O_o I have nothing more to say oddly.


"I have nothing to explain." Yuan sighed, his heels together and his arms crossed as he stared the younger sage sibling in the eyes.

"B-but!" Genis clenched his fists.

"Yuan, where are you?" Raine's eyes were bright, open, but empty. She scanned the woods for the blue-haired seraph.

"Why is she--"

"I already said. Now if you'll excuse me."

"Wait, why do I have to deal with this?" Genis glared.

"Because I said so. Now occupy her for about an hour while I retreat, I obviously can't be expected to keep her company with her ah..." He looked over in her direction, "condition."

"But you could have prevented this!" Genis argued, "And I... I can't control her, you're way stronger, though."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, I'm afraid."

Genis was ready to admit something he wasn't before. "It has to be you, though." His head lowered and he looked at the ground. "... I think that you'll be able to snap her out of it."

"How do you expect me to...?" Yuan trailed, lifting his hand in inquire.

Falling silent in response, Genis turned his head. "Well um..." he rubbed the back of his neck.

Yuan was actually starting to see how troubled Genis actually looked, he grew this foreign feeling from somewhere, sympathy. Somehow. As impossible as it was, he did have it. And he decided to agree.

"Well I guess I'm expected to tie her to a tree and babysit?"

"Yeah something like that. I don't think I'll be able to." Genis mumbled.

"Hm." he kicked himself mentally because of the fact that for some reason he liked the picture. "Fine." He turned in one movement and walked towards the searching professor.

"Thanks..." Genis sighed.

xxxxx

"Yuan!" Raine blushed, her entire face red with embarrassment. "Oh ah... There you are." She giggled.

"..." Yuan sighed. "Come with me." He waved for her to follow.

"Of course, Lord Yuan!" She smiled, and skipping after him. Yuan took fast steps to attempt keeping a distance between them.

"Hn." He blinked, shifting uncomfortably at her closing in on him.

A few more feet into the woods and he stopped, Raine stopped behind him, a big grin on her lips.

"...I want you to snap out of it."

"...?" Raine looked at him, confused. As if she was incapable.

"I see.... I should have expected as much." He uncrossed his arms and examined her. He looked around at their surroundings. It was getting darker and they were out of sight from everyone else. "Can you understand what I'm saying?" He lifted his hand in question.

"O-Of course." Raine stepped forward with half-lidded eyes and a reaching hand.

"Nh..." He stepped back, biting part of the inside of his mouth. "J-just stay where you are." He held his hand out in front of him as if to stop her.

"..." She stood there, watching him, looking disappointed.

"Don't look at me like that." He tensed up upon seeing her pouting face. "..." He breathed in and out, eyes closed. "Alright."

xxxxx

"Mmh.... Wh...what?" Raine's eyes eased open from darkness, she looked around the woods around her in confusion. "Yuan?" She locked eyes with the Seraph before her, standing idly with his arms crossed.

He stood in a solid stance of glowing blue amongst the blackness that surrounded him. The sun had set, and darkness overwhelmed the setting.

Looking mildly upset, bothered by something, Yuan stared back at her with irritation. "Finally." He walked at her and drew a knife. He cut the ropes that bound Raine to a tall, large tree and stepped back. Raine looked down at herself, at the ropes that had fallen into her lap loosely.

"... What happened?"

"Lance decided to play a humorless joke." He was visibly tightening his jaw, avoiding looking directly at her.

"I see." Raine stood up, the ropes dropping from her hips and with a thump to the forest floor. "And what would that be?"

"So you don't know." Yuan quirked an eyebrow.

Pondering upon hearing his response, it must be something obvious.

"He tied me to this tree."

"No, that would be myself." Yuan stated.

"..." Raine hesitated, trying to figure out why he had reason to do so.

Shrugging, he faced away from her, "It was rather difficult considering the circumstances."

Raine furrowed her eyebrows, looking down again and flinching in realization for the fact that she wasn't wearing clothing over her upper torso with the exception of a lacy black bra.

"I remember..." She crossed her arms and glared at the ground and slowly crossing her arms over her chest.

Reaching back over his shoulder, Yuan pulled his cape from his back. He didn't face her, but held it back towards her.

"If you so wish you can wrap this around you."

"Ah, Thank you." Raine reached forward and took it softly. "....Thank you." she repeated, as she felt the fabric in her hands.

"Please don't mention this."

"Why of course." Raine said, as though it was absolutely obvious. She hesitated, wrapping it around her shoulders and crossing the fabric over her upper torso so that you couldn't see her bra.

"Now, we should get headed back now."

"But now I feel the obligation to repay you."

"Perhaps I'll think of something." He spoke over his shoulder as he started walking. "But for now, stay close to me. It's pitch black."

...he's avoiding the initial question, what happened. Raine shook her head with a sigh.

Deciding to listen to him for now, Raine approached and crossed her arms to keep herself warm, the cold was starting to set in, even in the mild heat of the summer. She could see by the light of his wings, carefully stepping.

"Ahh!" Raine felt the adrenaline rush through her as she was thrown forward, her feet behind behind her, they caught on the lifted part of a tree trunk root. "Mh-" She breathed, being braced back against Yuan's arm that held her upward.

"Stop!" Raine glared at him, regaining her balance once she stepped out of the grip that the root had on her foot.

"Stop what?" Yuan quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Helping me, I'm going to end up owing everything I have." She huffed in irritation. She really was bothered by the idea of giving up her artifacts.

"And what use would you assume I have for your belongings?"

"That's what I figured." Raine sighed, "But still..." She then looked uncomfortable all of a sudden, by the thought of something else that had newly emerged in the surfaces of her mind.

"..." Yuan could actually imagine numerous things he technically could have taken by now, but due to his respective personality and composure. Those pieces in him are enough for full prevention of the sort.

xxxxxxxxx

next day

xxxxxxxxx

"He attacked again? That bastard!" Lloyd growled, fisting his hand as he grew tense with anger. "How could he play such a low trick as sneaking into the safety of your house? He's sounding more and more like a desian."

"Calm down Lloyd." Raine said, "I'm not harmed as far as I'm concerned. I don't think he had the intention of," she paused, "hurting me exactly." She sighed, falling silent as she recalled his words as far as motives... how would she word that?

"Do you know what he wants?"

"..." She swallowed, facing away from the group and pondering. "W-well ah...." She bit her lip.

"!!" Zelos's eyes widened.

Wow, the first to figure it out.

"Zelos? Do you know anything?" Lloyd looked at his comrade.

He stuttered at first, seeming thrown off, "Ah-OH-um.... ah...hahaha...." He had a difficult expression, trying to figure out how he would put something into a comfortable phrase. "He's a really... straight-forward... guy." He nodded, still in mid stun. "is all..."

Yeah, he knew that look in a girl anywhere.

He would. It's Zelos.

"...Yeah, well anyway. Until we know what he wants, we should be more careful. If he shows himself again, I promise I'll protect you Professor." He nodded to his former teacher.

"Oh, thank you Lloyd." Raine smiled in appreciation for the boy. "That's very noble of you."

"Oh well.." he grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"..." Yuan allowed himself a mild, brief smile that flashed for a half millisecond. He was slightly amused by Lloyd's promise. Yuan's been the one protecting her until now...

But why? Yuan pondered over his own reason for protecting her.

It's only because of the fact that he wants revenge on Lance for what he did to his renegades in his absence. He was only doing what seemed like the most effective way of stopping Lance from doing it again.

Yeah... even when he had the book already. He was fully capable of mixing the potion himself, and could use that for prior defense against the enemy.

But... there would be no sense in leaving Raine behind whilst her comrades are expecting him to bring her back with him. That must be the only reason. Because of Lloyd.

So maybe Lloyd really was her savior all along.

"...Hm." He smirked, Yuan turned away from the group and walked towards the door, he let them speak amongst each-other. He heard them discussing how the potion would effect them and figured that since he already knew the effects, it wouldn't concern him.

"Yuan. Where are you going?" The professor stopped talking all of a sudden to address him.

Yuan sighed, "This way." he said, stating the obvious.

Sighing as well, Raine shook her head at his sarcasm, "I see that. But you should be careful, we need to all stay together as a group from now on."

"I am the one who took him down initially. And at that, on my own, am I not?"

"..." Raine let a look of concern show through for a half second. "Of course." She looked down before staring back up into his eyes, "Fine, do what you want."

"..." He turned on heel without another word and left through the front door, it felt like a long moment, captured in time as it eased shut. The light from outside that was formed in the opening disappeared.

"You know Raine, he is the one who kept betraying us...." Genis lifted his hands in a shrug.

Raine slapped Genis on the back of the head hard, and he held the source of pain once she pulled her hands back away.

"Ow..." He mumbled.

"Mind your manners. I'm certain that he no longer has reason to." she paused, "Not only that but it's likely he heard you just now." She huffed. "Now then."

xxxxxxxxx

"So. What are your reasons for wanting to capture Raine." Yuan spoke into the empty trees through which you could see the orange light rising.

All he got in reply was silence, the view of the black silhouettes of trees encircling him.

"I know you're there."

"Haha." Another voice chuckled, sounding amused. "So, you seen me even from inside? You must have brilliant eye sight, sir."

Yuan looked up and met the red gaze of the blond, cloaked man as he dropped from a high branch.

"..." Yuan's arms were crossed, he looked very uninterested in Lance's cheerfulness. "I believe I asked you something."

"Ah, of course." Lance pulled back his hood and Yuan looked at his face with an emotionless gaze. "Why do you wish to know?"

"Answer me, or we fight here and I kill you a third time."

"You know, it is quite the pain finding this house time and time again from the origin. I'd like it if you didn't do that, please."

"..." Yuan's glare intensified.

"Hm." Lance smirked. "...Very well. I'll tell you, if she hasn't already." he looked up thoughtfully, "In time, once I get a hold of her, I. will be the one who kills you."

Yuan waited, and Lance started to speak.

"It would be the same, trivial thing that every man wants from a woman." he started to laugh light-heartedly. "Though, I'm full willing to take responsibility for my actions. And still... after it all, as it will turn out." He looked, with more irritating of a half-smile. "She won't be able to resist me."

"..." Yuan tightened his jaw as he held himself calmly back.

"....Oh?" Lance's eyes lit in surprise. "This bothers you, I see."

"Of course not. I wouldn't care for her life if it were not for the fact that I want to kill you for good."

Do I mean that?

"Ha." Lance had yet another amused look on his face. "Of course." He closed his eyes as he stepped backwards into the darkness. "I will see you again once you figure out how to do that." he chuckled. "Until then."

xxxxxxxxx

"So. Did you find anything out, yet?" Yuan approached the professor who sat silently at her desk blankly. Not even seeming to have total focus, but it looked like she was skipping through the pages quickly. Reading fast.

"...Yes." Raine flipped back about twenty pages to the center of the huge book and pointed to a picture.

"...Hm?"

"This. It stops regenerative properties..." She pointed to a large gem with a description underneath.

"..." Yuan fell silent, sitting down at a chair next to her and looking at the page. "Hades. Nickname, the Pandemonium." He trailed, looking up at Raine. "Alright?"

"Well, it says that when applied to another human being, it will completely halt the process of reproduction."

"And?"

"In other words. Cloning."

"Oh I see. So we'll be able to stop him from making more of himself."

"Precisely." she paused, "But there's a problem, if we don't know where his clones are coming from... we have to find a way to something called an origin."

"Ah." Yuan lifted his finger in a point. "Actually, in my previous conversation with him, he did mention one. Indicating that it's where his clones are coming from."

"You were talking with him?!"

"Hm." Yuan shrugged, "he wasn't very threatening."

"Nh" Raine put her hand on her chin. "Did you two fight again?"

"No." He answered simply, "But more importantly, He told me of his motives." He raised an eyebrow at her, who then let out a quiet groan.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Raine sighed.

"So you did already know." he paused "However, I understand why you wouldn't want to say anything."

"... I'm guessing you're going to tell the others then. I understand."

"No." Yuan blinked, "No, I was not planning on doing so." He crossed his arms. "Unless you want me to."

"No."

"..."

"In--any case I should tell you the other great news."

Yuan was starting to question why she was telling him first. Maybe it's because he asked first. That must be it.

"Which is...?"

"This gem, Is it safe to assume we should be attaining it?"

"Of course. It's essential in killing him for the last time."

Clearing her throat, Raine paused, biting her lip before opening her mouth to speak.

"Difficult location?"

"Frustrating location." Raine corrected.

"Where."

"Well, how would you feel if I told you if we had to go back underwater again?"

"What?" He hissed, standing.

"..." Raine still looked at him expectantly.

Yuan sighed, "Well, I'd most likely be mildly pissed and nominate Lloyd to go with you if I didn't know better about his submarine driving skills."

"I wouldn't be so sure, he did drive one you know."

"Before he attained the reihards, which, may I add, was quite a long time ago, and it was with a submarine with different controls than mine."

Raine was about to talk but Yuan cut her off quickly, knowing what she was going to say. "And it would be an incredible waste of my time to teach him all four hundred mechanisms and controls while he's only using it once and may not even know how to apply the skills..." Yuan trailed.

"Good point. So, shall we tell the others?"

"Indeed." Yuan agreed with a blank face.

xxxxxxxxx