-Rants & Raves- Hiya, fellow writers and readers alike. I've been having a great time speaking to you guys and I love the fact that you actually write back!!! (YAY &(^_^)&) I hope you like the way the story is going so far. I couldn't wait for this chapter to go up! It's sooooooooooo long.

-Symp-

P.s. if anyone is interested, go to fiction press and read my other story "Mediocre". (That's the one I want to get published and get rich off from.)

Be warned. It is ADULT reading*

* What is meant by the word "Adult": some cursing, violence and some sexual situations, nothing obscene. (Get your "scrambled channel" fix somewhere else –wink &(~_^)& wink)

-End Rants & Raves-

(I wish but) I don't own Capcom, Breath of Fire or its characters. But the characters, and world in this story for the most part are my own creation.

Chapter Nine: Sins of the Father

"It would have been an extensive journey to Freemont, even if I did take the main road", Evenson thought to himself as he made his way on the rocky mountain trail. Knowing his father deployed troops to search for him in and around Nanai when his friend Marcus didn't report back in, Evenson began his trek to one of the nearest cities in the vicinity, Freemont. The bustling city is one of the largest holdings of a military base for the Alliance Faction, his father's Army.

Although Evenson's father considers himself a great strategist, Commander Kenneth would never think to look for Evenson in Freemont, one of the very towns active troops were stationed in. His father would rather choke then give his son that much credit for tactical thinking.

Rather than take the main highway leading directly to the city, Evenson opted to take a more obscure trail, one rarely used by smart travelers. This way, he would be able to avoid any large group of soldiers or passersby's on the way. Incognito was the name of the game. He had to play it well in order not to raise any suspicions.

The winding mountain pathways to Freemont were through the Omniborrow Mountains, some of the deadliest roads in the countryside. It's well hidden alcoves and ledges were breeding and hunting grounds to many dangerous creatures. Yet as luck would have it, Evenson had yet to encounter anything stronger than young foul weeds and Scorpions. His military training of surveying his location and to expect the worst at any moment had served him well

As he climbed to the next level of the trail he examine the sun's position in the sky, figuring it was a little past noon. He had been traveling steadily since the wee hours of the morning and had not once stopped for a break. As Evenson drew closer to a plateau in the rocky mountainside, he came across a patch of wildflower grass, surrounding a minute pool of water. Seeing this as a good time to rest up, Evenson knelt down, cupping his hands into the fresh life giving substance and drunk deeply. While quenching his thirst, his attention drifted away from his actions and sent him back to haunting memories.

________________________(Twelve years ago)_________________________

The smell from the fragrant meadow of blue grass and honeysuckle always calmed him. This was his comfort zone, the place where he could get away from his controlling father and his overprotective older sister. This was the place where he could get his thoughts together, dream of his future in the Alliance Faction. A mild summer wind swirled around him, as sunrays warmed his tan skin. Evenson sighed contently as Marcus threw another pebble into the quiet lakeside waters, hitting a floating lily that sunk from the weigh of the rock.

" I want to get out of Lavenia and travel one day. You know, visit some new lands, become a explorer of the old world ruins, become rich and then settle down." Marcus spoke to his best friend while he threw another pebble into the still water, causing it to skip.

Evenson turned his head to his friend and chuckled "Yeah right, the day you settle down will be the day you actually get a real date other than your hand." Marcus punched his friend lightly in the arm as he laughed with his joke.

"I think I'll stay in the force for a few more years," Evenson voiced distantly, "Not that I have much of a choice..."

He made an exaggerated stern face, turning back to his friend " 'I'm training to be an ultimate soldier one day." Evenson mimicked his father's favorite statement to his troops causing Marcus to laugh even harder.

"Speaking of your old man" Marcus arose stretching "We should be getting back to base camp. You know how our Sargent is when any of his cadets are late for afternoon roll call. He's such an ass kisser for your dad." Evenson silently nodded in agreement as he got to his feet, dusting of the seat of his pants.

The two young men began to roughhouse as they made their way back to the city. When they reached the town's entrance, Marcus pushed Evenson roughly causing him to lose balance and to smash into into a makeshift stall.

"Last one to the camp is a rotten Mackerel!" Marcus yelled back to his friend, not turning to see Evenson land into the merchandise of a vender.

"I'm so sorry," Evenson apologized profusely, seeing a multitude of fine- looking scarves and other excellent clothing materials scatter amongst the grimy stone street. "Let me help you get that..." his voice trailed off as he gawked at the lovely heart shaped face of the young woman helping to pick up the bits and pieces.

"It's okay," she chuckled, her delicate sweet voice was like melody in Evenson's ears "I saw your friend push you. I know it wasn't your fault." She grinned brightly at him. Evenson continued to assist the young woman, never taking his eyes off of her longer than a few moments.

Her long auburn brown curls were wrapped up into a loose coil upon her head. However, some of the loose wisps of curly locks fell free of the band and framed her lightly smudged face. Her lightly freckled face held the most stunning almond shaped hazel eyes he had ever seen. By the god's, the way her petite nose flared as she chuckled! Her full flushed sensuous lips finally opened to produce such a radiant smile Evenson quite forgot the reason as to why he was running with Marcus in the first place.

Although her simple attire was a plain dress, Evenson believed she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

After all of her materials was placed back into the proper order, she held out one of her slender, softly calloused hands in a friendly gesture "I'm Ella Coral, and you are?"

Evenson gently took her hand into his own and shook it. "I'm Evenson, Evenson Otori." The words sounded high and strained coming out of his mouth. Slightly embarrassed, he felt the heat of a blush coming over his face.

He noticed that she too was beginning to blush and shyly turn her head away. He finally grasp that her actions were stemming from the fact he was still holding tightly her hand. He immediately let go and ran a hand through his hair, laughing nervously. Just as he was about to say something, Evenson was grabbed roughly by the arm by one of the military police.

"Otori! Do you realize that you are late for roll call?" the stern face soldier remarked with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Evenson was barely able to cough out a 'No Sir' before he was being ordered to march double time towards the direction of camp. Evenson turned his head to have a last glance at Ella as he marched on, only to have his heart and feet skip a beat when she gave him another bright smile and a soft wave of goodbye.

At that moment, Evenson figured whatever punishment he received for his tardiness was damn well worth it.

A bittersweet smile crept on Evenson lips as he reminisced over how he would sneak out of base camp almost on a nightly basis to serenade Ella under the moonlight and guise of the night. Once when he was caught by the military police wandering back from her house, he lost them after a two- hour chase only to be finally caught by his father inspecting the bunks.

He lost his town pass along with no outside correspondence for half a year over that fiasco. Not speaking or seeing Ella for six months drove him crazy, he even believed thought the relationship was over because of it. However he received the shock of his life at the end of his penalty, he found her waiting for him by the entrance of the base. After the resulting enjoyous reconciliation that followed, they were an inseparable pair, unbeknownst to his father.

When Evenson was stationed out in the fields for months at a time, they wrote each other on a daily basis. When he returned from active duty from a stay of four years, he asked Ella's for her hand in marriage. Evenson couldn't think of any thing better than having her in his life forever.

If she refused, he knew he would die inside...but he didn't have to wait long for her response, she accepted as soon as the words passed his lips. On that same night they conceived their only child, Lily, named after the flowers that floated in the pool in his comfort zone.

Within same week of their engagement, they married in a secret, only inviting Ella's parents, Evenson's mother, Magdalena, his sister, Ramika and Marcus, as the best man. Commander Kenneth was not invited to ceremony and for good reason. When he found out that Evenson was spending his time dating Ella, he strongly disagreed with the relationship. So much so, he went as far as forbidding his son from seeing the 'street urchin' and banning her from the base, stating that he had bigger plans for his son in the Alliance

No son of his was going to become an ordinary civilian, working in the mud for a few zenny a day, not while he was Commander of one of the world's largest military forces. No, too much was riding on Evenson for him to throw his life away on "marriage".

Evenson and Ella knew he was going to A.W.O.L from the Alliance in order to protect their marriage. Telling only his mother of his plan to leave Lavenia, Magdalena agreed with his thinking. She sent her son and new daughter-in-law to live in her ancestor's old abandoned house in Zolon. During the middle of the night Evenson and his new wife left Lavenia towards Zolon, never looking back. Only Magdalena and Ella's parents knew of their whereabouts.

When they arrived at Zolon, he immediately went to work to fix up the aged house with his bare hands. He was going to make sure that his wife and children would have a home to call their own. On rare occasions, his mother would visit, bringing gifts from Ella's family and items to brighten the house and the lives of the newlyweds. Hating she could never stay longer than a day, Magdalena would pray to the god's her husband would give up is search to find their only son.

Two weeks after Evenson finished construction on the dwelling, his daughter made her grand entrance into the world.

Evenson's heart was spilling over when he first laid eyes on the sweet bundle in her mother's arms. When he first picked her up, she seemed so tiny in his large rough hands. Lily opened one of her hazel eyes, then the other one, and softly yawned. Evenson caressed her downy soft sandy brown hair, letting his finger roam over her small body.

Loving tears sprung up in Ella's eyes when Lily's tiny hand tightly grasped her father's finger. Looking at his wife face then at his child's he whispered in awe "You're my soul Ella, but she, she's my heart." He was going to give Lily love, support and trust, something he sadly reflected that he really never received from his father.

Evenson's mother was delighted when she received the news and made her way to her son on the same day, unknown to her that her husband was following her. Hours after Evenson's mother arrival, he was unexpectedly visited by his father.

When the Commander entered the house and saw his son holding his daughter lovingly in his hands, he damned his son for his foolishness.

"How dare you embarrass me like this!" He bellowed, frowning until his eyes where almost out of sight.

"Do you realize that your actions has made me a laughing stock in my own Army? There are murmurings within the ranks that the Commander's own son doesn't want to be in the Alliance Faction. Not only that but you marry her and now have a child! How can you become a ultimate soldier if you're spending all your time with her," He pointed scornfully at Ella "making babies!"

He turned sharply towards his wife "And you Magdalena! Do you realize that you were harboring an escapee of the Alliance? If you weren't my wife I would have you arrested for your part in this!" Magdalena held her head up stiffly as she replied to her unfeeling husband.

"And I would do it again, if it meant Evenson would get away from your overpowering wants. Did you ever ask what he wanted, Kenneth? Did you ever take the time out to see if he ever agreed with your thinking? He's your son not some puppet you control! He's flesh and blood, our flesh and blood! He deserves to have a choice..." The commander raised his fist and slammed it upon the wooden table his wife was sitting near. The noisy bang startled the baby, causing her to wail.

"He is apart of the Alliance Faction. He has no choice unless I say so! No civilian has any say the matter when it concerns the Alliance." The growled through his clenched teeth "Evenson will report to base in Lavenia in two days. You ship out with the next wave of front line defense. If you fails to do so, I will send some of my men to fetch you."

"No!" Evenson's mother intervened "How could you do this? How can you destroy his dreams in order to fulfill your own? Can't you see how happy your son is here with Ella and the baby? He's our only son, Kenneth and their only means of support! You can't place him in the front line! How will they survive if he doesn't?" She shouted standing in front of her daughter and grandchild. The Commander's eyes where ablaze with anger as he focused on the young woman.

"She should of thought of that when she played the part of a whore!" He voiced coldly.

Evenson drew up ferociously from the chair he sat upon as Magdalena gasped sharply at her husband's open rudeness to her daughter-in-law. Ella face reddened as she excused herself with the baby into the upstairs bedroom.

"Get out of my house!" Evenson whispered icily, boring a hole into his father's face "Get out and never come back here again! Damn you and the Alliance Faction!"

"Stand down, soldier!" Commander Kenneth barked, glowered at him. "Your orders have been issued." The commander turned to leave when Magdalena grabbed a hold of his shirt, tears streaming down her face.

"Please, Kenneth, I'm begging you to reconsider. You are sending him to his death! Let him stay with his family. Be the man I remember loving ..." Losing his patience commander, roughly grabbed his shirt from her knocking her to the floor.

"He's an Otori! A warrior by blood and he will carry my name with honor!" he voiced unsympathetically.

Evenson, seeing an ensuing assault grabbed the most readily handy weapon, a steak knife from the table and rushed to aid his crying mother, only to be stopped by his father who had pulled his sword and pointed at his son's throat. A frosty glint shaded his eyes as he turned the sword towards the woman crying on the floor.

"You need to understand, Evenson, as long as you are my son you have an obligation you will carry out. You will become the best."

"I'll go back, father." Evenson growled out doing nothing to hide the rage in his voice. "I'll go back to the Alliance. Just leave my mother and family be!"

The commander stared at his son as he gave a sharp nod of agreement. "Your wife and child will be supplied with rations." he set his eyes on his wife "I'll deal with you later." with that turned to leave.

When Evenson reported to Lavenia the day after the confrontation the commander sent made Evenson row his own personal boat to the front line to pay for his treachery.

__________________________(Six years ago)_________________________

It was unusual for him to sleep in late. Constant movement, policing distant towns and cities, and the skirmishes made it hard for a soldier to even consider dreaming. Evenson stretched as he climbed out of bed. He smiled at the fact he was home again. For the last five months the same thought always brightened his face.

He was home!

How long had he been away?

Six years?

Six long years! He didn't care how long it was, he was just happy to be home again with his wife and child. The military had aged the twenty eight year old but he didn't care, he was home for good now. Whether his father liked it or not, his active tour had ended and so did his enlistment.

"Good morning, daddy!" A cheery eyed six year old came racing into the room, jumping into her father's waiting arms.

"Good morning, Lily." He laughed sleepily as he gave her a long kiss on the cheek. He couldn't believe how good it felt to holding his daughter in his arms again. The last time he seen her she was still a baby, new and fresh to the world. It had taken her some time to get use to the fact that her 'daddy' wasn't just a name written in letters.

He found it humorous how she first thought him so 'funny looking' when she resembled him in so many ways. Her dark blond hair was the same shade as Evenson's and even spiked out the way his did. The way her face frowned up when she didn't get her way was a mirror image of him only in female form. Even her laughter was reminded him of his own.

Yet, even through all this she still had her mother's face, right down to her freckled nose and hazel spellbinding eyes. He would have to keep a close eye on her when she became older and started dating.

"Where's your mother?" he asked tickling her until her squeals of laughter filled the room. She climbed up and whispered in his ear, "She making breakfast, daddy."

Evenson pushed his little girl on his back as he walked out of his room and down the stairs. As he stepped into the kitchen, he viewed his wife placing plates of hot pancakes and eggs down on the tablecloth. He slid his daughter down his back and embraced his wife with a long passionate kiss. She appeared to be as young and beautiful as the day he first bumped into her.

"Good morning, Ella." He hugged her tightly to his body, inhaling the scented fragrance of her hair.

"Good morning, Evenson." She responded smiling vibrantly at him, her hazel eyes twinkling. "How did you sleep?" Evenson gave her a wicked grin as he kissed her gently on the neck.

"I wouldn't know. I was up most of the night making passionate love..." Ella hushed him as Lily ran over to them and stood beaming between them.

"The walls have ears, you know." She chuckled lightly kissing Lily on top of her forehead and Evenson kissing her on her rosy cheek. Lily, satisfied with the show of affection, ran to her seat at the table. Evenson led his wife to the table to sit down and eat.

The family bowed their head in prayer. He had so much to be thankful for, his wife and child where in the best of health. He came back from the front line of active duty alive and well. Thank the gods for their mercy on him and his family! Now that he was home, they could open a clothing shop like he and Ella wrote about in so many letters. He could watch his daughter grow and blossom in to a young lady. Ella spoke about adding to the household with the patter of little feet, a little sister or brother for Lily...

An earsplitting knock upon the front door shattered Evenson's blissful thinking. Lily jumped in fright as the pounding increased. Ella's eyes revealed worry though she gave her husband a curious smile. The knocking continued until Evenson opened the door. His father and sister stood with a troop of twenty at hand. His father came through before he Evenson had a chance to slam the door in his face.

"The enemy forces from Glaive has sent a operatives into our group to inform them of any new developments that we might have come across." Evenson scowled at his father.

"What does that have to do with us, Commander?" He spoke slowly, anger causing his voice to hitch.

Commander Kenneth snorted at his son's jibe as he motioned for Ramika over to Ella. Discomfort covered her face as she gently lifted Ella out of her seat. "We have information leading to say that your wife is the informant." The words sounded tight and unnatural as Ramika fought to keep her composure.

Ella snatched her arm away from the commander's daughter, stepping away from table. She reared her shoulders back and took her frightened daughter into her arms.

"You have no right coming into our house like this! How dare you! I would never do anything that would put the lives of people in harm's way." She retorted as she stared frostily at the aged warrior. "Unlike you, who sent your own son to the front line of battle."

Ramika frowned at Ella "Never the less you will be taken in for questioning. If you're not guilty, then you'll be let go. It's that simple. The quicker you oblige the quicker this can be over with."

The Commander walked over to Ella reaching for her. Evenson positioned himself in front of his family. "Ella's not a spy and you know that! You have nothing to give you doubt that she is." He whispered dangerously, holding tight to Ella's hand.

His father removed a packet of letters from a side pouch and threw them at his son. "See for yourself." He motioned to the ground.

Evenson picked one of the letters up and skimmed through it. He threw it back to the ground, his eyes closed to slits. "This is a letters she wrote to me when I was stationed on the front line. You had someone copy my mail so you could read it and keep tabs on me?"

His father quickly glanced away showing his guilt. Motioning once again the guards went into action. Three subdued Evenson while two more guards came in from the outside, ripping Lily from her mother's arms, restraining them both.

"It's of no importance now. I have to make sure she was only writing to you and not to any other enemy forces. As Commander, I have the responsibility to innocent civilians. I cannot be sentimental at times like this, even if it is your family. Ella, you will be tried as a spy. Take her to the fort, I will judge her later."

Evenson struggled against the arms that held him down as his wife was dragged away. He called out to her, instructing her to stay strong. With tears in her eyes, she mouthed 'I love you' before being dragged outside. The rest of the guards started to shuffle out the house including the one taking a screaming Lily with him.

"Daddy! Daddy! Please!" she wept at the top of her voice, flailing her one of minute arms at her captor, while reaching out for her father who was struggling just as hard to reach her.

"Wait! Where are you taking Lily? Hey! You leave her alone, Dammit! She's just a child, damn it!" Ramika walked over to her father and saluted him.

"Father," Ramika spoke cautiously "you said you only needed Ella..."

"Silence." The commander ordered at his daughter "Plans will have to be changed to include the child. She will be questioned also, to see if she overheard anything from the woman. Until we find out the truth, we'll need them both."

"By the way," He turned towards his son "You are hereby placed on confinement until the woman and child has been tried. We wouldn't want you to get all heroic all of a sudden." His father explained triumphantly as he stepped out of the house, stationing guards inside, front and in back of the house.

Ramika backed away from her father, her eyes falling to the ground. She turned to her brother, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I'm sorry, but it is the way things must be done, brother. You know this..." Evenson fought against the soldiers' tight grip around his neck only to be pushed kneeling on the floor.

"Don't let him take my family, Ramika. I'm begging you! Do something to help them!" He pleaded feverishly. Ramika glanced over her shoulder at her father ordering the men about nodded softly before she ran out of the house.

The commander turned and look at his son "I'm disappointed in you, boy. Battle did nothing to strengthen you. I had to take things in my own hand again..."

Evenson screamed in rage, grasping for his father. "Damn you to hell, for this. You'll pay, on my life you'll pay! He roared, screaming obscenities toward the commander as he left.

The next few days were a blur. Weak from the beatings he took from trying to escape, he had finally stopped to recuperate from his wounds. After another week, his father came back to the make shift prison.

There Evenson sat at the wooden table he had carved by hand, his fingers absentmindedly rubbed over the chiseled initials of his wife's name, his daughter's and his within a heart.

He was unshaven. His clothes were stained with blood and smelled horrible due to his lack of hygiene. His eyes were sunken back and puffy from the lack of sleep and hunger. Eating had become a chore for him days ago so he stopped altogether.

During this time, Evenson realized his father would do anything to get him to become a successor to Alliance Force, his father's legacy. The sweet taste of supremacy had claimed his father years back, turning him into something Evenson no longer acknowledged as his blood. The man that stood before him was no father of his.

That man had died long ago.

The Commander, seeing his son in such disarray, turned away from him, ushering in two sentinels to stand guard.

"She was found to be guilty Evenson," Commander Kenneth began. "She was hanged for being a emissary for the enemy. As a precaution, Lily was also hanged for her involvement. I cannot sacrifice my troops for two spies..." Hearing the vile words, Evenson sprung on his father like a crazed lion, choking him with all of his remaining strength.

The guards subdued Evenson easily, as his father brushed off the attack. After he gained his composure he took a deep breath, reciting a speech he had said many times over to other soldiers who lost family.

"In battle there are many casualties but you move on. They will forever live on in your memory. Use that to focus on becoming a better soldier, an ultimate soldier..." Before he could get another word out Evenson spat in his face.

"They weren't causalities, you monster! They were innocent victims! He declared enraged

Incensed tears fell from Evenson's face as he thought of Ella and Lily. He fell to his knees and screamed towards the sky, longing for the family that he has lost.

Staring at his father, he replied emotionlessly "I'm going to destroy the one thing you cherish most. I'm going to take it away and annihilate you along with it."

Wiping the spittle from his face with a piece of cloth that was left on Evenson's table, the Commander grunted out, "Are you threatening to destroy the Alliance Faction? Those are treasonous words, boy, punishable by death! I won't punish you for your actions just now due to your grief but remember once a soldier, forever a soldier, understand."

The Commander left the house taking his stationed soldiers and son with him. He would give him a few days to sort his feeling then reenlist him back into the Force, now that he had nothing to keep his attention from the matter at hand, becoming 'ultimate soldier' for the Alliance.

______________________________Present time___________________________

I won't rest until I find a way to repay him for what he did to you and your mother." He whispered to his mirror image in the water. "

His reflection in the dew pond began to change in front of his eyes. Evenson was instantly on his feet as an image materialized in the water. Within the pool, rocks at the bottom of the began to move and form the words "Cave of Syn, Freemont." With that the image disappeared. Evenson wiped his mouth and continued on to his destination.