AN: didn't mean to go so long without an update. A LOT of stuff happening at school lately. Will hopefully be back on the ball though. not really sure about this chapter but there's a lot of cameos.

Chapter 10

"Klauser?"

Bartz caught the ball in his arms and turned towards the speaker, looking up from his position in the pool only to see Mateus standing at the edge with his arms crossed over his chest.

"What do you mean, Captain?" Bartz asked.

"That. That in your arms. You're supposed to be running speed drills why is there a ball in your hands?" The Emperor asked.

"Uhm-- Well what had happened was Zidane had--"

"Hey don't put my name into this!" Zidane interjected.

"Zidane," Tidus began. "At least let him finish."

"Yeah at least let me finish," Bartz said. Zidane stuck his tongue out at the brunette.

The Emperor merely shook his head. He had assigned Bartz, Zidane and Tidus to run speed drills. That required no ball whatsoever. Mateus stuffed the ball under his arm.

"Bartz, Zidane, 10 laps around the pool. Tidus I need to talk to you," Mateus said.

"O,ok," Tidus replied. "You heard him guys. Be sure not to bother Squall and the others though."

Tidus swam to the edge of the pool and pulled himself out. He grabbed his towel and wiped his face and Mateus watched silently as the younger teen got himself together. After wiping his face, Tidus draped his towel over his shoulders and looked up at his captain expectantly.

"Don't you want to go to nationals again this season?" Mateus asked.

"What kind of question is that?" Tidus asked.

"You're being too lenient. They're running speed drills. Look," Mateus gestured over Tidus' shoulder. "Leon's following my instructions. He, Gabranth, and Squall are running a passing drill. 2 on 1 just like I said."

It was true. Leon and the others were following the directions and hadn't deviated at all in the short time that Mateus had left them to check on Zell who was leading the beginners in a dribbling exercise.

"I don't see why you're getting so worked up about it, Mateus," Tidus said, stretching and putting both hands behind his head. "Zidane and I are the fastest in the district."

"Training and dedication are what keeps you the fastest," the Emperor replied.

Tidus sighed, dropping his arms to his sides. "Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No, it's actually about Hana," Mateus said. He didn't miss the way Tidus eyes lit up at the name.

"Really? Did you think about it?"

The Emperor nodded, "Yes. I think you're right. She is a good candidate."

"Woohoo!" Tidus cheered. He patted Mateus on the back roughly. "I knew you'd listen."

Mateus shrugged Tidus hand away in disgust.

"Some of the guys were saying that you don't listen to me, but I think you do. You're a good guy."

If Mateus was confused by the statement he didn't show it. Instead he began to walk away saying,

"I'm going to join Leon and the others. You make sure Bartz and Zidane stay on their laps."

Tidus nodded and went off beaming. He didn't think Mateus listened to him, so he was really surprised when he was told that he should ask Hana to be the team manager. Ever since being named as Assistant Captain, all Tidus ever really did was back up and support whatever decisions Mateus made, so it was nice to be able to make some of his own. Tidus resolved to ask Hana that very afternoon.

Drama club was just as crazy as Firion had said. As soon as they came in: Hana recognized Kefka and Kuja, who were bickering loudly. She shyly moved closer to Firion, almost disappearing behind him. She recognized them as Ultimecia's friends and she didn't want to be singled out again.

"I'm going to talk to Mr. Baku and tell him we're here," Firion said, turning to look at her briefly and then walking away before she could reply.

Hana shifted, uncomfortably and found a spot against the wall by the door to lean against, and trying her best to blend in. It was then that she heard someone speaking nearby.

"Legends shall speak

Of sacrifice at world's end

The wind sails over the water's surface

Quietly, but surely--"

Genesis Rhapsodos recited, eyes closed and arms stretched out. He finished, drawing out the last words elegantly and waited for the needed applause.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" clapped Kefka. "Now can you say it backwards?"

Kuja nudged Kefka in the ribs and then clapped as well.

Genesis rolled his eyes at the two, and dropped his arms down. He scanned the room of thespians, only to stop when he saw Hana standing alone by the door.

"LOVELESS is timeless," Genesis said in welcome. "I'm glad you could come out here to appreciate true artistry."

"I'm actually with the journalism club," Hana replied.

"What happened to the guy they usually send over?" Genesis asked.

"He's talking to Mr. Baku," Kuja said, coming to Genesis' side. He looked at Hana, sending her a glance of recognition. "So you're in the same club as Firion, huh?"

Hana nodded politely, "Y, yeah. He asked me to come with him today. I hope you don't mind."

"No, never. An actor can never have too large an audience, isn't that right?" Genesis said.

"Like I care! I'm just here to work on the effects! Explosions! Explosions!" Kefka danced around Genesis and Kuja in a circle, but then he suddenly stopped, peeking close at Hana's face. "Oooh I rememeber you!"

Hana's heart leapt into her throat, beating wildly.

"Down boy," Kuja said, grabbing the back of Kefka's uniform blazer and bringing him to his side.

"Oh, you're no fun. Since when have you gotten so dull? I thought you loved playing with the little ones!" Kefka said, twisting from Kuja's hold and then wrapping a dark arm around the effeminate actor's neck.

"You're so uncultivated, Kefka," Kuja drawled. "Isn't he, Hana? That's why he's not suited for the stage."

"So you're an actor?" Hana asked.

"Why should the world exist without me? That wouldn't be fair."

"The world?" Hana asked.

"Yes. The world. The stage!" Kuja practically glowed as he said those words, and he threw his hands up in the air. "The world is a stage--"

"I like that," Kefka beamed.

"--And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances," Genesis chimed in.

"Aa, so you know more than LOVELESS then?" Kuja asked, eyeing his classmate coyly.

Hana merely watched with an insane sort of curiosity. Genesis looked half embarrassed and plenty annoyed by Kuja's teasing. Kefka let out a chilling guffaw. So these were Ultimecia's friends without Ultemicia. Quite a lively bunch they were.

"Hey, you guys. You giving my assistant a hard time?"

Hana, Kefka, Kuja, and Genesis turned to see Firion and Mr. Baku.

"Hey boys, mind if I borrow your leading man for a moment?"

Kuja, who at some point managed to wind his slender arms around Genesis disengaged himself.

"Not at all. Keep him if you'd like," Kuja replied.

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises

Nothing shall forestall my return," Genesis said with a bow.

"Great," Firion said, trying his best to sound pleasant. "Well, Genesis. Let's get this over with."

Hana watched as Firion, Genesis disappeared with Mr. Baku into his office.

"So, Hana. Hana Hana," Kefka said, turning towards the girl.

"Leave her be," Kuja said. "She has nothing to do with us. She's Ultimecia's lightweight not ours."

He walked away and Kefka shrugged and followed, leaving Hana to sit alone for the remainder of the time Firion was in the office with Genesis. It was as Hana sat there alone that her mind began to think back once more onto the occurrence at lunch that day. She had been thinking about it all through her afternoon classes and even now she couldn't stop.

Mateus said that Tidus was going to ask her to be manager that afternoon once blitz ball practice was over, and if she didn't--

Hana didn't want to think about what would happen if she didn't. She had just gotten closer to Tidus and even able to actually talk to him. She didn't want to lose that or have him think she was some fan girl. If she didn't take the Emperor's threats seriously then that's exactly what Mateus would make Tidus believe. She wanted to be more than that, and she wanted to prove to everyone that her feelings for Tidus were genuine.

Still, there was a great bit of dignity she would be losing by going ahead with it. Hana sighed. The only thing she could think to do would be to go along with it or be honest and tell Tidus everything when he asks her. Hana didn't want to do that though. Where exactly would she begin?

'Oh Tidus, I just want to let you know that your captain is blackmailing me with your photograph that I keep hidden in Leon's blitz ball magazine.'

Just thinking of it was ridiculous. Of course Tidus wouldn't believe her. Mateus was his captain. She was just some fake journalist pretending to have an interest in Blitzball.

She felt pathetic.

"Why the long face?"

Hana looked up and saw Firion staring down at her with a curious expression.

"You're not having any fun," Firion said after she failed to reply to his original question.

Hana shook her head, "No. It's fine. I suppose I'm just thinking about some things, is all."

Firion sat beside her, putting his notebook on his lap.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Don't you have to observe their rehearsal?" Hana inquired.

Firion clicked his pen and turned to a blank sheet in his notebook.

"Actually, I've observed the past two rehearsals I'm thinking this one is more of the same. If we talk softly it shouldn't bother them," Firion said.

Hana sighed and watched as Genesis and the others gather around Mr. Baku as he gave out instructions. The theatre club was small. Besides, Kuja, Genesis and Kefka, it consisted of 3 other guys: Blank, Marcus, Cinna and a pretty girl named Ruby.

"Ok. Places everyone we'll be starting at act II scene iv," Baku said, sitting in a seat.

"I hate LOVELESS," Firion sighed, scribbling a sword onto his paper. "They should have done 'I Want to Be Your Canary'."

"I didn't know you were a fan of the theatre," Hana commented, softly, not tearing her eyes away from the drama in front of her.

Genesis and Kuja were trading lines and Marcus was standing on the sidelines looking unaffected. They were the three heroes of the play and Ruby was the love interest of Genesis' character.

"I'm not really," Firion said. "It's just… Garnet really likes that play. She would have really liked to see it."

Hana widened in surprise, "I didn't realize you two were close."

Firion this time looked embarrassed and scratched his cheek.

"N,no. It's not like that," Firion said. "Besides, there's already someone that's special to me."

"You have a girlfriend?" Hana asked but then realized she might have crossed a line and quickly apologized. "I, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to pry!"

"No it's fine. I'm not with anyone," chuckled the 2nd year boy. "So, what about you?"

"Me?"

"Is there someone special in your life?"

Immediately, Hana thought of Tidus and her cheeks began to redden just a little. It was barely noticeable, but Hana's self consciousness made her look down at her lap and play with the fabric of her skirt. She noticed a piece of string hanging from the hem and began to coil it around her index finger idly.

Firion chuckled, "I take that as a yes."

Hana's shoulders tensed and she looked up at him with a slight pout.

"It's not like that!" she exclaimed as loud as possible without disturbing the actors.

Firion teased. "So who's the lucky guy? Is it someone from the blitz ball team?"

Hana let out a sigh without thinking.

"Is this what you were thiking about earlier?"

"Huh?"

"Earlier, you said you were thinking. Were you thinking about the guy in blitz ball?"

Hana met Firion's gaze and saw that he looked concerned.

"I guess… technically," Hana replied.

"You like someone in blitz ball?"

"It's not about someone I like," Hana answered truthfully.

"You're not being bullied are you?"

"N,no!" Hana looked offended, although his accusation wasn't far from the truth. "I'm not really sure what it is really. I'm just confused is all."

Hana's eyes once more fell to her lap where she continued to play with the hem of her skirt. Her leg bounced nervously. She really didn't know what to say. She barely knew Firion outside of journalism club and this was really the first time she talked to him for any length of time. She did like Tidus, but that was really the source of her troubles. It was a bit different from that, but she reasoned telling Firion about what happened with her and Mateus would likely be a mistake. Maybe if it were anything else she wouldn't have hesitated to talk to the 2nd year, but Firion already didn't like the blitz ball captain as it was. The only person she could talk to about this was Bicky and Hana hadn't had a chance to talk to her all day.

"Well, you know you can talk to me when you're ready. I don't mind."

"Thank you."

Hana was glad that Firion left it at that. As much as she knew she had to face her situation soon, she wasn't ready just yet.

------

Meanwhile, it was after Blitzball practice and a happy Tidus was getting dressed really quickly after getting out of the showers that afternoon.

"Hey Tidus!" Bartz asked from where he stood at his locker. "What's gotten into you?"

"Yeah, normally you're the last one to leave," noted Ingus.

Tidus just smiled cryptically and shook his hair out like a wet puppy.

"I bet it's a date," Zidane commented.

"Oh shush up, Zidane. It's always about a girl with you," Bartz teased.

Zidane shook his head, "No. I think I'm right. What else would make Tidus so giddy?"

"I don't know," Bartz said. He looked over at Squall. "What do you think, Squall?"

"Whatever," was the lion's reply.

"See, even Squall agrees."

"No, it's not about a girl," Tidus finally said.

"I was right."

Zidane pouted, "then what is it about, huh?"

"Well, I'm going home early because I have to be home early. Simple as that," Tidus explained. "I've been going home early all week."

"No, it can't be that simple. Sure you've been going home early every day this week, but this is even early for your early… if that makes sense," Bartz deduced.

"Welllll," Tidus looked over at the Emperor who was adjusting his uniform jacket quietly in a corner. "Mateus and I decided on who we want as manager."

-to be continued-

cameos:

tantalus theatre troop: baku, cinna, marcus, blank, ruby - FFIX

LOVELESS - FFVII

'I want to be your canary' - FFIX

And I finally decided to make Kuja's last name Tribal as well.

thanks for reading. please review.

ALSO! the with the substitutes (Leon and Zell) out of the way it's time to get with the actual dissidia cast interviews. I'm leaving Tidus and Emperor for the last two slots but I haven't decided on who to make go next so far. i have someone i'm leaning towards though...

let me know what you think!