And hello again!

Look at that! I'm still able to write Tales-Fanfictions. Forgive me for the long Tales-Break, but well the other stories kept me busy. But Chapter 13 is already finished so it won't happen again. (hopefully)

Anyway, please enjoy Chapter 12!

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

"Say it again!" Anna demanded grinning. She sat beside Kratos, who was watching the campfire. Noishe was looking at the two quite amused. "Oh come on! Please say it again!" the brunette woman said smiling. Their camping place was near the town of Iselia, the town of the Oracle. Once this fact would have caused her to nearly burst out of excitement, but now it was just a fact for her. The only thing that did bother the young woman was the fact that one of the human ranches was nearby. Every Grand Cardinal was looking for her, well, was looking for the Cruxis Crystal on her chest and the thought that one of them was close didn't really make her feel comfortable.

"What should I repeat exactly?" he asked after some moments.

"You know very well what I mean!" Anna answered "Please! Please! Just those three little words and I'll be satisfied." Why was he resisting so much?

"It's really not hard to say! I say it all the time!" She tilted her head and smile even brighter.

He sighed. "Alright. I will say it again."

Anna grinned. "Finally you give in. Okay, now say it!" she demanded sounding really excited. Again some moments passed till he spoke.

"You were right" Kratos said and looked like it had been the most ridiculous thing she had ever convinced him to do.

"Oh, that sounds so unbelievably nice!" Anna said giggling "And was it really that hard to say?"

"It wasn't but I don't see why I had to repeat it" he simply answered.

"You really don't see it, do you? This was the first time I was right and you weren't. Usually it's the other way round. I just needed to hear it one more time; because I have the feeling it was the first and last time."

He looked at her.

"You know, because you're usually all-knowing" Anna answered his silent question.

"I'm far away from all-knowing" Kratos responded.

"Pfft…Sure!" the young woman said, while rolling her eyes. She blew some strands of her hair out of her face.

"What makes you think that I am?"

Again she smiled. "Know what? I think I will act this time like you, and won't answer this question. But just that you know; you are sometimes far too modest. Really. At times I think you just don't tell me something about you, because you think it will…intimidate me."

Anna lay down next to him. She was lying on her back, so she could still look into his face. "I only know the Cruxis stuff about you. And weirdly enough you only answer questions about Cruxis, but you always fall silent when I ask…different stuff."

"For example?"

"Your hometown. I clearly remember that I asked you about your hometown couple of days ago, but I never got an answer." Anna was really trying to get to know him better. Apart from being a Seraph she knew really nothing about him. And that made her a bit angry and of course extremely curious.

"Meltokio."

"Mel-what?" she asked and raised her eyebrows.

"That is my hometown, although I doubt that you can call it that after four thousand years."

Anna looked at him surprised. Was he really talking about something private right now that wasn't connected to Cruxis?

"Where is it? I mean, I know it must be in Tethe'alla, 'cause I've never heard about it before, but where exactly?"

"On the western continent, Fooji. Quite in the north." Her eyes widened a bit. It wasn't like him to answer so…openly.

"Is it an important town?" she asked growing more and more interested.

"It is the capital of Tethe'alla and the residence of the Royal Family" the Seraph answered.

"A king? You mean, Tethe'alla is ruled by a king? It's one giant kingdom?"

"Yes."

"Wow. That's…interesting! And what did you do there, before you well, …before the whole Cruxis thing started."

"I…protected the Royal Family."

Anna opened her mouth, sighed suddenly and closed it again.

"Don't you want to proceed asking questions?" he wanted to know.

"I would really like to, but…you have that certain look on your face, you always have when we're about to approach an uncomfortable topic. You had the same look on your face, when I asked you about how angels are created." That really had been a quite…uncomfortable conversation.

"So I will leave it like that…for today."

She crossed her arms behind her head. "You know it's kinda weird when you are so talkative. But you could do that more often."

For a moment there was silence, then Kratos said "May I ask you a question?"

Surprised she looked at him, but answered smiling "Sure! Ask me anything you like!"

"You mentioned once that you studied foreign languages. I would like to know why."

For a while Anna just stared at him. "Kratos, even I can't remember when I said that. Man, do you remember everything I've said and done?"

He didn't answer.

"Well, back to your question. I studied those languages, because I worked at the Tower of Mana. I took care of the library. I started when I was about 10, I guess. Just helping my father." Anna fell silent for a moment, when she remembered her father. He had died shortly after that.

She proceeded. "I just cleaned and sorted the books. And then when I was a bit older than 11 I got interested in all those languages I couldn't read and understand. So I decided to learn them. It took a while, but then I was able to read every book in the library. Actually I was planning to read every book in this library, but barely halfway through I got…captured."

Anna sighed. Not because of the memory of her being captured, she sighed because it still annoyed her that she hadn't read all of those books.

She looked at him again. The young woman smiled and asked "Was my story really this interesting that you have to think about it that hard?" His thoughtful look vanished or rather became less intensive.

"It was…interesting" he answered. Anna sat up. "I wouldn't call it interesting, but it's flattering that you say something like that." For a while she just watched him.

A soft breeze played with his auburn hair and the shadows of the night made his already dark face even darker. He looked like he was deeply lost in thought. Anna liked it when he looked like that. It was the only time when his expression was somehow…peaceful. He was always concerned about something. It seemed like it was impossible for him to just stop worrying. And even now, in this peaceful moment, he couldn't stop worrying about her.

"Is your…Crystal alright?" he asked, sounding even gloomier than usual.

That was a question she hadn't expected. He had never asked her about the Crystal this…directly. It took some moments to answer.

"Yes, everything's alright" she answered still a little bit confused.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! Everything's fine!" Anna was already annoyed by his concern. Why does he never believe me when I say it's alright?

"I was merely concerned about your condition" the Seraph answered.

Anna groaned "I know that, Kratos, but when I say I'm fine then I am fine. I wouldn't lie about something like that, okay? So you don't have to ask a thousand times if I'm sure."

He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.

"Look, it hasn't been burning for weeks! Not even the slightest bit! Sometimes I completely forget that this thing is there! I haven't felt pain or fear or something like that. Not even my nightmares make it burn. In fact I'm more than okay. I'm happy!" She looked at him seriously. Anna hated it when he was this worried about her. It made her feel like she was the reason for his permanent unhappiness.

"You are happy?" the Seraph asked unbelieving.

"Of course I am! Why do you think I keep smiling all day?" Anna responded. She tilted her head and moved a bit closer to him.

"What were you thinking I am?" she asked curious.

"Not…exactly happy" he answered.

"You mean like you are every day?" she teased. She didn't get an answer. The young woman rolled her eyes.

"Well, you know I just don't like being unhappy all the time" Anna explained. Now she got an answer she hadn't expected at all.

"You think I'm unhappy?"

"Ahhhm….Yes? I mean you look very melancholic and stuff" she answered confused. Surprised and curious Anna asked then "So you aren't unhappy?"

"Like I said earlier I'm merely concerned about your well-being. That doesn't make me discontent" he answered simply.

"Ooookay…Then I guess it's part of your nature to look gloomy all day" Anna responded. And then suddenly she asked hesitating "I…know that sounds a bit strange, but I do play a part in your….happiness, right?" her cheeks were slightly red "I just want to know, that's all." He looked at her a bit surprised. "Why shouldn't you?" he asked and her jaw dropped out of amazement.

"Seriously?" Her answer sounded quite surprised. He simply nodded. Again he wasn't wasting any words. A very pleased expression spread over her face. Then she turned her face to Noishe and asked "And what about you? Am I not getting on your nerves too much?" The protozoan's tail started to wag and licked her once all across the face.

"Okay, there's no translation needed" the woman answered smiling, but then she added "Yuck! Next time, Noishe, not the face." However, her smile didn't disappear. "Now I've got to wash it off" she said and shook her head slightly. Anna stood up and wanted to make the first step, but then she suddenly looked at her companion. She narrowed her eyes. "Is this another occasion where I'm not allowed to go alone?" Her question was answered by Noishe who was already next to her.

The young woman sighed heavily. "You know sometimes I feel like a prisoner…or like a small child." For a second there was silence. Then she frowned for a moment, before a small smile played on her lips. "No, Noishe, this time I think you can stay by the fireplace" she pointed at the Seraph "You're coming with me this time. If you are so" she emphasized the last word "concerned about my well-being then you have to pay the prize for that."

Without a single word he accompanied her to the nearby creek. She kneeled before it and splashed fresh water into her face. "Ahh!" she sighed relieved. The short haired woman got up again. The Seraph just wanted to turn around again, when she softly pulled his face down and kissed him. She knew that her hands and her face had to be quite cold and of course wet, but she didn't care. Like always she enjoyed kiss. He probably didn't know (or did and didn't boast around with it), but he was a really, really good kisser. Anna then released him again (and stopping kissing him was quite hard for her) and whispered into his ear "Just that you know, you play very, very big part in my happiness."

She let go of him and started walking. After a few steps she turned around. "Has anyone ever told you that you're insanely tall? My neck hurts from kissing you, even though you lowered your head. Or maybe…I'm just quite small." She thought about that for some moments, but then she said "No, you're very tall." With her left hand she touched her neck. "Seriously. It's aching." A bright smile appeared on her face. "Know what? I like that. Nearly as much as your voice, but I have the feeling that your voice is going to be my all time favourite. It sounds just far too awesome!"

Anna took his hand. "The only thing I don't like about you is your constant worried look." She sighed with acted desperation "But something has to be wrong with you after all. And I'm glad it's only that." "I am a Seraph and responsible for the misery of both worlds. But the only thing that bothers you is my expression?" He sounded unbelieving. "Yes" she replied and in her eyes was pure honesty.

"I'm starting to doubt your taste in men." Surprised she raised her eyebrows.

"Wait a minute! Does that mean you didn't doubt my taste in men before?"

"I did but not as much as now."

"Okay" suddenly her expression changed from surprised to slightly angry "Hey, what's wrong with my taste in men?"

"I'm not saying that there's something wrong with it. I'm merely thinking that your decisions are not very wise."

"Not very wise?" she rolled her eyes "If no one has told you this before, I do now. Love is neither logical nor rational. I mean no feeling is. I really love you no matter who you are or who you were." Her look was determined yet friendly.

"I see" was his only answer. Anna tilted her head. "Sometimes, Kratos, I think you only say such things just to make me say how much I love you." The woman giggled. "I would be so proud of you, if that would be true. But unfortunately you always mean what you say….Except the thing that Noishe is a dog, but apart from that..."

They arrived at the camping place. Anna lay down next to Noishe, but only because of the fact that she had found out that he made an excellent pillow. Actually she would have loved to sleep next to the Seraph, but well,…she had accepted the fact that Triet had been a one time thing. Much to her regret.

She grinned. Then the woman turned her head to her companion. "By the way, I think I have great taste in men. Probably the best. However, I doubt your taste in women. Choosing me, most likely the most hyperactive woman of both worlds and on top of that the most cheerful, seems to me….not very wise. It sort of clashes with your character" For a second she frowned, then her eyes widened and she jumped up.

"No way! Am I asleep? Am I dreaming or was this really the hint of a smile on your lips?" she asked, while smiling herself. She looked at Noishe. "What do you think? Am I hallucinating?" The protozoan thought about it for some moments. Eventually he nodded. Anna sighed. "I know. There's no way he would ever smile. That's completely impossible!" The Seraph looked at her and then shook his head. Something in his eyes caught her attention. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Come on. Tell me! I promise I won't make fun of you anymore."

"…I was just being reminded that despite my mistakes in the past I seem to be able to still make wise choices."

"Huh?" her confusion was replaced by realization, followed by her blush out of embarrassment "Oh. I see." After some second she said smiling "Sweet as always. You don't show it often, but you have quite a romantic side."

She came closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. After three months of travelling with him she had lost all reservation. And much to her surprise he seemed to be less distracted, confused or whatever he was, by her behaviour. To sum it up he had gotten used to "physical contact".

With one hand she caressed his cheek, the other one was resting at back of his head. She loved playing with his hair. The woman smiled, but now her smile was softer and warmer.

"By the way, doing this while sitting is much more comfortable for my neck. I know I'm repeating myself, but you are incredibly tall." Their lips were almost touching. Anna could feel his breath stroking over her skin. Her heartbeat sped up and she felt how blood rushed to her cheeks.

And then Kratos kissed her. For her the kiss was far too short. Like always far too brief to satisfy her. And a small part in her believed that he was feeling the same way. "For someone who hadn't had contact with humans for four thousand years, you're…pretty good" she admitted smirking. With his right hand he wiped some of her strands out of her face. "As good as every other human. Perhaps even better." And while Anna was kissing him again she thought "So much better than any other human!"

Oh! Oh! Finally we're there! What do you mean? Oh come on! Don't act like you wouldn't know! Just a few days later we…well, rather I…You are glad, because we arrived at this part of the story? I don't recall this being one of my favourite memories. But it's one of mine! …Don't give me that look! Okay, I admit I was terrified when it happened, but now I like it. Till now the story was quite romantic. Don't get me wrong, I like romantic, but after a while it gets boring. And now comes a bit of action! It was exciting! I do remember nearly having a heart attack. Don't be ridiculous! Besides so many other bad things happened later. This memory is actually still a harmless one. You were covered in blood! Hey, don't spoil the story for them! And that's supposed to be a good story-teller…

Okay, where were we? Ah, I remember. After one week we were camping near…hm…. Help me out please! Was it Palmacosta or a House of Salvation? It happened almost next to Iselia. Oh, right! Thanks! …Now I'm thinking about it, that was the last time we were close to Iselia, before…Well, ähm…anyway.

We were close to Iselia and one evening my Crystal was a bit overheating. I don't know how else to call it. It wasn't something serious, just something it did now and again. Nothing painful just a bit…uncomfortable. There was a small pond nearby or something and I wanted to cool it a little bit. And for the first and last time I went there alone. (After that event he got even more paranoid and I couldn't go anywhere without being followed.) You do realize that I can still hear you? Besides that event showed me how careless I had been. You overreacted. Like always.

So I went to that pond and was all alone. Not all alone…Yeah…Okay, I admit it. It's one…of the more…painful memories. Still I like it! One of the many things I will never be able to understand about you.

Anna sat in front of a little pond and looked at her reflection. With her left hand, which she had dived into the cold water before, she was cooling her Crystal. From time to time it seemed like the Exsphere was absorbing more body-heat and Mana than it could handle and caused a light burn in Anna's chest. To ease the annoying feeling she was cooling the Crystal with water.

Amazingly she had managed to come here all alone. Usually at least one of her companions went with her, but today they hadn't followed her. The young woman preferred it that way. Especially tonight. She didn't want Kratos to worry about the Crystal again.

Relieved she realized how the burning slowly vanished. "Thanks, that that's over now" she thought. Right in the moment where she was about to get up, a reflection on the water caught her attention. For a whole second she just stared at it. Anna's eyes widened in shock and her heart started beating as fast as it could.

In the moment where she was about to move, she felt how something cut her back. Surprised (or shocked) by the sudden pain her voice didn't function anymore and her scream turned into just gasping for air. She could see that some of her blood had painted the grass crimson red and even in the water was a bit of her blood.

Anna barely managed to remain in a sitting position. She could already feel the blood loss. Then she fell over. Anna was lying now on the ground. The pain from her back was pulsating through her whole body. It felt just like at the ranch. Eventually she managed to turn her head to her attacker. "Seriously, getting close to you without him around was quite a challenge" the half-elf said while slightly shaking his head "I have to admit that this opportunity was more created by luck than by anything else." Anna could only stare at him. Then she whispered with a weak voice "Yuan…"

I like this cliff-hanger. Especially since it's nearly forcing me to write the next chapter as fast as I can.

And for the part where Anna says that she likes his voice. Yes, I'm a Cam Clarke Fan. Seriously this man has a wonderful voice!

Anyway, hope you liked Chapter 12!

Reviews are appreciated!