Disclaimer: I (still) do not own the characters of Tales of Symphonia, however much I wish to do so.
Warning: Yes, this fic will contain some more questionable stuff. That's why it's rated 'R'. So if you don't like mentions of sex or slightly offensive language, you're not old enough, or your parents would get you in trouble and kick you off of fanfiction forever if they found this, DO NOT CONTINUE. Thanks... Heh... I'm such a hypocrite.
Pairings: Sheelos, the regulars.
Oh lord god! I just found out from the synopsis that I'm using that if you choose not to have a good relationship with Zelos—that y-you decimate him!! I don't have the heart to get Kratos back. I really don't. I would cry for hours on end, I think. I've always loved that pervert... Well, I think I ought to have a tribute out of that little realization of mine in one of my later chapters. There could be 14-16 chapters in total from my calculations.
Asuka Efreet: Heh, I suppose I'm taking the "school just started" thing for granted... then again, I live in hick-town Northeast where school doesn't let out till mid-June. I'll keep my eyes open!
potter29vo: Oh, I know they meet up at Dirk's house, I'm just changing it because I'm omnipotent over this story. Things had to happen that way... Ah, yes, things will certainly come together for the two of them. Just not until after the Tower of Salvation, hehe.
jellybeanz225: Nope! You don't find out her real name in the game to my knowledge, save for Zelos's jests. I decided on what it would be mainly for irony; you'll see. Thanks for giving me a little more confidence... I'll try to make the chapters more... long-ish.
Rin: Thanks so much! I hope you'll like the ending (which I've written already... but I don't have anything in between O.o).
starr: It's an honor to be a new favorite of yours! I, too, shied away from for a few months before coming back to write. I have not seen the Flanoir scene; where in hell did you find the transcript? I've been looking all over since I saw your review, and have not found it. I would love you forever if you could tell me where you fooound iiiiiit...
The Great Jefepato: ::nodnod:: I always liked Zelly-o, but I knew something was wrong with him before Flanoir. Thanks for noticing!
Akarusa30991: Thanks for reviewing! I shall continue as often as I can, as long as you read as soon as you can!
Neko-chan: Thank yoooou! I really like to go in depth with characters. I'm a theatre student; that probably sets me in the right mindset. I appreciate that you noticed that about my story! It makes me feel all good inside!
White Wolverine: It is always rewarding to hear that I'm the writer of a good story, hehe! There'll be more Sheelos in this, trust me. I think the way it turns out will be sweeter than excess of fluff spread out over time. And yes, Zelos is quite the essence of sexy.
Read it and weep! For the lack of plot...
--Trickssi
Chapter Five: What Now, and Whither and Wherefore?
Sheena was restless. Odd, for they had rested two nights already: once at Phaidra's, and once at Dirk's. And here it was, the close of another restful day. She couldn't stand the endless reverberation of words and words between people and not being able to leap into action about it. She couldn't stand the calm before the storm. It wasn't that she didn't care for the girl immensely; it was just so tedious.
At the house of Lloyd's father, the group learned that Colette's crystal was overpowering her body. Dirk, having little knowledge of such things, was not able to heal her. Sheena felt extremely guilty when Colette didn't seem fazed by it. She felt compelled to talk to Zelos about it since he was the only other who knew of Colette's inner depression, but thought better at the last second. If given the choice to bother him about something and get a useless opinion or leave him alone, the latter. He would find some sort of blackmail. Instead, she turned to the rest of her companions and they decided together that it would be best if they saw Altessa, who seemed the defter dwarf.
Off to Tethe'alla with the Rheiards once more, they reached Altessa's in practically record timing. That probably would have been due to the fact that Sheena headed them. Discouraging news awaited them there: Chronic Angelus Crystallus Inofficium. Yes, Altessa could probably cure it, though he had not the slightest clue how. It was upon their shoulders to find the cure in the archives of Tethe'alla.
Sheena sighed deeply. The next morning they would be off to Sybak, "full of intellectual hunnies." Well at least it would get Zelos off her back temporarily. Colette was her main concern. What if what she had said had made the Chosen want to die more, or what if they couldn't find the cure in time, or what if all this waiting had slowed her down, or what if—
Oh Martel, here comes trouble.
"Zelos, go the hell away," Sheena muttered. She kept staring intently at the cliff in front of her. She didn't feel like talking at all, not with the stars awaiting her so patiently. It was soothing to look at the sky alone. Somewhere deep in her heart she knew Corrine was watching over her, waiting to give answers. Zelos was rather just watching her, waiting to molest.
"I'm sorry, I just—I wanted to know why you were up. I'll go."
What? Not Zelos?! Oh damn. She'd just sent away Lloyd! Please, please, please don't let him leave. "Wait, Lloyd!" She turned around to see him poised at the doorway. He walked back towards her, albeit cautiously.
"You can't sleep either, can you?" she asked. He nodded.
"Colette," they said in unison. Nervous laughter followed.
"I feel... responsible," Sheena admitted.
"For what? You didn't do anything wrong. It's not like you made Colette the way she is with this Chronic Angelus..."
"No, but..." Sheena began to protest. She realized Lloyd was sitting next to her. "Right now I'm just sitting. I know we only have a short amount of time, and I know where we're going tomorrow, but I'm still just sitting. Colette could die, and here I am... And I can't do anything about it. It's too large a task to take on by oneself, that entire library; and I'd have to break in, of course."
The boy shook his head. "Nobody could do that. Not even you." His hand was on her shoulder. Oh goddess, his arm was around her. Please don't take it off. "Colette told me how much she looks up to you, and I just wanted to say I think I know why. It must be because you stay up all night worrying about things like this. You really need to take it easy."
"Y-yeah... But we've been resting all this time! I just don't want her to die. We have to make sure she's all right," she insisted. "Colette's usually very optimistic. She never thinks about herself, always others first, and when you're around her you just feel..."
"Happy," Lloyd finished, a glaze over his eyes. Was that... was he blushing? Oh, let it be for her. "I'm going to make sure she's all right. She has to live for me... us. I can't stand the thought of losing her."
Sheena needed to know now, and now was when he would probably tell her. Use a little of that suave implication that Zelos uses so often... "You really like her, don't you?"
Lloyd nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, I care for her a lot." There went the warmth of his arm. He had recalled it to his own body and leaned back with its support. Damn. Despite the rejection Sheena felt, she couldn't let him see it. Be like Zelos.
"Ohhh, so you do have a crush on her, don't you?" she asked, a grin sliding onto her mouth. Lloyd blushed furiously.
"W-well, I-I... um..."
"It's useless trying to cover, Loverboy. I know that game," she said slyly. Lies. Her entire shell was a lie. Overconfident, deceiving, cunning—but a lie.
"You won't tell her?" Lloyd asked.
Sheena shook her head. She thought of saying, 'Your secret's safe with me,' but realized that it wouldn't be. It wouldn't be safe to keep thinking of how much he loved Colette more than she; she'd take the wrath out on somebody. Namely, Zelos. That wouldn't be good at all. "No, of course not. What are friends for?"
Lloyd smiled. "Thanks. You're great, Sheena. I see what Colette was talking about." A moment of awkward silence passed by, words of venom clinging in her ears. Friends. Great. Colette... "I guess we should both get some sleep, huh? I mean, it's a big library."
"Uh, yeah... I'm going to stay out for a little, though," Sheena muttered. "Thanks..."
"I'll make sure to fight twice as hard for her."
"Me too."
"Goodnight!"
"'Night."
She watched him walk away, clinking, for he was still armed. She sighed deeply. Why did Lloyd have to be the caring one?! Why did he have to love Colette instead of her? Why couldn't Zelos like that little angel? ... Why couldn't Zelos be the caring one? If he was as thoughtful as Lloyd he'd have come out here and she could try to build a friendship, at least. Things just weren't turning out for her. She decided to go to bed after all.
'Goodnight, Corrine...'
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"Presea... A little help!" Regal called to the pink-haired waif. He had found a book that looked promising, but due to his overly muscular build and constricted hands, he could not bend down far enough to reach it. She laughed as she approached him; how could a grown man need help reaching a book on the bottom of the shelf? She retrieved it nevertheless, and handed it to him. Regal dropped it on the table and began to scan its contents. He uttered a frustrated growl at finding absolutely nothing helpful. Now, to get the book back where it belonged...
"Zelos," Raine scolded. She noticed the redhead had been looking through some rather suggestive magazines. And SMACK.
"What? What did I do?" he asked. She shook her head. "Oh. Sorry...?" He waited until she went back to her browsing until he continued "reading."
"It's not in the medical guide. I looked up all my symptoms," Colette told Sheena, who nodded.
"Presea!"
"Zelos!"
"Lloyd IRVING!!"
"Hey guys, I think Mithos found something!" Genis yelled through the clamor. Needless to say the occupants of the library were quite irked. The travelers ran to Mithos's side as he perused a big book.
"Marvelous," Raine remarked over his shoulder. "It says that one of Mithos the hero's companions contracted Chronic Angelus Crystallus Inofficium. He was healed..."
"And?" they all chimed in.
"It doesn't say how it's healed."
A collective sigh was heard from everyone. "We've tried every single book we could find," Lloyd said, feeling rather shot down.
"What are we going to do?" Genis asked as Mithos closed the book gently. Everyone's mind wandered to other options, but none seemed safe for Colette.
"I know," Mithos said at length. "Tethe'alla Castle has some records of the Ancient Kharlan War in their archives. Maybe the cure is there."
Colette smiled widely. "Yay!"
"Why don't you come with us, Mithos?" Genis suggested.
The blonde half-elf shook his head. "No, I ought to be heading home. It's not safe for me." Genis pouted.
"He's right," Raine said. "We don't want him to get in any unnecessary trouble."
"Siiiiis," the boy whined. "Please?"
"Really, it's okay. I need to get home anyway. Thank you for letting me come along, though!" Mithos said. "'Bye, Genis!"
Genis waved his hand at the exiting boy. "'Bye..." Raine returned the book to its shelf.
"Come on. We have to get going. We don't know how much longer Colette has," Sheena ordered. She began to lead everyone outside as they agreed. Quickly they mounted their Rheiards. 'Finally, some action,' she thought. She was about ready to kill someone from all the dust that got in her eyes from the books. The open air suited her nicely.
Meltokio wasn't far; just across the bridge and then perhaps a mile. Sheena observed her companions looking determined or anxious, or disappointed in Genis's situation. But Zelos looked calculating, and a bit on the nervous side. She decided three days was enough to talk to him again, and so, reared up her Rheiard next to his.
"What's wrong?" she asked. He snapped to attention.
"Hn? Nothing's wrong," he scoffed. "I'm just apprehensive that they're not going to... let us see the documents. You need special permission from the King to look at their archives, you know."
"Oh," Sheena said. "Well, you can kiss up to get us permission, can't you? I mean, you're the Chosen and all... You must have some power to view the books."
Zelos winked at her. "Hell yeah I can get us in. But I think you're the one who's got to do the kissing..."
"You—!!" She angrily drove her Rheiard as far away from him as possible without leaving the group. She really, really wished that he was like Lloyd sometimes. Although, she wasn't on the best of terms with him either.
Within time, Sheena and her companions reached Meltokio, still off limits concerning the main gate.
"I still don't understand why Zelos was out all night!" Colette complained to Sheena. The ninja blushed. So naïve. Hopefully when this was all done somebody would teach her about what goes on in the thriving world.
"You'll understand when you're—older," she explained. Genis laughed.
"Older? Haha, I know now! It means he likes to slee—"
"All right! All right, haha," Sheena silenced him by forcing her hand over his mouth. Colette held her confused countenance.
"He likes to sleep? Well then why is he out so late?" she inquired innocently.
"Um... Okay, look, we can't quick jump this time. Why don't we try to figure out the way through?" Sheena attempted to swerve the topic. She walked forward, trying to avoid Colette.
"Wait! I don't get it!" she persisted, tugging Sheena's arm. "Please tell me!"
Sheena sighed desperately. She was trapped. Better make it good. "Zelos used to have sleepover parties..."
"That's not so bad. Why were you blushing?"
'Augh, you infantile... I can't be mad at her. It's not like she would figure it out if I explained further, is it? She might as well hear it now and make sense of it when this is all over.' "Um... because... there were lots of girls there? Yes. Zelos had sleepover parties with girls... and he had lots of different girlfriends. And that's wrong."
"You're just jealous 'cause you weren't invited," Zelos bragged, playing along with that ever-so-famous deviousness, "Until recently." Sheena's cheeks were now the color of Lloyd's clothing. She glared daggers at him, but Colette didn't seem to notice. Even Presea rolled her eyes at the redhead.
"Aww, he let you sleep over? That's so cute!" she exclaimed. Zelos gave a playful punch at Sheena's arm.
"We had lots of fun, except she wouldn't really talk to me and she fell asleep early," he teased, alluding slightly to their intimacy. "I think she's afraid I like my other girlfriends more than her..."
"I am not your girlfriend, you impossible bastard!" Sheena screeched at him. 'Just because you sleep with me doesn't mean you have the right to call me that!' She tried so hard to hold in her anger for fear of saying something she didn't want anyone to hear.
Raine had been watching the scene play out, and knowing what she knew, decided to intervene. "What Zelos means is that you're a girl and you're his friend," the Professor stepped in. It was all childish symbolism for the real problem.
"Then maybe this girl who's your friend should be treated—"
Clacking footsteps from ahead interrupted Sheena's sentence. Everyone silenced, and hid in the shadows. Presea squinted from her position near the back of the cluster, deciding to step closer. Her brilliant eyes confirmed what she had thought all along.
"Vharley..."
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Hm, no surprise that I completely hate school for prolonging this update. Sorry, another short one. I promise more Sheelos in the next chapter; it'll be easier since Sheena doesn't really like Lloyd anymore. Plus, Zelos gets brownie points for Spiritua.
I'll try as hard as I can to update... Maybe Thursday. We have off for Rosh Hashanah or something because there's a large Jewish population in my area. I'll get around to it eventually... Update in a week or less!
--Trickssi
PS—Please R&R! Again, I value your opinions...