Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX© unfortunately.... SquareSoft owns it all... *frowns*
Dedication: To my friends... Siena, Maki, Taemyr, and Alria.....
Author's Note #1: Remember these names for me... I'm going to foget... I suggest if you're into J-POP, get these artist's songs... Ayumi Hamasaki, Hajime Mizoguchi, Gabriela Robin (it's said to be that Gabriela Robin doesn't exactly exsist and that it's really Yoko Kanno the one who makes the music for Vision of Escaflowne and Gundam X that is named that.... )
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~Love Will Grow~
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~Chapter 1~
~The Winged Angel and Death....
" I'm not after you for your money, Dagger... I'm after you for your love... "
" And that's exactly what you're going to get... "
Zidane blinked and then smiled lightly at her as he ran a hand through her hair, trailing down her bare arm, caressing her gently, " As long as you love me... I'm going to die a happy man... ", he whispered to her, never tearing his eyes from hers.
Garnet giggled and gently slapped his chest, " You say such the sweetest things.... I like it... "
Zidane shrugged and continued to caress her arm, " Which girl doesn't? ", he joked lightly, receiving another slap in the chest.
Garnet sighed in content as she felt his arms tighten and then pull her close, her head coming to rest on his toned chest, the steady, sure strong beats of his heart that was so full of kindless and love, pounded in her ear and she closed her eyes just listening to soft rhythm.
" Zidane? "
" Mmm? ", he responded as he closed his own eyes, resting his chin on top of her head gently, rubbing her back now in circular motions that caused her to relax and melt in his arms.
" Why didn't you ever say anything before? "
Zidane bit the inside of his cheek, " I... couldn't gather the courage and I was scared of... well, being rejected by the one woman I could ever love, could ever show my full love and passion for... ", he murmured into her hair, inhaling the fresh scent of vanilla.
Garnet smiled lightly and reached up to twirl a thick strand of dark honey around her finger, " You had no need to be frightened of my... rejecting you. I would've welcomed you with open arms... "
Zidane chuckled, the sound starting low and deep from his chest, tickling her ear, " I know that now... "
Garnet's smile grew, " Yeah... ", she whispered. " I've missed you so much, Zidane... when you left me, left me to think you were dead, I stayed in my room for months, never coming out till now... to -- ", Zidane cut her off.
" To join me on the other side. I figured it out when I spotted you running towards the balcony. You can't believe how worried you got me when I first came up here to only watch you run forward, ready to go... flying with the birds that you sing to everyday... you promise you'll never do that again? "
" Do what? "
" I'm serious, Dagger! "
Garnet bit her lip hard and then kissed his wet chest gently before looking up at him, nodding, " Of course I promise! As long as you never leave me again to have to through the days without a lover by my side... "
Zidane nodded and searched her face as he watched the tears brim her beautiful eyes. He reached up and captured one crystal tear on his finger as it slid down her cheek. Garnet closed her eyes, trying to not cry again. Zidane brought his other hand up and he traced her right cheekbone delicately, bring his fingers down to graze over her slightly parted lips, then back up again to tenderly pass over her closed lids that felt so smooth beneath his touch.
Garnet couldn't help but let out a small, choked sob of happiness, yet pain. Zidane's fingers found their way to her chin and he tilted it up, his eyes roaming over her small heart-shaped face that held such a beauty, such a wonder to him. He slowly lowered his face to hers and captured her trembling lips in his as he held her close to him, loving every minute her body was pressed to his as he tried to fit all his hard angles and lean, sleek muscles with her soft swells and round curves.
Garnet slid her arms around his neck and linked them together as she pulled him down more, pressing her mouth into his harder, her frail, delicate body pressed up to his arms tightened around her waist. She returned his kiss with enough passion and pain to make him groan out loud against her mouth.
The door behind them swung open and a loud, high gasp was heard, followed closely by a mumbled apology. Garnet instantly pulled away to watch as General Beatrix of Alexandria bow and stay bowed. Zidane chuckled and watched the General.
" It's alright, Beatrix... ", he said to her as she lifted her head and then stood up slowly.
" I-I didn't know anyone was up here... ", Beatrix replied as she rested her hand lightly on the handle of her sword, ' Save the Queen '.
Garnet smiled kindly, " It's only me and him... "
" Yes.... where have you been, Majesty? Steiner has every knight, guard, servant, and wash-boy searching high and low for you. "
Zidane chuckled, " Rusty's been worried lately, huh? "
Garnet's small lips went in a straight, thin line, " Yes... a little too worried if you ask me... ", she muttered.
Beatrix chuckled, " Majesty... he has every right to be worried.... ", she reminded the other woman.
Garnet smiled lightly and nodded, " Perhaps you're right, Beatrix... you can go and tell him to stop searching because, well... you found me... ", she replied as she grinned now and held an arm out at her side, the other one wrapped around Zidane's waist.
Beatrix grinned back, " Yes, I might as well do that so everyone can rest now... ", she replied, then eyed Zidane. " Where have you been? We should have you confined to a room for leaving her Majesty in a time of parole! "
Zidane flashed her an impish smile, " I was... away... ", he replied simply.
Beatrix frowned and then shrugged as she turned and went the way she came - through the door behind her. Garnet turned and looked at Zidane who watched the door.
" What do you mean by you were away? "
Zidane turned and looked at her, the impish smile wiped completely from his face, " I'm sorry... I wasn't away, I was healing... "
Garnet quirked a perfect dark brow, " Healing? ", she echoed.
Zidane nodded, " Yes... after Kuja and I fought, I was wounded badly. Some people from the closest village found me floating along in a little creek and they pulled me out.... "
Garnet's brow crinkled as she frowned, " H-how badly were you h-hurt? "
Zidane reached out and gentle stroked her bottom lip, " I wasn't that hurt to come back... "
Garnet shook her head, " No, no, no... do you have any... wounds that are still healing? ", she asked as she gently ran her hands over his chest.
Zidane swallowed and then grimaced as her hands roamed over his chest, just above his heart, " T-there... ", he managed to ground out through clenched teeth as he felt the pain sear his heart as it always did.
Garnet's hands left his chest instantly and she gasped as she spotted the crimson staining her fingers and trickling down her palms. She blinked rapidly and shook her head as she raised her eyes to look at the deep crimson staining Zidane's vest and white muscle shirt.
Zidane felt the floor beneath his feet rock from side to side slowly as if it were a dock out on the water, silently rocking over the gentle waves that the breeze created. He heard Garnet's gasp and looked at her and then at her hands, immediately noticing the blood.
Garnet ignored the crimson stains as she reached out to undo Zidane's vest, ripping it down his arms as she tried to get it off so she could see what his wound looked like. As soon as she got the vest off, she stopped and stared at the blood soaked muscle shirt, vest still in her hands as they began to tremble.
" D-d-dagger... just get it off... quick! ", Zidane hissed as he sucked in a sharp breath of pain as the bolts of searing pain shot through his body from his heart.
Garnet nimbly nodded her head as she reached down to grasp the end of the shirt and then tug up gently, careful not to hurt him anymore as she peeled the rest of it off his toned chest, peeled it off the wound that lay visible against the once stark white bandages that were a dark crimson now, trickling down the front of his body.
Garnet dropped the two articles of clothes quickly and then reached out to gingerly touch the bandage, blood seeping out quickly from her one simple little touch. Zidane groaned and began to sway and side to side and Garnet placed a hand on his shoilder to try and steady him.
" Z-zidane... lay down... ", she whispered as she helped him lay down on the ground.
Zidane closed his eyes and slowly crouched down towards the ground and then lay down straight on the cool, still damp pavement of the balcony on the roof. Garnet carefully and quickly peeled away the bandages to her horror, reveal a large wound in the middle of his chest, right where his heart was, the heart that was so full of love and passion for her... only her.
Garnet began to tremble as she reached down to finger the edges of the open wound, " Z-zidane... how'd you get this and manage to survive? ", she asked as she watched blood pool out on the pavment from underneath him as well and not from above either.
Zidane chuckled and then grimaced as blood poured from the corner of his mouth, " I'm dying again, Dagger... I really am dying... ", he murmured softly to her as he opened his eyes to look into her beautiful tear streaked face.
' Again?! '
" Again?! W-what do you mean, Zidane.... how'd you get this? ", Garnet asked as she voiced her thoughts.
Zidane winced and groaned, " After I defeated Kuja, I was thrown from the Iifa Tree, landing in the forest somewhere, I don't know. I guess I landed on a tree branch of some sort and it entered me from behind, going through my heart to protrude from the front and then snap off while still inside of me from me weight sending me pummeling down into the creek below the tree... that's when I died and then the villagers found me... brought me back, saying that it wasn't my time and that I had someone waiting... ", his voice trailing off in a whisper as his eyes drooped slowly.
Garnet searched his ashened face and then shook her head as she reached out to gently slap his cheek a few times, " No, no, no! Z-zidane... don't you die on me... ", she whispered as she now cupped his face hard and shook it a few times.
Zidane's eyes snapped open and he blinked before his vision focused on Garnet's face, " W-what? ", he asked, his voice starting to make a watery sound as his lungs began to fill with his own blood.
Garnet shook her head again and looked him in the eye, " Don't die on me, Zidane! I need you... I want you... I l-l-love you... ", she whispered, her voice breaking instantly as she gave his head another few shakes as his eyes closed.
A small smile came to Zidane's lips and he nodded his head that Garnet held, " I... I love you, my sweet, precious D-dagger... ", he whispered back, lifting a hand to reach up to his head and grasp one of her hands tightly.
Garnet held onto his hand now as she brought his head onto her lap. She bent over and pressed her lips to his softly, not caring about the blood that got onto her lips. It was his blood. His heart that was giving out on him. His life that he never really got to share with her that was going to be lost.
If only she were able to do something... but what.
Garnet felt him suddenly go limp in her arms, her name being whispered from his lips as he died, went on, passed away. She stared at his face that carried a more peaceful look to it and she sniffled before shaking her head and then shaking his hand hard, hoping he'd awaken from his eternal slumber.
Zidane didn't awaken. Zidane was... dead.
Garnet felt her throat close up on. She couldn't breathe. Everything around was spinning, going out of control as tears blinded her, taking away her sight. Garnet shook her head and swallowed, swallowing the lump that had grown in her throat to only come back up as she threw her head back and screamed out her lover's name while she brought him up higher onto her, holding him close, sobbing his name over and over again as she buried her face into his neck.
He had died the first time trying to protect her. And now he was dead after he had proclaimed his love for her, asked her to be his forever and ever through life. Garnet shook her head and held him close as she raised an arm up in the air, her fingers spread and stretched as far as they would go.
" W-white magic... F-f-full Life!! ", she shouted as she dropped her hand onto his chest, digging her fingers into his flesh and watched as small whitish blue bolt of electricity flowed from her fingers and disappeared into his body.
Garnet felt his body jerk beneath her as she tried to revive his heart, tried to bring him back to her, but... she couldn't. She watched as the little bolts disappeared completely and she felt herself being drained. All her efforts gone in vain.
She shook her head and then felt big droplets of rain pour down onto the two of them. Garnet began to sob again, murmuring his name as she smoothed his thick strands of dark honey from his face that would never light up again, never feel the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze of a light night's wind, never feel her lips on his smooth skin.
" Oh, Zidane... we'd you come back if you were going to leave me again? Why?! I don't understand you at times... I never did... please... you have to come back to me, don't leave me... at least... at least wait for me... ", Garnet murmured softly into his ear as she hugged him hard and then laid him on the ground as she stood up and turned to face the balcony.
" I'm going to finish what I began to do.... ", she whispered to herself as she inhaled deeply and began to run again for the second time that night towards the balcony to be one with her deceased lover.
' NO!! ', a voice shouted outloud and inside Garnet's mind.
Garnet halted in her tracks, almost toppling over the railing as her stomach hit it, but she grasped the stone railing tightly and never let go as she stepped away, holding her chest, trying to catch her breath. She looked upwards and then around for whoever called out.
" Who's there? ", she shouted.
" Don't do it, Sarah... don't throw your life away.... "
Garnet froze and crossed her arms over her chest, " W-who are you? How do you know my name?! "
" Look at me, Sarah... ", the soft voice whispered to her as a large circle of blue light suddenly appeared in front of her, on the other side of the railing.
Garnet knitted her brows together and watched a slim figure, form slowly appeared out of nowhere. She blinked and then rubbed her eyes as she squinted them, trying to figure out who it was. The figure appeared, starting from the small black boots, to the light pink overalls that hugged the figure nicely, to the same dark feathered hair that Garnet had.
" Sarah... listen to me... I feel the love you have for this man. I'm happy that you came to love someone as him... his love for you went deep as well, probably as deep as life itself. But, Sarah, honey... listen to me well. I hear you pray to me at night, I haven't answered your prayers for I knew a time such as this would arrive, even though I prayed myself that it wouldn't... ", the woman softly spoke as she outstretched a hand towards Garnet.
" M-m-mother?! Is that... really you? ", Garnet whispered in awe as her eyes trailed over the figure so much like her own in every way.
" Yes, Sarah... now... I'm only here to answer this one prayer. The reason is because I am allowed to so, just only once though. Whatever you have that you're praying for, please... ask of me, Sarah... I don't want you to join me just yet. Your time here on Gaia as Queen of this beautiful country isn't to go to waste just yet. Whatever you have to ask of me... ask, but I'm warning you now, whatever you wish for will not always turn out as you had asked for. "
Garnet swallowed and shot a glance over her shoulder at Zidane's body. Bringing her watery eyes back to her mother, she nodded, " I-I know what I want... it wasn't his time... and it's neither mine... "
" That is true, darling... you want him to come back... don't you? ", she asked her daughter softly, her dark eyes soft and compassionate.
Garnet nodded and began to cry softly, " Y-y-yes! I want him back... I want to marry him, I want to have a family, I want to grow old... I want to die with him by my side... "
Her mother nodded, " I understand, Sarah.... but, always remember one thing when I answer your prayer; there's no turning back, no looking back on this sad, dreadful day that will forever change his and your life... ",
Garnet nodded and outstretched a hand to her mother, " I understand... just.. p-please.... "
Her mother slowly floated towards her, her own hand outstretched towards her daughters as she looked at Garnet's own heart-shaped face, smiling softly, " Such love for him you have... as I did with you father. Sarah... this will hurt lots, and if I'm not careful, it might even kill you and end up bringing him back and kill you. Are you sure you want to go along with this? "
' I love him... I love him with all my heart. I don't want to let him go.... please come back to me Zidane... come back to me... '
Before Garnet had a chance to answer, her hand was wrapped my her mothers as was her entire body consumed by a bright light. Pain flared to life in her body and a loud, shrill, pained scream tore past her lips to each throughout the sky, throughout the castle, throughout Alexadandria as the pain increased the most where her heart was...
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" He is dead, my Lord... ", a servant mumbled as she bowed deeply before the man perched on his throne.
The man sneered, but his expression was cloaked by the shadows around the large room. His piercing blood red eyes watched the servant as she stood and slowly walked away from the room, her hands behind her back as a gesture of deliverance. His pale, long blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail as he suddenly jumped up from the throne and walked down the small flight of stairs at the end of the seat.
" If he's dead... then why do I feel as if he's still alive... like he's being... undelivered? Why is it that I can feel another presence within me now? Someone with a kind heart and love that goes deeper now that he's been undelivered? ", he questioned, his voice echoing off the stone walls that were draped over with colourful transparent silk.
One of the guards standing at the door, Mythril spear in hand shrugged lightly, watching the man slowly make his way towards him, " I wouldn't know, my Lord.... ", he replied humbily.
" Hmmm... ", the man mumbled as he stroked the small gotee decorating his chin. " I wouldn't know either. That is why I'm asking you... "
The guard bowed deeply and then silently slipped from the room. The man known as Slim by most Thief Lords and Magi's frowned deeply as he walked back to his throne and sat down. He closed his eyes and went into a deep meditation, trying to stretch his senses so he could figure out who was with him.
Slim found no one. Just air... air... air... and static.
Slim suddenly let out a loud cry of frustration as he clutched the arms of his throne tightly until they snapped off in his hands. He then threw them to the ground and let out another loud cry of frustration as he tried to figure out who he was sensing.
" I swear it as of this day! I will get my hands on whoever it is that is doing this to me... ", he grounded out as he clenched his teeth together and sat there glaring at the wall across the room from him.
" My Lord... wouldn't it be best to just wait to see if you could perhaps lead them to you somehow. I'm sure that if you call out to them... they'll grow curious in time and end up standing on the front step of the castle, knocking on the door... ", a soft voice called out from the door as someone tall and beautifully built woman the age of seventeen stepped into the room.
Slim looked up at her and noticed the evil gleam in her emerald eyes as she bowed slightly and flashed him a smile, " Emily... what brings you here? ", he asked.
Emily shook her head, her butt length dark sapphire blue hair swaying with the motion, " I'm only here for you have asked for me... as did they... ", she replied softly.
" How do you know? "
" I use to know them and I use to go on adventures with them as well... don't worry, my Lord, they can't hurt you... i won't let them... ", Emily whispered humbily as she flashed him a gentle smile, the small horn sticking out from the confines of her blue bangs gleaming lightly in the light from the windows all around the room, her white wings twitching once before relaxing...
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{Author's Note #2: Well?!? *chuckles* I am now officially EVIL!! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Well... I guess, I don't know... anyways, whatcha think of the second chapter to that... "beautiful romance" fic I put out about a week or four ago? Really intriging, ain't it? I mean... who's this girl named Emily and why does she well... look like ____ and how is it she's a year old then Garnet already in only three months!? Is Zidane really dead? Why did Sarah's (Garnet/Dagger) mother pay her a visit? To kill her off so she could be with Zidane in the afterlife forever? Or because of something else... something else that plays a major part in this plot of mine? *giggles and shrugs* Ah well.... I guess we'll have to... oops! I mean you'll have to wait till next weekend to figure that out for yourself, now won't you? *grins from ear to ear* Remember... if you want to know more of what's going to happen in Love Will Grow, then you must leave me a review... pwease? See... it's really easy... Reviews = continuation / No reviews = removal from FF.Net! *chuckles* I'm just JOKING. I could never do that.... well, I'm off to write ANOTHER chapter for one of my stories... *Sighs and nods* Yes.... another one... Ja ne! }