Author's Note: Albel and Fayt and any of the characters of SO3 are copyrighted to Square-Enix/Tri-Ace/Ubisoft. Jinva is copyrighted to me, Jinva!

It was a cold morning and Albel was just waking up to the sound of footsteps by his door. Fayt walked in as quietly as he could and then whispered, "Albel? You awake?"

"Well obviously if I answer you, fool, then yes, I'm awake!" Albel sneered. "Uh, okay then…sorry," Fayt replied. "I was just wondering what you wanted for breakfast."

"Anything you annoying little maggot! Just be quiet!" Albel quietly mutter while covering his face with his hands as he still lie their trying to wake up fully. "Okay, anything coming right up," Fayt answered and disappeared.

One would think that being verbally abused so much would make a person as sensitive as Fayt very upset, but knowing Albel so long, he was use to it and actually enjoyed it now. He found it amusing sometimes how Albel would hide his true feelings about someone by acting cruel and distasteful when really he was crazy about them. Yes, Fayt and Albel had been together for five, almost six months after their adventure saving the Eternal Sphere from total annihilation by Luther. Definitely not the best decision Fayt made, according to his friends at least. As usual, every time they had a chance to talk to Fayt through his communicator they always try to get him to leave Albel. They'd call him a devil a demon or a psychopathic maniac obsessed with death and killing, as Cliff would say. True, he could be that way at times now and again, and once was a very dangerous man to ANYONE. But, despite all that, Fayt loves him and he knows Albel loves him too. Nothing could be as perfect as their love for one another.

Fayt got out the eggs from the fridge, careful not to drop them for the container was slightly flimsy, and set them on the counter. He got the pan ready and the onions and bell peppers – everything him and Albel loved in their scrambled eggs. A little pinch of salt, a dash of black pepper, some garlic powder, some cheddar cheese. A little bit of scrambling of course and the eggs were done.

"Albel, breakfast!" Fayt called out. "Alright already! I'm right here!" Albel grumbled, coming down the steps. He sat down as Fayt handed him his plate of food and he began to eat slowly. Albel never was big on eating; thought it was a disgusting habit for the weak and really wished he didn't need to. But human as he was, he did need to or he'd die. He learned that the hard way when he went for almost a month on nothing but water. Keeled right over in the middle of a road when a carriage was coming – fast! Fayt had to act quickly and get him out of the way. He still remembered how that little blue-haired boy stayed up all night with him that time and fed him till he had the strength to even sit up. That boy really did love him didn't he? And he knew that he loved that boy – Fayt Leingod.

That afternoon, Fayt was going grocery shopping and Albel was tagging along. Albel really hated public places, but he decided to go with Fayt to make sure he got the right brand of shampoo and conditioner for his hair as well as decent deodorant – not the cheapo generic brand crap!

Fayt, as usual, was quite upbeat and at a slightly bouncy pace. Albel slunked after him with an expression as if a black rain cloud was over him constantly.

Eeesh! Children! Albel thought to himself as a few snot-nose kids ran by and almost bumped into him. God, I'm glad I wasn't that moronic as a child. Albel winced in disgust again only to be approached by Fayt who asked, "What's wrong Albel?"

"None of your business worm!" He growled. "I just hate these goddamn crowded places!"

"Awe, c'mon Albel, it's not that bad" Fayt tried to reassure him. "Hmph!" Albel just scowled and walked off to the bakery section to get a free chocolate chip cookie. Fayt smiled, what a delightful prick. It made him giggle inside to see Albel cringe at little children near him.

As Albel neared the counter with the tray of free cookies, he had his eye on one in particular – double chocolate chip with macadamia nuts - and went for it. As he was just an inch away, though, a purplish-clawed hand came out of now where and snatched it from his grasp. Albel turned with a start and couldn't believe what he saw. Right there in front of him was a strange-looking creature. He couldn't explain what it was. It was a grayish, dead shade of purple and had some weird symbols tattooed all over its face and the rest of its body he assumed. It had two small bruise-colored horns on his head, which was outfitted with an interesting hair-do. Raven black bangs fell down its face and the rest was in a half-ponytail, samurai style, held by a long blood- red ribbon. Its eyes, where it should've been white like a human's, were black as night as its irises were as bright as Fayt's emerald peepers. The creature had a tail, a long lizard-like tail, wings like a dragon and the facial features of a feline. Its hands …its hands were clawed, like Albel's left arm, only they were flesh, purple flesh and very paw-like.

"What the hell!" Albel screeched. The creature didn't even look up; it just kept eating the delicious cookie it had gotten. "You vile freak of a creature! You think you can just cut in front of me and take what's rightfully mine? WORM!" Albel was shaking with rage, it was surprising that he wasn't foaming at the mouth, but the creature still didn't look up. "Goddamn you, look at me you maggot!" Albel continued. By this time, people were staring. Fayt heard of what was going down and rushed over.

"Albel what happened?" Fayt asked.

"This son-of-a-bitch stole my cookie!" Albel wailed frantically as he pointed a metal clawed finger at the strange beast.

The creature just snickered. "Tough shit, I got it first, you vere just too slow!" It finally spoke. Albel and Fayt's jaws dropped as so did everyone else's. For Albel and Fayt it was the fact that this creature could talk, but for everyone else, it was what it said.

"Jeez, ya dip-shits act like ye never seen someone eat a cookie before." It spoke up again.

"You fool! You mean MY cookie!" Albel shrieked. "You stole it and now it's slithering down your slimy, fowl, mucus tube you call an esophagus!"

"Albel, calm down! It was just a cookie!" Fayt jumped in.

"Not just A cookie, MY cookie! It's not that fact that it was a cookie that matters, what matters is that it was MINE!!"

"Heh," the creature chuckled. "Tell dhat to me digestive track.

Further enraged, Albel wanted to impale the damned animal-man creature with his claw since he didn't have his sword (store policy), but a look from Fayt made him hold back. "Arrgh!" Albel growled.

"Oh, and I be Jinva, if anyone cares," the creature purposely blurted out, knowing how obnoxious it sounded. He obviously loved to piss people off. But had he pissed off the wrong person? Hmmm…there's something to ponder.

To be continued…

ALBEL: It damn better be! I'm gonna smack this bitch up!