A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE SITUATIONS

Chapter 5: Strain

Serph awoke to a nice and warm feeling. He suddenly stiffened, 'Was Argilla up?'

He knew it was childish to be competing with her even with the most trivial of issues…but damn it, he couldn't help it! His manliness was at stake!

He relaxed however as he felt light shuffling within the bag, beside him. He looked beside him and saw that his pink-haired beauty was still fast asleep, pressing her back tighter against his chest, her hands gripping his, which were situated around her waist.

He sighed…He loved nothing more than to remain with her this way…

But…He can't.

They can't. They need to get a move on.

So, he gently moved his hands away from hers and there made to touch her shoulder, "Hey. It's time."

She immediately fluttered her eyes awake and mumbled, "Oh Serph… Right. Let's go."

XXXXX

After their quick snow-bath, they were ready.

Serph, with his thick arctic clothing and his goggles in place, walked over to Argilla who shared the identical ensemble, "Okay…Do we have everything?"

She nodded, "Affirmative sir."

He gave a simple nod, "We want to travel as light as possible."

The two looked at that sky and saw its grim prophecy. But still, it was normal during the winters to have almost no sun.

Nothing but a gray day…

Oh well.

"Let's move." he said, taking the packed tent and other supplies on the sled and began to walk with Argilla in tow.

After a few hours of walking, the two stopped by a snow hillside. Serph looked around and saw an animal. He looked at Argilla who was huffing exhaustedly, "We had better press on."

Argilla looked at him with a pout, "Why?"

Serph motioned for her to get on top of the hill with him. She did so and looked wherever he looked. They looked at the animal.

"Looks like a seal." Argilla commented.

Serph nodded, "Yes…with exceptionally sharp teeth." he told her as he looked at the aforesaid animal with his binoculars.

"Lemme see." she said, taking the binoculars from him, "You're right." she said; sweat-dropping as she did. She wouldn't want to cross that thing…

"I could just snipe it." she offered.

"Negative."

"What? Why?" she asked in disbelief, taking the binoculars from her eyes in order to turn and look at his profile.

"We don't have to waste ammo." he said, sliding down to where their equipment laid. She followed suit and just sat alongside him.

Serph put on his goggles back and so did she, "You had better rest as much as you can. We leave in ten."

She groaned, "Okay…"

Soon the two were on the move once more. Serph suddenly stopped and stepped on another snow hill.

"What's up?" asked Argilla.

"I just want to know how far it is." he replied.

Argilla nodded but said nothing, sitting on the sled, resting her weary legs. They had been walking for the last hour and so far, nothing had caught her eyes. Nothing but endless snow.

She let out a breath; it was freezing. She crossed her arms over her chest, all huddled for warmth.

"We still have a day's walk!" he said.

She groaned, "Man…! It's still that long?!"

He chuckled as he made his way towards her, "Yeah. Well, we gotta move."

She nodded, "Alright."

XXXXX

Night had fallen in and the two were thankful that the weather wasn't that severe. There was a blizzard but it wasn't as strong. They were within their camp, within the little comforts of their tent and were huddling in front of their lamp, drinking their hot cocoa.

Serph sweat-dropped at that. It had been Argilla who found that can…It had been part of their rations. Alcoholic beverage was a no-no in arctic weather after all.

They had situated their tent beside a lazy almost flat hill. They didn't want to be in the open. But at the same time, they didn't want to be near a rock formation such as a steep ledge over their heads or be beside it either. Snow might come crashing on them.

Oh well.

Serph looked at her with curious eyes…She was handling the situation quite well. She hadn't panicked…or questioned his orders. She had been totally optimistic about the entire situation…no matter how precarious or dire it may seem to be.

Needless to say he was both proud and dismayed.

He was proud for obvious reasons. She was a fine soldier, a remarkable comrade and a good friend and partner.

He was dismayed because…

'Because…'

Out in the open, when there was no hope in sight…people usually show their true colors. It was then, in the face of fate's test, that they crumble and reveal their weaknesses…He was surprised to find none in her.

He was jealous…He was envious.

Since he had awakened, thoughts of nothing but insecurity roamed his head. That, and thoughts of guilt.

He wanted to face it. It had been his fault that this expedition had failed. It had been his responsibility to keep his tribesmen alive. But he failed miserably. Most, if not all, had died with the exception of Argilla and himself.

But it wasn't that that really bothered him.

It was that…it had been because of Argilla that he remained to be alive. Without her, he would've been like any of those corpses that floated in the ocean…

It had been her quick-wittedness and her bravery that had saved them both. It had been her.

Her. Not him.

Where was he? He was out cold when everyone needed him the most.

He was…useless.

Some leader he turned out to be…He sighed; what if he didn't lead this expedition…? Those people would probably still be alive…

The two of them wouldn't be lost…stranded in the middle of nowhere…

And…he wouldn't be such a burden to her.

"Serph?"

He blinked, "What is it?"

"You okay?"

He smiled tightly, languidly, "Why do you always ask me that?"

"I'm worried about you." she told him firmly.

He could feel his resentment for her idiotic maternal love for him take its toll on him and he glared at her, "Why do you always worry about me?" he asked in an almost spiteful tone.

Argilla was taken aback. She did not expect that of him.

"I'm sorry I…offended you Serph…I didn't mean for-"

He narrowed his eyes into slits, "You never mean to do anything Argilla. You just do it. That's all." he said coldly.

Argilla could feel his eyes burn holes in her face and so, she turned her gaze away. She had no idea that Serph felt that way…

"I'm not a boy Argilla." he told her unfeelingly.

Argilla stiffened as she heard his tone. He had never before used such a tone with her…Never before.

She said nothing but just gathered their mugs, and setting them aside.

Serph watched her with burning silver eyes. He didn't mean to sound like that…but he just couldn't hold it in any longer. He couldn't stand being useless in her eyes…And now, as the days within this icy wasteland went on, as they continued to wander and meander within its cold and freezing prison, he began to shrink little by little in her eyes.

He knew it.

He saw it in her eyes.

She thought little of him. She thought and firmly believed that it was him who needed her. He needed her more than she needed him.

Well, it was time that she knew and realized…how she was making him feel.

He crawled over to their sleeping bag and unzipped it. He looked at her and still with the unfeeling voice, and spoke, "Come on. We need to turn in for the night."

She, avoiding his eyes, nodded meekly and there crawled within the bag. He lay down beside her, his arms and hands latching on her waist as she zipped up the bag.

A few moments later, the two were comfortable once more.

Serph listened to her sigh and held her tighter against him, pressing his chest on her back tightly…almost…possessively.

She lightly moaned and he growled a low growl from his throat as he stilled her annoying movements. She was upset with him; he could tell as she resisted within his arms, wanting to put space in between them.

Serph saw it now…

She had never before appeared childish in his eyes…until now…

She had always put business and pleasure separate. But now…Well, it was tricky to separate professional and personal life. Their lives depended on the mutual heat that they could generate…Although that was the professional aspect of their current situation, at the same time, it was also personal…Being held by a person whom you trust…It was obvious.

Her personal and professional lives were colliding…That was why she didn't know what to do. But to Serph, it was always clear-cut. Him holding her now was just for practicality. Nothing more.

He couldn't bring himself to speak to her though…He himself felt upset with her but…there were some things that needed their attention, such as staying alive, rather than just focusing on their personal problems.

He frowned as she once more moved and there he held her in a vice-like grip. A moment later, her movements ceased and her muscles, once tensed, relaxed evenly. He was glad that she understood…

He leaned down and there buried his face at the crook of her neck as they lay together…curling themselves into a ball…like a fetus.

'I'm sorry…' he thought to himself, mentally picturing himself apologizing to her.

XXXXX

The morning had come and they were both preparing to leave their camp. They needed to cover as much ground as possible within the available timeframe given to them by the weather and their bodies' strength.

Serph looked at himself from a small pocket-sized mirror. He blinked; he didn't even recognize himself. Facial hair had begun to grow on his chin and above his lips.

He scrounged his nose. He didn't like that.

But still, how was he to shave it?

His eyes looked left and right. Ah; the personal kit that Argilla had found. There, a small razor. Hm. The tricky part would be for him to shave it while staring into a small palm-sized mirror.

He frowned; how was he to do this?

Before he could contemplate it any further, his companion entered the tent, "The sled's all prepped sir. What are your orders?" she asked firmly, her pink eyes looking at his stoically.

He hated himself right there.

She had become distant to him…He could see it in her eyes…

He didn't want that.

But still, if he apologized now, it would seem as if he would be the one bowing to her again. It would be him once more to admit the mistake. It had always been him who made the mistake; never her.

Well, not this time.

He nodded at her, "I want you to inform me of the weather. And I want an estimate of our distance to the dome."

She nodded, "Alright sir."

A moment later, he was alone once more.

XXXXX

Serph was still angry at her. Well, she didn't think that it would affect him this much. Her thoughts then wandered over to their moment at the ship. It had been similar to this one…But back then, she didn't think much of it.

But it would seem that it was her lack of sensitivity and lack of thought about the matter that had propelled for his behavior towards her to be how it had been the pervious night.

'He was fed up with me.' she realized, 'Well, he wouldn't have to worry about that.'

She lifted her goggles momentarily and there put on the binoculars. She looked from left to right and there saw their intended destination.

'What's this?' she asked as she saw something else in the land in between them and the dome.

'A small frozen lake…'

She removed the binoculars from her eyes and there put her goggles back. Well, she had better report back to Serph.

Serph…

She wasn't treating him like a child like he insinuated…She just…

'I just care about him…' she thought sadly, 'I've always cared about him. I…I didn't mean for it to get so out of hand.'

No; she didn't. She didn't mean for him to feel as if she were making him feel like a child. She didn't mean that.

She was just concerned about him.

'Why…?' a voice piped within her mind.

'Because…!' she snarled.

'Because…?'

'…'

'You like him.'

'I do not!' she yelled back.

'Do I?'

XXXXX

Serph set the small mirror atop a box and there looked at himself. It was an annoying thing to do since he had to tilt his face downwards. He sighed; it was very cumbersome indeed.

Well, there wasn't any choice. He didn't want to look like some caveman.

He shivered at that thought.

'No. That's not it.'

He groaned; not this again, 'Go away.'

'You just don't want to appear ugly in front of her.'

'…'

Okay. He admitted it. He didn't want to look unpleasant in her eyes. He didn't want her to look at anyone else…

'Like Heat.' he thought venomously.

With his new impetus, he applied the shaving cream on his chin and cheeks and there began to shave.

He hissed as he the razor cut his skin. He frowned; he couldn't see a damn thing.

"Sir!"

He froze and turned to the sound of the voice. It was Argilla; without her goggles. He blushed but looked at her stoically, "What is it?"

He saw the flash of amusement in her eyes but nonetheless she said nothing about it. She nodded, "There's a frozen lake up ahead. It's about a couple of miles. We should be able to get there in a couple of hours."

He nodded, "Carry on. I'll be out in a minute." he said, turning away.

Argilla bit her lip. He had dismissed her…but…She felt as if she should do something. He looked like he was having great difficulty with what he was doing. She sighed; he was probably going to hate her for this…

But…

She knelt down in front of him and he turned to her with confused look, "What is it?"

Argilla's hands went over to his and there took the small razor from him. Serph looked at her, wide-eyed.

He opened his mouth to speak but she had beaten him to it and spoke huskily, "No. Let me."

Mesmerized by her eyes, he nodded and sat perfectly still. Argilla's eyes left his and there took the razor to his chin once more, bringing it to his smooth skin, dragging it slowly, carefully across his face.

Serph could only look at her helplessly…as her eyes were hardened with resolve, her eyebrows furrowed in sheer concentration.

He groaned lightly as she held his face firmly, the strokes of the razor slow and steady. He closed his eyes for the remainder of the session…and it was then as he missed the warmth of her hands on his face that he discovered that it was over.

He looked at her and saw that she had a towel and dipped it within a small basin of melted ice. She applied it to his skin and he resisted the urge to wince as the cold met his face. She dried him up a moment later and flashed him a caring and warm smile.

"There you go sir. You're done." she said as she finished tending to the small cut that he had inflicted on himself with the razor by the left side of his jaw.

Serph really didn't care about what he looked like at that moment…All he knew was that this woman, despite his outburst the other night…still gave him her full attention. She knew that there was a chance of him lashing out on her once more, but she took that chance and dotted on him all over again.

Not that he wasn't grateful…

But what he liked was…what he saw in her eyes.

There wasn't a hint of condescension or patronizing feelings…No…there was just the simple emotion of…concern.

Nothing more.

"I'm sorry about last night sir. I didn't mean to make you feel…offended." she told him sincerely.

Serph felt horrible…If he felt humiliated at swallowing his pride and apologizing…well, now he just felt downright lousy…And to think that he was the man…For him to let her take the fall…How…

'How lowly of me.' he thought shamefully.

She smiled weakly at him and nodded, "Well, I'll be outside sir."

She moved away but he stilled her movements as he grabbed onto her wrist. She peered questioningly at him, "Sir?"

He shook his head, "It's Serph. Not sir." he smiled then, "It's me who…should be sorry…I'm sorry about last night. I just…I don't know. I lost control."

Argilla smiled back and sighed, "Nah…it's because of me…Maybe I've been…too nosy…huh?" she chuckled, "But Serph…" she trailed off, her voice low and serious.

"What?"

"I did those things…for you. It wasn't to prove a point. It wasn't to prove anything or to demonstrate anything…It was just for you." she finished, "I care about you a lot."

Serph's blood rushed to his head as his heart began to erratically beat. He watched, stupefied as she leaned down towards his face…bringing their faces closer and closer together…

He slowly closed his eyes as he saw her do the same…And then…

He felt a warm sensation on his cheek. A moment later, the warmth was gone. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

She had kissed him on his cheek. He couldn't help but feel disappointed. What did that mean…? What did that small action of affection, or the lack thereof, entail?

'She cares for me…'

'As a friend.'

"Come on Serph. We have to get a move on." she chirped brightly.

Yes. They did.

XXXXX

He called for a halt as they neared the frozen lake. He frowned.

"What's up?"

Serph looked at her, "We had best be careful. We don't know how big this frozen lake is. It might be spread all over the area." he spoke calmly pointing to the vast snowy plane.

"We had better cross it carefully and slowly Argilla. It might crack…" he said seriously.

She nodded, "Right."

"I'll take point." she said bravely.

He opened his mouth to protest when she cut him off, "You can't take point Serph. You're the one with the sled. I'm lighter and faster, I can do it." she justified with a small smile.

He really didn't have a choice. He nodded, "Wait."

"What?"

He chuckled, "Come on. Let me fasten this on you." he said, motioning to the cord. She nodded. A few minutes later, when she was securely tied to him, he let her go, "Be careful."

She nodded back and started to walk, placing small markers in the snow every few meters.

Serph's heart beat evenly, keeping his eyes on her lithe frame in front of him. Suddenly, she froze.

"What's wrong?"

Argilla kept her eyes on the animal in front of her, "Serph." she said calmly, "Toss me my rifle."

Serph left the sled and there saw that Argilla was a few feet away from an arctic bear. It was over seven feet tall and sniffed the air stoically.

Serph narrowed his eyes. What were they to do now? He couldn't make any sudden moves…The bear would react violently. Instead, he made for her rifle but stopped as he heard the bear growl.

Argilla cast her face down, not letting the bear see her eyes. It was just a bear…just like any other bear. She knew that looking into its eyes was a no-no.

Serph made his way close to Argilla, looking at the bear from the corner of his eyes. The bear was looking at them curiously. His head was tilting from side to side while sniffing the air.

"Easy boy…" Serph said gently, "We're just…making our way across…" he finished with a slow and smooth voice, calming the bear.

Argilla was shivering.

Serph stood by her side, "Stay calm." he instructed.

She nodded.

She really hadn't much experience with bears.

The bear began to growl and stamp his feet. Serph remained as ever stoic, "Just calm down…" he said, spreading his arms wide apart.

The bear did as he said and again sniffed the air.

"Serph…" Argilla shivered from beside him.

Serph spoke lowly, "Stay calm…Don't panic…or he'll know."

The bear growled once more and Argilla couldn't help but let out a yelp. Serph cursed as he saw the bear preparing to charge. The bear was looking at Argilla; his head lowered with his ears laid back.

He grabbed Argilla's rifle, "Damn!"

He stole at glance at her and saw that she was frozen stiff.

The bear growled and roared, now on all fours and charging at them. Serph aimed for the bear's head and prepared to pull the trigger when it suddenly stopped and whimpered, backing away slowly.

Serph put the rifle down and widened his eyes. He immediately grabbed Argilla's hand and dashed from the seen, but it was too late.

The ice beneath them was giving way. The bear's aggressive stamping had caused the ice to crack.

Argilla yelped as she lost her balance and fell on the ice.

Serph cursed and grabbed onto Argilla's arm as the ice in between them and the bear gave way, cracking and drifted apart, revealing to them the icy waters beneath.

Argilla held onto him, "Serph…! I hurt my ankle!"

He cursed and then looked at the ice again. It was just a few meters from them. He grabbed her by the waist and hauled her on his shoulders, and dashed onwards towards the sled. He didn't dare look back at what was happening but even without his sight, he knew that it wasn't good.

He could hear the breaking of the ice and the collapsing of the ground in which they stood. He grabbed onto the sled's cord and there pulled it to the direction in which they came.

He growled as he felt the weight of both Argilla and the sled testing his strength.

'God damn it!' he mentally screamed.

'Pull damn it!'

With the reminder that they could actually die from such an event, he tightened his hold on both Argilla and the sled and pulled with all of his strength.

He pulled them away with great effort for several feet. He didn't care how far just as long as he pulled and they moved.

Argilla listened for any sounds and heard none, "Serph! Stop! We're on the clear!"

Serph did as she instructed and gently set her on the ice. He looked back and saw that she was right. He grabbed the binoculars from within the knapsack from the sled and looked at the lake, "Hm…That bear had caused the ice to collapse…We're going to have to find a way around it." he spoke, sighing.

He set it down and then knelt in front of Argilla. He touched her boot and she winced, "Ow…!" she squealed.

"I'm sorry." he spoke apologetically and once more touched her ankle and then her calf, "It's sprained…Well," he paused, "we're going to have to be here for a while. I had better set camp."

She nodded.

XXXXX

A/N:

Snow-bath: A bath in snow. You must take a handful of snow and wash your body where sweat and moisture accumulate; like the armpits and in between the legs, and then wipe yourself dry.