Chapter Seven: Of Being Sorta Lost

A/n: I know, I know. Rena! You're so slow! But, of course, April Fool 4, now posted!! took all my creative energy this month. Go read that too! On Lune-Solei's account!

Dedication: Everyone of you lovely reviewers.

“So... we’re going to wander aimlessly through the forest with only a magnetic needle to guide us.”

“Yep. But we’re not actually going to use the compass.”

“Odd!”

The blonde boy grinned widely as his name was chorused by four exasperated voices. “Getting lost is half the fun!” he defended.

“Don’t jinx us,” Sam grumbled, picking her way around a moss-covered stump. No, Aelita had not mistaken it for a bear. Out loud, anyway.

The gang had hardly been in the woods for ten minutes, and the dark-haired girl was already itching to head back to camp. Rolling his eyes, Odd dropped to the back of the group to keep pace with Ulrich as the three girls and Jeremie blazed the trail ahead. “So,” the brunette ventured, hands shoved into his pockets. “Got a plan yet?”

“Actually, yes,” the purple-clad boy chimed, pressing his palms together deviously. “It’s crazy, but when has that stopped me before?”

A smirk slipped onto Ulrich’s lips. “Never,” he remarked wryly, glancing over to his best friend.

“Exactly!”

“Get to it, then. They’re pulling ahead.”

“Roger.”

Not waiting for a further response, the blonde darted forward, slowing to a walk once he was right behind Sam. After pausing just for a second to shoot a grin at an incredulous Ulrich, Odd wrapped one arm around his girlfriend’s waist, pointing off into the distance with the other. “What th—” Before she could register what just happened, her boyfriend had started to tug her towards the edge of the trail.

“Over there, Sam!” he practically squealed, flailing his free arm in the general direction of... nothing interesting. “Can’t you see it?”

“... See what?” She squinted, actually trying to find what he was so excited about. Honestly, even a wolf would be better than just walking like this.

“That!”

“What?”

“That!”

By now, the expedition had come to a screeching halt, and the other teens were watching the exchange with looks of amusement, disgust, annoyance, and confusion. Jeremie shot Ulrich a questioning look, and the brunette gave the smallest of nods; both actions went unnoticed by Yumi and Aelita.

“Odd, I don’t see that!”

“How can you not see that?!”

“Does that even exist?”

“Of course that exists! It’s right there, Sammy!” Had Yumi not cleared her throat rather loudly, there was no doubt that the two could have gone on for hours in much the same manner.

Corner of her eye twitching, she planted her feet firmly on the ground, arms crossed over her chest as she gave her boyfriend a hard look. “Where, Odd?” she growled. The blonde stared for a moment before ever so slowly raising his arm to point again.

“Over there, Sam,” he said, his voice betraying none of his deeper, more conniving motives.

With one final, frustrated sigh, she grabbed his arm and started to drag him away from the path, into the forest.

“Sam, where are you taking Odd?” Yumi’s voice was a medley of indifference and dismay. Splitting up had not been on the agenda. But then, neither had bear-sightings nor capture the pants.

“Out there,” she answered shortly, glaring at the mottled trees. “So he can show me where that is.”

“Alright, but don’t tie the rope too tight. You don’t want to bruise his scrawny arms, after all.”

“I’m svelte!” Protest falling upon mostly deaf eras, the two disappeared into the vegetation, leaving a trail of broken branches and muttered curses in their wake. Aelita turned to Yumi with a look of pure horror on her face.

“... Rope?”

“Don’t worry, ‘Lita. Sam will be gentle.”

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“We’re lost, aren’t we?” Sam glanced down the trail they had started down. “I thought we’d be back by now. After that decided to disappear.”

“Sammy, we’re not lost. We’re talking the long way back. It’s scenic. And it‘s not my fault you were to slow.” She glanced at the blonde in the quickly approaching dark, pulling green long sleeves over her hands.

“It’s getting late; cold.” he wrapped an arm around her waist.

“We’ll be back soon.” she leaned into him, hoping he was right. A loud crackling filled the air.

“What was that?!” Sam stopped dead in her tracks.

“It’s just the woods, Sam. Don’t be so panicky.” He tugged her along.

“Easy for you to say,” she muttered. The blonde laughed openly.

“Enjoy the adventure.”

“Adventure.”

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“they should be back by now.” Aelita’s eyes followed the edge of the woods. Darkness had set in, engulfing the camp in night.

“I’m sure they’re fine. Besides, the bears aren’t around here this time of year. Right Jer?” Ulrich shifted Yumi in his lap. Jeremie shrugged.

“I’m not sure, actually. I’m sure they’re fine,” he assured the girls. Yumi sunk further down into Ulrich.

“They’re probably still eating face, to busy to come back.” The older girl sighed. Aelita stared, blinking.

“Isn’t cannibalism frowned upon in modern day society.” Jeremie reveled in her remaining innocence, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“They don’t fit the protocol for normal, anyway,” he joked. A scream echoed from the woods. Yumi sat up, startled, unconsciously gripping Ulrich’s arms.

“That sounded like Sam.” Panic set in between the girls while the boys feigned worry.

“We have to go after them.” Yumi scrambled to her feet, taking charge. The boys protested panicked-ly.

“Absolutely not!”

“No way, Yumes. We’re not running off into the woods at night. Odd will take care of Sam.” Reluctantly, and hesitantly, Yumi sat back down. She was nearly content to be snuggled into her boyfriends arms as she looked out into the woods.

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“Sammy! Sammy, stop screaming!” The blond seized her hands, spinning her to face him. “it was just a wolf!” White faced, the girl preceded to draw a deep breath and scream again. “Sam stop!”

“Take me back now,” she demanded.

“Fine, fine.” He tugged her back towards the trail but the girl held fast.

“Camp is this way.” She pointed in the direction of the campsite. Odd cursed silently.

“Camp is north. We traveled south. That is south. Camp is this way.” He pointed to the trail.

“How do you know?” she questioned skeptically.

“Northern star.”

“I knew we should have taken the compass.”

“Hey! Unlike you, I am not directionally challenged. Besides, we needed some alone time.” The girl trudged along besides him, tripping over fallen brush in the dark.

“That’s all this is, isn’t it? You’re trying to keep me out here in the dark. I refuse to have sex with you in the middle of the woods, Odd Della Robbia. If that was your plan you can just get the very thought right out of your mind this instant!” The blonde laughed.

“I just thought you’d like to go hiking.” He glanced around, having known exactly the direction they headed. “Now… which way is east again?” Sam froze.

“You said we needed to go north.”

“No, no, no. Camp is east!…. I think.” He scratched his head and glanced around. “Erm right.”

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Yumi turned her face from the woods and looked up at Ulrich. He gave her a tired, wry smile and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She searched his eyes for comfort, finding it instantly.

“It they’re not back by morning I’m going for help, ok?” she asked. Ulrich tightened his grip around her, pulling her down to a half-laying position where they were still leaning against one of the logs.

“They’ll be back by morning. Odd knows what he’s doing.” And that was the truth. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was giving the girls the scare of a lifetime for all the hoops they had put them through. Part of Ulrich felt extremely guilty; the part of him that overrode his pride. Yumi snuggled into his chest and he felt the pang of guilt move to his throat.

“Yumi, there’s something I need to tell you,” he sighed. Looking down, he saw her eyes closed, placid smile on her face. The panicked girl had finally fallen asleep.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Put me down!” Sam demanded in a hushed voice.

“Sorry! Geeze, stop kicking me!” Odd set the girl gently on her feet as the reached the campsite. Only a small blaze could still be seen where the roaring campfire had been hours earlier. “Do you think they’re still up?” he asked. Sam shrugged, pulling her sleeves farther down over her hands.

“Probably not.” As they cleared the trees, two figures could be made out on the ground next to the fallen logs. “Is that…?” They quickened their pace.

Ulrich and Yumi lay cuddled together, peaceful smiles on their faces.

“Awww,” Odd cooed, a goofy grin on his face. Sam punched his shoulder.

“Don’t you dare wake them,” she warned. He held his hands up in defense.

“Ok, ok! At least throw a blanket over them so they don’t freeze.” He moved to Yumi’s tent, snatching up her sleeping bag, fumbling in the dark in the process. Sam rolled her eyes.

“Smooth,” she whispered. He stuck his tongue out, draping the bag lightly over the sleeping couple. “Let’s go to bed.” After a second glace at Yumi and Ulrich she pulled Odd behind her, ready for this whole trip to come to an end come morning.