Chapter 9

"The responsibility is mine," Vincent's voice was low. "I was in charge of them at the time, and was not prepared for the eventuality."

"Yeah, I wouldn't have been either," Cloud could feel a pounding headache beginning behind his temples. His teeth were sore from clenching them too much. "Other than that?"

Somewhere behind them, in the field leading to the house, he could hear Irene stopping to retch. He did not miss hangovers.

"I believe they behaved adequately." Vincent's eyes were saying something Cloud couldn't understand, but he didn't have the energy to learn any more surprises today.

"Thanks, Vincent." Cloud murmured. "I appreciate the backup. I've got it from here."

Vincent stepped a touch closer, leaning down to speak into Cloud's ear.

"For what it is worth, I do not think it was their intent to cause harm. There are things they simply do not know."

Cloud sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Tell me about it."

"I will speak with Cid," Vincent stepped past Cloud with a rustle of fabric. "Regarding the owner."

"Got it," Cloud said, walking through the entryway without glancing back. Yazoo had vanished from the living room entrance during their conversation, but Cloud was steeling himself none the less.

"And perhaps escort your… guest inside?" Vincent offered as Irene cursed roughly from out the door.

"You can try," Cloud said with a shrug. "She'll come in when she's ready. She's something of a—"

"Irene?" Vincent murmured, his eyes turning to the door with a strange flicker of memory as he watched the woman out the open door straighten.

"You know her?" Cloud asked, glancing between them.

"From before." Vincent agreed, his voice vague. "She was a nurse. I didn't really know her well. But I remember. Do you mind—"

"Go say hi," Cloud agreed with a nod. "I'll talk to the remnants. She's kind of not the biggest fan of Avalanche. Just to warn you."

Vincent only gave a low hum and walked out of the house. Cloud watched a moment as he strode towards Irene, pausing some distance away from the older woman and waiting. He waited until he saw the recognition catch in Irene's gaze. Not that many people with eyes as striking as Vincent's, Cloud thought. He wasn't surprised that she'd remember him.

He turned away while her mouth was still forming his name, her brows furrowing in confusion. There weren't many people in the world who remembered Vincent Valentine as a Turk. Or technically, Cloud supposed, as a human. He thought of how much it meant to him to be remembered by Tifa. He walked away before he could intrude more on the reunion, no matter how small or awkward it might be.

He headed upstairs without allowing himself time to doubt or waver. Loz was still sobbing, but he could hear Yazoo whispering, and the harsher sounds of Kadaj muttering through his teeth. The scent of blood was still on the air, though faint, and muted by the scent of alcohol. Cloud felt memories in the back of his mind, and shoved them aside with a force of concentration. No mako tubes here. No sterile cuts. Just dog bites and first aid.

He knocked twice before he opened the door to the remnant's room. Not because he doubted his access in the slightest, but because if he didn't they always jumped and stared at him with a look in their eyes he didn't understand. Knocking was better than the confused pity that swelled in his chest when those eyes met his.

Kadaj was the first one he saw. He was standing by their window, staring outside with a scowl on his face. His arms were crossed, as if hiding, but Cloud could see the neatly wrapped bandage around his left forearm. Vincent, as usual, had done impeccable work. The teen didn't so much as glance his way, but his scowl tightened at the feeling of Cloud's look.

He looked to the miserable lump of Loz in the desk chair. He was big for it—the wood looked a little strained by the weight of his muscles—but he'd curled up tightly. He was still sniffling, though he'd quieted his tears from the sobbing Cloud had heard from afar. Yazoo lounged on the bed, ignoring them all and running fingers through his own hair to inspect its silver shine.

"Alright." Cloud said, closing the door behind himself. "Vincent gave me a quick run down. Why don't you three—"

"I didn't mean to," Loz blurted, his teary eyes fixed on Cloud. His brows were furrowed with determination. "I didn't mean to do something bad, but it bit Kadaj and—I'm the one who did it, It wasn't their fault, so I'm the one who should go back, not them!"

"You're not going back." Kadaj snapped from the window. "I told you that already. Idiot."

"Kadaj," Cloud scolded with a sigh, halfway through trying to parse what, exactly, Loz thought was happening.

"Sure he is," Yazoo drawled. "We all are. He'll get bored soon. The Turks have much longer attention spans."

"Yazoo—" Cloud growled.

"He's been waiting for an excuse," Yazoo purred. "You gave him one. Good job."

Loz made a choking, miserable sound. Kadaj groaned in annoyance and leaned against the windowsill, scowling.

"No one is going to the Turks." Cloud snapped, glaring at the remnant who was so open with his hatred. Yazoo glared back, just for a moment. Then scoffed at him and lay back on the bed, poking at his scar. "I just want to talk about what happened."

"Really?" Loz asked, his voice low and uncertain. "I messed up though. I'm really sorry. I didn't know. Please don't be…"

He trailed off, but again, Cloud saw that strangeness in his eyes. Like a shadow. Like fear. Not just anything frightened a remnant of Sephiroth, he thought, glancing to Kadaj, who was often so open with information. The teen was silent, still staring out the window and prodding lightly at his injured arm.

"I'm not angry." Cloud said after a moment. "At you." He added with a quick glance at Yazoo. The slender remnant just sighed and rolled over. "It was a mistake. Things happen."

"It was just a mutt anyhow," Kadaj muttered, his shoulders hunched a little.

"How bad's your bite?" Cloud asked, beckoning to him.

Kadaj stayed rooted in place, scowling at Cloud from behind his bangs. "It's fine." He said with an acid harshness to his voice.

"Do you remember if it was wearing a collar?" He asked.

"Red with two tags," Loz supplied after a moment of stubborn silence from Kadaj. "They jingled when it ran away."

"Alright." Cloud sighed. "Definitely someone's pet, but at least that means it probably had a rabies vaccine…"

"Ugh." Kadaj muttered, gripping his bandaged arm a little tighter. "This would already be healed if you'd give it up with the inhibitors."

"If you want to walk around with a live wire in your spinal cord, help yourself," Cloud said with a scowl. But he and Kadaj held eye contact a moment too long. Kadaj's eyes were flat, and unbelieving, and Cloud turned away from them too abruptly.

"Well, you have good timing getting yourself beaten up at least," Cloud sighed. "Irene can take a look at you."

"Right." Kadaj muttered, petulant and sullen.

"You said," Loz said after a moment of silence. "It was someone's pet? Like, the shadow beasts? Or Rufus's old thing? You know with the…" He waved his hand towards the back of his neck in a vaguely tentacle fashion. Cloud did not ask how he knew about Dark Nation.

"Probably not." He said with a shrug, glancing to the doorway. He could hear quiet conversation, but there were footsteps too. "Most people don't have war dogs. It probably belonged to some kid in town."

Loz lowered his eyes, and frowned a little more deeply. Cloud turned his eyes away, and refused the instinct to comfort him. Let the kid feel bad, he thought to himself with a sigh as Irene's footsteps started up the stairs. It would make the issue less likely to repeat.

"Knock knock." Irene said from the doorway, stepping inside with a sigh.

"Hey Irene." Loz greeted glumly.

"Oh, you." Yazoo said, glancing her over before averting his eyes again, uninterested and cold.

"Hi." Kadaj muttered eventually, after glancing over at Cloud's expectant expression.

"Well," Irene said with a huff of breath and an easy smile. "Nice of all three of you to stay conscious this time for me."

Yazoo gave a quiet snort of amusement, his eyes narrowing in something that was not quite innocent amusement, but not quite dangerous either. Cloud kept a close eye on him anyhow, just in case.

Irene walked into the room like she owned it, and the remnants responded to her as they never had to Cloud. Their eyes followed her with something more like respect than hunger. And when she beckoned to kadaj, he went to her with a soft huff of annoyance.

In turn, Irene's hangover had been left at the door. She was calm and still, an immovable object before their unpredictability. Cloud watched her reach for Kadaj's wounded arm, and him silently present it, with only a little pout of his still childish lips.

"Shoo, Strife." Irene said as she started unwrapping Kadaj's bandage.

Cloud blinked out of his contemplation, his brow furrowing as he stared at her.

"What?"

"Shoo." Irene said, flicking her hand at him. "Doctor patient confidentiality. I'd shoo the other two out too, but they're relatives. I still can if you'd like," She offered, glancing up at Kadaj with a small smile.

"N-no?" Kadaj said, a little confused frown gracing his expression.

"There you have it." Irene said, waving a hand.

"You heard the lady, Strife," Yazoo was practically purring, a delighted expression on his face. His eyes were glowing with glee, and a little mad laugh bubbled in his words.

His mood must have been catching, because Kadaj snickered too, his little pout curling up in an insatiable, wicked grin.

"They're hardly safe." Cloud objected.

"Don't be a jackass." Irene huffed, rolling her eyes at him. "You know as well as I do they won't kill me."

Loz chuckled this time, as if the very thought of attacking Irene was laughable. The doctor shot him a wink. Cloud gave up.

"Fine," He muttered. "Just holler if you need me then."

"Oh she will." Yazoo purred, a wicked grin on his face.

Irene threw a cotton swab from her bag at him. It bounced innocuously off his nose. Yazoo outright chuckled, sliding his gaze over to her again with a look that Cloud thought looked uncomfortably like fondness.

He really didn't like how all three of them acted like they knew her.

"Now," Irene was saying as he closed the door. "Let's look at this bite. Dog got you pretty good, huh?"

"I guess," Kadaj sighed. "I'm not used to being so slow."

Cloud walked downstairs, only halfway eavesdropping on their conversation. It wasn't particularly interesting. Irene asking where it hurt. Kadaj muttering and evading the question. Muffled complaints when she cleaned the wound. No sounds of actual distress, though at least two or three callous jibes from Yazoo.

He was worse today, Cloud thought with a little frown. Every now and then he thought he was starting to get a handle on the strangest brother. Kadaj was simple. Furious, but driven. Determined to stay as free as possible. And, for now, weak. Cloud thought again of the look in his eyes, of the defensive pose by the window, and wondered how much longer he could pretend it was Kadaj's choice to be restrained.

Cloud started some water heating. He didn't think Irene would care to stay for dinner, but he could at least offer her tea. Some part of him wished very much that she was worse at her job. Maybe if Sephiroth had died of sepsis in battle they wouldn't all be in these positions.

He could hear Loz sniffling from upstairs, and Irene murmuring softly to him. The snyde cut of Yazoo's voice, barbed and cruel. Kadaj muttering something to himself. Nothing threatening, but it was uneasy, somehow, having Irene in the house. He was fairly sure it was because he wasn't sure she was on his side, in the grand scheme of things. He didn't think she was plotting to break the remnants out or anything, but she wasn't about to let bygones be bygones either.

He leaned against the counter and watched the tea kettle steam, trying to think through everything. All the disasters he'd envisioned, his charges managing to injure and infuriate a stray hadn't been even occurred to him. But he couldn't exactly go off looking for the poor thing The best he could do was wait for Vincent to report on whether or not he'd tracked down the owner.

Maybe he'd get lucky, and the dog's owner would turn out to be an asshole, and he wouldn't feel like a monster for letting their pet get hurt.

Irene took a long time upstairs. Cloud brewed tea for her, then spent a while pacing the downstairs, trying not to hear their murmured discussions. Yazoo's scars, and whether they hurt (Laughed off, derisively, but Irene didn't sound upset.) Loz's semi-crooked fingers, and his continued, quiet sniffling. Kadaj's striking, pale lighting scars, and his muttered complaints of being so tired.

"Your body's having a hard time with the inhibitors," Irene murmured upstairs. Cloud heard the disapproval in her voice. He grit his teeth and tuned them out again.

Kadaj hadn't vocally objected yet. But it was in the stiffness of his arm when Cloud injected him. It was in the scabs that no longer healed so quickly on his elbows. It wasn't sustainable. Cloud knew it wasn't. But...

He thought of Yazoo's violent eyes. Thought of Kadaj's more intense moments, and the flashes of brilliance and madness he saw in him.

Dangerous he thought.

There was no doubting that. Even Loz still had moments. When Cloud was too close to Kadaj the generally gentle remnant went tense and wary. And though he was the least outright dangerous of the tree, Cloud was under no illusions about his strength. Frankly, he was surprised he hadn't needed to spend the afternoon picking pieces of dead dog intestine out of the lawn.

"So Vincent tells me this was from a run in with a normal old dog, huh?" Irene's voice was saying from upstairs.

"The shadow beasts never bit," Kadaj grumbled. "And it was in my way."

"Cloud said it was someone's pet," Loz muttered eventually. "But I don't really understand... What that means?"

"That some human keeps it." Yazoo filled in, the derision clear in his voice. "For no real purpose."

"Company is a purpose," Irene corrected. "And affection, and love. A pet can serve a lot of uses without being kept just for work. I have a couple of cats at home myself."

"Well." Yazoo's voice was a little more of a mutter than a purr now. "Cats are different."

"Would you be sad?" Loz asked. "If you lost them?"

"Very," Irene sighed. "A person loses enough in a lifetime already."

There was silence for a moment, then a suspicious sniffle.

"You don't know what you don't know, Loz." Irene said, her voice quiet and supportive. "Buck up."

That much was true, Cloud thought with a sigh. There was so much he felt like he was still missing.

Irene was upstairs a while longer, but Cloud tried not to eavesdrop. His control around them was shaky enough without knowing whether they were all reminiscing about how great Sephiroth was or something. He shuddered and grimaced at the thought.

Eventually he heard the door upstairs open.

"Let me go have some words with your jailer before you three come down, alright?" Irene was saying into the room. "Yazoo, like I showed you with his arm. Careful, but firm. No babying."

"Just who do you think I am?" Yazoo's voice answered, sounding offended.

"It'll be alright, Loz," Irene said instead of answering him. "Don't cry too much, alright? It was an accident."

She was answered only with a soft hiccup and a noise of annoyance from Kadaj. Then the door closed and Cloud heard footsteps on the stairs.

"There's tea," he said by way of greeting.

Irene walked into the room in swift, smooth motions. But she slowed when she reached Cloud's side. She lifted the tea slowly, consideration on her face.

"Let's step outside." She said, her voice low.

Cloud watched her move. A little limp on her left leg, he thought with a small frown. And more wrinkles than he remembered noticing last time. If she'd known Sephiroth and Vincent both… He mentally re-considered her age. She must have been in her late fifties at least…

He followed her outside, glancing back once at the stairs before stepping out after her. He closed the door behind them, guessing she was hoping to shield their conversation from the prying remnants above.

Irene took a sip of tea, and heaved a long, slow sigh.

"I think they like you," she said.

"Haha." Cloud said dryly.

"I'm serious," Irene huffed. "You've been… if not 'good' for them, at least better than they're used to."

"Just catch me up on what needs doing to keep them healthy."

"This would be so much easier if you were just the bastard I always thought you must be." Irene hissed, her eyes averting and a tight scowl at the corners of her lips. "If you were just a killer. But things never are that simple."

Cloud watched her a moment, then echoed her sigh.

"No," he said. "They never are."

"You need to take Kadaj off the inhibitors." Irene said, her expression tense. "They are not intended for long term usage. He'll get sick. If it doesn't drive him insane first."

"The tracker…"

"The Turks will find you either way."

"But if it's charged—"

"You think if he was in one piece and off inhibitors anyone would be able to touch his neck? He won't let us operate on him to remove it, so it's his to defend."

"I can't." Cloud said flatly.

"You won't." Irene accused.

"They are a thread away from getting killed, every day." Cloud hissed. "They are too dangerous, too strange, and too poorly controlled. I don't want them to die."

"You mean you don't want the guilt of murdering them." Irene snapped.

Cloud looked away, frowning tightly. He took a slow breath through his nose and let it out, calming his temper.

"This time it was a stray dog." He said. "But it could just as easily have been a kid."

"They are still learning." Irene objected. "He made a mistake and he apologized."

"They're too strong to make mistakes." Cloud shook his head, his arms crossed. "I can't negotiate this yet, Irene. I know they've been trying. I can tell. Two of them, at least. But I have to think about more than just their safety."

"Well." Irene said coldly. "I don't have much choice but to agree. Make sure Kadaj keeps that dog bite clean. He's prone to infections and sickness while you have him on inhibitors. His body has never really needed to make antibodies before. And if anything changes, I expect to hear from you."

"You will." Cloud refused to shuffle his feet in awkwardness after her cutting criticisms. He'd known she wouldn't be pleased. But the new batch of inhibitors was already in the cabinet.

"Good." she said, draining her tea cup and passing it to him. "Vincent is giving me a ride back to Edge. We have a bit to catch up on."

"I didn't even know he could drive." Cloud said, glancing suspiciously towards the farm house. "But I'm glad. He doesn't know a lot of people who remember him."

"There aren't many of us left." Irene said. "I hope you won't live to know that feeling, Strife. Little though I like you, I wouldn't wish it on you."

"Looking at my lifestyle, I wouldn't worry too much." Cloud said with a twisted smile. "See you again, Irene."

"Not too soon, I hope."

She extended a hand, and Cloud shook it.

"I still think you're a fool." She said, squeezing his fingers. "And you and your friends in many ways not only killed Sephiroth, but killed the memory of who he was. I won't forgive you for that."

"I don't need forgiveness." Cloud said firmly, giving her hand a small, careful squeeze in return.

"Good." Irene said, letting go of Cloud's hand. "Maybe you'll last longer than he did, then."

Cloud waved as she walked away, just once, but he was glad she hadn't elaborated. He knew more about Sephiroth than he ever wanted to already. A low chuckle sounded in his mind, and he told himself it was just a memory. He shuddered anyway.

It was on the back burner for now. The remnants were physically safe for now, and he wasn't going to let them skip on chores just because of an eventful day. They'd find something Kadaj could do one-handed, no problem. But he had a feeling first he'd have to deal with the sobbing Loz and the particularly insolent Yazoo.

Some part of him wondered what Yazoo's rather intense reactions that afternoon had been based on. He must have known Cloud wasn't going to actually send them back. Why would he wind Loz up like that? To be annoying? To inflict his tears on Cloud? Or was he punishing Loz for not protecting their brother sooner? Or for causing offense in the first place? Or was it just his way, to sew chaos at every opportunity?

Whatever it was, Cloud wasn't surprised to find the willowy remnant idly standing in front of the staircase, blocking his way. Yazoo's head was tilted away from Cloud, all but lolling on his neck with apparent boredom. His eyes were flat and disinterested, but Cloud could have sworn he saw a hint of anger in that gaze. Yazoo swayed in place when Cloud stopped before him. He did not so much as acknowledge Cloud's presence.

"Move, Yazoo." Cloud aimed for a firm calm, but his voice betrayed his annoyance.

"You certainly do like making everything dramatic, brother." Yazoo sighed, inspecting the dry wall.

There was no emotion in his voice. His empty eyes slid over towards Cloud, but he looked right past hi, gazing at the entryway with the utmost boredom.

"Move." Cloud repeated, widening his stance by an inch in silent aggression and crossing his arms.

Yazoo slid his tongue over his teeth, completely unmoved by the order or the unspoken threat. He arched his back in a lazy stretch, and lifted a hand to trace idle fingers over his scar.

"Loz didn't even kill it off." He drawled. "A little worse for wear, I grant you, but it still had the strength to run away. Pathetic sight, the mongrel yelping like a puppy... Oh, is that the problem?"

Yazoo's green eyes flared, and Cloud tensed, eyes narrowing.

"Are you sad that another puppy's dying?" Yazoo all but crooned, his gaze finally fixing on Cloud. "We all know how much it tore you up before."

Cloud jerked forward before he could stop himself, his hand going around Yazoo's throat. The remnant gave him a wild grin that somehow seemed to have too many teeth. An awful laugh bubbled up out of him, thrumming against Cloud's palm along with the remnant's pounding heartbeat.

"Don't talk about Zack." Cloud said in a clenching, furious voice. He sounded like…

Yazoo laughed again, though it came out strangled. Cloud squeezed just to hear the sound choke into silence.

"Don't." Cloud shook Yazoo by his throat, then released him abruptly, trying to calm himself. How dare he—

'He's riling you up, Spike.' Warned a familiar voice.

Yazoo lifted a delicate looking hand to his throat, humming to himself.

"You really are like Sephiroth." He purred. "You even talk like him when you're angry."

Cloud didn't move. He watched Yazoo with narrowed eyes, frowning.

"Who are you protecting?" Cloud asked, following a sudden suspicion.

Yazoo twitched, and his mild smile flickered. Then it redoubled, his eyes fixed on Cloud as he took a slow, predatory step closer.

"You think I would?" He purred, a nasty sneer on his lips. "Protecting isn't in our nature any more than Sephi—"

"Then why can't I hear Loz crying anymore?" Cloud asked blankly, trampling over the name.

He watched Yazoo swallow. Then the remnant played it off, clearing his throat and rubbing at the healing bruise Cloud had left there. Cloud started for the stairs. Yazoo stayed planted in the way.

"Last warning." Cloud said darkly.

"He trusts you, you know." Yazoo said, his voice suddenly flat and dark. "He trusts you."

Cloud pushed past Yazoo and stormed up to the remnants room.

Kadaj whirled as Cloud pushed the door open. His hands clenched at his sides. He was standing beside an open window, alone in their room. Cloud took it in at a glance, then fixed his gaze intensely on Kadaj. The remnant drew himself up, his silver hair falling into his face, obscuring his all-too-human eyes. His fists were shaking, just a little. The fresh, crisp bandages on his arm were stark and neat.

"Where is he?"

"Yazoo," Kadaj snapped, his eyes flicking behind Cloud.

"I gave it a try, brother." Yazoo sighed.

"I'm not asking again." Cloud barked. He itched for his sword. Why had he ever stopped carrying it?

Yazoo sauntered into the room past him, bumping Cloud's shoulder roughly as he went. Cloud almost grabbed his throat again as he passed.

'Protecting isn't in our nature,' Yazoo had purred. Now he slid between Cloud and Kadaj to stand in the middle of the room without hesitation. He still gazed at the wall in boredom, but Cloud could see muscles moving under skin as Yazoo prepared to fight.

"Idiot," Kadaj hissed, pressing forward to shove Yazoo roughly. The other remnant swayed, but said nothing. Cloud thought he saw Yazoo heave a subtle sigh.

"Kadaj!" He snapped, his patience more than worn thin. "Where the hell is Loz?"

"I thought you weren't asking again." Yazoo drawled.

"I knew you lot would end up trouble." Cloud growled. "Downstairs. Now. Or I'll take you down before your brother."

Loz, though? His heart murmured. Loz? Who had been petulant, but comparatively almost warm towards him? Who had just that morning begged forgiveness for a mistake? Loz, who even through his apparently growing trust hesitated to leave kadaj alone in the room with Cloud? And now vanishing, leaving the other two behind? It didn't line up…

"You don't understand," Kadaj seemed breathless, his hand wrapping around his bandaged forearm almost defensively.

"I told you he wouldn't." Yazoo drawled, shifting his stance when Kadaj stepped forward as if to pass him.

"He's coming back!" Kadaj's voice was wavering again—That strange sound between laughter and sobs. "Just let me—"

"Downstairs!" Cloud repeated, his voice a bark of anger. "Before I decide it's too dangerous to let you three do anything of your own will!"

"You already know that." Yazoo accused, laughter burbling in his words. "We shouldn't be running loose any more than you should, Ex-Monster Cloud."

"Shut up, Yazoo!" Kadaj yelled.

No going quietly for Yazoo then, Cloud thought with a deep frown. He rolled his shoulders and took a breath. Yazoo's eyes snapped to him, suddenly all attention. I'm too late, Cloud thought, even as he stepped forward. Some piece of him was strangely glad.

Yazoo bent backwards under Cloud's reaching arms, flipping neatly to land on top of one of the small beds the remnants had shoved together. He lept off as quickly as he landed, with an alarming crack. Cloud lifted his hands to defend, but Yazoo's foot impacted the wall behind him rather than Cloud. The remnant jumped from the wall, straight over Cloud and through the open door.

Cloud stared a fraction of a second at Kadaj's expression in the wake of Yazoo's abrupt, almost beautiful defiance. The young remnant's eyes were wide in shock, his lips parted in a soft, vulnerable expression. His brows twisted slowly in confusion as Cloud watched. His gaze was still tracing through the air—struggling to follow the motion with his suppressed senses. A picture of a rather charming rabbit was falling off the wall Yazoo had kicked. Cloud was in motion after him before it hit the ground.

Yazoo was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for him, smirking in challenge.

"What?" He called up, his teeth flashing in a grin. "Didn't you want us downstairs?"

"This isn't a game." Cloud snapped, blitzing down to tackle the young man who'd proven beyond a doubt his intent.

Yazoo held perfectly still, grinning, a moment too long. Got you, Cloud thought grimly. Then the remnant jumped high, pressing forward. He landed with one foot bracing on the stair rail, only for a moment, before kicking off. Cloud twisted, bracing to take the hit, but Yazoo only kicked off the opposing wall and launched up the stairs, sailing past without more than a breeze. Cloud fell hard on his back and rolled automatically into the fall, down the last four steps. He came up on his feet again only to knock against the end table against the wall. Yazoo laughed as Cloud's impact shattered a vase on the ground.

Kadaj hovered in the doorway, eyes wide and unsure. Cloud had never seen him look so lost. Yazoo stood at the top of the stairs, eyes shining. His smile twisted the ugly scar on his cheek.

"How long can you keep this up?" Cloud asked sharply. "You're not doing your brothers any favors."

"What makes you think I care?" Yazoo sneered.

Cloud pushed of the wall, running hard up the stairs towards Yazoo. This time, when the remnant jumped, Cloud was ready. He jumped too, and hit Yazoo square in the middle. Yazoo grunted and twitched as Cloud hit him, and they hit the ceiling. Cloud twisted hard and dropped on top of him, driving him down into the stairs. Yazoo's laugh turned breathless as he impacted. Wood cracked, and they tumbled.

Cloud had Yazoo's hands behind his back and a knee against his spine before they hit the bottom of the stairs. Yazoo twitched again, just once more, as they hit the floor with all of Cloud's weight on his back. The breath wheezed out of him. Cloud smelled blood, but Yazoo was still gasping laughter.

"Don't!" Kadaj yelled, finally finding his voice again.

Cloud glared down at the silver head twisting to laugh at him, and felt his hands itch to snap that slender neck.

"Don't!" Kadaj screamed again, his voice more panicked this time. It seemed strangely echoed in Cloud's mind by voices formless but familiar.

Cloud paused, glancing up towards Kadaj's frightened gaze, and he felt Yazoo's laughter die under him as well. He looked back to his captive and flinched, realizing he'd driven Yazoo down in the shards of the vase. No wonder he smelled blood. He eased his grip on Yazoo's wrists just a touch, feeling bones grate as he released them back into place.

Yazoo let out a shaking breath, and Cloud gaped down at the corner of his face visible under the tumble of his hair. The remnant grimaced, suchking air through his teeth. He hadn't shown pain before. Not once. Not since—

He remembered the clenching screams, the twisting body, the blood draining through the floor.

Cloud let up a touch, suddenly afraid the broken vase might be piercing Yazoo's very heart for him to grimace. He was just beginning to wonder why that would frighten him when Yazoo grabbed the fabric of his pants and rolled like a crocodile.

Cloud cursed loudly as he hit the wall again and Yazoo squirreled away out of his grip. Not elegant this time, but with a scissoring desperation in the motion of his legs. Cloud was inches behind him, catching at his boots and pants as Yazoo regained his feet.

"Yazoo!" Kadaj scolded with a sound that Cloud was certain was the littlest remnant stomping his foot petulantly.

Cloud regained his feet, and caught the upper hand. He grabbed Yazoo's lapel, jerking him to a halt, and punched him square in the jaw. Yazoo's answering laugh was as startled as it was amused, and his eyes flashed to Cloud. Cloud punched him again, intent on getting at least one remnant unconscious while he figured out what to do.

Yazoo's hands lifted, pawing at Cloud's grip with slightly dazed, awkward motions. Kadaj lept forward from behind, catching Cloud's other hand as he pulled back to punch again. He hauled on it, digging his feet in, struggling to stop the enhanced man from hitting his brother again.

Cloud shook him off and hit Yazoo so hard the fabric of his shirt tore a little, dropping the panting remnant a quarter of an inch. Yazoo's grin was blood-stained now, his teeth smeared red and his eyes glowing intensely. It wasn't Kadaj grabbing Cloud's arm again that made him pause. It was the sight of Yazoo's hands dropping back to his sides to dangle there instead of striking back that halted Cloud's hand in the air. Why hadn't he been hit in return?

There was a rattle at the door, and Cloud went tense, jerking his head up. Vincent? He thought. Or Cid? Come to tell him his escapee had hurt someone?

The person on the other side fumbled with the knob twice before finally getting the door open. Cloud gaped at the figure openly, even as Yazoo heaved an annoyed sigh, still dangling by his lapel in Cloud's grip.

"What took you so long?" Kadaj snapped.

"Oh," said Loz, standing in the doorway with a sad-looking, whimpering yellow dog cradled in his arms. "Sorry I'm late."

Cloud dropped Yazoo, and resisted the urge to put his head in his hands. Yazoo grunted as he landed, spitting blood onto the hardwood floor.

"I told you he was coming back," Kadaj complained.

"Um," Loz was shifting under Cloud's scrutiny. There was mud streaked all over him, like he'd crawled after the dog he carried. "Can you help it? I think I broke its ribs."

Cloud took a moment, staring at the man in the doorway, cradling the dog he'd tried to kill as it shivered and panted. He took in the bite marks in Loz's shirt that had clearly healed over in no time. Then he glanced down to the figure of Yazoo still sitting on the floor with a wry smirk and a quickly bruising face, and back to the tense anger of Kadaj.

A heavy breath escaped him, but he wasn't sure if it was a sigh of relief or exasperation.

"Put it on the couch," he said, closing his eyes for a moment as he gestured towards the living room. "I'll see what I can do."

And then, the thought, he was going to have a hell of a time figuring out what to do about them.