Presea walked in time with the group as they traveled to the place where the rheairds were sitting and flew to Flanoir for the third time. Members of the group had declared they wanted to pick up some Black Onyx and Moonstone that were only sold in that particular city. When they got within two miles of the city, the group landed after Lloyd suggested they do some walking. They trudged through the cold snow, keeping an eye out for monsters. All of a sudden, Presea fell to her knees in the snow while clutching chest, her face contorted from the unpleasant sensation. After bowing her head she collapsed, writhing in pain.

"Ahhhhh!" she screamed into the snow. Genis ran over to her, trying to lift her face.

"Presea? Presea! What's wrong?!" Genis yelled. Everyone had halted their walk and surrounded her. The little ax-girl kept shrieking, with no one knowing what the cause of the pain was. It...burns! she thought, while trying to calm her own screams.

"Presea, what's wrong?" Raine asked hurriedly. Whatever Presea's condition was, it wasn't good. Presea tried to lift her head, and after a great struggle she got it up high enough to look at Genis, whose eyes were shining with tears.

"Help...me.."she choked before more screams tore from her throat. Genis put his arm over her, trying to help but not knowing how.

"Raine! What do we do?" Colette asked in horror.

"Get her to Flanoir's doctor! She needs medical attention," Raine shouted. Genis cradled the tortured girl, noticing something unusual. Her normally red cruxis crystal was glowing black, and when Genis tried to touch it it burned him.

"This is not good," he muttered to himself, tears leaking. Her pain was his pain, and he felt so much right now.

"Shh, shh," Genis whispered, trying calming the screaming girl in his arms. He stroked her pink hair in a gesture of comfort, but Presea kept yelling. It was then he noticed it. Deep gashes were forming along her neck and chest where her cruxis crystal sat. The blood began to run down her dress and onto Genis' arms, soaking the both of them.

"Raine!" he cried. Genis saw his sister's eyes widen and knew she was terrified.

"Hang on Presea," Genis pleaded. Her normally expressionless face was contorted in pain, with her mouth wide open for her to draw in ragged breaths between screams. Presea was shaking so bad, and more gashes appeared on her, growing deeper. The half elf began to panic, his breath quickening. Not caring if the group didn't follow, he sprinted for Flanoir and through the city until he reached the doctor. Many people were surprised and angry at his rude shoving until they saw the crumpled girl in his arms. As he burst through the doctor's doors to the examination room, the group followed maybe two seconds behind. The doctor's eyes widened at the sight of Presea.

"You have to help her," Genis sobbed.

"Please," Regal added. Even the light-hearted Zelos wore a dark expression.

"All right, but you people can't be in here while I work. She requires major medical attention," the doctor said quickly. Presea's foggy mind was only aware of the pain tearing from her chest and hardly noticed when she was set down on a table. Genis and the others were shooed from the room and left to worry. As the doors closed and they sat in the waiting room, Genis could still make out Presea's anguished screams. Please, please be okay, he prayed. He wanted to go take her pain for her, he wanted to make her happy. However, Genis knew that there was no way he could help her right now. Hour after hour ticked by, and many members of the group drifted off to sleep. Soon the only people left awake were Colette and Genis. Genis had some fresh tears rolling silently down his cheeks and Colette played with a chakram. Looking over, Colette noticed Genis crying and motioned for him to come sit with her.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly. Genis shook his head.

"No, I'm too worried about her." The screams had subdued, but you could hear her loud sobs through the door.

"It must be so painful," he thought aloud, and Colette nodded sympathetically.

"I'm worried about her too, Genis. I hope she's alright. I've been praying non-stop," Colette admitted.

"Thank you," Genis told her sincerely. The blonde angel just smiled.

"No problem," she whispered while waving her hand in a gesture of dismissal.

"Hey Colette?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Anything, Genis." The silver-haired half elf sighed, prepared to begin his confession-like story.

"Well....I think that a lot of people think I'm too young to know what love is. The kind of romantic love, that is. i have love for Raine as a sister and you guys as friends, but Presea is different. I don't just like her...it's like I wouldn't be able to live without her. If she's in pain, I'm in pain. She cries, I cry. I'm happy that she's regaining her emotions because...she can share these feelings with me now. So, what I'm trying to say is...I just don't know what I'll do if she doesn't make it through this," he blurted, warm tears prickling his eyes yet again. Genis wrapped his arms around his knees while Colette rubbed his back soothingly.

"I'm sorry Genis. I really am. I'm sure she'll be okay, though, just like you were," Colette smiled cheerily. Genis wiped his eyes and sniffled.

"I guess you're right," he mumbled. Even so, he never went to sleep, although Colette did eventually. After what seemed like decades, the door leading to the doctor's work area creaked open. Genis jolted upright when the doctor appeared.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Your friend will be alright. Her wounds were from a freak reaction from that crystal of hers. I have fixed them up and stopped the bleeding, however she may be in some pain for a few days. She should probably take it easy. Right now she's resting, but you may see her as long as you don't disturb her. Her clothes were blood-soaked so they are being washed and will be delivered to her shortly," the doctor announced. Genis could've hugged the man.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Genis exclaimed. He paid the doctor generously and flew over to the room to see Presea. She looked paler than normal, with white bandages circling her chest and lower neck peeking out from under the covers. Her soft face was no longer twisted in pain, but looked content at last. Genis did notice, however, that a little hole had been burned where the crystal was, allowing it to peek through the bandages. It was back to red, which was a relief. Presea stirred slightly, and her eyes began to flutter.

"G...Genis?" she struggled to get out. He walked over and grabbed her hand gently.

"I'm here, I'm here," he whispered soothingly. Presea's eyes closed and she drifted quickly back to sleep, this time with a smile on her face.

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Hope this made up for the past suckish chapter, I personally liked it. Also, i should get points for a quick update!! Only one day:) The next one will hopefully be even better, so please keep reading! Thank you to the people that are sticking with this story, I love you guys:) Vote, comment, fan! Love and darkness,

BE