Author's Note: Thank you so much for reviewing! I feel so loved! Enjoy!
Sosei, Reincarnation's Sequel
Chapter 3-The Big Lindblum Ball
Alexandria Castle
Kuja:
I paced around the entrance to the Airship hanger on the tenth floor slowly. Kirika was still out in that mist and she wasn't answering her cell phone. If she would have died…
"Kuja!"
I turned to face Kirei with a frown.
"What is it?"
"Everyone has been safely loaded into the Invincible. We are ready to go on your word."
My word…huh?
"Let us go."
Kirei seemed to hesitate for a moment before walking down the hallway. I was counting on Kirika to show up before we absolutely had to leave. I started down the hallway after Kirei and crossed into the indoor airship dock.
"Wait!"
I turned around sharply, only to see a limp Kirika in a man's arms.
"How did you…" I trailed off.
"I'll tell you while were in the ship."
Invincible:
The moment we began to enter the Invincible, the ground shook violently under our feet. I fell to the bottom of the walkway and groaned. Now what? The man and Kirika fell beside me roughly and that was when I noticed Kirika's face. There was the pale outline of vines spread all over her face and they appeared to be glowing.
"Damned…the roots of Iifa are out of control."
Kirika:
I found myself in a blue field surrounded by strange and distorted trees. There seemed to be no sky to this land; there was only blue light. Somehow, it seemed quite comforting to me. I had to wonder if this was the 'Terra' Kuja talked about all the time.
"Is this the first time you have seen this land?"
I turned around and saw a little girl with dirty blonde hair dressed in a blue jumpsuit.
"Um…yeah," I whispered.
"Are you afraid, child of Iifa?"
"Child of Iifa…?"
The girl smiled and spread her arms out wide.
"The Iifa connects Terra to Gaia. Even now, the destroyed Iifa still breathes life into Terra."
She pointed to the mark on my chest and smiled.
"You are that life. Garland's trying to steal it from you."
"Is that why I felt the pain earlier?" I asked.
The girl smiled.
"I can't tell you exactly."
Kirika! The Iifa Roots are out of control!
I blinked and glanced upward. The girl giggled.
"Your father needs help, child of Iifa. Go back and awaken!"
Kuja:
Kirika's body jerked violently and sat up, gingerly. I got to my feet and helped her up. She groaned and smoothed her hair back. The rumblings underneath the castle ceased instantly as she did so. I touched her shoulder, looking her over calmly.
"Kirika, are you ok?" The man asked.
"Invincible, voice recognition pattern theta," Kirika muttered, motioning for us to go inside.
"Welcome Lady Kirika," chimed the Invincible.
Kirika:
I smirked and strode up to the cockpit quickly. I was a bit dizzy from the after effects of the poison gas, but I had to fly the Invincible.
"Invincible, power up engines one and two and begin dock exiting sequence," I ordered as I stepped onto the circle pod that served as the Invincible's steering controls and sighed.
Chaos seemed to be Alexandria's middle name lately, which was now proved by the coming of the poison mist. I guess more lives were sacrificed for our safety and Garland's greed. The girl in my dreams said that he was sapping the life from me. But that would take away the life from Terra. I rested my hand on my chest softly, knowing the vine-covered birthmark lay under it. I had the heart of the Iifa within me…or more or less, I was the heart of the Iifa. I would go so far as to say I was Iifa's child. I felt a small rumble and then the small turning of the ship northward.
"Invincible, set a course for Neo Lindblum."
Two Hours Later
Neo Lindblum
Kirika:
I breathed in Neo Lindblum's fresh air and grinned softly. It felt good to be back on solid ground again and without someone's help. The citizens of Alexandria thought I suffered from some injury made several offers to carry me out of the Invincible. I admit it was kind and sweet, but I didn't need the help. I sat outside the door leading to the airship dock, waiting for the others to gather. I had sent word for Melinda about an hour ago, so it was just a waiting game for me.
"Thank goodness your alive, Kirika!"
Speak of the devil. I turned around and got a big hug from my sister. I didn't bother to struggle due to the fact that Melinda only squeezed tighter if I dared to do so.
"I told you that I was ok earlier, Melinda," I said softly.
Melinda let me up slowly and nodded.
"You know that I have a hard time believing you."
"Melinda, do you have enough room for my people?" Zidane asked.
I knew that Zidane was going to mention our housing problem sooner or later.
"Of course I do. Let me go show you the area."
And with that, the others left, leaving Kuja and me alone in the hallway.
"You are bothered about something aren't you?"
I glanced at my father through the corner of my eye. I really wasn't in the mood to talk about my weird dreams or about the Iifa's strange reaction. But, as always with Kuja, I had no choice.
"I'm just a little dizzy from my exposure to the gas, that's all," I answered.
"Ah, but there is something more to it, isn't there?"
"I saw Terra in my dreams, Kuja."
Kuja's expression seemed to darken at my voice. There was fear hidden behind those beautiful blue eyes. What he was fearing exactly, I wasn't sure.
"Hmm…a sign."
"A sign?"
Kuja shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. I'm going now. Wait for Melinda, understand?"
Why was he avoiding the subject about Terra?
"Father, I wanted to tell you about—"
"Enough, Kirika."
Kuja stormed off down the hallway disappearing from sight. I blinked and shook my head slowly. I doubted I would be hearing from Kuja in a while, especially if his mood stayed like this.
Kuja:
I slammed the door to my study hard and locked it. I let a sigh of relief and moved to the windows on the other side. Kirika had a dream about Terra. What was the cause of it now? The poison gas? The Iifa? I didn't want her to go through it yet. At least, I wished. Now she knew that Garland was sapping energy from her. And maybe, she knew the secret behind her and Iifa's roots. I shook my head and ran my fingers through my silver hair. I wanted my daughter to stay as innocent as possible, but that wish wasn't going to be fulfilled now. I was back at square one and now I had to second guess Garland to get back on top.
Since he had flushed me out of Alexandria, he had the advantage. And now, I had to wonder what Mikoto was up to. I pushed my windows open and whistled loudly. The rush of beating wings sounded and then Silver's mighty head appeared in my window. I reached out and stroked her head lovingly, getting the idea of travel in my head. (A/N: Silver's thoughts are in italics.)
"Silver, let's go to Burmecia. I have some business to attend to there," I muttered while climbing out of the window and onto her back.
But Kuja…our presence will not be welcome there.
"I am aware of that, but my precious documents are in that estate, Silver."
I understand.
Burmecia:
The moment I stepped into town, everyone stared at me. Some people growled and made gestures while the others gazed. For some mysterious reason, I wanted to laugh and scream in their faces, but that madness was far behind me. Now I was content to wallow in their stares and jeers. In other words, I had changed, but not that much.
"Come, Silver," I said, easily walking through the path the stunned people made.
I could tell by the clicking pattern on the tiles that Silver was following me slowly. I had a feeling that she would have a word about my actions later. I wonder what my punishment will be this time. Hmm…perhaps mauling? (A/N: For those who are wondering, Silver isn't bloodthirsty or anything, she's just motherly. And mauling is just like spanking.)
"Kuja, what in the nine hells are you doing?"
I blinked and found myself face to face with Freya, Burmecia's only dragon knight with seemingly nine lives. Why do I say that? Well, you go ahead and count how many times I've tried to kill her.
"Well, let's see, I'm walking through the square, minding my own business and trying to get to my estate," I said softly.
"You have a lot of nerve, Kuja. You could have been killed on sight."
I shrugged and pushed past her softly.
"And you think I'm afraid of death? I mean, it has been pretty pissed at me lately. But still, do you?" I asked.
"You are a strange man, Kuja," Freya commented.
"I know."
I pushed open the iron gates in front of me and found myself on the grounds of my Burmecian estate. I walked up the front path quickly, knowing that I had a certain time limit before anyone would miss me. I opened the front door and walked inside, leaving it open for Silver to guard.
"Kuja, wait."
I turned around and frowned at Freya.
"Are you here to tell me anything else?" I asked, while picking up a stack of papers from a nearby table.
"No, I'm just curious. What is the real reason for you being here?"
"Alexandria was attacked by Garland earlier. He used a poison mist to flush us out," I muttered while looking through the stack.
"How did Garland come back? I thought he was dead."
I smiled softly.
"That's just the thing. We all thought he was until a couple years ago."
I sat the rest of the stack down and gazed at the smaller stack I now had. At the top of the papers read, 'Kuja's Theory'. Just what I was looking for, I thought with a devilish grin.
"What is supporting him?" Freya asked.
"Kirika is, I suppose. There is no real way to prove it right now," I lied.
I knew exactly what was supporting Garland. True, in a sense it really was Kirika, but there had to be something else he was clinging to Gaia for. And maybe, my theory provided the answers I needed.
Neo Lindblum Grand Castle
Kirika:
I was in the most relaxing bath water in all of Gaia and it felt great! It helped me feel much better, especially from the aftermath the poison gas had on my body.
"I told you it would make you feel better."
I glared at Melinda, who was standing in the space behind the bathtub. She was supposed to be performing her royal duties, but instead, she wanted to play bath servant to me. How embarrassing.
"I don't need you here, Melinda," I muttered.
Right now, my throat was content with giving me trouble. I guess that within a few hours, my voice would be completely gone.
"Nonsense. I have to get you prepared for the Lindblum Ball tonight."
Great, more stress. I wasn't sure what I liked more: the poison gas or the stress of ballroom dancing. Melinda gingerly lifted my hair out of the water and wrapped it in a soft towel.
"I promise nothing will go wrong, Kirika. So…do you have a date for the ball?"
A date?
"No, of course not," I answered nervously.
"Well, do you have someone you like?"
Sure, that was Myou. But…he didn't like me like that.
"Ooh! It's a cute boy named Myou? That's just excellent, Kirika!"
I blushed and groaned. I forgot Melinda was a psychic. Melinda laughed and held out a terry cloth blue robe. I took this as my cue to get out of the two, and I did so. Melinda waited until I had my robe safely secured before opening the door.
"I'm going to show you your dress and then I have to leave you down there to take care of important matters. Is that ok with you?"
I nodded and followed her down the hallway and into a room with double doors sealing it off. The room was filled with dresses of all kinds, from ballroom to casual.
"They are all so beautiful," I whispered.
Melinda smiled and took a dress down from the wall. It was lavender with small feathers lining the sleeves and where the dressed opened in the front. She sat it down across a small chair and took something else down from the wall.
"These are the sleeves."
The ends were lined with small feathers that seemed to shine all on their own. (A/N: The sleeves are kimono-like and the idea for this dress came from Yuna's wedding dress in FFX and from a dress I saw in a catalog somewhere weird, huh?)
"Ah, Melinda, good to see you!"
A small dwarf walked up to us, wearing a huge smile on its face.
"Good timing, Mae. Listen, could you get my sister in her dress while I take care of other matters?" Melinda asked.
"Sure."
And with that, she left.
"You are a lucky girl, Kirika. Most people would kill to wear this dress," Mae commented.
"I don't feel so lucky," I muttered.
Mae laughed and took me in the back of the room. Moments later, I had the beautiful lavender dress on. And for a moment, I felt as beautiful as it was.
"This is some guy's lucky day isn't it?"
Yeah…Myou's.
Kuja:
I had just crawled through the study's window when a knock came at the door. I waved at Silver, which was basically the sign for 'hunt and rest' and unlocked the door. It swung open and I found myself face to face with Kirei. She yawned and pushed her way in.
"You look tired," I commented.
"You look guilty."
Ha…nice one, Kirei.
"So, what are you up here for?" I asked.
"Melinda, sent me up here to remind you about the ball. Remember, you have that part with Kirika in the opening dance."
Ah, yes. Although I really, really didn't want to wear a suit and tie, I owed it to Kirika. Damn my luck…
"Tell Melinda that I'll be ready in a few minutes," I muttered.
"Sure."
And with that, Kirei left. I glanced the stack of papers I brought back and headed to the guest wing. So much for looking at my theory.
The Beginning of the Ball
Kirika:
Having a veil over my face wasn't exactly fun, but thankfully, it did nothing to my eyesight. I stood out in the middle of the ballroom floor with the other dancers and stared at the guys chosen to dance with them. I knew that Garnet and Zidane were somewhere in the lineup, for the guys had to wear masks to cover their faces. Maybe that was why Kuja was so irritable.
"I don't believe this!"
Nah, maybe it was the appearance of his tail that bothered him so.
"Is everyone ready?" Melinda asked.
"I doubt nothing will stop us now," I commented.
"Follow me then."
She separated from her partner and twirled away lightly. I followed her motions carefully, tailoring each move to my ability. Dancing in hells was a bit hard to do, even though I had walked in them for most of my life. I barely noticed the other's movements as Melinda and I started into our own technical patterns. I slid to my left and held my hands up to the sky and began my own special dance that started with my hips on down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Musouka motioning for us to wrap up the dance. I ran slowly back to Kuja and accepted his out stretched hand. He promptly lifted me into the air gently and spun me around. I held back a small giggle as he sat me back down to the glassy floor. And then, it was over just like that. Melinda grabbed and dragged me out of the ballroom quickly. I took off my veil and blinked as she fished some makeup out of her purse.
"I can't let you see Myou without the finishing touches on," She said excitedly.
I bit my lip softly and let her put on whatever one wanted on. When she was finished, she held a mirror up.
"Like it?"
The face I saw in the mirror was different…and beautiful. I had never looked so beautiful in my life.
"Thank you, Melinda," I whispered.
Melinda grinned and opened the door to the ballroom.
"He's on the outside balcony."
I took a deep breath and walked inside. People stared at me as I walked past with hopeful smiles on their faces. I opened the door ahead and walked out.
"Hey there."
I stopped myself from blushing and looked at Myou's face.
"Long time no see," I said as calmly as I could.
"You look absolutely beautiful, tonight."
"You mean it?"
Myou put his arm around my waist and brought me to the edge of the platform.
"Of course I do. You are quite beautiful, Kirika."
We sat in silence for a few moments before he turned to face me.
"I owe you this…"
He reached down and kissed me softly on the lips. I blinked, not knowing how to react to it. When he had leaned away, I let out a small sigh.
"I a-apologize. I didn't mean to—"
"No, it's not that! I mean…please don't be sorry," I whispered.
Myou chuckled softly and turned his gaze out to the horizon.
"That was your first kiss, wasn't it?" He asked.
"Yeah. I don't have too many men flocking for my attention. I am a genome after all."
"They are fools for not seeing your true beauty. You are a rare find, Kirika. A rare find."
"I heard you saved me from the gas today. I am deep within your debt," I muttered.
Myou shook his head.
"You saved me, or at least the Iifa roots did. After you passed out, they just formed some kind of airtight seal around us."
Heh, they protected the child of the Iifa, that's all. I smiled.
"Kiss me again, please."
"Gladly."
Author's Note: Hmm…I know it seems like I jump point of views a lot. Sorry about that. Also, there is a variation between poison gas and mist, another apology. And this is the one chapter I get to play around with. The rest include action, action and more action!