Gem: I'm feeling impressed with myself. I love random plot ideas.

I lived out in the middle of nowhere before I came to Lindblum and joined Tantalus. My eyesight was failing in one eye but I adjusted. I always had the feeling that my brother, Crag, didn't like me. I also felt that my parents thought that I was useless because I had one good eye while they had two. I was only a little more than two years old when I realized all of this.

I probably should explain what Crag looked like before I start. He was a big beefy guy who had been training since he could hold a sword. He had dark blue hair normally tied back in a ponytail and black eyes that looked like they were the pits of hell half the time. I never remember seeing him smile unless it was in some sick way.

My parents always favored him because of his abilities and perfect sight. They never really saw me as their own child; I got the feeling that they saw me as an adopted child. I never looked like them.

My eyes were mainly red but occasionally turned green. My one eye would sometimes move by itself, which was scared everyone but me.

"Probably because you couldn't see it."

"Hey no interrupting."

My arms were generally scarred from Crag being a pain and trying to make me completely blind.

When I was around three years old, I became interested in all types of healing medicine because I wanted to be able to use both eyes. A healer had stopped by the house once and allowed me to help him sort his medicines. I was behind the house one day mixing different potions when Crag came looking for me.

"What are you doing? You don't even do a man's work. No wonder no one likes you."

"Leave me alone. Mum doesn't make any healing remedies. She never did and never intends to. Besides, this stuff isn't for you."

"Why you little.."

Suddenly I was flying through the air towards a tree. I hit the tree rather hard and watched as my latest try was almost destroyed. A young girl named Kat lived nearby and had saved it. I think she liked me. At least, she didn't shy away like a lot of the other children did. Crag wouldn't hurt her because she was a girl but I'm sure that she'd watched this a few times and definitely wanted to 'hit him upside the head' as she told me once. Crag left because Kat stood her ground and death glared him.

"Are you all right?" she asked as she helped me up.

"Mostly."

I checked myself over to see if all my bones were in the right places because I'd occasionally had to pop bones back into place. It was a bit gross especially to have to do it by yourself.

"Come. I got something to show you. No one minds right?"

"No. No one ever minds."

She'd always ask that. I guessed that was how she grew up. She was generally very cautious but could be as brave as any of the guys in or near my home.

I started to follow her as she skipped into the woods. She'd found something and was trying to cheer me up. I suspected that she didn't have the greatest sight. At least her's was better than mine. She held one finger up to her lips and tiptoed towards the edge of a clearing. I followed her and both of us peered through the hedge.

We saw a guy that sort of looked like a noble and a kid about a year older than me dressed as a noble's son. They didn't talk like nobles and I figured that they were up to no good. Apparently they had been there for some time since Kat had come and 'rescued' me. They were talking about something.

"Why were we sent out to the middle of nowhere, Boss? We're not even sure who we're looking for."

"You had troubles with your family, didn't you? The kid we're supposed to find doesn't seem to get along with his family either. I was told that the kid knows a lot about healing and that might be useful to us."

"Useful in what manner?"

"You know that she's still learning. It'll help if we have more than one person with that knowledge."

"They're talking about me," I thought and then went back to eavesdropping. I briefly wondered who the she they were referring to was.

"Then why these clothes?" asked the kid.

"If his family won't give him up, then I'll tell them that I want him to 'work' in my House."

"What about that person that you sent to go find the kid? Where's she?"

"She should be here soon."

Kat slowly stood up and walked out of hiding towards the two people. I hadn't even realized that she had squatted down. I was small enough to hide behind the bushes without having to squat like she did.

"Did you find him, girlie?" the man asked.

"Yes," she replied and looked in my direction.

"They won't hurt you," she promised me, and I slowly came towards them.

I didn't trust them and let them know that through my body language. The older guy seemed to have no problem with that because he obviously knew my story or most of my story.

"Kid, I got something to offer you but before I do, let me introduce myself. My name is Baku and this is Marcus," said the man. "I know your story and want to help you."

"In other words, do you really want to leave?" asked Marcus as he looked me up and down.

"I'm scared about leaving," I admitted.

Frankly, I had no clue what I would do if I left. That home was all I had ever known despite being so young.

"Why?" asked Kat and then she realized, "You're afraid that Crag will find you and do somethin'?"

"You don't have to decide right away. I'll come back with you and see how yer parents take the news."

"They won't care. They never did," I said.

I examined the two guys more on the way back. The man had mouse ears and wore goggles. He also wore breeches and a somewhat ruffled top. I had a feeling that he normally didn't dress like that. The…boy appeared to have hair that was pulled back oddly until I realized it was a bandanna. He was dressed in a similar outfit like what this 'Baku' person was wearing but didn't have goggles or mouse ears.

"Kid! Where'd you disappear to?" a woman was calling. "Now I have to clean everything myself."

The woman was wearing a red top and hoop skirt. She also wore an apron and had her hair pulled up in a braided bun. Her almost black eyes widened slightly when she realized that there were people with me.

"Oh baby, what did I tell you about talking to strangers?"

Her mood had changed quite rapidly. She was never this nice to me. I wondered if the fact that there were strangers had something to do with it.

My father then came out and reacted almost the same way his wife did.

Blank had spat the word father in a tone none of the others had heard from him before. He sounded somewhere between disgusted and upset.

Baku was the first to break the silence.

"I take it you're the kid's parents? Found him lost in the woods."

"Who are you, sir?" asked my father.

"My apologies. I am Baku and I am here to offer a position for your son in my Household."

"Why him? Why not our older son? He is much too young for an opportunity such as this."

"But dear sir, he is more suited for the work I want him for. I need a playmate for my young children. They are about his age."

I doubted that Marcus was really his child but stranger things had been known to happen. And what did Baku mean by children? There was currently only one with him.

"We'll consider it. Good day sir."

My parents didn't even consider the offer. They told me no and that was final. I heard nothing more about it.

A few years later, I was looking for more medical herbs because we were running low. Crag used this opportunity to sneak up and twist me around. I was scared.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked.

"You brat. You were thinking about running away to those so-called nobles, weren't you? Well, let's see you run when you can't see."

The last thing I saw was a dagger heading towards my good eye; I whirled around and ran. I didn't care if I was bleeding. I had to get out of there fast.

"Come back here! I'm not done with you, you worthless piece of crap," Crag yelled as he chased me.

"Just because I'm almost blind, doesn't give you the right to completely destroy my sight," I thought.

I ran into something large, soft, and very solid. I heard a rough 'C'mon' and was picked up and carried; I felt that a long time passed until I heard other voices and realized that I was lying on a bed and couldn't see.

"Is he all right?"

"What's his name?"

"Is he bleeding?"

They sounded like young boys' voices interrogating someone older. I could feel a slight wind next to my face and tried to grab the fan.

"Ouch!" yelped one of the boys. "That was my tail!"

"Sorry. I thought it was a fan."

I had never met anyone with a tail before. I guess now I could say that I had.

"S'ok. I'm gonna go get some water and a cloth."

That didn't fully sound like his decision. But who was I to say what he could and couldn't make up his mind about?

"You okay kid? Zidane went for some stuff to clean you up. You got a name?"

"No. I never really did. Does that Zidane really have a tail?" I avoided the question about being okay, whatever okay was.

"Yes, I do. And pulling on it hurts but I'll forgive you this time since you didn't know. Here ya go Boss. C'mon!"

I sensed someone dragging the other two voices out of the room. I was picked up and sat against the person Zidane had called Boss. At least that is who I assumed I was leaning against. I could feel him gently cleaning off all the caked on blood. I could hear him talking but was nearly half-asleep. I hadn't been held or taken care of like that in ages.

"We're going to need to get you a proper name kid. You can't be kid all the time."

I didn't see what was wrong with being called kid. It had been my name for as long as I remember or what I could call a name.

"We'll figure something out. But for now, you need your rest."

I felt myself be placed underneath the sheets again and felt someone gently smoothing my hair back. I allowed myself to slip off into a complete dreamless sleep. I felt safe or safer than I ever had. When I woke up, I could smell some type of food coming closer towards where I was. I wished I could see so that I would know what time it was but that would have to wait.

"Hey. Boss said for you to eat when you got up."

I recognized the voice from somewhere but couldn't place it. I realized that I had quit paying attention in the middle of a sentence and apologized for it.

"It happens," the voice replied with a hint of a smile. "Do you need help sitting up?"

I shook my head and started to try to get out of bed only to get pushed back in.

"Nope. Not allowed until the Boss says so or our healer comes back from wherever she went."

I felt the memory of that day surface. "I met you before!"

I heard a chuckle before receiving an affirmative. I had finally managed to get myself back into a sitting position before turning towards the food.

"Not so fast."

I had to have pouted because I heard another laugh. The tray was set across my lap and I realized abruptly that I had no clue what I was supposed to do. I was in a bed, completely blind, and I only knew the voice who had come in with food. The bed sank slightly as the voice or…Marcus as my brain was telling me sat down next to me.

"Um, I don't remember your name. I think it was Marcus but I think I'm wrong."

"Yer right," he replied as he leaned over me to place what I was assuming was a spoon in my hand.

I felt my hand be guided to what turned out to be soup and was left to feed myself. I missed my mouth a few times but Marcus didn't seem to mind. He waited until I couldn't handle any more and indicated that I wanted something to drink. This time he guided my hand to a glass full of water. I missed somewhat on that too. I was getting frustrated at my inability to do anything.

"It will take time. Besides, for this being the second time you've been up, you're doing great. Sleep."

I felt the tray being taken away and realized then just how tired I was. I snuggled down into the covers again and fell asleep once more.