Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia, nor the characters, nor anything else...So yeah. And one more thing!

/ The first/second chapter of this Fanfiction will be very similar to Holyknightsteve's, and I'm sorry for the similarities. The rest of it should be my own ideas, though... But I read their work, and it gave me ideas...So, some credit for chapter one and/or two goes, again, to Holyknightsteve. Not completely to me...'Casue they inspired me. Thanks, though...Good fiction. Okay, onward./

This will be a fiction for the ultimate pairing, RainexRegal - or as I like to call them, R&R. I hope you'll enjoy it, and I'll be updating fairly often, provided I can type that fast...

So keep checking back! Please read and review.

And a Special Thanks:

God, who's let my works be a hit here and helps me write well

Namco! Hurry up with that sequel to ToS!!!

I added this late, so thank you so much for everyone who read this and the other two, and all my other repetitively romantic and one-track-minded works. I love you all to death!

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Lost in a world completely of her own, oblivious to what was happening around her. Unaware of where she was going, or what she was doing. So much so, in fact, that had a certain voice not pried her from this wonderful world of knowledge, she would have walked straight into the railing that lined the bordwalk of Altamira. Perhaps even right off the edge, into the water. But, thankfully, fore mentioned voice did prod her back to reality.

"Raine - is that you? Raine!"

Somewhat unfortunately, it was a second too late that it registered in her mind that the name was her own. By the time she'd glanced up from the book her nose was so deeply buried in, she'd collided with the metal railing. Raine Sage flailed her arms a bit, trying to stay upright rather than plummeting down into the ocean. As she made somewhat embarassing attempts, she was suddenly aware of a strong hand on her shoulder. It was what steadied her at last.

Violet-blue eyes flicked up to meet the gaze of her rescuer, and she brushed back opaline-white hair. "R-Regal," she said, her mature yet strongly womanly voice betraying her mild surprise. But, of course, this was his resort - why should she be surprised to see him there? Perhaps because it had been nearly two years since the reunification of the two worlds; since they had all gone their seperate ways.

The tall, built man standing there looked at her, his head bent slightly downward to compensate for her shorter height. "Then I was correct. How are you?" asked Regal Bryant, Duke of Tethe'alla and president of the Lezareno company, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"I'm doing quite well," she replied, dipping her head.

"You've changed." It was a rather dim-witted way of saying it, but it was true. Her white hair, which had been short and flicked out so long ago, now fell straight and full nearly to her shoulder-blades. Her apparel was different, as well. She wore a shirt of tame blue, the hem of which overlapped the waist of her plain, though not unattractive black pants. This new look suited her, he decided - he liked it.

Raine gave him a half-smile, and glanced at his wrists. "So have you." Indeed, the shackles that had bound him for over sixteen years were gone, and he wore an outfit more suiting to a noble. Though, she thought with amusement, it didn't look like he was altogether comfortable with the outfit.

She watched as he rubbed his left wrist, apparently without knowing he did it. "Yes," was all he offered verbally. Shifting uncomfortably, Raine decided to change the subject. Evidentally he was still punishing himself mentally for what he had so very long ago, to Alicia.

"How goes it with the Lezareno?" asked the Half-Elf, clasping her hands behind her back, where her crystal-looking Holy Staff was fastened. It was easier than carrying it in her hand everywhere she went. And besides, how could she read while holding a staff?

"Well enough," he said. Regal turned to the side, and motioned her to walk with him. She did, and fell into step with him quite easily as they walked along the beach. "I am very pleased to announce that the Palmacosta Project has been, at long last, completed."

Raine smiled slightly, the finishing touch to her very laid back demeanor. "Yes, I know. Genis is there now, actually. We've--ah, postponed, shall we say?--our travels for now, so he can study at the academy. I must say, he was rather excited when he heard the news of Palmacosta's full recovery. Though he did protest when I suggested he go there."

"So how did you manage to convince him to stay?" Regal asked her, bemused. He could just see the trademarked pout of Raine's younger brother as he stubbornly refused to go.

"We talked it over, and he thought about it. I told him the world wasn't going anywhere, nor would racism." She fell silent, lowering her eyes. The subject of discrimination was not a pleasant one for her. The issue ran deep in most of Symphonia, whether it be fear from the Sylvarant side, or just pure looking down upon from the Tethe'allans. And she and Genis had experienced this discrimination first hand.

Regal was silent for a moment or two, his hands clasped behind his back. He had quite gotten into the habit, while trying to break the one he'd developed in sixteen years of being bound. Rather than keeping them clasped in front, he would hold them around back. After the silence had gotten rather awkward and lengthy, he found it necessary to break it. "What brings you here, to Altamira?"

She looked up, as though realizing for the very first time that he was walking beside her."What? Oh." A half-smile wound its way onto her features again. "Hiding from Zelos," said Raine, mostly serious. "Without Genis, I've just decided to wander, on the chance I might see a familiar face," here she inclined her head in his direction before continuing. "So I visited Meltokio, and...well, you can imagine. This is Zelos, afterall - he didn't let me out of his sight the whole time I was there." She sighed.

"Well, on behalf of the Altamira Ocean Resort, and the Lezareno company, permit me to say that we are honored to allow you a safe haven," he mused, his own lips twitching into a tiny smile. He glanced up as a boy looking around the age of fifteen approached.

"Sir?" asked the youth, bowing his head with a light coloring to his cheeks. Regal's smile widened a bit; the boy must have thought there was something going on between the two that he should not have interrupted.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I was sent by Lord Zelos, to inform you of a ball they are holding in honor of the Chosen and his companions," continued the adolescent. "They have requested your presence."

"I see. Thank you." Regal glanced over at Raine as the boy left. "I suppose we had better attend then, yes?"

She nodded a few times. They would get to see everyone again, all together for the first time in two years. It might be fun. "Indeed," Raine replied.

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A ball, eh? Interesting. The tale of this epic journey begins, with a simple trip to Meltokio for a reunion! And when they get there, Regal's got a simple question for her. A simple question...Which leads to more...

Keep reading!