Yuan: Hello, and happy valentines day and all that-
Me: (Eye twitches)
Yuan:...What?
Me:...Val...en...tines...day...
Yuan: Uh...What's wrong?
Me: I HATE VALENTINES DAY!
Yuan: Why? Because you can't get a guy to save your life!
Me: LEAVE ME ALONE! (Crawls into corner) T.T
Yuan: Woah...erm, Freakyanimegal owns nothing.
I woke up in the morning, yawning. I rubbed my eyes and walked into the lobby, where Raine
was seated comfortably, reading a book. I was confused a minute.
"...Raine? Aren't we going to the wind seal...?"
"Nope. Not today. Colette wanted us to take the day off."
The day off...? But why...? I looked around, and with a start noticed the lobby was decorated with
streamers and hearts of red, white, and pink. In fact, Raine had several boxes of chocolates from
several members of her Asgard fanclub. Then it hit me.
"Oh God. No." I paled. "It's...it's...VALENTINES DAY?!"
"Yep." Raine nodded, eating a chocolate. "Now, could you leave me alone? I'd like to read this..."
The book was titled 'Lovers in the Night'. Figures, cuddling up with all her little GIFTS with one of her
little ROMANCE novels...grr...
"If you need me, I'll be somewhere other than here." I muttered, walking out the door.
I walked outside and found a very unpleasant suprise. Apparently, Valentines day is big in Asgard,
because every house, every person, every DOG, was decorated in HEARTS! Everywhere I LOOKED,
it was PINK PINK PINK! HEARTS HEARTS HEARTS! COUPLES! WAS THERE NO END TO
IT?! A couple walked by, holding hands and skipping around as if they were on estacy.
"ARGH!" I shouted to myself.
I stalked through town, taking great effort not to run away screaming. I gritted my teeth.
I. HATE. VALENTINES DAY!
"Why hello there, young lady!" a vendor chirped. "Need something for a special someone?"
I froze, my lip twitched.
"Miss...?"
"No." I growled. "I do not. Now don't speak to me again. Got it?"
I stormed off again, hands in my pockets. Valentines day, ugh...I hate it, not only do you get annoyed
with all the hormone crazed IDIOTS, but...Oh...it's so pathetic to talk about...I guess...well...it
reminds me of PAST Valentines days...ones where...well, you know, where you're completely
infatuated with someone-
And then they crush your heart into a million pieces. Nothing unusual, really.
But man...it seems like EVERY guy I ever liked shot me down the minute they figured it out. Then,
when there finally WAS one who DID give me a reason to be happy on Valentines day, he stopped
talking to me a week later and went after the class- ...prostitute. There was NEVER a guy I liked that
didn't crush my heart- well...except him...I stopped. I heard footsteps.
"Hey, Lloyd." I said, turning around to face him.
"Woah, how'd you know I was coming?" Lloyd blinked.
I smirked. "They don't call me satillite ears for nothing."
"What's a satillite?" he went wide-eyed.
Woops. I slipped up.
"Erm...nothing." I laughed.
Satillite ears..hadn't been called that in a while. Not since I came here... My dad would always call me
that, because I hear EVERYTHING. My mom says I got it from my grandmother, because she heard
everything too, she could pick up ANYTHING with those ears- well, that's what they told me-
Wait a minute...it wasn't really my hearing anymore, I had angel senses now so I had kind of...cheated.
Wait. If exspheres and Cruxis Crystals increase natural abilities...that'd my 'satillite' ears would be even
BETTER...hm...I see possibilities... Oh, wait, I got off topic again...
"What're you doing, Jaela?" he asked. "Sulking around again?"
"Tch. Whatever..." I muttered.
"See? You did it again!"
"Oh shush." I huffed. "I'm not exactly in a good mood-"
"But it's Valentines day! You should be happy!"
My eye twitched.
"Uh...wait..." Lloyd looked scared. "Um...I'm sorry! I take it back!"
I sighed. "What did you want, anyway?"
"Well...I wanted you to help me pick a gift for Colette..."
"A gift?" I blinked, then smiled. "Aw, that's so sweet! You softie!"
"H-hey...cut it..." he blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Hm...A gift for Colette..
"So what would you want?" Lloyd asked. "I mean...if you don't mind me asking..."
"..." I frowned. "What would I want...?"
A rose...in a box of chocolates...
"Um...Well, what do you think she'd like?" I asked him.
"Well...I dunno, I mean, I just want to get her something special..."
Lucky little blonde...getting such a sweetie caring about her...
"I have an idea." I said. "Why don't we split up and look over town for gifts? It might give us some
ideas, or we might find something you KNOW she'll like."
"Well...I guess that's a good idea." he shrugged. "Okay, I'll take the other side of town."
"Huh? Why?" I wondered.
"Because Colette's coming over." he pointed behind me.
I turned around, seeing the blonde coming into view.
"Oh...Okay hurry up and get going." I told him.
Lloyd scampered off, and was long gone when Colette reached me.
"Hello, Jaela!" she chirped. "Happy Valentines day!"
I had to stop myself from snarling.
"Hi, Colette." I said. "Thanks I guess-"
"I got something for you!"
I was in shock, Colette had forced a small stuffed bear into my arms.
This, as you may have guessed, was a first for me.
"...F...for me...?" I stammered.
My eyes were watering. God I'm such a pansy...
"Yep!" she chirped. "I got something for everyone, I didn't want you to be left out!"
"..." I smiled, looking down at the ground so she wouldn't see my watering eyes. "Thank...you..."
"I know you don't really like cute things." she said. "But...I dunno. Anyway, I gotta go! Bye!"
She ran off. I looked at the little teddy bear, then looked around to make sure no one could see me.
"It's so CCCCCCCCWUUUUUUUUUUTTTTEEE!" I squeed, hugging it tightly.
...If anyone I knew saw me, I'd probably have a heart attack, like if my friends saw...ugh...
(A/N. Melissa? Amanda? Jesse? If you're reading this. Stop laughing. I mean it. Don't tell anyone)
Anyway, after my little...'blonde moment' (No offense to you blondes. Please don't hurt me.) I started
my little search around town...my God, I hate couples...prancing little hormone crazed-
Is that Genis?
"Genis?"
"AH!" he spun around. "Holy cow! Don't scare me like that!"
"Everyone does that..." I sighed.
"Huh?" he blinked.
"I have a tendency to sneak up on people." I shrugged.
It's true. Sometimes when I just walk up to someone and they don't see me, they jump like a foot.
Usually saying something like 'Holy crap-! When did you get here?!'. Well, my cousin said that
anyway. She said I always suprise her because I'm so quiet. Which of course, my father laughed his
head off about, saying I never shut up. What I found fusturating though, was that I made a conscious
effort to be heard when I walked up to my cousin. Go figure.
"Oh..." Genis said. "By the way, what're you doing out here?"
"Something. Obviously. Now, what are you doing here, specifically?" I asked.
"Hmph." he pouted. "If you've gotta know, I'm looking for something for my sister."
"She's got you whipped, dude." I sighed.
"HEY!"
"Look, just get her some perfume." I pointed over to a stand. "All women like perfume."
Even me. And I'm usually the exception to those kind of stereotypes.
"But I don't think I have enough gald..."
I rolled my eyes. I dug into my pocket and slipped him a couple hundred gald. You know, gald is
kinda weird. They have five different types of coins. The small blue ones are worth one, the small
copper ones are worth ten, the big silver ones are a hundred, the big gold a thousand. I don't know
what the ten thousand and higher ones are, I've never seen them. I think they're paper...not sure.
"Here. Take it." I told him.
"Woah! Really, Jaela?" he asked.
A felt a smile come to my face. "Sure. I don't need it."
"...Thanks!" he grinned, then ran off.
Genis kinda reminds me of my little brother...except smarter. MUCH smarter.
I sighed. "I can't believe I MISS that little brat..."
I looked around for a while longer, I don't know how long it was. I'm suprised I survived the
overbearing pink/heartness of it all, but at least I didn't see anyone making out...knock on wood. I
traveled around a bit, then realized it was lunch time. My stomach told me. Heheheh... I walked into
the restuarant and found something odd. Kratos and Lloyd were sitting at a table, talking.
"So, I'm just not sure what to get her..." he muttered, blushing.
"..." Kratos nodded. "I see. I'd suggest...well, you'll know it when you see it."
"That's it?" Lloyd stared.
"That's it." he nodded again. "Trust me. I've been around the block a few times."
"...Okay." Lloyd got up. "Thanks, I gotta get back to looking."
I quietly stepped behind a couple sitting at a table, Lloyd leaving the room without seeing me. Kratos
sat at the table and looked out the window, I heard him sigh.
I walked up behind him. "What's wrong?"
Kratos flinched, visibly. O.o Woah. The angel turned to look at me.
"Jaela?" he asked. "You're suprisingly quiet for being so talkative."
"Oh shut up." I huffed, crossing my arms. "...So, what you thinking about?" I took a seat.
"..." he looked out the window. "...I hate this day." he muttered.
I laughed dryly. "I know the feeling..."
I looked out the window too, it was a gorgeous day, sunlight...the smell of trees...
"You miss people on days like this." I stated.
"..." Kratos nodded, closing his eyes.
"...So, what were you talking to Lloyd about?" I asked.
"He wanted advice." Kratos said simply.
I nodded. "Yeah, guys always need advice, no offense."
"None taken."
"...You met her on this day, didn't you?" I asked.
Kratos flinched, then turned to look at me. "...Yes."
"Heh." I smirked. "How did I guess that? Tch...I'm such a weirdo..."
"..."
"So." I smiled softly. "What did you get her?"
"..."
I sighed. "All right, don't tell me. I don't care."
"...A rose."
I blinked. "What?"
"A rose." he said simply. "The things she loved most...came from the earth..."
"...I ...see..." I muttered, looking down at the table.
"...I see you recieved a gift." he stated, spotting the teddy bear.
"Oh yeah." I laughed. "Colette gave it to me. She's nice."
There was a silence.
"...Do we have to do this?" I asked. "Do...we have to take her...?"
My voice was choking. I knew the answer to this already, why was I asking?
"...Don't let your emotions falter with your resolve." he stated calmly.
"..." I bit my lip.
"...I'm sorry." he closed his eyes. "To get involved in this, at your age..."
I paled. "No...it's okay. Really. It's my fault for being there." I closed my eyes.
How I was there anyway...I have no freaking idea...
I stood up. "Well, I'll stop pestering you now. Try...to cheer up, okay?"
Kratos stared blankly out the window.
"...Hey!" I snapped. "Stop being so freaking depressed! It doesn't get you anywhere! I should know!
All it gets you is drowning in your own problems and you forget that there are people that actually care
about you! People you should be making happy! Being depressed is just being selfish!"
Kratos stared at me, he looked shocked.
"...Heh." he smirked.
"Huh?" I blinked. "What?"
"She...said the same thing..." he smiled.
Seeing a smile on that face...it was so strange...he finally looked human, not some kind of soulless...
"...Great minds think alike." I smirked. "Anyway...sorry for bothering you."
"...Not at all." he smiled.
I stared at him a minute before leaving. A smile...it makes you feel good to see someone smile...
I left the resturaunt when I realized I didn't even get any lunch.
"ARGH!" I smacked myself in the face. "Damn, I'm so stupid..."
Deciding I could last a little longer, I continued my little search...
"Ugh...I can't find anything..." I sighed.
I wandered around looking for Lloyd as night fell, hoping he'd have found something.
Apparently...he did.
"Oh, Lloyd! It's beautiful!"
Colette was holding a beaded bracelet, it was strung with little hearts and red and pink beads.
"Well..." Lloyd laughed. "I wanted to get something better, but...well, it just seemed right."
"I'll keep it forever!" she smiled, then gave him a hug.
Lloyd blushed, and continued to until she released him.
"Um..." she blushed. "I've...gotta go..."
Colette ran into the inn after that, both of them were blushing. Part of me was nursing a bout of
jealousy...the other thought it was so perfectly sweet. Lloyd spotted me.
"Oh! Jaela!" he blushed. "Did...you...see that?"
"...See?" I blinked. "See what? I'm sorry, you know how I overlook things."
"..." he smiled. "Y-yeah..."
"..." I walked past him. "Good night-"
"Wait."
I turned around, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"...I got something for you, too."
He held a rose out to me. One, single, ruby red rose. No ribbons, no trappings, just a rose...
"...For me?" I managed to choke.
"Well...yeah." he rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, you helped me and... you're a good friend."
"..."
I took the rose from him, looking at it's soft petals, my eyes watered.
"...Thank you..." I choked. "Thank...you...just...thanks...I..."
"I know it's not much." he said. "But...well, it just seemed like I should."
I swallowed, my throat seemed dry. A tear broke loose from my eye and landed on the petals.
"Hey...are you crying?" Lloyd gaped.
"...Good night!" I blurted, then ran off.
"Huh-? Wait-! What'd I do-?" I heard him wonder.
I wandered toward the gates of town, my eyes locked on the rose.
"...That jerk." I mumbled. "That wasn't fair..."
I sighed, stroking the petals. Like silk...fragrant silk...
"Jaela."
I yelped, hiding the rose behind my back, I jolted around. It was Kratos.
"Wh-what?" I snapped. "What do you want?"
"...I need you to cover for me." he stated.
"Huh? You're going somewhere?" I blinked.
He stayed silent, then gazed off into the horizon.
"I should be back by morning. I'll trust you to think of an excuse for them. Guard the chosen."
"...Yes sir." I nodded.
"Good."
Kratos walked out of town, after looking around, he unfurled his wings and shot into the air.
"..."
I spread my wings and shot up behind him, far enough so he couldn't hear my wingbeat. I know, I
should've listened to him and all...but...curiousity. I'm just glad I'm not a cat.
I followed him for what felt like hours, my wings were aching like hell. It was hard to follow him
without being noticed, but you could see the blue glow of his wings easily as it got dark. After a while,
he started descending...I landed and followed behind him, where was he-? Wait. Is that Lloyd's house?
Kratos walked up quietly to the grave...
Oh...so that's what this was about...
The man sat down in front of the grave, staring at it. I felt the rose stem in my hand. I'd been clutching
it this entire time...? I didn't even realize it... Wait...
I walked up behind him. "You know-"
He whirled around. "Jaela! I told you to-"
"Coming to a grave without flowers...kinda insulting." I stated coldly.
"..." Kratos glared at me.
"...Here." I held out the rose.
"..." Kratos stared at me.
"Well?" I asked. "Shouldn't you put it there, or not?"
"..."
Kratos reached out and took the rose from my hand. He looked at it a minute, then placed it on the
grave. The angel blew a small kiss to the tombstone and then stood up.
"Thank you." he stated.
I shrugged. "It...was nothing."
"...We'd better get back."
Kratos walked off, I stared at the grave a moment. The single rose, sitting there, reflecting the
moonlight on it's soft petals. It seemed...very right, for lack of a better word...to me anyway...
These WERE real people...weren't they? This couldn't be a dream... That rose...
I'd never smelled a sweeter scent...
Yuan?...Hey, Freaky?
Me: (Sigh...)
Yuan:... Pssh...girls.