A/N – Once again sorry you guys had to wait awhile for an update. Been crazy here recently! But it's all good now and I have free time again so onto chapter 10! (Also, Merry Christmas in case I don't update before then).

Reimi didn't mention anything about the seminar to Amy, and neither did Lloyd, and she thought it was better that way. Besides, she was the one who had bought the tickets and thought up the idea, so it seemed more natural for her to go. The point of the seminar was to cheer Lloyd up, not as a date or anything, which would be exactly how Amy saw it.

As she worriedly pondered these things over breakfast the morning of the seminar, Lloyd leaving for work brought her out of her thoughts. He had cheered up so much since that night and Reimi was happy that he wasn't taking any more long walks or looking down. He ruffled her hair affectionately as he left and Reimi fought back with her cereal spoon, making a wild aim for his back, which Lloyd dodged easily.

"Gonna have to do better than that, Rem…," he taunted, and left with a short wave.

Reimi smiled at the use of her nickname, then sighed and picked the spoon up off the floor to deposit it in the sink.

"Good morning," she jumped and quickly spun round to face Amy, guilt causing the blood to rush to her face. She was about to spurt out a hurried apology, for what - she wasn't sure - when, with a sigh, she realized Amy was more occupied trying to fit through her bedroom door whilst cocooned in her duvet.

"M-morning," Reimi stammered back, then headed over to help her flat-mate. "You got college today?"

"Yeah," Amy grumbled. "But not til later so I thought I'd veg out in front of the TV for a few hours first. Wonder if Jeremy Kyle's on yet…" she freed herself then plonked down on the floor in front of the TV, searching for the remote. "You going to work?"

"Yeah, in a little while," Reimi stated, not wanting to continue the conversation. "I should get ready,"

"Oh ok. Also, Reimi? I'll be out tonight so can you take care of the shopping for me? We just need some essentials since I think they'll run out by the end of the day, I'd ask Elsa but she got in late last night and I might miss her on my way out,"

"Er, yeah sure," Reimi hurriedly agreed, eager to escape.

"I'll leave the list on the table later for you,"

"Yep!" Reimi assented, then rushed into her bedroom and shut the door.

After an unbearably long day, she met Lloyd outside Starbucks that night, as usual (with him being late, as usual) then bused the thirty minutes to the university campus in companionable chatter.

As they arrived, Reimi checked around for the building she had seen online, nestled between the city's skyscrapers. It was technically an art college, not a university, and easy to spot, since it had an intricate grey honeycomb design for its exterior. Lloyd gasped appreciatively as it came into view, then headed straight for the door, while Reimi followed just behind.

She had never been to university, instead she went straight into employment after her A Levels, so she was a bit cautious of what it would be like.

As they entered, they saw a lot of students still milling about, some lounging on chairs near the entrance, others queuing up for dinner at the cafeteria. Reimi nervously approached the nearest group, who were standing just ahead of them, and asked for directions.

Upon hearing her request and the seminar to which she was headed, a couple of the group swapped meaningful looks, while another giggled. This was her first indicator that something was not quite right, but she brushed it off and, after thanking them, headed in the direction they had given without looking back. Lloyd didn't appear to notice and was happy to just go along without comment.

As they reached the door to the lecture theatre, she had her second indicator that something was wrong, when no one appeared to check their tickets. Lloyd shrugged and headed straight in but Reimi fussed around for a second, glancing here and there for someone to confirm their presence. Eventually Lloyd re-appeared at her side.

"We're the only ones here," he whispered.

She frowned and gazed past him. She could make out rows and rows of desks turned to face the front, with an elderly gentleman setting up a projector towards the very back, but none of them were filled. As she hesitated a few seconds longer, his voice came rumbling up to them, deep and strong.

"Come in, come in, I don't bite,"

It was settled; he had seen them, so there was no going back. Lloyd gave her a nod and led the way, picking seats near the very front after more encouragement from the Professor.

After they had sat down, he strode across the stage, at a surprisingly easy gait for a man clearly in his eighties, to shake their hands and introduce himself as Professor Charles Brigden. Before retiring, he explained, he taught various sciences at a University in Queensland, Australia, but had settled down in England to continue his work at this University.

"Theories on other worlds and parallel universes aren't exactly something I can provide hard facts and evidence for, so I've had to make do where I can, and this particular college was very obliging to my needs. A small donation a month and I can lecture on what I like, provided it isn't anything harmful,"

"Where's everyone else?" Lloyd broke in.

"Mostly it's this campus' students who attend my seminars since it's an encompassing part of their enrolling fee to get in to any lecture on the grounds without pay. Although I am well aware they come not to learn, but to ridicule me,"

"Oh Professor…," Reimi started sadly. "Aren't you bothered by that?"

The Professor readjusted his glasses on his nose. "No, dear, just as long as there are people who will come to listen, for whatever reason, I will continue to teach on the odd chance something will inspire, or get through. Now, I better get this set up before the rest arrive," he concluded, then strode back towards his laptop and the projector.

Reimi quelled the voices in her head and sat back without further complaint. Lloyd was eagerly drawn forwards, waiting for the Professor's words but was bored well before they could begin, since they had arrived twenty minutes early and had to wait for the theatre to fill up.

He was entertainment, Reimi concluded, half an hour later.

She had, at first, been drawn to his confident manner at their meeting, but whilst lecturing, he had gotten carried away and excited by his own theories. He seemed vastly unaware of his audience, although he did give occasional eye contact, and would mostly talk about old texts or hearsay on anything related to the subject. Reimi finally understood the students' reactions from before.

Lloyd was growing more and more restless. He had stopped paying attention a long time ago and fully reclined back in his seat. It was only when he was considering pretending to need a toilet break to sever the monotony that something captured his attention.

"You brought a notebook?" he whispered in disbelief. Reimi had suddenly hunched forwards, book on her knees, writing furiously.

"Shhh, let me just get this," she murmured, hand moving frantically across the page.

Lloyd sat back again but a bright smile had formed across his face. He briefly tried to return attention to the lecture but it was useless, so he continued to stare at her every now and then, watching her lips form a pout as she concentrated.

"Well, that was a waste of time…." He groaned an hour later as they were walking home.

"No it wasn't!" Reimi protested, taking out her notebook. "We learned so much! It was really interesting,"

"Like what? What did you write down?" he replied, curiously.

"Like… that Otherworldly portals tend to open at fixed times, which often fall on solstice's or equinoxes. They are brief rips in the fabric of reality, which reveal themselves for only a few seconds aaand," she scanned her notes a bit further, eyes squinting as she reached the end of the page "argh. I can't read the rest of my writing," she bit her lip worriedly and looked up to see Lloyd staring at her.

"W-what?"

"You're amazing, Reimi," he said enthusiastically. "You got all that? I just remember the thing about the… the… uh, I forget. Anyway, it might not be true,"

"Well, it's July now… That means the Midsummer solstice has just passed. If this guy is right, the next one won't be until September or maybe even Halloween, two to three months from now…"

"So, I'm here for another three months?" Lloyd sighed.

"Yes, well maybe, but… Look on the bright side," she began fishing around for a good reason, which suddenly flowed from her lips, "When you get to see Kratos again, there's no way he won't stay with you this time,"

Lloyd looked at her a bit surprised. "What?"

"What?" Reimi echoed back.

"Oh… just. Do you really think so?"

"Of course. He obviously loves you a lot, Lloyd. He was going to sacrifice himself to open the seal to Origin because he believed in your ideals. You should believe in him now,"

"You remembered all that. You believe me?" He stopped walking and happily turned to her.

"I…," Reimi clutched her notebook to her chest, "You're my friend, Lloyd. I believe you wouldn't lie to me,"

It wasn't the exact answer he wanted but it was close enough.

"Reimi… Thank you. And for taking me here tonight. I had fun," he grinned, his cheeks a little pink.

"N-no, you didn't," Reimi laughed and started walking again. "You said he was crazy earlier,"

"Doesn't mean I didn't have a good time," he said softly. Reimi couldn't pluck up the courage to face him and was about to orchestrate a reply when she noticed their bus roll past.

"Ahhh! Quick, the last bus!" As she ran ahead, hearing Lloyd's footsteps drum from behind, she hoped that this conversation wouldn't continue when they were both seated on the bus, though she knew she would relive it later tonight.

The next morning her happy reverie was broken by Amy in the kitchen.

"Where are they?"

"Huh? Where's what?"

"The groceries,"

It was only then that Reimi remembered their conversation from the previous morning. "Shoot! I-I forgot, I'm so sorry Amy, I'll quickly run out and get some now,"

"Where were you last night?"

"I-I was at work. I stayed late to practice the piano,"

"And Lloyd?" Reimi was shocked by how bluntly Amy spoke.

"He-"

"Lloyd was here with me. Calm down, Amy. What's wrong?"

"Elsa?" Reimi gasped. Their oldest housemate appeared unexpectedly in the doorway.

"Oh, he was? I didn't see him when I came in," Amy immediately brightened.

"Judging by the time he got up and left this morning, he had an early night because of work," Elsa suggested.

"Ah. Okay. Guess I'll see him tonight then, have a good day guys. Reimi, don't forget the groceries," Amy winked, then headed back to her room.

Reimi was ready to thank Elsa right away, but was immediately cut off when Amy's door closed and Elsa drew her into the bathroom.

"Reimi, be careful. You know what Amy's like," Elsa hissed to her quietly," She'll almost definitely get bored of Lloyd before long but, that aside - I don't want to see you get hurt. Or Amy, and the way this is ending up, there's going to be a big fight, and that would make our living arrangement unbearable for everyone,"

Reimi unconsciously hugged her arms around herself. "Elsa… I don't-"

"I'm not saying to ignore him, but take some time away from him. During lunch, walking home, even here if you have to. You're getting too close too fast, can't you see this is a sinking ship?"

Reimi brushed Elsa off. "I-I just thought…"

But she couldn't think. She didn't know how to continue that sentence and instead felt the hot sting of tears from behind her eyes.

"Reimi…" Elsa gently pried Reimi's arms away from her sides. "This will make things better, I promise. Go wash up, I'll talk to you later," And after a brief kiss on the forehead, she left Reimi alone in the bathroom.