I'm sorry for the slow amount of updates! Life is finally catching up to me, and I'm constantly busy with track, friends, and family - and damned homework. I'm always trying to push my chapters and writing, so I'll try my hardest to update whenever I can. Also, I would appreciate it if you could please review this story; critique is what I'm looking for, hah!

HEY! DISCLAIMER: I didn't make any of these characters, except for several OCs (Koda and his siblings, Hill and his bandits, and several TO BE characters!) I'm also starting this story at Chapter 15 of the Birthright campaign! I opted for this campaign because it's my favorite, haha. I will stay to the storyline, but I will include some camp life; I do not believe I'm going to use the astral plain.

Anyways, please enjoy this story and review! Sorry to slam you - my readers - with this large bolded text!


Sleep would come easy for Koda that night. He returned to his tent so after brushing Kaden's tail - the kitsune had thanked him happily and promised to repay him, eventually. Koda entered his tent and looked around the small but spacious tent; there was his bedroll, his personal belongings, and his armor. He smiled happily and laid down onto his bedroll. Koda laid his head against the small cushion that supported his head and looked at the roof of the tent. Corrin and the ninja, Kaze, had assured him that he wouldn't be tortured with sentry duty during the night tonight; he was the newest addition, and they usually were kept away from chores until their first day.

Koda looked at the roof and pondered over the poignant situation he was placed himself in; he was in the heart of the Hoshidan army, sleeping next to the most trusted people of the Hoshidan prince. He knew his mission would eventually intervene with this army. He would cross paths with soldiers and retainers that are loyal to King Garon, and they would likely recognize him immediately - and Koda damned knew it would be horrible if Corrin and his siblings discovered his true identity.

Maybe I'm not skilled enough for this mission. I could barely defend myself from those bandits, and their leader is still wondering through the countryside. I need to finish this mission soon, before I get too deep into this army. I believe that several people are already eying me skeptically, and they should be... thought Koda as he stared at the roof of the tent. He couldn't believe he was second-guessing himself, but it seemed appropriate, at the time.

Soon, his eyes became heavy with lassitude. He shifted slightly and winced from the small, throbbing pain in his chest; his ribs could need several more days to fully recover. He could hear the distant muttering of soldiers as they sauntered past his tent, making their nightly patrols. Koda let out a relaxed, languid breath. He needed a plan that wouldn't risk his life or anyone else's - he didn't want more blood on his hands.

Koda jerked again, trying to make himself more comfortable. He winced again as the pain throbbed inside him. He wondered if the healer, Amaza. had any medication for his broken ribs - well, bruised, now. He wasn't tempted to leave his tent, but his gut-feeling was deceitful; he stood tall in his tent and left through the flaps, entering into the warm night.

Fires had been made around the camp, illuminating several clusters of tents. Koda stood near the entrance of his tent, gazing upon the vast sea of tents, fires, and other things, like weapon racks, armor racks, along with animals. Koda looked around, seeing very few people walking through the night. He sighed as he started to walk around the trees, watching tents. He was wearing simple cloths, a tunic and trousers, and his bare feet struck the dirt and grass of the forest. Soldiers looked at him as they walked past him, eying him and studying his stature and possible caliber for fighting.

He was so transfixed with all the eyes, he could barely hear the voice that was calling him. He heard the voice and spun to his left. He was face-to-face with three people; Ryoma, Azura, and a hard-faced ninja. This ninja's hair was dark red, and he had several scars of his face and hands. He was dressed in the traditional ninja garb, and he seemed to be studying Koda with ardent intensity.

"Koda," said Azura. She looked at him with her soft, blue eyes.

"Yes?" asked Koda as he was taken from his stupor of transfixion.

"Ryoma wishes to ask you several questions," said Azura, gesturing to the brooding prince that towered near her. Koda looked at the samurai and nodded, his eyes falling upon the mystical sword that was sheathed at his side. This beautiful sword was practically in perfect condition, and looked well attended for.

"Yes - these questions are regarding your previous life inside the Nohrian kingdom," said Ryoma stoically. "Care to walk with me?"

Koda nodded. "I suppose I could answer some of your questions. I was heading to Amaza to gain some herbs or medication to help suppress the pain in my ribcage."

Ryoma seemed to omit that last part. He nodded and spun on his heel. He began to walk farther into the forest. Koda grunted and trotted to catch to his father fast pace. The ninja wandered off into the camp, walking to Azura about his personal business.

The moon hung over the trees as Ryoma and Koda walked in silence. It was some minutes before Ryoma finally broke the silence. "Who taught you how to fight, Koda?"

Koda frowned. He answered this earlier, at the village. "My father did, Your Majesty."

Ryoma stopped. They were compeletely alone, which was somewhat eerie and unsettling. Koda turned sheepishly, looking into the stoic eyes of the built samurai. There was a cold zephyr that blew through the dark forest. Koda tensed his muscles and balled his left fist, anticipating an attack.

"I would like to know more of your father."

"Well, he was a soldier for the Nohrian forces a-"

"That explains your Nohrian fighting style and your caliber with that sword that you always carry," said Ryoma, interrupting the young boy.

"Um, yeah...anyways, when my brother was convicted of treason, they banished us from the kingdom, then my father got sick and died, leaving me and my mother alone for the past two years," said Koda as he lied through his teeth. He could barely suppress the temptation to kill Ryoma, then take Corrin with him; he was also tempted to explain his true identity.

"Do you know of your father's rank amongst the forces?"

"He," said Koda. He knew he couldn't lie about the pride of his father, or his respectable rank, "he's a general for the Nohrian army - well, was, at least."

Ryoma nodded as he crossed his arms. "I can contemplate your determination to join our ranks. I know you feel the desirable feeling of power within yourself, and the desire to achieve the same rank as your father - I know that feeling too well. My father, the late king Sumeragi, had perished during an attack on the Hoshidan capital. He bravely fought off the Nohrian forces, but failed. I lost Corrin that night, alongside my honorable father and king. I feel that feeling to accomplish the same feats as my father, and hopefully, atone for the damages for this war."

Koda listened to him. He felt for the samurai; they were similar in many enigmatic ways. He was similar to many other people within these ranks. He felt the warrior from Silas and the others, but could also feel the childish banter from Kaden and several others. He felt horrible for turning against these wonderful people, but his mission came before these warriors of Hoshido.

"Your majesty," Koda finally said. "I-I..."

"Yes?"

"I just don't want to fail you or Corrin," said Koda despondently. Koda looked down at his bare feet, the dirt tickling the bottoms of his feet.

He heard the unfamiliar sound of chuckling from the stoic warrior. Koda jerked his heard forward, seeing Ryoma. His eyes were closed and he was chuckling. "Everyone makes mistakes, Koda - that's life. No one is perfect, especially on the battlefield."

"Oh."

Ryoma exhales, looking around the dark forest. "Well, you should retire to your camp. See Amaza, Jakob, Sakura, or any other healers before you sleep, so you can fix that pain. I suggest resting easily tonight, then prepare for an intense day of training tomorrow."

Koda smiled sheepishly. "Yes, sir."


Koda returned to his tent after parting with Ryoma. The towering giant from Hoshido still frightened him, but he seemed friendly, enough. Koda opened the flaps of the tent and stepped inside. The groggily healing abilities of Sakura had eased the pain from his chest. Koda stepped into the tent further and the flaps closed behind him. He sighed as the dark tent offered a familiar presence and enigmatic comfort.

Koda sat down. His sword and scaly armor laid nearby in an otiose state. Koda laid down on his bedroll and gazed upon the ceiling of the tent. He heard the distant muttering of the patrol sentries, complaining about the hours of the shift. Koda smirked. He exhaled a deep breath, rolling onto his right side. He ran through all the faces and different people he meet today; Ryoma, Hinata, Azura, Kaze, and several others. There was face, in particular, that he couldn't cease to erase from his mind.

Hana, the samurai that accompanied Azura during the march. Koda smiled and blushed once he recognized the face; the dark, beautiful eyes and the chestnut hair. He longed to see her again, but he knew that he couldn't become attached to her, or the others. Kaden was too hard to release - he was too damn likable - and Silas was his childhood friend. Silas would understand his mission, but no one else would.

Koda rolled back onto his back, disrupting his thoughts about Hana and the other. He knew this mission was too hard, but he didn't know it would be this difficult.