Usual disclaimers readily apply, Konami owns Suikoden, and I do not. I would really LOVE to own Suikoden, but I never will. Boo.

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Kahri's Story - Chapter Eighteen
Storm Warning Ahead
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"Who's the kid with the...giant...Spatula? Tell me I'm seeing things!"

"No...that really is a giant Spatula on his back. Maybe he's a chef or something?"

"I wonder why he looks so sad?"

"It looks like someone just broke his heart..."

"Ah...girl trouble...best leave him be then."

Kahri ignored the hushed ramblings of the Coronet natives as he walked through the city. Coronet was a typical port town, and had a genuine ambience around it. The sea breeze flowed through the town, ruffling Kahri's hair as it passed. He was surprised to see some Highland soldiers inside the town, but they didn't seem threatening. Kahri passed by them and headed for the docks.

'Okay...get on a boat and head somewhere...anywhere but here.'

Kahri was broken out of his thoughts as a spherical object suddenly hit him on the side of his face. Kahri stumbled, and tripped over something. He fell right down on his ass.

'Terrific. Embarrassed and useless...woo...'

He picked up the object that had struck him. It turned out to be some sort of Ball. Kahri looked up to see someone running over to him.

"Sorry about that, I really should pay more attention when I'm playing."

Kahri handed the ball back. He let the guy help him up: "Guess I should pay more attention in general."

The guy laughed: "Thanks. Hey, wanna join in? We're a player short."

Kahri shook his head: "No, I really don't have time to play games. I need to get passage on a ship."

The guy rubbed his chin: "Well...I believe there is a boat sailing to Kuskus in about 15 minutes."

Kahri finally smiled again: "That's perfect! Thank you very much. Where is the boat?"

The guy pointed south to the docks, where a boat was being loaded up. Kahri nodded and headed over to the boat as the ball player returned to his game.

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"Excuse me sir? How much is the fare to Kuskus?"

The captain looked at the enquirer, a strange looking kid with a spatula: "25 Potch. Business been real slow lately thanks to the war, so we cut prices to attract more customers."

'Well, that's not too bad.'

Kahri fumbled in his pockets, and luckily had just enough Potch for the fare. He handed it over to the captain, who ushered Kahri onto the ship.

"You made it just in time kid. We're setting sail right now, so we'll avoid the storm."

Kahri looked up at the sky, which was crystal blue with no clouds in the sky. He looked confused, but decided not to question the captain - who undoubtedly knew more about the weather than Kahri ever would. Kahri looked around the ship, seeing a few other passengers. He decided not to talk to them, and instead went below deck to take a nap.

He fell onto one of the beds that were set-up, and quickly fell asleep.

He dreamt of Riou and Jowy...they were fighting each other on a cliff. It wasn't the nicest dream Kahri would ever have.

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The ship began to rock as the winds picked up. The captain was right, there was a storm coming...and they had got caught right in the middle of it...

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The ship rocked violently, and Kahri was sent tumbling out of his bed. He landed on the hard wooden floor, awakening instantly. He got up off the floor, only to be knocked right back down as the boat rocked back the other way. Kahri was sent flying into the opposite wall, crashing into it with considerable force. He managed to get back up again. He noticed that no-one else was down in the sleeping area, hardly surprising with the storm on.

'Everybody's up on deck, what's with that morbid fascination of going on deck during a storm anyway?'

Not that that stopped Kahri grabbing his Spatula and heading up on deck. He nearly slipped on the soaking wet deck, but managed to stay upright this time. The passengers and crew were all holding onto the edge of the ship. Kahri chanced a look behind him, seeing the captain having real trouble controlling the ship's movements. Kahri turned back, and immediately wished he hadn't.

For approaching the ship was the largest tidal wave Kahri had ever seen in his life...

The screams of the passengers were practically silent compared to the roar of the wave. Kahri moved backwards defensively, but this time he couldn't stop himself slipping on the deck. He fell down, hitting the back of his head on the deck. He fell unconscious.

He never saw the massive wave crash down on top of the ship, totally destroying it and sending debris flying everywhere...

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A solitary figure watched the storm from an island in the middle of the lake. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw a ship trying to cross the lake.

"What kind of fool tries to sail in a storm like this! Surely nobody is that incompetent!"

He walked closer to the water, and saw the giant wave engulf the boat. Common sense took over as he rushed back into his cabin. Looking out the window he saw debris fly everywhere. The wave was so powerful, the figure was unsurprised to see some of it land on his island. Then he saw something peculiar...

He couldn't quite believe his eyes as something else landed on his island. He ran outside quickly, and was shocked to see that the something that had landed on his island was actually someone rather than a something. Someone with a large spatula strapped to his back...

"Oh dear..."

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'How long has it been...?'

Kahri's eyes slowly opened. He was surprised to see he was not on the ship, but in a small cabin. Lying in a bed, with a damp cloth on his forehead. Kahri tried to piece together everything that happened.

'Giant wave...it must've hit the ship. But...I was unconscious. How did I get here though...?'

"Oh good. You're awake. I was getting worried."

Kahri looked over to see a man in casual clothes standing over a stove, looking back at him. He was cooking something...'And it smells delicious...'

"How are you feeling?"

Kahri thought about it for a second. 'Considering I was on a ship wrecked by a wave...shouldn't I be really hurt or something?'

Kahri managed to sit up: "I'm...surprisingly fine."

The man turned to face him: "You weren't seriously hurt. I nursed your wounds and stuff, you should be fine in a little while. Believe me, I think I'm as amazed at that as you are."

Kahri rubbed his forehead with both his hands: "Where am I?"

The man turned back to the stove: "You landed on my island after the ship was destroyed. You're in the middle of the lake. I have no idea if anyone else onboard made it."

Kahri looked a bit surprised: "Wow. So you really helped me there. Thanks."

His saviour smiled: "No problem. I figured you'd be hungry, so I made you something."

The man put down the plate. Kahri looked at it to see some fish and some stew. 'And it REALLY smells delicious...'

Kahri began to eat, as the man had predicted - Kahri was ravenous with hunger. It took a few minutes for the fish and stew to vanish down Kahri's throat. He let out a contended burp.

"I see you liked it then. I don't really have many visitors, but it's nice to know I'm still a pretty good cook."

The man gave Kahri a glass of water. Kahri drank it while taking a really good look around the cabin. It was quite small, but big enough for one person to comfortably live in. It was really Spartan. The only thing on the walls was a blue whip. Obviously not intended for decoration. The man saw Kahri staring at it.

"It's actually for predicting the weather. If it starts glowing then a storm is coming. Right now it's almost perfect weather for sailing again. I'll assume you'll want to head off as soon as possible?"

Kahri blinked: "I...was on my way to Kuskus. I'm not really in a hurry."

The man nodded: "Okay, then you can stay here for a while until you're all healed up again."

Kahri let curiosity take over again: "Are you a doctor or something? How did you heal me so quick?"

The man shrugged: "No harm in telling you."

The man then took of the glove on his right hand and showed his palm to Kahri. Kahri saw a rune embedded on it.

The man continued: "It's nothing special, just a Water rune. It's mainly used for healing magic."

Kahri let realisation sweep over him: "So that's how I feel so good after such a tragedy. I hope everyone else on that ship is okay..."

The man nodded, before he slapped his forehead: "OH! I almost forgot. Something else washed up on the Island with you."

Kahri looked confused as the man went outside. He came back seconds later holding...

Kahri couldn't believe his eyes, "BONAPARTE?!?!?"

The man looked slightly relieved: "Oh good, then it is yours after all. He was nudging you when you were outside. I figured you were its owner."

Kahri took Bonaparte from the man, Bonaparte climbed on top of Kahri's head and squeaked.

"He's not really mine...he's a friend's. He must have followed me..."

'He followed me all the way from Muse City. Through Coronet...I wonder if that's what I tripped over when that ball hit me? Then he followed me onto the boat, and hid in my bag...'

The man nodded: "Well, you better take care of him for your friend. I really hope he wasn't on the boat at the time."

Kahri shook his head: "No...and he's a she."

The man walked back over and picked up the leftover stew: "I hope...Bonaparte, right? I hope he likes my stew."

Kahri couldn't help laughing at the memory of Bonaparte eating the Double Head in the Sindar Ruins.

"I think he'll eat just about anything..."

The man smiled before heading back outside again. Kahri looked down at Bonaparte, who was happily eating the stew.

"How could you run away from Millie again? Now I'm gonna have to go back to Muse and give you back to her..."

"Ah...you won't be going back to Muse for a while I'm afraid."

Kahri looked back up as the man re-entered the cabin, "What? What do you mean?"

"The Highland army took over Muse yesterday...while you were unconscious. Apparently Lady Anabelle was...assassinated. And they took over Coronet too, and they're not allowing boats into or out off Coronet dock. I couldn't get in to trade the fish I caught for supplies...hence why you're getting it to eat."

Kahri gasped at the news. He trembled a bit, "But...all my friends are in Muse..."

The man did look sorry: "I'm sorry...there's no way I can get you back there to find out if they're okay. I hope they got out...I heard it was dreadful. I wish I could tell you more, but that's all I could get from the sailors at Coronet before some Highland soldiers forced me out. I'm just glad they didn't sink my boat, otherwise you'd have been left out here on your own."

Kahri fell back on to the bed. The man walked over to him and placed his Spatula beside Kahri.

"I'll leave you for a minute. I think you need it."

Kahri silently thanked him as he left. He was glad nobody but Bonaparte would see his tears...he fell asleep soon afterwards, thinking of the friends left behind in Muse...

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Okay, we'll go back in time to see what exactly happened to Muse, and how Elaine, Avara and Andrew were all involved in the next few chapters...