Usual Disclaimers Apply. Konami own Suikoden 2 and all it's respective characters, places and names. But they are really nice people who wouldn't dream of doing anything to the poor helpless fan fiction writer who is doing this for fun, not profit.
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Chapter Forty Six
Runes
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"Pay you?" Fitcher yelled, loud enough for everybody who remained in the great hall to hear, "Why should I pay you? You ABANDONED me out there, I could've got lost…or killed…or lost THEN killed!"
"So you're just gonna skimp on our deal because I showed a tiny bit of compassion and helped a wounded kid while you ran away?" Chris replied, in an equally loud voice.
Fitcher trembled a little bit, "Well…um…you see, I thought…and then…oh…"
Chris pressed home his advantage, "Let me put it this way Fitcher, you pay me now…or I get very violent on your fu…"
Chris' words caught in his throat as Millie skipped into the room, Bonaparte caught in her arms. She bounded over to Chris, who, had anyone really been paying attention, had started to turn a particularly fine shade of red.
"Are you done yet?" Millie asked, sort of in a whiny way but somehow perky even so, "There's so much more of this cool castle you haven't seen yet! There's the garden, the main hall, oh, and the bedrooms!"
Chris coughed, caught off guard from Millie's innocent innuendo. Viktor let out a rather loud chuckle, while Flik and Shu just looked embarrassed.
"Um…the bedrooms?" Chris managed to ask, eventually.
"Oh yeah, the beds aren't really that comfortable, but you HAVE to see the little crib they made for Bonaparte!" Millie exclaimed, perkiness exuding from her.
And it was only then that Chris realised that Fitcher had snuck away. Why that sneaky, no good, son of a…
"Don't worry," Shu said, as if reading Chris' mind, "Fitcher will repay you one way or the other."
"You'd better believe it."
"In fact, he is about to take a trip to Two River City. It would most certainly be advisable if you go with him, just to make sure you do get paid."
Poor Chris didn't even realise the plot Shu was putting into place.
"Yeah, that's a great idea! Ha! He won't get away from me again."
"Well, I'll be sure to send for you when it is time to depart. You might as well let young Millie show you her bedroom…"
Viktor couldn't hold in the tremendous laugh that reverberated throughout the great hall, Flik could only rub his forehead, as if a migraine was coming along. Millie, however, seemed nonplussed at the idea.
"Okay! I'll bring Chris back later Mister Shu! Come on Chris!"
Chris could only sweat-drop as the pent-up energy that is more commonly known as Millie took his hand and led him out of the great hall.
Flik could only look on and shake his head.
"Cute couple…" He muttered.
---
"Oh my…look at that Riou."
It was the quietest anyone had ever heard Nanami, as she pointed over at the port town of Kuskus. Riou squinted, as the town was pretty far away, but it was pretty clear to see the mass of Highland Soldiers invading it.
"There's nothing we can do Nanami," Riou said sadly, "It'll be too late by the time we get back to the castle and tell Shu about it."
"We must take extra caution getting back to Genkaku Castle, Lord Riou. We cannot be seen by those brutes," Ryu whispered, sounding haughty even so.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
"Never mind…" Ryu muttered.
Ryu instantly spun around, catching the soldier with a less than technical, but still very effective, diagonal axe slash. The soldier was sent sprawling to the ground, landing very awkwardly on his right hip. The soldier let out a loud cry of pain, before being silenced by Amada's massive Oak Oar slamming into his forehead.
"That should leave him sleepin' for a while." Amada chuckled, "But that yelpin' he did was probably enough to…"
Amada stopped as he heard the ominous sound of swords being pulled out of their scabbards.
"…alert his buddies." Amada finished, turning around slowly.
Stood before Riou, Nanami, Ryu and Amada was at least half a dozen Highland Soldiers, all brandishing swords that gleamed in the sunlight, making them look much more impressive than they actually were.
"What is it about the number 6 around here anyway…" Ryu muttered as the soldiers charged.
The less experienced soldiers rushed in first, one tried to bring his sword down in an arc, aimed right at Amada's head. Amada simply blocked with his Oar, the sword embedded itself into it, becoming stuck in the process. The soldier tried to pull the sword out, but Riou had ducked underneath the oar and caught the soldier on the chin with a tonfa thrust. The soldier fell backwards in a less than spectacular fashion, his jaw clearly broken, and a couple of his teeth fell to the earth below.
Meanwhile Nanami managed to avoid some very inelegant sword thrusts with some very elegant back flips. Nanami waited patiently for an opening, and when the opportunity arrived she caught the hasty soldier with two very quick shots from her three-point rod. The soldier was stunned, allowing Nanami to catch him with a leg sweep. The soldier fell, and unluckily hit his head on a nearby rock, rendering him unconscious.
Ryu managed to take out a couple of the soldiers, who managed to very successfully get in each others way, allowing Ryu to take them out easily with his twin axes. He took a moment to clean the axes, before turning back to face the remaining two soldiers.
Who had successfully managed to get away.
"Cowards!" Nanami yelled.
It was only then that they realised the other two soldiers might just call for back up…
"GET THEM!"
"Eeep. Never mind!" Nanami cried as a much larger group of soldiers appeared before them.
"Okay…anybody got a half decent plan right about now?" Amada bellowed, as the soldiers approached, "One where we all survive would be decent enough."
"Stand back Amada," Ryu walked a little ahead of the others, "I'll take care of this."
Amada seemed to understand what Ryu was talking about, but Nanami and Riou sure as hell didn't.
"What is he doing?" Riou asked Amada.
"Just be ready to follow his lead, kid."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nanami hissed.
"Just wait."
And they did. Ryu stood deathly still, only the breeze ruffled through his red robes, kinda ruining the whole effect. But it suddenly seemed as if Ryu was glowing…
"What in the world…?"
Riou never finished, as Ryu suddenly threw both his axes into the air. And as he did so, the red aura surrounding Ryu glowed deeper and more fearsome. The soldiers had all stopped in their tracks, not quite sure what to make of the whole situation.
The axes began to fall back down to earth, and with two quick grabs, back into Ryu's hands…
And then he charged.
"Is he out of his mind?" Nanami yelled.
"That's our cue, come on!" Amada ran after Ryu.
"Nuts…their all nuts, Riou."
But when she turned to face Riou, all she saw was the dust he had left behind as he charged after Ryu and Amada.
"Hey! Wait for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…"
Ryu plowed through the soldiers. His movements seemed to fast for the eye to see, but obviously it was having an effect, as several soldiers fell to the ground, axe wounds very evident. Amada, Riou or Nanami quickly picked any soldier who managed to avoid the admittedly impressive attack. Eventually they broke free of the soldiers, the survivors were simply awestruck at what had just happened.
"What was that?" Nanami said, disbelief echoing her words.
"Very powerful Rune…The 'Blood Lust' Rune," Ryu said, his voice ragged, "It takes a lot out of you…"
Ryu began to sway, but Amada caught him before he fell and hoisted him over his shoulder.
"Come on, we'd better get a move on," Amada pointed back at the soldiers, "They'll snap out of that trance pretty quickly."
"You don't have to tell us twice!" Nanami yelled, grabbing Riou by the arm and dragging him, most unnecessarily, towards Genkaku Castle.
---
Kara sat on the boat that belonged to the rogue fisherman Tai Ho, it's
destination: Genkaku Castle. She sat at
the tail end of the boat, staring backwards across the river at the no longer
visible port town of Kuskus. Her head
rested in her crossed over arms, and tearstains decorating her cheeks.
"It's no good moping about it lass."
Kara blinked out of her trance, and looked back over her shoulder at Tai Ho, who was doing his best to put on a helpful expression, but on him it just looked lecherous.
"…"
Tai Ho began to look slightly worried, "What, no witty retort?"
"…you should be steering the boat."
"I think I know what I'm doing…"
Tai Ho's words were cut off by the ship rocking violently to one side. He quickly resumed the task of steering the ship, allowing Kara to resume her grief for the citizens of Kuskus, now under Highland rule.
"He is right you know."
"Urgh…stop trying to cheer me up," Kara snapped back.
"I'm not," Andrew replied, "But it will only make things worse if you keep thinking about it."
Kara gazed over at Andrew, who held the still unconscious form of Elaine in his arms, her head resting on his lap.
"…just take care of Elaine and leave me alone."
"Look," The voice was so pain-filled it could only have been Yam Koo. "I know you're obviously upset, but you're not the only one. Stop trying to be all independent about it."
Kara didn't look happy with that little speech, "And you should be resting that leg of yours."
Yam Koo sighed, "There you go again, putting your own pain aside because you're trying to be all lone wolf about the situation."
"Stop it!" Kara yelled, catching everybody off guard, "Just because you're all mature and stuff and you can handle this better than I can doesn't mean I'm being independent!"
"I've already seen what Highland do to the towns they take over! I was there in South Window when Granmeyer was beheaded, they forced every last man, woman and child in South Window to watch…or be executed."
"So how do you think that makes me feel? I've already been powerless to help one town, now I was powerless to help another…Kuskus reminded me of my own home…and to see it…"
Emotions overwhelmed Kara, as she fell to her knees and just let the tears flow down her face. Yam Koo and Andrew exchanged a look that had "oops" written all over it.
"mmm…urgh, somebody quiet the baby…trying to sleep here."
And Kara stopped instantly, as Andrew breathed a sigh of relief.
"Elaine…thank god."
"Oh…urgh, if you don't mind I'll just lie here a little longer."
"Not at all."
"That's good, because I have no intentions of moving."
"Urgh," Kara moaned, "Pass the sick bag…"
"You gonna be sea sick?" Yam Koo asked, concerned.
"No, all this mush is making me nauseous," Kara walked over to the edge of the boat and mimed throwing up over the side, causing Andrew to snort with disgust, and Elaine to do nothing because she had fallen asleep.
Yam Koo let out a small chuckle as the young girl, who had only seconds ago been crying her eyes out, suddenly reverted back to her cheeky self.
"Well, before you throw up everywhere, could you at least redress my bandages?"
Kara turned back around, "Oh, sure, no problem Yam Koo."
"We'll be at Genkaku Castle pretty soon," Tai Ho yelled, "We'll get that dead leg of yours fixed up in no time."
"Gee, thanks for the encouraging words bro."
---
Joseph Zonestar sat in silence in the room, watching the mage known as Avara sleep. So far everything had been normal, and Avara's magical energy was currently dormant. All in all, his presence in Avara's room was unnecessary. But Joseph just couldn't bring himself to leave, mostly in fear of waking up the angry mage, and partially because he promised the Doctor he would stay and monitor Avara in case another incident occurred. It's no ordinary Lightning Rune he has…It must be something much more…
Occasionally he heard voices outside, nothing more than passing people having conversation. But he couldn't help eavesdropping every time he heard the Doctor's voice.
"I can't believe this…it's like an epidemic," That was the Doctor for sure, "And to think I thought it would be quiet for now…before the storm."
"So it was the magician who's resting in there that did that?" This voice was unfamiliar to Joseph, but he seemed to know something, so he continued listening, "It was impressive, to say the least."
"Well, no real harm was done. Your friend Kahri just needs his rest."
"Who was the other one you mentioned?"
"He says his name is Joseph Zonestar," Joseph flinched as he realized the conversation was now about him, "He seems to have amnesia, yet I would not be surprised if he knew more about magical energy than anyone else in this castle. It's quite extraordinary, to tell the truth."
"Zonestar?"
"Yes, that's what he told us. Do you recognise the name?"
"Oh yes, practically everybody in Lakewest knows of the Zonestar family. Very wealthy, they run a very successful boating venture. Joseph, eh? My sister used to play with a kid named Joseph Zonestar, now that I come to think of it. Shy kid."
"Oh my, you don't suppose that this Joseph and the Joseph you described are…"
"One and the same?" They said at the same time.
And with that Joseph jumped up in utter surprise, and in the process knocked over the stool he was sitting on, causing it to crash into the wall.
A millisecond later a lightning bolt crashed into the floor, just inches away from Joseph. Joseph let out a shriek as he jumped backwards. The door swung open as the Doctor and the person he was talking to ran in. The person grabbed the jug of water by the doorside table and threw it at Avara. Joseph would have laughed if it wasn't for the fact the person began controlling the water as it flew through the air, it circled around Avara's arms and waist, and suddenly froze solid, binding Avara's arms to his sides.
It all happened in less than 10 seconds.
Avara struggled against the ice bonds, but to no avail. Joseph, suddenly realising the full extent of what happened, slumped down against the wall.
"Well," Doctor Huan said, "At least we know Avara has fully recovered and may leave when he wishes."
"Which is RIGHT THIS SECOND, I demand you release me!" Avara yelled, anger flaring up inside him.
The person smiled, "You didn't say please."
"Don't even think about antagonising me Tidal boy."
"That will do. Sheesh…"
With a wave of his hand, the water unfroze and floated in the air for a second, before the person guided it back into the jug.
Avara narrowed his eyes at the person, before he retrieved his staff and left the room without a word.
"Well…that was…how did you do that?" Joseph asked, "No, wait…forget that…what do you know about me? I know you know something about me, I heard you talking about me."
"Joseph, I presume?" He asked Doctor Huan, who nodded, "Well Joseph, you come from Lakewest Town, which is where you grew up, it's a small port town. Your mother and father, Cheryl and Vincent Zonestar, own quite a substantial part of the town, although it is all in your father's name. You used to keep yourself to yourself…but you did hang around with my sister…and I think you had a sister too, not sure about that though… I think you went away to Greenhill Academy about…eight…maybe nine years ago, everybody was really excited about it. But reports say you ran away from the school, around three or four years ago, come to think about it. There was a really big deal made about it."
"Oh, that would make sense," Joseph managed to get back up to his feet, "That's about the time I found this…or maybe it would be safer to say, it found me."
Joseph held up his hand, the hand with the mysterious Rune on it.
"It's known as the 'Night Sky' Rune, it's very dangerous…to everybody, including me. It sort of attracted me to it…then it took me over and I couldn't remember a thing before that afterwards. I blame this stupid Rune for everything bad that happened since then, it keeps being drawn towards different locations…this castle being the latest. It brings nothing but misery to me and those around me…I hate it."
"Then why don't you simply have it removed?" Doctor Huan asked.
"Don't you think I tried that?" Joseph yelled, "I've been to so many so called 'Runemasters', but not one of them could remove this accursed Rune. And I can't do anything about it, and it hurts…"
"It's okay, we're here to help you," The person said, soothingly, "My name is Malcolm, I doubt you would remember me anyway, but I do know you. The best thing we can do for you is to get you to Lakewest, and try and jog your memory."
"Ah, that is most fortunate," Doctor Huan smiled, "Lord Riou and a small group are travelling to Two River city via Lakewest, perhaps Joseph could go along too."
"That's great news," Malcolm nodded, "And I'll go too, since I do come from there…it'll hurt to go back, but it's for the best."
Joseph slowly turned a deep shade of red, "Um…w…well, thank you…oh my, you're so kind."
"Why are you blushing?" Malcolm asked.
"Oh…I just don't handle attention very well, that's all."
Malcolm smiled, "Not like my sister…she's such an attention seeker."
"DOCTOR!!!"
Doctor Huan quickly excused himself and went outside.
Malcolm shrugged, "See, that is exactly how she'd make an entrance."
---
"Okay Doc, Yam Koo over there, he's the one with the floppy hair, he got shot in the leg with an arrow. We dressed it up best we could, my poor shirt…"
"Calm down miss, you did a very good job of it…" Doctor Huan sighed, "I'll just ask Tuta to disinfect the wound, the rest will have to heal itself."
Kara beamed, "Yay, okay…now Elaine over there, the pale skinned girl that Andrew is propping up, over exerted herself using that Rune of hers, at least that's the excuse we're getting, I think she just needs some rest…I don't think you're needed for that. Andrew can take her to his…her room. Definitely her room."
Andrew rolled his eyes, "You're worse than Shu is…"
Elaine smiled, "Just get me to my bed already before I kill you."
"Doctor Huan!"
"Ah, it sounds like Nanami is back…"
"Can we get a room for Ryu here, he needs some time to recover. You should've seen the attack he used! It was amazing, he'd tell it much better though…" Nanami smirked.
"You can say that again…" Amada grumbled, "I think he's putting on weight."
"You can put him down in that room just there," Doctor Huan pointed at the room Avara had just exited. "Oh, Lord Riou, you'd better go see Lord Shu about getting to Two River City now."
Riou nodded, "Good idea, we really should report what happened in Kuskus to him anyway."
---
"It is unfortunate about Kuskus, that is for sure," Shu looked deep in thought, "We really could use the support of Two River City now more than ever."
Viktor nodded in agreement, "So who did ya get to sail over to Lakewest?"
"We've got a couple of candidates…" Riou pointed to the door, where Amada and Tai Ho walked in.
"Hey, if it isn't Tai Ho!" Viktor bellowed, "How have ya been? What are you doing here?"
"Hey, it's good to see your face again, you old seadog." Tai Ho grinned, "This part of the river is like my own backyard. Well, I see you still like sticking your neck into suicidal causes."
"Seems I'm not the only one…" Viktor smirked.
"Indeed you're right. A boring life is meaningless."
"Okay, Lord Riou will go on to Two River City with Fitcher, and whomever he chooses to take with him. I understand from Doctor Huan that Malcolm will be escorting Joseph Zonestar to Lakewest…could somebody summon Malcolm and Kara here? Tai Ho, could you go with Lord Riou's party, Amada will go with the others."
"Well, take care of Lord Riou, eh." Viktor patted Tai Ho on the shoulder
"The boat is down below."
"Leave it to me. On the water, nobody can hold a candle to me." Tai Ho grinned.
"Hmph, I'd like to test that theory someday…" Amada grumbled.
"Then let's go, Lord Riou," Fitcher said, "Sir Tai Ho, first head west on the lake, and you'll see Lakewest after a short while. We'll dock there, and head to Two River City on foot."
Flik spoke up, "Who would you like to go with you, Lord Riou?"
Riou thought about it for a second, "Well…"
"Me of course!" Nanami chorused.
"You should also take Chris along with you," Shu added, noting Fitcher's horrified expression, "Who else would you like to go with you?"
Hmm…let's see…Kahri, Elaine and Ryu are all resting up…it might be a good idea to let Avara blow off some steam.
"Andrew, Avara and…Millie, since Chris seems to know her."
"Summon everyone and tell them to meet in the docks below," Shu ordered, "Good luck Lord Riou."
---
Shorter this time around, but I think several short chapters that get finished quicker are better than one long chapter that takes months to get finished. It's finally time to advance the story, as Riou and company head to Two River City…but what will happen then, and what will happen with the Party heading to Lakewest? Only time will tell…
