A/N: well not as many reviews as I'd like but, oh well. A big thank you to Freeze wind a very good friend of mine- she read this story even though she hasn't played FF9, bless her and thanks to all who read and review. I appetite you're feedback.

Disclaimer: do I look like I own Final fantasy…I'd be super rich if I did and I'd make a squeal to FF9, but I don't sadly!

~*~*~*~*~

A river of blood flowed in all its glory; bodies lay lifeless among the dead grass. Dark clouds ruled the sky darkening the lands, causing them to seem barren and empty. A short teen, silver hair flying wildly in the wind stood eyes roaming over the countless mutilated bodies, cold blue eyes gleamed with malice- anger cruelty.

Cruel, cold laughter escaped the teen's lips, hysteric laughter bringing tears to his eyes. With one swift graceful movement the tears were gone, yet the laughter continued. Growing colder and more malicious.

A blast of wind blew his cloak; he turned walking away from the bloody scene with small, quiet graceful steps. Not caring for a single soul that died here today, by his hands no less.

" And here begins the lava twilight," he said voice seeming to echo around the barren wasteland. The dark sky was taken over by a molten red glow- causing the earth to glow a copper red in response.

With one fluid movement, he rose into the sky black cloak and silver hair blowing behind him. A roar filled the sky as the giant emerald dragon- flew up beside his master.

" Creation of the terrain's, shall fall this night," he murmured softly rubbing the dragon's head. A cruel smirk spreading across his pale lips.

" My forces are finally ready! Let us fly" the dragon obeying his masters command spread his wings and flew off into the distant lava coloured sky.

~*~*~

Amber eyes flew open staring into the darkness, slightly wide with fear and confusion. Kazumi breathed deeply and calmed herself. It was just a dream- and she had in fact had similar dreams several times before, yet this dream had been more graphic than the others.

The person looked so much like Kuja, the resemblance was uncanny however there were several small differences: the persons voice was much colder and crueller, the eyes were much darker filled with malice, there was also the fact that this person was much younger- perhaps in his late teens, he was slightly smaller his stature than Kuja.

She rubbed her brow, her eyes drifted to the crib next to the bed and she sighed. She didn't see the point in trying to sleep after all it was nearly morning and she had to feed her son soon. And Damien could be very demanding sometimes.

She pulled the covers away from her body and climbed out bed carefully, not wanting to wake Kuja. Slowly she moved to the crib and peered down at her sleeping three year old. A soft smile graced her lips as she gently stroked his silvery hair.

Damien stirred in his sleep, and slowly his blue eyes opened and he peered at his mother curiously and then he held out his small arms, demanding to be lifted.

"Ma…ma" he mumbled sleepily as Kazumi picked him up.

" What's the matter sweetie? Are you hungry?" Kazumi cooed smiling.

In response Kazumi received a small gurgle from the child as he tried eating his tiny fist. Kazumi chuckled and carried the child over to the bed, where she placed him gently next to Kuja's sleeping form. And after making sure Damien was sitting securely on the bed- she left the room to get him so food.

Meanwhile Damien was feeling very bored, a three year old he might be but he did not like boredom at all. Suddenly a funny idea popped into his head and he poked his father roughly in the side. Then giggled bouncing on the bed as Kuja groaned mumbling something in his sleep.

" DA…DA!" Damien yelled pulling one of Kuja's silvery feathers.

Kuja opened his eyes and peered at the child- then he groaned as Damien continued to pull his feathers. Finally after Damien had pulled his feathers four more times Kuja faced the child- who giggled softly and shoved his tiny fist into his mouth.

" Are you enjoying yourself?" the first angle of death asked. Quirking an eyebrow at his son

" Da…pway" he demanded clapping his hands.

" You want to play?" a perplexed Kuja asked, he had never been good with children and was still getting used to being a father.

" Pway…dwagon" the child said, he then began making roaring noises a dragon would do, and waved his arms about in an attempt to fly. Kuja chuckled the sight was actually quite amusing.

Damien stopped suddenly and slowly crept closer to Kuja, and then he threw his arms around his father and giggled wildly. Kuja looked down at the three year old and a soft smile appeared on his lips, it was strange having a family but not all bad- and Kuja vowed to himself when Damien was born, that he'd look after and protect his family not matter what the cost. And that Damien wouldn't have the same lonely, dark childhood kuja himself had had.

" Sweepy…" Damien yawned snuggling closer to Kuja for warmth. He curled his small tail around Kuja's wrist and closed his eyes slowly. A few minutes later Kuja felt his own eyes drifting shut and soon both he and Damien were sound asleep.

Kazumi entered the room twenty minutes later, and was greeted by the cutest sight she had ever seen, Kuja and Damien were both cuddled up to each other sleeping peacefully. She sighed placing the small bowl of food down on the bedside table, Kazumi however didn't feel the need for any more sleep and so she decided to get there things ready for the journey to Lindblum. They were leaving in a few hours and travelling by Gargent.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A tall man with long black hair, pale skin and green eyes stood in a small room, with a single bed, a desk, a chair and nothing else. His name was Killian and the small person before him was Cal, an albino pale skin, pale hair and burning ruby eyes. Killian snarled, why was this frail looking child in his master's favour? Why did his master's have such high regards for this…this thing! What was so special about him? He didn't even talk for god's sake- or at least Killian had never heard him speak.

" Do you understand you're orders?" Killian snarled, staring at the thing before him. How he hated not being the masters favourite, he should be the one at his masters side. Doing all the important missions! Not this frail child…no! It should be him!

Cal didn't answer, he only stared Killian in the eyes- the green eyed man shivered, and as he did so the corner of Cal's lip's twitched into a smirk.

" Oh I understand…I won't fail" Cal said, Killian's mouth opened wide. So he did talk, his voice sounded like that of an innocent child's- just as he looked like an innocent child, though Killian doubted he was a little angle.

" Good, Yomiko will assist you, wait for her by the entrance." and with that Killian stormed out of the room. He was headed to his master's chamber- he wanted to know why Cal was so special and he would find out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Zidane gazed Longley out of his bedroom window, his thought were reeling out of control- his thoughts about him, the one he always thought about- the one who disappeared four years ago, the one who left Zidane alone in the middle of nowhere whilst the blond Genome slept.

/ I know you're not dead…I have a feeling we'll meet again. / He thought watching the people of Lindblum prepare for the carnival.

Soft footsteps brought him out of his reeling thoughts, and he turned to find his little sister Mikoto watching him quietly. She said nothing at first, only stood observing her brother thoughtfully- finally she spoke her voice soft.

" So you feel it too?" she asked turning her blue eyes to the city below them.

A blond eyebrow raised in confusion. " What d'you mean?" the second angle of death asked observing the third angle of death.

Mikoto sighed softly shaking her head, a smile forming on her lips- she turned to back to Zidane and chuckled.

" I just have a feeling, but perhaps it's nothing to worry about." she concluded turning back to observe the city below.

Zidane however wasn't convinced, if Mikoto felt something it was a big deal- her Genome senses were far more in tune than his own, Garland had made sure all his Genomes were in tune with their senses. He shrugged it off for now, there was no need for worry at this minute-but he couldn't help feeling Mikoto's feelings were right.

" Hey, why don't you come with me to visit Baku?" Zidane suggested giving Mikoto a grin. The third angle of death smiled giving him a small nod.

" Sure" she said turning away from the window.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

" Aw, she's such a cutie." Eiko cooed, the little puppy dog gave a small yap and jumped up and down excitedly. Raina squeeled softly stroking the dogs light brown fur. True to there word- Eiko had loved Raina's present so much the little dog was now formally named Jem.

" Should we leave her here, when the carnival starts?" Eiko asked watching Raina play with the excited pup.

" Yeah she'll be fine on her own, besides it's dangerous having her outside where there's gonna be fireworks." Raina concluded grinning as Jem licked her face.

Marcus made a face as the dog continued to lick Raina's face. " That's gross, how can you let it lick your face" he cringed slightly as Jem continued licking Raina's face. The strawberry blond giggled and gave Marcus a playful wink.

" Lighten up Marcus, she's only playing" Raina said poking out her tongue.

" Hey guys c'mon, the boss wants to see us." Akira said coming into the room.

Raina pouted like a child, " but…but, I wanted to play with Jem." she whined. Akira rolled her eyes at her friend.

" Let's just go, you commin Eiko?" she asked turning to the younger girl, who nodded eagerly getting to her feet. She told Jem to stay and left with Marcus, Akira and Raina.

" So what's up?" Marcus asked as the four walked towards the air cab station, they arrived and got into the cab that would take them to the theatre district. Akira eyed her friends quietly before speaking. Her voice shaky and disbelieving.

" Baku recived a letter…" she started fiddling with her fingers.

" And…" Raina asked watching her friend's nervousness.

Akira took a deep breath. " It was from…Kazumi," she said slowly. A gasp escaped both Marcu and Raina's lip as they stared disbelievingly at Akira. A smile broke out on Akira's face as she continued.

" She's has a child…a little boy and she'll be here later." she finished her eyes slightly teary.

" No way…Kazumi a mum, wow never thought I'd see that." Raina whistled grining. Kazumi never stuck them as the mothering type.

Eiko looked alittle confussed and she suddenly felt a little jelous- though why she was not sure. Maybe it was because she didn't want to lose her friends or maybe she was just being silly. And who was this Kazumi anyway?

" So who's Kazumi?" the ten year old asked, looking between her three friends.

" A very close friend, Kazumi left Tantalus awhile ago." Marcus began to explain, smiling at the memories; they used to have so much fun.

" Wait…does Zidane know she's coming?" Raina asked suddenly. She was still a little shocked at the news, but excitement had taken over and now she couldn't wait to see Kazumi and the little one.

" Not sure haven't seen him since yesterday, he was with the queen." Akira said thoughtfully. They remained quiet for the remaining cab ride- each lost in their thoughts, though each of them had a strange feeling they couldn't explain.

It was the kind of feeling you got when something was going to happen, it may not bee tonight or next week even. But somewhere a clock was counting down to the very minute that something was going to happen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

" So tell me again why we have to do this." Yomiko demaned- her features where similar to Cal's own, she was his twin sister, long white hair, pale skin and shining ruby eyes. She growled when Cal gave her no answer, and drummed her fingers idly on her knee.

She was sick of being used by their mother, never did they get to do the thing other kids there age did, or play and make friends- nope all they did was take orders. How was that living, they were both still children only thirteen years old. They shouldn't be taking orders from a mad woman. They should be playing with friends or possibly older siblings.

Cal sighed fixing his cold ruby eyes upon his sister, " orders, Miko. Orders" he said simply.

"Hmph" Yomiko mumbled glaring ahead of her. Orders yeah that's all they ever heard. At least Yoshi and Killian had a little freedon from headquarters. Cal and Yomiko however had to spend all their hours in the base- doing nothing what so ever, just sitting around, training and waiting for their next orders.

" can't they ever do things for themselves, y'know it's their super duper plan." she snorted, yeah sure it was a super plan-it would more than likely fail. Cal chuckled softly and nodded in agreement.

" too true, but whilst where there. We can have a little fun." he said eyes gleaming with that childish curiosity and excitement- they rarely ever showed anymore.

Yomiko grinned, she felt like a child in this moment not the puppets she knew they were. They would carry out there mothers orders after a little fun, they just had to be careful and hope Killian wouldn't be around checking up on them. If he did show up and saw them slacking off-it would be trouble for them.

" alright, let's go then the carnival starts soon." she laughed hugging her brother tightly. He smiled at her excitement but deep down he was worried, he knew for sure that Killian or Yoshi would be around. Checking up on the two of them, he only hoped they could avoid any contact with them.

However if the worst came to worse, and they were caught slacking off- he would take his own as well as Yomiko's punishment. He loved his sister so much and only wanted her to be happy- he was happy if she was and right now she was beyond happy and for that he was glad, there mother didn't like Yomiko much though why, Cal wasn't sure.

" come on Miko, let's go." he said grabbing her hand.

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Well another chapter done, I did originally plan for this one to be much longer, but it felt right leaving it there so- the next chapter will be done soon.

~Lady Leah~