Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own the copyright to KOF or the characters thereof. I am just borrowing them for this fan fiction and even if I were sued, all you'd get is random pens and sketchbooks with no available drawing space. Except one...

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Authornotes: FSK: As the others have a cold except Ash...who's currently torturing...erm taking care of them, Leona and I will do this..

Leona: This is just a continuation of that little social experiment that blondie over there started on...um...no one except her was harmed in the making of this...and that's only because she gives herself carpal tunnel all the time...Oh. And Ash isn't the only one in this fic that's been broken...

FSK: ...AHEM. That's enough spoilers, Soldier!

Leona: That and her stupid chem professor hates her.

FSK: Um...READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! I THRIVE ON THE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF OTHERS! Oh...and enjoy. Hope you don't mind the occasional POV change here. Italics indicate thoughts.

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Chapter 1: Not Alone

Ash's POV

My hazy eyes would not remove themselves from the strange female in front of me; it was almost as though I were afraid at that moment. After all, she could just be buying time to send me back to--Oh how I never want to go back to him!--Mukai, who had forced me into "Those From the Past" in order to exploit my talents. I remember it all too well--things I'd not even tell that strangely friendly blond. She didn't need to know.

"You're...quiet," She said softly, a rather pitying look in her eyes. "If you don't want to talk, I won't force you to...but...if you ever do, I'm here to listen."

I narrowed my eyes and hissed. "Comment je sais vous ne me rapporterez pas là...?"1

She gave a grave look, pushing her eyeglasses down. Whether or not she understood my French, I know not. The one thing I did understand was this: she came closer and gave me the coldest look I've seen from such a friendly-seeming person.

"Don't you EVER say something like that again. I would NEVER take a person back to the place they feared--to the person that broke their spirit..." She snapped, tears running down her face. I turned my face aside somewhat, fearing that perhaps she would slap me, or worse, that she would beat me senseless. However, she did something unexpected. She turned around, clenching a fist and bringing it up to her chest. "Listen, Ash. I don't ever want to feel as worthless, as powerless as I did back then..."

"Ce qui? 2 Wh-what happened?" I asked hesitantly.

"I was fifteen years old when my father died. My mother was never around--she'd died when I was about six months old--and Dad fell ill when I was ten. I took care of him as best I could--took him to the doctor when he needed it, took him to the hospital when he needed it, worked two part-time jobs--I had a paper route and I faked my age to work at Burger Barn--just to earn the money to get his medicine, and, in the end, I still couldn't save him. I couldn't save the one person that mattered to me back then...and I'll be damned if I let someone else die...whether they die from the soul out to the body or from the body in to the soul..." The girl whispered. "I, Cricket Meliflu, will never let another person down like I let my father down..."

My eyes had somehow found themselves full of tears. Why? Why was I suddenly feeling that I could trust this girl like I would have trusted my parents? I softly whispered. "Tout seul comme moi...3"

"Hnn?" She turned around. "What...did you say?"

"All alone...like me..." I whispered, my eyes still seeming to well with tears.

My mind seemed to wander back. I remember it so clearly...

"Ashteunne! Ashteunne!" I could hear my father calling.

"Papa!" A small, raspy voice tried to cry out.

I would know that voice anywhere; it was me at the age of five. My senses all seemed to be taken in by that memory. I could see the French countryside, hear my family and myself, smell the early spring air, taste the sweets, and feel everything--including a scratchy pain in my throat.

"Ashteunne! Se repose...mon mioche familier...4" My father smiled, his voice so soothing as he took me into his arms.

I nuzzled into his chest, happy to be in the warmth of my father's arms.

I could hear my mother's voice. "Ashteunne, comment allez-vous, mon petit chat...?5"

"Je suis malade, mama...6" I whispered, coughing.

My mother kissed each of my cheeks, then lifted me out of my father's arms and into her own.

Suddenly, my mind broke from that memory; it felt so real! Oh how I wish that my parents were still alive...

"What were you daydreaming about?" Cricket asked me, blinking her sapphire eyes.

"I...I was reflecting on a memory..." I whispered softly.

She gave me a concerned blink. "What happened?"

I couldn't even speak. Not one word.

Cricket's POV

I wanted to reach for Ash, an almost sad look on my face. It was as though I already knew what he might say if he would have answered my question. I wanted to reach, but I didn't. I'm nore really sure that he'd have liked me to...

"It's...it's alright...I've...learned to accept it. I know...I know the Sacred Treasures couldn't bring them back...but...I'm used to it now..." Ash whispered, his eyes looking down. "You get used to it after a few years...I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, having lost your parents as well..."

I felt a catching in my throat and warm tears running down my cheek. Ash smiled sadly as he finally stood up and wiped a few tears away from my eyes.

"You know...maybe we're a little more alike than I wanted to believe..." He whispered softly, his soft accent seeming almost comforting as he spoke. "I'm starting to realize it...I have to trust again if I'm going to survive, so I might as well trust one who is like me..."

I smiled weakly for a moment, then pulled Ash close, giving him the embrace that I'd meant to give him before, which he reciprocated. It was surprising, but I think this has been a catharsis of emotions for the both of us, and now I think the true experiment can really begin...

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1 "Comment je sais vous ne me rapporterez pas là?" - "How do I know you won't take me back there?"

2 "Ce qui?" - "What?"

3 "Tout seul comme moi" - "All alone like me..."

4 "Se repose...mon mioche familier..." - "Rest, my young child."

5 "comment allez-vous, mon petit chat...?" - "How are you, sweetie?"

6 "Je suis malade, mama." - "I am sick, mama."