A/N: This is my first Tales of Symphonia fanfic. Its not as long as I would like it to be, but I plan to have the next chapter up quickly.

Please review if you liked it. Constuctive critisism (wow I hope that's spelled right) is welcome, but flaming is not. Yes, that's right, flamers will be hunted down and burned to a crisp. Kratos says so.

Disclaimer: Tales does not belong to Mitsukai.

The angel sighed. He was stretched out on a bed in his quarters in the Holy City. He really had no idea why there was even a bed there. It wasn't as if he needed sleep. Perhaps he had had it placed here long ago, as a memento of his past, a reminder of his humanity. Ah...but he couldn't remember. One forgets such insignificant details when one has lived for over 4,000 years.

But you don't forget the major things, the angel thought to himself. Such as training a young half-elf and going on a journey to save the world. Or falling in love with someone and having a child...

"A child who I willingly betrayed a mere seventeen years later," he whispered. "Oh Anna, I've done a terrible thing."

The door to his room opened and a female angel entered the room. "Lord Kratos, may I have permission to speak?" she asked, head bowed.

Kratos looked sadly at her. She had a voice that was as blank as her mind. "You may."

"Lord Yggdrasill wishes to speak to you alone."

Kratos was careful not to let his disgust show on his face or in his voice. "What about?"

The angel bowed lower. "It is not my place to know such details, my lord."

Kratos nodded. "I see. Very well then, you may go."

When the angel had left the room, Kratos let the memories come flooding back to him.

When he had first met Mithos, the man now known as Yggdrasill, he had still been human. He had been traveling through a forest when he had heard the cries of a young child. He had found a little boy, huddled by a tree stump, sobbing.

Kratos had approached him. "What is the matter?"

The child scrambled backwards. "Don't hurt me!" he cried.

Kratos frowned. "Why would I do that?"

The boy stared fearfully at Kratos' sword. "B-Because," he said quietly, "You are a human. And I...I-I'm a half-elf."

"Humph...don't be silly. You being a half-elf is no reason for me to harm you. Now answer my question, child."

The boy, with wide eyes, stated, "I-I'm lost. I came here looking for an herb, a-and now I-I've lost my way. I need to get back to my sister. She'll...be r-really worried." He stared at the ground.

"Hmn...where do you live?"

"Huh? Oh, I live with my sister and her fiance on the outskirts of Ozette."

"I see. Then I shall lead you home. I am traveling to Ozette anyway."

"Really?!" exclaimed the boy, wiping the tears from his face. "Thank you so much!"

Kratos nodded and began walking away. He had lied about having to go to Ozette. He had, infact, just come from there. As a mercenary, he had no time for this detour. But as a person, he couldn't leave a child alone in the woods. Especially a half-elf one. If any human soldiers came along, the little kid was likely to be killed, or worse, sold into slavery. Kratos inwardly shuddered at the thought of the half-elf slave plantations. His father had owned one. The slaves were underfed and forced to do back breaking labor. They were beat half to death if they misbehaved even the slightest bit. He had even seen one of them, a woman, stoned to death for taking a piece of cloth from his mother's sewing room. The woman's children and husband had been forced to watch. It was for things like this, horrible injustices, that Kratos had cut ties with his family. With the entire human race, for that matter.

Once they reached the child's home, Kratos noticed another half elf chopping wood. This one was a man with a strong build and long, blue hair.

"Yuan!" called the boy.

The man called Yuan looked up, relief washing over his features. "You're safe then. That will please your sister. Martel!" he called.

A young woman with light green hair came out of the house. "Mithos!" she cried happily, running forward and taking the child into her arms. "Oh, I was worried sick. I was about to send Yuan after you!"

It was obvious that the woman doted on this boy. They were probably all each other had. The parents of most half-elf children usually abandoned their young. Kratos turned and began to walk away.

"Sis, I-I'm alright. I got lost, but he saved me and helped me get home."

Martel looked up at the man who was leaving. "Wait!" she said. "Don't go. Please, I haven't had the oppertunity to thank you --?"

"Kratos," he said, turning to her. "That's my name, if you wanted to know. And there is no need to thank me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must be on--"

"Please, Kratos, just allow me to make you something to eat and rest here for the night," said Martel.

"But I...alright."

That was how he had met his dearest friends. Now...one was long dead, one despised him, and the was a maniac.

He walked calmly into Yggdrasill's throne room and knelt before the slim blonde man. "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

Yggdrasill looked down at him, angry. "You did not kill that boy at the tower. Why?"

Kratos thought quickly. If Yggdrasill found out that Lloyd was Kratos' son, he didn't know what would happen. "Mithos--"

The power flared in the room. "Never call me by that name!" yelled Yggdrasill. "I am Yggdrasill, your lord and commander! This is the second time you have let an Angellus Project subject escape, Kratos, without any good reason. Do NOT let it happen again, do you understand me?"

Kratos struggled to keep the calm in his voice. "I understand...my Lord."

"Good. Now get out."

Kratos bowed, seething inside. Without his help, Mithos...Yggdrasill...would've been a casualty of war long ago.

He had almost made it out the door when, in a rare moment, he lost control of his emotions. "Do not forget who made you who you are, Mithos," he mumbled in a voice so low that it was almost silent.

But Yggdrasill heard it. Kratos was lifted into the air and carried across the room by a force unseen. Yggdrasill, with a twisted look on his face, screamed, "You forget your place, Kratos! Never--" he slammed Kratos to the floor, "--talk back to me again!" With his power, he flung Kratos across the room like a doll. Kratos slammed into the wall and slid down.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Teacher," Yggdrasill mocked. "Did your puny little student hurt you?"

Kratos just stared at him, but the pain was showing on his face.

"Good," Yggdrasill growled. "Now get out of my sight."

Kratos did as he was told. By the time he had reached his room, the pain had mostly stopped. The emotional pain was still there, however. But Kratos would never let that show.

The next day, Kratos recieved another summance from Lord Yggdrasill. Not a word was said about the day before. Kratos knew better and Yggdrasill just didn't care.

He wanted Kratos to go to Tethe'Alla to find some materials. He didn't say what they were for; he just gave Kratos a list and excused him.

On the way to the exit of the city, Kratos ran into Yuan. Long ago, he and Yuan had been the best of friends. But now Yuan looked at Kratos with such hatred that Kratos could almost feel his skin burn.

"Yuan," he said as they passed each other.

Yuan made no reply, but he stopped. The angels turned to face each other.

"Why..." Kratos started, "Why do you hate me so?"

Yuan looked at Kratos with sorrowful eyes. He sighed. "Kratos, you...failed her."

So it is because of Martel, Kratos thought sadly. "Yuan, I--"

"You let her die," Yuan said, his voice a mixture of sadness and anger. "You failed her. You...you failed all of us."

Without another word, he left Kratos staring after him, alone in the long hallway.