Disclaimer: I don't own Suikoden I, II, III, IV, V…

Apple slowly walked past each stone slab, softly clutching a bouquet of white flowers. It was a fairly windy day; the currents batted at the ex-strategist's hair and clothing almost furiously, but she refused to quicken her pace. After all, today marked the first year after he had been killed, and she refused to violate it. She continued up the hill, trying to suppress her annoyance at the weather and the location the others picked for a graveyard.

The Grasslanders and Zexen regarded him as a hero, and tradition called for his final resting place to be no lower than the top of the hill. The graves that surrounded his were of those who died in battle, ones that had served under him. On top of most of the graves rested flowers, brought by those left behind. Surprisingly, although the wind pulled at the trees and grass, it refused to touch the offerings, leaving the gifts where their mournful bearers had left them. Apple remembered her previous visits when the wind would mercilessly throw loose items about, usually spreading brightly colored petals across the burial land.

Apple finally reached the top of the hill and stopped to catch her breath. The wind had increased considerably, and it now blew so turbulently that each gust roared against the outside of her ears and threatened to send her tumbling back down the hill. When she straightened and adjusted her glasses, she suddenly realized that another had beaten her to her destination. He wore a long coat and black scarf. To Apple's surprise, he didn't notice her presence and merely stood where he was, motionlessly staring at the grave with his gloved hands in his pockets. The wind tossed his red hair about his face, but he seemed to either not feel or not care.

"Albert?" Apple called his name as she approached him from behind. He turned his head a little to make eye contact with her and to show that he heard her but then returned to his initial position without saying a word. The wind suddenly died and all was still.

Apple placed her flowers next to another which she presumed was Albert's. "So, why are you here?" she tried to keep her voice casual. The tactician's lack of response added to her annoyance. Apple continued, in a more bitter tone, "You missed his funeral after all. Why bother coming a year late?"

"We had to stabilize the Harmonian hierarchy. He would never forgive me if war broke out again," Albert finally answered.

Apple inwardly sighed in relief that Albert finally said something. However, it wasn't like him to not make sarcastic remarks.

"I see," she said and turned to leave. "Well, I must be going now. Take care," she forced the last two words out. Apple began walking away, trying to suppress her anger at Harmonia's strategist. She knew that her emotions were misplaced and tried to escape in order to save both herself and the strategist. It was mostly to save herself because she knew that Caesar wouldn't have wanted her and his brother to fight, especially in front of his grave.

"It was my fault he died," Albert's voice made Apple turn around. He sighed, and continued softly; Apple could almost hear regret in his tone. "I made one mistake, one faulty assumption during that last battle, and this is the result. I might as well have killed him with my own hands."

"You controlled every aspect of that war. You saw him as a threat to your plan, so you must have planned his death from the very beginning," Apple exploded, well aware that she greatly exaggerated this last statement but unable to control her rising anger and grief.

Albert shook his head. "Never. I would never purposely kill my little brother. Also, there are always factors in a war that cannot be controlled. As a scholar of strategy, you should know that well."

"Stop blaming others for what you did. Words prove nothing, Albert Silverberg," Apple retorted bitterly.

He smiled sadly, "Of course they do not. Even my presence here can never suffice as a penance."

"If you understand that, then why are you here?" Apple asked, completely missing the other's sincerity. She had loved the younger Silverberg as much as she would her own son if she had had one. However, since Apple didn't have children, the intensity of her anger towards Albert was even greater. She knew somewhere deep down that she shouldn't blame the older Silverberg for her student's death, but many months of asking herself "Why?" had forced her into making a scapegoat of Albert to lesson her grief and instead add to her anger. Albert's self-guilt over his brother's death only added to Apple's negative depiction of him.

Albert inwardly sighed. He did not possess the mind set or strength to seek a way to overcome Apple's delusion in his current state, and instead seemed to regain a part of the personality Apple knew so well and answered, averting the question, "No reason. I just happened to be passing by."

"You're both immoral and heartless!" she accused him and stormed away. Albert watched her leave. Satisfied that the only witness was gone, he turned back to the grave. The wind picked up again at his will.

"Hey Caesar…" he muttered, "I'm sorry…"

Old Note: The war Apple referred to is not the one in Suikoden III, and this story takes place a little after the end of the game. (I'm telling you this now just in case I don't update in a while because of finals.)

New Note: I still remember this chapter; I was thinking about using this as a one-shot. The potential for a tragedy made me continue. Thank you for reading!