DarknessGryphon would really like to thank all of her reviewers! All of your wonderful reviews have given me new faith in my writing and have encouraged me to write this story as well and fast as my abilities will allow. So at this moment, I thank everyone who has ever reviewed this fic. You have truly made the continuation of this fic possible. But now, I will put out the honors for those wonderful people who reviewed last chapter!

Thank you:

firedragongirl

Wish on a star6

Liubarrowin

Birth of Venus

Briarsong

Maiyoko Iwagashi

Aesira

Jana-Yggdrasil

PrincessKaina2

brandy mallory

I LOVE YOU ALL! Anyways. Lets get back to the story! NOTE: this part takes place a week and five days from chapter four.

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Chapter 5 Commencing Operation H.L.U.

Kratos was trying to approach his son in what he hoped was a casual manner. He hated that Yuan was making him invite Lloyd on a 'journey' and hated that he was trying to set the boy up. What soul could blame him? The entire affair was just a bit…strange.

The red-clad twin-swordsman was in the garden with Zelos, looking at old blades. Kratos appreciated that Tethe'allan's clear efforts to cheer Lloyd up. The redheaded pseudoangel didn't actually mind the former Chosen very much and actually kind of liked him. Despite his obnoxious behavior, the younger redhead was very perceptive and intelligent. Kratos respected that.

-

Lloyd looked up and spotted his father strolling towards them and waved, "Hey Dad! Where's Yuan?"

Kratos raised his hand in acknowledgement. "Yuan's doing maintenance on the rheairds," he picked up the Muramasa and inspected it, "Lloyd, Yuan and I are going to do some traveling. We thought you might like to come with us."

Lloyd smiled, "Not if it's going to interfere with your alone time."

"Of course not."

"Sure then!"

Zelos set his mouth. He looked a little sad at being left alone, but was even more depressed by Lloyd leaving him. The twin-swordsman caught Zelos' expression over Kratos' back. He frowned a bit in sympathy and called after his already departing father.

"Uh, Dad?"

The purple-clothed man turned back, smiling just from being called 'Dad.'

"Yes, Lloyd?"

"Do you think Zelos could come with? I mean, it seems wrong to leave him here alone…" Lloyd took great comfort in the sudden brightening of his friend's face. Kratos noted the change of expression and nodded.

"I don't see why not." The twin-swordsman grinned and hugged his father. Kratos patted his son's head. He didn't mind the former Chosen coming along; in fact, he thought it was better. It would give Lloyd someone to talk to and would lessen the feeling for Kratos that he was setting his son up.

Kratos pulled away, "We're leaving at dawn in two days. Be sure to prepare all of your belongings beforehand because even if you aren't ready, we're leaving."

"Woohoo! Goin' on a journey!" Lloyd yelled exuberantly. The seraphim chuckled as he left.

-

Zelos was really happy about Lloyd including him, but could not help feeling as though he were intruding.

"Um, Lloyd?" The twin-swordsman, still grinning, calmed down a fraction.

"Yeah, Zelos?"

"Are you sure it's okay for me to go with?" The swordsman chewed on his lip.

-

Lloyd frowned. He hadn't really expected Zelos to object. Thinking again, he realized that it might have been because he was so excited and changed the frown into a reassuring smile, "Of course, Zelos! This trip wouldn't be much fun without you!"

"Really?" The older man's face brightened which caused Lloyd to tackle-hug him. He quickly turned so he could put the redhead in a headlock and give him a noogie. Laughing, Zelos wriggled out of Lloyd's grip and looked the twin-swordsman a little pleadingly.

"Did you really mean that, Lloyd?"

Lloyd stopped laughing. Zelos had never spoken to him in that tone before, and it forced him to really think before he answered. In many levels of his heart, he meant it; he wouldn't want Zelos to be left behind.

"Well… yeah. I don't think I could leave you here even if you didn't want to go," Lloyd was set to this idea, "I mean, we're buds, right? Anyways, on my own I'd probably feel like I was intruding. After all, what would I do if they started sucking face?"

The twin-swordsman felt much better when Zelos became significantly happier and reassured. At the same time, he became more and more confused. Thinking about Zelos being near him gave him a… warm feeling, and he wasn't sure what it was. Soon, so many thoughts were swimming in his head that he felt like he was drowning. He almost wanted to scre-

"Lloyd! Hey, buddy! Snap out of it."

The red-clad hero jumped, "Wha? We're you saying something?

Zelos looked at him, concerned," Yeah, I was saying that we should probably clean up and pack, but you were frowning and staring off into space. You really scared me, Bud."

Lloyd smiled, "Sorry. I was just thinking…about how Da- Dirk's doing."

The swordsman shrugged and grabbed an armful of swords.

They were quickly talking and laughing again, but Lloyd couldn't help feeling that the warm emotion was an itch he couldn't scratch.

-

Two days later, all four men stood checking luggage at a little before five in the morning. Zelos and Lloyd stared, zombie-like, until the seraphim told them it was time to go.

Luckily, most of the insane admirers were still in bed. Poor Lloyd would probably end up kidnapped in his early morning stupor. The twin-swordsman and pink-clad philanderer started to walk towards the rheairds, but were quickly yanked back by the seraphim.

"Huh? Aren't we using the rheairds?" Lloyd blinked.

Yuan, not a morning person himself, turned and declared, "We're walking. Real men walk. Machines are fer yellowbellies!" before dropping his head on Kratos' shoulder.

"Why do I even try?" mumbled the purple-clad swordsman before taking Yuan's hand and leading him through the streets.

Zelos nudged Lloyd forward and said something like, "poor purple chipmunk" in a sleepy, bemused, drawl. Lloyd, now fully awake, sighed and pulled the former Chosen after him.

-

Sometime later in the afternoon, when everyone was truly awake and in higher spirits, a thought occurred to Lloyd.

"Wait, where're we headed?"

The seraphim froze and tensed suddenly. They turned gingerly, trying to come up with an answer and almost forgetting to act natural.

"Well, son…'

Everyone stared at him expectantly. Yuan grinned evilly, "Yes, Dear. Where are we going?"

Kratos shot a you're-going-to-pay-for-this-later look at him before smiling sheepishly, "I-I didn't want to sound like an old fool… but I thought it would be nice to visit Anna's grave."

"Don't be stupid old man. It's great that you want to visit her even though you're in love with someone else." Zelos dismissed in an offhand way. Everyone looked at the Tethe'allan with mild surprise.

"Wow. That was nice Zelos… even though it was phrased a little rudely," Yuan observed. The former Chosen gestured off acknowledgement while coolly scanning their surroundings. Lloyd looked at his friend a little worriedly, sensing something deeper, but left it alone.

As they started off again (Kratos and Yuan in front; Lloyd and Zelos right behind), the seraphim drew close together and allowed themselves small smiles.

"Good job, Baby. They bought it," Yuan praised in a low voice.

"We are going to talk about this… later," Kratos murmured before slowly drawing away. The blue-haired seraphim knew he was in for it, but stage one of operation Hook Lloyd Up was running smoothly.

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Poor Lloyd! He'll have to rest his brain before thinking that much again! It's chapters like this where you realize that the title "redheaded swordsman" doesn't work when both Zelos and Kratos are around… :sigh:

Sorry about the spacing. The rulers aren't working on my computer...

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