"So you're going to Luin?" Raine asked with interest, looking over her shoulder at the two young warriors. Sheena just shrugged her shoulders, but Lloyd's earnest expression couldn't be hidden. The half-elven professor smiled slightly to herself, turning back to the rows of books in the library so she could hide her amusement. Regal had been surprisingly influential with the King, she had been given access to the royal library and had spent most of the day pouring over the documents. Though he had vanished shortly after she had pounced onto the books, she made several reminders to thank him excessively for the opportunity.

"Yeah, I mean, it's been awhile since we visited, and we're curious to see how they've been doing with the reconstruction." Lloyd replied as casually as he possibly could. He didn't know why, but he was oddly eager to be alone with Sheena. The idea had been at the forefront of his mind since she had shyly suggested it, now it was impossible to think about anything else.

"Well, I'm quite curious myself now that you mention it..." Raine began with a little smile, glancing over her shoulder to see both young warriors stiffen and wear identical masks of disappointment. The half-elf nearly grinned at this and quickly faced forward again, making a show of picking a book slowly from the shelf. "However..." She continued with a soft sigh, pretending to be torn, "Regal pulled so many strings to allow me access to this amazing facility... It would be horribly rude of me to cast aside his generosity..."

"Oh, then by all means Professor, stay here." Sheena jumped in almost immediately, trying her hardest to hide her growing enthusiasm at this announcement. Completely oblivious to Raine's inner motives, the summoner continued cheerfully, "We'd hate to tear you away from your reading, wouldn't we Lloyd?"

After getting a sharp elbow to goad him on, Lloyd answered swiftly, "Y-Yeah, just like she said Professor Sage. You enjoy your reading, we can go by ourselves. We'll be back tomorrow at the latest, we won't stay too long." Sheena grinned at him, and he couldn't help but grin back, caught up in a rush of childish excitement. For a moment, he could actually believe that they weren't in the middle of a battle, that in only a few days time he would be fighting his father. He could be what he truly was for a few blessed moments, a teenager.

"Alright then, I'll keep an eye on things then back here." Raine nodded to herself, turning completely around in time to catch the huge smiles the two shot at each other. 'It's a very nice change from the tension from earlier this morning... I'm very happy they settled everything...' Becoming a teacher again quite quickly, she instructed the two firmly, "Be back no later than tomorrow night, I don't like the idea of being separated for any longer than we have to. We may all be capable of protecting ourselves, but the longer we're split for the more likely it is that something will happen. Don't get into any trouble while you're gone, do you understand?"

"We understand Professor." The two chorused at once, before they both spun around and pretty much ran from the library, laughing like children as they went.

Before the door had a chance to close behind them, a very familiar boot stuck itself inside, stopping the door from closing. With a gentle shove, the door opened all the way, and Regal walked inside. He was glancing once over his shoulder at the disappearing teenagers with a strange expression of amusement. When he turned back to see Raine sitting on the edge of the table, a book in hand and two more in her lap, he managed a lopsided smile as his suspicion mounted. "Would it be heresy to suggest that you had something to do with their current moods?"

"Of course not, I fully take credit for their pleasure." Raine replied with a little laugh, watching as the noble allowed himself a rare chuckle too. Settling back on the table, the professor continued quite plainly, "They both need some time alone to settle some personal things between them... If they don't, they may very well cross their wires and ruin their budding relationship..."

Her frown told Regal all he needed to know. He had seen how affectionate she was towards the younger members of their group, her younger brother aside. 'She treats them as though they're her children, not just her students...' Standing beside her, he idly stretched his arms before saying politely, "I believe you're correct... I fully believe that Lloyd may be in the midst of realizing his feelings for Sheena."

"I'm glad." Raine sighed, dropping her book into her lap and leaning back on the table, using her hands to steady her. She hadn't spoken about it to anyone, but she had watched wearily as her student had grown increasingly close to the summoner, until they were nearly inseparable. 'Sheena's feelings were very obvious, she was in love with him before she knew it... But Lloyd remained childishly unaware... It hurt her deeply.' The professor frowned just a little, not having been accustomed to watching someone so young be injured time and time again in front of her eyes. 'Especially when there was so little I could do...'

"They have to find their way on their own, aiding them in this particular journey wouldn't be wise." Regal reminded the half-elven woman gently, not liking the frown she wore. She truly loved her students, he could see that every injury they took, either physical or emotional, would always injure her as well. Even with Presea, who she shared very little in common with, Raine watched over with the eye of a mother hen. Regal frowned a little as the thought of Colette, and he spoke very slowly, knowing he was treading into dangerous territory, "But Colette..."

Raine smiled ruefully, turning to look at the noble who wore a look of indecision and worry. Crossing her right leg over her left, she adjusted her robe before she said slowly, "I believe Colette understands things... She's been allowing Sheena to go to Lloyd's aid instead of rushing in herself. She understands that Sheena can do things that she cannot, and though it hurts her, she only wants Lloyd's happiness. She will be happy for them."

"A truly selfless girl.." Regal chuckled quietly to himself, though the sound was not without sympathy. He had seen how close Colette was to the young swordsman, but to his practised eye, he knew that Lloyd felt nothing more than a sibling love for the blond girl. He had feared that the same bond would be forged between the summoner and the swordsman, but much to his relief, it hadn't. Lloyd had unconsciously responded to Sheena's very subtle and hesitant overtures, there was more than a fraternal love developing between the two teenage warriors. "It's a pity that one young love must be extinguished for the life of another..."

"Yes, it is... However, I believe there's better things for Colette out there." Raine agreed, but somehow a fierce glint of hope lit her cerulean eyes. She glanced out the window of the well-lit library, her lips pursing a little as she continued in a much gentler tone, "I believe she'll find her true soulmate eventually... Someone like Colette just attracts people of all sorts." She laughed shortly and made a vague gesture with her hand, "Our ragtag group for example! Two half-elves, a twin swordsman, a Chosen from the prevailing world, a tiny axeman, the Chief of Mizuho, and a president turned convict. We definitely are a motley crew."

"Yes, we certainly are." Regal chuckled wearily, shaking his head as his eyes lowered almost automatically to his shackles. Shifting weight from his left leg to his right, he continued quietly, "Still... Colette is the type to hide her pain and do it well... I worry about her health..."

"As do I... But something seems to have changed with her and Lloyd, a dynamic shift of sorts, possibly for the better." Raine continued only as she could, taking a few steps back from the situation and regarding it with cool eyes. Idly running her fingers down the spine of her books, she added softly, "Lloyd has only ever seen her with the eyes of a brother, it's been that way since they were children. She may have finally understood that... I feel horrible for being unable to help, but then again, I probably would have just gotten in the way. They need to sort things out on their own, if they have outside help it will only worsen the situation."

"It's interesting that you haven't mentioned the reunification of the world yet." Regal observed with a raised eyebrow, attempting to keep all hints of amusement out of his tone. It was the first and foremost thing that always seemed to be on her mind, yet she hadn't said a word about it. He prompted when she was silent, a ghost of a smile curving her lips, "Are you not worried this may interfere with it...?"

"No, I'm not." Raine replied smoothly, rather enjoying the surprise that flashed across the normally stoic Regal's face. She allowed herself a quiet chuckle before she explained primly, trying to keep her own laughter out of her voice, "Emotions, memories, our attachments to the physical and emotional aspects of our lives... They give us reason to love our lives, to want to fight for our rights to live. As far as I think, this is a very good thing for both of them, it will only further their drive to reunite our worlds..." 'And their happiness would be a very pleasant perk I have to add...'

"Quite right..." Regal agreed with a curt nod, his mind flashing back to the moments in the tower where he had been ready to die for Lloyd's dreams. 'Heh... How much has changed since that moment...? Not a thing. I am attached to my life, even now... My friends have given it meaning, something I did not have after the death of Alicia...' He allowed himself a brief sigh then continued plainly, "I hope that after the reunification is finished, we can all find some sort of happiness with our lives."

Raine nodded knowingly, understanding Regal's hope better than she had expected. Glancing at the ceiling as she absently swung her left leg in the air, she murmured, "Colette, Sheena, Lloyd, Genis, Presea, Zelos, as well as yourself, and even Kratos... You all deserve happiness."

"I couldn't help but notice you didn't add yourself." Regal observed, raising one eyebrow at the comment. Something told him that it wasn't a minor error on her part, she hadn't mentioned anything personal for a reason. Despite the normal reaction to let a woman have her privacy, especially someone like her, he grew concerned and had to ask, "Raine, if you don't mind my asking, do you have beliefs that you should not be allowed happiness?"

Raine found herself smiling wryly, but she didn't say anything about it. She didn't know how to explain the muddle of emotions that choked at her heart, especially considering that the noble was much more intuitive than she had given him credit for. Avoiding the topic entirely, she found herself looking out the window into the gentle blue of the sky, speaking mostly to herself, "The Tethe'allan sky... I've always thought it was clearer than the one in Sylvarant..."

Regal, a little confused by her abrupt change in conversation, found his gaze being drawn by the window. Her expression had changed, there was a nostalgia he had never seen before in her eyes, coupled with a sad warmth. The blue sky beckoned enticingly to him, an odd magnetic surge flowing through his blood at that moment. He let the pull guide his actions, and with a little smile he offered his shackled hands to the quiet half-elf. "I'm sure we can prove that theory if you have the time and the desire to. Do you wish to accompany me? I know of a perfect viewing spot on the northeast balcony, it's not that far."

Raine found herself smiling as she slid gracefully from the table, adjusting her robe again. She felt an odd spark in her blood as she wound ehr arm into his, not really knowing why she was doing it. She felt eased oddly enough speaking with the man, and with a quiet and somewhat resigned sigh, she said gently, "Alright then. Thank you, Regal."

"Don't thank me Raine, you simply looked as though you could use the company and change of atmosphere." Regal replied with a sombre nod, feeling the pressure of her hand against his forearm as she squeezed very lightly. His lips quirked as a warm feeling slowly washed over his chest as her lips curved gently in her pale face. 'That is much better... Someone like her should not be allowed to frown.'

"I think this place keeps getting bigger every single time we come here." Sheena remarked with a little laugh, glancing around the city in amazement. A lot had changed since their last visit, the entire place had been rebuilt and improved. There were no more dirt roads, it all had been covered with stone and brick, giving the city a very beautiful and wholesome look. "The weapons' shop is way bigger than I remember, and I think the inn's actually gotten a whole new floor."

"I think you're right." Lloyd laughed, glancing up at the inn with a grin. The city was bustling and was simply crackling with energy from the townspeople. Everyone looked so cheerful and busy, the electricity was intensely infectious. Noishe seemed to feel the energy too, his large tail was waving to and fro excitedly as he wandered off on his own to explore. The two warriors let him do as he pleased, knowing that the protozoan would find them when he wanted to be with them again. "They've done so well here..."

"Lloyd, and Sheena too!"

Both warriors turned immediately at the calls of their names, both equally surprised to see who it was. A strong and healthy Pietro was walking towards them with a grin as bright as the sun, flanked by at least a dozen children. The moment the children got a good view of them, they swarmed around the teenagers with happy shouts, laughing and cheering as they left no escape for the two.

"Yay, Miss Sheena's back!"

"Does that mean we get to play tag again?"

"It's Lloyd too, the Hero of Luin!"

"Wow, so cool!"

"Miss Sheena, Miss Sheena!"

The summoner looked down with a mix of amazement and delight as she recognized the tiny voice, and without a thought she knelt down to get to eye level. The little boy grinned cheekily up at her, and he threw himself into her open arms, winding his around her neck with a delighted giggle. Sheena's laughter was girlish as she accepted the embrace, returning it with a warmth Lloyd had never seen before."You little rascal, you made it back here after all!"

Lloyd watched as Sheena stood up, picking the little boy clear off the ground to give him a hug. He recognized the cap of navy hair from his first visit to the city, when he had found her at the fountain that clear day. 'She was playing tag with all the kids... He was the one who was so excited she finally agreed to play...' He noticed with a start that the little boy was wearing red clothes, quite similar to his own, and at a closer examination, the boy even had two short wooden sticks stuffed in his belt in place of swords. 'No way, he's dressed up like....?'

"Now that's a new outfit that I don't remember for you." Sheena scolded the little boy playfully, her topaz eyes twinkling with glee as she realized who he was dressed as. She gave him another small hug before setting him down on the ground, her hand resting affectionately on his messy hair. "Who are you trying to be?"

"Lloyd, the Hero of Luin!" The boy proclaimed proudly, thumping himself hard on the chest. The children flocked around him, all wearing makeshift costumes of their own. Lloyd and Sheena could pick out the gentle hues of orange of Raine's robes, and the lighter blues of Genis', even the white of Colette's own clothes. He took out one of his toy swords and moved in a perfectly executed mimicry of a Demon Fang attack, his bright eyes narrowed in concentration. "We all wanna be like you!"

Sheena glanced over to see how Lloyd was taking it, and to her surprise the poor boy was as red as his jumpsuit. He looked embarrassed yet pleased at the same time, and she watched with affection as he knelt down in front of the ringleader, adjusting his hands on the makeshift swords so he could have an easier time holding them. The others promptly crowded around him, tugging at his sleeves, talking loudly to get his attention, causing the boy to grin much like a child in reply as his awkwardness began to fade. 'He's good with kids, they just love him.'

A little boy popped up at Sheena's elbow, and much to her chagrin she saw he was dressed in a uniform fitting a ninja, mask and all. Glad for a moment that Lloyd was too busy to see her, the summoner turned to the boy and asked with a giggle, "So you wanna be a ninja, huh?"

"I don't wanna be a ninja, nah uh." The little boy replied with a fierce shake of his head, pulling at her sleeve intently, his childish eyes startlingly serious. She could see his lips pursing behind his mask as he lowered his voice, gesturing for her to lean closer so he could whisper his secret in her ear. She obliged with an indulgent smile, cupping a hand around her ear for added effect. He whispered, "I wanna be a summoner, like you! I think that's way better than playing with swords!"

Sheena felt torn between laughing and scooping up the boy in a tight hug for his childish enthusiasm. She had always been drawn towards children of all sorts, their carefree innocence was too magnetic to ignore. This one had just pulled at her heartstrings with incredible strength. "Well," She coughed in an effort to clear her suddenly blocked throat, "that's a very hard job, are you sure you're up to it?"

The little one pulled down his mask, his eyes flaming with the same stubbornness she had seen in Lloyd when she had first met him. His tiny hand curled into a tight fist, he proclaimed fiercely, "I'm gonna be a summoner, just like you Miss Sheena! You're my hero!" His cheeks reddened slightly and he looked at the ground, suddenly bashful, "And you're really pretty. I like you."

Lloyd, having heard the entire exchange despite the children around him, turned his head to see how the summoner would react to the compliment. He had seen how the true innocence of the children brought out the best in her, and he had no doubts that she got along very well with ones of all ages. Much to his surprise, he saw her lean down and gently kiss the boy on the cheek, her own betraying a faint pink hue as she smiled at the surprised boy.

He blushed to the roots of his hair, his hand clapped to the spot where she had kissed him before he turned around and ran smack into the child dressed as Lloyd. Yanking the boy to the side, he whispered loudly about the prize he had just received and then ran off with the rest of the group in tow, now to seek a good playground for fake battles.

Pietro, who had been letting the two have their fun with the children, now walked up to them with a warm smile, his hands open in invitation. "I'm glad to see you both here, the children talk nonstop about all of you and your exploits. Luin will always be in your debt."

"Please Pietro, it was the least we could do." Sheena waved off his thanks with a little smile, though her eyes were dancing with delight, still not over the joy of the kids. "And the kids seemed to have grown a lot since we've last came here."

"They're all strong in spirits and in minds." Pietro chuckled indulgently, tossing a glance over his shoulder to watch the swarm of kids run to the other side of the city across the bridge, laughing and causing a chaotic mess as they went. He turned back to the young teens, adding pleasantly, "But they idolize you, not a day goes by that they aren't staging fake battles in your names. It's a hopeful sight, perhaps someday they will be the next generation of heros."

"I hope we never need them." Lloyd said firmly with a shake of his head, frowning darkly at the idea. The thought of any of those smiling children being forced to go through what he and his friends had wasn't appealing in the least. He felt Sheena's hand on his shoulder in silent comfort and he managed to force out a smile in her direction before he continued wearily, "I would hate to see this world need new heros... And our own quest isn't even finished yet."

"True enough..." Pietro agreed with a little nod, his smile thinning a little. He glanced over at the playing group, adding quietly, "But at the same time, I don't think it'd stop them. They all are brave and have true heros to look up and aspire to. They will no doubtedly grow into strong and brave adults capable of defending their homes from whatever may come, Martel forbid..."

Sensing that this topic would only bring a sour mood down further on them, Sheena gently tugged on Lloyd's arm with a smile, saying kindly to Pietro, "I'm sorry to cut this short, but Lloyd and I have some shopping to do..." Before Lloyd had a chance to ask what she was talking about, she swiftly tapped his shin with her boot, smiling all the while. "We'll come by and visit you though before the night's over."

"That's perfectly fine, don't trouble yourselves. Rest up and enjoy your day."

Lloyd kept his eyes on Sheena as she walked through the streets, watching her smile and look around, taking everything in with the wonder of a child. 'She looks happy... Happier than I think I've ever really seen her... It's like she's letting the disguise drop...' He liked this change in her, it was soemthng unexpected, but he could feel his entire body warming with pleasure. His hand began to itch suddenly, twitching with an odd urge that he didn't quite understand. His eyes locked on Sheena's hand that was a few inches away from his own, and though he didn't really know why, his reached forwards to capture it, twining his fingers through her own.

Sheena jumped at the sudden warmth that enveloped her palm, and she glanced down in alarm before her face began to burn. 'He...' She smiled shyly, looking up to see his completely innocent yet somehow serious expression. Something warmed her blood, and she sidled a little bit closer to him. 'He looks... older, somehow...'

"Sheena, you mind if I ask you something?" Lloyd asked slowly, glancing around the surprisingly familiar landscape. The fountain burbled cheerfully behind them, and for a split second, he was transported back in time. He had been standing at this exact place just a few short months ago, watching with some curiosity as the dark-haired assassin stood in the centre of a group of children. He'd stared in with a mix of astonishment and amusement as she grudgingly, yet with a smile, gave into the demands of the kids and agreed to play.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?"

"You remember meeting here?" Lloyd's voice was almost nostalgic, and he felt Sheena's fingers gently squeeze around his own, telling him the answer without words. He smiled then, giving partial form to the question that had been buzzing in his mind since he had seen her kiss the little boy. "Remember how I called you cute...?"

Sheena flushed, her body knowing before her mind did where this question was leading. She knew escape was impossible, especially when Lloyd was holding her hand, so she forced her eyes to stare at the ground as her cheeks began to glow. 'Martel, I am begging you, please don't let him say what I think he's going to say... I have no idea what I'll do if he says it!'

Lloyd was unsure of how to phrase the question that had been in his thoughts, worried that she would take offense like she did with any overtures Zelos made. He didn't want to be as blunt as the Chosen was, it felt wrong to approach her that way. 'I can't lose her by saying something so stupid...' His hand gently squeezing hers, he asked slowly, preparing for a slap if it was coming his way, "I was wondering... That little kid called you cute and you gave him a kiss... Why didn't you give me one when I told you that you looked cute?"

Sheena managed an answer that was more squeak than words, and in horror she stared at the ground. Heat continued to build in her face, slowly sinking down her neck to settle into a hard ball of lead in her stomach. Her heart thundered in her ears, and she felt as though Efreet had simply turned all of her blood into magma. Looking up at him through her eyelashes, she asked hoarsely, "Wh-What...?"

"Would you give me a kiss, Sheena?" Lloyd asked quietly, not really understanding why it felt so important to have her say 'yes'. He had always stood by and watched as she thoroughly pummelled Zelos whenever he even dared to ask for a hug let alone a kiss, but something had changed in the past few weeks. He wasn't amused anymore when he watched Sheena nearly beat him to death, he was angry. He didn't want anyone, especially Zelos, getting anywhere near her unless it was him. He may not have understood why, but his emotions were fierce enough to demand obedience.

Sheena swallowed the stone that had lodged in her throat, forcing herself to breathe, not realizing she had stopped when his words left his mouth. His hand felt like live fire around her own, and she was painfully aware of how close they were standing together. Staring up at him, she read the hope in his eyes, coupled with something incredibly intense and warm. His eyes seemed to see inside her very skin, sending a shiver down her spine that curled like a snake in the pit of her stomach. She stood on tiptoe, letting her body work on autopilot, and her lips tentively brushed against his cheek before she drew back quickly before she could let herself drown in the swirling mass of emotion.

She jerked away much too fast for Lloyd's taste, but the demon he had been living with for the past few months positively screamed in delight. His free hand flew to his cheek where she had kissed him, feeling the electricity surging through his skin to bring a smile to his face. He knew he probably looked idiotic, but his smile spread over his entire face and his body felt as light as air. When he looked at Sheena, he was delighted to see that she was smiling too, albeit quite more shyly than he was.

'I... I did it...' Sheena bit her lower lip as she smiled, trying to control her glee. His goofy smile sent a warm wave of happiness through her entire body, she felt immensely proud to have put something so delirious on the boy's face. His hand was still curled protectively around her own, but it didn't feel nearly as hot anymore. She moved so their arms brushed, and with a soft sigh, she leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling to herself. 'This is... great...'

Lloyd smiled too, enjoying her look of complete contentment. He rested his cheek against her hair, breathing in her scent with a sigh of his own. He had never really seen her completely at ease, something was always on her mind, though he didn't blame her. None of them had any time to relax and be free, and this moment was the closest thing to heaven he had ever felt. 'This... is amazing.'

AN

Heheh... Don't ask. Please. XD So, little sneak peek for next chapter, listen up! The mystery of Sheena's companion is going to be solved next chapter, lol. Apparently I'm annoying some people, so lmao, just be patient for a little bit longer, okay? :3

PS: Once again, updated at school XD I shouldn't be doing this, lol... I'm so bad...

Sky