1Disclaimer: I still do not own Tales of Symphonia, any of its characters, or any of its themes, and I probably never will!

A/N: Alright, I finally got chapter 2 up and running! I plan on writing at least one chapter a week (maybe more!), and I plan on writing a total of 11 chapters (Ten story chapters and one epilogue). I want to personally thank everyone who reviewed my last chapter. Thanks for all of the compliments and advice! You guys rock! Okay, now on to chapter 2!

Chapter 2: Triet

"What do you mean you only have one room left?" Lloyd yelled. He looked over at Sheena for some support. The two had only arrived in Triet minutes ago and had gone straight to the inn for a good night's sleep. They expected to start their real journey in the morning. What they didn't expect was an innkeeper with a bad attitude and only one spare room.

"I'm tellin' you, I only got one, small room!" the innkeeper said grumpily. "People been pourin' in here like mad lately!"

"Come on! You have to have at least one other room! There are two of us!" Lloyd exclaimed. He was tired of arguing with this innkeeper. He just wanted to go to sleep in a decent room.

"Well then, I guess you'll be bunkin' together tonight!" The innkeeper was thoroughly ticked with this couple now. The two might of come to blows if Sheena hadn't intervened.

"We'll take it!" she said and handed the gald to the innkeeper. "How bad can one small room be?" she asked Lloyd innocently. He just smiled.

Five minutes later

"There's only one bed." Sheena couldn't believe it. This had to be the only room in the entire inn with only one bed. "That means..."

"We have to sleep together..." Lloyd finished. Both of them immediately blushed. Who wouldn't? "Um...how about I go change in the bathroom down the hall, and you can change in here?" offered Lloyd, trying to make the best of their situation.

"Sure, thanks," responded Sheena, still blushing. As soon as Lloyd left, she began to change into her traditional Mizuho night robe. Lloyd soon knocked on the door. "Come in!" Sheena replied. Lloyd walked in wearing custom-made red and black pajamas.

"Sorry if I look a little goofy..." stated Lloyd as he saw Sheena giggle.

"Not at all. I think you look kinda cute," Sheena said, a smile forming on her lips.

"Th-Thanks, Sheena. I really like your...uh...robe-thing," he said, looking confused. He had never seen a robe that looked like Sheena's. It was a rather modest purple and red robe with a ribbon in the middle, like her kimono's.

"Thanks, Lloyd. It's of Mizuho design, so it probably looks a little different."

Lloyd looked down at the way-too-small bed in their mediocre room. "Um, do you want me to go in first," he asked. He started to blush. So, of course, Sheena blushed, too. "Uh...sure," she answered, looking away. The two got into the way-too-small bed. Sheena yawned and looked at the clock. It was already 11:30 at night. She turned to Lloyd and said "I really like you Lloyd...". She closed her eyes and moved closer to him.

"I...really like you, too, Sheena," Lloyd said as he shifted uncomfortably (He's not totally oblivious). She was far too close, now.

"Thank you for taking me with you on this journey," Sheena said sleepily.

Lloyd smiled. "Of course. Nothing like having your best friend on a journey!"

"Lloyd...," Sheena started, "Promise me you won't do anything funny while I sleep, okay?"

Lloyd smiled again. It was as if she was talking to Zelos! "I promise," he said, but the lovely Mizuho girl had already fallen asleep, still holding his arm. "Good night, Sheena," Lloyd whispered before he, too, fell asleep.

The Next Morning

Lloyd woke up peacefully around 8:00 the next morning. He looked over and found that Sheena was gone. She had already woken up and left the room. 'How does she always wake up before me,' Lloyd wandered. Then another thought came to him. 'Maybe I can sneak up on her just this once,' he thought. Lloyd hid behind the bed in hopes of catching the ninja off-guard. 'This is gonna be great,' he thought. Luckily for Lloyd, Sheena opened the door just moments later. Lloyd, obviously without thinking, instantly leaped up at Sheena, yelling "Gotcha!". That was when he realized she was wearing nothing but a towel, as she had been taking a shower.

"Yaaa!" Sheena screamed as Lloyd tackled her. "What are you doing!"

Unfortunately for Sheena, she stumbled backwards and tripped as a result of Lloyd's surprise attack. Unfortunately for Lloyd, his momentum continued to carry him until he landed right on top of the half-naked Sheena. And unfortunately for both of them, that when the inn's maid showed up to clean the room. A long awkward silence ensued as the maid observed the male youth lying on top of the half-naked girl. She was the one to break the silence. "Oh, get a room," she said, and left

"Geez, Sheena, I'm sorry," Lloyd said as he got off of Sheena, blushing. I didn't mean for that to happen.

"What were you doing," Sheena asked, confused. She grabbed her towel and pulled it up higher, tightening it. She also blushed.

Lloyd explained. "I was just trying to sneak up on you for once, but I didn't know you were taking a shower, and I'm sorry, so please don't hit me," he said quickly and in one breath. Lloyd was sorry for doing that to Sheena while she was only wearing a towel. He was afraid he was going to get slapped. 'Just like Zelos...,' he thought

"That was ...actually pretty good, Lloyd..." Sheena finally answered. "For beginners!"

Needless to say, Lloyd was surprised. "So...you're not going to slap me," he asked.

"No," Sheena said, laughing. "Just don't do it again!". Lloyd nodded. "Alright then, let's get dressed and head to the desert!" exclaimed Sheena.

Lloyd nodded with a smile. "Alright then!"

A Short Time Later

The two had been riding around the desert aimlessly until Lloyd got an idea. "Hey, Sheena! Why don't we go see Yuan at the Renegade Base? Maybe he can help us find the Exspheres!"

"Good idea Lloyd," answered Sheena. The two rode Noishe northeast until they reached the base. The renegades, after learning who they were, quickly granted them an audience with Lord Yuan.

"It's been a while, Lloyd. And I haven't seen you lately either, Sheena," Yuan said with a smile. He didn't smile much. He had just finished a transmission and was facing out the window of his office. He wasn't even facing Lloyd and Sheena. "Have you heard from Kratos lately?" he asked.

Lloyd looked confused. "Uh...Kratos left with Derris-Kharlan, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," answered Yuan, "Still, a friend can always hope, can't he? I figured if anyone knew, it would be his son. Parents have that kind of connection with their children." Yuan turned from the window and faced them. "I'm glad to see you are both here. I believed you were looking for the Exspheres, correct?"

"Yeah, that's right," Sheena answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I don't know how to say this, but..." Yuan paused and stared right at them. "Yur quest is over." Both swordsman and summoner stood staring at the mysterious angel with confused looks on their faces. "Huh?"

"You see, after Mithos' defeat, I used my powers to safely detonate every Exsphere except for a choice couple. They are all gone now. Only yours and your friends still have Exspheres."

Lloyd and Sheena stared at each other disbelievingly. Their journey together had barely begun, and now it was already over? Yuan saw this and took note.

"However, I do have something else that I need your assistance on," he said.

"Sure, what do you need?" asked Lloyd willingly. He didn't want his journey with Sheena to be over yet!

Yuan nodded. "I thought you would want to," he said. "I cannot properly explain my problem. I will show you. Can you accompany me into the desert? It's not far, only a day's journey."

Lloyd and Sheena looked at each other and nodded. If Yuan needed help to save Symphonia, they were there.

Later that Night

The three had traveled until Yuan told them to stop. They had set up camp in front of a huge, single mountain at the edge of the desert. They were all huddled close near the fire for warmth. Well, Lloyd and Sheena huddled for warmth. Yuan stood nearby.

Lloyd was the first to speak. "So, Yuan, what did we have to travel to this mountain for?" he asked. Sheena, who was colder than usual for some reason, huddled closer to Lloyd and held his arm. Lloyd, oblivious and unknowingly, put his arm around her.

"Well," said Yuan, "I guess it's time to show you." Yuan walked over to the mountain and placed his hand on it. Immediately, some strange red carving appeared on the face of the mountain, etched into some kind of creepy symbol. Yuan began to chant in an unknown language. Suddenly, the wall of the mountain collapsed and left a huge opening. Lloyd, suspicious of attack, drew his Material Blades and Sheena, following suit, pulled out her favorite cards. Yuan simply said "Follow me" and entered the mysterious cave. Lloyd and Sheena followed him.

"Sheena, what's wrong?" Lloyd asked. She was breathing heavily and she looked very pale. "Are you alright?"

Sheena looked at him and smiled a weak smile. "Yes, I'm fine...I just feel an evil presence from this cave. Shadow is telling me something."

"You are right, Sheena," Yuan answered. He was right in front of them now. "I thought Shadow would sense it. There is indeed an evil in here."

Lloyd looked concerned. "But, what does this have to do with the cave?" he asked.

Yuan smiled. "This is no cave, Lloyd. This is a tomb." He swept back his cape to reveal it. Sure enough, there was a hundred-foot cavern in the mountain. The mountain was hollow. In the center was a huge a huge pool, filled with blood of people long dead. In the center was a huge coffin, built inside of the blood pool. There was a huge crack running through it.

"Has either of you heard of the demon named Destron?" he asked. The couple shook their heads. Yuan continued.

"He was a powerful demon prince who rose from the Underworld over four thousand years ago. He brought with him two cursed blades, the Roots of Evil. He was the one who pitted the elves and the humans against each other four thousand years ago. He was the one who started the Great Kharlan War." He stopped as he heard two gasps behind him. Yuan noted their surprise. "Yes, that's right. He was the one who started the war. And he was the one who we defeated 4000 years ago. However, we were unable to kill him. We were only able to seal him away in limbo. This tomb acts as a portal between Symphonia and Limbo."

So, then, what's the problem?" asked Lloyd. "If he's gone, why are we here?"

Yuan answered. "Because his weapons, the Roots of Evil, are missing. Before we sealed him away, he transferred a great deal of his dark mana into the blades. We sealed them in this tomb. Now they are gone. Someone has stolen them. I sensed this a few days ago, but I arrived here too late. The culprit had already left." Yuan looked at the tomb with contempt. A hard expression flooded his face. "Let us make our leave."

Outside of the Cave

"I will tell you more of this later. I will contact you in Hima tomorrow," Yuan said as he closed the tomb entrance. The mountain once again appeared to be normal. "I have called the other six members of your group together. I will give you a Rheaird, so you can get to Hima." Yuan then noticed Lloyd's apparent lack of a second tent. "I'm sorry, but I do not have another tent for you..." he said with a smile.

Lloyd looked over and noticed he only had one tent. "Oh, that's okay. Sheena and I have gotten used to sleeping together." Sheena blushed, but Lloyd was completely oblivious to what he just said.

'Ah...young love,' Yuan thought before he teleported away. "We will meet at Hima tomorrow. Good-bye and good luck."

A/N: alright, Chapter 2 is done! As for the 'sleeping together' thing, I'm gonna make it a running theme throughout the story. I'm not perverted or anything, I just thought it would funny! I'm finally introducing a villain (Destron) who will be the main villain of my story. We should see some action in upcoming chapters, but keep in mind , it IS a romance story! Once again, please R&R, your reviews are what keep me goin'! Keep an eye out for chapter 3! Peace Out for now