Chapter 7

Note: Alas, another chapter! Sorry, and on with the story!

The sun warmed the crisp sheets covering the frail form of Colette, and she turned over, letting them fall off of her as she crawled off the side of her bed. Her arms above her head in a yawn, Colette suddenly remembered the strange man that had struck her memory so strongly.

Slowly standing from her prior sitting position, she glanced at the other two beds that would house her friends. They stood occupied, one with Genis, laying on his stomach, and the other with Professor Sage calmly resting, her hands placed delicately on her breast. Colette smiled at their calming bodies and then walked to the last bed in the hall.

She nervously hovered over the shape, hoping it wouldn't stir, but still wishing that it would, so she could be certain of who it was. Whoever it happened to be had laid on his side and slowly heaved up and down from the heavy breaths. Colette positioned herself on the other side of the cot, and finally tried to peek at his face.

She looked at him and immediately knew who it was. She was startled when he stared back at her.Gasping at his sudden words, Colette took a large step back and almost hit the wall.

"Hello, Colette." He stood and then continued talking. "I knew you'd find me eventually." His cool voice carried lightly through the room, and Colette shivered at its eerie calm and superiority. "How are you doing now? It's been a while."

Coughing lightly, the frightened girl cleared her throat and spoke. "Kratos…were you following us?"

The man shook his head and his dark red hair bobbed around, finding their favorite spots and staying there while he spoke. "I was simply watching your progress."

"Why are you here?"

"I could ask you the same question." He motioned for her to move out the way, and she did to allow him to cross in front of her and start for the door.

Colette shrugged at the comment and looked at Kratos' full body. He hadn't changed at all since last she'd seen him, when his son had to beat him at the sword to further his journey. He was still tall and built well, and his costume was quite similar to his usual garb. "Kratos, I want to know something."

Kratos looked at her with his piercing eyes. "What is it?"

"I want to know if…if you've seen Lloyd." She looked down and felt the tears begin to sting her eyes.

After a short silence, Kratos opened his mouth and spouted a reply. "Impossible," he said, but couldn't quite hide the true emotions he had. "Of course I haven't seen him. Lloyd is dead, Colette. He can never be seen again."

Still with her head down, Colette mumbled her reply. "I know…but…I have seen him."

"What?" he said, shocked enough to drop his hands from his head. He looked at her with a strong gaze. "How?"

Looking up to meet his eyes, she noticed his stance of parental protection and tried to strengthen herself. "Yes. He came to my room one night in Triet, and we talked. But…it was horrible. No, it was…wonderful.

"Why was this occurrence so horrendous for you?"

Colette kept staring at his face. "Well…He could speak to me, and I knew it was him, but I still…. He wouldn't touch me, and I couldn't touch him. I was confused, and it just…just upset me more."

"Do you think it was really Lloyd?"

"Yes. I know it was him."

"You didn't imagine him? You were quite distraught ever since it happened." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

She gave him as strong a stare as she could. "No. I know what I saw, and Lloyd was in my room, and I have to find him again. I am searching for him." She shrugged his hand off of her shoulder.

Kratos sighed. "Okay. I want to keep an eye on you, though. I need to make sure that you're all right."

"I would like that. You know…" She looked down again.

Kratos: Gave a small smile and nudged her head up to meet his. Noticing her tears, he asked, "What is it now?"

Colette unwillingly let out a small laugh. "You are like a true father to me."

Without a word, Kratos took Colette into his arms and gave her a sturdy hug. "And you have always been my unborn daughter. I want to see you through."

A voice rang from behind the two hugging, and caused them both to jump. "Kratos."

"Raine. Or should I say Professor?"

"You may call me Professor Sage." She stood with her arms crossed and her weight evenly distributed while she stared at Kratos without any gladness. "What are you doing here?"

He let go of Colette and placed her next to him. "I am looking after Colette."

"That is my job. I cannot let you join us on this journey. Please leave, or we will."

"How can you take her on this path now? She isn't ready for all this yet."

"I know what my daughter needs. I have waited for her to decide when she was ready, and she is doing very well. Do not tell me to change my mind, because I do not value your opinion. You are a traitor."

Kratos let out a rush of air. "Traitor? I helped you through to destroy Mithos."

"I do not need you to be here and bothering Colette."

"I cannot leave her with you, either. I know that I can be of more help to her than you.

Raine swiftly clamped her hands to her hips. "Colette is like a daughter to me now, and as her mother, I will not let you torment her any longer."

"Daughter? You are nowhere near a mother to this girl. I am all she needs, and I will guide her."

Raine shoved him away and took Colette in her arms and then pushed her lightly toward the beds. "Go there and try to rest, Colette." She turned back to Kratos and glared at his calm body. "Nobody needs you. Go back to your job, and leave us all alone. Please go away. And do not come back."

"Are you going to fight me over this?"

"If I must."

Colette rushed past Raine and stood between them. "Please! Stop this! Don't fight over me anymore!"

Raine looked at her and sighed lightly. "Colette, I'm trying to protect you. This man is not a good person, and he won't help you."

"No!" Colette tried to think of any sort of argument to stop theirs, but she couldn't. "Just…stop it. Kratos can come if he wants, but everyone should get to have their share to speak."

"Fine. When Genis wakes, we'll discuss this. But…I don't want you near Colette until then." Raine led Colette through the door and down the stairs, where the priest of the inn sat near the fire.

Kratos, speechless, stood still for a moment, and then walked over to his cot. He bent to reach below the mattress to get to his bag. Sitting against the frame, he took the bag in his lap and then opened the mouth to see the gaping emptiness inside.

With a slight pause, he stuck his hand inside and when he removed it, a small, shiny piece of paper was in his grasp. His eyes grew shiny, and he dropped his bag next to him, never ending his stare on his deceased son's face.