Gah. It took for-EVER, but here's the new chapter, typed all up only today.

Raine: Did you do anything else other than write, today?

Yes. I roleplayed, 'n' went outside, 'n' I did chores--

Raine: Forget it. Moving along...

Ah, right. Chapter fifteen!

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"A surprise? What could she mean by that?"

Lloyd stared quizzically at the note in his hand. It had just arrived, sent by Sheena and perhaps Zelos as well, and he was having trouble figuring out why she wanted them to come to Meltokio. He and Colette had stayed with Genis, whose studies had ceased at least for a while, after the news of his sister's death.

"Maybe it's a party?" suggested Colette.

"Colette, no one has a party at a time like this," Lloyd told her. Genis was sitting nearby, in the silence he'd recently taken to. "But Sheena sure sounds happy about something."

"We should go and find out what," nodded the girl. She hopped to her feet as though getting to the capital city of Tethe'alla would be as easy as walking down the street.

"Hey, Genis."

The boy looked up at Lloyd with an eery, blank expression. "What?" he mumbled.

"Come on. We've got to find out what's got Sheena so happy."

"I don't want to go." The Half-Elf looked back at the wall. He didn't feel like doing much of anything, nowadays. The wall was his constant companion, he stared at it almost at all times, except when eating, and even that he did in a robotic fashion. Good old fashioned depression, someone had called it.

"Come on, Genis!" said Lloyd, going over to sit by him. "I'm going to miss the Professor, too. But Sheena obviously wants us to--"

"I don't care what Sheena wants," he snapped back, moodily. "And your 'missing Raine' can't possibly compare to what I'm feeling right now! My sister is dead because the grand Duke couldn't watch out for her. I'd say I'm going to do a bit more than 'miss' her!"

Lloyd and Colette both stared at him in mild shock, surprised by the outburst. How could such a little boy make so much noise? "Genis," said the nineteen-year-old boy, "I know what you're going through, really. But you can't sit in this room for the rest of your life, staring at a blank wall."

"How would you know what I'm 'going through'?" he asked, glaring at his childhood best friend.

"Because I lost both my parents when I was three. My dad might not have died, but I didn't see him for fourteen years! I thought I was an orphan, just like you and the Professor thought. She was sort of like your mother, sometimes - and kind of ours, too - and you just lost her. I know what it feels like...I've been there."

"Genis," Colette piped up. "I may not have experienced anything like this before...But I know for a fact that Professor Raine wouldn't want you to act like this."

"Yeah, Genis. If she could see you right now, what would she say to you?"

Genis thought for a moment, staring at the floor now. He could hear her very clearly in what she'd say. Honestly, Genis. You have to get on with your life - wallowing in self pity only makes things worse. "She would tell me to get over it," he said, hoarsely.

"And you like to listen to her, right?"

"Tch'yeah, unlike you," snorted Genis. He smiled slightly for a few seconds before it faded. "Okay," he said. "I'll go...But I don't want to stay there long. I'm coming back right after this 'surprise.'"

"Alright!" Lloyd hopped to his feet to join Colette near the door. "Let's go, then."

Out went the trio, to board their Rheairds and fly across Symphonia to Meltokio. This was a somewhat lengthy trip, as it was almost opposite Palmacosta, and when they got there, all three of them were experiencing what Lloyd called "serious Jet-lag."

It had been morning in the Sylvarant capital, but here it was late evening. They touched down near the city, and dismounted their Rheairds to put them away. At the entrance, they were met by an excited Sheena, and a Zelos who didn't particularly look as though he wanted to be there, but was prevented from leaving by the Summoner.

After they exchanged greetings, Lloyd wasted no time. "So what's the big surprise?" he asked, sounding confused but interested.

"Is Genis with you? Oh, good." Sheena smiled even wider as she caught sight of the younger boy's silvery hair and puzzled face. "But I'm not going to tell you, you have to see it for yourself."

"Where is it?" asked Colette, her hands clasped.

"At the inn. Come on!" Sheena dragged Zelos, who looked smug despite his ruffled appearance caused by Sheena's "abuse."

"What are you smirking at?" Genis asked darkly.

"I think the Duke's crushing out on a certain surprise--oof! Oww, Sheena!" whined Zelos, making a puppy face. "What was that for?"

"You know perfectly well what it was for," she snapped, huffily, as the inn came into view. "Now shut up. I don't want you to give anything away, and you know what would happen if...someone...heard you say that."

"Yeah, well, someone can't hear me out here, so I'm not worried."

"Will you two please tell us what's going on?" exclaimed Lloyd, sick of not knowing what they were talking about. All their dodging around was making his head hurt.

"Maybe we'll let Regal explain." Sheena beamed. They had entered the inn, and standing at the foot of the stairs was Regal, looking somewhat uncomfortable. Lloyd guessed that Sheena and Zelos had staged it all, and told him to stand there.

Genis froze at the sight of him. "You," he mumbled.

Zelos blinked. "What's that, squirt?"

He pointed at Regal, who blinked in surprise. "You abandoned her. You let her die!" snapped the mage, anger present in every feature, and then some. "It's because of you that Raine is gone now, you weren't there to help her!"

"Genis," started Sheena, but the boy ignored her and kept at his ranting,

"Where were you when she was pushed? Where were you when she needed you?"

"Genis, that's enough!" said a curt voice from somewhere around Regal. The soft sound of footsteps on the stairs alerted them all to a new presence. Neatly combed opaline white hair was pulled back in a bun at the nape of the woman's neck, but a few shorter strands fell lightly into violet-blue eyes.

Lloyd, Colette, and Genis all stared at her with wide eyes and open mouths. "It's..." started Lloyd.

"Her," agreed Colette, nodding with a dumbstruck expression. "Professor--"

"Raine," whispered Genis. Then, bit louder, "Raine!"

The reprimanding scowl melted from her features as she received a rather forceful, emotional hug from her younger brother. "I thought you were gone!" he said into her shoulder as she returned the hug with gentle, rare femininity.

"I know, Genis. I know." Raine smoothed his uncooperative hair in vain, a smile tugging at her lips. "But I assure you, I'm not." After a moment, she gently pried herself free and gave him a stern look. "However, even if I were, that would in no way give you license to accuse Regal of anything."

"But I--"

"No. No buts, Genis. It wasn't his fault I wandered off, it was mine. It wasn't his fault that I was kidnapped, it was mine and Miss Salri's." Her tone betrayed dislike.

"Kidnapped?"

Raine paused a moment, realizing she hadn't told the story yet. "Yes," she sighed. "Kidnapped." She glanced at Regal, who was now looking at the floor in what she'd come to recognize as guilt. He met her gaze, and looked away quickly. What was that about? she wondered.

Shaking her head and putting that aside for the moment, she looked back at the three teenagers. "...You'd better sit down," she said with another sigh. "It's a long story."

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Heehee, long chapter.

Raine: Indeed. And all today?

Yep. Looky there...What's with Regal's reaction in that last bit, I wonder...? Well, yay for Genis who knows his sister lives! And we'll have to look into that school-boy behavior of everyone's favorite ex-Con. Stay tuned!

Raine: -Unenthusiastic- Oh, yes. Keep...watching. -Mutters- You deranged humans who've nothing better to do than read this deranged writing.