Reader's Response
Bloody-Valentine42 - O.O Damn! You caught an error! Nooo! Now Kratos is gonna kill me!!!! hides x.x But hey! One error isn't bad for me! Maybe Kratos'll have some mercy! ::laughter is heard:: ...Yeah, I didn't think so x.x Glad you liked the chapter though! And even though your keen eyesight and knowledge of spelling has probably doomed me (when and if Kratty finds me XD) I'll definitely make a try at your request!!! Arigatou for reviewing!!!
Lil-Sun-Rie - Response for the first and second chapters for you Thanks, I really tried to keep the pervert in-character, I'm trying with Kratos to but I'm not sure how well that's workin' out XD
Write about both! Anything you wanna! But when you write one you gotta promise you'll send me the link XD. O.O YAY! XD COOKIE!!! ::munches it gleefully!:: Arigatou Gozaimasu!
silverwings3 - Yeah, He probably would know well enough who Kratos was. I was just trying to apply his whole 'oh-it's-a-bumpkin' but you're right, I probably really over did it XP Thanks for Reviewing Silver-chan! You rock!
Sanosuke.Cigara - Yup, 'fraid so my friend. But hey! Some people say waiting is the best part!...Personally I think it's horrible torture! But what do I know XD Heh. Hope you keep readin' and thanks for reviewing!
Karana Bell - Review, review, review! You did so I love you! I glad you're enjoying the story keep reading! Arigatou!
DarkPegasiKnight - Lol glad you like it! As for the chapters I'm tryin'! I'm sorry that they're so short! I'm working on remedying that, bear with me. If I never remedy it, You can assist Kratos in my torture....but you're a nicer person than that...right? ::nervous laugh:: Heh Thanks for reviewing!
Yossy - You reviewed, you rock XD
Kitten Kisses – Yes! The Errors x.x Kratos is going to kick my scrawny ass! I hope the shortness will end! Thanks for the review!potter29vo – Sure. I'll check it over for errors! I think I've already read it and it was great!!! Might take me a bit though cuz this computer really sucks P. And I'm sorry for the wait on any excitement/romance, but like you said, things need to be set up! And I'm tryin' at the chapter length! I'll get there
The Hitokiri Battousai – ::grabs Zelos, gags him, gift wraps him and gives him to you.:: Here! My gift to you for reviewing! Enjoy!
Kazaana - He'll never find me here!!!
Raine - ...Do I even want to know WHY you're in MY closet?
Kazaana - ...I'm just hiding like a damn coward! There are no laws against it!
Raine - ::eye twitches::
Kazaana - Common! You wouldn't send me out into the cold unforgiving world with that Seraphim after me...right?
---a minute later---
Kazaana - ::Is tossed out the door:: I guess that's a no. >.>
Kazaana - TOS ain't mine! It's not. Really! ::runs to hide . ::
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Chapter 2 - Elsewhere
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The village of Mizuho was bustling with minor activity. The adults worked heartily tending their crops and animals in preparation of the harvest. Children jumped about, playing happy little games whether it be imitating the famed ninjas of the village or simply chasing each other around in a game of tag.
No matter how you looked at, all seemed joyful in Mizuho. Except for a rather distraught looking young man who sat on the river's edge. The others around him seemed to be enjoying the little speech they were being given, he however wanted nothing to do with it.
"-was the warrior Mithos. He traveled all about the world of Symphonia before its two main continents were split into the two seperate worlds of Tethe'alla and Sylvarant. His goals were to stop the Great Kharlan war and end discrimination among Symphonia." The woman giving thelecture paused a moment then continued. "The warrior Mithos was accompanied by three of his closest friends and companions. What were their names? Colette?"
The cheerful blonde smiled and nodded quickly. "The names of Mithos' companions were: Yuan, Kratos and Martel."
The professor smiled slightly in appraisal to the answer. "Very good Colette. Now what is the true essence of an Exsphere. Lloyd?"
"Common Professor!"The boy whined. "None of that stuff is even important any more!"
"Lloyd, just because we reunited the two worlds doesn't mean the thousands of years of history before itisn't important." The Professor replied with a sigh. She was fairly surprised he'd lasted as long as he had without complaining...10 minutes was a new record for Lloyd.
"Yeah, Lloyd." Chided a smaller child sitting near Lloyd. "We all don't want to be dumb like you after all."
Lloyd growled slightly. "Shut up Genis! I prefer to learn through action that's all!"
"All right then." The professor began. "In alphabetical order, Name all the summon spirits we encountered."
The swordsman looked stunned and urked quietly. "All...of them?"
"Yes Lloyd. All of them."
It was then the young Swordsman knew he probably should have been paying much more attention during class and when he and Sheena had discussed the spirits. Everyone stared at him expectantly as if waiting to pounce upon his success or defeat. "Unnn...."
"You can do it Lloyd! I know you can!" The young former chosen encouraged bubbly. Her sudden optimism seemed to raise the boy's spirits and he struck a cocky pose.
"Yeah, that's right. I can do it easily! The summon spirits we encountered, in alphabetical order, were: Aska, Celsius...unn...Efreet...Luna..."
A laugh from Genis and a giggle from Colette sent Lloyd into a grumpy mood. "What?!"
Raine shook her head slightly. "Does anybody wish to show Lloyd what he did wrong? Presea, how about you?"
The small pink-haired girl nodded lightly. "Okay. They were: Aska, Celsius, Efreet, Gnome, Luna, Maxwell, Origin, Shadow, the Sylphs, Undine, and Volt."
"Very good Presea." Raine commented
"Wow Presea, that was great!" Genis said, a bit over-enthusiastically as he tried to prevent a blush from tinting his cheeks while he looked at her. When she smiled at him the blush pushed right through his unstable defenses.
"Thank you Genis." She replied kindly
Lloyd crossed his arms stubbornly and hmphed. "Hey, I could've done it! I just got a bit distracted!"
"Really? By what?"
"Well...I...umm..."
"Kratos!" Colette suddenly chirped as she stood up and pointed to the village entrance. Sure enough the Seraphim was there, pacing towards them.
It was then Lloyd seized the opportunity for a scapegoat. "Y-yeah! That's right. I saw Kratos and it distracted me! Hey! Dad!" He called and quickly ran to the mercenary, escaping any doubts of his so called distraction. Colette followed closely with the others meandering over at their own pace.
"Hello." Kratos greeted shortly as the small group gathered about him. He noted they all looked happy. Even Presea and Raine, both of whom normally had serious expressions, were looking pleased.
"Hey!" Lloyd piped up quickly. "I was beginning to think you left for Derris Kharlan without telling us!"
Kratos shook his head slightly. "No. My return there has been delayed."
"Why?"
"I still have things to do here before I leave."
The adolescents seemed to become suddenly interested. Even Presea and Genis became curious. "Really? Like what?"
"Obligations." He replied, purposely dodging the question.
And of course, Lloyd had to continue to push. "What KIND of obligations?"
"Nothing that concerns you." The words held finality and were enough to end the prodding.
"You're no fun." The younger swordsman pouted. It earned him a sigh from Genis and a pat on the shoulder from Colette. A few seconds later he was back to his cheery self and grinning once more. "So Dad, will you show me some cool sword moves now!?!"
Kratos gave a slightly surprised look. "Lloyd..."
"Yeah?"
Whatever the mercenary was about to say was interrupted by a booming call from across the village. The second Lloyd heard it he jumped and enthusiastically bolted towards the call. That was until he was jerked back violently, half choking before landing upon his rear. "Ow!" Looking up, he realized Raine had hold of the two ribbons that flew from his collar. "Professor!"
"What are you forgetting?"
Lloyd grumbled as he stood back up and brushed himself off. In unison with Presea, Colette and Genis he spoke. "May we be excused for lunch Professor Sage?"
She nodded. "All right then. Class is dismissed for today. Go on."
That was all they needed to hear and they were off. Lloyd and Colette seemed to make a game of tag out of it as they hopped about and took turns chasing one another. Genis and Presea went a bit slower and watched the older two jump about.
"Is my son always this-" Kratos paused a moment to search for the right word. In the end however, it was Raine who found it for him.
"Hyperactive? Before the journey of Regeneration yes he was." The half-elf replied as they both continued to watch the children until they were out of sight. "And now it seems he reverting to his old self."
Kratos smirked slightly, a rueful tinge held in the expression. "Hmm... I see. How...has he been behaving?"
The half-elf smiled lightly at the show of parental concern. "His behavior is fine. It's his studying that atrocious, but that's typical for Lloyd."
A small 'hmph' was the Seraphim's reply. Wishing to veer free of the subject of his son he looked about slowly. "This place seems animated..."
"Yes. They are preparing for the move to Sylvarant."
"They are still moving there?"
Raine nodded. "After the fall Harvest the village will be moved. Sheena believes the village would still be better off if transferred to Sylvarant."
"Hnn..." Kratos ran his fingers through his unkept hair thoughtfully as he gazed evenly at the half-elven teacher before him. "So, Mizuho will make the continental move and become a village of Sylvarant...Will that be better for the people I wonder?"
"That's uncertain. But, for now it has given the people of Mizuho something to look forward to and Sheena something to occupy her mind."
The tone in Raine's voice concerning the final part of the sentence made Kratos give her a peculiar look. "Is there something wrong with the Ninja?"
Raine nodded gently. Her facade became a bit tainted with concern as she spoke. "In a way I guess that's correct. Sheena hasn't really been herself since the second to final encounter at the Tower of Salvation. She always seems preoccupied though tries to act as if not. A classic case of a fake facade hiding sleeping sorrow."
"What do you think has caused her pain?"
"Many things could have contributed." The Professor responded, "Corrine's death, Kuchinawa's Betrayal but I believe the biggest factor to be Zelos' death..."
The Seraphim cocked an eyebrow quickly. What does Zelos' death...alleged death...have anything to do with Sheena? "I'm afraid I fail to see what you mean."
Raine looked at him as though he were as dense as his son. A moment of contemplation however cast realization over her. "Ahh, yes. That's right you didn't know Zelos or Sheena very well."
"I...take it they were close?"
"Their relationship was a bit awkward. The equivalent to Fire and Ice." The reference made Kratos picture the summon spirits of fire and ice squaring off. The battle ended with Celsius melting and Efreet being blinked out of existence by the water caused by Celsius' thaw. He blinked shortly at the sudden intervention of his imagination and continued to listen. "However it wasn't as catastrophic as one would expect."
"Opposites attract." He commented shortly. The loss of Zelos is what causes Sheena's pain...Hnn...
The professor nodded. "True. Love is full of surprises."
Her serious expression changed suddenly as smile broke across her face. Kratos gave her an odd look, unable to comprehend what was so amusing about the situation. He remained confused until she pointed at something behind him. The mercenary turned slightly to look and was met with the sight of the two youngest of the group sitting side by side by the river.
---
Presea sat quietly staring into the crystalline water. Genis however had lifted his gaze from the water to quietly watch the girl beside him as a blush danced across his cheeks. She's so...beautiful...
The young girl could feel him staring at her and smiled inwardly.Presea secretly enjoyed the attention he showed her. Since learning of Alicia's death she'd always felt discluded and lonely.Genis made her feel less helpless and less alone. It felt nice to know she always hadhim there with her. "Is something wrong Genis?" She asked as she looked up, acting as though she hadn't noticed his gaze upon her.
"N-no! N-nothing at all!" The young half-elf replied quickly while looking away, his cheeks now an even brighter red.
"Are you sure?"
"Y-yeah! I just umm w-wanted to s-say that-" you're pretty! Come on Genis, tell her she's pretty! "The water looks really nice today!" Ahh! Idiot! ;-;
Presea smiled thinly and looked back to the water. "Yes, It's very calming..."
A small silence passed between the two filled only by the quiet flow of the water. After a moment or so, Presea could feel his comforting gaze once more upon her. She giggled to herself and leaned against him lightly.
This startled Genis as much as it made his heart sore. Unfortunately the startle factor caused him to jolt suddenly in surprise. This triggered a horrible chain reaction for his jolt forced him off the creek edge and into the water. A large splash occurred followed by the sputtering and coughing of the half-elf as he sat waist deep in the flowing water.
Presea's initial shock was washed away by a wave of giggles which she tried to quell by placing a hand over her mouth.
Genis felt extremely stupid. His face flushed a vibrant pink in embarrassment. It hardly helped when he looked up to see not only Presea giggling at him but Raine and Kratos smirking as well.
"Awe man..." He muttered and slapped the water in frustration.
---
Raine laughed quietly at her brother's antics. "That was cute."
"Heh. Indeed."
"It just goes to show that love doesstrange things to people."
The seraphim nodded as he watched Presea help Genis from the water. If Sheena was indeed distraught over Zelos' 'death'; Kratos felt in some way that he was obliged to help remedy that distress. After all she had helped keep his son safe when he could not. In that way, he felt he owned everyone in the group some sort of favour. Perhaps, in time, I will be able to repay them all. He thought silently. But for now, I'll focus upon this...I need to talk to Zelos...
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Kazaana – Heh my minor Gesea fluff there. Heh they're Kawaii! I need to know something! I need you all to help me because I can't recall x.x Remember when Presea gave Genis the carved Wooden Bear? Well, what I need help with is did he ever actually give her something back? If so, what is it? It's driving me nuts x.x
Kratos - THERE YOU ARE!
Kazaana - O.O EEEEK!!! ::runz::
Kratos - Come back here! You said if there was even ONE spelling error I would get to smite you!
Kazaana - True! But I didn't say WHEN you could smite me!!!
Kratos - I deem that time now!!! JUDGEMENT!!!!!
Kazaana - AH YAAAHHHH!!!!! ::goes flying, Can't even hit the ground before he's slammed with Victory Light Spear::
Kratos - MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Kazaana – Martel help me x.x