Gem: Not the plot bunny I wanted! But still a plot bunny. Yay on yoo-hoo's part for being a history nut and knowing about the fridge being invented before toilets. I was the owner of some tea before I drank it but I'm not the owner of FFIX.

Ruby glared at the other little girl who was in her house. Daddy was too busy talking to the other girl's daddy, and she didn't want her there. She was pulled out from behind her father and saw the other girl's father do the same.

"Ruby, I'd like you to meet…."

She always woke up at that point. Always. And she had no clue who the other girl was because it seemed her brain didn't want her to remember. Ruby stared at the ceiling and sighed. She rolled over in her bed and snuggled in further. She was annoyed at the dream, but she also needed her sleep. A thud caused her to abandon her nice warm bed and investigate. Zidane was notorious for falling out of bed even at the age of fifteen; he liked to roll around too much.

Marcus had also investigated. Zidane falling out of bed was a bad idea especially considering what happened. Blank had gotten on Zidane's case earlier but was still in bed as far as Ruby could tell.

"Can you detangle him from the blankets?" Marcus asked her.

Ruby sighed and nodded. When there was a need to get someone out of a wad of blankets, it normally fell on her. But then again, she normally needed one of the other boys to lift the person into bed. Zidane was always the worst to detangle due to his tail. When he zoned, a light touch of his tail was what made him come back to Gaia. It was the same when he slept and right now, Zidane really needed his sleep.

"We need to get him railings," Ruby said as she remade the bed.

"He'd still fall out," Marcus replied as he held onto the slim form of his brother. "He managed it when he was younger."

"No messing with the rails on your part?" she asked with a grin. Ruby had heard about both boys fighting a few times when they were real small.

"No."

Marcus bent to place Zidane back in the bed and covered him back up. No use in his brother's injuries becoming worse than they were. He turned and walked with Ruby back to her room.

"Same dream?" Marcus asked.

"Yes and I can never remember who the girl is. It's frustrating."

"Give it time. You at least know some of your background."

Ruby sighed as she pushed open the door to her room. "True. Sumthin' in Blank's story stirred very old memories." She then added a bit happier. "I still think we need to get Zidane rails for his bed."

"We have a show tomorrow night. You should sleep."

Marcus waited until she was wrapped tightly in her sheets before shutting the door. They all seemed to watch out for her, but she was sure that they were hiding something. But what would they be hiding unless she knew her brothers before the accident. The accident was the whole reason she was here with Tantalus and that accident happened five years ago now. She would have been ten then.

"Why am I even thinking about this?" she asked the wall. "Marcus is right. It's going to take time."

When she opened her eyes again, it was daylight. Or more specifically, shortly after dawn which meant her normal wake up time. She wandered to the shower and ran through the dream that had appeared after she fell asleep a second time. It was the accident that brought her to Tantalus.

"It's going down!"

"Find Lord Arkwright! Make sure he is safe!"

"Ruby, what are you doing up here? Go with Ellie to find your father."

Images of flying wood and other pieces of the ship flew through her sight. She struggled across the deck towards Ellie. Just then the ship hit the ground.

"Ruby!"

"Ruby!" called Blank through the door. "The rest of us need a shower at some point."

"Hold on!" she called over the rush of the water. She finished her shower and got dressed in green skirt and white blouse. She opened the door to see Blank standing there looking concerned. Well at least he seemed concerned, because he offered her a slight, barely noticeable smile as he ducked into the bathroom.

"Boss should've had a second bathroom built," she muttered as she headed towards the kitchen.

"What's this about a second bathroom?" was asked as she was almost to the kitchen.

"Well speak of the devil. What possessed you to only have one bathroom built in this place?"

"Wasn't me. Blame the architect girlie. Is Zidane awake yet?"

"I was actually going to get breakfast for myself and then bring him some. He fell out of bed again last night. Why don't you put rails on his bed?"

"He'd still fall out."

Shaking her head, Ruby pushed open the door separating the kitchen and dining room before digging around for something she could eat as breakfast. She came up with crackers and cheese. Deciding not to ask why the crackers were stored with the cheese, Ruby grabbed a knife before taking her 'breakfast' into the dining room.

"Cheese and crackers?" Baku asked giving her a look.

"We need to go shopping again. There's some food but nothing to last us until tomorrow night."

Ruby finished her breakfast before finding something for Zidane to eat and from the sounds coming from the hall, he was up. Someone was obviously struggling to keep him in bed, and he apparently wanted out of bed. She sighed and loaded his food along with enough extra food for whoever was in his room onto a tray.

She opened the door to see all of her brothers in a contest of wills. So far Marcus, Cinna, and Blank were winning but just barely. Marcus and Cinna had Zidane by the arms while Blank sat on Zidane's legs. She set the tray down and got ready to enter the scuffle herself.

"I have a feeling I didn't do anything remotely like this before I joined. What possessed me?"

"Ruby, give him something now!"

Complying, she grabbed the end of the bread and shoved it in Zidane's mouth. He quit fighting long enough to swallow the bread and glare at her. She glared right back and shoved another piece of bread in his mouth. Swallowing the second piece of bread, he bluntly told her "I hate you for that."

"Come off it hun. Ya shoulda learned yer lesson last time this happened. Then we all wouldn't be fightin' ya to keep ya in bed until ya heal."

As Ruby talked, she broke off a smaller piece of bread and shoved it into Zidane's mouth again. He chewed and swallowed and also ceased his struggling enough that Cinna let go of the arm he was hanging onto. Ruby brought Zidane's plate over and took Blank's place on Zidane's legs. She swatted Zidane away from his food when he started to eat too fast. He pouted, and she laughed. The last vestiges of the dreams from last night had finally faded.

"You still having those dreams?"

Ruby pulled herself back to the present before acknowledging Blank's question. She had finally remembered something from them though. Her last name was Arkwright, and she apparently was the daughter of a lord. Not that anyone would be able to tell now considering the company she kept. She waited until Zidane was asleep and they were outside of his room before asking if someone could take her to where the Arkwright's lived.

"Sure. Let me put on a shirt and I'll come," said Marcus.

Blank looked in her general direction and offered the same slight smile from earlier in the morning. He wanted to come too. She was grateful that both boys decided to accompany her to where she was sure she once lived. Marcus came back and both headed towards the front room/dining room where they met Blank.

The trip was made in silence and once they reached the nobles' dwellings, Marcus took the lead. Besides Ruby, he had spent the most time here. He stopped in front of a large, ornate building that resembled a giant chest. But then again, Arkwright did mean 'chest maker.'

"This is where I lived when I was younger?" Ruby asked as she examined the house from top to bottom.

"Yes. Why don't you go knock?" Blank replied.

"I doubt that they'll remember me. It's been five years since then. Since the crash and no one ever told them if I was alive or not. Daddy died, but I crawled to the hideout."

Ruby decided to knock anyway. There was a very slim chance that they might remember her. Stiffening her resolve, she walked up to the door and knocked. Behind her she could feel Blank and Marcus offering their silent support. The door opened soon after she knocked. It was a young girl, almost the same age as Ruby was when ship crashed.

"Can I help you?" the girl asked.

"Is there anyone from the Arkwright family around?" Ruby asked.

"Hold on." The girl turned her head over her shoulder and hollered back into the house. "Mother!"

A woman appeared and took in Ruby and her two brothers. The woman was barely taller than Ruby; her eyes opened wide in surprise when she made some inner connection.

"My dear, you look like Anzori. But he's been dead for five years now and his daughter was presumed dead."

"I don't remember Daddy's name. I know Mumma's name was Klasina though."

Ruby found herself being hugged by the woman. She was then held at arm's length and examined. Ruby was sure that this woman was her father's sister-in-law and the girl was her cousin.

"They told us no one survived the crash. Have you been in Lindblum all this time? And these clothes! Oh dear, I must find you something more decent. It is not right for your cousin to see this display. Oh! Who are these two men behind you?"

"I don't know how I survived," Ruby replied honestly. "And yes, I've been in Lindblum the entire time. I would like you to meet two of my brothers, Marcus." Marcus inclined his head. "And Blank." Blank did the same.

"Two? How many brothers do you have? Where are the rest?"

"One is….sick and the other is making sure he heals."

Ruby could tell that her aunt didn't like the company she was keeping nor did her aunt like the low-cut blouse she wore. Heck, her aunt probably wouldn't even approve of Boss even though he raised them the best he could. They might be thieves but they were honest thieves or as honest as a thief could get.

"My dear, I must come meet them for myself. And where did the young man…Blank I believe….go?"

"He went back to tell Boss that company's coming," Ruby replied to her aunt's question. "And get us more food than bread, crackers, and cheese."

Ruby watched her aunt grab a shawl and make sure that the young girl was wearing a coat. She shut and locked the door before indicating that Ruby and Marcus were to lead the way. Ruby knew that by no stretch were any of her clothes 'decent' and was determined that her aunt would stay out of her room. She hoped to God that the guys had enough sense to move Zidane in there. It would save quite a few awkward questions. They boarded the aircab and told the attendant "Theater District" before settling down in their seats.

They led her aunt towards the hideout where Baku was standing outside waiting for them. He politely bowed to Ruby's aunt before introducing himself.

"I am Baku. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"I am Adilet Arkwright," Ruby's aunt replied. "It is a pleasure to meet who my niece has been living with these past five years."

Ruby could tell that a hasty cleaning of the hideout had been done. They weren't messy people, but they had had so many shows in the past few days that no one wanted to clean the hideout on top of cleaning the dressing rooms. She could tell that Adilet was looking at everything with a critical eye and noting the hasty cleaning. Ruby could also hear what sounded like minor arguing coming from her bedroom.

"Thank God they moved him before we got back."

"You are a part of Tantalus? Oh, why didn't you tell me? I haven't had time to go to the plays in a long time."

"Which is why you had no idea I was alive."

Baku had begun to give Adilet a tour of the hideout specifically staying away from Ruby's room in the attic. When asked why there was some moaning, Baku told her that one of his boys had a nasty run in with a monster and was sick to boot. A lie but as close to the truth as Adilet was going to get. Adilet even poked her head into their refrigerator which was stocked.

"Somehow I'm not surprised. Thank you Blank," Ruby thought.

Adilet stayed for a good two hours looking everything over except for Ruby's room. She poked through the boys' clothing and made a quiet sound of disgust at the hole in the seat of half the pants. Baku explained that one of the boys had a tail which hurt when confined.

"Oh."

"Such a simple sound but still some disgust at the fact that one of my brothers has a tail."

Ruby had thought that her aunt would be more opened minded. Living with Tantalus should have changed that view. She listened absentmindedly as Baku invited her aunt to the play they had that night. She watched as her aunt graciously accepted in an almost offhand way and privately was happy that she hadn't continued down that path.

Later that night, Ruby peaked out from behind the curtain before the show was to start. She spotted her aunt and young cousin looking slightly bored. They'd had some issues getting down to the theater but the show was about to start. Baku walked out to introduce the play to the audience. He bowed and began to speak.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus. She attempts to flee the castle, only to be captured by her father, King Leo. When our story begins, Marcus, having heard of this, crosses swords with the king. And now noble ladies and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I Want to Be Your Canary'!"

He bowed as the band started to play and walked off stage. Ruby watched her brothers perform their parts almost flawlessly. Zidane was managing to hide the fact that he was hurt which was a feat in and of itself. She didn't appear until later. Before she knew it, she was heading out onto the stage for her scene.

"Marcus?" she asked. This time she was dressed slightly more decently.

Marcus appeared and embraced her.

"Sweet Marcus, I fear I love thee more than I should!"

Bit over dramatic already but it was too late to fix it.

"Princess... Wilt thou be happy, married to a lowly peasant such as I?

"Prithee, call me 'princess' no more! Marcus, wilt thou truly cherish me, the king's only daughter? Or is such a desire too dear to wish for!? After the nuptials, shall I become no more than a puppet? A mindless puppet, never to laugh, never to cry? I wish to live my life under the sky. At times I shall laugh, at other times cry. For no life is more insincere than that lived as a masquerade."

"Crap. Still too dramatic. I really need to learn to be less dramatic on this part."

"So much consideration thou hast given it! But worry not! Cast away thy trappings of royalty, and I shall swaddle thee in a gown of pure love! Never again will I part from thee! Pray, my love, make me thy canary to keep me forever in the cage of thy bosom! Let us embark on the first ship tomorrow, before dawn can tell of our elopement!"

Marcus had tilted Ruby back some while keeping her in his arms.

"All my fortunes at thy foot, I lay, and I shall follow thee throughout the world!" she exclaimed.

"No cloud, no squall shall hinder us!" he replied before kissing her and taking his leave.

"O, love is the sweetest joy and the wildest woe. All I wish is to be by my sweet Marcus's side."

Blank walked onto the stage. "Fie! It shall be war again unless this marriage is stopped. Ne'er will I let their plan come to fruition." Facing Ruby, he said, "Good day to ye, Highness."

"Good day..."

Ruby pretended to be slightly distracted.

"Wist thee of Marcus?"

"Marcus!? What news dost thou bring?"

"This!" Blank said as he 'punched' Ruby in the stomach and threw her over his shoulder.

The scene switched while Ruby watched from backstage. She wasn't due to appear again until much later in the play.

"Where is she!? Where has mine only daughter gone!?" Baku announced.

Blank walked onto the stage again.

"Blank, good man! Hast thou seen Cornelia?"

"Worry not, Majesty. I shall make sure Cornelia marries Prince Schneider. Be thou at ease."

"At ease, sayest thou? How can I rest, not knowing she is safe? Could it be...thou hast betrayed me?" Baku's eyes had widened slightly into a 'concerned parent look.'

"But my troth, sir, I betrayed none other than poor Marcus!"

"Thou had the gall to betray thy dearest friend. Wouldst thou not betray me as swiftly?"

"Stay thy hand, I merely..." Blank had no chance to finish his sentence as Baku pulled out his sword and 'killed' Blank. He fell and said his last line before he died. "I merely sought a lasting peace between the two kingdoms!"

Blank pretended he was dead as Benero and Zenero ran onto the stage.

"The traitor is dead!" said Zenero.

"O, cruel fate!" added Benero.

"You two... Quickly, find Cornelia and bring her before me!" Baku 'ordered' the two.

"Yes, Your Majesty," they both replied.

"Wretched daughter! How dare she disobey her father's wishes!" He had lost his 'concerned parent look' and instead looked furious as he left the stage for a scene change.

"The time for our departure is long past. Where is Cornelia?" Marcus addressed the air.

"Marcus, the ship soon embarks! Board ye this boat alone, and peace could come to both kingdoms, as Blank so said. Speak, Marcus!" Cinna said to Marcus.

"She told me that she could not live without me. So, the sun is our enemy, too. The eastern sky grows bright. Will we not spread our wings, as yonder birds in joyous flight?"

"Hark, Marcus! They cannot wait any longer! The ship departs!"

Cinna left the stage leaving Marcus on it. Ruby grinned as she watched Marcus finish out his scene. She peaked at her aunt and noticed that Adilet was completely engrossed in the play. And according to Blank, Adilet had been shocked that Blank 'punched' her. The play went on until it was basically time for Ruby's 'death.'

"Tonight, I shall finally see my daughter Cornelia betroth'd to Prince Schneider! And then Prince Schneider and his kingdom will be mine!" said Baku before laughing. "Gwahahahaha!"

Zenero and Benero dressed as guards appeared holding Marcus.

"Your Majesty!" said Zenero.

"We have caught an intruder!" added Benero.

"Why, my poor Marcus! Hark, lad. No matter how much thou dost treasure Cornelia...no matter how deeply she might believe she doth love thee...never shall I see her marry a peasant such as thee!" said Baku.

A bell tolled somewhere."When yon bell strikes three...Under the axe thou shall be! Furthermore!"

Marcus pulled free of his captors as Ruby entered the stage from below.

"Cornelia!" he exclaimed.

"Oh, Marcus! I missed you so!" Ruby said. She had changed her dress to a pretty blue one fit for an actual princess.

Marcus hugged Ruby, and both caught a collective 'aw' from the audience.

"I wish never to leave thy side. Prithee, lead me from this place!"

"See, King Leo? Thou shouldst give them thy blessing!" said Zidane still in his role as Marcus's kinsman.

"Never! Never leave his side, thou sayest? Foolish banter! I'll not allow it!" Baku turned towards Blank who was now dressed as Prince Schneider. "Cornelia shall marry none other than this man-Prince Schneider! Is that not so, Prince Schneider?"

"M-Marry the princess? Me!?" Blank squeaked.

"Aye! And this traitorous crew, I will put to death!" said Baku ignoring the sounds of Zidane and Cinna taking out Zenero and Benero.

"Ooof!" said Benero.

"Oww!" Zenero added his own groan.

"Too many of them!" exclaimed Benero.

"Run away!" yelled Zenero.

Baku approached Ruby. By now she had let go of Marcus. "Pray, sweet daughter, come home to the castle with me," Baku asked.

"Nay, Father! I shan't return!" said Ruby.

"Cornelia... Trouble me no more. This wedding is for thine own welfare. Be mindful of that."

"Not if I can help it!!! Now is my moment of vengeance! For my parents, and for my love, Cornelia..." said Marcus as he drew his sword. "I shall cut thee down!"

He lunged toward Baku, but Ruby threw herself in the way and appeared impaled from the audience's perspective. Ruby grunted before falling to the ground.

"No... Cornelia!!!" exclaimed Marcus appearing shocked at what he did.

"Mar...cus, forgive me. I still love my father..." Ruby said as she slowly 'died.'

"Cornelia!" exclaimed Baku.

"Princess!" Blank yelled with wide eyes.

"Prithee, forgive my selfishness, Father, and spare my sweet Marcus..." Ruby said her final line as she 'died.' Blank collapsed next to her.

"What have I done!? Am I never to hear her loving voice again!? Am I cursed never again to feel her soft touch!!? O, cruel fate! Thou hast robbed me of all I treasure!" Marcus was being a bit melodramatic but the moment was right for it. He turned his sword on himself and 'killed' himself.

"Marcus!" exclaimed Zidane as the curtain fell.

As they came out to take their bows, Ruby caught sight of her aunt and was surprised to find Adiltet crying. Adilet pulled her young daughter along as Ruby appeared from backstage. Tears were still streaming down her face as she embraced Ruby.

"That was amazing dear! I wish I had come to more plays! Everyone was amazing including you dear!"

Ruby managed to keep the shock off her face but just barely. Tantalus was holding an after party right in the theater so Ruby knew that she would get the chance to talk to her aunt a bit. Ruby managed to lead Adilet towards a quiet corner. Blank joined them since he wasn't one for parties. Plus Ruby knew he was concerned about her.

"So dear, exactly how do you know these men?" Adilet cut right to the chase.

"I vaguely remember meeting them before. I think Daddy was their patron at one point which would explain why I knew them. Daddy and I were heading back from Alexandria after a coming of age ball for one of Mumma's friend's daughter. Something went seriously wrong with the engine…" Here Ruby choked up and Blank placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The dreams had haunted her for five years. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I was told to go with one of the servants. Her name was Ellie, but before I could get back inside the cabin, the ship crashed. I knew I had to get away from the wreckage. It was all burning. I must have hit my head, because I woke up in a daze inside Tantalus's house. I had come late the night before but passed out right on the doorstep. Marcus found me the next morning, and I was brought in and cleaned up some. Since then, I lived with Tantalus because I couldn't remember anything aside from my name. They had recently lost their actress and asked me if I wanted to join them; become a permanent part of Tantalus. I accepted and that's where I've been living for the past five years."

By now the rest of Tantalus had come over. Zidane had sat down on the other side of her, his tail wrapping around her waist. The boys knew that they would get a better version later. Ruby didn't trust easily and within good reason. Adilet looked slightly put out that she wasn't going to get more from Ruby. Adilet didn't need to know that Tantalus sometimes stole to make ends meet; she didn't need to know the finer details of the years in between. The only thing that happened was Tantalus performed and occasionally stole. Boring really.

"Is that all dear?"

Ruby managed to keep the strain of talking to her aunt out of her voice. "Yes aunty. That's all that happened. You probably know what happened in the first ten years of my life." Ruby sounded bitterer than she meant to, but now she remembered why she headed towards the Tantalus hideout instead of her actual home.

Eventually all the guests left and Tantalus began to clean up the theater.

"Hey Ruby. Are you ready to tell?" asked Blank.

"Yes. Tomorrow. I want sleep," she said.

Tomorrow she would tell her brothers what life was like before she joined them. She had a sneaking suspicion that they already knew but they didn't know everything. This time, it was her turn.

"And I'll make the most of it."