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Jana-Yggdrasil

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Makenzi

Maiyoko Iwagashi

The Fallen Angel Lady Doomy

PrincessKaina2

You are all so loved! Here's to the story!

Chapter 4 Admitting It

Zelos hated seeing his friends sad. Most of all, he despised seeing Lloyd sad. This is why he frowned when he saw the brunette cleaning his swords like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. It frightened him a bit.

"Say buddy, wanna cruise around Meltokio… without my hunnies around?" Zelos grinned as he approached the other swordsman. He grinned even wider when he saw Lloyd's face brighten significantly.

"Yeah!... You promise you won't have them around?" the red-clad swordsman's expression took on a serious quality while he waited for a confirmation.

'Woah. I didn't know he hated them that much…then again, I kinda see his point,' Zelos sweatdropped, "Of course I do, and look, I'll even beat off those creepy suitors of yours." Lloyd was ecstatic at the prospect and happily hugged his pink-clad fellow.

"Cool! Do you think we could walk through the near by woodlands?"

Zelos pretended to think a bit while his heart was river dancing with joy at Lloyd's reaction.

"Weeeell… It's not really Meltokio…but…OKAY!" The twin-swordsman punched his fist into the air and swiftly turned the motion into smoothly re-sheathing his swords before strapping them to his waist. Zelos, on the other hand, didn't really want to leave the city, but if it made Lloyd happy, why not?

'Mmhm… anything for my Lloydie!'

-

'This city never changes, does it?' Zelos noted when he spied the fist bold suitor approaching. By the looks of it, with the flowers, he was there for Lloyd. The redheaded Tethe'allan casually strolled around Lloyd to "greet" the man.

"Excuse me, 'sir,' but my friend does not want to hear from the likes of you right now." Other possible suitors watched carefully to see what would happen.

The young man, who looked a bit like a blond Yuan dressed in the latest 'fashions' arched one well- manicured eyebrow insolently.

"I'd much rather hear it from him than his jealous friend, sir Wilder."

Zelos recognized the man as a noble's son named Droxin Verdin… Verdeen… Burdin. By the amound of trouble it was taking to remember his family's name, it was obvious that they weren't very important anyway.

"Right. 'Jealous.' You really aren't much to be jealous of Droxin-"

"Devron."

"Whatever. Anyways, beat it or be burned. Oh. That goes for EVERYone."

Devron looked insulted, "I most certainly am not leaving!"

Zelos shrugged and cast fireball. The bouquet of flowers that Devron had been carrying burst into a chorus of merrily dancing flames. He yelped and dropped them, hastily stomping out the flames. The small noble looked at the former Chosen with a mixture of anger and horror when he had successfully extinguished the flowers.

"Wow. You just crushed the symbol of your 'love.' Be warned though. Lloyd's just not in the mood for you idiots today." Wind chimes filled with the rush of departing suitors.

"Thanks, Zelos." Lloyd was immensely relieved at not having to face a barrage of insane admirers.

"Not at all, Lloyd. After all, you are my best bud!" Zelos' heart jumped at his friend's expression of gratitude. Out of nowhere, a group of simpering ladies flounced up to them.

"Zelos! What a coincidence." A brunette with flowing curls and a rack that made one wonder how she stood up, giggled.

"Oh yes, yes! A coincidence indeed! We didn't think to find you here." Came from a high-pitched girl with raven-locks and intensely blue eyes. As if someone cued them, all of the girls giggled.

"Sorry ladies, I'm on strict man-business with my bud, Lloyd. Later!" Zelos waved them off while pulling Lloyd after him and leaving a very shocked group of girls to wonder why. A moment later, the brunette and the raven-haired girl detached from the group to shove a girl with cue cards.

-

As Zelos and Lloyd cleared the city and made the their way to the woods, the twin-swordsman looked progressively sadder. Zelos's heart began to sink as he saw his friend's expression begin to slide. It was time to work Zelos magic, supertech- SMILE!

"What's with the long face? Don't tell me the great Zelos is boring you?" Lloyd's head snapped up and he immediately plastered a smile on his face.

"No! No… it's just- nevermind."

"It's alright. You can tell me ANYTHING!" Zelos raised his eyebrows conspiratorially and grinned. The red-clad swordsman gave him a what-the-hell-are-you look before settling back in to his 'miserable' face. Zelos shrugged.

"Zelos, to tell you the truth, I don't know what to do with myself. When Colette left, it made me start to wonder. She was never anything but a Chosen and now that it's over, she shouldn't have anything to do, but she does. I forgot about it for a while, but then Raine left to go back to her job. I started to think about it again, but then you guys reminded me that my best friends were still there and it didn't matter that I had lost my purpose. Then Sheena left without warning to fulfill her duty. Not only was I reminded that I have nothing to go back to, but I lost a sparring partner. Genis was never much good at sparring, and you're always out doing stuff. My dad is kinda scary to spar against and Yuan doesn't usually spar. I wouldn't usually care, but when I'm sparring is the only time I really forget. Then Genis left, and I didn't want to bug Yuan and my dad…"

Zelos had been flattered by Lloyd claiming him as a best friend, but his heart broke when he heard of his neglect and the sadness of his friend. He gave Lloyd a real hug and tried his hardest to comfort the twin-swordsman.

"You should've said something. Kratos and Yuan wouldn't have thought you were bugging them and neither would I. In fact, I'll cut back on my outside time." He let go of Lloyd a little reluctantly. The red-clad swordsman looked greatly cheered and the redhead's heart did a ballet in his chest.

"Thanks, Zelos. I'm really glad that we talked, but you don't really need to go out less because of me."

"Don't be stupid Lloyd. You're my best bud and I don't even really like those harpies. Anyways, were really in the same boat, I've never been anything but a Chosen." Zelos could have squealed; Lloyd smiled at him for real.

None of them notice the red bats until six of them flew in. The twin-swordsman instantly had the Kusanagi Blade unsheathed and guarding. Zelos reached for his Gladius but found he didn't have a single dagger on him. Lloyd had already notice and put himself squarely in front of the bats. The pink-clad swordsman froze for a moment, seeing the scene before him like a play. Steel flashing and lithe muscles flexing, Lloyd was at his best. He looked every bit the hero that he was. Zelos's heart throbbed painfully in his chest.

'Who are you kidding, Zelos? You love him. You fell in love with your best friend. But he doesn't love you… yet. Gahh! Just shut up for now. You'll scare him.' The former Chosen set his features and cast Grave. The last stubborn bat fell beneath Lloy'ds blade who turned the motion into his effortless sheathing. He turned and grinned at Zelos who grinned back.

'He's happy…that's a good start.'

Heh… I couldn't remember what types of creatures hung around Meltokio. Oops. But this chapter was very Zelos heavy! Don't worry though, Lloyd's part is coming up very soon. The next chapter'll be up before you know it… I just have to type it first.

Don't forget to review and you'll be rewarded! DarknessGryphon out.