Disclaimer: (sung to the tune of "I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves...)

I have never never owned Suikoden Three! Suikoden Three, Suikoden Three!

I have never never owned Suikoden Three!

And I never will! (ba doom doom doom...)

^^;; (noo... I'm not hyper...)

A/N: The point of view turns into an all-out free-for-all in the last bit of this chapter... just thought I'd warn you, heh. ^_^

Anything else that needs to be said here? *Thinks* Nah. Don't think so.

* * *

Chapter Five

* * *

Holy Harmonia is my home. It was my father's and brother's too... before they fell to the White Maiden's sword.

She is not white and silver, but blood-stained and black.

The bloody maiden.

She heartlessly removed my brother and father from this world: it could have only been her, with her infamous swordsmanship, that felled my brother and father.

None other could have even touched them with a blade; such was their skill on the battlefield.

She is a butcher, a murderer, and she missuses and abuses the beautiful Water Rune she carries in her bloodstained hand.

She is gravely mistaken if she will remain unpunished, and I am honoured to be the one to punish her.

She will die, a pathetically small sacrifice in tribute to those she murdered.

I am honoured.

*

Anna had avoided the bumbling blonde waitress and sat herself in the nearly-empty Fireplace Room. She went unnoticed as she placed herself in a dimly-lit corner, facing the pair before the fire, close enough so that she could just barely hear their words as they conversed, their figures silhouetted by the glowing fire behind them.

"You should have told us."

The woman shook her head. "I can't, and I won't, yet. Borus- please, please don't tell them."

The man paused. "...I won't then. Am I the only one who knows?"

"Yes."

Anna smiled grimly to herself. 'So you believe, mouse.'

The pair fell silent, each regarding the fire, their shadows flickering and dancing on the wooden floor.

Borus sighed. "I should probably go. You're... working tomorrow." He chuckled quietly. "Trust for the great Captain of the Zexen Knights to become a waitress in her spare time." Anna watched as Chris' shoulders shook in quiet laughter.

"I'll walk with you- it's a beautiful night."

Borus smiled. "Shouldn't I be the one walking you home?"

"Absolutely not." She grinned.

Borus shrugged good-naturedly. "Have it your way, then."

Anna slid smoothly and silently from her chair with snake-like stealth and left the inn, ignoring the polite farewell from the blonde waitress.

Once she reached the safe shadows of the street, she ran as fast as her long legs would carry her. She knew they would pass "The Knight and Squire" on their way to the man's residence.

Anna sneered to herself as she sprinted.

She would be ready for them.

*

The pair slowly removed themselves from the field of warmth from the fire and headed for the Inn's front door.

Chris opened the door then quickly stepped back, and Borus looked inquiringly at her. "It's colder than I thought," She supplied the answer with a smile. "I need a jacket."

"You could use mine..."

Chris shook her head, amused. "I'll just run upstairs and grab my own, thank you." She dangled her key in front of his nose with a grin. "It's just upstairs, I'll be right back."

Borus grinned back and nodded. "I'll pay a visit to the stables then... Will we walk or ride?"

Chris poked her head out of the Inn's front door, testing the air. "Walk: it's such a clear night." She withdrew and closed the door. "Chilly, but beautiful." She smiled at Borus and headed for the stairs.

Chris unlocked her door and stepped into her room. The moonlight filtered in through two windows, one on either side of her small bed. She walked amongst the moonshadows to where her cloak lay flung over a chair in the far corner. She unfolded it and paused: cloak or jacket? She shrugged to herself and fastened the cloak about her shoulders.

Good enough.

She strode out of the room, locked the door and galloped down the stairs with an impulsive urge to hurry. She stuffed her key into the leather pouch at her belt and strode at a slightly slower pace through the Entrance Room.

Chris pushed open the Inn's front door and watched silently as Borus led his horse from the alley that led back to the stables.

She let the door close behind her and saw him smile when she turned back to face him, the yellow light from the Inn's window illuminating his face and fair hair. As she walked up to him, Chris had to forcefully quench the urge to throw her arms around Borus' neck like she had so many nights ago... when she had 'left.'

Chris gave him a wavering smile and they began to walk in silence, Borus leading his large chestnut horse behind.

She looked at Borus out of the corner of her eye, and saw the expression on his face in the lingering light from the inn's windows. Borus was still unsure what to make of Chris' identity. She recognized the look on his features and responded quietly as the Inn's yellow light faded from his features. "I'm still the same person, Borus. Ria IS Chris."

He nodded. "I know... its-" He paused as he felt her hand creep into his. He smiled and squeezed it slightly.

They walked in silence, hand-in-hand, enjoying the unusual solitude on Vinay del Zexay's streets, the horse's hooves keeping a steady rhythm on the cobblestones.

Chris tried to banish all thoughts of the True Water Rune from her mind.

She tried to pretend that she had never borne it, that there was a future for her and this man. 'But there is...' She shook the thought away, driving away the false hopes.

'...but Cyndar's secrets...'

*

Anna noiselessly watched the three shadows wander the street, slowly approaching the small balcony where she waited. She nocked a white-fletched arrow to the taught bowstring and gently flexed the powerful bow in her hands.

She was waiting for them.

And she never missed.

*

The night was chilly but calm and clear, with a faint salty breeze blowing off of the ocean. The pair found themselves to be walking increasingly slower, wishing to savour their time together and Chris found herself quietly watching Borus out of the corner of her eye, just thinking, just wondering.

Borus paused and Chris stopped with him.

He turned and looked her in the eyes, ignoring his horse who took a few more paces forward and, too, stopped.

Time stood still.

He silently and gently raised their clasped hands, her hand facing him, and placed a feather-light kiss on the back of her hand, still joined with his own, never breaking their eye-contact. He tried to memorize the smile in her eyes as he clasped her hand with his.

*

"Enough of this." Anna whispered to nobody in particular and drew the bow.

*

Chris stiffened and jumped back, eyes wild, as she heard the sound: the familiar creak and twang of a bow being drawn for release.

Even as she recognized the sound, it was too late. An arrow skittered across the cobblestones, sending up white and yellow sparks as the metal arrowhead glanced off of the stone. Borus' horse reared and ran, panicked.

*

"Perfect."

*

Borus began to draw his sword as his horse escaped, anger towards the shadow-archer engraved in his features. Chris made a split-second decision.

"No! You can't fight an invisible archer!" She pushed him into a stumbling movement. "We have to get back to the inn!" She had rarely run from anything in her life and this retreat was bitter: they couldn't even see their enemy. But Borus nodded, the anger and frustration etched in his face, and loosened the death grip on his sword. He sprinted beside her, and they hugged the shadows as they ran, trying to make themselves more difficult targets.

"Come, mouse. Let's begin." Anna nocked the next arrow, and aimed. "Run mouse. You shan't get far. I've only just unsheathed my claws..." She let the arrow fly and smirked when it hit its target with perfection.

After all, she never missed.

*

Borus had been running by Chris' side when he heard her gasp and saw her stumble. "Chris!"

"I'm... fine." She glared and continued to run, limping heavily as she did so. She could feel the stickiness of blood run down her right calf, where the arrow had penetrated her boots and into muscle.

She gritted her teeth and continued. She had had worse wounds before.

*

Anna drew another arrow and nocked it. "Keep running, mouse." She pulled the powerful bow back, and released, sending the arrow to skitter and dance across the cobblestones. She grinned. "Keep running." She watched the shadows flee. "Good mouse."

*

Her right leg was engulfed in fiery pain, but Chris stubbornly ignored it along with Borus' concerned look as another arrow skipped across the road.

Not far now.

But the pain was drawing up her leg, creeping past her knee and into her thigh. Something was not right.

She tried to keep up her speed but her traitorous body would not allow for it and she slowed and faltered, stumbling over the uneven paving.

Borus caught her before she hit the ground and forced her to her feet as another arrow fell short. His eyes spoke for him. 'Keep running.' She clenched her teeth and continued, leaning slightly on Borus. 'We're almost there.'

The three small blocks between the Inn and where the nightmare had begun seemed to stretch and lengthen as they sprinted for the Inn's safety. With just over a block remaining, the arrows stopped, but the two continued to run, not wanting to take any chances.

Borus noticed with increasing concern that Chris was leaning more and more heavily on his shoulder.

Just two more buildings and they would be safe at the Dancing Dragon.

Chris twisted into the Inn's alley that led back to the stables, bringing Borus with her. They both stood, leaning back on the cool brick of the inn, breathing in ragged gasps. Borus watched as Chris bent, not allowing herself to hesitate, and forcefully removed the arrow from her calf.

Borus winced.

She straightened up, leaning heavily against the wall, her head tilted back, jaw clenched and eyes closed.

"Chris- we have to get inside." A small nod was all the acknowledgement she gave. "Now Chris."

"Alri-" But she didn't finish. Chris had moved away from the wall to take a step with her right foot towards the Inn's entrance- and promptly collapsed.

Borus swore in surprise and hurried to catch her. "Chris!" But her eyes remained closed and her body limp. He swore softly under his breath and gently picked her up, one arm under her knees and the other around her back. He hurried to the Inn's back exit, across from the stables and pushed on the iron doorhandle. He scowled furiously when it didn't open, and tried again. "Locked!" He faced away from the door and began to pound on it with the heel of his boot. "Let us in, damn it!" But nobody answered the door and Borus continued his noisy assault on the wooden barrier.

A shadow darted out of the stables and Borus tensed and ceased thumping on the door. The moonlight illuminated the boy's worried face and Borus recognized the stableboy who he had met a few days earlier. "Let me in, boy." He ordered.

The stableboy's eyes widened as he saw Chris. "What happened, sir?!"

"It doesn't matter! Run through front door and let us in here." The boy hesitated. "Be careful, but do it NOW." The stableboy nodded and darted off. Borus soon heard the front door slam and the faint thudding of running feet as the boy dashed through the building. He could hear the boy scramble and struggle with the lock on the interior before the door was wrenched open.

Borus hurried, with as much authority and confidence as he could muster, into the back of the inn and nearly collided with the innkeeper and his wife.

"Ohhhh!" The aging woman gasped as she saw Chris, and ushered them towards the stairs. "Take her up to her room, sir, and I'll-"

"She needs medical attention, madam."

"I know, I know! I'll be right there." Borus nodded and climbed up the stairs, the flushed innkeeper running up behind him, carrying an extra key that he had rummaged in his desk for.

"What happened, Sir Borus?"

"I..." 'How do I explain this to him, when even I don't understand?' "I don't know."

"You don't know!? But you were with her weren't you?"

"Yes."

The innkeeper fumbled with the lock on Chris' room before opening it and allowing Borus to enter. "But... But..."

"A cowardly archer shot at us from the shadows. They missed all but one shot... this one." Chris was still unconscious as he placed her gently down and turned his attention to the wound in her leg.

"But why?"

"I don't know." Borus shook his head and then looked up as the innkeeper's wife scurried into the room, skirts rustling urgently.

"What happened, Sir Borus?"

Borus sighed, but before he could answer, the woman's husband broke in. "He doesn't know, dear." She looked at the knight, questions swimming in her grey eyes and then turned hurriedly to the young woman.

"Knife, please." Borus looked at her outstretched hand with slight confusion. "I need to cut off her boot, sir." Mary looked at him expectantly. "Knife, dagger, whatever. Hand it over."

"Err..." Borus unsheathed a knife and placed the hilt in her impatiently waiting hand.

"Good boy." Borus raised an eyebrow but kept his silence.

The innkeeper's wife slit Chris' long boot open, careful not to touch skin with the sharp blade and winced as she saw Chris' blood-soaked pant leg. With deft hands she rolled up the fabric, cleaned and bound the gash with strips of clean white cloth. "I told Lucy to put some water and herbs over the fire: she'll be up soon enough, so we just need to wait."

Borus had pulled over the chair to sit beside the bed, and was quietly watching the proceedings, trying to stay out of the aged woman's way. He looked at Chris' face for a moment before he realized that something did not seem right. Her face was flushed, as if she had a fever. 'It was probably just from running...'

He placed his hand on her brow and his eyebrows shot up.

"Madam." She looked over from the closet, where she was gathering some blankets.

"Yes, Sir Borus?"

"I think there is something we have overlooked." The innkeeper's wife hustled over and, with notice from Borus, pressed her cheek to Chris' forehead, checking for a temperature. "We have been running, but her tem-"

"Is unnaturally high. She has a fever." The woman looked slightly worried. "I think that we should perhaps call in a nurse who would know more about this than I." She looked at Borus. "Where is this arrow?"

"In the alley beside the Inn, I believe. Where she dropped it."

"Go get it. I have a suspicion..." Borus looked at her questioningly. "You were both running, your heart rates elevating. It would pass it through her system that much faster..."

"What-"

Mary looked up from checking beneath Chris' bandages. "Sir Borus, go get that arrow. Now. Take my husband with you."

Borus nodded and strode towards the door. He paused as the aging woman spoke again.

"...I think she's been poisoned."

* * *

A/N: Agh. Another crappy chapter from me. -_-;

I'm afraid the entire thing just plummeted into the realm of the terribly cheesy and melodramatic, and I'm VERY sorry. Heh. This stinks. -_-

I hope that the intro explained Anna a little more: I'm sorry she stayed so ambiguous and random for so long. She has more motives than the ones she stated... they just haven't really surfaced yet. Mwhaha. ^^;; And I hope that you all understand that she purposely aimed every arrow but one to miss, just to keep them running.

On a good note, I think I've discovered how to use italics and such... Another way that was suggested didn't work on my computers (*pout*), but I hope that this one will! ^_^ *fingers crossed*

And just something random, that has made me very hyper: I blew up the chem lab today... literally. Heh! ^^;; My lab partner and I were working on our project and, well, WHOOSH! It all went up in flames. The chem teacher got out the fire extinguisher and we had to stay for ages after school to clean up fire-extinguisher dust, spilled oil and charred beakers. Funfun. It was last period, and already the entire school knows about it! (the rumor spreading was greatly assisted by the fact that there was a class in there when my lab exploded, and we all had to evacuate the classroom... heh.) ^^;; And this would be why I don't do well in chemistry.

Err... I don' t think there's much more to say in this odd author's note...

Other than, of course, the people that I adore! ^_^

* * * * * * * *

Reemossa: Well, I tried to hurry, but it didn't exactly amount to much, did it? -_- Oh well. ~_^ ^__^

SkySong: Glad you think it's cute! ^_^ I hope that you understand more about Anna, now (and thank you for bringing the whole "Who the HECK is Anna anyway?" question to the surface- I kinda forgot that I know and others don't... heh.)! ^_^

StickyRice(x2) : ^___^ Now I'm the one who's honoured! So nice! ~_^ ^__^ Haha, I think that we both have excellent taste, wouldn't you say? Hurrah for the Dancing Dragons! (and boo to snow in April! Lucky for me, it's all gone now *cheers*) I'm glad that you think that Borus is believable, because I'm getting annoyed with him cause he's OOC (but is so dug into the whole friggin thing, that I can't do anything about it *growls*). Grr, I'm getting frustrated because its starting to seem (to me, at least), like everyone's thrown themselves off of the IC ship, and have gone all OOC. -_- And no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to make them IC. *cries*

Kaineko: ^__^ I agree... there are so few Chris/Borus fics... c'mon, people! See the LIGHT! ~_^

Sindaaraniel: Don't feel stupid, goof! ~_^ I am positive that this stuff is far worse than what you can write. *coughwriteaChris/Borusficcough* ~_^ ^___^ Glad you liked the chapter, though. The encouragement was greatly appreciated, seeing as this chappy turned out like crap, too. *sigh* The cheesiness of it all. -_-;; *perks up* But is that an ACE ACTION FIGURE I SEE!?! *dances with joy* best thing EVER! *takes advantage of the shirt-removable action* shirt on. Shirt off (*drool*). Shirt on. Shirt off (*drool*). Shirt on. Shirt off (*drool*). Shirt on. Shirt off (*drool*). And so on and so forth... Weee! *claps and bounces*

Kurikurei: Well, I continued... hope you like it (even though it's terribly cheesy and horrid...)! ^_^

HikariOmoi: Chris/Borus is wonderful, isn't it? ^_^ I wish there were more C/B fics out there, too (people should write more of them! Glad you liked chapter four and I hope you enjoyed this chapter, too! ^_^

(...And Libby and Karen don't count for anything because a) Karen's evil {coming over and reading it infront of me JUST to watch me squirm. MEANIE.} and b) Libby's evil, too. ^___^ So there. Heeheehee.)

****Thank you all SOOOO much for reviewing!!****