Kuja could feel the power flowing through him. It surged to every part of his body, poured from every pore and slid through his very marrow. The Lifa Tree itself seemed to be feeding on his power even as it rejected him. It was the ultimate power, this trance. He was floating; he was soaring; he was one with the universe once more!!
"B-bro…ther…"
The weak cry brought him back to his purpose. The genome's amber eyes narrowed as they sought Zidane's mangled carcass. He knew at once that there was no hope for the thief. Fate had decreed that he die in a final, glorifying blow!
But that knowledge was not enough for Kuja. He had vowed to fulfill his brother's promise; he would not let him die here and leave his love to waste her years waiting patiently for him. Any man who would risk his life to help his enemy, even if that enemy were his own brother, deserved more than a cold, unfeeling death on the ground of the Lifa Tree.
Collecting the strands of power that dripped from his soul, Kuja closed his eyes and focused.
Focus.
Focus.
There! That was it! Grasping the thread of magic, the powerful genome twisted, bent, forced it to his will. It was an ancient spell, unreliable but necessary in such a situation. He was not sure of the outcome, but he knew that it would save his brother's life. He could feel it.
A chant slipped from his parched lips, not words but a mere session of incoherent noises. He was not certain how he knew what was needed for this chant, not even sure that it was the right one, but he could still feel it.
Then he lost it.
Groping blindly like a child left alone in a black forest, Kuja floundered, struggling to bring the pieces of the spell back together. He could feel the power draining from him, the trance ending, but his brother still lay there, weakened and dying. Kuja collapsed wearily upon the ground before Zidane, drained by the magical attempt and feeling sorely the aftereffects of the trance.
"Well, my brother," the genome panted, "I tried." With those words, the dying Kuja closed his eyes and welcomed oblivion. It was a well-desired rest after a long, hard life.
…come back to me…
Zidane winced as a sudden flash of pain ripped through his abdomen, headed straight for his heart. His mouth opened in a silent cry and his eyes watered against his will. Was this what it felt like to die, alone and without his love, Dagger?
It felt like hell.
"Aaarghhh!!!"
Shaken by his brother's sudden burst, adrenaline kicked in and traveled in a burst throughout Kuja's veins, forcing his heart to quiver as it quickened its pace. Unthinkingly, he sat up, twisting to see his brother. Regrettably, the action served only to cause a ripple of pain to spread throughout his body as well.
"K-Kuja," Zidane murmured, "It's th-the tree…"
As absurd as the statement was, it was true. Floating before the two fallen brothers was a luminous green orb. It was the spirit of the Lifa Tree; it was, in essence, Lifa itself.
I am dying; you are dying; we are all dying.
Kuja gasped as the voice wrapped itself around his mind. It was mournful, powerful, and painful.
But we do not have to die.
It had Zidane's attention. His eyes narrowed as the tried to focus his failing vision on the apparition.
We can all live.
The light seemed to glow brighter with more determination than it had before.
I need a body; you need to live. We can both satisfy our desires.
Kuja laughed harshly at the form. He had found catch in the creature's offer. "You only need one of us," he hissed.
I need you to live so that I may live. I can take away the pain you feel; I can take away the death sentence. I am the Lifa Tree.
Suddenly the offer of life was not amusing; it was something to ponder over and examine carefully. Kuja had been willing to save his brother when it was certain that nothing could be done to save himself, but this being claimed that it could take away the cruel clock that ticked away the seconds of his life. Was he really ready to die so that his brother could live?
Zidane answered for him.
"If you can save one of us, you can save us both!" he argued valiantly.
Do not think to banter words with me, young one! Yes, I can save you both but not as you would think!
Kuja opened his mouth to remark when his brother's voice once more cut in.
"Then do it! Save us both and you can live in me!"
A brave but foolish outburst, Kuja later mused. But as the emerald vapor enveloped his tired body, the genome lost the will to fight it. He relaxed into the warmth of the Lifa Tree's embrace, close his eyes and let himself forget. There was no Terra or Gaia here; there were no other genomes or vicious creators; there was only the rattling of his chest as he struggled to breath and the beating of the Lifa Tree's heart as it encompassed his being.
And I am freed.
The night was cold, but he did not miss the warmth. The frost that lined the side of the road was not enough to cool the fire that raged inside his heart or his mind. He was a broken being, without purpose in this harsh world. His foot struck a stone and he fell, landing heavily on his side. He did not care; he was alive; he was dead.
That was how the wandering group of actors found him three hours later, as the sun was just beginning to kiss the sky with her warm lips. The band had been traveling all night in order to make it to their next performance in time. Had it not been for the golden glint of the man's hair against the dirt road, they might never have found him.
Binsom, the leader of the troup spotted the figure first, and shouted for the driver, Gumo, to stop the wagon. Stepping off the wagon, the husky, heavily bearded man approached the lump of clothing, hair, and limbs. He stopped only one step away from the stranger.
"Ye gow'n tuh get up?" he inquired gruffly. The figure didn't move. "Hey thur! I asked ye a quesh'n boy! Ye ern't dead now, are ye?" After receiving no response and seeing that the figure was indeed alive, Binsom huffed. He had only tried to help the lad! If the boy didn't want any help, he wouldn't give it. He certainly wasn't going to go forcing someone to take his charity.
Turning back to Gumo, who had taken the opportunity to get a few minute's rest, the leader barked, "Get ye back tuh work, ye lazy arse! We're gow'n!" The midget squeaked and sat up in the seat, taking the chocobo's reigns in hand. "We've gah tur make it tuh Alexandria befo' the queen gets upset!"
Binsom took a step towards the wagon then froze as an icy hand clamped onto his ankle. He looked down at the filthy, bloody being before him and felt a moment's pity for the man who had obviously been through so much.
The stranger's cracked lips parted, and Binsom bent closer to hear.
"Did…you say…Alexandria…?" The man's words were as dry as a desert corpse, devoid of emotion and life. Binsom nodded, and for the first time he saw some life enter the man's eyes (golden they appeared to him, that they did). "Can you…take me…there?"
It was not a major request, and, from the looks of things, the man was unable to make it to the city alone. Perhaps he had a family or some friends there who could take care of him. Whether it was the pathetic sight of the man or the early morning snack that Binsom had just eaten, his heart warmed and he nodded to the stranger.
"Aye, I'll take ye. I'll even give ye a job if ye can act."
The man smiled sadly at him.
"I've always liked the play I Want to be Your Canary."
It just so happened that that was the very play that they were going to perform for the queen.