Ch. 8
When they made it back to the manor, their mother immediately engulfed her boys in a hug, happy to see them both all right along with their father and their uncle. They asked what had happened and demanded why they left against their orders. The group went into a long explanation about the events and discussed the issue of this unknown Order and how they seemed to be after Luke at the moment. The two men became concerned about this and asked the blonde Marquess to show them the evidence they acquired. Once seeing the symbol, King Ingobert told one of the knights to send word about this to Grand Chokma immediately and Jade excused himself to go do the autopsy report before taking his leave.
By the time he got back, dinner had already started as he sat down. "So what did you find, General?" his Grace asked and the boys scrunched up their faces in disgust.
"Um, Father? Is this really an okay time to ask him that right after he just cut opened a body?" Luke pointed out, the others having the same thoughts.
"Bit squeamish are you, Luke?" Jade commented as he ate, which earned his an annoyed glare from the monarch and shake of bewilderment from the elder sibling as he thought that only someone that isn't human could eat right after cutting up a dead person and not be bothered by it. The man did indeed have a sick sense of humor. "But I'll save you all the gory details and go straight to the point. What I found in the man was a small fon machine that was injected into the cranium to cause a large amount of electricity to go through the brainwaves and into the nervous, which would have been the reason why the seizure was caused and that it was indeed intentional. And the only way to activate it would have to be used by a device and operated manually at a close range."
"So someone was there after all." Anise clarified and he nodded.
"Indeed."
"By the way Asch," the redhead turned to his look-alike who sat next to him, "what happened to you earlier?" he looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean after the man pounced on me with that tag." The others turned their interest onto him as well.
"Hey yeah! I've been meaning to ask you guys about that." Said the raven.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"After the man attacked Luke again, you were extremely angry-which is understandable and all-but when you glared at him, you suddenly changed." Natalia explained. His eyes widened in realization.
"Oh that! Well honestly, I'm not exactly sure." He looked down at his hand. "I remember feeling this hot anger and this powerful concentration of seventh fonons coursing through me. I don't really know, it didn't really concern me before because I just felt so...angry and all I wanted was to make that asshole pay for hurting Luke!" he stated the last part angrily with a tight fist and for a moment, his eyes began to glow gold and his hair began to shift slightly with a low growl rumbling in his throat, surprising everyone at the table. Luke quickly grabbed the fist and the glow instantly waned down until it stopped, bringing him back to his old self as he looked to the replica and sighed. "I did it again, didn't I?" they all nodded and he turned away. "Dammit!" he sighed again tiredly and squeezed the hand that he was now holding. "Sorry, I...kind of lost it there."
"It was like you were some kind of animal." Said Tear. "Luke, can you do that too?" he shook his head as he rubbed his original's hand comfortingly.
"No, but it must be a new ability he acquired from Lorelei, so I'll probably have it too soon enough."
Jade hummed thoughtfully. "Right now, what we do know about it is that it seems too react from extreme anger, or maybe even mild anger at that. Though we can't know for sure until we do some tests over at my lab. Of course, the decision is yours if you want to have it tested?" the scions turned to each other in contemplation before they looked and nodded.
"It's best that we do if we want to know how to control it and how to use it." he answered and with that, the discussion ended as they all continued to eat and went off to bed for the night to get an early start for the long trip.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Are you sure you boys will be all right?" Lady Suzanne asked the following morning to her sons at the front who were all packed up along with the others, both of them carrying a violin case. Their parents woke up right before them and told them all to have breakfast before they would see them off. She was quite reluctant to see them leave, their father feeling the same; they had just got their other son back home and were finally becoming a family for the first time. But they knew that they had to in order to help Luke and to stop this unknown threat. They gave their mother a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry Mother, we'll be back before you know it." Luke replied positively and she sighed before giving a reluctant smile back.
"All right, but just...promise me that you boys will look out for each other and come home safe."
"We will." They answered.
"We'll be sure to investigate as much as we can from here and we'll let you know on what we find." Their father informed and they nodded before they all said their good-byes. On the cable car, Luke wore a large grin on his face and noticing his happy mood, Asch glanced at him curiously.
"What's got you in such a good mood all of a sudden?" he asked and the young Viscount turned to him in surprise.
"Huh? Oh, it's just that it's been so long since all of us traveled together again that's all and I kind of missed it."
"Hey yeah, it has been awhile hasn't it?" said Anise.
"Yeah, and most of the times it's always when something bad happens." Guy added jokingly.
"Only difference it that Asch is with us this time, riight Big Brother?" Luke added with a sly grin and the other rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So when is the Alboire arriving Necromancer?" he asked as they all stepped off the cable car and walked down the streets of Baticul.
"The Alboire should be arriving shortly, so you needn't worry." It was agreed that they would be traveling by air since it was the fastest way possible to get to Malkuth then by boat or landship.
"Well I wouldn't have to if we had left for Malkuth days ago!" he retorted.
"Oh dear me, and here I thought I was being considerate for your health but apparently I was wrong."
"And here I thought you weren't irritating enough!"
"Temper, temper." He tsked at the young man and just when he was about to make another comeback, he and Luke paused when they heard something and looked up to see the Alboire IV-the new model-coming towards the city. The group stopped near the new landing pad they had installed for the Alboires as they watched the flying machine come closer and land. As the hatch opened and stairs emerged, Ginji's white hair popped out as he waved cheerfully down at them and came down to meet them as they approached. Once down, he exchanged greetings with everyone and just when he about to greet Luke, he did a double take when he noticed there were two of them now and looked between them in bewilderment. But that bewilderment turned into amazement when he realized who the other was and grinned from ear to ear when he did.
"Mr. Asch! Is that you? Holy Yulia, I almost didn't even recognize you without your hair pulled back and your God-General uniform!" the redhead grinned and nodded in greeting.
"It's good to see you as well, Ginji. How have you been?"
"Oh I've been good, but I'm just glad to see that you're really back. I've heard the rumors spreading about two redhead noblemen but I wasn't sure if they were true or not." He stated, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly and the young monarch just nodded. "So, is everyone ready to board?" they all nodded and began to climb inside before taking their seats and taking off.
"So Ginji, how's Noelle?" asked Luke, sitting next to the tanned hair Commandant and held her hand.
"She's been doing good, Noelle misses you guys though and wanted to come see you all, but she's been really swamped with deliveries lately and couldn't make it." after Eldrant, Noelle and Ginji along with Ashton have become quite popular with other companies and now have shops that build new models of Alboires as well as make business by being a delivery and transportation company. They even had Anise to fundraise for them to have a school for people who want to become pilots and dream to fly or to just create the flying machines. "Though it would've been funny to see her reaction if she saw you two."
"Well tell her I gave her my best."
"I will, Asch."
"I'm Luke." He chuckled out and the pilot smacked his forehead and glanced back at him apologetically.
"Sorry about that, Luke."
"It's quite all right, I've gotten used to people mistaking me for Asch."
"Still, you would think I knew which one is who."
"Really, it's fine. Besides, it's kind of funny to see people's reactions whenever they get it wrong."
"Speak for yourself, it may be funny but people shouldn't mistake me for a moron like you." The older commented across from Luke, sitting next to the Kimlascan Princess. The other glared at him playfully.
"Well at least I'm not a grouch like you."
"Better that than stupid." He countered and the other just stuck his tongue out at him before proceeding to cross his arms and pout dramatically like the kid he was, slumping in his seat. Everyone else just chuckled at their playful banter. Then Meiu zoomed from window to window to see the world from different angles, but Asch got annoyed as he kept passing by his head and sneered at the fur ball. "Quit moving around you stupid It!" he said when the thing was about to pass him and flicked him in the direction of his replica. The poor cheagle went flying from the strength of the flick and Luke caught him before he could pass him and set him down gently on Tear's lap. "By the way, how long will the flight take until we reach Grand Chokma?"
"Only two days, not long Luke."
"Asch." He corrected and the man pulled at his hair in frustration. Seriously, they had just gone over this!
"Argh! Sorry!"
"Really, now how long do you both intend on torturing the poor boy when he simply got it right." Jade stated and they all turned in shocked to see the smirking redheads.
"What! Again?" Anise exasperated and they snickered, as they held up their hands, guilty.
"Well, looks like the jig is up Asch."
"It seems so Luke." He responded with a what-can-you-do shrug before they both burst out into stitches and the other's groaned, besides Jade who grinned in amusement and Ginji who had no clue what was going on. Guy, who sat next to the pilot, patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.
"Don't worry about it, they've been doing this to all of us for awhile now. Either for some unknown reason or to just mess with us, but it's usually just the latter." The man made an "ah" statement at this.
"Actually there was a reason behind this." Said Luke.
"Oh yeah, and that would be?" Anise dragged out, not believing them. They glanced at each other and grinned.
"We felt like it." was their reply and they all rolled their eyes.
"I knew it." they just shrugged before getting up to go to one of the chambers in the back to change. Though the answer they gave was actually true, it was only half the reason why. The other reason was actually important but they knew their friends wouldn't approve of what they were doing if they actually told them what it was.
-Last night-
After everyone went to bed, making sure everyone was asleep, Asch quietly crept out of his room and out into the hallway courtyard as he made his way to Luke's room. Looking around to see if anyone was around, he used their link-not wanting to risk knocking-and gave a mental nudge until he felt his isofon stir and get up. He waited until a sleepy Luke opened the door with a yawn and rubbed his eye tiredly. He looked to him sleepily with some confusion.
"Hey Asch, what's up?" said Luke in a quiet voice. "Why are you here in the middle of the night?"
'I need to talk to you.' He said telepathically and the younger yawned again but knew that this was serious if Asch had to come to his room in the middle of the night just so he could talk to him in private, even though he could have used their link during dinner.
'Okay, so what's up?' he asked telepathically as well, but the older shook his head.
'Not out here.' Seeing what he was getting at, he stepped aside to let his original in and silently closed the door behind him so as to not disturb the sleeping cheagle.
'What is it Asch? What was so important that you couldn't tell me at dinner?'
'I didn't want Jade or the others to get suspicious and this was the only time I could talk to you alone...Luke, I think we should keep practicing on our switching.' The younger looked at him flabbergasted.
'That's it? You woke me up just so you could tell me we needed to practice more on switching?' he stated, a little annoyed.
'Not just that but our training as well.'
'...Okay, I get the part about training, but why switching?'
'We need to work harder on controlling our powers in order to protect ourselves incase if the Cleanse captures one of us instead of killing you incase they think I was you when we switch, so we have to perfect it if they do.' Now Luke was wide-awake as he began to worry about the thought of Asch being mistaken for him and getting captured.
'You think they'll try to capture me?' the other nodded.
'If killing you isn't an option to them anymore, then they would most likely try to capture and then kill you.'
'Then...maybe it's best if we don't switch at all.'
'No Luke, if they do then it's best if they think I'm you when they do.' His eyes widened as he finally got what his brother was saying and shook his head slowly in denial, not truly believing this.
'No...no Asch! They'll kill you if they mistake you for me!'
'They won't Luke; if they capture me instead then I could gather info on them. And I have a better chance of escaping then you do because I'm not affected by the resonance or the symbols.'
'That's exactly my point!' he argued. 'If they see that you're not affected then they'll find out that you're not me and kill you on the spot!'
'Tch. They can try but I highly doubt it, and if it does come to that than I'll just pretend that I am.' But Luke disagreed.
'That won't work because you can't get burn by them either!'
'Then I'll just burn myself.' He replied simply and Luke stared appalled by this.
'Asch!'
'What! Luke, this is serious. These people are dead set on killing you by any means necessary even after that assassin stated that they were going to rid the world of replicas; just look at what they did to those people! They came this close to getting the job done right and I'll be damned to let them try again! I am not going to risk losing you to those psychotic bastards.'
'AND I'M NOT GOING TO RISK LOSING YOU BECAUSE OF ME!' This took Asch aback as the younger ran to him and held onto him in a death grip, his shoulders shaking in silent sobs as Luke buried his face into his shoulder. The older sighed as he hugged him back and raked his hand through the other's scalp like before to calm the crying boy down, feeling his tears soak through his night shirt. 'I-I can't l-lose you Big Brother. I've already lost you once, I don't think I can-I can handle it again. I don't want to lose you Big Brother; I love you way too much to see you die again.' Asch was quite surprised that his little brother said that he loved him and was saddened by how desperate and terrified he sounded for not wanting him to not leave.
'Luke.' When he didn't get a response, he tried again. 'Luke, look at me.' He said more firmly but the boy shook his head, so ever so gently. He removed his twin's hands from their grip around him and held them out in front of him. What he saw made his heart crack. Seeing his little light's crying face as his bottom lip trembled and his cheeks overflowing with tears reminded him again that Luke was still a little boy crying out for his sibling to stay with him. It was a face he never wanted to see again and he vowed to never see it on him again. Luke still refused to look at him as he continued to sob with his eyes closed that were still flowing with tears, the occasional hiccup here and there. He wiped his isofon's tears away the best he could-even though it was pointless since more would replace them-and cupped his cheeks in between his hands, rubbing a thumb over the previous wound unconsciously. "Luke. Look at me." He repeated out loud and that time he finally did. "I understand that you're scared of losing me again...but you have to be brave for me and stay strong. I may not look it but you have no idea of how terrified I am at the thought of losing you too. If you don't believe me, then feel my emotions." Luke did and was astonished when he felt that he was just as scared as him.
Asch smiled sadly. 'After finally knowing what is feels like to have an annoying little brother for once and finally understanding you after everything, I just. Can't. Lose you Little Light. Not ever. You made me remember what it was like to have a home again and to have a family and friends. You're the reason why I stayed and what it feels like to smile again and that I could forget about my past and move on towards the future. You made me see that not everything in this world is terrible and there are things here that are beautiful, so that's why...I can't let you be killed by those people. I want to protect you Luke, not because you're my replica but because you're my little brother, my little light. And I love you too much to see you disappear from my life this time either. I don't want to go back to the life I had before and be alone again. Because if you're gone then there would be no reason for me to stay here anymore if it doesn't feel like home. As much as I love Natalia, not even she can make me feel like I am home because nothing would be home again. You are my home, you are the reason why everything matters now and if I lose you...then I would lose everything.' His voice quivered at the last part and the younger was surprised to see a single tear slide down his face. Never in his life since he met Asch had he ever seen him cry before and hearing these words made him cry harder as he buried his face into his original's chest. The other just wrapped his arms around him and held him for what its worth, laying his cheek on the top of the replica's head. 'Shh, it's okay. I'm right here.' he consoled.
'Brother...promise me if you do get captured, you'll come back home safe.' The redhead chuckled.
'I made that promise before didn't I? What makes you think I'm gonna break it this time?' Luke gave a watery chuckle. 'But remember this Luke, even if they try again or if they kidnap you, just know that I'll always protect and I'll always find you and bring you home.' The boy nodded and the other hugged him tighter.
'I love you, Big Brother.' Asch smiled and kissed the top of his head.
'Love you too, Little Brother.'
-Now-
Just remembering about last night made the young Viscount want to cry again, but he held them back so the others wouldn't worry and he promised he would stay strong for Asch; if not for him than at least for himself or the others. Noticing his change in mood as he attached his maestro sword, Asch put a comforting hand on his shoulder, already guessing what made the other upset. Luke turned his head towards him and smiled to assure that he was fine and they walked back to the cockpit before sitting down. The girls gave them suspicious looks but when assured that they were them, the girls smiled. Tear reminded Luke of their dinner date and he chuckled. For the rest of the ride, they all just talked and enjoyed each other's company (and Jade annoying the crap out of the former God-General). The twin's even put on a show for them with their violins (after some initial begging from the younger redhead's part) and they mostly just forget about their situation for the moment and just enjoyed the flight. Finally after two days of flying, they made it to Grand Chokma as Ginji landed in front of the fomicy lab, upon Jade's request, and they disembarked. "When do you guys want me to pick you up?" the pilot asked over the noise of the engine.
"Perhaps about a week or two at the most would be sufficient!" Jade called back and the man nodded before taking off again.
"Why two weeks?" Florian asked.
"We need to find out more information here about this Cleanse and that amount of time should give us enough on who and where they are, what do they gain and so on." said Jade. "Also I still need to fix our little problem for every replica and you three and examine this interesting piece of metal we have in our possession, so it will take some timeā¦And while we're at it, why don't I do a check-up on a certain pair of twins?" he stated slyly with an evil grin to the pair who either laughed nervously or huffed and turned their head away.
"I don't need a freaking check-up." The older grumbled and the younger rolled his eyes before giving him a stern look.
"Asch, we've talked about this." He just waved him off.
"I know, I know." they all gave a bemused look at them and Luke shook his head.
"Don't ask, you'll find out soon enough." Asch gave him a glare. "What? Anyway, should we go into the examination room?" the General nodded as he shifted his glasses up.
"Yes, let's do that shall we? Now then, who shall I start on first?" he asked with a grin and the three boys paled slightly while Guy who stood next to the man sidestepped away. The way he said it sounded as if he was about to butcher them.
"Okay, now I know I don't need a check-up." Said Asch as he was about to make a run for it, but Luke saw this beforehand and grabbed him by the arm without even turning to him. The older Viscount grumbled at him. "Look, I'm fine so I don't need one!" he insisted irritably. "Besides, the old man already gave me a check-up back home."
"That incident did not count as a proper check-up. He needs to do a full preliminary examination on you to see how your powers work and compare them with mine as well your physical and mental health; you wouldn't go to the doctor in Baticul to see how you're fonons are until I had to drag you there, so it's better if someone you know does it." he stated matter-of-factly. "Besides, you're gonna have to get over this eventually, so might as well now and with Jade."
"That's exactly my point!" then the answers began to click in the blonde noble's head.
"Wait, Asch are you...afraid of doctors?" at this, he paused in his struggling and Guy gaped. "You are aren't you?"
"I told you one of them would find out." Said Luke and his counterpart scowled at him.
"Shut up, Dreck!" at his unannounced confession, their eyes widened in surprise. Then Anise bursted out laughing.
"No way!" she exclaimed in amusement. "The fearless and powerful Asch is scared of going to the doctors?!" he growled at her.
"Shut up! I'm not afraid! I just don't trust them and I have every reason to be, especially when it's going to be that pedophile!" Asch stated defensively as he pointed to the General. The man feigned a look of hurt but his red eyes shined with amusement.
"Now that's just mean, calling me a pedophile. Your description of what I am is deeply appalling." Asch was about to snap at the sarcastic man when he suddenly felt a painful tug on his ear and was being dragged by it towards the building by his replica, the latter having no choice in the matter as he struggled.
"Ow, ow, OW! Will you let go of my ear you stupid dreck! I am not some kind of child!" his twin sighed tiredly.
"From my perspective, you are right now." Said Luke. "Now you are going to have that examination whether you like it or not, even if I'm gonna have to knock you out in order for you to stay or keep ahold of your ear for you to stay still. So until you cooperate, I'm gonna treat you as one."
"I told you I don't NEED IT! OW!" he protested.
"Struggling will only make it hurt worse."
"I'll hurt you a lot worse if you don't let go! OW!" Luke sighed again as he continued to tug harder on his brother's ear, ignoring the complaints and threats coming from his mouth while everyone just sweat-dropped, dumbfounded by the amusing sight of the redheads' retreating forms. Then the raven couldn't help but laugh again at the whole thing.
"I'm sorry, but that was just way too funny. Not the whole doctor thing cause that's understandable, no offense General." The man shrugged indifferently. "But seeing him being dragged away by the ear, and by Luke of all people, is just hilarious!" the others chuckled as well.
"Yes, that was quite amusing to see." Said Natalia. "Though I must ask myself this, why is he so afraid of doctors I wonder? He's never had a problem with them before?"
"Well can you really blame him, he was experimented on against his own will around the age of ten by a psycho, so it's no wonder he doesn't trust doctors." Said Guy and they fell silent.
"Oh...I didn't think-" he put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's all right Princess, none of us knew." She stiffly nodded but still felt guilty. Even though she's known Asch since they were kids she still felt like she didn't know him at all, even back then. Though they've been apart since his kidnapping that's still no excuse; it was foolish of her to think that none of it affected him. She's loved him since the day they were born and she tried many ways to get to know him better, but he was always so closed off from the world and he rarely showed emotions towards her. Now he smiles more and laugh more often and he's more open with his feelings than he was three years ago and when they were children, but he seems to only do that when he's around Luke and sometimes around her. Around her he shows compassion and love towards her, but around Luke he's like any older brother who cares very much about their sibling and shows all of his emotions towards him. When he's around other people, he's quiet and keeps to himself; even around his mother she can only get a few smiles out of him. But around his replica it's like a candle has been lit in him and he's joking and laughing around everyone. It makes her a bit jealous of her beloved cousin because Luke knew everything there is to know about Asch, including his worst fears.
Don't get her wrong she still loves Luke, but her heart will always belong to Asch and she's happy that they found each other so they can smile again, considering how life has mistreated them and they needed each other to be happy...but she wishes she can make Asch feel happy too the way Luke does for him. Although it is quite understandable considering how Luke has that affect on everyone he meets. She didn't know how he does it but he could make any room light up by just smiling or laughing, and you couldn't help but smile back (even Jade). He could make anyone feel like they were special and he does it without even trying. Right then, I'll just have to try harder. She thought determinedly as she followed the others into the large building. But what they saw made them froze in panic at the sight of the former God-General.
