Rough Diamonds

Fifteen years old.

Tath grinned to herself as she walked through the streets of Meltokio's richer part. She was beautiful, and she knew it. Why should she live like a rouge, when she could easily fool herself into this society? The frilly dress felt rather uncomfortable, but to her satisfaction, many men turned after her. But she didn't bother, no, she didn't, because she knew she could do better. Then she suddenly heard a voice coming from a large group of girls.

'Now, now, ladies, I can't take you all home without even knowing your names!'

The Chosen of Tethe'alla laughed to himself as all the girls giggled by his comment.

'Really? I'll take that bet.'

Suddenly Tath appeared in front of him, her red hair flowing of her shoulder. The Chosen looked up at her, taking in her figure and beauty. And as their eyes met, his pale blue ones and her dark ones, it didn't take them long to find the heat between the covers in the Chosen's dark bedroom.

19 years old.

Tath crouched behind a tree, well out of visibility, watching the group as they stood outside the great forest of Gaorrachia. She had now followed for an amount of days, watching the group.

'You really sure this is the place?' Genis asked Sheena, clearly frightened by the dark wood.

Sheena merely shot him a look and stepped into the woods, and the rest of the party followed.

Tath followed them, not fearing the forest. After all, in her time in Mizuho, she had been running around in there all the time. What bothered her, however, was a strange feeling she had. She wanted to meet them. Well, not Sheena or Zelos, who she had met before, but the others. She wanted to prove herself. Meet them in battle.

And as she walked into the forest, she realised this was the time to do it. She could attack them, beat them, and then leave without a trace before they could follow her. She knew she was making a huge mistake as she decided this, but she couldn't not help her curiosity. After all, she wanted to know who these people were.

15 years old.

Tath slowly opened her eyes to find herself gazing into the pale blue eyes of the Chosen. He ran a finger softly down her cheek.

'You're beautiful,' he suddenly said. They were in the Chosen's bedroom, lying in his big bed. There was something strangely peaceful to it all. The morning sun was shining in through the open windows, the wind catching on to the drapes by the Chosen's bed. Smiling to herself, she turned under the white sheet to face him.

'Really?' She gave a small smile. 'No one's ever said that to me before.'

'Well,' Zelos said and gave a soft smile, his hand now running through her hair, 'someone should have told you that everyday.'

Then he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss, to which Tath replied by laying her arms around his neck and rolling over so that she lay on top of him, feeling his muscular chest rise as he breathed. They both grinned before they kissed again.

19 years old.

'Aah!' Once again Colette tripped over one of the million roots in the dark forest. Lloyd stopped, alarmed.

'Are you alright?'

Genis sighed. 'She was alright the first hundred times you asked, Lloyd.'

'Shut it, Genis!'

Zelos grinned at their back, and gave a meaningful glance to Sheena, but she didn't see it.
'Can we please move on now? I don't like to get stuck in this forest all night,' Raine said and started walking.

'Mm, we wouldn't want you to do that, now would we?'

An unfamiliar voice suddenly came from the trees and the group turned around on the spot.

A woman stood on a branch, resting a long thin sword over her shoulder. Her hair was almost the same colour as Zelos' but a darker shade of red, and she had cool dark blue eyes. A pair of tight low-cut beige trousers fitted her legs, tucked into thin leather boots. Her stomach was bare, saved for a white vest that covered her chest and a dark blue jacket over.

Lloyd frowned. 'Who are you?'

Tath ignored his question and leaned to the tree.

'I don't get it. What are you supposed to do in Tethe'alla?'

Suddenly Zelos recognised her.

'You're the one who's been following us around, aren't you?'

Tath turned her eyes to the Chosen.

'Well, I see the Chosen has his eyes with him, another fine quality about you.'

Suddenly Lloyd unsheathed his sword.

'Hey! I asked you a question! Who are you?'

Tath gave a grin. 'Well, if you feel so strongly about it.' She squatted on the branch, leaning on her sword. 'You beat me, and I'll tell you my name.'

Lloyd rose on of his swords. 'Bring it on!'

Tath's grin widened. 'You bet!'

Then, with great agility, she made a high jump, flipped in the air, to then land softly on the ground, pulled out her sword to swing it around a couple of times, like a ninja, then holding it ready, facing Lloyd.

And the battle began.

Lloyd, the half-elves and Sheena came rushing towards her, the rest of the party watching them, but not participating.

Lloyd rushed her, but Tath easily blocked both his swords, then kicked him in the face and guarded herself at the young half-elf's three fireballs. Then, in the same move, hit Sheena in the face with her elbow, who was behind her, picked up a knife from her boot to throw at Raine, interrupting the half-elf's healing spell, to then block Lloyd again.

The battle was going good, neither Sheena nor Lloyd had even come near her with their weapons, and she had only once been hit with one of Genis' smaller attacks. It seemed as if he was summoning up enough mana to do a more powerful spell.

Then she suddenly felt a knock towards her head and she was blown backwards. Sheena had used one of her attacks with her cards; Pyre Seal. Tath recognised it from her childhood. She made a backflip and grinned at Sheena. 'Good one,' she said and wiped the blood from her mouth.

It was then she felt the sudden tension in the air; a mana concentration. Her eyes shot towards the small half-elf, using his kendama to summon his mana to a powerful spell. Tath guessed it wasn't for her benefit. Her eyes then turned to the older half-elf, seeing her summon forth a healing spell.

Tath was then forced to quickly raise her sword to block the blow from Lloyd. Their swords clashed together, and they engaged a struggle to get the overhand of one another. His teeth gritted as he used both his swords attempting to knock her of her feet.

Tath handed his strength surprisingly well, managing to stand back with only one hand grasping around her sword. She gave a solemn thanks to her exsphere. She finally managed to use her free hand to give him a punch in his face and he stumbled back.

Tath was just about to go after him when she felt a sharp pain in her back. She spun around to meet Sheena, who was using her magic cards to fight her off.

Tath suddenly looked to the small half-elf as she felt the mana around her explode with power. She looked at him and he taunted her with the words; 'Wanna charge?'

She looked puzzled at him for a moment before he shouted out his spell.

'Thunder Blade!'

Tath gasped and managed to make a back flip as a sword created from mana thrust down in the ground, sending shocks of electricity around it.

Tath realised what she had to. All credit to fast near combat, but she couldn't take down all four of them with it. So she closed her eyes, made a back flip to land on a branch of a tree, rising her hands to the sky, feeling the mana around her tingling with excitement, as she chanted the words she knew well by heart.

'Oh, holy One, cast thy purifying light upon these corrupted souls!'

She felt the four of her attackers stop with surprisement, heard Lloyd asking puzzled, 'How can she…?' as he recognised the words she was chanting from their fight with Remiel, when he used the very same spell.

But Sheena quickly interrupted him, as Tath had the power of her mana in her palm, opening her eyes, looking at the four. 'May you have pity on their wretched souls.'

'Never mind how she can do it, just get the hell out of here!' Sheena exclaimed as Tath called out the spell of the angels.

'Judgement!'

Great pillars of light filled the battlefield and they all dashed for protection, all but Tath who looked at them grinning. Indeed she didn't like this spell, but damn was it effective. Both Sheena and the young half-elf passed out from the power and the older half-elf fell to her knees, as did Lloyd, looking up at her with a puzzled look.

Finally, the dark sky cleared.

The others in the party rushed forth to help their fallen friends.

'Who…are you?' Lloyd asked, panting, looking up at Tath who stood with arms crossed in the branch, ready to leave. She'd already proven herself to them.

'You didn't beat me. Tough luck,' she said and turned to disappear to between the leaves. It was then her vision got blurry and disappeared for a second. She stopped dead.

'What the devil…?'

Suddenly everything became quiet around her, although at the same time her ears were shrieking, and there was a sharp pain in her head.

Her hand wrapped around her exsphere.

'No…not yet…' was all she managed to whisper forth before she fell backwards down the branch, losing her consciousness.

Zelos happened to be by the tree and caught her with quick reflexes, something he could thank his exsphere for.

He was immediately surprised by how light she was, and how she felt in his arms. It was something familiar about it.

But as he looked at her, he just couldn't place her.

15 years old.

'Well, good evening, milady,' Zelos said, his lips relaxing into the grin he always saved for Tath, as she walked into the big hall, where yet another one of Meltokio's countless dinner parties was taking place. He gave a slight bow and caught her hand to lightly press his lips upon it. She gave a slight smile, adjusting the frilly skirt to her beautiful light green gown, a perfect contrast to her dark hair. Tath gave him one of the smiles that she knew drove him crazy and walked past him closely, as he caught her scent.

He suddenly caught her hand, turning her around to face him and whispered in her ear, his warm breath tickling her, 'You know, they wouldn't miss us if we just slipped out for a few minutes.'

Tath merely smiled mischievous again and ran a finger along his cheek, 'Now, now, Chosen, we wouldn't want all your female friends to miss you, do we?' Then she took his arm and they paced into the room. 'We've got all night,' she then whispered, giving Zelos a reason to grin and she couldn't help herself to smile.

A few weeks had passed since they had first met, but she had never told Zelos where she came from or who she really was. She had only told her that her name was Tatheya. She also did not show up everyday, either, knowing that he would soon get bored with her if she was easy. She was hard to get, and he knew it. Which was why he showed her all his attention whenever they met.

It was also the reason, Tath realised, all the ladies in the room were watching her with a black look meanwhile they admired Zelos. She grinned to herself as they walked and sat down the table, where Zelos was eyeing her whenever she looked up, the beautiful goddess she was.

Time passed, and soon Tath realised that something was happening to their relationship. She had always taken it lightly, as if it did not mean more to her than Pietro had, but somehow she knew exactly how Zelos would react to things, as he knew how she would. The relationship was growing into her very skin, whether she liked it or not.

It was strange, as Zelos suddenly said no to women, even when he wasn't meeting Tath. They were, Tath realised, falling in love with another. Tath had expected the thought to scare her, but it didn't. It made her almost feel…happy. But she could not love him, it would only bring herself pain.

She was lying once again in Zelos' bed beside him. He was sleeping and she eyed him. His beautiful features were relaxed as he breathed softly, his chest rising up and down. He was, she knew, very handsome and everything she could think of. But… she would not trust him. She would never trust anyone again.

And… she rose, using her covers to shield her naked body and looked out the window. And it was time to move on.

She had a feeling of unsettle inside her. Something left unfinished. Which she knew was her father. She had to confront him. Was he really that cold, or was he just acting? Did he care about her? She shook her head.

'You're up early,' Zelos said in a groggy voice, as he had just woken up. Tath turned around and he smiled at the sight of her. Tath grinned inwards. She was going to leave Zelos. She wondered what he would think as he discovered that she was gone. The great Zelos, turned down? The thought almost made her laugh. Her heart, that had almost turned warm during her stay in Meltokio, and somehow always melted in the sight of Zelos, once again turned to the icy rock it used to be.

She dropped the covers and gave herself a smile, as Zelos eyes alit at the sight of her naked body. Then she walked up to the bed and crawled up beside him, giving him a gentle kiss.

He raised his eyebrows. 'What was that for?'

She smiled. 'Nothing,' she said, although she was thinking, This kiss….

….is the last one you will ever get from me.

19 years old.

Tath knew where she was, even before she woke up. There was a soft scent of jasmine in the air and she could hear the wind play through a wind chime somewhere, and far away someone was playing a flute in slow notes. It was all so peaceful; it could only be Mizuho. So when Tath finally opened her eyes she felt more rested than she had been for a long time. She lay for a while, just breathing, when she suddenly remembered what had happened. She sat up with a jerk, causing herself to fall down the low bed and land on the soft floor with her hair in a frenzy around her head.

She had passed out. Why? Her Exsphere! She sat up again, more calm this time, and brought her gaze to her hand. There was a newly carved Key Crest on it. Someone must have located the source of her sickness to it.

She rose, locating her boots in the corner of the room and pulled them on. Had Lloyd and the Chosen's group brought her here?

Anyway, she doubted she would find the answer if she stayed in the room, so she grabbed her jacket and opened the door. Outside a soft breeze greeted her and she pulled on her jacket.

Mizuho.

Nine years had passed since she'd been here. Questions popped up in her head. She knew the Chief was ill, how was he now?

Then she looked around, getting hold of herself, getting cautious. There was no one in sight. Well, at least no one from the Chosen's group. She shrugged, thinking maybe someone from Mizuho had found her and brought her here… when someone behind her suddenly grabbed her wrist. She reacted instinctively, reaching for her sword but it wasn't there.

'Looking for this, love?' a voice said behind her. She slowly turned to face who it was, and found herself standing face to face with the Chosen of Tethe'alla, Zelos Wilder, holding her sword. She looked into his pale blue eyes for the first time in four years, but she only felt hatred.

She narrowed her eyes.

'Let go of me.'

He gave a short amused laughter.

'Ha, nah, see we can't really do that, cause…'

'Fine,' Tath interrupted and suddenly made a quick move to twist out of his grip, made a fast back flip on her hands, hitting him in the jaw with her foot and then turned around to quickly dash away, only to be tackled by Lloyd.

They tumbled over the ground until they finally came to a stop and Lloyd pinned the surprised Tath to the ground.

'Alright, already!' she growled to him, 'You've proved your point. Let me go!'

'I don't think so,' Lloyd replied, and suddenly the whole group had appeared beside them, including Zelos, rubbing his throbbing jaw. 'You're gonna tell us who you are!'

'Alright!' Tath sighed. 'It's T..,' she hesitated,' …Eya. The name's Eya.' She doubted she could tell them she was called Tatheya, fearing that both Sheena and Zelos would recognise her.

Zelos was the only one who reacted to her false giving. He frowned, muttering the name to himself suspiciously, but didn't say anything else.

'Now would you leave me alone?'

'…No.' Lloyd rose from her.

'What?' Tath rose to her elbows.

'You tried to kill us, I believe it is safer to have you with us under our watch than after us, free to ambush us at any time,' Raine said with a stating tone.

'Besides,' Lloyd said, 'that Exsphere of yours is causing you sickness. I carved a new Key Crest to it but it won't hold for long. It is safer for you to be with someone than on your own.'

Tath surveyed Lloyd for a moment and then shrugged inwards. This was probably better, then she could keep an eye on the group and besides, she could escape any time she wanted. It would take a lot to keep Tath as a prisoner.

-

Escaping seemed harder than she thought, though, she realised only a couple of minutes later. Lloyd had designed some handcuffs that had a unique lock and at Tath's first look it didn't seem as if she could get free without a key.

Then she shrugged to herself as she sat to herself with only Genis keeping an eye on her as the party was preparing to get out on the road again. She could run away any time, then she could concentrate on getting the handcuffs away. For now she chose simply to see what happened. Suddenly she felt amused, realising this could be fun.

As the party had loaded up with gels and bottles she managed to rise to her feet, which was quite hard without her hands, and gave an ironic smile to Lloyd.

'So, where are we going?'

He didn't reply and Tath smiled to herself.

'Alright,' Lloyd said, 'I think we need to have someone to keep an eye on Eya. Let's start with Zelos and go from there.'

Tath shot a glance at Zelos and sighed. Great.

Soon they were walking through the Forest of Gaorrachia, Lloyd in the front with Colette by his side, followed by the siblings Sage, Presea, Sheena and then Tath with Zelos, and a bit back Regal, watching their back and in case Tath would try anything.

Tath walked on, looking forward, and subconsciously avoiding the roots trying to trip her, whom Colette had fell over numerous times. Tath smiled to herself, she knew this forest on the back of her hand since her time in Mizuho, not bothered by the fact that the monsters had increased.

They had been walking for a good part of the day now, getting lost on numerous occasions. Tath knew the way well of course, but didn't say anything, partly for the amusement of seeing Lloyd's frustration every time they took a wrong turn.

The only thing that bothered her was the fact that Zelos sometimes reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder and steered her back to the path whenever he thought she was straying too far away from them. To be touched by him again… She shuddered; it gave her a funny feeling.

This time he placed both his hands on her shoulders and steered her back. 'No, no, no, love, not that way.'

Suddenly Tath growled, shook of his hands and turned to him, angry.

'Do you mind?'

He raised an eyebrow, grinning, his light eyes a playful hint in them.

'What, you don't like it?'

Tath narrowed her eyes and was about to hit him, but his reflexes made him catch her clumsy cuffed hands before she'd hit his face.

'Now, now, love' he grinned.

Tath grew angrier, narrowed her eyes, trying to kill him with her gaze. But it was then she realised her mistake.

For as Zelos looked back, instead of looking at her amused, his eyes caught at first a puzzled glance, then a curious one.

Tath swore to herself and quickly dropped her gaze. Did he recognise her? She could feel him watching her intently, trying to place her.

'Is there a problem?' Regal suddenly caught up with them and spoke to them in his grim voice.

She could feel Zelos still studying her, but Regal's voice brought him back. He turned to the man, with a grin.

'No, no, big man, no problemo! She tried to do a little escapade, that's all.'

Regal watched them both, then nodded. 'Very well.'

Zelos grabbed Tath's arm and walked on, leaving Regal watching them. But from then, Zelos didn't reach out and steer her back, he merely watched her, thinking for himself.

'Dammit!'

Suddenly Lloyd stopped, once again angry over a wrong turn. The group caught up with him. 'Not again,' Genis complained.

'Oh, for crying out loud,' Tath surprised everyone by starting to talk, 'it isn't that hard to find your way through here!'

Lloyd looked at her, eyeing her suspiciously. '…Really.'

Tath looked back, raising an eyebrow. 'Really.'

Colette was the one to interrupt their argument as she spotted a monster on the path, coming towards them.

'Uh oh! Lloyd, look!'

Lloyd spun around, unsheathing his swords, spotting the monster. It was in fact three of them, one was some kind of skeleton with a sword, the other was a big cloaked dark spirit with a great coffin on his back, and the third one was some kind of dark spirit with big sharp needles that he threw.

'Oh, great,' Sheena sighed.

'Alright,' Lloyd said and turned to the group, 'I'm gonna need Sheena, Genis and Presea to come with me. You others,' he looked at Zelos, 'stay here and keep an eye on her.' He shot a glance at Tath, who rolled her eyes.

She sat down with a sigh on a fallen tree, watching as they all brought out their weapons.

And the fight began.

Sheena and Lloyd immediately went for the strongest, the monster with the coffin on his back.

Idiot, go for the long-ranged enemy first! Tath thought and as she saw Presea go for the black spirit with the needles she was relieved that at least someone on the group was smart. Genis concentrated his attacks on the skeleton to keep him away from the short-ranged people in the party.

It seemed to go well; the skeleton was eventually defeated by one of Genis' earth spells, but the dark spirit seemed to be stronger than what they had predicted, and Presea has soon fainted, exhausted.

'No!' Lloyd saw what happened and with a final blow defeated the coffin-monster and ran towards the dark spirit.

Keep you guard up! Tath saw it coming before anyone else. The dark spirit shot out a number of needles that barely missed Lloyd's heart and pierced into his arm instead.

'Argh! Hey, that hurt!' he growled before he attacked the monster with his Beast-attack.

'Come on, Lloyd!' Colette cheered, and Tath gave an ironic snort.

'What's with the girlfriend?' she grinned, but no one replied, she merely got a dark look from Colette.

Lloyd shot up his sword, causing several needles from the monster to change directions and then they all attacked him with all they got until the monster was finally defeated.

It wasn't until then they heard what happened by the rest of the group.

'Ouch,' Tath groaned as she looked down at herself.

'Oh my God,' Colette cried and flung her hands up to her face. The needles that Lloyd had sent flying out of course had instead pierced through Tath's chest, through her heart.

'Don't move,' Raine warned and went forth to Tath, although not entirely sure of what to do.

'Hey, back off,' Tath warned the half-elf and raised an eyebrow to the worried group.

Instead she got to her feet and pulled the needles out of her, one by one, something causing Genis to groan with repulsion.

As Tath tossed the needles over her shoulder they were hardly bloody at all.

Then she stopped as she saw the astound group. 'So? Wanna continue or what?'

'I- I don't understand, those needles went thought your heart, you should be dead,' Raine said.

Tath shrugged. 'So? Maybe I don't work like you do. Let's go.'

Lloyd folded his arms. 'We've got a lot of questions for you.'

'But not now,' Regal interrupted. 'It is getting dark. Let's ask her at camp tonight, when we're hopefully out of this forest.'

They all agreed.

They continued under silence, everyone seemed to be eyeing Tath cautious and some of them afraid, like Genis or Colette. Only Zelos carried on in his cheery tone, something Tath was oddly relieved over. She felt uncomfortable in this silence. But there was still something with Zelos. Now he didn't watch her as intently as before, more as he was just eyeing her with interest.

Whatever it was, Tath was not looking forward to the camp that night.

-

'How did you survive that?'

As soon as they had lit the fire, Raine practically attacked Tath with the question.

Tath eyed the half-elf.

'I told you, I don't work like you.'

Lloyd chewed on some chicken. 'Then how do you work?'

Tath sighed. She might as well tell them. She looked up to the sky.

'My heart… is not the muscle pumping the blood around in my body.'

The confused looks on the party told her to go on. She held up her hand with the exsphere.

'This is.'

Genis raised an eyebrow. 'I don't understand. How can an exsphere…?'

'See this?' Tath interrupted, referring to the colour of her exsphere. Everyone else's was blue or dark coloured, but hers was red. The colour of blood. 'That is my blood flowing through it. All my blood veins have been rearranged to go through the exsphere.'

She paused for the gasps of the party.

'That's horrible…' Colette said. Tath looked at her.

'Say what you will,' she shrugged.

'Where did you get such treatment?' Raine asked.

Tath surveyed the older half-elf, whom she didn't like particularly.

'That, is none of your business.'

Then she suddenly saw Sheena, who was holding her sword, studying it.

'Where'd you get this?' she asked.

'Hey! Put it down!'

Sheena looked at her, raising her eyebrows, growing angry. 'I said, where'd you get it?'

'I think I told you, it's none of your business,' Tath glared back.

'Alright,' Lloyd said, 'then let's take another question. Who do you work for? Cruxis?'

Tath almost laughed out aloud at the question. 'What are you, stupid?'

The early night continued with questions in such fashion, like 'are you with the renegades?', 'where do you come from?' 'Don't you believe in the goddess?' (That question was from Colette), which neither of them Tath replied to. Luckily they never asked her how she knew to cast Judgement of if she was an angel, which would've led Tath into telling them things she did not want them to know.

They soon gave up, appointed Zelos, who had been rather oddly quiet the whole evening, to be the night watch and then went to sleep. Except Tath. Like she was going to trust them enough to sleep beside them.

She sat by the fire, not too far away from Zelos, who was studying her again.

Finally he spoke.

'Say, have you ever been to Meltokio?'

Tath looked up at him and gave him an odd look. 'Well… duh. Who hasn't?'

He shrugged. 'Well, cause you see, Tatheya, it feels like I've seen you before.'

'Well you haven't, so drop it.'

His lips widened into a big grin and Tath realised far too late what he'd said.

He'd said Tatheya. He'd recognised her.

He opened his mouth, just about to cry out 'I knew it!', when Tath flung herself at him, pinning him to the ground, pushing her chains to his throat.

'I swear to my Mother's grave that if you ever say that to anyone, I will kill you on the spot! Got it?' she hissed.

But Zelos merely grinned and with a move that caught Tath off-guard he turned them over, and he was now the one pinning Tath to the ground.

'Well, well, well, love,' he whispered, his mouth close to hers. 'This is just like old times, don't you think?'

Tath growled, and they remained looking at each other until Zelos snapped back and sat up.
'Wow, Tatheya! Haven't seen you for, what, four years?'

Tath sat up, with somewhat trouble to her chained hands.
'Maybe.' She didn't meet his gaze, knowing that he was watching her. Then he realised something. 'Why did you take off?'

Tath grinned and finally looked at him. 'Well, as you've probably realised by now, I wasn't exactly the rich lady I posed to be.'

Zelos gave a small snort. 'No kidding.'

Tath gave a grin. 'What's the matter? Still bummed over the fact that I was the first one to leave?'

The Chosen didn't reply, merely looked at her. They fell silent for a while, until Zelos opened his mouth again. 'Well, I've gotta say, in bed you were the best thing I've ever…'

He didn't finish the sentence before Tath had flung herself at him again, hitting him in the face with her cuffs. 'Ouch!' Zelos hissed, careful not to wake the others up.
'How dare you!' Tath's face was so close he could feel her warm breath on his skin.

He laughed. 'Well, it's the truth.'
Tath gave a groan, rolling away from him, sitting up, glaring at him. He sat up too.

'Say, why did you leave, anyway?'

Tath shrugged. 'You know, always on the run.'

'No kidding.'

Tath looked at him. 'So you did care?'

Zelos shrugged. 'Maybe.'

Tath grinned, but didn't push the matter further.

'So who are you really?' Zelos suddenly asked.

But to that question Tath merely looked at him, her eyes full of secrets.

'Good night, Zelos,' she said and lay down with her back to him, although she didn't sleep for the entire night, always keeping her guard up.

---

Morning came and the group appointed a new watch for Tath. Sheena.

It was nine years since Sheena had last seen her, so there was no chance she would recognise her, unlike Zelos. Unless she heard her name.

So Tath kept on walking as they were leaving their campsite, looking around to see if she recognised the environment. She did. Just beyond that mountain was her Rheaird. She looked back at the group.

It was time to escape.

But… She looked at Sheena, who was holding her sword. She needed that first.

It was then her chance came. A monster, in form of three wolves appeared. Tath knew that Sheena had injured her hand in their last battle and wouldn't participate. This was her only chance. Lloyd, Zelos, Raine and Regal rushed into battle, while the others watched.

Tath looked behind her. They were standing on a hill, with a sharp drop behind Tath. She looked back. Sheena was now holding the sword with both her hands in front of her, as she drifted away in thoughts, looking at the battle.

It was now or never.

Tath did a kick, sending the sword out of Sheena's hands, causing it to fly over Tath's head and down the sharp cliff.

But Sheena reacted a little too fast for Tath's escape.

'Hey!' she said and pulled out her cards. 'Just who the hell do you think you are?'

Tath decided she should give her something to think about.

'You really wanna know who I am?' she asked, as Sheena went for her attack. It was then Tath grabbed with ease Sheena's hand, twisted it around, grabbed the cards easily and held them towards the defenceless girl.

She knew Sheena would recognise the move; Tath was the only one ever who had been able to fight the cards out of Sheena's hands.

Just as she predicted, Sheena stopped in surprise and gave Tath the time to escape. Genis was the only one had discovered the fight and called out to Lloyd, but he didn't hear.

Tath grinned to them as she ran to the edge of the cliff. 'It's been nice, but no thanks.'

Then she did a back flip, jumping down the ravine. Sheena and Genis rushed to forth to see, and saw Tath running far down with the sword in her hand.

Well, guys, what do you think? Please review!