Kazaana - Ahhh!!! I haven't updated in much too long!!! But that's my own fault! I got grounded for my own stupidity!!! (I'm telling you, Parents do not like low grades in Math x.x) that and Mr. Computer went all X.x I can only get like...Wordpad to work and, I have no mouse. I had no idea the TAB button and the ALT button had such a great function o.o To upload and check e-mails I had to beg my Japanese teacher to use the net! So please! forgive me!
Ooo yeah! I had someone comment to me through E-mail that I should: "shorten my review responses and not have little skits before the chapter". I regret to inform that person that I won't shorten or remove anything. I respond to the reviewers because they took the time and the effort to put down their thoughts upon my story. As for the skits, those are just fun! So, if you don't want to read all of that SKIP IT!!! It's not hard to scroll down! You wanna be lazy? Hit CTRL-F and type in Chapter You'll find yourself at the chapter's beginning.
Reviewer's Response
Silverwings3
I agree. Double EXP does rule! As for the Presea thing I was playing upon an idea engraved into my mind by a friend. Thanks to you I've realized this and must find some how to incorporate that into the story. My bad! Arigatou for pointing that out to me.
Kazaana - Kratos! Behave!!
Kratos - ...::swats kazaana::
Kazaana - She'll do evil things Kratos!!
Kratos - ...::swats him again::
Kazaana - He's not listening Silver-chan x.x
Someone...
A sharpened stone? Thank you! That was driving me nuts!!!
Lil-Sun-Rie
Yes! Fear my Kratos OOCness! Heheh Gomen, but like you said, it just fits better XD And I like your KratosRaine fic!!! UPDATE !!! And...my sn isn't Miroku! ::shifty eyes:: No...not at all! ::reaches for butt but get's slapped before he's even close:: '
Sanosuke.Cigara
Thanks for reviewin'! Glad you liked the Genis falling in the water things.
Karana Bell
Woo!! I'm loved! ::feels all warm and fuzzy inside.:: I'm glad you enjoyed the little Gesea moment there
and May the clone help me x.x
Dominus
More Kraine you say? It's coming my friend! all In due time!
Bloody-Valentine42
You liked the Gesea? Yes! I didn't do too badly at that then! The shortness...is yes...short...I'll work on that ne.
The-key-of-the-twilight
COOKIE!!! ::cracks it open and reads the fortune:: Be nice to cows, their product may help you. Your lucky item for today is...Dairy. That's weird...Oh well! It's not like the fortunes are actually true! ::eats the cookie :: Thank you!!!
Kitten Kisses
Glad you liked the fluff...You wouldn't kill a guy for updating so late....would ya ::sweatdrop::
Potter29vo
Woo! Sharpened Stone! and I got a skit re-run. WOO! XD And yes, Fear my typos! Sorry to say, this time around they'll probably be even worse. I've got no spell check and I became impatient with my procrastination Beta-reader. I'm beginning to pity Kratos. He has several people after him now o.o And guess what! Just for you my summary now has the famed -Sheelos- in it!!! Ha ha XD But I do have a question...How do I join the community. I tried three times and got no where fast! Oo yeah! I hope the description's better this chapter
PS - I apologize greatly for not looking over your one-shot like I said I would. My computer has all but died and I can't even read fanfiction until I've obtained a new one. I hope you can forgive me.
Hunny Babe
You like it? Really!? ::shiny eyes:: Arigatou X3!!
DarkPegasiKnight
Heh they are very Kawaii aren't they?
Dragoonknight1
A morgue O.O You're such an optimist x.x And yes! THANK MARTEL FOR WAL-...Great, I almost did it too! - FOR KRATOS THE SERAPHIM AND HIS LOVE FOR RAINE!!!
Toboe-Angel
Ahh! Threats!! Threats that were revoked!...YAY! No death!...until Kratos gets me of course x.x Thanks for reviewing!
Luv2Game
Response to a review oh Chapter 1! Nope! Can't say I've ever read your story 'Second Chance' I think it's all a big coincidence, I had no intention of stealing anyone's idea. I hope you don't mind that I continue on this story ne? Sorry for any inconvience. And thank you for reviewing!
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Kazaana - ::dragging himself across the ground:: ...hurt...pain...agony...itai...xx
Kratos - :: laughs maniacally and kicks him:: MUWHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
Kazaana - ::gets kicked x.x:: Heeelllp mmmeeee x.x
Raine Clone (curtsey of Karana Bell): I'll help! ::starts charging Ray::
Kazaana - Raine helping me o.O
Kratos - Raine helping him O-O?!?!
Kazaana - Arigatou!!! ::glomps Raine Clone. His hands get a little too friendly unfortunately::
Raine Clone - ...::casts ray on Kazaana then goes off somewhere::
Kazaana - BWAH!!! X-X
Zelos - !!! Someone's gotta help my bud!!! Lloyd, common! help him!
Lloyd - NO! Dad might ground me x.x
Zelos - Sheena? My bodacious Hunny! Please!
Sheena - Why don't you help him??!?!
Zelos - ...And mess up my hair?!
Sheena - ::Groans:: FINE!. ::starts summoning:: I call upon the power of the heaven, the earth and all dairy in between!
Raine - Dairy O.o?
Sheena - I summon thee! ICE CREAM SANDWICH!!!
Everyone - Ice cream Sandwich?!?! O.O
Kratos - ::Is suddenly engulfed and contained by a GIANT Ice Cream Sandwich. Only part left visible is his head:: .
Kazaana - I'll never doubt a fortune cookie again....
Lloyd, Genis and Colette - YAY!!! ::start to eat the sandwich::
Kazaana - I do not Own Tales of Symphonia!! I do own this giant Kratos containing Ice Cream Sandwich!!!
Sheena - Like hell you do!!! It's mine!!
Raine - ::Has run off with the Sandwich as they yell, taking Kratos with it::
Everyone else : O.o;;;
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Chapter 3 - Lost
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Sheena sat silently in the bounds of her hut staring mindlessly at a wall. It was tan and worn; like an old traveler's robe speckled with light dust. Russet timber split the drab color into sections giving the wall a quaint look. It was decorated by traditional portraits and old bookshelves, though all and all, it wasn't particularly interesting, especially to the young Mizuho chief. Its interest mattered little however, for her normally vibrant hazel-eyes were duly staring past the wall into nothing-ness.
Feelings of enmity, loneliness and sorrow welled deep within her. For a long while she had to coup with such a violent mixture of emotions causing an unstability in her thoughts and a drag about her mood. She felt incapable of happiness or trust and it angered her beyond belief. Yet, she still just sat there staring ahead.
Her docile stare began to slowly shift into a dark glower. It's his fault. She thought suddenly as her expression twisted slightly with anger. He betrayed us. He gave Colette to Yggdrasil then had the tenacity to try and stop us from rescuing her! The shinobi's mouth began to twitch into a snarled frown while her brow furrowed deeply. Not only was he perverted, philandering jerk but it turned out he was a lying backstabber too!
"Kami that man was so stupid! And now he's dead!!!" As the words flew from her mouth her face hit a peak of rage. Her hands tightened abruptly into fists as every muscle in her body tensed with violent frustration.
A loud 'snap' resounded within the hut and jolted Sheena from her sudden anger. Slowly she brought her gaze down to look at the source of the noise. It was an ougi, shattered within the tight confines of her grasp. It had been within her hand when she had tightened her fist and broke under the sudden pressure. "...He's dead..."
Her body began to relax as her facade started to fall. Auburn orbs welled with sorrow as she looked at the mangled ougi dangling lifelessly from her hand. Lifeless...like he was back then... Suddenly, her mind reeled and the picture of his motionless body lay there before.
Sheena could still see it clearly. What was once the body of a well-trained warrior lay mangled in pools of dark blood. She could vividly remember every gash, every bruise upon him. The pale, pale tint of his once toasted skin, the way his sword lay, even the particular way his hair had fallen while meshed with sweat and blood had been engraved into her memories. Yet what bothered her most were his eyes; deep violet pools of pain, regret, self-loathing and perhaps, the most disturbing of all, glee. He'd been happy to pass on; happy to put it all behind; and happy, to leave her alone.
And that's exactly how she felt. . .alone. She was trapped within a place created by her mind where no human contact could reach her, nor did she want any to. She lived day-to-day with a drab sense of existence as if trudging onward to a point which she could never reach. It drove her insane! She often wondered how the death of one annoying, egotistical chosen could affect her so dramatically.
But of course, she knew the answer to that.
Never the less, she denied it. In Sheena's mind, there was no way she could have actually loved him despite the fact her heart fought so violently against her thoughts. He was a pompous, self-centered, philandering beauty queen! She'd often shout at herself. You didn't love him and he didn't love you! Yet there she was, with a weeping heart and blurring thoughts, all focused upon him.
There was more to Zelos than all she was attempting to force herself to believe. She knew so as well. And, regardless of what she was trying to convince herself of no true feeling came with her curses.
A sudden knock upon the sliding door startled her from thoughts. It was then she realized she'd been crying and quickly wiped her tears away. "Y-yes?"
"Sheena-sama? It's Yuki and Colette-chan. May we come in, onegai?"
Quickly gathering false composure, Sheena stood and flipped open a book to make it look as though she had actually been doing something. "Hai. Come in." She pretended to be reading as the two girls entered.
"Hi Sheena!" Colette said cheerfully, her happiness unwavering as always. Curiosity became evident in her next words. "What are you reading?"
"A book on the summon spirits."
"Sheena-sama." The woman who'd entered with Colette said quietly. "The cover says. 'Ancient Mizuho Ruins'..."
Sheena suddenly felt a bit stupid. "Oh..."
"Well, don't let Raine see it!" Colette exclaimed suddenly. The sad thing was, she wasn't joking.
The shinobi forced herself to giggle lightly.
Yuki looked at Sheena evenly, as if assessing her mood. After a moment the village woman's scrutiny had ended and her conclusion had been drawn. "What's wrong Sheena-sama?"
"Nothing." Came the reply, though inwardly she was cursing the older woman. The two had know one another since as far back as Sheena could remember. Yuki had perhaps been the closest thing to a sister or mother Sheena had ever had. Naturally such a relationship did not allow any ill emotions to go unnoticed.
"Yuki's right Sheena. You seem a little run down." Colette said while tilting her head. "And...really sad."
How does she do that? Clueless one moment then eerily knowledgeable... "No, no I'm just really tired." She lied while stretching lightly.
Colette nodded. "Oh well okay! You should get some sleep, it's bad to stay up when you're that tired!"
...then clueless again u.u "Hai, I think I will. Arigatou."
"Air-e-ga-toe?" Colette repeated slowly with a confused expression.
"It's like 'thank you'."
"Oh! you're welcome." The girl replied with a bright smile before turning to leave the room. "If you need anything don't hesitate to call!"
"Yes. If even just to talk, come and get us." Yuki emphasized while giving Sheena a knowing glance. The shinobi found she had to nod before the older woman would move her ice blue orbs away. "Good." Yuki turned and made her way to the door slowly. "Come on Colette, I'm sure the rice is done by now."
The Chosen's gleeful voice was heard, even after the door had been shut. "Really? Are you going to teach me how to make riceballs? I was never good at them before."
"Sure. I'll be glad to teach you."
"Yay! I hope Lloyd likes them!"
Sheena listened to the voices of her friends fade away into the distance before she dropped the book. It hadn't all been a complete lie. It was true that she hadn't slept in awhile, she'd just managed to leave out several other facts the were bothering her; and greatly at that. Sheena found that she wished she'd asked them to stay. Then, she would have been able to talk and cry with the comfort of friends. Yet, at the same time, she didn't want them there...she didn't want anyone there. All at once she was again aware of the boxed little world of her mind.
Releasing a half-sobbing sigh, she collapsed upon her futon. All she wanted to do was break down; to never move from that spot until death consumed her. However, she couldn't do that. It would be unfair...to the people of Mizuho and to all of my friends...I can't be that selfish...Not like he was... Despite the slight bitterness of the final thought she hardly meant it. Exasperated with her inner conflict over her love and hate of Zelos, she allowed herself to quickly slip into sleep.
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"Is that the best you can do?! I refuse to win so easily! Come back when you're stronger Sheena!" Kuchinawa spat venomously at the fallen shinobi before him. "Pathetic!" Seething with anger and hate He disappeared suddenly in a veil of smoke.
Sheena stared evenly at the ground. Though the loss was hard on her ego, the worst part of it all was she was sure now that Kuchinawa hated her. As children they'd been so close, always training and playing together; helping one another. Orochi and Yuki as well. They'd all lost someone dear to them in the Volt incident but she'd thought that after all this time they may have forgiven her. Kuchinawa didn't obviously.
"Kuso..." Was all she managed to spit out as her face creased with sorrow and anger directed souly at herself.
"Sheena!" Lloyd yelped with concern as he knelt beside her. "Sheena, you're really hurt! We've got to get you back to the village."
"No..." She replied darkly. "I lost the duel. I deserve to lay here and bleed."
"You dork!" He exclaimed emotionally. "Don't talk like that! I'm taking you back!" True to his word, the swordsman picked her up.
And she struggled; however, her condition didn't allow for it to be very violent. "Lloyd Irving put me down NOW!!!" He ignored her, which only made her more displeased. "Lloyd..." He words trailed off as she watched the world spin...it was an unpleasant feeling which engulfed her entire being and blackened her sight, sending her into unconsciousness.
---
Zelos wasn't sure what had happened, but when Lloyd had entered Mizuho carrying Sheena he knew something had gone terribly wrong. Immediately, the chosen jumped to his feet, knocking aside the chess game he'd been playing with Regal and ran to the ninja and swordsman.
"Bud, What happened?!"
"She lost." Lloyd replied quickly, huffing a bit for he was out of breath.
"And you didn't give her a gel or anything?!"
"I left them...all...here!!!"
Zelos smacked his forehead and groaned. He suddenly wanted smack Lloyd repeatedly with his sword while reciting 'BE PREPARED! BE PREPARED' over and over again. "So, you've let my hunny bleed all this time?!"
Lloyd groaned. "I brought her back to...help her Zelos! Not to...listen to you lecture me!"
The chosen nodded. "Right, right. I'll take it from here bud!"
Lloyd knew he should have protested. But he was out of breath and just wanted to collapse. Thus he allowed Zelos to carry Sheena. "Don't try anything."
Zelos ignored him as he carried Sheena off. He looked down at her quietly, taking in the sight of her helpless form. Seeing her like that, bloody and beaten made his face soften with sympathy and even more with worry. Immediately he summoned forth a first aid spell. Crude yet effective enough to allow some of the pain to slide from her face.
He smirked shortly, joyed to see that it had helped somewhat. Without further hesitation he took her to Tiga's hut.
---
Sheena awoke slowly. Immediately she felt the dull throbbing of her body and the irritating pulse of a small headache. It all allowed her to remember what had happened rather quickly. She opened her eyes slowly and peered upwards at the meticulous weave of the ceiling. Her vision of the pattern was ended abruptly as Zelos' head loomed over her.
"Helllo my Voluptuous Hunny, I see your awake-" He stopped as he hand connected with the side of his face. He reeled to the side, surprised by the sudden slap. "-AHH! and feisty as ever too!"
Her face had flushed red with anger and a bit of embarrassment. "Zelos! What are you doing?!"
"Why I was taking care of you, my voluptuous hunny!"
"I'm afraid to ask HOW you were taking care of me."
"What? Sheena, hunny! How could you ever doubt me?" He pouted, hiding the true hurt that he felt. What had she thought he'd been doing? Even he had his limits!
She huffed shortly, "Answer your own question...Stupid chosen." Looking away from him, Sheena slowly tried to sit up. It caused her pain, of course, but she refused to stay laying down. She managed to get nearly up before she felt an arm across her shoulders, easing her descent as she was pushed back to the futon. "Zelos!!" She hissed.
"Raine said you shouldn't move right after you woke." He replied shortly while holding her there. If he knew Sheena at all, he knew should would try to get up again. He was right. "Sheena, just lay down. I'm not letting you up."
Her eyes burned into him like hot daggers. "Zelos let me go, Now!"
The chosen shook his head. "No."
"LET GO!"
"NO!" He snapped suddenly causing her to go silent in shock. "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself. Raine said you shouldn't move, so I'm not going to let you." His violet eyes jumped with determination and flickered with worry as he stared intensely into her auburn orbs. "I...don't want to see you in pain Sheena...."
She was silent. Does...he really mean that...? Why does it feel so good to here him say that... A short moment passed and her eyes began to waver slowly until his intense gaze. "Z-zelos...do you-"
He grinned suddenly. "-mean that? Of course my voluptuous hunny! The great Zelos Wilder would never want to see any of his hunnies in pain!"
Sheena's shocked expression shifted to boiling anger. "You bastard!" And she slapped him, harshly, once again.
"Aa-yah! Violent Banshee!! " He was slapped again. "She's beating on me-!" and again. "HELP!" and again. His cries for help and her constant slaps continued for awhile, though, regardless of being beaten one thing remained...
...he did not let her go...
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Zelos found falling off the bed to be a crude wakeup call. The ground was hard, cold steel and the impact had rattled his wounded body. A groan of discomfort left him as he slowly and reluctantly sat up, letting the blankets fall from a top him.
"Oh man..." He grumbled while rubbing his eyes. "What was that? a dream?" No...a memory... A sigh left his cracking lips while he lightly scratched the back of his neck. He found it strange he remembered such a thing while in abyss that was sleep. That time he'd finally seen the mortality of the omnipotent being he'd always thought Sheena to be.
In a way he had always seen Sheena as invincible. She was strong and obtained an iron will which he had assumed would always keep her standing. However, from the moment he saw Lloyd approaching the village with her limply in his arms, Zelos knew that sheer will couldn't keep even Sheena standing. She was human, mortal; just as all else upon the planet was and such a realization struck the egotistical chosen harder than a sword ever could. Yet at the same time it humbled him and allowed him to open up to her if only a bit more. It was that time, so long ago, that he admitted to himself that he might actually love her.
...Love her...
Then, I blew it. Zelos ran his hand threw his hair slowly and for once didn't care that it was tangled. 'I'll go off and abandon the only friends I've ever had to side with a power-hungry cross dressing angel who probably will kill me once it's all over anyway!' ...Smooth Zelos...Just smooth.
Another desolate sigh left his lips as he stood up. He discovered that most of the pain in his body had dwindled down to nothing more than an ache or a throb upon the areas the harshest hits had been landed as well as in his chest. A slight constriction of breath followed by small, sharp pains signaled him to a possible fracture of bones.
Great...I must have broken my ribs. Everything's just coming up Zelos isn't it? The chosen's sardonic thought accompanied the unsteady sound of his footsteps as he approached the exit to the room. He wasn't walking properly. The reason why was made completely evident with the more weight he put upon his left leg. Leg too. Even with and Exshpere this is going to take to damn long to heal. A short look about the room showed a conveniently placed crutch within arm's reach to be seen. Without hesitation he snagged the item and utilized it; quickly exiting the room.
Zelos began to meander around the Renegade Base. There was no longer a sense of hostility in the air, rather a quaint confusion that was evident on the face of every Renegade he saw. They no longer knew what to do. Their mission to stop Yggdrasil and join the two worlds had been completed leaving them with nothing more than the prospect of peace. However most had fought for their entire lives and was, in some sense, afraid of the prospect of no more fighting.
In a way, Zelos could understand the mixed emotions of the Renegades. He too had fought his entire life. Not for a greater cause, but for himself; to simply stay alive. But now that there was no longer need of a chosen he no longer had to fight for his life. He'd be left alone to live in the quiet peace he'd always desired and that frightened him.
The lecherous red-head began to laugh lowly at his own cowardice. That's where all his uncertainty brewed from, his fear of living. He was afraid to look at the world through new eyes; afraid to put away suspicion; afraid to have friends; afraid to love.
"Love...ha." He laughed shortly and allowed himself a thin smile. I keep telling myself I don't...but I know I do. Even if she'll never forgive me for what I've done. He found himself missing the deep brun of her eyes and shimmer of her deep black hair. Images of her sensual form flashed before his vision as the sound of her voice played tauntingly in his ears. Even her venomous glares, clever threats and violent slaps found a place in what he longed to see and hear once more.
He suddenly had a headache again. It felt as though the walls were closing in to loom over him forebodingly not allowing him to breathe properly. He couldn't stay inside any longer, he had to get out.
The frigid winter air of the Flanoir Region struck his skin abruptly and caused him to shiver as he stepped out of the complex. Everywhere he could see was nothing more than sea, rock and falling or fallen snow. Even the renegade base looked like an enormous snowball to him. The scenery was so beautiful yet so simple one would hard believe it unless looking upon it themselves. It eased Zelos' jumbled mind and forced him to focus upon the more immediate ones.
"What should I do?" He uttered quietly to nothing in particular. "I want to go back. If only once just to see my violent banshee again...But she's going to hate me -- more than usual." At the thought of her hating him the fear rose within him once more. That's why he couldn't go back. The thought of Sheena despising him was more than he could bare and he couldn't face it, nor could he face her.
Another laugh echoed from his lips. "Man...I'm such a chicken shit!" He snapped suddenly at himself then abruptly kicked the steel fortress with his wounded leg. It was immediately regretted as he dropped to the snow, cradling the throbbing appendage as if it was a screaming child. "DAMN IT!" He shouted in agony as he rolled about erratically.
Zelos stopped eventually and remained numbly in the snow staring at the sky. I can't do it... He was unsure of how much time passed before he finally got up. Gripping the crutch once more he headed back towards the entrance. "I'm not going back."
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Vocabulary (just for those who don't know)
Ougi -- Japanese folding paper fan.
Arigatou -- Thank You (as explained XP)
-sama -- suffix showing great respect for a person usually of higher rank
-chan -- suffix usually used with friends.
onegai -- please
hai -- yes or okay
shinobi -- a ninja or a ninja spy
Yuki - means 'Snow' I do believe.
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Kazaana - and thus...the chapter ends...
(silence)
Kazaana - Hey!! Where'd the muses go?
Lloyd - They're trying to get a piece of the ice cream sandwich...
Kazaana - So why aren't you there.
Lloyd - I'm not eating something my dad's been contained in!!! That's sick!
Kazaana - hmm point taken...how's the angel guy doing any- ::is suddenly zapped by lightning:: - way ::cough:: why do I have a feeling he's angry and well .
Kratos - KAZAANA I'll ki-
N-chan - ::runz in, tackles Kratos and starts to drag him off::
Kratos - O.O
Kazaana - AHAHAHAHAHA! Arigatou N-chan! I Live another day!! So please! Read and Review because I don't know how much longer fate'll let me keep from Kratos' wrath o.o