Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Suikoden II etc.

Hiro is the name I choose for the hero when I write fics just because it sounds like "hero" ^_^. Anyway, so if I mention Hiro, it's the hero of the game I'm talking about, sound ok?

The leaders of the State ask Hiro, to lead them into this new age by becoming leader of the State. Still shocked and confused over what he has done within the past year, he tells them he'll think about it, and then runs. For a few years now after the war, he's been wandering around outside State boundaries where no one will recognize him. He's been wandering; thinking about what he should do, if he really should go back, or if he should try living a quiet life for the rest of his days. After losing his best friend and his sister (yes, I don't do spoilers…^_^), life just seemed so empty. The his friends back in the State have always wondered about where he went, most of them were convinced that he just ran away. He's been missing for a few years…and he would have stayed missing…if it wasn't for an unexpected turn of events.

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In Kanakan, to the south…

"Another traveler eh? What'll it be son?" the waitress asked. In was in a bar in the town, which a mysterious youth sat, shrouded in a coat with a hood over his head.

"Just water…please," he replied. The waitress gave the youth a strange look then nodded and walked off. After all, she wasn't supposed to prod the customers for answers, she was just supposed to get them their orders. She returned with the boy's water and left him to his thoughts. It was at night and the bar was lively. People sitting around started to look at the boy and they began talking about him.

"Who? That kid over there? They say he tends to frequent this place now…says he doesn't have anywhere to go."

"That's sad…another war story?"

"Probably."

"But he's just a kid…someone should take him in."

"I suppose so…but he looks like he's seen some hard times. I think we'd best be leaving him alone."

"How often has he been here?"

"He's been coming for the past few months…but people say he's been all over the country just wandering."

"Just wandering?"

"He doesn't have anywhere to go. He doesn't travel with anyone. Sometimes he disappears for days before coming back here. Kind of a strange lad if you ask me."

"Strange yes…but he seems awful familiar…" said one bulky man. He was sitting at a table with another man who was finishing up his mug of brandy. He adjusted the blue bandana on his forehead. The waitress shouted something across the bar.

"Hey! Viktor! Your order of Kanakan wine is here! You wanna take that back to the State now? Or wait till tomorrow morning?" she shouted. All of a sudden, the boy popped off the stool and hurried out of tavern. He left some coins on the table to pay for his food. After that, not a trace was found of him as he disappeared into the night. The tavern got pretty quiet after that.

"What was that all about?"

"Hey Viktor…do you think…" the man with the blue bandana asked.

"He got startled about my order of wine coming in…who was he Flik?" Viktor mumbled.

"You don't think that could have been…" Flik started. They looked at each other.

"Nah," they both said at the same time and shook their heads. It had been 3 years since Lord Hiro had disappeared from the castle. There would be no way that he would be found in a bar in Kanakan. If wanted to be found, he had is ways of doing so.

"I wonder where he is now…" Viktor said.

"I wonder if he's happy…" Flik added. They both looked at each other. They didn't have an answer for that. Meanwhile there was a small campfire burning deep within the forest outside of town.

"They almost found me again…why is it that everywhere I go…there's someone I know that pops up?!" the boy said quietly. He sat near the fire, drawing his cloak closer to his body.

"It's because, you know and have touched so many people with your kind and generous ways Hiro…" a voice said. A blue circle appeared, and a woman shrouded in blue appeared.

"Leknaat…"

"I've watched you throughout your whole life Hiro…and I've even watched you carefully while you've wandered for these past 3 years. I don't think it's only coincidence that all these people you know are showing up in your life…"

"That may be so but…"

"Hiro, I've also tracked your emotions as well…you haven't been happy since you left the duty of being a leader, yet you chose your path by yourself. Why is it that you haven't gone back?"

"I don't think I could handle it…I just needed some time to think…"

"But to just abandon yourself…and your friends for three whole years…do you want to know how they feel about you?"

"How…they feel…about me?" Hiro questioned. Leknaat opened a blue portal. Through it, Hiro could see his friends in the castle. He saw Miklotov walking with Camus through one of the halls. They looked different, they looked tired.

"Miklotov…do you think…that Hiro…no…he's still Lord Hiro isn't he? Do you think Lord Hiro is okay?"

"I think he landed on his feet…somewhere…" Miklotov replied.

"Do you think he's happy now?"

"I'm not sure…but I hope he is…perhaps its better that he didn't stay to lead the State," Miklotov answered. They stopped at a window and looked outside. Camus shook his head.

"Look at this place…the castle has deteriorated…without him, it seems so empty…and now that we're fighting another battle…it almost seems hopeless without him," Camus said. He looked out of the window. The soldiers looked uninspired, their clothes ragged, it looked like we were back in the time of war.

"Another battle…? What is this Leknaat?" Hiro asked. She bid him to look back in the portal and discover himself. The next scene was with Shu. He looked very tired and worn down. A person walked in his room. It was Klaus. He looked so worn out, and he looked pale.

"What is it Klaus?"

"I'm sorry Lord Shu…I'm afraid the rumors are true…Jowy Blight is still alive…" Klaus reported.

"Jowy…alive?!" Hiro asked surprised.

"Then…the rumors about Leon Silverburg are also true…" Shu said.

"Yes milord, I'm afraid they are…"

"Then…we'll be expecting an attack within a week…" Shu said quietly.

"But milord…our soldiers are tired. I don't think we could withstand such a blow…"

"I know Klaus…but we have to hope. If only he would return now…if only Lord Hiro would come back and lead the State again. It's something that is hard to hope for…but, Apple taught me something long ago. That even if you have the slightest hope of something, it is possible," Shu said. Klaus nodded thoughtfully.

"Then I will not give up either milord, I will hope too, that he will return," Klaus said. Shu nodded and Klaus backed out the door. The portal faded, and Hiro could no longer see his friends anymore.

"Hey wait!!" he shouted, "Leknaat…what'd you do that for…"

"If you want to see more…you should go back," she replied.

"But…I can't go back…" Leknaat reached out and slapped Hiro on the cheek. Hiro rubbed his cheek.

"Hey…what…"

"For a leader, you shouldn't be talking like that. You heard them, they've been waiting all these years for you to come back. They need you in a time like this Hiro, you can't abandon them now. The place you fought so hard for, the people you protected, are all going to go to waste if you don't go back!" Hiro had never heard Leknaat so angry like this before. He nodded.

"I…I've been running all this time. I've left the State…and probably caused all their misery. I cannot expect to be forgiven…but…" Hiro contemplated. "I'm going back."

"Then, I have nothing more to say to you Hiro bearer of the Bright Shield Rune…go now," she said. She disappeared as sudden as she had appeared. Hiro smothered his campfire out and stood up. He took one last look at the moon.

"So…I'm going to go back after all this time eh? Well…things should be a little more interesting. I wonder what this battle is…and what it has to do with Jowy and Leon Silverburg? It can't be good…" Hiro thought to himself. He gathered his well-used weapons and started back toward the bar. He was hoping that Viktor and Flik hadn't left yet. It was time to show his face…show the face that he's hidden for three long years.