Chapter 2: Regal and Presea

Disclaimer: I don't own any stuff my Namco. Do I really have to put this in every chapter? I mean, people ought to understand that after the first chapter.

Well, I can't see them together, but they are closely linked through Alicia. So…

After his return to the Lezarano Company, Regal had been accepted as the president. Presea was almost thirty now, and he'd invited her to the Company for her birthday in two days. It had been a month since Colette and Lloyd had been married. He feared for the intelligence of any child they might have, but he was glad they were happy.

Sitting in his office, he hadn't expected to have any visitors that day, but when he was about to go have lunch, a small thirteen-year-old girl with pink hair stepped into the room. "Hello, Regal," she said. She had a soft voice, low for someone her age. She wore a dark blue dress and interesting boots, and her blue eyes showed that she was much older than her body would suggest.

"Hello, Presea. I hadn't expected to see you here today."

"I thought I'd come by early. If I'm inconveniencing you…"

"No, not at all. Do you want to come have lunch with me?"

"Certainly."

They talked over lunch. Presea was growing quickly. She had a lot of years to catch up on. She was over twice her physical age, which had to be frustrating. Regal paid no attention to that, though, because he knew that she was only four year younger than him.

"How is your life back here at Lezarano?"

"The same as it used to be. There are endless papers, some social events, and the beach to walk on at night."

"Would you take me to the beach tonight? I've heard that the sunset's really pretty."

"Sure. Is there anything else you'd like to do here?"

"What is there to do?"

"There's the casino, the amusement park, the sky terraces… We also have a library, but it's mostly just reference books."

"I think I just want to go to the beach."

"Does your old swim suit still fit?"

"Probably not."

"There's also a company store where you can buy that sort of thing."

"Oh. Would you show me?"

"Sure."

She tried on two swim suits before she found one that fit, and she bought it with money that she'd gotten from carving wood and killing monsters. Then she went to the room that Regal had gotten for her and changed into it, then they went to the beach.

She sat in the freezing-cold water, humming to herself and thinking. She swam around some, then after awhile it got dark and the ocean got even colder. When she couldn't stand it anymore, she got out.

"Thank you, Regal."

"For what? I only took you to the beach."

"Yeah, but you also got me a room."

"You could have done that yourself if you'd wanted to."

"No, I couldn't have. I'm too young. People don't see how old I am when they look at me. Kate says I might grow to look my age, though."

"Or maybe you're only growing fast because that's what twelve-year-olds do."

"I think… I think I look a little closer to fourteen than thirteen, though. And… That's a good thing, right?"

"Yes. Then people will take you more seriously."

"Regal… Are you hiding something from me? You seem… different."

"I just haven't taken a vacation all year. George was a good president, but… well, stuff piles up. He knew that I would come back someday, so he left some matters for me. I haven't had much spare time."

"So you feel guilty for ignoring your duty."

"Yes."

"It's okay. You need a day or two off."

"I know. I still can't shake that feeling, though."

"You'll catch up. Alicia knew that, too, when she told you that she didn't want you to feel guilty for her."

"Yes… She always said that I took work too seriously."

"She also always said that work was no fun, and therefore not worth doing."

"But she did it anyway. She didn't complain as much, actually, after she got to know me."

"Wow… Alicia not complaining about work. That's a miracle."

"Heh… I guess."

They passed the time with idle talk, but when the sunset was over they went to bed. "After all," Regal said, "People with teenaged bodies need the most sleep."

Presea laughed at that. Usually, people said "teenagers." But he couldn't call her a teenager, could he?

.-..-..-.

Two days later, the entire group was there. Colette, Lloyd, Genis, Raine, Zelos, Sheena, and Kratos had all come to Altamira to celebrate Presea's thirtieth birthday. Kratos, although he hadn't been in their group when they learned about Presea's Cruxis Crystal, knew as much as everyone else because he was a Cruxis Angel. He also understood Presea's feelings because he was eternally twenty-eight. They became friends, actually, and as the party continued late into the night, Colette, Kratos, and Presea had gotten into a group because they were the ones who could relate the most to each other.

Another round of music started. Genis asked Presea to dance, just as he had every other dance. Presea smiled at him, but she felt… guilty that she didn't return his feelings. She also danced with Regal, Zelos, Lloyd, and Kratos, but she wanted Genis to be happy even though she didn't like him in the same way that he liked her.

"Genis?"

"Yeah, Presea?" He said her name a lot.

"How do you feel… knowing that I'm thirty today?"

"You're still the same Presea that I went on the journey with. When I found out about it, I was surprised, but…"

"Genis, I'm… sorry I don't like you the same way you like me."

"It's okay. It's not like you can control it."

"Yeah, but… you're my friend. I want you to be happy."

"I'd be unhappy if you lied and said you did like me that way."

"Okay…"

"Presea? Why did you bring that up now?"

"I don't know. I guess… I guess I hadn't really thought about it until now."

"Oh…" Genis blushed a little deeper than he already was. Presea smiled at him.

Finally, it was time to go to bed. Everyone said good night to everyone else, and they retired to their rooms in the Altamira Hotel.

.-..-..-.

In the morning, Presea went back to Ozette to help with the rebuilding project. Sheena went back to Mizuho, Raine and Genis to Iselia, Colette, Lloyd, and Zelos to Meltokyo, and Kratos to… wherever Kratos lived. Regal stayed in Altamira.

Presea had lighter axes for woodcutting, which was her main job in the rebuilding project, but she still practiced with her heavier battleaxes when she had the time.

The problem with Genis was… there was no problem with him. He was an intelligent twelve-year-old half-elf boy who lived in a little village in Sylvarant with his sister. He had saved everyone countless times. There was no problem with him. But Presea didn't feel particularly drawn to him, as he was to her. She felt so bad for him. But he would feel bad if she pretended to have a crush on him. How could she make both of them happy? They were both unhappy now. Maybe the answer would come.

Particularly short because I have no clue what to write for Presea. You don't see much of her character in the game, because she's only there for part of it and for part of that time she doesn't act like herself. We know that Genis likes her, that she probably doesn't like him the same way, that she's really smart, and that she's a 28-year-old stuck in a 12-year-old body, which has to be frustrating. Reviews?