Authoress' notes: I haven't played this game yet since I don't have any kind of portable gaming console, so forgive me if the characters seem OOC. The way I portray the characters is the way I see how they act in the manga. I await the game for ps3.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yuri Lowell, Flynn Scifo or any of the characters mentioned in this fanfiction. Nor do I own Tales of Vesperia. If I owned ToV, Flynn would have been a playable character from the start.

Way to Live

Chapter 1


Flynn had been busy all week, engulfed completely in his work as Commandant. Truth be told, he was tired and his head felt like it was going to explode, as gory as that sounds. Signing official documents became tiresome after a while, not that he ever complained seeing as it would not make his workload any lighter. As tempting it is to accept his friend, Yuri Lowell's offers on walks and other methods of relaxing, he refused. The blond had made up his mind. He was trying his best to finish his work and nothing, not even Yuri, would make him stop working before his deadline was met.

Or so he thought. Apparently Flynn's best friend was more persistent than he would have liked.

While the young Commandant was riffling through the stack of unfinished paperwork on his desk, he heard a soft tapping of shoes, indicating that someone had just entered his office. The only thing that vexed Flynn Scifo was the fact that the tapping came from the spot he distinctly remembered being close to the window, and also there was also the fact that he had heard neither knock nor the shutting of doors. Without even needing to look, Flynn knew that Yuri was there in the room with him. He frowned. It was bad enough that Yuri had deliberately broken into his office, but going in through the window? Flynn was not surprised when he realized that he was actually used to the long-haired man's antics.

"Hey, Flynn! What're you doing?" said long-haired man draped an arm over Flynn's shoulders, grinning, not realizing the way Flynn stiffened under his armor. Flynn set down his paperwork and took out a pen to start signing the papers.

"Paperwork," he replied dryly. He didn't even face Yuri when he replied.

"So I noticed," Yuri said, turning to look around the room, not even acknowledging that Flynn had answered him, "that lately you've been cooped up in here. Do you even sleep?" and his gaze fell on the blond again, releasing his shoulders and stepping aside. Flynn relaxed a bit.

"Of course I do," he replied, "I sleep enough."

"Oh, really?"

"Really."

Yuri shrugged, "Well, Estelle peeked into your room last night," at this, Flynn stiffened again, "and she said she saw you working like a maniac, even when it was well past midnight," Yuri waggled his index finger nonchalantly, looking extremely uninterested, but managing to emit an aura laced with worry. Maybe it was just Flynn who felt that way, "…she's worried about you," he finished. It had not occurred to any of them that Estelle too was awake at such an ungodly hour, therefore neither wondered what she was doing so late at night. When Estelle confronted Yuri, Yuri was more interested in hearing about Flynn, not caring, or probably not realizing about Estelle's midnight strolls; and the pink-haired princess heaved a sigh of relief. And of course, Yuri exaggerated the 'working like a maniac' part, but Flynn didn't know that, did he?

Flynn's lips quirked upwards a little as he set his pen down, leaning back against his chair, closing his tired eyes. He sighed contentedly when the aches in his back seemed to diminish, if not a little. "So she confided in you and told you to tell me to rest? That's pretty nice of her… but I have too much work to do and I have to finish it by this week."

"Thought you'd say that, Commandant," he quipped, taking a seat on Flynn's desk in an unceremonious manner and in the process, managing to mess up Flynn's paperwork, much to the latter's dismay. Smirking his usual Yuri-like smirk, he said, "So, Estelle and I decided we should help you relax," using his right to prop up his chin, he said "We're going on a little trip tomorrow."

It took the blond a few seconds to digest the information. But when the information did register in his mind, he blinked.

"Sorry? I thought I heard you say 'we' are going on a trip tomorrow," Flynn lifted an eyebrow, lifting his head to stare at his friend. Yuri nodded, letting his hand fall to his side.

"Yeah, you heard right. We, as in Estelle, me, and you," he jerked his thumb in Flynn's general direction, "are going on a picnic."

"You're kidding. I'm too busy!" Flynn knocked his chair backwards when he suddenly stood up, slamming the palms of his hands on the table.

"Afraid not, my friend~" he sang, "I'm sure your slaves don't mind you taking a break for a day. Who was that girl again? She seems to really love you, if you seduce her or something; she'd do all your work for you!"

"…First of all, they are Emperials Knights, not slaves. And secondly, Sodia harbours no feelings for me. Our relationship is completely professional," Flynn huffed, crossing his arms. Talking about Sodia of all people… there was a nagging feeling in his gut, telling him that he was wrong, that Sodia really did love him, that he was really denying ever realizing her attraction to him. That nagging feeling also told him the reason he was not acknowledging Sodia's affections was because he did not love her back. It offended him that Yuri would speak badly of his subordinate, but it also irked him that Yuri would dare to suggest using a subordinate's affections to his own advantage. He frowned as he waited for a response. But the response did not come.

Usually, his friend would have countered with a smart remark, just to vex the poor blond boy; but Yuri was being strangely quiet after that last statement. Curious, Flynn lifted his head a little, only to find Yuri, a broad grin adorning his face, the tips of his fingers placed on his lips in mock-concealment. His eyes practically sparkled with amusement and he looked so damn happy that Flynn just had to roll his eyes. The man was impossible. Yuri scoffed.

"You seriously think that?! Oh man, I should tell Estelle about this…Scratch that, I should tell everyone about your naïve way of thinking."

"Jerk,"

"Takes one to know one," at this, he went to the window he entered from and sat on the windowsill, "We'll pick you up by midday, so get ready by then," then he looked him up and down, humming, "Oh, and leave the armor, wear something casual. I better go now; I'm supposed to be in jail. Don't worry about the food… You don't have to prepare it… I'll cook." With a 'later' and a wave of his hand, he swung his legs over the windowsill and pushed himself off the side of the windowsill, his hair whipping behind him. It was when he could no longer be seen did Flynn realize something.

Yuri broke out of jail. Again. Just to talk to him.

Not knowing whether he should be mad or exasperated or even flattered, he collapsed into his chair, losing all interest in doing his paperwork. That Yuri always made him feel tired after an encounter with him. And what did he mean by Flynn not needing to prepare the food?! His food wasn't horrible… was it? Flynn bit his lower lip at the thought of Yuri not trusting him enough to let him prepare the food. But then again, it would lessen his workload, even if he did enjoy cooking. Picking up his pen, he began signing some papers. He might as well do the rest of his paperwork. Thinking of Yuri makes his head spin and his chest contract and sending weird feelings through his stomach, in a way that he did not like. Compared to that feeling, paperwork is a thousand times better.

Then that nagging feeling in his gut told him that he was in denial.

In denial?

About what?

Please review. :3

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Preview for Chapter 2:

"Does it matter if it tastes weird?"

"If you want me to eat it, then yes."

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