Prophecy's Refrain

As she washed her hands to begin cutting the meat and vegetables, Yazoo made his presence known behind her.

“Hello,” she greeted. “Did you need something?”

“Why didn’t you room with Kadaj? Loz and I can watch Hojo just as effectively. You said it didn’t bother you when he kissed you.” Yazoo said quietly, washing his hands as well and taking another knife from the block. He began cutting the vegetables as Harmony sliced the block of bacon.

“That’s exactly why I shouldn’t room with him.” Harmony stated, not looking up from her chore. “It didn’t bother me. It just isn’t a good idea.”

Yazoo nodded his understanding, but pressed on, needing to know what she was really thinking. He gripped her shoulder and forced her to turn, stepping close and trapping her between the counter and his own, lithe form, and leaning into the crook of her neck.

“And me? You are not worried that I would try the same? That I would take what I want from you: a beautiful woman sleeping naught but three feet from me? Does that not concern you even a little?” He whispered huskily, his hot breath rushing past her ear. He wasn’t really interested, Kadaj had claimed that territory and Yazoo was not one to over-step the boundaries. But still, he needed to make sure she wouldn’t just play with his little brother’s already unstable emotions.

“Should it?” Harmony asked, her voice strong. She had to admit, the female part of her mind was a stuttering mess at having this beautiful male press against her so invitingly, but the logical part somehow knew that this was a test of his. Plus, though Yazoo seemed to be a decent man, if not misguided and confused, she was just not that interested in him.

Yazoo stared at her for a moment, before giving a soft smile and stepping away. “No.” He said, turning back to the vegetables. “You shouldn’t be concerned.”

Harmony smiled also and turned back to slicing the meat. “Did I pass your test, then?” She asked conversationally.

Yazoo slid a sideways glance her way, impressed that she had read him so easily. “Yes.” He answered simply. The two sliced and chopped in silence for a few minutes before Harmony spoke again.

“So tell me about you three. Where did you come from? How did you grow up?” She said.

Yazoo froze. He had never talked about himself to anyone other than his brothers about his life before Jenova.

Harmony noticed his reluctance. “I’m sorry.” she said quickly, “I didn’t want to upset you. I was just curious. You don’t have to answer.”

He sighed. “No, its alright. I’m just not used to people wanting to know me. Most run away screaming.”

Harmony chuckled. “I can understand that. You’re very intimidating.”

Yazoo smiled and decided to answer her questions. “Well, I can’t speak for Loz and Kadaj, it isn’t my place to tell their story, but if you really want to know, I will tell you mine.”

Harmony smiled. “Yes, please… Wait, you‘re not really related?”

“No, not biologically. Other than the tests run on us and the Mako and Jenova cells we harbor, there is nothing relating us by blood. Would you like to hear this or not?” He smirked.

“Yes. Sorry. I won’t interrupt again.” Harmony assured him.

“Okay then. I was born in Mideel- that’s a place in our world. I never knew my mother, my father said she left when I was still young. Couldn’t handle the stress of motherhood, or something like that. Don’t worry, I’m okay with it.” He added when he saw the look of sympathy from Harmony. “When I was seven, I remember going to a Martial Arts Faire with my uncle and cousins. I loved what I saw. I knew when I watched the grace and power of those sparring that I wanted to do it to, so my father put me in classes.”

Harmony was impressed. He had trained since he was seven? “How old are you?” she asked, forgetting her promise not to interrupt.

He smiled, already knowing her train of thought. “Twenty-seven. I’ve got twenty years of experience under my belt. Perhaps you’d like to spar with me.” he lifted his eyebrows and widened his eyes, letting the whites show.

Harmony wasn’t impressed. “Bring it.” she challenged.

“Time and place, darling, and I would be happy to oblige.” Yazoo smirked.

“Tomorrow morning, outside. There’s a big, open meadow not far from here.”

“You’re on. Shall I continue?”

Harmony nodded and placed the bacon strips in the pan.

“Alright. So I started training when I was seven, and by the time I was eighteen, I was teaching at a dojo along with my old masters. Sephiroth was still considered a hero back then, and the War was only beginning in Wutai. ShinRa sent out a request for all those who were able to report to Midgar if they were interested in joining the fight. I was young and foolish, and wanted to use my talents to further my career. I thought that maybe I could be a great as Sephiroth one day.

“When they took me in to have Hojo perform my physical exam, he found an anomaly in my blood. They have since discovered that anyone who has lived in Mideel for a long period of time has more Mako in their blood than the members of SOLDIER, due to the fact that the lifestream flows so close to the surface under the town. However, at the time, no one knew that, so Hojo convinced the president to let him ‘keep’ me. I spent seven years in a lab where Hojo did all sorts of unspeakable things to me. I don’t even know everything that he did. A few months after I met Kadaj and Loz, and knew h e had been… violating them, too, I orchestrated an escape plan. We didn’t get very far. We were beaten nearly to death and then separated. When Sephiroth returned and took the remains of Jenova, Hojo released all of the Remnants-that’s what they call us: Remnants-he wanted to test another scientific theory. Of course by then he’d lost his mind.

“I met up with Kadaj and Loz in the Northern Cave shortly before Sephiroth was killed. We were all so weak from travel and Mako withdrawal that we couldn’t follow the others to Sephiroth. When he was defeated, and the lifestream burst from the planet, the raw Mako we were exposed to gave us the strength we needed to get out of the crater. We spent the next two years recovering our strength, and then Kadaj started hearing Mother’s voice. She became our mother. Gave us the warmth and strength we needed to be free, to be whole. We wanted to help her, like the good little sons we were. Would have done anything to make her happy. It wasn’t until we came here, and Valentine told us what she really is, where she really came from, that I realized it. If Jenova was right in what she was after, why was the entire planet against her? Surely if she was within her rights, there would be some that side with us?” He looked at Harmony.

She didn’t know what to say to him. After hearing about the suffering he went through, she felt a strange, but powerful need to protect him. ‘Heh, as if he needs my protection.’ she though to herself. She noticed him staring at her.

“I can’t agree or disagree with you, Yazoo. All you can do is follow what your heart tells you to follow. It isn’t my right to decide who is right and wrong in all of this. I know that according to what I was taught, and what has been taught since the dawn of time: If it hurts people, it is wrong. I know in my heart that this is true. But the only way, the only time we will every truly know who was right and who was wrong, is when we face our maker in the end. When we stand before the Almighty Creator and She tells us her plan, and passes her punishment-or gifts her reward.”

Yazoo held her gaze for a moment before nodding and giving a soft smile. “You always seem to know what to say to help us, Harmony. Thank you.”

Harmony blushed. “Its alright. Now get those vegetables in the pan, or the meat will be too done and it will taste awful!”

He smiled and did as she asked, happy to finally, after so many long, painful years, have a companion. A friend, dare he say. And one that was not brought to him for the sake of a vengeful alliance.

After the meal was served, they all gathered in the living area. Harmony sat on a pillow by the fireplace, her book on her lap. The others were scattered on the different couches and pillows around the room.

Most were quiet, some reading the fictional books that Harmony had allowed them to borrow, others cleaning their various weapons. Vincent, Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz sat closest to Harmony, Loz poking at the fire in the pit. Yazoo had borrowed Vincent’s gun-cleaning kit -Vincent having hesitantly nodded his consent- and the two were sitting together, oiling and polishing in silence.

Kadaj stared at Harmony. He had over-heard…alright, eavesdropped…on the conversation she had with Yazoo. While understanding why she didn’t want to share a room with him, for fear that something may happen between them…he couldn’t understand why she didn’t want anything to happen.

So quiet was it that everyone, even Sephiroth, startled slightly when Harmony made a frustrated sound and slammed her book closed.

“What’s wrong?” Barrett asked.

“This book! This world! I can find all of the information stating why you were sent here, and how you got here, and I knew that already! But I can’t find anything on how to send you back. It seems that I was right though. Those of you that died in your own world were given the chance to come here, and learn from your fatal mistakes.

“When-…If… I can send you back, You’ll return with your memories of this place, and of before, but you’ll also have new memories. It will be as if the tragedy never happened.

“For example. Vincent, if Hojo learns his lesson here, he may never experiment on you. He may never have injected Lucrecia with the cells. Sephiroth may have been born, but he would be born normal. This is crucial. If this happens, no matter how badly it hurts you, you must let her be with Hojo, or Sephiroth would cease to exist. You would be an old man by now. You wouldn’t have any of the demons you do now, you wouldn’t be immortal, and the war with Jenova wouldn’t have happened. Everybody understand what I’m saying? SOLDIER may still exist, and the members may still have Mako treatments, but the experimentation wouldn’t. Yazoo, you would be as you were before. But you all would still remember the alternate timeline.”

“That is so confusing.” Zack said, holding his head.

“Only for you, Pup.” Genesis taunted.

“No, not just him.” Reno said. Barrett and Cid agreed.

“I have a question.” Cloud said, turning the attention to him.

Harmony nodded to let him know she was listening.

“Would Aerith still be alive?”