Rekindled Ashes

Yo folks, I couldn't help myself here, I had to do a LukexTear one-shot…although, if enough people like it and I can make my brain tick enough it may not have to stay a one-shot. So yeah, this is simply taken from my own personal interpretation of the ending. Yes, you have been warned, spoilers galore.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the computer I'm typing on…and technically that's my parents'.

Luke approached the group of five slowly, for the first time feeling a distinct nervousness over being with them again. His friends; the people he had left behind nearly a year ago now. But that would all be fixed today, on his twentieth birthday—well, Asch's twentieth birthday. A lot had changed over the past year, he was almost frightened, frightened that they would not recognize him.—that she would not recognize him. Mystearica. The one to whom he was returning, the one he had promised to come back to…the one who had told him she loved him. But then again, maybe it was not really him returning after all, who could say, really?

Still walking forward, albeit slowly, Luke saw his friends and former companions rise to leave, presumably at some logic of Jade's. It was at this moment that it happened; Tear looked up.

"Why…are you here?"

Luke felt his heart almost stop as he heard the gorgeous Hymnist's voice echo throughout Tataroo Valley for the first time in nearly a year. Gosh, she was beautiful. Composing himself Luke let out a soft smile.

"This place…has a nice view of Hod…and also, I promised someone."

Tear felt as though her world had finally, once again, been made complete. Letting out a low gasp as an unnoticed tear trickled down her face the brunette Hymnist joined her companions in approaching the long-lost figure of Luke, the only man she had ever loved.

Luke felt slightly overwhelmed at the sudden attention he was receiving, especially after nearly a full year's solitude. Natalia and Anise were pressing up to him, both jointly scolding him for his absence and questioning him on it. Guy, well he was trying to get in a swing at his best friend, while avoiding any physical contact with the two females. And Jade, well Jade was simply standing there, looking like he knew everything.

Simply put, nothing had changed. They were still the same people he had left behind, but it was Tear who really interested him. The Fonic Hymnist was holding back slightly, seemingly unsure of how she should be acting.

Seeing the two obvious lovebirds' dilemma, Jade stepped in.

"Now, now, why don't we let those two lovebirds be alone for a moment, hm?" he asked, allowing his hands to find their way into his pockets.

"But Colonel! Luke just got back!" Anise whined, after all, her and Natalia had as much right as Tear to talk to Luke.

"Jade's right Anise," Guy mumbled, almost inaudibly. He, unlike the two girls, was able to sense the tension in the air, weak as it might be. Clearly Luke and Tear had some talking to do.—and the blond noble could sense that it might not be the happiest of discussions.

Natalia managed, for once, to catch the underlying statement and pulled back from her cousin.

"Yes Anise, I am certain we shall find plenty of time to speak to Luke in the near future," the blonde princess lectured, already walking back towards Jade.

Walking up to Luke, Guy punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"I don't know what you've been up to, but good luck," the swordsman whispered, low enough for Luke's ears only. "And don't you dare keep any secrets from her this time." Leaving Luke with only that warning Guy made his way towards the others, falling in alongside Anise who had finally relented and moved away.

"Well, shall we be on our way?" Jade asked redundantly, for he was already walking away from the area.

Luke let out a shuddering gasp as the other four people wound their way away from himself and Tear. One could only hope that they would not try to spy on them…again.

"T-tear?" the red head whispered quietly, as a soft breeze rose and lifted the end of his cloak—Asch's cloak, slightly. "I…I'm sorry," he continued, unsure of what else to say. What else was there to say?

"No…don't apologize," Tear murmured in reply, eyes focused on the flowers surrounding her feet in profusion. "I…I don't want to hear any more apologies. It's…it's not your fault, what happened. All you did was do what…you had to do, right? But…but you're here now and…and that's what matters, right?" She asked, looking up as two fresh tears trickled delicately from her sapphire orbs.

Luke's eyes widened as he gazed into Tear's eyes. She was…crying? Never before had the Duke's son seen her cry before; and she had had every reason to. Stepping forward the young swordsman caught her in a tight hug, holding her head to his chest.

"Maybe, but…but there's more to this than that, Tear.

Wrapping her own arms around Luke's torso Tear squeezed her eyes tight as she surrendered herself to his embrace.

"Why…what is it? Please…please don't tell me it's something bad. We-we've had enough of that to last us. I mean, if you're still here then your fonons…are they?"

"No Tear, we…we won't have to worry about that ever again," Luke replied, voice somewhat strained.

Freeing herself from the hug, Tear gazed up into Luke's beautiful, jade gaze. "Well, that's good then!" she forced out cheerfully, wanting to look on the positive as much as possible. Something about this situation was unsettling. Here she was again, with Luke, finally! Yet something was clearly amiss.

Smiling at the brunette teen, Luke tilted his head so he could gaze at the full moon that shone its brilliance down upon them, illuminating the scene.

"Yeah, I guess I am kind of relieved."

"Kind of?" she yelped out, now she was confused. Something was definitely wrong. Maybe this was all some kind of sick dream? But if it was what would be worse, the dream?—or reality without Luke…again? Yet she just could not grasp the situation. Why was Luke acting like this? And why could she not shake this feeling?

"What do you mean by 'kind of'?" she demanded harshly as the breeze picked up again, slightly harder this time. There it was, the Key of Lorelei, sheathed horizontally across Luke's back for easy access, as it had always been. Nothing seemed to be out of place, so why, why was he acting this way?

"L-Luke? What's going on?" she cried out, feeling fresh tears well up in her eyes. Luke was here. He was right in front of her for goodness' sake! Yet something was so very wrong. "Why are you talking like this?

Shaking his head Luke let out a weak chuckle. Maybe he was just afraid, or maybe he was just thoroughly disgusted with himself. He was opt to go with the former though, for he knew he was terrified of Tear's reaction. Regardless of the outcome, now was the time to do the one thing he had been afraid to do for nearly a year now: tell Mystearica Grants the full story.

"Who knows Tear…maybe that reality would've been better than this one, or maybe this reality is better…who knows for certain? Yet here I am, in the flesh. Yes, flesh. No more fonons. But not my flesh. I…I guess I can't ever think of it as mine, this body."

"What are you talking about, Luke?" Tear demanded, interrupting him, "I don't understand."

"I…I'm not myself anymore Tear. I mean, I'm still me, but this body…it-it's Asch's…" Fidgeting noticeably Luke refused to look at Tear. She was certain to be disgusted by him now, living in his Original's body like he had a greater right to existence than Asch had had!

Placing a gentle hand beneath Luke's chin she pulled his head up so they were seeing eye-to-eye. So that was it. Sure, it seemed a bit odd, but he was alive!

"Luke, tell me, what happened?" she asked with a gentle, reassuring smile.

Luke felt as though a million tonnes had been removed from his shoulders at that simple gesture from Tear. That smile. Sighing with relief that she had not rejected him the redhead relaxed slightly.

"W-well, I freed Lorelei like I said I would, and it helped me escape by taking me safely through Hod as it crumbled. As I was being transported outside Asch fell through the ceiling and I caught him…or, well, his body anyway. It was then that I realized that my body was vapourizing into individual fonons and I guess it was sometime during the escape that Lorelei transferred my soul into Asch. All I know is that when I woke up I was in the valley and wearing Asch's clothing…along with a few good scars and memories I had never had before. The memories of his childhood."

Taking a step forward Tear wrapped her arms around Luke's torso once again. Laying her head on his chest she listened to his heartbeat as she processed this information.

"T-Tear?" he mumbled again after several minutes of unnerving silence.

"Hm? Oh, I was just thinking about what an idiot you are. I mean, why were you so nervous about telling me this? It's not like it was something you had any control over, nor do I believe it's really a bad thing."

"Really? I was afraid you'd reject me…for being Asch now."

"Idiot," Tear stated flatly, glancing up into Luke's emerald eyes. "You're you, not Asch. So whatever state your body is in I still…I still love you, okay?" she was whispering by the time she got to the last part, but it did not matter, for Luke heard her anyway.

Wrapping his arms around the woman he loved Luke was finally able to truly smile for the first time in a very long time.

"Thank you, Tear."

So? Was it terrible? I kinda think it was. DX But it is nearly two in the morning…and I'm sleepy. I think if I get enough feedback I will continue this. As I was writing I got a feasible idea for a continuation…what do you guys think of a continuation? Oh! And kudos to anyone who understood the title before even reading the fic! XD

I made a few modifications now, such as it only being about a year since Luke left…I didn't know that before. –sweat- And also, should I change the sword thing? When I wrote this I didn't know that the Key of Lorelei was not kept in a scabbard, consequently…well, you get the drift. I plan on continuing this, but if I do I'm sticking with the content of this document…so, thanks to genetics, he WOULD be right handed…only I'm a lefty…and we lefties, we need to stick together. –tear- Yup, I'm torn over this. Heheh…

Well, if you're reading this then it is evident that you know what I opted to go with. XD