A/N: Welcome to my very first Final Fantasy IX fanfiction! This has been a favorite game of mine for so long! I love the characters and the plot and EVERYTHING about it! One thing to note is that I personally do not swear. I am aware that Zidane's character is known for his sarcasm and swearing is just a part of who he is. Since I do not swear, I'll just write 'he cursed' or something and your minds can fill in the blanks :)

I am not sure yet if this will be a series of one shots or if it will be a novelization. Let me know what you think about it.

I do not own FFIX... I just have the game on poor, overplayed disks.

Enjoy! Please read and respond!

...

"Ku-ja?"

The older boy with feathery silver locks rolled his eyes. His brother Zidane was so innocent it made him violent. The child, who could hardly harm an insect unless it attacked him first, was supposed to overthrow him and become the actual Angel of Death? Kuja didn't know what made Garland think that this boy could be a killer.

Zidane reached for his hand, gloved fingers barely able to reach and keep a hold of Kuja's. "Where're we going?"

Kuja clenched his teeth. "Gaia." He started walking, the toddler's hand wrapped around his, which he kept limp.

"Gaia!" The boy's blue eyes widened more and he shrunk back. "But Ku-ja, Garland said not to. He said it was scary."

"Zidane," Kuja's voice was soft and comforting, though it took most of his self-control to maintain it. He was a deceiver; he knew he could make almost anyone believe almost anything. "Garland told me to bring you there. It is time for you to experience that world."

"But the other Genomes?"

He shook his head; his silver, silky hair thrashing with the movement. Kuja could not afford to have the child cry out. If Garland knew of his plans, his soul would be forfeit. But that thought didn't stop him. If Zidane was out of the way, the creator of their bodies would have to acknowledge him, Kuja, as the ultimate Angel of Death.

"They can't come."

Zidane rubbed his eyes and yawned. His straw colored tail flopped lifelessly and dragged on the floor as he walked. "I'm sleepy…"

Kuja finally wrapped his fingers around the small hand. "We're almost there, look!" He pointed at the airship in front of them. "You can sleep on there."

The little boy nodded, closing his deep blue eyes as the familiar calming blue light of the planet finally quieted his fears. Kuja led him into the giant airship and to a chair, dumping the child into the seat unceremoniously. Zidane stretched, mumbled something incoherently, then his breathing took on the pattern of sleep. The eldest Angel of Death laughed low in his throat. The hardest deed was done.

As the years had gone by, he found that his 'brother' grew increasingly stronger. Lately, he found that Zidane could withstand Kuja's powerful mind somewhat. His skill with double daggers was so great that even Kuja had to admit it impressive… for a boy of four years. He had quick reflexes and an even faster wit which had gotten him in trouble many times. Even among these strengths, his greatest fault was his compassion.

Often, he thought it would be better to end the child permanently. Those thoughts soon ended when Kuja discovered that he could use Zidane in order to make Garland suffer. Having the man behind their creation watch his perfect angel live among those he was created to kill was the best plan.

His plans were not only created to spite Garland though. Kuja hated Zidane. Ever since the small Genome was pulled from the machine, created as a baby, he had loathed him. Kuja hated the soft curves of his young face, his mischievous smile, the boy's sparkling eyes and most of all how he had trouble pronouncing 'Kuja', always saying it in two broken syllables.

Perhaps his method was cruel: leaving the child to defend for himself on a planet he was meant to destroy. Kuja shrugged off whatever feelings of guilt he might have had. There was no use for them. Anger and resentment were the only things he knew. Right now, they were directed at the child.

Terra's blue glow closed behind them and Kuja breathed a sigh of contentment. He didn't belong there with his people. Gaia was where he belonged, where he was created to be. His smile grew. He would destroy the planet with Zidane on it. The thought made him giddy though he concealed it well, not wishing to awaken the child behind him.

Zidane was still asleep when the airship descended, hiding in the foliage of a rustling forest. He scooped the sleeping child into his arms and ran into the night. When the cold wind engulfed them, Zidane started and thrashed.

Kuja placed him on the ground and took his hand again. "Follow me quietly."

"Where's the light?" the boy whispered.

He was referring to the blue glow that was ever-present on Terra. Kuja smiled. "This is a dark world. The light never stays. It is a planet doomed to die."

They passed through an open gate into a large city. Zidane's grasp tightened around Kuja's fingers. "Where are we? I wanna go home." The child's eyes flickered uncertainly at the dark trees that they travelled through. He shrunk closer to his brother, desiring the comfort he knew he would never receive.

Kuja turned to the boy, now was a good time. "This is your home now." When he spoke, they had already passed into the darkened gates of a sleeping city.

"Wha-?" Zidane tore his hand out of Kuja's. "Where's Garland? He'd never let you take me away!" Everything crashed into place in his mind. Garland refused to let Kuja alone with him, he also forbade him from leaving. The small boy drew the daggers from his belt, distrust lighting his eyes.

Kuja spoke in the same quiet voice. "No, he wouldn't. You must be so tired, Zidane. It was a long trip. We have so much to do tomorrow."

"No," Zidane shook his head so violently that it dislodged his blonde locks from the tie that bound it. He could feel Kuja begin to invade his mind with the powerful magic he had been created with.

The older Genome gritted his teeth as the child fought back. Despite the fact that Kuja was an expert in matters of the mind, the younger angel of death was prepared to defend himself. "Zidane," the boy froze in shock at the commanding tone. Rarely did his elder brother call him by name in a tone other than mocking. Kuja smiled. He had made it into his mind. Nothing could stop him now. "Why don't you put those nasty blades away?"

Zidane's arms shook as he was forced to obey Kuja's demands. "B-brother?"

Kuja's voice wavered, almost breaking with rage. "I am not your brother." He took a calming breath before continuing. "Lower your defenses."

"Ku-ja?!" Zidane cried out in alarm as his mind was invaded, dropping his mental defense at the command.

"Your mission, remember that?" He waited for the young boy to nod. "Forget it. Forget everything." Kuja pressed his hand to Zidane's forehead, sparks fanned out around them and twisted into the air like loose fireflies. "Your existence on Terra never happened."

Tears flowed from Zidane's eyes. He could feel the memories ripped from his mind and floating away like the sparks that surrounded them. "Ku-ja, don't leave me!"

"You will remember nothing. You will be alone."

Zidane's vision faded, his limbs trembled. "Don't leave me. I don't wanna be alone."

"Ah," Kuja's voice returned to normal. "Dearest brother, remember: I will be watching you."

The small boy collapsed onto the cobblestone ground, his tail twitching violently before lying still. Before the darkness and confusion completely overtook him, he heard a strange voice say:

"We will meet again, Zidane Tribal."

...

"Kid, hey kid!"

Zidane's eyes flickered open and he gasped. A bulky man that looked like a giant stood before him. He jumped to his feet and unsheathed his daggers. The huge man laughed and smacked his large belly. Zidane found his eyes focusing on the strange ears perched atop the man's head.

"You got spirit!"

"Who-who are you?" he tried to keep his balance, but found his limbs to be weak. His knees wobbled like a newborn animals and he grabbed onto a wall for support.

The man peered down at him, a dumb grin on his face. "Baku, boss of the Tantalus! Who're you kid? Just saw you lying in the middle of the road. Thought I'd warn ya before you were killed."

The child's mind was blank. He closed his eyes. All he saw was a blue light and a few words. 'We will meet again, Zidane.' "Zidane." His voice was a whisper of faith, but nothing else came to mind. He felt naked and cold, stripped of his own self. His sleeveless arms wrapped around his slim form in hopes of warming himself up.

"Zidane, huh? Well kid, you may want to get your monkey-tailed butt out of the road before ya die." Baku turned, but still addressed him. "You got a home? Family?"

The boy looked at the ground. "I—I can't—no." His voice became a low mutter. "I don't know."

"Ya don't know?" Baku turned. "Well Zidance, you can come and live with me and my boys. But you gotta scrape your sorry behind off the pavement and come now. I ain't waitin'."

"It's Zidane." The child hissed, but sheathed his daggers. He wouldn't admit it, but his hopelessness was terrifying. This man, whoever he was, seemed to know what he was doing. He shivered. He could stay alone and seemingly unwanted, or he could trust this man and follow.

The booming laugh sounded again as the man realized Zidane was coming. "Welcome to Tantalus kid. You're not alone anymore." The kid had a home now, and he had a new thief albeit he was only four. He smiled. The kid had natural skill and spunk. Baku liked him.