A/N: I'm alive! Did you all think I had died? Well, as you can see, I'm alive and kickin'. I'm sorry it took so long to up-date! I've been busy with Christmas shopping and all...okay so that's no excuse, but it's gonna have to work. Well, I'm sorry for the long wait! Thanks for the reviews! Here is chapter 11!

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

Chapter 11: The Play

xxxx

Nearly three days had passed since Presea's date, and she was now feeling quite a bit better. Her ankle was still sore, but Regal no longer insisted on carrying her around everywhere, and the memories were not so vivid. She had repeatedly told herself that she should stop moping around- Duke hadn't actually gotten the job done. There was women out there who had the right to dwell, but she was not one of them.

Of course, her friends also played a big part in making her feel better. They had left her little chance to sit and think by herself. She was rarely alone with at least one of her old friends by her side. At the moment, however, she was alone, and she relished the fact. She could get some reading done.

Stretching out on the family room couch, Presea propped her ankle on the arm rest and opened the novel she had borrowed from Raine. Giving a contented sigh, she began to read.

She hadn't even finished chapter one when she heard footsteps. Hoping that they would pass her by, Presea continued to read. But when they grew closer, she knew she would have to put her book down. Whoever they were, they were coming into the family room.

"Ah, here you are."

Presea tossed the book aside. It was Regal. She hadn't had the opportunity to speak with him much the past couple of days, and now it appeared that they were alone. The book suddenly seemed dull in comparision.

"Good evening." She began to rise, but Regal held up a hand. Instead, he settled himself beside her on the couch.

"How are you feeling?"

Presea shook her head. She had grown accustomed to this question. He asked it every day. "I'm quite well, Regal."

"Good." He sighed, and fell back into the couch, wrapping his arms around Presea as he did so.

The pink-haired woman blushed. He seemed so comfortable with her- with their relationship. Whenever he had the opportunity to hold her or kiss her, he took it. Sadly, that wasn't all that often, seeing as how they they were both private people and she always had someone around her, but still. The point was, he was comfortable with it.

It wasn't that she didn't enjoy it- she did. Everytime she saw the man she was sure her heart was going to beat so hard that it left her body. It was just...well, it was new to her. Not just her relationship with Regal, but with relationships in general. In all honesty, she had never really had an actual relationship. She had been a woman trapped in a child's body, so she dated no one. Yet, when she had been younger, dates had consisted of hand-holding, maybe a kiss on the cheek, and talking every other day.

But now she was with a grown man, not a boy. Hand holding turned into holding, and a kiss on the cheek turned into a kiss on the lips. Never had she been with a grown man, and never had she felt the way she did now. Her heart was racing, her stomach was a jumble of nerves, and yet...she felt at peace.

"I've not intruded, have I?"

Presea, jerked from her thoughts, shook her head. "Not at all. I was only catching up on some reading."

Regal glanced to his right, spotting the thick book. "No Haunting of Tethe'alla?"

"No. I quit reading that."

"Oh?"

"It...unnerved me."

Regal chuckled. "You allowed yourself to be frightned by a book?"

"It was frightning!" Presea defended. "I would sit in the dark, and read it, and then-"

"You would hear bumps and unexplained thumps?"

"You are so sensitive."

Regal's chuckling turned into full-fledged laughter. He drew her closer, kissing her lightly on the lips. "Forgive me. I simply find it hard to believe that you were frightned by a book."

"I'll take that as a compliment..." Presea murmured, her heart racing at small brush her lips had just received.

"I meant it to be one," Regal said, his voice near a whisper. He moved his hand to cradle her face, and drew her closer still, seeking her lips again. He had had little time to be alone with her, and he meant to capitalize on this moment.

However, before he even had two seconds alone with the woman, Zelos and Sheena came bustling into family room, waving around a piece of paper as though it was a torch.

"Hey! Break it up and look at this!" Zelos declared, plopping down right beside the couple.

"Get out of my family room."

Zelos jumped up and stood before Regal. "You did the same thing to me this morning. Pay back sucks, don't it?"

Sheena snatched the paper out of the red-head hand's and thrust it at Presea. "Come on. We're going out."

"Out? It's late-"

"The night is young!" Zelos threw his arm's in the air, emphasizing his point.

"Up. The both of you. We're all going out." Sheena hauled Presea to her feet. "Now up." The Summoner turned to Regal, placing a hand on her hip. "You, too."

Regal complied, a smile tugging at his lips. Oh how lively his house was with all of his friends in it.

"What is that piece of paper you keep waving about?" Presea demanded, grabbing the thick, retangular paper away from the ninja. "A play? You're taking us to a play?"

"Yep. Now c'mon. We have to get dressed."

"I suppose resistance is futile," sighed Presea, following after her friend. She couldn't help but smile, though. There was never a dull moment with the gang around.

"I should kick you both out," Regal said, his smile betraying his words.

Zelos grinned. "Ah, you can slob her down later."

"You make it sound repulsive."

"Hey, it really is kinda gross. I mean, it is someone else's spi-"

Regal held up a hand, silencing the man beside him. "Enough. Please."

The ex-Chosen shrugged his shoulders, a grin playing on his lips. "Yeah, you're right. We'd better move it. Sheena'll kill us if we aren't ready in time."

xxxx

"Well, I hope you're happy Zelos." Sheena stopped walking along the cobblestoned path to the theater, turning to glare at the red-head, hand resting on her hip. "We're going to be late!"

Zelos threw up his hands in defense. "Hey! It takes time to look this good!" He smoothed out his black trousers, white undershirt, and black blazer. "Perfection takes time."

"It took me fifteen minutes to get dressed!" Sheena cried, indicating her simple, halter style, camel brown dress. "And do my hair!" Her hand moved to her ebony hair, resting atop her head in a neat bun, her bangs resting against her forehead.

"And she's a woman!" Lloyd added. His clothing was nearly idenical to Zelos'; he simply decided against the jacket, wearing only a long-sleeved white button-up shirt, tucked neatly into his black slacks.

"Hey, it took Colette just as long as me!"

"I had to shower," the young blond reminded him. "Even then it didn't take me as long as it did you!" The angel was clad in knee-length, dark blue sleeve-less dress, and he blond hair was hanging loose. "Besides, I'm a girl."

"What does that have to with anything?"

"It's simply understood that women take longer that men to get dressed," Presea told the ex-Chosen of Tethe'alla. She tossed her pink hair behind her shoulder. "In most cases."

"Regardless of the fact that Zelos took a ridicilously long period of time to prepare himself, we have reached our destination, and we are just in time."

"See? I didn't take that long."

Sheena rolled her chocolate eyes, moving down a row of pull-out chairs and taking a seat near the aisle. Zelos lowered himself in the vacant chair beside her, offering her his charming smile.

"C'mon. You're not really angry with me, are ya?"

Sheena tried to keep her glare intact, and remember that the pretty-boy had caused them to nearly miss the opening act, but she found that it was hard to stay angry with man for long. That had always been one of her weakness- she could never stay made at Zelos for a long period of time.

"Only if you promise not to take forever next time."

Zelos grinned, reaching for the Summoner's hand. It had taken him such a long time to confess his feelings, the fear of rejection had always been to strong. Yet, the woman next to him truly cared for him, that he was now sure of.

"Anything for you, Sheena."

The Mizuho natived blushed at his words, and turned her attention the stage before her. This relationship with Zelos was completely new, but she had a feeling that she could get very use to it.

xxxx

"Regal, do you have any idea as to what this play is about?"

The Lezereno president turned his attention away from the stage before him to the woman sitting at his side. "Not at all. But we have only been sitting here for twenty minutes. Perhaps the plot will reveal it's self later?"

Presea shrugged, now feeling rather self-conscious. She settled back into her plush seat. "I suppose it is a bit early to be engrossingly interesting. It's just...Can you understand them?"

Regal leaned closer to her, allowing them to carry on their conversation in hushed whisper. "I believe they are speaking...what would you call it? Gibber?"

A small giggle escaped Presea's lips. "I agree." She returned her attention to the stage, watching as a handful of people, men and women, bustled about the stage, dressed in Kat suites. So far, the play was dreadful. The actors were prancing about, and singing in a language that she could not understand. She had seen better productions.

Sighing, Presea tilted her head back, resting it against the soft material of the theater chair. She moved her hand to the arm rest dividing the seats, and nearly jerked it back when it came into contact with Regal's. She stopped herself, however, chiding herself for acting so childish. Instead of drawing back, she scooted her hand closer, edging it underneath of his.

Regal felt Presea's hesitation, yet remained silent, acting as though all of his attention was on the play taking place before him. He had been initiator for the past few days, making all the first moves. Not that he minded- he knew that Presea cared for him, and he also knew that relationships were all new territory to her. It didn't bother him in the least that he had to intiate everything. But, if Presea was feeling braver, then he wouldn't hinder her.

"Have I told you that you look beautiful this evening?" he murmured, intertwining his fingers with hers as she fully slipped her hand underneath of his own.

Presea smoothed out her black cocktail dress self-consciously, a blush tinging her cheeks. "Thank you. You look handsome, as well," she added, observing his beige slacks, matching jacket, and black button-up beneath the jacket.

"Why thank you," Regal replied, a light, teasing note in his deep voice.

Presea smiled, her self-consciousness fading. She settled herself against his shoulder, saying, "We should probably concentrate on this play."

"We should," Regal agreed, keeping her hand tucked in his own. If he had to sit through this dreadful thing, then at least he could spend it with the woman next to him.

xxxx

Dear Martel...what have Sheena and Zelos dragged me to?

Nearly an hour and a half had passed since the opening act, and Presea could now confidently say that it was horrible. The stage crew had managed to destroy the backdrops, which had been beautifully done to look nearly idenical to the slums of Meltokio. From what Presea could make out, the play was supposed to be telling a story of 'lovers from opposite worlds', which could be a good storyline if she could understand them, and if there were wearing actual clothing.

So far, the 'Katz' had been blabbing in an unknown language, and wreaking havoc on the stage, tearing down props, and tripping over their own two feet. Presea took the liberty of guessing that they had probably messed up their lines, but couldn't prove the assumption.

"This is dreadful."

The ex-ax wielder turned to the man sitting beside, silenty agreeing. Dreadful didn't even begin to cover it.

Up on stage, a woman- at least, Presea thought it was a woman- appeared, singing in the odd language the whole audience had become accustomed to. The actress ran full-speed at the man in front of her, leaping into his open arms...and missing her target.

One-third of the audience burst into laughter, Lloyd and Zelos the loudest of them all.

"Oh my Martel!"

"Did you see that!"

"That was great!"

"Do it again!"

Sheena, Colette, Regal, and Presea sat in stunned silence. Soon, however, they turned to glare at their very loud comrades.

"Zelos!" Sheena hissed, between clenched teeth. "Shut up!" She lowered her hand into her small hands, praying that no one would look back and stare.

"Honestly! People are trying to enjoy this."

A red-faced Lloyd turned to meet Presea's gaze. "Do you really think so? I mean, it really sucks."

"Regardless of the fact that it is horrible, we should try to be considerate. Some here may truly be tying to enjoy the production."

Lloyd lowered his head, shifting in his seat. "Yeah, you're right, Regal. Sorry."

The older man shifted his position, leaning closer to the young swordsmen. "There is really no need to be. It was quite amusing."

With Regal leaning half-way across her, Presea had the perfect oppurtunity to jerk him back into his seat. She did just that, giving him a scolding look. "Don't encourage them. I know they were taught better than that."

"I'm sorry, Presea." He tried to keep a genuinely regretful look on his face, but Presea say the small grin threatning to show its self.

"Oh, no more outbursts- any of you. Sit here and act like gentlemen."

"Yes, ma' am," Lloyd and Zelos echoed, both shifting in their seats and turning their attention to play before them.

Presea rolled her pale blue eyes and also turned her attention to the production, as well. She was pulled away from it, however, when she felt Regal's lips at the base of her ear.

"You must admit, it was the most entertaining thing that had happened all evening."

Presea's flesh tingled as his breath tickled her ear, but she keep her composure. "Regardless of that fact, we all must keep the outbursts under control."

Regal laughed lightly, catching her hand in his. "All right. We are in the last act; what could go wrong?"

Twenty minutes later, Regal got his answer. All had been going well, the crew staying true to script, and the crowd remaining silent. Silent, that is, until one of the young actors on stage threw his arms wide in an emphasizing gesture, knocking the actress near him on her rump.

The disgruntled actress flew up in huff, slapping the young man across the face. She then flew off stage, leaving an extremely baffeled crew in her wake. A behind-the-scene man appeared on stage, coming out in such a hurry that he didn't notice the man sprawled out on the wooden stage and tripped over him, pitching forward and joining the actor on floor.

Oh...My..." Zelos covered his mouth, trying his best to hold in his laughter. He would have succeeded, had Lloyd not slapped him on the back, doubling over in laughter.

"Man, this is great!"

"I know!" Zelos agreed, joining the young man in his laughter. "It sucks!"

"Dear Martel," Sheena sighed, moving down the aisle, grabbing Zelos by the ear as she did so.

"Owowowow!"

Colette followed after Sheena, dragging her boyfriend behind her, as well. Once the young angel reached the exit, however, she joined Lloyd in his laughter

"Shall we follow our comrades?"

Presea nodded, following after her friends as quickly as possible.

xxxx

"That was horrible."

"I should've stayed with Raine and Genis."

"Never will I take you out in public again."

"You know you love me," Zelos retorted, pulling the Mizuho native to his side, who begrudingly accepted the half-hug.

"Well, I'm never letting you take me to a play again."

Sheena offered Presea a nervous grin. "Who knew Kats Galore would be so horrible?"

"I don't know about you all, but I never want to see a play ever again."

Colette nodded her head in agreement, searching for Lloyd's hand. "So, are we all going to go home now?"

"Are you kiddin' me? It's not even eleven!" Zelos cried. "We can't go home now! What are we? Old?"

Regal and Presea shared a glance. They were all staring at them expectantly.

"Are you implying something?"

"I'll have you all know, I have a job. I have to sleep. Something you young 'ans know nothing about."

"Well, if you geezers need to rest your brittle bones..."

"What did you have in mind?" Regal queried, folding his arms across his chest. He would not be called a geezer. Since when was thirty-three old?

Zelos pointed behind them to a large, highly lighted building. "Casino, baby."

Regal shrugged his broad shoulders. He hadn't been to the casion for...well, for ages. "If you wish."

"Yes!" Zelos cried, pumping his fist in the air.

"Oh no. I am not going into that gaudy casino! There's nothing but half-naked women, and drunk. gambling rich men that can't find more productive things to do with their time. No offence, Regal."

"None taken."

"Aww! C'mon, Sheeena! Please? It'll be fun!" Zelos grabbed her hand, pointing to the large building as he did so. "We can drink, throw down a couple of bets, and check out all the half-dressed hun-" He stopped, sensing more so that seeing the death glare he was receiving.

No."

"C'mon! We'll have a good time. I promise."

"No." Sheena crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly. "I will not go into that casino."

xxxx

I can't believe he dragged me into this casino.

Sure enough, Sheena was in the middle of the grand casino. The sounds of whirring machines, jingling dice, shuffling cards, clanging glasses, and merry shouts filled the air. Lloyd and Colette were off playing with the slot machines, illegally, mind you. But thanks to Regal, it was suddenly legal. Regal was talking with bar keep, and Presea was trying her hand at Black Jack. Where Zelos was was beyond her, and the Summoner fought the feeling of anger that welled up inside her.

He's probably off flirting with one of the 'bunnies' hopping around here. I was stupid to think that he actually cared about me....

"Hey! There you are, Sheena."

The sound of his overly-happy voice only added to Sheena's frustration. "The pretty-boy shows himself."

"Why thank you! I am pretty, aren't I?" Zelos threw himself down next to her, throwing a care-free arm around her shoulder. "Whatcha playing?"

"Craps," Sheena said tartly.

"Mind if I join ya?"

"Not at all."

Zelos rubbed his hands together as the dice were passed to him. "C' mon seven! Pretty boy needs some hair gel!" He grinned at Sheena as he tossed the dice on the felt covered table.

"Seven!" the man working the table confirmed, handing Zelos his winning chips.

"No way! I suck at this game!" He turned to Sheena, placing one arm around her waist. "You must be my good-luck charm."

"What? One of those bunnies weren't giving you winnings?"

Zelos flashed her a charming smile, kissing her briefly on the lips. "Naw. They were killin' me. I told them I had to go get my Angry Banshee, 'cause I knew she'd help me win."

Sheena studied his handsome face carefully. Though the words were said lightly, she could see the their truth in his bright blue eye's. "Zelos..."

"Hey, buddy, you gonna roll the dice, or play googly-eyes all day?"

Zelos laughed, grabbing the dice. "You're just jealous."

"Yeah. That's why I'm sittin' here tryin' to play craps. So move it. Gotta drown my sorrows somehow, eh?" The middle-aged man said, nudging the ex-Chosen in the side.

The red-head laughed again, giving the dice a throw.

"Seven!" the supervisor confirmed.

"Haha! Looks like you're going to have to wait, my friend. Zelos is on a roll!" He gave Sheena a kiss on the cheek. "As long as my good-luck charm stays by my side, I'll be here all night."

I'll be here as long as you want me, Sheena thought with a smile. Hopefully, that'll be for a long while.

xxxx

"Man, I suck at this! And all I have to do is pull a lever!"

Colette stood by the young swordsmen, hand on his shoulder. "Put the last coin in. I'm sure you'll win this time, Lloyd!"

"I give up. You pull it, Colette," Lloyd sighed, slipping the coin in the slot.

"But, Lloyd! It's illegal!"

"Regal owns the place. We're his friends. It's legal."

"But-"

"Have I been doing it for the past half-hour?"

"Yes..."

"Then pull it."

"If you say so..." The blond angel hesitantly grasped the handle of the machine, pulling it towrds her slowly. A siren went off over head, and Colette jumped back, grasping Lloyd's shoulder with all of her might.

"I told you it was illegal!"

"No, Colette!" Lloyd laughed, jumping of the stool placed before the machine. "You won!"

"I won?"

"You won!

"I won!" The girl cried happily, throwing her arms around Lloyd.

"Regal! We won!" Lloyd cried, spotting the older man as he made his way towards the young couple.

"I pulled it!" Colette added happily, face beaming at her accomplishment.

"That's grand, Colette. Now, what do you plan on doing with your earnings?"

"Roulette!" Lloyd cried. "Let's go change this into chips, Colette!"

"Um, all right!"

Regal grabbed the young man's shoulder as he rushed by him. "Lloyd, you wouldn't happen to know where Presea wandered off to, would you?"

"Blackjack," the brown-haired man replied. He grinned, grabbed Colette's hand, and rushed off. "We'll be at the Roulette table!"

Regal chuckled in a amusement, watching the young couple sprint off. By nights end, they would more than likely have nothing.

Leaving the slot macines, he made his way through the highly populated casino. Spotting one of the numerous Blackjack tables, Regal strode over to it, stopping when he stood behind the only pink-haired woman sitting round the table.

"Is luck on your side this evening?"

Presea shook her head, not taking her attention off of the game for a second. "No, but I'm going to win it all back right now. Hit me," she told the man working the table. He complied, leaving Presea with a twenty. She passed on the next hit, keeping her twenty, and dealer flipped the cards.

"Twenty-one!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Presea cried in frustration. "I quit! I'm not wasting any more gald. This whole place is rigged."

"Lloyd and Colette pocketed a handful of cash."

"I don't care. You aren't getting anymore money off of me, Mr. Bryant." She stood, walking to the bar, a slight limp in her step. Regal noticed the walk immediately, and snaked an arm around her waist, practically picking her up off of the ground.

"Regal!" Presea quickly grabbed his shoulder, steadying herself. "What are you doing?"

"You're limping. You are in pain."

"I'm fine. It's just a little agitated. A small drink will numb it instantly." She dropped down on the bar stool, flagged the bar-keep down, and ordered a small brandy. "I'll be fine."

Regal lowered himself onto the stool next to Presea's, concern an evident emotion in his eyes. "Would you like to go home? I can easily locate everyone."

Presea sighed, though a smile was on her lips. "I'll be fine. I promise. Let them enjoy theirselves."

Regal eyed her incredulously, but accepted her answer. "As you wish," he mumbled, ordering a brandy of his own.

Sipping on her drink, Presea couldn't help but smile. Never had she had someone worry over her so. It made her feel...special. People had worried over her before, of course, but never had it left her feeling so significant. Reaching for his hand, Presea slipped her own underneath of it, neither saying anything, simply enjoying the others company.

The peaceful mood was broken, however, when Presea spotted someone that she never cared to see again.

"Um, Regal? Perhaps we should head home. This brandy is working as well as I had thought it would."

"Presea?" She had gone ashen. "Are you..." he trailed off, turning to follow her gaze. Suddenly, he saw the cause of her discomfort. Calabren. "Stay here."

Presea recongnized that tone of voice immediately. It was the tone he took whenever he was beyond anger. "No, Regal, please. Let's just leave. It's crowded. There's no need to make a scene."

"I do not plan on causing an uproar. I merely plan on-"

"On what?" Presea demanded, standing. "I know you, and I know your temper. Please, can't we just go?"

He had intened on protesting, on telling her that Calabren derserved more than what he intended to do him, but the desperate sound in Presea's voice stopped Regal before he could say anything along those lines. Instead he sighed, taking her hand and heading towards the Roulette table.

"If that is what you desire."

Rounding up the gang had been simple. Lloyd and Colette were broke, having spent all of their earning on Roulette, so they followed after the older couple willingly. Sheena and Zelos had been easy to convince to leave, as well, especially after Regal had growled out the word Calabren. And so, the group had made it out of the building relatively easy.

Yet, before they were three feet from the building, Regal stopped, offering the words, "I'll be back in a moment," and quickly leaving the group before Presea could protest.

Reaching the entrance of the casino, Regal stepped inside. As soon as he entered the building, he moved to the side, pulling the woman who was standing at the entrance greeting the customers as he did so.

"Hey!" the young, ebony haired woman cried. She shifted her bunny ears and pointed a slim finger at Regal. "Don't touch the greeters! Or any woman in her-"

"Candy, I need you to do me a favor."

"Mr. Bryant?" The young bunny-woman immediately lowered her finger. "I'm so sorry! I thought you were some weirdo."

"Understandable. Candy, I haven't a lot of time, so please listen. Do you see that man over there? With the flock of women around him?"

Candy followed his finger, looking in the general area that he was indicating. "You mean Mr. Calabren?"

"You know of him?"

"Of course! He's in here every weekend!"

"Ah, well. Do you think that perhaps you could page security and have him expelled from the building?"

The young bunny-clad woman gaped at Regal. "Thrown out!" At first, Regal feared that he had upset the girl, for she stared at him as though he had gone mad. Yet immediately following the look, he saw the slow smile form on his full-lips. "Would I! I can't stand the man!"

"That make two off us. I trust that you can handle the situation." As he turned to leave, Candy grasped him arm.

"Wait. On what charges, Mr. Bryant?"

"You're a bright girl. I am sure you can create something."

"You got it," Candy said with a grin, watching as Regal left the casino. Regal had helped her get this job at the casino, she reasoned that throwing a man that she destested out was the least she could do for him. "Whatever you say, Mr. Bryant. Whatever you say."

xxxx

Replay to my great reviewers...

Fallenharbinger: Heh. I thought that sounded like a guy thing. And a Zelos thing. Lol!

WhitterZ: Is that supposed to be a face? Is it a typo? Or am I just dumb? Hehe...

Nikkered: Yes, you have a ton of PS's. Hehe.

Sansouke.Cigara: I just mixed the two letters up in your name. I think I spelled it right this time. And, I don't know what will happen with Duke. But, I don't think it will be a gang-up. That's kinda like cheating isn't it?

Ultimate Demon: I liked your GirlyButTough better. This one scares me...lol! I've never seen Wolf's Rain. I don't think I've ever seen Adult Swim either...heh. You love my story...yay! Heh. I can't believe you think Regal's a prune...

NakigoeMizuKibun: Wow...I think I'll write ChibiPresea from now on. Lol. You love it too..yay!

Kei-kun: Yep. Keep reviewing and there will always be chapters. Unless I finish it...which won't be soon.

Devil's Daughter: Glad ya like! You think Regal's a prune too! Why do you guys think he's a prune? I don't see it...

Lil-Samuu: Right. Plus, Regal's so rich, one client won't hurt him. Lol! I just think Regal would act that way...I mean, if that ever happened to me, that's how I'd want my guy to act. Heh!

A/N: Wow! I got chapter eleven done! Finally right? I'm sorry it took so long! Hopefully the next chapter will be here faster. Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming! Well, guess that's it...Review and the next chapter will be here soon!