turned its head to look at the boys in question and made another, softer sound before bounding towards them. Yazoo's eyes widened as he quickly gave chase, only to slow as he realized what the monster was doing. The great blue beast was killing his brother's opponents with his claws and teeth, clearing the area around them with every bloody strike, and protecting them as he had Yazoo. It would have been touching, had it not been for all the blood.
"Hey!" Kadaj cried as he watched a blue monster began to tear his opponents apart. "What the fuck is that?"
"Vincent," Yazoo replied simply. Kadaj sent him a disbelieving look, and he shrugged in return. "I don't understand it, either, but it's one of Vincent's demons."
Loz watched the creature tear through the enemy SOLDIERs with wide green eyes. "But why is it—he—protecting us?" he asked with bewilderment. "I thought Nii-san's friend hated us?"
"I don't know, Loz. I'm as much at a loss over this as you are." As the beast rose up onto its hind legs and howled victoriously before them, Yazoo couldn't contain a sudden smile. "It's quite endearing, in its own unique way."
Kadaj snorted as he holstered Souba and crossed his arms over his chest. "It killed everybody, Yazoo."
"Yeah," Loz pouted, "we don't have anyone to play with, now."
Yazoo pointed to the other side of the plains, where Sephiroth and Angeal were fighting back to back. Genesis was also fighting, but he was farther away from them, on the beach that lined the coast. Yazoo smiled to himself as he watched his-Sephiroth's—kitten fight with all of the grace and quickness he remembered so well.
"Beautiful," he murmured. A low growl sounded beside him, and he looked down to find Vincent—or rather, his alter ego—glaring up at him. Yazoo reached down and scratched the expanse of blue-furred skin between the creature's horns, and was rewarded with a rumbling noise of contentment. While Vincent might not care for him, it was obvious to Yazoo that at least one of Vincent's demons did. It was a small thing, but it was something he could take comfort from, if nothing else.
He switched his gaze back to the battle, he and the creature falling into step beside his brothers, as they made their way towards the fight. The group of SOLDIERs that Genesis fighting was at least ten deep, and more were pressing towards him. Yazoo frowned as he realized that these SOLDIERs looked different. Not only their armor, which had glowing tubes running along it, but their weapons were different as well.
"Kadaj, do the men fighting Genesis look different to you?"
The youngest remnant matched his frown as he studied them. "Yeah, they do," he said abruptly, drawing Souba from its sheath. "They're Deep Ground, Yaz."
"Deep Ground?" Yazoo questioned with confusion.
"You wouldn't remember them, Yaz," Loz told him. "You'd stopped watching your dark one by then. These are the guys that were kidnapping all those people and killin' them so that Hojo could make Omega wake up."
"Really?" Silver-green eyes sharpened with interest. "Are there any Colors among them?"
Colors were what Kadaj had taken to calling the Tsviets, Deep Ground's elite soldiers, after watching them each fall to Nii-san's friend, Vincent Valentine. "Nope, no Colors, Yaz. Just peons."
"How disappointing," Yazoo said on a sigh. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt if we let Genesis field this one. You know how much he hates it when we interfere."
"Jealous, strutting peacock," Kadaj mumbled disgruntledly. A slow, devilish smile brightened his cherubic features as he added, "It would serve him right if we went in there and killed all of them before he had a chance to."
"Now, tenshi—"
"Genesis!"
Their heads whipped around at the urgent call, moving in unison, as their gazes sought and found Angeal. The older man, whom they all three respected, looked as though he were on the verge of panic as he began to fight his way towards the shore, and Genesis. He slashed and thrust with the slim, gold broadsword in his hands, cutting his way through the almost overwhelming crush of SOLDIERs and Deep Ground troops, his dark blue eyes narrowed with both anger and worry.
Yazoo watched without surprise as the cheap Jr. Buster finally broke, the top half of the sword flying uselessly through the air. He and his brothers took one step forward, ready to step in and defend their now weaponless friend, when Angeal did something which completely shocked them.
The older man reached behind him, grasped the hilt of the Buster Sword, which his father had literally worked himself to death to buy for him, and drew the massive blade. Angeal turned the blade in his hands, taking a moment to familiarize himself with the weapon's heavy weight, and then began to fight once more.
"Yes!" Kadaj exclaimed with a laugh. "He's finally using it!"
"Whoa!" Loz whispered loudly. "Look at him go! He's unstoppable with that thing!"
"We always he knew he would be," Yazoo murmured fondly.
They heard Sephiroth cursing in a most uncharacteristic fashion, and quickly focused their attention on him. Their Father was ruthlessly slicing his way through the remaining troops, his perfect features drawn with obvious worry, and that was enough to ignite their own.
"It must be Koneko," Kadaj said with a shake of his head. "Sephiroth always worried about him the most."
"Yeah, but he's got a reason to worry this time, brother." Loz pointed towards the shore, where Genesis was fighting what appeared to be a losing battle. "Gen's not doing so good right now."
"No, he's not," Yazoo agreed worriedly. "Perhaps, we should help him, Kadaj."
"He'll be fine," Kadaj snapped, angry and a little jealous of his favorite brother's concern for their father's asshole lover. "Like a cat, Genesis always lands on his feet."
Yazoo nodded, but continued to worry, as Genesis suddenly clutched at his chest. He bent over-almost double-as he lashed out with Rapier. The weak blow was easily deflected by one of the DG soldiers, leaving the First temporarily vulnerable. Even with the distance between them, Yazoo could see the three bullet wounds that seeped precious blood, and were weakening Genesis much too quickly. He wondered absently why the wounds hadn't already healed, before his concern turned to outright horror.
Even as he watched, Genesis dropped to his knees, taking a plethora of bullets to his chest and abdomen. "Genesis!"
Loz scowled with dark rage as he turned to his younger brother. "They hurt Gen," he all but growled, picking up on Sephiroth's own anger, which infected them all, and amplified their own.
"Oh, hell no!" Kadaj yelled, enraged at the very thought of it. "Nobody kills Koneko but me!"
Yazoo drew his own weapon, his pretty features twisted into a snarl, as they began to run towards the fallen man. He didn't speak, nor did he look at the beast which ran at his side, his only thought to reach their kitten before Gaia tried to claim Genesis for her own.
He realized then that it was Sephiroth's thoughts that were running through their minds, mixing with their own, until they were in danger of being overwhelmed by their progenitor's rage. He hastily withdrew from their shared connection, coming back to himself just in time to see the sky darken ominously.
"Kadaj!" he called out, stopping dead in his tracks. He held Vincent's bestial form against his leg with one hand as he gestured with the other. "Come here, tenshi. We don't want to be near Genesis when Apocalypse is unleashed."
His younger brother swung around with a scowl, which faded as he took a good look at their surroundings. The sky was darkening rapidly, taking on a menacing midnight hue that the baby immediately recognized. Kadaj yelled at Loz and raced towards him, throwing his arms around Yazoo and burrowing close. Loz joined them and did the same, embracing them both tightly, protectively. If the world was going to end again, they would die together, as they had always expected to.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Kadaj whispered as he looked up into the blackened sky. "We weren't supposed to die, again. We were supposed to save everyone."
"I know," Yazoo whispered sadly, cradling his beloved brother close. He saw Loz began to cry, his face only inches from Yazoo's own, and Yazoo laid his head on his shoulder. "Don't cry, brother. It simply wasn't meant to be."
"But it's not fair, Yazoo," the elder sobbed. "We tried so hard!"
"Yes, we did," Yazoo agreed, closing his eyes as the first flames began to sweep through the glassy plains of the Southern Continent.

Cloud watched the sky turn black around him with a sense of foreboding. He shouted a warning at Aerith, shoving his opponent away from him and thrusting First Tsurugi through the man's stomach, effectively ending the fight. He ripped the sword free just as the air became dense around them. Electricity began to crackle through the air, lifting the fine hairs on his arms, and he cursed even as he ran towards Kadaj and his brothers. The remnants were standing in the middle of the battlefield, their arms wrapped around one another, as though they could protect themselves from the conflagration that had once ended the world.
The distinctive stench of burning sulfur stung his nostrils as Cloud finally reached them. He threw his arms around the three boys, only peripherally noticing the Galian Beast as it crouched protectively beside them. Thunder rumbled loudly around them as deep black clouds began to form, their turbulent, churning depths illuminated by brief flashes of wicked lightning, and Cloud did something he hadn't done in a very long time. He began to pray.
As it had only months before, a blazing wall of red-hot flame swept through the plains, burning grass and men alike, the cries of The Planet mixing with the screams of Shinra's forces, as both were burned alive. Cloud caught one last glimpse of the world before it was painted red, and he was astonished to see Genesis Rhapsodos at its fiery core, his eyes glowing a brilliant blue, as everything around him was simply laid to waist.
As suddenly as it had begun, it was over. The sky began to clear, the clouds returning to their puffy, harmless white forms, the sun rising up high above them. Cloud was shocked when Kadaj raised his silver head, looked around them, and said, "That wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be," in a casual tone of voice.
"Yeah," Loz chimed in happily, as nonchalant as his brother, "we weren't fried crispy."
Yazoo shivered against them, his free hand clenching unknowingly in Vincent's flowing midnight mane, his lingering fear a palpable thing. "He isn't nearly as powerful as he was when Father confronted him," he whispered, his voice shaking with the intensity of his relief. "We should be thankful for that, I think."
"Yes, we should," a deep voice said below them. "You can let go of me, now."
The slim remnant started, dismay flitting across his delicate features, as he stared down at Vincent Valentine. "Vincent," he stated, obviously appalled, as he removed his hand eased himself out of the unusual embrace. "My apologies, Vincent. It will not happen, again."
Vincent merely grunted and pushed himself to his feet, embarrassed as Galian Beast's memories flitted through his mind. Galian had done everything he could to show Yazoo how Vincent felt about him, and he had done a damned good job of it. Luckily, Yazoo didn't seem to realize the significance of Galian's actions. If he ever did. . .
The thought caused Vincen'ts body to harden in a painful rush, and he hastily thrust the thought of being forced to push an amorous Yazoo away. He wouldn't stand a chance if Yazoo ever tried to seduce him again, and he knew it. He was too weak, his self-control too thin, his feelings much too strong, to survive such an encounter with his heart intact. Yazoo would do as he had once before, and tear through all of his emotional defenses, and leave him vulnerable to heartache once more.
No.
Vincent cast a surreptitious glance at the beautiful young remnant, only to find his both of Yazoo's brothers glaring at him with murder in their identical silver-green gazes. "You stay away from my brother!" Kadaj hissed, even as he set a possessive hand over his lover's heart.
Cloud sighed heavily at the hostility emanating from his unpredictable young lover, even as he fought to control his own temper. He wasn't angry with the boys, or their lack of surprise, but rather at the suspicions forming in his own mind. It hardly seemed possible, but he couldn't deny what he had just seen. Fire, lightening, the very gates of Hell opening around them. . .
Had Genesis Rhapsodos, the flamboyant, melodramatic SOLDIER 1st , somehow been responsible for the end of the world?!
He heard Kadaj hurl a scathing insult Vincent's way and sighed a second time. "Kadaj."
The angry rebuke drew Kadaj's attention away from Vincent, for which Vincent was infinitely grateful, even as he felt sorry for Cloud. "It's not Vincent's fault that Galian took a. . .liking to Yazoo," Cloud said as carefully as he could. "Can we please not fight about this right now?"
Kadaj opened his mouth to deliver a blistering reply, and then thought better of it. He smiled instead, looking young and angelic, as he said, "Of course, we can, Nii-san." He grasped Yazoo's hand, stuck his nose in the air, and walked away. "Come on, Yazoo. Let's go check on Koneko. Loz is worried about him."
"'Course I am," Loz said as they moved away from Vincent and Cloud. He glared over his shoulder, including them both in the surprisingly angry look, before focusing on his brothers once more. "You know Gen only uses Apocalypse when he's close to dying. I don't want him to die, 'Daj."
"He's not going to die, Loz. He's too damned mean for death!"
"Genesis is not mean, tenshi," Yazoo said in a quiet, subdued voice. "He is merely. . .spirited."
Kadaj snorted as he tossed his silver head. "You're thinking with your dick again, Yazoo," he joked, trying to lighten his brother's glum mood, even as he made sure that his voice was loud enough to be heard by the two men they'd left behind. "You know how much trouble that gets you into."
"Hhhhmmmm. " Yazoo hummed noncommittally as he managed a smile for the baby. He thought of his earlier musings about Reno, and realized that he might as well test the waters with Kadaj now. "Kadaj, what do you think of Reno?"
"That loud-mouthed, smart-assed, sorry excuse for a Turk?" Kadaj grinned suddenly, realizing just what the question meant, and hoped that Vincent Valentine did too. "Well, I certainly think that he qualifies as 'spirited', brother."
A surprisingly serene smile spread across Yazoo's pretty face. "I was thinking much the same thing, tenshi."
Loz snickered and shot Vincent another look over his shoulder, this one full of smug triumph. "He'd definitely be a handful, brother," he said humorously, turning back to Yazoo. "But you could handle him. You can handle anybody."
"Yes, I can," Yazoo agreed, his smile widening just a bit. "Thank you, Loz, for reminding me of that."
"No problem, Yazoo. Oh, look, Big Sister is healing Gen!"
They watched as Aerith knelt down beside Genesis, who was swaying precariously as he pushed himself onto his hands and knees. Sephiroth traded an alarmed glance with her as he gently grasped his lover's pauldroned shoulders and eased him into a sitting position. Genesis gasped with the pain of it, even as he turned into Sephiroth's embrace, his hands clutching weakly at Sephiroth's weapons harness to anchor himself. Sephiroth wound his arms around him, supporting Genesis as he drew him closer, fear threatening to steal what little was left of his own sanity.
"He'll be all right," Aerith assured him, and Sephiroth didn't bother to respond. The girl couldn't possibly understand just how devastating these simple, nearly innocuous bullet wounds could be. If they were to somehow trigger Genesis' degradation, then all he had done so far would be for naught.
He had taken Genesis away from Shinra, as well as from the one man who might be able to save him, in his eagerness to be reunited with his remnants. Yes, he had to get the boys to safety, but he also had to find a way to keep Dr. Hollander accessible to them. And then, there was always the problem of keeping Genesis in the dark, as it were, while he worked from behind the scenes to make it all happen.
As the enormity of the task he had set for himself rose up and threatened to overwhelm him, he was distracted by a soft but firm touch on his arm. Aerith was gazing at him with sympathetic, but determined, sage-green eyes. "Have faith, brother."
He started at the soft, almost fondly uttered appellation, his eyes widening fractionally as even as he gathered Genesis closer. "Do what you will," he whispered, his deep voice hoarse as he touched his lips to his lover's hair. "Just save him, please."
Aerith clasped her hands before and she closed her eyes, a bright green light forming around her sender body. The light flowed around her for a moment before surging towards Genesis. It enveloped him and Sephiroth both, glittering as it swirled around them, and then began to dissipate. Genesis lifted his head slowly, blinking his pretty blue eyes as he lifted a hand to his chest, and Aerith smiled beatifically.
"I'm healed," Genesis stated, his astonishment obvious as he gazed at Aerith, wide-eyed. "You healed me without materia!"
"She's an Ancient, yo," Reno told him as he squatted nearby. "It's kinda what they do."
"Yes, it is," Kadaj inserted somewhat arrogantly as he and his brothers joined them. "And we're really good at it."
Well, that answered one question, Genesis thought smugly. If the boys were part Cetra, then Sephiroth had to be too. And he had been right, as usual.
"Brat." Reno snorted even as he reached out and punched Genesis' arm lightly. "On your feet, General. We need to get the hell out of Dodge before Boss Man sends more fodder our way."
Sephiroth batted his hand away, scowling as he jerked Genesis back against him, and Genesis uttered a soft laugh. "Sorry, street-rat, but it seems that Sephiroth isn't ready to leave yet."
"You're so freakin' lucky, yo."
"Don't I know it." Genesis laughed again, twisting just enough to look up at his possessive lover. "He's right, though. We really should go before Rufus sends in reinforcements."
Sephiroth gazed at him for a long, tense moment before nodding curtly. Instead of releasing Genesis, he merely slid shifted his hold and lifted him to his feet, drawing another laugh from the man in his arms. Genesis turned his head and brushed his lips over his lover's, not surprised in the least when Sephiroth immediately deepened the kiss. He let the intimate embrace go on for a few moments longer, as the desperation he tasted on Sephiroth's lips triggered all of his protective instincts, before gently, regretfully, easing away.
"We really need to go, Seph," he whispered, waiting with a patience he hadn't known he possessed, until Sephiroth finally dropped his arms. He turned to find Angeal standing only a few feet away, the massive sword his father had given him clutched loosely in one hand, and his expression softened.
"You used it for me?" he questioned in a soft voice. Angeal looked embarrassed even as he nodded an affirmative, and Genesis impulsively threw his arms around him. "Thank you, Angeal. You have no idea how much that means to me."
Angeal smiled self-deprecatingly even as he returned the hug. "I'm just glad you're all right, Gen."
"Thanks, 'Geal." Genesis held him for a moment longer, and then stepped back. He saw Zack watching them from only a few feet away and beckoned him closer, reaching out to ruffle the young First's black spikes. "Did you have fun, pup?"
Zack only rolled his eyes as he tolerated the condescending treatment. Genesis had almost died, so he could deal. "Yep, it was a blast," he answered with a smile. "Aerith and Cloud are fun to fight with. Reno, too."
"Really?" Genesis grasped Sephiroth's hand as he smiled at his best friend's lover, wincing inwardly as Sephiroth nearly crushed his own hand in the process. "Talked a lot of shit, did he?"
Zack grinned at that. "You know it!"
Cloud approached them with silent steps, his expression set as he came to a halt before them. "Sephiroth."
Sephiroth turned to find Cloud standing before him, his fists clenching and unclenching, his baby-blue eyes shining with nearly blinding light, betraying the force of his anger. "What's wrong?" Sephiroth asked, immediately concerned.
Gaia's Golden Weapon only shook his head, causing his blond spikes to sway in a way that had Sephiroth quirking one brow in sudden amusement. "Not now," the young man said tightly, jerking his chin in Genesis' direction. "Is he all right?"
Patrician features gentled as Sephiroth followed his gaze, those pale green eyes with their elliptical pupils softening dramatically. "The Ancient healed him," he answered, his too-deep voice so low it was nearly inaudible, and tinged with an awe that surprised Cloud.
Genesis chose that moment to flash a surprisingly pretty smile at his lover, and Cloud forcibly reined in his anger. Just because Genesis had displayed a power similar to the force that had ended the world didn't mean that it had been him. There could be another explanation for the fiery conflagration he had just witnessed.
Yeah, right, he told himself cynically. It was time that he and Sephiroth had a little 'talk' of their own. "Let's go," he said abruptly, stepping past Sephiroth and heading for the docks. "I want to get the hell out of here as soon as possible."
Vincent only nodded at Sephiroth and followed, leaving the others to do as they pleased. Reno threw Sephiroth a wink and a leer before taking off, jogging away to catch up with the other two men, and Sephiroth only sighed with heavy resignation. He gazed at Genesis, who was frowning after the other man, and squeezed the hand that he had yet to release.
"Shall we?" he asked simply.
Genesis turned back to him, his brow clearing as his lips formed a small, characteristic smirk. "Lead the way, General."
Sephiroth returned the smile with one of his own and turned away, following Gaia's chosen champion, Genesis at his side as he always should have been. Suddenly, shaping the future didn't seem quite so daunting.
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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody