Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places from Tales of Symphonia. That honor goes to Namco. I love you, Namco.

Author's Babble: Hello, there, all my devoted fans, you! Thank you for your reviews! I got two of them! Sorry that it took so long to update…you know how school can dominate your life. And I also apologize for the length of this very short chapter…I don't know why it isn't longer, it just came out that way. Sorry…But I can say that I believe that the writing itself has gone uphill. So feel glad for that. Anyways, leave me a review and I will forever worship you, but besides that, enjoy the second installment…

Shattering Peace:

Chapter Two:

Gardening and Apples

For the next couple of days, Yuan found himself avoiding Martel as best he could.

This wasn't as easily done as said, because he still wanted to see Martel a great deal. Nothing had changed there. The only thing was, he didn't think he could face her what with him being, well…

He sighed as he swept a couple strands of blue hair from his eyes and continued with his work. It was hard work, but it wasn't all that terrible. He was hoeing a garden for one of the other elves, a task that he had found himself volunteered for…by Mithos, no less. That kid was out to kill him, he knew it. So here he was, stripped to the waist and absolutely covered in dirt, and some other unnamable muck that he was sure was definitely not dirt.

Tightening his hold on the gardening tool, he made a couple more stabs into the ground, then straightened up again as a breeze swept through. It was a cool summer's day, and the air had a definite taste of rain and grass. Yuan sighed happily. There was no better day to be outside.

Dropping the hoe, he knelt by the nearby river and looked at his reflection. Filthy. Cupping some water in his hands, he splashed some onto his face, and wiped his eyes with the back of his wrist. There. Better. Now he didn't quite look like something that had crawled out of a manure pile or from underneath a rock. Though Mithos would undoubtedly beg to differ.

Yuan got to his feet and resumed his work once more. Despite the cool day, he began to perspire underneath the harsh, unyielding sun. After another good half an hour of steady work, he tossed down the hoe once more and, panting, collapsed onto the ground.

He didn't dare lie down; that would just get him even more unrecognizable. Beads of sweat had cleared little tracks down his dirt-covered face, just adding to the peculiarity of his appearance. His hands and bare feet were filthy, and it seemed an entire layer of the earth had made its way underneath his fingertips.

Yuan glanced at the sky. It wasn't dark yet, but the sun was casting odd shadows over everything below it, a sure sign of an imminent sunset. Dragging himself to his feet, Yuan shouldered the hoe and started to make his way home. A whole day of labor over. He had his aching muscles to show for it. That, and the fact that his skin color was about as brown as the owls they sometimes saw in Heimdall. Ah, well, at least it was over…

"Yuan! There you are, wait for me!"

He whirled around. Martel was racing towards him, a basket in one hand, waving furiously with the other. It was no good; she was approaching too fast for him to turn tail and run.

Yuan saw the fall before it happened. One foot landed awkwardly, then, as if in slow-motion, he saw Martel pitch forward, a look of surprise steadily inching its way onto her face as her basket slipped from her grip. After a second of dumbfounded stillness, Yuan sprang forward, dropping the hoe and—

Fthwump.

Time resumed its normal pace, and they both fell to the ground. Yuan had managed to catch Martel, somewhat, if catching also included being landed on.

"Oh…I'm so sorry," Martel groaned, getting up and retrieving her basket. "I'm such a klutz some—Yuan! I'm so sorry! I must have landed on you! Are you all right!"

Martel grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to his feet. Rubbing his head, Yuan glanced at Martel. She was covered in the unnamable muck too, he noticed with dismay. He always seemed to be screwing up something…

"Don't worry about it Martel," he said. "I'm sorry…you're all dirty now."

He gestured slightly to her now somewhat soiled skirt. She looked down, and laughed.

"Oh, that's nothing!" Martel said cheerfully. "I hope you're okay, though?"

"Y-Yeah," Yuan said, his face turning scarlet, now that he wasn't falling over or making a fool of himself (well…that's always questionable when it comes to Yuan). "Thanks, are you—?"

"Of course!" Martel chimed, taking his arm and dragging him down the street. "You're here! I'm always okay!"

Yuan's already scarlet face became, if possible, a shade darker. Now he wasn't so bothered about the dirt; it proved to be a worthy mask.

----

"Oh. You're here, I see."

It was with a definite note of victory that Mithos greeted Yuan as he arrived with Martel by the patch that Yuan was hoeing. Several days later, and he hadn't made much progress; the ground had become steadily harder and harder it seemed, with the lack of rain and the harsh sunlight. Not to say that the ground became bitterly dry, but more of, turned into that terrible clay that farmers fear to try and till.

"Yes," Yuan said, glad for a distraction from staring at Martel. "I am. Thank you for volunteering me for this work."

He was surprised that his voice came out a little sarcastic. It wasn't as if he would dare to be blatantly rude to Martel's little brother…that was a definite one-way ticket to nowhere. But today, he supposed, as he was again covered in nameless shit and in the presence of Martel, no less, he couldn't help but feel slightly bitter.

Mithos smirked and looked away. "I thought you'd enjoy it."

Martel glanced at her little brother before turning to Yuan. "Here!" she said, holding out a basket. "You were looking tired, so I thought you might like some…"

Yuan took the basket deftly, and, tearing his eyes away from Martel, forced himself to look inside the basket. Inside was an apple, a small loaf of bread and a canteen of water.

"Sorry," Martel said quickly. "It's not much. But I just thought that—"

"No," Yuan said. "No…thank you, very much. This is very kind."

He smiled at her, feeling his face burning. She was actually thinking about him…

Mithos cleared his throat unnecessarily.

"Oh!" Martel said, glancing down at her little brother. "That's right; we must go. Mithos was going to show me a bird that he found by the river."

The one he gutted and sacrificed to that heathen god he no doubt worships, Yuan found himself thinking.

"It was nice to see you!" Martel said, smiling at Yuan. "Good luck!"

And with that, she and her brother turned and were soon out of sight.

Yuan sighed and looked down into the basket. Picking up the apple, he smiled at it weakly. It really was nice of her…

"That's a lot of standing around for someone who says that they're working."

Yuan rocketed into the air, startled by the presence of someone who was no doubt watch the entire exchange. He realized that he had dropped the basket and he had no earthly idea of where the apple was until he saw it come steadily crashing down to earth. Making a flying leap for it, he tripped, fell, and lay to rest face-first in the filth at Kratos' feet.

The swordsman laughed softly, and caught the apple easily.

"Here," he said, holding it out to Yuan, who was trying to free his sight from nameless muck. "I think you dropped this."

Yuan groaned and pulled himself from the dirt.

"Kratos," he said, snatching the apple from him. "Why do you always have to do that?"

Kratos smirked satisfactorily.

"You need to always be on your guard, my friend," he said. "There is far too much wanton leisure in your day."

"That's because you don't have any," Yuan said, sitting up finally. "You're just jealous about the fact that I don't have to be so paranoid. Mercenary."

Kratos laughed and bowed.

"At your service," he said. "But you know very well that that is a title I have long since retired…this village, at least seems to be a place agreeable to me."

Yuan sighed and took a bite of apple.

"Yeah, yeah," he said. "Picky, picky Kratos…"

He swallowed his mouthful of apple and looked up at the swordsman.

"So?" he said. "Is there any reason you came to startle me?"

"Tact, Yuan, tact…"

Yuan sighed.

"Sorry," he said. "I'm just—"

"Infatuated with Miss Martel."

"What! No, I'm not—how'd you—!"

Kratos laughed.

"I am sorry to say, Yuan," he said. "That you are one of the more transparent people I have met."

"But I—!...Oh, what's the use?"

"So I am correct in saying that your affections have deepened for Miss Martel?"

"…Yes," Yuan mumbled. It all just wasn't fair.

"Then might I offer you some advice?" Kratos said, his voice light but almost reprimanding.

"Yeah," Yuan said quickly. Any advice Kratos voluntarily gave, at least, was good advice. "What is it?"

"I would suggest you start making that clear to her," Kratos said.

Yuan gaped, open-mouthed at his friend.

"What! I can't do that!"

"Either that, or face the chance that you may lose her," Kratos said.

"But…but…I can't…I just can't, Kratos…"

"Why not?"

"Because…well, because I…oh, you wouldn't understand! You've never been in love before! How would you know anything!"

His voice had raised in volume in his slight rant, and, startled by his own actions, he ceased his tirade before it properly began.

"You're right," Yuan said, defeated. "You're right…I know. You're always right. But…Kratos, this isn't something so easy—"

"No," Kratos agreed. "It is not. And in the end, the decision comes down to you. It may seem impossible, but, as in most things in life, all it really takes is a little bit of courage. That is what I will leave you with. Good luck."

With a slight bow, Kratos turned and walked away.

Yuan stared at his filthy, dirt-covered hands, thinking things through. Maybe Kratos was right. Maybe he should tell Martel…but if he did, he would be facing no doubt imminent rejection. What could Martel see in him? What could anybody see in him? It wasn't as if he had lots of money, or was especially good-looking, or could do something in particular very, very well…he was just a half-elf who went by 'Yuan', who had blue hair, somewhat pointed ears, and was currently drifting about in the flow of life. He had no proper ambitions or anything. Really, he was a nobody.

Sitting in the dirt, Yuan looked up into the sky. It was a pearly azure, slowly darkening in the coming dusk. It was surely approaching fall…it was getting too cold. He just hoped there'd be rain. At least that would make the ground softer and his work therefore easier.

Dragging himself to his feet, he felt a rise of confidence bud inside him. He could do this…he could do anything, Kratos was right. All it took was a little courage. And besides, it was better to get it out there…then she would know and there would be no doubt.

But for now, he thought as he watched two figures approaching on the road, silhouetted against the setting sun. For now I'll just wait…I'll just enjoy her company for a little longer. Because once I do tell her…that'll be it. It will have to be no more.