Disclaimer: nothing has changed within the last week, I swear.

Genjy0-Sanz0: Of course I'm continuing the story!  I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I started it and didn't finish it!!

Dagger: I don't care if you use the scar thing in your fic, just please (if you would) give me credit.  ^_^
Dragon Knight Fratly: You're back!  Where've you been?  Still digging that pit? ::wink:: And I'm not sure what I'm rebelling against.  Maybe it's homework…::contemplates:: yeah.  Homework is evil. 

Sakura-chan: How can you not get caught!?  That's not fair!  Then again, I am sitting in one of the front rows.  Grrr.  I hate it when teachers assign seats.

A/N: Hello everyone, this really isn't an author's note since Anna's too lazy to actually write something to you all. This is Noelle, (on fanfiction, I'm Save-the-Queen), the beta reader. Hmmm, what to babble on about? Actually, about her being lazy, I take it back. She is now dancing around the room to the Simple and Clean remix. Hee hee, maybe I should join her. Well, I can at least sing, right? "Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on. Nothing's like before." Anyway, I feel sorry for poor Zidane. He gets put through so much by all the authors… sigh… he needs a hug. And Kuja too, even if he is a little screwed up. HE COULDN'T HELP IT! GARLAND MESSED HIM UP! GRRR…. Now we are listening to an Inuyasha song called "I Am." I bet you all are wanting to actually read the story though, right? And not listen to the strange ramblings of another wacko teenager who has had too many pixy stix. Ok, so enjoy! (Or rather, try to, and please don't cry……..) Bye 'til next time!

            Zidane sat on the cold stone floor of Memoria with Mikoto cradled in his arms.  Her breathing was slow and light as she lay unconscious.  Garland's maniacal laughter echoed in the Genome's ears.  I will not allow her to sacrifice her life for me, he thought as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

"I will not lose to you!" he screamed.  The blood was rushing to his ears and his face was turning red with fury.  "So it doesn't matter.  You lose Garland, because I will not destroy the world.  And she won't either!"

Mikoto moaned and began shifting her weight.  Zidane's eyes darted down to his sister just as she opened her eyes.  For a while, she seemed to be confused.  But slowly, the recent events dawned on her and she began to feel dizzy again.

"C'mon, we're getting out of here," he said.  Carefully, he bent down in front of her and wrapped her thin legs around his waist.  He stood up and carried her piggyback out of the castle.

Memories began to play before him, but, feeling impatient, he continued to jog.  Refusing to watch them.

"Don't worry Mikoto, I'll get you out of here," he said reassuringly.  He could feel her strained breath on his neck.  She seemed so weak!

The petite girl was jostled around as her brother ran.  Every once in awhile he would say something to her, but most of his words went in one ear and out the other.  At that moment she was in a state of shock.

Finally, Zidane found himself at the entrance.  However, his arms were already being used as he held onto Mikoto's legs.  Desperately, he kicked the doors open and ran to where the Red Rose waited.  Running from the castle, and painful memories that lied within.  

Gently, he laid her down on the floor of the cockpit then began piloting the airship back to the Desert Palace.  Maybe there are some answers there.  Kuja had a lot of books…maybe he kept a journal? 

~ ~

Mikoto stirred.  Was it just her imagination?  Or was she…actually comfortable?  When she passed out, she remembered landing on a stone floor.  But…this surface wasn't stone. 

Her eyes began to focus.  Wherever she was, it was dark.  Surprised, she sat back up and discovered that she was indeed laying in a bed.  However, the sudden action made her wince.

Lifting her shirt slightly, she found a small bandage on her hip, all around it was black and blue.  Must've been one hell of a fall.  She disregarded it though, she knew the injury wouldn't be there much longer before disappearing all together.

"You up already?" the voice startled her.  She looked up and saw Zidane's shadowy figure standing in the doorway.  In his hand, he was flipping through a small book.

"Is this your Palace?"

He nodded, "Well…Kuja's more than mine."

"What are you looking at?"

"Kuja's journal…"

"Isn't that private?" she giggled.

"He's been dead for about a hundred years.  I doubt he'll mind," he laughed as he continued to turn the pages.

For a while, neither spoke.  Finally, Zidane looked up from the journal, "I'm going up to the study.  You can do whatever you want."

She nodded and began fiddling absent-mindedly with the sheets as he left.  After she was sure he was gone, she got out of the bed and exited the room.  She had to sort some things out in her mind.

As Mikoto walked aimlessly through the endless halls, she started thinking.  Only I can kill Zidane?  He wants to die so bad, and it would literally be a favor if I did it.  But…I would be all alone.

I've never really had friends.  I suppose it was partially my fault.  But for the first time in my life…I'm happy.  I have someone to talk to, who understands where I'm coming from.  And now…I just…let him go?

But it isn't like he can say the same.  He won't be truly happy until he's with Amy and Dagger again. 

She found herself in the kitchen.  Wearily, she pulled open a few drawers until she found a knife.  If that's what he wants, why not let him die? 

Her eyes began overflowing with tears as she carried the knife up the stairs.  I don't want him to suffer anymore…  It won't have as much of an effect on me, I suppose.  I have no real family.  I could get by.  Thinking this only made the tears fall harder.  After Zidane was gone, she would be alone.

It wasn't long before she stood in front of the door of the study. Hesitantly, she put her hand on the doorknob.  You'll be doing him a favor, she told herself.  She held tighter onto the knife and swung the door open.

Zidane looked up from the journal and gave her a confused look.  "Mikoto?  What's wrong?" he asked, noticing the tears.  Then his eyes widened as he saw the knife.  "What are you doing?!"

"You want to die, don't you?" she choked out.  "I just want you to be happy."

"M-Mikoto…" he jumped out of his seat and held his hands up.  Tears streaming down her cheeks, she began to walk toward him with the knife perfectly visible.

Not knowing what to do, Zidane backed up against the wall.  "Look, Mikoto, I don't care if you kill me.  But I don't expect you to take the weight of all this on your back," he sighed.  "I never did."

She shook her head, causing her messy blond hair to bounce.  "There's no point.  If you can die, why shouldn't you?"

The knife gleamed as it caught the light, then without time for Zidane to think, it came hurtling toward him.  All he could manage to do was close his eyes.  He heard the weapon hit, but felt no pain.  Could she have missed him?  Then he heard crying.  Mikoto?  

He opened his eyes, almost afraid of what he would see.  Luckily, he saw no blood on himself. Then, he noticed Mikoto sitting on the floor with her face covered by her hands.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something.  Turning his head, he saw the knife embedded in the wall.  His sister had missed, and he knew most likely it was intentional. 

"Mikoto…" his eyes softened and he collapsed next to her.  "Please, don't cry," he hugged her to his chest.  "Shhh…shhhh."

The tiny girl continued to cry into his shoulder.  "You only…say that." She took a shaky breath and continued to speak.  "Maybe we should destroy the world."

"No!" he pulled her way from him so he could look her in the eye.  "We will not allow Garland to win.  No matter what!"

Solemnly, she shook her head.  "But he already has."

"Don't say things like that.  We will prevail!" he hugged her again.  "Besides, I think I've found something."

"What?"

Smiling, he gestured his head for the desk.  "You know, Kuja mentions us a lot in his journal."

Her lip trembled as she tried to force a smile.  "I never believed him until recently…but Garland used to…beat him."

Sighing, Zidane nodded, "I know.  It's hard to imagine everything he went through.  I-I almost…feel sorry for him.  No…I do feel sorry for him."

"Is there anything…you know, useful mentioned in there?"

"No.  But it is interesting.  Here," he got up and gave her the book, "you should read it too."

She took the book from him.  "Thanks," she dried her eyes on her sleeve.  Then, the female Genome started walking to the door.  "I'm sorry," she said over her shoulder.

After she left, the room was eerily silent.  Zidane sat on the floor, clutching his chest.  Mikoto had given him quite a scare.  Slowly, he brought a hand up to his face to rub his chin, but he felt something on his cheek.  He wiped whatever it was off and looked at his hand.

A red liquid stained his fingers.  What!?  He jumped out of his sitting position and bolted to where a small mirror hung on the wall.  On his right cheek there was a long sleek cut where the knife must have grazed him.  …Blood…I'm bleeding!

~ ~

Hey everyone!  It's me, the author, Anna.  Though, I still am very lazy I'm going to go ahead and talk to you!  Noelle is over here right now, and I went ahead and let her write the first author's note thingy.  She brought Pixie Stix, so we will be hyper later in the night!  ::Smiles evilly::   Buahaha!  Alrighty everyone, I'm on a major sugar low and I have to get some of the candy from Noelle before she eats it all.  So, I hope you enjoyed!  Review!