Well here's my first ever TOA fanfic! (I've been dying to write this for weeks)
We can all see that I'm not as good but please try to bear with my story and if it gets a little confusing, I apologize!

I give credit/s and kisses and hugs to the people here in the TOA section, because without you guys, this fic would never be born!
Special credit to: ArryRamage, Fox of Anubis, Ark Navy, sistaofpeace1 (in the forums and on YT), Apakoha, Phil Collins (I wrote this with his music playing)
Their fanfics (or info on TOA) mostly inspired me to write this.

Note to my beta-reader (you know who you are): This isn't the story that I asked you to beta-read, this is just a little story that popped out of my head.

Note to the readers (that's you bub!): I have a forum called "Tales of Fandom Vol.2: Testament Mystearica" in the TOA forums section. I strongly suggest anyone to come and discuss anything regarding any of the Vol.2 Fandoms. I want to know more of the english-subbed version! Thanks to all who will come.

Disclaimer: I blame my inability to make a witty saying for not writing down a witty saying for my disclaimer. I DO NOT OWN TOA!

Sue me and be kissed by JADE! (not that a lot of people will hate that but come on, the man can be your grandfather!)

CHAPTER 1

It had been a really long day…especially for six particular people (seven if Mieu is considered a person).

They all decided to stay in Yulia City for the night; even before going to Baticul to celebrate Luke's "Coming of Age" ceremony. Mayor Teodoro had given Tear the responsibility of giving the group a place to sleep, reminding her of the recent "lowering the Outer Lands" incident taking every possible accommodations that can be found within the city. Tear decided to let the whole group stay in her house, seeing that she has no other option. It was not because she doesn't like having company, no, that wasn't at all the case. It was the fact that she has absolutely no idea where the others were going to sleep in her one bedroom abode. Thankfully, everything was solved when Teodoro offered some sleeping bags that were immediately sent to her room; how they were going to sleep in it, a whole different problem. Anise deftly handled it though by sleeping on Tear's bed, giving the others the liberty of just getting inside a sleeping bag and lying down on the cold, hard, wooden floor. Tear noticed that they were one sleeping bag short, making the whole situation worse. Realizing the anxiety that she was going to cause if she made that concise declaration, she proceeded to the lower floor, lying to the others that she was expected to have an audience with her grandfather. It worked, as everyone was too tired to even bother replying to her, even the Colonel, who always looks the least tired among any of them in most occasions, turned in early for the night. When she got downstairs, she proceeded to the log room just north of the kitchen. There, she sat down the large, soft-cushioned swivel chair and almost immediately fell asleep.

She had only slept for two hours, though, and then she woke up again. She assumed that her body only wanted to rid itself of the incessant fatigue that she had been feeling since last morning. She groggily got out of the chair, then went to the kitchen and washed up a bit to remove whatever fatigue was still left. She proceeded to the flower garden, hoping to tire herself to sleep by tending to her brother's selenias. She needed her energy, knowing that she has to be prepared for whatever tomorrow has in store for her; her military instincts dictate her to do so.

When she got upstairs, she was surprised by Luke's presence inside the preserved serenity provided by the selenia garden. She neared him, while quietly passing through the bodies of her sleeping comrades sprawled all over her bedroom floor. Luke didn't seem to hear her open the door, despite the door hinge creaking even at the slightest movement. She stood right next to him and held his shoulder. Luke tensed, not knowing who could possibly be awake at this time and hour besides him, then relaxed when he discovered it was just Tear.

Yep, just Tear.

Luke gave her a warm smile and Tear gave him the same. For a quick moment, they shared an uninterrupted silence, just looking at the selenias in full bloom. Tear felt happy again, just like the time when they were on top of the Albiore before their big fight with Van. She wanted to lean on his shoulders; but more than anything else, she wanted to tell him her true feelings, but she remembered one crucial fact: Luke's engaged to Natalia. Her smile suddenly turned into a slight frown, but not slight enough for Luke not to notice.

"Tear, is something wrong?" Luke's innocent expression was enough to make her feel happy and content again, but she's sure that he would not take that for an answer.

"Nothing…nothing's wrong." Tear wanted to stay away from the subject as long as possible.

Luke, however, is long famed for his stubbornness, and the matter at hand became no exception to his inquisitiveness.

"Come on, don't you trust me?"

"It's not that. It's just…something that I can't tell you."

By this time, Luke knew Tear enough to let her keep her secrets to herself. Either way, nothing would come out of her, no matter what method he uses.

An awkward silence fell upon them once again, and as usual, Luke was the one who started the conversation.

"So…Van planted these flowers huh?"

"…yes"

"Well…" He was struggling to find the right words because he knew how sensitive Tear can be whenever the subject ever concerned her brother. And besides, he wanted to know what Tear was thinking without offending her. "Was he taught by your mother or something?"

"I really don't know. Why are you suddenly curious anyway?"

Tear gave him a confused but curious look. He didn't seem to get the point, though, as he assumed her look to be more on the "its-none-of-your-business-asshole" type of look. He decided to change the subject fast, "Oh-uh-he he…you know…hmmm…I-I j-just got curious, y'know? 'Bout your family and stuff…like maybe your other relatives might want to know what happened to Van!"

"Wait, then how did my brother's knowledge of planting flowers get related to what happened on Eldrant?"

Oh how Luke wanted to wish that Tear had never been so attentive during their senseless discussion! But since he brought the subject up, he had no choice but to answer.

"So you're saying that your relatives have no right to know what Van does during his spare time? Only time could tell when people start asking stupid questions, especially about Van's flower planting hobby."

Tear sighed, she knew how hopeless he can be sometimes when it comes to casual conversations, not that she's an expert on it as well, but seriously, this is ridiculous.

"Luke please, what did you really want to talk about?"

"Even if I told you, you won't answer me."

"Try me."

"Okay…what's been bothering you?"

Tear expected this, but still haven't thought of an appropriate answer that could make him stop bringing the subject up.

"I told you, nothing's been bothering me."

"If I guess it and I guess it right, would you promise to tell me everything?"

She sighed in defeat; she knew that he would never give up.

"Is it…about me? Or is it about Master Van?"

"I thought you're going to guess. I'm not giving you any hints."

"That's not fair! Okay, I'm going to try my first instinct; it's about my engagement right?"

She flinched involuntarily. Luke saw it and knew he was on the right track.

"You know it was meant to be right? There isn't anything we can do about it. Besides, I'm technically Asch now…after all, I have his body and his memories. I also love Natalia."

"I know that."

"Tear…do you…have…feelings for me?"

Tear didn't want to answer and decided to leave the room, but Luke held her hand before she could even bolt for the door.

"You didn't answer my question, do you love me?"

"Luke, I-I have something to do downstairs. Get some rest; you're probably tired after staying up this late with me."

She tugged her hand harder than he expected, causing him to tumble forward. Tear caught him and left him in the garden, then ran straight out the door and into the stairs. Luke smiled, even at that crucial moment; he saw her blush the slightest hint of red. He stood up smirking, because he knew that he got his answer, but the smile suddenly turned to a scowl when he saw three figures staring at the garden's windows. Furious, he marched straight back inside.

"I told them it was wrong." Jade said with his teasing tone.

"Boo, Colonel you were part of it too!" Anise pouted

"D-don't look at me, I just got dragged into this!" His best friend pleaded.

Luke sighed; still, it reminded him so much of the old times that he didn't find it inside him to even give a witty remark.

While Guy and Anise started arguing over which one started what, Jade gestured Luke to follow him back into the garden.

When they got inside, Jade noticed little Anise staring out the window again. Luke told him to let her do what she wants, but Jade gave him a look that gave him a feeling that he's being serious. He gave her a signal to stay out of the window, but being the stubborn little girl she is, she stuck her tongue out at Luke. Jade, knowing that Anise wasn't about to give up, decided to make a scene by embracing a very startled (and very, very confused) Luke and to top it off, Jade puckered his lips, gesturing Luke to do the same. Meanwhile, poor little Anise was too shocked to even move that she just stayed frozen; until Guy took her away (but not after pausing to look at the very awkward scene displayed by Luke and Jade; not to mention his phobia preventing him to get even closer than five feet from the little girl).

"Now, come on Anise, let's leave the Jade and Luke to their 'businesses'." Guy told Anise as he hurriedly tied a rope, which he found in Tear's closet, around her waist and pulled her back into Tear's bed.

"G-G-Guy, I think I'm going back to sleep now. That's enough of a nightmare for me to last in a lifetime."

Jade gave the red-headed noble some time to recuperate, seeing how "traumatized" he was from the short scene they made earlier.

When Luke finally got hold of his senses, he turned to Jade's direction, "Next time, would you mind telling me what we're gonna do beforehand?"

Jade gave him a sly smirk, "How was I supposed to know that little Anise would be following us when we are here in serious business?"

"Well whatever, but next time, let's not use THAT method ever again!"

"Fine, fine…"

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Back to business eh? Very well…" Jade adjusted his glasses before he spoke.

"How did you survive with your fonons deteriorating?"

"Hm? I thought you of all people should know, because frankly, I really have no idea."

"My only conclusion is that you and Asch seemed to have bonded due to the fact that you're both perfect isofons. Other than that, I cannot make any other scientific hypotheses concerning Lorelei's involvement; seeing as how I have only seen the catalyst, and not even the actual aggregate sentience's existence, once."

"Well, the Planet Storm's involved in it too, I guess…seeing that the Planet Storm's not going crazy anymore. To be honest, I don't remember what really happened. What I do remember, though, is seeing Asch come back to life."

"The fact that you survived fonon separation has no scientific explanation…hmm…I would like to stop here for now."

"Huh? Why?

"Because I am sure that I'm not the only one interested in knowing. Now, let's talk about what happened between you and Tear tonight!"

Luke's eyes widened at the mention of her name, "What? N-nothing happened!"

"Uh huh…"

"It's none of your business." Luke walked towards the door when Jade suddenly spoke.

"Go talk to her again."

"What do you know?"

"A lot more than you that's for sure."

Luke turned to Jade's direction, and then stared at the ring on his finger.

"I guess I kinda felt something for her too…but…Asch's-no- MY memories came back. I remembered everything and then…the first thing that I saw was…a scene with me and Natalia when we were young. Then I suddenly felt Asch push me towards Natalia. I can't choose someone I just liked and met for just a year over my childhood friend."

"Keep talking, I'm listening."

"Hey! You were just bluffing earlier, were you?! You just wanted me to talk."

"Yes, and it worked, so go on. It's too late to back out now."

"Well just promise me that you'll keep this a secret, at least until I can tell it her myself."

"I'm so old I can hardly remember my own name. Who knows? Maybe I'll forget everything you told me tonight, then, you don't have to worry about your secret anymore!"

Luke gave out a sigh. The Colonel will never change; it gave him a bittersweet feeling.

"My father would probably like Natalia better anyway. If I were to look at the situation in Baticul's point of view, the generations of both Fabre and Kimlasca-Lanvaldear would go on and stronger family ties mean a stronger nation so everyone wins."

Jade removed his glasses and carefully wiped them using a soft cloth he took out of his uniform's pocket.

"That's true…"

"I'm sure Asch would think that way too."

Jade lifted his glasses up in the direction of the moon. Satisfied with his glasses' clarity, he placed it back to its proper position.

"Asch? I thought the whole point of our journey was for you to find your own place. I respect the fact that you want to repay Asch, but also remember that if you are going to decide for Asch's sake…"

Luke's eyebrow arched. "Yeah?"

"Even he wouldn't like it. But 'what do I know?' right?"

Both men were silent for the next few minutes. Jade decided to break the ice by heading towards the door, signaling Luke that he's going back to sleep. Luke motioned him to stop and face him.

"Hey, Jade?"

"Hmmm?"

"I just got back from the dead! Can't anyone gimme a break? Why is everyone so curious about whom I should marry or not?"

"…our journey consisted of so many hardships. All of us lost something in exchange for the greater good, correct?" The rhetorical question gave Luke a stinging dose of nostalgia. "Whomever you decide will give one comfort, and, as always, another despair. It's up to you to decide whom you want to give joy to."

Luke scratched the back of his head, "When you tell it that way, it almost makes me not wanna marry anyone anymore. You always make everything sound bad."

Luke saw Jade's lips curl up to a smile. "Hahaha…so I do. But it's the truth, isn't it?"

Jade turned the opposite direction and headed towards the door, waving his hand goodbye.

Luke faked a smile and waved back. Note to self: DON'T EVER-EVER CONFIDE IN JADE!

A/N: I know, kinda short. I rushed it so sorry for any typos!
Next (and final) chapter will be posted sometime this week so don't forget to review and check out my story!
I'm already writing the second chapetr so don't worry about delays on this one.

I'm not going to make a poll but, who do you think should Luke really marry(or rather, truly love without a shadow of a doubt): Natalia or Tear?
I'll try to make the second chapter longer, if time permits me.

Sorry for the line breakers, I keep placing 'em but the site keeps deleting it!

Please R&R! Anonymous reviews welcome (as long as its story-related).

Eucharion