"Kratos!" Yggdrasil's angry voice rang out across the room. "Are you listening?"

Kratos shook the memory out of his head, and turned his attention to Yggdrasil. "I'm... sorry. What did you say?"

"Honestly, Kratos. You've been like this all day. Go... somewhere, sort out your thoughts, and come back tomorrow when I can get some sense out of you." Yggdrasil left the room.

"Kratos," said Yuan.

"Yes?"

"What happened to you? You've been acting so... out of it."

"... nothing. I'm... going to Sylvarant."

"Alright... see you later," said Yuan, leaving Kratos to his thoughts.

In about an hour, Kratos was at a secluded beach in Sylvarant. He sat on a rock, gazing out to sea.

He knew what had been distracting him. Memories. Not the old ones, but new memories. He had been at a certain Human Ranch. There, the ambitious leader had been working on a project. A secret one...

I can't pretend anymore,

that I am not affected, I'm not moved.

I can't lie to myself
that I'm not always thinking of you.

Kratos walked towards the Human ranch. He heard a female voice, saying, "Dammit! Why do you have to be so heavy?"He moved over to see what the problem was. He saw a young woman in rags, a weary expression on her face, awkwardly attempting to carry a large man in Desian armour.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"This man is unconscious. I'm trying to carry him back to the main area, but he's too big," she said.

"Is he a Desian?" Kratos asked.

"Yes..." she replied. Sadly, she held up one hand. There was a red crystal on it.

"You're a host body," Kratos said.

"Yes," she said again.

Then, Kratos' eyes widened a fraction as his gaze travelled to her back. "You're bleeding." he looked at the Desian. A whip was in his hand. "He was whipping you, wasn't he?"

The woman nodded. "He was drunk."

"He was whipping you. Why not just leave him?"

"He'll die. His head was in a puddle. And besides," she said, mirth replacing sadness on her face. "Once he finds out that an 'inferior being' saved his butt, he won't be able to look me, his friends, or anyone else in the face for weeks!"

A tiny smile lightened his face. "Let me help you," he said. he picked up the Desian.

"My name's Anna, what's yours?"

"I am... Kratos."

You make me strong.
show me I'm not weak to fall in love,
What I thought I'd never need,
now I can't get enough.

Anna braced herself against the pain. The Desian lifted his whip. She heard it whistling through the air.

"Stop." The whip was diverted, striking the wall beside her. She turned around.

"L-lord Kratos!" the Desian said, shocked.

Silhouetted by the sun, looking like an angel... it was him!

"I believe this woman saved your life just recently. Do you remember? You had been whipping her then, but she saved you. I suggest you return the act of mercy."

"Y-yes sir," the Desian said, shocked.

Kratos... the man from before!

"Hello, Anna," he said, gentle amusement in his voice.

"L-lord...?" Anna said, shocked.

"Please," he said. "Kratos."

The tale would be all over the ranch by that night. Lord Kratos, the cold, bitter Seraph of Cruxis, had called a mere host body by her name...

"Anna. Anna! ANNA!"

"Hmm? What?" Anna pulled herself out of her memories to see Mary smiling at her.

"Still thinking of Lord Kratos?"

"He called me Anna..." she said. "Not A012, not You. Anna..."

Mary's smile widened. "And he was handsome, wasn't he?" she asked.

"Yes," Anna admitted. "He was."

I always made it on my own
I always thought that I could keep control
You changed everything I believed in
And now I just can't fight this feeling, baby

Why he had told the Desian to stop whipping her he did not know. Why he had called her Anna, or asked her to call him Kratos, he didn't know either. What was she to him? Just a young, unfortunate host body. He had even gone back... visited the ranch, watched for her. And then... he had demanded to see her.

"H-hello, L-lor-"

"Kratos."

"Kratos. Thank you for saving me back there."

"It was... nothing."

She smiled at him. "It was something, though."

The smile had surprised him. She was a host body, mistreated to the edge of death by the Desians, and he was one of their leaders. She had smiled, not been angry at him for what he was. He had surprised himself even more by asking.

"You are not angry?"

"Why would I be angry?"

"You have been hurt and mistreated by the Desians for all your life. I am one of their leaders."

"But it's not your fault," she said.

He looked at her, shocked. "Why would you say that?"

She smiled again. "You're not like them. You're... different. You saved me, and you don't say 'inferior being', or call me by a number. You'd never do something like that." He could see affection in her eyes.

He looked away, as her words cut deep. She looked at him intently, then, seeming to have a sudden burst of courage, hugged him.

He stood like a stone, shocked. No one had hugged him in as long as he could remember.

A Desian ran into the room. "You! A012! What are you doing?"

Anna let go, fear in her eyes.

"Stop. She was doing no harm," Kratos cut in.

I raise my hands and I surrender
'Cause your love is too strong
and I can't go on
Without your tender arms around me.I raise my hands and I surrender
I don't wanna resist
'cause your touch and kiss
have shattered my defences
I surrender...

Anna remembered what it felt like to hug him. She smiled to herself.

"Ready?" Mary whispered, as the 'Desian' who was helping them pressed the key into her hand.

Anna nodded reluctantly.

"What is it?" Mary asked.

"It's nothing... it's just... I'll never see him again, will I?"

Mary sighed. "Lord Kratos again?" to Anna's nod, she continued, "This is what we've dreamed of! Come on! Are you just going to give it all up for a crush?"

"No." As she said it, Anna felt her will cement.

I have to admit that I

never thought I'd need someone this way

'cause you opened my eyes so that I

I can see so much more

Anna ran for her life. "Come get me!" she shouted. The Desians chased her. Mary and the others should have escaped by now... time to make a break for it.

As she ran, her mind, left to wander, brought up a vivid image of Kratos. Silhouetted by the sunlight, he looked perfect. There was an expression on his face... it was... care. He cared for her!

Now, she thought, that I've left those Desians in the dust, time to find a hiding place.

She hoped Lord Kratos would not come after her.

I always made it on my own

I always thought that I would keep control.

You changed everything I believe in

And now I just can't fight this feeling, baby.

Kratos looked at the sky. Most of the afternoon had gone by while he thought. He decided to stay in a nearby Inn for the night, then head back to Derris-Kharlan in the morning.

After checking in to the inn, he headed up to his allotted room. He opened the crate in the corner... and saw a woman... Anna, looking up at him.

"Anna...?" he said, shocked.

Anna smiled sheepishly up at him. "...hi."

I raise my hands and I surrender

'Cause your love is too strong and I can't go on

Without your tender arms around me

I raise my hands and I surrender

I don't wanna resist 'cause your touch and your kiss

Have shattered my defences

I surrender

Kratos's mind whirled. Here was the woman he had been thinking about! She wasn't at the ranch... she must have escaped!

"Anna... did you...?"

She lowered her head. "I escaped. Please, don't take me back... I'll be gone in a second..."

Kratos reached into the crate and picked her up. He set her on her feet on the floor, and looked at her, shock and confusion making his mind race still faster. An idea had presented itself to him. He could take Anna and run. He could leave Cruxis and try to stop Mithos, instead of standing by.

I surrender to this feeling in my heart.

"Anna..." he said, his idea seeming more and more attractive with every word. "I... won't turn you in. I'll... help you. I can guide you around Sylvarant."

"B-but you're with Cruxis..."

"Not anymore."

I surrender to the safety of your arms.

Anna stared in shock. "You're leaving it... to help me?"

"Not just you. All of them. All of the Host bodies like you. We can save them, Anna. We can help the others."

Anna threw her arms around him. "Thank you," she said.

To the touch of your lips,

to the taste of your kisses.

I raise my hands and I surrender

'Cause your love is too strong and I can't go on

Without your tender arms around me

I surrender...

When Kratos never came back from his trip to Sylvarant, Yuan was sent to look for him. He went first to Kratos' favourite place in Sylvarant, a little beach. He found a letter sitting on one of the rocks. Opening it, he saw a short note in Kratos' neat handwriting.

Mithos-

I've sorted out my thoughts, and made up my mind. Don't bother looking.

Yuan laughed. Kratos finally found some courage.

He wasn't surprised when he later heard that some of the occupants of a certain Human Ranch had disappeared.

I can't pretend anymore...

I can't lie to myself

that I'm not always thinking of you.


Eeeheehee. I don't own any of this stuff. Thanks for reading my mush! I hope nobody gets sick and throws up butterflies and rainbows! ;D

Thanks so much for reviewing.