And another chappie. Had the inspiration to write it, so yeah...two chapters in one day! The ending is very sad...just to warn you. I almost started crying while writing it T.T
I was listening to some Nightwish songs and I usually write sad stuff while I listen to that -.-
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales, 'kay?
"That's what I thought." Kate said. "Who killed you?"
Anna's happy expression turned to a sorrowful expression. She muttered a small "Uhm..." before Kratos cut her off.
"I...am the one who killed Anna." He said. Kate's eyes widened, she didn't expect this either.
She cleared her throat and bit her lip nervously. "I-I see..." Raine knew that Kate knew something else.
"What is it?" Raine asked.
"Well, in order for Anna to return...she must be killed once again. But...she has to be killed by the person who ended her life."
There was a short moment of silence after this, before Kratos left the room, slamming the door behind him. There was no way he was going to kill Anna again. Raine knew this was going to happen. She was unsure of how she felt at that moment. Anna was shocked, she didn't know what to think as well.
"Are you sure there isn't any other way?" Raine asked. There had to be another way, she just couldn't let history repeat itself.
"I'm afraid not..." Kate answered sadly.
Raine thought about this for a moment and finally, a good idea came to her.
"Would it work if Anna was killed by the same weapon which ended her life? Would that work?"
Kate thought about it for a moment, then approved of this idea. "It might work. I wouldn't see why not..."
Anna was delighted to know this. "But who's going to kill me?" she asked. "Lloyd and Kratos won't do it, and we don't know any other swordsman..."
Kratos walked outside the research academy, his fists clenched by his sides. "This can't be..." He thought repeatedly. He felt the world around him disappear, as he concentrated on the current situation he was in, until Kate called him.
"Kratos?" She asked, standing behind him. With his reflexes, he jumped around and held his blade at her neck. Her eyes widened and she stopped breathing for a moment. Kratos sighed in relief when he realized who it was. He lowered his sword and sheathed it.
"What is it?" He asked.
"T-that was freaky..." She muttered.
"Most people think that way. Now, what do you want?"
"May I borrow your sword for a moment?"
"Why?"
"It's...uhm...for studying. I need it to...to find another way for Anna to go back. You can stay out here if you want..." She cleared her throat. He nodded and handed the sword over. Usually he wouldn't do this, but as of right now, he'd do anything to find another way.
"Return it to me once you are done."
Kate nodded and hurried into the academy. Raine and Anna were waiting patiently inside Kate's lab. Kate was supposed to get the sword from Kratos, then let Anna kill herself. That last part sent shivers down her spine, but it was better than to have Kratos do it. She opened the door to her lab cautiously, carrying the heavy sword.
"Here it is..." She said as she handed the sword to Anna.
"I'm curious...what would happen if somebody or something completely different killed Anna?" Raine asked. That question had been bugging her for a while.
"She would simply come back a few seconds later. And if nothing is done, she could be doomed to live on forever..." Kate answered. Raine nodded, that answered her question.
"Ah, I see..." Anna answered weakly. To tell the truth, she was a bit nervous to do this. She was having last-minute regrets. Why go back when she could spend all this time with her family? She bit her lip to keep herself from crying.
"Did you tell Kratos about this?" Raine asked. She knew that he'd be shocked if he found Anna, dead, laying in a pool of her own blood. He might not even recover from that sight.
Kate shook her head. "No. It would be a bad idea for him to know. He might try and stop it and get Anna into more trouble..."
"Uhm, guys...?" Anna asked. Raine and Kate turned around to face her. Tears were rolling down her face.
"Anna, what's wrong?" Raine asked.
"Well, you see...I'm not sure if I want to go back." She said between sobs.
Raine felt her heart sink into her stomach. This was bad. She could just about kiss her hopes of being with Kratos goodbye.
"W-what made you change your mind?" She asked, trying to keep her tone as serious as possible.
"I've always wanted to be with my family...my chance finally came and...I don't want to throw it away."
"I-I see...If you'll excuse me..." Raine said weakly before making a break for the door. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now, she just wanted to go home and cry alone in her room. As she tried leaving the academy, she bumped into the person she was trying to avoid at that moment...Kratos. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going, until she hit something hard, which made her fall on the floor. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw Kratos looking down on her.
"I-I'm sorry...I wasn't paying attention and..."
Kratos helped her get up and held her tightly. "What's wrong?" He asked. She continued to sob in his chest, not being able to stop.
"I-It's nothing..." She answered after a few seconds.
"Raine, I find you here, tears rolling down your cheeks and you're trying to convince me that nothing is wrong?"
"..." Was Raine's response. He had a point. "Anna doesn't want to go back anymore..." Raine managed to say.
Now Kratos was at a loss of words. He had absolutely no idea what to say, what to do...what to think. A part of him just wanted to run away with Raine, leaving everything else behind.
"Raine..." He held her tighter. He didn't want to let her go, not now, not ever.
"I-I'll understand if you want to leave me...and go have the life you never had with Anna and Lloyd..."
"No, Raine. I won't leave you." He ran his fingers through her silver hair, until he heard a noise from down the hall. Anna and Kate were standing a few feet away.
"Kratos..." Anna began. Now she started feeling awful. Even though she knew that she'd said earlier that she didn't care if Kratos loved Raine, she couldn't help but feel torn apart at the sight before her. She felt the world around her spin and all she wanted to do at that moment was to jump off a mountain. Anything that would end her life was good enough, now that she knew she could end it herself. She ran in the opposite direction, leaving the academy and taking the nearest rheaird.
"Don't let her get away! I misread, she could get killed by anything or anyone and she wouldn't come back! Quickly, stop her from doing something to harm herself!" Kate said, urgently.
Still in shock, Kratos ran after her. Raine and Kate followed close behind. When they arrived outside, there was no sight of Anna, but there was a missing rheaird. Raine noticed a nearby man.
"Excuse me, but would you happen to know where the lady who took the rheaird was headed?" Raine asked.
"I'm not quite sure, but I think I heard her mumble about something called "Hima"..." The man answered.
"Thank you." Raine said, before getting on the other rheaird and following Kratos. When she caught up to him, she brought her rheaird closer.
"Kratos! Anna is going to Hima!" She yelled as loud as she could. She knew Kratos had angelic senses and could've heard her even if she was talking in a low tone, but she was just making sure. Kratos glanced over to her and nodded approvingly. Ever since they'd saved the world, a warp between the two worlds had been set up. The two flew over the warp and appeared in Sylvarant, near Palmacosta. A few minutes later and they had arrived at Hima. They flew to the top of the mountain.
Anna was standing at the edge of the mountain, looking down. She didn't seem to notice Kratos and Raine's presence.
"Kratos...I know I don't belong here...I'm sorry..." She muttered before preparing to jump. Luckily, Kratos grabbed the back of her dress and kept her from falling. She tried to get away, but Kratos had no intention of letting her go.
"Let me go!" She yelled, trying to get away.
"No, Anna! You mustn't do this!" Kratos tried reasoning with her. But Anna was Anna, death didn't change a thing about her. She was still as stubborn as ever.
"Kratos, I don't belong here! Besides, you don't even love me anymore!" She yelled, tears forming in her eyes.
Raine stood back, watching the whole thing. She wasn't going to interfere. Now she felt bad for loving Kratos, even though she knew it couldn't be helped.
"That is not true!" Kratos yelled, trying to keep Anna from getting away. He had much trouble doing so, Anna could be very strong when she wanted to.
"Yes it is, Kratos! You hate me, don't you!" She yelled, kicking and screaming. Then, she slapped him in the face, causing his hands to let go. He fell backwards and brought his hand to his face. Surprisingly, he felt tears forming in his eyes. Anna didn't seem to notice this until her heels were against the edge of the mountain.
"Anna..." He muttered. But it was too late, Anna had taken another step backwards, which caused her to lose her balance and fall off. She had the same expression she had when she noticed the tears in Kratos' eyes, the expression which combined anger, fear, regret and sadness.
Kratos' eyes widened.
"No! Anna!" He yelled as he tried catching her hand, but it was too late, she was going to die.
Rest assured, the fanfic doesn't end here. I have no intention of ending it anytime soon... :p