Me: And here it is--the first chapter of the sequel to TU!
April/Feral: -nods heads-
To Understand: Redemption of Ones Sins
Part One: Palmacosta Birthday
By Harmony283
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia or any characters/places associated with and/or appearing in the game. I do however own the OC's that appear in this fanfic, the plot, and anything relevant to the plot that hasn't already been stated that's not mine.
April: That's a bit confusing
Feral: Well she owns what she owns and she doesn't own what she doesn't own
April: That makes since.
Authors Note: So you like it simple? Eh well, anyway as I said at the very beginning -points to top of page- this is the sequel to TU, so naturally if you haven't read TU (or if you don't know what TU stands for) then go and read it first and then come back here. Also this takes place two years after TU's events, which means everyone's two years older. Now that that's settled in this chapter/part Genis is celebrating his birthday in Palmacosta. Even so, he can't help but feel like they aren't doing enough to atone for Mithos' sins. But what more can they do?
Feral: Yes what more can they do?
April: Good question. I guess we'll just have to find out by reading!
Me: Right! But first, I must put a warning. And I'll put a warning before each chapter that will specifically have something…um…mentioned in the warning. Just as a little reminder.
WARNING: mild language, plenty of suggestive-ness, alcohol usage (later on), violence, maybe a lemon/lime (in later chapters--if I feel like writing one/get up enough courage to write one), shojo-ai, and of course, shonen-ai
Genis' POV
I let out a soft sigh as I leaned up against the cool banister surrounding the small balcony connected to my hotel room. My eyes scanned the busy streets below. Even now, at nearly 9 o'clock at night, people were still out. I let out another, even longer sigh, 'This place is going to turn into another Altimira if Neal isn't too careful.'
'I actually agree with you on that.'
I jumped and turned my head. There, sitting on the railing next to me, was Feral. She grinned, 'What? Aren't you happy to see me?'
I shook my head, "You just surprised me is all. You have to stop coming and going like that!" Then I remembered, "And besides, aren't you supposed to be with Mithos? He said he went out to buy me a birthday present and you said you'd go with him. What are you doing back so early?"
Feral shook her head, 'He said he wanted to pick out something that was a surprise. He wouldn't tell me what it was though.' She smirked again, 'I wonder what it is?'
I glared at her, "You're sick, y'know that?"
Now she put on an innocent face, 'I'm sick? How do you know what I'm thinking, Genis? What makes you think I was thinking something 'sick' anyway?' I blushed and her smirk widened, 'See?'
I looked back down at the crowd of people, "Y-you…it's because you normally don't think of…the cleanest thoughts. And besides, it's just you."
'So you're saying I'm perverted? Like anyone else would believe you.' Feral laughed, turning around on the railing to look out at the crowd as well, 'All those people would think I'm just a normal little girl--perhaps even your twin sister. They'd never suspect a thing.'
My eyes narrowed, "Yeah like you're some normal little girl." I muttered, shaking my head, "Normal is probably the farthest thing from you."
'Ouch Genis, I'm hurt.'
I looked back at Feral, only to see that she wasn't there.
"Huh?" I looked back out at the crowd of people and then I turned my gaze to look over the rooftops of the buildings. We weren't that close to the ocean--you couldn't even see it when you were in the streets--but it was a plus for getting such a high up hotel room. You could just barely see over the rooftops at the ocean. Of course now I could barely see it, it was so dark. But every once in a while I could see a wave crash over another and the white foam that formed from it.
"I wonder where she went?" I mumbled, "It's not like she could go anywhere, really. Unless…" I looked back down at the crowd of people. If Feral went anywhere, it was probably wherever Mithos was.
'Which reminds me, where is he? It's not like it takes forever to buy what he's buying me. And…'
No wait, she wouldn't be with Mithos. Since he told her not to come with him.
I sighed, 'Not that she ever listens.'
'I do too listen…on certain occasions.'
I jumped and turned around quickly, nearly losing my balance. Feral was behind me, leaning up against the sliding glass doors of the balcony, with a smirk on her face. I glared at her, "Don't scare me like that!"
She shrugged, 'I'm sorry.'
I scowled at this, "Yeah right. That's the second time you've done that in the span of what? Fifteen minutes?"
'Like I said, I'm sorry.' Feral rolled her eyes, 'That and Mithos is coming. Look.' She pointed behind me—down at the street. I turned around and looked down just in time to see Mithos walking towards the hotel quickly. He was carrying a small box in one hand and something silver was sticking out of his pocket.
"What's in his pocket?" I asked, turning back to face Feral. She shrugged, 'You're better of asking him that. He sent me away after he got what was in the box. Now then,' a smirk was back on her face, 'I do believe I'll leave you two alone for a…while. I'll warn you if Raine or April come back. Or, knowing them, if they come back at the same time.'
"And why wouldn't they come back together?"
'If they got in a fight?'
I shook my head, "Like they'd do that."
Feral shook her head, 'You mean you've never heard of a lovers quarrel?'
I blinked at her, "What?" I asked, then I got it, "O-oh…what makes you think they're lovers? Err…I mean what makes you think they're dating?"
'Like you haven't noticed, oh smart master of mine,' Feral curtsied to me before disappearing.
I looked back at the street—Mithos wasn't there.
He must've already gone inside. Which means he could be here any minute.
I quickly hurried into the room, sliding the glass doors to the balcony closed just as the door to our suite opened.
Mithos' POV
I inhaled deeply as I turned the knob of the door that led to the suite I was sharing with Genis, Raine, and April. When it opened I exhaled. I was nervous.
Nervous and I had no idea why.
'But what if Genis gets mad at me for…' I cut the thought off when I heard a door close in one of the rooms. Genis obviously waited like I asked him to. I smiled when he walked to the door of the room we shared. He smiled back, "Mithos! You're finally back. I was wondering where you went." He noticed the box in my hand and his smile grew, "Or is that for me?"
I nodded my head, "You could say that."
"But then what's in your pocket?"
The question was innocent but I couldn't tell him…just yet anyway.
I shook my head, "You'll figure it out. Besides that's not as important as your birthday present is. I'm sorry that Raine and April aren't here though. I know you wanted to spend the day with them like we did for your thirteenth birthday."
Genis shook his head back, a small smile on his lips, "It's fine. Raine's doing what she loves so I can't be mad at her. And April's with her. I'm sure we'll do something tomorrow to make up for it." he leaned against the doorframe, "So…the birthday present? Can I…?"
I smiled and walked forward handing him the box as he moved to the side—letting me into our room. I sat down on the bed and looked over at him. He was eyeing the box in his hand, "You wrapped it." he stated blandly, "You didn't wrap my gift last time." His eyes narrowed as he looked over at me, "And," he undid the blue bow that was tied around it, "you even gave me a bow. Since when do you do that?"
I shrugged, "Let's just say I had time to pick out wrapping paper and," I patted the spot next to me and Genis walked over. Once he sat down I continued, "I think it'd look cute if you tied this in your hair."
I could tell he was blushing even though I couldn't see him. I took the bow easily from his fingers. I grabbed a few strands of his hair and wrapped the bow around it before tying it in a simple knot at the bottom. I then let it fall to his side and kissed him on the side of his neck, "See? It does look cute."
Genis shifted in his seat, "R-right. Um…I'll open my present now." I nodded my head and watched as he opened the lid of the box.
A few seconds later, after shuffling through blue tissue paper, he pulled out what I had given him. I heard him gasp and smiled, "Do you like it?"
He looked back up at me, a blush on his face, "You…you got me a new one. I-I didn't think you would after the other one broke." I shrugged, "Well it wasn't your fault that the last one broke anyway. It was old."
He smiled, running his fingers over the gift, "Yeah but it was a charm you made especially for me."
I nodded my head once more, "Right. And this is another charm to replace that one. See, it even has another feather from my angel wings." I pointed to the charm in the center. Genis looked up at me again, "But the…the choker…? How did you get this chain embedded in it?"
"I asked a craftsman here to do it. Like I said before, it's a two person job, and I'm trying hard not to use my…my Cruxis Crystal or the powers it gave me."
Genis nodded his head, "Well that's true. Feral wouldn't've been happy if she heard you used it just for a gift."
I sighed, "She's the one who gave me the idea to get it done by someone in town. You do know she stayed with me for that part, don't you?" He nodded his head, "Yeah I know. But…um…what did the craftsman say about the feather?"
I let out a bitter laugh, "He thought I got it from a monster."
Genis flinched, "But…you didn't. What did you say?"
"No I didn't. And I just told him I found it. He said the girl I was giving it to should be very happy," I smirked as a blush rose on Genis' face, "And I told him that she'd be very happy to receive it."
"But I'm not a girl!" Genis shot back.
I chuckled, "Of course you aren't."
"You look more like a girl than I do!" Genis nearly shouted before covering his mouth, "I mean…"
"I know what you mean," I nuzzled my face into his hair, "Now do you want me to help you put on your collar?" I saw another, deeper, blush rise on Genis' cheeks as he nodded his head, muttering, "It's not a collar."(1)
I took the choker from his hands and undid the snaps, "Of course it isn't. Lift your hair for me." He turned around and did as he was told and I easily fit the collar—choker—around his neck, snapping the clasps back together before saying, "There. A perfect fit."
A few seconds passed and I just stared at the back of Genis' head. He was fourteen now. We were in a suite in the newly rebuilt port city of Palmacosta—the largest city in Sylvarant—and right now….
I felt really awkward for some reason.
Genis was thinking about something, and I didn't know what. That and…
"Hey Mithos?" Genis suddenly asked, snapping me back to attention. I looked down at him, "Hmm? What is it?" He turned around in his seat so that he was facing me, "Now will you tell me what that silver thing in your pocket is?"
I nodded my head, "Well, first, do you remember what that Fortune Teller gave you back when we visited Iselia for that big reunion?"
Genis blinked, looking a bit surprised. He looked down and then back up at me, "Yeah I do. It's that earring right? What about it?"
I smiled, "Well do you still have it?"
His eyes narrowed, "Of course I do. I don't lose things that easily."
I shook my head, "Of course you don't. Now may I ask where you put the earring?" Genis got up off the bed and walked over to his bag, which was lying across the room against the bathroom door. He opened it and shuffled through it for a few seconds before pulling out a small bag, "here it is." He held up the small bag and walked back over to me. He dropped the bag between us, "What do you want it for?"
I opened the bag and took out the earring. Now that I saw it up close…well…it looked like it was missing something.
'But what would it be missing?' I thought to myself before speaking outloud, "Well I was just thinking you might wanna keep an eye on it. So why not keep it with you at all times?"
Genis looked confused for a few seconds before his eyes widened and he grabbed his right ear, "Y-you don't mean—no! You are not going to pierce my ears!"
"Ear," I corrected, resisting the urge to laugh at his reaction, "and don't worry it won't hurt that much." I pulled out the silver thing I had hidden in my pocket, "See this is a manual ear piercer. It's supposed to be quick and mostly painless."
"Mostly?" Genis asked, eyes narrowing, "What do you mean by that?"
This time I had to laugh—more like chuckle, but still, "Don't worry so much about it. It won't hurt as bad as you think it will. If you're that worried then here," I pulled him into my lap, "You can hold onto me if you want. I just need a clear view of your ear."
Genis pulled away from me and glared, "Which ear?"
I shrugged, "It doesn't matter. Which one do you want pierced?"
He actually looked like he was thinking about it, before he lifted the hair—the hair that was tied together with the blue ribbon—covering his right ear, "This ear, since I can hide it."
I nodded my head, "Okay then," I felt Genis flinch and looked down at him, "What?"
"If…I mean, you have pierce one of your ears now too!" he looked angry—his eyes were burning like blue flame.
I nodded my head, "Fine, fine. I'll pierce my left ear once I find an earring I like. Okay?"
He nodded his head and willingly leaned back into my hold, holding his hair out of the way so that it wouldn't get in the way of the piercing. His grip tightened as I place the manual ear-piercer to his ear, lining the needle up where I wanted to pierce his ear—where I knew it wouldn't hurt as bad—before pressing it into his ear. It pierced through the loose cartilage easily, but it still made Genis flinch. I immediately pulled the ear-piercer out, examining the small hole left behind by the needle. I sighed in relief. At least I did it right. And it wasn't bleeding.
"Okay then, let's put the earring in now." I took the earring and quickly slid the sharp end through the small hole. I did the back and moved away. Genis blinked a few times, fingering the earring with his right hand.
The first thing he said was, "It itches."
I nodded my head, "I suppose it does."
"And it's annoying."
I nodded my head again, "I suppose it is."
Genis continued to finger the earring, twirling it, before grabbing the back of it, "I'm taking it out. I don't like it."
I grabbed his hand and pulled it away, "No. If you do that then the hole could get infected. And then it would be painful." Not that I knew but, "That and…aren't you just a bit curious as to why you were given that earring to begin with?"
Genis looked away again, "I-I don't know why."
But he didn't sound convincing, "You don't know?" I asked, turning his face so that he was facing me, "You really don't know? Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure—okay…no I'm not. I-I think I might know. Or at least I'm guessing what this," he touched the earring with his fingertips, "has to do with anything."
I nodded my head, "I'm listening."
He sighed, "I think it has to do with…um…you…I told you about what Pronyma said to me? How she knew they were going to be there and how you had to atone…?"
I shrugged, "Yeah what about it?"
"Well I was thinking," Genis leaned against me, "What if what we're doing now isn't enough?"
This surprised me and I jerked away from him, "What?! What do you mean 'isn't enough'?! What more do I have to do?"
Genis flinched, "I-I mean…think about it. You have to atone for your sins, and you're doing that by helping Raine, April, and me with lessening the laws against half-elves. But what if we've done all we can? What if we're successful in lifting all the laws? The King of Tethe'alla's even helping out."
I glared at him, "Then I—"
"Then you what? I…I won't deny you being a good person and all but you did so much to the world. You did so many bad things to get what you wanted," I noticed tears in his eyes, "And now Martel's back and we have to keep our part of the bargain. We have to atone—or rather you have to. Feral sets the amount of atonement you need and what if what we're doing now isn't enough?"
My eyes narrowed, "And what do you suggest if what we're doing now isn't enough?
Genis flinched again, "Reti'thera. Do you ever remember hearing about Reti'thera?"
"You mean the place Mitosu talked about? What about it?"
Genis just stared at me and, after a few minutes, I got it.
"You don't mean…you think we can go to Reti'thera? To help out there?"
Genis nodded his head, "As odd as it sounds, yeah." Then he looked away, "yeah…as odd as it sounds. Heh…we don't even know how to get to Reti'thera."
"Or even if we can." I felt myself yawning as I said that. And honestly, I did feel tired, "But I think right now I'm going to take a nap." I lay back on the mattress, laying my head on the pillow, and smiled. Genis was staring at me.
"Care to join me?" I asked, patting the space next to me. Genis blushed, but nodded his head, lying down next to me.
"Okay…"
I closed my eyes and sighed, "Yeah, a nap."
"A nap at almost ten o'clock at night, Mithos. Right. Why don't we just say we're going to bed."
I shrugged, pulling Genis closer to me, "hmm well what if we wake up? Besides you have to actually change if you're going to bed. And we aren't in our sleeping clothes."
Genis nodded his head, "I get it." Suddenly he jerked away, muttering, "Feral!" under his breath.
I sat up and looked at him, "What'd she say now?"
He shook his head, "Um…nothing…" He winced, "Okay maybe not nothing but it's no big deal. You just like to cuddle that's all."
'I like to cuddle? Well…'
I smiled, "Well you are rather cuddly."
Now he glared at me, "Well then I guess you make a nice pillow."
Mithos gained the title Pillow Man
--It's said that you're comfortable to sleep on. But does that mean you'll forever be someone else's pillow?
(1)—this is reference to something that happened during their (Genis, Mithos, Raine and April's) travels for Half-elves. Genis' charm broke and he felt really bad about it so Mithos was finally able to make him a new one.
Me: -smirks- didn't think I'd do a title in this chapter but I did –punches fist in air- go me! Oh and for the small few who've read A Peaceful Time on deviantArt—this goes with what Selil said. –nods head-
Feral: Yes but this chapter is one of the only ones I show up in.
April: Yeah, and I'm actually here too…but I'm never mentioned. Where did Raine and I go?
Me: You'll figure that out during the next chapter. Don't worry so much over it.
April: Well I am worrying over it since I won't have a big part in this.
Feral: She has a point. I don't become a main character—yet again—until the very end. –scowls-
Me: W-well that's just how things play out. Don't worry too much over it please. Oh yes, as always R&R! Reviews are wanted! They make me wanna update so yeah