Child of Darkness

Chp 2: Friends and Decisions

"Unto him, allies shall be called.
Before his might, enemies shall be felled.
Blood red wings, the sign of Worlds Ended."

Prophecies of Mithos, Book of Derris-Kharlan

It had been nearly three days since Sheena had collapsed outside the schoolhouse of Iselia village. In that time, Lloyd, Raine and Genis had taken time to care and look after their injured friend, who they had brought to Dirks house. Dirk had quickly grasped the situation and had ushered them up to Lloyd's room where they had made her comfortable, and Lloyd spent the remaining days at Raine and Genesis house when he wasn't looking after Sheena. During this time Raine had dismissed school and made sure to check up on Sheena as well, her own features just as worried at times, much like Lloyds and Genis'.

It was late in the evening, when Lloyd had taken his time at watch to look after Sheena that he had dozed off, his head resting in his hands, which he had laid out next to the young ninjas resting form. As he rested there, the young female let out a small moan and then opened her eyes. Looking around she surveyed her surroundings cautiously then sat up; wincing slightly as she felt the bandages on her body that Raine had trussed her up in. Wrinkling her nose she also noticed that she was also undressed. A sound had her turn and as she looked down, she smiled a little, seeing Lloyds sleeping form beside her, his floppy brown hair down over his face as his back rose and fell with his soft breathing.

"Lloyd." she breathed softly, her hand tenderly reaching out and shaking him gently.

He let out a rather loud grunt and muttered stubbornly, "Not yet dad…I'm tired." His hand reached up and gently shoved hers away, his body reacting on the instinct of a well-trained swordsman.

Sheena couldn't help but laugh slightly, then winced as she clutched her side again. The bruises were still there, but it wasn't just the pains of her wounds that bothered her. Memories of Mizuho came flooding back and she clutched at her head. She remembered the screams of her people as they were cut down, and the flames, and of her grandfather falling at the hands of…no she wouldn't let herself remember. Shaking her head she forced the memories from her mind for the time and looked at Lloyd again, her heart still heavy from the experiences that came flooding back. She hoped that maybe if she just focused on the young man sleeping before her, she knew her pain would fade for the time being, as it always had when he had pushed and constantly encouraged him on their journey to save Tethe'alla.

"He looks so peaceful." She murmured as she watched the young swordsman some more, taking the time to study his face and features in detail. She couldn't help but notice upon scrutiny just how much he looked like Kratos. The eye line, bridge of the nose, his shaped lips, and the hairstyle, definitely the hairstyle was the same. If she mentioned it, he would probably dismiss the idea, but she knew he did care for Kratos in his own way.

Gently she brushed some more hair from his face, as it had fallen back into his eyes as he moved slightly. She smiled a little and her heart skipped a beat as he murmured, "Sheena…" She cared for him deeply, but the boy was a dense fool, and she knew it. He was so determined and hardheaded that sometimes it cut off his common sense, his ideas being first and foremost on his mind, and no matter what she said, or hinted at, even during their journeys he always took the wrong way. Lloyd, you can be so DAMN frustrating, you know that? She thought to herself, her brow furrowing slightly.

She scowled slightly as she continued to run a hand through his brown hair, as the memories of the journey to save the world came back. She remembered a specific conversation she had with him that was particularly frustrating, as the memories came flooding back again.

The group had made camp just outside Mizuho before she had returned, and she had been up late, her nervousness overwhelming her desire to eat OR sleep it seemed that night. As she had left her tent, she found Lloyd poking at the fire quietly with his sword, keeping it hot. He had been elected watch that night, and although he disliked missing out on sleep, he had agreed and stayed up.

She had walked up to him and sat down across from him staring at the fire and he had looked at her, concern crossing his cheerful features. "Something wrong Sheena?" he asked her.

"Hunh? Oh…um…no…" she looked at him and blushed a little, trying to hide the fact that she was glad he had asked. Something was wrong, and she definitely seemed worried, and worried sick, yet her tough outer demeanor prevented her from showing any weakness. This was especially true in front of Zelos, if he had caught anything like that he would have definitely put the moves on her, calling her his voluptuous hunny, or something she found equally demeaning.

He looked at her then with a simple, "Oh, ok." Went back to poking at the fire.

She had hesitated then asked quietly, trying to hide the fact she was still blushing due to the fact she liked being around him, and the fact they hadn't had any time to really be alone at all during the journey, "Do you know anything about others peoples culture? Y'know, other humans?"

He had looked at her again then smiled, and given her a goofy grin, "not much really, I tend to sleep through the Professors lectures." He had then rubbed the back of his head with his free hand and laughed, adding, "Its all too booky for me really, Genis is the smart one."

She had replied with a soft, "oh." Then looked at him again and said, "well in Mizuho, when people get married sometimes its arranged, y'know kind of like between good friends or upon request."

The question had been innocent but she found herself blushing furiously at what he said next. He had looked at her then blinked, a surprised look on his face as he reseathed his sword, "you mean, like between us?" he replied.

"Th...That's not what I meant," she stammered, her face growing hotter as she held up her hand, "I just was saying…that it could be between friends sometimes, yes."

He had given her a blank look then tilted his head curiously, replying, "but we're friends aren't we? Wouldn't that mean we'd get married?"

All she could reply with as her tough side came to the surface was, "Urgh! Idiot!" And she had quickly retreated leaving Lloyd with a confused look on his face. She had to admit however, she found herself thinking about what he said as she lay in her tent listening to Raine sleep soundly next to her. She found herself blushing furiously, her face still heated. Eventually she had fallen asleep, but she couldn't shake the thoughts of Lloyd and what he had said from her mind.

It hadn't been the first or last time they had spoken such, when she first met him, he had let her join their group, saying she was cute, and she was welcome company despite having tried to kill him and Collete. He hadn't wanted to kill her, and that sense of compassion for all life-forms, weather a hopeless assassin who thought killing another was the only way to save Tethe'Alla, or a fallen hero who wept for his sister and would destroy for his own gain, had drawn her to him, like a moth to a Mizuho lantern flame. The feelings for Lloyd Irving had only become stronger as they had gone on their journey in search of Exspheres and she had hated to leave him, even if she was returning home to Mizuho. It didn't seem the same without him by her side.

However, there was one obstacle she knew would always be in her way: Colette Brunel. Lloyd seemed wound around her finger, dropping everything for her at a moments notice, and pushing all other concerns and fears aside when she was in trouble. It didn't seem fair to her that he would do anything for Colette yet; he failed to see her growing affection and love for him. He seemed only to see Colette.

She found herself suddenly, as she came back from her trip down memory lane, leaning down toward him, her lips hovering close to his when suddenly, his eyes opened. Sheena found herself sitting up quickly, blushing furiously, unaware that the blanket which had been around her fell down to her lap, revealing her bandaged torso and a lot of skin of her bust, more than her Mizuho Ninja garb showed for that matter.

Lloyd found himself staring at her, her dark eyes staring back into his own brown. He then suddenly turned beet red and laughed nervously as he said, "Um, Sheena?"

"Y…Yeah?" she replied nervously, the look of worry crossing her face. Did he see what I was doing? She thought to herself as she felt her cheeks redden even more as she found herself not really caring if he did.

He winced heavily and then replied as he quickly turned his back, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to stare!"

Sheena gawked as those words left his lips and she felt the blush leave her face and replaced it with a mix of frustration and fury as her tough and cool demeanor settled into its paces, once again covering up the shy, unsure Sheena. "Lloyd, you IDIOT!" she yelled at him as she quickly covered up, pulling the blankets around her "You are just as bad as Zelos was, you Peeping Tom!"

Lloyd winced at the mention of the title he had been given by her and the other girls at the Tethe'Alla hot springs shortly before their journey ended with the defeat of Mithos and the return of Yggdrasil, then shook his head quickly sputtering, as he was taken aback by her sudden anger, "B…but, I didn't…I mean you were sleeping…and Raine had to bandage your wounds and take off your clothes too…and It was my turn to watch you and…"

"Don't even start with me!" she found herself snapping at him, "Go downstairs while I change ok!" She rolled her eyes as he quickly did as she was told and found herself muttering, "Men…"

Before long Sheena had climbed out of bed and gotten dressed in her Ninja Garb. She could see Raine had patched it up, probably, and as she tied the sash around her midsection and into the bow, somewhat angrily as her frustration at Lloyd found its way to the surface. Suddenly footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs and Raine came through the door. Looking at Sheena she said evenly, "Lloyd came running down the stairs pretty quick a few minutes ago, his face was red from embarrassment, I haven't seen him that red since Collete first came to live in Iselia."

Sheena just huffed slightly and tugged at her sash-ribbon some more and muttered, "its nothing." Quickly she adjusted her undershirt so that it matched with her Ninja garb, showing off some of her cleavage like she liked it. She found that the garment like this was most comfortable, and maneuverable for a Ninja but it annoyed her how it made men gawk, and women whisper behind her back about "flaunting her assets." True, she rarely wore her Mizuho Kimono, but the garment was not meant for the battlefield, where she was more accustomed to being.

Raine smiled a little then grew serious again, replying, "Well, anyway, glad to see you're up and about and conscious, would you like something to eat I can have something made while I'm here."

Sheena hesitated for a second when Raine mentioned cooking, she knew she wasn't the greatest cook from her travels with the older woman, but she also how nasty with her temperament regarding cooking she could be. However, her stomach grumbling soon made up her mind for her and she replied, "Um, sure, I guess."

"Great!" Raine smiled as she made to head downstairs, "I'll have some Miso made up in a jiffy! Just you wait!" she then quickly went downstairs and she could hear her ask Dirk where he kept his cooking utensils. Sheena winced, Raine definitely had been eager to prove that she had gotten better, but somehow she doubted she would be able to stomach whatever Raine would make.

Sighing, Sheena found herself walking over to Lloyd's window and looking out. There she saw Noishe and Lloyd playing fetch. Lloyd would throw the stick he had and Noishe would fetch it. They had found out what Noishe was when they had gone to the Elven Village of Heimdale, yet he still treated the protozoan as a dog. Noishe didn't mind, in fact he seemed to enjoy the games they played, bounding after a little thing seemed to entertain the creature immensely.

Looking off to the left, Sheena saw Collete smiling and sitting on the grass, watching Lloyd and Noishe play, and frowned slightly. She seemed to be everywhere Lloyd was, clinging to him like a wide-eyed puppy. Sighing, she left the window as Collete got up and waked up to Lloyd and started talking to him, keeping really close her eyes shining with wonder and Sheen could swear, love, for Lloyd.

Heading downstairs, she saw Raine working over a pot, and as she sat down at the table, Dirk came over and handed her a small wood carving of her and her friends he must have carved when they had visited his house during their journey. "Carved it for ya me' self but I couldn't get it to yah before y'h left." he replied proudly, "what happened to ye after'all..I'm sorry Sheena." the Dwarfs face grew sad and a bit melancholic at the mention of what had happened to her village but Sheena shook her head and smiled slightly, mumbling, "Its ok Dirk."

The dwarf nodded and replied, "Well, jus like Lloyd ye'll always have a home here, remember that, Dwarven Vow #11: always help someone in need."

Sheena sighed again then looked at Dirk, and asked, "Dirk…why is Colette always hanging around Lloyd? I mean…I never understood why entirely…he never really spoke about how he came to Iselia to me or met her." She winced slightly trying to hide the hurt that laced her voice, her words coming out coolly and calmly, much like how Raine's would when she was lecturing Lloyd.

Dirk sighed then looked at her, then shook his head, replying, "If'n you be askin that to me, it's not right that I answer it, ask Lloyd, he might tell yeh."

Before Sheena could answer, Raine said in her all too rare cheerful voice, "its ready!" Sheen made a mental note to ask Lloyd later, as Raine handed her a bowl, that had something in it that resembled noodles but Sheena wasn't entirely sure. She sniffed at it hesitantly as Lloyd and Collete came in, Genis, who had just arrived from getting some supplies from Iselia's local market behind them. Looking over at Raine and Sheena he raised an eyebrow and said, "Wow, either your really hungry…or very brave Sheena."

Raine immediately scowled at her brother then said sternly, "Now Genis, Lloyd, have some too, you're both growing young men who need their nutrition."

Genis and Lloyd looked at each other, and genis sweat dropped and sputtered, "B..but sis! I..u..um already ate! Me and Lloyd had some sandwiches earlier and we're umm…stuffed!" He looked at Lloyd who looked at him blankly, "But Genis we did…" he replied. Before he could finish Genis gave him a quick kick in the shins.

"Ow what was that for Genis!" Lloyd looked at his elf-friend with surprise evident in his voice. He blinked, the innocent look on his face, the same innocent look that Sheena reminded herself that made him so damn frustrating, yet cute at the same time.

Raine answered quickly back before Genis could reply and sharply with, "No buts! And the next person who jokes about my cooking will be doing extra work at school!" she leveled her eyes on Lloyd and Genis coolly, both who quickly nodded in agreement and began to pretend hey were eating. Sheena suppressed a small giggle; they probably would feed it to Noishe the next chance they got. Colette who sat next to Lloyd smiled almost blankly as she ate the noodles, without any seeming care in the world. Genis blinked and looked at Collete saying as he continued to pretend to eat, "Collete, how on earth can you stomach sis' cooking?"

Colette closed her eyes and smiled as she replied, as Raine shot her brother another icy look, "its yummy, I like the Professors cooking!"

Raine smiled and nodded sagely, closing her eyes and folding her arms, "see at least Colette has some taste I can appreciate."

Genis just rolled his eyes and continued to pretend to eat, and Lloyd looked over at Sheena, as he ate slowly. She blushed slightly but hid it behind her bowl and said nothing in reply as she ate the noodles. Sure, they were right, Raine's cooking was not the best she had ever experienced, in fact at times it could almost be nauseating, but still, she was hungry and didn't care. In fact she earned some stares as she hungrily wolfed down the Miso.

When the group had finished eating (or pretending to eat for that matter) they sat around and joked for a while about the lighter times in their journey. Most of the incidents occurred when Zelos got slapped by a "hunnies" rejection, or got smacked by Raine when he made passes at her. Sheena studied Lloyds features as they talked about Zelos and she could see that although he masked it well behind a smile, the topic of the man he and the others had once trusted who then turned on them simply because he had been another misguided pawn of Mithos, still hurt. She could see it also in her other friends faces, they all had trusted him, her and Raine a little less, yet in his own way Zelos had become one of their best friends. He always was ready with a joke and a witty quip to lighten the situation and he always helped in making Colette and Presea feel better if they felt they were either a burden or were upset.

The laughter soon died down around the table and they looked at each other quietly then Lloyd, biting his lower lip then grimacing like had during the trip muttered, "Now Sheena…tell us about Cruxis…the ones that attacked Mizuho."

Sheena nodded, then sighed as she let the memories come flooding back.. This would be one long night she knew, and in the end, the pain that resided in her heart both for the people of Mizuho and her feelings for Lloyd that seemed that they might never ever be recognized or spoken of, would still be there. Still she took a deep breath as she began her tale.

(to be continued!)

(Next chapter, what happened to Mizuho? What is this about Cruxis' return? And what of Lloyds dream? Do they have something in common? Tune in for chapter 3 coming soon! And thanks all for the reviews, I really appreciate it: remember the more reviews the quicker I can bring out chapter 3, no this is NOT a desperate plea for reviews, just saying I appreciate the acknowledgements and will continue to write this story if people want me too :D anyways, tune in for more in maybe a day or two or sooner :D )

Edit: Oops! Sorry on the small typos on Shennas name and Colette's, forgive! I type quick so I tend to be a bit...accident prone (in other words I make some really LAME typos soemtimes laughs nervously) . I fixed em now and have reuploaded the chapter again, look for more later! And those looking for fluff right now, gotta wait abit more :P Remember Lloyds clueless, and Sheenas one tough chick, so, patience and thou shalt be rewarded! (at least what i derived from my playthrough of the game) Till next xhapter!

RyuDraconis