Thanks to all reviewers.

StrawberryEggs: About the whole black mail thing. I think you'll see why he did that in this chapter.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Hunny…" Zelos shook Sheena gently. "Wake up, we're going to Mizuho today, remember"
"What?" Sheena asked opening her eyes.
"Well… that's right… I never told you…" Zelos said thinking back "Orochi sent a message saying that he wanted you to come home for something. I sent a message back saying you'd come today… I kinda forgot about it"
"You stupid chosen!" She said and lept out of bed. "What if something happened"
Zelos sighed "Nothing happened. He wrote that you shouldn't worry and to come at your convenience." "Arg. I can't believe you!" Sheena said grabbing his robe off of the back of the door and sliding it over her shoulders before leaving the room.
"I know you like my style but you should ask before you use my things!" Zelos called after her and received no answer "I was only kidding!" He called and again no answer "Sheeeeeeeena!" He whined and followed her out of the room. Sheena stomped into her room with Zelos on her tail. "I'm taking a rhieard. Zelos, if you do anything to Genis while I'm gone I swear to Martel that you will not see another day." She grabbed some clothes and slammed the closet, she then stormed over to the bathroom and slammed that door also as she entered to get changed. "Good morning twerp." Zelos said as he sat down at the end of the bed. Genis was groggy and rolled over to see the chosen on his bed and Sheena already dressed coming out of the bathroom. "Can't a kid get any sleep in this house"
"Genis, you're up, good." Sheena said distractedly and ruffled his hair. "I have to go somewhere. I trust you to keep the idiot chosen out of trouble"
"Alright, Sheena." Genis nodded tiredly "Where are you going"
"Mizuho." She said briefly. "Hopefully I'll be home before Zelos does anything stupid"
"Hopefully." Genis repeated "But unlikely"
Sheena laughed quickly and then went to the door of the room. "See you when I get back"
"Bye, Sheena, be careful." Genis replied still trying to shake off sleep.
"Later, Hunny." Zelos called after her.
Sheena shut the door, opened it again, glared at Zelos "Don't call me hunny", then shut the door again.
"Well, that went smoothly." Zelos said smiling "You better get dressed twerp. We have somewhere to go." "Where?" Genis asked still a bit drowsy.
"You'll see." The ex-chosen said in a singsong tone before disapearing into his room. Genis figured it would be best to listen so he went into his room and noticed that there were some strange clothes in his closet with a note that said "Wear these, Twerp." in exentric hand writing with a smiley face sticking its tounge out scribble down after it.
Meanwhile, Sheena had just arrived at Mizuho. She got to the gates of Mizuho and din't see anyone around. Then Orochi came outside. "Sheena, You came!" He greeted her happily.
"Of course I came." She replied and they hugged "Now... Why exactly did I come all the way out here anyway?" "Go into your house and see." He said and started walking toward Sheena's house. "on your dresser"
Sheena opened the door and glanced over at her dresser. Hanging on from the front of her dresser was a brand new kimono. It was fine silk with the pattern of black and gray, roses and lilies on the deep burgundy. She ran the fabric through her hands feeling how soft the silk was. "Its so beautiful,Orochi..." She said still in awe.
"Why don't you try it on?" Orochi asked casually. He then closed the door so she could get changed. Sheena put on the kimono and looked at herself in the mirror. She liked it. She put her hair up and dug through her drawer until she found a barret. "What do you think?" She asked as she opened the door not expecting what she saw when she opened it. "Beautiful, Hunny. As always." Zelos said with a small smirk. Sheena's looked at Zelos, he was wearing a dark pink kimono with a rose pattern tucked into charcole hakama. His hair was pulled into a ponytail with a few strands still around his face. After a second Sheena noticed the other people around. Genis was standing alittle bit behind Zelos wearing a light blue happi coat with a pattern of a forest around the bottom and the picture of the moon on the back. Every one from the villiage were also gathered outside and dressed for a special occassion. And there were party lanterns all around.
"Zelos? Whats going on?" Sheena asked in a confused tone.
"I wanted to suprise you. I know your birthday's not for a week but if I tried something like this on your birthday you would have known it was coming." Before she could say anything he leaned in like he was going to give her a kiss but an inch away from her face he stopped and just smiled down at her. "Happy 20th birthday, my exotic Mizuho hunny"
"Yeah! Happy early birthday, Sheena!" Genis chimed in happily. The rest of the people followed suit and gave there warm wishes. Orochi smiled. "Now, Now, Grandaughter. The Chosen went through all this trouble to plan this and he picked out the fabric for the kimono and everything. Can't you even say thank you?" Sheena's grandfather asked in his usual tone.
Sheena looked at Zelos who had now taken a step back. "Thank you, Zelos." She then added quietly so a certain old man wouldn't hear "I should have known you were up to something, you sneak"
"Good, Good. Now lets begin the festivities!" The chief said happliy and kissed his grandaughter on the cheek "It's good to have you home, Na-chan. Or should I say Sheena-sama. You're getting so old"
"Hey! Look who's talking!" She fired back at his old comment.
"Well, I don't think you're old. But I do think you're absolutely lovely." Zelos said and took Sheena's hand and kissed it "Dance with me"
"No, and you stay out of this." She said pulling her hand away.
"Sheeeeeeeeena!" He whined like a child.
"I said no." She rejected his offer again.
"Sheena. Is that anyway to treat the chosen of Tethe'alla?" Her grandfather asked gruffly.
"Fine... I'll dance with the idiot- I mean chosen" Sheena said and Zelos instantly perked up and lead her out to the cente of town where many people were dancing a complex dance. Zelos seemed to catch on right away and Sheena knew the dance from the festivals but Genis seemed to be having a problem with the steps.
Back near Sheena's hut the cheif had been joined by Orochi "Do you trust him? The chosen"
"What do you mean?" the elder asked curiously.
"I mean, he has a reputation to... Do you really trust him with Sheena? What if he- she could- and then- I don't want Sheena to be hurt..." Orochi said stutteringly.
The cheif looked over at them dancing "I know you are only worried for Sheena. But, the way he speaks of her, I don't think he could bring himself to harm her. I think he truely loves her"
"But I've heard stories! He has girls all over both worlds!" Orochi continued his side of the arguement "She's staying at his house! He might have already.." He was going to keep fighting but was stopped when the cheif pointed at the chosen. Orochi just looked at him, he looked so happy, as if being around Sheena was all he ever wanted, and the way he danced with her was so gental... so caring... "If he hurts her I swear I'll.." Orochi made a hollow threat and kept watching "She's like a sister... I want her to be happy"
"Sheena hunny, what does this song mean?" Zelos asked as they dance.
"Hmm?" Sheena snapped out of her thoughts.
"The words. I don't understand them" He elaborated. He thought the words sounded nice but he couldn't make heads nor tails of it.
"Let me try and translate... 'Breath into my hands; or cup them like a glass to drink from. Are you still... still breathing?'" She said and then added with a small laugh "I don't know if the true meaning was lost in translation... it means, well, I can't really explain it well." "Its nice." He said sounding alittle bit zoned out. " Do you like the kimono?" he asked suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.
"Yes, I like it alot better than the stupid dress you got me." She said in all honesty.
"I'm glad. The dress was more reveiling but you do look absolutely radiant right now. Only the best for you" Zelos said with a smile. "Are you tired of dancing? I know you didn't want to in the first place"
"Yeah. I'm goingto go see how Genis is doing." freeing herself from Zelos's grip.
"Good, keep him busy. I have a surprise for him too." Zelos said before rushing off through the croud. Sheena found the young half-elf sitting alone on a small wall "Hey, Genis." She said sitting down next to him. "You feeling alright"
"Yeah." He said in a sighing tone "Where did Zelos go"
"I don't know really. I told him I was going to go see how you were doing and he went somewhere else." Sheena said a bit concerned about the sad little mage. "Hey, how about you come dance with me for a bit"
"Alright." He said with a small smile "Will Zelos mind? I think he wants to dance with you"
"I told you I don't know where he is, and anyway, Do I really care what he wants?" She asked sarcastically before ruffling his hair and jumping off of the wall and extending her hand to him.
He took it and they started making there way into the dance crowd. They talked as they danced, the conversation light and happy. Alot of laughing. After a long while they walked off of the dance floor Sheena's arm lightly on Genis's shoulder guiding him. "You know, I miss my sister but with you around it's not so bad, Sheena." Genis said with a smile.
"Thanks." Sheena said with a smile she was going to continue but she then heard a formiliar sing songy voice call out from behind them.
"Genis, Sheena" the red headed chosen came bounding up to them. By this point Sheena and Genis had turned around. "What is it Zelos?" Sheena asked wondering why helooked so proud of himself. "Alow me to present... Presea-chan and Seles-chan!" He said stepping aside to reveil the two young girls standing behind him. Seles was wearing a kimono with many different shades of blue and green that looked like they were taken from the ocean. She gave a nasty glance over at Sheena. Presea on the other hand was giving a small smile to her old companions. She had on an orange and purple kimono with clouds on it. Combined with her hair it looked very much like a sun set. They bouth had their hair up in little buns on the sides of their heads held on with ribbon. "Hello Sheena... Genis..." Presea said in a small tone. She looked a bit embarressed to see Genis again.
"Its good to see you again, Presea." Sheena said with a smile and took her arm off of Genis's shoulder to give her a friendly embrace.
"Yeah, Presea... Its sood to gee yo- I mean good to see you." Genis said with his usual nervousness around the ax-woman.
Zelos elbowed Seles in the ribs. "Hello Genis. I believe we've met before. And Sheena." She cringed a little "Its very... nice... to see you again"
"Yes, Seles. Its very ... nice... to see you again too." Sheena responded very much like Seles had spoken, cringing and with forced speach.
"Hi..." Genis managed to say his blush deepening.
"Great! Now, we've all greeted each other formally." Zelos said and pulled the three girls and Genis into a hug. Genis was still embarresed from his lack of speaking skills infront of Presea and Seles and being squeezed next to them didn't help any. Presea's expression was a bit blank and she was being pushed against Sheena's breast. Seles didn't seem to happy to be so close to Sheena and the feeling was mutual. Zelos was smiling of course because he had made it so Sheena was closest to him. He placed his head on the back of her neck. "Isn't this great"
"Let go, Idiot." Both Sheena and Seles said in unison. The fact that they both said the same thing seemed to make them even less happy with each other.
Zelos released them after alittle promting from Seles's foot on his toe. Genis was still blushing alittle. Sheena gave him a knowing look. She put her arm over his shoulders again and leaned down so she was closer to his hight "Why don't you ask the girls to dance"
"Sheena... I can't..." He said in a small voice.
"You danced with me. Why can't you dance with Presea and Seles?" Sheena asked raising an eyebrow knowing very well why.
"It's different. You're more like... Raine and they're... more like... Girls." Genis said trying to explain.
"Go on, you'll do fine. I know you will." She said standing up to her full hight and ruffling his hair again. "Go on now." She pushed him foward a bit.
"Umm. Would you want to dance... with me?" Genis asked looking anywhere but the girls.
"Alright." Presea said in a hard to read tone.
Seles simply stood where she had been holding onto Zelos's hand like a small child. The chosen looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you goig with the other two"
"No... I wasn't planning on it." She stated simply.
"Seles. You can't hang on me the whole time. If you're coming to live with me you're going to have to let go sometime." He said with a small smile.
"But... big brother..." she whined.
Zelos smoothed her hair in a caring way. "I promise I'll be right here when you come back. Now why not go have some fun"
Seles held tighter "No, I want to stay with you"
"Seles, now you're just being childish. Go dance with the others. I told you I'm not going anywhere." Zelos said starting to scowld.
"Yes, Zelos..." she said reluctantly letting go of her brother's hand and joining the other two children. As they walked by Sheena was giving Genis a small smile and Seles glared at her.
Sheena stood and watched as the three walked off. She had forgotten that the chosen was there until he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder so they were cheek to cheek. "They're so cut at that age... why don't we have some of our own, huh, hunny"
"Do you always have to be such a jerk?" She asked and tried to break out of his grip.
"I'm serious, Sheena. Lets make an heir to the title of Chosen." he said lifting her up as her legs kicked in the air. "Or you could at least give me a kiss. A peck on the cheek"
"Put me down you idiot!" She protested. He lowered her to the ground and let her go but still had his arm draped around her shoulder. He then looked off at the three who were dancing.
"Maybe theres some hope for the twerp yet... slim hope... but still some." Zelos said as he watched him no doubt tripping over his words as much as he was tripping over his feet. "Well, he'll have plenty of time to get used to girls. Presea is only here for the night but Seles is coming to live with us. I'm tinking about getting a bunkbed for your old room and you could move all of your things ino my room- our room... and maybe we could get a pet for the kids to play with, you know like a dog or something, or maybe a cat"
"Zelos... " Sheena cut him off and walked away a bit causing his arm to leave her shoulders "I think Genis and I are going to stay here, in Mizuho. I'll come for my things and send a letter to Raine to tell her where we are"
"But..." He stepped foward after her. "You can't just go... Sheena"
"Zelos. You let youself get caught up in your own lies..." Sheena said turning to him "Seles hates me with a passion. You don't need a bunkbed for 'the kids room' because Genis is going back home with Raine once she gets back from her trip. You don't need to move anything into 'our room' because its not 'our room' its 'your room'. 'My room' is here, in my house. I live here in Mizuho and I'm not one of your hunnies... and I'm not your wife. You don't need a cat or a dog... you need a reality check"
Zelos took Sheena's hand as she started to walk away. "I can't make you come back to Meltokio but... can I at least show you something while I'm here?" He asked in a sad voice.
"Alright, Zelos." Sheena sighed and alowed him to lead her outside of Mizuho to a near by lake. "What is it"
Zelos pointed up into the sky. There was a purple star. "Do you know what that is?" He asked her gently.
"Yes..." She answered quietly. "You can see it from Meltokio too. Everytime Iook at it I feel guilty. And I always end up missing you. And I think "Kratos is so far away but he's not alone. Part of him is still here, with Lloyd. And then I think Sheena isn't nearly as far away and part of her is with me. And then I don;t miss you so much"
"Zelos... I.. this... I... Zelos, whats this have to do with anything?" She asked taking her eyes off of the purple dot in the sky. "Its just, I could only imagine giving this to you, no one else." He said quickly as he shoved something into her hand "I can send your things as soon as I get home... you won't even have to come." He said and walked off back to the villiage. "You look like a samuri..." Sheena said to his back. She couldn't think of anything else to say.
He turned his head back to her slightly "Only for you, Babe." He said in a dry tone and started to walk away.
Sheena just watched him as he walked back toward the red glow of the fesival lanterns. She looked inot her hand and saw a small gold ring. Ingraved in it it said 'Wilder' in nice script. She turned it over in her hand examining it. She looked up but he was already back in the villiage. She walked a while. The sound of her heart beats and foot steps were far to loud yet didn't completely drown out the sound of the music from the party. She didn't know what to think. After not too long she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, birthday girl... you alright?" came a voice shattering Sheena's thoughts. "I'm fine Orochi, don't worry." She said looking up at him. She was still playing with the ring in her hand.
"Are you going back to Meltokio or are you guys all staying the night?" He asked.
"Genis and I are going to be staying here. Presea's going back home and Seles and the Chosen are going to Meltokio." Sheena said distractedly.
"I'll get you an extra futon for your room." Orochisai understandingly. He placed his arm around her shoulders and lead her back to the party.
She was taking comfort in his being there but he soon let go. She didn't stop him. She went to the wall where Genis had been sitting earlier and sat there. She looked down at the flowers printed on her kimono. She suddenly felt a presence near her. "What did you do to him?" demanded an acusing voice. "I didn't do anything to your brother. I'm not even near him." Sheena said a bit anoyed.
Seles sat down next to her. "Zelos isn't acting like himself. He's quiet and withdraw. I wanted to talk to him but he won't even speak in full sentences. It must be your fault. You yelled at him, didn't you"
"I said I didn't do anything to him. And you'll have plenty of time to talk to him when you get to Meltokio. I'm not coming." She said glancing over at Seles.
"What? But Zelos said that you were staying there..." Seles said in a confused tone.
"Well, I was but now I'm not. Now I'm staying here, where I belong. I thought you would be happy. More time for you to spend with your brother." She said and was about to get up to leave. The red-headed girl noticed the ring in Sheena's hand and snatched it "I know why he's sad. You stole this from him. Its his mother's ring and he always has it with him. How dare you steal from my big brother"
"I didn't steal it." Sheena said angrily "He gave it to me but you can have it if you like. I don't know why he gave it to me anyway." And with that Sheena got up and walked off from the party and into her house. "Don't you walk away from me!" Seles voice demanded as she pounded on the door.
Sheena sighed as she sat down on the futon. "Stop screeching, the door's open"
Seles gave a small huff before opening the door and letting herself in. "You take this, put it on, and go apologize to my brother." She said stiffly and thrust the ring back into Sheena's hand.
"No, why don't you go and leave me alone..." Sheena said and put the ring down on the nighttable. "No. You listen to me. First you seduce my big brother into doing god knows what and then you break his heart." Seles said stomping her foot "How Dare you. Now Go tell Zelos that you're sorry"
"You are soooooooo messed up in the head. I didn't 'seduce' your brother. He has tried to bed me evry chance he gets but I have never given in to him. All of the girls in Meltokio are crazy for Zelos and would do anything he said. He tricked me and lied to me a million times. He wants me to be one of his hunnies..." Sheena said trying not to get too mad at Seles. "You shouldn't talk about things you don't know about"
"I bet you're lying. You're a liar. You seduced my brother and broke his spirit." Seles was now raising her voice "When big brother came to get me I thought it would be great to come with him but you ruined it. I hate you!" Tears were welling up in her eyes.
"You know what Seles? I hate you too!" Sheena said making fist and her eyes were also filling up with tears "You accuse me and yell at me and I hate you. I didn't do anything to your stupid brother so leave me alone"
Seles was crying alittle. She sat down next to Sheena. "When Zelos told me he wanted me to come live with him in Meltokio I was so happy... and then... he told me you were staying with him. I got upset but he just smiled... He said Genis would be there too, we would be like one big family... I haven't had a family since I was left at that stupid place... and now you're leaving too. You and Genis... I don't like you, Sheena, but... I don't like being left either"
"Like one big family..." Sheena said calming down. "Zelos said that"
"Yes." Seles answered still drying her eyes. Sheena looked down at the red-headed girl next to her. And Seles looked back up at her and then shocked Sheena by grabbing onto her and hugging her. Seles burried her face into Sheena's shoulder and Sheena smoothed her hair in a comforting way. "I'm sorry Seles. I didn't mean to upset you"
"Don't say you're sorry. I don't need you to feel sorry for me." Seles said turning back to her normal self and pulling herself away from Sheena "I just want you to know... I still don't like you, if you come with us or not." She then stood up and walked to the door when she got there she turned around to look at Sheena "And I apologize for raising my voice in your home. It was rude"
Sheena sat there for a moment looking at the ring on the nightstand. After a while she picked it up and headed out into the villiage. She found Zelos sitting on the wall where she had been earlier. "Hey." She said quietly.
"Hey." He said without looking up from his feet. "I saw Seles come out of your house. Was she bothering you?" He asked sounding not interested.
"No, we were just... bonding..." Sheena said trying to think of a better word.
"If Seles wasn't my little sister I might have some sexy thoughts about that later." Zelos joked half heartedly.
"Zelos, I want to come back with you but... this is my homeand I hardly ever come here anymore." Sheena said hoping he would understand. "These are my people... They need me"
Zelos shifted and looked up at her with peircing ice blue eyes "Well, I need you too." She studied his face for a moment, it was cold and serious and his eyes looked deep and hurt. "Zelos..." she said and moved a little closer to him. "Your lines aren't going to work on me Zelos Wilder"
He looked at her and smiled "I know, hunny. Nothing ever works on you." He then thought for a moment "Seles and I are going to stay here"
"Its not that simple, Zelos. The only way for an out sider to live in Mizuho is to marry someone from Mizuho." "Alright." He said and took her hands "Lets get married, for real this time. No kidding"
"Zelos..." she sighed and pulled her hands away. She looked at him poutig like a child. "Stop that. I'll tell you what. You can stay here for a few days until you get over this, then you can run back home to your hunnies"
A smirk crossed Zelos's face as he put his arm around the raven-haired ninja. He rubbed his face against her hair in a nuzzling way. "I knew you couldn't turn me away. You love me"
"I do not." She said trying to pull away but he wouldn't let her. He held her closer and rested his head on hers. She had opened her mouth in protest when he used his hand to lift her face so she was looking upward. Just then a firework went off raining color through the sky. "Wow. Fireworks for my birthday"
"Only the best for you, Sheena-hunny." He said softly as he lifted his other arm up around her in a protective embrace. She didn't fight because she knew he was stronger than her and would only hold on tighter. It seemed like when ever she tried to make him let go he held on tighter. They sat like that watching the fireworks for a long time. They could hear the three children playing and watching the fireworks. The three of them had never seen fireworks before so they were pretty happy. After a while Sheena leaned back against Zelos so it would be easier for her to look up. His cheek was still resting on her hair. It was getting late and they were both growing tired. The ex-chosen was the first to break the calm silence after the fireworks. "Are you still.. still breathing?" He asked in a whisper.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't remember if I said this in the obnoxiously long chapter but Zel did the whole blackmail bit to get Sheena mad so she wouldn't ask him to come along with her to Mizuho. The lyrics are from Tattle tale's song called 'glass vase cello case'.

Ummm... next chapter will have a bit of a dispute between two males in th story who's names I shall not disclose at this time. And also some more Genis than this chapter... and some more goodness. 3