02. You seem familiar –
A single tear dropped down his face…it's been 15 years since he lost his beloved wife and son, but carrying those memories was the most awful burden he had to deal with, every day of his unnatural long life in this world.
"I thought I'd find you here!" a clear voice from behind him yelled.
Kratos looked over his shoulder to find a boy in red, about age 17, with brown hair and the most idiotic smile he'd ever seen anyone carry these days…
"Lloyd" Kratos started.
that name…"I thought we'd agreed that I'd be tonight's watch? You need to get some sleep, tomorrow will be another rough day.
The boy walked over to him, still carrying that awful smile…it send shivers up his body. The boy sat down next to him, looking at the stars as he spoke;
"yeah, well….I couldn't sleep y'know…I often wake to find myself looking at the stars. The sky is just so bright out there…I've done it since I was little…that's the reason the one thing I studied seriously was the sky"
Kratos snickered.
"I must say I'm surprised there's actually one thing you won't get bored with" he added.
"Aww man! I bet Genis told you that, didn't he?" Lloyd replied, irritation raised his voice.
For some reason…this boy reminded him so much off his self when he was younger.
Young, determined, reckless…and a terrible sense off Grammatics…
No kidding, after all, Lloyd was raised by a dwarf…it wasn't his real father though, he said he didn't know anything about his parents. He assumed his mother was killed by the Desians, and his father had died in a war between the worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla.
Kratos, still deep in his thoughts, didn't notice Noishe walking up to them. The strange creature sat beside him, and Kratos stunned as he felt a warm and wet tongue slid over his cheek.
"NOISHE!" Kratos raised his voice as he yelled at the creature who had just "licked" him back to reality…
Noishe barked in excitement , as he finally seemed to have Kratos' attention.
Kratos' expression softened…he stroked the head of the creature, and Lloyd could swear he had seen a smile on Kratos' face.
"Do you like animals?" Lloyd asked all of a sudden.
"No…not in particularly" Kratos replied pulling a face that said "why the hell are you asking me like I could give a damn?"
"Well…Noishe isn't too comfortable with strangers y'know, but he seems to be smitten with you…It's almost like you've known eachother for a long while" Lloyd's words seemed to generate something in Kratos…as he looked at his companion, he saw Kratos sitting there with a blank stare, his mouth hung open. Noishe howled, but it didn't seem to bother him. Kratos was already living in his memories…
…like you've known eachother for a long while….It seemed impossible, but…then why did they bring back those awful memories? Everything seemed to match…This boy, he be..? That was impossible…he lost his son the same day he lost his beloved Anna. He remembered how he had fought of the Desians to protect his son and…Noishe…He had sworn that he would take care of his son, he promised Anna…
He had stumbled down the cliff Lloyd and Noishe fell from during his fierce battle with the Desians. But all there was left where the Desian corpses, half-eaten by the monsters…His son was dead…wasn't he? Could it be that…this Lloyd…
Kratos knew that his heart, that desired so much for that answer, was not enough to get his beloved son back…but still…that name…Lloyd…
- Flashback -
"But Daddyyy! I don't wanna go to bed! I'm not tired!" Lloyd's expression made Kratos want to strike a hand over his heart and give in to that innocence, but on the other hand…he knew the consequences…Anna…
"No but's Lloyd, It's far too late for a boy your age to be up at this hour.." was Kratos' reply.
"awwww….pleeease daddy? I won't tell mommy, I promise!" Lloyd was way too confident for his own good…Kratos smiled.
"A promise isn't enough , being aware of what your mother will do to me if I let you stay up all night" he said as he pulled his son up his shoulders.
At the same moment, Anna walked out of the tent, the expression on her face was just what Kratos had hoped for…that determination in her eyes as she gave him a death glare.
"Lloyd! Are you still up! Do you know what time it is?" she yelled, giving Kratos the "responsibility look".
"Mommy! Mommy! We looked at the stars together!" Lloyd started.
"There where lots of pretty stars! Oh! And one really big star! Daddy said it sparkled just like your eyes!" Lloyd giggled.
Kratos felt his head turn red as he noticed Anna staring at him.
"Did he now?" She said while looking at him with that suspicious look and that evil smile…
He hated it when she did that…Kratos felt his head turn even more red. He coughed to break the silence, as he spoke;
"All right! Time to go to bed now" he said, pulling his over- enthusiastic son with him.
Anna lifted Lloyd and hugged him as she placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"Good night…" she said with a smile
"Good night mommy…" Lloyd said with a yawn
Anna watched her husband and son disappear into the tent. She smiled, she was so proud of her family…
"Good night Lloyd" Kratos said pulling the blanchets over his son.
"Good night daddy…" Lloyd pulled his father towards him and hugged him.
Kratos smiled as he held his son. For almost four – thousand years he'd been on this world , but in all that time, his family was the only thing that had really mattered to him. Kratos let go of Lloyd, and walked out of the tent. He turned his head and smiled as he saw his son lying there, with all of his childish innocence.
"Finally…" he heard someone say as he entered the darkness outside.
Kratos found Anna, sitting by a fire, a blanchet wrapped around her body and that same sparkle in her eyes. He smiled as he sat beside her, and placed a kiss on her cheek. She placed her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"He reminds me so much of you" Anna said without looking up
"Oh really? He reminds me more of you…" he replied with a smirk.
Anna sat up straight, as she gave him that flirting look.
"You mean…sweet, beautiful and intelligent?" she almost sounded like she was drunk.
"No…that he's driving me crazy" He gently brushed his lips against hers and enjoyed her sweet giggle.
She blushed as she jerked him towards her and started answering his kiss. He enjoyed being with her just as much as she enjoyed being with him. He wanted this moment to last forever…
end of Flashback -
"Kratos?"
….that voice…
"Kratos are you even listening?" the same voice again…
Kratos snapped out of his memories as he looked upon the figure who called his name. He recognized the red, the dark hair, the two swords…
"Lloyd?" he couldn't find words…
"Kratos are you all right? Is….something bothering you?" The boy asked in a friendly way.
"N-no…I'm…just getting tired, I guess…" Kratos felt like a bad liar.
"you go to sleep, I'll take on your shift, okay?" Lloyd almost sounded excited.
Kratos knew it wouldn't be a good idea to let Lloyd take on his shift, but he got himself stuck in the situation so he had no other choice.
"Do as you wish" Kratos said, as he stood up, turning his back towards Lloyd.
"You're a confusing person, Kratos" Lloyd said with a smile.
"I wish I got to know you a lil' better, cuz..I have this feeling that you know a lot more about me then I do about you…well anyway, Good night!"
"Oh, I'm sure of that" Kratos said as he walked away
...I'm sure of that...