Author's Notes
I do not own Tales of Symphonia, and there is a MASSIVE SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't beaten the game.
Hooray for originality! Okay, so I've failed miserably to scare everyone away with my spoiler warning... this must mean that everyone has beaten the game like I have! Hooray! Again! So enjoy this next chapter, and there is some mild gore today, so please bear with me.
ONE MORE DAY
Chapter 2: The Rain
Sheena awoke to the sound of rain. She loathed and loved the rain. Her grandfather had always said the raindrops that hit the rooftops were the sign of love from the heavens, since they would bless Tethe'alla with their life-giving caress. However, the rain itself also reminded her of that day, the first mission she had completed as an assassin.
Shivering, a younger Sheena stepped into the sulky spring day. She had failed miserably.
"Volt was all my fault," Sheena whispered. "I will prove that I am still useful to everybody."
Cries were still heard from the various huts, lamenting over the loss of so many. The younger Sheena looked at her cards from her grandfather for comfort.
"Sheena, what are you doing?" Tiga asked, seeing her standing by the well.
"Vice-Chief, everyone is hurt because of me! They think I can't do anything anymore! I want to prove that I can."
"Sheena, are you sure?" Tiga asked her now. "The only other option, since you are such a wonderful ninja, is to be an assassin."
"I'm sure. I'll do whatever it takes!" the younger Sheena exclaimed.
"All right. I've got an assignment that I was going to give to another, but it's suitable for a first mission, so it's yours. I'm counting on you."
Those were the words ringing in Sheena's head as she approached her target. That solitary vote of confidence that broke through her current sorrow.
"I'm going to do this Grandpa," she whispered. The man in her eyesight was a burly one. His name was unimportant to her. In fact, what was important was the fact that he was her first objective, and he was HUGE. "I'm going to do this."
Corrine appeared, and stood beside her.
"It's going to be fine Sheena. I know you can do this!"
"Thank you Corrine," Sheena whispered. "At least you still believe in me."
"I'll always believe in you!" Corrine chirped, vanishing again. She smiled, as she drew her cards, and stepped from the shadows.
"Are you the one that killed twenty men? The one they call the Scavenger?" Sheena demanded, as the burlesque man turned her way.
"Of course, but what's a pretty little hunny like you asking for?" he replied.
"I—I am here to kill you!" Sheena exclaimed, stuttering.
"Well that's a pity. I was hoping we could have a real good time," the man said, as he pulled out a ball and chain. Sheena's face went pallid. Sweat suddenly trickled down her face, as he began spinning the ball and chain faster and faster. Like a snake, it dove at her feet, as she jumped back a split second prior, avoiding the earth-shattering blow. He smirked. "I ain't going easy on you 'cuz you're a girl either."
Sheena landed, only to jump again to avoid the ball as it landed inches from her heels. She saw the ball coming at her second landing, and knew it would be too late for her feet if she didn't think quick.
"GUARDIAN SEAL!"
"Oh come on hunny! You've gotta have more spunk than this if you want to kill me!"
As he swung repeatedly, Sheena felt the terror overwhelm her.
"GUARDIAN SEAL! GUARDIAN SEAL! GUARDIAN SEAL!"
She was about to cry again when the burly man's arm struck her across the field. As she skidded, Corrine appeared at her side.
"Come on Sheena! You have to fight!" Corrine encouraged. "Don't let this brute get the better of you!"
"I really am useless," Sheena whispered.
"Hunny, are you really still alive? Then I guess I'm going to have a little more fun with you before you die."
"Get up Sheena!" Corrine cried, as the young summoner slowly started rising, the burly man drawing closer and closer once more. No longer did he hold his ball and chain. They lay unattended a few yards away. Raising a single outstretched hand, she wasn't sure what he was planning, but the devilish glint in his eye WAS NOT reassuring. She started to shake as his face came within centimeters of her fingers.
"Hunny, do you think one little hand will stop me?"
"Pyre Seal!"
The man they called the Scavenger, his eyes lit up as the spell unleashed. His face was blown, as he flew into the air, and landed, causing a small tremor. It was over. Walking over to him, shaken, she felt for a pulse, but found none. Sheena took a step back, cold and shaking, as the rain started to fall.
It was that single moment that made her feel most inhuman. As she watched that man's face blow to pieces and her hand bloodied by his death, she felt as though this was a far worse fate than being a failed summoner. However, she would not let down her people, and she would do it again. In fact, she had gotten so good at it she almost forgot what a failure she had been. Almost. The rain always reminded her gently, and Corrine was an ever-present reminder of her summoning skills. She loved Corrine, and would never willing let him go. As she stood, she heard a knock on her door. She was poised for a fight almost immediately.
"Breakfast."
She sighed. It was only the butler. She placed her cards away. Walking out the door, down the hallway, and down the stairs, she went towards the table that had mystically appeared overnight in the lobby. The pervert was already present, waiting on her.
"I guessed that you might be a little hungry. Here, sit down and eat," he said, offering the only chair, which was next to him. Sheena cursed silently, as she took the seat and sat there. "You can start eating. As they say, ladies first."
Sheena wondered what was wrong with the food. He had a scary glint in his eye that wouldn't go away. She wouldn't touch it. After about two minutes of the two sitting there in an awkward silence, it was apparent that Sheena WAS NOT touching that food unless he did first.
"Um," the pervert started. "Maybe I should just start then."
And with that breakfast went off without a hitch. Sheena stood to leave, and that's when it happened. Her face flushed. A hand in a place it shouldn't be. Her rage boiled up as she took a swing right at his face.
"HOW DARE YOU?" Sheena fumed, and then just as promptly, her eyes welled with tears. "I don't care who you are! You're nothing but a lecher!"
She was sobbing as she ran out of the house.
"Sheena, my volupt—Crap!" Zelos called, and then cursed. "Why? Why did I do that?"
One, she looked nice and he wanted to make sure she was. Two, his lechery got the better of him. Three, he wondered how naïve she really was. All three of these led to his decision. However, that left him no right to let her run off like that.
"Master Zelos," the butler said, getting his master's partial attention. "Sir Botta has announced that he will be coming to visit again this evening. He also said to mention that he has news."
"Crap."
She was running through the rain. She was alone.
"Why can't I remember where the Institute is?" Sheena asked herself, fumbling through the dulled city, in the pouring rain. Soaked to the bone, she trudged through the mud around her.
"Sheena," a soft voice said in her mind. Sheena thought she was delusional. It sounded like one of the women who had died by Volt's hands. She used to read with Sheena the ancient arts of summoning. Swirling, she found herself face-to-face with the ground.
"Spun too fast," Sheena whispered, as she tried to stand, but fell light-headed as she fell again. "Why can't I stand?"
The rain shouldn't have done this to her. She shouldn't feel this way. Maybe the Scavenger was getting his revenge in the afterlife. She lay there in the mud, rain pouring faster and harder, beating her further into the ground. She wasn't sure when she had fallen unconscious. She wasn't sure when she had awoken. All she knew was that she was in a house, with a man and woman watching over her, when next she realized her surroundings.
