A/N: I know this isn't extremely popular and no one reads author's notes anyway, but soon this story will also be heading to the yaoi. It's just good practice for me to be able to write a good adventure story with plot instead of mindless sex. But we'll get to that part eventually.

Disclaimer: I would love to own Star Ocean…but I don't.

When Fayt woke the next morning, it was warm and sunny and Albel felt warm beside him. It looked like they had both survived Albel's plunge into the freezing river. He wiggled his fingers and toes. Good, no frostbite.

Fayt heard a low chuckle beside him. He glanced over, careful not to stare at Albel's toned body. He kept his gaze rigidly focused on Albel's face.

Albel smirked. "Don't look so tense, fool," he purred. "A pervert like you should be happy about this situation."

Fayt frowned. "I'm not a pervert." He scooted a short distance from Albel and looked away deliberately. He was already feeling very uncomfortable about their shared nudity and he was itching to put his clothes back on. He looked around uncertainly, drawing the shawl tighter around his body. Where had he put them? He didn't want to roam around naked looking for his clothes.

Albel had no such qualms. With a leisurely stretch, he threw off the shawl and ambled over to a nearby tree to retrieve the dress he had draped over its branches. "Good, finally dry," he murmured.

Fayt let out a horrified squeak and pulled the shawl over his head so he wouldn't have to see Albel's supple body. It wasn't his fault that Albel was so…attractive. Really, he was trying his best not to be tempted and Albel was thoughtlessly flaunting that perfect body of his. If anything, Albel was the pervert for walking around naked like that, Fayt concluded indignantly.

Fayt slowly pulled down his eye shield as he felt something soft land on his head. He glanced up. Oh right, his clothes. He glanced over at Albel, who was thankfully now dressed. "You found them," he said unnecessarily.

Albel put his hands on his hips and smirked at Fayt. "They were right where you left them. You're just so easily lost and confused."

Fayt sighed heavily. "I guess so."

"Well, hurry up and get dressed," Albel demanded. "We need to get going."

"Well, turn the other way or something." Fayt felt his face heating up. "You don't have to watch me. Maybe you're the pervert."

Albel rolled his eyes, but he turned his back to Fayt and waited impatiently with his arms crossed over his chest as Fayt struggled back into his clothing.

"Okay, I'm ready," Fayt announced.

Albel nodded briskly. "Now, we're just a few short days away from my ancestral home. If we hurry, we might make it there by tomorrow evening." He rubbed his hands together gleefully. "We're almost to the border of this cursed kingdom and soon we'll be on my own turf again."

"We're that close," Fayt gasped. "I thought-"

'Well, you thought wrong," Albel said scornfully. He looked Fayt over appraisingly. "Once we cross over the border, I doubt anyone will buy the excuse that I'm merely your sister. After all, we look nothing alike. People on the other side are not such idiots."

Fayt sighed. "Then what do we do?"

Albel smirked. "Obviously your idea is better."

Fayt frowned. "My idea? What did I say?"

Albel smiled and shook his head. "Don't be so daft. I know exactly what you want." He leaned in close to Fayt. "So, in an effort to ease your pain, I'll play along. I doubt anyone will expect a youth like you to have a wife at your age, but a lover would be-"

Fayt's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! We are NOT going to pretend to be lovers."

"Oh? Why ever not?" Albel purred. "I know exactly what you think of me in this dress." He put his hands on his chest and smoothed the fabric down to his waist. "And we don't need any difficulties with you lusting after your sister."

Fayt scowled. "No way. I told you I can handle it." He rolled his eyes. "Besides, you don't make a very convincing lady."

"It fooled you," Albel retorted. "But then, you are a fool."

Fayt sighed heavily. He was never going to live this down. "Stop messing around, Albel. Things are fine the way they are. You only caught me off guard the one time. I still don't know how you pulled that off. Delicate manners from you?" Fayt snorted. "It was a once in a lifetime occurrence." He squinted at Albel in his dress. "See, now you look completely unrefined and unladylike." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'd be insulted to pretend to be courting you."

Albel raised an eyebrow and a smirk spread over his face. "Very well, Fayt. If you want to play it that way. Onward!"

Fayt scrambled onto the horse willingly. Albel knew the way and he was impatient to get going. Fayt didn't blame him. Freedom was so close that Albel could taste it. There was no time left to run. But perhaps Albel's clan would be hospitable. They would be grateful to Fayt for freeing Albel and surely they would give him some sort of reward that Fayt could use to set out on his own.

Albel nudged Fayt, jerking him out of his thoughts. "This river…I'm sure I know it. The river Aire. We can follow it right across the border." He grinned. "And I'm sure you want to see the waterfall. Who knows, maybe you'll want to swim in it."

"W-waterfall?" Fayt protested. "That sounds dangerous."

Albel smirked. "Not really." He smacked the horse's side. "It's just a small waterfall. But we won't see that until later today. Have no fear, Fayt."

Fayt heaved a sigh and shut his eyes. Oh yes, delightful. Hadn't a plunge into a freezing river been enough for Albel? Did he also want to be swept over the waterfall and be crushed to bits? But perhaps that's what Albel's tribe did to prove their manliness. Well, Fayt was determined that he wasn't going to have anything to do with that waterfall. Albel could call him a coward all he wanted, but Fayt was not going to mess with the deadly force of nature.