Suikoden VI

Chapter Ten: Part Seven

Note: Seven of the eighteen requested Investigations are done! Feel free to take a look at them on the Investigations page.

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Part Seven

Evarr left the group with the bottle the moment they arrived back at HQ ("I wonder if my old room is available?" He had mused when he walked away) but before Daunte could say anything Mihr was standing in front of him pushing Nariek back into his hands. "I'm giving this back to you for now," he said.

"Mihr—" Keiran said.

"There is nothing to discuss," Mihr responded, and stormed up the stairs towards the elevator.

"W—Wait a minute!" Keiran snapped, running after him.

"This is amazing," Templeton gushed, looking over his notes. "I can't wait to update my map!" he ran down the stairs.

Yuber teleported away without another word, and Pesmerga departed as well. "A-Ah, is there anything else Lord Daunte?" Viki asked him.

"No," Daunte said, looking down at the sword in his arms. "Thank you, Viki," he added hastily, looking up at her.

"Lord Daunte?"

"Ah!" Daunte brightened and turned to see La'Ahad standing at the bottom of the stairs. "Hello, La'Ahad! How can I help you?"

"May I speak to you in private?" La'Ahad asked as he ascended the stairs. Even from Daunte's angle he couldn't see his face under his hood.

"Oh absolutely," Daunte said, nodding to the stairs. "Let's go up to my room. I'll send a message to Yasaka to send up a pot of tea for us."

La'Ahad smiled. "You are generous, Lord Daunte. Thank you."

A few minutes later they were sitting at Daunte's table in his room and Daunte was pouring them both a cup of tea. Daunte smiled a the scent. White tea. I'll need to thank Yasaka later.

"Can I stay?" Arin asked, tugging on Daunte's arm. Kibbeh was sniffing La'Ahad's leg and his tail was wagging wildly. "Please please please?"

"No, Arin," Daunte told him, sliding the cup and saucer over to La'Ahad. "La'Ahad wanted to speak to me in private, so please go back to your room with Kibbeh."

"But—"

"Arin." Daunte kept his tone gentle but allowed himself to sound a little stern. "Little to your big brother, okay?"

Arin's shoulders drooped in disappointment but after a moment he nodded. "Okay, Big Brother. C'mon, Kibbeh." he scooped up the puppy and headed towards his door. Kibbeh struggled in his arms and nearly jumped out them before Arin managed to close the door behind them.

"How are you?" Daunte asked as he sat down. "I'm sorry that I haven't been by to personally check up on you—"

"It's fine," La'Ahad interjected. "You are the Commander and have many responsibilities. I don't expect you to check on my daily."

"I was there," Daunte said. "When you...died. I'm sorry that I didn't—"

"I remember, and I'm grateful that you brought me back." La'Ahad patted the back of his head. "It was...strange. I had thought that in death you gain all of the answers, but when I came back I still had amnesia. I would have liked to have learned something from that experience..."

"Maybe it's because it was the World of Emptiness," Daunte said. "Maybe in the beyond you would have learned the truth about yourself..."

La'Ahad smiled sadly. "If retaining my amnesia allowed me to come back, then I'm not so bothered by it. But that's not why I asked to speak with you."