This is a Therius x Yurick fanfic. They look so cute together...XD...so...I decided to write about them…^^...I still don't know what's gonna happen in the story except that it will take place when they invade the Gurak base and they get on those flying bird things in chapter 16...i wanna fly on those birdies...it must be fun to fly through the air like that...XD...well...back to what i was saying...Therius and Yurick are on one bird and we'll see where it goes from there...XD

Disclaimer: I do not own The Last Story nor the characters.

Yurick gasps as an arrow whizzes by his head, almost cutting his silver hair, making him lose concentration again. Scowling, he closes his eye again to resume his intense concentration. It was difficult. The cries of the humans and Gurak fighting filled the air while the constant firing of cannons allowed no moment of silence. The smell of smoke and gunpowder overwhelmed his sense of smell even though smoke was a smell he was quite used to. Not to mention the fact that he was very far up on a bird that could tip him over any minute now.

The bird lurches forward sending Yurick smashing into the armour of the white-haired man in front of him.

"Hurry up and cast, mercenary." Therius spats from in front of him.

Yurick's uncovered eye flashes open in anger. "I'll like to see you try and cast magic while sitting on this...this...creature. Can't you keep this thing still?!"

"Can't you see I'm trying!"

"Try harder!"

"Well you try harder at casting your magic."

"Just shut up and let me concentrate!"

Yurick sends Therius one final glare before going back into his deep concentration once again. He could feel the magic building up within him. Almost there….he was almost ready to cast…

Opening his eyes, he sent a giant ball of fire racing towards the Gurak snipers just as one of the snipers shoot a burst arrow at Therius and him.

Desperately, Therius attempts to dodge the arrow but it was too late. The arrow explodes the wing of the bird.

Yurick lets out a scream of fear as he tumbles off the bird. A hand reaches out to grab him but it was a futile attempt as the bird itself was falling too. Yurick looks up as he plummets down towards the sea. His magic had found its mark.

The others were staring in horror as Yurick fell. Zael almost looked like he wanted to jump off himself and somewhat save them but Calista held him back, preventing Zael from doing any of these crazy actions. Dagran and General Asthar were swooping down with their birds, attempting to catch up with them. However, Yurick knew that they would never reach in time.

"Go!" Yurick shouts as loud as he could to the others. "Go without us!"

Closing his eyes, he braces for impact as the wind rushes against his face, sending his hair whipping in many directions. His body crashes into the waves, knocking the breath out of him. Yurick screams of pain as pain jolts through his bones are muffled by the water rushing into his mouth and flooding his lungs.

He continues to plummet deeper, even after the initial impact of the water. Desperately, he tries to fight back against the descent. No matter how much he flails or kicks, he keeps drifting deeper and deeper. Yurick lets his last gasp of breath out and pain floods his mind. Air...he needed air...yet he was too far...he was going to...drown…

Just as he was about to give into the darkness creeping into his vision, a hand reaches out and grabs his wrist, pulling him back up. Therius. They get closer and closer to the surface until they break through that thin barrier of water and air.

Gasping, Yurick takes in a breathful of air while coughing out all the water in his lungs. An arm wraps around him, preventing him from sinking back down into the depths of the sea.

"...Thanks…" Yurick chokes out.

Therius doesn't say anything as he starts swimming towards the Gurak base, dragging Yurick along with him. Yurick was too tired to do anything but hang limply in Therius's grip.

Finally, they reach land. Yurick collapses immediately onto the stone land and lays there gasping for air.

"...c...cold…" Yurick mumbles closing his eyes. "and...slee...sleepy…"

Therius slumps against a rock and looks up. He hoped all the others were alright, especially General Asthar. Then he looks down at his drenched clothing.

"Mercenary. It would be nice if you could cast some fire magic of yours to dry us out. Then, perhaps you wouldn't be cold."

Yurick moans. "E..easier said...than...done…"

Theirus scowls. This was not his day.

"It takes a lot of effort...you know...to cast magic…" Yurick says after he caught his breath. He glares at Therius. "And I'm too tired to do so. And another thing...my name is not 'mercenary'. It's Yurick. Remember that...you...you...greedy knight...you're just like all those other knights. Being so full of yourself just because you are knights. You guys think you can do whatever you want just because of your status, but you're wrong. You're just-"

Yurick gets cut off when he finds Therius's rapier pointed at his throat.

"I am not like them. I am not like those knights." Therius snarls. "Do not compare me to them. They have forgotten how to use their swords. They have misused their power. They are the ones that have been a disgrace to knights."

"Oh really? You say you're different, but I don't see any difference. You still treat all us mercenaries like we're trash. We're not like other mercenaries, running around doing such….crude...things... I don't see how we're any worse than those knights. In fact, I would say that we are indeed better than them."

Therius hesitates. "Well…"

"Well what?!"

"You…you...perhaps you are correct on the fact that mercenaries...mercenaries may indeed be better and braver than those knights who have lost their honour." Therius admits. "But that is not me. I will continue to fight for the Empire until my last breath."

Yurick sighs. "At least you are different that them...perhaps who have judged each other too quickly…"

Therius nods. "Perhaps...not all mercenaries are the same...and not all knights are the same…" he says as he sheathes his sword.

Yurick runs his fingers through his wet hair. "Ugh...let's get dry first. Shall we?"

"Let's find somewhere safe to rest first. I would hate to be caught by any Gurak at this moment."

Yurick nods and attempts to stand up. His near death and immense use of magic had weakened him to the point where he almost fell down as he stood up. Therius caught him as his legs gave out from beneath him.

"I'll be alright…" Yurick protests as Therius holds him up.

"Nonsense. How can you possibly walk if you can't even stand."

"I...I'll...I'll crawl then."

"Absurd. We'll be caught in no time if you do such a thing."

"Then…"

"Just shut up and let me help you…"

Yurick sighs knowing that this was one battle he would not win. "Alright…"

So, they walk along the shoreline, with Yurick's arm slung over Therius's shoulder, supporting his weight. A few moments later, Yurick arm slips and he falls into the water with a splash.

"Ugh...I hate the water." Yurick complains.

Therius frowns. "This will never work. Its difficult to climb over rocks and boulders holding you up like that."

"So...what do we do?"

"Get onto my back. It'll be much easier that way."

Yurick stares in shock. "What?!"

"Either that or I carry you in my arms. Now choose."

"Fine...I'm not letting you carry me in your arms any day. Now let's get moving."

Therius hoists the dripping wet Yurick onto his back and they continue moving. Yurick relaxes his head on Therius's armour. It was actually quite comfortable and he soon found himself drifting off. Therius's hair was soft and fluffy, as it brushed against Yurick's cheek. The sound of the waves and Therius's footsteps became a lullaby, blocking out all the sounds of war and death. Moments later, Yurick was fast asleep…

(Later)

Yurick blinks drowsily. He could feel someone shaking his shoulder gently. "Huh…?"

He looks up to see Therius glancing down with a concerned look.

"You alright...Yurick?"

Yurick looks around and finds themselves in a dark cave. "Where...where are we?"

"I found a cave. It had a small opening, though big enough to crawl through. It was also hidden by bushes, making it very difficult to find."

"Oh…" Yurick shakes his head to clear his foggy mind. "Do you still need a fire?"

"...a fire would be useful...as we still are wet...and you even wetter since you fell into the water once again." Therius hesitates. "Though...if you are still exhausted, you don't need to."

"No. I'm fine now." Yurick lies. He was still tired enough to fall asleep on the spot. "Just gather some wood and stuff so I can cast a fire…"

Soon, Therius had gathered a small bundle of sticks and wood in the corner of the cave. Closing his eyes, Yurick concentrated on casting some of his magic upon the wood. Eventually, he managed to send a tiny spark of fire into the pile of wood, lighting it on fire. Exhausted, Yurick slumps against the wall and closes his eye.

Therius watches Yurick. "Not tired you say…"

Yurick opens his eye slightly. "Uhh...maybe that was a bit of an understatement…"

"A bit? I can hardly say that."

"Whatever…" Yurick drags himself over to the fire and lets the hot fire warm him. He liked the heat and warmth. The cold only made him feel lonely. That's why he liked his magic so much...well...at least liked it more than Lowell's…

Therius walks over to the fire and squats down beside Yurick. "Cold?"

"Not for long. At least I'm drying up…"

Therius looks down at himself. His armour was metal so that needed no drying. But his clothes underneath the armour...it was soaked and the armour covering his clothing didn't help it dry at all. Sighing, he takes off his armour, leaving him in a dark green shirt and pants.

Therius looks at Yurick, only to find the young boy watching him. Yurick looks away once their eyes meet. Therius only continues to watch Yurick.

"You're hair is a mess…" Therius comments, staring at Yurick's wet hair.

Yurick sighs. "It's not like your's is any better.."

"We're both a mess...aren't we.."

"Yes. Yes we are. Now let me sleep."

Therius sits down next to Yurick. "Alright. I'll keep watch."

Yurick gives a grunt of approval and goes quiet as he tries to sleep. Therius watches as Yurick shifts around, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. In the end, Yurick sits up and sighs.

"This is not a comfortable place to sleep in…" he complains.

Therius glances at Yurick. "Feel free to sleep on my leg."

"W...what!?"

"Use my leg as a pillow if you need to."

"But...I...uhh…"

Therius watches Yurick as he ponders the offer.

"Well...you don't mind?"

Therius shakes his head. "No."

"...alright then…"

Quietly, Yurick rests his head upon Therius's thigh and within moments, he was fast asleep.

Therius watches the young boy sleep, unconsciously running his fingers through Yurick's hair. Within moments, he was asleep as well…

A/N: Well...there was the first chapter...XD...cute?...^^...XD…I don't know what will happen after this…^^;...but...I'll know in the future...XD

Pleaz Reviewie...XD…