A/N:

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tales of series, they belong to Namco.

Pairing: Main Asch x Luke, Flynn x Yuri, Richard x Asbel.
One-sided Yuri x Luke, Natalia x Asch, Tear x Luke, and Guy x Flynn.
Hints of possible Jade x Guy and Ion x Sync.

Warning: Contains Yaoi, language and blood, OC's included, Skits and diaries included (Mainly by Luke), Luke is the main here, and OCC characters possibly.

Helpful Tips:
Crossover- Titles

Crossover- Skits/Current Date/Setting/Location/Diary

Crossover- Thoughts/Flashback/Artes/Emphasis/Weapons Name

Crossover- Normal speaking/Present Time

SPECIAL WARNING: ONE PART OF THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A FLUFF SCENE THAT IS STILL CONSIDERED YAOI! IF YOU DON'T LIKE YAOI JUST SKIP OR DON'T READ IT AT ALL!

Chapter 9: Toward Ephinea (Prologue)

"Looks like everyone is here which is good." Jade nodded, skimming through the drowsy and anxious group gathered around, obviously know that someone is missing, but acted like nothing. "We need to discuss our next plan."

It was early morning, around seven AM where the group had woken up, done their business and were sitting or standing around the longue in the Inn. Luke had not returned since last night and Aaralyn was missing. Guy broke out of his drowsy state at the mention and spoke in a low tone.

"Now wait just a damn minute, Jade." Guy interrupted the Colonel before he continued, narrowing his eyes. "Luke's not here obviously!"

"He hadn't returned since visiting my brother…" Tear said softly, hugging the sad mewling blue Cheagle in her arms. "I'm worried."

"Aaralyn is gone too." Anise reminded, looking around for the blond Guide. "Even her belongings weren't there either."

That was strange, the Melodist thought to herself. She presumed Aaralyn was the type to stick around longer, not suddenly leave like this. It's not for Tear to admit out loud, but she was jealous of Luke attention toward her when they met again in such a long time. Indeed, even so much time pass and Luke already in love with someone else, Tear would only feel this heartache from an unrequited love. But that wasn't the point currently, right now, Luke still hadn't returned and Aaralyn was gone now. Tear attention had turned toward Guy coincidental twin when he coughed softly.

"She left around midnight, just the time when Yuri and I returned." Flynn informed them, trying to ease their worries. Earning questioning glances, the blond Commandant explained further. "Since due to fact that there was a way to go back and forth between Terca Lumireis and Auldrant without Guides and Gates, she felt that her mission was done and headed home on her own."

"Really now?" Guy mused to himself, the way it was put seems reasonable.

"Well, if you put it that way it does seem logical." Natalia commented slowly, understanding Aaralyn disappearance. "Through what about Luke, where is he?"

The redhead replica was having the best sleep in so many years; he never even wanted to wake up till he felt his shoulders being shaken roughly. A drowsy eye opens to glance at a apathetic looking Asch. Luke slowly stirred and sat up slowly, groaning as he rubbed his head and felt his lower backside ache from last night activities. He felt Asch hand on his back, rubbing circles in attempt to soothe the pain.

"Morning, Asch…" Luke greeted his original with a small yawn as he stretched his arms, trying hard not to move his lower body much.

"It's afternoon, dreck." The redhead God-General bluntly corrected his replica. How much sleep does the dreck even get?

"Oh…" The redhead Captain said dumbly, still half-asleep. Once he was fully awake and comprehending Asch words, his apple green eyes blinked. "Wait…What?"

"Are you deaf, dreck?" Asch scoffed, insulting Luke in a light tone. He moved closer and wraps an arm around his replica naked waist, pulling the redhead Captain closer against his bare, broad chest. "It's afternoon."

"Crap…Why didn't you wake me up much sooner, Asch?!" Luke exclaimed, as much as the redhead replica would want to spend more time with his original. The others were probably worried sick about him since he didn't return to the Inn last night because of Asch.

"Idiot, I just woke up shortly before you did." The redhead original stated with a low hiss. In truth, Asch woke up long before the dreck did and he could've woken up Luke during that time. But, he wanted to spend more time with his replica even if it's just watching Luke sleeping and stroking his long- That thought will stop since it will ruin his reputation.

"Damn it...They're going to worry about me…" Luke mumbled softly, trying to coax his original to let go of him which were left ignored as Asch held his waist tighter. "Asch!"

"Tch…Don't want to." Asch grumbled, hugging Luke tighter. The redhead God-General placed his chin against the marked neck he claimed last night. He be damned if Luke has to go now, besides those idiots can wait for another hour.

Luke sighed in defeat when his original wouldn't listen to him.

"I GIVE UP!"

"Not struggling, dreck?" The redhead God-General raises a brow, expecting a protest.

"How can I when you're just going to pin me down?" The redhead Captain countered solemnly, but he could not help enjoy this outcome. Whatever conflicts between the original and replica had were settled at the moment. Everything seemed…normal now except for the fact Luke had a job to do here in Auldrant currently.

"So finally going to see it my way then, replica?" Asch smirked smugly against Luke neck, leaving a trail of affectionate kisses.

"That's just part of your charm, Asch…" Luke mumbled, closing his eyes and holding back a moan.

This just meant that Asch won this argument and got what he wanted. The others can wait a bit longer while the redhead God-General ravished his replica thoroughly for another hour or two.

The Gardios noble send a concerned glance at his best friend that was walking very painfully that looked more like a limp. When Guy put a hand on the redhead Captain shoulders, Luke jumped and glanced at the blond noble.

"What the hell, Guy?" Luke nearly hissed, nearly since he wasn't in a good mood to be acting like his usual self. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Um…No, Luke?" Guy gave a meek answer when he saw the glare that his best friend would not give unless he was in a really bad mood. He gulped slowly and removed his hand from Luke shoulder. "I'm just worried that since you came back, you been…walking very oddly."

Guy could have sworn that the redhead replica pale a bit before turning away from him. Luke stood up straight and began walking again without answering Guy question. Unaware of this, the group had been watching with amused eyes at this scene. The Colonel pushed his glasses up, smirking mischievously as he spoke.

"Oh, did Captain Luke visit a certain someone last night?" Jade asked in a light tone, teasing the redhead Captain obviously.

Luke pale face immediately flushed a bright pink before narrowing his eyes to a glare toward the Colonel.

"None of your business, Jade!" The redhead replica nearly shouted and quickly began to power walk…sluggishly.

"My, my, I was only asking a simple question." The Colonel shrugged his shoulders, but the smile never left his face. It was clear if you knew Jade long enough he was amused at this behavior of the redhead Captain. Jade realized that he was close to being left behind and walked quickly to catch up to the others, particularly in Luke hearing range. "No need to get so worked up over something trivial."

"You'll find it trivial when I kick your sorry-"Luke turned his head at the Colonel, his line of patience very close to snapping by a millimeter.

"Enough with this bickering already, you two!" Tear frustration had reached its limits and shouted at them both. The Melodist watched as Luke flinched and cowered a bit at the glare Tear was sending at him and Jade. Tear turned to the Colonel direction. "Colonel, I expect that you had enough fun teasing Luke?"

"Teasing?" Jade raise an eyebrow at the worded question Tear spoke. "It was a simple question."

"Right…" The Fon Master Guardian rolled her eyes at the bantering. "It's plain teasing, Colonel. Now can we get on the Tartarus and head to Terca Lumireis?"

"…Commandant, sir?" Luke glanced at his Captain with a questioning brow raise. "Care to let me in on this?"

"Ah, yes…You weren't around when we planned this out." Flynn remembered, he was quite amused to see his Captain interact with his old friends. It was a new side to see despite the hints of it back then during the Imperial Knights. He didn't realize he had chuckled when he earned weird looks from the others. Quickly gaining his composure, Flynn coughed a bit and smiled softly. "We were thinking of heading back to Zaphias in Terca Lumireis to find the documents three years ago. After that, we will be visiting Lord Lhant in Ephinea."

"Lord Lhant eh….?" Luke trailed off slowly, putting his hands behind his head when am arm was suddenly wrapped around his neck. He was curious to know why they needed to visit Ephinea for. The redhead Captain glared to find the vigilant smirking.

"Looks like you'll be having your day off very early then, Luke." Yuri commented, bumping heads with Luke a moment before removing his arm around the redhead replica neck. As if he read Luke mind, he had taken the role of fulfilling Luke curiosity. "We're checking to see if there are any recent abnormalities and the best person would be Lord Lhant here."

"Through I'm quite excited to see what Ephinea is like." Ion commented with a warm smile, apparently the other Auldrant residents had the same feeling he had. The Fon Master could see the excitement and anticipation in the air between everyone. He hugged the Cheagle in his arms before letting go and watched Mieu roamed in the air to land on Luke shoulder.

"Fon Master does have a point. Those texts we read gives enough description of interest and it might be great to rely on another continent support." Natalia agreed, chuckling softly as both the blond Commandant and the raven haired vigilant stared at the blue Cheagle.

Despite where they came from, they weren't that different from Auldrant yet the sights were completely new to them. Yuri poked the Cheagle ring covered stomach, which made Mieu stumble backwards a bit and glanced shyly at the raven haired vigilant while holding the Sorcerer Ring.

"Mieu?" The blue Cheagle said intelligently, tilting his furry head.

"What…is this thing to be exact?" Flynn leaned down a bit to stare at Mieu, trying to identify it. "I never had seen such a creature back in our homeland."

"You make it sound like it's the most shocking thing when you have a twin over there." Yuri scoffed, pointing a thumb behind him at Guy.

The Gardios noble raise an eyebrow at that statement. In actuality, Guy was surprised as well when talking to Flynn that they had a lot in common; fighting style, interest and views to certain extent and personality to a limit. It was a pretty nice conversation back at the Inn or so about their lives, Luke, their companions and such. Guy could put it bluntly to say that he can rely on Flynn despite the short amount of time they knew each other.

"Come along now, the Tartarus is just over at the port." Jade broke the subject at hand currently with that sly smile of his.

"Really, Colonel?" Anise groaned at the interruption. "You sure do know how to ruin a good conversation."

"Oh, you just realized that, Anise?" The Colonel questioned with an eyebrow raised before turning around completely, his back facing the Fon Master Guardian. That question had made almost everyone bewildered by it from the expressions they showed.

True to Jade words, the Tartarus could be seen from where they are right now. All ignoring Yuri and Flynn amazed faces at the ship.

Skit 18: Mysterious Things

Yuri appears close to

Luke: What's wrong, Yuri?

Yuri: Just…surprised, everything here looks pretty much the same while there are lots of things different from back home.

Flynn: I have to agree. Mysterious creatures, giant transportations that can skim on land and water, these…energies used for many purposes, almost all of these things are absent from Terca Lumireis and Ephinea.

Jade: From what you had told us so far, whatever absent from your homeland meaning it's absent from ours as well. Same goes for the third continent, Ephinea. There are many things we haven't seen much regarding Ephinea or Terca Lumireis.

Natalia: Colonel Curtiss is quite correct there, lots of unknown mysterious we have yet to discover. I might have to suggest treaties and negotiations if possible.

Flynn: Excellent idea, your highness. Instead of unnecessary potential of wars, which might cause economic and social damage to all sides, a peaceful bond between continents is needed.

Jade: Indeed, I'm quite glad we have someone familiar with both Auldrant and Terca Lumireis even if he is a bit incompetent at certain times.

Luke: Hey…Was that an insult there, Jade?

Yuri: Think it was, Luke.

Jade: Of course not, I'm praising.

Luke gave a doubtful expression while Yuri kept smirking and Jade was sarcastic as ever. Flynn only sends a warning glance at Luke and Natalia sighed. Mieu comes in suddenly and hits Yuri, who became angry and shouted.

Yuri: Ow! What the…?!

Mieu: Mieu!? I'm sorry, Mieu!

Flynn: What the hell?! It can speak human language?!

Natalia: Oh that's right…We haven't introduced Mieu to you two yet. This Mieu, he is a Cheagle which are sacred beat to the Order of Lorelei. He can talk due to the Sorcerers Ring around his stomach.

Mieu: Nice to meet you, mieu! I'm Mieu!

Yuri: Sacred…? More like a flying furball of pain…

Mieu: Mieeeeuuuuu…I'm sorry...

Flynn: Now, that isn't nice Yuri.

Mieu looked down in guilt and Flynn only frowned, glaring at Yuri. Finally having enough, Yuri snaps again.

Yuri: All right, all right! You're forgiven, Mieu. Just don't come flying straight at my head.

Mieu: Mieu! I won't, Yuri!

Luke: Haha…

Natalia: Hoho…

Yuri: What's with the creepy laughs for?

Everyone except for Yuri, Mieu and Flynn smiled in amusement at the scene. Yuri was creep out by them as it was weird.

Luke: Oh, nothing Yuri.

Flynn: Lots of mysterious in this world…

Skit Ends

A/N:

I won't update any more chapters till I have at least five done. That's all, thank you for reading so far. Please do not hesitate to review and criticize. ^^

Finally the first arc, Toward Ephinea begins!