MoonCannon: When I was originally writing this I never considered that I was filling in the details of Kratos' past, nor Mithos, nor Noishe's -Noishe fill in occurs later on in chapter 20 something- Only when I looked back did I realize how big this fic was, and all it filled in. I am glad ( as always) that you are liking it, and I hope the future chapters will please you as well.

Ark Navy: People actually do that, just read the reviews and not look at the fic... I can't imagine that at all, it seems so weird... Well if they are doing that it seems a shame, and they certainly aren't gleaning the plot out of what you guys put in you reviews. Thanks for trying to drag in more victims... err I mean reviewers, and I am glad you are enjoying this fic so much. You know even though I wrote all of this I still get the fuzzy warm feeling when I'm reading certain chapters... Chapter 17 was/is on of those chapters.

MoonlightC: I am looking for a beta reader, the trick will be finding one that specializes in -what was your term?- "technical presentation". I'm doing what little I can, I am going through my old chapters and editing them in my comp, when I have the first ten done I will re-submit then... I doubt I can catch any more grammar errors, but at the very least the town names will be spelled right! I'm glad that you are liking both the Kratos Anna relationship and the Lloyd Kratos fluff that is in this fic. I'll just say this, you think you're a sap for TOS father-son moments I'm probably a thousand times worse! As for Kratos and Anna... I really wanted to see a fic that handled their relationship realistically, so many others had Annagirl Lloyd scenarios... While a few of those were good I just wanted something else, unable to find that "something else" I decided to write it... -laughs- I need to stop reading fanfic... I swear every time I do I wind up writing something like this when I get dissatisfied or if I think of a "what it" question while reading. As for having a "long" review, no problem, you had a lot to say, you made several points, and those points helped me out... I don't really care how long a review is, I just like getting them because it tells me that people are enjoying my stories.

A/N: Speaking of big my word doc I have this saved on now hit the page 114 mark:) bet none of you guessed it was this long hmm...

A/N2: Kind of sounds hypocritical when put on the same chapter as the above... but warning short chapter ahead... I will try to get 20 up by tomorrow... as it is I am working on a late valentines day ficlet with KratosxAnna. Hopefully that too will be up by tomorrow as well.

Chapter 19

loyalties

Lloyd was not happy, he cried quite a bit when Daddy left him in the cold lightless rooms. He loved seeing the sun, seeing the birds, life, he loved life. And now it was cut from him, and he and Anna were alone in the steel tunnels. There was light of corse, moonlight and mana light. But it wasn't the same, it offered light but no warmth. He was cold all the time, he snuggled with his Mommy now constantly just to stay warm. Mommy understood, told him he was being so brave and that when Daddy was done dealing with the bad men they hopeful would never have to come back. She was cold all the time too, and Noishe, Noishe had a warm coat so he wasn't as cold. But he always looked sad, and he'd stare out the window and whimper. Mommy held him a lot now, held him, and sometimes she cried. She never had cried before.

asterics... they wont show up so imagine them here-

Time passed, tortured him. Every time he dared to slip away he saw his family, he saw them dying. The harsh conditions, the cold, the thin air. It was killing them. He could see it in their eyes, could feel it in Anna's weakening pulse when she took his hand. Lloyd... once so full of energy and life was listless, he stared at the world dully. No interest was in his eyes, only a mute suffering. He was cold, Kratos could feel his boy shivering in his grasp, holding onto him with a every weakening grip. he felt those small hands tugging on his tunic, quaking through the fabric of his gloves and cloak, a phantom touch. It followed him, it gave him the rage he would need. He stormed through Mithos' castle, image after image of his families suffering playing through his mind. He all but broke down the doors to the audience hall. Yuan hopped, then seeing his brother seraphim's expression his hand drifted to his sword. Rage pounded in Kratos, but a caution kept him in check. Kept him from acting on that rage. Mithos looked up his eyes twin pools of ice.

"Your late."

"I had reason."

"Really, enlighten me."

"No."

Yuan gapped, dropped his report, then edged for the door. No one in there right mind would talk to Mithos like that. Kratos wasn't talking like a servant to Mithos, he was speaking to him like he did in the old days. Like a teacher who had found something about his student and was going to correct it by raw force. This had the potential to turn ugly. It turned ugly right after Yuan finished that thought. Mithos stood, his eyes churned like a sea storm. Hate, rage, the half elf's face went through a horrid transformation. The lips curled back, the thin brows drew together, and a fierce scowl twisted the angelic looking man's features into a demons.

"What did you just say!"

"You heard me, my reasons are my own. I do as I will, when I will."

"So long as it serves Cruxis!"

"Oh it serves Cruxis boy. Have you taken total leave of your sense!"

"What did you just call-"

"You heard me, where the Hell do you get off destroying Iselia!"

"Iselia is a back wash community why should we be concerned..."

Yuan forgot his terror, his eyes went wide in shock.

"Mithos! Have you forgotten! Martel's vessel is there, the blood of the mana clan resides there!"

"There are other decedents..."

"None fit for this Regeneration. The mother is dead, the father has no ties beyond the fact that there is some very faint elvish blood in his line. The other decedents, do not make me laugh. The other two with the blood, one of them is eighty, and the other went through the Asgard wind dance rite. She can not have children anymore, if she's alive it would be a miracle all on it's own."

Dead quiet filled the room.

"I'll counter that order, Forcystus will not kill off the last decedent of the mana linage."

"Spare the town, leave them alone, honor your treaty."

"Why should I, the are just a pack of filthy humans..."

"You have finally taken leave of your senses Yggdrasil. You have totally forgotten, everything. Look at me, remember what I am, then finish what you were going to say."

"You aren't like them!" The response was a child's whine, though it came from the throat of a full grown man.

"Really?" Kratos voice was pure scorn, he had talked to Mithos like this once, when he caught the boy about ready to kill some petty thief who had picked Martel's pocket. He had physically beat Mithos black an blue, despite Martel's protests. He had made a point, Mithos had always hesitate before killing someone after that. And he never killed for a petty reason, not until Martel died.

Mithos snapped his head up, he knew that tone, he was being scolded. His lips curled in a snarl, he stood, shoved the chair behind him, so forcefully it's legs broke. He met Kratos' eyes, the grey of a storm coated the sky blue orbs. Hate, raw bleeding hate radiated off of his old pupil.

"I'm not your student, I'm not the young puppy that followed you around. I'm an adult, I am your better in mana and strength."

"Yes you are not my student, but power hasn't made you that."

"Oh really, and what did Kratos?"

"You just did." Kratos stood. "Spare the child of mana and her village, or prepare to deal with Zelos as the vessel of your hopes."

"My lord..." Yuan was actually knelling on the floor, his show of servitude nauseated his fellow Seraphim. "Kratos does have a point."
Kratos only went for the door.

"Where the Hell are you going Kratos, you weren't dismissed!"

Kratos only grabbed the door handle, turned it.

"You will answer me!" A foot stomped down, so childish a gesture that was both humourous and terrifying at the same time.

"No, I wont. I do as I will, when I will, by what means I will."

"You are my servant!" Yggdrasil shrieked. "I made you what you are! I gave you power! Without me you'd just have been some wandering mercenary, with no one, with nothing!"

Kratos stood still, and Yggdrasil purred an apology. He beckoned Kratos to return to the table. Kratos trembled, not in fear as Yggdrasil thought, but rage. How far they had all fallen, how bloody far. He clenched his hand, felt the crystal door nob shatter under his hand. He paused, and almost in a detached mood, pulled out each shard of bloody gem. He tossed the remains, all coated in blood, to the floor. They tinged against the onyx, and sent small splatters of blood at his feet. Still with his back to the others Kratos ripped off the edge of his white cloak and wound it around his bloody hand.

"Kratos, are you alright?" Yuan hissed out of the corner of his mouth. Still distant from the world Kratos looked down and saw a large pool of crimson, his hand was in bad shape, but he wouldn't die from it. Not like they were dying, in the cold metal Hell below his feet.

"I will be traveling to Sylvarant, to do as I always do. Make an identity, wander around, and when the time comes I will go to the oracle in Iselia and wait. Make sure I have something to go to Yggdrasil."

There was a sharp hiss, he could feel the mana build in the room.

"I don't have time for your posing Yggdrasil, either kill me now or realize the value of what I said and act on it."

"You arrogant human.. I'll..."

Kratos whipped around sword leading in his bloody hand. Instinct made Yggdrasil fall silent as the sword was pressed against his throat. It was only a steel blade, it could not puncture, or wound, the old hero's Angelic flesh. It took a moment for Yggdrasil to remember this, another moment passed and he stared at his mentor who had just denounced him. Kratos' eyes were distant, he looked through Yggdrasil as if he wasn't there. It was the same gaze he turned on anyone who threatened his friends.

"Get out." Yggdrasil hissed. "Get out, both of you!"
"As you wish." Kratos could feel his son still in his arms, could feel the shaking, and it made him shake in response. When he paused by the door, looked to Yggdrasil. The leader of Cruxis was troubled, then sensing the scrutiny lifted his head up and snarled.

He had more important things to do then waste his time here.

He had a family to get back to.

asteric goes here...-

Kratos had looked at him as if he was an enemy.

There was no remorse, only a bitter pain, a hint of grief, and Yggdrasil realized that for his old friend, his old mentor, he was dead. Kratos sheathed his sword and stood waiting, in any other situation retribution wold have been swift and brutal. Kratos knew that he now was going to die and looked at it with what... hope? Mithos didn't know. He couldn't read Kratos. He dismissed them both then, and they left with what... relief? Well Yuan looked relieved, Kratos.. He couldn't tell anymore. Hovering his wings a whirl of movement Mithos Yggdrasil stood in the center of the room. He could still feel the pressure of Kratos' sword against his throat. He could still see those dark empty eyes, and feel a sharp void in him.

Kratos had looked at him in anger before, scorn, and once in a while with compassion and friendship.

He remembered once, when Martel was alive but very sick, how he had cried.

Kratos watched for a bit, he always watched. His eyes were the only thing he offered to them, he was the most grudging member of their little journey to save Sylune, a small city being attacked by brigands. Kratos had worked for the brigands, had walked along side them and despite knowing that, Martel had healed him.

Mithos was angry about that, this Kratos guy was a real meanie! He stared and watched and said nothing. But when he fought, Mithos could tell Yuan was jealous, he was jealous too. No full blood elf could move with such grace, such animal motion, strike with such perfection. No half elf could either.

Feeling those eyes on him Mithos tried to stop crying, he really did.

But he couldn't.

Martel was sick, but he couldn't help her, he was scared she was going to die.

"You do this often?"

Mithos whipped around, he wanted to be angry but all he could do was keep crying.

"How old are you?"
"Te-twelve..." This was weird, Kratos never asked anyone anything before. "Wh-why?"

"You are too young to be here, you should be home. But I'm guessing by the looks of you and your sister you have no home to go to."

"Because you and your brigands burned it down!"

"My brigands?" Kratos rose an eyebrow, a flicker of scorn in his dark eyes. "They are not mine boy, they just are. They are the hated, the despised, the refuse of the towns, and they bind themselves to their hate and lash out. Your town just happened to be in their way."

"I'm not a boy, I'm twelve!"

"I am twenty three, I am your elder, and you are a child in my eyes. When you are a man, provided we both live long enough to see that day, I will address you as one."

"You're mean!"

"Really? If I was I would kill all your friends, take their heads, and go back to the camp. They would let me back in, after all I only broke a small rule. And the profit I would reap from your collective deaths would buy me a life of ease."

Mithos went pale, he was scared, if all this human had to do was kill them...

"I am however, not, going to do that."

The young half elf's head whipped up.

"Why not?" Then he blushed, realized what he had just said.

"I have my reasons. As long as Yuan continues to give her the tea I made your sister will recover."

"Why are you helping us?"

"Because I owe your sister a debt, and as an Aurion, I pay my debts." There was something funny in Kratos' eyes, some strange thing that Mithos saw in Martel's all the time. "You should get some sleep, you look worn out."

"I..I'm not sleepy." he yawned despite himself.

"Yeah right kid, and I am the king of Tethe'alla. Get to bed."

"I lost my blankets at the river..."
Kratos reached into his own packs and tossed something at Mithos' feet. In surprise the half elf lifted the bundle out. It didn't smell good, but it was a blanket.

"What will you sleep on?"

"My back, the ground, it is nothing new. Get to sleep, you can't cast spells if you yawn all the time, right?"

"Err right?"

Kratos said nothing, only pulled out his sword and began to polish it. And the funny thing was that Mithos wasn't scared anymore. Kratos promised that he wouldn't hurt them. And in a really weird way it was comforting to have the merce- whatever he was- on there side. Because he kept his promises, all of them.

"Was I bad Kratos?" His voice was a child's, he had lost control and changed back. "Did I do something wrong?"

There was no one to respond he was alone.

asterics go here-

"Daee!" Kratos smiled, or tried to. Lloyd would have run across the room faster then a arrow and attached himself to his daddy's leg. He was enthusiastic, but tired. Anna lifted her head from where she lay, she was taking another nap. For a moment Kratos felt guilty, he should allow her to rest, she needed it. The news he had though would hopefully bring her a bit of cheer and energy.

"Hello, been busy?"

"Unun, swepin."

"Sweeping?" Kratos allowed a hint of confusion to enter his voice. He knew what Lloyd was saying, he just wanted Lloyd to try to say it right.

"Sloopin?"

"Easy Lloyd, don't hurt yourself." Anna muttered from her nest of blankets. "What are you doing here Kratos? I though it wasn't safe..."

"It is now, after what I did earlier Yggdrasil will want nothing to do with me for a millennia."

"What did you do now?"

"I p-" Anna's eyes narrowed. "Err made him mad. If he is not somewhere chewing carpet I owe myself twenty gald."

"huh... So what does that mean for us?"
"We will be out of here in a few hours."

Anna smiled, though she looked so horribly tired. Lloyd whooped, hugged Daddy's leg, and would not let go. But still he trembled with that wretched fatigue. But it would soon be over, soon they would be safe. He would do anything to keep them that way too.