Author's Note: Um…Merry Early Christmas. As I've said, Kajin is a major spoiler for Sosei, but it had to be done. And yes, I'll go back to Sosei sooner or later. But I have one Final Fantasy 9 fic left to do and that's Pandora. I'm not telling you any details about that one. Just know it'll be good. Oh…and Kajin's personality is bound to frighten you. Trust me, it will. And one more thing, LeFox…would you like to do Chapter 2?

Tainted Hearts

Chapter 1: The Arrival of Kuja Makes Things Happen

Neo Alexandria

8:00 P.M.

Kuja:

          "Look at them Silver. They are completely oblivious to my second coming. To them, I'm just dead."

          "Aren't you being a little melodramatic?"

          "Hmm…maybe. Still, I must get to the castle. Or maybe…"

          "Make your decision already. I'm getting old. You don't age with every flap of your wings."

          "Actually, I'm aging with every breath I take."

          "Kuja, make your damn decision."

          "Fine, fine. Head toward the castle."

          "Ok…head toward the castle and drop you in front of that crowd of excellently trained castle guards. This should be a laugh."

          I slapped Silver on the neck as she swooped down towards the lake that separated Alexandria from Alexandria Castle. As she knelt down in unnaturally deep water, I noticed the presence of the guards.

          "Coming up, one order of wimp with a side of dragon."

          I ignored her comment as I stepped onto the path surrounding the castle.

          "Look at you, trying to be graceful. You make me sick."

          "I know how much you value your feathers, Silver," I said loudly.

          There was a snort and then nothing more. I calmly walked around in front of the castle, keeping my cool. Alexandrian guards were idiots, pure and simple. But Beatrix's battalion was lethal and most knew the forbidden spells. The moment I stepped in front of the huge double doors, a dozen guards spotted me. I froze like a chocobo in airship taillights and tried to think of a plan. I could lie…but that wouldn't be wise. Most of the guards knew me by sight. But…it was worth a try.

          "Who goes there?"

          I approached them slowly, swaying my hips seductively. Come on…fall for it.

          "I am Kiata…a missionary for Clayra. I need to see the King and Queen," I said in the most girlish voice ever.

          The male soldier's eyes literally bulged out of their heads as they took me inside. I held my snicker in as I finally arrived in…

Zoë:

          The door to the meeting room opened softly as a person who looked just like Kuja walked in. Wait…the wedding band! That was Kuja! I bit my lip to keep from uttering his name out loud. Kajin stood up calmly and narrowed her eyes. I think she noticed it too for she smiled widely. When the doors closed behind him, he let out a sigh of relief. Zidane got up and folded his arms.

          "Alexandrian guards today, eh Kuja?" He asked.

          Kuja shrugged.

          "They were horny idiots, so…I dunno."

          "Kuja, I'm glad your alive," I said softly.

          He walked over to my chair and kissed me softly on the lips.

          "Ahem," Kajin spat.

          Kuja sighed and turned towards the wall. Kajin stomped her foot down on the ground and sighed.

          "Don't try to ignore me, Kuja. Where have you been?"

          "Away…on Earth. That's all you need to know."

          I touched Kuja's arm softly, biding him to listen to his granddaughter.

          "While you were away, Mother died from a horrible backfiring incident. And you weren't there."

          That was horrible! I couldn't believe Kuja would have ignored her own daughter's death.

          "I'm sure it wasn't his fault," I said lightly.

          Kajin gave me a look that surely meant death.

          "Wasn't his fault? He was never there!"

          "Kajin," Garnet said loudly.

Kuja:

          So maybe coming to Alexandria was a bad idea. I knew Kajin would get sensitive about something. It was in her nature. But I couldn't explain the true situation around Zoë.

          "Kuja, what happened to Kajin's mother?"

          I glanced at Zoë and noticed the tearful expression on her face. Could I lie to that face?

          "It's not your business to know," I said firmly.

          Zoë flinched and bit her lip For a moment, I was tempted to continue my point, but I thought the better of it. Zoë and I had a relationship based on trust and where I was…

          "Forget it, it's still not for you to know."

Zoë:

          Ouch. Ouch didn't even describe it. I couldn't believe Kuja snapped at me for asking about Kajin's mother. Well…I wasn't about to stand for that.

          "Why are you being so secretive?" I asked.

          Kuja shrugged.

          "Zoë, I'm in no mood to argue about things that don't involve you."

          "Kuja," Zidane hissed, warning evident in his voice.

          "Why are you acting like this now? What are you trying to hide from me?"

          Instead of answering me, he opened the door and walked out. For a while, I considered throwing my ring across the room, but I thought the better of it. Still…I felt like crap, pure and simple.

          "I'll go talk to him and keep Beatrix's Battalion from ripping him apart," Zidane commented.

          I nodded weakly and stared at my hands.

          "Don't be so angry. Things like this happen sometimes," Garnet said softly.

          "But Kuja knows he can tell me anything."

          Kajin chuckled and smoothed her hair back.

          "A man will hide the truth to keep from hurting a loved one."

          All of a sudden, the door to the meeting room swung wide open.

          "You guys, I think you might want to see this," Zidane shouted.

          I frowned and sighed. This didn't sound good. Kajin gave me a worried look and followed me down the hall. In front of the castle was a large group of guards surrounding a silver-haired man. Wait…silver haired…

          "Kuja!" I shouted, trying to come to his aid. In one fluid motion, Kajin had my hand behind my back and shielded behind the door. I blinked in confusion and struggled against her grip.

          "Stop it, Zoë. If the guards knew you were in league with Kuja, they would arrest you too," She hissed.

          Arrest me for being with Kuja? That was ludacris.

          "But what about Kuja? Are we going to forsake him too?"

          Kajin smiled.

          "No, of course not."