A/N This is what we call the beach episode of an anime… Don't really want to say much as this point as the story is getting more serious so enjoy and please review! (And if you do review, please write what you liked/disliked/are thinking about the story! Because those comments are the best and make me so happy. Also once again sorry for the late update, this chapter was so difficult to write! But I hope it'll please those following this story.)

Reimi pushed the cream white doors open and entered the hotel, Lloyd in tow. She had decided to take him down to Clacton-on-Sea, a seaside town on the South-East coast of England. It was the childhood beach that she used to visit each summer with her parents though obviously, since it was quite late at night, they would see the beach in the morning.

She had hurriedly texted her boss on the train down saying she felt too sick to work the next day, and also Elsa stating that she and Lloyd were out and wouldn't be home until tomorrow evening, so she wouldn't worry. She received no reply to either text but that wasn't so out of the ordinary, so she thought no more of it.

"One room, double bed?" The concierge inquired, taking only a quick glance up at them.

"O-oh, no," Reimi blushed. "Two singles, please," she corrected, handing over her credit card. Lloyd made to do the same but she stopped him. "I'll get this, Lloyd"

He protested but she stayed firm, so he had no choice but to give in.

"Do you have a booking? We don't have any singles rooms available tonight,"

"That's okay," Lloyd shrugged, "I'm happy to share,"

Reimi turned an even deeper shade of red. "A-ah…,"

"We also have a double room available? Two single beds,"

"That one please," Reimi nodded, scribbling a signature onto the sign-in sheet as a messy, nervous scrawl. The concierge slid their key across the table, while Reimi punched in her PIN number to pay for their rooms.

After thanking and bidding him good night, the two of them climbed to the top floor, where their room was, and Reimi avoided all eye contact with Lloyd.

The room was nice, but nothing more than just the basics. A small TV, an on-suite bathroom, and a little balcony with just enough room for two people to stand comfortably on, side-by-side.

She dumped her bag and coat on one of the beds while Lloyd looked out at the view. Despite it being quite late, it wasn't too chilly outside so after a moment he opened the balcony door and stepped out. A pretty view of the sea lay in front of him.

Reimi came over and stood behind him. "It's beautiful," she breathed, suddenly lost in nostalgia.

Lloyd turned round to face her. "Yeah, beautiful,"

Reimi met his gaze for a second then broke it, feeling nervous.

There was an awkward pause before Lloyd spoke again "Did you pick a bed?"

"Ah, yeah. I hope you don't mind. Though, if you want the one nearer the window, we can trade," He shook his head, smiling lightly. Reimi looked back out at the sea.

The gentle sound of waves tried to fill the silence.

"D-does the sea smell the same where you're from?" she questioned, wracking her brain for subjects to talk about, stopping the awkwardness she could feel rising up behind their conversation.

"Well, the sea is the sea, so at the moment, yes," he rubbed the back of his head chuckling. "I'm looking forward to seeing it properly tomorrow though,"

Reimi just nodded. Her mind was a blank. Had it ever just been the two of them alone like this before? So far away from everyone else? It was a bit scary for some reason.

"H-hey, Reimi?" Lloyd stuttered, immediately drawing her attention back to him.

"I, er… I just wanted to say. I wanted to ask you- ah," he fumbled over his words. This was harder than he thought.

Reimi looked at him quizzically, wondering what he could be thinking.

"That is… I mean, well…" he sighed and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I know I dragged you all the way out here, and away from work and I just wanted to say… sorry. And thanks for looking out for me all this time,"

Reimi's face relaxed significantly. "Anytime. Actually, doing this, I feel better than I have in ages," she gave a little laugh. "It's quite nice having an impromptu holiday away from everything,"

"I completely agree" Lloyd grinned back.

The tension in the air had relaxed again, so Reimi decided to make tea as something to do before bed.

"Want a cup?" She asked with her back to him, going to warm up the kettle that was left on the dresser in their room, along with a few tea bags.

"Sure," he replied warmly.

"And Lloyd… about earlier today. Thanks for trying to cheer me up,"

"Don't mention it," he sighed, half relieved and half frustrated.

He would tell her tomorrow.

Lloyd ran out onto the beach and laughed happily. It was a perfect day with a perfect blue sky and a light sea breeze that moved his hair slightly in its wake.

Reimi had told him to go on ahead since she wanted to try on a couple of swim suits before they arrived (Lloyd was happy enough with the first pair he came across in the hotel shop) so he picked a place on the beach and set up camp.

Not wanting to leave their stuff alone, he reclined on the beach for awhile, marveling at the beautiful day and trying to keep his mind free of worries.

About half an hour later, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and someone gently tapped his shoulder.

Opening his eyes he was greeted by Reimi looking down at him shyly. She had her normal clothes under one arm and some sun cream in the other as well as a sand-coloured beach bag filled with towels.

And that wasn't all. She had gotten changed into her new swimwear; a cloud-white tank top with a pink and purple diamond pattern in the middle, and bright blue shorts that came just above her knees underneath. Her hair was also pulled up into a side ponytail which fell messily down to her shoulder. He immediately looked away, feeling indecent, though he had a shirt in his bag he could put on if she looked uncomfortable.

Reimi placed the items she was carrying beside Lloyd on the sand. "I'm going to go get us some ice cream," she said, very consciously fixing her gaze to Lloyd's eyes. "What one do you want?"

"I'll get it!" Lloyd jumped up. "You paid for our rooms so this is the least I can do to pay you back,"

"It's fine," Reimi shook her head but Lloyd had already grabbed her arm and started leading her towards one of the nearby ice cream stalls.

It was still quite early in the day, and a weekday at that, so there weren't enough people on the beach for them to worry about thieves. Reimi's hand burned at his touch and she fought to keep herself from shaking.

"Ice cream for you and your girlfriend, sir?"

"We're not-" Reimi began.

"Yes, please," Lloyd interjected.

Reimi turned back to check their belongings and took a couple of deep breaths to calm down before she faced Lloyd and the ice cream the vendor she was sure was winking at her from the corner of her eye.

A little bit of time passed as they talked and ate ice cream before she ventured a shy; "Want to… Want to go in the sea?".

"Yeah!" Lloyd grinned and stood up, ready to go.

"Oh, one thing," Reimi motioned for him to sit back down. "Sun cream, you need protection, it's a hot day,"

"Alright," Lloyd turned round with his back to her and Reimi panicked again.

"A-ah,"

"Can you do my back, Reimi?" Lloyd asked innocently.

"S-sure," she gingerly squirted a little suncream on her hands. "It… It might be a little cold…"

"That's okay," Lloyd asserted and shivered slightly as Reimi applied the cream, tentatively at first but then with growing confidence as she worked it into his skin. When she was done he turned around and motioned for her to do the same. "Now I'll do you," he said.

Reimi felt dizzy and collected her hair off her back, facing away from Lloyd.

She jumped as Lloyd's hands touched her bare skin.

"Too cold?" he queried. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck and goosebumps appeared all over her body.

"N-no," she replied, slightly defiant.

He chuckled and gently continued spreading the cream. When he was done he applied a little more cream to himself then gave the bottle back to Reimi for her to do the same. Reimi tore her eyes from the sight of Lloyd's bare midriff and focused on working the cream to her arms and legs. She turned away when she needed to apply it to her chest and stomach.

"Let's go!" Lloyd exclaimed. Reimi looked back to see him stood up, hand outstretched towards her.

"I-I… You go in first, I need to watch our stuff," she said, trying to keep eye contact.

"There's no one around and we're super close to the sea. It'll be fine, come on Rem,"

She hesitated a second before taking his hand and letting him pull her up. No sooner had she obliged then he was tearing off down the beach, excitement catching up with him. "Here we go!"

"It's gonna be cold!" Reimi squealed, half from excitement half from fear.

"Then I'll carry you," he grinned, and without a second's hesitation, scooped her up in his arms before he waded into the sea.

"LLOYD!" she squealed, clinging to him as she felt some of the water reach her leg where Lloyd splashed about.

"Sorry, sorry," he laughed and spun her round and round. She had never seen him this elated.

"Lloyd we're gonna fall!" Reimi clung on tighter.

"I'd never let you fall," he breathed into her ear and Reimi felt more goosebumps form up and down her spine. She still couldn't meet his eyes. Lloyd was being so… bold. She turned and saw a couple of people staring at them.

"Let's just enjoy ourselves today," he stopped spinning and she worked the courage to glance up. He was beaming from ear to ear, eyes sparkling with the reflection of the sun on the sea.

"Okay," she said bashfully and leant her head against his shoulder. "Let's go further out, then?"

"Aye aye, princess," he replied seriously, and started walking further into the sea.

Reimi smiled and let her arm fall down to test the water. It wasn't as cold as she thought.

"Actually, I think I'd like to swim… Aren't you cold at all, Lloyd?" she asked, suddenly aware he hadn't even flinched at the waters temperature.

"I didn't really notice," Lloyd shrugged.

"Can you help me in?"

"On the count of three?" he affirmed.

"Okay,"

"One… two…" then he ducked down, holding Reimi in the water, her head above the surface. She screamed in surprise, gripping Lloyd tight.

"THAT WASN'T THREE," Lloyd laughed hard and Reimi untangled herself from him. "You're mean!" she yelled and started swimming further out, away from him.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Lloyd called out and swamß after her.

"Away from you!" She called back, splashing some water in his general direction. Lloyd kept laughing and gave chase. Reimi screamed again seeing him get closer. "STOOOOPPPP!"

"Gotcha," He scooped her up again and she thrashed about, pretending to escape.

"You may think you've got me…" she replied mischieviously. "But you haven't!" she managed to grapple him so that he fell into the water and held him from behind.

"R-Reimi!" he faltered, slightly surprised. She chuckled into his back and held on tighter.

"I've got you, Lloyd"

"Yeah, you do…" he whispered and Reimi paused. He brought a hand up to hold one of hers and she froze.

"Rarrr!" Using her hesitation he flipped their positions and carried her again.

"Ahhhh!"

They came out of the sea a few minutes later dripping wet and walked back to their spot. Reimi wrapped a towel around herself and began drying. Lloyd just flopped onto the beach, watching the sea.

They spent a little more time talking about general things – the games they wanted to play, the people around them at work – then the sun was setting and both their stomachs were growling, having had not much more than ice cream and sandwiches throughout the day.

"We've been here longer than I thought…" Reimi muttered, watching the sunset in disbelief.

Lloyd didn't say anything. Again he looked like he was struggling with his thoughts. "Lloyd?" she asked, after a few seconds had gone by with no reply.

"Reimi do you… Want to… get dinner with me?"

Not far along the beach was a cosy little restaurant called 'By the Bay' they had passed a couple of times whilst swimming. Lloyd had mentally noted it and planned their evening in his head after he saw the menu.

They served lobster – it was the most expensive thing on the menu but he also wanted to take Reimi out for a proper dinner and not just a snack. Show that he was serious, and besides – he had seen people on TV take their dates out for lobster in romantic dramas. Though he had no idea why lobsters were considered romantic.

They got a booth seat, right by the window, and Reimi happily looked back out over the sea, which was now lit by moonlight, waves gently breaking against the sand.

There was a single candle on their table, which bathed her in a warm glow. Their outing in the sea had left her hair slightly curled at the ends – and that combined with the with the lighting made her look like one of the women in the Renaissance portraits he often saw in older buildings or galleries.

He couldn't help but stare.

Reimi turned crimson at the attention and hurriedly began reciting some random facts she knew about the sea to fill the time before the waiter came over. Lloyd immediately declared he would pay for everything and suggested Lobster from the set menu. Reimi protested at first but gave in after a short time as the waiter was impatiently tapping a pen to his notebook, wanting to take the order. Lloyd didn't seem to notice and reassured Reimi again, telling her not to worry about money with another hand squeeze.

Reimi found it progressively harder to find her words when Lloyd did that.

As the waiter walked away, Lloyd excitedly began talking about the foods he had on his journeys in Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. His face lit up at the mention of his friends and Reimi felt a slight pang of jealousy. Though this was followed by;

"I can't wait til they meet you,"

And she started, surprised. "I… I would r-really like that, Lloyd. But if they're from another world I don't think I can. You'll have to go back to them eventually and I'll have to stay here,"

Lloyd looked confused. "But you've got to meet them… You're all so important to me..."

Reimi fiddled with the napkin in her lap, looking away. "I don't think it's going to be possible,"

"Come with me," his voice was low.

"What?" her eyes widened at him in disbelief.

"Reimi, please come with me back to my world. You'd like it there, it's different but it's beautiful. There's a music school in the Tethe'allan Royal Capital, and you could get in just off your talent! I have a connection who I'm sure could set you up there,"

She was speechless with happiness. But she couldn't, her whole life was here, and besides, she didn't know anyone except Lloyd. If for some reason they had a falling out, she would be completely alone and stranded without a way back.

"I can't, Lloyd," she faced the sea again.

"You don't believe me," Reimi could hear the hurt in his tone and looked back hurriedly.

"That's not it! Everyone and everything I know is here! If I leave, I'll have to leave my entire life behind. My job… Elsa, Beatrix and Amy too…"

Lloyd frowned at the sound of Amy's name but didn't say anything.

"If I had asked you to stay here, I'm sure you couldn't tell me you would be able to leave your life either,"

He just stared at her. Reimi couldn't face that expression, she felt the unbearable tension build up behind them again.

But just as he gave a deep breath to say something - something she was sure was crushingly important - the waiter arrived with their first course.

Lloyd retreated within himself and was quiet for a time, Reimi tried to push the conversation back to normal things but he gave only small replies. She eventually excused herself to the toilet and locked herself in the cubicle, head in her hands.

After a moment, she checked her phone – she hadn't really looked at it all day, and there were a couple of messages from Elsa on there.

'Where are you both today?'

And 'When are you coming home?'

Reimi froze. Lloyd said that he had asked both Amy and Elsa to join them today and they had refused. Was that a lie? Lloyd never lied… What was wrong with him today? First he was all smiles and excitement, now he was bringing up a lot of heavy topics and seemed almost angry at her and he had even lied about where they were going today. She didn't know what to do or what to reply to Elsa and, after a couple of minutes, had no choice but to head back to her seat. She chanced a smile at him.

As his eyes met hers they softened and he smiled back.

She would ask him later.

For now, it felt like the most important thing in the world was that he was here with her and that he was smiling.

It was a couple of hours later.

They had finished their meal without any further incidents and were stepping off the train back at their station.

Lloyd felt pretty happy. He had had one of the best days of his life apart from the occasional moments where his words spilled out uncontrollably. The last 24 hours, all sorts of people had assumed them to be a couple, and though Reimi was clearly embarrassed, she didn't protest or bring it up in conversation and Lloyd hoped it was because she was happy about it too. Being away from the house and Amy had given him the courage to start acting with Reimi the way he had been bursting to for a long time and she hadn't rejected him once. Things finally felt like they were as they should be.

But he still hadn't been able to tell her how he felt. And now it was almost too late, they would be home in a few minutes. He was such an idiot… He should have just come out and said it at the restaurant… Still, he knew he would remember this day for a long time and tentatively took Reimi's hand as they walked back, trying to be as casual as possible, not wanting the hope building in his chest to burn out.

She looked away but he felt her gently grip back.

He broke into an uncontained smile and they continued on in comfortable silence. Then, a short time later, an impossibly short time later, they saw another person walking towards them down the street and Reimi broke their hands apart. Lloyd bit back a comment and felt his despair return. Reimi paused a moment then spoke.

"Lloyd…" her voice shook with nerves and he glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. Her arms were now wrapped tightly around herself. "Did Elsa and Amy really not want to come along with us today? Or…" she trailed off into silence.

They had just turned down a side street and there was no one else around. Lloyd came to a halt and Reimi waited for his reply. Instead she felt a pull on her hand.

"R-Reimi," he croaked out.

She turned to him, flushed, and unable to speak.

He balled his free hand into a fist, trying to stay confident. "Reimi, you mean a lot to me. I've w-wanted to ask you for awhile now, but do you… do you…"

She held her breath and found herself unable to look away from him.

Lloyd's eyes travelled down to her mouth, but his own lips stuttered out nonsense.

Her blush deepened but she made no other movement.

"Reimi, you're beautiful," he finally spoke, stepping towards her slightly, other hand coming up to hold her shoulder.

Reimi backed away half a step, loosening his grip on her. "I-I'm not Lloyd, I'm just… ordinary. I-I'm not like you. I haven't saved any worlds, I'm not brave, I'm selfish and scared and weak. I'm really not,"

"Reimi… You're perfect, and I… I-,"

Lloyd paused, the inner war raging inside of him finally coming to a head.

She looked on in confusion, her eyes misty, brain struggling to catch up.

Lloyd leant in and kissed her.

Reimi's body exploded with feeling. Every tiny hair on her body stood up, electrified. Lloyd's lips were soft and warm. After a couple of seconds he drew her in closer, one hand curling round her back, and she closed her eyes and melted into the feeling. Instinctively she brought her hands up to his waist but suddenly-

'What about Amy?' her brain shouted at her. She froze and pushed Lloyd back.

Then withdrew a pace or two, away from him.

"Reimi-"

"What are you doing?"

"Reimi, I lov-"

"Stop," she covered her ears. "Please stop it, Lloyd,"

He tried to reach out and touch her but she moved back further.

"I can't do this," her vision began to blur with tears.

"I t-thought… I thought you felt the same,"

She couldn't answer. She gave him one last look, then ran.