Disclaimer: I don't own anything from or of Final Fantasy IX. SquareSoft....the master's of RPG's themselves are the ones who own it all...
Dedication: To the SquareSoft for their brains and their kick a$$ RPG's and to all who leave a REVIEW!!!! (Hint hint......)Thanx a bunch!!


~*~Chapter 7~*~

~*~Seduction and Deceit~*~

Garnet stepped out onto the balcony as the sun rose slowly to the West of the castle. She smiled lightly as she wrapped the light blanket around her bare shoulders for some warmth and comfort. She sighed lightly as she closed her eyes and felt the cool morning's breeze caress her skin.

She opened her eyes and looked out at what looked like a familiar looking airship. She frowned and cocked her head to the side, " What's going on? Is that the Hilde Garde? ", she whispered lightly.

A knock at her door caused her to jump. She quickly spun around and looked at the door, " C-come in...".

The door opened and Beatrix slipped into the room. She looked at Garnet and shook her head, as silent tears slid down her cheeks. She held her hands clasped together behind her back as she walked up to her, stopping about a few feet away. She sniffed lightly, " G-g-garnet...."

' what's going on here? '. Garnet knitted her brows together, " What's wrong? "

Beatrix swallowed thickly and she stumbled forward. Garnet reached out and helped her friend to stand up. Garnet looked at Beatrix, " Please....tell me what's wrong. Don't leave me hanging like this....", she pleaded.

Beatrix smiled weakly as she completely sagged against Garnet for support. Garnet grunted slightly and she lowered Beatrix to the ground. Beatrix looked up at Garnet and she blinked hard, squinting up at her friend's face, she frowned, " I...I can't see....where d-did you go? ", she whispered as her voice suddenly became raspy.

Garnet knitted her brows in concern as she reached out and placed a gentle hand on her forehead. She wretched her hand away and stared at her friend, " Y-you're burning up with a f-fever. What else hurts? "

Beatrix swallowed thickly once again and then began to cough uncontrollably. Garnet reached over and helped her sit up, while she patted her on the back. Beatrix looked up at Garnet and smiled weakly again. She reached out and tightly grasped her small delicate hand in her own, " G-g-garnet....don't let me go! P-please...."

Her voice suddenly died down as blood sparkled out of the corner of her mouth and trickled down her chin. Garnet gasped and Beatrix's grasp on her hand slowly loosened out as her eyes rolled back into her head and then she fell back down onto the ground. Garnet tore her hand from hers and bent down to feel for a pulse. She found none at all.

She swallowed and shook her head, " N-no! T-this can't be happening to me...."

She reached down and placed two hands over Beatrix's heart. She began to push down with the same beat of her own heart. She sniffed lightly as she watched her friend's face pale quickly, her lips went blue and then her eyelids went a light violet.

' No! Y-you can't Beatr-ix!! P-please.... '. Warm, wet tears slowly slid down her cheeks as she began to pound on her chest, " You can't leave me! I n-need you to help me o-out....p-p-please....", she sobbed.She choked back a sob and sniffed. A white piece of crumpled paper caught her attention and she reached down to pick it up from the ground. She slowly uncrumpled it with trembling fingers and read what was written on the inside,

' Dearest Dagger.....
I'm sorry that I have to leave you once again, but
I have to go help Kuja again. He's in desperate need
of my help and he asked me to help him out.
I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and
to love me while I'm away. I don't know how long I'll
be away, but please.....be well.
Till I return to you my love. '
Love always,
your Zidane Tribal.

She felt her heart slowly stop as they piece of paper fell from her fingers to flutter to the awaiting ground below. She jumped up off the ground and ran to the door. She threw it open and rushed out into the hallway, bumping into someone dressed up in a dark brown robe. She fell back, but was caught just before she hit the ground as a pair of strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her up.

She brushed some stray strands of dark hair that suddenly fell in front of her eyes. She peered up at the person who just saved her from a hard landing. A pair of dark green eyes stared back her, twinkling slightly.

' What's going on? I- I thought he was leaving again....'. She gasped lightly, " Zidane!! What are you doing here? ", she asked slightly confused as tears slowly slid down her cheeks.

He grinned at her and pulled her to his body, " What are you talking about? This is where I belong...with you. ", he replied lightly as he gently kissed her neck.

She smiled lightly as she slid her arms around his neck and held onto him. She buried her face into his shoulder and another batch of fresh tears slid down her cheeks. Zidane frowned lightly, " Hey, what's wrong? ", he asked tenderly as he stroked her hair softly.

She shook her head and whispered, " J-just hold me....and tell me that it's all a nightmare, and that none of this is real...."

He nodded and replied softly, " It's not real Dagger....you're going to wake up. Alright? You're going to be relaxed and as good as new. Alright? "

Garnet nodded as she inhaled his light musky scent and smiled inwardly, " I-I believe you Zidane...."

He smiled slyly and gently caressed the side of her face, " Good! You should...you know I would never lie to you..."

***

Zidane groaned lightly as he opened his eyes. He waited till they adjusted to the darkness before he coughed lightly. He blinked hard and then tried to move his arm so he could scratch his face. The rattling of chains against stone brought him to his senses as he tried again to move his arm. He sighed lightly and then frowned, " What the hell? What is this? Some kind of sick trick? "

Soft petal-like fingers slowly slid across his bottom lip down to lay on his chest. He swallowed, " D-dagger? Come on now....the joke's over. You got me back, alright? I know you're still mad at me for leaving....but come on..."

There was a light chuckling, followed by a quiet silky voice, " What are you talking about? Come on, you know I wouldn't do that to you....Zidane! "

Zidane frowned as his eyes searched the dark, " Who's there? Show yourself...."

A woman about his height with light brown hair and dark eyes stepped up in front of him smiling lightly, " So....we meet again Zidane Tribal....how have you been doing? ", she asked sweetly.

He lifted an eyebrow, " We've met before? Where, when? ", he demanded.

" Back when Kuja was around, giving the orders...."

Zidane snorted, " He never meant to do all that crap. It was Garland who made him who he was...."

Lani lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her big chest. She leaned forward and peered into his eyes, " Is that so? So then are you saying that Garland also made you, and that you aren't as bad as your brother? "

He swallowed. She was so close, he could feel her breath on his mouth. He turned his head to the side, " Yes...I will admit painfully that Garland created me too....but I didn't turn out like my brother did..."

" Why not? "

He shrugged, " I don't really know..."

She frowned lightly as she leaned in closer and gently kissed his cheek. He winced as if he'd been just slapped by her. Her lips kissed their way to his ear where she tenderly caressed his earlobe with her tongue and teeth. He tried to pull away, but he couldn't - the chains had him pinned to the wall and floor.

Lani giggled as she pulled back and looked into his pain-filled eyes. She cocked her head to the side, " Aww....come one sugar, what's wrong? You don't have to be with...her anymore. Think of what me and you can do....", she whispered lightly.

He shook his head and sucked in a sharp breath as a cramp began to build up in his right shoulder, " I don't want to ever have to forget about her...EVER! She's my life. She's why I'm living at the moment. It's her that keeps me going on through life. I can't give up loving her at all. And besides, I wouldn't love you over her anyday...you're just not...worth it...."

Lani snorted and uncrossed her arms, " I would slap you for that...smartass comment, but I ain't going to do that Zidane...."

" And why is that....."

She smiled slyly, " Because, that wouldn't be too ladylike of me to do, now would it? I think I'll do something else...how about it? "

Zidane looked into her dark eyes and lifted a light brow at her, " And what would that be? "

She stepped forward, slid her arms around his neck and gazed up into his eyes. She smiled at him weakly and then planted a soft kiss on his lips. Zidane turned his head to the side completely disgusted, but Lani reached up behind his head and tangled her fingers in his hair that was crusted in blood, forcing him to keep his lips on hers.

She gently stroked his lips with her tongue and he cringed slightly, ' I'm sorry Dagger. I swear I'm going to make this up to you babe....', he thought as he returned the kiss.

Lani smiled secretly, ' That's it Zidane Tribal....give into me....', she thought as she deepened the kiss by slipping her tongue into his warm, moist mouth.

Zidane suddenly pulled away and turned his head to the side. Lani looked at him, " What's wrong? "

He shook his head, " This isn't right. I'm engaged to Dagger and you'r throwing yourself all over me. "

She lifted an eyebrow as she pulled away from him and hugged her arms to her chest, " Excuse me? I didn't throw myself all over you Zidane...I'm sorry but I don't go for....freaks. I go for the normal people, ya hear? I'm only on a mission and I entend to accomplish it too! "

Zidane snorted, " You can try but you won't get very far, believe me...."

She threw her head back and laughed, " What are you going to do about it monkey-boy? You're chained to the wall and the floor. You can only move your head...if you're lucky, ya hear? "

" Trust me. Like I said before...you won't get far. ", he promised her.

She nodded and grinned, " Try to stop me Zidane....."

Before he could open his mouth to reply, her hand shot out and connected harshly with the side of his face, followed by her lips pressed to his and her hands roaming over his body. He could feel her breasts press up against his chest as she pressed herself to his body. She groaned lightly and slowly pulled away, only to move her hungry mouth to his neck.

He swallowed thickly and began to curse silently, ' Dammnit! I'm so dumb. I knew I should've stayed inside last night. That frigin' pounding in the back of my head is killing me. What the hell....she's trying to seduce me! ', he cried out in his mind. ' This is ridiculous. I wonder what happened to Dagger last night......'

Lani smiled lightly as she reached down and softly kissed his chest. Zidane leaned his head back against the stone wall and he closed his eyes. Tears slowly formed underneath his eyelids and then fell down his cheeks, ' Dagger! Oh....why am I so weak? Why am I a freak? '

Lani suddenly pulled away from him. He opened his eyes and looked at her through a vision of tears,"W-what's wrong now? Can't complete your mission like you wanted to? ", he asked in a trembling voice.

She looked at him with wide eyes. Fear quickly slid into them as she shook her head, turned, and ran into the shadows, holding her head. He was alone once again. He looked around and a heavy sigh escaped through his lips, " Oh Dagger! ", he groaned. " Where am I? I want to be with you so bad that it's killing me inside....do you even notice that I'm gone? "

He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. The sound of a door slamming to his right caused him to jump and open his eyes. He looked up at the ceiling and bit his lip, " I hope I die in this place...I feel bad enough as it is for kissing that bitch! ", he whispered to no one in particular as he spat on the ground.

***

Steiner smiled as Beatrix walked into the room carrying a letter in her hand. She sat down on the cushioned chair beside the bed and looked down at Steiner. She reached out and gently caressed the side of his face. His short black hair was ruffled and messed up from the night's sleep.

She smiled and then sighed, " How have you been feeling? "

He shrugged, " I've been better, you know? "

She nodded, " That's good to hear. It really is. Have you seen Garnet? "

He shook his head, and then nodded, " Uh, yeah...this morning actually. She was in here...and she looked like she had just lost someone dear to her...", he explained.

She frowned lightly, " What do you mean? Did she say who? "

" No...that was the funny thing about it. I asked and asked, but all she did was shrug at me. ", he replied lightly. " Then just before she left, she got up off that very chair that you're sitting in and she gave me a gentle hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. She whispered something in my ear before she left too..."

" What was it? "

" ' I'm so very sorry for your loss Steiner. She was a very dear and close friend to me...' ", he repeated her words softly.

Beatrix lifted a dark brow, " Well! This is very strange...very srange indeed. Who was she talking about? "

Steiner shrugged, " That's the thing! I don't know....she wouldn't say. She just stayed with me and remained silent the entire time...like something was on her mind. "

She nodded, " Weird. Do you know where she is now? "

" I don't know. Probably with Zidane..."

She shook her head, " Nope. That's impossible now...."

He looked at her questionly, " What do you mean? Where'd he go off to this time? "

She looked down at the folded paper in her hand and she held it out to him. He reached out and gently snatched it from her hand. He unfolded it and read it. He knitted his brows together in concentration as he read the words over and over again, trying to figure out what was written on the paper.

He looked up at Beatrix from it and growled under his breath, " I'm going to kill him! I swear...I will. "

Beatrix nodded, " You're not the only one Steiner...."

He sighed lightly as he raked a hand through his hair. He pushed back the covers and stood up from the bed. He walked over to his closet and dragged out a big, thick, wooly robe. He slipped into it and tied the sash around his waist. He walked over to the door and opened it.

Beatrix jumped up from her chair and ran after him, " Steiner! Get back in bed, you're going to get even worse then you already are!! "

He shook his head and continued to walk down the hall. He turned the corner and found himself staring at Garnet's door. He cleared his throat and extended an arm. Beatrix turned the corner and shook her head, " Don't do it Steiner! Come on....just let her alone for awhile this time. "

He ignored her. Instead of knocking he reached down and turned the gold doorknob. The door flew open and he marched into the room with Beatrix pulling on his arm, " Come on Steiner! Let her have her priv - "

" B-b-beatrix? ", a scared voice called out.

Beatrix looked over Steiner's shoulder and found Garnet sitting on the ground, wrapped in a blanket. She nodded and smiled lightly, " Hello Garnet. I do apologize for Steiner's foolish and stupid behavior....he's just a little over tired...that's all. "

Garnet jumped off the ground, tears streamed down her cheeks from red and puffy eyes as she brushed past Steiner and threw herself into Beatrix's arms. Beatrix stumbled back from the impact and she landed on her butt with Garnet laying on top of her, her arms around her neck and her shoulder buried into her neck. Beatrix frowned slightly confused.

She wrapped her arms around Garnet, " Hey, what's wrong. Why are you crying over me? ", she asked softly as she gently stroked Garnet's long, dark silky hair.

Garnet sniffed, " I thought you were dead. How'd you manage to c-come back? "

Beatrix's eyes widened and she turned her head to look up at Steiner's shocked expression. She swallowed, " I-I-I don't understand what you're talking about..."

Steiner crouched down and frowned as he looked at Beatrix, " Your Majesty....what's going on? Where's Zidane...I heard that he - "

" I'm right here Steiner. ", a deep voice called from the doorway. " Why would you go and tell her that I've left again? So you can hurt her again? "

Steiner jumped slightly and then stood up. He spun around and glared at Zidane, " I thought you already left? ", he yelled.

Zidane lifted an eyebrow, as he crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at him, " What are you talking about? I think that the medicine that you were given was drugged Rusty....I'm still here aren't I? ", he replied too calmly.

Steiner narrowed his eyes, " Obviously you're right. But would you mind explaining the letter that you wrote to Beatrix, saying that you had gone to go and help your brother...."

He shrugged, " I don't know what you're talking about. ", he looked at Beatrix and smiled lightly. " How have you been? I think you might want to take him back to his room..."

She nodded, " I've been better....this is confusing. It really is. We get a letter saying that you were long gone, and here you are...standing in front of us. And what's worst is that Garnet is telling me that I was dead and now I'm back from the...dead? "

Garnet pulled away from Beatrix and looked up at her, " But you were! ", she insisted. " I held you in my arms as you died. You first said that you couldn't see and then you said something about not wanting me to let you go. You died in this very room Beatrix! How did you come back? W-w-we just bought your body down to the church now. "

Beatrix slowly stood up and backed away from her. She bumped into Steiner and cried out in surprise, " Ah! I don't believe anything that you're saying. I've been downstairs the entire time. I found the letter that Zidane wrote to us and then I came back up here to show Steiner. I did just that and he got all up-tight about it and came down here to see how you were doing. ", she explained.

Steiner shook his head and looked at Zidane, " I can't believe you decided to write us some phony letter to make us believe - once again - that you decided to pack up and just leave. "

Zidane snorted as he shook his head. He walked over to Garnet and bent down, picking her up in his arms, he carried her over to the bed and gently laid her down. He turned and looked over at Steiner, " I don't know where
this is getting to Rusty, but you'd better go and laid down before I make you lay down! "

Steiner narrowed his eyes and took a step towards him, " Is that a threat Zidane Tribal? Coming from a petty thief? Hah! ", he threw his head back and laughed.

Zidane growled under his breath and stepped away from the bed. He walked up to Steiner and looked him straight in the eye, " Is that a challenge Steiner? Huh? Coming from a cowardly Knight..."

Steiner sneered, " I'd watch my mouth if I were you Zidane...I could have you kicked out. " he threatened.

" Try it! I'd love to see that actually happen...."

Steiner nodded, " Fine then...."

" Hey!! ", Beatrix yelled out from behind Steiner. " I don't want to see anything like this ever happening again. Got it? Or I'll personally see to it that you both get kicked out Alexandria entirely. "

She walked up to the both of them and stepped in front of Steiner. She glared at Zidane, " I don't know who you think you are Zidane, but that was one sick joke that you played on us this morning..."

She grabbed Steiner's arm and dragged him to the door. Zidane watched them leave and when they were almost out the door he retorted, " Yeah? And that was oner sick joke you played on Dagger this morning! Dying on her in her very own arms too....I hope you have a good explanation for that..."

She snorted in disgust and yelled out as she turned the corner, " I don't understand what's going on Zidane, but you better have some good reason why you decided to show your face here in Alexandria and play sick jokes on people...."