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. 

Other Disclaimers:  Nothing to report.

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Chapter Forty Nine

Lakewest…again

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"I can see Lakewest!" Kara exclaimed happily, "Yay!  Home sweet home!"

Kara stood at the front of the boat, and was soon joined by Joseph and Warren, both anxious to see the town.  Meanwhile Malcolm and Elaine remained seated.

"So what's the agenda?" Elaine asked.

"Well, first we'll try and get Joseph in to see his parents, then we'll deliver the letter," Malcolm patted his pockets, "Um…where is it?"

Elaine held it up, "It fell out of your pocket during your game of football with Kara."

"Maybe you should just hold onto it…I think it's safest with you somehow."

"Hey you three, sit back down, the boat'll be docking soon, and that can get rough!" Amada exclaimed.

Joseph, Kara and Warren hastily returned to their seats as Amada docked the boat in Lakewest harbor.  It was a pretty routine docking, with little or no problems.  There was one other boat docked at the tiny docking bay.

"Looks like Tai Ho got here okay," Amada pointed at the other boat, "I'm guessin' that Riou and the other's will be at Two River by now."

"Thanks Amada," Kara said, as she disembarked the boat.

Warren meanwhile was soaking in the sights, "It's rather quaint, isn't it?" 

"It hasn't changed one bit," Malcolm responded without emotion, "Never has, and I doubt it ever will."

"Yeah," Kara grinned over Malcolm's shoulder, "Isn't it great?"

Joseph walked past them wordlessly, looking around the small town of Lakewest.  It seemed smaller than it actually was, and as Warren had already said, rather quaint.  It seemed more like a place where older people would live, rather than people his own age.  Yet…I can't help feeling I've been here before.  But…no, it just doesn't seem like home.

"Hey, where's Elaine gone?"

Joseph turned back to look over his shoulder after hearing Warren's query.  There was some general confusion, but indeed the assassin had vanished.

"You don't suppose she went off to Two River on her own, do you?"  Malcolm sighed.

But Kara was smiling, "She must really love that Andrew guy, chasing him all over the place like that."

Warren chuckled, "I can't imagine Elaine chasing after ANY guy."

"Love.  It makes you all wacky inside," Kara smiled in a somewhat serene way, and waved over at Joseph.

*Thump Thump*

Joseph hastily turned back to the town and away from the smiling Kara, although for some reason he couldn't understand why he turned away.  Yet he couldn't quite trust himself to turn back again without blushing.

"So, which house do…did I live in?" Joseph asked, looking around, "I can't quite see a wealthy family living in one of these houses."

He heard soft footsteps approaching him, obviously Kara's, "See that path over there near the back of the town?  Well, no-one is supposed to go up there, that's where the Zonestar estate is.  Private property you see, can't go up there without permission."

"Wow," Joseph remarked, "My family sound so…obnoxious."

"They're remarkably down to earth people, actually," Malcolm said, walking past Kara and Joseph, "But their security people are TERRIBLY good at what they do.  Sneaking you in there won't be easy."

"Sneaking?  Why should we sneak in?" Joseph actually looked offended, "Wouldn't they recognize me?"

"Ooh, not with that hair," Kara jested, "But on the bright side it brings out your eyes." 

*Thump Thump*

Joseph managed a half-hearted grin as Kara and Malcolm walked into town.  He could already feel his cheeks burning up, and immediately he felt angry with himself for being such a slave to emotions. 

"Wow, that blush could warm up small countries," Warren chuckled as he passed by.

Urgh…I wonder if I was always like this…this Rune doesn't seem like the shy type, so maybe I was. 

Joseph sighed to himself as he ran to catch up with the others.

---

"You call this a path?" Warren asked incredulously, "It looks about a mile long!"

Warren stared at the path, slightly wide-eyed. 

"It's slightly longer," Kara grinned, "We used to race up it to see how far we could get without getting caught.  Of course Joseph always won, but back then we didn't know he was part of that family."

"Ah, the countless times you were brought home by an irate security guard," Malcolm sighed, "Good times, I especially liked the time you kicked him in the shin."

"It was worth the grounding I got for it though," Kara looked dreamy-eyed, "I wonder if that guard still works for them?  What was his name again…Andy?  Antoine?"

"Anthony."

"Yeah!  That's it," Kara suddenly stopped, realizing that the voice was not that of any in the current entourage, she looked up slowly and saw a very familiar guard.

"Well, well, Miss Phillips.  It's been a while.  Kicked any good shins lately?"

"Not yet, but I'm working on it…" Kara muttered in response, prompting Malcolm to stand in between the guard and his sister.

"At ease soldier," Malcolm shook his head, "We're here to see the Zonestar's.  It's important."

"You know I just can't let you in," Anthony replied, "And besides, they aren't in."

That response elicitated a rather loud "What?" from everybody.

"That's correct.  They are currently escorting young Erika to Greenhill Academy.  They then have some business to attend to, and won't be returning for at least a month."

"Aw, crap," Kara exclaimed, rather unnecessarily, "But…"

"Save it Kara, they aren't here…let's go already," Malcolm responded, almost dragging Kara back towards Lakewest.

---

"Well that was most disappointing," Joseph stated with an audible sigh, "What was the point of even coming here?"

After leaving Anthony to continue his guarding, everyone retreated to the inn to regroup.  Joseph looked full of disappointment, and even if his looks didn't betray that fact, his voice certainly did.

Joseph continued, "Of all the rotten luck.  Who's Erika anyway?"

Malcolm and Kara exchanged glances, neither one seemingly wishing to answer the question.  Eventually Malcolm bit the bullet and replied "Erika's your younger sister."

"Oh," Joseph said simply, with a hella lot of weight on that simple word, "I…can't even remember her."

Joseph looked crestfallen, and looked away from the others, resting his head in his arms.  He suddenly felt tired, and the sudden urge…need to get out of Lakewest.  Something's not right…this isn't where I'm supposed to be.  Yet, it's not the Rune telling me this…somehow, I know I don't belong here.

"I don't remember her much either," Kara admitted, "She was really quiet.  Even more shy than you are.  She stayed inside mostly, studying."

"Yeah, she's a really brainy kid.  Her intelligence belies her years," Malcolm added, "She's only three years younger than you are."

"Coming here was a bad idea," Joseph said, not looking up, "I can't even remember my family…and it hurts too much trying to remember them.  Can we just go please?"

"Don't we still have that letter to deliver to Shu's friend?" Kara piped up, "And you're still going to see mother and father, Malcolm."

Malcolm's eyes suddenly widened, as if he was remembering a very important fact.

"Don't give me that look, you just have to pop in and say 'hi.'" Kara said sharply.

"That's not it…the letter…" Malcolm patted his hip pocket, "Elaine still has it!"

"Oh man!  That's not good," Warren shook his head, "Do you think she delivered it before she gallivanted off to find Andrew?"

"I really hope so," Malcolm moaned, "Otherwise we'll have to wait for her to come back.  Not fun."

"Yeah, I don't mean to sound offensive or anything, but I don't like this place," Joseph shuddered, "I just want to get away from here."

"Well, since we're stuck here till Elaine gets back, we'd better tell Amada," Kara suggested, "Let him get off that boat for a while."

"Good plan," Warren replied, "Come on, let's go."

---

The boat was gone.  Not there.  Vanished.  Missing in action.  The four companions could only stare at the vacant space that the boat had docked in only half an hour ago.  All of them had the same look on their face, one of pure shock.

"Okay…" Malcolm managed to say, eventually, "Anyone got a logical explanation why the boat's gone?"

There was no reply.  The other three were still stunned at the boat's apparent departure.  Malcolm waved his hand experimentally in front of Kara's face to absolutely no reaction.  Getting slightly frustrated, Malcolm wet his fingers in the water and flicked the water over the faces of Joseph, Kara and Warren.  They blinked back to life, wiping their faces dry.

"Let's try again…" Malcolm sighed, "Any clues where the boat's gone?"

They shook their heads, with Warren shrugging for emphasis.  Malcolm sighed again and casually tossed a pebble into the vacant space the boat used to reside in.

"Great, we're STUCK here now," Joseph moaned, "Now what?"

"Why don't we all go to our house," Kara smirked as she said it, "It's better than spending the rest of the day at the inn."

"Argh!" Malcolm yelled, "Fine, I give up!  We have nowhere else to go anyway!  Happy now?  You're getting your own way AGAIN!"

Malcolm stormed off, leaving an air of hate as he walked away.  Warren and Joseph followed as Kara's face creased into a frown.

"Ecstatic," She said, without any trace of elation, but with worry and a little fear, "Jeez, what's up with him?"

Kara shook her head as she ran over to catch up with the guys, but she couldn't quite shake the worried feeling she had deep inside of her…something was wrong. 

Horribly wrong.

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Hey, looks like my plan is working.  Another chapter done, a lot quicker this time.  I figure I'll stick with one group, then move back to the other's as it seems necessary.  It'll be better than just mixing everything up, I think.  Anyway, stay tuned, more to come soon…I hope.