Tales of Crimson Tears Chapter Four

Uh yeah there was a typo in the last chapter...XD It was supposed to be three. Sorry!!! Okay well, this chapter will be focusing on Colette, Genis, and Fake Lloyd!

Noishe whined uneasily, his huge ears flicking as he loped along the path. Something was very wrong here and every instinct urged Noishe to find out what was happening. He had felt uneasy all day and then something had happened to Master...There was definitely something wrong with Master. It was almost like Master wasn't Master anymore. Not only that but there was that creepy presence he had felt after the strange incident in which Master fell down and wouldn't get up...and when he did get up he was different...

"Lloyd! Wait up!" Laughing, Colette jogged up beside him. Fake Lloyd smiled at her but on the inside his lips curled up with disgust. Genis was walking a few feet behind them, thinking about something.

"Hey Colette" He slowed so that he could walk beside the two of them. Colette smiled at him and stepped a little closer to him.

"My birthday is coming up soon, remember?"

"Uh...Yeah, of course I did! I have a present all planned out for you!" Colette looked down for a second and sighed.

"I'm sure it'll be a wonderful day but it's also a little scary to think about...I mean, I'm going to be sixteen." Colette looked up at the sky. Fake Lloyd looked down at the ground and considered his next moves.

"Yeah" He mumbled, distracted. Well I don't need to worry about gaining this wretched creature's trust...It would seem that the body I chose to steal was a very most excellent choice. A cruel smile twisted itself upon his lips, making him look very un-Lloyd like. Genis frowned and jogged a bit to catch up.

"Lloyd, are you okay? You looked like you were in pain there for a second or something..." Startled, Fake Lloyd looked up and at Genis. He smiled at him cheerfully.

"Sorry 'bout that. I was just thinkin' about some stuff." He laughed. "Like how my head still hurts from the tumble I took earlier today." Genis smiled but there was something vaguely nervous in his smile.

"Well it's good to know your okay." He fell back a little. Something seems off about Lloyd today...I'm not quite sure what it is though. I'm just getting this creepy feeling. He looked up at the sky which was clear and blue. "..." He sighed and shook his head. I'm probably just imagining it. I mean, it's not like he grew a second head or got body snatched by aliens...

"Hey Genis, you better hurry up or you're gonna get left in the dust!" Laughing, Colette waved to him. They were quite a few feet ahead because while Genis was lost in thought he had slowed down. Startled, Genis looked up and then nodded, running to catch up with them. The desian ranch was near here and it wouldn't do to be caught loitering around there. Lately the desians had been unusually active and that never boded well for any of the villagers. Not to mention his friend Marble...Genis shook his head and sighed.

Ugh. I hope I find what I'm looking for soon...Fake Lloyd was walking a little bit ahead of Colette and Genis, enough so that they could only see his back. I don't want to spend anymore time then necessary looking for it. I mean, honestly! I can't believe Master would give me such a task! He bared his teeth and then ground them together in frustration.

Behind him Colette and Genis were chatting about today's lessons and what homework they had. Both of them sort of assumed that Lloyd hadn't done his and would soon be begging them to "help" him finish it; in other words, could they do it for him...But that was part of being a friend with Lloyd. Of course, if Raine ever found out all three of them would be in for it and that would be the end of that.

Meanwhile, Fake Lloyd was busy plotting. Alright...I'll spend the next few days watching the routines and mannerisms of the people...then I start approaching some people...talk to 'em. Then, when the time is right, I strike! Heh, deadly as a falcon and precise as an eagle...At least, I think that's how the saying goes. Feh, these annoying little creatures talk too much! Fake Lloyd scuffed a shoe along the ground, causing bits of dust to rise up.

"Hey, there's the village!" Colette ran forward a few steps. Her face was lit up with a brilliant smile. "I hope that today is as fun and wonderful as tomorrow was!" She twirled and laughed. Fake Lloyd smiled at her, hoping that his smile wasn't an insincere as his feelings towards the smile.

"Boy Colette, you sure are...happy today." Genis commented. Colette actually seemed a bit too happy, almost as if she was hiding something or was nervous. But why would Colette be nervous? Genis slowed a bit. Maybe Colette was getting the same creepy vibes that he was getting...Genis cast a quick look at Lloyd. Something seems off about him...He bit his lower lip. But what was it? "Hey, Lloyd?"

"Eh?" Fake Lloyd turned around to face Genis, now walking backwards and hands behind his head. "What is it? Do ya need something?"

"...Are you sure your feeling okay?" For the briefest of seconds, a dark look passed over Fake Lloyd's face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Well I was just kinda worried about you...Maybe Raine should check you out? You might have gotten hurt and not have known it." Fake Lloyd quickly shook his head, immediately opposed to the idea.

"No, no I'm fine Genis. Seriously, there's no need to worry. Yeah, maybe I have a little bit of a headache but its not like I'm gonna keel over and die on you guys." He laughed. Slowly, Genis nodded but he still had his doubts. There was definitely something afoot.

Curses! I can't be that easy to see through can I? Fake Lloyd clenched his fists lightly as he turned around again. That was way too close for comfort...I will not be able to accomplish what I need to do if I have little brats watching my every move. Then again, these are supposed to be this "Lloyd's" best friends...Maybe I should just kill them off. It's so much easier to fake grief then it is to have to cover every little track. He smiled disturbingly and nodded. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Alrightie! I hope you enjoyed it! Comment? (hopeful look) XD