Thank you for all your reviews. They are appreciated!

I understand that Innes is kinda out of character. He will be off character in some parts, maybe especially this chapter. And nope, this is not yaoi of Innes/Ephraim. It would ruin the one of the story :D Though I could make one, since it is interesting. This is just Innes/Ephraim friendship. Sorry to disappoint you. I will try to make this longer.

Innes: Muhaha, we are back!

Ephraim: Yeah..just shut up.

Innes: glares at Ephraim

Valkyrie:Would you guy just give it up, I am making you both friends in this chapter.

Both: NOOOOOOOO!

Tana: Boys…

Eirika: Oh yeah…

Valkyrie: Okay...continuing.

Eirka walked down the halls. The spar was to say...interesting. Tana was acting very strangely. Eirika shook it out of her head as she walked from the entrance. As she close in to the corner she heard footsteps followed by "Wait!" She was about to turn when a man ran right into her.

"Ow!"

She fell flat on her back as Ephraim tripped a little. "Sorry," was all he managed to say before he kept running toward the castle entrance. She shrugged and continued walked. As she was about to turn, another man ran right into her.

"Ow! What is wrong with people today!"

Eirika was furious as Innes mumbled, "Sorry!" and ran off. "Boys!" She hissed as she walked toward the corner again. This time she waited. She backed up against the wall and she stuck her head out. "Safe at last." She said. With a sigh, she turned and continued to walk further down the hall.

She reached the kitchen and pushed the door. There were no more smoke or smell but a few broken pots on the ground. "Did they have a competition again?" Eirika sighed again, then walked up to the cauldron. Inside she saw a purple liquid substance. She carefully stuck her fingers into it, and screamed.

Ephraim ran into the garden. He stopped and gasped for air. His left hand clutched his chest while his right hand was on his hip, where the cramp was. He remembered the deal they made when they were a 10 years-old.

Flashback

"You promised that we will be rivals?"

"You mean...like arch enemy and never be friends?"

"Yes! Duh! Isn't that what rivals are?"

"I guess..."

End Flashback

No, they were wrong. Being rivals didn't mean not being the best of friends. But they did promise to be rivals in their definitions. Over the times they fought, Ephraim grew to like Innes. He wanted them to be friends. He wanted to be like brothers. He wanted to be what Joshua and Gerik are like-best friends. Ephraim knew that he should never have made that promise and now regretted it more than ever.

As Ephraim sat down to sip on the water fountain, Innes was sneaking behind the bushes. He waited until he heard the tree leaves rustle, and then he sped through the bushes. He ended on the opposite side of the fountain. Innes held his breath as he crept closer to Ephraim, who had his head buried in his hands. He crept closer and closer.

Eirika immediately pulled her hand out. The juice was ice cold! Her whole body was shivering even if it was just her hand that was freezing. She rubbed her hands together as she looks around. "I think Ephraim waited a bit too long for the juice to cool." She thought aloud. Eirika was very thirsty and tired from all the training. She pulled up a chair and sat down. Then, she scooped some juice up and poured it into a glass.

She slowly drained the juice away, sip by sip. After the juice was gone, she slumped on the chair. After a few seconds, she suddenly jumped up. Her throat wasn't thirsty and she body wasn't sore anymore. She jumped up and down!. "Wow! Ephraim was right! This juice does rejuvenate anything! I gotta tell Tana!" and with that she ran off.

Innes was right in front of Ephraim. He took Ephraim's hands away from his face. Ephraim looked up. "Innes, I…" He was stopped short as Innes put his hand over Ephraim's mouth. Not roughly, but gently. Innes shook his head. "We should have never made that promise, should we?" Ephraim shook his head. Innes laughed lightly and removed his hand. "Ephraim, I really liked you as a friend too, but I didn't want to show because that would break our promise. What do you say, best friends forever?" Ephraim nodded and they clasp their hands together, forming their sign of friendship.

Ephraim: I...I...think I'm gonna hurl.

Innes: Me, too.

Eirika and Tana:Awww...That's soooo cute!"

Ephraim and Innes: barfs

Valkyrie:Um...okay...please R&R. And no flames please.