Author's Note: Last chapters coming up.
Tainted Feathers
Chapter 9-Evil Inside (You know, it's kind of like Intel Inside. *old running joke*)
Kuja's Hospital Room
Zoë:
It seemed like forever before I made up my mind to use my novice powers. By using them, I knew that I would see Kuja's most private memories. I knew he wouldn't like the idea, so I didn't bother to ask him before. I slowly made my way to his hospital bed, being very careful not to wake him. I touched his forehead softly, collecting myself for what I was going to see next. And truly, nothing human could protect me from what I did see next.
There were blue skies and a barren planet all in front of me and I saw Kuja. Yes, little Kuja staring forlornly at the sky with tears in those perfect cerulean eyes. At first, all I felt was grief, but that quickly changed when I saw the next scene. Now I was looking in on the cockpit of some kind ship or vehicle. There was Kuja once again; only he appeared much older, like he was today. He was juggling something in his hands idly and kept his gaze on an old gray man in front of him.
"So now you've mastered the higher end spells," The old man hissed.
Kuja idly tossed the balls of energy behind their back where they instantly vanished.
"So now you decide to acknowledge my presence, Garland."
Garland…how interesting. The next scene was back on the barren planet on the top of some kind of platform. Kuja was dressed in red, like in the dream I had. Off to the side was a small group of people and Garland. Kuja's expression was a complete mixture of emotions I had never seen before: anger, sorrow, horror and some I couldn't identify.
"I am not failure! And I will not die! I am immortal, and I shall prove it!"
He sounded like a frightened child. I dropped my focus and backed away calmly. What if Kuja really was just a child inside? Based on the little bit of information I had seen, this fact was pretty oblivious. I sighed and opened the door to his room. I would have Kuja ready to go in the morning. It was time for him to leave this place.
10:47 P.M.
Kuja:
It seemed my memories wouldn't let me be this evening. I suppose my body had a good reason to remind me. My beautiful silver hair was almost gone; I had only two precious silver feathers left. The rest were blood red…a fitting color for what was about to come. I could almost feel trance looming over my back with an ugly smile. It wanted flesh. It wanted blood. I got out of bed slowly and stood up. For a moment, my legs wobbled. I hated inactivity more than ever now. It just made me weaker.
Even though I was a black mage at heart, I still kept my body finely tuned. But those were the old days. Heh, during the new days, Kuja's probably likely to die of being overweight. Ha, now that was something Zidane could laugh at. I shrugged and slipped on the clothes Zoë left out for me. I could stand a little walking outside. The nurses always thought it was a good idea. When I had everything buttoned up and secure, I stepped out into the hospital hallway.
It was very quiet, as expected. I walked down to the elevator as quietly as I could and pressed the down button. The elevator doors open immediately and for a moment, I hesitated. I was well…slightly afraid to go into those damned boxes. I swallowed my pride and stepped inside. The doors closed behind me, 'sealing' me inside the elevator. I gulped and pressed the 'L' button. The elevator immediately began to descend and for a few moments, I was nervous. When the elevator finally stopped, I left out a sigh of relief.
The doors opened and I calmly walked out, heading to the sensor doors. The moment I exited the hospital, I felt lighter. Maybe hospitals were houses of death. I mean…people die everyday here. Death…what a subject. Wasn't it looming over my shoulder?
"Surprise, surprise…"
I whipped around violently, not in the mood for games or jokes. Little did I know when I caught sight of Michael.
"Back for more insults?" I asked, keeping my voice calm and controlled.
Michael smirked.
"I'm surprised you would step out of the hospital alone. Where's your little Zoë?"
"Are you jealous?"
Michael laughed.
"Once I do away with you, she will be mine."
Uh-oh, old habits rising…
"Don't fool yourself, mortal. The canary doesn't want you and she's not a fool," I snapped, almost busting out in laughter.
Michael blinked and brought something out from behind his back.
"You're the fool."
Zoë:
Somehow, I knew something was wrong with Kuja. It was a gut feeling now. When I tried to go to sleep, I was met with the image of an empty hospital room. I needed to get back there now. I grabbed my keys off of the table and rushed out of my house and into the car. As I started the car, I couldn't help but feel like I was going to relive something. But what?
Minutes Later:
I got out of the car as fast as I could, trying to stop anything horrible from happening…
"You are the fool for thinking you can win, Kuja. Now say goodbye," Michael shouted as he drew something black out.
A cold feeling snaked down my spine at the sight of it. This was just like in my dream…only I could stop this. I could stop Kuja from trancing.
"No! Stop it!" I shrieked, starting to run towards Kuja.
However, my plan didn't work. The gun fired and one bullet found its way through my love's chest. At first, Kuja's expression did not change, but that change when he started coughing up blood. I was rooted to that spot, unable to move or even think. All I could see was the bullet entering and leaving his chest over and over. The gun fired again and his body danced with each exit until it finally hit the ground. I couldn't believe I was crying. Michael laughed and approached me carefully.
"Oh, my dear, look what he has bought himself…the sweet smell of death. And you are mine again."
"You are insane," I shrieked.
Michael grabbed my arm and shook me roughly.
"Yes, but Michael is not as insane as me."
That voice sounded like Kuja's, but it was hollow and something else was underlining it. That's when I saw him. Kuja was completely covered in red fur, except for the area around his smooth belly button and his feet were cat-like. A long orange tiger-striped tail snaked out from him elegantly. But those eyes—those powerful red eyes—held no love, just hatred. So this was trance. But what about that inner pain Kuja felt? Michael whipped around; surprised that Kuja would appear like this.
On instinct, he raised the gun again. Kuja's eyes narrowed as he focused on the gun. For a moment, Michael actually dropped it on the ground. When he tried to pick it up, Kuja kneed him in the stomach.
"Come on, little human. Do you want your little toy gun? Come get it, then."
He kicked the gun out of Michael's reach and smirked. He continued with kicking the gun out of the way game viciously until he caught of my expression. It was then that he hesitated and Michael snatched the gun. With a grin, he was on his feet again. With the barrel of the gun pointed at Kuja's face. Kuja did not flinch, in fact, he smiled.
"Fire, mortal. Fire, if you think you are bad enough," He taunted.
The gun fired, but it missed him entirely. Instead, I felt a small thing in the center of my chest. Time seemed to slow down as I looked at my chest. There was a small bloody hole where inch resided. A garbled groan escaped from my mouth as I fell backwards. Kuja's face went paler than ever as he realized what Michael had done.
Kuja:
I was confused…empty…gone. The love of my love was dying at the hands of the bullet meant for my body. A tear slid down my cheek subconsciously and I wiped it away. The one time I actually had a child waiting for me and it was snatched away from me. Some maniacal twist of fate had robbed all I cared for.
"I love you, Kuja, with all my heart."
Don't leave me behind, Zoë. Please…don't…I need you!
"I'm having your child, Kuja."
But it's dead now…it's gone…because of Michael. Michael! The realization of just who killed her swept over me like an ocean breeze. I was suddenly filled with rage. Rage for Zoë's death and the premature death of my developing child. A smirk eased across my lips as I faced him.
"What to play another game, mortal?" I asked.
Michael dropped the gun and started running down the empty street. I let out a roar that sounded much like a shriek and floated up into the air.
"My grief shall not be abated, fool. I'll make sure you burn in hell for her death!"
Zoë:
Through my dying eyes, I saw Kuja's brilliant form streak down the street. To him, I was probably dead and far-gone. In a sense, I was half gone. Through the small contact I had with Kuja, I could feel his pain…and his horror. He was just a child in a man's body. Please Kuja…don't hurt him. There was a mighty explosion that sent dozens of fiery pillars up into the sky. The pillars swirled around each other and merged into one single unit. Buildings vanished into the fiery mist, never to come back again. Just as quickly as it had come, the fiery pillar vanished. Where was Kuja? Did he die in the fire? Maybe he couldn't handle living anymore. I prayed that this wasn't true…that he was still alive.
"Kuja," I whispered.
All of a sudden, a person walked out of the fire and onto the street.
Kuja:
The heat from the fire was almost comforting to my dying heart. Of course, using Ultima put me on a dying trend. My precious red feathers had already begun to fall out. I suppose it was a fitting end to me. So why didn't I let myself parish in the flames? The reason was right in front of me in the form of my love, lying on the sidewalk with a pool of blood forming under her. Her life was gone…snuffed completely out. Not even the power of the Life Crystal shard I had in my body could reverse that.
But somehow I thought killing Michael would redeem that. The slight whine of sirens pierced the night air miles away from this location. They were headed here, I guessed by the keenness of my ears. I knelt down beside Zoë's body calmly as I could. I admit I was afraid to touch her still body. I was afraid that if I did touch it, I would die too. It was an irrational fear indeed. I picked up her body and hugged her close. In ways, I was still a child, reaching for attention and love. It began to rain softly at first; seemingly matching the pace of my tears, and then it grew heavier.
"Kuja, see what the rains have brought?"
I sighed, knowing that the Iifa was back again.
"Back to torment me?" I snapped.
The Iifa stepped out in front of me.
"Torment? How can I torment a man who is crying over his fallen love?"
"I'm not an idiot, Iifa. If you want me back in Gaia, then I'll go. There's nothing here for me anymore."
"You give up so easily, Kuja. But that's to be expected during the test."
"Test?"
At the mention of the word 'test', my lips curled up into a snarl. When the Iifa noticed my reaction, she smiled.
"Zoë is not dead, Kuja. She was more like a sacrifice so that you could unlock your true feelings. In a way, it was a test."
I touched Zoë's cheek with my hand and sighed.
"But she's dead. Did you count on that?" I asked.
The Iifa reached her hand out to Zoë's body.
"In a sense, she's not really dead."
All of a sudden, Zoë's body shook as a rattling gasp escaped her mouth. Two brown eyes peered up at me, filled with love and compassion.
"I thought you were dead," I whispered.
"I'm more worried about you. I was afraid you would kill yourself."
Well…I was pretty close to doing it. I helped her sit up carefully and nuzzled against her.
"I was so scared of losing you, Zoë. So scared that I killed him out of spite and anger. I-I thought it would bring you back, but I was wrong."
Zoë looked up into my eyes and smiled.
"It's ok, Kuja. I know you didn't mean to hurt him. I know how much you love me. I just want you to tell me when things bother you."
Be prepared to listen for weeks and weeks on end. Nevertheless, I nodded through my tears. Zoë whispered soothing words and proceeded to kiss my tears away.
"I love you, Kuja."
I caught sight of the Iifa turning to leave. But before she did so, she mouthed the sentence: 'You have earned your second chance. Enjoy.' Heh, how ironic. Somehow, I was glad that I was here close to the one I loved. It made the appreciate life better, for I knew that it was so precious. And there was no other place I'd rather be than here with my love. No other…