Is this really already chapter 11?

Wow, this didn't take as nearly as long as I expected.

Well, now that the two are (finally!) a couple I can really start the main event. The Journey across whole Sylvarant, while being pursued by Cruxis. Ahh…this is going to be fun!

I do not own the characters or the locations of Tales of Symphonia.

At last I could shake him off! Really, I love him, but while he's around I can't tell you the real interesting parts. He would interfere with no end and I haven't got time for that. He can be damn annoying if he wants to, but I guess you already know that.

Well, if I remember correctly we came to the "I love you"-part. Man, that was really hard to say and it was even harder to convince him, that I absolutely meant it. Seriously, it would be easier to teach Raine how to swim.

Okay, about the journey. We were travelling through the desert for about…two weeks. If you don't use an Exsphere this is quite exhausting, but not that bad and I was so excited, that I would finally enter a town again. After some time you miss normal human company.

I guess you are wondering if Kratos and I were now really together. The answer is: kinda. It's hard to describe. Sometimes we were so close and sometimes…he was so far away, if you know what I mean. I was really trying my best to understand what was going on in his head and honestly a four thousand year old angel is quite hard to understand. But since I made teeny tiny baby steps, I was slowly, but surely getting closer to him. Very hard work but it was worth it in the end.

Oh right! Something that is a bit important is that I finally found out in these two weeks, that he has those damn angel senses. You have no idea how embarrassing and how annoying it is to have someone around you, who sees and hears everything! I admit sometimes it was quite convenient, but mostly annoying. Although there was one incident, were it was really quite helpful. This was in the week where I was trying to sed…No; it's too soon for that. Way too soon! But don't worry we'll get to this.

Triet. Yeah, let's go on with Triet. …You know what's strange? I have this feeling that I like this town, but I don't know why. I mean I know what happened there, but there's nothing that would explain this feeling. …Maybe I'll remember, while I'm telling you. …Weird…

Anna was standing in the small inn of Triet and was looking at the bed that was in front of her like it was the Holy Grounds of Kharlan itself. "You have been looking at this bed for now over ten minutes" Kratos stated behind her.

"Mhmm…" she answered, still starring at the piece of furniture.

"I can't imagine that furniture is so interesting that it could justify your reaction."

"…This…is a bed" Anna said slowly. She kneeled down, so she could take an even closer look at it. "This is a bed! Do you know how long it has been since I saw a bed?"

"Considering your past, a bit longer than a year" he answered.

"Exactly! You can't know that, because you haven't been through the same things as I, but I'm having a moment right now! A soft bed, where you can…sleep in!" Her voice sounded ecstatic. Very careful she touched it. It's sooo soft!

"That's what they are made for" he answered. "Och…Don't ruin it with your Kratos-ness" she replied while she was touching the blanket with both of her hands.

"My what?" the Seraph asked a bit confused. "Kratos-ness. You know, how you are, is really hard to describe, because you are so many things at once. So I summed it up. Of course I could say, don't ruin my mood with your angelic, totally Cruxis infected comments, but well, it's a bit long" Anna answered and now even dared to sit on the bed "Oh my goddess! This feels incredible!"

Suddenly she blushed and said "I'm sorry! Didn't want to say that. Old habit, I guess."

He tilted his head and asked nearly sounding a bit curious "What old habit?" With her left hand she scratched the back of her head and answered a bit embarrassed "Well, I'm trying to stop saying "My goddess" or "In Martel's name" or stuff like that. Since you told me what really happened to her, I always feel so disrespectful when I use her name like this. And considering the fact that I know what Cruxis does and that I'm travelling with you, it's really not adequate."

Then she let herself fall back and enjoyed the absolute extraordinary softness of the bed. This feels like heaven! So soft! Clouds must feel like that! She sighed some moments she smiled and asked "You leave it like that? No wise comment about what I said?" "Even if I would say what I think about your behaviour, I highly doubt it would make any difference to you" Kratos answered. A bit surprised she sat up, although she would have liked to lie in the bed for a bit longer.

"Wow, it seems there is still hope for you to become a human again! I'm surprised and maybe even a little bit impressed!" Anna answered giggling. She stood up and stretched her arms. "Your social abilities really have improved" she said with a pleased smile.

"I don't see any difference from before I met you" he answered. Anna rolled her eyes. Then she went over to him. And when there faces were only a few inches away from each other the young woman replied "Well, now you are able to have a normal conversation with a human. Recently you even started a conversation. And you made a human fall in love with you. There is a difference from before. Huge difference!"

After that she moved away. Anna had learned soon that she could shut him up quite easily, if she was close to him in one moment and then moved away in another. Like this she could tell him something, without the risk that he would interrupt her. Besides she enjoyed to see that she was able to put him out like this.

Anna looked out of the window and sighed. "Ohh…It's already dark. I wanted to see a bit more of this town. I have never been here before." Kratos, who seemed to have recovered from her move, answered "There's time for that tomorrow."

Surprised she turned around. "Tomorrow?" Anna asked.

"There's no need to move on now. Cruxis doesn't expect me to travel with you any longer and are surely now looking for me in Tethe'alla. We can stay here for a few days."

"Wait! …Let's see if I got this right. You mean we can stay her for a while, because Cruxis thinks you wouldn't be so stupid to stay with a human?"

"…Basically, yes."

"…Ooookay, I guess I shouldn't complain" she answered. "Good, that you are that foolish!" Anna added smiling and leaned forward to kiss him briefly. Not too much, Anna! You could scare him off again she reminded herself. Really, it was like flirting with a deer. One step too far and you were at the beginning again. Then she turned around again. "So I'm allowed to sleep in a bed tonight?"

"Since when do you need my allowance for anything?"

"Point taken."

The moon was shining on Triet. Everything was quiet…Till Anna groaned frustrated and got out of the bed. "This is so unfair! I've waited for this day like forever and now…this!" she stated upset "It feels so nice and yet…it feels wrong. I can't believe that something can feel too soft!" She sighed heavily.

The young woman turned around and realised that Kratos was sitting on a chair in a dark corner of the room. It took her some moments to recover from the shock. "Why do you always have to startle me?" she asked quite angrily.

"It's not my fault that you are an easily frightened person" he replied simply.

"And it's not my fault that you look absolutely terrifying in the dark!" Anna answered. She let out a sigh of desperation. "I will have to sleep on the floor! This is sooo pathetic!" She sat down. Then she sighed again, but this time really annoyed. "Okay, there has to be something wrong with me! There is no other explanation for this!"

"Why do you think something like that?" Kratos asked and looked at her with this somehow strange interested look, he always had when she had done something quite…Anna-like. "I hate to admit it, but well…sitting on the floor is more comfortable than lying in this sweet, little, cloud-like bed. Like I said, I can't be right in the head…" And before he could even start his answer, she said "I don't want to hear your answer! No angel comments now! So please save it!"

She laid back and discovered that the floor really was far more comfortable. She groaned "Worst night ever!"

"Does it really bother you that much that you are not able to sleep in a bed?"

She rolled her eyes and started to feel that she was getting tired. "Someone who doesn't sleep can't understand that. …It's just sleeping in a bed is one of those small things you really miss and realising that you can't do it, gets you down a bit. But I guess, it's better like that. While travelling with you, we won't stay often in a place like this anyway."

Anna yawned. "I can't believe I'm falling asleep, because I moved out of the bed onto the floor!" But before she could have expressed her frustration any further, Anna fell asleep.

"And Noishe? How do I look?" Anna asked the Protozoan. The young woman stood just outside the inn in front of the little shelter, where Noishe had spent the night. It was nearly midday and it was really quite hot. Noishe looked at her critically. Then he let out a friendly bark. "You like them? Really? You don't have to lie to me. If you don't like them you can tell me. I won't be mad" she explained him, but his reaction stayed the same.

Anna felt a bit insecure in her new clothes. She had spent the whole morning searching for the right clothes. It had been quite difficult to find something, which would have fit, her standards. First of all they had to be convenient. Secondly resistant and thirdly comfortable. And to find something that fulfilled all those criterions, had been harder, than she had expected.

But the weirdest thing about it was that Kratos had suggested this purchase. Really weird…She had had no idea why, but she had agreed rather quickly. Although she had done it only under one condition: That she would go alone. He had wanted to protest, but she had managed to convince him that it wouldn't be good, if he would spend too much time in public.

She had said to him "Cruxis is looking for you. You might think that they are searching for you now in Tethe'alla, but you can't be sure about that. They could be anywhere. And be honest, I'm far more inconspicuous than you are. I'm just not as intimidating as you. Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's not like I could get lost here." And he really had agreed. She had been quite surprised that she had managed that and had told herself to use more arguments like that in the future.

Anna was and always had been a people person. There was something about her that nearly forced the people around her to like her. At least that's what her mother had always told her, but it seemed to be the truth, because she had absolutely no problem to socialize with the citizens of Triet. Although, and Anna was quite proud about that, she had not a single time given her name or anything important like that. She really had been careful, like she had promised him.

The shopping itself had been actually quite fun, even though it had been hard to find something fitting. After some time she had found clothes that would serve their purpose. It was a grey shirt and grey pants. The shirt had black lines on it and the space between those lines was yellow. It was a nice contrast. The sleeves were long and wide and their colour was a bit darker. But the best thing about this shirt was that it covered her Exsphere completely.

Then she had found something that was a mixture between a cape and a coat. It had a nice shade of green and it really suited her to her surprise. She had paid the clothes with the money Kratos had given her and that made her feel a little bit bad. Anna didn't like to spend money of other people. It made her feel so dependent. But since she actually did depend on him, it wasn't so bad after all.

Still, even though Noishe told her that he liked the clothes, Anna didn't want to go inside quite yet. She liked the fact that she was surrounded by people. Absolutely normal people. She enjoyed just observing them. Men, women and children living their normal lives.

After some minutes she said to Noishe "I guess I should finally go back inside again. He'll probably lose it if I don't show up." The Protozoan licked her hand. "See you later!" she answered, while she was entering the inn. On her way upstairs a maid walked past her.

"Uhm…excuse me, Miss?" Anna heard the soft voice, but it took her some moments to realise that she was meant. She turned around. "Yes?" Anna answered a bit unsure. The maid looked at her curiously. She was a pretty, young woman, with long black hair and grey eyes. "I'm terribly sorry for bothering you, but would you be so kind to tell me who the man is, that is travelling with you?"

"Wh…Why do you want to know that?" Anna asked suspicious. Is she someone from Cruxis? But she doesn't look like that at all. And if she would be from Cruxis she would know how Kratos would look like. Right?

"I…I was just curious if he's a relative of yours or something like that." The maid blushed. Anna answered still a bit unsure about, what was going on "No, he's not one of my relatives." And the black haired girl looked a bit disappointed. "Oh…I see. So he's a friend of yours?" she asked. Girl, I haven't time for this! Kratos is surely freaking out by no…And suddenly it made "click" in Anna's head.

"Wait a second! Are you asking me if he's my…boyfriend?" she asked a bit surprised. Now the maid's face turned dark red. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to be so nosey. It's just you two look a bit like lovers, but I wasn't sure…" We look like lovers? Kratos and I? Really?

"And you wanted to be sure, because…?" Anna asked with one eyebrow raised. The maid's expression gave her away. Oh come on! Seriously? You've got to be kidding! "Sooo, are you lovers?" the maid asked, and she looked like she was feeling really uncomfortable. Anna sighed. "I'm sorry, but that's really none of your business. I just leave it to your imagination what he and I are" she replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

She walked away. This can't be real! We have been here for only a day! How can this maid develop a crush on him in 24 hours? Dammit! She barely even saw him!

A bit angry she closed the door behind her. "Really…this girl is far too easily impressed" Anna mumbled. "Of whom are you talking?" Kratos asked. He stood in front of the window and wasn't looking at her. Eye contact wasn't his strength. "No one! ...I mean of no one important" she answered and blushed. That this was bothering her so much really made her a bit mad.

"I see that you have found new clothing" he stated after he had looked at her. "Oh…yeah, right!" she answered a bit confused. She had totally forgotten about them. Anna ran her hand through her hair and asked "What have you been doing, while I was gone?"

"Nothing in particular."

"…That's sounds really boring."

"I'm not as easily as bored as you are."

"Well, I guess you're right. …So…do I look…nice?" Her cheeks were slightly red, while she asked that. Actually Anna hadn't intended to ask that, but she hadn't been able to resist. After some moments he answered "They do suit you." Okay, that translated into normal language means …yes. I think.

"Thanks!" And Anna smiled. Then she remembered why she had been angry a few minutes ago and started to look him over. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.

"May I ask why you are observing me so closely?" He seemed to be a bit curious.

"I…just don't see why." and she shook her head slightly while she was answering him.

"What can't you see?"

"I don't know why thi…" No, Anna. He really doesn't have to know that! "Ahh…Never mind!" But she was still looking at him in this searching way. And slowly Anna began to understand, why this maid had needed only a day and she a whole month. She had met him in the Asgard ranch believing that he was a Desian Lord. And the truth about Cruxis hadn't been a big improvement. Due to all this it was only natural that she had needed quite some time to get used to him. And even now those secrets influence her vision of him. But for everyone else he was, and it was even weird to think that, normal.

She tried to suppress a grin and failed. "What is so amusing?" the Seraph asked.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I realised that for everyone else you are normal human. I know it's not that funny, but the word human is far too small for you."

"I'm not sure what you mean by that."

"You know it's like calling Noishe a dog. It is not completely wrong, but it's just not what he is and it's sounds a bit ridiculous due to that fact. I mean you are human, nevertheless Seraph fits better." He didn't look too happy about this explanation.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't want to offend you!" she apologized quickly. "You didn't offend me" he answered "But you say that so casually, like you would talk about something absolutely normal." "Hmm…Well, I suppose that I'm used to it somehow. We are travelling already…two months? Wow, doesn't feel that long. Anyway I had enough time getting used to you and…everything. For me it's actually kinda normal by now. Although I don't like the fact that you can hear and see everything, I will need some time to get used to that" Anna explained.

"Hey, can we get something to eat?" she asked him "After being out all morning, I'm a bit hungry. No, that's not quite true. Actually I'm starving." He nodded. "Oh…ahm…could you do me a favour, Kratos?"

"What kind of favour?"

"Oh just forget it. It's nothing." But in her thoughts Anna said Please stay away from that maid! I don't want to know what will happen if she loses her temper…or if I lose my.

Trembling the young woman woke up. Again a nightmare had disturbed her sleep and this time it had been worse than usual. She had seen far too many corpses. "Dammit! Won't this finally stop?" she hissed angrily and still frightened.

Suddenly Anna realised that she was lying in the bed. "How the hell…" she whispered. She clearly remembered that she had lain on the floor when she had fallen asleep. I don't sleepwalk, or do I?

Then she turned her head to Kratos. He was sitting in a corner just like the night before. And suddenly she had an idea why she was lying in the bed.

"I assume a nightmare disturbed your sleep" he said calm.

"…Yes. Like every night. …Why am I lying in the bed?" Her look was curious.

"Because I moved you from the floor into it." Wow, he doesn't beat about the bush.

"And why?"

"I moved you because even for me this position looked uncomfortable."

"You are really, really sweet. Probably unintended, but still…" she answered smiling.

"…"

"Speaking of uncomfortable; are you going to sit there for the whole night?"

He nodded.

"Okay, I hope it's not a silly question but why don't you at least lie in a bed? Even if you don't sleep it would be more comfortable than sitting on a chair for hours."

"It wouldn't be a big difference."

"It would! …When was the last time you actually lay in a bed?"

"…It has been a while."

"Four thousand years ago, right?" She shook her head slightly.

"Approximately."

She sighed heavily. "Angels…" Anna stood up "Not even a bed! Really you would expect more comfort in the life of someone who is partly ruling the world."

"Something like comfort really doesn't matter for Cruxis. …Anna, what are you doing?"

The woman stood before him. She took his hands and said "I said I'm going to teach how to be a human again and I meant that. And lying in a bed is something quite human." She pulled him towards the piece of furniture.

Both of them stood in front of the bed. "Now try it!" she said to him. He sighed. "This is ridiculous." Anna rolled her eyes. "No, it's not! Come on! Do it!" "I don't see the reason to lie in a bed if I don't sleep anyway" he replied. She crossed her arms before her chest. "I won't stop till you tried it!" she said insistent.

Eventually he gave in and sat down. "Satisfied?" the Seraph asked. "Not…quite" Anna answered smiling. Then she sat down and while she was moving, she was pushing him down. Now he was lying on the bed, while she was holding him by his shoulders. "I said lie and not sit" she stated grinning "You should listen more carefully. "This is really quite childish" he replied. She giggled. "It's not. And? Far more comfortable than sitting in a chair, right?"

"It would be, if you wouldn't hold me down" he answered. She tilted her head. "But you would move away, if I would release you. If you didn't resist so much, that wouldn't be necessary." For a while there was silence. Then the woman said "Got it! I know how we solve this problem." She lay down beside him and wrapped her arm around the Seraph.

"So this should be more comfortable" she said with a pleased smile "And the best thing is you can't move unless you break my arm." "Hmpf…" was the only response. It was really quite a pleasant feeling to lie like this. She could hear his heart beating. Calm and steady. Anna could also feel the warmth of his body. It really felt quite…comfortable.

"…Kratos?"

"Yes?"

"Why haven't we done this before?"

"What do you…"

"I mean lying like this. It feels so nice and I wonder why we never thought of doing that."

"…"

"…Well, I can think of why" She cuddled to him "We should do this again. It really is pretty…nice."

After some minutes she felt that she was falling asleep. "Don't move, please!" she said, although he wasn't moving at all "Please…stay…" Seconds after the woman had said that, Anna fell asleep.

Ahhh…now I remember why I like this town. That I forget something like this…Well that I remember it now is the only thing that matters. Oh and the reason why Kratos couldn't be here, is because of the maid. He really doesn't have to know that I was jealous. Even when I only think about her I get a bit mad again. But this was really harmless compared to other things. I don't want to think about what happened in Asgard…Really I lost my temper there. But we are far away from this particular story…for now.

Hope you liked this chapter!

Please review so I know for certain!

Thank you for reading!