Contrary to what you may or may not believe I do not own Tales of Symphonia.
I should really say more… ah well, on with the show...
Yuan's mind was racing. Never in his life had he had so much to think about at once. Why was Kratos being so kind? Kratos was human, he was a half-elf, they were supposed to hate each other. Was this pity? Did this frightened little loser actually pity him? To be honest the thought disgusted Yuan. Pity from something so pathetic was insulting.
"I should pity him," Yuan thought to himself, " But I didn't, did I? I took one look at how pathetic he was and decided to take advantage of him." Yuan looked up at Kratos, trying to ignore his guilt. Kratos's look of bravery was fast ebbing. He had gone pale, as if frightened by his own daring. He looked just as confused as Yuan felt, and suddenly Yuan did pity him.
" He'll be crying soon and it'll be all my fault," Remembrance of his plan came flooding back. Each time he thought of it, the whole thing seemed worse. Yuan had gotten himself into a an awful situation. He couldn't warn Kratos, then it would come out that he had planned the whole thing. Kratos wouldn't be frightened to tell, and he and all the other boys would be in serious trouble. Humans could be pretty nasty when their slaves, or even other people's slaves acted up. No one would mind killing them all, not if they had the money to pay for them. The two boys were already leaving the town and Yuan still had no plan. " I'll just tell them to stop when we get there. Yeah, that'll work. Kratos will think I saved him and the guys'll know to stop. It'll be perfect." Yuan mumbled assurance to himself as they walked along. Arguing against his fears and doubts, although he wasn't sure he quite believed everything he was saying.
Kratos began humming quietly to himself; Yuan figured he was probably calming himself down. Yuan could do with some humming himself. He could feel his heart thumping as his eyes roved the empty street for some sign of the ambushers. Finally the main gate came into view, and Yuan let himself breath. They weren't going to come! They had forgotten! Kratos was safe, he was safe, everything would be alright, and he had been foolish to worry.
"Well, well, well. Look who 'e 'ave here." Like a pack of wolves the slave boys began to surround Yuan and Kratos. They came out of trees by the side of the road, from behind the gate, some even came from over the wall. Yuan's breath caught in his throat and he looked over at Kratos. Kratos was white as a sheet with tears in the corner of his eyes that he was to afraid to let fall. Perspiration appeared on his for head and for a moment Yuan was sure he would faint. Yuan tried to call out and stop the group, but his breath wouldn't come right. For a moment all was still, no one breathed. Everyone waited for someone to move.
Then with out warning the oldest of the boys leapt from where he stood at the edge of the wood and tackled Kratos to the ground. Like water from a burst damn the boys suddenly poured down on Kratos from everywhere. They ran past Yuan laughing as they had the previous night, but now it seemed cruel and wrong. From beneath the mass of fists Kratos let out a tearful scream of misery and pain. Suddenly Yuan found his voice:
" STOP IT! Guys you have to stop it! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" But it was to no avail. With the mad shouting of the boys and the pitiful cries made by Kratos, no one could hear him. Yuan swallowed taking the moment to collect his thoughts. Then he ran at the little mob, shouting as he had before. Frantically he pulled boy after boy away from Kratos. A few went back and continued pounding on him ruthlessly, but most just stared at Yuan with disbelief. Finally only the oldest boy, the leader was left pounding on the now visible Kratos with cruel joy .
Kratos was a mess, he was covered in blood, not a of bit skin showed that was not wounded in some way. Yuan became aware that Kratos wasn't breathing correctly.
" Move over!" Yuan cried out shoving Kratos's remaining attacker aside.
" What's your problem, Yuan! We did like you asked. Your not scared he's going to tell are you. He'll be to scared, you said so yourself." The older boy stood up wiping blood and dust from his face.
" Would you just SHUT UP!" Yuan shouted, not bothering to turn around. Kratos was out cold. He was in awful shape, some of his ribs were broken, and his breath caught every time he breathed. Yuan suddenly realized how close he had come to organizing a murder.
" He needs help. You guys went to far. Help me carry him up to the house." Yuan started giving orders as he had last night, but this time no one moved.
" We went to far? It was your idea. Who cares if the little bastard dies. He's a human, they push us down and treat us like shit. He deserves every bit of it. Now move aside Yuan." The oldest boy advanced on Yuan and Kratos, the rest of the group following him.
" Just because most humans are mean, doesn't mean you have to beat up Kratos. He's not so bad." Yuan rounded on his fellow half-elves, staring right into the eyes of their new found leader.
"MOVE ASIDE!" The boy shouted towering over Yuan and spraying him with specks of spit as he shouted. Without warning, even from his own mind Yuan smacked the boy across the face. Knowing he had no time to waste Yuan grabbed Kratos and carried him as best he could across the grounds to the house. Behind him he could feel the eyes of his fellow half-elves staring in amazement. Yuan had hit a boy twice his age and nearly fully grown, and they had a certain amount of reverence for that, still it would be quite some time until Yuan could show his face around the shack again.
Kratos awoke suddenly with a pain in his chest. He couldn't move, couldn't breath without feeling the pain. He opened his eyes slowly to reveal his bedroom. Someone had drawn the curtains, and the only light came from the eerie magitechnology lamp that kept the plants in Noishe's fish tank alive. Kratos closed his eyes and listened, he could hear Noishe, but there was also a soft and steady breathing. Moving his head with the utmost care Kratos looked toward the sound. Sleeping in a small chair next to his bed was Yuan. Kratos let out a little gasp, that caused him severe pain in his chest. At the noise Yuan's eyes flew open. For a moment the two just stared at one another, but then Yuan jumped up and moved to sit on the edge of Kratos's bed.
"Kratos! Your awake! I thought we'd lost you. You've been out for three whole days. The doctor wasn't sure you'd pull through, he came by earlier and said that your ribs were still broken," Yuan said everything very fast and grinned the whole time. Kratos looked back at him, trying to remember exactly what had happened to his ribs. Suddenly he remembered how he'd been attacked, those mean half-elf boys had probably broken his ribs. At the very thought Kratos felt the blood drain from his face. Yuan was watching him earnestly and began to look worried when Kratos paled. Kratos didn't want Yuan to worry, after all it must have been Yuan who saved him, so he gave him the biggest smile he could muster even though it hurt. However, this didn't have the hoped for effect, Yuan looked away as if he was sad and Kratos couldn't figure out why.
" Kratos, listen," Yuan said suddenly surprising Kratos, " You know how you asked if I wanted to learn how to… read? Well, I've been thinking that in return you might let me teach you how to be tough, you know fight and stuff like that." Yuan looked back at Kratos nervously searching his eyes for some kind of answer. Kratos just stared. This was quite unexpected. He had never imagined learning anything from a half-elf, after all if humans were better they should know more. And yet it made sense, Yuan was tough and therefore he could probably teach Kratos. Besides it would be wonderful to be able to stand up for himself. In fact the more he though about it the better the idea seemed. Slowly Kratos nodded trying not to hurt himself in the action.
"Great! It's a deal then. We'll start as soon as you get better! When I'm through with you no one will be able to beat you!" Yuan's eyes were huge with excitement. He grabbed Kratos's and shook it vigorously before Kratos let out squeal of pain. Embarrassed Yuan let go and left the room leaving Kratos alone to think about becoming strong, and to come up with some much needed lesson plans.
It's shorter than the others but it was a good stopping place. I'm sorry it took awhile to post but school just started and stuff. So um, yeah my brand new Vash plushie says "HI"
