Authors Note: This is the first time I am attempting to write a Suikoden fanfic and a crossover between S4 and the various Suikoden Series, though I will start with Suikoden V. I hope that all of you will enjoy reading this fic as much as I write it and please do me the honor of reviewing it and pointing out things I can add or do to improve this fic.

Prologue

The gentle sway of the ship and the soft sound of the waves lapping against the ship brought a sense of peace to the young man sitting on his bed. As if by instinct, or driven by impulse, he removed the glove from his left hand. He brought it up and looked at the Rune that was embedded there and sighed. By design or accident, he was the bearer of one of the True Runes, but a cursed one, the Rune of Punishment.

To his own knowledge, there was one other bearer of a cursed rune, and that is a young man named Ted, the bearer of the Rune of Life and Death, better known as the Soul Eater. He did not know where Ted was right now, but last he heard, he was spotted on a ship traveling towards the direction of the Scarlet Moon Empire.

He was the only one who did not perish, after the Rune of Punishment chose him as its bearer. It is well known that every time he used the Rune, a bit of his life force was drained by the Rune. Many past users have perished, including a man that he considered his father, the late Commander Glen of the Knights of Gaien.

It is this rune however, that helped to turn the tide countless times in the liberation of the Island Nations from the Kooluk invaders. The war was hard and bloody as usual, but through it all, he found out indirectly, that he wasn't an orphan as he thought he was. He has been raised by Lord Vingerhut of Razril, with his good friend Snowe at the time, in the Lord's household. And yet, during the closing stages of the war, something that the king of Obel, Lino En Kuldes told him began to make sense now.

He soon figured out who his parents were, after hearing a story that Lino En Kuldes, the King of Obel had told him the night before the assault on Fort El-Eal. Lino En Kuldes was his father... and ... the late queen of Obel was his mother. He chuckled and thought about it. Who would have thought that he had been with his father and his sister all this time, and did not realize it? No wonder he felt a sense of belonging when he is around them, as if he has known them for a very long time, when he first met them after his exile from Razril.

A soft knock on the door broke him from his thoughts. "The door is not locked. Do come in."

The door opened and a young female, dressed in a maroon shirt, white trousers and light brown boots entered and then closed the door behind her. She approached the bed and then sat beside him and looked at him with her soulful blue eyes. "Is it true?" She asked softly.

He smiled at her and said. "So... you know it too, I guess. Your father has told you everything? "

She shook her head. "No... I figured it out by myself. There is no direct resemblance between you and Father, but your spirit, the way you carry yourself is very similar."

He nodded. "Fate does strange things, doesn't it, Flare. If it wasn't for this Rune, accursed as it is, I still do not know if we would meet at all. And I would never know that my father and sister are with me all this time."

Flare bit her lower lip nervously. "I... I do not how to tell you this... but I missed you... and when you were lost at sea when Mother died... both father and I grieved very much... and I just want you to know that you will never be alone again... brother." She then gently took her in his arms.

The soft, gentle gesture touched him and he softly weeped in her arms, for all the pent up pain and loss that he had suffered over the years and the mother he never got a chance to see again. Flare just held him, comforting her brother that she had just found.

After some time, Lazlo said softly. "Thank you... sister."

She smiled at him, brushing his tears away with her lips. "You are welcome... brother."

He looked at her; his emotions warred deep within him, knowing that what he will say next will hurt his sister. But then again, he had thought long and hard about this, and he came to a decision and said. "I have thought about something, Flare. I need to leave here... and not come back."

Flare was stunned for a moment and then said softly. "Why... why must you leave? After all this time... and we just found each other... why? After all, we only just reunited with you, and I would think that you would like to spend some time here, to get to know each other again as a family." She paused for a moment and said. "You have shown that you have what it takes to lead during the liberation effort, brother… and the people of the nations see you as their savior… not to mention that the people of Obel would gladly accept you as their king, after what you had done for the Island Nations."

"It is for the good of everyone, dear sister. You have seen how death and destruction follow this Rune. Obel must not be touched by it again. I have no interest in ruling, and I do not want anyone to get hurt again, especially not you, and not father. Do you understand me?" He said looking into her eyes.

"But..." She started to say, but he gently placed a finger on her lips.

"I understand how you feel, dear sister, but this must be done. I do not like to see you being sad... but this is the only way Obel keeps its peace."

"But... where... where would you go?"

"There is... an island that I, Kenneth, Paula and Chiepoo got stranded on before we were picked up by your patrol vessel back then. If you want to find me, you can ask either one of them, and Haruto, since he has the map to get to it." He gently let her go and then got up from the bed and moved towards the door.

"Wait..." She said softly. "Let me ask Father is he can give you a small ship to go with. At least, give me this chance to do something for you as a sister."

He turned around and looked at her and nodded. "Thank you, sister… I appreciate it very much."

She smiled sadly at him, giving him one final, warm sisterly hug and said. "You are welcome... brother." She walked with him off the ship and then down the plank towards the docks, where he waited, and she went to the Palace.

Lazlo smiled to himself as he looked out into the open ocean, and closed his eyes, letting the sound of the waves soothe him.

"So... you are really going, Lazlo. Isn't there anything I can do to stop you, son?" A gruff, but friendly voice came from beside him.

He then opened his eyes and looked to his side and grinned. "I doubt it, Father... besides; you know that this Rune will bring nothing but trouble to the peace. I will return if I am needed. I told sis where to find me."

Lino nodded. "You know, I am sorry I'm not there for you, son. I assumed that you were dead after that shipwreck years ago." He then cleared his throat. "Anyway, the Calypso isn't as good as the Neptune, but it will bring you to the place you desire."

As he said that, the said vessel sailed into the harbor, and Lazlo walked forth and stopped for a moment. He turned and gave Lino a hug. "Take care of yourself, Father."

"You too, son." Lino said as he returned the hug with warmth, though Lazlo could detect a tinge of sadness within his father's voice.

They stayed that way for a moment, before they let go of each other and then Lazlo boarded the ship, and the Calypso slowly left the harbor.

"Good luck... my son." Lino said softly before he turned and made his way back to the palace, occasionally setting a wistful glance towards the horizon, until the ship that carried his son disappeared once again into the horizon.

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