Author's Note: *just waking up from what appears to have been a long nap* ...Hi, everyone! Angel of Death 87, Shadow66, you guys have GOT to learn patience. Have I ever failed to produce an off-balance chapter somewhere during a fic? Have I ever failed to give you a halfway decent storyline? Yes... I think it was called "Don't Love Me"... No, Shadow, I hadn't already written it yet. You haven't missed it. Unless you live in the year 2005, in a world where chaos is law and law is pizza... (ask my cousins, I have NO idea).
Senya Starseeker... stop, you're making me blush! Yep, I'm a Grade 7 authoress... I forgot I mentioned that. I have the book you referred to, but I have yet to read it... I'll have to get around to that. I'm somewhat lazy... Oh, and I am VERY VERY VERY... *goes on for an hour or so* ...VERY proud of this fic!
Neko... nothing desperate! I updated! See? Update! Get away from that thing... whatever it is. Wait... are you... isn't that the angry mob from BbL? *Neko nods* ...They're all tied up... and you have... a microphone... OH NO! Neko, NO! *Neko starts singing* *mob screams and writhes in pain* ...Darn. Just when they were about to become reviewers, too... Oh, well... let me help... *grabs a microphone and sings along* *random guy is crying... and those ain't tears of joy* So... was that the drastic thing you were talking about? *Neko: No...* O.o
Misunderstood, I happen to enjoy cliffhangers... if you couldn't tell. Unless a certain authoress decides to discontinue her fic after a cliffhanger... *takes a moment to glare at Twilight's Star* ...hey, Unknown Heaven was an excellent fic... but I was talking to Misunderstood over here... thanks for reviewing again! I do say, you've become quiet loyal!
And TS... sorry your computer was being an ass. The one I use for typing gets that way, too... it's good for typing, using the scanner, printing (when it wants to), playing cheap games (the ones that come with movies, and promo games), DVD (again, when it wants to), and not a whole lot else. It gets "tired" and freezes randomly. And the laptop is slow-ish (I know I've complained about that a lot... ^^;), but at least it gets internet. You can't send the review? Yep, happened to me before. Many a time. I tried to review Misunderstood's fic yesterday AND I COULDN'T.
DESERT PALACE
I looked at him. "You're lying." He shook his head. "...Not at all. That's all I have... to tell." An awkward moment of silence fell between us. He was... finished? How could that be possible? It would mean... my time with Kuja was... over? How was that even possible...? "Then... what will become of me?" I thought out loud, pulling him into my arms in an almost subdued mood. "What will become of me... now that I don't have you to allude me from my past?" I asked, as he sat unmoving in my embrace. "...Blase... you don't have to leave..." he said, and I twinged from the sound of hope in his voice. "You don't have to leave me... you could stay. I... I have to go somewhere, but I'll be home soon... and I could tell you all about it!" I looked down, and saw bright eyes sparkling with tears. He knew I couldn't stay. He knew already what I would have to do. "Kuja... I'm sorry." I said simply, wiping away a dancing tear that dared to stain his delicate cheek. He was really more of a friend than a lover.
"...Then... you're going back to Jani?" he asked. I nodded. "Kuja, someone gave you a second chance... I'll give her this last chance. Something in your story... made me realize... maybe someone needs to listen to hers." But his words played back through my head again... "Don't leave me. I need you more than you know." "Kuja... about what you said a few nights ago... I'm sorry. But I have to leave." I finished sadly. He shook his head, smiling. "You're right, Blase. You have to go. She misses you... you and I both know that... and we both knew we couldn't stay together. But at least... at least this way, I can visit you... it's much better than suicide, wouldn't you agree?" he teased, smiling warmly. Gods, but I would miss him. "...So this is it, then?" I said softly, touching his cheek gently. He nodded. "This is goodbye." he finished, and I didn't hear any sadness at all in his voice. I'd miss my storyteller, but I knew in my heart I wouldn't regret leaving him for Janira Razhal.
I looked at Kuja again, knowing it would be a long time before I saw him again. That silver hair fell over his shoulders and my own hand on his face. Without his makeup, his eyes stood out vividly, deeper than an ocean and finally without pain. The sheets clung to his body from the static electricity, showing off his curves. His tail, which had been twisted around my ankle, finally released it and went back to swishing placidly. "...I'm leaving in the morning, Blase..." he said softly, then looked away. "...So soon?" I asked, knowing I was leaving at the same time. Why bother to stay... the life he brought with him everywhere would be gone. He closed his eyes. "...One more story." he whispered. "I need to think of one more story... I have to." A sparkling tear slipped down his cheek, staying on his lip for a brief moment before finishing its course. "I have to keep you here for just a while longer..." he finished, opening his eyes again. "K-kuja... I... I'll stay without a story... I'll stay just for you." Silence fell between us again. Before long, Kuja whispered something to me... singing. I don't remember what he sang, exactly.
But I remember one of the lines he sang...
"You always reached out to me... and helped me believe-all those memories we shared, I will cherish every one of them..."
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Kuja left for Terra the next day, to face off with Garland and Zidane. He left me with a promise... "Blase, I'll come back. I promise."
Come with me, I'm fading underneath the lights... come with me... come with me... come with me now...
Kuja... you promised you'd never lie to me.
Author's Note: Short, very. But it's a closing chapter. The next chapter will be longer. Because it's beautiful. And it's the last one. Damn.