Tales of Symphonia Story, Sylvarant Chronicles (1)

QUIZ START: You blacked out after Kratos kissed you, .

It'd been almost an hour...Aura was still unconscious next to Kratos. He had fallen into fitful sleep while waiting for her to wake up. Sweat drenched his face, he groaned weakly,
"...Aura..."

In his dream, he saw her...but it was the Aura that Kratos recognized. She remembered him...she loved him... But instead of smiling sweetly, greeting him fondly the way she always had... She was crying, bawling, clutching at her shoulder like she was in pain. He hugged her, not knowing what else to do now.
"...What is it?" he asked,
"M-my shoulder." she told him. "H-He...He...put scar on my shoulder."
"What?!" she hid her face in his chest and continued crying. He held her tighter, closing his eyes. All the things someone had threatened echoed in his mind.
"I see you with Aura again, and Both of you will suffer the consequences!" ... "She belongs to me, her scar proves it!" ..... "If it wasn't for the seal linked to your life, I would kill you...!"
"...I love you." those last three words echoed in his mind as well, as all the threats faded away. Its what the past Aura had told him...many times. Suddenly, she wasn't in his arms any more. He was left standing in her room; it was empty. Kratos looked around, but no one was there; he saw a note on her bed, titled 'I'm Sorry' it was the note that she had written, explaining to him why she was leaving. He felt her hands lightly press against the sides of his face, her lips pressed lightly against his... her voice whispered "Goodbye..."

She was gone...she was gone and he would never see her again...

"...Aura." he sank to his hands and knees, he hung his head, staring at the ground, "I can change. Everyone here can...Just come back. I need you back...Please, Aura..."
"Kratos..." Arms embraced him gently, Aura's arms...he wrapped his arms around her, and begged quietly,
"Don't leave...please don't leave..." her form in his arms turned to nothing but mist; and he was alone again. "Aura..." her voice whispered softly,
"I love you...Kratos Aurion."

Suddenly Kratos' eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright, chest heaving. His face was covered in cold sweat,
"Wh...what happened?" he whispered, putting a hand on the side of his face. He looked around trying to remember were he was. A burnt out campfire, a dark and moonless star-filled sky over head. Someone lightly rested their hand on his shoulder, and a soft voice asked,
"Kratos...? Are you okay?"

After blacking out...you see an unfinished letter on a desk in front of you. You were sitting in some room... It was talking about you leaving, you were writing this to... Kratos.
"?!" you look around. You were in some room...this room used to be your room. Kratos was sleeping on the bed "Kratos?" you whisper. You want to read what you wrote more carefully.

With a start you were in some form of glass tube...something like a teleporter. You press your hand against the glass,
"...?"
"Don't worry." Yuan's voice assured, "You'll be out of here soon..."
"Aura--!" Kratos ran into the room, the letter you'd been writing earlier clutched in his hand, "Aura--what is the meaning of...of...?" his expression fell to confusion and sorrow, "A...Aura...?"
"Dammit!" Yuan cursed. He began typing furiously on some form of control panel.
"Wh..." Kratos started weakly, "What are...?"
"I'm sorry...!" you murmur weakly as light glowed under your feet, "I..."
"Aura--!" he started, running towards you, "No--please!"
"I'm so sorry... I love you..." you felt tears falling down your cheeks, "Goodbye... Kratos..."
"No!" Everything swirled slowly, and faded. You heard Kratos' voice weakly call after you, "...aura...!"

Your eyes flutter open slowly, to see the star filled night sky above your head. You see Kratos sit bolt upright suddenly, after which he whispered softly,
"Wh...What happened?" He audibly tried to catch his breath. Worry tugged at you; you moved towards him and lightly rest a hand on his shoulder,
"Kratos...? Are you okay?" you ask, softly. He looked back at you, his face was pale, and he looked ill...There was fear and deep hurt in his eyes. You gently cup his face in your hands, "...What happened?" his eyes closed slowly, and his breathing returned to normal, he leaned into your touch. It appeared that your touch was soothing him. After his breathing had returned to normal, you slowly pulled your hands from his face. His eyes opened slowly, and met yours.

In his eyes...you saw pain, and sadness. You tilt your head to the side slightly, confused,
"...Are you okay?" you ask.
"...I'm fine." he responded weakly.
"Are you sure...?" you ask. He raised a hand slowly, and reached towards you, his palm whispered against your cheek; his arm lowered to your shoulders, as his other moved to your waist. Hs arms tightened around you, pulling you to him as he embraced you tightly; he leaned his head against yours quietly. You blush lightly, but rest your head on his chest. Kratos' arms tightened a bit; it almost felt like...like he thought you would disappear, or something bad would happen to you if he let you go. You heard him murmur,
"...I won't loose you." you weren't sure if he wanted you to hear that or not, but it didn't really matter. *...?* you return his hug, closing your eyes. A minute later, the Mercenary let his arms loosen just slightly, after realizing he was almost crushing you.
"Please." you ask, opening your eyes, "What happened?"
"I'm fine... I...just had a nightmare is all." he responded,
"...Are you sure thats all?" you ask.
"I'm fine, really." Kratos reassured, loosening his hold on you even more, although he still kept his arms around you "...Aura, I'm sorry about what I did earlier." you were going to ask what he was talking about, but you remembered, *The kiss...* "...I...had no right... Especially if you weren't even awake."
"I-its fine. Really." you assured, looking up at him.
"...Can I...make it up...to you?" Kratos asked, his sentence stretching awkwardly. It was easy to see that, even though he has feelings for you, he felt bad about kissing you without your consent. You lean up slightly, and let your lips press gently against his, "Mm...?" he mumbled, his body stiffened for a split second at the unexpected contact. However he soon relaxed, his eyes drooped closed and he returned your kiss. After a little while, you pull away,
"...Now we're...even." you murmur, a tinge of red on your cheeks, and a little pink on his. You rest your head beneath, you were to tired to be ashamed or bashful. Besides, he made a good pillow. Also, hopefully, if you stayed with him, then you wouldn't have another nightmare. "Night..." you mumble, eyes closed,
"..." it took Kratos a moment to respond, but his expression softened, and he held you a little tighter "Yes...Goodnight...Aura..." he whispered. Soon you fall asleep. Kratos watched you sleep, and tried to calm himself *She's here. She's in my arms. Aura is real. This is real...* he closed his eyes, sighing gratefully while he held you tighter, resting his head on yours. *I won't loose her, again...*