A/N: Okay, another update. And I'm already working on the next one too! Squeee:) Enjoy the fluff while you still can because thing's will be getting a bit darker soon.

Chapter XII) Home

The gentle sound of children playing outside, combined with the brisk winter wind tearing around the window, stirred Presea from her slumber, and the small girl yawned as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The low ceiling returned her groggy gaze for a few moments, its smooth chocolate brown wood decorated by the strips of sunlight emerging from beyond the closed curtains, before Presea rolled over to snuggle close against Lloyd. The young man beside her was still in a deep sleep, and she gently lifted up one of his arms so she could drape it around herself as she lay against his softly rising chest.

My Lloyd, she thought happily, closing her eyes as she made contact with his warm skin. My Lloyd Irving. A funny thought popped into her head as she considered his name and the small girl felt a smile form on her lips. Presea Irving.

The more she thought about, the more the concept delighted her, and Presea had to cover her mouth with a hand to stifle the excited giggle that crept from it. The attempt failed however, and Lloyd stirred at the sound, blinking away the sleep as he opened his eyes. He stretched lazily before looking down at the girl resting her head against his chest.

"Man," he mumbled, stifling a yawn, "You're always awake before me lately – don't you ever sleep?"

"Of course I do," she replied with a smile. "You're just lazy."

Lloyd gently flicked her nose. "Oh really? Maybe I was just kept up all night by your snoring."

"I do not snore," Presea wrapped an arm around Lloyd's waist and smiled coyly. "Besides, if we are discussing activities that kept us up all night…"

"Ah, enough of that!" Lloyd laughed as his face flushed with slight embarrassment, and Presea joined him, finding it amusing that she could make him blush. There had been so many times recently where she had surprised herself by how much she had changed since that night in Heimdall. The pain, loss and suffering she had faced throughout her life had left scars she would never had thought would heal, but heal they had – and so much of that recovery she owed to Lloyd. The young man rolled on one side to face her, oblivious to her thoughts, and wrapped his arms around the small girl's waist.

"So, did you sleep well, my love?"

"Mmm, yes." Presea felt a strange warm flush heat her face at the mention of 'my' and she tilted her head up to plant a kiss on Lloyd's cheek. Since she had revealed to him that she liked the sound of things that implied she was 'his', the young man, awkward at first, had began to use terms like 'my love' for her, and she adored him for his thoughtfulness. "Did you?"

Lloyd grinned. "After last night's excitement, who wouldn't?"

Presea swept a cluster of hair from her face as she nodded, remembering the previous night when she had returned with Lloyd to the parlour and announced they were going to get married. Colette had been the very embodiment of rapt delight, squeaking out her congratulations in a near incomprehensible stream of words. Sheena and Rochelle were equally happy for them in their own ways, and Presea recalled Quinn saying something to Lloyd that made the young man blush, although she couldn't remember what it was. Nevertheless, the night had accommodated itself into her memory, surrounded by a warm protective barrier that had prevented any aspect of it from being forgotten. She rolled onto her back and smiled. She truly was lucky.

"What Colette did…it was so nice of her. The chances of me ever getting around to asking you otherwise would have been low. I cannot believe how indecisive I have been."

Lloyd smiled and ran a finger gently through her hair, tickling her ear. "Haha, yeah, me too. I guess I should have suggested the idea first though." He paused for a second, and smiled with a warmth that made Presea shiver in pleasure. "I mean, it's the next natural step, right? After all, there's nobody else I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Oh Lloyd. Presea shuffled onto her side and wrapped an arm across Lloyd's chest. "Affirmative, and my feelings are the same. You make me so very happy."

The young man responded with a delightfully cosy hug that Presea fell into for what felt like hours, the rest of the world blissfully forgotten in the embrace. They didn't speak during the time, because no conversation was necessary – both of them sharing the thoughts and feelings of their partner through the contact.

Eventually though, Presea opened her eyes to see that the strips of light had moved ever so slightly across the ceiling above.

"I wonder what the time is," she murmured lazily. "I imagine we will probably have to get up soon."

"Ha, yeah, I guess so." Lloyd looked over at Presea and smiled, before pulling the blankets back over them. "But there's no hurry though, right?"

---

"I am getting a little tired of these clandestine meetings."

Masaki kicked the snow beneath his foot irritably and looked around the large Delphinium camp perched at the foot of the mountains. A vast array of tents had been erected, probably numbering about twenty or thirty in total, and several smouldering campfires were lit – their smoke drifting up as vast wisps of charcoal grey on the cold colourless sky. Hadn't these people heard of discretion? "I told you their plans so to avoid the Exsphere's finding their way into the village."

Captain Merendez at least seemed to share the vice-chief's displeasure in how long the Saube river Exsphere operation had been drawn out and he massaged one arm as he looked up at where the old Desian complex was hidden by the small mountains.

"Well, it would have been helpful to have had some information regarding their fighting prowess – they gave my men quite the run around."

Masaki snorted and pulled his winter coat closer around himself, scowling up at the light sprinkling of snowflakes. He hated winter.

"And how was I supposed to do that?" he remarked shortly.

Merendez shrugged and rubbed his gloved hands together, presumably to keep away the chilling morning cold. "Well, I hear you people know everything."

Masaki ignored the stinging remark and tightened the band that kept his hair back in a single ponytail. "Regardless, the ineptitude of your men is not my concern," he replied wearily and fixed the captain with a cold stare. "Anyway, that is not why I have come here. I spoke again with the members of the Mizuho council who support my plans yesterday, and we have something to suggest."

Merendez raised his eyebrows in an amused manner which Masaki found deeply irritating. The whole deal with Delphinium and the Pirate organisation was beginning to become more trouble than it was worth. The vice chief was finding himself more tired and weary than he thought possible, and he was going to be glad when this was all over. A pang of something rose in his chest as he thought about Sheena, and old sensations of guilt returned to haunt him. No, he thought, as bad as he felt, this had to be done. For the good of Mizuho.

Shaking his head to clear the thoughts away, Masaki returned his gaze to the black haired captain.

"Yes. If this works out, then it will benefit both you and me. You will obtain the Exspheres you seek and Mizuho…" he trailed off, then coughed. "…Well, Mizuho will be saved from its dangerous path."

"I see," Merendez thought for a moment, then nodded, gesturing at his tent. "Then explain away."

---

Kratos stepped from the bustling Meltokio street into the decidedly emptier tavern and looked around the smoky interior with a critical eye. He had chosen a good establishment to begin his questioning – populated with a selection of unsavoury types who were undoubtedly well informed with the gossip of the city, and not noble enough to be discriminate in who they reveal it to.

Purchasing a drink at the bar, Kratos selected a small table beside one of the gaudily decorated front windows and quietly observed the rest of the conversation floating around the room. Aside from their own, somewhat shady, occupations, the regulars seemed to mainly discuss matters involving Pirates and something called the Delphinium Administration.

Now armed with a few keywords, Kratos approached the bar again and took a seat there. Catching the barman's eye, the angel leaned closer.

"I seek information regarding Pirates and the Delphinium Administration," he said, keeping his voice low, and at the barman's suspicious scowl added. "And extra payment for no questions asked."

The prospect of easy money seemed to appeal to the powerfully built man, and he rubbed a hand across his stubble-streaked chin. "Fair enough stranger," he remarked. "What type of information to you want? The facts or the gossip?"

Kratos sensed he was going to be here for some type. Dashing a couple of coins across the counter, he nodded at the barman. "Both," he replied. "And get yourself a drink."

---

"Where is it? Ooh, this isn't going so well."

Presea was lying alongside Rochelle on Colette's bed as the former Chosen dashed around her cluttered room, pulling open all the drawers and wardrobes she came across.

"Where is what?" asked the pink haired girl, and smiled as Rochelle rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Colette rummaged around in another drawer, looking stricken. "Oh, the bag containing all the special ribbons and jewellery I'm supposed to wear for the ceremony later. I had it just a few minutes ago."

"Ah," Presea looked across at one of the two assistants charged with helping Colette prepare for the afternoon's initiation, the other already having left the room to look elsewhere for the missing bag. "Is there not another set?"

"N-no." The attendant, Mio, was failing to mask her alarm at the prospect of the bag going missing and her brown eyes were wide with panic. "It has been passed down the chief's family for years."

Presea gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She had spoken to Mio on more than a few occasions, and she was passing fond of the young lady. She was only fifteen, and was being trained personally by Sheena as a kind of protégé and was thus living in the chief's household. Mio possessed all the enthusiasm of youth tempered by a quiet determination and fear of getting things wrong, and she and Presea had often compared aspects of their own cultures in several enjoyable conversations. The Mizuhoan had never left the village as of yet, but was amazed by stories about the rest of the world. Apparently Sheena was preparing her for several diplomatic missions abroad, and it was obvious that Mio couldn't wait to go.

"Do not be unnecessarily concerned," Presea said. "Colette said the bag was in this room, so the chances of us finding it are extremely high."

Mio flushed a little at the comment, the colour of her cheeks contrasting with her ear length bob of fluffy golden hair and the thin line of dark freckles across the bridge of her nose. "Y-yeah, of course…heh, sorry – nerves and all that! Anyone would think that I'm the one going through the ceremony."

Presea laughed, and climbed off the bed to assist in the search. Rochelle yawned and stretched out before following likewise, a sly grin on her face.

"Well, if the room was anything near tidy then it may be easier for us."

Colette blushed as she closed a draw. "It's not my fault…I panic and – eek!"

The former Chosen tripped on a pile of scattered clothes and tumbled to the floor, coming to an abrupt halt with her head beneath the slightly raised bed. She remained there a few moments, before sitting up and grinning. "Oh, here it is," she said, holding up the bag. "Hehe, it must have fell off the bed and slipped under."

Rochelle stared incredulously at the former Chosen. "Uh…does falling over always help you out, missy?"

Colette checked the contents of the bag. "Heh, I guess I'm just lucky."

Presea smiled as Mio sighed with relief. "That is a significant understatement."

The former Chosen giggled as she closed the bag and climbed to her feet. Taking a deep breath, she looked across at Mio.

"Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

The young Mizuhoan nodded eagerly and gestured at the doorway. "Okay, let's go get you ready then, before you lose anything else."

Colette nodded and glanced back at Presea and Rochelle. "Well, wish me luck…I'll see you after?"

"Of course." Presea smiled encouragingly. "You will be fine Colette. Good luck."

Rochelle nodded. "Uh-huh, good luck babe. Catch ya after!" The Felesian watched Colette and Mio leave, and looked across at Presea. "Huh, it sucks that we can't go to support her."

Presea looked at the bundle of assorted hair accessories that had fallen to the floor in the search and reminded herself to return to her room to locate some for her own long, unruly hair. She found it a frustrating concept that the longer her hair grew, the more untidy it became. "It would be nice to give our support, but Mizuho tradition celebrates customs in secrecy, and it would be rude not to respect them."

"Yeah, I guess." Rochelle stifled another yawn and climbed off the bed to check herself in the mirror beside where Presea was standing. "Yuck, my hair's an absolute mess." She elbowed her friend gently. "You're a bad influence to me."

Presea shook her head. "I seem to recall untidiness ranking quite high in your appearance the first time we met…"

The Felesian poked out her tongue and grinned. "Yeah, yeah sure." She glanced around the room. "So, is it true then, that's she's gonna have a new name?"

"Well," Presea thought back, trying to remember how Sheena had put it. "I believe it is tradition for the citizens to have a name which is used in place of their real one. Their true name is only supposed to be known to the individual, their parents and the chief."

"Oh I see." Rochelle sat back down on the bed again and frowned. "But…we'll know her real name. Heh, guess that makes us family."

Presea nodded. It was a nice thought. "It is correct that we know her real name. I will ask Sheena, but I expect we shall have to respect tradition and only use her new one."

"Oh…" Rochelle's ears drooped a little at that. "That's kinda sad when you think about it babe. Y'know, replacing your name like that. It's like changing some part of yourself."

Presea considered this, and found herself staring at her own eyes in the mirror for an uncomfortable amount of time. "I understand what you are saying…" She pulled her gaze away from her reflection and looked at Rochelle. "But I remember Lloyd saying once – well more than once to be honest – things like 'Colette is Colette', or 'you're you'. I expect this holds true here – Colette will always be Colette to us, no matter what her name is."

Rochelle smiled and nodded. "Yeah, you make a lot of sense Big Sis."

Presea returned the smile. "Only sometimes I think." She frowned in thought for a moment as a question formed itself in her mind. "Rochelle…do you know if Rochelle is your real name?"

"Eh?" The Felesian lashed her tail idly. "Where did that come from?"

"I…I was just curious," Presea replied. "You do not know anything about your past, so I wondered if that was your real name. Forgive me, it was an insensitive question."

Rochelle looked down at the floor and sighed. "No, it's fine. I…I don't really know to be honest. All I remember is Grandpa calling me Rochelle so I guess I never really questioned it. It may not be but…"

Presea detected the Felesian's downcast expression and decided to change the subject. "Well…we have the whole day free before Raine and Genis arrive. What are you planning to do with your time?"

Rochelle ran a hand through her blonde hair and shrugged. "Don't know babe, hadn't really given it much thought – why, what are you doing?"

"I was thinking of visiting Ozette while I am still in the locality," Presea replied. "Sheena is going to lend me use of an elemental skiff. You…could come too if you wanted."

The Felesian cocked her head to one side. "Ozette, huh? Is your hubby-to-be not going with you?"

Presea shook her head. "Negative. He had already agreed to help Sheena organise the welcoming party for Raine and Genis before I decided what I was doing."

A range of expressions passed over Rochelle's face, although she did an admirable job of concealing them. Curiosity. Fear. Hope. It was a strange sequence of emotion and Presea wondered what her friend was thinking about. Eventually Rochelle met her gaze and smiled. "Sure missy, I'll come too. It'll be fun!"

---

The countryside rolled out in all directions from the plateau; a vast expanse of snow coated plains, woodland and swamps that were nestled under the thin protective blanket of early morning mist. The sun above hung weakly behind vast masses of cloud, heavy and grey from the snow they carried, with only a handful of pillars of light piercing through them.

Genis Sage breathed in the cool air and turned jubilantly towards his sister, who was attaching the last of their supplies to the Rheaird.

"I told you we'd be there before nightfall," he said triumphantly.

Raine cast a glance at him and rolled her eyes. "We're not there yet," she replied evenly. "Absolutely anything could happen – we could get lost, the Rheaird could run out of power, we could –"

"Stumble across some ruins…"

"What was that?"

Genis smiled sweetly. "Nothing Sis. C'mon, let's go already – I can't wait to see Mizuho and everyone again."

---

Given the injured girl's feral nature when she had brought her dinner last night, Sheena had half expected to be savaged the moment she stepped through the door with the breakfast tray. Instead, she was surprised to find the girl sat up on the edge of the bed, opposite a long wall mirror, and tugging a comb through her matted purple hair. She had clearly been completely occupied by the task, as she jumped with shock when Sheena entered.

"Oh," the chief paused in the doorway before attempting a bright, friendly smile. "Good morning, how are you feeling?"

The girl hesitated, alarm etched on her face, and quickly put the comb down on the bed. "Oh, er…g-good morning." She paused and stared down at the bed uncomfortably, her dark green eyes repentant. "I…I must apologise for my behaviour yesterday…it was very improper of me."

"Ah, um," Sheena fumbled for something to say, momentarily taken aback by the change in the girl's attitude. She certainly didn't appear very hostile any more, and Sheena wanted to give the girl a chance – after all, she had only come to travel with Lloyd and the others because they had given her one. "Don't worry about it – we're just glad you're okay."

She placed the tray on one of the cupboards nearby and held out a hand in greeting. "You're in Mizuho at the moment. I'm Sheena, the Chief of the village."

"Mizuho…" The girl studied Sheena for a second before nodding and shaking her hand. "My…my name is Priscilla. You have my thanks, Sheena."

"Ah, you don't have to thank me," the Mizuhoan protested. "Anyone would have done the same."

Priscilla's gaze dropped to the floor again. "Really?" she replied sadly. "Not in my experience. Kindness…is not something that has been given to me of late."

"Oh…" Sheena considered querying the girl further, but Priscilla looked downcast enough as it was. Glancing at the hair matted brush and the dirt and cuts covering her guest, she smiled sympathetically. "I brought you some food, but did you want to stretch your legs first? Grab a bath or a shower or something?"

Priscilla looked relieved at the suggestion and glanced down at herself, allowing a rueful smile to form on her lips. "Yes…I do look a state." The tray of food caught her attention and she looked back at Sheena. "I am feeling rather hungry though…"

Sheena nodded. "Well, you eat up then. I've got to go and do some things round the village now, but I'll be back in an hour or so to show you around so you can clean up, okay?"

Priscilla smiled in gratitude. "Yes, thank you."

---

Lloyd gave up watching the complexities of his breath misting in the cool air and turned his attention instead to the citizens of Mizuho, who were going about their various businesses around the village. It was surprising how the place had grown, both in size and population, from when the young man had first set eyes on the place, but now Mizuho was surely bordering on town status. Everywhere he looked people were busy, from those working the shops and stalls, to passing governors and young trainee summoners and ninjas, heading out of the village to hone their skills. Mizuho exuded a diligent, hard working quality that many larger towns and cities lacked.

His thoughts were interrupted as he caught sight of Presea coming round from the back of Sheena's house, accompanied by Rochelle. Both of them were dressed in warm travelling clothes and woollen mittens and hats, and he guessed that the Felesian was accompanying Presea on her trip to Ozette. Lloyd wished he could have gone too, but he had already agreed to help Sheena organise the celebrations for later on the day, but he was glad that Presea had some company. The young man returned her smile as they approached, Rochelle casting amazed looks about the unique village.

"Hey there, you off then?"

Presea nodded, "Yes. Sheena is loaning us use of one of the village's elemental skiffs. We should not be gone too long."

"Nah, take your time and enjoy yourself." Lloyd smiled and gave her a hug. "You haven't been there for ages anyway. Just take care."

"Affirmative." Presea looked up and kissed the young man. "You too, my love."

Lloyd nodded and watched the pair depart for where the skiffs were being held, feeling an overwhelming love for Presea spring up within his chest.

"Heh, you know, it's still weird to think of you two getting married."

Lloyd turned around to see Sheena walking towards him, carrying a large quantity of food in trays. There were numerous bags tied to the trays, each filled with an assortment of decorations, and Lloyd wondered how the Mizuhoan was managing to carry it all without spilling any of it.

"Yeah, scary isn't it?" he laughed, as she crouched down to place the trays on the ground to catch her breath. "Just joking. I'm really, really happy."

Sheena rose to her feet, her face expressionless as it studied his. "Yeah," she replied after a pause, "I…I can see that you are."

There was something in her tone, barely perceptible but there nevertheless and Lloyd couldn't quite work out what it was. Before he could enquire further, Sheena grinned and gave him a friendly nudge. "Well, c'mon you – no slacking! We've got a lot to get ready, and the traditional Sheena way of not having enough time to get it done in."

---

Priscilla had remained sitting on the edge of the bed for some time after Sheena had departed, just staring at the door. The kindness that had been afforded to her had both surprised and charmed her, being as unused to it as she was, and she felt sad when she thought about the only way she could pay it back.

Leave. When all was said and done, it was the one right thing to do. Doubtless, by now, word would have got back that she had escaped, and it was fair to assume that they would be after her again. She couldn't bring danger into the lives of those who had saved hers, so she decided it was best if she left as soon as possible.

Rising to her feet caused breaking waves of nausea to crash through her head and Priscilla shakily sat back down on the bed again. It seemed that the rest of her body hadn't quite caught up with the healing of her wounds, and she massaged her aching temples, staring at the tray of food. Perhaps eating something would help.

Casting a look out of the window as a couple of children ran past, Priscilla took in the village as she slowly attempted to stand again.

Mizuho, eh? she thought. Then, I really did get far.

---

The cool wind was brisk as it buffeted the skiff and Presea slowed the vessel down a little as it sped across the snow-strewn countryside. Turning to make sure Rochelle had settled herself down in the seat beside her, the pink haired girl was relieved to find that her friend had finally calmed somewhat since they had departed from Mizuho. The Felesian had been a flurry of excitement once she had boarded the vessel – a three metre long open-topped craft consisting of an empty square of floor space for cargo, and two seats for the pilots – and twice Presea thought Rochelle was going to fall from the skiff in her excitement.

"Wow, this is so cool, huh? Isn't it?" She squirmed in her seat, looking over the windowless door on her side of the craft as the land blurred by.

"It is refreshing to travel by a different mode of transport every once in a while," she replied, noticing the vast forest that had become visible since riding over the crest of a hill. It was surprising how empty the countryside around the Ozette area was, and the forest, and the rocky cliffs bordering one side of it, not only indicated that were they were nearly there, but also marked the first real change in scenery since leaving Mizuho.

Ozette, Presea thought, not sure of the feeling she felt in her stomach. Home.

Rochelle sidled up close beside Presea, leaning her head gently against her shoulder. "This is fun. I really like going places with you, Big Sis."

Presea smiled. "I, too, find the experience enjoyable." She nodded at the approaching treeline. "Look – we are nearly there."

"Ozette, huh?" Rochelle fell silent for a minute, watching the low winter sun penetrate the thinnest parts of the woodland with it's light. "So…how long did you live there for?"

Presea thought back to try and gauge the answer, and found it was difficult to do so, given the complications of the Exsphere. She frowned, trying to ignore the scent that was carrying on the wind. It was like strawberries, but the pink haired girl knew she must be imagining it.

"You…remember when I told you about what happened with my Exsphere?"

The Felesian's head bobbed in acknowledgement. "Yeah."

"Well, I lived in the village until that happened, with my father. Afterwards…" Presea paused for a second, feeling her features harden. "Well, afterwards I spent less time there, and more in Sybak and Meltokio."

Rochelle shook her head. "I…I'm sorry. What happened to you…it must have been horrible."

"I cannot deny that. But you have no reason to apologise." Presea sighed and looked over at her companion. "To be honest, there are still so many memories, so many things that I cannot recall because of the Exsphere's earlier influence. Bit by bit though, they are returning. I…I just have to be patient."

"Heh, guess we're quite alike, huh?" Rochelle straightened to watch the forest as it drew closer. "Not remembering the past and stuff."

A few moments later, the village emerged into view, nestled between the rocky cliff face and the vast forest. It had been rebuilt with surprising speed following the terrible damage inflicted on it over half a year ago, but its size had not increased in the way other villages had. Small clusters of quaint houses hugged the treeline and the bases of the cliffs in lines, like stone and wooden snakes shying away from the wide open ground nearby. Vast grass trails and roots from enormous trees acted as additional platforms for house and shops, elevated up high as they wound their way round the cliff face. Normally, during the warmer months, Ozette would be sheltered by a vast range of flourishing trees, flowers and long wild grass which also added an exotic fauna charm to the village, but now, beset with the freezing chill of winter, it looked a lonely and almost desolate place.

To the left of the village Presea could just make out the bare woodland path that lead to the schoolhouse and made a mental note to go and visit the building while she was there. During spring and summer it used to be surrounded by vast golden fields of long grain crops, which lent it a rustic beauty, but she doubted that anything was growing there at the moment. She wondered absently if the schoolhouse was even in use anymore.

Presea felt a heavy weight form in her chest, born of strange unfamiliar feelings, as she guided the skiff into the village via the rear entrance and landed it beside the house she once lived in. The sound of the skiff's mana engine shutting down was the only one in the air – a lonely whine that echoed pitifully around the area as it died away – and Presea cast a forlorn gaze around the deserted environment.

Although the rest of the village had been rebuilt, the area around her father's house was still the same as it was when she had left. It seemed as if, like herself, it had been left alone by time, a single lonely house that had been eroded by the elements and the passage of months. The snow coated ground around the building stood empty, neglected by the rest of the village – which was concentrated a small distance away – as if it was part of some dark legacy Ozette wanted to forget.

Presea climbed gingerly from the skiff, her legs feeling numb as she took a step or two towards the house. It had been a long time since she had left the place, but all the old feelings returned, as if they were connected to the village itself.

She heard Rochelle leap from the skiff, and the Felesian moved to her side, licking her lips nervously before speaking.

"Is this…" she paused for a moment, and then her voice grew more confident. "This is…your house, right?"

"Affirmative." Presea wondered if something in her expression had given it away, and she glanced around again at the building, feeling sorrow at her former home looking so forgotten. So abandoned. Seeing it again got her thinking about her own lifestyle over the past few months, and the pink haired girl placed a hand on her stomach, trying to ignore the odd, hollow sensation she felt there. She wondered how much longer Lloyd and herself would travel for before they finally settled down, and where they would do so when they did. It was a subject she hadn't given any thought to previously, but seeing her old home again had brought on a wave of unusual feelings. Despite having no inclination to return to the village, it was suddenly as if she was feeling homesick – missing, not Ozette, but something else. Somewhere to call home.

To one side of the building her father's grave, weathered and snow coated, remained untouched from where they had left it, and Presea felt a small lump form in her throat at the sight of it. So cruel, how little time she had spent with her father without the corrupting influence of the Exsphere. She looked across at Rochelle and smiled softly, although the sadness she felt was not alleviated by the action.

"There…there is something I must do. I shall not be long."

The Felesian nodded, and Presea restarted her faltering walk to her father's grave. Crouching, she wiped the layer of snow from the monument with a mittened hand, and closed her eyes.

"Hello daddy," she whispered, then paused, not really knowing what else to say. Since deciding she would visit Ozette, there had been a number of things she thought she would talk about, but now she was stood in front of the forlorn, modest grave, her mind had gone blank. "I…I was just visiting Mizuho and I thought I'd come…see how you are."

She opened her eyes to look down at the grave and sighed. "Ozette…hasn't changed much, has it? I mean…not really. I come here, and all I feel is loneliness and sorrow. I don't know if I was expecting to feel anything different, but…oh daddy, there are so many bad memories here. Y-you…Alicia…my lost time…"

She paused, feeling tears rise to her eyes, and rested her head against the gravestone. "I wish I could have had you buried elsewhere daddy, but I expect this is what you probably would have wanted. You…did like it here after all."

Presea wiped a hand across her eyes and rose to her feet. "Oh, and I am engaged now, to a young man called Lloyd. We…we are in love, and I know I will be safe and protected with him." She smiled at the grave. "So please, don't worry daddy – I…I will be fine. I have to go now, but I will visit you again."

With a slightly lighter heart, Presea nodded and turned from the grave, walking back up to where Rochelle was waiting. The Felesian looked sympathetically at her and smiled gently.

"You okay, babe?"

Presea nodded. "Yes…" she took the blonde haired girl's offered hand and smiled. "I will be."

They continued their walk through the grass trails of the village, passing by clusters of houses that were either new or had been rebuilt following the attack. Although it lacked the bustle of other towns, there were quite a few people out and about, and if anyone actually recognised Presea then they didn't say anything, and the pink haired girl was glad of the anonymity.

Rochelle was an endearing and enthusiastic companion, asking questions – not just about the village as it stood today, but also of its history from when Presea was young. Details about people she used to know or places she liked to visit were especially interesting to the Felesian, and Presea found it increasingly curious that Rochelle was so interested in Ozette. The blonde haired girl also seemed to have an ability to know certain facts about the place, even from when Presea was young, and could guess at certain details before Presea actually mentioned them. It was unusual, but the Felesian was having such a good time that Presea didn't want to spoil it by querying the matter.

"Hey Big Sis, what's though there?"

Presea blinked away her thoughts and looked to where Rochelle was pointing. The trail they were currently walking along forked abruptly, with one of the paths heading back into Ozette proper, whilst the other curled it's way deep into the forest bordering the village. Presea stared at the scene for a moment, watching the thin strips of light pass through the cluttered canopy of bare branches onto the snowy, muddy ground. A strong gust of wind cut through the woods towards their location, and as Presea shivered against it, she thought she caught a scent on the air.

It was strawberries again, and Presea shook her head. It was the middle of winter, and there was not the slightest possibility that such fruits were growing in the harsh climate. Nevertheless, the scent's presence triggered a strange sensation inside of her, like something tugging insistently at the back of her mind.

She turned to answer Rochelle's question, but paused at the look on the Felesian's face. It had turned deathly pale, as if something had just shocked the young girl, and her eyes were wide open, staring in disbelief. Presea followed her friend's gaze down the woodland trail but could not see anything out of the ordinary. Turning back to Rochelle, Presea watched on as the Felesian looked around the village, as if trying to locate some invisible or imperceptible thing.

"Rochelle…does something concern you? Are you all right?"

Her tail twitched at the sound of her name, but the confused expression didn't fade, and seemed to mingle with another – one of fear. She looked at Presea and blinked, as if seeing her for the first time, and her hand shot up to clutch at her Exsphere.

"P-Presea…your Exsphere…is it...?"

She hadn't noticed it at first, but now that Rochelle had drawn her attention to it Presea realised that her Exsphere was tingling like it used to do after the nightmares. Pressing her hand against the fabric of the coat worn over it, Presea nodded.

"It…it is tingling," she replied, and shuddered as a strange dizziness swept over her. What was going on?

Rochelle nodded absently, looking satisfied at the answer. Her gaze fell back on the woodland trail. "I…remember… Heh, oh this so messed up."

Her companion's behaviour was beginning to concern Presea, and she rested a hand on Rochelle's shoulder.

"Rochelle…what is wrong?" she asked hesitantly, feeling nervous at what the answer would be.

The Felesian shuddered and grabbed hold of Presea's hand, tugging at it insistently as she began to run down the woodland path.

"I…I can't be certain," she replied hastily. "But…but just follow me please, and…tell me you don't remember this."

Presea was confused as to what she should say, so she instead followed her companion along the woodland path. The cold light illuminated the hundreds of bare trees lining both sides of the trail, empty and abandoned nests clustered together in the highest ones, and the snow dampened mud underfoot squelched as they made their hasty progress.

The scent of strawberries seemed to intensify the further along they went, and the ground gradually began to slope steeply upwards. Whatever strange sensation that Presea felt at the back of her mind was desperately trying to tug loose, a gnawing familiarity that wasn't going to give up until she recognised it. Images flashed in her mind, punctuated with each step, of strange woodland trails – not unlike the one she was running along now – lit up by the bright sunlight of summer. They seemed so familiar, yet at the same time distant and Presea closed her eyes to try and block out the confusing stimuli. Something strange was happening – something she couldn't explain, and Presea began to feel scared at the uncertainty of the situation.

"Oh…" The Felesian ground to a sudden halt as the pair reached the point where the trail left the forest. Presea looked up to see what the stunned girl had seen and froze in her tracks, suddenly feeling numb.

The ground beyond the forest edge continued only a short distance before dropping away. What there was of it was covered in a variety of long grass and small scattered boulders. Beyond the drop lay a remarkable vista of the countryside – low rolling hills merging with vast shadows of mountains in the distance, the sun cradling low between them.

"This is…" Presea paused, recalling the dream she had had in Altamira. The hair on the nape of her neck stood on end as she realised it was the same place. Frowning in confusion, Presea looked across at Rochelle. "I do not understand…"

Her friend smiled, although it was an empty one, containing no trace of humour. "You've dreamt about this place too, right?" She looked round, her eyes desperately searching Presea for some kind of confirmation. "You…you can smell strawberries babe, r-right? It…it's not just me?"

Rochelle grabbed her hand, but Presea found she couldn't answer the pleading girl right away. A strange ringing had begun in her ears and the tingling sensation of her Exsphere had intensified to the point that it hurt. It felt as though whatever nagging feeling had been troubling her was going to burst uncontrollably from her head and Presea clutched at it in pain as she dropped down on one knee.

"Presea!" Rochelle knelt down beside her but her voice sounded muted and distant. Presea felt her eyes glaze over as she looked back to the horizon to see it suddenly become bathed in a shimmering light. For a few moments, the place looked like it had done in her nightmare, ethereal and enchanted by the glow of summer. Trees were growing tall, flourishing with an assortment of fruits and nuts, whilst flowers of every size and colour blossomed the countryside. Beside her stood vast bushes, coated with hundreds of strawberries and shimmering as if they were part of some strange hallucination. Their scent, along with the ringing in her ears, overpowered Presea, and as the vision faded, and the cliff top returned to winter's embrace, she collapsed forward into welcoming darkness.

A/N: Well, things are finally moving towards something of a storyline - it's taking it's time but it's getting there, heh. Cheers for reading, and place a review or something if you've the time - be cool to get some more feedback. Thanks. :)

Next Chapter: Presea revisits a part of her past while Rochelle discovers something strange about her own, Colette returns a fully fledged member of Mizuho and plans are made for the return to the old Desian complex.