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Ferfrie D.: Haha, I think that was probably the best way to describe him.

CBK: Thank you. And yes, as I look back on the previous chapters it amazes me how much his personality has changed and you're right, it seemed to have just flowed easily.

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Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Namco owns Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter 35:

Lloyd balanced easily on the rail of the bridge, staring out across the ocean. Behind him, someone snored quietly and another mumbled something. He sighed and leaned his head back, staring up at the stars.

They seemed so far away, much further than when he was on Derris Kharlan. He frowned and then lowered his head and looked at his hands.

He was felt confused and he didn't like it. When he was in Welgaia, Yggdrasil always seemed to explain things to him when he asked, but here...

He clenched his hands and swung his legs back over, still sitting on the rail, so he could look at the group. Genis said slouched against the rail, his chin against his chest. Colette stood next to him, facing Lloyd, her wings flapping slowly, casting shadows across Genis' face.

Raine lay stretched out, not far from Genis, a book laid open under her hand. She had attempted to stay awake, not trusting Lloyd and Zelos and knowing Genis needed his sleep. However, exhaustion had overcome her shortly after midnight. Presea sat, leaning against the bridge, but her head was up and eyes closed, her massive axe laid across her legs, her hands resting on the haft. Lloyd frowned. He couldn't tell whether or not she was asleep, but finally decided that she must be. Her behaviour disturbed him. She seemed a lot like the angels in Welgaia, the way she talked and moved. Almost robotic. He had noticed the exsphere on her neck and wondered if that had something to do with it. He would have to ask Yggdrasil when he got back.

His eyes turned then, to Genis and Colette. Genis say slouched against the railing, his chin resting on his chest as he snored softly. Beside him, Colette stood motionless, her wing flapping slowly behind her, casting pink shadows across Genis' face and hair. She was facing Lloyd and he could see her eyes staring at him.

Lloyd's eyes narrowed slightly, recalling Genis' taunt.

"I was just thinking that if you told her you loved her, or missed her that she would come back."

He scowled. Did Genis honestly think he was going to fall for that? Besides, it wasn't as if he would ever want her to come back anyway. She was Martel's vessel.

But it wasn't as if he believed she could come back anyway. It didn't make any sense. She couldn't remember him or understand words like that. It was just Genis trying to make a fool out of him.

Colette's red eyes held him and finally he growled softly, slid off the rail, and turned his back to her. He leaned on it, looking out on the ocean, trying to focus his thoughts on other things.

"You seem frustrated."

Lloyd flinched and looked to the side to see Zelos watching him from the shadows. He frowned, hadn't he been sleeping...

Lloyd shook his head and looked back to the water. "Kinda."

Zelos chuckled and strode over, leaning his back on the rail to look at Lloyd. "It's none of my business, but it you want to talk..." Zelos trailed, deciding that the bridge arch was extremely interesting.

Lloyd smiled weakly. Zelos rarely should concern and when he did, it was usually awkward for him. Lloyd chewed his lip. "I want to get back home."

Zelos frowned. "Which home, Bud?"

"What?" Lloyd asked confused.

Zelos glanced at him. "Sylvarant or Cruxis?"

Lloyd scowled. "Sylvarant isn't my home anymore. There is nothing left for me there."

Zelos shrugged. "Okay." Lloyd looked away.

They fell into silence and Lloyd stared at the waves rippling beneath the bridge, listening as they slapped against the posts.

"Zelos, once we reach Sybak do you think we could head for the Tower?" Lloyd asked after a moment.

Zelos turned his head. "I don't see why not. We will have to go with them to see the researcher, but after that, sure."

"Thanks." Lloyd smiled, feeling relieved.

"Hey. No problem." Zelos grinned, but then he frowned. "But, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get here and back all the other times?"

Lloyd frowned. "Oh. I had...a friend bring me here."

Zelos' expression didn't change. "And this time?"

Lloyd scowled. "Those guys." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Ended up getting dragged over here with them, when we were escaping the Renegades."

"Hmmm." Zelos looked thoughtful. "Speaking of those guys, did you know that dude who was trying to talk to you?"

Lloyd blinked in surprise and straightened. "You mean in Meltokio?"

Zelos smirked. "Where else you, idiot?"

Lloyd hesitated. That Renegade, his voice had sounded so familiar. For a moment, he had believed it was his father's voice. But, then, how was that possible? Kratos was on Derris Kharlan. There was no way that Kratos could have escaped from Lord Yggdrasil. Besides, his father would never wear a Renegade uniform. They were the enemy. Lloyd blinked as he realized Zelos was waving a hand in front of his face. "Hello?"

Lloyd slapped his hand away. "No, I don't know who he was. Probably just a scout sent to lure me into a trap or something."

Zelos smirked. "You are a terrible liar. Did it take you all this time to think of that?"

Lloyd scowled. "I don't know who he is."

Zelos chuckled. "Hey, hey, no need to get defensive."

Lloyd snorted. "By the way, why aren't you sleeping?" he glanced at him. "It is pretty late."

"Why aren't you?" Zelos smiled.

"Heh. Good point," Lloyd answered. He was getting careless with what he said; he would have to be more careful. He didn't want Zelos to get involved with his problems, but mainly he didn't want Zelos to look at him differently. If Zelos knew Lloyd was an angel, he probably wouldn't act the same around him...

"It doesn't look fun." Zelos said after a moment, breaking into Lloyd's thoughts.

"Huh? What doesn't?" Lloyd asked, confused.

Nodding his head towards Colette, Zelos frowned. "The angel transformation and all. It looks pretty tough. Can't say I would be excited to go through with it."

For a moment, Lloyd didn't know what to say. He had forgotten that Zelos might have to go through the same thing Colette did, especially if her body doesn't accept Martel. Lloyd grimaced and glanced at his friend. Would he be able to knowingly betray Zelos if it came down to it?

Lloyd turned away. "No, it wouldn't be fun," he mumbled.

It was better if Zelos didn't know. He just hoped Raine and Genis wouldn't spill his secret...

--

Kratos hand never left his sword as he glared at Yuan from across the room. Yuan had suggested they finish this conversation in his office and that he had something he wanted to discuss with Kratos, privately.

Ultimately, Kratos was simply going to walk right past Yuan, but something stopped him in the way Yuan spoke. So he had agreed.

Yuan had moved to his desk, ruffling through his papers for a moment, seemingly ignoring Kratos. His patience was wearing thin. "Yuan, I suggest you say what you want to say, or I am leaving."

Sighing, Yuan straightened and met Kratos gaze. "Perhaps you have had a few seconds to clear your head, then?"

Kratos' expression tightened and he turned to leave, when Yuan spoke. "If you go after, Lloyd now, Yggdrasil will win."

Kratos stopped. "If I don't, I will lose my son."

"Listen to reason, Kratos. Lloyd's reasoning has been long gone. He is convinced that you will be with him in Cruxis. A few more days isn't going to affect his mind any worse."

Turning around, Kratos narrowed his eyes at him. "Are you suggesting I simply allow Lloyd to continue on this delusional path?"

Yuan glared. "You will be endangering the Renegades by doing this. Yggdrasil believes you are the responsible one. I have him convinced of that. If you leave now, he will figure it out."

"I don't give a damn about the Renegades or you. I only played with this little charade because it was the only way I could go after my son. Now it is obvious that I never had a reason to hide."

Yuan scowled. "Do you forget who got you out of that cell?"

Kratos smirked. "And I got you out using my own head. We are even. I owe you nothing."

"You are making a mistake, Kratos."

"I have made many of them and, for once, I am not making one," he answered. "If I continue to stay with the Renegades, Lloyd will see me as an enemy and will think I betrayed him and he will go back to Yggdrasil. I will not do that to him."

Yuan smirked. "You are becoming sentimental Kratos. What happened to you? Did that little half-elf affect you that much?"

Kratos' eyes widened slightly at the mention of Genis, before they narrowed quickly. "He has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, he has everything to do with it." Yuan crossed his arms. "Tell me, would you have ever told Lloyd the truth on your own?"

Kratos didn't answer.

"And that Chosen. I am sure she had a large impact as well. Worried about their friend who had gone missing, who just happened to be your son. You three had a lot in common, didn't you?" His voice was mocking, but his expression cold.

Kratos continued to keep silent. Yuan shook his head. "Instead of worrying about the welfare of those children, you should consider your responsibility to the worlds." He brushed at his sleeve absently, "Right now, the most important thing is preventing the rival of Martel and finding a way to germinate the seed—"

"And until you find a way to do that, you have no need for me." Kratos cut in, tersely. "I am not going to wait around anymore, Yuan. I can't and I won't. I care about my son just as you cared about Martel. But I am not ready to let him go yet."

Yuan seemed to freeze, his eyes fixated on Kratos' face. Kratos held his gaze for a moment, before turning. "Now if we are done, I am going to go change."

He left the office, the doors sliding shut behind him and he made his way back to the room Botta had shown him that first day.

His counter had been low, he had known that, but it was the only way to make Yuan understand why Kratos had to do this. It wasn't about himself anymore, it was about Lloyd and nothing Yuan said would change his mind.

Pulling the swallow cape over his shoulders and fastening it around his neck, he headed for the door, waiting for it to slide open.

He frowned when he saw Yuan standing before it.

"Are you going to stop me?" Kratos lowered his hands, his right hand crossing over to the hilt of his sword.

Yuan's eyes narrowed. "I had hoped you would listen to reason," he replied. As he spoke, Botta appeared beside him along with a number of underlings, filling the hallway outside the door.

Kratos glared, glancing at the soldiers and Botta before settling his heated gaze on Yuan. "As did I."

--

"So, did you try it?" Genis asked innocently. It was early morning and the group had set off again, hoping to reach the end of the bridge by nightfall at least. Lloyd had been irritated when he had to wait for them to eat breakfast. He had been distracted for the remainder of the night about Zelos, the strange Renegade that had sounded like his dad, and by Colette, and now, he was not in the mood to have Genis play his little mind games on him.

"No. I didn't," he growled. His tone seemed to catch Genis off-guard slightly and the half-elf left it at that.

"So what are you plans now, Lloyd?" Raine glanced at him, her expression guarded.

"The same as they have always been," he snapped.

Raine narrowed her eyes. "If you are planning to take Colette back to Cruxis, why haven't you yet? What's stopping you?"

"And why should I tell you?" Lloyd glared back at her. "I have my reasons."

Raine didn't reply, but Lloyd could tell she wasn't finished. Ironically enough, it seemed she was actually respecting his secret as he was keeping hers. But he suspected that she only doing it for Genis' sake.

Lloyd glanced at Colette. If only those Renegades hadn't interfered at the Tower, the regeneration would already be complete. If only his dad hadn't knocked—

He grimaced, remembering. He just didn't understand why Kratos hadn't been happier to see him, why he had changed his mind like that. It had to have been a mistake; Kratos had just been confused and surprised seeing Lloyd there. That would explain why he was concerned and wanted to take Lloyd away. He just hadn't understood the situation and probably thought he was a prisoner or something.

Smiling to himself, he felt more relaxed. That is all he needed, just a moment to explain everything to his dad and clear up this big mess. That simple.

"What are you so happy about?" Zelos grinned, hands behind his head. "Daydreaming about a certain girl?"

"Serena? Uh...no." Lloyd shuddered. "Like I said before, you can have those girls."

"Not Serena, you idiot. Little Angel, here." Zelos waved towards Colette. "I saw how you were looking at her moments ago and now just now you were smiling like a goof in love."

Lloyd gaped at him. "What the hell are you—?"

"Aww! My Bud is growing up, attracting the ladies. Though in my opinion, I think you should get the ones who are more responsive, if you know what I mean."

Lloyd's shocked turned to one of disgust. "Okay, ew. Keep those thoughts to yourself. And know, I was not thinking about—her." He gestured at Colette. "Besides that is not why I was looking at her."

Zelos tilted his head. "I see. So, if you are not fantasizing over our cute little blonde, that means you are her unwanted escort for Cruxis."

Lloyd's mouth fell open. "That's—"

"Which would explain Miss Sage's personal vendetta against you." He finished, looking ahead as he walked. He glanced over smirking. "How close am I?"

Lloyd smiled weakly. "People should definitely take you more seriously."

Zelos laughed. "Now where's the fun in that?"

Well there it is. Not as long as I like, but the following scenes just didn't seem to fit with this chapter. So the next chapter will hopefully be more exciting.

Thanks for reading!

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