The Other Side of the Coin

Written by: Somnion

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Ocean 3

Sorry, for the late update. I was suffering from a major case of writer's block. When an idea finally came, I had my semester's final exams and I have just finished them. I would like to add that this fanfic will probably be ending in the next chapter. From then on, I will retire from Star Ocean. I doubt a love forbidden will ever be finished, so I wouldn't recommend you guys to expect an update because it most likely will never come. Most of all I want to thank you for all your reviews and it has been fun. Thank you so much, one and all.

Chapter Eight: One Bottle Too Many

How things ended up like this, I am not really sure myself. Here I am sitting holding an empty bottle of Winking Sage Cider, drunk by that idiotic woman. Next to me are several bottles just like it. On my lap is Zelpher, obviously stoned because she can't hold her drink very well. This would all be fine had it not been for the fact that she draped her arms around me in her drunken stupor, as well as being clad in only her remarkably tempting and seducing pair of knickers. The softness of her bosom push up against my bare stomach, making my throat dry and breaths more labored. I feel cold drips of sweat slide down my brow as my entire body heats up and trembles due to this accidental yet extremely stimulating and erotic turn of events. Let's go back in time to find out had caused this little scene to actually come into play.

"Zelpher, I'm gonna go get some firewood. Make yourself useful and get something ready for breakfast."

That was the note Albel had left when Nel had awoken this morning. She sighed as she looked at the note for she found that his leaving her was somehow, in a way, a bit relieving. Being with Albel too long can make anyone lose their sanity. Nel got up that morning with the intention to take a nice dip in the springs in the cave. With Albel gone, she figured she take the opportunity and had removed her armor as well as her skirt and boots. But when she found the note, she gathered that perhaps she should look around the cave for some supplies which she could use for cooking breakfast. As she went through the supply cache she found the day before, she found not only cooking ingredients, but also a few bottles of premium grade Winking Sage Cider.

"Funny, how I did not notice this before," she thought as she picked up a bottle. Nel placed the ingredients near the fireplace and then looked at the bottles of cider again.

"Well," she thought to herself, "since I didn't get to have a dip in the springs today, I guess I am entitled to little premium liquor."

Sitting down, she unscrewed the corks of one of the bottles and proceeded to drinking the contents of the bottle.

"This is actually quite good," Nel thought as she sipped the cider. "I should save a little for Albel."

"Now, why would you do that?" said her guardian devil which popped on the top of her shoulder. Looking to her left to address her guardian, Nel was a little surprised when she saw a miniature version of Clair, decked out in a seductive red sleeveless leotard which bared her back and showed off far too much of Clair's milky white thighs. She wore a pair of matching pair of red high heels, a black choker and had a nice little devil's tail that came with the suit.

"Clair…"

"Yes, it's me, Nel," she answered. "Why are you so shocked?"

"That outfit…"

"Oh, this," Clair said as she twirled a little, striking a pose for her friend; with a tilt in her hips, her left hand twirling curls in her lavishing grayish black hair and the other hand drawing little circles on her supple and shapely thighs.

"This is standard uniform," she answered with a wink. "You like?"

"You look like Lust's incarnate."

"Oh, a compliment," she said with a sly grin. "I am so happy you understand."

"Where's your father?" Nel asked. "Isn't he in charge of trying to make me commit evil deeds?"

"Father's out on business, so I'm taking over."

"Really?"

"Anyway, Nel," said Clair suddenly, "I would advice you not to share any of that cider with Albel."

Suddenly, a puff of smoke appeared on Nel's right shoulder. On her right, there stood the Queen Romeria, wearing a white corset with the bust rimmed with feathers. Her lower body was furnished lavishly with a lacey and flimsy pair of pure white panties as well as lovely pair of long lacy snow colored stockings that decorated her lovely and elegant legs and a pair of crystal high heels.

"Your Majesty…"

"It's not called heaven without a reason, Lady Nel," she said with a smile as though she knew what was going through Nel's mind.

"Listen, Lady Nel," she continued, "I think you should listen to Lady Clair."

"What do you mean?" asked Nel in surprise.

"Well, put it this way, Lady Nel," said the Queen. "Consider it divine retribution for ruining your bath."

Albel walked back towards the cave, a bundle of firewood in hand. It had been about an hour since he left. Collecting firewood would have not have taken him more than fifteen minutes but today he was trying to collect his thoughts. All the happenings between him and Nel were making his head spin and he figured a little fresh air would help.

"I hope the woman's done with breakfast," he mumbled under his breath.

Albel entered the cave and found something completely different to what he had in mind. Lying on the floor was Nel, wearing just a shirt and underwear, holding a bottle of cider in her hand.

"Hey, Zelpher," Albel called as he rushed towards her. Lifting her up, Albel sighed as Nel opened her eyes.

"Albel…"

Abel shook his head and sighed, partly out of relief. However that relief was short lived when Nel began to speak.

"What are doing..." she said in a drunken stupor, "pushing me down on the ground like this?"

"What!"

"Oh, Albel," said Nel with a blush, "you're so naughty, in the early morning no less."

She pushed Albel away in her druken state and giggled. "My, my Albel," she said, "If you wanna push a woman down on the ground, you gotta ask permission first before having your way with her…"

"What the heck is wrong with you, woman?" he demanded.

"Oh, I just had a couple of drinks," she said with a hiccup. "Wanna drink with me?"

Looking around the cave, Albel realized that they were another four more bottles just like the one Nel held in her hand. Winking Sage Cider is very addictive because of its sweet taste, making it hard to stop one from drinking.

"A couple of drinks, huh?" he thought to himself.

Suddenly, he felt Nel reach for his hand and then without warning, gently placed it on her right breast.

"Check it out, Albel," she said, panting furiously, "My body has gotten really hot hasn't it?"

Albel pulled away instantly and yelled. Nel giggled at his reaction like a high school girl.

"Oh, Albel, you're so shy," she said seductively. "That is so cute of you but don't you worry about a thing. Big sister's gonna take care of you."

"Big sister…" Albel repeated. "I'm the older one!"

"Yes, Albel," she said as she turned her back to him and then slowly began to remove her shirt. "Let an older woman show you how it's done…"

Suddenly, Nel began to lose her balance and fell to the ground. Luckily, Albel caught her before she hit the ground.

"Hey, Zelpher," he called but too late. Nel had fallen asleep in his arms.

Nel opened her eyes and noticed a cloak on her body as she lay on the ground. She looked up and noticed Albel's sleeping face looking over and realized her head was rested on his lap. Letting out a scream, she got up quickly, abruptly waking the slumbering Glyphian. As she got up, the cloak on her slipped of her shoulders, baring her shoulders and breasts.

With a blush appearing and extending all the way to her eyes, she let out a second scream and pulled up the cloak to hide her modesty. "Where are my clothes?" she screamed.

"Over there," pointed Albel as he rubbed his ears which now started to ache due to the sudden screams.

Nel looked at the corner and sure enough, there lay her clothes. But, why would Albel know where her clothes were? Why was she almost naked, save for a pair of panties? More importantly, why could she not remember a single thing that happened that morning?

Looking at Albel, in an attempt to get some answers, she noticed a couple of cider bottles. Looking at the bottles and taking the fact that she was naked except for her underwear, added with the fact she was sleeping on Albel's lap and covered with his cloak; it was not difficult to jump to conclusions.

"You… you…" she stuttered "you got me drunk and molested me while I slept!"

Albel now had a hard time to stifle his laughter and in the end, ended up laughing in the young Aquarians face.

"You had your way with me and you still have the audacity to mock me," she screamed.

"Blacked out on the whole thing, didn't you?" he said with a smug grin.

"What do you mean…" she asked.

"Maybe you should stick to blueberry juice, kid," he said as he lifted a bottle of cider.

"Stop talking in riddles, Nox!" she yelled. "Tell me what happened right now!"

Albel simply got up without saying a word and then made his way to the springs, leaving a very infuriated Nel Zelpher behind. It was obvious he did not like the tone in which Nel had been addressing him too.

"Nox," she yelled after him, "you tell me…"

"Watch your tone," he snapped back at her, his red eyes glaring with a strange glow. "I hate it when people don't know how to ask for a favor properly." Picking up Nel's clothes, he tossed them at her.

"I'm going to have a bath and you had best get ready as well. We leave at midday."

Nel stood there alone as he left. Her feelings were all a mess. How she wished to have known what had happened that morning. She swore herself to chastity until her wedding night and the possibility that it may have been taken from her without her consent, added with the fact of the inability to uphold the sacred trust imparted onto all Aquarian maidens was tearing her apart. She clenched her fists with rage and grief as she felt a few warm tears escape her emerald eyes. She needed to know what happened, more than anything else.

Albel sat alone on the rock in the springs, still fuming with anger at Nel's behavior. Although he was in no place to judge in the sense of her character, he still felt she could have been a little more courteous. He was going to tell her anyway but now, he felt that he would never tell even if she begged. As he remained preoccupied with his thoughts, he failed to hear the sounds of feet wading through the water.

"Albel…" called a voice.

Turning around, Albel was surprised to see Nel, wearing only her towel, walk up to him.

"Please, Albel," she said in a calm tone, "please tell me what happened."

Albel looked at her; her beautiful figure was working its magic on him yet again. Her pheromones were carried by the wind, confusing his mind and thinking; the sight of her heavenly body making his throat dry and heating up the atmosphere that a minute ago was surprisingly cool. However, her presence and courteous speech was not enough to convince him to tell her anything.

"What does, it matter," he said coldly. "It wouldn't make any difference if I told you anyway." Just then, Albel heard little drops of water fall into the spring from the direction where Nel stood.

"It…would," she stuttered as tears began to well her eyes and flow freely from them. "It's very important…to me…."

"Not again," thought Albel. He hated this, he hated seeing her cry. To him it seemed pathetic for a woman her age and status should waste time with tears. It also, for some strange reason, seemed to cause him pain as well.

"Please, Albel," she pleaded. "Please tell me what happened, I'm begging you."

She got down on her knees before the surprised general, the water splashing on her wetting her body and mingling with the tears which she made no effort to check.

"Please, it may not mean anything to you, but to me…" she pleaded before being cut off by the Glyphian.

"It means everything."

Nel looked at Albel, her jade green eyes now red and puffy after the tears that had been shed. His face seemed solemn and for some reason, was struck with grief.

"All you Aquarians are the same," he said. "You rather choose death than living with the disgrace of losing your chastity without your consent."

"Albel…"

"I didn't do anything to you," he said finally. "You just got drunk."

Albel then proceeded to tell the entire story of what happened. Nel listened to everything he said and began to feel ashamed of her actions. She knew very well she was a bad drunk and the story Albel told was definitely true. A silence then loomed over them as the two of them sat opposite from each other, their towels and the steam protecting their shame, leaving only a pair of blurred figures, both as silent as the grave.

"Albel," she called as Albel finished his story, "you said earlier that all Aquarians were the same. How did you come to know this?"

Albel was silent. Judging from his expressions, the movements of his eyes, Nel could tell that he was remembering a very painful chapter of his life. Just when she was going to tell him that it was not necessary to answer, she heard him speak.

"If you're an agent from Aquaria, if you're caught by Airyglyph, the treatment they receive from their captors will differ depending on their gender," he said solemnly.

"If you're a male, chances are you'll be punished brutally while being interrogated and females, well, they are given the same treatment, yet they suffer an even more painful punishment. Before being interrogated, soldiers will tend to rape any Aquarian which they fancy, bringing them to the worse form of disgrace. It was not rare that most women would commit suicide by biting of their own tongues than to face the shame from their captors. Those who did not have the will to do so, the sentence that was in store for them would be the worst one could ever receive as an Aquarian woman.

Nel clenched her fists at the thought of her countrymen being treated so lowly. Yet, she noticed that she was not the only one whose fist was clenched. Albel slowly began to say, as if it were to himself.

"Father never agreed to it."

"Your father…"

Albel took his time before saying another word. "My father," he said at last, "did not approve of the ways that soldiers of Airyglyph treated its prisoners. It was one of the traits that both my father and I shared. He and Woltar had tried to change the system, yet it was too difficult for them, despite their great political influence."

"Is that why taking hostages isn't the way you do business?" asked Nel.

"No, it's not the way I do business," confirmed Albel. "Yet, sometimes I don't have a choice. That's when I give them the only kindness I can offer them."

"What do you mean by kindness?"

"Instead of remaining prisoners and left at the mercy of their captors," he said with a sigh, "I kill them."

Nel felt her blood go cold in her veins. How is the act of the taking the life of someone considered a kindness? What sort of beast would just simply take the life of another so freely? Nel couldn't understand the logic behind his words and she did not want to understand them.

"The executions at the Kirlsa Training Facility", he said solemnly, "they were not ordered by the king. The citizens were meant only to be incarcerated. However Woltar and I knew very well what would happen should so many people be imprisoned. Woltar tried diligently to convince the king to reconsider the movement but he failed. It was at that moment that I took matters into my own hands."

"Matters into your own hands…" Nel repeated hesitantly.

"In the dead of night," he answered, "I entered every single cell and executed every single man, woman and child in that accursed facility. For two whole days, I didn't sleep but went to cell from cell; killing every living human within."

That was when Nel had completely lost all restraint. She rushed out at him with the intent of ending his beastly existence. It was impossible for her to comprehend the reason and the logic in his actions. Killing a person as a form of kindness? Was not life worth more than Albel was willing to admit? The fact that so many innocent people, simply for the sake of their religion, were incarcerated and in the name of Albel's perception of kindness, were executed. Raising her balled and tightened fist, she readied it to land a blow on the Glyphian. Albel however had expected a reaction such as this and was prepared to parry Nel's frustrated attempts to land a blow on him.

"What the in the world is wrong with you," she screamed, as she struggled and squirmed, desperately trying to hurt Albel. "How can you say that killing someone is a form of kindness? You said that taking a life was a responsibility that we had to no choice to bear unquestioningly. Now you make this implausible sorry excuse of a reason that kindness will justify it? You're a hypocrite, a liar and a heartless monster. I don't understand you at all!"

"Since when did I say that I was justified in killing them?" he yelled as he pushed and threw her away from him. "Would you rather they suffer intolerable abuse and disgrace from their captors, fool? To be treated no better than livestock and the women used simply for men's pleasure like worthless tools?"

"Of course not," she screamed back, tears of rage and fury burning in her vengeful emerald eyes, as she got to her feet and resumed her attempts to attack him. "But how can you even go to so much as to an extent to murder to spare them? Life, it is more important than that!"

"Don't you think I know that, woman?" he yelled in response. Nel could feel his grip tightening on her wrist, yet the grip held no malice or hatred, only the suppressed feelings of remorse and pain. "I can still hear their screams at night, screams pleading me to spare their lives, their wives, their siblings, their children. I can still recall their begging pleas and screams echoing down the hallowed halls of those light- forsaken ruins, the sound of the wailings and cries of women and children who trembled in fear as they huddled in terror, awaiting their impending executions. I can see the look in their eyes, filled with horror and fear, my reflection, my sword dripping with blood and myself, drenched and stained with bloody hues of red, reflected in the quivering darkness of their dilated pupils. I can still picture the despair as fathers threw themselves at me, trying to bar me from reaching their families, the tears that flowed from the eyes of mothers who held their children close to them, trying with every ounce of strength to protect them as I raised my sword before their shuddering and trembling forms while they watched their husband's bodies fall lifelessly to the ground before them. Finally, I look at the children who rush to their parents who lay in front of them, completely lifeless and still. Their eyes puffed and red, crying and pleading their parents to get up, imploring them to wake up, completely oblivious as I raise my sword yet again to administer the final blow."

Nel's eyes widened as he explained every single gruesome detail and was even more surprised as she saw tears staring to flow from the blood-red eyes that belonged to the monster of this inhuman deed.

"You say you don't understand," he screamed as he choked on his sobs. "That is because you never can. You have no idea of the pain, the pain I had to go through as I tried to free them from the pains of this world. While they now lie restless, completely oblivious to pain, I alone, I alone must face and bear the pain and burden of killing so many people. The pain of killing a weeping child in cold blood, the horror of murdering an defenseless woman as she protected her baby and the terror of seeing the desperateness of a man in his eyes as he goes against all odds to shield his loved ones from danger. No, you will never understand."

Finally, he collapsed on his knees as he felt the guilt, remorse and grief consume his entire being completely. His entire body was trembling violently. Nel looked in shock as Albel, Albel the Wicked, the man who would stand defiantly against throngs of foes unflinching, the slaughterer of thousands and the best swordsman of Airyglyph; kneeling before her, trembling and weeping. She could hear him constantly stuttering curses on himself and how unforgivable he was. As she looked at him, her heart began to fill with pity for the miserable man. He had not lied about what he said before and he never tried to justify his actions. Now here he was, suffering alone with grief and pain

As Albel knelt, eaten by grief and pain before the Crimson Blade, he felt a pair of warm arms wrap around his neck. He could feel the tears from the young maiden's jade colored eyes flow down her face and mingle with his own as she placed her head on his. Had this been any other time, he would have pushed her away at once; however this time he held her, holding onto her like a frightened child to his mother's embrace. How many seconds, minutes, hours had passed while they held each other in embrace, neither could remember. Finally, as the atmosphere cleared, they still clung to each other like scared children until Albel finally spied a beautiful cross decorated with angelic signs which Nel wore on a chain on her neck.

"Where did you get this?"

End of Chapter Eight.

Please read and review. Thanks again and sorry for the late update.