Author's Note: Sorry for the wait. Emotional problems do come in threes. Um…so enjoy!

Tainted Feathers

Chapter 4-A Look at Love, pt.2

Zoë:

          Ikaga ryoukin temae, shan ranpu site sono sora. That sounded like a meaningful phrase. I didn't know Kuja was so deep. After an hour or so, my living room went completely silent. I poked my head around the corner and saw Kuja floating up near the ceiling with little Alexi curled up in his arms. He looked so much like a father up there…

Kuja:

          I watched Alexi's placid, relaxed expression and sighed. She was so precious…so innocent. I still envied her greatly. I wondered if Zoë felt like going for a walk on the beach. Maybe I could fly her over there. I flexed my arm again, noting how quickly energy bubbled up and vanished. Ah, that was good. I would have more than enough power to do what I wanted. A small chime echoed down the hall, cutting through the silence I had originally generated in the room.

          "Kuja, come down and be polite, Lena hasn't seen you before," Zoë shouted.

          I smirked and dropped to the floor gently. Manners were the one thing I could not manipulate to my liking (I've never liked kissing ass). The front door swung open with a small hiss and I watched calmly as Lena walked into the living room. She eyed me carefully, not knowing what to make of me. I was suddenly very glad I took my makeup off, although I looked horrible without it.

          "Lena, this is Kuja," Zoë said softly.

          I smiled and bowed deeply.

          "Pleased to meet you, Lena."

          Lena nodded and took Alexi from me gently. I watched her sit the small infant in the car seat and secure it.

          "She was no trouble really. Kuja's very good with children," Zoë commented.

          I shot her a glare and folded my arms. She smiled and stuck her tongue out at me while Lena's back was turned.

          "Well, Zoë. We'll talk later."

          And with that, she left. I shrugged and ran my fingers through my hair.

          "She didn't like me too much," I commented.

          Zoë sighed and shook her head.

          "Lena's just wary. She doesn't like me wasting my time on men, especially those like Michael."

          And someone like me, I suppose. I felt a pang of pain and stayed silent. I was joking if Zoë really wanted me. In order to hide my displeasure, I turned around and played with my hair absentmindedly. (A/N: My Will is by Dream, by the way.)

          Sotto Mezameru… (Quietly awakening…)

          "You're doing it again. Now tell me what's bothering you."

          I laughed.

          "Why are you worrying? I am fine."

          I heard footsteps behind me and then…a welcoming touch of my tail.

          Hakanai omoi, omoi zutto (I always, always wish)

          Donna toki demo negau yo (that these fleeting thoughts)

          Anata ni todoku you nito (would reach you…)

          I resisted the urge to purr and become soft again. Softness was not me at all. That was not Kuja; that was not the monster.

          "Kuja…please, tell me what's wrong."

          "Ato sukoshi to yuu kyori ga fumidasenakute, itsumo me no mae wa tozasarete-ita no. Aitai senai hibi wo kasaneru tabi ni, touyoi tokimeki wa setsunasa ni naru yo," I whispered.

          I could almost see Zoë's face twisting up in confusion.

          "It means roughly, 'Unable to move forward across just a little more distance, the way I see before me is always blocked. Every time the days I want to see you but can't pile up, my strong heartbeat turns to heartbreak.'"

          Silence greeted me. Just like I thought…

          "Do you want to go walk on the beach?"

          I whipped around, whipping the hurt expression from my face.

          "How are we going to get out there?" I asked with a smirk on my lips.

          Zoë shrugged.

          "Take the car, I guess."

          "Don't you want to fly?"

          "Fly? Kuja, I don't know. You said yourself that your magic wasn't fully back yet."

          I waved her statement off and headed back to the front door. I opened it and walked outside into the cool night air. Zoë appeared on my right side moments later with a concerned look on her face.

          "Are you afraid for me?" I asked softly.

          Zoë frowned. I held in my surprise at her expression. In the many hours I've been around her…I'd never seen her so serious.

          "Maybe."

          Moshimo eien to yuu mono ga aru nara (If there is such a thing as eternity)

          Toomawari shite demo shinjite mitai (I want to believe, even I have to take the long way.)

          Bukiyou dakara kizutosuku koto mo aru to (Although I know that I've been hurt before because I'm clumsy)

          Wakatte mo tomaranai mou dare ni mo makenai (I won't stop; I won't give in to anyone.)

          I smirked and floated off of the porch.

          "Do you trust me?" I asked.

          Zoë hesitated. I extended my hand out to her, beckoning her to come forth.

          Anata no koto wo smou (I think of you…and)

          Sore dake de hamida ga (that alone is enough)

          Ima afuredashite kuru yo (to make the tears start to flow now.)

          "Do you trust me?" I asked again.

          My voice was slurred with the power of my oncoming spell, making it sound as if I were drunk. Zoë touched my hand and lifted completely off of the ground.

          Hakanai omoi, omoi zutto (I always, always wish)

          Donna toki demo regau you anata ni todoku you ni to (That these fleeting thoughts would reach you…)

          "I trust you, Kuja," She whispered.

          I lead her up into the skies, making sure to stay under the clouds. A flock of seagulls flanked us, singing joyfully. I couldn't help but stare at Zoë as she floated alongside me. There was something hidden in her expression, and yet I couldn't point out what it was.

          Tsuyogaru koto dake shiri-sugite-ita watashi (I've known all too well about pretending to be strong.)

          Dakedo ano toki kara, mayoi wa kiesta yo (But since then, my doubts have vanished.)

          "Is there something wrong?"

          I smiled and turned around so that I would be floating on my back. Zoë inched closer, resting her hands on my chest.

          "Misetai to amou mono ga kitto atte, kikasetai kotoba mo takusan aru. Egao nakigao mo zenbu mite hashikute. Matte-iru watashi wa yamete," I whispered, pulling her close.

          "What does that mean?"

          "It roughly means, 'There's definitely things I want to show you, and so many words I want to hear. I want to see all sides of you, when you laugh and cry. So I'll stop waiting and seize my chance.'"

          I leaned in to kiss Zoë, but she pulled away with a smirk.

          "Chance, eh? Hmm…maybe I'll deny you," She purred and kissed me on the lips softly. I responded immediately by nibbling on her lip and turned the normal kiss into a passionate one. Sensations roamed freely up and down my body, lulling me into an almost dream-like state. So I couldn't tell when Zoë pulled away and pointed downwards.

          "There's the beach, Kuja."

          I sat up and floated down into the sand. Zoë plopped down beside me and smirked.

          "So…about Michael…" I began.

          She moved over to the edge of the beach and dropped her hands into the seawater.

          "What about him?"

          "I'm wondering about what you see in him."

          "I guess I just rely on him now. At one point, I truly loved him."

          I knelt down in the sand, although I despite sand in my clothes and on my body. In one fluid motion, Zoë pounced on me, knocking me back into the seawater/sand mixture. I grumbled, but I was quickly silenced with a kiss.

          "Zoë, you…I've never felt this way about a person before," I whispered, when she had finally moved away.

          "What do you think it is?"

          I paused for a second and brought my focus back to my body. I felt warm all over for the first time in years. Was this…love?

          "Love…?" I breathed.

          "So you love me, eh? I never would have thought."

          I sat up and locked gazes with Zoë. Behind those pale brown eyes was love, honest love. I also saw an emotion that I couldn't identity as well.

          "Yeah, I know. It's surprising isn't it? Big bad Kuja falling in love with someone like you."

          Zoë snorted.

          "Big? Bad? Hardly. You're just a sweetie inside. At least that's all you've shown me."

          I nodded and gazed up at the stars. Zoë touched my shoulder lightly and rested her head on it.

          "Ikaga ryoukin temae, shan ranpu site sono sora, right?"

          I stared at her strangely.

          "Where did you hear that?" I asked.

          "You told it to Alexi, remember?"

          "Heh, oh yeah."

          Zoë smiled and pulled me up to my feet.

          "Let us go."

Minutes later

Zoë:

          The moment I opened the front door, Kuja surprised me with a hungry kiss. I stumbled backwards somewhat from the initial shock and managed to push the door closed.

          "Zoë, do you love me?" He asked as he pulled away.

          I stared into those deep blue eyes of his and smiled. How could I deny him? Yes, it was true I loved him. I loved him more than Michael. Michael only had the mysterious personality and Kuja was…himself. For a moment, I saw the fire in his eyes falter. Passion and hope was driving Kuja on…and he was praying that I wouldn't let him down.

          "Yes, of course I love you," I whispered.

          Kuja hoisted me up into his arms and carried me into the living room. On impulse, I squirmed out of his arms and dragged him down onto my carpet. He landed with a small groan and quickly scrambled over to my side.

Author's Note: Yes, I have a rough translation of the lyrics. Kuja is actually saying some of them so you might as well say he's speaking Terran.