Wanderer

By Peorth Undead

(once again I don't own any of the Final Fantasy characters, but the plot is mine. Thank you for the reviews and sorry it took so long.)

Bartz woke up on the cold hard floor some where. His neck felt stiff, his limbs felt a little numb. Must have been in this position for a while, the mimic thought, groaning as he moved a bit.

"I see you're awake little mouse," Kuja said, Bartz could hear the sneer in his voice. "I hope you slept well, I hear sleeping on the floor is good for your back."

Bartz opened his eyes to see the pointed shoes of the caster in front of his face. "Kuja, what do you want me for?"

"I told you, I want Zidane's undivided attention, and you're little jerking off session last night is part of holding you here will continue keeping him mine," came the answer, swift and unbending.

Bartz didn't dare move, but his mouth moved ahead of his mind, "jealous because I helped Zidane get comfortable?"

"I am not Jealous!" Kuja snapped kicking the mimic in the gut. "He is mine, and no one, not you not Garland, not even Chaos himself will own him."

"Zidane belongs to Zidane," Bartz coughed out

Kuja grabbed a fist full of brown hair, "silence mouse or I'll cut out your tongue and send it to Zidane." Bartz looked with fear into the cold blue eyes of Kuja. He nodded, it was the only way his body was reacting at the moment. Kuja paused and smiled satisfied. "good, I'm glad you understand me." he threw the bound mimic down. "I will see you later." and he moved out of Bartz's sight.

"Zidane, don't fall for what ever he's going to pull," Bartz whispered looking at the door Kuja walked out of.

Mateus, The Emperor of Palamicia, Ruler of Heaven and Hell, watched Kuja prance around like the cat who caught the canary, and it was starting to irritate him. In all honesty, it wasn't that he disliked the feminine caster. No, once trained he had the potential of being a useful tool, almost as useful as the foolish Jeckt, or the cunning Time Witch Ultimicia. Kuja's ego however needed to be squashed to make him useful, and at the moment it was for some unknown reason at a high. "is there something you wish to share?" he finally asked, taking the bate.

"I've caught one of Cosmos' warriors," he said grinning "and he'll give me Zidane."

"a risky endeavor." Mateus remarked.

Kuja scowled, his pretty faced marred with sudden anger, "I don't need your opinion."

Mateus laughed, which seemed to make Kuja even angrier, his complexion turning flush. "foolish boy, you captured one of the warriors of Light, they all will come crashing down on you, destroying all your success." he paused, "though I suppose you didn't think of that now did you?"

"I can beat them," Kuja snapped.

"Can you?" the emperor sneered, "that I find doubtful. You can't even capture your own."

"I don't see you capturing yours either Mateus."

Mateus laughed again, "fool, it is either a stupid man, or a ignorant child who makes such bold statement." he paused letting the words sink in, "I could be persuaded to assist you, if the conditions are met."

"and what would those be?"

Mateus smirked, "serve me when this battle is no more."

"I serve no one," Kuja all but shrieked.

"then you will loose grip on your precious captive," Mateus said turning to leave, "thus loose control of that monkey you claim is yours." the Emperor could picture Kuja's expression as he left the room, his face flush with anger, lips opening and closing as if to say something but his anger so great that no sound left. His body shaking with absolute rage. The Emperor's grin widened, I have him right where I want him.

Cloud was outside keeping watch when Zidane came out of the tent. He looked at him calmly as Zidane looked to the star kissed sky. "trouble sleeping?"

"huh? Oh yeah, just worried," Zidane smiled weakly.

"I can understand that," Cloud said calmly.

"I wonder where he is, do you think he might just be wandering and got lost...?" he asked.

"he could be," Cloud answered, "but he also might not be."

"Cloud, can I ask you a question?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"go ahead," Mako blue eyes, their brilliance hidden by the moonlight's shadow were looking directly at him.

Zidane sighed, "I think Kuja did get him."

"So then we'll get him back," Cloud answered simply. "that's all there is to it."

Zidane looked troubled, "but how, we don't know where Kuja could have even brought him."

Cloud was silent for a moment, "then we find him."

"you're optimistic," Zidane said putting his chin on his knees as he drew them up.

"no I'm not. We have no choice in that matter. If Kuja has him, it won't belong before the rest of Chaos' warriors find, him. And if they don't kill him, they'll use him as bait for us." Cloud paused again. "and we don't want either to happen. From now on all of us should travel together, there's safety in numbers. We'll tell who ever we come across that too."

"how can you be so calm?" Zidane asked quite suddenly.

"it's a black and white situation. We find him, or die trying." Cloud answered.

"r...right." Zidane nodded.