FOREWORD:
A long time coming..?
Well, it may very well be. Why aren't there more Suiko-fics? Well...I'll try to keep this brief. The SUIKODEN series is not owned by me, nor do I use it with the intention of making profit. It you want to discover more about this incredible series please look into it under the guise of that fantastic company that loves us all, Konami. There are certain characters that I've personally created (Varshovski, Garrett, Moxy and Pottle to name some..) for use in this story, and they do belong to me. I hope you enjoy this; it's not my first fic I've written by far, but it's the first I've done for something of the grand scope of the Genso Suikoden series. Feedback is always welcome! For reference, this tale mostly parallels the events leading up to and during Suikoden 3, but sharp readers will definitely spot key references, characters, etc. My story of course focuses on four main characters, two of which I have always wondered about in terms of who they were and what they hid from the public eye. So, here we go..
* * *
CHAPTER ONE: APPLE AND ORANGES
How many days now had passed since the reformation of the new Republic? In the comfort of a plush leather chair one man pondered this question in the company of one other companion, a tall candle whose flame flickered brightly in the otherwise dark room. His eyes were closed, his mind's eye fluttering through imaginary images of calendars' pages being crossed out and then ripped away. Mathematics were his forte' after all..and every night he went through this same routine, though it seemed all but silly and mundane. In these times of peace it was difficult for a strategist to keep his mind sharp. You could play chess and rodah all day long, but nothing could hope to compare to the sensation of millions of lives riding on one decision. Those were the times that had shaped the man, and for Shu those days were both a curse and a blessing. He let out a sigh, realizing for the millionth time how very hard his lonely duty was. He had made a promise to remain at this chancellor's post until the day the hero returned to claim what was rightfully his. It was the oath of a friend, and of a soldier..but more and more it was becoming an oath he wished he'd never made. Was it wrong to hate the very peace you'd strived to achieve? One thing was certain: he had chosen his path and promised himself to see it out to the end. Genkaku's adopted son would someday return to claim what was his, and until then he had to be ready to hand over the country at a moment's notice, in the best of shape.
"Enough," he murmured to himself, an edge of irritation in his voice. "More important things to do."
Slowly his blue eyes opened, admittedly groggy. With a puff of air through his lips stray locks of slick black hair were banished from his face, normally quite well kept and smoothed into his trademarked bangs flanking his cheeks. Lately however Shu had both felt and looked far more disheveled than usual. Everyone had noticed, but most felt it came with the tedium and responsibilites of being the acting chancellor to a country only years in the founding. His title of Vice-Strategist was just a medal he tacked on to remind others of the role he played during the war that was all but forgotten. Noone really wanted to recall the days of massacre and loss; to do so was to question the very foundation upon which the Republic was built on. Forming strategy and running a country were two far different tasks, however. He hadn't slept well lately at all, finding only momentary solice in herbal teas and remedies. Even those weren't working too well lately, as proven as he picked up his idle cup for a sip only to grimace when he found it bitter and quite cold from being ignored. Shu attempted another difficult sip as his eyes wavered warily at the stacks and bounds of papers littered across his normally pristine desk. Ironically Shu was known to be the very epitomy of organization, and not one of those sheets lay there because they'd been ignored; writs and missives never stopped coming, and finishing one of those mountains of parchments meant two others sat waiting to be seen to. How he dreaded the sight of his messengers now, greeting them as always with a smile but knowing deep down by the end of the day he'd be cursing them to fall ill for once, if only to stop the missives from coming. For the first time in a long time, Shu was tired. The handsome military strategist sighed once again at the promise of his new career as secretary to a missing hero.
"The life of a politician," chimed a soft voice from behind, sweet and soft. Shu didn't even have the strength to be surprised, smiling and shifting in his chair to glimpse the form of a young woman craning herself against the doorframe, her glasses reflected in the dim light of the candle. "Not very fun, is it?"
He saw a worried smile on her face, eyes much like his masked abit by cropped auburn hair. Definitely a woman but still cursed with the charm of a child, only she could walk into that door without an invitation and be allowed to see Shu for what he was: only human. For a few moments there was only silence between them, smile held as he turned around and sank into his chair again. Fingers idly worked at turning the teacup in circles on its saucer if only to appear busy.
"It's awfully late. I hope I didn't wake you?"
"Stop being silly, Shu," she answered softly, adjusting her glasses abit. "You're as quiet as a church mouse. Besides..my room's two floors up, remember?"
"Is it? In a castle manor with one hundred and six different rooms and ten stories, I'm bound to forget a few things." Shu grinned and chuckled abit, flicking his middle finger against the rim of the teacup to force a small, resonant chime. Better to take out his frustrations in his typically classy fashion.
The woman brought her hand to her face to stifle quite the unladylike giggle, now stepping slowly towards the back of the chair Shu called his second home. With her she carried a small dish of fruit which she'd procured from the castle stores, nestled safely atop a kerchief which she carefuly held. Though the room was nearly pitch black she had an uncany nack for knowing where the acting chancellor set his belongings; tiptoeing carefully around books and various chests her bare feet finally brought her to his side of the titanic oak desk upon which she set the dish down in a rare, empty spot. Once done her hands folded together over her chest, fiddling with the sleeves of a nightshirt far too large for her. She eyed the stagnant tea and withered candle for another few moments, her smiling fading abit; the silence growing oddly uncomfortable. She brightened again though as her mind sought to get the man talking again if only to break his monotonous train of thought.
"Shu," she murmured softly. "You've been working so hard lately..all these nights, and all."
"It's a hard time for the Republic I suppose."
"Is it really?"
"Well..yes, it is. You see all these documents on my desk..missives, requests, complaints.."
"You can't be busy enough to eat something, can you?"
"Sometimes I am, even for that. This is my job after all."
The young woman's nose crinkled abit when he said that; his practiced cop out. Her fingers stopped fidgeting and now shifted as she crossed her arms over one another, smoldering green eyes digging into the back of Shu's head. How many times had he used that excuse about it being a hard time? As a strategist herself she wasn't completely oblivious to the prosperous state of affairs in the Republic, and loathed him using such an..obtuse..sense of reasoning. Her voice turned sour in sharp contrast to its light melody only moments before.
"I don't believe that for a second, Shu. Not at all."
"What are you--"
"'Hard times? All these documents? You know what I think," she muttered softly, scoffing and turning to glare frustratedly out of the nearby window. "I think you're hiding what you really feel from everyone. From me, even. Then you have the gall to lie about how unhappy you are to me..like..like I'm some child, still."
Shu's lips tightened into a frown, brow creased as he sighed and glanced in Apple's direction. Though she was turned to the side there was no mistaking the hint of flush on her cheeks, her pout and the hateful look she was shooting away from him. Pushing aside the cup of tea his fingers searched the plate of fruit she'd brought for him and decided on meticulously sliced orange, choosing his words carefully while taking a measured bite of one juicy cut. Chewing meaningfully he avoided looking back at her for the moment as he tried to digest her angered words. Perfectly valid and undeniably well founded, he found himself cornered by his fellow student..so well taught by his late master Mathiu Silverburg.
"I don't think you're a child," he began, swallowing his bite..eyes closed in concentration. "I know better. All these years..you've seen so much and had to bear it. You've built on what Master Mathiu taught you and you've used that for the greater good. I see what you've accomplished. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting on it right now..trying to protect it and make sure noone takes it from you or the people that fought so hard and died for it. Don't you see, Apple?"
"What I see is someone excusing themselves for being a prisoner."
"...."
"What I see," Apple continued with a soft voice, void of the bitterness it held a moment ago. To Shu's closed eyes she offered a physical sensation; cotton sleeves and the arms within sliding around his neck from behind, her small hand gingerly plucking the remaining slice of fruit from his fingers and holding it to his lips. "..is someone who sees the big picture, but can't seem to find the smaller one inside. I see you waiting for someone to return that never may, ignoring someone who's waited half her life to have you return only to find you trapped in some chair forever. That's what I see, Shu. I dare you to tell me I'm wrong."
With a heavy heart the vice-strategist found himself struck into silence, his hand lifting to embrace hers..taking the offered half of orange to mouth and chewing it solemnly as their vacant fingers twined together. He savored the taste and let the young woman hold him, grateful for finding himself seated; in reality he was quite abit taller and it would have proven difficult otherwise. He didn't speak; he barely even breathed. Caught between trying to devise a way out of this no-win situation and still save face like the leader he was expected to be, all of his information offered him the only advice he could relay to himself as a master strategist of war: don't say anything.
"I want you free, Shu. I don't want to see you grow old waiting for some hero who may never return. I'm forever grateful for what Riou did, you know that. And I understand why he felt he had to leave. I just don't understand..why you feel you have to stay." Apple chewed her lip and brushed her soft cheek against his, fighting the urge to do more. "It's been three years...and that's enough. Let's at least try to find him?"
He nodded slowly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Not once did he speak, however..confident that the morning would bring about a monumental decision. Three years was indeed a good time to spend at a desk. Perhaps she was right; it was enough. There were things to do, supplies to prepare and tasks to be completed. For the first time in as long he felt like a vice-strategist again. Known for being prepared for anything, the only thing Shu had not planned on had been to listen to his heart rather than his mind.
* * *
~continued..~
A long time coming..?
Well, it may very well be. Why aren't there more Suiko-fics? Well...I'll try to keep this brief. The SUIKODEN series is not owned by me, nor do I use it with the intention of making profit. It you want to discover more about this incredible series please look into it under the guise of that fantastic company that loves us all, Konami. There are certain characters that I've personally created (Varshovski, Garrett, Moxy and Pottle to name some..) for use in this story, and they do belong to me. I hope you enjoy this; it's not my first fic I've written by far, but it's the first I've done for something of the grand scope of the Genso Suikoden series. Feedback is always welcome! For reference, this tale mostly parallels the events leading up to and during Suikoden 3, but sharp readers will definitely spot key references, characters, etc. My story of course focuses on four main characters, two of which I have always wondered about in terms of who they were and what they hid from the public eye. So, here we go..
* * *
CHAPTER ONE: APPLE AND ORANGES
How many days now had passed since the reformation of the new Republic? In the comfort of a plush leather chair one man pondered this question in the company of one other companion, a tall candle whose flame flickered brightly in the otherwise dark room. His eyes were closed, his mind's eye fluttering through imaginary images of calendars' pages being crossed out and then ripped away. Mathematics were his forte' after all..and every night he went through this same routine, though it seemed all but silly and mundane. In these times of peace it was difficult for a strategist to keep his mind sharp. You could play chess and rodah all day long, but nothing could hope to compare to the sensation of millions of lives riding on one decision. Those were the times that had shaped the man, and for Shu those days were both a curse and a blessing. He let out a sigh, realizing for the millionth time how very hard his lonely duty was. He had made a promise to remain at this chancellor's post until the day the hero returned to claim what was rightfully his. It was the oath of a friend, and of a soldier..but more and more it was becoming an oath he wished he'd never made. Was it wrong to hate the very peace you'd strived to achieve? One thing was certain: he had chosen his path and promised himself to see it out to the end. Genkaku's adopted son would someday return to claim what was his, and until then he had to be ready to hand over the country at a moment's notice, in the best of shape.
"Enough," he murmured to himself, an edge of irritation in his voice. "More important things to do."
Slowly his blue eyes opened, admittedly groggy. With a puff of air through his lips stray locks of slick black hair were banished from his face, normally quite well kept and smoothed into his trademarked bangs flanking his cheeks. Lately however Shu had both felt and looked far more disheveled than usual. Everyone had noticed, but most felt it came with the tedium and responsibilites of being the acting chancellor to a country only years in the founding. His title of Vice-Strategist was just a medal he tacked on to remind others of the role he played during the war that was all but forgotten. Noone really wanted to recall the days of massacre and loss; to do so was to question the very foundation upon which the Republic was built on. Forming strategy and running a country were two far different tasks, however. He hadn't slept well lately at all, finding only momentary solice in herbal teas and remedies. Even those weren't working too well lately, as proven as he picked up his idle cup for a sip only to grimace when he found it bitter and quite cold from being ignored. Shu attempted another difficult sip as his eyes wavered warily at the stacks and bounds of papers littered across his normally pristine desk. Ironically Shu was known to be the very epitomy of organization, and not one of those sheets lay there because they'd been ignored; writs and missives never stopped coming, and finishing one of those mountains of parchments meant two others sat waiting to be seen to. How he dreaded the sight of his messengers now, greeting them as always with a smile but knowing deep down by the end of the day he'd be cursing them to fall ill for once, if only to stop the missives from coming. For the first time in a long time, Shu was tired. The handsome military strategist sighed once again at the promise of his new career as secretary to a missing hero.
"The life of a politician," chimed a soft voice from behind, sweet and soft. Shu didn't even have the strength to be surprised, smiling and shifting in his chair to glimpse the form of a young woman craning herself against the doorframe, her glasses reflected in the dim light of the candle. "Not very fun, is it?"
He saw a worried smile on her face, eyes much like his masked abit by cropped auburn hair. Definitely a woman but still cursed with the charm of a child, only she could walk into that door without an invitation and be allowed to see Shu for what he was: only human. For a few moments there was only silence between them, smile held as he turned around and sank into his chair again. Fingers idly worked at turning the teacup in circles on its saucer if only to appear busy.
"It's awfully late. I hope I didn't wake you?"
"Stop being silly, Shu," she answered softly, adjusting her glasses abit. "You're as quiet as a church mouse. Besides..my room's two floors up, remember?"
"Is it? In a castle manor with one hundred and six different rooms and ten stories, I'm bound to forget a few things." Shu grinned and chuckled abit, flicking his middle finger against the rim of the teacup to force a small, resonant chime. Better to take out his frustrations in his typically classy fashion.
The woman brought her hand to her face to stifle quite the unladylike giggle, now stepping slowly towards the back of the chair Shu called his second home. With her she carried a small dish of fruit which she'd procured from the castle stores, nestled safely atop a kerchief which she carefuly held. Though the room was nearly pitch black she had an uncany nack for knowing where the acting chancellor set his belongings; tiptoeing carefully around books and various chests her bare feet finally brought her to his side of the titanic oak desk upon which she set the dish down in a rare, empty spot. Once done her hands folded together over her chest, fiddling with the sleeves of a nightshirt far too large for her. She eyed the stagnant tea and withered candle for another few moments, her smiling fading abit; the silence growing oddly uncomfortable. She brightened again though as her mind sought to get the man talking again if only to break his monotonous train of thought.
"Shu," she murmured softly. "You've been working so hard lately..all these nights, and all."
"It's a hard time for the Republic I suppose."
"Is it really?"
"Well..yes, it is. You see all these documents on my desk..missives, requests, complaints.."
"You can't be busy enough to eat something, can you?"
"Sometimes I am, even for that. This is my job after all."
The young woman's nose crinkled abit when he said that; his practiced cop out. Her fingers stopped fidgeting and now shifted as she crossed her arms over one another, smoldering green eyes digging into the back of Shu's head. How many times had he used that excuse about it being a hard time? As a strategist herself she wasn't completely oblivious to the prosperous state of affairs in the Republic, and loathed him using such an..obtuse..sense of reasoning. Her voice turned sour in sharp contrast to its light melody only moments before.
"I don't believe that for a second, Shu. Not at all."
"What are you--"
"'Hard times? All these documents? You know what I think," she muttered softly, scoffing and turning to glare frustratedly out of the nearby window. "I think you're hiding what you really feel from everyone. From me, even. Then you have the gall to lie about how unhappy you are to me..like..like I'm some child, still."
Shu's lips tightened into a frown, brow creased as he sighed and glanced in Apple's direction. Though she was turned to the side there was no mistaking the hint of flush on her cheeks, her pout and the hateful look she was shooting away from him. Pushing aside the cup of tea his fingers searched the plate of fruit she'd brought for him and decided on meticulously sliced orange, choosing his words carefully while taking a measured bite of one juicy cut. Chewing meaningfully he avoided looking back at her for the moment as he tried to digest her angered words. Perfectly valid and undeniably well founded, he found himself cornered by his fellow student..so well taught by his late master Mathiu Silverburg.
"I don't think you're a child," he began, swallowing his bite..eyes closed in concentration. "I know better. All these years..you've seen so much and had to bear it. You've built on what Master Mathiu taught you and you've used that for the greater good. I see what you've accomplished. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting on it right now..trying to protect it and make sure noone takes it from you or the people that fought so hard and died for it. Don't you see, Apple?"
"What I see is someone excusing themselves for being a prisoner."
"...."
"What I see," Apple continued with a soft voice, void of the bitterness it held a moment ago. To Shu's closed eyes she offered a physical sensation; cotton sleeves and the arms within sliding around his neck from behind, her small hand gingerly plucking the remaining slice of fruit from his fingers and holding it to his lips. "..is someone who sees the big picture, but can't seem to find the smaller one inside. I see you waiting for someone to return that never may, ignoring someone who's waited half her life to have you return only to find you trapped in some chair forever. That's what I see, Shu. I dare you to tell me I'm wrong."
With a heavy heart the vice-strategist found himself struck into silence, his hand lifting to embrace hers..taking the offered half of orange to mouth and chewing it solemnly as their vacant fingers twined together. He savored the taste and let the young woman hold him, grateful for finding himself seated; in reality he was quite abit taller and it would have proven difficult otherwise. He didn't speak; he barely even breathed. Caught between trying to devise a way out of this no-win situation and still save face like the leader he was expected to be, all of his information offered him the only advice he could relay to himself as a master strategist of war: don't say anything.
"I want you free, Shu. I don't want to see you grow old waiting for some hero who may never return. I'm forever grateful for what Riou did, you know that. And I understand why he felt he had to leave. I just don't understand..why you feel you have to stay." Apple chewed her lip and brushed her soft cheek against his, fighting the urge to do more. "It's been three years...and that's enough. Let's at least try to find him?"
He nodded slowly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Not once did he speak, however..confident that the morning would bring about a monumental decision. Three years was indeed a good time to spend at a desk. Perhaps she was right; it was enough. There were things to do, supplies to prepare and tasks to be completed. For the first time in as long he felt like a vice-strategist again. Known for being prepared for anything, the only thing Shu had not planned on had been to listen to his heart rather than his mind.
* * *
~continued..~