AN: I know I know it's very very late, but I've been busy. Well it's out now so go nuts or whatever...

Disclaimers: You know the drill. Copyrights blah blah blah... Don't own nothing. Nothing. Except the Legend, it's mine. Gimme a buzz if you wanna pinch it 'Kay? I don't wanna go 'round sortn' stuff like this out. 'Specially since it's like 2am when I'm postin' this so the old brain isn't functioning properly.

Chapter 13

Presents!

"Hey Guy." Guy turned towards Luke as the younger approached him in one the larger hallways of the Fabre manor. "Mieu and I were going to get something to eat. Wanna come with us?"

Guy smiled. Typical Luke always happy and carefree. "Sure," he said returning the infectious grin. "I'm kinda hungry now that I think about it."

"Mieu is hungry too!" The young animal used it's floating abilities to drift over to Guy and flap around in front of him.

Guy patted the creature on the head before it returned to Luke. The three of them set off down the corridor together in a comfortable silence. This simple peace left Guy to his own thoughts for a while.

He wondered how much Luke knew about Asch and the man's poor health, but even if he did ask, there wasn't much Guy could say about it. He lacked Jade's fuller knowledge of the condition, it also didn't help that the older man had refused to tell him much about it in the first place under the excuse of: "They'll get to it in their own time." In all honesty, Guy had to reframe from adding "if they ever do".

But he knew from a childhood of mourning that impatience and frustration doesn't get you anywhere but in a worse situation than when he started.

Luke broke the silence between them before Guy's thoughts could get any further. "Um, Guy... Do you mind if I ask your opinion of something?"

"Sure, what do you need to know?"

"Well, Asch's and my birthday is coming up soon and I can't think of anything to get him..." Guy smiled at Luke's kind-hearted gesture.

"What about a cake?"

"Guy, you should know that's not a good idea. After all, you know first hand how bad my cooking is." They both shared a laugh. It's true. The last time Luke tried to cook was for Nataliya's birthday, only he ended up with rock buns rather than fluffy victoria spung. It didn't put him off trying again, but it did put Guy off eating them.

"Alright then... How about a weapon? Asch takes pride in a good sword."

Luke shook his head. "I already thought about that. But he has like half a ton of them stashed underneath his bed. Not to mention he's fussy."

Guy hummed at the comment. "What about a, um..." A moment of silence passed as Guy thought on it. He could probably convince Luke to go along with the whole 'cure Asch' thing, but Guy assumed that the eight year old, being only seven years old when Guy had had to explain the odd concept of sex (and most likely ignoring him while he did so), would have no understanding of it if he had to partisipate in the the act. So, it was out of the question.

Guy stopped walking, giving himself an inwardly kept cheer. "I've got it. Why don't you do somthing for him instead of getting him a gift?"

Luke pondered on the idea for a moment. "That's not such a bad idea, but how do I know he won't get annoyed at whatever I offer him?" Guy smiled in responce, he seemed prepared for the question.

"Spy on him."

"What if I get caught?"

"Tell him the truth, or tell him it was me that set you up to do it. Anyways, he's your brother, it's not like he'll kill you for getting him a birthday present."

Luke nodded in defeat. There really wasn't any excuse he could make to that.

Then the small furry alarm clock went off reminding them that there was still food to be had in the kitchen. "Meiu is hungry! Meiu~" It whined.

Asch tip-toed down through the corridors later that day. The sun had set and he'd been trying to avoid any unwanted attention by staying in the city center before sneaking back in via a back entrance he'd discovered as a child. It was a cracked piece of wall which had collapsed on itself due to bad workmanship. To be honest, Asch was surprised that he could still fit through it.

He sighed in relief when he made it to his room without incident. Placing his hand on the door nob he remained silent for a moment. When he heard nothing he opened the door, locked it then fell gracelessly onto his bed. He kicked his boots off and stripped off his jeans and shirt laying them over the railing on the end of the bed. It was a cold night but he knew he wouldn't sleep with his daytime wears on.

He was curled up tightly under the sheets when he heard a knock at the door. Groaning quietly to himself, he glared at the frustrating sound. He chose not to answer it, in hopes that the foresaken purpetrator would leave him in peace.

There was a muffled call from the other side of the wood. "Asch? Asch dear, I know you're home, I saw you come in. Could I speak to you for a minute?"

For goodness sake... Asch managed to avoid saying that out loud. "Come back in the morning."

"I can't -I'm away early tomorrow morning. Please son, just a minute?" Asch hated that tone. It seemed to be something only a mother could bear and it alway clawwed at him.

Asch loved his mother, he really did, but needed sleep more at the moment.

Giving in, he grabbed a shirt from the night stand did up three or four of the buttons before he proceeded to unlock the door. He sat back on the bed with the sheet over his shoulders and bare legs.

His mother closed the door behind her as she entered. Smiling she walked over to Asch's bed and sat next to him, tentitively placing her hands on his shoulders and pulling him close, it reminded Asch of his childhood.

"Asch, you're father and I are very worried about you. We think you should go see a doctor and about all this drowsiness."

Asch nearly snorted at the decision. "Already seen one. It's just exhastion, nothing big." She didn't need to know.

His mother began rubbing his back softly. "Are you sure?"

Asch leaned into her. "Mmhm. Doctor said so."

"I wasn't asking about what the doctor thinks, I asked what you think." His mother looked down at Asch but Asch didn't hold her eye contact.

After a quiet moment, he answered. "I think I'm tired."

Asch's mother squeezed his shoulder and kissed his forehead before she decided it was time to leave him alone. "I'll be back in time for your birthday-"

"-And Luke's. It's his birthday too."

"Ofcourse." She pushed back his hair off of his forehead. "You've really taken to being a big brother, Asch."

"Did you miss me?" He didn't mean to say it, the words just sort of wandered out of his mouth.

His mother was quiet for a while. "You didn't die, and you didn't lose anything of what makes you you. You were always missed Asch. Your memories are what made you the person that you are today, and that person had been gone from this home for seven years."

"What about Luke? Don't you love him too?"

"When I learned that I had been given two healthy sons I was very happy. Even if one of them was made as a copy. Asch, Luke is my child because he was raised in this manor under Guy teachings. As were you. I love you both and I shall bring you each back something special for your birthday."

As she made to leave, Asch reached for her and caught her sleeve. She gave him a surprised look which evened out into a gentle smile.

"Talk to Luke before you leave, it would mean the world to him, Mother."

"I will."

Without further biddings she left. Asch stared at the door for a while, considering locking it, before turning back into his sheets and bed, tangling himself purposfully amoung them and drifting into unsettled slumber.

Tear was sitting quietly by herself in one of the many gardens dotted about the manor. It was decorated by lillies and charming little blue flowered plants she did not know the naame of. There was no light coming from the unoccupied rooms enclosing the space, but Tear had lit small coloured lantren which gave off a calm dull glow.

She had come out here to think about the events which had come to pass over the last few days. In her hands was two tiny beaded bracelets she had gotten Asch and Luke for their birthday. She had perchased a teal healing bracelet for Asch -Lorelai knows he's been under the weather recently- before asking Jade kindly to add a small fonic glyph to it so it would work.

For Luke she had crafted the beads from blue ruby ore she had bought in a market in Chasidonia. It took her a while to find it given the rarity of the material, but she would not tell Luke that. The legend behind the ore was one which had inspired her since she was young.

Van had been the first to tell her of it. She could still remember his voice and the story in her mind;

"A long time ago, in mountainous region of the world, a young orphan boy was working as an apperentice to a blacksmith. One day, his master told him 'Child I have run out of copper ore, but the forge is too busy for me to leave it alone to go to mines and buy some. I need you to go in my place and buy all the copper this money is worth.' Understanding this, the child took the money and went to the mines. However, when he reached the mines he learned of terrible event which had happened. The mine had collapsed due to the heavy rain which had built up over a number days before and although no one was hurt it was still too dangerious for anyone to enter it. 'I'm sorry, boy, but we cannot sell you any copper. We've already sold all the copper we dug up yeaterday and they'll be no more until the water is cleared and the mine is safe again.' The old man who owned th mine told him. But the boy was not deterred, he wished to please his master, and if he had to, he would clear the water himself. After taking a miner's shovel, he made his way to the top of the valley of which the mine shaft sat bellow, and began to dig a trench through which the water could flow down. It took him many hours to finish and the sun had long since set when he put down his shovel but it was more than worth his effort. The mine would be opened the next morning and he would be able purchase some for his master. As he began walking back along his trench he notice something glisten in the moonlight. Upon closer inspection he noticed it was a beautiful blue ore and he took it home. When he arrived back he told his master about the problems concerning the mine and the trouble that followed. 'What a day you have had. You may keep the ore you've found as a reward for your work.' The stone he found that day was blue ruby ore, it's incredibly rare and is symbolic of loyalty and dedication to hard work."

She sighed fondly at the memory. It had seemed like days ago, when she'd follow him around consstantly asking him to read something for her, or tell her about the world or teach her magic.

It had seemed so fitting to get Luke this particular stone in some shape or form in hope that it would perk up his asperations of himself.

Placing the gifts inside their boxes she stood. The air had grown heavier and colder as the night drew more apparent. She decided it was time to turn in for the night, blowing out the candle as she left to retire to her room. There was much to be planned before tomorrow.

An: Hopefully I won't be so late next time but you know what life's like. Nothing for a while then it all falls on you like a big house of cards.