Ever After, Part 7

Mikoto relaxed to the sound of Kuja's heartbeat. She was very sorry for what she had done. She never struck a person out of anger. Even if she had stricken one of the genomes, it probably wouldn't have done much good. Striking Lani felt good, though. It was cathartic-an instant release of both hers and Zidane's frustration at what Lani was doing. Oh, but the guilt afterwards made it less than worthwhile. That, and she used her magic on something other than a monster. She had broken a personal oath. Using magic carelessly like that frightened her. She did not want to become the monster Garland had created her two brothers to be. Purposefully, she kept her anger controlled and even when upset with personal transgressions, she let that fury slide away. She allowed Garland to use her as a tool, but never a weapon.

"What you did wasn't so terrible, Mikoto." Kuja gave her a reassuring squeeze. He didn't have to tell her that he was on her side in this case. "Why are you so silent?"

Mikoto smiled as she felt Kuja's tail wrap around the back of her calves. He really had changed and to the younger genome, it was a very welcome change. "I was thinking about our purpose."

Guiding her to the bed, Kuja invited her to sit beside him. He watched her downcast eyes as he asked, "Our purpose? You mean the purpose for which Garland created us?" At Mikoto's nod, Kuja reasoned, "It doesn't matter now. We are free from him and our original design. We are all free now."

She eased her hands into Kuja's and considered the new callouses on his knuckles. "I know. Times like this remind me of how dangerous I am, though."

Kuja leaned close. His eyelashes almost brushed hers as she glanced up to look him directly in the eye. "What you are feeling is nothing I or Zidane haven't felt before. As Zidane has told me many times, if you fear yourself, then you'll fear living. When you fear living, life is hard to enjoy. We all deserve to enjoy our lives and our freedom, Mikoto." Something in his own words suddenly reminded him of the black mages again. Unintentionally, his life paralleled theirs. Kuja discovered a new sympathy for his creations and the thought brought a sad smile to his lips.

Those beautiful eyes watched hers unwaveringly. The corners of Kuja's eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled. Mikoto rolled his words over in her mind-his words, Zidane's words. How had Zidane, the most carefree of the three soul-infused genomes, found the deepest wisdom? Mikoto smiled brightly, considering Zidane's 'life is meant to be lived' mentality. No wonder he found it so easy to smile all the time. She wanted to be that way. She saw Kuja trying to be that way. How very infectious that attitude was!

Tilting his head, Kuja kissed that smile. He knew she would come around. Mikoto's emotions were much more forgiving than his own-more like Zidane's. Well, that's what Kuja felt at least. He massaged her lips tenderly with his own. After a few moments, Mikoto imitated the action. Her movements were slow and halting as if she was waiting for signals from Kuja. The older genome sighed through his nose and cupped her cheek in his hand as he released from the kiss.

"I have always been curious, though," he mentioned as he licked the kiss from his lips. "Why did Garland create you? If Zidane is stronger than I, are you stronger than he is? Garland never released you to Gaia, did he?"

Pulling her tail into her lap, Mikoto nodded. "I was to be your foil and a failsafe for Garland. I was sent to Gaia twice to alter your course of action, though you do not remember it."

"Alter my course?" Kuja narrowed his brow. "I assume forcibly."

One small nod indicated Kuja had guessed correctly. "Other than that, I was a looking glass so he could watch your actions. The pendant that you saw-the one in the vision, that was attuned to your life's seed so I knew where you were at all times."

Kuja sat straight and pressed his lips into a thin, straight line. All that time he wasn't as free as he thought. So, if all his actions weren't his own, could he still be held responsible? The puzzle was nearly complete and clearly spelt out every reason to despise and damn his own creator. Kuja rolled his head back and reclined slowly to the bed. A low, menacing chuckle passed his lips. Again, he blessed his luck for being able to kick Garland into the canyon.

"Come lay beside me." He patted Mikoto's leg with his tail. "Let's enjoy our freedom together."

Uncertain, but with that last kiss still fresh in her mind, Mikoto crawled across the bed to lay on her side next to Kuja. The older genome rolled onto his side and pressed close…

**********

"That's it?" Lani asked as she skipped a seashell into the tide. She was seated beside Zidane on the beach, watching the sun set amidst the thick clouds from an off-shore storm.

"Yeah that's it. What? You want more?" Zidane asked incredulously after explaining all that had transpired since the kidnapping at Alexandria.

"Aliens, two planets merging into one, dream worlds, chocobo's paradise-yeah! Like I'm going to believe that shit?"

Zidane sighed in surrender and rolled a shrug before flopping back into the sand. "Look, believe whatever you want, but it's true. My friends and I went through a lot to save the people of this world."

The bounty hunter wanted to believe it, but it was all too much, really. Maybe it was too large a scale, but Lani had a hard time grasping how two planets could pack themselves together without anyone noticing. "Besides," Lani continued her thoughts aloud, "That Kuja guy doesn't seem like the world-destroying type."

Zidane snorted and kicked some sand in Lani's direction. "Where have -you- been for the past year?"

"In this shithole," Lani reminded him gruffly as she slapped his leg.

"Oh yeah," Zidane chirped. Something about Lani's bluntness did kinda remind him of Marcus, though. He had similar conversations with his larger 'bro' and playful slaps, or more often punches, like the one Lani delivered were often exchanged. "I can't wait to get back," Zidane mused as he stared at the pale, dual moons.

Having flung her last shell out into the tide, Lani combed the sand, looking for something else to throw. "Me neither," she sighed. "I miss my things, and my friends."

"You have friends?" Zidane laughed and lifted his hands, warding off any possible blows. "I'm kidding! Really! I'm kidding this time!"

Lani reached over and gave his tail a tug. Not expecting that, Zidane jerked up from the reclinging position and snatched his tail back from the woman. "Hey! I don't go jerking -your- tail," he accused her.

The woman smiled deviously and grabbed for it again. "Well, lemme give it a kiss!"

"Oo no!" Zidane rolled to his feet and bounced back. With a wide smile, he taunted, "You might give it cooties!"

"Oh how very mature," Lani snorted as she scrambled to her feet. She took the bait anyway. "Come back here! I'll make it all better." Zidane slipped in the sand as he turned suddenly. He was laughing so hard, he kept losing his footing. Still, he put some good distance between himself and the bounty hunter.

Or so he thought.

Zidane peered over his shoulder and there was Lani, litterally on his tail. "Damn you're fast!" he panted.

That tail jerked out of her reach just as she grabbed for it. Undaunted, Lani kept pace with the tailed young man. "Ya gotta be fast to survive in Treno, baby."

Planting his heels in the sand, Zidane stopped, ducked, and quickly changed direction. "Fast, but not smart, huh?" he called over his shoulder as he ran directly for the water.

Lani held out one hand to brace herself as she pivoted at a steep angle on the sand. She leapt after the monkey-tailed man determined to catch him. In a surprisingly few strides, she caught up with him and made a grab for that tail again. She grabbed it near the base this time. Zidane tried to duck away again, but the tide lapped at his ankles as he bent down. Water-softened sand sucked at his feet as he tried to turn and tripped him. Lani fell on top of him as the tide receeded under them.

"What," Lani panted with a triumphant smile, "Were you saying about being smart?"

Breathless from laughter as much as from the dash down the beach, Zidane rolled onto his back. He tried weakly to push Lani off of him, but she stayed over him, arms braced at either side of his head. "You're the first one to ever catch me like that," Zidane admitted. "You got lucky."

"I'm faster when I'm not lugging my axe, huh? I knew you wouldn't take that into account." The tide swept Zidane's honey-colored locks. That lopsided grin that had stolen the hearts of so many women before her, captured Lani's heart. She found herself wishing there wasn't that bad blood between them.

"Alright, you can get off me now, Lani." Having caught his breath, Zidane pushed at Lani's shoulders and tried to get out from under her. Lani wouldn't budge. Her thighs clamped down on Zidane's sides. She rested her weight into sitting on his upper legs, so he couldn't leverage her away. Finally, she pinned his upper arms down to the sand, pressing with all her might, and to her surprise, holding him down.

How do I get myself into these situations? Zidane groaned mentally. He knew it was coming before she even bent down to brush her lips over his. He had to hand it to himself, he did a good job of holding out until she began to rub herself over his loins…

**********

Rolling her onto her back, Kuja propped himself up on his elbow and kissed her from above. His silvery locks fell like a curtain about their faces, making the moment so intimate. Kuja coaxed Mikoto's mouth open by dipping his tongue past her lips. She allowed him to probe her mouth for a few heavy heartbeats before she mustered the courage to touch her tongue to his. What an odd sensation, that moist, but firm flesh rolling over her own. Kuja's tongue tasted like the spices from dinner but his saliva was sweet in her mouth. Not having mastered the fine technique of breathing while deep kissing, Mikoto turned her head away to catch her breath. Her pulse beat at her throat and Kuja kissed a line down to the hollow of her throat. Unsure of what to do with her hands, Mikoto stroked Kuja's shoulders and enjoyed the tickle of his hair over her face.

*********

Pushing her hair to one side, Lani picked at the blue ribbon holding the lace cravat at Zidane's throat. The genome under her made no move to help. He seemed vaguely amused and let his mind wander. While Lani undressed him desperately, he let his thoughts drift back to Garnet. Lani's scent was nothing like hers, and her kisses were far more meek. Garnet liked to play with his hair, Zidane remembered fondly.

Brought quickly back to the present by Lani's teeth pulling on his nipple, Zidane raised a hand to stroke the bounty hunter's hair. He shouldn't encourage her. He wanted to be with Garnet, but his body craved a woman's touch. Need gnawed at him, forcing himself against Lani's mouth as she nibbled and teased his skin with her teeth.

*********

Gently, Kuja lifted Mikoto's dress over her head. He tossed the garment aside and pressed his face between her small, firm breasts. Mikoto hugged his head. A trembling sigh from his partner, alerted Kuja that he'd found an erogenous zone while trailing his fingers lightly over her ribs. He smiled, pleased with himself, and pulled her in for another kiss.

Every place Mikoto touched, she felt Kuja's reaction. She found he liked his hair petted and pulled lightly. His tail, like hers, was particularly erogenous. In their kiss she curled her fingers around his muscular tail. Using his sensations to guide her, she pet and teased the fur until Kuja reclined back with an ecstatic bliss pulling his mouth into a wide smile. Mikoto tickled Kuja's thighs with his tail. With sudden inspiration, she tickled herself with that silver-furred tail giving rise to goosebumps on her thighs and arms. Mikoto suddenly felt less inhibited and under the influence of strong emotions she to which she never paid much mind. Kuja's fingertips were small points of fire on her skin. She wanted to feel that all over her body. Inside too, she wanted to feel this beautiful man. Crawling on top of Kuja, she tried to show him this need, but she was uncertain how to proceed.

*********

Think of Garnet. Think only of Garnet!! Oh sweet mother of fuck!

Zidane tried to keep his mind focused on other things but when Lani's lips found his cock, he could think of nothing else. Not that using Garnet as a distraction was helping him at all. Everytime he tried to force his train of thought back to the beautiful, dark-haired girl, all he could imagine was her fingertips in place of Lani's or her lips massaging the head of his cock as Lani's were now.

The thief stifled a moan. He didn't want to give Lani the satisfaction, but damned if he didn't just want to scream out her name. Inwardly, he apologized to Garnet and gave himself over to the sensations. He knew he needed the release and Lani was being unrelenting.

Cool fingers tickled his balls. Lani pulled her mouth away from his prick and licked the salt water from the surf from her lips. She swung a leg over him, kicking up an arc of water droplets that sparkled in what was left of the sunset. Zidane peered skyward at the twinkling stars. He felt her pubic hair and then the hot interior of her lips as Lani pushed herself onto him. After only a minor adjustment, Lani took all of him in. She and Zidane sighed together. They shared the pleasure but for entirely selfish reasons.

********

Kuja took his time and made sure Mikoto was ready. He looked down on her after rolling her onto her back once more. She smiled shyly, but that smile was made irresistible by the flush to her cheeks and lips. Everywhere he touched her was electrifying-not only to her, but to his fingertips. He could feel the hum of her power just under her skin. This only served to heighten Kuja's excitement. He had never been with any woman like her and he doubted he could ever find one. That made Mikoto a special prize, and one to be tenderly protected.

When he drew his fingertips away, they were wrinkled from the moisture between her thighs. Mikoto seemed more than ready so Kuja situated himself over her and guided his penis down between her lips. "This may hurt," he warned her in a husky whisper. Then, without giving her any time to worry about the statement, he thrust into her, past the maidenhead, and finally rested inside her tight, clenching hole. Mikoto clung to him until the sting subsided. Slowly, she opened her mind to him again and then the pain seemed overshadowed by his pleasure. Kuja kept an easy rhythm and touched her face tenderly. Mikoto closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the sensory input. From her expression, it was plain to see she was enjoying herself.

**********

The surf slapped higher on Zidane's thighs and somewhere in his preoccupied mind, he considered moving. Now was hardly the time, though. Lani rode him as rough as a wild chocobo. She threw her head back and proclaimed her pleasure in a series of throaty moans and the occassional scream. Zidane continued to stare at the sky, mouth wide open. Every breath was punctuated by a moan. He was getting so close to climax. A niggling fear in the back of his mind brought him to. He raised his hips, throwing off Lani's rhythm long enough until he could force her onto her back.

They never parted, and Zidane quickly resumed Lani's rhythm as she lay in the surf. Baku's stern warning about getting girls pregnant stuck with him to that very day, he mused. Not that Baku had much room to talk. Dozens of bastard, pig-faced children was hardly appropriate for the moment, but Zidane couldn't help but think of it and laugh. Misinterpretting the laughter, Lani pulled Zidane's face down into a rough kiss.

*********

It began as random images insinuating themselves into his mind. As Kuja built the rhythm of his strokes, he began to feel sensations he knew were not his own. They seemed to make him more sensative and though his mind wasn't entirely sure how to process these alien thoughts, they helped guide him to heighten Mikoto's pleasure. As he did this, those sensations built. When Mikoto climaxed, everything became a rosy blur. Somewhere, he's certain he heard her scream his name. Kuja was vaguely aware, only through Mikoto's sensations, that he was still moving.

Everything became a heady, sucking, thrusting, intense, sweet blur of ecstasy. Parts of Kuja's mind feared losing the control, but then another part gave control over happily. The fear of drowning mixed with a wish that the moment would last forever. He felt himself inside her, but from her perspective. He felt her body on his. That moment answered so many questions that a man was never meant to know about a woman. Kuja likened the experience to his own with men, but then, it was never like this. Dozens of thoughts, his and Mikoto's mingled. They shared fears, idle thoughts, and raw emotion, bringing them into an intimacy no one else on that planet had ever known.

Kuja's climax was explosive-no, cataclysmic! His Ultima spell couldn't hope to produce what he felt at that moment. The feedback loop returned his sensations to him tenfold, almost seizing his heart with the suddeness of it all. He emptied himself into Mikoto and felt that too. He wept and felt his tears on Mikoto's chest. Exhaustion poured in as ecstasy melted away. In his mind, weakly, he begged Mikoto to release him from her mind. There was nothing but a vague feeling of being left alone in a room as Mikoto withdrew. When Kuja regained control of his body, he slid off Mikoto to lay beside her. Absolutely spent, he stared at the ceiling and contemplated the past few minutes.

***********

Zidane grunted and withdrew from Lani's moist hole. Lani propped herself up on her elbows to watch the thief cum on her bare thighs, crotch, and belly. Satisfied with herself, Lani laid back and let a hand trail through the semen on her belly. "Was that all for me? I don't think I've ever seen a guy cum that much."

Washing his hand in the surf, Zidane panted a reply, "Not even Amarant, huh?"

"I don't think that's any of your business, monkey," Lani teased back. She jerked her skirt back into place and stood out of the water. She was thankful for the warm breezes from inland, but the cool air from the sea was starting to drift in. It'd probably be prudent to get indoors and dry off.

Zidane raised his hands in mock-defense. "That's okay. I didn't really want to know anyway." Though he was actually somewhat curious, he didn't want to think of Amarant that way. After rising to his feet, Zidane fastened his pants. He scanned the horizon and remarked, "We should get inside soon."

Lani nodded her agreement and walked upshore without further prompting. Zidane followed, contemplating what he should say next. Should he thank her? She seemed to be acting as if nothing happened. Was she just waiting for him to say something?

The bounty hunter turned with a sour expression. Oh boy, she was going to demand he say something. With her hands on her hips, she groused, "Would you hurry the hell up? I'm freezing here."

Zidane raised his eyebrows and laughed. He shook his head as he passed her and led her up the beach back to the shelter. Lani enjoyed her time following him in silence and regarding his backside.