Disclaimer: I do not own this, sad as the fact may be for me. If I did I'd be rich, not wondering when I'll get my next allowance.
I love summer. It's the best time of the year. No school; lot's of time to sit at my computer; lot's of time to torment… er… write about my favorite characters…
Chapter 6Sheena pulled away abruptly, her cheeks bright red. "Uh… thanks, Zelos."
"No problem," he replied tiredly. He continued to sit there for several moments, his eyes shut tightly. Something brushed his right shoulder, sending new waves of pain through him. No longer needing to suppress his natural reaction, he violently jerked away from the touch, his arm pulling itself up to his chest.
"Oh goddess, I'm sorry Zelos. Your arm…" Sheena trailed off and Zelos opened his eyes only to see her face's guilty expression. "The bandage is a little red, your arm must be bleeding again."
"Yeah, I think Ibis is gonna get mad at me for messing up the stitches." He grinned at her, "I'm just glad your ok. I was afraid I was going to drop you, and I don't have my Cruxis Crystal with me, so I couldn't have caught you."
"You ought to use a first aid spell on it."
"Actually, I ought to do real first aid on it. My ability to use magic has always been so-so. It's good enough for swords and a few spells, but it isn't much without my Cruxis Crystal." Zelos shrugged and then winced, "that was why I had the stitches done in the first place."
"That does makes sense. Here, let's get the bandage off your arm," Sheena leaned over and started to unwrap the gauze. Zelos let out a soft hiss of pain and tried, without success, to wave her off. "Stop being such a baby, this'll be done before you know it."
Zelos settled on sticking his tongue out at her as his comeback.
"There." Sheena cringed sympathetically, "that's gotta sting."
"Sting isn't the word I'd use, but I'd get censored if I spoke it, I'm sure."
"Well… I'm sure it'll look better once it gets cleaned up."
"Look better?" Zelos glanced at his arm and immediately looked away. "Somehow, I doubt it."
"The stitches are fine."
"I did notice that. It's a miracle they didn't tear."
"Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Yep. I think you were right at the beginning. A first aid spell is all it needs."
Sheena stood and helped Zelos maneuver onto his feet while he muttered the incantation. Green magic spread across his arm and the pain dulled noticeably.
"AHHHHHHH!" The scream tore through the forest.
"That sounded like Seles," Zelos whispered hoarsely. Sheena nodded mutely. "Come on, we have to get back to her and Presea."
As one, they set off through the forest. Not quite running, but definitely not walking, they could only hope that Seles had jumped at another shadow.
/o/
Ma'at had always had a talent for acknowledging and selectively ignoring certain emotions from people. It was part of the reason she'd been accepted into Cruxis at such a young age.
It was also why she'd left Cruxis for the Anubian Warriors.
Empathy usually caused people to feel compelled to make others happy. It was a well-documented fact. The happiness of other reflected itself within the souls of empaths. In fact, any emotion would echo in the hearts of the gifted few.
Only mental shields kept those powerful people from losing their sanity. The images of foreign feelings could literally tear apart the minds of the strong.
Ma'at was an exception. Childhood trauma had affected her mind and given her a preternatural shielding technique. It had also given her insanity.
She was a huntress of the highest caliber. Nothing came between her and her prey. She could retrieve information from her captives with relative ease. Her empathy showed her their greatest fears and she capitalized on them.
Set and Apophis allowed her free reign for the most part. But now, with the empath they needed so close thatshe could almost taste his fear and anger, Ma'at was being called off the job.
"Let someone else try," they'd told her. "We don't want him dead, yet. It isn't time to cast your judgment upon him."
So she waited, watching silently, as a hired hand without even a trace of the power she used daily failed utterly at the job she knew she should have been given.
/o/
"All right, Colette, I'll go back to the story," Kratos added. "When Yuan, Isis, and I returned to Derris-Kharlan we were told that there was another accident. The woman who initiated project Morphia had been killed as well as the man who'd had his personality altered in the first accident. I investigated the circumstances that had led up to the incident and came to one conclusion."
"This time, it wasn't an accident." Kratos frowned as he continued. "There were two, at least, that were directly responsible for the occurrence. Their names were Set and Apophis. They were brothers and, for all appearances, seemed dead set on taking control of Cruxis."
"Mithos had them executed. He then hid the Firelight Mirror somewhere on this planet. No one knows where he put it, though."
"A woman named Ma'at took over the project at that point and I only know a little of what happened next due to reports that Isis gave me." Kratos sighed softly, organizing his thoughts. "Ma'at created a smaller, portable version of the mirror that worked far more efficiently than the Mirror and couldn't create monsters. She had no problem using people as her guinea pigs and was said to revel in the pain of others."
"She does," Yuan muttered softly. "She was in the infirmary once when I'd broken my arm. She kept trying to read my mind, to feel my pain and amplify it if she could. Isis was there and shut her into her own mind so fast that I think everyone in the room could feel the telekinetic energy."
"Why didn't you ever mention that before?" Kratos asked curiously.
"It was trivial at the time," Yuan replied dismissively.
"Humph."
"That isn't a word, you know."
"Whatever. Anyway, Ma'at was eventually kicked out of Cruxis as well. Isis and her brother-in-law, Ra, also split from Cruxis at that point. No one really knows what happened to Ma'at after that, but Isis and Ra have kept in touch with Yuan and myself."
"They formed an organization called the Horus Guards, though most simply call them Guardians," Yuan chimed in. "They seek out empaths, train them to shield their minds, and then give them the option of joining or seeking out their path in life elsewhere."
"They sound nice," Colette said brightly.
"If you say so," Yuan muttered darkly. Kratos gave him a sharp look.
"They are very nice," Kratos agreed.
Yuan took over the explination at that point. "There is another organization out there, the Anubian Warriors, which also seeks out empaths. They are, however, looking for these people with one purpose in mind; find the Firelight Mirror and restore it to working order.
"Supposedly, the people running the group are Ma'at, Set, and Apophis. That would mean, though, that the executions were faked."
"If they were trying to take over Cruxis, why would Yggdrasill let them live?" Lloyd asked quietly.
"I don't know."
"And on that happy note," Yuan said after a few moments of silence, "I've taken the liberty of inviting the Sage siblings to meet up with us here. They should arrive this afternoon or tomorrow morning. I assumed you'd want your friends to help you on this one. I just ask that you don't include the whiny redhead."
"Why shouldn't Zelos help?" Colette asked, completely oblivious to the scowl on the blue-haired Seraphim's face. "He's really smart, when he wants to be, and makes everyone smile. Sometimes he also makes Sheena hit him, though I still don't see why…"
/o/
Zelos' eyes narrowed, glaring at the man standing before his little sister and friend. Seles and Presea were trapped behind an orange shield and seemed extremely upset about the entire situation. Zelos found himself wondering where his sister learned some of the obscenities she was shouting at the man. He certainly hadn't taught her those.
Who was the man standing before the irate girls, you ask? None other than Kuchinawa of Mizuho.
"What is he doing here?" Sheena hissed.
"Whatever it is," Zelos replied with a shrug, "he certainly isn't here to find out what the coordinates of New Mizuho are." Zelos surveyed the area. "I don't see the control panel from here, he must have hidden it."
"I'm willing to bet he can see it, though. It wouldn't make sense for him not to be able to keep tabs on the one thing that guarantees we'll listen to what he has to say."
"How long would it take you to locate and disable the control panel?" Zelos asked nonchalantly.
"Ten or fifteen minutes… no, Zelos, whatever you're thinking, the answer is no."
"You haven't even heard my brilliant idea yet."
"I'd like to keep it that way."
"Sheena, if you locate the control panel, it won't do us any good if you can't deactivate it while he's watching. If I distract him, you'll have a better chance of freeing Presea and Seles," Zelos' tone was matter-of-fact and Sheena found herself nodding.
"You do make sense, from a logical standpoint, anyway. I, however," she spoke sharply, "am not comfortable letting you walk right into the fire or frying pan or whatever this situation constitutes as, while I do the easy part."
"I am, though. You know the forest better. I'd get lost and wind up a mile away."
"No you wouldn't."
"Don't flatter me, it doesn't suit you. I know I'm one of those guys who winds up driving in circles."
"Well, there was that one time you managed to get us to every temple except the Shadow Temple… Oh, all right. We'll go with your plan."
"Gee, your vote of confidence is overwhelming." Sheena just flashed him a wan smile and disappeared into the forest. "I need to learn how she does that…" Zelos stood and walked towards the path.
"Hello, Chosen One," Kuchinawa said mockingly, turning his attention away from the imprisoned girls.
"I guess you haven't been paying attention to the world news, Kuchinawa," Zelos replied flippantly. "There is no more 'Chosen' title anymore."
"I am aware of that. However, you are still a Chosen."
"Really? That's news to me." Zelos looked past the man. "Yo, Seles, Presea, you two okay?"
"We are undamaged."
"I'm fine big brother. Kick his butt for me, all right?"
"Of course."
"I hate to interrupt this charming family reunion," Kuchinawa drawled, "but I have a message to deliver to you, Chosen one."
"Fine." Zelos' voice was suddenly cold enough to make a glacier shiver. "What's the message."
"My employers believe you would be an… asset to their organization." Kuchinawa continued to give a vague speech, but Zelos tuned him out, concentrating on the soft murmur he heard. Wonder if the idiot even realizes… the power that want him for… annoying empaths, bet they have the psycho…
Zelos closed his eyes and gave his head a small shake to clear his thoughts. "Whatever. I really don't care, Kuchinawa. With you, if it isn't one thing, it's another. You don't do this mercenary business well. Go home to Mizuho, where you belong."
"As long as Sheena," murderer, "is allowed to live there and be successor to the Chief," senile, "I will not return."
Zelos felt rather dizzy and the undertones of the conversation were not helping. His internal panic over his sister's well being, he acknowledged mentally, was definitely making things worse for him.
Kuchinawa glared at Zelos and pulled out several cards. "I'm under orders to bring you to the Warrior's headquarters" Set will reward me greatly "alive, but not necessarily undamaged. You can come quietly, Wilder, or not. You've already been hurt, so I'd recommend that you play nice."
"Sorry," Zelos answered mockingly, drawing his sword with his right hand and equipping his shield, "but I don't feel like playing 'nice' right now."
Kuchinawa chucked a card at Zelos and the redhead deflected it with his shield, his right arm beginning to throb again from merely holding the sword. The ninja, seemingly sensing the weakness, lunged forward using the shortsword that the people of Mizuho customarily wore on their backs. Zelos parried easily, though wincing slightly at the impact of the two swords.
"Is that all? Honestly, Chosen. You're reputation would lead someone to think you fight better than this," Kuchinawa said insultingly.
"Zelos is ten times better than you!" Seles yelled from the orange prison. "It's easy to see that even when behind this wanna-be wall!"
The ex-Chosen found himself grinning slightly at his sister's words. At that moment it was almost hard to believe that the strawberry-blonde girl had once acted as if he was the greatest evil around.
Kuchinawa appeared to be ignoring the girls inside the prison and unflinchingly began to call upon a guardian spell that Zelos recalled Sheena using once or twice.
Just in time, Zelos rolled out of the way of a lightning blast. That spell alone identified the card type that Kuchinawa was using. The card of lightning was the only kind that could successfully execute lightning attacks without special equipment that the ninja obviously lacked.
A second blast caught Zelos' shield and heated the material it was made from. Sparks clawed through the air, blinding the swordsman with ribbons of white, yellow, purple, and blue ribbons of light.
Unseeing and unprepared, a third blast hit Zelos' shield at an angle and the sparks leapt towards his blade. Pain shot through his hand and wrist briefly before going completely numb. Unable to feel his hand, Zelos lost his grip on the sword and it tumbled uselessly to the ground.
Kuchinawa pressed forward, attacking with his blade once more. That was a major mistake.
Zelos caught the blow with his shield and deflected it forcefully. Then, he swung the shield as violently as he could, turning it on its side as it connected with Kuchinawa's left arm.
A sickening crunch filled the air and the ninja dropped to his knees in pain. Clutching his broken arm to his chest, Kuchinawa watched helplessly as the orange prison flickered and died. Struggling to his feet, the man fled into the forest.
"Zelos!" Seles rushed over to her brother, guiding the exhausted man over to a tree stump to sit on.
"He hurt his arm again while we were out," Sheena said as she walked out of the forest from behind Presea. "Now it looks like you've made it that much worse, Zelos. I told you that I ought to be the distraction."
"I think I'll live, Sheena…" Zelos trailed off as Presea began to circle him. "What?"
"Your arm looks like Niflehiem has warmed over," Presea informed him in a sincere tone.
"No offense, Presea, but that wasn't very comforting," Zelos said in amock-sad tone.
"Wait a minute." Seles interupted, "how did you hurt your arm before you and Sheena rescued us from what's-his-name!"
"We had a disagreement with a cliff," Zelos informed her facetiously.
"There was this really lovely cliff over there. Absolutely gorgeous vista," Sheena elaborated. "Unfortunately, part of it was really unstable. I fell through and would've died if Zelos hadn't caught me."
"Whoa, go big bro! You've rescued us all today, haven't you?"
"All in a day's work, I assure you." Zelos stood and wobbled dizzily, Sheena and Seles simultaneously reaching out to steady him. "Seles, can you do healing spells?"
"No. I can do anything except for healing, light, and dark centered magic."
"I don't have enough mana left for another one… could we just rest here for a little while?" Zelos closed his eyes, slumping back onto the tree stump.
"No. We can't. You have to get that arm healed before anything else happens." Sheena hoisted the protesting man to his feet and, with the help of the other two girls, began to lead him out of the forest.
/o/
Raine stared at her Rheaird and wondered again if she should really be going. There was so much to do in Heimdall and everyone was slowly starting to accept her. Yet… they weren't doing much to stop racism worldwide, which had been the main goal of the brother and sister.
"Raine, hurry up!" Genis said impatiently. "We've gotta get going. I haven't seen Lloyd or Colette in ages and we all miss Kratos… sort of. He's a bit of a jerk at times… What?"
Raine softened her sudden glare. "He isn't a jerk. He's just used to hiding how he feels in order to shield himself. It's the same thing Zelos does, just a different sort of mask."
"Why do you say Zelos has a 'mask?' He's always happy. Nothing keeps him down. That's what both irritates people and causes us to smile."
"Lloyd once mentioned that Zelos had said it was tiring to not be serious all the time. He hides within himself," Raine answered as she mounted her Rheaird. "It really can't be all that healthy for him. It's a phase he needs to grow out of."
"Like Lloyd's falling-asleep-in-class phase?"
"That was Lloyd's nature. Kratos seems to think intelligence skips generations in his family. I tend agree. There simply isn't any other explanation."
"Lloyd's smart… ish."
"He's people-smart and still manages to lack common sense. Now, shall we depart?"
"Of course. After you, sis."
Raine chuckled and revved the Rheaird into gear, lifting away from the ground. Moments later, an identical sound let her know that her brother was following close behind.
A/N Yes, there will be a Sheelos first kiss coming up soon. Probably not the next chapter, but I think that I'll get that far in the chapter after the next. I think…
Colette and Lloyd will get married at the end of the fic. I just thought I'd go ahead and mention that since their engagement has been announced.
I've also got a confession to make to everyone. I started another story. I haven't posted it yet and won't start until I've finished part one. It has nothing to do with this story and, considering that I'm a 16-year-old with no summer job, it shouldn't interfere with this story. It is called Student-Teacher and, though it won't be Sheelos until the end (and even then it'll be more pre-Sheelos than anything), I would like to go on and make a plead for reviews. Hopefully someone will remember it in a month or so when I start posting it.
Once more, I pray that my only mistakes are minor grammar issues. Please review. :)