Author's Note: This fic is about to come to a close soon so enjoy it while you can. Also, I am pushing the rating up to R since there is a not so pleasant scene in here. Enjoy.
Reincarnation
Chapter 12-The Power of Trance
Totetsumonari Kyuuden, Treno
7:18 A.M. Gaian Standard
Kirika:
I pushed open the doors to Totetsumonari Kyuuden with a rueful grin on my face. Kuja was in the front foyer holding a book in his hands. I knew what it was: his journal. So, he found my little secret out. But that was nothing compared to what Kuja kept from me.
"What do you think you are doing, Kirika?" He snapped, his pale blue eyes shifting between its normal color and crimson.
"What do you care anyways, Kuja?" I asked, motioning at his journal.
"You are no longer allowed to step foot out of this palace, Kirika."
I snorted and turned back towards the door. A rough hand seized me by the shoulder, shoving me backwards. I hit the door reeling. Kuja looked at me with a terrible grin.
"Tell me, Kuja, why did you keep my mother a secret from me?" I hissed, picking myself off of the ground.
Kuja grimaced.
"Your mother wants nothing to do with you, Kirika. You should know that now that you read my journal," He snapped.
"I pray that you haven't lied to me all these years. Why can't I remember my past?"
There was nothing but silence from Kuja at my question. I stood up and brushed my robes off.
"You can't answer me, can you Kuja?? You've lied to me and you know it. I hate you!" I shouted.
Kuja wound up his arm and attempted to strike me. I caught his hand in mid air and twisted it. Kuja's lips turned up in rueful grimace.
"So now you plan to go off on your own with the Life Crystal and the small amount of magic you have. Well, just go Kirika!"
I released his arm and bit my lip. This wasn't supposed to happen with Kuja. Not now. But I found that I didn't care. I gathered up my cloak and stormed out of the palace…only to come face to face with Zidane Tribal. I didn't bother to turn to see Kuja's reaction; I could see his ugly grin in my mind.
"Lady Kirika Tribal, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Queen Garnet and for the murder of Beatrix and Steiner," Zidane declared.
I kept silent as soldiers came forward and bound my wrists with ropes. I turned around and glared at Kuja.
"You ungrateful bastard!" I shouted.
Kuja snorted and brushed his silvery hair out of his face.
"I am indeed grateful to you, Kirika. But Zidane would rather deal with your presence himself," He hissed.
Several rough hands grabbed me from behind, dragging me away from Totetsumonari Kyuuden. An airship descended in front of us, with one of its cargo hatches open to greet us. The soldiers hoisted me off of the ground and into the cargo bay. The last thing I heard was Kuja's horrible laughter.
Hours Later
Kirei:
"I have contact with Kirika, Mikoto. She's in the Alexandrian Royal Family's custody," I muttered to the lake in front of me. Mikoto's face stared back up at me, her thin lips twisted in a frown.
"So Kuja betrayed her after all. It's your job to boost things up, Kirei," She said softly.
I yawned and shifted my weight from side to side.
"Even if it takes breaking her out of the dungeons, Mikoto?" I asked.
She nodded.
"See that you put some stress on the child. Just enough to make her snap."
And with that, she left. I didn't really like having to do Mikoto's dirty work, but it was the only way to fulfill my conquest. I stole away from the lakeshore away from the fountain and to the right side of the castle. Surprisingly, there were no guards posted at this particular entrance. I found it strange. Maybe the guard was focused around Zidane or Garnet.
I walked down the steps quietly until I emerged into the dungeons of Alexandria Castle. In the middle platform, was a woman, chained from head to foot. I recognized her as the infamous Lady Kirika Tribal. Her clothes were torn and her body sagged greatly under the weight of the chains. She was bleeding from her face and from gashes in her arms. A lone guard stood by the end of the platform staring down upon the proud girl disdainfully.
"You killed both of our generals and yet you still remain proud, even through the worst punishment. I wish you would die."
Kirika snorted, rattling her chains as she sat down. I eased into the shadows quietly, moving to the guard's position.
"I don't care about what you think of me," Kirika hissed.
The guard yanked one of the chains, upsetting her current position. For a second, I felt sorry for the little girl. She didn't deserve this kind of punishment. But before I could move to take out the guard, Queen Garnet entered the dungeons. I glanced up at her face and saw anger, and satisfaction. The fact that the person who murdered both Beatrix and Steiner was here delighted me. Kirika hissed and moved away from the Queen as far as the chains would allow.
"How do you like your new name?" Garnet asked.
"Don't you have something better to do?" Kirika snapped.
"I would like nothing better than to let you know how low you are now. Oh and by the way, I believe someone will be down to take the Life Crystal from you," Garnet hissed.
"You are Heartless, like they say!"
"Heartless? Heartless! How dare you, Kirika! It was your father who killed my mother and my people. Maybe you should redefine your opinion of Heartlessness."
"That man is not my father! He lied to me about my parents!"
Tears were running down Kirika's dirty face. At last, she was despaired beyond belief.
"Ah so you found your parents. Isn't it a shame that they hate you? I knew your mother, Kirika. They are ashamed of you and your darkness. After all, you naively resurrected Kuja because you believe he was your father," Garnet said softly.
Kirika stayed silent. But I could tell she was hurting deeply from the Queen's comments. Come on, Kirika. Show me the power of the Life Crystal, I thought as I sat there. All of a sudden, Kirika jumped up from her resting position, crossing the distance between her and Garnet easily and slapping her across the cheek. The guard tried to pull her back, but the damage was already done. Garnet fell back, holding her cheek in a fit of pain.
"You may do what you want to her, Robert," (A/N: Random soldier name.) She hissed as she walked out of the room.
I looked away from the platform as cries of pain echoed off of the ceilings of the castle.
Kirika:
I silently prayed that this would stop. I suddenly wished that the pain would fade away and then, I would be free. I could hear the guard's heavy breathing as he cut and bruised me violently. I bit back my cries as best as I could and prayed to the gods above to take my soul. Why couldn't be my soul be liberated? I want to die? I fell onto the floor, barely breathing and barely feeling anything. Scenes of my life flashed by my eyes, generating tears from my already swollen eyes. I couldn't die. I had to live…I had to…
"Live!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs.
Power flowed out from my body, spiraling upward into the air. I got to my feet and roared, severing the chains from my body. I blinked as my body took on a silver glow and the cuts and bruises that lined my body were gone.
"Someone help me!" The guard shouted.
I spun around and grabbed his neck roughly. He gasped and clawed at my hand desperately as the youth from his body vanished. After a few seconds of fruitless gasping, he fell limp. I released his neck and looked at my hands. Did they just sap the life force out of the man? A smirk crossed my face. Perhaps I would enjoy snapping Garnet's neck after all.
Mikoto:
I didn't have to see or hear that Kirika had acquired the power of trance. I knew it was bound to happen, but I was surprised when I felt the presence of something else in her aura. I hope what was said in Zidane's letter wasn't true. Especially if the Life Crystal was involved.
"Everything's falling together now."