Stripes got me into a Kratos/Anna mood. This story is the result. ((Though it has more Yuan talking to Kratos than Anna)) If all goes well, this story should only have about five chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia
Kratos Aurion was the last person anyone expected to fall in love, let alone get married. Then again, most people who knew him were either dead, soul-less or didn't care what he did as long as he didn't interfere with Lord Yggdrasils' plans.
The only person who really mattered, or who really cared what happened to the red-haired angel was Yuan. Even though he was against Cruxis, even though he was secretly the leader of the Renegades, he was still (though he would never admit to it) Kratos's best friend.
That meant that it was up to Yuan to make sure that Kratos didn't do anything stupid. One wrong move and everything Yuan had worked for with the Renegades and Cruxis would blow up in his face.
And if that happened, he might have to just kill Kratos, no matter how hard it would be.
Not that Kratos knew that Yuan was the leader of the underground resistance. As far as he knew, it was the half-elf Botta who was in charge of the rats who continued to stop the revival of Martel.
As far as Kratos knew, Yuan was on Cruxis's side, and would help him in anyway he could. That's why he told Yuan what he was planning on doing.
It was a quiet night as Kratos stood on top of the Fooji Mountains. The wind at the summit was a bit chilly, but Kratos didn't mind the cold. He never minded the cold anymore. After all, Kratos hadn't felt warmth since he transformed into an angel.
Of course, he still felt heat, and could get hot- the angel transformation hadn't taken away everything that had made him human, but inside him, he still felt cold. It was as if someone had cast icicle on his insides.
Kratos looked up at the sky, watching the stars twinkling in the Tethe'allan sky. If things went as planned, soon Anna would be able to see this view with him. He would have her transform into an angel like him, and then they would have eternity. Just the two of them, watching the stars forever.
A soft flapping noise came from behind him. He didn't need to turn around to see that he had been joined by his blue-haired friend.
"I'm glad you could come tonight." Kratos said, without turning around. Yuan's footsteps grew closer, until he was standing next to the taller man.
"Where have you been?" asked Yuan, looking at Kratos. Kratos wasn't looking back, his eyes were still glued to the stars. "Never mind." He sighed, continuing. "I know where you've been. You've been sneaking around that Asgard Ranch."
Kratos finally broke his gaze from the stars to look at his friend, mildly surprised. "I see. And how did you find this out?"
Yuan narrowed his eyes a bit. "Kratos, Mithos has been suspicious of you ever since you've stopped reporting to him."
Kratos went back to look at the stars again, much to Yuans' annoyance. Did Kratos not realize what he was doing? And what was so special about the Asgard Ranch anyway?
"I have reported to him recently." Said Kratos, but Yuan didn't like the tone of his voice. He was standing right next to Yuan, but he could not shake the feeling that Kratos was a million miles away. "I told him that I was going away for a while."
"You what?" Yuan hissed, staring at Kratos in shock. "You're going to abandon Cruxis?!" he demanded.
"Yes." said Kratos simply. "I'm tired of this twisted game that Yggdrasil has been playing all these years.
Yuan could not believe his ears. Kratos was the one who had clung to Mithos's ideals from the very beginning. He had fought in the ancient Kharlan War with him and the brat, and he had watched Martel die. Now, after over four-thousand years, he was just going to quit? Kratos would never do something like this! Never! Not unless…
Yuan grabbed Kratos's shoulders, forcing him to face him. "What have you been doing in Kvars' Ranch?!" he demanded, glaring at Kratos. "Have you done something with the Angelus Project?!"
Kratos looked back calmly and gave a nod. "…Yes."
Yuan let go of his shoulders. "What did you do?" he demanded again.
This time, Kratos did not look away from Yuan. He looked strait into Yuans eyes with a serious gaze. Yuan knew that this was going to be bad. He had an ominous feeling that Kratos was going to tell him something that neither he, nor Mithos would like.
"There is a girl at the Ranch." Kratos said. "A women, I should say-" but Yuan heard enough.
"Don't tell me," Yuan started. "Kratos Aurion has fallen in love with a human." He nearly spit the last word, as if saying it was like acid burning his tongue.
Again, Kratos nodded, his expression serious. There was no hint of shame in his eyes, or embarrassment to be read on his face. Yuan couldn't believe that Kratos was telling him this.
"Kratos, if Kvar or even Mithos finds out about this both of you will-"
"I know." Kratos interrupted. "That's why I need your help."
Yuan glared at his friend. He did not need to be dragged into this. He already had too much to worry about. If Kratos betrayed Mithos, Yuan was sure that his plans with the Renegades would be ruined.
Yuan had been planning for a long time to get Kratos to join the Renegades. Kratos was strong and close to Mithos. He would have been the perfect spy. Mithos had never trusted Yuan the way he had trusted Kratos. After all these years, Mithos still had not forgiven Yuan for proposing to his sister.
But if Kratos betrayed Mithos, especially to run away with a human, Yuan's plans to recruit Kratos where gone forever. Kratos would never agree to join the Renegades with a family.
Kratos had changed, and Yuan didn't like it.
"Help?" Yuan nearly laughed. "Why should I help you? Whatever stupid actions you plan to take, does not concern me."
"Yuan," Kratos took a step closer, his expression changed. For the first time in a long time, Yuan saw something other than a cold hearted gaze. Kratos looked at him, a pleading look in his eyes. Yuan hated that look.
That wasn't Kratos looking at him, but something else entirely. The Kratos he knew would never stoop so low as to beg or plead. Maybe a couple thousand years ago he would, but not this Kratos, not the angel, and certainly not one of the four Seraphim.
"Yuan, I need your help." Kratos started again. "I don't need much, but I need your help. All that I'm asking is that you don't tell Yggdrasil what I'm doing or where we are going."
"And where are you going exactly?" Yuan snapped.
"Sylvarrant." Kratos said. "We will be traveling across Sylvarrant, hiding until I am able to make her into an angel-"
"An angel?!" Yuan gasped, anger rising inside him. "Are you stupid? Kratos, if you try and turn that girl into an angel, do you really think that Mithos will let you two live?"
"When she turns into an angel, we should have a key crest on her by then." Kratos explained calmly. "That should allow us to safely remove the exsphere and give it Yggdrasil."
"I see that you have put a lot of thought into this plan." said Yuan. "But do you think Mithos will really accept that? This is this Angelus Project that you're tampering with you know. Mithos has been waiting for that exsphere for a long time."
"Then a few more years won't hurt." Replied Kratos. "And if Yggdrasil has a problem with it, he will have to answer to me. I won't allow him to hurt her."
"Do you really think you can protect her?" asked Yuan quietly, staring into the eyes of his best friend.
"I have to." Kratos said, looking back with the same seriousness. "She will die if she does not escape that Ranch. I will protect her with my life."
Yuan sighed, knowing that he had no choice now. "You never did make anything easy for me." He looked at Kratos again. "But know one thing Kratos. I will only give false hints to where you are, I will try to keep your hiding spot a secret. But if you two are attacked, if something happens to you, let me make one thing clear. I will not help you."
That seemed to be enough for Kratos.
"I will take care of her on my own." Kratos said. "I will not ask for any other help other that you keep our secret."
There was a silence between them for a minute, the wind blew again, sending chills through Yuans' body. Somewhere, deep in the back of his mind, he knew that this was a bad idea. He knew that this was much more than running away to be married, but there was nothing he could do to stop Kratos at this point.
"What is her name?" asked Yuan, the curiosity getting to him. He mentally scolded himself for asking the question. Knowing her name would make her real, and Yuan did not wish for this girl to be real.
"Anna." Kratos said closing his eyes. Yuan noticed that Kratos's face softened a bit when he said her name. It made Yuan sick just watching it. Yuan turned his back on Kratos, pulling out his wings.
"Kratos," said Yuan before starting to move up into the air. "Good luck."