Author's Note and Stuff: I'm so happy about getting reviews! And yes, Lloyd does appear periodically, though he is dead. How did he die? Well, he gave his life when he used that super-sword. It drained him of all mana and he lost his life for the 'world regeneration'. If you wanted to know, anyway. So, enjoy the next installment of this story! Thanks! Oh! I don't own the stuff about Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter 3:

She put her hand back in her pocket, thinking hard. With a sigh, she removed the quivering hand, raising it to eye level. The shaking scared her even more. Clutching it into a fist, Colette attempted to knock on Raine's door. Before any progress was made, the door flew open, practically causing Colette to fall over.

"Hi," she said sheepishly. "Raine, I need to talk."

Raine nodded. "It's good to see you out of bed, Colette. Come in." She stepped aside to allow the young girl to enter.

As she walked under the frame, Colette spoke, "Professor, I saw something last night."

"Yes, I know. And you can call me Raine. I think we're close enough." She motioned for Colette to sit. She refused.

"I know it sounds crazy." Then it dawned on her what Raine had said. "Wait. How could you know?"

Raine averted her gaze, and said, "I heard it through the door."

Colette's eyes grew larger. "You were spying on me? Raine, how could you?"

Raine's head shot up, and she said, "It wasn't spying! I was worried about you, so I went to your room to check on you and heard the boy's voice. I knew it was Lloyd."

"Why didn't you just come in?"

"He would probably have left. He came for you, Colette. He cares about you."

"He cares about you, too!"

"Yes, but...he knows you best, I guess." Raine clasped her hands together and placed them in her lap.

Colette began to pace. "Well, I'm glad he came, but...it was so scary."

Raine looked at the nervous Colette with compassion. "You couldn't touch him. That hurt you, didn't it?"

Colette nodded, and surprisingly had no tears well up in her eyes. "Yes. And I don't understand what happened. Something...big. I know I'm supposed to go somewhere and do something, but I don't know what! How do I continue?"

Raine stood and held Colette's shoulders to stop her from pacing. "It's fine," she said. "He wanted you to know that he was fine. You should just move on with your life."

Colette pushed away. "I can't forget about him!"

"I'm not asking that of you. I want you to follow his advice. Go on an adventure, take chances. Just move on. Keep him in your heart."

Colette walked back to the bench at the foot of the bed. "I see. I'll try. That's actually why I came here so early."

"Early? It's nearly ten in the morning!"

"Well, it was early when I first stood outside your door." Colette laughed a little. The sound of her happy voice gave Raine a shiver. She smiled.

"Oh, Colette. It's so good to hear you happy."

"Let's go," Colette said, fire growing in her eyes. "I want to get out of here and start an adventure! I can't wait to go into the world and meet my friends again!"

Raine laughed, amused by Colette's eagerness that only seconds ago had been timidity. "Okay, Colette. I'll go get Genis. We can leave after breakfast."

Colette smiled, and she left with a quick bound.

Raine rose from the bench, ready to give Genis the good news. She walked across the hall, and knocked on her brother's door. The young boy answered, opening the door slowly, his night cap covering his eyes.

He pushed it up and said, "Raine! Is she ready?"

Raine smiled and nodded. Genis disappeared from the doorway and reappeared seconds later with a bag of his belongings.

"Well," Raine said, "you seem prepared. We're eating first."

Genis nodded. "That's fine," he said. The excitement didn't lessen in his eyes. He ran past Raine and down the stairs to the breakfast room.

Raine stood there, looking at his path, then closed the door, following her little brother.

Colette was already downstairs and eating when Raine arrived. She enjoyed the sight of the overly thin girl eating. It was nice to have everything back to normal. They were traveling again, and together.

She sat down next to Genis, staring at Colette. Colette looked up from her full plate and asked, "What?"

"I'm just so happy. It's great to see you back to normal. Happy."

Genis laughed. "Yeah. This is great! I can't wait to get out on the road. Hey Raine?"

Raine looked over at him. "Yes, Genis?"

"How will we travel? Do we still have the rheiards?" he asked, placing his fork down.

Raine propped her elbow on the table, letting her chin rest on her hand. "I think they are in safe hands. We're going to have to see Dirk before setting off."

Colette perked at his name. "Dirk? I haven't seen him in ages! When did you give the rheiards to Dirk?"

"Oh, a long while ago. Soon after we arrived here, I believe." Raine stood, ready for food.

Genis and Colette looked at each other and Colette spoke first, "Genis, this is so exciting! I am so happy to be going somewhere. Especially to Dirk!"

"Yeah, I know! It may be weird being so close to home, but it should be great to see Dirk again." Genis thought for a moment, thinking that Dirk would be reminiscent of Lloyd, causing him overwhelming cheeriness. He wanted to see Lloyd again.

Raine arrived at the table with a lightly filled plate and began to consume the breakfast food before her. Genis grew silent.

Colette continued to talk about how good it felt to be up and about, living life again. She finished her food, and told the others she would go upstairs to pack her things so they could leave as soon as possible.

Raine sat alone with Genis for a while until she couldn't help to say something. "What is the matter, Genis?"

The boy's head cocked up. "Huh? Oh, I'm fine."

"I know when you're thinking about something else not at hand. After all, I've been your care-giver for thirteen years now. Just tell me."

Genis sighed. "I was thinking about Lloyd. Seeing Dirk may be too much for Colette right now."

"Are you sure you really are thinking about Colette?"

Genis looked at his big sister. "I guess not. It's just...Lloyd always seemed more like his foster dad than Kratos." The name Kratos was spoken with slight disdain.

Raine gave a sharp look to Genis. "Don't be so harsh on Kratos. He helped us in the end."

"But he betrayed us! I don't like him, Raine," Genis said. He got out of his chair and went upstairs to fetch his things.

Raine looked after him, wondering how he had grown up s o quickly. His intellect has always been ahead of the other children, but now he was finally breaking four feet in height and seemed to be going through a slight voice change. He's now a teenager, with unknown emotions and hidden motives. Raine sighed, letting her body sag in the chair.

"Raine?" Colette asked, arriving from her room with her arms filled with two bags. "Are you okay?"

Raine shot up, straightening her back and grabbing up the plates. "Yes, yes. I'm fine. Are you ready?"

Colette nodded, very exuberant in her decision. "Let's leave this place."

Raine smiled again, accepting her enthusiasm. "Go get Genis. I'll meet you down here."

"Okay," Colette said. She flew up the stairs to get her friend. Raine swept up the dishes and placed them carefully on the dish cart. Getting out her purse, she proceeded to the front desk, ready to finally pay the man.

The clerk spoke, "Hello, madam. Have you enjoyed your stay?"

"Oh, yes. Very much so."

"Well, you've been here quite a while, you know."

"Yes, I know. How much do I owe you?"

The clerk shook his head. "No charge. You needed a place to stay, and I opened my door to you."

"That isn't fair. We've taken your rooms, eaten your food. We have to give you our pay."

"No. I won't accept anything."

"This is impossible." Raine sighed. "Please at least take this." She shoveled around in her purse and took out five thousand gald.

The clerk shook his head again. "No. I want you to have this stay as a gift. We enjoyed having you."

"Fine. Thank you very much, sir," Raine said, smiling.

Colette and Genis were down now, waiting for Raine to finish the transactions. "Can we go?" Genis asked excitedly. It seemed Colette and Genis had had a talk.

Raine nodded. They exited the building, but Raine stuck the five thousand gald in the mail box, not to be beaten. She smiled and rejoined the two at the town square. There were bustling people about, buying food and weaponry. Raine asked the others if they needed anything. They adamantly refused, saying they knew of the battles ahead and were ready for them.

"We're going to Dirk now. Let's go." Raine led the way out of the town, and into the desert. They immediately noticed the vast landscapes and various enemies that swarmed the whole area of Triet.

Colette emitted a joyous sigh, and bent over one of her bags. "Just thought I'd get this," she said, holding her newly shined chakrum.

Genis smiled and removed his kentana from his pocket. "Good idea, Colette. The last time we were here, we were practically bombarded with enemy attacks.

"But they are quite easy to defeat now," Raine said, holding her large rod lovingly. "It's been so long since I held my rod for battle. This feels good."

Colette agreed, and she hopped off in the direction of Dirk's cottage.

Raine called after her, "Be careful anyway! You Don't want to get poisoned or thieved!"

Colette giggled as she skipped ahead. "I won't, professor! You're getting so much like a mother!"

Genis laughed and Raine smiled. "Go on ahead, too, Genis."

With a nod, Genis ran ahead to Colette. Raine remained in the back, looking at her two responsibilities. She cared for these children as if they were her own. There was no one else for them.

She loved them with all her might.