A/N: Long time no post ne? Avoided it for too long. Here iz ze next chapter…

Disclaimer: Don't own anything of Star Ocean 3 because it was too awesome for words.

Room 1: Sophia/Roger, Room 2: Cliff/Albel, Room 3: Fayt/Maria

Note: It's been forever since I've played Star Ocean 3 and my mind is lagging and staying in FF8 lala land lately. So if there are huge GLARING mistakes on past references or stuff that is wrong. Tell me and I shall fix it: 3 thanks for reading!

Sphere Prison

Chapter Six

Maria

"Hands off!" I politely slapped away the escorting guards hand with a quick reflex of my hand. They murmured amongst each other as they shoved me forward, reminding me that I'm to obey their rules. Their laws. As if. The only reason that I obeyed them at the moment was because the others were at stake. Although I hardly knew any of them for very long. It was long enough to consider them worth my friendship.

Friendship…

I guess that itself was a joke. I never considered many people my friends. Not after my parents death. Never forgiven Fayt's father for using me as some sort of twisted experiment! Understandably it was for the good of mankind…perhaps I'm selfish, perhaps I'm missing the understanding… but I wanted a normal life like everyone else. And I did have it, at the earliest time that is nothing but an imaginary thought to me now.

"Move it lady!" I gritted by teeth when something slammed into my side and held my face up high. I wouldn't give these poor excuses for humans a chance to get any kind of satisfaction in me being a prisoner. Further behind me I picked up a yelp and a scuffle of feet, and turning around I nearly offered a smile.

A rare one. Only to one person.

Fayt Leingod.

"Don't touch her that way you slobs!" I chuckled faintly when the guards all backed away in warning, raising guns. Truthfully I should have been concerned with Fayt's well being. But, I could only think of how protective and honest Fayt always continues to be. Acting like a hero and ensuring everything is well and that no one suffers. After all, he wouldn't have put our lives on the line if it didn't mean saving millions of others.

Right…?

"Are you alright Maria?" He asked concernedly. Reaching for one of the bruises I've acquired through the first day stay. I brushed him off with a gentle hand; assuring him gently that yes I was fine. He didn't inquire further. He knew it was better to leave it at that. Something, I'd admit, admired about Fayt.

Perhaps now that we are stuck with each other I've come to appreciate things I ignored in the past? "Fayt you shouldn't do that." He stared at me confused. To get him to realize my statement I nudged my head to the side, gesturing behind me the guards. Armed and dangerous, hell, they couldn't even hold a gun properly! Butterfingers…

I snorted, taking a small delight in that.

He nodded in understanding and once again we were pushed and shoved toward the---well I didn't catch where we were being led. I believe it was the lunchroom, or something. "I'm guessing the creator…" I rolled my eyes, earning a snarl from the guard closest, "wants us alive and healthy." Again, another gun nudged at my back. Catching Fayt's fierce gaze I went silent.

Also. It seemed. Fayt and I shared a knack of understanding that I found missing with the other teammates.

Led down the odd hallways, too bizarre with the electronic flooring, the white and blue—its to bizarre to explain in words. To avoid looking I allowed my gaze to fall to the floor, staring at its simplicity and simple design. To think I arrived at Elicoor to pick up Fayt and Cliff and only to be bombarded with …everything. Everything that I couldn't explain in mere words alone.

"Get in." Flat and emotionless the men pointed to the door, surrounding us on all sides in case of a last ditch effort to escape. Really, did they think our IQ was that low? If we were created by the so-called 'creator' wouldn't it mean we were specially designed? No use thinking about it…all this information makes my head ache. How can one world, let along a single man in such a world, control another and the billions of people in it?

Mind boggling…absurd. Ridiculous.

I felt a tugging on my arm and realized the blue haired teenager was pulling me to the door. Feet moving along I brushed back my blue hair, giving a rude gesture the men behind me (if they got the point of my gesture that is) and obediently followed. The door closed behind and the bombardment of chatter immediately turned to a dull silence. I lifted my head in wonder.

Everyone….

The sight that greeted me was one you'd normally see in one of the Inns back when we had a reason to continue on our journey. What journey, quest, that was, I haven't figured out. Because it had no reason, none currently. A smile began to broaden. There was Cliff, hunched over with a pair of chopsticks in his hands face to face with Albel seemingly fighting over the last prawn (it looked like a prawn) and looking quite serious about it.

Sophia sat across from them, utensils left in the dish, her face screwing up in a restrained laugh. To the side of her Roger was perched forward, suspended in motion about to grab the prawn when we entered.

Fayt and I stared.

They stared back.

"Fayt!" four voices combined as one chorused in a unionizing fashion. Calling the appointed leaders name. I couldn't blame them. The chairs shuffled and screeched along the floor as everyone got up at once to greet us. "You're okay! We thought…" Sophia blushed suddenly; I could see the twitching of her fingers wanting to hug Fayt for comfort. Understandably being Fayt's childhood friend…

Cliff sat back down in his seat, finding it a waste to continue in a senseless standing position. "You guys are late man. Thought you didn't make it." He picked up a lone toothpick and stuck it in his mouth, grinning.

"We only been separated as a group for less than twenty four hours. How can you miss us that much?" I questioned, feeling my authorities streak start to slip back into my previous mood. Really, taken all of this so calmly. They have guts. There was a snort and Albel smashed the table surprising everyone that hadn't been paying attention to start paying attention. The prawn, which I had guessed he'd been aiming for, flew up into the air and fell into his outstretched hand.

Roger and Cliff groaned.

"Miss you? Hah. Hardly. Maybe these worms were a bit worried and wouldn't shut up." He threw a glare in the younger children's direction. Pausing only for a second to bite into his reward.

Roger glared right back. "I was NOT! As if!"

"Ho-oh, the little squirrel lies…"

"I'm not a squirrel dammit!"

"Hey, hey you two chill out. Albel stop provoking the squirrel."

My shoulders slumped in relief. All was as it should be. Feeling like a burden had been lifted, a small creasing worries at the back of my mind I stepped forward, joining the table. Stopping only when an empty plate flew past my face. It was usual. Continuing to my seat I sat down, gaze flicking to Fayt for a moment.

And felt my heart sink into a depression.

I don't know why but seeing Sophia hug Fayt and getting a warm smile and comforting hug back sparked something within me. I haven't had much need to be jealous of something, let along anything. Perhaps the creator never programmed me to feel such an emotion? No, we weren't pawns…couldn't be…

Could we?

I felt a pair of eyes on me and forced my head down. My blue hair fell to the side, covering the parts that exposed me to the side and stared down at the empty plate before me. It seems that not only was I expected but also he knew where I would sit. "Maria." I looked up with a solemn look. Why…do I feel unhappiness right now? Is it because Sophia is now close to Fayt? Is it because she is finally reunited with him that my only hope to…to…

"What?" I turned to look at Albel. For the first time since I joined this group I was able to take him seriously and, perhaps, even talk to him without some sort of shield hiding my true personality. I couldn't get close to anyone, I couldn't. Not before. But now… in a weird twisted sense we were all vulnerable weren't we? Thrown into an unprepared situation and forced to abide by rules we didn't accept, by a choice we didn't make, but one did.

I felt a grin come to my face. Possibly creeping out my comrade beside me. Ironic. We were all vulnerable but none of us, not even if we were on our deathbed, would admit to it. "Hmph. Jealous of that girl?" Brought back to that ill reminder I turned my nose up in the air, partially snorting.

"What gave you that idea? Its stupid."

The crimson eyes watched my movements. Before a grin came to his face like mine had. "Because your body language says so scum." If I had the energy and right motivation I might have slapped Albel with the disrespect he gave me, but nothing fueled behind his words except for the truth. An honest truth.

I flicked my hair back. "So what?"

"So? You're just denying. Pathetic."

"Aren't you doing the same?"

"Does it look like it fool?"

No, it didn't. Albel didn't have anything to deny, he'd told us through events about his home, about how much he hated weaklings. At how much he despises and hated us. It was no secret amongst us. I felt my elbow prop up onto the table, a palm balancing the weight and keeping my head supported up from the cheek. My blue eyes met his red ones.

Opposing colors. Blue to red. Fire and ice melting into water.

"No." I admitted grudgingly. "I—" a hand fell on my shoulder, startling me. "What—oh, Fayt. What is it?" I felt the grip turn firm and then, lost my nerve to speak. He was standing tall; his eyes held the intelligence, the wisdom and knowledge a child of his age should not have been bestowed. Should not have learned under the circumstances. Gained from the journey I could tell, even through a few battles and quests he has changed. Changed into a young man.

No longer a teenager.

Was that why I admire him so? To accept things as they were in the current time, rather then how I have dealt with them in mine? Because he is like me, the way I wished I could have been?

"Maria…Are you alright? You're not eating." He gestures with a tired hand.

"I'm fine. I was just about to eat if Albel didn't open his big fat mouth…"

Albel glared heatedly, the concern that may have been their disappearing in an instant. "Why you little wench I swear I'll…! Gah!" The general of Airgylph was cut short when Cliff shoved a mound of rice in his mouth. I stifled giggles when the chair slid back and Albel turned his attention to the blond, spitting rice like fire.

That was how I wanted it. How it should have been. How it should be.

Turning back to Fayt the moment of comical acts was replaced again with seriousness.

He didn't say anything when his hand lifted, but he did take up a seat beside me reaching for the buffet of food and filling his plate, the utensils laying by the side of the plate. I looked up to glance across the table, noting that Roger and Sophia were engrossed in a heated argument, and to the side I already knew Albel and Cliff were at each other's throats. So…. they couldn't have possibly be listening to anything, or paying attention.

"Ne, Maria…" I tilted my head. Something told me this was important. So I lended an ear, pausing in gathering my own plate fill. "Do you think…" Over the shouting between the four I almost couldn't catch his next words, having to lean in close to recognize them. "Do you think…I did the right thing…?" He stared down. His blue eyes reflecting only sorrow.

"…" I turned to my plate. What was I to say? He decided it. No one complained, no one voiced his or her opinions. "Well…"

"I feel like I made a horrible choice. I wasn't thinking about any of you…I wasn't thinking about what you guys might have thought. I didn't consider it at all. All I could think was our world. All those people…everyone we met along the way… that all...that's…" Fayt's voice shook as he neared the end of his sentence. I wordlessly held onto my fork in between the spoken…confession. Was that what it was?

As a leader with Cliff and Mirage, I understood his turmoil on having to make decisions. But when you had a galaxy, with billions of lives, how could a ship of three be compared to that? How could I comfort him when he had that burden? I don't know feelings like the others.

Albel with his rage and anger,

Sophia with good and kindness,

Cliff with confidence and compassion,

Roger with his cockiness and wit.

And I…

What did I have?

Intelligence and coldness? Unfeeling and secretive?

Fayt had the qualities of a leader, with a caring personality and a heart of acceptance. And he had the strength, not like my Klausian companions. But on a whole, he was… "I…" My mouth moved, silencing anything further. "It would be lying telling you I'm not mad and its all okay. But sometimes a leader has to do whets best for others and not of themselves or close friends." I should know. I've had too choose many times. But nothing as grave as what Fayt had chosen.

Seeing no reaction I tried once more, waving to our comrades, friends, and acquaintances. "Well, if they were mad I think it might have shown. Even Albel's not mad so I think your reason is justified." He lowered his hand, placing it on the table. Perhaps I was able to get through to him?

"...Thanks Maria."

Those words. Even as simple as a thank you from his mouth made me swell with pride and…and…

"Hey little buddy I just fed Albel! I did the impossible!" Cliff crowed with delight, suddenly appearing between us, elbows balancing on the ends of the chairs. Fayt seemed to falter at Cliff's sudden approach, but relaxed.

"You did NOT! You stupid pathetic scum! How dare you!"

"Chill out. You get angry so easily. And you weren't even eating…"

"Probably cause he needs someone to help him." I sighed at Rogers voice and pushed my chair back at the corresponding time Albel flew from the side closest to Fayt and leaped right over the table. I don't know how he did it but he always had a good spring in his step.

"I'll kill you and roast you, you stupid squirrel! Let me help you!"

"Hey! Albel where the hell did you get that match?"

I slumped forward in defeat, digging into my food in silence, not really getting any taste from it. The moment. That one moment ruined. And I was getting so close…maybe a part of me really did want to get attention from Fayt, and learn a bit about him.

I didn't even realize I'd finished the food until my fork scraped along the dish, earning ear splitting scratching sounds, like those on chalkboards. There was a sudden cough and I turned my attention to the door, along with just about everyone else's.

Azazer stood.

Side to side with a rather handsome blonde. I had a horrible sneaking suspicion that one of them…

Was the self-proclaimed creator.

A/N: -waves hand- I don't know anymore. Hope it satisfied you Maria/Fayt. Hm. Maybe Azazer/Lucifer –cackle- that sounds like an awesome pair too…Gah, im so horrible with humor xD

Kawaii Mimi-chan: Im going im going! Well Lucifer ain't a huge jerk just really really misunderstood. Wish he got more screen time but I bet he was busy –cough- with other things… (Jin in Xeno II was my hero xD) Thanks for reading!

Demonslayer: Accident huh? I like accidents…they make me realize so many things (and help me find things) Hope you enjoy the future chapters : 3

Hikaru Irving: Glad you liked it! I double check my guide and turn on my SO3 game and go through a few parts to make sure I get their speech fresh. Although, from looking at the characters, a lot are easy to know what their thinking. A good example is Albel….hateful person…naturally thinks negative thoughts…cocky…ect.

Reviews have been very appreciated! Thank you so much!