After the first three hours of the ball, Lina decided to take a breather and dismissed herself to the balcony. She found the night breeze absolutely revitalizing. Lina thought about the last time she'd visited her friends in Magality city and how they'd urged her to go back, just to see that things had changed and she could be accepted. She wondered, what kind of things had really changed, and about which parts where they bluffing? Lina breathed in deeply and let out a pensive sigh.
Suddenly, she felt Zell's familiar touch wrap itself around her waist. "You okay?" Zell whispered as Lina's hands went automatically onto his. Zell'd been admiring her figure against the mountainous scenery only a few minutes before, but decided she needed company. "You don't look too happy."
"Yeah," Lina sighed against and leaned back into him, admiring all the while mist-covered mountains pressed against an ebony skyline. "I'm fine." She rolled her eyes up at the stars and counted as many as she could; at least twenty just over her head, each worth a million dollars.
"Really now, what's the matter," Zell queried, knowing something was on her mind. "Hm? Anyone you want to talk about?" Lina smiled rather weakly; it was times like this Lina felt her feelings for Zell magnified; his caring personality, charm, and love made her feel like she belonged in that moment and nowhere else. Lina couldn't explain the feeling that was boiling inside of her. She only closed her eyes and took it all in.
"I think... I want to go back," Lina said finally, slightly fearful of Zell's response. She knew he loved her and vice versa, and she knew somehow, some way, her feelings were understood although no words were spoken; Lina had never been good at expressing herself through words enough to let him know, but he'd known from the start anyway.
"What?" Zell was a little confused. He could only partially understand her intent. "Go back where?"
"Back to my home, to my other world," Lina explained, turning in his embrace to face him. Fearful, she gazed with her coffee brown eyes for his reaction--something in his expression that would inform her just how he felt, and she found it in the sadness of his eyes when he looked back at her. Lina hated that she saw disappointment, almost heartbroken, and so tenderly she kissed him. "I don't mean forever. Just for maybe a few weeks, to check up on everyone...to regain the memories and the people I've lost to my amnesia."
Zell still remained silent. In a way, Lina was asking for his permission--she couldn't stand to see him hurt.
"I don't want them to all forget me. I don't know what else to do," Lina continued. "I think I should go see my mom... my friends..."
"Why don't I try to arrange something for you?" Zell mumbled as quietly as he could. Lina wondered if he actually meant that, but then she saw him smile mischievously, "but only if I can get a couple kisses before the night's over." Lina laughed heartily at him, but also with relief--this was Zell's overall consent, his agreement to her idea. She enveloped her arms around him and kissed him as a response.
For the remainder of the ball, the two of them stood out on the balcony, watching the moon progress across the starlit sky, speaking to each other through subtle gestures and kisses here and there.