Deception?
Pilotslover

Chapter 8 - Scattered Pages

Disclaimer: I don't own FFIX and all it's related places, people etc, I wish I did. I won't be making any profit from this work, again, I wish I did, I need the cash.

La Llama: I'm so sorry in thinking you liked Kuja over Vivi. Gosh, I never meant to assume that! Lots of Vivi in this fic too! Hehe.

Rifa: You're right, I don't believe you. There are reasons I don't go into emotions, and it has to do with pacing and the speed of the over all story. I can do emotions, you have 'Stars in the Water; under your favourites; I've often been labelled as an angst writer.

GemEncrustedEarth: I'm afraid this all rather a case of wait and see. :-P

DDD

Nicara pulled away from his book frustratedly, none of the books in the Alexandrian library said anything about translating magical dialects; he, Tot and Kuja had worked since the assault on Kuja and Turo that morning but had found nothing. "It's like we're going in circles." He said in a bout of uncharacteristic annoyance. "Every book says the same thing, 'there are no translations available because all casters are unsure of what they are saying.'" He stood and moved to a bookcase, slotting the volume into place and picking up the next one along, there was not even a basic alphabetical translation available. "I could have told you that. We're never going to find an answer."

Kuja looked up from the book before him, his eyes going the mages small form. "Nicara Orunitia, answer me this, what's 5 times 5?" Nicara's manner was confused for a little while before he provided the answer Kuja sought. "What's the common treatment for sore muscles?"

"That's not really my speciality."

"What is a box without locks, keys and a lid?"

A logical mind kicked in as Nicara tried to solve the riddle, "I've never heard that riddle before," He admitted. "Is it an egg?" Kuja nodded, a highly baffled mage looked him in the eyes. "I don't understand, why are you asking me all these questions?"

"Every single question has an answer Nicara; it's just a case of finding it."

Silence fell again as they returned to their research, Tot shuddered slightly, as much as he was used to and relished silence, the current one was uncomfortable. "Viet Da Quosi …" A voice breathed from nearby, Tot made a desperate dive for Nicara, one he would not have been capable of if he were not afraid for the young mages life; he clamped his hands to the boys ears. Realising what was going on, Nicara sheltered his head under Tot's body and squeezed his eyes shut. Kuja covered Turo's ears, the final words could still complete the spell on him; in a flourish of nightmare images and disjointed memories the meaning of those three words came to Kuja. "Oh, that's clever, but how long can you cover their ears?"

"Mop'vom'jmill Omset'mepi sudi!"

Like a bright light in the darkness, the young human mages voice called forth the powerful spell, which hung in limbo over them for a while. "Flare!" Vivi jumped up, as was his way when casting a spell and it struck the impostor, knocking him back. "Leave my sons alone!" Vivi yelled, his maturing voice breaking as he did so. "I'm the one you want!"

The impostor stood, smiling coldly at Vivi, "I've not finished yet." He purred, his smile becoming more predatory. "But saying more would spoil the plot," He raised his arms above his head and a bright blue energy surrounded him. Realising what he had done, Kuja knew they would not find him now.

Slowly, he and Tot released their holds on Turo and Nicara. "Are you alright Nicara?" Tot queried, holding both the boys arms as he did so, looking him strait in the eyes. Nicara nodded, Tot let him go, and the mage brushed down the front of his trousers and adjusted his hat; the only real problem with him was shock. Vivi ran quickly down the staircase and hugged his son.

"Your not hurt are you Nic?"

"No, I'm alright, thanks to Dr. Tot."

Vivi let him go, bowing his head to Tot. "Thanks," He said simply, not sure what else there was that he could say. Zidane came forwards, he had been sitting outside the library with Sola and Valian making sure they had their ears covered until the impostor was gone.

"I did very little my boy; it was your flare spell that saved us all, perfect timing."

Kuja brushed down the front of his shirt quickly before sitting back at the table, now he knew how to translate those first few words he could work on a standard translation for the other parts of the spell. "I think I know who it is," Vivi offered softly, not looking at anyone. Tot, Kuja, Zidane and his sons looked at him expectantly, Vivi tried to ignore the watching gaze but his old nervousness raised its head again. "I - I … think it was Kuja." He bowed his head apologetically to the Genome, "Z - Zidane said it, everything changed … after the Iifa tree."

Curiosity dawned in Tot's features, "Yes, yes that would make sense." He raised one hand to his chin, thoughtfully. "That was its job after all, to sort souls." He moved to a bookcase and removed a slender red backed volume; Kuja had written it when he had first reached Alexandria during his time recovering from his injuries, it was a detailed look into how the Iifa tree had worked. "It works rather like a stop, to allow the Terran souls to flow to Gaia whilst stopping Gaia's own souls from continuing to flow." He looked to Kuja, who nodded; he too understood what Vivi had suggested. "Kuja was in many minds about where he belonged and where he wanted to be, so the tree … wait … that makes no sense. Hmm, Vivi, the idea is very intriguing, and my gut instinct tells me that it's correct, it'll just take a while to work out."

"Well you're the guy to do it Doc."

Kuja smiled, Zidane was right; Tot would find an answer if there was one. "I can also shed some light on another mystery," He told them. "I have the first three words of the translation." Vivi and Zidane moved to his side and looked down as he motioned the first three words with one slender finger. "Hear my voice. I recognised it as he tried to cast it on Nicara, maybe if someone speaks them too me, I'll recognise the other words too."

"Hmm, if this translation is right, then there are so many things we can translate." Nicara's voice was excited as he spoke, as if he had been waiting for a challenge like this for a long time. "It'd be good to know what we're saying when we cast."

"I - If I knew, I'd probably forget what to say to start with," Valian mumbled slightly. Of all the boys, Calan was the least magically powerful, however, it did not affect him, but Valian on the other hand would always get worked up about messing up his Black Magic spells

Sad yellow eyes wandered to Turo's still form, as Vivi tried to focus on what they were saying; concern flickered in Kuja's eyes as he noticed Vivi's distraction. "Vivi," The mage snapped out of it when he was addressed, looking to Kuja. "The spell on Turo was incomplete, we could return him to himself again; dependant on what my counterpart said after it." He could not bear looking at the mage any more, and turned away. "In time we will work it out, we work well as a team. Staying here will only act to upset you. We'll report what we've found out at supper."

"Kuja's right Vivi, we'll be in the way here."

The mage looked to Zidane and nodded, "O - Okay," There was not much else he could say in response to that. He started up the stairs, Sola and Valian followed him in utter silence. It took Vivi only three steps beyond the library door to realise how selfish he had been in his concern over Turo, he had completely ignored Sola and Valian. "I'm sorry you two," He apologised softly, turning to face them. He held out his arms, showing them both that he meant to hug them and understanding this almost instantly, they ran up to do so. "I didn't mean to ignore you, I promise."

To Vivi's surprise, Valian let go first. "W - We know," His voice was very soft as he spoke, highly reminiscent of Vivi when he had travelled with the others. "We're worried about Turo too Papa."

"I wasn't, I was thinking about that pretty bar maid."

Zidane chuckled; his flirtatious ways had brushed off on Sola, who spent a lot of time in his company. Vivi chuckled too, letting Sola go, "I guess I'd better keep my eye on that." He teased, he was more then slightly aware that Sola was something of a flirt to start with; just after Sola had hatched he had attempted to flirt with Mikoto after all. "Let's go and find Calan and Ollan, we can see how they're doing."

DDD

Note: That chapter was one that I had a lot of fun writing, I don't think I've looked at it much since I wrote it. (Bad PL, bad!)

I realise that Ollan and Calan have rather taken a back seat in this, and I'm afraid they don't come into it much. The predominant focuses being Valian and Turo presently. If I were to write a follow up, they'd be more central to the story. I do have the next idea lined up, but I might not write it.

Who do people like the most? Of the boys. Of course, it's unfair to judge Calan and Ollan. As to the names, well Ollan was a cheat. It's a reference to RahXephon, in which Quon frequently calls Ayato Ollan, it's to do with sounds and music.