(For disclaimer and author/story/series notes, see Part 1.)

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Part 6: The Friend

"Now, you have everything you need, right? Books, pencils, paper...?"

Michi nodded. "Yes, yes, and yes."

Sheena grinned and leaned back against a nearby tree trunk as she watched Zelos kneel in front of Michi to say his goodbyes. As predicted, enrolling Michi in the Academy had been easy once the administrators had seen how quickly he'd solved that puzzle, and then, when Michi had aced a few other tests as well, they'd declared him to be a 'diamond in the rough' and instantly admitted him. And now, two weeks later, they were dropping him off in Sybak the day before his classes started so he had time to meet the other students and settle in.

Ever since the 'running away' fiasco, life had been going smoother for Sadako and Michi; Michi hadn't acted up or caused any trouble, and as a result, they were getting along for the first time in years. As far as Sheena was concerned, the whole thing was incredible. Seriously, why had Zelos singled out one kid from her village and completely changed his life like this? The risk he'd taken with her people, not only taking responsibility for Michi's actions but then offering to sponsor him like this, had been huge, and yet he hadn't backed down. She was sure he had his reasons, and she didn't doubt the reasons he'd given her, and part of it was probably in hopes of righting the wrongs he'd experienced as a child, but still...it felt like there was more to it than that. Any time she tried prodding, though, he just brushed it off, and finally she'd given up.

Regardless of his reasons, though, she couldn't deny the end result, nor the benefits that might one day come of it. And really, when she became Mizuho's chief - something the iris bracelet around her wrist didn't let her think too deeply about - she would be glad to have a mind like Michi's around to supplement one of her weak spots: strategic thinking. Well, she knew who she really wanted there to fill in that gap, but since he was such an unlikely, questionable option, knowing she'd at least have Michi was still a huge relief.

"Be patient with your classes, okay?" Zelos went on. "Things will probably seem slow for awhile, but once you catch up with the other kids, everything should pick up."

Michi nodded again. "Okay."

"Make sure you're good for your teachers and do what they say," Zelos added. "Make sure you get your homework done on time, too."

"Right."

Well, if Zelos could lay down the rules like this, then she, someone actually from Michi's village, should be able to do the same. "Be careful not to share any of Mizuho's secrets with anyone," she said.

"I'll be careful," Michi replied, looking at her.

"Make sure you study hard and learn lots of stuff that you can bring back to us, too," she added. "When I become chief, I'm counting on you to use what you learn to help me out."

Michi smiled and nodded. "Okay, Sheena. I'll make Mizuho proud."

Yeah, she didn't doubt that. She returned his smile. "Don't disappoint Zelos, either. He's putting a lot of faith in you by giving you this opportunity."

"I know," Michi said. "I won't."

Zelos grinned as he looked back over his shoulder at her. "I seriously doubt that'll be a problem, sweetheart."

Sheena tilted her head and returned his grin. "No, probably not."

Zelos turned back to Michi and pointed at him. "And no gawking at girls."

A blush instantly flared on Michi's face as he looked down, embarrassed, and Sheena's eyebrows rose. What the heck kind of rule was that? "'No gawking at girls'?" she repeated.

"Hey, why should I let him make the same mistakes I did at his age?" Zelos said, giving her an innocent shrug that the smirk on his lips rendered completely ineffective. Sheena rolled her eyes, but he quickly turned back to Michi. "Just be nice to them and you'll do fine. Oh, and at your age, edible body paints are not an appropriate gift for a girl you like, and any girl who gives you some should be avoided at all costs."

Sheena smacked her palm to her face, unsurprised to see how confused Michi looked. "Oh, for the love of...Zelos, don't give him any perverted ideas! He's only twelve!"

Zelos whirled around to point at her. "Hey, I will have you know I received my first bottle of that stuff when I was even younger than Michi!"

Sheena lowered her hand. "Younger?"

"Heh, I didn't even know what it was at the time," he said, grinning reminiscently. "I just thought she'd given me a bottle of cake frosting or something."

For a moment, Sheena could only gape at him, horrified. "Are you serious? I can't believe any girl that age actually did that!"

Zelos gave her a disbelieving look. "You didn't seriously expect one of my hunnies at any age to give me something appropriate, did you?"

...Oh. Right. She'd forgotten who they were talking about. "Good point," she conceded. "Although I still think that's terrible."

"Yeah, it is." He turned back to Michi. "Which is why you should avoid anyone who gives you any." Michi, however, just blinked at him again, still not understanding (thankfully not understanding, she silently added), but Zelos just grinned. "Just trust me on that, kid. Oh, and while on the subject of cute girls making bad choices, no conning any into taking attendance and completing your tests for you so you can skip class."

Michi's brows furrowed further. "...Why would I skip class?"

While normally Sheena would roll her eyes at Zelos's stupid comments and suggestions, none of which applied even remotely to Michi, that time she couldn't help chuckling. "I think Zelos is talking about himself when he was your age and was going to school here."

Michi looked back at Zelos, still blinking in confusion. "You really did that, Zelos?"

Zelos, thankfully, had enough good sense to look sheepishly embarrassed. "Yeah, I did. I wasn't called a 'troublemaker' for no reason. Oh, and while on the subject of behaving, no cheating, no falling asleep in class, and no playing pranks on anyone." Sheena snorted, and Zelos gave her an innocent look. "Hey, I got in a lot of trouble for doing all of that here!"

"Yeah, I don't doubt that one bit," she muttered, then thought of something else. "Oh, and no beating up any of the students, no matter how stupid they act." She grinned cheekily. "Unless, of course, that student's name is 'Zelos,' in which case, knock yourself out. And preferably knock him out, too."

Michi's confused gaze turned to her, even as Zelos gave her an incredulous, 'What gives?' look. "But why would I beat up Zelos?" Michi said. "I like Zelos!"

Zelos's face brightened and he pointed at Michi. "Yeah, see! See, see! At least someone knows how to properly treat The Great Zelos!"

Sheena rolled her eyes. "Well, I like Zelos, too! Most of the time, anyway. Whenever he isn't acting like The Great Zelos. But back then, sometimes he really did deserve a smack on the head to get his mind out of the gutter. Or to stop him from acting like a moron." Zelos shot her a mock glare, but she just batted her eyelashes at him. "What? You did!"

"Yeah, probably," he grumbled, releasing a showy, reluctant sigh. "But y'know, love, I seriously doubt beating up other kids will be a problem for Michi. It might've been your problem, but this guy's an idealistic little pacifist, remember?"

"Oh, right." She beamed him another cheeky grin. "And really, I only had that problem with you anyway."

He snorted and turned back at Michi. "She's right, though. I really did deserve all those times she beat me up." Unsurprisingly, Michi looked between them again uncomprehendingly, but Zelos chuckled and waved that off. "Eh, ignore us, kid. It's an inside joke. Just be yourself, learn a lot, have fun, and make lots of friends."

And finally, Michi relaxed as if to say, 'Ah, finally, instructions I can actually understand!' "I will," he said, smiling broadly.

"And if you need anything, let us know and we'll take care of it for you," Sheena said.

Michi nodded curtly. "Okay, Sheena."

Zelos grinned. "You excited?"

The smile that lit his face answered the question in a way no words could. "Yeah, I can't wait!" Without warning, Michi's smile grew shy. "Thanks again for everything, Zelos."

"You're welcome, Michi," Zelos said, his grin softening as he patted Michi's arm. "I'll stop by in a few days to see how you're doing. Maybe we can even play another game of chess. I want to see how long it takes you to beat me."

"Okay!" Michi said. "I thought of a few new strategies I can't wait to try."

Zelos chuckled. "I should've known you'd be thinking about that. Chances are you'll find other kids to practice on until then; chess is pretty popular here. I wouldn't be surprised if you're invited into the chess club before the end of the week."

Sheena grinned broadly at the excitement that lit Michi's face at that thought. The bond these two had found amazed her. Thanks to how poor Zelos's relationship with Genis had always been, she'd never thought he would prove to be the kind who got along well with kids, but this friendship with Michi had forced her to reconsider that. And now that she thought about it, she should have seen it sooner. He had, after all, spent a staggering amount of money getting that orphanage in Palmacosta up and running, which had made it clear he had a soft spot for children who had lost a parent. He knew how they felt, and he couldn't help but want to ease their suffering. She had no doubt he truly liked Michi, either; if he didn't, they wouldn't be standing here now. And, what was more, Michi adored him, too; she could see it in his eyes every time he saw Zelos. Zelos had made a friend for life, and she was thrilled that he'd managed to do so without acting like the Chosen One. She wanted Zelos to realize how good the man he hid behind the mask truly was, and the only way that would happen was if others accepted him for being himself the way Michi had.

What really got her now, though, was the last thing she'd ever expected: the thought that if Zelos was this kind and giving with Michi, a child he'd only known two months, then how would he be with his own children? Thinking of him that way, as a father, felt strange and foreign to her, because for so long Zelos had been one man she'd maintained should never have children because of how 'childish' and 'irresponsible' he was, but the truth was...well, now the thought of seeing him in that position sent a painful tug through her gut, one she could only identify as pure yearning. Envisioning him like that was weird, especially when she realized how much she wanted his children to be her children, too, but now that the thought had entered her mind, she couldn't shake it. And the strangest thing was that she didn't find it repulsive or even scary; in fact, it was the opposite, something she suddenly realized she wanted, with a strength she'd never felt before.

The thought itself might not scare her, but the realization of how much she wanted it left her utterly terrified.

That fear soon became too difficult to bear, though, and so she quickly shoved the thought from her mind. Don't, Sheena, she told herself, squeezing her eyes shut. You can't think like that...you can't even indulge in such a fantasy. You're still hopeful for a future with him, but growing to so powerfully want something that has more chance of not happening than it does of happening is a horrible idea. Some things are just too painful when they remind you of something that will likely never be. If that future miraculously does happen, then you can fantasize, but for now, just don't. And since she wasn't a masochist - well, she was, but she wasn't, either - then that was that.

"Hey, and don't let anyone get to you if they tease you for not knowing something," Zelos was saying when Sheena opened her eyes again. "Remember, you aren't used to being in a formal school setting and are just starting out, so you'll probably be behind the other kids. But you'll catch up soon enough, and then you'll be kicking their butts at...well, at everything. Just keep studying and doing what you need to do. You'll do great here; I know you will."

Michi smiled shyly. "Thanks, Zelos."

Sheena sighed as Zelos's words triggered other memories of her own brief time here. "And don't let anyone get to you if they tease you for being different because you're from Mizuho, okay? Children can be mean sometimes, especially when they don't understand why another child is 'different' from them."

Zelos's smile fell. "Sheena's right. Anything that differs from their perception of the 'norm' means 'weird' to them, and while some kids love 'weird' and flock to it, others fear it, and that fear sometimes manifests itself in cruelty. Sheena and I have both experienced our fair share of it for being 'different.'" He gave Michi another grin. "Just don't be afraid to drop my name or let me know if anyone's bullying you, okay? Like I said, people fear the Chosen and don't want to get on my bad side for fear of incurring the 'wrath of Martel.'"

Sheena rolled her eyes, not at Zelos's words, but at the fact that people really did think like that. That was just another way people were determined to separate the Chosen from themselves. It was no wonder Zelos wanted so desperately to be rid of that stupid title.

But Michi didn't need to know that, so instead she said, "And remember, too, that while you don't like fighting, you're still a ninja, and chances are if you wanted to, even with the little physical training you've had, you could easily beat up every kid here."

"Blindfolded," Zelos added, grinning.

Sheena chuckled. She had told him that once years ago when he'd expressed his shock that she'd been able to beat him up, about how part of ninja training involved fighting proficiently even when deprived of sight. She was just surprised he'd actually remembered that. "What he said," she said.

Without warning, Zelos's eyes snapped to three kids walking by on the street, two boys and one girl, all around Michi's age, and his grin broadened. "And speaking of kids who love 'weird'...hey, Toby!"

A boy with freckles and short, sandy hair turned to see who'd called him. The moment he saw Zelos, his face lit up. "Zelos!"

The other kids also turned their attention toward Zelos as Toby ran to meet him. "Hi, Zelos!" a boy with curly auburn hair said as he followed Toby.

"It's the Chosen!" the sole girl, a brunette, said.

Zelos stood and gave Toby a special hand greeting, a cross between a handshake and a high-five. "Hey, there, guys - and lady." He bowed charmingly to the girl, and she giggled and blushed. Sheena rolled her eyes but still smiled fondly. That was just one of his many traits that refused to die: being a gentleman toward every woman he met, no matter what her age. Not flirtingly, thankfully, but rather just politely and charmingly. "How's it goin'?"

"Good!" the girl said. "I got an A on my science test!"

"Dr. Beckler praised my paper on poisonous mushrooms!" the auburn-haired boy said.

"I got first place in last week's debate!" Toby said.

"Great job, guys! You know what I like to hear, you little geniuses-in-the-making." Zelos glanced at Michi and gave him a reassuring smile - Michi, Sheena noted, was looking at the other kids wide-eyed - then he turned back to them and placed a hand to Michi's back. "Hey, listen, I want you guys to meet someone. This is a good friend of mine, Michi."

Michi gave them a shy smile and wave. "Hi."

The other kids all greeted him pleasantly. "He's new around these parts," Zelos went on. "He's a...a foreign exchange student."

"Where are you from?" the girl asked.

"Mizuho," Michi replied softly.

Toby cocked his head. "That's that ninja village, right?"

Michi nodded, and Zelos patted his back. "I've been there. It's really cool."

The auburn-haired boy looked at him curiously. "My dad says Mizuho is a..."

Zelos cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Nah. Trust me, Evan, whatever you've heard about it, it's not true. No offense to your dad, but he's never been there. I, on the other hand, have been there loads of times. Who're you gonna believe about this, him or me?"

"You, Chosen!" Evan said, grinning brightly.

Zelos winked and gave the boy a thumbs up. "Right."

"So you're a ninja, Michi?" Toby asked, to which Michi nodded. "That's cool. I've never met a real ninja before! Can you do some cool ninja moves?"

Michi shuffled on his feet. "A few..."

"Can you show us sometime?" Toby said.

Evan nodded. "Yeah, please?"

"I'd like to see them, too!" the girl chimed in.

Michi's eyes widened, as if he was surprised by their interest. "O...okay."

"Zelos says ninjas are cool, so I believe him," Toby stated.

"It's nice to meet you, Michi," the girl said, offering him a cute smile.

Michi blinked at her a few times, a light blush appearing on his face as he shyly returned her smile...a display that made Sheena chuckle. If she didn't know better, she would've thought he'd never spoken to a girl before. "Y...you, too, um...?"

"Danica," she supplied with a giggle.

Zelos listened with an almost wicked sparkle in his eye, then cleared his throat. "Listen, Michi's really cool and really smart and really curious about stuff, but he's never studied in a school before. Everything he knows, he's had to teach himself. So I want you guys to look out for him, okay? He isn't familiar with some of the stuff you guys take for granted, so think you could show him around, make sure he knows where his classes are, teach him the ropes, and make sure the other kids don't pester him?"

Evan nodded brightly. "Okay!"

"C'mon, Michi, you gotta see our favorite spot to do our homework!" Toby said. He grabbed Michi's arm and began tugging him toward the street, followed by Evan and Danica.

Michi's eyes widened as he glanced back at Zelos and Sheena - Sheena thought he actually looked a bit bewildered as Toby dragged him away - but there was definite excitement in his eyes, too. With a grin, Zelos folded his arms to his chest and leaned back against the tree beside Sheena. "Hey, just make sure he gets to his classes on time, guys, okay?"

"Don't worry, we will!" Toby called back to him.

Michi looked back at Zelos and Sheena and waved at them. "Bye, Zelos! Bye, Sheena!"

"Have fun, Michi!" Zelos said, returning his wave.

"We'll see you in a few days, Michi!" Sheena added. A moment later the kids ducked behind a building and were gone.

"He'll be just fine," Zelos stated.

Sheena smiled as she turned to him, seeing the happiness shining in his eyes. "Yeah, I think so, too. They seem like good kids."

He nodded. "They are. The one, Toby, is from Meltokio. When he was younger, he used to constantly pester me for stories about being the Chosen and the world and...well, everything, actually, kinda like Michi. A few months ago I ran into him again while I was stopping by to see Seles, and he introduced me to his friends. They all come from good, stable families and will be a good influence on Michi. I trust them."

Sheena nudged him with her elbow. "Then so do I."

And she did. Zelos knew what he was doing, and she knew he would never hand Michi over to just anyone unless he truly approved of them. Introducing Michi to these kids reminded her of what he'd said two weeks ago, that he'd done his best to look out for her here and made sure kids treated her with respect despite how 'different' she was, even after their friendship had fallen apart. It warmed her heart - and not just because seeing him like this with Michi ignited that longing, mothering instinct in her. Zelos was so different now than he had been back then...and yet at heart, he was exactly the same: a kind, giving, caring, protective man. He'd just grown up since then and become more comfortable embracing and displaying that part of him. And Sheena loved who he'd become in the process.

Looping her arm through his, she leaned into him, savoring the kiss he pressed to her temple. But then she remembered something else he'd said. "And speaking of Seles...do you want to drop by to see her while we're here?"

She could feel him grin where his lips were pressed against her cheek. "Yep!"

Uh oh. Pulling back slightly, Sheena eyed him warily. "Okay, you're too excited about that. There has to be a catch."

"Well...yeah, there is. If we wait an hour, I'm pretty sure she'll be in class, so that would be an excellent time to drop by." He shrugged as she gave him a disbelieving look. "Well, at least it'll make it look like I tried to see her without actually having to see her."

Sheena arched an eyebrow. "And if she's not in class?"

"Eh, then we'll have to dodge the rotten fruit she'll throw at us and try to have an actual conversation with her. But as far as I know, she really should be in class all afternoon, so if we wait until then, our odds of having to deal with her drop significantly."

While that didn't surprise her, she wasn't happy about it, either, and her gut twisted at the reminder that all was not well with Seles. So far Sheena had only stopped by to see her once with him once since they'd started dating, and it hadn't gone well, laced as it had been with dirty looks and unkind words, so she could understand his reasoning. For that matter, after last time, she didn't want to see Seles, either. But the knowledge that things between them were falling apart like this, and especially that she was the cause of it, sat in her gut like a lead weight - and she knew it bothered Zelos, too, despite his feigned indifference. One day she really would have to sit down with Seles and try to work things out with her. The lingering tension was something she knew Zelos hated, and Sheena didn't want it there, either. She wasn't looking forward to that conversation, and she wasn't even sure she could control her temper enough to get through it (because unfortunately, she'd done pretty badly that last time), but for Zelos's sake, she'd have to try. But according to him, that day wouldn't be today, and for now Sheena wouldn't push.

"So if we have an hour to kill, what do you suggest we do until then?" she asked instead.

"How 'bout a picnic?" he said. "It's lunchtime, so we could grab something from the cafeteria and park it here." He waggled his eyebrows. "I even hear the first batch of peaches should be in soon. If we're lucky, they might already have a few."

Sheena bit her lip and looked around, considering it. While the thought of eating a peach again after all these months was appealing, she especially liked the thought of having a picnic here. It was a lovely spot beneath a giant oak tree, it was a gorgeous day that indicated spring was approaching, the sea was just a stone's throw away, the sky was a deep, gorgeous blue...and just like that, her eyes widened as it hit her. This was...this was that tree, wasn't it? It was! How could she have forgotten it? No wonder Zelos had specifically dragged them over here earlier!

She smiled shyly and turned to her companion. "Sure. This is a good spot."

Zelos grinned back at her, his eyes soft and knowing. "You remember it too, don't you?"

Warmth flooded her cheeks as he turned to stand directly in front of her, his face mere inches from hers, his right hand still on the tree trunk beside her and his left finding a similar location on her right so she was pinned between him and the tree. She let out a shy laugh and looked down at his Cruxis crystal. "Of course I do."

"Thought you might. You were sitting right here, worrying about how you would pass your upcoming math test so you didn't get kicked out of the Academy and disappoint your village. I recognized you from all the times we'd crossed paths in Meltokio, and even though everyone said I should ignore you because you were a 'filthy ninja,'" he rolled his eyes, "I just had to find out why such a cute girl was so upset. I couldn't stand to see you like that even then."

Sheena chuckled and lifted her hands to his chest, lightly trailing her fingers over his black shirt. She could still see him that day, a loud, boisterous, gorgeous teenage boy with impossibly red hair, just plopping himself down beside her and talking to her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Hey, gorgeous," he'd said, leaving her embarrassed at the name and at being caught crying. She'd been even more flustered when he'd nudged her and kept going, even when she'd turned away to hide her tears. "Pretty girls like you shouldn't be crying; you should be laughing. I've seen you around Meltokio, and you have a lovely smile. What do I have to do to see it? C'mon, tell me what's bothering you so we can get rid of these tears." She'd been so disarmed by his outgoing personality that she'd told him. He always had had a way of drawing things out of her that she hadn't wanted to tell him - an ability he still possessed now, years later.

"And then, when you found out, you offered to tutor me," she murmured. "Yeah, I remember that. I recognized you from Meltokio, too, but I had no idea you were the Chosen, and while I remember thinking how good-looking you were, I never felt comfortable asking anyone at the Research Laboratory about you."

"You were the first girl I'd ever met who didn't recognize me simply from the color of my hair," he replied, smiling reminiscently. "I wasn't sure how to act around someone as cute as you who wasn't all giggly and flirty just because the Chosen was talking to you. But I liked it, too, that you never tried to come on to me like other girls did. I felt comfortable with you. And then when I found out you could kick my ass..."

Sheena chuckled as even more long-lost memories floated back to her. "Yeah, I did beat you up for teasing me about not knowing my multiplication tables, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did." He flashed her a crafty grin. "It shocked the hell out of me that you could, but more than that, that I liked it."

"Hence why I was always beating you up after that, eh?" she replied, grinning wryly.

His grin broadened smugly. "Yep!"

Yeah, he really was an idiot, wasn't he? And she didn't care anymore. She shook her head, amused, but then sighed, her gaze falling to her fingers as they traced the edge of his shirt. "And then I finally asked about you and found out who you really were and I was mortified."

"And I felt awful because you felt awful, and...well, I tried to be nice!"

"You were," she said, lifting her eyes back to his. "You became one of the best friends I'd ever had." She smiled. "We talked about everything back then, didn't we?"

Zelos nodded, his blue eyes softening further as they took in her face. "Yeah, we did. Even then I told you so much I'd never told anyone else. Obviously not the main stuff, but..."

"It was enough. At least, it was enough to get me to open up with you the same way."

And for a moment, Sheena closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the memories - memories she'd suppressed for years but could now enjoy again, untainted by the pain of loss that had plagued her afterwards. Zelos helping her pass her test, taking walks and eating lunch with her, showing her around his mansion and teaching her to play chess, listening to her and talking to her and cracking jokes that made her smile and laugh and sometimes smack him again, too. Sure, she'd heard all the stories about him back then from Orochi and Kuchinawa, about how he chased after women and was irresponsible and couldn't be trusted, both trying to point out what her 'friend' was known for to prevent her from being hurt by him. At the time, though, she hadn't been able to connect their warnings with the sweet, caring, charming, helpful friend Zelos had been, and so she hadn't believed them, much to their dismay.

"You were so sweet to me back then," she said, opening her eyes.

He watched her a moment, smiling softly, but without warning his face fell. "And then I..."

His voice trailed off, and he sighed and shook his head, looking away from her, the pain and wistfulness on his face telling her what he was talking about. And suddenly, Sheena wanted to know this. They didn't talk about the past much because she knew it still haunted him, what he'd done to her because of his building feelings for her, but being here with him was bringing it all back. Besides, this had opened an unexpected opportunity she'd never had before to find out what had been going through his mind back then.

She ran her fingers over his chest again. "When did you know?"

To her surprise, he gave her a sheepish smile. She was pretty sure a light blush was appearing on his cheeks, too. "Heh. Don't kill me, okay?"

Uh oh. That was never a good prelude to something. Her eyes narrowed. "Okay...?"

Zelos observed her uncertainly, his fidgeting betraying his discomfort, but Sheena just waited, and finally he sighed. "It was that day I accidentally caught you in the shower." Her eyebrows flew upward - oh, Jizou, tell me he did not just say that! - but when she realized he was serious, she growled and glared at him. "And not like you're thinking," he quickly went on, giving her a pointed yet pleading look. "My thoughts really weren't all that perverted at that moment, y'know."

"I'm not sure I believe that," she stated, arching an unamused eyebrow. But his pleading expression surprised her, and she'd learned the hard way that he did sometimes deserve the benefit of the doubt in these situations. He'd just better hope this was one of those times or she would have to beat him up for implying seeing her naked while peeping on her was what had made him fall in love with her. "But go on anyway."

Zelos turned his head away, letting out a soft, uncomfortable laugh, but then he took a deep breath and met her eyes again. "It was so stupid. I'd played a prank on a boy who'd been bullying a puny first year student, and the boy's father, one of the teachers here, was on a rampage trying to find me. I was looking for a place to hide, and the women's shower room was the first room I found. I figured he'd never go in there because, y'know, it was the women's shower room, so I snuck in. I didn't see anyone, so I figured all the girls were in class - and, okay, so I'll admit to being disappointed when I realized no one was there - but then the door opened, and he came inside anyway, and I ran further in, and...well, by the time I realized I was hearing water running, it was too late."

...Oh. Right. Sheena could feel herself softening as that memory, too, resurfaced for the first time after being buried for years. "Yeah, I do remember you looking just as shocked at seeing me there as I was at seeing you." A moment later, though, she grinned wryly and poked his chest as the rest of the memory hit her. "Of course, then you just stared at me."

Zelos's eyebrows flew upward. "For what, all of three seconds before you came to your senses and started screaming and throwing things at me and grabbed a towel and chased me out of there? Sheena, I was shocked. You were the last person I expected to see there. And, well, I guess you could say I was stunned by how...perfect...you were." Instantly, her face flared and her gaze fell downward again in embarrassment. Before she could respond, though, he went on. "You were beautiful - and I know what you're thinking, but I really don't mean that in a perverted way. I'd always liked you before that because you never treated me like the Chosen and because I felt so comfortable with you, but all we'd been at that point was good friends, and that...that was the moment I started seeing you as not just a friend, as a cute little ninja tomboy with a pretty smile who wore unflattering clothes and could beat up anyone who so much as looked at her wrong, but as a stunningly beautiful woman.

"And after that...well, things deteriorated quickly for me after that. You haunted me; I couldn't get you out of my head. You started treating me differently because you were embarrassed about the shower thing and didn't trust me after that, and I started worrying about how I could make it up to you because I didn't want to lose your friendship, and I was confused about what I wanted from you, how I was feeling about you, and how I should treat you because I wasn't seeing you the same way anymore, and I'd never felt that way with anyone else before, and..." He sighed, his eyes darting away from her. "And then one night when I couldn't sleep because all I could think about was you, it hit me that I was falling for you - not just pretending to fall for you or obsessed with a cute hunny, but truly falling for you. And it scared the hell out of me, not just that it had happened at all, even though I'd sworn I'd never let it happen, but how quickly it had happened without my even realizing it and without either of us meaning for it to happen. I refused to believe it, but I couldn't take the chance that my feelings were real, so...well, you know the rest."

Sheena swallowed hard and nodded, resuming tracing his chest with her fingers, knowing that small action wasn't much, but hopefully it would be enough to soothe a bit of his guilt. She'd had no idea; he'd never let on back then that what he'd felt was anything more than simple friendship...or perverseness. "Yeah, I do." Lifting her eyes back to his, she gave him a wistful smile, amazed by how much lighter she already looked back on that incident. "Y'know, if you hadn't started treating me the way you did, I would've eventually forgiven you and we could've gone back to being real friends again. I mean, I do remember that teacher coming in and asking if I'd seen anyone else, and I did figure out that you'd been running away from him, but because you started acting like the perverted idiot toward me, I figured it had been your excuse to peek at me." She let out a wry, self-deprecating laugh and looked back down at his chest, her own guilt bubbling up. She couldn't believe she'd ever lost faith in him like that without letting him explain himself - sincerely explain himself, not just distract her with the infamous Chosen One act. "At that point, the stories I'd heard about you began making sense and I started believing them."

Zelos sighed sadly. "I was too confused and scared not to treat you like that, Sheena. I saw it as a wakeup call about where our friendship was headed if I didn't stop it, and as much as it killed me to push you away, I couldn't let that happen. You know why."

"Yeah, I do. Well, at least now I do." She lifted her eyes back to his. "But I missed you so much after that, Zelos. I spent years trying to find you inside the perverted idiot again, that old friend I'd once had. Every now and then I'd catch these little glimpses of you, and I'd hope maybe you still existed somewhere in there and I could pull you out again. Every time I tried, though, you just pulled back again, and..."

His eyes slid shut and his head sank downward until his forehead was touching hers. "I'm so sorry, Sheena."

Oh, Zelos. Seeing him in pain over something he'd already apologized for and more than made up to her for twisted at her heart. She wished she knew how to take that pain away, to assure him she'd forgiven him long ago and didn't regret giving him a second chance, but she didn't. All she could do, therefore, was caress his cheek with her fingers before pulling her head back so she could give him a faint smile. "Don't be. I know now why you did what you did. And I finally did find you again, that sweet, charming friend I used to have...and I found so much more than that, too. If that's what it took for us to reach this point, so you could get rid of your title and live a real life, then I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. I mean that. I wouldn't trade you, us, this, for anything, not even being spared that pain."

Thankfully, Zelos returned her smile, although wistfulness and sadness still lingered in his eyes. "I still wish we hadn't lost all those years, though."

Sheena nodded. "So do I. But neither of us was ready for a real relationship back then. I mean, my goodness, Zelos, I was only fourteen! You were only seventeen! I hadn't even managed to summon Corrine yet!"

His grin broadened, the sadness melting away, but his eyes were still soft as he observed her. "Six years...has it really been that long?"

"Unbelievable, isn't it?" she said, returning his smile.

"Yeah, it really is. And you're right, a lot has happened since then."

"A lot had to happen before we could even think about having something like this. And if we'd pushed it before we were both ready for it...well, I doubt we'd be here right now. Chances are a lot of the good things that have happened since then wouldn't have happened, either. Y'know, like what you just did for Michi. Or maybe you would've talked me out of accepting the king's mission to kill Colette if we were in a relationship and the worlds might never have been reunited. It just seems unlikely that even if we'd tried a relationship back then, we would've survived to this point. We were too young, and neither of us was at a place in our lives where we could've acted on it."

Zelos watched her closely a moment, but then he nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We were. We might not be here right now if things had played out differently." He sighed, his head sinking downward. "I still feel terrible about what I did to you, though."

Yeah, Sheena could tell; guilt was written on his face, and it killed her not knowing how to ease it. So she did all she could do: she gave him another understanding smile and traced his jaw with her fingertips. "I know. But you've more than proven since then that that's not who you really are and that you're sorry about it. Like I said, Zelos, I found you again, and then so much more. It's like you're a completely different person now. You've grown up and matured into a beautiful man. If I could stand you up beside the man I knew a year ago, I would never believe you were the same person unless I'd seen your progression myself. You aren't nearly as selfish anymore; you aren't weighed down by life's demands of you; you don't hide everything behind the arrogant, carefree mask anymore. You're the same man, and yet because your circumstances are so different now, you aren't afraid to be you anymore. And because you don't need to worry about saving yourself anymore, you're able to help others instead. It's brought so much good out of you." Her eyes darted at the school, and her smile broadened as she looked back at him and saw how intensely, how hopefully, he was watching her. "Like what you just did for Michi. I'm so glad I've been able see this in you. You really are a good, kindhearted man. Don't ever doubt that."

His eyes were shining as they took in her face again, telling her how touched he was, but then he sighed and returned her smile wistfully. "Maybe, but I'm still a selfish man, too. Don't go getting any misconceptions that I'm not. Everything I do is still for a reason, and it's usually for my own benefit."

Sheena let out a soft, humorless laugh as guilt flared within her, and her gaze fell back to his Cruxis crystal. "I guess we're all selfish in our own way, aren't we? I am, too."

After all, if she wasn't selfish, she would have let Zelos go long ago. As Raine had said, staying with him when their future was so questionable, despite her determination to see this through to whatever end fate had in store for them, truly was selfish. But right now she wasn't ready to deal with that, nor with the doubts that still frequently popped up about the course she'd chosen. She refused to give up hope, because she'd learned long ago that embracing negativity actually attracted bad things to you, but the fact remained that if not for the iris bracelet around her wrist, serving as what she wanted to believe fate had used Zelos to give her as a reminder to hold onto her faith, she likely would've broken up with him months ago. It was there, though, and because of the incredible symbol it served, she would look toward the future positively. If she was wrong, the pain would be devastating, but if she was right...oh, how she hoped she was right.

"Yeah, I suppose so," Zelos said, his eyes trailing over her face again. "But in the end, Sheena, it's you. It always has been, since the moment I met you and you refused to treat me differently just because I was rich and had a fancy title. You're the one who's brought this good out of me, who's given me the courage to become the man I always wanted to be. You've kept me honest. You've made me want to be better. That's one thing that hasn't changed over the years: how deeply you've touched my life...and how much I treasure you because of it. Now more so than ever before."

Tears pricked her eyes and her heart swelled with love, and Sheena lifted her hands to his neck and drew his head down to hers, pressing a tender kiss to his lips before resting her forehead against his and closing her eyes. She opened her mouth to try to express her feelings, to tell him he had done just as much for her, bringing so much happiness into her life, but the words wouldn't come. And it was then, overwhelmed by emotion, that she nearly said the words she'd wanted to say to him for so long now: "Stay with me, Zelos. Tell me we have a future together. Tell me we'll be like this forever, that our love will survive to the end of time. Tell me you'll never leave me; tell me I'll never have to leave you because of the obligations binding me to my village. Please, Zelos. Save me from the nightmare I fear is awaiting us. Please." She had come so close to asking him a few times, like that morning she'd asked, only half jokingly, if he could stay 'forever,' but at the time she'd known he had an excuse to say 'no' or 'not yet,' and that was why she'd let herself do so. Now, though...now the light and love that had shining in his eyes at the time as he'd replied 'Yes, but...' haunted her. She'd known there would be a 'but,' but she hadn't wanted there to be, and now...well, now she wanted to ask him again, seriously this time, and she wanted him to reply without the qualifier. She wanted it, she wanted him, in her life, forever...desperately.

Her lips opened, that time ready to say it...but again, she quickly caught herself. As much as she wanted to, wanted him, she couldn't; the fear that engulfed her heart at the thought of doing so simply wouldn't let her. After all, if she said the words and he said 'yes' and yet she saw even a single flicker of doubt in his eyes...well, it would tell her everything, and in that moment, her heart would be crushed. Asking him to give up everything he knew for her, to accept a life he didn't want...she couldn't do it. Maybe one day she could, but right now she couldn't put him on the spot and make him choose between the life he'd always wanted, one free of the responsibilities he'd always resented, and the difficult, demanding life that came with her. She loved him far too much to do that to him, to make him feel obligated to accept something that would leave him miserable, for her sake. She may be a foolish, selfish girl who wanted to keep him all for herself, but even she couldn't do that to him, knowing the future she brought with her. If he spent the rest of his life yearning for something she made it impossible for him to find, after all, then she would never truly be happy knowing he would never truly be happy.

That realization, that Raine had been right and she was a fool to place so much hope in fate, especially when she already knew she could never ask him the question she'd have to ask him to turn desire into reality, terrified her. And as it always did, her selfish determination to preserve hope reminded her of the iris pendant on her wrist, and she touched it with the fingers still wrapped around his neck, letting it erase her fears. Leaning closer to him, she whispered, "I love you, Zelos, so much," and kissed him again, succumbing to desperation and melting against his body, moaning into his mouth as his hands sought her hips and pulled her to him. She would give anything to freeze time at that moment, to protect it from harm, to guarantee they could never lose the beauty they'd found together and could stay like this forever. And for a moment, Sheena thought she could feel it as he returned her kiss: the same desperation currently overwhelming her...maybe even for the same reasons. And that desperation...well, whether it was real or imagined, she chose to take comfort in it and in the thought that maybe he wanted the same thing she did.

Having now seen so much goodness from him these past few months, his determination to take responsibility, see things through, and sacrifice himself in ways she'd never expected, Sheena made up her mind. From now on, she wouldn't just trust fate anymore to see them through; she would trust Zelos, too. She might not be able to ask him for the one thing she needed most - him - but she would trust him to hear the question anyway. And maybe, just maybe, one day he would answer it and save her from the bleak future that awaited her.

Please, Zelos, save me. Please.

"I love you too, Sheena," he whispered as he finally broke the kiss, brushing his nose against hers.

But soon, Sheena couldn't stand it anymore: she needed more. Unable to resist the burning need within her, she lowered her arms from his neck, wrapped them around him, clutched him to her, and buried her face against his chest, her racing, frightened heart only calming once his arms slid around her and cradled her to him in a warm, loving, protective embrace that she never wanted to leave. And for an indeterminable time - maybe seconds, maybe minutes, maybe hours - they just stood like that, holding each other, until finally Zelos pulled away enough to look down at her and touch her face, his brows furrowing as he trailed a thumb over her cheek, brushing away a tear she hadn't even realized was there.

"Hey, sweetheart, you okay?" he asked gently, but Sheena just sniffled a little and nodded, wishing her voice was working again so she could tell him he needn't worry about her. When she didn't respond, though, a faint smirk lit his face. "Y'know, those better not be tears in your eyes or I'll have to resort to extreme methods to make you smile again."

She couldn't help it; she burst out laughing and let her head sink downward to rest against his chest again. After a moment, she lifted it and looked up at him, meeting his curious - but still concerned - eyes. "I'm fine, Zelos. Really." And then she gave him what she knew he wanted: an honest-to-goodness smile. Because the truth was, as long as she was with him, she really did have everything in the world to be smiling about.

Zelos watched her closely again, but then he must have seen what he needed for he relaxed and returned her smile. "Okay. If you're sure."

She nodded, her smile broadening. "I'm sure."

"Good." A moment later, he motioned behind him with his thumb. "Then what do you say we go to the cafeteria, grab some food, and get this impromptu picnic underway?"

"Sounds good." And before he could pull back completely, Sheena gave him another kiss, and then another, and then another, because one kiss from him would never be enough to satisfy her, not when she was so totally and completely in love with this man.

Something told her she could be kissing him from now to eternity and it would never be enough to satisfy her. But she'd be damned if she didn't treasure every single kiss from him that she could get.

~Fin~