Date: 1/9/12 (23 April 2020) Hmm. So this turned out to be a fluffy chapter. Enjoy.


Chapter 9: To Follow One's Heart

Time passed by slowly and peacefully, and they anticipated they would reach Merinth in about four days. Nausicaa and Asbel had plenty of opportunities to run into each other, which meant there were countless awkward moments between them. The two seemed to have a magnetic attraction to each other, always gravitating towards each other no matter where they were on the plane. Ironically, their patterns of movement also simulated that of orbiting planets: close but not too close.

Nausicaa had tried her best to keep her distance from him, having chosen to delay acknowledging their feelings for each other. Truth be told, it was an attempt to place his needs before her own: completing the mission at hand and saving his mother was more important than her heart's desires. Nevertheless, the tidal wave of emotions continued to rise within her, until she could barely keep a lid on it. Whenever she looked at him, she longed to hold him and feel him in her arms, unleashing all her affection on him, and showing him just how much she cared for him. The yearning so forcefully consumed her that sometimes she felt like she would burst at the seams; the poor girl finally realized what it meant to pine for someone.

He similarly had tried not to impose on her but found it excruciatingly difficult; some days he felt like he was being strangled from behind. Setting his feelings aside turned out to not really be an option to him, for if he purposely tried to stay away for too long, his mind would not leave him alone. As a result he showed much less restraint than Nausicaa; if his simple heart wanted to see her, he would go to find her. On the second evening, the Pejite searched for and found Nausicaa sitting on the floor of the deck, with her knees drawn up to her chest, enjoying an unobstructed, panoramic view of the sky. The sun had almost completed its grand exit into the horizon, leaving behind lavish swirls of passionate pinks and oranges.

"May I join you?" He inquired politely.

"Sure." she affably replied. He surprised her when he sat down in a back-to-back position with her. It was innocent enough a gesture, but allowed him to touch her.

"So how was your day?" She started cheerfully. Despite both internally struggling with the romantic tension between them, they still possessed a strong friendship, which made possible to still have fluid conversations and casual chats.

"Fine; but a little boring." He admitted.

"Boring? You should have stopped by the mechanics room. Tersa and I spent the entire day checking up on the gears and engines."

"Was anything broken?"

"No... well, some parts looked a bit worn down, but everything works just fine."

"Have you always been familiar with all the parts to an airship?" He inquired.

"I taught myself when I first started using the glider. And after that Tersa was a great help."

"Interesting," He mused. "I remember the first time I saw the inside of an airship. I was with a cousin that sold engines and parts for a living, and built planes as a hobby."

"Which cousin is this?" she asked, continuing the conversation.

"On my mother's side. After he learned the basics from a friend he perfected his skills by building his own machines in his spare time. He was an amazing man; I used to visit him regularly in the summer, and he would teach me all sorts of tips and tricks about getting aircraft to work…"

She leaned her head back as she listened to him, but he was too busy prattling away to notice. They proceeded to chat about their childhoods: friends, role models, secret young crushes, times they got into trouble, most embarrassing incidents… no topic was left out. Eventually he realized that she was talking less and less.

"Am I talking too much?" He finally asked.

"No. Keep going; I'm listening." She replied sweetly, content to hear his voice and the snippets of his personal life. Asbel smiled boyishly to himself; her natural pleasantness combined with her sincerity could melt him inside.

In the end however she couldn't help dozing off. Asbel felt her head gradually nod to the side, onto his shoulder. He froze, a little unsure what to do; presently he pictured her falling over and startling herself awake with an ungraceful thud on the wooden floor. In order to save her from that fate, he shifted himself until they were side by side, and cautiously put an arm around her.

"Was I that boring?" He drawled in a whisper, then gazed down at her affectionately. She must have been exhausted.

He continued to watch her as she slept; she looked ever so gorgeous and delicate. Seeing her completely fatigued also reminded him that despite her mature, warrior-like qualities, she was still just a vulnerable girl. Out of the deepest parts of him grew a fervent sense of protectiveness, and even slight possessiveness. He wanted her to be his and his alone; and in his heart he pledged to take care of her whenever she needed him. Detecting the emotions surging through him, he stopped and checked himself. Should he wait until later, as Nausicaa had intended? He glanced down again at the treasure quietly asleep next to him. Every fibre of his being increasingly craved to hold her, touch her, kiss her - he stopped at the last thought and wondered when did these desires grow so intense? She hadn't directly told him that she cared for him too; but there had been enough hints that he really wasn't planning on waiting any longer. These emotions were beginning to drive him mad.


Nausicaa awoke to the sensation of leaning into something warm. She half jerked awake when she realized that something was Asbel, who had one arm around her and the other under a book; meanwhile her head was snuggled perfectly in the crook of his neck. She glanced at the sky to gauge how long she had slept for; the tail of the last orange hue was disappearing into the horizon.

"Hello there," He said gently, closing the book and placing it at his side.

"Hi," her voice croaked, as the grogginess retreated. "Oh my goodness I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Hush, it's fine. I didn't mind." He hummed as he brushed a wisp of hair away from her face. As the sleepiness retreated she realized the man was gazing at her intently, which stirred her heart into a wild giddy. Hastily she drew away and attempted to rise from her seat, but strong arms encircled her, preventing her from leaving. Her breath hitched; she looked at him with a nervous expression and discovered hazel eyes, dancing with desire.

"Nausicaa," He called to her in a low, enchanting murmur. "Let's not put this off any longer; feelings won't sort themselves out on their own."

"What do you mean?" Bewildered brown eyes bored into mesmerizing hazel that twinkled with a warm, fiery glow.

"I'm saying that I'm done waiting. I've tried to ignore my feelings, but I can't." A wry smile touched his lips. "You were worried about distracting me, but I'm already plenty distracted by you. There's no helping it." He confessed, then observed her carefully.

"Now I don't know for certain, but if my intuition and Tersa's account is correct, I'm not the only one feeling this way... So why don't we face it and admit it to each other?"

Amazement made its way into the dark brown depths as Nausicaa simply stared at him, hardly believing her ears. She had not expected him to be this forward. Carefully, almost gingerly, as if afraid he might disappear, she reached a hand out to his face, and her fingers traced his jawline. Asbel's expression softened at her touch.

"Am I still dreaming?" The woman murmured in wonder and slight amusement. With a wistful smile Asbel took her hand and tenderly kissed the back of her fingers. His expressive eyes never left hers; and he gently shook his head. Eyes full of sincerity seemed to grow a little anxious as he waited for her answer.

"But are you sure?" She asked concernedly. She originally was trying to do him a favor by delaying this conversation, but it seemed both of them had been suffering in the meantime.

"Do you really want to wait until after this expedition is over?" He countered seriously, as if the mere thought of it was painful.

"No, but this is hardly the best of times..."

"There is never a good time for these things..." He pointed out gently. "Rather, how much do you want it despite the bad timing?" Such a woeful expression of longing flashed across her features that he didn't need to hear her answer in words.

"Please," he begged in a half-whisper, his eyes revealing internal agony. "I don't think I can hold back any longer."

And neither could she. With a pitiful cry she flung her arms around him wholeheartedly, nearly causing him to lose his balance. She held onto him so desperately that Asbel realized how much she had been restraining herself. The man heaved a gigantic sigh of relief and buried his face into her neck, inhaling the deliciously sweet scent of her.

"Thank goodness," he breathed. "I thought I was the only one."

Eventually they drew away from each other and exchanged affectionate glances and sentimental smiles. Suddenly she remembered something, and glanced at the book suspiciously.

"Wait - how did you get the book?"

"Uhh, Tersa brought it to me." The girl emitted a groan while Asbel chuckled.


The next day, the crew noticed that Nausicaa was in an exceptionally joyous mood, greeting everyone and occasionally humming to herself. Asbel was also surprisingly cheerful, considering the fact that he usually kept to himself. Most people on the airship were entirely clueless as to how and why, but the more knowing ones like Yupa and Tersa could probably guess the reason. The day itself was relatively uneventful otherwise. The princess was on her way to her room to retire for the night when she passed by Asbel's room. She noticed the door was slightly ajar. She wondered if he might still be awake and noiselessly pushed the door open an inch and peered in. The moonlight illuminated his figure, resting calmly on the bed.

"Asbel?" She whispered, and was answered by the sound of his even breathing. The woman contemplated leaving him to sleep but couldn't pass up the opportunity; silently she squeezed herself through the door.

By the time she reached his bedside she could see the soft moonlight floating through the window, delicately highlighting his features; he was deeply asleep. Watching his form heave slightly with every breath, she couldn't help the slight curl on her lips. The expression on his face was so tranquil, it was almost beautiful - for once he didn't look worried about anything. The man hid it well, but she knew the current challenge and his mother's health burdened him; she had never seen a man at his age so fraught with worry over those dear to him. Somehow she also ended up bringing out his protective side too, and she cherished him for that.

Finally she caught herself absorbed in thought and panicked at the notion of him waking up. Before leaving she remembered one last thing she wanted to do. Slightly leaning over the bed, she lovingly caressed his tousled hair and pressed her lips to his forehead.

"Goodnight." she whispered, and got up to leave. She was halfway to the door when his voice drifted towards her, low and rumbling, with a playful lilt; she nearly jumped in fright.

"You really don't need to wait until I'm asleep to say good night to me." He drawled, his voice still harboring hints of sleepiness.

"Well, since you're awake now, it makes no difference." She retorted, a little embarrassed. Asbel got up, pulled open the covers and patted a spot next to him on the bed. Nausicaa looked at him skeptically.

"Come on; because I am very much awake now." He persuaded.

"Are you sure?" The girl asked with uncertainty in her voice.

"What, you don't trust me?" Asbel responded, pretending to be hurt.

"I absolutely do not." But by that time she had already climbed on.

"Are you alright? You don't usually come looking for me this late at night."

"Yeah I'm fine; just stopping by." She replied honestly.

"Is Tersa still awake?"

"No; you know she sleeps early. Why?"

"Oh nothing," He returned. "But she's a little scary...What if she gives me an earful when she finds out you spent the night in my room?" Nausicaa chuckled and decided to tease him a bit.

"Who said I was spending the night?" She chided. "Asbel, we agreed to be open about our feelings just yesterday... aren't you moving just a little fast?" She grinned impishly to see the Pejite grow flustered.

"You're the one sneaking into my room in the wee hours of the morning." He retorted a little grumpily.

"Tersa actually seems to like you," The Princess divulged. "You haven't seen some of the treatment she's given to others in the past."

"Others?" Nausicaa felt his rising interest; and was that possessiveness she heard in his voice?

"You're not the first guy that has tried to pursue me, you know."

"Did any of them succeed?" He asked, his voice just a little tense.

"No. Are you already jealous?" He relaxed again.

"No; I'm not worried about you." Silence hovered for a short moment. "Jarel seems to like you though." He commented, a little tentatively.

"I know; I turned him down." she sighed, a melancholic smile on her lips.

The two sat in silence next to each other, leaning against the back of the bed and simply enjoying each other's presence. They were beginning to realize how compatible they were with each other, whether holding hours of lively conversation or sharing intimate moments of quiet.

A few minutes later she detected that sleep was starting to creep upon her, and promptly shook herself awake.

"I should probably go," she breathed. Although Asbel had also nearly fallen asleep, he was still in a mischievous mood. He let out a playful growl, grabbed her by the waist and reeled her back in. Nausicaa giggled girlishly; Asbel turned serious and gave her a kiss in her hair.

"You don't have to go – unless you want to of course." He said, releasing his grip on her. Nausicaa was undecided, already missing the warmth of his arms around her. Staying would be nice, but would he mind?

"Are you sure? I don't want to be an inconvenience..."

"I don't mind at all. Would you quit being so polite? Just a short nap if you like, and then you can head back to your own room."

"Alright." Some part of her told her that it most likely was not going to be a short nap; however, she ignored that voice in her head and wriggled under the covers. Asbel made sure there was ample room between the two of them.

Strong moral fiber, she joked inside her head; Tersa would be proud.

Almost immediately she began drifting off again. She was nearly asleep when she heard Asbel say something.

"Thank you," he whispered, supposedly to himself, "for coming to me instead."


Meanwhile, an unlikely friendship was developing elsewhere. For the first couple of days back on the airship, Tersa eyed Kitson with mostly distrust. To her, the lad seemed to be nothing but trouble – a boy that only knew self-preservation, even at the cost of moral values. She originally thought he would be a lost cause, unreliable and selfish, formed by improper upbringing and unfortunate events. But after a bit of observation, her view of the little boy began to change. He was aware of his faults, very willing to be corrected, and quick to learn - perhaps many years of hardships had taught him the great skill of adaptability. Kitson was also very mature; the loss of both parents at a very young age gave him early exposure to the harsh realities of life. In this aspect Tersa somewhat understood him; even before the age of ten she was trained to carry herself with sensibility that was not found in other children. You could say that both Kitson and Tersa had similarly boring childhoods devoid of childish fun - except Kitson had neither the choice nor the guidance of loving parents. Fortunately, the boy never harbored any bitterness over his circumstances; underneath the delinquent behavior lay a clean and simple heart. The rest of the crew had accepted him into the group, and she eventually decided to do the same. Within a week she found herself mentoring him and constantly keeping an eye on him. This gave rise to peculiar conversations between the two.

"Tersa?" Kitson piped one afternoon, when the two were working together.

"Yes?"

"Are you still angry at me for trying to steal from you?" He asked innocently. "I know what I did was wrong." Tersa was a little surprised at the question.

"No, I'm not angry. As long as you know it was wrong, and know not to do it again, it's ok." The boy looked visibly relieved.

"Good," He huffed a little nervously. "I thought you were never going to forgive me."

"Never forgive you? Why?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "People hold grudges; it's a bad thing to do but people do it all the time."

"Hmm." She contemplated, amused at his observation. "No; no grudges from me." She concluded, half to herself as she continued working.

"Yeah; I try not to hold grudges. They never do you any good anyway. You never forget the past, and can't fix broken friendships. Then people are too scared to be friends with you, and then you turn into a genuinely grumpy person." Tersa laughed at his description.

"How do you come up with this stuff?" She asked him out of curiosity.

"I think about things whenever I can't sleep."

"You're a funny little guy," She said with a smile. "You would make a good philosopher."

"Nah, they don't ever make any money!" He replied with a grin.


Gradually they neared Merinth. It was a strange feeling for all to know they were at the last and most crucial part of their journey. Even the airship hummed with unrest the night before reaching its destination. It was well into the evening, and Nausicaa found Asbel standing on the deck, blankly staring out at the stars. The peaceful display of celestial lights contrasted sharply with his mood.

"Are you nervous?" she asked him gently. He glanced over at her with uncertainty.

"Yes..." he answered honestly. He wasn't sure why, but a terrible nagging feeling in his soul told him that this was going to be dangerous. The man worried what challenges his friends might be faced with, and especially what perils Nausicaa might be exposed to, seeing how determined she was to stay by his side. Her calming voice called him out of his thoughts.

"Don't be." She whispered, placing a hand on his arm. A faint, short-lived smile danced across his lips. She wondered what bothered him so much to be carrying such a dark expression.

"I keep thinking that something might go wrong in Merinth." He confessed. "If anything does happen, promise me you will first and foremost take care of yourself." He urged, then remembered to do something. Quietly he took her hand and pressed a small object into her palm.

"Keep this with you," he continued. "If we run into trouble, I want you to take the crew with you, leave Merinth, and look after my mother. I'll get the Musla plant myself and find my way out."

Looking down, she saw a petite dagger suspended on a gold chain, beautifully ornamented with jewels in stately blue and orange. She recognized the weapon; Asbel had shown it to her before as Lastelle's dagger, handed down from generations past. She smiled, and lovingly gazed up into his anxious expression.

"If something goes wrong, we will brave it together," answered Nausicaa. She took his hand intending to return such a precious item to him, but he foresaw her actions and brought his other hand to close over hers.

"Don't," He countered, shaking his head emphatically, while his eyes blazed with a passionate angst. Stubborn resolve seemed to build within him. "You have no obligation to lay your life on the line for me. I can't afford to lose you, or anyone on this airship. Promise me you'll do as I say." A confused frown appeared on her face.

"Asbel, I don't think-"

"Please," He implored. "It'll give me some peace of mind." He looked so frantic that she could not refuse him. Unwillingly she nodded, and watched the frenzy recede from his eyes in the seconds that followed. Soon a deep sense of longing flooded the earnest hazel, and with a newfound urgency he brought a finger to tilt her chin up and swiftly sealed his lips to hers. His arms moved to her waist, bringing her closer - as if to claim this girl to himself forevermore.

Nausicaa was completely taken by surprise but responded just as passionately, sliding her arms around his neck and bringing herself deeper into his arms. His lips were urgent and needy but not forceful; so sincere was he in the way he kissed her that Nausicaa's heart swelled within her. The embrace deepened for a few seconds more, then gradually softened as Asbel drew away.

He seemed a little nervous of her reaction at first, but relaxed when he saw her tenderly smile up at him. Carefully she moved her hand to his forehead, lightly smoothing out the frown that had been cemented to his face for the last twenty-four hours. As her fingers traced over his brows and framed his face, she noticed that the worry never left his eyes.

"You're certain something will go wrong?" She quietly asked after a couple moments. Although she was attuned to trouble in nature, she had no aptitude in predicting human behavior. Asbel similarly had never demonstrated any gift in premonitions of any sort.

"I don't know; but I have this dreaded feeling that it won't end well."

She nodded solemnly, gazing deeply into his furrowed expression. Deep within her, she hoped his sudden flare in instinctual warnings would turn out to be a false alarm.

"We'll find out tomorrow." She sighed darkly.


AN: april 23 2020 - thanks for reading. I ended up choosing to tweak the upcoming action plotline to make it more convincing haha... so bear with me but things are coming together! To any of my old readers who read the old version, I do thank you for supporting and following along. Hope this version is better. :)