Brothers.

Chapter Two

"I am sorry"

Summary of Chapter 1; While nursing his aches and pains in his room, Asch was visited by Guy. Guy told Asch that Natalya was looking for him and would meet him in the drawing room. Asch arrived there only to find no one in sight. Unsure of what to make of it he headed back. Mieu caught his attention from the window and begged his aid. After hearing Mieu's news that Luke had collapsed, the two of them made their way to the Library. Luke's condition worsens and Asch sends Mieu to find Guy and Natalya.

////////////////////////

Only Guy appeared on Mieu's return, shock plastered all over his face. He had immediately ran to Asch's and taken Luke from his arms. Asch didn't say anything, he didn't need to. He held up the tissue where Guy could see the blood and told guy to take Luke back to his room.

"What?" Guy had looked at him with wide eyes, and green ones stared back.

"Take him back to my room till I figure out what's going on here. Call doctor as soon as I get back alright, can't risk leaving him alone right now."

Guy looked unsure but he nodded and left, leaving Asch to get to work.

"Mieu?" the chegal hopped to attention at the mention of his name.

"Tell me exactly what Luke did as soon as he got in here. Please try not to miss anything out, every detail is precious right now."

The chegal paused for a moment, considering how to convey his story, "Master was fine when he came in here, he put his bag down on the table and went to the nearest bookshelf. He stood there for a long time, like he was thinking about something really important, then he made a funny sound and shook his head and-"

Asch raised an eyebrow. The replica always made weird sounds, but this might have been different. Curious, Asch inquired, "Mieu, just what kind of noise was it?"

Mieu tilted his head to the side, "Well, it was like a sniffle, like when someone cries."

Asch sighed. In his opinion there was no need for further investigation here if Luke had what he thought.

////////////////////////////////////

Guy sat lifelessly beside Asch's bed where he had laid Luke down. He had placed the young redhead on his back under the sheets after taking his boots off. Guy shuffled closer to him, then as softly as he could manage, he stroked the back of Luke's face with the back of his hand.

"Oh Luke, I guess there are still some things I still can't protect you from..."

Guy stopped his motions and brought his hand back from Luke's pail face. But as he did so the younger spoke.

"Guy?"

At the mention of his name, Guy jumped up from his seat. "Luke! You're awake!" He leaned over Luke and burrowed his arms under Luke's body, tightly grasping the younger. "I'm so glad! You have no idea how worried I've been!"

Luke was taken aback by the sudden show of affection, he wasn't exactly sure what to do. "...I'm sorry Guy."

Now it was Guy who slipped back in surprise. After recovering from shock his eyes softened and shook his head. "Your the one who's sick -there's no need to be sorry." Guy untangled himself from Luke and sat back down beside him.

"But-" Luke could not say another word for a gloved thumb covered his lips.

"Don't even think about it."

The thumb came away and Luke looked up at it's owner. Years of experience had taught Luke that he could not win an argument of any sort with Guy, so admitting defeat, he simply nodded in response.

"At-a-boy Luke." Guy said pushing Luke's fringe back to get a better view of his face. "...Well, at the very least you've got some colour back on your face, but what say you? Still feeling faint?" Guy tilted his head so that it was at the same angle as Luke's and continued stroking back red hair with his fingers.

"I'm fine..." Luke closed his eyes then mumbled something in addition, but it wasn't loud enough for Guy to hear.

"What was that?"

Luke half opened an eye, "I said that feels nice."

Guy chuckled softly. "You always were one for affection weren't you?" Luke simply snuggled back under the covers while Guy continued his gentle petting movements.

Luke had always loved it when he was young, even if he didn't always admit it. If he was being honest, he still enjoyed it, however, the only people who knew were Guy and Asch. Guy had always known and Asch had found out by accident when he decided to eavesdrop on one of his dear replica's conversations. Suffice to say he never did it again.

Little did either of them notice who was standing in the doorway, at least until they spoke.

"I don't mean to interrupt this... moment the two of you are sharing, but I need to borrow Guy for a minute." Asch was leaning against the frame, his green eyes held a near lifeless gaze that gave Guy a sickly feeling in his gut that Asch's news wasn't great.

Asch left ahead of him to wait in the hall, another hint that something was up. It was obvious that Asch wanted to be out of earshot to avoid Luke over-hearing that which he doesn't need to know.

Guy gave Luke a reassuring smile before striding towards the door.

//////////////////////////

"Master Master! I'm back Master!"

Luke opened his eyes to sight of a fuzzy creature waltzing in the door. Mieu was fumbling around with an object that was obviously too big for him to be carrying. Luke soon realised it was the book he'd been reading in the library. Or rather, it was the brick he'd been studying with Mieu's help.

"Look Master! I've kept it safe, I brought it here all by myself!" Mieu was holding it using a combination of his ears, his head and one paw - the other was currently being used to uphold the sorcerer's ring around his waist like a belt. "And I didn't let those women steal it either, see!?"

"In other words, when the librarians tried to sign the book out for him he ran off in the other direction." Asch now stood where Guy had exited. "And before you ask, no Guy isn't coming back in. He when into town to get you a doctor. Apparently your temperature went up while you were asleep and it hasn't dropped yet."

Asch now strode elegantly across the floor, his eyes holding Luke's as he walked. "Luke there's something I need to know; in the last twelve hours or so, has any one given you anything like a drink that had an odd smell or tasted strange."

Luke gave him a bewildered look as he sat down on the side of the bed. "Well, Natalia asked me to try a new recipe that she got from the kitchen -but I think that only tasted bad because she put salt in it instead of sugar..."

Salt instead of sugar..?Asch thought to himself. "Was she baking some sort of cake or pastry?"

"It was strawberry shortcake; she said she wanted to try making something nice for a change."

Asch broke eye contact with Luke and began gathering his thoughts. This story didn't add up. Natalia may act less than intelligently at times however not even she would not make the mistake of confusing salt with sugar. And she loved strawberry shortcake -Asch used to make it for her as a child, if she had made a cake then she would be eager to taste it herself first...so why ask someone else to do it?

There was something about this entire situation that made him uneasy. Perhaps it was something about today. He tried laying the facts out again.

Firstly: He awoke this morning with stiff pains in his joints that have yet to disappear, which for Asch was unusual given his impeccable physical condition. And even if they were caused by an odd sleeping position that he had adapted last night, they would have subsided hours ago.

Secondly: The whispering in the corridors. Normally, the maids and servants chatted amongst themselves. If there was one thing he had learned about them, it was that they never gossiped openly unless they were caught by accident or if they knew that even if they were caught, they were in a position that they wouldn't lose their jobs. And that meant that whatever it was that they knew - it couldn't be good.

Thirdly: Natalia failed to attend a meeting she went to the trouble of organising. Asch knew Natalia well enough to know that she wouldn't call him for the sake of it. Which led him to the idea that she was either stalled or thought Guy failed in his mission and went looking for him. But she was far too loyal to him to leave when he was coming to see her.

Fourthly: His father was wondering around outside the drawing room looking for him. It was not the most valid point but Asch was certainly curious to hear his reasons. It was probabily just another blunt confrontation that would not lead him to a preferable outcome, but still...

Finally: Luke fainted. Given the situation they was in now, it looked extremely suspicious. And with no explanation in sight, Asch only worried more.

He heard a small murmer beside him and felt the covers twist near him. He raised his head slightly to see Luke curled up and asleep, his eyelids were twitching and his mouth was muttering words which he spoke only in his dreams.

Asch shook his head, Snap out it you fool! You're letting your guard down. Concentrate! The words rung in his head and reminded him of his training with Van. Originally it had been with other tutors but 'unfortunate instances' occurred to them on behalf of Asch's sick humor at the time and his interests in practical jokes.

Asch smiled at that thought. It was one of the only memories he was fond of from that part of his childhood. However, the thought didn't distract him long as he found his eyes wandering back to the child next to him.

Luke always hid his age by acting tough and making strong decisions. But when he slept his secret was out. His right hand was tugging on the sheets like a child's, and his other hand was laid up next to his face. If it weren't for his tall figure, Asch would see him as a child.

But Asch forgot how old he was sometimes, and in his ignorance he yelled at him. And it was when he yelled that he saw the look of fear that only a child has; it was his wide green eyes that gave him away...And it was the same eyes that always made Asch regret what he had done afterwords.

Asch pushed himself off the bed onto the floor. Then, carefully, he pulled the covers up over Luke's shoulders.

After, he cheeked room cautiously before leaning down pressing his lips to gently the younger's forehead. "I'm sorry, Luke."

////////////////////////////////

When Guy returned with a doctor, Asch left. He needed to speak to Natalia, and he preferred doing it as soon as possible.

As he stepped outside the cool evening air of Baticle city brushed past his face and he felt the chill nip at his bare shoulders. He rubbed at them -he'd forgotten how cold it get at night. Cursing his ignorance he began to make his way out of the manor gates.

The sky bloomed above him in vibrant array. It was a master piece of colour that any great artist would make an effort to see if only once. But Asch had seen too many paintings of such a sunset in Daath and had thought nothing of any any of them. Nothing at all.

Instead his eyes wandered across the keenly looked after paving work to a young women, dressed to the nines watching over a sleepy city. Asch recognised her immediately and smiled. His hand found it's way into his pocket, fingering with absolute care a small silver ring that was more precious than any gold. The setting was just perfect.

Princess Natalia stood with her back to him clad in a sky blue and pearly white silk dress, made from the finest materials money could buy. Soft leather boots paddled on the ground uneasily, while delicate fingers played with a golden necklace bought long ago from a market in Grand Chokma. Asch remembered picking it out himself for her.

He joined her side cautiously so as not to scare her.

"Natalia? What brings you out here so late." Natalia turned towards him, her golden hair seemed to glow in the sunlight.

"Oh Asch, it's you. I saw the sunset from my room, so I came down to watch it from here." And then, she smiled. It was a smile Asch couldn't help but return; a smile he fought hard to see again; and it was a smile he wanted to protect for the rest of his life.

"Natalia, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." He began to feel hints of a blush on his face but he carried on regardless." I just fear that if I don't do it now I'll never get another chance..."

Natalia looked puzzled for moment before inquiring, "And what is it that you want to ask me Asch?"

Asch gently took her gloved palm inside his own, treating it as one would delicate lace, holding tightly onto the ring in his other. Then forgetting any dignity he had, he decended onto his right knee, never daring to break eye contact with his beloved.

"Natalia, princess and future queen of this land I call my home, will you-" he revealed the glinting silver object in his hand, "Do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

They stayed in complete silence for what seemed like an eternity to Asch. Natalia could only stare at him with wide blue eyes, before finally, her features relaxed. Asch felt his heart skip a beat, felt butterflies fly around his stomach, his entire form felt nothing but the hope for the verdict that he so desperately wanted.

"Asch?" Asch jumped to his feet at the mention of his name, his eyes were glistening and intent on Natalia.

"Asch, I'm sorry. I can't."

Asch released her hand from his. His entire body felt numb, as though it could collapse in mere seconds... and in those mere seconds, Asch thought it would. He had never felt this empty in life, devoid of emotion. He felt so very cold beneath his skin.

How could he have been wrong? Was it because of the long absence he had been apart from her? Had her feelings for him faded while his grew?

Asch closed his eyes as Natalia left him. She said something as she went, but Asch was too far gone to register the words in his head. A cold burning sensation was spreading around his chest and throughout his body engulfing any warmth he had. It soon eased into pain greater than any wound or beating he had ever received.

Before he entered the manor, he gazed back out at the sky line and the rain that began to fall from it.

//////////////////////////////////////

"Rain is described by poets as 'healing', but all it ever does is wash away the blood from an open wound. It doesn't stop the pain. It doesn't heal the scars."

"Chapter 3; Rain."