Genismithos: thanks!
sparklestar127: then I guess I can count on your review?
Hazumi Yoi: hmm…let me think. I suppose since you decided to review anyways, yeah I'll give you the Sheena toy :P better late then never :D
NarcissisticRiceBall: Your pen name is so cute! Teehee. ((ahem)) yes, long live Sheelos!
silverfox09: Those two words mean so much. ((shine))
Sami: the original line for that was "Perfect, just perct." But I thought it sounded a tad bit funny.
HealingWind: so glad you find it interesting. : )
Bballstar42: well, thank you very much.
StrawberryEggs: No interruptions this chapter. And no ones nuttier than I! Mwhahaa--! ((cough, cough)) ((hack)) now…where was I? On that same, perfectly sane note, I think Lloyd would make a good Slowpoke: both stupid…and slow.
lugiamania: indeed we do.
Winged Dancer: the basis for I don't know what yet, but it's a foundation to build on for sure. How can I top chap 1? (it's the only one I put a lot of thought into) well I'll think of something! Oh and the hinted conversation will come but just not yet.
--In silence we think--
She could see the snow piling up near the entrance of the cave, slowly blocking their only way of exit. She shuddered at the fact of being trapped inside this dank cave with no clear source of heat, food or water. Sheena buried her face in her shaky knees; of all the possible ways to die, she didn't think it would remotely end like this…with him of all people.
Beside her sat Zelos, mindlessly feeding the dying fire. It puzzled her greatly why he seemed to be unaffected by this chilling weather. It almost made her angry that she had to suffer alone. But how selfish would she be wishing her discomforts on someone else? Not much, since she began cursing under her breath.
Hearing soft mumblings, Zelos turned around, "Something wrong?"
She stopped cursing, stunned he even heard her, "Nothing…a-aren't you cold?"
He looked down towards his bare arms and back up to his companion, "Nope. Why? You getting the chills?"
She turned away, remembering his earlier suggestion to 'cuddle', "No. And you won't be able to help…I won't let you."
He shook his head smirking, "Stubborn to the very end I see. I bet even if death was hovering above you, shaking its mean old bony fist, you wouldn't ask for a helping hand."
Sheena glared at him from the corners of her narrowed eyes, "Not from you that's for sure."
He pretended to look hurt, such spite would sting the average human heart but he was so accustomed to hearing things like this from the summoner that he had become numb to her hatred, "Oh? And why not hunny? I can be pretty useful a times."
She didn't hesitate to explain, "Because you turn the most serious of situations into a joking matter. I can never trust you to do the right thing."
The word trust echoed in his hollow mind, after all, it was something he knew very little of, "Oh come on, I have a heart you know and a working mind. I'm sure I would be able to think of something."
"It's not your mind I worry about. But…would you really save someone…while putting your own life in danger?" she asked slowly, almost uncertain she wanted to hear the answer.
"It depends on who I'm saving." Zelos replied with as much certainty as he could muster up, "Wouldn't want to go crazy over a stranger now would I?"
Sheena sighed, sometimes she doubted that he used his head at all, "That's exactly it. It's your heart that I worry about…sometimes I wonder if you even have one." the last part was added in a whisper, it wasn't meant to be heard.
But Zelos caught onto it, somehow certain parts of that seemingly deadened heart of his would thaw just in time for the bitter words of those who meant so much to sink in, slowly eating away parts of his darkened soul. It was just like that time so many years ago. He was only a child, surely no child deserved to hear such a thing so horrid from one's own mother.
Taking his silence as insult the Mizuho native hurried to cover it up, "I-I mean, what am talking about? Of course you have a heart; you wouldn't be alive if you didn't."
That only made matters worse, but he held up the look as if nothing was wrong. The words of his late mother kept coming back to him making him question himself. Should he really be alive? Living, in this world? With people who are so different than himself?
Looking towards Sheena he realized just how human she was, when she was angry she'd wake the dead with her screams of fury. When he was angry, he'd yell but he couldn't feel it. He wouldn't know why he was so angry, because he didn't feel that rush of frustration. Perhaps nothing in his past truly made him angry, maybe that was why he was so immune to such a common feeling.
Sheena reddened under his gaze, she hated how things that were his fault to begin with would end up with her feeling so awful about it, "Well…aren't you going to say something?" somehow, it was nearly impossible for her to apologize to Zelos. No matter how much at fault she was.
"…are you hungry?" he finally said after a sickening pause.
She had to let out the breath she was holding while waiting for him to talk, "Why? Do you have something to eat?"
Zelos shuffled around his vest pulling out half a bar of chocolate, "This is all, if it'll do."
His tone made her stomach churn, how could he be so calm after that awkward moment not so long ago?
"I swear I didn't bite it. I just broke of little bits."
She smiled but it faltered, "You eat it. After all, you're the one with the busted ankle."
"What does that have to do with anything? If you're hungry then you take it. I'll live." he almost had to force it on her before she accepted it.
"Thanks." she mumbled before peeling off the silver wrapping.
She was about to bite into it when she decided to sneak a glance at Zelos. He was bent over with an arm clutching his injured ankle. For some reason that pose made her think twice about being so selfish. Quickly she broke the candy in ridged halves, "Here." she placed it on his lap and bit on the ends of her share.
Zelos stared down at the chocolate on his pallid pants, he was grateful since inwardly he was starving. But in someway or the other in the depths of his mind he wanted to prove to his fair maiden that he indeed had a heart, something he began to doubt a long time ago.
They chewed in silence, watching the dying fire. Sheena thought about moving to get more wood but she was frozen to the spot. The chocolate seemed to warm her up a little, supplying her with lost energy. At least she was safe, but what if this storm didn't pass over soon enough? Would Lloyd and Colette be able to save them in time?
Lost in her daze she failed to notice Zelos get up and hobble over to the front of the cave.
He stared outside; barely anything was visible with all that snow in the way, "Hey Sheena."
She looked beside her then towards the voice, "Huh?"
"What you say to sleeping here tonight?" he asked scouting out the area.
"Sleeping? As in night? But it's barely even mid afternoon." she inwardly shuddered at the thought of staying in here longer. She had the worst feeling that something was waiting to creep up on her. But she would never admit she was scared, that just wouldn't do.
The worn out swordsman gave her a small smile, "That's just in case, I'm not saying we'll actually have to stay here."
Sheena sighed, "Good. Because Lloyd and Colette will come for us way before then."
Zelos appeared skeptical of that, "Yes but it's almost impossible to see anything out there…maybe--"
"No. Colette has her angel senses and Lloyd has amazing intuition. They'll find us." she didn't want to think, even for a moment that they would remain here longer than they needed to.
He nodded and returned to his spot beside the shivering woman, "You're right, they'll find us."
She continued to shake; the cold was bone chillingly painful. Her ears burned, her head ached and her toes were numb in her plush purple boots. She was downright miserable with no one to blame it on. It was her fault she lost Corrine's bell. And she had agreed without a second guess to sell the Celsius' tear. The group was low on gald; they really didn't have any alternative options.
"You know, I can tell you're just freezing your cute little butt of there." Zelos remarked, playfully poking her shoulder.
She decided to all out deny it, "I am not." only her clattering teeth made it hard for her to sound believable.
He let out an exhausted breath, "Why won't you let me keep you warm? And, 'because it's you', is not an acceptable answer."
Sheena pondered on her choice of words, "Because…I-it…it would feel weird."
He quirked an amused brow, "Oh? Why's that dearest?"
Truth be told, she didn't know why. All she knew was that it was always something she never pictured herself doing; seeking warmth and protection from another. She was a strictly independent person; it was the way she was raised. It wasn't that she didn't need people; she just preferred to do things on her own.
When he received no answer, Zelos continued to babble on, "Well, you know what I think?" silence, "I think that if it was Lloyd you would jump right into his arms without a moment's hesitation."
"What?" she seethed, clearly enraged, "You're wrong! It doesn't matter who it is! I just wouldn't do it!"
"Why not?" he was a bit surprised at her outburst.
"Because! Because—I don't know! I'm…just not that kind of person that's all." she calmed down when she realized the simplicity of his question.
Silently Zelos slipped of his lengthy vest and held it in his arms, not caring much for his loss of warmth. "Then at least take this."
Sheena flushed when she felt the light weight of her comrade's outer layer of clothing fall upon her shoulders, "W-what?"
"It's not much, but it's the least I can do." He shrugged and clasped his hands behind his head, "You gave up your protective sash for my ankle."
"You need it." she proceeded to remove the vest but Zelos stopped her.
"Don't be silly, I'm fine…see? But you on the other hand are a different story. So swallow your pride and just take it." he added the last part sternly so she had no room to protest.
Sheena nodded bluntly and brought it slightly closer to her body, "…thanks."
The space around them continued to remain bright due to the falling snow. She was still cold but the extra piece of clothing helped greatly. The lame fire only served as a piece of dangerous decoration now.
It was so silent that Sheena wondered whether Zelos had fallen asleep already…though it was only early afternoon she felt strangely tired, 'Zelos…?" the words escaped her lips before she had a chance to think up a reason for talking.
"Hmm?" he turned to her looking drowsy, "What is it hunny?"
That put her off slightly but she struggled to think up something, "Umm…uh, w-what do plan to do after this journey?" in her head she sounded like a complete fool.
Yet Zelos chose to think about that with interest, "Mmm…now that you mention it, I don't think I know for certain. I'm still undecided on where I'm going to stay. Tethe'alla, my homeland…or Sylvarant."
"Oh…I haven't decided either but I won't have any choice in the matter. Wherever Mizuho goes, I'll have to go. And that's probably Sylvarant." she added with a dreary look, "But we're not sure that the worlds will split."
He narrowed his eyes, "They will. With each summon spirit we form a pact with the further apart the two worlds will drift. We are breaking the mana links, the only things that holds together the worlds."
"I don't want to leave this place, not after all the years I've spent here. But I suppose since we've betrayed the kingdom we…Mizuho has no other choice but to leave."
Zelos lowered his gaze to the solid rock ground he was seated on, "Somehow, I know that Tethe'alla will be better of without me…or at least I'll be better of without it."
This confused the young lady greatly, "I thought you couldn't live without this place. All your fancy clothes, rich lifestyle…your followers."
He blinked wondering what she was talking about, "Uh…followers?"
Sheena scrunched up her nose at the very thought, "You know, those horrible women who follow you around like lovesick puppies."
"Now, now. No need to get all jealous my precious. You know I'll always have a special place in my heart just for you!" he grinned widely.
"I'm not jealous! I hate them! Hell, I hate you too!" she howled, balling her fists.
"Ah, so the jealous one speaks." Zelos attempted to look wise by scratching his chin.
"No! I'm not jealous! You're delirious!" she fought back, forgetting how cold she previously was.
He just sat back calmly, "If you weren't jealous you would see no need to get so worked up…because you would have nothing to hide."
She blushed heavily and her ears burned, she was unsure of how to answer such a sudden response, "That's just the way I react to any situation! Don't go thinking you know me so well, I'm much more complicated than that!"
Zelos yawned and leaned down to sleep on his gloved hands, "Alright, whatever you say. I'm just going to take a little nap now."
"Don't you go to sleep on me!" no answer, "Fine! See if I care!"
Then it was silent, she had no one to take out her short lasting anger out on. So she settled for glaring at the bare walls, the words of the slumbering man repeating itself; '…because you would have nothing to hide.' Of course she had nothing to hide; it was obvious that she had no feelings deeper than friendship for Zelos. Then why does her shrouded mind question that?
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There's the next chapter up and running:D eww, now I have to suffer since I've started school! Ack! How will I survive? Well, I'll try and make time for story writing; I do have English first semester. Practice makes perfect.
Now, the only thing that will make my days of work and more work is for you nice people to review :) now don't be shy:P