Disclaimer: I still don't own Final Fantasy IX, don't sue me, I'm broke.
Archangel_666: Are you calling me heartless? Lol. I know, I've killed off a lot of people. And I'm sorry, but like stated before, before long Zidane is going to be alone. So, yeah. Oh! And about Trading Spaces! I promise that it will be up very very soon! Virginia just got back from Germany a few days ago, so we'll be starting on the sequel this weekend. So, the first chapter should be up by next week! (And yes, sadly Eiko is one of peoples who died).
Diana: And there is much more dark stuff to come! ^_^
Kingpin: I've never seen Star Trek. But I know some of the names! For example…I know that the guy who plays Dr. Spock wrote a song about Bilbo Baggins! (Hehehe, can't get enough of that Lord of the Rings!)
Dragon Knight Fratly: You are forcing the other cool FF characters to dig a hole for you? ::gasp:: They must be liberated! I'll make a deal with you! When the story is all good and over, will you set them free? (And possibly let me keep Squall?)
A/N: Hey everyone! Just to let you know…we have a homepage now! The link is on our profile, but I don't think it works. And I'm too lazy to figure out why. But anyway, as of now, we are in the process of uploading pictures, but it isn't working. However! Before long, we should have some pictures up there (including some that I drew of Amy and Zak). So, check it out! Like previously stated, it's still in the works, but we will have forums and everything. Just give us a little time to finish it up!
A Voice From the Past: Part II
"He was my most prized Genome! And now he's somewhere on the planet that will ultimately be destroyed?!" Garland spat, landing another kick into Kuja's ribs.
The fifteen year old looked up, his eyes aglow with hatred. "You've brainwashed him," he said clutching his side, "I'm glad I got him off of this God forsaken Hellhole!"
"You will regret those words," Garland said clenching his white fists.
"Will I?" Kuja sneered. Right now wasn't the time to make Garland mad, he knew that, but he didn't care what happened to him anymore.
Shaking with silent anger, Garland grabbed Kuja by the neck and threw him into the wall. "If I didn't know any better, I would say you actually care about Zidane."
"I want him to live a normal life," Kuja said softly.
Smirking, Garland kicked him in the ribs again, making him cry out in pain. "It's a lost cause, he obviously doesn't care about you."
"I'm the closest thing he has to a friend," Kuja said through gritted teeth.
"You mean he's the closest thing you have to a real friend."
"What would you know?"
"I know this much, if he did love you as you said, wouldn't he have aided you when you were seized in that Gaian town?"
At this remark, Kuja looked at the floor. "I told him to run. Besides, he's only five, he wouldn't have been able to fight off all of them."
"Fool," Garland kicked him again, "Zidane's attack power compared to yours could wipe that entire town out!"
Kuja scowled, "Oh, I'm sooo sorry I ruined your plan."
Resisting the urge to kick him again, Garland merely said, "No, you didn't." At this comment Kuja couldn't help but look confused. "That's why I built Mikoto."
"You dirty rat bas-"
"I would watch my mouth if I were you," the old man suggested, but Kuja was far from done venting. Noticing the teenager's sudden hostility, Garland started walking for the door.
"Don't think you'll be getting off easily,"
Oh, a few cracked ribs aren't enough? Kuja crawled to the wall and leaned against it, pitiful, he thought.
Exhausted from the abuse he had to endure, he feel asleep, still propped up against the wall.
The sound of the door creaking open made him stir. Oh no, not again. All of a sudden he was aware of just how much he was hurt. Trying with all his might, he struggled to stand, but his legs simply would not allow him to.
"It's alright. I won't hurt you," said a soft female voice. Looking worriedly at the doorway he saw a little Genome that he recognized.
Mikoto was built shortly after Zidane, and here she was standing there. "I heard you crying."
"I wasn't crying," he insisted. The little girl studied him for a bit, making him feel uncomfortable.
"You're hurt," she finally concluded in an eerie monotone.
"I'm fine," he was starting to get impatient with her meddling.
"I can help," she stepped forward with her arms extended. Not wanting to trust her, Kuja backed away as he far as he could. However, his efforts sent a surge of pain up his torso, causing him to scream.
"Please, let me help," she repeated.
Knowing that he shouldn't struggle anymore, he allowed for the toddler to come closer. Mikoto sat on the floor next to him, "Where does it hurt?"
Wincing, Kuja removed his shirt and Mikoto gasped. Almost his entire torso was black and blue with very severe looking bruises.
"Who did this to you?"
"Garland," he spat the name as if it were a nasty word.
Temporarily, the girl looked up before returning to the wound. "You shouldn't lie," she finally said.
"I'm not lying!" he roared angrily.
Staring at him in confusion, she stated, "Lord Garland would never do this."
Lord Garland? He's brainwashed her, just like he brainwashed Zidane. Kuja narrowed his eyes and innerly swore that one day he would get his revenge.
"Cure," the girl muttered, softly placing a tiny hand on his tender chest. The spell did little, so she repeated it a few times. Soon he could feel the strength returning to him, and the pain lessening. Feeling quite drained, Mikoto stood up, swaying slightly.
Kuja jumped up and caught her before she fell. "What was that?" he asked her, suddenly intrigued with her abilities.
"Magic," she replied bluntly, standing again.
"Where did you learn it?"
Nervously, the Genome shuffled her feet. "Promise you won't tell?" Kuja nodded in agreement. "I found a book full of spells in Lord Garland's observatory," she whispered.
"Oh, that's nice." Kuja smirked. Now, he might actually have an advantage over the man. Maybe he couldn't be a strong attacker, but that didn't mean that he couldn't be powerful.
"I have to go, I'm not supposed to be in here," Mikoto said walking to the door. "Try to not get hurt anymore."
The door clicked shut, leaving Kuja alone in the dark room. But now that his wounds were healed he decided to go on a short stroll.
As quietly as he could, Kuja tiptoed down the dimly lit, blue corridor, feeling his way along the walls. He knew his way around Pandemonium and could easily find the observatory. The only problem was the fact that he couldn't make any sounds for fear of Garland finding him.
A door slammed shut. Kuja stopped abruptly and stood against the wall, hoping whoever it was wouldn't see him. Footsteps could be heard coming his way.
The teenage boy's heart pounded in his chest, no matter how much he tried to remain calm. The footsteps were coming closer, and now there was a voice with them.
"The Gaians can do it, so why can't I?" It was Garland, mumbling to himself. "None if it makes sense."
Kuja felt wind sweep against his face as Garland walked past him. He waited eagerly for the footsteps to disappear before continuing.
Phew, that was close. Kuja sighed and clutched his chest, waiting for his heart to slow down.
Without hesitation, Kuja hurriedly made his way down the hall, finally arriving at his destination. He opened the door just enough so squeeze through.
Flipping on the lamp, he noticed he wouldn't have to look long. Lying open atop Garland's desk was the spell book.
Smiling, Kuja sat down in the chair and started reading the first chapter. It discussed things like 'starting small'. So he decided he would start with the simplest spell it offered. Fire.
"Hold your hand out," Kuja read the first page aloud to himself. With the book in one hand, he held out his spare hand in front of him, with his fingers splayed. "Concentrate, send the command into your fingers." At this he rolled his eyes. Nevertheless, he concentrated hard, to the point where small droplets of swear ran down his face. "Now, send your command."
"Fire!" he yelled, forgetting the fact that he wasn't supposed to be there. Forgetting what would happen if Garland were to find him at that very minute.
A warmth flowed from his head, into his arms, and finally into the tips of his fingers. He should've watched where he was aiming, he should've been more careful, for at that moment, several papers on Garland's desk burst into flames.
Kuja snapped out of his concentration, and his eyes grew to twice their size, noticing what he had done. But, instead putting it out, he smiled and grabbed the book. What's the point of putting it out? Garland would see the scorch marks, and he would know it was me. This way, I can at least get a little of my revenge.
Stealthily, he ran back to his room. Dark as it was, he found a place to hide the book. Smiling, he pulled a tattered blanket over him and fell asleep.
Kuja felt a large hand on the back of his neck and opened his eyes. He knew what was coming.
"Idiot!" the ole man fumed, his eyes blazing dangerously, "What did you do?!"
What a rude way to wake up. "I don't know, what have I done that I am not yet aware of?"
Angrily, Garland held the teenager's arms behind his back and led him to the burned remainders of his observatory. "Can you please tell me what happened here?" Garland said trying to remain civil, though he knew it wouldn't last long.
Smirking, Kuja took in the surroundings. "Oh dear Lord Garland," he said mockingly, and putting extra emphasis on 'Lord', "Who on Terra could've done this?" He knew that he was pulling Garland's strings, but he was enjoying it. Smoothly, he flipped a lock of his silver hair over his shoulder.
In a fit of rage, Garland threw Kuja against the ash-stained floor and continued where he had left off the day before. Kicking him in the ribs repeatedly.
He stopped the abuse to add in a few insults, "You dirty, rotten defect! I should've never created you in the first place!"
Slowly, Kuja looked up. His hair was in his face, and a thin line of blood was coming from his nose. With much difficulty, he stood and advanced on his attacker.
"Never, call me that again!" his voice shook and he pointed a single finger at the old man. Looking surprised, Garland stood frozen to his spot.
Without hesitation, Kuja pounced on him, throwing several punches and other random attacks. Garland seemed to dodge most of them, but finally, Kuja's fist connected with his chin, knocking him out temporarily.
"What's the matter Garland, beaten up by a defect?" he sneered at the unconscious body. Then, without a backwards glance he left the ruins of the observatory.
~ ~
Poor Kuja-kuns! It's pathetic really, but this fic is starting to take over my life. (Noelle: She isn't kidding! She's carrying a notebook around school so she can work on it there too!) Soooo? Point? Anyway, after writing all the chapters with Kuja, I've started to realize, I've become a Kuja torturer, so on the front of my notebook, I taped a sign there that says, "I am a Kuja torturer" Oh well, it's the pathetic world that I live in! ^_^ Review!
