A/N: I get that some, maybe most, of you would prefer longer chapters, but that's just not something I typically do. 1k-2k words is my norm, it's what I'm comfortable with. Anyway, when I read this over for the first time, it was only at about 600 words, so I scrapped it and started over. Having Kamui being outright aggressive cut out a lot of room to work with, which leads to this version of the chapter.
Corrin smiled to himself as they marched. Kamui had a whole night to think his question over, as he knows she didn't just let it drop. She's too much like him, she would have pondered the question over. So today, he believes that today is the day she'll make a leap in progress. Today, he'll be able to take a chunk of her shell off, and show her that she deserves to be cared about.
"The air around them seems… different." Sakura comments as they march through midday.
"She's coming through." Corrin nods.
"I'm not surprised, if anyone can pull it off, it's you, little brother." Hinoka offers him a smile.
"I never doubted you, you know." Takumi adds.
Then Ryoma chuckles, "You wouldn't be the Takumi we know and love if you never doubted anyone."
The Archer returns a blank face, but gives in to the good mood, "Alright, I doubted you for a little bit… just a little."
"Ooo, can I play with Princess Elise when you get Kamui to smile, daddy?" Kana hops around.
"Of course." Corrin pats her head, eliciting a giggle from her.
"Kana dear, you need to ask Lady Elise too, before you start thinking of games." Felicia states in a semi-firm tone.
Kana looks at her mother with wide eyes, before nodding, "Right, they might not have the same games as we do." Corrin smiles and slightly shrugs his shoulders. Kana might have gotten the message, but she misunderstood the actual meaning. Oh well, as long as she knows to ask first. Another day of travel leads to another night of camping. There have been a few encounters so far with those mysterious semi-visible Vallites, but it's nothing overwhelming. Though, the battles would go smoother if his and Kamui's army could work together.
And today is that day, he has a strong feeling. As with the other nights, he strides over to the Nohrian camp, essentially defenseless. Except that, this time, Kamui was not the one being the living barrier between him and her. No, it was… Xander. For a moment, Corrin could swore that Siegfried was stained red, that he was re-experiencing the final day, the final confrontation. Where Xander went against Elise's dying wish.
He tensed. Why send Xander out? He couldn't believe Kamui would suddenly decide to hide behind the front line. In that moment, Corrin faltered, it might have been years since that moment, but never did he guess he would have a chance to speak to Xander, even if he isn't the same one. How should he approach this? Part of him says to vent his frustration, his anger, but…
Is that why he's out there? Does he somehow know about Elise's fate in his world? No, that couldn't be it. Kamui just chose Xander because he's the most intimidating one, he's the one least likely to budge. Corrin can't just stand here, though. He won't ever make any progress by standing still. Taking a breath, he finishes his walk and gives Xander his best smile… peace needs to be the outcome. As much as he would like to, he needs to hold off on any complaints.
"Big brother." He decides to refer to him as family, since that's…
"We are not family." In truth, Corrin should have expected that, "Kamui is my little sister, you are an outsider." Though it didn't hurt any less to hear that. "For one who preaches about peace, you are causing her tremendous stress."
"I'm trying to help, Crown Prince." Might as well stick to his title, "I…"
"King." He cuts him off once more.
Ah, so Garon had died in Kamui's time, too. "My apologies, King of Nohr. Though, as I was saying, my intention is to get her out of that shell she made for herself."
"She doesn't need your help, nor does she want it." At least he's admitting she does, in fact, need help. Is he actually trying to send hints? Corrin would doubt Xander would make it clear if she didn't.
"I simply can't stand aside and see other people suffering."
"She isn't suffering." And now he's denying it. Is he as bound to the Crown as the Xander he knew? Probably, maybe even more, considering he is King. "I would ask that you don't bother my little sister anymore."
"I assure you, King of Nohr, that I mean no ill intent." Xander responds with a dignified 'hmph'. Well… since that failed, and since he is right here… "I know you aren't the same as the Xander I knew, but I want to ask you something." When Xander doesn't respond, Corrin continues, "Are you as devoted to the Crown as mine?"
"Excuse me?!" Of course that would come out offensive. By this point, Camilla and Leo have taken notice, and have taken to being closer… which caused his family to do the same. Sakura and Elise are the only ones staying behind. "Who are you to question my loyalty? Did I just not make myself clear when I said I am the King of Nohr?"
"You did, but… in my world, when my family and I were going to confront King Garon, you stood as the final gate. I didn't want to fight, but the Xander I knew demanded a duel, and…" His eyes glisten, "On the first strike, El…" Corrin clenches his fists, his teeth hitting each other, "Princess Elise intervened. She… bled out in your arms, begging that we stop fighting. Yet, even with her dying request, you kept with the duel!"
When her big brother practically shouted about his loyalty being questioned, Kamui decided to exit her tent. "I would never do such a thing!" Came Xander's latest response. "Perhaps you are more of an instigator than you are a peacemaker?" With that accusation out, it just went downhill.
"We fought for peace!" Came Ryoma's booming voice, "We did everything in our power to assure that we saved as many people as we could!"
"Xander, Garon, Iago, and Hans were the only ones to die by my little brother's sword!" Hinoka was next. "Flora sacrificed herself, Lilith died protecting Corrin from Hans, Elise fell to Xander."
"And despite all of that, we still gave the dead a proper burial, even Hans!" Takumi added, "Corrin wanted nothing more than peace!"
"W-We used so many Festals on the wounded," Sakura spoke up, "S-so much time was spent on healing, both Hoshidan and Nohrian."
Felicia's eyes darted from person to person, while standing aside Corrin, who was being stared down by Xander. "You dare place the blame on us?" Her big sister walked up, Divine Axe in hand, which caused the Hoshidans, except Corrin, to draw their own weapons… which caused the Nohrians, except Elise, to draw theirs.
"The Hoshidans gave us no quarter and we returned it in kind." Leo announces.
"Hoshido forced our hand, else we would have been slaughtered." Xander stands tall.
"Please, stop…" Elise whimpers.
"We shouldn't be fighting." Corrin's next. "If we fight, then we will be doing the Vallite's job for them!"
"Then stop trying to talk!" Kamui yells, her Shadow Yato pointed at her Hoshidan counterpart. "You are the only cause here, if you would stop, then none of this would have happened!"
"I never meant any…"
"Vallites!" Elise calls out, causing every weapon to be redirected towards their semi-visible foes.
"Another fault of the Hoshidans." Kamui spits, "Corrin means to get us killed." The male version of her stays silent.
They have a wave of Vallites to fend off.