Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Haha, reviewers are frustrated with me, but that's good in a way, it will keep you all coming back! Hehe. It's seems I've managed to pull off a decent AschxOC pairing because you all want Asch and Sin to be together and death to Dailiin –hides in garbage can until brawl passes– Anyway, thank you all so much for your love and support, I'll try to make this chapter a good one.

Annnnd….SUMMER BREAK IS HERE! EXAMS ARE FINISHED! So I'll be typing until I drop dead. Yay :P

Enjoy.

.

Asch's P.o.v.

"Come on Asch," Dailiin beckoned him with a quick wave of her hand. "If you don't hurry we're going to miss the beginning of the celebration!"

Regardless of her seemingly surfacing impatience though, the young empress had a smile on her face as she gazed at him. He looked around once more before giving in with a mental sigh and headed towards the waiting girl – his wife.

Once he was at her side, she wound her arm through his and shot him another smile. He gazed at her blankly before they exited and were greeted with a generous escort of guards. Then they started down the long marble hall to the door that led outside.

"I wonder how Sin did," Dailiin said thoughtfully. "I did ask an awful lot of her today…"

Asch took a deep breath to calm himself, but that was the chance he had been waiting for.

He pulled the chestnut haired girl to a stop, a bit too quickly it seemed because she looked back with a surprised expression on.

"Shouldn't we wait for her?" he asked quietly. Dailiin shook her head, looking thoughtful.

"If she hasn't showed up yet, I'm sure she's probably already down there collecting balloons by now," she laughed excitedly. "And anyhow, she has to be there for the speech."

Asch furrowed his eyebrows, doubtful that Sin would turn over a new leaf with her disobeying ways if she didn't feel like it, but he didn't protest anymore and allowed the girl hooked on to him to guide him outside.

The night was chilly and he could see his breath but he knew that spring wasn't too far off and that possibly it would come a little earlier this year. Colourful, festive lights drew his attention to the city that they were now walking toward. The guards chatted merrily around him, Dailiin was smiling too, but he couldn't force the smile onto his face right now. Not after what had happened only a few hours ago.

After a few good minutes of walking, they entered the city. Cheers welled up around them and flashing confetti got dumped on their heads from above. Asch stared at it all like a picture frame on his grey walls. Sure, it was something to look at at the moment, but it had no meaning and he knew he'd be grateful for the day when the concealing dust covered his thoughts, so he wouldn't have to see this reminding scene all over again.

They walked but mostly Dailiin just pulled him along to wherever she wanted to go. It was alright, he didn't especially mind. What else was there for him to look at now besides what she wanted to look at? None of this made any amount of sense to him.

Secretly, he kept a look out for his petite but out-of-bounds other half. He didn't have the slightest clue where she was and he wanted to curse. If only he hadn't reached out to touch her at sunset, none of this behavior would have happened.

Asch clenched his teeth as a flash of the replica came to his mind. He could just see that childlike grin plastered on her face as she looked up at him. He could see those pale but strong arms reaching up to grasp him, the times she wanted to be held. He could see those damn orange eyes calling for him to come closer, to make her anything but lonely, and to show her love.

If she hadn't decided that what they were doing was wrong at that point, he knew he would be with her now as –like Dailiin had said– she collected every single colour of balloon the celebration had to offer, and he would have been the one giving her a piggy back for it all.

"Asch," Dailiin cut in politely. He shook his thoughts from his head and turned to her. She continued, "We should probably head to the speech platform. It'll be starting soon I think."

The former God-General nodded quickly. If there was even the slightest chance that Sin would be there, there was no where else he wanted to head to.

People cheered at them as they walked through the light-strung town. Children laughed and bustled around their feet with their best clothes on while their parents shouted to tell them to be careful. He wanted to wince. If the replica had managed to trip over the edge of a carpet, how the heck was she going to survive the night? No doubt she was wearing a nice set of colourful robes to help her along too.

"Are you alright?" asked a worry toned Dailiin from her position hooked onto his arm. He carefully rearranged the expression on his face, having realized that maybe it was too obvious that he was far from happy.

"I'm fine."

It wasn't that Dailiin was a problem, that wasn't it. She was a kind young woman with a clear conscience and welcoming personality. She was pretty, smart and good on her feet, that much he could admit as could anyone. She was even closer to his age than Sin was.

But somehow, none of that seemed to matter when he thought of the replica. He craved that happy laughter and the honest scowls. He lived for that mischievous glint in her eye and the endless things she could throw back at him when they argued. She was a challenge, someone he couldn't beat and who couldn't beat him. He couldn't beat her because he needed her, and that made them equals.

"Wow, doesn't it look nice Asch?"

He looked up to see the lit platform with flashing ribbons and comfortable chairs for them. Steps led up to it for them and Asch refrained from rolling his eyes too noticeably. It wasn't even that high, anyone could have easily jumped up with less than an effort.

He scanned the platform and to his relief, there she was.

The replica was sitting on the far left chair, the three other chairs to her right not yet being occupied. Her orange eyes were on the ground, her brow slightly furrowed in what looked like deep thought. Her hair was down and sliding down her back and over her shoulders. Her robes had a lot of colours again…mostly blues mixing with purples which were mixing with reds.

As they approached and he could feel his heart calming down at her presence, he became aware of some of the voices speaking around him.

"See her? That's the empress' new advisor. Amazing isn't it?"

"Really? But she's so young, what is the empress thinking?"

"Hey I've heard about her…she showed up in the middle of the war…"

"War? At her age? Oh my…what is this city coming to?"

"Crazy thing is…soldier's say she can take one hundred lives in a second!"

Asch frowned a little as he brushed past them. That was an exaggeration, it sounded a lot like the guy was attempting to tell a ghost story, but he was glad that they weren't belittling her for her supposed crime.

Finally at the edge of the platform after pushing through the crowd of people, they started up.

At this point when he turned his gaze to her, her eyes were on him. A smile came to her face.

It stabbed him.

Mocked him.

It was polite, concealed, secreted…restrained. It was how she was supposed to greet him, not how she use to. This was a rule-following smile…where was the grin that made her look like she was about to break from happiness?

"Sin!" Dailiin chirped, "You're here early!"

Asch stood silently as her clear voice replied.

"Um…yeah…the soldiers told me to sit here…"

Asch wanted to laugh bitterly. So she was doing as she was told now, was she?

Dailiin continued. "Are you enjoying the celebration?"

He wasn't sure, but her next words sounded a bit on the sarcastic side.

"The soldier's told me to sit here."

While they continued to talk, Asch took the time to sit down in the seat next to the replica. There was a space between them, and he was closer to Dailiin's seat than to hers but it was satisfactory.

The empress sounded dismayed. "You haven't walked around yet? Have you been sitting there the whole time?"

Sin nodded slowly.

The young empress huffed and put her hands on her hips in annoyance. "Well then, I'm going to have to have a talk with those few men who should just mind their own business! I'll be back."

Asch blinked as Dailiin started away down the few stairs and into the crowd. When he turned back to Sin her hand was outstretched like she was about the protest but hadn't got the chance to.

Her eyes flicked hesitantly over to him and then away again as she lowered her hand back down to her lap.

He attempted to break the silence that drifted between them.

"You don't have to take that from them. You are above them now."

"I know…"

"You're the advisor, so advise them to stop pushing you around. It's as simple as that."

"Okay."

With narrowed eyes, he turned to look at her. Her eyes however, were safely on the platform beneath her feet.

"Stop that," he ordered seriously. He watched her bite her lip.

"Stop what?"

"You know perfectly well what," he said in a whisper, referring to her playing dumb and innocent. He watched the flicker of restraint in her eyes as she looked up and over the crowd. It appeared she really was set on giving him an ending, on closing him off and becoming the typical adviser – emotionless.

"I'm afraid I don't."

Regardless of the fact that he should have been searching for a way to accept this whole thing, he found himself becoming less patient and more angry. What had he done to deserve being cut off from her, really? He had married someone else to prove how much he loved her and this was how she wanted to repay him?

"Well then," he began sarcastically calm, "I suppose I'll just have to put it into simpler words."

The replicas teeth clenched, and she obviously had a good idea about what he was going to say. He knew he was being cruel, he was tearing her new image apart while she was working so hard to cut him loose, to 'save' him.

"Stop pretending," he warned. It scared him more than anything, the fact that she would actually move on and leave him behind.

"I'm not pretending, sir."

His eyes widened incredulously.

"You did not just do that."

"Do what?"

"Say that."

"Say what?"

"Sir!"

"I did, sir."

"Stop saying that!"

"Okay."

He glared hard at her. There it was again, that fake, innocent obedience that he had just told her to stop with. Somehow it was fueling him, because he could feel her underneath it all, mocking him with her cleverly sarcastic words.

"I hope I'm interrupting something," Syft's amused voice cut in. Asch tore his eyes away from Sin to turn and look at him. The replica did likewise.

"Actually you are," Asch snapped irritably. Syft shrugged with an uncaring expression on his face; then he walked over and proceeded to shove the string of a floating red balloon at the tiny replica.

"Here…" the green haired boy muttered in annoyance. "Seeing as you're incapable of getting one yourself."

He walked off then, going to sit on his own chair on the other side of Dailiin's.

Asch turned back to look at the replica who – likewise – had turned to look at him again too.

"I'm sorry sir, you were saying?"

"I was saying, my lady," he sneered, "That I'm not going to give you a head start once this speech is over."

"That's alright sir, I don't remember asking for one."

Sin's P.o.v.

The moment the speech had ended she was on her feet and lurching down the few steps into the crowd, him instantly on her heels. That was unexpected though, because she had been certain he wouldn't just disappear from Dailiin's sight without her permission. But apparently that wasn't the case at all and he really didn't care whether Dailiin wanted him to zoom from her sight or not.

The crowd was not hard to get through for her, being as small as she was she could easily slip through small bundles of people without so much as brushing them with the end of her robe. She knew he was going to have a tougher time with maneuvering though, even though he was very swift. He was taller than her, a lot taller, and obviously had a lot more mass to get through with.

She pushed herself hard, ducking in and around people without as much as a glance for an apology. She strained to throw him off course, to confuse him with the direction she was actually going but each time she looked over her shoulder, she could still make out the ever pursuing silhouette of him.

'Damn it…' she thought as she swung around in a new direction once again. But once again he altered his course to her disliking. How did he know?

She didn't want to admit it, but she knew she had pushed the whole thing on the speech platform too far for his liking. How was he being so narrow minded though? At least she had the bravery to tell him straight out before the whole celebration that they had to stop themselves from letting their true feelings slip. How could he not see that this was the only way for them now? This was what was best for him! She knew it, so why the hell was he chasing her!?

Then finally it hit her how he was able to track her so easily.

The string of her red balloon was tied to her wrist, the balloon floating merrily over not just her head, but everyone else's head too. It was as obvious as day.

'Ah, crap!' she yelped in her head as she hastily tore it from her wrist and let it float away.

But that was rather useless as she was already out of the crowd and he no longer needed the balloon to track her. Clenching her teeth, the pushed her legs to go faster into the darkened streets of the city, the celebration lights soon faded to be replaced by that of the shining moon.

"About time!" Asch called from somewhere behind her. "I was beginning to wonder if you would realize how obvious you are!"

"Shut up!" she retorted over her shoulder, knowing right away that he wasn't referring to the balloon.

The sound of him disappeared. He really did what she asked of him and was instead, totally silent. But he was still following.

It was all a matter of speed now, of how fast he or she could go. It was the fastest she had ever run away from him, but she knew she had to and she had to make him realize it too. He'd have to realize sooner or later that she was strong enough to go on, even if it hurt, even if she didn't want to, even when all she ever wanted was only a few steps away. They could hide it, but that would never solve anything and Dailiin…she didn't deserve such betrayal, she was a good person.

The replica furrowed her eyebrows determinedly and continued on with her full out run. Dailiin, over time, would fall even more in love with him and soon he would forget about needing a pitiful replica as his lover. If they continued this…continued to hide something so agonizingly destructive to them both and the empress found out…it was safe to say both of their heads would be gone.

The replica pulled to a stop finally and breathed heavily, taking in much needed air. She glanced around her, looking for a sign of his presence.

There was none. Except his voice.

"I can still see you Sin'kara…I can see all of you." His ice cold but smooth voice echoed around her, she whipped her head from side to side but his blood red hair did not enter her vision.

"You only see what you want to see!" the replica yelled out into the dead quiet city. There was a light chuckle on the wind, it was laughter, but it was far from amused.

"I guess that makes us the same doesn't it?" Asch replied, "Because you see only one path, one solution. Right now, that's what you want to see."

"There are no other solutions!" she shouted. "Just let it go Asch! This is it, it's over, we've lost! You're making it harder on both of us!"

"I'm making it harder? You're the one running away!"

"I'm doing it for-"

"Are you scared?"

"-What, no...I'm not scared…"

"Then you don't need me anymore? Is that it?"

The replica's eyes widened in shock but before she could get words out, he was already overlapping her.

"So you've got your expensive clothing, your status and your oh-so-important powers. What else could you possibly need, I suppose!?"

"Asch!"

"Am I so worthless to you now? So worthless that you'd just give up without a fight? Is us really not worth your effort?"

His sharp words stung her from all sides as she stood in the middle of the stone street. How could he think such things? He was wrong…about everything.

Then suddenly he became visible as he stood on top of one of the high roofs, the moon casting glowing light over his floating, blood red hair. She ground her teeth together as she looked at him. Did he really think he meant nothing to her, or was he just trying to lure her feelings out into the open? She stayed silent in dismayed regret.

His voice rose up again. "Go ahead and hide behind your colourful materials and your stone wall of arrogance, but I'll only see you for what you really are and what you'll always be…"

Her eyes widened as his next words slipped out.

"A replica!"

Sin clenched her hands at her sides as his words struck at her, drawing back up that painful reminder of what she really was. His words hit her hard and she couldn't believe he had stooped so low as to bring that back up. Now she was angry.

"You want to know why I no longer want to fight!? She cried, "I went to war, I was willing to go through the pain of getting my limbs torn from my very body, I was prepared to hand over my very soul just to bring you back to life, I was so ready to hand over everything!"

She collapsed to her knees.

"The moment I saw you I knew everything would be okay…the moment I was put in jail I wasn't scared…b-but I…I fought so hard Asch…and I gave up e-everything…b-but…"

The tears streamed over her cheeks then as she choked the next words out.

"I lost you…all over again!"

Then she was on her feet again and bolting back towards the palace, the angry tears staining her face.

'I wouldn't be able to bear fighting once more…if it were to just end up like this again!'

And this time, he couldn't keep up.

….

Asch's P.o.v.

It seemed like neither of them could see eye to eye now, their solutions were just too different at this point. He wanted her to just be herself around him, treat him like she normally would…if he wasn't married…hide it, so to speak. She was certain the way to solve this was to cut him off and move on, or at least pretend to move on. He hated it.

He had returned to the palace after she had outrun him, and he had no idea where she had gone to. His first thoughts led him to think that she had also returned to her room but he couldn't work up the nerve to go and speak with her already. They both needed to calm down a little and breathe, allow their thoughts to settle.

Unfortunately his thoughts only wanted to settle on her, and how angry and upset she had been. Some cruel things had come from his mouth in his anger.

He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his temples in a poor effort to sooth himself.

"I'll only see you for what you really are and what you'll always be…"

No….how could something as malicious as that slip from his mouth?

"A replica!'

"Damn it!" he cursed as his anger flared and his hand connected with the wall of his room. Why couldn't they ever agree on something, why did she have to be so stubborn? If she just let this play out and allowed him a little time to plot something out for them, this issue would be solved quicker.

But…did he really have a solution? No, he couldn't think of anything besides just going behind Dailiin's back and continue to love the replica. It wasn't right, such a thing wasn't his style, but he was just so frustrated that nothing else seemed like a decent course of action.

'I lost you…all over again!'

He could just see those defeated orange eyes drive into him. Those words cut him deep, as much as he didn't want to admit it. His first instinct was to tell her that he wasn't lost but the more he thought about it, the more he couldn't help but see it through her eyes. She had gone to war, sacrificed her being for him and after all of it had happened; they still were forced into disconnection.

Asch closed his eyes and sank down to sit on the bed. He had said before that things would never be simple…why couldn't he be wrong for once in his life?

"My name is Sin, don't call me replica."

"Because forward seemed like the only way out…"

"Are we friends?"

"Isn't that like calling yourself an idiot?"

"Well at any rate…I'm glad you're here…and I don't want you to go back…"

"See that? If you look at it upside-down it looks like a bird."

"Hey I may be weightless but I'll fly someday!"

"You know who I prefer…"

"Don't go…"

"I love you!"

Asch clenched his teeth as his head fell into his hands. Why couldn't it be easy? Why wouldn't fortune flip to favor them when they really needed it instead of passing them by without a second glance, without even a first glance?

He couldn't help it, he was always angry these past few days. Angry at fate, angry at luck, outraged at the thought of what that despicable advisor had done, angry at this place, angry with her even…but mostly…he was angry at himself, for all the mistakes he realized he could have avoided.

"Asch?"

The former raised his head from his thoughts, his gaze locking and his heart falling when he realized it was Dailiin coming into the room. Her eyes were serious, she was genuinely concerned for his well-being but somehow he couldn't return the feeling fully.

The empress came over and sat down beside him, her hand falling onto his back gently. He looked away, clenching his teeth once more.

"Is something wrong?"

He stood up. "No."

"You left in such a hurry...did the both of you make it back without any trouble?"

"I wouldn't know if she made it back or not," he growled. "It's no longer my duty to protect her."

Dailiin nodded in agreement and for some reason it angered him. Was she going to agree with everything he said?

She stood up and came over to him, stopping right in front of him, but closer than he preferred.

"You can tell me if something is wrong you know," she offered kindly with a mature smile, "It's my duty now, of course."

Asch stared at the young woman but didn't say anything. She was tall for a woman but not taller than him. It felt weird to not have to look down when he was talking, like somehow she didn't need his protection. Her hair had a slight curl to it and fell around her shoulders in a cracking array of browns, matching perfectly with her huge brown eyes. This whole thing was different as he found himself comparing every aspect of this girl to his replica, letting the smaller girls burning orange eyes take the place of these chocolate brown hues, letting the image of the sleek black hair replace that of twirling chestnut, letting that mature smile curve into a child-like grin, he let the empress become his precious replica.

'Sin…' he thought, dazed. His frustration was mounting, blurring reality. The wine he had downed minutes ago wasn't helping either, but shaking his head to clear it still didn't free him of the strange vision. A vision he didn't really want to let go of.

The voice cut in again, but he only heard what he wanted to hear, the voice he wanted to hear.

"I'll help you Asch, I'll make you feel better."

He blinked slowly down at the girl as her hand ran along the side of his face. His conscious gave way to subconscious and he found himself leaning into it, seeking more of the contact.

Then suddenly lips were upon his and his eyes drifted shut, comforted. It was alright, she still wanted him…

"Come, I'll sooth you…" the voice whispered as a hand grasped and pulled him toward the bed. He followed numbly, unthinkingly, with his vision whirling.

He could easily recall the way she moved, the way she reacted when he touched her smooth, pale skin or his hand running along the sharp contours of her body. Yes, she still needed him as she was proving now, still needed him to love her.

He needed her to love him.

…..

Asch sighed deeply as his body began to cool off. He felt relieved that she had come around and allowed him to connect with her, touch her. She had whispered his name over and over, but somehow it all seemed different and he couldn't place the feeling he got when it was all done. He felt like he should have been happy but instead he was left with a hollow desire, an empty urge for more.

The former God-General turned to the girl beside him with tired but content enough eyes. He gazed at the back of the girl beside him as her side rose and fell in a deep sleep. He saw the ends of the neon black hair spill around her. He reached out to touch the strands but for some reason when he did, he could not feel it. He could only feel the softness of the sheets underneath.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he slowly reached to lay a hand on the pale skin, which also to his confusion seemed a little different. His eyes ran along her body and he found it seemed to be a little curvier than he remembered, more…like a woman.

His hand lingered over top of her for a moment as he observed all this but now it fell to gently run along the outline of her body.

His vision shattered at that moment, the wisps of long black hair fading in with the shadow of the bed, turning into delicately designed curls. The pale skin turned out to be nothing more than moonlight glancing off a tanned layer. The curves were not of Sin, he realized, but of the deeply resting Dailiin who had taken advantage of his deprived feelings. He had loved the wrong girl.

His eyes widened as he stared in complete disbelief at the empress who now occupied the other side of the bed. That wasn't Sin! How had he let his emotions get so out of control as to take another woman in her stead? Was he really that shallow? Or was he just…lonely?

Where was his grinning best friend? Where was his other half? Where was his lover? He needed to see her, to prove to himself that he wasn't going out of his mind. It had been an accident…a complete mistake and miss slip of reality on his part. He only wanted her…only her, and that had been what caused him to lose focus on his thoughts, because he had been so bound by desire.

Asch tore his eyes away from the empress and stood up, dressing himself quickly along the way. He still couldn't believe what he had done as he slipped out of their room and headed down the dark hallways, but now refusing to slip into that tired daze again. This wasn't happening…this couldn't be happening. His world was tipping and he was sliding off with nothing to grasp onto.

Sin's bedroom door rose up in front of him. He placed an unsteady hand on the brass door handle for a moment while he considered the consequences of going it. What if she hadn't even returned yet and was still out there wandering around in the dead of night while he was left to worry? What if she was in there but was awake and angry? What he said before had been much too harsh for her. Things and words were spiraling out of his control, becoming untamable like a forest fire, re-growing anew as a life he didn't want.

Before he could contemplate his actions any more, he pulled the door open and stepped into the darkened room.

He didn't locate her first until his emerald eyes finally rested on the bed.

'Sin…' he thought softly as he walked over, making sure his footsteps were no louder than his breathing.

The young replica was sound asleep, curled into herself with the blankets partially thrown over her. How long had she been out, or maybe she had returned before him?

He felt his face soften as he looked at her. She was still sleeping on her side of the bed like the times they used to be together at night. His spot was wide open and unbearably empty, hauntingly empty.

The rivers of black ink that was her hair flowed around her form, leaving him to wonder just how drugged on frustration and desire he had been to not realize the brown curls were not what he had fingered before. Her face was pale like always and her expression was hopeless, defeated. It made him feel heavy when he looked at the feelings written on her so plainly. There was no mistaking it. She was in pain.

Asch shook his head slowly before gently kneeling on the edge of the bed and then lowering himself down beside her, occupying his lost spot. It felt so strange…like lying down on an expensive inn bed, because he knew he couldn't stay forever.

Tear streaks stained her cheeks, leaving gleaming scars that were reminders of the constant unfairness of their lives.

His arm encircled her waist so her could be closer and he could have that guilty contact that he strived to have. He pushed his face into the back of her neck and took in her scent lovingly with the smallest of sad smiles on his face. Maybe he was shallow? After all he had accidentally slept with another woman to satisfy his own greed and now here he was, regretting the whole thing while he held the girl he had hurt so badly not too long ago. Would she forgive him, or would it be just another reason to cut him loose?

His hand rang lightly along the now properly sharp curves that he was use to and he began to repeat the action. It comforted them both…well…it used to. Would it wake her now, so she could hiss furious accusations at him? Was it a reassuring action like it used to be or was it now just a reminder of all the things he couldn't or wasn't allowed to do?

Sin didn't wake up as he lay beside her that night while he gently pulled her closer and closer until her small frame was right against his. He closed his eyes with a sigh, so many thoughts skipping like rocks in his head.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered. It was the most prominent thought.

"I love you…" he continued on while leaning up and brushing her bangs away from her face and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

The girl didn't stir in the least, but that was for the best he was sure.

It was best if she didn't wake and see how desperate he was.

….

A small group had assembled in the planning room to discuss the upcoming battle. The fragment of the enemy army was still in the forest and now was the time to move out and finish them off. Asch listened quietly to the people who talked. Mostly it was Syft doing the talking, thinking out last minute precautions just in case something went wrong. He seemed to be quite the strategist himself…just like Sync.

Sin stood quietly beside him, but they didn't dare look at each other directly. Things hadn't quite settled from the night before and there was still that floating anxiousness. It made him wonder why she had even ended up standing beside him in the first place. Had they just ended up drifting into their subconscious places beside one another?

He didn't look down at her like he normally would have, he was careful to keep his eyes steady on the crowd in front of him, trying to avoid wandering to the area around her or anywhere near her. It was so hard to continue to be angry when all he wanted was for things to just work out…somehow.

"Asch," Syft called from the front. The soldiers were obviously stunned into silence because the room suddenly went dead quiet. Nobody called the emperor by his first name. No one except her, that was.

Asch blinked from his thoughts and lifted his head.

Syft continued. "We have a problem…"

"What is it?" The former God-General asked grimly. Sin was also curious it seemed because she lifted her head slightly.

"How are we going to give the signal to release the bird from the palace at the right time? We need time to get into position…"

The other soldiers murmured in agreement with their general. Sin lowered her head again and for some reason it struck him as a sad movement, unsure.

Asch was silent, his eyebrows furrowing in thought.

"We need some sort of easy signal…a connection…" Syft told them, helping the planning along.

There were a few moments of quiet talking around him, but he felt like he was unable to help with the cause. His mind was much too jumbled with other things and other problems. Surely they could work this part out on their own right?

To his surprise, there was a gentle tug on the bottom of his tabard and he looked down at Sin, whose eyes were careful but stirring. He understood she was about to tell him something. The tension hadn't broken, they were still both sure that the other was wrong but at least this was an attempt to break the tension. He accepted it willingly.

He questioned her with his eyes. The replica turned her orange gaze away seemingly sadly again and then he watched as she reached up with her other hand and slowly pulled down the collar of her robe to reveal the swirling black design at the base of her neck.

He blinked at it for a moment before he realized what she was suggesting. They could use the mark as a signal. It was a good idea…but…would it hurt her more than she was letting on?

Asch nodded very slightly to her. Her hand fell away.

"We have an idea…" he said out loud. The other people in the room turned to look at him.

"You're all dismissed," he stated. "Be ready to leave at noon."

Muttering, they all began to filter out. Sin turned on her heel to leave too, but before the action registered his hand was shooting out to stop her, landing firmly on her shoulder.

Instantly he could feel her flinch and then stiffen under his touch. He pulled his hand away hastily, cursing at how careless he was becoming with her lately. The tension slowly built up again, so he turned away to look at Syft who was approaching them with curious eyes.

"What's your idea?" he demanded right away. Asch gestured to Sin quickly.

"Her."

"Her?"

"The mark."

Syft's eyes widened, then he nodded. "That will do."

Asch nodded quickly and then turned to leave. Sin lingered in her spot, no doubt waiting for him to walk ahead so she wouldn't have to walk beside him. He shook his head sadly as he reached the doors.

"-Wait," Syft suddenly called to him. He turned around.

"Which of you is going and which of you is staying here?"

His green gaze instantly locked with her suddenly hard orange ones. They stared each other down in silence, his protective side coming to the forefront of his mind.

"I'm going." He stated bluntly. Her eyebrows furrowed angrily but he just turned on his heel and walked out the doors, not even waiting for her to argue with him. He wondered if she would?

"Hey-" her voice cut in behind him as he strode down the hall. Yup, apparently she was going to.

He trailed his eyes over his shoulder to look at her. Her expression was hard as she approached but for some reason she looked unsure of herself, like she might have finally realized it wasn't her place to argue with him. She looked like she didn't belong.

"Don't try to argue…" he stated quickly. She reached his side.

Her next words caught him off guard.

"I…I'm not going to…"

Asch raised an eyebrow at her. She wasn't going to argue with him about her going with the army instead of him? Did…she not care anymore?

"Are you sick?" he found himself asking without humor. Nothing about his life was funny any more.

He heard her sigh very quietly, and murmur to herself…something like 'maybe' slipping from her lips but when he turned fully to look down at her, she regained a little of her composure.

"I just….I felt I needed to…I didn't want you to think…I…"

He felt his breath catch in his throat as she nervously tripped over her words. She looked like she really, really didn't think this was the right time to say whatever she was about to say. He knew they had tension between them but why was she acting like this?

Her orange eyes looked away sadly again. Why wouldn't she smile?

"Just….be careful…okay…"

The replica swept past him without another word, leaving him to look after her longingly. That was all she was going to say? He had been expecting a full out brawl on the subject. This sad, new and obedient Sin crushed him inside knowing he had created this in her with his mean words.

"I will," he said quietly, but even though she was walking away she still heard him and pulled to a slow stop.

"I promise."

She looked over her shoulder at him and he could see the intense pain in her eyes; they were dark, hollow…much like his own he assumed.

Nodding, she walked away and said no more.

He left not long after that.

Sin's P.o.v.

She stood silently on the palace balcony, a great white bird with a sharp beak resting on her raised arm patiently, its bright wings folded neatly at its sides. It was a magnificent creature but it was nothing more than a decoy, a pawn in a much larger plan. At this point it represented what she had been born to represent, and the thought of it being shot down while flying over the forest weighed heavily on her. Its life meant nothing now. She swallowed and pushed the thought aside though, waiting.

The sky and horizon were a clear blue colour as she set her gaze upon it. Uncomfortable and nervous feelings settled within her as the minutes ticked by. It was only a matter of time now before she would have to release the bird and it would fly on its course to the town beyond. She took a few steadying breaths, knowing the time would soon come.

But just as she was preparing herself, she felt a gentle feeling on her neck and concentrated on it. It grew stronger, but it was not in the least painful. She swallowed at the emotions that couldn't help but build up inside of her. It felt like he was right there with her, whispering to her, gently brushing her hair away from her neck while his quiet breathing trailed over her. He was using the mark to call to her, but she could feel exactly what he was sending to her. What touched her were his feelings, his love and she felt like she was going to be sick from her pounding heartache. He wasn't trying to cover it up like her; instead he was using any chance he got to show her how much he cared.

Trying to stop the tears from falling, she ground her teeth together and released the bird into the sky, concentrating on it while it lifted itself into the air and screeched like a wise phoenix that could feel its death approaching. Then it soared off.

Her orange eyes followed its path until it leveled off and began its straight path to him. She watched it until it was no more than a dot on the horizon.

After that, she exited the palace, climbed onto Kotone's silver back and instructed the beast to run away, in the exact opposite direction the bird had flown.

.

Oh, when will they get a break from all their problems!? When!? No no, I can't make it easy for them can I? Most certainly not…that just isn't my style! Can anyone predict what is going to happen next chapter? I can! And I look forward to writing it very much. And summer is here and exams are over with so the updates will be on a roll most likely. Maybe the end of the story will show itself O.o Eeep!

Thank you to my reviewers and a special thanks to the new reviewers that have come along in the past few chapters. I look forward to pleasing you all in time. But I want more reviews for this chapter! It is my goal to get 10 reviews for a chapter…maybe this will be it? –innocent face—

Ps. XReplica….Update! You're killing me! I want more Celeste X Asch! –cries hysterically—

Eh hem…

Review!

Kazink