A/N: OKAY, GEEZ! I'm getting to it. T.T I realized that I've started too many projects... (sob) I'm going to try my best to make my way to all of 'em, or some of them may be put on hold. Ya... and I'm freakin' lazy. (snoooorrrrre)

Of course, this flash-forward thing-ma-bob was intended from the beginning. Because, well, I don't remember all the events in order (it's been a year since I've beaten the game last now...), and this fanfic wasn't supposed to be that long. I'm getting the feeling people thought this was going to be lotsa chapters... but... ehhh... sorry. I'm going with my original intent. Maybe, maybe this will be extended. (shrug) Like I said, I've got other things to update and/or finish as well.

Disclaimer: ShimaGenki doesn't own Tales of Symphonia. I've run out of funny things to say.

Touched by an Angel

Chapter 3

As time passed on, Zelos had met his new friends. He was slightly nervous, but didn't worry much. Their judge of character was pretty poor in his opinion, and he was ready to betray, and betray his... er... betrayal. Not as complicated as it sounds, really.

Along the way, the group had multiple run-ins with Kratos. Of course, the redhead had to keep his cool: and perfectly made it seem like he had almost no association with him. That he was just the flirty Chosen of Sylvarant, helping save the two worlds. Which technically he was trying to do, but just in a more complex manner.

Although the plan was going (somewhat) smoothly, Zelos had his doubts. Maybe he just wanted to end his life. Maybe he just wanted to do whatever the hell he pleased. But everytime he saw that brunette's face and his deep chocolate eyes, he just wanted to run into his arms. Perhaps that thought made him feel awkward, but it gave him meaning to not give up and run away.

One day, he was feeling mildly depressed and sitting far away from the others. Sheena, whom he had met before, seemed to notice, but was nervous in approaching him. No one else seemed to have caught his unusual mood, and he remained by the riverbed, dipping his bare fingers into the water, letting the feeling course through. He wondered what it would have been like to never feel again. Pain, was an uncomfortable feeling, but it was what made water and sunshine feel awesome. He hoped, that through this journey, he'd stop the angelic trials, and no one would have to feel the way he had.

Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes. Curious, the man rose from his spot and carefully walked towards the source of the noise. He jumped onto the bush, as if to scare off what had been there, and searched around to see that it had been his imagination. The campsite was now far from view, as he checked to see if anyone had been playing tricks on him. A hand cupped his mouth, and he jumped, quite startled. Easily the hand was swatted away, and he started to yell, "What the hell do you think you're--" when he saw that it had been his own angel trying to keep him down. "Kratos?"

"Chosen. I came to see how you were keeping up. I hope you're doing all right?" His voice was so quiet, yet tense.

"Yeah, I'm doing fine! What, you thought any less?" He wore a cocky smile to hide the sheepish grin underneath.

"With you, I can never be sure..."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Inside, he was frowning, but he looked like he was pouting. "You don't trust me, Kratty?"

"Zelos." He jumped when a gloved hand touched his shoulder, chills running up and down his spine. "You're a fine actor, I'll give you that much. But you cannot let them see through you."

"Oh, I'm flattered but I don't need your--"

"I can see right through you. Do not forget, Chosen, that the two of us are going to save the world. If you go down, everything is ruined." Without a goodbye, the Cruxis angel spread his wings and flew away. Zelos blushed, because he looked like a real angel. Not the ones on Derris Kharlan, empty, cold, and violent, but heavenly, caring, and beautiful. He stretched out a hand and whispered a farewell, waiting for their next meeting. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw Kratos look back and smile, but his thought was gone as soon as a voice from behind scared him.

"What are ya looking at?" the voice asked, belonging to a younger boy.

Zelos grinned wildly to hide his previous emotion and peered back to the brunette. "Nothing, Lloyd, nothing."

"Raine told me to tell you we're going back to Meltokio tomorrow, okay?"

"Huh?" He blinked, trying to think of what he just said. "Yeah, yeah, that's cool." He was still in a trance, dazedly thinking of the boy's father.

"You good-for-nothing monster!" A hand slapped his face, as his body skidded across the floor. "Look at what you've done! Just you wait, when you grow up, you'll be just like your mother! A whore! A stupid, filthy whore!" A knife was drawn from the drawers, and a small body huddled in the corner of the room, as the figure approached closer. As the knife fell towards him--

Two blue eyes snapped open, and his body flew forward. His body shook violently and he cradled his head in his hands, beginning to sob silently. The night was cold and uncomforting, by himself in darkness. Until, that is, a pair of arms held his head. "Chosen? Are you okay?" He said nothing, drawing himself closer to the body. "Shh... it's all right, just go back to sleep."

"I don't want to go back to sleep! I don't want to be hurt, not again..."

"Zelos... it's going to be okay." A small smile flickered on his face. Zelos was his name. Not that stupid title, Chosen.

"Thank you, Kratos..." He snuggled more into his embrace, never wanting to leave where he was. But he knew that when he woke up, his knight would be gone. Trying to fight his eyelids and stay in the moment longer, but he failed and fell asleep.

"Master Zelos," Sebastian greeted, opening the front door. "It has been a while. Please, come and relax, everything is as it was when you left."

"Thank you!" He wore a mischevious smile as he ran in and immediately headed for the kitchen, his stomach growling crazily. The others sighed and walked in, Lloyd bringing up the rear.

"I hope you are doing quite well, Sir Bud."

"For the last time my name is!-- oh, nevermind. Can you tell me where Zelos went? I wanted to talk to him." There had been something trouble his (small) mind, and thought he could confide in none other than the master of romance himself.

"Right this way, Sir." The slightly-confused butler lead the way to the dining hall, and through the swinging doors to the kitchen, where they found no other than the Chosen, pigging out on some carrots.

As Sebastian left, Lloyd gave the redhead a strange look. "Carrots?"

"Most convenient thing I could find in the fridge. So, what's up? Hungry?" He held out the bag of orange vegetables to the brunette, but he shook his head no. Zelos shrugged and continued to munch.

"Well, you see, there's this girl..." Immediately, the crunching ceased and made silence. "And I really like her. But I'm afraid that she'll turn me down. So, what do I do?" His face was flushed a deep crimson, and Zelos couldn't help laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Ahaha... nothing, nothing." It took a few more seconds for him to completely calm down. When he did, he replied, "Oh, Lloyd. Just tell her sincerely the way you feel. Girls like that. And if Colette turns you down, well, at least she'll be the type to put you down kindly." Those brown eyes widened, and made the Chosen smile more.

"H-how did you know it was Colette?"

"It's way too obvious. But you guys would be so adorable together. I say, go for it." He winked, making Lloyd smile.

"You're not like yourself today... you know, the flirty, stupid you. Why's that?" He asked. Zelos sighed happily, remembering the previous night. "Ahh... I'm just feeling odd today, is all." Lloyd swore he had seen a smile on his face that he had never seen before. "That's all..."

A/N: It's a little longer than the previous chapters, ne? Oh, okay, by like, half a page, BUT IT'S A FRICKIN UPDATE! Actually, I was supposed to be like, AFTER game. But we'll just see where this fanfic goes. I'm getting some juicy ideas. MWEHEHE.
Lloyd: OH NO... X.X NOT A LEMON!
Genki: ...um, no. I don't write lemons because I'm afraid I'll tear it to bits. Have you ever read a poorly written lemon? UGH! (dead)
Lloyd: Erm... Genki? (poke-poke)
Genki: BOO!
Lloyd: ARGH! (falls over)
Genki: AHAHA! X3 Review please! o.o