Edonil: Yeah, uh… So I could do homework, and write about why I would make a good English teacher, or I could write this. Hmm… Choices choices… Uh, yeah, I choose this. Sorry for the lack of updates, but they'll continue, I'm afraid. See, I'm putting up my new layout on my site (edonil(dot)com), and that means it's suddenly going to be SSI, so I have to change every stinkin' file name… Not fun. It contains 586 files (I checked). Now, some of them are pictures, but still… Ah well, the new layout'll look nice.
Edonil (cont.): My English skills were saying, "End the paragraph, Edonil!" so I did. Uh, not much else to say, really. I have a couple new email addresses. I'm getting the hang of this owning my own domain thingy. Now I have two emails for you to contact. I have fan(at)edonil(dot)com listed, but that's mainly for my email alerts. I was getting twenty emails a day because of email alerts, and being the organization freak that I am, had to create an email for them. If you want to email me about my stories (and it has been done!), you can also email me at edonil(at)edonil(dot)com.
Edonil (still cont.): By the way, I now have my L licence! Some moron thought I should be allowed in a car! Yippee!
Edonil (again): Looking back, I realize that's a kinda long author's note. Hmm… I hate it when author's notes are longer than the story itself. I guess I'll have to write a lot, won't I? But don't worry; this chapter should be good. (And by the way, I'm not going to laugh at popular fanfic clichés in this. This chapter shouldn't be misleading.)
Disclaimer: It ain't mine. How many ways can I say it?
Advertisement: Speaking of my site, why don't you check it out? I've got some great pictures and original fiction there!
To Challenge Perfection
Chapter Five: Kissing
After she had left Kuja, Dagger had fully intended to go to bed. Unfortunately, she couldn't sleep. Zidane was back! And he'd come with Kuja… But Kuja was making an effort to be nice. Dagger liked that. And he could converse about such interesting topics… If Zidane had any flaws, it was that as a thief, he had very little knowledge of more civilized things.
Still, Kuja wasn't Zidane.
Dagger finally gave up on sleeping. Pulling on her white blouse, orange jumpsuit, and red boots, Dagger went outside, figuring she could walk around a bit in the gardens. It was quiet at this time of night, and the lanterns lining the paths gave a peaceful glow.
Suddenly, someone put their hands over her eyes, saying,
"Guess who!"
"Hmm…" Dagger grinned. "I know! Steiner!" The man behind her- Zidane, of course- gave of sound of disgust.
"Wrong."
"Really? I was sure I was right. I mean, you sound just as pompous and self-important and-"
"Hey!" Dagger laughed.
"Hello, Zidane. Can you let me see, now?"
"I suppose." Zidane took his hands off his eyes- then grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so she was facing him. Grinning, he leaned over to kiss her. Grinning wickedly, Dagger side-stepped. Zidane fell over.
"Lose your balance, Zidane?" Dagger asked, laughing. Zidane gave her a dirty look, which would have been slightly more effective if he hadn't been trying not to laugh.
"That was most unfair!"
"Yes, well, you were not behaving… Properly."
"Really?" Getting up, Zidane sauntered over to Dagger and put his arm around her shoulders. "And what exactly is 'properly'?"
"Well, I'm a queen, so you should show me proper respect, remember?"
"Whatever. There's no one to see."
"But-"
"I repeat; there's no one to see." Leaning over, Zidane kissed her.
Oh my gosh! Great Eidolons! He kissed me! Holy Madeen! What…
"What on Gaia!" Both Zidane and Dagger jumped. Steiner was looking quite shocked. "Your Highness, did I just see…?"
"Erm…" Dagger felt rather embarrassed. Looking over at her, Zidane smiled.
"Depends, Steiner. What do you think you saw?" Now it was Steiner's turn to look embarrassed.
"Er… Eh… Uh… You two, uh… You know…"
"Yeah, I think you saw what you think you saw," Zidane confirmed. Steiner's face slowly turned purple.
"But… You… The Queen… Wibba..." He looked so confused. And angry. Finally, he seemed to sort out what he wanted to say. "Thief! You should not have… done that… How dare you! I should have you arrested, thrown in jail, and throw away the key!"
"Yeah, whatever." Zidane's arm returned to its previous location around Daggers shoulders.
A bad move.
"How dare you! Scoundrel!" Zidane tried to look innocent.
Dagger couldn't quite follow what happened next, but Zidane and Steiner yelled and argued, and very quickly- she could barely make out the words- and then Steiner was chasing Zidane, his sword drawn.
"Oh my." Dagger looked over at Beatrix, who had just entered the garden. "Adelbert does not look pleased. Whatever happened?"
"Uh… He saw Zidane and me… kissing…" Beatrix nodded amiably.
"Ah. I understand. Poor Zidane. Of course, I imagine he said something to provoke Adelbert." Dagger smiled.
"I suppose you could say that."
"They aren't going to get along, are they?"
"No, probably not." Both women sighed- rather dramatically, I might add. They grinned.
"Ah, well, at least we get free entertainment," Beatrix pointed out.
"Did I miss something?" Kuja asked, entering the garden.
"I am not sure; what do you think you missed?" Dagger asked.
"I just got back from town, and found Captain Steiner waving his sword at a tree, jumping up and down, and shouting insults." Dagger laughed.
"Ah. I imagine Zidane is in that tree." Kuja seemed to think for a moment.
"I… I'm not going to ask. I probably don't want to know. Goodnight, Your Highness, General Beatrix." Both girls responded appropriately. Shaking his head, the silvery genome strolled off.
"I suppose we'd better go rescue Zidane," Beatrix said. Dagger nodded.
"Indeed. I'd rather Steiner not kill him just yet."
"Yet?" Beatrix asked, her eyebrows raised.
"He… He has his uses," Dagger said at last, smiling.
"So what you are saying is… He's a good kisser?" Dagger smiled. "Of course, My Queen."
Edonil: So much fun! Poor, poor Zidane. I plan to torture him so… And I tried not to mislead you at all in that last chapter! Aren't you proud of me? Please review!
