HoujunRi: Yeah! New chapter that didn't take so long! Or did it? Heh ...

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia only Namco or the Tales studio does. But I do own my OC's.

Chapter 6

"Argh! This stinks!" sighed Anna in frustration. She had worked as a waitress in a school, that was in Palmacosta. She got fired, about two hours ago. She threw her apron that landed on Kratos's head. Kratos stood there dumbfounded, taking off the apron on his head.

"Err... ?"

Anna turned around and gave him a dirty look, if only looks could kill.

"Shut it, It wasn't my fault why I got some orders wrong!"

Kratos tried not to chuckle and he successfully didn't.

"Well at least I got some glad..."

"How much did you get?"

Anna mumbled something and looked down. Kratos smirked, he knew what she had said, because of his good hearing, but he wanted to tease her.

"Excuse me? I didn't get to catch that."

"...-four glad."

"What?" He bent a little low to get to her face.

"...-ninety four glad."

"I couldn't hear that."

"TWO HUNDRED NINETY FOUR!" she yelled, making some people stare at her. Kratos silently laughed. Anna once again gave him dirty looks, he was still laughing.

"Oh shut it, Kratos!"

Kratos sighed and shook his head, "Lazy as ever..."

"Shut up!"

More people were staring, until one little boy came to them.

"Excuse me miss, but..." his blond hair was straight and his blue eyes looked at her with confusion.

"Yes?" said Anna who had stopped arguing with Kratos and now looking at the boy. Kratos stood silent and looked at the boy, he seemed to be up to something.

"Is... Is it normal for new couples to fight a lot? I mean don't the woman turn into mean old hags? That's why the woman never last with a guy?" said the kid smirking at the last comment. Kratos looked at a group of kids laughing at the question that the boy asked.

"Why you!" Anna was about to choke the boy, but Kratos hold her back. The kid suddenly had a chance to escape from Kratos and Anna.

"Idiot..."

"Me! Why are you calling me an idiot! Did you just hear what the boy just said!"

"Heh..."

"You're laughing at it! Argh!"

"Let's go," Kratos grabbed Anna's glad and walked to get new clothes for her. Anna fallowed close behind not wanting to talk to Kratos. She then spotted something she hadn't seen in awhile, she stood there looking at it in admiration. Kratos stopped and noticed that Anna was not fallowing him. She was just standing there, looking at something.

"Anna?"

Anna looked at him shocked, "You said my name!"

Kratos tilted his head, "And if I did?"

"You never do though," she smirked, "Hey, do you know how much that bow cost?"

Kratos looked at what she was pointing. It was indeed a bow, it looked used though. Kratos looked at her, then to the bow, then back at her. Why would she be interested in a bow? Anna looked at him and gave him a smile. He once again tilted his head.

"I can use a bow, you know, since there are monsters."

Kratos sighed, so she wanted to fight next to him. It would be a good idea, but a bad one. She was just a human. If something... Just one little mistake happen, he would be the blame for the Angelus Project. Or he would be the blame of loosing a human being. She seemed weak, but then the journey could get faster, all they needed to do was to go to Hima and meet, his friend that may help Anna. Would she be even useful?

"I used a bow when my brother still talked to me, my mom disprove the idea, but we did have enough food for our family to eat," she smiled at the thought, "I know I can still use it, I could help you anyway!"

He shook his head, "No, you will only get in the way."

Anna's mouth was open. She was shocked, then her eyes turned into anger. Anger on being treated like a child.

"What did you say!" Anna whispered angrily.

"I said you will only get in the way," he simply said turning his back on her, "I can't handle a weak thing like you to fight. I bet you lost the art of archery when you were taken to the Asgard Ranch."

"I did not! You are such a jerk," she whispered dangerously. Kratos sighed, she would make a fit and a scene. He hated the attention so he shrugged, if she wanted to fight, so be it. This may be another mistake, but he can always redo it right?

"Do as you wish."

Anna smiled and hugged Kratos. Kratos looked at her this had been, in a long time, that he had been hugged. She felt soft and warm, she wasn't very tall, only reached up to his chin. 'So this is how a hug feels like... Hmph...' Kratos stood there not moving, just looking at the girl. She looked up at him, a bit flushed, and ran to the store. His eyes wouldn't budge, so he walked to the store and walked inside.

'Hey! How much does that cost!' piped Anna excited, on having a new toy. The old man looked at her. He looked about seventy year old man, and looked kind too. Anna gave one of her big bright smile. The old man smiled kindly.

"Just for a special lady for you, hmm... about a hundred glad, special price too. Barely anybody buys a bow, now its swords these days. My grandson used to use it for hunting. Still seems good though. A little rusty though," he said almost wanting to talk more than sale. Kratos nodded, while Anna looked at the bow. Then she remembered something.

"Is it only the bow or does it come with the arrows?"

The old man looked at her, "Call me Marcus."

Both Kratos and Anna gave a sweat drop. Was this old man, mad?

"Yes, it comes with fifty arrows," the old man said, " fifty for the bow and fifty for the arrows, smart no?"

Anna nodded grabbing the bow, while Marcus went to the back and grab the arrows. Kratos leaned to the wall interested at the floor. Anna notice this and shrugged it off, she knew he was annoyed for buying a bow, but she wanted to help him. If he was the only one who would fight the monsters, he would be dead by then. He should be grateful for her to fight next to him. It would be an easier job too. Also they might get moving faster. She needed to get to the ranch. The Desians probably already noticed that she would be missing. Anna seemed to be special to them, for an unknown reason. She shrugged off the thought and grabbed the glad that Kratos had taken. She gave Marcus the money that was needed and walked out when she grabbed her bow and arrows, Kratos behind her heals. Marcus was kind enough to give her to hold the arrows. Now it was time to get new clothing, it would be enough.

"Clothing time?" she said looking back at Kratos. He gave a small 'hmph' sound and walked next to her. Anna smiled, "I'll take that as a yes!"

Once they stopped in a store that looked like it was selling clothes. Anna looked around and saw nobody there. Kratos walked in and looked around. It was dead silent. Anna looked over at Kratos with concern eyes.

"What if they took the shop ke--" before she could finish there was a squeal. Both of them looked at the counter and saw a middle aged woman holding a measuring tape next to her right hand. Her glasses were almost falling, her hair was a frizzy, and her blue eyes seemed to have enthusiasm.

"You! You man!" the lady squealed. Anna looked at him. He looked at her with a puzzled face.

"Yes?" he said now looking at the lady.

"You would be perfect... Perfect!" she grinned. Anna took several steps back, what was up with this woman?

"Excuse me?"

"You see I have been trying to find someone to fit into this costume," she said holding up a red jacket with black baggy pants, and a scarf. Anna giggled, and smiled at Kratos, who was tilting his head.

"Anyone can fit th--"

"You have the perfect hair! NOBODY HAS THE HAIR LIKE YOU!"

Kratos was taken aback. Anna laughed, while Kratos glared at her. What was up with this woman! Was she insane? Did she like to make her costumers be afraid of her?

"I do not intend to buy clothing, but my companion does," he said nodding to Anna. The woman looked at Anna, grabbed some random clothes, and shook her head. She muttered some, 'No, no that won't do', 'to bright', 'to big', and 'to much color'. Anna stood there amazed at how many outfits there was.

"Ah-ha!" she said picking up a dress. It was light green, there was a light brown poncho to keep some warmth, she also took some brown boots. Then she pressed them on Anna's chest.

"Try them."

Anna nodded and went upstairs. Kratos looked at the woman uneasy, what was she planning to do? Was she going to force him to wear something, it would be an unusual scene. He looked at the stairs and saw Anna wear the clothing that the woman gave her. It gave her the perfect figure too. Kratos looked down and found the floor more interesting. Anna frowned, shrugged, and walked to the woman.

"How much?"

"Hmm... If your friend tries my outfit, I'll say eighty glad, if not a hundred and fifty."

Anna looked at Kratos. She knew he would hate her, "It's a good deal..." He looked up at her, his eyes were annoyed. She sighed and gave the woman hundred and fifty glad. She took her old clothes and put them in a backpack that Kratos was holding. It had gels, life bottles, and other necessary things for their journey. Both of them left the door and headed out of Palmacosta. The woman went outside and yelled out at Kratos saying something that would embarrass him. Anna suddenly burst out laughing. Kratos turned slightly pink and afraid.

"Oh man that was priceless!"

Kratos glared.

"I mean it! Oh wait let me say it... 'Mister! You're a hottie!'" Anna gave a fit of laughter making Kratos giving her glares to make her to shut up. Once they were about to leave. Noishe was right in front of them.

"Noishe!" squealed Anna giving the pet a hug. Kratos stood there looking around.

"Let's head to the House of Salvation," he said pointing to the way they would go. Anna nodded and rode behind Noishe. It took a few hours to fight against monsters. Anna was doing great as an Archer, while Kratos protected her from close attacks. A good strategy that Anna made was staying far away from close attacks and attack far. It was a long day and they were half way to the House of Salvation. They were resting peacefully looking up at the sky, getting dark. Until a shadow appeared next to Anna. Kratos stood up looking alarmed.

"It's been awhile," said the voice.

Anna looked at the man next to her, his blue hair was tied into a low ponytail. His clothes seemed to be unique.

"It has been... Yuan," said Kratos moving forward.

Anna looked back and forth at Kratos and this man called Yuan. 'What's going on?' she thought
looking at both of the men.

Houjun Ri: Poor innocent Anna. Well read and review! Ta! Next chapter... will be weird. For me at least!