AngelCatGirl: Finally I've finished my second chapter! I hope you enjoy this one even if it's a bit rushed.

Mitsukai: AngelCatGirl does not own ToS (and probably never will).

ACG: Hey! .:sulks in corner:.


Chapter 2: Decisions

"Hurry! You must find him quick!" a big, dark creature cried. "You don't have much time before it is gone…I won't be able to help them for much longer. This situation is almost out of my control."

The small, white bird that the creature was talking to nodded hastily and took to the air with a small bell jingling around her neck. She left the breathtaking garden behind and proceeded to climb higher and higher into the atmosphere. She flew the wind currents, gauging everyone's feelings and the goodness of their souls. Suddenly, just like how a lighthouse is a beacon to a lost ship in the fog, the bird felt the presence of the one she was searching for…Zelos Wilder. But the white bird could not confront him directly; instead, she would create a situation to intensify the feelings he had for the one special to him. Intensifying his feelings was crucial to set up the perfect situation to test his love; it is the only way to see if it is true love.

'If only there was another way for the lovers to admit their love for another. Then our job would cease to exist…but people have a delicate balance of emotions…our job will continue to till the end of time.' she thought gliding gently toward the city of Meltokio.


Sheena woke up to the harsh sunlight hitting her eyes from the window of her room. She blinked a few times trying to adjust to the brightness and sat up looking at her surroundings. Considering her brain was still groggy and the last thing she remembered was fighting Seles in the Coliseum, Sheena did not know where she was. She glanced at the silk bed covers, velvet pillows, and the overall fanciness of the room. She began to panic, thinking that she had somehow got drunk and ended up with one of the nobles. Sheena racked her brain for all the information it could muster that early in the morning but nothing showed her how she ended up here. Sheena flipped off the covers, flinching when her right arm throbbed with the movement. She had put on her boots quietly and headed to the door when it hit her. The last thing she saw at the Coliseum was…

"Zelos!" she shouted and instantly regretted it. She opened the door and found herself face to face with the very man who had saved her.

"You called me my voluptuous hunnie?" he asked smirking.

Blushing, Sheena shouted, "D-Don't call me that!"

"Do you prefer violent banshee, then?" he asked innocently.

"S-Shut up!" she screamed slapping him but she never made contact. Zelos had caught her hand before it hit his face.

"You don't want to do that. You're bleeding again." Zelos commented pointing to Sheena's arm. She glanced down and saw that he was right. Crimson stains dotted the bandage around her wound. "You need help?"

"No, I can manage this on my own." she muttered. "Where are your bandages?"

Zelos pointed to the box on the dresser next to her bed. She walked over with the grace of a cat and proceeded to unwrap the bandages.

During this whole time Zelos hadn't moved from his spot but watched her with amusement as she tried to wrap it again left handed. He leaned on the door frame and asked, "Are you sure you don't need my help?"

Sheena didn't look at him as she held her arm out towards him. "Fine." With another of his famous smirks he sat down next to her on the bed and wrapped the wound with careful precision. Sheena wouldn't admit it to him, but she thought that sitting here with Zelos was actually kind of nice. The sun was shining through the windows and warming her back gently. Sheena actually felt…relaxed…something she hadn't felt for a long time.

"You probably want to know why I made you come down here to get the King's letter instead of just giving it to you myself at Mizuho." Zelos said not realizing he was spoiling Sheena's mood. "Well…"

Sheena turned her head to stare at him, waiting for him to continue.

Zelos felt her gaze as he continued to wrap the bandage, "Well…I just wanted to see your sexy body!"

She slapped him left handed and shouted, "Pervert!"

"Oww…" he said holding his cheek. "Why'd you slap me for? I was simply telling you the truth!"

"Well you won't see my sexy body for a long, long time you pervert! Once you give me that letter you won't ever see me again!" Sheena shouted in his face. She swore she saw something flash through those blue eyes of his…what was it? Amusement? Hurt? Sheena couldn't tell what she saw but the look was soon replaced by a sly grin.

"So you admit your body is sexy?" he commented scanning her figure. Zelos wouldn't dare show it, but Sheena's words pierced him harder than it looked. He really didn't want to lose one of his friends…especially Sheena. He couldn't quite place it, but there was just something about her that actually sparked something in him; something that he had yet to feel around his other hunnies.

"I-I never said that!" Sheena denied slapping him on the face yet again. "And stop looking at me like I am one of your hunnies! I'm not! But I doubt that someone like you would understand how I feel!" she shouted running out of the room and out the front door.

Zelos stared after her, still sitting on the bed cradling his red-marked cheek. When he realized that she wasn't coming back he ran his hand through his red locks deep in thought. He gave a wry smile, though none of it reached his eyes, and said, "The idiot has done it again." He never meant to hurt her, but hey, you can't teach old dogs' new tricks now can you? 'I should let her go…she wouldn't care for a pervert like me. She basically said that much anyway.' he thought, blue eyes filled with confusion. If he had been the old Zelos, the one before he met the brown-eyed summoner, he would have simply moved on without so much as a single glance to what he had done. But Zelos wasn't that person anymore…he wasn't the person that enjoyed another woman's company just for the little perks and kicks…he had actually changed into something indescribable. It felt different with Sheena, he never knew the meaning of true happiness until he met her all those years ago…it was something he would never forget. She had caused so many changes in him that even Zelos himself couldn't tell if the changes were for the good or the bad. But that in itself, was the reason he pursued her…she was probably the only person who could help him discover what it felt like to be himself instead of a fake actor carrying the title of Chosen. All he had to do was put his trust in her. Zelos chuckled to himself, 'A year ago the word "trust" wasn't even in my vocabulary.' he thought to himself ironically. 'I wonder if anyone would ever see what's behind my mask…'

Don't you ever feel like you're wearing a mask?

I do...all the time.

I feel that for every friend I'm with I wear a different mask to hide my identity and mimic them so I may fit in.

If you could count the masks, you would find thousands of them…

Each one for someone different.

But I wonder...which is the true me?

How will I know when I have finally taken off the mask and show somebody who I truly am?

Besides, how will I tell the difference between who I am and the fake?

I don't believe I truly know myself.

It may take days, weeks, or even years...

But tell me, how long will I have to hide...?

Help me...

Please…

-

Storming through the streets of Meltokio Sheena's mind raced through the events that morning. She had never intended to say such malicious things to him but something about him, or maybe constantly being around Zelos, always set her off. He was just so blind to her feelings that she couldn't help but lash out at him. Besides, Sheena knew deep in her heart that someone like him wouldn't ever care about her…to him she was just another pretty face, nothing worth noting for, except maybe for her rather large chest size; that particularly always seemed to draw the wrong attention.

"Maybe I should apologize to him…" she muttered to herself stopping just inside the boundaries of the city. But she would hate to see that smirk on his face…the one that he wore when he was pleased to get his own way. She heard a gentle cooing above her and looked up to find Kage slowly gliding above her head. The small white bird landed on Sheena's extended hand and instantly cocked her head at the summoner. "What are you doing here?" Sheena asked. The bird did not answer as she took to the air again and teasingly swooped around Sheena, pecking at her clothes every once in a while. Sheena laughed playfully as she tried to recapture the small bird…it had been quite a while since she had time to play and laugh like she used to. Kage dodged Sheena's attempts easily as she picked the pink ribbon out of her hair and flew off in the direction of Zelos' mansion, leaving the summoner to stare after her confusedly.

-

Zelos paced back and forth in front of his mansion. To the people who watched him this was surprising behavior to the normally calm Chosen. Zelos ran his hand through his hair repeatedly and glanced occasionally toward the entrance to the noble section. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but Zelos was in fact waiting for Sheena to return; he had a sneaking suspicion that his "hunnie" would return to him soon. A few of his normal groupies showed up but he dismissed them with a simple smile and an apology.

"Sheena, where are you?" he muttered to himself. He was sure he wasn't as horrible as he usually is with her…so why does he worry about her? Maybe he had pushed her too far; maybe she won't ever come back to him. These thoughts plagued his mind and filled him with regret at what he had done to her. 'I wish I could just start all over…maybe get a new start with Sheena…' he thought to himself. "But that would never happen. Someone can't just forget their memories overnight." he ranted pacing once again under the hot sun of Meltokio. His rampage was soon stopped by a bird literally flying into his face.

"Ack! Get it away from my beautiful face!" shouted Zelos shielding himself.

The bird did not do any more damage to the Chosen, however, it circled around Zelos like a vulture circles a carcass. It was a small, white bird…possibly a dove…and it carried a pink ribbon in its beak. Kage, now intent on capturing her quarry continued to circle around him, flashing the ribbon in his face until he recognized it.

It did take quite a while for Zelos to register the ribbon. He knew he had seen it somewhere but the memory kept slipping out of his grasp. Then all realization hit him like a brick wall…he had seen this pink ribbon in Sheena's hair! Zelos remembered seeing it as he gazed upon her sleeping form after the battle at the Coliseum. Seles had apologized to her brother and left in such a rush that Zelos didn't have a chance to ask her if she was alright. "Where did you get that ribbon?" he asked the bird. 'What am I doing asking a bird? This is pointless…there's no way a dumb bird can tell me where it got the ribbon in the first place.' he thought turning to go back into his home.

But Kage had a different plan for the Chosen. She flew in front on the door and hovered a few seconds before darting around frantically. Finally, she had Zelos' attention.

"Are you trying to tell me something happened to Sheena?"

Kage cocked her head at the red head and flew over to an alley next to his mansion. She waited for Zelos to follow her, when he finally took chase Kage ducked into the alley.

'Sheena better not be hurt!' Zelos thought fearfully. If anything had befallen his gorgeous summoner he wouldn't know what he'd do. He followed the bird swiftly, making sure that no one saw his entry into the alleys of Meltokio. It was always said that only the poor lived behind the exquisite mansions of the nobles and that any person brave enough to venture behind them were never seen again. Of course in Zelos' mind, those were only rumors spread to keep the nobles out of such a place. But the most eccentric sound was met by Zelos' ear…it sounded just like the jingling of bells…such a sweet sounding melody was never heard in all of Symphonia. Zelos was drawn in like a moth to the flame, unable to resist the urge to continue onward into the dark alley.

But Zelos' escapade had not gone completely unnoticed; Sheena had just arrived at the infamous mansion of Zelos Wilder when she saw a flash of pink and red dodge around the corner into the alleyway.

'Now what is that idiot up to?' she wondered following him. 'He better be okay…'

-

Meanwhile, Zelos ran through the passage following the little white bird hastily. The walls surrounding the area were dark and the only light shone ahead. The jingling continued to sound in his ear, getting steadily louder as he neared the exit. Zelos panted with exhaustion, something he had not felt in such a long time thanks to his Cruxis Crystal. He had no idea how long he had been running but it seemed like an eternity. The ringing intensified so suddenly that Zelos had to stop and cover his ears. When he looked back up he was no longer in the dark alleyway, instead, he found himself in an unbelievably beautiful garden. Just looking at his surroundings told Zelos he was not in Meltokio anymore…nothing in Symphonia could match this garden.

Then remembering why he was here, Zelos called out, "Sheena, are you here!" Everything was silent. So Zelos cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted a little louder but the only response he received was a bloodcurdling roar.

"Who dare disturbs me! Who dares enter my lair!" shouted a menacing voice that seemed to shake the very earth. The wind in front of Zelos swirled around by some unseen force as a black mist appeared out of nowhere, materializing into a large, panther-like, black cat with huge black wings. The cat looked at Zelos with its emerald green eyes matching the color of the single diamond mark on its forehead. Zelos could see that its eyes were filled with knowing and sorrow as the creature studied him closely. "Are you Zelos Wilder?" it asked him.

Zelos had retreated a few feet away from the magnificent beast when it had materialized out of nowhere but he was now completely frozen when it called his name, "Y-Yes…" he admitted slowly.

"Ah, so you have arrived at last." the black cat muttered padding away and lying in the soft, green grass next to some purple iris'. "Come child." it called addressing Zelos. Now that the anger was out of the beast's voice he could definitely tell that the creature was female.

Zelos hesitated a moment before warily taking a seat next to the large cat. He wasn't so sure whether the creature would attack him or not.

The cat noticed his hesitation and said reassuringly, "I won't bite. I didn't realize you had come so soon, I was expecting you to come later."

"Hold on a sec…you were expecting me? And how did you know my name?" Zelos asked questioningly. "Just who are you?"

The cat cocked her head and gave him a measuring glance before answering, "I have many names, but you may call me Mitsukai, Summon Spirit of the Soul."

"Summon Spirit of the Soul?" Zelos repeated.

Mitsukai nodded, bowing her majestic head, "Yes, but I will not explain further since there is a purpose for your coming into my secret oasis…and prison." Sadness clouded Mitsukai's eyes as she glanced at her surroundings.

"Your prison? I don't think I understand."

Mitsukai cocked her eyebrow, "You cannot imagine how isolated this place is. The way you entered is the only exit for my prison and even I cannot leave. But perhaps you know how it feels to be trapped…alone with your title." Mitsukai seemed to look past Zelos a moment toward the exit. Her muzzle curled into a grin as she refocused on him, "I believe I know what test to bestow on you and your lover. You both have a troubled past between the two of you…that is what brought you to me. It will strengthen your bond…" Mitsukai stood up and focused her Mana on Zelos.

"What are you talking about?" Zelos asked facing the Summon Spirit.

"Do you wish to have a new start with your lover? Would you like to start over yourself?" Mitsukai asked.

"…Yes, but memories and time can't be erased. If I could, I would like to relive every moment I had with Sheena but I can't." Zelos said defeated. He had never intended to reveal her name but Mitsukai already seemed to know so much.

Mitsukai's eyes bore into him as she asked, "What if I told you, you can forget everything? Would you take my offer? Would you seal the feelings?"

Zelos stared back. "In a heartbeat." he answered, not flinching under her gaze.

"Zelos!" somebody shouted behind him. He turned around and found himself face to face with Sheena. "Don't go through with it!" Her eyes brimmed with unwanted tears as she heard the man she cared about most wishing for all their time together erased. Did it mean nothing to him? Were his memories of them together that painful?

Zelos smiled one of his genuine smiles, "Sheena, even if I lose everything…my memories, my life, my feelings…" He embraced her for probably the last time. Sheena tensed a moment before she grabbed his shirt and broke down in tears. "I will still find a way back to you." he continued, "The feelings of you that I have kept hidden in my heart will return eventually and someday I will find a way to feel that love for you again. I'm sorry that this is late but…I love you, Sheena. You are my everything…my world; that is why I want another chance with you." He lifted her face up by putting a finger under her chin and wiped away her tears. Zelos could tell he was causing her much sadness by the look in her brown eyes. "Don't worry about me." he said kissing her gently on the lips.

That was when Sheena felt it, the spark from that little contact with him. She knew she was really in love with this red-haired Chosen. "Idiot…" she murmured after the kiss.

Zelos turned back to the large cat standing in front of him. "Okay, I'm ready." he glanced at Sheena for one last time with love shining like stars in his eyes.

Mitsukai nodded, "As you wish…" A mist, like the one Zelos saw earlier, seeped from the large beast's paws and inched its way around his body; encasing him in a large black sphere.

Sheena watched all of this paralyzed…she couldn't stand to see Zelos give up everything, especially for her. Her eyes darted around like frightened birds, looking for a way to stop this but no solution presented itself before her eyes. Finally giving up in aspiration she shouted, "Wait!"

The swirling mist seemed to stop completely after Sheena's outburst. Mitsukai focused her attention on Sheena, ostensibly searching the summoner's soul carefully. The Summon Spirits mouth curled into another grin when she found something she liked in the young girl. In an instant, the black mist had bypassed Zelos and surrounded Sheena completely with its enveloping embrace. Sheena could see the anguish on Zelos' face as he ran toward her prison and tried with all his might to get her out. He slashed out with his sword, he punched it…but nothing seemed to dent the sphere or break it.

"Sheena!" he yelled, angry with himself for allowing this to happen and for letting her sacrifice herself for him. He had no idea what Mitsukai truly had in store for him and he didn't want Sheena to take the fall. He pounded his fists on the invisible barrier.

Sheena smiled weakly, knowing full well that this would be the last time she looked at him with love in her eyes. She could never really admit it to herself, but being here in the last possible moments with her thoughts and feelings, gave her the strength to tell him how she felt. She looked down, black hair covering her eyes and body leaning in defeat.

"Heh, I'm glad they're taking me instead. I guess this will be my last time to see you, but Zelos…I want you to know something…I love you. I always have, so don't you do something stupid and die before me, okay? I never want to live without you by my side." she said softly but still smiling. "I love you…" she repeated putting her hand on the cold wall of her black prison. Zelos copied her gesture ignoring the fact he couldn't really hold her hand through the barrier.

"Please, don't leave me…" he begged her.

"I could never leave you." she told him back.

In that one instant, everything seemed to stop, allowing the two lovers to enjoy their moment together; it soon passed as the dark sphere contracted onto itself, shattering into dozens and dozens of cards that surrounded Sheena's now limp body. Bright, beautiful, purple light shone from the middle of Sheena's chest, absorbing into the surrounding cards. With the newfound power, the cards took to the air, scattering throughout all the regions of Symphonia. Zelos dropped to his knees and picked up her body…it was as cold as ice, all the familiar warmth he felt from her was gone and she was as lifeless (but nonetheless beautiful) as the dew drops shining in the early morning.

Mitsukai padded next to him, "Do not worry about your love. She will wake soon, but I warn you, she will not remember who you are."

"Why did you take her? Why not me?" Zelos asked clutching Sheena tighter.

Mitsukai closed her eyes and turned her head away from the Chosen, "Sheena, as you call her, has lost all her memory of you. When she awakens she will not remember who you are or if she has met you, but she will have all her other memories up until the time she has entered this city. Those cards you have seen earlier contain her memories of her life with you; retrieve them and you get her memory back…but, you may choose to forget about collecting them and start over with her if you wish." she told him completely ignoring his question. "I'm sorry…but this is how it must be. Once someone has been brought into my attention they do not leave until I am finished with them." Mitsukai said, green diamond glowing faintly.

"Why!" Zelos shouted at the beast angrily. "Why are you doing this! Answer me!" He faced the Summon Spirit, grief making him reckless and infuriated at the same time.

Mitsukai growled at him furiously, "I cannot answer your question! I am bound to my powers and they forbid me to reveal the truth to you. If you must find an answer, look in your heart! It is what drew you to me in the first place; it is what caught her attention!" She fluttered her wings angrily but simmered down a bit. "All the answers you seek will be revealed to you in time. I must go now, good luck on your journey. I hope we will meet again." Mitsukai bowed her head and the garden disintegrated into nothingness, leaving Zelos and the unconscious Sheena in the dark alleyway alone. In the darkness Zelos reflected on his upcoming decision…would he retrieve Sheena's memories or would he make a fresh start with the innocent summoner? He pondered these thoughts, all alone, under the narrow strip of blue sky in the middle of Meltokio. What would his decision be?


ACG: Yay! Finished at last! Now I'll respond to my reviews.

hannahbanana3809- Thank you for reviewing my story! I'm glad you loved it! I hope you liked this one as well. ;)

Ani the youkai princess- I'm glad you think this is an awsome story! I should really thank you for all your reviews...so THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH:)

WavemasterAries- Thank you:D

Anyways, please RR!