I'M SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT! More details about why it was delayed will be put at the bottom of this chapter. I won't hold you up; go read the chapter you waited so patiently on!

PS sorry about no bold or italics, I just needed to get this chapter up pronto

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Genis sat on the rough wood floor while leaning his back against the wall. His head pounded and his skin stung, but he ignored it. All he was focused on was the pink-haired girl lying on the bed, ever so still. Where are Raine and the others? he wondered desperately. Like he had been doing for the past hour every five minutes, Genis got up and held her limp hand, checking her pulse. Was it just him or was it getting weaker every time? Almost the whole day had gone by, what could be taking the rest of them so long? Genis sighed and held Presea's hand, trying to warm up the icy skin.

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Presea's POV:

When you care about someone, it can be dangerous. You become self sacrificing, willing, and, most of all, idiotic. You become blind to too much, as I did to how much I could hurt him. That's why I had to do this. Even though the cruxis crystal's poison was torture, I would do it for him. It's like a numb, restraining jail, trapping you inside, unable to feel anything. Time slips away, and even though they didn't think I knew about this part, I did.

You're waiting to die.

I guess it was alright though, dying to save the ones I loved most. My father, my sister, and Genis. I'm sort of vaguely aware of everything that happens, but I can't do anything. As I have said before, it's a numb sort of feeling, and you're just...caged. As I walked through Ozette, I saw them throw the rocks and plates and food. Granted it was hazy, but I saw it, I just couldn't feel it. With every thing they threw I felt like I was drowning further. It still stung that my hometown hated me when they had once been like one large family. The darkness had been closing in around me; it was taking a lot of effort to keep just the little awareness I had. I started to let go, but a voice pulled me out of it.

Genis.

He pulled me out of the water I was sinking further into. Still, I wanted to scream at him. Genis, run. Don't let them punish you like they punish me. Don't let them break you down as well. However, my half elf didn't run. He stayed with me. When that woman went to slap him, I broke free of my chains momentarily, the first time ever. Even if it was for a moment, I was ecstatic. She may of slapped me instead, but I couldn't feel. It did not matter. Now it was Genis and I, trying to escape. Trying to get out of the pulsing rapids that we were drowning in. Trying to hold on past the hatred we were exposed to.

We finally found the shore at my house. However, my body was done. I saw the blood poring down my arms and dress. I didn't want to be done though. I wanted to be able to talk to Genis one last time. However, fate doesn't care about what you want. It's cruel like that. So, Genis, if this is the last time I get to see you...just know that this newfound love you've given to me will always belong to you. I'll always love you, Genis, until the end of time.

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Presea's stoic features showed no sign of any pain whatsoever. That's what scared him. Finally, the awaited faint whirling of rheiards came into earshot. Genis sprang from the ground, throwing open the creaky door and sprinting down the wooden porch steps. Sure enough, the rest of the World Regeneration group were landing gracefully on the grass, excluding Zelos.

"You're back!" Genis hollered, smiling in relief. "What took you all so long?"

Lloyd grinned before pulling something out of his bag. It was a beautiful work of craftsmanship, showing intricacy and skill. It was made out of a rich gold metal with a single stalk dropping down. The stalk had many pieces branching out, shorter at the top and longer at the bottom. The branches weren't really straight, they had more of a delicate curve. When the half elf looked closer, he could even see tiny little carvings of intricate patterns in the metal. Towards the bottom, there was a circular hole....about the size of Presea's crystal. Genis' eyes widened it shock.

"No way....is this the key crest?" he asked in disbelief. Lloyd only grinned wider.

"Yep! Think she'll like it?" the red clad swordsman questioned. Genis smiled back at him. The new key crest was more beautiful than the last, not to mention it would bring her back to normal. He would get to see her again, the real her.

"Yeah! It's amazing Lloyd, thank you!" Genis cried, looking up at his best friend who scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well, I figured since she'd be wearing it a while it might as well look nice...here, take it. Where is she anyway?" Lloyd probed while handing Genis the delicate metal, who in turn held the key crest to his chest. A dark expression crossed his face.

"That's what I need to talk to you guys about. Raine....I need your help. Presea...might be dying."

A collective gasp was drawn from the group before questions were fired out.

"What the heck happened?" Sheena demanded.

"The people of Ozette are monsters," Genis replied simply, his voice taking an icy edge. "I never knew they hated her so much..." Genis looked away, blinking back tears. Raine placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Genis, tell us what happened so we can help her," the healer instructed calmly.

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A few minutes later everyone was staring at the battered girl in the bed. If anything, she looked worse.

"Oh Martel....who could have imagined...something so terrible?" Colette cried. Genis could see it in Raine's eyes; she was scared.

"I-I'll go...do an inspection," the older sibling managed. Raine was screaming internally. Never had she seen anything so grotesque. Skin that used to be a flawless ivory was now purple, black, and crimson. Once delicate features were swollen and deformed. She didn't even want to think of what it looked like before Genis had cleaned her up.

"Raine..." Genis called softly, anxiety clear in his voice. Raine cleared her throat and turned around, her eyes misty.

"Well...sh-she is pretty seriously hurt...I think she has a concussion. I would be able to heal her, but it'll be difficult to channel the mana correctly without her having a key crest. Do you think we could put it on her now?" Raine asked, covering up her emotions by the second. Lloyd shrugged.

"Yeah, it should be okay. I mean, she might not wake up right away but once you heal her she might," Lloyd explained. Genis was still holding the key crest to his heart. They could save her. Now. He didn't have to wait. Slowly Genis approached, kneeling down to be eye-level with her. He pressed the key crest on, hearing the soft click as it was put in place. All of a sudden, the two branches near the top expanded, going behind her neck and crossing across her back to connect back at the front near base of her neck, forming a little gold necklace. Genis jumped back in fright, looking at Lloyd.

"Th-that was s-supposed to h-happen, r-right?" he stuttered, shaken.

"Yeah, sorry, should have warned you," Lloyd apologized. Everyone watched, waiting for what happened next.

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It hit Presea hard. The most excruciating pain she had ever experienced in her whole life ripped through her body. Her body felt like it was on fire and her head throbbed intensely against her skull. She couldn't help it. She screamed. She screamed louder than she ever had in her entire life. She would take the incident in Flanoir with her cruxis crystal one thousand times over this. She would take it and be grateful. This was pure, burning Hell. Her body cried out with her, sending so many signals of injury she couldn't even comprehend what hurt and what didn't. Martel, please kill me and end this! she pleaded. Presea wanted to die. Then the fire would be gone. She couldn't, though. Presea at least wanted to open her eyes, but the pain was too much. She convulsed, shrieking. It had to stop soon.

Finally, the pain slowly started to subside. It felt like years before it even got down to half of what she felt in Flanoir. Her whole being was dying. Presea could feel her heart struggling. With every passing minute, however, her heartbeat got a little stronger. Not strong enough, though. She couldn't keep a grip on consciousness. One last, final cry, and she passed out.

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"PRESEA!" Genis shouted as Presea started screaming. Raine shoved him away and began concentrating, holding her wooden staff overtop of the pink-haired girl.

"She can probably feel the pain of her wounds now," Regal explained.

"Everyone, leave. I can tell what has happened, and I need total concentration. She's dying," Raine informed them. Sheena ushered everyone out, and Genis followed lifelessly. Hour by hour ticked by, with Genis worrying outside and Raine healing inside. She had their entire reserve of orange and pineapple gels to keep her full of energy. Through the door you could faintly hear Presea's screaming, but after five hours it cut off. Genis' blood went cold and he turned towards the door, preparing to go back inside.

"Where are you going?" Zelos demanded, coming up from behind.

"I need to know if she's okay," Genis told the red-haired chosen. Zelos shrugged.

"Fine by me," he replied simply before turning around. Genis placed his hand on the doorknob, preparing to turn it. However, it turned itself an allowed the door to swing open, revealing a very tired looking Raine. Her silver bangs were matted to her forehead with sweat, and the way she leaned on the doorway made it clear that she was spent.

"Is she alive?" Genis badgered. Raine sighed.

"Yes. Barely. Go ahead and see her if you want," the healer offered, opening the door wider. Genis scurried inside, tiptoeing silently across the wooden floorboards. Presea's head was rolled to the side and her arm was dangling off the bed. Genis knelt beside her, noticing the subtle but no doubt extremely helpful differences. Her bruises were more faint and the gashes were no longer as deep; the cuts might not even leave scars at this rate. Her new key crest sparkled majestically around her neck, showcasing the now tamed cruxis crystal.

"Presea..." Genis murmured, savoring the sweet aftertaste of her name rolling off his tongue. To his surprise, Presea blinked a few times and squinted her eyes as if in bright sunlight. She seemed pretty groggy and out of it.

"Are you awake now?" he asked gently. She nodded, and Raine came over to fill her in.

"You had quite a serious concussion, but now it shouldn't be anything more than a slight headache. However, you will be quite sore; your wounds were very severe."

Presea was still squinting as she rolled onto her back and covered her eyes with a forearm.

"Who...who are you people? Why are you in my house?" she asked in a raspy voice.

"It's me, Genis. Don't you remember me?" the half elf probed worriedly. Presea uncovered her face and turned her head to the side to look at him.

"Genis...I'm sorry, but I do not know anyone with that name."

Time stopped for Genis. She didn't remember him? Was it the head damage she had received?

"Raine..." he muttered, his voice growing unsteady. His sister kept her cool and knelt beside the younger sibling.

"Tell me; what's your name? Where do you live? Who and where is your sister?"

Presea seemed to think a moment. "My name is Presea Combatir. I like in Ozette. My sister is Alicia Combatir....and she is dead." The pink-haired girl looked at Raine with eyes full of pain. "How did you know I had a sister?"

"We're your friends, Presea. Please, stay here and rest while we take care of some things," Raine told her calmly. Presea didn't have the strength to argue as her head slumped back to the side.

"Raine! She doesn't remember us, but she remembers everything else. What is this?" Genis asked frantically after rising. Raine held her chin, pondering.

"She remembers everything about her family, I just don't think she remembers us or the journey she's on. It's quite possible the key crest is affecting her," the professor said. Genis clenched a fist.

"Well, what do we do?

Raine remained silent. Instead she walked outside with her brother in tow, facing the rest of the group.

"How's Presea?" Lloyd questioned, not prepared at all for the answer that brought.

"She doesn't remember us."

Everyone gasped.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Colette asked, blue eyes wide.

"She woke up and didn't know who we were, but she remembered who she was, where she lived, her sister and that her sister was dead," Raine explained. "My guess is the key crest is affecting her memory slightly." Lloyd scratched the back of his head.

"That's definitely plausible. With the kind of crystal she has any key crest is bound to have trouble, we were very lucky the first time," Lloyd told her.

"How do you all plan on getting her back to normal though?" Sheena called out. Her voice only met silence.

"I'll think about it to tonight. It's late, we should all go to sleep. Lets camp outside right here; we can figure it all out in the morning," Raine suggested. Everyone complied and began to set up their tents.

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Once everyone was inside their tents and sleeping, Genis slipped out and into Presea's house. She was still lying on the bed, dozing. It was to be expected, her body needed to recover. Leaning next to her ear, he whispered to her.

"I know you don't remember me. I'm Genis Sage, your friend. I'm the one that fell head-over-heels in love with you. I'm the one was trying to protect you. I'm the one who you loved as well. I'm the one who has missed you badly ever since Sybak. I'm the one that just wants the girl he loves back."

After finishing, Genis stood up and walked away.

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Presea blinked a few times. She felt like someone had been talking to her. Today had been quite frightening; she had woken up and found two people she didn't know next to her. The boy (Genis, was it?) stood out in her mind particularly. He seemed like he genuinely cared about her. Presea had felt horrible when she claimed to not know them. He seemed crushed. At first she had believed them to be angels with their beautiful silver hair and pleasant faces. Once they had called her their friend...her head began to pound worse, she couldn't comprehend all this. She remembered that her father and sister were dead; she didn't remember who told her. Who were these mysterious people? Thinking about it now wouldn't do any good. Presea finally decided to rest and wait until morning to find the answers.

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GAH! Again I am so so so so so sorry for the wait. My laptop has been under maintenance for a long time and I never got to write any chapters! Seriously you all ought to shoot me for taking so long to upload. Sooo this chapter was my makeup. I seriously love this chapter, and I hope you all did too! Don't be shy, comment! I've been excited about this for a while and I want to know what you all think. Next chapter shouldn't take nearly as long to come, alright? Thanks for reading :) Love and darkness,

BE