A Tainted Mind leads to a Betraying Heart
Disclaimer: Not owning a thing of Symphonia except for my copy of the game.
Chapter 1 – The Reunion he did not envision"Sheena, Lloyd please come quickly to the main room." The pair turned in time to see Orochi (brother to the rogue ninja Kuchinawa) running through the hall in hopes of catching up to them.
"Orochi what's wrong? Why are you in such a rush?" asked Sheena with concern in her eyes and voice.
"Please just follow me." Said the blue cloaked ninja as he turned and began to sprit back in the direction he came from.
Lloyd and Sheena exchanged looks with one another as they saw their friend begin to leave them behind. "Well it sounds important so lets check it out, Sheena." Said Lloyd.
Sheena nodded in response to his comment and the two of them followed the ninja to the main room of the house they were staying in.
As they made their way Lloyd wondered what could be the emergency that had the normally calm ninja so uptight. He soon realized what it was as Sheena gave a gasp and a small shriek at the site before them.
"Huh no way? It can't be…?" said Lloyd wide-eyed at the body before him.
It was none other than his father Kratos Aurion. Now Lloyd and Sheena would normally have welcomed the man with open arms but at this moment their minds were caught up in something else. That something else was that Kratos was lying on the ground unconscious, clothes torn, beaten, and extremely bloody.
Lloyd was in shock at the site of his father. A man, whom he had seen as a god among men as far as strength went, was now appearing to be on the brink of death.
Lloyd first noticed Kratos' forehead was cut deeply and it appeared that blood had run like a river from it, as most of the older man's forehead was covered with it.
His armor was bloodstain as well and showed off some dents in various spots around and near his obvious bleeding rib cage. He also had bruises on his shoulders, which were already beginning to change into a deep bluish almost purple-like color.
Finally he noticed Kratos' legs were also injured showing a bruise on his exposed right leg and a deep cut on his left thigh.
"Dear Goddess! No!" said Sheena as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"Da…Dad!!" yelled out Lloyd as he ran to his father's side and wiped the blood from Kratos' mouth.
"Dad? Dad can you hear me? Please Dad say something…anything." Said Lloyd gently shaking his father as he felt tears begin to leave his brown eyes.
"He's still alive Lloyd, but barely." Said The Renegade Leader Yuan as he stepped in through the front door, close behind him were Tiga and Sheena's grandfather.
"Yuan?!" said Lloyd with a shock and surprised look.
"Grandpa, what happen to him?" asked Sheena with concern as she too wonder what or who could have done this to Kratos.
"I believe this man knows more than I do, Sheena." Answered Chief Igaguri pointing to Yuan.
"Yuan what are you doing here and what happened to my Dad!" yelled out Lloyd with sadness in his voice, to the blue haired half-elf.
"Still as hot headed as always huh, Lloyd."
"What did you say!" yelled out Lloyd interrupting the older half-elf.
"Calm down and I'll explain what happen." Said Yuan calmly.
Sheena then approached Lloyd and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Lloyd let Yuan speak I'm sure he knows exactly what happen to Kratos."
Lloyd decided that Sheena was right and with a sigh relaxed his tense body and waited for Yuan to continue.
As Yuan began Lloyd and Sheena stepped aside to allow Tiga and Orochi enough space to clean and patch up the unconscious Kratos.
"While I don't know the exact details of the attack. I do know that this was nothing more than an assault on your father, Lloyd." As Yuan said the last part of his sentence Lloyd's eyes slid into a fierce glare.
Yuan then continued, "It's obvious that someone wanted him dead, your father is too careful to get that injured by himself. That and I was lucky enough to find him, you see my men and I were able to ridge The Dimensional Transporter to allow access to Derris-Kharlan for a short while.
I was hoping to check up on your father and by pure chance I found him face down on the ground bleeding intensely. He looked at a lot worse than this and I was only able to stop some of the bleeding so I decided to bring him here to you."
"I get it now. But how did you know we were here?" asked Lloyd with slight tilt to his head.
"It seems during one of their patrols one of the squads spotted Noishe near this village. So I naturally assumed that you were here." Answered Yuan sincerely.
"I see, well thanks for rescuing my dad." Said Lloyd with a smile. Yuan in response just nodded at the young man. 'And you're still as cold as ever.' Thought Lloyd with a quick face drop.
"Well it looks like we were able to wipe all the blood from him and clean his wounds as much as we could." Said Orochi as he stood up along side Tiga.
"Yes your father should live Lloyd, but for now you should allow him some rest he was badly injured and lost a rather large amount of blood. Orochi help me in carrying him into an empty room." Said Tiga.
"Thanks you two." Said Lloyd with a bow. Tiga bowed as well before he and Orochi walked off gently carrying Kratos over their shoulders.
"Well with that matter set, I will make my leave as well." Said Yuan before he turned and began to walk away.
"Wait, why are you leaving so soon?" asked Sheena with a slight head tilt.
"Its my believe that this attack on Kratos is also a message, perhaps they didn't expect me to find him, but even if the worse had happen. It's obvious they wanted to get our attention and how better than killing your father, Lloyd." Said Yuan running a hand through his hair.
"What do you mean they?" asked Lloyd scratching the side of his head.
"It seems more likely that a group of individuals attacked your father than only a single foe. The cuts and bruises also seem to vary in shape and size as if made by different weapons or differing strength." Stated Yuan turning his head to the side to face Lloyd.
"…Yeah I see what you mean, but you still haven't explain the sudden leave." Said Lloyd.
"I do not wish to bring this village any unnecessary harm, if they went after Kratos they may come after me possibly even you and the girl or any one that was in your group from the past." Said Yuan as he stepped out of the house.
"What do you think, Sheena?" asked Lloyd as he turned to face his close friend.
"I don't know? Yuan maybe right if they came after Kratos they may also come after you if they know you're his son." Said Sheena.
Lloyd nodded in agreement and was about to go visit his father when he and Sheena heard a woman scream.
"What was that?"
"It sounded like it came from the entrance of the village." Said Sheena.
Lloyd then ran back to his room and reemerged with the Kasunagi Twin Swords (the powerful twin swords that Lloyd received after the party defeated the Elite Demon "The Sword Dancer" for the third and final time) around his waist.
"Sheena stay here, I'll go check it out."
"Okay but be careful Lloyd and don't get careless." Said Sheena as Lloyd gave her a quick thumbs up before he sped out the door.
As Lloyd reached the entrance he called out to the villagers trying to help an injured Yuan to his feet.
"Hey what happen here?" The villagers turned to see the young swordsman approached and one woman spoke up. "This man was attacked as he was making his way out of the village."
"What? Yuan are you okay, can you hear me?" asked Lloyd as he finally approached the blue haired half-elf.
"Ugh, please set me down…near that tree…(cough)…and I'll tell you everything." Said Yuan with pleading eyes.
"Sure, hold on." Lloyd then took Yuan over the shoulder and helped him over to the tree Yuan had pointed out.
"Thank…you."
"No problem, but we need…" Lloyd cut himself off when he noticed a small dart below Yuan's left ear.
"Huh what's this?" Lloyd then gently removed the dart.
He closely noticed the tip it was greenish in color and so was the mark it left on Yuan. 'Ah, he's been poisoned.' Realized Lloyd.
"Quick one of you, please bring me a Panacea Bottle. He needs it now!" yelled out Lloyd. Since they knew and trusted Lloyd one of the villagers left in a hurry to get the bottle.
"Yuan you've been poisoned but don't worry I'll give the cure to you soon so please just save your strength." Said Lloyd looking down at Yuan.
"I should have expected this…" Said Yuan before he coughed again.
'Damn he's getting worse.' Cursed Lloyd in his mind. Luckily the villager came back with the bottle and handed it to Lloyd before Yuan could get any worse.
"Here drink this." Lloyd held the bottle to Yuan's mouth before he carefully sent the liquid down his throat.
Within several seconds Yuan's suffering ended and the blue haired half-elf sighed deeply before he carefully pulled himself up to his feet.
"I guess I should show my thanks." Said Yuan as he dusted himself off.
'That be nice, I did just saved you.' Thought Lloyd with a mental sigh.
"Well you can thank me by telling me what happen to you." Said Lloyd staring at the older half-elf.
"Very well, as I made my way to the entrance I was ambushed by someone or rather by that dart. I felt it connect and in the next moment my body begin to break down." Stated Yuan.
"So you have no clue as to who drugged you?" Yuan shook his head to Lloyd's question. "Damn that means the assassin may still be nearby."
As faith would have it Lloyd, Yuan, and the villagers then heard a loud shatter of glass coming from Chief Igaguri's home.
"Ah Sheena, Dad!" yelled out Lloyd as he started to run off in the direction of the house but he then stopped and turned around to face Yuan.
"I'll be fine, go now they must be the next targets. Perhaps the assassin spotted me bringing your father here. Go to them if not they'll surely kill the girl and Kratos." Said Yuan as he turned and began to make his way to the entrance of Mizuho.
'You're right Yuan, I'm not going to lose Sheena or Dad.' Thought Lloyd as he ran straight to the house.
But as Lloyd made his way to the door he was suddenly surprised as a body was flung through the door with enough force to break it off its hinges.
The body was caught luckily by Lloyd who then noticed that the person tossed was none other than Sheena.
"Sheena?! Sheena speak to me." Said Lloyd as he took hold of her head in one of his hands.
"Sheena…" he said softly as he ran a hand through her face and hair.
"Ll…Lloyd. It's…" mumbled Sheena.
"Who Sheena? Who did this to you?" asked Lloyd. Sheena instead of answering slowly lifted her hand and pointed to the gap made by the broken door.
"You!" yelled out Lloyd when he shifted his eyes to the gap…
A.N. Well that finishes the first chapter and I know everyone is probably or slightly ticked off for the cliffy, but it was need to make a good ending and helps set up chapter 2, so just as before please read and review...oh and who do you think is the "assassian"?