Amber Memories, Forgotten

-Would You Reach to Me-

I had remembered that night as we lay down and watched the stars danced above us. "Hey Tyki," you had asked as you slid your slender fingers in between my coarse ones. "Would you forgive me if I ever forget you?"

Well, I would always remember that I had answered "no", kissing a chaste kiss on our intertwined hands.

"But I will make sure that you will remember me again no matter what. And don't you ever forget."

It had been for about three years from now, since the butler came in after the house had been refurnished and renovated from the burnt down. He had introduced himself as Charles only, and was recommended in by letter. Yet it seemed that she had known him since birth, because of the caring way he had often treated her. Like a father-figure, but much stronger than her own actual father.

It had always been him who held out his hand whenever she sat on the floor defeated and exhausted, telling her to come up once again to beat the odds, and to persevere on no matter what. That particular way his lips would crook when he grinned, sending hundreds of ripple and waves through his features, that special way his eyes would gleam with shimmer and kindness as he handed her the next mission and rifle with much concern and sympathy, and that soothing voice of his which would calm all tides in her.

He was Charles, the head butler of the Amber family, the one who was the closest to her in the family apart from her sister, the man who never made her stop accepting the first and last tulip.

"And if you were to subtract this like that, you would find that the number does not get as confusing as this. Understand? Now do have a go at it," said a soft voice that Lord Tyki Mikk immediately recognized as music to his ears when he gently turned the knob of the door. Bemused, the young man was about to call out the two girls when the scene that greeted his eyes made him stopped.

"Yes, that's right Rhode. See, you have got it. The rest of the questions test around the formula so you shouldn't have a problem-" said the young lady as she nodded her head patiently and followed every number that his niece was writing. The two were so engrossed in their tuition session that they did not even realized that someone else had entered the room. He would have to admit, that it had taken him by surprise to see his blue headed niece there- he was only expecting the young Amber lady.

Tyki stood in silence as he took in the scene in front of him. Suddenly, a surge of overwhelming feelings came over him and he was back to his past again, strolling towards a young lady and boy who were squatting on filthy ground and drawing it with a tree branch. Once again, he could feel the patience that he often so wished that she would give him and to finally see her smile without giving him chilly hostility.

He observed slowly, how her hair was now neatly tied up in a tight bun near the top of her head, how the way her dress revealed her shoulder the way it did when his shirt was on her, and how her genuine smile always made a small dimple on her right cheek that would have gone unnoticeable if one did not look closely. Then he noticed a frown on her lips that appeared suddenly, spoiling the picturesque scenery. One of her hand slid slowly to the temple of her head and the young lady looked away as she massaged her head. It was as if she was twitching in pain- had her headache not stopped?

"Oh," exclaimed the young lady suddenly and Tyki snapped out of his daze- what had he been thinking? His grip on the item in his hand tightened. Just as fleetingly, the lady's voice turned back to its usual monotonous mode. "My apologies, I did not noticed your presence."

"You shouldn't be, Kaeda," said the man calmly as he cocked an eyebrow charmingly at her. He scowled a little when she ignored him. With wide and confident steps, he crossed the distance between them and stood behind her chair, looking down. Tyki could, as remembered, smell the sweet maple sweet he was so used to on her. Daringly, he decided to place his left hand on her shoulder, and smirked, when he sensed her emitting even deadlier aura. He was a Noah after, the one who had the power to pass through what if wanted, and touch whatever that he fancied. "I should be the one who should apologize for entering without making my presence known. Furthermore, you should be comfortable in this house, my dear, this will be where you'll be staying soon."

Tyki's smirk deepened when he noticed the flame burning in Kaeda's eyes. "That is too close an endearment and I pretty much enjoy where I am staying currently, Lord Mikk."

"Really?" questioned the debonair, his tone curled slyly around her neck.

"Yes." Kaeda replied flatly.

"Hey hey! Don't forget about my presence, you pair of lovesick birds," protested Rhode all of a sudden as she sent a smashing punch to Tyki's abdomen. "I will bear none of this prejudice!"

Kaeda frowned doubtfully when she noticed the hastily expression of real pain etched on the man's features. Surely a little girl's strength would not inflict as much pain as Innocence would, wouldn't it?

Tyki clenched his jaws and managed a chuckle. "I believe you have met my exuberant niece, Rhode Camelot, and provided her with much help in her homework, dear. Seriously, this girl had been bugging me with unsolvable questions since school started."

"She is, I believe, an extremely intelligent girl, aren't you, Rhode?"

The same patience with Ezzz, he noticed, before casting that thought away. Suddenly recalling what he had intended to do before stepping into the room, Tyki whistled, "But of course, how can I forget about this," he said bemusedly, before sticking a flower out of nowhere in front of the lady. "I believe there are prettier flowers than this, but I do hope you would appreciate this, my Lady."

Noticing the sudden silence that had seized Kaeda, he chuckled. "You can't be surprised by how romantic I can be right, can you? If you don't like this, I can always get you other flowers-"

"Where-" stumbled Kaeda as fear gripped her by the throat, before sending its chilly shivers travelling down the rest of her body. "Where did you get this?"

Tyki felt his touch on her shoulder brushing away abruptly when the latter stood up suddenly. The auburn colored tulip dropped onto the floor, imitating the way a falling star would.

"Answer me!" Kaeda yelled as the color drained from her cheeks which he was so familiar with.

Unexpectedly, the young lady had gripped the front of his crisp white shirt, crumbling all the peace that it was supposed to annotate. The strength possessed, he realized, was much stronger than he would have expected it to be. Stunned, Tyki's eyes widened as he answered her, "An old lady sold it to me, telling me to give it to you no matter what even though I had told her that you would not like this sort of flowers. Honestly, what's the fuss-"

"Where is she?" cried Kaeda as she pulled her grip on Tyki's shirt tighter, disregarding the fact that Rhode was already up from her seat and had a look of concern hanged on her young features. "Where did you find the old lady?" Her words came out firm and individual, as if afraid that the latter would not understand her.

"…Down the street, by the alley," said Tyki uncertainly as he tried to steady everyone in the room. "My my, what is it that you're so-"

"Damn," cursed the young lady as she interrupted him by releasing her grip on her and dashed out of the room.

What if the star had indeed fallen?

She ran, with fear gripping over her heart, with as much speed as she could. The coachman had yelled after her in disbelief but she disregarded this. Her legs strained from the stretched effort to maximize her power, to run as fast as she could, and to save every precious little second.

Please be alright; please be alright, she prayed silently. "Please be alright!"

The yell echoed back from the woods, as the mansion was concealed within the forest, separated from the city. She could feel some hot sensation scalding her corner of her eyes as she raced against the harsh wind. A slight sense of relief came over her to ease her pain when the city finally came to view and she racked her brain to recall what Lord Mikk had mentioned about the old lady. The young lady darted and raced through the streets, ignoring the stares that accompanied her shadow. She questioned passer-bys randomly, picking the elderly and prayed for someone who would provide some clues.

Yet the old lady described by Lord Mikk was nowhere in sight. Was he lying? What had he found out? Thoughts crush her brain as she tried to analyze the situation, when something made her stop to turn down the alley.

Down the alley, that Noah had said before she dashed out of the house. Instinct, sixth sense, Innocence, whatever it was, it was better to take this chance then to wander down the street aimlessly.

Then she saw him.

He was unrecognizable at first sight, slumped against the dirt stained wall without much seeming strength left within. Like a withering plant, her heart etched at the thought as she slowed down and approached the man. He was whimpering; the sound of death that she had been so accustom to that it hurt her, as his eyes laid closed and his breathing was visibly taking a toll on his body.

Blood seeped through the cracks on the ground and extended its claws to her, gnawing at her soul. It had managed, with its power overwhelming hers, brought her down to her knees. The deep red liquid stained her fine dress coldheartedly as it flowed from the silt on Charles' throat, disregarding the raw emotions that flung themselves at her. Her hair, long and black, tumbled by her side along with her composure.

"Charles-" she stumbled, as she crawled to the old man. His breathing seemed to be weaker at her every step closer to him. Struggling, she tried to carry him up to his lap for comfort, but knew better than to touch his body and worsen the pain. "Charles, what happened?" her voice trembled, as her fingers lost heat to the cool surface of his skin. The old butler had his white hair stained red, she noticed, as his eyes struggled to open to look at his young master.

"Gen-ne-"

"Don't," Kaeda interrupted his as she held onto his hand, hoping for it to regain some heat. She could feel her vision blurring as the veils of her eyes came down despite her desperate attempt to turn those taps off. "Call me that. I- I'll get you help now…"

However, the old man shook his head. Struggling, he tried to muster his remaining strength and returned a grip back to the young lady's fingers. Kaeda could feel her heart being stabbed by a dozen blunt knives at the way his fingers trembled. The colour on his face was draining with each passing second. "It's no use, General…"

"No!" yelled the lady as she shook her head in protest. "You were the one who told me to hold on no matter what! You were the one who-"

"Cross," A small smile etched weakly on Charles' lips as he sighed in exhaustion and relief. His features soon started to relax, letting go as he finally gave in.

"No Charles!" Kaeda cried out, her voice piercing the night sky. She failed to know what his last words were. Yet like everything, it soon faded gradually, ceasing into non-existence. "No…"

How much fear and agony was one suppose to experience before admitting defeat?

"Kaeda."

That voice sounded chilly to her despite the long duration of years that had separated them. It sounded nostalgic, harsh even, as it slid down the back of her throat to her spine. She would never, never ever, forget that deep coarse voice that once too often whispered beside her ear. How was one supposed to forget the first person who had stolen her heart and returned only part of it? Did she even recover from the damage done?

The young lady trembled as she stood up slowly, before turning around reluctantly to face a man she was so familiar with. He looked the same as before with that charismatic smile of his and brilliant red hue of hair that shone to another shade under the sun even though his mask was missing. He was, after all, someone filled with sunshine yet decided to stay in the dark. In the dark, just like how he was right now.

A stiff frown hanged over his mouth and he opened his arms to her. Yet the young lady only shook her head and took a step back. She had grown up a lot, he noted, before letting his arms fall by his side. Grown up and away. He casted away those thoughts and looked upon Kaeda seriously, wanting so much to wipe those tears away, but he knew it was over.

"Kaeda," he said gently, taking a step closer to her though maintaining the respect she wanted. "You have to be more cautious now. Remember what I told you about the double war? The internal one is getting heavier now and certainly bloodier. I wouldn't be able to mentor you anymore, but I can see the change in you now. Kaeda-" he paused, noticing that the young lady was not listening to him at all. "You must get back up, that's what Charles taught you, didn't he?"

"The tulip," muttered Kaeda acidly as she said out her words with much contempt and doubt, disregarding what the man even had to say. "You were the one who sent the old lady, didn't you? Darn. Did- did you kill Charles?"

"No," answered the man flatly while his crimson hair danced splendidly along with the wind. "It had been the crows. They did it as a warning to-"

"Make sure that I remain faithful, eh," finished the young lady nonchalantly, her fist clenching by her sides. "What a most effective way."

Laughing hollowly, the older man squatted next to Charles and prayed silently, as if he was nothing but another dead being. "I believe you will do what's necessary, Kaeda. Remember-"

"Duty or desire," answered the latter nonchalantly as she too, squatted next to her old butler, feeling yet another subconscious drop of tear staining her dress.

Cross smiled weakly, pleased to find her usual self still intact. The sky was getting darker, he noticed, before diverting his full attention back to the pair of burning amber eyes. "And your choice is?"

Kaeda flashed a dark look back at the man beside him, before placing a hand over the cold one that lied motionlessly on the floor. "You should know better than that, Mariam Cross."

The ex-general nodded his head in satisfaction, grinning as he passed the sealed envelope that had its corner stained maroon to the young lady. The night had already come unknowingly to them, casting its shadow like a protective blanket over them. Gently, he placed a hand over her shoulder and gave it an assuring pat. "Then do it well, General Amber."

If words and promises could tear down the sky, the world would have been battered and bruised with numerous fallen stars. Yet now her tears could only be shed hastily and then quickly concealed by what she believed was blood.

A/N: Surprise! Sorry if the revelation is abrupt, I've tried to give as many hints with the previous chapters, so am not sure if it's obvious enough. I'll try to answer as many questions as I can, so do throw them in with a way I can reply back. If I don't, it should be answered by the remaining plot. Hope you enjoyed this chapter