A/N: This is something new. I realized there are no stories at all involving Eiko and Kuja. I got a tiny bit of inspiration and whatnot, so I decided to experiment with this a bit. It's not the best and I may edit this chapter more later, but I'll see how it goes. Reviews help, okay? Thanks, everyone!

-Mayris

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!?" the exclamation seemed to rock the entirety of Lindblum Grand Castle. "You're going WHERE!? And you're leaving me with WHO!?"

Regent Cid and Lady Hilda covered their now-delicate ears to stifle the child's protests. Several suitcases were strung about the room as the three sat down whilst several maids packed stacks and stacks of clothing neatly into the open suitcases that would be willing to burst within a few moments.

"It'll only be for a little while, darling," came Lady Hilda's kind reply. She hid her anxiety behind a very false smile.

"That creep almost KILLED ME!" she bellowed, throwing a pillow at her aunt and uncle's faces which were both caught by the Regent.

"Eiko… we're really sorry about this, but this is an important matter that must be taken care of for a long period of time. I'd like to leave you in able hands whilst we are away," he coaxed, placing the pillows aside.

"But you can't DO this to me!" she wailed, dropping to her knees.

A large, man with light brown hair approached the Regent from behind. "Sire, if it's all the same, she can remain here in the castle," Minister Artania offered.

Cid sighed. "No, we can't have that. You have no defense abilities whatsoever and besides, there's a certain group on the loose that's been known to cause severe destruction and possible assassination. I will not leave her in unwilling hands."

"OOH! Why do you have to be such a stupid, old man! Why can't you bring me along!?"

"We'll be discussing defense plans and the use of militia with the nations of Alexandria, Treno, and what's left of Burmecia. Since Cleyra is gone and Burmecia is still under repair, our continent's defenses have gone down dramatically," he said wearily. He had been losing sleep for days over the matter and felt relieved when the kingdoms had called for a meeting in Alexandria to situate it. He was practically crying when he heard he wouldn't have to make weapons or organize reconstruction plans and defense plans all on his own anymore. The meeting was a great relief, but breaking it to Eiko was taking a toll on his health at the moment. "The meeting is completely business and… we can't have you…" he trailed off, not wanting to say the wrong thing.

She raised an eyebrow. "Have me…?" she coaxed.

"Well, you see… You're only seven… so we can't have you… well, you know…" he shrugged.

"Just say it, you old coot!" she growled, obviously not in the mood to play along with the hesitation charade.

He winced, the bags under his eyes now more prevalent. His wife, placed a hand on his and leaned forward. "What Uncle Cid is trying to say is that he's afraid you'll become rather bored with simply waiting during the meeting. We can't have you running about the castle either."

"I won't run about the castle," she protested.

"Yes, that may be true, but there is really nothing you could help us with."

Eiko narrowed her eyes. "If I was going to get in the way, you might as well have just said so. Anyway, why can't you leave me with Zidane then?" she inquired, leaning forward. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind catching up with me on a few things…" her eyes dazed off a little, picturing his image.

"Sorry, dear. He's needed in the meeting too," Cid answered.

There was a blank look in the young girl's eyes momentarily. She covered her mouth with her hand, eyes welling with tears before she covered them. "Wh-why is it always me?" she choked out, sniffling strongly. "Why am I always the one left behind?" the two before her went silent immediately. "Aren't I the heir to Lindblum? Shouldn't I too know what's going on?" she insisted, squeaking out through her dramatic blubbering.

Regent Cid sat up in his chair, clearing his throat. "Eiko, we're doing this for your own protection," he stated firmly. "We have only your best interests at heart."

"Eiko, you may stop the waterworks now," Hilda suggested, looking nervous as she had to be the one to step in.

Eiko sighed, pulling her face away. The fake tears had easily subsided and she looked up to her aunt with a little more respect. She glowered at her uncle, however. "Best interests at heart, huh!? Looks like you've really lost it! Why in hell would I want to be put under the care of that cross-dressing weirdo!?' she shouted.

"Eiko!" they both chastised, disliking her use of language.

"It's true though!" she pointed out. "He kidnapped me and then tried to kill me! He hurt mog! Nearly killed her!" She caressed the blue ribbon that was wrapped about her wrist, savoring the familiar aura of her beloved friend.

"He's not the same anymore," Hilda said softly, placing a hand over Eiko's. "You'll be fine, sweetie. I promise…" she said lovingly.

The young, blue-haired girl looked up and sighed. "I… I don't wanna go!" She ripped her hand from her aunt's reach, standing up and stomping out of the conference room. She continued until she reached the stairs, stomping up each one as well before turning into the room beside her parents'. The guard stepped aside with a bow and stood in front of the door once more as it closed, blocking access to any unauthorized personal.

She stood, fuming before she assaulted her room. The first thing she went for was the clear, glass vase filled with a yellow and red rose. She gripped the object firmly between her fingers and flung it with all her might at the wall, letting out a yell to push it on its way. "YAAARGH!" she screamed. Glass and water littered the red carpets. Red mixed with yellow as a few of the petals fell from their parented stems. She then grabbed a box full of jewelry and opened it. A small tune played when she opened it. Immediately, she chucked it too against the wall, watching as it broke into several pieces. The tune still played about the room; a soft, chiming noise that seemed to fit the moment.

"A whole week…" she sighed, shaking her head. "I hate Cid and Hilda… I hate them both!" she screamed, picking up a shard of the broken glass and throwing it into the wall. A part of it sliced her hand open and she jerked back in pain, stumbling as she tripped over a suitcase that she had been instructed to pack. "Wahh! Ouch!" she exclaimed, landing on her head. She whined as she rubbed it, grumbling under her breath before she kicked the suitcase away.

The white ceiling calmed her for the moment, but only just. She thought about the situation and stood up, hair covering her face as she walked to the door. Opening it, the guard stood aside for her. She paused before stepping out, seeing the devil himself waltzing down the hallway toward the conference room, hair unmistakable. Aunt Hilda and Uncle Cid were already welcoming him like an old friend, but she knew better.

She grimaced. He was being escorted by two guards. What was wrong with the sane world!? She stayed hidden, waiting until he had disappeared out of sight before reentering her room, crawling over to a small dumbwaiter hidden behind the wall of her room. Crawling inside, she closed the hatch, pressed a button and the near silent cogs lowered her to the mid-level. If she was quick enough, she could exit the castle without having to deal with anyone. The only problem was that she was limited on time; severely limited.

The airship hanger would be the perfect escape. She wound her way from the hidden compartment as it landed, heading into the guest area and stumbling down the stairs. The guard blocked her path. "C'mon, let me through!"

"I'm unauthorized to let you pass at this time," he said firmly.

"No way!""Yes, no way through here, Your Highness," he said.

She stomped once and climbed the stairs, grumbling as she stepped into the guest room to hide and think. Closing the door, she sighed. "I don't wanna do this!" she grumbled, leaning against the door.

Suddenly, the door opened, causing her to sprawl out at someone's feet. She looked up, seeing someone clad in black, tight leggings and a long-sleeved poet's shirt. She stared for a moment before catching sight of the silver feathery hair.

"Y-you!" she screamed, bolting up and backing away into the guest room.

"Yes, it's me," he said, matter-of-factly, blue eyes looking questioning.

"Y-you jerk!" she growled, standing up. She was hunched over as if she was going to head butt him. "I'm not going."

"That's too bad."

"Yes, it is… so I'm not going," she stated more firmly.

"You have no choice in the matter."

"I don't care, you pervert!"

"Pervert?" he raised an eyebrow. "I was merely an actor playing my part."

"You're a pervert."

"You're annoying."

Silence.

"…"

"…"

"Old fart."

"Spoiled brat."

.

"Cross-dresser."

"Really?"

"Yes, really!"

"Selfish, moogle-loving loudmouth!"

"Loudmouth!?" she squeaked. "I'm not a loudmouth, you jerk!"

"Fine then… you're a squealer."

"A SQUEALER!?"

He smirked. "That's right. A squealer. A tattletale. Someone who doesn't shut their trap when it's necessary." With that, he turned and began walking into the hallway. "Meet me in the Central Station. There is where we'll depart. Don't forget your bags," he added, disappearing.

As soon as he was out of earshot, she cursed loudly, almost a death wail reaching throughout the entire vicinity.

By the time she reached her room, her aunt and uncle had already gone, leaving her no choice. A guard hauled her luggage to the station for her and she trailed angrily behind, plotting to make her visit with Kuja the worst he would ever know.

He stood waiting, hand on his hip. "Why'd they leave me with a twazzock?" she whined, crossing her arms as she regarded him with irritation and complete inferiority. Turning, he led the way to his airship. "Uh, where are we going?" she asked, glaring him down from behind.

"Desert Palace," he responded, not the least bit irked by the girl and her consistent babbling.

"What!? Why!?" she whined.

"Because it's convenient for me. I too have much work to get done. A city has been constructed there and I rule its residents for the time being," he said, passing the guard that had just finished placing Eiko's things into the cargo room.

"A city in Desert Palace!? Why aren't you going to the meeting then!?" she accused.

"It's on the northern continent, you brat. It's unnecessary for me to attend a meeting that deals with this one," he answered apathetically, starting to seem a bit annoyed at her thick head.

She glared for a moment before turning as he took the airship controls. "Hmph! This is going to be hell for you," she declared.

He rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it," he muttered.

The airship landed and Eiko pushed past Kuja to get a good look at the old place. She was barely able to see the city from above. The windows of this airship were a little higher than the ones in the Hilde Garde. The city was grand and covered the entire desert, reaching out toward the sea. Airships flew overhead. It was almost like seeing another, smaller Lindblum. "How many races did you brainwash!?" she accused, hands waiting on her hips. "Look at all of them, they're living under a sadistic pedophile!" she yelled, walking through the hallway of Desert Palace.

"I beg your pardon, you twerp. I'm not a pedophile."

"Are too! The way you treat a young lady is awful! You could have done something to me in my sleep and I would have never known!"

"I could have, but little brats are unappealing to me."

"EXCUSE ME!? I'M A GORGEOUS, YOUNG BEAUTY! ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY DAZZLE MY DARLING ZIDANE COMPLETELY!"

"Gorgeous, young beauties learn to never raise their voices unattractively," he responded, twisting his finger in his ear as if it was ringing.

They argued all the way to the foyer. "I bet you did nasty things to Dagger! And Zorn and Thorn too! I bet you keep pornographic pictures of everyone under your pillow and pull them out to masturbate with!"

His eyes were narrowed in irritation, but he refused to fuel her wild imagination. Instead, he let her go off, and off, and off until he was about to burst with annoyance. Suddenly, an idea came to him. He nearly smacked himself with his palm for not thinking of it sooner.

"-thought that you were some kind of woman! Always wearing a bikini-skirt and strapless bra! Bet you finally woke up and realized how much of a retard-"

He clenched his teeth, holding back the burst of attack energy he almost summoned instead. He closed his eyes, focusing deeply. He pressed a hand on her head and then there was silence.

Opening one eye, he looked down at his handy-work. She was still mouthing the string of unladylike obscenities at him until she slowed, glare softening to embarrassment. She opened and closed her mouth, mouthing words, but no sound came out. Eventually, she gave up.

He let out a chuckle and patted her head, causing her to wince each time in disgust. "Suits you nicely," he laughed. Clearing his throat he looked down to her. "Now, you are a guest in my residence, I expect you to at least treat me with an inkling of respect as I will be the one feeding you and keeping you out of the cold. I have a few rules I will disclose before removing that spell off of you lest your auntie and uncle get upset when you tell them that I 'molested' your voice because I know you will say that."

She began to tap her foot, ears reddening a little. "First of all, this castle isn't a playhouse. No running, jumping, climbing up banisters, sliding down banisters and no food anywhere outside of the dining hall or the kitchen."

She glared up at him still. "I'm not sure if I want to remove the silence now. The silence is wonderful," he noted with a large grin.

Eiko clenched her fists as she drew back and kicked him in the shin. "Ow… oh, alright…" he sighed disappointedly, removing the affliction.

"I'm not a little kid, y'know! I do have respect for your castle, but I have no respect for you, you murderer!"

Kuja suddenly froze. That remark was a little too far. He had definitely gone through some redemption for his crimes and that was something that still ate at him. He had killed people; many people. However, he wasn't going to let this little brat get the best of him.

The iron door slammed piercingly and the dank room was lit by a single torch. She looked around for a while, glaring at the inside of the torture room. She had gotten the best of him. "How long you gonna lock me in here for, old geezer?"

"Think of this as a temporary time out. It'll be a while, Eiko. There isn't anything you can do to get out of there," he chuckled, beginning to walk away.

"Oh yeah!?" she bellowed as a loud boom sounded, shaking the ground and nearly causing Kuja to lose his balance on the only foot he had planted on the floor. The stone wall broke in pieces, nearly hitting a few civilians making there way about the lower levels. He turned, a scowl on his face, arms folded and eyes boring into hers. "I believe, that this is going way too far, little summoner," he scolded, seeing Phoenix fade from around her.

She took a step back, recognizing the paternal stance he had. "Eheheh," came her nervous laugh. "I-I'm a lady, y'know… you have to treat me decently."

He approached, shaking his head admonishingly. "You've already proven yourself as an unruly child, so I do not see it fit to treat you like the spoiled brat you are," he growled, reaching her.

She shrieked as he gripped her arm tightly, not painfully, but tightly. She tried to pry his large hand off of her wrist, but it was near futile. "M-Mog! MOG! Help me!" she cried, wanting to escape punishment. "MOG!"

"Insensitive brat! Are you so incompetent to only think about your own feelings and disregard those around you!?" he bellowed when they had reached a guest room. "Honestly, I hate to do this, but that's the only way I can get things into your thick head! Sit down, be quiet and think about the importance of the feelings of those around you!" he growled, pushing her into a small desk. He pulled out a stack of paper and a pen. "I know you have knowledge of how to write. I want a full page about how words can hurt others in two hours. Got it?" he snarled.

She looked over coyly, "So… you got hurt from my comment then?" He was doing everything in his power to not smack that silly smirk off of the young girl's face.

He placed the pen in her hand. "Write," came the sharp reply before he left the room, a click resounding about after the silence to suggest he had locked the door. She stared down at the paper before taking the ink pen and dousing it in the black ink. She scribbled across it angrily, the pen slicing through the paper at sharp turns and stops. She felt tears welling in her eyes. Being admonished like that hurt, but most of all, she felt utterly guilty. "What a poop! Making me feel bad about his sins!" she growled, taking the doodled paper and crumpling it up, chucking it at the large window in front of her.

"What is this!? I get left by my aunt and uncle and I have to deal with the hell lord for a week! Not to mention he's rude, girlish, womanizing, bloodthirsty, prideful, arrogant, smelly, beanpole-ish, obnoxious, perverted, mean, cruel, selfish and antagonizing!" she growled. "How come no one can see that he's a bad egg but me! Has the whole world gone mad!?" her yelling voice turned into a squeak at the last word.`

"It's because you fail to give him a second chance," came a soothing, water-clear voice.

"Huh?" Eiko looked about until her eyes settled on the ribbon which was glowing luminously. Talking with Mog like this had only happened twice before. It still took time to get accustomed to.

"Eiko… you've labeled him as a bad guy. Isn't that selfish of you? He's doing his best to make sure you don't get in trouble and hurt someone else…"

"You too, Mog!?" she cried. "I don't care! I'm on my own then! I'll have fun sabotaging this guy!" she let out an evil cackle as she sat down at the desk. Her hands worked hastily across the paper. Holding up her masterpiece, she grinned. "Well, Kuja… this is war…" she muttered darkly, letting out another malicious laugh.