Philophobia – Fear of Love

Male: Kratos

Series: Tales Of Symphonia

She hated it, this feeling.

The feeling of walking on air, the feeling of butterflies stirring in her stomach every damn time he looked at her. The way her face would flush lightly if he so much as smiled at her or even said her name.

She hated that she was falling in love with a man that would never be able to love her because his heart belonged to another, a woman that wasn't even alive.

It was Inuyasha and Kikyo all over again.

It upset her, angered her, and sent shivers of fear down her spine.

Deep down she knew it was too late, she had fallen for the supposed mercenary. He had saved her when the well had spit her out in this world of Sylvarant. He was suspicious at first but at the pleading of his companions had agreed to let her travel with them.

He could see it in her eyes, that she had been to war before and she had lived to bear the scars. He knew she had power, just not to what extent. She had made herself useful, her miko abilities were written off as magic spells and her skill with a bow and arrows made her a great long range attacker.

She was a great asset to their group, and that's all she would ever be to him, Kratos, and it made her smiles that much more hollow. She wasn't stupid, she knew what he was to Llyod, their auras were so damn similar...their facial features were also close...

She had kept her mouth shut, it wasn't her place to say anything. She didn't want him to get mad at her or dislike her. The thought alone made her gulp.

"Kagome. Are you okay?" She jumped at the low voice and turned struggled bright blue eyes to meet dark brown ones, a flush rising on her cheeks. "I-er. Yes, sorry I was just thinking." She could only flush more as he raised his hand and placed the back on it on her forehead, his eyes searching her own. "Are you sure? Your face is red. Maybe we should stop for the night." He voice was a low murmur as he glanced at their companions who were a few feet ahead of them.

Kagome had been off all day, normally she would be happily chatting with Cholette of offering advice to his son and his best friend. While he had initially not trusted her, he had let her join so that the others would stop their whining. Over time she had become an important part of their group, a grade A healer and she was top notch with her bow and arrows.

She had also taken on the role of caregiver for the younger members of their group, she gave out an air of motherly affection and every single member of their group had come to care for her as such. Minus Raine who saw her as a sister and him.

He didn't know what he saw her as, just that he was grateful for always being there for his son and letting him understand what is was like to have a mother like figure. His heart still ached a bit at the thought of his lost lover, yet that ache wasn't as strong as it had been since he had joined up with his son.

"Mr. Kratos...I think Kagome has a fever!" He blinked out of his thoughts at Colettes concerned voice, not at all aware that is hand had somehow wandered from her forehead to rest on her flushed, if not beet red, cheek. He only hmmed as she stammered and muttered under her breath about being fine. He sighed as he let his hand fall from her cheek, not at all acknowledging the unconscious act on his part, and shook his head. "We'll make camp here for the night. Kagome needs to rest." She made to open her her mouth to protest and he merely leveled her with a look that made her heart skip a beat.

Her head hung in defeat she could only mutter an "Okay." before Raine and Colette started to fuss over her, the feeling of Kratos's calloused fingers lightly brushing against her cheek burned into memory. She was falling even more and it scared her to death. She didn't want to go through that pain again...but it was too late.

Maybe she was a masochist?