I'm really, really sorry for the late update. I've been really busy lately, I'm surprised school hasn't killed me yet. Well, anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Lloyd opened his eyes, and awakened to see the beautiful ninja lying next to him. They spent all night together again. Dirk seemed to have disappeared for the night for work, well that's what the note he left said anyway, but both Lloyd and Sheena seemed to think he left for them to be alone.
So not to disturb the sleeping beauty, he carefully got out of the bed, and quietly walked out onto the balcony. He leant against the rail looking out to the horizon, the sun was still rising; it must be very early morning, yet...he just didn't feel tired. It didn't take him long to realise why.
'Kratos...' he thought. He was finally going to talk, finally going to see him again since that day. He knew he was ready for it, but his mind was racing with different scenarios of what might happen. He needed to clear his head, and only two things could do that; Sheena and training. As he did not want to wake the one he loved most for anything, he decided on the latter, and went downstairs to change.
He was out in the field just outside the house fairly quickly, he didn't even have breakfast, as he drew his wooden swords. He was at it for about 10 minutes, practising the moves that had kept him alive all this time, when he realised that it wasn't doing the trick. He wasn't wearing himself out enough. It was then when he remembered one training session his father had given him, back when they were first starting their journeys.
"Your attacks are too slow, Lloyd." Stated Kratos, as he dodged another of Lloyd's assaults, "Without speed, you'll never defeat your enemy."
Lloyd was getting fed up at never being able to hit his opponent, "Oh well," he said, "you can't win with speed alone, so if I just make myself stronger and stronger, it won't matter will it?"
"If you think like that there is no point me teaching you any longer." Replied Kratos, as he sheathed his sword, starting to walk away.
"Hey, wait!" Lloyd called, "Ok, I guess what I said was dumb, so what do I need to do to increase my speed?"
Kratos stopped, "You sure you want to know?" he asked, just tilting his head to see him. Lloyd nodded. "Very well, try using these." And from his pack, he pulled out two very big, blunt swords. He placed them at Lloyd's feet. "Try them."
And Lloyd sheathed his own blades, and tried to pick them up, and try was all he really could do. Kratos had to be joking; he could barely lift them off the ground, let alone swing them around.
"You're kidding, right?" he asked, "I can barely lift these! How do you expect me to use them in a fight?"
"They are blunted blades, you need not use them in battle." He answered, "But I want you to practise with them an hour a day." Lloyd gaped in horror, "And you must train without your exsphere."
"WHAT!" yelled Lloyd, "That's crazy, you're crazy, I'd be crazy attempting to do that!" and he dropped the blades with a loud thud, as he walked off in an annoyed expression.
"I wonder?" he thought aloud, as he walked back to the house, to fin his old things. Rummaging through his things, he finally found what he was looking for. The two large, blunt blades that Kratos had shown him. Though he had reused point blank to use them, he agreed to at least carry them, if he did change his mind.
He returned outside with the blades in his hands, they were lighter than he had remembered, although he was a lot stronger than he was then. He remembered his other comment 'without your exsphere' maybe he had a point to this? He removed his keycrest and exsphere, and laced them deep in his pocket, he did not want to lose his mother's keepsake. At once the blades seemed to double in weight, they seemed to be heavier than he remembered.
"There better be method to your madness dad." He said to no-one, as he started to train in the same way as before.
After an hour's training, Lloyd was absolutely shattered. His arms felt like lead, as he dropped the blades from exhaustion.
"Now that," panted Lloyd, "was a good work out." And then, wondering whether Kratos had a point, he drew his Material Blades. They were extremely light compared to the other blades. He performed a simple horizontal slash, but it was much more powerful, and much quicker than he normally did. "Woah!" he exclaimed.
"Very impressive!" said a voice from above. Sheena had woken up and was leaning on the balcony, watching him at work.
"Well, good morning beautiful!" he called up to her. She was still wearing her night gown, and was looking as beautiful as ever. "How long you been there?"
"Since you started with the really big swords." She replied, a mischievous grin, "You look great when you push yourself in training."
Lloyd blushed slightly, "You could've called me, this was the replacement for being unable to talk to you."
"I thought it be more fun watching you work out." She answered, still with the same smile, "Besides, you've watched me train without letting me know."
"But you actually knew I was there without me saying anyway."
Sheena just laughed. She did know he was there, and she was showing off at the time because of it. "Well that aside, you look hungry, want me to fix up breakfast?"
"Sounds great!" He exclaimed, a big grin on his face. He started to pack away his swords and replace his exsphere on his hand. 'Soon, Mom.' He thought 'Soon you'll be free.'
He walked back into the house, and somehow Sheena had already dressed, though she did not have her long gloves on, and had their food being prepared.
They ate their breakfast in silence, Sheena a bit anxious of what was about to happen and was wondering what to say, whilst Lloyd was simply just too exhausted to talk anyway.
"So..." Sheena started, once both had finished their meal, "you ready for today?"
For a while, Lloyd didn't answer, pondering over his answer. "I'm ready to talk to him...but," he paused again, "I'm not sure if I'm ready to hear his answer."
Sheena cocked her head in confusion, "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I'm...worried he may not want to remember," he said, "or may not be able to remember my mom now that he's getting married to Raine."
At this, Sheena walked right over to Lloyd, cupped his cheek in her naked hand, and stared deeply into his eyes. She saw how scared he really was at the prospect of the conversation, and yet the longing he had to go through with it.
"Lloyd, of course he will remember her." She said soothingly, "He still has the love he holds for her, even if he now loves Raine."
"But..."
"Listen," she interrupted, "Kratos still loves you, that's why he came back. And if he loves you, he still loves your mother."
Lloyd smiled, then pulled her into a deep kiss. She was surprised at first, but soon melted into and returned the kiss. "Thanks, Sheena."
"If that's the thanks I get for it I'll help you out everyday." Chuckled Sheena, a devilish smile on her face.
Suddenly, an interrupting cough broke them from their romantic scene. "Sorry to interrupt this pleasant experience, but I've got a message for you Lloyd."
They both turned to see Genis standing in the doorway, a large, sly smile on his face, and still with the immense black eye. They blushed slightly from being caught.
"G-Genis!" yelled Sheena, "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough." He said, still with the same sly smile. He tilted his head towards Lloyd. "Putting that aside for the moment, I've got Raine to go visit Colette and Zelos to try and sort things out for the wedding, so I'd suggest you go talk to Kratos now."
"Thanks, Genis." Lloyd answered, he knew that it would be hard enough to talk to Kratos anyway, but with Raine there too. He then realised something about Genis. "Hey, why do you still have a black eye? Couldn't the Professor heal it?"
Genis frowned, "Sis thought it would be a good lesson for me if I kept it." Both Lloyd and Sheena burst out in laughter.
"Well, it was just one rabbit and you were trying to use Meteor Storm on it." Laughed Sheena. "You've got to admit that was kinda overkill.
Genis just scowled in return.
"Ok," said Lloyd suddenly, during Sheena's continuous bursts of laughter, "I'm ready. Let's go." And the three left Dirk's house and headed for Iselea, Genis still sulking, and Sheena still laughing.
And there you have it. Not as much happened as I hoped it would but oh well, hope you like it. Again, sorry for the late update, and I'll try and make the next chapter soon.