YUA: Soa! Sorry for taking so long to update this! I was working on something else...And Fifi, I know you're an avid Shana hater, but I'm a helpless romantic, sooo...you get the idea, right?

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No Time For You

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"Dart! Albert! Come sit!" Shana's voice resonates throughout the house, and a low growl forms in my stomach.

"Ah, since when did Mrs. Shana cook?"

"Albert, will you cut it out?!"

"What?"

"The Mrs part!"

"But it will be true, will it not?"

"Um..."

"Dart! Albert! Are you guys here?!"

"Coming!"

"Saved by the dinner bell, eh?"

"Quiet." Albert and I make our way to the table, and take a seat, Shana in between myself and Albert.

"What have we here? Potatoes and steak? Looks appetizing!"

"Thank you, Al!" Oh man, It's almost time to hit the sack...I need to stall this dinner as long as possible...

"So, Albert, what have you been up to?"

"Well, I really wasn't doing anything. A had just woken up when you called. Nothing was planned for the day. I guess it was one of my rare off days. But what have you and Shana been doing?" Shana answered this question.

"We just got back. It was a long way."

"But it didn't even take us a year to reach Melbu!"

"Well, yes, but on our way back we stopped to help any towns that needed rebuilding, money, or some other kind of help."

"That's very charitable."

"It was Dart's idea."

"Really? That's not something I would expect from Dart..." A wide smirk replaced his small smile.

"Hey..."

"Well, once you get to know him, he's really nice."

"Um..." I REALLY don't like being talked about in third person. It doesn't feel right. It's sounds like they don't care that I'm here.

"What do you two plan to do in the future...?" Albert gave me a strange kinda look, and I knew exactly why.

"What about you and Emille?" Albert almost choked on the food in his mouth after I said that.

"Who told you about that?!"

"Are you kidding? It went across all of Endiness in a flash. Word has it Emille is expecting..." A lovely shade of crimson, one matching my armor, blanketed Albert's face.

"Um, well, I, uh..." Shana's eyes went wide.

"Have you decided on a name yet?!"

"Eh...well, we, er, Emille wants to, uh..."

"Wanna talk about something else?" Albert felt relieved that I had said that.

"Um, yes. Please. Although, I am feeling a bit tired..." My eyes widen with embarrassment, and I nearly choke on my drink. I stare right at him. I know exactly what he's getting at...

"Oh, that's right! It's almost time for bed isn't it?" No, no, no...please, Soa, no...

"Well, I can start cleaning up now. Are you done Albert?"

"Yes, thank you." Shana takes his plate and her own, and puts them in the sink.

"Dart? What about you?"

"Not yet. I'll take care of the rest. You can go to sleep now, if you like."

"Alright, thanks." She walks off to her bedroom, in which I will also be staying tonight...

"What's wrong with you?!"

"I'm just tired, that's all..."

"I bet."

"Dart, you need to tell her."

"But...I can't!"

"You're being an idiot."

"Then let me!"

"She won't last forever. She's going to think you don't love her."

"I..." Soa, he's right...maybe...I...argh!

"I can't! God, I'm a dragoon, and I'm afraid of rejection!"

"You shouldn't even worry about rejection. You know she loves you."

"But what if it's a family tie sorta thing?!"

"Dart, please. Sure, she may seem like your little sister, but it's more than that to her. Get it through your thick head: She loves you."

"I...I guess we'll find out...tonight..."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Are you regretting what you just said?" I put my hands over my face, and starting crying on the inside.

"...Yes."

"Dart, Dart, Dart...trust me. She'll be so relieved that you asked. It was the exact same thing with Emille."

"Emille is royalty! Shana isn't!"

"She should be in your eyes."

"She is, but---"

"Isn't that enough, then? If she's that important to you, make sure she knows that she is important. It so simple Dart, yet your making it the most complicated matter in Endiness."

"Maybe so, but it's for a good reason!"

"And what reason is that?"

"To see if...uh..."

"Yes?"

"Ah, just leave me alone! I already made a promise, so gimme some time by myself, alright?!"

"Alright, but if you don't tell her, you better watch out for me."

"Yeah, yeah..." I watch as Albert disappears into my room, which he will be staying in while I stay with Shana. Ok, so I made a promise to tell her. I guess the time is right...I really should tell her...guess it's now or never. It's my date with fate. My deal with destiny...here goes nothing...

I got up from my seat, making my way to Shana's room. I open the door, seeing her about to get into bed, sliding under the covers.

"Hey Dart."

"Uh, hey."

"Soa, I'm tired. It's so strange though...I haven't done that much today..." She looked so peaceful...and here I am, about to rock her world with a single, innocent question...

"Dart? What's the matter?" I guess she can see the doubt in my eyes...Because I know I'm somewhat close to tears. But as the words I was trying to say slowly showed themselves to me, those soon-to-come tears were replaced with a fire that was burning uncontrollably.

"Dart?"

"Shana...I..." For a second, her eyes widened, almost looking hopeful.

"I love you, Shana."

"Dart...I...I can't..." I take a seat next to her, trying to calm her down, and at the same time, await her answer.

"I...I can't say the feeling's mutual..."

"AH!" I wake up with a jump, and see Shana lying next to me, her chest rising and falling, and her eyes closed with a smile on her face. So it was just a dream...but was so real. My body is covered by a thin film of cold sweat, and my heart Is beating rapidly against my chest, like a drum. I can't break my promise...

"Shana? Shana, wake up. I need to talk to you." I gently shake her sleeping form.

"Mmm...Dart..." I stop my hands from shaking. Now they're shaking by themselves. They're trembling. That didn't sound like she said my name. It sounded more like...like...like she was moaning my name...yes, tonight would be the night.

"Please, Shana. Wake up." I shake her once more, and her eyes flutter open, and a yawn escapes her mouth.

"Dart...? What is it?" She turns over, and props her head up on her arm, and her eyes are scanning my face, trying to anticipate the coming conversation...or, confession, rather. My eyes are burning with the same fire from my dreams, and so is my heart.

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YUA: I'm gonna leave it at that..XD Sorry for the cliffhanger. But next one is going to be the last chapter. And I apologize for the shortness of this chapter. But stay tuned, and come back when I update the last chappie! Will Dart be humiliated or hugged?