Chapter eight

I'll be using quotation marks like these 'Hey', when Luke and Asch talk in their minds. Italics writing with "this" means flashback.

Anya fiddled around with the silver snowflake shaped locket in the silver chain that had been inside the letter from Legretta. Thousands of thoughts ran through her head; her home, her students, friends and….Lezard. The thought of Lezard was like a blow to the stomach. He was the one who had cast the teleport spell in the first place right? Shouldn't he know where she was? If he did, then was he looking for her? She knew this wasn't even reasonable; after all she had been the one to end their relationship for no reason at all. But maybe once she returned home, she would make up for it although she didn't see how that one would work out.

"Anya", she looked up at Guy who had entered unnoticed, "We're here. Hey, you alright?", he asked her as she suddenly cried out in pain.

"Yeah, just cramps", she told him, plastering a smile, "I'll be there". Guy nodded and left the room.

The group trudged into Yulia City with deadly silence over them. There was a long walkway leading to the inner part of the city where they were headed to meet Mayor Teodoro, Tear's grandfather. Luke, who was taking up the rear stopped completely as soon as the others were well ahead of him. Tear and Anya stopped, a little ahead of him.

"Everyone's already gone to the mayor's house", Tear told him coldly, not even turning back, "How long will you stand there?".

"I-I can't go in there", he said in a small voice, "They'll keep accusing me and-and", he hung his head not being able to go on.

"You're even more pathetic than I thought, Reject", the uncomfortable silence was shattered by a loud yell from behind Luke.

They whirled around to see Asch making his way towards Luke.

"Where's Van?", Luke asked him, looking riled.

"I don't know", was Asch's reply, "I just escaped from him. And what the hell do you think you just did?", he yelled at Luke, incensed, "To Akzeriuth?".

Luke didn't reply to that. Anya stepped forward, "Asch, don't just blame Luke for the whole incident", she told him, "Van betr-" but she was interrupted by Luke.

"Why? Why did Master Van make me do this?", Luke asked nobody in particular.

"I don't know do I?", Asch said, "and stop acting like you did nothing".

"I didn't", Luke cried out weakly more to himself, now that he was slowly getting aware of the depth of his doings, "I didn't do this".

"Damn you Reject. Are all replica brains this defective?", Asch scorned.

"Replica?", Luke asked confused, "Master Van used that word too".

"What?" Asch asked him incredulously, "You still haven't figured it out? Is this someone's idea of a joke?".

"What do you mean?", Luke asked.

"Asch!", Tear warned, "Don't-"

"Seven years ago, I was Luke Fon Fabre", Asch told him slowly, watching his expression with some pleasure, "A villain by the name of Van kidnapped me and created a replica which he replaced in my stead", he finished with slight sadism at the horror on Luke's face.

"No", Luke shouted, "I can't be a-a…" he trailed off.

"Yes, that's right", Asch told him, "You're a second rate copy of me".

"I won't accept this", Luke shouted and suddenly unsheathed his sword from behind, getting into a battle stance.

"The mere replica wants to fight me?" Asch commented, "Let's see just how pathetic you are" and he too unsheathed his sword, holding it much in the same way as Luke, except with more confidence.

The two started battling in a very similar style; of course they had both been taught under Van. Truly they were mirror images of each other, their red mane of hair only different by a minimal amount of color. Soon enough anyone could comprehend that Asch was the stronger and skilled of the two. Finally Asch cast 'Rending Fang Blade' causing Luke to lose his footing and the God-general held the tip of his Maestro sword against the replica's neck.

"I can't believe I lost everything to a pathetic wretch like you", Asch yelled, contempt clear in his eyes and tone, "My home, my family and…everyone".

Luke felt everything go hazy, his vision blinding as Asch's yelling became distant and the world went black.

"Asch", Tear entered her room to see Asch fixing his hair in front of her mirror, "Go talk to my grandfather. Now", she ordered and went away again.

"Okay. Okay", he replied, "Don't shout".

'Luke. Can you hear me?'

'What's happening? Why is Tear looking at me and calling me Asch? Why am I wearing your clothes?'

'You and I are connected', Asch told him, 'Two perfect isofons can connect via their fon slots. I had yours adjusted back at Choral Castle'.

'So that's why you can order me to move as you like?', Luke asked in his mind though he was still asleep, remembering when he had tried to turn his sword on Tear at Chesedonia.

'Well yeah, but I doubt a dreck like you can pull off something like that', Asch told him arrogantly.

'Just watch, you wait', Luke told him, 'Hey, why can't I make you move?'. Asch smirked at the replica's futile attempts and exited.

"Go talk to the Mayor", Tear told him as soon as he reached downstairs where Tear was reading a book on the Sushi recipe.

"What about you?" Asch asked.

"I'm not returning to the Outer Lands", Tear told him and he left.

Asch asked the Mayor for any possible ways to go back to the Outer Lands and he told the red head about a mechanism from the Dawn Age which could create a Sepiroth tree and raise the Tartarus.

Asch made his way outside to find Guy merely looking around, awed at the fon machines and Dawn Age technology. He rolled his eyes and instead began looking for the others who were interested in going back to the Outer Lands. He found Anise conversing with Anya and Jade while Natalia looking slightly depressed stood way far away from the rest of them.

His heart beat rose as he approached her, hesitating because he really didn't know what to say after so many years of separation.

'Hey what's wrong with you? I had no ide-'

'Get away', was Asch's answer as he closed the connection to approach Natalia.

"Luke!", Natalia exclaimed as she looked up, "Asch?", she asked slowly, "You really are Luke aren't you?".

"It's Asch", he told her curtly, "Don't call me by that name anymore". She nodded and wondered if he was remembering the proposal he'd made as a child, their gazes remained locked. Natalia stepped closer to Asch and touched his shoulder lightly who almost went red as his hair. He looked down at her other hand and took it in his, pulling her closer with a gentleness almost unpredictable of the God- general he was assumed to be.

"Asch, what's the plan now?" Anise came up to them suddenly and realized too late that she had interrupted a private moment, "Uh, I-uh, sorry", she said meekly and rushed back to the others.

Asch groaned inwardly and let go of her almost fiercely as the two blushed much like they did when they had been kids. He turned away to discuss their time for leaving the gloomy and unpleasant Qlipoth but found that they had left the two of them alone.

"Let's go Natalia", he suddenly said when he was already walking away, leaving a thoroughly confused Natalia behind. At his invitation, she cheered up and accompanied him, even happier to see a genuine smile gracing his usually angry features.

"Ugh!", Anise fumed, "Why? Why do I always end up interrupting people at unwanted times?".

"Do you plan to tell us anytime soon what's bothering you?" Jade asked the young girl who had seemed embarrassed ever since she had joined the four of them in an empty room.

"Well", she started, "I actually kind of intruded upon Asch and Natalia when-" she didn't need to continue, "It's kind of annoying you know", she said thoughtfully, "I mean first the Colonel-" Anya gave her a stop-talking-now look and she covered up her mistake, "the Colonel's crew on the ferry and now those two".

"The crew?" Guy asked, "There were women on the ferry? How come I didn't know that?".

"Who said anything about women Guy?" Anya asked smirking.

"Yeah, don't tell me you weren't aware of Man/man things", Anise teased him.

"Come to think of it" Anya mused out, "You're afraid of women, right Guy? Maybe you're more comfortable around-"

"Or", Jade stated with a smirk, "Maybe the phobia is just a pretension to mask your true feelings. If that is so then I'd be glad to keep my distance. Personally, I'm not the man/man types" he ended, backing away from Guy to emphasize his point.

"I-I, shut up all of you", Guy shouted, going red, "I love women, what's gotten into all of you?" he glared at them as the two girls and Ion cracked up with laughter and of course Jade wore his satisfied grin. The door opened and Natalia and Asch came in, the latter frowning slightly at the light mood.

"Well", he started, "I've talked to the Mayor and he says everything's prepared, when do you want to start for the Outer Lands?".

"I wouldn't mind right away", Jade told him, "The earlier the better".

"Right away? Can't we-" Anya hesitated nibbling on her lower lip. She had been hoping to check up on Luke and if possible, even talk.

"I don't see the point in lingering here", Jade said and made his way out followed by Asch and Natalia.

"It's okay", Guy's whisper came from Anya's right, "We'll see him later. I'm sure Tear's taking great care of him". Anya forced a smile and the rest of them headed for the Tartarus.

"Whoa!", Anise let out as the Tartarus jerked violently, trying to look at the Qlipoth that was now miles away.

"It certainly feels good to be back up here", Natalia commented as she took in the blue skies again.

"So where do we go now?", Anya asked from beside Guy where she was also maneuvering the Tartarus.

"How about we go to the closest port from here?" Guy asked.

"We could get the Tartarus repaired temporarily at Chesedonia", Jade told them as the land ship jerked for no good reason. Yep, the ship definitely needed repairing soon.

"Fine", Asch replied moodily, "That's to the Northwest of here".

"What about Ion and me?" Anise asked Asch, "I want you to take us back to Daath".

"I'll do that once we're done with Belkend", he told her.

"Belkend?", she asked, "Why would we-"

"There's a lab in Belkend where Van's been seen frequently", Asch interrupted, "We need to get as much information as possible now. We don't really have much leads at the moment".

"Yeah, start with what we can huh?" Anya commented.

The group reached Chesedonia by evening and decided to spend the night there despite much denial from Asch. However, Ion wasn't looking too good and Anise insisted on staying in the inn for the night. Jade obviously agreed with something about old bones receiving groans from everyone. They rented separate rooms and Anya dropped her heavy sword very happily.

Once they met Aston who had fed them very heavily again, the group hurried away towards the Inn to escape the overwhelming lavish gaudiness of the palace (with some complaints from Anise of course). At least the Tartarus would be ready and set by early morning.

Anya sighed and told the rest of them that she would like to spend some time alone at the docks and went away.

"I'll be going to the bar if you children wouldn't mind", Jade told them and walked away, not waiting for Anise's "of course we do". She shook her head and followed the Colonel at his heels muttering about a useless Drunk Colonel in battles. She turned around and shouted, "Be okay Ion" and took off before she lost sight of Jade in the dark alleys of Chesedonia.

Anya had changed her clothes in Yulia City and was now dressed in all black which included a short black dress and knee high black boots that she had last bought in Chesedonia. She pulled out a scrunchie and tied up her hair in a messy ponytail leaving an array of bangs which she liked to shake out of her eyes every now and then. The dock was silent save the distant uproars from the bar and the breeze really did help to calm her down. She needed to think, needed a plan without consulting anybody. Damn those God-generals, now they had her completely cornered. She fingered the silver locket and knew only one way….

"Colonel!", Anise shouted through the din to be heard. Really, why on earth did grown-ups have to get drunk, she scowled as a couple was almost making out right in public.

"Anise", Jade turned to her, "This is not a place for children. I think it's your bed time".

"Yeah well, it wouldn't be good if you woke up with a headache tomorrow", she reasoned, "The bar's about to close in a few minutes anyway".

"Ha-ha", he laughed, "Anise, it's just a pint. Besides I'm an old man, do give me some time to relax".

"Yo", there was a shout from behind, "Think you can serve us-"

"No", the hulking blonde barman said, "I'll be goin' now".

"Where to mate?" the previous man asked.

"The docks", the barman replied, "Fresh air", he added with a large bottle of whiskey in one hand.

A few minute later, the man behind Jade and Anise gave the door a dark look, "Well", he said to his companion, "Just hope there isn't any girl there at this time of the night. Ain't very gentle when he's drunk".

The Colonel and Anise turned to look at each other and knew what was on the other's mind as Jade stood up keeping his cool and Anise bolted for the door.

"Colonel, she'll be okay right. I mean she's capable of taking care of herself".

"Anise", Jade blocked her way, "Go back to the inn, I'll get Anya". The unpleasant sensation was a gut feeling that he wasn't about to dismiss.

"But-"

"Now", he commanded in his orderly tone and Anise nodded turning away. She made sure that the Colonel was out of sight before starting to follow his trail towards the dock. Honestly, he should have known better than to trust Anise to go back.


Anya paced the docks taking in the moonlit sea. She tugged down at the hem of her very short dress. Really, what had made her get it again in the first place?. Oh yeah, Anise and Guy, she remembered Anise's comments of giving her an 'assassin look' and Guy's 'irresistible shape display'. She was glad she had worn a matching blazer, now that the night was getting cooler. She heard heavy footsteps behind and decided she should really get going for a much required sleep.

"Ooh sweetie", she heard a slurred drawling voice and tensed. She turned around frowning slightly to see a six foot man almost as large as Largo, his long blond hair disheveled and a lecherous smile plastered on his bloodless face. Sure enough, there was a drink bottle in his hand. "So, how much you charge?".

"Shut up", she felt her rage surfacing, "Get away from me."

This only widened his smile, "I like them feisty" and throwing his bottle away, he approached her, much in a beastly fashion.

Her heart fluttered. Why had she left her sword today? How the hell had she not seen anything coming? But again he was just a drunk guy right? She threw a kick at his shin making him howl in pain and dashed away before things could get worse. She felt a rough pull at her wrist and was face-to-face with the barman. He steadied her by the shoulders and kissed her making her flinch.

"Let me go" she ordered in an intimidating manner trying not to gag on his breath that was heavy with wine.

"Not so fast", he said tugging at her blazer and feeling the skin on her arm. She shivered, not out of cold. How was she getting so weak after training herself up? His hand was exploring more of her roughly and she felt tears in the corner of her eyes. She wouldn't let him see her weakened by this cheapskate. He pulled her closer pressing his body to hers and kissed her neck savagely. "I do enjoy the taste of soft skin", he growled dangerously ignoring her protests.

"Think you can get away after what you did to my child?"

"It was an accident. Please".

"Hey", she suddenly said, "How about we go somewhere else?".

"Oh, changed our mind have we?" he smiled and loosened his grip. In a flash Anya brought up her knee to kick somewhere but it got his stomach instead which seemed to be made of steel. Damn it! He yanked her by the hair and pulled her vulgarly close again and she grit her teeth in frustration. She wasn't going down without a fight.

"You'll pay for this one, dear".

"No! Mr. Karros please don't hurt me".

"Think you can do that with me you bitch? Trust me; I'm not the nicest person when angry".

"Neither am I", said a voice from behind and whoever it was, pulled Anya from the barman's grasp, "Anise, take care of her". She got a whiff of the cologne and knew who it was.

"Who d'ya think- oh you're that guy from the bar", the barman recognized and scowled.

"I don't think I've introduced myself properly", Jade replied coolly, "I am Jade the Necromancer", he said this part softly and took an intimidating step toward the blond, "I'd be very much insulted if not anything else if you haven't heard of me. I'm quite famous for scavenging corpses at nights like this". He walked towards the girls behind him, "Anise, take her back to the inn. I would like to play with this one for a little while" and before Anya could thank him, he had returned to torture the barman.

"So", Jade started, "You probably happen to know that I am Colonel Jade Curtiss of Malkuth" the man nodded looking from side to side for an escape. Despite the fact that he could easily overpower Jade in a hand fight, the Colonel's piercing crimson gaze was as creepy as ever.

"I could charge you with quite a lot of things you know", he told the barman, "For an attempt on a woman's life-"

"I a'int done nothing like that", the man finally seemed to find his voice.

"Oh, and would anyone take your word over mine?", Jade asked him and when the man didn't answer, he continued, "Exactly. So I could also charge you with the sexual assault on a Malkuth General. Yes, she's an ally of mine", he added for the benefit of seeing the man's face going if possible, even paler.

"I am a rather frequent visitor at Chesedonia under disguises at times of course. So, do try being decent because I won't be sparing filth like you again if I ever catch sight of something suspicious", Jade ended the talk and watched the man limping away in satisfaction. The girl sure did have a powerful kick. He frowned slightly at the thought of Anya's sudden frailty but it sure would be a long time before that idiotic blond tried anything again.

"Anise", Anya had calmed down and now smiled at the teenager, "I can walk up to my room by myself".

"The Colonel wouldn't approve of it", she replied leading Anya once again upstairs, "I am supposed to be protecting you at the moment. What kind of a soldier would I be if I left you alone now?".

Anya sighed knowing just how stubborn the young girl could be. They entered her dark room and she turned to Anise, "It's alright now. Go get some sleep okay. We don't need to be carrying you in the morning".

"If it wasn't for Ion, I would volunteer to stay here with you", Anise told her, "good night okay?". She closed the door hesitantly. The older girl had almost looked traumatized earlier. She didn't know what had caused this but was sure enough it was something better left unknown, something Anya wouldn't think appropriate for her ears.

Jade sat down on his bed and opened his glasses sighing exhaustedly, although tired was the last thing he felt. Just as he was about to place his glasses on the table beside, he decided to go check on Anya. Really, what had gotten into him? Was it compassion? Maybe it was the fact that he was the oldest and wisest of them all but he exited his room anyway.

Anya took off her frayed blazer and began undoing her boots. She sat down on her bed and drew her knees up to her chest. Resting her chin on her knees she closed her eyes and one could see a light scar on the back of her low-cut dress in the moonlight.

At any other time of the year she would have preferred the solitude but right now she wished she had someone to hold her. Lezard, where are you now?

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts and she put her legs down in a more decent position. "Come in" she replied and the man in teal uniform was truly the last person she had expected then.

"Colonel!" she exclaimed, "W-what are you doing here?".

"You don't look all that pleased to see me at your door", Jade said teasingly.

She laughed and motioned for him to come inside. He sat down at the edge of her bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked, to the point.

"I'm fine", she said with a smile that did not reach her eyes, "Thanks for asking though" she turned sideways and his eyes caught sight of the scar.

"What's this?" he asked motioning towards it. His eyes narrowed when her lips thinned to a line and she looked down. It didn't look recent enough to hurt. She avoided his eyes and looked out the window. The feeling was overwhelming.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked surprising himself as well at this friendly gesture.

The room was silent for a minute and Jade waited patiently. This wasn't an indication for him to leave; rather she seemed to be pondering her options.

"It was the boy", she started in a monotone, "Irvine Karros, my best friend. We always used to hang out together. Inseparable, that's how mother put it. We got close to each other and we fell for each other,cliche huh? It may have been a childish infatuation of a fourteen year old but still, at the time we made promises of marrying like Natalia and Asch" she sighed at the memories, a little confused and continued. Why was it difficult to keep those old things in mind?

"We were quite the daredevils and would venture off to the snowy mountains for practice of any kind, just the two of us without anyone's knowledge. We sometimes fought the monsters just for the satisfaction of my extraordinary strength and to teach him. Then that evening, something unusual happened. My powers went out of control and the ice around Irvine cracked-and-and" her face had paled as though she would faint any moment.

"He was drowning. I tried to help him but I was exhausted and he just…slipped away" she whispered. How was this happening? She didn't remember ever having been in such an incident and yet she felt like this particular episode was a part of her life. Maybe it had been another lifetime…

"Seeing no other way I went over at his place. He lived with his dad, didn't have a mother. Anyway, I somehow broke the news to him and he got so enraged that he-he-" she looked downright terrified now, haunted even. Why did it scare her so much?

"It was an accident Mr. Karros; I didn't mean to hurt Irvine". She whispered, terrified when the glass flew from Mr. Karros's hand and caused the mirror behind her to break.

"You are the reason I've lost my one and only child" he shouted, "It's no wonder everyone thinks so lowly of you. If I'd known what you would-"

She was crying now. She had killed someone, robbed a father of his son and caused the death of her only best friend.

"You murdering bitch" he spat, "You'll pay for this one, dear". He took a step towards the young teenager, his dark eyes glowing dangerously.

She looked up wide eyed at his towering muscular form just as he slapped her hard across the face. He yanked her up by the hair into a standing position making her cry out.

"No! Please don't hurt me Mr. Karros" she sobbed.

"There's no one to hear your pleas" he told her and didn't stop the hard slap that came again only causing the young girl to fall hard across the floor and gaining a large cut on her shoulder blade from the broken mess. Suddenly the bell rang and a few seconds later a maid knocked the door to the room. He immediately clamped a hand over Anya's mouth.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It's General Grants. He wants to see you".

"Show him to the living room" was his answer. He got up leaving a shuddering Anya to sit up.

He rounded on her again, "Listen carefully now. Not a single word of what happened here right now. Don't try anything with me. It's only because General Grants arrived that I'm sparing you". She nodded and herself to shield herself from this beast. Blood was still running down her back and stained the floor.

"What are you waiting for", he shouted at her, "Go and stop that bleeding. I don't want to have to explain this to anyone. Now remember, not a word" with that he was dressed smartly enough as though he had just been doing some paperwork and exited.

She tore off a piece of cloth from her dress and wrapped it around the cut as best as she could and then dressed up. Shaken as she was, it wouldn't do to give Mr. Karros another chance for anything so she stopped crying and tried to put on a normal expression.

A maid came to inform her that she was summoned in the drawing room. She nodded and went to meet the two men on wobbly legs. As soon as she entered, Van asked her what was wrong.

"My son died a while ago. She found the body near the mountains", Mr. Karros told him tearfully, "The two were best friends. It's got her a little traumatized so I thought I would let her stay here until she was calm enough to go back home".

"Ah I see. My apologies sir" Van said gravely, "I came looking for you actually", he told Anya, "Your parents were worried. They looked all over for you and I guessed you would be here if not anywhere else. So we shall make our departure now" he told Mr. Karros who nodded and showed them to the door.

Anya hugged her knees to her chest and rested her head on them. She wasn't one to cry easily so why did she always end up doing that around people? At least recently. Her bangs shielded her face from Jade's eyes thankfully. She felt a gentle pressure around her shoulder.

"Anya", Jade started, "I won't tell you that what happened was for the best. But what you have to realize is that, this is what has made you grow up, become the person you are today. You have any idea what could've happened to you after all that? You might have succumbed to insanity, depression or suicide for that matter. The ultimate truth is rather hard to grasp and it's not everyone who's capable of it".

"Yeah" she whispered in agreement and smiled, "I never thought the day would come when I'd see you being so nice. It's scary but quite welcome at the moment..."

He knew what she wanted but remained rooted where he was but when she indulged herself and leant into him he moved almost unwillingly. His hands were working on their own and his thoughts were slightly clouded as he removed her bangs from her eyes. He lifted her face by the chin and pressed his lips to hers. This was the only thing he could give a woman, the only form of comfort he could come up with.

It wasn't close to what had happened at the ferry; this was gentle and sweet. His lips were surprisingly soft and warm for the person he was well known for. Was this Jade Curtiss? The man who killed in cold blood? How strange it was that he should be the one comforting her; one arm around her in a protective embrace, his other hand caressing her cheek. And this time, she was with no one else but Jade; Lezard didn't even cross her mind. It felt right somehow.

He pulled away gently and smiled, "You've had a long night. I think it's time you get some rest".

"Yeah", she agreed, "You too or else your old bones might wear out and trust me, we aren't going to be carrying you".

"If you woud like to have the honour of doing so-"

"Forget i said that." Anya interrupted and he smirked.

"Good night". He was closing the door when he heard his name and turned back to see her head peeking out of the sheets

"Jade", she said with a smile. Not Colonel, but his name. "Thank you".

HEEEE!So guys...do u like JadeXanya?ell me if her character or Jade's is going wrong!