Klaus sat beside the wall in the entrance hall of Northwind Castle. He was just sitting there, watching as people passed by. He had a book with him, but he didn't feel like reading.

Two months had passed since the war. It was all over. There was no Highland, L'Renouille and all former Highland territories were controlled by the Dragoons army.

Klaus closed his eyes. He had friends here in Northwind Castle, but... He felt that he was alone. When he had left Highland and joined the Dragoons army, he had become an enemy of Highland. He was a traitor. Even if the war was over now, he knew he couldn't go back home. Not that he would've wanted to.

He was alone. His father was dead. Lord Riou, whom he respected highly, had left Northwind Castle, and...

"Oh, Seed..." he whispered.

The last generals of Highland were dead, too. Culgan and Seed were his friends. Now, they were gone. They had tried to stop Lord Riou in L'Renouille Castle. Or actually, they had just bought some time for Lord Jowy. But doing so cost them their lives. Well, Klaus had heard their bodies had disappeared from the hallway where they had fought Lord Riou, but... They were seriously injured in the battle. They were dead, even if Klaus didn't want to admit it to himself.

I miss you so, my dear friends, he thought. Now, there's no-one...

Klaus sighed. Yes, he missed Culgan too, but he missed Seed more. They had been... lovers. Well, Seed wasn't the type that talked about feelings, but Klaus knew that he had felt something. And he had loved Seed. He still did, while he knew that he would never see the red-haired general again.

"Is everything alright?"

Klaus opened his eyes. Shu was standing in front of him.

"What?"

"Klaus. Is something bothering you?"

"Well... not really."

"Really...? Klaus." Shu knelt beside him.

"Yes?"

"What is it?"

"I... nothing. I feel like I'm alone.That's all."

Shu smiled gently. "But you are not alone, Klaus. You have friends, and..."

"I know. It's just that..."

"Your father?"

Klaus nodded.

"He was a brave man," Shu said. "You must miss him a lot."

"I... Well, yes. I try to keep myself occupied with my strategy studies so I don't have time to think about it."

"Klaus. There's nothing wrong in being sad."

Klaus shook his head. "No... I have grieved enough."

"So why do you still think about it," Shu asked. "Seems like you're forgetting something."

"Oh, what?"

"You have a life to live. You're young, Klaus. Enjoy it. Don't waste your time sitting in here thinking about the past."

Klaus sighed. "Maybe you're right..."

"I know I am."

Klaus shrugged. "Alright. I'll try to think about something else."

Shu smiled. "Good."

"Well," Klaus said. "I wonder how Lord Riou is doing."

"He'll be just fine... I don't know. Maybe he was a bit too young to become a leader of a country..."

"Think so?"

"Maybe. Well. I'm happy for him. After all he's been through... Now he's with the people he loves. Who knows, maybe he'll return here when he has travelled enough."

"Well, who knows."

Shu stood up. "I have to go now. I have a meeting in half an hour... Are you all right now?"

Klaus nodded. "Of course."

He watched Shu leave. He sat there for some time, finally got up and walked outside the castle and looked up to the clear sky.

Shu... I wish I could tell you. It's not about my father anymore.

If only... Seed was alive.

That night, Klaus was sitting in Leona's tavern. The place was crowded as usual, but he didn't care for company. But he just didn't want to be alone... This was better than sitting alone in his room.

He sat alone in the darkest corner, listening how people talked about things, laughed and enjoyed themselves. He lowered his head and stared at the glass full of wine on the table. He hadn't even touched it.

He looked around. Many familiar faces, many unfamiliar ones. A lot of people from the Dragoons army, some random visitors. The same as every night.

He raised his hand and touched the glass, but didn't lift it up.

What am I doing, he thought. This is just... pointless. I should stop thinking about it. The more I think about it, the more I miss him.

He sighed. Maybe it was better if he went to rest.

"You okay, kid?"

He looked up to see a man standing next to the table. He wore a dark brown cloak, and was dressed like any of the mercenaries here. He had a patch over his right eye, and a dark green bandana.

Klaus blinked. "I... I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"Just asked if you were okay. You look like there's a lot of things in your mind... Sad things. You'd better go talk to someone, or something like that."

"Well... Er, thank you for the advise. Maybe I will."

"No problem."

The man left. He sat in a table across the room, ordered something to drink and soon ended up talking with the mercenaries in the next table.

Klaus glanced at his glass. No, he didn't want to drink it. He turned to take a better look at the stranger.

He was about thirty-years old, dark-haired and tall. He looked like he had been in a battle or something. He had two swords that he carried on his back, and a long knife. Klaus shrugged. Just a random mercenary...

But somehow, the man looked like someone he had once known.

"But... who?" he whispered to himself. He knew this man. He was certain of it. But who was he?

Klaus got up. Well, it was worth to try.

He walked over to the mercenaries' table, and stopped in front of the strange man.

"Uh... Excuse me... But have we met before?"

One of the mercenaries slapped the stranger friendly on his back.

"Look at that. You just got here, and already managed to attract the cutest strategist we have. Not that Shu wasn't pretty..."

All the mercenaries laughed.

"Too bad Apple left," one of them stated.

"Well, we always have Klaus. So, you two know each other?"

The stranger smiled. "Maybe we do..."

"Well, do we?" Klaus inquired.

"Maybe."

"Please, tell me."

The man smiled. "Not here, too many people."

"Aw, nice try. I don't think he'll go with you just like that, even if did you know each other." The mercenaries laughed again.

Klaus ignored the comment. "Alright... Would you come with me? We can go elsewhere."

"I'd be happy to."

One of the mercenaries grinned. "Oh my. Well, have fun, Klaus! And you stranger - do anything to hurt our little strategist, and we'll hunt you down and kill you."

The man stood up, smiled to the mercenaries and followed Klaus out of the tavern.

They walked outside. It was dark, but the moon was shining brightly. Klaus stopped next to some bushes. This was private enough, but he didn't feel threatened. There were soldiers all around the town area.

The stranger looked around, then turned to face Klaus. "So, what now... My lord?"

Klaus shook his head. "You... You talk like a... But... I just can't... Who are you?"

"Alright. Would it help if I showed you this sword and talked like I used to? Would it, my lord?"

The man unsheathed one of his swords, knelt in front of Klaus and raised the sword so he could see it. It was a beautiful weapon, with gold and jewels on the hilt, and some symbols engraved into the blade.

Klaus took a deep breath. "Commander Darren...!?"

It was one of the former commanders of the Highland third army. Commander Darren had worked for Klaus' father. The sword had been given to him by General Kiba himself. He was also a childhood friend of Seed's.

The former commander got up. "Hey... hush, not so loud. My name is Jessiah nowadays. Wouldn't want anyone to know I'm still alive."

Klaus gasped. "But... how come... you are... alive? I thought... I heard that you died defending L'Renouille. I thought..."

"So did I, my lord, so did I..." The older man sighed. "But I didn't die. When I woke up, I was in a small village near the ex-Highland-Muse border. Some of my more fanatic soldiers had brought me there. Few of them had given their life to protect me..."

"And...?"

"Well, it took a few weeks, but I recovered from my wounds. Except for this eye, but it doesn't matter. I'm alive, that's what counts."

"I'm glad you are." Klaus tried to smile a little.

"No more Highland... Well. I'm a mercenary now. I was thinking of going west or something later. Never visited Grasslands, but always wanted to."

"Ah, really?"

"Oh, Sir Klaus." Darren shook his head. "You look like you're doing well. If we count out the fact that your father is dead... And so are most of the other people we both used to know. And some of the people back home..."

Klaus smiled sadly. "Well, I like it here. This is my home now."

"That's good to hear, my lord."

"Please." Klaus looked at him in the eyes. "This is not Highland, you don't have to call me that. Alright?"

Darren smiled. "If you say so."

Klaus smiled back. "So... What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

Klaus blinked. "Why?"

"Well..."

"What is it?"

"Seed."

"He's... dead. Yeah, I know." Klaus lowered his face and looked at his feet.

Darren touched his chin. "Hey. I know that you two were... Seed told me."

Klaus looked at him. "He did?"

"Yes. You miss him, don't you?"

"I do."

The former commander turned away. "You know, Klaus..."

"Yes...?"

"Seed may not be dead."

Klaus' eyes widened. "What?!"

"A long story. Wish to hear it?"

Klaus walked in front of him and looked at him in the eyes. "Yes! Please?"

"Well, I heard this from one of my men. Lieutenant Jones and a few of his men were still in the castle when... The Dragoons army team came there. The boy and that small group he had. The lieutenant and those with him were all injured in the previous battle. They were thinking of attacking them, but the lieutenant changed his mind. He was too tired anyway, and he knew they would die if they tried to stop them."

"And...?"

"So, they followed the boy and his party instead. Well, in the upper part of the castle... Culgan and Seed were there."

"I know. Then what?"

"They were beaten. Then the Dragoons army team continued... They left Culgan and Seed there. They were in a really bad shape when the lieutenant and the others got to them. Both were unconscious and bleeding. They carried the generals out of the castle before it was destroyed."

Klaus sat down on the soft grass and closed his eyes for a while. "And... after that?"

"I don't know. This is all I was told. No-one knows what happened to them."

"But you mean... Seed could be... alive?"

"Yes. Or he may as well be dead. He was injured very badly, after all. But... I think he was too young to die. If he is dead... Well, that's how he wanted to die. To be fatally injured in a battle by someone stronger than him."

Klaus looked up at the former commander standing next to him. "You're right about that."

"Well. This is why I wanted to see you. Seed is my friend. I wish that he's alive. And... I thought someone should tell you about this, since you two were... And all that."

"Um, exactly... what did he tell you?"

The older man grinned. "That you are good in bed."

Klaus blushed. The former commander laughed.

"Really. No need to be ashamed. I never minded the fact that you two were lovers. Seed knew what he wanted." He patted Klaus' shoulder. "I'm going back to the tavern now. Well, it was good to see you, and to see that you've a new life here. Now go to sleep or something... My lord."

Klaus looked at him, smiling slightly. "I will."

"Goodnight, then."

Klaus got up. "Oh, Commander...?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Klaus closed the door behind him and sat down on his bed. The room was dark, but he didn't bother to lit up a candle.

Commander Darren... Oh, it feels so nice to know that someone is still alive and well. Even though you're not a commander anymore... just a mercenary.

But... the things you told me...

He stood up, undressed himself slowly and lay down in the bed.

Could it be true? Maybe... Does it matter? I want to believe that it's true.

He smiled and wrapped the sheets around him. He felt happy. He had just met someone who was supposed to be dead. In that case... There had to be others, too.

And if that is so...

Seed... please live.

Author's notes:

Written before Culgan and Seed were officially declared dead by Konami, so slightly AU.

- Elmina (March, 2001)