Takumi

Shortly after father's death and Sakura's kidnapping, the kingdom as a whole felt the impact. A funeral was held for father, and shortly after that Ryoma was to start his tutoring for the role of kingship. During that time my attitude changed, and I became quickly agitated, secluded and vocal. I attempted to continue my sword training, but one day training with Ryoma, my armor was ripped down, and I was left in my undergarments out in the open.

After that day, I swore to not lift the katana again, and searched for a new weapon class to use, and that was the Yumi. I slowly learned that I could be quite precise with the bow, but I was not satisfied with the results, training vigorously against harsh winds, heavy downpours, and many more conditions.

Three years after I started training, I was stationed to watch the border, and I witnessed both a miracle and a shock as I examined the border.


Leo

The border revealed the intense relationship between Hoshido and Nohr, a thick wall between the main trade point of the kingdoms. There were gates that connected the border, but those were left heavily guarded by soldiers on both sides. Father had sent us, being myself, Xander, Camilla, Sakura, also known as Aela, and Elise to check the border and teach the two of them about the relationship between the two kingdoms, though it could be understood without words. We stood at the border near one of the gates, Sakura rested on my shoulders, watching the Hoshidans on the other side. She was dressed in traditional troubadour wear, her hair in two curling ponytails, much like Elise's.

Xander glanced at me, with a disapproving look.

"Must you have her perched on your shoulders like that, brother?" He muttered, I believe he thought it was uncharacteristic of us.

"This would allow her a better view of the border," I explained, "Father did tell us to educate them."

"I personally think it's quite cute, brother." A voice quipped in, being my older sister, Camilla. I honestly get uncomfortable around her at times, I'm not sure what it is that gets me, though it's most likely her clothing.

He glanced at Camilla with the same look and was silent for a moment before admitting, "That would be plausible. Carry on then."

I internally breathed a sigh of relief, and I looked at them as they started to enter the border wall, to climb up and see the entirety of the border.

"I'll catch up with you later, brother, I have a few things I wish to teach Aela."

"Very well, I will give you ten minutes."

Ten minutes, Hopefully that'll be enough time. I thought as I looked at the gate. The two soldiers who had been guarding the gate got into a heated argument, and moved to one side of the gate, facing away from it, to try to argue their views to one another.

Perfect, I thought once again, walking closer to the gate.

I shifted it, and it was locked.

Shit. I looked at the lock on it and wondered, it seemed brittle. I held the lock in my hands, and tugged, damaging the rusty chains enough to free the gate. My feet shifted anxiously as I opened one side of the gate, and slipped the two of us in.

Sakura grabbed my face and whispered. "I-I-it's dark in here."

"I know," I whispered back, "but you must stay brave, we're almost to your home." I looked out into the long hall, seeing the silhouette of a Nohrian soldier headed this way. I pulled back into an alcove nearby, as he walked past me, whistling slightly to himself. My feet moved quickly, as I approached the gates on the other side. I watched, checking to see if there were soldiers standing guard there.

Unfortunately, there were, and I was forced to check another gate, where two soldiers stood, but they glanced back, noticing myself and Sakura, and their eyes widened. I moved my hands before me, and motioned for silence. I took Sakura off my shoulders and set her before me.

"I come bearing someone who was prisoner." I whispered, hoping they understood. I started to undo the ponytails in her hair, when they spoke for me to stop.

"This way," one of them said, pulling the door of the gate open. "You will be killed if you remain there."

Confused but understanding, I walked through with Sakura in front of me. They closed the gate, and I crouched down before her.

"Hey, I have to go. You're finally back where you belong." I crouched down, placing my hand on her head once again.

"Stay safe will you?"

I stood once again, looking back at the soldiers, who hesitantly nodded, opening the gate, allowing me to retreat back to my side of the border, where the guards were still arguing, I passed them, meeting up with my siblings. I masked my expression with alarm, and told Xander about the soldiers and that Aela had ran across the border.

"I attempted to stop her, brother," I lied, "she was too quick for me, and if I entered, I risked getting assaulted for trespassing."

He stared at me with frustration, before looking over the edge of the wall, seeing the two arguing. He sighed, "I will speak to father about those two, yet you are not free of blame either."

"I understand, brother."


?

I watched the exchange at the border. A small disturbance by one of the gates, and the soldiers opened the gate. A Nohrian mage walked out, with a small, pink haired child in front of him. The mage crouched down before her for a moment before standing and fleeing back across the border.

One of the soldiers met my eye, and grabbed the child's hand, hurrying to me.

"Milord Takumi!"

"What is it, soldier?"

"Th-the princess! She's back!"

I looked at the child who was standing beside him, and she looked at me. Immediately I recognized her, and lifted her up.

"Sakura," I hugged her and she hugged back. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

"N-n-no, I'm good!" She smiled, "It wasn't that sc-scary, because-" She looked to the side, "He's not there anymore."

I looked back at the border as well, and thought, We'll have to learn who that mage was.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I looked back at Sakura. "We should probably head back to Shirasagi, so Ryoma and Hinoka know that you're safe." She nodded in agreement, and we set on our way.