A/N: Hey, fellow readers, my biggest apologies for taking so long to get back to this, busy outside of here and I couldn't find a proof-reader. I confess that is chapter been put on hold close to the last time I've updated. I KNOW TWO YEARS _, please don't shoot. Anyways… I hope it was worth the wait, also planning out the next chapters but they will come much quicker than this one. I promise.

DISCLAIMER: By the way I do not own The Star Ocean franchise nor the characters. I only take credit for my own characters and this plot.

Burning Rose

Chapter 2: Alluring Attention

She could not believe her ears and in shock as her cheeks get hot, "Fayt... I-" Nel was silences as Fayt leans in kissing her lips deeply with passion...

As Fayt kept kissing Nel passionately, chills went down her spin, as she felt his warm lips against hers. She then joins in kissing him just as passionate closing her eyes as she moved closer to him. Fayt opens his mouth adding tongue rubbing his tongue against the red-head's playing tongue hockey and pulled her onto his lap lightly caressing her back.

Nel felt warm static inside as they made out holding each other tightly, but she breaks out of the moment resting her forehead against the short blue-haired male before her gazing into his eyes with the look of wonder and love, "Where did that come from?" She asked still processing what had just happened.

"I just... confessed my love to you, Nel. I am in love with you." Fayt said with red cheeks looking into her green eyes with so much love.

Nel's cheeks turned bright red as she but her bottom lip, "Listen... I like you a lot too... More than that actually." The Aquarian clears her throat as she gets off her colleague's lap. "So... Uhmm... Cliff, Mirage and Sophia are here?"

Fayt stood up rubbing the back of his neck with cheeks still very warm, "Well... uhm... yeah... and my mother, Ryoko." He said helping up his friend up.

"Oh." Nel said looking up at the Earthling. "Where are they?"

"Peterny." Fayt answered looking back down at her as a light breeze comes.

Nel nods folding her arms, "I guess we should start going that way now."

Fayt nods his head and walks with her in silence back out of the graveyard, and the way they came from. They then started to head for Peterny from there on...

Later on...

As people walk around the town of peterny exploring, eating, chatting, shopping, and inventing, we find a trio of women checking out the flower stand, "Some lavender, please." The young brown-head said.

"Twenty Gil, please." The male florist said as he wrapped the lavender in paper.

She nods smiles paying him and takes the flowers from him softly.

"Sophia... over here sweetie." A soothing feminine called.

"Coming Auntie Ryoko." Sophia replied as she puts the rest of her money away and walks over to the two older women sitting at a table in the middle of the town square.

The brunette sat down at the table before both women, " They have the best lavender in country." Both older women nodded their heads and then looks back at Sophia.

"Sophia, did you ever have feelings for, Fayt?" The blonde middle-aged woman who appears to be in her late-forties or early-fifties. Sophia's parents arrived on Elicoor about a 1 hour ago because they came straight from Earth.

The brunette teen looks in disgust and annoyed, "MOTHER." She said offended folding her arms.

"What?" Mrs. Einsteed asked with disappointment in her daughter's tone, "I was just asking a question, Pumpkin. Also, adjust your tone with me."

"Y-you've just asked me if I have feelings for my best friend, who I think of as just a brother. OF COURSE, I would be pretty PEEVED OFF." Sophia replied agitated.

The blonde woman rolls her eyes, "What did you expect me to think, young lady?" Mrs. Einsteed asked back just as agitated.

"WELL... I never have, Fayt is my BROTHER, MOM." Sophia folds her arms looking away from her mother now.

"Very well..." The blonde sips on her glass of tea.

The purple haired older would chuckles a little as she sips on her glass of tea, "OH, Kyoko... I thought the same thing for a while but the more I watched the more I realized they act just like brother and sister."

Ryoko and Kyoko laughed together thinking how silly both were. While on the other hand Sophia sighs putting her head down, this was not funny to her at all. 'Please... someone just fucking kill me...' She thought to herself.

"They're coming." The younger blonde woman comes up to the table and sat down.

"Where, Mirage?" Sophia asked with excitement.

"They are currently in, Aria." Mirage smiled

"When are they coming?"

"Lady Claire, request that you come." A male's voice said from behind Mirage.

The women turned to face the man who is pale, short cut black hair and brown eyes, also wearing robes, from this they can tell that he is from Aquaria.

"Now?" Sophia asks.

The Aquarian nods his head, "I will explain on the way."

Together they located the rest of the group, then left for Aria, and the black-haired Aquarian explained along the way.

Aria, Aquiria

Earlier...

Fayt and Nel looked at each other nodding right before walking up to the gate of Aria, "Lady Nel!" An Aquarian soldier greets the Crimson Blade.

"AH... Fayt Leingod... as a pleasure always." Fayt nods listening the soldier.

The aquirian in armor turns around looking up at fellow soldiers above the gate, " LET THEM PASS!"

"YES SIR!" The soldiers obeyed and the gate opens at once letting the two heroes pass.

Nel and Fayt entered the Village one-by-one, the tension between both is barely there since the two had time to think about the kiss. The Village of Aria has quickly rebuilt itself from the rubble, and damage that was caused the Vadeeni.

"They quickly rebuilt the buildings that were in ruins." Fayt said to break their silence.

"Yes, thanks to the dedication of everyone here in the Village as well the whole country of Aquaria." Nel replied as they walked towards the Aquarian Mansion.

"Nel... I... We..." Fayt began to speak but interrupted by the auburn-haired woman beside him.

"We will discuss this... at another time." Nel replied in a gentle tone, "We need time to ourselves to really talk about this." She was about to open the door, but it opens the reveal a silver-haired woman with brown eyes and a warm smile.

"NEL it is great to see you! Also, Fayt happy to see you too." The young woman greeted the duo at the door.

"Yes, Claire." Nel nodded her head as her best friend steps to the side and lets them both in.

Claire leads them both to the meeting room, and closes the door behind them, "Now give me the latest plans from the Queen."

Nel nods her head gives everything blow by blow what the Queen, the Magistrate have discussed with, "Are you going to take a vacation tomorrow." The Aquarian inquired eyeing both Nel and Fayt.

"...I don't need a vacation." Nel said simply after thinking about it.

Claire let out a light chuckle, "You do my dear friend. I thought maybe you could take a vacation with... Fayt." She grinned from ear to ear.

The red-head sighs looking at her friend while Fayt was not so sure what to say about this statement, sure he is in love with her but Nel enjoying her vacation... now that is a whole different story itself.

Claire shakes her head, "Nope... Queen's orders you are to take a week vacation and I suggested Fayt to go along with you ."

Nel stood there lifting an eyebrow in shock but you could also tell she is annoyed, "I will obey the Queen's orders but... I will deal with you later Claire."

Claire keeps smiling in victory, "While you are here Aria, planned a dinner for you and the gang but they are over at Peterny, the guards will retrieve them."

Just as soon as she said that a black-haired male walked in with a group of People that looked familiar to Nel and Fayt. There were only two individuals that Nel did not recognize.

"Ah... you all made it." Claire grinned as she greeted them all with a handshake.

"Yes, thank you Lady Claire." The purple-haired older woman spoke.

Claire nods for them to take a seat, "My pleasure." The rest of the gang takes their seats.

" Perfect timing, you are dismissed Eric." Claire said to the Aquarian as he nods and bows before leaving.

Once the door closed Claire spoke freely about the dinner and festivities, "This is a huge thank you from the whole country of Aquaria."

After an hour went by the meeting was adjourned, "I will be in the building." Claire bows before leaving.

The room fell silent after Claire left, "So... you are the woman that everyone is talking about, " Kyoko stated with a smile.

Nel nods but knows this conversation is going to last a long time. Now she knows that her and Fayt are alluring attention.

"I only thought I was mentioned maybe a few times, but obviously it is more than that." Nel said looking at Blonde sitting across from her.

"Oh, excuse me where are my manners, my name Kyoko Esteed and this is my husband, Clive." Kyoko points to herself a d then the brown-haired male beside her.

There you go, that is the end of Chapter 2. I have some fun ideas running around in my head. I hope you all like it. Please, review and critique, Thank You!

~SassyMysticalEngr