Home of the Heart

By: Cold Rain

Rated: PG-13 for mild violence

NOTE TO READERS: Hi, Readers! I got done with Chapter 7, yay for me. Read & Review, please! 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 7: Home Sweet Home

The silver dragon starts to descend once it reaches the northeastern edge of the Outer Continent. Blank looks down at the ground but all he sees is jagged mountains surrounding a desert with swirling sandpits with no buildings in sight, he frowns, "Kuja, I don't see anything here."

"Of course not," Kuja replies, "It's hidden." The silver dragon gently lands on the sand covered ground and Kuja effortlessly slides off and looks up at Blank with his blue eyes; he holds up his arms as if to catch Blank in his arms when he jumps off of the dragon, "Jump down."

"I can get down myself," Blank replies nervously.

"No when you're so afraid of him," Kuja states, a little annoyed.

"Alright," Blank jumps down and stumbles into Kuja's arms, the young thief smiles nervously, "Um, I guess I'm not very good at this after all."

"Yes, I guess not," Kuja smirks while Blank stands up.

"So, your house is hidden? Where?"

"Right here," Kuja points out, looking at the sandpit in front of his feet.

"Huh?" Blank blinks in confusion at the sandpit.

"Let me show you," Kuja closes his eyes and a small gust of wind starts to surround him; he opens his eyes, which are now glowing with a faint blue light, "Open." A whole appears in the center of the sandpit revealing what looks like a stone slab covered in runes. Kuja walks up in front of it, bends down, and touches the center, which causes it to disappear and reveal a ladder going underground. His eyes stop glowing and he motions Blank to climb down it. Blank immediately climbs down the ladder and waits for Kuja who starts to climb down the ladder after Blank reaches the bottom. "Be careful, only people who possess strong magic can confidently walk around this place alone. No matter what, don't wander around by yourself."

"Alright," Blank nods in agreement, "Where should I stay?"

"Well, actually. I don't have guests, so I don't have a guest room," Kuja frowns, (Why didn't I think about this more before bringing anyone here!?)

"Oh. Well we can figure that out later," Blank comments, "How about you show me where your room is?"

"Alright," the silver-haired man leads the thief through the Desert Palace and stops in a room that resembles a bedroom.

"Hm, interesting..." he looks at around the room and decides to walk around and stare at everything, "Well, this is different than I'm used to, but at least I have a chance to take off this annoying costume."

"Hm?" Kuja gives a surprised stare as Blank starts to unbutton the jacket of his costume, takes it off, and places it on Kuja's bed. He then unbuttons and removes the shirt, also placing that on the bed. All that's left is the pants which he quickly removes, revealing his normal outfit.

"It feels really good to get out of that stuffy thing," Blank smiles as he puts on his headband that covers his eyes.

"You were wearing your normal clothes under your costume?"

"Well of course I was," the redhead smiles again, "What did you think I was doing? Stripping or something?"

"Well, no. But that was a little strange," he says, (Actually, I did expect you to strip and now I'm very mad. You were supposed to strip!)

"Heh, well don't worry, no matter what I'm forced to wear, I hide this outfit under it."

"Is it alright if I ask you a question?" he diverts his eyes a little, this will be challenging to word correctly...

"Um, OK, I guess so."

"Well, why do you have scars that make you look... um... the way you look? I mean, well, you look like someone has, uh, sewn you together." Blank immediately frowns at Kuja's question.

"I don't want to talk about it," Blank growls angrily, walking towards the bedroom door.

"Where are you going? It's dangerous to wander around!" the redhead pretends not to hear the worried Genome and leaves the room angrily slamming the door behind him. Kuja stares at the door and questions himself about what to do, (He is strong, but what if he's not strong enough to survive through any battles here? Blank...)

Chapter 7 is done. I made sort of a cliffhanger... Please Read & Review! Don't be afraid to give your opinion!