…Wow… That's… amazing. Arigatou gozaimasu minna-san! I'm very thankful and grateful for all your support. ::smiles:: I only expected at most 5-10 reviews, most of which would be flames. ::sweatdrop:: So this is… absolutely amazing! 25 reviews so far, and only one of them a flame.
To all you nice reviewers, I am extremely grateful. I'll try my best not to disappoint. ::grins::
Now, as for the flamer… Well, I'm certainly very glad you had the decency to use proper spelling and grammar and signed it instead of hiding behind a cowardly anonymity. However, it irked me greatly that your narrow-minded little comment applied to my reviewers instead of just the fic and me. The reviews are supposed to be criticism about a story, not about its readers. If you have a problem with the pairing, take it up with me and we can have a "nice", "friendly" debate. Either that, or don't read it, which I'm pretty sure was what happened anyway. Oh yes, and my Evil Overlord said your review/flame was "too short" and "uncreative". XD
Now that that's over with… As to the rest of you, thank you muchly, my darlings. Thanks to all of you, I think I will work on this fic a bit after all. I'm very glad you guys all liked it, and that even those of you who do not support this pairing are reading it and accepting my ideas on it. Some of you said I was "brave". As much as I'd like to go along with that, I'd like to tell you all that I was merely tempting fate (and flamers). XD Okay, maybe not. But one of the reasons really was because I was curious about people's reactions.
Also, I'm wondering if anyone noticed where the fic title's from. I meant to explain it last chapter, but I forgot. ::sweatdrop:: It's actually a part of a line from the song "Someday Out of the Blue" (sang by Elton John, from "The Road to El Dorado"). "Not so long ago/ Seems like eternity/ Those sweet afternoons/ Still capture me." If you know the song and played past the Tower of Salvation, you'd know why I picked that…
And did anyone else notice that I used present and past tense interchangeably in the last chapter? (And this one, and all of them, in fact?) Rest assured, it's intentional. Perhaps the usage isn't as well as I would have liked, but… Yes. Actions are generally in past tense, while some of the thought have been put in present tense. (Did anyone even notice? ::sweatdrop::)
Anyway…
Comments to the reviews!
Somebody – Thank you! ::smiles::
Of Fate and Destiny – Yeah. I suspected they might have been that from the very beginning. (How often do you see people with similar hair colours in anime? XD) Buuut, yup, I still think they should be together.
Raiknii – Eh-heh, I tend to be somewhat sarcastic when writing anything but pure angst. Mmmm, maybe I'm just dumb, but what does to an O mean?
Minoa – Aww, thanks. I'll try to write faster… Really, I will…
Sarah aka Celebi – ::grins: I think Kratos is just gonna get really, really confuzzled… ::evil smile::
Nico-Chan – Heh… You seem happy. ::grins::
Rakka Ravi – Oooh, oops. I can't believe I didn't catch that. O.O Thank you!
Willow-189 – Awww, I'm very glad to see people who prefer other pairings actually reading this. I'll do my best to make it seem believable. ::salutes::
Mihalle Miyama – And I thought I was the only one who liked it too. ::smiles::
Eeveelover – Yepyep, will update… ::grins::
R Amethyst – Heh, no worries, I've not left my FE fics behind. ::pats the FE fics:: I'm working on the next chappy of Prince in Distress. ::nods:: Sheena/Raine? That's rather interesting. ::grins:: Especially with the way they kept bickering in the beginning… XD
Zaeger – Heehee, thanks. ::smiles:: I actually tend to stay away from these kinds of pairings too, but… couldn't resist for this one. ::slight blush::
tsuki-san16 – Mmm, I actually kind of expected them to be… that… from the beginning, except the ages weren't right. But they're in love anyway, ne? ::grins::
Specter Von Baren – Hn, I guess I've nothing more to put that what I've already said at the beginning. Once again, leave the other people alone. If you've a problem with me, take it up with me.
destiny – Awww, thanks.
Cookie Pixie – Then, um, you shouldn't read this chapter, nope-nope. Not until you know why people might be mad at me.
Xeora – Next chappy, coming right now. ::grins::
I Forget – ::laughs:: Heehee, love your shoulder things. XD
Cheli – Oh dear, I told you already?
Jade-Dragon-dod – Thankies. Yup, will update. I love this pairing…
ryder77 – Yup, good tip. Mmm, thanks. I'll try my best to work on that connection.
Lady Tetsu-Maru – Heh, cute? Glad you thought so. ::grins::
Aziza Kanoa – I know. I haven't seen any outright Kratos/Lloyd on , and only one that was kind of K/L… To tell the truth, the time when he left the group was what inspired this story in the first place. (Yeah, shows how fast I write, if I got the idea then and finished the story now, after beating the game. ::sweatdrop::) Am I going to separate them in the end? I honestly don't know. On the one hand, I want to, 'cause that'll play on their emotions ever-so-much. On the other hand, that's just too sad…
Silver – Heh heh heh… Yup.
AkiraNyaag – Heehee, thank you!
…And even the rest of this A/N will have spoilers, so I think I'll put the disclaimer and warning here… If you reviewed and would like to see the answer to your review, but don't want to read this chapter because of the MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS, the answers are at the very end, and the reviewers' names will be bolded, so you could just read the comment.
Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia doesn't belong to me. Big surprise there. ::sweatdrop::
Warning: Much, much spoilers! The even-numbered chapters will be in Kratos's POV, and will contain anything and everything that Kratos knows. I would suggest not reading it until you almost finished the game, if not done already. There will also be shounen-ai, of course, of the Kratos/Lloyd nature. That's what the story's about. ::nods::
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Okay, past the spoiler warning now. I would really not suggest reading past this point. This game just has too good a storyline. If you read anything after this sentence, it's not my fault if the game gets spoiled.
Alrighty… I have one question I wanted to ask, and if anyone has some free time and would like to think about and discuss it, please e-mail me (rachelani(at)hotmail(dot)com). Now, the question is… You know the scene in Flanoir with Kratos? You know how Kratos said Anna was a Cruxis Crystal experiment like Presea? Well, my question is, how come Anna kept her personality instead of going emotionless like Presea? For a while, I thought it was because she had a Key Crest, but, to quote Kratos, "…lacking a Key Crest, the mana in her body went out of control and she turned into a monster." So if she didn't have one, how did she…?
And, ah, if anyone wants to think about this… Lloyd's last name… Whose is it? Anna's? Dirk's? Something that Kratos made up…?
Yes, now, on to the fic!
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Late RisingWhen I woke in the early morning, you were still asleep, your crimson-clad form sprawled unceremonially on your bed, your whole form seeming almost comical. I took a moment to gaze at you, feeling the slight twinges of inexplicable emotion pressing against the back of my mind. You… your presence will make things ever-so-much more difficult. …Ever-so-much more painful…
Anna's son.
My son.
When I had thought that you had died, I gave up on the world. What… What should I do now?
"Achoo!" In your sleep, you sneezed and shivered, causing me to shake my head. Your blanket had nearly fallen to the floor; what remained on the bed lay underneath your prone form. I covered you, my dear, foolish child. Why… Why did you have to come? I tried my best to keep you at Iselia; I mocked you, I discouraged you, and yet, you still…! But I should have expected this stubbornness from you, this absolute refusal to give up. It was this quality that shone the brightest in Anna, this quality that attracted me the most…
I shook my head, berating myself. Fool. Don't think about Anna. Don't think about the Lloyd of the past. They are dead; must remain dead in my memories. I work for Lord Yggdrasill, for the hero Mithos, who saved the world. I must not feel anything but indifference for these children, for even Lloyd. To finally obtain a whole and peaceful world, some sacrifices must be made… even a long-lost son… Even my final and only legacy…
But why… why did you have to grow to be such a fine youth? Anyone would be proud to have you as a son. I am proud, as I am sure Dirk is. Perhaps I should not be. I had no part in your upbringing. Yet, seeing you here, so close, I could almost imagine that we are still a family, that you had never "died" for me. Would you have been the same? Would you, now, have been fighting by my side?
If I had found you then, Lloyd, you would not need to die now. If you were one of us, you needed not be sacrificed…
There were no tears in my eyes. I doubt there would ever be tears. Oh, not because of what I am. I can still cry, a privilege that will soon be denied Sylvarant's precious Chosen. But I… I cannot allow such weakness. Anna's death – and yours, or so I had believed – was the last time I had shed any tears. It will be the final time.
It will.
I stood, stretched. I must be away from you. I can allow no emotional ties. You had died some fourteen years ago. I had given up on you then. I must… not feel anything.
I sighed, stepping out into the pre-morning light. There was an empty feeling following me. But it should not matter… should it? I am no stranger to loneliness, and I must believe… that my son rests in death.
Though the sun had just begun to rise, the day was still young and all of our "companions" yet slept. Perhaps that was just as well. You must be exhausted, as well as your young friend Genis, after yesterday's escapade from Botta's Renegades. And you… you had even stayed up for a good part of the night making the Half-Elven woman's Key Crest. The loyalty and dedication you show your friends must be admired, and yet, you thoughtlessly drained your strength, slowing our progress and possibly endangering yourself and others in battle. Perhaps I should mention that to you, but that is neither here nor now.
Right now, I believe I should prepare breakfast.
Allow me to explain, for I am sure you children will think that I am showing kindness. That would be just as well; the more trust you give me, the more you would listen to me. The Chosen must obey my commands.
However, convenience aside… I am cooking for my own interests. When you two boys awaken it would be well into the morning, close to noon. That would be too late to start breakfast. The Chosen seems only to be able to use fruits, and the Professor…
I shudder to even think about what she fed us. Even Mithos would cringe.
Thus it was that when the two women awoke, they found a ready and steaming breakfast. Yes, trust was, indeed, starting to go up. Good. I would need all of you – especially the Chosen – to trust me impeccably if I wish to succeed in my mission.
"Oh, wow!"
The Half-Elven woman, still half asleep, twitched as the young Chosen gave this cheerful exclamation. "You actually cooked for us, Kratos!"
Seeing her bright smile, I felt a wave of something akin to pity. Perhaps Sylvarant regarded her as no more than a nameless saviour, but her friends would miss her dearly. You would miss her dearly.
And yet, what was to say that even you would live through this?
After breakfast and a supply trip, we returned to the inn… to find you still asleep. You must have been tired yesterday, fighting the Renegades by yourself. You did well… Yet, I cannot allow myself to be proud. Proud of a son I did not raise… Proud of a son I must so soon abandon again… I wonder, Lloyd, could I ever call you "son"? Must I?
As the Half-Elf left to check on her brother and prepare our supplies, the Chosen with her, I let myself back into our room. At the sight of your prone figure, once again bereft of all coverings except your traveling clothes, I sighed in exasperation. True, the day was not so cold now, but you should still be careful. Sickness would not do.
I pulled out your blanket from underneath your sleeping body and placed it where it belonged – on top of you – before taking a seat on my won bed and writing in a small notebook.
A detail of our journey, it was. An aid so that I could correctly report this to Mithos. To Lord Yggdrasill.
It was quite a while later before you woke, when the sun was nearing its zenith. After rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you searched around the room, blinking. When those soft, brown eyes found me, you gave your dopey trademark smile and announced, "Good morning, Kratos!"
I could not help but laugh, though bitterly. Morning indeed. "Good afternoon, Lloyd."
Your eyes widened in surprise as you scrambled out of bed, straightening your rumpled clothes and looking for a window – which this room did not have – to check the hour of the day. "Is it really the afternoon? Did I oversleep? Am I late?"
Realizing that I could neither nod nor shake my head at your series of questions, I settled for crossing my arms instead, as you hurried about the room frantically. "No. Not really. It is, however, almost noon."
A grin spread across your face, then, aimed to make you look tough, but managing to do nothing but accentuate your naivety, your over-trustfulness. So familiar, it was. So disturbingly painful.
Anna's smile.
"Aha!" Your childishly smug declaration broke me out of my daze, my thoughts of the past. You looked positively delighted in your triumph. "So it is still morning!"
"Yes," I responded, perhaps a bit more harshly than I needed to. "But that does not excuse the facts that you have, indeed, overslept, and that you are, indeed, very late."
Why am I being so rough on you, I wonder? I do not know, cannot really tell. I wanted to believe the sensible voice in my head, the one that told me that I did so to distance myself from you. I would not allow myself to believe the other one, the one that said that it was all to protect you… to force you to grow strong…
Perhaps strong enough to defeat me.
"I…" You looked embarrassed, almost upset, and I regret my words, even if only a little. "I'm sorry, Kratos.
Fuelled by anger at myself, I continued. "And what good does an apology do?" Such a calm, cold voice I used to speak to you. "Our Journey of World Regeneration has been set back; the Chosen may have to wait another day before breaking the next seal. The Desians might be attacking yet another town. All this, because you lingered too long in sleep."
Oh, what lies I sprouted!
"You're right…" Your face filled with sorrow and shame; I could not allow myself to feel pity. "I won't let it happen again. I won't let there be another Iselia incident."
Lies, I may have given you, but how they fed your gentle pathos! How they woke your ideals, so much like hers…
I nodded, standing up, breaking my own thoughts. "Are you ready?" I knew already that you were. "Let us go."
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::bows:: And that is the second chapter. …Even if the A/N's bigger than the actual story… ::sweatdrop:: I'm actually more used to much longer chapters (ie, at least 10 pages), but I want to switch between Lloyd and Kratos frequently…
…And because I've been writing less than normal lately, and I don't want to take months (::coughyearscough::) to update again.
