Kratos and Anna walked silently side-by-side through Luin, but it wasn't long until Anna began giggling intermittedly breaking up the silence Kratos had so desired since he started traveling with her. The second time Anna giggled to herself, Kratos growled, "What could you be possibly so excited about now?"

Anna looked up at him bright-eyed and grinning, "About what that shopkeeper said about us."

Kratos sighed. "You're still laughing at that?" He put his hand to his forehead and shook his head sadly.

Anna frowned, "What? Are you gonna tell me that it wasn't funny? Come on, you were definitely blushing back there. " She grinned widely now and stood in front of Kratos to face him. Laughing she continued, "You're blushing now! You never have any expression on your face, but the slightest mention of-"

"Fine, fine. I get it" He grimaced and cut her short.

Anna gasped, "See, you won't even let me say it! You have a serious problem." She continued walking, tucking her hair behind her hair. Then she smiled slyly and spoke again, eyes stealing quick glances at Kratos, " I wonder... if you're this shy, how are you ever going to have any relationship?" She shook her head, then incredulously as if she'd been electrocuted, "Come to think of it, have you ever even had a relationship?"

Oddly, Kratos wondered that himself...He didn't really remember, and his face twisted in confusion, then he was annoyed at her for asking and snapped, "Well, have you?"

Anna's face paled and she growled, her tone now serious, "One, that's completely different. I've been stuck in the ranch for a while now. Two, none of your business, you jerk!" She slapped him and hurriedly marched away from him and sat at a fountain. It wasn't hard but it was enough to startle Kratos. He was about to answer back to her when he sighed in resignation, following her. He sat next to her and stared.

Kratos wore a puzzled expression, "I don't understand you. One minute you're elated and can hardly sit still or stop talking. The next minute you are hostile and violent."

She snorted in response. "The happiness comes from being free." Her eyes wandered briefly skimming the town, then snapped back to look at Kratos to continue. "The hostility comes from having you for company." She huffed and turned shortly from him. "I hate you" She mumbled with an annoyed look.

"Nevertheless, we must move on. The Desians will look here first for you." He frowned at her mood swings and grabbed her arm as she stood to leave the fountain. Not a good move, he decided. Of course, she tried to slap him but missed.

Groaning in frustration, she ordered, "Let go of me." She used her other arm and pulled, unable to escape his hold.

Suddenly, Kratos chuckled to himself at his idea and responded, "Fine. As you wish." And he let go of arm quickly, smirking. Anna let out a small shriek and shocked expression as she tumbled backwards into the fountain. Kratos chuckled to himself as Anna looked on at him in rage, soaked. Her anger, he decided, was rather amusing.

He stared at her amused as she lay sitting in the fountain, furious, water dripping from her long brown hair. Then, she lifted her face up, ready to jump up and smack him until she remembered what happened the last time she tried...

Then an idea dawned on her. She lifted her hand and grunted stubbornly, "At least be a gentleman and help me up."

Kratos smirked again, "If you're going to try to drag me down, don't waste your energy." He extended his hand as she scowled at him and pulled. Knowing well that she wouldn't be able to drag him in herself, she grinned at her idea.

"Noishe!" She called, grinning as she saw it dawn in his eyes. A blur of white and green dashed in front of her and Kratos Aurion fell, stunned, head first into the fountain. Now they were both soaking wet. Anna laughed at the sight of a very wet Kratos, but he gave no reply. He simply stood, stated stiffly, "Let's leave." And then he left.

Anna sighed, eyes soft as she looked after him, and muttered, "Still doesn't know how to have fun, right Noishe?" He barked in accord as they watched Kratos angrily leave. Anna stood herself and looked around quickly. Luckily no one noticed them but now there were many people staring in fear at the protozoan beside her.

Anna soon caught up with Kratos and walked beside him. He was silent as he attempted to squeeze the water from his soaked clothes and hair. Anna did the same. Kratos thought angrily to himself, this is going to be a long journey. Perhaps she knows some people in town... No, he knew he couldn't leave in the town the Desians would first check. He frowned until he realized that Anna was observing him.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Anna squinted at him, eyebrows twisting in frustration. "You looked like you were thinking hard about something."

"Nothing." he told her. Glancing quickly at her, he knew that his answer would not suffice and he added, "Just that we'll now have to stay an inn, since we're soaked." He looked accusingly at her. "We'll need to leave first thing in the morning. The Desians will surely look here."

"Hey, you started it" She stuck out her lip in a pout but stopped. "Do we have to leave so soon? I- I wanted to see-" Her face darkened but Kratos knew that it was a risk they couldn't take.

"Don't worry. We will be back soon anyways. We just should not stay here right now. We'd be putting these people in danger" he said softly to her. She looked at him and nodded.

"We will be back, though, right?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Of course." He sighed, knowing that they would indeed be back, but not for leisure. "Let's go to the inn." Kratos walked on towards the inn. Anna's presence irked him. Since she arrived, he couldn't concentrate, knowing well that he'd have to look after her as he did a child. She was a burden. Running a hand through his hair, he looked around for the inn and found it. A modest building, the inn was small but sturdily built. It lay amidst a torrent of other buildings in the bare, sandy ground.

Anna started talking again. Her eyes shone brightly as she started, "Ooh! Can I-"

"No."

"Well, then at least-"

"No"

"Come on, we should-"

"No" Kratos closed his eyes, attempting to get rid of the pesky voice that threatened behind him. Anna stared at him annoyed.

"At least pay attention to what I'm saying. Do you say no to everything?" She clenched her fists in anger but continued walking after him.

"No." He responded without emotion. "There." He pointed to the inn. "Let's go"

"Hmm, no." Anna sat down, yawning, her hair still dripping. As Kratos stared at her in disbelief, she retorted, "What? You're the only one allowed to do that?" Kratos frowned. How was he going to handle her?

"What do you want?" He instantly regretted his words as she smiled evilly. Why, why did he ever say that?

"Well, above all else, you still haven't told me who you really are and how you know so much." She frowned quizzically at him. An interesting but reasonable request, he decided. But he knew that she wouldn't take it well. He could lie, but that would only complicate matters.

"Very well." He decided. He shook his head to himself, knowing he'd have to prepare for more slaps, punches, kicks: whatever she could and would throw at him.

She smiled triumphantly and stood up, "Oh! And-"

"No." He said and continued walking before she could continue but this time she followed, still smiling.

"Oh, well. Next time. "She decided. She had enough to satisfy herself for now. They walked into the inn together, but it was busy. There were men and women and children all over the place, trying to find either a relative or their rooms. Many scattered in fear however, once they saw Noishe The previously boisterous room went silent and people receded into their rooms. It was empty now.

The innkeeper came out finally and thanked them. He grinned at them. "Thank you for finally getting rid of them! I was starting to get a headache myself. This person needed this and this person couldn't find this or-"

Kratos cut his rant short and said curtly. "We need two rooms. About Noishe-" He gestured to the huge protozoan. "I'll pay extra for him. We're only staying one night." The innkeeper looked at him curiously then spoke to Anna.

"Your friend's not particularly talkative, is he?" He muttered then turned back to Kratos. "I wouldn't mind except we've only got one room available tonight and-" His eyes flickered between Kratos and Anna as they both turned red and looked away from each other.

"That's fine. We'll take it." Kratos sighed shortly and dropped a few gold coins in the innkeeper's hands. As the innkeeper gave him the key, they walked to the room and Anna turned to him, one eye raised. Kratos seemed to sense her question and answered. " You can take the bed. Noishe and I will sleep on the floor."

Anna sighed, "Fine. I guess it'll make your explanation of who you are exactly easier to explain anyways."