Warning: Advent Children Spoilers abound! Do not read if you don't want the story to be spoiled!

Story notes: Takes off directly after the defeat of Sephiroth, continues in a different direction from there. May turn Yaoi-ish later, I haven't decided yet. Knowing me, it will. No non-cannon characters of any importance and no Mary-sues, so have no fear. Please R&R:D

Author's requests regarding reviews: I'd appreciate if people didn't ask me questions about the plot in their reviews. Obviously I have a reason for everything I write, and all will be explained in time. I'm not going to tell you before I'm ready, just because you're burning with curiosity now, or think I'm doing something weird. Just bear with it, and all shall be revealed.

Also, if you have a specific suggestion, such as a specific spelling or a factual mistake that I can edit and rectify, please don't put it in a review. As soon as I fix it, that review becomes obsolete, but it remains in the list, no use to anyone who wants to know the quality of my writing, and unfairly upping my review count. I've posted my e-mail address on my profile now, so you can just pop a message on over to me on things like that. Thanks:D (Oh, and do feel free to e-mail me about the story, FFVII, or Advent Children over all, I'd love to chat! 3 )

End Notes – Begin Story

- IYAAA! -

Kadaj's scream was soundless, to all the world around them, nothing but a pain-wracked echo inside his skull as the spirit of Sephiroth tore away from him, soaring upward as his own broken form fell heavily, back down to the wreckage of the earth. He barely caught himself on hands and knees, blood pouring from wounds sustained by a god, now bourn by a mortal body.

Enraged at this abuse, this abandonment, by both Sephiroth and Jenova, Kadaj did all he could to summon the last of his strength and charge the only possible target on which he could do some violence. His opponent was already expecting the attack, but neither man expected that Kadaj's strength and will would fail him. But in reality, he was only still a child after all…

Surprisingly, even to Cloud himself, he abandoned his blades as he watched Kadaj stumble, instinctively knowing that the show of weakness was not a feint, and caught the wounded boy in mid-fall. Kneeling slowly, he cradled his would-be assassin in his own arms, only noticing now the slight tremor in his own limbs. The ghost of the fight still in him, but now events had seemed to completely change their face, and it required of Cloud an entirely different strength than the ordeal finished only moments before.

Kadaj was incredibly light and limp, and at this proximity, for once not engaged in battle with the boy, Cloud was able to see clearly just how tragically young and soft this fallen warrior was. His own pale lips parted in a silent, surprised sigh, he locked eyes with Kadaj with as much intensity as he could, seeing the other man's gaze looking hazy and wandering.

"Niisan…" Confusion, amazement, and longing filled the faltering voice, none of the pain and anger from mere moments before. The dying man tried to lift a hand to touch the stoic would-be-Soldier's face, but failed in the attempt, not only weakened by battle, but also for playing host to a greedy, ravenous, power-hungry soul which had had no intentions of returning Kadaj's body to him. Cloud caught the slipping hand though, squeezed it tightly in his own and watched those silver lashes flicker wider.

"Hold on, Kadaj," the sound of great propeller blades slicing through the chilled Midgar sky was growing louder behind them, Cid's new Sierra air-craft coming to aid the victorious hero. A hero who had lain to waste this gasping, weeping child. Makou-tinged rain dropped thick and wetly from the sky, the Planet crying for all the continued suffering in this wasted city, disguising the damp streaks already disappearing back into Kadaj's lank silver hair, though Cloud did not add to these any of his own. "Suman… Otouto…"

"E-eh…?" Kadaj pulled the focus of his fading jadeite eyes back in onto Cloud Strife's burning cerulean blue, not certain he'd truly heard the familial endearment issued from Cloud's lips, the air-ship was now almost upon them and it could have been nothing more than a trick of the wind and a dying man's desperate imagination, but the soft nod from the other young man erased his doubt, and Kadaj regathered inside himself all his strength, and a will to live. A small and utterly beguiling smile, so gentle and full of innocence, crept its way across his smooth and trembling lips as he returned the conviction in the nod. "Un," and closed his hand around Cloud's weakly.

Tifa had expected to be the first one to run down the Sierra's loading ramp, to fly out to greet and congratulate her victorious friend, but such was not the way in which fate had decreed things would proceed. Rather than speeding down to Cloud, she and the rest of their companions aboard the Sierra were surprised to find Cloud quickly striding up to meet them, their here-to-fore tenacious adversary cradled in his arms, pressed close against his chest.

Blood spattered the metal gangway as Cloud rushed aboard the airship, leaving a gruesome trail in the hero's wake, a testament to the ferocity of their epic battle. The silver-haired man held in Cloud's arms was now pale and translucent as alabaster, a visible tremor coursing about his lithe frame, sharp eyes, the same clear aqua of the Life Stream itself darting about all the collected party cautiously, expecting any moment another swift attack. Cloud, he knew now, he could trust, but from these people he had no reason to expect anything but hostility. Kadaj was very well aware that in the eyes of these people, he was the bad-guy.

Before anyone could ask questions, Cloud started in commanding them. The air-ship was large enough, it had to have some manner of first-aid infirmary, and Cloud wanted them in the air as quickly as possible and headed in the direction of the Healin Lodge. Most recently devoted almost entirely to the study of Geostigma, and a search for its cure, the Lodge had previously served to treat the massive population of wounded Midgarites, after the catastrophic destruction wrought upon the metropolitan city by the Weapons, Meteor, and Holy. The only person who managed any pre-emptive interjection was Yuffie, a brief, incredulous cry of, "Uso!" before Cloud was directing everything.

Cid, not about to argue with, or question the motivations of the man who had just single handedly defeated the Legendary Soldier Sephiroth – yet again – did as he was bade with only moderately profane grumbling, returning quickly to the Sierra's flight deck to get her air-born again. One of the ships many crew members immediately volunteered herself as a guide to emergency first aid, and was leading Cloud deeper into the body of the Sierra, with no need for him to even pause in walking.

Most of the others, compatriots in the cause of what had once been AVALANCHE, stayed behind in the loading bay, shock and uncertainty keeping them grounded where they were, glancing at one another uncomfortably and wondering what the outcome of this strange seeming rescue would be. Tifa was on Cloud's heels immediately though, and after only a brief pause to ensure the rest wouldn't break out into fits over it, Vincent also disappeared swiftly and silently through the bulk head door and out into the hall. Though out of sight of them, he didn't even need his excellent hearing to know where to go. Kadaj's blood made for a disquieting sort of bread-crumb trail, a bright crimson arrow pointing the way.

Apparently some one had already notified the ship's medics that something severe was on the way, as the party walked in to find a bed being hastily prepped, disinfectants, pain-killers, sutchers and bandages being prepared on a near-by tray. The grave young man pulling on the latex gloves when Vincent entered was informing them that air-ships like the Sierra were not always the safest working conditions for people, that medical attention really had to be there on hand. That the Captain was a brilliant designer and did his best to safe-guard everything he assured them most emphatically, but the cost of the first-aid room was a small price insurance, and now apparently well worth the paying.

There wasn't a great deal they could do for Kadaj here. For the most part they simply did all they could to staunch the bleeding and make the boy as comfortable as possible upon the stiff antiseptic bed. Cloud, Tifa and Vincent, all three stood still and silent against the bulkhead near the door while the medics worked, Cloud and Vincent's eyes both locked upon the patient, Tifa's worried chocolate gaze flickering between all three men. She was highly uneasy about this, but couldn't bring herself to speak up in the presence of their enemy. Surely it was too cold to say such a thing even to a villain's face, that you thought it better off that person didn't live…?

Though still frighteningly pale and wane, Kadaj seemed to be fairing at least a little better now, trying not to let himself gasp and wince. Though obviously aware of the other occupants of the little room, he seemed only interested in keeping his eyes on Cloud, as if his very soul was anchored here only by the simultaneously fierce and yet serene blue glow suffused inside Cloud's eyes.

As the medics began to clear away and clean their implements, the gradual dropping sensation of the Sierra cruising down made everyone feel lighter, like an elevator dropping just a little too fast, and Tifa in her apprehension thought for a moment that she might actually lose contact with the floor and fly apart, though rationally she knew that wasn't true. Kadaj also seemed to experience the same sort of desperate moment, though, perhaps fearing he'd lost touch with his body rather than the ground, and in his silky, silver voice gasped out, "Niisan!"

He was calmed, instantly though, by a firm nod from Cloud. "Just a few more moments, Otouto."

Vincent didn't seem to react, but Tifa's eyes went round.

Author's remarks: End of the introductory chapter. I hope it has sufficiently whet your appetites for more of this story-line. I simply adore Kadaj too much not to write my own AU with him surviving in it, and the prospects of his survival are too vast to let be. Please let me know what you think so far, and I'll try to get the next installment in very soon!

Translations:

Niisan – Older brother, as a "name."

Suman – Contraction of "Sumimasen" or "I'm sorry." Manly talk, that. ;)

Uso! – No way!

Otouto – Little brother.