"Asch..."

Shoulders tensed at the word. Hands quickly discarded the captured fish to the side and drew their sword from it's sheath.

Muscles poised for a attack as the figure pointed their sword towards the brush that seemingly spoke.

"Show yourself!"

The vegetation gave no reply and there was no movement. But the man was certain someone's voice had come from the treeline. The name was unmistakable.

'They called me Asch.'

Green eyes narrowed dangerously at the bush and the man leap towards the treeline with his sword raised. Just as the silver of the sword slashed downward into the bush it was met with great resistance.

The clang of sword against sword rang throughout the forest and a flash of blond hair is all the man saw before his sword was battered away. The man growled angrily and distanced himself from his opponent before they could attack him at close range.

His sword stayed out in front of his body in a defensive stance. He would be ready for an attack from his eavesdropper.

"Wait! Wait!"

The urgent call gave the redhead pause. Why would his attacker call for a ceasefire?

The eavesdropper then slowly and cautiously made his way from the thickness of the forest to stand in the open for the swordsman to see. The moment he could see who the man was his sword immediately fell to his side.

"Guy?"

Guy stood in the open with his arms up in a nonviolent posture. His sword was drawn but it simply pointed towards the ground. Blue eyes looked at the redhead with recognition and something else unplaceable. Everything about the blond was familiar and relieving.

Neither man made any sudden movements. They simply observed the other with a quickness that one might have not even noticed if they were unfamiliar with the two. Shoulders untensed and the tip of the redhead's sword brushed the ground.

Guy's eyes fluttered over the man searching, hoping for any sign that he was wrong. That the man wasn't Asch. But besides looks alone Guy found no relief.

Just as Guy had observed before the man had dark red hair, green eyes, and wore similar clothes to what Luke used to. The man's sheath was even at his lower back like Luke. But the hair and the attack screamed Asch.

Guy swallowed thickly, "You know who I am?"

The man blinked and then stabbed his sword into the ground with a shake of his head. "Of course I do."

The redhead took a step forward towards Guy as he spoke, "You're Guy Cecil. Servant of House Fabre. Or you were until it was discovered you're the lone heir of House Gardios of Malkuth. Now your Gailardia Gardios."

Guy's heart clenched at the man's statements. They were so political and sterile. It gave Guy no indication who this man was. Both Luke and Asch knew that information.

While there was no clear reason to be hostile there was reason for Guy to be disappointed. He needed to know who this man was.

Guy copied the man's actions and stabbed his sword into the ground and took a step forward. He had to show that he wouldn't back down and wouldn't be intimidated.

"Who are you though?"

That gained a grin from the man who daringly took another step forward. The grin was a mixture of Luke's innocence and Asch's snarkiness. Again there was no clear line drawn.

"You think I'm Asch."

Guy once again copied his movements and spoke, "You're not?"

Green eyes narrowed and looked the blond up and down slowly. Analyzing. Calculating.

Asch.

But they also searched for something. Something that they deeply desired to find. A comfortable, familiar action.

Luke.

"Who do you want me to be?"

Guy flinched at that; almost stepping backwards. Just what was this man getting at? As Luke's best friend Guy should be able to separate Luke from Asch, but this man was almost trying to convince him that they were the same person.

'Bullshit.'

"I'll ask again. Who are you?" Guy ignored the man's question and charged on with his investigation.

"I... You feel familiar. Something that I remember and want to hold onto. I guess that makes me Luke," the man ran a hand through his long untamed hair.

He took a breath and stared into Guy's eyes, "But I also remember you leaving me for the replica. I guess that makes me Asch." Guy gulp at that. If this man remembered that memory along with Luke's fond memories that could only mean that this man was indeed a combination of his best friend and Asch.

At Guy's silence the man chuckled and continued on, "I remember being at the manor with you. Playing with you. Then relearning everything from you. I remember I would hide and you would always find me."

Each recollection sent a pang through Guy's heart. Those were Luke's and Asch's memories.

The redhead had drawn nearer to Guy. With little effort he could reach out and touch Guy if he wanted to. He held Guy's gaze and tried to convey as much emotion as possible through his eyes.

"I remember you, Guy. I remember everything."

And just like that Guy's dam broke. He couldn't contain himself. This man had too much of Luke in him for Guy to simply hold him at arms length. Every little bit of Luke tugged at Guy's sentimental heart. It ached for his best friend again. Even a piece.

Suddenly the man was wrapped in Guy's arms and pulled against him in a tight embrace. The man stiffen in the hug. The unexpected contact caused his brain to fizzle out and not think rationally. No one had done this in a long time...

'No wait... Guy has for me. For Luke.'

When Guy's voice spoke it came out quite and weak; and most certainly uncertain, "Luke?"

That single word caused his brain to come back and his limbs to move on their accord. They moved up slowly to wrap around his old friend's shoulders. Once there though fingers gripped the material of Guy's vest and shirt. The redhead tried to swallow down the emotions that threatened to choke him but all that came out was a shudder breath.

"Guy, I'm back."

Guy's grip on Luke's coat clenched even tighter at that statement. Luke could have sworn that he felt his friend tremble lightly as well. Or perhaps that was himself. Who could really tell at this point?

After a few more moments of embracing Guy pulled back and stared at Luke intently. His blue eyes flickered uncertain and vulnerable. He was afraid. Afraid of this man not being his best friend. Of not having any piece of Luke left in the world.

It didn't take long for Luke to begin to feel uncomfortable under his friend's gaze and he allowed his eyes to drift to the side instead of staring into the peering blues before him.

Noticing Luke's awkwardness Guy scoffed and placed a couple of feet between himself and his friend. He might have overreacted. After two years of separation and constant sadness for his long lost friend Guy just couldn't help himself.

"Sorry about that. I got a little carried away," Guy said as he brought a hand up to nervously rub the back of his neck.

Luke's green eyes flashed towards his former servant and gave him a small smile. "No, don't worry about it. You just caught me by surprise."

Guy stared at Luke for a moment before tilting his head to the side. "So it's really you... Or at least a part of you."

A red brow lifted at that. "I guess you could say that." Luke flexed his hand, "I feel like me. I have all of my memories. Just Asch's too. Lorelei is in here somewhere too if I'm being honest. But I feel like... Luke."

Guy stayed silent at that, but he could feel a sense of relief flood through his system. His friend was back. Guy could barely contain his excitement. But he had a duty to figure out more about Luke and bring him to Peony. He had to stay focused.

"Do you know where you are?"

"I was in Eldrant before. I made my way out of Eldrant and ended up at Tataroo Valley. That's where I was confronted by Malkuth soldiers. So I decided I needed to distance myself from there as well. I just ended up here because I got lost."

"You know that Chesedonia is a ways away from here right?"

Luke blinked confused, "Is it really?"

Guy nodded and allowed his eyes to drift over towards the two fish that Luke had caught before their confrontation. "Your fish are all dirty now."

Luke looked over to the ground where his two fish laid flopping weakly in the dirt coating their scales with dust. "Because of you."

He went and knelled down over them and picked them up carefully. He walked over to the creek and dripped the fish back into the water allowing them freedom.

"There's no real point and keeping them now. Not since Chesedonia is just a walk away."

Guy hummed in agreement and continued to watch his friend curiously. There was still so much that he had to uncover about his friend before he could fully accept him. He was going to have to be careful about his actions and words when involving Luke.

Once the two fish quickly swam away Luke stood back up and glanced over at the blond.

"I clearly don't know the way. Could you lead me there?"

Guy allowed himself a smile and good natured chuckle. "Right. Come on. There's someone there who wants to see you too."