A Tainted Mind leads to a Betraying Heart
Author's Notes: Thank you everyone that has read and reviewed my simple fic, you all don't know how much happiness I feel knowing that each one of you like it and can't wait to read more of it.
Now I'll answer some questions first up Lloyd (Irving) Aurion: Yes Lloyd still has the Material Blades (The Eternal Sword) but will only use them in "special" combat that's all I can say for now. But he will use them at several points in the fic but for the most part he will stick with the Kusanagi.
Next up Littlelives: I understand what you mean by me using Italics on their thoughts. But I'm too used to using '(insert words here)' for thoughts since I like to save Italics and Bold for really important things that must stand out sorry its just my writing style but thank you for the suggestion.
Now we seem to have an interesting viewpoint as to who is the "assassin" really is. Based on the reviews seems half of you think its Zelos and the others think its Kuchinawa…and one of you thought it was Colette…sad to say its not Colette sorry (laughs) but it is one of the two men mentioned above.
Now I'm sure you all want to read so I'll just end here with the Disclaimer…though I have a special guest helping me with it, that's your cue Corrine.
"Thanks Fox, oh and he doesn't own Tales of Symphonia or me. Namco does so please don't sue him."(Smiles)
Thanks Corrine. Now on to the fic enjoy everyone.
Chapter 2 – The Rise and Retold fall of the Mighty Angel"Kuchinawa!" yelled out Lloyd with anger flowing through his words as he glared at the red ninja.
"Still protecting her huh, boy." Said the ninja as he brought out a shuriken.
Before Lloyd answered he turned his attention back to Sheena. It was obvious even to him that the girl was gravely injured as he could see several cuts on her purple attire. As well a small amount of her own blood leaving her mouth.
As he continued to hold her in his arms Lloyd carefully used one of his fingers and began to wipe away the blood that had stained her mouth. He knew instantly she must have gotten an internal injury when the ninja tossed her through the door.
"You bastard! How dare you harm her!" Growled Lloyd with a strong fire in his eyes. But before he could confront the ninja he placed Sheena carefully down on the ground. He then brought out his swords.
"You care so much for that murder." Stated Kuchinawa as he tossed the shuriken at Lloyd.
Lloyd easily knocked it away with a flick of his right sword. "She isn't a murder. Sure Volt went berserk all those years ago, but ever stopped to wonder that maybe Sheena was still too young to pact with Volt she was still just a child damn it!"
"That doesn't change things. Besides the reason I attacked her this time was because she was protecting your father." Said Kuchinawa throwing another shuriken straight at Lloyd's face.
Once again it failed as Lloyd sidestepped it easily. "What? How do you know of my Dad? Just who the hell told you!"
"My employer, now I've wasted enough of my time with you and that woman." Said the ninja pointing at the fallen Sheena.
Lloyd had heard enough and decided to take matters into his own hands, taking a running start he leaped into the air and brought down his swords on what he hoped would be the ninja's head.
Unfortunately for Lloyd Kuchinawa was able to block the attack using two shurikens that were just slightly bigger than his fists. The two fighters continued their power struggle until the ninja spoke up.
"As I said I have no time for you or wench of murderer. Your father's death is my only concern boy."
Kuchinawa then surprised Lloyd by quickly and effectively using his smoke screen causing Lloyd to back off and allow the ninja enough time to make a quick exit back into the house.
"Oh no you don't…(cough) I won't lose my Dad…(cough) to a bastard like you." Said Lloyd as he finally rid all the smoke away from him. He coughed one final time before he ran after Kuchinawa…
As Lloyd ran through the main room he thoughts suddenly went back to the injured Sheena.
'Please hold on Sheena. After I deal with him, I promise I'll save you. I…won't lose you…I can't. Just for now please hold on.' Thought Lloyd as he turned the corner and entered the hallway in hopes of stopping the ninja before he could harm his father and make it back in time to save his dear friend…
Meanwhile Kuchinawa slid open the door of the room Kratos was currently resting in. The ninja smirked as he stepped in for he noticed that Tiga and Chief Igaguri, who had tried to stop him from harming Kratos, were still unconscious from his previous attack.
He laughed as he remembered knocking them out rather easily and at how Sheena had tried to stop him as well.
"Foolish girl she got what she dissevered." Mocked the ninja with a smirk hidden behind his mask.
But upon further inspection of the room he realized that Kratos' unconscious body had vanished.
"What this make no sense he was here but a minute ago…so how could he…"
Suddenly and swiftly a strong arm came from behind him and wrapped itself around the ninja's neck.
Within the next second he was slammed hard into the left wall of the room.
"Ugh, who…the…" grumbled the ninja in surprise.
An energy ball then formed in his attacker's left hand. It was then pointed at the ninja's head.
"Do not underestimate me." Said a deep and serious voice.
In that moment Kuchinawa knew he had gone from hunter to hunted as he realized that the man behind him was none other than Kratos Aurion.
"You…how?" gasped the ninja as Kratos' grip got tighter.
"An elixir given to me by the ones you attacked." Stated Kratos as his eyes slid into a glare. "Now why are you trying to kill me?"
"It is my duty and my order." said Kuchinawa. Then much to Kratos' surprisereleased a pair of black Cruxis wings.
"What?" questioned Kratos for the force from the wings being released made him loose his grip on the ninja…
At the same time Lloyd was nearing the room he had briefly seen Kuchinawa enter.
'This has to be it…' thought Lloyd as he slid the door open and entered the room.
But just as Lloyd was going to confront the ninja he stopped dead in his tracks at the site before him:
Sheena's grandfather and Tiga appeared unconscious, Kuchinawa had sprouted a pair of wings, and last but not least his father was alive and standing before him.
"Dad!" said Lloyd with a gasp before he fully realized that the ninja had wings.
"Hey wait how can you have angel wings?" said Lloyd turning to face the ninja.
"That is none of your concern, boy. Fortunately for you we will finish this another time." Kuchinawa then disappeared using his infamous smoke screen.
"Damn…" cursed Lloyd at his misfortune. Suddenly he remembered about his father. He then turned to face his father.
"D…Dad? You're alive?" Lloyd smiled at his father as Kratos gave him a quick look over.
"That I am. You seem well, Lloyd." Said Kratos kindly he then scanned his surrounds for a moment.
"Hmm, how exactly did I end up back here in Mizuho?" Asked Kratos with a slight tilt of his head.
"Thanks I am and well all I know is that Yuan found you in Derris-Kharlan face down and near death. He then brought you here cause he found out through his men that…um…"
Kratos noticed the sudden pause in his son's sentence and wondered what could have caused him to stop at that moment. "Lloyd…"
"Oh, sorry about that." Apologized Lloyd with a laugh and a hand behind his head.
"Well anyway Yuan's men found out that me and well…um Sheena…were staying here for a while so he brought you here." Said Lloyd with a slight blush on his cheeks from when he had said Sheena's name.
'I see now he was embarrassed to say her name. Yes now I remember, he told me he would be traveling with her on his journey.' Thought Kratos before he spoke up. "I understand, so once again Yuan has played savior to me."
"I guess you can put it that way, but what happen to them?" asked Lloyd as he walked over to the Chief and Tiga.
"I suspect that perhaps Kuchinawa had a hand in this, lucky for us they appear alive and with out any injuries." Stated Kratos.
"Yeah looks like just knocked them out…but can you heal them heal them anyway Dad." Asked Lloyd.
"Of course." Kratos nodded before he began and performed a quick "First Aid" on the two men to ensure their safety.
"By the way Lloyd, you mentioned that Sheena was with you. Where is she?" said Kratos turning his attention back to his son.
"Ah, Sheena! …Oh no she was badly injured by Kuchinawa. Please Dad follow me and heal her before its too late." Said Lloyd as he quickly sprinted out of the room with a slightly confused Kratos following him…
Moments later the father and son had made their way back to the main room of the home. But suddenly came to a stop as they laid eyes on Orochi who was carrying in his arms Sheena.
He saw the two swordsmen and nodded before placing the injured summoner on the floor gently.
Lloyd at that moment experienced a slight case of deja vu in seeing Sheena just the way he had seen his father a few minutes ago. But also to his surprise he felt a bit of anger come from deep within him at the site of Orochi carrying Sheena in his arms.
'What was that, and why did I feel that way? Was I actually jealous that Orochi carried her in and in his arms, instead of me carrying her in mine?' Wondered Lloyd as he quickly shook off the feeling before remembered that Sheena needed help and she needed it now.
"Please heal her, Dad." Said Lloyd as he looked to his father with a sadden look.
"Understood." Kratos then walked up to Sheena as Orochi stepped away to allow Kratos some room.
Standing next to her he extended his right hand and softly said, "Healing Wind". A cool and refreshing breeze than began to blow around and near Sheena.
A minute later Sheena slowly began to reawake as felt the intense pain that had caused her lose consciousness begin to fade away.
A few seconds passed and she was finally able to fully open her eyes she then slowly began to pull herself up.
But before she could speak she felt a strong pair of arms helping her pick herself up.
She then slightly shifted her view to see Lloyd standing beside her. Lloyd grinned at her and with each other's help Sheena soon found her footing once more.
"Lloyd…" said Sheena slowly.
"Hey, good to see you're okay, Sheena." Said Lloyd with a small smile.
Sheena smiled at him kindly before she noticed that she was back inside her grandfather's home. She then saw Orochi and none other than Kratos standing near the hallway.
"Good to see you up, Sheena. Now please excuse me for I must go help the Chief and Tiga." Said Orochi with a bow before he left into the hallway.
Sheena smiled and nodded at her old friend before he left. She then turned her attention to Kratos. "Kratos…you're ok? …But I thought you were on death's door?" Said Sheena with a heavily confused look on her face.
"I recovered at a much faster rate thanks in part to an elixir given to me by either your grandfather or Tiga. As for the rest Lloyd explained everything to me."
"I see." Said Sheena as her facial features relaxed before she spoke up again, "But how do you know it was my grandfather and an elixir that saved you?"
"I saw the empty bottle on the floor and assumed."
"Now Lloyd did Yuan make his leave already?" asked Kratos directing his attention to his son.
"Well yeah but apparently Kuchinawa got to him as well." Said Lloyd as Kratos flashed him a look of confusion.
"He poisoned him, but I asked one of the villagers to get me Panacea bottle and I was able to heal him in time." Stated Lloyd.
"I see, well done." Kratos then noticed that his son had more to say.
"Kra…no Dad, just what exactly happen to you. Yuan really didn't clear it up too much."
Kratos closed his eyes for a spilt second before he reopened them and spoke up.
"I was ambushed, plain and simple as that. I was making my way through the maze like passages of Derris-Kharlan and suddenly felt a presence behind me. Then without warning I felt a strong pain in ribcage.
I realized someone had stuck with enough force to dent my armor and crack a rib or two, two more shots then connected in and around the same wound. Before I could mount a defensive attack a massive object then struck me from behind."
"How do you know that?" interrupted Lloyd with a raised eyebrow.
"The pain I felt was enormous and unlike anything I've ever felt before, It felt as if my spine had been cracked in two."
Both Lloyd and Sheena gasped at this, as Kratos continued.
"As I fell to one knee I felt one last object make contact with my forehead. I gasped from the pain which was around the same time when my legs gave out on me, all the while blood left my forehead at a rapid rate.
The last thing I remember was the ground as my body collapsed on to it and for the first time in my life…I was actually scared of Death's embrace. Yet I felt angry at the way Fate had chosen for me to leave this world." Said with Kratos with a deep sigh and his head hung low.
"Dad…I'm sorry…" said Lloyd quietly and slowly as he walked up to his father. He then embraced the elder man in a tight hug.
"Lloyd…" said Kratos before returned the embrace to his son.
A.N. Well thats it for this chapter and no that isn't a cliffy its just The Aurions having a moment to themselves. So with that said as usual please read and review. Love it, hate it, confused by it let me know.