-Interim-
A Tales of the Abyss fic by Digitaldreamer
Part One: Wait
---

Soooo I beat the game. It was a beautiful ending, that it was, there was lots of crying involved because I'm a sap. And after the emotional blubbering over me beating this game, I had to wonder...what had gone on between Luke's disappearance and reappearance? What happened to everyone? Luke was gone for a long time...how many of them kept believing he'd come back?

Right. so basically...yeah, this is a fic chronicling the party's wait for Luke. I've heard it said that the game took two years, even though everyone keeps saying Luke is seven years old throughout the whole thing, so I'm going to go with saying this fic covers a year. Um...yeah. Hopefully I'll get everyone right...this is my first time really writing all of the characters but Luke and Guy seriously, and I think I got some better than others. If any of them seem off, I apologize.

Um, as for pairings...there's probably going to be some obvious Tear/Luke hints, as well as a bit of Guy/Luke and Guy/Natalia. Nothing really blatantly shippy though, so take it all as you will.

Anyway, on with the fic!

Warning: Here be spoilers for the entire game, folks. Oh, and also, I don't own ToA, because if I did there'd be a lot more gay.

---

It hurt to watch. It burned to keep their eyes upon him, the golden light of sunset acting seeming to catch his hair aflame, reflecting off of the blade of the Key of Lorelei as it was hefted into the air. It was as if he were compromised mainly of the sixth and fifth fonons as opposed to the seventh, the light of the sacred flame becoming tangible as they watched him for the last time, their eyes stinging and hearts twisting as if they would be torn apart.

It hurt to watch, and so they turned away, forcing themselves to walk with hurried steps through the resurrected city, forcing themselves to leave when they all wanted nothing more than to run back and take him with them. It hurt to watch as Eldrant began to crumble around them, buildings that whispered of tales long since lost and forgotten shattering as if made of glass. It hurt to watch as five sets of shoes finally hit the grass and paused by the Albiore, and still they turned once more.

Turned and watched as stone crumbled, ancient technology roaring in protest like a dying beast as it was crushed. Water shot up to swallow the sinking city once more, and all they could do was watch as a light shown from the center of it, flickering and shining like a flame.

It hurt to watch as that too disappeared, and finally it all sunk into the horizon.

And then all they could do was wait.

---

They spent three days camped outside the ruins of Eldrant, waiting. It was a heavy, tense sort of waiting, filled with short bursts of forced happy moments that were quickly killed by glances towards the horizon. They spent the time mending wounds, cleaning weapons, and ensuring the Albiore was in working order, but there was no rest for them. Sleepless nights passed with eyes forced closed for minutes at a time, only to open again and find the horizon was as empty as it was five minutes earlier.

They spent three days of this, and finally it was Jade who broke the tense almost-silence. "Well..." He began, hands shoved into his pockets as he gazed out at the third sunset, his glasses reflecting the soft orange light. "I do hate to put a damper on this little party, but it has been three days."

Guy stiffened from his ever-kept vigil on top of a rock. "What do you mean? He'll be here."

"Oh, of that I have little doubt...however, at this point, I'm afraid I do have other duties to preform." Jade said, reaching up to adjust his glasses. "I'm sure his Majesty is simply dying to know what has happened here... it was meant to be my duty to inform him of that."

Anise frowned, looking up from where she'd been fiddling with Tokunaga. "Well...the Colonel does have a point..." She muttered, tugging absently on a button eye she'd just finished fixing. "I should really probably get to Daath to tell the news."

"Indeed...it is the duty of the Princess to inform her people..." Natalia murmured, brushing a strand of golden hair behind her ear.

Guy glanced back at them, brow furrowing. "But...we're supposed to be waiting for Luke."

Anise huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "Geez Guy, it's not like we're giving up on him!" She huffed.

Natalia shook her head. "No, we would never even consider that! Luke promised us, of course he'll be back!" She declared, clasping her hands together.

"Indeed... but even so, I cannot imagine he would be terribly happy if we simply shunned our duties in our wait for him." Jade stated.

Guy stared at them, blue eyes dark, then let out a breath and turned back towards the horizon.

"Mieeeu..." Mieu whimpered, his ears drooping. "Master..."

Natalia glanced down at the creature in her lap, then forced a smile. "Mieu..." She began gently, patting him on the head. "Don't worry...he'll be back."

"Yeah, don't worry! He'll be back and calling you 'Thing' again before you know it!" Anise agreed, forcing her own grin.

"R-right!" Mieu agreed, forcing himself to perk up. "A-and then he'll kick me again and everything will be back to normal!"

Natalia winced. "You really should not consider that normal..." She muttered, but went ignored.

"Perhaps it is time to get him home as well..." Jade murmured as he glanced at Mieu. "By now he has long fulfilled his debt...and the Sorcerer's Ring really ought to be returned."

Mieu's ears drooped again. "B-but...I wanna stay here and wait for Master!" He whined, hopping up and down.

"Mieu, calm down..." Natalia hushed, stilling the cheagle as she stood from her spot, stretching her legs. "I'm certain that when Luke returns, he'll come visit you. I will make sure of it. Now come...we really must take you home."

"Mieu..."

"Noelle?" Jade turned towards the pilot, his tone buisness-like.

The blonde flashed a smile and saluted, though her eyes were sad. "I'd be glad to fly you all home." She offered.

"Good." Jade nodded, turned back to the group. "Well then...shall we?"

Slowly, they all stood from their spots and began to trek towards the airship, their steps heavy and unwilling even as they forced themselves not to look back yet again. There wasn't going to be anyone silhouetted against that sunset...not the one they were waiting for, anyway.

"Tear..." A gloved hand fell upon her shoulder, and the only one who had yet to speak still did not look away from the horizon. "...Tear." Jade tried again, voice hardening somewhat. If he wanted to get through to her, he'd have to speak to her soldier side. The rest was far beyond his reach right now. "Do you not have duties as an Oracle Knight that you should be attending to?"

Tear was silent for a moment. "...I do."

"Then perhaps it is time to be returning to that...I am sure Teodoro would like to see if you're alright, at any rate." Jade said, releasing her shoulder and reaching up to adjust his glasses again.

"...I suppose you're right." Tear murmured after a few more seconds of silence. She stood gracefully, eyes remaining on the horizon line for a moment, though they seemed to be looking farther, beyond where any of them could hope to see. She then turned, her long hair dancing in the wind. "...Guy?"

The blond did not even glance up from polishing his sword, though it had been shined beyond the point of needing it before the first day had even ended. "I'm not going."

Jade frowned. "Guy,--" He began, his tone hard again, but the former servant cut him off.

"I don't have any duties to return to at the moment. I have no reason to leave." Guy stated, refusing to look at any of them. "I..." He trailed off, his shoulders tensing, but did not finish the sentence. It was fine, because they were all capable of interpreting the meaning anyway.

Everything I have has fallen here.

"Guy..." Anise murmured, her arms tightening as she hugged Tortunaga closer to herself.

"I'm staying." Guy declared, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Natalia bit her lip, squeezing her arms around herself as if she were cold. "Guy--"

"He'll want someone here to greet him when he gets back...you know?" The blond said quietly.

There was a heavy sort of silence as the group all gazed at the ruins of Eldrant a final time.

"...Of course...I think he'll appreciate that." Tear said finally.

"Indeed." Natalia nodded, a smile coming to her face.

"Yeah...you'd better call us the moment he shows, you got that?" Anise declared.

Guy nodded, though he did not turn around.

"Well now, that settles that. Shall we be going?" Jade asked, glancing around at his respective charges. With a chorus of nods and agreements, the group slowly turned and made their way towards the Albiore.

The final image burnt into their minds before the great airship took off was the image of Guy resolutely silhouetted against the sunset, polishing his sword and waiting for someone who, they were already beginning to suspect, would never come.

---

"...and then Eldrant began to collapse. We made it out safely, but unfortunately Luke to stay behind to free Lorelei...so he went down with the city. We waited three days for him, but he had yet to return, so regrettably I took my leave to report to you. " Natalia finally finished, her voice ringing through her father's quarters.

All was silent for a moment, then King Ingobert spoke from his seat at the head of the table. "So then...at last, this mess is finally over."

"Indeed...though I would not say it's over entirely, there is much rebuilding to be done." Duke fon Fabre said, his expression grim.

"Perhaps, but I am certain if peace continues with Malkuth, we can work together and things will be fine." Natalia stated.

The King gave a nod, rubbing his chin. "Indeed...and after all this, I am certain Emperor Peony will be more than happy to do so, as are we."

A silence fell over the room, each occupant lost in thought.

"So...that is it then." Lady Susanne spoke, her voice wavering slightly as she wrung her manicured hands. "My boys..." She trailed off, voice cracking as tears came to her eyes.

Natalia bit her lip. "I..." She shook her head. "Asch is dead, Luke confirmed that much." She murmured, reaching up to clutch at her heart, struggling to keep her voice from cracking. It still felt too soon to speak of it, somehow, but it had to be done. "H-he sacrificed himself so we could go on ahead...he died a hero."

"Is that so?" Duke fon Fabre murmured, his eyes closing as he nodded. "I would expect no less from my son...no, my sons." He amended. "It seems we have lost them both in one fell swoop..."

His wife gave a soft sob, putting her face in her hands. "I-I had hoped they would both return...this isn't fair..."

"Susanne..." The Duke murmured, looping an arm around her. "I know..."

The King gave a heavy sigh, putting his face in his hands. "It seems, in the end, no matter what we did...we were sending both to their deaths, weren't we?"

"Father, do not talk like that!" Natalia chided, her voice ringing through the room. "Aunt Susanne, Uncle...please, do not grieve so hastily. I merely said A-Asch--" here her voice cracked, but still she continued. "--was dead."

The Duke glanced up at her, his dark green eyes so similar to Asch's as he studied her. "You mean to tell me one of my sons is still alive?"

"I..." Natalia faltered slightly, biting her lip as she hugged her arms to herself. "He promised...just because he has yet to appear cannot mean--"

Her father glanced up at her, his expression one of pity. "Natalia...Colonel Curtiss said his seventh fonons were dissipating, correct? It's quite possible he faded away after releasing Lorelei...if that was the case, there would be no body to emerge from the ruins of Eldrant."

Natalia shook her head. "No...no, Luke...he promised. He will come." She declared, her voice taking on a confident edge again as her expression changed to match it.

Duke Fabre frowned. "You are sure of this?"

His niece nodded solemnly. "I am."

Her father gave a sigh. "Very well...we will list him as missing for the time being. But if he does not appear within a few months... people are going to want a memorial to honor their hero, and if we wait too long..."

Natalia turned away. "Very well...but carving a gravemarker for someone who is not yet dead is in bad taste." She declared calmly before making her way for the door.

Lady Susanne peered at her, her face still tearstained. "Natalia...are you certain?"

The blonde paused at the door, then gave a small smile. "I am. He will come. We just have to wait." With that, she tugged on the nob and stepped out of the room, making her way through the hall in a brisk stride, a new mantra upon her lips.

"Yes... surely, he will come."

---

"So...that's it, then." Peony murmured as he reclined in his throne, propping his head up with a tanned arm.

"Indeed." Jade took drained the last of his tea, then set it into it's saucer and passed it to a waiting maid with a nod. "Granted, there is still much to do...but the world can finally begin to settle down, at any rate."

"It's about time... of course, I doubt that applies to you, you're always up to something." The emperor smirked, nodding to his best friend. "No rest for the wicked, eh?"

"Why Your Majesty, are you implying that I am wicked in any way?" Jade gasped, feigning hurt. "I'm the very picture of innocence, I'll have you know."

Peony chuckled and shook his head. "Of course, you're a regular angel, who was I kidding?" He ran his fingers through his hair, gazing out the window. "Still, I have to wonder...when will I be seeing my adorable little Luke again?" He murmured, a faraway look coming to his eyes.

It was then that the doors to the throne room were edged open and a maid poked her head in. "Your Majesty, I'm done giving Luke his bath."

"Really!?" Peony gasped, sounding excited as he leaped from his throne and clapped his hands together. "Bring him in!"

The doors opened farther and a pink rappig poked it's head in, blinking in the light. "Luke!" Peony cried out, rushing across the throne room and throwing his arms around his pet. "Oooh, you smell so good! Isn't it great to be all squeaky clean again, my adorable little Luke!?" He gushed, planting kisses all over the creature, whom seemed quite happy with the attention.

Jade gave a sigh as he reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "That truly is disturbing...even without Guy or Tear here I'm treated with displays of more sickening affection for any Luke than I'd like to see."

Peony glanced up at Jade and stuck out his tongue. "You're just jealous."

"Hardly." Jade drawled, adjusting his glasses as he gazed down at the creature. It blinked up at him for a moment, then gave a snort, it's expression one of blank, idiotic glee. "It is living up to it's namesake quite admirably, though." He added dryly.

Peony seemed to be ignoring that comment as he scratched the creature behind the ears, cooing softly. However, a glance upon the emperor's features revealed a thoughtful, somewhat grim expression. "In all seriousness, though...do you really think Luke will return?"

Jade frowned thoughtfully. "I...am somewhat unsure. However, fate has certainly tried hard enough to get rid of him, and in spite of it's best efforts, Luke has always failed to die. With that, and the fact that he promised...I believe it would certainly take quite a situation for him to not return."

His best friend was silent for a moment, he simply knelt there, still petting the rappig. "...Eldrant did fall pretty far." He finally said. "And after Rem...his seventh fonons would have had to be terribly low. You said so yourself...there was no way for him to come out of that alive."

"Indeed." Jade stuck his hands into his pockets, crimson gaze going to the high ceiling. "I have...a theory. It is quite a wild one, however."

Peony glanced up at him, blinking. "A wild one, huh?"

"Yes...nearly impossible." Jade murmured. "However..." The military commander trailed off for a moment, then gave a small smile and adjusted his glasses. "That boy has never failed to surprise me before...why would he start now?"

The emperor of Malkuth's brow furrowed as he stood. "So then...you believe..."

"That Luke will return?" Jade considered this for a moment. "I am not entirely certain...but...if there was any chance at all..."

"Certainly, he will come."

---

"...Annnd it's ready!" Anise finally declared, setting the bubbling pot of soup on the table in front of her mother and father.

"Oh Anise, it looks delicious!" Her mother gasped, eyes wide. "Although it is your first night back, you really don't have to cook..."

Anise beamed as she took a seat at the table, though she made sure Tortunaga was situated in his own seat first. Once she was certain he was sitting straight, his demonic grin cast at her father, she settled down. "And let dad cook instead? Please. Besides, I've been wanting to show you both some of the recipes I learned during my journey!"

Her mother laughed as she began to spoon out bowls and pass them around, while her father smiled sheepishly. "We're just happy to see you're finally home, sweetie." He said gently.

"Indeed." Her mother smiled as she passed a bowl to Anise. "We're proud you're a hero now, but that doesn't mean we aren't glad to see our little heroine's finally home."

"Yeah, yeah." Anise rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling. "I never thought I'd say it, but it's nice to be back." She said, swallowing a mouthful of her soup. "Even with everything that's happened...it ishome..." The girl trailed off, a faraway look coming to her eyes.

"...Anise?" Her father gently nudged her after a moment, brow furrowing.

The brunette blinked, then shook her head. "Sorry, I was just thinking." She smiled again. "Anyway, um...now that I'm home, I figure now's as good a time as any to bring it up!" Anise said, her expression bright even as she took on a slightly more business-like tone. "Father, Mother..." She cleared her throat. "I'm going to try to become the Fon Master."

Silence.

"Oh, Anise..." Her mother gasped. "W-what a wonderful goal!"

"Y-yes!" Her father nodded. "Very high aspirations..."

Anise quirked a brow at them. "What? You don't think I can do this?"

"N-no, of course not! It's not that, Anise!" Her father insisted.

His daughter huffed, folding her arms. "I know it's going to be tough. There's never been a girl Fon Master before...but I know I can do this!" She stated.

"Of course sweetie, you're very talented." Her mother said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I have no doubt that you're Fon Master material...but--"

"...the money..." Her father finished gently.

"Money?" Anise grinned. "Don't worry about money, that won't be a problem."

Her father took a deep breath. "Anise, you know how we feel about gathering money for our own gains--"

"I'm not going to steal it!" Anise snapped. "Please, I've learned by now!"

Her mother frowned. "Then where...?"

Anise smiled. "I'm going to have a patron." She declared.

"A patron?" Her father repeated, brow furrowing. "Really? Who?"

At this Anise's expression darkened slightly, brown eyes dropping to her cooling bowl of soup as she slumped in her seat. "Well...he's a noble...he might be awhile, though." She murmured, stirring her spoon into the liquid.

"What do you mean?"

Anise stiffened slightly, biting her lip. After a moment, she replied. "...He's gone somewhere far away, that's all."

Her parents gazed at her for a moment, worried expressions on their faces. "Anise..." Her mother spoke, reaching for her daughter's shoulder.

Before she could touch her, however, Anise perked up, her smile plastered on her face again. "Well, he promised he'd come back, so there's nothing to worry about!" She chirped.

Her father blinked at her. "R-really? Well, that's good then!" He said, hiding his startled expression at his daughter's sudden change in demeanor. "When will he be coming back?"

Anise's cheer fell slightly. "Well...I'm not sure..." She stirred her soup again, then took a sip. "But he promised...so there's nothing to worry about. He'll come back, and I'll be able to become the very first female Fon Master! Everything will work out!" She declared.

Her mother beamed. "That's fantastic, honey!"

Her father nodded, grinning as well. "We're behind you every step of the way!"

Anise smiled and nodded. "Great! Then there's no need to worry about money for this thing, so let's just focus on everything else, okay? All we have to do is wait a bit."

"I'm sure, he'll come."

---

She knew it hadn't been that long since she'd been here, but it still felt like it'd been years as she stepped over the threshold of the door and into her garden. The moonlight shimmered through the tinted glass and Tear couldn't help but smile, the soft blue glow of the selanias reflecting in her eyes.

"It's been awhile..." She murmured, and though she knew it wasn't entirely true it felt that way, as if she were speaking to an old friend.

The Oracle Knight stepped out into the garden without another word, treading gently through the flowers. Finally she came to the alter of stones that made up Van's memorial, and it was here that she stopped.

"Brother... I'm back." She whispered, her hair sliding from her back and trailing to the grass in silky tangles as she knelt in a respectful bow. She reached up and clutched at her pendent as she closed her eyes in prayer, taking a deep breath.

Here, she almost felt as if her brother were still alive. Her brother, the one who had raised her and taught her to smile, not the twisted monster who had finally fallen by her own hand. Here, she could feel his heavy hand upon her shoulder, could hear his comforting, deep voice rumbling in her ears. Here and here alone, Van was still alive...here and here alone, Van would be a hero.

When she was finished praying, Tear opened her eyes, gazing up at the moon, which was now half full. The brunette bit her lip, gloved hands clenching as she recalled the last time she'd seen it full...and the many times before that. The moments spent in this garden with him, his green eyes sparkling as he reached the edge of that decision, his smile in the moonlight as she promised...

She shook her head. No. She was not going to start reminiscing. She would not. To reminisce, to think in past tense, was to act as if he were gone...and Luke was not gone, not like her brother. He had promised, and so had she. She would watch him, and continue to do so, for a long time.

She would watch him when he came back, and she would tell him what she had said once before and they both already knew.

The young woman took a shaky breath, fighting against the pressure behind her eyes as she opened her mouth and began to sing, the comforting words of the Grand Fonic Hymn filling the air.

Tear would not grieve. She would not grieve, and she would not cry. She would be strong, for him.

She would be strong, for surely, he would come.

---

It was a month and a half before any of them saw Guy again. When Jade had heard the news of the Malkuth noble being spotted slowly making his way towards the gates of Grand Chokmah, he seemed quite indifferent.

"Are you certain?" He had asked, not even looking up from his paperwork.

"Well, it was a woman who spotted him, and she said when she came near him to ask if he was alright he screamed bloody murder..." The messenger said, scratching his head.

"Ah. Well, I suppose that would do it." Jade drawled, setting aside a finished form and taking another. "I assume you had some great reason for bothering me?" He glanced over the rims of his glasses at the messenger, crimson eyes flashing.

The messenger flinched at these words. The man appeared to be rather young, likely hadn't been graduated from the academy for very long...Jade hated it when they sent him grunts."I-I...we assumed you would like to be informed...he seems rather worse for wear, sir..." The young man mumbled.

"Ah." Jade shrugged noncommittally, continuing his work.

The messenger stood in the doorway of his office, looking rather uncomfortable as he watched Jade work. "Um...Colonel Curtiss?" He spoke after a moment.

Jade glanced up from his paperwork, eyes narrowing. "Yes?"

It was to the messenger's credit that he didn't scream and run at that look, he managed to scrape off only appearing vaguely terrified. "I-I...will you be seeing him?"

The Colonel stared blankly at him for a moment and the messenger cringed, fearing the worst. Finally, Jade shrugged and looked back to his work. "Oh, if I must..." He muttered, though he continued to work.

"Then I will inform them of your coming?" The messenger asked, appearing relieved.

"I do believe I implied that, didn't I?" Jade drawled.

"I-I suppose you did, sir...alright, I-I'll be going then." The young man stuttered, turning and making as if to leave.

It was only when his hand was on the door knob that Jade spoke again.

"If I may ask...were there two that were sighted on the way in?"

The messenger paused, blinking. "No, sir. There was only one, why?"

Silence.

"...No reason." Jade murmured, adjusting his glasses. "Go on ahead and inform them of my coming, will you?"

The messenger nodded and did as he was told, trying not to appear too relieved to finally get out of the room. The door slammed shut, leaving nothing but the sound of the clock ticking from the wall to break the silence. Jade sighed, leaning back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You had better return to clean up this mess you've left us with soon, boy... I'm far too old to deal with this sort of thing."

---

The Malkuth House of Nobles was in utter chaos, servants rushing each and every way. Maids whispered to each other in the hallways, strains of rumors as to where their master had been for so long when even the Colonel had returned floating from room to room.

The source of these rumors was currently doing everything in his power to extract himself from the maids, whom were trying to coax him out of his torn, dirty clothes and take a bath.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, please don't worry." Guy said gently, trying to ward the women off and suppress the urge to scream as they edged closer. "Really, I promise I'll get a bath, alright? I can take care of myself, don't worry."

"But Master, you're hurt--" A maid began, only to have Guy hold up a hand to silence her.

"I'll take care of it, alright? I wouldn't want a pretty girl like yourself worrying over me." He said, flashing a smile. The woman turned a bright red, then immediately edged away, babbling something about going to draw a bath before turning and rushing away. The blond blinked in confusion, then shrugged and opened the door to his room, stepping inside with a sigh.

"Well now, it certainly took you long enough." Guy didn't even need to look up to know Jade was lounging in one of his chairs, a book open in his lap.

"Why hello to you too, Jade." The blond said dryly as he shrugged off his torn vest, tossing it on his bed in a manner that would have made Luke proud. "Enjoying my library?"

Jade gave a sigh as he shut the book in front of him. "You really ought to buy some books on fontech that aren't written by me, I--" He paused in midsentence as he got a good look at Guy."Oh." He murmured.

Guy really did look like hell. His clothes were soaked in blood and torn haphazardly, dirt covering his body. There were dark circles under his eyes, his tanned skin appearing paler than usual as he stood there, slowly peeling off articles of torn clothing. At Jade's quirked brow the blond shrugged. "Liger attack. I get unlucky, that's all." He explained. "And I ran out of gels, but I didn't want to leave too soon, so..."

The military commander gazed at him for a moment, crimson eyes narrowing. "My. It appears even without him around, his bouts of stupidity manage to live on." He drawled, clicking his tongue.

The blond turned away at that, busying himself with unclasping his boots. "You know, if you really wanted to see me, you could have at least waited until I'd gotten cleaned up a bit." Guy said conversationally as he kicked one off.

"And miss the sight of you undressing? Hardly, an old man has to get his thrills where he can." Jade chirped.

Guy paused, turning to glare at the older man. "...That's really, really gross to even think about, Jade." He said, giving a shudder.

Jade beamed, which only succeeded in causing Guy to shiver again. His expression then became businesslike. "Stressed enough to go picking fights, then lying about it...that's hardly like you." The former servant looked away again, sapphire eyes staring pointedly at the wall, refusing to reply to that. Jade pressed on, however, rising from his seat. "Indeed, that's the type of emotional thing I would expect you to get after him for."

"I don't need you to tell me that." Guy muttered, focusing on undoing his belt. The green leather snaked it's way to the floor as he hefted up the Sword of Gardios, sapphire eyes darkening as he gazed down at the treasured weapon.

He'd made a promise to get the sword...and now he had no one here to fulfill his pledge to.

"I'm aware." Jade drawled, his crimson eyes darkening. "Hence why I am telling you now... do notdo it again. I'll feel no guilt about calling a certain princess, Oracle Knight, and Fon Master Guardian to make you regret returning alive."

Guy snorted as he moved across the room, carrying the revered sword with him. "Relax, I have no intention of doing anything like that again." He stated as he placed the sword onto a mantel on the wall. "I made him promise to keep living...so I'll do the same for him."

Jade gazed at him in silence for a moment, expression blank. "...It is unwise, to carry on for the past like that." He warned.

"The past?" The blond chuckled. "I have no intention of living in the past...Luke changed that a long time ago." He glanced back at Jade and smiled. "I'm living for the future...because he's going to come back."

The military officer gazed at him, brow furrowing. "...Guy--"

"Don't." Guy interrupted, and though the smile remained on his face his eyes darkened. "He's going to come back, he promised. So for now...I'll just do my duties and get ready for that day." His smile widened as he turned back to the sword on the mantel, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah...I'm sure, he's going to come."

---

It was warm.

It was warm, comforting...it was warm.

It was warm, and for now, that was all that mattered.

...Wasn't it?

No, no...there was something he was forgetting, something he was missing...he couldn't stay here.

But where was here? And for that matter, why was he here?

...Who was he?

He had a name, of that he was certain. He had one at one point...what had it been? All that came to mind were flashes of bright red, like flames. Flames, fire...light of the sacred flame...ashes, Asch? No, no, that was not his name, though parts of him seemed to stir at the mention of that. Flames, fire...a pair of blue eyes gazing at him over the embers, concern poorly hidden.

"Are you sure you're alright, Lu--"

"--uke, you sure can be a pain sometimes." The scene shifted to the feeling of a leather-gloved hand clapping him on the back, a familiar grin upon a tanned face.

Golden curls danced in the sunlight as stormy eyes cast a glare upon him, hands placed on thin hips. "Are you even listening to me? Argh, honestly Lu--"

"--ke, you shouldn't cut Guy off like that." Fingers reached up to adjust a pair of glasses, crimson eyes sparkling with barely contained mirth.

"Boo! You can be so mean, Luke!" A pink tongue peeked out at him, a young face screwed up into an expression of childish defiance.

Luke?Yes, that was it, his name was Luke. But what did that mean? Who were those people?

Who was Luke?

He didn't know...all he knew was somewhere, somehow...he was needed. Those people who he could not name, he had promised something...he needed to find them, somehow...

But no, no, he couldn't yet...he'd need a body, for one thing. The fonons were there, the parts needed, the memories...he knew they were there, somehow, he just had to reach for them. It would be difficult, but he had promised something.

And so Luke, or something akin to him, began to stir.

'Wait...just wait guys...I'm coming...'

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To Be Continued...

Every time someone reads this chapter and doesn't review, Luke dies again. Please. think of poor Luke.