Well, since I've waited long enough (and it doesn't seem likely that this will get any reviews T.T), I'm posting the final chapter of Circle!

Please, please, please R&R?

Circle

It's been a mystery, but still they try to see why something good can hurt so bad. Caught on a one-way street, the taste of bitter sweet…. Love will survive somehow someway.

- "Who's Crying Now", by Journey

((((()))))

1

Can't fall asleep? How about a bedtime story? Let's see… Once upon a time…

There you go again, teasing me!

Once upon a time… there was a man.

Zidane…?

This man had longed to find his birthplace ever since he was a small child. His birthplace. A place he only remembered in his dreams…

Why?

He wanted to know more about himself, maybe. About his parents, the house where he was born…One day, the man left the home of his adoptive father and went on a quest to find the answer. His only clue was the blue light he saw in his dreams….

The boy in front of me smiles fondly. "I guess never did apologize for leavin' the first time, and then there's this time, eh?"

I lean over and cuff him on the head. "Darn right, brat!" I shout. He winces, but I don't dare hit him again. I'm sure he's got injuries and hurt by now that it surpasses anything I've given out over the years.

Blank skids into the hideout, back from a hard day of stealin' from the Lindblumese. He rushes over to Zidane and grabs his shoulders, shaking 'im and demanding that he tells everything. I expect the other boys to be doin' the same when they get back.

2

Zidane has been a freakin' angel these past few days, doin' everything for us, not ever speakin' a word. 'Bout time he starts actin' right.

But I guess we gotta owe him somethin', too. I've been thinkin' of doin' an encore of I Want to be Your Canary, making Zidane play the main part. He'll likely complain, but another good punch and he'll get over it.

He'll be thankin' us in the long run.

3

Ladies and gentleman…Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus. She attempts to flee the castle, only to be captured by her father, King Leo. Tonight's story begins when Marcus and Cornelia decide to run away together. And now, Your Royal Majesty, Queen Garnet

I can just feel the nervousness from Zidane…

Lord Steiner, Lady Beatrix…

Noble ladies and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I Want to be Your Canary'!

As I duck behind the stage, Blank, Cinna, and Marcus push Zidane out on stage. I clap him on the back and say, "Go get 'er, kid."

The scenes unfold, and every chance I get, I look up to Dagger, tryin' hard not let out a conspiratorial wink. This is Zidane's thing, and I ain't gonna be the one to ruin it. He plays his part well.

Just well enough to make Dagger's face shadow and pale, makin' me have to give a smile this time. She takes notice and sits up straight, wiping the look from her face. "Atta girl," I mouth to her, this time indulging in a wink.

Thankfully she doesn't catch on.

4

It's a cold winter; too cold to send the boys out. Dagger's been offerin' us money, but she doesn't realize what that does to our honor. We're the freakin' Tantalus; we steal from nobles and royalty, not accept money from 'em!

Zidane's stayin' with us. He says he ain't gonna take money from Dagger either, and the ribs showin' through tells me he's tellin' the truth.

5

I ain't tellin' the boys, but I'm finally givin' in to Dagger. I can't stand to see 'em hungry. Sure, it's happened before, but this year's been heck for us. I ain't about to let it end with them all starvin'.

6

Christmas comes and the regent himself's invitin' us over. I plan to get him a gift, and I know the boy's are working hard to get somethin' for Dagger, but we ain't gonna turn into nobles just because Zidane's in love with the freakin' queen of Alexandria. Nope, we've got thieves' honor. Acceptin' food is one thing, but I ain't taking nothing else.

Early this mornin' comes Eiko stormin' in, demanding that she celebrate Christmas with us if we ain't coming.

With all that racket, I ain't got a choice.

She comes in without Cid or Helda's permission, I know, but I think they're gonna be soft and take their time in sendin' out the guard lookin' for her.

At least, I hope so, 'cause all the stolen stuff we've got is enough to have all hung in the gallows fifty times each. Cinna and Zidane keep Eiko under control while the rest of us hide our bounties.

This's gonna be hard life, I have a feelin'.

7

The hideout ain't so hidden anymore. We've got Burmecians, Qus, black mages, and genomes comin' in all the time, despite Zidane's best attempts to keep 'em away.

Me an' the boys are gonna go out lookin' for someplace new tomorrow. We're takin' the Prima Vista and luggin' off all our crap with us in one clean sweep. Soon it'll be like we never even knew where Lindblum was.

8

Vivi and Kuja are dead. Our plans are on a short set back now after gettin' the news from Mikoto, who's supposed to Zidane's sister or something. She's such an expressional little thing.

From the experience, I've learned to appreciate Zidane's liveliness. It would be much more annoying to have 'im speak in the darned monotone every time he opens his mouth.

Still, there's always that mopey side of 'im that I hate. I consider beatin' some happiness into him, but I ain't that cruel. I'll give him a week, and then it's back to normal life.

That means no happy visitors walkin' to and from the hideout, no princesses or queens buggin' us, and definitely no more little adventures. It seems cruel, but that's life. Stayin' alive is more important that bein' happy.

Everyone's gotta make their way somehow.

9

I'm tough but fair. It's been my policy since I first got the boys, and it's gonna be my policy 'till the day I kick the bucket. But it's awful hard to give up all the happy and not-so-great memories of our time in Lindblum. After all, it's Blank, Cinna, and Marcus's hometown and the place where I found Zidane washed up on the beach, sputtering out sand and sea water for days.

No one can blame me for what I decide, because it's meant to keep us safe and fed. I don't like to have to let everything go, but sometimes you've just gotta give in and do what's best.

That's why I'm quittin' Tantalus.

10

I'm givin' Blank the job of leader, because Lord knows how well that boy cares about his brothers. He's got patience, an iron fist, and a heart o' gold. I reckon that'll be enough to keep the boys in check.

Ruby's one for tears, so I gotta avoid her like the stench of rotten Gyshal pickles and hurry on my way. Zidane's gonna hate me for bein' a hypocrite, but bein' away from all of 'em is gonna be enough punishment. I'm too old for the job of thievery, anyway. Too old, lazy, and scatterbrained to do much more than keep 'em organized, and they all know it.

Too darn bad if they're gonna miss me or hate me. They've got their lives, and I got mine.

I give them all my farewells and turn for the door. Zidane grabs my arm and pulls me back. "Goodbye, Boss," he says. "And… uh, thanks."

"Save your thanks, kid," I tell him. "It'll be more useful one day to someone who actually deserves 'em."

His faces droops and I know Blank's gonna have a hard time with him. "Ah, get yer act together!" I snap, shaking his arm off. "Yer all grown men! And Ruby, you're a mighty fine lady, so don't hesitate to smack any of 'em if they get too annoying, got it?"

The pale green haired darlin' nods, her lips trembling and eyes startin' to tear. I nervously scratch my head and finally take of my goggles. I hand 'em to her and nod.

"You all be sure ta let yer brains work faster than you all work, you lazy bums. Make somethin' of yer life, got it?"

I nod again and walk out.

As soon as I'm out of the theatre district, I stomp my foot and curse. I ignore how people stare and kick a nearby trash can.

Darned little brats!

My beard is wet now, and its all their fault!

I hear Zidane's sigh, but I'm not gonna turn and give any satisfaction. I'm turning my back on Tantalus, and I'm turning my back on him.

Stupid kid. Too nice for his own good. I don't know how he ever made it by as a thief.

Well, since fair is fair, I don't know how I ever made by as a foster dad for those hooligans. Other people thought I was slave driver, but the boys never once let out a complaint.

I think goin' away now is gonna do all of us good.

Especially him, the little urchin who doesn't care about what others'll say when comes up and hugs me from behind. "I… I'm gonna miss you, boss. Dad."

Ah, screw it. I ain't foolin' no one by standin' in the middle of a street with this little brat latched onto me like an idiot doin' nothing. "I ain't your father," I say, but it comes out a lot softer than I wanted it too. "Dear Lord, Zidane, we're gonna get frostbit standin' out here like fools!"

"Oh, s-sorry, boss!"

"DON'T CALL ME BOSS! I'm not part of Tantalus no more, got it? I'm just gonna be Baku to you all now!"

He narrows his eyes and smacks me. "You are an idiot, Baku."

I smack him back. "You're prissy little snotnose, Ziddy."

"I'm not Ziddy!" he bursts.

"Well, I'm not Dagger, but there ya go huggin' me like a bleepin' idiot!"

"I'm just going to miss you, geez!"

"Well, I'm gonna miss ya too, but you don't see me actin' like a bloody two year old!"

Before anything else Zidane does draws me unwanted attention, I turn and storm away.

The darned boy's got my cryin'.

I hope he's happy.