A/N: Have some Lorelei angst! (And Lorelei past, but yeah)

Disclaimer: Nope, pretty sure I still don't own it.

There was a knock at her door, and she looked up in confusion. Glancing over at the other bed, she saw Natalia sleeping lightly. She stood up, heading for the door, and opened it.

For a moment she was confused as to why Luke or Asch was standing outside her door, then recognised the golden eyes and realised it was Lorelei.

"Mr Lorelei! I'm sorry, I'll just go get changed," Tear apologised, turning red.

"Yes, go ahead. I'll wait here," he replied with a chuckle. She quickly closed the door, making sure not to slam it, then hurriedly got changed. Finally she went back to the door, stepping out and closing it behind her.

"Sorry Mr Lorelei. I'm ready now," she murmured, embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it. At least you're not like my stupid sons; they just slam the door in my face and take as long as possible," Lorelei said with a sigh as they started walking down the hallway.

"Even Luke?" Tear asked, surprised.

Lorelei considered. "Okay, maybe Asch does all the slamming. Luke just kind of stares blankly while whoever his roommate is gapes."

Tear giggled as they stepped outside. The moon was high in the sky, and she smiled happily.

"I really like it out here at night," she murmured.

"Yes..It's beautiful, isn't it? My wife always loved it as well. I remember many a picnic sitting underneath the cherry blossoms with the moon in the sky," Lorelei sighed.

Tear glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "If you don't mind me asking, sir, what was your wife like?"

Lorelei laughed. "I don't mind. And please, call me Lorelei when we're not in public. I hate the whole 'sir' and 'Mr Lorelei'," he said with a grin.

Tear blushed, but nodded. "Okay then sir...Lorelei."

Lorelei nodded. "Good. Now, my wife...Well, I suppose I'll say what any good husband would; she was very beautiful. She had short red hair and the most amazing green eyes. When I first laid eyes on her, I loved her."

Tear listened, wide eyed. Who knew the great Lorelei was a romantist!?

"Of course, she didn't accept me straight away...She referred to me as a 'pervert' on many occasions," Lorelei added with a laugh. His eyes grew gentle, and he smiled. "But eventually, something happened and we ended up loving each other. She told me on our wedding day that she had always loved me, but was certain that I would not love her, so pushed me away."

"She sounds like Natalia," Tear said with a giggle.

"Yes, I suppose she does, doesn't she? Asch and Natalia are very like me and my wife. Anyway, she was always very stubborn in what she believed was right, but she was gentle as well. She bullied people if she felt she needed to, but preferred to just listen and wait until they saw the reason of her statements. She adored Luke and Asch; I don't think I've ever seen her happier than when she was with them. She was also very active. She loved playing and cooking...though she wasn't particularly good."

Lorelei came to a halt, his eyes distant. Tear stopped beside him, gazing up at him. He seemed lost in his memories, a deep sadness behind his golden eyes that she hadn't seen before.

"Our family nearly collapsed when she died. I was...depressed, I suppose. I saw no reason to continue. Asch became withdrawn, not speaking to anyone. But Luke...he just tried so hard to continue, to keep us all going. He dragged us outside and made us play with him, even when we didn't play properly. It was only thanks to his stubbornness and a very close friend of mine that our family managed to get back together."

Lorelei continued to stare at nothing, then blinked and looked at her. The pain was perfectly masked again, a relaxed grin on his face.

"But I don't want to bore you with details! There was a reason I dragged you out this late other than to chat."

Tear hurried after him as he continued stride off.

"I'm aware that you're a Seventh Fonist?" he said, looking at her.

"Yeah."

"Well, as you probably know, our only Fonic Artes teacher can only do up to Sixth, so our potential Seventh Fonists never actually realise or never get their ability enhanced. I, however, am willing to teach any who want it."

Tear blinked. She'd automatically assumed that she would have to try and learn about the Seventh Fonon by herself. The fact that Lorelei was willing to teach her, and anyone else who wanted it, was something she hadn't been expected.

"I-I'd be honoured," she stammered.

Lorelei smiled. "I thought you might accept. Well, do you think you could ask Natalia for me as well? That girl can be temperamental at best, and she seems to have taken a shine to you."

Tear nodded. "Alright. Thank you s..Lorelei," she said with a smile.

"You should get back to bed. You still have lessons tomorrow," Lorelei pointed out, and Tear nodded.

"I will. Good night," she said, turning and hurrying back to the dorm.

Lorelei watched her go, and sighed. "She has your smile," he said, turning. Yulia stepped out from behind the pillar, gazing after the quickly disappearing Tear.

"Thank you," she murmured to Lorelei.

"Anything, Yulia. But why don't you just talk to her? I know it's difficult, but holding it off will only make it more so."

Yulia nodded sadly. "I know. But...maybe it would be better for her, if I remained simply a shadow of her past.."

Lorelei shook his head. "She needs a family, Yulia. Asch and Luke and I can only do so much. You have to fill in that gap left by a mother."

Yulia looked resigned. "I understand," she murmured, then drifted off, deep in her thoughts.

Lorelei watched her go. "But do you?" he murmured to the empty air.

"One day, you may find yourself in an unpredictable position that does not suit you. Captured by the enemy, stuck behind enemy lines, you against several others. I cannot help you with all. What I can help you with..is escaping enemy clutches."

Tear listened as the Escapism teacher, Nephry Osborne, explained to the class about how to escape from certain kinds of restraints, or how to make it so you weren't caught in the first place.

She found the lesson interesting, to be honest. Nephry had a way of talking that made you pay attention. Well, it made most of them pay attention. She pulled a face as Luke's nodding head finally hit her shoulder.

She sighed inaudibly. This happened every lesson; Nephry started talking, Luke got tired, fell asleep on her shoulder, and then Nephry woke him up.

Ten minutes after Luke had fallen asleep, emitting soft snores, she heard the familiar tap tap of Nephry's heeled shoes. The teacher stopped in front of them, looking down at Luke in distaste.

"How long?" she asked Tear.

"Ten minutes," Tear replied, eyeing Luke.

"Huh. He's getting better," muttered Nephry, then sighed before raising her book. Tear raised her hands, covering her ears, before Nephry slammed it down on the table.

Anyone in the immediate vicinity jumped, yelping and leaping away despite being prepared for it. Luke gave a startled yell, slipping off Tear's shoulder and crashing to the floor, the chair landing on top of him.

"Had a nice nap, Luke?" Nephry asked icily. Luke laughed awkwardly from the floor.

"Sorry.." he mumbled.

"Yes, well, seeing as you find the floor so comfortable, you can remain down there, in that position, for the rest of the lesson," she snapped.

Luke sighed, and Tear watched as Nephry walked back to the front, resuming her lecture. A few people glanced at Luke then eventually settled down, and soon everybody had forgotten about him.

When the lesson finally ended, Tear stood up and pushed her chair under. Luke groaned she pushed the chair off his legs, and stood up, wincing as his cramped muscles finally moved.

"Thanks," he murmured, mutely death-glaring Nephry as she walked out of the room. Tear knew she noticed, but she didn't say anything.

"Come on, the others are probably waiting for us," she said, leading the way out, though their pace was considerably slowed as Luke got his legs to work properly.

A/N: Yay for angst!

I dunno, I seem to usually write angst. Maybe I'm an angsty person.

Review?