A Brother's Death

"What?" Steiner gasped, "What are you talking about?"

"Yeah, tune us in, what the hell is this crazy plan about?" Amarant demanded.

"Well.... We came up with this during our time in the Iifa Tree, you are all familiar with the Terra Trance that Kuja uses? Well, if he were to die, each of us would be able to use it with a special spell," Zidane began.

".... But I have to die a certain way, I have to enter the Zero World while this body still breaths, while my heart still beats," Kuja finished.

"Excuse me for being well, me, but this is about one step down from being buried alive," Amarant mused. He was shocked when Kuja slammed him into the closest wall.

"You don't get it do you?!?! If I don't do this, this world will be destroyed! All you have done to stop Terra's assimilation would have been in vain!" Kuja's eyes burned with fire and passion that no one had ever seen within him before, "Do you know how much would be lost!?!?! This is my choice!" Kuja released him and walked back next to Zidane, "Let us begin the ceremony, brother," They nodded to each other.

"If I may ask you all to join us outside... Vivi, you have an Oak Staff we can use? Regent Cid, do you have the Falcon Claw with you?" Regent Cid nodded, "May we borrow it?" Vivi headed back to the kitchen to get his old staff, Regent Cid removed the jewel from around his wife's neck though with a great expression of puzzlement. Vivi returned and handed a beautifully polished Oak Staff to Zidane and Kuja.

"I will return momentarily," Kuja spun around and headed to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, he returned, "I am ready," Zidane nodded again and they stepped out. Zidane and Kuja drew a semi-large circle on the ground, soon, the circle glowed with unearthly blue light.

"Zidane, It's time," Kuja instructed, everyone else watched in awe.

"Right, lets start," Zidane confirmed, they joined hands the best they could and closed their eyes.

"Spirits of Terra....." Kuja began.

"Spirits of Gaia....." Zidane.

"Ruler of the Zero World!" Together.

"Take me before my time,"

"My last of kin is now to die,"

"Forever bonded,"

"Forever brothers,"

"Grant us our final wish," Together.

"Madeen, Fenrir, Ark, Odin,"

"Atomos, Ramuh, Bahamut, Leviathan,"

"Spirits of the lost summoners,"

"Protectors of the earth..."

"Guardians of space and time,"

"Guardians of life and death,"

"Help us in our quest for power,"

"Help us in our quest for peace,"

Their eyes snapped open. Zidane threw up the Falcon Claw as high as he could, Kuja threw up the Oak Staff. In midair, the two met, the pointed end of the staff strung itself through the necklace.

"Portal to the Zero World, open!" Kuja and Zidane yelled at the same time.

The staff somersaulted upwards, the chain of the Falcon Claw wrapped itself around the handle of the staff. Soon, the objects stopped accelerating, and began to fall. They spiraled down, becoming liquid, as one. They both disappeared as they hit the ground and a blue wave washed over everyone. The Falcon Claw re-appeared around Lady Hilda's neck and the Oak Staff materialized in Vivi's hand.

"Zidane! Get out of the circle!" Kuja hissed as transparent blue walls began to rise out of the ground, the waves of blue was gone, but now the walls of blue rose from the circle where some of the wave had been trapped.

"No," Zidane replied firmly.

"No? I thought we agreed on this already! Go!"

"I won't let you suffer alone," Zidane replied.

"Get the hell out of here! Garnet still needs you!"

"I won't be selfish," Zidane's fury and passion rose to meet and match Kuja's.

"You're being selfish now! You're trying to be hero again! This is my moment of glory, you shall not steal this from me!" The walls were waist high now.

"I'm not going to let you spend eternity in the Zero World alone! I won't! I refuse to let-" Zidane stopped talking when Kuja looked thoughtful and whispered something like "Sorry". Kuja punched Zidane harder than anyone could have thought possible. Zidane then staggered back, tripped over the forming wall, and collapsed outside the circle. Then Kuja looked up, the walls were rising higher now, and faster, soon they had reached the sky and a purple-lavender vortex or portal opened. Streaks of purple lightning flashed around it. Kuja's feet left the ground as he was pulled upward. He looked at Zidane and company with a blank expression, then the corners of his mouth curved into a sad smile. He turned his head upwards and never looked back once. The sounds of tortured cries rung in his ears and he knew his voice would soon join theirs. He, Kuja, the Angel of Death, was afraid, afraid of the one thing he had brought upon the world. He was afraid of death. He felt the darkness engulf him. He could hear his heart beating. That was all. He was in total silence. Except for his beating heart.

Thump-thump....

Thump-thump....

Thump-thump....

Was this the Zero World? Was this death? If so, it was well named, for he could feel nothing at all, except for the warm blood that coursed through his veins.

Thump-thump....

Thump-thump....

Thump-thump....

He closed his eyes, then he felt something new. Tears. Warm tears fell from his eyes. He took in breath. Inhaled. Exhaled. His mind raced with the wrongs he had done in his life. He felt guilt. Most of all, though.... Deep within the folds of his mind. Deep, locked away in the midst of his darkest secrets... He felt a strong emotion. Love. Love for..... His thoughts fell into thin strands, peices of a broken puzzle, as his mind was picked up and hurtled into dark, lonely space. He felt no more.

~¤~

"Damn!" Zidane punched the ground with his fist. Something... Someone whispered into his ear, it whispered this: 'Help him.... Please.... Help him....' it was the voice of.... Garland?!?!

"How do I help him?" Zidane asked aloud, his friends looked at him as if he had sprouted a third arm. The voice replied, 'Like this....' A circle drew itself around Zidane and the walls rose quickly.

"Zidane!" Vivi yelled, he began to run to his new friend, but tripped and fell flat on his face. He raised his head and his amber eyes fixed on his departing friend. Zidane smiled bravely at him and mouthed, 'I'll be back, I promise,' Vivi struggled to his feet, "Why?!?! Why is this happening?!? This isn't fair!" Vivi began to cry softly, then he began to sob, "Papa... I failed you... I let my brothers get captured.... I couldn't protect the Princess or Lady Eiko.... I failed Freya as well.... Kuja sacrificed himself.... Now Zidane too..... IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!" Vivi clenched his fists and shut his eyes, he cried out, an anguished cry. Sparkling tears were whipped from his face by the sharp wind cutting through the area. Suddenly, Vivi toppled forward, his amber eyes not as bright as usual. Someone rushed to his side, he was not aware whom.

~¤~

Kuja? Are you there?

I'm not sure anymore.... Am I Kuja? Is that my name? A name is worthless.... I am who I am....

Kuja, don't you remember me? Zidane?

You.... The boy with the bright blue eyes.... Yes, I remember. Names mean nothing to me.

Kuja, talk sense to me! Are you hurt?

No, I feel nothing except....

Except what?

It's warm....

What's warm?

My heart.

Huh?

It beats.... I can feel it.... I can also feel...

You can also feel what?

I do not know.... Oh, now I remember.... You would call it love.... I just call it the warmth in my heart.

Who do you love?

Who do you love?

I asked you first!

Her name is.... Wait, I remember now. I can't tell you....

Fine, I'll tell you who I love first. I love Dagger.

The raven-haired girl? Yes, she is very beautiful, but I love.... I love the girl with the.... No. If I told you, you would react in a troublesome way.

Very well. So you're really dead?

Dead? Is this death? It's quite.... I'm alone. I can only feel warmth and pain...

Pain? !!! What kind of pain?

It makes me feel bad, I see what I did, and it hurts.

What hurts?

My heart.

Oh.... I see, you feel guilt.

Guilt? Stop the names. It just hurts....

Kuja.... Wake up! You're acting funny....

Kuja? Kuja.... I remember him now.... A little boy who became a man... A man whom did terrible things. Created terrible things.... Then they became beautiful....

Kuja?!?! Please! Talk sense!

I am... I feel drowsy.... So tired.... I'll sleep again now...

Kuja? KUJA!!!

......

Please! Answer me!

.......

KUJA!

........

!!!

. . . . . .

BROTHER!

!!! Brother? I am a.... Yes.... My brother.... My sister.... Can I go home now?

Kuja.... I wish I could take you home....

I wish I could go home. Zidane, go now. I am alright. I can think clearly now. Remember me.... Promise you'll remember me.

I could never forget you.

I'll wait for you here, for as long as I can.

I'll look forward to it.

Take care of Dagger, Eiko, and.... Take care of Vivi and Freya. Tell Vivi that I apologize to him.... I did a terrible thing.

What terrible thing?

Never mind, please. Leave. I'll not forget what you've done for me, Zidane. Brother.

Ditto, see ya!

Farewell....

~¤~

Suddenly, Zidane was transporting back out again when something, someone whispered into his ear, this voice was different, evil. It said: Time for you to take over my work.... Brother.

Zidane screamed in pain, he felt his body tear and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. Zidane fell to his knees, he blacked out.

~¤~

"Vivi!" Steiner held the mage in his arms.

"S-steiner.... I-i think I'm gonna stop...." Vivi whispered.

"B-but!" Steiner protested, "You were made to last longer!"

"T-treno's attack... Poison... It never went away..."

~¤~

Both of them woke up from the dream, they embraced each other.

"Dagger!" Eiko sobbed.

"Eiko!" Dagger sobbed.

"It was all my fault!" They cried at the same time.

"Madain Sari... It burned.... My parents.... They died for me..." Eiko muttered.

"Impossible! Madain Sari burned before you were born!" Dagger replied.

"But it was so real.... I could see myself... I was so afraid...." Eiko sobbed.

"It was not as bad as mine...." Dagger whispered.

"What happened to you?" Eiko asked, worried.

"I... I couldn't control myself... I had Zidane, Beatrix, and Blank executed,"

"Why would you do that?" Eiko asked.

"I don't know...."

"My, my, my.... This will never work.... What was that mistake of a Genome thinking? We'll have to separate you," They looked up to see a familiar face.... It was Zidane.

~*It took me a looooong time to get this out 'cause it was hard to get this chap. to work. I had typed myself into a corner. Lol. Tell me whatcha think!