Learning

A Final Fantasy IX fanfiction

Kuja sat and toyed with the strange crystal in his slender fingers. The faces glittered with magic, flashing blue, red, white, green, yellow, black and purple. Each winking facet held the power of the seven elements, and he longed to be able to absorb the energy. He could feel the magic simmering in his blood, making his every cell come to life, seeking to use the crystal's power to save his people by destruction. Before he could analyze that feeling, the gem was plucked from his grasp by the hand that initially gave it to him. He stared at the delicate hand in indignation for long moments. The soft chuckle of his teacher tickled his ears, and he looked up.

"Now, Kuja, you know I cannot sanction your possession of a crystal yet." The gentle voice was lilting and sweet, much like his, only feminine. The sparkling eyes that held his gaze were clear amber, the teacher's hair soft, long, and platinum.

"Yes, Rashia, I understand." Even though I do not agree, were the words he chose not to voice, yet he knew the slightly older genome female heard them perfectly. In some ways, Rashia was like an older sister, in others, she was the female he desired. In all situations, Rashia was his teacher, gently expanding and shaping his mind, telling him the things no one else thought he should know. He was fourteen, in Terran years, twenty- one in Gaian time, and he had reached maturity the previous spring. He had come to desire the cool Rashia, her elegance and knowledge fueling a fire in his blood. He knew that she was aware of his volatile emotions, yet she did not shun or mock him. Rashia calmly accepted the fact, and refused to let it affect her. That angered him, for out of all the women on Terra, Rashia was the only one he wanted, and the only one he was forbidden to have. She was destined to be the mate of his new brother, Zidane, once the youngling reached adulthood. When that happened, Kuja would be disposed of like so much garbage, and Rashia would continue on, unflappable.

He would kill the genome child if he had any inkling that such an action would gain the heart of the female, only he knew it would lose the respect she had for him. Kuja probably would kill the child at any rate, but not for Rashia. He would do it for the genomes.

"Rashia...."

"Yes, my student?"

"I will be leaving Terra soon, but before I go...there's one last thing I want you to teach me." He was leaving in two days, against Garland's orders, so he decided to use the Terran Law of Learning: A student can request instruction on any subject prior to leaving their Teacher, without chance of punishment.

"Kuja..." She sighed. "You may make your request."

The silver haired, effeminate genome smiled wickedly at her from across the wide, clean desk he studied at. She knew what he would ask, and she was going to allow it. She must care for him!

"I want you to teach me one last art. The art of love." He saw her eyes widen imperceptibly, yet a small smile curved her full lips.

"As you wish my student, I shall teach you love."

End Prologue