"You lied," What? No! I tried! Truly, I did! The woman glared.

"Worthless. Can't even kill himself right," the man was beside her. Really! I tried to follow, but they stopped me!

"So many excuses. Can you even tell the truth?" New people now... a teenager. Female. Missing an arm and stomach open. I'm not making excuses! Please understand. Tears... they hurt.

"If you truly wanted to follow us, you would have run from the start," a male teen. Missing fingers and bone for an arm. I didn't think they would wake up!

"There's your answer, you don't think," an elder. Her head caved in, a leg missing and the skin on her arms gone. I promise, I'll do better next time. More tears. They're burning.

"Next time? There won't be a next time," the child again. Innocent expression slowly morphing into a grin of mania. What? What do you mean...? They're approaching. Rain.

"Come now, don't you understand?" The girl. Behind. Small smile but manic shine in the eyes. No, I don't. What do you mean? Pain inducing rain. Like knives.

"There is no other time." The boy. Smirking. All of them, smirking. What? He grabs. Blinding pain.

"Come with me, dear, and I'll make it stop," the elder. Betraying smile. What are you going to do? Fear.

"Don't you listen!" The man and a strike. Dripping. I... okay... Relinquish.

"Don't forget!" The child. Happy. I... I won't. I'll never forget. Pushing. Leading.

"I hope not." The woman. Dissatisfied. I promise.

"You promised!" Happiness. False pride. Muted anger. Silent annoyance. Soothing... so soothing.


Asch grumbled as he stalked through the lower levels of the Oracle HQ. Not only was Van demanding irrelevant things, Mohs was being annoying wondering what was taking the Fon Master's Guardian so long to update him. Having had enough of his complaints, Asch decided to get a breath of fresh air in the courtyard.

He stormed past the knight that acted as the guard to the lower sector and paced his way to the elevator, slowing down as he came to the more finely decorated halls. An oracle member watched him as he passed by and he gave a polite nod in greeting. The member nodded back and Asch continued on his way.

As he came upon the warp room, an ear-shattering shriek came from above, causing him to grasp the sides of his head and look up wondering what the hell just happened. He glared at the various bridges criss-crossing above him as the screams continued, scowling when he saw a familiar white light streak down and land in the centre of the room.

Anise's figure materialized and immediately stepped on the pad that led to her room, leaving Asch no time to question her as she glowed and disappeared.

Wanting answers, Asch went to the centre glyph, transporting himself to the highest level. Ion stood there, clearly waiting for Anise and surprise at his appearance evident.

"What is going on?" he growled, watching the younger male as he looked back to his room at a particularly loud shout.

"It's best if you go and look for yourself," he replied, looking back at him and stepping aside. Asch growled in displeasure as he took the invitation and moved forward, throwing open the door and running up the stairs with ease. The yells were starting to become very familiar.

Natalia was standing there as he all but kicked the door open, shock before desperation playing across her face.

"What the hell is going on here?" he demanded the information as she ran up to him, grasping his tabard with her gloved hands.

"It's Luke!" she exclaimed, tears spilling out of her eyes, "he's hurt and he won't stop!"

"Stop what!" he winced, a chill running down his spine at the pain-filled scream that emitted from the next room.

"Natalia!" a command filled voice called out and the princess took no time turning around and running to the bedroom. Asch followed, knowing the answer resided there. Yet as he entered, Luke silenced himself and everything stopped moving. Emerald eyes stared up from the bed, wide and unseeing as bloody tears slowly followed the ready made path.

Tear inhaled, having realized she had stopped breathing and took a hesitant step forward. Jade's hand came up to stop her, slowly turning to face the newcomer. "Now this surely cannot be a coincidence," he spoke, crimson eyes flashing. Asch glared, going to move forward before his head erupted in pain. A short burst of sound clawed its way out before he clenched his teeth and clutched his head. This was the drecks fault, he knew it. Strange things always happened around him.

He vaguely noticed Natalia beside him as he attempted to stand again, barely hearing the yell of his replica behind the ring in his head. He was going to get the damned idiot to shut up even if it killed him. He narrowed his eyes as the room tilted and blurred, cursing as he fell and his vision blacked out.


"Well now, who's this?" the elder. ...

"Are you here for us too?" the child. ...What?

"Silence!" The man. Yes sir...

"Seriously though, who's this hottie?" the girl. ...

"He looks just like this one." The boy. !

"Well what d'you know, he does! Maybe he's a twin..." the woman. Hope. Fear. Shaking.

"...What...?"

"Huh, sounds like him too." the girl. ...No...

"I said silence!" Pain. Burning.

"Dreck!" Freeze. Smouldering emerald eyes. Flaming ruby hair.

"Are you here for us too, mister?" Building terror.

"Here for... What are you talking about!"

"Dang, he gets angry fast. Not like this one at all." The girl.

"No kidding." the boy. Trembling.

"Hey! What are you trying to do?" the woman. He's coming closer. Grabbing. Pulling. Pain.

"This one's ours." the man. Digging. Piercing.

"Yeah! He promised us!" the child. Happy innocence.

"Promised you?" Confusion.

"Yup!"

"He's coming with us." the woman.

"And just where are all of you going?"

"Akzeriuth." Grinning. Maniacal. Terrorizing. RUN!


Analytic, crimson eyes scowered the room, as they did periodically throughout the night once everyone went to sleep before returning to the book in his hand. A cup of coffee rested in the other, cooler than it was when it was first made but still warm.

The day's events had truly been out of the ordinary, even for their own little band of do-gooders. First Luke attempts suicide. When taken to Daath, mysterious markings had appeared on the boy with some thrashing applied by him followed by the appearance of his original. Now Asch was to be minorly expected, since they were above the Oracle Headquarters, yet to have him collapse in the middle of the floor was not. Anise had returned afterward with some rope to restrain said thrashing boy only to have it rendered useless when he stopped.

Jade came out of his thoughts when he heard a disturbance in the next room. Cursing started up and a lamp was turned on, illuminating the space under the door. Placing his coffee down and standing up, he stepped around Guy and Tear who slept on the floor, and opened the door to the next room. A cot had been placed inside for Asch after he had collapsed that morning. It was now empty as the God-General stood next to it, looking rather stressed as he stared at Luke.

"Would now be a good time to ask what happened?" Jade questioned, hands resting comfortably in his pockets. Asch glared at him before snatching his blade that leaded against the head of the cot and equipping it.

"The dreck has decided to strike a deal with the spirits of Akzeriuth. They're taking him with them," Jade's eyebrows raised at the information, clearly not expecting it.

"And what shall we do about it?" he asked. Spirits?

"Keep him here in Daath. I need to go down to the site where Akzeriuth landed in the Qliphoth, there might be something there," Jade frowned. Asch and Luke were still the same in some ways.

"Take someone with you," he ordered, pushing up his glasses, "Tear and Guy might be able to help." Asch scoffed but made no protests, bringing his gaze back to the unconscious replica. The state he had been in there, Asch didn't even want to think about it. Yet the image stayed, as if made into the wallpaper of his mind; lifeless, broken, torn. He had been as naked as a newborn, handprints up his arms, bruises colouring his torso and blood everywhere. His spirit had been broken.

"Send the melodist for me when they awaken. I'll be in the courtyard," Asch said shortly, brushing past Jade as he exited the room. He needed to think.

Jade only moved slightly to the side as he left, running a cursory glance over Luke's form. The boy was still crying blood.


In the courtyard, Asch went and climbed to the highest possible branch he could reach without danger of falling. He was currently facing the east, contemplating the meanings of the spirits within Luke's mind. They were real, that much he could gather. But he doubted that the actual people of the mining city would hold that much of a grudge, at least not that many. There had to be something more to it. Something he couldn't see. Something that only a scientist would be able to figure out. He groaned and leaned his head back, smacking it off the trunk of the tree. Another visit to Spinoza seemed to be in order.

But in the mean time, he had to see if Luke was truly stuck in his own mind. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, searching for the frequency that matched his own. He found it not too long after as his frown deepened, its strength fluctuating dangerously low. Latching on to it, he pulled it closer, slowly letting it meld with his own unlike other times where he forced them together. He felt the connection open and he willed himself into Luke's mind, feeling the air around him become cold.

He opened his eyes, not seeing the moonlit courtyard but the violet haze that seemed to be Luke's mind at the moment. Stepping forward, Asch searched around him for any sign of his replica and strained his ears for a sound. "Replica!" he called out, knowing that usually wielded an answer, but none came. There was no movement as far as he could see and not a sound could be heard. He cursed and started walking. His plans were going to be ruined if this kept up.

A few moments later, a familiar shriek sounded around him, echoing in his head and in the endless abyss around him. Covering his ears did nothing to quiet it. Realizing he was going in the wrong direction, he turned and started running.

The distance between them seemed endless, never ending, and he was starting to wonder if he was even going the right way. But a burst of power halted him, creating a wind that nearly pushed him to his knees, and Luke's form appeared before him. Green eyes widened at the sight, viewing the lithe form huddled together and the crimson streams slowly gathering beneath him. The scream was still resonating, even though Luke was clearly not making a sound. And yet again, he was exposed.

"Dreck!" the shout was useless, seeing as the replica was unresponsive. Asch slowly approached, not sure what exactly it was he wanted to do. In spite of that, the mental shouts of pain quieted into whimpers as he grew closer, Luke gaining comfort in the proximity of his original. Kneeling and raising a tentative hand, Asch brushed the short strands of hair away from Luke's face, revealing a small cut across his forehead. His expression was twisted in mental anguish and tears moved in a steady stream.

"I will help you," he promised quietly as he pulled away and stood, "you just need to wait for me." Asch bowed his head and turned, pulling himself out Luke's mind and back into his own.

The sun wasn't very high in the sky when he came back to awareness, just barely above the tallest buildings in front of him. Guy and Tear would be awake at this point so he lowered himself to the ground using the branches beneath him. Walking at a leisurely pace, he left the courtyard and entered the tall cathedral. Anise's mother passed him as he went through the main hall looking like she was going shopping, carrying a basket over one arm. She waved at him though he ignored her in favour of watching Jade step through the doorway almost lazily, if that were possible. Natalia and Guy came after looking a bit frazzled.

"I must ask that you move quickly," Jade spoke before anyone else managed to open their mouths. "Luke had shown signs of weakening after you left. Tear is currently making sure that nothing will happen but I don't know how long that will last. Natalia will help you in her place," Asch nodded, giving a brief glance to Natalia and Guy.

"We'd better leave now, then," he turned and started for the door with the blonds following behind him. He was curious, but he knew he didn't want to find out just how weak Luke had gotten. The image in his mind was enough to set him on his course.


"What do you suppose we'll find out here?" was Natalia's question as they hovered over that vast expanse that used to be Akzeriuth. St. Binah wasn't too far and they had used the Malkuth route in order to find the mining city. Below them, a barren stretch of land remained.

"I'm not sure yet," Asch replied as he turned to Noelle. "Find someplace to land. I need to be there physically," the pilot glanced back then nodded, turning the airship to the ground in a landing dive.

On the ground, the area didn't appear to be any different. The only change Natalia or Guy could see was the shift in Asch's posture. The scenery around them was as bleak grounded as it was in the air. Asch seemed to be the only one that could sense a difference.

The princess approached him and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder, asking softly, "What is it, Asch? What's here?" Guy continued to survey their surroundings as the God-General stared in one direction.

"I want you to stay here," he requested, drawing Guy's gaze toward him. The blond nobles watched his back as he started at a brisk pace in a seemingly random direction. They glanced at each other before following, knowing this was what Jade was talking about when he told them to come. They quickened their pace when Asch disappeared from their sight but froze once an invisible barrier was crossed, bombarding them with sounds of pain and feelings of betrayal.

"What?" Guy clutched his head and looked forward, finding Asch as he continued forward without stopping.

"I told you not to come," was his response. Natalia looked as if she wanted to say something but was stopped when the figure of a woman, bleeding from her head, appeared before the two of them.

-Who are you?- Asch stopped and whirled around, dashing back to them with the fiercest look of anger either of them had seen.

"Where is he?" he roared, drawing his sword and attempting to slice the woman in half. Guy would've been amused by this fact had it been any other situation considering the woman wouldn't have been able to answer but when she vanished to reappear behind her assailant, Guy was stunned.

-So you're back...- Asch only growled and tightened his grip on his sword.

"Where is he?" he repeated slowly. The woman only smirked, altering the path of blood.

-Now, why should we tell you that?- Natalia squeaked, skittering away from the form of a man that had materialized beside her. His one working eye glared at her before returning to Asch.

-Yeah, he's ours! He promised!- Guy and Natalia stared at the child before the woman, recognizing him as the one that had sank in front of their eyes. Asch went to strike him but the blade only passed through him, disrupting his image briefly.

-What do you think you're doing? Striking a child like that!- A girl passed through them, racing to the child and picking him up.

-If you keep annoying us like this, we might take you too,- Asch glared at the other teen, stepping back as the spirits surrounded the trio.

"Just try it," Asch dared, bringing his sword to a ready position.

-Oh, I don't think we need to go that far,- Asch's eyes widened as the old woman appeared immediately before him, her hand stretched out for his forehead.

However, just as her fingers brushed him, she was pushed back along with the rest of them.

-Run! Don't stay! Get as far away as you can!- Luke's voice echoed around them as Asch brought his hand up to cover his forehead and one eye.

"Luke?" Guy called as the spirits started to pick themselves up off the ground.

-Go!-

"No," Asch growled, dropping his hand and sheathing his sword.

"Asch!" Natalia reached after him as he started running, dodging the hands that grappled for him. The pair followed after him, careful not to touch the ones on the ground.

"Where are you going?" Guy veered to one side as the ground cracked sending a spray of mud into the air. He and Natalia hastened their pace so as to not be hit by it.

"After him!" Asch called back, not stopping.

Natalia's legs soon started to burn as they raced along the island, dodging cracks and towering boulders in their path. The calls of the spirits echoed dimly behind them, urging her forward and to not stop. Guy also showed signs of tiring, sweat beading on his brow. If it wasn't for the taunting behind them, he would be half tempted to stop.

Asch growled as he jumped over a particularly large rock in his path. Looming walls appeared out of the haze, coming to different levels and openings becoming visible. He didn't slow down as he streaked through the one in front of him. Inside, Guy and Natalia found the place to be dreadfully familiar. They passed support beams every few meters and broken tracks were scattered on the ground. The haze of the miasma covered fallen walls and rocks until they were almost upon them and they had to leap in order to avoid them.

"Can we slow down?" Natalia shouted, unable to hear the spirits any longer.

"No! If we do, he might not be there," Asch yelled back. He turned down a narrow tunnel, surprisingly able to keep his speed as he ran on the uneven terrain. Guy nearly ran passed it, not seeing it in time and Natalia had to slow down. Her heeled shoes would keep catching on the random rock.

A wordless yell bounced against the walls, wavering and breaking as they traveled. This spurred them on, following Asch as he turned and weaved through the near invisible branches of the mine.

-No, please!- His voice sobbed, followed by a cry of pain. Asch's heart raced, pounding harder than it ever had before. Fear gripped him as his mind flashed images before his eyes, his replica far worse than when he'd seen him that morning. Dull green eyes boring into him, blaming him for his current state. This spurred him on, knowing he couldn't let it happen.

Guy called out his name just as Natalia tripped. She fell with a gasp, scrapping her palms, elbows and knees against the hard rock. Guy stopped and turned back while Asch raced on. He didn't think as he gripped her arms and pulled her up, both of them starting to run again as she raised.

The God-General was barely visible at that point, Guy just catching his back as the tunnel curved. "Hurry," he breathed and they quickened their pace, Guy tugging on her arm every time she slipped.

-Turn back!-

Then they were out, the vast cavern before them high above their heads and the opposite wall far behind the veil of miasma. Asch continued to run, his strides becoming longer and faster. Natalia struggled to keep up as Guy pulled further ahead.

-Stop!- Natalia saw it coming before she was able to react. Tiny blades came whistling through the air, cutting the miasma apart and slicing their way past the trio. Her face was scratched and her sleeves were torn before she managed to dive for the dirt. Immediately she started concentrating on Healing Wind, hoping it would cover her, Guy and Asch.

-Well, well, isn't this surprising,- High pitched giggling surrounded them followed by the clang of a blade.

-Indeed. You'd think he would learn,- Asch grit his teeth and got to his feet as the spell took affect.

-And look! He brought friends!- The giggling continued as Guy and Natalia stood as well.

-Should we take them, too?-

-No!-

-You shut up!- They hurried forward as Luke cried out. In the back of Natalia's mind, she wondered how it was even possible for him to be there. As far as she knew, he was still in Daath.

-Uh-oh, he's getting angry,- The sing-song tone taunted them. Whistling started up again and they braced themselves, narrowly dodging the blades as they passed.

Finally the girls became visible, standing side-by-side with twin grins on their faces. They wore matching dresses that were torn in various places, showing the raw wounds that covered them. A hole stood out in their chests where they'd clearly been impaled. Dull dark hair fell over their shoulders and grey eyes stared at them. Short swords were held in their outward hands.

The left tugged at the right's sleeve. -Hey, they're staring. Do you think we freak them out?-

-Nah, not if they've seen the elder. He's still scared of her,- They giggled again, leaning on each other and pressing their foreheads together. The men drew their swords and Natalia unclipped her bow, pulling out an arrow from her quiver.

"Where is he?" Asch pointed his sword at them, green eyes burning with anger. The left took a deep breath, leaning back and swing her arm out to the side.

-Why would we tell you that? You'd only take him away,- she laced her fingers with her partner so she wouldn't fall over. Natalia and Guy shared a glance then stepped closer to Asch.

-Ooh, looks like they're preparing for a fight,- The right one straightened her partner and they took mirroring stances.

-It's a good thing we were good to go,- They grinned again.

-No!- A wall of gold erupted between them as a familiar burst of power washed over them, bringing the wave of wind with it. Natalia nearly fell from the force of it, flailing her arms to keep balanced and Guy grunted, bracing himself on the ground. A sphere of energy slowly descended from the ceiling and the twins screamed with rage.

"What...?" Natalia's gaze slowly filled with wonder at the golden glow before them. It was round and about half the size of Asch who stood in front of it, shining enough to bathe them with warmth and energy.

-What?- The right one trembled and her grip on her partner's hand tightened.

-How dare he!- The left one was just as angry, -intervening bastard.-

Asch slowly stepped forward with his blade clattering to the ground. He held out his arms as if to embrace the ball of energy.

"Hey," Guy called as the glow seemed to gain more life the closer Asch got, morphing its shape to that of a human then dropping into waiting arms.

Natalia watched in silence as the glow melded with her first love, inducing the light upon him before fading. She cried out as he started to drop, Guy dashing forward to catch him.

-Dammit!- Natalia turned abruptly, nearly giving herself whiplash as the spirits all gathered behind them. She sent an arrow flying and it passed through the adults, freezing them in their position.

"Let's go!" Guy shouted, adjusting his hold on the original and picking up his sword. He ran passed Natalia and she followed, shooting the spirits before they got too close to Guy.

-Get them!- The twins shouted in unison behind the barrier.


It was warm. Different from the usual. And painless. Where was he?

It was light. Another change. The room was small and plain containing only a mirror, a bed and a cot. Where was this? He didn't know it.

Standing and wondering. The floor was cold.

The door was opening. A person entered. He stared. They stared too. Then they approached. Quickly.

He cried out. Move! They stopped. He dropped to the floor.

Flash. Metal. Sharp. A dagger.

Lunging forward. Grasping. Clutching. They would want this, right?

Pending release...


They were back on the Albiore, though Asch was still unconscious. Noelle barely questioned them when they had come running full tilt, only lifting off once the ramp was safely put into position. Asch was placed into a chair and Guy had reclined it until the body it was holding was mostly horizontal. Natalia had healed what she could of the burns on his forehead. Scars would remain from where the elder had touched him with her poison touch.

Now the three conscious blonds were watching the grounds below them through the windows, not speaking a word. They were back on the outer lands and on a straight track for Daath, stopping not being in their plans.

Natalia made her routine check on the red-head, looking over the mark on and over his left eye where the old woman had managed to touch. She pondered over this, questioning if Luke had gone through the same and settled on finding out once they got back for the fifth time that trip.

She looked up as the ship started to slow then lower to the ground. Finally...

Guy stood from his seat and went to go pick up Asch. He was slapped away before he even managed to get a hand under his head.

"Don't touch me," was the mumbled order. Natalia raised herself from her seat as Asch sat up, making Guy back away. She was about to say something when he seemed to freeze, emerald eyes going wide.

"That idiot!" he bellowed, resulting in the three others on the ship to jump as Asch made a mad-dash for the back. Guy caught his bearings just before Natalia did, chasing after him and watching as he jumped off the lowering ramp and sprinted for the city. The pair waited for the ramp to be completely lowered then followed after the seemingly distressed God-General.

Natalia watched his back as he climbed and jumped from roof to roof, building to building, in a clear route for the cathedral. She briefly wondered why he would take such a path when Guy's shout made her look the tower where a falling form caught her eye. The princess cried out as she reached uselessly and started to run.

Guy stayed put, watching in horror at the sight of his best friend falling and Tear hanging helplessly out the window.

The citizens of Daath went to any place where they could see this rare occurrence, balconies, the streets, and even their own rooftops. Those that did go up wondered even more at the red and black streak that flew past them and they all held their breath in apprehension as he made a final leap. He arched through the air, arms out stretched and eyes narrowed in determination. He would catch him.

The bystanders had to look away when Asch made contact. The brilliant glow that had erupted from them had everyone else turning away. And once people could see again, the ones they were watching were nowhere in sight.

The entire city was silent for only a moment, then Tear screamed, Luke's name echoing throughout the city.