Just like to do another advertisement for a really good ff10 fic called blind love by Chikujin. I can't tell you what is about without a) giving away the ending of ff10 to those who haven't played it yet b) spoiling the story. Just trust me when I say I haven't read one with a similar idea before, I did once consider starting an Artemis Fowl fic with a similar…situation but not until this one is done. Please do read it she isn't getting many reviews and won't write as quick until she does.
Okay romance chapter is finally here ^_^ don't expect anything brilliant though I suck at romance things, it's all about the depression with me, I can get that did right but never the romance. I'd like to thank SunDiamond for telling me the real ages and dates for Zidane and Freya, I have now changed it.
Sorry if some got inpatient for this chapter but my defence I have been writing it a lot and it is twenty pages long! Yes you read right twenty pages ^_^
Dagger was gently shaken awake ending her dream of Zidane destroying Alexandria. At first she thought it would be Steiner informing her of an attack on her city. But to her surprise she opened her eyes to see Zidane gently shaking her with a look of determination on his face.
"Zidane, what's wrong?" She asked.
"Why does there have to be something wrong?" He pointed out giving her a long kiss.
"Okay, why are you here then?" She asked smiling.
"Can't a guy come and greet his fiancée in the morning?"
"Not when Steiner is around." Dagger laughed.
"You forget that I'm a retired thief and I can make myself scarce from authority if I want. Usually if a guard came in when I was stealing something I would jump up and hang by my tail on the chandelier."
"And how do you plan to do that with only half a tail." Dagger smiled with satisfaction at the long pause which followed.
"I'll get back to you on that." He said after a while. "But first we have to go."
"Go where?"
"That's a surprise." Zidane told her with a smile pulling her out of bed and throwing her old orange outfit that she had worn on their journey at her. "Just get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs."
"Zidane what about my duties? I can't just go off with you for a whole day, especially now." Zidane didn't seem to be listening so Dagger grabbed his arm trying not to feel embarrassed by the fact she was stood only in her nightie.
"It's all taken care of, trust me alright." With that he left and Dagger had to once again choose between Zidane and her kingdom.
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"Do you think she'll come?" Zidane asked playing with his food but not having the heart to eat any.
"Of course." Freya snorted. "This could be the last day you spend together I doubt she will throw that away for anything.
"You know I half wish that she won't because then I will know whether she will kill my body in order to save Gaia. If she chooses her kingdom now then she will choose Gaia over me too, it would make everything a lot simpler."
"Love is never simple." Freya stated.
"Never got his memory back did he?"
"No, sometimes I'm not even sure whether he loves me or whether he just believes it."
"What you mean because he can't remember you he's just assuming he loves you but doesn't feel it?" Freya could only nod. "Well Freya to that I would have to ask why he would stay with you for this long? Not many people would live a lie for over a year. He would have made up some excuse about going off around Gaia to try and regain his memory."
"But he did spend a long time before he met me again wandering around, maybe he thought if he put up with me for a while then he would regain his memory and could then leave." Her voice was forced and Zidane knew she was on the edge of tears. Freya the dragon knight was being less than her strong emotionless self. He hugged her encouragingly knowing she would never let him do this if she was her normal self.
"You know the thing I remember most about the day Fratley returned? I remember that after he had saved us from the black mages and you were in the castle being reunited for the first time he had this strange look on his face. When he saw how upset you were and how much you loved him I saw look of longing on his face, longing to remember you because you were so beautiful and it was obvious how much you loved him. He saw that from you and he wanted to remember you and the love he had, but then part of him could already feel it because no matter whether people forget they will always remember their strong love.
"That was why he left you then, because even though he had been looking for so long for his past he never really thought he would ever find it. Then all of a sudden there you were; his past and his future. He needed to go and think for a while, to escape everything he knew and concentrate on that bound he has with you until he was certain it was real. That was why he came back, not to get his memory but because he remembered the love you two shared even if he couldn't actually remember how or why."
"And how would you know about this stuff?"
"Come on Freya, you remember when we first met? I was some screwed up kid with no past but not enough courage to start looking for it. But when you went searching for Fratley when I was thirteen it made me begin to realise I had to leave and search too. Two years later I took the chance and left, after that year looking I gave up on ever finding out where I was from but then look what happened. After I found out why I was here, when my soul was taken, I pushed you all away when you tried to help. I just needed to be alone and sort it out but you wouldn't let me. That is what you have to do with Fratley. He has already been reminded of your love, now you have to prove it. Just like all your friendships proved I was no different no matter what." There was silence between the two as Freya went over it all in her head.
"…You certainly have changed Zidane." She whispered standing up and looking at him gratefully. "I might just listen to you."
"Go get him!" Zidane called after her spoiling the mood but not really caring. Wouldn't want Freya thinking he was all that different.
"When did you get so good at love problems?" Dagger asked walking down the stairs. She looked as beautiful as ever in the same clothes she had travelled in, she had let her hair loose from her clip so it surrounded her face bringing out her beautiful brown eyes. The pendant necklace that used to lie heavily around her neck was gone, lost when she had lost it in the crowd.
"Whoa, you're so beautiful." Zidane said dreamily his gaze never leaving her as she came down the stairs to his side.
"Oh Zidane I just look the same as I used to." She told him blushing slightly at his steady gaze.
"Not quite." He told her playing with her hair. "You seem so much older now, before you were just a girl desperately trying to help her mother. Now your so independent and strong, I feel so protected when I'm with you now. You don't need protecting anymore because you're too busy protecting other people. There's this new bright flame inside of you burning so bright that it warns others off from the ones you love. Before you used to just share one with us but now you have it all on your own, you're the strongest one of us now."
"I didn't feel like I am, I don't want to have to be the strongest, be the one who makes the choices. I just want to live with my friends and be with you."
"It's not who you are anymore, part of you still wants it but you know that you're a Queen now and you are the one who leads. You may not feel strong but by the end of it you are the one who will destroy the destructive soul, you are the one who will save Gaia. Even if you have to join forces with someone you truly hate I know you will for the greater good. That's something I would never do because the greater good they want wouldn't include you. I need you to do this even though it means loosing me; I know you can because you're so much stronger than me to do so."
Dagger could only nod as a single tear fell down her face; Zidane gently kissed it away and smiled.
"Just for today though I want you to be as weak as you want, you can say whatever you feel and have no responsibilities. Today I have planned everything and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy."
"Zidane… you don't have to do this, you may not realise it but you're strong too. You could take the easy way out and join your creator, destroy Gaia and live on with your people. But you decided to go against everything you were made for and protect those you love, that is the hardest road you took and I will never forget it. You're now asking me to save the planet and forget about my real home, you. I just hope I can be as strong as you." Zidane could only hold her at those words not daring to point out if she didn't then everyone would be dead. She didn't seem to realise that there was no choice for her to choose, he could have joined Garland but Dagger could never join him, she would just end up being killed.
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Freya knocked gently on the door to the guest room Fratley and she were staying in, somehow she didn't feel right to just barge in like usual. This had to be done properly.
"Come in." Came his stern yet caring voice she had come to love.
"It's Freya; I need to talk to you." Immediately the door opened and Freya was greeted with a warm hug and smile before she was pulled into the room.
"I was beginning to worry about you, you went to breakfast two hours ago at five in the morning looking like the world was going to end any moment."
"Well that is the case is it not?"
"Yes I suppose it is, but at least we can enjoy our last day together."
"Last day? So you heard what Zidane said too? About Garland arriving tomorrow."
"Well actually Queen Garnet mentioned it in her speech to the townspeople; I thought I would go along and make sure I knew everything."
"I don't think any of us know everything, I doubt Zidane knows all of it."
"Enough of that talk anyway, what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"…Us."
"Us? Freya my love what do you mean?"
"That! How are you sure you love me when you can't even remember us? Do you just stick around because you feel you have to or because you think I'm the key to you regaining your memory? Why do you stay when you don't really love me?" All the comforting words that Zidane had told her seemed so obviously wrong that she couldn't believe she had dared to hope for a second that it was true. Fratley wasn't like Zidane; he had spent three years searching for who he was while Zidane spent one. Zidane could afford to give up his search; he had a whole other family and life he could just easily return to while Frately had been left with nothing. It was all too plain to her now that after three years of wondering discovering only a young prince for reference to his past that when he learnt that Freya was connected he would stay to find out more and try to remember. What was one person's pain to him by making them believe he was still in love when they could help him remember all his friend's and family's names?
"Freya, I do love you…"
"How can you? You don't even remember me! You don't remember our love or how much it meant to us just to eat a picnic on the rooftops while watching the twin moons light up the sky. You don't know about…about the fact you promised we would get married when you returned from your duty. You don't remember anything." She finished off quietly sobbing as she sat on the bed and hid her face in her hands feeling helpless. Just like she had during the times she had nearly given up hope on her search for him.
"Freya I do love you, more than you will ever know, more than I could ever express to you. I do not remember these things and I probably never will but I do know the love I feel for you is as real as you are. When Prince Puck had found me wondering around he then helped me remember that I was a dragon knight. Shortly after I learnt of the attack on Burmecia and swore I would not let Cleyra fall too. When I saw you in the palace talking to me with such certainty that we knew each other and that you loved me deeply.
"All I could do was look at you as you talked feeling a slight recognition for just a second that at the time I thought I had imagined it. In that flicker I felt complete and happy with such an overwhelming love for you I felt I was going to choke. I knew I loved you, knew that I always had. But then when it went and I was scared of what I had felt. I convinced myself it was nothing and pretended I didn't recognise you. You must understand Freya that I was so scared, I had just come to terms I was a dragon knight and was willing to accept that was all I would remember. Then I met you and it threw that theory right away, I felt that love and knew that if I continued to remember it I would never be able to deny it. I left you there and thought of the possibility of returning to you. I was afraid that because I couldn't remember our past and all the things we did together you would realise you didn't want me anymore. If that happened I wouldn't know what to do because I would be alone with a love so strong my heart aches with joy every time I see your face. I couldn't live like that. But then I heard of the events regarding Kuja and I realised that I was being stupid.
"It was Zidane who convinced me to come back and take the chance. The way he stood up to me when I said I didn't remember you, he had seen that moment in my eyes where I remembered you and the love we shared and didn't want me to cower off and loose you after all you had been through. I kept arguing the two points in my head before I heard of what you all had done. On one side I may come as a huge disappointment to you and on the other this Zidane who you were obviously close to saw this fear within me and still urged me to tell you the truth.
"Then I heard of the rumours of what happened at the lifa tree and I travelled to Alexandria in order to hear what the newly crowned Queen give her view on what happened. She said that Zidane had helped defeat Kuja and save all of Gaia even though it was never his responsibility. She was crying and so upset when she explained that even though Kuja had tried to kill them all and had an even darker past with Zidane himself he had gone back into the lifa tree during it's violent reaction to save Kuja. She said that Zidane always did the right thing no matter how hard it was and if we had ever had the honour of meeting him before then we should listen to what he says and try and do what he would, she said that way Gaia would be a better place with more people like him.
"I agreed with her and plucked up the courage to return to Burmecia, return to you. You were so happy to see me and when you kissed me for the first time all the love I'd tried to hide just overtook me; I have never regretted it, not for a second. Queen Garnet was right about Zidane and I have learnt a lot from him. You do not need to worry or question whether my love for you is real, most likely you have discussed it with Zidane and he has told you a similar thing, trust him Freya. Trust me."
Freya sniffed slightly as his words ended letting them slowly sink in one by one making sure she wasn't dreaming this. She looked up at Fratley expecting to see a smirk for fooling her but all she could see was his love for her, just as he had described it. She smiled happily and tightly hugged her love giving him the answer to whether she believed him. He gently laughed and gazed into her eyes longingly before moving in for a kiss…
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"Pick one." Zidane told her as they stood behind the castle where many airships and other uses for transportations stood waiting. She looked at him puzzled but he merely smiled and poked her in the back as an indication to start choosing. She grinned slightly as she turned her attention back to the options in front of her.
The first was choco in his golden form looking slightly bored as he hopped off the ground and flew a little way up before coming back down again. The second was the Blue Narciss which was on a wooden platform with wheels in order to get it back to the ocean when it was needed. The third was a gargant being fed none stop in hopes of distracting it from it's current situation. Next was the Hilde Garde they had travelled in on their journey which felt familiar to Dagger filled her with warmth and good memories. Her smiled widened at the sight of it but she continues looking down the row of transport neatly lined for her to inspect. Next came the invincible which Zidane knew she wouldn't choose but had put there for the sake of it. Where was the fun in just going half way with this thing? He watched his grin widening as Dagger's eyes rested on the last option and a gasp of joy and surprise escaped from her.
"I think we have a winner." He whispered softly wrapping his arms round her waist as she gazed speechlessly at the theatre ship.
"H-how did you get this?" She asked walking closer and climbing onto the ship, already soldiers could be seen taking the other vessels or creatures away as Dagger stared in wonderment still not really believing it.
"I got Baku to lend me it as an early wedding gift." He told her laughing at the look on her face. "I thought you would like to travel in it without a bomb blowing it up at the same time."
"It's perfect! There's so many good memories on this ship. You were on it performing 'I want to be your canary' when I saw you for the first time. It's where we met Vivi and how I escaped from my mother. And best of all it where you came back to me after a year of desperate hope of you returning."
"Yeah, sorry it took so long but when you're more dead than alive and have no transport to get you to the mist continent…"
"None of that matters now." Dagger interrupted smiling at him happily. "This ship has brought us together twice; maybe, just maybe it can bring us together a third time." She hugged him tightly for the first time feeling some hope towards the future, Zidane knew her too well when it came to her emotions.
"This time I won't just declare you're mine but I'll sing our song and maybe even propose again. Or better still I'll grab a priest and decorations on the way back and marry you on the spot."
"Sounds great." Dagger whispered happily snuggling her head into his chest never wanting to leave it. "Pity we have to wait for all this to end."
"Well you have to have some complication in it, love overcomes all obstacles. Just imagine what we'll have to do to have children." Normally Dagger would blush at the thought but she was too preoccupied in Zidane's arms feeling more complete and alive than she ever thought possible. She was meant to be strong without him, but she felt her strongest while he was with her. It wasn't in the way of protectiveness like on their journey but just his presence made whatever was ahead of them seem more bearable then it had a few hours ago.
"We'll get through this Dagger, I promise you we will get through this."
"I know we will." She replied closing her eyes as the two of them stood feeling utter peace and content in each other's arms.
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Vivi quickly ran into the town of Alexandria searching desperately for any traces of Zidane and Dagger. He tripped for the seventh time outside the chapel where he noticed Eiko was inside talking to the moogle there.
"Eiko! Do you know where Dagger and Zidane are?" He asked her hardly able to contain his excitement and desperation.
"Yeah, Zidane mentioned he was going to take her somewhere for the day. If they haven't left already then they'll be behind the castle." She told him gloomily. "They will probably go off to some romantic place so they can spend time alone before he has to leave. Why you ask anyway? Are you saying your goodbye already?"
"No, I just want to tell him something I came up with to prevent the destructive soul controlling him." His excitement shining through his eyes as Eiko's face split into a huge grin and she jumped to her feet.
"Are you serious? Come on then we have to tell him!" With that she began running off towards the castle and Vivi had no choice but to follow.
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Zidane and Dagger were still in their peaceful embrace when they heard Eiko's shrieks of joy growing nearer. Zidane reluctantly let go and climbed off the theatre ship ready for when Eiko stopped breathlessly with Vivi just behind her.
"What's up?" Zidane asked knowing I wasn't anything bad by the look on their faces.
"Vivi…needs to..tell…you something." She gasped out breathlessly. Vivi then grabbed Zidane's arm and steered him out of hearing distance from both Dagger and Eiko. Zidane waited a few minutes while Vivi caught his breath before he began to explain his new plan.
"I think I know how to prevent you from being taken over by the destructive soul. You see when we take the mist from the monsters we use the tubes like you saw. Once when we were making one of my sons somehow too many souls got mixed up in him and one was a bad soul who wanted to destroy us. When we finally contained him we came up with the plan to add more mist in him so there would be no room for the extra soul and it would be forced out through the tube we out in. with us all taking more mist now we have no room for those souls which were the ones Kuja placed inside us when he wanted to control us. We can't be used as puppets anymore and if we put extra mist in you too then it can't take over you!" Even as he said it Zidane felt a sad smile come into place on his face. Vivi had noticed it through his excitement and all of sudden he felt a heavy ache in his heart.
"Vivi…"
"No! Zidane it will work, it has to work!" Zidane was shocked to see the tears rolling down the little black mage's face. This really had been his big plan to help him, he had been so sure it would work. Hoping that none of what took place next would have to happen.
"Vivi I'm not made from mist like you and the other black mages. Genomes are created using the bright light of Terra that hurts us when we look at it. It hurts us because it is apart of us and it can either make us stronger or take our soul if we had one. Just like the mist gets rid of excess souls in you the blue light can get rid of our soul completely, it's what happened to me in Pandemonium."
"But it could still work!" Vivi tried desperately.
"The souls that Kuja gave you were mixed with both mist and the blue light. This was done because he didn't have enough of the blue light to make all the souls he needed so he mixed it together to finish them. By doing this the souls were only temporary which was why the black mages suddenly stopped killing and fled to their village. I think you were the first black mage and it's why you have a longer life span even before you started taking the mist and it's why you look a little different. Kuja was the first of the angel of deaths and he looks different from the rest of us." Zidane paused realising he had gotten off track of his explanation and sighed slightly before he tried again.
"If those souls the black mages had been given were made entirely from the blue light of Terra then they would be a type of destructive soul for them. It wouldn't have been as lethal as the one made for me and Kuja but it would have made their killing urges last a lot longer, probably for the whole year of their life at the time.
"Anyway what I'm trying to say is that because those souls were made from the blue light and you were made from mist. Well if you put mist in me when I'm made from the blue light of Terra…"
"Then a mini-destructive soul will be made in you and you will just turn evil even quicker." Vivi whispered more tears spilling from his huge yellow eyes. "I thought I'd found a way to help you, but I just found a way to make it worse. How do you know all this for sure?" He asked grasping at the last straw he had.
"I'm not totally sure, it's like I'm sharing this connection with someone who knows it all."
"You mean Kuja? How?"
"It's nothing you need to know at the moment, I'm sure you will know soon enough." Zidane smiled at the puzzled look which crossed Vivi's face. It was soon replaced with a deep sorrow. "Vivi don't worry about me, I don't have a plan on how to stop me from having the destructive soul out in me but I do have a plan on how to get it out once it's in."
"Really?" Vivi asked excitement returning in his eyes. "What is it?"
"I can't tell you, I can only tell Dagger. She's the key in this and if anyone is going to get me back it has to be her. Please understand that." Vivi nodded hugging Zidane tightly.
"Goodbye Zidane. You've taught me so much."
"Hey, this one's more of a see you later than a goodbye okay?"
"Okay. I wanted so desperately to be the one to help you."
"You did, you're letting me take Dagger to your home remember? This is something really important and it's thanks to you I can do it. I have to go now but I'll see you later okay?"
"Okay." As Zidane ran off towards the theatre and a few minutes later helped it rise in the air Vivi couldn't help but utter one last word. "Goodbye…"
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Steiner hastily finished tending to the needs of the townspeople knowing that as soon as he was done he was free to spend his time as he chose. Zidane had strictly told him to spend this final day with Beatrix and as…romantic as possible. Normally the advice of a thief would have been shrugged off and thought of as an insult, but during their journey together Steiner had come to respect Zidane and his love for her majesty.
Steiner remembered the conversation they had shared the previous night very well indeed…
***
"Hey rusty!" An exhausted looking Zidane called to the knight as Dagger's explanation ended.
"What do you want?" Steiner asked rudely feeling he should be trying to calm the townspeople than be socialising with a man who should obviously be asleep.
"Tomorrow is the last day before the big battle, you should spend all the time you can with your woman."
"I am assuming you are talking of Beatrix." Steiner pointed. "Unlike you I have duties to attend to tomorrow. Your job is to keep her majesty relaxed and confident." Zidane frowned at his words.
"It's not my job Steiner, it's just what she needs. I would never think of Dagger as a job."
"What about when you kidnapped her? Wasn't that as a job?"
"…That was different. I didn't know her back then. Anyway you're changing the subject, all you have to do tomorrow is take care of the townspeople and then you're free for the day. I suggest you use the time with Beatrix, you knight types are all about the job, you both need a break from it, especially with what's coming up."
"And since when did you become the expert in relationships?"
"Just trust me, Beatrix needs some time alone with you. You need to appreciate the woman more, you take her for advantage way too much. With women you have to keep the bond otherwise they are gone, can't blame them really it works the other way round just as quick, in some cases even quicker."
"What are you babbling on about?" Steiner was tired and becoming frustrated, in two days time they were going to war with people from another planet who they didn't have a clue on what they were capable of. Maybe he did need some time off. Steiner noticed that Zidane had just almost fallen to the floor despite the fact he was leaning against the wall.
"Look I need to go before I collapse but just remember this okay? Soon we are going to war and some of us might not make it, mainly me. I want to see you all happy before I go off and am forced to hate all my guts. I need to know that you are all strong and united so you will have the stronger will to live. Surely a knight knows that the will to live is something you need while going to face your doom. Just spend one day with the woman you love and you might get the chance to spend the rest of your life with her later because of it." With that Zidane stumbled off leaving Steiner with his thoughts.
***
Zidane had been right, much to Steiner's annoyance, he had seen what Steiner couldn't. They were all growing distant because of what was about to happen, fearing that soon they would lose one another. He as a knight and as a boyfriend should have seen that during this time it was important for your comrades or partner to be closer in order to share a stronger bond and emotion between you. It was vital to your survival because knowing you had friends fighting beside you willing to fight to the death with you and sharing the need to protect what they were protecting made you stronger. It made you feel as if you were not just one person but many, you were unstoppable as long as you had someone beside you representing the present and the future you could soon have. That is what Zidane had seen and he hadn't, he made a better knight than Steiner during these times.
Steiner found Beatrix handing out the last of the extra pillows requested with a strained smiled on her tired face. Yes, Steiner thought we both need a day off.
"Beatrix, I request your presence immediately with an urgent matter which is vital before we face battle tomorrow."
"What's that Aldebert." Beatrix asked tiredly. Steiner turned slightly red but didn't let his stance change from what seemed to be pure protocol.
"I humbly request you to spend the rest of the day on a relaxing date with me, purely for war sake of course. It is well known that at times of war one must be as close as possible with those they are fighting with." Beatrix couldn't help a real smile break out across her face at his words and part-truthfulness which they both knew about.
"Really? And where would we be expected to go on this date?"
"Well," Steiner began linking his arm with hers and heading down the corridor. "I was thinking we would start off with a stroll around the kingdom and then maybe some dinner…"
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"So where exactly are we going?" Dagger asked Zidane throwing her arms around his waist as he carefully steered the theatre ship. He dared a moment to look at her with a knowing grin on his face.
"That you will find out when we get there and seeing as you keep peeking out the windows to see I'm going to have to blindfold you."
"You wouldn't." Dagger said confidently which soon wavered as she saw the grin on his face. "You're driving, if you let go we'll crash."
"Which would ruin the day, wouldn't it? Better not run then." He said completely serious. Dagger didn't resist as he began to tie a scarf around her eyes making it tight and completely opaque. "Don't worry we're nearly there. You'll be back in control soon enough." Dagger was tempted to hit him but stopped herself when she realised that one, he was driving and two, that was exactly what was bothering her about being tied up.
"You know me too well." She said smiling replacing her arms around his waist once again.
"I know, even when we were apart for a year I couldn't forget one little habit of yours. Now I've learnt all your new ones in three months too. You are completely predictable to me."
"Oh really? Would you predict it if I did this?" She asked innocently removing one of her hand from his waist and instead moving it down his back to begin stroking his tail. A smile of satisfaction placed itself on her face as she heard a shocked gasp from Zidane.
"Um Dagger? What are you doing?" He asked nervously.
"Why, didn't you predict I would do this?" She smirked continuing to stroke his soft tail knowing he couldn't move away while he was driving.
"Dagger please stop."
"Why? Does it hurt?"
"No, it's just…"
"Just what." Dagger asked enjoying every moment of Zidane's discomfort.
"…No ones touched my tail before, not without hurting it anyway. They certainly didn't start stroking it."
"Well I guess I did something unpredictable after all." She gloated.
"Okay you proved your point so will you stop it now?"
"Do you want me to?" Zidane was silent at the question trying to resist something within him. He sighed slightly in defeat and Dagger was startled to hear a slight purr escape from his throat.
"D-did you just purr?"
"…No."
"Liar." She accused bursting out into laughter. "You're a big kitty aren't you?"
"Hey! I'm not a monkey or a cat! I just like…" He stopped realising it wasn't much of a case of defence.
"It's okay I won't tell anyone you purr when you're happy."
"Huh?"
"When you came back and I ran into your arms I could hear a soft purr from somewhere, I thought it was from the crowd at the time but it must have been from you." Zidane remained silent with only a slight purring noise coming from him as Dagger continued to stroke his tail gently. He didn't protest knowing Dagger wouldn't stop now she had found a weakness in him.
"We're here." He announced as the theatre ship touched the ground finally having the chance to stop Dagger but not doing so. Dagger removed her blindfold and gazed at Zidane's red face, she smiled at his embarrassed eyes.
"Why so embarrassed?"
"…No one touches the tail." He replied weakly.
"I do now. Especially seeing as it makes you so happy." Zidane just smiled at that and for the first time Dagger could see the hidden exhaustion beneath his joy and embarrassment. "Are you okay? You look so tired, will you be okay today?"
"I will where we're going." He told her replacing the scarf over her eyes despite her protests.
"I didn't even get a little peek." She whined teasingly wrapping her arms round Zidane's waist heading for his tail once more.
"That's not going to work you know, you had your chance to look but you were too distracted with making me blush. No matter how much you try now or how much you make me purr like a little kitty I'm not taking that blindfold off until we get inside where we're going."
"Spoiler." Dagger teased kissing him as well.
"Still not going to work. Come on lets get going."
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Amarant stood leaning against the outside wall of the castle gazing at the genomes in their unmoving positions. How weak he thought to himself with a slight grunt to be so dependent on another person. The thought used to cross his mind often before their journey but now when it came to mind he realised with a start that he also was one of these people.
All those years ago when he had encountered Zidane outside the mansion in Treno and changed his life from a fight crazed thug to a well feared criminal. He had seen the young thief come out who had managed to get out of the house with his prize, something many others had failed to do. Even though he could see he was young, fourteen years old at the most, he had thought of him as a worthy opponent seeing his skills and slickness at pulling off such a robbery. All the signs had been there of his trickery and he should have known he would have pulled the stunt that he did.
"The sly eagle hides it's claws." He had told him while running off to freedom, Amarant didn't realise just how sharp Zidane's claws were until this all began. His brother had been the nearest person to destroying the world and now he was the person who would succeed. If Zidane had beaten him when he hadn't even realised he had such power how were they suspected to kill him now? They hadn't really defeated Kuja let alone defeat Zidane. They had defeated him and he had unleashed ultima on them all leaving them weak and almost dead. If Zidane was stronger than that how were they suppose to kill him? How do you defeat an enemy with no weakness?
"But he does have a weakness." Amarant realised suddenly, it was the same weakness Amarant had had when challenging Zidane that day. Emotion.
Amarant had been so focused and desperate to have a worthy battle with anyone that he had been blind to the hints of what he was like and what he would do. He had let his emotions cloud his judgement at the most crucial moment resulting with his life now. In a way he preferred his life now from what it used to be. He was well feared and never bored with his work, plus he got many fights from those who tried to turn him in. It was the life he had been expecting all his life considering his first memory was the face of a guy he had to beat. Zidane had given this to him because of that emotion in him, he had given him exactly what he needed, it was why he didn't hold a grudge against him. But for so long throughout the journey he had not realised the reason for Zidane's ways, now he did. So why am I still here?
Amarant pushed the thought aside and concentrated on the matter at hand once more, the weakness that both Zidane and he held. If Dagger were to be there at the most crucial moment it might make the new Zidane hesitate long enough for them to perform a fatal blow. Amarant hadn't believed Zidane for a second when he had told them his soul that he had now would already be gone when the new soul entered his body. It seemed too convenient for Amarant's liking. Plus anyone could just look at the black mages and see that their souls had somehow resurfaced, they must have still been in their bodies under the other soul and Amarant was sure Zidane would have a similar fate.
He had said it so they would be able to kill him, yet now because Amarant knew of it he had a weakness in this angel of death. If it tried to kill maybe Zidane's soul would fight inside to make it hesitate long enough for him to finish it off. It's a big if, what if I'm wrong? Can I really risk Dagger's life? Why do I care anyway? Why am I still here with them? I have my answer I was looking for I don't need to be here anymore. Is it possible that I have a bond with these people. That I actually care what happens to them?
"Hey!" Called an annoying whiny voice interrupting his thoughts. "What are you doing here?" Eiko asked him, Amarant groaned.
"Shouldn't you be spending this last day with your new parents?" He asked her trying to get rid of her.
"They had to go to Limblum and get some of their army ready to help Alexandria tomorrow, they said I could come but I would have gotten bored. Now I can't find Vivi, I haven't seen him since he talked to Zidane this morning. He thought he had a plan to prevent the destructive soul taking over him but it turned out it wouldn't work."
"Pity." Amarant muttered.
"What, you mean you actually care?"
"Why would I care about that monkey? I just don't want him to blow up the planet I'm living on."
"I don't think so, why would you be here if you didn't care?"
"I just explained it to you, you brat!"
"That's not a reason, you could just leave it to us to take care of it. Even when we all thought Zidane was dead you came back to Alexandria for the reunion and play. You care about us and you care about what happens to us too." Eiko told him triumphantly.
"…What happened to that little brat I used to know?"
"She grew up. You know I know what It's like to be alone. For two years it was just me and the moogles at Madain Sari. All I wanted was someone human to talk to who would look after me and help me when I needed it. I didn't want to have to act tough all the time and now I'm lucky to have my family and all my friends. You're grateful for them too, you just don't realise it yet. I bet that year you spent alone after the journey was one of the loneliest times you have ever had though. That alone proves you care. I'm going to find Vivi now, you can keep on staring at the genomes because they are no longer alone like they were before. That's why you're watching them isn't it? Because now they are more complete than you are." With that she walked off leaving Amarant to wonder how a little brat could know the truth that accurately, maybe she too had suffered from loneliness that he had once he had separated from his friends after his link to them had died. Maybe it was time he made a new and stronger link.
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Quina was working harder than he ever had over this last year and three months of working in the Alexandria's kitchens. Tonight was the last time Zidane would eat here and he wanted it to be the yummiest meal he had eaten in his whole life. He had already made two picnics today and was now fully concentrating on the main meal of the night. Only two from the group wouldn't be attending but Quina had already tended to their needs.
"I make good yummie yummies for Zidane and my other friends, make it from heart, very important, must make from heart." Quina felt sad that Zidane had to go and turn different but he also felt Zidane needed to have good meal before he did. That way he would remember them more while he was away.
"I miss Zidane, but give him yummie yummies and he'll miss me too!" And so Quina continued working on the meal for his friend who had showed him the world and it's many tastes.
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Eiko found Vivi in the deserted mini theatre which Ruby had been forced to leave when everyone was requested to stay in the castle. He was stood on the tiny stage gazing around him with a sad smile in his eyes.
"What's up Vivi? I've been looking everywhere for you?"
"I met Zidane on a stage, first time I saw him he was playing the friend of Marcus in 'I want to be your canary'. He was really good in the fighting scene. Then when he came on again with Dagger in disguise the guards started chasing me because I'd snuck in. I ran onto the stage and set Dagger on fire by accident. Even after that Zidane was so nice and he saved my life in the Evil Forest even though I froze when Dagger needed my help. He helped me so much during the journey when I felt sad about the black mages, now when he needs it most I can't help him."
"You're only one person Vivi, you can't take on that responsibility on your own."
"Wait! That's it Eiko! You've done it!"
"Huh?"
"More people! We need more people to help us fight tomorrow."
"Mother and father are already getting their army…"
"We need more, the black mages! They'll be stronger from taking more mist and there's more of us. They owe Zidane their freedom from when he defeated Kuja, surly they will help!"
"I thought they were afraid of humans, why would they fight with us?"
"It's not about who they are fighting with, it's about who they are fighting. The Terrans started this if it wasn't for them making Garland he would of never made Kuja who would never of made them to use as killing machines. They need to prove to themselves and the Terrans that they are free to make their own choices now and won't act as mindless puppets for them. It's something they need to do." Vivi waiting impatiently as Eiko thought it over in her head, she looked up at him and smiled brightly.
"What are we waiting for them? Let's go to the black mage village!"
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"Can I take this thing off yet?" Dagger asked getting slightly agitated at the constant darkness. Zidane gave her a reassuring kiss knowing as always how she was feeling and how to make her feel better.
"Just a bit further." He told her teasingly kissing her neck as he guided her through the entrance of their destination. "Okay, now you can take it off." Dagger waited a moment before hearing Zidane sigh and remove the blind fold for her. She smiled loving how much she was getting her own way since the tail incident, except the whole blindfold thing of course.
Dagger gasped as she gazed around at where they were and realised where it was.
"I know it's not the prettiest of places but I thought we could spend the day where we have no real memories. No reminders of anything going on outside here while we spend this final day together."
"Plus it has spring water."
"Yeah, that too."
"Did you ask Vivi if we could come here?"
"Yeah, he was fine with it. He said he hasn't been here for a while and it would be good for someone to come and keep it feeling homely."
"Quan's dwelling." Dagger whispered leaning against Zidane as she gazed around, the sudden support nearly made Zidane's tired body fall over but he recovered before that happened.
"Are you okay?" She asked turning to face him the exhaustion showing more clearly than it had before on the theatre ship.
"Yeah, just need a bit of that spring water."
They slowly made their way towards the rope which would lead them down near the water. Zidane felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him as he leaned heavily on Dagger for support, she smiled and gently kissed him on top of the head as she guided him towards the rope.
"Some date this is with me like this." He joked half heartedly.
"Well you said before I have to be the strong one now, you're just letting me practice, boosts a girl's ego." She told him unable to stop her smile or the happiness she was feeling despite everything that was ahead of them. How do you do this to me Zidane? How do you make me feel so happy and complete when I know what's about to happen to you?
"Shall I go first or you?" She asked.
"Not sure, you might need to catch me." Dagger grinned and quickly slid down the rope getting ready to cast a spell if Zidane fell.
Zidane did really try to slide down without falling, but as he did his tired hands began to loosen their grip and before he could try to re-grab the rope he was falling. Dagger had been prepared for this and quickly cast float on her falling fiancée grabbing his leg before he began to float back up to the top.
Dagger waited patiently until the float spell wore off and quickly grabbed Zidane as he began to drift down. His face was coated in a layer of sweat and his eyes were closed, he was currently in a half dose from the sheer exhaustion of the actions he had done so far that day. As Dagger struggled with Zidane to get him near the water as noticed a picnic was set out at the far end ready for them with a wooden box in the centre which puzzled her. I wonder what's in there…
She gently laid Zidane's tired body near the picnic and picked up one of the beakers to fill with some spring water. Knowing too well he wasn't allowed too much of it she didn't dare take him to the water and let him drink to his heart's content. Who knows what could happen with lots of spring water and some true potion in his system.
Shaking Zidane awake she lifted his head and gently allowed him to drink the water, he soon began to grab it off her roughly desperately drinking for the strength he so desperately wanted to be able to protect her. Once he had finished the bottle he stared with temptation at the water near-by but after a few minutes shook his head sighing and laid down on his back. Dagger smiled proudly and laid beside him making him turn his head so she could gaze into his eyes.
"I'm so proud of you." She whispered rewarding him with a gentle kiss. "Now let's see if this food is any good." She crawled over to the picnic heading straight for the wooden box in the centre.
"Don't open it yet." Zidane told her laughing at the playful pouting face she gave him. "Let's eat first." Ignoring Dagger's glare Zidane calmly began to eat a chicken leg holding out one towards her. "You can either eat with me or watch me eat but you still have to wait either way." Dagger roughly grabbed the chicken leg and turned away with her back facing Zidane as she quietly began to eat.
"Hey, don't be mad at me." He whined wrapping his arms around her waist and trying to make her turn around and face him. She avoided his eyes trying her best not to break out in a smile as he leaned heavily on her causing her to lie on her back with him on top beginning to kiss her neck softly.
"Hey!" She protested. "That's not fair you can't use my weakness against me!"
"It's what you've been doing to me since you've found out mine." He pointed out moving up from her neck to her mouth, Dagger at first tried to put up a fight but her will couldn't last long against his kisses. A few minutes later Zidane broke away their kiss and was satisfied when he heard a groan of frustration coming from Dagger.
"Okay, are you going to eat or sulk some more?" He asked giving her a quick kiss before climbing off her and helping her to her feet. She smiled and began eating again making herself comfy on his lap as she did. Can't get away that easily she thought.
Noticing that as he ate he kept his gloves on which were now becoming greasy from the food Dagger gently took his hands and began to take his gloves off. Zidane didn't protest but she could see the fear in his eyes, she kissed him reassuringly as she took off his gloves and gently caressed his hands with her own.
"Okay you can open it now." Zidane told watching her as she quickly grabbed it and gently sat back on his lap before she opened it up. She let out a gasp as she looked in and saw her pendant necklace laying undisturbed as she had last seen it on the floor.
"How…?"
"Eiko picked it up later and gave it to me in case you would ever need it again. I think you'll need it for when you summon him Dagger. He's not an ordinary eidolon and you'll need Eiko and all four pendants to be able to pull this off."
"How do you know all this?" She asked him puzzled.
"…I share this connection with him, I won't tell you because he'll want to show off about it. Just remember for this to work you need to be strong no matter what so everything will work out okay."
"What if I don't feel strong enough?" She asked burying her face in his chest not wanted to look him in the eyes. Zidane sighed slightly lifting her head so she couldn't hide from his bright blue eyes.
"Dagger, when I was spending that whole year trying to get to you I would often lose my strength and hop of ever returning in one piece. But every time I thought I began to lose my faith and began to wonder what the point was I began to sing our song. Sometimes I would be so weak from fighting or from my wounds at the lifa tree that I couldn't move, but I would sing our song and a new strength would fill me, my love for you and the determination to see you once again, be in your arms and kiss you for the first time. Sometimes I would feel like giving up convincing myself that you would have already moved on and married like a Queen was expected to. But then I would sing our song and realise you were too stubborn to listen to what I taught you.
"So Dagger when your strength fails and you feel you can't go on… no matter how hopeless the situation seems or how much you feel like giving in just sing our song. It will give you hidden strength and power when you remember our love." With those words Zidane hugged her tightly making no attempt to move as the feeling of utter completeness washed over them both.
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"Fratley where are we going? We're going to be late for the feast." Freya told him following her love over the rooftops of Alexandria.
"We're not going to the feast." He told her calmly making a giant leap to jump onto the top of Alexandria castle. Freya followed in a slight state of shock beginning to question him when she had reached the top but was stopped when she looked at what was in front of her.
The night had grown dark revealing the bright twin moons shining high in the sky, on the roof in form of Freya was a small picnic.
"For old times sake." Fratley told her taking her hand lightly and directing her to sit in a big enough spot for them both.
"You didn't have to do this." Freya told him weakly gazing from him to the breath taking view.
"Yes I did, it's what we needed, and there's something more I need to do too." He gently knelt down on one knee and brought out a beautiful necklace from his pocket. Burmecians were never ones for rings and many chose to use necklaces instead to show their love. The necklace was mostly plain knowing Freya didn't like anything too flashy except a single diamond in the middle reflecting the light of the moon and sparking its fascinating colours around it.
"Oh, it's beautiful." Freya said fascinated.
"Freya," Fratley began. "I love you more than memories can prove and more than I ever thought possible. I promise you here under the twin moons that once this is all over with I will marry you Freya."
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When Zidane and Dagger returned to Alexandria they found everyone waiting for them so they could begin the big feast.
"Where's Freya and Fratley?" Dagger asked, Zidane smiled knowing what must be happening with them.
"Fratley ask Quina to make picnic, he said he and Freya wouldn't be at feast." Quina informed them setting the last of the food on the already full table.
"Wow this looks really good Quina."
"Yes," Quina agreed. "Qu's cook better when cooking for friends because then they cook from heart. That is why Zidane must come back soon because you best friend and cooking not as good when you not here. I will miss you friend." With that Zidane was committed to a bone crushing hug before he was able to sit down and let the feast begin.
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After finishing the best meal Zidane had ever had in his life he and Dagger to began heading upstairs.
"You know what?" He suddenly said stopping. "you go up ahead and I'll be there in a little while."
"Saying goodbye?" She asked hugging him to give him extra strength.
"Yeah, I wish I didn't have to."
"It's all part of leaving, but then you'll be coming back soon right?"
"Yeah, if everything goes smoothly."
"See you soon then." She told him continuing her way up the stairs.
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It was Vivi who first approached him out of the friends, e had a mixture of sadness and excitement in his eyes as he came over to Zidane.
"Hey Vivi, what's up?"
"N-nothing, I just wanted to tell you that…well the black mages have agreed to help with the battle tomorrow."
"What? Vivi this isn't there fight!"
"Yes it is! It's their fight as much as it is yours! They were made by Kuja and these people started the cycle off in which Kuja would be produced. They need to see these people and show them that they cannot be controlled by them anymore. And also in a way they believe they owe this much to the genomes. They were their friends and they feel they should be with them till the end, no matter what side they are on."
"…Thank you Vivi. They may help turn the tides, you have done so much to help, more than any other one person could have done." He gave him a quick hug and saw the sadness leave Vivi's eyes.
"I'll see you later then." Vivi called as he ran off to greet the black mages.
"Goodbye." Zidane whispered knowing Vivi wouldn't hear.
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Zidane was about to make his way outside when he heard Eiko call out to him to wait.
"Look," She began before Zidane could speak. "I'm no good at saying goodbye so just don't talk until I've finished." Seeing Zidane's nod she continued hurriedly. "Okay Zidane during our journey together I kind of fell in love with you, in fact I still do love you. But I know that you and Dagger are meant for each other. When you were away Dagger was always trying to be so strong yet she used to be so sad. That's why this time you have to come back again, a lot earlier then a year if you can." Zidane laughed slightly at the sudden outburst.
"Sure Eiko I promise I'll come back. But I also need you to do something for me, I want you to listen to Dagger and do whatever she asks you to no matter how crazy or wrong it seems."
"I will Zidane." Zidane then knelt down to give Eiko a hug, she then quickly kissed him on the cheek and turned around to leave. She took a few steps away from him when she suddenly stopped and began to say more not turning around to face him.
"Just remember Zidane that you will never be alone no matter what. Your friends will always be with you, especially Dagger."
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Eventually making it outside Zidane saw Steiner near the river waiting for Beatrix.
"So I take it you took the advice?" Zidane asked coming to stand next to the startled knight.
"Yes and I…I would like to thank you for the advise, you were right about Beatrix."
"No problem, just here to help while I can." There was silence Zidane feeling too tired and sad to make a usual snide remark.
"Zidane…despite our differences I will miss your company. You will see me right by her Majesty's side trying to reclaim you from that monster."
"Thanks Rusty." Zidane said quietly feeling a sudden warmth towards the knight. "Just…look after Dagger for me will you?"
"I will give my life before I let anyone hurt her." Steiner said with the hidden meaning they both caught.
"Thanks, at least I can count on you to protect her against anything…even me."
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Freya was waiting in the hallway when Zidane came back inside the castle.
"Hey, how did it go?" Zidane asked her.
"Oh you know, a proposal under the twin moons. I think it's the most popular way this week."
"Whoa! Congratulations" Zidane told her giving her a hug.
"Thank you Zidane for everything. You have changed so much from when I first met you when I was eleven years old and my family were on holiday in Treno. You watched us with such amazement when we walked past you towards the inn. You looked so lost and alone that when I could get away from my parents I went looking for you. You told me that you were all alone and had been for two years. You said you couldn't remember anything before that, you could only remember being alone. For the two weeks I was there I would always come and play with you making sure you had enough to eat and a place to sleep. Then the day before I was going home you came to me and said that a man named Baku wanted to join his gang of thieves and be part of their family. I got so angry at you saying you shouldn't associate with thieves. You told me that you were so sick of being alone and that was how you would be soon when I left. You said you were sick of people looking at you as if you were a monster just because you were human with a tail."
"Yeah, and the next time I saw you was in Limblum when I was what? Ten? You were sixteen and in love with Fratley."
"I'm sorry I said those things about thieves. I used to think back then that they were people with no hearts."
"You weren't far off. It's tough being a thief, you have to be tough to be able to steal from people and not care."
"Yet you have changed from that yet again, changed from a lost lonely boy to a heartless thief to a, what are you now?"
"A love sick alien with an evil inside of him."
"…I was going to say a young man with an open heart for his friends and a loyalty so strong he would be willing to die for his friend's safety. You are sacrificing everything, so I have decided the least I can do is stay with Dagger till the end and help any way I can."
"Thank you Freya and I wish you all the best." Zidane hugged her one last time before heading up the stairs trying to hold back tears.
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Amarant was waiting for him in the shadows of the corridor, as he watched Zidane come up the stairs he could of sworn he saw him wipe away a tear."You know I met you before this mess all began, it was in Treno and I challenged you to a fight but you tricked me, now thanks to you I'm one of the most wanted criminals." Amarant waited until a look of realisation came on Zidane's face.
"Um…sorry about that." He said weakly.
"Don't, I don't hold a grudge against you in fact I want to…thank you. You have influenced my life in a way that I have gotten the one I always wanted. I'm no longer dying of boredom as a guard. You have been a…friend to me and you've taught me a lot about people. I just want to tell you that I will stay till the end and look after the others while you're not here." Zidane smiled weakly again at his words.
"I take it you've found my weakness then?" Amarant nodded. "Good, I want you to use it no matter what will happen because of it." Amarant again nodded. "Thanks, and good luck in the future okay?"
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Zidane lightly knocked on Dagger's door and entered seeing her laid on her bed reading 'I want to be your canary'. Zidane couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Thinking of old times." He asked her but soon fell silent when seeing the look on her face.
"Zidane…I just want to say that no matter what happens I will never stop looking for you. I will give up my throne if I have to just to be with you."
"Dagger…"
"If you die then I will die too. That year I spent without you was one where I lived like a zombie, just going through it with no real emotions. I can't go through that again. I love you too much to loose you again." She kissed him softly and they cuddle in each others arms.
"Dagger." Zidane whispered. "I will always love you no matter how I am, just remember that okay?"
Saying that they laid down falling asleep in each others arms. I hope this plan works. Zidane thought before giving into darkness.
Hope you like it remember if it was really bad tell me and I'll rewrite it. My sister did proof read this one she said it was really cute but she might have been lying because she's my sister and she has to put up with me. In case you're wondering I will go into more detail about how Zidane and Freya know each other.
I know that some of them seemed a bit out of character in this chapter but they are all spending what could be their last day together so I thought it would work that way. Zidane was all like advice giving in a way so that he would be remembered that way instead of what he is about to become. Dagger was all happy and acting all spoilt because she's determined to forget about what lies ahead. Eiko is acting all grown up because she wants to help and she thinks she will seen more useful that way. Vivi was pretty much in character, Steiner was the way I would think he would be in that type of situation. Amarant suddenly realised how alone he was going to be when Zidane wasn't there because he's his excuse for sticking around them all. Beatrix I didn't know enough about so I just did what I thought she'd be like under the cold I'm-going-to-kill-you-all-thing that she does through most of the game.
Okay next chapter is the battle ^_^ finally the main summary for this story has been reached ten chapters later. Please review and tell me what you felt about the chapter but I would just like to say no matter what you say I am not changing the whole stroking tail purring thing because I have always planned to put it in since I began writing this. Not changing that. Anyway with school approaching and with it being my last year updates might be distant but I will try my best. I have to complete my art project before school starts so I can't write another word until that is done. Review and they might tempt me enough to forget about work ^_^
