Author's Notes: Oho, now it's Futch's turn!! ^-^ I REALLY appreciate the reviews. Tee-hee, you guys really took that "Should I continue?" question seriously!! ^^;;; Believe me, I have absolutely no plans of stopping.
@Fate: Are you kidding me? Tir was more of an older brother to Luc than that angst-ridden Sasarai, of course he understood Luc-kun. And I don't know what you mean by "differently" but this is Futch's take on Luc. SO mushy… And just so you don't get your hopes up, there is absolutely NO Luc/Sera in this fic and in all my other fics. _
@Merc: I know… my poor Luc-kun… T.T Oh, uh… more detail, got it. I usually write with a ton of detail but now… Perhaps I was in a hurry to get my points about Luc across. ^^;;;
@Luc: Leknaat. Of course. How can you write a Luc fic without her??!
Disclaimer: Suikoden is not mine. Nevertheless, I'm in love with you Luc!!
Who Is The Mysterious Magician Luc?
Chapter 2: A Friend's Sorrow
Kidd walked up to the Dragon Knight. "Sir Futch, do you have a moment to spare?"
"Yes," Futch answered. "What may I help you with?"
Kidd paused, trying to find the most professional and least offensive way of wording his request. "I am doing some research on Bishop Luc, especially about his past and his relationships with people from the Liberation Army and the Alliance Army. If it weren't too much trouble…"
"………"
The uneasy silence that settled around them somehow made Futch taller and sterner in Kidd's eyes. Frankly, he was rather intimidated. "I-I… I'd understand if you choose not to share your memories. I just thought, as you were his good friend—"
"Yes. As his friend, it's about time that I did him justice." A look of resolve settled on Futch's features. His brown eyes narrowed.
"Eh??…" Kidd looked up at him, not quite sure what the Dragon Knight meant by those words.
"Let us go outside and sit under the trees." Futch gestured at the gardens visible through the windows. "I always did find it easier to talk in such a place. Luc did too, I think…"
"I'll be right behind you, Sir." Kidd called to Futch. Already, the Dragon Knight was approaching the doors. Kidd ran to keep up with his much longer strides.
Futch lead the way to a grassy spot beneath a canopy of leafy branches overlapping each other. It was an inviting little spot; the branches softening the heat of the sun, the sweet smelling grass cushioning the ground. Futch sat down, resting his back against one of the mossy tree trunks. Kidd sat down beside him.
"Well…" Futch remarked. "I suppose I should begin talking."
"Yes please." Kidd said. "I'm very glad you honored my request, Sir Futch."
"It's no trouble," Futch assured the informer. "Besides, I owe Luc this much…"
"………" What does he mean by that?
"As you have probably observed, many people regard Luc with fear and hatred," Futch began. "They think of him as a powerful, terrible person… a magician of awesome sorcery with a child's countenance bearing the True Wind Rune. The Wind Beast. I do not blame them… they never knew him… but I did."
"Do you remember that time when I was first asked about Luc?" Futch turned to Kidd.
"Well, I—"
"All I said was: I knew him, we once fought together." Futch sighed. "It was more than that though… I knew him, very well. And I want the truth about him be known…"
"Tell me please, how did you remember him?" Kidd prompted.
"Luc… was a quiet young man. He often talked coldly, or arrogantly. Honestly, he's not very likeable at that first meeting…"
* * *
The young boy sat on the floor of one of Toran Castle's corridors; his back resting against the wall and one of his hands lazily tracing a pattern on the stone tiles. The outline of a Dragon…
"What am I doing here?.." Futch mumbled to himself. He looked through his tousled brown locks at the lively people around him. You would never have known they were the very same people fighting for the Liberation of the Scarlet Moon Empire. They seemed so… happy. He could hear music coming from one of the chambers down the corridor.
"Why should they be sad anyway?.." Futch muttered bitterly. "They weren't the ones who lost their Dragon and got banished from the Dragon Knights…"
"Without a Dragon, a Dragon Knight is useless." Futch told himself angrily. "I shouldn't be here…"
"Then leave."
"What??!" Futch turned to find somebody standing beside him. It was a boy a few years older than he was; wearing robes of green and white, a circlet caught in his longish dark blond hair. A mage… "Would you care to repeat what you just said??!" Futch hissed.
"I said, 'then leave.'" The mage-boy repeated in his icy voice.
"Who are you to order me around??!" Futch got on his feet and raised his chin defiantly at the mage.
"I was not ordering you." The mage boy gave him an arrogant smile. "You yourself said you should leave. Supposing that you have enough sense to know what to do after that, I merely verbalized your next thought."
Futch's jaw dropped. He composed himself and glared at the mage. Twin agates stared back at him, never backing down.
T-this guy is one of my "allies"??! Futch shuddered at the thought. He'd fit in much better in the company of that witch who killed Black.
* * *
"No… I didn't like him much at that moment." Futch shook his head. "I thought he was too arrogant. He lacked tact. And he knew how to make people feel at their worst."
The Dragon Knight rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Besides… he was a mage. We respected them, sure. But… they were too different from us. They're always so mysterious… and you never know what they hid behind their blank faces. I was just being… judgemental."
"Oh…" Kidd murmured. Hmm… who would have known that the Sir Futch everyone admired also went through an ignorant phase…
"But he is one of those people that grow on you…" Futch continued. "As you get to know him… you will get to like him. In truth, I think her really, liked company. He was just… scared…"
"Scared?" Kidd looked at Futch questioningly.
"Yes." Futch nodded. "Scared. Scared of being around 'others'. Scared of trusting people. Scared of getting close to people… and losing them."
* * *
"The garden of the Emperor is the only place the blossom could be found in." Futch said. "Without telling Captain Joshua, I took Black and we flew to Palace… We managed to get the blossom, but the Court Magician, Windy… she saw us. She used one of her spells to hit us and we fell. Black… he protected me. I survived, but Black didn't."
"At least he was good for one thing," Luc pointed out. "His liver saved the lives of all his other fellow dragons."
"But Black died!!!" Futch cried.
"The death of one is negligible compared to the survival of many." Luc told him firmly.
"But why did it have to be Black??!" Futch yelled now, his uncontrollable rage and sadness getting the best of him.
"Why not Black?" Luc shot back. "Why not your Dragon??! Only because he's your Dragon??!"
"………"
"You depend too much on your Dragon, Futch…"
"That's what Dragon Knights do, Luc." Futch explained. "We depend on our Dragons. A Dragon Knight is useless without his Dragon… Just as a Magician is useless without his Magic…"
"That's different Futch…" Luc said. "Dragons are living creatures. It's no different from depending on humans… Magic on the other hand is a force from within you…"
"So?.." Futch crossed his arms and scowled.
"People… they get tired, they grow old, they die. People can only make promises, they move away, they feel…" Luc pushed his hair off his face and looked away. "But Magic… it remains constant…"
And Futch knew, the conversation was closed.
* * *
"I see…" Kidd murmured. So that's how he felt…
"He never liked depending on anyone else but himself…" Futch explained. "I… I am probably the closest thing Luc ever had for a best friend…"
Kidd's jaw dropped and he gawked at Futch, a shocked look on his face. "R-really??!" Well… that was unexpected!! Who would have ever thought that someone as gallant and noble as Sir Futch would have such close relations with a, a… a demon…
Futch looked slightly amused at Kidd's expression. A little sad as well. "We were close. We did fight two wars together after all."
The Dragon Knight brought his arms behind his head and he leaned back, looking towards the sky. "It may not look like it now, but he's three years older than me. He was a little like an older brother to me—and to Sasuke as well."
"Sasuke?" Kidd's brows scrunched together as he hastily leafed through a fat little notepad. "I don't think I know him."
"Sasuke is our friend from the Dunan Unification War, a ninja from Rokkaku." Futch informed him. "The three of us were often seen together. That is, Sasuke and I would usually drag him with us to sit in the sprawling lawns of North Window Castle. He didn't really like doing that, he called it laziness, but hey—even the girls said he needed to get out sometimes. He spent too much time standing in front of the Stone Tablet of Promise."
The corners of Futch's mouth started twitching and his brown eyes sparkled. "And sometimes, we had to fight together…"
* * *
"That looks like the right way, doesn't it?" Sasuke pointed at an opening amongst the trees as they hurried down the secret forest path towards Greenhill.
"I think so too, Sasuke." Futch inspects the way ahead of it. "No Highland soldiers, good."
"Shh!!" Luc hissed. He walked quickly down the path, his soft brown boots moving soundlessly. "You might as well hold up a sign and announce our presence to the enemy!! Can't you lower your voices?!"
"Well, geez, sorry!!" Sasuke scowled.
"And I thought ninjas were supposed to be masters of stealth," Luc continued in a cutting tone.
"Don't you hear something??!" Futch asked the two of them, more to stop them from fighting than anything.
"Yeah…" Sasuke's forehead furrowed as he listened to the sounds that progressively became louder.
"Highlanders!!!" Luc tore down towards the approaching group of Highland soldiers, leaving Sasuke and Futch staring after him.
"H-hey!!" Futch called.
"C'mon!!" Sasuke pulled at Futch's scarf and chased after Luc.
"True Rune of the Wind—"
"Heeeey, leave some for us!!" Sasuke yelled and jumped towards the nearest Highland soldier.
"Get out of the way!!" Luc yelled.
"Don't worry Luc, we'll help." Futch rushed forward and thrusts Sigmund at a Highland soldier who awkwardly blocked it with his shield.
Sasuke drew out Blue Comet and slashed at his opponent. Luc gritted his teeth and continued chanting.
"I call upon the power of the sylphs—slay all my enemies!!!" The young mage's voice echoed in an unearthly manner and his robes billowed in the sudden streams of wind that issued from his Rune.
"Whoa…" Sasuke forgot about attacking the Highland soldiers and watched Luc, awe reflected on his face. Futch shielded his face from the whipping winds. Luc has become… more powerful!!
Luc raised the Wind Rod and it shone. Several luminous green blades of wind formed at its tip and Luc hurled them towards the Highland soldiers.
"What the—"
"AAAAAGH!!!" Came the pained shouts as the blades hit the Highland soldiers. Luc smirked with satisfaction as he watched his enemies stumbled. But he didn't stop there…
Two more blades of wind shimmered from above the Wind Rod. And catapulted themselves towards Futch and Sasuke.
"LUC!!!" Futch yelped.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING—ARRGH!!!" Sasuke screamed. The ninja and the Dragon Knight took the blows square on their backs and fell on their hands and knees, stunned.
It took several seconds for Futch and Sasuke to recover and start shouting at Luc.
"IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED WE AREN'T YOUR ENEMIES, THEY ARE!!!" Sasuke stomped his feet and flailed his arms about as he screeched at Luc.
"You wouldn't listen to me." Luc said calmly.
"THAT'S NO EXCUSE, YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!!!" Futch yelled; feeling very frustrated with his 'ally'.
"The next time I tell you 'get out of the way', make sure you DO get out of the way." Luc retorted.
"Mou—you think you're so great!!" Sasuke spat. "I'm NEVER teaming up with you again!!"
"Me either," Futch swore.
"Have it your way," Luc shrugged and turned his back on them. "I didn't want to fight with the two of you anyway."
"BOYS!!!" Shrieked a feminine voice.
"BEHIND—"
"YOU!!!"
Luc, Futch and Sasuke looked back at the Highland soldiers who had recovered and were advancing towards them, swords raised.
"EEP!!" Sasuke squeaked. The three boys instinctively raised covered their heads with their arms.
THUD!!! SLASH!!! WHIRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!! THWACK!!
A bunch of knives and daggers and a boomerang flew towards the Highland soldiers. Dazed, the soldiers fell once more.
"Why did you leave us behind, hmm??!" Meg demanded, shaking a handful of very dangerous looking daggers at them.
"Luckily, we came on time!!" Millie pointed the fallen Highlanders to her pet. "Look Bonaparte, the bad men are sleeping!!"
"The next time you do that, I'll be very mad." Tengaar declared. "It's as if you didn't need us…"
"I didn't." Luc said matter-of-factly.
Tengaar turned as red as her braids. "WHY YOU—"
"Erm, uh…" Futch forced himself to smile. "Please calm down, Tengaar."
"Shall we go?" Meg suggested in a fake cheery tone, glancing at Tengaar nervously.
* * *
Futch laughed. "It happens every time. Sasuke and I would insist on helping him and he would hit us. We never learned our lesson though."
A bead of sweat slid down Kidd's forehead. Some humor… "Isn't that… a little…"
"Mean?" Futch supplied. Kidd nodded.
"He was doing it to discourage us from attacking rashly," Futch said. "We were hardly any help anyway… As you can see even now, Luc is used to doing things in his own way… on his own…"
"Yes…" Kidd nodded solemnly. Futch let out a sudden chuckle. "What's so funny, Sir Futch?"
"I just remembered… they called us the 'Pretty Boys'; Luc, Sasuke and I," Futch shook his head, still chuckling. "It was a little embarrassing, and a little amusing too. Luc didn't take it that way though… he only said…"
* * *
"Faces are merely borrowed, it is what's inside that matters…"
* * *
The laughter evaporated from the man's visage. "It is only now that I understand what he was trying to say with those words…
"Sasarai looks exactly like Luc, but they are very different. Even though they are brothers, essentially the same person even…
"They are hardly kindred. Luc had more of a family with us. I only wish he had known…"
How does it feel like… Kidd wondered. Being so afraid of losing people that you don't even bother holding on to them?.
"I should be proud of him!!!" Futch cried. "The True Wind Bearer! My friend! 'I am proud of him!' But no… I never said that…"
"Now you did, Sir Futch," Kidd reminded him, holding up his notepad. "And it's documented."
Futch smiled sadly. "Whom they thought was a demented enchanter… He was just a lonely boy… And in his heart burned the desire to challenge Fate. Perhaps Geddoe wass right. He needed to grow up. Can you blame him? This person who was never allowed to be a child?!!
"And he was shunned…
"In the usual nature of men, towards things they didn't understand or things they found to be different…
"They shunned him…
"And that Kidd, was Luc…"
"I never would have known," Kidd declared. "I think, Sir Futch, he would have been grateful to you for this…"
"He would probably complain for a while first," Futch chuckled lightly. He turned his gaze towards the sky again, the sight of the magnificent blue and white expanse comforting him.
"Hello Mister Dragon Knight!!!"
Futch snapped out of his reverie and his gaze landed on Belle. The little mechanician girl was standing in front of him, waving.
"Hello Belle!" Kidd chirped.
"Hello Kidd!" Belle grinned. "Hello again, Mister Dragon Knight!"
Futch gulped visibly. "Hello…"
"Miss Apple told me you knew my mother," Belle told him. "She said I should talk to you."
"If your mother is who I think she is then… Yes, I knew your mother…" Futch sighed.
Kidd looked from Belle to Futch, the gears in his head starting to turn. "Hmm… I guess I should be on my way. Thank you, Sir Futch."
"No problem." Futch's smile was tight as he turned to Belle. "Would you like to sit down?"
Belle unceremoniously plopped down on the grass beside Futch. Kidd took his leave—rather, seemed to take his leave. Of course, he needed to do some informative eavesd—sleuthing. The conversation between the Dragon Knight and the mechanician could get interesting…
"My mother is a clockwork mechanic like me!!" Belle giggled. "Her name is Meg and she is from Lenankamp, down in Toran. Do you know her?"
"Yes, I do…"
"It has been so long since I last saw her…" Belle mused. "You see, she ran away and dumped me."
"I-I… I'm sorry to hear that…" Futch stammered.
"I'm not mad at her though. I used to be mad. But you see," Belle wagged a finger at Futch. "I don't blame her. I mean, my dad did ditch us first…"
"………"
"I don't even know him, but I doubt I'll ever see him." Belle babbled on. "Anyway—my point is, it's my mother I'm looking for."
"I see…"
"Mister Dragon Knight?" Belle turned to Futch. "If you have the time, will you please help me find her?"
"W-w-what??!" Futch stuttered. "Help, but, but… I—"
"Please…" Belle begged, looking up at Futch pleadingly with her huge, moist brown eyes.
"… Okay…"
"THANK YOU!!!" Belle cried joyfully. She clapped her hands.
The scene basically defused into Belle thanking Futch and rejoicing, no real conversation took place thereafter. Well, it may not seem interesting now… Kidd stroked his chin thoughtfully as he walked away. He kept that little exchange filed away at the back of his mind… for now.
Author's Notes again: Just so you know, this fic happens parallel to another fic I'm working on which will be entitled "The Search", a fic about Belle and Futch searching for Meg. ^-^ Anyway—this chapter is very mushy, no? ^-^ But bishounen bestfriend-ship is just irresistible!! ^o^
Next Chapter Preview:
Futch and Viki aren't the only ones who knew him. A bunch of other people in Budehuc knew him as well… "Hmm, I should talk to them… although they ARE very reluctant to talk about Luc…"