MissNox

Just to say thankyou to everyone who has been reading and /or reviewing this- I didn't think I'd get so many reviews, faves and hits! Domo Arigato! This is actually my first Alphia- it's always surprising to remind myself of that- but here we are at chapter 10!

I guess I decided that a one shot wasn't enough- it's just too cute a pairing to leave at that! Anyway, after the Albel and Alana you were expecting there is a really really cute Alphia scene which I love... I haven't been able to write a good bit of romance lately so yey!

Lastly, I love that everyone seems to hate Alana- that was my plan all along! Fab, she's like Sophia's opposite in some ways.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Ten

They strode down the corridor, towards one of the private rooms, turning into it. Just after, she crept down the corridor after them, cunningly, glad to not have been seen. She quickly stood against the wall as the door beside her shut and locked behind those she had been following.

She leant closer to the door hopefully, in anticipation. Don't think bad of her- it wasn't like Sophia to spy on someone she cared about- but she was very worried, you understand.

She could just about hear the sound behind the door, people speaking in hushed voices, then suddenly loud enough for her make certain words out.

'A long… ago… Alana… no more,' Albel's rather quiet voice sighed.

'Not… Wicked… the battles…'

She swallowed and shook her head- if only she could hear them better. She pressed her ear against the door.

'Alana… I know… I can't. What… Sophia… let her down. She believes… not wicked anymore…'

'HA! Never! Always Albel- you and I, always!' Alana's passionate voice sounded.

'I know…' Albel seemed to agree. 'I won't be… with her…'

Sophia's whole body was trembling. What was she hearing? That because of some random girl showing up, Albel didn't want her anymore?

Maybe it was because this woman accepted the worst side of him so willingly, whereas she always encouraged him to resist it. Maybe that was why he chose this woman- she loved Albel the wicked. But that wasn't who he was. That was who he was forced to be- the easy way out after all the hard work he'd gone through to change.

Or was she in the wrong? Was she some annoying little girl who had made Albel change into something he wasn't? Would he always be Albel the wicked- was she only hurting him by changing him? In the end, he would resent her and hate her, even if he didn't want Alana.

'Alana… back then when we were together… it was hard… fighting… but now… peace… and you're here… reminding me of what I no longer have… but love,'

Sophia felt a sob brewing in the back of her throat. Tears were streaming down her face. So that was what had gone on? They had been together back then? It made sense- she supposed in war you had to take whatever feelings you could. But that he had felt that way about her… and now too- she couldn't bear it.

Sophia felt her restraint slipping, and before she exposed herself, she covered her mouth with her hand, glad as a small whimper left it moments later. She couldn't listen to anymore. She wouldn't wait around to be rejected either.

"Sophia?" a petite voice came from beside her, and Sophia turned to see Mayu the little kitchen aide, who had been concerned for her friend, standing beside her.

"I… I have to go…" was all Mayu heard of the brunette, as she hurried pass hysterically.

xxxxx

Albel closed the door behind them, making sure to lock it tightly. He then turned to the warrior girl censurably.

"What?" Alana grinned cheekily.

"You know what, Alana. You're going out of your way to make this more difficult than it should be. I've changed, just face it," he told her with a scowl.

"I don't have to do anything of the sort," Alana stood right in his face, as if challenging him to reply violently, but Albel sighed and turned away.

"Alana, I'm tired of all that fighting now… you'll never understand but… I first started to realise it… when I travelled with the Aquarians and their friends," he explained.

"You are Albel the wicked!" Alana exclaimed in fury. "You hate Aquarians!"

Albel had to grin at this. "There is more, you know, Alana, than just Aquaria and Airyglyph. There are whole worlds out there, all going through the exact same struggles for no valid reason at all. The place we fight for, the land we seek… it isn't really ours yet- someone else controls everything. It really makes you think twice about everything you do," Albel sighed.

Alana turned red. "I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe all that time with those Aquarians has rotted your brain- but you seem to have forgotten everything you went through- we went through! The truth is that we did fight and we should still fight! You of all people should recognize that, Albel the wicked," she exclaimed.

That done, they both fell silent. Albel examined her carefully. What could he say to make her understand his change of heart?

Tell her about outer space? Tell her about the 4D beings? If it went over the head of those used to such vast exploration, the off worlders, how could he expect her to understand?

Now he understood how Fayt and the ogre must have felt when they landed in Airyglyph and were asked who they were. 'Yeah, we're from outer space', that would have worked on the King. Not.

"That was all a long time ago Alana. I'm not Albel the wicked anymore," Albel shook his head.

"HA! You'll never change you know. You'll always be Albel the wicked! There's no turning back for you and I, we'll be who we are forever. We'll be killers- always!" Alana told him.

"I know that's what you want to think…" Albel sighed. "But I won't be that way anymore. Even if it's within me, I can hold it back… when I'm with her…" Albel explained.

"You're pathetic- you can't tell me you haven't slipped once?" Alana's voice wavered now. "You haven't let HIM out?" Alana asked dubiously.

"Of course, but I try not to, that's the point. I won't give up just because I make mistakes," Albel shook his head.

"You're just being weak Albel," Alana turned away.

"On the contrary, Alana. I've been fighting a lot; fierce battles when countless times I almost lost. I've been fighting all this time, with myself. Before… back then… when we were together in that war, it was hard. I couldn't be anything but a warrior," Albel explained sorrowfully.

"But you loved it, I could tell every time we came back from a battle," Alana insisted.

"True… but I grew to love fighting because that's all there was to do. Now there's peace. And now you're here, the same as you always were… reminding me of what I no longer have… and you know what? I'm glad I don't have that lust and that love anymore. It wasn't love anyway- it was a love of death- it was just filling what was empty so I didn't go insane. But now, I think I'm learning just what real love is," he told her.

"Real love! I don't understand- why would you even consider associating yourself with someone as weak as her!" Alana demanded.

"She's not weak," Albel was suddenly stern.

"Oh yeah? Your little princess isn't weak? What has she done that makes her so strong!" Alana demanded.

"That's not for me to tell, Alana. You can't say whether or not someone has power- I've been with her this whole time and can I assure you- in one way or another, she is strong," Albel told her.

"What makes her so strong? I suppose she could beat me? Shall we find out?" Alana glowered, being met by a red eyed severity that stopped her in her tracks.

"You wouldn't get close enough to her to fight her," he shrilled, hand on his hilt. "Trust me on that. Besides, Sophia's power is special- it's for something more important than revenge and bloodlust, more important than your petty squabbling," he added.

"Is that so? SO she's better than me now too! What makes her so bloody special? We used to be the same Albel, we used to understand each other. Now I don't understand you at all!" Alana exclaimed.

"Alana, we want different things- I cannot be satisfied with what I used to be. Sophia and I- we want the same thing- we just had different ways of hiding behind our need for it. She sought it out desperately, even if she did have to be in the façade of that Leingod fool. And I told myself it could never happen and so I pushed others away from me purposefully and hated everyone. I wasn't happy Alana,"

"Happy?" Alana blinked. "Since when did you give a damn about that!"

Albel looked back to her- with eyes far more imposing than ever she had seen, but not wicked.

"Since I realised it was possible," he replied, "that someone can love me," and he turned away.

And that someone was Sophia. And yet he had pushed her away and left her on her own. He had to find her.

"Where are you going?" Alana stepped in front of him.

"I would seriously reconsider getting in my way when you have no weapon Alana," Albel spoke, the stubborn female warrior tutting and reluctantly relenting.

Albel left the room quickly, to find her.

xxxxx

And yet no matter where he looked she could not be found.

He stood atop the facility anxiously, waiting for he watchmen to line up before him, becoming more and more impatient by the second. It was interesting for Alana to watch- perhaps Albel had been more literal than she thought.

Perhaps the reason he was no longer Albel the wicked was that girl. In that case, it was a good thing she was gone. But she could not stop thinking about what he had said. He wasn't happy.

"Finally," Albel scowled at them all, "I've seen the elderly move faster than that!" he snapped fiercely, his eyes glowing red. "Did any of you see a brunette girl about!" he demanded quickly.

For a moment there was silence.

"Sir!" a watchman saluted. "Around 2 hours ago the brunette Sophia Esteed left the facility under your agreement to head for Kirlsa and to rejoin her comrades!" he reported.

"Under my agreement!" Albel barked in the man's face forcefully. "Did you get that in my handwriting?" the soldier shook his head, "Did you hear it from me face to face?" he added again, another shake ensuing. "Did you eve seek me out to check this information!" he exclaimed.

The guard was fearful now. "No sir…"

"So you're telling me anyone can come or go into my facility without my knowledge just by telling you I said it was fine? So if an Aquarian came up to you and told you that they had permission to enter, you'd just let them waltz in, would you!" Albel thundered, his eyes flashing.

Alana stood from the wall in awe of the aura she felt. Albel the wicked- she could feel him. Just a bit longer and he would reappear- but something grating in the back of her mind was bothering her. Would that be such a good thing?

"Umm, Mr. Nox, sir?" a small voice piped from behind them all, the soldiers actually parting at the voice of the girl they all admired for some reason or another.

"Who the hell are you wench!" Albel yelled now.

"Um, Sophia left the facility…" Mayu stammered bravely.

"I know that girl! Hmph, little hag- who does she think she's messing with! I should drag her back here right now!" he licked his lips lustfully.

"B-but I saw her- she was stood outside the room you and Miss Alana were talking in… I think she was listening to you… and-!" but Mayu got no further- Albel was over to her immediately.

"What did she hear?" he demanded, face suddenly cleared with shock and worry.

The watchmen, Mayu and Alana blinked at the transformation, he was suddenly the epitome of calm compared to what he was.

"I don't know sir… but… she was crying…" Mayu told him sadly, and he winced.

"Hmph, what a fragile missy you have Albel," Alana (who had gone back to leaning against the wall in disappointment) sighed.

Albel sighed too, not bothering however to hide the grave concern on his face. "And what did that little fool of a girl overhear and misunderstand that would make her run off crying like this?" he asked regretfully, but he waited for no response.

Albel climbed the wall on the top of the facility and then vanished as he jumped from it to the small brick thick ledge around it below. Moments later, as the watchmen, Alana and Mayu leaned over the edge, all they saw was the samurai- walking away from the facility into the wilderness.

xxxxx

Why had she done this again? She was alone, struggling back to Kirlsa. No supplies, food- Albel usually held everything like that- otherwise she would lecture him that being the man he should carry it all.

She had thought that with her symbology this would be easy, but she was quickly running out of MP. And despite previous ease, the Creator's latest monsters were extreme.

Coupled with her fatigue and lack of MP, having to constantly heal and use large attacks to do any damage at all whilst keeping a safe distance, Sophia was having a hard time.

She couldn't believe it- all her training and she was still weak.

"Fooey…" she whispered in exhaustion, sinking down to sit on the ground with a pout, the tears still in her eyes, when something flashed by her quickly.

Startled by this sudden movement, Sophia looked up quickly and went to get to her feet- when she was knocked from them with a piercing scream. Bleeding at the chest, Sophia slowly stood and watched the enemy once again coming at her.

The point of no return. O Fury, 0MP, 1HP… this was it- goodbye Sophia Esteed.

"Oh…" she whispered in horror, clamping her eyes shut.

"Beast!"

Her eyes shot open to the cry that came from where her vision was obstructed. The sound of angry screeching was followed by steel on flesh, and blood against the blade.

The red draconic beast fell with a demonic wail and slowly vanished; revealing the one who now approached her through the settling dust and disintegrating monster, as she began to faint in her weariness.

"Sophia!" the concerned voice called as the form drew near quickly, placing a cool hand on her forehead before she lost all consciousness.

xxxxx

"Wha…" Sophia's eyes fluttered open to watch the path by her side and below her bob up and down, temporarily disorientating her.

It was only after a while that she realised she was being carried on someone's back, a gauntlet gripping claws round a sheath substituting for a missing arm.

"Shh, just go back to sleep Sophia, you need more rest," the reassuring voice came from below, and she turned her head to look into his chocolate hair- with golden blonde tips, nose taking in the sweet smell of earth that came from it.

"Albel?" she moaned, tears suddenly reappearing in her eyes.

"Yeah, you're alright now," he mentioned, "you shouldn't have gone off by yourself… if I hadn't found you in time," he trailed off, his chest thumping at the thought of losing her.

But this wasn't a very tactful thing to say to her at the present moment, when she was doubting her strength. Still, how could he have known? He still had no idea why she tried to run away.

"P-put me down!" Sophia demanded suddenly, moving to get off him.

"Sophia, stop- at least wait until we get back to the facility for whatever it is you want to say," he asked her hopefully, when she struggled against his arms.

"Let me go- I don't want to go back!" she cried, lost to all reasoning in her emotional state.

"Stop it Sophia, you're going to fall-!" he began desperately- but it was too late for that, the sheath round her back slipping and his grip failing.

"Ah!" Sophia whined, as she fell back to the floor.

Albel turned back round quickly. "You see? That's what you get for not listening to me," he shook his head, "are you alright?" he asked, as tears fell down her face.

She sobbed, refusing to look him in the face, thinking a thousand things and yet unable to say them. When she did finally speak, it was not to answer him- her mind had wandered far from that point.

"It's because she's so strong- I don't even come on the scale, I don't deserve you… I need to get strong so I can beat her,"

Albel understood now, it was about Alana- and her strength. And their conversation- or whatever she heard. Yet he sweat dropped at such a bold statement. Defeat Alana? That would be difficult. But he had missed the opportunity now to immediately react.

She flushed red. "What- you- you don't think I could do it?" she demanded hotly.

Now he was in trouble- that's what he got for not answering right away.

"Look, whatever you thought you heard between me and Alana is wrong- I would never be with someone like her- she's so aggressive and hateful – just like I used to be," he held his hand out to her cheek as he knelt to her, "before I met you,"

"So I'm what, some dopey demure klutz!" Sophia pouted, looking away again, now miffed that he hadn't answered her.

Albel winced and restrained a grin. For the record, she said it, not him.

"Well… yeah…" he smiled in fond sympathy at her reaction.

"Wha-!" she fumed, when his hand covered her mouth as she went to interrupt furiously. He smiled down at her, his eyes strangely calming as they looked into hers.

"But I like that- you're my dopey demure little klutz, and I should be the one who does or doesn't deserve you," he told her gently.

"Hey…" she pouted. "I never said little," she added, and he grinned.

"Ha. See? Alana has nothing on you Sophia. Besides, you know the true meaning of strength and what it should be used for- you knew it well before I did- and you're getting stronger every day. Anyway, what matters to me now is not just strength but also happiness- and I only get that with you. I want to be strong so I can be happy. What matters is that I like you,"

Sophia swallowed. "But-!"

Albel moved in and held her close, stealing any breath from her lips as he kissed them softly.

Her eyes moved over his in surprise, her arms still limp by her sides, when one of his fingers stroked under her chin and she felt herself whimper, her arms moving up to hold him back.

For a while he lingered there, hand stroking over her hair. And then when their lips parted he smiled comfortingly and encouragingly.

She felt so weak needing him- but she couldn't help it- she was trapped in between the two feelings, burying her face in his chest desperately to hide her tears.

"It's ok Sophia, there's nothing wrong with being sensitive," he told her, and she let go.

Sensitive? "Really?" she used a hand to wipe the teas from one of her eyes.

He placed a hand over her head, ruffling her hair fondly. "No, of course not," he shook his head. And then he nodded, before standing.

"Come on, lets go back?" Albel held his hand out.

Sophia looked him over incredulously from the floor. "Well, ok," she nodded, smiling faintly before taking his hand.

She then wobbled into her first step, and before she could protest, he had taken her up into his arms and then put her over his back once more, this time she held on unquestioningly.

MissNox

Albel is SO out of character- but I seriously think this is one effect Sophia might have on him- at least I'm making it this way. Nyeh. Hehe. I guess I just hate how Albel is always the tortured soul who can't be nice or good and has to be the bastard- he can't 'possibly' be a hero- and if he is then he's just a replacement for Fayt. Grr. Well anyway. I love Fayt so please don't beat me Fayt fangirls! I am one of you too! (waves white flag)

Disclaimer:

Albel: Sophia and I will do the disclaimer today, right Sophia?

Sophia: Hm! I'm not talking to you.

Albel: Wh-what? B-but why not! haven't we made up! We have a disclaimer to do- if we don't MissNox could get sued and she'd stop writing this fic about us! We'll never get together properly!

Sophia: Hmph! That's fine by me!

Albel: Sophia? Why are you mad at me again? Bah! Fine, MissNox doesn't own anything SO3 and this is just a fanfiction, so no sueing! Ach... S-Sophia... come on...

Why is Sophia miffed again? Next chapter reveals all- and Sophia vs. Alana... it could all go horribly wrong...

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.