Filling In The Blanks

A/N: So last chapter Blank opened up a little bit. Now you should be able to put some pieces together on just what was going on with Zidane's dreams this chapter. Good luck! I hope it's not too confusing!

Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy 9, but I own the game... Does that count?

Quick Random Thought: Blank sounds like if it were better graphics he could potentially be really sexy.

Chapter 7: I Don't Understand

"Blank! Blank come on!" He stalked down the hall, his vision red with anger.

The worst part about that situation had to be that he was indeed angry, and had absolutely no idea why. As he watched the atmosphere of their founded home get lazier and lazier the deeper he went, he wondered why no one ever paid attention to this part of their hide away.

He only wished he could be in a dark corner somewhere to clear his thoughts, and here he had a girl chasing after him. He used to joke that he was going to get that one day, but was put into a sourer mood when he realized just who he joked about that with...

Finally, the pattering sound of feathery feet gained on him enough where she grabbed his arm, and heaved him backwards, all of her weight rolling to the back of her heels just so she would skid to a stop. Finally, in a rather tired matter, he gazed back at her with an agitated expression.

"Blank! What in the world is the matter with you?" She questioned, her voice exasperated with bewilderment and concern.

In a bitter defeat, Blank stopped trying to storm away from the problem, and plopped down against a wall, leaning his head against it in exhaustion. "I know him..."

She rocked back from her heels to her toes, and back again, with her hands clasped behind her back, "What do you mean?"

"I mean I know him, Dagger!" He almost bellowed with frustration, "He was the one I lost five years ago to that thing I always tried to figure out what it was, and the one I was too late to save! He's the one I regret having left to save myself. I'm still here, and now he's completely oblivious to the world around him!"

She momentarily froze as she let this information be sucked into her brain, "You mean, this is the guy you thought you let die a long time ago?"

"Didn't I just say that?" Blank snapped, anger rolling off of him in waves. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced at the girl rather distressed, "How am I going to even be able to approach him from now on?"

"Suck it up?" She offered, smiling and squatting next to him. "You have to remember Blank that he doesn't remember everything and it's not entirely his fault. You're just going to need to help him out."

"Me? Tell him that we were such best friends such a long time ago? Never!"

"Come on, why not?" Dagger allowed her gloved finger to trace the stony pathway they retreated on. She pulled her delicate finger over the rough design and watched the dust spray up into the cool air, leaving a clearer view behind it.

With dark eyes, she looked rather seriously up at the redhead, who gazed troubled into space, his brow creasing every once and a while. She felt slightly bad for him, as she remembered first finding Blank just four years ago. His team had explained he wasn't really one that would be too much of a talker, so she might as well not even try. And they had been right to a certain extent.

The only person he would open up to was the Regent Cid. Of course, he was the only one who knew what he was talking about when it came to things dragging live beings into dark alleys, but that was only a vague experience that had happened a long time ago.

But soon after he spilled everything to Cid, he began to talk to others more, and become more interactive with the new people who surrounded him. Of course, his heart was still dedicated to training with double daggers to be good enough to move with the main team, instead of his old friends. Dagger found it quite odd why he wouldn't want to be with his friends anymore, but once she learned the story, she knew why his friends understood.

He had said he couldn't stand seeing everyone so unhappy. It made him feel miserable to know it was his fault this all happened, even after so many people assured him it wasn't. The more and more the dark haired girl thought about it, the more and more she figured it was just a pure accident. She was normally pretty good at getting people through experiences as her and Beatrix were the most sensitive, and almost the only girls around who gave sympathy, but Blank couldn't seem to be converted to happiness.

Rather dejected, for a long while Dagger had given up, until she had a brilliant idea on just how to cheer him up. She talked to him about how his friend wouldn't have wanted him to be so upset it took away from his life, explaining that he would think the redhead was an idiot for doing so as well. He finally, after a long time, agreed, but couldn't go back to his regular team. After a while, the four of them became their own little unit - almost like a family, but not quite.

Smiling, she looked at him again, "Blank..."

"What?" He grunted, not looking at her, but now stubbornly at the rocky hall around them.

"Just talk to him..." She gently pushed. It was only enough to nudge him, not to completely throw him over the edge; she figured he could handle that.

"No."

"And why not?" She glared, defensive, "you know if you just talked to him, maybe he would..." She trailed, shrugging. "Maybe," she started again, "he'll remember!"

"I doubt it."

"Stop being such a pessimist and try it, Blank. It's the only thing you can do..." She heaved herself up off the wall and turned to stare down at him, "Whatever you choose to do though, good luck. I don't know what you're going through, but I bet it's hard," with that she turned, her hair fluttering up and gently landing on her back in a clump once more, and confidently walked down the hall, truly believing that she did get Blank to think about his options.

She would just have to wait and see for a little bit. It was her best hobby, observing things.

??

When she finally walked back into the room, Cid had left with Steiner, leaving Beatrix, Vivi, and Zidane behind. She was conversing with them about where they would stay, and if they even wanted to sleep. Dagger figured they'd probably appreciate the hospitality, but then thought if they were already talked to about training to fight; they would have to know how to do that.

"I always figured it wouldn't be very comfortable," the woman's hazy, mahogany eyes shimmered in the poor lighting as she tried to make the mood light. Smiling, her hair tilted over her shoulder, giving her an exquisite look that never ceased to amaze the younger girl. "I found out though, that it's really rather comfortable!"

The two nodded as though they understood. "Hi, Dagger!" The blonde greeted a little cheerful. It was probably nice having some clue what was going on, unless it was mostly fake... Both of which she could believe.

"Hello!" She chirped, in an attempt to keep the same level of innocence he had; she didn't miss the slight narrow of eyes, in confusion of course, as he let down his jolly mood for only a moment.

"Is everything okay with him?" Vivi asked, his voice quiet and seemingly troubled.

"He's fine... Just moody..." She took a chair and twittered her thumbs back and forth for a moment before glancing up, "Will they learn how to fight Beatrix?"

"I'm assuming so..." She began to answer, but she was cut off.

"I think we should get Master Vivi a trainer of magic, since we don't have many down here. We could have Dagger teach him!" Steiner walked into the room at that moment, his helmet still on, just the same as always, but he looked a lot less stressed than - not even twenty minutes ago.

"I do white magic..." She corrected, a shy smile on her face.

"White magic?" the blonde inquired, eyes dazed, "that stuff seems really cool. I've never seen a lot of it done before - maybe only the cure spell you cast on me when we were in Alexandria, but that's it."

"That's it?" Steiner asked, his expression matching his personality as both were described as blown away.

"Unless of course I saw more from before I was asleep, but I honestly don't know when that was so..."

Considering the fact Dagger knew, she did want to let him know, so he knew of the life that he had before his slumber in a fake world, but she didn't want to let the whole secret out of the bag. It would be completely unfair to Blank. "Well you're from Terra..."

"Terra?" He questioned, his tone slightly puzzled.

Delicately picking up the quill, she circled Terra on the map. It was just to the left of the Shimmering Island - or maybe it was the right - it was hard to tell from the upside down angle she was at. "It's here..." She looked at him closely, "that's where people who look like you, with the same blonde hair and blue eyes, and the same monkey type tail reside."

"And what happened to it?" He feared the answer.

"It was taken over about five years ago. I mean give or take by a few months, that's probably where you were captured as well, and brought to the dungeon of Alexandria, given the sleeping spell on the way."

"That's an interesting explanation..." Beatrix started, giving her an accusing stare. Why wouldn't she? Considering the fact she knew something the older woman didn't, and the brunette didn't like how that went... It slightly irritated her.

Dagger had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. Of course Beatrix would find out where the dark haired girl was getting this information soon enough, but that didn't stop her from being curious.

"What was this place... Like?"

"It was beautiful..." Dagger answered right away, her eyes fixated on something that seemed so much more like a dream than a historic reality. "There were blue and red crystals all over the place, and everyone was helpful, although a little quiet."

Before they could get any further on the conversation about exactly where Zidane came from, Steiner came back, a beautiful young girl next to him.

Her eyes glowed a soft grey color mixed with the brights of a rainbow. Almost like the sun peaking through the clouds after a wicked storm. And her hair seemed as though it were bronze spun into silky thread. Her figure was slim, curving in all the right areas, with porcelain skin hidden under a dark magenta colored cloak. Her cheeks had a natural rose blush to them, and her long black eyelashes brushed against her soft cheeks when she blinked; they were slow mindful blinks that didn't miss a thing.

"Master Vivi," Steiner began, grinning ear to ear, "This is Nadina Florridon. She knows black magic - amazing we didn't think of her before... But she can help you out with learning your magic."

"If you'd like to follow me, I'll talk to you about the basics, and then perhaps we could try it after you've had a good nights rest and a meal. I've got it all prepared for you. Although, I trust everyone will have the other one covered for food?" Nadina asked, her voice soprano and beautiful - she could truly be considered an angel.

Vivi looked with uncertainty to the blonde next to him, but with an encouraging nod, he got up wobbly and followed behind, pulling his hat closer down on his head. Steiner followed the two out, and not long after Beatrix announced it was her turn to find fresh food for the next morning, so she must be going to bed.

That only left Dagger and Zidane. With not a lot to talk about, it was mostly stolen glances at each other. At some points, azure eyes would drop down to the map, as the girl already picked up on small habits he had when he was concentrating.

Shaking her head and chortling very slightly - possibly so the teenager sitting before her didn't hear or didn't bother noticing - she realized that she wouldn't be able to get his face out of her mind for sometime. When things like that began to happen, she knew it was probably close to the time she should leave. She had to admit, he was a rather attractive individual, but she couldn't admit anything like that out loud... Not at the moment. She had too much to handle...

As if on cue, the redhead walked back into the room, looking extremely awkward. Clearing her throat, Dagger stood up, "Have a good night Zidane... If you need anything, just let Steiner or Nadina know, as they'll most likely be the ones awake, unless you can find Regent Cid, and one of them will set you up with everything you need!"

"Thanks... You have no idea how much I appreciate it..."

She pulled an apple out of the glass bowl on the counter and tossed it to him, "Trust me, it's no trouble at all. Having someone else on the team helps us, no matter how big or small the person is." Without another word, she winked and walked out of the room, heading for what most likely would turn out to be her own room.

Sitting in the chair, his eyes so tired they were almost closed, he was jostled back awake from a weird presence almost beside him. Wearily turning his head, he saw the redhead simply staring at him.

"Can I... Help you with something?" He asked, trying not to sound devastated that he would be in more discomfort for the day.

The redhead looked at him for sometime, before sitting straighter in his chair, looking friendlier than he had before. With a slightly cocky smile he offered, "Sorry about before..." He shook his head, and held out his hand, "Blank."

Cautiously and aware, Zidane shook it, "Zidane."

The shorter teenager laughed, "Yeah I know. You're already quite the talk around here. You and your friend..." He bit his lip, as it was slightly hard to keep an upbeat attitude about it.

"Even though you know... We're new around here and stuff; it shouldn't be such a big deal..." Zidane figured it was silly to get so bent out of shape just because of their arrival; even if they had just woken up from a prolonged sleep.

But Blank shook his head and sighed, "You don't understand..." Looking back to the male, he spoke louder than what he had just said to himself, "What kind of stuff do you remember about your past? I mean, before you slept?" It was now or never, and the redhead picked now.

"I don't remember much of anything. The only thing I can really remember..." He looked down at the old wooden table, and placed his hand over a spot that had begun to splinter before looking up, "Would be the things that happened in this fake world..."

"So nothing weird?" His confidence was failing fast; he thought maybe this would work.

"Well... I mean besides my friends and my family, and my home, the city, all the random events that happened... Among other things, there were sometimes that I'd dream of people I didn't know, or places I've never been."

The redhead raised an eyebrow, "A dream inside a dream?"

"It's weird isn't it...?" He laughed nervously, before scratching the back of his neck, "But that's the only way I can think to describe it really."

"If you don't mind me asking... What were they of? I mean - anything could help you out at the moment to find some answers, right?"

The blonde studied the other male tediously. All of a sudden, he played interest in what Zidane had to say, even though before he seemed to be rude and rather curt. Sighing, he realized that the teenager did, indeed, have a point as to how he could find answers.

"I don't really remember the first few I had. Just... People I seemed really close to, but there was this one..." He shook his head, "It kept me thinking about it for days." He paused for a moment for dramatic effect. "A person and I were fighting this creature..." His eyes became distant as he tried so hard to remember, "It was almost dark, I can remember that much and I was younger. I don't know how much younger, but I had to be older than ten at least..." He nodded, determined to remember.

Blank raised an eyebrow, even more interested than he was before. He didn't quite understand everything the blonde in front of him was talking about, but perhaps explaining what he saw would be the key to get him to remember just as Dagger said it would.

"This person I was with. They must have been a good friend of mine... But remember, I don't know if this was real or not... So it could sound pretty stupid to you."

"Just keep going..." He was being persistent, and he knew that; it was very out of character for him, but it didn't matter - he had to know.

"He was short and had red hair that was super messy, and these really bright green emerald eyes. Oh and not to mention he sounded like he could be slightly cocky." He shook his head, "But then something happened, and I told him to leave. There was this thing... And I can remember its eyes... Silver and shiny - it freaked us out."

But Blank couldn't comment on the rest of the dream. He was stunned; red hair, green eyes, short, and cocky? He was all of those things before his best friend had been taken right under his nose. Biting on his lip so hard, he could have sworn he tasted blood, he gazed at the blonde for a long time.

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" He snapped, his eyes narrowing in accusation.

"Do you remember a name?" He finally managed to choke out.

"No... It started with... Dammit! I don't remember!" he let his head thump against the table, "What's the point of even trying to remember if it was real, when it might... not.... have..... been...?" Slowly, he pulled his head from the table to stare at the redhead, eyes widening as big as saucers.

The bandit, who had been rigid for the last several minutes as Zidane spoke of that day, leaned backwards, his professional and somewhat harsh actions and words flooding out of him. Gripping the side of the chair tightly, he raised both of his eyebrows.

"Dude... It was real..." And for the first time, in he supposed a very, very long time, he watched the redhead break out into a grin.

??

A/N: Well... There you go...!! Blank and Zidane finally are reunited. Heh, it took a few chapters, but you know... Blank has to go all therapist first :P Anyways... I hope you liked the chapter, and even though it was hard for me to write, I still had fun writing it!

Leave some Love guys!

-zesty-