Hello and good to see you, reader! Apple Fairy here! ^.^

Well, here's an Asch-centric fic for you. I actually wrote this story quite some time ago. This is a series of drabbles (although, I'm not sure it would count as 'drabbles'.) that are all based around various subjects Asch drones about. Whether it's to the audience, or an actual person, I'm not sure yet. These stories are only little tid bits I typed up when the whim struck. It'll update when I want to take it easy on writing. I suppose you don't have to take this fic seriously; just enjoy it as a story can hopefully do for another. :3

From the start of the line 'I hate the sun', to the very end of the section should count into a thousand words only. Everything else doesn't count.

In any case, I hope you enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

A Fragment of His Life

Story by Apple Fairy

If I can sleep there, it is my home.

If I have nightmares there, it still remains my home.

If I am comfortable there, it is my home.

If I am sad there, it still remains my home.

I can't be picky, anyhow.

Where would I go anyway?

This is my only home.

I hate the sun.

No, more specifically, I hate waking up. I hate that bleary eyed feeling, and that stupid eye crust (or whatever it is) you get in your eyes, and how if the rooms too hot you wake up all sweaty and icky and just plain in need of a shower. Or how sometimes the sun's too bright and it blinds your eyes, or how someone wakes you up from a good nap, and you'll be angry at them. Even that feeling of wanting to go back to sleep, but you can't because you know you just have to stay awake for work or to just plain not be lazy. I hate that one fact, the one thing that tells me I'd have to wait well into the evening to feel that soft, warm embrace again, only to be yanked from it again when the sun lifted from the horizon.

What I hate most is waking up from a dream that's a bitter reminder.

I don't need them, I tell myself, sluggishly, each time, they chose him. My place is here now.

I had a routine as 'Luke'. Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast with mother and father, attend to my studies (or sword-training with Van if it was one of those days), and then I was allowed free time which I spent with either Natalia or Guy. Then lunch, study, dinner, bathe, and finally bed. I was used to this routine, happy with it. It was my comfort zone. If I could stay like this, look forward to becoming king, nothing could hurt me.

I would be safe. Nothing could hurt me. Nothing.

And then all that happened.

They did experiments on me. Horrible, inhumane experiments when they kidnapped me. When Van kidnapped me.

They didn't just replicate me, no. They wanted to see the work of hyperresonance, see how far it could go. I bet it was Dist who wanted to use me as his test subject, the bastard.

Then, I escaped. I ran and ran, all the way to Baticul, my home, my comfort zone. I would be safe there. I'd tell them what happened. And once again, nothing could hurt me there.

But then I saw him.

The replica.

Mother and father were treating him like a son, giving him all the love I used to have.

Guy was holding him, calling him 'Master Luke' that was my title.

Natalia was smiling at him, the smile she used to give me.

…Suffice to say Van brought me back, and reassured me that he was sorry, and that I had a home with him.

Home.

A comfort zone.

Of course I'd run into his arms.

It was chaos for awhile. I had to learn to keep a new name, to respond to 'Asch' not 'Luke'. I had to learn how the city of Daath worked, how I would now be a servant of Lorelei. Of course, no one else wanted me, and it was all Van gave me, so I decided, fine. I'll work for the Order. I'll stay close to Van.

Then, it began to become a home. Slowly, but surely, it began to become my comfort zone. I had a routine, my goal to rise to the ranks so I could get closer to Van. He was the only one who accepted me; what other reason did I have to live?

My personality changed, my outlook on life changing as well. I became bitter, not the eager boy I was in Baticul. The one who would become king, who would impress mother and father, who would marry Natalia.

No, now I was Asch. Just Asch; no last name. I belonged to no one, and I only respected one man.

My home was here.

I eased into this new lifestyle, a routine becoming frequent for me. I was dubbed 'Asch the Bloody, of the Six God Generals' at the age of fifteen. I had achieved my goal; I had reached Van's expectations. I was content with life now.

When I was first getting used to the Order, I would have flashbacks. I would remember my fiancé, Natalia, and miss her.

But she chose him; I was nothing to her.

I would remember Guy, my friend, and worry about him.

Years later, Van confessed that 'Gailardia Galan Gardios' had really just wanted to kill me the whole time and was only trying to gain my trust. I didn't really give a damn about him after that.

I'd remember mother and father, and hope at least they were fine.

I still do. I have no grudge against them. I'll wonder about them, but not so far as to go back.

No.

I would never go back.

My home was here.

Back there, there was an imposter sleeping in my bed, living my life, and taking my loved ones from me. He was a thief. He was criminal.

And what was his punishment? Nothing. Not a thing. He got to live my life, got to keep it from me, and no one had stopped him.

What a wonderful world we live in.

So, every morning, when I wake up, to the mornings I so hate, when I remember them briefly, I keep it like that. Brief. No more. That wasn't my home.

My home was here. Here, I was Asch, and I had a routine. Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, train, fulfill orders, have lunch, more orders, then dinner, finally a bath and then bed. A routine. Here, I was wanted, and I'm smart enough now to know I wasn't safe.

But at least I was wanted. If they needed me, they wouldn't abandon me. If I was needed, at least I had a purpose.

Yes, this was home. Home is not a place where you feel happy. It's a place where you are wanted. It's a place you know you can stay in.

I'm content with this life.

I don't miss them as much anymore.

That's the end! Just a short one, nothing much. :3

I'm not sure if this would qualify as a drabble…I couldn't handle 100 words, so I did 1,000. Hope that's right. xD;;

I'm sorry if it's boring. Thank you for reading, though! I hope you have a nice day! Ciao! x3

-Apple Fairy