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 Seven

Go On Forth To Two River

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"You sent for me, Lord Shu?"

Malcolm nervously walked into the great hall, obviously unsure of the whole situation.  He stood before Shu, looking behind him at the hulking figure of Viktor and the slightly bored looking Flik.

"Ah yes.  It is to my understanding that you are escorting our amnesia victim to Lakewest today."

"Well, yes…that's correct," Malcolm nodded in confirmation, "What about it?"

"I have a little mission for you while you are away."

Malcolm nodded, trying to remain deathly serious in front of the imposing strategist.

"I want you to deliver this note to an old friend of mine," Shu handed Malcolm the note, sealed with an impressive looking symbol, "He will most likely be accompanying you back here once you are finished with Mr. Zonestar."

"Oh, is that all?  Not a problem at all, sir."

Flik stepped forward, "Amada's waiting on you down in the docks, he'll get you over to Lakewest.  You should get going pretty soon."

"And one more thing," Shu added, "I'd like you to take along somebody for reconnaissance purposes."

Malcolm nodded in affirmation, "Fine, I assume you mean Elaine then?"

"If Elaine is finished resting before you leave, then by all means take her along if she wishes to go, but I had somebody else in mind…ah, you may come in now."

Shu waved the person in, Malcolm turned around to face…

"You!?" Malcolm yelled.

"You!!" Kara yelled in response.

---

"I still don't see why I have to come along on this asinine mission…"

The others sighed as Avara continued grumbling.  Riou rubbed his forehead in a "what was I thinking" manner, Andrew shook his head as he polished the Star Dragon Sword, Nanami just shrugged and focused her attention elsewhere.

Millie seemed to be the only person not paying attention to Avara's groaning on as she stared out at the lake, which was glittering in the sunlight.  Bonaparte seemed to be asleep, all of it's eight eyes were closed over. 

"It's very pretty," She said, to nobody in particular, "I just hope Two River City is as nice, I'm sure Bonaparte will love the change in scenery."

"Uh, Millie…who are you talking to?" Chris asked, looking over at the pretty, yet very wacky, Millie.

"Well, you now," She smiled, "Isn't it great we get to go to Two River together?"

"No," Avara cut in, "It really is not…"

"Was she talking to you, moody boy?" Chris retorted.

"Guys, calm it down, we do not need another magical incident in the middle of the lake…" Riou sighed, and sat back down again.

"…hmph."

"Whatever."

"Hee hee, Chris and Avara are in trouble," Millie giggled.

"Millie…" Chris shook his head, and couldn't think of anything to add; instead he chose to glare at Fitcher, who seemed to shrink away from Chris as he did so.

Oh yes, I'll get my money from you at real soon, you slimy bastard.

"Are we *THERE* yet?" Nanami moaned, turning a spectacular shade of green.

"We'll be there soon," Tai Ho confirmed, "And if you are going to be sick, over the side missy."

"Really not helping any…"

Andrew turned to look at Riou, "I don't know why I'm here…I mean, what possible use could a treasure hunter…"

"Thief…" Avara muttered under his breath.

If Andrew heard Avara, he chose to ignore his comment, "I'm hardly the kind of guy you bring to something like this…"

"Simple," Riou answered, "You're imposing."

"Gee, thanks a lot…"

"And I want someone I can trust along…"

"Hey!" Nanami yelled, but failed to follow up her argument as the boat swayed again.

"Oh, well in that case…" Andrew sheathed the Star Dragon Sword, "Onwards."

"Remind me why *I* had to come along again?"

"SHUT UP AVARA!"

---

Shu looked genuinely confused, "You two…know each other?"

Kara walked right up to Malcolm, whose expression had gone from merely serious to seriously pissed off.

"You bastard!" She yelled, "Do you have *ANY* idea how much you put mother and father through by disappearing like that?  Three years, and not ONE word did we hear from you!"

Malcolm folded his arms over and looked away from Kara, "…I have nothing to say to you."

"Uh, for those not in the know…in this case, all of us," Viktor piped up, "What the hell is going on here?"

Malcolm remained quiet, leaving Kara to do all the talking.  "Hmph, strong and silent over there is my brother."

"And I'm so very glad of that fact," Malcolm sighed, "Shu, I seriously suggest you reconsider…"

"Not at all, it'll be better overall since you know each other so well," Shu almost grinned, "Now, who else to go with you…"

"What do you MEAN 'Andrew left for Two River already?'"

"Well, there's Elaine there…how extraordinarily handy," Shu sighed.

"Hey Elaine!  Feel like a trip to Lakewest?" Kara called.

"Hmm…oh, sure.  Why not?"  Elaine replied, "Maybe I can catch up with Andrew at Two River afterwards."

"Hmm, okay…" Malcolm thought, "So the team will be myself, Joseph, Elaine…her…um, I guess that will be more than enough."

"What about Mr Armour-clad knight downstairs?" Kara asked.

"I assume you are referring to Kain?" Malcolm shook his head, "I think his talents are best suited here in the castle, defending the castle.  I think it'll just be us three…"

"Ahem."

"Four," Malcolm reluctantly corrected, "Are you really sure you won't reconsider this Shu?"

Shu was now fighting to keep the smile off his face, "Not at all, can't split up the newly reunited family now can we?"

"You're enjoying this way too much," Malcolm sighed, "Fine, we'll go get Joseph and meet Amada in the docks…come on you."

"It's 'Kara' not 'you.'  It's only been three years, surely your memory isn't that bad."

"Whatever.  Just don't bother me."

 "Don't tell me what to do!  I got enough of that from mom and dad!"

Elaine raised her eyebrows as they passed her, "I'll…try and calm them down then…"

The arguing continued as they left the great hall.  Leaving Flik to sweat-drop, Viktor to start laughing and Shu to grin.

"Yes, they will be a very formidable team," Shu said, mostly to himself.

Viktor grinned, "Yeah, if they stop bickering enough to take their anger out on Highland, we're sure to win."

"That's a pretty big 'if' guys…" Flik sighed, "A *very* big 'if…'"

---

"Now Two River City is East of here…or is it South?  No, it's definitely East of here," Fitcher babbled, under the scrutinising stare of Chris, "I'll go on ahead and make preparations for you arrival."

"Not on your own you won't," Chris interrupted, "I'm going with you to make sure you're not going back on your word…in more ways than one."

"I wouldn't…" Fitcher replied, albeit feebly, "Let us go then.  We'll meet you in Two River City then Lord Riou.  Oh, take this too…it's a letter of introduction.  You'll need it to get past the guards at the Town Hall.  So don't lose it!  Until then, Lord Riou, farewell."

"And I'll keep both my eyes on the bastard," Chris added, "See you all in Two River."

"Oooh," Millie chorused, "Can I go with Chris? Please Riou?"

"If you want," Riou answered.

"Yay!" Millie beamed, "Come on then Chris, let's go Mr Fitcher!"

Millie happily strode out of Lakewest, Chris and Fitcher close behind.  Great, now I'll need to watch out for Millie too…just my fucking luck…Chris thought, staring daggers at Fitcher's back.

"Okay then…" Nanami smiled, "Guess we should head that way too.  I'll just get some supplies from the store, meet you at the exit!"

Andrew shook his head as Nanami left for the store, "More supplies?  And guess who will have to carry them all…"

"I'm sorry…" Riou looked apologetic, "Where's Avara gone?"

"Over there by the exit, moaning as usual to any poor sap who passes by."

"Okay…we should get going," Riou turned back, "are you coming too, Tai Ho?"

"Nah, you couldn't bring someone like me along to a diplomatic meeting," Tai Ho responded, "I'll just wait for ya here."

Riou nodded and headed towards the exit of Lakewest, a very small, but very quaint lakeside town, hence the name.  Nanami strode up beside Riou with the supplies, causing Andrew to sigh very loudly as Nanami handed him over the bag.

"The man in the shop said Two River is about an hour's walk from here," Nanami said, "Although there are apparently wild animals around that may attack unprovoked, good thing I stocked up on Medicine."

"I *HAD* noticed…" Andrew grumbled.

"We have to walk to Two River?" Avara asked, "Hmph, very well then.  Let's go before I change my mind."

"I pity any of those wild animals that try to attack him…" Nanami giggled.

*BANG!*

"…stupid bird," Avara walked on, as the remains of the poor Spike Beak faded to dust.

Nanami sweat-dropped, "I was only kidding…"

"Avara certainly wasn't," Andrew added, shaking his head, "What a violent kid."

"He must've been through hell to end up like that," Riou shivered, "The things he must've been through."

"Quit talking about me," Avara warned, "I'm not beyond making you my next target."

"I don't think we're in any doubt about that…" Andrew muttered, loud enough for Riou and Nanami to hear, but softly enough that Avara couldn't.

The three could only watch as Avara marched eastwards towards Two River.  They soon followed, making sure to keep a reasonably safe distance away…

---

"Will you quit cowering behind me?!" Chris yelled as Fitcher dove behind him, as more Spike Beaks attacked, "Are you just a TOTALLY useless bastard?"

Fitcher didn't reply, instead choosing to cower in fear at the two monsters that had almost caught them in an ambush.

Chris rolled his eyes, "I'll take that as a yes then…"

Millie giggled and turned her back on the two Spike Beaks, "Tee hee, don't worry about the nasty monsters, Bonaparte's playing with them."

Chris and Fitcher looked over Millie's shoulders to see Bonaparte expand and swallow the Spike Beaks whole, before shrinking back to it's normal size.  Millie turned back around, and looked confused.

"Oh…did the birds fly away Bonaparte?  Were they too mean to play with you?" Millie scooped Bonaparte up into her arms, "Oh well, you'll just have to play with me, Chris and Mr Fitcher instead!"

Fitcher's eyes were wide, "Please…keep that thing away from me!"

"Oh don't be silly," Millie chided, "Bonaparte's completely harmless.  Right Chris?"

"'Completely' might be too strong a word, Millie…" Chris fought to keep the grin off his face.

"Oh you…" Millie smiled, "Oooh…is that Two River up ahead, Mr Fitcher?"

"Yes…thankfully…"

"Yes, that's very good…now you can get your boss to pay me for my services," Chris said, in an innocently threatening manner.

"I'm sure Mr. Fitcher will be happy to pay you!" Millie giggled, "Otherwise I might have to let Bonaparte loose on him."

"No!  I mean…um…grr, you'll get your money," Fitcher grumbled, "Just keep her away from me…"

Fitcher strode off towards Two River, leaving Millie to stick her tongue out at him.  "Mean!  Meanie!  I'm glad you're not like him, Chris."

Chris coughed, somehow managing to keep the redness out of his cheeks, "Ahem, let's go before we lose sight of him."

"Okay!" Millie cheered, taking Chris' hand in her own, leaving Bonaparte to hang precariously from the other arm.

"Uh, Millie?" Chris smiled, "Maybe we can stop at a restaurant or something while we're in Two River…just you, me…and Bonaparte of course, I think I need some 'Fitcher-free' time…"

"That sounds super!" Millie returned Chris' smile, "Hey, is this like a date or something?" She winked as she said it.

And Chris, despite knowing that Millie was just teasing, found his heart beating faster than usual.

Fucking hell, of all the times and places to fall in love…sheesh.

---

The silence on the boat was deafening.  Elaine fidgeted around uncomfortably as Kara and Malcolm continued to ignore each other in a very hostile manner.  Meanwhile Joseph was taking in all the sights as the boat sailed on towards Lakewest.

"So…" Elaine ventured, "You three all come from Lakewest?"

"Yes." Kara and Malcolm said simultaneously, before resuming total silence.

"Well…I guess I do…that's what I've been told anyway…" Joseph faltered, "Um…do I know you?"

The question was directed towards Kara, who looked over at Joseph, causing Joseph to flinch.

"Well…hey, you're that guy from South Window…the one who saved me before," Kara walked over, Joseph backed away slowly until he was right against the edge of the boat, "I never did get a chance to thank you for that…although, now that I look at you…is that grey hair natural?"

Joseph looked up at his hair, "Well…I…don't think it is…"

Kara stared at Joseph's face, "You know…you do look kind of familiar.  *DO* I know you?"

Malcolm blinked, and then realized the obvious.  "Ah crap, knew I forgot something.   Elaine, evil bitch monster of death…"

"Hey!  Watch what you call me!" Kara huffed.

"This is Joseph…He's suffering from a weird bout of amnesia," Malcolm explained, before turning to face Kara, "And yes, Kara, you know him.  It's the Zonestar kid."

Kara frowned, "You mean that shy kid who…didn't he have black hair?"

"Only you would remember something like that," Malcolm shook his head, "But it's the same kid all right.  Look at the crest on his breastplate."

"Ooh, lemme see," Kara knelt down and stared right at Joseph's breastplate, causing Joseph to turn bright crimson, "Oh yeah, definitely the Zonestar crest…you can't miss that thing."

"I remember hearing about a kid called Zonestar going missing," Elaine said, to nobody in particular, "But that was at least…three years ago now…and the guy I heard it from was a target…but you really don't need to hear about that."

"Well, introducing the missing Zonestar kid," Malcolm bobbed his head in Joseph's direction, who was still a fine shade of red from Kara's scrutiny, "And we're taking him home.  Plus whatever Shu's got us doing…"

Malcolm took out the sealed envelope, until Kara snatched it from his grasp, "I bet it's something utterly dastardly.  That Shu just refuses to get his hands dirty on stuff like this."

"He's the boss," Malcolm shrugged, "And we're, apparently, the minions…"

Kara tossed her hair, "Please, I am so staying in Lakewest.  And so are you, by the way."

"Excuse me?!" Malcolm suddenly stood up, "I'm only staying long enough to help Joseph, then I'm going back to Genkaku Castle."

Kara suddenly quivered, "You're not even staying to see mother and father?"

"You can tell them I'm okay," Malcolm sat back down, trying to calm himself, "That's all they need to know."

"But," Kara walked over to Malcolm, "They want to see you…you could at least say 'hello.'"

"Forget it."

"Ah! You're so damn stubborn!" Kara yelled, frustration all too apparent, "Fine!  You just forget all about them, let them worry themselves stupid, you are so selfish!"

"And you aren't?"

That shut Kara up instantly.  She adopted a spiteful expression before returning to her seat.

Elaine looked confused, "…have we missed something?"

"It's none of your business," Kara looked away.

"Just leave it already," Malcolm said at the same time.

Silence overwhelmed the boat again, leaving Joseph in particular very uncomfortable.

"Um…they've always fought like that…" Joseph said, before his face turned blank, "How do I know that?"

"Sounds like a repressed memory," Malcolm shrugged, "But then I doubt many people from Lakewest wouldn't know that."

"I would never have guessed…" Elaine said, wistfully.

"If it makes you feel any better, Kara," Malcolm pointed out towards an island, "That's where I've been for the last three years.  Now you can tell our parents where I was."

"That's not good enough," Kara sighed, "I've spent the last year trying to find you, and I'm *NOT* letting you slip away again."

"Why don't you want to see your parents anyway?" Elaine asked, "I'd kill for the chance to see mine again…"

"Honestly, because if I saw them again, I'd never leave Lakewest," Malcolm glanced at his island again, "And I don't want to stay there, I was so happy living out there…it gave me time to work on stuff."

"You don't mean the gadgets do you?" Kara said, groaning slightly, "I would've guessed you'd have gotten over that by now."

"Leave it already," Malcolm said angrily, "But if I go home now…I couldn't leave again without really hurting my parents."

"But they're hurting so much now," Kara said softly, "You don't know…"

"And that's how it'll be," Malcolm interrupted, "I don't want to hear another word about it.  I will personally throw you overboard if you bring it up again."

"You'd be dead before you left your seat," Joseph said, suddenly, catching everybody off guard.  Everyone turned to face Joseph, who shrunk back into the corner.

"I think it's safe to say he remembers something about Kara…" Elaine brushed her hair back, "Not being able to remember must really hurt."

Joseph could only nod in reply.

"Wait a second…" Malcolm was glancing over at his island again, "Amada!  Can you take us to that island?"

Amada looked back at Malcolm from the wheel, "No problem, but why?"

"Someone's there," Malcolm pointed, "I'd like to find out who."

Elaine and Kara looked over at the island to see a small boat docked by the island.

"Worried you might be robbed?" Kara said, snidely, "Or maybe you're worried they'll break your precious toys."

"Bite me."

"Oh, that's mature."

The two continued bickering as Amada moored the boat, leaving Elaine to shake her head at the bickering siblings.  Joseph just watched on in a "what else is new" manner.

"Hello?" Elaine was very tempted to knock Malcolm and Kara's heads together, but somehow managed not to, "Island, somebody there?  Ringing any bells here?"

Malcolm nodded, before he, Elaine and Kara headed towards the small shack.  "You lived HERE?" Kara shook her head in disgust, "What were you so desperate to get away from?"

"I should think that was obvious," Malcolm replied, not really answering the question.

Elaine peered through the nearest window.  "Somebody's sleeping in your bed.  And no, he doesn't have long blonde pigtailed hair."

Malcolm nodded, before opening the door.  The sleeping figure was enshrouded by darkness, and nobody could make out the face of the sleeper.

"A little light is in order," Elaine thought out loud.

"Not a problem," Kara smiled, as she used her rune to summon a small fireball.  The room was lit up, but they still couldn't make out the figure in the bed.

"Elaine," Malcolm turned to look at her, "He looks kind of familiar somehow…"

"I was thinking the same thing…" Elaine wondered out loud.

"Oh, come on, let's just wake him up," Kara grinned and tossed the fireball onto the bed.

"Kara!  What are you thinking?!?" Malcolm yelled, before using his own rune to bring in enough water to douse the fire.

"Well, I was hoping to send this whole derelict shack to Ashville, but guess that plans done."

"Would any of you three care to explain what the hell you were trying to do to me?"

As one, Malcolm, Kara and Elaine turned to face the very irate, and incredibly wet, looking former sleeper.  Elaine was the first to react.

"Warren?!"

---

Fear the cliffhanger style ending.  This was the best way to finish my Christmas Day, really unwinding.  Anyway, maybe they'll all get to Two River City next chapter…just maybe…