Chapter Eight
He's Mine



"Heh. Come here, my dragon," Esuna said. Flare came over, and the raven haired girl stoked his muzzle. "That wench Clover won't have him for long. He's mine, and he knows it. She may have gotten past the illusion with Kuja's help, but she is nothing."

Flare nodded. "Yes. She is a weak human, not even from this planet. She can't control powerful magic, and her spirit is weak. She's easy prey."

Esuna walked along the stone steps encircling Burmecia. "Yes. When I use the Iifa tree to harvest souls, I'll be invincible."

"Right. But, why did you even pretend that the priest sealed your voice away in Alexandria?"

"It was easy," Esuna replied, her stormy features contorting into a mask of hatred. "I got him to accompany me to the priest, and he would kill Kuja. I still have a chance to do that."

"I thought that you wanted to have him?"

"I do. Terra's magic will let me bring him back from the dead, and he will obey only me. It's perfect. Except. . .I am a bit worried that he will be sent to earth again. That's where he met that witch, right?"

"Yes."

"Um. We'll have to make sure he doesn't do that again, then. I'll get rid of that bitch sooner or later. I know that their coming. I have read it in the stars. Clover isn't the only one who can do that."

Flare chuckled without humor. "As soon as Kuja pays, I'll be happy."

"I'll make him pay by killing her first. . .and then I'll take him as mine."

Esuna continued into Burmecia, her feet making rippled in the shallow water that was all over the city of rain. Flare walked off to the side, in wait.

"We will stay here until they come. The final showdown. . .It will be here. Kuja is mine, and Clover will see it, and give into me. I'll make her bow before me. And then. . ." A hideous grin spread over her face, once again contorting it's beauty into a mask of fury and malice. "I'll kill her, right in front of Kuja. Tear her to ribbons. . ."

That thought planted in Esuna's mind, she chuckled happily. Yes. The day was looking much brighter than it had an hour ago.



Kuja sighed, nestled deep in Clover's arms. Her flannel robe felt soft against his cheek. Garnet and Zidane shared a bedroll beside them, and Eiko shared one with Mikoto, snuggled in happily, as if with a big sister. Mikoto wasn't sure what to make of the situation.

"Humans confuse me," she said simply.

"Me, too," Kuja said happily, snuggling in deeper. He felt so comfortable, he didn't want to move. Clover chuckled, the noise reverberating in her chest and echoing in Kuja's ears. "Well, I don't understand you Terra people, with your tails and your magic. Now, Gaians. Their just plain nifty."

"Nifty?" Garnet asked timidly. "I'm sorry, I just don't quite understand--"

"Forget it," Clover said airily. "It's slang. Nifty is like, cool."

"That's slang, too, Kitten," Kuja replied. "Nifty is something to the effect of nice to be around."

Eiko giggled. "You earth people are pretty nifty too."

"Heh heh. You're so cute, Eiko. You should make Mikoto your big sister."

Eiko smiled sadly. "Yeah. I would make you my big sis and come snuggle with you, but Monkey Boy No. 2 is in the way."

Clover felt Kuja's hand tighten around hers, and she squeezed back, letting him know Eiko had meant nothing about the "No. 2" comment. He was still sensitive about being replaced, though he tried not to show it. He smiled at her gratefully.

"Woah," Zidane commented. "What were those deep looks just for, you too?"

"Nothing," Kuja replied, snuggling in once more and closing his eyes. He yawned hugely, defying all manners he had. Clover smiled and stroked his hair. "Go to sleep," she said. "I'll wake you when we leave."

"Nah, you'll wake me when you get up. You ain't moving without me knowin' it."

Clover grinned. "Yessir," she replied. "G'night."

"'Night," was his response, and everyone in turn said good night to him, which surprised him into wakefulness again. "Why did you all just--"

"Because they're your friends," Clover interrupted smoothly, continuing to stroke his hair.

"Friends," he murmured, and closed his eyes again. "I like that."

"You should," Garnet said, wrapping her arms around Zidane. "Friends are wonderful."

"Yeah!" Eiko put in, grinning and pulling the blanket up to her nose.

"Friends. . ." Mikoto said thoughtfully. "Do I have friends, too?"

"Of course you do!" Zidane protested. "We're your friends. Even Clover, though you only met today. Don't worry, baby sister."

Mikoto smiled. "I won't worry."

"That's good," Clover said, leaning her chin on the top of Kuja's head, who, to everyone's great amusement, was snoring. Eiko giggled.

"Who'da thought he snored?" she asked with a grin.

"I heard him snoring one night back on earth, and I had to leave the house," Clover said with a laugh. "And his room was three doors down from mine."

Zidane chuckled and buried his face in his billow like a small child.

Oh, wow! Eiko thought happily, admiring him. He's soooooo cute!

Mikoto looked at Kuja and Zidane. "Genomes don't need sleep," she said slowly, "so why do you sleep, when it is not necessary? Why do you let the movements of the sun control your life's pattern?"

Zidane shrugged. "Used to it, I guess," he replied. "I'm not sure about Kuja, though. Maybe Clover knocks his out with a skillet or something."

Clover laughed softly, trying not to wake Kuja. "Not quite, but I did whack him with a spoon once."

Garnet giggled so hard to had to push herself against Zidane's back to keep from doubling over. "A spoon?!" she cried.

"Uh huh. We got into a food fight, and I was trying to flick some peas at him with it, but instead, I threw the spoon. It gave him a mark on his forehead."

Mikoto smiled. "I bet he wasn't to happy about that."

Clover nodded with a grin. "He was fuming at me until the mark went away."

"So who won the food fight?" Eiko asked, smirking wickedly.

"I did. Knocking your enemy out of battle with a spoon sort of seals the deal."

"We're off to Burmecia then, huh?" Zidane asked, turning abruptly serious.

"Yeah. Only place that rains all the time," Eiko replied.

"A land of eternal rain. . ." Clover murmured, leaning back against pillow and closing her eyes. "The weathermen would have a fit, thinking this came out of some kind of fantasy game. And who knows? Maybe it does."



Clover's boots made ripples of water as she walked around Burmecia. Fighting another woman for a man. It was so ridiculous! It was insane. It was wrong. And it had to be done. Clover couldn't just have Kuja over to Esuna. Never! Why was Esuna doing this, anyway?

"Let's go," Clover said, swinging her right arm in a wide arc above her head, drawing from it a rip of darkness. The void of no light shimmered and took form, becoming her rapier. Clover took it in her hand, and walked the stone steps to enter Burmecia.