Disclaimer: Don't own any of the healing items/ summons/ jobs, those are Squaresofts. This is non-profit fun.

Black Angel

White Devil

You are what they want you to be

But underneath it all lies the broken promise made

Seasons change but not for you

A boy walking in eternal winter

Snow only serves to cleanse your bloody hands

And freeze the fragile sanity

Shhhsmile again sweet enigma

Spring for you comes at the end of a knife

~ Tenth by Pen

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The old man chimed condescendingly, "Well, if it isn't Meth's little lap dog."

Tenth laughed lightly flashing his teeth for a moment then eased into an amused smile, "Lap dog" He murmured quietly to himself. His dark eyes peered down at the old man, "He said you'd have a bit of a temper."

"I bet he said a great deal about me to youHow is the young sprat doing? He should be an old man by now, shouldn't he?" Everything Ramuh said seemed pleasant yet sarcastic.

"He's doing well considering his age." Tenth face fell slightly into persuasive look, "But he's desperately in need of your assistance."

"Heh, I bet he is" The old man laugh in a low bitter manner, "Tell him I regretfully decline."

Tenth's tilted his head to the side a bit and shook his head, "Oh come now, you two were friends once, weren't you?"

"Oh yes, the best of friends twenty some odd years ago," His voice seemed to change slightly from the sarcastic tone to a bitter serious tone, "That was until he decided to massacre my people."

The tall dark figure shifted slight and sighed, "I was afraid you'd be difficult." Tenth eyed him seriously, "You do know if you resist I'll have to take you by force, the choice is yours."

Before the old man could utter his response, Ashen reached out from the shadows and pulled him back exchanging places with the old summoner. The displaced summoner glared at the younger, but quickly shushed what he was about to say when he caught the way Ashen focused all his attention on Tenth. His red eyes cold and cautious of who stood before him.

Tenth's eyes slightly widened in momentary shock when he caught sight of the white haired young man, feeling every step that Ashen took like pounding ticks of a clock. His red eyes like a prophecy come to pass. "Ashen?" the dark clad young man uttered in disbelief. Slowly Tenth's angelic face took on a placid smile, "It's been a long time. You look well."

"Tenth" His red eyes narrowed, his voice regarding the black MAGE coldly, "Why did MAGE attack a secluded monastery?"

Tenth blinked in confusion, "Pardon?"

Ashen snapped, "Cut the crap, Tenth. Who ordered the attack and why?"

"I'm sorry Ashen, that's classified." Tenth stated business-like yet with a pleasant ease.

"Bullshit!" The young summoner barked, his body tensed, "Just answer my question!"

The dark clad young man closed his eyes briefly, his aura filled with an indefinable weariness. The dark slits opened again glistening with the same lethargy. "Don't do it Ashendon't walk this path, trust me."

"Just answer the damn question, Tenth!" Ashen once again barked ignoring the warning, "Who did it?!"

The MAGE sighed looking at the snowy haired young man across from him. The weariness began to fade replaced by stone cold indifference. "Were you in love with her?"

The question caught Ashen off guard, "What?" His voice seemed caught in this throat.

Tenth looked away briefly, one of his gloved hands slowly slipped into his pants pocket then he tossed the acquired objected to Ashen. It sailed through the air with a clear solid ring and glinted as it passed through the light of the sun. With his reactionary reflexes Ashen caught it, not taking his eyes off Tenth until it was fully in his grip.

The world seemed to stop when Ashen finally looked into his hand. He was looking at the little silver key, the one that belonged to his old apartment, the one he had given to... His stomach lurched as he spotted a single strained of wavy gold tangled in the tiny hole for the key ring. Tenth's voice droned in his ears, though he did not look from the key. "You would have been proud of her AshenNo screaming at the pain. No pleading for her life."

The young summoner gripped the key in his hand. His knuckles under his gloves white, the bone almost ready to bust out of the skin. A lump formed in his throat, his ragged breaths passing through gritted teeth.

"She told me to give you that and to tell you she loves you."

Ramuh watched cautiously from his spot in the shade, edging away as an aura of danger came off Ashen in waves. His old eyes spotting the young man shaking like a leaf with pent-up rage.

Tenth continued, his voice became more introspective, a hint of heartfelt sorrow in his smooth voice, "She said she forgave me, heh Such an impressive girl. It's always tragedy when one as pure as she has to die."

Tenth heard the clink of metal and the sound of boots rushing against the ground. His dark eyes narrowed coldly.

Ramuh only saw a flash of Ashen charging towards Tenth, a blur practically, it happened so quickly. A second later, the heel of a black boot held steadily a hairsbreadth away from Ashen's face.

Ashen looked disbelieving at the heel in front of him, taken aback by the fact he never saw it coming. The shear speed and grace like a reflex to Tenth. The way Tenth seemed to know what move he would make and effectively evade it a split second before he made it. And the control Tenth had over his body, his leg still extended not budging an inch or shaking. This fighting technique though modified slightly to fit Tenth's bodily capabilities was nearly identical to Ashen's. He's been trained.

Tenth watched Ashen's eyes change to a cold dark glare. Goodhe finally gets it. Tenth lowered his leg slowly to the ground, never taking his eyes from the lock he held with Ashen's. His leg now at his side, he folded his arms, cupping each elbow like Ashen wouldn't retaliate or maybe he knew that even if Ashen attempted he would fail.

Ashen spoke, a hoarse venomous whisper, "I'll kill you"

His head dipped down slightly, leaving his eyes closed for a moment as if to savor the words. A pleasant smile spreading across his lips, "We'll let fate decide that"

Seconds tick away, the two men staring daggers at each other, but neither moving an inch. Ramuh watched with baited breath; his eyes scurrying from one man to the other under his goggles, his teeth clenched on the agizlik in his mouth. What were they doing? Calculating the other's ability or was it strategizing? Or was it that they were waiting, just like him, for the other to make the first move?

His question would never be answered, it happened so fast he couldn't tell who made the first move, but now both were engaged in battle. Their movements quick and agile, it was a dance of forceful strikes and swift evading, creative steps that spurred a sharp eye and quick wits. At times, Ramuh was lost on where exactly to look, it was nearly impossible to tell who had the upper hand.

Ashen advanced on Tenth with a flurry of kicks and punches only to have Tenth bat them away like a nuisance. However, not all were so easily evaded, Tenth began to feel the sting on his right cheek where Ashen's left hook whizzed by making the slightest contacted with his pale flesh. He's not as rusty as I thought he'd beI'd better end this quickly then.

Tenth crouched under a right hook, shifting behind Ashen. When Ashen veered around to back hand him with the left he was met with an gloved outstretched palm and the sound of a the M.A.G. unit energizing rung in his ears. He narrowly jumped out of the way as a barrage of thick stakes of ice sprung forth, shooting into a mad dash when the volley of icicles trailed him, practically nipping at his heels.

Ramuh ducked into the cave entrance hastily at the sight of Ashen running towards the cave, shielding himself behind the lip of the cave still enabling to watch the fight. Ashen rushed at the side of the cave and ricocheting sideways off the rocky surface as the flurry of sharp icicles stuck into the rock. But only a split second after did Ashen catch a glimpse of the jagged stalagmites shooting up from the ground beneath him.

One shot up faster then the rest; quickly Ashen used it to redirect himself. Turning swiftly while still in mid-air, he kicked off of it into a back flip meant to send him to the ground behind the protruding rock-stakes. However, before he had the chance to land a new unavoidable torrent of icicles hit him.

All he could do was ball up as the torrent sliced him every which way, throwing him against the hard surface of the cave by its shear force. Sickeningly slow, he slid down the curve of the rock to his knees, his eyes were blurry when he opened them and gradually the world became cloudless again. When it did, he willed himself to stand, halted by a searing pain in his shoulder. Looking to it, he saw a blood covered icicle stuck there. Gnashing his teeth, he pulled it out, a painful grunt was all that escaped from him.

Tenth watched him get to his feet, noticing the slightest wobble in his knees. The young man was hunched forward slightly, holding his wound while he glare vehemently at the taller man across from him. Defiantly, he pulled himself to his full height, letting go of the wound. Tenth could see him tense and could feel his rage coming off him in waves.

Ashen was at him again, fighting with renewed ferocity making his actions faster and more powerful. It was like the wound he just received didn't happen and it made Tenth's fight more of a struggle. Instantly, Tenth broke from the fisticuffs and dropped to the ground making a sweep for Ashen's legs. The snowy haired young man jump up to avoid, attempting a mid-air reverse kick to Tenth's vulnerable head. But Tenth intercepted it, twisting it brutally. Ashen growled in pain, falling out of form and crashed face first into the dirt.

Tenth got to his feet, perceiving the young man heaving into the dirt while walking around him. Ashen strained to get up, pulling himself to his hands and knees. Tenth narrowed his eyes at the attempt, flexing his fingers towards him, an oily shadow hazed about both his hands and Ashen.

"Down." Tenth commanded sternly in his smooth voice and suddenly Ashen's body slammed against the ground. Plastered to the ground by an invisible force, he found he it hard to breathe and impossible to move. Tenth slit eyes and stone face gave way to something barely readableanimosity. His long slender fingers cast in black gloves flexed out wider, the oily black haze danced about his hands.

Ashen felt the surge of the force about him increase greatly, pushing him into the ground more. Little cracks in the earth around his body formed under the intense pressure. His bones felt stiff and bent to their limit, they would break if this kept up, but worse of all the pressure to his injured shoulder created such excruciating pain that he felt he would soon loss consciousness. His gnashed teeth opened with each bit of added pressure until he inadvertently let out a choked scream.

A sadistic hate-filled smirk spread across Tenth's lips upon hearing the sound of Ashen's scream. He relaxed his hands and immediately Ashen was released from the spell, sending him into a choking fit trying to regain the air he lost. Tenth took in a deep breath through his nose as if to smell the sweet aroma of victory.

With sluggish drunken movements, Ashen finally got to his feet. Tenth could see his ragged breaths beating at his chest while fatigue heavily glazed his red eyes, but under all that still seethed the rage. The young man tried a limp left fisted punch to Tenth's face, but Tenth caught it at the wrist. He whirled the shorter man around pulling him firmly against his chest, raveling his slender arms around the young man's neck forming a "V" with his fists around the other's throat. Ashen, too weak to retaliate in anyway, only stood their in the deadly embrace, the sound of the M.A.G. units energizing again as the oily haze enveloped Tenth's hands. Tenth leaned his head in against the younger to listen to the sound of Ashen weakly gasping for air while the fixed gravity slowly crushed his ability to breath.

"I hope you meet her again, Ashen, when you reach the afterlife." Tenth said sweetly, nudging his head against Ashen's like a loving caress. Ashen winced, forcing his jaw to clench.

Tenth's breath caught in his throat, disbelief draining his face of all other emotions. He looked strangely like a child in wonderment as the air finally choked out of him. He could feel it piercing him deeply in his lower abdomen, a burning sensation around the perfect circle. His body stiffened when the young man firmly twisted it in deeper. He felt his own blood begin to flow freely from the wound, a sickening feeling of cold chilled him to his core. He knew he wouldn't live through this.

He pulled Ashen stiffly to him, the knowledge of incoming death shut off the M.A.G. units letting the younger to breathe again. A pleasant smile lifted his lips, dipping his mouth a hairsbreadth from Ashen's earlobe. He whispered into it gently, his breath hissed warmly against Ashen's ear, "I knewfrom the first moment I laid eyes on youyou would be the oneto end my life."

The young man was roughly pushed away, spun around with a look of bewilderment on his tan face. Tenth gingerly touched the stab wound in his stomach, his hand recoiled slightly when the blood soaked through his glove, but then eased to cover it. His smiling face weary, his dark eyes seemed to smile as well. Ashen watched like a lost boy as the other young man collapsed to the ground.

Shit! His mind finally woke up from its puzzled haze and he rushed over to Tenth fallen form. Tenth's eyes were closed, he looked to be dead, but he was still breathing. Ashen grabbed his collar and forcefully jostled him, "Tenth!"

His dark eyes slowly opened, rolling a bit while he struggled to keep his lids open. Finally they straightened their gaze on Ashen. The young man cried frantically, "Who ordered the attack?! Tell me?!"

His eyes fluttered a bit, but kept their gaze. A blood soaked gloved hand rose up and Tenth weakly flicked his wrist. The blood speckled Ashen's right cheek, his face drained to a lost state. Tenth's teeth flashed in a smile, blood slipping from his lips trickling to the side. It was a smile that was different then all his other smiles, it was a smile of release. His eyes fluttered shut for the last time just as the breath of life exhaled from his body.

Ashen eased the other man's head to the ground, letting the body lie still while he stood up. All of the aches from his wounds wash over him, making him feel more fatigued then he had been seconds ago. His face blank and his eyes hollow. A single name resounded in his head, like a dark deadly whisper. Suddenly faint bleeps sounded, gradually they were coming closer.

"Ramuh" he uttered hoarsely.

"Yes?" The old man made his presence known.

"I'm going to Ghri," The young man stated, venom leaking into his voice.

"They will notallow you to without them," He said gravely.

Ashen looked down at Tenth's body, "how long do you need?"

The little man on his ball looked up at the young summoner incomprehension masked his old features. He finally remembered to speak, "A few daysthey want you to heal first."

Ashen sighed, " That's finebut no longer than that."

"Can I ask you" Ramuh started, "What changed your mind?"

He huffed wearily, "I don't have any other choice." Ashen turned away and walked back to the cave entrance, "Do me a favor," He said along the way, "Do something about him"

Ashen's form disappeared into the shadows of the cave. The old man looked down at the peaceful face of the dead MAGE. It is always the young who die while the old remainYou pit them against each other, why? For what purpose? The old man suppressed the shiver arching up his back, knowing how his old friend would have answered. A sigh escaped his whiskered mouth, "It is dreadful times we are living in"

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AN: Hard chapter hard chapter. Tenth was my favorite character, in fact I was planning to write a short story about Tenth's life leading up to this moment because a lot of what went on in this chapter will confuse ppl without knowing the back story. Plus lots of ppl seemed to be confused about Tenth's character so I should clear that up. So if there are any Tenth fans like me (can I be a Tenth fan technically since I created him?) who want to know more about Tenth be vocal cause I'm starting to think I'm just idly posting this story up, I need some voices of opinion ppl! Thanks for your loyalty and love of my story faithful readers, see ya!