Okay, so apparently my title succeeded in catching some attentions. But you guys aren't reviewing. I'm kinda bummed by that. Even if you don't like it I would like to know. Thanks go to animesage for reviewing both chapters. You get all the cookies you want from PsychoLeopard. Sorry, this chapter isn't Futch, but I already had it written. I promise I will work on a Futch chapter though.

Disclaimer: Suikoden is not mine. The characters in it are not mine. They belong to Konami.


Chapter 3 A Different Trap

"Who are you catching this time?" An excited Percival bounded down the steps to Her as She entered the castle.

"You weren't…waiting for me to come back…were you?" She looked amused.

"Well…no…I mean…It's just that this place is a little…well...boring. Chris keeps taking other castle residents out to train and I'm getting tired of staying in the same room with Borus all day and all night."

"You mean…you get…sick…of staring at Borus all…" she trailed off at Percival's warning expression. She glanced at Fred and Rico, who were staring at Her. "Well, I guess that can be excused. I just thought…Okay. I'm done now." She snapped her mouth shut. An awkward silence ensued.

"You know, if you're thinking about catching Borus, I could be a big help," Percival offered.

"Hmmm…" She smirked connivingly for the barest instant before assuming an expression of indifference. "Well…I don't really want to catch Borus right now."

"But…it would be so much fun!" Percy begged.

"Well...I already have a bishounen to help me." She glanced at Fred, who puffed out his chest with pride.

"Fred!" Percival laughed, then quickly covered his mouth.

"What's the matter with Fred?" She looked amused.

Percival raised his eyebrows. "He's not exactly the brightest bulb on the street, if you take my meaning."

"Hey! Don't insult Master Fred!" Rico looked about ready to attack the Swordsman of Gale.

"Well, maybe I could be convinced." She looked away, doubtfully.

"Come on!" he begged. "I already have an idea. It would be a shame to waste it..."

She grinned, beckoned Percival over with a finger and started whispering with him.

"Hey! Don't leave me out of this!" Fred shouted indignantly, trying to break into the huddle.

Two hours later…

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" a female voice asked. "You're not actually going to hurt Borus, right?"

"Of course not Lady Chris. You have my word," Percival said charmingly, as he helped tie her to the chair. "Trust me. Borus is going to come right out of his state of sullen depression as soon as he sees you here."

"Well, the last thing I want is for one of my knights to be depressed…"

"Now, now Lady Chris. Everything will be fine. Trust me." She patted Chris consolingly on the hand. "Even Borus needs a little vacation-time now and then. There. All ready."

Chris sighed. "I'M not going to get hurt am I?"

"Of course not." She smiled winningly.

"The last time I received such assurance while I was being tied to a chair, an apple got tied to my head and my own bowman almost shot me."

"Ahhh. You're missing the key word there…almost," She pointed out with a smile.

Chris sighed and slumped in the chair.

She nodded at Percival.

"I'll be back," said a grinning Percival as he bounded up the stairs.

"Like a kid in a candy store," She snorted, shaking her head. She stood in silence for a moment, waiting for the volcano called Borus to erupt. She was not disappointed.

"WWWHATTT?"

Her eyes glinted in amusement as the Swordsman of Rage, living up to his nickname, came rushing down the stairs. His sword was unsheathed, and a grinning Percival followed right behind him.

"Lady Chris!" He sheathed his sword. "I'll get you out of this! Just hold tight!" His hands were shaking as he put them on the arms of the chair and looked into her eyes.

Chris looked at him in confusion.

Just then, a coil came out of each of the chair's arms and wrapped around Borus' wrists.

"What!" Borus leapt back in confusion.

"Don't!" Chris yelled as the chair shuddered.

Borus froze in place.

"How did you do that?" Fred gaped at Her.

She smiled. "It was easy."

Percival glared.

"Ahem. A material called "elastic" was coiled into neat little bundles with one end attached to the inside of the arm of the chair on each side. Percival designed them so that when someone touched the trigger next to the bundles the elastic would snap and uncoil around the arms, attaching to the other side."

"If he pulled hard enough he could get free." Percival smirked.

Borus whimpered.

"But Lady Chris suggested that he not move so he won't budge for anything now." Percival looked at Boris smugly.

Fred persisted. "But what if he just decided to cut her loose right away?"

Percival raised his eyebrows at the Maximillian Knight and gave a snort. "That just would not be Sir Borus' style."

"Okay…I've kept to my end of the bargain so now you have to keep to yours."

Fred looked at Her in confusion.

She smiled. "Not you. Percival. In return for me allowing him to aid and watch the capture of Borus, he agreed to come to my ranch." Fred's eyes widened as he turned to Percival.

"Have you completely lost your mind?"

"Viki, me and the boys please."

Viki nodded. "No problem."

"Wait!"

Blink. "Oops. Not again."

"Hey. Who's going to untie me?"


Okay, so the mechanisms of this trap are a little fuzzy. I was just trying to think like a game designer and succeeded to well (Thank for the suggestion PsychoLeopard). I am not an expert trap designer but if you fine people who are still reading this story could make suggestions in your reviews on how to change the trap, it would be much appreciated.