She had even danced a little. Zelos had been kind enough to teach her some moves. He was suave and debonair, and he was insanely attractive in his formal suit, but as soon as Raine mastered her steps he rushed after Sheena. It didn't bother Raine at all. The two were obviously meant for each other. They were both just too blind to know it.
'Ah, to be dumb in love,' Raine thought. She smiled to herself and turned toward the crowd. Then she caught her breath. About ten feet in front of her stood Kratos, cleaned and dressed to please. His shaggy hair had been slightly trimmed, washed and combed, and his clothing was new and impressive. And it fit snuggly in all the right places. Raine's heart began to beat faster.
'I'm one to talk,' she thought to herself, resuming her posture and giving Kratos a welcoming smile.
"I'm glad you decided to join us. I know you and Lloyd have spent a lot of time talking lately. I thought you'd never come out of the inn."
Kratos gave her a quick grin and walked towards her.
"He was much too interested in dancing with Collette to let me keep him any longer." They both smiled at this. Neither knew how the two young lovebirds could keep their emotions to themselves. It had been nerve wracking for Raine back in Iselia, and it was nervewracking even now on the other side of the newly formed planet.
"They really have to just hurry up and..." Raine caught herself. She didn't like to gossip, especially when it came to friends.
"Get together?" Kratos asked, hoping to guess her words. Their eyes met for a second.
"Yes, get together. I suppose it's a little, I don't know how to put it," Raine thought.
"Frustrating." Kratos knew exactly what she was talking about. After 1000 years, frustration was second nature to him, but he still didn't need any more of it.
"It's just so hard when something is so obvious. I mean, when it's right, it's right. Some people are just meant for each other." Raine looked at Kratos for understanding. Her heart lept again at the gaze he was giving her.
It was like Raine had read his thoughts. On one level, Kratos knew she was just speaking about his son. But on another level entirely, he hoped she was subconsciously thinking about him. Her beauty, her intelligence, her quirks. Everything about her drew him in. He had focused on his work, on duing his duty, and hadn't let himself think about this incredible being he'd met and spoken with. But with the battle over and the worlds conjoined, Kratos finally let himself wonder. She was so perfect, so right for him... If only...
"Raine, would you like to dance?" It was a normal question, but one with quite a bit of emotion behind it.
Raine studied him for a second. He wasn't the same shut off, unemotional, thoroughly analytical Kratos she'd always known. No, he was different, more open, more like the Kratos she saw in those brief moments when she let herself daydream.
"Kratos, I would love--"
"Raine, Raine, quick! I need to speak with you!"
Both Raine and Kratos looked down for a moment in dissapointment. Genis' voice had irritated the much more masculine Kratos before and it positively infuriated him now. Out of all the times to freak out and cry for his sister, why did it have to be now? Raine just gathered herself and looked back at her brother running towards her.
"Raine, come with me. I really need to talk to you about something." The boy was obviously upset, his cheeks flushed and his eyes burgeoning on tears.
Raine sighed and put her arm around her younger sibling, walking away with him towards the inn.
Kratos watched her go.
'Raine, I wanted to tell you. In the morning, I'm leaving...'
He dropped his head and drew back from the crowd. A few of Zelos' followers, mad that he was favoring Sheena, approached him for a dance. He just walked right past them without saying a word. He was no longer interested in dancing with anyone.