A/N: I kinda got to thinking last night before I went to sleep, and decided that this will more or less just be alternate stories...one shots basically, rather than just a long, drawn out story. They each will stay true to the title, though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think! And I promise I'll eventually get around to finishing the other fics too! Ehehehehe ;; ;; ;; ;;

'til next time~

~shine

Disclaimer: I don't own Elsword, not do I intend to make profit off of this. Well, minus assassinating y'all feels. Because I love ya.

~ A Promise of Temptation ~

It began as any other tale she had heard as a child growing up. It all began with a curious glance. She had been sitting with her feet in the lake near her home before she spotted the other girl on the opposite shore. Her hair was an odd color for any human; white as freshly fallen snow. Her eyes were as red as her own, if not darker by a shade, and when she spotted the red head on the far side of the river, Elesis could swear she could see the faintest hint of a smile cross her lips.

She was very pretty indeed, however. Her hair was long; much longer than Elesis' who liked to keep her hair bound in a high ponytail. The sway of her hips as she casually strode across the waters of the lake were oddly enchanting. The closer she got, the more she noticed of her clothes: Everything she wore, from the dress that left much of her thighs exposed, to the gloves covering her hands were black, trimmed with red or gold. Her earring and hairclip resembled half a butterfly, as well as the end of her hairpin which held the braided locks behind her head in place. There was a ribbon on her right hip in the shape of a butterfly, and several orbs placed on her clothes framed by what Elesis could only guess was a butterfly wing.

Elesis could hear her heart pounding in her ears and felt her face flush crimson when she realized she had been staring.

For much too long, she might add. Yet...there was something mystifying about the girl now kneeling in her face, their noses only inches apart. She could feel her breath on her face, could smell the fruits on her breath and the flowery scent of her scented soaps. The girl's smile, as it slowly became intoxicating, slowly broadened when she noticed she had the red-head's undivided attention.

"Did you know," She began slowly, her voice soft and hypnotic to the other girl. It wasn't an effect she wanted to have, mind you, but she took what she could get. It had taken too long to find her, and she would damn sure not let her get away. "that promises, just like love, or any other strong emotional connection, can transcend even death?"

Elesis had hardly heard a word, but she nodded dumbly, flushing yet again as she felt the other girl's gaze sweep across her. Suddenly she felt self-conscious. While this strange, intoxicating woman was dressed as if she wanted the world to know of her charm, she was dressed plainly, hoping to spend the day fishing for her dinner. A simple small shirt and close fitting shorts were all she had been bothered to wear, and now she felt silly.

A soft giggle came to her ears as Elesis looked away, finding the shallows of the lake more interesting than her mental dilemma. "You are every bit as adorable as I heard." The white haired beauty replied, smirking softly as the gloved fingers of her right hand slowly turned the red head's face gently back to face her. Elesis's blush only flared at the woman's words. "Do you think it strange that you are able to interest more than just men?"

"I-I never gave it much thought..." Elesis mumbled, shutting her eyes to avoid eye contact. This brought another giggle from the other woman, and she felt her hand move away from her face. "Who are you? Why did you seem me out?"

"Hm. Well~" The girl began, tapping her chin and pursing her lips slightly. As Elesis cracked open one eye, she found the girl's gaze waiting, a wolfish grin splayed across an otherwise flawless face. She dove forward then, surprising the lady knight, and stopping just a breath away from her lips. Elesis could only blush darker than she ever thought possible, for you see, when the girl spoke next, their lips grazed ever so slightly...the faintest hint of a kiss. "Why tell you now what I can tell you later, should you wish to see me again?"

Elesis didn't dare answer, merely shutting her eyes only served to haunt her with images of those dark red eyes. When she opened her eyes next, the girl was gone, but there was a flower now braided into her hair, and a butterfly ribbon tied around her left wrist. Elesis didn't dare disturb them. Instead, she set back to her long forgotten task, her blush never once dying down, and her heart beating rapidly in her chest.

That night, she slept fitfully, dreams of that girl plaguing her mind.

X X X

The following week, Elesis waited and waited, but the girl didn't come again. She had learned from her last encounter and dressed properly, hoping that the other girl was not put off by her laziness. It did not matter what she wore, however, because the white-haired girl didn't show. Feeling frustrated with herself for even expecting anything different from what she was already used to, she decided to pack up. She'd already been away from home long enough.

As Elesis violently kicked a tent pole, breaking it on accident and injuring her foot, she heard a voice in her ear. "How silly of me. I had thought you were the type to know how to sense presences. I'll keep that in mind." The voice was teasing, masking amusement only barely. Elesis felt arms snake around her waist and went rigid. This did little to deter the white haired girl, who placed her cheek against the female knight's. "You ought not to abuse your camping materials, by the way. Especially without boots on."

"What do you care?" Elesis grumbled, shoving out of the girl's grasp and finishing her earlier task.

"Oho~ you mad?"

"That's ridiculous. Why would I be mad?" Elesis violently jabbed the tent into its pouch, shooting it out the other side of the pouch and straight into a tree. She stared blankly at it, pointedly ignoring the toothy grin the white-haired woman, Elesis set about doing something else.

"Because I didn't show up when you clearly expected me?"

"That's stupid. You're stupid."

"Pot calling the kettle black, no?"

"Yeah, I guess I am for expecting anything from a girl who just waltzes into my camp like she owns the place, flirts with me and then just suddenly leaves." Elesis shot back exasperatedly. The other girl didn't cease grinning, which only made Elesis angrier. "What?!"

"You wish to know my name and why I sought you out, yes?"

"Obviously."

"Do you remember nothing?" She asked, her voice dropping, as well as her grin. She was serious now, clearly frustrated herself, but doing her best not to show it. Elesis noticed this and became confused. "The time we spent together in another life, the love we shared, the life we made together...you know nothing?"

Elesis' blush returned tenfold. "I-I think I would remember something like that. I really don't know who you are..." Elesis answered. Some part of her felt guilty for saying what she did, but she couldn't just lie to the girl and give her false hope. Yet, another part of her was curious. Was that how she knew that her favorite flower was the lotus? What that why she had said what she did, acted as she had? Because she remembered a life that Elesis didn't?

"I see...then I was mistaken to think otherwise. Forgive me. I will trouble you no longer." As she turned away, she felt a hand grab her arm. Looking up in surprise, Elesis was looking away and blushing, but it was clear that she wanted her to stay. "You-"

"Y-you don't have to go, y'know. And you don't have to talk so formally either. And..." Elesis took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "I-I'm...curious to know about the things I apparently forgot. Will you...stay and...show me?"

After a long silence, the white-haired girl smiled. "Ara."

Elesis did a double take. "Huh?"

"My name. It's Ara." She answered, maneuvering her arm so that she could grasp the knight's own and pull her closer. Elesis couldn't blush any more even if she tried, but as she felt arms circle around her and glanced up at the taller woman, somehow she felt at peace. That is, until Ara began so sing. Then he wanted to get away from the girl as fast as possible. "I can show you the world-"

"Oh goddess..." Elesis mumbled, heaving a heavy sigh into the taller girl's bosom.