Katra, I'm writing this for you! Since you've been in such a crappy mood lately I thought a kratos/yuan story might cheer you up. It better! Or I'll get mad at you X.X Seeing you know how much I love the pairing kratos/lloyd or kratos/zelos/ Anyways. For some reason I got this inspiration from our role-play. Yes yes yes!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except my drivers permit in a month! And a few markers escorted throughout my house. And yes, I wish I did own Tales. Copyright... damn.

And there are spoilers in here, and dare I say it, Shonen-ai, so please do take heed.

Emerald Flame
Dedicated to: Katandshadow

Dark snow covered spruce tears frowned throughout the frozen wasteland of Flanoir. The trees had been stripped of any green from the recent dasterious wind and ice storm that hit the region. The trees seemed to lean forward, as if to break at any passing moment. A vast silence reigned over the barren land. The land itself was once like other regions, but the abundant climate changes caused a severe transformation of the climate patterns. The only words to describe the weather on a night like this was, cold frigid, and full of secrets. Secrets that should have never been revealed, but will. This is where our story begins.

Trudging along the frozen wasteland on the outskirts of Flanoir was a man. Brilliant aqua hair could be easily mistaken for white in this blistering storm. Even his smallest breaths produced an icy vapor that quickly blew back into his face. A strongly made sable cloak was tightly wrapped around the man, for multiple reasons, but one being the sheer cold. The only expression his face bore was complete misery. From the cold and other looming thoughts. Silent emerald eyes were fixed on what seemed like a nothing-ness that lay in front of him. Even though he was half a mile away from the city, he didn't know he was. This cold could even disorient one of his excellence.

He continued on without speech, saving his breath for the work of his body. Every side around him was either a lonely silence, or the harsh wiping of the northern wind. His destination seemed so clear, so perfect when he had set out on this journey hours before, but now that idea was crushed into oblivion. Either he was going to die out here, or he would end up making it to the town, and then dying there. Both choices seemed hopelessly negative, but still he continued on his pointless march.

Hours upon hours passed. By a stroke of luck he had ventured in the right direction, and the pale light of fire burning in the lamps of Flanoir flickered in the near distance. Just that light, just the feeling of knowing you were about to succeed gave the man a glim of hope. But he internally burned himself for getting hopeful, even though he was close by. Anything could happen in that stretch of land that lay in front of him. Anything whatsoever. And that was why so many travelers feared the snowy region of Flanoir. Because of it's unpredictable weather, which could kill a man instantly. But this man, who was set on his ways was different, far more different then any other man. Except another. Another who was oddly close, even though the blue haired man didn't know it.

"What kind of fatuous array of actions is this? Adventuring in the scorn cold. And even more so alone. My, you have changed Yuan." The voice came from behind the man, known as Yuan, and sounded so strong. So strong of a voice in this endless cold. Twitching his left ear, he continued on, apparetenly ignoring the voice.

"Why do you ignore me so earnestly? You're going to die out here if you don't let me help you. I'm sure not even you would give up a chance to be saved at a time like this, even by me," The voice called out again. It was definitely a man's voice. Low and almost echoching in the cliffy region.

Yuan stopped his walking and remained stiff. Stiff, and freezing from the cold. Any thoughts of his journey were slowly starting to decade as the sheet of mental and physical anguish swept over him. Using any energy he had left, he mustered up a few words, bitter yes, but still words.

"I will not degrade myself to be saved by the likes of a heartless traitor..." And after those words everything went black for the man. His body fell limply into the icy snow, and his eyes instantly shut. He wasn't dead, but overworked, and weak.

The man who was speaking to Yuan only moments ago, walked up closer, now in full sight. Long strands of auburn hair rested on his head, and stern looking garnet eyes searched the fallen man that lay in front of him. He wore a odd combination of lilac clothes and multiple belts. He had the aura of a traveler, or perhaps a mercenary. A flicker of amusement passed his frozen lips before he bent down next to Yuan.

"Degrade yourself? Surely you know you have done that without my help."

His words were almost a riddle. Just toying with the fallen man. But even with his harsh words, he extended a gloved hand and ran it over the side of Yuan's face. Those stern eyes suddenly flickered from amusement to worry. Almost in a quarrel inside himself, he gently picked up the fallen man and held his numb body in his arms.

"Now I'm the one degrading myself," The auburn haired savior muttered, glancing down at Yuan's bliss less expression as he lay in his arms. Sighing heavily, the savior continued on to the town, full of energy. Energy built up, or energy just acquired from the idea of saving Yuan. He wasn't quite sure, but either way he had to continue on.

Finally arriving at what seemed like a deserted town, the savoir walked in, not caring what so ever on who saw him. His sterness had now completely vanished and was filled with a new strong will of getting the fallen Yuan to some place warm, before death approached either of them.

Flipping into what seemed like the town hotel, the savoir glanced around. No one was inside, but the temperature was fairly warmer. Possibly everyone had fleed at the first signs of a monsterous storm? Snickering, the man walked through the wooden hotel, down a few halls, to a room that wasn't locked. Managing to kick open the door without dropping Yuan, he walked in slowly and glanced around, just to be sure. Last thing he needed was an unexpected visitor.

"I swear, you're more trouble then you're worth," The savoir mutterted, dropping the fallen man's body on the bed. It was a few minutes before he had actually found a place to sit. His attention flickered from Yuan, then to the window where he watched the snow fall, not lessening it's force. They were due for a nasty storm, and possibly to be stuck in here. And the savoir was sure that wasn't what he or Yuan wanted.

A few hours trickeled by, slowly but surely. What had seemed like forever, the savoir noticed Yuan was starting to stir from his resting place. All the snow on Yuan had melted, and now he was just soaking wet, but never the less, in a warm place.

"W-hat's," Yuan began, cracking open an eye. A blanket of shock flooded him as he looked around the room, and his temper flared when he was his savoir sitting in the room alongside him. Biting down on his bottom lip, the man did the only thing he could do, complain. "What, do you think you're doing!" He pratically hissed.

"Now Yuan, is that anyway to talk to someone who risked their life to save you?" The savior snickered from his seat near the window. Ruby eyes taken off from the window were replaced by starring at Yuan, who was now standing furiously.

"You, saved me? I don't believe that, not one bit," Yuan hissed, still oblivious of the fact he was sitting in a hotel, safe from harm. Well harm from the outside world as it seemed.

"Don't be to decisive about my intentions. I was meerily making sure you wouldn't die. I could care less about the rest of your life however," The savoir murmured, eyes fixed on Yuan. His glare was almost like a sword being sliced through you. No other words could be used to describe his glance. It just wasn't something you would want to be stuck with looking at, to say the least.

"Why are you here anyway? Shouldn't you be with Yggdrasill playing ruler?" Yuan hissed, sarcastically. His eyes were also fixed on the other man, in a returning glare. Whatever quarrel these two shared between each other was not effected by the current crisis.

"You're so quick to accuse others of actions you're not sure of yourself," The savoir replied cooly. His temper did not flare, but a smile escaped his stern appearance. Almost a smile in amusement, dare say.

"Don't think I'm oblvious of the fact you're right by Mithos' side aiding him in his little 'quest', because I know all about. Once a human, always a human. You're a discrase to life."

His words were as harsh as the weather, but the other man took no offense. Seeing it was true, he could only grimmace at that fact. Lowering his auburn head, he mutterted a few choice words before meeting Yuan's gaze once more.

"And besides, shouldn't you be off playing with those Renegades?" The man questioned Yuan once more.

"I was attending business here in Flanoir before I found myself being saved against my will by you," Yuan snapped back, crossing his arms.

"If I hadn't saved you, you'd be still out there, possibly dead," The savoir explainied, still remaining a cool-head. It was many minutes before Yuan dared to speak. His words wouldn't come out, and he suddenely felt a little thanks to the man, but not a lot of thanks. Just the slighest hint.

"Why must you contiune to make my life miserable Kratos? Why can't you just forget about the past and let me be," Yuan whispered, glancing over at the man who was called Kratos. Yuan's emerald eyes watched Kratos for any return expression, but he found himself powerless to look at him anymore.

"Is that what you think i'm doing? Just toying with you by saving you?"

"Yes, I think it is what you're doing." Yuan retorted.

"If that's how you feel, I'd gladly make my leave, but I believe we have found ourselves trapped in here," Kratos spoke, wearily. Placing a hand on his head, he began to stroke the messy strands of auburn hair he found there.

"We're stuck? Stuck in this town, together! You're joking," Yuan hissed, walking up closer to Kratos. He was only a foot away while he starred down the other seraphim deifentely. Waiting for an answer, Yuan twitched his left eye, not taking his fixed glance off Kratos what so ever.

"I'm not foolishly bantering about our crisis," Kratos replied, hoarssely. He starred Yuan deeply in the eyes, almost in attempts to weaken the other man's defence. But Yuan wasn't having any of that.

"Well, if we are, dare I say, stuck in here together, this won't change any discomfort and hatred I have about you," Yuan hissed angriliy to Kratos. Still standing dangerously close to Kratos' face, so he knew he made his point across, he waited for a reply, or an understanding that he still hated everything about Kratos.

"I'm not sure if it's me you hate, or what I'm doing that you loathe," Kratos spoke, almost letting on a grin.

"No, it's defiently you I despise," Yuan hissed back.

Kratos just sat there, shocked at how much hatred he was getting from his former comrade. Yuan sharply turned his back to Kratos, and walked to the other side of the room. Kratos just contiuned to sit there, completely in a daze. He wasn't sure if it was the fact that he didn't like Yuan to be mad at him, or the fact he was meerly surprised he hated him so much. Either way, Kratos found himself standing up, and oddly placing a hand on Yuan's shoulder.

"Why is that?"

"Why are you touching me!" Yuan hissed, slapping Kratos powerfully across the face. Everything went silent, and the only other sound was the forbidding winds rushing against the sides of the hotel. Yuan's eyes were fixed on the seraphim he had just smacked, without even thinking of his actions. The phrase 'I'm Sorry' lingered on his lips, but he never did say it. Kratos however, seemed throughfully in shock at Yuan's coldness towards him.

"You're right...maybe saving you was a bad thing."

"Well, you got what was coming."

"So violence is the answer to everything to you, isn't it Yuan?"

"What are you saying!"

"You can never discuss a problem without resorting to physical assaults. And to think we were friends."

"Now you're acting superior like you know everything. And you're right, why was I ever friends with someone like you."

That question filled the stiffness of the room. Kratos just starred blankly at Yuan, and turned away curtly, and looked down in disguist. Shaking, Yuan also turned away and thought for a moments. Cruelity was a strength for Yuan, along with his ability with his weapon, but when it came down to it, Kratos was right. As much as he hated to admit it.

"Fine then, I won't bother you, I'll take my leave. I'm sure I can brave this storm with all my equipment from Cruxis," He whispered to Yuan. It was more of a attempt to anger Yuan about his 'Cruxis' position. But he didn't really intend to leave, unless Yuan wanted him to that is.

"Do you really think you're going to survive out there?"

"If anyone can do it, yes I do believe I can."

"You'll die trying, Kratos," Yuan murmured, almost not trying to let on his worry. If he had any worry left to give. Crossing his arms, he awaited a response to Kratos. Almost in a few seconds, Kratos gazed back at Yuan, face to face.

"You're trying to stop me aren't you?"

"I-i'm not doing anything of the sort!" Yuan began, trying not admit the hint of worry he had. But for some reason all this discontent for Kratos was melting away and all he saw when he looked at Kratos was happiness. Which was odd seeing they never were so, different around each other.

"Wait, stop there," Kratos whispered, placing a hand on Yuan's shoulder. This time Yuan didn't strike out at Kratos but stand there, fearing the truth about their relationship. "Just give me the curtiousy of answering this question Yuan." Kratos began, but Yuan stutterted.

"Depends on what the question is."

"Just promise me you'll answer it," Kratos replied stubbornly.

"Ok fine, what is it."

"Do... you really want me to go?"

"I-," Yuan stutterted and starred at Kratos. Did he really want to tell Kratos goodbye after so many years? Deep down, Yuan had always wanted Kratos to stay forever, and not waver back and forth with his loyality. And now he was asking the question. "do you mean now? Or.. forever?"

"Forever?" Kratos blinked, unsure that Yuan had really just utterted those words.

"Yes..."

"Then, yes, that's the question now is it Yuan."

"Ok, then.." Yuan looked away and felt like crying. But he didn't try, seeing he didn't want to show how much this question meant to him. "Do you really want to know how I feel?"

"Of course."

"I want you to stay Kratos, I'm sick and tired of you betraying me time after time."

"Alright, then I'll stay," Stunned by Yuan's answer, all he could was wrap his arms around him. Yuan broke away uneasily.

"I didn't mean for you to get all emotional on me."

"Sorry," Kratos whispered. Maybe possibly their relationship would grow to that. Maybe even before this storm subsided, but although they could care less about the storm, it was increasing, and it was biding Kratos more time to learn how much Yuan really did care. Was he just saying it? Or did he really care. For now, he had time to find out. And possibly he wouldn't leave when it came down to it, just possibly.

AN:

yea, I'll write a few more chapters. Just because I know Katra would want it. Yea, I just saw a Drew Carey show, and I swear, if she saw this she would have screamed. Oh well. Sigh sigh sigh. Please review, trust me I'll contuine either way.