Disclaimer: All your Namco are not belong to Master of Caffeine.
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MOC: -in crutches- Hey, everybody. It's me again. If you're wondering what took me so wrong to write this damn chapter, I got beaten up by a bunch of Square Enix fans because of another fanfic I wrote.
SE fans: GET BACK HERE! WE'RE NOT DONE WITH YOU YET!
MOC: Oh, crap. Look, just take the chapter and get out of here!
-runs away-
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Everyone has bad days. We've all had a day where everything you try to do backfires and you get stuck looking like a dumbass in front of everyone you know.
Zelos Wilder was having one of those days.
Walking through the streets of Altamira, he looked over all the stuff that had gone wrong today.
The cup of scalding water Colette spilt over his face in bed.
The slap Sheena gave him immediately after for his cursive language.
The chair he smashed his head against as he fell to the floor.
Okay, it was still 9:45 in the morning, but he was still having a bad day.
Barely conscious, Zelos stumbled into a bar.
The smell of cheap beer filled his nostrils, doing nothing for his health. A few drunkards were screaming in the background, still going from the night before. Zelos grabbed onto a stool, barely standing. He could barely make out a large, muscular man poorly wiping a glass, missing a giant piece of mould wriggling at the bottom.
"Kid, you look bad."
It took Zelos 30 seconds to realize the bartender was talking to him.
"Uh…yeah."
Having your brain screwed up like that didn't help your vocabulary.
The bartender grabbed a glass from a stack and filled it with a strange liquid that Zelos couldn't make out. He picked it up and motioned to the Chosen.
"Here. This one's on the house."
Zelos staggered over to the bar, nearly dipping his hand in the drink.
"Thanks."
Grabbing the cup, Zelos began to drink. He didn't realize how thirsty he was until he'd finished the entire glass.
"So, that your first cup of coffee?"
Any sign of fatigue in Zelos' body had vanished. He stood straight, and was smiling like a madman.
"Yes, yes, first cup, gotta go now, gotta tell my true love how I feel, bye!"
The bartender watched as Zelos pranced out of the room like he'd just won the lottery. Twice.
The man sighed, and then went back to wiping his glass.
It's always the worst the first time, he thought to himself.
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Today's the day, Sheena thought to herself. I'll tell him now and get it over with.
She'd known that she'd had something for Zelos for a while now. She had a feeling he felt the same way too, but he was just too nervous to admit it as well.
She would make the first move today. It was now or never.
But where is he?
For a ninja, Sheena wasn't very good at tracking a target down. She didn't have the instinct she was meant to have mastered as a child-
What was that?
Or maybe not.
All Sheena had seen was a shade of pink flying past her. It was a shade she'd recognize anywhere.
Zelos!
She was running now, trying to keep up. Even if he was the Chosen, Zelos normally didn't run that fast. It was like something was giving him that little bit extra to let him exceed his own limits.
Is it…? Nah, can't be.
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Of course he knew where he was going.
It was the third time he'd been through the city. He'd been taught to memorize locations in a matter of minutes (very strictly, which always helped).
He was walking past the amusement park, staring at all the kids having the time of their lives.
"Wahoo. Loople-do."
Presea was doing her part as well. Admittedly, she was pretty wooden, but the children loved it.
"Hey, Zelos! Over here!"
Sheena?
He could hear someone running through the crowd – no, two people. One was barely audible – that was probably Sheena – and the other was slamming the ground with every step. Zelos, undoubtedly.
It was too late that he realized Zelos was headed straight for him.
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Zelos stopped suddenly, causing Sheena to nearly crash into him.
"Zelos, what the hell are you doing?"
The instant the sentence left her mouth, she regretted it. How could she say that now when she was about to confess her love?
"S-sorry. I-I-I have something to tell you…"
C'mon, girl! Now's your chance!
It didn't matter that Zelos wasn't looking at her. She'd hear him for sure.
"ZELOS WILDER, I LOVE YOU!"
For a moment, silence. Zelos turned to Sheena, crying himself.
"Sheena…I'm sorry too."
Their eyes locked. They could see nothing but one another.
"I've already chosen someone, honey…and it's not you."
Sheena went rigid.
No…this isn't happening…
Who could have won him over? Who-
Of course. Lloyd, you bastard!
"It's Lloyd, isn't it?"
Of course she knew what he was going to say. Lloyd had beaten her to it. She'd never have him. Her – them – everything – all of it was gone.
"Nope."
What? It's not Lloyd?
Sheena was bamboozled.
If it isn't Lloyd, then…who?
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"Wahoo. Wahoo."
This has become most repetitive.
Presea wasn't exactly enjoying her work. But what did it matter? The children were happy, and that was all that mattered.
"ZELOS WILDER, I LOVE YOU!"
Presea was distracted momentarily. The scream hadn't attracted the attention of everyone in the park.
Sheena?
Presea stood and watched as Zelos broke the ninja's heart. Carelessly, without a hint of remorse.
Who could he love more than her?
"It's Lloyd, isn't it?"
Presea mentally slapped herself on the cheek.
Of course. Odds of Zelos falling in love with Lloyd, if not with Sheena: 100 percent! Why did I not consider this?
"Nope."
Another mental slap.
This makes no sense. Who could –
Then, in a flash, it all came together.
Presea saw someone standing behind Zelos. He was the one Zelos had been running to find.
A previously unknown feeling ran though the girl. She felt stronger, faster and tougher than she was before.
Is this…anger?
But of course it was. Considering who was down there, what else could it be?
Zelos…you shall pay.
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Of course, one person had figured it out before anyone else.
The person who Zelos was staring at right now.
One Genis Sage.
"Aw, you're so cute when you're like that."
Genis froze on the spot.
"N-now Zelos…you've got this all mixed up. Y-you don't-"
Zelos kept walking.
"I only called you 'Brat' for a joke, you know. Really, I really, really, REALLY like you."
This is a dream, this is a dream, this is ALL a horrible dream!
Zelos grabbed the half-elf by the shoulders and brought his face near.
"In fact, you could say I love you."
Genis was petrified. Every bone in his body told him to get the hell out of there, but he couldn't move an inch.
What followed was a traumatic event that would keep Genis awake for months afterwards.
Zelos was planting a kiss straight on his lips, and he wasn't letting go.
Oh, Martel! WHAT...WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
Finally, Zelos let go. Genis gasped for breath, trying to calm down.
"Don't worry, pal. I'll be back for more."
That was it. Genis could take no more.
He fell almost in slow-motion, his knees buckling as he collapsed.
Zelos didn't notice the two figures running towards him, weapons in hand.
But hell, did he notice the impact.
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"Genis? Have you awoken?"
Genis opened his eyes wearily. Presea stood over him, tears in her eyes.
"What…what happened? I just had a horrible dream…"
"It wasn't a dream."
Sheena moved in the corner of his eye. Her hands were covered with the blood of a certain Chosen.
"He was on coffee, so I guess he kinda has an alibi."
Genis was in shock, holding his head in his hands.
"This isn't possible. Something's…something's not right."
Presea nodded.
"I agree. This is most unusual."
Sheena looked into the distance, as if staring at something on the horizon.
"It's like something brought coffee into the world just to see what'd happen."
All three nodded in unison.
"But who could it be? Who would be so cruel?"
The boy's fingers danced over the keyboard, like a pianist's.
"Excellent. This is brilliant! Everyone will crack up over this one!"
This was his love, his passion. He could make people laugh over stupid things like people drinking coffee.
All at the expense of a few people who didn't exist…
Or so he thought.
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MOC: Oh my Martel! A plot!
SE fans: THERE HE IS! GET HIM!
MOC: -sighs- Not again...
-runs away-
MOC: I'll update sooner this time! I promise! In the meantime, please R&R soon, I may not have long to read it!
-disappears into the distance-