Me: Dun, dun, dun, duuunnn! I'm finally on chapter/part 40! And I got tired of waiting for reviews--so I'll update now! (besides I might not have any more time on the computer this weekend so...)

Feral: Congratulations. This is officially twenty chapters longer than you originally thought it'd be--back when you said the end would be around chapter 20. And you really don't have any patience do you?

Me: Yes congrats to me -pats self on back- but what do you mean by me having no patience? I've had this written out since, well, since Wednsday! Of course I'd want to upload it by now!

Feral: Fine, fine, whatever you say...

To Understand: Part Forty

Sweet Awakening

By Harmony283

Reviews:

Nady-kun--Yay! You finally get to review again! And yeah, I kinda figured you'd be following along (or else you wouldn't know what's going on enough to review). And yes, Mitosu has fanged teeth. And now that you pointed it out, yes it would kind of be like a demon vs an angel. As for if he has wings or not…yes he does, but no you never hear about them. And you probably won't till the sequel. Now then, here's the next chapter--enjoy!

LittleLinor-Ah-ha-ha, yeah I guess April'll have one other person to be afraid of. And yes, Yuan will fight--but unfortunately he doesn't show up in this chapter like I had originally planned (not that anything ever goes as planned anyway) but I'm sure the G/M fluff will make up for it somewhat. And yes, now that you mention it, Feral has been quiet--though I can't say why she's been that way I can say that I'm surprised no one's found out who she is yet (not that it's easy to find out who she is…but…no one's even guessed). And because of the reviews I here's a new chapter! Enjoy!

Takokinoko-Yes another cliffhanger--it's seems that I almost always leave people hanging at the end of my chapter (but that's not necessarily a bad thing if it keeps them-the readers-coming back for more). And yes, Mitosu doesn't seem like an easy person to defeat. And, once they do get a chance to fight with him--since you don't see them fighting him during this chapter--you'll see that yes they are strong enough to wound him greatly, but not kill him. You could say that he's 'non-killable' as he is right now (as for what that means, you'll find out later). And yes, Presea's going to be fine--as you'll see in this chapter. And yes, I'm throwing Yuan in here--he's one of my favorite guy characters besides Genis and Mithos--and he hasn't done much in this fanfic to begin with, so yeah, he's going to show up and help out! Now then, here's the next chapter--enjoy!

Alaia Skyhawk-Yes Lloyd's paralyzed, and yes that's not good. What'll they do I wonder? Or will you even find out in this chapter? Hmm…well, anyways, here's the newest installment in TU--enjoy!

Feral: Well I have to say that I'm glad you got out of the whole 'Meeting the Darkness' thing for the title…

Me: Well they've met Pronyma--whose evil (I)--and the fought Pronyma (II) and they've met Mitosu--whose evil (III). See three?

Feral: …I don't get it.

Me: -shrug- oh well, if you get it you get it. If you don't get it, you don't. But that's why there have been three chapters with 'Meeting the Darkness' as the title. And now the title's changed!

Feral: Like I said: that's good and I'm glad. Now then, Harmony283 doesn't own ToS or any of its characters. She does however, own April, any and all OC's appearing in this fanfic, the plot for this fanfic, and me.

Authors Note: Good job Feral. Okay then, in the last chapter I left a cliffhanger like ending--yet again. And I'm sure you're all wonder: 1-will Mithos get Genis safely out of Derris Kharlan? 2-will Yuan make it to Lloyd and the others in time? 3-Is Presea okay and will she, along with April, find their way out of that mysterious cave? And finally 4-are Lloyd and the others okay? Well I can say that you'll see lot's of Mithos/Genis action in the beginning (it starts off with them, after all). And then you'll see what happens to April and Presea. And--in the end.

Feral: Yes those are good questions but, I've been wondering, what does the 283 at the end of your pen-name mean?

Me: …well that's random…but it has to deal with my favorite number and the month I was born in.

Feral: Oh…that's been bugging me…for a while now…

Me: …okay…? Well I answered your question so it shouldn't bug you anymore. Now on with the chapter! Oh yes, and the very beginning is a flashback--just so you don't get confused :D

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Genis POV

'I…I…love you…I love you Genis.' The words of the blond half-elf echoed throughout the room, and, oddly enough, I could hear it despite the waterfall being, well, right next to us.

I flushed crimson as the full impact of the words--words that you could only say once to a person--hits me.

He loved me.


Someone really loved…me.

Mithos leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my forehead, giving me no time to react; though giving me all the time in the world to ponder over what he meant.

'L-Love?'

Mithos pulled away, looking at me with a confused stare, 'What?'

'You really love me?'

He nodded his head, 'Yes Genis, I do. I-I…I said I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life didn't I?'

Well that was true, he did.

'Mithos I--yes…you…you did…' I watched as my friends face seemed to grow ten times redder, and happier, at the same time.

The sadness and loneliness that had been there almost constantly since we found him in the burned ruins of Ozette seemed to lighten.

But it was still there.

So maybe I--maybe it couldn't just go away with a confession but…but…

'Mithos?'

He smiled, 'Yes?'

'I--um…I know that you…l-l-l-love m-me…um…and…you seem…happy? But sad…at the same time.'

His eyes widened, 'Wha--?'

I shook my head; I couldn't ask him why he was so depressed when he just told me he loved me!

'I…no never mind. I think we should, um, head back…I mean, Raine could be back any minute now--it's almost been a week!'

Mithos nodded his head, pulling me up with him.

Then I noticed--I was hurt.

'Oww…'

'Huh?'

'My…leg…it hurts.'

He leaned down, touching my left calf lightly, 'Right here?'

I nodded my head and he starts massaging the area--making me flush and loose my balance.

Somehow…somehow this seems so wrong.

'It's only wrong if you say it's wrong.' The voice inside my head stated, almost seeming to laugh at how awkward the situation was.

And it was awkward. I mean, Mithos just told me he loved me, in the middle of a mine that somehow collapsed and I had somehow woken up in, and…and…

His hands kept moving upwards on my leg, making my face flush even more. His hands weren't outright moving from their position on my lower leg where it'd be noticeable--but they would casually move up an inch.

But it wasn't like I could stop him.

For one it-felt good and two, well, he wouldn't do something…well…like that, like what Zelos would do…right? I mean, he's only two years older than I am, right?

'Or is he?'

I shook my head, and Mithos looked up, stopping his hands.

'What's wrong Genis?'

I blinked, 'Oh! Ah…n-nothing it's just, um, uh…I guess…I…' I bit my lip, unsure of how to go on. All the while you just stared at me with understanding eyes.

'Don't worry, Genis, I understand.'

He moved closer to me and, in one instant I was in his arms, being carried 'bridal style' out of the room and towards the mine entrance.

…

I slowly opened my eyes, wondering where I was for a moment--or rather, why I didn't feel a bed underneath me.

Then I realized I was on the ground.

With something warm shining down on my head.

"Nn…?" I mumbled, suddenly having the feeling that I was outside.

"Oh? You're awake!" Mithos said, sounding happy, and yet far away.

I cracked my eyes open a bit more and realized I was leaning up against something, something hard, like a rock.

And I was.

I sat up straight, and looked around. It seemed that we were at the base of the Tower of Salvation.

"Uh…"

"I'm glad you're up. Are you…feeling better?" Mithos walked over to me, handing me a canteen filled with water.

"Um, y-yeah I'm fine…but why are we…here?"

"Huh? Oh, because it's not easy flying while a person's asleep." He sounded nervous though.

When Mithos backed up, giving me a better view of him, I noticed that he was limping lightly.

Then it hit me.

"You're hurt!"

He blinked, dropping--what I assumed to be--my bag.

"What?"

"You're hurt! How did you get hurt?"

"Who said I was--"

"You're limping!"

He blinked and shook his head, "So? I said that my foot was sensitive when I my Cruxis Crystal was taken away…so…"

"…It couldn't hurt that much…could it?"

He paused, as if thinking over something before going back to rummaging through my bag.

"Mithos!"

"Hush! I'm trying to find that pendant! I put it back in here for safe keeping while I was fighting those monsters!" he snapped, never lifting his gaze off the bag in front of him.

"M-Mithos…"

I felt like I was on the verge of tears. I guess it…hurt…to have Mithos talk to me like that.

He never talked to me like that.

And he noticed.

He looked up and--seeing my obviously pained expression--stopped his searching, getting up and limping over to where I was.

"No…Genis…no…don't cry…I--I'm sorry…" he murmured, cupping the side of my face with one of his hands.

And I--in turn--nuzzled into it, trying my best to will away the tears that were burning the edges of my eyes.

I felt him move closer, falling to his knees so that he was closer to my height. He then placed his lips against my forehead, placing a chaste kiss there before moving to the nape of my neck. Which I now noticed was fully exposed.

Yeesh, this tunic must be in ruins right now--forget the fact that this was Lloyds shirt to begin with, thus being way too big for me--all torn up from my wings and…and the attacks…

I felt his tongue dart out quickly, licking that exposed skin--which would have made me blush if I hadn't been…so…so 'emotionally unstable' as Raine would have put it.

"M-Mithos?" I whispered, unconsciously tilting my head to the side, giving him more room to do whatever it is he wanted to do.

He seemed to smile--his lips were now pressed against my skin so I could feel his lips move--before quickly whispering something in my ear:

"I'm sorry…let me make up for it…"

He then pressed a soft kiss on the side of my neck--which surprisingly made me gasp.

I hadn't known my skin was so sensitive there!

And this…weird feeling…in my stomach…

Mithos just ever so casually, started kissing that area, his kisses only feather light, which seemed to just make the weird feeling grow.

"M-M-Mithos…? Wha--?"

"Shh, it's okay…I can make it up to you can't I? I can say that I'm sorry for getting angry with you, can't I?"

I could barely nod my head, but that seemed to be enough for him.

All the while the feeling in my stomach grew even more.

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Aprils POV

I sit here, over the limp form of Presea in my arms, wondering what in the name of Martel I should do.

After all, I didn't know the first thing about Exspheres--or Cruxis Crystals--for that matter! All I knew was that they were bad, and that they were what caused the death of, well, my father.

And the state my mother was in at the moment.

I shivered slightly, maneuvering so that I could pick up the shorter girl. Despite her being unconscious, I still had to find a way out of here.

The fact that this place didn't feel, well, real didn't help me much either.

Where had Pronyma taken/thrown us?

Speaking of Pronyma…did Lloyd defeat her yet?

Was Raine okay?

And was Pronyma still alive?

I shuddered again, though this time more out of fear than the strangeness of my surroundings.

I heard Presea groan lightly, shifting in her unconsciousness closer to me; her face tinged with the redness so commonly seen in those who are plagued by fever.

Well if she had a fever, then at least I could help cool that down.

I closed my eyes, murmuring a few elven words I had learned long ago, before calling out; "Nursing Wave!" (A/N: This automatically heals any fever/sickness marking on a certain persons' body)

And as soon as I said that, a soft pale green--with a hint of yellow--light rained down upon her form, the redness in her cheeks dying down, revealing her normally pale complexion once more.

I sighed in relief, "Well at least now I don't have to worry about her having a fever anymore."

I then staggered to my feet, glancing only once at the crystallized wall of Exsphere, before turning to face in front of me, walking towards the opening on the far side of the room.

But once I reached this room…where would I go?

I had a feeling that going back to Raine and the others wouldn't be such a good idea--or at least it wouldn't right now.

But I could at least figure out where I was.

Because now I was pretty sure that I was still in Derris Kharlan.

After all, the chains took me and Presea up not down or sideways or…or…through a time dimension.

The latter, of course, was just…not possible. Yes Mithos--Yggdrasill--split the two worlds, but he couldn't travel between dimensions on a whim…could he?

I sincerely hoped not.

And I also hoped that they had gotten off of Derris Kharlan okay. I didn't know the full extent of why Pronyma wanted Raines brother…but I knew it wasn't good.

And that Mithos needed to get Genis out of here.

Then I had to wonder--is Genis okay? He was asleep when we last saw him…did he wake up?

Did he know where he was?

And…and was Mithos all right as well?

Where would he take Genis when they escaped?

I had so many questions that wouldn't be answered until I had visible proof.

But first things first.

I had to find a way out of here…and quick.

It seemed almost, well, surreal that I was in such a place like this. Almost like an illusion and yet not at the same time.

I quickened my pace, my shoes clicking off the stone floor and echoing around the room as I walked hurriedly to the other side.

It was slightly darker, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid.

But…but…I had to get out of here, and Presea made it seem like there wasn't an exit on the other side of that glass wall.

Ironically enough, when I reached the opening on the other side of the room…

I wound up in a small passageway.

"What…?"

It was darkly lit, but the flooring was made out of the same tiling as I had seen in Venheim.

So I was still on Derris Kharlan!

But was that really such a good thing.

I shook my head, shifting Presea's weight once more as I headed down the even darker passage.

It gave me the feeling of being in a basement.

…I never liked basements.

I shook my head once more.

I shouldn't be thinking about basements at a time like this! I mean, yes this place is kind of dark and it's really narrow now…

And yes the smell does slightly resemble the basement under the inn in Heimdall--where all the supplies and things are kept--since it's slightly musty.

But then again, any place that hasn't been exposed to air regularly is like that.

I sighed again, causing Presea to groan, before moving onward.

Now the passageway didn't echo, but the sound my boots made in to tile weren't too reassuring either.

It all sounded so…so…surreal.

So fake.

So like an image--a hologram--that's there one minute but then, just like that, can be swept away…deleted.

Never to be seen again.

I shuddered at the thought.

Human lives were like that too. Even we, as elves--the supposed superior race--could be deleted.

Though not as easily as humans or the half-elven kind.

I shook my head again.

Where were all these thoughts coming from?

Or did I really want to know that?

No, I didn't think I did. But the fact that they were there, swarming around in my mind, still disturbed me.

I sighed once more, "How long is this tunnel anyway--huh?"

Almost as if on cue, a small light--emitted from a crack in the ceiling--filtered down in the relatively dark passage.

That must be the exit!

But why is it in the ceiling?

Don't tell me…we're underground?

No…of course we were! It was a cave after all!

But not all caves are underground!

Well, at least I see a source of light.

But where does it lead?

I looked down at the sleeping pink haired girl in my arms. I guess I should set her down so I can check. It'd be near impossible to get us both of us up at the same time anyway.

I quickened my pace, ignoring the various sounds or feelings of unreal-ness I kept having, focusing on the exit tile in the ceiling.

Once I reached it, it was relatively at the end of the tunnel, I placed Presea carefully against the closest wall before murmuring a levitation spell my aunt had taught me when I had first come under her roof.

With the tile moved out of the way jumped up, barely able to grab the edge of the opening, and dragged myself part of the way up.

Only to find that…I was in an apparently abandoned building.

Well, at least it was safe.

I turned back around, jumping back into the tunnel. I hated to do this but I needed Presea's help--or at least I needed her to pull herself up out of the tunnel.

I checked her pulse and seemed as though she was breathing so that meant she was most likely sleeping at the moment.

I cautiously shook her, hoping that her fast reflexes were slowed by her sleepiness--I really didn't want to heal myself at a time like this.

Though it surprised me when she mumbled something in her sleep--groggily sitting up shortly afterwards.

She looked startled, but once I explained things to her--about her passing out and how I had found a way out--she seemed to understand what I needed her to do.

And she performed that task--with a little help from me since she was so short--though she still seemed weak.

I then pulled myself up, turning to her with a smile, "Well at least we're out of there…"

"Yes but where are we now?"

I looked around me.

Good question…where were we? And where were the others?

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Me: Yes I know--a short chapter. What can I say? I was tired when I wrote this (it's close to 1 AM here) and after I got this done I had to finish my homework and go to B-E-D

Feral: But you didn't even finish your homework...

Genis: By the way…um…what's with the make out scene in the beginning? I mean, um, don't you usually put that kind of stuff in the end?

Me: well I wanted people to get captivated by the chapter right away, so yeah, that scene's in the beginning.

Feral: Yes; that's exactly what you wanted to do. Now I see that big textbook over there--and the math problems you didn't even attempt to do yet--so get started.

Genis: Math? I like math!

Mithos: But…but you're busy right now! And you need to get to bed too! -drags Genis away-

Me: …I suppose I do need to get started on that Math homework soon but it IS the weekend so I can start on it at any time now. So yeah, R&R and I'll get the next chapter up sometime soon (hopefully)!