Final Fantasy IX Sequal, "Forever Fantasy"

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Kuja selected one of the many crystal goblets and poured it full of the fragrant juices chosen from only the best fruits and berries in Alexandria. He raised the cup to his lips and breathed in lightly as the sweet drink ignited his taste buds. Kuja sighed. Never had he tasted such grandeur. He gazed around at all the delightful pleasantries whilst holding the glass in one hand. A sudden gaggle of pretty young girls approached him, tittering and touching his arms lightly, commenting on how beautiful he looked, almost too beautiful to be a man. Kuja smiled, inwardly adoring the attention he had never felt before, and spoke softly to each of them in turn before excusing himself, kissing them all on the cheek, the girls near falling over themselves for a peck from his full lips.

Once he had moved on, he spotted someone standing alone and off to one side over and past the dessert tables beside a stone pillar. Kuja felt somewhat detached from the celebrations and, not being afraid to meet new people, he quietly strolled through the crowds and made his way nonchalantly over to stand beside the man.

“Hello,” he said quietly.

The man started and then whirled around, “Ohh! I thought you were… Oh, please forgive my ignorance. You startled me.”
Kuja took the opportunity to look him over. The man had shoulder-length turquoise hair and striking blue eyes. He was an inch or two shorter than Kuja and he wore a long silk-sleeved, rich violet shirt that laced to the throat. His wristlets were flowing cuffs with tiny studded diamonds that clinked together when he moved. The man also wore black plated boots over his tight black pants. Kuja couldn’t help but notice that he wore a slight bit of makeup and had also painted his nails.

Kuja smiled warmly, “It is no trouble. It was my fault, forgive me.”

The two regarded each other for a moment, and then he man asked, “Have I met you before? You seem awfully familiar.”

“I do not believe so… My name is Kuja. Kuja Tribal. And who do I have the pleasure of addressing?” Kuja held out his hand.

The man smiled and took it, “My name is Lowell Bridges.”

As the two shook hands, Kuja looked thoughtful. “That name,” he said quietly, “It sounds… vaguely familiar… oh! You are that famous Actor, are you not?”

“Yes,” Lowell smiled back, “I’m not surprised that you recognized me…” he added with a sigh, “Everybody does…”

Kuja tilted his head to the side, a sympathetic look about his eyes, “I am sorry… it must be hard for you, being famous.”

“It’s not like its gotten worse,” Lowell answered, shrugging.

“I think I can relate to that…” Kuja smiled coyly, chuckling.

Lowell looked at him, smiled, and then laughed as if he had found something overly comical about the whole situation.

“Well…” Kuja said, “what would you say if I asked for your company for a bit? I am not fond of large gatherings, as I am sure you are not as well. What do you say?”

Lowell gazed into Kuja’s serene face for but a moment before giving his answer, “That sounds perfect, much better than standing against the wall all day,” he smiled with a slight blush.

Kuja returned the smile, “Alright then, follow me. Let us find someplace quiet.” And with that, he turned and Lowell pursued, reaching out to take his hand so as not to get lost within the crowd.

Kuja led Lowell through the throng of guests and into an antehall that was fairly deserted. He then proceeded through a door which opened up into an unoccupied parlor with large, curtained windows. The sun shone through them lazily and cast pretty, shadowed patterns on the furniture and walls. Kuja shut the door behind them.

“What a beautiful room!” Lowell commented as he walked forward.

“Very much so…” Kuja motioned for Lowell to sit down on the sofa which had its back to the door.

“Thank you,” Lowell smiled and let himself fall gently back against the pillows. He breathed a gusty sigh.

“What is it?” Kuja seated himself next to Lowell, resting his elbow on the back of the sofa and propping his head against his hand.

“Oh nothing… I’ve just been extremely tired lately. I haven’t gotten very much sleep…” Lowell said quietly.
Kuja looked down and then back up to the other man’s face, “Please tell me.. tell me about you. I feel that we are… somewhat alike…”

“Alright, if that is what you wish…” Lowell smiled at Kuja and then began his story.

“My full name is Lowell Morgan Bridges, and I am twenty-five years old. I was born in the neighboring city of Treno and lived there for ten years.”

Here Kuja interrupted, “ Wait, you were born in Treno?”

“Yes, my family lived in the mansion right next to the castle,” Lowell answered.

“That is quite interesting, because I lived in that castle for a time,” Kuja said out of all seriousness.

“Really? How come I never remember seeing you there?” Lowell implored.

“I.. was.. away a lot…” Kuja looked out the window, trying to get away from that subject…

“Oh, well that’s alright then. There is no need to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Lowell continued his story.

“Anyway, like I said, I lived in Treno up until I was ten years old. My parents were nobles and always told me that I had great potential to become an actor. I used to put on small skits for relatives and friends whenever my parents had company over. I was rewarded with praise for my artistic talent and told to pursue it.”

“And that’s exactly what I did. When I was six years old, my mother found me an acting teacher and he tutored me four times a week, two hours at a time. Then, when I was ten, my parents and I moved to Lindblum where I lived for a few years. At fourteen, I was in my first big show. It was called “These Stars Shall Shine Tonight”. It was about a young orphan boy who found his place in the world, a real coming of age story. After my show was a hit, it set off my acting career and by the time I was eighteen, I had stared in 4 major productions and had assisting and minor roles in 12 others. I felt as if my life was as good as it got. I was very proud of myself and had many friends and admirers, all mostly women.”

At this Kuja chuckled, “Its to be expected, someone as attractive and charismatic as you.” Lowell looked at Kuja, who merely smiled. He found himself blushing and then continuing.

“Well, as it was, I thought that my life couldn’t possibly get any better. That was when I met Michael.”

“Michael?” Kuja appeared intrigued.

“Yes, Michael was an aspiring, self-proclaimed Artist who lived in a small studio in the Theater District of Lindblum. We met after one of my shows, got to talking, and then decided that we were one in the same, except for the fact that he was an artist and I was an actor. We both had very similar goals; wanting to become legendary proclaimers of the arts, and well known by all.” Here, Lowell stopped.

Kuja sensed trouble, “What happened..?”

“Well you see, we grew… close. After about a year, we became lovers. I still think it could have worked, if we hadn’t of let our differences get in the way. We were both young and strong willed. He felt that there was no way on Gaia that our two styles of art could ever work side by side, and so I left… I never heard from Michael again…” Lowell sighed wistfully.

“I am… very sorry to hear that, Lowell. I should not have pushed you to talk about it…” Kuja apologized.

“No no, its not your fault. I need to learn to forgive and forget,” Lowell smiled. “One month after our breakup, I moved to Alexandria when Linblume was destroyed, and lived here ever since.” He sighed again, “I am… tired of it all…”

“What are you tired of?” Kuja asked, leaning forward slightly.

“My.. my fans… they follow and hound me wherever I go.. I cannot get away from them! I am never let be by them, but I am always alone… forever alone…” Lowell’s bottom lip quivered silently, emotions slowly overtaking his usually enigmatic façade.

“Lowell I…” Kuja said sadly, “there is no need to worry.. no one will hurt you here…”

“Yes they will! They’ll find a way! Those women always do…” Lowell turned his face to Kuja, quiet tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to tumble blindly down his cheeks.

Kuja was thunderstruck as a thought crossed his mind. ‘I know who he reminds me so much of… myself! Was not I… with Zidane… questioning my own existence? Oh Lowell…’ Suddenly Kuja reached out and pulled Lowell to him into a tender and comforting embrace.

Lowell’s eyes opened wide as he found himself pressed against this beautiful, white-haired man feeling… comfort and… warmth..? “Kuja…” Lowell whispered, voice slightly a-shake, face buried in the place between Kuja’s shoulder and neck, “do you ever want things.. that you cannot have..?” he said, sounding timid.

“Of course…” Kuja whispered back, running his hands smoothly down his back, “but with some things… one has only to ask…”

Lowell leaned back slightly, looking straight into Kuja’s eyes, cerulean meeting aquamarine, left hand softly clutching at Kuja’s upper arm. “Only to ask..?” he whispered, eyes flickering from Kuja’s sensual lips and then back again.

“Yes… and then some things… need only be taken willingly…” Kuja whispered back, bringing a hand up to tenderly trace the curve of Lowell’s hip.

Lowell’s beautiful eyes fluttered closed and his breathing deepened as his lips moved again, only a hairsbreadth away from Kuja’s, “taken… willingly…”

Kuja’s eyes closed as he did so to the gap between them, pressing his lips to Lowell’s and moving his hand to his waist, fingers entwined in Lowell’s violet shirt.

Lowell breathed deeply, moving his hands to cup Kuja’s face, begging with his lips for more touch, which Kuja complied to, opening his mouth and drawing Lowell inside. He pulled Lowell against his body once more, running his hands up along his back and down his arms, wanting so badly to possess him. It felt like ages since Kuja had felt this way about another living, breathing soul, the need for another hot, smooth body against his own… skin to skin.. flesh to flesh…

Lowell whimpered and gasped lightly into Kuja’s mouth, already hard and making it known against Kuja’s smooth upper thigh. His fingers moved to trace circles over Kuja’s lower stomach, teasing and ghosting, making the taller man gasp in reply, hips twitching, hands grasping at Lowell’s backside deliciously.

“Mnn.. Lowell…” Kuja suddenly pulled back just enough to speak, lips still caressing their partner, “We mustn’t here… but I know of a place…” his lips returned once more to suckle, standing and drawing Lowell with him. “Follow me, and be silent…” Kuja took Lowell’s hand as he quietly opened the door, looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and then crept back out into the antehall.

“This way…” Kuja whispered as they climbed the closest set of stairs and made way to the third floor. Kuja quickly opened the door to his and Zidane’s bedroom, entered, and then shut and locked the door behind him. The room was deathly silent, save for Lowell’s slight panting.

Kuja quickly turned back around and faced him, eyes showing nothing but carnal desire as he pushed Lowell to the bed. “And now what do you say…?” he leaned in and nibbled and sucked on the skin of Lowell’s neck, while the younger man gasped.

“I say… eat me alive…” he moaned sensuously as he fell back onto the soft bed, pulling Kuja with him.

Kuja pressed their aching arousal’s together, gazing down at Lowell, spread so beautifully below him, “And you had only to ask…”


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