The Revenants -Final Fantasy VII fanfic-

A reminder of life

The Revenants

Chapter three: A reminder of life

His ears met a long silence. His heart soon was devoured by anxiousness that transformed into frustration, his mind focusing on keeping his explosive temper locked down deep within him. The turmoil he felt was enough to tempt him to lash out at to the kids in the search of an answer. And still, he kept his posture before both kids, until the boy spoke.

"I can't."

Kadaj's face lifted and a small gasp left his lips. His teeth clenched in frustration when his green eyes connected with Denzel's indifferent gaze directed at him. He saw the girl fidget a little in her brother's arms, her pupils avoiding his own cat ones in what looked like pity. His self control was lost...

"Why you...!" With a swift movement, Kadaj was standing again, desperation written across his face. "I asked you to forgive me already! Aren't you supposed to accept my apology?!"

"Who says that's how it works? I don't trust you. Why should we even forgive you? How do we know this isn't a mere façade?!"

"But...!" He forced himself to not strangle the boy right there. He clicked his tongue in anger. "I already told you I have changed for Mother. And if someone says sorry the least you can do is to accept that apology!" He spoke fast with a shrilled voice; his index finger pointing to Denzel in an accusatory way, eyes widened in anger.

Those eyes... It was the same eyes he used to see in his nightmare. Nightmares that he would suffer for days, months, and even years before he finally got over that episode from his life. Now, he was seeing him standing before them, the same man that haunted him even after his downfall. He knew for a fact that Aerith was a good person that would never want him to cause him pain, but was she that insensitive? If what Kadaj was saying is true, and she actually sent him back...Denzel felt a knot in his stomach and held Marlene closer to him looking at the remnant defiantly.

Seeing Denzel's silent defiance, Kadaj turned around and slowly started to walk in circles hoping to calm his own self. His silver strands of hair moved swiftly with each turn he gave in his fast pace. Marlene furrowed her eyebrows; her lips formed a reversed smile as his fist tightened a little her grip on Denzel's sweater. The teen rolled his eyes having nearly lost all fear from the silver haired man now. 'Pathetic...' He thought seeing the remnant loosing himself to his hysteria.

"You..." Finally, he came to a halt. After his own little breakdown, Kadaj found the energy to ask. "...what do I have to do to earn your forgiveness?" He made sure to emphasize every word. The low serene tone in his voice didn't match his insanely furious glare that held pure hatred to the future WRO member.

The male brunette felt a pressure in his chest for a second followed by a cold wave running down his back. His hairs stood out and his hands started to sweat. He swallowed thickly. All because of those eyes...

"You-"

"Stop!" Marlene shouted in despair. All this time she has been suppressing herself. She was so scared. Scared for Denzel, scared from Kadaj, scared from the truth, and scared of herself of what was she going to do.

"I know that ribbon. My family and friends have it..." Deciding it was enough, Marlene stepped towards the young remnant that looked down at her and smiled wickedly. Ignoring his penetrating stare and her own brother's call for her, she continued. "I will believe that you have changed because of that ribbon. I can't say I can forgive you now. But please..." She paused to look at Kadaj. "...don't prove me wrong!"

"Marlene..." Denzel voice reflected his uneasiness.

"Sister... I believe you will find the heart to forgive me someday. I will make sure to tell Mother how brave you are." The slim man dumbly smiled, his eyes graced with affection. "And how delightful will she be!" As he said that, he took Marlene's chin with his finger and tilted her head intending to see her eyes. When he began to scan her face for any sign of a lie, Marlene felt uncomfortable and tear herself from Kadaj's gentle hold with a weak yelp.

Kadaj smiled. "Ah! It seems you are telling the truth. Now..." He tilted his head and diverted his pupils from Marlene to Denzel. His silver bangs covering almost all of his facial features. "...will you follow Marlene's example?" His lips were now a full dark grin. The teen had enough from the bipolar insane remnant. He was talking about wanting to be forgiven, but his actions spoke another thing!

"I will never forgive you!" Denzel shouted summoning all his will power to not succumb to his own anxiousness. Before Kadaj could utter a word, the boy with sky blue eyes took Marlene by her hand and made a quick rush to the church doors.

Their figures were getting smaller and smaller until Kadaj couldn't define their shapes anymore. He didn't know if it was because of how far they were or due to a simple illusion played by the dim light of the moon. Not that he cared though.

"Hmmp..."

Turning around, he scanned the holy place. He spotted with his eyes a dirty mattress that begged to be replaced. Seeing no other choice, he laid down with a sigh. He tried to get more comfortable but the mattress springs were reluctant to let him be. Finally giving up, and not actually knowing what to do in that moment, he started to look at his surroundings with more attention. Soon, he took notice of a box that looked empty among other things. He remembered seeing that box full of materia. And that materia was stolen from...

'Could this perhaps be Big Brother's place to sleep?'

He wondered what they could be doing. Maybe the kid- he never said his name- and Marlene are telling Cloud their encounter with him and he is coming this way. He let out a dry chuckle.

"Miss Aerith, it seems I was right. They'll never think of me as a good man. I can't be good enough, can I? I'm truly a monster to them."

The only comfort he could find was the pink ribbon tied to his arm and the memories it held. His eyes dropped, the corner of his lips fell by the heaviness of melancholy and his gloved fingers went unconsciously towards the soft pink reminder of his Mother.

He tried to block all the thoughts from his mind, focusing on the faint smell of the flowers.

****
"Don't be afraid!"

"Off you go pal'. Be careful!"

"He'll be ok, Zack! Oh! And, Kadaj? Tell Cloud we say hi, please!"

*****

A chuckle got stuck in his throat at her Mother and her friend's last words. Closing his tired eyes, Kadaj fell asleep.

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Hey there! Hope you liked this crap. Anyways, I'm not quite happy with how this chapter turned out. I'm trying to not make them so OOC but IDK I am just a rookie writer. Also, I don't want you to find tedious how Kadaj is always saying "I'm sorry" and Denzel says "no", so because of that I think the end came a little too rushed. Oh well. Umm, also thanks for the views and hopefully the next chapter will be better. :)

Final Fantasy VII and all its characters don't belong to me, they belong to Square Enix.