Sometime Later
"So Garland has been our enemy…" the princess mused, resting her hands on her knees.
"Garland started this whole mess," Kuja input helpfully, studying the group with veiled eyes.
"That sounds far too convenient," the knight growled.
"Be that as it may, everything I have told you is true," Kuja murmured, glancing at his brother.
Zidane nodded. "I trust Kuja, Steiner, you should too," he said, glaring at the knight.
Kuja ducked his head to hide a smile, feeling the strange warmth once more rise in his heart. (A trusting bunch, aren't they?)
Zidane snorted softly, his eyes twinkling (Only slightly.)
(Hum….Does the Knight eat man flesh? He's looking at me rather dangerously…)
Zidane garnered some weird looks from his friends when he started laughing, bowing his head to attempt to muffle the chuckles. (KUJA!!!)
He tilted his head, looking innocent.
"Zidane?" the princess queried, looking worried.
Zidane shook his head. "Sorry…I had…a funny thought."
Kuja choked when Zidane roughly shoved an image of his body roasting on a spit with an apple in his mouth back at him.
The group didn't even look slightly amused by his muffled laughter.
The two brothers glared at each other for a moment, then nodded. (Truce)
Zidane grinned evilly after a moment had passed. (And no, he doesn't eat man flesh. Not that you'd have to worry, anyhow.)
Kuja fumed silently, plotting revenge. 'How does he always manage to win? It's not fair! I'm older and smarter and cuter than he is!'
(Keep telling yourself that, Kuja….) Zidane retorted.
Kuja felt his cheeks heat and swore venomously. (This is your fault entirely, you know! I was never this off kilter to you fell back into my life!)
Zidane was silent for several heartbeats, making Kuja wonder if he'd hurt his feelings. 'Guilt is not an emotion I am supposed to be able to feel, it's not in my programming….' he muttered to himself.
Neither is love, his conscious whispered.
He bit his lip.
(I'm sorry.) Zidane finally offered.
Kuja wordlessly reached out and rested his hand on his brother's shoulder, hoping the younger could understand the words he wasn't prepared to speak aloud yet.
Eiko coughed rather pointedly, glaring at him.
Kuja left his hand on his younger brother's arm for several seconds longer, and then withdrew it, crossing his arms underneath his head.
Zidane shifted, resting his chin on his arms and watching the group.
The Princess smiled at him, trying to drawl him into the conversation.
Zidane spoke a few times, but mostly stayed out of the debate, staring into the fire
'He feels like an outside….because of me….' Kuja felt that strange guilt wiggle into his heart again. 'I took him away from his friends….'
Zidane twitched his tail, looking suddenly uncomfortable.
"Zidane? Are you sure you're alright?" the princess asked gently, moving to sit next to him.
For a moment Kuja watched them, feeling another unnamed emotion crop up in his heart 'Does he love her? I know she loves him. If I hadn't taken him away, what would have happened between them?'
Of all the things Garland had taught his pet, he had never bothered to teach him emotion.
And that was perhaps the saddest thing of all.
A week later
Kuja walked, a silver shadow of the loud and energetic group. He let his eyes drink in the sights, sounds and smells of the Black Mage village, feeling a tad overwhelmed. 'I made these…people?'
Zidane paused, looking back at him and cocking an eyebrow.
He smiled a bit to reassure the younger one.
Zidane didn't look convinced.
(I'm fine…It's just a bit of a…shock…)
Zidane seemed to consider this, nodding a bit. (I can imagine.) His brother hesitated in the next thought. (Do you know about the limited lifespan?)
He blinked, and then nodded. (Of course. Why-Oh.) He looked around again. (Poor mages….I'll see what I can do.)
(Thank you, Kuja.) Zidane didn't move for a moment, smiling at him.
(Dope, you're friends are going to think you're insane if you keep standing there like that.)
(They already think I'm insane.) Zidane dismissed. (Are you sure you're alright, Kuja?)
(I'll be fine, just let me adjust my thinking.) He assured, looking around again.
(Don't get lost.) Zidane advised. (And don't take anything they say to heart…they're rather innocent...)
(I promise I won't Ultima them away, Mother.) He replied sarcastically.
Zidane laughed, touching his mind in a brief 'embrace' before continuing.
The Knight and the Rat Woman glared at him.
Slowly, he counted to ten, and then counted backwards in Terrain, then, just for kicks, attempted count in Burmecian. 'Zidane's friends, do not kill.' Swiftly changing tactics, he gave them a sunny smile, walking past them into the village.
Sometimes, it was good to be an insane Warlock…
The cemetery was a solemn affair, even the wind stilled as it passed through the trees, several Black Mages stood around the graves, speaking to their friends. (They just 'stopped' huh…) He rested a hand to his chin, pretending he didn't notice Vivi, who'd snuck up beside him to observe. (Stopped working….But Vivi hasn't….why?) He studied the young Black Mage out of the corner of his eye. (Maybe the stopping has something to do with the quickness of their creation….)
Vivi cleared his throat softly, nervously grasping the brim of his hat when Kuja looked at him. "Mr. Kuja…Sir….can you help them?"
Kuja felt a smile tug at his lips, but held it, knowing it would scare the little mage. "The truth is, Vivi, I'm not really sure what's wrong with them. I hardly remember what went into their creation," he admitted. "Do you have any ideas?"
The little mage paled several shades "M….m….me?" he squeaked.
"You defy the mold," Now Kuja did smile, if faintly. "I thought you might have some clue."
"M…mm….ay…be the….uh…mist…weakens…their hearts?" Vivi suggested, fidgeting.
Kuja nodded thoughtfully. "Or perhaps the absence of the Mist," he murmured, studying the mages standing around them. 'They are conscious, and can die…in a way…They have a sense of self.' He cringed. He'd never meant for them to have a sense of self. 'Am I any better than Garland, really?'
(Always.) Zidane asserted.
His heart warmed, and some of the tension left his shoulders. "Well, Vivi, I suppose the only way to fix it is to try to figure out what is wrong."
"You….Want me to help?" Vivi asked, twisting his hat again.
Kuja lowered himself to one knee. "If you don't mind?"
Vivi blinked at him, giving a small shudder. "I…think I'd like that…" he agreed softly.
4 months later
It started simply enough, four months after Garland's demise.
At the world's most innocent meal: Breakfast. Very few feuds take place over breakfast, the majority of the time people are simply still half asleep, and therefore not interested in starting conflict before they've gotten a bit of caffeine and substances into their poor, deprived bodies. Who knew sleep was exhausting?
For Kuja, Breakfast had become an enjoyable time to chase his family out of bed, talk with the two Summoners, and compare notes with the Pluto Knights about Steiner's early retirement plan, all and all, an enjoyable time. Or at least the Mage thought so.
Others, who were not morning birds, had come to detest Kuja's unrelenting awakens in the ungodly hours before noon.
The brothers had remained close, which was something Kuja had come to enjoy, and had added a third to the strange, wonderful, terrifying link they shared. (Mikky-o-to…..)
Their younger sister was one of these poor, suffering souls.
Unfortunately, she couldn't even take advantage of being half a continent away.
(Kuja, I swear to all the stars in the heavens if you call me that ABSURED nickname one more time I will rip your tail off!)
Kuja chuckled (Is that any way to say 'good morning' to your beloved older brother, Mikky?)
('Beloved'?! Be-something, and it doesn't mean love!) Mikato growled viciously.
(Someone obviously isn't a morning person….) Kuja laminated, giving a polite good morning to the princess.
(Damn you, Kuja! The sun is even up yet in my part of the world!)
(Good Morning, Mikato.) Zidane piped in, greeting the Princess and his older brother (Is Kuja tormenting you again?)
(I'm just trying to get her to release those suppressed emotions, Dear Brother mine.) Kuja protested.
(Good morning, Zidane.) Mikato replied. (He is, of course, he keeps…forgetting…that we're in different time zones…)
Kuja grinned, winking at Eiko slyly.
The little summoner smiled at him, rolling her eyes a bit.
The princess didn't smile, which threw him for a moment, making him look closer.
'She looks, Troubled……'
Making a mental note to ask later, he sat down, not prepared to call her about it at the breakfast table.
"Freya and Amarant will be visiting," Eiko commented, swinging her legs.
Kuja groaned.
The rest of the table chuckled.
"Poor, Poor Kuja….." Zidane said slowly, shaking his head.
(HA! Serves you right!) Was Mikato's input. (Maybe you won't be so inclined to get me out of bed this early after Freya kicks your ass into next week.)
Kuja just groaned again.
(Cheer up, Kuja, it won't be that bad.)
(She hates me; she's going to KILL me!!!! She's threatened to maim me half a dozen times and all you can say is 'It won't be that bad?')
(I could be worse….)
(Oh? How exactly?)
Zidane coughed, looking thoughtful. (Quinoa could be coming with her.)
With absolutely no resistance, the most powerful Dark Mage in the world, Angel of Death the First, and all around nice guy, Kuja Garland allowed his head to strike the table.
Stifling, absolutely stifling.
A week, an entire week of walking around on Egg-shells, trying not to make the Rat-woman go psycho on him.
Who knew that being good was so exhausting?
The silver-haired mage trailed his bare feet through the water, looking thoughtful.
"You look too serious, Kuja," Zidane plopped next to him, kicking off his sandals and dipping his feet in the water.
For long moments, the two brothers contemplated the ripples spreading a crossed the surface of the lake.
Then Zidane splashed him.
Kuja's mouth dropped open in shock.
Zidane snickered softly.
And then had the nerve to splash him again!
That was it; a Gnome could only stand for so much. Kuja attacked.
The two brothers, caught up in their roughhousing, failed to notice that someone was watching them.
And that the person had been waiting for such a betrayal.
Kuja managed to pin his brother down again, growling in mock fury and preparing to scold.
He was startled out of his good humor by a sharp pain in his side.
Turning to see what had caused this made the pain sharper, and wide silver eyes came to rest on the Bermican.
Her spear was buried in his side.
"I told them you would betray," she spat, twisting the weapon.
Kuja gagged, eyes rolling back into his head as spots flashed in front of his eyes.
He could hear and feel the spear grate between two of his rips as it turned.
(Kuja?! KUAJ?!??!) Mikato's panicked shrike roused his mind.
('M ok…..)
"Freya?!? What the hell are you doing?!?!?" Zidane was on his feet, startled and angry. "Kuja, Kuja, speak to me!"
The Rat-woman gave the spear another shove. "Giving this filth the death he deserved, I saw him attack you, Zidane, don't deny it!"
Kuja felt something give inside him; it was suddenly very hard to breath.
(KUJA!!!!)
"We were playing, Freya stop! This is a misunderstanding!"
Zidane….He tried to say. Something bubbled up into his throat, spilling past his lips. (Zidane….I can't breathe….)
Mikato panicked.
The world was closing around him, desperation. 'I don't want to die….Not like this.'
Air….Air…Air….his starved body shrieked.
(Hold on, Kuja, Dagger's coming! HOLD ON!!! DON'T YOU DIE!!) Zidane was….crying?
He wanted to ask why, but it suddenly took too much energy to even form a thought.
(Kuja, Kuja PLEASE, don't leave us!) Mikato was crying too.
'Mikato doesn't cry….'
(I do, please Kuja…We need you here!)
He was so tired…..So very, very tired.
His tail gave a weak little twitch, sticky blood ran down his side and ran from his mouth, and it spurted around the spear.
(Kuja, please, PLEASE!)
He knew Zidane was talking to him out loud as well, but couldn't focus enough on it to hear him.
Was this what it felt like to die?
Mikato screamed in his mind. (NO!! STAY, KUJA, STAY!!!)
Quietly, he considered the things he's regret, the emotions he'd left for later to express….The things he'd left unsaid, figuring he'd have forever to say them.
A barrier around his heart shattered, and Kuja accepted all the emotions he'd hidden behind it to protect himself.
(Lov you both…) he muttered vaguely, hoping they heard.
(KUJA!!!!!!!!!)
And then there was nothing.
A/N: I was inspired. Nods thoughtfully It's all Jess's fault. ((You better review this time)) Does Kuja live? Does he not? Well…Looks a bit uncomfortable I don't know? I think he will. Nods Hope you all liked it.