KH: I have finally updated. Sorry about the long wait.
Anna: How can you just forget about us to do a Fruits Basket fanfic? You're a traitor.
KH: Sorry. While you're here can you do the disclaimer?
Anna: I don't help traitors.
KH: Kratos?
Kratos: Kharlan Hero does not own Tales of Symphonia.
Anna's POV
I woke up early this morning, well early for me anyway. By the time I was up, Kratos had already left the inn. I descend the stairs, guided by the smell of cooking bacon. I pick out what I want for breakfast and paid for the meal using some gald that Kratos had left for me for such a purpose. It's kinda strange sitting alone. Even though Kratos doesn't eat, he usually at least sits down while I eat, and I had gotten rather used to his presence. I can't help a grin spreading across my face as I think about yesterday's events. I'm engaged! I can hardly believe Kratos proposed. What would my family think? My mom would probably be freaking out, my dad most likely would be getting on me about accepting the proposal of a guy that I've only known for a month and a half, and my sister would be interrogating me about Kratos. I miss them. I haven't seen them since I was captured by Desians, they most likely think I'm dead. And what if they were hurt when Desians attacked Luin? The attack on Luin hasn't even so much as crossed my mind in weeks, what's the point in worrying about it now? How about I think about a happier topic, like the fact that I'm getting married in three days! The wedding should be interesting, what with Yuan doing it and all.
I finish my breakfast and go out into Triet. I need to find a simple wedding ring. Somewhere. Where would one look for something like that?
"You look a little lost." There was a girl who appeared to be in her late teens standing in front of me.
"Um, yes. Would you happen to know where I could find a ring?"
"Yeah, there a few stands that sell rings over that way." She pointed in the correct direction. "I could show you where they are."
"Thanks." She starts walking in the direction she had pointed. I follow behind her.
"By the way, my name's Brianna, what's yours?"
Would it be alright to tell her my name. I hadn't really thought about it until Kratos was talking about leaving behind records that the Desians could potentially find. Would it be a bad thing to tell my real name to someone? She was still looking at me and I still didn't know what to say so I compromised on telling her my middle name. "Rosabel."
"Rosabel. That's a nice name."
"Thanks."
"Does it have any special meaning?"
"It means beautiful rose. Does your name have a meaning?"
"Brianna means noble, virtuous, strong. Looks like we just got to the shop."
I hadn't even noticed. I started looking. The shopkeeper noticed me and walked over. "What are you looking for?"
"Do you have a plain gold band?"
"Yes." He showed me the selection and I chose one that looked about the right size. I hope I got it right. How embarrassing would that be, the middle of your own wedding and the ring doesn't fit.
~O~
Kratos' POV
I went back to the jewelers stand to try and find a wedding ring, but am not sure what to look for. Anna will hopefully be wearing this ring just about all the time, so having a diamond or other jewel might get in the way, but would she be happy with just a plain ring?
"Back so soon? What can I help you with today?" I look up, it's the same salesman that I bought the engagement ring from two days ago.
"I'm looking for a wedding ring."
"You bought an engagement ring two days ago and are already buying a wedding ring? That was quite quick. Here's a small selection of rings that are the same size as the ring you bought a couple days ago." He picked out a few rings to show me. I looked them over, still not sure what to choose. Finally I picked out a gold ring with delicate engravings all around it and a small diamond set in the middle. I handed the jeweler the money for the ring and began walking away from the stand.
I'm not sure what to do now. After walking back to the inn, I find that Anna has already left. Finally deciding to walk around Triet, in hopes of finding Anna, I leave the inn, no particular destination in mind. I can't help but smile when I think about the events of yesterday. Instead of confirming my fears and saying no, she had said that she loved me too, and now we were getting married when Yuan returned to Triet. Suddenly I hear a very familiar voice coming from my right. "Yeah, I can hardly believe it, he asked me yesterday."
I turn and make my way through the crowd, Anna is sitting near a small café talking to a young woman with reddish blond hair. She is evidently the one Anna was talking to, considering that she replies, "That is so cool. And you two are getting married tomorrow?"
"Yeah!" Anna's grinning now, "Oh, hey Kratos, how long have you been standing there?" She gestures for me to come closer, and I comply, taking a seat at the table next to Anna.
"Who's this," the young woman asks, looking at me.
"This is Kratos, my fiancée."
"So you're the guy that asked Rosabel to marry you two days before you planned on having the wedding. That doesn't give a girl very much advance notice."
"..I'm aware of that, there wasn't much I could do about it. Who is your new friend, Rosabel?" I'm not sure why this girl is calling Anna Rosabel, but I figure it would be better to play along for now.
"This is Brianna, I met her earlier today. I didn't have much to do, so we started talking and eventually came here for lunch." Now that I think about it, it is around noon. I hadn't really noticed as it being lunchtime doesn't affect me much.
"Are you going to join us for lunch?" The girl, Brianna, asked. "The food here is really good."
"I don't have anything else to do, so I might as well stay if you two don't mind. But, I'm not hungry now, so I'll simply have to take your word about the quality of the food."
"He talks kinda weird, 'I'll simply have to take your word about the quality of the food'. Who talks like that?" Anna laughed at Brianna's comment before seeming to realize I was sitting next to her and attempting to hide her amusement.
"Forgive me if the way I talk seems strange to you."
"Oh, it's quite alright." Brianna laughed quietly.
Soon, Anna and Brianna's food was brought out to them. Simple sandwiches and iced tea. Though judging by Anna's reaction upon tasting it, it was quite good.
"You know, it's kinda strange having you watch me eat..." Anna hadn't seemed to notice, most likely used to me by now, but Brianna apparently found it strange for me to simply be watching them eat. "Either get something yourself or go away, it's just weird having you sitting over there totally silent, watching us..."
I decided that rather than leave I would order a glass of iced tea. Brianna seemed to feel better once I had. They both finished their food and stayed there talking for over an hour afterwards. Brianna never mentioned my silence again, presumably too involved in her own conversation to notice. I didn't really pay attention to what they were talking about, chances are I wouldn't understand it anyway. I occupied myself by watching the salesmen in nearby stalls try to sell their wares. Not the most interesting thing to watch. Eventually Noishe made his way over to the café, causing something of a disturbance. Most people notice when a big dog/wolf thing comes walking through a city. The look he gave me indicated that he was bored, not surprising considering that he had spent his time in Triet in the stables.
"What's that?" Brianna asked, staring at Noishe.
"His name is Noishe. He's my dog." Noishe looked up at me indignantly at me calling him a dog. I absently handed him an ice cube from my now empty tea which seemed to make him forgive me.
"He doesn't look like any type of dog I've ever seen. What breed is he?"
"I'm not sure, I found him when he was a puppy, but I don't know where he came from or his exact breed."
"Does he bite or anything?" She looked warily at Noishe, having most likely never seen a "dog" this big before.
"He's actually quite nice. You can pet him if you wish." Noishe was quite content to go over to Brianna and have his head scratched. She warmed up to him quickly and pretty much showered him with attention.
"Hey, Kratos?" Anna had looked over at me inquiringly.
"Yes?"
"If you can have Noishe, why can't I have a pet?"
"Noishe is different."
"It's no fair."
"We are not getting a pet."
"Why not?"
"We will be traveling too much to properly take care of one."
"But you have Noishe."
"Noishe can take care of himself. If he were to ever get separated from us, he would be fine on his own."
"Well, I hate to interrupt your argument, but I have to be going, bye Rosabel, maybe I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, I hope I get to see you again before we have to leave."
Noishe wasn't content with her simply leaving, instead following her a short distance until she petted him one last time and said goodbye to him too. I apparently am not considered important enough o say goodbye to, but I suppose I shall survive.
"Wanna go for a walk?" Noishe immediately perked up at the idea of a walk, despite that Anna's question was directed at me. "You can come too, Noishe." he responded by putting his front paws on her lap so that he could lick her face, receiving a laugh from her.
"Shall we go?" Both of them got up, Anna wiping dog slobber off her face.
"Yeah."
We walked towards the oasis. Anna was uncharacteristically silent. "Are you alright?" Her silence was beginning to worry me, she's almost never this quiet.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about tomorrow. I can still hardly believe that I'm getting married."
I smile down at her.
"You smiled! I once again get to see the elusive Kratos smile."
"..." Admittedly, she has some strange moments, but it wouldn't be the same without them. "Who was the girl you were talking to?"
"You mean Brianna?"
"Yes."
"She's just someone that I met earlier today. She helped me find a jewelry stand. We just started talking after that and decided to have lunch together."
"It amazes me that you can become friends with someone you've known for less than five minutes."
"I guess I've always just been a really social person."
"Just make sure it doesn't get you in trouble."
"I'll try to be careful."
"Try? Should I be worried now?" She laughed a little. Yuan would be shocked that I got someone to laugh.
"If I do get into trouble, I know that you'll come running to my rescue."
"It would still be easier for me if you didn't get into trouble in the first place."
"I know." We had come to the far side of the oasis. She leaned her head against my shoulder, staring out over the water.
"By the way, why did Brianna call you Rosabel?"
"Well, you talked about how we shouldn't leave behind any clues that we were here, in case the Desians start looking for us here. So, I wasn't sure if I should use my real name or not, I ended up deciding to use my middle name."
"Beautiful rose."
"What?"
"That's what your middle name means isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"It's fitting."
"What do you mean?"
"You really are beautiful." She blushed and tried to hide her face. I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.
"Wow, you smiled and laughed in the same day... Is that even possible?" She seems to have gotten over her embarrassment.
"I would assume that it is possible if it just happened." I noticed that the sun was about to set. "We should head back to the inn."
"Why, I want to stay out here longer."
"We have a big day ahead of us, you need some rest."
"Fine."
We walked back to the inn, Anna once again bringing up the subject of a pet along the way. Neither of us had realized it, but Noishe must have come back earlier because he was sleeping in the stables next to the inn when we got back. We went inside and stopped in the hall outside of our rooms.
"Goodnight, Kratos."
"Goodnight, Anna, try to actually sleep."
"I'll certainly make the attempt, but I'm not promising anything." With that she went into her room, and I soon entered mine.
KH: This turned out longer than I was expecting, luckily for the readers. Feel free to point out any spelling or grammar mistakes you might find, I haven't really proofread it, so there are most likely at least a few.
Kratos: Kharlan Hero would like it if you would review.
KH: And if you notice any continuity errors, please tell me, I might have forgotten something from an earlier chapter.
