Coates tugged at the collar of his suit, suddenly feeling unnerved by the view before him. It’s not that he was afraid of crowds. It’s just that it was not a common chance for him to mingle amongst Gregmister’s elite and socialites…war heroes, nobles, entertainers, politicians; it was enough to make the young man feel small. And to think that Lady Attha would be amongst them…

“ Are you alright, son?”

Coates broke away from his thoughts,” Uh?”

His father stood beside him, clad in maroon with his slightly grayish hair slicked back and a wineglass in hand. He looked different from usual, somewhat more distinguished in stature…a man proud of his livelihood and achievements.

Especially without that favorite droopy hat of his.

“ What did you say, dad?” Coates asked,” I didn’t quite get you there.”

“ You look kind of flushed there…you okay?”

“ Yeah…just a bit nervous, that’s all. It’s not everyday I get to be around all these people…”

“ Relax, son,” Gordon smiled, giving his son a slight nudge on the arm,” Stand tall…it’s not everyday they get to be around YOU.” Coates noticed his father giving him an understanding wink, and couldn’t help but feel comforted by that. His father clearly knew of his uneasiness, and his reassuring words did relieve his unfounded reservations.

“ Just pray that they don’t notice that spot on your shirt,” Gordon added as-a-matter-of-factly, sipping his wine at the same time” You were quite the sloppy eater during dinner.”

“ THANK YOU, dad,” Coates controlled his wide grin, obviously trying to suppress the sudden urge to bop his father on the head. He can be such a wet blanket at times!

Suddenly, he felt someone grabbing him from behind, locking him with neck hold.

“GWAH!” Coates exclaimed, surprised at the sudden motion.

“ Looking good there, Coates!” A familiar voice can be heard from behind,” If you were any better with women, I’d consider you my rival tonight!”

“Shut up, Sheena!” Coates said in annoyance, pulling Sheena’s arm off his neck,” I ought to dent that ‘pretty’ face of yours---DON’T surprise me like that!”

“ Heh heh heh!” Sheena chuckled, punching his friend lightly,” Don’t get your panties in a bunch…I was just jesting with you---oh, good evening, Mr. Gordon!” Upon realizing Gordon’s presence, Sheena acknowledged him with a wave of the hand.

“ Good evening, Sheena,” Gordon returned the greeting sheepishly, somewhat pitying his son’s choice of friends,” Please thank your father for inviting us. It’s a great honor to be here.”

“ Will do just that, sir, but first…” Sheena grabbed a baffled Coates’ by the shoulders, “…I’d like to borrow your son for a while, if you don’t mind…”

“Wait a minute---“ Coates protested.

Ignoring his friend’s disapproval, Sheena just did as he wanted,” Don’t worry, Mr. Gordon. I’m just trying to help you get a grandson sooner than you’d hope!”

“HEY!! Don’t say that out loud, you idiot!”

“ As you please, Sheena,” Gordon nodded, watching his unenthusiastic son being pushed along,” Just don’t get him into trouble.”

“ Would I ever do that, sir?” Sheena flashed him a wide smile before disappearing into the crowd.

“ Without a doubt.” Gordon sighed, wondering what mischief Lepant’s son had in mind this time.

“ Well, I am a bit disappointed…but I guess it can’t be avoided.”

Crimson-clad Attha could only smile weakly. What else could she do when asked of the city’s ban on runes? It definitely affected her…the bloody hell it did; 50 000 potch worth of runes down the drain, and all because of some mad man’s fetish with runed hands. What would she give to just pummel that bastard’s head in with a pickaxe…even if she can’t get back the money she had lost, at least the satisfaction was compensation enough.

But for now, she just had to put a forlorn face for the guests who were present along with her that night. A move to buy time, Juntha said. So that they can finally bring whomever crazy enough to do this to justice, Juntha said.

A bloodied pickaxe was justice enough. Especially if she was holding it.

Raising the hem of her slightly-oversized gown off the floor, Attha moved along the crowd, dreading every moment she was there. She didn’t like all this formalities that come with these social functions, having to put on graces that she would rather do without; a quiet time at home to do the accounts with Rhambert, her assistant…or even have a night in the town with the guys would be a better way to spend her time. ANYTHING but this.

She was walking next to the glass door leading to the balcony when a face she knew strolled into view. The familiar strawberry-blonde man was holding his somewhat uncomfortable friend by the shoulders, pushing him forward slightly with every step, urging the hapless one to follow suit. The friend in black, in his discomfort, was strangely looking at her with a bewildered expression…was he blushing?

“ Hello Lady Albion!” The man, Sheena, accosted her with a wide smile,” I take it that you find this occasion to your liking?”

“ Indeed, Sheena.” Attha gave him a forced smile---‘Slimeball’ was more what she what she had in mind. “ It is most gracious of your father to agree to go on with this, especially in the light of the urgency we are facing.”

“ Well, your brother did insist,” Sheena replied,” We trust and support whatever he judges as fit to handle the situation…and, oh…”

Sheena lightly slapped his nervous hazel-haired friend on the chest.

“…I’d like you to meet my best pal, Coates.”

Coates? Attha had heard that name before…but where?

“ Um…” Coates began to speak, slightly louder than a murmur,”…good evening, Lady Albion.”

“ And with introductions aside, you’re on your own now!” Sheena turned to walk away, waving to a terrified Coates,” Bye bye!”

Coates was aghast at seeing his friend moving away. What was he supposed to do? He wanted to run away, but he was now standing before Lady Attha Mari Albion! This was what he had always dreamed of for years---he CAN’T back out now! Not without making a fool out of himself! But what should he do?

He felt even more nervous when he noticed her staring at him in puzzlement with her dark brown eyes.

“ I…uh…” Coates croaked, wishing moments like these didn’t seem like hours.

“ It’s just like him to leave people like that, hmm?”

“Huh?” Coates raised a brow.

“ Hmmph,” Attha smiled, amused by the man’s surprise,” How do you put up with his antics? That I’d like to know.”

Coates didn’t know what to say. The woman of his dreams was actually starting off a conversation…with HIM! He felt nervous, but it looks as if she did want to make him feel at ease…

“ Mr. Coates?”

“ Uh? Oh! Oh…that…well, Sheena does get kind of…” Coates paused to search for the right word,”… playful at times…but he is quite a nice guy if you get to know him…” Coates moved closer to Attha with his hand beside his mouth, and whispered,” Just don’t let him hear that, though…he doesn’t want his ‘reputation’ to be tainted by this fact.”

Attha, on hearing this, began to laugh. It was the first time she had heard ANYONE speaking highly of President Lepant’s notorious son. And to think that the docile, albeit jittery, gentleman before him was actually a best friend of his…well, the world might have just had a miracle in its hands!

Coates beamed. He had actually made her laugh, and couldn’t help but savor his observation; Her hand covered her mouth with her slightly long black hair perfectly framing her tanned oval face…her sparkling voice was like a sweet chime to his ears…

She really was beautiful.

The view was quite a sight from where she was standing. The city lights spread across the vista before here like fireflies in the dark, illuminating the night with signs of life within the barriers of Gregminster. Bright as can be.

Too bright, in her opinion.

Attha knew that it was a necessity for the citizens in times like these, with the ‘Rune Mutilations’ still unsolved. Not that it would do much good anyway other than providing peace of mind for them as the moon hovered over them. An illusion, one might say, but then again isn’t that how mortals like us cope with our lives?

She shook her head, deciding to put those thoughts away. The night was something she had thought to be one filled with boredom, but after what she experienced just now, she felt that it wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, she might have to thank Sheena for introducing Coates to her just now. Despite his initial nervousness, he eventually became involved in their first conversation…and he was quite an interesting fellow. He worked in an establishment in the city as an assistant for 3 or so years, and was actually pursuing a scholarly title by correspondence with the Greenhill Academy…in Philosophy, to boot! How she envied that!

Their conversation drifted from life to politics to food (He recommended this new restaurant with an absolutely delicious stew), and as time went on, they realized their throats would suffer if they didn’t take a break. So, Attha was waiting for Coates to return with two glasses of champagne before resuming, and she was certainly looking forward to that.

She had to admit, he was quite cute.

“ Well, what a surprise.”

Attha suddenly tensed, her current thoughts disappeared immediately. She knew that voice and its owner…and she didn’t like BOTH.

“ You are here also, Albion.”

Attha turned around, facing the opened entrance to the balcony she was occupying, and as expected was a man in maroon with a smug smile carved on his face. A smile like that could only be greeted with an equivalent of her own.

“ So what if I am, Gordon?” Attha replied, clearly articulating every single word dripped in sudden icyness,” I didn’t know the gathering was exclusive…but then again, I am the one with the rank here, aren’t I?”

“ Titles mean nothing for a trader,” Gordon replied with the same intensity as he stepped out into the open air,”…but instincts are…you should know that, shouldn’t you? And it seemed that your latest venture failed miserably I heard. How much was it? Ah, 50 000 potches gone down the drain…”

“ Mutilators are not exactly what I’d expect as the usual trading risk,” Attha strained her smile, controlling her rising annoyance,” But then again, it has been going on for one month, and yet no notice of it had been sent to the Association…”

“ My!” Gordon feigned surprise,” Are you implying that I had something to do with that?”

“ Considering that I managed to beat you to the Highland Army contract---”

“ Now, now, sour grapes don’t become you, Albion. You win some, you lose some…accusations like that would hurt the reputation your father worked hard to build.”

Attha turned her head away, gritting her teeth in frustration. <You lousy bastard---hitting below the belt, are you?> She cursed silently at having her late father being brought into the argument. He was going to far, and if he didn’t watch it…

“ Mistakes like that would hurt a lot in the long run,” Gordon continued,” You could marry my son, though.”

“WHAT?” Attha exclaimed, caught off guard.

“ You heard me. You could marry my son, Co---“

In an instant, Attha’s hand was dangerously close to Gordon’s face, her finger pointing menacingly. Even Gordon was startled.

“ You listen to me, Gordon,” Attha snarled, clearly not willing to put up with the man any longer,” If you think that I for a second would even consider merging our business, then you are DREAMING! Marry your son? HAH! Whoever that sad lark is, I am not THAT desperate to share a bed with him!”

“ Now look here, Albion!” Gordon responded in contained anger,” Even if you don’t like that suggestion, that is no reason for you to insult my son! He is a good young man, and an intelli---“

Gordon stopped, his vision stuck on the balcony’s entrance.

“…son…you heard us?” He uttered, his voice with a twang of regret.

“ So?! What do I care, old man, whatever your son is like is no concern of mi---“ Attha turned to see what Gordon was looking at…and also stopped.

Horrified.

Coates stood there silently with onlookers behind him alerted by the noise from the balcony. She could see the two glasses of champagne he went to get for both of them in his hands, but it was his face that made her dread the agonizing moments she was living now. He was trying not to show it, but from looking at his sad blue eyes, it was not difficult to see that he had heard enough.

“ Dad, Lady Albion…please excuse me.” He said softly, and quickly went through the crowd behind him, leaving the two to the stares of everyone else.

“Coates…Coates!!” Gordon called out, to no response as his son melded with the other guests, disappearing from sight.

Attha stood alone, with Gordon leaving the balcony to try and reach his fleeing son. All that remained were the eyes and hushed whispers, but she wasn’t concerned with all that.

“Coates…is his son…” She murmured, a feeling of guilt sinking down her gut. Now she remembered why the name seemed familiar.

“ Who was I trying to kid?!”

Coates moved as swiftly as he could down the street that would take him farther from the castle and closer to home. He didn’t see the point of staying in that gathering any longer, not after what had just transpired. Not after that. He wanted to feel angry with her for her words, for making him out as a fool in front of all those people. But then again, his father was also at fault, unable to resist to be at loggerheads with his rival…sometimes Coates wonder why can’t the man just behave for once!

But then again, the worst fault might have just been his own. Despite knowing Attha’s dislike for Gordon ( it was hard NOT to), Coates skillfully avoided mentioning the fact that he was his son. Well, he was asking for it, and now he had to accept the consequences.

“ She didn’t know who I really was.” Coates smiled bitterly, his disappointment weighed on his heart. For three years he had been in Gregminster working with father, for three years he had admired her from afar, and for three years he had yearned for her to even hear the slightest mentioning of him. Bad or good, he didn’t care; he just wanted her to know that he existed.

Obviously that didn’t happen. Coates could only laugh at his poor self.

“ You dreaming bastard. You seriously thought you had a chance, didn’t you?”

He turned into a corner to his left, and he began to notice something with each step he took. Despite the lights that through the windows of the houses he passed, there was no one on the streets that night. It wasn’t that late, and usually there would be some activity on a normal night. But then, with the circumstances the city was facing, and also the Gregminster ball that was still in progress, it was somewhat to be expected. As he approached the entrance of an alley, he realized that he should put his thoughts away and just get some rest. It had been quite a day for him, and it was taxing enough as it is.

“ Ah well,” Coates said to himself,” The sooner I get back home, the better.”

That intention, however, was cut short by a sudden blow to his head.

“ UNH!!” Coates gasped, the sudden force of pain halted his movements. He faltered, and fell onto the stone road with a thud. Ache was all he could feel, and his vision was blurring when he tried to open his eyes. He could only see the darkness starting to fill his view, engulfing a shadowy form clutching Coates’ left hand as it towered before his fallen form…with an arm raised that held something…angular.

It was then everything went blank.

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"Coates" and "Suikoden 2" are (C) Konami. This chapter was posted on December 30, 1999