Disclaimer: You know the drill... I don't own anything of or from Final Fantasy IX©.... not even Zidane Tribal....*pouts*

Dedication: To *Sagittarius Girl*, Maki, Siena & most of all, Taemyr... you guys are da bomb!! -^_^-

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Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever

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~~Chapter 3~~

~Beautiful Stranger~

Eiko Carol cheerfully skipped along the path that led to the Alexandria castle. She quietly hummed to herself as she waved to a group of giggling children. She quickly stopped. Doubling over in pain, she gasped for some of the air around her. The little horn on her head, surrounded by dark violet hair began to glow a light red.

Her green eyes scanned the ground. " What's going on? " she gasped.

Her eyes then looked up at the castle and she knitted her dark brows together in concern. " Garnet? Garnet! Oh, no... she needs me. Something's wrong... but what? "

Eiko slowly straightened up. She exhaled and then began to run the rest of the way to the front doors of the castle. She didn't bother to knock. Eiko threw them open and ran into the main hall. She skidded to a stop when she spotted Steiner. She bent over and placed her hands on her knees, as she tried to catch her breath.

Steiner spotted her and he rushed over. " What's wrong? Eiko? Is that you? "

Eiko nodded slowly. " Where's Garnet? " she demanded.

Steiner frowned at the young girl. " Why? "

" I need to see her... immediately, " she informed him.

Steiner nodded. " She's in the gardnen, last time I checked. What's this all about? "

Eiko looked around at the passing servants. She then brought her attention back to him. " Well... one, I've got to inform her about two new Eidolons, and second... I need to talk to her about... girl issues, " she winked and Steiner rolled his eyes while grinning.

He chuckled. " Well, if you want her... she's in the garden. Just go straight up the main hall and take the first left. You'll be there in no time. " he explained.

Eiko nodded her thanks and took off. She ran up the main hall and turned the left corner quickly. She collided with Vivi Onitier. Vivi stumbled back and landed on his butt. " Hey! Why don't you watch where you're going? " he nearly shouted as he stood up and adjusted his hat that's top was drooping downwards.

He looked down and saw that it was Eiko. He was thankful that his face was covered by his hat, for he was blushing a deep crimson. He reached down and helped her up " Eiko? I'm sorry... what are you doing here? "

Eiko scratched her head and looked at him. " What am I doing here? What are you doing here? " she shot back.

" Uh... I was just in town, so I decided to drop by and visit, " Vivi informed her. " What about you? "

Eiko blinked. " Oh.... I'm here to talk to Garnet about some new Eidolons that I just found out about back in Mardain Sari, which reminds me.... I gotta get going. I'll see ya around sometime later, alright Viv? " she turned and left him standing there with a confused look on his face....

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Vivi left the castle only to wander the streets of Alexandria aimlessly. He walked past a mysterious hooded figure who rushed by him so fast that he stumbled to the ground. The hooded figure skidded to a stop. He turned around to look at Vivi. He then extended a gloved hand towards him. Vivi looked up and he gratefully accepted the help that was offered. When he was on his feet again, he tried to peer into the hood that shadowed the unknown person from view.

The hooded figure began to shift his weight from foot to foot uncomfortably. " You alright? " he asked gruffly.

Vivi frowned and then nodded. " Yeah... thanks. "

The hooded figure nodded and turned to leave, but Vivi stopped him by tugging on the end of the dark robe. The hooded figure spun around and looked down at him. " What is it? "

Vivi slowly shook his head. " I... I know you... you're... "

" You don't know me, and I don't know you. Now, please can I go now? " a note of worry slipped into the deep voice.

Vivi was hesitant before he let go of him. " But... I do know you! I do...."

The hooded figure quickly turned around. A lock of blonde hair slipped from the hood. Vivi gasped. " Zidane? Zidane! Come back...."

But the hooded figure was already long gone. Vivi cussed silently. He sighed as he made his way back to the castle. He couldn't believe it. It was Zidane. He was sure of it. But... why would he act like that?

Vivi shrugged to himself as he continued to walk back to the castle...

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Eiko quickly slipped out through the door that led to the garden. She frowned. " Where would she be? Steiner said she'd be in here... sitting on a bench. "

She looked to the right and then she looked to the left. She spotted Garnet sitting on the bench in front of the fountain. Just as Steiner said. She looked at Garnet and frowned. " Garnet? Garnet! Can you hear me? "

Garnet didn't even turn her head to the sound of her voice. She just continued to sit on the bench with her back straight, hands clasped neatly in her lap. She wasn't blinking. She just stared straight ahead at nothing. When Eiko rushed over, she noticed that Garnet's dark eyes had a strange vacant look to them. Eiko reached forward and gently shook her knee. When Garnet didn't respond, she began to shake it harder.

Eiko began to worry and she knitted her brows in concern. " Garnet? What's wrong? Why won't you answer me... please? "

Garnet didn't respond. Eiko began to panic now until she came up with an ides. Snapping her fingers, she stood in front of Garnet a few feet away. She quickly whipped out her ' Angelic Harmony ' flute. She placd it to her lips and played a short hymn. She then tore the flute from her lips and tossed it up into the air.

While the flute flew up into the air, Eiko took a deep breath, extended her arm above her head, and caught the flute in her hand. " Esuna! " she cried as she focused all her concentration and energy on Garnet.

Garnet's dark eyes closed and then opened slowly. She looked around and then noticed that Eiko was staring up at her with round worry filled green eyes. She smiled kindly and cocked her head to the side. " Eiko! It's you... how have you been? What's going on? "

Eiko let out a breath of pure relief. " Garnet! I'm so happy that you're alright... "

Garnet's forehead crinkled in confusion. " What do you mean? "

" Well you were just sitting here staring at nothing. You weren't even blinking when I found you. You scared me Garnet, " Eiko explained as her lower lip trembled silently.

Garnet's eyes went soft. " Hush... I'm alright now, aren't I? It's alright... I'll be fine. How have you been? " she asked, happy to move onto other subjects.

Eiko sniffed and wiped away a tear that slid down her cheek. " I've been alright. Oh! I have news for you... I found out what those two Eidolons were.... me and the Moogles were able to figure out the painting..."

Garnet nodded. " Well... what are their names? "

Eiko grinned as she hopped up onto the bench beside Garnet. " Well... the first one is called Atlanticema. It's an Eidolon of fire and ice. It controls the boundries of fire and ice. The other one is called Deobium. This Eidolon controls the way we live. Meaning, when we call upon it, it automatically brings death to all those who oppose it...."

Garnet knitted her brows together. " Where can it be found? "

Eiko grinned. " Right here in Alexandria....."

Garnet gasped quietly. " Really? Interesting..."

Eiko nodded. " Any word on Zidane yet? "

" Zidane? Oh.... no..."

" I'm sorry.... Garnet. Maybe you should skip dinner and go lay down.... you look like you've just seen a ghost. You're as pale as a sheet, " Eiko informed her.

Garnet frowned and slowly nodded. " Maybe you're right... I will go lay down. I don't feel so good... I feel sick. Excuse me Eiko...." she murmured softly.

Eiko nodded. " Alright. Would you like me to help you to your room? " she offered as she hopped down from the bench.

Garnet shook her head. " No it's alright. Just tell Beatrix that I went to lay down for a while. Alright? "

Eiko nodded. Garnet stood up and she slowly crossed the garden to the door. Eiko watched her leave and she frowned, " I wonder what's wrong with her... I've never seen her like this at all since I first met her...."

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Garnet slipped through the door to her room. She sighed loudly to the room as she crossed it to go sit on her bed. She began to think out loud. " I wonder where Anomen is. I haven't seen him at all today. I wonder if Eiko came here only to tell me that... about the Eidolons... strange that she should show up so unexpectedly. "

Her chest rose and then fell as she sighed loudly once again. She then fell back upon the bed. Garnet looked up at the dark canopy and she cocked her head to the side. " Hmmm... " She closed her eyes and tried to get some rest.

After two hours of trying, her eyes snapped open and she looked around the dark room. Garnet frowned and sat up. She scratched her head and slid off the bed. She went to her closet where she quickly and silently slipped into a light pink nightie. She pulled a nice big dark blue robe around her body and tied the sash around her tiny waist tightly.

Garnet then quickly slipped her small feet into a pair of black slippers. She crossed the room and quietly slipped through the door. She frowned as she looked around the dim hallway that was lit by oil lamps hanging from the ceiling. She smiled lightly as she silently padded her way to the stairs that led to the roof of the castle.

When she finally climbed the three sets of stairs, she stopped and leaned against a wall to catch her breath. " Geez... I should never do that again... that's just too tiring... "

Her frowned deepened as she noticed that the smooth crystal standing in the middle of the roof had an eerie orange glow to it. She silently peeked around the corner and spotted Beatrix wrapped in a big blanket. She was sitting by the fire that Garnet supposed that she had built. Garnet sighed lightly and she stepped out into the open. She looked at Beatrix and Beatrix looked up. " Oh.... Majesty! What's wrong? "

Garnet smiled lightly. " I couldn't sleep so I decided to come up here to grab some fresh air. I didn't know you were in here... I'm sorry if I'm disturbing anything..."

Beatrix grinned and shook her head. " No.. it's alright. How about you grab the other seat... sit and we can chat...."

Garnet nodded. She smiled lightly as she slid into the cushioned chair across from Beatrix. She frowned and pulled her robe tighter around her body. She watched Beatrix's face as she stared into the fire. It was casting eerie shadows across her face and Garnet shivered. Beatrix looked up to find Garnet staring at her. " What is the matter? "

Garnet shook her head. " Oh... nothing... I was just thinking about somethings. That's all...."

" I see. I hope you and Anomen have a plesant time together," Beatrix said quietly

Garnet swallowed. She looked up at the star filled sky and noticed that the two moons were glowing two different colours - red and blue.

Garnet then looked back at Beatrix. " I'm going to be happy. Zidane doesn't need me anymore. He'd probably be more happier with whoever he found. That's why he hasn't come back... it's because he's found someone else. That's why he hasn't returned to me... he has... her! If he loved me, he'd wouldn't have left me in the first place... "

Beatrix shrugged and looked at Garnet. " Garnet, I can tell when there's something bothering you. And now is that time. Is it because you're going to be marrying Anomen next week? "

Garnet looked at the ground. " No. I hate him. I hate you Zidane!! " she shouted out. " I hate you for leaving me again! You never loved me... never at a-all, " her voice slowly trailed off into a soft spoken whisper, tears slowly slid down her cheeks.

Beatrix sighed lightly. She rose from her chair and hugged Garnet lightly. " I'll be back. I have to go grab something from my chambers...."

Garnet nodded slowly. Beatrix smiled kindly and turned to leave. When she was gone, Garnet placed her her head in her hands and she quietly wept. There was a shuffle of footsteps and someone quietly emerged from the shadows. He looked down at Garnet and then cleared his throat uncomfortably. Garnet looked up with tear streaks on her cheeks.

The hooded figure reached up and gently removed his hood. He then placed it to rest on his shoulders. He shook his shoulder length hair out that was the color of darkened honey and then looked at Garnet with painstricken forest green eyes. His deep voice trembled as he spoke to her. " D-did you mean what you said? "

Garnet stared at him in shock. Her breath was caught in her throat and she couldn't breath. She slammed her fist against her chest and her breath came to her. " I... I..." she couldn't respond.

The man scowled deeply. " Answer me... dammnit, Dagger! "

Tears slowly began to form in his eyes. Garnet swallowed and she slowly stood up. " I... I don't know, " She then shouted. " You left me! How could you Zidane? "

Zidane looked at her and he then closed his eyes. " I... I had to. I'm sorry Dagger... I really am... "

Garnet licked her lips. " Sorry won't cut it this time, Zidane. " she whispered bitterly.

" Then what will, Dagger? Tell me...." he pleaded as he opened his eyes to look at her. Pain was engraved into them.

" I... I'm engaged! I'm sorry, Zidane, I can't. " she said softly. " I must go now.... goodbye... "

Garnet sniffed lightly as she made her way towards him. She walked past him, her shoulder brushing up against his. Zidane's hand quickly shot out and he grabbed her by the elbow, forcing her to turn and look up at him. He looked down at her and then closed his eyes. Tears slowly slid from his lashes down his cheeks. She looked up at him with curiousity.

Garnet began to squirm from the grip that he had on her elbow. He opened his eyes and looked at her. Zidane lowered his face to hers. She looked at his mouth and swallowed. Garnet then brought her gaze to his meet his. " I... I can't... Zidane.... " she whispered painfully.

Zidane frowned. " You can, Dagger. I know you can...." he murmured, then brought his face onto hers. His soft and demanding lips captured her tender and tremblings ones in his.

Zidane gently and slowly released the grip that he had on her elbow. Garnet quickly slipped her arms around his neck, pulling his against her body. He slipped his arms around her small waist. Then he gently parted her lips with his tongue and slipped into her warm sweet tasting mouth. Her soft tongue quickly found his and the need that she had for him grew, as they pressed their tongues together and played tag.

Garnet pulled away from his arms and mouth. She looked at him slightly shocked. " I... I can't believe it... " she whispered, half shocked.

Zidane frowned and ran his tongue over his swollen lips. " What? Can't believe what? "

Garnet swallowed and ran a hand along the slenderness of her neck. " T-that I just kissed you... I'm engaged and I'm kissing someone else.... w-what's going on? "

Her dark eyes darted around, looking at everything around her in nervousness. Garnet looked scared and confused and she hugged her arms to her chest protectively. Zidane looked at her and he took a cautious step towards her. " Dagger... please, look at me and tell me what you see...."

Garnet slowly looked up at him and her brows knitted together in concentration. " I... I see a... a.... someone who I... don't know anymore...." she whispered, swallowing the lump of tears that had beginning to block her airpipe.

Zidane swallowed and turned his head to the side as if he had been just slapped. When he looked back up at her, he saw her sway. A cry of surprise escaped her lips as she began to fall backwards.

" Dagger! " he cried as he lunged forward and caught her in his arms. He slid his other arm under her knees and scooped her into his arms. Garnet's head rolled to the side and came to a rest against his chest. Zidane leaned down and planted a soft and tender kiss onto her smooth forehead. A light sweat had broken out onto it and it coated his lips.

He suddenly growled under his breath as he made his way towards the door that led to the stairs. The door opened and Beatrix glided past him. " Hi, Zidane.... Garnet, " after realizing who she was talking to, she stopped dead in her tracks and spun around to face him. " Zidane? Wait..."

Zidane stopped and turned to look at her. " What is it, Beatrix? "

" What's going on? " Beatrix asked as she gestured to Garnet with a nod of her head.

Zidane glanced down at Garnet before looking back at Beatrix. " Oh... she fainted. We were talking and... she just fainted... " he assured her.

Beatrix nodded. " I see. She's been like this for quite a while now... "

Zidane's left brow quirked upwards. " Oh... how so? "

Beatrix looked down at the ground and blushed. " Well, ever since you left. Your departure killed her inside... "

Zidane swallowed and cursed lightly under his breath. He turned his head to the side and muttered. " I had to go...."

Beatrix reached out and grasped his arm. She looked up at him with her good eye. The other one was covered by a black eye patch. " Why? You know what it would do to her. Yet you did it anyways... I don't understand..."

Zidane looked at her as he narrowed his eyes in an accusing glare. " Oh, of course you wouldn't understand... no one would! That's why I left... "

Beatrix cringed visibly from his glare. " I'm sorry...." she murmured.

Zidane shook his head. " It's alright...." he muttered.

Beatrix bit her lip. " Uh, shall we get her to her room? "

Zidane nodded. " Yeah, let's do that...."

Beatrix nodded and she led the way to Garnet's room. When they arrived they found Steiner pacing in front of the door. His head bowed, and his hands clasped behind his back. He carried a look of extreme worry. When he heard their approaching footsteps, his head shot up and he looked at Beatrix. " What happened? I was worried.... where'd you go off to? "

Beatrix smiled lightly as she reached out and patted his arm. " It's alright... I'm fine... so is she... "

Steiner's eyes trailed over to lay upon Garnet who was being held in the muscular arms of Zidane. Steiner looked up at Zidane and he gasped. " It's you! Where the hell have you been?! " he demanded.

Zidane grinned lightly. " Yeah... it's good to see you too, Rusty. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get her into her bed..."

Steiner frowned as he studied Zidane's face. " You're right... maybe she'll actually stay asleep this time. " he murmured a little too loud.

Zidane frowned as he lifted her up higher into his arms. Her head found the curve of his neck easily. Her warm breath gently caressed his flesh, sending shivers down his spine, and goosebumps to his skin. The swell of her breast pressed itself up against his chest, and he could feel her strong heartbeat through his robe and clothes.

He looked down at her sleeping face and he felt his heart ache slightly. Zidane sighed lightly and whispered. " Dagger... I'm so sorry that I left you. I had to take care of some difficult matters. I-I know you won't be able to forgive me, but please... please just find it in your heart to love and forgive me...."

Steiner lifted a dark brow. " Did you say something, Zidane? "

Zidane blinked and then shook his head hard. " No... could you open the door now, Steiner? "

Steiner nodded. He rushed forward and quietly opened the door. He stepped into the dead quiet room and moved to the side, allowing Zidane to pass by him. Zidane nodded a thanks and he moved towards the bed. He bent down and gently lowered Garnet down onto the soft mattress. He straightened up and sighed as he scratched his head lightly. he watched as her chest rose and fell with the soft breaths that slipped past her lips that were slightly parted.

He glanced over at Steiner. " Could you leave me alone with her? Just for a couple of minutes? "

Steiner's darks brows both quirked up in surprise. " I don't think that's wise, Zidane... "

Zidane frowned in slight annoyance. " Please, Steiner, I just want to...." his voice faded out as a lump of tears formed in his throat.

Steiner furrowed his brow. " Just want to what? "

" I just want to... watch her sleep in silence. Without having someone watching over me. " Zidane managed to finish.

Steiner nodded slowly. " I understand... alright, Zidane. If you do anything to her, I'll personally kill you myself, " he promised.

Zidane nodded and he watched as Steiner hesitated. Zidane flashed him a smile and Steiner finally slipped through the door, closing it behind him.

Zidane sighed out loud to the quiet room. He reached over the bed and threw the windows open, allowing the warm night air to flow freely into the room. The two moons shining against the dark star-filled sky, casted eerie shadows across the walls. He grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the bedside. He turned it around and straddled it. He then reached over and gently grasped Garnet's small hand in his own gloved one.

He softly rubbed his thumb in a circular motion against the top of her small hand. " If only you could hear what I have to say... y-you don't know what it w-was like...." his voice died as he tried to swallow the lump of tears.

Zidane closed his eyes and let out a growl of frustration. He jumped up from his chair and Garnet's hand slipped from his. He began to walk away from the bed, but was stopped as he felt Garnet's fingers twine with his. He slowly turned around to find himself peering down into a pair of pained dark eyes.

Garnet swallowed as she tugged him down to where she could look straight into his eyes. She bit her lower lip as she felt his questioning eyes search her face.

' What's all this about? I wonder... ' Zidane thought as he felt the gap between them closing rapidly.

Garnet could feel that she was moving towards him, and she could see that he was moving towards her. Was this right for her to do after that stunt he had pulled earlier? It didn't really matter at the moment. All that matter was that Zidane was there with her and that he wasn't going to leave her again.

When his mouth was almost a breath away, she lowered her eyes and glanced at his mouth then back up into his eyes. She flicked her tongue over her lips and whispered in a trembling voice. " If I don't know what it was like... t-then why don't you t-tell me? "

Zidane's breath suddenly got caught in his throat, his heart skipping more then a few beats as a burning need began to burn painfully deep within the empty pit of his stomach and deep within his loins as Garnet leaned in the rest of the way and crushed her small, swollen lips against his own, her needs and desires matching his in a wild need beyond his own imagination.....

To Be Continued...

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Leia Avenrose or Leia Avenrose

C.O.U.R.A.G.E. or C.O.U.R.A.G.E.