Genis and Keaton

Keaton yawned as she left the school building, and looked around, before she spotted Genis playing with his kendama again, and she watched for awhile. She never understood what was so interesting about a wooden stick, a ball, and a string. Genis noticed someone watching him, and looked toward the building his sister worked at before smiling.

"Oh hey Keaton, what're you doing?" Genis asked as she walked over.

"What's so interesting about that kendama? I mean, aside from the fact that Lloyd made it?" Keaton questioned, red eyes showing curiosity.

"Oh, heehee, that? It's actually really fun. You have to think about how you'll get the ball on the other stools, and how you'll get it back on the stick, without using you hand. You have to use the string and ball only." Genis said, and showed her.

She watched with interest, seeing how he did it, and wondered if she could do it. Genis noticed her curious look, and chuckled.

"You wanna try?" Genis asked, holding it toward her.

Keaton's ears perked, and she nodded, red eyes showing her playfulness at the moment. She transformed into her human form, her signs appearing and bounced the ball a bit to get the feel for it. It was different from any weapon she's used, or any stick for that matter of fact; Keaton sighed, and tried. She got it on both stools, but when trying to get it back to it's rightful spot, failed. She blinked her eyes a bit, before trying it again. After a few failed attempts, she finally got it on her last try; she gave a toothy grin and laughed, making Genis laugh with her. For the first time in her life, she never felt so childish as she did now. She handed it back to Genis, before transforming again.

"Say Genis, you can learn any magic, right?" Keaton questioned, and he looked at her curious.

"Well, there are some I can't learn because their too advance, besides. I'm mainly good at ice and water spells. Why?" Genis asked, giving her a quizzical look.

"Because I was thinking, maybe I could teach you fox-fire?" Keaton asked, and Genis began to laugh.

"Keaton, that's a move you were born with. Elves, and half-elves don't know how to use magic monsters are born with. Sorry, but it's a nice offer." Genis said, and knelt down, petting Keaton, who smiled, and licked his chin.

Genis laughed, and she watched him play with his kendama again.

Later: Keaton backed up into a wall, staring a Nifelheim before her; the wicked lady glared at her. Pale skin that seemed grayish, lifeless red and black eyes, sharp teeth, pitch black hair, red nails; red as blood, Keaton noticed; a wearing a black dress.

"W-What do you w-want...Nifelheim?" Keaton asked, fear lacing her voice.

"You shouldn't worry about that, but more about what your punishment was for betraying me." Nifelheim said, cutting to the point.

"Punishment?" Keaton questioned, red eyes showing her obvious fear.

Nifelheim gave a malicious smile and moved aside; even as Keaton's eyes widened in horror at the sight before her. Marta, Emil, Raine, Regal, Sheena, Zelos, Presea, and Colette lay before her, behind bars...dead. Keaton screamed in horror and backed up more, wanting to erase the sight from her mind, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene before her.

"And that's not the end of it." Nifelheim said, and snapped her fingers.

Another light lite up, and Keaton began to cry harder; for the cores, including Ratatosk's were broken. Keaton completely broke down upon seeing another light, seeing both of Lloyd's father; his biological, Kratos, and his adopted, Dirk; along with Yuan all dead. She curled in on herself, wrapping her tail around her as if to protect herself...it was true...Nifelheim had won.

"There's more." Nifelheim said, and Keaton gasped, what else had she done?

Another light came on and she looked to her left, eyes widening as a horrified gasp escaped her. Lloyd and Genis were standing behind bars well, both alive, but they looked weak.

"Keaton?!" Lloyd and Genis shouted, both looking relieved to see her.

"Lloyd, Genis!" Keaton shouted.

The rest was blur as Keaton was forced to watch two of her best friends get tortured before her eyes. In the end, the only one alive was Genis, who looked at her, and gave a weak smile. A smile that destroyed what was left of her heart.

"At least...you lived..." Genis said before Nifelheim killed him.

"NO!" Keaton shouted, tears streaming down her face.

"NO!" Keaton shouted, and shot off of the ground, standing.

She was covered in sweat, her red eyes wide in horror, and tears streamed down her face, mingling with her sweat.

"Keaton?" A young boys voice said.

Keaton shifted her gaze to the right and saw Genis looking at her worried. The group had continued after a small stop at the school for Raine to grab more books, and Genis had offered to stand guard tonight to give Lloyd, Emil, and Zelos a break. Regal was gonna take up the offer, but Genis jumped to it first. Noticing her expression, one of horror and fear, plus the tears made him get up, and sat down beside her, hoping to comfort her.

"You okay?" He asked, and laid a hand on her neck.

She sighed and collapsed, her head hitting his legs, but he didn't mind since it didn't hurt. He smiled gently with a sigh, and patted her head; he figured she had a nightmare again, something to do with her past. Ever since they began chasing the demon's, she had begun to have them more frequently.

"Hey Genis?" Keaton questioned and looked at him, and he gave her his full attention.

"Yeah?" He questioned, blue eyes locking with red eyes.

"You'll...never die on me...right?" She asked, hopeful.

Genis was shocked, but then smiled gently at her, and hugged her.

"Yeah, and I promise I won't die on you. Besides, I haven't finished teasing you yet." Genis said, but hugged her tighter and she smiled, rubbing against his cheek.

He may be younger than her by years, but he was one of the smartest guys in the group, and he always knew what it was she needed to hear. She knew that no matter what, he would keep his word to her and never back down. Lloyd had really influenced him; but in a good way Keaton guessed.

"Hey Genis, maybe you can teach me a trick on the kendama after our mission." Keaton said, and the two of them laughed, and stayed up the rest of the night.

Okay, so this one was hard when I first started it as I didn't really know what I should do. I mean, I originally wanted a nightmare with Keaton and Genis saying something really wise, but what he would've said when have been WAY too OOC for him, especially for him. The one who would say what I had thought would be more Kratos, or Ratatosk like; so I went with Genis trying to cheer her up after her nightmare. Well, hope ya'll like it. ^^