The end of our story is rappidly approaching! Since this is my very first fanfiction, it took alot more work than I thought it would. I'm also quite proud that I'm adding and editing things that weren't my original intention and are working. This is all so exciting, since there are less than 6 (though I'm not sure how much less) more chapters left!
I'd like to thank AnriMia64 for being the sole reviewer for the past two chapters.
Thanks to the few of you who've stuck with me during my first journey!
Leonel glared at Zelos as hard as he could. He wasn't very good at glaring, however, so he looked as if he just smelled something nasty. Under different circumstances, Zelos would have laughed. But he was here to help Lloyd, his friend, and it was no time to be laughing.
"Let me through. I want to talk with Colette."
"Not a chance, Little Freak." A dark aura spread around the room as mutual anger erupted between the two of them. Luckily, since their only reason for hating each other was through other people, it wasn't nearly as terrifying as the aura about to come.
"Let me through or I'll-!" Leonel threatened loudly.
"Or you'll what? If you want to fight, I could beat you up right here!" Zelos yelled.
"That won't be necissary," came an ominous voice from behind them. Zelos and Leonel looked over to see Lloyd, with Colette close behind.
"You. Give me Colette now!" Leonel cried angrily, throwing a fist at Lloyd. Lloyd effortlessly dodged and countered with his own punch that landed Leonel's gut. He fell over with a loud oophf and crashed to the floor.
"Colette's her own person. She doesn't belong to anyone. And I will protect her from anything. Be it you or an evil demon or anyone else, I will sacrifice my entire being for her sake!"
As predicted, the aura in the room became intense. Dark spirits crept out from all corners of the room and danced like spiders all around the area. Leonel glared.
Leonel stood up and each man took a fighting stance. Colette stared with anxiety and fear in her eyes. Zelos, being an expert in romance, knew this situation well: when someone you love is in danger, you must fight with all your power to protect them.
And the battle began.
Sheena placed her book on the table in front of her with a heavy sigh. Ever since Zelos came and demanded to spend time with her, she had been unable to concentrate. She stared over at Raine, who was immersed in Archeology Mania Vol. 4, and thought that she was lucky to be able to concentrate on her book; she didn't have some idiot demanding ridiculous things from her.
But to her suprise, Raine also sighed and dropped her book onto the table. "Of all the ridiculous, non-sensual-"
"Raine? What are you talking about?"
Raine looked up and for the first time noticed that Sheena was also at the table. "Ah, Sheena. No, don't worry. It's nothing."
"I'll tell you what's bothering me if you tell me what's bothering you," Sheena offered. Raine considered it for a moment before giving in.
"Regal, or should I say, Mr. Bryant, has informed me of yet another event that we have to attend to. As if being invited to some frivolous party wasn't enough, now we have to go to the amusement park! And, between the eight of us, we must go on every ride and visit every attraction!" Raine crossed her arms and leaned back into her chair. Sheena found it a bit amusing that the no-nonsense teacher disliked amusement parks enough to through a small tantrum.
"Zelos made me agree to spend time with him after the party next week."
Raine let out another huge sigh, this time not of frustration. "Men seem to be problamatic lately, don't they."
Sheena nodded. "Yeah."
After a few moments of silence, Sheena asked "Do you feel better now?"
Raine sat up straight. "Yes. How about you, Sheena?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Raine. I can read my book now." And Raine and Sheena both picked up their books and had no trouble reading.
Yesterday (Before Zelos came to talk to Lloyd about his paranoia)
"Uh...Regal? I know this is kinda strange, but...Uh, c-could you help me w-with, uh, Presea?" Genis asked nervously. Regal looked down at Genis with suprise. The president of Lezoreno was a very observant man and intelligent, too. Watching Genis, it was obvious he had a crush on Presea. That part was perfectly clear to him. The fact that Genis was asking for romantic help was a little strange, too. Regal would've suspected if Genis wanted to confess, he would've gone to Raine to ask about that particular approach.
But the real suprise was that Genis was asking Regal of all people. Regal severly failed in his relationship with Presea's sister, Alicia, so why would Genis want help from him now?
"Genis, why, of all people, would you come to me for help with this matter?"
"Well, you knew Alicia, really well, right? So you probably went over to her house plenty of times, so you've met Presea before, and she said she and Alicia are really similar, so, well..."
"Indeed, I have met Presea before. But understand that that was seventeen years ago, her personality most likely changed in that time."
"Wait a minute, seventeen years ago? But Presea's only 12 years old! How is that possible!.?"
Regal chocked as he realized he just gave away Presea's secret. "Ah, um, well..."
"Please, Regal! I'm serious about her! I- I- want to make her happy. I want to do everything I can to see her smile. And...well, I want to be the only one who makes her smile!"
Regal was touched by Genis' pure devotion. As Regal looked down at him, he saw not a child with a stupid gradeschool crush, but a man with true longing and desire to be with the woman he loved. So Regal nodded and explained Presea's past and the day Sybak Research Academy took her away and used her for experiments on Expheres, taking away 17 years of her life.
When Regal finished, Genis asked him the best way to ask Presea a question.
"Don't beat around the bush. Whatever you want to ask her, do it strait. Good luck, Genis. I have faith in you."
Genis nodded and walked off to go find Presea. Just before Genis left the room, Regal muttered "Don't make the same mistakes I made."
Genis found Presea quite easily in the garden, sitting alone on a bench. He took a deep breath, replayed Regal's words in his mind and stepped forward.
"Presea?" he asked. Presea looked over at him and her face lightened. Not a smile, but her mood was definatly happier. "I have a question to ask you."
Presea's mood went back to the way it was before Genis arrived and stood up. "Genis, I have to tell you something."
"Don't worry. I know, Presea. Regal told me everything. About your past, your real age and your lost time. You don't have to tell me anything." Tears sprung in Presea's eyes as she raced toward Genis and crushed him in a giant hug. Genis, not knowing what else to do, put one hand on her back and the other on her head and hugged back. "Will you go to the Valentine's Day party with me?" Presea nodded, and murmured "Thank you."
They spent several long seconds like that before "Genis! Come here!" was yelled by a moment-ruining older sister. Regrettedly, they pulled apart and Genis waved to Presea as he left.
On his way to Raine, he saw Collette nervously playing with her hair and on her way to the garden.
"Hey, Colette! What's the matter?" Genis asked.
"Lloyd hasn't come down to eat for days! I hope he's okay! What if Leonel did something to him?" she replied, a bit frantic.
"Don't worry about Lloyd, I'm sure he'll be fine. There's no way Leonel could have done something to him, because Lloyd's better than Leonel in every way possible."
"You think so?" Colette asked, dropping her hair.
"Definatly." Colette smiled, thanked Genis for his reassurance and went into the garden. As he continued his way to Raine, he thought Yeah. Everything's going to be okay.
Present Time
Lloyd and Leonel both had nasty bruises, Lloyd on his eye and Leonel just underneath his nose. At this point, Zelos had to pay attention to every detail, as the two were moving very swiftly and dodging every attack they could. Colette had crept behind Zelos and would open her eyes for a split second only to squeeze them shut again. The battle continued like this for a while, until Leonel finally said:
"Enough! I'm getting my staff! Time to feel some REAL pain!" Leonel was about to run away when Lloyd caught him by the shirt collar and cried "You bastard! You don't really care about Colette at all!"
"Stop it! Both of you!" Lloyd and Leonel turned to see Colette with tears in her eyes. She ran up and seprated them. "Leonel, I already gave you my answer. Violence is not going to change my mind!"
"I don't care! If violence isn't going to change your mind, then...then..." Leonel frantically searched his mind for some reason why she liked this guy. Then, he remembered they were childhood friends. Maybe she saw some gentle side to him or something. That gave Leonel an idea.
"Colette, you haven't had your first kiss yet, right?" Leonel asked.
"What are you-" Lloyd began, but Leonel interuppted him
"Shut up! I asked her a question! You haven't, right?"
"Well, no." Perfect. Leonel grinned evilly at Lloyd and pushed him aside fiercly. Lloyd was caught off guard, so he stumbled backwards a little, but just far enough that Leonel and Colette were out of reach.
Leonel grabbed Colette's arm, pulled her in and smashed his lips against hers. Colette's eyes widend and she began wiggling in protest, but Leonel's grip was too firm. Lloyd shook with fear and anger as he lunged toward Leonel, but Zelos was a hair faster. He kneed Leonel in the back, making him loosen his grip and fall backwards. Zelos picked up Leonel and dragged him away.
Colette fell to her knees, tears freely falling. Lloyd walked up to her and knelt down.
"I wanted my first kiss to be special," she said sadly.
"Colette, I'm sorry. This is all my fault." Lloyd admitted. Colette shook her head.
"It was awful. I wanted my first kiss to be gentle and sweet, with true emotion. That..." Colette began sobbing in misery, feeling so hopeless and lost. Lloyd felt such a strong stab of pain. Colette never cried. She was always strong and never wanted people to worry about her. But now, her emotions were too strong to keep bottled up.
Lloyd leaned forward and gave Colette a small kiss on the cheek. He was gentle and passionate at the same time. Immidiatly, her tears stopped. Her feelings of misery were replaced with shock and hope.
"I know your first kiss was horrible," Lloyd whispered into her ear, sending chills down her spine "But let this take it's place."
The end of chapter 10! This chapter had a bit of a more serious tone to it compared to the others, but next chapter the gang goes to the amusement park! After that, it's the Valentine's day Party, three really fluffy chapters involving it and the climax, and then We're done!
It took me three trys to get this chapter right. I'm still not completely satisfyed with it, but It's good for now. This chapter includes the full story behind Genis' confession and a little scene between Raine and Sheena. I hope this was worth the wait and no spoiler!
SPOILER: Amusement Park time! Next chapter is to be filled with fun and akwardness and roller coasters and funnel cakes!