Sorry I haven't updated in, like forever. I've been ubberly busy with school, friends, being on the radio, and trying to keep in touch with my boyfriend even though there is 2,000 miles in between us. I think I almost cried during Algebra when I looked at the country map and just starred at Connecticut then at Washington. Nothing will ever be the same for me. So yea, that's my excuses for delaying this chapter. And plus I needed ideas. The last chapter was so, blissful, I needed to think of something less fluffy but so important to both Kratos and Yuan. Gaspthed! I bet you can't wait to hear! Eh?

Also I am thinking of two things. I need you the readers advice please. Should I continue on this or end it and make a sequel? I'm not entirely sure, seeing if I made a new story in continuation, I'd be switching off from Yuan to Kratos every other chapter. But with this story I am obligated to stick with Yuan's point of view at least for half the chapter. Seeing it's basically all in Yuan's. So Yea, advice please! So appreciated!

Warnings; Shonen-Ai; Language, Suggestive Themes, More importantly; Spoilers. This chapter may reveal a few things for those who haven't completed the game. So proceed with caution. And one more thing I'd like to add, please review. And flamers, I'll be waiting for you with a sharp pitch fork of doom, mwahaha!

Eternal Souls
Chapter 14: Past;Lies;Love

You know my soul
you know everything about me there's to know
you know my heart
how to make me stop & how to make me go
you should know i love everything
about you don't you know

that i'm thankful
for the blessing
and the lessons that i've learned w/you
by my side
that i'm thankful so thankful for the love
that you keep bringing in my life
in my life
Thankful so thankful

"Kratos, wake up."

Running a hand through his strands of auburn hair, a flicker of amusement passed my lips. It was late morning, and I had already been awake for a few hours now, and already dressed. I didn't want to wake Kratos, so I let him sleep until I got ready for the day. But just looking at his sleeping body made me want to curl up next to him and fall back asleep. But that was a weakness, and if we planned on a pure relationship, then I would have to learn to be able to overcome Kratos' temptation. Even though I wanted it just as bad.

Just as I expected, the seraphim rolled over in his sleep and faced me, eyes tightly shut. He was still in slumber, I guessed, and he didn't look like he wanted to be awakened. Rolling my eyes, agitated, I walked away from his bed and sat down on mine and looked out the window. Another beautiful day in Altamria. It seemed like everyday at this seaside resort was beautiful. Even the weather seemed perfect today, not to warm but yet not blistering cold. Yet if Kratos didn't wake up, this day would be wasted sleeping. To think I would by a hypocrite about sleeping the days away.

Jerking my head from looking out the window, I glanced over back at the sleeping Kratos. He looked so eternally peaceful when he slept, and I couldn't blame him. His proposition last night took guts, and I admired his will to be happy even though he probably had his heart blasted into pieces far more times then any regular human. But he wasn't a 'regular' human, he was an angelic seraphim who had been granted an eternal damnation. But even pushing away that important fact, he was my human.

"Nnnn," I heard Kratos yawn. Arising from my bed, trying to be silent, I walked over to where Kratos was sleeping and peeked to see if he was still asleep. His face showed no signs that he was awake, and the relaxed expressions proved that fact. Trying my best to smile, I shrugged off any annoyance I had at that moment and sat down next to the window once more.

The room was so large, you could practically get lost in it. Still wondering where and when Kratos had gotten enough gald to cover this, I glanced back at the swordsmen who was in his deep slumber. Would he ever wake up? Or was I expected to sit around all day waiting for him to wake up on his own. Not even my voice jerked him away from dreamland, so my only other thoughts would be to pleasurably wake him up. Or would that be a wasted attempt too?

Getting up, for the third time this morning, I walked over to Kratos bed and sat down at the edge of it. At first I wasn't too sure on what I was going to do, but the idea gradually came to me. Scouting closer up along the blankets, I ran a hand through his hair once more and rested it on the side of his face.

"You're oversleeping again," I warned, as I continued to run my hand from hair to cheek. No response came from him, I sighed heavily and withdrew my hand and just sat there. Now had been the real first time I had realized that I had slipped the ring on the finger next to Martel's. It seemed so, similar that I had to look closer to tell the difference between them. But still, it didn't matter what it looked like, it was the thought, and the desire that made it so worthwhile.

"Yuan?" Sharply turning my head and look from the ring to Kratos, I noticed he had finally awoken from his little realm. Lightly smirking, I went back to stroking his hair and face, almost as if he was still asleep. How blissful it truly was.

"Finally, you're awake," I yawned. Yawned? I couldn't possibly be tired right after Kratos wakes up, could I? Pushing away any desire to fall back asleep, I looked down at Kratos who had opened his eyes, but didn't budge from his comfortable spot underneath his blankets. How nice he had it under there, but yet, I liked being the one on top of things for a change.

"I've had a lot on my mind lately, so I apologize for an inconvenience I had on you," Kratos explained, raising his body and head up, so his back was leaning against the head board. Stretching his arms in the air, as he usually did when he woke up, he shot me a worried glance. Could he possibly be worrying that I had second thoughts about this ordeal. Honestly, I didn't have any, and if I did, I wouldn't tell Kratos for all the gald in both worlds. I just couldn't do that to him.

"N-no, it's all right Kratos," I replied softly, taking my eyes off the seraphim momentarily. That look in his ruby eyes told me something was on his mind, not a drastic something, but something. That look I knew all to well, so I prepared myself for anything I might learn in the near future. That was, if Kratos dared to speak of what was on his mind. Sometimes you just needed to mess with someone's head to get the facts out. And messing with people's heads was my specialty.

"Good," Kratos replied quickly. Still keeping my glance off of him, I shot up off his bed and sat down next to the window. Risking a glance back at Kratos, I noticed he had gotten out of bed and was walking around to find his day clothes. Good thing to, seeing his night clothes weren't all, well you just wouldn't think someone like Kratos would wear something like that. But yet again, Kratos was different, far more different then any other human I had come across, so different was good.

"Any plans for today? Or do you plan on sleeping all day or staying in the room?" Glancing over to see Kratos reaction, I spoke in short phrases, more so to see what was on Kratos' mind. To my surprise he gave a quick grimace to himself, but then looked over at me and lightly smiled. Liar. To think he still kept things from me. How many times did we have to go through this before he would understand he could tell me anything. Just for once I wanted Kratos to come out and say something instead of being so secretive. Or maybe this was his way of doing things, doing things that he thought would peeve me. Now he was the one messing with my head.

"If you don't have any objections Yuan, I'd like to merely walk around Altamria today solo. Just some time to clear my mind of any looming thoughts. You know the sort," Kratos meekly said as he put on his last article of clothing before actually looking like someone who was awake and ready to go. He hid whatever was on his mind with a stern and firm glance. An unbreakable rock.

No, I didn't know the sort. Looming thoughts? Just what 'looming thoughts' were troubling him that he couldn't feel fit to tell me. And he even asked if I had any objections, how small brained was that interjection. Of course I found issues with him going out by himself, especially at a time like this. Right now I wanted to be with him, not be stuck up in a hotel room with nothing to do, without him. Humans made things so more rash then they seemed.

Crossing my arms, now annoyed at the seraphim, I gave a stiff nod in return, almost to say I could care less. Biting down on my lips in attempt to stop myself for expressing how I was feeling, I could only nod. Just nod and pretend nothing was on my mind. And that's exactly what I did.

"Do what you wish," I retorted, trying to sound as pleasant as I could. As a matter of fact, what I sounded like when I said those words was that I was trying not to scream after eating something sour. Why couldn't I lie to Kratos' face, he found it so easy to lie to me. Yet I find myself finding it harder and harder to lie to him, I'm that deep in. Six feet below, metaphorically speaking.

"I'll be back before long, so please relax while I am absent," And with that said he left the hotel room, head as high as it could possibly be, as if he was a soldier going out before his General.

I sat there in shock. Just the words Kratos was using was what really ticked me off to the point of no return. Please relax? Oh right, like I was going to relax being stuffed into a fussy room all day with nothing to do, as I coveted for Kratos' return. He just didn't get how much he meant to me. I'd do anything for him, but he still doesn't get that! Still doesn't believe I'd stay by his side no matter what the cost. I needed him with me, and I wouldn't screw that up.

It wasn't long before I found myself falling asleep on my bed, from sheer boredom. The hours had ticked away, minute by minute actually, and I got tired of waiting so I did the next best thing, sleep. Sleeping was a getaway from any problems I had, any issues I didn't want to face, and the residing question about Kratos' and where his heart lie. And I always told myself sleeping was the one place to forget Kratos, but that was a lie itself. All I ever thought about when I slept was him. Everything and anything about him. His eyes, his voice, his stupid pancakes, everything about him I dreamt about.

"Yuan, are you...asleep?"

I was jerked back from my thoughts about everything from the seraphim's voice. Scratching my head, eyes tightly shut, I sighed and just laid there. I hadn't gotten undressed of anything of the sort, just laid there on the bed starring out the window before falling asleep. And that was really pathetic. Even for me.

"Humph, well pleasant dreams then Yuan," I heard Kratos whisper softly. Those words were the ones that could catch me off guard. No matter how angry I got at him, just hearing him say something like that to me made everything better. It made everything right for me and him. Still, I acted as if I was in a deep sleep.

"Yuan- I wish I had the courage to tell you what's been distressing me, i'm sorry," I felt him sit down on the bed and before long he had begun to softly stroke my hair.

Damn, it felt so good. But the pleasure would have been so much more pleasing if he had known I was awake. But the fact Kratos hadn't approached our lives lately was also interesting in itself. But still,to have Kratos both confess something was on his mind and be alongside me was pure gold.

"Well, I'll leave you to peace Yuan, I'll see you when you get up," He murmured softly kissing my forehead before withdrawing from my bed and retreating to his own for god knows what.

It was over before it started. Maybe I should have grabbed him before he got up and told him how I was feeling. Or maybe I should have pretended to just have woken up. Either way I sliced it, I had just laid there, completely powerless to Kratos' touch.

"Kratos..." His name escaped my lips accidentally. Truly it was by accident, and I couldn't go back now. Clenching my teeth, I waited for a reply. Possibly he would think I was calling for him in my sleep? That was a good idea, but I highly doubted Kratos of all people would fall for that.

"Yes?" His answer rang out like a bell chiming in a cathedral. Sighing, I rolled over and faced his bed and opened my eyes.

There he sat, on his bed with a wrapped box of some sort. I didn't really want to know what was in there, fearing the worst as usual, so I acted as if I was groggy and wasn't fully awake. Thinking of something to say as if I was half asleep, I put together something befitting.

"D-don't go," I spoke, almost in a whisper. Ok, it wasn't the best thing to say, but it fit in a time like this. If I wanted to make him think I was half asleep, something random was my best bet. The wonders of messing with the mind of someone you love.

"Yuan, wake up," I closed my eyes tightly, realizing he thought I was still asleep. He felt his strong hand on my shoulder as he lightly shook it. Acting as if I was just awoken, I jerked up and flashed a groggy look at the seraphim who was leaning over.

"K-kratos. You're back," I declared softly, trying to sound tired but awake. I watched as Kratos lightly smiled, nothing hid this his depression now, for it wasn't there. His little, well long, walk he had taken must have done the trick. Thankfully.

"Little late to be saying good morning, but I'll say it anyhow," Kratos replied softly. Managing an embarrassed look his way, I shuffled my hands together nervously. Whatever was in that box seemed good, for it wasn't making Kratos melancholy.

"Are you feeling better now?..."

"Yes, thanks for asking."

"That's a relief," Sighing with relief that Kratos actually confirmed that he was ok, I glanced back over at him and the box. Whatever was inside there must be something good. But was was it. Crossing my arms, I starred at the seraphim.

"I assume you're wondering what's in the box?" Kratos asked placing a hand on the wrapped box. Ruby eyes darted from me and then rested upon the box. Nicely wrapped with a red ribbon, so carefully wrapped.

Nodding my head, I pondered for a few minutes. Think like Kratos. Just think like Kratos, what would Kratos get? To be honest I had not even the faintest clue on what Kratos had bought, but either way I was excited. Even if it was for me, seeing Kratos buy something was still a good sign.

"Here," Was all he said as he grabbed the box and passed it over to me. Shocked that the gift was for me, I felt a hot blush come on, so I quickly gritted my teeth and gave the smallest smile. taking it in my hands, I glanced down at it then Kratos.

Hell, I wanted Kratos more then the present at the current moment. Wanted him so much more. But maybe this was a two for one deal. Either way just to think I was actually getting a gift, a real gift, made me feel relaxed. I wasn't the type for people to give gifts to, for some reason. And I resented people for that, because they resented me. But Kratos, did he defy all odds.

"What is it?" The question fled my lips as I starred at it. Quickly looking back up to Kratos, I noticed he had begun to get up, and within a few minutes he was sitting beside me, with a light smile. How cute.

"Just a little something. Nothing to fancy, I just thought..." Kratos broke off at that. Hearing no other words from Kratos, I glanced over and saw that he was embarrassed to talk about the gift.

"Whatever it is, getting it from you makes it good," I hummed more so to myself, but seeing Kratos was sitting beside me, he must have heard. His look changed from embarrassment to sheer happiness. The simplest things pleased him.

"Are, you sure?"

"Positive."

"A-alright, then open it"

Nodding, I looked down at the gift. Slipping a hand underneath the ribbon to unwrap it, I found my heart beating faster. What was there to be nervous about. Nothing. So I guessed I was just excited beyond belief.

Flipping open the lid, there sat a arrangement of flowers. Not the usual roses, or lilies that everyone else had. No, these were the common wildflowers. I thought for a moment as I starred at then. Confusion passed my lip but I was hushed internally by Kratos placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm not sure if you remember Yuan, but these are the flowers that used to grow everywhere before the Kharlan War and you used to seek everywhere the four of us went, in search of them for Martel," He whispered in my ear.

The memories of the flowers flooded back to me. I had truly forgotten, but it seemed like Kratos could never forget. Those memories, they were clouded, but the intentions of them was as clear as day. I loved her, and I loved him. The two most important people in my life.

"Kratos..."

"So after I returned to Cruxis, as strange as it may appear, I made it one of my goals to make sure those flowers never died out. Because of you Yuan. I'll never forget that flower you gave me all those years ago," His words were whispers in my ears.

Extending a hand, he held his diary, that diary I always seemed to ernest to read. As he opened it, it came to my understanding that the pages weren't blackened out, so whatever I read those months ago must have not been his diary, a decoy? Ignoring those thoughts, I watched as Kratos flipped open to the second to last page. There, pressed against the paper was a single mooncuped flower, although color faded, the memory still as vivid as ever.

"Kratos...I...don't know what to say," I was honestly lost for words. Never had anyone besides Martel ever cared so much about me. Trying to hold back tears, I looked set down the box on the bed, and looked over at Kratos, who seemed so, alive.

"Yuan, ever since that night in Meltokio, two months before Martel's death, I've cared for you. I always have, and I never found the courage until so many years afterward to tell you. I was... afraid of rejection, and afraid that you'd think I was a mockery of life. But that day by the river with you, it was one of the most relieving days of my life. Yuan, what I'm trying to say is, I've always loved you," He finished and looked downward.

My heart leaped a thousand feet in the air. He had loved me since that night at Meltokio. That night... and to think I never started to acquire feelings towards him until he saved me. But then again, did I have feelings for him before that? Or was that just gratitude or respect.

"Kratos, you're a miracle," Was all I could reply with a tear of joy rolled down the side of my face as I leaned against Kratos. I felt his arm wrap around the side of me and I felt his warm presence, the feeling that I was safe, and nothing could ever harm me. I felt at home.

"As you are mine," Everything felt right at that moment. Nothing could go wrong. Everything was going perfect, nothing could tear us apart, nothing could harm me. But oh so horribly wrong I was. So wrong indeed...

Author's Note:

ooh a cliffhanger! OH REALLY! Insight into the next chapter. Kutos to Andrea for the upcoming cliffhanger. I got the idea for the flowers because I remembered picking flowers with my best friend, so many years ago. Brandon... I still love you, so come back home. Come back home to Connecticut, I love you. So Please, come back home.