Knights Rivalry by Crimson Scorpion
Disclaimer: I do not own Suikoden III…
A/N: hey again… I got a lot of good reviews on the last chapter so I was really driven to make the next chapter! And here it is… In this chapter you'll see more of the love triangle that wasn't given much focus on the first two chapters… If there are more readers who wants this a PercivalxChris or BorusxChris then that would help me choose who she'll end up in this fic… anyway thanks to all who reviewed my previous chapters!
Chapter III: Teardrop
Percival looked at himself in the mirror with disgust, his eyes were dark and he looked haggard. He hadn't slept much that night after that punishment he and Borus received yesterday. But that wasn't the reason for his restlessness… what haunted him was Borus' last words to him before the sun had fully set…
May the best knight win.
Percival had prepared himself for that kind of reaction from Borus but he still felt bad that he and Borus were not on good terms anymore. He was actually speechless after Borus' outburst and then stalking off without another word… well if that's what he wants… I'm ready to win…
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Chris sat on her bed absently brushing the tangles on her hair thinking about her punishment to Borus and Percival… was it the right thing to do?... Chris shook her head. I don't need to think it back… It was the right thing to do. Chris decided to herself. Chris was too lost in her own thoughts that she didn't immediately hear the knocking on her door. It was probably Louis…
Chris slowly walked towards the door to allow Louis to draw her bath as he usually did in the mornings. When she swung the door open she was surprised to see Percival standing there wearing a pair of amber pants that fit perfectly on his legs, a long sleeved form fitting jacket in the shade of green with white lapels and his sword draped around his waist on a leather belt and a pair of mahogany boots with matching gloves completed his outfit. Percival smiled down at her but he suddenly looked flustered and turned his back to her.
"Milady please forgive my untimely intrusion… but I was wondering if you would like to visit Iksay with me again… I promise it'll be more pleasant than the last visit… I'll just wait for your decision downstairs…"
With that said Percival made his way to the flight of stairs.
"Wait Percival!"
Percival stopped walking but he still didn't turn to look at her.
"Yes milady?"
"I would like to visit Iksay… just wait for me down the stables… I'll be ready in a few minutes."
Percival nodded and continued down the stairs.
Chris frowned at Percival's strange behavior and wondered why he kept his back turned to her. Chris glanced down at herself to see what's wrong with her and felt her blood rise to her cheeks… She had been too lost in her thoughts that she opened the door without realizing she was only wearing her nightgown… not that it was revealing or anything. But from her usual clothes her nightgown would seem indecent. Quickly Chris slammed her door before someone sees her standing outside her room clad in only a nightgown.
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Percival made his way to the stables with a smile he just couldn't wipe off his face. He was just overwhelmed with happiness when Lady Chris agreed to come with him to his hometown. He was going to make sure that nothing would go wrong this time… It has to be just perfect…
Percival brought out his horse and Lady Chris' white stallion and started placing the saddles. He couldn't wait what Borus' reaction would be when he sees him with Lady Chris.
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At Vinay Del Zexay
"Hmmm… no… too garish" Borus said to a vendor showing him some jewelry.
Borus woke up early that morning just so he could find something to give to Lady Chris. Although he didn't exactly know how he could give his present to her… He couldn't even start a normal conversation with her without stuttering like a fool… everytime he was near Lady Chris he just felt… overpowered…
"What do you mean by too garish!" The old woman yelled at Borus thoroughly insulted by his comment on her merchandise.
"Uhh… did I say garish? I meant dazzling! Yes very attractive!" Borus didn't really mean to offend the old hag but her wares were just terribly gaudy and hideous he couldn't imagine anyone wasting good money on those things.
"Then why don't you purchase some jewelry young man!" The old woman replied insistently at Borus. She was looking at him threateningly as if she'd molest him if he left without making a purchase.
Damn it! How do I get myself in these kinds of trouble? Borus thought to himself. Borus decided to at least look at everything she was selling maybe he'll find something worth his money. As Borus scanned her wares his eyes were caught by a necklace with a teardrop-shaped pendant and made of sparkly lavender gemstones.
"Perfect!" Borus reached for the necklace when suddenly the old woman slapped his hands away.
"What do you think you're doing boy?"
"I'm going to buy that necklace if you don't mind!" Borus said huffily.
"Hah! Do you even know how much that rarity necklace cost? I reckon you can't even afford it!"
The old woman cackled at Borus and gave him a head to toe look as if to say he didn't look like he had money at all. Borus felt his nerves twitch as he controlled himself from striking the old hag to shut her up.
"Well how much is it?" Borus challenged the woman.
"20,000 potch no less"
Borus grimaced at the outrageous price of the necklace.
"I thought so" the old hag said insultingly.
Borus quickly reached for his pockets and emptied it with all the potch he brought with him counting how much he has.
…15,000… 17,000… 19,000… what! No more?
"uhhh… how about 19,000 potch for it?"
"I said no less boy"
"But I'm just 1,000 potch short! Gimme a break!"
The old hag made an ugly face. "Fine 19,000 potch with those dragon skin gloves"
Borus was about to argue that his gloves cost more than 1,000 potch but decided to just pay her before she changed her mind about selling the necklace to him.
"Fine" Borus threw the 19,000 potch with his favorite and very expensive gloves on the rickety table.
"Pleasure doing business with you boy!" The ugly old hag replied to Borus as she slowly counted her money while Borus grabbed the necklace and stalked away from her stand.
He just hoped all this trouble was worth every potch once he gave the necklace to Lady Chris although he still didn't know how he'll give it to her… Borus admired the precious lavender stone that resembled Lady Chris' beautiful eyes on the necklace as he climbed his horse and went back to Budehuc castle…
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Percival glanced at Chris' profile as their horses slowly walked towards Iksay. She was wearing her grasslander outfit and her hair unbound and flowing in loose waves as the wind blew it. He just couldn't get use to her beauty… he had always admired highborn ladies beauty but none of them had ever made him feel this way… the way Lady Chris made him feel was just… different… maybe because she was different… Percival wondered if there was really a possibility she would feel the same way with him…
As Percival and Chris arrived at Iksay they were greeted warmly by the townspeople and most of all Percival's mother.
"Percy!" Percival's mother cried out as she ran towards him and Chris and hugged him tightly.
"Nice to see you too mother" Percival replied to his mother warmly and hugged her back.
As Percival and his mother parted from their embrace his mother glanced at Lady Chris and smiled at her.
"Oh Percy! I knew the day would come that you'll have Lady Chris as your girlfriend! Last time I may have been wrong… but now I'm really sure! Oh Percy I'm so happy for you!"
Chris turned a very deep shade of red and her eyes were wide in shock. Percival blushed too in embarrassment because of his mother. Why couldn't she just keep her thoughts to herself? Percival thought. This was the reason why he hated bringing companions with him whenever he visited Iksay. His mother never loses a chance to embarrass him even though she didn't really mean it.
"Mother… Lady Chris is just here to visit… and me as an escort… nothing more of what you are thinking…"
Percival's mother looked a bit disappointed but decided not to show it to Lady Chris not wanting to make the Captain of the Zexen knights become more uncomfortable of the situation.
"I was only kidding Percy! Now now go along and entertain Lady Chris around town I don't want to keep you two from your plans." With that said she gave Percival a peck on the cheek and hugged Chris lightly.
When Percival's mother was inside their house Percival sighed with relief.
"That relieved huh?" Chris asked Percival with a small smile.
"Well… Yes… I am deeply sorry for her comments about you as my… girlfriend…"
"Don't worry yourself about it too much… It's an understandable mistake." Chris replied without much feeling.
Percival nodded. Well it wasn't like he wouldn't be happy if he came back here in Iksay and finally introduce Lady Chris to his mother as his girlfriend… yeah… another wishful thinking…
Percival glanced at her again as they approached the windmill. She looked so serious... and she was always quiet… she didn't speak much about herself… Percival decided to ask her a bit about herself hoping she'd give him some answers…
"Lady Chris… why did you want to become a knight?"
She turned her head to me a bit surprised with my question but she slowly smiled.
"I don't really know why… but maybe it was because I was all alone… maybe because I wanted to be able to protect… myself from any danger that would come to me… and the people that are important to me…"
She looked at me wistfully… her eyes were unfathomable… I just looked at those violet pools like I would drown in them… Her eyes were just mesmerizing but… I could see a hint of sadness in them… She turned her head away from me trying to hide her loneliness… but it was too late… I already saw the teardrop that fell on her cheek… It nearly broke my heart…
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Borus carefully placed the necklace he bought earlier at Vinay Del Zexay in a cushioned case with gold engravings outside.
"Now how should I give this to Lady Chris?... I couldn't possibly give it to her directly… That would be really embarrassing…"
Borus glanced around the corridors as he walked hoping to find someone he could trust to leave his gift in Lady Chris' bedchamber without revealing to Lady Chris that it came from him.
"Aha!" Borus approached the Ninja who was standing in the corner near the dungeon.
Watari was perfect for the job. He was reliable and surely no one would see him put the necklace in Lady Chris' room. And of course he also wasn't the talkative type so there was no way he'd tell anyone about this little favor Borus is going to ask him.
"Hey Watari I need a favor from you!" Borus whispered near Watari hoping no one was listening… specially that detective Kidd… a real pain in the ass…
"…"
"Can you put this in Lady Chris' room?" Borus handed the little package to Watari but he made no move to take it.
"Hey c'mon… you're the only person I think that can help me with this…"
"My service is not free" Watari simply said.
Borus restrained himself yet again from hurting the Ninja knowing if he did there was no way he'll consider helping him with his dilemma… well… just his luck… everything today wasn't free…
"How much is your SERVICE then?"
"50,000 potch take it or leave it"
"WHAT!" Borus exclaimed. He couldn't believe that his so-called service is going to cost him more than the necklace. Watari just stared at him with a bored look. Borus was about to give that arrogant ninja a piece of his mind when he was suddenly grabbed by someone.
"Hey what's this?" Borus looked to see who it was. It was Ayame the other ninja. Great… negotiation with another ninja… no thanks…
"I'll take the job" Ayame said to Borus.
"Uhhh… yeah that's nice but I can't really afford services of ninjas you know… thanks for the offer anyway."
"Who said anything about a fee? I'll do your little favor for free."
Borus almost hugged the ninja with gratitude. Almost.
"Wait a minute… what do you get from doing this?" Borus looked at Ayame skeptically doubting her intentions.
"None of you damn business blondie… I'll assure you that no one will know about this favor you're asking me."
Borus hesitated for a bit and finally handed the package to Ayame. As the package reached the ninja's hands she disappeared with the wind.
"She better not fail me or she's dead."
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Chris' bedchamber
Ayame got inside Chris' room without any trouble at all. She reached inside her suit for the package Borus had given her.
Slowly Ayame walked towards the bed and carefully placed the package on her bed.
"Mission accomplished. Now let's see you beat me Watari on this one." Ayame said to herself.
When she was about to go towards the open window she felt a sharp object pointed at her back.
"What are you doing in here?"
Ayame slowly turned around to see her attacker.
It was Lady Chris in her grasslander outfit and her sword was drawn and pointing threateningly at Ayame's throat.
Uh oh… she was in BIG trouble…
End of chapter 3…
A/N: I don't know when my next chapter would be… hopefully really soon… please review this chapter! I hope you guys liked it…