Messages were sent back and forth using the radio system, the sun rose, and the airship left to retrieve Dr. Tot's things. And they waited.

Dr. Tot watched Eiko sharply, as she was the first to fall ill, but she didn't get any better, or worse. Vivi's sons also neither improved nor declined, holding solid with fevers and unconsciousness. Vivi paced from one bed to another, looking up with dread each time the door opened, to see more Black Mages entering, ill. Even No. 228, the leader of the Black Mage Village, fell ill, and to be assisted.

At last, Vivi went to retrieve the items from the airship. He hurried through the woods to the edge, near where the airship would land. It was just touching down as he arrived, and much to his surprise he saw his friends exit; Zidane, Freya, Steiner, Beatrix, Kuja, and Garnet. The Black Mage tried to suppress the twinge of alarm he felt when he saw Beatrix supporting the queen of Alexandria with one arm.

"Better stay back," he said once they were close enough to speak, holding up a cautioning hand. "The Village is quarantine, by Dr. Tot's orders."

"Doesn't make much difference," Zidane said as he approached. "If it's contagious, we're all infected. Garnet if sick." Vivi swallowed hard, then nodded.

"So are the boys, and Eiko." They headed through the woods.

"We went to Lindblum," Steiner said, "looking for Dr. Tot, and we were told to come here."

"What kind of sickness is this?" Kuja mused. "It is rampant here, and yet garnet falls ill so far away, at nearly the same time." None had any answers.

They reached the village, where Dr. Tot went to work trying to get some answers. No more had fallen ill since about ten that morning, but everyone was tense, waiting, wondering Who would be next? Bernadice claimed that if many more fell ill, they would have to remain in their homes, as the medical hut was nearly at full capacity. Vivi, worried, at last had to leave to think. He went to a quiet corner of the village, near the chocobo hut, and sat under a tree. What Kuja had said was sticking in his mind. Black Mages had just fallen ill, but Garnet had it as well, on the Mist Continent. There was something about all this that nagged at Vivi, some clue or item of importance that he couldn't sort out.

"Worried?" a voice asked. Vivi looked up to see Kuja.

"Yeah." The white-haired Genome sat down next to the Black Mage. "I just can't begin to understand what's wrong with them."

"Neither can I. First Eiko, then your sons and the other Black Mages, then Garnet." Kuja leaned back against the tree, and Vivi couldn't help but smirk. Here he was, sitting next to one who'd tried to kill him, as if they were old friends.

"What gets me is," Vivi commented, "Garnet. She hasn't been here in a longtime, yet she got sick at about the same time. I mean, is that possible?"

"It is, though what doesn't make sense if how no one else is ill between here and Alexandria."

"I was puzzling over that too. At first we thought there was some connection, but there's no way Garnet would have anything in common with Black - " Vivi suddenly cut himself off with a gasp, as a thought occurred to him. "Wait1 The Black Makes... Eiko was here to visit, yes, and to see the new spells my sons had learned. She commented how she was glad she could only cast white and summoning magic."

"You've seen a connection?" Kuja's tone was eager and hopeful.

"Black Mages. Eiko. Garnet. What can they all do, what connects them, and us, all the Black Mages too, but not Zidane, Steiner, or Freya?" Kuja's eyes widened.

"Magic! We're all casters!" He nodded slowly. "That would explain why no Genomes are ill."

"An illness that targets casters." Vivi shuddered. "But how do we beat it?"

"I don't know." Kuja stood. "But you should tell Dr. Tot your theory. It's sound, and if true could be a valuable clue." He held out a hand to help Vivi up, and it was accepted. "But before we do, I want to speak with you."

"Oh?"

"Yes." Kuja took a deep breath. "I know I hurt you in the past, grievous hurts that can never be undone or amended for, but I truly am sorry for them. It might be more than I could hope to ask forgiveness from you, of that some day we could be friends, but it will do my all to help your sons, and you, in any way I can." Vivi nodded slowly.

"I know you've changed. I accepted your apology long ago, so you have my forgiveness. I believe a person can have tow sides, and in essence be two people. You aren't the Angel of Death anymore, you're just Kuja, Zidane's brother. As for friends... my sons consider you a friend."

"And you?"

"... We'll see."