Title: When I Was Yesterday
Day/Theme: March 30th - fading memory is slowly drawn towards the wind
Series: Tales of Symphonia
Character/Pairing: Zelos, hints at Zelos/Sheena
Rating: PG
Note: ....I have no idea, this just... kinda happened. Involves an immortal Zelos. Yeah, I don't know.


Zelos woke up silently, looking around him briefly. The sky was fading into a dark grey colour, heralding the coming of a storm. He let out a faint sigh, looking up at the gathering storm clouds with a look of disdain, not exactly pleased with the unwelcome weather change.

He turned, facing the grave beside him, where he had been resting. The flowers nestled around the worn monument rustled gently in the growing wind. He smiled faintly, brushing his hand against the long faded letters with care.

"Looks like I'm gonna have to run for a bit, babe," he whispered to the stone, an old smile creeping up into his eyes. The grave gave no answers back, but he smiled back all the same, as if hearing a response. "I won't be long. You know me."

He wandered away from the grave slowly, his face bent into the steadily growing speed of the wind. As he neared the edge of the forest that the grave was well hidden in, the wind was easily approaching a gale. He muttered angrily to himself as he continued down the hill, towards a lonely looking cottage not far off.

The rain was pelting him angrily when he had made it to the cottage, and he slammed the door behind him with gusto and a small curse. Soaked, he worked over the small fireplace to get a fire roaring and tried to settle in for the night.

Just as he was getting ready to pour himself some tea, a loud bang on his door startled him. He stopped, staring at the door for any more movement. Another loud bang pounded on the door, this time repeated. Someone was knocking furiously, and from the faint yelling he could hear, said someone was trying to scream over the wind.

Debating for a moment, he got up, unlocking the door slightly, meaning to speak with them before letting them in, but the stranger barged in, soaked and shivering. "Augh! It's horrible out there!"

It was a young woman, possibly in her early twenties. She was completely soaked, and her dark brown hair was blown up in strange ways from the wind - at least where it wasn't plastered to her face or skin. "Thank you for letting me in!" she said, shivering again. "I hope you don't mind me butting in like that - it was do or die, really."

Zelos blinked, still a little startled from the sudden house guest. It had been a very long time since someone else had found him, out here in the middle of nowhere. He made a point to stay out of the way from people, since it just brought on more questions than company. Making sure to cover up his Cruxis Crystal beneath his worn sweater, he smiled at her a little, trying to pull up a little of his old charm. "No harm done, sweet hunny. You're welcome to stay here until the storm has finished."

The woman smiled in response, although she gave him a little bit of a curious - and slightly annoyed - look. She didn't say anything though, and merely mumbled something about warming herself up before settling near the fireside.

Nearly an hour past before the woman spoke again, her voice somewhat wary and cautious. "...I didn't know anyone lived this far out in the forests," she said, looking over at Zelos from her spot near the fire.

Zelos merely shrugged, giving her another faint smile. It had been a long time since he had company, let alone giving that once trademark smirk of his. The long passage of years had beaten a lot of habits out of him. "I don't know very many people who venture this far out in the forests," he retorted.

The woman squirmed a little, her expression turning a little awkward. "No one asked you," she muttered.

"No, but you inquired about my choice of living space. I merely commented on your observation," he teased, having to force back a laugh at the annoyed look the woman gave him in response.

"Look, I just need to have some shelter for the night. With this storm, I can't make it to the next town, unless I want to die. I'm sorry I barged in on your... solitude, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask me any questions," she said, obviously trying to make it look like she was quite determined in that fact.

Zelos chuckled a little, nodding. "Sounds fair," he agreed. "Then I would ask you do the same - and not spread rumors about the man you met here, hmm?"

The woman huffed a little, but nodded after a pause. "Fine. Can't see why you'd like it out here on your own anyway."

"Sometimes being away from the public is quite comforting," he said. "I'm sure that's part of the reason why you're this far out on your own."

She huffed again, assuring Zelos' assumptions a little. Zelos just chuckled a little again, returning to the book he was using the pass the time. The less she cared about finding out about him, the better. He didn't need people finding him again, not after what had happened the last time people had realized what he was...

"Hey!" the woman said, jostling Zelos out of the part in the book he was at.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Do.... do you have anything to eat in here?" she asked, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I... I lost my pack in the storm."

Zelos blinked, then smiled a little. "A little, yes. I've... eaten already, so you're free to whatever you can find in the cupboards."

The woman gave a nod, then moved over to the small kitchen area, looking through the cupboards with small interest until she found something she deemed edible. The quiet sounds of her cooking and the smell of food filled the cottage for a while, reminding Zelos of long past times.

"Zelos, hurry up!" Sheena yelled, trying to beckon him in from the rain. "Dinner's almost ready! Get the kids in before they catch cold!"

Zelos laughed, his hair plastered to his body, and his skin chilled from the cold rain. "Okay, okay!"

Xander and Mayu moaned a small protest as he picked them up, but instantly cheered when they saw the meal Sheena had ready for them inside...

-----------------------

It was near morning when Zelos wandered out again, leaving a small note that he had gone out for the woman. He knew she would be gone when he returned, and the less he had to interact with her the better.

The rainstorm was long over, with puddles and soft drippings of water from the trees adding to the usual gentle noise of the forest. Zelos made his way carefully back to the grave, a small smile breaking out on his face as he reached it. "Told you I wouldn't be long, right?" he said in greeting, sitting next to it as he had before, staring at it fondly. "I got caught up with a visitor, I'm afraid. I would've been here sooner."

The blank grave gave him the usual silent company back, and he settled in, closing his eyes and letting the now gentle breeze blow as he waited for more time to pass.

"Hey!"

He almost jumped up, looking around frantically as he noticed the woman running up to him. Oh, no....

"Hey," she called again, stopping almost three feet away to catch her breath. "I... I didn't get to thank you."

Zelos stared, a little unsure of what to say. He had long forgotten how to usually deal with people, especially persistent ones. If she stayed much longer, she would definitely try to find out more about him, and he couldn't have that. "It's fine. The storm passed late last night. You should be fine getting to the next town now," he said, giving her another faint smile.

She breathed, staring at him and then the grave, a sort of determination welling up in her face. "I... You didn't sleep last night."

Zelos paused, giving no answer. She breathed in, nodding to herself. "I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"You're an angel."

Zelos almost jumped, trying to grope for the sword he had long since abandoned. The woman shook her head though, fiddling with her hair. "No no! I'm... I'm not here to do anything, I swear! I.... I think I've been looking for you, honestly."

"...Looking for me?" Zelos asked carefully, ready to run if he had to. He could always come back again. He always did. "Whatever for? I'm sure a young woman such as yourself should have no business with a 2,000 year old man." Maybe that would get her to flee - it made some leave. It was always such a surprise, usually.

The woman didn't look surprised though, and merely stared at the grave. "....Your wife?"

Zelos paused again, shocked. "....Yes. She's... been gone a long time."

"....I'm sure you miss her very deeply."

Zelos smiled cynically. "I have since she died."

".....Well, trust a stupid Chosen like you to not look for her, huh?"

Zelos stopped, feeling shock wrench his gut again. He looked at her fully now, his eyes widening. "...How did you...?"

The woman smiled brightly at him, an old and familiar sort of smile he hadn't seen in so long. "You're a hard man to find, Zelos Wilder. I never thought time would've changed you so much."

Suddenly, it dawned on him.

"Sheena."

The woman smiled even brighter. "I'm home."