Featherjewel

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A romantic semi-comedy... thingy as experienced by Hilda and Kuja (FFIX)

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Chapter 6 - The Aftermath

"...Kuja, I fear I love you more than I should!"

Oh no... not this dream again.

"Princess, will you be happy, married to a lowly peasant such as myself?"

"Please, Kuja, do not call me princess. I wish to live a true life-"

"Hera, do not worry. No matter your former royalty, I shall never leave your side. Cast it away and I shall make you a bird in the cage of my heart."

Even with tears in your eyes, you were so beautiful.

"But, Kuja, where can we go? Our world is crying it's final death shriek. The towns are on fire, Garland has left Earth a shell of what it once was. No matter where we go he will find us..."

"I will not let him take you, Hera. Even if it means sacrificing my own freedom. When the moon is but a sliver in the sky, I will meet you at the dock. If something happens, go to Lindblum. Gaia is still safe from him."

If only this could happen over again, I never would have left you.

"...but he knows my name. He will find me eventually, no matter where I run off to. It is hopeless trying to escape. We are doomed."

"No, be silent. I have read many books about Gaia, and seen the many names of people living there. How about I call you---"

I had read a story about a shaman who was so wise, she had power over life and death itself. And so revered she was, the people in her village made her their chieftess. Never did she abuse her powers, and in return, the Gods made a promise that their village would become the greatest city in the world. In their tongue, "Hilda" meant "Heaven's grace"; it became customary for all the queens' names in that place to be Hilda. The name seemed fitting for her...

"All right. Kuja... promise me one thing."

If I could, I'd promise you the world.

"No matter where we go, and if we are ever seperated.. please do not forget me."

What a sweet embrace. I am certain that Heaven is any place with you.

"I promise that I shall never forget you. No man could look upon your face and ever forget you, unless they were blind. I swear on my life, Hilda, no cloud or squall, or meager storm shall ever hinder us."

"I do hope so..."

And I kept my word too, Hilda. I never forgot you. Every menial task, every boring and worthless chore I did, was done with you in my mind. With every city I studied and spied on, I hoped to find you. Yet in all my searches, I never imagined that you could possibly ever forget me. Perhaps I was too optimistic.

Do I trust too much in fate?

Laying on my bed, awakened from the same dream I'd had for years, tears mixed with the sweat, I thought that maybe, just maybe, I did.

It would have been bearable if you had simply forgotten my face. But when I told you my name and where I came from, expecting a cry of joy and one of your hugs, I was met with nothing but a glare. What happened to you during those 23 wretched years I was gone? Did they erase your memory? Torture you into forgetting? Did I do something to make you hate me? Or did you love -him- more than you could ever be able to love me...

So when I got out of bed to put this piece of garbage away, and noticed your words, I wondered. Why did you write this in my journal? And if you have truly forgotten me, why did you still have the feather I gave you as a parting gift on that night long ago?

I wish love wasn't so confusing.

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"Nnnnnnggh."

"Heehee, wake up Miss Hilda, kupo! It is already past noon. You must have been up late. Kupo."

"Bleh."

I hate mornings.

"K-kupo... I'll just leave you alone then. S-s-sorry."

Did I really look that bad? If I can scare a moogle away, who knows what other catastrophies I could cause. But no matter. In those lucid moments between sleep and waking, one can have many thoughts. Do you like mornings, Kuja? What do you dream about? Why am I asking questions about you? Why are you so special to me...

It didn't take long to find out the answer to that one. It must have been one of your roses on my journal. You read it... but I don't feel violated in the least. By impulse I opened that book up, and by God, I saw your letters! Your language...

No matter how many times I read it, over and over again, I still wonder... do I really mean this much to you?

Was this all a plan that you set up? Or is it fate that we are together like this? Either way, I am bound to find the answers in this ancient tongue. For the love of Alexander... I wish love could be more simpler than this.

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Author's Notes:

Short 'n sweet. But hey, it has more words than the last chapter did ;)