Disclaimer: Still don't own it…
Kuja335: I haven't killed them all off! Ziddy is still around, isn't he? And so is Mikoto!
FF9Zidane: Thanks for the lollypop! And I'm sorry about your sandwich. But, can you please explain to me who Mr. Oro is? ^_^
TenshiNoAkuma: Well, I don't think it's very natural when people come back from the dead. That's a horror fic, not angst! (I read your profile and I agree with all the points you made! Especially about Aeris! She should stay dead!)
Sakura-chan: You stole my Reece's Pieces! Noooooo! …Oh, and about Memoria, since I didn't explain it in the story, I'll just do it here. The way that B-chan and I explained it is that Memoria regenerates itself whenever Zidane has enough memories. He's lived a looooong time since he last went there; therefore he has a lot of new memories! ^_^
Tobu-Ishi: We've missed your reviews! Well, anyways, about Guardian Angel, it's as simple as this…I needed a Trance attack. B-chan and I both thought that it would be awesome of Kuja had some part of it. So, we put our heads together and thought of Guardian Angel. It has little to do with the story line; just that her "Uncle Kuja" really does care more than everyone gives him credit for. (That he really isn't some heartless maniac).
Luki Dimension: ::passes out with joy:: Ahhhh! I love your stories! ^_^
rtworld1369: Are you kidding? You don't know anyone know knows anything about ff.net? ::gasps:: You need to convert people! (That's what B-chan and I did with our friends) ::pulls Noelle out of a corner:: She didn't ever think she would play videogames obsessively, that is until she started Beta-Reading this and I made her play the game. Now she can't get enough of it! ^_^ Oh, and the memories. Trust me, I didn't forget that his memories were played in Memoria, but you'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out what happens. ::laughs evilly::
A/N: Okay, here's the scoopie! I got tired of writing depressing chapters, so I wrote this one. Kind of a pick-me-up, a lighter note. This one doesn't revolve around Kuja, but the beginning of Tantalus. (Not exactly the beginning, just the edition of one of my favorite members). Blank! He just seems like he would be the coolest person if he were real (Zidane too). Man, I wish just half of the videogame guys were real, I'd be in heaven! ^_^ ::drools::
A Voice From the Past: Part III
"Thief!" a merchant yelled from across the square. The red headed boy glanced over his shoulder and continued to run in the opposite direction. This was a daily routine for him, and it had been so for almost a year.
Parents? He couldn't remember them. His mother had died when he was very young. Too young for him to recall any of her physical traits. His father served in the Lindblum army and was killed in action.
After his mother died, his father referred to him as 'kid', not by a proper name. When his father passed away, a gang of boys with ages ranging from four to ten took him in. He was almost five at the time.
It was embarrassing, but the child had no idea what his own name was. So, everyone referred to him as Blank. It started off as a joke.
"Hey blank get over here," it was almost as bad as what's-his-name. At first, it bothered him, but he got over it. After a while, it started to stick with him. That was his new name, Blank.
As he was too young to do much at the time, the gang protected him until he was about six. When he turned six he was one of the 'front line' boys. Now, he stole to survive.
However, not a night went by that he didn't think of a real family, or real friends. Sure, he got along with everyone in the gang, but all the friendships were shaky. No one really trusted anyone. Fights broke out over the smallest scrap of food. It was not the kind of life he enjoyed living.
Still the boy continued to deal with it, and continued to run away from the shop. Out of breath, Blank collapsed in an alleyway and immediately the group formed around him.
"Whatcha get?" the oldest boy asked. Reluctantly, Blank pulled out a single loaf of bread. He had been meaning to steal it for himself. But, whatever thoughts of enjoying a mean by himself were now gone. Already, a brawl had begun over that small amount of bread.
Wearily, and still hungry, Blank walked away. He hated watching the fights, and he looked for a place to be alone, if only for just a while. When he sought for solitude, he would play with his only possession. A yo-yo. When he joined the gang, the first thing they did was sell a lot of his belongings for gil. He didn't tell them about the yo-yo. Instead, he hid it in his back pocket.
Finally, when he was sure that he was out of the gang's eyesight, he reached into this back pocket only to realize the yo-yo was gone. Hurriedly, the red head turned around in time to see a flash of gold sprint away.
Even as tired as he was, Blank angrily pursued him through the busy streets. The flash of gold kept taking sharp turns and going through obstacles, trying to lose him. Blank, with much difficulty was able to just keep up with him.
Just when he was close enough to grab it, the blur ran through a slim opening in the crowd. Shortly after he passed through, it closed, and Blank had to work his way out.
"Excuse me, sorry…" he said as he pushed through the endless mass of citizens. With much determination, he made his way out.
Discreetly, he scanned the streets, finally spotting the culprit. A blond boy that appeared to be the same age was walking around playing with his yo-yo. Angrily, Blank stormed after him. The boy noticed this and started running again, this time he ran a short distance before running into a building, slamming the door behind him.
Blank made his way over to the building and banged his small fist against the closed door. He waited for a while before the door opened. It was a boy that was at least two heads taller that answered.
For a while the boy stared out over Blank, looking bewildered.
"Ahem…down here," Blank mumbled impatiently. The boy jumped slightly and looked down.
"Hey, you lookin' fer Zidane?" he asked.
"I'm lookin' for my yo-yo,"
"Uh-huh," the boy started slowly. "Hold on a minute," he took a step back into the house, "ZIDANE!" he roared.
"What Marcus?" a voice answered from somewhere inside the house.
"Get yer scrawny butt over here," the short blond boy stood next to the boy at the door. However, Zidane refused to make eye contact with him or Blank.
"Now, Zidane. Did you steal his yo-yo?" The blond boy shook his head vigorously.
"Yes you did!" Blank whined.
"No I didn't!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!
"Did t--"
"Shut up!" Marcus screamed. Momentarily, the bickering stopped. "Alright, Zidane, if you have the kid's yo-yo, just give it to him!"
"But I don't have it!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"DO TOO!"
"DO N--"
"SHUT UP!" Again, this brought temporary silence. As Marcus rubbed his temples, trying to save the last of his sanity, Zidane and Blank began taking turns sticking their tongue out at each other.
"Who's at the door?" came Baku's gruff voice.
"Some kid sayin' Zidane stole his yo-yo," Marcus said.
Zidane opened his mouth as if he were going to retaliate with "Did not!" but Marcus quickly covered it.
"Don't…say…anything," he warned.
Baku walked to the door and looked down on the scrawny red head. "Don't yer parent's feed ya?" he asked him. When Blank didn't answer Baku nodded. "C'mon in."
Timidly, Blank stepped inside the strange house. Baku smacked Zidane in the back of the head, "Give him the damn yo-yo!"
Scowling, Zidane complied. "Here ya go," he murmured. Smiling triumphantly, Blank put the yo-yo back in his pocket.
~ ~
I hope you liked it! Taking a break from the depressingness (new word, I made it up) of this whole fic. Don't worry; the next chapter will be back to angst. ::Laughs maniacally:: Remember, I am a horrible person.
