Lost

Chapter 14 : The Kidnap

"We're going to go bathe for a while, kay? Now you don't go anywhere - especially the North or you'll see us! Just stay here. If that attacker guy comes again, you can take care of yourself, right?" Lycia warned Louise as she slung her wooly towel on her shoulder.

"Yep. All noted now off you guys go, you two smells." Louise joked around and began to laugh which distracts him from a  swifty blow from Lycia's towel.

"OI! I'm being serious here?!" Lycia snapped.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. It's just a joke." Louise laughed rather awkwardly and massages his head on the spot he's been hit by the towel.

"It's doesn't seem like a joke. It's not even funny." Lycia points out rather coldly.

"Well the point is, I can take care of myself. I'm not 5 anymore, y'know?"

Lycia sighed and crouched down beside him. "I know it's just...how should I put it." She pondered at a loss for words. 

"What? Precious?" Louise joked once again as he blinked innocently.

"Hmmm no, that's not it. Oh yeah! Stupid and gullible?!" Lycia slapped him once again in annoyance though not as hard as the first one.

"OW! What'd you keep doing that for?!" Louise winced.

"See you can't even dodge my towel attack. How will you dodge his axe blows?"

"Uh...good point. But you caught me off guard. I'm not ready then."

Lycia facepalms. "If I, a friend of yours, don't give you a single second do dodge, what'd you expect from an attacker, who's possibly trying to murder you?"

"Uh...another good point" Louise clicked his tongue and fidgeted in his seat.

"Look, I suffered enough seeing you so...wounded yesterday and I want no more of it. And since you said that I smelled-"

"I meant it as a joke!" Louise butted in.

"Still! Even if it wasn't, Cyane and I are bound to take a bath anyways and you'd be left unprotected."

"I'm not that vulnerable! I can dodge his attacks and be fine, I promise!" 

Lycia looked at him up and down as if unsure about his 'promise'. "Hmm, why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

"Come on, Lycia. You know you can trust me." Louise tugged at her arm.

"Or, I could've just stay here and watch over you while Cyane take a bath. I mean that's less risky."

Louise fidgeted again in his seat. The real reason of his stubbornness is not only of him trying to prove he has some 'skills' but also because he wanted to draw something on his graphic diary book a.k.a. drawing book that's been compromised with a diary. He wanted to draw something that in his opinion will be embarrassing if any of the two girls saw it. So he suggested the idea of them two going for bath for a stinky reason. Seeing his sulky expression, Lycia can do nothing but give in.

"(Sigh) Fine, I'll let you stay by yourself." 

"Really?!" Louise's eyes lit up immediately.

"I guess I can trust you being alone for a few minutes...."

"YAYY!"

"Do you hate me that much that you want me to go away?" Lycia pouts in a hurt expression.

"No, no, no, no, no! It's the opposite, really." Lycia raised her brow at the statement. "I wanna draw something on my diary but feel a bit insecure if you saw it."

"I can stay and not see it." Lycia insisted.

"No, no, no and no! I work best when I'm alone and reserved. Sorry but you can't be by my side for now." Lycia looks like she wanted to argue some more but settled into a hug instead. "What the-"

"I'm just worried about you. I don't want to see you hurt again. Or even killed!"

Louise's expression softened by this hearty confession. "There, there. I promise to take care of myself. I don't want myself dead either, y'know?"

Recomposing herself and straightening from the hug, Lycia stood up and took one last glance at him. "Sure you'll be alright?"

"How many times should I say it? I'm fine, I told you a million times already."

"Fine. But if you get hurt, not my fault."

"Yeah, yeah." Louise rolled his eyes. 'Knowing Lycia, she'll probably blames herself for it without even thinking twice or thrice!'

"Alright, I'm leaving now. Take care of yourself well, alright?"

"I will! Bye!"

"Bye!"

Louise watched as Lycia's figure slowly disappeared into the distance before pulling out his book and began sketching. He hums to some random tune as he sketches Lycia bit by bit. 'There's her fluffy hair, acute figure, sleek legs,...cute face....Why am I thinking these things?' He thought aloud before covering the drawing with his hand to stop himself from blushing and began writing some descriptions.

Today, Lycia's a bit worried about my well-being. I truly appreciates her warnings and cautions but I do want to spend some time alone by myself now and then. Not that I don't want to be with her like she thought I will. I'm just...worried that she'll take a peek at my drawings and goes disinterested in me. I just want to have some privacy while keep things going well in our friendship. I mean it's so good, too good actually. Who wouldn't want to be with such a smart heroine? But seriously, Lycia. I respect your many cautions but you also need to trust your friend, alright? 

Just as Louise punctuated the sentence and gave himself a well deserved congratulatory pat, he felt a handkerchief clamped to his mouth. Someone's sneaking by him and is now deploying a sneaky attack! Louise tried to shout but suddenly, he felt really dizzy and whoozy again. But this time, there's no thumping or searing pain on his head or on any parts of his body. It's as if...he's drunk or something. But he hadn't had any liquor. And then it hit him. This handkerchief must've been tainted in chloroform so that he passes out! He can hear the subtle evil laughs of his captor getting further and further away as he blacked out once again. True to Lycia's suspicion and due to his unawareness, Louise has once again been the victim of an elf attack.