A/N

The first chapters were on Yuan's PoV. Hope that wasn't too confusing. Also, this is in third person.

Warnings for this chapter: KRANNAKRANNAKRANNAKRANNA!!! YES! (even if it's a flashback...)

This chapter is divided in three parts: present, a brief glimpse of the future and the past.

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Chapter 3

Remember Me?

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The finely crafted furniture in the room still kept a rustic aura that made anyone feel at ease, relaxing as uncountable shades of brown blended with the green plants scattered everywhere, almost as an indoors garden.

Lloyd was sleeping on a makeshift bed in the corner of the room, his tightly shut eyes blatant proof of what dreams, what nightmares haunted his shaky mind. His fists held to the sheets with so much vigor it was a wonder they were still intact. The boy was surprisingly strong... thinking about it, his strength shouldn't come as a surprise to Yuan. If angelic traits could be inherited, that is. The man had been researching that subject since his friend had appeared with a newborn half-angel for him to stu- to take care of.

Back to Anna... Anna was looking around, curiously taking in the pleasant feeling of the room. Her face, however, showed nothing more than a deep frown. She didn't understand what her boss was saying. Moreover, she didn't know where she was, what an infant was doing on the floor, displaying marks of injuries no one should ever bear.

"Should I?"

"You should rest for now", he stated, walking away. "You need sleep more than anything."

"Yes sir!"

"No need for that, Anna", the Renegade leader grimaced.

Soft snores could be heard from Anna's disheveled form as she simply fainted from exhaustion.

"It's not like you're my subordinate anymore." Yuan added.

"Sleep well, you have yet another hell to go through as soon as you're well enough..." He closed the door.

---

"So, how is she?"

"She's amnesiac. It may happen to a person who undergoes that many traumas at a short period." He sighed.

"I do hope her memory's not permanently damaged."

"So do I", he muttered, "so do I..."

"AH!"

"Lloyd!" They both entered the room. A startled Anna was hugging Lloyd in an attempt to comfort the boy, who was wailing pitifully in her arms. She awkwardly patted his back, trying to figure out what exactly she'd done to him.

"Mama, mama, ma-" A loud sob interrupted his rant.

"Do you know where's your mom?", She asked in a delicate whisper, her grip even tighter.

"Mama, mama is alive!" He smiled weakly.

"What?..."

---

The Balacruf ruins were indeed the perfect location for two girls to disappear unnoticed by others. That time, Yggdrasil had been careless. That meant no "guard angel" was sent, no one was there to make sure Liet sacrificed herself like a little lamb for a dead "Goddess".

Not that Botta was complaining, mind you. He was even glad to some extent. He couldn't feel really happy about the entire situation. The Renegade vice-leader knew it was his duty to bring Cruxis' plans to ruins, but that didn't stop guilt from chewing his insides, savoring the remorse he felt for killing people. The Chosens of the withering world were usually the purest, the most innocent among all, it always felt like he was taking what little goodness still hid in the tainted Hourglass composed of Sylvarant and Tethe'Alla.

Stomp stomp

Anna woke up to find herself locked in a prison cell. "Where... Liet!" She turned to realize the older girl was still asleep, right beside her. The brown haired girl sighed in relief and payed attention to her surroundings. "Hey, Liet, wake up!" She gently shook her friend.

Drowsy eyes slowly came to focus as the Chosen woke up. "Anna?" She sat on the bed and examined the cell. "Wh-where are we?"

"Beats me."

They leaned on the prison's bars and spotted a guard wearing clothes they both knew too well. "Desians!" Anna nearly shouted in rage.

"Ah, so you two are finally awake! Lord Yuan will be pleased!" He seemed to ignore the girl's little outburst, what made her even angrier.

"Humph."

-

The Desian soldier grabbed a key and proceed to open the lock. "Follow me", he ordered.

Liet quickly scrambled to her feet and grasped Anna's hand. The girls looked at each other for a moment, silently asking what they should do. Deciding to follow the soldier for the time being, the brunette nodded, a reassuring grin gracing her face.

Corridors stretched upon corridors as they walked. "Damn, how big is this thing?", Anna groaned to herself. 'Wait, if they were really Desians, they'd kill Liet on the spot. Those guys wouldn't bother locking us, unless they wanted to have a little fun, that is, torturing before disposing of the Chosen... even so, we'd be at least cuffed--they aren't that dumb.' She mused.

The two girls were shoved into a elegantly decorated office. The 'Desian' was taken aback by the lack of resistance. Actually, he felt troubled as they kept walking without much struggle. The younger knew if they were really Desians, nothing good would come of foolish attempts to free herself. She'd wait for the right opportunity...

-

Years later, Kratos would ask himself where Lloyd's attitude had come from. Then, that sweet memory would yet again worm its way to the surface, painful reminder of his lost happiness.

He let his mind wander freely, its only goal to reach the realm of dreams, the only place where he still found peace. The seraph closed his eyes, a sad smile adding a melancholic touch to his otherwise stoic face.

-

"Stupid Deck brush!" The woman shouted.

"What happened, Anna?"

"I was walking and that damn thing slappe-" She blushed. "Nevermind."

"..."

"What? You've never done this, o mighty four thousand years old Seraphim from the Holy Church of Martel?" She held a hand to her hip.

His answer came as a chuckle. Not a mocking one, just a tender and caring smile...

...Anna, of course, didn't need to know that.

"Oh, Goddess-who-isn't-actually-a-Goddess, if his child wasn't inside me, I'd strangle Kratos Aurion right now, angel or not!" She exclaimed, extending her hands in a mock prayer.

"I'd love to see you try."

"Do you really?" She smirked, pinning his wrists and approaching just enough to connect their lips into a soft kiss, her own never letting go of that grin the man had grown to love above everything else.

"Yes, I do."