Me: And here's another Chapter of TU, and I have to say that this, by far, my latest update -bows head- I'm so sorry! I've been sick for the past three weeks (a cold that's been going on and off) and our computer is starting to act up, and my dad may be going in to fix it, though I'm not sure when.
April: Yes, you're just lucky that you can still upload.
Me: Yeah definitely.
To Understand: Part Forty-Seven
Time in Exire: Peace
By Harmony283
Reviews:
LittleLinor: Ah, yeah, I know I promised you some fluff, but don't worry there's going to be some in this chapter (a lot of it, mind you). As for the interesting ending…well, you'll see what happens since this chapter more-or-less focuses on that. As for Mithos being mad, don't worry, that'll come when Raine gets there/figures out who Virginia is in relation to her and Genis. That's when he gets really angry. Now here's the next, incredibly late, update. Enjoy!
Viaroura Fox: Hmm, don't worry you'll figure out what the gravestone says soon enough (hopefully in the next chapter, but I'm still not sure). And yes Zelos does have some markings on his hands, except for they're red not purple. Now here's the next chapter, enjoy!
Takokinoko: I'm glad you think Genis'll look cute in his new outfit, cuz Mithos (of course) will too! And yeah once the people in Exire get to know Genis, they'll like him (who couldn't like him—unless he didn't like them to begin with and was being mean). And you're right Genis would be in a state of absolute shock if he were to become friends with Virginia…though I'm not sure if I'll add that in or not (we'll just have to wait and see). Now here's the next chapter—enjoy!
April: So this means that now there are how many chapters left until everyone leaves Exire?
Me: Hmm, I'm not too sure anymore, just know that Genis has to change, Sheena needs to make her pact, Raine needs to find out about Virginia and Kloitz, Mithos needs to tell Genis about Virginia and Kloitz, the Mitosu, Pronyma, Jiniasu and Seiji need to show up.
April: So it might take longer than you thought?
Me: Doesn't it always?
April: Well, that's true. Okay then Harmony283 owns what she owns and doesn't own what she doesn't own, okay? Okay.
Authors Note: That was short…but anyway, Genis is finally away and is now changing into his new outfit. While doing so, he has a conversation with Mithos about wanting peace. But can that really happen when he's in Exire? And can Mithos keep his promise to Belle and not tell Genis about his parents? On a side note, a particularly unusual monster attacks Lloyd's group; Zelos looses his cool and suddenly attacks Kratos, and shortly after that, passes out. Why?
April: -gulp-that doesn't sound too good
Me: That's the way it goes…
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Mithos POV
I watched as a blush formed on Genis cheeks. He was still in bed, and didn't seem to want to move anytime soon. Of course, right now it'd probably be the best thing for him—not to move, I mean.
So of course, that meant that I had to get him into more comfortable clothing. So I was doing this as a way of helping him…
But why did it have to sound so wrong?
"Um…o-okay…"
It took me a moment to realize Genis spoke, but once I did, I moved closer to him.
"First we need to get this…shirt off and thrown away. Is this…Lloyds?"
He nodded his head, "Yeah, he's the closest in age to me, so I had to wear something of his."
"I see. Well, you don't have to worry about wearing anything of his anymore." I don't know why, but…but I felt jealous. I know I shouldn't feel jealous but I do. I mean, Genis is mine, and he doesn't like Lloyd that way anyway.
"M-Mithos? Um…I need a little help st-standing…"
I blinked, turning to face the younger half-elf. He looked so helpless, looking up at me with a sleepy look in his eyes.
He's so adorable.
So adorable that I almost forgot that he asked me to help him.
"Yeah, okay. Here." Held my hand out and he gripped it, using it as a sort of balance as he stood up. Though he was far from able to do just that with the minimal amount of help my hand had.
I quickly wrapped my arm around his waist as he tumbled forward, nearly hitting the floor.
"There, are you okay now?''
Genis nodded his head, blushing even more.
"Ye-Yes…I'm fi-fine…um…I think I need to--eep! Mithos! What're you--?"
I shifted his shirt a little more, so that his shorts could be fully seen. They were in the same condition as his shirt was, but they weren't as torn.
I then pushed Genis back to a sitting position on the bed. He just looked up at me, a blush on his face.
"Mithos…"
"Raise your arms."
He did just that, and I slipped off the loose white fabric over his head and off his arms, tossing it aside. I then looked back down at him. His chest showed various marks, mostly scratches and bruises, but his chest…
"Pronyma is going to die the next time I see her."
"Wha--? Mithos please! Let's not worry about that now. Yes I know you hate her, and you'll always hate her…but right now I--" he looked away from me, his face quite literally glowing from the redness of his blush.
"You?"
"I want you to…worry about…me…"
I blinked, "You want me…to worry about you? Genis…"
He shook his head violently, "I-I know it's s-selfish request but…but…" his voice wavered and he turned back to face me, his face still bright red.
"But what Genis?" I asked, placing a hand on his warm cheek as I sat down on the bed next to him, "Tell me."
Genis moved over a bit so that he was farther on the bed before speaking, "Just don't…don't talk about Pronyma, Mitosu…don't talk about any of those things. Okay? I don't want to think about them, especially not now." He looked around us, "Especially not here. We're finally somewhere peaceful…"
He leaned his head against my chest, "And I want to be happy…I want to not have to worry…unless I have to. I don't want to have anything to worry about, to be scared of."
I smiled, wrapping one arm around his waist while running the fingers of my free hand through his hair, "I understand."
I understood all right. But it wasn't going to be that easy. After what Belle told me, Genis wasn't going to get his wish of peace. How can things be peaceful when your mother, whom you believed to have abandoned you when you were a newborn, was in the same town as you…and she was driven mentally insane?
'But Genis told me once that he thought his parents were dead. It's good that it isn't entirely true. But his mother being alive will…will be far worse than her being dead.'
"Mithos? Um…"
I blinked, looking back down at the younger half-elf, "hmm?"
Genis blushed, "Um…I…it's cold…"
I chuckled, "Yes, you're right. I suppose it would be. Here, let me help you finish getting dressed."
Genis slowly slid off my lap so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me as I pulled out the rest of his articles of clothing. I picked up the tunic that, I was sure, Mandy had chosen.
"Here, your shirt goes on first. It might be a bit big, but I don't think it'll be as baggy as what you were wearing."
Genis nodded his head, raising his arms as I helped slip on the shirt over his head. Once both his arms were pulled through, I quickly laced up the blue ribbon in the front, "There, now let's get your shorts off…and then we can put these," I pulled out the black trousers, "on."
He nodded his head once more, though this time he was blushing.
And why wouldn't he be? If someone were to walk in while I was assisting him, and if they didn't know what I was doing, the situation could become…very awkward. Whoever the unfortunate person was would probably take it the wrong way, too.
I shook my head, bending down and gripping the brim of Genis' shorts, "raise your hips," I murmured, "It'll make it easier."
Genis flushed even further, but did as I said, and I quickly tugged the tattered shorts off, throwing them over near where his shirt had landed. I then quickly grabbed the last article of Genis' new outfit, and slipped them on just as easily.
"There." I stood back, smiling, "all done."
"Um…" Genis was still blushing, looking down and tugging at the excess ribbon that was present at the top of his tunic. He looked so cute like that. And I could tell he was nervous.
And I guess in a way it was my job to cheer him up. I moved closer to him, stopping his hand movement, smiling.
"You look good in that. In fact, I like it much more than your old outfit…" I kissed his cheek gently before pulling away, though my grip on his hand never ceased, "Are you feeling any better?"
Genis shook his head, "I-I…I think maybe, just a little. But, um, where did the mayor go?"
"I'm assuming he just left the room…but I'll go get him if you want to talk to him. Just wait right here."
Genis shook his head, "Like I could go anywhere if I tried."
I smiled. That sounded more like the Genis I knew. The Genis before this…before these horrible events had happened.
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Lloyds POV
This silence was close to unbearable as we flew threw the sky on our Rhieards. The hum of their engines was the only sound being made. And it really, really started to bug me.
Regal wasn't talking, though that was probably because he never liked to talk when we were on the Rhieards. I don't think it's just me in thinking that he hates heights.
Presea wasn't talking either. But she did look pale, like she was sick. Then again, she didn't fight at all when we had gone up against Mitosu.
Kratos, well, he was always silent, so I couldn't exactly expect much talking from him. I honestly don't think he could be the start of any sort of conversation…unless it had something to do with training, or what our next 'objective' was. But we had already gone over that before we took off, so it's not like we needed to go over it again. We were going to Exire to meet up with the others, and hopefully Raine, Sheena, Colette, April, and Yuan were already in Exire.
I sighed, turning to look at Zelos, who was flying closest to me. He was being very out of character. He wasn't talking at all. In fact, he seemed really…serious.
'Wow, I've never gotten to observe everyone this closely before…but I don't like it…I need to talk to someone dammit!'
Something winged and furry flew mere inches away from my Rhieard, making me flinch and, unintentionally, swerve. That, of course, caused Kratos to stop his flight, Zelos to jump, and Presea and Regal to stop as well.
Well that wasn't smart. I rammed right into Zelos' Rhieard, which sent him wobbling, and made it look like he was about to fall off. I honestly would have laughed but…but what was that thing that flew at me?
I turned to look behind me, seeing a small black, well, it was more like brown, speck flying off in the distance.
It then stopped, and turned around.
Crap.
"Lloyd? May I ask what you are staring at?" Presea asked, pulling her Rhieard up to mine.
"Yeah, you rammed right into me! What's the big idea?" Zelos asked, pulling up to the other side of me, an annoyed expression on his face.
I shook my head, "Something flew at me, and it startled me…it's coming back too." I pointed to the brown object flying towards us.
"Is it a bird?"
"That's one furry bird if it was a bird."
Kratos shook his head, "I've never seen a bird with hair on it in all my life."
"Then that definitely isn't a bird."
"No it isn't. But it would be best to land somewhere, because if it attacks again…we're in a bind."
"Kratos is right. We can't very well fight on our Rhieards."
"Yeah but the old man here'll be fine, since he isn't riding a Rhieard anyway."
"Um, let's just land…for now, okay? Besides, Da--Kratos's right. I don't think we'd be able to fight on our Rhieards." I turned back around and scanned the area, unfortunately I couldn't see anything that looked like land, "Um, but I don't see any land."
"It's coming closer." Presea pointed out, making my eyes search even more frantically.
"I believe I see something…there." Kratos pointed, and I nodded my head. We then lowered our Rhieards and began to fly towards the way Kratos had said.
We arrived a few minutes later over a relatively small island. It was just big enough to fit all the Rhieards, and us, with a relatively nice bare plain which would be good if whatever that furry flying thing was decided to come down and attack us.
And, as if on cue, it did.
It swooped down, barely missing Regal, then it circled around again, this time coming towards Zelos, who unsheathed his sword.
He was about to raise it when Kratos stopped him, "It's best not to aggravate it any more that we have to."
"But if it keeps on attacking us--"
"If it keeps attacking, then yes we will fight. We might be in its' territory"
"That explains why it chased us here." Regal stated.
"But does that not mean we are still in its territory?" Presea asked, tilting her head to the side, seeming to sway back and forth, her cheeks taking on an even paler color than they had a few moments ago.
She really must be sick.
I turned my gaze by on Zelos in time to see the furry…thing…miss him by just a mere centimeter.
"Gah! Okay yeah, that was way too close for comfort, that thing's definitely goin' down."
But before the monster could reach Zelos, and before Zelos could even swing his sword, Kratos grabbed his arm.
"Stop. I said not to aggravate it any more than we have to."
"Yeah well what do you suppose we should do? Sit here and just let it attack us?" Zelos practically shouted, sounding extremely annoyed and somewhat upset.
I don't think I've ever heard him…like this before. He's always easy going. But he was right. Or at least I agreed with him. If we didn't stop that monster it would just keep attacking us. But making it even angrier wouldn't help either.
Now my head hurts. I've been doing way too much thinking for my own good.
"Chosen, calm down."
"Don't…call…me…that." Zelos grated out, giving Kratos a look that showed anger…but fear…?
What's going on? Why would Zelos be afraid and yet angry at the same time? Don't tell me…don't tell me it has to do with those tattoo's from earlier! No, it can't be, they're just tattoo's, but if what the storyteller guy said was true, then they could mean anything.
I watched the next scene as if it were in slow motion. Zelos swung his blade at Kratos, who dodged and pulled his sword out as well. I watch in silent horror as the metal of each sword clanged together, the afternoon sun glinting off the blades.
Why was this happening?
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Zelos' POV
I watched in horror as I swung my own blade, with my own arms, against Kratos' once more. How was this happening? I wasn't even…It felt like I wasn't even in control over my own body.
But how was that even possible? How can I still be in my body, and yet not be in control? I turned to look at Lloyd, or at least I wanted to, but I couldn't move my head. It felt like I was stuck in some sort of…really sticky goo. And it felt weird too.
Suddenly a searing pain laced up through my arms from the tattoos on my hands. They actually started glowing, and I could see them through my gloves.
'I really hope I don't have to buy new gloves again'
I nearly laughed at that thought. How could I be worried about that when I was attacking my boyfriends father? When I was attacking my old teacher? How the heck did this happen in the first place? And that stupid…fuzzy monster thing is behind Kratos now, and he doesn't even see it.
I wanted so badly to look at Lloyd, to tell him to stop, to give him a sign that told him that that wasn't the real me. That I wasn't the one fighting his dad…that I wasn't the one fighting Kratos.
'Zerasu has awakened…'
Mitosu's words echoed through my head. Those had been the last words I heard before I had collapsed earlier. But why were they coming back to me now? And what exactly did he mean by 'awakened'? And who was this Zerasu guy?
I snapped away from that particular thought when I stumbled backwards. I somehow gained some control over my body's movement, and my hands stopped hurting, so I turned to face Lloyd, "Ya mind helpin' me a little here?"
"Wh-what?" Lloyd's eyes grew wide, "I-I can't do that."
'Oh wait. I made that sound like I was asking him to help fight Kratos.'
"I will not let you get Lloyd involved in this."
I shook my head, "Not help me with that, I don't even know why--ghh…!" I fell to my knees, cradling my hands as they began to burn again.
"Zelos?!?"
"My hands…hurt…the monster…" I looked up briefly and caught Kratos' eyes, I then looked past him, and he, along with Lloyd, Presea, and Regal, followed my gaze, noticing the monster as well.
"Dammit! Its back!" Lloyd immediately drew his swords, glaring up at the furry flying beast.
Regal sighed, "I guess we really don't have a choice in fighting it."
"Indeed." Kratos turned back to me, "I would suggest you, as well as Presea, stay out of the fight…at least until you've cooled off."
I looked away from him, how could I convince a guy like him that I hadn't meant to do that? How do I even explain what happened?
The good thing, though, was right after he said that…I promptly collapsed on the ground, the pain in my hands and arms now spreading to the rest of my body, like a wild fire to a dry grassland.
This just wasn't my lucky day.
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Genis' POV
I watched as Mithos exchanged a few words with the Mayor, moving aside to let the brunette in. Once the mayor laid eyes on me, he smiled, "I see, that outfit does suit you well. Mandy and Amy are definitely good at their job."
Mithos walked over and sat down next to me on the bed, "Well it was more Mandy's doing, probably. Amy was just throwing stuff all over the place."
"Ah, well, that does seem like…something she would do," the mayor laughed uneasily, "but she really is good at her work." He then turned his gaze to me, as if inspecting me even closer. He muttered something barely audible under his breath, something that made me feel another sense of unease. Why did it feel like I didn't belong here?
Or more precisely why did it feel like he knew something he didn't, or rather wasn't, going to tell me? I was always used to being the one who usually could be trusted to be told things, but then again, I didn't even know this man that well…so it's not like I could expect it or anything.
"Umm…"
"Oh, yes, pardon me, like I was saying, if you're feeling better I highly recommend you taking a look around town. I have some business to attend to myself, and I was just about to leave. I trust that I can leave you two here and that nothing bad will happen?"
I blinked, "Something bad? Why would you say that?"
He shook his head, "Because Belle's daughter, Maria, isn't exactly the most careful person in the world. The last time I left her alone in this house, I came back to find at least 3 broken dishes…and a few other things as well."
He didn't extenuate on what those 'few other things' were, so I didn't ask. I just nodded my head. I would probably figure them out over my time staying here. But then again, we were only supposed to stay here long enough for Sheena to make the pact with Maxwell, then we would leave again…
"-worry, I doubt something like that would happen. We'll be careful. But…" Mithos looked over at me, "I don't think it'd be good for Genis to have to much company…so if you could tell everyone that he's asleep that would be appreciated.
The mayor laughed, "Well if their reactions are anything like when you came, then yes it definitely wouldn't be good for him." He turned around to leave the room, "I'll go tell them that now." He walked back through the door he came out of, leaving us alone in the room again.
A few seconds of silence past, during that time I could feel Mithos' eyes on me, which made me blush despite the fact that I really should be used to that by now.
"U-um…" I stammered, trying to break the silence in the room. It was getting really embarrassing just sitting--and in Mithos' case standing--around.
"You really do look great in that outfit."
I glanced up at him and he smiled, "Really you do. They're your colors…"
"I-I…thanks…and, um," I squeezed the bedcovers, which I had grabbed at some point, even tighter, "y-you look nice too…"
'Would I stop stuttering?'
But Mithos didn't seem to notice. His smile just seemed to widen as he made his way over to me, "Thank you," He sat down next to me, cupping my face in his hand, turning it towards him, "but you don't need to feel so embarrassed."
'So he did notice…'
"You are my boyfriend after all."
I felt my face heat up even more as he said that. Yes it was true now. But only we knew that. Okay, yeah, April did, and Kratos too. But it was…actually, I think that was the first time he actually voiced it…
"I-I yeah…you're right." I smiled nervously, and he smiled back, leaning even closer to me. Soon after I felt Mithos' lips up against mine, which sent a tingling sensation throughout my body…just like it had when we kissed at the base of the Tower of Salvation.
I felt him begin to pull away, but for some reason I didn't want this…I didn't want him to. I brought my arms from my sides and wrapped them around his neck. And, in turn, I felt Mithos' arms go around my waist.
But he still pulled away, but not entirely. He pulled away just enough so that he could speak.
"You're so cute…"
I smiled, "Yeah, I know. You've told me that before."
He grinned, "I suppose I have, haven't I? Well then…" he touched his nose to mine, his grin widening, his grip on my waist tightening as well, "I guess I should say…I'm glad you're mine. And I'm not going to let anyone take you away from me."
I blushed, "And how exactly are you going to do that?"
"Not sure…but if I have to, I'll put a leash on you." (1)
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(1)--this is an idea LittleLinor gave me for a piece of fanart. Of course, I already know I can't do it, and even if I did I wouldn't be able to show anyone (it's out of commission now along with some other stuff dealing with the computer), so if anyone wants to draw it they can. I just thought it was a cute idea, and so I decided to put it in.
Me: Well that's the end of TU 47…and yeah, again I'll apologize for the overall late-ness.
April: Ah, well, at least you're updating before your dad has to take the computer in to get it fixed.
Me: That's true. Now then, R&R please! More reviews equal a faster update!