Title: break your mother's back

Author: Digimon Empress Yaten (de yaten)

Notes: This was definitely not inspired by my own stepping over the crack's to avoid breaking my mother's back and deciding that Loz might do the same. Also, I'll just say it—I have to write a separate piece about Yazoo telling Kadaj a bedtime story or I will be sad with myself. As always, reviews are welcome and they make me go EEEE.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 7 or its characters. I don't claim to own them.

Kadaj sighed.

They were late again and Yazoo was going to throw a fit if they came home to a cold dinner and an even colder Yazoo again that week, but it wasn't like it was his fault! Loz was making things very difficult. He refused to simply walk back home. Again.

Kadaj watched from the corner of his eye at his brother, who was jumping along the road as they went, twisting and turning in a way that reminded Kadaj of a strange ancient human dance.

A rain dance, Kadaj thought. Yazoo had told him a bedtime story once about the different ritual dances the humans used to do, to summon the rain or strength in battle or, Yazoo had snorted at the idea, a new pregnancy. (Kadaj had asked what a pregnancy was, but Yazoo changed the subject and told him the story of "Cinderella" again—at least that story ended with lopped off ankles and birds pecking some girls' eyes out. That was always fun.)

In any case, Loz hated the rain - so the strange movements he was making couldn't have been to ask for a 'blessing' of rain. Maybe Loz wanted a pregnancy…?

He finally couldn't take it anymore, so he snap-turned to the side and folded his arms in annoyance.

"Loz, what are you doing?"

Loz stopped, foot hovering in midair.

"I'm avoiding the cracks," he said, before doing a twist-hop and avoiding the road-splitting crack in front of him.

"You're what?"

Loz paused - again, in midair - and frowned.

"Didn't you hear what one of those kids said back in town? Step on a crack, and you break your mother's back! I don't want to hurt Mother, so I'm avoiding the cracks." He leaped again - like a rhino ballerina, Kadaj thought - and continued jump-hopping and twist-skipping along the road.

Kadaj rolled his eyes and stayed put. Was Loz really so dull that he believed something that mere children told him? And wasn't he supposed to be the older brother? Step on a crack, break your mother's back - it was ridiculous! He pouted. And now Loz was simply going off without him... he didn't even let Kadaj scold him for believing those little brats!

Kadaj sighed and began to take a step forward, but his foot stopped and hovered just above a crack that was zigzagging across the road.

Well...

He stepped lightly over the crack.

Better safe than sorry.