Author's Note: I apologize in advance for any missed spelling errors or grammaticals. I've had it proofed and read several times over but it never seems to be enough.

Do NOT read this story if you do not want to be spoiled or have not finished the game. From the beginning, this is technically a completel spoiler. You have been WARNED.

As far as what to expect in this story - everything and anything. To get it out of the way, as far as shounen-ai and yaoi go, there's probably going to be some references here or there. I, for one, fully believe - and will enforce - Kratos' relationship with Anna in that he was completely in love with her and devoted to her. And furthermore, while I do realize there was plenty of room for him to have previous relationships before her; for story's sake, he hasn't and had been completely and utterly focused on Mithos up until his meeting with Anna. Just be warned I am a shounen-ai writer and while I am completely affirmed Kratos - by his character presonality and design - is in no way homsexual, that doesn't mean this fiction is going to be void 100 of the potential for some sort of homosexuality to appear. Just a warning.

This story plot follows along the Tales of Symphonia storyline, only from a different point of view than Lloyd's. In other words, nothing will stray from what Kratos sees or is involved in (therefore points in the video game where Kratos is absent will be not included in the story at all). In place, will be new original scenes to further develop Kratos and basically create a better explanation of what was going on while Lloyd and the others were trying to stop Mithos and Kratos' relationship with Anna (and a better in depth analysis of his relationship with Lloyd). So expect to see dialogue from the game, but also expect me to be a little slow sometimes on updating. This will be an intended long novelization, but I need to get script of the game. If anyone wants to direct me to Kratos script on the internet however, it would be greatly appreciated via email .

Also please know I'm probably going to have variations on events that have happened at times to possibly better enhance the storyline (while some might just be not the default event that you get - example: if you slip on the ice when Lloyd goes to get the item to enter the water shrine, and it breaks, the character who cares most will save him. While you don't have to slip, he probably will for story purposes). I will also add scenarios during "game time" to make the story more of a fanfiction and original content. I also am planning on altering the ending the from the game ending as I wasn't satisfied with how it went.

If you are okay with these things, please proceed. Comments are always welcome, both complimentary and critical (although if your have pointless criticism - eg: complaining about the story not followin ghte game completely, "you did it wrong" with a scene that was never in the game, etc. - you will be ignored)

- 00 -

He never could remember anything from his dreams here.

But something about them kept him yearning for what he no longer needed.

Ever since he had returned to Derris-Kharlan, his routine had been similar: locking himself in dreams that he could never recall once his mind woke from slumber.

Yet, some unconscious and unidentifiable part of his existence did.

And it pushed the rest of him to desire more sleep than ever deemed necessary even for a human.

Without memory, he had no nightmares.

Reality was the only nightmare left.

"Kratos, you need to wake up."

Kratos Aurion buried his face farther into the pillow as the voice echoed into his mind, shattering his peaceful sleep. His senses returned to him, everything suddenly feeling uncomfortable, including the sheets to the bed in which he was entangled. Nothing was quite as comfortable as that living-dead existence that one experienced every time they surrendered themselves to the desire for rest. Perhaps if he ignored the intruder they would melt away as easily as his dreams did.

"Kratos, wake up," the voice demand, this time hands coming to grab at his shoulder blades and shake his unmoving form. "I didn't come in here to be ignored."

"Then you should know better than to come at all," Kratos sneered, lifting his face from the pillow and letting his left hand run through the mess of red-brown he called hair. Dark eyes blinked into focus and found the disrupter, his pupils narrowing in recognition, "Yuan."

"You needn't be so aggressive," Yuan replied, his head lowered and deliberately avoiding eye contact with the other seraphim. Oddly cut blue bangs concealed most of his expression from Kratos' adjusting vision, but he didn't doubt there was mockery flickering across the other's features. "Mithos was going to send a subordinate to come fetch you, but I insisted that I do it instead." He lifted his head up, arms folded across his chest, and flashed something of a smile, "And of course you'd rather have me do it than one of them, no?"

"Yuan," Kratos insisted, grumpily, "You are certainly almost the last person in existence that I would ever want to wake up to."

"Should I take comfort that a few fall lower in your favor, then?" Yuan smirked, pushing away from the wall he had taken position against after waking Kratos. His heavy cloak shifted – in over dramatic fashion, Kratos noted – as he made his way to the table and took a seat in one of the chairs facing Kratos' bed.

"Well, what is it?" Kratos sighed, pushing himself up into a sitting position on the bed. "It can't be anything important. Since the last time he asked me to do something, I didn't exactly do as ordered."

"I haven't the slightest," Yuan scoffed, refolding his arms as he remained focused on Kratos. "What makes you think I would?"

Kratos stared at him.

Defeated, Yuan sighed, "I'm assuming it has to do with the new vessel for Martel."

"Why would he want me to have anything to do with the vessel for Martel? Wouldn't you be a more reliable candidate?"

Yuan's gaze hardened in warning, but he let the last comment slip by. "I haven't the slightest, I suppose rumor states that it's a redeeming mission for you. Fourteen years of distrust without possible redemption is long enough, don't you think?"

Can't say I ever really cared, Kratos glared at Yuan, knowing what he thought was exactly what Yuan knew to be true. "Indeed," Kratos responded politely, putting up as much face to the subject as Yuan.

"Do you plan on accepting?" Yuan asked and Kratos noted the hint of caution the other seemed to take in waiting for the answer. After a moment, the seraphim finally nodded. "I might as well, it's not like I actually care one way or the other."

"You used to have very strong opinions," Yuan pressed, suspicion laced in his voice. "I can't believe they all died with her."

"Everything died with her," Kratos snapped defensively. Yuan's expression softened when Kratos looked away, refocusing his stare to one of the walls of the room. "If Mithos expects me to care, then he should have controlled those pathetic glory-seeking fools a little better."

"Is that why you sleep so much?" Yuan inquired, showing interest in Kratos' babble for the next in a very rare amount of times throughout their fragile friendship.

"I do not know," Kratos responded dismissively, slipping out of the bed and heading towards the closet. "I never remember when I wake."

"You must have some idea," Yuan pried. "Something that makes you feel like all that time you spend sleeping isn't wasted."

"If my idea was even a fraction of correct," Kratos said, pausing halfway dressed as he gripped onto the clothing he was shifting through, "I would never open my eyes again."

"And anyone who dared to even try and wake me," he continued, pulling the shirt and pants on, "Would never have woken from a dreamless sleep themselves. Ever again."

"If you care so little now that she's gone," Yuan persisted, a quizzical look etched on his face. "Why are you even bothering to accept Mithos' mission?" Yuan rocked back and forth on the chair as he waited for an answer, holding it balanced on two legs without ever letting the two front hit the floor in his motions.

"Because, you and I both know it's easier to say yes to Mithos than to say no."

Yuan nodded his head in silent agreement. Neither of them wanted to deal with the immature and obsessive combination of forceful power that Mithos Yggdrasill had become. They tried that once with reasoning, the ending results were disastrous. Martel would be horrified to come back to them in their shattered state on top of everything else they had done. And were continuing to do.

"So you've let go of your ideals," Yuan confirmed finally with a frown, distaste slipping off his tongue.

"My ideals died with Anna and Lloyd," Kratos corrected, fixing his collar and pulling the dulled purple cape over his attire. "Dead ideals don't raise themselves unless the ones they went to the grave with raise as well."

Without another word, Kratos exited the room, idly pulling on one of his gloves in frustration, trying to stretch the slowly concocting memories back into the unreachable depths of his mind.

He'd best forget about them.

He would descend to Sylvarant, if what Yuan spoke was true, for the second time in the last century. This time, however, he would not be doing it in rebellion against Mithos' will, instead he'd be enforcing it.

She wanted a world where all life was treated respectfully...

Kratos shook his head, forcing the thoughts away.

Indeed, it was best that he forget them.