/* Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia, of course.

Hi guys, sorry it took me so long to post this... my computer has been having some issues, and I've been really busy in school this quarter -__- sigh. Enjoy!

(It might be a while before I can post another chapter... at this rate it took me 2 weeks to find enough time to sit down and write.)

But I refuse to let it rest! I want to actually finish this story someday lol.

*/

Chapter 17

"So, what just happened?" Anna was staring straight ahead in the direction of the man called Yuan, who had just flown off through the tops of the trees and out of sight.

"And who was that guy exactly? I think you have a lot of explaining to do…" Still in a daze, she turned toward the mysterious person next to her and raised one of her eyebrows playfully. She knew Kratos had been staring at her, but how could any normal human not be fascinated by people with wings?

He didn't look in the mood for jokes.

"Explaining… hmph. This isn't the time or place for it, so after we put some distance between us and these casualties, perhaps…" he looked at the ground near Anna's feet, where the body of one Desian was still sprawled out, and the other was similarly splayed nearby- "although on second thought, you're much better off not knowing."

"What? No, let's talk right now. There won't be more coming for a while, right?" Anna needed answers, and she wanted them right away. She had never been very good at waiting… waiting, waiting, that word triggered her memories of the human ranch, and she remembered too vividly all the people waiting for death, their only escape. The others might have accepted waiting for death, but not her. And then she remembered the first time she had met Kratos, by running straight into him- the day she had tried to run away. Waiting for death had never been an option to Anna, but at the same time, she knew that running hadn't gotten her anywhere- if anything, it had made life that much more miserable than before. I'm always trying to fight it… but why? Why am I trying so hard? She remembered the Desian's punishment for trying to escape, and her inablility to move… she thought she had been paralyzed forever. But somehow here she was, able to walk again… here she was, surrounded by trees and standing on soil…

She realized that she had been staring off into space, but Kratos was turning to leave now. She realized that if she planned on surviving, keeping him around would be necessary- and somehow without even knowing the guy, after everything that had happened recently she knew she could trust him. Well, after all he had done for her, she almost had to. How can I convince a winged man to give up his freedom, and stay here with me? What can I do to stop him from leaving? Anna felt her pace quicken as she tried to think quickly, before he was gone…

"Are you coming? Or would you rather stay here?" Kratos spoke roughly, as he gracefully parted the underbrush. Anna found it amazing that he could pull off both extremes at the same time.

"Oh no, I'm definitely coming." She didn't need to be told twice. He was silent as she followed behind him back towards their makeshift camp.

If I'm going to get him to stay, I need to find out why he came back…

"So, why did you come back?" It slipped out before she could help herself. She had never been any good at subtlety, she remembered. It wasn't a skill she had needed in a very, very long time.

"Come back?" He stopped now that they had reached the clearing from before, and turned around to look at her. She felt so small and weak just standing next to him… something about the intensity of his glare and his tall stance made her wish she had some sort of leverage over the guy.

"You were gone when I woke up. I thought…" she didn't feel like she needed to say the rest. It was somewhat sad to her to be losing her savior so soon. That's what he really was, when it came down to it. He was the reason she was out here, and not locked in that room…

"If you wish me to leave, I'm afraid it's not in your best interest right now."

"In my… what?" she needed a moment for what he said to sink in.

He continued without waiting for her answer- "Up to this point I have done what was necessary, so I am not going to let it be wasted now. You can understand that, can't you?"

"You… what? You're staying? Why?"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kratos was planning to stay? He sighed heavily, and turned toward a small bundle by the ashes of their old campfire, with his back to her now. He crouched down and started rummaging through it, gently and methodically. She tried to think of something more intelligent to say.

"Are you hungry, Anna?"

"Wait, what? Why are you trying to change the subject?"

"I don't want to argue with you right now. We need to get out of here."

"I wasn't trying to argue with you, I just want some general knowledge here. Don't you think I should know at least something about my circumstances? But you think that if you offer me food I'll just say okay and shut up? I don't think so!"

"It was worth a try, anyway." He paused for just a moment. "Although that's not really why I…" he stopped abruptly, and held his breath. Anna heard it, and became curious suddenly.

"Why do you have food anyway, I thought you only stole that one loaf of bread… if you took more from my parents, or if they go hungry for a week because of you, I swear I-"

"That's not the case. Don't jump to conclusions so often, it interferes with your judgment."

Anna didn't know what to say to that, but she couldn't let him be the one to stop the argument. Nobody was at fault here, so why did he have to make such a big deal out of her mistakes? He didn't have to talk like he knew so much better than she did. It was insulting.

"Don't patronize me!" She couldn't come up with anything better.

"Then don't make childish accusations without any basis. You're only asking for trouble."

Again, what was there to say to that? It was like he had all this planned out in his head. Although, until two days ago she hadn't really carried a full conversation with someone other than a Desian since before she had been captured. Nine years had passed while she was in that death camp, and it was starting to show. The only way she knew how to talk now was by arguing. Here was this kind man who had freed her from the ranch, who was quite possibly a guardian angel of sorts, and here she was yelling at him for offering her breakfast.

She felt ashamed of what she had become, and found that she couldn't say anything to him. She was afraid her voice would betray her regret.

"Is it hurting again?" he was standing in front of her now, she could hear him breathing, but her eyes were closed and she was trying to regain control over herself. She wanted to let him know that she was fine, that it wasn't her neck hurting at all… but she didn't want to start crying in front of him either. She didn't want to appear even weaker- she kept her mouth shut tightly to prevent it if she could. It only became harder to keep control when she thought for a moment that maybe it mattered to him, and then that she must be crazy to even consider it a possibility. He was in all likelihood an angel… this was in all likelihood his job. He spoke again, and she listened to his soothing voice.

"I've been straining you too much. I put too much faith in your recuperative powers… perhaps I don't understand how they work at the current time…" He paused, but it seemed as if he had more to say. Anna thought she felt a bit of concern in his voice… it made her feel even more like crying, because she knew she had to be imagining it.

She felt herself scooped up, and gasped quietly. Her eyes burned when they opened out of reflex, suddenly exposed to air, and she looked up at the man, surprised. What's going on?

"Don't say anything, alright? There is a river near here and I am going to take you there."

"Okay, but…"

"Don't talk right now."

"I can walk, alright?" she managed to keep her voice even as she spoke, but the spaces behind her eyes were burning now and she had to close them. She felt her throat starting to swell too. It was so hard to hold back tears- she hadn't needed to do that in nearly a decade either.

"… fine, if that's what you want. But only if you can keep up."

He set her down gently, and started walking off. She felt guilty for letting him believe her wounds were causing pain, but if it kept him nearby then she wasn't about to give him up just yet. Anna was just grateful that he was allowing her to follow behind- maybe he knew, and maybe he didn't. But at least he wouldn't see her face. She stopped for a moment and put her cool hands over her eyes, and wiped away the water collecting there before she jogged a little to catch up. The man didn't seem to waste much of his time. It took a couple minutes and some deep breaths, but once she was over the initial upset, she focused on moving through the forest and allowed her mind to wander.

Walking was a very effective way to help her calm down. As she looked around, the combination of trees and freedom… it was soothing in a way she had never truly appreciated before. They kept up the pace for several minutes in complete silence- as her feet crunched through the twigs and fallen leaves, her thoughts kept drifting until they settled back on the man in front of her.

He's kind of rough, isn't he? But he's really protective… he means well. He doesn't seem to care about other people at all, though… I wonder if that's part of being a guardian angel… assuming he is one. There isn't really any other explanation…right?

She wondered how long they had been walking, and she began to wish that she hadn't complained about breakfast… she was fairly hungry now. The only thing distracting her from eating a tree was the stream of questions going through her mind.

This person knows an angel. That's what people with wings are, right? If he knows an angel, wouldn't that make sense if he is one too? How many humans are friends with an angel? Plus I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine him flying… and Yuan said something about him 'running off'…is he in some sort of trouble too? I wish he would just talk to me…

"Um, Kratos…"

He continued forward, still parting the way as gracefully as ever- he didn't even look tired, though they had probably been walking for an hour now. She decided to try breaking the silence, but she felt slightly awkward using his name. Kratos… such an interesting name…

"That is your name, right?"

"Humph."

Real talkative, this guy. Is he mad at me or something?

"Are you mad at me or something?"

"No." He glanced down at the compass in his hand, which he had been checking every so often along the way.

"Are you sure?"

"Do you wish me to be angry with you?"

What kind of guardian angel is this guy, anyway? I thought angels were supposed to be heavenly creatures, who were always happy and kind and granted wishes, or something like that. Why does this guy strike me as the complete opposite?

She hesitated for a moment before responding to him, wondering if he was joking or not. She decided not to risk it this time.

"No, I don't want you mad at me."

"Good."

If I take a guess that he's not a normal guardian angel… what is he then? And now that I think about it, Yuan was saying that he's in trouble with his boss… Mithos, did he say? But wouldn't angels be working for Martel?

"Um, Kratos…"

Again, he chose not to answer.

"Kratos, I was wondering… why did you save me from the human ranch?"

He stopped abruptly, and Anna ran right into his back.

"Why do you ask?"

"Why wouldn't I ask? It's important."

"Important, hmm."

He started walking again, even faster this time.

Several minutes passed in silence, and Anna realized that clearly it was a question which he didn't want to answer. Now that she thought about it, Kratos didn't seem like the type to be keen on answering personal questions at all. She could tell that much, if nothing else.

For an angel, he sure does have some issues. But…if he's not a normal guardian angel, and if he is in trouble for doing something wrong, then was he…does this have to do with me, somehow?

Anna felt her heart pounding suddenly, and her head was reeling. She hadn't thought of that before… Yuan had seemed interested in her, too. But why? Aren't guardian angels supposed to save people? She shivered, even though it was sunny outside. The forest became uncomfortable- too much shade. There was nowhere she could look up and see the clouds, they were walking too fast for her to be enjoying it anymore. And why was Kratos so bent on getting further away? Yuan had killed those Desians…

…if Kratos is going to be punished by his boss…that means he did something against the rules. If his boss was Mithos, and not Martel, what was his reasoning for breaking rules? What rule did he break? Was it because he was snooping in the ranch? Are angels supposed to save people in secret?

Anna tried to wrap her hands around the outside of Kratos' jacket, which she was still wearing. Even though it was August, the air had a hint of Fall. She couldn't say why, but it became more windy as she thought about it. Her legs were cold too- the pants she had were still cut up from her encounter only one day ago. Kratos was still parting the way, not showing any signs of stopping.

Why is he trying so hard to cover ground? What is he afraid of? Desians were no match for his friend, so what's the big deal?

"If you won't answer those questions right now, then just tell me… well, nevermind." She had had enough of trying to make conversation. He seemed to be in a bad mood, so she didn't want to provoke it further. There was no way to know when her good luck would finally run out. A few more minutes passed in silence, and then to her surprise Kratos spoke.

"Are you tired yet?"

"Tired?" She really was surprised he actually strung together enough words to ask a question.

"Of walking. It's been two miles, roughly." He stopped and turned around to look at her properly.

"Oh… really? I'm not…"

"We're almost there, anyway. But you seem to be in good shape, considering you've been confined for several years."

"How… what are you trying to get at?" There had been something in his tone of voice that made her uncomfortable. He sounded curious, and she couldn't think of any reason why he should be… an awkward silence seemed to make her word echo.

"…Nothing, just forget I said it."

"Okay…" she hadn't expected him to drop the subject so quickly, since he was the one that started it anyway.

Well this is fun. I don't know where I am, I don't know who this guy is, and I don't even know what this guy is- and now he's refusing to talk to me. Are we just going to wander around this forest until one of us dies of boredom?

I can't tell if she's just incredibly trusting, incredibly stupid, or… maybe that dwarf was right? Does she have brain damage from the way she was treated at the ranch? Oh wait, that was just his thought when I told him her symptoms… she's certainly just fine now that she has a key crest… Kratos sighed.

"We're here."

"Uh… where is 'here' exactly? Didn't you say something about…" he pointed through a pair of trees, and noticed she seemed surprised. She should have heard the river before she saw it- how could she have not heard it? He couldn't be certain, but on the night he had taken her out through the window, he remembered her wings. And the fact that she was not hurt by the fall supported that. The river was fairly loud, actually. She must not have been paying any attention at all. A bird started making noise in the tree above her as she darted off toward the water.

She's so…Kratos had to stop himself right there before he thought anything further. As much as he was determined to protect this girl's life, he knew that the role could only be temporary. He would have to find someplace safe for her, and quickly- he didn't want to keep Mithos waiting for too long. It was good that she would not die from the exphere or her abuse, but it was also far less convenient. He thought about Yuan's advice, to enjoy himself and stay with her, but dismissed it quickly. Since when have I ever listened to that guy? He's never right…he stopped for a moment, and dropped his head slightly, putting the palm of one hand on his face. I guess he did predict that I liked the girl… but of course it was obvious. I can't give him credit for that…

Kratos walked leisurely toward the river, and saw Anna was already there. He saw as she lifted her hands above her head, and then she fell backward, completely limp- he panicked.

A/N: this is where I have to cut it off! Sorry! This was a really long chapter, so I had to break it up somewhere... -__-

Everything that happened will be explained next chapter, most likely. But if you have questions, as always feel free to ask, and I'll try to answer them for you in the next chapter. =)