MoonCannon: I don't know either, I have gotten a few complaints that the story is too long, that might be the problem. shrugs who knows? Regardless thank you for reviewing all the chapters so far.

Navy Blue: "Knowing her, she's probably pulling her hair out looking for it" You are absolutely EVIL to do that to someone else... the thought's never crossed my mind, I never did that to someone else, or used that line in a simlar prank... or recomended that my friend watch all the skits at the Katz village to find the skit. Put's on hallo and attempts to appear innocent of the above

S. Darkness: That's more or less what I shot for, I was kind of disatisfied with all of the other KratosxAnna fics because they were more or less the same. Also this is my first fiction (original or fan)even detailing an adult relationship(normally I write non-human, child,or"destined to remain single" adultperspective)so I guess you can say this whole peice is an experiment for me.

Tetra Slash: A new reviewer! gasp You have a lot of questions, I'll do my best to answer them. For how I got to be "this good" I have been teaching myself how to write creative pieces since I was about thirteen(might have been fourteen). I kind of put myself through a creative writingboot camp, I basically forced myself to write day in and out until I could almost automatically write like I do now. looks off to side and coughs You caught me red handed it seems. Most of these chapters are already postedsomewhere else, or rather the rough-draft versions are. Trust me, you don't want to see the originals, I didn't even use spell checkon them!These chapters arespell, typo,andgrammer checked, I also changed the wording here and there to helpreaders understand what I'm saying a little bit better... In regards to time no one's ever asked me about this before :) It takes me an hour (on a good day) to four hours(really bad several days) to write a chapter RD format. I then have to use spell check, because half ofa chapter would have those annoying red squiggles that MSword loves to pepper my writing with. Spell check takes an hour at the very least (deppressing huh?), and grammer checknormaly takes the same amount of time because I'm pawing through old English notesdouble checkinggrammer rules and the like.Then add in thefact I have to occasionally plug in TOS to double check spellingof areas or scan the synopsiss for inspiration... A new chapter for this fictakes on averagefour to five hours toget fully done (one to four days depending on my schedule andenergy) an oldedited chapter takes abouttwo hours to clean up.

Satisfaction

Chapter 10

"Kratos, is something the matter?" Yuan hissed, giving his fellow Seraphim a nudge. Yggdrasil was going over the extensive report on the Slyverant Chosen's parents, the only thing that moved were his crystal blue eyes. Yggdrasil was as gone from them as any man could be, totally absorbed in the paper work that was the joint efforts of Kratos and Yuan's travels. Yuan had noticed Kratos' distracted manner, had noticed the strain around his old friend's eyes. No longer trapped in his mental abyss, Yuan was his sharp self, and a danger. Once Kratos would have signaled that all was well, or had indicated that he would talk to Yuan after the meeting. He did neither, and after a few more attempts to get his attention the younger half-elf gave up. Mentally Kratos sighed with relief, had Yuan shown farther interest all of the ex-human's plans may have to been destroyed. He would have been forced to... He stopped that thought, mentally ordered himself to not think about anything beyond the meeting. Yet it was so damned hard to do so, the ring on his left hand throbbed, a silent alarm that he had given Anna to use for only one reason. Had it been the right hand that throbbed he would have had to leave the room. Find some excuse, or give them none at all, for that would have meant Anna was in immediate danger. That would have meant Anna was dying. Every night, since he had "disposed" of his human slave Kratos had been absent from Derris Kharlan. He had been sneaking out when guard was at it's laxest. Had any asked he was visiting the information network, researching ex-spheres and human ranches. Studying the recent history of both worlds, memorizing everything that seemed significant and insignificant. And indeed he was doing that, he was making holographic copies and taking them with him to someplace away from Yggdrasil and Yuan to study them. He just wasn't alone in his study hole, that's all. Anna had proven to be a eager student, fascinated by most of what he brought her, she had been so interested in the ancient histories that Kratos had left her a copy of his books to pass the time in her hiding place. He wished he could do more, but he didn't dare. Any prolonged absence from him would have roused all of Yuan's worst instincts. And he'd have to explain to the other Seraphim why there was a pregnant woman hidden in the underground frame work of Derris Kharlan.

Damn it all to bloody hell, his work wasn't that extensive! He'd filled out all of Yggdrasil's wishes, he'd studied the Chosen's home, interviewed all of the prisoners in Forcystus' camp. He'd done everything he could think of, written it in his own hand, wasted hours on the papers that Yggdrasil now pawed through. Pages and pages of tragedy lay before the head of Cruxis, couldn't the man show a drop of emotion! Even Yuan had blanched when Kratos had read the opening paragraph that detailed the torment and death of the Slyverant Chosen's father. Before he was halfway through with the third page Yggdrasil had snatched the papers from his second in command's hand and began to read them himself. He was annoyed with the slow and steady pace of Kratos' voice it seemed, but when Yuan had started to read his own report the same thing had happened. Now both men sat at the triangle shaped table, looking at Yggdrasil and each lost in his own thoughts.

Then the ring had started to throb.

And all coherent thought went out of Kratos' head for a moment. Emotion rose in him, so strong he could barely keep it off his face. He banished the thoughts, the joy, from his soul, and put on his mask of indifference. He then prayed that neither of his "allies" had noticed. Unfortunately Yuan had, and was staring at Kratos in open curiosity. Finally, after going through at least ten pages Yggdrasil became aware of the silent drama unfolding before him. The white robed man put the papers down, and Kratos felt his soul shrivel inside of him.

"Gentlemen, is there a problem?"

"No Mi-" Yuan began, a gesture from the head of Cruxis made him stop mid word. For a long moment he sat there, then silently mouthed a few words that didn't look like compliments towards Mithos.

"You are to address me by my formal title when this table is in session."

Kratos coughed into a hand, an old gesture that meant he was trying not to laugh. Had Yggdrasil even been a shade of himself he would have noticed. As it was he glared at Kratos, muttered something about mortal foolishness, then went back to his reading. Yuan mouthed something about Mithos being an ass and Kratos allowed himself a slight smile. Yuan winked, and when Yggdrasil glared at them over his screen of papers both men were composed and stood in attention. Again when Yggdrasil went back to his reading Yuan went back to saying silent profanities, then unexpectedly the spell ran out. Yggdrasil snapped his eyes off of the papers, and shot a glare that could have murdered.

"Sorry my Lord Yggdrasil.. I was ahh..."

"There was a section on bar songs in Yuan's report, I was merely asking him one of the verses. If I am to travel Tethe'alla and linger in the lower levels of society as it's Chosen does, I must after all be able to blend in. Your spell and the timing seemed right My Lord. Since we serve no real purpose being here right now, and that part of the report I had yet to read..."

"Remind me again gentlemen, what purpose have you ever served me, I have forgotten just now."

"We are your spies, your allies, and if you may recall it was I who discovered the secret of the ex-
sphere mutation." Yuan snorted, and only Kratos noticed the faint sheen of sweat on the Cruxis member's hands, the slightly higher pitch that bellied Yuan's fear.

"But that was in the past Yuan, what purpose do you serve me now?"

"Martel," Kratos snarled. Both men turned to him, Yggdrasil's soulless eyes flickered malice born mana. "He is a link to Martel, and as much as you hate the fact, he is Martel's husband. In the end it may be his presence that breaks her soul from the ex-sphere induced hibernation she endures. I also imagine that she would be very angry if she were to wake up and learn her husband was dead. Much less by the hand of her little brother."

"You... have a point Kratos. A very good one. I apologize Yuan." The boyish smile that took Yggdrasil's face might have been called charming. Save it was on the face of a man who appeared to be in his twenties. And the eyes, it never touched those sky blue eyes. "Forgive me for my manner Yuan, it has been a trying time."
"Of course Mi-" Kratos shook his head ever so slightly and Yuan winced. "My Lord Yggdrasil."

"Now then, I have a few questions on your report Kratos. Why this emphasis on the human's family? We normally don't need this much." Yggdrasil waved the papers as if in accusation.

"Considering my lord, that I would be escorting this one, I made my studies to reflect what I dubbed as useful and important."

Yuan stopped breathing, for what Kratos said came very close to open defiance. To question Yggdrasil's judgement on what was right and what was wrong... If one wanted one could even take that a step farther and question the sanity of all they were doing. For a long moment Yggdrasil looked at him, his power god-like amongst a society of self-made gods. All that power now seemed to crackle around the room. With a flick of his wrist Yggdrasil could make Kratos cease to exist, yet the once human man looked to his leader with no fear in his eyes. It was as if something had ripped all the fear from him. It was as if there was something greater to him then his life, and that cause made him stronger then Mithos.

"Interesting, again you try my patience... and yet you do so in a way that aids me. Twice in one decade too."

"I strive but to remain forever useful to you my Lord."

"I could do without the sarcasm Kratos."

Yuan merely sat, silent, and in awe of his old friend's bravo. No one, not even Yuan, would have come so close to insulting Mithos, then have Mithos acknowledge the insult, and then be spared. Something was new in Kratos, some hidden steel that made him resistant to the fear Mithos inspired. For a moment he was jealous, he would have been a liar to admit other wise. Then deep inside of him a spark of hope flared for what seemed to be a hopeless cause. If only he could get the other Seraphim to... Yuan banished the thought as Yggdrasil turned from his brooding to talk to Kratos.

"Something is on you mind Kratos, and I will have it before I dismiss you from my presence."

"Noishe, my lord."

"Noishe? You... ah yes you did keep him didn't you, I had all but forgotten." There was for a second a hunger in Mithos' eyes. "Of all the times you have defied me Kratos that was the one matter in which I have no regrets. Now then, what about Noishe?"

"I was thinking of taking him to Flanoir my Lord, he looks as if he has become ill."

"Truly?" Now Mithos sounded concerned. The butchering of a thousand meant nothing, but the animal... Yuan mentally snarled, the old hate fast in rising. He masked it though, and he hoped he did a better job of masking it then Kratos did of his strange euphoria. "If he requires healing..."

"I have already tried that my lord, it may be that he only requires a bit of time away from here. For some reason he grows melancholy if he stays here for a month or two without seeing the earth."

"So then, you will be taking Noishe with you..." There was a hint in Mithos' voice, a hint of hope that Kratos might reconsider. Even after four thousand years he still was after the animal! Yuan seethed, and while his mask more or less held, it broke just the smallest bit. Fire flashed over ice, and then nothing but the fire remained. Yuan stood, the breech in protocol made Mithos frown, and a flicker of fear was in Kratos' eyes.

"My lord, I have need to return to my camp. Kratos isn't the only one who's been having to put down riots."

"And I must return to Noishe, and make him fit for leaving Derris Kharlan."

Yggdrasil snapped his gaze from one man to the other. As if sensing some conspiracy between them. With a gesture Yggdrasil dismissed them, then went back to his reading. Despite Yggdrasil's outer appearance of distraction neither Seraphim relaxed until they were in the hall and walking away from there "lord's" meeting room. They walked on crimson carpet, through a maze of empty rooms. They passed priceless paintings and ancient family crests without a glance. All they wanted was to get out of Mithos' hellish castle. Sheathed in white marble on the outside, the inside was black onyx and crystal, stone gargoyles and angels glared at them as they made for the teleportation pad. Neither said a word until after they reappeared back in the main city and were a goodly way on the glass walk way.

"My God, that was close old friend." Yuan allowed himself a shaky laugh. "For both of us this time. Why does it seem as if Yggdrasil has lost every scrap of humor in him."

"Probably your attempts at being humorous and witty have made him shun all forms of humor for the sake of some peace. After a few centuries of it I have turned into a rather humorless soul, if you have failed to notice."

"Not I Kratos." Yuan dropped his banter and really looked at his fellow Seraphim. "You look like hell, you know that? And there is something strange about you. Mithos may not have noticed, but I have. Is something bothering you?"

"It is nothing... Now what in Hell is bothering you? You never act like this, unless you have something to ask but are leery of asking."

"You never forget anything do you?"

"I don't have time for this Yuan, just send me a report about it, I'll get to it sometime this century."

Seeing his ally walk off, the one man he had hoped to have join in his conspiracy, Yuan muttered an oath in elvish. He was on his own it seemed. Well not totally, once the child Botta was back on his feet Yuan'd have someone else in his service. That one was turning out to be quite the warrior, and he already had experience fighting one of Mithos' best. He also had a very strong hatred against Kratos, which was a wonderful touch all in itself. After all, if things turned out to be a failure Yuan could always try again. There was no guarantee that this time was going to be the time that Martel's vessel was found, but there was no guarantee that this one would be a failure either.

"Kratos! I want my Reiard back when your done with this mission."

Kratos had turned to him, then away from him. His face had a flicker of something. Yes, Kratos had his secrets, and Yuan would find out all he could. Secrets were useful things in the right hands. And if he could get an edge on Kratos, just a sliver of leverage, some minuscule control... He'd be better off then Mithos, and that said much.

He came into what he thought was his wife's death bed. He would have flown down the stairs had there been enough room for his wings, because there wasn't he settled for taking them three at a time. The door had been left open, just a crack, and at the brink he listened. There was no screams, no sounds of child birthing, only the sound of two people drawing breath. Two people! Kratos opened the door as quietly as he could, and came to the sight of his bloodied Wife and Son. She was asleep, and her... no their son lay in her arms. Seeing him the child made a sound, and Anna's eyes fluttered open. She was barely coherent, hardly awake, and so pale, and frightened. At least she was until she recognized him.

"Anna," Kratos whispered, he took in her bloody abdomen and was relieved to see that the blood was not all that fresh. Her birthing wound was not bleeding anymore. "Nothing's the matter, I just brought Noishe with me. He gave me hell when I tried to keep him away from here." Anna smiled, but her tired face worried Kratos. He was totally out of his depth here, he knew nothing of the natural process' of women, how long say it was going to take her to recover.

"Don't go again, please..." It was little more then a horse whisper.

"Do not worry, I wont leave you." He came to her and damn the blood, he would hold his wife. "Never."

His son made a grumpy noise that indicated he was hungry. He didn't exactly cry so to say, but made a whimpering noise.

"Lloyd's hungry," She smiled, and Kratos looked at wonder at his son that lay in her arms. "You don't mind the name do you? We never could agree on a boys name you know, and here I went behind your back and named him anyways."

"Lloyd is a wonderful name Anna. It even means something in the angelic language." She could only look at him and express her curiosity with her eyes. Her voice, it seemed, had abandoned her. "It means "Star Balde" Llo is star, and oyden is blade."

"He doesn't have that funny "en" sound at the end of his name though." She closed her eyes as Lloyd ate, a contented smile on her face. "Not that it matters... So long as you like it."

"Anything you pick would have been infinitently better then my choice Anna. When he is done eating you need to get to sleep."
"But what about you... Cruxis..."

"Everything is alright Anna, we'll talk about it later." Lloyd whimpered a little bit when Anna handed him to Kratos. But soon was content to snuggle in his fathers white tunic. "For once," he whispered to his now sleeping wife. "in my life, I am content. For once, I have a shard of peace. I have everything I could dream of. You have given this to me Anna, you have completed me, as have you." He whispered to his son. Lloyd only yawned, and fell asleep in his fathers arms. Noishe came to him then, he had lingered in the back of the room. At the protozoan's soft whine Kratos sank to his knees and allowed his oldest friend to look at his boy. There was an awkward moment, where the protozoan looked back and forth from father to son, then after a moment sniffed the youngest member of the Aurion bloodline. The "dog" adverted his face and sneezed. Kratos only laughed, and Noishe wagged his tail. With his son in his hands, and his "pet" behind him, Kratos sank to the metal floor by his wife's slumbering form. Noishe lay down then by Anna and looked at him with questioning eyes. "It's alright Noishe, everything's going to be fine."

And for the first time in what felt to be eternity Kratos believed those words.