A/N: Thank you to all of you who took the time to review for Roulette! I've been trying extra hard to improve upon my writing and stuff. Please feel free to point out stuff I could improve on, even if it's stuff like "remember to edit." As I continue to write 'n' write, I pray to improve upon some levels. I hate my low vocabulary, I don't know how I manage to be so friggin' smart when my mind is trashed with video games and anime. XD (I mean that I'm an A and B student by that... n.n;)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own twisted tale.

Warning: If you haven't read This Piece of Fabric or Roulette, go back and read them! Or you won't know what's going on. ...if anything, go at least read Roulette. This is also shonen-ai oriented, but not specifically supportive. Also, read carefully between lines: I'm making some POV changes in this chapter.


Ungraced Heart
Chapter 1

The sun was setting. Dark was creeping up behind me as I ran quickly on my feet, trying to run to the house. Pausing for only a few moments, I noticed rain drops were starting to fall, and bit by bit, they were increasing. Again, I was making my way through like a rabbit looking for shelter.

It had begun to rain quite steadily and clouds completed the darkness before I finally made it to the house. Only a few steps into the door were made before my head spun and I collasped to the floor, half-conscious. Before I had a chance to absorb what was happening, two arms lifted me up and laid me in blankets, covering me in a comfortable embrace of heat. My head cleared to hear two voices conversing. "I'm sorry, Raine..."

"It's quite all right. I'm just worried if Genis is going to be okay." Zelos was apologizing? Maybe he did mean it the first time. I was about to sit up when I noticed a red shimmering light under the covers. I pulled up my hand, and there it was: my Exphere was glowing. But why? When I brought it up to my face to look closer, the light dimmed and disappeared again. Perhaps it was my imagination? I laid down and tried to go to sleep. It never dawned on me that would be my last night I could think such thoughts...

Tuesday morning strolled in rather hastily, but rain was still falling. I heard a crack of thunder, and it made me come to quickly. I looked around, but I wasn't sure if it was early, or if it was late and just dark. I shuffled through some drawers of clothing, then pulled out a random outfit (that matched, of course,) and put it on. There was no reason to take my schoolbooks: I'd be gone before class started. I knew that when weather was like this, Lloyd would take off extra early so that the trip wasn't as bad. (Of course, sometimes if it was bad enough, he'd stay at our house and almost give Dirk a heart attack.) I snuck out of the house quickly and broke into a fast, but slippy run.

Upon arrival at the schoolhouse, no doubt Lloyd was sitting there, scribbing random lines on a sheet of paper. "Hey Lloyd," I murmured, as he whipped his head in a frightened manner.

"Oh, Genis, you scared me!" He started to laugh, and I smiled. "What'cha here so early for?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you..." The normal stupid grin on his face faded into a frown of concern. "You see, it's about... you and Colette."

"And?..."

"Lately, I've been feeling... jealous." His eyes widened slightly. "At first, I thought it might have been that I wanted to be loved too. That I wanted a relationship with someone. But, I don't think that's it." I paused a few moments before I produced another coherent thought. "I think the real reason I'm jealous is because... I'm... in love."

The brunette's eyes widened more, if possible. "Genis, I don't think you're really Colette's type..."

I couldn't help but sweatdrop. "No, are you that dense! Lloyd, I don't love Colette!"

"Then who is it?"

"It's... it's you!" He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't dare let him budge in a word. "I love you! It's sick and twisted and wrong, but I can't help it! I'm so sorry for ever having these feelings for you, and I promise it'll change. But I only want you and Colette to be happy, nothing more. This is goodbye." I smiled as he stared at me, almost gawking. I turned around and without turning back, went straight out the door and back to fulfill the promise that I had made the previous day. I was blinded so much by my own heart that I didn't notice the figure standing beside the doorway outside.


"Lloyd? What was that about?" I heard Dad walk in, but I was too dumbstruck to look up.

"Genis... he said he... loved me," I replied meekly.

"Really? That was it?" He tussled his brown hair with a single hand. "Hm, interesting." In pure curiousity, I glanced up. He looked as if he was thinking. "Then why would his Exphere be glowing?"

His Exphere was glowing? Wait... "His Exphere!" I stood up, pounding my hands on the desk. "He's still wearing it!"

"I'm wondering about that too..." He gave me this look, as if he were searching for an answer... "Lloyd, Genis seemed distressed. Did he ever tell you where he would go if..."

"He told me once that when he's feeling down, he goes to the graveyard."

"The... graveyard?" I watched as his eyes flickered back and forth in thought, before they finally stopped in place and became wide. "Do you know where it is?"

"Yeah, I'll take it you would want to go there." I scampered out the door, followed by him, who kept nagging me to press further faster.


Finally, the graveyard... I panted and fell to my knees, the slop of mud from the downpour staining my knees. "Mithos, I'm here!" I shouted over the sound of the rain. "I've told Lloyd everything, and I've said goodbye! Please, save me from this hell!" I couldn't tell what was rain or tears falling from my face. Bending over, I sobbed until a hand brushed my cheeks.

"Shh, don't cry." He held me close, and I finally settled down. "I'll save you. Just stand up." He rose onto his feet, and then held out a hand as I took it and stood up. He took my right hand and seemed to mumble something, but anything he said was incomprehendable through the storm. The Exphere glowed rather dimly, but soon it became brighter, like a lamp flickering through the night. A lamp? The... thought became familiar, but it was faded... why couldn't I remember? (1)

The rain drops started to become crystal clear instead of blurred streaks. I swore I could hear every one fall on the ground. But I started to become numb: I couldn't feel the water drip down my skin and clothing, I couldn't feel any cold to shiver. Soon I was unable to tell whether Mithos was holding my hand or not. But he still was as I looked down to check. And moderately quickly, my thoughts were uncomprehendable. I was unable to piece anything together anymore: I couldn't even attempt to ask Mithos about it. I almost felt trapped... trapped in my own body? (2)


I could feel Dad's footsteps trailing behind mine. I figured that he would've flown, but I guess the fact that it was raining really did prevent him from using his wings. We ran into the graveyard, but I stopped to watch what Dad was doing. He kept running, and I really had no choice but to follow, shouts swallowed in the downpour.

A red light shimmered through the watery mess. I cupped a hand over my forehead to allow myself to see, but I couldn't tell what it was. Dad must've been able to see, he stood with his arms folded at his sides, and a frown was on his face. "Mithos! What are you doing?"

I jumped in surprised. Mithos? "Dad, are you hallucenating? Mithos is..." But two figures approached, and the rain lightened just enough to see who they were. Genis... and Mithos. "Genis? What are you doing? You..."

"He can't hear you," Mithos said, his voice deep and cold. "He's all mine now."

"Mithos, how? Why?"

"You took something precious of mine, so I took something precious of yours." His arm wrapped around the half-elf. Wait, if Mithos was in his older form, wouldn't that make Genis shorter? I squinted, but I thought that my eyes were betraying me.

He was taller. He was older. He was different. But... somehow I was able to see...

His eyes were... empty.


A/N: OH NO! How evil of Mithos! ...I'm tired, sorry everything sucks...

(1) Last time I checked, Genis had his Exphere on his right hand... oh, and the lamp is actually something I referred to back from Roulette: Raine was holding one after the trip to the lake and they took Lloyd back home. Just thought I'd point that out if you didn't remember.

(2) I know Expheres don't work that fast. But Mithos was supposed to be dead anyway, so... yeah. If he was smart enough to think of a way around death, than I say he could do that too.

Anyway, please review... :yawns: Teh Genki's so sleepy... :snore: