Here I am again. ^^ By the way, I noticed a few days ago that the signs I used to make clear that the point of view changed weren't shown ... So I had to use other ones that are shown. xD (But you won't see them this chapter because there is only one point of view. xD)

To axeloftheflame: Thank you for your review. I'm happy that you like the story. ^^ Lloyd will appear somewhat later but he won't be that important ... He'll have a more important role in the sequel though. ^^

Well, enjoy the chapter. =)

Chapter 21: Melting ice

While they were going upstairs Zelos was thinking the whole time about the mysterious voice which told him not to give up. It seemed somewhat familiar but he didn't know why … And every time he had the feeling he could solve this puzzle he just couldn't think clearly anymore. Was it because of his headache or did it have another cause? Maybe the voice or some higher might didn't want him to find out to whom the voice belonged.

Orochi finally startled him out of his thoughts. "You said the key is in the safe. Do you know the code which will open the safe?"

Zelos shook his head. "Unfortunately the duke didn't want to give away this secret. He just said that it is a 10-digit code with numbers and letters."

"Letters as well? That's unusual …" Sheena remarked.

"That's the end!" Orochi stated while stopping.

"Why?" Zelos asked confused.

"There would've already been ten billion possibilities if it were a 10-digit code with only numbers! But if there are letters as well …" Orochi shortly calculated. "… there are over three quadrillion possibilities! If we assume we need only three seconds to test one combination we would need more than two hundred million years to open the damn safe! And I doubt that one of us will live nearly that long!"

Zelos nodded. "You're probably right. But what if we're just lucky?"

"You do know that the probability is one to three quadrillion?" Orochi asked sighing.

Sheena just shook her head. "What sense does it make to think about that? Either we pick that lock or not. Maybe we don't even get the chance to try because the duke catches us."

"Well, it seems we have no other choice than to test our luck …" Orochi sighed and they moved on. "If Zolkit were here he would probably just knock with his crane against the safe and it would open …"

"Well, unfortunately he disappeared … Wherever it may be," Sheena said.

"How come you're actually that good at mental arithmetic?" Zelos asked Orochi.

"A ninja has to be prepared for everything. Calculating possibilities and probabilities belongs to it," Orochi explained.

"Then Sheena can do that as well?" Zelos asked.

Sheena cleared her throat and said: "By the way, we managed to seal the volcano."

"Hey, hey, don't try to change the subject! You can't do it, right?" Zelos asked grinning and nudged Sheena's side. "Incredible! You're a ninja and can't do that!"

An artery appeared on Sheena's forehead and because Zelos didn't stop picking on her she gave him a big clout. "Shut up, Zelos! You can't do it yourself! Besides …" Sheena suddenly looked depressed. "Besides, it's something that's usually taught by the parents. My grandfather barely had the time to teach me and that's why this part of the training got a raw deal … Well, whatever. We have to hurry."

Zelos rubbed his head. "I'm sorry, Sheena. I didn't know that."

"Heh. You should finally learn when it's best to be silent," Sheena just said but she was already smiling again.

Zelos stopped musing which the others didn't notice. "Didn't Sheila say something similar back then?" he quietly murmured while remembering the day when Sheila came to him and asked him to look after her children.

"And you still don't know when it is the best moment to hold your tongue."

Was it just a coincidence that Sheena and Sheila were so alike or was there more to it?

Zelos didn't have the time to speculate any further though.

"Zelos, we have no time for dilly-dallying!" Sheena said and he moved on again.

"I'm coming, my hunny!" Of course he got a clout for that comment.

Sheena didn't like being called like that and Zelos knew that but somehow it was fun to annoy her with it although he always had to suffer for it.

The stairs finally ended and they were standing in front of a wooden door. Before they opened it Sheena pressed her ear against it and eavesdropped.

"It's quiet," she whispered. Then she saw through the keyhole but couldn't see anyone. "Seems like the coast is clear." Slowly she pushed the door handle downwards and opened the door a little bit to look again into the room. When she still couldn't see anything suspicious she wholly opened the door and entered the room. The others followed her.

They were in the office where Zelos and Ashton had met the duke.

"He doesn't seem to be here," Zelos remarked. "How fortunate."

"Or unfortunate … If he were here we could press him for the code but now we have to guess," Orochi sighed.

"Hmm … Nobody uses a code which consists of random numbers and letters. It would be too difficult to remember. So it will be something he can easily memorize … Something that has meaning to him," Zelos said.

"Oh, great! Then we have to count all his gald?" Sheena joked.

"No, he gets probably every minute more gald. He can't change his code that fast. I think it's something different," Zelos replied.

"And what?" Orochi asked.

"Maybe the birthday of his daughter?" Zelos suggested.

"Which is?" Orochi was standing in front of the safe and was ready to try the first combination of numbers and letters.

"09/12."

"Then there are seven digits left," Orochi said.

"Enter her name. That fits," Sheena replied.

But nothing changed as Orochi had entered the code.

"Attempt one failed," Zelos sighed. "Hey, Ashton, don't you have an idea? You've been quiet for the whole time."

But Ashton didn't answer and turned away from him. Zelos wanted to talk to him but again he didn't get the chance.

"Hmm … His daughter isn't that important to him … That's actually not surprising. How about his wife? Laureen said that her father started changing after the death of her mother," Sheena suggested.

"That's a good idea," Orochi agreed. "Do one of you know her birthday and name?"

Zelos and Sheena shook their heads and Orochi sighed. While the grown-ups thought about other possibilities Ashton examined the desk. He found a picture frame with a photo of a beautiful woman in it. He was pretty sure that it was Laureen's mother and got the photo out of the picture frame. On the back a name and date was written. Ashton grinned and handed it to Sheena without a word.

She looked at the photo and then saw the name and date on the back as well. "Good work, Ashton. Orochi, try 11/23 and Marisa."

Shortly after Orochi did this the safe door opened. Inside the safe was a lot of money which wasn't a big surprise and a seemingly old rusty key.

"Wow, Ashton, you can be really useful!" Zelos remarked while disheveling Ashton's hair.

However, the boy pushed away Zelos' hand and once again didn't look at him.

Zelos had enough of this. "Ashton, what's wrong with you? What did I do to you?"

"You lied to me!" Ashton exclaimed.

Zelos looked at him confused. "When did I lie to you?"

"You said you would follow me when we were in the room with water! But you didn't follow me!"

"Ashton, I couldn't follow you. I didn't fit through the opening," Zelos explained calmly.

"You knew that, right? Why didn't you tell me?" Ashton wanted to know.

"If I told you would you still have swum through the opening?"

Ashton slowly shook his head.

"You see. That's why I lied to you. I wanted for you to be safe. I promised your mother to take care of you, so I can't let you die," Zelos said.

Ashton tried the whole time to hold back his tears but now he gave rein to them.

Zelos kneed down to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you're a big boy. So don't cry."

Suddenly Ashton hugged Zelos which surprised him pretty much. But then Zelos smiled. For the first time in his life he could imagine how it felt to be a father.

Sheena smiled and wiped away some tears. Incredible how sentimental she got the last days. Where was the cold-hearted ninja woman?

Orochi smiled as well but then reminded them that they still had a mission to fulfill.

"Everything fine again?" Zelos asked the boy.

Ashton nodded and wiped away the tears.

"Then let's go."

"Yes," Ashton replied determined.

Yeah, I know, it's actually boring that the duke isn't there ... But I think I just wanted them to finally get the damn key. xD By the way, the duke won't appear again. The next time you will hear of him is in the sequel and then he will be dead. xD

Well, is it really a coincidence that Sheena and Sheila are so alike? ^^

Isn't the scene with Ashton and Zelos cute? And somewhat corny ... xD But the relationship between them will be better now. ^^

So now they have the key which they need to enter the catacombs ... Will they be able to free Keen or are the next problems already awaiting them?

To be continued ...