Wax, Wane, Repeat
By ArchangelUK

A/N: Huzzah, my first Symphonia fic. My reading of fics in this section leads me to warn you that there will be spoilers if you haven't played the game, but then again if you haven't played the game then what are you doing reading fanfics in this section - nothing will make sense! This fanfic features my favourite couples of Sheela x Lloyd (Sheloyd) and Zelos' Head x Raine's Staff (Zelaff).

EDIT: Corrected a couple of glaring mistakes, that'll teach me for stuffing in more stuff after I deemed it finished and put back the seperators that the 'smart' ff. net code removed.

I don't own Tales of Symphonia, just an urgent desire to resurrect my non-existant green haired sister... odd, I didn't even know Saria was family.

Ch 1: Hima By Twilight

"In all that may come to be the Goddess Martel is the most holy,
but the Unseen in all that may come may be the most unholy."
- Pronyma 1:5, Book of Martel -

Twitch.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

It was that dream again, the same one that he'd been having the previous three nights following his ascension to become the summon spirit of the heart. Verius, formerly the artificial summon spirit known as Corrine and partner to Sheena Fujibayashi of the Mizuho twisted violently in a restless slumber. Images far too vivid to be a dream flooded his consciousness, there was Sheena smiling, she had a white rose in her hair dressed in an elegant if somewhat revealing gown she was dancing with something, for it wasn't a 'someone'. The whole ballroom was suddenly filled with Gentlemen, those sick depraved clay monsters Mithos had created one day 'for fun'. She looked around the ballroom desperately for someone then everything vanished and she started crying. Alone in a dark desert, sand black as pitch beneath her knees she cried louder, it was something very important for she wasn't just weeping but bawling hysterically. Someone put their hand on her shoulder and she looked up and screamed, in front of her stood a man with red hair floating a good foot off of the floor - in his hand he held something round about the size of a football. He laughed a cruel laugh which echoed out and caused a mountain in the distance to vibrate and shudder before it, in an explosion and roar of flame disappeared from view. The last thing he ever recalled from this dream was something hitting the sand with a dull and slightly wet thump which after a moment of silence elicited an ear-piercing scream of terror from Sheena. It was Lloyd's emaciated head.

Verius woke with a start unsurprisingly, panting hoarsely, his hot breath forming clouds of condensation in the cold dank night air around the Martel Temple. He growled in annoyance and closed his eyes trying to regain his calm and focus. The dream... It was clearly a deliberate warning to him of some impending catastrophe, from where exactly he couldn't be sure for he was still getting used to his powers as a summon spirit. This wasn't really helped by his stubborn refusal to make any pact at all ever, which instantly distanced himself from any kind of comparison or frame of reference with the other summon spirits. Verius was one of a kind, then so for all account was his problem.

A summon spirit is not exactly accountable for his, her or their actions. Aska had waltzed off on his own from the Tower of Mana to explore the world and left Luna alone in the temple where she could not leave. This in itself had made life very difficult for his old travelling group, having to hunt the two headed phoenix of light down when time was of the essence. Volt of course still refused to give any explanation or apology for his actions twelve long years ago which resulted in such devastation in Mizuho and suffering to Sheena. Nor was any justification given to his subsequent attack on the group when Sheena made the second and decisive pact or any apology given for ending his - Verius's, previous incarnation's life. Efreet had a lot to answer for in many minds of the Sylvarant populous, Celsius' copybook wasn't as white as the driven snow she propagated in Tethe'alla either.

There was something dreadfully amiss; the question was what could he do about it for he was bound now to the Martel Temple and to leave would risk his very life for something he wasn't sure about. He sighed, there was no way though he could stay knowing Sheena was in danger because no matter what he knew she was, both her and Lloyd... big trouble.

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"You washed your hands didn't you?" Raine said, frowning over the top of her textbook. A textbook so large and ponderous it always made Lloyd wonder where on Sylvarant she put it when she was done with it.

"That doesn't even warrant an answer." He snorted, turning back to his cooking where he was fashioning a series of rice balls with the aid of some seaweed and seasoning.

The smallest male of the group smirked, "Lloyd, that was an answer."

The air around Hima had grown cold, Zelos stoked the fire briefly with his sword in an attempt to make it burn that much harder, the red haired chosen wishing he was tucked up in a nice cosy bed in the village inn with the hunny of his dreams and not out here in the open braving the elements. The Hima village inn, known as 'Echoes' had (the group found out on arrival) been entirely booked out by a group of pilgrims from the Church of Martel. It had been too late to go and try somewhere else, so the decision had been made to camp up on the flat mountain peak away from the main village but close enough that they would have no difficulty in getting a good breakfast in the morning.

The large salmon that Lloyd had bought the group as a treat turned slowly over the fire as Sheena rotated the spit with a wary eye on both the flames and texture of the fish. It wasn't her turn to cook, nor for that matter was it Lloyd's but they had volunteered to substitute for Regal who was in his tent alone - it was the anniversary of Alicia's death today.

Oddly Persea didn't seem too phased but the normally quiet big man from Altamira was a wreck, several times Raine had disappeared to comfort him. The only sign of life from his sleeping quarters being the occasional choked back sob and rustle of canvas. They had made a decision not to head to Altamira, and for the sake of themselves if not for those two, the group had decided to not make a big event out of the anniversary either. Instead deciding that the best way for Regal to get over it was to treat it, though respectfully, as just another day. As if to prove this, the elder male made a sudden almost magical reappearance by the campfire.

Lloyd scowled, "Shut up Genis." The half-elf grinned lopsidedly which only served to anger Lloyd more, Genis pulled a face and Lloyd scooped up one of his creations and threw it at the young mage.

"Meh." Smiling smugly Genis' kendama flicked out and slammed into the oncoming missile, however the rice ball unfortunately obliterated on impact showering Genis with dozens of bits of rice. "Auggghwww... Stupid Lloyd!" Genis spluttered as he began picking bits of food out of his hair.

"Hardly." Regal said, his eyes closed in contemplation. "Lloyd knew you would show off by trying to block it with your weapon, there are many stones and pebbles around but by choosing the rice ball he knew it would have the best impact. It shows he has a good understanding of tactics and you do not."

"Did you really?" Colette asked, her eyes full of wonder as usual, Lloyd didn't even reply, he just smiled knowingly.

"HMMPH!" Genis glowered and sulked off to the other side of the camp where Raine would sigh and Persea would make a fuss of him trying to get the rice out of his thick white hair which would just make him even more embarrassed.

Sheena giggled, her kind eyes sparkling in the firelight. "Well I think this is done now Lloyd."

"Great!" Lloyd placed the ninth and last rice ball on his plate, the eighth now covering the small sulking mage. "Can you cut the fish up into cubes for me?"

"Cubes?" Sheena wrinkled her nose, "What for."

Lloyd flashed his trademark grin and pulled some sharpened sticks from his pack. "You'll see."

Twenty minutes later and the party was well fed, Regal who was a bit slower at eating only partly though the shackling of his hands bit through the salmon and vegetables savouring the tastes and textures. He swallowed giving an 'mmm' as the flavours washed over his palate.

"Excellent Lloyd, excellent." He said after swallowing, "I would have never thought of cooking salmon kebabs, it's a highly original concept."

"They're delicious Lloyd!" Colette grinned, the remnants of some sauce around the corner of her mouth. Lloyd blushed and scratched the back of his head.

"Hey, don't forget guys the fish was cooked by Sheena not me."

"Sorry, I forgot - thanks Sheena!"

Sheena turned away blushing slightly herself. "Hey, it's no big deal right?"

"We just work well together as a team." Lloyd said smiling and gave her a thumbs up, Sheena covered herself by taking a big mouthful of salmon. "So was it really that good?"

Persea smiled which spoke volumes in itself, whilst the speed Raine had consumed hers at gave little doubt as to her opinion. Genis, sitting between the pair and still smarting from earlier mumbled something about it being 'alright for something Lloyd did'.

"It's not bad Lloyd." Zelos yawned, "Just I'm not really a fish kind of person you know?"

"No just an obnoxious kind of person." Sheena snorted; Zelos clutched a hand to his chest in mock shock.

"Why my sweet rose petal you cut me deeply!" He gave her his best puppy dog expression, "Why do you hide your feelings from me? We both know what you really want."

"Yes, but sadly the Plantex didn't swallow you and finish the job instead of just chewing you up a bit."

Zelos pouted, "Aww Sheena why can't you be like my other hunnies? Like my rosebud Persea or my cute little angel Colette? Or my fair hunny the Professor?"

Whack.

The hard wood of Raine's Ancient Staff smashed into the somewhat softer back of Zelos' head. "How many times lover boy, I am not your hunny." She said evenly, "And if you dare to call me that again you will be entering a world of pain."

Zelos considered for a moment what Raine's idea for a 'world of pain' would be like and promptly shut his mouth.

Lloyd shook his head sighing and turned back to Regal, "So you didn't think it needed more salt?"

Regal took another mouthful and rolled it around in his mouth before swallowing with an audible gulp. "Perhaps... Yes, perhaps a bit more salt would have just given it that edge." Lloyd nodded, eager to learn from the man the Wonder Chef himself had decreed a 'God of the Kitchen' and made a mental note for next time.

The evening wound to a close, Persea exhausted from their last fight in which she took some hefty damage had fallen asleep partially on Genis and the half-elf was so terrified he had asked Sheena if she could use some kind of weak variation of Cyclone seal to get her off. She had responded by laughing and saying that he should enjoy the attention he was getting, to which he complained his right arm was now dead. As it happened Persea shifted slightly and that allowed Genis to escape, though for only a moment as with a frown on her sleeping face Persea reached out and initiated a death grip around Genis' waist.

"Seems she likes you as a teddy bear." Sheena said, placing a hand in front of her face to stop herself bursting out laughing.

"Help meeeee!" Whispered Genis urgently, "I c-can't breathe!" As if sensing something was wrong, Persea suddenly loosened her grip, though not enough for him to escape again. Genis, having long learned through his sister that when a girl makes up her mind (whether conscious or unconscious) they have made up their mind decided to put his head down on his pack and go to sleep as well and would deal with the consequences in the morning.

"They look cute don't they?" Sheena asked a yawning Raine.

"Cute? Yes." She nodded sleepily, "But practical? I only hope Genis doesn't get too attached, what with everything that's going on."

Sheena sighed, "Sometimes you can't help but get attached to someone regardless of battle, you can't help but feel drawn to someone who risks their life for you. Even if you don't say a word they'll still be with you in your dreams." She shook herself out of her reverie, Raine giving her an intregued if mostly unreadable expression. "You should get some rest, you used a lot of mana today healing us all."

"Perhaps you're right." The elder woman said with a sigh, "Who knows what we'll face tomorrow."

"True." Sheena stretched her arms behind her back, "Hey where are Colette and Lloyd?"

"Hmm? Oh I think they went back down into town for a bit."

"Mmm. Might have a wander down there myself. Oh and wake Zelos up will you? It is his turn to be on guard."

Sheena turned and began walking down the winding hill, here in Hima the sky always seemed to be clear and a thousand stars dotted the midnight sky, a myriad of different whites, blues and oranges. She had soon wandered down to the core of the village, passing the graves of those escapees from the human ranch on her way. She bowed her head at them in respect as she passed, only then catching sight of the young Chosen of Sylvarant on her knees in silent prayer.

"Colette?"

"Oh, Sheena!" Colette bounced to her feet smiling; Sheena cast an eye over the graves.

"I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Oh you didn't." Colette reassured, "I'd just finished anyway, why are you out here?"

Sheena shrugged, "Just wanted to find out where you and Lloyd had gotten to, you both kind of disappeared."

Colette flushed slightly, "Well it was kind of my fault, I did drag him out here."

"Mmm, Lloyd's not the spiritual type really is he."

"Especially not after what we've all discovered with Cruxis no, I'm afraid not. When I wanted to come out here he insisted on accompanying me to keep an eye out."

Sheena nodded in understanding; Desian agents had already made two attempts on Lloyd in the inn at Triet and one on Colette at the then intact Palmacosta not to mention her own attempts to take the Sylvarant Chosen's life. Other agents of Yggdrasill or Tethe'allan rogues could be abound.

"Then where is he?" She frowned.

"Lloyd?" Colette sighed, "He got bored."

"Typical." Sheena rolled her eyes

"Well, he did say that he and Zelos had scouted a seven mile radius around Hima and found nothing." Which was true, there was absolutely nothing around the place at this time of night except for the odd wolf who wouldn't be able to ascend the mountain path with the great iron gates of Hima blocking the way. "I think he just wanted some time to think. There's a lot of things going on in his head at the moment, oh, it's all my fault this journey of regeneration has caused him nothing but pain."

"I hardly think the situation with Kratos is your fault Colette." Sheena said, patting the girl on the shoulder. "Well, I'm going to head down to the lagoon near the entrance and have a dip. I'll see you later."

"Okay!" Colette smiled happily, then turned back to the graves the smile becoming a sombre one. There was something Lloyd had said about the lagoon as he had left but her addled brain couldn't quite recall. She was about to head back up the path when all of a sudden she remembered what Lloyd had said exactly. "Oh no! Sheena w-w-waiiiiiiiiit whoa!" Colette spun right round and tripped over a stone; she windmilled her arms to try and regain her balance but failed as per usual and fell face first to the ground. "Owwy!" She shook herself and got back to her feet only to let out a groan of despair, Sheena obviously out of earshot had gone, she balled her fists and bounced. "Now what am I supposed to do? She's going to walk right on him when he's..."

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"Zzzzzzzz."

"Excuse me?"

"Zzzzzzzzz...schrofff norff...zzzzzzzzz."

"Hello?" Sheena said tapping the travelling salesman on the shoulder, the town dog known as Boo was by his side also snoring loudly. The occasional twitch of her white ear the only sign she was even alive. "Hello?"

"Mmmfph... what? Who?"

"Sorry to disturb you, but-"

"-Aggh! A customer!" The merchant was on his feet in a flash, the pans attached to the rucksack on his clanged against each other dramatically and Boo woke with a start, barking shrilly which earned rather rude calls from the windows of the surrounding buildings. Sheena cringed and tried to hide herself from the vengeful eyes of the neighbours, the merchant didn't seem too fazed though.

"Good evening and welcome to the Crimson Canyon. What store are you interested in?"

"Just general store items please, I was after a bar of soap."

He ran a hand through his greasy and knotted hair, "A bar of soap you say, I believe I have one here - that'll be ten gald please."

"Ten gald?" Sheena said aghast. "You can get a magic lens for that amount of money!"

"Aye you can, but can you wash with it?" The merchant shrugged, "Luin's a dusty dirty place and there's a shortfall at the moment, you ask at the inn they've only got a bar between the entire clientel and he's a customer from Luin who's sharing."

"Alright, alright, I'll give you eight."

"I said ten."

"And I said seven." Sheena replied, the merchant looked confused. "Ya'd better accept or it'll become six."

The shopkeeper laughed, "You've done bartering before haven't you? I like you young woman! Okay, eight and I'll throw in this pair of hairclips."

Sheena eyed the hairclips, they seemed nice enough and her hair was difficult to manage sometimes. "Okay, deal."

The merchant pocketed the gald and Sheena did likewise the soap and hairclips, she wished him goodnight and went on her way. The merchant smiled and rubbed the dog on the forehead, "A nice woman, eh Boo?"

"Wuff!" Was Boo's affirmative reply.

"Odd though." The man stroked his chin, "Don't often get woken up for soap twice in one night. Come on, lets get back to sleep, I was having a nice dream about Yerii from the inn before I woke up and I want to find out what happens next!"

Sheena sighed as she rounded the corner to the small lagoon that sat like an oasis on the side of the rocky mountain Hima was perched upon. She let a stray curl of hair flutter briefly across her face before she pushed it back behind her ear with a finger. The moons were so beautiful this night, fresh and full, the slightly yellow and bigger of the two lit up the mass of water as if inviting her, welcoming her into its cool tranquil embrace.

She made her way through the trees surrounding the area and prepared to slip out of her purple attaire when she heard a splash. She looked up to see the end of a column of water displaced by something entering the lagoon at high speed fall back gracefully into the surface in an array of water droplets.

For a good twenty seconds there was silence, did that really just happen Sheena asked herself, not entirely sure of the testament of her eyes. She crept closer, cautious now as she believed she wasn't alone when something burst out from under the surface of the lagoon gasping for air.

Lloyd?

Swimming to the side and padding onto dry land Lloyd Irving plonked himself unceremoniously on his backside by the lagoon edge and began scrubbing at his red jacket with a bar of soap identical to that of Sheena. She blinked in disbelief as the young hero diligently cleaned his jacket made for him so long ago by his father Dirk and the white undershirt which no one ever really saw. Sheena felt her mouth go dry as she continued watching the youth, he had... 'developed' was the best way she could describe it.

Lloyd sat in silence, the water lapping silently at his feet, his boots and socks were safely by his twin sword blades and belt away from the lagoon edge. Though it had been only a few months of travelling he had changed a fair bit since when she first saw him, for a start he no longer looked cute. Now? Now he looked handsome. His damp hair fell down about his face, with the spiky look gone he looked oddly similar to Kratos but then again that wasn't surprising. Water dripped down from his hair onto his muscular chest, giving it and his strong toned arms a sheen that glinted in the moonlight. She stepped back and away from the scene, suitably embarrassed and her mind whirling with various images that made her blush furiously. A large crack rang out through the crisp night air as she stood back upon a fair sized twig which snapped underneath her.

She gasped, looking down at the guilty piece of deadwood before looking back up towards Lloyd. There was no way he could not have heard the sound, though when she looked up again Lloyd was gone from view, she blinked and looked around for him but all she could see was the boots and the jacket and all she could hear was the rustle of leaves disturbed by the wind. Backing off more she decided that it'd be best for her to leave quickly while she could avoid further awkwardness.

She suddenly sensed something rush up behind her and a pair of strong arms wrapped around her back and neck, pinning her arms and holding a razor sharp blue sword against the lilly white skin of her throat.

"Heh... and you accused me of being a Peeping Tom."

"I didn't know you were going to be here."

"You should be thankful it's me and not Zelos."

"Yeah, probably."

"I'm kind of surprised I managed to sneak up on you though." Lloyd lowered the sword slightly, but still held it up grinning from ear to ear that he had caught the female ninja off guard. "Maybe I'd make a good ninja."

Sheena snorted, "I doubt you'd have the dedication." She flushed as she realised he still held her tight against his wet body. "Mmm, you can...y'know... let go now."

"Heh, sorry." Lloyd did his traditional sheepish smile and scratched behind his head. Sheena stepped away from his 'embrace' somewhat reluctantly and turned around to face him, quickly averting her eyes downwards to the ground. "So what were you after?"

"Huh?"

"What were you doing down here?"

"Me? Oh, well, ya see I kinda..." She gestured at the soap, still not looking up. "I wanted a bit of a soak."

Lloyd frowned at her though she didn't see this, "Are you all right Sheena?"

"What?"

"There's no need to be embarrassed around me y'know."

"I am not embarrassed!" Sheena looked up then rapidly down again. He chuckled slightly, Sheena gave her best false laugh which failed miserably to be convincing.

"Mmm." Lloyd mused, now feeling rather conscious that he was standing half-naked in front of the Mizuho woman. "So, do you want me to wash your robe for you while you have a swim?"

"WHAT!" Sheena glared at him and threw up her arms to cover her body, "What the hell does that mean?"

"Easy! Easy!" Lloyd admonished holding up his hands, "I just meant that while you have a dip on the one side I can wash all that dried blood off your robe that's all. I've still got to do my shirt after all and besides," He gestured down at his bare and now muddy feet, "I need to wash these now thanks to someone."

"Fine." Sheena glowered, "But you'd better do a good job after holding a sword to my throat."

"Hey if you weren't peeping..."

"I was not peeping!"

"Pff, you didn't believe me!" Lloyd protested, "Ya Peeping Pam."

"'Peeping Pam'?"

"Well, you're hardly a Tom are you? Now go on and have a dip, I need to get my shirt done before it shrinks."

Sheena smiled despite her embarrassment and anger with herself before wandering off to the other end of the lagoon so she could bathe in a quiet area. Lloyd tutted and shook his head smiling before walking back to his discarded clothing, which despite being in the opposite direction from where Sheena had walked now included a pair of black tunic trousers and a purple robe.

He smirked, placing his hands on his hips and skook his head. "Show off."

The sounds of quiet giggling came from beyond a rocky outcrop but he decided not to investigate it. Lloyd sat back down once more and resumed his scrubbing.

To Be Continued... Possibly...
Please review! I'll be interested to know what you think.

ArchangelUK 0:o)