Edonil: Another chapter... Yay for regular updates! So, the question is who will hate me after this chapter? We shall see...

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own it.

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Iifa: Ancient Tree of Life

Chapter Six

Kuja was enjoying himself immensely. He was an actor at heart, and therefore any time he got to act he quite enjoyed himself. Not that it was really all acting...

Kuja had continued to work on the young queen, getting into her good graces, and now he was happily mooching off her. Beatrix did not seem to approve of Kuja. The general was still convinced that Kuja was well and truly evil. Kuja had not yet dissuaded her, despite his best attempts. But he had convinced Garnet, and that was the important thing. Garnet was now positive that Kuja was the nicest guy around, and that he thoroughly regretted his past actions.

Yes, Kuja truly was a great actor.

So far, his plan had only had one minor setback, and it had not interrupted his plan any. If fact, Kuja was starting to think that genuinely liking the woman he called his girlfriend could actually be a good thing. It would surely make his convincing all the more realistic.

Kuja loved the way everything was going according to plan.

0o0o0

"You know, you could just step out and order him away."

"But then he'd wonder why. The idea is to keep him from finding out about you."

"True. But I have a feeling we can't keep me a secret forever. Idiots have an uncanny knack for finding out things they aren't supposed to know."

"Did you just call Captain Steiner an idiot?"

"... Maybe?"

"Oh, you... Oh!" There was a moment of silence as Steiner got closer, frowning slightly.

"Anyone there? Show yourself!" Nothing happened. "Huh. Maybe I'm hearing things..." Steiner walked off.

A moment later, Kuja and Garnet fell out of the tree. Garnet was snickering. Kuja was smirking.

"That was close," Garnet giggled. Kuja nodded.

"Yes. That knight is going to find me some day, you know." Garnet shrugged.

"And he'll throw a hissy-fit, and Beatrix will placate him, and there won't be any more problems." Kuja raised an eyebrow.

"Which is why you suggested we don't tell him that I'm here?" Garnet sighed.

"Oh, fine, we'll be careful. Don't worry, Kuja; I'll keep the scary knight from finding you and throwing you out of the castle."

"Thank you, Garnet," Kuja answered wryly. She smiled.

"You're very welcome. Oh, um, Kuja..." She looked serious, now.

"Yes?"

"Um... Could you... call me Dagger?"

"Er... yes..." That seemed rather... random. "Pray tell, why?"

"He used to call me that."

"Ah. Very well, I shall forthwith call you Dagger, Dagger." Garnet- Dagger- giggled.

"That sounded silly." Kuja just shrugged.

"I suppose it did. Now, seeing as we've... avoided that blockheaded knight, what were we doing earlier...?"