A/N: Just a flash fic dealing with all the mistakes the men make after Akzeriuth... though Jade's probably seems a little OC. shrugs I see Jade as being really callous, and since he doesn't show respect for much of the party until late in the game he isn't above indulging his vice without care for the reprecutions.

From Yulia to Daath

Chapter 4

His mistake

It's… so odd." Natalia scuffed her foot against a patch of green grass. "To think that this is… and below…"

She shuddered. He understood of course, a sense of vertigo had plagued him for weeks after finding out the truth for himself. Still, Asch said nothing, allowed the others to comfort and console. His wait wasn't a long one, and for that he was grateful.

"It is kinda weird." Anise admitted with a wry grin. "Creepy really think that if we dig too deep or something we'd wind up… in that."

Not exactly the most subtle thing to do, to mention digging… or more precisely mining. Asch winced at the barrage of memories that word brought up. Ion cringed a bit into himself, his pale face turning a few shades closer to white as he remembered. Natalia bit her lip, looked away, and it was only then that Anise realized she'd hit a nerve.

"I'm sorry." Gnawing on her own lip, the young fon master guardian scuffed her small foot against the earth, unwitting miming the princess' earlier actions. "I didn't mean to bring that up."

"Akzeriuth, you mean?" The Necromancer noted, pushing his glasses in place with one digit. "Yes, it seems cruel to dwell upon it, but it is a necessity…"

Ion's cringe became a wince and Natalia jerked at the word, as if that word had been a blade. Tears rimmed the princess' eyes as she looked at Jade, mutely begging the man to stop. Oblivious to the princess' silent entreaty the Malkuthite continued.

"Eventually we will have to report. Or rather I will have to report to his imperial majesty. I'll admit, I am rather ignorant as to how the policies of Kimlasca would cover such a situa-"

But Asch wasn't. He could see the grim judging stares of the council members, the quiet sympathy of the King… Feeling sick, Asch held onto the hilt of his blade as if it were a lifeline. The pain of the metal digging into his hand was enough to fight back those images… but it did nothing to alleviate his guilt, his shame. And it did nothing to shake the fact from his mind that Natalia would have to… his pity was ineffable. Poor Natalia, surrounded by people she'd known since childhood, having to recount Luke's failure, her failure… the loss of lives, of their innocence, all would be laid bare before friends and strangers alike.

And not one could shield her from that, and afterwards…. Who would support her then? Would they still see her as the light of Kimlasca, or would opportunists of the anti-monarchist faction strike at her without pity and remorse?

Jades's monologue continued, clearly he was addressing himself now, going over his report aloud. Perhaps he was even callously tending out the kinks of his planned speech for their dubious hearing pleasure. The death and suffering of the week seemed before far behind the Necromancer, Jade Curtis. Suddenly Asch found his voice. It was hidden behind the lump in the back of his throat the words scattered due to the throbbing in his head. Still he found his voice and his words and used them as he should have earlier.

"Necromancer, enough!"

Jade looked to the man known as "the bloody", his crimson eyes were alight with curiosity.

"Enough." Asch's voice came out as a harsh rasp. "Don't twist the blade."

Dropping his smile, Jade looked around, and finally saw the effects of his words. Natalia was as pale as a sheet, her eyes were turned inward and were clearly tortured. The young fon master was shaking, so much so that Anise was able to shake off her own horrors and support Ion.

Guy, who had remained silent and withdrawn from the start of this journey seemed to come alive now. Prompted by the fact that there was nothing but silence around them, it was the tense quiet that seemed to jar the servant from whatever thoughts had been plauging him.

"Asch is right Jade. Enough's enough."

"Of course." Managing to sound mildly chagrined, the Colonel pushed his glasses back in place, though they had hardly strayed a half inch from the last time he'd done so. "I'll keep my musings to myself."