Hooray, an extra short chapter!

Funny.

I don't own ToS.

Chapter 14: Repercussions

Genis hadn't spoken once. Ever since the attack, he seemed almost mute, not responding to talk, but simply existing. He was sleeping in the infirmary now, across from Raine, who was once again bustling around. She leaned over a pale Zelos, who was lying on a cot next to Sheena. Raine was clearly exhausted, but she worked on, bandaging feverishly. Regal stepped forward. "Right," he said calmly. "I'm taking over; you look like you're going to fall asleep on your feet."

Raine's beleaguered brain sent a response to her lips. "N…no, I… couldn't."

Regal firmly guided Raine to the door. "You can, and you will. I can hold down the fort for a few hours, you need the rest."

Raine seemed to have a mental battle going on above her eyebrows. Pride or Rest? Pride or Rest? Pride… or…. Her brain was too tired to continue. She shuffled out the door. Regal winced as she bounced off the door frame. "Eh… Colette, can you make sure she gets back alright?"

Colette nodded, grabbing a half-asleep Raine by the elbow. The two of them left, Raine leaning rather heavily.

The solemn group sat on the hard benches, glancing at each other occasionally. Presea seemed unable to decide who to look at, Chris or Genis, as Chris was avoiding her gaze, and Genis wasn't really doing anything at all. She bit her lip again, something that was becoming a bit of a habit. The tense silence was all of a sudden broken.

"Can you not do that?" Presea looked over at Chris, who had spoken. "You're seriously going to bite right through your lip."

Presea released her teeth's hold on her lip, and looked over at Chris, who had apparently decided to look at her again. She started again in a slow voice. "Okay…" A pause. Then, "Can I talk to you?" She looked over at Regal, who was looking rather puzzled. "Alone?"

Kratos was ticked off. Not normal behavior for the "cool as a cucumber" mercenary. "What do you mean, YOU CAN'T FIND LLOYD?" Kratos shouted in indignation.

"I…I'm sorry sir…" the rather scared Cruxis employee choked out. "But… but his signature seems to have disappeared."

Kratos was suddenly struck by a thought. Toning his voice down, he turned to Bob (the employee) and took a sip of water, asking "How could a signature be lost?"

"Well," Bob replied cautiously, "The person could be dead," (Kratos spat water all over the floor) "or…" Bob continued, "The person could have… well… changed his blood type dramatically.

Kratos choked on his water once again, but avoided spilling it on the floor as he replied, "Blood type? What does that have to do with it?"

"Let me explain," Bob said. "Our system tracks human, elf, and half-elf bloods. If it doesn't show up on our system, it's either dead, or,"

Kratos interrupted. "Not… Human…."

Chris stood up and walked to the door. He stepped out, resting his back against the plaster wall. Presea followed, closing the door. Taking up a position across the hall, she stared back into his river-blue eyes. There was silence in the hall for a few moments. Presea looked as though she was going to say something, but she didn't, and just kept staring right into his eyes, as though hypnotized. Chris avoided her gaze for as long as possible, staring at the walls and ceiling. Eventually, however, the gravity of her eyes captured him, and he had to stare back. He noticed her eyes were filling with tears…

Chris's brain was screaming at him. "Move! Move! She betrayed you! Get out!" But those eyes were there, he stared at them, like crystals of blue. She had her arms around him now… How had that happened? The voices in his head faded to a buzz, and finally stopped, as Presea drew ever closer to him. He felt her warmth in his arms, and in that moment, Chris never wanted to let her go again. And then… He felt her soft, small lips against his cheek, and her beauty enveloped him. Then there was nothing… And he realized she had left his arms.

"I'm sorry," he heard her choke out. "Genis and I…I…" she trailed off.

Chris opened his eyes in a weary manner. "Presea… Don't do this… You have nothing to be sorry about. If you love Genis, fine. But don't split yourself… You don't deserve that." And with that, Chris walked off, leaving Presea alone once more.

Colette supported a staggering Raine as best as she could. Opening the door lightly, she dragged Raine over to her bed and watched her fall asleep instantly. Colette sat on a chair, exhausted from her efforts. She felt so numb… Attacks, people missing… and… what she saw… she couldn't shake them from her mind. And Lloyd… Colette felt weariness like she had never experienced before. It was overwhelming. Even not being able to sleep was nothing like what she experienced now. She glanced out the window at the now setting sun. Yawning widely, she slunk over to the bed opposite Raine and pulled the covers over her, falling into a dreamless sleep.

Regal finished dressing the wounds in his own efficient manner. He then silently walked over to the only unoccupied bed, sinking into it. Five more days… Then Mizuho's people will return… But could they last that long? He slept, troubles tormenting him in his dreams.

Kratos flapped harder, while those in the village slept. Must… Find… Trail… Only the most animal instincts got into his brain. He landed in the clearing once more. He whirled around. Which way did Cain go? He began searching feverishly. Lloyd's life might hang in the balance…

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That and not wearing socks.

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