Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Tales of the Abyss and Bleach.

A/N: Here's the rewrite of Shinigami of the Sacred Flame and labeling as V2 as in version two. I'll keep the first one up for now. So here it is the first chapter of the different version.

A Replica's Death

It was in Yulia City within the Qliphoth after the destruction of the mining city, Akzeriuth. Luke just couldn't believe it. He had just been told that he was actually a replica and his original was none other than Asch the Bloody, one of the Six God-Generals of the Oracle Knights and things had already been real bad for the distraught redhead. Van, the man he trusted more than anybody, had used him to destroy Akzeriuth which killed around 10,000 people there. Everything that Luke held in high spirits seemed to have crashed down on him. As if he was trying to fight against what he considered to be horrible lies, Luke drew his sword and fought against Asch. Unfortunately for Luke, Asch was more the experienced swordsman and he was able to defeat his replica. Asch hated Luke for being so ignorant and he was going to see to it that he didn't continue on with his ignorance and stupidity. He brought Luke down and had his sword pointed at him.

"I'm not you!" Luke said defiantly to Asch.

"I don't want to admit it either!" Asch countered with pure hatred in eyes and voice, "To think that dreck like you could be my replica. To think that trash like you stole my home, my family, everything, I'm going to be sick. Die!"

Tear and Mieu, who had watched the fight, were worried for Luke's life. Tear called Asch to stop but Asch simply ignored her. Tear and Mieu feared that Asch was really going to end his life and they tried to reason with him. Asch raised his sword and quickly cut down Luke. Luke's blood splattered on the floor. Luke's eyes widened as he fell on the ground and blood continued to seep from his body. Tear and Mieu watched in horror as they saw Asch mercilessly and without hesitation cut down Luke. Tear and Mieu ran to Luke's side and tried to help him. Tear was using her healing artes to heal Luke but it seems the damage done to Luke was too great and Asch just stood by and watched as his replica was bleeding to death. Soon Jade, Ion, Natalia, Guy, and Anise saw and were shocked at what occurred. Guy and Ion ran to Luke to try to help him. Natalia went to Luke but only stopped halfway. Anise felt no sympathy for Luke and felt that he got what he deserved. Jade just stood by and pushed his glasses.

"What happened here?" Jade asked.

"The dreck picked a fight with me and I beat him," Asch answered.

"Asch, you went too far," Tear said with anger towards the God-General.

"Why do you care?" Asch responded, "It's his own fault anyway, I just did everyone here a favor."

"A favor? What the hell are you talking about?" Guy said with hate towards Asch while still trying to help Luke somehow, "You had no right to do this!"

"You're a fool," Asch replied harshly, "he's one of the two culprits that destroyed Akzeriuth," Asch pointed at the dying Luke," he deserves to die."

"We have to get Luke somewhere he can really be treated," Tear said, "It seems my healing artes are not having much effect."

"Don't bother…" Luke spoke softly.

Tear, Guy, Mieu, and Ion looked at Luke when he spoke.

"Luke…" Tear said.

"Master, please be okay!" Mieu pleaded.

"Just hang on Luke," Guy said, "you're going to be okay."

"No I won't…" Luke said as his eyes were slowly closing.

"Luke, stay with us!" Ion pleaded, "We're going to get you some help!"

But Luke didn't bother to try to hang on. He didn't even try to fight for his life. He closed his eyes and he didn't move. Tear, Guy, Mieu, and Ion tried to get some life in Luke but they soon realized it was futile. Luke fon Fabre had just died from his injuries. The Seventh Fonons in his body were leaving him and then his body disappeared to nothingness. There was moment of silence as Tear, Mieu, Ion, Guy, and even Natalia were shocked and they stood by forced to take the fact that Luke had just died and Asch with his cold expression huffed and walked away.

Later on, Guy, Mieu, Tear, and Ion mourned Luke's death while Natalia was sad as well but didn't know what to do or how to really respond. She didn't like that Luke was shirking off about what he did but she didn't want him to die and the whole ordeal was depressing. When Natalia learned of the situation of Asch, she was glad that Asch was actually the Luke she remembered and could possibly be in her life again and she hoped it would be true but that didn't mean she didn't care for the Luke who was the replica. She wasn't able to know for sure how she should really feel about what just happened. Jade just had a neutral expression. He felt that Asch was out of line but at the same time, he also felt that Luke was out of control with his arrogance and it was the result of Luke acting like he was better than everyone else. Anise felt glad that Luke had died and felt that he deserved it for killing all those people in Akzeriuth. She knew Luke was at times unpleasant but she didn't mind since he was rich, but after what happened in Akzeriuth and the way he reacted, she figured that he was just plain stupid and that there was no way he would ever redeem himself and he was a lost cost from the beginning. Asch felt relieved that his replica was no more and that he could focus on trying to find a way to eliminate Van before he killed more people, although he wasn't sure where he could find him and he couldn't understand why there were people who felt sad at his replica's death considering what he did. As far as Asch knew, he was a thing that stole his whole life for the past seven years and he reaffirmed his belief that replicas should never exist.

Tear stayed in her room and unsure what to do. Luke died while she was there, it just added to her guilt with the fact she failed to stop her brother like she intended to and Akzeriuth and its residents paid for her hesitation. Mieu became depressed due the death of his master. He didn't know what he was going to do now. The little Cheagle felt he had nothing left to look forward to anymore. Ion was ashamed about what happened to Luke. He was upset that Asch took matters into his own hands and just killed Luke who he no doubt was troubled and upset as the rest of them of what had happened with Akzeriuth and the terrible fact that Van used him. Anise kept telling him that Asch was justified but Ion didn't see it that way and wished he had to strength to stop the senseless killing. Guy was depressed and angry, depressed that his best friend had died and angry that Asch, even though he was the original Luke fon Fabre, killed him for what he believed was his own selfish reason. Guy started to get thought of having his revenge. Since the Luke he cared about was no longer alive, there was no point to be civil around those who didn't have sympathy for Luke's death. There was one thing for sure, things were not going to be easy and relationships would be severely strained. Luke fon Fabre, the seven-year-old replica had his life cut short and the ripple wave of that effect would be felt even as they try to figure out what Van was trying to do.

Somewhere Unknown

Luke still existed and somehow was able to stay together.

"I'm dead, I'm really dead," Luke said to himself.

"Such a sad fate for you," A voice spoke.

"Who's there?" Luke asked looking around.

"Over here," The voice said.

"Huh?" Luke said.

Luke looked over and saw someone who was a young man with blonde short hair, green eyes and wore a black gi and hakama and held a sword in his right hand.

"W-Who are you?" Luke asked.

"I'm a Shinigami," The blonde haired man said.

"A Shinigami?" Luke asked.

"Yes, you still have some bit of Seventh Fonons that keeping you whole for now but you'll completely disappear soon unless I take you to the Soul Society," The Shinigami said.

"The Soul Society?" Luke asked, "What's that?"

"A place where souls reside, the afterlife of sorts," The Shinigami said, "so with that…"

The Shinigami went to Luke and stamped Luke's forehead with his pommel and a mark was placed on Luke's head.

"It's time for you to go to the Soul Society," The blonde haired Shinigami said.

"Wait, who are you?" Luke asked as he was confused of the whole thing.

A light formed around Luke and Luke still didn't know what was going on and the Shinigami just smiled at Luke. The light completely surrounded Luke and the red head was confused as he closed his eyes. Later on, Luke slowly opened his eyes and saw he was in a different surrounding. He looked around and saw trees. Luke blinked as he also realized he was on the ground and slowly got up.

"Where am I?" Luke asked himself, "I know that I'm dead so…I wonder is this where people go when they die? Is this the Soul Society that Shinigami guy was talking about?" Luke then noticed he had a change of attire, "What is this?"

Luke saw that he was wearing only a brown sleeveless robe with a black sash tied around his waist.

"Why am I in these clothes?" Luke asked, "What happened to my old clothes?"

Luke held his hands on his new clothing and then went back thinking what happened. Luke was thinking about what Van said to him after destroying the pillar supporting Akzeriuth, how the people he had travelled with reacted to him, and when he was confronted by Asch in Yulia City which resulted of him losing his life. It really hit Luke and clenched his teeth in sadness as he fell on his knees.

"It was all pointless," Luke said sadly and was about to cry, "I didn't know anything and I was played like a fool…I…killed them, I killed the people of Akzeriuth and Master Van, he…" Luke broke down and placed his head on the ground, "Damn it all…"

Luke's sadness continued as he laid on the ground. What Luke didn't know was that he was being watched. The person who was watching him was a female Shinigami with light pink hair and red eyes.

"That boy…" The woman said in her head, "so Marcel actually succeeded."

Luke started to get up and looked around and the Shinigami made sure she was not seen. Luke sighed sadly and headed off somewhere and the woman looked on and wondered where Luke was going.

"Well, I would like to see what he may do," The woman said quietly and then she sighed, "unfortunately for me, I have to get back to the Seireitei," The woman then frowned, "there has to be something that I can do to counter against that man."

The female Shinigami left to head back to the Seireitei.

Auldrant

In the Qliphoth, in Yulia City in Tear's room, Tear was in her room thinking about the tragedy that occurred. It had been two hours since Luke was killed at the entrance walkway of Yulia City and it happened on her watch and that didn't sit well with her. Mieu was on her bed depressed that his master was no longer among the living. It saddened the little Cheagle greatly and hated the fact that there was nothing he could do about it. Tear saw Mieu and walked up to him.

"Mieu," Tear spoke.

"Mieuuu," Mieu responded sadly.

"I'm sorry, I wish there was something I could do," Tear said sadly.

Mieu started to shed tears, "Master's gone, what am I going to do? I miss him. Master saved me many times and yet I couldn't do anything to save Master."

"It's my fault," Tear said, "I should have been able to stop Asch but I failed…that seems to be a trend for me…"

"Mieuuuuuu," Mieu wailed.

Tears went to hug the little Cheagle and thought about what happened between her and Luke.

Flashback: Deck of the Tartarus

"I was stupid to think you had some good in you," Tear said coldly to Luke as she walked away to join the others in the bridge.

Flashback End

Tear was just let go of Mieu and went her window that showed the selenia fields. She had her hand on her forehead.

Second Flashback: Entrance Walkway to Yulia City

Tear turned to face Luke and walked up a bit.

"How long are you going to stand there?" Tear asked, "Everyone's gone to the mayor's house."

"All they're going to do is keep accusing of stuff," Luke whined, "I don't want to go."

"You're even more pathetic than I thought, reject!" Asch said in disgust.

Luke, Mieu, and Tear turned and saw the God-General who looked at Luke with contempt.

Second Flashback End

Tear put her hand down on her side and shook her head, "If I had know that things would have ended like they did, I would've—"

"Hey, are you there?" Asch suddenly called out.

Tear turned and Asch appeared before her.

"So you're here," Asch said, "I'm letting you know that we're going back to the Outer Lands."

Tear glared at Asch, "Asch…"

Asch didn't like the glare, "What? Are you still mad?"

Tear didn't say anything and turned her back on him.

Asch got annoyed and he shook his head at Tear's response.

"Listen, what I did was completely justified," Asch pointed out, "That dreck had it coming. It's because that replica didn't listen that Akzeriuth was destroyed and Van was able fulfill part of his goal. Don't you see that?"

"I don't want to hear it from you," Tear said in an angry tone, "if there's nothing else then I want you to leave. Get out."

"So you're not going to come with us back to the Outer Lands, even if it's to find out what your brother is planning to do?" Asch said.

"I have my own assignment to complete. I have no reason to go help you," Tear responded.

Asch got annoyed, "Tch fine, do what you want. I don't care."

Asch left Tear's room and Tear just stood on her spot angry and saddened as she closed her eyes.

"I'm ashamed of myself," Tear said, "Why? Why didn't I stop him from killing Luke?"

Within the city, Guy was angry and sad about what happened to Luke. He thought about how things were wrong in his eyes and wondered if he should just have his revenge like he intended to years ago when he entered House Fabre as a servant. Guy looked and saw Asch coming out of Tear's residence and there was Natalia there to greet him and he listened in.

"Oh, uh Asch, how are you?" Natalia spoke.

"I'm fine," Asch simply answered looking at Natalia.

"Um I wonder, do you remember me?" Natalia asked being hopeful.

Asch didn't say anything and that didn't sit well with Natalia.

"Um, you know what, it's okay," Natalia said.

Asch moved on and headed to a certain direction and the Kimlascan Princess looked on seeing Asch leaving. As Asch kept walking, he noticed that Guy was glaring at him and Anise was walking by.

"What are you glaring at?" Asch asked Guy.

"You, a murderer," Guy answered with a hateful tone.

Asch got annoyed, "So that's how it's going to be?"

"You damn right it is," Guy replied.

Asch shook his head, "Whatever, I don't have time for this."

Asch left and Guy was watching him leave giving him a death glare.

"Guy, what's up with you?" Anise asked suddenly.

Guy looked at Anise, "Do you really need to ask Anise?"

"Are you really upset that Luke's gone?" Anise asked.

"Of course I am," Guy said, "Asch killed Luke in cold blood.

"But why though?" Anise asked.

Guy was surprised at Anise and looked at her upset.

"Why?" Guy repeated, "Anise, are you serious?"

"Luke was so stupid and he's the reason why a lot of people died in Akzeriuth," Anise said with a frown, "I admit that I like him because he was rich but to see how stupid he was, there's no way I could handle it," Anise shook her head, "I think Asch was justified considering what he did."

"You're wrong!" Guy said angrily, "Yes it's true that Luke caused the destruction of Akzeriuth and it is true that Luke was not willing to take responsibility but still he was…" Guy clenched his teeth frustrated thinking about how Luke had basically gave up fighting for his life, "Luke was…he was...upset and I know that even with me being upset with him for his careless words, I'm sure that if he took time to think things through, he would have realized and understand."

Anise didn't like what Guy said and she shook her head thinking that Guy didn't know what he was talking about.

"Oh yeah, well that's your opinion," Anise said harshly, "As far as I'm concerned, the world is better off without him that stupid selfish moron, a moron who is a despicable murderer!"

Guy gave Anise a death glare but Anise didn't let her bother her and she stood by what she had said.

"Whether you want to admit or not," Anise said, "the fact is that anyone who causes the death of innocent people doesn't deserve any sympathy."

Anise huffed at Guy and walked away and Guy clenched his teeth in anger and then he hit his fist on a wall. Meanwhile in the city's central facility, Asch went walked up the ramp to go see the mayor and the young God-General saw Ion, the Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei and could tell that the Fon Master didn't like being in the city. Asch didn't want to be near Ion at the moment since after Asch killed Luke, Ion was demanding to know why Asch had done the deed. Asch gave his reasons which included the fact that his replica killed a lot of people but Ion insisted that Asch still shouldn't have killed him.

"Are you satisfied?" A male voice asked.

Asch turned and realized it was Jade Curtiss who had his hands in his pockets

"Oh, it's you," Asch said deadpanned.

"Well, are you satisfied?" Jade asked again.

"Satisfied?" Asch asked.

"Yes, are you satisfied that you killed your replica and now the one you believe stole everything from you is now gone for good?" Jade asked as he pushed up his glasses.

"Are you going to tell me that I was wrong as well?" Asch asked with a glare.

"I'm annoyed how Luke acted after the fact of what had happened although I can't say I approve of what you did as well," Jade explained, "I'm just curious if your feel satisfied that you eliminated your replica."

"Tch, I don't have time for this," Asch said as he walked past Jade and then stopped, "We should be able to get back to the Outer Lands."

Jade nodded, "That's true, with Akzeriuth's Sephiroth, it should be possible that it will be able to give one last push."

"Exactly," Asch said.

Asch walked off and then he saw and stood in front of the entrance of Yulia City's Council Room. Asch nodded and went inside. There, he met with the mayor of Yulia City, a Maestro of the Order of Lorelei, Teodoro Grants who was Van and Tear's adoptive grandfather.

"What do you think of the Qliphoth?" Teodoro asked.

"It's just as I heard," Asch replied, "not very pleasant."

Teodoro nodded, "The miasma and Outer Land cover the sky. The land is a liquefied crust flowing over the mantle. It's no place for human beings to live."

Asch got curious and decided to ask, "Why don't you people move to the Outer Lands then?"

"You know our role," Teodoro answered, "we are the watchers. We cannot leave this land."

"Right, of course," Asch said in his head and then spoke, "So I hear there may be a way to raise the Tartarus back to the Outer Lands?"

Teodoro nodded at that response, "We've attached a fonon activator to the Tartarus similar to those used by the passage rings. It should be able to stimulate Akzeriuth's Sephiroth and the raise the tree one final time."

"Then we ride the Sephiroth Tree back to the surface, huh?" Asch spoke.

"Exactly, but do you really need the landship that badly?" Teodoro asked.

Asch got annoyed at that question, "I wouldn't have asked if we didn't."

Teodoro shrugged, "All right, then would you like to head to the Tartarus right now?"

Asch nodded, "Yes."

"Then let's go," Teodoro said with nod.

Teodoro and Asch left the meeting room to go to the Tartarus. On their way, they gathered the people that were ready to head back to the Outer Lands.

Tartarus's Bridge

The people that were in the bridge were Asch, Natalia, Anise, Jade, and Ion. Guy wasn't among them in the bridge since Guy refused to travel anywhere with Asch. Natalia had tried to convince Guy otherwise even saying that Guy was Luke's attendant and friend and that the real Luke was Asch. Guy countered the Kimlascan princess's statement by saying that Asch may be the real Luke but his friend was the Luke that Asch murdered in cold blood. Natalia decided to give up as she realized that Guy wasn't going to change his mind and her, Asch, Jade, Anise, and Ion just left Guy in Yulia City.

"Can we run a landship this size with only four people?" Asch asked.

"Only with the bare minimum maneuverability," Jade answered.

"Sephiroth are the pillars that support our Outer Lands, right?" Anise spoke, "How are we going to use that to get back up?"

"The Sephiroth are places where the planet's fonons are concentrated and memory particles spout forth," Ion informed, "The pillars—Sephiroth Tree—are the result of artificially strengthening those memory particle spouts."

"I see, so in other words we will be pushed up by memory particles," Natalia deduced.

"Yes, that is correct," Ion said with a nod.

"We'll temporarily stimulate the Sephiroth and catch the memory particle spout with the Tartarus's sails," Jade said.

"I hope it works," Natalia said worried.

"Don't worry," Asch spoke, "Begin!"

They activated the fonon activator and the Tartarus was pushed up by the memory particles, using Akzeriuth's Sephiroth to go up and they made it back up to the Outer Lands with the glow of a tree appearing.

"Looks like we made it up," Jade said.

"I can't believe this is floating in mid-air," Natalia said.

"So, exactly what is the plan right now?" Anise asked.

"We can get information at Fon Machine Lab 1 in Belkend," Asch said, "Van goes there often."

Anise was surprised, "He does?"

"I misunderstood Van's objective," Asch explained, "We'll have to uncover his activities to find out what he's really after."

"I want you to take Ion and me back to Daath," Anise requested.

"We'll take you back once we're done," Asch replied, "right now I need bodies here to operate the Tartarus."

"Is it possible for you to…I don't know, get your troops to help you?" Anise asked.

"I can't, everything I do would be leaked to Van," Asch explained.

"I don't see any problem with helping Asch," Natalia said, "We too need to know Van's true objective."

"Natalia is right," Ion said although he looked away with a frown.

Anise decided to go along for now and sighed.

"If you say so Ion, then I'll go along," Anise said.

"I have something I want to confirm as well," Jade said, "I'll cooperate with Asch for the time being."

Asch nodded, "Belkend is to the east. Now get to work."

They started to pilot the Tartarus and headed for Belkend to get clues of Van's objective.

Soul Society

Luke continued to walk and he was feeling weak. His movements were getting sluggish and he held his hand on his stomach.

"No, this is…" Luke said.

Luke tried to keep going but he was feeling the effects of hunger and try as he might, Luke couldn't move another step.

"Wow," Luke said laughing sadly, "I'm so pathetic. I can't seem to do anything right. I guess I'm really am such a weakling, a weakling who gets fooled so easily and stupid enough to kill so many innocent people," Luke continued to laugh sadly, "maybe Asch is right, maybe I am just defective."

Luke gave up and just collapsed on the ground. Luke just looked on and had tears stream from his eyes. There was footsteps being heard and Luke glanced over and saw someone coming towards him.

"Oh hey, are you okay?" A female voice asked.

Luke looked and saw a girl who had purple hair and amber eyes wearing a light blue robe with a light red sash tied around her waist. The girl was carrying a basket. Luke blinked looking at the girl and the girl looked concerned for Luke.

"You don't look so good," The girl said and then she smiled, "I bet it's because you're hungry, right?"

"Y-Yeah," Luke spoke.

"I knew it," The girl said, "well don't worry, I got you covered."

The girl took something from her basket and it was a rice ball and she extended it to Luke.

"Here, take it," The girl said with a smile.

"A-Are you sure?" Luke asked, "Please don't let me trouble you."

"It's no trouble," The girl said with a smile, "please take it."

Luke willed himself to take the rice ball and eat it. The girl smiled as she was very pleased and was glad to see Luke take and eat the rice ball. Luke looked at the girl and was amazed that someone had just helped him. He made a mental note to himself to properly thank her as he continued to eat the rice ball and he felt so grateful and ashamed at the same time.

"What's your name?" The girl asked.

Luke finished up the rice ball and started to get himself up.

"I'm Luke," Luke answered.

"I see, what an interesting name," The girl said and then she happily nodded, "My name is Senna. It's a pleasure to meet you Luke."

"I see, Senna…it's nice to meet you," Luke said feeling humbled.

That's it for the first chapter. Next chapter: Luke gets acquainted with Senna and learns where he is in the Soul Society and how things are.