A dark brown horse galloped across the silent field. There were signs of battle everywhere - that was because the battle near the capital of Highland had been going on for over a day now. The battle for the capital of Highland, L'Renouille... The last battle of this war.

The rider, clad in a dark green cloak, guided his horse around the few Dragoons army guards on the battlefield. It was early in the morning, the sun would rise in a couple of hours... The fighting has ceased for the darkest hours of the night. But horseman knew it would start soon again.

He rode towards one of the hills near the lake. He saw another pair of guards and stopped his horse. They were blocking his way.

He dismounted the horse and sneaked closer to the guards. So close he could hear them talk...

"So, you think it'll be over today?"

"I said it already. Besides, we have the best strategists around..."

"What about their strategist? That Leon Silverberg guy? He's good, you have to admit that."

"Well, he is. But we got Lord Riou. We can't lose. He beat the Mad Prince, he can beat the rest of the Highland scum as well..."

"You got that right."

Rest of the Highland scum... The dark-clad horseman thought. Yes, that's what we are for you. Too bad one of the scum will have to do this...

He unsheathed his rapier silently, and moved closer.

"Damn cold in here."

"Nah, that's just because it's after midnight. Wait until the sun rises. It'll get warmer."

"Well, it will. And we get to fight again, too. Can't be too cold then..."

Both men laughed.

"Right..."

They heard a soft sound. It was somewhere near... Both turned around.

"What was that? See anything?"

"No... probably an animal, or something." The guard shrugged.

The other guard looked further off their position. He looked again, then pointed at the object he saw. "Hey. There's a horse..."

"Damn it That means someon... Ugh." The guard dropped to the ground.

The other man turned around. "What the..?"

The last thing he saw was a red-haired man with a sword.

The man sighed. He looked at the rapier, covered with blood. He swept it on the soft grass and sheathed it.

He had no choice but to do this. This path was the only way up to the hill. Actually, he had planned that he would not kill anyone, but... Now, someone would find the bodies sooner or later. It left him less time to spend on the hill. He turned and walked back to his horse.

He rode up to the hill and stopped. It was still dark. If he looked southwest, he could see the lights of the Dragoons army camp. If he looked east, he could see his home.

"L'Renouille..." He shook his head. "Will this be the last time I see you from here?"

The sun had not risen yet, but the young leader of the Dragoons army didn't care. He couldn't sleep anyway. He could hear Shu talking to some guards outside the tent. He sat up in the bed.

"Shu," he called.

The strategist entered the tent. "What is it, Lord Riou?"

"Is something wrong?"

"I'm sure it's nothing serious."

The boy looked him in the eyes. "Tell me."

"They say General Seed is on the hill northeast of the camp."

"What is he doing there?"

"Nobody knows. They told me he has been there for about an hour already. He might be up to something. I called a meeting, we'll discuss this right away. Are you coming, my lord?"

The boy got up. "Of course."

The Dragoons army commanders had gathered into one of the bigger tents. Riou glanced around. These were some of the people he trusted, the ones leading this army. He felt a bit nervous. This war had lasted for so long...

"Is everyone here?" Shu asked in a cold voice.

"Seems so," Viktor answered. "So what's the rush?"

Riou leaned forward. "Shu said that General Seed is on a hill near the camp... We don't know why. I guess someone should go ask him what he wants."

Klaus blinked. He stood up. "I'll go," he offered hastily.

Shu shook his head. "I don't think it's a good idea. You used to be one of them. You're a traitor. He might kill you."

"I don't care! I know him. Well, knew. If he wants something, he'll tell me. If he wants to kill me... Well, I've got nothing to lose."

Riou shrugged. "You sure about it?"

Klaus nodded. "I'm sure."

"Shu?"

Shu sighed. "Whatever you say, Lord Riou..."

Klaus rode up the hill slowly. The sun was about to rise. When he almost reached the top, he stopped and left the horse behind. He walked the rest of the way up to the top. He looked around, searching for the red-haired general.

Seed was standing on a boulder. The chilly wind caught his hair. He turned around to see who was coming.

"Klaus...?" he whispered.

The young strategist stood a hundred and fifty feet away from him. He looked pale. Seed walked to him and stopped in front of him.

"Seed..."

"Look who's here... The son of the traitor. I should kill you. Right here, right now." The Highland general drew his rapier and raised it to the young man's throat.

Klaus closed his eyes. "Go ahead. I'm not fighting back. Please... Kill me, Seed."

"Are you out of your mind? Klaus..." Seed sheathed the sword. "You know I could never do it."

"Please..." Klaus whispered.

"Why? Why do you wish to die?"

"Because... one of us is going to die anyway. Maybe both of us. I have nothing to life for, Seed. Just kill me. I betrayed Highland. I betrayed everything, everyone... and I betrayed you."

Seed swept away the tears from Klaus' eyes. "Klaus... Don't say things like that."

The young strategist gave up. He leaned on the red-haired general, put his hands around Seed's neck, pushed his face against his shoulder and cried. Seed wrapped his arms around him.

Some time passed. Finally, Klaus raised his face and looked at the Highland general. "Seed. I... didn't want to..."

"Didn't want what?"

"Want to... do it. Betray you," he sobbed.

Seed looked at him. "Klaus, you never did."

"But I did. Actually, you're the only one I truly betrayed. When I followed my father's decision to leave Highland and join the Dragoons army... We were told that King Agares was dead, murdered by his own son. I never wanted to serve Prince Luca. With the king gone, Highland wasn't the same. All that I had believed in..."

Seed held him tightly. "Klaus..."

Klaus shivered. "After everything we had, Seed... You and me... For a short moment, I wanted them to kill me. Because joining the Dragoons army would mean I'd never see you again."

"You're here now."

"I won't be for long... This is war, and we're on the opposite sides. And my duty is... to destroy Highland."

Seed took a deep breath. "Klaus..."

"Yes?"

"Soon, there is no more war. The battle will end today... I'm sure of it."

"Maybe. But... that means... Seed?"

"Nothing. Forget it. Just... let me hold you for a little longer..."

Klaus didn't reply. He closed his eyes and leaned on the Highland general.

Minutes passed slowly. The sun had risen now, it made Seed's red hair shine. Klaus sobbed quietly, never wanting to leave... just stay here, like this.

He raised his face again and looked at Seed.

"Seed?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you here?"

Seed looked away. "You don't know?"

"That's what I'm here to find out."

"You could've saved your Lord Riou the trouble. You do know why I'm here, I can see it in your eyes."

Klaus let go of the older man and turned away. "Yes, I know..." he whispered.

"So why did you come here?"

"Because... I wanted to see you..."

Seed put his hands on the brunette's shoulders. "I know."

"This place is as beautiful as always."

"Yes, even though there's been a battle... You can see all the signs of it..."

"Well, yes."

A few minutes passed. They stayed quiet, looking at the fields that surrounded the hill. The lake glimmered in the sunlight.

Klaus took a deep breath and turned to face the older man.

"Seed. I... have to... go..."

Seed smiled sadly. "Go on then. I should go back, too. I'm a general, remember. The battle is starting again."

Klaus looked at him. "Seed... promise me one thing?"

"Anything."

"Don't die."

Seed shook his head. "I can't promise you a thing like that.."

"Please?"

"Klaus..."

"Just say it. I can't leave until you do."

Seed hesitated, then looked him in the eyes. "I promise."

Klaus closed his eyes and tried to smile. But his eyes were filled with tears.

"Whatever happens... Seed..."

"Hush." The general touched his face softly, then kissed him. He drew the young strategist closer, holding him in his arms.

Finally, he let go.

Klaus sobbed. "Seed... I love you," he whispered silently.

"I know. Go now."

The brown-haired strategist gulped. He looked at the general for one last time, then turned and walked away slowly, not looking back.

Seed sighed. "Farewell, my love..."

The battle had started already when the red-haired general returned to L'Renouille.

"General Seed! Where on earth have you been," his first officer asked when he entered a small building near the gates. "General Culgan thought..."

"Thought what?"

"That they might have killed you too."

Seed turned away. "What are the losses so far?"

"Too great. We've lost several commanders, too. At this rate..."

"Don't give up yet. Order my men to get ready."

Later that day, the Dragoons army had advanced just outside the city. Seed tried to do the best he could, but he knew what would happen next.

He jumped off his horse to help a couple of Highland soldiers battling some mercenaries. He killed several of them, and when the rest of them run away, the Highland soldiers went on pursuit. Seed shook his head. There was no point in that...

He looked around. There were dead soldiers everywhere. The place he was standing... This had been a village. Now it was nothing but ruins.

He looked further away. There were more mercenaries. They were led by a man dressed in blue clothes... It had to be the man people called "the Blue Lightning". One of the Dragoons army generals, Flik.

Slowly, Seed walked back to his horse. He patted the mare's neck.

"Is there any hope left...?" he whispered to the horse.

"Seed!"

He turned around. He could recognize the voice calling his name. He saw Culgan riding towards him.

"What now," he asked as the silver-haired general stopped in front of him.

"Order your men to withdraw."

"Are you crazy? No I won't."

Culgan dismounted his horse. "Seed. We're losing the battle. Order your men to withdraw. Now!"

Seed raised his rapier. "I know it damn well! So what? Then I'll die here, and take a few of those State soldiers with me!"

"We're going back to the castle. King Jowy's orders."

"But..." Seed lowered his face. "Alright..."

Culgan glanced at the fighting further away. "Go tell your men to leave the battlefield. We have lost already."

Seed shook his head. "I just knew this would happen... Even before this battle began..."

"So did I". Culgan sighed. "Now go. I'll meet you in the castle." He mounted his horse and rode away.

Seed closed his eyes for a while, knowing that there was nothing he could do anymore. This was the last battle of the war.

And the last battle had been lost.

Author's notes:

Seed / Klaus fic again. Hey, I'm a devoted Seed fan and I like Klaus.

"Battlefield Without Light". It's actually the name of the 2nd war BGM from GS2 (played for example in the defending the HQ castle from Solon Jhee battle - that's the first battle where you have Shu - and in the battle when you're attacking L'Renouille). Not found from the GS2 OST, but from the SuikoGaiden 1 OST.

- Elmina (March, 2001)