First of all, SO SORRY for not updating! I originally intended to make this chapter longer, but

a)I feel guilty for not releasing one recently b)am so busy that I barely have time to even do this. I will finish this story though, I even have it all planned out (mostly)! Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Suddenly

"But where will you go?"

Lilli wore a concerned face as she spoke. Yurick sighed. It was this very confrontation he had hoped to avoid. When he, Lilli, and Orrin had left the mansion, they had traveled down to a nearby village. There, Orrin had rented a house, and was even talking of opening a bar in the city. He had offered Yurick the same chance as he did before: to stay, and live as Orrin's son. He had left to go for a walk, to think it over. Yurick returned to Lilli and Orrin with an answer; no.

"Yurick?" Lilli questioned him, breaking him out of his reverie. "What will you do? Where will you go?" she repeated. Yurick exhaled slowly, trying to organize his thoughts.

"Ten years ago," he began, "My father was the greatest sailor on our whole island. It was all peaceful, we were happy. It was as if nothing bad would ever happen to us." Yurick smiled bitterly. "The day after my ninth birthday, pirates attacked our island. All the men went fearlessly to protect the island, but my father never returned home. I want to find him." He turned his startling blue eyes on Lilli. "My family was everything to me. My mother's-" his voice caught. "She's dead," Yurick stated in an emotionless tone. "I want to find out what happened to my father."

Lilli nodded quietly. "I understand," she said. "Yurick-"

He cut her off. "I guess this is goodbye Lilli," said Yurick in a slightly warmer tone. "You'll not see me again, but maybe that's for the best." He brushed a lock of her stubborn red hair back. "Goodbye." Yurick turned, and began to walk away. He had barley walked three steps when he heard a frustrated sound behind him.

"You can be really thick sometimes, you know that?" Yurick flinched, and turned. There, he saw Lilli standing with her hands on her hips. "Did you really think I'd let you go alone?"

"But Lilli-"

"No buts," she declared. "I'm coming and that's final." Yurick sighed in defeat.

"Does Orrin know?" he asked.

Lilli shifted uneasily. "Sort of… He uh, knew I was going to see you before you left..." she trailed off. Yurick groaned, but could not prevent the smile that spread across his face.

"C'mon then, let's go."

From that day, it was Yurick and Lilli, together always. They traveled from place to place, doing the odd job and searching for clues to Yurick's father's disappearance. As the years passed, their tentative companionship changed. Yurick was prideful and impatient, contrary to Lilli's humble and patient disposition. They balanced each other out.

In time, Lilli came to trust Yurick again. He had changed, she noted, since they had first met. The scrawny, fearful boy had been replaced by a more relaxed, confident man. He smiled more often, and even cracked the odd joke. He talked often now, about his home, and his family. She loved having him around; she hadn't been this happy since her family had been killed. He was like the brother she had never had.

Yurick too felt more comfortable in Lilli's presence. She had grown up quite a bit in the last several years. Lilli loved to be outdoors, to run wild and free. She spoke more freely now, eyes flashing alongside her dry sense of humor. They teased each other, laughed, and lived as if they hadn't a care in the world.

In this manner, the years passed. Then came the fall of Yurick's 22nd year.

"Shut the door, will you?" Lilli's irritated voice floated out through the inn door. Yurick walked into their room, carrying a paper.

"After all I've accomplished today?" he replied, grinning as he closed the door. "Take a look at this." He spread the paper out on the table in the center of the room. Lilli looked up from her book, mildly interested. Putting the book down, she studied the document.

"Shipping records?" she frowned. "Are these-"

"My father's," Yurick cut in. "He defiantly made it to the Vono Islands, but he never returned home." He drew a breath excitedly. "That means his ship-"

"Must be near there," Lilli broke in. Yurick chuckled. It was funny how well they could read each other's minds.

"We'll leave this evening," declared Yurick. "That is, if you can manage to be ready by then, Lilli," He smiled, not even trying to hide his amusement at the memory.

"Hey, that was only once," she protested, standing abruptly. "This time, I'll be ready before you have a chance to trip over those feet of yours," she smirked.

"Only happened once," Yurick muttered, also standing.

It was under the starlight night that they took their leave that day. They walked quickly towards the city's western exit, not saying anything. Yurick paused to look around a corner to check for the watchman, when he heard a muffled sort of scream behind him.

He turned, drawing out his dagger and preparing to fight. He recoiled in shock, when he took in the scene behind him. Two hooded men were holding Lilli, one hand over her mouth and another pressing a dagger to her throat.

"After all these years of searching, and here you are." A rough voice crept from out of the shadows, preceding its owner. The man pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing the very face of the man Yurick had hoped to never meet again.

Dammit Smith, stop poking your nose into my story already! Maybe I'll have to get rid of you… If you liked this, please follow/favorite/review! Pretty please?