A/N- My first fanfic ever! I always thought it was crazy how the protagonist/player character can get married and everyone is just all happity-do-da about it, especially since he/she is the prince(ss) of both Nohr and Hoshido. I married Kaze on my first run, and he's pretty much my favorite. This is written along the Revelations route so both Xander and Ryoma can be here. I really wanted this to focus on Xander since he's known the protagonist since childhood, so I feel he'd have a lot to say about who they marry, especially if she's a girl. That's his little princess, after all.
*knock knock*
It had barely been a day since Xander had joined Kira in her quest for peace. He had been so blinded for so long. He should've joined her the instant his father wanted her executed for treason. No, he wanted her murdered for not siding with them… Yet, he had the people of Nohr to be concerned with. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. Elise and Camilla had been with her, and he could only feel his own pain. They had betrayed him. Betrayed Nohr. He stood before her private quarters. He had to speak with her. Let her know that he was sorry for not believing her, not being there for her when the Hoshidan royal family had already sided with her on their own. It felt like a small eternity when he suddenly heard a man's voice.
"Hello? Give me a moment, please." The door opened.
"Oh, Xander ouji-sama. I mean, Prince Xander. I apologize for making you wait. I was tidying things up in here."
Xander couldn't help but gawk at this man. He appeared to be one of those Hoshidan ninja. What was he doing in Kira's room? Xander could've sworn he saw Jakob and Kira's other retainers here. He did see people managing the shops around here, and it had taken him awhile to realize they were really just part of Kira's ever growing army, and not actual shopkeepers. Maybe this ninja was just cleaning Kira's room. Though, he couldn't help but feel Kira would only entrust one of her retainers to do so, especially since he hadn't seen Jakob on shop duty.
"Were you looking for Kira? I was awaiting her return myself. She's probably doing her rounds. Would you like me to fetch her for you?"
He seemed… kind enough. He had green hair, blue eyes, and a curious look on his face. It must have been because Xander hadn't said a word to him.
"That won't be necessary," Xander replied hastily. "I just needed a word with her. Do you when she will return?" It was so late in the night. He didn't quite understand how the "Astral Plane" worked, but the sky still somehow turned pitch black, meaning it must be time for everyone to retire. That suddenly made it more odd that this man was in Kira's room… He didn't appear to have any cleaning supplies with him now that Xander noticed it, and why would he be cleaning right before Kira would turn in for the night?
Actually, now that Xander thought it about, the man looked sort of familiar… "Hmm… I believe she should return soon. Do you perhaps want to come inside? I could prepare a pot of tea."
"Oh, Xander," said a feminine voice. Xander quickly spun around to see Kira with Ryoma right behind her..
"That's funny, I was trying to look for you. Did you bring him here, Kaze?"
Kaze chuckled in reply. "No, I was just tidying up when I heard him knocking." Ryoma gave him a strange look. Kaze hadn't noticed it.
"Oh, well I sort of need to speak with my brothers alone." Kaze nodded in reply. There was a silent understanding between the two. "Take as much time as you need." The green-haired man gave a small bow to Ryoma in particular before climbing down the treehouse.
"I'll come get you," Kira shouted as she watched him descend. "I'll be in the usual spot," Kaze shouted in reply after his feet touched the ground. Kira giggled, "Of course." She turned around.
"Come in," Kira said as Ryoma and Xander made their entrance. Both of them were slightly surprised at how it looked more like a storage closet than a princess' quarters. There was food on some shelves, a chest, and two chairs with a table. The only thing that made it a bedroom was a bed seemingly shoved into a corner.
Xander remembered young Kira would at least have many books to keep her company in her room. She had lived a lonely childhood in the Northern Fortress for the most part, and tales of damsels and heroic knights would comfort her. She had none of those here. Ryoma noticed the only thing that decorated her room. An oni mask on the wall close to the bed. A Hoshidan superstition, he thought. It keeps bad energy from entering during the night and causing nightmares.
Kira had pulled out the two chairs while they had been adrift in their thoughts. "Have a seat."
"Oh, it not kind to make a lady stand," Xander stated. Kira and Ryoma gave him a funny look.
"It's also not kind to accept one's hospitality," Kira replied cheekily. "I honestly don't mind sitting on the floor," Ryoma added. Kira rolled her eyes.
"Neither of my brothers will be sitting on the floor today. Besides, it's my room. I can sit in here all the time." Kira had walked off to return with a small pillow seat. "See? I'll just sit here. You two can sit in the other chairs while I try to grab some tea." Well, neither brother really felt like arguing, especially since there was nothing to argue about. They sat in each of the red chairs.
Kira hummed as she began making tea. Xander couldn't help but notice how grown up she was. Leading an army, following her own path, and now making her own tea. That was usually her butler's job. She must really want to be independent. "I thank you for inviting us tonight, little princess. I know it has been a… long and troubling time for all of us." He really wanted to speak with Kira alone. He felt so uncomfortable having the Hoshidan prince there.
"Indeed, I was surprised to see Takumi and Sakura here with you already." Ryoma shifted to look at Xander. "I hope we forge new bonds together beginning tonight." Kira smiled brightly at that as she turned around, and placed tea cups in front of each seat.
Ryoma gave the tea cups a strange look. They were certainly Nohrian porcelain. He wasn't used to such delicate things. He picked it up cautiously and quickly set it back down. The Nohrian prince wasn't helping the uncomfortable aura with his signature frown. Kira had carefully poured hot tea into each cup, and set the pot down before sitting and blowing the cup to cool it down.
She sighed, "We all have so much to catch up on. I'm so happy to have both of my families here. In the same room. Without swords." She giggled happily as she kept trying to cool down her tea. "Let me know how it is. I got Jakob to teach me how to make it, but mine always comes out a bit bitter. Oh! I should get some cream and sugar." Once again, she had dashed to the other side of her room to find what she was looking for.
"Thank gods for Kaze. He keeps everything so organized in here," she said as she set down a jar of cream, a bottle of milk, and some sugar on the table. Ryoma hadn't bothered to add anything unlike Xander, who only added some sugar to his tea. Ryoma always liked things bitter, like coffee. He couldn't help but cough as soon as he sipped the tea, though.
"Kaze comes in here often?" Ryoma wheezed. He just wasn't used to the bitter taste of what was clearly Nohrian tea. It wasn't unpleasant, per se. Just nothing he ever had before. Luckily, Kira didn't seem to notice and instead gave a lovely smile.
"Oh, I invite people in here from time to time. Just for a chat or something." Her smile got bigger. "But Kaze is…" Then, the realization hit. Oh, I can't believe I'm about to tell my older brothers this… She thought of the best way to put it. She should really just lay on the table. She held out her left hand right above the teapot that sat in the middle. It had two rings on a single finger.
"Suzukaze is my husband." Xander abruptly sat the cup he had been sipping from back to the table. Ryoma was equally shocked.
Kira cleared her throat. "Yeah, we've been married for about 4 months now." Now she was nervous. This wasn't the first topic of conversation she was hoping to have with her older brothers, especially since she had gotten them on the same day, something she honestly hadn't expected or planned for.
Xander was trying to do the math in his head. That green-haired Hoshidan ninja was Kira's husband?! Not courting, not betrothed. Her husband. It had barely been a year since Kira wasn't able to pick between her two families. That must mean she had met this man within that year. That meant she could have only known him for months. Probably as many as she had been married to him by now. Xander really couldn't believe it. His little princess had been married to a man she had known for months without his knowledge. He looked over at his Hoshidan counterpart to gauge his reaction.
It was about the same, though Ryoma had collected himself quicker. No surprise, he hasn't known Kira as long as I have, Xander thought. He did notice that Ryoma was deep in thought.
Yet, he proceeded with the conversation. "You call him by his full name? That's very surprising", he gave a slight pause. "And touching. I don't think there are many that even know 'Kaze' is just a nickname." It had to be true. For as long as he could remember, Kaze was simply Kaze. Even his brother, Saizo V, never used his full name. In fact, now that Ryoma thought about it, the only reason he knew about his full name is because it was on the will of Saizo IV that Kaze should do his duty to his lords. It was simple, just like Kaze. He wasn't really the type to care about whether or not people knew his real name or not.
Ryoma took Kira's hand to examine her rings further. She smiled slightly as he did. They were modest, yet thoughtful, very much like Kaze. He'd always been humble and kind. Ryoma couldn't believe how he was always oblivious to the horde of women he'd attracted because of that. He continued in his own thoughts as Kira shifted her hand to show it to Xander.
He still couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was two silver rings. One with a red jewel that matched her eyes, and the other a simple wedding band. They were on the finger of his little princess. "They're very beautiful," was all he could say.
She gave him a smile that reminded him of her days locked in the Northern Fortress. When she would tackle him with a hug for his visits. "I thought so, too." Kira began admiring her rings. "It all happened so fast. Kaze had sworn to become my retainer, and then we practically became inseparable. I saw how gentle and funny he could be… Then, I would reach for his hand and we'd walk in the forest…" Then, she saw how uncomfortable Xander looked, and how intense Ryoma looked.
"How's the tea?" Yeah, real slick way to try and change the topic here, she thought.
"I-It's fine," Xander replied. "You said this man is your retainer?" Just more and more things Xander wasn't able to process.
"Yeah, he said all these things about my mother, Mikoto, and all." Ryoma was listening more intently now. "He hadn't been sworn to anyone in the Hoshidan royal family. He thought maybe that she had planned it that way. That I would return to Hoshido, and he'd become my retainer. Orochi said she had visions and such." Kira had a wistful smile as she conveyed all of that.
She was right. Ryoma had always thought it was strange that Kaze hadn't been chosen as his retainer. He and his twin brother had come from the oldest of ninja families that served Hoshidan royalty. Ryoma always thought Kaze was as excellent as Saizo as a ninja. I think all of my children should have one male and one female as retainers. It adds perspective to a lot of things. That was something his mother had told him long ago. It was a great idea, and Kagero was incredibly reliable. Still, he couldn't help but feel that an exception could've been made for Kaze. Especially as the years passed and Kaze still hadn't been sworn to anyone. (Azura had always gone missing before anyone could properly swear their allegiance to her. She'd always been so aloof.) Perhaps, she really did plan it this way after all.
Kira chuckled weakly. "Everyone kept making jokes for awhile. He was a ninja retainer one day. A Nohrian and Hoshidan prince the next."
Ryoma and Xander cringed. Actually, now that Ryoma thought about it, Kaze was older than himself. His middle sibling was married to a man older than himself. Really. Xander was still processing what seemed like calculus to him. He'd literally just met his brother-in-law moments ago... Really.
Kira sipped her tea. It was barely lukewarm. There had been so little actual conversation, and so much time had passed.
"Kaze has been wonderful to me. As a retainer and a husband." She sighed. "I should probably go find him. It's getting late." She really didn't want the night to end like this, but all the fighting had worn her out. "I promise to talk to each of you tomorrow." They all silently agreed as they stood up from their seats. The discerning aura was enough make everyone want to flee the conversation.
She opened the door and faced them before they could step out. "I'm still very happy to see you both. You two have a good night, alright?" Ryoma nodded in acknowledgement and left. Xander lingered for a moment.
"I do wish to speak with you alone tomorrow." He had that piercing gaze as he spoke to her. She gave his hand a quick squeeze. "I know, brother. I'll come talk to you as soon as I get through all of my duties." His eyes stared directly at her own. Yes, she was truly grown up now.
Kira gave him a small smile as he climbed down the treehouse. Then, she began scoping around, probably for her… husband…
He really needed to speak with her tomorrow. He was trying to think about where he'd seen that man before...
A/N - I really did not expect it to turn out like this. It ended up being way longer than I expected. Again, first fanfic ever for me. I really want the rates and reviews. If there's any grammar or spelling problems, please let me know. I will try to fix it ASAP.