The Court Case

Disclaimer: I don't own ToS. But I do own TCC! And S:ToS! The Court Case and Sheena: Tales of Summoning! But no Tales of Symphonia cry Oh yeah, the beginning song was tuned to "Every Heart" in InuYasha. It was really piano-ish though, so you'll have to find it on your own. If it's any help it lasted 5:00 (minutes, not hours) so there.

A/N: Well, we finally go back to the regular. Aww…well, I'm wondering what's happened there anyway…Hmm…oh, feel the smooth surface! It's wondrous! This is polycarbonate, developed during the Ancient War to defend against magic…okay no more Raine moments…let's just get on with the story…well, then again maybe not. Jeez, this seems to be getting a lot like anime. Way too many people, and randomness abound. Though, this would be really weird as anime. It would also be weird as a game. Imagine, fighting against Cali Flion with Saphfyre, or using Sheena with a katana with your party members as Astra, Cresenta, Sola, and Universa in the fight for Raise. Oh, man that'd be weird. But now, really, I'll get on with the story.

Chapter 31: The Choice He Made

"so…great to me! And still I find it hard to be…knowing that I am going…far away. I wish I…could be, be with you and stay…" The words flowed out of Lapisa's mouth beautifully. A nice sunny day. The day Universa's choice was made, and the day everybody would depart from the Secluded Lands. Seles gave a look to the big house.

"Admittedly, I'm going to sort of miss living under the same roof with everybody." the Pink Haired Demoness sighed.

"We could build it to together with the dorm Sheena and Crimsonia are in!" Rubyi ran around, packing things, all the while not packing away her enthusiasm. Smiling, the red-haired maid continued to put things in suitcases as Seles gave her a look.

"Are you stupid! The Secluded Lands are much more lenient on that! We'd have to sign all sorts of construction rights and…"

"Just a suggestion." Rubyi said, smiling again. Seles sighed again. The girl had problems. Of being too happy. Shut up once in a while. Sort of. As the girl got lost in her own conversation, Rubyi had another suggestion.

"We could build onto the mansion! The LaHearts need a place to live, anyway." Thinking to herself, Rubyi stated, 'It's not like Zelos is getting any deader…' She then decided to stomp on her own foot for being so mean about that. Seles gave her a look but then replied, "Yes, that'd be nice. I guess even Sheena can stay…"

"Oh, yay!" Rubyi rushed to Seles and hugged her. The pink-haired lady pushed her off and Rubyi went back to packing.

………………………………...

"Lloyd, it is nothing. I can take care of myself." Dialmond brushed off the man's advances to give her food on a tray.

"It's a broken leg, Dialmond. That doesn't really con…consti…constye…" the dual swordsman replied, getting frustrated.

"Constitute?" Dialmond questioned.

"Yeah, that's it! Constitute! Con con con con!…Anyway, that doesn't really constitute for 'nothing'."

The swordswoman sighed. She was just beginning to remember what happened the other night, and now, just to get a drink of water, Dialmond fell down the stairs (Dirk had expanded more room to the house so Lloyd's wasn't the only upstairs room. He had done a lot of work.) when a bolt of lightning caused her to stumble, and well…fall. And this is when Kratos ordered Lloyd to investigate what the noise was--from another room, as Kratos was much too absorbed in a book at the moment--and the dual swordsman was practically naked. And wet, too. Convenient. Lloyd, just out of the shower, had a towel barley slung around his waist, and it almost slipped off many times as Lloyd went upstairs, causing him to either drop Dialmond back down the stairs (which happened a lot) or to…just let it slip. So Lloyd took a mad dash up the stairs and Dialmond clung onto the towel so it wouldn't fall. The dual swordsman had put her down on the bed, and talked to her for a while, not bothered y the fact that he was wearing almost nothing and dripping water everywhere. Dialmond finally fell asleep, but found that…that…that Lloyd was sleeping next to her, towel still on. It got late as the two talked, and from the relaxation of just getting out of the shower, the tiredness the man already had, and acting the stunt he performed when recalling how he had to jump over the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge, Lloyd had fallen onto the bed, and pretty much immediately fallen asleep afterwards. And already, he was hogging he covers and resting some of his body on Dialmond. It was a shock to the woman when he said something about her in his sleep and brought her extremely close to him, so it looked as if they were about to kiss and about to do something else too. And reflexively, Dialmond got out of the position, but no matter what stance they lied in, Lloyd had a hold on her. So the girl gave in and fell.

Though the man was fully dressed now, though. He either hadn't remembered what happened last night or tried to ignore He also was acting awkward a little before, but said "she wouldn't remember it, linearly." She later found out he was trying to saying literally, but instead used that. Oh well. But anyways, her leg hurt immensely and wasn't going to heal soon. Kratos said his First Aid, and Healing Wind and Stream spells weren't enough for the job, and they just couldn't call Raine. When asked why they couldn't, the response was "just because". And when they asked why they called her Raine instead of "Professor Sage"

or just "Professor" or "Miss Sage" or "something else that'd you say that isn't Raine, Kratos." (Lloyd couldn't think of anything else.), Kratos blushed--just a bit--said nothing, and left the room. Obviously, something had happened between the two, but Lloyd wasn't about to get into that. The dual swordsman stretched and commented o the weather.

"Man, it's hot out. Do you mind?" the dual swordsman questioned.

Dialmond thought he meant open the window, but instead Lloyd opened the seeing range to his chest; he took his shirt off. Dialmond turned red for a minute and looked away. Either the man…:

1. Really liked to look at himself with no clothes on.

2. Really liked the figure of a man's body. But, wouldn't that mean…Dialmond crossed this thought out of her mind because she already knew Lloyd was fighting himself about Colette and herself. It was still funny, though.

3. Was trying to impress. Did Lloyd really want Dialmond to see him like this all the time? But instead, sweat in place of the water?

4. Didn't like what he was wearing? But he always wore it, so Dialmond excluded this from her list.

5. Maybe he was just hot. No, not like attractive, which he was. But that's besides the point! Dialmond turned at least en shades or red while thinking this, then calmed her thoughts. Okay…so maybe he was just hot, in the body. Temperature! Body temperature!

Lloyd saw the girl's face go through a series of events respective to her thoughts. First, there was a perverse look, like people used to give Zelos. Then there was a suspicious look, followed by a shaking of the head and a laugh. After this, there was an embarrassed look, crossed with a thinking one. Then there was a look at his close, then another shake of the head. Shortly following was the said shades of red that populated Dialmond's face, a calm face, another blush, and more calm, with some blush. So instinctively, Lloyd moved closer to make things less awkward. How wrong was he.

………………………………...

Sheena sighed. Everything was packed up. Universa looked at her. She remembered his promise…

Flashback

"Universa!" Sheena yelled, obviously in shock.

"Yes, Sheena. It is my time. I have made my decision." The Summon Spirit turned away, "May we go sit near the pond?"

"Yeah, th-that's okay…" Sheena walked out with the man and sat down. Universa sat close to her. She was nervous. He was…well, what was he?

"My decision…" Universa caused some of the water to splash around in the lake.

"Yeah…what is it?" Sheena asked, staring at him.

"I have…decided to be with you in this case. I will not abandon you from that."

"Then?"

"There is something else I have to tell you. Something important, and something I do not wish to say. There is no way you can prepare for it, and I may or may not be there to assist you for it."

"What?" Sheena asked, confused.

"Later…" Universa put an arm around her shoulder, her head resting on his chest.

"Universa…"

"Sheena…."

The Summon Spirit got up and cleared his throat, "After I tell you what I need to, I may or may not be there. But I am sure of one thing, Sheena. I will always…always love you."

Embracing the woman--and her not resisting--the two wrapped in a kiss. Universa left for the house and left the female ninja to think, the bright shining moon reflecting off the pristine water.

"Universa…" Sheena called out, but those calls were upon deaf ears, and not heard by those with a grieving heart.

End Flashback

But that was all over now. Universa's decision, the thing he had to say…everything confused the female ninja so much. The Summon Spirit, much more solemn than usual, helped the woman with her bags. Everyone was given a break and Universa went to wander to an empty room. Before spotting one he liked, Universa bumped into Embre, whose reply was…

SMACK. Embre cleared her throat, "I'm so pissed of at you right now, Summon Spirit. You disgust me." Embre then walked off, and left a sting. Summon Spirit…Embre had never used that. She wasn't one to say discriminative names, but Universa was a Summon Spirit, but being called on when you had an acquaintance with someone…hurt. Universa decided to let this fact go and had a flashback of his own…

Flashback

"Miss Professor. You know…"

"I know what you are saying to me. We can't tell Sheena just yet. Eve if she succeeds, she will still be charged. She HAS to handle this case first."

"But Miss Professor!--" Universa was cut off.

"Universa, listen to me!" Raine slapped the Summon Spirit of the Universes. Hard. She then looked ashamed for a moment, then brushed it away, "I UNDERSTAND you want to help. I KNOW what you can and couldn't do, thanks to research. We cannot take action yet. You do want to help Sheena, but she has other obstacles to overcome. And…I know another reason behind this. If Sheena succeeds in what you YOURSELF suggested, then you will not even get the chance. I respect that. But listen TO ME. She cannot leave in the midst of this. It is up to you to tell her these things. Now, leave."

End Flashback

HE couldn't tell her but SHE could give him the privilege when to do so. He got up for a second out of anger; he had nothing to do, so why not? Universa sat back down. He couldn't deal with things by telling her that now…no…

………………………………...(A/N:These things can annoy me, but it's okay.)….

Outside, Sheena was sitting by herself, lost in thought. Sardnyox came up behind her…

"Pay attention." the girl hit her on the back of the head.

"Ow! What is wrong with you!" the female ninja yelled.

"It was just a joke." Sardnyox shook her head, "But…what's on your mind?"

"Universa, and my relationship with him…I don't really know."

"If you think you can lover again, you may want to try, Sheena."

"What?"

"…Nothing. Never mind. But please, just…don't get too carried away."

"You sure have some pretty weird advice, Sardnyox."

"Heh. That's why I'm a small character."

Sheena gave a weird look to her and Sardnyox just laughed a bit. Walking off, Sheena lost herself in thought again. So, Crimsonia now came up.

"Oh Sheena! I have amazing news! I think with these newfound powers Lapisa, Rubyi, and I have we could go between lands without weapon riding!"

"Really!" Sheena asked in surprise, her thoughts going adrift.

"Yes! It is fantastic! We can go through the storm without any worries!…There seems to be something on your mind…what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'm just thinking of Universa."

"I am sure it is hard But, you may find you love him later. I am just saying--"

"No. I'll only love Zelos."

"That attitude could get you killed someday. But, I suppose it is alright. I am sure nobody expected me to love Sola!"

"Yeah, that was a surprise."

Crimsonia laughed, "Actually for a while, I thought I might have fancied Universa. But, in the end--even if Sola and I never shared a moment like that--I found I loved Sola much more."

"Moment?" Sheena questioned.

"Nothing." Crimsonia blushed and laughed, "But, we will be going soon. Are you ready?"

"She should be." A new voice said.

"What?" the two girls said in unison, looking around.

"Hiya." Flaren burst out of a bush, "We finished packing everything. Cresenta's so strong! We should get going soon, though. So Crimsonia, you think you can just use your magic to get us through? How?"

"Universa was unfamiliar with the area and other reasons stopped him too, but I think I have mastered a high-enough-level of teleportation to get us there. I have been practicing. And--"

"Well, continue." Flaren cut her off, having gathered everyone up, "And?"

"And I think we should go now. To the lands of the new world!"

A/N: We finally leave the Secluded Lands. Seles and co. didn't even need that piece from the Otherworldly Gate to go back! Oh well, I better put down that Crimsonia knows how to teleport now. I open four things for this story! Every time! Well, five really, if you count Works. Or six, if you count the folder. Or seven, if you count Windows Media player. Or eight, if you count AOL. Oh well, anyways…Universa's decided to stay. But really, what's going to happen after the case. And how will Dialmond get home now, and will she want to leave. Stupid Lloyd, so open. I really thought Dialmond's over thinking list was funny. That's hilarious, she though Lloyd was…

Dialmond: Shut up. I will say your crappy line for you. Read on.