Brothers

BONUS CHAPTER (PART 2)

"I refuse. I would rather that the commandant found out about my screw up than reveal such intimate information."

Arietta was taken aback -if not surprised- by Sync's sudden outburst. She had been expecting some form of retaliation and yet he surrendered. It hadn't been a very outrageous request either. Sync valued his pride above all else, it was what kept all the cogs in his head turning round, to give it up like this could only be described as suicide.

And if he was willing to let something so precious fall to ruin, this must be more than idle information. And what such information must be worth... Arietta needed to know, or at least find some sort of leverage.

Oh, but it was already there. The answer was in her question.

"Come on Sync! Everyone knows you're single!" Even through his mask, Sync harboured a glare that would frighten children. Areitta held her own. She was no child.

"What's that got to do with anything?!"

"What's going on here?" Both them jumped as Legretta entered the room. For a moment an uncomfortable silence hung over the three of them. Legretta turned her gaze between the two of them, she couldn't decide whether she wanted a honest yet sarcastic answer from Sync or a childish and exaggerated response from Arietta. She would have to choose soon or one of them would speak and the other would argue.

"Sync?" She decided honest was her best bet.

Sync took a deep breathe before replying. "I was being overly cautious on our mission, and now Arietta won't stop bothering me about it." Better to let it loose now before small and annoying has a chance to open her mouth.

Legretta looked like she'd seen a ghost. She truthfully couldn't believe her ears. Sync admitted to something so petty as that? Sync never puts his pride on firing line. When she was walking past and heard them shouting she was expecting simply to give her two minute lecture about how they 'can't be arguing at a time like this' and then walk out again. Now she wasn't really sure what to do.

Sync on the other hand was becoming unnerved. He swore he was going to blow a fuse or something if these two didn't stop staring at him. Time to make a quick get-away.

If Sync made his disappearance now, he figured he could get all the way to the bottom of the corridor before either of them snapped out of their disbelief.

Although he only just got outside the door when he heard them commence talking, that didn't stop him trying to make the end of the hall before they gave chase. He did not want to be in the vicinity when Legretta realised he'd ditched her and faltered on an important mission. After all, hell hath no fury like a women's scorn.

Meanwhile, Arietta was under questioing from Legretta. "That's what I was trying to find out!"

Legretta pondered on her answer. Then a smirk twitched at corners of her lips. "I think I know what bothering Sync."

"What?"

Legretta strolled to a nearby chair and once settled, she patted the one facing her, an open invite for Arietta to join her.

"Well," she started. "In my experience, men only act out of the ordinary when they're in love or drunk. Since Sync isn't of age to drink, and knows better than to pinch a sip of liqueur, I suppose it has to be the former. Arietta," The younger girl sat up straight in her seat as Legretta's voice took on the tone she used for issuing orders, "Find out who is the route of Sync's distraction. Report every detail you learn to me, no matter how small, understand?"

Arietta hopped to her feet and saluted. "Understood!"

////////////////end of part 2////////////////////

Chapter 6

After a cold shower, both he and Luke had gone to bed. The only other memories he had of last night were occasionally waking up to calm a seven year old down after having a nightmare.

Asch looked at the sleeping child. Luke could act all grown up and mature for however long he wanted, but the truth of the matter was he was only a kid on the inside. And no amount of bravery was ever going to convince Asch that someone like Luke was strong. Fighting wise, his style was adequate but emotionally he was wreck. The ironic part was he still thought Asch hadn't noticed. Idiot...

The younger moaned in his sleep as though to argue back and Asch ruffled his hair. "Cheeky."

Sitting back up again, Asch untangled his limbs from Luke's. It was a wonder that Luke managed to sleep through him doing so, but Asch found it stranger still that the boy had managed to hold onto him so tightly in the first place. Not wanting to wake him, Asch carefully eased himself over the younger and then replaced the blankets over him when he got out of bed.

Asch glanced to the window. Although the curtains were closed the sight orange glow that emanated from the top told Asch the sun had only just started to rise. He was up later than usual.

Sighing, he turned to the corner where he had laid out his old uniform and began picking up the pieces of clothing. Once he had on, he stopped for a minute. I don't remember it ever being so heavy, must be getting out of shape. He made a mental note to start training a little harder, he didn't like the thought of losing his expert touch, or his abs for that matter.

As a final dressing to his attire he grabbed a cloak. He didn't want any guards asking him why the hell he was up so early if he could help it.

When he faced the door he turned to catch a glimpse of the younger snuggled up under the covers whispering little murmurs oblivious to Asch's departure. Asch made sure to close the door quietly behind himself so as not wake the tike, if he did, he would have a lot of questions to answer. Not that he hadn't thought of half a dozen excuses by now, just in case the worst were to happen.

With this in mind, Asch made his way down the hall ever cautious of the 'early birds' that might see him on their drowsy wanderings.

He had minimal worries getting outside the manor and through Baticle. The guards at the gates were sleeping where they stood, but Asch expected no less. He was always challenging them to fights to keep up his training. He figured they'd probably got sick of losing and had to compensate hours of training for hours of sleep.

Gingi was waiting for him not five minutes jog (at Asch's preferred speed) outside the leant up against the frame work in a drowsy fashion. It would seem the city servants weren't the only ones suffering from the effects of deliberate insomnia.

"Thanks for coming Gingi." Gingi snapped out of his napping state to catch the tail end of that statement.

"Pleasure s'all mine, Asch. Pops won't let me fly without a good reason no more. Where to?"

Asch followed Gingi inside, heavy boots clang lightly on the mesh flooring and Asch realised he wasn't the only one hitching a ride. Looking towards the noise Asch caught Noir draping herself over the back of one of the chairs.

Gingi sighed heavily and gave Asch a nervous glance. "I'm sorry, Asch. She just sort of planted herself over there and says she won't leave until you're back in Baticle..." He trailed off when he realised Asch wasn't listening.

Instead he was buisying himself with the hateful glare he bore for Noir. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Could ask you the same question, hun. Hm?" Noir seemed unfazed by Asch's early morning hissy fit. She'd gotten used to them over the years. After all, she could always reward herself the prize of Asch's frustration for all her annoying efforts. "Your friends wanted me to keep a tab on you, after someone leaked the news of your planned escapade to...Belkend, was it?" She paused to catch the side glance both men shared, "Anyho-os, Van's been spotted in that area, and your little friends paid me handsomely to inform them of every scrap and rumor about your where abouts at all times, love."

Asch growled at her, but his arrogance forbid him to leave. He straightened his posture, rising to his full height and strode past her, Noir wasn't the only one who knew which buttons made her enemies sharp tongued. Being ignored, for instance sent her into one of her most unpleasant moods.

Gingi simply sighed. This flight wouldn't be nice.

"Jade, Tear, Anise, Ion, good to see you. Could really use your help." Wasn't exactly what Guy had meant to say on their gang's first full reunion in over a year, but he was worried. Asch had gone missing; Luke was also no where to be found (but Guy wasn't making any assumptions until he had searched all the spare rooms); the guards were being a pain. The list went on into the sunset.

Never the less, he met with surprised faces. Curiosocity beconned him to a nearby decorative suit of armour. He was a mess. The aches of early pre-dawn labour were shown throught the dark bags under his eyes and lack of tidiness about his clothes.

Tear was first to speak. "Guy what happened? Where are Luke and Asch?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. Meiu woke me up when he caught two unwelcome guests roaming around. I went to check on Luke and Asch, but neither of them are anywhere to be seen! I'm almost out of hiding places, and it's not like anyone else wants to pitch in and help." Guy threw a spiteful look at passing guard who had the misfortune to be nearby at the wrong time.

Immediately after, everyone turned to Jade. He sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose before speaking. "I suppose Asch isn't too much of a problem, Noir should have found him by now. But Luke, on the the other hand, may be anywhere. I may not look it, even I'm surprised by his disappearance."

"Wow Jade, you even manage to make a coment that sound sarcastic... It's like you don't even care!" Ansie spat at his remark.

"I agree with Anise." Tear stepped forward but Jade stood firmly.

Upholding his posture, he sent her back another blank toned response. "Down you two. This has nothing to do with feelings. It's common knowledge that Luke is uncomfortable here at the best of times when he has Guy and Asch to depend on. So if Asch, whom he sees as an older brother, or Guy, whom depends on to waver away depression, were to leave mysteriously, it wouldn't take more than one or two bad memories to make him rush after them at full pelt now would it?"

Both Tear and Anise stepped back and looked else where as stubborn children would upon their mother catching them steeling cookies.

Jade turned back to Guy. "Running around would do us no good. Best to formulate a plan first, no?"

"No...I mean yes, stop phrasing things oddly already I'm tired!"

Preview

"Plan A and plan B never work, that's why it's always important to be prepared the most unlikely situations and meetings. However crazy their probability may be. But there is alway something you miss, something small that you never saw coming."

Chapter 7: Operation Belkend. To be uploaded on January 27th 2009.

AN; you may be interested to know I now get more than 500 hits per month on this story. Shame I can't say the same for the reviews (ha ha).