Chapter Eight

Yazoo....

I looked at Graceona and Leonard, who looked at me. "So, you're going to stay here, then?" Graceona asked with an understanding smile, as I nodded my head.

"Yeah, Loz wants to go with the two of you, though. Kadaj as well, though he has decided after recent events that he was going to go to the apartment he had rented. I suppose he is ashamed of how he acted last night, but I can't say I blame him there. He went mad." I said as I sat down at the kitchen table with the two of them that were having breakfast, after spending the night here.

Leonard sighed. "He only acted out of concern for you, Yazoo. He was worried. Grace and I both were."

I looked at Graceona who sighed. "Yes, Yazoo, I was worried about you. You're not only my brother, but your best friend. You're the only one out of the three of you that understands me somewhat. You understand the good and the bad about me, not just the bad." She leaned back.

"Graceona, there's no somewhat about it. You're not that complex. You are a hard worker who loves her family and would go to any length to see them happy and safe. You're not like the three of us. You're more like your own brand of flavor. You're nothing like your father, thank Gaia. We can't handle two of him walking around resorting to havoc. That wouldn't be good for any of us."

She looked at me, then at the steaming hot food on her plate. "Kadaj can come with us, Yazoo, if that's what he wants, I don't hold any bad feelings towards him at all, I suppose him thinking that I didn't want the three of you around made him believe it last night," Leonard said as he placed his fork beside the untouched plate of food.

Graceona looked at me with a sigh. "Kadaj may be the remnant of my father, but he is also his own person. We want you guys around. We love all three of you. Leonard loves the three of you like his own, as well as I do. You may be my brother's, but you are still young and you need guidance."

The sound of heavy footsteps coming down the stairs caused the three of us to look as Loz came downstairs, walking to the stove, making himself a plate. "Where's Kadaj?" Leonard asked as he looked at Loz

"He's coming. He's getting ready for work with Cid."

"He works for Tifa today?" I looked at him as he sat down at the table.

"He said he wanted to work for the both of them, get Cid today, and help Tifa tonight."

I sighed. "He's doing that? Today? Leonard and Graceona canceled work to spend the day with us. Didn't you tell him that last night after we got everything sorted out?"

Loz looked at me. "I think I did."

"You think? That means no, you didn't." I sighed. "Loz, how could you forget to tell him that? You seemed more excited about it than I did. You were glowing."

"Don't blame me for this, Yazoo. Kadaj went and locked himself in his room afterward. I think he came out later and left for a while. He came back home around six this morning. He probably went to stay at his apartment last night. He took some clothes with him, so I think he just came home to get some more things. He's not talked to me since last night."

Leonard sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Calm down, both of you. Kadaj is free to join us if he wants. We can't force family time on someone who probably doesn't want it. We can tell him and let him decide on his own."

"Tell me what?" I looked to see Kadaj coming downstairs.

"Do you want to go shopping with your brothers, Graceona and me? Graceona and I canceled work to spend the day with you three. What do you say?"

The older man looked at Kadaj who walked into the kitchen making himself a plate. "I don't know, Leonard," Kadaj said, not looking at us, as he sighed. "Maybe I'll just sit this one out."

Leonard looked at Graceona who looked at Kadaj. "Kadaj, we don't hate you because of your actions last night. Come on, join us. The markets have the best clothes this time of year. We could go out and eat, go to the weapons store." Kadaj said nothing.

"We're not angry with you, Kadaj. We would be hurt if you refused to go with us, after last night, Grace and I got the impression that you think we are the worst parents in the universe and now that we try to spend time with you and make it up to you, right now, I feel as if though you are dodging us. If you don't want us here, just tell us and we'll give you your space, but I don't want to do that. But we'll respect your decision and hang out with your brothers instead."

Kadaj sighed. "Yazoo's right, Leonard, you're too forgiving. After the way I treated you last night, you're eager to make it up to me. To be the one to redeem yourself when you had done nothing wrong, it was me that had done all the talking. You just took it, you said nothing out of the way. All the while I was telling you I was done with you, I wanted nothing more to do with you. I was too angry at you for something that wasn't accurate, blinded to the pain that I was causing you. I'm sorry, Leonard, but I can't join you. I need to go to work. Cid is expecting me in a few hours. I'm sorry, but no." Kadaj sighed, placing his plate on the counter, walking from the room, not looking at any of us as he left the room. The sound of the door shutting showed that he had left the house.

Leonard sighed as Graceona looked at him, leaning back into her seat. I stood to my feet, storming out the door. Kadaj was on his motorcycle. "That's it! Kadaj, what is your problem? Leonard and Graceona begged you to join us and because of your hurt ego, you refuse?! Just so you know, they aren't entitled to put up with this forever. They will eventually be the ones looking at you and telling you they are done. What then? Huh? What are you going to do when you realize it's too late to make things right? You're acting foolish. I understand you hate Graceona, but no need to hurt the only person to accept us. Leonard doesn't deserve this train wreck, and honestly. He will not keep fighting this forever. He's got his junk going on. He doesn't need your childish antics. I refuse to lose him or Graceona because of you!"

I glared at him as he sighed, looking at me, unshed tears in his eyes. "Do you think this is easy for me, Yazoo? I want to spend the day with all of you. Do you think it's easy for me to admit that I am hurting for what I did? You didn't see what I saw, you didn't hear what I heard. I hurt him, Yazoo. He forgives me, but I can't forgive myself. I've never seen Leonard shed a tear, not even cry, but you know when Leonard has had enough when he hides his tears. I can't face him after that. I felt like I had him in my hands and instead of helping him, I was breaking him further, shattering him. We've already done that once. I'm tired of hurting him. I'm tired of hurting all of you, so I'm leaving. I cut ties with this life. I'm going where people like me belong. Don't worry, I won't be around to hurt anyone anymore."

I looked at Kadaj who sighed. "You know, instead of helping those you are running away from, you're only going to bring them more pain. You're not achieving anything, just causing more hurt. Leonard, Autumn, Graceona, Loz, and myself. Who do you think you're going to hurt the most in this decision?

He looked at me with a sigh. "Leonard, probably."

"As long as you know, I can't stop you. But if you can make this decision and know that the man that has always been there to make your troubles go away will face the most heartbreaking thing that he has faced you go ahead, just know this. I know things about Leonard that if you knew, I doubt you would be so eager to make this choice."

"What do you know, Yazoo?"

"Leonard's will to fight is at the breaking point. I fear that if you keep acting this way, we will have an outcome that none of us wants. Just know when that happens, you're going to be the one to blame. I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life. I will hunt you down, I will make your life torment, I won't stop until I have satisfaction and that is dealing with you the same way as you have dealt with Leonard." I bit my lower lips, turned on my heels, storming back into the home.