Taming the Fates Amidst Chaos

'Internal thought'

'CHAOS SPEAKING'

~ (Time and/or story focus shift)

Chapter 43

Long lashes slowly fluttered open as Yazoo sat up. 'Was that real?' As he looked around the cavern, he realized he could see with startling clarity, as well as he had when Mother's cells were still in him. He frowned. 'No, not Mother, just a parasite. Our real mother would never sacrifice us, I could see that in her eyes.' Rising to his feet, he moved in a dream-like state, his mind not registering his body's movements. As he returned all of the spilled items to the travel pack, the slender man marveled at how painless his body felt. All of the scratches and bruises were gone and he felt a strange sense of peace, a tranquility so filling like nothing he had felt before. As he looked down at himself, his eyes grew wide at a golden light that he could see even through the black leather of his coat. "What the...?"

Opening his coat somewhat, he stared in amazement. A symbol was etched into his chest, the skin red but with a bright golden energy glowing around it. The light seemed to pulse in time with his heart. 'It's in the same place that Chaos cut me. Is this the mark he left? I thought it was healed over.' Silver hair swayed as he shook his head and closed his coat once more. 'I will ask him when we are free.' Free...the word brought a warmth to his body. His eyes looked at the dark writing dried on the wall. Had any of them ever truly been free?

The Remnant gathered the red cloak last, clutching the material fiercely as a weakened cry echoed in the tunnels. A determined light flared in his eyes as he turned towards the opening in the room. 'You never deserved this pain Vincent. Both of us will be free.'

~

Vincent mentally groaned as he was dropped face-first to the floor. He remained where he fell, no longer having the energy to shift to a more comfortable position. His entire body was in agony, his breath gurgling in his throat. Mentally, he cursed his body's resistance to death. If not for that, his pain would have ended many hours ago. The gunman cautiously opened one eye to look around the room, the other was swollen shut.

Sephiroth stood several feet away with his back to the collared man, facing the glowing Mako pool. The silver-haired man had removed the long black coat earlier saying that it would be far easier to wash blood from his skin than from the leather. Now, a few more black masses had appeared in the bright liquid and the former General knelt to gather them.

Vincent turned his head away, he didn't want to see the madman, his torturer, gaining more strength and power. Taking shallow breaths, he allowed himself to rest on the uneven floor. It was difficult enough to stay lucid with the pain his body was in but Sin was definitely not helping. The slave adamantly believed that they could break free easier and serve their Master best if they were of one mind. The energy drain was once again taking it's toll on the gunman's mind without the constant feed from Chaos.

He was startled out of his temporary reprieve when he felt cloth brush over his back and opened a fearful scarlet eye. He would have cried out but Sephiroth had slashed his vocal cords and forced him to heal everything in his throat but them. The glowing orb widened even further in shock when he saw the Remnant standing over him, a soft smile on his face and a strange confidence in his eyes. When had he come in the room? Why was he here? Sephiroth hadn't called for him.

'Sephiroth!' Fear returned to Vincent's gaze but the slender man shook his head, kneeling to press a gloved finger to the older man's pale lips. The gunman blinked in confusion as he studied the slender man's face. Why did Yazoo's eyes remind him of Chaos? The golden glow he had seen before, when the younger man had cleaned his wounds, was now far more intense, the bright flecks floating in a sea of blue-green. And he was acting strangely, moving so silently and gracefully that even the gunner's own enhanced hearing hadn't heard even a whisper from his movements. There was no fear in that glowing gaze but it was not because the boy had fallen into an empty void. He truly felt he had nothing to fear? How? The soft touch of fabric brought him out of his thoughts as the Remnant placed a large red cloth over him. His cloak! He was grateful for the warmth in his cold body but...shit! Sephiroth would kill the Remnant for...

His thoughts were cut off once more, Yazoo somehow reading his expression and shaking his head. 'It's ok,' he mouthed as he reached down the gunman's leg, removing Death Penalty from it's holster. The sound of the leather shifting around the gun finally seemed to catch the ex-General's ear.

"Moving already, my pet?" He asked mockingly as he slowly stood from the Mako pool, "And here I thought you might start behaving yourse..." Surprise registered briefly in the cat-like jade eyes as he turned to find the long-haired Remnant standing over the beaten and broken man, hands behind his back. The shock was quickly covered with a cruel smirk, "My, my. When did you get here, little one? I must admit I am impressed. Not many can move without me hearing them."

The Remnant stepped over the prone gunman, ignoring the dark-haired man's silent attempts to stop him. He tilted his head as he continued to hold Sephiroth's confidant gaze, a small smirk playing across his features, "I want to be free."

Cold laughter echoed in the cavern, it's sound mocking and cruel, "If that was all you wanted little one, all you had to do was ask." Jade eyes glanced to the silent figure on the ground, "Take your true form and come here Sin. I suppose we have played around long enough. It is time to grant the puppet his wish."

Yazoo heard the collared man rise to his feet, the cloak rustling to the floor as wings and a large tail tore through a scarred back once more, "I know you don't understand this Sin, but listen to me. No man, no creature, deserves to be collared and caged." He kept his eyes on the smirking swordsman but felt the heat of the slave's body as he came closer, "I told you once that I trusted you. Do the same for me now. I want you, Vincent, and Chaos to be free as well."

He wasn't certain but he thought he heard the winged slave's steps falter slightly. As the collared man passed, head hanging down so his dark hair covered his face, a low whisper reached the Remnant's ear, "Yes, Master."

Yazoo wasn't sure whether to be shocked or laugh, though he made sure to show no sign of either. 'How and when in the hell did that happen? At least his strange behaviour makes sense now.'

As the slave took his place at Sephiroth's side, the swordsman nodded his head, "You're right puppet. Once you are granted your freedom in death, my pet will be free of his weakness."

Yazoo said nothing to the condescending swordsman, simply pulling Death Penalty from behind his back to center on the man's heart. A chuckle left the larger man, "And what, dear puppet, do you expect to do with that? Surely you do not believe that will kill me."

"No, I don't."

A silver brow raised questioningly at the simple reply, "Oh? What then?"

The gun lowered slightly, "I will be free."

Three shots echoed in the cavern before Yazoo found himself pinned to the stone wall, his breath forcefully knocked out of his body. Mocking jade eyes locked onto his own, Sephiroth easily knocking the gun from the slender man's grasp, "You missed puppet."

Despite the pain, the Remnant smirked, "What makes you say that?"

Sephiroth froze before quickly releasing the slender man and sidestepping, narrowly avoiding furious golden claws, "You will not touch our Master anymore, half-breed!"

Cold green eyes narrowed dangerously at the growling winged man, "What is the meaning of this Sin? Have you decided to betray me as well?"

"You no longer control us with the bracer. We are free to follow our true Master!"

Sephiroth looked down at his arm, his eyes widening when he found the bracer was gone. Scanning the ground, his search stopped at the Mako pool, where the bracer now lay partially submerged, the silver metal melting and sparking as it sank. Turning back to the slave and Remnant, he snarled, "How?!"

Yazoo calmly bent down to retrieve the fallen Death Penalty, "Everything has its flaws and weaknesses, Sephiroth, especially that which is created by man. It is simply a matter of finding them."

The swordsman stood silent for a moment before shaking his head, "The demon found something didn't he?" Sephiroth sighed and shrugged, calm despite the murderous eyes on him, "Do not believe that you have won so easily puppet. Sin barely has the energy to stand right now, let alone fight me for very long." A muscular arm raised, summoning Masamune to it's master's side once more, "All I have to do is kill you and break him in again as my father did years ago. I will have him!"

Yazoo raised the gleaming gun, centering it on the madman, "As you said, over my dead body, brother."

____________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Return of the Evil Cliffies!!! LOL Well, in case anyone is curious, I made some simple pictures of two of the marks in this story. One is the mark on Yazoo's chest, the other is the eye mark Chaos created.

Chaos' Claim Mark: http://frizzycrls.deviantart.com/art/Chaos-Mark-89870394

Chaos' Blood Eye: http://frizzycrls.deviantart.com/art/Chaos-Blood-Eye-89874956

P.S. I must know, how many of you actually remembered the water canteen from Chapter 10?

Anywho, on to the wonderful Reviews!

SapphireDoG
No! I refuse to let go! Not after this lovely number
Frizz: You gotta eventually hun! Please?!

SapphireDoG
... I am pissed.

Bastard cut me off.

I forgot what I said. Oh well. Anyway. Reno-hime *snicker* says yo. and vincent is hiding every stack of cards he or cid owns. ;)

*snicker snicker*
Frizz: Awww, and I was gonna invite Sephy and Yazzie to the game too! *pouts*

Kuragari
*looks at nails* nope, no blood. you updated soon enough ^^. Love that you've worked Kadaj and Lucrecia more actively into the story. I love where this has been going and cannot wait to see what comes next!! HANG IN VINNY! oh yeah, and I'm working on drawing that sin/chaos thing. lol, so far it's cute. I made 'em all chibified. you have to see this cute Vincent I drew... I'm going to try and get it posted on my deviant this weekend. Hope to see you again soon!!! later!
Frizz: Yay! I saved your fingers. I have been wanting to put Kadaj and Lucrecia in for a while now but needed to wait for the right time. And I can't wait to see your pics hun! I am sure they will be awesome!

AnimeFanGrrl-4-Life
* * * * * * *
O_o OHMYFREAKINGGOD!!!
THIS FAN FIC IS WAY TOOO HAWT!! The sex mixed with the absolutely brutal torture (4 HOURS - eeks!!!) Sorry I missed the last two updates, life and fan-fic writing got in the way >_< You are by far my favouritest torture writer of all smetty torture writers!!! YAY'S

I will try to keep up with your updates from now on >_< YAYS!!! UPDATE SOON!!! YOU TOTALLY ROCK!!!
(looks at Fizz with sparkles in her eyes :P) -->you're stuck with me now.

Fan-of-u-4-life
* * * * * * *
Frizz: Sorry that life pulled you away but I am glad to see you back. *backs away nervously at the sparkly eyes* Um right, uh...I guess its a good thing to be a favorite torture writer, right?

Kerianya
*applauds*

Such an amazing chapter Frizz! I always get cheered up when Kadaj gets a happy ending.
This instalment was absolutely beautiful. I was nearly in tears reading Yazzie's anguish, which got me some funny looks at work, lol.

Thanks for the luck with my fic. I'll hopefully get it uploaded soon...damn romance sneaking in while I wasn't looking...best of luck with yours too. You've got me a-tiching for a new chapter honeybunch. Have a spongecake!

Much loves

Kerianya
Frizz: Glad you liked it so much, but I'm sorry for the tears. You have no idea how long I have been wanting to get to this chapter. This is one of the ones I have seen since the beginning of the story.

SapphireDoG
*Eyes glow* Thats it. This is war MR.COCKY. You robo ponies are being thrown into the nearest lake. I will take all ya'll bots meh self!
Frizz: Hey! I'll bring the water balloons! Hehehe

Anonymous Sister of the Author
first of all: *clears throat* HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! sankyuu for the present (aka ch.42)!!!!

and second: i sooooooo seriously know how to make an EMP so WATCH OUT!!!!

and finally: THANK GOD FOR GUARDIAN ANGELS!!! i'm glad kadaj was helped!!! i'm glad he's not crazy anymore!!

ASOTA :D
Frizz: Happy Birthday ASOTA! Glad that you like the chapter...I couldn't leave Kadaj completely out of it. He is too important to the story.

ofoa
*While adding EMP shielding and water wings, ofoa looks up and asks* "Huh? Oh yeah, I'm bout to download the combat programming."

*Third pony runs up and glares at ASOTA menacingly* "Watch out little girl*

Signed,
Oblivious Fiance of Author
Frizz: Someone get a leash for my fiance and his lack of sanity please!

ofoa
first robo kitty runs up jumps up and swats saphire dog on tushie runs away wile second robo kitty mewls a laughter like noise
it seems the combat program has been accidently replaced by the taunt little girls program oops well now that I have three robo ponies again they can get vicious the war is still on meow run little dogies pray the water can save you
Frizz: *sighs* I'm just going to go over here with some aspirin and a large bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

viva_rose
evil! *points finger* mega evil!! ...yet strangely erotic, damn you :P
Frizz: LOL I am guessing you just read the sword scene? Yes very evil but I loved doing it anyway.

viva_rose
nnnaaarrrr! *waves hands about wildly* he drank LSD water! fucking CRACK man! ...do it again! *evil grin*
Frizz: LMFAO ouch, I think I hurt something laughing that hard.