If there was ever a time Hoi felt more conspicuous, it escaped him just now.  It seemed as if all motion, all life stopped in one instant, that instant being the moment he stepped foot into the hideout of the Red Hand Bandits. Everyone's eyes were on the newcomer, each wondering what hewas doing here. 

Until Zecks arrived behind him.  "Everyone," he called out.  "This is Hoi. He'll be staying tonight. Treat him good or answer to me." 

The cacophony slowly rose back to its previous level, various shouts of welcome to Hoi mixed in.  An embarrassed grin slipped acrossHoi's face. 

"Master Zecks, I'm glad you returned." 

Hoi turned to face a mammoth of a man, at least seven foot tall.  Thick black hair covered his head, with a small black goatee on his chin to match. He stared down at Hoi with dark brown squinted eyes.  "Where'd you find him?" he added in his low, gruff voice. 

"Show him respect, Tarin.  He saved my life." 

This statement pulled Tarin's attention immediately from Hoi back to Zecks.  "What happened?" 

"I'm clumsy, that's what happened."  Zecks looked to Hoi.  "This is Tarin Sha'or, my advisor.  Tarin, this is Hoi Shono." 

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Sha'or."  Hoi stuck his hand out, which Tarin shook with a very firm grip.  It took all of Hoi's reserve not to wince. 

Tarin noticed this, and laughed.  "He's got guts.  Welcome to our home, Hoi Shono." 

"Thank you very much." 

With a nod, Tarin put his hand on Zecks's shoulder.  "If you'll excuse me, I have to speak with Zecks alone."  He then led Zecks away to a corner where they began to speak in urgent hushed tones. 

Even though everyone had all but immediately welcomed him in, Hoi still felt a bit out of place.  He wandered off to find a quiet spot to spend the night. 

The moment they were out of earshot, Tarin demanded, "What were you thinking, Master Zecks?  Leaving in the middle of the night, when all the more powerful monsters are loose.  You could have been killed!" 

Zecks scowled and brushed Tarin's hand off his shoulder. "You're not my nursemaid, Tarin.  I don't need to answer to you." 

Tarin sighed.  "Yes, Master, I understand that.  But you should think of what would happen if you did disappear.  The Clan would be lost without your leadership." 

The last thing he wanted to hear...  Zecks looked aside and said quietly, "You wouldn't be lost without me." 

A firm grip on his shoulder again brought Zecks's eyes back up to meet with Tarin's.  "You give yourself too little credit, Master Zecks," he said gently.  "You've turned us from a band of outlaws to something governments recognize.  And, all in a year's time." 

"I couldn't have done it without your help, Tarin," Zecks replied. 

"You would have done fine without me, Master Zecks," Tarin retorted, smiling. 

Zecks smiled.  "Oh, alright, I concede defeat.  You're useless, I was just trying to make you feel better." 

Both laughed, then Tarin turned his attention to Hoi, who was picking his way through the crowd of bandits.  "He's interesting...where'd you find him?" 

"He was traveling on the Pass when I was there. He...ah...frightened me and I fell off the edge of a cliff."  When Tarin shot him a sharp look, Zecks shrugged.  "It was foggy.  Anyway, he pulled me up.  I owe him a debt." 

Tarin looked confused.  "You're repaying his debt by letting him sleep here?" 

Zecks shook his head.  "I'm not sure what I'll do yet." 

With a slow nod, Tarin turned back to watching Hoi.  "It's strange...I've never seen someone carry tonfa and a broadsword."  He squinted. "That blade looks too fine to use for battle.  You don't
think he stole it, do you?" 

"I don't think so.  In any case, it's not our business."  Zecks turned and said, "Look in stores and see if you can't get a better mount for his blade. It looks as if one wrong move could slice through one of his tonfa." 

"Yes, Master Zecks," Tarin said as Zecks disappeared into the crowd of bandits. 

I know you don't feel you fit in here, Zecks, Tarin thought. You'll want to leave someday, to complete your "mission"...I hope that day doesn't come soon.

Hoi walked to the balcony's rail and leaned against it.  The stars glittered back at him, as they had on the Pass.  The slight trace of mist over the sky gave them a magical quality. 

When Hoi was young, his mother would tell him that, if he was ever lost, he could look to the stars for guidance.  He believed her, and at night, when he awoke from a bad dream or was just lost in life, he would stare out of his window at the starscape and feel better. 

The stars held no answers for him tonight.  Hoi looked down at the valley below, deep in thought.  His entire family was gone, but he didn't know who was responsible.  It didn't make sense that Jowston would attack one of her own villages, so that left Highland, Toran and Harmonia.  A
treaty of sorts had been penned with Toran, so that took that choice out.  If it was Harmonia, there were plenty of better places to attack than Ryube and Toto. That left Highland, who had opportunity and motive.  He'd already somewhat decided that Highland was the place to go, but he wasn't sure of where. If he headed to Kyaro, he'd at least find that fort, and maybe Jowy was still 
there.  There were some questions he'd like to ask him. 

"You have a knack for finding my hiding places." 

Hoi spun around and found Zecks standing in the doorway.  "I'm sorry, is this your private spot?" 

"Oh, no...free to the public," Zecks said, and came to stand by Hoi. 

Silence hung between them for a moment, and it was finally broken by Hoi. "Zecks...I have a question." 

"What is it?" 

"If you don' t mind me saying, you don't seem the type to lead a band of outlaws.  How'd you end up in this position?" 

Zecks looked down and laughed softly.  "No, I don't mind. I'm not the type to be here.  I wasn't a member of this clan until around five years ago." Zecks turned away from the rail and leaned back against it. "The then current leader took a liking to me, more than anyone else in the clan.  He 
died last year, and, since he had no son, he left the clan to me."  He hung his head as his story finished. 

Hoi nodded.  "That makes a little more sense." 

"What about you?" Zecks asked.  "Why were you on the Pass in the middle of the night?" 

"I'm headed to Kyaro." 

Zecks blinked.  "Kyaro?  Why?" 

Hoi looked down again into the valley.  "To find the object of my revenge." 

A moment passed, then Zecks said, "Revenge?" 

"My family died when Ryube Village burned down.  I suppose Highland did it, as well as the burning of Toto.  I want to find the man responsible and take revenge for the death of my family." 

Zecks took a deep breath.  "That's a long, lonely path you're about to take, Hoi.  Are you sure that's what you want?"  When Hoi nodded, Zecks mimicked the action.  "I owe a debt to you, Hoi." 

Hoi looked over at him.  "What do you mean?  Isn't this your payment?" 

"A life for a night's room and board?  No.  I'd like to think my life's worth more." 

"Then what?" 

Zecks paused, then looked back out at the stars, silent.  So much weighed on his heart...he wasn't sure what to do. 

"What aren't you saying, Zecks?" Hoi said softly. 

A moment passed, and Zecks replied, "You needn't worry yourself with it." He straightened and turned to leave.  "Rest well, Hoi." 

Hoi watched the man duck through the doorway and disappear.  What was that all about? Hoi thought. 

Tarin wove his way through the slowly settling crowd of bandits to the rooms beyond the Great Hall.  He found the door he was looking for and knocked. 

"Come in," a voice said from inside. 

He opened the door to find Zecks inside, tying a satchel closed.  He dropped the satchel to his bed, then took his sword and placed it next to it. 

Tarin realized with dread what was going on.  "Master Zecks..." 

"I'm leaving, Tarin."  Zecks turned to face him.  "I've ignored my destiny long enough." 

"But...why now?" 

Zecks picked up a black laquer box from his table, then opened it carefully. "I'm leaving with Hoi.  He needs guidance that I didn't have."  Slowly, he picked the object up that was inside the box.  A silver pendant swung on the end of a long chain, the pendant bearing the emblem of an eagle in flight and two swords.  "Guidance that I still need...but at least I can help him. That's how I will repay my debt."  With reverence, he put the pendant around his neck. 

Tarin sighed.  "I suppose I can't stop you.  When will you leave?" 

"Tomorrow morning, if Hoi agrees." 

The large man was at a loss for words.  He expected it, but it was so sudden.  "I'll arrange for traveling supplies, Master Zecks."

Zecks turned to Tarin and smiled softly.  "It's just Zecks now, Tarin." 

Tarin didn't reply.  He returned the smile, then left. 

"You want to come with me?" 

Zecks nodded.  "Yes, please...if you'll have me." 

Hoi blinked in surprise. Where'd this come from?  "Why?" 

"To repay my debt." 

He was still confused, but he said, "Sure, I guess.  I don't see why not." 

Zecks bowed his head.  "Thank you, Hoi.  Tarin's arranged for provisions and other supplies for us.  Kyaro, right?" 

"Yeah.  When can we leave?" 

"As soon as this business is complete."  Zecks lead Hoi from the balcony where they had been talking to the noisy main hall.  He stood on top of a table and yelled for everyone's attention.  "I have an announcement to make! As of today, I'll be leaving the Red Hand Bandits." 

A wave of surprised murmurs swept over the room.  Various shouts of "Why?" and "Don't go, Zecks!" sounded, but Zecks waved them all to silence. 

"You no longer need me anymore," Zecks said to answer their questions.  "I am needed elsewhere, by other people." 

Tarin moved into the back of the room, watching Zecks.  He looked more alive than he had the entire year previous.  This was best for him, it was. 

"Who will lead us?" one bandit called, breaking Tarin's inner musings. 

Zecks paused, looking over the crowd.  "Yeah, we can't do anything without you!" another added. 

With a smile, Zecks caught Tarin's eye.  "You have a perfectly good leader here...one who's better than me."  He drew himself up and said, "I appoint Tarin Sha'or as the leader of the Red Hand Bandits." 

Tarin blinked in shock as the bandits turned to look at him. Had Zecks been planning this all along? 

"He loves the Clan more than anything," Zecks added.  "He will make a fine leader." 

Tarin walked to the front of the room, where Zecks was stepping down off the table.  He shook Zecks's hand and said, "Thank you, Zecks. It'll be hard following in your footsteps." 

"So don't.  Make your own footsteps."  Zecks smiled, then gave Tarin a hug.  "Thank you for all your help, my friend." 

"It was my pleasure," Tarin replied. 

Zecks looked back out at the bandits.  "Goodbye, everyone! Behave yourselves."  As the crowd laughed, he turned to Hoi.  "Let's go, Hoi." 

Hoi nodded, then followed Zecks out of the cave, the sound of a thousand bandits cheering and wishing them good luck behind him. 

As Zecks took the satchels Tarin had prepared from the bandits out front, Hoi asked, "You really want to do this?" 

"Yes," Zecks replied. 

With a nod, Hoi said, "Then, let's go to Kyaro." 

Tarin watched as Zecks and Hoi disappeared into the mist. Good luck, Zecks Fortright, he thought. 

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"Hoi" and "Suikoden 2" are (C) Konami, 1999.  This chapter was posted on April 2, 1999