ShS – I decided to go back and fix all the errors that I found, touch up some minor plot-holes and get rid of all the replies to reviews because I heard that you aren't supposed to do that now. All the chapters have been modified, such as characters saying/doing different things than before, and some events turning out differently. Check out my profile for some more info re: TSOE2.

Disclaimer – I don't own FF9…gee that sucks.

Claimer – I own the characters that don't appear in the game. Take them from me and I'll hunt you down and force-feed you pineapples. Seriously, those things are evil, man. All spiky and stuff.

Princess Kura of Alexandria paced the elegantly furnished sitting room, stopping only to look out the window. The scene never changed. It was a picturesque autumn day; fluffy white clouds adorned the azure sky. The weather was perfect, not too warm, yet not at all chilly. Her eyes took none of this in. Instead, she watched the paths below. She saw none walking along them, so resumed her pacing. "Why don't you sit down and wait, you're going to wear the floor down." Her brother Alexander suggested. He sat in a fat armchair reading a tome on various white magic spells and different Eidolons, occasionally brushing his shoulder-length black hair back behind his ears, only to have it escape again. Kura sighed.
"I don't want to." She snapped. "I don't even want to be here. I'd rather go meet up with my gang." Alexander put the book down. "You are nervous about seeing all the suitors, are you not?" He remarked quietly.
"Thanks for stating the obvious." Came the sarcastic reply. "I don't want to, or need to marry." Alexander sighed. "There is no talking to you when you are like this." He returned to reading his book.
"Sorry bro'." Kura apologised. "It's just that I hate these sort of things, most of all, this cursed pink dress." She plucked mournfully at the pink ruffled dress she'd been forced to wear and sat on the windowsill. "I'd rather a tunic and breeches." Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Formal or informal? This tunic is too heavy with all the embroidering and these breeches are way too stuffy." Kura grimaced.
"Not all that formal junk. Just my fighting clothes would do." She said. "Mama won't even let me keep at least one of my daggers with me." Alexander chuckled at the indignant expression on Kura's face. "What if one of these guys are gonna kill us, and we're unarmed Alex! Lot of good my weapons do if they're in my room." She grumbled. Alexander marked the current page of his book and stood up.
"As if that's going to happen, Ku'." He said as he stretched. Kura stared out the window, her short golden hair gently fluttered around her face from the wind. "Do you have a hair tie?" Alexander asked. "I'm starting to get sick of it getting in my face."
"You know, you could just get your hair cut short like mine. With that length, my suitors'll think you're my sister or something." Kura teased.
"I'm clearly a male. There's no way they'd confuse me for a female thank you very much." He stormed to an empty room. He slowly looked around. "Great, she's gone. How am I supposed to explain this one." He groaned as he walked to the window.

Kura crept down the corridor; eyes and ears open, not wanting to be caught. She heard the familiar creaking of "Old Rusty", also known as Captain Albert Steiner. Only her father called him by that name, as it was no big secret that they hated each other. Her eyes scanned for a good hiding place, finally alighting on a wide chandelier. Tying her dress to one side as to move more freely, she leapt up and pulled herself onto the chandelier with the ease of one used to these sort of things. Steiner marched down the corridor; not noticing the young girl perched on the chandelier. Kura winced at the sound of his armour. Once he was out of sight, Kura sped to her room. Once there, she shed her dress and stretched her tail, then pulled on a pair of dark brown breeches and a dark green tunic, making sure her tail was out in the air. Pulling a drawer open, she retrieved a length of rope, two short daggers and the longer, two bladed one her father recently gave her. As an afterthought, she also grabbed her dark green and brown mottled cloak. Peering out the window to make sure no one was around, she tied the rope loosely to a bedpost and flung the rest out of the window. Donning the cloak, she slid down the rope and gently tugged on it once on the ground. It came free of the bedpost and she rolled it back up, attaching it to her belt. Kura then set off to Alexandria.

The cramped, dingy pub was noisy, as can be expected when you get a heap of males together and give them alcohol. That didn't bother, nor deter Kura, as she had been here many times before. Making a beeline for the door that led to the back of the pub; she tossed the bartender 100 Gil as she passed him. She opened the door and was met with a most unusual sight. This was her gangs meeting place and you could always find at least of the guys there. But, the room was empty. "Trent, Wakil, Marven?" She called softly. "Where are you guys?" Examining the room, she noticed something that scared her clean out of her wits. "Oh…My…God." She said disbelievingly. "They actually cleaned this place up."
"Actually, I did." A cold voice said from the shadows. Before you could so much as blink, Kura had her long double-bladed dagger at the throat of the hooded and cloaked intruder. They laughed mockingly. The princess shuddered at the lack of emotion in the sound. "Is this really a proper reception Princess Kura?" They asked.
"Who're ya yammering on 'bout?" She demanded, covering her uneasiness with a rough accent. Only she or members of her gang were allowed in this room. And no one except her gang knew her identity. "I ain't no princess."
"Please, do not insult my intelligence. I know who you are, there is no use in trying to hide it." The mocking voice replied.
"Fine, you got me. Now tell me who you are, or I'll cut you down where you stand." She demanded. "And no sudden moves." She added quickly.
"All right, all right. My name is Max Star-crossed. I was asked to seek a meeting with you by one who is close to you, yet not so close." He pulled his hooded cloak off, revealing silver waist length silvery hair which, oddly enough had feathers sticking up in the front. He wore a purple vest with a white, bell sleeved top underneath, dark violet, baggy pants and a pair of knee high black boots. Then Kura spotted it.
"You have a...a…tail! But that would make you a genome, or at least part genome."