A/N: Late, I know, but I have been swamped with work right now. I'll try to get them out faster.
Zelos: You better. All those hunnies have been waiting too long for my return. My poor dears. Never fear, I, the great Zelos, will pester Faye until she delivers more stories. There is yet to be anything I, the great Zelos, couldn't...
Faye: Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much.
Zelos: Never!!!
Sheena: (snort) Ya right.
Zelos: Yay!! Two hunnies to love is better than one!!
Faye: (rolls eyes) Anyway! On with the show and as always, review.
Disclaimer: I don't own ToS. If I did, this fic would not exist.
"What's going on here? Ha ha, very funny. You can all come out now!" No answer came for the ninja of Mizuho. Taking in her surroundings, she realized she was in an open field with tall grass, half-way between Meltokio and the Tethe'alla Bridge.
Sheena was beginning to get very frustrated. Last thing she remembered, she was falling to her death. She winced at the thought of her body hitting the ground at such a velocity. Least I was unconscious. Maybe that's it. Maybe I'm dead. But no, that can't be right. I remember being saved by someone, but it's all a blur now.
Frustrated with her inability to recall what had happened, she kicked a nearby stone and let an audibly sigh escape from her mouth. Well, standing around here isn't doing anything too productive. May as well have a look around and see if anyone will help me.
Still feeling disoriented from her fall, Sheena wandered about the field and discovered a Chimera sun bathing, oblivious to her approach. Looks like a perfect time to let off some steam. Glad it's only a Chimera. Don't know if I can handle something stronger the way I am now. I'll really enjoy this.
She slowly crept forward, using the tall grass as a cover. She thought of her training as she silently stalked her prey as only a true ninja could. Once she found an opportune spot to strike, she waited for the time to come. Seeing her chance as the beast turned from her to face something in the opposite direction, she leapt out of hiding straight at the unsuspecting beast. Apparently the beast decided that whatever was in the opposing direction was no threat because it immediately gave an attentive glare at Sheena. One good blow, that's all it'll take.
As she was about to hit the beast with everything she had, all of her pent up aggression, something unexpected happened. The monster, by no apparent will of its own, was sent careening toward Sheena at a speed that was not normal for this specific beast.
What the hell? Her long, hard, hours of training paid off as she just barely got out of the creature's path.
Damn, that was close. What the hell happened? Realizing that someone had taken her kill as the Chimera slowly vanished, Sheena turned to look at the face of the person who would now be receiving her full wrath in place of the beast.
"Hey! That Chimera was mine! Who do you think you are? I outta beat you so bad that…uhh…huh?" Her anger was silenced as she stared dumbstruck at the figure before her. "Zelos?"
He was obviously ignoring her at this point because he simply went about collecting is gald and prizes. Being ignored irritated Sheena even more than being hit on by the pervert.
He wants to steal my monster and then not even have the decency to acknowledge me, eh? Well, we'll just see about that.
She walked over to him, very nonchalant, and glared at his back. He didn't even flinch under the stare that would have made dragons flee in terror. He thinks he's sooooo smooth. Well, I wonder how he would like a…
"Pyre Seal!"
Nothing happened. Zelos didn't even flinch when she screamed her attack
"Rrrrr, Pyre Seal!"
Still no response from Zelos, but more importantly no pyre seal. Fine, we do this the old fashioned way. She clenched her fist as she sent a right hook flying his way. Her fist was on a collision course with his head when…it went through his head?
"O goddess! It's true! I'm dead! Dead, dead, dead!" Sheena was totally freaked out at this point. So much so that she almost didn't hear the other voice screaming in their direction.
"What are you doing? We don't have time for random battles. Just grab the gald and move it; we're all waiting on you."
Sheena didn't need to see the speaker. She recognized the voice right away. My mind is playing tricks on me. There's no way it could be. I'll just take a peek at the person who thinks they can imitate that voice. She almost fainted then and there. Her suspicions were confirmed. Sheena looked at an image of herself yelling at Zelos. Still in shock at this turn of events, she almost missed Zelos' typical reply.
"Why, anything for you my sweet ninja. I would follow you to the ends of the world and beyond my voluptuous hunny."
The other Sheena simply brushed off his remarks, knowing full well that it was a waste of energy to try to talk some sense into him. He'd probably make a snide retort anyway. She merely turned around and started walking back to the group, with Zelos hot on her heels.
"This seems so familiar. I must be in my own memories. Well, at least I'm not dead. Though being trapped in my head isn't all that much better. Hope I wake up soon though so that I can help Lloyd save Colette."
By this time, Sheena was walking in the direction her other self had gone. She watched as Zelos came up close behind her.
"Hey, I remember this day now. Right about now Zelos grabs my ass and I…"
Before she could even finish her thought, she heard the sound of her cyclone seal and saw Zelos shoot up in the air. As she watched Zelos fall to the ground, she felt bad that he had to suffer a fall from such a height.
What the heck is wrong with me! The jerk deserved it. Still, it took Raine a couple of First Aids to get him back to his usual self. This wasn't exactly a good thing though. When, if I recall, he tried to thank her with kisses (as his usual self would), she took her staff and…
"O dear goddess! Why must I be surrounded by such beautiful, violent women? A little help, Lloyd? Colette? Someone?"
She couldn't help but laugh to herself when she recalled that day. Everyone voted that I help Zelos walk seeing as I injured him first. All he did was whine, in that way only he can, the entire way to the Tethe'ella Bridge. He would bat his eyelashes and give me puppy dog looks to try to get my sympathy. It was almost cute. What am I saying! Zelos? He is such a pervert. How can I think about Zelos like that? It's not like I like him or something?
"Are you certain?"
The voice was deep and loving but she didn't know who the voice belonged to. Sheena was startled that something in her memory could hear her thoughts. Looking for the origin of the voice, she shouted, "Who are you? Where are you? Can you help me get out of here?"
"My name and whereabouts are of no concern. As far as leaving, no, you will not leave yet. You are here for a very important reason, Sheena."
Although frustrated with the answers she received, Sheena continued her verbal assault. "What reason? How do you know my name? Answer me!"
"Everything in due time. For now, why don't you catch up with your friends? You will find that you will be able to hear things that your former self could not."
"What things? Hello? Please, come back."
There was no answer. Sheena pondered this turn of events. "What possible reason could there be for me to remain in my memories. I've already lived these events."
Having nothing else to do, she simply decided to follow her friends and hope that this "dream sequence" would end soon. She wanted to help Lloyd back in her reality but more importantly wanted to see the person who saved her from her fall.
"Would you quit your whining? It's annoying."
"But Sheena, my voluptuous hunny, it hurts almost as bad as your insults. Of course, I'm sure a kiss would make it all feel better."
The real Sheena decided to not relive this experience since she knew that it would end viciously. Instead, she walked over to Genis and Lloyd who seemed to be having a heated argument. Why don't I recall this? I don't think I've ever seen these two fight?
Sheena walked up right behind the two and listened in, feeling a little guilt for spying. Obviously, Sheena walked into the conversation just as it began because Genis' voice was slowly rising to an angry level.
"You know that wasn't called for Lloyd. Now I have to make it up to Raine 'cause she thinks I was the one who did it. Why didn't you fess up? I thought we were friends?"
"Of course we're friends. How was I supposed to know she would get so angry about a little prank? Besides, she's your sister. She'll go easier on you than me."
"I should've known you would bring this back up. Look, it's because she's my sister and guardian that she doesn't have to hold back. I'll be stuck polishing her staff for the next six months."
"Sorry 'bout that. Look, I'll tell her it was my fault. Then you'll be off the hook, okay? I didn't mean to upset you."
"Thanks, Lloyd. Just make sure the next time you decide to prank Raine, don't mess with her key crest or anything that involves her obsession of ancient artifacts."
"Okay then."
That's it? They went from heated argument to best buddies in mere minutes. It'd take me a lot longer to get over a fight, even if it was with my best friend. I'll never get boys. Speaking of which, I believe Zelos has overstayed his welcome on my shoulder right...about...now.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You know full well what that was for! Don't you DARE try anything like that again!"
Heehee. I'd be angry with him for at least a week. As she thought about this, she heard Genis saying something to Lloyd about her that she didn't quite catch. Good thing Lloyd wasn't listening either, because Genis repeated it and Sheena made sure to listen carefully this time.
"Ya know, I don't understand why he does that to her. He knows that she'll just pound him."
"He's like that with all the girls, even Colette."
"I know. But he seems to give Sheena most of his unwanted attention. He must really like her."
"I think that she likes him too, though. Even though she fights him, she doesn't put all her strength into killing him like she threatens to. If Zelos were a little less forward, I think that she would see that he's a good guy deep down."
"Ha. Wanna make a bet? I bet that Sheena kills Zelos before our adventure is over. I'll put up my rare Katz card."
"Sure. And I bet that before the adventure is over, Sheena will willingly give Zelos at least a hug. I'll make you anything you want with the forge if I lose."
"Deal"
What is wrong with them? I am not a race dog that they can place bets on. I should remember to confront them when I get back. Either way, Genis is most likely to win. I would never willingly touch Zelos.
All of a sudden, the field began to fade into darkness. Her friends were no longer traveling with her. Instead, she was alone in the black atmosphere. "What's going on here? Where is everybody?"
"You are traveling to a different memory. Do not be afraid. You will not be harmed."
Suddenly, Sheena was full of fury. "You! I want to leave now! Let me out! I don't care about your reasons for keeping me here. My friends are in danger as I sit here."
"You will find that time travels differently in your mind than in your reality. Please, remain calm. You will leave when you are ready and no sooner."
With that the voice was gone and the scene before Sheena began to clear. She could see the campsite her friends had made one night on the move. She was asleep on the edge of the camp. Zelos was up on watch duty. He seemed to watch her more than the landscape. The pervert! I don't want to know what's going through his mind now. But as she stared, she saw that his face wasn't full of lust and mischief. Instead, it was almost longing and understanding. He sighed and shifted position to face the darkness intently. "Sleep well. Nothing is getting in here tonight."
Sheena was taken aback by this. "Maybe he does feel something for me. Not that it matters. He feels something for all his hunnies. What do I care anyway? He's too stupid and perverted for my taste. I prefer trustworthy men."
She thought about her last statement. "He never did betray my trust. Partially because I never trusted him in the first place. But, I must have felt safe enough to sleep open in front of him and trust him not to try anything. I never thought about this before."
Raine had woken up at this moment and walked over to Zelos. "It's okay. I'll take the watch now. Get some sleep."
Zelos looked up at her with a very serious face. "Professor, can I ask you something?"
Noticing his serious look (and the fact that he called her Professor), Raine nodded for him to continue.
"How do you talk to women? Not the way I usually do. I mean, well...I've never had to...ya know..."
"I think I understand. Listen, if you like this person, you should tell her. But don't get carried away in the moment. There is no need to be too forward. Just be yourself."
"Hmph. That's exactly what I was trying to avoid. Well, thanks anyway." With that, he turned and walked to the other side of the camp without allowing her to say anything more.
That was weird. Why would Zelos need help with talking to women? He seems to talk with women even more than with men.
Sheena stood in the center of the camp, thinking about the conversation she just heard between Zelos and the Professor, when she heard Zelos sighing in his sleeping bag. Very carefully, she walked over and peered down at him. His eyes were open staring into the sky. They were contrasted against the night sky. As the Moon reflected off of them, they appeared to glow eerily. Sheena could tell that there was something different about those eyes.
He's sad. Zelos's never sad. Maybe I am a little hard on him. I wish he would smile. He's supposed to be the happy one without a care in the world and here he is, almost to the point of tears.
The darkness began to spread. Must be going into a new memory. Everything faded, everything except those eyes. They lingered, the only things visible in the darkness. When they finally did fade, Sheena truly felt alone.
Somewhere, off in the distance, a familiar creature was laughing to himself. "Soon Sheena, you will understand. Soon, all will be explained. When next you wake, be prepared. For your journey has only just begun."
Faye: Can you guess who that voice is??
Zelos: O! O! I know! I know!
Sheena: Not you, idiot.
Zelos: Ouch, Sheena. That hurt.
Faye: Alright you two. That's enough. Zelos, would you do the honors?
Zelos: YES!! HaHa. I, the great Zelos, request that all you beautiful hunnies please review this work starring me, Zelos.
Sheena: Hey! I've got more face time than you. And what about all the guys reading this hmm?
Zelos: Sorry boys. I don't swing that way. (winks)
Faye and Sheena: ZELOS!!!!!
Zelos: Gottagopleasereviewbye!