Home of the Heart
By: Cold Rain
Rated: PG-13 for mild violence
NOTE TO READERS: Hi, Readers! Alright! Chapter 3! A friend helped me decide that Kuja/Blank would be the safest way to go. Sorry different couple fans! 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 3: A Shocking Reunion
Kuja's POV
I sit in a shabby room in the airship to Alexandria. By now, just about everyone has figured out that I'm male; I don't understand why they always think I'm a woman. Hm? Someone is having a conversation on the other side of the door... "No, you go check on him," it sounds like that idiot, Baku.
"Why me?" that must be the redhead, Blank.
"Because I'm the leader here and I told you to!"
"No way, I called him a 'she'. That was so embarrassing!" Not as embarrassing as some of the other comments I got.
"So!? I said he has a flat chest for a girl!" Does he have to yell that? And how could he tell what my chest looks like!? I'm still wearing the cloak!
"Fine, I'll go. Just stop with the disturbing images, alright?" Blank walks towards the door and taps on it, "Um, hey, how are you doing in there?"
"I'm doing fine," I reply.
"Cool we'll be docking in Alexandria soon."
"I'll be ready."
"Good, well, anyway I'm gonna practice my lines now. I don't want to be the one that screws this up."
"Of course," I actually forgot their troupe acted in the play last year, that ugly Queen Brahne was furious that they kidnapped Garnet. I've heard that Zidane and Blank did an amazing sword fighting scene as well, "Hm, what's the saying? Ah yes: break a leg."
"I'm so nervous I'd rather have a real broken leg, but thanks." I hear heavy footsteps as he walks away while rehearsing his lines, "Bereft of mother. Bereft of father..." I hear another pair of footsteps nearby.
"Hey, I've heard there's a cute girl here." Not again...
"No Marcus, he's male," Blank replies; thank you, Blank! I was so worried that another idiot would try to flirt with me.
"Oh, too bad."
...Huh? Who's shaking me? I want to sleep... "Get up ya lazy varmint!"
"What?" I look up to see a glaring girl with strange hair, purple lipstick, and the strangest accent I've ever heard.
"Blank sent me ta wake ya up. Why does he always waste my time makin' me do stuff like this, anyway!?"
"Who are you?" I ask while getting up.
"M' name's Ruby, I'm a former member of Tantalus; or at least until they left me in Alexandria 'bout a year ago where I have partial ownership of a popular mini-theater now. Anyway, Zidane told me ta tell ya ta get ready ta see everyone and now that I've told ya, I'm gonna watch the play."
"Um, alright. Can you show me to the backstage area of the airship?"
"Fine, this way."
"Just a second." I take off the cloak.
"Whut in tarnation!?"
"...What did you just sa-"
"You're a man!?" That's it! I've had it with everyone thinking I'm female!
"Um, yes, I am."
"...OK, just checkin'." I follow her over to the backstage area then she runs off to watch the rest of the play with the audience. I see that the entire group with the exception of Zidane is there. This will be strange reunion. Hm, there's Zidane and there goes the cloak he was hiding in.
Normal POV
The cloak starts to float away in the wind as the group all stands up in shock from seeing their "dead" friend right in front of them. Tears start to fill Garnet's brown eyes as she looks down and whispers, "Zidane, it's you... It's really you..." and immediately dashes down from the balcony and towards the airship's stage. As she makes her way through the confused audience, someone bumps into her and the royal pendant flings off onto the ground. She stops a moment to look at where the pendant fell and then runs the rest of the way to Zidane without looking back. Zidane holds her and she immediately starts to pound her fist on his chest; how could he let them think he was dead like that!? The rest of the group, even Steiner, runs up to the stage to see their friend.
"Zidane!? How could you let us worry like that," Eiko scowls; her hands on her hips as she scolds, "Queen Garnet was so worried about you!"
"It's good to see you again, though," Vivi adds, "Don't leave us to worry again."
"You blasted monkey," Steiner smiles, "Maybe the queen will smile more often now."
"Good to see you too, Rusty."
"R-Rusty!?"
"Idiot, we thought you were dead," Amarant states to Zidane.
"Indeed. It's good to see we were wrong," Freya smiles.
"You stay and try Quina's cooking, Quina royal chef now," Quina, um, sticks out his/her tongue (which it perpetually does anyway, so whatever).
"Here," Beatrix says holding up the pendant to Garnet, "You should be more careful with this."
"Ooh! Someone is in trou-ble!" Zidane sings mockingly.
"Not in as much trouble as you," Beatrix retorts, noticing a silver haired figure watching them.
"Hm?" Garnet looks over at where Beatrix is glaring and starts to glare too, "Zidane... Do you have an explanation for this?"
"Um... maybe?" Zidane looks over at Kuja, "Hey, come over here. We've been found out." Kuja hesitantly walks towards the glaring group.
"Um, nice to see you again?" he bows to Garnet who glares at Zidane as if to say "if I weren't a queen that was taught better I would whack Kuja on the head right about now".
Amarant picks Eiko up by the wing ornaments while she flails her arms and legs screaming, "Lemme at him, I'll kill him!"
"No, Eiko," Amarant says, secretly glaring at Kuja.
"Yes," Freya frowns, "He's Zidane's..." She shudders, "Friend."
Alright, Chapter 3! Read & review, I'm begging you! No Spanish, por favor. I don't know much Spanish.