DarknessGryphon is so very sorry! I really did mean to update sooner, but I went to California and before then the chapter wasn't ready. Poo! I am very very sorry.

DarknessGryphon would like to thank:

Maiyoko Iwagashi

MBOM

Soultaken

For reviewing! Anyways, back to the long-awaited chapter
Chapter 3 Parting Ways and Plotting

Two days later, at breakfast, Regal made an announcement.

"For the next few months, Presea and I will be away, rebuilding Ozette as it was when she and Alicia were children. Is that all right with everyone?" He looked excited and a little nervous.

"I don't see why not. Why does the President of the Lazareno Company need our permission?" Raine answered, smartly taking control of the situation.

"Hehe! It's probably because he doesn't want us to miss them too much!" Colette giggled.

"We will… miss you," Presea declared in a neutral tone.

"Yeah! I'll miss you too Presea!" Genis said shyly.

"…"

Genis looked away in defeat.

Everyone gathered outside to say goodbye as the two departed on their rheairds. Life went on as usual.

-

A week later, Colette announced that she would be going back to Iselia.

"Why? Are you going back to school?" Lloyd frowned.

"Not really. My grandmother wants me to come back home and learn how to be a healer for when she retires."

"Aww! It's too bad you can't stay with me my cute hunny!" Raine bopped Zelos on the head.

"Grandma says you guys can visit anytime!" Colette said happily.

Lloyd seemed a little troubled by Colette leaving and even a bit sad that three of his friends were gone. After she had left he spent more time sparring with Sheena and hanging out with Genis.

-

Four days later, at breakfast, Raine asked a curious question.

"Lloyd, do you want to come back to Iselia…with me?"

Everybody stopped eating. Genis stopped breathing.

"Whatever for, Professor?" Lloyd asked gingerly, accenting the fact that he thought of her only as a friend and teacher.

"Well, you never quite finished school and I thought you'd… maybe… I don't know, want to come back to school with me when I leave to teach tomorrow…" Raine said, a little embarrassed. A chorus of relieved sighs let out and a loud gasping noise came from Genis. Sheena laughed loudly.

Raine stared.

"What's so funny?"

The Mizuhoan could barely get the words out through her laughter, " It's just that, for a moment, we all thought you were confessing love to Lloyd!"

The incident was never spoken of again.

The twin-swordsman smiled sadly when Raine left and loitered aimlessly for a while until he got caught up in a play skirmish with Genis, Sheena, and Zelos during which he genuinely grinned.

-

Not long after, Sheena stood at the doors with her pack on her back.

"You goin' on vacation or something?" Zelos asked as he strolled by lazily.

"No, stupid! I'm going back to Mizuho! As Successor, I have duties to fulfill." Sheena explained as she checked the straps on her pack. By now the others had noticed and hurried over for a farewell.

"Why didn't you tell us you were going back sooner?" Genis demanded.

"I'm not a big fan of long goodbyes. It's not my style." Kratos nodded approval at the summoner.

"Visit soon, alright?" Lloyd said quietly as he hugged her.

"Of course I will!" Sheena grinned which had the twin-swordsman grinning too.

"I'm gonna hold you to that!"

-

A couple of weeks later, when they were all training in Zelos' expansive backyard, Genis approached Lloyd shyly.

"Lloyd?"

"Hm?" The red-clad boy was watching Kratos and Zelos duel.

"You wouldn't mind if I left, would you?"

"What?" The little mage had all of Lloyd's attention now.

"Well, I got into the academy at Sybak… and school starts soon." Lloyd was crestfallen, but managed to grin when Genis looked up to see his reaction.

"Of course it's okay! Like I said before, If you want to learn, go for it."

For the remainder of Genis' time at Zelos' house, Lloyd made ferocious use of the time they had. After his best friend left, however, he began to keep to himself, only really looking remotely happy when they were training.

-

Kratos took Yuan aside after training one day.

"Yuan, I'm worried about Lloyd. Look at him." Both men watched Lloyd clean his swords with unnatural intensity.

"Indeed. I think I know what's wrong. Lloyd was a hero, and he was at his forte when he was saving the world. But what does he have now? He was never much good with academics. And he doesn't have a big, bad Yggdrasill to defeat." Kratos glared at his love angrily for the blunt appraisal of his son's life.

Yuan held up his hands defensively, "Relax. I'm only telling you what I see."

Kratos dropped onto a stone bench and put his head in his hands. Yuan thought it touching that his redheaded angel cared so much for his son.

"What can we do to help Lloyd?"

The blue-haired seraphim grinned at that, " Well, you see, we'll just have to set him up with someone. After all, it distracted you, didn't it?"

Kratos chuckled, "That it did. But who in the world would we set him up with?"

"Simple. We probably don't want any of those suitors near Lloyd. So that leaves his friends. That Colette girl seems to like him and he seems to like her a bit. So why not?"

"Agreed. We'll set up a trip in two weeks."

And that was how Yuan and Kratos decided to play matchmaker which is not only weird; it's a little creepy.

Yay! Chapter done! Now, I know that it seems like Yuan would set Lloyd up with Zelos, but you'll see. Anyways, Kratos would have a heart attack if Yuan suggested that.

DarknessGryphon is disappointed in her readers! Since I have the next two chapters finished in already (at least), she thinks she will postpone the next chapter until she receives 6 more reviews! It's really not that much. So if you want to read the rest, just click on that purple-ish little button on the left.