The first thing I'd like to say is that you aren't imagining the title of this chapter

The first thing I'd like to say is that you aren't imagining the title of this chapter. It really does say the word "Kiss".

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and who's read the story. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, don't own Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter 10- Kiss

Sheena stared at the former chosen who had just walked into her, confused as to why he was leaving his room. Where was he going? Was he looking for her?

She had stepped outside of Zelos's house to calm her raging emotions. She didn't mean to run out of his room, but she just couldn't deal with him or his stubbornness at that time. The snow made the cold seep into her skin, which only made her wonder more about his mother's death.

Maybe Zelos was right. Perhaps she had no right to say what she had said to him. Everyone, including Zelos, had helped her move past that one tragic event in her life. However, there would always be regret about what happened within her.

Could that be what Zelos needed? Did he just need someone to help him move on? Someone to help ease the pain he's suffered from ever since Mylene's death?

With that in her mind, and with her renewed resolve, she turned around, just in time for the door to open and Lloyd to step outside.

"Sheena?" Lloyd asked in disbelief.

"Lloyd, what're you doing here?"

"Zelos asked me to get you for him. He wants to talk to you."

"About?"

"You'll have to go up and see for yourself."

Sheena considered asking more questions, but she only ended up sighing and walking inside, not paying attention as to whether or not Lloyd followed.

And now, here she was, regaining her balance after Zelos had just walked into her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Looking for you,"

"Well, I guess you bumping into me counts." She said sarcastically, causing the faintest smile to appear on Zelos's face. No matter how small it was, it was still a smile, one that definitely wasn't fake. "So, did you want to talk to me?"

"Uh, y-yeah." Sheena could easily pick up on the nervousness in his voice.

I hope he doesn't think I'm still angry at him. I'm not anymore.

Without continuing, Zelos walked back into his room, Sheena immediately following. Sheena was slightly afraid that he wouldn't continue what he was trying to say out in the hall. So, she decided that she would talk, maybe it could lure him back into opening up to her.

"How was talking to Lloyd?"

She received a shrug, making her roll her eyes. He was closing himself off again. Maybe Lloyd didn't help Zelos. If he failed, what could she do now?

"Talking to Lloyd was boring."

"Boring?" Sheena questioned. She wasn't expecting him to describe it like that.

"Yeah. He just made this long, boring speech. Though, I've always found long speeches boring. Plus, he isn't as pretty to look at, so I wasn't entertained at all when I was talking to him."

Sheena could feel her cheeks becoming warmer, grateful that the darkness in the room could cover her growing blush.

"Seriously, Zelos."

He sighed heavily, "I don't know how to describe it. He just told me everything you've been trying to tell me."

"I see." Nothing she had been telling him was well received, so it seemed Lloyd didn't make any headway.

"I'm sorry, Sheena." Zelos whispered.

"You're apologizing?" Sheena said after recovering from her shock, "Is that what you were trying to tell me earlier?"

"Yeah, it was." He answered quietly.

"You don't need to apologize, Zelos. I understand why you said… what you said."

"That doesn't make it okay, Sheena. I had no right to say-."

"Zelos, I'm not mad. Like I said, I'm partially to blame."

Instead of saying anything else, the former chosen started chuckling, a chuckle that didn't sound strained, "I can't believe what's happened to our arguments. Look at us, we're fighting about who shouldn't be apologizing."

After a couple of seconds, laughter came out of Sheena's mouth as well, "Wow, you're right. We've certainly changed. Maybe it's because I have no reason to argue with the real Zelos."

Zelos rolled his eyes, a frown forming onto his face. She knew he wouldn't like to hear that.

"Would you let me help you, Zelos?"

"You know, I've lost count of how many times you've said that."

"I know, I'm probably annoying you, but you need to hear this. What you said was right," She looked at Zelos to see if he'd say anything. Instead, his eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly gaping. With a small smile on her face, Sheena continued, "I still feel guilty about what happened, and a small part of me will always blame myself for what happened, but…"

Searching her mind for the right words, she continued after a short pause, "Everyone helped me move past what happened. You helped me too, Zelos. Without you, I'd still be wallowing in my guilt. But, you helped me move on. And now, I want to help you."

She closed the distance between them. Looking up into his blue-gray eyes, she said, "I'm not the only one that wants to help you, Zelos. Lloyd does. Everyone else does as well: Colette, Genis, Raine, Presea, Regal, everyone. And don't forget about Sebastian. He practically raised you, didn't he? Of course he'd want to help you move on. And Seles, she doesn't hate you."

"But she should." Zelos muttered.

"I know you may think that, but it's not true. Visit Seles, and you'll find out for yourself. You haven't seen her in a while, have you?" Zelos shook his head, "See Zelos, you have all people who love you and want to help you. Just, please, let th-."

The rest of her sentence was cut off. Not by Zelos interuptting, no, not by anything he said, but by something he apparently decided to do on a whim. Something that Sheena was far from prepared for.

His lips pressed onto hers, and after that, Sheena was willing to bet Corrine's bell that time had, in fact, stopped.

The kiss was short, chaste, and he did it in a very hesitant, almost shy, way. And yet, Sheena found it enjoyable. She imagined Zelos would kiss someone in a long, forceful, passionate way, and this was the complete opposite. This further proved she knew hardly anything about him.

She was unable to return the kiss, due to her mind still being utterly dazed. But, it was over just as quickly and unexpectedly it had happened.

Sheena watched him fidget nervously as he pulled away, his eyes glancing at the floor. She could barely make out that a blush was on his face, making her not feel as embarrassed.

"Did that… just happen?" She asked in a dazed voice.

"Y-yeah. Like I said, long speeches bore me so…"

"You decided to get me to stop talking?" She couldn't resist the urge to grin.

"Right. Sorry, Sheena."

"Don't start apologizing again, Zelos. Just like last time, you did nothing to apologize for."

His head immediately shot up. His eyes were wide again, even more than before.

"Y-you mean…?"

"I'm not mad at you. Don't think that I am."

She knew this time her eyes weren't fooling her. She knew this was real. Though it was small, Zelos was smiling, one that seemed like it was genuine, and it wasn't disappearing the moment anyone saw it.

"Zelos," She began with a smile on her own face, "Could you tell me more about how your mother… died?"

"Nothing more to tell. I was supposed to die that die, my mother died protecting me, Seles's mother was executed for killing my mother-."

"Seles's mother killed your mother?!"

"Yep, understand why I think my sister should hate me?"

"She still loves you, Zelos, regardless of what happened in your past. Like I said before, go visit Seles sometime and see for yourself."

His eyes retreated to the floor once again, causing Sheena to sigh. This was becoming a reoccuring habit of his, one that she would have to work on.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Zelos? Let me help you, let your friends and your family help you. We want you to live, Zelos Wilder, and we want you to be happy."

Sheena stood directly in front of him and grabbed his wrist, turning it over. Lightly, she brushed her fingertips against the lone cut that was on his arm. "You shouldn't have to do this to yourself anymore. You've got me, so you don't need to do this."

His eyes met hers, then they glanced down at his arm. The orbs weren't guarded, allowing Sheena to see all the pain in them, pain she wanted to help take away.

In her own shy manner, she allowed her own lips to touch Zelos's, and she could tell he just as surprised as she was. Though, the weird part was, she wasn't sure what made her think of doing this. She just… did it.

Pulling away after a moment, furiously blushing, she chuckled nervously, and before she could explain her actions, Zelos spoke.

"I hope you're not going to take that back by apologizing. I'd really hate it if you did."

Looking up at him, she could still see his small smile. It was genuine, but it seemed fragile, like it could break in any second. And she knew what words could deliver that shattering blow, but she would never imagine saying them.

"Don't worry, I would never do that. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" She grinned sheepishly.

Without saying anything else, a frown appeared on his face, making Sheena's mouth mimic his. Before she could ask what was wrong, he turned around and walked out to his balcony, into the light snowstorm.

"What's wrong now?" She whispered to herself before walking after him.

His behavior now puzzled her. He seemed to be withdrawing again, but why? If those words and the two short kisses they shared did nothing, what could she do now?

I hope you didn't mind the cliffhanger too much, but, I couldn't think of any other way of ending the chapter.

I believe you all saw that this was my first fanfiction, correct? Which means that that was my first kissing scene, so if it was terrible, it was probably due to my lack of experience at describing it.

Please review, because when chapters get difficult to write, just like this one, they keep me motivated and focused, and help me come up with ideas for the chapters. So please, once again, review.