Edonil: Me again! It's past nine at night, but I don't need sleep, do I?

Disclaimer: Do I even need to say this? I don't own FFIX. I wish I did, though.

Claimer: Crims is mine. I'm lazy. I won't waste your time. So I won't write anymore up here.

To Change

Chapter Nine

"Kuja…"

"Hmm?" Kuja turned around to see Queen Garnet standing there. She was talking to him. That had to be a good thing. "How may I help you, Your Highness?"

"I would like to invite you to have dinner with my family tonight."

"Thank you for the invitation. What time will dinner be served?"

"At six." Kuja glanced at a clock. It was four o'clock in the afternoon. He should have time.

"I will be there, Your Highness," he promised. Queen Garnet nodded curtly, and left.

Zidane had disappeared once they had reached the palace, saying he wanted to see Sarah. Kuja had just gone in search of a seamstress when Queen Garnet had found him. He'd have to hurry; he wanted to look presentable.

Luckily, the palace hadn't changed much when it had been rebuilt. Kuja felt a sudden surge of guilt, remembering that he was partly responsible for the destruction of Alexandria. How many deaths has he caused…?

It didn't matter. That was over. Gone. Finished. Kaput. Behind him. Enough similes; he had more important matters to attend to. He quickly explained to the seamstress that he wanted his clothes repaired. The seamstress agreed to help. Kuja dropped off all his clothes but the ones he was wearing, begging her to hurry.

Kuja then had to amuse himself for the next hour and a half. He had a shower. He did his hair. He reapplied his make-up. He straightened his room. He checked his hair again. After the wait was up, he went to the seamstress and got some newly fixed clothes. She must have used magic; they were a pristine white and untorn. They could have been brand-new.

Once dressed, Kuja again fixed his hair and make-up. One could never fix their appearance enough. Then he went to the dining hall.

It was practically empty. There was Zidane, looking a bit… apprehensive? Sarah was practically bouncing out of her chair. Queen Garnet looked serene in her white lacy dress. Captain Steiner was standing at the door, glaring at Kuja as he entered. Apparently Queen Garnet still didn't trust Kuja; Captain Steiner looked remarkably like a body-guard.

"Please, sit," Queen Garnet stated, gesturing to a chair. Kuja bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Captain Steiner glared at him. Kuja would have smirked if he hadn't been trying to make a good impression. Captain Steiner probably expected Kuja to show up looking a little worn, and perhaps acting rudely. Well, Kuja would surprise them all.

Kuja made small talk during dinner, making sure to always speak eloquently and be polite. Captain Steiner's glare deepened. Zidane seemed to relax. Sarah started frowning when she couldn't follow the conversations; Kuja was using rather large words. On purpose. He was tired of the toddler butting in. Queen Garnet was polite, but definitely distant. Oh well. A person couldn't have everything.

It was getting rather tiring, though. Kuja knew he had changed. He understood why people wouldn't accept his word, but didn't they trust Zidane? And Mikoto believed him, too. Speaking of which, where was she?

"Where is Mikoto?" Kuja voiced during a break in the conversation.

"She doesn't like fancy dinners. Don't know why," Zidane replied.

"Perhaps she is not well-versed in court manners," Captain Steiner suggested, but Kuja shook his head.

"All the genomes- with the exception of Zidane, of course- were well-versed in matters of etiquette. Among other things."

"Such as?" Captain Steiner asked, sneering. Kuja decided then and there to teach Captain Steiner a lesson on insulting a genome. And he would do it politely.

"We have- had- lessons in etiquette and manners, the Terran language- both reading and writing-, the Gaian language- again, both reading and writing-, mathematics, biology, astrology, earth sciences, physics, chemistry, the art of fighting and warfare, what to pack for a journey, history, the making of airships, magic of course, acting, technology-"

"Ok, I get the idea!" Captain Steiner cut in, glaring. Zidane hid a smile. Unsuccessfully.

"I almost regret not being there," he commented airily. "I never learned all these wonderful things." Captain Steiner glared more. He'd probably never had a lesson in any of those things in his life. If Kuja remembered correctly, Captain Steiner had come from very humble beginnings.

They finished dinner soon, and as soon as he could while still being polite, Kuja excused himself, feigning tiredness from his journey. Everyone was only too happy to let him leave.

Once in his room, Kuja carefully changed into his pajamas (or nightgown, technically), placed the clothes he had been wearing in a laundry basket, laid out tomorrow's clothes, and made sure everything was neat and tidy before getting into bed. Mess had always bothered him.

Once asleep, Kuja dreamed of Crims.

Edonil: Kinda short, I know, but I have another chapter coming, and this is all I had for this chapter (I've been writing down notes on what happens in each chapter, so I know where I'm going). In the next chapter, we learn all about Crims's Big Decision. (duh duh duh!)