No matter how immediate and important uniting the two worlds was, the group had decided to take a day off and rest. An increase of monsters on the path and endless challengers appearing to hinder the simplest courses of action was wearing down on the party. Even those who kept high spirits, which was rather limited to Colette and Lloyd at the moment, could feel their muscles ache. With their alertness and fighting styles suffering for it, they had little choice to stop before it affected their journey.
As they were passing by Meltokio when this was decided, Zelos had graciously offered to let them use his place rather than sleeping on the monster trampled grass again or at a hovelling inn. While most of the party went straight up the stairs to rest, one stayed behind to wonder at the interior.
"Wow, Zelos! You have so many presents." Colette looked around at the colorful packages that lined his mansion in awe. She had been so mesmerized by the fire place last time she had overlooked them.
"Gifts from my adoring fans," he grinned. "Not that I can ever get around to opening them all. More just keep coming in. Why don't you take one, my little angel?"
"Oh, I couldn't!" Colette exclaimed. "People picked out these gifts for you."
"These gifts are for the Chosen, so I don't mind sharing with a fellow Chosen", he said with a wink. Zelos picked up a gift at random from the table and offered it to her. "Besides, I doubt your world could afford to shower you with gifts."
Colette stared uncertainly at the gift. She could only imagine how hurt the person who gave him this gift would be if they found out how carelessly he gave it away. Whether it was the necklace that Lloyd had given her or the cookies that Genis had baked for her birthday, she cherished every gift she was given. The meaning and hope behind the gesture meant the world to her. That was not something she could take from someone.
She shook her head.
" I guess you're not going to take it then,"Zelos frowned, pulling the present back. His face lit up as an idea struck him while he set the present back with the numerous others. A coarse, plain bow had topped the set aside gift. It was little more than trash but nearby was one of the gifts from the upper class ladies. It was topped with a beautiful ribbon. Obviously trying to get her gift to stand out as one of wealth and good taste, it was made of satin dyed pink. He removed it from the present and untied the bow it made.
"How about this then?" She looked a little confused, but did not immediately oppose it like she had the packages. "Good!" He called out to his butler on the other side of the room. "Yo, Sebastian! Grab me a hairbrush."
Zelos spun Colette around so her back faced him. He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger as he waited for the hairbrush. When it was given to him, he brushed through her blonde hair lightly. Putting it aside, he stroked his fingers through her hair, deciding where to place the bow. Her shoulders moved forward letting him know that she was drawing her arms in front of her, a gesture she commonly made when she was embarrassed. Down her back, a hands length from the tips of her hair, he wrapped her hair with the ribbon. It was much like the style he wore his own hair in during special occasions without a braid. The bow was just as sizable. He looked pleased with his work.
"There! Who would have guessed that my cute little angel could get even cuter?"
"Thanks, Zelos." She turned around, looking delighted.
"My pleasure."