A/N: Hey all! Back with chapter four! I only recieved three reviews for chapter three. But, if you three people want a chapter four, then you shall recieve a chapter four! Thanks for your reviews! Keep reviewing please! Well, here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: Me not own ToS.
Chapter 4: Staying With Regal
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Having had their lunch at the Altamira Overlook, the group began making thier way back to the Elemental Express, managaing their way around the many people bustling about Altamira's streets.
"So, how long will you be visiting?" Presea asked, directing her question at no one in particular.
"Well, we'll be here at least two weeks."
Presea turned to face Lloyd, a smile gracing her features. "Two weeks? Wonderful!" She couldn't help but feel pleased. They would have time to catch up, and vacation in the Seaside Paradise. Though she had been living in Altamira for almost year, she still hadn't seen all of it.
"Where will you be residing?" Regal questioned, wondering if Lloyd realized how much it would cost for a two-week stay at his hotel.
The young swordsman shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure." He slipped his hand into Colette's. "We just decided to come see you two on a sudden impulse. We didn't really think things through."
"Typical Lloyd," Genis sighed.
Regal's assumptions had been correct; Lloyd had no plan whatsoever. He couldn't allow them to saty at the hotel- it would run close to 5,000 Gald. Of course, he could let them stay for free...But then George would not be pleased. If he had his say in the matter, it wouldn't be a problem, but George had ran the business successively in his absence, and Regal considered him his partner...What to do...
"You could stay at the hotel," Presea suggested. "It has such a lovely vi-" she stopped mid-sentence when she noticed that Regal had stopped walking. "Regal? Is there a problem?"
Regal started at the sound of Presea's voice. He then realized that he had allowed his thought to consume him and that the group was now many steps ahead of him. "Pardon?"
"Is something wrong?" Presea repeated, cocking her head to one side. She took a step towards Regal, but stopped as he advanced towards the group.
"I was contemplating on our current predicament."
"Predicament?"
"Yes. The lodging of our guests."
Presea inclined her eyebrows. "The hotel..." she started, but stopped as the meaning Regal's words sunk in. "Oh, I see."
The rest of the group shared a confused glance amongst themselves. What were Presea and Regal talking about?
As if sensing their confusement, Presea turned towards the group. "I'm afraid you can't stay at the hotel. It would be very pricey," she added, seeing their looks of confusement stay on their faces.
"Where else are we gonna stay?" Zelos spoke up. "I guess I could find a fine lil' hunnie to bunk up with..." The red-headed young man scanned the streets. "Oh, there's one!" he said excitedly. He began to motion her over, but he felt something hard hit him on the head.
"Zelos!" Sheena hissed, slapping him across the back of his head.
"Owww!" wailed Zelos. "Whatcha you do that for Sheeenaaa?" He rubbed the back of his head, postitive that he could already feel a knot forming.
"Honestly Zelos," Raine sighed, also hitting him.
"Uhh, stop!" Zelos moaned, taking refuge from the assault behind a laughing Lloyd.
Raine turned away from the obnoxious Zelos and faced Regal. "But, he has a good question. Where else are we going to stay?"
"If you would like, you can stay at my place. It's certainly big enough," the blue-haired man replied, deciding that his house could use a touch of life in it. Being the only one there, it became much to quite for his liking.
"Really?" Colette asked, beginning to get excited.
"With you?" Genis added.
"Of couse."
"That'd be great Regal!" Lloyd said, smiling happily.
"It's all settled then," Presea stated, making her way through the streets once again.
"Where are you going to stay, Presea?" Colette queried, catching up with older friend.
"At my apartment." It was within walking distance of the Elemental Expressway, and Presea had to admit that she had grown quite attached to her little apartment.
"Oh." The young blond hung her head. "So, you won't be staying with us at Regal's?"
Presea stared at the ex-Chosen of Mana, her mouth slightly agape. How could Colette expect her to stay at Regal's house? He was her employer! People would get the wrong idea about them. Mindy already suspected that she and Regal had a relationship, if Presea stayed at his house, it would only add fuel to the flames.
"You are welcome to stay, as well, Presea," Regal stated, turning from his conversation with Zelos to face her.
"But- I-I couldn't- I mean, I don't want to impose," Presea stuttered about, wondering what had possessed Regal to invite her as well. Didn't he realize that people would talk?
"Nonsense. It would be impostion at all."
"Oh, yes, Presea! Stay!" Colette exclaimed. "It will be just like during the journey!" She clasped her hands together. "Oh, please?"
Presea chewed her bottom lip. How could she say no to Colettes' hopeful plea? Besides, her personal life- or lack of, therefore- was nobody's business. "All right. If your sure it's no problem, Regal, I'll stay as well."
"Then it is settled. You will all stay the remainder of the visit at my house," Regal stated, turning back to his conversation with Zelos.
"I'm glad you're staying with us, Presea," Colette said cheerfully, giving her a small hug before scampering over to Lloyd.
Presea smiled as she watched the young couple, each with their arm around the other. Though she was happy for them, she couldn't help but feel a little resentment. They weren't even twenty years old, yet they had still found each other. Presea, on the other hand, was twenty-eight and she hadn't even found a candidate. Having the body of a twelve year old for over half your life didn't help you out any in the 'love' department.
As Presea mulled over her personal life, the group rounded a corner and found theirselves in front of the Elemental Express. Presea started to board, but stopped as she felt a strong hand grasp her forearm.
"Perhaps we should let our guests get settled in before we head back to the firm?"
Presea turned to face Regal, stepping off of the Expressway. "If you wish," she said, nodding her head in agreement.
"What's up?" Zelos queried. He rested a hand on Sheena's shoulder, which the young summoner quickly shrugged off.
"How would you all like a grand tour of my house? I can assist you in getting settled in, and then Presea and I can finish our shifts."
"That sounds great," Sheena replied, smiling at Regal and throwing in a glare in Zelos' direction.
"I agree. This heat is becoming unbearable," Raine agreed, fanning herself with her hand.
Regal chuckled at Raine's antics and ushered the group in the train-like device. "All right, then. We shall make our way to my home. Driver," he started, turning his attention to the man seated behind the wheel, "if you would be so kind as to direct us to my estate?"
"Of cousre, Sir," the driver replied, starting the Elemental Expressway and starting off in the direction of Regal's home. He knew the direction well, seeing as how he took Mr. Bryant to and from work most everyday.
The group quickly took their seats, with Lloyd, Zelos, Regal, and Genis occupying the front car behind the driver, and Presea, Sheena, Raine, and Colette taking the car linked onto the first.
"It would seem that you an Lloyd are doing well," Presea spoke to Colette, breaking the air of silence that had cast it's self over them.
The young blond smiled, a small blush creeping into her cheeks. "Yes, we are."
"Yeah, now they actually admit that they're a couple," Sheena added, shoving her friend playfully.
Colette giggled, nudging Sheena with her elbow. "Yes. That, too."
Presea smiled -for what to be the hundredth time that day- at the sight of her young friends. She hadn't realized how much she had missed them until they had arrived. "Sheena, how is your relationship with Zelos?"
"R-relationship? We don't have a relationship." The summoner fidgeted slightly in her seat. When she noticed that everyone in the cart was staring at her knowingly she added, "We don't!"
"Of course you don't," Colette joked, patting her friend on the shoulder.
"We don't!" Sheena repeated loudly, causing the men in the cart ahead of them to stop their conversation and stare at them curiously.
"What's the matter, Sheena? Everything okay?" Zelos asked, turning in his seat to look at the Mizuho native.
The summoner blushed under Zelos' gaze. "I'm fine. We were just...talking. Everything's fine."
"You sure?"
Sheena brought herself to meet Zelos gaze, and was met with his crystal clear blue eyes. Martel was he good-looking. With his beautiful red hair, and his bright blue eyes, and his smooth creamy skin, and his-
"Sheena?"
Her blush grew even brighter. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear her mind and to get her thoughts off of Zelos. "F-fine. I'm fine," Sheena mumbled, turning her gaze to floor.
Zelos shrugged his shoulders and turned his back on the women, resuming his previous conversation.
"Martel Sheena, I thought we were going to have to manually put you eyes back into your head."
Sheena jerked her head in Raine's direction. "Raine!" She folded her arms across her ample chest. "See what you started Presea?"
"I'm sorry." The small smile on her lips betrayed her words.
Sheena sighed and hung her head. "Okay, okay, I guess I do kind of like him. But only a little. Very little. Hardly at all. A milli-"
Presea held up a hand. "We understand. You like him."
The young summoner gave a defeated sigh. "I guess so," she mumbled. She then looked at her ax-wielding friend. "You know, you've changed."
"I have?"
"I agree. You do seem different, Presea," Raine added.
Presea looked down at her hands, which were resting in her lap. She had known her friends would feel differently about her now that she looked her age. Nothing ever seemed to go right in her life. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, no! I don't mean in a bad way. I just mean that you're different. You seem...happier," Sheena reassured, giving her friend a encouraging smile.
Raine nodded her head in agreement. "My sentiments exactly."
"I guess that necklace changed you in more ways than one, huh, Presea?"
"I guess so, Colette." Presea's hand went to her neck, and rubbed the small, blue orb gently. The little object did seem to be a positive impact on her life.
"Or perhaps someone?" Raine queried.
"Someone?" Presea echoed.
The half-elf nodded her head and motioned to the cart before them.
"I don't think Genis is her type, Professor. He's just a little boy."
Raine exhaled heavily. "Not Genis, Colette." She put a hand to her forehead, wondering where she had gone wrong as a teacher.
"Then who?"
"Regal," Raine said, a sigh escaping her lips once again.
"Regal?" Presea repeated, shock an evident componet in her voice. He was her boss, and her friend; not a dating candidate! Sure, he was handsome, and caring, and-- and her friend. A very good friend. She felt her face flush despite the fact that she kept repeating that last thought in her mind.
"Presea? Are you all right?" Sheena questioned, a smile tugging at her lips as she watched the blush creep into Presea's cheeks.
"He's my boss," Presea managed to say in her defense. "My friend." She looked at the car full of her friends, and was once again struck with the realization of how much she had missed them all. The late night talks in the inns, watching Sheena pummel Zelos, Lloyd and Colette acting as though they were nothing more than friends...She missed it all. But surely they didn't think that she and Regal had anyhing between them.
"There's nothing wrong with an 'office' relationship," Sheena teased, and Raine was quick to agree with her.
Presea stared at her two friends, her mind reeling. Why in all the land would they think that there was something other than friendship between Regal and herself? She displayed no other feelings than friendship towards him...did she? True, she did see him most everyday, but he was her employer. It was also true that they shared lunch most everyday, but her was also her friend. That didn't mean that her feelings ran deeper, did it?
She would have continued pondering the subject, but Sheena's and Colette's laughter jerked Presea's from her thoughts.
"I think we should change the subject before Presea turns as red as a tomato!"
Hearing this caused Presea's face to turn an even brighter red, and for the group of women to laugh even harder, which resulted in the men turning around with questioning stares once again.
"What's so funny?"
"Presea's face," Colette managed to say between her laughter.
"It doesn't look funny to me," Lloyd said, wondering what was so funny about his pink-haired friend's face.
"I can't breath!" Sheena placed a hand on her heart, laughing so hard her eyes watered.
Presea couldn't see what was so funny, but was interrupted by Zelos before she could question the matter.
"I can fix that!" the red-head cried, leaping over the barrier that seperated his cart from the girls'. He landed in the seat next to Sheena, and placed an arm around her shoulder. "CPR!"
"Zelos!" Sheena quicly ducted out of the way of his lips. "You pervert! I'm not unconsious!"
"Well, it wouldn't be much fun then."
"Zelos!"
Presea found this subject much funnier than her own, and she couldn't hide her laughter.
Regal, who had been sitting quietly until now, leaned half-way across the barrier and placed his hand on Presea's shoulder. "We have arrived at the house, but I'm debating over the matter of interrupting Sheena and rescuing Zelos, or just sitting here and watching the show."
As Regal started whispering in her ear, Presea had to physically stop herself from leaning back into his touch and shivering. Then she wanted to physically slap herself for reacting in such a way. He was her boss for Martel's sake!
Luckily, she got enough control over herself to answer, "I think we should save him."
"As you wish," Regal breathed, and that time Presea did give small shiver.
If Regal noticed, he hid it well as he stood up and announced, "I hate to interrupt, but we have arrived."
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Reply to my three great reviewers...
Fallenharbinger: I'm not sure when to put in some kissage...but there will be near kissage in the next chapter!
Kei-kun: Glad ya liked!
WhitterZ: Your friend dissed Regal? Shame! Lol. At first I didn't really like him, but then I got attached to him for some reason. I tried to keep out contractions in this chapter. If more than five people are reading this, I wish they'd review! Keep reviewing please!
A/N: There ya go! Chapter four! Whatcha think? Well, you know how to tell me. In a review. Please review! I really do like to know what you think! Even if you dispise it! Well, that's it. Please review! Thanks to you three that did!