Siren: Wow, this is depressing. Look, it sent Muse to the Emo Corner of Sadness.

Muse: (sniffles)

Siren: Lovely. Don't get snot on my floor. Anywho. In response to Moonlight M3lody, yes, you can quote this. Its incredibly awesome that you would want to. Cool. Also, Kratos borders on OOC in this chapter. But, hey, the guy can't be a total emotionless prick all the time, can he?

Muse: Yeah. Yeah, he can. Disclaimer!

(poof) Kratos: Huhwah?

Siren: (glomps)

Kratos: Yeah, don't do that. Disclaimer: Sirens & Muses don't own ToS. Or the clock that says that its three in the morning and they are just now posting this.

Siren: Did we ask for your opinion on our updating schedule?

Muse: Review, or we'll send the dogs out to get you. Seriously, we will. We know where you live. Even you, way in the back.

Lloyd's hand shook. His handwriting, barely legible under normal circumstances, now turned out as squiggles and scratches. He let out an aggressive growl as he crumpled up yet another unfinished letter.

"Lloyd?" He looked up to see Genis staring at him from across the room.

Lloyd, Genis, Raine, and Colette were staying in the inn at- what had Sheena called it again? Meltokio? -resting up before they had to see the king. Colette was in the room next door with Raine. Genis, or so Lloyd had thought, had been sleeping. Now, he got up and stood next to his friend.

"What's wrong, Lloyd?" The half-elf sat down beside him.

"Ah, nothing. It's just…this thing with Kratos, you know? I can't help it, I'm pissed." Lloyd covered his face with his hand, then immediately put it down after remembering who he'd picked that habit up from. "I mean," he continued, "He just taught me so much. I can't believe that he'd…" He trailed off, not sure what to say next.

"Lloyd," Genis said quietly. "Forget about Kratos, just for a little while. We have to focus on helping Colette. And don't forget, if he really is our enemy, we'll see him again."

Genis was right, of course. Lloyd knew that. Even so, it didn't stop him from staring up at the ceiling, pretending to be asleep, thinking about it long after Genis was deep in his dreams. He couldn't believe Kratos would betray them, or that Lloyd had trusted him in the first place.

Lloyd bolted up in bed. He had to do something, anything to get his mind off of this. He had to start thinking about Colette's…illness, or whatever it was. He had to save her. For a split second, he considered going outside for one of his late-night training sessions, but thought better of it. It reminded him of how Kratos would watch him, commenting on his technique occasionally.

He pulled the paper and pencil out once again. If nothing else, it would clear his mind. He took a deep breath and tried to write another letter.

Dear Dad,

I know it's been awhile since I wrote, and it'll probably be even longer until I get this to you. Right now, I'm in Tethe'alla

He stopped. His father had no idea what Tethe'alla was. He'd have to write it all out, explain it. All he wanted to do was get this anger at Kratos out of his system. He finally decided just to write. After all, in reality, who was going to read it?

I'm in Tethe'alla, waiting to talk to the King. Sheena said he might be able to help cure Colette. I hope so.

Anyway, the main reason I'm writing right now is just to vent. You remember Kratos, and how I used to talk about him a lot? Well, I just found out that he was working for Cruxis

Yet another thing he'd have to explain. Lloyd sighed. There was just too damn much that had happened since he'd last written a letter. It was…back at Luin. Right after they'd killed Kvar. After that, other things had occupied his mindset.

He was working for Cruxis all along, and he betrayed us in the end. He tried to kill us, Dad.

I think at the end, though, he choked. Although, that part's kind of blurry in my memory. I think he hesitated to kill us. I know in the battle, he held back. What kind of patronizing, condescending, asshole holds back against someone he just betrayed?

I hate him. I really do.

Anyway, I'll write you again soon. Hopefully, things will be better then.

Love, Lloyd

Lloyd sighed, pulled out another empty bottle, and headed outside.

Kratos was waiting.

Over the past months, since the regeneration journey had begun, Kratos had been waiting. Waiting for the time to come when he'd have to do the inevitable. When he'd either have to abandon Lloyd or kill him. Waiting for someone to find out his secrets. Waiting to see the next letter sent out, just so that he could snatch it up and read it. And now, he was waiting on the shore for Lloyd to come.

Just like he'd expected, he saw the teen coming into view. He was dragging his sword behind him, making a line in the ground to follow back to town. Kratos felt a slight twinge of pride at this; at least Lloyd was thinking ahead a little more often. He sat and waited, hiding from his son.

Lloyd once again let the bottle fly from his hand, a motion Kratos had watched done dozens of times before. This time, though, it seemed more aggravated, more forceful than necessary. He watched as the red-clad swordsman turned and walked away, head down.

Kratos pulled his wings out and tore off after the letter. This had been his salvation, the only thing that kept him sane at the thought of what he'd done to his family. These letters were the only sign that Lloyd, even after he'd learned the truth behind his mother's death, still somehow loved Kratos.

He landed back on the beach, bottle already uncorked. His eyes ran over the letter once, twice, three times before he sank to the ground, halfway between humor and horror.

He'd never seen such a contradicting letter. Admittedly, Lloyd had no idea just how ironic it was, but Kratos realized how cruel it was that the letter that stated how much his son hated him was ended with Love.

Kratos covered his face with his hands, his body shaking with silent, deranged, uncontrollable laughter and tears. Tears that he thought he couldn't cry anymore, tears that had long ago dried up, tears that now came through his carefully constructed mask at the thought that his son hated him.

Rightfully so, although that didn't make it any less painful.