Genea romance. Hope you enjoy. Sorry it's so short I've been putting all of my efforts into something else lately.

Disclaimer: (I really need someone to do these for me) I don't own Tales of Symphonia.

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Cold: Her eyes.

Empty: Her heart.

Was this really what friends called friends? Cold and Empty? Ever since she had regained her soul, Presea had been getting those looks and comments from her companions. Her only friends. Her family. But what could they mean with these painful adjectives?

The Regeneration Group had stopped to rest for the night just outside of the half rebuilt Luin. She lay staring up at the stars just outside the sphere of light that the fire created. An owl sent out a cry from the nearby grove of trees and a wolf howled to the waning moon.

It seemed to Presea that only one person treated her like a friend, but… He could never talk to her without stuttering, or breaking out in a cold sweat, or saying something strange. And for that matter Presea could hardly stand too near him anymore herself. Every time she got near him her heart began to beat hurriedly, her hands got sweaty, and it felt like her chest was going to explode, like one of his fire spells.

Was it perhaps that he had given her a disease? Whom should she ask?

She rose to her feet and walked over to where Professor Sage was sitting reading. After she had voiced her fears it was clear that the Professor was taking it very seriously; she held a very deep frown (almost as though she were holding back a laugh) and she seemed to be forgetting to breath she was thinking so hard (or was she holding it?).

"P-Presea, I don't think it's a d-disease." Raine Sage giggled, "Um… no you're not sick."

Presea tilted her head to the side, curiosity shown in her eyes.

"Than what is it?"

"I don't…um…How do I put this? Perhaps you should t-talk to him about this," Raine seemed unable to hold in her giggles beyond that point.

Presea walked away, her mind reeling. Did Raine have this illness too? Was it that contagious that everyone had it and she was the only one whom knew it? She should definitely talk to him about it. Her mind reeling with these thoughts she walked over to where the boy sat.

"Genis…?"

"Wha-what are you doing here Presea?" he asked her gaping, like a fish out of water, "I thought you were going to watch the stars."

"I was but than I got thinking…" she told her young friend about her suspicions. He looked… was it thrilled? No it couldn't be! But there I was in his eyes, happiness like he was seeing something too good to be true. What was going through that head?

"That's…um… that's…" he trailed off looking awkward.

"Well what is it?!?!" shouted Presea losing patients, "Why am I acting so strangely if It's not an illness? And you seem to be the stimulant. Well? What do you say to that?!?!" she was out of breath and furious. She hadn't blown-up like that since she was a little girl, which, she reminded herself; she was.

"Here," he whispered, "let me show you."

The young half-elf pulled her closer: into an embrace. Presea was visibly shaken; cold sweat ran down her back, her heart beet faster than it ever had at any other time, but she was happy in his arms.

He pulled her closer and kissed her on the mouth.

The Cold: gone.

The Emptiness: gone.

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I hope you enjoyed my little attempt at romance; it being mine it might not turn out all that great, ah well.

-Mystic Yoshie