Home of the Heart

By: Cold Rain

Rated: PG-13 for mild violence

NOTE TO READERS: Hi, Readers! I'm really sorry, but the fact is that I'm not a pro-Kuja/Vivi person but if you have any other suggestions for a couple then I'll consider them (just no Vivi couples, I have an idea for him). Oh, and please don't suggest Ruby, OK? Most of the other characters unless previously noted as a couple are free for it, though. Extra spacing between paragraphs means scene/time transitions. Oh, and I don't own Final Fantasy IX, any of the characters, etc.

DISCLAIMER: If you didn't read the Note to Readers here it is again: I don't own the Final Fantasy IX, any of the characters, etc. I just own the fanfic.

CHAPTER 2: The Airship Home

Zidane wakes up in the guest room that Cid gave him; it's been months since the final battle. Kuja has recovered and Zidane has figured out a semi-dramatic way to meet up with Dagger and the group. It's going to be time for the grand entrance soon. It's been hard to keep out of sight of Eiko, but Zidane doesn't want her to blurt out the news. The door opens quietly and Kuja walks in. "Hey, Kuja. What's up?"

"Zidane, are you sure I should sneak into Alexandria with you?" Kuja asks worriedly; he's still uneasy about the idea of meeting the group so soon after all the battles and trouble he caused.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. My friends will understand," Zidane smiles, waving off the subject, "You'll see, I know they'll accept you." Kuja brushes his silver hair out of his face and gives an annoyed look that says "Yeah right!" but then he drops the subject.

"Uh, Kuja?"

"Yes?"

"You should probably find a more, how do I put this? ...A "normal" outfit to wear?" Zidane comments; Kuja's outfit choice always did worry him. Kuja was able to repair all the rips and tears in the strange outfit so it looked like it wasn't ripped up in the first place but it still looked strange. It was still the white and purple "outfit" Kuja always wears and technically anyone could spot him from a mile away in it and still burn their retinas with disturbing images.

"Like what?"

"Um... I don't know yet... but we should find something! We'll have to go to the Theater District tomorrow to board the airship to Alexandria and you can't look like that."

"Well... This should work," Zidane smiles at the large white mass of fabric with a large red pom-pom on top.

"I refuse to be seen in this humiliating costume!" Kuja's voice emanates from the costume.

"Hey, moogles are awesome. Besides, no one will be able to tell it's you in that costume; barely anyone knows you in the first place."

"If you make me wear this in public I will personally kill you."

"No you won't."

"Trust me, I will."

"Nuh-uh."

"I will kill you."

"No you-"

"And I'll hang your entrails in the Desert Palace as a warning."

"Fine, fine, I get the picture... No moogles..."

It's now morning and Zidane and his guest are running late; Blank looks down at a little golden pocket watch, they're an hour late. In another hour the Prima Vista 2 will fly over to Alexandria for Tantalus to perform "I Want to be Your Canary", Queen Garnet Til Alexandros XVII's (what a mouthful that is to say) favorite play. Blank will be so disappointed in Zidane if he screws up now, after all the heartache the new queen has been through trying to forget the "dead" love-of-her-life. If Zidane misses this opportunity, he'll personally kill that goody-goody hero monkey. Blank looks up and notices the goody-goody hero monkey and a black-cloaked figure (Kuja) are heading towards him. "Oh, there you are right off schedule," Blank strides toward him and looks into the guest's hood, "And this must be your guest? She's cute, but what're you gonna tell Queen Garnet?"

"I-am-not-a-woman," the guest angrily states through clenched teeth; Blank jumps back, surprised at the statement.

"Oops! My bad!" Blank apologizes; this is gonna be a long trip...

"Hey!" Cinna looks down at Zidane, Blank, and the guest, "Cute girl! Where'd you find her?" I stand corrected; a really, really painfully slow trip...

Yay! I love this chapter, please read it! :P Oh, and review! Give some more couple suggestions!