Hi, Shadow's back from the dead. I decided I'd better finish this cause I like the general plot. Right, on with the fic...
Chpt 7 : Sarah's rival; Garnet til Alexandros 17th
Night had fallen, and Alexandria shone under the moonlight. Four figures moved stealthily along the streets, and reached the exit without a single guard noticing. Once the silent group felt grass under their feet, and saw the gates of Alexandria behind them, they threw off their cloaks in rejoice.
"Ahhh! It feels sooo good to be out of that city!" Sarah brushed back her hair and smiled raidiantly.
"I do not know about this, I am not sure.." The fourth figure pulled down her hood, revealing a jumpsuit clad maiden of the highest royalty. Princess Garnet til Alexandros.
"Oh, come-on Garnet.. You know what I said about your mother was true.." Mariah soothed. "Plus, you would have been in grave danger if we had left you in the castle.." Mariah turned to Garnet, who nodded in return. A silence fell between the little band. Garnet spoke up.
"You never did introduce me to your friends, Mariah.." Garnet tugged on her sleeve, and looked expectantly at the girl with a horn, and the man with the tail.
"Oh, she's my childhood friend; Sarah. She's also a summoner, and this is Zidane..." Mariah said his name with a hint of venom.
"What is his trade?" Garnet walked up to the man, and looked him directly in the face, but Mariah quickly pulled her away.
"Hmph, you don't want to go near him, he's dangerous." Mariah looked daggers into Zidane's eyes. Zidane simply turned away, and continued walking with Sarah by his side. Mariah and Garnet walked behind them quietly.
"What is the matter with him?" Garnet questioned in a whisper.
"Ask me another time, Garnet, another time..."
************************
"For the last time, when was the last batch of prisoners transported here?" Darson drummed his fingers impatiently on the crime information bureau of Treno. His wet and cold companions shivered in the doorway.
"Sir, I've already told you! There is no transfers of prisoners from Alexandria until next month!" The lady at the desk continued to file her nails as Darson growled in frustration. It dawned on him that he had been tricked by the masked man living on the outskirts of Alexandria.
"Damn it!!!" Darson wailed as the weary group of summoners returned to the Inn. He had set his hopes so high, but watched them fall so quickly. How could one girl slip through his grasp so easily? He pushed the Treno inn door open and returned to his private room. The rest of the summoners had gone to the bar.
"Eiko!!!" He yelled as the little girl replied to his call.
"Yes? What now?!" Eiko huffed. She had had enough of being dragged around the continent.
"Get me something strong to drink. Now!" Darson barked at her tiny form before returning to look out of the window.
("Where are you Sarah? You're still my childhood friend...")
************************
"Um.. room 5 would like some whisky please." Eiko stared up at the receptionist at the Inn's bar, who gave her a suspicious look.
"Thankyou for your order.." The receptionist glared.
("Man.. what a stingy cow..") Eiko brushed back the fringe which fell over her horn. ("Better get back to Darson then..") As she headed for the door, a tall figure in a black cloak blocked the doorway and pushed her aside from view.
"Hey! What the hell do you..?!" Eiko started before the stranger put a hand over her mouth.
"Hush, young one." The voice was soothing and gentle, definitely female. Although the speaker seemed to have trouble pronouncing in Gaian. "Are you Eiko Carol? Or do you know of such person?" The stranger asked softly. Eiko managed to pull the hand off her mouth.
"Yes, I do! She's me!" Eiko said in a hoarse whisper.
"Thank Terra's grace... You must come with me, you are in grave danger!" The stranger pulled Eiko out of the bar and Inn, and led her through the dark streets until they reached the gate. Eiko's gaze was drawn to the wilderness outside Treno, and to the huge, blue dolphin shaped ship waiting in the distance.
"You see the Invincible, Eiko. She is a fine ship, and will keep you from harm." The woman removed her mask to reveal a head of blonde hair, and the most beautiful set of cerulean eyes.
"My name is Mikoto. My master has sent for your presence." The lady brushed her shoulder length hair from her face, she seemed trustworthy.
"Why does your master want 'my' presence?" Eiko asked, wide-eyed.
"Because he needs your help." Mikoto shook Eiko's shoulders. "He has been watching you from afar, you have a very strong power, Eiko of summoners. My master will teach you to use it."
"Oookkaayy.. Thanks for the offer, but I can teach myself.." Eiko released herself of Mikoto's grip and turned to walk back into Treno.
"Wait! Please, you must listen!" Mikoto grabbed her hand. "I do not wish you to die, Eiko! You have a good will that does not deserve to perish in this place!" Eiko raised and eyebrow.
"What was that supposed to mean? Are you saying someone's trying to kill me?"
"We all die in the end. But some die earlier than others, especially your race." Mikoto drew up to her full height as she spoke. "My master has come back from near death, and he intends to finish what he started, beginning with the death of Kuja.." Her face suddenly hardened on the name.
"K-Kuja?! He was the guy that Iifa was fretting about!" Eiko clicked her fingers in brief recognition.
"So, Iifa has awoken. I will be glad to see my brother after nine years, it has been hard without him." Mikoto's face grew warm smile, and she extended her hand to Eiko. "Eiko, do you wish to see Sarah again? My master will protect you both from any harm, plus, do you wish to travel with this 'Darson' man, who plagues your every waking moment?"
"Um, I guess.." Eiko stuttered. "But what about home?"
"What have you got left there? Nothing, now come! Fly from Gaia!" Mikoto threw her arms skyward in an emphatic movement.
"Well, if I can see Sarah again, then I'll give it a shot." Eiko nodded to Mikoto's offer.
"A most wise decision. Come Eiko, my master awaits your arrival." Mikoto took her hand and led the little girl towards the huge Invincible.
************************
Sarah looked into the flickering flames and sparks of the fire. Her thoughts wondered from Mandain Sari, from Alexandria, to Zidane.
("I wonder what their doing back home? I hope that Eiko's parents are okay. Maybe Darson's broken another bone? Hehe.. Oh, what about Alexandria? Are the guards still looking for us? Was Tei able to find her family? I wonder why Mariah decided to bring Garnet along.. she'll only slow us down... Why is Zidane being so quiet? Is he thinking about what he has to do? That's right, that general mentioned something about a dark angel shielding my body when we were washed up in Alexandria.. Could he have another form? Well, the Iifa tree is his other form.. But that might be his angel of death form..") She glanced briefly at Zidane, who was stoking the fire. His cerulean eyes looked beautiful to Sarah when the fire was reflected into them. Sarah shifted uncomfortably under the wet grass of the Guntinas Basin below Alexandria. When the grass felt a little comfier, she looked at everyone else. Mariah was asleep on her coat, and Garnet, to Sarah's disgust, was looking directly at Zidane. Sarah felt a flicker of jealousy as she watched Garnet look dreamily at Zidane. Sarah decided to leave the scene by trying to get to sleep, but she just couldn't get to sleep. Suddenly, Garnet spoke up quietly.
"So, Mariah says your name is Zidane. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr...?" Garnet asked
"...Tribal. Zidane Tribal." Zidane said flatly, never taking his eyes off the fire.
"Where do you come from?" Garnet inquired.
"It's none of your business.." Sarah smiled slightly to herself when she heard his answer to Garnet's question.
"I'm terribly sorry. Can you tell me why your travelling with Sarah? I think that horn's awfully strange, don't you?" The princess continued questioning him.
"Well I think you're manners are 'awfully strange'." Zidane mimicked her posh accent, and Sarah had to stop herself laughing.
"So why are you travelling with Sarah?" Garnet repeated.
"Because I want to. Is that all your questions?" Zidane looked at Garnet.
"Yes, but we can talk more later. Goodnight, Zidane." Garnet went down to sleep with a smile on her face. Sarah couldn't believe what she saw and heard. Garnet was hitting on Zidane! How could this be?
("No! This can't be happening! What if Zidane starts liking her?!") Sarah felt a pit of dread developing in her stomach. Now there would be no way of getting to sleep, but something occurred to her...
("My gods... why am I being so jealous? Why am I feeling like I'll loose him, when he's not even mine?") Then the little voice known as conscience in her head gave her the answer. ("I-I'm in love? When did this happen?") The little pit of dread in her stomach was replaced with a warm sensation of worth. ("I love Zidane! I'm in love with Zidane!") She mentally rejoiced her new emotional discovery, but then the creeping feeling came back more suddenly than she expected.
(" W-what if he doesn't love me? What if he likes Garnet?! Gods! This is why I swore to myself not to fall in love!! Because there's always someone else, or the person doesn't like you back..") She kicked herself mentally for giving into her emotions so easily. Suddenly she felt something warm cover her body.
"Zidane?" She looked up to see Zidane's cloak covering her.
"You were shifting alot, you have a bad dream?" Zidane smiled at her. Her regrets over falling in love were quickly forgotten once she returned the smile.
"Kind of.. I dreamt I nearly lost something precious." Sarah put enigmatically.
"The best way to solve that is to let go of the precious 'something' once in a while. Maybe you like it too much?" Zidane's reply was a herald of doom to her, and her smile dissolved.
"Did I say something wrong?" Zidane said, concerned.
"No... Oh, and thank-you for the cloak..." She lay back down on the floor, clutching Zidane's cloak softly to her.
("Never leave me Zidane, or should I say Iifa..") She finally drifted off.
************************
The next day the group of four were awoken by a loud voice, screaming:
"WAKE UPPPP!!!" The four jumped up with their weapons in hands, Garnet still half asleep. But when Garnet looked apon their intruder, she screamed loudly.
"W-W-W-WHAT IS THAT T-T-THING???!?!?" Garnet panicked and grabbed Zidane's arm and hid behind him. Sarah felt the spark of jealousy again, but it quickly dissapeared once she saw what Garnet was screaming at.
"Tei!!" Sarah ran forwards and hugged the Wolf-Human Hybrid girl. "How are you? Did you release your family okay?" Sarah smiled infectiously at Tei, who giggled and nodded before hugging her friend again. After a while she let go of Sarah and ran up to Zidane.
"Zidane!!" Tei ran to him and hugged his waist. Zidane had an amused look on his face.
"Hey, Zidane, who are these girls?" Tei let go of his waist and looked at Mariah and Garnet.
"That's Mariah, she released us from Alexandria, and that's Alexandria's princess; Garnet." Zidane said, slightly bored.
"Oh. Don't you think a princess should have a code name? So she doesn't get caught?" Tei (who came up to Zidane's shoulders) looked up at the blonde teenager expectantly.
"It's not my problem if she gets caught. It's my job to look after Sarah and maybe you, but not those two." Zidane scruffled Tei's white/blonde hair as she squealed in protest. Sarah smirked at Garnet, who smirked just as badly back. Tei walked up to Garnet as if inspecting her.
"Hmm, haven't got much experience in the field, have you? Oh well, Sarah can help you with that..." Sarah made a dissaproving tut in her throat to Tei's comment. "So, can I code-name you? Or are you gonna do it?" Tei raised one eyebrow at the princess.
"Well..." Garnet looked around at everyone before she spotted a dagger on Tei's waistband.
"What's that?" She pointed at the long knife.
"That? That's my dagger." Tei said innocently.
"I've decided. I will be known as Dagger from now on. Is that okay, Zidane?" Garnet looked directly at the Genome.
"Whatever, Garnet." Zidane shrugged his shoulders. "We all have fake names these days."
"Why? Do you have one?" Dagger quizzed.
"I might have. So where exactly are you and Mariah going to?"
"We're going to Lindblum to warn my uncle of my mother." Dagger looked at her pendant briefly.
"Yeah, whatever.. time-out okay?" Sarah made the T sign with her hands and huddled shoulders with Zidane and Tei.
"I thought you were gonna take Mariah to Kuja?" Sarah asked Zidane.
"Hmm, I don't really know anymore. That's why I've been silent all this time, cause now I don't know what to do with her.. She did save us afterall."
"Maybe we should let your master have her?" Tei butted in.
"What?!" Sarah and Zidane said in unison.
"How did you know about my master?!" Zidane hissed under his breath.
"Heehee, I eavesdropped on you on the ship. I think Iifa's a nice name, don't you Sarah?"
"Ugh.." Zidane drooped his head in defeat and Sarah shook her head.
"I personally think that Sarah and Iifa make a nice couple name.." Tei hinted.
"W-w-well, it depends.." Sarah blushed hard and lowered her head so Zidane couldn't see her face.
"You know, do you think I should drop the name while I'm here? No-one will recognise me.. Plus, Zidane represents me as an eidolon.." Zidane suggested.
"Okay, just for a little while, Iifa." Sarah winked at him, to which he gave her his funny smile, the smile that made her feel like she was his. She blushed again.
"Ahem.. once you two have finished eyeing each other up, do you wanna talk where we're going next?" Tei broke the moment abruptly.
"Yeah. Let's go to Lindblum through South Gate, then we can drop the princess and Mariah off as quickly as possible, I can't stand dragging dead weights." Iifa sighed. Sarah felt happy about this. The princess couldn't get between them if she was left behind.
"Excellent. Then where do we go?" Tei added.
"We'll see." Iifa lent back, breaking the huddle symbolising the Time-Out was over.
"We'll take you to Lindblum through South Gate, princess.. uh.. Dagger." Iifa reported.
"You have my highest thanks, Zidane." Dagger smiled lovingly at him.
"My name isn't Zidane." He quickly rebuffed.
"Then, pray, what is it?" Dagger said curiously.
"It's Iifa. But only Sarah and Tei can call me that. You stick with Zidane, Dagger." Iifa smirked.
"I'd like to call you Iifa too, it's a nice name, but why can only she say it?" Dagger frowned.
"Because I can." Sarah interrupted.
"Okay ladies, let's go." Iifa walked towards the looming mountain that housed South Gate.
"I really don't get you, Sarah." Dagger shook her head angrily.
"Hah, nor do I sometimes." Sarah smiled and ran to walk by Iifa, quickly followed by Tei, Mariah, then Dagger.
How was it? I really need to get back into the swing of writing again...(shudder) Anyway, I'm really sorry this took so long, it was a combined case of Exams, Writer's Block, and umm.. that's all. (I seem to have Exams all my life..) Oh well, in seven days they'll all be over and school is over forever, baby!!!
Chpt 7 : Sarah's rival; Garnet til Alexandros 17th
Night had fallen, and Alexandria shone under the moonlight. Four figures moved stealthily along the streets, and reached the exit without a single guard noticing. Once the silent group felt grass under their feet, and saw the gates of Alexandria behind them, they threw off their cloaks in rejoice.
"Ahhh! It feels sooo good to be out of that city!" Sarah brushed back her hair and smiled raidiantly.
"I do not know about this, I am not sure.." The fourth figure pulled down her hood, revealing a jumpsuit clad maiden of the highest royalty. Princess Garnet til Alexandros.
"Oh, come-on Garnet.. You know what I said about your mother was true.." Mariah soothed. "Plus, you would have been in grave danger if we had left you in the castle.." Mariah turned to Garnet, who nodded in return. A silence fell between the little band. Garnet spoke up.
"You never did introduce me to your friends, Mariah.." Garnet tugged on her sleeve, and looked expectantly at the girl with a horn, and the man with the tail.
"Oh, she's my childhood friend; Sarah. She's also a summoner, and this is Zidane..." Mariah said his name with a hint of venom.
"What is his trade?" Garnet walked up to the man, and looked him directly in the face, but Mariah quickly pulled her away.
"Hmph, you don't want to go near him, he's dangerous." Mariah looked daggers into Zidane's eyes. Zidane simply turned away, and continued walking with Sarah by his side. Mariah and Garnet walked behind them quietly.
"What is the matter with him?" Garnet questioned in a whisper.
"Ask me another time, Garnet, another time..."
************************
"For the last time, when was the last batch of prisoners transported here?" Darson drummed his fingers impatiently on the crime information bureau of Treno. His wet and cold companions shivered in the doorway.
"Sir, I've already told you! There is no transfers of prisoners from Alexandria until next month!" The lady at the desk continued to file her nails as Darson growled in frustration. It dawned on him that he had been tricked by the masked man living on the outskirts of Alexandria.
"Damn it!!!" Darson wailed as the weary group of summoners returned to the Inn. He had set his hopes so high, but watched them fall so quickly. How could one girl slip through his grasp so easily? He pushed the Treno inn door open and returned to his private room. The rest of the summoners had gone to the bar.
"Eiko!!!" He yelled as the little girl replied to his call.
"Yes? What now?!" Eiko huffed. She had had enough of being dragged around the continent.
"Get me something strong to drink. Now!" Darson barked at her tiny form before returning to look out of the window.
("Where are you Sarah? You're still my childhood friend...")
************************
"Um.. room 5 would like some whisky please." Eiko stared up at the receptionist at the Inn's bar, who gave her a suspicious look.
"Thankyou for your order.." The receptionist glared.
("Man.. what a stingy cow..") Eiko brushed back the fringe which fell over her horn. ("Better get back to Darson then..") As she headed for the door, a tall figure in a black cloak blocked the doorway and pushed her aside from view.
"Hey! What the hell do you..?!" Eiko started before the stranger put a hand over her mouth.
"Hush, young one." The voice was soothing and gentle, definitely female. Although the speaker seemed to have trouble pronouncing in Gaian. "Are you Eiko Carol? Or do you know of such person?" The stranger asked softly. Eiko managed to pull the hand off her mouth.
"Yes, I do! She's me!" Eiko said in a hoarse whisper.
"Thank Terra's grace... You must come with me, you are in grave danger!" The stranger pulled Eiko out of the bar and Inn, and led her through the dark streets until they reached the gate. Eiko's gaze was drawn to the wilderness outside Treno, and to the huge, blue dolphin shaped ship waiting in the distance.
"You see the Invincible, Eiko. She is a fine ship, and will keep you from harm." The woman removed her mask to reveal a head of blonde hair, and the most beautiful set of cerulean eyes.
"My name is Mikoto. My master has sent for your presence." The lady brushed her shoulder length hair from her face, she seemed trustworthy.
"Why does your master want 'my' presence?" Eiko asked, wide-eyed.
"Because he needs your help." Mikoto shook Eiko's shoulders. "He has been watching you from afar, you have a very strong power, Eiko of summoners. My master will teach you to use it."
"Oookkaayy.. Thanks for the offer, but I can teach myself.." Eiko released herself of Mikoto's grip and turned to walk back into Treno.
"Wait! Please, you must listen!" Mikoto grabbed her hand. "I do not wish you to die, Eiko! You have a good will that does not deserve to perish in this place!" Eiko raised and eyebrow.
"What was that supposed to mean? Are you saying someone's trying to kill me?"
"We all die in the end. But some die earlier than others, especially your race." Mikoto drew up to her full height as she spoke. "My master has come back from near death, and he intends to finish what he started, beginning with the death of Kuja.." Her face suddenly hardened on the name.
"K-Kuja?! He was the guy that Iifa was fretting about!" Eiko clicked her fingers in brief recognition.
"So, Iifa has awoken. I will be glad to see my brother after nine years, it has been hard without him." Mikoto's face grew warm smile, and she extended her hand to Eiko. "Eiko, do you wish to see Sarah again? My master will protect you both from any harm, plus, do you wish to travel with this 'Darson' man, who plagues your every waking moment?"
"Um, I guess.." Eiko stuttered. "But what about home?"
"What have you got left there? Nothing, now come! Fly from Gaia!" Mikoto threw her arms skyward in an emphatic movement.
"Well, if I can see Sarah again, then I'll give it a shot." Eiko nodded to Mikoto's offer.
"A most wise decision. Come Eiko, my master awaits your arrival." Mikoto took her hand and led the little girl towards the huge Invincible.
************************
Sarah looked into the flickering flames and sparks of the fire. Her thoughts wondered from Mandain Sari, from Alexandria, to Zidane.
("I wonder what their doing back home? I hope that Eiko's parents are okay. Maybe Darson's broken another bone? Hehe.. Oh, what about Alexandria? Are the guards still looking for us? Was Tei able to find her family? I wonder why Mariah decided to bring Garnet along.. she'll only slow us down... Why is Zidane being so quiet? Is he thinking about what he has to do? That's right, that general mentioned something about a dark angel shielding my body when we were washed up in Alexandria.. Could he have another form? Well, the Iifa tree is his other form.. But that might be his angel of death form..") She glanced briefly at Zidane, who was stoking the fire. His cerulean eyes looked beautiful to Sarah when the fire was reflected into them. Sarah shifted uncomfortably under the wet grass of the Guntinas Basin below Alexandria. When the grass felt a little comfier, she looked at everyone else. Mariah was asleep on her coat, and Garnet, to Sarah's disgust, was looking directly at Zidane. Sarah felt a flicker of jealousy as she watched Garnet look dreamily at Zidane. Sarah decided to leave the scene by trying to get to sleep, but she just couldn't get to sleep. Suddenly, Garnet spoke up quietly.
"So, Mariah says your name is Zidane. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr...?" Garnet asked
"...Tribal. Zidane Tribal." Zidane said flatly, never taking his eyes off the fire.
"Where do you come from?" Garnet inquired.
"It's none of your business.." Sarah smiled slightly to herself when she heard his answer to Garnet's question.
"I'm terribly sorry. Can you tell me why your travelling with Sarah? I think that horn's awfully strange, don't you?" The princess continued questioning him.
"Well I think you're manners are 'awfully strange'." Zidane mimicked her posh accent, and Sarah had to stop herself laughing.
"So why are you travelling with Sarah?" Garnet repeated.
"Because I want to. Is that all your questions?" Zidane looked at Garnet.
"Yes, but we can talk more later. Goodnight, Zidane." Garnet went down to sleep with a smile on her face. Sarah couldn't believe what she saw and heard. Garnet was hitting on Zidane! How could this be?
("No! This can't be happening! What if Zidane starts liking her?!") Sarah felt a pit of dread developing in her stomach. Now there would be no way of getting to sleep, but something occurred to her...
("My gods... why am I being so jealous? Why am I feeling like I'll loose him, when he's not even mine?") Then the little voice known as conscience in her head gave her the answer. ("I-I'm in love? When did this happen?") The little pit of dread in her stomach was replaced with a warm sensation of worth. ("I love Zidane! I'm in love with Zidane!") She mentally rejoiced her new emotional discovery, but then the creeping feeling came back more suddenly than she expected.
(" W-what if he doesn't love me? What if he likes Garnet?! Gods! This is why I swore to myself not to fall in love!! Because there's always someone else, or the person doesn't like you back..") She kicked herself mentally for giving into her emotions so easily. Suddenly she felt something warm cover her body.
"Zidane?" She looked up to see Zidane's cloak covering her.
"You were shifting alot, you have a bad dream?" Zidane smiled at her. Her regrets over falling in love were quickly forgotten once she returned the smile.
"Kind of.. I dreamt I nearly lost something precious." Sarah put enigmatically.
"The best way to solve that is to let go of the precious 'something' once in a while. Maybe you like it too much?" Zidane's reply was a herald of doom to her, and her smile dissolved.
"Did I say something wrong?" Zidane said, concerned.
"No... Oh, and thank-you for the cloak..." She lay back down on the floor, clutching Zidane's cloak softly to her.
("Never leave me Zidane, or should I say Iifa..") She finally drifted off.
************************
The next day the group of four were awoken by a loud voice, screaming:
"WAKE UPPPP!!!" The four jumped up with their weapons in hands, Garnet still half asleep. But when Garnet looked apon their intruder, she screamed loudly.
"W-W-W-WHAT IS THAT T-T-THING???!?!?" Garnet panicked and grabbed Zidane's arm and hid behind him. Sarah felt the spark of jealousy again, but it quickly dissapeared once she saw what Garnet was screaming at.
"Tei!!" Sarah ran forwards and hugged the Wolf-Human Hybrid girl. "How are you? Did you release your family okay?" Sarah smiled infectiously at Tei, who giggled and nodded before hugging her friend again. After a while she let go of Sarah and ran up to Zidane.
"Zidane!!" Tei ran to him and hugged his waist. Zidane had an amused look on his face.
"Hey, Zidane, who are these girls?" Tei let go of his waist and looked at Mariah and Garnet.
"That's Mariah, she released us from Alexandria, and that's Alexandria's princess; Garnet." Zidane said, slightly bored.
"Oh. Don't you think a princess should have a code name? So she doesn't get caught?" Tei (who came up to Zidane's shoulders) looked up at the blonde teenager expectantly.
"It's not my problem if she gets caught. It's my job to look after Sarah and maybe you, but not those two." Zidane scruffled Tei's white/blonde hair as she squealed in protest. Sarah smirked at Garnet, who smirked just as badly back. Tei walked up to Garnet as if inspecting her.
"Hmm, haven't got much experience in the field, have you? Oh well, Sarah can help you with that..." Sarah made a dissaproving tut in her throat to Tei's comment. "So, can I code-name you? Or are you gonna do it?" Tei raised one eyebrow at the princess.
"Well..." Garnet looked around at everyone before she spotted a dagger on Tei's waistband.
"What's that?" She pointed at the long knife.
"That? That's my dagger." Tei said innocently.
"I've decided. I will be known as Dagger from now on. Is that okay, Zidane?" Garnet looked directly at the Genome.
"Whatever, Garnet." Zidane shrugged his shoulders. "We all have fake names these days."
"Why? Do you have one?" Dagger quizzed.
"I might have. So where exactly are you and Mariah going to?"
"We're going to Lindblum to warn my uncle of my mother." Dagger looked at her pendant briefly.
"Yeah, whatever.. time-out okay?" Sarah made the T sign with her hands and huddled shoulders with Zidane and Tei.
"I thought you were gonna take Mariah to Kuja?" Sarah asked Zidane.
"Hmm, I don't really know anymore. That's why I've been silent all this time, cause now I don't know what to do with her.. She did save us afterall."
"Maybe we should let your master have her?" Tei butted in.
"What?!" Sarah and Zidane said in unison.
"How did you know about my master?!" Zidane hissed under his breath.
"Heehee, I eavesdropped on you on the ship. I think Iifa's a nice name, don't you Sarah?"
"Ugh.." Zidane drooped his head in defeat and Sarah shook her head.
"I personally think that Sarah and Iifa make a nice couple name.." Tei hinted.
"W-w-well, it depends.." Sarah blushed hard and lowered her head so Zidane couldn't see her face.
"You know, do you think I should drop the name while I'm here? No-one will recognise me.. Plus, Zidane represents me as an eidolon.." Zidane suggested.
"Okay, just for a little while, Iifa." Sarah winked at him, to which he gave her his funny smile, the smile that made her feel like she was his. She blushed again.
"Ahem.. once you two have finished eyeing each other up, do you wanna talk where we're going next?" Tei broke the moment abruptly.
"Yeah. Let's go to Lindblum through South Gate, then we can drop the princess and Mariah off as quickly as possible, I can't stand dragging dead weights." Iifa sighed. Sarah felt happy about this. The princess couldn't get between them if she was left behind.
"Excellent. Then where do we go?" Tei added.
"We'll see." Iifa lent back, breaking the huddle symbolising the Time-Out was over.
"We'll take you to Lindblum through South Gate, princess.. uh.. Dagger." Iifa reported.
"You have my highest thanks, Zidane." Dagger smiled lovingly at him.
"My name isn't Zidane." He quickly rebuffed.
"Then, pray, what is it?" Dagger said curiously.
"It's Iifa. But only Sarah and Tei can call me that. You stick with Zidane, Dagger." Iifa smirked.
"I'd like to call you Iifa too, it's a nice name, but why can only she say it?" Dagger frowned.
"Because I can." Sarah interrupted.
"Okay ladies, let's go." Iifa walked towards the looming mountain that housed South Gate.
"I really don't get you, Sarah." Dagger shook her head angrily.
"Hah, nor do I sometimes." Sarah smiled and ran to walk by Iifa, quickly followed by Tei, Mariah, then Dagger.
How was it? I really need to get back into the swing of writing again...(shudder) Anyway, I'm really sorry this took so long, it was a combined case of Exams, Writer's Block, and umm.. that's all. (I seem to have Exams all my life..) Oh well, in seven days they'll all be over and school is over forever, baby!!!