(A/N) I just can't leave this story alone. Luckily, this means quick updates! Anyhow, I am rather pleased how this chapter turned out. I'd like to thank my repeated reviewers, as well as those who faved and alerted this story. It's good to know people are reading. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: *sigh* We've been through this before.

Chapter 4

"Damn magic." Kratos muttered. He groaned and opened his eyes. Slants of light poured down through nearby tree branches, and his head was throbbing something terrible.

"Finally awake, are you?" The half-elf buzzed cheerfully at his side.

Kratos let out an impressive string of curses at his company and tried to shake off the dizziness that seemed to envelop him. He couldn't seem to get his thoughts together. Which meant he had a concussion. Just excellent.

"What the hell did you do?" Kratos spat irately. Yuan smirked at his discomfort. Apparently Kratos decided now of all times to start acting like a prince.

"Well, you're definitely cranky when you wake up," he ruffled Kratos' already mussed hair as he stood up. Kratos winced as Yuan bumped his freshest new bruise. He attempted to raise a hand to deflect it, but frowned as his arm tugged against brittle binding instead.

"Ropes, really?" Kratos glared, "You insult me." His wrists were already working the complex knot, but the rope was thick and the knot was tight.

"At least you're capable of walking now," Yuan sighed. A rare stricken look crossed Kratos' face, appalled at the thought of the Sylvaranti carrying him.

"You didn't." How else would he have gotten there, though? He didn't recognize this particular stretch of forest, but that didn't mean they weren't still in Tethe'alla. He had no idea how long he was out. He had the semblance of an idea that it was later in the day that they'd fought, but he wasn't sure.

"But I did," Yuan frowned slightly, "You're a lot heavier than you look." Kratos inwardly groaned. He'd been stupid to have not noticed the half-elf's spell until he was nearly finished chanting it. How could he have lost so easily? It was shameful. He wouldn't let an anomaly like that happen twice. He looked around himself and evaluated his possessions.

"Where's my sword?" He asked with a hint of panic in his usually calm tone. He couldn't lose it.

"It's not like I'd keep that around!" Yuan shot him a quizzical look. He thought the kid was smarter than that. Kratos figured he'd probably never see it again and sighed before awkwardly standing without using his arms.

"C'mon," Yuan gestured, "Time to get going."

"Hn." Kratos dragged his feet a bit. If they got into Sylvarant, he would have a much harder time escaping. His hand twitched, aching for his hilt. He couldn't believe he'd lost it. Maybe if he broke free, then he could convince the Sylvaranti teen to tell him where he'd stashed it. That was unreasonable, though. He wasn't thinking straight. Kratos scolded himself for even courting the notion.

Yuan witnessed Kratos' hand jerk involuntarily and paused in his march. He didn't know why he cared, but call it curiosity, he wanted to find out.

"What was so special about it?" He asked while nudging Kratos to resume walking. Kratos, however, was not really in the mood to chat, possibly even more averse to it than usual.

"None of your business." His laconic reply was aptly accompanied by a pointed glance of 'Shut up, Sylvaranti'. And just like that they were enemies again. Though, when they had ever ceased being adversaries, Yuan couldn't say. Perhaps it was that the boy intrigued him. He had yet to ask where they were going, and that was standard protocol in any kidnapping situation. Kratos had already been leaving, so was it really kidnapping? Yuan didn't care about classifications any more; he was content to know he had successfully outsmarted the unusually bright prince. Yuan preferred the term 'outsmarted' to 'lucked out' anyway, but it might've occurred to him that the tide of the battle could've turned if they had fought in a different location. He didn't regard that fact as relevant, after all, who was tied up?

They continued to walk in an uncomfortable silence. Whether or not it was uncomfortable to Kratos was irrelevant, he couldn't read him very well, but Yuan was nearly squirming in the void. Why was he squirming? He was the captor! Yuan sighed, some unnamable characteristic of this boy was remarkably unique, and dare he say it, he almost felt bad for kidnapping him. Maybe this was what royalty was like, Yuan mused. Yuan broke out of his thoughts when he abruptly ran into Kratos' back. Funny, he couldn't recall when he started leading. Kratos spun around to face him, a faint look of annoyance crossed with amusement.

"Seriously, I've been leading you in circles for the past twenty minutes, and you haven't said a thing! I would've kept going, but if I see that rock again, and have to pretend it's the first time I've seen it, I'm going to kill someone." His tone was back in that calm, smug voice that acted as if he had all the answers. Now, it was twinged with growing frustration. Yuan twisted around, examining the forest for verification. Sure enough, the original tree he'd stopped at to rest was directly in front of him. The repeated footprints were beginning to wear a path in the grass, and Yuan wondered why he had not noticed earlier. He guessed he was really deep in thought.

"I suppose you have." He declared simply. Kratos rolled his eyes and muttered something unintelligible that sounded suspiciously like 'Lost to an idiot' but Yuan didn't pay it any mind. He was never side tracked, he was Yuan Kaafei!

"So it's just as I thought, you have no idea where we are." Kratos met his near vacant expression accusingly before it sharpened at the insult.

"I do so! I was just thinking, is all!" Yuan retorted defensively. He straightened his cape.

"Pray tell which way we're headed then." Kratos raised an eyebrow, and Yuan was suddenly irked at how often he got away with being the arrogant know-it-all.

"That way!" Yuan picked a direction at random just to spite him. He was almost certain it was that way. However, seeing how night was falling, and the trees obscured the sky, he might've been wrong. Apparently they had been walking in circles anyhow, and his sense of direction was jumbled.

"So were headed back to Meltokio?" Kratos inquired faux-innocently. He didn't actually know where they were, but it was easy to press the half-elf's buttons. He could bluff well, and convincing the half elf of such a thing would put off their entrance to Sylvarant and give him more time. Kratos needed to find a weapon, though he greatly desired his sword, Yuan's might do, and he had to escape. Escape was paramount. Even if it would end the war, Kratos never thought the war would be lost because of him. That was ludicrous. He wouldn't be able to live past the embarrassment, assuming he lived at all.

"Nice try kid." Yuan recovered after his eyes briefly widened in self-doubt.

"So you're not a complete idiot." Kratos shook his head to displace a thick auburn strand from obscuring his vision. His hands would be a lot more helpful, but they weren't in the cards today. He tried to size up his Sylvaranti companion. It was rather interesting that he was a half-elf.

"Say, why did the Sylvaranti army recruit you? Don't they discriminate over there just as badly as here?" He was mildly curious, but also stalling. Soon it would be dark and they'd be forced to set up camp. Yuan scowled.

"What? It's a valid question." He felt obligated to add.

"We're just as capable as you are of serving in the military." Kratos shook his head; he was getting the wrong idea.

"I never said I was racist, but why weren't they?" He shrugged, "I've met enough people to know it's not a widely held belief." Yuan relaxed slightly. Kratos was full of surprises.

"I caught their attention." Figuring that was all the response he was going to get, Kratos hmphed at the vagueness and allowed silence to overtake them once again. Yuan finally snapped.

"Okay, so why don't my mysterious answers bother you, when yours are constantly bothering me?! I swear it's as if you know the best way to annoy me without actually appearing annoying, and that's as irritating as hell!" Kratos smirked at that, in fact, it might have even been mistaken as a smile by a passerby if there was such a third party observing. Yuan jabbed a finger at him.

"See, that, you're doing it again!" Kratos cocked his head to the side.

"I'm not particularly loquacious. My dad called it 'antisocial', whereas I call it 'Sick of conversing with pompous spoiled brats'." Yuan looked amused at the actual response.

"And the prince has a vocabulary setting other than 'explicit'."He acted as if it was a shocking prospect. Kratos hated being called 'prince' and averted his gaze at the mention of the king. He hadn't exactly left on good terms with his father, and reminders were not welcome.

Yuan plowed a little further. If Kratos was answering questions, perhaps he could get rid of the trivial subject that was nagging him.

"What was so special about the sword?" He repeated, "There must be tons just like it at your castle." Why that sword? Yuan had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, which unfortunately contributed to a tortuous curiosity. Kratos' walls were no longer up.

"Still bothering you, huh?" He shook his head, "Actually, it belonged to my brother, Typhon. He was the eldest. After he," Kratos paused near imperceptibly as the euphemism hung thickly in his throat, "passed away, he left it to me. He fought all his battles with it. It was his prized possession."

"Oh." Yuan didn't know what to say. He hadn't been expecting anything serious. Now he felt bad. It was hard to imagine the Tethe'allans experiencing the same hardship that they did in Sylvarant. But the royal line had the short end of the stick, it seemed. There was part of the reason this teenager was on a different level than the rest.

Redirecting his attention to their surroundings, Yuan knew he had to tread carefully here. If they slipped up and went the wrong way, either he'd be toast in the heart of Tethe'alla, or toast on the frontline border dispute between the warring nations. The chink in the armor he snuck through wasn't that large, hence the term 'chink'. There was a very small margin for error. Despite this, his qualms of uncertainty were eradicated swiftly. He was Yuan Kaafei, and Yuan Kaafei didn't make mistakes. End of story.

Yuan was interrupted in his self pep-talk as his elven senses picked up something on the outskirts of his hearing. It may have been voices.

"Shhh." He raised an arm to still Kratos' movements. Kratos' ears pricked up as well, though he couldn't hear anything aside from the usual forest ambience. From the look on his face, Yuan obviously hasn't heard anything good, though. His features noticeably darkened from the previously carefree expression, and Kratos noted the speed of the transition. Despite not appearing it, the half-elf was always alert. That could cause problems for him later. Yuan yanked one of Kratos' bound arms into a new direction, quickly breaking into a jog. While Kratos usually topped any race, he was struggling to maintain Yuan's pace with his arms locked stiffly behind his back. He stumbled slightly on a root, and Yuan righted him swiftly.

"My hands." Kratos hissed, while checking behind him for whatever had frightened the Sylvaranti. Yuan was distracted by said approaching threat, but kept an iron grip on Kratos' shoulder.

"Huh? What about them?" Yuan peered between the tree trunks.

"Do you want me to run or not?" Kratos' tone was laced with the urgency that Yuan was rigidly displaying in his body language. Yuan's eyes broke from their search to dart suspiciously at the boy's face. Untie him? It must be odd to run that way, he hadn't thought of that. Yuan even missed the devious wording Kratos had chosen. Regrettably, he didn't know which way the kid would run. The Tethe'allans were retreating behind him deeper into their own territory, which unfortunately was where he was standing. Kratos probably suspected as much. Yuan couldn't risk it.

"Sorry, no. Keep running." He shoved Kratos forward after a sharp clang of armor rang a little too close for comfort. They had to get out of there. He realized, as the sky was dark by now, that Kratos was successfully stalling him. They should be in Sylvarant by now. Yuan mentally cursed himself for getting off-task. He was suffering the consequences now. A mistake like that might cost him his life, if he got caught with Kratos in tow. For whatever reason, the boy didn't want to go back. Yuan didn't think the rush in his expression was a facade, either.

Kratos sighed, and would've run a hand through his hair if they weren't occupied. He was in the unfortunate position of having to choose the lesser of two evils. If he was drawn in by the Tethe'allan regulars, then there was no doubt he'd be sent back to the Meltokio castle under a more watchful guard. If he briefly paired up with his Sylvaranti 'kidnapper', then he might escape the clutches of castle life, but that could go horribly wrong should he stick too long with Yuan. That was worth the risk. He wasn't going back after he firmly decided he would leave. Mind set on avoiding the Tethe'allan lines, he really wished he could move faster. His concussion cast everything in a fuzzier rendition, and he felt sluggish next to the nimble half-elf. He tripped yet again, and couldn't even put his hands in front of him to break his fall. Yuan yanked him by the arm just in time to keep him upright, but not before Kratos swore at his own incompetence. When had he gotten so sloppy? Yuan gave him a last hard look, before reaching down to his high leather boots. Pulling out a thin concealed dagger,Yuan gestured to the ropes. Kratos gratefully spun around to allow them to be cut.

The pressure was relieved in a moment, and his chafed wrists swung more comfortably down by his sides. He rubbed the raw skin briefly, and managed a truthful "Thanks." Yuan nodded slightly, and they took off together at a much faster pace than before. Now Kratos was the one in front, and his heightened balance improved his headache a bit, though it still pounded.

From the impressive pound of synchronized footsteps, Kratos gathered that they were running parallel to the Tethe'allan retreating lines. Perhaps Yuan was hoping to slip to one side in time before being cornered by an endless wall of militants in any direction that were bound to notice their presence. They could make it, though he hoped Yuan had a good idea of how close they were. For all Kratos knew, they might be miles off.

The roaring chatter of relieved soldiers casually called to one another. Kratos could make out the words, but they ran faster. His foot struck a little to the left of where he'd planned, and the sharp crack of a branch made both he and Yuan flinch at the proximity of their would be pursuers. The voices quieted, and the teenagers froze like deer in headlights. Kratos backed behind a thick trunk and pressed close to the bark, as if he was able to disappear inside. Yuan did likewise beside a neighboring trunk, and they held their breath. The oncoming troops were now silent, and Yuan stole a look around the edge of his tree.

Soldiers lined up warily, their casual attitudes banished by the sharp crack of a twig. Some already had a fresh grip on their swords and staffs. Yuan could see the whites of their eyes. He quickly ducked back behind the fleeting safety of his tree.

"Who's there?" A commander called out. Kratos had no options left. He leaned down silently and took a handful of darkened soil. He dirtied his hair and face along with his hands. Anything to mute the unique color of his hair. His eyes met Yuan's, but Yuan was stricken, and looked as if his heart was in his throat. He couldn't speak for fear of being discovered. Kratos had already chosen the path of no return. He raised his voice defiantly and stepped out from behind his tree.

"Two lost and unarmed Sylvaranti."

He jutted out his chin, as if he was proud of his fake nationality. Yuan's eyes widened and his face would've made Kratos laugh under different circumstances. Good to know he was still unpredictable. Kratos raised his arms harmlessly, and Yuan reluctantly appeared as well. The guards were already upon them, violently shoving them to the ground and binding their arms. They didn't soften any blows, and roughly bound Kratos' already aching wrists a second time. Yuan allowed himself to be bound without a fight, though every muscle in his body screamed to struggle. His chances of survival had vastly increased with an anonymous Kratos. He wouldn't spoil that opportunity. They could still escape.

Kratos grimaced as he was jerked to his feet. No one had recognized him, and he didn't expect anyone to. He kept to himself most often. His eyes darted meaningfully to meet Yuan's. Yuan didn't need to be told twice to keep quiet. The Sylvaranti's teal eyes conferred silent thanks. Kratos shook his hair into his face to disguise his bright russet eyes. The soldiers around them forced them back towards the core of Tethe'alla.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

(A/N) Sorry 'bout the cliffhanger, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that! You know I'll get the next chapter out ASAP. Thanx for reading and please Review! XD