Ok, chapter fifteen of Eternal Souls. Cliffhanger is revealed and erm, nothing much else happens. Maybe some shonen ai but nothing major other then the cliffhanger. And also, if you are reading any chapter, don't look at others reviews before you finish the newest chapter. They contain spoilers. Especially Rin's reviews (pokes her)

Warnings; Angst, Mild Violence (Whoah! New warning!) Mild Language, Some Shonen Ai, And possibly Suggestive

Themes.

Chapter Fifteen: Shades Of Velvet
Eternal Souls

I'm gonna do it darlin'
I could waste time tryin' the figure it out
But I'm jumpin' in anyhow
I've never been this far
Didn't know love could run so deep
Didn't know I'd lose this much sleep

Holdin' you close, chasin' that moon
Spendin' all night
Lovin' just who you are
Sparks flyin' in the dark
Shootin' out lights, huntin' down dreams
Figurin' out what love really means
Baby givin' you my heart
Is a real fine place to start

Somethin' is goin' on
I can't explain but sure can touch
It's callin' both of us
Stronger than any fear or doubt
It's changin' everything I see
It's changin' you, it's changin' me

"Is your stuff packed yet Yuan?"

It had been three days on our vacation to the resort, and today was our return to our home. This vacation had been completely different then what I could have ever guessed. Yet still I felt stunned every time I told myself what happened.

"Yes, I'm ready," I replied stiffly grabbing my bag with a gentle tug.

I followed Kratos through the halls of the hotel, then down the elevator, and finally out into the bright sun. Squinting my eyes, trying to see where I was going, my only idea was to follow Kratos. Follow him and pray he could see and that he knew where he was going.

"You're still behind me, right?" Kratos asked, before turning around to make sure I was still following. Without speaking, I gave a tired nod and continued to follow the seraphim.

Honestly it felt like follow the leader. This city was so large, it was hard to know where you were at all times. So I put my trust in Kratos' directions.

"Finally, going back home," I sighed, as we continued our walk. Ever since Kratos' proposal, I had craved to go back home once more.

"Although the hotel was grand, I prefer the simple pleasures of home more," Kratos declared, looking over his shoulder back to me.

Tilting my head in agreeance, I gave a slight smile. No matter where we were, home was the one place you knew you could rely on. You could always go back there, and someone would be waiting with open arms. How I loved every bit of that.

"Yes," I replied, tightening my grip on my suitcase. After walking around for so long, you start to feel like your suitcase is getting heavier for no reason. Mental Anguish more than likely.

"I was wondering something Yuan," I heard Kratos inquire, still walking ahead of me. Feeling the need to talk to him, at least by his side, I quickened my pace so I was striding beside him.

"Wondering what?.." My voice trailed off.

"Wondering why you always wear that cape," Kratos smirked and glanced over to me. Flushing a deep red, I clenched my teeth tightly and thought for a few moments. Why did I always wear this foolish cape? Whatever reason I ever decided to wear it, it had to be good. At least I think.

"Not quite sure. What makes you ask something like that?" I questioned him. Usually I would snarl something like that to someone, but this was Kratos who we were talking about.

"Just always been curious. Nothing more, nothing less," Kratos concluded.

Riddles, Kratos always spoke in riddles. Never did he come out and say anything straight to my face. Usually he had nothing to say, but knowing he could actually talk to me was good. Glancing up at the road ahead, I finally noticed we had come to the end of the resort. Finally, I was starting to feel pale after all this walking in the direct sun.

"We're almost there," Kratos told me. I had eyes, I could see that for myself.

"I know," I replied sternly. Sighing, I glanced back at Kratos who's gaze was fixed on the path. Not me, or the scenery, just the path that would lead us home.

"Just making sure you aren't drifting off into other thoughts," Kratos replied casually. Thoughts? What was there to think about. Honestly.

"No, no I'm still here," I informed him as we walked out of the resort.

Fresh air had never tasted sweeter to be brutally honest. The air inside the crowded Altamria lacked that fresh zip to it. It's hard to explain, but you can just tell the difference. Looking over at Kratos who found the Rheiards easily, I followed him, still, and waited for further instructions, tiredly.

"Yuan, you look pale, are you alright?" I heard Kratos question. Slowly looking up at the seraphim, I gave a long-awaited nod and closed my eyes. Even though I gave him the idea I was alright, I really wasn't. I was starting to feel lightheaded, but I could shrug that off.

"Ok then," Kratos replied as he snapped our suitcases in the Rheairds and got on his. For some reason I didn't take the hint to get on mine. I just stood there, relaxing. It was a long minute before I snapped myself back to reality and jumped onto the Rheaird. Just jumping made the feeling come back, but worse.

Kratos started up his Rheaird and hovered in the air. Meekly, I flipped the on switch, or whatever switch was closest to me, and steered it up.

"Just follow me, Yuan. We'll be back shortly," I heard Kratos hum over the sound of the starting Rheairds. I didn't respond, but starred with an empty expression looming on my face.

Just that sensation of flying upward caused the feeling to become worse then it was before. Clenching my teeth tighter, I looked ahead to where Kratos was, everything seemed so far away, and blurry.

"K-kratos..." I began but found myself unable to speak.

Trying my best to not fall of the Rheaird, I grabbed the handles as tight as I could, to the point it was starting to hurt, and waited for Kratos to say, or do something. Do anything.

"Yuan?" I heard him ask. By now my eyes were tightly shut, and I was oblivious to the fact I was flying. That was the biggest mistake of my life. As quickly as I got into the air, I felt myself slipping off, somehow.

"Kr..!" I managed before what felt like being whacked upside the head with a heavy object multiple times. Everything went black, and pain began to surge through my weakened body. All I could do was lay there, or stand, I wasn't quite sure, and pray for the best. Even though I was starting to become less aware of things.

I concluded it was the next day before I had awoken. Cracking open an eye, I watched as the sun slowly rose into the sky, as it usually did. Glancing around to see where I was, I noticed I was laying on an outstretched blanket in a middle of a meadow. Yet I felt so at home in this area.

"Kratos?" I called out.

Wrong thing to do. Pain immediately splurged through my head and I could only dig my nails into the ground to make the pain subdue. Blinking a few times, I attempted to open my eyes again to look around. Still no Kratos.

Not wanting to call out again, I just lied there. What had happened half a day or more ago? All I remembered was the feeling of emptiness and falling. Had Kratos saved me from impending doom? If he did, then we could finally call it even.

"Yuan, you're finally awake!" I heard Kratos, almost yell from wherever he was. My head thudded incredibly with every word he said. Glancing around, through the fierce pain, I noticed he had come out of the forest with a collection of firewood in his hands.

"Ke-kep your voice," I attempted but couldn't continue talking, before the pain became unbearable. Wincing, I felt Kratos kneel down beside me and place a hand on my shoulder.

"You had quite a fall," He whispered. Even the slightest whisper hurt like hell. Wincing more now, I managed to look up at Kratos' face with a disgusted and painful look on my face. I was hoping he had taken the hint.

"Oh right," He whispered placing a hand on my head and muttered a healing spell. Whatever it was, helped some. Not all, but it took the edge off the pain, somewhat.

"Now, are you ready to tell me what happened?" Kratos asked. Hearing his voice was no longer painful. But there was still a ringing in my ears and a weak and numb feeling. At least I could talk to him. At the very least.

"I'm not sure what did happen. Wait, you saved me?" I questioned, smiling at him. Kratos seemed stunned I was smiling at a time like this. He gave a stiff nod and seemed embarrassed.

"Sometimes it helps to have angelic powers," He praised himself, and before long he had begun to run a hand through my hair. It felt as good as it always did.

"I'm sorry I worried you," I spoke bitterly, still trying to figure out why I had overcome that sudden fatigue.

"No, don't be sorry. I'm just relieved you're alright," He spoke contently. Gaze flickering from ground to Kratos, I felt a small yawn approach me.

"You're still tired, correct?" I heard Kratos ask. Giving the smallest nod, trying to answer him and not interrupt his content strokes, I closed my eyes.

"Sorry..." I whispered back. I didn't want to fall back asleep, I wanted more answers. I wanted to know everything that had happened damnit.

"Yuan, there's no need to be sorry, now get some sleep. I'll be right here if you need me," I felt his warm breath on my neck. A grin rolled across my face before I fully relaxed and felt the blanket of slumber come across me. The pain still hurt incredibly, even with Kratos' healing arts. This would take awhile to heal, and I was afraid I'd be stuck in this meadow forever. But that didn't matter right now anyhow. And yet I wanted to know why I had became so lightheaded, never did that happen before. Maybe it was caused by someone else. Pushing aside any ideas, seeing it hurt to think, I cleared my mind. For some reason I concluded Kratos thought I was asleep, well I was almost, but I heard him say something silently. "Sleep tight, my angel, for sleeping might be the only place where you're free from the current crisis. But for now, sleep"

Author's Note:

Yuan's got a slow recovery ahead of him. And the road to figure out who done it! Who tried to hurt Yuan x( Anyways, please review. Yes it was short and undetailed but I did this for a reason. This chapter is like one of those inbetween things that sets the stage for the next action chapters. This is like one of those. Yea, so please review. I'd make my day. Please and thanks!