A week in Flanoir
By Fenris Amon

Day Five: The pink flower

Lloyd

I can hear her singing, that beautiful voice. It was a song so familiar and so warm while full of love and adoration. My eyes slowly open, the dark dampness of a cave, the warmth of a fire burning nearby, someone's blanket laying on top of me. My left hand clasped a flower, a pink paper flower. How did I get this? Didn't I drop it? I sit up slowly, my back still stiff.

I see a women sitting next to the fire, folding paper. Over the fire is a freshly killed mountain pig, I glace at the opening in the cave, a sleeping green animal that looks like a dog lays there. The women wore a purple kimono with a coat hanging over her shoulders. "Sheena?"

Her movements suddenly stop abruptly, she turned pivoted around, her long hair draped around her shoulders. "Oh, Lloyd you're awake." she said calmly. "I see you've healed quickly." her voice full of love and respect. Then I remembered why I ran. That feeling of uselessness, hopelessness and envy. I feltl like I was going to die all over again.

"I…I'm sorry." I say quietly underneath my breath.

She dropped what she was doing and walked over towards me. She placed her lips on my forehead and gently kissed, "Your fine. No fever."

"Sheena."

"What is it?" she replied, sitting down in front of me.

I was at a loss for words, no matter what I would say wouldn't change how she felt. "It's all my fault, isn't it?"

She nodded her head, "No Lloyd. It was my fault" she blushed slightly, she then pulled out a long thick white scarf, could it be? "I'm sorry for taking this." she replied quietly, placing it in front of me.

"Huh? This is my scarf! I thought I lost it." I glanced over at Sheena, her face was a bright red, "Is there something you want to tell me?" I asked.

"N-no. I just forgot to give it back to you." she replied earnestly.

I still think that there is something…the flower. I reached into my pocket, maybe someone found it before I left and snuck it into my pocket. I began to slowly take it out, my eyes stared at Sheena, would she accept it? "Sheena…"

Celsius

I stared out the window of our room, it's been lonely lately. Colette hasn't really been the same, Raine and Genis have been quieter, everyone in general seems depressed. I certainly hope that sneaking a flower that I made into his clothes doesn't change anything when he's with Sheena. Yeah, I gave another flower to Fenrir when I was alone, I told him to put it in Lloyd's pocket. Normally, summon spirits like Fenrir wouldn't mess with how humans do what they do, but I suppose he owes me one for being his guardian all this time.

"Celsius? You alright?" it was Colette, as innocent as ever.

"Actually, I have something to explain." I sit down on couch overlooking Flanoir, "Come, sit."

"Alright." She quietly obeyed and sat down next to me, both of us gazing out into the winter snow. "What is it, Celsius?"

"It's about this storm, and Lloyd and Sheena." I commented, staring into her soul.

I saw her look a bit downcast, she already knew about both of their feelings, but she still found it hard to come to terms with it. I guess I should explain everything…

Sheena

Is that? It can't be…A paper cherry blossom. "Lloyd…how did you?" I asked in awe that someone who isn't from the clan was able to make one.

"It's something I made…for you, Sheena." It's the symbol for love and devotion…I've never received one before, but I was always told this was my own symbol as well. I felt myself blush severely, almost as if Genis had cast fireball on me while I was eating hot peppers, or that Lloyd and I were suddenly transported to the Temple of Efreet.

"For…me?" I asked in confusion. "You know what it means…right?"

He nodded, "I heard what it meant in Mizuho. I've always wanted to make one for you, but I never knew how until Celsius taught me." a one-day lesson? That's almost impossible, it took me three weeks until I got the hang of it. But this is Lloyd we're talking about. Mm...I think. I'm happy.

Lloyd slowly put it into my hands, I stared at it for who-knows-how-long. It was perfect, there were no mistakes in any of it's folds. "…it's beautiful." Not even the least bit wet from the snow, or any new creases from being in his pocket. It was as if it was just made.

He seemed to be in somewhat of a daze while he stared at me, "Just like you…" he replied.

My mind raced, did he really tell ME that? That I'M beautiful, "…r-r-really?" I stammered out barely. Sounding like a complete idiot all the same.

He nodded, "Sorry if it's a bit sudden." his voice began to sink into despair, "I know about…Zelos."

I felt guilt come over me like Celius hitting me upside the head when i'm least expecting it. "No...Lloyd…it's my fault." Lloyd just watched me, "I was waiting for you actually Lloyd. It just so happened that Zelos was there."

"If you love Zelos, I don't mind. At least we could just be friends…" he replied sadly.

"It's just that…I…me…and…" dammit, where are the words when you need them? I'm much better at showing then explaining. I guess I'll do just that. Ugh, I'm so damn nervous. Celsius said that if I can't explain it, show it. Gah, I guess the only way to show him is to...

I placed the paper flower gently on the ground, my next movements were so sudden and abrupt, it could of scared a ghost. I jumped on Lloyd, ignoring everything else. I brought his mouth to mine quickly before he could refuse, I kissed him unlike anyone whom I've kissed before. I felt my tongue slowly weave my way into his. It was a good three minutes before I had to catch my breath. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn't want to lose Lloyd. I never want to loose him, not again. Never for as long as I live.

"Sheena!" His eyes were wide open, then they closed slowly

I rubbed the tears that strolled down my cheeks as I stared at him, "Can you imagine how afraid I was to lose you? I won't lose you like I lost Corrine! I don't want someone who I care so much about dying again! I don't care about anyone else, Lloyd! It's you! It's always been you dammit!" I don't know what came over me, but I had to tell him. The words finally flowing into my mouth like freash water into a parched toungue. "Just please...never leave me. Stay with me."

"Sheena …" he whispered in my ear. A few good minutes passed as we just stared at each other's face, no eye contact, just examining each other's face for any imperfections. He was still so perfect.

" Sometimes I can't wait til we're married!" I playfully joked around, my mood changing a bit. I don't think Lloyd took it that way though.

"Well if we get married, you'll have to tell me how to make those cards!" haha, I forgot that I told him about the secret of the cards. My thoughts jumped ahead, what if I do get married to him? Not matter who he is, he's still an outsider, he'd have to take my name … I'd like two kids, a boy and a girl... We could move Mizuho to near Iselia maybe. Have our kids grow up there...that would be so nice.

"Admit it, you just want to get in my pants!" sometimes, playing with Lloyd like this is fun.

"Well, I also want to know your real name!" he replied, as if oblivious to the innuendo I just shot at him. I yawned loudly, I've been up all night taking care of him, and the Crescent Cherry Blossom take away a ton of energy.

"…Lloyd, don't move." I brung a warm blanket over both of us, I hugged Lloyd tightly and lovingly. I sincerely hope that he knows that I love him more then Zelos. I felt Lloyd's arms come around my waist, my breasts comfortably contorted to his chest, I was silently hoping that Lloyd would grab my butt, but I know he's not like that. "Lloyd…how do you feel about me?" I whisper into his ear. He was the only person in the world who didn't care one way or another about my figure, for the first time in my life, someone knew the real me and not how I acted. His words were like candy to my ears sometimes

"I'd say that you feel great!"

"Not like that, as in…emotions."

"I think that...I love you." there, he finally said it, but much more differently and honestly then Zelos.

I smiled and snuggled against his chest.

Aht uv Lrybdan