A/N: End game spoilers abound.
----
Like a Boat
----
Nobody knows who I really am
I never felt this empty before
And if I ever need someone to come along
Who's gonna comfort me and keep me strong?
We're all rowing a boat of fate
The waves keep on coming and we can't escape
But if we ever get lost on our way
The waves will guide you through another day
Nobody knows who I really am
maybe they just don't give a damn
But if I ever need someone to come along
I know you'll follow me and keep me strong
And still, the journey goes on
Even on tranquil days so long
And at each new phase of the moon
Shines upon my heart with boon
So we offer a prayer
Waiting for the new day to share
Until the brilliant blue sea
Dries up completely
Rie Fu, Like is like a boat
x-x-
There was a strange swooshing sound whenever Lino stepped on the wooden floor of the harbor. The moon was up and brightly shining tonight, and even though it was barely midnight, the residents of the island have long been lulled to slumber. Obel was not a big country to begin with, and the citizens didn't find anything to do to stay late in a normal night like this. The celebration of the new found country was celebrated well enough that day, and the crews and citizens alike cheered victory and partied all night long, and Lino felt like he was 20 years old younger then, though in the corner of his heart a missing sensation tugged silently.
Lino en Kuldes has his fishing rod ready in one hand and a box full of baits in the other, and was expecting a peaceful fishing night alone. Humming his favorite Obelian song, he stopped dead track to found a familiar shadow already sabotaged his favorite spot. The boy sat at the edge of the harbor with his back facing Lino and a fishing rod cast tidily on the sea, his feet dangling above the waves. The thought of going back invaded Lino's mind and he turned his pace to walk back to palace. But he never expected the wooden panels had a hard time supporting his weight, and it creaked loudly as his sandal slipped on a broken board.
The boy turned immediately at the cracking sound, and gave the King a polite smile, nodding slowly. Feeling defeated, Lino walked back to the edge of the harbor, and plopped himself next to the boy, who moved slightly. "Caught anything yet?"
The younger man smiled enigmatically at him, "I think I just caught a big one."
"When I see someone already took my favorite fishing spot, I have this evil thought of giving him a push to the ocean," Lino said, crossing his arms quietly.
The boy shrugged and laughed slightly. "I have that feeling, that's why I didn't turn around when you're singing that Obel song."
"You heard it?" Lino exclaimed, chuckling. "It's a good song, right? I love it, but Flare really hates it when I sings… even though I used to sing that as her lullaby. I guess she gets sick of it."
The boy rubbed his nose slightly, "It's a nice song."
"It's alright, you don't need to be polite," Lino shook his head. "Flare once told me I sing like a horse in heat."
At this, the boy ducked his head, and the corner of his lips tucked into somewhat a hidden smile, or a suppressed laughter.
"It's good that she's being honest, or else I might wake up every citizen in here, and I'm going to be assassinated for causing sound pollution..."
The boy burst out laughing, and Lino smiled sheepishly.
"I like that song…it sounds nostalgic." The boy answered.
"Nostalgic? Maybe your parents used to sing it to you just like I used to for Flare," and her brother.
"Maybe…though I don't remember anything about my parents."
"...I'm so sorry to ask you something like that…"
"It's all right, sir. Most of the Knight trainees in Razril like Keneth, Jewel and Tal are also the same as me. Maybe… that's why we got so close. We don't have anybody to depend on, and that's why we depended on each other."
As waves overlapped beneath their feet, Lino gazed to the night sky, dusted with brilliant stars. No matter how he tried to perceive his son could still be alive, the probability of him surviving was closer to naught. And at this very moment, he could be the one by his side. Though he had told the boy he supported him not in the intention of replacing his lost son, he silently wished his intention will be proved wrong.
"Commander Glen took us in without questioning anything, and then Lord Vingerhut decided me to be the servant of their family. I'm very grateful …that's why, no matter how much Snowe hates me, I could never kill him."
"Well, it's nice that you two become best friends again. I really think Snowe see your kindness through. All of us on board the ship did." Lino stated, patting the boy's back.
"Ah, I think I should tell you this. That day after we destroyed El-Eal, Colton somehow escaped from the jail. Many of our comrades wandered off after that day, but Agnes said that it could be that Helmut who used the turmoil and break Colton out," Lino said, scratching his nose.
"Helmut probably didn't want to see his father die in our hands, after what I did to Troy…he thought it's better to escape together."
Lino turned his face and tried to read the boy's expression. There was no lie in his tone and Lino caught only a sliver of guilt on his face, and the boy scratched his head awkwardly, like a child who got caught while stealing candy.
"You knew about this, and you didn't tell us?"
"Lady Elenor's mind's already occupied before the final battle, and everybody's tension might break if they find out Helmut's true façade. Besides…we couldn't really blame him. If Helmut chose life over pride, I want to think that he has given up as a soldier."
The king sighed heavily and reached backwards with his arms supporting his weight. "I'm glad that he didn't betray us while he's in the army."
For a minute, only the sound of waves crashing the shore filled the night, and Lino opened his mouth to tell him to go to bed, but the boy beat him to it.
"I'm so sorry, sir."
"For what? If it's about my fishing spot, you don't need to worry about that, I'll give you a nice push to the ocean once you're finished."
"Not for that…it's about the, um, garbs…"
Lino felt his anxiety rising. "Garbs?" The king blinked and stared at his own favorite vest and cropped pants, and it literally dawned on his mind.
The boy suddenly found his own clothes very interesting, and Lino laughed, seeing how the boy's face gradually turned to different shades of red. "I accidentally took them … but Flare's always around, and I'm afraid she'll get mad if she finds out, so I, uh… didn't return it."
"You know, I'm actually kind of glad you took those gaudy outfits away! I preferred these clothes anytime, but Setsu and Flare always force the garb on me. Flare's a little furious, but she'll get over it." Lino patted the boy's back, resting his arm on the boy's shoulder. "Ugetsu fished Shiramine up, Shiramine's net caught Lilan, and I fished you up… Shiramine and Ugetsu felt bad about it, but I'm very glad I did."
Batches of flowers were thrown and farewells were given to the ocean the day before the crew went back to Obel, and Setsu was one of them, bawling until he lost his voice when they finally reached the island. They exchanged awkward looks, and the boy looked up to see the moon had curled into the cloud.
"By the way…since you can't sleep, how about I tell you a story again?"
But the boy shook his head gently, tugging a calm smile on his lips. "In that case, let me be the one who do it. Think of it as a favor, Your Majesty."
"Okay, but please don't start with once upon a time," Lino sighed heavily, dilating his nostrils out of fake annoyance. "Flare really likes those prince and princess story, and they all have the same boring plot."
"It won't," the boy said simply, taking a deep breath. "Well, do you know that I sometimes see the memories of the former wielder of the True Rune... of Punishment?"
"Yes...What of it?" Lino answered, feeling the story might be something he won't like.
"I met her," Lino saw the boy gulped nervously and paused before continuing, "The Queen of Obel."
His eyes remained on the waves, but the king found his voice caught up in his throat, and hundreds of unanswered questions turning in his mind. In the end, what came out was, "I see...isn't she beautiful?"
It was a question he regretted.
"Yes... and I also saw her memories."
The next fifteen minutes turned to be the longest and most painful in Lino's life, as the story rolled out of the boy's tongue like water flowing out of the dam, and Lino heard all of the gory details of events decades ago as if he was there all over again, how his wife unsealed the True Rune from the Ruins, and eventually, the tragedy of fifteen years past.
"In the end, she told me the strangest thing," The boy concluded.
"...What did she said?" The King asked, not realizing how he sounded too eager and impatient. He felt his ears might perk up under pressure of waiting.
The boy opened his mouth slightly, and closed it again. "The lady said... 'You've grown so much'." The younger man immediately clamped his mouth the moment he thought Lino en Kuldes was suffering a stroke. But it was too late. He could not unsay it again.
"I..., I don't understand why she said something like that. What do you think could it mean, Your Majesty?"
The Obel King sensed the question was rhetorical, but for a moment there, he felt that his gut had gone up to his throat and stopped his jaw from moving. How he wanted to throw his arms around the boy and apologizes over and over, for something he should have done years ago.
Lino didn't take a breath until a voice went booming right behind him.
"So there you are!" was Flare, making her way to the harbor with small, quick steps and woolen blankets in her hands. She skidded to a halt in front of them, circling the blanket around her father and to Hero next. "It's going to be cold. Go to bed soon." She turned to the boy. "And you too, Hero. We'll send you to Razril tomorrow morning. Tov's busy with building a new ship, Pablo's fixated on the rune cannons, so you'll have to use the smaller one."
"All right, ma'am," Lino flashed a teethy grin at her, and Flare puckered up her lips in annoyance for a fleet second...but she smiled back to her father. She ran her hand on the boy's hair, messing it thoroughly, "Kids shouldn't stay up so late."
Placing his fishing rod on one shoulder, Lino heaved himself up and turned to the younger man. "C'mon, let's go back or the lady will get mad at us."
Hero gave him a silent nod, and walked past the King, carrying his own fishing rod and the empty basket.
"I'll continue the story tomorrow," Lino said, as Hero's shoulder brushed briefly at his.
His eyes remained on the path back to the palace, and Lino saw the younger man's faint smile creased his face for a while, and he replied. "Good night, Your Majesty."
The stars twinkled mysteriously at him when Lino averted his gaze from the ocean to the heavens, and he quietly walked back to the castle, returning to his family at last.
x-x-
A/N: no beta reading on this one, so please correct me if there's mistake anywhere. Based on the hotly debated issue of Suikoden IV, the possibility of Lino en Kuldes and Hero's family connection. Latest rumors said that it's official…though I can't find a link anywhere.