Light from a new day streamed slowly across the horizon, shining into
the windows of a small tavern on the edge of Alexandria. Different drunks
and vagrants were just waking from their short sleep on the cobblestones
outside, grabbing their heads and mumbling curses as they went along their
way. The ones that were slow to leave were speeded along by the City
watchmen on the morning rounds. The Alexandrian Guard didn't appreciate
loiterers, especially drunk ones.
Yon watched the spiraling events of the street from the window of the Hawk Eye Tavern, sipping daintily at a goblet of wine as he contemplated the next steps of his plan. Flanking him were two hooded persons, a man and a woman, both watching him very sedately from behind tankards.
"Now..." Yon touched a finger to his lips, "If our messenger fulfills his quest properly, the plan will move into motion sometime today. After that it is all up to you, Emryal. Are you capable?"
The man called Emryal spat under the table, "If you don't screw up, we'll be out of here by tomorrow night."
Yon nodded, "Excellent. And you, Alz? Have you been successful thus far?"
"I know where he is..." Alz swirled her drink slowly, "But I really have no idea what he is doing here. Don't worry though, master. I will find out soon enough."
"Good. It looks like everything is going just perfectly then, hmm?" Yon finished off his drink, then stood regally, "I will be returning to the project house today, so...I expect to see you both by the end of the week. Is that understood?"
"Whatever."
"Yes, master."
"Good...good. A toast to our good fortune then?" He set down his glass on the table and smiled, "Down with Zidane."
--
Kain rubbed his groggy eyes and wandered with blurry vision around his dawn surroundings. He didn't recall sleeping too much during the night - too much worry and not enough familiarity in a strange city. So he had roamed endlessly over the dark cobblestone streets in search for something, for nothing...for plain old passage of time.
And as he gained fuller consciousness, Kain finally realized where he was as the sun rose. Back in the starting place, the root - the moat in front of the castle in front of the window that lead to his angel unknown. His silent comfort in a confused and brutal world. Once again, there she was - standing in a flowing gown of white, her eyes upturned to heaven, a sorrowful smile on her face. What agony he could pull from happiness!
"Beautiful view, eh traveler?" Kain turned quickly, swiveling his eyes around to make him feel more honest and more guilty at the same time. Behind him stood a young man, his entire form swathed in black, his eyes fixed on the angel in the window.
"That's the queen, isn't it?" Kain mumbled quietly. He didn't really like talking to strangers; they usually turned out to be disagreeable people who interfered with his life. Of course that rule made it hard for him to meet people...but it wasn't like he was a social butterfly.
"Yes." The stranger answered, and Kain sighed heavily. "Why, did you have your high hopes set on...something?"
Kain turned once again to look at the stranger, hooding his eyes in disinterest, "No, it just figures, that's all. She's the queen...hah."
"You really think that's something? Here comes her husband - look!" The context of the conversation gave Kain reason to jump nervously, just a little bit, as he turned in the direction of the slowly approaching the wooden docks. Standing in the stern of this boat was a medium sized man - not too muscular or tall or handsome or anything particularly special. He was garbed in a suit of extravagant clothing that didn't seem quite right for him, and at his side sat an illustriously decorated golden sword. If Kain knew his legends correctly, the husband of Garnet was none other than Zidane, the legendary warrior from the lost world.
"He doesn't look so special." Kain muttered to whomever was standing behind him - the words a little boastful and a little resentful. How could such a man get such a queen anyway? No one answered him, so he turned around to repeat his proclamation - only to find the space behind him was now unoccupied. The man in black was gone. "Odd..."
--
Zidane stepped briskly from the tottering boat, thanked the oar man quickly, nodded to a man by the shore staring off into space, and then rushed into Alexandria. The day would be primarily unfortunate; he had promised that he would dine with Mikoto - which meant that he had to pick her up from her inn, spend some money on food, ward off her affectionate assaults and pretend he was interested, almost simultaneously. However, before he threw his life to the dogs, he was going to talk to Cid while the steamship genius was still in town.
There were only two people Zidane could think of who knew something about practically everything; Doctor Tot and Regent Cid. And since Doctor Tot was off muttering insanely to himself in Treno, Regent Cid was an excellent choice - and still almost sane as well. That thought made Zidane uneasy. Everything about the day seemed so halcyon, the perfect normal day in the kingdom, and that made it almost eerie. He had felt some sort of great presence at the play the night before - something speaking to him, calling out some question that had never plagued his mind. And so, naturally, now it plagued his mind. God...not the frequently spoke of yet never worshipped gods of the endangered Summoners, not the planet energy or death or life or anything of those grand things that were sometimes waved to very vaguely as 'supreme beings of some sort'. No...the voice in his head had very clearly asked about God. As if it meant to say 'the God'. Who was the God? Was there one? It had never really crossed Zidane's mind, and since he never heard it spoken of anywhere else, he supposed it was that way for the rest of the humans as well. The Genomes believed that they were empty vessels, their purpose was to wait to be filled, and once filled, or killed - or whatever happened at that time, they could be complete and happy. Zidane, of course, had long since learned the lie in this. He was not soulless or empty. He was just as filled with life and hopes and dreams as any human on the planet - and so were the rest of the genomes, once they were allowed to believe it. The only truth in such a lie was that Garland had indeed been manipulating them, molding them into the perfect followers and servants. Hell, if Garland had asked - the genomes probably would have worshipped him as a god.
But that had all changed - Zidane had seen the difference in Mikoto personally, although he hadn't been back to the Black Mage Village to view the rest of the genomes since they had begun living there. There was more life in Mikoto than anyone he had ever seen - a radiance that sparkled from him, making him burn inside, like he should be out doing something very important instead of wandering aimlessly around the streets. She was...but no, dammit! No! Quickly he stopped thinking about Mikoto, leaving that matter for the evening, and pushed his thoughts back on track. Regent Cid...the God question. Right...
"Hey bro!" The hail came from across the street, and Zidane had to pierce the swarming morning crowd with some persistence to find his target - although he knew who he would find. Blank stood lazily against the supporting pillars for one of the sleazy little town bars, his swaying motion and half-closed eyes indicating that was probably where he spent his night as well.
"Blank...have a fun time?"
Blank stumbled toward him with a lopsided grin, "You should have been there - Zid...I've never seen so many beautiful, loving women in my whole entire life!" Yes... Zidane thought with amusement - and he probably would never see them again.
"Oh, I had a little fun of my own, I'm sure I really didn't miss anything." Sure as hell he didn't - his mind growled irately. It was the first night he could remember that Garnet had avoided him, ignored him, and gone to sleep without so much as a kiss on the cheek. But of course, not to wound his inflated pride, Zidane would never mention anything like that...ever.
Blank shrugged and plopped a heavy arm on Zidane's shoulder, "Well...you do have a winner. Where you off to so early, bro?" Zidane neatly pried himself away from the wallowing drunkard, and continued down the street, motioning for Blank to follow,
"I'm going to see Cid - ask him a few questions I think."
"Really? What a coincidence, I was just going there myself!" Blank shot eagerly, starting up a pace to match Zidane's, "Interesting man, that Cid...he knows a lot of stuff."
"Stuff?" Zidane grinned incredulously, "Like...how to pick a pretty tutor?"
"You sure are observant." Blank spoke the words ruefully, but the happy grin was still plastered all across his face.
"Of course I saw her - your eyes shot arrows to her all night - all I had to do was follow the trail. She's cute, Blank - but she has responsibilities...to a child. Just don't expect too much to come out of it - okay?"
"You know me - I always expect the worst!" Blank claimed triumphantly, waving a half-numb hand around with feeling. The motion saddened Zidane - it was bad enough having his own women problems without his best friend getting caught up in a dead-end relationship as well.
"Yeah...well...good luck anyway - maybe you have a little more chance with her than say...Ruby?" Zidane grinned and Blank flushed. He didn't have a chance in the world.
--
Cid really didn't have a clue in the world what Zidane was talking about. To his knowledge, the old regent spoke thoughtfully, pulling and pushing at his glasses with some regularity, the nations of Gaia had always been polytheistic, due to the different natures of the fates and life. The world had always been divided among the elements, two or more forces behind everything from good and evil to black and white. But everything had its time and purpose - for example, there was a time for war, and there was a time for peace. Sometimes love was the best option, sometimes fear, or hate, or sorrow. No element could be called completely good or evil, which is why polytheism always worked out for the humans. Since God couldn't be described as any one perfect 'element', his nature was split and split again into anywhere from two to a hundred different personalities that were all good and all different, and thus religions were born. There of course, was no credence to any of the gods that people spoke of - as there was no active religion flowing through Gaia in the present.
"What about Madain Sari?" Zidane queried, "The gods they summon are real - I've seen them all multiple times."
Cid shook his head sadly, "The story of Madain Sari is a very twisted one." His face was actually sorrowful, Zidane assumed because he had many dealings with the Summoners - his 'niece' and 'daughter' were both among the number. "The original Summoners did not believe the souls that they summoned to this earth were gods - in fact they knew the truth. The souls they pulled were powerful beings who shed their afterlife for the strong want of good, or ill, for mankind as a whole. Thus the Summoners could harness their powers and bring them back at will to do their bidding. However, this obviously does not make them gods - for, if the gods are the ones doing our bidding, what kind of gods are they? No...the Madain Sari believed themselves to be the Gods, the masters of Gaia, and so they grew very proud, telling their children of all the accomplishments and dreams that awaited them."
But this only led them to disaster. The Summoned could only come at the will of someone who has a clear intent and purpose...clouded by pride and malice, when the Summoners began raising their armies for the war they planned to bring to Gaia, the Summoned turned on them, unleashing their fury in a fiery night of doom."
Zidane peered on in interest - he had never heard this story, and wondered where the old man had come across it. Generally everyone believed that Cid just naturally knew everything - but he obviously had to study 'sometime.'
The Regent continued in grave tones, "The Summoners that survived this feared the Summoned. But they also knew their role in the world, knew what the horns represented. They were chained to the race's destiny. So, as the generations continued, the elder Summoners began telling the young that the Summoned were in fact the gods, to eliminate a second judgment. They began to pray and worship, and some clans even went as far as to sacrifice to the great runed walls that were built, to appease the anger of the Summoned. And so the peace was held tentatively, until of course Garland began to meddle with the Invincible. No one is really sure what might have happened if the Summoners hadn't have changed their ways those many years ago...did the Summoned have a will of their own - or were they only blindly following some divine fate? That is...a very hard question to answer..."
"Especially if there are no known gods." Zidane finished. Cid nodded thoughtfully, running his hand slowly across the iron rims of his glasses,
"Well...apparently there is one now. I'm not sure if you've been paying attention, but lately the streets of Lindblum, perhaps Alexandria as well, have been ringing with cries of the Deliverer. Apparently a new cult has arisen that believes a great judgment will fall upon the earth, and the only thing that will be able to save them is this divinely empowered being they call the deliverer. Of course, to my knowledge, none of these people know who gives him this power, or why he will save them - or how, or what will destroy them...but...that's usually how religions go, eh?"
Zidane shrugged, "I don't know - I've never been involved that much in religion." Zidane silently added the words 'ever'. "Who's in charge of this religion? Any ringleaders?"
Cid shrugged, "Apparently in Lindblum there is a circle of priests called the Bright Circle. They claimed to have the knowledge and the prophecies passed down from revelations in their dreams."
"You know a whole lot about this for not caring, Cid." Zidane noted, a smile touching his lips. He often wondered why Cid did what he did. Cid just tossed his head, flipped his glasses into his pocket, and smiled innocently,
"I just love to know what's going on."
--
With a breath of mixed exasperation and relief, Garnet rose stiffly from her throne and removed the heavy golden band from her head. The crown she set on the ledge next to the throne, knowing that the courtiers would put it away as soon as she was gone. The court room had finally been cleared out, its soaring walls now free from the dull chatter and somber faces that had swarmed there only an hour before. If they all cared so much about her, perhaps they could leave her alone for a few days...she was getting a headache...not just from the constant chatter. Envisioning a hot bath and comfortable bed at home, Garnet stepped from the platform toward the giant bronze doors that led from the throne room to the stairwell.
"Wai-wait! Hoooof!" From the reception hall a bulky form came, literally, flying in. The well-built, middle-aged man took a few clumsy steps toward the queen, lost his balance, and tripped to his knees. Garnet stared at him, running her eyes across his face in vague recognition. His eyes still carried a fiery youth in their depths, burning blue; they gazed up at her in flustered resignation, "My queen."
The entrance guards cast curious glances between the queen and the intruder, making a feeble attempt to pull him out before Garnet intervened, "Wait!" She called, changing the direction of her exit to pass the man, "Rise...sir, and state your business in my court." One more adoring subject wouldn't set her day back too far. And...Deep inside, behind all her dreams of a quiet evening - she feared going home and seeing Zidane again.
There was something in Zidane's eyes the night before that Garnet had never seen before - and it scared her beyond any fear or nightmare she could possibly have. He someone knew something was wrong - somehow he sensed that she had seen Kuja, that she had betrayed him. The hurt she saw in his eyes wounded her doubly. Zidane was such a good soul, so innocent and trusting despite all his facades of toughness and womanizing. He was as close to good as a mortal could be...she couldn't bear to...to...
Why did Kuja have to return and ruin her perfect world? It was his fault for forcing her into something she didn't want the night before - and it was Zidane's fault for making her feel guilty! Fire crackled from her eyes as she swept down the stairs and held her arm out for the kneeling subject to take. Her resolve that had been swept away in a moment of chaos returned with new conviction. Whoever or whatever plagued her, it was all because she was queen - and thus she had to keep up her appearances. "Walk with me."
The man rose to meet her request, his body trembling as if the arm he touched was the greatest honor of his entire life. Garnet noted to her amazement that his mammoth hand could have probably gripped her arm twice over if he wanted to - but rather he gingerly balanced above it, his rough, calloused hands barely brushing her smooth, pampered skin. And suddenly Garnet remembered where she recognized him from.
"You are the man who was staring up at my window, are you not?" Garnet questioned him as she stared up into his face, her eyebrows raised imperiously. The man did not answer, but rather turned away, his face reddening furiously, and then she realized what he was thinking. Modestly, she allowed herself to blush as well, touching his arm lightly in a manner that seemed forgiving. "What is your name, sir?"
"Er, K-Kain, your majesty." His face was still turned away as they exited the throne room and started down the long, elegant hall that led to the palace entrance. "A thousand pardons about that, you...see, I can ex- explain if you think I-"
"That won't be necessary, Kain." Garnet restrained a massive sigh that fought to escape, "Just tell me why you're here, please. I do have many...important affairs to tend to yet today, and time is running short..."
"Of course!" Kain bobbed his head quickly, using his free arm to begin plowing through the pockets in his peasant's garb, searching hurriedly, he found his prey quickly and brought it out to dangle before Garnet's eyes. It was a slender golden chain, a necklace. At the center a beautiful purple stone was set into the links, glittering dully in the torchlight. Garnet just stared at it pensively - it was pretty...much like the other dozens of gifts she received every day. She began to turn to look back up at Kain, but found that suddenly she couldn't take her eyes away from the stone...what a...strange object.
"This is a tribute from the chief elder of Macema...we pledge our allegiance to the Alexandrian realm, and hope that we can serve our queen in any way you find necessary." Garnet vaguely heard Kain explaining himself in the background as her fingers wrapped around the chain and she tucked it safely in her bodice. A trinket...it would go into the treasury with everything else.
"Well...thank you...I..." There was something strange about Kain's face that sent a chill through Garnet's spine as she stared at him...something nostalgic. "Have..." Garnet stopped walking just short of the bright ring of sunlight that marked the outside. "Have you always lived in Macema?"
Kain's face suddenly appeared panicked, and he nodded hurriedly, "Of course, your highness...I am a native of that land. This is the first time I've even been to Alexandria." Something about that didn't ring true...Garnet took another long glance at his face, then shook her head with a sigh. Now she was just getting delusional - it was all the stress of her life, with Kuja and Zidane...now she thought everything was out to kill her. Or...l...Garnet grabbed Kain's arm so quickly her fingernails bit into his skin,
"Well, sir...I'll have to bid you a good day. It's getting late and I do have my...business." She sounded so pathetic - lying to commoners.
Kain looked down at her in relief and nodded, "Of course...thank you for seeing me, your majesty. I'll be going." He bowed deeply, looking into her eyes...and it seemed to Garnet that she was looking into the eye of...
The Invincible.
She shook her head furiously. What the hell was wrong with her? He was just a man, no one...nothing to her...yet he felt somehow like an old friend...a brother, a lover...something, she couldn't be sure of the feeling that burned at her insides. "Kain...I-I really don't understand why, but I need to see you again." Garnet watched with amusement as his eyes widened into saucers, "Nothing important of course," She explained calmly, "I just want to talk to you about a few things...you wouldn't mind, of course?"
Kain nodded, his throat bobbing visibly, "Of course, your majesty."
"Tomorrow night, come up to my chambers - I'll have the guards let you through."
The throat bobbed more rapidly, "Yes. G-good day, your majesty." Garnet almost giggled aloud as the aging man almost ran down the steps and into the light, disappearing in a few hurried moments, leaving Garnet clinging to her raging doubts. Why why why?! She felt like she wasn't even making her own decisions any more - like a big hand was moving above her, pulling her around by the strings of her fragile little heart. Inviting a strange man up to her bedchambers, what would Zidane say if he heard that?
Nothing probably...he would just stare at her and smile sadly. A sob pushed its way involuntarily from her throat.
"My lady." The dark voice whispered its way around her head, bringing back distinct visions of skin, sweat and pleasure, all burned together into one beautiful and horrible display, like a dragon breathing fire. Garnet's body stiffened instantly, her hand quickly searching her face for any outward signs of her inner turmoil. There was none...she was still queen and there was nothing any of them could do about it. Affecting a cold gaze, she turned to glare at Kuja, who stood in the shadows - his black garb melding subtly with the white wall.
"Yes...do you want something?"
"Much in fact." A glitter ran through Kuja's eyes, there and gone, and once again the memory of the night before appeared clearly to Garnet, but she shook it away very quickly this time. It was nothing - just love. Just love? What was she saying...
"So do the vagrants, but for this they are driven away."
"Your sweet ice cannot chill my tormenting fire...I have brought you a gift, my lady, that is all...just a reminder." Kuja flourished gracefully, and produced from his billowing folds a flower, which he held up to the light for Garnet to take. It was a black rose. Garnet shuddered as her hands gingerly received the beautiful 'reminder'.
"Thank you, Sir Kuja."
"Arteon." He corrected sharply. Garnet ignored him.
"I am leaving now." Garnet felt as if she stood in another man's presence for much longer she would collapse and break into a million pieces. She needed comfort - isolation...something! "Good afternoon."
"Pleasant dreams." Kuja whispered behind her, leaving the air around her burning with a cold passion. Dignity gone, she pulled up her skirts and ran for her chamber.
--
Whatever the man knew, it really didn't help Zidane much with the words flickering through his head 'Do you believe in God'...at the moment he really didn't know or care, he was just alive and in a little mess of trouble as he moodily stomped down the street to his appointment with Mikoto.
Blank, on the other hand, was in a whole lot of luck. He had watched Zidane prattling on with Cid about nothing remotely interesting for a while, but his thoughts were on much more important things - so he couldn't stay for very long. When he was positive the two weren't paying any attention to him - Blank slipped out of the room and into the cozy, red hallway.
The airship was as comfortable of a building as Blank had ever been in personally. The interior was built like that of a castle or nice inn - so once inside and below deck, you didn't feel like you were mobile or airborne at all, you just felt at home and comfortable. The Hilda Garde V was a masterwork, the sleek polished wood shining faintly as the numerous hall lamps shone a warm glow against them. The floors were carpeted in a deep red plush, giving Blank the impulse to take his shoes off and thrust his toes into the soft threads...but of course he didn't. He just looked around, muttered about his hangover, and set out to look for his angel princess.
For some...damn strange reason Blank found himself hopelessly obsessed with the brilliant witty face that berated him every time he opened his mouth. She had been in his thoughts since the moment he saw her, she was beautiful and smart and...hated him. But that was alright! With time she could learn to appreciate his finer aspects - like how he could always hold his beer, and...ummm...he didn't snore! That would probably definitely matter once they were in bed together. 'Woahoho Blank, getting a little ahead of yourself...'
The silence of the massive ship pounded in around Blank's head, accentuating to him every single footstep, every single breath. For a few paranoid moments he believed that everything was a trap set up to catch him doing something awful - but then he suddenly remembered that he wasn't doing anything awful at all. He was just walking through the airship, examining the...fine build, making sure there weren't any thieves breaking in. Emboldened by his purpose, he moved on, elaborating on his courage. He was a knight of honor, patrolling the dark hallways for long, hard hours just to keep the royal family of Lindblum safe. He didn't need to eat, no sleep did he need! No, all the sustenance he required was found in the satisfaction of being a good man!
Yeah...that was pretty good. Blank smiled confidently as he turned the corner, his mind searching for more bold events he could create and monsters to encounter - when suddenly a distant voice broke the silence. Blank stopped, looking around. The voice was female - very distinctively and beautifully female, and she was singing...very beautifully. Blank sighed and leaned against the wall, it was probably his angel - Gabrielle, her sorrowful tune telling of the woes of a broken love and the knight she wanted to save her.
Actually the song, even though he couldn't understand the words, sounded happy...which, once realized, instantly changed Blank's perspective. He began walking again - quietly as possible, moving toward the sound of her voice. She was happy - she was probably singing a joyful song about the first day she had met Blank, how that filled her life with laughter and sunshine. Oh he was ready for her - he would burst into the room, singing a song of his own, and they could finally consummate their love. He'd been waiting his whole life for the moment and it had finally come.
Blank's limbs shook with the excitement of the moment - every smooth length of wood beneath his feet turned into a slick, uneven obstruction. Staggering left and right, his mind searched eagerly for words to sing as he stepped closer and closer to the beautiful voice. The hallway lost its darkness and began merging into a dreamy light - it lost its frigid stone climate and heat began to seep into through the floorboards, the ceiling, through the closed door from which the light shone. He was walking straight into heaven - it was a vision, she really was an angel. It was meant to be!
"I loooooove yoooooou!" Blank roared in the best singing voice he could come up with - his thick tongue making the crescendo almost impossible. He threw the door open - eyes gleaming expectantly as he looked into to see the pearly gates. There she was, there was Gabrielle standing in the middle of the room...and she was...naked. "Holy shit!" Blank roared as the song ended and the steamy mists of a bath room flooded over his body, making his face even redder than it already had become.
Gabrielle's eyes widened and she screeched, flopping back down awkwardly into the hot water - which made her screech again as her posterior hit the hard region beneath her. "You fucking bastard!" She whined up at him. Blank found it quite impossible to answer, staring down at the two perfect mounds of flesh that rose from the water. It didn't take her long to realize this, and he hastily squirmed deeper in the soapy bath, "You pervert - how did you get in here!" She demanded imperiously.
"I...walked." Blank grinned, staring unashamedly down at her.
"Could you please look away?" She lowered her head, trying hard to simultaneously lose her blush and regain her composure, "If you were any sort of gentleman you would have done so already."
"Right." Blank looked slowly away, but the grin remained on his face. "You know...speaking of correct behavior - your...outburst wasn't quite what I would call 'ladylike'."
"I had my reasons." She sniffed.
"Of course you did, Gabrielle. My apologies for doubting an angel...who was..."
"I'm taking my morning bath - you idiot. I really prefer to take these alone."
"Of course you do...yes..." Blank murmured, "I won't be long. I was just...captivated by that song you were singing - it's really quite lovely. What were the words? I couldn't quite catch them."
Gabrielle paused for a moment, then sighed, "Of course you wouldn't understand the words - the song is in high speech, only those of noble blood are taught the dialect - it's quite complex and you commoners probably wouldn't understand it."
"Right - commoners. What is the song about?" Blank persisted, suddenly feeling pleasantly aware of where he really was. He was in a bathroom having a bout of small talk with a bathing woman - how many times had that ever happened in his life?
"It's a..." She splashed around nervously, her hand reaching for the soap, something to keep her busy, "It's an old love song, from the legends."
"Aha! I knew it!" Blank brushed at his hair excitedly, "I heard you singing and I knew it was a love song about me!"
"It's not a love song about you, mongrel!" She snapped, receding even farther into the water, "You're a horrible, hideous, drunk who probably doesn't deserve to live - why would I be in love with you?"
"Fate." Blank returned stoutly, "The gods meant for it to be." He knew all that talk about gods would come in handy eventually.
"Oh get over yourself." The angel growled, irately dabbing her face with soap, "Now could you please leave...so I can resume my bath without having to worry about pleasing spectators with my body." The way she said it, and the way her eyes suddenly sparkled, left Blank with sudden warmth that did not come from the heat of the room. He turned to look at her quietly for a moment, then he walked away,
"I came to see you, angel. I want to get to know you - because I love you." He struggled frantically for some words possible of wooing her - but all he found was empty, heated air - her form buried in the swirling waters. "I love you! I'll never forget this day!" And then he rushed out - wondering why suddenly he felt so empty.
--
Even after he left, Alicia could still feel the touch of Blank's eyes on her skin, leaving a searing path across her. Her eyes welled over with tears as she pulled her head under water, staring glassily at the wavering ceiling high above her.
She didn't understand; there was no reason why she should be so confused. She was the royal tutor; she had her background, her honor, her life all holding her high. He had nothing, he was nothing, he would never be anything. How could he make her feel so low? Like his high words and ridiculous compliments shot straight into her foundation, crumbling the thick walls and bringing her crashing to the cold, hard ground. 'I'm not alone! I'm not alone!' She silently screamed at the hot, undulating waves. But they were silent...all too silent to validate her claim.
The streaming tears broke forth into a fountain. She rose from the water slowly, only to rest her arms of the slick stone ledge beside her, her eyes staring dumbly at the closed door. Slowly...ever so slowly, the walls of her life began to reform beneath, pulling her back up by the strings of her dignity and pride. She hurriedly sniffed up her tears, splashing at her red eyes - berating her sniveling mind. He had no right to break her down like that - and she was pathetic to let him do so. He wasn't the one she waited for or dreamed about - he was just a lovesick dog, looking for another bitch to drool over. Only another day - one more day and then she'd go back to Lindblum and he'd go back to wherever the hell he came from, and they would never see each other again and both be the better for it. She wouldn't let him bring her down! She wouldn't! Angrily she slapped the tears from her face, forcing the soft skin back into a rigid, stone wall. She couldn't...
--
To a man who had remained abstinent his entire forty years of existence, the presence of a woman was still a dream, a fantasy - some untouched fruit from a world far away. There was no way for him to quite understand what he looked forward to, or to know quite what it was he feared - but he did. Every time Steiner gazed into Beatrix's eyes, a bittersweet connection was made. Mournful, adoring, tender...passionless. He looked at something that he wanted more than words could tell - but he did not understand at all what he wanted or what she was. He wanted...to love her. But love was such a vast term, misused and overused in his era that he wasn't even quite sure what it meant. What was love...was it his never-ending devotion? The burning pang inside when his lips touched hers...was it the faith that they would be united one day? Was it his noble belief in abstinence and purity? What the hell was wrong with him?
"Beatrix...I..." Steiner began, clearing his throat. The restaurant he had chosen for the occasion was a large, formal dress affair. And formally he was dressed - a solid black creaseless suit, livened slightly by the slight view of a glowing white shirt and scarlet tie. His hair was combed smoothly back, the loose ends tied in a neat tail behind his head. He had even bathed before the evening - twice. Somehow, however - even in the soft, comfortable suit - Steiner still felt as if he was wearing his armor. He still felt like the big clumsy knight standing on the empty battlefield, searching for something more to fight.
Beatrix sat at the other end of the small booth table, her single bright eye glowing happily at him. The dress she had chosen for the occasion was black as well - flowing as smoothly as the night down her muscular form. One shoulder was bare, exposing well-tanned skin that was broken in numerous places by old white scars. The scars caused Beatrix endless embarrassment, so she wore her hair flung over this shoulder - a silky sheath to dull the truth of who she was: A killer...just like him. Two killers on a date - how ironically romantic. She had changed her usual leather eye-strap for a thinner, silken one that tugged playfully at her cheek - an awkward feeling, combined with where she was and what she was wearing, to keep a girlish blush on her cheeks. But Steiner really didn't care - all he could see was her beauty...all he could see was his Beatrix, standing in her shining armor - the woman that he loved.
"Beatrix-" Steiner began again, "It's been quite a long time I've been meaning to say this...rather - it's been on my mind since...I...that is-" Since when - what was he talking about? Frantically the knight fumbled for flowery words to mask his fear, "I never really loved until I looked into your eyes...eye that is."
Beatrix grinned, snaking her hand across the polished wooden surface to tug at his huge, clumsy fingers, "Steiner - you're stammering...what is it that you want? Come on - you don't have to toy around with me."
"Of course not!" He exclaimed, reaching his hand into his coat pocket to clutch at the smooth band of gold concealed inside. "Why would I ever have to hide anything from you...-dear, my dear. We've never been anything but honest with our relationship - right, right?"
"Um...yes?" Her eye twitched - most likely because of the strap stretched across her skin. That was definitely the reason.
"Right...of course...so, speaking of our love, I just thought I'd show you a little token of my affection. Which is...this meal of course, haha..." Steiner trailed off nervously with a laugh - suddenly doubting himself. If he couldn't propose to her without trailing off into mutterings and gibberish, was he truly to the stage of taking responsibility for her? I mean - he did love her...didn't he? What was love again?
Their relationship after two years still consisted of pleasant evenings in the park - walks along the river at night, breakfast in the café, practicing swords, kisses on the cheek, conversations about idle nothings...two adolescents out dating. Never had any real serious issues come up - such as where they would live, what they would do, could they really cope living in the same house together seeing each other ever day? Of course, Steiner didn't really know. He thought that he could - but he'd never really tried it, and it wasn't like he was given a trial period. His laws of chivalry strictly forbid such a thing...but without 'such a thing' how could he truly know what would happen? 'I love her, I really do!' He shouted hoarsely to his mind. But his mind wasn't as sure. "I..."
Luckily, almost simultaneous to his indecision, a gigantic cook burst from the kitchen doors, his white hat waving floppily around as he ran in terror from a moogle who was flying after him, calling desperately, "Kupo!" Apparently the hapless chef had been mixing the nuts in with his salad when a hungry moogle had drifted in...so began the chase, chef, salad and moogle, around and around the fancy diner, while all the rich patrons stared on in dignified silence.
Steiner's eyes widened as he watched the display. Ridiculous! His thoughts trailed away to something about helping the chef - when suddenly he felt Beatrix's fingers curl around his and her face pressed up against his shoulder as she walked around the table to sit next to him.
"I understand." She whispered, spreading kisses across his cheek with a ferocity that made him blush, "You want to go further...I think that is a very, very good idea." Steiner's eyes turned to stare into her sparkling eye, gleaming bright with a flash of mischief. Instinctively he gulped - both heart and head's decisions flying away with his reason,
"You do?"
--
"What're you thinking about?" Mikoto's cheerful voice reverberated around Zidane's head as he slowly awoke from his stupor. The long day had slowly transformed into a slow night, and his tedious dinner with Mikoto had been riddled with frequent lapses into his thoughts.
"Just...gods and things - silly stuff like that, I'm sorry..." He mumbled, casting a roving glance at Mikoto. She looked very pretty - dressed daintily in a fiery red, sparkling dress, her neck and hands decorated with white furs. Her hair was done up in an elegant spiral above her head, and her face glowed, beauty points accentuated by slight dabbing of color in the right places. Very pretty indeed...she looked very hurt as she stared at him, eyes searching his - wondering why he wouldn't stay with her, be interested and care about her. He would be - he really would! But he just couldn't - he had Garnet, he had life, he had problems...having another very-attached female by his side wasn't really going to help things any.
He strained a smile in her direction - noting in relief that it was probably going to be the last time he saw her before she went back to...wherever she was going. She returned the smile adoringly, then answered his muttered words,
"Gods...that's interesting. I didn't know the peoples - the...that this world really had any gods."
Hmm? Zidane's focus sharpened, and his eyes bored into hers. Now that was something he hadn't expected, "What do you know about a god?"
Mikoto shrugged lightly, "Oh...I don't know. I just guess that if there was such a thing he'd be great and powerful and kind and...you know, all those things. Like...you." Her speech slowed as an emotional flush flew across her face. Hastily she explained, "You-you and Kuja, like how Kuja was! Powerful and...strong."
Her blatant slipups went unnoticed as Zidane rolled the thought over in his mind. Him a god? It was silly...technically he was a 'god' in the fact that he was powerful and undefeated in the world - but he didn't have any special powers. He fought with physical and trance powers just like everyone else. Kuja was more of a god then he - but Kuja...gods couldn't disappear. And Necron was even more of a god - but he was evil...why would there be an evil god if there were no good ones?"
"Gods can't be evil...can they? I mean - they're gods, right?" Zidane looked up at her. He didn't realize that he had spoken his last few thoughts aloud.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyes tracing the bright line of her trembling lips.
"Well...if you were a god - that means you are the most powerful." Mikoto shyly traced a circle on the table with her finger, "So...if you are the most powerful, no one can call you evil or 'wrong' really...because they can't be better than you. Who can judge an all-powerful being?"
Something about the words sounded a little too intelligent for such an innocent being...remembrance tickled at the back of Zidane's mind, but he pushed it away, "I suppose you're right. But it really doesn't matter - there are no gods. There is no god." For the first time he spoke the words out loud, and that some how filled him with confidence. He could be sure now. "So I don't even know why I'm thinking about it."
"Because you're a truth-seeker, Zidane. Lies and injustices bother you so much...that's why you're you - that's why so many people love you. A true knight." She stated confidently. Zidane blushed in spite of himself. He couldn't remember the last time someone had so blatantly showered him with outrageous compliments. Actually - he had never been that lucky. Did Mikoto really admire him that much?
He stared into her eyes - trying as hard as he could to find her intent. Suddenly he very desperately wanted to run, to leave her alone and go back to Garnet - to hand Mikoto off to Blank and let someone who would really appreciate her take her. But he didn't - he stayed, talking and staring into those deep auburn eyes until the shadows melded into the sky and the world was coated in darkness.
I'm sorry...so sorry.
Your beauty is so vague.
It drives me...it drives me.
Absolutely insane.
I'D EAT YOU ALIVE.
Eat you Alive - Limp Bizkit
--
Yon watched the spiraling events of the street from the window of the Hawk Eye Tavern, sipping daintily at a goblet of wine as he contemplated the next steps of his plan. Flanking him were two hooded persons, a man and a woman, both watching him very sedately from behind tankards.
"Now..." Yon touched a finger to his lips, "If our messenger fulfills his quest properly, the plan will move into motion sometime today. After that it is all up to you, Emryal. Are you capable?"
The man called Emryal spat under the table, "If you don't screw up, we'll be out of here by tomorrow night."
Yon nodded, "Excellent. And you, Alz? Have you been successful thus far?"
"I know where he is..." Alz swirled her drink slowly, "But I really have no idea what he is doing here. Don't worry though, master. I will find out soon enough."
"Good. It looks like everything is going just perfectly then, hmm?" Yon finished off his drink, then stood regally, "I will be returning to the project house today, so...I expect to see you both by the end of the week. Is that understood?"
"Whatever."
"Yes, master."
"Good...good. A toast to our good fortune then?" He set down his glass on the table and smiled, "Down with Zidane."
--
Kain rubbed his groggy eyes and wandered with blurry vision around his dawn surroundings. He didn't recall sleeping too much during the night - too much worry and not enough familiarity in a strange city. So he had roamed endlessly over the dark cobblestone streets in search for something, for nothing...for plain old passage of time.
And as he gained fuller consciousness, Kain finally realized where he was as the sun rose. Back in the starting place, the root - the moat in front of the castle in front of the window that lead to his angel unknown. His silent comfort in a confused and brutal world. Once again, there she was - standing in a flowing gown of white, her eyes upturned to heaven, a sorrowful smile on her face. What agony he could pull from happiness!
"Beautiful view, eh traveler?" Kain turned quickly, swiveling his eyes around to make him feel more honest and more guilty at the same time. Behind him stood a young man, his entire form swathed in black, his eyes fixed on the angel in the window.
"That's the queen, isn't it?" Kain mumbled quietly. He didn't really like talking to strangers; they usually turned out to be disagreeable people who interfered with his life. Of course that rule made it hard for him to meet people...but it wasn't like he was a social butterfly.
"Yes." The stranger answered, and Kain sighed heavily. "Why, did you have your high hopes set on...something?"
Kain turned once again to look at the stranger, hooding his eyes in disinterest, "No, it just figures, that's all. She's the queen...hah."
"You really think that's something? Here comes her husband - look!" The context of the conversation gave Kain reason to jump nervously, just a little bit, as he turned in the direction of the slowly approaching the wooden docks. Standing in the stern of this boat was a medium sized man - not too muscular or tall or handsome or anything particularly special. He was garbed in a suit of extravagant clothing that didn't seem quite right for him, and at his side sat an illustriously decorated golden sword. If Kain knew his legends correctly, the husband of Garnet was none other than Zidane, the legendary warrior from the lost world.
"He doesn't look so special." Kain muttered to whomever was standing behind him - the words a little boastful and a little resentful. How could such a man get such a queen anyway? No one answered him, so he turned around to repeat his proclamation - only to find the space behind him was now unoccupied. The man in black was gone. "Odd..."
--
Zidane stepped briskly from the tottering boat, thanked the oar man quickly, nodded to a man by the shore staring off into space, and then rushed into Alexandria. The day would be primarily unfortunate; he had promised that he would dine with Mikoto - which meant that he had to pick her up from her inn, spend some money on food, ward off her affectionate assaults and pretend he was interested, almost simultaneously. However, before he threw his life to the dogs, he was going to talk to Cid while the steamship genius was still in town.
There were only two people Zidane could think of who knew something about practically everything; Doctor Tot and Regent Cid. And since Doctor Tot was off muttering insanely to himself in Treno, Regent Cid was an excellent choice - and still almost sane as well. That thought made Zidane uneasy. Everything about the day seemed so halcyon, the perfect normal day in the kingdom, and that made it almost eerie. He had felt some sort of great presence at the play the night before - something speaking to him, calling out some question that had never plagued his mind. And so, naturally, now it plagued his mind. God...not the frequently spoke of yet never worshipped gods of the endangered Summoners, not the planet energy or death or life or anything of those grand things that were sometimes waved to very vaguely as 'supreme beings of some sort'. No...the voice in his head had very clearly asked about God. As if it meant to say 'the God'. Who was the God? Was there one? It had never really crossed Zidane's mind, and since he never heard it spoken of anywhere else, he supposed it was that way for the rest of the humans as well. The Genomes believed that they were empty vessels, their purpose was to wait to be filled, and once filled, or killed - or whatever happened at that time, they could be complete and happy. Zidane, of course, had long since learned the lie in this. He was not soulless or empty. He was just as filled with life and hopes and dreams as any human on the planet - and so were the rest of the genomes, once they were allowed to believe it. The only truth in such a lie was that Garland had indeed been manipulating them, molding them into the perfect followers and servants. Hell, if Garland had asked - the genomes probably would have worshipped him as a god.
But that had all changed - Zidane had seen the difference in Mikoto personally, although he hadn't been back to the Black Mage Village to view the rest of the genomes since they had begun living there. There was more life in Mikoto than anyone he had ever seen - a radiance that sparkled from him, making him burn inside, like he should be out doing something very important instead of wandering aimlessly around the streets. She was...but no, dammit! No! Quickly he stopped thinking about Mikoto, leaving that matter for the evening, and pushed his thoughts back on track. Regent Cid...the God question. Right...
"Hey bro!" The hail came from across the street, and Zidane had to pierce the swarming morning crowd with some persistence to find his target - although he knew who he would find. Blank stood lazily against the supporting pillars for one of the sleazy little town bars, his swaying motion and half-closed eyes indicating that was probably where he spent his night as well.
"Blank...have a fun time?"
Blank stumbled toward him with a lopsided grin, "You should have been there - Zid...I've never seen so many beautiful, loving women in my whole entire life!" Yes... Zidane thought with amusement - and he probably would never see them again.
"Oh, I had a little fun of my own, I'm sure I really didn't miss anything." Sure as hell he didn't - his mind growled irately. It was the first night he could remember that Garnet had avoided him, ignored him, and gone to sleep without so much as a kiss on the cheek. But of course, not to wound his inflated pride, Zidane would never mention anything like that...ever.
Blank shrugged and plopped a heavy arm on Zidane's shoulder, "Well...you do have a winner. Where you off to so early, bro?" Zidane neatly pried himself away from the wallowing drunkard, and continued down the street, motioning for Blank to follow,
"I'm going to see Cid - ask him a few questions I think."
"Really? What a coincidence, I was just going there myself!" Blank shot eagerly, starting up a pace to match Zidane's, "Interesting man, that Cid...he knows a lot of stuff."
"Stuff?" Zidane grinned incredulously, "Like...how to pick a pretty tutor?"
"You sure are observant." Blank spoke the words ruefully, but the happy grin was still plastered all across his face.
"Of course I saw her - your eyes shot arrows to her all night - all I had to do was follow the trail. She's cute, Blank - but she has responsibilities...to a child. Just don't expect too much to come out of it - okay?"
"You know me - I always expect the worst!" Blank claimed triumphantly, waving a half-numb hand around with feeling. The motion saddened Zidane - it was bad enough having his own women problems without his best friend getting caught up in a dead-end relationship as well.
"Yeah...well...good luck anyway - maybe you have a little more chance with her than say...Ruby?" Zidane grinned and Blank flushed. He didn't have a chance in the world.
--
Cid really didn't have a clue in the world what Zidane was talking about. To his knowledge, the old regent spoke thoughtfully, pulling and pushing at his glasses with some regularity, the nations of Gaia had always been polytheistic, due to the different natures of the fates and life. The world had always been divided among the elements, two or more forces behind everything from good and evil to black and white. But everything had its time and purpose - for example, there was a time for war, and there was a time for peace. Sometimes love was the best option, sometimes fear, or hate, or sorrow. No element could be called completely good or evil, which is why polytheism always worked out for the humans. Since God couldn't be described as any one perfect 'element', his nature was split and split again into anywhere from two to a hundred different personalities that were all good and all different, and thus religions were born. There of course, was no credence to any of the gods that people spoke of - as there was no active religion flowing through Gaia in the present.
"What about Madain Sari?" Zidane queried, "The gods they summon are real - I've seen them all multiple times."
Cid shook his head sadly, "The story of Madain Sari is a very twisted one." His face was actually sorrowful, Zidane assumed because he had many dealings with the Summoners - his 'niece' and 'daughter' were both among the number. "The original Summoners did not believe the souls that they summoned to this earth were gods - in fact they knew the truth. The souls they pulled were powerful beings who shed their afterlife for the strong want of good, or ill, for mankind as a whole. Thus the Summoners could harness their powers and bring them back at will to do their bidding. However, this obviously does not make them gods - for, if the gods are the ones doing our bidding, what kind of gods are they? No...the Madain Sari believed themselves to be the Gods, the masters of Gaia, and so they grew very proud, telling their children of all the accomplishments and dreams that awaited them."
But this only led them to disaster. The Summoned could only come at the will of someone who has a clear intent and purpose...clouded by pride and malice, when the Summoners began raising their armies for the war they planned to bring to Gaia, the Summoned turned on them, unleashing their fury in a fiery night of doom."
Zidane peered on in interest - he had never heard this story, and wondered where the old man had come across it. Generally everyone believed that Cid just naturally knew everything - but he obviously had to study 'sometime.'
The Regent continued in grave tones, "The Summoners that survived this feared the Summoned. But they also knew their role in the world, knew what the horns represented. They were chained to the race's destiny. So, as the generations continued, the elder Summoners began telling the young that the Summoned were in fact the gods, to eliminate a second judgment. They began to pray and worship, and some clans even went as far as to sacrifice to the great runed walls that were built, to appease the anger of the Summoned. And so the peace was held tentatively, until of course Garland began to meddle with the Invincible. No one is really sure what might have happened if the Summoners hadn't have changed their ways those many years ago...did the Summoned have a will of their own - or were they only blindly following some divine fate? That is...a very hard question to answer..."
"Especially if there are no known gods." Zidane finished. Cid nodded thoughtfully, running his hand slowly across the iron rims of his glasses,
"Well...apparently there is one now. I'm not sure if you've been paying attention, but lately the streets of Lindblum, perhaps Alexandria as well, have been ringing with cries of the Deliverer. Apparently a new cult has arisen that believes a great judgment will fall upon the earth, and the only thing that will be able to save them is this divinely empowered being they call the deliverer. Of course, to my knowledge, none of these people know who gives him this power, or why he will save them - or how, or what will destroy them...but...that's usually how religions go, eh?"
Zidane shrugged, "I don't know - I've never been involved that much in religion." Zidane silently added the words 'ever'. "Who's in charge of this religion? Any ringleaders?"
Cid shrugged, "Apparently in Lindblum there is a circle of priests called the Bright Circle. They claimed to have the knowledge and the prophecies passed down from revelations in their dreams."
"You know a whole lot about this for not caring, Cid." Zidane noted, a smile touching his lips. He often wondered why Cid did what he did. Cid just tossed his head, flipped his glasses into his pocket, and smiled innocently,
"I just love to know what's going on."
--
With a breath of mixed exasperation and relief, Garnet rose stiffly from her throne and removed the heavy golden band from her head. The crown she set on the ledge next to the throne, knowing that the courtiers would put it away as soon as she was gone. The court room had finally been cleared out, its soaring walls now free from the dull chatter and somber faces that had swarmed there only an hour before. If they all cared so much about her, perhaps they could leave her alone for a few days...she was getting a headache...not just from the constant chatter. Envisioning a hot bath and comfortable bed at home, Garnet stepped from the platform toward the giant bronze doors that led from the throne room to the stairwell.
"Wai-wait! Hoooof!" From the reception hall a bulky form came, literally, flying in. The well-built, middle-aged man took a few clumsy steps toward the queen, lost his balance, and tripped to his knees. Garnet stared at him, running her eyes across his face in vague recognition. His eyes still carried a fiery youth in their depths, burning blue; they gazed up at her in flustered resignation, "My queen."
The entrance guards cast curious glances between the queen and the intruder, making a feeble attempt to pull him out before Garnet intervened, "Wait!" She called, changing the direction of her exit to pass the man, "Rise...sir, and state your business in my court." One more adoring subject wouldn't set her day back too far. And...Deep inside, behind all her dreams of a quiet evening - she feared going home and seeing Zidane again.
There was something in Zidane's eyes the night before that Garnet had never seen before - and it scared her beyond any fear or nightmare she could possibly have. He someone knew something was wrong - somehow he sensed that she had seen Kuja, that she had betrayed him. The hurt she saw in his eyes wounded her doubly. Zidane was such a good soul, so innocent and trusting despite all his facades of toughness and womanizing. He was as close to good as a mortal could be...she couldn't bear to...to...
Why did Kuja have to return and ruin her perfect world? It was his fault for forcing her into something she didn't want the night before - and it was Zidane's fault for making her feel guilty! Fire crackled from her eyes as she swept down the stairs and held her arm out for the kneeling subject to take. Her resolve that had been swept away in a moment of chaos returned with new conviction. Whoever or whatever plagued her, it was all because she was queen - and thus she had to keep up her appearances. "Walk with me."
The man rose to meet her request, his body trembling as if the arm he touched was the greatest honor of his entire life. Garnet noted to her amazement that his mammoth hand could have probably gripped her arm twice over if he wanted to - but rather he gingerly balanced above it, his rough, calloused hands barely brushing her smooth, pampered skin. And suddenly Garnet remembered where she recognized him from.
"You are the man who was staring up at my window, are you not?" Garnet questioned him as she stared up into his face, her eyebrows raised imperiously. The man did not answer, but rather turned away, his face reddening furiously, and then she realized what he was thinking. Modestly, she allowed herself to blush as well, touching his arm lightly in a manner that seemed forgiving. "What is your name, sir?"
"Er, K-Kain, your majesty." His face was still turned away as they exited the throne room and started down the long, elegant hall that led to the palace entrance. "A thousand pardons about that, you...see, I can ex- explain if you think I-"
"That won't be necessary, Kain." Garnet restrained a massive sigh that fought to escape, "Just tell me why you're here, please. I do have many...important affairs to tend to yet today, and time is running short..."
"Of course!" Kain bobbed his head quickly, using his free arm to begin plowing through the pockets in his peasant's garb, searching hurriedly, he found his prey quickly and brought it out to dangle before Garnet's eyes. It was a slender golden chain, a necklace. At the center a beautiful purple stone was set into the links, glittering dully in the torchlight. Garnet just stared at it pensively - it was pretty...much like the other dozens of gifts she received every day. She began to turn to look back up at Kain, but found that suddenly she couldn't take her eyes away from the stone...what a...strange object.
"This is a tribute from the chief elder of Macema...we pledge our allegiance to the Alexandrian realm, and hope that we can serve our queen in any way you find necessary." Garnet vaguely heard Kain explaining himself in the background as her fingers wrapped around the chain and she tucked it safely in her bodice. A trinket...it would go into the treasury with everything else.
"Well...thank you...I..." There was something strange about Kain's face that sent a chill through Garnet's spine as she stared at him...something nostalgic. "Have..." Garnet stopped walking just short of the bright ring of sunlight that marked the outside. "Have you always lived in Macema?"
Kain's face suddenly appeared panicked, and he nodded hurriedly, "Of course, your highness...I am a native of that land. This is the first time I've even been to Alexandria." Something about that didn't ring true...Garnet took another long glance at his face, then shook her head with a sigh. Now she was just getting delusional - it was all the stress of her life, with Kuja and Zidane...now she thought everything was out to kill her. Or...l...Garnet grabbed Kain's arm so quickly her fingernails bit into his skin,
"Well, sir...I'll have to bid you a good day. It's getting late and I do have my...business." She sounded so pathetic - lying to commoners.
Kain looked down at her in relief and nodded, "Of course...thank you for seeing me, your majesty. I'll be going." He bowed deeply, looking into her eyes...and it seemed to Garnet that she was looking into the eye of...
The Invincible.
She shook her head furiously. What the hell was wrong with her? He was just a man, no one...nothing to her...yet he felt somehow like an old friend...a brother, a lover...something, she couldn't be sure of the feeling that burned at her insides. "Kain...I-I really don't understand why, but I need to see you again." Garnet watched with amusement as his eyes widened into saucers, "Nothing important of course," She explained calmly, "I just want to talk to you about a few things...you wouldn't mind, of course?"
Kain nodded, his throat bobbing visibly, "Of course, your majesty."
"Tomorrow night, come up to my chambers - I'll have the guards let you through."
The throat bobbed more rapidly, "Yes. G-good day, your majesty." Garnet almost giggled aloud as the aging man almost ran down the steps and into the light, disappearing in a few hurried moments, leaving Garnet clinging to her raging doubts. Why why why?! She felt like she wasn't even making her own decisions any more - like a big hand was moving above her, pulling her around by the strings of her fragile little heart. Inviting a strange man up to her bedchambers, what would Zidane say if he heard that?
Nothing probably...he would just stare at her and smile sadly. A sob pushed its way involuntarily from her throat.
"My lady." The dark voice whispered its way around her head, bringing back distinct visions of skin, sweat and pleasure, all burned together into one beautiful and horrible display, like a dragon breathing fire. Garnet's body stiffened instantly, her hand quickly searching her face for any outward signs of her inner turmoil. There was none...she was still queen and there was nothing any of them could do about it. Affecting a cold gaze, she turned to glare at Kuja, who stood in the shadows - his black garb melding subtly with the white wall.
"Yes...do you want something?"
"Much in fact." A glitter ran through Kuja's eyes, there and gone, and once again the memory of the night before appeared clearly to Garnet, but she shook it away very quickly this time. It was nothing - just love. Just love? What was she saying...
"So do the vagrants, but for this they are driven away."
"Your sweet ice cannot chill my tormenting fire...I have brought you a gift, my lady, that is all...just a reminder." Kuja flourished gracefully, and produced from his billowing folds a flower, which he held up to the light for Garnet to take. It was a black rose. Garnet shuddered as her hands gingerly received the beautiful 'reminder'.
"Thank you, Sir Kuja."
"Arteon." He corrected sharply. Garnet ignored him.
"I am leaving now." Garnet felt as if she stood in another man's presence for much longer she would collapse and break into a million pieces. She needed comfort - isolation...something! "Good afternoon."
"Pleasant dreams." Kuja whispered behind her, leaving the air around her burning with a cold passion. Dignity gone, she pulled up her skirts and ran for her chamber.
--
Whatever the man knew, it really didn't help Zidane much with the words flickering through his head 'Do you believe in God'...at the moment he really didn't know or care, he was just alive and in a little mess of trouble as he moodily stomped down the street to his appointment with Mikoto.
Blank, on the other hand, was in a whole lot of luck. He had watched Zidane prattling on with Cid about nothing remotely interesting for a while, but his thoughts were on much more important things - so he couldn't stay for very long. When he was positive the two weren't paying any attention to him - Blank slipped out of the room and into the cozy, red hallway.
The airship was as comfortable of a building as Blank had ever been in personally. The interior was built like that of a castle or nice inn - so once inside and below deck, you didn't feel like you were mobile or airborne at all, you just felt at home and comfortable. The Hilda Garde V was a masterwork, the sleek polished wood shining faintly as the numerous hall lamps shone a warm glow against them. The floors were carpeted in a deep red plush, giving Blank the impulse to take his shoes off and thrust his toes into the soft threads...but of course he didn't. He just looked around, muttered about his hangover, and set out to look for his angel princess.
For some...damn strange reason Blank found himself hopelessly obsessed with the brilliant witty face that berated him every time he opened his mouth. She had been in his thoughts since the moment he saw her, she was beautiful and smart and...hated him. But that was alright! With time she could learn to appreciate his finer aspects - like how he could always hold his beer, and...ummm...he didn't snore! That would probably definitely matter once they were in bed together. 'Woahoho Blank, getting a little ahead of yourself...'
The silence of the massive ship pounded in around Blank's head, accentuating to him every single footstep, every single breath. For a few paranoid moments he believed that everything was a trap set up to catch him doing something awful - but then he suddenly remembered that he wasn't doing anything awful at all. He was just walking through the airship, examining the...fine build, making sure there weren't any thieves breaking in. Emboldened by his purpose, he moved on, elaborating on his courage. He was a knight of honor, patrolling the dark hallways for long, hard hours just to keep the royal family of Lindblum safe. He didn't need to eat, no sleep did he need! No, all the sustenance he required was found in the satisfaction of being a good man!
Yeah...that was pretty good. Blank smiled confidently as he turned the corner, his mind searching for more bold events he could create and monsters to encounter - when suddenly a distant voice broke the silence. Blank stopped, looking around. The voice was female - very distinctively and beautifully female, and she was singing...very beautifully. Blank sighed and leaned against the wall, it was probably his angel - Gabrielle, her sorrowful tune telling of the woes of a broken love and the knight she wanted to save her.
Actually the song, even though he couldn't understand the words, sounded happy...which, once realized, instantly changed Blank's perspective. He began walking again - quietly as possible, moving toward the sound of her voice. She was happy - she was probably singing a joyful song about the first day she had met Blank, how that filled her life with laughter and sunshine. Oh he was ready for her - he would burst into the room, singing a song of his own, and they could finally consummate their love. He'd been waiting his whole life for the moment and it had finally come.
Blank's limbs shook with the excitement of the moment - every smooth length of wood beneath his feet turned into a slick, uneven obstruction. Staggering left and right, his mind searched eagerly for words to sing as he stepped closer and closer to the beautiful voice. The hallway lost its darkness and began merging into a dreamy light - it lost its frigid stone climate and heat began to seep into through the floorboards, the ceiling, through the closed door from which the light shone. He was walking straight into heaven - it was a vision, she really was an angel. It was meant to be!
"I loooooove yoooooou!" Blank roared in the best singing voice he could come up with - his thick tongue making the crescendo almost impossible. He threw the door open - eyes gleaming expectantly as he looked into to see the pearly gates. There she was, there was Gabrielle standing in the middle of the room...and she was...naked. "Holy shit!" Blank roared as the song ended and the steamy mists of a bath room flooded over his body, making his face even redder than it already had become.
Gabrielle's eyes widened and she screeched, flopping back down awkwardly into the hot water - which made her screech again as her posterior hit the hard region beneath her. "You fucking bastard!" She whined up at him. Blank found it quite impossible to answer, staring down at the two perfect mounds of flesh that rose from the water. It didn't take her long to realize this, and he hastily squirmed deeper in the soapy bath, "You pervert - how did you get in here!" She demanded imperiously.
"I...walked." Blank grinned, staring unashamedly down at her.
"Could you please look away?" She lowered her head, trying hard to simultaneously lose her blush and regain her composure, "If you were any sort of gentleman you would have done so already."
"Right." Blank looked slowly away, but the grin remained on his face. "You know...speaking of correct behavior - your...outburst wasn't quite what I would call 'ladylike'."
"I had my reasons." She sniffed.
"Of course you did, Gabrielle. My apologies for doubting an angel...who was..."
"I'm taking my morning bath - you idiot. I really prefer to take these alone."
"Of course you do...yes..." Blank murmured, "I won't be long. I was just...captivated by that song you were singing - it's really quite lovely. What were the words? I couldn't quite catch them."
Gabrielle paused for a moment, then sighed, "Of course you wouldn't understand the words - the song is in high speech, only those of noble blood are taught the dialect - it's quite complex and you commoners probably wouldn't understand it."
"Right - commoners. What is the song about?" Blank persisted, suddenly feeling pleasantly aware of where he really was. He was in a bathroom having a bout of small talk with a bathing woman - how many times had that ever happened in his life?
"It's a..." She splashed around nervously, her hand reaching for the soap, something to keep her busy, "It's an old love song, from the legends."
"Aha! I knew it!" Blank brushed at his hair excitedly, "I heard you singing and I knew it was a love song about me!"
"It's not a love song about you, mongrel!" She snapped, receding even farther into the water, "You're a horrible, hideous, drunk who probably doesn't deserve to live - why would I be in love with you?"
"Fate." Blank returned stoutly, "The gods meant for it to be." He knew all that talk about gods would come in handy eventually.
"Oh get over yourself." The angel growled, irately dabbing her face with soap, "Now could you please leave...so I can resume my bath without having to worry about pleasing spectators with my body." The way she said it, and the way her eyes suddenly sparkled, left Blank with sudden warmth that did not come from the heat of the room. He turned to look at her quietly for a moment, then he walked away,
"I came to see you, angel. I want to get to know you - because I love you." He struggled frantically for some words possible of wooing her - but all he found was empty, heated air - her form buried in the swirling waters. "I love you! I'll never forget this day!" And then he rushed out - wondering why suddenly he felt so empty.
--
Even after he left, Alicia could still feel the touch of Blank's eyes on her skin, leaving a searing path across her. Her eyes welled over with tears as she pulled her head under water, staring glassily at the wavering ceiling high above her.
She didn't understand; there was no reason why she should be so confused. She was the royal tutor; she had her background, her honor, her life all holding her high. He had nothing, he was nothing, he would never be anything. How could he make her feel so low? Like his high words and ridiculous compliments shot straight into her foundation, crumbling the thick walls and bringing her crashing to the cold, hard ground. 'I'm not alone! I'm not alone!' She silently screamed at the hot, undulating waves. But they were silent...all too silent to validate her claim.
The streaming tears broke forth into a fountain. She rose from the water slowly, only to rest her arms of the slick stone ledge beside her, her eyes staring dumbly at the closed door. Slowly...ever so slowly, the walls of her life began to reform beneath, pulling her back up by the strings of her dignity and pride. She hurriedly sniffed up her tears, splashing at her red eyes - berating her sniveling mind. He had no right to break her down like that - and she was pathetic to let him do so. He wasn't the one she waited for or dreamed about - he was just a lovesick dog, looking for another bitch to drool over. Only another day - one more day and then she'd go back to Lindblum and he'd go back to wherever the hell he came from, and they would never see each other again and both be the better for it. She wouldn't let him bring her down! She wouldn't! Angrily she slapped the tears from her face, forcing the soft skin back into a rigid, stone wall. She couldn't...
--
To a man who had remained abstinent his entire forty years of existence, the presence of a woman was still a dream, a fantasy - some untouched fruit from a world far away. There was no way for him to quite understand what he looked forward to, or to know quite what it was he feared - but he did. Every time Steiner gazed into Beatrix's eyes, a bittersweet connection was made. Mournful, adoring, tender...passionless. He looked at something that he wanted more than words could tell - but he did not understand at all what he wanted or what she was. He wanted...to love her. But love was such a vast term, misused and overused in his era that he wasn't even quite sure what it meant. What was love...was it his never-ending devotion? The burning pang inside when his lips touched hers...was it the faith that they would be united one day? Was it his noble belief in abstinence and purity? What the hell was wrong with him?
"Beatrix...I..." Steiner began, clearing his throat. The restaurant he had chosen for the occasion was a large, formal dress affair. And formally he was dressed - a solid black creaseless suit, livened slightly by the slight view of a glowing white shirt and scarlet tie. His hair was combed smoothly back, the loose ends tied in a neat tail behind his head. He had even bathed before the evening - twice. Somehow, however - even in the soft, comfortable suit - Steiner still felt as if he was wearing his armor. He still felt like the big clumsy knight standing on the empty battlefield, searching for something more to fight.
Beatrix sat at the other end of the small booth table, her single bright eye glowing happily at him. The dress she had chosen for the occasion was black as well - flowing as smoothly as the night down her muscular form. One shoulder was bare, exposing well-tanned skin that was broken in numerous places by old white scars. The scars caused Beatrix endless embarrassment, so she wore her hair flung over this shoulder - a silky sheath to dull the truth of who she was: A killer...just like him. Two killers on a date - how ironically romantic. She had changed her usual leather eye-strap for a thinner, silken one that tugged playfully at her cheek - an awkward feeling, combined with where she was and what she was wearing, to keep a girlish blush on her cheeks. But Steiner really didn't care - all he could see was her beauty...all he could see was his Beatrix, standing in her shining armor - the woman that he loved.
"Beatrix-" Steiner began again, "It's been quite a long time I've been meaning to say this...rather - it's been on my mind since...I...that is-" Since when - what was he talking about? Frantically the knight fumbled for flowery words to mask his fear, "I never really loved until I looked into your eyes...eye that is."
Beatrix grinned, snaking her hand across the polished wooden surface to tug at his huge, clumsy fingers, "Steiner - you're stammering...what is it that you want? Come on - you don't have to toy around with me."
"Of course not!" He exclaimed, reaching his hand into his coat pocket to clutch at the smooth band of gold concealed inside. "Why would I ever have to hide anything from you...-dear, my dear. We've never been anything but honest with our relationship - right, right?"
"Um...yes?" Her eye twitched - most likely because of the strap stretched across her skin. That was definitely the reason.
"Right...of course...so, speaking of our love, I just thought I'd show you a little token of my affection. Which is...this meal of course, haha..." Steiner trailed off nervously with a laugh - suddenly doubting himself. If he couldn't propose to her without trailing off into mutterings and gibberish, was he truly to the stage of taking responsibility for her? I mean - he did love her...didn't he? What was love again?
Their relationship after two years still consisted of pleasant evenings in the park - walks along the river at night, breakfast in the café, practicing swords, kisses on the cheek, conversations about idle nothings...two adolescents out dating. Never had any real serious issues come up - such as where they would live, what they would do, could they really cope living in the same house together seeing each other ever day? Of course, Steiner didn't really know. He thought that he could - but he'd never really tried it, and it wasn't like he was given a trial period. His laws of chivalry strictly forbid such a thing...but without 'such a thing' how could he truly know what would happen? 'I love her, I really do!' He shouted hoarsely to his mind. But his mind wasn't as sure. "I..."
Luckily, almost simultaneous to his indecision, a gigantic cook burst from the kitchen doors, his white hat waving floppily around as he ran in terror from a moogle who was flying after him, calling desperately, "Kupo!" Apparently the hapless chef had been mixing the nuts in with his salad when a hungry moogle had drifted in...so began the chase, chef, salad and moogle, around and around the fancy diner, while all the rich patrons stared on in dignified silence.
Steiner's eyes widened as he watched the display. Ridiculous! His thoughts trailed away to something about helping the chef - when suddenly he felt Beatrix's fingers curl around his and her face pressed up against his shoulder as she walked around the table to sit next to him.
"I understand." She whispered, spreading kisses across his cheek with a ferocity that made him blush, "You want to go further...I think that is a very, very good idea." Steiner's eyes turned to stare into her sparkling eye, gleaming bright with a flash of mischief. Instinctively he gulped - both heart and head's decisions flying away with his reason,
"You do?"
--
"What're you thinking about?" Mikoto's cheerful voice reverberated around Zidane's head as he slowly awoke from his stupor. The long day had slowly transformed into a slow night, and his tedious dinner with Mikoto had been riddled with frequent lapses into his thoughts.
"Just...gods and things - silly stuff like that, I'm sorry..." He mumbled, casting a roving glance at Mikoto. She looked very pretty - dressed daintily in a fiery red, sparkling dress, her neck and hands decorated with white furs. Her hair was done up in an elegant spiral above her head, and her face glowed, beauty points accentuated by slight dabbing of color in the right places. Very pretty indeed...she looked very hurt as she stared at him, eyes searching his - wondering why he wouldn't stay with her, be interested and care about her. He would be - he really would! But he just couldn't - he had Garnet, he had life, he had problems...having another very-attached female by his side wasn't really going to help things any.
He strained a smile in her direction - noting in relief that it was probably going to be the last time he saw her before she went back to...wherever she was going. She returned the smile adoringly, then answered his muttered words,
"Gods...that's interesting. I didn't know the peoples - the...that this world really had any gods."
Hmm? Zidane's focus sharpened, and his eyes bored into hers. Now that was something he hadn't expected, "What do you know about a god?"
Mikoto shrugged lightly, "Oh...I don't know. I just guess that if there was such a thing he'd be great and powerful and kind and...you know, all those things. Like...you." Her speech slowed as an emotional flush flew across her face. Hastily she explained, "You-you and Kuja, like how Kuja was! Powerful and...strong."
Her blatant slipups went unnoticed as Zidane rolled the thought over in his mind. Him a god? It was silly...technically he was a 'god' in the fact that he was powerful and undefeated in the world - but he didn't have any special powers. He fought with physical and trance powers just like everyone else. Kuja was more of a god then he - but Kuja...gods couldn't disappear. And Necron was even more of a god - but he was evil...why would there be an evil god if there were no good ones?"
"Gods can't be evil...can they? I mean - they're gods, right?" Zidane looked up at her. He didn't realize that he had spoken his last few thoughts aloud.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyes tracing the bright line of her trembling lips.
"Well...if you were a god - that means you are the most powerful." Mikoto shyly traced a circle on the table with her finger, "So...if you are the most powerful, no one can call you evil or 'wrong' really...because they can't be better than you. Who can judge an all-powerful being?"
Something about the words sounded a little too intelligent for such an innocent being...remembrance tickled at the back of Zidane's mind, but he pushed it away, "I suppose you're right. But it really doesn't matter - there are no gods. There is no god." For the first time he spoke the words out loud, and that some how filled him with confidence. He could be sure now. "So I don't even know why I'm thinking about it."
"Because you're a truth-seeker, Zidane. Lies and injustices bother you so much...that's why you're you - that's why so many people love you. A true knight." She stated confidently. Zidane blushed in spite of himself. He couldn't remember the last time someone had so blatantly showered him with outrageous compliments. Actually - he had never been that lucky. Did Mikoto really admire him that much?
He stared into her eyes - trying as hard as he could to find her intent. Suddenly he very desperately wanted to run, to leave her alone and go back to Garnet - to hand Mikoto off to Blank and let someone who would really appreciate her take her. But he didn't - he stayed, talking and staring into those deep auburn eyes until the shadows melded into the sky and the world was coated in darkness.
I'm sorry...so sorry.
Your beauty is so vague.
It drives me...it drives me.
Absolutely insane.
I'D EAT YOU ALIVE.
Eat you Alive - Limp Bizkit
--