I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to take this long to update. Though, I'll assume that some of you will understand. Schoolwork plus writer's block equals a slow update.

Now, I'm not sure how good this chapter will be. I'm not too pleased with the beginning, but personally, I think it gets a little better at the end. Well, I won't make you wait anymore.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter 7- Mood

Zelos opened his eyes slowly, fearing what he would see. Sheena's disappointed face? Her pained eyes? He did not want to know. However, once his blue-gray orbs were fully open, he was confused. Where was Sheena? Had she left him?

"Get it through your head Zelos. I'm not leaving you."

That's right, Zelos recalled. Those were the words that Sheena had uttered so passionately last night. After remembering those words, he knew that he could not doubt it. He could not doubt her.

Sitting up, Zelos's eyes glanced down to his bandaged knuckles. He thought about removing them to inspect the damage, but was slightly fearful of Sheena yelling at him. So instead, he closed his eyes, thinking about the previous night.

He could remember, after thinking about Seles's funeral, dozing off, not even for fifteen minutes. Even so, he still had a dream. More accurately, a nightmare.

His sister was in it, and the two of them were standing in an empty wasteland, snow covering the ground.

Seles had, at an agonizingly slow stride, walked towards Zelos. He tried to look away from her. From her deathly pale skin and cold, empty eyes. But, something was stopping him from looking away.

Once she had finally reached him, Seles had said, "Chosen, you're truly a pathetic sight."

Those words had caused his dream self to cringe. She had only called him "Chosen" when she did not wish to associate him as family.

"That's the only thing you can do, isn't it? Bring death and misery to everybody around you. That's why I'm dead, because of you!" Seles spat, making Zelos flinch.

"Seles, I-"

"Don't say anything! Nothing you say will bring me back to life. It won't bring my mother back, either. Your mother was right. You shouldn't have been born!"

Zelos fell to his knees, becoming colder as his pants hit the snow. How could his sister be saying all of this to him. Had she really felt that way her entire life?

"How can she stand being around you?"

"Sheena?" Zelos questioned, confused.

"Yes, her. You treat her horribly. It's a miracle that she's still around you."

"Stop," Zelos mumbled, covering his ears. In response to that, Seles crouched down, getting closer.

"You kill everyone around you," She repeated, "It's only a matter of time."

With that, she stood up and turned around, gracefully walking away, leaving Zelos behind, trying to mentally deny everything that she had just said.

That was when his dream had ended. It felt like it had lasted forever, even though it had only been a few minutes. When he had then been awake, he felt like he was in agony, remembering everything that Seles had told him. He did not want to believe it, but he had. He did want to think about it, but he had. And that was what drove him to the extreme of punching a mirror.

But, he knew the question he would be asked once Sheena showed up. He knew the question that he would not be able to answer, simply because he did not know the answer.

Was he going to cut himself?

He did not know. Like he had answered, he had not thought about it. He might have. Zelos just was not sure.

About a minute later, Zelos decided to get up and walk downstairs. As soon as he got off the stairs, Sheena walked into the room, jumping slightly in surprise as her eyes landed on the ex-Chosen.

"Hey," Zelos said nonchalantly when Sheena recovered from her state of shock.

"How're you doing?" Sheena questioned.

Pausing for a moment, Zelos decided to answer truthfully, "Crappy."

"Is that so? Why?"

"You're… disappointed in me, aren't you?"

"I'm not," Sheena answered quietly.

"You're lying," He stated.

"I'm not," The ninja repeated.

"I don't know why I did it," Zelos answered the unasked question, knowing that it would come up soon.

"I wish you did."

"… Me too," He replied morosely.

The two meandered over to the couch, trying to relax. Zelos could tell that the conversation was going to become tenser, but today he was feeling more compliant. Maybe it was because he had realized that she was not going anywhere. Her words from last night had sunken in, though halfheartedly.

"Are you angry since I'm still here?"

"Of course not," Zelos answered quietly, "If anything, I think I'm happier because of it."

"Really?" Sheena asked, the tone of her voice becoming lighter.

"Yeah."

"That's good to hear."

Zelos was startled when Sheena grabbed his hand, slowly peeling away the bandages. Once they were completely removed, she remarked, "They're looking better."

Zelos shrugged, not knowing a better way to reply. Words seemed inadequate in this situation. Maybe it was because he never knew what words to use to describe how he truly felt. He never had. And he knew that Sheena was aware of that, her more than anybody.

"Seems so." He doubted that his answer would satisfy her, but he was unaware of how to answer.

"Are you hungry?" Sheena asked. Zelos was silently happy that the conversation had been dropped.

The former Chosen was not in the mood to force food down his throat, so he replied, regretfully, "Not really. Can I… eat something later?"

Pausing for a moment, which increased his anxiety, the ninja answered, "Okay. Later."

"So," He asked after a small pause, "what's on the agenda today?"

Sheena, looking amused, Zelos noticed, said, "You sound interested."

"Maybe I am."

"Do you want to do anything special?"

After thinking for a moment, he answered, "Not really. That's kinda why I was asking you."

Chuckling, Sheena replied, "You're too indecisive. I have no idea, Zelos." Her voice was patient, relaxed. He was definitely pleased with it.

"C'mon, think of something," He whined, mirroring her face as he watched her smile.

"What's got you in a good mood?"

"Hey, you're supposed to be thinking of something."

"If you answer, then we are doing something."

Rolling his eyes playfully, Zelos said, "I dunno. I'm just… feeling good today. If you want, I can go back to frowning, but I don't really have the face for it."

Sheena, unable to hold it in, laughed, making him chuckle. Maybe, just maybe, today could be a good day. He was currently enjoying himself, and Sheena was laughing, which made Zelos genuinely happy. Neither of them had been in a good mood lately, though it was understandable.

"Looking happy suits you just fine."

"Or, I could flirt with you, if you're interested. But, it would be kinda pointless to, since we're all ready together."

"No need to pressure yourself. Seeing you in a good mood is… good. Plus, you're flirting gets out of control sometimes. And I haven't really missed it."

"You're no fun." He pouted, crossing his arms.

"You know what? There is something I want to do today."

Zelos could pick up on the hesitation of her voice; see the sadness in her eyes. He frowned when she began to frown.

"What is it?"

"I wanted to go somewhere in town," Sheena answered quietly.

"Where?" While he did not want to admit it, his curiosity was growing.

"It's a surprise."

The swordsman was not a major fan of surprises. Most of them in his life had not been pleasant. Normally, when Sheena would hint at something, there would a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Now, they still remained sad looking.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," He muttered to himself, rising from the couch and following Sheena outside.

"No," He said, forcing his voice to be even.

"Zelos," Sheena begged, her voice remaining firm.

"No." He repeated, struggling to keep calm.

"It could help you, I really think this could. Just… give it a chance, please."

Zelos clenched his teeth, and glared at the land. This was the place which he hated. I place that should not exist, in his opinion. Here, at the cemetery, he was surrounded by death, and he hated it. That is why he avoided them with such passion.

"How the hell could this help me?" He had meant this as a rhetorical question.

"Maybe if you just go to her grave and visit her, it could, I don't know, give you some closure. Just try. For me?"

"This can't help me. What makes you think that it can? I would be talking to a rock, not Seles."

Zelos sighed angrily as Sheena grabbed his hand and literally dragged him in the direction of the grave. She seemed very adamant about this, Zelos realized absentmindedly.

"Well, after… after Corrine died, you know how depressed I was."

So depressed that you're still sad when you talk about him, Zelos thought sadly. Instead, he answered, "Yeah."

"Shortly after, Lloyd suggested that I pray to Corrine's bell. He said that it might make me feel better. And maybe… it would help me forgive myself. He was right, it did. Honestly Zelos, I still sometimes talk to the bell, when I'm feeling down. Makes me feel like he's still here…" She trailed off, sighing.

They came to a stop in front of the gravesite. Zelos chose not to look at it, opting to stare at Sheena. She was far more beautiful than a rock.

"Listen Zelos," Sheena stated, sighing once again, "if you really don't want to do this, then I guess I shouldn't make you. I'm sorry. I just think it would be good for you."

He looked away from her for a moment. What was the risk in giving this a try? It had helped Sheena, after she had suffered a terrible, personal lose. Maybe it could help him. Besides, he decided, it would probably help Sheena cheer up. He hated when she was depressed, especially because of him.

"Okay Sheena. I'll do it. No guarantees, though."

"I know. I'll just hang around over here. You probably want to talk privately."

"I'll still feel like an idiot talking to stone whether or not you're around."

Chuckling, Sheena walked off, though she stayed close by. Sighing, Zelos turned his attention to the patch of earth that his sister was buried underneath. He tried to shake off any images of her decomposed body.

Guess I have no choice now.

Clearing his throat, he mumbled, "Hey Seles."

I certainly hope that this didn't suck after such a long time of not writing. I've definitely missed writing this story, I just haven't been able to. Hopefully, I'll update faster. However, I'm not promising anything.

Review please, even if it's to complain about my lack of updates. And a giant thanks to everyone that reviews, reads, et cetera. You are all amazing!