Chapter 15: Missing an Angel

The next morning, Anna awoke to the wonderful and familiar smell of Kratos' cooking. She followed the scent outside to where Kratos was feeding Noishe. He turned and smiled at her, then nodded his head toward the makeshift table he had set up.

"It's there if you want it."

"Thank you…" Anna gasped. This was the first time he'd made breakfast without her asking him to. She grabbed her plate and walked over to him and his dog-thing. "Were you bored this morning or something?"

"No. I just thought you might like something to eat before we leave." He finished feeding Noishe and went back inside the hotel.

Anna sat next to Noishe and ate. She let Noishe lick the plate when she was done, then went back inside. She was about to open the door to their room when she heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Kratos, you have to come back!"

"What did I tell you? You never saw me, heard of me, or heard anything I said. Tell Lord Yggdrasill you never found me."

"Lord Kratos, he has gone mad…"

"He's been mad!"

"No…this is much worse than when you left. He's…"

"Yuan. I don't care. I'm not leaving Sylvarant!"

"Lord Kratos, please! I need your help!"

"Drop the formality, Yuan. I'm not a god."

"But…I need your help. You have to return to Derris Kharlan!"

"I'm not going back. When I left,…"

"I know! I know! But Lord Yggdrasill…"

"Lord Yggdrasill must earn my allegiance! I will not answer his every beck and call until he proves worthy of such treatment!"

Anna could not take much more of this. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Kratos?"

"Yes, Anna?" He walked over to her, motioning for Yuan to keep quiet.

"What are you about?"

"How long were you standing outside the door?" Kratos asked, not knowing whether or not he really wanted to know.

"Since you started shouting. Now, what's all this about?"

"Don't worry."

"You're leaving again, aren't you?" Anna accused, backing away.

"He has no choice." Yuan interjected.

"Who said? I have some say in the matter, I hope?" Kratos rounded on the blue-haired Seraph.

"Lord Yggdrasill thinks not. I follow his orders."

"That much is painfully obvious, Yuan. I will not answer to such a tyrannical person!"

"You are rejecting your friends, then. Shall I tell Lord Yggdrasill that you have betrayed Cruxis?" Anna's jaw virtually hit the floor.

"Cruxis…?" she whispered.

"Yuan…leave…NOW!" Kratos drew his sword.

"You must come back! Lord Kratos, you have a loyalty to your friend if not to your leader!"

"Humph." He re-sheathed his sword and crossed his arms. "Fine. But only because he used to be Mithos my friend, not because he is Yggdrasill my leader."

"Thank you, Kratos…"

"My only condition is that Anna be kept safe from Kvar of the Remote Island Human Ranch. I want her alive when I get back."

"I'll put some of my angels on it right away, Lord Kratos." Yuan inclined his head, then turned to Anna. "Rest assured, young woman, you will be kept safe."

"Where are you going?" Anna asked Kratos.

"I must leave on business for Cruxis. I will do what I can to put a stop to Lord Yggdrasill's twisted schemes." He tilted her face up to meet her eyes. "I will return. I promise."

"And Kratos Aurion always keeps his promises." Anna finished.

"Yes." He kissed her lightly, then spread his wings and left with Yuan.

"Just don't take too long." Anna whispered as she watched her angel fly off.

Stupid Yuan! Stupid Yggdrasill! What will happen next? What does Yggdrasill want? Find out in the next chapter! (but only if you review!)