A/N: Do I have to do the disclaimer again? Well, if you miss it check the first chapter. Here comes chapter 2. It isn't that long either, but I decided to do smaller parts yet more frequent updates, should be in your interest, too.
Now, thanks for the reviews! I'm very glad that you enjoyed reading it (and that it is readable of course, heh). I don't know what exactly the next chapter will contain, but I think it'll focus on Lloyd. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Please review and let me know how you like it and if it matches your expectations!

A question: Is it normal that it takes so long for the site to update? It lasted hours until the replacement of the first chapter (the little update) was visible. Also,it takes much time for(new) reviews to appear, I'm glad there is such a feature as e-mail-alert. Is it only me or do you experience the same?

Arguments

"Raine!" Genis tried to wake his sister. "Raine! Wake up!"

As if she were a machine, Raine suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Genis. "Genis, what is it?" she asked sleepily. Before he could answer, she added: "Why is the sun up already?"

"Lloyd isn't here, and Sheena won't wake up!"

"So that's why you woke me instead of her", she said to herself. "What about the others?"

"I don't know, I got up only a few minutes ago."

"All right, I'll have a look at Sheena while you wake the others."

"Got it", Genis affirmed.

Raine crawled out of her sleeping-bag, then went over to the fireplace. Hearing some groans from behind, she knew Genis was having success at his task. "Sheena, you hear me?" Raine asked in a loud voice and shook Sheena softly at first, then harder, but got no reaction. At least she was breathing, so she was alive.

"You see? She's like a stone", Genis stated. "However, the others are fine. So, what do you think, Raine?"

"Let me see", Raine said and put one hand onto Sheena's forehead, closed her eyes and concentrated. A few seconds later, she stood up, turning to Genis. "I can't feel any abnormal mana, so it's no curse."

"Could she be poisoned then?" Genis guessed.

"Hm." Raine knelt down again and looked at Sheena's eyes. "I don't see any indications for that, eyes and temperature are normal, yet I can't exclude that possibility."

"What's going on?" Regal asked, as he joined the two.

"Oh, Regal", Raine said. "As you may already have noticed, Lloyd is gone and Sheena won't wake up. Did you hear anything last night?"

Regal shook his head. "No."

"Well, well", Zelos' voice sounded behind Regal. "I, the great Zelos, shall wake her up, for I know techniques that definitely will wake every woman."

Seeing the now risen fire in Raine's eyes, Regal stepped aside knowingly. Raine took a step forward and smacked Zelos' head hard. "Ouch! What was that for?" he yelled.

"Zelos! As always, we don't need your filthy thoughts!" Raine hissed. "Did anyone hear anything suspicious last night?" she asked the other ones only moments later, yet with a calm tone - but there were only shaking heads.

"Can't you use one of your healing techniques? Even if they don't help, they won't make it worse either, right?" Genis suggested.

"I think you're right", Raine answered. So she picked up her staff, then concentrated once more. "Recover!" she finally shouted, causing a green glimmer to appear around Sheena, which faded gradually.

Everyone stood there silently, wondering what would happen, hoping anything would happen at all. Of course, they hoped to see Sheena open her eyes, nevertheless they all were surprised when Sheena actually did so.

Being the first to regain control over her mind, Raine addressed the awoken: "Sheena, are you all right?"

Sheena blinked and sat up. "Oh, Raine... Yeah, I'm fine, thanks." Then she noticed the others staring at her. "Uh, why is everyone looking at me? Why..." The memories of the night reached her mind, causing her eyes to grow wide. "No...", she gasped, throwing her head around. "Where is Lloyd?"

"We don't know where he is right now. What happened?" Raine asked.

"We have to find him!" Sheena said in a panicky voice and stood up - and dropped a folded sheet of paper.

"What's that?" Genis said and picked the sheet up. Quickly he unfolded it. "It's a note from Lloyd!"

"What're you waiting for? Read it to us!" Zelos demanded.

"Ok, here we go: ‚Continue the quest, nothing else matters. I'm dispensable and would only be in your way right now. And please, don't blame Sheena for falling asleep, it wasn't her fault. Lloyd.' Now, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Lloyd, you fool", Sheena said in desperation.

"Sheena, what do you know about these words? What happened? You need to tell us!" Raine said in her demanding manner.

Still sitting on the grass, Sheena looked at Raine for a moment, then let her head drop. "He... he seemed very depressed, said something about being useless, having no special skills." She sighed deeply. "Looks like I failed to make him feel better, more valuable."

"Oh no! Why does he say such things? We all are his friends, aren't we?" sounded Colette's worried voice. She looked at everyone's face, begging for agreement.

"Didn't change his mind though", Sheena stated. "He just said that wouldn't change anything."

"But...!" Colette intervened, teetering on her feet with her fists taking up the motion.

"So, he left us on his own free will", Regal said thoughtfully, holding his chin. "However, I'm not sure if that's better than having him hijacked."

"Sheena, why were you in that abnormal sleep? I had to cast Recover up on you", Raine asked.

"Oh, you did?" She thought for a moment. "I think it was my own narcotic. It's made of berries and herbs, Lloyd knew I had it in my bag. He must have put some into my tea."

"Anything else we should know about it? Is it toxic or otherwise harmful?"

"No, it's not toxic or anything, just puts you to sleep, so don't worry.

"Did he say anything about where he wanted to go?" Genis asked.

"He didn't even say a damn thing about leaving at all."

"So, what are we gonna do now?"

"We have to go after him of course!" Sheena called out.

"I don't think it is a good idea to do so", Raine explained.

Hearing these words, Sheena suddenly stood up and faced Raine. "You...!" Her face turned red. "You don't even have the faintest idea of what's going on, do you? Typical..."

"It would be futile to search for him as we don't know where he may have gone, so settle down!" Raine fought back.

"I won't just act like nothing happened! When I remember his words I get a bad feeling right here", she pointed to her stomach.

"It is Lloyd's wish that we continue forming pacts with the summon spirits, so we should do it", Raine argued.

"Since when do you simply agree with what Lloyd says? Oh, you want to see the next temple as soon as possible, right? Well, I'm afraid Lloyd will do something stupid, so I will definitely go after him!"

"Sheena, we need you to form the pacts!"

"Yeah? Then you better wish I find Lloyd quickly as I won't form any pact until I've found him!" Furiously Sheena stamped away.

"Sheena! You will immediately come back here!" Raine shouted.

"Raine", Regal said calming, "I see the difficulty in finding Lloyd as well as I'm aware of the importance of our mission, yet I have to agree with Sheena.

"But Regal, I -"

"Raine, listen to me. Lloyd's disappearance has essentially weakened our forces, let alone Sheena's current condition might cause unforeseen consequences if she tried to form a pact now."

"I agree. And I'm worried about Lloyd, too, there must be something really bugging him, why would he just run away? He knows that we all are his friends, so he could have talked to us instead", Genis claimed.

"I want to save him, too! He always cares about us, so we should do the same!" was Colette's contribution.

"But... We know nothing about where he's gone, it won't be done quickly", Raine said in defense, unfurling her arms.

"We should check the shops and inns first", Regal suggested. "At least, he needs food and rest, and he didn't take anything with him, did he?"

"Yeah, looks like he left everything here", Genis answered.

Raine was curious. "He didn't take a rheaird?"

"Er... didn't check it yet." Scratching his head Genis smirked embarrassedly at his sister.

"You'd better do so then."

"Sure", Genis said, still smirking. After a minute, Genis reported back. "Only three wing bags left, so he took one."

"Oh, so we got only three rheairds then?" Colette asked.

"Yep."

"Uh, but we're seven..."

"That'll be no problem, Colette, the two of us and Presea can mount one", Genis explained.

"No way", Raine interjected. "You, young boy, will come with me. Colette and Presea will ride with Sheena, it'll fit."

"Oh, I'm not supposed to ride with one of my adorable hunnies?" Zelos said disappointed, followed by "Ow!"

"I am NOT your hunny, why don't you get it?" It was Raine again who smacked Zelos' head hard.

Ignoring the little interference, Colette asked, smiling hopefully: "So, we're going after him?"

"Do I have a choice?"