Edonil: Sorry about the late update: I had exams today, so I was studying. Updates should be regular as of this weekend.
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Iifa: Ancient Tree of Life
Chapter Five
"Kuja!" Kuja sat up, stifling a yawn. Yawning was not acceptable. If he was to make a good impression, he had to look proper.
"Yes, your Majesty?" he asked, standing up and sweeping a full court bow. The Queen looked faintly amused. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"I... Have you... Do you know where Zidane is?" Foolish girl. Probably thought love was eternal and all that nonsense, like in the stories.
"Alas, I am afraid not, Majesty," Kuja replied. "As I told both you and the General earlier, I was hoping to find my brother here, and if not, to search him out and live with him. Now, however..." Kuja gave a sigh, somewhat forlorn, hoping that the Queen would take pity on him.
She did.
"Oh... I suppose you really are telling the truth. I don't think there's anything else you could do here, seeing as you tried to destroy the planet from Memoria, and that's not here..."
"I assure you, Majesty, I have no intention of repeating my earlier mistakes. I am a changed man." And a darn good liar, he added silently. Luckily for Kuja, Queen Garnet til Alexandros XVII was not skilled in telepathy.
"Yes, I suppose... But if Zidane is really... If Zidane has... Oh..." A tear dripped down Queen Garnet til Alexandros XVII's face. She turned away, probably to keep from looking 'weak'. Foolish girl. If Kuja was overwrought, all of his underlings knew it. Kuja would never understand these people...
"Your Majesty, I'm sure that wherever Zidane is, he's happy," Kuja said, doing his best to sound nice. He stepped forward and reached his hand through the bars to pat her on the arm. "If he could see you now, he'd probably tell you to cheer up." The Queen nodded slightly.
"Yes... He would say that..." Her tears were coming down in a silent flood, now.
"I miss him too, Majesty," Kuja assured her. "But he has been gone for how long? Perhaps we should... try to move on... as best we can. Even though it will be very hard..."
"Yes... I guess you're right... I... Forgive me, Kuja." She wiped away her tears. Kuja wondered absently how she managed to cry without her face going all red and blotchy. His face didn't get blotchy, but then, he was physically perfect. "You probably miss him more than I do. You only just found out..."
"But I was never close to him, except for at the end... And there is nothing to forgive you for, Majesty." She nodded to herself.
"I... I'll see if I can get you out of here, Kuja. I don't think... You shouldn't have to be in prison. You'll have to be watched, but..."
"Thank you, Majesty." Yes, his plan was working out quite well. And, of course, there was the added bonus of the young queen being quite beautiful. She was quite acceptable...
Ah, yes, everything was going according to plan.