Inheritance

Thank you SO much for waiting. I know it's been a while since I updated, but in my defence, I AM in the middle of my Higher Exams (French tomorrow, groan!) and I have four stories ongoing at the moment. So naturally, writer's block is mandatory.

Okay, and to the reviews . . .

Mip the Demon Fox: Mmm, nice idea, but I don't think my mum will go for it ^_^

Eiko Makimachi: Sorry Eiko. Zidane's hair has been going silver for a reason, and no, Kuja can't become a ghost, because technically, he'll be part of Zidane. As for a fight, well . . . just read this chapter.

FlameRiver: Yeah, the storyline's pretty obvious. But if I dragged it out too much, I'd have lost interest. Beginnings have to be quick and to the point for me, (unless its an original where you need to introduce a lot of characters beforehand. Totally different story then). But thanks for the quotes. I've changed Chapter 2 to fit em. And I don't mind people correcting me, I know I had the wrong quotes (to be honest, I was hoping someone would tell me the correct ones).

Tobu Ishi: Wait no more!

R&R!

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Mikoto stood just by the gate of Black Mage Village, staring up at the sky. For some reason, staring at the endless canvass of dark and light calmed her. However, her mind was on her 'older brother'.

It had been a few weeks since the Genome had arrived to speak with Mikoto, and she was unsure what had happened since then. The village stayed out of most contact with the outside world.

"He is fine. Zidane is much stronger than you think."

Mikoto turned to see a Genome dressed in blue walking up to her.

"Hello Varon" Mikoto replied. Like the rest of the older Genomes, Varon knew about Garlands 'Angels' and what happened when they died.

"I wonder if he has told his friends" Mikoto mused. "Somehow I doubt it."

"How would he hide the changes?"

"He will have come up with something."

Mikoto sighed, and stared back up at the sky. "I wish he would just embrace this. It is inevitable. He cannot stop it any more than I will be able to when he passes on."

* * *

Whilst his sister was staring at the stars, Zidane was pulling off the borrowed hat and staring at his reflection. If it was even possible, more silver streaks had appeared, causing his hair to look more silver than blonde. And unless his eyes were playing tricks on him, his hair had grown significantly since leaving the bar, only 30 minutes ago!

He tugged on a lock of silver hair, and let it flop back to his head. Pulling the strands out wasn't an option this time, so he'd have to use a more permanent option.

He pulled out a small bottle that he'd bought when just before returning. God only knew what rumours would be flying around after the shop girl told everyone the 'Great Zidane' was buying blonde hair dye . . .

* * *

"Dagger? Dagger are you okay?"

Garnet smiled as Eiko walked into her room. "I'm fine Eiko. I just wish."

Eiko cut her off. "That you knew what was going on with Zidane?"

Garnet nodded. "Whatever is wrong with him, it's pretty serious. He wouldn't be so mixed up otherwise."

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Steiner rushed in.

"That's it!" Steiner roared. "I will not have that ruffian causing you so much distress my Queen! Tomorrow we'll go down to the lout's hideout, and refuse to leave until he explains himself. I'll break both his legs if I have to!"

Garnet laughed as Eiko replied. "Thanks Steiner. Good idea."

Then the young Summoner's eyes narrowed.

"Wait, were you listening in on our conversation?"

"Uhhh . . . "

"What. That's it! Madee . . . "

Only three knew what caused the blast that echoed through the entire top floor, although Cid, his wife and many of their servants had their suspicions. Lady Eiko was well known for her explosive temper.

* * *

Zidane hastily cut away a large part of his newly grown hair, and checked again for feathers. The dye had worked alarmingly well, and his hair looked close to normal. The thief grinned. Even if his hair changed colour, it shouldn't show through the dye.

"That should at least buy me some time until I find something more permanent," Zidane said to himself, dropping on his bed. As he slowly fell asleep, part of him wondered why he was doing this. Mikoto had clearly told him he couldn't stop it, yet it hadn't stopped him from hiding it from everyone, mainly himself. Perhaps it was the memories. Seeing the torment, knowing he had caused it, and being disgusted, whilst at the same time, elated.

"I won't become Kuja. I wont . . . "

* * *

"Where . . . am I? Memoria?"

Zidane stared all around him. It certainly looked a lot like Memoria. It was the platform surrounded by space that led to the invisible road which ended in the Crystal World. It was also the last place Zidane had heard Garlands voice. But it still surprised him when the black clad figure materialised in front of him.

"What the?"

"Hello again Zidane" Garland replied.

Zidane quickly got into his fighting position. This only seemed to amuse his creator.

"I cannot hurt you here my Angel of Death" he explained. "This is merely in your mind."

Zidane frowned. "Well what are you doing here?"

Garland smiled, the orb on his chest glowing eerily. "When I created the three souls which would eventually merge together, I added a small part of my own to the mix. What little is left of me remains inside you."

Zidane's eyes widened. "No. No! No way is that true! It was bad enough with just Kuja! I can't deal with you too!"

"Surely you must have been suspicious when you heard me in Memoria" Garland explained. "I was long since dead by then, only the last of my spirit remained. When the merge is complete, I will all but disappear. I only added myself for this one meeting. I will do the same with Mikoto should you die.

Zidane snarled. "Why? What's the point of this meeting?"

"To make sure you understand the merge. And to finalise it . . . "

"Finalise?"

"He means to complete it. And to see who will be dominant."

Zidane whirled round to see Kuja standing behind him, not looking too happy to be there.

"Kuja!"

"This is your mind Zidane." Zidane's head turned to see Garland walking towards the invisible road, whilst fading from view. "The mind should only hold one soul, and there are two here, along with a living memory. I will fade, but you two will become one. Only one question remains. Who will be stronger?"

Zidane raced after the man, but stopped at the edge. "What do you mean!"

But Garland was gone. With no other options, Zidane turned to the only other figure in the room, trying to figure out why such a wave of anger filled him when looking at the man.

Kuja sighed. "Haven't you figured it out yet?" he asked. We fight now, and whoever wins gains control of your body, and will remain mostly in control."

"Mostly?"

"It's a merge. Obviously some of the losers traits will become the winners."

Zidane frowned, going into his fighting stance once again. Kuja just sighed.

"I have no intention of fighting you Zidane."

Zidane blinked. "Come again."

"I only learned what it meant to live just as I was about to die. As much as I would love a second chance, your friends would kill me immediately if they found out. So you can keep your body."

With that, Kuja started walking towards the younger Genome, and Zidane found himself rooted to the spot. Kuja didn't slow as he reached Zidane, and when he hit the boy, collapsed into a cascade of glowing light which covered the boy. Seconds later, Zidane was on his knees in pain, and curled up in foetal position as spasms teared through his body, and the world collapsed into darkness.

"The merge is complete . . . "

* * *

Zidane groaned, swallowing a scream as he bolted up from his bed, clutching his head. From the still quite dark sky outside the window, and the clock by his bed, it was barely sunrise. But he knew he wouldn't get back to sleep. Not with the headache, and not with that strange dream still in his head.

He rubbed his eyes, and yawned, just catching his reflection in his mirror. He stopped mid-yawn when he realised what he had just seen.

Slowly, he left his bed and walked towards the mirror, not actually looking at it until he reached it. Hesitantly, he looked up to see his reflection. He stepped back in part shock, part horror, as his head shook in disbelief.

"No. No . . . "

To be continued . . .

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Okay, sorta made up this chapter as I went along. I hadn't quite thought it through, but think it turned out pretty well. Might be a while before next update though. I'm going to focus on Ringleys Wish first, then complete this so that I can focus on my original fics (remembering to study at the same time ^_^)

R&R!