Author's note:

I'm really sorry for taking so long to write this next chapter (more than half a year). I honestly don't know if anybody will still be reading it though. If you do: Please enjoy! :)

I'll try to write the next chapter as soon as possible and finish this story, even if it takes me a long time.

As usual: If you find any mistakes in content, spelling or grammar, feel free to correct me so I can improve my writing for the following chapters. :) I'm always happy about any feedback I get.

I do not own Tales of the Abyss or any of the characters. They all belong to their rightful owner (Namco).

Masquerade

Putting on the feathered mask, Asch left the replica's room with an anxious feeling. He found himself fairly troubled

by the fact he was going to see Natalia in only about a few minutes. Even though he had talked to her this very

morning, the thought about being close to her still send his heat beating at an unhealthy and excited rate.

Taking a deep breath he calmed himself and made his way down the corridor and outside the manor. He quickly

strode across the courtyard and left the Fabre manor through its side wing. As he stepped outside he straightened up

a little, seeing all the nobility of Auldrant entering the castle. Many groups of fancily dressed aristocrats made their

way from the elevators across the plaza to the castles widely opened main gate.

Lively chatter filled the evening air, as he silently got into the line. Only a few minutes had passed until the most

feared storm of admiration broke loose. Asch felt himself tense up, as women and men showered him in unwanted

attention.

"Good evening, Mater Luke!", chanted a young woman's voice.

"We we're so surprised and relieved to hear of your well-being!", hummed a manly voice followed by many others.

Nodding and with a feigned smile he returned greetings, answered simple questions, skipped the intrusive ones and

kept shaking countless hands until he finally reached the castles entrance. With a phony excuse he managed to

break out of the crowd and saved himself from getting busted by hiding beyond one of the wide pillars which

steadied the upper storey. A little longer and he'd have lost it. He had expected to gather some attention since Luke

was considered to be one of the heroes who saved this world, but still – he had hoped the people would have calmed

down somewhat until now. Apparently it looked like he had erred about that.

Gritting his teeth he adjusted the mask and steadied himself mentally and physically. The artificially created fonon

separation still remained as a faint, lingering pain in his body, even though it had mostly subsides due to the second

injection. Still he was careful not to overexert himself. He surely wouldn't risk to faint again.

Carefully he cast a glance around the column and watched the crowd enter the hall, which was obviously reserved

for the masquerade ball. Beautiful decoration of white and blue ribbons and flowers graced the doorframe.

Doubtlessly Natalia must have had a hand in putting up the decoration, he thought to himself while he

waited for the inrush of guests to abate at least a little.

When only a few groups of chattering people remained in the entrance hall, he left his hiding place and quickly

sneaked into the festival hall. Stealthily he lurked along the walls to draw as less attention as he could.

That was until he spotted her: Natalia.

And what he saw the made him freeze in his tracks.

Right in the middle of the floor she was swaying slowly to the enchanting sound of a royal orchestra. A beautiful blue

gown fluttered around her graceful form as she moved and to his utter frustration she had her hand laid in none

other than Guy's.

The sight made him flinch and he clenched his fists involuntarily.

The unbearable strong wish to punch the blond man grew in his chest, as he made his way through the

crowd to get a better view on what was happening. Pure jealousy made his throat go dry while he watched them

dancing slowly, but in an awkward distance. He still hadn't got rid of his fear of women, even around Natalia. It

was clearly written all about the young mans tensed face. But it wasn't Guy's face which caught Asch's attention as

he stared at them. It was Natalia's.

To his surprise she did no look a little happy under her elegant, flower-covered mask. Even though

a constant smile lingered on her lips, her eyes told something utterly different. A faint sadness and even fear shone

from those lovely emerald pools he could instantly lose himself in.

His tension loosened a little, while he kept watching her swirling gently across the room. Maybe the replica was right

for once. He hated to see her forlorn or even sad. But still it gave him some faint hope for his own desperate wish.

Completely drowned in his thoughts he didn't realize the call of his former name right beside him, until a tiny hand

was waved right in his face.

"Earth to Luke, is someone home?", a squeaky voice asked and made him look down in surprise. Nobody else but

Anise Tatlin was standing right in front of him, smiling brightly under a – you could probably call it cute – pink and

white mask.

"Now will you come dance already or do you just want to keep staring at dancing people?", she laughed and offered

him a hand.

Asch sighed inwardly and restrained himself from declining her friendly offer. The young girl had always been

interested in Luke, but more due to his money and noble family than to him being himself. Still she had become a

close friend to the young aristocrat and if he didn't want to reveal their role-swap right now he would have no other

possibility but to comply with her wish.

Forcing a smile he took her hand in his and slowly started moving towards the dancefloor. At first a little insecure he

started dancing – what turned out to be quite tricky due to her small size – but gained poise with every step he took.

Soon he was moving along well with all the other pairs round after round to the music's rhythm. Not accepting the

fact, that he actually came to like it, he unconsciously danced closer to the woman he had been watching before. But

before he had a chance to realize what happened, Anise had let go of his hand and aimed for Guy's, who caught her

with a fearful gasp before he froze completely.

Asch found himself catching Natalia instead of his former dance partner. Startled he caught her delicate hand with

his and if she hadn't moved on, he probably would have frozen as well. His own heart hammered merciless

against his ribs as she laid her hand on his shoulder. His own found its place on her waist as she gracefully followed

the rhythm. Distant memories of his childhood flashed through his mind in an instant, flooding him with a mixture of

soothing warmth and desperate longing. He would have given everything to stop right then and there to hold her in

a close embrace. Instead he forced his mind to focus on the correct movement of his feet in unison with hers. His

eyes remained averted until he finally brought up the courage to look into hers – and he instantly regretted it.

Her smile had vanished and instead of the sadness he had read in her gaze before, now there was nothing but pain.

A wave of guilt rolled over him and he had trouble of keeping his own façade up.

If she'd only know…, it shot through his mind, but he banished the thought immediately.

If I told her, I'd hurt her even more. There is no way she'd simply understand why I'm hiding, he concluded

and led her into a graceful twirl. Absentminded, still pondering about the current situation, he missed to catch her

properly.

With a startled squeal she stumbled over his foot and right into his arms. Staring down at the girl in his arms, he

tensed up. As quick as he could he put her back to her own feet und took a step back.

"I'm sorry.", he mumbled. "Please excuse me."

Before she could muster up an answer, he had taken his leave, swiftly hurrying through the dancing crowd. He had

almost reached the exit, as a hand got hold of his sleeve.

He whipped round, almost expecting the princess had followed him, but for the second time on this god-damn

evening he was looking down on Anise.

"What do you want now?", he snapped, just to be quickly reminded that this hadn't been the right choice of words.

"You're in a really weird mood today, aren't you, Luke?", she questioned and raised an eyebrow. Shoving down his

anger, he set up a rather composed face.

"Actually I want nothing.", the girl went on and pointed on a young woman right behind her.

"She wants something. An autograph from Auldrant's great hero to be exact."

The woman quickly bowed her head and seemed to blush bright red beyond her mask.

You got to be kidding me!, he cursed inwardly and forced a smile to cover up his former faux pas.

"I'll give you one, if you can get me pen and paper.", he offered, hoping she hadn't thought about that yet. To his

misfortune, she had.

Instantly she pulled out a little notepad and a fountain pen and handed both to him. Still cursing silently he quickly

scribbled a pretty version of Luke fon Fabre onto the blank paper and handed it back to her. She sheepishly

uttered her words of thank and hurried back to the group she belonged to.

Thankful he had gotten rid of her, he was about to leave, as he caught Anise's incredulous stare.

"Did you just… did you just use your right hand?", she asked. Her question hit him like brick. A now audible

curse left his lips, as all his composure left him.

Realizing what she had just witnessed, the girl stumbled a few steps back.

"Don't tell me you're… You're …", she stammered, but suddenly a hand closed her mouth and made her unable to

speak out loud. Jade Curtiss had grabbed her and kept her quiet.

"You better leave for now.", he said and bowed down to Anise. "I'll explain everything to you. But not here."

Asch had never been more thankful to see this damned Necromancer than in this very moment. Giving him a quick

nod, he followed his advice and hastened out of the festival hall, before any other misfortune decided to fall upon

him.

Even though he didn't want to admit it: Out of all possible animals a raven did fit him the best.

His heart was still pounding rapidly, as he hurried out of the castle, down the stairs and off into the night. He didn't

dare to slow his pace until he got out of sight of the castles entrance. Heavily panting he sank against a wall and let

out a shout of anger.

Luke knew he was here and alive, Jade knew, even Anise knew! Only Natalia, the only one he actually cared about,

didn't! It was frustrating, outright hurting.

Taking a deep breath he slid to the ground and rested his back against the cold wall.

Letting go of his control he laid his head back and looked up into the starry sky.

Accept your life as a sign of my gratitude. That's what you said, he thought.

So tell me, oh great Lorelei, what am I supposed to do with this life?! Answer me!

He narrowed his eyes and reached one hand up for the glimmering stars.

Not to his surprise, there was no response. Until a familiar headache made him flinch.

"What on earth happened, Asch?", Luke's voice echoed through his originals mind. A hint of concern resonated

through it.

"I could hear you screaming though I didn't even open a connection."

Rubbing his temples, Asch gritted is teeth. He hadn't intended the replica to hear anything. Still the force of his

anger must have accidentally opened their link.

Anise found out about me. The Colonel is taking care of her, he simply stated in response.

Everything else is not of your concern.

Luke stayed silent for a moment. When he went on, his voice was filled with compassion.

"It's about Natalia, isn't it?", he asked carefully.

It is not of your concern, didn't I make myself clear?!, his original retorted angrily.

Just let me be, he added a silent moment later and pulled his knees closer to himself.

Luke seemed to search for words, but if he found them, he kept them to himself and followed his originals plea.

"Just call for me, if you need any help.", he uttered and cut off their link, as he didn't expect any answer anyway.

Again Asch found himself alone with his thoughts. And if he would for once have been honest with himself, he would

have regretted it. Instead he crossed his arms above his knees and laid his chin atop, silently waiting for the night to

pass…