Chapter 18: Traitor to Cruxis

It was fun while it lasted, but eventually, Kratos ushered Anna out of the water and over to Noishe.

"Why do we have to go?" Anna complained. "I was having fun! And so were you, so don't even think about denying it!"

"I wasn't going to, love. Actually, that was the most fun I've had in a long time." Kratos wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "I'm glad I thought of this."

"Mmm. Me too." Anna said, as Kratos started kissing her neck and jaw line. "We should probably head to the nearest city though…"

"Why? Why can't we just camp out here?"

"Because we're all wet and it'll get cold."

"Good point." He stopped and a shadow of worry flitted briefly through his eyes. "Did you hear that?"

"No, I didn't hear anything…" Anna said, looking around.

"You go on to Asgard with Noishe. I'll follow shortly."

"Uh…ok…see you soon?"

"Yes." They kissed, and then Anna left. He waited until she was out of earshot before calling, "Show yourself!"

"Well, well, well. It's about time we found you, Lord Kratos." Yggdrasill sneered as he leapt out of the tree. There was another soft thud and Yuan followed.

"So it would seem." He turned to face the two spying Seraphim. "How long were you up in that tree?"

"Since you and the Angelus Project got here, my friend." Yggdrasill stepped closer to Kratos with every word.

"What do you want with her?" Kratos asked, standing his ground. 'Damn! I don't have my sword!' he thought and the other angels advanced on him.

"I don't want her, Kratos. I want you!"

"Why?" he asked simply, not even blinking.

"Why? 'Why?' you ask? I want Origin's Seal!" Yggdrasill yelled.

"What is so important that you would kill me to release the seal?"

"You have betrayed Cruxis, and for that you must die. I need Origin's Seal released to connect it with a more reliable person."

"Kratos, please, return to Derris Kharlan! Forget about Anna!"

"NO!" Kratos roared. "I WILL DO NO SUCH THING! I love her…"

"Love is such a painful thing, isn't it?" Yggdrasill cooed.

"…" Kratos had no answer. Instead, he balled his fists and hung his head.

"Are you planning on fighting us?" the Cruxis leader asked, referring to Kratos' fists.

"Possibly…" he stepped forward, raising one fist slowly and discreetly. When he was close enough, he punched Yggdrasill in the gut. He smiled slightly at the sight of his 'powerful leader' falling to the ground. "Or then again, possibly not." Kicking his fallen leader in the ribs, he unfolded his green and purple wings and took off for Asgard.

Once there, he met up with Anna outside of the Vortex Inn.

"So, what was your noise?" she asked casually as they checked in.

"Oh…nothing I couldn't handle." He took her hand and led her upstairs to the room. "Just a couple of spies." He opened the door.

"Spies?" Anna asked, a slight hint of intrigue in her voice.

"Yes. Spies. From Cruxis." He sat down on one of the beds while Anna sat on the other. "Yuan and our boss."

"Oh, no! Did they see anything between us or did they get there before I left?"

"They saw everything. And they were understandably pissed. But there's nothing to worry about. I took care of Lord Yggdrasill."

"What did you do?"

"I punched him." Kratos shrugged as if it were nothing and lay back on his bed. "Good night."

"You too." The lights turned out and they went to sleep.