"Who are you?"
Genis' heart skipped a beat when he heard it, and then, it stopped beating entirely for a few moments. His entire body froze, his mind stopped working, and his grip on Lloyd's hand loosened.
"...W-What?" he asked, in disbelief.
"Who are you? Why are you holding my hand?" Lloyd asked, confused.
"...You... don't... know who... I am...?" Genis gulped, releasing the now-child's hand, sliding back just a bit, concern painting his face. He prayed in his mind that what he thought was wasn't, that this wasn't really happening...
"No. Should I?" Lloyd asked, totally clueless.
"We... I... and... you... and..." Genis tried to stutter out something comprehensible, but nothing came out except mindless blabber. Then his mouth shut, and he looked down towards the ground.
The boy's body shook slightly, as he fought back the sudden urge to break down crying. What good would it do? He... couldn't start by crying... this Lloyd was innocent, this Lloyd didn't even know him...
In the back of his mind, the answer came to him. This was Lloyd, before he knew him. His memory, his experiences, everything had been wiped right back to before they had met. What had taken years now to build up and had only now reached its peak... had shattered in five instants.
"Hey, you okay?" Lloyd asked, concerned. He was confused about who this lilac-haired kid was, but the child was depressed and looked about to cry, and Lloyd never liked to see anyone cry.
"I'm sorry," Genis suddenly looked up, shutting his eyes for a moment tight, then opening them again, putting on a face of happiness. "I'm just, glad to see you're back awake, Lloyd..."
"...Who are you?"
There was that question again, striking in the back of Genis' mind and stabbing him straight through the heart.
"I'm... Genis."
"Okay, then, Genis. What am I doing out here?" Lloyd asked.
Genis shook his head, trying to think of a way to explain it, but it was all escaping him. He kept trying to concentrate on that answer, but he felt something else fighting back, something inside of him wanting to break down.
I have to be strong... I have to be strong...
"I... well, that is you... umm..." Genis tried to explain.
"I'll explain," Raine offered, suddenly walking into the scene, and startling both boys. "You go get some firewood, okay, Genis?"
The look she gave Genis, however, told him immediately that she had been watching – and she wanted to give him a chance to get away. He tried to make a note to thank her later, but for the moment, he turned away and tried to keep strong as he walked into the trees again, disappearing.
Behind him, he could hear conversation.
"You are?"
"I'm Raine. A... travelling companion. You can call me the professor."
"Well, professor, what are we doing out here?"
"Have you ever heard the story of the Chosen of Mana?"
"Yes, of course I have. Everyone has."
"We're escorting the Chosen on her journey."
"What? But the Chosen isn't supposed to be old enough for another six years! That doesn't make sense!"
"Well, ah..."
Genis didn't catch the rest of it, he was too far gone. He could barely hear their voices in the back of his mind, and then, not even there. And the moment he knew he was too far away, he collapsed.
Landing hard on the ground, instantly the tears that had built up shot out, refilling his eyes and dripping down his cheeks. And he just sat there and cried, as it all set in.
"So, you are?"
"My name's Genis Sage."
"Genis, huh? Well, I'm Lloyd. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, same."
The sound of a ruler smacking against the front of a desk alerted them both. The teacher stood over them menacingly, running a hand through her hair. She growled. "So, Genis, you're the new kid, right? If you want to have a hope of passing this class, I suggest you don't talk with Lloyd much. It would be a hazard to your intelligence."
There was a laugh around the class, and Lloyd protested this with an annoyed "Hey! Not true!"
The teacher loomed over him. "Oh really? What's twelve times twelve then?"
"Err... A hundred and thirty two?" Lloyd chanced a guess, having no clue as to the real answer.
"No, silly, it's a hundred and fourty four," Genis offered, shaking his head. The teacher seemed impressed.
"On second thought, maybe you should stay with Lloyd. He could do to learn a few things from a kid like you..."
Another laugh from the class.
"Hey, Genis, why don't you come down to the beach with me and some of the other guys?" Lloyd asked him as his head popped in the window of Genis' bedroom, startling the boy, who was busy tinkering away at a report.
"Lloyd! You know the professor said we had a project due tomorrow! I want to get an A on it, and if I go running off to play at a time like this..." Genis shook his head. "I don't have time, Lloyd."
"You really need to loosen up" Lloyd giggled, then reached out into Genis' room and grabbed the boy's shoulders, hauling him off the bed and pulling him through the window.
"H-hey! W-w-what are you doing Lloyd!? Are you kidnapping me!?! HELP!" Genis protested loudly.
"Huh? Genis?" Raine poked her head through the door, seeing her brother getting pulled through by Lloyd. "Oh no, Genis!"
It was the day that Raine took over for the former professor, who had left for the Palmacosta Academy in search of more education. Genis didn't know how to feel about his sister being the teacher.
"Now, then..." Raine announced as she walked through the door. "Since you all know, your previous professor has left. And so, I, Raine Sage, am here to replace her."
Immediately she walked up to the front desk, looking around and scanning faces. Lloyd leaned over to Genis, and whispered something in his ear.
"Hey, now you can get all the answers for me from your sister..." Lloyd joked lightly, and Genis giggled. Almost instantly, Raine was looming over them.
"Lloyd Irving, don't think for a second that my little brother's going to have any more of an advantage then any of you, simply because he is my little brother" and thus was the first time that Lloyd had been hit with an eraser during class.
"Genis, what's wrong?" Colette asked the pre-occupied boy, who was sitting by himself at lunch, sighing.
"Ah, just that it's odd, what with Lloyd being too sick to come to school today," Genis sighed. "I feel... really alone."
"Well, then why don't you run to Dirk's house to go cheer him up?" Colette asked, naïvely.
"Colette, do you know how far it is to get to Dirk's house? I'd have to run there and then run right back and I'd still only have a couple minutes there!"
"I'll cover for you in class. He probably needs a friend right now," Colette offered happily. "They say that sickness fails in the face of a strong heart. And that if somebody's there with you when you're sick, you get better faster."
"That's just superstisions..." Genis shook his head, acting as if it was nonsense.
"Well, okay, if you don't want to. It's your choice, Genis," Colette told him, and then she stood up and walked away.
"W-Wait! Colette? Umm... I take it back. Can you tell Raine I went to see Lloyd? I..." Genis shifted uneasily a bit, uncertain what had possessed him to do such a rebellious thing.
"Oh? Okay!" Colette smiled happily. "Go, Genis!"
Sitting next to each other under a tree, staring up at the moonlight, the two boys were laughing happily and sharing stories.
"...Hey, Genis, look up at the moon," Lloyd smiled, pointing up, and the boy followed his gaze.
"Wow... it's really full tonight..." Genis blinked, smiling innocently. "Everything's so calm..."
"Yeah. It's so nice to have such a good friend to share it with..." Lloyd smiled, pulling Genis close suddenly, and the younger boy was shocked, as he found Lloyd hugging him from the side. The younger mage rested his head on the older's shoulder, letting off a bit of a sigh, still staring up at the moon.
A shooting star shot across the sky above them, and they both gasped simultaneously.
"Hey, look, it's a shooting star..."
"Actually, Lloyd, that's what we call a meteorite."
"Genis..." Lloyd bopped the younger on his head. "Don't you know anything? It's a shooting star, and you're supposed to wish upon a shooting star."
"...Okay" Genis smiled, and thought to himself about what to wish for.
One thing came to mind, immediately, and he mouthed it silently, before he even knew what it was.
I just want to be with you, Lloyd... forever...
At that point, ten days before the events that had led to Iselia's destruction, Genis had realised just what their friendship meant.
Genis kept crying, as those memories and so many more floated through his mind. All the ways he had seen Lloyd grow and change over time. All the things he had been with Lloyd for, all of the things Lloyd had been with him for.
Memories of watching Lloyd learn how to fight with a sword. Memories of going down to the beach and playing games. Memories of laughing with Colette during class. Memories of getting smacked over the head by the older male.
Memories of Lloyd encouraging him as he practised his magic. Memories of Lloyd coming to all of his birthdays and always bringing him something he made. Memories of Lloyd helping him when he was injured.
Memories of those moments in which their friendship shone. Memories of a budding romance between the two.
Memories of things so recent as maybe a day ago, when there was still something between them...
As each memory floated through Genis' mind, it brought another tear to his eye. He knew what had happened, and he knew he had to accept it. He had to support Lloyd. But...
Knowing that every one of those memories was now his alone, knowing that Lloyd could not possibly remember the years they had built their life upon, knowing that it was quite possible that such a bond could never be formed again...
Genis couldn't stop the tears.
"So he... doesn't remember anything?" Colette asked.
"Not exactly," Raine answered simply. "That assassin woman transformed him back six years. Before he knew who any of us were. He has all of his memories before that, but... all of the ties we had with him, all of the bonds we made, they're gone."
"Then, that's why Genis was so upset..." Colette looked over towards the forest. "Raine, aren't you going to go get him?"
"Colette..." Raine sighed, shaking her head no. "Genis has to find the strength to deal with this on his own, right now, I think."
"What? Raine, how can you say that?" Colette demanded, shaking desperately and waving her arms in the air in front of her. "What if you were Genis right now? Wouldn't you just want somebody there to hold you? Raine... you know what Genis tried to do once! That just can't happen again!"
Raine's voice caught, as she realised Colette was totally right. "...Yes. I'm sorry," she sighed, then turned and walked off into the forest.
Kratos sighed. "...Some bonds, though..."
"Did you say something, Kratos?" Colette asked.
"No," Kratos shook his head.
"...Are you depressed because Lloyd doesn't remember you? Since you're in love with him and all?" Colette guessed, tilting her head curiously.
Kratos bit his lip for a moment as his hands balled into fists. "I told you! I'm not in love with m... with Lloyd!"
"It's okay, Kratos. It's nothing bad. Just stay strong, okay?" Colette perked up happily.
"Wh... why do I even stay with you people?" Kratos sighed, ducking his head down into his hands in an exasperated sigh.
Then Raine returned, suddenly. "Wait, have you two seen Lloyd? He disappeared all of a sudden..."
"Nope," came the simultaneous response.
"... Oh no..." Raine gulped.
Genis tried to calm himself down, to keep himself from continuing crying, but he found it impossible. Every time he tried, a memory of Lloyd he hadn't thought of before surfaced. Even the most painful of his memories – those odd occasions where Lloyd would treat him like dirt – those were things that Genis never wanted to let go of.
I have to stop crying... why can't I stop crying? I'm so pathetic... I... I can't ever do anything for myself...
"Hey..."
Genis barely heard the concerned voice behind him, and then, suddenly, somebody was sitting down beside Genis. The boy barely paid any attention, until he was pulled up into a sitting position by some unfamiliar hands.
"...Who...?" Genis barely murmured out, and then he looked over.
Lloyd was sitting there, concern on his young face.
That look just made Genis break down even harder, and he found it almost impossible to breathe between his choked sobs. He faced away from Lloyd, not wanting the boy to see him cry.
"...Listen, ah... Genis..." Lloyd hoped he had got the name right. "Genis... don't cry, okay? Come on now, why are you crying? What's so bad?"
Genis' body shook with anger. He knew it wasn't Lloyd's fault, but all this time there had been something in the back of his mind that was hoping that there was still the old Lloyd in there somewhere. Now, though, just by seeing that face of his that was completely clueless, that the Lloyd he knew was erased completely.
Genis collapsed onto Lloyd, who was startled. "I... I lost somebody very precious to me... and... I don't know... if I can ever get that person back..."
Surprised and put off by the sudden movement, Lloyd didn't do anything for a few minutes, before he pulled Genis up and pulled the (now) slightly older boy towards him, letting his head rest against his chest. He heard Genis let out another strong sob.
"Hey, I might not know much about you... but... I'm pretty sure it'll be okay in the end. 'Cause it usually is. So... try and cheer up, okay? ...Genis? ...Hey, Genis, you okay?"
The vocal sobs had stopped. Genis had cried himself to sleep, finally, though there were still tears coming out of his eyelids.