By Hikaru Hayashi

Okay…well, no one reviewed chapter one, so I'll update for the heck of it. I told you it wasn't the end of the world. Like I said, it don't faze me none if nobody reviews; I'll just keep writing. It never stopped me before, and it won't stop me now.

Just know that now that this chapter is up, it makes a lot more sense and you can see where I'm going with this.

Disclaimer note: I don't own anything.

Chapter 2: Separation Anxiety?

(Out at Sea/Tulio)

"Arrrrgh! I can't believe I let this happen!" Tulio cried as he slammed his fist on the railing of the boat. "I shouldn't have left him behind like that."

"But, he wanted to stay," Chel said, putting a hand on Tulio's shoulder. "As his friend, you should understand that."

"I don't know…he did seem pretty mad at me. But then, when I left, why did he look so sad…?" Tulio stared into the sea. He wished that they hadn't gotten into that huge argument. But, the damage was done. He only hoped that Miguel would be happy with his new life, just as he'd try to be happy with his.

Lighten up, Tulio, he told himself. At least you still have Chel…! This thought immediately made him smile as he looked over at Chel. The sun made her dark eyes sparkle. A light breeze blew through her hair. She looked beautiful. He walked over to her and put his arms around her waist. "It's good to know I won't be completely alone…" he said softly as he put a hand to her face.

Chel giggled. "Well, no one deserves to be alone. Besides, I'll be there for you when you need me."

Tulio smiled as he looked into her eyes. "I love you…" he said.

"I know…" she replied.

(El Dorado/Miguel)

Miguel sighed heavily as he stared out at the sky. It was still very hard for him to believe that he'd just parted ways with his best friend, whom he'll probably never see again.

"Miguel…don't look so down," came Chief Tannabok's voice.

"Chief Tani…do you ever think I'll see Tulio again?" Miguel asked remorsefully. "I mean…he was like a brother to me…and…all that stuff I said…I didn't mean a word of it…I…I only wish…" he paused as he turned away, hoping that the Chief wouldn't see him crying. "I only wish I could take it all back…"

"What's done is done," was all the Chief said. "You can't change the past."

"I wish I could…" Miguel said to himself, staring off into the distance, as the Chief was walking away. Little did he know, the Chief had heard his little side comment, but chose to say nothing.

Altivo trotted over to his master's side and nudged him.

Miguel smiled slightly as he patted his horse. "At least I still have you, Altivo," he sighed. He turned and took a last look at the gate before walking away.

(Somewhere out at sea/Tulio)

"Please tell me we're not lost, Tulio," Chel sighed as she plopped down on the deck. "We've been out here for who knows how long…days, maybe even a month!"

"No…this is alright…I can get us out of this…!" Tulio said as he stared at a compass trying to figure out which way to go and how to work it. The poor guy could follow a map, but they didn't have one. And without a map, he couldn't navigate his way out of a paper bag. Still, he couldn't let Chel know that! "Darn thing's busted…" he lied.

"Sheesh…yeah right…" Chel muttered, frustrated, seeing through Tulio's lie. Who was he trying to fool? She knew darn well that he couldn't navigate this stupid block of wood.

Tulio was starting to become annoyed. He knew that if Altivo were there, he would be laughing at him, if horses could laugh. He could also see the look that Miguel would have, that look that mocked him playfully as he said "You do realize that if you don't figure this out, we're going to be stuck out here for a very long time!" And Tulio would answer back "Then why don't YOU navigate, Mr. Smart Guy?" This would lead to another one of their arguments, which actually helped lower Tulio's frustration. Since he didn't have Miguel to argue with, frustration got the better of him as he threw the compass out into the ocean.

"Tulio! Now we'll never find our way!" Chel shouted.

"Nah…we don't need that stupid thing…" Tulio muttered, his blood boiling with anger and frustration. He was so useless. He couldn't even navigate. It seemed he couldn't do anything right lately. It's all Miguel's fault! He had to go and stay behind and make me all preoccupied and useless and crap! Why did he have to go and stay behind! Curse you, Miguel!

In all his life, he never thought he'd find himself cursing his best friend. They had saved each other's necks so many times. But, then again, he never thought he would be without his partner. They were a team, as inseparable as brothers, yet here he was all by himself (apart from Chel, of course).

As he stared blankly at the horizon, he thought he saw a thin, distant line that made up a shore. He stared harder, and realized that he was indeed seeing land. "Aha! See, I told you I could get us out of this mess!" he proclaimed boldly, hoping Chel wouldn't see through his lie.

Chel stared at him. He's hopeless… she thought as she hung her head in disappointment.

(El Dorado/Miguel)

"Argh! I can't stand this! I can't stand it at all!"

Startled by a loud banging noise while taking a walk, a girl around 19 or 20 hid behind a wall. Slowly, she peeked around the wall to see what the noise was. What she saw startled her even more…

It was now Miguel's turn to bang his head on a wall. After hitting his head very hard about 6 times and giving himself a serious migraine, he fell to the ground in despair. Crap. Why did I think I could do this? 'You can go back to Spain, Tulio, and I'll stay here!' I can't believe this…I…what the heck was I thinking?

Miguel sighed heavily. He felt like crying. Now that he thought about it, that argument they had was really stupid. He didn't know why he chose to stay behind. I guess I was just angry… he thought. Crap. If it's anything I've regretted in my life, it's choosing to stay here…I'm never going to see my best friend ever again…this is one predicament I can't get out of…crap. What am I going to do…?

The girl sighed as she watched Miguel. She stood, playing with her semi-long black ponytail, confused and wondering; I don't understand…he's so…depressed…ever since Lord Tulio left, he's been so melancholy…you'd think he would have gotten over this by now, it's already been quite a few days… By now, the girl was coming to the realization that Chel and Chief Tani had come to…that maybe, just maybe, Miguel wasn't a god at all!

He's human…! she thought in shock. He's only human…and he's lonely… She was shocked by the possibility of her realization. She was even more alarmed when she found herself slowly approaching him…

She tiptoed slowly towards Miguel, and, upon reaching him tapped him lightly on the shoulder, startling the living daylights out of him.

"Whoh!" He exclaimed as he jumped back, falling to the ground.

"Yikes!" The girl exclaimed as she jumped back.

The two stared at each other for the longest time.

Finally, the girl decided to speak up. "Um…hello…"

Miguel waved. "Hey," he replied.

"Um…Excuse me…I, uh…I'm so sorry, Lord Miguel…I should just…" the girl stumbled over her words as she slowly backed up. "I'm…uh…I'll, uh, I'll just go now…!" She turned to run away, when…

"Wait, don't leave!"

She stopped. "Huh?" She turned back around. She just knew she was in trouble until she turned to see a smile on Miguel's face.

"Why don't you stay for a while? I won't mind," he said to her.

She thought about how lonely he seemed just a few moments ago. "Ah…alright," she said as she sat down next to him.

"So…" he started, "what's your name?"

"I'm Lina," she said shyly.

"Lina…" Miguel repeated. "That's a pretty name."

Lina blushed. "Oh…uh…well…um…thanks…Lord Miguel…"

"Please. Just call me Miguel, okay?"

"Uh…okay."

From behind a corner, Chief Tani watched as Lina and Miguel talked. He chuckled. Lina just might be the perfect remedy for Miguel's loneliness, he thought as he walked away smiling. They do make a very cute couple…!

End Chapter Two

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. One of two things: 1) Oh, no! Not another MiguelxOC fic! Or, 2) The Chief is a freaking spy!

Answer to 1): No, my OC, Lina, is not based on myself whatsoever (I despise self-inserts), and this fic promises to be very interesting. Answer to 2): Well, I can't do anything about the Chief being a spy. That's just how he came off in this chapter, even as I myself was writing it.

But, feel free to review (or not; as you can see, it obviously doesn't faze me). But, it would be very nice if you reviewed.