AN:

Sorry for this taking so long, my friends. I've had writers block, and I've been contemplating on how I want this story to end. So maybe this will sufficient. I also spent an extra week adjusting the dialogue so the character's will be themselves. Anyways, I do hope you like this. Even though it's short.

Darkness is a sin itself. Twisting itself around your soul, crushing every good intention in your life to pieces. Crushing any hopes and dreams you ever had, and it leaves you with noting. Nothing except the feeling of disappointment and death. Darkness is something that can not be avoided, it's something that everyone must face. Whether you win or lose, it's up to you. But those who lose are forever haunted by the sins of their past, and death itself. Giving in is how you lose the fight. And once you lose the fight, you lose yourself in the process.

Cracking an eye open, Yuan regained consciousness. There he sat, upon a cold marble floor beneath him. It seemed as if he had been teleported in Mithos' Castle, not welgia. Grunting, the seraphim disdainfully arose to his feet after numerous attempts. The room, his surroundings, seemed like the library. Thousands upon thousands of books sat in line neatly upon hundreds of bookshelves placed throughout the room. To be safe, you could say that the room was the size of a football field, give or take an inch.

Breath quickening, the seraphim shook his head to make sure this wasn't a dream. Or perhaps a nightmare. Stepping on the floor, his shoes made a loud clunk against the hard stone. The sound sent a sharp sting through his head. Clenching his teeth tightly, the familiar taste of blood returned into his senses. Dizzily, the seraphim leaned against the edge of a bookcase and heavily breathed.

"Where... am I?" He asked to himself. Closing his eyes, he tried to keep a straight mind. He couldn't give into his appending doom. Not after he came this far. "Must, fight on for Kratos," He winched. "And myself." He reminded himself brutally. "Fight for this world." Each word fueled the fire burning within his soul. His attempts could possibly stop Mithos once and for all. "But where? Where am I?" The question broke down his confidence once more.

Glancing once more, he noticed a door a few hundred yards away, at the very end of the library. Gulping, the seraphim arose to his feet and traveled to the door. It took a long time, and a lot of failed attempts, to make it to the door. Legs aching with pain, he managed to grasp his hand on the doorknob and swing it open. The site of millions of staircases and halls filled his senses. This must be the heart of the castle.

"I have to find the main room," Yuan reminded himself, taking out a small gel from his coat pocket. "I was going to save this, but I need the energy boast," He spoke to only himself as he ate the strawberry gel. Boasting him with a sufficient amount of energy, he walked forward, about to begin the maze of stairs.

After several attempts, he found the third staircase on the left, and the eighth room on the left corner was the room he desired. Entering the room quietly, he noted a door parallel from his current position. Scuffling his feet across the floor from exhaustion, the seraphim made it to the door, through the empty and vast room. Taking one last gulp, he opened the door and was blasted my light.

There, resting inside the room was the main head quarters of all Derris-Kharlan and the worlds. Here was where everything enter wined, and messing with this balance could cause destruction to your existence. Stunned, Yuan jumped behind the nearest pillar and adjusted his vision to the brighter atmosphere.

In the middle of the room was a gleaming portal, glowing ever lastly. Sitting in a leather embroiled chair towards the left of the middle was Yggdrasill. Fingers laced mockingly, his vacant eyes were fixed upon the northern most wall. Leaning against it was known other than Kratos, the one who had saved Yuan hours before. Eyes widening as large as saucers, he took an alarmed step backwards from his hiding spot, and watched Kratos.

The seraphim leaned against the wall limply. Bloodshot eyes were hanging open with death looming in them. Holding his left arm at the fringe with his right, blood seeped through the lilac clothes he wore. Traces of dried blood were visible on his face as he winced through the pain, but oddly kept a stern and determined look.

"Now tell me, my dear Kratos, where is our little friend?" Yggdrasill spoke, as Yuan's glance shifted once more to the Cruxis leader.

"I, don't know," Kratos scoffed, eyes tightly shut. A look of disappointment crossed the leader's expression as he rose his right hand and in response, Kratos fell on his knees, clenching his fists from pain.

"Don't make this any harder then it has to be. Just tell me where he is. You can do that for me, can't you dear Kratos?" Yggdrasill asked, with his hand still in the air. Restraint appeared on the auburn seraphim as he flopped on his hands and knees, breathing deeply. Stunned, Yuan arose to his feet and watched, fearing what was going to happen.

"I said I don't know... so I don't know." Kratos answered bravely.

"Bravery won't get you anywhere in your damnation. Just give in, you'll be much happier when you tell me his location, my dear." Sarcasm and cruelty was apparent in the leader's voice as he flicked his wrist in the air, and Kratos' body jerked once more from the sudden bolt of enormous pain. Wanting to do something, Yuan stepped to the right and walked along the low wall, trying to make his way to Kratos.

"I'll be happier when I'm dead..." Kratos replied.

"Do you really wish to be dead? Even if you die, you'll be trapped in an eternal damnation forever," With that said, Yggdrasill laughed nonchantly and snickered, sending another bolt of spark through the saviors body. Almost at Kratos now, Yuan thought of a plan. If only I could use healing arts.. he thought to himself, disappointed in himself for that thought.

"One more time, where is Yuan?" Yggdrasill, spoke with a loud and non defiant voice. No joke or sarcasm was in his voice, just demand-full.

"I told you I don't know." Kratos hissed back and opened his eyes and starred back at Yggdrasill. Frown appearing on the leader's face, he arose to his feet and walked over to the kneeling seraphim. Once he was standing in front of him, he grabbed him by the air, so Kratos jerked in pain.

"How does it feel knowing your cause of suffering is because of him?"

"..." No reply.

"How much does it hurt you that he didn't come back for you?"

"..." Kratos remained silent, even through the pain.

"And how does it feel knowing you'll never be loved?" Yggdrasill snickered, letting go of Kratos' scalp and kicking him over, by aiming at the elbow. Falling weakly on the floor, Kratos closed his eyes tightly and breathed heavily.

"That's where you're wrong..."

Stepping out from the shadows was Yuan. Luxurious lavender wings fanned out as he stood before his former leader, holding his swallow in an offensive pose. At first Yuan had anticipated that he would be shocked, but a grin crossed Yggdrasill's face as he laughed. Furrowing his brows, Yuan just stood there, giving the weak Kratos a look once or twice.

"How convenient. Your lover has come back to save you. But instead, you'll have the honor of watching him die, just like Anna..." His lips curled as he grinned manically at Kratos. Suddenly, Kratos snapped open his eyes and saw Yuan standing feet away from him. Mixed emotions filled him as he lay there, powerless.

"Shut up..." Yuan snapped. Yggdrasill glanced over, with a return snicker.

"Fighting to the death for the one you love, how pathetic," He sneered, as he elevated his left hand and began muttering the ancient elven language used for judgment.

"Yu-yuan.." Kratos whispered. Yuan's ears perked as he stood there, ready to face whatever hell Yggdrasill was going to cast. "i-i.. lo...ve you...don...t di...e," He whispered, and closed his eyes. Heart pounding, Yuan rose his blade and began to cast indignation.

"Judgment!" The familiar burning lights of judgment were cast upon Yuan as he dashed to the right, barely missing all but one which damaged his left leg once more. Fighting throw the pain, he rose his blade.

"Indignation!" He hollered back, casting the eternal lighting finishing move.

"You betray me and now fight me? I'm ashamed of you, Yuan." Yggdrasill spoke, taking a direct hit but feeling no damage. Not sure what was happening, Yuan raced towards Yggdrasill and swung at him, but he did not bleed. Did not flinch.

"You..." Yuan stood there, puzzled.

"If you would have thought before, you'd realize the only weapon that can destroy me if the eternal sword, but that's in my possession, see?" Yggdrasill grinned, as the enchanted glowing sword arose from it's resting spot and flew into his hands. "And it belongs to me." he declared.

"..." Yuan stood there, as he kneeled weakly, now injury taking effect. "I won't let us die here.. damn it!"

"Oh, I'm not going to kill you. I'll let you live to see the destruction of the world before I kill you," Yggdrasill grinned sending both Yuan and Kratos blasting through the teleportation at speeds un recordable.

I'm so sorry Kratos, I've failed you yet again. If we get through this... no, when we get through this, I'll love you no matter what.. I'm not leaving you, not now.

AN:

Yes it's short, VERY SHORT, but this chapter had to be short. If it wasn't, it'd cut into the epilogue.. The last chapter is the epilogue thing that takes place right before the final battle with lloyd and pals. It has nothing to do with lloyd and pals tho, just yuan and kratos. So look forward to fluffi-ness and shonen-ai! Anyways, see ya laterz! And leave me a review, please :)