Previously…

"You're not my dad!"

Kratos froze. "…"

"Uh…Kratos? Did I say something?" The double-swordsman wondered, waving a hand in front of Kratos' face. "Hello? Are…you okay?"

Chapter 9

Kratos' eyes closed as he shook his head slightly, sighing, "It's fine. I—let's hurry up, the others are waiting for us." The mercenary began striding toward the door before Lloyd rushed over, blocking his path.

"No, it's not fine," Lloyd responded angrily. "Why're you acting strange every time you talk to me? Do you hate me or something?"

"This is not the time, Lloyd. The Chosen needs to continue on her Journey of Regeneration."

Lloyd's face twisted in frustration, "Yes it is!" He retorted defiantly. "They can wait just a little longer, can't they?"

While placing a hand over half his face (A/N: If you've played the game, you know what I mean) Kratos once again sighed during the pair's "conversation." "All right then, what is it you want to know?"

"I want to know why you're always so different around me than everyone else. I—I just don't get it."

"…" The older swordsman's face faintly fell.

"Are you not gonna tell me?" Lloyd's head tilted a little in confusion. "Come on, Kratos, why can't you explain why not?"

"…Are you sure you want to—"

Lloyd stomped his foot hard on the school floor. "Yes!"

Kratos sighed for the third time. "It is not because I hate you, Lloyd. It is simply because…Well, because you are unpredictable and—"

"Mr. Kratos!" Colette called from outside the room. "The Professor said for me to come get you and Lloyd so we can go on to the next seal."

"Huh? Oh, okay," Lloyd consented absentmindedly, passing Colette as he went down the hallway.

"You're not going to tell him yet?" Colette wondered, her voice sounding like she knew something Kratos didn't want her to.

"What do you mean, Chosen?" Kratos inquired, feigning ignorance, knowing Lloyd was still near.

"Your relation to a certain s—"

"Silence, Chosen." He stepped forward, opening the door when he reached it. "Hello, Lloyd."

"Uh…heh, heh. Hi, Kratos," the younger swordsman greeted awkwardly.

"I suggest we all go down to meet up with the others before Miss Sage gets even more perturbed when we don't show up in less than a few seconds."

"Wha? Per…turbed?" Lloyd wondered. "What's that mean?"

Kratos sighed before explaining in a dull tone, exaggerating the slowness of his voice, "Very angry, Lloyd."

"Oh, why didn't you just say that?"

Sometimes he's too stupid for his own good…and the rest our's sanity. "Let us go, Chosen." Kratos intoned as he strode past the pair of teens.

Colette watched him go before she herself followed him, "Come on, Lloyd. It's not right for us to keep the others waiting."

"Wha? Oh, okay."

While Colette and Lloyd went down the stairs to the front of the academy, Kratos silently stayed in the shadows until he was absolutely sure the pair of them were out of ear-shot—especially Colette's.

"Why does she know about your relation to the boy?" A young male's voice questioned, his voice resentful.

"It was accidental, believe me."

"Well if someone else finds anything out about you again, you know what to do to them right?" Kratos nodded as he turned to leave. "Do not disappoint me, Kratos."

"I won't," The man promised solemnly. "You needn't worry."

Who is Kratos talking to? Review if you have any guesses.

Sorry this was so short, I'll try to make the next one longer.