Miss: Wow… This took a while to update.

Mais: Yes… yes it did… as usual.

Miss: Okay. I've had enough of you criticizing me.

Mais: What are you going to do? Throw me out?

Miss: Precisely. –throws Mais out-

Mais: -echoing…- You stupid little b…

Miss: -clears throat loudly.- Anyways…

Sammie: -looks around.- Where has Mais gone?

Miss: Away. And you get to replace her! D Aren't you lucky?

Sammie: …-shifty glance-

Miss: -glare-

Sammie: -big smile- YAY! And Miss doesn't own Tales of Symphonia! Namco does!

BEWARE OoCNESS AHEAD! As usual…. Do I really have to keep telling you this? And my computer is freaking me out… it's putting all the capital letters at the beginning of sentences on its own. XD

Battle Of Raine

"You owe me." He said finally, turning his head to meet her aqua eyes. She stared for a long moment in his dark eyes, thinking over what he meant. Finally it clicked. "Oh yeah…" She laughed slightly, remembering how she had just left him there with her brother.

XxXxXxX

"So…" Raine shifted her weight uneasily as she watched the seraphim. She wasn't very worried as to what he might say, but with the way that he had been acting of late… well, she had a slight concern. "What did you have in mind?"

The angel's chocolate gaze met her aqua eyes as she spoke her words. Her soft voice was flowing on the air, like the sound of church bells ringing in the bright summer months. "Hmm…" His face was near impassive, but a small smile played on his lips, a small glint of happiness shining in his eyes. A happiness he had, just by simply being with the maiden.

Well then… This makes things a bit easier. Now I don't have to go through the plan. Maybe it'll work itself out… The hopeful thoughts ran through the auburn haired man's head. Maybe she would just love him, without him having to do anything… Well, that wasn't very likely but hey! He was going to keep trying. There was no way he'd let Regal win her heart… No way.

x-----x

As this went on upstairs downstairs Regal sat near the warm fire, a smile dancing happily on his face. The glowing, dancing flames seemed to have put Sheena, who had come and sat down, into a trance. She watched as they swirled in brilliant oranges, yellows and reds.

A cold rush of air seemed to catch the two people's attention. They both turned their heads back to see Colette and Lloyd enter, both covered in snow. Smiling Sheena turned her gaze back to the fire, until a certain redhead decided to block her view.

"Hey Sheena." She looked up into his blue eyes, slightly shocked that he had actually called her by her name. She moved slightly to the side, allowing Zelos room to sit down on the couch with her.

"What's up?" Sheena asked casually as she looked at him. She supposed this must have been one of his more 'decent' moods. The ones where he didn't try to flirt continuously. Even though the Chosen did get quite annoying, Sheena had to admit that he could be a really nice guy sometimes.

"Nothing really." He shrugged, his long red hair moving with his slight movement. He sat down beside her, leaning back into the couch. Putting his two arms behind his head, in a relaxing position he turned his head slightly to see the summoner. "I was wondering… Do you think the group would be sad if we moved the reunion to Altimira? And maybe extend it a bit?"

She tilted her head slightly, listening to his ideas. "Well…" She sighed thoughtfully, before looking around to see who was around; Regal, Colette, and Lloyd. Where were the other four she wondered. Shaking her head she got back onto the subject.

"I suppose it's not that bad of an idea. I mean, it is starting to get annoying, the cold that is." Her gaze flickered back into his blue eyes as she thought a bit more. Zelos nodded, agreeing with her statement.

A smile crossed the summoner's face. "Alright, then I'll talk to the others about it, and we'll leave tomorrow morning." With that said she gently kissed Zelos on the cheek before heading upstairs to tell Raine and Kratos, a light pink blush creeping across her pale cheeks.

x-----x

Stupid Lloyd and his stupid ideas… Stupid, stupid, stupid! Genis thought as he paced in his room, unaware that the swordsman had just entered the room.

"Hey! Good work with the plan Genis! How do you think it went?" Hearing the cheerful voice emit from near the door Genis' eyes lit up with fury. He spun around to face his friend, cheeks flushed from anger and embarrassment.

"That was the stupidest thing you have ever come up with!" Genis yelled, his fists balled, knuckles turning white. Slowly Lloyd began to back as the not so little mage slowly approached him.

"What in the name of Martel gave you the idea that that would split them up!" Genis demanded, stopping just feet from Lloyd, staring angrily into his eyes.

"Well… I don't know. It seemed like a good plan at the time." Lloyd shrugged to Genis' yelling, seemingly calm… or maybe he just realized the pointlessness in his plan. Who knows?

"Lloyd you bet-"

"Genis, is something the matter? I heard you yelling." Presea stated, having stepped into the room after hearing the frustrated half-elf's yelling. She looked from Lloyd to Genis questioningly.

"Oh… uh… um… It's… It's nothing P-presea." Immediately Genis' temper dissipated, only to be replaced by embarrassment. Gah! Why do I always stutter!

x-----x

Raine tilted her head slightly, waiting for the angel's response. He seemed to be thinking. Of what, she wasn't sure. She couldn't read his eyes, even though most of his hair was pulled from his face, still dripping slightly. Her hands fidgeted slightly as she sat beside him on the end of the bed.

"What you can do for me Raine…" He began, his voice soft, his eyes connecting with hers. He reached out a hand, gently taking hold of her small, cold one. With a small breath he continued, in a soft, gentle voice, "..Is to give me a chance."

She stared into his dark, mesmerizing eyes for a long moment, just thinking. The warmth of his strong hand felt heavenly as it held her hand. "Yes… Yes I suppose I can manage that." She said finally with a small smile.

His other hand gently ran through her silky silver hair as the gap between them closed and he kissed her gently. "Thank you." He said after pulling away, his hand still grasping hers, their faces still millimeters apart.

x-----x

Sheena, having told Lloyd, Genis and Presea, continued down the hall. Lloyd, finding Sheena's entrance as a good excuse to leave his angry half-elf friend, was following on her heels.

"Have you seen Colette?"

"She's downstairs."

"Oh, alright. Are you going back downstairs after?"

"Yes."

"Oh, then I'll just go down with you."

"Fine."

"Who haven't you told?"

But the swordsman's question was left unanswered as Sheena opened the door to the last room. Sheena's mouth hung open, only slightly shocked at the scene before her, where as Lloyd was having a panic attack.

"What! What? WHAT! Dad? What are you doing? What were you doing?" His eyes were like saucers, his mouth gaping as the questions flowed at an extreme rate. "My eyes! They're burning!" Lloyd screamed, covering his eyes.

A blush flared up onto Raine's cheeks as she noticed Sheena and Lloyd standing at the doorway. Even Kratos was blushing, although it was hardly noticeable. Nearly immediately upon hearing Lloyd's voice the two adults backed further from each other.

"Oh get over it Lloyd! They weren't even doing anything, how can your eyes be burning?" Sheena said, whacking Lloyd over the head. But still he seemed to have not heard what she had said.

"Genis!" He yelled, running back down the hall to his room, not caring if he was ruining Genis' chance at being alone with Presea.

"What is it?" Raine asked finally, not even daring to look at her friend seeing as her face was still heated. Kratos on the other hand was staring at the wall to the right of the summoner, his face placid and impassive though still a bit red near the cheeks.

"Just wanted to tell you that we're going to Altimira tomorrow. And that we are extending the length of the reunion." Turning to go back downstairs Sheena through a quick comment over her shoulder, if only to make Raine blush more. "Have fun you two!" Then the door closed as a feathery pillow collided with the wooden surface.

"Um…" Raine shifted her weight slightly, her gaze once again returning to the seraphim.

"Hmph." Was his response.

x-----x

"Genis!" Practically knocking the door off its hinges Lloyd ran into the room. Immediately he grabbed Genis by the shoulder's and began to shake him again.

"I'm blind! I'm blind I tell you!" He squealed.

Slowly Presea began to back towards the door. "I am going downstairs… I'll speak to you later Genis." She stated as she turned and left the room. What is wrong with Lloyd? His vision was perfect…

"Damn it Lloyd!" Angrily Genis pushed his friend's hands off of him as he watched Presea's retreating figure.

"They were close! Alone! In a room! On a bed!" He said, resisting the urge to start violently shaking his friend again. He laughed nervously, twitching slightly.

"Would you grow up Lloyd?" Genis complained, getting annoyed by the swordsman's immaturity. "I don't care if they go out! I don't care what they do!"

A frown appeared on Lloyd's face, "But… What about mom?"

This puzzled the mage for a long moment, leaving him to think of what to say that wouldn't offend his friend. "Maybe… Kratos was just ready to move on. I'm sure it would be what Anna would want, right?"

"Yeah… but with the professor?"

Anger began to boil again in the teen. "Are you saying there's something wrong with my sister?"

"Well… no, but-"

"Just shut up right now Lloyd before you push it too far." Genis stated, rather calmly as he forced himself to stay cool and not just fry Lloyd to a crisp.

Silence filled the room, if only for a bit because Sheena came in.

She looked at the pair for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on. Lloyd was standing still, his body shaking from shock still. And Genis had his fists clenched, his face was red, and he seemed to be glaring at the swordsman.

"Uh…" She broke the silence, both pairs of eyes turned to her. "I figure both of you know about Raine and Kratos… but seriously keep it quiet. Don't go yelling it to the world, don't even talk about it." Her voice was firm, though quiet as to not be heard by any of the others. "In other words don't tell!"

Turning, she left the room and went back downstairs where she sat around the fire with Zelos, Regal, and Colette.

"Besides. It's not like you and Colette haven't been close, or even closer." Genis stated calmly, his eyes shut as he shrugged. "Ow!" He cried out as a fist collided with his cheek.

Eventually the entire group was sitting around the fire. Zelos and Sheena shared a loveseat couch. Regal, Colette and Lloyd were sitting on a sofa. Genis and Presea were playing cards on the small coffee table. Kratos was sitting in a lazy boy chair, with Raine on the floor, leaning back against the chair, a book held out before her.

A glare was being shot towards Kratos, the convict's eyes burning with hatred and jealousy. Though he had no idea of what Lloyd saw, he didn't like the fact that Raine was sitting there leaning on his legs slightly. It also wasn't helping that Kratos had a smirk playing on his face, his eyes filled with laughter, his face giving the look Haha-I-Win.

"I'm going to bed." The blue-haired man growled suddenly, all other conversation halted for a moment. Each bid goodnight to Regal as he stood, nearly stomping up the stairs and into the room he shared with Zelos.

He couldn't help it. A giant grin spread across Kratos' face as he heard a door upstairs slam shut. Take that! He thought to the convict, even though he knew there was no way in Symphonia that Regal could have heard that.

Lloyd, whose eyes had been watching his father and professor, even as he talked with Colette, was growing fearful. That grin… it didn't belong on his fathers face. It just didn't work.

Closing her book thoughtfully, a few thoughts running through her mind, Raine stood up then turned to Kratos. "Could I speak with you upstairs?" She asked, her face straight, a glimmer in her bright eyes.

"Yes…" Kratos nodded, also getting to his feet and following the maiden to, and up the stairs. They passed by the first room where Regal was. As they walked by silently they could hear some… weird… noises coming from the room. It sounded almost as if he were talking to himself.

When a sudden laughter, an insanely mischievous laughter, broke into the air from behind the door the pair looked at each other for a moment before continuing… a fair bit faster then before.

x-----x

A smile across his face, the convict stopped laughing. Something seemed to have gotten to him. Maybe it was his stubbornness, or maybe he had just finally cracked. Either way he was becoming slightly delusional.

Haha! Raine, Raine… My beautiful, wonderful Raine. Oh how you toy with the poor man's heart! It's been broken once before, and now you plan to shatter it completely! Those kinds of thoughts were flowing fluidly in his mind, a small cackle accompanying them.

"I shall have you in no time my pretty… no time at all. Concluding you have finished destroying Kratos' hopes, dreams, heart, and life… Oh how wonderfully brilliant your plan is." He began to laugh again, this time even louder… So loud that they could hear him downstairs.

Lloyd looked up towards the ceiling as Colette clung onto him. "W-what was that?" She asked frightfully, tears welling in her eyes as the laughter continued.

A fearful glint was held in everyone's eyes as they stared up at the spot where Regal and Zelos' room was. "I don't know Colette… I don't know." Lloyd answered, his voice holding shock.

Zelos' eyes fell back to Sheena quickly, a look of pure horror plastered onto his face. "There is no way in hell I'm sleeping in the same room as that guy!" Her eyes fell to meet his.

"Yeah… We'll make sure he's on his own tonight..." Her voice quavered slightly.

x-----x

"What is it that you wished to speak of Raine?" Kratos asked as he shut the door to his room behind him before sitting beside her on the bed.

Their eyes connected, the previous sparks dying to a soft, caring gaze. The snow was swirling in the icy breezes, the dim street lights illuminating the outside world viewable from the window.

"Is there a reason why you and Regal are constantly fighting?" She asked, not really sure what to say. The only reason she wanted to go upstairs was because she could feel Lloyd's gaze upon them and it was making her feel slightly uneasy.

Kratos blinked hearing her words. Was he supposed to tell her what was going on? If he did, would she get angry feeling as if she was just a prize? Just something they were fighting over like a toy. Uncertainty was overcoming most of his emotions, except for the love he felt towards this half-elf.

But was the love strong enough for him to tell the truth, trusting she'd be understanding? Or was it only strong enough for him to lie, if only to keep her with him longer…

0o0o0o0

Miss: Alright, so that's that. –smiles-

Mais: Hmph.

Miss: o.O Where'd you come from….?

Sammie: She returned moments ago.

Miss: . Oh whatever. Please review, and thanks sooo much for the reviews everyone! I'm glad you all like it!