A/N: Okay, so I'm feeling like I need to do another disclaimer, I have one in the description but in case you didn't see it, this is just a reminder that Tales of Symphonia does not belong to me in any way shape or form, it belongs to Namco. The whole thing about the summon spirits and whatnot, that's all part of the Tales of Symphonia game. However, the side plots and such are all mine. MINE! muhahaha. So, just to clarify, I do NOT own Tales of Symphonia. Got it? Good. No suing, I don't have any money.

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Walking was getting seriously old.

"Why can't we use the rheairds?" Zelos whined the hundred and twenty-fourth time. Raine sighed.

"We need the exercise! Plus, it's a chance to train a bit before we have to fight the summon spirits of light, who may I add are the most powerful summon spirits in all of Symphonia!" Raine explained again, voice rising at the end to a scary screech that she normally only used on students.

"Zelos....you have a poor memory," Presea noted in a monotone. Indeed, the young ax-girl was growing tired, for not many monsters around this area were much of a challenge. One blow from her axe and they died, what good could come from that? Despite her thoughts, she trudged on silently with blank eyes, deep in thought. He was embarrassed about his ears...I think they are beautiful. Representing the part of him that is elven...they are not just a part of him physically but a part of what makes him Genis. It is cruel how people discriminate against him and Raine, they truly are good people, she thought. Slowing her pace to walk beside Raine, the professor's intrest peaked and the older half elf turned her head to look at Presea.

"Do you need something, Presea?" she asked. The taciturn girl shook her head, but as Raine turned her head she spoke.

"Raine...are your ears pointed?" she asked, oblivious to the shock that crossed the healer's face. Quickly recovering, she smiled and tucked her hair back revealing ears identical to Genis'.

"Well, last time I checked. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Raine questioned. Presea's face was still blank.

"Well...I had thought half elves ears were rounded like a humans...but when I found out Genis' were not I just got curious. Do you both wear your hair long to hide them?" the pink-haired girl continued to question. Raine laughed, a light noise like the jingling of bells.

"No, I just like my hair this way. I wish Genis would cut his though, it looks so unkept," Raine sighed, shaking her head. Presea smiled.

"Really? I figured Genis kept his that length to hide them...he was quite embarrassed when I found out," the pink-haired girl said, wondering how Raine would react. The professer smirked.

"Well, he really does like you a lot, so I'm sure he's a lot more sensitive around you. Just remember to leave enough time for him to spend with his sister," Raine joked, sadness tainting the casual phrase. Presea nodded seriously, understanding how Raine must feel.

"Thank you, Raine," the ax-girl said, catching the half elf off guard.

"For what?" Raine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For taking care of Genis all these years. I understand how tough it must have been to support you and your brother, and now thanks to you he's here today with a geniune heart. He's....the only person I haven't given up on yet," Presea explained solemnly. Raine cracked a smile with eyes full of pain.

"It was a family obligation, I suppose. Indeed, it has been difficult. For so long, it was me and him against the world, facing discrimination in every place. That's why...we had to lie about being elves to even find a place to live. However, it is not who we are. We are half elves, always will be. So, I believe it is I who should be thanking you, Presea. It's very rare you find a human that does not look at us like scum to be disposed of," the woman said with distaste. Continuing on, the two walked silently until Lloyd declared it was time to set up camp. With tents in place and a fire burning, Presea watched silently as Genis cooked. It was like a dance, each movement was graceful as he did it. Whipping the pan to fry the dish evenly, while stirring something else at once with quick circles. His hair swished as he moved, a single drop of sweat on his nose. Presea had a sudden idea. Going inside her tent, she pulled out a sketch pad. She had always enjoyed crafting, so Regal had suggested drawing to her. Without any false modesty she could admit her drawings were good, but she had never draw anything animate before. Perching on a rock nearby, she pulled out a pencil and began the seemingly difficult drawing. Starting off with his face and hair, she sketched it out. Jagged, uneven lines for his hair, and soft curves for the depths of his face. Next she drew in the sparkling eyes she loved so much, with his eyebrows drawn together in concentration. Slowly the drawing came together. Shading provided a welcome challenge, trying to capture the glow of the fire reflecting onto him. Just as Presea finished, the small half elf completed the meal. Using his sleeve to wipe of the sheen of sweat that covered his face, he called everyone to dinner. Setting down her completed masterpiece, she walked over to get her fill. Afterwards, Presea sat back down on her rock and reviewed her drawing, sighing at the small quirks she had made. His nose was to angular, and his eyes were too big. It doesn't look anything like him, she thought in frustration, preparing to tear it in half.

"What do you got there?" Genis asked, appearing before her. Placing the sketch in her lap face down, she motioned for him to sit next to her. Smiling, the boy accepted the invitation and continued to stare at the mysterious piece of paper in her lap.

"What is that?" he probed again, noticing disappointment flash briefly in her light blue eyes. Presea covered it up quickly and tried to dismiss it.

"It's nothing," she replied, anxious that her tone was unconvincing. However, Genis had already snatched the paper. When he looked at the drawing, his eyes widened considerably.

"Did you...draw this?" he asked incredulously. She nodded, saddened. He probably hates it, or thinks I was making fun of him, she thought worriedly. Watching his face, she internally cringed.

***********Switch to Genis' POV********

I can't believe she drew this. Is this how she sees me? he wondered. His face that was still full of a child's features looked mature and handsome in her drawing. His eyes were enticing and focused on the dish he was making, she even got the little drip of sweat on his nose. Despite this, it was unmistakably Genis.

"Presea....this is....amazing. I can't believe you drew this, you're really good," he said, blushing slightly at the fact that she had drawn him. The pink-haired girl's face flushed, and she looked down.

"No...you are just saying that. It looks nothing like you. Your nose looks too angular, and your eyes are too big, among other things. I hope you are not angry at me for making you look so strange," Presea sighed. Genis shook his head, laughing a bit.

"Believe me, I'm not just saying that. It's amazing. If anything, you made me look less strange than normal," he laughed, making her smile. Presea reached over and brushed some of his hair away.

"You are...perfect," she told him, eyes shining. Genis moved closer to her and she snuggled into the crook of his arm, breathing in his scent. Both smiled the rest of dinner, and walked back into what had been claimed as their tent. After lying down on the mattress, she turned to ask him a question.

"Genis...how is your wound?" she prodded, worry evident. He rolled over onto his back and placed a hand on the part of his shirt where the wound was, wincing. Sliding her hand over, she lifted up the corner of his garment to see where a jagged scar ran. Pain stabbed Presea's heart, knowing she did that. She hurt him. Tears began to stream steadily down her face, landing on his shirt after Presea lowered it. Genis, who had been staring at the ceiling, now turned to see her holding her hands over her mouth as she tried to muffle her sobs. Wet drops coursed freely down her cheeks, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'm...sorry," she choked. Genis wrapped his arms around her back and used his hands to pull her head to his chest. Presea kept crying, dread weighing her down.

"Shh, shh, it's okay. I'm fine. Calm down, it wasn't your fault," he cooed, feeling her body shake with every hiccup. Genis stroked her hair like he had so many other times, trying to get her to relax. Gradually, the shaking slowed and her sobbing grew quiet. It felt like a pattern now as Genis spent more time with her. She raised her head, wiping her moist eyes.

"I know it wasn't my fault...but seeing the scar...knowing I caused that....it's just too much," she managed before tears threatened to spill over again. She brought her arms around him, and he held her until she cried herself out.

"Are you okay now?" Genis probed, wiping away some tears with his thumb. Presea nodded, frowning.

"This is...getting old, isn't it? I seem to always be crying," she mused sadly. The half elf shook his head.

"No, tears are normal. You just aren't used to it yet, all those tears you kept suppressed for so long are all ready to come bursting out. I'm here for you, through everything. So, I'm happy you trust me enough to cry," Genis finished with a smile.

"I suppose....but from now on I will be strong again. I don't want to cry anymore. Before, no one could provoke me, or upset me. I was strong, dependent. Now...I'm falling apart. It's time I find myself," she concluded in a determined tone.

"Before though, you had no emotions. You were too strong. You didn't want to depend on me to help you, you shut out the world. Once you opened up, all your emotions came spilling out. I know that tears aren't really your thing either, so you just have to find the balance. Then it will be alright," Genis told her soothingly, running his fingers through her hair.

"I am strong as long as you are by my side," Presea whispered, straying away from the topic slightly.

"I'm not going anywhere. We'll find out who you really are together," Genis assured her before kissing her forehead. Presea laid there thinking until she heard Genis' even breaths fade into soft snoring.

*****Switch to Presea's POV****

That night, Presea had a violent nightmare. It was the first in a while, probably because she had fallen asleep to the scary thoughts that she had changed for the worse. The ax-girl woke with a jolt, eyes snapping open but willing her body to stay still. She did not want to wake Genis...but what had she done while she was asleep? Somehow, her leg had found its way over his and her arms were wrapped tightly around Genis. Carefully, Presea withdrew herself from him and rose from the ground. Across the room, she saw her small hand mirror. Presea picked it up, and looked back at her reflection. A pair of light blue eyes stared back at her, but they were full of confusion and frustration. Her mouth was a thin line, reluctant to smile for anyone.

"Who are you?" she whispered to the mirror, staying extremely quiet. Perhaps...I am the same person I was, but I cried for good reason. It was not my fault these things happened to Genis, and I care for him. So the natural response would be to cry, she thought uncertainly. Presea began to rub her temples. This is...confusing, she said silently. After tying her hair up, she went outside to breathe. Naturally, Sheena was awake. The ninja stopped her morning exercises upon noticing Presea's pained expression.

"What's wrong?" Sheena pried. The pink-haired girl continued to rub her temples with her eyes shut for a moment before responding.

"I...do not know who I am," Presea confessed. The summoner was taken aback by this.

"What do you mean?" she questioned further.

"I mean....before I was a girl who kept to herself. I never let emotions leak through and I was strong. Now...I cry all the time and I know that's not me. I did not think I was weak but...perhaps I am. It is confusing to me," Presea explained, dropping her face into her hands at the last sentence. Sheena rose from her spot on the ground to hug the small girl in an effort to soothe Presea's mind.

"I'm sorry...but I personally think we all have moments were we lose ourselves. Me with Volt when I totally lost it...Regal with his crime and was consumed by sadness...we all have times where we are other people. I do not think you are weak, but the fact that you just found someone else to rely on and they were almost taken away from you...it affected you. I believe you are strong, but not so strong you shut people out. Do not worry, someday you will get this all figured out for yourself," Sheena promised. Presea gave the summoner a small smile.

"Thank you."

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Can't say I like this chapter too much, it was a filler and I might take it down. But I wanted to explain some things, like how I felt like Presea's character was slipping away because normally she isn't crying ever. So, even though I wanted her to change I don't think I wanted her to change that much. That was the point of the whole ending incase you didn't get it, she was trying to figure out who she really was: weak and emotional or strong and reserved when she really is neither. Sorry for the little wait on this chapter, and I hope you liked it! Vote, comment, fan:) Love and darkness,

BE