I don't own Skies of Arcadia

=Flashback=

"Vyse, what would you do if I weren't here?" Aika asked. She had her back to the moons while she leaned against the railing of the ship so all that he could see was her silhouette.

Vyse grinned. "Probably sing to the heavens since my ball and chain has disappeared," he joked.

She turned around slowly and, for a second, he could see her face. She looked sad. "Really."

Vyse snorted. "Of course not. Why, you're my best friend. I mean, I wouldn't do over half the stupid stuff I normally do without you encouraging me all the time."

Aika laughed. "I do tend to bring out the worst in you, don't I? But, I'd like to point out, that those demons where already there. I was just showing them a way out."

She sounded like her normal self, although Vyse had a feeling there was something bugging her. He took a step toward her and touched her shoulder. "Aika, what is it?"

She paused as she cocked her head. "It would be three years since we ruined Valua and destroyed the Armada."

"Aika, you haven't answered my question."

"You haven't truthfully answered mine, though."

"And what question would that be?"

Aika sighed and grabbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. "I swear, Vyse, you never really listen, do you? Don't answer that. I asked you what would you do if I weren't here?"

Vyse stared at Aika for a long moment. He then opened his mouth to reply when the ship pitched back and forth. They must have accidentally run too close to land.

Aika was thrown forward.

He grabbed a hold of her to keep her from falling, one hand encircling her wrist, the other slid around her waist. Why hadn't he noticed how frail she was before? He always saw her as this strong individual who could beat him at anything, but her arms, her wrists, were so thin and small. What happened?

"Aika--" Vyse whispered as he stared down into her face. Her large crimson eyes peered back at him. She was so close. He could feel every inch of her pressed against him.

=End Flashback=

Vyse started awake when he realized that they were right outside of Pirate Isle. He could see his mother and father waving up at him while he set anchor and came ashore.

"Mom, Dad," he greeted the second he stepped off board. He hugged his mother and shook hands with his father.

"Long time no see, Son," Dyne said.

Fina was close behind with her pet Cupil and they greeted Dyne and Vyse's mother. Dyne smiled at her, kissing the back of her hand gently. "And it's a pleasure to see such a lovely young lady once again," he said in his rugged voice.

Vyse's mother elbowed Dyne roughly and said, "You're far too old to be playing those games, Grandpa." She then turned to look over Vyse's shoulder. After a moment, she frowned. "Where's Aika?" she asked.

Vyse looked down at his mother. He could see the worry in her kind, old eyes. "Maybe we should go inside. It's kind of a long story."

===

"You came," a soft, voice filled the air.

"Yeah, I came," Aika called out, happy that her nervousness and anger didn't register in her voice. The long and lonely journey had taken it's effect. She was tired, hungry, and just a bit depressed. She never knew how much it would hurt to leave Vyse and Fina behind. However, it was her duty to come and fulfill her promises.

Her eyes darted around the broken rubble of the village. She could still see traces of homes that were burned to a crisp. Many things had happened since she was last here. Valua was still a dark place even though Enrique and Moegi, the king and queen, had changed it for the better.

The shadows seemed to melt away from them as the small group stepped forward. "It's wonderful to see you again, Aika," a tall woman whispered softly. She was beautiful with dark and long flowing hair. Her accent was slight, still getting used to the common tongue of the empire.

"I'd say the same for you, but then I would be lying, Majesty," Aika replied. She grinned politely, showing Moegi that she was only jesting.

===

"So, what do you think happened with her?" Dyne asked after a brief period of silence. He was watching his son's face closely, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the threads of gray hairs peeking out from the mass of brown. His son hadn't been sleeping, nor, by the look of his loose clothes, eating well.

Vyse shrugged.

"Did she show any signs of wanting to leave before?" Vyse's mother asked. She set food down in front of Fina and Vyse but neither of the younger people chose to eat.

"She--" Vyse's voice broke off as he recalled a conversation long ago. "She once asked me what I would do if she weren't around."

They were all silent. "But why would she want to go? From what I could tell, she was having fun with us," Fina asked softly.

"She would have to have a good reason to depart and I believe there's some information here," Vyse said.

Dyne smirked. "What makes you say that, Vyse?" At least his son was trying to do something instead of rotting away in his own brain with what ifs and buts.

"There's several things I know about Aika. She's not neat. I'm betting she left something in her home. Besides, we did make a visit back here for a bit and she didn't once leave her home during that time."

Dyne's eyebrow shot up when he heard this. "Wow, Son. Keeping a rather close eye on your crew."

Vyse snorted. "Her house is right next door to ours. I could easily--"

"Keep an eye on her?" Vyse's mother asked. She giggled at the dark blush that smeared across Vyse's cheeks. "I bet you were thinking she was having a little party of her own with that handsome Luke--"

"MOM!" Vyse broke in. He didn't want to hear any innuendos that Aika would do such a thing, especially when it came out of his mother's mouth.

Fina smiled, remembering the night. "I do remember trying to call you away from your window to come and eat, but you were glued to it."

Vyse sighed. "Why are you all against me?"

Dyne laughed. "Because it's fun, Son. Anyway," he began, going back to business mode, "if you want to find Aika, shouldn't you start looking?"

"Yeah," Vyse said. "I'm going to go through her entire house."

Vyse's mother and Fina glared at Vyse. Even Dyne froze at those words, knowing what was going to happen next. "You can't go through a woman's bedroom," Vyse's mother growled. "That's private."

"Well, what do you expect me to do? Twiddle my thumbs and hope Aika reappears? I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. Besides, there might be something in her home that can lead me to her. I'm going to search her out then wring her scrawny neck for making me worry so much!"

"Men," Vyse's mother sighed. She turned to her husband and pouted. "He's starting to sound like you."

"And that's a bad thing?" Dyne asked.

"Of course it is," Vyse's mother replied. She stood up and cleaned her hands on her apron. "Tell you what, Son, I'll go and search the house with you. Fina, you come too. Vyse, just stay out of her bedroom. Everywhere else will be free for your nosy eyes."

Vyse nodded. "I'll meet you at Aika's house then." With that said, he stood up and disappeared with Fina close behind him.

Once they were gone, Dyne turned to his wife. "Do you know why she left? You were at her house that night weren't you?"

Vyse's mother frowned. "She didn't say anything, but she did ask about her parents."

"You telling Vyse?"

"What kind of mother would I be, not telling my son what was going on? Give me more credit, Dyne. I'm not you."

Dyne made a face at his wife. "Sometimes I forget why I married you."

"Because, love, I'm the only girl who would go near you."

===

A/N: GAH! It's getting longer and longer!

Thank you for all the reviews.