Title: Happily Ever After
Chapter: Witchcraft
Author: Raserei Hojo
Summary: (Changed) FF Crossover. When you die, you're not really gone. In separate worlds, two men died. They were brought together in the darkness and a friendship began to grow. In an attempt to see an opera, magic is used, and witchcraft is called.
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.
-------------------------------
"Witchcraft!" they cried. The fire appearing for no obvious reason, the flowers blackening, the magical water appearing from thin air! The residents of Terra-Matra were hysterical. No one had ever seen things like that happen before, and the event brought fear with it.
Kuja was in his room, sitting on the large bed. He had left the door cracked slightly so he could watch the Sages stalk past his door. They didn't know who had caused such magic, and Kuja hoped no one would ever know.
He stared, wide-eyed at the bedspread. "What will happen…?" He was breathless, his mind was racing. "What will happen if they know? If I am truly dead, then what will they do next?" His hand clutched the soft material of his shirt.
Shenter walked towards Kuja room. He could see the slim arm extend, fingers spread, ready to push the door open. In his mind, Kuja could just picture the rage on Shenter's face. However, Shenter decided against it and continued on his way.
"I didn't mean to cause any harm," he told himself. "I just wanted to see the opera." The words were comforting, and although they were true, they held little power. The townspeople called witchcraft. They thought that Kuja was a witch, of all things!"
"I saw him!" cried a teenager. The voice floated in through the open window, and it came from the main square of the town. Kuja's heart nearly stopped. Turning his head to look out the window, his chest tightened as he saw a familiar teenager—one of the teenagers who had been standing outside of the Opera House. There was a crowd gathered around the teenager.
"He had strange, silver hair. Silver, I say! And his eyes were icy and blue."
Kuja silently went to the window and leaned out, staring down at the teenager. He glared at the top of the boy's gleaming, black hair. He dared not lean out too far.
"His skin was pale and probably cold as death too!"
Kuja narrowed his eyes. "You little bastard," he hissed under his breath.
"And you know what was really weird?"
The men and women crowded closer to the teenager. They pressed together, all of them leaning close.
"He's half human, half monkey! He has a tail! It was coiled around his leg, and it moved as if it were real. He's an animal!"
The accused silver tail fell limp, almost shamefully. Kuja backed away from the window, nearly tripping over his tail. "Oh, no…" He swallowed dryly, his mind coming up with bizarre punishments that he would have to endure.
He turned and raced to the door, wrenching it open and dashing into the hallway. "Stupid kid! I knew I shouldn't have used magic. But everyone knows about magic! It's a natural part of many people!"
Breathing heavily, Kuja slowed to a stop and wrapped his arms around himself tightly. "How can they think…?"
Heavy footsteps. Metal clinking, leather moving. "Kuja?"
He winced at the sound of his own name and stayed silent.
"What's wrong with you, running off like that? You're paler than usual, too."
Growling, Kuja shouldered past him. "Go away, Sephiroth. I can handle this myself."
"Yes, I know. You've said so before and became angry when I reminded you of that. Now listen to me. I'm trying to care, I'm trying to show my concern. But when you ignore me, why even bother to ask?"
Kuja looked aside. "Because I've learned the hard way. No one can really care for me. No one can care for you either." He turned his gaze to Sephiroth. "We're all selfish people."
"Selfish we may be, but everyone has the ability to give." Sephiroth shook his head and gestured to Kuja. "And getting angry over nothing isn't going to solve anything."
"But it is something. They think I'm a witch!"
"Warlock," Sephiroth corrected. "Witches are female."
Kuja grabbed Sephiroth by the shoulders and shook him roughly. "I don't care! This is something! I've read about people who were accused of being a witch. Or a warlock. Whatever. They were killed."
"But we're already dead."
Sephiroth just doesn't understand! "I realize that! But Sephiroth, they'll kill us again. They'll destroy our souls—they'll reincarnate us as animals!"
"Kuja, calm down. If you're panicky, then—"
"Kuja."
Sephiroth and Kuja turned their attention to the man in the hallway.
"Oh god," Kuja whispered. "It's Shenter."
"Damn right it's me." Shenter stalked over to Kuja. "The little monkey-boy thinks he can cast magic."
Kuja glared, fear gone and replaced with anger. "I can."
"So then you are a witch."
"I am not a witch! I'm just a Genome. I'm not even human, you can't accuse me of being a witch."
"The town seems to think differently." Shenter held up a warrant for the capturing of the witch. "Witches are not allowed here. I don't know how you got into Terra-Matra, but you shouldn't have. Witches are filtered out and they're deposited into Aegisia."
"I'm not a witch! That's why I'm here." Kuja still held his ground.
"Mr. Tenrai, please calm down," Sephiroth intervened. "I know you're angry, and I know the town is upset, but please. Kuja is not a witch."
"He is a witch! He was seen using magic at the Opera House. There were three witnesses."
"Were you a witness? For all you know, Kuja never left his room that day."
Kuja swallowed rather dryly again and nodded softly.
"I do not need to be a witness. I have trust in the people of Terra-Matra."
"Maybe they were seeing things."
"The flowers were withered! They were in a garden, outside of the Opera House. There were no wires near them, the weather was cool! There was no way a fire could break out!"
Sephiroth clenched his hands a few times but said no more.
"Look, you're coming to trial with me." Shenter had his hand on his waist and a finger pointing lazily at Kuja. "There is nothing you can do about it." A teenaged stance.
Kuja's glare grew even colder. The only reason he's listening to that brat is because they're the same age.
"And if I refuse?"
Shenter smiled, his eyes soft but menacing. "Well, if you refuse, my dear Kuja, your soul will be destroyed." His smile grew in length. "If you lose your trial, your soul will be destroyed."
"And if Kuja wins his trial?"
Kuja glanced up at Sephiroth, then towards Shenter again.
"With the evidence we have against him… He has no chance of winning. Now come." Shenter drew an old fashioned pair of handcuffs from his belt.
With no other options available to him, Kuja silently crossed his arms behind his back. His wrists where slid into the handcuffs and were bound tightly together. Wincing, Kuja offered Shenter another glare. "A witch indeed. I may be the one accused of witchcraft, but you're the bitch." Kuja smiled elegantly, in the same manner Shenter had just before.
Sephiroth watched the two of them, attempting to formulate some kind of plan in his head. He would have to keep a watch on Shenter and Kuja from a distance to see where they would be later.
Kuja glanced at Sephiroth and sent a mental message to him, finding it much harder than usual. The handcuffs were draining his magic supply.
Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm…used to prison.
Tossing his hair, Kuja followed Shenter down the deserted corridor. And if they let you, he added, come visit me. He saw Sephiroth nod before he turned the corner.