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, etc.
Wow, I'm sorry that took so freaking long. I've taken to, guess what, playing ToS again from my file... it was saved at Asgard last Friday, and I've played up until the content of this very chapter... Wasting my weekend away on videogames. I need to make a shirt that says that. Seriously. And I hate this citrus air freshener. It's making me sick... So those are my excuses of the week(s)!
Oh, and I got in the school play, MASH. Although it's dumb. And I only got ensemble, but that's because I didn't like the characters anyway. "Somebody stole my cat..." Oh, and YAY 45 REVIEWS! I think I feel a song coming on...
potter29vo: Arm jumping abound! Eventually... Heh, I think once the pace of the story picks up, so will my updates.
starr: Ah, thanks much! Now that I think about it, the dialogue is a bit hackneyed from its overuse in fanfiction lately. It's a good incentive for me to be... creative... So why am I still procrastinating...?
Frozen-Harpie-Mimi: Hullo! Thanks for your review! Better to catch on later than never, though, eh?
Neko-chan: ::sniffle:: Smelly Pen... I'm sure he's looking down on us from pen-heaven, or wherever... Heh. This reminds me of Corrine. Anyway... I'm quite flattered to be called "godly"! Thank you!!
Rin: Eheheh... Yeah, like I said, I'm trying to update, really I am! I always feel guilty when I don't... my shoulder-reviewers haunt me... O.O;;
Lady Kumiko: Ooo, looks like I've done my job, then! Thank you very much for stoppin' by to review.
Chosen: Yup, Zelos is horribly misunderstood. I think you'll enjoy my connection of loose ends in the Flanoir chapter... And it's hard as hell to update during this time of year, so don't take it so hard on yourself for not updating as much. I sympathize!
Kitten Kisses: Hehe, you're silly! And very perceptive, I might add. I never tried going back to Altessa's, but I'll make sure I do this time around. ::ahem:: And I swear I'll finish it. ::throws money and runs into a corner with notebook::
Don't you love sidequests?
--Trickssi
Chapter Seven: Of Snakes and Stalkers
It was going to happen sooner or later. The regular things: Colette's clumsiness, Genis's whining, Lloyd's innate ability to become jaded a minute after the beginning of a quest, Raine's reprimanding. And of course, the return of Kuchinawa.
The group had continued in their search for the remedy after receiving permission from the King. It had seemed hopeless; more poring over books, just like in Sybak, and more waiting for things to happen. Thanks to Colette, the documents had been found rather quickly... although the mess would have to be taken care of by the maids of the castle later. They set off for the Lezareno base in Altamira immediately.
Sheena had noticed that while they were scouring the texts of the Ancient War, Zelos had been turning to pages irrelevant to their situation. However, she only knew how to make out an "S" in the ancient language, because Colette tried to teach her how to spell her name on one of those lonely camp nights. There appeared to be five or six letters in the title of the page Zelos examined, the "S" being the last. She hadn't bothered to ask him then because it could be something naughty that the children's virgin ears should not hear, but it had been corroding her ever since then. It was one of those times, again, riding on the Rheiards, that she was sitting and waiting for the next checkpoint when she began to ponder it again.
That's when it hit her—Zelos was being secretive. That's what was wrong with him. She couldn't place it any time before now, but it was definitely the answer. She had indeed known him before this journey, met him in the Elemental Research Laboratory where Corrine was born. He seemed... kinder, somehow. He was still rude, crude, and obnoxious, but it was up front at least. She recalled back at the Tethe'alla Renegade Base when he had wandered off... He never could explain it smoothly. He had always sidestepped the question, always sidestepping when it came to that sort of thing. It really started to bother her. She would find out what this was...
Later.
There was the gigantic tower of a hotel that belonged to Altamira, the gaudiest resort she had ever had the misfortune to examine. And there, Lezareno. Thank goodness Regal, leading them, had decided to veer from the entrance with its bunny-tailed playgirls and go straight to the business building.
Inside, the manager, George, was playing solitaire on the counter. His wrinkled face had obviously seen better days, and it seemed he was losing against himself again. Should have learned to play chess for the company it offered.
"George," Regal addressed him. The man snapped his head up in time to see the shackled president approach the desk.
"Oh, Master Regal, lovely to see you again!" he greeted quickly, mixing his cards up in a pile to be shoved into a drawer. Regal smirked; George had always been like this, even in the current sobering times. "What brings you back to Lezareno so soon?"
Regal glanced back at his comrades. "As you can see, I'm not back for good. I'll need to find some records on our latest outgoing shipments," he said.
"Of course, Master Regal. I'll open the records room right away," George promised, grabbing the keys from his belt and heading to the elevator. Regal motioned for the others to follow. "Who are these companions of yours?"
"Companions, and that's all. I need them to help me with the search. You know how large that room is." George nodded, not bothering to question further. He trusted the president's judgment... enough. But there was one time when—he wouldn't go into it.
'Zircon, zircon, zircon. Starts with a Z, and here I am, over at A,' Sheena thought to herself, rapidly paging through the file cabinets of the records room. She dashed to the opposite end of the room in hopes that it would mean the end of the alphabet.
Zy, Zu, Zo... Zi. Ziv, Ziu, Zith... Zircon. She knew she had the knack for scanning and finding text quickly. Jan, Feb, March... August. Zircon shipments in August. Bingo.
"I found it!" she hollered behind her, closing the other cabinets which did not contain the zircon documents.
"Bring it over here," Lloyd ordered. Sheena looked over at him, distracted. Of course his concern was for Colette, and of course he was happy that the document was found, but... she silently still wished that he liked her more than a friend. She smiled superficially and turned her head back to where the document was; or rather, should have been.
There before her, garbed in red, was the very Snake whom she had hoped to outrun at the Otherworldly Gate. In his hand he held the singular page which contained the information about the material, and in his eyes was a very inauspicious glint.
"Well, well... What have we here?" Kuchinawa said. He apparently wasn't aware of how incredibly trite the phrase sounded.
"Kuchinawa," Sheena spat in confirmation. They had honestly outrun him by strength back there, so why had he even bothered to spoil their plans now. Perhaps since the Pope's little army was being dispersed he had to go on his own. How pathetic. "Hand over the paper, you abhorrent snake."
"Give me one decent reason why I shouldn't just kill all of you," he sneered. The paper in his hand was becoming wrinkled from his abrasive grip.
"This is between you and me." Sheena broke her glare and glanced sideways at Colette. The angel, Lloyd, Presea, Regal, the half-elves, Zelos... She could never endanger them again. Even Kuchinawa's existence threatened them; if he was to join forces with Cruxis, the added grudge would give him priority to murder them. They were so close to unification. All could not be lost so suddenly. And as for Colette, she simply could not perish from her angelic ailment. She wouldn't let it happen. Sheena spoke again, "If you're seeking vengeance take it out on me and me alone."
Zelos watched apprehensively, not knowing whether to speak out or not. The guy was with the Pope, which stirred anger, as well as the fact that he had tricked Sheena into camaraderie. He certainly didn't want anything bad to happen to her, but he couldn't let that be shown. He had two images to keep up that wouldn't allow it. The stronger sides of him won.
"Is that a challenge?" Kuchinawa asked haughtily. It was what he wanted from the start. Kill her.
"Give me back the paper," Sheena commanded.
"Oh, I shall, on this condition: we conduct a duel. If you win, you get the document and your life. If I win, your little 'save the world' escapade is over for all of you. Got it?"
"Ah, I," she stuttered. She couldn't back out of it now. Not that she wanted to forfeit Colette's cure; indeed, it was the opposite. She wanted to live, and so much so because of the angel's influence. Colette had told her not to make the same mistakes she did in wanting to become a sacrifice. It seemed that she had no other choice but to put her life on the line for those about which she cared the most. "It's just that it would be improper and indicative of heresy to the Igaguri style if it were carried out now. I'll fight you later, but you have to surrender the document now."
"And how do I know the baby summoner won't go back on her word?" he mocked.
Sheena began to feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. She had to think quickly. What was the system that her grandfather had used to make her keep her promises when she was young... Collateral, that was it. Some object close to her (her shoes, for instance. He had once made her trade her shoes for a card which she had forgotten to bring to her lessons) that she would need before she went on her way.
It hit her. It would hurt her to do it, but it would hurt her more if she didn't. Corrine, forgive me, but I need you to save me again.
She drew the bell from her obi and showed it to Kuchinawa. "This is collateral. You have my word that I will return and confront you properly when this is all over," she told him. "I won't run away anymore.
"Corrine's bell... I see." He stood contemplating this for a moment before reaching out for it. "I accept. But if you do not come, I will grind this bell into dust."
Sheena swallowed. "I know."
She exchanged the bell for the document simultaneously, and Kuchinawa went on his way in a cloud of smoke. From the absence of the bell she would never forget that she was not through with her journey. Condemning Corrine for Colette's sake... Having to face Kuchinawa... She sometimes wished that the journey would fail so she wouldn't have to deal with things the way they were.
"That was incredibly generous of you, Sheena," Raine said at last. The paper plummeted from Sheena's hand to the carpeting.
"What?" she asked, trying to remember what happened before those thoughts. "Oh, right... Um... It's nothing, just..." She swallowed hard. Why did she feel like she was going to cry? She wasn't, that's right. She couldn't cry because everything was happy. They had found the zircon records and Colette was going to be all right.
Sheena picked up the paper and handed it to Regal. There were a myriad of names and figures which she couldn't begin to decipher.
"It appears the last shipment was to Sybak's Imperial Research Academy," he said quickly.
"Let's go!" Lloyd shouted. He was newly motivated by the promise of zircon. (Genis began to tally in his head how long it took until the swordsman was jaded again.)
Zelos hung back, waiting for everyone else to exit the room first. In a state of confusion, he let out a sigh. "Won't... 'run away anymore'... Dammit." He ran his hand through his hair, though now the gesture was in frustration. "What should I do?"
Racing out of the company, the group caught the ferry just in time for its departure. There was still plenty of time for them to arrive in Sybak and begin to ask for the permit from the King to enter Heimdall. On the way out of Altamira, Sheena imagined she saw a familiar face to her right. She glanced over to see the back of what seemed to be a child's head of light red hair. She could have sworn she saw this person before, but couldn't seem to recall exactly where. It must have been in one of the cities of their journey, yes, that's it. It had to have been a fleeting location. But wherever it was, she had gotten the impression that this child, this thing, had been watching her. She immediately tossed her head in the other direction.
"What's up, my little vixen?" Zelos's voice interrupted her thoughts. "You look worried."
"N-nothing! Nothing at all! Leave me alone," she said, eyes intent on the ground.
"Whoa, fine. I was just going to say I'm sorry about what happened back there. You're brave to face Kuchinawa like that. It's better than any little Spiritua stunt I could pull off," he told her in a sobered tone.
"What do you mean? I just gave up my only memoir of Corrine for a promise I have to break!" The stinging returned to her eyes. She had to keep walking, keep thinking of what had to come next.
"If I know you at all you're going to go back there and kick Kuchinawa's ass. He shouldn't be after your blood because of an accident you couldn't control. Even I'm not that cold-hearted. And hey, whatever will be, will be. It's not determined by your past," Zelos lectured. Sheena slowed her walking from its grueling, frustrated rate. He had hit basically every incident in her life which pained her, but he was right. She didn't feel like cursing or storming away, or crying for that matter. Something in the manner he spoke harmonized with the chords struck within her. Spontaneity wasn't the cause of his words.
He sighed and hastened his pace, her expression being the most awkward and blunt dismount of a conversation he had ever known. "Wait," she called. The redhead looked back. "Thanks..."
Zelos was about to smile in joy that something he tried with her had actually worked; but instead, it flipped sideways into a smirk. This was his opportunity to present his façade. "No problem. But you know, even if you do lose, I'm willing to stand in as your pet!"
SMACK.
Not like he didn't deserve it... Although now that he had inspired her, it wasn't easy to disregard the good in him despite the idiot that leaked through.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After receiving Hilda's father's letter as a permit for Heimdall in Meltokio, Sheena was left feeling a little wary. That face she thought she had seen in Altamira was following her again through the shadows of the buildings. Whoever it was was really sneaky, and knew that stalkers ate at her nerves. During Sheena's first time in Meltokio, Zelos followed her around. She was only twelve, but it scared her to this day; if Zelos ever found out that she feared him at one time, it would all be over. Come to think of it, the stalker slightly resembled Zelos. Or was this all in her head? Was it some subtle message that he was looking out for her or something? She never understood waking illusions. She didn't intend to. She didn't want her subliminal thoughts to involve Zelos... yet.
Upon reaching the Latheon Gorge, she saw it again. "There it is!"
"What?"
"Dammit, it just left..."
"What are you talking about?" Colette asked.
"There's something there... Something's watching me. Something has been watching me. It's kind of creepy," Sheena explained. "Whenever I let my guard down, I see it. I can't tell if it's real or just in my head."
"That is a bit weird. I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe the pollen's going to your head, or maybe it's just so pretty here you're hallucinating," the girl suggested.
Sheena shrugged. "Yeah, maybe you're right..." She didn't bother to go into how she had seen it before; it would only worry Colette.
It seemed an endless barrage of Kirima and Amango before they reached the top of Latheon Gorge, residence of the Storyteller, or as Zelos would coin, the "storyteller dude". Of course, without trouble, Lloyd and the others used the elf's words to find the Mana Leaf Herb; and need I say having the crap beaten out of you by a plant is nearly worse than having it beaten out of you by a machine, so their quest was accomplished quickly. (Though, memories of that defense system in the Toize Valley Mine haunt Lloyd to this day.) They returned promptly to the house at the top of the cliff.
The group sat down respectively in front of the Storyteller as he began to weave the tale of Mithos. "He was born just there, in the village of Heimdall. He was a half-elf."
Raine's face fell. "And thusly exiled; am I correct?"
"Yes, but he was still a hero," Genis said under his breath, a hope fading.
"Correct. As the Ancient Kharlan War began, half-elves were mistreated horribly. Mithos was ostracized, and thus decided to rebel against the humans and elves. He, his sister, and two friends sought to bring peace to the world; that is why they set out to win the war," the Storyteller continued. "The names of his companions were Martel, Yuan, and Kratos."
"Kratos?!" Lloyd shouted in disbelief. "Yuan and Kratos, our enemies?"
"And Martel as well?" Colette asked. She knit her brow in confusion. The Goddess Martel had been alive?
"You are familiar with these names," the elf noted.
"They're angels of Cruxis, our enemy," Presea explained.
"I suppose you would be enlightened to hear the rest of the tale." The clamor that had arisen within the group calmed. "Mithos became Yggdrasill, the leader of Cruxis. He created both of these worlds in hopes that half-elves would rule; created this system of vying mana to watch people suffer and fail."
Colette began to tear up. "Who could do such a thing? That's horrible!" she exclaimed.
"Colette, you don't understand," Genis said. "Half-elves have been discriminated against since the dawn of time."
"But why...?" Lloyd asked. "Why half-elves, and not just elves or humans?"
"Our blood is tainted. We were born with this blood instead of pure elvish blood," Raine answered.
"Just because you have different blood you're labeled that way?"
"It was because he was discriminated against that he had to make the worlds as such," the Storyteller continued.
"I still don't—" Lloyd sighed heavily and restarted: "Just because of the way you were born and raised you shouldn't be discriminated against!"
"It's a horrible thing, but it is the way things work," the Storyteller said. A weighted silence fell upon the group.
Raine rose. "Thank you, but I think we've heard enough."
After leaving the house, the group proceeded descend the trail. "Someone's birth and upbringing," Zelos said to himself. Sure as hell wasn't born crooked, but brought up...
"I know. It's horrible," Sheena sympathized, referring to Mithos. "How could someone do that?!"
Zelos bit his lip hard. It was so difficult not to relate Mithos to himself, or untangle the difference between Mithos and himself, or hold the secret about Genis's friend, or hold the secret about himself... "Yeah... I don't know."
Sheena smiled, noticing his external concern. "I didn't know you could be serious sometimes. It's nice, actually," she said.
"Well, I, uh—I mean, this is a pretty grave situation, don't you think? I'll be back to my regular self in awhile."
"... Try to hold off on that." The look in Sheena's eyes... He was reflected in an encompassing ray of respect in her eyes then. It disgusted him. He had longed for her to see him with those eyes, as she had seen Lloyd, pleading eyes... but he had to throw it out the window. Forget about her, man. She's too good for you in so many ways. He threw an apathetic smile back at her for the sake of courtesy; she would never discern him from that.
"I suppose we should camp up here tonight," the Professor said, breaking the newfound silence in that way only she could manage. "It's getting darker out and one of us might slip and get hurt."
"Good idea," Lloyd agreed.
Zelos was still unsettled about the plan. Could he carry it out? He hadn't gotten to Sheena quite yet. There was no emotional attachment yet, right? He hoped he wasn't coming off as wanting it, though he did, and deeply. A double façade as always; not even a coin rivaled the number of sides he possessed. But he was still a human being with human emotions. Was he really going to be another pawn of Yggdrasill, like Yuan and Kratos and Martel? He would need to wait until later to be sure.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In her lifetime Sheena could honestly say that this sort of event occurred only once throughout the history of the world. She had woken up because of the dire need to pee in the middle of the night; she hated it when that happened. Thankfully, the area being full of foliage, she might finally have had some privacy (though the others were always sleeping anyway). She sulkily trudged from her bedroll to some bushes far enough from the campsite not to provoke intruders but close enough that the light of the fire still shone somewhat.
She was always taught never to let her guard down. However, Mizuho never took into account that a stalker might suddenly appear as you are trying to pee.
"Stop right there," the voice came from behind. Indeed it was the stalker: small of build, red of hair, unorthodox of tactics.
"What the hell—? I really don't have time for this right now," Sheena muttered. "Who are you and why do you keep following me already? Is there something you want?"
"You evil witch..." said the girl. Sheena was thoroughly confused; she had never seen this person before in her entire life save for the stalking.
"I don't even—"
"I'll teach you to seduce my brother!!" she shouted. Not only did the summoner have to worry about the sound traveling, but now the vengeful girl was readying a clumsy-looking sword. And she hadn't even the faintest idea of whose sister this was.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked, dodging the first swing with drowsiness still clinging to her movements. She pulled out her cards of Yaksa in defense. There was no option but to fight, despite her full bladder and the overpowering desire to run. Crazy stalker people can be deadly.
The stalker-girl growled and swung the sword again. Her lack of skill was obvious; she probably stole the blade from her brother, whoever he was. Sheena blocked the hit again. This sort of blade she had seen before, somewhere. Probably in a monster battle or something, but she knew she had had sideways blows dealt with it in battle. Who was it that she could have seduced?! She had closed herself off completely from every male save for those in her village, and those were work partners. 'Seduce' would be far off the target from 'converse'. And besides, she would know this stalker if the brother was from Mizuho. Clearly it was somewhere else, and clearly the seduction was not mutual. Just—who the hell?!
That was it. Sheena had to pee, plain and simple, and this girl would not get in her way. The unskilled stalker got a nasty blow to the head with one of her seals and was knocked out in front of her. She quickly stored her seals and went about her business, returning to the campsite thereafter. The stalker wouldn't recover before she woke up, so there was no danger there. Although, it was a bit more difficult to get back to sleep.
Who was that girl, and who was her brother? The question plagued her until she decided that she could not function on four hours' sleep alone.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Just finished writing the Flanoir scene... although I really should be concentrating on what's right in front of me... Heh heh...
Cookies to anyone who can figure out what level vocab book I have from examining the words in this chapter. Cookies also to those perceptive of the six-letter word ending in an "s" that Zelos was searching for (it's kind of easy... you guys are smart anyway).
--Trickssi
PS—Please R&R! Show your faces or I'll hunt you down! ::Stepford Wives Smile ™::
PPS—Does anyone else pronounce "Yuan" as "Juan"(the Spanish way)? If you don't, you should try it. It's quite liberating. JUAN!