The Other Side of the Coin
Written by: Somnion
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Ocean 3 or Fruits Basket (You'll understand why...)
Thank you all once again for your great reviews. It really helps me get motivated to continue writing. Also, I'd like to apologize for my late updates. College is real tough on me. I have 36 contact hours a week, so it's quite difficult sometimes, especially with all the tests and quizzes my lecturers are dishing out. I'm sorry to say it will take a little longer for me to post my humor fic; because although I have the idea, getting the storyline worked out may take some extra time. Good news: Vox and Woltar will be joining the crew this chapter, with a little twist in the works. This chapter will be part-humor and part-serious, I'm trying to make this fic appeal to as many readers as possible. Finally, thank you all for the reviews and for supporting 'A Love Forbidden'. I'll do my best to update should I get some time off.
So here we go; the next chapter: Chatting with the Devil Vox.
Chapter 7: Chatting with the Devil Vox
An hour passed and Albel still remained awake. He was finding it difficult to fall asleep, despite his weariness and fatigue. He tried closing his eyes, desperately trying to fall into a state of blissful slumber, but found that it was impossible to do so. Especially when there was a woman gently resting her head on his shoulder.
He turned his head to look at the slumbering maiden, sleeping soundly as a baby on his right shoulder.
"It's the maggot's head," he muttered under his breath. "Her skull is as hard as a rock."
Nel had always been considered as one of the most hard headed of the Crimson Blades and Albel was experiencing it. Her head put extra weight on his shoulder, making it ache; and her thick hair tickled his bare shoulder, causing Albel much discomfort.
"How on earth was she able to sleep so quickly?" he asked himself. "It was as if she practically plopped her head on my shoulder and then she was out like a light."
Albel put his head back on the cave wall, partly wishing that he too had somewhere to put his head on, instead of on the uncomfortable wall. Looking at Nel again, he felt the urge to smack her on the head. She sleeping felt as if she was mocking him for his inability to sleep. Besides, why should she sleep if he had to stay awake? Then again, how was she able to get to sleep? Most women usually wouldn't be able to sleep as soundly as Nel was now, especially at such close proximity with a man. Could it be that Nel didn't see Albel as a threat? The possibility of that fact made Albel even madder, increasing his urge of hitting her. In fact, he almost did, but Nel moved slightly, evading his blow in a sleep-induced reflex.
"Damn, she moves a lot," he muttered as she changed the position of her head from Albel's shoulder to his chest. "I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up tomorrow and find her body sprawled on top of mine. She'd probably accuse me of molesting her in her sleep if that were to happen."
Albel, to his surprise, found himself hardening to the idea. "NO, STOP, DESIST," he screamed to himself. "Stop getting those thoughts."
"But that seemed like a nice idea to me," said a voice. "Molesting her in her sleep… sounds tempting."
Albel looked around trying to find the source of the voice but then it called out again.
"Down here, boy."
Albel looked down at his crotch, turning white in disbelief.
"Did 'it' just talk to me," he thought nervously. "Were the side-affects of that medicine that bad?" (Poor Albel, getting delusional from lack of sleep.)
"Why don't you go have some fun, Albel? That Aquarian is rather tempting," continued the voice.
"Maybe I should reply," he thought. "Listen here…um 'you'," he started, "I don't why you're talking to me but I'm warning you to stop talking right now…,"
He couldn't finish his sentence because he felt a hard piece of metal hit him on the head. Glaring around angrily, intent on finding the perpetrator, Albel was taken aback by surprise as he saw a miniature version of DukeVox, clad in nightmarish red armor and brandishing a menacing trident of bronze. A serpent made of copper with eyes of rubies was curled around the trident's hilt; and carrying in its ferocious mandibles was an orb of dark crimson. (Ha ha, and you thought Albel was talking to his privates.)
"Don't you ever associate me with something as disgusting as your privates," he yelled back angrily at Albel, who had overcome the sudden shock.
"Considering how much attention the Glyphian women give to them, Vox, you'd be begging to be my privates," retorted Albel.
"When you mean attention, were you referring to the pity or the insults concerning your miniscule package?" countered the little devil.
"You're a fine one to talk, pee wee. You weren't exactly the Marquis back then," said Albel as he put his finger on Vox's head, indicated how small he was. Smirking and chuckling, he said "It was small back then, Tiny, but now I'm really embarrassed for you."
'Damn' was the only word that Vox could think of in response to Albel's comeback. If there is anything to be learnt in this scenario, is that you never throw an insult at Albel, you can never win.
"So what are you doing here, Vox?" Albel asked suddenly. "Lucifer must be very generous to let you roam around up here."
"Why am I here?" asked Vox rhetorically, "Why I'm here to advise you, my dear boy."
"Really," asked Albel blankly in disbelief.
"Of course," he replied with a smile, "why, only just now I heard you say something rather 'interesting' and I came up here especially to tempt…. I mean encourage you…"
"To take advantage of a sleeping woman," scoffed Albel. "You're wasting your breath, maggot. You should know I couldn't be bothered about those things."
"She's laying her head on your chest, Albel. A very intimate sign, it's almost as if she is hinting you Albel. Come on boy, release your lust and go wild."
"How can someone hint me if they're asleep, you fool," he snapped back. "Sometimes, I wonder if there is anything in that lump you call a head."
"Take a chance, Albel. This is not just any woman we're talking about. This is Nel Zelpher, the Crimson Blade. A fine vixen of a woman and a foxy young girl without a doubt."
"Foxy," thought Albel. "First time I ever heard Nel being classified as foxy. That would make a nice nickname though."
"You know Albel, Aquarian women are usually sworn to chastity, which means the young maiden lying on your chest is still fresh," continued the former Dragon Brigade General.
"Fresh?" repeated Albel quizzically.
"You know, fresh, still green. Inexperienced and still a virgin. Why don't you be a good boy and show her the ropes."
"Like that'll ever happen," Albel interrupted once he understood Vox's meaning. "Let's get this straight, maggot. I have no intention of molesting a woman in her sleep. Firstly is because I couldn't be bothered and secondly because it's not my style."
"What is wrong with your head, boy?" he yelled, losing his patience with Albel. "Don't you know how to take advantage of a girl when given the chance? Stop being stubborn and go for it…unless you're afraid."
"Afraid," scoffed Albel in response.
"Yes. You're afraid of what may happen if you got caught. How manly of you, Albel, afraid of a woman. Guess Nel and her scary blades are frightening poor Albel. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
He put his hands to his eyes in a crying motion as he said those words, hoping to get Albel to cave in to his taunts.
"You mean these blades," he replied as he dangled Nel's daggers in front of the Glyphian General. Vox began to turn white as the expression on Albel's face turned sour. Perhaps that 'afraid' insult was going too far.
"Uh, oh," thought Vox. "This is not good."
Albel grabbed the little devil, pointing the edge of Nel's daggers menacingly at him.
"Listen well, worm," he snarled as he edged the blade towards Vox's throat. "If you value your life at all, leave now, because I assure you that Romero and all his torments in the darkest pits of hell are going to be a mere figment of the imagination as compared to five minutes with me and this dagger."
"Alright, alright," pleaded the former duke, "just put me down."
Albel put the pleading general down, who then fluttered over to Albel's left shoulder.
"Albel, I owe you an apology," he said suddenly, catching Albel by surprise. "I take back what I said earlier about you. I guess… had I known that you were still 'fresh' as well, I would never have come."
"WHAT!" Albel yelled.
"I mean, what other reason could it be?" he asked innocently. "I take it that the taunt you made about the attention you receive from Glyphian women was a lie?"
"Of course not," retorted Albel. "You take that back, worm!"
"I will," Vox said calmly, "once you prove me wrong."
"Heh, I'm not that stupid to fall for such a simple trick. I don't have to prove anything to you because I do have a lot of experience. You'll just have to take my word for it."
"I guess Romero and the rest of the denizens of hell are going to have one great laugh when they hear that Albel the Wicked is actually Albel the Virgin," he said smugly.
That was the last straw; Albel clenched his teeth and snarled through them, "You're going to eat those words, Vox. Just you wait…"
Slowly and carefully, Albel moved Nel's sleeping frame, laying her flat on the ground. An evil smirk began to spread across Vox's devilish features as Albel drew closer to the slumbering maiden. Albel eyed the Aquarian's body nervously. Despite all the protests he had voiced against Vox, he and only he knew that just like Nel, he had no experience in this field. However, with his pride and integrity hanging in the balance, he would prove his point to Lord Vox and make him eat those words. His hand was shaking as it drew closer to Nel.
Suddenly, Albel felt a surge of pain streak through one of his fingers. Quickly withdrawing his hand, he was surprised when he noticed it was bleeding and even more surprised when he found out that the weapon that had injured was a small white feather comprised of light.
"So, heaven has finally responded," said Vox calmly, smirking as he turned to face the newcomer. "Heaven must be getting serious if they decided to send you of all angels. But then again, to see the Angel of Death Woltar in action, I'm honored."
"The Angel of Death Woltar," Albel asked in surprise as he turned to face the angel, half expecting to see a demonic angel clad in a dark robe brandishing a scythe. However, what he saw was a miniature version of Woltar with white wings of light clad in a white robe. A halo of gold hovered above his head and in his hand he held a harp of gold with strings of silver. A sword of holy fire was sheathed on his belt which was made of many precious materials like emeralds, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, topaz and diamonds. He carried on his back a large round shield of bronze decorated with many other precious stones similar to his belt. (Woltar is so cool).
Despite Woltar's regal appearance, Albel was not impressed. "That old coot is the Angel of Death?" he asked Vox blankly. "Don't underestimate him," was the reply Albel received from the little devil. "Despite that vulnerable exterior, that man is a battle hardened warrior. The amount of demons, pit fiends and efreets who have been slain by his hands are innumerable.
Suddenly, the trident that Vox held in his hand split in three pieces, leaving both Albel and Vox in a state of shock.
"Must I always endure such praise," Woltar said as readjusted some strings on his harp.
"Well, Albel," Vox said suddenly, "You've seen first hand the effectiveness of Woltar's weapon of choice. That harp has strings sharp enough to cut through dragon scale hide and the strongest of metals."
"You disappoint me, Albel," Woltar said, turning to Albel. "Have you really sunk so low? Willing to take advantage of a sleeping woman just to prove a point?"
"Listen," Albel snapped back, "you stay out of this, old man. What I do is completely none of your business."
'Have you forgotten, boy," continued Woltar as he shook his head in disapproval, "that when you were sick, she aided you, when you couldn't even drink, she helped you and when you were shivering, despite your protests, she willingly say next to you so that you may share your cloak. She trusts you Albel. Are you really going to break that trust?"
Albel stopped his actions immediately as the facts hit him. It was true. Everything the tiresome old coot said was true. Nel trusted him and he was just about to break that trust by taking advantage of the slumbering maiden. But still, the idea of him losing his pride and to be laughed at for being a virgin, at his age no less, was too horrible to imagine.
Vox begin to see Albel's resolve waning and knew that if he did not intervene; the Angel of Death might just be able to win Albel's confidence.
"What are you doing, boy?" he said suddenly. "Can't you see this is your big chance? She's lying on the floor, completely harmless. Didn't you see you wanted to keep that option of fondling around with her breasts open? Now is your big chance to take them."
Albel then shifted his eyes Nel's bosom. Though still veiled from his eyes, he felt his blood heat in his veins as his eyes focused on her chest, rising slowly and softly as she breathed in and out. Her breasts were usually wrapped together, so as to prevent them from interfering her during melee combat, but this time they weren't bound because she was sleeping and Albel could more or less make out their size.
"Don't even try it, boy," the angel said suddenly. "Remember, we are not barbarians. Women and their bodies have their rights. As men, we should respect those rights."
"What are you saying?" snapped the devil. "Women and their breasts have no 'rights'. We'll squeeze them until she squeals. If she feels violated and wants to gripe about it; so be it. You've grown far too soft in your old age, Woltar."
The former Dragon Brigade Captain then gestured to the bronze snake that had coiled itself around his trident. The serpent, as if driven telepathically by his demonic master, slithered over towards the broken pieces of the trident. Then, by the means of some rather advanced form of runology, the snake bound the broken pieces, forging the devilish trident anew. As the serpent coiled around the weapon, taking in its fangs the crimson orb, Vox gestured again and brought the trident to his hands. As the Glyphian General channeled his unholy energy through his instrument of mayhem, the eye-like rubies on the snake began to glow bright red and the crimson orb began to let loose a barrage of lightning bolts in Woltar's direction.
Using his gigantic wings of light, Woltar shielded himself from the deadly projectiles that were aimed at him. As the storm of lightning bolts had lifted, he pulled his wings back and glared ferociously at Vox.
"No rights, hmm? he replied. "That may be so, to lecherous demon like you."
Woltar then brought his wings forward and retaliated by releasing a barrage of feathers imbued with the power of light. Each feather sped towards the former general, like an arrow to its mark.
However, Vox evaded each arrow with incredible demonic speed. Letting out a sadistic laugh of victory, he began to taunt the Angel of Death.
"Is this all I can expect from heaven's elite, the Angel of Death? All that effort you put into that attack and yet you still couldn't even scathe me."
Woltar then raised his hands in a pulling motion, as if he was retaliating to the demon's taunts. Vox noticed this movement and prepared for an attack but none came. Yet to his great surprise, he noticed the strings on the harp were missing.
It then dawned on him but it was too late. Vox tried to turn but felt the sting of one of Woltar's feathers graze his cheek. It was he expected; the feathers Woltar had shot were merely a diversion to Woltar's real purpose. Woltar knew that Vox would have been more than capable to dodge a frontal attack so Woltar had to attack from the flank. Attaching his harp strings to his feathers he knew that Vox would not be able to see the strings if the demon his attacks dodged at an incredible speed. Alas, the knowledge had come far too late for Vox as he found himself being bound tightly by the angel's strings.
"Basic strategy, Vox," said Woltar as he approached his quarry. "The first attack is always a diversion."
Vox continued to struggle his way out of the angel's trap but Woltar exclaimed how fruitless his attempts were.
"It's useless," he said. "There is no way you can escape those threads."
Vox looked defiantly at the Storm Brigade captain who asked sarcastically, "Did you really think you could win? Some may hide, some might flee and some like you fight, but their deaths are never prevented; only postponed. It is futile to fight against the inevitable. I am the Angel of Death and Reaper of Souls. Every soul shall taste the drought of Death and none can escape my hands.
"Then," said Vox as he smirked at his captor, "let me be the first." With that, he vanished, disappearing into a cloud of smoke.
"Cloud of smoke, huh?" thought Woltar. "Only higher levels of demons are capable of such a feat. This one is no ordinary quarry."
Albel, who had been watching the whole time, was both surprised and slightly amused as the two shoulder guardians battled out. If his guardians were like this all the time, he'd look forward to another meeting.
"Remember, Albel," a voice rang in his head, which Albel recognized as Duke Vox's, "Albel the Virgin is going to be a hit."
"No," yelled Albel, "I won't allow it."
"No, Albel," warned Woltar. "Don't do it."
Albel looked at his guardian on his shoulder and sighed, "I have to Woltar. My reputation is at stake so don't try to stop me."
"Is your ego all that is important to you, Albel?" asked Woltar in return. "Doesn't it mean anything to you that she trusts you? You, of all people. The same person who she probably has a hundred and one different reasons to hate, and yet she still trusts you."
Albel clenched his fists. He knew that Nel was trusting him and he had no intention of breaking this trust. He began to recall all the things he and Nel had gone through together. The memories all were beginning to flood into view, making it harder for him commit this vile act.
"I don't want to Woltar. I really don't," he said finally. "This completely against my style of doing things but there is too much at stake. She was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. It's her fault, not mine."
Woltar watched helplessly as Albel reached for the Crimson Blade who lay asleep. As his hand reached closer he heard her mutter under her breath.
"Albel… die."
Quickly, Albel withdrew his hand. He had really done it. She was awake the whole time and Albel had practically signed his death sentence by trying to molest her while she slept. However, upon closer inspection, he found that she was indeed asleep but was sleep talking.
"Wow," Albel taught to himself. "This girl sure has a bunch of bad sleeping habits; she spins around like a top in her sleep and now sleep talking."
Suddenly, she spoke again. But what she said surprised Albel greatly.
"Albel…don't die."
"Don't die," he repeated, almost in disbelief.
"Albel, don't die," said Nel once again, still deep in slumber.
"What's going on," thought Albel, who was confused with all this new happenings. "Why is she saying 'Albel don't die' all the time?"
Woltar somehow knew what Albel was thinking and said, "I'll show you." He then proceeded in casting a spell.
All of sudden Albel began to feel dizzy; the world under him seemed to spin and turn, leaving him disoriented and completely out of place. Albel then awoke, finding himself in the darkness of Duggus Forest. It was raining but the leaves on trees shielded him from most of the downpour. He found Woltar still perched on his shoulder, who, at the moment, seemed to be looking for something
"Where are we, old man," he asked impatiently. "What the hell did you do just now?"
Woltar however, paid no heed to Albel's question and continued looking out for something he was expecting to come.
"Hey," yelled Albel, who was obviously quite upset about the fact that he was being ignored, but was cut off by Woltar, who then pointed out into the distance.
"Look over there," Woltar said.
Looking over in the direction Woltar told him to, Albel saw what he thought to be a solitary figure. As the figure approached he recognized the person as Nel. She had multiple scratches along her arms and legs which were probably caused by all the thick brambles and bushes in the forest. Her shoes were covered in mud and rain water dripped down her body. Dead leaves and twigs that fell off the trees got tangled in her now messy red hair. It looked as if she had gone through hell and back. She seemed to be carrying something on her shoulders which Albel had figured must have been someone's corpse. As Albel drew closer he noticed that the 'corpse' was none other than himself. If you thought Nel was in terrible shape, Albel was in an even worse condition. It looked as if Nel had practically dug him out of a grave. He was as pale as a corpse, his entire body wet with rain water and mud, twigs and dead leaves decorating his messy black hair and cloak.
"What's going on?" yelled Albel in surprise.
"This is Nel's dream," Woltar answered. "We're seeing an event that had happened in the past."
"Then why am I dead," screamed Albel in a rage.
"You're not dead, Albel," Woltar continued. "You're just unconscious."
They continued to watch on as Nel trudged through the wilderness, trying to find a place of solace to tend to Albel's wounds. Finally, she found a cave hidden in the cliffs.
"The cave you're in now," Explained Woltar, "It was quite a journey from the place you had fought. It took that woman about three hours to get here."
"Three hours!" exclaimed Albel in surprise and disbelief.
"Yes," confirmed Woltar, "for three grueling hours she dragged your almost lifeless body without stop or rest."
Albel was silent. He could not belief what he saw before. Yet, right before his eyes, he saw the tired Aquarian drag his miserable body into the safety of the cave. Truth be told, Nel had no reason to help him and in fact, should not have even bothered. Despite being paired together for the mission and the alliance between their two kingdoms, the sins he committed against her country were great and leaving him there to die in the wilderness, in his opinion, still would not have been enough to redeem himself for his terrible and horrific actions. In his opinion, he deserved an even worse fate.
Looking on as how Nel tended gently to his wounds, carefully removing the poison from his wounds, he couldn't believe that he had actually considered taking advantage of her. Seeing her putting all her efforts in healing him made him regret his actions even more. She carefully and gently stitched up the wound, binding it with clean bandages. Suddenly, Nel began to use some runology.
"What is she doing?" he asked Woltar.
"She is creating a barrier with runology," he answered. "Its purpose is to fend of intruders and to protect its target, as well as alert the caster of the spell."
"Why?" he asked again.
"Do you remember that medicine she made for you," asked Woltar in return.
"Yeah," replied Albel. "What about it?"
"She needs herbs in order to make that medicine," explained the angel. "She needs to go out to look for them, but she can't leave you unprotected and alone in the process."
"But she told me that she couldn't use her runology," Albel exclaimed. "If she is using her runology, that would mean she is…"
"Yes," sighed Woltar, "she is forcing herself."
Albel looked at Nel as she continued casting her spell. He saw a protective barrier begin to envelop his unconscious self. As the barrier continued to grow, he noticed that Nel was steadily growing weaker and was struggling very hard to ensure that the spell was completed. Finally, as soon as the protective barrier had finished covering his entire body, Albel noticed Nel seemed to be finding it rather difficult to stand and finally, she lost her bearings and fell to her knees, coughing out blood. Albel, as if driven by impulse, tried to reach out to her in hopes of breaking her fall but just passed through her.
"It's useless," explained Woltar. " In this parallel world, we cannot affect anything because we exist simply as phantoms in her dream."
"What's going on?" Albel asked. "What happened to her?"
"That's what happens when use too much runology in a day," continued Woltar. "Nel was lucky because she was just able to graze her limit. This was a very risky plan because if she reached her limit, she would have lost consciousness and perhaps permanent damage, both physically and mentally.
Albel watched on as Nel picked herself up, still weak after that last spell. Then she made her way for the entrance of the cave to search for the herbs she required. Albel followed her out into the pouring rain, watching her as she rummaged through the bushes, looking desperately for the herbs.
"Albel," Woltar said finally, "I'm going to pull us back to the real world. Are you ready?"
"Why is she doing this?" Albel asked. "Why is that foolish woman willing to put her life on the line for me? It shouldn't matter to her what happens to me. It's none of her damned business."
"Albel," said Woltar, "do you recall that story Glou used to tell you when you were a boy. It was called the Foolish Traveler."
The memories then begin to flood back to Albel, washing him over like a wave.
"So what story are you going to tell me today, Dad?" asked little Albel, who lay in his bed, waiting for his father to read him to sleep.
"Well, today's story is called the Foolish Traveler," said Glou, who sat next to his son on the bed.
"I hope it's better than the other story you told me," pouted the young lad. "That one put me straight to sleep."
"Don't worry this one will be interesting," said Glou with a smile. "In fact, you might learn something from it."
The little boy gleamed at his father's words, his big eyes filled with excitement as he awaited for his father's story.
"Once upon a time," began Glou, "there lived a foolish traveler. He one day decided to travel to a village in a far away land to make his fortune. He carried with him a pouch of gold pieces to sustain for the trip. Once he arrived to the village, he met an old woman who said she had no food. The traveler then gave him some of his gold coins. However, the traveler didn't know was that all the villagers knew that the traveler was very foolish, so they all thought they would take advantage of him. Every where the traveler went, he always met someone who was stricken by some bad luck and asked for his help. Since the traveler was so kind-hearted, he always gave and gave. Finally, when he left the village, the traveler didn't have even the clothes on his back anymore. The traveler then walked into jungle where he met a group of goblins. The first goblin said he was hungry, so the traveler let him eat one of his legs. Then the second said he that was hungry too, so the traveler let him eat the other leg. The other goblins complained they were hungry too and the traveler let them eat parts of him. In the end all that was left of the traveler was his head. As the last goblin finished eating his eyes, he said to the traveler, "Thank you, here is a present for you." Then he picked a piece of paper and wrote the word fool on it. The blind traveler then cried from his eyeless sockets and said, "Thank you, Thank you. This is the first time anyone has given me a present since I went on this trip." In the end, the poor traveler, left with only his head, died, still crying tears of joy, still saying thank you until his last breath.
"What a fool that traveler was," said Albel.
"Do you really think that, Albel?" said Glou, as he looked at his son. "Because I don't."
"Why," asked the boy in surprise.
"Because," continued his father, "when I think about how the traveler sat there alone, crying and saying thank you, I thought of how he may have felt. And I think, he was not unhappy and had done something he thought had helped others, even though everyone else didn't help him at all. This story teaches us something, Albel. It teaches us selflessness."
Albel floated away from his memories, recalling his father's words.
"Now only do seem to understand your words," he thought to himself. "At first, it seemed so utterly idiotic, but now I think I am beginning to see what you saw as well."
"But still," said Albel, "she shouldn't have gone through so much. I don't deserve it."
Woltar then looked at Albel and sighed.
"Albel, don't you think you have punished yourself enough?" said Woltar, after a moment of silence. "Perhaps it is time for you to start opening up to others. Every sword's place of peace is its scabbard. Every man's place of peace is in the heart of those who are important to him. Perhaps it is time for you to find a scabbard to sheath yourself."
As Woltar said those words, Albel felt himself getting dizzy as he spiraled back to the real world. Albel slowly opened his eyes as the dizziness subsided. Sitting himself up he noticed that Nel was still lying down on the floor where he had left her. Woltar, however, was nowhere in sight.
"One day, Albel," said Woltar, who now sounded like he was calling out from a distance, "You will understand my words."
"Troublesome old coot," Albel muttered under his breath, as the voice faded away. It was bad enough that the real Lord Woltar nagged him incessantly, but now he had a guardian angel that was just like Woltar.
His eyes drifted back to Nel once again, who lay on the cave floor, deep in slumber. Sighing tiredly, Albel carefully picked her up and carried her gently back to the wall she was lying on before. Taking his place next to her because of the cold, he spread his cloak over them. Nel's head tilted back again to his shoulder, causing Albel to glare at her, his expression as solid as rock.
"I'm letting you of this time, fool," he said to her, "but I won't let you off so easily next time."
Albel glared at the sleeping maiden as if he was expecting her to answer his threat. Saying that perhaps would have been able to protect his ego or maybe he just wanted to act tough. But as he continued staring at her, the stony features etched on his face began to soften and a small, yet gentle, smile spread across his lips. He then took out a piece of paper and wrote something on it before placing it next to Nel. Slowly, after about a couple of silent minutes, he finally fell asleep. Strangely enough, Nel soon woke up, rather drowsily. She looked around and found herself leaning on his shoulder. As she tried to fall asleep once again, she noticed a piece of paper lying next to her.
"Did Albel write this?" she thought as she picked it up.
As she looked at the paper, she chuckled to herself.
"There is no way Albel would have written this," she said as she dropped the little piece of paper…
… The tiny piece of paper on which was simply written the word 'friend'.
I don't think this was very good, kind of lame if you ask me. The next one should be more interesting as I introduce a new couple into the story. It's a very unique one so please don't miss out. By the way, I'd like to give special thanks to Momiji from Fruits Basket because he introduced me to the story about the foolish traveler. Forgive my unoriginality, but I really wanted to share that story with everyone so I wrote it in the Fan fic.