Holy cow! I finally updated! It's a miracle! *cough*

Chapter 3. Obviously it's going downhill for Jade. And so this is going even more downhill for him! Why? Just read and find out!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss. If I did, I would have made a sequel which would have epically fail. I'm not kidding on that part...

Enjoy Desu~!

Chapter 3: One Thing after Another

He never liked that guy's laughter.

Ever.

In fact, he doesn't want to hear it even if his life depended on it. That rude, crazed, 'I got you there' laugh. The laugh that always irked him no matter how many times he heard it. He'd rather be insulted with jokes about that stupid rappig that has his name. Heck, he would rather babysit Luke when he was all selfish and haughty and spoiled. Since Luke isn't like that anymore, it's never going to happen.

And yet...Here he is. On the afternoon of when he heard the news from Guy. Standing in none other than the Emperor's room. Surrounded by his pets that has people's names on them. In front of him is none other than, yep you guessed it, the Emperor. His hands are on his hips, his head thrown back, and his mouth wide open while he is laughing as hard as he can. He would be on the ground any moment now. But, nooo, he wasn't on the ground, in fact he was like this for about half an hour. Or even longer.

"You should have seen your face!!" Peony laughed as he point his finger at Jade. The finger was waving up and down at his direction. Jade stared at Peony with an uninterested look on his face, the face he held on for a while now. What's on his face that made Peony laugh so hard? Moving towards the subject at hand, he was waiting for a chance for him to speak. However, Peony just kept on laughing. "Your face was the best thing I have seen in my entire life!!"

"Your Majesty, are you done?" Jade asked, pushing his glasses up.

"No!"

This will literally take forever.

Moving on. When Jade got the chance to leave, he was informed of everything. Date, time, guests, meals. The whole thing. Peony had planned the whole thing ahead of time, so everything is ready. It's just a matter of time until Luke comes to Malkuth. Which would be in about a few days or so. That and Jade has to ready his manor for the welcome. He returned to his manor in that evening with an exhausted sigh. He made his way to the dining room where...Guy was sitting there with Casim and Kai?

"Guy," Jade spoke when he reached the table. "Why are you here?"

"Well, I thought I might as well stop by so that I can help you with the preparations of the party," Guy answered with a shrug. "So what do you think about dealing with Kai when Luke comes over?"

"That would be the problem when the time arises," Jade replied. He pushed his glasses up so that it gleamed in the light. Guy laughed nervously.

"You already have something in mind, do you?" he asked. If anybody knows Jade as well as Peony, he always has something in mind. "Oh wait. You always have something in mind. It's just that no one knows what you're thinking."

"Guy, I have something I need you to do," Jade said to him. "Are you able to do it?"

Everybody knows Guy. He will never be able to say 'no' to anything no matter how stupid it is. Guy had a funny expression on his face. One eyebrow was raised while the other seemed a bit squinted. Both eyes are widened to a point where the pupils are just dots and his nose is crinkled. His mouth looks like a deranged frown; one side is stretched down further than the other. He let go of the face and sighed.

"Oh alright," he managed to say. Jade patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

"I knew I can count on you."

According to Peony, Luke and company will arrive in Grand Chokmah by ship so they will reach to the docks. There the Emperor will greet him and bring him to the castle so that they can reminisce about the past before heading over to the Curtiss Manor for the party. That is Peony's plan. What Jade's planning to do was to take the party in the courtyard. Which is away from the guest rooms and rooms in general. Peony never said where to put the party and Jade is not going to risk having a bunch of drunkards stumbling into one of the rooms. The plan is flawless.

Ingenious actually.

If only he knew what Peony was actually planning. By the look of his huge grin, the worse can be assumed. Jade sighed as he opened the door to his manor. The Emperor gave him the day off for some unknown reason, but he ended up at work anyway. He left early due to Guy's urgings which he doesn't understand why. The maids greeted him like usual. Nothing seems to change. Jade went directly to Kai's room to check if he's asleep at this time. He heard humming from the room.

And not just any humming.

It was a hymn.

With a confused look, Jade opened the door to see a familiar brunette sitting in the room humming the Fonic Hymn as Kai laid asleep on her lap. Tear was stroking Kai's hair as he slept soundly. Jade blinked a couple times as he stood at the doorway with his hand still on doorknob. Tear had stopped humming to look up at Jade. She placed a finger on her lip to tell Jade to be quiet. Jade nodded before shutting the door.

Remembering something he opened the door again, and in a hush tone, "Where is Luke?"

Tear pointed downwards to indicate to him that Luke is somewhere downstairs. Oh great. Luke is here too. Jade nodded again, and shut the door once more. He heard Tear resuming the Hymn as he made his way downstairs. He found Luke in the Gardens talking to Casim. They were chatting merrily as if nothing had happened. Jade cleared his throat to let them know that he was in their presence. Both Luke and Casim looked at Jade's direction. Luke waved slightly at Jade before motioning the colonel to come closer. Which he abide.

"Nice to see you, again, Jade," Luke laughed. Luke still wore the same outfit since his return. Minus the ruined cape that is. "I'm looking forward to this party that is being set up by you. By the way, have you seen Tear? Some of the maids dragged her off somewhere asking for her help. Did you run into her by any chance?"

Jade paused as he reflects on the answer. Of course he would say yes, and tell him about Kai. Assuming that Luke knows about Kai that is. Judging from his expression, not likely.

"Haven't seen her," Jade lied smoothly. He added a shrug before crossing his arms. "I didn't even know she came with you. So what were you two doing during the trip?"

Luke turned his head away; he had a hint of blush on his face. "N-Nothing special."

"So it is explicit," Jade said sarcastically. "You move quite quickly."

"I didn't mean it like that!!" Luke shouted. He waved his arms in the air in denial. Jade couldn't help but laugh internally at Luke being all flustered. Then he realized something.

Luke arrived a bit too early. There's only one explanation to this.

"Of course I asked him to come early!" Peony exclaimed. Jade decided to ask Peony about this issue the next day. "Did you like the surprise?"

Jade sighed in defeat. This man is intolerable! He pushed his glasses up as it gleamed in the light. "Your Majesty…It was quite the surprise however…Have you any idea how much of a ruckus that had just caused last night?"

"Oh?" Peony gave him a droll look. "How so?" That look of his dared Jade to go and explain it all.

Jade sighed. He proceeded to explain it to Peony. From the part where Luke was scolded by Tear from the upper level, which was followed by Kai crying from the loud noises. To Jade running up the stairs to make sure Kai was alright. Luke followed him shortly and found out about Kai. Like many people who knew Jade pretty well, he asked him about having a love life to which Jade has to explain that Kai was adopted. Something Luke nor Tear took very well. Was it that hard for anybody to believe that someone like him be a father?

"So how did it go?" Luke asked as he picked Kai in his arms and gave the little boy a light bear hug. Jade frowned as he swirl his drink in his glass.

"It went wonderfully," he answered sarcastically. "I had to explain the whole plot to His Majesty." Jade sighed. "I tried so hard to make sure you wouldn't find out."

"Why would you not want me to find out?" Luke asked in a very confused tone. He cocked his head to one side so that his head lightly bumped into Kai's. Kai withdrew away from Luke with both of his hands on his head. He faked a scowled look at Luke who just gave him a smile while rubbing his head.

Well…This is something he doesn't want to reveal to look but he has to anyway. "Kai is actually the son of Asch."

The look on Luke's face was completely priceless.

"And now for the toast!" Peony said out loud. He stood up and raised his glass up high. Most of the guests raised their glasses, the ones that don't have one scurried around to find one. "First of all, I thank all of the guests who decided to take this time out of their busy schedule to attend this party! Next is to Jade…" He nudged his head over to Jade who stood by a column without a glass. The colonel leaned against the column as he has a full view of the entire crowd. With his arms crossed as he scanned the crowd. Good…None of them are that drunk. Yet.

He continued to examine the crowd as Peony continues his long speech. Somewhere in the crowd he swore he saw Anise with the newly appointed Fon Master, Florian. He appears to be identical to Ion even though the both of them are replicas. The only difference between Florian and the late Fon Master was that Florian is still intimidated by many people there. Huh…He didn't know the Fon Master was going to attend his party. Somehow…He get the feeling that Florian was forced to come.

Moving along. Guy was leisurely talking to Natalia, who also decided to attend the party, as well as Noelle with her brother, Ginji. Around this time, Guy would have finally conquered his phobia. Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for the many girls out there, it didn't happen. Finally, his gaze led him to Luke and Tear with Mieu. Well, it has been a while since he saw the young Cheagle, even so…It looks like it hasn't changed much. Luke has turned bashful the moment the entire crowd turned their attention to him as Peony has involved him within the speech.

Taking a look around would have at least taken a good five to seven minutes. And Peony has yet to finish his speech.

Just when he thought the entire crowd would all groan due to the ache in their arms by lifting their glasses up high, Peony, finally, concluded his long toast. Guy made his way to Jade when the toast was over with a chuckle.

"Didn't join the toast?" he asked. Jade shook his head.

"I've been through a lot of those," he explained. "Don't want to go through another one."

Guy laughed. "Yeah, I know what you mean. His toasts are long." He then adds, "And random. Was there even a point to thank every small detail that had happened over three years ago?"

Jade shrugged. Since he knew Peony for over 20 years, it's not surprising if the Emperor developed a penchant for sadism. "What worse can happen?"

It was Guy's turn to shrug. "Oh, I don't know. I think it would make a lovely excuse to divert your attention to something else so that he can go kidnap Kai while you were scanning the crowd." He suddenly clamp his mouth shut with both of his hands as if he said something wrong. His eyes shifted from left to right in suspicion. "I shouldn't have said that."

"His Majesty is planning what?!" Jade asked him in a forceful tone. Instead of waiting for Guy to answer, Jade head straight into the crowd as he searched for Peony. He found everyone else on the guest list and no sign of Peony. His worst fear realized, he head back to his manor where Guy has already rallied up the group minus Tear and Natalia.

"His Majesty has gone missing," Jade told them. Luke nodded; he flicked a thumb to Guy.

"Guy already told us while you were searching. Tear and Natalia went ahead of us to check up on Kai."

"Hopefully, Emperor Peony doesn't do some reckless," Anise sighed. She gave the shrug while shaking her head. Jade went back into the manor along with Luke and Anise. Guy and Florian along with Noelle has stayed behind to make sure things are going along smoothly.

"He most likely has." Luke laughed nervously. The three of them ran up the stairs, they met up with Tear and Natalia. Tear had a worried face on her while Natalia was thinking of something.

"What happened?" Anise asked them when they arrived. "What happened to Kai?"

Natalia and Tear gave each other an apologetic look before allowing them to see inside of the room.

It was empty. There were no signs of anybody in the room at all. Everything was organized and untouched, including the bed.

Jade was the first to leave them since he knew the other possibility where Kai might have been. He opened the door to his room to see that Kai was not in Jade's room. But he was here. And he's missing. Luke joined him shortly.

"Seems like someone was here," he stated the obvious. Luke rubbed his head in frustration. "Man, why would His Majesty do such a thing?"

Jade coughed. Since he knew why Peony wanted to take Kai. But to tell that to Luke would be slightly embarrassing since Jade had already prevented Peony from doing so before. The results were quite dramatic he also might add.

"Hey guys!" Natalia called to them when she caught up. She pointed to the direction where she had come from. "Guy said he found Kai."

Jade and Luke stared at each other for a split second before they went and followed Natalia. They arrived in the foyer where Guy was trying to calm down a weeping Kai. When Jade approached them, Guy pointed to Jade in which Kai turns around and ran to him. Jade sighed in relief when Kai was safe in his arms.

Luke and Guy were staring at the opened door. Guy frowned. He flicked his thumb at the door. "Apparently, he made a quick getaway. Somehow he lost Kai and Kai found his way back to the manor."

"At least he is home safely," Natalia said. Tear and Anise nodded in agreement. Jade might as well agree with them.

As for the other problem…

"He got home safely?" Peony asked in surprise as he pet the other Jade. Jade stood there in his room once more to report about the party the moment he got an opportunity the next day. People came and went, none of them went home drunk, Jade assured that. He also brought up the topic about Kai missing. Peony acted as if he didn't know a thing.

As if he doesn't.

"Yes, he did." Jade answered, pushing his glasses up. "Apparently he was told that he would be led to me and somehow he ended up outside. He got terrified and found his way back mysteriously. The culprit wasn't caught. Though many of us suspects the culprit to be you, Your Majesty."

"Now why in Yulia's name would I do that?" Peony huffed. Jade gave him a droll look.

"You were not present during the disappearance." Jade answered with a shrug. "So we assumed it was you."

Peony gawked at him. "Now I would never in my entire life do such a th-"

"The time when you found out that I had Kai hidden in my manor," Jade interrupted before Peony was given a chance to finish his sentence.

"Okay, now that was a different story-"

"When Kai first tried walking with assistance," Jade interrupted again. "You tried to lead him out of the manor."

"Okay there's also that…"

"When Kai began walking on his own…"

"And that…"

"Kai on his first birthday when you bought him a little vehicle for him to ride in."

"And that…"

"When I went to Daath to attend Fon Master Florian's coronation. You went and tried to take him when I wasn't around."

"Can you please stop pointing out all of those attempts?" Peony coughed nervously. Obviously, Jade has been keeping track of all the attempts Peony had made. And with each attempt he has made, they all ended up in failure. This one is no different. Peony put his hands up in the air.

"This time I swear I didn't try to kidnap Kai!" He admitted. "Heck, I didn't know he was until you told me just now."

"Kai said he saw blond hair."

Peony froze on the spot. He sighed in defeat, "Okay, I tried. It didn't work this time...But I'm glad he got home safe."

There he got him to admit it. Finally.

"You know you're scary when you are angry."

"And you realized this now?" Jade asked with a forlorn sigh. He made his way to the door. "Now if you'll excuse me."

Peony gave him the shooing motion allowing Jade to leave. Once he closed the door gently he left the palace towards his office. He crossed by someone who was wearing something extremely gaudy, though he only caught a glimpse of the person in the corner of his eye. Dismissing that person, he continued on his way. Had it not been for the person calling him, his day would have been a lot better.

"It has been a long time, hasn't it, Jade?" a very feminine sounding yet oddly familiar obnoxious tone. Jade turned around to see a black suit and light purple hair. Yep, it couldn't get worse than this. Jade pushed his glasses up to make a silly remark towards the fellow with his usual fake smile.

Please let this day end…

So…I'm back. Tired as heck but I'm back. Personally, I don't think this is my best chapter since I just got back into the writing mood, but it is better than nothing.

Expect a side-chapter after this! You all will finally know what Peony had done to go and kidnap Kai in this chapter. Also…

Dist is back?! Read more on the next chapter!

Ni-Pah~!