Yes yes, I have this whole story planned out, so be warned. And let's just say It's going to be like, twenty four chapters. I'm not entirely sure, but it will take awhile for Yuan to grasp this new concept of having to pick between Martel and Kratos. Poor, poor Yuan.

Warnings; Spoilers; Some Language,

I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

Eternal Souls
Chapter Seventeen: Guidance

"Martel? It's impossible, I-or we- killed you..." My voice softened as I looked downward. My last thought of Kratos passed out of my mind, and we replaced with a bitter confusion and the lost love I had for Martel. Surely I wasn't imanging everything, was I?

Raising my head once more, I glanced forward at her. She was as beautiful as ever, and that gleam in her emerald eyes was worth more then a thousand words. I wasn't expecting to be able to take my eyes off her, so the feeling of being frozen wasn't a surprise.

"I'm so glad to see you," She wrapped her arms around my numb body. Her warmth, her smell. Everything about her was coming back to me. She felt the same like she did oh so many years ago. Everything was the same about her, but I wished I could say the same about me.

"How, are you standing before me?" I asked nervously. She lightly let get of me and tilted her head. For some reason I was assuming she'd give a depressed look, but a flicker of her eyes and that smile proved me wrong.

"As you proabbly know, the Goddess is a fusion of all of Mithos' vessels, and fallen heroines. Not just souly me. And once a new Goddess if chosen to fufill the role, the old one is set free," Her voice quieted and she tilted her head as she looked at me. "I'm sorry, this proabbly sounds confusing to you. Or stupid."

"No not at all. I'm just... overwhelmed that I can actually see you again," My voice was cracking with every word I spoke. Gritting down on my teeth, I squinted my eyes, trying to hold back the tears of joy that were threating to stream down my face. Damn, I was strong, I had to make her believe I was as strong as I was four thousand years ago. Although that was unmistakebly wrong.

"It's ok. I'm not going anywhere. I'm real Yuan, I'm not an illusion," Almost in a whisper, her words wrapped around me, and then filled every woid of my thoughts. Anything I was trying to think about was destroyed and Martel consumed my thoughts. Every last thought.

Trying not to look overjoyed, I did the one thing anyone would have done in my position, I hugged her. For all those years apart, I held her. For all those nights I stayed up crying and pretended nothing was wrong, I ran a hand through her hair. I missed her, more then I could ever miss one person.

"Promise me. Promise me you won't leave me ever again. Please Martel," I kissed the top of her head and held her as tightly as I could. The feeling of being loved, by her, was something I had been craving for so long. Now I felt complete, souly complete.

"I promise Yuan. Relax, I'm here to stay," She gently pulled away and starred at me, contently. The next thing I did was look down at her hand. There sat the ring I had given her so many years ago. Just seeing it made my heart bolt up. Trying to stay calm, play it safe, I snickered casually.

"That's nice," I spoke. Nice! What was nice! What the hell just came out of my mouth. Not knowing myself, I concluded I was thinking about her never leaving again, her eyes, everything. But not coming to a full answer, I awaited her response. Heavens sake I knew it'd be a confused one.

"I haven't seen you in person for so long Yuan," She spoke smiling widely. All I could do was smile back. So she was glad to see me, what a relief that was.

"I never thought this moment would happen," I spoke, still in dis-belief. Maybe that was the wrong thing to say? Sighing, I looked back at her waiting for a response.

"Are you disappointed?" She asked nervously. Disappointed? Hell no. This truly was one of the best moments of my life. Grabbing her hand, I grinned.

"Of course it's not disappointing! Just, hearing your voice for real again, it's made my life," I spoke, as I felt her hand shake nervously in mine. Stunned, I held it tighter, more to reassure her. "Relax, Martel."

"This may sound, odd, but I've been wanting to hold you again for so long," Ah, just hearing that was a treat itself.

"Martel," Her name was all I could respond. I grinned, as stupid as it sounded, I grinned. This overwhelming glee was just too strong not to show.

"I'm glad you fought for my beliefs," She spoke softly. It was true, I did fight against Mithos' ideas, in honor of Martel. She didn't approve of anything her brother had done, and I knew that more then anyone. I knew her more then anyone in our group. Even more then herself at times.

"I had to," I spoke, giving a nodd.

"On another note, how's Kratos doing?"

Suddenely all the happiness I just built up was smashed into oblivion. My throat suddenely closed and I starred at her, with fear in my eyes. Without her knowing, I slipped his ring in my pocket, and glanced back at her. Nervous as I could ever be.

"K-kratos," My voice squeaked after the k. Internally punishing myself, I looked at her, scanning her for a reaction. Any reaction, anything. Just to get Kratos out of my mind.

"Yes, Kratos. The one who came here with," She said, with a smile. She was always smiling. Meaning everything she said, with a smile. Still holding my teeth tightly together, trying not to blurt out anything that may seem akward, I gave a shake.

"Oh, you mean Kratos. He's...good. Why do you ask?" If she couldn't tell I was lieing, or hiding something, she was desner then I thought she was. Kratos may have fallen for that line, but I knew Martel could never. And that's exactly what happened.

"Did something happen? Is he hurt?" She asked worridely. Hurt? What did she mean by that. Hurt physically, or hurt mentally. I knew she meant physically, but this sickening feeling inside me was making me hurt incredibly. He was proabbly feeling rejected, alone, and betrayed by someone yet again. Kratos..

"Nothing-happened Martel. And he's fine," I mutterted, shoving the ring farther in my pocket. Now both thoughts of Martel and Kratos were looming in my thoughts. This, choice, I couldn't understand what was going to happen next, and I felt depressed as hell.

"Yuan, please tell me what's wrong with Kratos. We all were friends, if you don't remember," She smiled kindly. Smiling, damn I wish I could do that right now. Of course this eternal strife was eating me inside. Sweating, I shifted positions uneasily.

"I don't think you'd understand," It wasn't intended as cruel, and I silently prayed she didn't take offense. Seeming shocked that I wouldn't tell her what was wrong, she extended a hand and clasped it together with mine. That hand that had Kratos ring in it's palm. This wasn't good. Not at all.

"I...can explain that," I stuttered at the words. Her eyes scanned it and a sudden knowledge filled her glance, and she looked up. I was expecting a disguisted look, or a feeling of confusion, but a flicker of kindness filled her look.

"No, there's no need to explain. I know the love you have for him," Her words were so pure, even at a time like this. Feeling akward, I took the ring back quickly, and shoved it in my pocket. I couldn't look her eye to eye after revealing something like this.

"You do?" I spoke in disbelief. Nodding her head, she gently leaned against me and whispered something in my ear.

"I understand. I know how you must be feeling right now. Go find Kratos and make sure he's alright. I'll be right here, waiting for your return," Her words toyed with me. Looking at her, almost stunned, I gave a stiff nodd.

"Right..." I simply spoke. This was going to be the hardest choice of my life. Talking to Kratos after learning Martel had come back. Leaning my head against her, I felt like crying. Crying out for help. "I promise I'll be back. I won't leave you," And for my sake, I wouldn't leave Kratos either. This was something I got myself into, and now I was going to have to find the answer, as painful as it may be.

Author's Note:

Short? Yes... the next chapter will be alittle lemony kratos/yuan and it is important to what's happening. Anyway, I promise to make the next chapter longer, and more detailed. I promise! So for now, please review.