CHAPTER 2

Zidane walked down into the hold of the theater ship. He hadn't felt well since he left the Iifa Tree, but he didn't want the others to know. Especially Garnet. He didn't want to see her go through anymore emotional suffering. She had received more than her share in a lifetime.

Garnet couldn't take it anymore. She had to know if Zidane was alright. She clutched the necklace in her hand, but then at that point, again, it meant nothing to her.

"Eiko, could you hold this for a second?" she asked the purple-haired little summoner.

"Sure Dagger! Are you gonna make sure Zidane's ok? He's not himself, you know."

"I know," Garnet replied, "He's been very odd since he returned from the Iifa Tree. I'm going to go check up on him."

"Why do you always worry about everyone but yourself, Dagger?" Eiko replied, putting her hands on your hips. "The world revolves around you, too!"

Garnet looked down, and began walking to the inside of the ship.

i"I hope he's ok. This isn't like Zidane. But, he's always been there for me...And now, it's my turn to be there for him..."/i

A body drifted in the water.

i"How I got this far, I don't know. It's a miracle I even ended up this far..."/i

It was very tired, and weak, but somehow, it managed to keep itself alive...

i"I should have died...a long time ago...Why..? Why not...? I was supposed to die..."/i

The body had floated far and had finally drifted up into the Alexandria harbor. It was almost dead. It wouldn't live to see the sunrise. It was sure of it. It's head rested against a piece of driftwood in the black, cold water. The only thing that lit up the night was the pale moonlight shining down on it. But, it wasn't as pale as the body. It's conciousness was fading in and out, and it's vision was becoming blurred. Just then, it heard footsteps approaching its dying, soaked body. Someone was coming...Maybe it didn't have to die after all...but it deserved to die. There was no repetenence for its sins.

Beatrix walked down to the harbor, patrolling Alexandria. Even after everything that had happened before, she still was uneasy.

I"So much has happened. It all feels just like yesterday...Kuja...The Queen...Alexandria being destroyed...still...I can't reflect on the past...protecting the Queen is what I need to focus on! I can't let past burdens affect me...What...is that...?I

She was looking at a body, lying in the water on the side of the harbor. Whoever it was, looked dead. She approached the body, and took a closer look, then gasped...

/I"Oh my God...So, you are alive..."I

Zidane sat in the strategy room of the Prima Vista. He had felt empty since Kuja died...Like a part of him had died as well. He had only known the good side of Kuja for a few seconds, and that was enough to hit him hard. He sat, alone, in the room with the door closed, staring at the table with his arms folded. The door slowly opened, and Dagger walked in.

"Zidane? Are you alright? Please...Talk to me..." she said, with worry in her eyes.

Zidane looked up, and finally got up the courage to tell her what happened. "Kuja...died...in the Iifa Tree. I was there, with his last moments with him. He was able find a way for me to escape when the roots smashed into the Iifa Tree. But...he didn't make it...And, I feel guilty for it. Dammit! I should've been the one! Not him...He should've gotten a second chance! Dammit..."

Dagger put her hand on his shoulder, "But, you did the right thing...Zidane...you did the right thing..."

"The right thing? I let him die! You call that right?" he said. Tears burned his eyes, and suddenly, Dagger pulled Zidane close to him, wrapping her arms around him. She wiped the tears from his eyes.

"But...this is how he would want it to be..."

Zidane looked at Dagger, then he felt warmth inside of him. He felt a smile come upon his face, "Yeah, I suppose so...Thanks, Dagger. You're a great friend."

"I'm a great girlfriend," she corrected, then laughed.

"G-Girlfriend! Dagger! Wow...Awww, Dagger...You do love me..." and wrapped his arms around her. Dagger hugged him, passionately.

"Come on, Zidane. Let's go home."