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Chapter 5: Never Again

Terrible things raced through his mind that night. The scenes of the burning city and the giant eye in the sky plagued his dreams. It seemed that he could remember everything from that night in perfect detail. It wouldn't stop there; everything kept repeating itself. And when he came to the point where he couldn't take it anymore, he woke up. Sweat was running down his forehead, his mouth was dry, and his hands were trembling. No one else was awake yet. The sky outside was still dark, but he could tell that the sun was about ready to peek over the horizon. This picture comforted him, but a shadow in the corner of his eye broke his contentment.

"Kuja," it spoke softly, "did you really think you could get away from me? How could you be such a fool?"

"How did you..."

"How did I find you?" he said before Kuga could finish. "I'll always know where you are. I created you. I know everything about you including where you are, what you're thinking, and what you're going to do next."

"Then what am I going to do next?" Kuja said smartly.

"You're coming with me back to Terra-whether you like it or not."

"Is that so? Well Garland, I know a lot about you too."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"I know that you've got a lot to learn about kids-especially teenagers. So why don't you leave me alone and come back when know what you're doing," Kuja said with a smirk on his face. If Garland was planning to kill him because he was being cocky, then now would be the right time. That way he won't have to go back to Terra.

"I don't have time for this nonsense...Wake Zidane and we'll go back home and forget that any of this ever happened."

"I don't think I heard anything about Zidane going anywhere when you were making your little predictions."

"Are you suggesting that I leave him behind? In case you've forgotten, Zidane is also my property."

"Neither of us are your property, Garland. And yes, I do think that Zidane should be left behind."

Garland eyed him carefully. "What happens if I come back for him later? Then what?"

"I won't let you," Kuja said very seriously now. "Either take me alone or leave us both alone."

"Fine," Garland grinned, "even though he probably won't survive anyway. He hasn't gotten much training."

"He's better off with these complete strangers than he is with you," Kuja said gesturing to the sleeping married couple.

"It's a deal then." Garland was halfway out the door before he saw that Kuja wasn't following. "Are you coming or not?"

"Just a minute." Garland gave him a strange look. "You don't expect me to leave without saying goodbye do you?" Kuja walked over to the dresser in the corner and picked up the complimentary pen and notepad that was left in every room. He thought for a minute and quickly started to scribble down a few things before tearing the piece off the pad and folding it up. He walked over to the bed where Zidane was sleeping and attempted to slip the note into his pocket. "You owe me one, Zidane," Kuja whispered in his brother's ear.

Garland waited by the door until Kuja started to follow him. The walk through the small inn's hallway had to be one of the longest walks he had ever taken. And throughout the whole way down the hallway, he was thinking, "This has got to be the worst decision I have ever made." He walked slowly and solemnly, but his stalling wouldn't help him very much. One way or the other, he would have to return to Terra and endure Garland's torment.

The Invincible was parked right outside of the town. "How did he get to it?" Kuja thought to himself. He notices that the sun was starting to rise. He couldn't actually see the sun though. The Invincible was blocking his view, but the sky around the Invincible was starting to get brighter. Gaia's sky emphasized the colors of the morning sunrise better than Terra's sky. The soft oranges, creamy yellows, light purples, and deep blues seemed to form together in the giant pallet of the sky. The black clad Garland clashed with everything that this scene emphasized.

"Say goodbye, Kuja," Garland said mockingly as they entered the Invincible.

"More like see ya later," he thought to himself. "I'll be back."

Author's Note: Another chapter done. FINALLY! And while I was writing, I started to wonder why bad guys always call their enemies fools. Can't they be a little more original? The word fool has been beaten to death (and now it's lying on the ground twitching). Wouldn't it be a nice touch if the bad guy called the other guy a stupid head or something weird like that? Or would stupid head not have the same effect as fool? ......and this is what I think about. Anyway, please READ AND REVIEW!

-Insomniac-