Title: Happily Ever After
Chapter: An Opera House
Author: Raserei Hojo
Summary: FF Crossover. When you die, you're not really gone. In two separate worlds, two young men with different goals died. In the darkness, they meet. But, within a short amount of time, will their souls be erased from time as the law states?
Rating: T
Feedback: Very much so desired!
Story Warnings: Male/Male, shounen-ai
Pairings: Kuja/Sephiroth
Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters of Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy IX belong to Squaresoft. Any that are NOT recognizable belong to me. However, feel free to use them in any story you wish.

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Kuja had been wrong to assume that he would have Sephiroth's company at the mansion. Three days had passed and Sephiroth still hadn't emerged from the hospital. Kuja wasn't allowed to visit, he wasn't allowed to leave the mansion, he wasn't allowed to do anything. At least, he had no permission to do the things he wanted.

"Boring, boring, boring." He lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Maybe it'll collapse. I need some kind of entertainment." He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and quietly moved towards the door. Pressing his ears against the thick, wooden door, he listened hard for any noises at all. Kuja concentrated, hearing nothing. Pleased by this discovery, his long, furry tail wrapped itself loosely around his thigh, its silver color contrasting the dark black slacks he wore.

He pushed open the door, wincing as it squeaked loudly on its hinges. Taking note to find some oil to remedy the noise, he poked his head through the opening, peering down the hall. No one. Sighing in relief, he slid from the confines of his room into the hallway, silently cheering as Shenter wasn't there to pester him. He made a run for the door, praying that the soft sounds of his feet hitting the floor wouldn't ruin his escape.

The doors of the mansion opened easily, and he ran out, shutting the doors gently. He stared at the huge town before him, at the sunlight that poured down. He briefly wondered if everything here was dead as well, and that if the sun was a star that had once died. It was overwhelming for him to be so free.

"Where should I go first?" He quickly walked away from the moss covered mansion and down the road, into the town below. What he did first really didn't matter. He was no longer chained to Garland's will and he was on his own in a large city full of new and interesting people. He had an entirely new culture to explore!

After a few minutes exploration, Kuja quickly noticed that there was a huge variety of people. And, to his happiness, there were hardly any people from Gaia. This in itself unveiled a new array of opportunities. New people, new customs, fresh minds of citizens who had absolutely no idea who he was… It was heartwarming and very uplifting.

He excitedly began exploring the town, and as it turned out, it was one large melting pot. People of all races and colors and cultures together in one town. Kuja was sure there were other towns, but for now, this would do. He listened in on a few conversations of people who were speaking that awful language the Sages spoke.

"I guess that they speak this one language so they can all understand each other. But who cares? People can get along perfectly with gestures and pictures. Though it does tend to make life easier…" He tilted his head and pondered. "Sephiroth speaks my language, and dammit, I'm thinking about him again."

Biting his lip, he glanced around. "I need something to get my mind off him. I'm sure he's fine. He has to be, Shenter said that he was the general of some army or something."

A huge sign in the window of a flower shop stated:

Opera House Performance

Staring: Beautiful Actress Maria

Time: 5:45PM

Tickets: x57.99

"A play would be nice. It says she's an actress, and heaven forbid if they sing in those high, screechy voices." He bit his lip again. He had no money, and he certainly wasn't going to ask that Sage Shenter for money. He didn't even know how much the price really was, it definitely wasn't in Gil price, as he was used to.

His dark blue eyes wandered towards the Opera House that was nestled delicately in the back of the city, surrounded by flowers. He saw the fire escape ladder, and he grinned. Zidane may have been skilled at thievery and getting his way into expensive buildings like Alexandria Castle, but Kuja had him bested.

Trying not to draw attention towards himself, he walked casually towards the Opera House to get a better view of the place. It was large, and not many people were around. There were a few bystanders though, and Kuja couldn't take the chance of them seeing him sneak inside the building.

He walked closer, until he was able to lean against one of the thick marble columns that held the building upright. Gazing at the three people that were lingering, talking about nothing, Kuja gathered his energy. Just a small fire spell would do.

The warmth surged down his arms again. He focused on the energy, and released a few sparks of fire onto the nearby bed of flowers opposite of him. They instantly caught fire. People turned their faces towards the flowers as they withered, blackening. The three teens that were talking gasped and watched the fire spread.

Kuja nervously watched them. They seemed too transfixed, as if they had never seen fire before. And then the crowd gathered around Kuja, pushing him aside and talking nervously as the flames grew higher and engulfed the flowers. Although this wasn't exactly the way Kuja had planned things out, it was a diversion.

As the crowd panicked, Kuja made his way unnoticed into the Opera House, and before he shut the doors, energy rushed down his arms again, this time very cold, and he cast a water spell on the fire. The flames died as Kuja shut the doors.

The inside was very extravagant. Very gold, and very red. The stage was set high and the chairs were red velvet. People were already seated and the man whom Kuja assumed was to take the money was busy peering out the window at the commotion outside. So he let himself in and took an empty seat near the front. If they asked for tickets, he would simply claim to have thrown it out.

Sneaking into buildings was so very easy, and Zidane had the audacity to brag about it? Simply shameful.

He was nervous though, and he wondered what would happen if by some chance, he was caught. He was already on Shenter's bad side, and he was one of those "evil" beings that needed to be watched over. Shaking his head, he leaned back in his chair. "They act as if they've never seen fire before," he mumbled.

The orchestra had been playing since Kuja had entered, and now they stopped as the lights dimmed and the curtains opened.

Well I guess people here aren't as smart as I thought they were. He folded his hands in his lap and watched.

The narrator walked out from behind the curtain. "Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to the play that has been acted out on stage for quite some time, ever since 'Lord' Kefka's defeat! Ever since that time, we perform this play once a year to celebrate that lucky planet's survival of Kefka. Now, please bring your hands together for our yearly performance!" He turned, his deep purple cape swinging behind him, and walked off stage. He grabbed his microphone and began to recite the play that many people already knew. Kuja watched intently.

A good half hour passed before the play really drew him in. He didn't know what it was, but the song that the woman, Maria, was singing, it touched his heart.

"Oh my hero, so far away now.
Will I ever see your smile?
Love goes away, like night into day.
It's just a fading dream.

I'm the darkness, you're the stars.
Our love is brighter than the sun.
For eternity, for me there can be,
Only you, my chosen one...

Must I forget you? Our solemn promise?
Will autumn take the place of spring?
What shall I do? I'm lost without you.
Speak to me once more!"

It was romantic, and it did fit the scene. It reminded him of something Lord Avon would have written, back on Gaia… Kuja was brought back to reality when Maria began to sing once more.

"We must part now, my life goes on.
But my heart won't give you up.
Ere I walk away, let me hear you say
I meant as much to you...

So gently, you touched my heart.
I will be forever yours.
Come what may, I won't age a day,
I'll wait for you, always…"

"A song about a soldier and his lover who waits for his return." Kuja smiled at the thought. A good romantic story indeed, albeit a tad overused.

"Hey."

Kuja started. Oh no. They've caught me. He hesitantly craned his neck around and looked at the man kneeling beside him.

"I didn't know you liked plays, Kuja."

Kuja stared. "Sephiroth!" He didn't know quite how to react. He had been so worried about him, and now that he was in front of him… He didn't know how to feel. Relieved? Nevertheless, he smacked Sephiroth on the shoulder. "Where have you been!" he whispered harshly.

Sephiroth gently rubbed the spot where Kuja had hit him and stared at him silently. After a few moments, he slid into the empty seat beside Kuja. "I heard there was a commotion outside," he whispered.

Kuja nodded, a guilty expression on his face.

Sephiroth looked at him and raised a brow. "That was you? So, your magic really does work in the confines of the city. I'm surprised."

Kuja crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you think I was defenseless? Hardly!" The play was nearing its end. "It's not like I cared or anything."

"Then I'll just leave and—"

"No!" Kuja grabbed Sephiroth's arm as he tried to stand. "I was a little worried… Shenter wouldn't tell me what happened to you. I thought you were going to die."

"A few cuts and bruises aren't going to kill me."

Kuja chewed on his bottom lip, thinking again. "Where did you go?"

Silence.

"Ugh, I mean, in the forest. You let go of me." He stabbed his finger into Sephiroth's chest. "I fell and when I didn't see you, I was on my own."

Sephiroth merely shrugged. "I tripped on a root that was hidden."

"I see…"

"Besides, I thought you were fine on your own, eh?"

"Oh, shut up." Kuja stood after the curtains dropped and took off towards the doors.

"Where are you going?" Sephiroth called after him.

"Back to the mansion! If you're not going to be social, I'm not going to waste my time on you."

Sephiroth leaned back and crossed his legs, his elbows on the armrests. "I'm social," he defended himself, long after Kuja departed. "I just don't feel like talking all the time. Damn little brat…" He scoffed, green eyes focusing on the red carpet. "All of this red is so…reminiscent of blood." He stood, wincing, and slowly walked after Kuja. "I'll get him back for making me go through all this pain to come here after him. Next time his life is in danger, he can save himself."

Author's Note: The song used in this chapter is Aria De Mezzo Carattere. They appear in Final Fantasy VI, and this is a Final Fantasy cross-over after all. It ties into the story, too. I read the ToS, which were a bit confusing, and if anyone knows for sure if I can use the song lyrics or not, leave it in your review. I'll remove the lyrics immediately if it goes against the ToS.