Chapter 5

Reunion

It was 9:15 a.m. and there were many things flying towards Altimira, two pairs of wings from the North-East, two Rehairds and a pair of wings from the North, and a Rehaird, carrying two people, from the east. On the ground, there were two people, one with blue hair, the other with pink, walking towards the beach.

At about 9:30, everyone was in the city. Sheena was leading a blindfolded Zelos, Colette a blindfolded Lloyd, Raine a blindfolded Genis, and Presea a blindfolded Regal, to the beach, Kratos walking behind them. Everyone was quiet because they didn't want anyone else to know what was going on.

As soon as they got there Sheena held up three fingers. She put one down, then another. There was a pause, and then she nodded. The blindfolds came off, and all of the guys were a little confused.

Lloyd, being Lloyd, immediately ran up and hugged Genis, happy to see him for the first time in six months. That of course got everyone else started. Hellos and hugs were exchanged for a good five minutes. After that, they all sat down in a circle, like they used to around the campfires, while still on their journey.

Kratos hadn't been there for the main hello, he wasn't that kind of person really, but he saw it. Then he stepped out, and Lloyd rushed up to him saying, "Dad, you're here!"

"Yes Lloyd, I came back yesterday." he said stiffly, as it was not normal for him to be hugged. The two went off someplace to catch up.

Sheena, Colette, and Raine all sat around in the circle, talking about whatever it was they needed to talk about. Zelos, and Regal just sort of stood there, unsure of what to say, until Zelos got pulled away by Sheena, apparently she needed him for their talk, and Kratos and Lloyd were torn away to go join them.

Genis and Presea were sitting on the beach, looking out at the ocean. They were talking in whispers, hoping that the older people of their group wouldn't hear them.

Regal, sat back and watched it all. This was how it was six months ago, minus the couples. Everyone sitting around, talking, enjoying themselves, without much of a care to the rest of the world.

"So… how is life?" Genis asked Presea.

"Well, it's been very… interesting. I've done a lot of traveling to Toize Valley Mine, and back here, to make sure that things are going smoothly. How about yours?" she responded, calmly.

"Kinda hard. People aren't that accepting of Half-Elves and sometimes we have to leave on the run. It's nice that here, I don't feel that way. At the moment, I don't have to worry about having to go anywhere. It nice for a change." he said, trying to stop blushing. For some reason, he had stopped the stuttering.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that, but I'm glad you feel safe here. You know, I really like the beach. You'd think spending all of these six months either here or in the mine, I wouldn't care for it, but I love it. Anything you discover like that?"

"Well, not really. I already knew that I loved magic, but seeing it used in wrong ways can irk me sometimes. But, I figured out that most magic is just being used in the wrong way. So, nothing really new, I suppose."

"Oh, that makes sense, have you… thought about anything else?" Presea asked, almost blushing herself.

"Well, I got your letter, which I appreciate very much. I haven't had time to write one back, I only got it yesterday morning. What was the question that you wanted to ask me, anyways?" Genis asked, remembering that in the letter.

"Um… I… well… you see, I don't remember a whole lot from when I was, under the exspheres power. But there is one thing, that I can only hear, not see. Everything else I've been able to figure out, but this, because it was whispered. I was wondering if you could help me." she finally got out.

"Of course! Anything to help make up for your lost time. I like to think that there is some way to gain it all back…" he said, thoroughly blushing.

"Well, I heard 'I love you' and I was wondering who said it. It was said right in my ear, so I know it was to me, but from whom, I'm not sure." she said, trying to keep a blank look, but instead she looked hopeful, hopeful that it was Genis who said that.

"It was… me. I told you that, I was trying to see if I could get you to come out of it. But I meant it. I really did." Genis said, his voice a whisper, the same one he had said it in.

"Oh, thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything." she said, and leaned on him. He smiled, and they were happy.

Regal watched a different group then, it was Sheena and Zelos, as Genis and Presea seemed to need privacy.

"Happy yet?" Sheena asked.

"Very, I don't think there is anything else I could want." he said, softly.

"Good, this all got started because of you, you know."

"Yes, Yes, I assumed that. So what do you take everyone's reactions to be? Good, bad, what?"

"You mean to us?"

"Mhm."

"I think it was more of 'finally'. I think we were the only ones oblivious to this. But that's ok, we're together now." she responded, calmly, truthfully.

"I agree. Seeing as how I always flirted with you… it should've been obvious." he said.

That conversation seemed to be going well, and so he looked in on Lloyd and Colette.

"Happy yet Lloyd?" she stated, mush like Sheena.

"Of course I am, I got to see Dad!"

"Well, you saw him two days ago, but you still weren't that happy."

"I mean actually in the flesh, you know, right there, in front of me, real. I could hold him. It was nice." he explained it thoroughly, obviously used to Colette's obliviousness by now.

"Yeah, it was good to see everyone again" she replied. They stared out at the ocean.

Kratos and Raine were over by the ocean too. But they weren't anywhere close to it.

"Hey, you ok?" Raine asked.

"Yeah, just, a little shaken up. I'm still not used to the whole 'Dad' thing."

"I suppose, that would be true."

"I mean, I knew who he was the whole entire trip, and I was always trying to keep him safe, telling him what to do and such. But he never really listened, and now he'll take whatever I say and actually think about it." He explained to her more thoroughly.

"Hmmm… I think he did take your advice before, it just wasn't so obvious." she responded calmly.

"True." he replied. He leaned in to kiss her, and Regal looked away before it.

He didn't feel left out, as Alicia wasn't that far away. he knew everyone deserved what they got, and he got what was needed, he understood that.

Everyone was enjoying themselves, whether it was the fact that they joined in a circle and talked like old times, or just having the background noise that had been absent.

For some reason, whether it was a good guess, or a hope, everyone brought sleeping bags to sleep in. There was a campfire going, and they were all doing what they used to do.

Genis was memorizing text from a book, Lloyd was debating something about exspheres, Colette fell over, flat over on her face , and Lloyd immediately helped her back up, before going back to his debate. Kratos was acting a little surly, as Raine was examining something that she found in the sand, she was freaking out about it, as no one knew how old it was. Zelos and Sheena were playing tag, but it was close enough to what they normally did. Presea was trying to fall asleep, and Regal was watching it all.

Slowly, everyone went to bed, and it almost seemed, as if it was six months ago. The next morning, they did leave, but their next get-together was planned, six months from now. Sheena and Zelos went to Mizuho, Lloyd and Colette went back to Asgard, and Kratos, Raine, and Genis went to Sybak, trying to keep the abolishment. Regal and Presea stayed in Altimira.