Lloyd wasn't entirely sure what had happened next, he was only aware of Sheena's whispered plea echoing in his ears as he kissed her again, though this time with much more force than he had used before. He could hear her moaning through the kiss, her hands undoing his belts while his moved swiftly to remove her stockings.

"You love her, and you wish to show her that in ways that you cannot express through words."

There were no words for the things he was feeling, for the images slicing through his fevered mind as she hungrily returned his kiss, her hands mapping out every single thing about him. It was beyond any carnal want or jealous desire, he didn't even think a word as powerful as love came to describing what he wanted, what he was feeling. There were no words.

Breaking the kiss to get a gasp of air, there was a new throbbing echoing in both his ears and in his body, creating a strange rhythm that demanded complete and utter obedience. Never one to deny his instincts, he followed its lead blindly. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as she moved restlessly beneath him, begging for release from the ache that was screaming in both of their bodies.

"Please. I need you."

His body moved on its own, he didn't know what he was doing only that he was doing it. He could feel her legs hooking around his waist to pull him closer, her breathing ragged as they broke for another gasp of air. Even though it felt so good, there was still a wanting he didn't understand. More. Groaning her name as he shook out of his pants, he only knew the warmth of her skin pressing against his own as their clothes littered the floor. There had to be a way to have more than just what he was feeling now, and in reply to the only logical thought he had, his body found the answer for him.

Sheena cried out when she felt him, her entire body stiffening at the sudden intrusion. Gasping loudly, her eyes clenched shut and she grit her teeth, hissing in pain. He stopped all movement immediately, and she could hear him groaning in anguish at the torture that caused for him.

"Sheena..." Despite the force it was taking to restrain himself, Lloyd pulled away, staring down into her face. She had bitten her lower lip so hard it had begun to bleed, and in her eyes he could see the faintest sign of tears. Filled with a loathing he never knew he could feel, he gently kissed away the tear, whispering against her skin, "I'm sorry Sheena..."

"It's... okay..." Sheena managed shakily, making an effort to keep her eyes closed. She wasn't sure she could bear to see the apology she knew would shine in his expression. He was staying painfully still inside of her, waiting for her to adjust to him and she was grateful for his kindness. 'Martel... You've honestly blessed me.' Breathing shakily as she tried to get used to this new feeling, she pried open her eyes, surprised to see his face so close to hers. "Lloyd...?"

"I... I think... No, I can stop." The words burned like bile as he spoke them, his entire body was already mourning the thought of pulling away from her. It didn't just feel pleasurable, it felt right. This was something he had never expected to feel in his entire life, a completion that was so strange but so welcoming at the same time. He knew he was hurting her and the thought was enough to cause his soul to quiver in agony. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Just... Just give me a second..." She whispered back, knowing what pain she was feeling would soon enough vanish if she gave it enough time. She was surprised, she had learned enough from the fellow ninja in Mizuho about the pain of losing virginity, she hadn't expected it to be so fierce after such a pleasurable build-up. He stayed absolutely still on top of her, his breathing ragged against her neck. Every moment of pain for her was the exact same for him, this she knew and regretted as she waited for her body to adjust.

The pain began to fade, slowly, but enough for the summoner to try to move. It was a ginger and slow motion, but it was enough to bring back the fire that both warriors had assumed to be extinguished. Gasping out loud in the wonder, she felt rather than heard Lloyd's muffled groan of pleasure as the throbbing returned in full force.

She didn't need to tell him she was okay, he already knew the moment her lips found his again for a tender kiss. Neither of them really knew who began to reply to the old as time rhythm, but it didn't matter. His hands were steady as they held her by the small of her back, pulling her close as his hips moved against her own.

"Lloyd." His name escaped her mouth in a full-throated moan of pleasure that she couldn't contain, her body straining to keep the beat in sync as it began to grow more frantic. A tightness was growing in her stomach in sync with each of his thrusts, threatening to pull her over the edge and into the abyss. "Lloyd!"

"Sheena..." He replied in what could have very well been mistaken as an animal's snarl, his eyes closed tightly as he buried his face in her neck. Each time she shuddered against him and bucked her body in time with his, he could feel his restraint growing thinner, demanding a full out ferocity that he was too scared to release.

There was something demonic in his chest that frightened him, something that had been stirring in him for much too long. He wasn't even sure when it had begun, it could have been the moment he first saw her, or maybe sometime later, but it didn't matter. The hunger was loud and it fought his consciousness every moment he spent with her.

She cried out his name in the empty room, clinging tightly to him, straining against him in a way he had never felt before and he relished the feeling. This was beyond pleasure, it was pure ecstasy. He snapped, giving way to that strange hunger, crying out in return as the tightness increased in his entire body.

"Oh my g–" Sheena couldn't even finish, throwing her head back against the soft mattress, concentrating on nothing but the fire that was raging inside of her chest. His lips were everywhere, on hers, her neck, her shoulder, she could barely tell which way was up. Barely remembering to take hitched breaths between their fevered kisses, she was well aware of something preparing to break as the pleasure continued to spiral higher and tighter.

It exploded in a much more violent way than either had expected, drawing a shout from the swordsman and a scream from the ninja. Sheena moaned softly as her tense body melted back into the bed, barely able to feel anything but the shivers of pleasure that lazily moved up and down her spine. Lloyd collapsed beside her, panting into her hair, clutching her close with one arm as his left hand pulled at the covers to wrap their entwined bodies in them.

"That... was the best thing... ever." Sheena laughed weakly, nuzzling against Lloyd's neck as he chuckled against her ear. He gingerly rolled over onto his back with a quiet groan, feeling her cuddle into his side, resting her head into the crook of his shoulder as though she belonged there. "Wow..."

"Wow." Lloyd agreed wearily, closing his eyes lazily and taking in a long breath. She was shivering as he held her close, but the dreamy smile she wore told him all was just well. Breathing in the floral scent of her hair, he kissed her temple absently and muttered, "Damn... That felt... amazing..."

"Mmm." Sheena purred her agreement, the bliss now effectively clouding her mind and making rational thought a thing of the past. His arms were tight and protective around her, and he was absently pressing kisses to whatever part of her he could reach, and she felt intensely satisfied. 'I could die happily, right here, right now... I've never felt this content in my entire life...'

"Sheena...?"

"Mm... Yes, Lloyd...?"

"I love you..."

"I love you too..."

The whispered words were the last thing she heard as she happily slid into a blissful sleep, content to visit the world of dreams after such a wonderful experience. Lloyd however stayed awake, relaxing himself as she slept, content to watch her. He ran a hand through her hair, the fading glow from the firelight barely enough to catch the violet hues in her dark hair. 'She looks beautiful with her hair down... I wonder why she doesn't wear it like that more often...?'

"You're my soulmate, Lloyd."

He sat up slowly, making sure to move slowly so she wouldn't wake up. She looked exhausted but oddly happy, her mouth curved into a grin that made him feel arrogantly proud. She was curled under the beds in a very pleasing way, and he lazily ran a hand over the sheets that hid her bare body from his gaze.

Carefully, he pulled at the sheet that hid her feet, leaning over to study the wound she had received only a short while ago. The livid red wound that he had remembered seeing after her battle at the coliseum was gone, in its place was a thinner band of dark flesh, the only reminder of the painful injury that had been there.

He could still see the tree's whip-like root surging up from the abyss, wrapping itself around her leg and dragging her over the edge. The memory had burned itself into his mind and refused to be forgotten, warning him of how devastatingly close he had gotten to losing her.

She'd smiled at him, through the scratches and dirt on her face, through the pain the pressure of the root was pulling at her, she'd grinned at him. There was no lie in her face, just a raw emotion that he hadn't understood then. She'd told him so nonchalantly to leave her behind, as if it was nothing to her. As if she couldn't care less if her life was truly coming to any end.

"Don't worry about me. Just hurry up and go rescue Colette."

"How could I not worry about you?" Lloyd asked her softly, running his fingertips over the scar, hating himself as the memory of her pained grimace flashed like lightning in his head. "I always worry about you..." Tugging the blanket back over her, he settled back into the bed and kissed her on the mouth gently, so not to wake her. She smiled slightly in her sleep, murmuring contentedly as she automatically made to snuggle closer into his arms.

"I... I thought I was going to die without you back there... Losing everyone was so hard, but losing you... I didn't know if I could keep going." He whispered to his sleeping lover, tenderly brushing her messy hair back into place, running a finger over her cheek and mouth, content to watch her sleep. Even though she couldn't hear him, he couldn't stop the words from flowing past his lips. "When I saw you back in Yggdrasil's room, grinning at me like nothing had happened... I was so happy... If you hadn't come back... I don't know if I could have kept on living... You're my everything, my reason to exist... Hell, half the time now I keep thinking you're the entire reason I was born..."

"I want to understand everything about you Sheena, everything. When you're sad, when you feel troubled... I want to know what's going on because I want to help you. I care about you Sheena, more than I've ever cared about anyone. I need you to be okay because if you're not... I... I don't know what I'd do with myself."

"Sleep well Sheena..." Lloyd whispered into her ear, tracing her spine with one finger as he relaxed into the sheets. She moved to rest herself against his chest with a happy sigh, eyes still closed and a blissful smile lifting her lips. 'She looks so more at ease then I've ever seen her... Martel, how stupid am I...?'

"Great... Friends..."

'I will always love you.'

"Are you surprised?"

Raine didn't look up at the sound of his voice, but the duke did see the way her lips quirked into the faintest hints of a smile. Brushing her bangs from her hair as she adjusted her seating calmly, the half-elven woman couldn't hide her satisfaction in the fact that two of her companions had failed to return to the mansion. "No."

Regal smiled in response to her negative answer, watching the way her eyes nearly sparkled in hidden amusement. She was nearly laughing, but out of an ironclad self-control, she managed to keep her body ramrod straight and still. Chuckling very softly to himself, he leaned back against the couch and admitted aloud, "I'm surprised, I didn't expect them to make the leap from friends to lovers quite so quickly, but then again, it's been nearly a year since you began travelling, has it not?"

"Yes, and we met Sheena quite early on in our travels, so..." Raine shook her head, forcing the giggle that was growing in her throat down. As a professor, she felt rather outraged on Lloyd's behalf, though she knew full well that he was old enough to make any and all of his decisions on his own without her guidance. As herself on the other hand... She was proud. Outlandishly proud of both herself and the ninja she had been coming to view as a strange mix of a daughter and sister. "I shouldn't say anything at all about this, we have no idea if they truly made the leap or not last night, that is pure conjecture on our part and on top of that, we have no reason to jump to conclusions."

"You do realize you're deliberately trying to pull the wool over your eyes, do you not?" Regal questioned with a faint grin, watching the half-elf allow herself a brief chortle. He chuckled too, knowing that after what they had both walked in on at the royal garden, it wasn't anything short of time that was stopping the two warriors from making the physical seal between themselves. "All joking aside however... I do think it's a good thing."

"As do I, it's honestly about time." Raine remarked with a simple smile, smoothing out an invisible crease in her robe. She could still see the determination in the ninja's jaw when she had been rescued in the tower, the tears of happiness that she'd hidden from the rest of the party when she saw Lloyd alive and well in the final room. She could also see the anger in Lloyd's face when they had silently left Sheena behind at Tower of Mana so she could head towards the cannon, the sheer relief on his face when she had returned safely to Iselia. "There is nothing but love between them. The fact that they've realized it and possibly consummated it is something to celebrate."

"You don't think they're too young?" Regal questioned with one raised eyebrow, though his mouth still threatened to quirk into a smile. She had always treated her students as if they were children, her children, and he doubted the motherly side that she rarely showed was pleased with the loss of innocence on both of their parts.

Raine smiled to herself, understanding Regal's gentle prodding. Part of her agreed, but she had long since known that his innocence had left him early on in the journey. "I don't think they are... When you think about it, all of us are much older than we should be at our respective ages." Noting Regal's confused gaze, she continued quietly, "Think about it... Compare someone at Genis' age with the boy himself.. Who is more like an adult? We have lost our innocence, our childlike virtue at too young of an age, all of us..."

"I see." Regal nodded, watching her smile wearily, tilting her head back so she was now staring silently up at the ceiling. Her expression was thoughtful but saddened, and immediately disliking it, he closed the distance between them and gently set his shackled hands on top of hers. "Raine..."

"I'm alright Regal, thank you for your concern... I guess I'm just mourning for them in my own quiet way." Raine smiled gently at his worried gesture, but she returned it by slipping her hands between his. His palms felt warm against her cool skin, and she enjoyed the feeling more fiercely than she would have liked to admit. "We're all human... Well, in a matter of speaking anyway. Primal urges are part of our genetic makeup, if we deny it, we're denying what we are. So I won't speak anymore of the matter for their sakes. I will request that the rest of the party remains silent as well."

"I'd normally advise you to have a serious chat with Zelos, but he seems to have settled down as of late." Regal commented with a slight smile, watching as Raine grinned outright as though he'd just handed her deed to the ruins of Triet. Settling himself lazily into the couch, he was very aware of the half-elf shuffling close to him until she was nearly leaning on his shoulder. "I believe it may very well be Colette who is softening his behaviour. He has been taking much more precaution with the jokes he makes, especially when he is near her."

"It could very well be... She's been acting quite nervous around him, which is oddly cute when I look at it." Raine admitted with a sheepish smile, though her eyes were twinkling once again with amusement. "She never acted that way with Lloyd, the poor thing turns bright red the moment he puts a hand on her, which he doesn't do often mind you... It doesn't look like he wants to treat her the way he's treated every other 'fan' of his, which is... I guess, gratifying when I think about it."

"Yes, the Chosen doesn't deserve to be tossed aside like any of the others..." Regal mused with a nod, though at Raine's cocked eyebrow he immediately realized his blunder. Hasty to recover, he added awkwardly in spite of her quiet laughter, "Not meaning that they deserve such treatment either of course!"

"Of course... It could very well be that Zelos realizes she cares about him despite of what he is." Raine suggested curiously, crossing her leg over her other, glancing thoughtfully at her companion. The man shrugged, waiting for her to finish her thought, which she did without a moment's pause. "He's so used to someone wanting him because he is 'the Chosen' ... Colette is not nearly that superficial. If she does, which I suspect, love him, she does so because he simply is who he is. That may very well be a shock to him, but it must be something he enjoys if he's returning her affection like he is."

"Yes... It's a good thing." Regal agreed with a nod, casting a glance over his shoulder as though he was worried someone could be listening in on their conversation. Continuing calmly, though he was grinning to himself, he asked, "How about Genis and Presea...? They seem to be getting along quite well also, it may be in the air."

"Perhaps." Raine smiled at Regal's casual reference of her younger brother, but she knew he meant to draw attention to him. Resolving to keep as levelheaded at possible just to toy with him, she made a show of thinking. It was true, she had seen Genis working spectacularly hard to save up his Gald in intentions to buy something for Presea to make up for the hand-carven charm the hunter had given him. Only yesterday she had seen the fruits of his labour, a small but amazingly intricate paw-pad bracelet dangling around the girl's wrist. "He cares deeply for her... But I'm afraid he's scared that she, like everyone else he's known, will reject him because of his elven blood... Presea doesn't seem to care much for the racial quarrels, so I doubt it will be a problem, yet... Genis has become incredibly sensitive to rejection, especially after Heimdall... I don't blame him, but I fear for him."

Regal frowned, her worry for her brother wasn't just apparent in her tone, it showed in her body as well. She bit her lower lip and cast her gaze to her knees, her eyes dark with concern and the mix of maternal and sibling love she carried for every single one of the party. Moving close, he ducked his head and pressed his mouth against her hair in what he hoped was a caring gesture.

"Thank you Regal... I'm afraid I needed that more than words." Raine thanked him quietly, freeing one of her hands from his grip to brush it over her face. He immediately retrieved it, much to her hidden delight, and she turned her head slightly to glance hopefully at him.

Regal read the subtle sign, and obeyed her unspoken want immediately. Her hand was loose as it curled around his collar, pulling him down so his lips met her own. This kiss was different than the previous ones, neither the duke or the professor were content with the chaste touches now.

She slipped into the narrow space between his handcuffs and his chest, hands splayed flat on his shoulders as she parted her lips for him in quiet sign of surrender. He made quick work of trapping her in his arms, replying into the embrace with a ferocity that surprised them both. By the time he lifted his head to regain his air, she was panting for breath, having somehow wound up with her arms around his shoulders, robe halfway undone and hair ruffled.

"Regal..." Raine whispered softly, completely stunned by how far a simple kiss had taken them. She understood lust and its affects on the body, but she had never felt it so intensely. Her blood was on fire, and the only rational thought she had wasn't suitable considering both of them were in someone else's home.

"I... I'm sorry..." Regal muttered back gruffly, taking a deep breath in a desperate attempt to relieve the pressure building in his lower body. She had straddled him during the kiss, her fingers doing magical work on the back of his neck as he tasted her sweetness for the first time. He hadn't felt this strongly stirred in quite some time, the feelings he had sworn would forever lay dormant were now surging through him and he had underestimated the power they carried.

"I... I should move..." Raine suggested half-heartedly, though she really didn't want to leave his embrace. He nodded but his face was heavy with regret as he raised his arms to allow her to escape. She only made it off of his lap, unable to draw away from him entirely, the magnetic pull too strong for her to ignore. Breathless but still happy, she fixed the zipper of her robe and murmured a soft, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that... I was foolish..."

"N-No... This has... This has been meaning to happen I think, for quite some time." Regal began hesitantly, reaching into himself to find the answer he had been too scared to seek. He didn't know when it had started, but he knew that he had only begun to act on his emotions quite recently. 'Perhaps it was just time...' "For things to speed so quickly, it is not uncommon and you said it yourself just a few short moments ago..." He couldn't stop himself this time, he reached out to tenderly brush his fingertips against her reddened cheek, watching with a strange smugness as she closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. "We are all human. To deny our needs would be to deny who we are."

"Yes..." Raine sighed, opening her eyes to see his tender smile. It made her heart race and her blood warm again, but this time not with simple lust. She knew well the difference between a carnal want and a desire made up of an affection, and hers was definitely the latter. 'I've come to love him, stupid me... What do I get myself into?' Desperate to cover up the severity of her emotional turmoil, she quipped, "Are there any legends about Meltokio being a city for lovers?"

Regal paused, caught off guard by the sudden, and rather awkward, joke. She was blushing something fierce, but there was a certain desperation in her tone that made him stop from asking what had brought on the change of topic. Nodding, he decided to play along with her. Her words were right enough, the city did truly seem to have an atmosphere for couples. Since they had entered the city the eight of them had promptly and continuously split into pairs. "It seems to have had a profound affect on our party... However, I'm not too sure if there is a legend like that in Meltokio." Regal pretended to look contemplative, but the moment he glanced over at Raine the moment was lost. She started laughing first, hiding her face in his shoulder to stifle her embarrassed and that only made him break down in quiet chuckles of his own.

"Aren't we a sorry sight to behold?"

"Perhaps..."

Sheena woke to a quiet humming sound coming from beneath her, coupled with a soft rubbing sensation on the small of her back, ticklish, but not enough to make her move away. Blinking sleepily, she made to stretch her arms but a weight around her waist stopped her from moving. Confused and still half asleep, she opened her eyes all the way and looked up.

"Good morning."

The first thing she saw were a pair of gentle adust eyes staring down at her, and the memory of what had occurred last night came back to her in a rush. The first thing she felt was shock, and it froze her entire body as she took stock of where she was. She was lying on Lloyd, having been using his chest as a pillow, their legs still oddly enough entwined underneath the blankets. His left arm was tight around her waist, his right hand was lazily drawing circles into the small of her back through the sheets.

After the shock came embarrassment, but that faded quickly enough when Lloyd leaned down to brush his lips tenderly against her hair. He took it so naturally, she felt calm almost immediately and dropped her head back down onto her hands. She felt him chuckle, continuing his lazy ministrations, and she replied softly, "Morning..."

"You looked so peaceful, I didn't have the heart to wake you." Lloyd teased gently, stifling a yawn with his right hand, wincing at the soft pain the movement caused him. His entire body was sore and stiff, something he guessed as a tribute to their actions from the previous night. She seemed to have realized that too, and with a muffled grunt of annoyance, she buried her face in his ribs and refused to look up. "Heh... I think it's our bodies' way of telling us we were too busy last night..."

"Practise makes perfect?" Sheena offered, the words slipping from her mouth before she had a chance to filter through her thoughts. Lloyd laughed outright, but the sly way he set his mouth told her he was interested, and that only made her smile in return. Though she was aching as badly as he probably was, she didn't deny that he still stirred desire in her with a simple glance. Pulling the sheets around herself, she sat up gingerly and leaned on his chest, enjoying the way he automatically wrapped his arms around her to pull her close. "Mm..."

"I could really get used to waking up next to you every morning." Lloyd told her truthfully, kissing the crown of her hair. She smiled against his shoulder, and with a contented sigh the swordsman closed his eyes and relaxed. The sun shining from the window was warm, and he could hear the faint sounds of birds singing their mornsong outside. It just felt perfect. "How did you sleep?"

"Fine... I'm still tired actually." Sheena admitted sheepishly, running a hand over her face, stretching her aching muscles until they begged for mercy. Still holding the covers around herself, she winked at Lloyd and told him cheerfully, "Sore as hell too. I'm going to take a shower, I'll be right back."

Lloyd sat up to catch her, but she moved too quickly, snatching the covers and taking off with a girlish bout of a laughter as she disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. Laughing quietly at her antics, he managed to recover his pants before the chill of the room caught him. He could hear the water running, and when he closed his eyes, his mind almost immediately began to torture him with images he'd never had before.

'Ah... Damn... This is why Zelos talks about it so much...? I almost get his obsession...' Lloyd moaned inwardly, covering his face with his hands, willing the mental images to leave him. As soon as they did, they were replaced with his memories of last night, which was almost as worse. 'Dammit!'

Inside the bathroom, the ninja was having similar trouble, though she was combatting it with more ease than he. The water exceptionally cold, Sheena let it cool her hot body and waited patiently until her tense muscles began to relax too. Eyes closed, she let out a quiet sigh, tilting her face up to let the spray wash over her. 'Ughn...' "Oh, Lloyd... What the hell have you done to me?"

She waited until her body had adjusted to the icy temperature before turning the faucet back to warm, letting out a full-throated sigh of contentment. The cold had eased the tension, and the warm water now melted it away, leaving her fully relaxed and at ease in the tiny stall. Making quick work of washing herself clean, she had no desire to be away from Lloyd for any amount of time, she hastily grabbed a towel and fled back to the room, still dripping water.

The moment Lloyd saw her, his mind made itself up at the roar of hunger his body responded with. Her hair was wet and slick against her face, droplets of water still making their way down her bare legs that he barely could tear his eyes away from. 'Screw this.' Knowing he had no chance of focussing until he got what his body was demanding, he simply swept the ninja back into his arms and made for the shower with her.

By the time the two finished, the water had turned cold but neither of them really found it to be much of a problem. Drying each other between gentle kisses, they somehow fumbled their way back to the bed, collapsing onto it with a muffled grunt and giggle. Sheena was quick to once again regain her position on top of him, settling herself with a purr into his arms, resting her head on his chest to hear his heartbeat.

"I'm having a lot of trouble keeping my hands to myself when you're around, is that normal?" Lloyd asked her absently, his eyes closed and body completely relaxed as Sheena let her hands wander over his torso with gentle intents.

"I've never had this kind of relationship with anyone before, so I can't answer you honestly." Sheena replied truthfully, not totally bothered by the fact. Her dreams were finally a reality, something she had been making a job of praying for almost every night. 'As Grandpa once told me, "Don't knock a blessing", and I won't...' Her entire body was constantly on the verge of melting every time he put his hands on her, and she wouldn't complain about that either. Besides the physical euphoria he was quite capable of giving her, he had given her something else she had never experienced but always craved. Love.

"Oh well... It's... nice." Lloyd managed sheepishly, wishing he wasn't so clumsy with his words. 'It's so much more than nice...' Her smile was enough to make him want her all over again, but more than that, it made him content. 'I'd give my arm to make her smile, I like it that much...' With a little smile, he watched as she began to draw patterns on his stomach with her index finger, smirking when he laughed a bit at the ticklish feeling.

He paused as his thoughts began to wander, leaving him feeling strangely empty. He had never been one to give much thought to the what ifs of the future, it was much more fulfilling to live in the moment and work hard. Doubt had begun to filter in however, causing him to pause and think. 'But... After... If we defeat Mithos in the end and rejoin our worlds...' "Sheena...?"

"Yeah?" Sheena looked up from her drawing almost immediately, her smile fading when she saw the serious set to his jaw. Concerned, she propped herself up and scuttled a bit closer, reaching out to gently touch his cheek. Her voice quiet and worried, she asked softly, "Lloyd, what's wrong...?"

Lloyd sat up sharply, surprising the ninja he had been holding but he caught her before she had a chance to try and move away. Pulling her into his arms, he buried his face in her hair and muttered, "I don't want to lose you." She froze, and he sensed her confusion and continued weakly, "I love you. I want you to be with me forever, after this whole thing is over and we save the two worlds, I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you too Lloyd." Sheena answered him immediately though somewhat slowly, unsure of what had brought on the sudden change of mood. She didn't try to move herself from his embrace, instead she wound her arms around his waist and held on tight. 'I never want to be away from you, you idiot...'

"After this thing is over..." He took a deep breath, desperate to settle his destroyed nerves so he would make sense to her. He knew it seemed completely like a different track of thought, but they wound together more intimately than he had even guessed when he first came up with the plan weeks ago. His hands gentle as they moved to settle on her shoulders, he drew away so he could look into her concerned topaz eyes. Quietly and seriously, he explained, "I want to go and get all of the Exspheres left in the world, to stop them from ever being drawn into a stupid conflict like this ever again. I want you to come with me, to stay with me even after I do that. I need you to be with me, I love you."

Sheena opened her mouth immediately to give her consent, but her mouth snapped shut a second later as the painful realization of what was holding her back hit her head on. 'Mizuho... Grandpa...' Wincing, she bit her lower lip and began to think. 'I'm not ready to be the chief just yet... Grandpa is awake now, and he's doing well... Asking him to keep at it while I go around the world with Lloyd and help him collect Exspheres... That doesn't seem like such a bad idea... I... I want to be with him too... I need him...' She took a deep breath, reading the uncertainty and the desperation that had once been her eyes for so long. 'I couldn't say no to those eyes.' "I love you too Lloyd... I'll come with you, I'll stay with you. There's no way you could keep me away."

Lloyd felt himself laugh shakily as he tugged her back into his arms, and he was aware of a single tear becoming free and trickling down his face. His desire for her had become something stronger, more fierce, it held him to her unlike anything he had ever felt in his entire life. The physical wasn't just pleasure, it was ecstasy, his attraction wasn't just love, it was devotion acute to pain. She had become his entire world in just a few short days of transformation, but he didn't really care. All that mattered was her being by his side, in his arms, and most importantly, in his soul.

She felt the tear fall onto her shoulder, but she couldn't make herself pull away from him. She could sense how much he needed the embrace, and she held him tight. She had long since learned to just live with the angry yearning that drew her to the swordsman, the attraction that had early turned into a white hot blade of love. Everything about him only made her care about him more, which she didn't mind. 'Even though it killed me, I wished him all the happiness without me... Now it's my happiness with him...'

They didn't know how much time they spent sitting there, holding each other close and not speaking. When he finally pulled away, she glanced up at him worriedly but he smiled gently and touched her on the cheek in a reassuring gesture. With a little smile, she slipped from his arms but took a hold of his hand, asking gently, "Shall we get going back to the others? I'm sure they're worried about us not coming back, that if they noticed we were gone."

"Touche... But sure, we ought to head back..." Lloyd paused with a little smile as she made to get up from the bed, keeping a firm hold on her hand to prevent that. Grinning cheekily at her confused expression, he tugged her close and whispered suggestively into her ear, "But how about we keep the hotel room for the next two nights anyway...? It'd be more fun for us."

Sheena nearly pounced on him, fully prepared to show him exactly how delighted she was at the suggestion. However, by sheer force of will, and many years of Mizuho training, she managed to just flash him a grin as an answer before escaping his hold to dress.

After booking the room again, they left the hotel holding hands, smiling and talking gently as though the world around them didn't exist. Sheena remembered looking on jealously at the couples she spotted everywhere, but those feelings were gone now. She was now the one being shot resigned glances that she didn't notice, too happy to be near the one person who made her feel the way she did.

"What do you think we should tell the others about us?" Lloyd asked as casually as he could, though inwardly he was slightly embarrassed. He could already see where the heat would possibly come from once they made a 'formal' announcement of their relationship. 'Zelos won't shut up about it, I know that much... Professor Sage... I don't even want to know what the professor will do to me...'

"I don't know, half the time I think they already know." Sheena answered with a mild shrug, walking closer until their shoulders were brushing. He got the hint and wound his arm around her waist, kissing her smartly on the cheek when she gently elbowed him. Thoughtfully, the summoner continued, "Though I guess if you told Zelos he might finally leave me alone..."

"Another reason why you're sleeping in the hotel with me tonight." Lloyd answered firmly, unable to help the surge of anger that filled him at the mere mention of the redheaded Chosen. Before his many attempts to woo Sheena had gone largely unnoticed, but the swordsman doubted he could let them pass now. It seemed much too close to a personal insult to let the man get anywhere near her now. "If he snuck into your room, I'd break his legs."

Sheena grinned, imagining what Zelos' reaction would be if he caught her only to be thoroughly trounced by her lover. She had to admit it was quite pleasing, in strange, sadistic sort of way. Kissing him gently on the cheek, she explained pleasantly, "Well, if it comes to that, he knows some healing spells, so don't worry about going easy on him."

Lloyd couldn't help himself, he grinned back at her and gave her a short squeeze to express his delight to her words. By the time they reached the mansion, both were genuinely disappointed that the walk had taken such a short time. The swordsman made a point of opening the door for her, which she accepted with a small shake of her head and laugh. "You're hopeless..."

"Really, I thought I was getting better." Lloyd teased, letting go of the door and giving chase to her. They only made it into the front hall before they stopped, caught by the youngest members of the group.

"Oh, Lloyd and Sheena, I'm glad you're both back." Presea welcomed them with a nod, glancing back down towards her pack. She idly fastened the strap to close it before getting back to her feet, looking at Genis who had been watching her progress. "I think we're set to go see Noishe again, the food you cooked is now safely stored inside my pack."

"Alright." Genis grinned at her barely noticeable excitement, but in the short while he had known her, he had become remarkable adept in reading her rarely shown emotion. He turned to the surprised twosome at the door, and immediately noticed the way Lloyd's arms were wound around her waist and she was making no attempt to shake him off. 'Ah...' "Hey you two, glad to see you're good. Raine was worried that you two wouldn't find a room at an inn."

"We found one." Lloyd answered casually, though there was a heat rising in his face as he tried to keep his voice as normal as possible. Sheena couldn't look up from the floor, her cheeks pinking unconsciously. Coughing once to try and banish the feeling, he continued, "You two heading off to play with Noishe again?"

"Yes, we also are bringing him some food so he wouldn't have to forage." Presea explained, nodding towards Genis who was smiling awkwardly at her. Somewhat pleased by the redness in his face, she continued in a matter-of-fact tone, "Genis cooked, he also offered to show me some of his recipes so I may try my hand at it. My skill at cooking needs improvement, I am grateful for his aid."

Sheena couldn't contain her smile at Genis' obvious embarrassment to the hunter's eager tone. She had seen how he had attempted many times, and rather clumsily, as he tried to show the pink-haired girl how much he cared for her. She was glad he was getting some reward after all of his hard work. "I see. Well you two have fun and tell Noishe I said hi, i feel bad for not visiting him."

"We've been keeping him company, it's okay. But I'll give him the message." Genis chuckled at Sheena's kind words, turning his head to glance at the impatient Presea. She was smiling slightly but he could tell by how she continuously running her fingers over the straps on her shoulder that she was ready to go. "C'mon Presea, let's go see him."

"Yes."

The two were gone before Lloyd managed to say a farewell, but Sheena pulled him away from the door even as he tried to follow. Grumbling quietly over the injustice, he only perked up when the exasperated ninja kissed him on the cheek. Smiling as though his birthday had come early, his arm wound tightly around her waist and he nuzzled into her neck until she giggled for mercy.

"Will I ever get to win with you?" Sheena asked through laughter, swatting half-heartedly at his wandering hands. They had made it to the couch and had sat down, but he seemed content to touch her. As happy as she was to feel his hands roaming, there was a time and place. 'This is so bad but I don't want him to stop... I like it way too much...'

"Speaking as the Chief, you always win against me. I'm just one of Regal's attendants." Lloyd pointed out rather cheerfully, laughing as she playfully punched him in the chest. Pretending to be wounded, he grabbed at where she had hit him, groaning in fake pain, "Ah, you got me... That's so no fair Chief, I can't hit a woman..."

"Stop joking around." Sheena gave him a light clip on the ear, though her smile couldn't be dimmed. His arm was still tight around her, and she enjoyed the feel of being trapped in his embrace. Laughing when he set his chin on top of her hair, she attempted to wriggle out of his hold but he held on tight. "Am I going to be released anytime today?"

"Probably not... I'm enjoying this." Lloyd replied smoothly, kissing the top of her hair and plucking gently at the pink ribbon with his free hand. She settled quite comfortably in his lap, and stayed perfectly still as he toyed with her ribbon. "Why don't you wear your hair down more often? It looks nice..."

"It gets in the way I guess, I'm used to wearing it up." Sheena answered with a little shrug, feeling his fingertips stroking the back of her neck underneath the ponytail. Smiling contentedly at the pleasant sensation, she asked quietly, "Do you want me to wear my hair down? I could if you'd like..."

"Nah, just wondered... Besides, if you wore it down that means everyone gets to see it." Lloyd continued with a little shrug, enjoying the knowledge of the words. He didn't like the idea of the others, especially any of his male friends, seeing something that he had in private. Though he couldn't see her face, he could she was smiling by the curve of her cheek, and he promptly kissed her. "I like knowing that I get to see stuff the others don't when it comes to you."

"You're jealous." Sheena giggled, poking him in the ribs as she spun in his arms to come face to face with him. He just grinned at her, neither denying or admitting to her claim. Winding her arms loosely around his shoulders, she tugged him close, murmuring against his jaw, "I like seeing things the others won't see too. You're all mine Lloyd."

"And you're all mine Sheena."

AN

I promised myself I wouldn't write at school, but since I had third period Biology and we were doing dissection... I needed something to do XD I already finished my geo ISP, so I had a lot of free time to kill... And I got the ending finished so meh. Martel, lol, is it honestly eleven chapters of Jealousy already? It doesn't seem like I've been working on it for that long. Blahah. Oh well XD, I'm really enjoying myself. But all stories must come to an end, and Jealousy is working its way down that path, lol. I'm going to give it to about chapter 15 probably before I let it come to rest... Then I'll have another poll up asking what you'd like to see as my newest project. And there are quite a few I have in this strange sleeve of mine.

Review response time!

Lloyd Irving Aurion: (dazzled) I've read your work, and I personally have hoped to aspire to you. You're an amazing author and I'm honoured to hear those words from you. Hopefully I did the scene justice, and I sincerely apologize if I haven't.

Sychotic: XD I knew it'd be a fake way out, but it made so much sense to me for there to be no real ending. Though to be honest, there wasn't an ending, but a beginning. Who'd have thought that something as simple as a chess match could blossom into a full blown relationship? Hehe... I'm such a fangirl in all aspects of the awesome word.

Illko Skevuld: Thanks for saying that, I've never actually tried to do that before, that's a really good idea... (runs off with flashdrive in hand) Thanks for giving me the time to review, I appreciate it!

Maurice A. Nigma: I don't think I've ever gotten a review that long and that full of praise. You sure do know how to give raise to a girl's deflated and almost nonexistent ego. XD My sincerest thanks in that regard. You may always give me advice, everyone is welcome to it and I appreciate that people take the time to. I took your advice, I'm actually pleased with how it came out, and I hope my other readers are as well. Hehe, I appreciate your kind words and I hope to hear, and see more of your work in the future my friend!

Lastly... This chapter is dedicated to one of my newest friends, Li-chan. If I didn't have you kicking me in the butt with your witty reviews and pms, I probably never would have done a smut in my story. XD I'm really grateful for that, I needed it! And yes, I still feel awkward so I guess it means I'm not a full blown pervert, damn is that a relief! (runs off to spread the word) THANK YOU ALL MON AMIS!

This has been,

Sky