A/N: Hi, I'm back! ;) Sorry for such a long delay but I've been stuck with writers block and lacked inspiration for the longest time on how to continue and finish this story. The last two chapters were removed by the admin and they never told me why so I have to rewrite them :( For those who have read my fic before my two latest chapters were removed, I'm going to change them a bit to stay on the safe side. For those new to my story, I hope you enjoy and please review! I'm finally feeling inspired again now that I played the PSP version of FFT though I'm going to stick to the modern English dialogue of the original rather than use the Shakespeare style English of the remake. I am also going to stick with the name spelling of the characters from the original FFT version as well.

Chapter 4: Taking it Slow

As soon as Izlude felt Alma's lips touch his, he was so startled and shocked that he felt as though he would jump out of his skin if such a thing was possible. Her kiss was passionate and her lips soft and sweet, the wine she drank earlier mingling with a very pleasant unique taste that was so utterly Alma. Her nervous shaking told Izlude that she was new to the art of love but that didn't make it any easier for him to force himself to take her by the shoulders and gently push her away from him.

"Miss Alma, what are you doing?!" he cried, his eyes the size of plates as he found himself blushing to the roots of his chestnut hair.

Alma panicked at Izlude's startled reaction to her kiss. It looks like her attempt at seduction isn't going as well as she'd hoped. It looked so easy in the love stories she read but she quickly discovered that trying it in real life was not so simple or easy. Say something, quick! She thought as she quickly probed her mind on how to best answer her host's demand but instead of an answer, she gave a question of her own.

"Why, you don't like it? Don't you find me attractive?" Alma regretted the question as soon as it left her mouth. This was even worse than the time she told Izlude he wasn't so bad looking himself after he kindly praised her beauty. Of all the times to screw up, why did it have to be now? The young noblewoman braced herself for her host's reaction which she did not expect to be pleasant but to her surprise, he shook his head after he managed to calm himself down.

"No… it's not that. You just surprised me, that's all. I apologize if I came off as rude or ungrateful, I didn't mean it that way. I like you very much but don't you think we're going a bit too fast? We only met a few days ago."

Alma lowered her head in apology. "No, you're right" she said "You have nothing to apologize for, you didn't do anything wrong. If there's anyone who should be apologizing, it's me. You've been so good to me since I came here and I regret that I have nothing to give you in return except myself." It wasn't the whole truth but neither was it a lie. There was no guarantee that she would get out of this war alive and she didn't want to die without ever knowing the love of a man. Still, she wasn't desperate to the point that she would give herself to just anyone; it had to be someone she had at least some feelings for and of course, find desirable. Only problem was, she wasn't sure if he felt the same way.

As if in answer to her thoughts, Izlude smiled. "Alma, everything I've done for you so far was of my own free will and I do not want you to feel like you have to give me anything in return; you have absolutely no obligation since it was I who brought you here against your will."

Alma relaxed, relieved that Izlude wasn't upset or offended by her actions earlier. "I see… thank you for understanding."

The young knight blade gently took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up to meet his eyes. "It's alright" he said gently "I know you and I are supposed to be enemies but still… I would not be adverse to… other possibilities."

Alma's eyes brightened. "Then, you do find me attractive?"

Oh, do I ever… Izlude thought. It was a ridiculous question, asked by a girl whose beauty rivaled even that of Princess Ovelia's.

"Of course, I do" he answered. "But like I said before, we barely know each other. Wouldn't you prefer to take things a bit slower and get better acquainted?"

"You're right… I would like that very much; forgive my impulsiveness."

"Don't worry about it. Say, Alma, would you like to take an evening walk with me for a bit?"

Alma could not help feeling delighted. She had not been outside at night in almost a week since she was brought here and yearned to see the lovely evening starlit sky again, especially now that she finally had a handsome companion to enjoy it with.

"Yes, I would love that but would your superiors allow it?"

"Honestly, not really, but no one has to know since its getting late and my comrades have already retired to their rooms for the evening. There are only a few guards out on night patrol and since none of them knows you're Alma Beoulve, I believe they will think nothing of me taking an unknown female companion out for an evening stroll so long as she behaves herself."

The subtle warning was not lost on Alma but she had no intention of trying to escape, at least not just yet; the time wasn't right so for now, she thought it best to just enjoy the rest of her evening with Izlude.

"Of course, Izlude. You know this castle better than I do; when should we leave?"

In answer, the knight blade sat up and made a bow before offering his hand to help Alma get up. She needed no further goading as she took his hand and allowed Izlude to pull her to her feet. This wasn't exactly what she expected after their first kiss but she couldn't complain; it may very well work out better than she thought after all.

"No time like the present, my lady…" he answered with a smile.

SSSSSS

Alma could not help but sigh happily as she closed her eyes and pointed her face to the sky, enjoying the cool evening breeze on her face. Though she enjoyed Justin's daytime companionship very much, it still couldn't quite compare with Izlude's evening companionship.

"Thank you for taking me out this evening; I have not seen the moon and stars in almost a week. Not that I'm complaining, I'm very grateful you allow me the privilege of spending my days outside with Justin instead of keeping me in my chambers day and night."

"You're welcome" Izlude said as smiled and patted Alma's hand. The couple was strolling the castle gardens with their arms joined after passing through the courtyard. Though it was not his home, Izlude still knew Riovanes very well since he had visited the castle many times in the past as this was where he studied and trained to be a knight. He was every bit a guest here as well as Alma, courtesy of the grand Duke Barrington, and while his own lodging was free, the duke's generosity did not extend to any prisoners the Knights Templar might take so he had to pay for Alma's room, meals, and clothing out of his own salary.

Of course, Alma herself was aware of this. After their struggle at Orbonne and waking up in the castle dungeon, the Beoulve girl was greatly displeased with her abductor and plotted her escape around those feelings of displeasure with Izlude as well as her desire to be reunited with her favorite brother. But his unexpected generous treatment of her as well as their mutual attraction was making it more complicated as well as difficult. "Izlude…" she began as she tried to think of what to say.

"Yes, Alma?"

"I am very grateful for what you've done for me. And I hope you will forgive my rash behavior earlier since I have very little experience with men and courtship. When I was younger, my eldest brother arranged for me to be married to a son of one of his allies, whom I have never met. I did not object when he made his decision known to me because I fancied no one else at the time since he made sure I was isolated from other men outside my family. But now that I've met you, it makes things a bit more complicated" she confessed.

Izlude frowned. He knew he shouldn't be surprised at the Beoulve girl's revelation. A lot of young noblewoman were betrothed and married off at a young age and he had to agree that his interference in Alma's life would likely earn him the displeasure of all her brothers, not just Ramza's. Still, he felt the need to ask.

"I see… so would you prefer me over the man Dycedarg has chosen for you?"

Alma looked down. "I have never met my so-called fiancé. But whoever he is, I feel that he would not be able to compare with you…"

Izlude could not help being pleased with Alma's confession "So do you like being with me, Alma?"

"Very much…" she answered shyly."What about you? Do you like being with me?"

"Of course, I do; I wouldn't have you here if I didn't."

Alma could not help but blush. Though she had not forgotten her desire to be reunited with her favorite brother, she was greatly intrigued by her new found friendship with her abductor and had circumstances been different, would not have minded just staying here with him until the war was over. But it could not be; Ramza needed her and she could be of no use to him as long as she was held captive. She knew she had Izlude's interest; now all she needed was to gain his trust enough to drop his guard and make her escape possible. But that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy his companionship as long as she was here.

"Thank you, Izlude…" she whispered softly as she leaned forward to kiss her abductor again, this time, more gently and somewhat more sincerely. The young knight blade groaned softly as he took her in his arms and returned her kiss, savoring her sweet taste; this time, he was better prepared.

"Mmm… much better…" he whispered.

A/N: Ok, chapter 4 rewrite is finally up! I want to make the relationship between the two more genuine and believable so I decided to have them take things more slowly since real love does take time. ;) I apologize to my reviewers for such the long delay but now that I have time and inspiration, I will try to have a new chapter up every week until the story is done ;)