I finally posted this fic.. *sweatdrop* And I'm sorry if the pace is too rushed... I have better plan for the future chapters... I cannot plan much for the current canon events OTL.
Anyway, as you can see from the tags, this fic will be Takumi-centric with lots of hurt and comfort with Sakura.
And no, Takumi isn't gay for Leo here. Takumi is married to Oboro and Leo to Nyx. But later, Xander will sent Leo as an ambassador and they can have a friendship based on their political relationship.
Takumi formed a fist with his right hand, then spread his fingers, Then forms a fist again. This is not a dream... But everything feels so surreal. His limbs now listened to his will again. But not everything have returned to what it should be.
His mother is gone. So does his older brother. And his older sister, too.
He still remember when he woke up in the same cell with Sakura after Corrin halted his attempt of suicide, and when he run away with her on a stolen dark falcon. He is more skilled on shooting fliers down, yes, but he is no stranger on riding them either. Kinshi riding class is obligatory for the Hoshidan royal family.
He still remember when he saw Ryoma's dead body on the floors of Hoshido's throne room, and suddenly anger filled his body, his body didn't listen to his logic anymore, and a bow that looks like a corrupted version of his divine weapon. Azura sang to weakened him down, and everything went black.
He recalled that he woke up several days later, only for his retainers confirming him about his older sibling's death. He doesn't hear voices in his head anymore, but he is exhausted to be wrathful, and he likes it or not, he must prepare himself for his siblings' funeral.
Sakura cried on his chest during the funeral. He wanted to cry too. But not even a drop of tear comes out from his eyes. He's tired of feeling sad.
Corrin and the Nohrian royals too come to the funeral. The Nohrian royals come only for formality, that is for sure, but Corrin tried to approach him and Sakura. He only allowed Corrin to speak to him to return the Fujin Yumi after he was captured, and nothing else. He does not need sympathy from the woman who razed the land where she was born. However, he informed her that he need time to think before he can properly speak to her, and asked her to wait until his coronation. Only Elise bothered to comfort Sakura, and that's let her coming close to Sakura starting from Ryoma and Hinoka's funeral, they are on the same age and there is no way there is any malice from a girl at her age. Not to mention it seems she shared Sakura's all-loving and merciful nature. And in the night, it was his turn to cry to Sakura's chest.
Speaking about formality, tomorrow is Xander's coronation, which doubles as Garon's funeral, an event which he and Sakura must attend for the same reason. The reason why he is still in Hoshido is because he didn't plan to stay or make his journey long. He planned for a quick trip with some kinshi and pegasi , arriving in castle Krakenburg and returning to castle Shirasagi in the same day.
He moved to his closet and took out a doll from it. A doll resembling Corrin, made for him by his mother. Suddenly, memories filled his head.. Memories when Kamui was kidnapped...
"Mommy, where is big sister Kamui?" Little Takumi, no older than 4 years old, innocently chirped.
Mikoto looks at the young boy with sad eyes. With heavy voice she replied.
"Takumi, for now, Kamui is somewhere... Far. But she will return to us someday. "
Tugging her cape again, the boy keep on asking her.
"When will she return , Mommy?"
Mikoto reached for a doll, resembling her half-dragon daughter and give it to her silver-haired son.
"It will take long until she can return to us. But she will surely return. For now, held on to this. At least, until she returned. "
"After she returned, will all of us be together forever, Mom? "
But after the last question, Mikoto says nothing. Instead she pulled the boy closer to her chest. Takumi stopped asking by this point, but still doesn't understand why Mikoto looks so sad.
Clutching the doll in his grasp, the now almost adult Takumi muttered to himself, a drop of tear running on his cheek.
"Is... Is this the reason for your silence, Mother? You... You know, that Kamui would leave us forever? But... You still accepted her when she returned to us anyway... Why ? Why you can ?"
But the room remains silent. No one can answer his question. Mikoto herself is gone, and none of her retainers even know her that deep.
Takumi decided to visit Sakura's room, trying to make himself better with the presence of his sister. Gently, he knocked the door, and when Sakura allowed him to come in, he did. He saw her sister's Kamui doll. Oh... She was having the same dilemma with him...
"Big Brother... I... Um.. S-should I... K-keep this doll? I m-mean... K-Kamui... She.."
"You don't have to , Sakura. She is no longer our family. She severed her relationship with us on her own accord, even after we broke the spell Nohr put on her. " Gently, Takumi sat beside his younger sister. Sakura doesn't deserve to live through all of this...
"E-Even so, this d-doll... W-was from... M... Mother.." Sakura clutched the doll tighter. Ah... There was that problem too...
"Right. You can say that. But... The other dolls are from Mother too. Discarding one... Wouldn't be a problem. Especially after the person it suppose to resemble is not part of us anymore. She cast us away... So why can't we cast her off? And getting rid of anything that have to do with her in the process?" Takumi gently caressed Sakura's back. Sakura turned back to look at Takumi.
"I-if I wasn't wrong... Y-you have a doll resembling h-her too, Brother... H-Have you... cast it away ?"
Ah. This question finally asked.
"Not yet. But I planned... To get rid of it in front of her face in the most emotionally painful as possible. "
Sakura gasped. Her brother already planned to do such a thing... Well, he was the least forgiving of the Hoshidan royal familt after all, but..
"B.. But, Big Brother... She looks genuinely sad at Hinoka and Ryoma's funeral..."
"So? They died because of her option anyway. Be honest with me , Sakura. Have you forgave her?"
The red-haired princess looks away from her brother's looks, but he pulled her to his chest instead.
"It's okay, Sakura. It's okay. It's humane for us to hate her , since she takes so much from us. But... The problem is, do not let it cloud our decision to take actions. I admit... My hate to her was the reason I got possessed in the first place. But I can't just forgave her after all she did to us. Perhaps if it's you, one day the time you can forgive her will come. But I... I can't, Sakura. Call me petty, but I will continue to hate her until my last breath. I am not as forgiving or merciful as you.. or Mother... "
"B... Big Brother... I.. "
"Let them think you are the forgiving, innocent, and incorruptible maiden you was. But in front of me... You can say anything. "
Sakura cried to Takumi's chest again. After she calmed down, he let her go and caressed her head before leaving.
"There, there... Now rest, okay? We've got some early long trip for tomorrow,and it's a flight trip. You cannot fall asleep on a flying mount's back. Not to mention we are going to attend a formal event in Nohr, the coronation of new king. We cannot come with heavy eyebags , right? Can't let those Nohrian thinks Hoshido cannot properly present their royals. "
Sakura nodded and prepared to sleep, and Takumi kissed her forehead before leaving.
Upon returning to his room, Takumi found Oboro, his wife, whom he married with because he slept with her and now she is pregnant with his child. Not that he regret any of it. Be it the slept with her, the marriage, or having a child. He slept with her , while it's already after his corruption, by that time he did it, he was completely aware of what he is doing, and already planned to marry her after the war.
"Lord Takumi..." The bluenette's voice echoed in the room. The silverette then put his finger in front of her lips.
"Do not call me lord anymore. I am your husband now, Oboro..."
"Then, may I ask for a kiss?" The seamstress move forward to receive her ex-lord, now husband's love. The archer leaned in and kissed her, giving her a rather passionate one. The seamstress then raised the clothing on her lap.
"But, Takumi, are you sure... That you and Sakura... Are going to wear... these?"
The clothing she was worked on was two sets of mourning kimonos, one for man and another for woman. Takumi scoffed.
"Well, I am sure. King Xander's coronation event doubles as mourning event for King Garon... Even if we don't feel any sympathy at all, we just have to attend it, because Sakura and are the only Hoshidan royal left...Fucking formal parties, I hate them. I wish I am an illusionist so I can use an illusion of myself attending the party so I don't have to come."
Oboro giggled when she heard Takumi cursing. It's been months since he cussed , and lately he just looks... Exhausted. Oboro knows by this moment Takumi already stop cursing at public and only being himself when he is with her or Sakura, because now he is the crown prince. Oh, the necessity of killing your old self to be the proper ruler...
" I know you almost always have a nightmare, Takumi, but please, rest. The crown prince of Hoshido cannot show himself with eyebags in front of those Nohrians. " Takumi snorted.
"Funny, just now I said the same thing to Sakura."
"Because that's the truth," Oboro smiled at him and helped him change into sleep kimono, and then throws herself to his embrace as she unties his hair ribbon. Takumi did the same to her.
"I'll always be there for you whenever you need me, Takumi. As a fighter to keep enemies away from you, the archer, as a seamstress to make you always fashionable, and as a wife, to keep her husband's darkest night less threatening."
Next morning, Takumi, Sakura, Subaki, and Reina are all prepared for their flight to Krakenburg, with black mourning kimono contrasting their flying mount's white body. Takumi prepared his own kinshi. He is rather skilled that he can skip the pegasus training and directly ride a kinshi, but he still feels that Hinoka is the better flying fighter, the reason why all these times he never reclassed himself into a kinshi knight. Although he does sometimes flew with his kinshi up there when he want to feel the wind and be alone in the atmosphere. But it seems he have to be a kinshi knight for serious soon. Takumi look at Sakura again. The royal family of Hoshido kept a special line of the the each types of flying mounts bred for the royal family, be it the pegasus, falicorn, or kinshi. Each members of the Hoshidan royal family have their own flying mount. So does Sakura. The fact that Sakura's pegasus is Hinoka's pegasus' twin, and the resemblance the two winged horses share is rather jarring by this point...
"Sakura, if you wanted to, you can ride my pegasus instead..."
The healer shook her head. The archer knows that Sakura decided to cling to that fact instead, to honor Hinoka more.
Before getting on his kinshi, Takumi walked to Oboro and gives he let her give him the farewell kiss, and then the flying party departed.
When was the last time Takumi ride his own kinshi? Oh, right, few days after Hinoka and Ryoma's funeral. He flew up really high, and then once he reached the height where he is sure no one can hear his cry, he starts screaming about his rage, sorrow , as well self-deprecating as he usually did. When he landed with puffy eyes, nobody dares to ask why, the reason is clear.
As much as Takumi actually enjoys the wind of the high altitude, now is not the time for it. Now he must race his kinshi to Krakenburg and attend Xander's coronation which doubles as Garon's funeral. He can enjoy the wind in his journey back home.
They departed at morning, and arrived at least one hour before dusk. There are still time to fix their getup. Elise greeted them happily at the castle's landing lane, and frolics with Sakura. The youngest of the Nohrian siblings is very cheerful, and even tried to make friends with Sakura.
"Sakura! I was worried when you haven't arrived this morning..I heard you will arrive by pegasus anyway.. Yet I still worry... But it's okay! Now you're here, right? I'm gonna show you the castle's insides! And we can play after Xander's coronation!"
Surprised, Sakura tried to catch a breath before she can properly answered Elise's question.
"U.. Um.., Princess Elise... We.. We're sorry to inform you, but... We're going to return to Hoshido right after King Xander's coronation... "
Surprised, Elise let go of Sakura's hand with her mouth opened wide. "Whaaat !? Why !? Oh, and you don't have to call me Princess Elise! "
Takumi answered Elise's question for Sakura, as the crown prince and Sakura's brother.
"Lady Elise, we are truly sorry for our need to inform you this, but we are busy back in Hoshido for its recovery. We must return soon and finish our unfinished business. Would you be so kind to understand this?"
Elise pouted, but she nods anyway.
"Un... Okay, if that's the 're busy too here, so we can to mention there is only two of you guys now. Hey, Prince Takumi, you're much nicer than I thought. I thought you're just a meanie when you tried to shoot me at Cheve!"
Oh, of course originally I am not such an affable person...But do you have that much of options when your older brother, the supposed crown prince, is dead, the court is still expecting him, but as much as you are aware your personality is unfit to be that of a ruler's, you have to create a fake self? Being crown prince when you are not supposed to be robbed you away from the right of being yourself, but second princess like you will never understand that...
Takumi replied to her in his mind. This was what he actually says .
"I did? My bad... You know... I... I wasn't really remember my actions back in the war because I was possessed. I apologize for all the damage and problems I have caused to your siblings and country."
More lies. The first part of the apologize was genuine, what kind of monster he is for trying to kill such a little girl ? But he's not sorry for the damage he caused to Nohr, not after all those damage they caused to Hoshido in the first place.
"It's okay! By the way... It's just me, or .. You're kind of girlier now? "
Well, if your father is dead before you can remember, and you don't really like your older brother from distancing yourself from you so you had to mold your "ruler's mask" based on your mother, it's inevitable that you would be influenced by her femininity.
Takumi tried to smile at her. His smile become more and more natural after he tried to adapt this facade, which is heavily based on Mikoto's natural attitude . .
"Ah, perhaps that is merely your imagination, Lady Elise. "
Then Takumi realized Corrin was there too. She tried to call his name...
"Takumi..."
He's pissed. This woman have no right to call his name after what she did to him. But he tried to cloak his grudge anyway, and forced himself for a smile anyway.
"It is "Prince Takumi" for you, Lady Corrin. It would be convenient for both of us if we didn't show lack of respect to each other. Did you recall my request from my siblings' funeral back then? If you do, please do so. My coronation isn't that far. "
Corrin remained silent. She remembered he asked her to wait until his coronation. She decided to appreciate his request.
There was not much Takumi and Sakura did that night, unless clapping their hands when Xander was crowned. They distanced themselves in the corner of the party, just like they usually did back in Hoshido whenever a party is held. They wore mournng kimono, yes, and he did told Xander about his condolences of Garon passing away, but from him it's just lip service. Perhaps Sakura did feel true sympathy for them, but even if she did, it doesn't change the fact that they actually is still in their own mourning state of their siblings' loss.
After the party, again, only Elise and Corrin bothered to escort them to the flight lane and wave her hands to them as they departed. Corrin was there too, but she stay silent as Takumi requested her to. Takumi wondered, if they won the war, will Sakura be as cheerful as Elise? But there is no use crying over spilled milk. If there is anything they can do, it's Hoshido's recovery. Right now, he just wanted to return to Castle Shirasagi.
Whew! Finally done with all of that... The Hoshidan royal family have obligatory pegasus riding class and bred special line of the flying mounts are my headcanon since in canon in the game, The Hoshidan royal family all but Takumi have access to sky knight class, and by extension, the falcon and kinshi knight class, and Takumi too still can be naturally reclassed into kinshi knight, so none of the Hoshidan royal family is any stranger to the sky. It goes similarly with the Nohrian royal family with wyvern, but this time, only Leo that naturally have no access to flying access AT ALL. So of all 8 royal siblings, Leo is the only one with actual fear of height. That will be addressed in later chapters too.