And here it is: Chapter/Part Seven of To Understand! I hope ya like it!
To Understand: Part Seven
The Confusion of Ones Actions
By Harmony283
Good Reviews: 4
Hiranieas-Yeah…it's been doing that since two nights ago. Whenever I go to check to see if I have any reviews…even though the little number at the bottom shows I have 1 new review (for example it said 16 reviews and now it says 17) it won't show me them so I have to go to Outlook Express and check (Oh yes, it's fixed now!). Oh yeah, you reviewed, like, seven minutes after I updated…wow…um, so yeah, this is the next chapter I hope you like it!
Nady-kun-Yay! A new reviewer! Wow…I actually got someone hooked on my story—that's never, ever, ever happened to me before (then again I've only written 5 fan-fics and this one has the most reviews…so I was kinda expecting that…)! And yes I can't wait to see DraNKa's fan art for my story—I'm so happy that she said that she'd draw one for it—squee! Oh yes, here's the next Chapter—updated as fast as I could with school an' all—I hope you enjoy it (and I'm sure you will)!
Viaroura Fox-Aww, thanks! And here ya go! A new chapter!
DraNKa-Ack…plane crash? Oh good, you were kidding…eh-heh-heh-heh…um, yeah I really did make Mithos all sweet in the last chapter. I almost felt bad for him when he was talking about how he had no real friends he could trust. And here's another chapter! Though I'm pretty sure you won't be back when this comes out (considering the fact you said you'd be out for two weeks).
Bad Reviews: (I think I should just take this out now…)
Me: Okay Feral, dear, you know what to do.
Feral: Fine, fine, Harmony283 doesn't own Tales of Symphonia, just the plot and me…is that good enough?
Authors Note: Yup, that's good Feral! Now then, you finally get to hear at least a bit of why Raine was yelling at Zelos and Lloyd in the lobby (back in Part Five). As for one part she says…it has a double meaning. Just use which ever one satisfies you. Oh yeah, this is mostly in Genis and Zelos' POV (except in the beginning). Okay then, I hope you enjoy!
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Raines POV
I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it. First Zelos and Lloyd were…kissing in the lobby—though I'm pretty sure that was Zelos' doing—and then I found out that they had…slept together the night before—okay maybe it wasn't entirely Zelos' fault—but…gods, Colette had walked in on them and the fact that Genis—that my little brother—was next door—and still away for that matter—disturbed me to no end.
And then of course what happened on a few moments ago. Genis' anger….
Where had it come from?
How long had he kept all of this anger bottled up?
Why…why had he never told me? Didn't he know by now that I would listen if he ever needed to talk to someone? Hadn't I told him that?
Now here I was casting first aid on him as well as bandaging up his wounded arm/hand. I looked up momentarily from my task to find Genis staring absentmindedly out the window, his eyes vacant as if remembering something. He held the picture frame, as well as the picture, he had broken earlier in his left hand.
Almost too quietly for me to hear, he mutters, "I…know that."
"Genis? What's wrong?"
He snaps to attention immediately, almost seeming frightened by the sound of my voice, "Um…n-nothing's wrong…well, except for my arm." He grins at me, but it looks nothing short of force.
Now seemed to be the perfect time to ask him about his anger, or rather, the cause of it, so I did.
"Genis?"
"Hnn?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah…sure…" he already seemed to know what I was going to say, but made no move to stop me from speaking.
"It's about this…anger. Why were you so…?"
"Like I said before, I was angry. There's nothing more too it. I just was." He grated this out quite forcefully, which only caused me to worry more.
"I know that. But WHY?"
He seemed to flinch and I noticed I was squeezing his wrist rather tightly…which must have hurt because of his wound. I quickly pulled my hand away, though not breaking my gaze from my rather frail looking younger brother.
"I…guess…I…just…" he seemed to be trying to form the words, but something was holding him back. He glanced down at the picture, his eyes focusing more on Mithos than anyone else.
Wait.
Did this anger have to do with Mithos' betrayal?
But didn't he—wasn't he—already over that?
"Does this have anything to do with Mithos betrayal?" I ask softly, hoping not to startle him out of his thoughts again.
But I had.
"Wha--?" he looked at me like I shouldn't even be asking that…like Mithos could never be the source of anger for him.
This wasn't good.
Did this mean that Genis still thought of Mithos as a friend?
"Genis, it's perfectly fine to be angry at him. Don't let your…" I tried to find the right words for it, knowing that right now Genis was probably capable of doing something distructive again, "…Past friendship with him cause you to feel guilty."
"But—" Genis seemed to be extremely hurt by this. More so than I thought he'd be.
Oh gods, I did not want to ask him this…what he had made painfully clear just then. But I had to. Because if he was still friends with Mithos then he could turn on…us.
"Genis. Are you still friends with Mithos?"
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Genis POV
"Genis. Are you still friends with Mithos?"
I blinked, taken back by what she said.
'Oh you're more than just friends with him!'
I felt my face flush crimson because of Ferals frankness towards me and Mithos' new found relationship, and I saw Raine giving me a questioning look.
"Wh-Why do you want to know?" Ugh, why was I stuttering? That would only make her more suspicious!
"Because I want to know."
'I wouldn't tell her the truth if I were you.'
I sighed, like I was actually telling the truth anyway. Raine would freak if she found out about how close we really are…about our…love…for each other…
Or was it even love?
"Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, I'm not friends with him because of what he does…I'm friends with him because of the way he acts around me…if that makes any sense at all."
Raine just stared at me, eyes widening ever so slightly at my confession. But when she spoke, her tone was serious:
"Genis, has Mithos contacted you at all last night?"
'Now what are you going to say?' Feral asked in an amused tone.
I'm pretty sure Raine could tell I was nervous, and that I didn't want to answer but honestly she's intimidating when she interrogates people. I can understand now why Zelos and Lloyd looked so scared.
But now I was in their position. The only difference is that I'm not with the one I care for, like they were.
I was alone.
"Genis, answer the question!" now Raine seemed urgent.
Very urgent.
I'm guessing that this wasn't easy for to ask, or say. But then again, if you ever have the suspicion that a close friend of yours, or in this case family member, may betray you of course you'd be worried and want an answer right away.
Even if it was a lie at least it could prepare you for when they eventually did betray you…or it could give you a sense of relief when you found out that you were just overly suspicious.
"Genis…it's…not…true is it? You…haven't joined Mithos…have you?"
'Oh good, she finally asks you something that you don't have to lie about.'
I smiled, "No, Raine I haven't joined him…he never asked me to, ever."
Raines eyes grew wide and then she smiled, a look of pure relief shining on her face.
"That's…good. I was…worried. When Mithos…betrayed us…I wasn't sure how you took it."
"Raine…I'm almost thirteen now…I'm almost a teenager now, but do you honestly think I'd turn on you guys that easily?"
She gave me a helpless glance, which told me that yes, she had thought it was possible…at one point.
"I…you…were such good friends with Mithos that…I'm sure anyone would have believed that you would turn on them. Maybe even Lloyd did…"
"But…I haven't turned on you, and I don't intend to. I thought I already told you I became friends with Mithos not because of what he did but because of the way he acted around me. He…I don't think you'll believe me about this but…remember when I stayed at Altessas when you went with Lloyd, Sheena, and the others to go make a pact with Luna…and how when you came back we told you that there was a rock slide?"
"Y-Yes…I was so worried when I had heard that both you, and Mithos had been out at that time."
I nodded my head, "Yeah…well, he…he saved me. I was near the Toize Valley mines when the first earthquake happened. He came to my rescue. He then took me back to Altessa where, as you know, he saved Tabatha."
Raine just mutely nodded her head, "I…see…" was all she said…and was all I expected her to say.
"Hey Raine! We really need to be going…now? Oh…were you two talking…um…I-I'm sorry…"
Colette was standing there in the doorway, her eyes still slightly puffy from crying so much earlier.
"Nah, it's okay Colette, we were done talking anyway. Do you need help with something?"
"Um…well…maybe my math homework, I…wasn't able to do it…last night…" I blinked, then blushed, realizing what she meant.
Of course she wouldn't have been able to work! How could anyone when they had walked into their crush and…and…my face just burned brighter.
"I-I…okay then, l-let's go."
"Genis."
"It's okay Raine, we can talk later."
"So you weren't done talking?" Colette asked curiously, her blue eyes shining with curiosity.
"Yes we were—"
"But it's nothing that we can't talk about later, so don't worry about it." I smiled reassuringly to Colette and led her from the room, leaving a very confused, and slightly annoyed, Raine sitting on the edge of my bed.
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Lloyds POV
I was so…confused.
So purely and utterly confused.
And I don't think it was because of my denseness now.
How could it be?
Zelos…he said he loved me…we even…
I blushed at the thought of what happened the night before. It still gave me goosebumps when I thought of him kissing me.
And yet…when Colette walked in…everything changed. I felt so ashamed of loving him. I…it must have hurt him.
Yeah, that's got to be it! There's no plausible reason why he would ignore me today!
That and maybe because Colette ratted us out to Raine…gods I guess she must've been really upset to do that.
But how could I have known she loved me like that? That she loved me that much.
Well, okay, maybe Genis did point it out a few times but he had stopped doing that a while ago.
Back when they had first visited Meltokio.
It still slightly disturbed me that I could have forgotten that my closest friend was right next door to us last night. How awkward must that have been for him? But he acted like he hadn't heard a thing. Instead he had prodded them with questions.
Though what really disturbed me is what happened only a few minutes ago.
That horrible anger that Genis had displayed.
That…anger it had…when they had finally knocked the door down only to see him smash the mirror—and with his bare hand too—it…that…was just…something he could never have thought Genis capable of.
And the fact that he had looked so…frightened…so shocked…at how he had done it…and how he had not remembered breaking those things…
Gods it scared everyone…but Raine…she was undoubtedly asking him about it now.
Still the excuse of 'I was just pissed' really left the world as a vacant answer.
What was he pissed about? What had happened? Why did he resort to anger? Wasn't he smarter than that?
Hell yes he was smarter than that.
So why?
I sighed loudly, falling back onto the remade bedspread. I officially had a headache…and I had bigger things to worry about.
Like my relationship with Zelos.
Heck, that was even more confusing than anything else!
I love him and I know he said he loved me, but does he really? Because if he does he sure isn't showing it today. Heck, I haven't even seen him since, well, since we were in Genis' room.
Okay, that was just a few minutes ago but where had he disappeared off to?
"Y-Y'know…I think, out of everyone in this group you're the one I trust the most."
"Yeah, out of everyone in the group I trust you the most."
I shook those words out of my head…or rather, the visual that had gone along with them. It still bothered me that Zelos had acted so unsure in that moment. And…after what happened at Altessas I really did not want to think Zelos would betray us as well.
Though he always did say he hated being the Chosen.
And Yggdrasil—Mithos—was the one who thought up that crazy 'mana lineage' thing so he could take the title away…couldn't he?
Wait, why was I thinking that was a good thing? Well, yeah, maybe Zelos would be happy but that would mean that Mithos would want something in return.
Like maybe his loyalty.
Or maybe even his…life…
Gods I hoped neither of those answers came true.
"Dammit! Why is this so confusing?" I cried out, covering my face with my hands and moving farther up on the bed so that now my head was resting on the pillow. I brought my head up off the pillow before banging it down.
About the third time I did this…I felt something…something hard, small, and circular.
I blinked and got up, turning to glance at the pillow. Nothing appeared to be on top of it.
I moved the pillow aside and gasped.
There lay Zelos' Cruxis Crystal with a small folded up piece of paper beside it.
Why would Zelos leave his Cruxis Crystal here, of all places?
I picked up the crystal gingerly, running my fingers over the smooth surface. It felt just like an Exsphere.
I was about to unfold the small note when Raine called out, "Okay everyone it's almost time to leave!"
I quickly slid the note into my pocket and the Cruxis Crystal down my shirt before I hurried out of the room, checking to see if I had left anything else laying around before I closed the door a final time.
I arrived in the lobby to find Sheena, Presea and Genis sitting over at a nearby table, obviously trying to help Colette with her homework, Regal and Raine talking over the possible routes they could take to the Tower of Salvation, and Zelos flirting with one of the many maids that worked at the Inn.
Everyone looked up when they heard me enter and stood up.
"Well, should we get going or what?" I say, grinning at them.
Colette, Presea, and Sheena nodded their heads quickly, though Colette still seemed a little sad.
Raine and Regal smiled as if they approved, which was always good.
Genis…for a second I thought I saw indecision on his face before he nodded his head, lightly wincing as his wounded arm brushed up against the wooden table.
Zelos smirked and walked over to me, draping an arm around my neck like he used to do, "Yeah! Let's go kick some Cruxis butt!"
I smiled, good. For a second I thought he was…trying to avoid me…or…
"Yeah! Let's go!" Genis said, a sad, but confident grin appearing on his face as well.
Everyone, even Zelos, seemed slightly surprised by his sudden enthusiasm.
How…could he…be like that? I mean, I know their friendship was officially over, he had been so close to Mithos. How could he just up and decide to fight against just like that?
I'm not sure I would have the strength to do that if I had to go up against Zelos.
Wait…what made me think I was going to go up against him anyway?
I shook my head hurriedly and smiled, "Yeah! Let's go!" And everyone filed out of the hotel and into the lightly dusting of snow that fell from the sky.
We had almost reached the edge of town when I noticed that Zelos seemed to be…lagging behind. I faintly wondered why and stopped to look at him.
He seemed extremely worried about something, but quickly hid it away when he saw that I was looking.
"Zelos?"
"Hmm? What is it Lloyd?" He asked, his voice the same light cheerfulness it had been in the lobby.
"I…trust you okay? I..." the words where so hard to form, "I…can trust you can't I?"
Zelos seemed a bit taken back at this, but smiled anyway, "Yeah, yeah! Of course you can trust me, now let's hurry up!" His smile. His tone of voice. His expression.
Everything looked so…so…
Fake.
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Me: And that's the end of Part Seven! Yay! I made the last minute decision to tack on the ending. Though I'm not sure I got the conversation right it's supposed to be altered…I mean, they aren't in a relationship in the game and they are here.
Feral: Yes that's true…oh, and you only had me speaking four times in this chapter.
Me:…Don't worry, you'll get your time to shine…eventually.
Feral: Fine.
Me: Okay then! R&R, CC is welcome (if you have any) and…well…yeesh, I'm updating daily now! Agh! The ideas just keeping flowing!
Feral: Or so she says…
Me: …what's that supposed to mean?