Black Sheep

[Kadaj]

Traverse Town

That was all the note had said. It had been left lying around on the streets of Radiant Garden some time after a few troublesome bits of vandalism had been pulled. Nobody knew what to make of the thing, other than the fact that it couldn't be removed or destroyed. It was pinned to a solid stone wall in the market square by a strange sword with two blades that embedded perfectly into the surface yet refused to be budged form its spot like the legendary Sword in the Stone. The note itself appeared as paper yet could not be torn, and none found the notice safe enough to dare try burning it.

The sword was recognized by Cid Highwind. Claimed some silver-haired troublemaker had messed with his computer a little while ago during another, larger crisis that had occurred. The words had drawn many eyes. Merlin himself seemed perplexed as to what magic was being used to hold the note in place. And just what did it mean? Who was the message meant for, anyway? Nobody knew... because nobody could read it.

At least, not until Cloud Strife had come along.

Traverse Town

One look at the paper and the image of the town was sudden burned into his mind's eye with a deafening ring. Shortly after the SOLDIER's short migraine the sword and paper turned into black mist and evaporated away, leaving no hole in the wall at all. But what did he do with this secret message? Would he entrust it to anyone? Would he ignore it?

Time would tell, but Cloud's would-be host for the evening was not a patient one.

[yami]

"A memory...best forgotten."

It was shortly after the incident in Radiant Garden. Cloud had returned albeit late; to assist the gang against an unknown threat. Unknown threats tended to bring company. First it was that woman who used a strange shield technique, then it was those young men garbed in black. Their attire similar to his, yet so too was his own. It was thanks to Sephiroth that Cloud's appearance had changed.

Still, Cloud had initially thought nothing of the sword and it's message when he was first told about it. RG was usually targeted for something. They'd just have to cut down this next threat. So when he went to see it, imagine the surprise? It had caused a sudden migraine within his mind. The vision of a town; Traverse Town, was embedded into his memories. Along with this world's image, he saw the contents of that note. He was being called out, of course he'd oblige. Somehow, just by that migraine, Cloud knew it was probably them.

He was going to force them to give him answers. How could they be connected to Sephiroth...Sephiroth was him, he was Sephiroth and Sephiroth was Cloud. The darkness which manifested within the SOLDIER's heart had caused this. So why were these men so similar to him? Were they remnants of his own darkness? Was there really no hope for him to block out this darkness once and for all?

Regardless! This was Strife's battle, he didn't need Tifa protecting him anymore. He had found the light once more. Thus he'd clean up his own problems, there was no way that Radiant Garden would suffer because of him. With nigh a word to Tifa or Aerith, especially attempting to avoid Aerith and her all-knowing gaze, Strife took off to Traverse Town. This was where the party would start, it would also end here.

"Show yourselves, this ends now!"

Cloud had called out as he walked the streets. It must have frightened the lost inhabitants whom remained. Imagine, you'd just been whisked away from your world to this strange one, only for another strange person to be calling out randomly.

[Kadaj]

Cloud hadn't been told exactly where in Traverse Town he should go. It was not an oversight though, that was simply how his "host" intended it to be. Kadaj could be quite cruel sometimes. It was a trait that he inherited from a certain someone. Regardless Cloud's yelling and wandering made it easy for him to be found when desired, as if the mere presence of his heart was signal enough to the green-eyed teenager that waited for him with a devious smile. Eventually Cloud would surely find himself in the second district where the fountain, bell tower and majority of the buildings were located. There was even the hotel that the Heartless Resistance once called their home, still sitting quietly off to the side ever since losing its main occupants.

"You're right. It does end here."

It should have been impossible, yet here it was. Accompanying the voice was the sound of the voice was the hum of an already-running motorcycle, which was revved afterward just for effect. The problem was that the sound of the already-running motorcycle hadn't been predated by the sound of an engine starting or the sound of one driving up closer. It simply wasn't, then was. The same could be said for the image of the young silver-haired man who rode atop the dark green Gunbike, for if Cloud had been looking around Kadaj was not there at all before, but if he now looked back the image was clear as day. The swordsman and his vehicle were on the rooftops of the side of the square with the hotel, parked right at its beginning by the entrance to the First District and facing down toward the Gizmo Shop and bell tower. He was perched ready to take off at any moment.

"Everything ends here. From this point forward, the world itself will change and nothing will be the same as it was," he declared, happily lifting his left arm up into the air in extravagance to emphasize the size of his statement.

[yami]

"Confusion lead to anger..."

Kadaj either had good timing or bad timing, depending on how one perceived Cloud's impatience. He'd been wandering the town in search of these mysterious men. He had a score to settle, his mind was entirely focused on that. His mind did wander partially as he entered the second district. There was some memories to this place, especially for his friends. The friends that he had left in order to combat the darkness.

Now with Kadaj present, albeit how he did so was quite ajar, Cloud would have to prepare himself. He'd turn in the general direction of the voice. There was no time for the surprise to affect him any more than his body language allowed.

"Who are you and what do you want with Radiant Garden!?"

Cloud's "question" was more a demand as he reached his right hand to his back. He wouldn't summon First Tsurugi just yet, there was time for "small talk" as it were. Yet he had to be prepared in case of attack.

[Kadaj]

"Hmm?" came the hummed reply through smiling curled lips and eyes. The look the boy gave to Cloud from above was easily seen as condescending at first, but a certain wonder also glimmered behind those irises. "Radiant Garden? Just what is that? Such a lovely name, yet still not great enough for mother I think."

Kadaj didn't seem to realize what the world he and his brothers had first met Cloud on, or in the fact the one on which he had met Mitch, was known as. Its name had been irrelevant, really. The drone-like people and their petty problems were of no consequence to mother as such beneath their notice.

"Well, I can at least answer your first question. I am Kadaj," he finally said, placing his right hand now before his chest and performing the faintest of bowing motions in what could have been mock respect. "But you may call me brother."

[yami]

"Was this fear of the unknown...?"

This...kid couldn't be serious, could he? Who went to an unknown world and didn't investigate it's name? Plus he had the gall to look down upon Cloud with his condescending smirk? Strife was infuriated, but he had to keep some cool if he wanted some answers. Fighting would come soon enough, he'd soon be able to cut down this arrogant teen.

"Don't talk about my home like that..."

Cloud responded to Kadaj's amusement. It was quite a snappish response, indicating just how much Cloud wanted to simply fight first and ask questions later. Alas, he was able to keep cool to at least get a name from the black garbed teen. "Kadaj...well then..."

"Like I'd ever do that...!"

Cloud mentioned off the cuff before summoning First Tsurugi to his right hand. He'd then extend it out to point at Kadaj.

"What's your connection to Sephiroth? I can clearly feel his darkness coming from you."

"My darkness...not that he needs to know that."

Hopefully Cloud would get some answers, though the answers he heard might just push him over the edge.

[Kadaj]

Kadaj's face turned in its expression. Gone was the arrogance, or at least the overabundance of it, and so too was the slight wonder he suppressed behind it. Kadaj's arm simply fell into place at his side, not bothering to draw his own weapon despite Cloud taking out his. The hostilities would not shake the boy's nerves. He was, after all, a rather violent person himself. Action tended to come before or at least during words in their little family, rather than the other way around. What the teen's face expressed now was... uncertainty. His neck had tilted he side as he looked down and his mouth had lost all curl. A few loose strands of silver hair fell down over Kadaj's face, but the complete emptiness in his eyes was apparent.

"Sephiroth?" he asked, as if tasting the word for the very first time and finding it to be rather bland. "Sorry, but I don't know what that's supposed to be either."

Kadaj's deadpan answer seemed entirely sincere at face value. It could be a lie of course, but if it was the boy went out of his way to make it seem more suspicious than a real lie should be. The bluntness of his answer was offset by him smiling and shaking his head in amusement afterward.

"You keep asking me about things I do not know of. If we weren't family I'd be quite offended," he said in half-jest, right hand raised so that it was open and the palm faced the sky in a shrug.

[yami]

"Uncertainty..."

Cloud was shocked, to say the least. Kadaj's attire, his appearance, the migraine he had felt in Radiant Garden... everything pointed to these boys having a connection to Sephiroth. Yet Kadaj denied even knowing of him. The tone was sincere and it really didn't seem like he was lying. Though he certainly went out of his way to add a sense of confusion or sensationalism to his statement. The surprise was pretty clear in Cloud's face. He sighed before placing First Tsurugi away.

His eyes had darted to the side as Kadaj mentioned them being family. It was a no brainer for Cloud to think the boy was crazy. As far as he knew, he didn't have a "brother" named Kadaj. Still, Cloud would have to ask once and for all.

"What's your story? As far as I know, I don't have a brother..."

Cloud's voice trailed with some uncertainty. He clasped his forehead, wondering if there was a memory locked inside his heart that he couldn't remember. At the moment that didn't seem to be the case. No this boy was crazy and more than likely didn't have any real leads. Not that he could let Kadaj go either. Perhaps, though it was unlikely, he could take him back to Radiant Garden for a proper interrogation by Leon and the others.

[Kadaj]

"How painful," the over-dramatic Kadaj stated as he clutched his chest. "For so long we thought we were alone in our search for mother, yet imagine our joy when our big brother appeared out of nowhere and greeted us with his strength. Imagine the happiness we felt when he shared that strength with us, all so that we could make our mother proud. And now?"

The boy's head hung low, bangs covering his face as he no longer looked down at Cloud but faced forward, off to Cloud's right.

"Now I hear that our brother denies us. Do you want mother all to yourself? Or could it be that you are, after all..."

FLASH went Kadaj's hand as he whipped it out from his chest and five twisting bolts of Matra Magic flew from it down toward the SOLDIER at high velocity and unpredictable curving paths. He had egged Cloud on, even gotten him to point his weapon in aggression, yet in the end it all led to the blond putting that weapon away again. That was, indeed, the time to strike, even if it wasn't completely unexpected. After all, brothers just had to be rough with each other sometimes.

"... just a puppet?"

The Gunbike's engine roared again as Kadaj's vehicle took off down the roof tops. If Cloud was worth anything at all he'd surely survive the attack and follow.

[yami]

"Never a puppet..."

Cloud had looked up to Kadaj once he drolled on with his speech. The way his head hung low for the brief moment, Cloud certainly raised an eyebrow, his arms crossing as he waited. Cloud's eyes widened for the moment before he was assualted with the Matra magic.

"Argh..."

His arms had uncrossed now, somewhat limping at his sides momentarily. When he heard him utter that Cloud was perhaps a puppet, fury engrossed Cloud's form. If Kadaj had taken a moment to watch him as he sped off, he'd see a similar expression. One that Mitch had revealed to him before. Perhaps they were all brothers, alas something was awakening within Cloud. A change he had felt before, when he had received this new look.

Darkness!

Bursting from his shoulder blade was a black wing. It stretched and compressed itself in order to feel itself. A familiar shoulder guard emerged on Clioud's right shoulder. Little by little, his own guise was taking on...Sephiroth's. Still, for now he was mostly Cloud at least, just wearing his counter-parts clothing in full, instead of partially (Advent Children Spoiiilers, sorry for those reading). Of course Cloud couldn't be stopped by a magic show, summoning First Tsurugi to his hand, he'd take off in pursuit.

Anger was on Cloud's mind, confusion was on Cloud's mind, these things made him forget the little bit of light he had regained.