Love's Mystery
Chapter One: How I Truly Feel

A/n: Yo Yo Yo! This is a RoseSama35 production, commin' at ya hard with the real stuff, werd!

Yeah, I just had to get that off my chest. Anyway, this is my first attempt at a straight romance. Please let me know if you guys like it and would like to see another chapter! It takes place after The Moon That Never Sets (MTNS) falls out of the sky. (The name gets a little pointless afterwards.) So here goes nothing. Italics mean flashbacks and 'Example' means someone is thinking. Hope y'all like it and please remember to review!

(Love's Mystery: Chapter One: How I Truly Feel)

Shana walked through the streets of Seles, looking for someone. It was rather hard though because the streets were crowded with people. Tonight, Seles was having a festival to celebrate Shana's safe return and the end of the Moon Child cycle. And now the festival was in full swing. Everyone was drinking, talking, singing and dancing and having a good time. Shana was having an okay time. But it would have been better if she could have found Dart. He just seemed to have disappeared.

Within all the madness of the crowd, Shana wasn't really watching where she was going and bumped right into someone. She looked up to see that it was none other than Albert, king of Serdio, the Jade Dragoon, and a good friend.

"Oh, sorry Albert, I didn't see you there," Shana apologized quickly.

"Not a problem at all," Albert replied. "It'd be rather hard to avoid bumping into someone eventually in this crowd. I didn't realize that there were this many people in Seles."

"Well, you could say that we know how to party," Shana said with a smile.

"Oh, by the way, you wouldn't happen to know where I could find a bathroom, would you?" Albert asked. 'Oh please say yes, I've been looking around for half an hour now!'

"You could use the one in my house," Shana suggested as she pointed to her home. "It's just across the street on the first floor."

"Thank-you very much," Albert exclaimed happily. He smiled at her and then began to make his way through the crowd. 'Shana, you're a life saver!'

'Just be sure to put the seat back down when you're done. Oh wait, I almost forgot!' Shana thought. Shana went to catch up with Albert.

"Oh Albert, before you go!" she called.

"Yes, is there something I can do for you?" Albert asked. 'Oh please make this quick!'

"Yes, have you seen Dart anywhere?" Shana asked.

"No, I actually haven't seen him all night," Albert replied.

"Oh well, thank-you anyway," Shana said, sounding rather disappointed.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he's somewhere partying with Meru and Haschel," Albert reassured her before walking away. He knew that Shana probably wanted to be with Dart desperately on this night of all nights, but nature was calling and he was never one to refuse such things.

'Right,' Shana said to herself. She hoped he was. Dart had been acting a little strange lately, and she couldn't quite figure out why. With no conclusion for his strange behavior coming to mind, Shana let out a sigh and continued to walk through the streets, searching for her one and only love.

(Scene Change)

Lloyd sat on a random rooftop, watching as Shana walked through the streets. He knew who she was looking for. And he debated on weather he should tell her that he was on a near-by hilltop, watching the small town. He quickly decided not to tell her because he knew that Dart wanted to be left alone, though Lloyd himself wanted to thank Dart for saving his life. He didn't know how, but he had managed to pull both him and Rose out of the collapsing moon before it crashed down on Endiness.

He brought them back to Seles where they had been recovering ever since. Though it had been five weeks, (two of which he spent unconscious, and a third in which he was bed ridden because he was still weak) Lloyd hadn't completely recovered yet. A fresh Band-Aid on his left cheek was evidence of that. But he was well enough to move around on his own and he could have left at any time that he wanted. But for some reason that even he didn't know, he chose to linger in the small town. Everyone was nice to him, despite the fact that he was the one who led the raid on this very village in the first place. But wait...they didn't know that. Back then he was still hidden by his black hood and cape. He decided that he wanted to keep it that way.

Lloyd passed one more look over to the hilltop where Dart was still sitting. Dart must have noticed him watching because he then waved slightly. Lloyd waved back.

"Hey Dart," he said under his breath. The two had actually become pretty good friends over the past two weeks. A small smirk couldn't help crawling across Lloyd's face. It was something that he thought about every now and then. Of all the people Dart chose to save in that one instant, it was him and Rose, and not his own father. His smirk grew wider as he thought of all the possible reasons why Dart probably didn't save Zieg. The thought was rather amusing.

Lloyd watched the people below having a good time as he finally took a sip of the drink he had sitting next to him. It was surprisingly good. His complements to the chef, which just happened to be none other than Meru. Then, as if his imagination could manifest into reality, Meru came out of the house that he was sitting on top of and waved to him.

"Hey Lloyd!" Meru called. "Why don't you come down here! I made some stuff I want you to try! You'll really like it!" Lately for some reason, Meru had been fancying herself as a chef. But she wasn't that bad at it. Lloyd couldn't help another smirk. Maybe if he imagined hard enough, some other...thoughts...may come true. He thought for a moment, but nothing changed. He was still on the roof and Meru was still on the ground.

'I guess some things have to be worked on,' Lloyd thought as he jumped down from the roof. "So what do you have for me this time?"

"I got some new drinks and a few soups I want you to try," Meru said excitedly as she pulled Lloyd into the house. "After that, I want you to try a few other dishes I made."

'Looks like I'll be working all night long,' Lloyd thought to himself as he tried to resist another devilish smirk.

(Scene Change)

Dart sat on a hilltop that over looked the village of Seles. He watched the near by forest for any signs of movement, not wanting anyone to come and surprise him. His vision casually switched between the forest and the village below. Torches were lit and now love music was playing. There was no one with him, though Lloyd said that he'd have a beer with him later. He saw Lloyd and waved to him. Then he watched as Meru dragged him into the house, most likely for food sampling.

Dart couldn't help but let a small smile creep across his face. Everyone had been getting along with Lloyd better than he thought they would, especially him and Meru. He didn't know how the others would take to him after he recovered, or how Lloyd would take to the others. But surprisingly, everyone accepted Lloyd. And he returned the kindness.

Dart's mind soon started drifting to another place. Dart quickly shook his head to get rid of the thoughts. His thoughts weren't completely straight and he blamed a certain event that happened a few nights ago.

Dart entered the Seles inn, looking for someone in particular. He knew where this person was staying and didn't have to ask for a room number. To his relief and dismay, the person he was looking for was in their room. At the moment, she was pulling off the cute tiara that made her look like she had cat ears.

"Um, can I come in?" Dart asked.

"Sure, come in Dart," Rose said. Dart stepped into the room and watched as she set the tiara down on the dresser.

"You know, that tiara is really cute on you," Dart said, trying to get the conversation going somehow. "It makes you look like you have cat ears." Rose couldn't resist a small smile.

"Thanks," she replied with a slight giggle that she tried desperately to hide. Needless to say, she failed. She then sat down on her bed and began to pull off her uneven boots. After the long one was removed she looked back at Dart. "So is there something you need or are you just going to stand there and watch me undress?"

'Tempting...no! Focus Dart, you have to do this,' he told himself.

"Actually, I kinda wanted to talk to you about something," he said as he stepped further into the room.

"Do you want to sit down?" she asked.

"I...um...sure," Dart answered, finally finding the right words. He then went over and sat next to her on the bed.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Rose asked. She was so calm, so cool, so beautiful. Dart had to force himself to keep focused.

"Well, you see..." Dart let his words drift off because again, he couldn't find the words that he needed to tell her just how he felt. How could something be so impossibly difficult? 'Come on Dart! You can do this. Just take it slowly.'

"What is it?" Rose asked, noticing the frustration on his face. She had felt a little awkward when he came in the room, just like how she felt awkward every time she saw him or was with him. Ever since the MTNS (Moon That Never Sets) came down and they've been here at Seles, she felt awkward around him. But not in the way that made you want to get away from that person, but the kind that compelled you to be with them and at the same time never want meet their eyes. And now she had a strange tingle in her chest and the butterflies that were already in her stomach had gone rabid. More than simply her Dragoon senses were telling her that something was about to happen - something big.

"Well, for a while now," Dart began, "I've had this kind of...feeling. About you. And… it's been churning up inside of me and sometimes, it's like...I don't even know what to do with myself. And sometimes, I feel like...like..."

"Like you could just burst with emotion?" Rose asked, not meaning to finish his sentence.

"Yeah," Dart answered, then let his voice trail off. 'Why in the name of Soa did I just do that?' Rose scolded herself. Now she felt really stupid and uncomfortably vulnerable. She had to resist the urge to bite onto her bottom lip, a bad habit she had whenever she was nervous (which wasn't too often and hasn't been for at least...11,000 years).

Dart was surprised that Rose actually finished the sentence before he could. Did that mean that she felt the same way? Dart's heart took a leap forward. The two looked into each other's eyes. Both were filled with anxiety, and both told the same thing. Dart could feel his heart beating against his chest, threatening to show itself to the world.

The two did not say a thing to each other for a long while, they just held their gaze as if trying to read each other's soul. Dart didn't know how much more of this he could take. He was worried he might pass out from all the excitement. But he was quickly saved from having to go through anymore of the awful anxiety.

"Hey Dart! Can you help me with something?" Rose and Dart both broke gaze and turned to the doorway to see Lloyd standing there.

"Um, sure," Dart said as he stood up. He glanced back at Rose. Their eyes were still wide; their hearts still beating like drums to a fast paced song, their souls still completely open but their business unfinished. Dart wanted to stay with her forever but at the same time, wanted to get away from the situation as quickly as possible. He couldn't remember ever feeling so confused. But his glance only lasted an instant, and then he was out the door with Lloyd.

"I was on my way to my room when I heard your little...conversation," Lloyd said once they were out of earshot of the room. "I figured you'd want an excuse out of there for a moment."

"Thanks," Dart replied with a sigh, ignoring the fact that Lloyd was eavesdropping on them.

Dart let out a sigh as a slight breeze blew from the east. It was then that he heard footsteps behind him. He turned his head, looking behind him at a young, raven-haired woman. Rose.

"Why'd you follow me?" Dart asked in a low sincere voice. In truth, she had been watching him for a while, not planning on revealing her position. But then she accidentally stepped on a dry leaf, cursing to herself and alerting Dart of her presence. Fortunately, she was able to play it off in a cool manner. Rose smiled gently and sat down very close to Dart, her back slightly to the village.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked. Dart shrugged as his heart skipped a beat and the butterflies returned.

"So, what are you doing up here all by yourself?" Rose asked as she put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Dart's heart skipped two more beats and the butterflies went rabid. He was sure that he'd die from loss of air before he was able to answer her. And even though he didn't show his anxiety, his eyes gave him away.

"Just watching the village," Dart answered, his voice barely above a whisper. Their faces were so close that he didn't have to be louder than that. They were so close that he could smell her light perfume. They were so close that he was worried about breathing on her. But Dart still had to keep himself from getting dizzy. The two stared each other dead in the eye. Ocean blue met deep scarlet eyes, and the two didn't break their gaze - they simply couldn't.

"You still didn't answer my question," Dart said. "Why'd you follow me?" He felt unbelievably stupid for asking such a dumb question now. But he was relieved when he saw Rose's smile get a little wider.

"For this," she whispered into his ear gently, her blow making Dart a little excited. And then she pressed her lips to his. Dart's heart soared as that amazing kiss seemed to last forever. But they eventually broke away from each other slightly. Now everything seemed so easy, so perfect. Now he could tell her.

"Rose," Dart whispered, "I love you."

"Shh," Rose said seductively as she put her finger up to his lips. She smiled again and whispered, "I know." The two kissed again with the love music echoing from the village. And this went on till the end of the festival.

(Chapter's End)