Author's Note: Hiii…it's me again! YES, I'm back with more tales of Kuja! This time…the tale is darker. Yes, it shows the darker, more personal side of Kuja. This fic takes place after the Iifa Tree…and involves a girl child. Ooh..we get to see Kuja's parental side! Anyways, enjoy! Umm…enjoy some more!

Who can say where the road goes

Where the day flows

Only Time

And who can say if your love goes as your heart chose

Only time.

~Enya (Only Time)

Reincarnation…

Lindblum

Midnight, Gaian Standard Time

          I hate humanity. I simply hate it. I've hated it from the time I was rescued from the evil clutches of the Iifa Tree. And I hate Zidane for that too. Only because I wanted to die. I couldn't live with the guilt. I couldn't even call it guilt. It was more like numbness deep within the pit of my empty shell of a body. For weeks on end after that I was in a state of blankness. I could feel nothing, not even the gaping wound in my side that sometime refused to heal or the cuts and bruises on my hand that persisted for three weeks.

          Zidane left me alone on the Forgotten Continent and went back to Alexandria. I couldn't blame him for that. After all, Garnet deserved his attention and love. I envied them, simply because I would never experience love or compassion. In truth, I was a heartless bastard. I killed thousands upon thousands of people from everywhere in Gaia, and I was still living with the truth. The truth was that I was nothing but a failure doomed to relive my actions over and over.

          I sat on the edge of the front gate overlooking the city and sighed. Nothing was going to happen tonight, other than the usual stuff. Sooner or later, the guard would come along, forcing me to move along somewhere else. Nowadays, I kept myself hidden under a light black cloak that covered my body from head to foot. It was the only way to keep people from recognizing me. The last time that happened, I barely survived being mobbed. And I couldn't use my magic to help me, since being rescued from the Iifa Tree drained most of my life force.

          Which meant that I could no longer cast some of my most powerful magic (like death spells, etc). That fact didn't make me nervous; it just made me cautious. There was no telling when Queen Garnet will send her guards after me soon. I mean, why let someone like me continue to live and run about? I balled my hand up into a fist as I remembered the disgust written all over her face when she first saw me. I remembered how I felt about her before Brahne died.

          There was a crash in the city below. I blinked and ducked behind one of the arches in the front gate. I doubted a guard made that noise. Lindblum guards were like assassins now: quick, deadly, quiet, and efficient. Regent Cid had made sure that no one would get past the gates unchecked without him knowing. Sadly enough, he also knew that I was lurking around his city at night with no purpose at all. Had he done anything about it? No, not really. Not unless you count putting some of the best assassins against me taking any action. I waited for a second or two before peering out from behind the arch of the gate. The street was deserted.

          That's strange, I thought as I climbed down the edge of the gate down into the street. I crept down the street, being careful not to make any noise with my boots. I felt my tail tighten its grip on my ankle as a result of the tension within my body. The minute I rounded the corner, I saw something that I had never seen on Gaia or in hell. It looked like a dragon; much like the silver dragons that used to hang around me all the time only it was much different. It's plumage was many different shades of red and purple and the nuzzle was long and black. I recognized this is as the Nova Dragon…from the Iifa Tree. I felt the hair on the back of my neck and tail rise as I watched the dragon nose around and growl.

          "This can't be happening. I thought Zidane and I…killed all of the monsters born from the mist," I whispered to myself softly.

          Before I could catch myself, the Nova Dragon turned its head in my direction and sniffed the air hungrily. My eye twitched as it began to lumber over to me, drool flying from its mouth. I began to back up as I formed ideas on how to avoid this in my mind. Sure I could take it head on with my magic, but there was a slight risk that came with it. I couldn't just use it for prolonged periods, like I used to when I was…younger. Without hesitation, the dragon leapt into the air, claws and fangs bared, ready to rip me apart. I extended my right arm, opened my hand and turned my palm up towards the heavens.

          Power flowed to my fingertips encasing it in an orange glow as I focused harder, trying to increase the amount of power flowing to it. I pulled my right arm back, making the air ripple and crackle with energy and stood there, waiting for the dragon to grow nearer. The moment it closed in enough for it to strike me, I let the energy I gathered loose in its face and watched with primal satisfaction as it exploded. Blood and guts splattered onto the ground and in a wide circle around me.

          That couldn't have been the only dragon in Lindblum. Mist Monsters rarely attack alone. I shuddered involuntarily as I glanced around the tall buildings of the merchant city. All of a sudden, a huge explosion rocked the buildings right across the street from me, spraying debris in my direction. I found myself flying backwards and into the wall from the force. Loud shrieks and screams erupted in the air, as more and more explosions rocked the city.

          Groaning slightly, I got back onto my feet and rubbed my face gingerly. I should just leave the people to their deaths. After all, Regent Cid will blame me for the creatures regardless.

          'Someone help me…'

          Was I hearing things?

          'Help me..please..'

          I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. This was a joke. I was just hearing things. No one was calling me. No one was pleading for help from the Angel of Death. I turned and headed off towards the gate in a flourish, not wanting to be around when the guards came down.

          'PLEASE…don't go!'

          The cry rang through my head like a bell and for a minute, I hesitated. Part of me wanted to leave and let the dragons tear up the city and the person crying out with little or no remorse. The other part wanted me to investigate the voice and possibly save…or silence it. Oh what the hell, you only live once. I turned around and headed through the debris into the center of the first district. It was like stepping through the village of summoners. Nearly everything was destroyed or burning except for the area to the left.

          I decided to search there first…and found two dragons huddling over a small girl. Without knowing it, a smile crept up on my lips. They had killed the girl. So…why…did…? The dragons let out a hiss as the girl twitched slightly on the ground. It was then that a new emotion washed over me; it wasn't heartlessness, but it definitely wasn't sadness either. I felt a need to save the little girl. Why? It was just a little runt, and her death wouldn't matter now. I hate humanity. Why would I feel compassion for one little runt? Why? Why?

          The questions kept running through my head as I stood there watching the dragons nudge the girl's legs hungrily. Well…I'll answer that question later. All I needed to do was to save the girl and ask questions later. Without blinking, I watched the dragons explode violently, spraying guts on everything…including me. I laughed and picked the little girl off of the ground and smirked.

          What are you getting yourself into now, Kuja…?

Author's Note: You like? Just comment. If you hated it…well…I don't blame ya. But new ideas and help are welcome.