Listening to NVM by Faith Marie. I decided to pre-write some chapters this time, so there is not such a big gap in time between chapters. I'm in an inspired mood for writing right now and taking full advantage of it. Been a rough year for sure. Hope these updates can bring a bit of entertainment. Thanks in advances to all who still read, follow, and review this fic after all this time. Enjoy!
Namco owns Tales of Symphonia.
Chapter 64:
"Has she said anything yet?"
"No."
"She's not eating either."
"He's gone...isn't he?"
"Hush."
Yuan listened to the hushed conversations of the others as they lingered in his office. He glanced in their direction, seeing their anxious expressions and for a moment he allowed the guilt to wash over him.
He wasn't one to openly admit it. Perhaps one of his major flaws, but he never liked to admit he was wrong.
He had been wrong.
He leaned his head against the wall, staring at the ceiling. He recalled the almost soulless expression on Colette's face as Genis and the others had brought her in. Her skin was ashen and the darkened expression in her eyes had made a sense of dread wash over him.
Yggdrasil had Lloyd.
They said she hadn't spoken a word, having found her alone in the open field and obvious signs of a fight from the blood splatter. The responses had been varied. Genis demanding they storm to Cruxis. Dirk raging. It was almost reminiscent of eight years ago, when Lloyd had first disappeared.
Raine had been the most level headed, quieting the group and escorting Colette to his private chambers. She had remained in there for some time, only now emerging with a sadden and frustrated expression on her face. Everyone had fallen silent.
After a moment, Raine moved over towards him. "Did you send word to Kratos?"
He nodded, not daring to meet her eye.
She remained silent for a moment, then moved to stand in front of him, forcing him to look at her.
He lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes.
"I'm sorry-"
Smack!
The impact forced his face to the side slightly. The sting sharp and he turned back to look at her. Her eyes were hard, her lips pinched. "You will get him back, Yuan. I don't care how or what it costs."
It wasn't a request and he paused, holding her gaze, feeling the eyes of all the others as well. He nodded.
She shifted her posture slightly, glancing aside in thought before speaking again. "So what's the plan?"
Yuan paused then pushed himself off the wall. "I need to know what happened."
"She's not talking, Yuan."
"She has to." He forced the mask up, preparing himself for what had to be done. No one else was going to do it. Besides, it was his fault.
He moved away from Raine and then past the others. Genis narrowed his eyes at him, furious and filled with anguish. "Coward."
He ignored the comment and entered the room, closing the door behind him.
She sat at the foot of the bed, staring at the wall. Her hands were wrapped around her stomach, hugging herself protectively. There was blood stains on her clothes and skin, but he didn't see any obvious wounds.
He braced himself and then approached, moving a chair and sitting to face her.
"Colette. Where's Lloyd?"
She twitched at the sound of his voice and slowly her gaze lifted, locking with his eyes. For a long moment, there was no emotion in her gaze. It was rather unnerving how empty that look was. He waited for a moment then tried again.
"What happened to Lloyd?"
"Gone."
The word came so suddenly it startled him. He hadn't expected a response right away, but quickly pressed, not wanting to lose the conversation.
"What happened-?"
"He's gone!"
She snapped at him, her voice sharp, almost a shout. He heard the door open and Raine entered, standing in the doorway having clearly heard her voice. "Col-"
Yuan raised his hand, keeping his gaze locked, forcing his tone to harden. "You mean he was taken right? By angels? By Yggdrasil? Who-?"
Then he saw it, her eyes seemed to focus on him, harden. They darkened and narrowed, a searing ice cold anger and hurt directed at him.
"He left." Her voice low almost a hiss, then rising with every syllable. "He left! He left because you didn't help! He because it was just me and him alone! He left because of me! He left because I'm pr-!"
She cut off, tears flooding her eyes and the anger vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared. She choked and sobbed, curling in on herself, hugging her belly. Yuan stared wide-eyed, feeling Raine moving past him, kneeling beside her, the others standing at the door anxiously.
Raine spoke in a hushed tone, soothing the young woman, trying to calm her. Yuan frowned, scanning Colette carefully before looking at Raine.
After a moment, Colette shuddered, her breathing unsteady. She didn't lift her head, didn't look at them, but her words were clear.
"I think I'm pregnant."
"What the hell happened?"
Everyone flinched at the dangerously low voice that cut through the room. Kratos scanned them angrily, his temper slowly rising. No one could meet his eye. No one dared to. Save one.
"It's my fault." Colette spoke up.
Almost immediately everyone spoke up.
"No its not! Colette you're not to blame!"
"This is Yggdrasil's fault!"
"It's my fault! And Yuan! It's definitely not Colette's!"
"Everyone, just calm-"
"Enough!" Kratos snapped, and he turned his gaze to Yuan. "Tell me what happened."
Yuan meet his gaze and for once, Kratos could see the hint of guilt on his old friend's features.
"According to reports from the others," Yuan cleared his throat, "Yggdrasil appeared to befriended Genis at Palmacosta under the disguise of his...younger self and name."
Kratos glanced at Genis, who looked at his feet quickly, Raine gripping his shoulder.
"Raine informed me of suspicions, but I failed to make the connection until after Palmacosta's Ranch attacked the city and took Genis and Presea captive. Of course during his time with Genis, Yggdrasil..."
"Get to the point, Yuan." Kratos cut him off, warning."
"Yggdrasil learned about Lloyd and Colette's connection to Iselia and informed me of his decision to attack the village." Yuan responded quickly, frowning at him.
"When."
"A few days ago."
"Was Lloyd told?"
Yuan paused, eyeing Kratos then looked aside. "No."
The room was silent, the tension heavy.
"Why?"
Yuan looked at him, irritation. "Because I was afraid he'd do something stupid and try to stop it."
Kratos tensed, his body rigid and he gripped the hilt of his sword. "Don't you think it important to tell him of this possible threat?! Dirk? Frank? Did you consider-"
"Of course I did." The cold response came. "Do you think I wanted this to happen?"
"You clearly did nothing to prevent it."
"I did what I thought necessary to prevent it! That son of yours has been racing around the worlds destroying Desian Ranches on a whim! What the hell do you think he would do if knew Iselia was threatened?"
"He's not as reckless as you think, Yuan." Kratos retorted. "You underestimate his-"
"No you refuse to acknowledge the-"
"Stop it!"
They paused, turning and looking over. Colette had risen to her feet, her eyes damp, her face pale. "Stop fighting. It's my fault. Okay? He would have been fine. He did it for me! He didn't resist, he went back willingly because of me. Because of..." She paused, her hand to her stomach and she met Kratos gaze. "I'm pregnant, Kratos. I didn't know... we didn't know... But Yggdrasil, he-..."
Kratos stared at her and then her stomach. He quickly turned to Yuan. "Can you get him back?"
Yuan looked at him, then at the others before sighing. "I'm going to try. But, at the moment, I don't know... I'd have to assess the situation. Yggdrasil has yet to summon me. If I suddenly appear there demanding to see him-...Kratos?"
Kratos had moved past him, towards Colette. "Show me your shoulder, Colette."
She looked up at him, then hesitated for a moment, but lifted the sleeve, revealing the blue crystallized skin spreading down her arm.
"What is that?" Raine stared, moving closer. Genis and Presea quickly approached as well.
"Chronic Angelus Crystallus Inofficium." Kratos explained quickly, "Has it spread?"
Colette nodded. "Yes, a bit. B-but you said its curable. Lloyd and I were going to find the-"
"You will not be moving." He turned, looking at Raine. "She is not to expend any unnecessary energy."
"Kratos explain what it is?"
Yuan spoke up. "It's a diseased caused by Cruxis Crystals. Its...rare. It's unknown what triggers it exactly, but it basically turns the host body into a crystal."
"What?" Genis exclaimed. "How is that- Colette, why didn't you say anything?"
Colette looked at him, "I'm sorry, I only found out a short time ago and you were away at university-"
"Genis, not now." Presea hushed him and he withdrew, his hands in his hair as he turned to pace around the room.
Raine frowned, glancing at Kratos and Yuan. "So how is it cured? What is needed?"
"Well, you for one." Kratos gestured. "You have the unicorn horn still, correct? Then we need Zircon and mana leaf herb. Those should not be problematic."
Yuan frowned. "What about the mana fragment?"
Kratos turned and looked at him and Yuan sighed. "You were hoping I'd procure it?"
"I was. Before this all happened." Kratos paused, glancing at Colette. "But I'm afraid, Yggdrasil will have noticed her condition, considering he noticed her other...condition."
Yuan nodded. "This complicates things."
Raine frowned. "Is there no other substitute? Or place to retrieve one?"
Kratos shook his head. "Mana fragments come from Derris Kharlan itself, if any do fall to the surface, they usually consumed into the atmosphere."
"Do you think that's why he did it?"
Everyone's head twisted to look at Genis. He was half sitting on the desk, staring at the ground deep in thought.
"What?" Colette pressed quietly.
"Do you think that's why he went willingly?" Genis looked at her, the hurt in his eyes betraying his true feelings. "Do you think he did it to get you the fragment cause you are sick? I mean its part of a plan right? He'll get the fragment and then sneak back out like he always did."
Colette blinked back tears and then smiled weakly, walking over and wrapping her arms around the young half-elf, who quickly returned the gesture.
Sheena's hair fluttered in the fresh breeze, staring up at the Linkite tree and release a deep breath. She smiled feel satisfaction that they were one step closer to achieving their goal.
"The place looks amazing, Babe." Zelos spoke in her ear, looking at the tree as well. "Let's just hope that bird keeps his word and meets us at the Tower of Mana."
Sheena nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. The tree was beautiful now, flush with fresh leaves and the musical notes of the nuts swinging through the air. Even the grass and surrounding vegetation had flourished and bloomed. If it wasn't such an isolated place, it'd be a wonderful place to live.
"Just one more to go. Seems so crazy doesn't it?"
"I suppose. Though, I wonder. What will happen once its over?"
Sheena tilted her head back, looking up at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"
"Well, after the worlds split, you know? There won't be anything tying them together. Will the rehairds still work like before and go back and forth? Are we going to be stuck on this side?"
She blinked and pulled back from him, looking thoughtful . "I guess...we don't really know. That is a good point. Do you think we should wait?"
Zelos shrugged and settled himself on the grass, eyeing the tree curiously. "Yuan's idea is that the tree will germinate or something. I guess like this guy." Gesturing at the Linkite tree. "But how will that unite the worlds? Aren't they two worlds? Or are they one. We never really talked about it come to think of it."
Sheena frowned, thinking. "I thought I remembering Lloyd saying something about it being one originally. That it was split...into two by Yggdrasil."
"Right. So if that's the case...how does splitting them more apart help?" Zelos frowned. "Do you think Yuan is playing us for fools?"
Sheena frowned, sitting beside him and irritated bubble rising in her mind. "He better not be. Not after all the crap I've done for this."
Zelos smirked, but then looked serious. "I think we need to go see Lloyd and have a serious talk to him about this. He needs to be more clear about how the whole...world splitting thing happened originally. Maybe even Kratos. They probably know more than they are telling."
Sheena nodded. "I don't think they are lying to us, but maybe just...its common knowledge to those three and they forget to explain it?"
"You are way too nice, Babe." But he smiled and reached up, running his fingers through her hair, combing through the strands.
She smiled back and sighed. "It'll be nice once it's over."
Zelos nodded, his eyes not leaving her. "Ya. I agree."
They sat quietly for a moment, she could feel his eyes on her, his fingers still combing through her hair gently and she finally glanced over, flushing slightly at the look he was giving her. "What?"
"Sheena. Will you be my girl?"
She blinked, startled. Fully aware of the heat rising to her cheeks she sputtered. "W-what?"
"After this is over." He responded, scanning her face. "The seals, the world uniting and...whatever. Will you be my girl?"
Sheena stared at him. "You mean like..."
"Yup."
"With a..."
"If you want."
She blinked staring at him, her cheeks burning pink, especially with the slight smirk he wore. She couldn't speak. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was it really? Was he really-"
Then she watched him as he leaned in, almost nose to nose with her. "And after that. We'll see who has the cuter kid-"
She didn't let him finish as her lips pressed against his, pausing only to say "Stupid Chosen," before locking lips once again.
He chuckled.
He could hear their voices. He followed the sound, his feet tapping gently on the cold floor. They grew louder with every step.
It was cold and big and he used the wall to help guide his way. The door was open. There was no door and inside he could hear her. He whimpered softly and hurried towards it.
His feet felt the carpet and he peered around the corner of the door, his one hand holding the frame, his dark eyes scanning the people standing within. There were a lot of them. Big tall, loud people. But two stood out to him and he quickly focused on them.
"Mommy. Grandpa." He whimpered and let go of the door. He fumbled a bit and then staggered towards her. He saw her turn and look at him. Her eyes widening, all the talking stopping in the room. He didn't care, he wanted mommy. He wanted mommy.
She dropped to the carpet as he ran into her arms, burrowing his face into her chest, whimpering and clutching her as hard as he could with his arms.
"Mommy!"
"Leon. Baby..." She was crying and he felt her crying on him hair as she held him tightly, pulling him into her lap as she sat back on the floor. He immediately curled towards her, holding her tightly, but his eyes moving towards his grandpa. The tall Grandpa. Grandpa that looked like Daddy.
He whimpered looking up at him and he suddenly he really missed daddy. He wanted daddy to hug him too.
"I want Daddy." He mumbled, hugging her tightly. Mommy stiffened and he looked up at her, but she wrapped her arms around him tighter, squeezing him. "Mommy-?"
"D-daddy's not here right now." He heard her speak, but she was crying. He reached up, hand to her face patting her wet cheek. "Soon. Okay, Baby?" she smiled at him.
She smiled, but mommy wasn't happy. Daddy wasn't here. Mommy was crying. Why was Mommy crying? He missed Daddy. He wanted Daddy too.
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