Okay! Since some of you wanted more chapters, I finished writing the second chapter.

There's less humor and more fluff in this chapter. And also some angst...but not too much.

Also, it's basically the same warnings than the first chapter.

Hope you like it!

One week had passed since the "incident". Strangely, the day hadn't ended in Raven's death. After many kilometers of running wildly, Raven had managed to outrun Yuri and the young man had given up the pursuit. When Raven had rejoined the group several hours later, decently clothed, he had been left speechless by Yuri's attitude. He hadn't tried to kill him anymore, not even tried to punch him. He just hadn't said anything. He had ignored Raven.

For somebody else, this situation wouldn't have been too terrible, but Raven would have preferred to suffer a slow and painful death than being ignored. He was just the kind of man that hated being ignored more than anything else. Raven could tolerate his other companions' attitude that had changed drastically since that famous night. Karol was avoiding him like he had the plague, Estelle became nervous each time he got close to her – like he would do anything to her anyway – , Judith wore an eternal smirk and the most strange of all, Rita was avoiding his gaze, ashamed of the consequences of her stupid prank. Raven could stand all that and even more, but he could not put up with Yuri ignoring him. It was beyond his strength.

That's what got Raven in the course of the first week to try all he could think of to draw Yuri's attention, even if it was only to anger him and receive a beating. The first day, the group was fighting monsters in the outskirts of Heliord. Raven deliberately got hurt, hoping to receive a comment from Yuri like "These battles are too hard on you, old man!" But no. Nothing. Yuri didn't even glance at him.

The second day, Raven tried something more drastic. He got in Yuri's bed before the young swordsman came in the room to sleep. He expected Yuri to scream at him and kick him out of bed. He didn't do any of it. When he saw that his bed was already occupied, Yuri came to sleep in Raven's bed instead.

The third day, Raven came in the bathroom while Yuri was showering. When Yuri got his head out from the shower curtain to see who had barged in the room, Raven only received a dark glance that promised him a painful death if he dared take a step forward.

The next day, Raven tripped "accidentally" and fell on Yuri, dragging him in his fall. This time, Yuri only pushed him off of him. T

he fifth day, Raven hid his sword, sure that this time Yuri would react. But instead of searching everywhere for his sword and throwing a fit at Raven, he customized another sword from the Fortune's Market. Raven had no clue what to do anymore, so he quit trying to attract Yuri's attention. One week had passed and Yuri still hadn't recognized his existence. Raven was fed up with his attitude. He had to force Yuri to talk to him. And that was what he was going to do.

The group had reserved rooms at Halure that evening. Since that night at Yumanju, Yuri had gotten the habit of sleeping in a different room than the rest of the group to avoid being anywhere near Raven. That's what gave him his chance. When his companions were fast asleep, Raven left the room and introduced himself silently in Yuri's room. He wasn't surprised to see the young man awake. Yuri was standing before the window, his back to Raven. The older man closed the door quietly, trying to not scare him. The young man was deep in thoughts and didn't sense Raven's presence. Raven walked up to him and embraced his waist lovingly, burying his face in Yuri's hair and inhaling his sweet smell. Yuri jumped and missed a heartbeat.

"Yuri, why aren't you talking to me? It's killing me…" Raven whispered sadly.

Yuri's body tensed. He didn't want to talk to Raven after what happened between them. Each time he thought about Raven keeping no real memories of their lovemaking while Yuri gave him his body willingly, Yuri felt like someone was driving a dagger in his heart. How unfair, thought bitterly the young man.

"I've got nothing to say to you, that's all." Yuri answered coldly, hiding his wound behind a cold facade.

"I don't believe you. Raven replied softly. Aren't you constantly thinking of that night since the beginning of the week?"

Yuri kept silent, hoping to shut Raven and not give him reason. Raven moved away his hair to reveal his ear and the delicate skin of his neck. He nibbled his earlobe, triggering shivers to course through Yuri's spine. Fragments of memories brutally invaded his mind.

"Raven…"Yuri moaned his name while the older man bit down the skin of his neck, leaving a mark of possession. He caressed Yuri's chest like he was something delicate and precious that threatened to break at every instant. Yuri arched his back and cried in pleasure when Raven took hold of his erection and whispered in his ear all the things he would love to do to him…

Yuri leaved forcefully his thoughts when Raven sucked at his neck, surely leaving another mark. Yuri restrained a moan of pleasure and violently shook Raven off of him. He faced him and glared daggers at him.

"What do you think you're doing!? Yuri hissed with anger. I think you are perfectly conscious this time to notice that I'm no girl, damn it!"

Raven moved towards Yuri who backed away until he felt his back collide with the window sill. Raven smiled sadly at him.

"I noticed all right. So what, you think it makes a difference for me?"

"Yes! You never would…"

Yuri's sentence was interrupted by Raven's lips covering his own lovingly. Raven used his absence of reaction to slip his tongue between Yuri's parted lips. Yuri's body responded to the kiss of his own accord. Raven pressed his body into his, deepening the kiss. Yuri closed his eyes and let Raven dominate him. He couldn't deny that Raven was a good kisser. Yuri relaxed until he felt Raven's erection poking his thigh. His rational mind took control of his body and he brutally pushed Raven away. The older man looked at him, surprise evident in his eyes.

"Go away." Yuri ordered in an empty voice.

"Yuri…" Raven protested, lifting a hand towards his face.

Yuri smacked his hand away and gave him a cold look.

"You think you can come to me wherever you are horny and you can't get your hands on a girl!? I'm not a fucking whore!" Yuri exploded in anger, seriously pissed off.

"No, you misunderstand me! This wasn't my intention!" Raven defended himself.

"Get out of here!" Yuri yelled at him, his fists clenching in fury.

Raven stopped his futile struggle. Yuri would never listen to reason in his state of anger. Raven turned on his heels and got out of the room. He softly closed the door behind him and slide along it. He leaned his head on the door and closed his eyes, sighing in weariness. Raven knew too well that it would be a difficult task to have Yuri understands that he desired him for himself, as a man. This situation was hard on Raven as well. He had to accept that for the first time in his life, he fell in love with a man, and Yuri on top of that, who was all but a delicate little flower. But Raven had no intention of surrendering until Yuri would be his alone. Raven never backed down.

The morning after was even more troublesome that the ones before. There was a tension between Raven and Yuri that wasn't there before. Nobody dared to ask them what had happened during the night in fear that it would be a replay of last week. Raven wasn't feeling too well. He hadn't slept at all last night, for his thoughts were constantly coming back to Yuri. He watched the cause of his insomnia from the corner of his eye. By seeing the dark circles under his eyes, he guessed that Yuri hadn't gotten much sleep either. He noticed that he wasn't eating as well. The young man was sticking his fork in his plate, looking far away.

Breakfast was taking place in an almost complete silence with Karol trying to start a conversation every now and then without much results. At the end of the meal, Judith finally talked.

"So, where are we going today?" She asked the group since they hadn't defined plans for the day yet.

"Well, if it's okay with everyone, I would like to go see how the construction of Aurnion is going."Estelle suggested shyly.

For some reason, the princess seemed to have lost some confidence lately.

"Yeah, it would be a good idea!" Karol livened up, glad that he will be of some use.

"I've got nothing against it." Rita answered absentmindedly, lost in a complicated book.

"It doesn't matter where we go." Raven grumbled, in a bad mood because of his lack of sleep.

They looked at Yuri, awaiting his answer, but it never came. Estelle frowned. Yuri was acting even more strangely today… She moved her hand back and forth before his eyes, trying to get his attention.

"Yuri?" She asked, worried.

Yuri jumped when he heard his name. He looked at Estelle.

"What is it?" He asked, rather confused.

"We were asking if you wanted to go to Aurnion today."

"Oh! Hum, yes, we can stop there today. I don't see any problems with that." Yuri replied absentmindedly, glancing at his untouched plate.

Raven looked at Yuri with a worried gaze. He never saw Yuri that… shaken before. That brought back to Raven's mind a deep fear that haunted him since that night. He hadn't been able to bring himself to ask Yuri the answer. What if Yuri had tried to stop him with all his might that night? What if he resisted and even so Raven had claimed his body? The thought that maybe he had… raped Yuri made him sick to the core. He shoved his plate away with disgust and got up, apologizing to his friends. He ignored their questioning gazes and ran out of the room. That situation couldn't go on. He had to talk to Yuri. He was going to get him to talk and listen to him, whatever manners he had to use to reach his goal.

The little group arrived at Aurnion near midday since they had to stop at Nor Harbor to get materials for a new formula that Rita was working on. The companions went their own way when they got in the village. Raven was walking aimlessly in the plaza, deep in thoughts, when he saw Judith coming towards him. He immediately saw on her face that she had a serious matter to discuss with him. Raven smiled at her.

"Judith darling, what can I do for you? Perhaps you want some company?" Raven teased her.

"Oh no, I don't need anything. But Yuri does. You should go talk to him. You must have noticed that he doesn't feel very well since…" Judith trailed off, having no need to finish the sentence.

Raven dropped his joyful facade and sighed tiredly. His glance found Yuri who was repairing a house's roof, perched on a ladder.

"I know, but he doesn't let me talk to him."

"So you just need to force him to listen to you! Judith suggested simply. This situation has gone on long enough. It's tough for all of us."

"It's easier said than done. Raven muttered. He knows how to defend himself and he doesn't let me near him."

"Then I wish you good luck! I know you can do it." Judith encouraged him with a smile and a friendly punch on his shoulder.

Raven watched her go away and knew that she was right. For the sake of all of them, he had to resolve the situation. With that in mind, Raven walked forward the house were Yuri was perched.

Suddenly, a loud sound resonated from the hills west of the village and a violent earthquake shook the village. The foundations of the house Yuri was making repairs on trembled and he lost his foot, falling from the roof. Surprised, Yuri didn't have time to grab something. He closed his eyes and awaited the moment he would brutally make contact with the hard ground. He was surprised beyond words when he felt instead warmth envelop him and his body collided into something much softer than the ground. He heard the sound of a rasped breath. He opened his eyes and saw Raven's face looking up at him, mere centimeters away from his own.

"Yuri, are you okay?" Raven asked him, regaining his breath.

Yuri didn't answer him. He was too preoccupied with blushing when he realized that Raven had soften his fall with his own body and that he was now straddling him. It didn't go unnoticed by Raven and he smile sensually at him.

"You are even cuter when you blush. It makes me craving for you even more…" Raven couldn't stop himself from saying his thoughts aloud.

A spark of anger and shame coursed through Yuri's dark eyes. Raven expected to receive a punch every second now, but it never came. Yuri's attention had diverted on a wounded man who was running towards the infirmary. Yuri got up and off of Raven and followed the man. Raven let out a deep sigh. He would have liked to keep Yuri on him much longer, but he had run off, leaving him alone, sprawled on the floor. Oh well, Raven guessed he should also go see what all that was about.

"There was a landslide on the construction site! There's about twenty wounded!" The man exclaimed in a state of panic.

"Calm down and lie on the bed. The doctor ordered him firmly. There's no need to panic."

The man got on the couch and let the doctor treat his wounded arm.

"Is there some people that went to get the wounded that are unable to walk?"

"Yes, I think so. They were running to the site when I got here. They should arrive soon."

"Doctor, if we can do anything, don't hesitate to ask." Estelle proposed him, eager to help.

The doctor looked at the members of Brave Vesperia who had all gathered in the infirmary after the earthquake.

"I will gladly accept your help. Estelle, you could help me treat the patients. Your friends could go buy medical supplies at Fortune's Market; I won't have enough for all of them. Also, I need someone to go fetch some clean water on the outskirts of the village because I will soon run out."

"Okay. Rita and I will buy the supplies needed. Judith proposed. The men just have to go fetch the water."

Without giving them time to agree, the two women ran out of the infirmary.

"It seems like we don't have a choice. Let's go get that water." Yuri resigned himself.

Raven, Karol and Yuri left the infirmary in a hurry to quickly get the water before the place filled with patients.

They had just gotten to the water source when they were ambushed by a pack of monsters. Yuri got out his sword and killed two of them at once with a few slices. Karol and Raven got rid off of the rest by using their most powerful techniques. They hadn't got time to waste on weaklings. Yuri threw a quick glance around them and sheathed his sword when he saw no monster alive, but he forgot one in his haste. He felt the presence of the giant mantis only when it was too late. It got out of the ground behind him and deeply cut his leg with his sharp incisor. Yuri cried in pain and fell forward on the ground. He turned back on his elbows and saw the monster holding out his incisor already stained with his blood, ready to give him the final blow in his vulnerable state.

"Falling stars!" Yuri heard Raven yelling the name of his technique.

An incandescent arrow pushed through the monster's flesh and tore it apart, killing it with a single blow. Raven ran to Yuri's side and kneeled beside him.

"Let me see that." He asked the younger man.

Without waiting for his permission, he carefully lifted his wounded leg and turned it to the side to see the wound. A rather long and profound gash was running on his calf muscle and was bleeding profusely. Yuri grimaced and withdrew his leg.

"I'm fine, it's only a scratch." The young man lied.

Yuri managed to stand up under the reproachful glances of Raven and Karol. He took a step forward and a throbbing pain coursed through his leg. Yuri was about to fall but Raven closed his arms around him, preventing him from falling.

"Yuri! You really should stop playing tough! It's a severe wound. If you move too much, you will worsen it." Raven scolded him.

"I don't need you to tell me that. I can perfectly take care of myself!" Yuri protested, the sound of his voice smothered by Raven's clothes.

Raven sighed, tired of the boy's tenacity.

"It doesn't seem like it to me."

He made Yuri sit down gently on the grass and lifted his gaze to Karol.

"Karol, do you think you could take the water back to the village alone? We have to hurry and with Yuri in that state, we can't go back on time."

Karol looked at him, uncertain that it was a good idea to leave them alone here.

"I could, but Yuri…"

"Don't worry about him. I'm going to take care of his wound first and then I will get him back to the village in one piece."

"I doubt it…" Yuri muttered under his breath.

Karol agreed with Raven reluctantly. He filled his barrel with water and ran back to the village. Raven watched him go before bringing his attention back on Yuri. The young man was carefully avoiding his gaze. Raven looked at his wound. It was still bleeding too much. He pulled out Yuri's boot, a move that got his attention.

"What are you doing?" Yuri asked, suspicious.

"I'm going to treat your wound, what else? We have to stop the bleeding. What, did you think I was going to molest you?" Raven joked.

"It wouldn't surprise me coming from you." Yuri answered, turning his head to the side.

"You hurt me, Yuri! You have such a bad opinion of me…" Raven whined playfully.

Yuri ignored his last comment. Raven carefully pulled up Yuri's pants to his knee, trying to avoid touching the wound. Raven stayed many seconds in admiration before Yuri's nude leg. He never noticed before how Yuri had such sexy long legs… Raven shook his head to clear his mind. Now was not the time to discuss the level of Yuri's sex appeal. He got out his aid kit. He took some compresses and clenched them firmly around the wound to stop the bleeding. Yuri grimaced in pain and clenched his teeth. That's when Raven realized that this was the perfect moment to have his conversation with Yuri. The young man couldn't go very far in his state and nobody would disturb them here. Raven sought the smaller man's eyes.

"Will you finally tell me what's troubling you since this week?" Raven asked him seriously.

Yuri kept his gaze away, stubborn as always.

"There's nothing to say. All is fine so drop it already." He lied again.

Raven smiled sadly.

"Do you really think you can lie to me so easily? I know you too well, Yuri. You never would have gotten such a wound unless there's something on your mind that's distracting you."

Yuri nervously chewed on his lower lip. He didn't know why, but when it was about Raven, no matter how annoying it could be, Yuri could never hide anything from him. It's like he could read through him like an open book. Raven withdrew the compresses when the wound stopped bleeding. He applied a tight bandage around the wound. It would have to do until Estelle could treat the wound. Raven sat next to Yuri. He grabbed his chin and turned his face towards him to lock his gaze in his.

"What's wrong Yuri? You can tell me anything." Raven asked him softly.

Yuri closed his eyes and sighed.

"It's just… That night, I surrendered my body to you. The next morning, you acted like it was only a game for you and that it didn't wore any meaning! I…"

Raven took his hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Whoa, stop right there. That night is important for me. I love women and I often joke about it, but I never play with their feelings. Every night is important."

"But I'm not a woman! Yuri protested harshly. You can't possibly have forgotten that little detail!"

Raven stroked his cheek while never leaving his gaze.

"I haven't forgotten. And that's exactly what makes our night much more important than all the others! You are the first man that I carry feelings towards! You are special for me, Yuri, and I don't intend to do like that night never happened because you are a man."

Yuri was shaken beyond words. He couldn't bring himself to believe it. Raven… had feelings towards him? He considered him special? But Yuri kept on thinking that Raven never would have made love to him if he had been in his normal state…

"Yuri, I wasn't joking when I told you I regretted not remembering making love to you. And I'm sorry if I made you feel like that. It wasn't my intention." Raven whispered in a soft voice.

Yuri lowered his head. Raven's words were really troubling him. He didn't know what to think anymore. He knew the right thing to do would be to forget about that night and do like it never happened, but deep in his heart, he didn't want it. He was even relieved to know that it bore meaning for Raven too. He suddenly felt Raven's arm snaking around his waist and pulling him close. Yuri didn't protest. He wanted Raven's warmth. He huddled close to him and buried his face in his chest. Raven caressed his soft hair and approached his mouth from his ear.

"Yuri… Can I ask you a question? It's really important for me and I would like you to answer me the truth."

"I promise. Go on." Yuri said, feeling a little uneasy.

"That night, did I… Did I force you to have sex with me? Was it against your will?" Raven asked with a voice full of sorrow and anxiety.

Yuri lifted his head and looked him in the eye. He saw in them that this possibility had haunted him the whole week. Yuri couldn't lie to him. Not when it was so important to him. He smiled gently at him.

"Of course not! I never would have let you do whatever you wanted with my body if I didn't want it beforehand. And… you were really gentle and soft with me, like you feared I would break under your touch."

Raven closed his eyes and sighed with relief.

"I feel better now. I never would have forgiven myself if I had hurt you like that."

Raven looked again at Yuri and frowned.

"But… what made you accept?"

Yuri lowered his gaze to hide his embarrassment and he watched the patterns his hand had begun on Raven's chest.

"It's… It's something that you said. You said that I was the person you had been searching for all your life and you begged me to not leave you like all the others before… So I couldn't bring myself to hurt you."

Raven suddenly burst out laughing and Yuri frowned.

"What's so funny?" Yuri stared at him.

Raven's laughing slowly died down and he kissed Yuri's forehead.

"It's just that I hadn't said that to anyone before. And I never considered anybody special before you either. It seems like even in my intoxicated state, I realized it was you instead of some woman."

Yuri blushed lightly when he heard Raven's words. He averted his gaze, suddenly nervous. Raven looked curiously at him.

"Raven… How many women have you gotten in your bed before me?" He managed to ask without looking at him.

Raven was left stunned for a long moment. He wasn't expecting that question. He chuckled softly.

"Is that jealousy, Yuri? I'm flattered." He whispered, rather pleased.

Yuri blushed a deeper red and pushed himself from Raven, turning his back to him.

"No, it's not! I'm simply curious." Yuri denied.

Raven embraced him from behind and placed a kiss in the hollow of his neck. Yuri retained a breath.

"All I can say is that since I met you, I haven't slept with a single one." He whispered while showering Yuri's neck with loving kisses, Yuri sighed in pleasure. Raven guided his face towards his own.

"And if you desire it, I might never sleep with anyone else but you." Raven whispered sensually, his lips mere centimeters away from Yuri's.

He felt Yuri's breath hitch in his throat and when he made no move to back away, Raven closed the distance between them, covering Yuri's lips with his own. The young man eagerly responded to the kiss. He felt Raven's tongue ask for entrance and gladly gave it, parting his lips. He let Raven's tongue explore his mouth and responded with his own. Yuri moaned in pleasure and Raven buried a hand in his hair, deepening the kiss. They parted after a long minute to regain their breath. That's when Raven heard the sound of thunder and looked at the sky. He realized they must have been outside for a long time since the blue sky was now covered with heavy clouds that threatened to unload torrents of water on their heads. So much for their little intimate moment.

"We'd better go back. Our friends must be worried by now."

"Yeah, you are right." Yuri approved reluctantly.

He made a move to stand up, but Raven wouldn't let him. He put an arm behind his shoulders and the other under his knees and lifted the smaller man in his arms without much effort. Yuri smothered a cry of surprise and struggle fiercely.

"Hey! Let me go! I'm perfectly able to walk by myself!"

Raven chuckled joyfully.

"I don't want to take the risk of your wound opening again. And it will go faster like that anyway."

When he saw that Raven wasn't going to let him go, Yuri stopped his futile struggle. He circled Raven's neck with his arms for support. The older man walked towards Aurnion and tightened his grip on Yuri. He bent his head to whisper in his ear.

"So, when will we have our second night of feverish passion? I can't wait to remember the feel of your body…" He said sensually in a tone that sent shivers in Yuri's body.

Yuri threw him a dark glance.

"Oh shut up! There will be none if you push me!"

"Ah ah! So you were planning to have another night with me! I'm so lucky!" Raven chirped in happiness.

"I never said that!" Yuri shouted, his blush returning with full force.

"Oh yes, you really said it!" Raven answered, a big grin plastered on his lips.

"Shut up, old man!" Yuri answered back, highly annoyed.

Raven reached the entrance of the town. His laugher increased when he saw Yuri blush an even deeper shade and trying to hide from the residents who were watching them pass. Raven decided he very much liked the Yuri that was blushing like a schoolgirl… The next days were going to be very interesting indeed…

Raven is a lucky guy if you ask me... Yuri is too sexy for his own good.

So that was it with the second chapter. This story will have one last chapter before it's completed. And it will contain a lemon ^^.

Hope you stay until the end!

Reviews are always appreciated! Thank you ^^