Suikoden VI

Chapter Twelve: Part Three

Part Three

"I love you."

Daunte stiffened when he heard the proclamation behind the middle north building. He made his way towards the back of the building and saw two people standing there in the moonlight.

"...Did I hear you correctly?" Desiree asked. She was leaning against the side of the building

"I'll repeat it if I have to," Lanny said. He stood in front of her with his shoulders squared, his back to Daunte. Daunte kept himself hidden around the corner so that neither could see. "I love you. I know you already know because the other guys never shut up about it, but I wanted you to know before we fight tomorrow."

Desiree was silent for a long time. rubbed at her forehead and looked away briefly. Then she looked back at him. "Lanny—"

"If you're going to reject me, please get it over with," Lanny interrupted her. "Do you think I can't handle rejection?"

"Lanny, love is a really strong word to use to describe emotions," Desiree said. "You shouldn't use it so freely—"

"Who said I'm using it freely?" Lanny demanded. The boy suddenly stiffened. "Wait...I get it. You think that because I'm a kid that what I feel for your isn't serious or sincere, don't you?!"

Desiree raised her hands defensively. "I'm not trying to offend you. I care about you a great deal, Lanny. But you are young, younger than—"

"I may be younger than you, but I'm a soldier!" Lanny shot back. "I'm not too young to pick up a sword, am I? I'm not too young fight on battlefields against full-grown soldiers, am I?! I have SEEN things, Desiree! Things that a lot of people my age have never seen! I've seen people be injured, I've seen people die! I've seen my comrades and friends die! I've killed people!" He shouted. "So I'm old enough and mature enough to see people die and to take their lives by my own hand, but love—oh no, Lanny doesn't know anything about love, right?! Lanny's too young and immature to know what love is, right?! Lanny's man enough to spill the blood of others, but NOT man enough to be in love, right?!"

Desiree stared at him stunned, Daunte saw tears fill her eyes and spill down her cheeks. She let the tears fall without giving them any notice.

Lanny pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her. "I'm sorry," he said more calmly. "I shouldn't have sprung this on you right before the final battle. I won't bother you ever again."

Desiree accepted the handkerchief. Her expression was full of sorrow. "Lanny—"

"I'll make an oath right now," Lanny said. "Five years."

"Five years?"

"This will be the last time I talk to you for the next five years. When this war is over you're going to be returning to Baltas right?,

Desiree nodded. "I'm going to continue serving Lord Daunte, Lord Keiran, and the new government," Lanny said. "I'll build myself up to be the best soldier in Nagarea. I'll make myself into a great man."

"Lanny, you're already great—"

"But not good enough for you, right?"

Desiree flinched. "Five years," he repeated himself. "I'll make myself great, and then I'll come and see you in five years. If you've found someone else or if I'm still not good enough for you then, I'll leave you be. But just..." he ducked his head forward. "Please give me this chance. I'll make myself greater than I am now. I promise."

Then he walked past Desiree, opposite of the direction Daunte was hiding, and disappeared out of sight. Desiree turned to watch him leave, and Daunte took that opportunity to hurry away and back towards the front of the building. I knew that Lanny liked Desiree, but it's a lot more serious than I thought it was.