Chapter 20: Respite

Also known as: Sort-of-side-chapter

It was well into the evening when Corrin returned to the Astral Plane with her allies. Thoughts swirled in her mind, dancing and entwining with her memories. They weighed heavily on her shoulders, on her mind. She was bruised. Exhausted. But before any respite, Corrin, with Azura by her side, sought out Ryoma. His expression of welcome faded as he took in their weary eyes, their clothes stained and torn.

"Did you find what you needed?" he asked. Azura turned her eyes to Corrin. They'd moved out of sight of prying eyes and any curious eavesdroppers.

Corrin pressed her back against the hard stone wall. "More than that," she said. "We were wrong to think that King Garon was who we were really fighting."

Ryoma's eyes widened fractionally. Azura kept her breath held tight in her chest. One wrong move, one wrong word, and the curse…

"He's being controlled," Corrin continued. "There's another force, greater than anything, stronger than Garon. That's who we need to fight."

Ryoma studied her for a breath. "And who is this force? Who are we fighting?"

Corrin kept her gaze on the ground by his feet. It wasn't just exhaustion bearing down on her, stifling her words. It was how powerless she felt. How powerless she was. Under this curse, caged by its power, the words she wished to speak, the knowledge she needed to express, couldn't surface. She was trapped.

"I can't tell you." She held back the sigh that built in her throat. "But believe me, this third party, the one controlling King Garon and this war, is who we need to defeat."

There was a moment when Corrin thought Ryoma wouldn't answer. That he'd scoff, call her crazy. Denounce her, and Azura, and everything she'd told him.

Her heart sunk.

"You're asking me to take a lot on faith," he said, finally.

Corrin raised her eyes to meet his. Warm brown met crimson. Her heart stammered uneasily, thundering and overwhelming all at once.

"Please, believe me when I say our real enemy isn't Nohr," Corrin pleaded once more. She swallowed the tightness in her throat.

"I have to admit, it's not the strangest thing you've told me," Ryoma said. His eyes softened, lips upturning slightly, ever so slightly, into a smile.

Despite his smile, Corrin felt ill.

"You truly can't say more?" he asked. He glanced between her and Azura, who nodded.

"We can't. Not here, not now." Corrin drew out a sigh. "But on the day that the skies change above Hoshido and Nohr, we need to be at the Bottomless Canyon. Then, everything will become clear."

"The Bottomless Canyon?" Ryoma's expression turned to one of thought. "I see your journey there wasn't for naught."

The queasiness in Corrin's stomach built. She forced a nod. "Also… I've asked Gunter to relay a message. To Leo." She watched as Ryoma's eyes darkened. "I… we need him on our side. I'm sure the Rainbow Sage can attest to that."

"You've met with him before, then?"

Again, Corrin nodded. "Yes."

Another breath of silence. Between Azura's nervous gaze and Ryoma's wary expression, Corrin felt pinned to the spot. To the cold wall pressing to her back.

Finally, he sighed. "All right. I'll trust you on this."

"You will?" Doubt slipped into Corrin's voice.

"Like I said before, you have my trust," Ryoma said.

It should have been a relief, Ryoma's words. His assurance. But the sickly churning in Corrin's stomach remained. The weight of what she knew, the significance of it all, was suffocating.

"Thank you," she forced out. Forced a smile.

She didn't want to think of that other world. To think of what it held, what it meant.

"What's going on here?" Takumi's voice sent a jolt of shock through Corrin. He stood feet from them, glancing curiously, suspiciously, between them.

Corrin's rapid heartbeat made it difficult to breathe. A flush of heat coursed through her. If he'd heard what they were talking about…

"We were just discussing our next move," Corrin said quickly. It came out in a sudden breath as she pulled a strained smile.

Takumi looked to her. "With Azura?"

Panic swarmed her thoughts. It was impossible to form excuses this quickly.

"I wanted to see if Azura had any insights to share," Ryoma said. An expert excuse, an expert smile.

Takumi's expression didn't change. He cased his eyes over them, over each one of them slowly, painfully. Questions still lingered in his gaze.

"Takumi," Corrin called abruptly and held up her right hand. She turned her palm to face him, showing off the pinkish skin over where her wound was. "My cut's all healed over. How about we head to the archery range?" She took in a shaky breath, hoping against hope he'd agree and drop whatever question he held. "If you're up for it, that is?"

He paused, holding her gaze. One second passed, then another.

"Fine," he said curtly. He whirled on his heels and stomped off without another word. His silver hair swished behind him with the movement, and he was across the courtyard in seconds.

Corrin pulled a tight smile at Ryoma and Azura. "Sorry," she said briefly, and followed after Takumi.

One day, she told herself. One day she would tell him.

One day she would tell him everything.

They fell into an old rhythm at the archery range. Takumi set up before her and handed over a polished wooden bow and quiver. He practiced beside her, though she doubted he needed to, before scoffing as her arrow missed the target.

It was a pathetic shot, to be honest, but that didn't mean his scoff didn't send a spear of embarrassed hurt through her.

"Your stance is all wrong," Takumi chided. "Your arms are too low and your legs– what are you even doing?"

Corrin met his sigh with a tight huff. "Then show me how I'm supposed to stand!" She raised the bow, trying to lift her arms higher, to adjust her stance, when he came over.

She'd expected him to chide her further, to stand there and gripe, and point, at everything she got wrong. Instead, he stood close.

He caught her wrists. The rough callouses on his fingers touched and brushed over her skin as he angled her arms higher.

"Like this," he huffed. He shifted her knee with the press of his hand like it was nothing.

Like it meant nothing.

"Relax your shoulders," he said.

There wasn't a fibre in her body she could relax with his voice sounding almost directly into her ear. Since when had it sounded so deep? Since when had it been so alluring?

She swallowed as he directed her hands, as his slipped over hers. Together, they drew back the arrow. Together, they aimed.

"Like this," he said again. Into her ear.

The arrow hit the target.

Of course, Corrin was ecstatic. She jumped away from him and whirled with a grin.

"I hit the target!" she beamed. Her heart fluttered in her chest, the air strangely warm, her throat strangely tight. Still, she bounced on her toes. Met his gaze, shot her own to the target, and back to him.

Her joy was infectious. He found himself smiling back, however smugly. "We both know who got the credit for that."

"Oh, come on!"

"Let's see you hit the target on your own. Then you can celebrate."

Corrin rolled her eyes. The hot flush on her cheeks had finally receded, so she settled back into her stance. She felt Takumi's eyes on her, on each of her movements, however fine.

It only made it harder to focus.

She adjusted her stance as he'd done, trying to remember how she'd stood. Where he'd moved her arms, how he'd aimed. She drew an arrow, notched it, and fired.

It sank into the wood centimetres below the target.

"Close," Takumi noted. She could hear the tinge of a smile in his voice. That smug smile.

Just because archery came naturally to him…

She blew out a tight breath and tried again. This time, aiming higher. She followed the point of the arrow with her eyes, lining it up like he'd done.

It took a few unsuccessful tries, but soon enough, she hit the target.

"Ha!" Corrin beamed. "Got it!"

"You might actually have some talent," Takumi teased. He lined up his own shot, hitting dead centre with ease.

Corrin held back from rolling her eyes that time.

They fell into steady practice for a time. Corrin slowly pulled up her number of consecutive shots from one, to two, to three in a row. After almost an hour, Corrin had peaked. Her arms ached, attention waning. She dropped her arms and rolled out her shoulders, ready to quit for the day.

"Why didn't you ask me to join?" Takumi's question drew Corrin from her training.

She turned to him in confusion, to see him frowning. His eyes levelled at the target across from them, though his attention was far from it.

"Join what?" Corrin asked. "If it's about the Bottomless Canyon–"

"The discussions!" Takumi blurted. "The ones you have with Ryoma. About our strategy, our next moves, whatever." He drew his shoulders up, folding his arms across his chest. "Do you not think I can offer anything?"

Corrin could only blink. Words dried up on her tongue.

A deep sigh stole from Takumi. Harsh and biting, his eyes flashed something darker, something hurt. "If you don't want me around, just say so."

"What? Takumi, that's not–"

"I know you think I'm useless on the battlefield, but just keeping me around for– for this," he gestured hurriedly to the range they stood in, "Just tell me, all right? And I'll go."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Corrin shot a hand up for a pause. "What? Who thinks your useless?"

Takumi grit his teeth. "You don't have to lie. I know I'm not needed here."

"Who? Who said that?"

"No one had to!" Takumi shot back. "I've seen it! You all functioned without me. Won without me. I was sick, and couldn't fight, and you didn't need me. You never needed me."

"Takumi!" his name came out with a sharp gasp. "You have no idea how hard we fought just to keep you safe! Everyone, and I mean everyone, is needed if we're going to win this war. And you–" she drew in a tight breath. "You mean so much to so many people."

Takumi met her eyes, his own searching hers for meaning, for the truth in her words. His frown remained, though the hard set of his jaw relaxed.

He dropped his arms, and his gaze. "I'm done," he said and hung up his bow.

"Takumi–"

"I'm done," he repeated, forcefully this time.

He left Corrin standing in the archery range alone, wondering where she'd gone wrong.

The warmth of the bath Jakob drew up for Corrin was well deserved. She took a long soak in it, sinking into its heavenly embrace, her chin just above the water. Dark purple bruises dotted her skin, splotched with faded yellows and greens. They hurt when she pressed her fingers into them, testing how tender her skin was.

Despite jumping from the Bottomless Canyon, getting only a few bruises was a plus. She wasn't in any hurry to add to her growing collection of scars. Most of them were small. Tiny slivers of white over her pale skin.

Most of them, that is.

There was one scar on her hip, a large, smooth line the width of a finger, left by Takumi's arrow in Mokushu forest. That one didn't bother her so much. It was hidden most of the time and faint, barely visible. The only problem with it was the memory attached.

And then, there was the scar over her breastbone. Jagged, like violent petals that spread over her heart, it bloomed in coarse, heavy scar tissue. It sat right over her heart.

The strangest thing about this scar was that it wasn't present when she awoke in the past. The pain had been there, the memory of blood, the roaring, burning agony, but no scar. Somehow, along her journey, it had formed.

Like a memory, forever etched into her flesh.

One she couldn't escape.

After soaking for a good long while, Corrin clothed herself and headed for the mess hall. Her stomach grumbled as she passed through the doors. She was hit with warm air and noise as she entered. Chatter and laughter filled the air. She breathed in the scent of some Hoshidan food she couldn't place as she scanned the tables littered with her allies.

She met Takumi's eyes. Only for a brief moment, as he snatched his attention back to Oboro and Hinata beside him, but they their eyes had assuredly met. He'd been watching her.

Corrin hadn't the time to mull over whether that was a good sign or not when she caught Silas waving her over. She slid into the chair opposite him and pushed Takumi from her mind.

"Hey, Corrin," Silas greeted. His eyes lit up as he smiled at her. "I heard it went well at the Bottomless Canyon?"

Corrin pursed her lips into a hard smile. "You could say that. We… learnt something that changes a lot. I'm not really sure how to process it, actually."

The smile dropped from his face. "Oh, sorry." He shrunk in embarrassed shame. "I… didn't know that."

She shrugged. "That's okay. I could go for some food, though…" She glanced up at him hopefully, and the light returned to his smile as he shot up.

"I'll get you some! Wait here," he said quickly, jumping up from the chair. He gave her a slight wave and dashed around to the kitchen.

A sigh stole from Corrin as the ambiance of the mess hall draped over her. The noises blended into a murmur of sound. The laughter, the clinking of utensils, the conversations around her became one. She was so absorbed in the noise that when Silas returned with a plate of simple onigiri, it felt like only a moment.

"Sorry," he apologised profusely. "This was all I could get you."

Her stomach was too hungry to protest the simple meal. "No, it's perfect." She made a large smile as she dug into the rice. "Mm. It's good."

Silas breathed a laugh of relief. "It's nothing gourmet, but thanks. If you'd gotten here earlier, I could've made you something more."

"Next time, then."

He nodded. "Next time."

As Corrin finished, running her tongue along her lip to collect the last grains of rice, she caught the gaze of a few of her allies watching her. Hana, studying her by the entrance. Hinata and Oboro not-so-casually glancing up at her.

Despite only having a few small onigiri, Corrin no longer felt like eating. There was no doubt her allies were curious. Wanting to know what her journey to the Bottomless Canyon yielded.

She'd have to tell them.

Well, she'd have to tell them what she could, anyway.

Even Silas seemed to be looking at her with expectation and curiosity in his eyes.

Corrin leant forward, lowering her voice so her words would only reach him. "You want to know, don't you? What happened at the Bottomless Canyon?"

Silas' eyes widened fractionally. "Well– uh, yes, of course!" He nodded stiffly and leant forward to match her. "I mean, if you're okay with telling me, that is. If you're not–"

"It's fine," Corrin brushed him off with a wave of her hand. "Everyone will learn it eventually. Though… I think I might have Ryoma inform everyone." She sighed. "They'll be more likely to trust him, right?"

"That's not true!" Silas blurted. "Everyone trusts you. Why else would we have followed you for so long? We have your back, Corrin!"

Her eyes fell from his, to the grooves in the wooden table. "Even after everything I've done?"

Her question hung between them for a breath.

"Of course," Silas answered. A faint bead of uncertainty lingered in his voice. "I mean, it's hard to believe, sure, but–"

"I know." Her hands clenched on her lap. "I can barely believe it myself, sometimes." Her heart had fallen into her stomach. The exhaustion was finding her again. "I wonder if this is all some crazy dream. Or that I died and this is some cruel way for me to repent for all I did."

Any words Silas could've said fell from his tongue.

"Sometimes, I'm afraid I'll wake to find out this was all a dream. I'll wake to find Hoshido destroyed. And Ryoma and Takumi–" she couldn't say it. "It's stupid, I know." She sighed. "But I'm scared."

"That's not stupid at all," Silas said, shaking his head tightly. "You've been through so much, so much more than I can imagine – but I know your fears aren't stupid."

Corrin forced her lips into a smile she didn't feel. She raised her eyes to his when he caught her hand on her lap from beneath the table. He gave it a gentle squeeze. She felt small in the depths of his eyes.

"I'm here, Corrin." Another squeeze of his hand. "You're here. This isn't a dream. You're doing the right thing and we will win this. I'm sure of it."

Corrin stifled a light scoff. "How are you so confident? If I were you I would've run to safety at the slightest sign of crazy."

"Because it's you."

His words silenced her. The sincerity, the confidence, in his eyes stopped her protests. And she found herself laughing.

"Oh, Silas," she shook her head though she smiled. "You're an idiot, you know."

"What?" He deflated at once like a sad puppy.

"Thank you."

He blinked at her. Once, twice, before her words finally made sense. His smile returned in a heartbeat. "It's nothing," he said in return.

"It's more than nothing," Corrin said. "Don't sell yourself short." She gave him a coy smile before standing. "I should head off to bed. We've had a long day." Her eyes rose as she stood, looking over Silas' shoulder, to see Takumi stand. He was looking back at her.

Silas stood, blocking Takumi from her sight. "I'll walk you back," he offered with that gentle smile of his.

Corrin had no reason to decline. "All right." She followed Silas from the mess hall without looking back, though her mind wandered. Her eyes stayed forward, but the desire to turn around, to glance over her shoulder, built.

It had to be a coincidence, their eyes meeting. Twice.

It happens, she told herself.

The desire to glance back to the mess hall built and built and built. She stifled it until they turned the corner and the mess hall would no longer be in sight.

It was silly. She knew that.

But still, she wanted to turn around.

When they reached the base of the stairs leading to her treehouse, that desire shattered. Her eyes rose, following the steps upwards, to her chamber. For some reason, she stilled at its base.

"Goodnight, Corrin," Silas said, stealing her attention back to him.

She quickly forced a smile. "Goodnight."

Despite her words, she lingered. Silas lingered. A shiver ran through her at the cold breeze. It was cold. It was late. But she didn't want to head to the warmth of her room.

She pursed her lips, turning to Silas determined to push this lingering feeling away and make for her room, when her gaze fell over his shoulder. Long, silver hair caught her eyes.

Her feet moved before her mind could comprehend it. One step towards him as his hazel eyes were on her, and–

Tight arms wrapped around her shoulders. She froze in his warmth. In Silas' warmth. In his arms. He was hugging her. Her face was pressed into his shirt, vision swallowed, the sight of Takumi gone. Though she knew he'd seen this.

"S-Silas?" Corrin gaped. She was torn between pulling away and staying frozen in his embrace. In this sudden embrace that had her mind grasping for a reason.

The embrace shattered as Silas leapt away from her as if she were on fire. As if she'd burnt him. Cold air surged between them, stealing the heat they'd shared.

"Oh– um, Gods! Sorry, Corrin!" Silas blurted all at once. His mind and words raced as heat poured across his cheeks. "I didn't mean to– I mean, I did– you just–" he grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry." He swallowed tightly.

Silas' eyes had dropped from hers, but all she could see was the empty courtyard behind him.

"It's okay," she said. Her heart thundered in her chest from the shock of it all.

Silas cleared his throat into his fist. "I shouldn't have done that. I just–"

"Corrin."

Both Silas and Corrin jolted and whirled to see Takumi step up beside them. There was suddenly no air in Corrin's lungs.

"Takumi!" Corrin gaped, feeling flushed in the cold air.

"Lord Takumi–" Silas cut a glance between Corrin and her brother. The prince didn't bother to hide the beginnings of a scowl on his face. "I'll, uh, head off then."

"Y-You don't have to," Corrin blurted without thinking. Her tongue was working faster than her brain.

"Yes, he does," Takumi said. His arms folded, he frowned at the two of them.

Corrin blanched at Takumi.

Silas backed up a few steps and gave a stiff nod to Corrin and Takumi. "Goodnight, then…" And he fled as quickly as Takumi had appeared. Corrin watched his figure disappear into the night before sighing.

"What was that about?" she asked pointedly, turning back to Takumi to see his gaze had also followed Silas.

"Does it matter?" He still didn't look at her.

Now it was her turn to fold her arms. "It does when you just chased off my friend."

"Friend," he repeated, but the intonation he used suggested something more.

Corrin squared her jaw. "Yes. Silas is my friend." She forced the word out, daring him to voice whatever he was suggesting to her face. Her defensive walls had risen, blood burning at Takumi's insinuating tone. She hadn't thought he'd come here to argue, but he'd left her no choice. All she'd done was respond.

Takumi pressed his lips together tightly. The scowl, the frown he wore, loosened and fell away in the silence. The hostile air faded in the breeze.

When he turned to her, there was something deeper in his eyes. "Look, Corrin, I just wanted to…" he frowned again, though it wasn't at her. His gaze cut away from her as if he was debating something inwardly.

He sighed. "There's something I need to figure out."

Corrin searched his face, searched the worry, the questions in his eyes. "What is it?"

His eyes fell to hers. "I need to–"

"Corrin!" a cheerful cry silenced Takumi's words. Keaton bounded up to them, a piece of shattered ceramic in his hands. "Look what I found!"

Interrupted twice in just as many minutes.

Corrin pulled a smile despite the heavy huff Takumi sounded. "What is it?"

Keaton held out the shattered remains of a plate. His eyes gleamed as brightly as his smile, revealing sharp, sharp teeth. "Look, look, look! Aren't they awesome?"

"Is that… a plate?" Takumi questioned, frowning at the white pieces in Keaton's hands.

"Very nice," Corrin appraised, playing along with the wolfskin. "What are you going to do with it?"

Keaton puffed out his chest with a grin. "Haven't decided! I could stare at it, sharpen it, stare at it… it's going into my collection for sure!"

Takumi huffed again.

"Just be careful," Corrin said. "Those edges look very sharp… Where'd you get it?"

"The trash?" Takumi scoffed.

"Felicia made it!" Keaton beamed. "She's some kind of genius! No one else makes shards this cool!"

"Felicia?" Corrin sounded her name, though her heart sunk.

"Yup!" Keaton's tail swished back and forth. "She's amazing!" Then, noticing his tail's sporadic movements, swiped at it to hold it still. "Ah! No! Tail, stop wagging! Now!"

"I… had no idea," Corrin said. Her eyes lingered on the plate. How long had it been since she'd spoken to Felicia? Since she'd seen Felicia? Corrin thought her maid was just avoiding people, but from the looks of the plate in Keaton's hand…

Maybe Felicia was just avoiding her.

A hand caught her arm and abruptly tugged her towards her treehouse's stairs. Her feet fumbled beneath her, struggling to keep up with Takumi as he pulled her to her chamber.

"Um!" Corrin gasped as she stumbled up a step. "Night, Keaton!" she called over her shoulder. The wolfskin cocked his head in confusion before shuffling away.

Without being able to voice her protests, Corrin found herself tugged into her chamber. The door swung shut behind them, Takumi finally releasing her arm.

"Takumi!" Corrin huffed loudly. "What was that all about?" She rubbed where he'd held her arm, though it didn't hurt. He hadn't gripped her hard enough for that.

Takumi stilled in the centre of her room. His brow knotted. His fingers flexed by his side, clenching into fists before straightening again.

That wasn't an answer. "Takumi?"

"I don't know, okay?" he blurted abruptly in a huff. "I don't know." He folded, unfolded his arms. He paced her floor, not looking to her, unable to stay still, to stay in one place.

He sighed.

"Are you all right?" Corrin asked. She watched him pace back and forth, back and forth. Stress drew lines on his brow and showed it how taught he held himself. "Come here," she said and plonked herself down on her bed. She patted the mattress in front of her as he stared. "I'll give you a massage if you sit down."

He narrowed his eyes at her, watching, suspicious.

Corrin snorted. "I'm not that bad at it."

Takumi's expression fell. He came and deposited himself on the bed in front of her. The mattress dipped as he sat. Corrin let her fingers brush the long strands of his hair as she settled her hands over his shoulders. She didn't have to touch him to know how tense he was.

Slowly, silently, Corrin worked her fingers onto his shoulders. Rubbing, pressing, working out the tension, the knots in his muscles. She didn't know why he'd brought her up here so abruptly. She didn't know why he'd followed her here as if he wanted to talk, only to clam up now they were alone. All she knew is that there was more to Takumi than what he said.

"So…" Corrin began, pressing her thumbs in firm circles on his back. "Did you want something?"

"Hm?" came Takumi's murmured reply.

"You were going to say something," Corrin noted. "Before Keaton came."

Takumi hummed but didn't answer. Whatever he'd wanted to ask or say had fled from his mind.

They fell into silence again as Corrin massaged Takumi's shoulders. He didn't protest, didn't scoff or bark at her, so she couldn't be that bad at it.

In fact, she even caught a gentle hum of satisfaction coming from Takumi on occasion. As time passed, Corrin drew her fingers to Takumi's hair, and ran her fingers through it. Her brother stirred, glanced over his shoulder to catch her eye.

Caught in the act, Corrin laughed. "Sorry," she sang, anything but. "Your hair's so soft. Can't I play with it?"

He turned away from her, relinquishing his hair to her whim. "Fine," he huffed. He missed Corrin's smile of absolute glee.

Her fingers drew his hair with purpose. She untied it from its bow and wound it as she pleased. Takumi sat silently as she worked. Silent, but aflame. He was hyper aware of her fingers in his hair, her fingers brushing his scalp, his neck, his back as she worked.

It took every fibre of his being to not jolt as her fingers brushed the bare skin of his neck or the tips of his ears.

He wanted to leave. To run away, to pretend this never happened. To pretend he wasn't as vile, as disgusting, as sinful as he was.

But he wanted to stay. Oh, he wanted to stay here and let her do to him as she pleased.

It was shameful.

But he didn't want to leave.

"There!" Corrin beamed after those tortuous minutes. "I'm done."

Confused, Takumi sat back from her and gave her a curious look. She grinned brightly, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Look in the mirror," she urged. There was something in her tone that worried him. There was something in her smirk that worried him. He stood and found her mirror, only to blanch at what she'd done.

His hair, though tied up like usual, sat in one long braid. The silver strands of his hair wove around and over each other in an intricate braid that he couldn't wrap his head around. He snatched his hair from his back and studied it before him.

Corrin gave a knowing laugh. "What do you think?"

He met her eyes, her smirk, in the mirror. "This is what you were doing?"

She made point of pouting. "You don't like it?"

"Its…" he turned back to his reflection. "Isn't this something girls do?"

Corrin rolled her eyes. "So? Your hair's so nice, it's actually unfair!" She huffed and tugged at the short strands of her hair. It'd grown over the months, though it barely reached her shoulders.

Takumi reached for his braid, as if to tug it out, sparking Corrin's protest. "Hey! No! Don't! You can't take it out now!"

Takumi raised an eyebrow, but released the braid.

"I went to all that work – you have to leave it in for a while, at least," Corrin ordered.

"Fine," Takumi said. "If I can do yours."

"Mine?"

"Your hair," Takumi pressed. He turned, taking a step towards her from the mirror. She stood not feet from her, yet she stilled under his gaze. He'd grown, like her hair had, over the passing months. He'd overtaken her in height, by a few inches, but it made a difference. It made him seem… more mature. Less like a boy and more like a man.

But that wasn't something Corrin was going to point out.

"Do you even know how to braid?" Corrin asked as she sat down on her bed. She ran her fingers through her hair quickly before Takumi took it in his own.

"I do," Takumi scoffed. He'd seen Sakura and Hana braid each other's hair often enough. How hard could it be?

He soon found out it was harder than it looked. Not just braiding. Having Corrin's hair in his fingers, to do what he pleased with, was enough to short-circuit his brain. He hadn't thought it would be this difficult. Touching her hair, running his fingers through it, pretending like it was nothing. Pretending he didn't notice the scent of soap and flowers of her hair.

Pretending that it wasn't having an effect on him.

Eventually, Takumi backed away from her and stood.

"It's late," he forced out, standing abruptly. "I should go."

Corrin turned as he stood, as he made for her door. "Oh." Her words caught at his sudden movement, this sudden desire to leave. "Okay."

He nodded stiffly and swung open the door. Cold air rushed in, like a breath of clarity, and rushed over Takumi. Corrin shivered in its wake.

Wishing he could stifled the flush of his cheeks, Takumi glanced back at Corrin. "Goodnight," he said, and pulled the door shut behind him.

In the silence that followed, Corrin drew her hand to her hair. In it lay a single, tiny braid, and nothing more.

So, not much happens in this chapter. There were just little moments I wanted to add, to tie everything together, before the next chapter.

Enter the Rainbow Sage! ...This will be fun. *cough* nightmare *cough*.

Three different routes to play with here. What's the worst that could happen?

Anyway, Thanks again for all your reviews. I know I do this almost every chapter but if it wasn't for those reviews and the response I've gotten to this work, it would be so much harder for me to continue! I mean it. Writing can be a chore. Reviewers and readers like you all make it worth it!

Thanks so much!

As always,

See you next chapter!