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Legacy of the Lifestream	By : butabara Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 2387 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not Own FFVII or its affiliates. I make no money from this execise in literary creativity.

Chapter List
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A.N. Just like the last chapter, can't say much. You'll just have to read it! R&R!
Chapter 3: New World
The sheet of paper flittered valiantly in the wind, its corners wriggling under the rubble with the wind's attempt to free it. The scrap burst free of the wreckage, fluttering tragically as the falling rain forced it back to the ground.
'I understand.' Harmony thought as she watched the tattered and yellowed paper. 'I was free and happy again, too. For all of ten minutes, my life was just as I had always hoped it would be.'
"I could feel your angst from inside." Sassi said, startling Harmony as she redhead sat down next to her. "Kiku is playing with Miri and Fionn." Sassi trailed off, letting Harmony sit in silence for a moment before plowing ahead to the question that all of them desperately wanted answered. "She's a Guardian, isn't she?"
Harmony nodded. "Yes. Her power started manifesting just like mine did, only not quite as erratic, because I never sealed hers away like ours was."
"What happened?"
"She was at school and there was a boy that was picking on her. We had to move, because the boy told everyone that her eyes flashed white and he suddenly felt itchy. He scratched bloody trails all down his arms and face. She hexed him."
"Oh, shit!"
Harmony gave a mirthless chuckle. "Yeah. We moved a lot. Mostly small towns in California, Oregon, and Washington. Even though I used glamours for everything, I couldn't shake the feeling that the government was watching me. Speaking of government... what happened to Michael? I didn't see him with Yuffie. When... when you guys left, it seemed like something was going on between them."
Sassi smiled. "He's in Wutai. Yuffie's father wasn't very happy that Yuffie planned to marry someone that isn't Wutaian, but agreed to give his blessing if Michael agreed to become a Wutaian Ninja and join the Wu Sheng. He rarely leaves Wutai. By their customs, he's way behind. They're trained from the moment they take their first step. He's almost there, though."
"Huh. Interesting."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't open the portal." Sassi said suddenly. "I tried... I really did. Aerith and I both exhausted our power to the point of collapse... and then the others wouldn't let us try anymore. Every spell we tried just flopped. I couldn't even make it flicker! I guess that thing about needing a full coven plus Cetran power is right."
Harmony took Sassi's gloved hand in her own. "Its okay. I'm sorry about how hard its been for you these past few years. I regret staying. I really do. The coven acted like I was weak. They didn't understand the sacrifice we both made. As soon as Jodee was ready to take over, they started talking about re-election. So I just gave it to her." She chuckled again. "Its funny. Ever since I joined the coven, all I ever wanted... all I worked for... was becoming High Priestess of the Coven of Moon. And I had it. Hell, if I'd tried harder... been a better Priestess... I could hold the position of Grand Priestess in a little over five years. I'd answer to no one. Its everything that I bled for. And when I got it, I realized just how much I didn't want it. All I wanted was to come here and be with you guys. It didn't feel like I belonged there anymore. It was even worse when I found out that I was pregnant. If I'd have known, there's no way I would have stayed. We both would have come here, Coven be damned."
Sassi sniffled as her Guardian spoke of the empty feelings of loneliness that had plagued her for so many years, knowing exactly how she felt... except Sassi had her friends to fall back on... all Harmony had were the rest of the coven, who were more obviousy worried about politics and rules, than the psychological well-being of their High Priestess.
"Did you know that you were dying?" Harmony asked, referring to the scrolls that Vincent had told her about. She'd spoken to Sassi about them earlier.
"Not for sure... but I had a hunch. I could feel the bond weakening. Every year, on the anniversary of their 'Homecoming', they call it, I could feel the ache. Its like the bond wanted me to find you, and every year that I couldn't it hurt even more. It was maddening."
Harmony nodded. "I know, I felt the same thing. Except... God, every time you were in danger here, I could feel it. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew that you were in trouble. I almost killed myself a couple of times trying to force the portal open. It got to the point that when I would blink unexpectedly, the rest of the Coven knew to go to Drombeg. There was always one of them with me. They'd tie me down with barrier spells so that I wouldn't hurt myself trying to perform spells that were too powerful for me. That was maddening. To know that you needed me, and I couldn't get there. I understand more about how a Guardian works, now." She took a deep breath.
"I don't have a choice. I am compelled to protect you. Not that I want the choice, mind you. But still. Its like, I'm just a shell, and the power belongs to you. Your own energies are like strings tied to mine, and I'm the puppet."
"You're not a puppet!" Sassi said with resolve. Harmony giggled.
"Sass, its okay. I figured it out."
Sassi stared on in confusion as Harmony continued.
"Sassi, I am a Guardian. Not just any Guardian, I'm your Guardian. I breathe for you. Every ounce of life and energy inside of me belongs to you. I think... I'm not sure, I'll have to do some research, but I think that our bond is more than just energy. I think... I think that if you died, I would too. Maybe not immediately, but as your life faded, you'd take half of me with you. You know as well as I do that half a soul can't sustain a body."
Sassi nodded. "That makes sense. I know that for the past seven years, I've been only half a person. I knew what was missing, and thought I'd never get it back... it was like half of my very being was just gone. And then you came back. When I saw you again it just... it was like the moment the bond was created in the first place. I was whole... Does this make me a terrible person? I mean... Loz, and my children... they suffered too, because of me." She looked out over the city.
"If you are, then I am, too. Kiku barely knows me at all. She knows that I'm her mother and that I love her with all my heart... and I know that she loves me, too. But she also knows that I was broken. That I was too caught up in my depression to bother trying to make others happy."
Suddenly, Sassi hissed, making Harmony jump as a feeling of anger (instantly identified as not her own) jumped through her senses, their bond over-reacting after being seperated for so long.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" The Cetra hissed.
Harmony looked down from their perch on the rooftop and felt her heart plumet to her toes. There below her, Kadaj stood before the doors of the building, staring up and locking eyes with Harmony.
"Was he... did he try to hurt you, Sassi?" Harmony murmured.
"No... for the first few years he was more over-protective of me that you ever were. What the hell did that letter say, anyway?"
"I just asked him to watch over you until I could." Harmony answered simply. "Do you mind? I think he wants to talk, and considering everything that's happened today, I think its a good idea. I'll make him walk me through the city or something."
Sassi nodded, grudgingly agreeing that Harmony had a point. "Here." She said, handing Harmony her cell phone. "If he gets pissy and leaves you stranded, our house number is number one on the speed dial. Someone will come get you."
Harmony smiled and accepted the gesture, but knew she wouldn't need it. Even if Kadaj ditched her somewhere, all she had to do was follow the line of power that stretched between herself and her charge. Though she wondered if, like the telekenesis, that would fade over time.
With one more grateful glance at Sassi, Harmony stretched her hands out, focusing on the spot right next to Kadaj and pulling her power in on itself. She disappeared in a blink and reappeared right next to him.
"Hi." She said quietly.
Kadaj did a double take with wide eyes, looking from the roof to Harmony and back again before taking a step back and nodding his head to her in greeting. "Hi. Can... can we talk?"
Harmony nodded, motioning with her head for him to lead the way, and then falling into step beside him as they began what was sure to be an emotional rollercoaster through the city of Edge.
An uncomfortable silence festered between them until Harmony, unable to take it anymore, let her greatest fear pour from her mouth.
"Are you angry? At me?"
Kadaj swallowed and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "No." He finally said. "I'm still in shock, I think. I never dreamed that I would ever see you again. I thought that when the portal wouldn't open-"
"Yeah, so did I. So did everyone." She said.
"I'm sorry. For implying that you had been with someone else... especially when it was so obvious that I have been. I... I didn't want to remember. I missed you so much. Everything you taught me... how you accepted me right from the beginning and showed me that I could be more than a puppet for a crazed alien. You saw me for me, and I didn't have that anymore... and I wanted to forget."
Harmony nodded, understanding although it still stung. "I've already said it a couple of times... but I swear... If I knew I was pregnant, I would never have stayed. I would have come with you. And... and I'm sorry about how it ended. At the time, I was worried that you would try to talk me into leaving, when it had to be my decision. Or that you would try to stay, when you didn't belong there. But after a while, when I thought about it, I hated myself. Yes, it had to be my decision to stay... but I should have given you the chance. I didn't even give you a choice... I made it for you, and that wasn't fair. I'm so sorry!" She covered her face with her hands to hide the tears that were begging to escape from her eyes.
Kadaj made a soft sound and placed a finger under her chin, forcing her to lift her head and look at him. He stared for a long while, until finally letting his hand drop away. He started walking again, Harmony hurrying to catch up to him.
"Yes, you should have, but there's nothing that can be done about it now. We were both hurt." He fixed his gaze on her again, staring pointedly as if to say 'Yeah, I said it. I was hurt. You hurt me.'
Harmony sniffled again, wiping at her eyes and feeling stupid for crying like a teenager. Gods, she was over thirty! Thinking about her age made her glance at Kadaj, curious to study how time had effected him and pleasantly surprised to see that, like herself, there wasn't much of a change. The only real difference she could spot was his hair. It was longer, and had a few little streaks of lighter silver here and there. He caught her staring.
"I'm a Remnant. I don't age like a normal person. You're a Guardian. According to what we found in the Forgotten Capitol, you won't age, either. Not for a long time." He said, correctly guessing her train of thought. They walked in uncomfortable silence for a while, until Kadaj could smell the sweet aroma of pastries from a shop further down the street. He almost laughed aloud at the comical growl Harmony's stomach emitted when the scent reached her.
"Er... sorry." Harmony said with a blush. Kadaj smiled and shook his head. He motioned for Harmony to follow him, leading her into the shop. "Kadaj, I don't have any of your money!" She hissed.
"I got it." He said. He pulled out his wallet and produced a few strange looking bills, and gold, bronze, and silver coins with holes in the middle. "This is gil." He said when he saw her curious gaze.
"What can I do you for, Mister Kadaj?" The young man behind the counter asked.
"Oh, hey Denzel. I wondered why you weren't at the party." Kadaj said. He knew he should probably introduce them.
"Yeah, I was there for a bit yesterday, but I had to work and no one wants to cover my shift for a whole week. Who's this? New girlfriend?"
Kadaj grimaced, noticing Harmony mirroring the action. "Well..." He started. "You remember the woman we told you about? The one we thought would never be able to come here?"
Denzel's eyes widened a fraction before he threw himself over the bar to stand before Harmony. "You're the Guardian!"
Harmony smiled, uncomfortable. "Yeah, that's me."
Kadaj noticed they were drawing attention from the patrons, some of them less than happy at seeing him.
"We really can't stay... just came in for a bite."
Denzel nodded and vaulted back over the counter. "Okay, whaddaya want? On the house."
"Won't you get in trouble?" Harmony asked.
"Nah, Pops likes me."
Kadaj smiled. "Thanks. Just a couple of dumbapple tarts, and two iced teas. Want yours sweetened?" He asked Harmony. She nodded.
"Got it." Denzel said. "Give me like, thirty seconds."
"So who was that?" Harmony asked as she walked beside Kadaj once again. They were headed back to Loz and Sassi's home, each carying a pastry and a large plastic cup. Kadaj swallowed his bite, noticing that Harmony had yet to try hers, and answered.
"That was Denzel. Cloud found him before we... before we went to your world. His family had been killed, so Cloud and Tifa took him in. He's kind of like their adopted son."
Harmony choked on her tea. "I had no idea!"
Kadaj chuckled. "Obviously. You gonna try that? They're my favorite. Dumbapple."
Harmony nodded, and smiled. "I tried one... earlier on Cid's ariship. It was so good!" She then took a small bite of the pastry in her hand and grinned. "They're even better like this! I didn't think that was possible!"
Kadaj smiled widely. "Good to know." His heart picked up as they neared the house. He had three blocks to say what was on his mind. "Where do we go from here?" He asked, hating how... timid... he sounded. Harmony stopped walking.
"Well, its illogical to think that we can just pick up where we left off. I mean, Kiku would be confused, and you have a girlfriend." She said.
"I know. But not for long. Please don't." He said when it looked like Harmony would protest. "All of the women that I've seen... I tried so hard to just see you in them. But it didn't work. Never. Hana understands. I told her that I was going to speak to you, and she said that she knows, and would have her things out tomorrow. I'm relieved that she didn't cry... but then, she always seemed to be afraid of me." Kadaj mused.
"You are slightly intimidating." Harmony said with a smirk.
Kadaj ignored the jab. "I... I want to know her. Kiku. What made you choose that name?"
Harmony blushed and looked away. "She looks just like you, Kadaj... and you loved your sister so much... I thought that it would be a small way of giving a piece of her back to you. Your own flesh and blood, given the opportunity to find the life and the love that your sister never did... plus... it was my way of remembering you. Remembering where she came from."
Kadaj sighed when they reached the gate to Sassi's house. "Can... can I see you tomorrow?"
Harmony was torn. She wanted to see him. She'd spent seven years praying for just once more... but she didn't want him leaving his girlfriend just for her. If it happened, it happened... but not for her. Plus... although little Kiku wanted to see her father, Harmony didn't want to rush things.
But it had to start somewhere.
"Yeah. I'd like that. We both would." She answered in a whisper, turning her head away.
Rough fingers cupped her jaw, forcing her to face him again. "Thank you." Kadaj said. With that, he leaned in and placed a lingering, shaking kiss on her forehead, and then turned and began the walk down the street.
"Are you going to stand out here all night? He left like, fifteen minutes ago." Sassi said, jolting Harmony out of her thoughts and making her realize that she'd been staring after the Remnant, even though she couldn't see him anymore.
"Yeah." Harmony said, shaking her head. "I mean, no. I'm coming in."
"Mommy!" Kiku yelled happily, intending to throw herself at her mother until she noticed the small pastry that resembled an apple tart. "Oh, that smells good! What is it?"
Harmony looked down at the dessert in her hand. She'd only taken one bite. "Its good, is what it is. If you go sit at the table, and Aunt Sassi says its okay, I'll cut it into thirds and you can share it with Fionn and Miriam."
"Oh, can we?" Miriam and Fionn asked in unison. "Please? Daddy, tell Mommy to say yes!"
Loz glanced at the bemused look on Sassi's face. "Uh-uh. Your mom scares me."
Sassi sighed. She was going to say yes, anyway. "Go ahead. Be sure to thank your Aunt Hari!" She called after them, sure they couldn't hear her over their whooping cries of joy.
She beckoned for Harmony to sit next to her when she returned from the kitchen. "Get everything sorted out?" She asked.
"Yeah. I think so. For the most part, anyway." Harmony affirmed. Sassi sighed in resignation. She'd never tell Harmony that she had Loz follow them. She knew everything that happened, and maybe, just maybe, she could admit that she'd been a bit hard on Kadaj. But that asshole wasn't off the hook yet!
'Kadaj,' Sassi thought to herself as she watched Harmony zone out, 'you better fix this. And fast.'
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Legacy of the Lifestream