Copyright: Suikoden belongs to Konami.

Author's note: Thanks for the reviews again you guys. I try my best to develop things out and not to rush, because I know how annoying it can be if "they just get together." XD This chapter is mainly just conversation, but it was stuff that had to be out in the open. Hope you enjoy.

Snowe was right. The streets were mostly vacant, aside from the Razril knights on guard duty through out the town and the occasional bar goer. The shops were closed down, so Snowe knew it had to be at least past ten in the evening. At the pace they were going, bogged down by Lazlo hanging off of him, barely able to walk even with aid, it could take at least forty five minutes to reach their destination. Snowe just felt fortunate Razril's new government spends amble amounts of money on street lighting; otherwise the trip back would be utter hell. Now would not be an ideal time to get mugged.

As they walked, Snowe thought about his original plan to get some information out of Lazlo. Despite how crazy things turned out, he couldn't deny that this was the perfect opportunity to get some answers, and it wasn't like Lazlo couldn't talk. He had disproved that ten times over, but whether or not he could get some lucid answers to some serious questions was another story.

Lazlo wasn't exactly in the most serious of moods; however, at the very least it was a chance, and perhaps Lazlo would be even more likely to give him truthful answers in this condition. Sure, he could just bullshit his way out of anything that didn't suit his fancy, but Snowe was confident enough in his ability to tell if Lazlo was lying to him or screwing with him. Before he could come up with a question to toss Lazlo's way, he spoke up yet again. Snowe had to stop himself from sighing.

"Do we have to walk allllll the way?" Lazlo put on his most convincing pouty face for Snowe to witness. Snowe took one look at it and knew his friend was starting up again. There was no way that expression was for real, but he knew ignoring Lazlo wasn't going to make their walk any shorter. Plus, the first step was getting Lazlo talking, so he could bombard him with some not-so-idiotic questions of his own.

"Yes, I'm afraid we do. There are no carriages out this late, and I already told you an inn isn't an option," Snowe stated matter-of-factly.

Lazlo grinned, seeing yet another opening. "Hmmm, I know…….you could carry me!"

It took a second for the proposal to register into his brain, but after it did, Snowe was blushing yet again. Yes, that's two points for me. This is just too easy.

He wondered where all this weird talk was coming from. Lazlo had never, ever said anything like the things he was saying now in the past. It was almost mischievous; no, it was boarding on suggestive, or perhaps it was supposed to be. Snowe didn't know what to make of all his bizarre chatter. All he knew was that Lazlo was the strangest drunk he'd ever observed. Snowe guessed he was experiencing mood swings.

"N-no w—look there's just no way I can carry you that far anyway. I'm, well, not in as good of shape as I used to be."

"Could've fooled me. You look just the same as you did back then. Not a day older, and I can still feel some muscles under there." Lazlo poked at Snowe's chest, nearly making him freeze up in the process.

Snowe looked away this time, to hide the heat rising to his face. Heh. Another point for me. If he couldn't stop it, he sure wasn't going to let Lazlo see him blushing like an adolescent girl if he could help it!

"I-I'm being serious, Lazlo! I can't carry you. You said it yourself; that rune gives you additional strength. So have some sympathy for us normal folks…." With his head still turned away, Snowe didn't even notice Lazlo's change in demeanor. At the mere mentioning of the rune, his smirk faded and his facial expression darkened. "Speaking of your rune, it sure doesn't give you any extra alcohol tolerance, does it?"

Silence was all that followed his statement. For a brief moment, Snowe thought he might have finally gotten this under control. That is, until he turned his head back toward Lazlo. What he saw told a different story. The brown haired young man looked sorrowful.

"Humph, no, but guess what it does give me?"

Snowe couldn't even get in an apology for his careless joke before that cryptic question came out at him. However, it did seem to have a purpose, because Lazlo looked dead serious, but not angry. He figured it was a good idea to play along. At least, Lazlo wasn't teasing him right now.

"Umm, I don't know. Protection..?" He didn't know what else to say. The rune was powerful; he had seen it enough times in action to know that much, but aside from that, his mind was blank. Well, it did look splendid and shiny when he used it, but Snowe doubted that was the type answer Lazlo was looking for.

"Heh, yeah, but in exchange for eternal life! No one else knows this, but I can't age with this thing stuck on me, and if I do die? Well, the rune's charming killing extravaganza will start up all over again; only no one will be able to stop it next time. So, you see, I'm fucking stuck with it forever, just like that Ted chap. Now I know why he was always so gloomy. Hahahaha. Because it is just so exciting knowing that you are going to get to watch everyone around you grow old and die." Lazlo paused barely biting back more bitter laughter.

"Lazlo, I-I never—"

Lazlo apparently wasn't probing for a reply, at least not yet. It looked like he was at last getting to voice something that had been on his mind for a very long time.

"That's why…that's the main reason why I refused to become Lino's successor, you know; not because my identity was an error. I just didn't want to sit on that throne hundreds of years, watching war after war being fought, city after city grow or disappear off the map, person after person die: it just wasn't practical. I couldn't put up with that, nor could I handle faking my own death someday and running away from my responsibilities. Heh, the people would never understand or accept my immortality even if I did. Hahaha, you see? It's all just one big joke, and it's all on me!"

Snowe slowed down their pace considerably to fully digest Lazlo's emotionally disturbing confession. He had never once given deep thought to what bearing that rune meant for Lazlo long term. He merely figured the prince had overcome the obstacles needed to master it, and now he was safe for the rest of his life, problem solved, no big deal, right? Snowe Vingerhut felt so stupid for not giving it more serious reflection.

Really, it was so obvious. That rune was meant to take lives, but Lazlo had stopped it, had satisfied it somehow. If it was ever to detach from him, it would start up a new cycle. Just that fact alone meant he was under constant pressure. Never mind that he was made immortal on top of it all, and even that made perfect sense. The only true way to stop the rune's thirst was Lazlo, and therefore; he must keep on existing, or else it would just search for another worthy bearer. It was so very simple. His continued existence was saving lives, and he was headed down a truly selfless road ever since that day he overcame death itself.

Snowe had just learned why Lazlo wasn't so ecstatic about life anymore without even having to ask. But, somehow, it didn't make him feel any better-off knowing. He just felt empty. The source of Lazlo' suffering was more complicated then he could ever have imagined, and the worst part was he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

He did have split-second thought about the rune's alter where agedly the Queen of Obel took it from, but he dismissed the thought. If the solution was that straightforward, he doubted Lazlo would still be bearing the rune, or so many people would have feel victim to it for so long. Is the alter gone, or is it that it can't be returned? Those questions would just have to go unanswered for the time being. He didn't want to ask something obvious and ruin the already tense atmosphere: not when Lazlo was opening up to him like this.

"Lazlo..I'm so sorry. I never even considered what it could still be doing to you. I just thought you were safe from its power and that was that. I don't know wh—"

"So did I at first….but you know what? Living forever isn't what I'm really the most afraid of; it's being alone. No one is going to want to be around me once they realize what's going on. Who'd really want to stick around a person who never changes, while they do? That's why I just keep staying aw—"

For once, it was Snowe's turn to interrupt. "That's not true, Lazlo! I would. I've been waiting for you to come back all this time, and I could care less if you're immortal or whatever. I'm just happy you're back. None of that other shit matters to me."

Snowe had just blurted out what first came to mind; it was a pure emotional reaction. He didn't think through how it would sound or what it could mean. After he said it, though, he was mentally smacking himself about how damn corny it came out, or worse, how romantic it sounded. Did I really just say that? Oh god.. His cheeks became warm for what felt like the millionth time. But I was honest..it really doesn't matter to me as long as he's back.

All embarrassment washed away when he saw Lazlo's smile returning. It didn't matter how clichéd Snowe's little speech had turned out. All that mattered was that it looked and felt truthful to Lazlo. The troubled man didn't know if Snowe would keep feeling the same way as the years went by, but he sure looked sincere right here and now, and that meant more to him then he could ever admit.

Lazlo saw some hope in the future for the first time in years. He had to admit that Razril might very well have been his last attempt at finding some stability before giving up and moving on entirely. He was thankful he came back to accept Snowe's invitation, so very thankful. Lazlo looked at Snowe, who just stared back speechless but no longer flustered. He just kept looking at him, even after Snowe put his attention back on the street. Someone had to get them home. Finally, Lazlo felt a sense of tranquility return to him, and the playful game came right back along with it. Obviously, he wasn't sobering up just yet.

"Your hair is so pretty Snowe. I've always noticed how it turns blonde in the sunlight. Hmm, I wonder why I've never mentioned it before."

Well, gee golly, maybe it's because you have never been completely drunk off your ass before? W-ait, WHAT? One minute he's revealing his soul, and the next he is making evocative comments about my hair?

Snowe just didn't know what to make of Lazlo's commentary anymore. Unmistakably, he was dead serious only a few minutes prior about the rune, so Snowe was sincerely starting to doubt that these remarks were just teasing or random drivel. As luck would have it, he was all out of blushes, but that still didn't make him any less confused and curious. He wanted to know if Lazlo was, believe it or not, making advances at him. It sure sounded like it, but at the same time, it was tough to let himself believe that was feasible. He couldn't be that lucky, could he?

In the end, Snowe concluded that he could only know for sure when Lazlo was back in his right mind. Then, maybe, he could muster up the courage to ask him; or not. Either way, he wanted to steer the conversation away from his body parts before Lazlo gave him a heart attack. Snowe thought back to their conversation at dinner, when Lazlo had told him he was his best friend. It was as good as topic as any, and he did want to know where he stood on the friendship ladder.

"Did you really mean it?"

"Yeah, I really think it looks beau—" Lazlo totally misunderstood and rightly so; Snowe hadn't exactly specified.

"N-not about my hair! About me being your best friend. I'm just wondering because you know so many people. How could I be? I mean, I believed the friend part, but surely someone else tops me in that department."

"Huh?" It took some recollecting just figure out what he was referring to, but eventually Lazlo remembered. "Oh, yeah, I meant it. It has been quite a few years, and everyone has sort of moved on without me. Granted, I haven't precisely stayed in touch either, but they've all got their own separate lives now. I've lost my connection with most of them, honestly, even Kenneth and Paula. You're the only one with whom I haven't," Lazlo paused for a second thinking back, "You asked me to come back with you during my farewell party, and then you asked me back again during the rune cannon conflict. No one else has expressed that much desire just to spend time with me like they used too, ya know? I've just been too stupid to realize it until recently. 'Even my own father and sister…just focused on preparing me for my future responsibilities. I know they cared, but I-It didn't feel like the family I've dreamt of'… You really are the closest friend I've got now, Snowe."

Snowe didn't expect such a long, heart felt answer, but it was more then he could have ever hoped for. At the same time it was depressing too. Out of all the people who knew Lazlo, none of them really made an effort to spend time with him. He could almost understand why, with Lazlo being here and there all the time, but still, it just didn't seem right. Of course, none of them knew Lazlo for as long as he did. They didn't grow up with him like he did. Ninety percent of their memories didn't include Lazlo in them like his did. Looking at it that way, it was little wonder why Snowe could never stop thinking about Lazlo coming back. He really didn't want a life without him in it, even if he was willing to accept one if he had too.

"Thanks..that means a lot, and I'm glad you came back. I was starting to think you never would." His face softened considerably and he felt relaxed, for once, around Lazlo.

Unfortunately for Snowe, Lazlo wasn't content with this quiet stress-free situation they now found themselves in. It was boring, and he knew damn well Snowe had used that question to change the subject. It just wasn't acceptable. Well, well, since he got to ask a personal question, it is only fair I get to ask one too. Ha.

"Hey, Snowe?" Lazlo broke the silence and steered Snowe's attention back to him. Snowe noticed the grin playing on his best friend's face. He had completely changed moods once again. Oh no, what now?!

"What is Lazlo?" Snowe stubbornly gave in. His lack of enthusiasm showed clearly through the tone of his voice.

"Do you still have that collar?"

Lazlo watched as Snowe's face turned red yet again. He couldn't believe how predictable and easy it was to get him all hot and bothered. Snowe, on the other hand, was seriously considering knocking Lazlo out.

"L-let's NOT go there, okay?"

That wasn't going suffice, Lazlo thought as he retorted, "Heyyyy, I answered your question, so you need to answer mine! So, do you?" He would have winked along with that statement if had the capacity to do so.

The young rune bearer just watched as Snowe contemplated it. Lazlo did have a point; it was only fair. He sighed in resignation.

"Yes," he replied, but it was only a whisper.

"I'm sorry. What was that? I couldn't hear you."

"I said yes. I still have it. Are you happy now?"

Lazlo just beamed from ear to ear, like he just won the largest prize at the fair. Snowe wasn't sure he wanted to know why the guy was so fascinated with his collar right now, not with him totally wasted and giggly. Why did I ever think wearing something like that was a good idea in the first place? Still, it was the truth. He had kept all of his outfits, even the rags to serve as a reminder to never do anything so stupid again.

His thoughts were interrupted when his eyes met the familiar old clothing shop. He pointed it at it so Lazlo was in sync with where they were heading. Thank goodness! We are here. I'm saved..

"Hey, your staircase is pink."

I knew it. I knew he would never let that escape his attention. Damnit.

Endnotes: I suppose they both accomplished what they wanted. Haha, poor Snowe. Anyways, I hope Lazlo wasn't too unbelievable. I've seen some drunken family members go through some major mood swings, so that's where I got that from. As far as Lazlo's problems go; it is fairly typical for Suikoden heroes. He's got some trauma from the whole ordeal too (I'm sure knowingly killing yourself isn't all shits and giggles..) and family issues, but I'll touch on that later. Either way, point was, Lazlo would have never told anyone under normal circumstances. Snowe wasn't so easy to write either. Lol But, since he had to multitask and deal with Lazlo's rants, I just figured he wouldn't be able to come up with the greatest replies.

Anyways, next: Snowe attempts to get Lazlo to just shut up and go to sleep.