Author's Note: Thank you for reviewing my fic, Black Mage Dad. I appreciate your support. Same thing goes to the others.
Outbreak
Chapter 3
Alexandria Castle
Zidane Tribal:
Disgust was making it extremely hard to keep my temper under control. I couldn't believe someone…set Kuja up to get sick. Dagger rested her hand on my shoulder, offering her comfort with silence.
"Zidane," Vivi muttered.
"That's not fair! Even Kuja doesn't deserve that," Eiko said softly.
"Zidane, I ran a scan on the ink contained in the document. My guess is that the virus originated in Oelivert," Mikoto muttered. (A/N: I actually forgot how to spell Oelivert. I hope it's correct.)
That was all well and good, but what about Kuja?
"What about Kuja?" I asked.
"What do you want to do about him?"
"You've read the letter, Mikoto. Anyone who is affected by that virus won't have long to live."
Mikoto shrugged.
"Then it's too late for him."
I turned around with a snarl and lunged at her. Dagger grabbed me by the waist, holding me back with all of her strength.
"How can you just dismiss his existence like that? He's your brother!" I shouted.
"Zidane," Dagger said warily.
Mikoto stared at me unflinchingly.
"It's unfortunate that he got sick, but right now, we need to focus on finding and containing that virus!"
Freya stood up and shook her head.
"Maybe we can do both. It will be beneficial to us to have a survivor of the virus along."
"Please, Mikoto. For Zidane," Dagger pleaded.
Mikoto turned around with a huff and sighed.
"I'll see what I can do."
Lindblum General Hospital
1:42 A.M.
Kuja Tribal:
If feeling like crap was the mysterious voice's intention, then he had it all covered. I grabbed the edges of the hospital bed and shifted slightly. It hurt to move, it really did. My skin made it worse. Just minutes after I arrived in the hospital, my skin began peeling off, literally. Flecks and flecks of it just kept coming off. And now, even as I lay on this hospital bed, my skin had basically melded itself to the fabric of the sheets.
Although I hated the feeling it gave me, at least there was female nurses to change me. I guess that made me feel better. But not by much. The doctors couldn't find out what was wrong with me. They said it was some kind of new virus. Well, damn, I could have told you that. But their diagnosis was grim, even for me. Suddenly, I wished Zidane was here. He could end it for me. That's all I needed. The door to my room swung open and a nurse with a mask over her nose and mouth walked in.
"Are you feeling better, Sir Kuja?"
Was that an ignorant question? At that moment, I felt bile rise in my throat and gagged. The nurse immediately rushed to my body and turned me on my side. After a few minutes of displeasure, I wiped my mouth off with the back of my wrist. Blood. Dark red blood. The sight of it made me want to vomit more.
"Fate is…catching up to me," I whispered.
The nurse sat me back on my back and wiped my face with a soft cloth.
"Don't say that. I'm sure the doctors will cure you."
Sure…that's what you think. I lifted my hand and touched her arm with my pale fingers. Flecks of skin came off as I attempted this maneuver, but it was ok. The nurse gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and walked out of the room. I breathed a sigh and smoothed my hair out of my face. Nothing better to do but stare at the ceiling. Ugh…they could have let me paint. At least I wouldn't think that I was about to die. Gaia wouldn't miss me. Not at all.
Zidane Tribal:
I walked inside the hospital with as much confidence as an oolop in front of airship headlights. I hated being in hospitals just as much as the next person. This fear was only made worse by the fact that Kuja was in here…probably raising hell, no doubt. The thought of him doing so made me smile…just a little. I walked up to the information desk with a calm smile plastered on my face.
"May I help you?"
The voice came from a small petite woman sitting in a rather uncomfortable looking chair.
"I'm looking for Kuja Tribal," I said softly.
The woman typed something on the keypad in front of her and sighed.
"I'm sorry, but he's in quarantine right now. You won't be able to see him?"
Quarantine? Kuja…what have you done? I turned away from the desk, face contorted in shock.
"Excuse me, Zidane Tribal?"
I turned in the direction of the voice, half hoping that it was Kuja. Sadly, it wasn't. It was a girl…dressed in white with a clipboard in her arm.
"Yes, I am Zidane Tribal," I said softly.
"Oh good. I've been trying to find you for the last few minutes. I'm Dr. Williams, and I was assigned to take care of your brother. I have some information on what he's infected with."
Information on the virus?
"Um…go ahead."
Dr. Williams sighed.
"He has a completely new case of yellow fever. We're not exactly sure on how to treat it. Right now, we've given him fluids through IV and some painkillers. But I doubt it's making him feel any better."
"I need to go see him. I need to talk to him."
Dr. Williams shook her head.
"I'm not sure the nurses will let you up there. But I suppose you can. Come on."
Kuja Tribal:
It was hard to sleep on my back, especially when I was woken up every few minutes to cough. Fluid kept collecting in my lungs, making it difficult to breathe. I was a wreck, pure and simple. The door at the end of my room swung open and a nurse with another trashcan walked in.
"There's someone here to see you, Kuja."
I opened my eyes sleepily and turned my head in the direction of the door. I squinted as a man in a yellow suit walked in.
"Kuja, you look like crap."
I couldn't help but chuckle at that statement. Yes, I had an odd sense of humor now that I was about to die. But…the guy did sound like Zidane.
"Zidane?"
The man nodded.
"I see you are feeling better, brother."
I snorted, despite myself. It hurt.
"Not better…maybe worse, Zidane."
Zidane sat down in a chair next to the bed. I could see his expression through the mask. Although he tried hard not to show it, he was deeply upset. Staying cheerful for him won't take away the sadness in his eyes.
"Zidane…will…I die here?" I asked.
"No! Mikoto's cooking up something to cure you. You won't die. I promise."
I wasn't sure…if I could believe that. I coughed somewhat painfully and sighed. Zidane grabbed and squeezed my hand gently.
"Be strong, brother."
I'll try, Zidane. I'll try.
Author's Note: Yeah, I know. I haven't really gotten to the good stuff yet. This is more like a filler chapter to set things along. My next chapter update may take several days because I want to put as much quality into it as possible. Once again, I thank those who have reviewed. And those who haven't read…please read!
