YEAH! You people are the best! Over 7 reviews again! I can't thank you enough:
SmileBeHappy: Aw, don't worry. Here's the next chapter
KyraValo: Ironic it is! But you know Sheena, I won't tell you yet, but keep reading and you'll see the bed part isn't quite as true. As for the cliffies, it keeps readers interested. You haven't seen the last of them:p
Aio: Thanks, I need all the luck I can get! I'm awful when it comes to numbers.
anonymous: Thank you!
The Zelda Master: Original huh? I like the sound of that - I take it there weren't any terribly embarrassing mistakes last chapter? And I hope I can keep up the whole in character thing. It's a bit tricky at times. Especially in later chapters when I bring out the rest of the TOS people. Dialogue is one of the things about English I like, I just hope I can keep it up. -
Kyootzie: don't worry, she's only easily annoyed when she's around Zelos, besides people aren't always their brightest when they're sleepy.
AngelCatGirl: You'll find out eventually, more about what happened is released in every chapter. I haven't heard of the SAT 9, but my school, for my grade only we have a Math EQUAO and then the regular exam right after it. Oh well, I'll bug my math teacher senseless, that's always fun. :p
MoonCannon: And here it is! ... -
Disclaimer: I don't own TOS sniff
Hello my ultra cool beauty
I woke up and rubbed my sleepy eyes. Last night I had managed to convince Zelos to sleep on the floor, he had a new mattress and all but I still felt slightly guilty. After all, this is his room. I snuggled deeper into the cool sheets, I guess it'd be okay to check on Zelos later. His poor delicate back may not have been able to handle the mean floor.
Feeling my stomach rumble I slid of the bed and thumped my way to the bathroom, remembering to bring along my small bag.
The door was closed but not locked so I opened it-
"Ack!" I turned around and tightly shut my eyes, "Haven't you heard of a lock!"
"You were sleeping, didn't think you'd wake up so soon." Zelos shuffled around behind me, "But…if you didn't want to see me half nude you would've just knocked."
"It's not like I wanted to come in and see you changing!" I argued, half knowing it was partly my fault. Though the day I admit it will be the day hell freezes over.
Zelos put his hand lightly on my shoulder, "Relax Sheena, I had only gotten to my shirt. All though, if you want…"
I angrily brushed his arm away, it was true, he had only taken his shirt off but I didn't like his suggestive tone one bit, "I need to take a shower."
I watched as Zelos casually walked over to the wall and leaned against it.
"I meant, right now." I stood there tapping my foot waiting for him to move.
He didn't, "Go ahead, I'm not stopping you."
I growled, "Do you mind!"
"Nope."
"Zelos! OUT!" I shoved him out the door and locked it behind me.
I could still hear his silly protests. I sighed and let the water run for a bit while I took of the ridiculous costume I wore.
The bathroom was pretty. With white tiled walls and marble counter tops it looked like a place from one of those magazines. The light blue tub was quite large and the taps were silver with gold trimming. Soft bath towels hung from the dark rod along with robes of puffy white.
Shutting of the taps I slid inside and sighed contently. This was heaven. The warm water did wonders on my tense muscles. I pulled of the pink ribbon in my hair and placed it on a nearby self.
As I ran my hands through my hair it caught on stubborn knots. My hair was stiff and matted from my previous flee from Mizuho. I just hope grandpa's doing okay. He's not going to be too happy with me, and more for running away. I can just imagine the lecture. I'd probably get one from Orochi too.
I can't believe my stupidity, letting Efreet run lose like that- there was a knock on the door.
"Yeah?"
"Mindy just dropped of your clothes, you want me too-"
I stopped Zelos before he said any more, "Leave them outside the door, I'll get them later."
"You sure about that? It'd much faster if I gave it to you now." Zelos asked through the door.
"Positive." I answered with a hint of annoyance. He was disturbing my bath time.
The water was getting cold anyways so I climbed out and dried myself. I reached for my makeshift bag and put on my unmentionables before draping one of the robes around me.
I unlocked the door and in pulled it open, Zelos practically fell inside.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's dangerous to lean on a door." I sniggered at the fact that Zelos had bumped his head in the process.
He simply scowled, "My pretty head…"
I huffed, this was pathetic, "Oh, get over yourself!"
I grabbed the bag holding my clothes and shut the door again, only returning when I was fully clothed.
I stretched and made my way over to the small glass table. Breakfast was severed.
Scrambled eggs, muffins, scones, pancakes, cereal and two flasks sat neatly on the table. One holding orange juice and the other milk.
Zelos was seated in the middle on one of the sides, waiting patiently, "Hungry my hunny?"
Ignoring his comment I nodded and sat opposite of him. He had on an outfit similar than his original but slightly different.
It was still very much pink, with the same white headband but the arm bands were missing.
"Like what you see?"
My thoughts were interrupted, I reddened slightly when I realized I was staring.
"Just wondering how you attract so many women while wearing pink."
"It's a gift." he smiled smugly, "It works on you doesn't it?"
I snorted, but that was all there was to my reply. An important lesson I had learned when I was young was; if you've got no answer, give no answer. Although, I don't know why I didn't have an answer. I should have been a 'no', but it wasn't. It's funny how the mind works sometimes.
I gathered some pancakes in my plate and chewed silently. My peace wasn't disturbed until the point Zelos choose to speak.
"You never did tell me-" he started, but stopped to swallow, "Why you came to Altamira."
"I felt like it." I didn't want to talk about where I thought this was heading.
"Oh really?" he raised an eyebrow in a way that said he didn't believe me.
"Really. Besides, why do you care?" I hated to sound rude, even though this was Zelos I'm talking to.
"I care bunches about my favorite hunny." Zelos crossed his arms, signaling he was done with breakfast. My, he's a fast eater.
"Hmp! You've said that to every woman you've met!" I ground the fork deep into the remaining pancake and chewed silently.
"No, no. Not every woman." He corrected, then said slightly slower, "…Just the majority of them."
"Zelos! You're terrible!" I growled.
"What? How's that hunny?"
"You shouldn't be giving a woman false hope. It's just wrong." I don't know why it upset me so much. It was just one of those things I like to blow up about.
"Well, it's one thing to say it and another to mean it." he defended, "And those women know who they are…I think."
I glared at him but said nothing.
For a moment there was silence. Then Zelos started up again.
"You haven't answered my question yet."
"What question?" I hope he catches on and leaves me alone about it.
"You know, why'd you leave Mizuho?" He asked casually.
Suddenly I was highly interested in the pattern of the flooring, "Not now Zelos."
It seems he isn't as dense as I thought, seeing that he left it at that.
"Alright." he got up, "I have an appointment with Regal now, here's a spare key."
He tossed a small silver object which I caught by simply raising my arm, "Okay, I'll be around."
He nodded and left. Soon after that the room service lady came in and cleared the table and cleaned up the room.
As much as it bugged me to say it, it was kind of lonely without Zelos. I walked over to the windowsill and leaned against it. From here I had a pretty good view of the beach. It was still early so there were mainly just kids there, running around in little circles driving their mothers crazy. I smiled at that, a childhood I never experienced. That or it was just so far back I've forgotten everything.
I leaned closer when I saw Zelos cross to the other side and stop and flirt with a tour guide wearing bunny ears. How he always has the energy for an attractive woman is something I don't pretend to understand. I don't even understand what makes him so irresistible. Sure, he has that stupid title of his but that's over now. I shook my head, I needed some air.
When I got outside Zelos was still deep into his little conversation, it puzzled me somewhat. In all my life I have never looked at a man the way these city women do. What was so interesting about Zelos anyways? I studied him for a moment, and came up with nothing. Only time will tell-
"Sheena?"
Feeling a tap on my shoulder I turned around, "Raine. Hi! It's been a long time isn't it?"
Raine hadn't changed one bit, except her brown coat was now replaced with a newer light blue one.
"Sure has, things have changed." looking over my shoulder she added, "But I see Zelos still hasn't."
I smiled, "He never will. He's utterly incorrigible. Anyways, what brings you here?"
"Regal sent me a letter a few weeks back saying they found some sort of strange rock with an inscription on it." Raine explained.
"And you couldn't pass it up, could you?" I grinned, old habits die hard.
"He wanted to know if I'd like to see it before he went and got rid of it. Useless junk he calls it." Raine shook her head at the last part.
"How's everyone else doing?" I couldn't help but wonder how the lives of my old companions were going.
"Well, Genis is going through a bad language phase, Colette and Lloyd are dating, and I haven't heard from Presea."
"About time those two got together." I scratched my head, "But Genis doesn't strike me as the type to use bad words."
"All kids go through it eventually, it'll pass with time when he learns it's not attracting attention. I'm more worried about a certain pride that's developing."
"So, have you heard from Kratos?" I asked, after his departure no one had really heard from him.
"Oh, he keeps in touch with Lloyd, but that's all. Say, how's your life?" She quickly changed the subject.
"Okay." I didn't want to get into details, "I bet Lloyd really misses Kratos, he is his dad after all."
"Yeah, he does. We all do." Raine was silent for a minute, "I'll catch up to you later, I have to see Regal now. I have a room here so I'm sure we'll meet up."
"Bye." I waved as she left.
I frowned at her last sentence, how'd she have a room and I had to be stuck here with Zelos? Oh well.
It was late into my shift, almost 11:30pm when Regal approached me.
I was lazily leaning on the marble counter top watching Zelos flirt his butt off when a voice interrupted me.
"Sheena?" It was Regal.
I quickly straightened, "Sorry, uh…yeah?"
"I just wanted to let you know about the summer festival." He started, but I cut him off before he could finish.
"What festival?" I questioned lowering my brows. His tone of voice didn't sound too cheery.
"Don't you know?" Zelos bounced into an empty seat in front of me, "It's only the biggest event of the year. Hunnies from all over the world come here to party."
I more or less guessed Zelos would come up with something like that, "When is it Regal?"
"Preparations start next week. So the bar with be closed for three weeks after that during the festival." Regal pulled out a bag from his coat pocket and placed it near me, "I sense you are having a hard time. This bag contains a raise plus your payment for the weeks you will be off duty."
"Thanks." There wasn't more to say really. I suppose I was more worried about the money factor than anything else, "I really appreciate it."
"I have to be going now." He bowed briefly, "Goodnight Sheena, Zelos."
"Nigh, night." Zelos chanted in a sleepy voice.
"Goodnight Regal. Thanks again." I nodded and he left.
Beside me Zelos yawned rather obnoxiously, I ignored him. He made other rude sound and when he tried again I realized he was trying to get my attention.
"What do you want?" I asked quite briskly.
Zelos blinked for a few seconds, "Did you know Raine's here?"
"Yeah, saw her this morning." I took a glass in my hand and started scrubbing it.
He had a far-away look to him, "And doesn't she look fine today."
It was more a statement than a question, I clonked him lightly over the head with the glass, "Is that all you ever think about?"
Rubbing his head, he looked up at me, "No, it's more like twenty-five percent looking, fifty percent talking and another twenty-five percent thinking…about my hunnies that is."
"Figures." I mumbled, I didn't have the energy to spare.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Never mind."
My shift ended half an hour later, and I was personally escorted back into the hotel by none other than Zelos.
Mentioning that I was hungry I said I'd be at the cafeteria for a while. Zelos came with me.
The elevator gave a sharp ring, signaling that we had reached. The café was deserted except for Raine who was sitting alone at the far corner sipping away at her drink. Coffee probably.
I walked over to an open stand and ordered a medium coffee. Holding it so I wouldn't spill it, I made my way to Raine with Zelos in toe.
"Hey, you're up late." I greeted and pulled out a chair.
"I just got back." Raine looked up and smiled lightly, "I was busy convincing that secretary of his not to throw the rock away until I finish analyzing it. She finally agreed, though she was rather rude about it."
"They're all the same when they don't have any need for something someone else thinks is important." I sipped my coffee and winced when it burned my tongue.
"Pity though, the writings on the slab are hard to decipher, it may take a while." Raine sighed deeply.
"Aw, don't be sad." Zelos cooed from beside me, "I hate seeing my ultra cool beauty so upset."
Putting on a teacher-like voice Raine glared, "How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
Zelos pretended to think and then gave up, "Now, now, don't be bitter. Not when there's such a large event coming up."
"The summer festival?" Raine shook around her mug, "I'm probably going to be around for that. Though the chances of me participating in it are slim to none."
I distinctively remembered Raine declaring how much she hated the sun, sand and water. Altogether or in some form of combination, "All work no play, huh?"
She turned to me, "Yeah. But I'm pretty sure Colette will drag Lloyd over here. As for Genis, I doubt he'd stay home even if he was forced to."
"Wow." I laid my chin on my palms, "I can't wait to see everyone. When will they get here?"
Raine nodded and replied, "I'll be going back in a couple days to get Genis. Lloyd and Colette should follow soon after."
"My little angel's coming?" Zelos perked up at the mention of another female.
"Don't get your hopes up." Raine grinned, "She's already been taken."
"By who?" Zelos rubbed his temples and 'ohhed', "Don't tell me it's that pesky servent boy."
"Who?" I asked turning to face him.
"Lloyd." Raine answered for him, "And yes, that's who. Before you say anything else, they couldn't be happier."
"Hmph." Was all Zelos said before he started a new topic, "So…Raine, you seeing anyone lately?"
Raine crushed the newspaper on our table and sent it flying Zelos' way.
"Oh, ow!" He whined, "What'd I do!"
NOTE: wow, that was so long! Needed to be done so that in the next chapter the rest of them will show up and catching up on lost time will begin!
Great news! I know what a BUMPKIN is! First I thought it was just a typo and the B was supposed to be a P, but then I wondered why Zelos would call Lloyd a pumpkin. But I know now that bumpkin is actually a word.
And we come to the highlight of the day, REVIEW! …………please.