A/N: Continuity errors!. I said that Yuan lost his left hand instead of his right, and at one point I say Kratos is wearing armor when later he isn't. Sorry! And because I'm not always the best at explaining things within a chapter, I would like to say the previous chapter (with Raine & her group and Yuan and the other angels) happened the day BEFORE the Altamira events that transpire below. The chapter after this one will also take place 'yesterday'. Oh, and the last chapter was 8500-something words long, while this one is 7,448 words long. Yay.

(gives cookies to all the reviewers)

They're home made! And whoever guesses what novel the play is based on gets brownies, too!

Ugh, this chapter sucked, although I do love going into that treacherous side of Zelos. You know its there if you've played the game where he dies… And a scheming Presea is just too awesome! In case you can't tell, I enjoy twisting other people's brain-children around. Try to Enjoy.

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Pandora's grip on his elbow tightened suddenly. Confused, Genis looked down at her with his eyebrows raised. She pursed her lips, shaking her head slightly as she stared straight ahead and kept on walking. "There's someone tailing us," she said after a moment.

"What? Really?"

"Yes. Don't look! Act natural."

Genis, who had been about to peek over his shoulder to see what he could see, straightened his back and let Pandora drag him around the resort. "Well, do you think they're dangerous?"

"He doesn't look like much," Pandora mused, stopping at a vendor to buy cotton candy. "But I know from personal experience that size doesn't always equal strength." He could see her trying to hide a grin. "I beat you up all the time, don't I?"

He bristled angrily at that. "Hey, if you would let me wear my Ex-Spheres I would mop the floor with that smug face of yours, and don't you forget it." He lifted up one fist to show her his Cruxis Crystal, pulsing softly with its own light. Pandora made a small sound that might have been agreement or disdain, but otherwise they didn't speak much until they reached Regal's office building. Genis showed the employees his pass card and they let them through to the elevators that would lead them to the President's office. By the way he saw the tension in Pandora's shoulders ease he could tell their little stalker had given up. He settled himself comfortably to lean against the elevator wall, adjusting the strap to the bulky goggles that nestled on his forehead.

"This will probably be the last time we'll be alone for a while." Pandora crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes and watching the floors fall as the elevator passed them. Her fingers itched to touch the blade at her hip. She sighed, frustrated. "This is getting tiresome, skulking about like this."

"Then maybe we should stop."

Pandora's head snapped up at that, her eyebrows shooting up into her bangs. "Stop?" she asked. "Stop what? According to you, we have a friendly student-teacher relationship only. I teach you how to not get killed and you….you…" Pandora struggled for words for a moment.

"Get the floor mopped with my face?" Genis suggested.

"You talk to me," Pandora finally finished. "You're my only half-elfin friend." Out of the blue, she reached out and snatched his hand, looking up at him and daring him to pull away. He didn't.

The elevator pinged and swung open its doors to find them standing on opposite sides of the cramped space; Pandora looking attractively bored in her silk and leather hunting outfit and Genis fiddling with the straps on his goggles. "Hey guys," he called out morosely to the group already assembled in Regal's office. "We're here."

"Naw," Zelos said, grinning ear to ear. "Really?" Sheena cuffed him soundly and he dropped into a silence, sulking in a corner of the office by himself.

"Genis. It's a pleasure to see you," intoned Regal from where he sat at his desk, taking off his reading glasses to fix Genis with his tranquil blue stare. Each time Genis saw the man, it seemed as if he had only grown taller, more muscled, and more serene than ever. The only disturbing things about Regal were the scars on his wrists and the fact that he had begun to develop the slightest traces of frown lines along his face. How old was he now? Genis struggled in his mind. Thirty-six?

Shrugging the thoughts away, Genis pointed an accusing finger at him. "You owe me a dinner, old man."

"Oh?" Regal's left eyebrow quirked up.

"Yep." Genis pulled on his goggles before letting them go to fly back against his forehead with a snap! "And before you even begin to argue, I have evidence that will prove my case." He turned to Zelos and Sheena, grinning again. "Who says Regal needs to cook for us?" he called out, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"We do!" Sheena threw her hand into the air while Zelos leapt up from his seat, punching at an imaginary enemy. Pandora sashayed past him to stand before Regal's desk, smiling thinly.

Regal shook his head, feigning disgust. "And a proper young lady like you would join in this revolt against me and my busy schedule?" he asked.

"I hear a lot about your cooking, Duke Bryant," she said as an answer.

Regal put his scarred, calloused hands up in a sign of defeat. "Very well then. You've convinced me."

"Don't listen to his moaning," drawled a voice from the open window. Genis blinked and turned to see a skinny boy toss one leg over the ledge and clamber into the office, his light red hair a mess from the ocean breeze. If Regal thought this was a strange phenomenon, he gave no sign of it. "He's been dying to cook for someone for months now."

The runty boy looked at each of them in turn, his eyes hidden behind huge sunglasses. He pointed at Zelos, "Ok, I know you-" he pointed now at Sheena, "-You-" his finger wavered when it reached Regal. "-Unfortunately I know you-" Pandora next. "-And you, by reputation."

Then he rounded on Genis. "But who the heck are you?"

Genis put his hands on his hips, knowing the situation was odd but too used to the bizarre by now to really care. All he knew was that this boy was giving him lip. "You're the one who barged in here," he shot back. "Tell me your name, stranger, and I'll tell you mine."

There was a collective groan in the room at the trademarked catchphrase.

"Genis," Sheena finally spoke up, stepping forward. "This is-"

"Waitasecond, I know who you are!" the boy yelled triumphantly, running over to yank at Genis's blue hair. "You're Yuan, aren't you?"

Genis snorted. "My name is Genis," he said. "Genis Sage."

The boy stopped to consider this, one hand on his chin as he tapped his foot, examining Genis from head to toe. Then he nodded. "That's cool. I'm Presea Combatir."

"And Presea Combatir," Regal said loudly, stepping over to yank the girl's sunglasses off of her face, "Needs to stop using Ex-spheres to let her climb up walls and disguise her voice." He plucked at the end of her baggy shirt, distaste showing on his face.

Presea stuck her tongue out at him, Genis completely forgotten now. He was left to stare at her in shock, his jaw dropping. "Puh… Puh…" he said, and suddenly he was fourteen again and woefully inept at talking to girls. "Presea?"

"Yuh- yuh- yes!" she said, mimicking him with a grin. "You have gotten tallllllll!"

"No, no, no. Not at all. My dear little rosebud has gotten shorter!♥" Zelos crooned, standing over to ruffle her hair, all but swooning in delight. "Isn't she cute, Genis?"

Genis slowly shook his head. "N- I mean y-… wh- what?"

"Poor Genis is confused," Presea said, her voice dripping with sympathy. Zelos nodded, his lips puckered in a tearful expression. He clutched Presea's hand as if for support. She gave him a reassuring squeeze, looking on the verge of tears herself.

Regal shook his head, disgusted. "That's quite enough," he said, grabbing them and steering them towards the elevator. "Presea, please show Zelos to the rooms. I'll be down shortly. And for the Goddess's sake, don't climb in through the windows!" he added as the elevator pinged and they stepped inside.

"That was some pretty good improv," Presea said, amiably chatting with the Ex-Chosen. "I think you might have some good qualities after all, Master Zelos."

Zelos glowed from the flattery, a pleased smile plastered on his face. "Ah Presea, I'm falling for you all over again!♥" he said, flipping one strand of his long red hair out of his face. Their conversation continued, but Genis didn't hear any more as the doors swung shut and the elevator descended.

Regal sighed, smoothing back his long blue hair. "I'm sorry," he said, "I thought I would have a bit more time to warn you about Presea."

"Was that really Presea?" Genis asked, his mind still buzzing uncomfortably with this sudden rush of weirdness in his life. "She was so alive! I've never seen her like this before…" he grinned and clapped Regal on the shoulder. "Good Goddess, man! What have you been feeding her?"

Regal took a step back, the waters of his deep blue eyes suddenly troubled as he refused to meet Genis's gaze. "It was nothing she ate," he said gruffly, "It's… this is my fault for not taking proper precautions. I was a fool to think it would have been so easy for her to just get rid of that wretched Crystal!" Genis's eyebrows shot up at the anger in Regal's voice. Now it was his turn to take a step back.

Sheena spoke up, walking over to them from her plush seat in the office. "Apparently," she explained, putting a hand on Regal's forearm to calm him, "When Regal took her Cruxis Crystal away, Presea lost herself." There was a pause as Sheena considered something. "If what we saw of her was ever actually herself. This might be the real Presea, not the emotionless doll."

She gave Regal a meaningful glance. "It might be a good thing, you know?"

"Not for Presea." Regal clenched his jaw.

"She seemed pretty happy to me," Genis mused, and Pandora agreed.

"From what little I saw of Presea, she was always a somber girl," she said. The half-elf put a hand to the hilt of her sword for reassurance before crossing her legs at the ankle and leaning against Regal's desk.

Regal shook his head, pulling away from Sheena. "She was never a girl," he said. "That Crystal did more damage than any of you can know. Even now that it is gone from her!" he angrily strode over to his desk, brushing Pandora aside as he pulled out a drawer and took something from the inside. It was a jewelry box, the musical kind, though it had been a long time since Regal had wound it up to let it play. He opened the box, plucking something luminescent from the inside. Holding up the rosy pink sphere, pulsing harmlessly in the center of his hand like a pearl in the confines of an oyster, he smiled a convict's smile. The scars on his wrists seemed to darken in the light of the Cruxis Crystal, standing out stark black against the white of his skin, the marks of his shame.

Then closed his fist and his hand enveloped the stone completely, snuffing out the light. "I would toss it in the ocean if I did not fear it would wash up somewhere where someone would be foolish enough to use it."

"You haven't tried destroying it?" Sheena asked.

Regal smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid to. The Crystals we've destroyed in the past- their hosts…. Mithos, Alicia… they were already dead when we shattered their Crystals. There's still too much I don't know about the Crystals, and I will not risk losing Presea."

"OK…" Genis said, drawing out his words to buy him more time to think. "So, Presea is her true self, and the Cruxis Crystal is safe with you, so what's the problem?"

"The problem is that there are still things missing from Presea," Regal said. "Things I want her to have again. More than anything else, I want that."

"What kind of things?" Pandora asked, her face looking too innocent to be anything but devious. Genis shot her a questioning look, wanting to know what she was up to, but she ignored him.

Regal looked at her. "Things like the last three years," he said. "Slowly, she forgot everything, right up to the point when we supposedly cured her when we put a Key Crest over her Crystal. That's what she lost."

"You mean she doesn't even remember you killed Alicia?" Genis blurted.

Regal fixed him with a level gaze. "After the first few months of her memory slipping away she went into a deep sleep," he said. "When she regained consciousness she had forgotten everything. I waited for her to recover fully, and then I took her to Alicia's grave and told her the whole story."

The scars on his wrists never seemed so red and visible as they did then.

"That's twice I've had to tell that tale," he added softly, pulling down his sleeves to cover the marks of his sin. He put the Cruxis Crystal and the jewelry box back inside his desk.

Genis looked down at his own Cruxis Crystal, pulsing innocently on the back of his left hand. The Ex-sphere on his right hand seemed almost dull in comparison, and that bothered him on more than one level. He knew who had died to give the power into his right hand- Marble, the old woman he'd been unable to save. But whose soul was so important that it outshone the life of his lost friend? And would the strength of that soul rip his memory of the past eight months away if he were to take it off? He clenched his fist, thinking of Yuan when he had offered the Crystal to Genis. He had been reluctant, and this was why. That dishonest little….

The elevator pinged, breaking into his thoughts. The doors swung open and an incredibly tall, older man stepped out, his nose buried in a book. "Duke Bryant," he said, snapping the book shut. "I must say the books in your record room have been an invaluable help to me and my-" he stopped when he spotted Genis, his mouth open mid-sentence. He recovered quickly, striding forward to shake Genis's hand.

"Genis," he said, smiling strangely.

"Uh, yeah…" Genis said, wondering why his life was getting so complicated.

"Gee," Sheena spoke up, "I thought you would be busy in those archives for a whole lot longer, Dr. Sage." Genis blinked at the open hostility in her voice, looking over his shoulder at her. She seemed extremely pissed, but the reason was unknown to Genis.

Did I miss something?

The guy certainly looked like a doctor. His clothes were nice, except for that dusty old fedora he had and a red bandanna wrapped around his neck. When he entered the room he respectfully took the weather worn hat, holding it in his hand as he smiled at the room. Genis could see the unmistakable rusty color of dried blood on that bandanna.

"I'm Alex," the man said, letting his hand go. Genis could feel the traces of mana in the air around him, marking him as someone with elfin blood. "Alexander Sage. I'm helping your friend Presea in exchange for some information Duke Bryant has."

The only part of his name that rung a bell was his last name, for obvious reasons.

"Do I know you?" Genis asked.

"No, but I know you." Alex glanced up at Sheena for a moment before looking back into Genis's eyes. "Your sister Raine is a very good friend of mine."

Sheena snorted once before sitting down in one of the office chairs, pointedly looking away from Alex. So that would explain her anger… this guy must be one of Raine's old boyfriends. Genis shot her an apologetic look, wanting to say something to defend his sister and her fickle ways, but now was not the time.

Alex clapped Genis on the shoulder affectionately, wrenching him back so that they were standing side by side to face the rest of the room. "I'm sure you all won't mind if I take a little of his time, hmm?" he said. Of course, nobody had any reason why he shouldn't- except for Pandora, but she wasn't about to say so. Alex steered him towards the elevator, smiling amiably. "After you, son," he said.

"I'm not your son," Genis said, rolling his eyes. In his opinion, one of the most irritating things an older man could do was call him 'son', like he was so much wiser than him or something.

"Heh. In a better world, maybe…" Alex muttered as the doors swung shut.

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"You know, I feel so much better now," Zelos said, walking arm-in-arm with Presea across the resort. Employees were beginning to light the lamps on the side of the street as it grew darker. "We got off on such a bad start, I was afraid this new you would hate me more than the old you did."

Presea was decidedly more feminine once she had taken off the baggy sweatshirt she wore over her normal clothes. Her hair wasn't as long as it used to be, but it was long enough for her to sweep it into a careless ponytail. She shrugged. "The old me hated you? Why? Were you a jerk?"

"Absolutely not!" Zelos said, shocked at the very idea. "I was ever the gentleman to my little rosebud. And you didn't really hate me," he continued, "You didn't feel anything. You were a dangerous little doll, but a doll nonetheless." The Ex-Chosen smiled down at her. "Does it irritate you that I know more about you than you do?"

Presea scoffed. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know you hate Regal."

Presea was silent at that. Zelos slowed and came to a halt, standing outside the doors to the hotel. He looked down at her, one hand on his hip and the other brushing his long hair out of his face. "I know you've always hated Regal."

Presea's foggy blue eyes were distant for a moment. Then she laughed again, looking at her feet and shaking her head. "You don't know anything about me," she said again, smiling thinly. "What do you want from me?"

Zelos grinned. "I haven't thought of anything yet. But whatever it is, I'll get it- if I want it bad enough."

"So you generally get what you want?"

"Not everything I want."

"And what do you want?"

"Everything," he answered honestly.

Presea laughed again, louder this time. Her giggles filled the night air, causing several of the employees who knew her to stop and stare for a moment. When she stopped laughing, she shook her head once more. "That's ambitious of you. You think you're going to get everything?"

"Psh, no," Zelos said, rolling his eyes. "But haven't you ever wanted something you can't have?"

"Yeah…." she agreed. Then, suddenly, she said, "I like you." She crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side to examine him. "I can see why the old I didn't like you. Take that as a compliment," she added, glancing over her shoulder to where the Lezareno Company building loomed over the island resort, glittering from the inside where lights had been turned on to ward off the darkness. "It's been a long time since I've had everything," she said softly. "Maybe we can help each other."

"You read my mind. Come, let's walk a little more. The night is young, and we have a lot to catch up on, right?"

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"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Genis said, digging his heels into the ground and glaring at Alex, who still had a grip on his shoulder and was leading him outside the building to the main island. "I am not gonna be dragged around like luggage. I can follow you on my own."

"I just want to ask you a few questions, son," Alex said, trying to soothe him.

"I'm not your son," Genis said, "And you're pissing me off."

Alex scowled. "Would you stop acting like Kloitz for five minutes and listen to me?" he demanded, running a hand through his shaggy black hair.

Genis clenched his fist and made to move back to the elevator. "I am not like Kloitz," he said stiffly.

Alex reached out after him, pulling him back. "Hold on there a second, boy!"

Genis let him be pulled back, going with the motion to make a complete turn and charged straight into him with a fist to his chin, grabbing the front of the human's shirt with his free hand to keep him from backing off. Bringing his fist back, he followed up with another punch right into Alex's gut that made him double over. Genis let him sink to the floor.

He stood over the older man with one fist in the air, a fireball crackling in his palm as he marveled at how easy it was to beat Alex into submission. He tensed up, expecting Alex to move forward and try to head butt him in the stomach, but all he did was sit on the floor, one hand on his abdomen. It was then that Genis realized that Alex wasn't a fighter for all that he kept himself in shape. Even if he was, Genis was stronger, faster, and younger, and had the power of a Cruxis Crystal that would let him cast spells without an incantation and at half the speed he normally did. He felt invincible… and crushingly guilty.

He crouched down next to Alex, his face expressionless. "I am not like Kloitz," he said.

"I meant my brother," Alex wheezed, "Not your brother. Sorry for not…making the…distinction…son…"

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"Good Goddess, not you people again!" the Fortune Teller- Claire- exclaimed when they burst in through the tent flap, dragging out the teenager who was currently getting her love fortune told. Pandora marched up to the woman while Genis waited just at the entrance, looking menacing enough to deter anyone from complaining that they were in line to see her first.

Pandora's smile was bloodthirsty. "I know you use an Ex-sphere," she said. "What happens if you take it off?"

Claire gave her a weak smile. "Child, maybe if you sat down we could talk, hmmm?"

"Where did you get your Ex-sphere?" Pandora pressed, leaning towards the woman and putting one hand on her crystal ball.

"Child, that is an expensive-"

"Don't call me child!" Pandora barked, gripping the Crystal ball threateningly. "I know this ball is bogus, so tell-me-where-you-got-your-Ex-sphere-from!"

"Pandora?"

Pandora tilted her head, her expression detached. "Yes, Sheena?" she asked pleasantly. The half-elf was leaning against Regal's desk as he finished up some paperwork before he could go home and call it a day. She stared out the window at the black nighttime sea, doing her best to keep her face serenely blank from all worries, even if her mind was working full time.

Sheena didn't answer at first, sitting Indian style on the plush office chair, twiddling her thumbs. Her charm dangled from her wrist, glittering prettily in the light from the many lamps in the room. "I'm probably going to leave in the morning," she said at last. "Before this whole mess with my Ex-Sphere- I mean, with my bracelet started, I left Mizuho to follow a lead. I was looking for Kuchinawa, and my contact was in Izoold."

Pandora was surprised, but not terribly so. She hadn't failed to notice how, in Zelos's mansion, Sheena had almost let the word 'Izoold' slip before she changed it to 'Triet.' "So why did you go to Triet?" Pandora asked for the sake of conversation and the hopes that she might learn something to give her an advantage.

Sheena shrugged helplessly. "Hunch," she said. "But I need to show up in Izoold by tomorrow or the trail will go cold again."

Pandora couldn't help but smile. "So why are you telling me?" she said, walking over to Sheena to sit down next to her on the same chair, comfortably squished up against the ninja. Pandora generally kept her distance from people, but if she liked a person enough she could be like an affectionate cat. She also enjoyed the fact that Sheena didn't like being too close to another attractive girl.

"Because Zelos is likely to follow me, and I don't want you to follow me too," Sheena said, tensing only slightly as Pandora draped an arm around her shoulder. "…OK?"

"If Zelos goes after you," Pandora said, "You can bet I'll be there too."

Sheena made a frustrated sound, pulling away from Pandora and turning in her seat to give her a pleading look. "Come on, Pandora!" she said. "Why are you two always like that? Why does it always seem like you're competing over me?"

"Because we are," Pandora said, her eyebrows shooting up.

"K- K- Katz!" she stuttered as Pandora held up her hand high above her head, letting her long fortune teller robes slide back to reveal the incriminating Ex-sphere that looked similar to Sheena's. "I got it from the Katz! It gives me limited telepathic and disguise abilities!"

"You never noticed?" Pandora asked. "I thought I made it obvious I don't like him near you." She smiled crookedly, lowering her voice to whisper in Sheena's ear. "I get jealous."

Sheena gave Regal a panicked look, but if the blue-haired President had any knowledge of what they were whispering about he gave no sign. "Wait, you like me?" Sheena hissed, giving voice to the suspicion she had been harboring for months.

"No. That is… well…of course I like you," Pandora reassured her, "But do I harbor romantic feelings for you? No. I just don't like Zelos."

Pandora could tell she wasn't totally convinced by the look on her face. Well, that was fine. Sheena could think whatever she wanted to think. Pandora settled back a safe distance from her friend while still maintaining physical contact since their thighs were still pressed against each other on the seat meant for one person. "I'll stay," she said. "Whether or not Zelos leaves." That way I might have more time with Genis.

"Good," Sheena sighed, rubbing at her forehead.

"Only if you give me a kiss as a bribe," Pandora said, grinning wickedly. Regal looked up at that, his pen stopping as he blinked at them. Sheena turned a wonderful shade of red and bolted out of the seat, one arm crossed protectively across her chest as she stared at Pandora accusingly.

Pandora lowered her head and gave a throaty chuckle, covering her face with one hand.

"What kind of disguises?" Pandora growled. "Tell me everything you know."

"It- it was expensive. The Katz was loath to part with it, but they all have a price. It can do a lot of things. I change my hair with it, but the Katz said it was very strong. A half-elf could pretend to be human, and it can affect what you're wearing, like make a dress look like a tuxedo, or, or, or opals look like diamonds."

Pandora let her go, stepping back. Her facial expression changed dramatically, her black eyes slow and thoughtful as she turned around and left the tent, Genis following after giving Claire one last, meaningful look.

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"My Goddess, you mean they actually have a different play now?" Zelos marveled. They took a seat, relaxing in the cool night air.

"Uh-huh," Presea agreed. "We're gonna have a new one every six months now, and they have me to thank for that. There's even entertainment in the bar, and they stopped forbidding minors from going in there and turned it into another restaurant since the one in the hotel is closed at night."

"Do they still serve alcohol, though?" Zelos asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah."

"Oh, goodie." He grinned at her. "So since you're like, Regal's business partner, that means you can get me free drinks, no?"

"No."

"You wound me darling," he said, pouting and then turning his attention to the play. "But then again, you have to be ruthless if you help run that company, don't you?

"This is supposed to be a scary play," Presea said, ignoring him as she watched it. "I haven't had an opportunity to enjoy it yet."

Zelos lounged in his seat in the outdoor theatre, gazing up at the stars. "I've seen it before," he said. "I almost wet my pants." Onstage, a figure in a dark cape crept up on an unsuspecting woman in white, fake mist trailing his every step.

"You did?"

"Did I say that? I meant Pandora was clinging to me the whole time." Zelos tapped his foot on the floor, already bored with the play. "So what kind of deal do you want to strike? I know what you want, but what can you offer me?"

"I can give you information about your fiancé," Presea said. "She's cheating on you. I followed her today."

Zelos was unimpressed. "No thanks," he said. "But like I said earlier, I don't know what I can get from you yet. So there's nothing really you can offer me- unless you honor me with your presence for the rest of the evening."

Presea checked her watch as the man onstage grabbed the woman, cackling evilly. "It's almost midnight," she said. "The evening is done. This is the night time now."

"Then spend the night with me?"

There was a light breeze from his direction, sending the scent of strawberries and soft flowers wafting over to her. The pink-haired girl shook her head, "You may be perverted, but you're not that perverted."

Zelos tilted his head to the side, smiling disarmingly. "I didn't say anything wrong," he said.

"That's what you meant it to sound like, though. You think I can't hear the words behind your words?"

"I have you now, Mina Harker!" the man onstage boomed before dissolving into manic laughter again. The woman was bleeding all over her white dress.

"Hmmm," Zelos said, "Well, whatever you say, Princess. Let's concentrate on the play for tonight. Try not to get scared," he added, teasingly.

OoOoOoOoOo

"Wait- what?" Genis faltered, the fireball in his palm dying. "Kloitz? You mean you're my uncle?"

"Unfortunately," Alex said, coughing. "Hehehee… You're the only one who knows, though." The laughing must have hurt him, because he winced. "Ugh, Raine sure taught you how to defend yourself, didn't she?"

Genis shook his head slowly. "No, I learned from someone else. How do I know you're telling the truth?"

Alex sat back on his heels; he still too busy concentrating on how to breathe properly to answer him well. "Dunno," he said after a few moments.

Hesitating in case Alex was just trying to trick him into coming closer, he lifted his left hand and pressed the cool stone against a trickle of blood that streamed down from his cut lip. The Cruxis Crystal hungrily soaked it all up, seeming to gorge itself on the blood. Genis swallowed nervously before biting at his own lip and letting a little drop of blood well up before falling down to splash against the stone.

The crystal was dormant for a moment before exploding in a dazzling array of color and light. Then, quickly as it started, it stopped and was once more pulsing gently on his fist.

"Oh my G- you're really related to me, aren't you?" Genis said, wondering if it was his imagination or if his voice had gone a little shrill.

"Is that what that thing does?" Alex said, looking pointedly at his Crystal.

"Yes, I- I took it from Kloitz, who stole it from a friend of mine." He stared a bit more at Alex, seeing a shadow of his own face in him. His eyes were too dark, though. Kloitz and Raine's eyes were lavender instead of this deep violet, and Genis's eyes were blue like his mother. "I'm… sorry I hit you," he said awkwardly.

"Oh, now you're sorry?" Alex huffed, getting on one knee and then standing up. "You have the strength of an ox, son," he grumbled.

"You were being an asshole though," Genis quickly said, not wanting to seem too repentant.

Alex groaned a little before tenderly shifting from side to side. "At least you didn't break a rib," he said. "Now, if you really want to make it up to me, you'll answer a few questions I have?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were my uncle in the first place?" Genis demanded, not answering him.

"Because I was ashamed of being an uncle to an insolent twerp like you were proving to be!" Alex said, snapping at him. "You and your- your sister both seem to like knocking me senseless."

Genis perked up at that. "You've seen Raine?" he asked.

"Yes," Alex said. "I saw her in Asgard."

"Did she know you?" he continued.

"I thought I was the one asking questions?"

"Where is she now?"

"What happened eight months ago?"

Genis stopped as if he had been slapped, staring evenly at Alex. "Kloitz tried to kill my sister and my friends," he said, his lips pressed thinly together. "Now he's in jail. That's all there is to it."

Out on the main island, the employees were beginning to set up the street lamps to brighten the streets for the night time tourists to enjoy themselves on the island paradise.

"…I see," Alex said thoughtfully, one hand massaging his sore stomach. "This makes things a lot more interesting." Then he looked up, his expression confused, as he saw something behind Genis that warranted all his attention. "But hey," he said, "Isn't that Raine over there?!"

"What! Where?" Genis whirled around, scanning the crowd for the telltale cloud of white hair. "Where, Alex?" he said, looking over his shoulder to question his uncle. But Alex was gone.

When Regal, Pandora, and a blushing Sheena came down the elevator they found Genis harassing one of the employees. He had the unfortunate man by the front of his shirt with his legs dangling helplessly in the air as we waved his arms desperately for help.

"Where did he go?" Genis said. "There was a man here, where did he go? Did you see him leave?"

"Nuh- nuh- nuh- no sir!"

Genis gritted his teeth. "But you saw him with me, right?"

"Yessir!"

"Genis…" Regal said, taken aback. He blinked a few times before adjusting to the situation and prying Genis away from the man. "I would appreciate it if you didn't manhandle my employees."

"I'm a MORON!" Genis yelled to no one in particular, hunching over and yanking at his blue hair while the employee fled in terror. "AAAARGGH!"

OoOoOoOoOo

Eventually Genis calmed down enough to let Sheena coax what had happened out of him. All he said to her was that Alex had tricked him somehow and had split. Sheena was secretly glad, of course. The man was irritating. And… he was irritating. There was no other reason Sheena was jealous. Upset. Sheena was upset. Secretly upset.

But by the looks Pandora and Genis kept giving her she soon came to realize it wasn't that secret. She wanted to blush and scream at them to mind their own business, but then she would have to openly admit that she was upset. That was the last thing Sheena wanted right now.

"Let's just get to the rooms so I can go to bed," Sheena said, trudging along behind Regal as he led them to the Elemental Express and then to the hotel. If she still intended to go after Kuchinawa in the morning, she needed to get some sleep.

Pandora, who was walking alongside Sheena, stopped in her tracks as they reached the hotel. "Hey…" she said, looking at something far off. "Isn't that Presea?"

To Sheena's surprise, Genis suddenly rounded on Pandora, his face livid. "If you think I'll fall for that stupid trick two times, I-" he stopped when Presea came into his line of vision, walking alone from another elemental express. Then he flushed and turned around, walking into the hotel and out of sight. Pandora looked after him, her expression shrewd, before she excused herself from Sheena and Regal to chase him down and question him more thoroughly on how exactly Alex had gotten away.

"OK…" Sheena said, waiting for Presea at the steps into the hotel. "Hi Presea," she said when the formerly taciturn girl arrived, trying to sound cheerful.

"It's late," Regal said to her.

"I was watching the play," Presea said, brushing past him to give Sheena a brief hug before vanishing into the hotel as well.

Regal made a disgruntled noise before going inside and getting a vacant room for Sheena. "I live in the top floor in one of the suites," he informed her, "If you need anything at all it shouldn't be too difficult to find me." Sheena nodded and they stepped into the elevator. Regal got off first, giving her a small nod goodbye as the doors closed between them and Sheena was left alone with the buzzing and clunking noises of the machinery.

She sighed, resting her forehead against the cool metal doors. Assuming it was midnight, she would probably get five hours of sleep before she would head out to Izoold. Even before this stressful day had happened, Sheena suffered from insomnia and an aching hurt in her mind, begging to be drowned and washed away. But when the elevator pinged and she made her way to one of the luxury suites, she felt the weight of the shadows around her and the moonlight streaming through the window and was comforted, and by the breeze whispering through the open window and the fire waiting for her in the hearth.

Gnome wiggled in her pocket, clambering out of his hiding place to rest on her shoulder where he made himself comfortable against her ear. Lying on the bed was a complimentary bottle of chilled Flanoir potion and a basket of fruit that all of the expensive rooms had, to be refreshed every day by the maids. Sheena grabbed the bottle and put it in the closet where it wouldn't haunt her.

"Remind me to ask the maids not to bring that stuff in here," she murmured to Gnome, who squeaked in agreement. She kicked off her shoes and then flopped onto the mattress with her arm thrown across her face, too tired to pull the sheets down. Gnome morphed into something heavier, like a dog, and cuddled up next to her while she slept and to guard her against anything that might come in the night.

OoOoOoOoOo

Sheena's eyes snapped open when she felt a sharp needle prick on her arm. She sat up, trembling slightly as Gnome's cat-eyes glowed at her in the semi-darkness. He had one paw stretched out, brown claws digging into her skin.

"I heard someone scream," he whispered to her. Then, surprisingly nimble for such an obese cat, he sprung off the bed to the open window, balancing precariously on the ledge. He jerked his head outside. "Over there."

Sheena padded over to the window as silently as he had. She craned her head outside to see that not too far off, someone's balcony door was wide open and clanging in the wind. She remembered how Meltokio was having crime problems and wondered if Altamira was next, being the next biggest city. "Do you have any winged shapes?" Sheena asked him, hopping on one foot as she put her slipper on.

"Do I look like the Summon Spirit of Wind to you?" Gnome asked her, affronted.

"Well, I had to ask," she muttered, putting one foot on the window ledge. "OK, lesson gravity on me for a little bit, would you?"

"Uh, sure…" he said, hopping onto her shoulder. When he gave her the signal Sheena pushed off from the window, flying through the air with her arms wind-milling frantically until she landed safely on the balcony- but not the balcony she was aiming for. Her heart was beating a little too fast and she briefly made a note to herself that if she ever did that again, she needed the Sylph to help steer her properly. Or, you know, keep her Wing Pack handy more often.

Luckily, the balcony was a lot closer now and Sheena reached it with only her normal ninja training to thank. Pulling out a few of her enchanted cards, she stepped into the room, her eyes spotting signs of a struggle. The door to the hallway was wide open, spilling golden lamp light into the room and illuminating a puddle of blood seeping into the carpet. Before Sheena could think of what to do next she heard footsteps approaching and Presea's voice shouting loudly.

"He's in here!" she said, leaping into the doorway. She held a wickedly sharp axe in her hands, and Sheena panicked for a moment when she saw the crimson splash on her pink nightgown before realizing it wasn't Presea's blood. Regal and Zelos stood behind her, Regal clicking his shackles into place and Zelos brandishing a naked blade.

Sheena resisted the urge to freeze up, instead taking a few steps into the light so that they wouldn't mistake her for the intruder. "I heard someone scream," she said as an explanation.

"That was me," Presea said, shame-faced. "Someone startled me in the night, so I stabbed him and went for help."

"Well…" Sheena scanned the room. Being the master of shadows, there wasn't much that could hide from her. "He's not here now."

Yes I am.

Something dark dropped from the ceiling to land behind her, slapping her cards out of her hands and yanking an arm around her throat, holding her up in front of him as a human shield. There was a dry rattle of scales and feathers as Matias limped towards the balcony, dragging Sheena with him. Call your friends off, he said harshly into her mind. Or I will kill you.

"Get your hands off of me!" Sheena snarled, slicing her arm through the air. A strip of the floor surged up, slamming into Matias's side and sending him sprawling to the other side of the room. Gnome bristled and spit angrily at the pseudo angel, little chunks of marble gravitating around his head.

It's me you should have been worried about, Sheena sent to him. She put up a hand to halt Gnome from finishing him off and approached him warily. He was slouched against the wall, his violet eyes weak and out of focus. The ninja could see three distinct tears across his pale cheek as if from the claws of a small beast- or the nails of an angry young girl like Presea- along with countless other bleeding gashes all over his body that weren't as fresh. Under his ripped coat she could see tight linen bandages wrapped around his chest, soaking up the blood.

He looked up at her before he passed out from pain and blood-loss.

Bitch…

OoOoOoOoOo

A/N: Did you know Microsoft Word has 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' in its dictionary yet doesn't have 'dunno'? Well, I was internet-less again so I didn't have much to do but write this chapter. So Alex is Genis's uncle- or so he claims. At the very least they're closely related.

So here's your Matias! But the shape he's in, he might not be around for long, if you know what I mean. Presea is a little more inclined towards self-preservation now that she has a mind and soul, not like before when she would throw herself into the middle of a battle.

Also, I didn't intend this while I was writing this chapter, but when everyone rushed to Presea's aid, Genis and Pandora aren't among them. Makes ya wonder what they were doing while this was going on…Maybe… Having fencing lessons! : D

Next Chapter: SMOOCHIE SMOOCH! MMMMWAH! (bursts into evil giggles)

OR

Lloyd, Kratos, and Colette try to convince Yuan that his memory is lost. And as for why Raine isn't in Altamira when she's supposed to be…