Chapter V is the LONGEST CHAPTER thus far, 10,580 words FOR THIS ONE GUYS!
I WANT REVIEWS, PLEASE, I FEEL LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. I AM AIMING TO PLEASE, BUT HOW CAN I PLEASE YOUR WANTS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOURE THINKING, I AM NOT A MIND READER! SO REVIEW PLEASE!
IF THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT GET REVIEWS, I WILL NOT POST ANOTHER CHAPTER, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Marina Ka-Fai - Thank you for all your loving support for this story and your kind reviews. I appreciate them! 3
Chapter V: Revelations – The Truth Unveiled
The Akuren Princess: "Let's see, who hasn't done the disclaimer for me this story hmm, Kratos, will you do the disclaimer today?
Aurion Kratos: "Of course hime, the pleasure is mine" *smiles*
The Akuren Princess: "Arigatou, Kratos-San, by the way, where is your son?"
Aurion Kratos: "Lloyden is currently going blind, and is still stumbling around covering his eyes and screaming that his eyes burn, because he saw Yuan and I kiss, but the kiss was the result of his lack of ability to be aware of his surroundings."
Ka-Fai-Yuan: *coughs* "That's right, it wasn't like we planned to kiss" *to himself* "I did enjoy it though, his lips were so…*trails off into blissful thoughts about his best friend, anime stars in his eyes*
Yggdrasill Mithos: "YUAN, YOU'RE STILL A CHEATER!"
Ka-Fai Yuan: "Am not!"
Yggdrasill Mithos: "Are to!"
Ka-Fai Yuan: "Am not!"
Yggdrasill Mithos: "Are to!"
Ka-Fai- Yuan: "I AM NOT AND THAT'S FINAL DO YOU HEAR ME!" *screaming at the top of his lungs, panting hard when he finishes*
Aurion Kratos: "Enough…" *is not heard by his two bickering companions*
The Akuren Princess: "and they don't even listen…" *shakes head in denial*
Aurion Kratos: "JUDGEMENT!"
Ka-Fai Yuan & Yggdrasill Mithos: "KRATOS!" *both have been fried by the beams of light, hair frizzy and sticking up in odd angles, and their clothes are singed*
Ka-Fai Yuan: M...My…H...Ha…Hair! KRATOS YOU RUINED MY BEAUTIFUL HAIR, HOW AM I TO BE MARTELS HUSBAND WHEN WE DON'T MATCH HAIR STYLES, HOW ARE PEOPLE TO KNOW WERE A COUPLE! *crying anime tears*
Aurion Kratos: "Oh Yuan, you'll get over it" *gently starts rubbing circles on his friends back*, "Anyway, now that I have silence…" "THE AKUREN PRINCESS DOESN'T OWN TALES OF SYMPHONIA!"
The Akuren Princess: "Arigatou Gozaimasu Kratos-San" *smiles*
Aurion Kratos: "You're most welcome, hime" *takes her hand pulls her to him and kisses her forehead, holding her tenderly*
Aurion-Irving-Lloyden: *The moment his eyes clear, he blinks them, and into focus pops his father and arch nemesis, screaming again, covering his eyes and staggering around* "MY EYES THEY BURN!"
The Akuren Princess: "Oh well, anyway on with the Fic, and on another note: please ignore Lloyden…"
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
(Airen's Point of View – Kratos and Lloyden's House - Kratos's Bedroom)
My body feels heavy, what happened to me….the last thing I remember is…"Oh My God" I croaked out, bolting upright in bed, my body instantly wincing in pain, my head experiencing whip-lash, and regretting sitting up so fast. My Left arm throbbing and my eyes are fighting the light, and uncooperative. I can't focus on anything.
'Oh that's right my game...
That's right, I was playing Tales and had just made it to the Temple of Martel when the lighting struck frying my game, but past that I don't remember anything.
My eyes, slowly adjusting to the light, brought into focus a room, scratch that…a fucking huge room. I definitely wasn't home; my room was big, but not this big. Looking down I noticed I was in a warm huge bed, and I could smell that there was a fire place in the room. The crackling of the burning log alerted me to its location, and that's when I saw it…an exact replica of Aurion Kratos's Judgment Suit, and hanging next to that was the purple mercenary one…oh hell…whoevers house I was in, they were an over crazy fan of the merc…
I couldn't decide whether I was in Heaven or Hell…
I decided to lie back down; my arm was throbbing as was my head with all the thoughts running ragged through it. Where the hell was I, how did I get here, and…for the first time I'd noticed I was half naked…why was I stripped down to nothing! I started to panic, was I raped? Was I kidnapped? If so, who and why and oh god, oh god…
I really was starting to panic; my heart rate accelerating from the calm it was a few moments ago. There wasn't anyone in the room, but 'when would they be back? Was I in danger? Should I escape or try? How did my arm end up as mangled as it was?
I pulled the covers up my body as best I could to cover myself. Now all I could do was wait and pray that whoever had me wasn't going to kill me upon their return…' all these thoughts ran rampant through my mind, it racing and creating total and utter chaos within me.
(Kratos's Point of View Kratos and Lloyden's House - Bathroom)
I had just started to center myself once more, breathing in and out deeply, concentrating on the slow heartbeat upstairs when it picked up speed; it sent my own heart racing which I hadn't counted on. Realization now hit me, they were awake and by the feel of the overwhelming sense of fear emanating off their form, panic welling up, and chaotic confusion is where they found themselves in, I deduced that they were scared and feeling denial and despair.
I bolted, hoping that they were alright, and that I could somehow calm them down when I arrived. I was at the door in a moment, taking a breath, and then gently knocking on my own door. It felt weird knocking on my own bedroom door, but yes I did it to ensure my own, and her safety.
All I could do now was wait for permission to enter…
(Airen's Point of View Kratos and Lloyden's House – Kratos's Bedroom)
I was torn from my utter denial and panic when a knock sounded on the door. I was breathing heavy, and my voice was a trembling mess. I knew that from my gasp earlier. "Wh…Who's…there?" I tried to keep my voice level but failed at that miserably. I was shaking really bad, the panic I was feeling welling back up and tightening my throat. I waited on a response…when it came…I was not prepared for it…
"Hello, may I come in?" the voice was pleasant, calm, caring, and very familiar. My voice continued to shake as I responded "Yes" it was barely audible, I wasn't sure they heard but the door knob turned and the door was pushed in, so they must have heard. I was terrified of the person on the other side of that voice, and the door, because that's all that separated me from whoever it was on the other side. I grabbed my dagger off the bedside table; at least if they assaulted me I could defend myself with it…
When they walked in my throat pretty much closed in on itself, so I was unable to utter a word or syllable for that matter. All I could do was right now in this moment, was stare at the person entering the room I was in, my shock evident in my eyes, and realization soon taking hold…it couldn't be possible…there is no way…
My thoughts shattered as they entered the room, my mind blank for the first time tonight, absolutely nothing running through it, I gripped the dagger so hard my knuckles were white as I tried, and failed to keep my heart and breathing rates down…
(Kratos's Point of View: His and Lloyden's house – Kratos's Bedroom)
Slowly, cautiously, and trying to relax myself, I entered the room where my new ward was contained. I had placed the sword that replaced Flamberge back on the wall rack in my son's room so I wasn't a threat. Now I was glad I had, because I now feared that it would utterly terrify her. Her fear was high enough almost nauseating, overwhelming every sense until it was all that I could feel, hear, smell, and see.
I walked in slowly, keeping my senses alert, but making myself as unintimidating as possible. She was laying there, my blanket over her body. She hadn't moved, her clothes remained where they were folded and in a pile on the chair by the bed. However the dagger was missing from the bedside table where I left it.
My eyes narrowed a fraction, and then I spoke my voice low, calm, and commanding, instantly her eyes locked with my own cinnamon ones, the fear, chaos, and uncertainty evident in hers, and utter calm, Angel-of-Death, Four-Thousand-Year-Old Seraph who'd seen more death, destruction, and chaos that anyone should have to in their lifetime relayed in mine...
"I see you're awake" She merely nodded at me, her eyes shimmering with some unnamed emotion, realization almost… I spoke further, "I am known as Kratos, may I ask your name? I won't hurt you" Again she nodded, but her lips quivered and she attempted a response.
It was faint, but my angelic hearing kicked in and I could hear it as well as I could hear her answer when I asked for entrance into my own room. "I…I'm Ai...Airen Ak…Akuren…" she sputtered out, her voice an octave above a whisper. I could see her hand clench the dagger harder under the blankets; it only slightly concerned me, it being a threat, but not one that I could not disarm with ease, so I chose to continue to speak to her, ignoring the dagger for the moment.
"Miss Akuren, do you have any idea of how you got here?" my voice sounded through the silent room. She shook her head no then tried to speak again, this time her voice had become a bit stronger, shed gained confidence.
I outright told her I wouldn't hurt her, which was the truth for now, unless that dagger came into play, if that scenario played out in full, I could not guarantee I wouldn't. I was unsure she believed me, now I knew she did. Her innocence was astounding, complete and utter purity in her words…much like Martel, and…too much like...Anna…
My throat dried up at that realization and I had to swallow several times to be able to speak once more. "Miss Akuren" my voice sounded croaky, nothing like my normal tenor and grace, and for a brief moment I saw Anna, and then it was Miss Akuren. I watched her as she shook her head, confirming my thoughts that she wasn't from Symphonia. I gave her a chance to speak, hoping to shed some light on the darkness shrouding this mysterious young adult gracing mine and my son's home.
"I don't know where I am, or how I ended up here, where is here?" She looked confused and struggled to ask the right questions to dispel the darkness closing in on her. She was very facially expressive, much like my son when he was internalizing something. Quite comical, but my face betrayed nothing of what I was internally going through. A small smile flickered through my eyes before I blinked and forced my utter calm back into them.
Regardless of how calm I forced my features to look, I never forgot she had the dagger hidden under the blankets; I stayed out of range, knowing her left arm was all but useless and was recovering from the injuries I'd dealt to it from the death defying stunt Id pulled during the storm, therefore her staminal couldn't have recovered so she could leap and make an attempt on my life.
I figured she took it for self-defense, or that was the best explanation my sharp mind could come up with at the moment. Waking up in a strange place, in abed, half naked and not knowing anything would make my skin crawl and my mind to run a mile a minute. I'd have grabbed the dagger as well…I couldn't blame her there. Self-preservation, the girl had a brain, which I had lacked the night I saved her from her death, where my life could have been lost.
Several different scenarios and outcomes to this situation had already been run through my mind, and there was only one that I didn't want to play out… the one where she attacked me, and I was forced into taking another life, another life's blood on my hands and sword...that was my greatest fear…another Anna…
(Airen's Point of View – Kratos and Lloyden's House – Kratos's Bedroom)
I couldn't believe it; THE Aurion Kratos was here in the flesh, speaking to me. I couldn't do anything other than nod and then try to answer his questions. The man was terrifying in real life, yet he was just as gorgeous, if not more gorgeous than in both the OVA and the GAME. I had to constantly swallow so I wouldn't drool. There was so much I needed to know, but I had no idea where to start, let along how the hell I landed in Symphonia of all places.
I realized after listening to the Seraph himself speak, that he held the same voice as Cam Clarke here. Impossible yet here I was conversing with Aurion Kratos. He was in a Black Silk Shirt, a dark pair of pants and the shirt was unbuttoned giving me enticing views of the tank underneath and the muscles rippling under the skin. God I was going to drool, 'He's going to think I was weird, he doesn't even know me and I'm drooling like a fool here.' I thought to myself, trying all the while to keep myself in check and under control.
When I was able to speak again, I decided to see if my deductions were right, proving to myself that I wasn't going insane. Taking a deep calming breath I forged on "You said your name was Kratos right?" I asked with a bit of caution, not sure of how he would respond. He simply nodded, making a sigh of relief run through my body but not be relayed on my features. However, his eyes never changed from their ice cold glare, no trace of emotion were revealed in their depths.
I continued on, now on a new level of alert because I was pushing into territory in which the wrong combination of words spelled my death, though dying by Aurion Kratos wouldn't be so bad. At least that's what I thought in my mind at the time.
"You wouldn't happen to be…Aurion….Kratos, father of Aurion-Irving-Lloyden, and husband to the Late Aurion Anna, four thousand year old Seraph, and former companion to Yggdrasill Mithos, Yggdrasill Martel, and Ka-Fai Yuan, would you?" I knew I was pushing the lines a bit hard but I needed an answer and I needed one now.
I was hopeful that my questions would be answered, but also knowing in the back of my head, death was a real factor here, and if I slipped up, and he didn't kill me, there were plenty of others who would be quite willing to lop my head off.
He spoke, surprising me, his voice was harsh, his tone, the ice cold one of the traitor in the game. "Before I answer anything you have to ask, hand me the dagger you're hiding under the blanket" His eyes never wavered off my eyes, their expression icy and unforgiving, and the eyes of the four-thousand-year-old Angel of Death that he was.
Even though his wings were not out and he had neither the Judgment outfit, nor the merc one on, that's all I could see and it scared the hell out of me, causing me to grasp the dagger under the blankets even tighter if that was even possible. As I processed his request, I found myself awed by the man who was currently threatening my well-being.
I was amazed he could pick up such a detail standing that far away, yet it wasn't shocking, he'd seen it all in his lifetime, so of course spotting threats like the dagger I had hidden under the blanket would have come as second nature to him. I nodded, meeting his eyes as I pulled out the dagger from under the blanket covering my body. He walked towards me, slowly, extending his hand towards me. I placed the dagger in his hand, unsure of what was to come.
I was caught off guard in the next moments, in which I found myself at the end of my own dagger.
"How do you know me, who are you!" he hissed, his voice holding an icy dangerous edge. I had no answer; I couldn't just tell him he was a character in a game that I owned back in my own time. That wasn't believable at all. He wouldn't know what a "game disc" was, or a "Wii", nor would he know where "Earth" was. Maybe if I told him that it was a parallel world to this one, one that didn't vie for mana, and was like Tethe'alla at one point. At least that was my guess as to how I landed here.
The blade at my neck inched closer and I swallowed before taking a breath and telling him what I knew. "First, before I start telling you anything, did you find anything on me? Like a possession or item?" He simply nodded the blade lowered and he walked to the desk. He came back with my black notebook, the one where I'd embedded my strategy guide within its pages. I proceeded to tell him, about how I knew who he was, and everything about the game right up to the regeneration and reunification of the worlds. He seemed in disbelief, not a good thing for me.
The blade was back at my neck, his eyes cold, burning embers, piercing me all the way to my soul, holding me captive within his gaze. I "If you don't believe me, Aurion Kratos, please look at this book I'm holding; then make a decision based on what you discover within" He nodded, thank god he was a man of reason, and not of rash decisions; rushing into a situation before analyzing it, and coming up with a plan of action.
His son on the other hand I wasn't quite sure, I never remembered Lloyden being the type to be a strategist nor very knowledgeable. The strategists were any other member of the team, excluding the former Sylveranti Chosen, Miss Brunel Colette.
He took the book, looking at each page, scanning over each with his sharp eyes for details. When he reached the end his eyes were wide. "Even though this…depicts everything that I've ever done or my "companions" have ever done up to the regeneration and reunification, I still don't know you nor can I trust you."
He closed the book at that point, and the blade of my own dagger resumed its position mere inches away from my neck. "I can tell you what you told Kvar in Iselia's Human Ranch the day you and Lloyden killed him!" I all but shouted.
I was praying that this would catch his attention stopping him from murdering me right here and now, seeing that Kvar was the reason Aurion Anna was deceased due to his removal of the Exsphere that was embedded in her, the reason his son grew up without him for fourteen years….the reason he became the perfect pawn for Mithos, and the reason he returned to Cruxis and resumed his role as the Angel of Death…
Fury flashed in his eyes, before they turned to a perplexed look, and nodded for me to continue. I took a breath, and then recited my all-time favorite game lines. "Feel the Pain, of those Inferior Beings, As you Burn In Hell" He nodded but again spoke "Before I lower this" he gestured to the dagger at my neck "recite to me my Judgment and Ka-Fai Yuan's Indignation spells chants" I gulped, closing my eyes to bring up Yuan's lines, and having a bit of trouble.
"I'll start with yours if that's alright?" He nodded and I took a breath "Sacred Powers Cast Your Purifying Light Upon This Corrupt Soul, Rest In Peace Sinners: Judgment!" I finished that spell then went right into the other one, remembering it at the last moments of time that I had to, from the OVA no less. "I Call Upon Thee In The Land Of The Dead, To Unleash Thy Fury of Thunder, Come Forth Divine Lightning: Indignation!" I finished nearly shouting the spell. Somewhere in my mind, I was hoping the spells would take their own life, but as they were not mine, and each spell was a different chant for each caster it wouldn't be. Yes, I was slightly disappointed…
He said nothing but the dagger dropped from my throat, and it was slid away but I didn't see where, I guessed securely in a sheath. The dagger safely away from my hands, he silently turned to leave, I still couldn't read him though. I guess he needed to think. After watching his form retreat out the door and down the hall, I released the sigh I'd been holding. No doubt he could hear it though…damn his angelic hearing. All I could do was await his return, and pray he didn't decided to kill me for being way too knowledgeable for my own good.
He returned moments later an article of clothing draped over his arm. "You're going to need to be decent to be presented to the rest of my family" I nodded dumbly, not sure what he meant at first. Then it hit me…he was going to introduce me to Lloyden…'oh Martel help me!' were my only thoughts. His voice cut me out of my panic, and stress. "I know you're hurt and partially it's my fault, but I'd like to help you dress if you need help." I nodded again, and he approached.
In his hand was a black silk nightgown, a slit up both sides of the lower part of the gown, mid-thigh high, and spaghetti straps adorning the shoulders. It was a rather a simple design and a bit revealing but I had no complaints, he was being courteous. "You can wear this for the time being, it was Anna's" his voice soft, full of remorse. My eyes widened, Anna Aurion, his late wife…how could I ever live up to her legacy? My heart sank, knowing he was in pain the way he was, and now I was going to be wearing her clothes…
I started to speak my mind unsure of whether I really should be putting on his late wife's clothing "Mr. Aurion is this…alright... I mean…" he cut me off, his voice very soft "It is quite fine, Anna never had the chance...to wear it…" That's when I noticed the article of clothing had the tag on it still. I nodded, still unsure of whether he was okay with this or not, but in the next moment he was at my side, the tag had been cut off the gown and now lay on the floor forgotten, -almost-, his arm sliding behind my back, the silk of his sleeve making me shiver.
As he helped me sit up in bed, slipping the silky material over my head, I attempted to help him, but when I moved my arm the wrong way, I winced, and moments later, I felt his breath on my bare arm as he whispered "first-aid". The next words he spoke forced the blood to drain from my face, leaving me pale and unresponsive vocally. "I'm going to relocate your arm, it will not be without pain, but the moment I finish, I will ease it" I nodded, knowing that if I tried to speak nothing would exit my mouth.
He placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling my body against his, and then counted down, I braced myself. "One, Two, Three…" he put pressure on my arm and shoulder and I felt the pop, felt the pain but refused to allow myself to make a sound. "First Aid" he whispered as soon as it was over, and I relaxed under his grip. The pain numbed to a dull ache, and I could resume moving my arm, it being relocated hurt like a bitch but I was proud of myself for not crying out. 'Damn he would make a damn fine healer, he's attentive and thorough' As I stretched my arms, which stretched my spine, to allow the gown to fall over my shoulders I winced, pain flashing across my features, a whimper escaping my lips.
His face held a concerned expression as he gently rolled me onto my stomach, the gown lay forgotten on the floor, lying where he'd thrown it after removing it from my body. He then proceeded to run his fingers down my spine, tracing each vertebrae looking for the problem with gentle probing fingers, but this intimate contact, or intimate in my view elicited a shiver to run through me, even though he was just looking for the problem the only way he knew how.
Kratos continued his path down my spine till he reached the base near the small of my back. I winced; bit my lip so hard blood flowed to stop myself from crying out, the pain so intense it knocked the wind from my lungs, I couldn't say thank you if I wanted to, hell I could hardly breathe at the moment.
He noticed the blood trickling down my face from the puncture wound I'd created on my lip, and another first aid was administered to my battered pierced lip. He then returned focus back to my spine, concentrating. I felt the warm wash of a spell and heard "healing stream" my whole body relaxed, the pain fading.
I stayed quiet as he quickly finished clothing me, retrieving the forgotten article of clothing, and even though he was quick going about clothing my form, he was extremely gentle, his hands warm and soothing, slightly callused as they brushed my skin. He then gently lifted me into his arms, careful of my arm and headed out the door and down the hall, where was he taking me now, oh that's right he said…I must have paled visibly, because his eyes were on me in an instant.
That's when I remembered that he said he was going to introduce me to his family…which only meant one person…Aurion Irving Lloyden, Eternal Swordsman, and the holder of half a pact with Origin the King of Summon Spirits…I gulped, this was going to be the most intense day of my life…
When we arrived at the stairs his wings slithered out of the confines in his back, he flapped them once, the noise which I thought would be as a birds wings sounded, were absolutely silent, not a single sound that they'd even moved, in the next moment we were hovering, and then making our decent down the stairs.
When I looked over his shoulder as we were descending, his wings state shocked me, no longer the ethereal translucent blue they were in the game, and they were solid, beautiful feathers that ran down the bones and ending in tips of ethereal, translucent blue feathers that I'd come to love in the game. His wings nearly touched the ground folded and I when he extended them to flap to keep us airborne, they were close to ten feet wide…
After gently touching down, I heard the rustle of his wings slithering back inside him, hidden from all eyes. However, what caught my eye was that he had set his teeth, a flicker of pain flashing in his eyes and his features before it was hidden again. His icy exterior took over almost as soon as he realized he was grimacing, leaving almost no trace of any trace of what he was feeling only second prior left lingering in his eyes, or on his face.
Other than the knowledge that I held that I had saw the proof that the Angel of Death, four thousand year old Seraph was experiencing something unpleasant , and I knew it happened, Aurion Kratos looked as normal as he ever had, at least in my experience of the man. However, the game, OVA, and the Official Tales of Symphonia Strategy Guide being all the knowledge base I had to go off of.
It was then when it clicked in my mind that this was real, not the game or the animation that I love. I was face to face with Aurion Kratos, in the world of Symphonia, in his and Lloyden's home, and I knew much more than the average Symphonian would about the key players and events involved with and leading up to the Regeneration and Reunification of the worlds, however I wasn't from Symphonia to speak.
My knowledge of Angel's wasn't that extensive, but I knew one thing about them, and it left me questioning whether my knowledge was right or if the game programmers led the players to believe these things about Angels and that wasn't the truth. I started to wonder if they knew that Symphonia was real, and they based their game off of knowledge the people on earth weren't privileged enough to be let in on.
Either way I was pretty positive that the process of becoming an angel took certain aspects of a human life away, such as Colette experienced during her journey…and it left me with one lingering question burning at the back of my mind and throat, but I being too lost in thought to notice, and my voice pretty much useless, so much so the question died in my throat.
'Angel's couldn't feel pain…so why was he in such agony….'
I had no time to ponder this; all I could do was stare up at the stoic face of the Seraph who was currently carrying me. He didn't even look down, so I couldn't read his face, not that I'd be able to anyway.
Shortly after my initial discovery that Aurion Kratos was experiencing pain again, we made it to the living room. Once we had entered and I looked around the room I came face to face with Aurion Irving Lloyden, we locked eyes for a moment before I turned my head to further examine the room.
What I had not thought of in advance was the possibility of meeting Brunel Colette, and I was not expecting to lock eyes with the former Sylverant Chosen as well…I promptly fainted in Kratos's arms, my head slumping on his shoulder, my mind even though unconscious, racing, confused, and trying to process way to much information that it was able to at one time.
What would happen to me now? I was once again defenseless in the arms of an Angel of Death, my savior or so I had just so recently learned. I had no idea what was to come but for now, I was safe for the time being in my guardian's Seraph's arms.
(Kratos's Point of View – The Living Room with Aurion-Irving-Lloyden, Brunel Colette, Noishe and an unconscious Airen in his arms)
I felt her head slump against my shoulder, and noted she'd fainted in the process of "meeting" my family. My sons face was filled with wonder and questions, contorting with the information internalization occurring in his brain. To this I smirked, I could afford to when I was around him. I was still in possession of her dagger, it securely in its sheath, on my wall rack in my sons room. When my son finally spoke, I groaned for it was the start of the Q & A session I had been dreading since I brought Miss Akuren into my house.
Lloyden only asked one question verbally but the rest were shimmering in his eyes just beneath the surface and I was compelled to answer each and every one, no matter how painful or drawn out it would be. I braced myself, knowing that I was in for a very long drawn out question answer conversation in which every answer would be squeezed out of me in precisely asked questions and being a "father" now I couldn't say no…
After the first question the others raced out of his mouth like a flood gate had been opened, each one in rapid succession of the others and seeming to never end. "Dad who's this, where'd they come from why are they here, what are you doing holding them, when did they get here, how long have they been here, what's their name, how old are they, dad, dad, dad!" I lost my patience, my sensitive ears ringing with his over excited tone, and starting to give me a migraine.
"LLOYDEN, I WILL EXPLAIN EVERY ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS MY SON, PLEASE CALM DOWN, CHECK YOUR EXCITEMENT, AND SETTLE IN FOR A STORY MY SON" I all but shouted, my tone a bit harsh and volume excessive but it was needed, for it caught and held my sons attention span and he instantly shut up leaving nothing but silence in the room. Miss Brunel watching the whole thing chose to stay quiet like a mouse, and leaned into Lloyden, for comfort, knowing it best not to test me at the moment.
In my moment of being a "father" to my son I almost dropped Miss Akuren, I felt her slide out of my arms before I clutched onto her form a bit tighter, hauling her against my chest, and letting out a sigh of relief. I settled into a chair, holding my ward to me, and getting comfortable. Her head still rested on my shoulder, her breathing had evened out again, and I could feel her heart beat through the material of her clothes, beating strongly against my chest. She was healing remarkably fast for someone who was half dead less than twenty-four hours ago.
I found myself gazing down upon her, the porcelain skin of her face, and feeling the weight of their body, the warmth emanating off her. Again, something I'd have to get used to, feeling the warmth of another being, even my own skin felt cold to the touch, or it had for as long as I can remember after becoming an Angel. Now I wasn't sure if I was warm, cold, or indifferent to anything I had been.
I called to my son "Lloyden"; this snapped his head out of the mini battle of his thoughts within his head. His face still contorting and re-contorting as he figured one thing out and then another confusing thought entered. "Now that you are calm, what questions do you have for me" I said calmly to him, my anger all but gone. He nodded once, and then looked for a good place to start.
"Dad who is that?" he questioned, his eyes filled with wonder, and then clouding over with confusion as he realized that he'd never seen anyone like her at all around the area. "I saved her from falling out of the sky during the storm last night, son" my words carefully chosen and stated to bring him further into our conversation, without giving too much information away.
It worked like a charm
"You went out into the storm last night?" his voice was worrisome. My son was growing up and taking on the responsibilities of caring for another's well-being other than his own. I only had Miss Brunel to thank for that. "Yes, Lloyden I did go out into the storm, and if I hadn't this one, I looked down at the unconscious in my arms then back up at my son. Would not have made it, and plummeted to her death, or had been struck by lightning and died before she crashed to the ground" He gaped at me, his face making an "O" shape. Again his eyes took on a childish wonder look in them and I knew I was in for another round of battering questions.
It was only mere moments of silence before he questioned me again "DAD, what's her name?" I answered almost too quickly and it took me by surprise as well as him. "Her name is Akuren Airen, and her tale is one better suited for her to tell, and not for right now." I finished quietly, and he nodded his approval.
"Mr. Kratos?" a soft, angelic voice spoke up softly, it reaching my ears easily however. "Yes, Miss Brunel?" I answered my future daughter-in-law. "Could you teach me how to cook soup?" I nodded and motioned for my son to come and take the unconscious in my arms, which he did and I was surprised that he was capable of being so calm in a situation where the facts surrounding the person he was taking into his care were so shrouded in mystery that his life could be on the line. Once I had handed him her body and he was seated did I notion with a turn of my head for Miss Brunel to follow and together we entered the kitchen to make soup.
I showed Miss Brunel how to prepare the ingredients for the soup of her choice "Chicken Noodle" chopping the vegetables, and chunks of chicken, and then showed her how to put all the ingredients into the pot and then season it properly, bring it to a boil, bring down to a simmer and then when the veggies were cooked through and the Chicken was done, how to place the bowls on the saucers, and then dish the soup into the bowls. She seemed to lean fairly quickly, quite a change from her normally klutzy ways.
I gathered spoons and crackers, laying them down next to the bowls and quietly made my exit. I was sure she could handle the serving of the meal. I took my leave, taking my ward from my son and moving to a solitary chair across the room, so my son and his fiancé could share the couch.
Moments later she entered the room carrying two bowls of soup, two spoons, and a package of crackers with her. I had never seen her so, stable and not klutzy in all my life. I spoke too soon, for she tripped on nothing and the bowl, crackers and spoons went flying, as did she.
A burst of light hit my eyes momentarily blinding me. When it had settle and dissipated, my son had one arm around her, holding her upright, his wings had been the source of the bright blinding light, as they were fully expanded, the bowls and saucers balanced delicately on the tip of one wing while the other was half folded, and on the inside curve of its tip lay the crackers.
The spoons however, were still airborne, and descending rapidly towards them. I had to do something, and I couldn't just jump and grab it out of mid-air with Miss Akuren occupying my arms and lap.
It was now or never, secret or not, a flying projectile's impaling either of them was not going to happen on my watch… not ever. I leaned forward, bit down hard on my lip with my incisors as I concentrated the mana points on my back, unleashing my wings, wincing in discomfort at the pain of feeling them unfurl, or, rather, burst from its confines as the pain I was expecting radiated from the two points on my back.
It wasn't a blood-bath like in the bathroom, for that I was grateful for but it was still as uncomfortable as hell and I was sure my shirt was ripped and the jagged holes in my back were steadily bleeding as well as the blood that coated my now fully released wings. 'Damn, I really liked that shirt too'…Anna would kill me if she knew this was how it met its premature demise.
None of that mattered right now in this moment; I stretched one wing out, blocking the path of the flying spoons, curling the other around Airen's still form in my arms to protect her from any form of harm. I then stiffened as the spoons impaled through the feathers, cutting through muscle and embedding in the bone of my wing.
Both my sons and Miss Brunel's eyes were wide, Lloyden's hand falling to his sword secured on his hip. I looked to where the spoons was impaling my wing and sighed in relief that neither were hurt, then looked down to see if my sudden movements had awoken Miss Akuren. She was groggy, just waking up again and thankfully she hadn't come-to fully.
The next moment time seemed to stop; I had a blade pressed to my throat, the bowls of soup lay forgotten on a couch-side table growing cold, Lloyden demanding to know who the hell I was and what I'd done with the "real" Aurion Kratos or dad to him, as blood was steadily seeping from the holes the spoons had created in my wing…
It dropped right onto Miss Akuren's forehead, causing her eyes jolt open at the sudden wetness that had invaded her personal space.
She reached up, touching the spots gently, and then brought it to her face to examine what the liquid was. Her eyes slightly widened, then she looked up at me, and they really widened. Obviously the sword at my throat didn't help, because it was also inches from her face.
"Lloyden, please lower the sword" I said quietly, trying to not aggravate the situation any further than it was at this moment in time.
"Who are you, and where is my father?" his voice was tight, angry much angrier than I'd ever heard it, laced with a touch of…malice?
Aurion Lloyden, lower that sword now…" my voice icy¸cold, hard and responding to his malice with my own venom injecting itself into my words.
My patience had run thin, a threat to MY ward was not acceptable, and I would not have my own son threatening me in my own house no matter what the situation was.
He didn't let up, his sword inched a bit forward, and he pulled Colette to him, wrapping a wing around her like I had Airen. "Explain to me who you are!" his voice still demanding and I was about done with his ignorance.
"Aurion Lloyden, you are my son as much as I am your father, lower the sword from myself and my ward and we can talk, if you do not…I will forcefully make you lower it." I clenched my teeth, staring him down, pinning him with the cold, hard, icy eyes of Aurion Kratos the Seraph.
"Tell me who you are!" He was growing more and more impatient as the seconds ticked by.
I on the other hand, was trying to keep my ward from harm at my own son's hands.
"Lloyd, please lower your sword, even if it isn't your father, that woman is still in his arms you could hurt her, she's innocent, and has nothing to do with this, Lloyd please!" Colette's voice pierced the tense silence that had settled between us.
Her voice trembled, I was sure she was as terrified for Lloyds safety, as well as Miss Akuren's. She knew that I could kill everyone in the room with one spell if I really wanted to, regardless of whether they were family or not. I was the Angel of Death after all, and I could be no less than that.
Even my mercy had its limitations, as did my patience, and right now that mercy was losing, patience was hanging onto my sanity by thread and I was giving into the temptation of blood lust.
I could feel my control slipping, my mind going into a haze, my eyes focusing in on the threat to my well-being, and whoever was under my protection, and right now that was Miss Akuren.
Miss Brunel was under my sons and if I made one move I knew that his patience with me would run out and I'd be run through with my own sword, Flamberge, which I'd given him to create the Material Blade.
I let myself give into the Angel of Death prowess, a low, feral snarl building in my throat, my eyes narrowing to slits. I could feel myself gripping Miss Akuren's form tighter to me, my wings curling around her form further, protecting her from the blade that was mere inches from her head and my throat.
If it came down to it I would die protecting her, because I'd put her under my protection by allowing her to become my ward.
Airen's hand had been creeping up my shirt, then rest at my neck, the tips of her pointer and index fingers resting over my carotid artery, right directly over my pulse. I was sure she could feel that it was pounding, and I allowed myself to relax, willing my pounding heart to a slower pace.
Her hand then slid up to briefly cup my face in her small palm, before moving her fingers to brush the blood that was trickling down my chin away. Her hands so gentle I almost allowed myself to get carried away by them but Miss Brunel's voice brought me out of my delusional state, and I felt Miss Akuren's hand fall away from my face, resting palm side down once again on my chest, over my heart. I could feel the warmth of her palm through the silk of the shirt, and it helped me keep my priorities in check.
"Lloyd!" I could hear Miss Brunel say again, the fear still quite evident in her voice.
"He's your father what are you doing!"
"Don't you see Colette; his wings aren't the ones my father had when he showed us at the tower of salvation! They're different, it can't be him, he may look like dad but he's not dad!" he exclaimed.
I again found myself wondering where he got his "amazing" intellect from because it obviously wasn't from mine or Anna's sides of the family…
It hit me then where it came from, his horrible reasoning skills, his lack of being able to strategize, his inability to survey a situation and act accordingly to it…it all made sense, Irving Dirk was the problem…
I seethed at this point, biting down on my already injured lip, forcing more blood to drip down my face, and inevitably onto Miss Akuren who was just getting over the fact that the blood wouldn't stop flowing from my lip or wings until it either clotted, or a healing spell was cast.
She sat there in my arms a worried expression on her face, her body being wracked with tremors as she sat trapped in a situation that she had no part of.
"Lloyden, please for everyone safety, lower your weapon" I stated in a calmer tone.
The realization that miss Akuren still lay trapped by my son, was a factor as to why I was still able to speak coherently and act with a head on my shoulders; and not running in blind like someone I know. Airen's abilities to calm me astounded me, no one but…Anna…could ever bring me down from the level I was at a few moments ago.
A few more tense seconds passed, Lloyden never flinching and Flamberge's blade never lowering from my neck. It was a stalemate, my son and mines wills were evenly matched and neither of us willing to back down for fear of the one we were protecting.
A bright light then hit the room suddenly; leaking out of the Exsphere that was my late wife's and now resided in my son's key crest. The light was so intense, even with my wings blocking most of it I still couldn't see against it.
The next moments would forever define what fate had in store for me.
I heard Lloyden shout "whoa", saw him jump a foot in the air, then hovering because his wings were out from the previous engagement, he'd grabbed onto miss Brunel and was holding her against him, his wings poised to meet any oncoming threat.
I breathed a sigh of relief; the light had forced my former blade away from my neck, and Airen's head. I could feel her hands clutching my shoulders, her frame shaking, and saw her eyes misty with tears.
She was blinking hard to send the saline away where it threatened to spill from her eyes. Fatherly instinct guiding me, I hesitantly wrapped an arm around her backside, pulling her closer to me, and trying my best to soothe the frightened girl in my arms.
Meanwhile, the light had dissipated; there in the room was the astral form of my late wife. She was like a hologram in my son's exsphere that had removed itself from his key crest and was hovering in the air between us. She looked at me, a smile on her face, in her eyes. I felt my heart speed up.
"Anna…" I breathed, my entire being focused in on the form of my late wife
She however, turned to our son who was still in shock, breathing heavily and his mouth agape.
When she spoke to him he all but fainted, and almost dropped Miss Brunel, except shed pulled out her wings and was now hovering beside him, minus his arm around her.
"Lloyden my son, it has been a long time" she smiled at him her voice warm and kind.
"M...Mom…" he stuttered out, unable to tear his gaze from her astral form for very long.
"Lloyden, I know it is very hard to comprehend, or understand, but this man, even though his features have changed since he came down to earth from Cruxis and saved me that day, is the same man that you had your blade pointed at. He is your father regardless of how he has changed, and you owe him an apology my son, regardless of whether you think you were right or wrong"
Lloyden turned to me, and bowed, as the words that were needed to be said slipped from his lips…
"Forgive me DAD, it was wrong of me, I'll never do it again, please don't leave me again" his pain evident in his tone, his love for me even more so.
I could tell his apology was genuine and that he really didn't want me to leave him again, which I wouldn't but I feel that was, and currently is his greatest fear. 'I won't abandon you ever again my son, I promise' I vowed to myself.
Anna turned to me, and then spoke. Miss Akuren had promptly fainted again upon laying eyes on my late wife, understandable when you aren't from Symphonia, and aren't used to the dead returning from a stone on someone's hand and taking.
"Kratos my love it has been a very long time"
I merely nodded, unable to answer her for my words were strangling me so to speak.
"I know you have been very lonely since my death, I am sorry for leaving you¸ and if I could have been regenerated I would have returned to you, but my soul had no body to return to, and therefore I could not. I've been watching you from inside the exsphere, seeing your struggles, your life with our son, and the adaptations you've made to make living easier on the both of you."
I nodded, still unable to speak, but wanting to give her the signal that I understood.
"I know that you saved the girl in your arms, and I know you risked your life to save her, but what you don't know, is that I am the reason Miss Akuren here."
My eyes widened and Lloyden choked in the background.
I managed to swallow the lump that had accumulated in my throat, allowing me to speak for the first time since my late wife's arrival. "Anna you mean to tell me that you're the reason she fell out of the sky and nearly died?" my anger was rising at her; I was upset that she'd allow for anyone to be hurt.
Kratos, before you bite my head off, I want to let you know that I only had the power to bring someone here, and I had no control over how they would arrive, I am sorry, and you know I'd never allow anyone innocent to get hurt"
I responded to her "I am sorry Anna; forgive me for jumping to conclusions without attaining both sides of the story." I had pulled an Aurion Lloyden…something I was bound and set to never repeat…
"Kratos, what I wanted to tell you before I fade, is that I brought this girl here for you, and no I don't know if she can be returned to her world, so regardless of whether you two have a future or you don't here in Symphonia, I highly doubt she can return to where she came from."
My mouth dropped a bit before I realized that my skin would split, and the blood would return, so I opted to for wiping my face of the blood, the shirt wouldn't show it, and was already a ripped mess so I guess it wouldn't hurt After wiping all the blood off myself I pondered Anna's words earlier, but never taking my eyes off my late wife.
'Anna had brought Miss Akuren from her home on Earth I think she called it, for me? Why would she do that, take her away from her family all to make sure I wasn't suffering.' I didn't understand, I couldn't understand…'why would she do this…' It was only Anna who saw my discomfort despite my best attempts to keep my eyes as unexpressive as possible, and my face emotionless.
"Kratos, I chose this girl, because she out of all the ones I looked into transporting here knew who you were, understood, had sympathy, and still loved you even when you played traitor and took his current fiancé to become Martel's host. Even after all that, she still continued to love you, and when she had the choice to choose you or the Tethe' alla chosen she chose you to return to her party. The game discs that depict our lives here in Symphonia before the worlds were reunited, came out in the year two thousand and four in her world, and it is currently the year two thousand thirteen, month six, day twenty-nine, and hour eleven-fifteen pm meaning night time. She has loved you since her first play through the game in two thousand and four, since she ran into your character at the Temple of Martel. This girl is so devoted to you, doesn't care where or what you've done in your past, no matter how bloody the deed. This girl cares for you and that is why I chose her to heal you…"
I was speechless, Anna was here in astral form, who'd just explained it all to me, clarified every bit of confusion that surrounded the girl named Akuren Airen, who'd I longed to hold or even to speak to since her untimely death, and I was unable to even thank her, unable to conjure anything out of my lips, words, emotions, everything I was feeling had lodged in my throat, and no matter how hard I tried, I could not get the lump to move from blocking my words. All I could do was helplessly look on, look on at my beautiful, dead wife…my beautiful Anna…
"I don't have much time my love, I used up almost everything I had to come to you in this moment, and now I will fade from existence, This is my gift to you my love, please never forget me…I will always love you and watch over you from Heaven, be happy Kratos, farewell"
I reached out in that moment, using everything I had to at least get something out of my throat to her, not wanting her to leave me alone again, that was the cruelest thing that fate could have ever done to me…
"Anna!" I screamed, helplessly watching as her form faded and Lloyden's exsphere rejoined with his key crest. She was gone, and again it was the four of us in the room, complete silence engulfing all occupants within.
Remembering Anna's words, I looked down to find Miss Akuren had awoken sometime in the previous minutes. I looked into her eyes, she looked as amazed as I did, and I could see that she was finding the truth of the situation we now found ourselves in, a bit hard to swallow.
Miss Akuren was the person that Anna had hand-picked to save me…but could I open my heart again, after twenty- one years of not allowing myself to as much look at another woman the way I looked at Anna back then.
Anna's revelation revealed the truth behind Miss Akuren's arrival here in Symphonia and the shroud of darkness surrounding her seemed to dissipate, however not all was well.
She looked as though shed seen a ghost, which she had, but I don't think it was from seeing Anna. I believe that it was because she heard Anna tell me that there was a good chance that she'd never be able to return home.
I looked down at Miss Akuren, lowering my face down to her ear whispering quietly and gently to her
"We will figure this out; I promise you I will protect you with my life Miss Akuren. If you'll give me a chance, I'll give you one, please don't give up hope, we will get through this"
With my words, her hands gripped onto my shoulders tighter, and I closed my wings around us for a bit of privacy, blocking both Lloyden and Miss Brunel's view of us.
I held her to me gently, fearing she would break with the slightest ripple of an upset, providing her what protection I could. She responded by laying her head on my shoulder, and snuggling closer to me, to the warmth that I now provided. I pressed my lips to her forehead in a quick kiss, one of reassurance and not anything more, praying I was relaying the right things and not seeming like I was making any advances on her.
I felt her tears on my shirt, warm, wet, crystal saline drops falling from her eyes; and she made no attempt to hide them, just buried her face into my chest and sobbed as the reality of the entire situation hitting her like a ton of bricks, and all she could do was let it out before it crushed her.
The words were more for her than myself, but I was fearing the worst, and Anna's words would haunt her for a long time, especially if she became trapped here and things didn't work out between us…
I could have sworn that I felt Anna's arms go around my shoulders, her lips placing a gentle kiss directly on my neck over my spine, I knew her physical body was gone, was I imagining it…
I prayed that Airen would be alright, because I'd seen despair, and I knew what it looked like when someone gave up hope, and in every case, the outcome was the same…death…
Aurion Kratos: "Anna…"
Aurion-Irving-Lloyden: "Mom…"
Aurion Anna: "Kratos, you ripped the shirt I bought you for your birthday all those years ago"
Aurion Kratos: "Anna, I just dug this out of our son's closet…it seems he confiscated it…" "Just wait till you see his room…"
Aurion Anna: "Aurion-Irving-Lloyden!
Aurion-Irving-Lloyden: Yes…mom *laughs uneasily, his hand rubbing the back of his head*
Aurion Anna: "Go up to your room and clean it this instant young man"
Aurion-Irving-Lloyden: Ugh, but mom…" *goes up to his room, and when he enters find the pile of shit his father left for him that is currently blocking off all access to his closet* "DAD!"
Aurion Kratos: "Yes my son?"
Aurion-Irving-Lloyden: did you do this…"
Aurion Kratos: "Yes my son, you are a pack rat, and that is not the Aurionway"
Irving Dirk: "But it's the Dwarven way! Ha-ha" "no muss no fuss"
Aurion Kratos: *Seethes* "Noishe…Yuan…"
Noishe: *Bares Fangs and Snarls at Dirk*
Ka-Fai Yuan: *closes his eyes in mock concentration and starts chanting, but putting no mana behind it* "I Call Upon Thee In The Land of The Dead, To Unleash Thy Fury Of Thunder, Come Forth, Divine Lightning!" *Doesn't call out the spell name, to finish the spell*
Irving Dirk: "I be leavin now" *sweating as he darts off as fast as his little Dwarven legs will carry him"
Aurion Kratos: "I will not allow you to corrupt MY son any further Irving Dirk the Dwarf…"
The Akuren Princess: Okay that's a wrap, good job everyone, that was a rather gruesome chapter if I must say so, but I was impressed with myself for the details I put into. I hope you enjoyed it PLEASE REVIEW! Ja Ne!