"I want you to know that I hate you." "And why is that?" "Because you're stupid." Raine Sage; a prodigy, beauty.. and a cautious man-hater. What could go wrong? AU, pairings inside.

AaB II: Lloyd, Lloyd, LLOYD IRVING!

Lloyd: Whwft? -waffles in mouth-

AaB II: Aww, you get waffles! Meaneh! Anyway.. disclaimer please.

Lloyd: Tefh TOFS chwas dofn't afwong two fwer.

AaB II: Here comes teh temporary Colette-part-angst-ness XD.. Message changed from last time: This gets a bit deeper on Colette's thoughts and character, so I hope you don't mind. x-x; she's yet to develop as the plot goes on, so I thought we should get a good look at each character before events happen..

Pairings:

Kraine (KratosxRaine)

Zelloyd (ZelosxLloyd)

Gesea (GenisxPresea)

ColetteOC (ColettexMade-up character)

SheenaOC (SheenaxMade-up character)

Slight Regalicia reminiscing

Nobody

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Raine felt her eyes widen as the doll version of herself fell once again, the red shadow having slammed it's claw through her back, the sharp red bones of it's hand poking out of her stomach. A silent scream wretched from her vocal cords, the shadow looking up and into Raine's eyes; seeing the observer. It seemed to climb up to her, and ran one bloody claw through her hair, then bared it's fangs, almost stained with blood, and looking down at the doll's body she understood why. It was torn and the flesh was peeling from the body. Looking back at the red shadow, fear shot through her. It jumped at her--

And she screamed.

And she screamed.

And she screamed.

She screamed on and on, grabbing her arms and her hair and gasping in unknown pain as it shot through her, feeling the red shadow devour her body; but nothing was there. Blood spilled onto her skin and her bedsheets, and Raine screamed louder as she saw her skin torn open again and again by an unseen force. Colette then ran in, stopping and putting a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream of her own. All over the floor and walls there was blood, and there was Raine, on the floor, seemingly fighting some invisible force. The blonde's crystalline eyes filled with burning tears, running over to the older woman, and it all seemed to stop. Raine stopped moving, her skin stopped tearing, blood stopped flowing, but some things also started and continued. Raine started to turn her wide eyes to Colette, who was still running, but started to cry.

All Colette knew was fear. All of her life, not just now-- she had always feared everything, she was fragile. And she hated it. Colette hated nothing but fear and her fragility, and this morning marked a new hate, and a new fear-- nightmares. Stooping down to Raine's level, Colette held her older companion tightly, both crying. The silver-haired maiden pulled away to cast a Nurse spell, and her wounds closed up almost immediately. Both sighed in relief, but the younger of the two females still trembling, the other not moving, expressionless and seemingly numb. Two hands then joined, one small, slightly stubby and tan, the other long, pale, and slender. Comfort washed over the owners of the hands, nervous, relieved smiles appearing on their faces and laughter echoing painfully in their chests, racking their bodies as they tried to restrain it all.

"Oh Martel, you scared me near to death, Raine!"

"I-I'm sorry, but I scared myself!" More nervous, flinching laughter.

"At least you're okay, and we're getting closer to Iselia." Colette paused to put her tanned hand to the half-elf's forehead.

"You don't have a fever anymore either-- this is great!" A smile flashed across the maiden's features, bathing the once creased and worried face with a beautiful and innocent light; her normal face.

"So it is." Calmer, quieter, but just as pleased, Raine chose a short, mature reply, but inside was as bustling with joy and eagerness as Colette.

A few minutes later, the two were back on the trail, closer to Iselia than they had been in years.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Lloooyyyyd!"

Enter. Yell. Drop. Run. Pounce. Not a very good way to capture your prey, but it sure as hell shocked Lloyd Irving. Looking up breathlessly at the figure that perched itself on top of him, all he saw was a mop of long red hair, sparkling dark blue eyes, and then nothing as he was flipped over onto his stomach, face planted into the wooden floor. The figure bounced up and down on his back with a childish air, laughing and singing "Lloydie" repeatedly all at once. As much pain as he was in, Lloyd basically bathed in relief and pure joy as his heart's eye laughed on top of him, jumping off and pulling him to his feet to embrace the younger swordsman. Blue-clad and merry as always, chatter was made with the red-haired man, voices carrying on into the night. A few hours later, two figures sat outside, watching the snow come down in flakes.

"Zelos.. I'm glad you came." The brown-haired boy looked to his companion.

"How couldn't I?" Chuckles were shared.

"I see you have a new outfit."

"Of course, Lloyd. I see you do too, but red, as always." Zelos stuck his tongue out at his aforementioned friend.

"Well.. yeah." A tense, awkward silence settled between them.

"I've really missed you." The red-haired man looked over, pulling Lloyd closer. Intimately closer. A blush appeared on the younger male's tan face.

"I've.. really missed you too, Zelos."

"Good! Got a girlfriend yet?" Eyes widening for a second, the red-clad swordsman looked down as if he had been punched.

"..No.. you?"

"'Course not."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"I wonder how much they've changed?"

"Probably not much. We haven't heard of any life-changing events happening."

"Hm.. yeah, I guess you're right, Raine." Colette smiled.

"I still can't believe we'll be seeing them again!"

As excited as she was, Colette couldn't be more worried. Would they still like her? She hated being so self-concious, but she couldn't help it-- it had been long since she had seen them all. Too long, in her opinion. She couldn't sleep at night, wondering if they ever thought of her, too. Did they miss her? Her days seemed so long, the hours relentlessly stressing her leg muscles. She felt weak; Raine could go much longer than she could. The young maiden shook the doubts from her mind. She was strong enough.. right? She was Colette. Colette Brunel. Her own person. It didn't matter who she wanted to be.. she gave a short side-glance to the older woman. She was who she was, and she should be proud of that. Smiling, confident once more, Colette hummed a song softly to herself.

"Why don't you sing it?"

"Hm?"

"Sing the song."

"Oh, right.."

"Please?"

"It'd be my pleasure." They exchanged smiles.

"For as long as I remember, I'd been told a story. A young girl chosen to be an angel.. but it was not to be.."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Lloyd! Everyone's here!" Genis smiled.

"..Except for Colette and the Professor." He sighed.

"Yeah.. but I'm sure they'll be here soon."

"I hope so.." Lloyd looked down.

"By the way, Lloyd, Kratos wanted to talk to you."

"Okay. Thanks, Genis."

Lloyd, sighing, searched the area for his father. Chocolate eyes glanced around, finally catching sight of the man. Smiling slightly, he ran to the older male and yelped as soon as what Kratos was doing came into view-- blood fell from his hands, the man's auburn eyes wide and blank, pupils entirely obliterated. The blood fell in pools around his feet. The Eternal Swordsman gasped, looking to the face of the older for an answer, only to find none-- just pure indifference. And it scared him.

"The rain shimmered down on the maiden's body, encasing her in sorrow.."

"Lovely, Colette, lov- Lloyd?" No answer.

"Lloyd!" Still none.

"Lloyd Irving!" they walked up to him, and stopped.

Colette put a hand to her mouth, crystalline eyes wider than ever before. They didn't understand. What was happening?

"Kratos.."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Is anyone actually reading this? Oh well. I hope this was okay.. writers' block has attacked me once again.