A/N: It's at that point in the story that I thought, 'Ah, this is much shorter than I thought it'd be. The big showdown is already arriving.'
And then it became waaay bigger. Don't worry folks, we have about 10 chapters left, give or take a few.
It had been a couple of days since the incident which ended with them in the Infirmary, and the two boys had been pretty mellow for the entire time. Everyone was hoping they had finally gotten over their arguments, which made them both a little embarrassed.
Asch opened the door and stepped in, pausing a moment. He automatically sought out the normal sound of Luke and Lorelei chatting, then gave a quiet sigh as he realised that of course that wouldn't happen.
He closed the door behind him, heading further down the hall to the living area, glancing in. Luke was sitting on the sofa, one knee pulled up to his chest as he gazed out of the window at the sky. For a moment Asch remained where he was, then he walked forward.
"Are you worried?" he asked.
Luke barely reacted apart from a small nod. Asch knew Luke was always worried like this, scared that he'd lose his only family like he almost had before.
Then irritation bubbled in him and he snorted.
"Why? Dad'll be fine, he's tougher than you give him credit for."
Luke looked up in surprise, but Asch just turned away.
"Honestly Luke, you act like such a baby sometimes," he added.
"Asch? What's the matter?" asked Luke, and Asch looked back with a raised eyebrow. Luke's large emerald eyes looked almost scared, but that just made his irritation deeper.
"I have an idiot for a brother, is what's the matter. You're practically useless, Luke."
Luke flinched, then tried to cover it up. "Asch...are you feeling okay?"
"Stop asking! Jeez, I've already said I'm fine!"
"Then why are you yelling at me?"
"Because if I didn't, it wouldn't get through your thick skull!" Asch snapped. He stepped forward, glaring. "This is why your grades are always so low. Dad should have just pulled you out - you're so stupid, you'd need a private tutor. Maybe he left because he's so disappointed in you."
Luke gazed at him a moment, then lowered his gaze. "...Sorry.." he mumbled.
"Sorry? You think sorry is going to cut it?" Asch snapped, then grunted. "Just looking at you is an eye sore. Leave already, would you?"
Luke stood up and silently walked past him, out of the room. Asch took a seat on the sofa, letting his head rest on the back, and felt tension drain from his body. What he'd just said suddenly hit him and he blinked before shooting up.
"Wait...what? Why...Why did I say.." he murmured, rubbing his forehead. He shook his head, standing up. "Asch, you stupid idiot, that was going too far.." he muttered to himself as he hurried out of the room.
A knock at their door made Tear look up, watching as Natalia crossed over to it. She opened it before blinking.
"Luke?" she asked, surprised.
"Hey...is Tear here?" he asked. Tear could already tell from his voice that he was upset about something, and apparently Natalia could too.
"She's here. What's the matter?" she asked.
"It's nothing...I just..."
Tear stood up, Natalia stepping aside as she joined them.
"Hey. What's up?" she asked Luke.
He seemed relieved to see her, then glanced away. "...Could I talk to you about something?" he asked.
"Sure...Should we go somewhere else?"
Luke nodded and Tear stepped out, glancing back at Natalia who seemed just as concerned as she was.
The two of them headed outside, Luke glancing around uncertainly. They reached a quiet area, Luke sitting heavily on the floor, and Tear sat down next to him.
"Now, what's the problem?" Tear asked gently, reaching out and taking his hand.
"...Asch got really mad at me. Like..he was yelling, saying I was stupid and useless and stuff..."
Tear frowned. That was definitely out of character for Asch. He adored his little twin brother.
"Why?"
"I don't know. That's the thing; it was completely unexpected. He asked me if I was worried, and then he started yelling at me. It was...really confusing."
"Mmm...I can't really think of any reason why he would get like that, then.." Tear murmured.
"That's because you're an idiot," Luke snapped, then blinked before clamping a hand on his mouth. Tear stared at him, and he carefully removed his hand. "I'm sorry! I don't...I don't even know why I said that!"
Tear frowned. "...Have you two been feeling okay recently?"
"Well, yeah...I mean, sometimes I get a little irritated for no reason, but Dad just said that was probably hormones."
"I think it's a little more than hormones, Luke. You two have been acting a little strange for the last few weeks, and everyone's getting worried. I honestly think there's something wrong with you."
"Oh, so you're saying I've got a problem with me now, are you?" Luke growled, before blinking. He bit down on his thumb, pulling out his phone and starting to text.
Tear's phone beeped and she pulled it out, opening it.
'I'm so sorry...I don't know what's wrong with me. - Luke'
Tear looked up at him, then sighed, reaching out and putting her arms around him. She hugged him gently, nestling her head on his shoulder. He glanced down at her in surprise, then laid his head on top of hers, placing his hand on hers.
"...Meld your fonons with mine," he said suddenly.
Tear looked up at him. "What?"
"It's what me, Asch and Dad do sometimes...you meld your fonons together to create a huge hyperresonance."
Tear frowned. "Why do you want to do that?" she asked, confused.
"Because..It just feels like something we should do," Luke replied.
"Is this irritated Luke talking?" Tear asked, raising an eyebrow.
Luke laughed. "No..I'm definitely meaning to say this."
Tear smiled, gripping his hand. "..Alright. How do we do it?"
"The feeling you get when using your seventh fonons, activate that. Try and use as much power as possible," Luke coached.
Tear closed her eyes, focusing, then brought forward the power she felt when healing someone or using artes.
"More," Luke murmured. Tear frowned in concentration, forcing more fonons forward.
She felt Luke take a breath, then jumped as a huge surge of seventh fonons appeared. She opened her eyes, looking at Luke and staring at the gold glow around him. How could he summon so many seventh fonons so easily when she had had such trouble...? He frowned, and she felt the fonons moving, curling around hers. Tear glanced down at her hand, watching as a gold glow also appeared around her.
Then she felt something...different. She wasn't sure what it was, but it felt like it shouldn't belong there.
"Luke...stay still a minute," she murmured. Luke nodded quickly, then Tear took a breath before singing.
"Ryou Rei Kuroa Ryou Zue Rei Va Zue Rei..."
The thing fought slightly against her power, but didn't disappear. She frowned, then tried a different one.
"Va Rei Zue Toue Neu Toue Ryou Toue Kuroa.."
Again it fought, though it was weaker, and Tear bit her lip, before something occured to her. She tried again, hoping it would work this time.
"Va Rei Zeu Toue Neu Toue Ryou Toue Kuroa
Ryou Rei Kuroa Ryou Zue Rei Va Zue Rei..."
She almost thought she heard an angry scream as the thing was pushed away. Luke stiffened under her, then let out a sigh of relief. Their connection faded and Tear opened her eyes, looking up at Luke. He gave a vague chuckle.
"You don't know how good I feel right now.." he murmured before his eyes slid shut and he crashed into Tear, sending them both sprawling onto the ground.
Tear grunted, then sighed. "You're so awkward sometimes," she murmured, before giggling and cuddling him tightly.
A/N: Hehehehe...You'll find out what that was soon. Just you wait. Hehehehe..
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