Ok everyone, this is the chapter that Yuan will make his decision about who's he is going to end up with. Exciting, no? Yea. And this will look back at the implied lemon from the last chapter, so yea. Mhm. And by the way, Yuan will make his choice at the end of this chapter. Kratos has one more surprise for Yuan before he makes his life changing choice. What's this surprise? You'll just have to read to find out. And yes, I fianlly found the paper that has all my plot twists, and now I can finally write an ending, yes it runs to Chapter Twenty Four, just as I thought. YaY!

Eternal Souls
Chapter Nineteen: Tainted Love

"Yuan?"

I awoke to a prodding at my foot. Slightly cracking my eyes, I noticed it was early evening, and the sun was completely gone from site. Stars flickered in the sky, and all I could do was smile at them from my earlier actives. Raising my head, hoping the pain wouldn't come back until everything was said and done, I glanced around.

I was already back into my regular clothes, but my hair was a complete mess and I felt groggy as hell. This choice was just becoming harder by the second, especially seeing Kratos had put his heart on the line only hours before. Sighing, I ran a hand through the aqua strands of hair and only looked at the roaring fire, hoping Kratos was somewhere near by.

"You're awake, that's good," Kratos spoke, coming out of literally no where, and sat down next to me. I wasn't too surprised that he was here, so I gave a weak smile. This pain was a lot like the unknown pain, but the one thing that set this one apart from the other was the inner pride, and love. I liked this sort of pain, as naive as that sounds.

"Yes, just a little groggy, but awake," I yawned, taking my hand away from my hair and just starred at Kratos. His eyes were lite up like before, and he seemed like he was glowing, yes glowing, as he looked at me. He extended his left hand as he sat down next to me. Carefully, I took whatever was in his hand in suspicion. "What's this?"

"Something I," Kratos began but quickly turned away. Sharply looking back over at him, I noticed that he was blushing, and was hiding it. A smirk covered my face as I looked down at the object, and opened my clasped hand. There sat a carved ruby. Not just anything was carved, but carved from that ruby was a heart. My stomach felt sick, but at the same time, filled with glee. "made for you," He finished.

"You, made this?" I stuttered. Oh dear heavens, as hard as I tried, I couldn't escape his love. Running a hand over the smooth surface, I turned to face Kratos, who was still beating a dark garnet.

"Y-yes, does it displease you?" He asked nervously, trying not to look me straight in the eye. How could it displease me, this was something from his heart, something I couldn't easily throw away. Kratos; I meant everything to him didn't I? But the garnet heart was a little, odd, for a gift, but then again, the mooncuped flowers were odd too. But each gift had meaning, and I couldn't deny that. Lowering my head, I tried to hold back any wandering emotions, and turned my head back to him. I would allow Kratos a little while longer until I returned to Martel with Kratos to make my choice. It would be the least I could do for him.

"No, not at all," I replied, cooly. I couldn't say I loved it, and I couldn't say I loved him at a time like this. Yes, I did love him, but that would show him I was going to stay with him, and at this moment I wasn't too sure who I was going to pick. Such a hard choice.

"Very well. Also, let me see your hand," Kratos asked politely, looking at me intently now. Sighing, I extended my other hand and felt Kratos lightly grab it. At first I wasn't too sure what he was going to do, but the sensation of the pain fading away filled me.

"Thank you," I replied in a whisper. He let go of my hand and just smiled at me. At this moment I felt like crying. Felt like telling him how much I was hurting inside, felt like telling him I didn't want to loose him. But I had to be strong.

"Yuan, I need to tell you something," Kratos suddenly asked. His voice snapped me out of the vortex of confusion I was in. Raising my head to look him straight in the face, guilt overcame me once more. Why couldn't I just be carefree around him, was it that hard?

"What is it?" I asked nervously, biting down on my lower lip, trying to stay calm. I didn't want to know what was on Kratos' mind. I didn't want to promise him I'd stay with him forever, and I didn't want to promise Martel I'd stay with her either. Right now, right now I just wanted to be alone.

"I..." His voice quavered, as if what he was going to say was hard to get out. Taking his hand, reassuringly, I could only smile lightly. I wanted to know what was bothering him. More then anything.

"You what?" Questioning him was also difficult.

"I honestly still love you, and that won't ever change" He turned away, and I could have sworn tears fell from his face.

He still loved me. After seeing Martel come back, he still loved me. After all that was threatning to happen, he still loved me. And at this moment I wasn't sure how to reply to Kratos. I couldn't just say I loved him back. But I did love him back, and I found myself saying it.

"Kratos," I pulled him closer, wrapped my arms around him, and beant my mouth near his ear. "I love you too," I had said it, against my will. I was leading him on, giving him false hope. How much he had given me throughout these thousand of years. I didn't want it to go away.

"Then promise me you won't leave me. I'm sure Martel would understand," He quieted his voice and went silent. "I'm sorry, that just sounded cruel," My heart sank as he begged me to stay with him. He wanted me to promise him something I wasn't capable of.

"It's getting late Kratos, let's head back to the forest," I whispered, unsure what to do next. Kratos lightly shook his head and stood up alongside me.

We slowly made our way back to the spot Martel was waiting at. Hand it pocket, I clasped the ruby Kratos had given me tightly. This was going to be the hardest thing of my life. I loved Martel, I really did. Yet I loved Kratos almost as much. And to say good bye to someone you love, it was the hardest thing to do. No words could explain what I felt like.

"Yuan-" Kratos began but he fell silent as I gazed ahead and saw Martel sitting on a stump, panpipe in hand. Any thing I wanted to say to both Kratos and Martel had vanished. Now I was left powerless. Stuck between two people I loved more then anything. I didn't want this moment to come.

"You're back," She spoke smiling. Her gaze was filled with eternal happiness, and she titled her head and smiled at Kratos the same way. How carefree and understanding she was towards everything. But I knew Kratos wasn't. I glanced over at him, and his body was tense, that stare in his eyes, he looked paralized with fear.

"Yes," I mutterted, walking in between Kratos and Martel. At first I thought like I was going to be the one calling the shots and talking, but Kratos lightly pushed me to the side and walked over to Martel. My stomach sank worse, as I watched Kratos approach Martel. What was going to happen.

"Martel, may I request something of you," He asked, obviously hiding back his mental anguish and fear. Sighing, I could only listen to what was going to happen.

"Of course, Kratos," She spoke with a smile. I'm sure that smile wasn't what Kratos wanted, and a frown appeared on his face. Lowering his head, He mutterted something, then spoke louder.

"Please take care of Yuan," Was all he said before turning back to me, and began to walk past me. My reflex got the best of me and I grabbed Kratos by the arm. Whirling around, he starred me in the eye, unsure what I was going to say.

"No... stay here," I warned. I assumed my eyes told him everything, as he nodded and just remained still.

"Yuan's right Kratos, I'm sure you're interested in what he has to say," Her smile was making Kratos feel worse, I just knew it. Damnit. I felt Kratos grab my hand without knowing it. Sighing, I could only allow this action.

"Then go ahead," He whispered in my ear. He wasn't nervous, but just tense beyhond belief. Casting a glance to Martel then to Kratos, my heart sank. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be. Gulping down any pride I had left, I cleared my voice.

"I didn't want this moment to happen. But it seems it has come. At first I was so sure of my choice, but then after being with both of you, my choice flipped back and forth, confusing me to death. And now, now I think I know the choice," My voice was cracking as I starred at Martel deeply, then back at Kratos.

"Take a deep breath Yuan." Martel chimed from where she was sitting. Lightly nodding, I smiled then looked back at Kratos and slightly frowned. He was shaking now, and he let go of my hand almost as if he was dreading my answer.

"Get it over with," Kratos spoke, knowing what I was going to say. Nodding in an unsure mannor, I cleared my voice and stutterted at the right words. I walked over to Martel and kissed her lightly.

"You know how much I love you," I spoke with a smile. She smiled back but my smile faltered and I could only feel guilt knowing I had much more to say. She wrapped her arms around me tightly, but I broke away and bit down on my lip.

"But after all these years apart, I've wanted you to come back, to hold you again, and that has finally happened," I contiuned. She was still smiling, and I didn't dare to turn back to Kratos at this moment.

"Yes," She replied with a smile.

"And I thought if this moment ever happened, I wouldn't hesitate. But, all these years being apart from you have changed my mind. I-i'm sorry Martel," It was said and I could only feel like I was crushing her into pieces. But for some reason her smile didn't disappear.

"I knew that about you when I first saw you again. I knew I couldn't hold onto our love for thousands of years and expect everything to be the same if I ever did come back," She whispered. So she wasn't displeased in me! My stomach seemed much more revieled.

"Thank you Martel, and you know you can come live with me and Kratos," I whispered in her ear. I was expecting a joyous response, but that didn't happen. She shook her head and whispered back.

"Thank you Yuan, after everything I've put you through all these years, you still have the same forgiveness. I'll keep your offer in mind," She lightly raised her hand and felt the side of my face and contiuned. "And I want you to be happy,"

"I-i wasn't expecting you to say that," I replied, shocked from her reply. She nodded then whispered back.

"Go talk to Kratos, I don't think he knows what's going on," She commanded. I nodded, and turned around, to see Kratos, sitting on the ground, trying to hold back tears. So he thought I was leaving him? Well that wasn't happeneing. Walking over to him, I sat down.

"So this good-bye, isn't it Yuan," He managed, holding back any tears. Just starring at those eyes made me feel horrible, but I had no reason to. I wasn't letting him down. I could only smile at him.

"Goodbye? Is that what you think I'm going to say Kratos? After all these years?" My voice was strong. I thought Kratos was going to take the hint, but he didn't. He clenched his teeth tightly, as if he thought I was still saying goodbye.

"That's right, there's no words to be said. Thank you for helping me all these years," He said, standing up and beginning to walk away. Tears streamed down the side of his face. Quickly, I grabbed him by the shoulder and watched him whirl around. "What?" He spoke bitterly, trying not to hide how much he was hurting. I just knew it.

"Kratos, I'm not saying goodbye. I'm not leaving you," I whispered as I wrapped my arms around him limp body. He seemed stunned at first, but then what I had just said registered in his head. His arms found themselves around me and his tears found their way to my neck.

"You aren't leaving?" He spoke in disbelief breaking away a inch to look my straight in the face. A smile crossed my face once more.

"No, I'm not. I'm staying with you for eternity, like it or not," I spoke, trying not to break down either. His eyes contained that care-free look I desired him to have.

"Thank you Yuan," He kissed me quickly, as our tongues played there usual games, and rested his head on my shoulder. "Thank you..."

Author's Note:

Stunning choice? Of course it is! Especially seeing he went up to Martel first. yay for kratos/yuan pairing! Yes there will be a few more chapters as promised. Mostly about Martel, Kratos, And Yuan such and such. So don't think it's over yet. Five or four more chapters of goodness to come!

nall: I KNEW YOU'D MAKE YUAN CHOOSE KRATOS!

Me: I thought you were just joking, lol. And did you know nall, there are no lemons involing you?

Nall: W-ha!

Me: Dead serious buddy, no one wrote about your little 'love affairs'.

Nall: That's good, you idiot.

Me: But i was excited to read about your love life (winks eviliy)

Nall: O.o, back to the AN, I didn't really think you'd make Yuan choose Martel after all the years the two spent apart. But anyway, what are you planning for the next chapters? I'm actually curious.

Me; The cure to Yuan's curse of whatever the illness he has. And Martel coming to live with Kratos and Yuan as friends or whatever. But alittle more inresting twists to end this story on a good note. So ha ha ha!