Runes and Revelations

A Suikoden Fanfiction

By: Novalon

Chapter 2: The aging and the ageless

"How much farther do we have to go?"

As always, she never really did stop complaining.

Jowy shuddered, "Look, it's not that much further, and you asked that ten minutes ago!"

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"You just don't know who Futch is, therefore you could care less about seeing him!"

Jowy nodded, "Exactly, I'd rather be speaking with my son about how he should use his rune…"

Nanami grimaced while the other two men chuckled.

"You have to bring THAT up again, don't you…"

He shook his head, "It's not my fault that my kid grew up to follow the legacy started by Tir… not my fault at all that he stood up to whatever destiny was placed in front of him…"

She stuck her tongue out again, "Need I remind you that he did that of his own volition, because as I recall, you weren't there to see him grow up…"

He shook his head, "Speaking of that… hey, there's the village!"

"What…? That doesn't have anything to do with…"

Before she could respond, the rest of the group had already gone ahead of her into the village of fowl. She saw exactly what the guys had fixated themselves upon… two girls, both of which looking to be in their early twenties, had crossed swords in the middle of the town square, and looked to be in a rather heated discussion.

"Do you mean to tell me that we traveled all this way to see this True rune bearer you told me about, and now you can't remember the way to his damned village?!"

The girl that spoke up was adorned in a knight's clothing and had noticeably familiar plate mail on. Brown hair cascaded slightly past her shoulders, and her angry look reminded all of the fiery rune in which they just dealt with.

The other girl wore what Jowy recalled as looking like a musketeer's outfit, only rather feminine looking with the short blue skirt. She also had long brown hair, but she adorned a rather large hat on top of it.

"I've only seen his village once! And that was when it was in ruins… I know it's near here, all we have to do is ask where… um… Kara… something is!"

One of the ducks behind her, a spectator of the match, piped up, "Do you mean the Karaya clan? You aren't arguing about the Flame Champion again, are you?"

She turned her head slightly, "I thought I recognized you… and yes, my friend here has had previous experience with True rune bearers… evidently she mentioned that I did as well, but I have no recollection of any such event… but since I told her I KNEW one…"

Her friend growled, her familiar sword glistening in the sunlight, "Yes… but this is a hell of a long way from Tinto… and even farther from Kyaro!"

Riou looked on in shock, "Tinto… and Kyaro? Do any of you guys recognize these girls? I can't help but notice we've met them before somewhere…"

Jowy nodded, "The one in the plate mail looks very familiar to me… but I can't place it… she is absolutely beautiful though…"

Tir also acknowledged the one dressed in the musketeer outfit, "I recognize her as well… I remember the time you asked me to aid you against Neclord during the battle in the Tinto area… I was only happy to oblige it, seeing as how I was sure the vampire was dead… and it was great to fight alongside Viktor… but enough with that…"

Nanami stood still for a moment, looking at the expression on the musketeer's face.

"She's from Tinto… and she had experience with a rune bearer… wait!"

The other travelers turned to her.

"Do you guys remember Lord Gustav's daughter?!"

The two girls, oblivious to the conversation had already begun a vicious swordfight.

"But what about the other one… she couldn't be Chris Lightfellow… could she?"

Tir shook his head, "It is said she carries the True Water rune… I sense no true runes in the area save for our own…"

"That armor…" Jowy stated, "Riou… doesn't something seem oddly familiar about her armor?"

Riou nodded, looking at it further, until the answer jumped out at him.

"She's wearing Highland armor! Someone must have created a set of armor just for her in the area…"

Jowy nodded, "But wait… that sword she's using… it's almost as if I've seen it before…"

Nanami suddenly interrupted the conversation, "Ah, I remember her name now! It's Lilly! LILLY!!!"

She turned her head slightly at the voice, her hat slightly tipping at it's brim.

"What the hell do you want? Can't you see we're in the middle of a fight here?"

Riou grimaced, "Well, we figured out who she was… but what about…"

The other girl gazed upon those who had stopped their battle, staring on with an odd look in her eyes. She walked over to Nanami, sheathing her sword and looking straight into her eyes, while Nanami stood unflinching, staring right back.

"We… we've met before… a long time ago… but…"

Lilly looked on, quizzically, "Hey… you told me I'd met people who held True runes before… these guys look awfully familiar, except for the Silver haired guy… and it is common knowledge, or at least it should be, that all wielders of the True runes are granted immortality… just like Chris… you remember Chris right? She always wanted to fight we me when we were younger…"

The other girl gave her an evil glare, "You remember something so trivial as fighting over god knows what… but you can't remember meeting a True rune holder… or being saved by one even?"

Nanami nodded, "Yeah Lilly! You have to remember that! It's me… Nanami! Me, Riou, and Tir, alongside of Futch, Viktor, and Kahn saved you from Neclord! Can't you remember the zombie hordes of the evil icky vampire?!"

Lilly nodded slowly, "I guess that's where I recognized Futch from when I met him during my time in the Fire Bringer but… he looked different… he didn't have a True rune… you do."

Her friend began to look noticeably concerned.

"Nanami… Riou…Tir? But…"

Lilly's statement about immortality in the holders of True runes finally clicked.

"Oh… by all sacred in this world… I can't believe you're still alive!"

She turned, her eyes latching on with Jowy's… and he stared back, suddenly remembering where the sword came from, and figuring out the only way she could have it.

He took several steps toward her, and she did the same, until they stood about a foot away from each other… her height just slightly below his, but slightly above Nanami's.

His voice finally choked out her name, "… P-p… Pilika?!"

She crossed the distance, forcefully hugging him with all the strength within her.

"… Jowy!"

That was all she could say, the tears streaming down her face were too much for her to say any more. All Jowy could do was add some of his own while he continued to embrace yet another reminder of his past.

Lilly turned to the others, nearly ruining the moment.

"So you guys have True runes, eh?"

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Prying Lilly away from the area, Riou, Nanami, and Tir conversed with her while Jowy found the time to speak with Pilika, obviously shocked at how much she had changed.

However… her questioning brown eyes still remained, around with this inescapable feeling that welled up within him. It was almost as if…

"Jillia was sad to see you go… but she knew of your circumstances… you can't be with someone living as a mortal for too long. Because in the end, it would only bring you to overwhelming despair at seeing those you love the most die. She realized this… loving you still for it, even still, she ended up marrying a wealthy noble in Kyaro, and I stayed with them, in time, she thought of me as a sort of younger sibling. I ended up getting fed up with my boring lifestyle, and I took sword lessons on the side, and I met Lilly one day, when her family came all the way from Tinto to take part in some sort of trade business. We've always been friends, seeing each other once every year or so after that. In time, we both learned how to swordfight well, but she ended up leaving on her own to the grasslands, not even having the sense of decency to let me know that she had left. By the time I found out, she had already received some damn recognition for her efforts with the Fire Bringer! And I've always known how to fight much better than she EVER has!"

He chuckled, but stopped as she began to take on a sad tone.

"But when you left… while you were gone… I felt as if a part of me had been missing… I don't want you to leave ever again… wherever you go, I want to be with you."

Jowy shook his head, "We're going to see Futch, and he's going after Yuber… it could be very dangerous…"

She tried to giggle, but the tears in her eyes reflected something else.

"If Lilly can handle him, then I should have no problem…"

She embraced him even tighter, "I want to be with you… that is enough…"

He nodded, "… I'll talk to the others…"

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"You're doing what?!"

Pilika nodded, her expression grim.

"If you aren't with us, then this is where we part paths…"

Lilly shook her head in exasperation, "I can't let you go after Yuber, even if you say you'll be safe with these guys… unless they…"

Jowy nodded, "Hugo needs more training before he can even think of beating me, and if he beat Yuber, then I alone would have no trouble."

Lilly shook her head again, "I can't see Pilika as being safe with you guys, despite the fact that three of you fought against Neclord and survived, and you were evidently the King of Highland at one time… still…"

Nanami nodded, "If you want to come along, that's fine. Don't cry to me when you find you don't like your decision."

Jowy grimaced, "Now the pot calls the kettle black…"

Tir and Riou couldn't help but burst out laughing at the previous comment. While Nanami fumed, Lilly stomped her foot impatiently.

"Well, shouldn't we be going now?!"

Jowy nodded, as Pilika put an arm around him.

"Right. Let's move out."

The afternoon sun shone high in the sky as the four travelers found themselves with two more members, and a full party. But what awaits them in their journey to the north? Only time will tell as the aging and the ageless battle together…

And now, to respond to reviews… because without it, I wouldn't have the support to continue.

Dark Flower: Yeah… it just fit to have Jowy try something so drastic as a threesome with some gorgeous girls… the thing with Hugo, well I've heard rumors about something like that being likely, what with Jowy and Lucia being in close quarters, and Hugo being born near the end of the war anyway, it just made sense.

Fenrio: McDohl always wanted to travel around right? It would make sense to add him with some other travelers, eh? I had no other reason to add him in other than the fact that he is downright badass.

GreatLight432: Even though the Black Sword and Bright Shield runes are just halves of a supposed true rune, their giving of immortality themselves brings me to believe that they are actually True runes, also the fact that Riou's final rune spell is so powerful makes that idea even more believable.

And as always… don't be shy, for it is all of you that give me reason to write this narrative.

- Novalon