Wow, so many kind reviews. Ha, I knew a plot was a good idea instead of a pointless smut or whatever you call them. Anyhow, the plot line/twist will slowly be revealed in this chapter, gasp gasp right? Kratos will unknowingly let on about the plot twist towards the middle end. So watch out! And I'm not sure about warnings for this chapter. Just basically Yuan cussing at Kratos, and Kratos trying to calm him down. Yes yes. Anywho, please enjoy. also, Kutos to Katandshadow for the title of this chapter. Thankies!

Aha! Time to reply to reviews!

dawn; Hehe thankies. And I love your story too by the way.

Kat; Sorry this chapter is exhanging alittle later then yours. Kutos anyhow for updating yours!

meowzy; Ah yes, the wonders of Yuan slapping Kratos, for some reason Yuan always does end up slapping Kratos. In a lot of people's fan fics! Ha ha!

Iceprincemarth; Ah yes, originals ideas rock hard! Thankies, I'll do mybest not to disappoint.

Takeru; Ah yes, my favorite relationships are those that actually develop instead of leaping in on a relationship, hehe. Heres the installment!

Emerald Flame
Chapter Three: Frigid Somber

The next morning was alittle more agreeable then the day before. Still, the storm showed no signs of coming to a complete cease, which meant Kratos and Yuan would be forced to spend at least another week together, considering the storm ended the next day, the snow would have to have time to melt. Basically, the windows were now completely white, from the packed up snow around them, and now seeing out was impossible. Any communication to the world outside these hundred wood logs was lost, lost from the start.

Yuan was the first to wake on the third day. Kratos' annoying snoring had awoken him from a pleasent dream of happier people, and happier places to be other then stuck in this dump, or so he called it. Tightly clenching the blankets in his fists, he managed a look down to Kratos who was lieing on the floor, shivering in the cold. The agreement had been that Yuan recieved all the blankets, seeing there were only two, oddly, and Kratos would have to deal with it. But just starring at Kratos, down right cold, made Yuan twitch uneasily.

Disdainfully, Yuan arose to his feet, making sure his feet didn't step on Kratos' hands, and he grabbed the blankets in his arms. Glancing down at Kratos, who was now right in front of him, he gently placed both blankets on top of the seraphims body. Knowing he would regret this simple gesture of kindess, Yuan left the room, not wanting to confront Kratos when he awoke.

Walking into the lobby, Yuan glanced over at the few crumbs of bread left. Quite frankly, maybe sleeping was the best thing to do, anything would be better then awaking to this horrid diaster. Glowering, Yuan walked across the room, every other footstep making an annoying squeak, and sat down on a stool and glared at the window. It was completely white. Quickly taking his eyes and mind off the growing crisis, Yuan glanced down at the wooden boards. Wood wasn't a good incellator, or so he was starting to learn.

Coming up with the best idea he had at that moment, Yuan glanced around for any mana controlled lanterns. It took him a long awaited few minutes before finding one that actually worked. He had planned on finding at least three, but the depressing number of one loomed. Sighing, Yuan extended his head over the lantern and casted a lighting spell to jump start it. Just as he expected, the lantern clicked on and began to produce a small amount of heat. Snickering from success, Yuan made his way back to their room.

Slowly walking back in, he noticed Kratos was still fast asleep. With a gentle smile, he made his way over Kratos' body and on to his bed once more, lantern still in hand. Setting down one of the only means of warmth next to Kratos, Yuan could only feel utterly disguisted. Why was he caring so much about how Kratos felt? He never had cared before, so why start now? But for some reason he couldn't get himself to not care. Whatever little care he did have towards Kratos was just business, official, or so he prayed it was.

"Huh?"

Yuan glanced down and noticed Kratos stirring. Hesitating, Yuan remained frozen in spot. How was he supposed to explain this act of kindess towards Kratos without letting on he was doing it to make Kratos feel better. Crossing his arms, Yuan watched as Kratos cracked open an eye and starred at the lantern in surprise.

"A lantern? Where did you find that?" Was all Kratos asked. No thank you, no second thoughts to the blankets wrapped around his body, just a simple question. Stiffining more, Yuan glanced down at Kratos and bit down on his bottom lip. How naive Kratos was at times. It was sort of a pitty how Kratos couldn't come to an answer on the simplest things.

"Yes, powered by my mana," Yuan replied stiffly. His voice was honestly holding back any wandering emotions he had at the moment. Crossing his arms, Yuan awaited a reply from Kratos. Maybe a thank you? But hell, that wasn't like Kratos, now was it? However, Kratos glanced at the blankets around his body and made the connection of the blankets and the lantern. His stern look suddenely melted into a thankful grin.

"You, didn't have to lend me your blankets Yuan. Or light that lantern, as I said, I'm fine," Kratos advised, arising to his feet. Yuan remained on his bed, sitting up straight, just watching Kratos. For some reason just hearing or knowing Kratos was thankful, thankful to him made up for his earlier naiveness. Brushing off anything Yuan wanted to say, he slightly nodded.

"It's pathetic how much you shiver for being an ultimate being," Yuan snickered. He was hiding his inner emotions again. Sure he wasn't the happiest person with being stuck with Kratos, and sure he had his mant complaints, but to say he hated it was going too far. In fact, the word enjoyed came to mind a few times but was cast away like old news. Never would he allow himself to enjoy Kratos' company.

"As bitter as ever I perceive," Kratos rumbled to himself. Folding the blankets back into the neatly formed squares, he set them at the end of the bed Yuan was sitting on. Yuan's gaze followed Kratos with every motion he made. Slightly tilting his head in confusion, Yuan felt the need to protest about his bitterness.

"Bitter? Is that how to act around someone who gave you blankets and used their mana to make sure you were warm?"

His question lingered on Kratos' lips for a few seconds. Kratos' lips lightly curved up as he felt the need to laugh softly, but steadily pushed it off of him. Nodding sureingly to Yuan, he placed the lantern on the side table and sat down next to Yuan. Just the simplest gesture of sitting down, on a bed next to Yuan, sent alarm through Yuan as he hestiantly stood up and thought of an excuse.

"The snow has gone over the level of the windows now."

It was a simple sentence, something to take Kratos' mind off anything that might be on his mind. Raising an eyebrow, Kratos looked out the window and also noticed it was completely white, and the fact the room was a tiny amount darker then usual.

"Ah yes, so I see. Guess he really is frustrated," Kratos began but then internally killed himself. Clenching his fists tightly together, he had hoped Yuan hadn't caught what he had just rambled. Unfortuantley for Kratos, he did. Yuan walked up to Kratos uneasily and starred at him, looking like he wanted to kill him at that moment.

"He? Who is he?"Yuan demanded, bending over slightly so he could look Kratos straight in the eye. Tensly, Kratos ran a hand through his strands of auburn hair and looked very unpleased at what he had just told Yuan. Looking away from Yuan's deaf stare, he thought of any excuse he could think of.

"He? What do you mean Yuan?"

"You know perfectly well what I mean. What did you mean by he really is frustrated. Who's he. Wait no don't tell me-" Yuan looked sharply away and down to the ground. His body slightly shaked and he looked back at Kratos, almost afraid to say anymore to Kratos. "It's Yggdrasill isn't it?"

The only thing Kratos could do was nod back. Looking like he was pleading for his life, Kratos gave Yuan a disturbed look as he watched the seraphim stare at him, looking like he was going to fall to piece at any second. But he didn't. Never in front of Kratos.

"I hate you."

After saying those words, Yuan left the room and slammed the door tightly with vegenance. Kratos just sat there, lost for words. This time he had lost Yuan for good. He wasn't too sure if he'd ever warm up to him again. Yuan finally had learned the truth about the storm of Flanoir, well not the whole truth, seeing if he did know the whole truth, he wouldn't be as enraged, but still. It was all lost. These three days were pointless. Now he had not right to be called 'the man of man mysteries'. His loyalty ran with Mithos, and that was final.

Getting up from the bed, Kratos cussed to himself and walked out of the room, in attempts to calm Yuan down. Turning around the last corner to the main hobby, Kratos stood horror-stricken at the fact Yuan was attempting to dig his way out the front door.

"Yuan, what may I ask are you doing?"

Oddly, Yuan didn't stop his goal and shovling snow from outside with his bare hands, trying to make his escape. Kratos sighed, I deserve this reaction from Yuan. he thought silently. Lowering his gaze, he walked closer to Yuan, so he was behind him now.

"I asked you, what are you trying to accomplish by digging your way out? The snow could go on for miles. It's pointless."

"I don't trust you, I don't trust any words that come out of your mouth. Don't ever speak to me again, I hate you Kratos Aurion, hate you," Yuan spoke whirling around as he spoke those words. Every word was a needle through Kratos' already puncutured heart. Yuan turned back around, and just leaned into the snow. Kratos honestly wasn't sure if Yuan had given up or was just tired. He had no idea he was crying.

"You, hate me?" Kratos replied uneasily, he starred at Yuan, shaking from the fear of rejection once more. Unknowlingly, Kratos placed a hand on Yuan's shoulder and whispered. "But I don't hate you."

"Don't you understand Kratos!" Yuan sharply turned around, and Kratos' heart sank when he saw the tears on Yuan's face. "We both have different goals, and those goals clash. And until you learn that, you'll keep betraying me time and time again. Well, I'm sick of it Kratos.. sick of life," Yuan closed his eyes tightly and looked away from Kratos.

"I know how much Mithos' plan is hurting you. But please, hear me out. I came here when I learned of Mithos' plan to attempt to kill you during the storm. He has no idea I'm here with you," Kratos' voice went silent as he starred at Yuan hopefully. Looking back up at him, Yuan blinked a few times.

"But you contiune to allow himto do these to save me does not make up for that. Don't you understand Kratos! Don't you understand after all these years I-" Yuan went silent and looked away, as if he was the one now who had said too much.

"After all these years what?" Kratos spoke hopefully. Hoping that Yuan was feeling the same towards him.

"That you can't see your mistakes? What you're doing is wrong, and I won't allow myself to befriend someone who goes against Martel's wishes," Yuan replied bitterly. Kratos seemed a bit disappointed, but starred at Yuan alittle concerned.

"In the end it will all turn out for the good Yuan."

"So what you're doing is good you think? Well you're wrong."

"You don't understand anything, do you? You don't under that-"

"Kratos, I'm tired of your lies. I'd rather be a lifeless being then be stuck in here a minute longer with you," Yuan admitted, pushing Kratos aside and walking back into his room.

Kratos was left there, broken-hearted, after Yuan left back to his room fully enraged and frustrated. Yuan would never understand what Kratos was trying to say would he? He always thought he knew everything, well this time he didn't.

"You don't understand that I love you Yuan..."

AN:

You thought they'd confess their feelings there, didn't you! Well, only Kratos did, so ha ha! Fooled You! I wouldn't make their confession this early in the story, now would I? No way, duh. So yea. I'm thinking at the most five or six more chapters. And no, I won't tell you when they do confess their feelings for each other. You'll have to wait and see.

Anyway, please leave a review for me! This is your authoress Lady Rina, signing off!